Archive for the ‘Q&A’ Category

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Q&A: Christy English of the BROADSWORDS AND BALLROOMS Series

How to Seduce a Scot Christy English

Today we have Christy English answering our questions about her Broadswords and Ballrooms series! The first book, How to Seduce a Scot came out in December, and the second, How to Wed a Warrior will be out on February 2nd!

Thank you so much for hosting me. I love talking about writing and books…and I am so excited to do it here on EverAfter Romance. My latest Regency romance series is called Broadswords and Ballrooms, about two Highland brothers who bring their wild, sword-wielding sister down to London to marry her off, and end up falling in love themselves.

1. Tell us three fun facts about yourself.

  • I adore waterfalls. I did not know this until about three years ago when I first moved to the Western North Carolina mountains, but I have a waterfall outside my back window, and when I sit on my porch in the spring and write, I can hear it flowing. It is the most soothing sound. I truly have moved to heaven.
  • I have soda for blood. I love Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper, and I drink one every morning as I roll into my day job at the bank. Soda is my companion whenever I need an extra boost to get the words down on paper, or in my computer. The sugary sweetness adds to my joy whatever I’m doing.
  • I can’t go to the movies without getting popcorn and chocolate. I am a story junkie. Whether in a book or on the silver screen, I love hearing and seeing a good story. And whenever I go to see a movie, I hunker down with popcorn and chocolate. Sometimes I am good, and get the kiddie size, which satisfies me but also makes me feel virtuous.

2. How would you describe your writing style? Are you more of a pantser or a plotter?

I have a flowery, descriptive style of writing, and a distinctive voice on the page which I have had to tone down in favor of character and plot in revisions. For many years I was a serious plotter, writing fifty page outlines of my novels before I even began them. But now that I am writing Regency romance, especially romance comedies, I have started to become more of a panster, in which the characters give me the starting point of a book and the major events of the first act, and then I go to town. Now the characters hand me each act as it comes up, so I have a good idea of where I’m headed as I go, but I can still be flexible for any new mayhem that might ensue. And when I am writing about the Waters family, mayhem is always close at hand.

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Q&A: Piper J. Drake of EXTREME HONOR

Extreme Honor Piper J. Drake

Today Piper J. Drake’s new book, Extreme Honor was released and she’s stopped by EverAfter to answer our questions! We hope you enjoy her answers. Be sure and pick up Extreme Honor today!

1. I know research is a very important part of your process, how did you carry out your research on military dogs? What was your favorite part of that research?

I took a two-pronged approach to my dog training research for Extreme Honor.

Lyn is a civilian and referred to by others as a “dog whisperer” so I researched training techniques by Cesar Millan as a base for Lyn’s approach to understanding dog behavior in her more psychological approach with Atlas.

David is a veteran and focused on training military working dogs. Atlas and his handler were assigned to work with a Navy SEAL team prior to his handler’s death so I researched special forces training techniques by Mike Ritland, Navy SEAL, for David’s approach.

The training exercises for Atlas are very specifically geared towards his already established military working dog training, so Lyn is learning this from David. However, her own expertise is demonstrated more in her psychological approach to coaxing Atlas back into responding and wanting to work again.

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Q&A: HOLD YOUR BREATH’s Katie Ruggle

Hold Your Breath Katie Ruggle

Katie Ruggle is the author of an upcoming romantic suspense Search & Rescue series. The first book in the series, Hold Your Breath, doesn’t release until April 5th but you can get a taste of the series by downloading the free prequel novella, On His Watch, which is available now. We asked Katie to stop by and answer a few rapid fire questions! Welcome Katie Ruggle!

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Both please! If I have to choose, I’d pick vanilla—the fancy kind with real beans. Mmm…vanilla. Now I’m going to need dessert after my pizza and margarita dinner.

Pepsi or Coke?

Eh, neither really. I’ve never been a pop drinker, except when doing long drives from Colorado to Minnesota and needing caffeine but not wanting to get that fast-talking-and-possible-heart-attack-having feeling from coffee (see “Coffee or Tea” answer above). Honestly, I can’t taste a difference between Pepsi and Coke.

On His Watch Katie Ruggle
What is something you know you need to stop doing?

So many things… I need to quit checking my reviews; eating so many cookies; obsessing over comma placement and whether or not to use subjunctive tense while I’m writing (the grammar nerd in me can’t help it!); considering popcorn and Hot Tamales candy a balanced meal; procrastinating and just unpack those final two moving boxes tucked upstairs, out of sight.

I never get tired of ___ ?

Fun one! Reading good books; talking about said good books with others who are just as excited about them as I am; writing what will hopefully be good books; walking in the woods right after it snows when the only other tracks besides mine and the dogs’ are wild creatures’; riding horses; learning new things, especially those that make me feel strong and brave; target shooting (I love the smell of gunpowder—odd, right?); spending time with my family (they’re overall awesome people); SCUBA diving; helping others in a crisis (or just with something small); getting to know my (sometimes quirky) neighbors; being as self-sufficient as possible; visiting new places. Okay, I’ll stop now. 🙂

When she’s not writing, Katie Ruggle rides horses, shoots guns, and travels to warm places where she can SCUBA dive. Graduating from the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. While she still misses her off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains, she now lives in Rochester, Minnesota near her family.

Katie can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and KatieRuggle.com.

Q&A

Q&A: Carolyn Brown of WILD COWBOY WAYS

Wild Cowboy Ways Carolyn Brown

Carolyn Brown’s Wild Cowboy Ways is out today from Forever and she’s stopped by to answer our questions! Be sure and pick up your copy of Wild Cowboy Ways today!

BOOK BOYFRIENDS

Who are your book boyfriends? (list a maximum of five) What do you like about them? What characteristics do they share with the hero from your latest release?

Oh, I have many book boyfriends hiding on my shelves between the pages of my well worn books.

#1 Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind. He brings his dark looks and wild side to Blake in Wild Cowboy Ways.

#2 Orrin Sacket (Tom Selleck) from The Sackett Series. He shares his common sense and love for an adventure to Blake.

#3 Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) from Elmore Leonard’s Fire in the Hole brings his swagger to Blake.

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Autumn Thorns Yasmine Galenorn
Q&A

Q&A: Katie Lane of UNWRAPPED

Unwrapped by Katie Lane

We’ve got author Katie Lane stopping by to answer our questions! We hope you enjoy and pick up your copy of Unwrapped today!!

FIVE BOOKS

If you could only read five books for the rest of your life, what five books would they be, and why?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss.  I love the Grinch and the Whos. But mostly I love the message: People can change. No matter how small your heart, it can grow.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. Another great message: No matter how small and odd you are, you can be a hero.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This is such a perfect story. The sub-plots keep you on your toes, and each and every character has depth, color, and texture.  You want to move to that little southern town and make them your best friends…your bravest heroes…your worst enemies.

Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss. It has everything. Love, betrayal, murder, hidden identities, pirates, and of course, great sex scenes. :o)

The Bible. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the best book ever written.

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Q&A: Santino Hassell, Karen Stivali, and Damon Suede on Movies

3 book graphic with release dates - new - final

Today we have the second round of our Q&A with Santino Hassell, Karen Stivali, and Damon Suede. They are all on tour together for their newest releases, Sunset Park, Moment of Silence, and Pent Up respectively! Enjoy their answers, and be sure and pick up their books today too!

What are your favorite movies with romance or romantic elements?

Karen’s movie picks:

For romantic NY movies:

Keeping The Faith: Friends to lovers, love triangle, family struggles, and a mind-blowingly accurate portrayal of my own experience where Jewish and Catholic families are involved, all set throughout the city as if the whole movie is a love letter to NY (which I’m guessing is exactly what director (and star) Edward Norton was going for with this film). I love it.

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Q&A: Jill Shalvis of MY KIND OF WONDERFUL

My Kind of Wonderful Jill Shalvis

Next week, My Kind of Wonderful, the second book in Jill Shalvis’ Cedar Creek series will hit shelves and e-readers. Jill has stopped by EverAfter to answer our questions! Be sure an pre-order your copy of My Kind of Wonderful today!

FIRST ROMANCE (AKA My First Time):

What was the first romance novel you read?

It was Ashes in The Wind by Kathleen E. Woodikiss.

What do you remember about it?

I was in high school, in the library, and had it shoved in between the pages of my chem book.  I was transfixed.  Also, I nearly failed chem.

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Q&A: Santino Hassell, Karen Stivali, and Damon Suede

3 book graphic with release dates - new - final

Today we have a special treat for you with not one, not two, but three authors in a join Q&A!!! Santino Hassell, Karen Stivali, and Damon Suede are all on tour together for their newest releases, Sunset Park, Moment of Silence, and Pent Up respectively! Enjoy their answers, and check back next week or the second part of their interview! Be sure and pick up their books today too!

FIRST ROMANCE (AKA My First Time):

What was the first romance novel you read? What do you remember about it? What did you like most about it?

Karen: Something I stole from my grandmother who was a romance novel addict and brought 10 when she’d visit for a week. She later kept me in my addiction by always leaving her books for me. I don’t remember a lot of titles, just that there were a lot Danielle Steele books. I do remember snagging her copy of The Thorn Birds (but it wasn’t my first). I also remember my mother flipping through some of these books, horrified, and asking “WHY do they have to have so much SEX in them?” And my grandmother and I just looked at each other and laughed. I was a very mature 11 year old at the time. Didn’t matter. I’d read all the Judy Blume books and snuck in reads of my father’s copies of Portnoy’s Complaint and Fear Of Flying already, so I was prepared for all the sexy bits (which were usually my favorite parts). What I liked most about all of the books I read was watching the characters fall in love. That still fascinates me today and is a big part of why I write romance.

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Q&A: COMING BACK Author Lauren Dane

Coming Back Lauren Dane

Coming Back, the third book in the Ink and Chrome series by Lauren Dane releases today! She’s stopped by to answer our questions! Be sure and pick up a copy of Coming Back today!

FIVE BOOKS
If you could only read five books for the rest of your life, what five books would they be?

Oh my goodness!  Ok, in no particular order and with the understanding that this list could change daily, LOL!

  1. Frank Herbert’s Dune
  2. William Gibson’s Neuromancer
  3. Stephen King’s The Stand
  4. Jennifer Crusie’s Welcome To Temptation
  5. Pablo Neruda’s poetry

FIRST ROMANCE (AKA My First Time):

What was the first romance novel you read?

Forever by Judy Blume

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Q&A: Cara Connelly of READY TO ROCK

Ready To Rock Cara Connelly

Today Cara Connelly’s Ready to Rock has hit e-readers and Cara’s stopped by to answer our questions on her release day! Be sure and pick up a copy of Ready to Rock today!

FIVE BOOKS

If you could only read five books for the rest of your life, what five books would they be, and why?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, because every time I read it I discover some new subtlety to love.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, because the story is timeless, the characters are iconic, and it never fails to move me.

Any of C.S. Forester’ Horatio Hornblower books, because Hornblower is a hopelessly complicated man, and I love seafaring adventures.

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