This week in The Loft: Author Tim Smith!

Joining me today in The Loft is fellow Extasy author Tim Smith. Tim is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic mystery/thrillers and contemporary erotic romance. His novels featuring former CIA agent Nick Seven have garnered several awards and international critical praise. He is also a freelance writer, blogger, editor, and photographer. When he isn’t pursuing those interests, he can be found in the Florida Keys, doing research in between parasailing and seeking out the perfect Mojito.

Author Tim Smith

S:  Welcome back, Tim! I'm excited to hear about your latest book.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing romance authors today?

T:  I think book banning and cancel culture both present issues for today’s romance authors. There are so many people looking for things to label as offensive that it’s getting more difficult to tell a good story without rubbing someone the wrong way. This is especially true for those who write LGBTQ or interracial romance. These subjects seem to dominate the banned book lists. For years, traditional romance publishers have strictly adhered to a list of off-limits story topics. Now we have people intent on adding their own politically-motivated pet peeves to the list.

S:  A particular group of book banners has been very active in my area, submitting requests to school libraries to ban 200 books or more. As a parent and an author, I find their attempts to usurp my judgment aggravating.

How do you develop your characters? Do you use photos or a vision board?

T:  When I’m conceiving a character, I have a certain personality and body type in mind, including hairstyle and clothing choices. I’m a people watcher and I pick up on little things, like a behavior or speech pattern, that I can use to make the characters realistic. In some cases, I might envision a specific actor, and I’ll use a headshot to capture certain details. My Florida-based stories are populated by Latino characters because they’re part of the cultural fabric, and they add realism. The challenge with specifying a character’s ethnicity is doing so without being derogatory or condescending.

S:  I love developing characters. I have so much fun employing quirks I have observed in other settings.

Do you outline the plot for your stories before writing?

T:  I typically begin with a rough outline in my head, including the ending I have in mind. I divide the story into chapters as I go. I seldom write an outline unless I’m stuck, and need to identify the problem. Although I have the story pretty much figured out before I begin, I’m not averse to changing course if the narrative dictates it. There have been times when I’m rolling along then something will make me stop and think “Hey, what if we did this instead?”

S:  I am more of a pantser. I know where I want to start, but I never know where I'll wind up!

What do you write first—the blurb or the book?

T:  The book comes first because writing the blurb is one of the toughest things for me. I’ll make a few notes on what to include while writing the story, but when it comes time to finish the blurb, I agonize over it. That’s the first impression you get to make with potential readers. It isn’t easy to write a 250-word summary that will grab their attention.

S:  I agree. Writing blurbs can be painful. 

Do you write in other genres? 

T:  I’ve published a number of short books that were romantic comedies instead of mystery/thrillers. Some were holiday-themed romances, and others were part of a series I called Key West Heat. All of those stories took place in Key West, but they each had different characters. I like to do the shorter ones as a change of pace. It challenges me to write a complete story in 10,000 words.

S:  What would you like to people know about you as a person or as a writer?

T:  My goal is to give readers an entertaining story, one that will help them temporarily escape this stressful thing called life. It’s why I work hard at creating realistic atmosphere, characters, situations, and dialogue. I don’t intentionally try to include messages or opinions, but sometimes they slip in by accident. I consider writing to be part of the entertainment business, because that’s what we do—we write to entertain and enlighten. I don’t write for the critics, but for the person in Parma, Ohio, or Rugby, North Dakota who just wants a diversion. One of the nicest compliments I can get is when someone says they can’t wait to read my next book. It doesn’t get much better than that!

S:  What inspired “One Way Out?"

T:  My previous series entry, “Out of the Shadows," did very well, and followers of the Nick Seven stories asked when I’d be releasing a sequel. I didn’t see a need for one, but the consensus was that I had left some loose threads at the end. This was done intentionally, because I wanted to leave a question mark about the Holy Grail everyone was after, but never found. After thinking about it, I viewed it as a challenge to see if I could write a story that would pick up where the previous one left off, while still working as a stand-alone adventure. I believe I accomplished that. I was also influenced by current events, social media trends, and political themes that piqued my interest.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about “One Way Out?"

T:  “One Way Out” is my thirtieth published book, and the ninth installment in the Nick Seven series of Florida Keys-based adventures. The books do not need to be read in order. Although I incorporated topical themes into the plot, it’s a breezy, quick-paced adventure with romance, humor, interesting characters, snappy dialogue, and vivid atmosphere. It’s escapism, pure and simple. Chase away the blues by joining Nick and Felicia in sunny, sultry Key Largo for their latest adventure. I think you’ll enjoy the trip!

Here's the blurb--

Lauren Scott is a wealthy widow with a lot of embarrassing secrets. Her late husband, a convicted stock swindler, died under mysterious circumstances, just as he was about to name names in Federal court. His legacy supposedly includes a list of VIPs who attended sex parties on a private Caribbean island, among other things. Now Lauren has become the target of too many people who think she holds the secrets he once kept, and they just might kill her for them.

She calls on her friends, former CIA spies Nick Seven and Felicia Hagens, for help. Despite initial misgivings, they agree to assist her. But their laidback Florida Keys life is quickly disrupted by those in hot pursuit, including a zealous podcaster who is making Lauren’s private life public, a Treasury agent, victims of her late husband’s Ponzi scheme, and a Southern governor who has his eye on the White House.

Looks like there might be trouble brewing in paradise.

S:  That sounds like a fascinating plot! Where can readers buy your book?

T:  It's available at all major booksellers, including--

Extasy Books:  One Way Out (extasybooks.com)

Amazon:  One Way Out (Nick Seven Book 9) - Kindle edition by Smith, Tim. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Barnes &  Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-way-out-tim-smith/1145012169

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/one-way-out-22

S:  Tim, thanks so much for joining me today and good luck with your new book! If you'd like to learn more about Tim and his books, please visit--

Tim Smith, Author | Books | Series | Interview | Deals | Newsletter | Contact | Site | AllAuthor

This week in The Loft: Author Christina Alexandra!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Christina Alexandra. Christina writes historical romance spanning from Georgian and Regency England to the gold fields of California. She uses her varied life and work experiences to craft true-to-life characters and emotional stories with a unique twist on modern issues. When not researching, writing, or working as an emergency services operator, she spends her spare time traveling, cooking—oftentimes with a historical flare—and connecting with fans and friends on social media. An avid trivia junkie, Christina is constantly on the lookout for random facts in the hopes that it will help her in her never-ending quest for a spot on “Jeopardy!”

Author Christina Alexandra

S:  Good morning, Christina. Thanks for joining me today.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing romance authors today?

C:  I know a lot of people are worried about AI in the writer and artist spaces. I’m not terribly concerned over this since AI is still a soulless machine that has no hope of replicating human emotion, tone, or voice. To me, the biggest threat facing romance is visibility. There are so many books out there, some wonderful and complex, and others wonderful and comforting, others, not so much. With so many books out there, it is very difficult for new independent authors to find their audience. Yes, there is a reader for every book out there, but getting that book into the hands of the reader is where it becomes difficult.

S:  Self-publishing certainly opened the floodgates. Estimates are that up to four million books are now published a year. That makes for some pretty stiff competition.

Why write romance?

C:  You know all those bad cliches about romance that people always use to denigrate the genre? Those are the absolute reasons I love romance and write it. I love the formula Hero + Heroine + Shenanigans = HEA. I love the predictability of romance and its emotional payout. I work in a very real-world day job that doesn’t always have a positive end. Romance gives me that blast of endorphins that I need to get through my day. I love the angst, drama, and trauma of the relationships, but I also love how it all falls together in the end. I think we all need that boost of positivity and something to look forward to at the end of the day. And if someone else needs that rush of endorphins and gets it from what I write, then I will be happy.

S:  It would be a dark, dark world without romance--in fiction and the real world.

How do you develop your characters? Do you use photos or a vision board?

C:  Oh, my… characters. I have a list of characters and character pairings that I work off of. I don’t really know who they are. Their personalities, backgrounds, and drama/trauma don’t come into play until I start writing or outlining. I do use Pinterest to find images for characters and settings that I put in a mood board. I try to make a Pinterest board for each of my stories, so readers who follow me there can see what the inspiration for the characters and stories are.

S:  That's a clever idea and a good way to keep readers engaged.

Do you outline the plot for your stories before writing?

C:  I outline my longer stories, especially my series. My long-form stories and series have several plot threads in them, some running through the entire series, and I definitely need to keep track of who does what, how that thread impacts which characters, and how it relates to other external events. I have this big dry-erase board that I keep a series-long timeline on and plot out those points. I like being able to see it all in front of me and writing it out helps cement it in my brain. My short stories, like "A Midnight Scandal," usually only have one plot thread and don’t require any heavy outlining. They only have the main relationship plot so there isn’t much for me to keep track of. I do keep a minimalist outline that is basically a list of whose point of view I’m in and the major plot point that happens.

S:  Do you utilize tropes when writing romance? 

C:  I do now, kind of. It took me a long time to figure out tropes and how to use them. Now they kind of happen accidentally in the story. I can definitely recognize them when they do happen. My current story, "A Midnight Scandal," is trope-centric. Its part of an anthology project where the only requirement was that all stories had to be the Wrong Bed trope. That was a fun challenge!

S:  I was also confused about tropes when I began writing romance. Then I realized I was already utilizing them. I just hadn't affixed a label to them.

What do you write first—the blurb or the book?

C:  For my short stories, I write the story first. Mainly because I don’t outline or plot them as heavily, so I don’t know what’s going to happen. On my longer stories, I come up with a concept first–usually a single line that gives the main relationship plot. I build a blurb around that, then I go into the rough outline, and finally, I start writing. It’s a whole process. 

S:  Do you write in other genres? 

C:  I tried! I had one disastrous attempt at science fiction, but I always revert back to romance. Specifically, historical romance. I tried contemporary once, but that didn’t work. I couldn’t figure out the language, or the clothing--especially the clothing. And what is up with all this technology? I think I was always destined to write historical fiction and romance.

S:  What is the best/worst thing that has ever happened to you as a writer?

C:  I was in a critique group years ago. It was three writers seeking publication, and a published author acting as a mentor for the group. We all submitted a chapter a week, then met up in person to discuss and critique each other's pages. The published mentor happened to write in my genre, and they had a bad case of writer’s block. They’d written and traditionally published at least five books, and was feeling the pressure from their agent to submit something soon. One night they ripped my chapter to shreds, telling me the story idea I had was ridiculous, that the concept was unbelievable, no one would believe a heroine would be desperate enough to behave in such a way, and the entire situation was anachronous to the time period. I wasn’t too happy to hear that, but the worst part came two weeks later when they came to the group and showed us what they were submitting to their agent as their next book–the exact same scenario that I had written the month before. I know you can’t copyright ideas, but this felt like a stab in the back. If the idea was so wrong and unbelievable as they said, why did they turn around and use it themselves? That, along with literally throwing a dictionary at me when I questioned some word choices, made me realize this was not the help I needed to get my book written. Luckily, I didn’t take their initial advice, and they never submitted that book to their agent. That author has since stopped writing in the genre altogether. That was a tough time for me. I ended up shelving that entire project and didn’t write anything for over a year.

S:  What a horrible experience.

What inspired "A Midnight Scandal?"

C:  "A Midnight Scandal" was inspired by tropes! The main trope and theme of the anthology was Wrong Bed. For the longest time that was how I referred to it. It didn’t get a title until I was forced to choose one upon submitting to the anthology coordinator. Using that trope as a starting point, I took off from there. The story itself went through about 15 different versions before I settled on the story as it is now. I started with a Maid in Manhattan vibe, but that evolved into a second-chance romance between a battle-weary soldier with PTSD, and his childhood friend and first love.

S:  Christina, thanks for visiting The Loft today. Good luck with the anthology! If you'd like to  learn more about Christina and her books, please visit--

 Website:  https://www.ChristinaAlexandra.net

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChrisAlex

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/AuthorChrisAlex

Other links:  https://linktr.ee/authorchrisalex

This week in The Loft: Author Sadira Stone!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Sadira Stone.  Sadira writes contemporary romance, which she defines as "steamy, smoochy tales" set in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Formerly a high school English teacher, she now writes full-time. Her books focus on small businesses—a quirky bookstore, a neighborhood bar, a vintage boutique, a small-town newspaper—and highlight found family, friendship, and the sizzling chemistry that pulls unlikely partners together. When Sadira emerges from her writing cave, she can be found shaking her hips in dance class, playing guitar, exploring the Western U.S. with her husband, cooking up a storm, and gobbling all the romance books.

Author Sadira Stone

S:   Good morning, Sadira. I'm pleased you could stop by today!

What do you think is the biggest issue facing romance authors today?

SS:  Competition! There are so many of us writing good romance books, it’s a tough challenge to get the attention of readers who’d probably love our stories if they even knew they existed. I mean, I’m an avid romance reader myself, with the bad habit of buying any on-sale eBook that looks interesting, and my Kindle is stuffed with excellent books I haven’t got around to reading yet.

S:  I agree with you. The competition for readers is pretty intense. 

Have you ever attended a writer’s retreat? Did you find it helpful? 

SS:  I'm glad you asked this question! Last October, an author friend set up a small writers’ retreat in Westport, Washington, and I had a wonderful time. We wrote together in the hotel’s café during the day, had lunch and dinner together in local restaurants, and shared writing/publishing industry info around the fire pit at night. It was a super supportive and productive time. I can’t wait for next year’s retreat.

S:  Why write romance?

SS:  Romance is the literature of hope. I’ve lived through too much real-life tragedy, betrayal, rotten luck, and cruelty to want an extra dose of negativity in the stories I read for fun. After a career teaching Li-trah-chur with a capital L, it’s such a joy to write and read stories of hope, human connection, and love. Frankly, I need that guaranteed HEA before immersing myself in a story.

S:  "The literature of hope." I like that!

How do you develop your characters? Do you use photos or a vision board?

SS:  First, I come up with the basic premise for a story, then I create extensive character sketches. Choosing the character’s astrological sign gives me a complex personality to start with. For example, my next book involves a reclusive author with a tragic past, so I Googled “Which zodiac sign is most likely to be a recluse?” Et voilà! Finn Abrams is a Virgo, and his tarot card is The Hermit. I create a Pinterest page for each story, including photos of people who look like I imagine my characters, as well as buildings, interiors, and other places or elements in the story. Having an image helps me lots with writing descriptions. For example, here’s my page for "Love, Legacy, and Little Green Aliens," https://www.pinterest.com/sadira0641/xander-and-hannah/

S:  That's an interesting and unique process. You put a lot of effort into building your characters. 

Do you utilize tropes when writing romance? 

SS:  Absolutely! Romance readers are looking for a certain kind of emotional experience, and tropes are a handy shortcut to help them find what they want. A writer worth her salt--or ink?--knows how to use tropes as one element of a unique, layered story. My favorites are enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, opposites attract, single parent, and rivals to lovers. Lately, I’m writing mostly over-40 romance.

S:  I am also writing middle-aged romance more often. I need more stories I can identify with. 

Do you write in other genres?

SS:  My first three completed novels--as yet unpublished--are cozy mysteries with romantic elements. In fact, I had to tone down the love scenes. Finally, I took the hint and switched to writing romance because who wants to cut out the steamy smooches? But I do plan to publish those mysteries one day. I’ve also published a short horror story.

S:  What inspired "Love, Legacy, and Little Green Aliens?"

SS:  "Love, Legacy, and Little Green Aliens" was inspired by Marsh’s Free Museum, a sublimely eclectic and funky souvenir emporium in Long Beach, WA. In addition to a huge collection of seashells and all the beachy souvenirs, they also display weird taxidermized creatures (two-headed piglet, two-headed calf, shrunken heads), antique penny-arcade games, and Jake “the Alligator Man”—probably a mummified monkey sewn to an alligator’s body. I loooove this place, and for my book, I tweaked it by adding alien-themed tchotchkes. I do love tacky, quirky beach towns, and that’s the atmosphere you’ll find in the Trappers Cove romance series, inspired by all the funky beach towns I’ve visited in Washington State, Oregon, and Northern California.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Love, Legacy, and Little Green Aliens?"

SS:  I had so much fun researching UFO believers and their alien encounters for this book. Xander Anagnos, an entrepreneur with a history of failed businesses, inherits his Uncle Gus’s alien-themed souvenir shop and must deal with interference from UFO researchers who believe the site contains a Cosmic Vortex used to communicate with extraterrestrial visitors! If aliens aren’t interesting enough, there’s also a family curse and a ghost standing between Xander and his plans to renovate Souvenir Planet, so of course I had to research ghostly encounters and ghost removal. Fascinating! But Xander’s biggest obstacle is Hannah Leone, a beautiful local journalist desperate to save the Trappers Cove Beacon, the small-town newspaper her family has run for generations. Souvenir Planet and all its ET weirdness is the biggest story to hit Trappers Cove in ages, and she’s not going to let a pesky crush on Xander stand between her and saving the Beacon—and the soul of Trappers Cove. The death of local journalism is a topic dear to my heart, because without dedicated news coverage, citizens lose their agency to affect change in their communities—or to preserve their communities from rampaging rampaging gentrification, as in the case of Trappers Cove.

Here's the blurb--

HEA vs. a curse, a ghost, and a plague of ETs.

According to the Anagnos family curse, second son Xander is doomed to failure. When he inherits his Uncle Gus’s business in Trappers Cove, Washington, Xander jumps at the chance to prove himself. Of course, he plans to remake the schlocky, alien-themed souvenir shop into something trendier and more upmarket. Who wouldn't want that?

Hannah Leone, that's who. Reporter for the Trappers Cove Beacon, Hannah is hell-bent on protecting Souvenir Planet, the beloved icon that draws thousands of tourists to their quirky beach town. The Beacon is struggling to survive, and there’s no way Hannah will let an inconvenient crush stand between her and the biggest story to hit Trappers Cove in ages.

Caught in a battle of wills and sizzling desire, Xander and Hannah discover the bizarre depths of Uncle Gus’s alien obsession. When disaster strikes, they’ll need Xander’s innovation and Hannah’s connections to save Souvenir Planet. But if these hard-headed foes don’t lay down their arms, the town they love will pay the price.

Come back to Trappers Cove for a steamy, laugh-out-loud, rivals-to-lovers romance full of found family, beachy fun, and out-of-this-world mystery.

S:  Wow. That sounds very entertaining. It's definitely going on my TBR list! 

Where can readers buy "Love, Legacy, and Little Green Aliens?" 

SS:  It's available at https://books2read.com/LoveLegacyLittleGreenAliens.

S:  Sadira, thanks for joining me today! If you'd like to learn more about Sadira and her books, please visit https://linktr.ee/SadiraStone.

This week in The Loft: Author Marc Jarrod!

Joining me today in The Loft is fellow Extasy author Marc Jarrod. Marc writes contemporary, erotic, fantasy, paranormal, and holiday romance. Born in Italy, Marc came to America when he was six years old. By day, he works for a major delivery company. When he is not working or writing, he spends time with his wife and a cat named Gouda. He is an avid fan of professional sports, especially baseball, hockey, and football. Marc lives in St. Peters, Missouri, across the Missouri River from St. Louis.

Author Marc Jarrod

S:  Good morning, Marc! Thanks for joining me today!

What do you think is the biggest issue facing romance authors today? 

M:  To me, it is what to write next to get a reader's attention. In other words, been there, done that. That was why I wrote "The Christmas Spirit." It fulfilled two genres--holiday and paranormal--but was still considered a romance story.

S:  Writing stories that readers want to read is so important.

 Why did you choose to write romance? 

M:  It is a form of escapism for readers who wish they were part of the story. A classic example is a man named Fabio, who had been on dozens of romance covers. With his long brown hair, muscles, and handsome features, women swoon over him.

S:  There's nothing better than a hot fantasy lover. 

Do you outline the plot for your stories before writing? 

M:  Kind of. I just start writing when my muse is in high gear. Everything starts coming to me about what to write and how it will develop. Once I am finished. I go over what I wrote and usually change the wording to tighten plot lines, etc.

S:  I write the same way. I'm not a fan of outlines.

Do you write in other genres?

M:  I have written in several genres--vampire, gay, a lot of holiday stories. I write using several genres to keep my stories fresh from boredom, again avoiding the been there done that issue.

S:  What is the best/worst thing that has ever happened to you as a writer? 

M:  I think I can say this for any writer. The worst--having a book rejected that I thought was perfect. The best--when my book did get accepted after I thought it would be rejected.

S:  If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose to write books? 

M:  Yes. I enjoy writing. It's kind of an escape.

S:  What famous book do you wish you had written? 

M:  "The Godfather." It's one of my favorite books. I have read it a number of times. On the other hand, because I have read it a number of times, and because I have written several books, I think I could have done a better job of writing it. There were so many narratives that were not necessary in the novel.

S:  What inspired "The Christmas Spirit?" 

M:  A friend of mine had lost his wife to cancer. Several times, he swore she was giving him signs that she was there. He was also there throughout her ordeal

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "The Christmas Spirit?"

M:  Just like in my novel, "The Christmas Spirit," my friend was watching over her all those months. Now she was watching over him.

Here's the blurb--

How can a man who lost his wife of 25 years keep her promise when he will never see her again?

You watched over me... now I will watch over you... even in death. It will be the last words his beloved wife, Betty Barnhart, had told her husband, Robert, before she took her last breath, dying in his arms.

Robert Barnhart had just lost his wife Betty from a long battle with cancer—15 days before Christmas. Twelve months earlier—January of that same year, they celebrated their 25th anniversary. Their children and their spouses along with friends, held a party for them on this hallmark occasion. The couple had even renewed their vows, asking the original priest to administer the ceremony... the richer for poorer, sickness and in health, etc.

Unfortunately, their renewed portion of their vows... the sickness and in health, part, would be tested to the limit because six months later, Betty received the devastating news of her cancer diagnosis.

On December 10, her last words were a promise to Robert that he will never, ever forget.

Little did Robert know how much she would keep her promise, even after her death... constantly giving her approval or disapproval on things he would do. Seeing these subtle and sometimes not so subtle signs told Robert that even in death, Betty would always be near him... watching over him.

S:  That sounds like a very emotional tale. Where can readers buy your book?

M:  It's available at all major booksellers, including--

eXtasy Books:  https://www.extasybooks.com/The-Christmas-Spirit

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Spirit-Marc-Jarrod-ebook/dp/B0CP1RLJDW

Barnes and Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-spirit-marc-jarrod/1144467254?ean=2940179207153

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-christmas-spirit-18

This week in The Loft: New author Arabella Ames!

Joining me this week in The Loft is new eXtasy author Arabella Ames. Arabella writes contemporary romance and enjoys exploring the dark side of love. As a full-time author, she spends her days with her cat, Cat, drinking espresso and falling in love with morally gray men. She has her MFA in fiction writing, and enjoys traveling, mountain climbing, and consuming novels. Currently, she is working on the first book in a new three-book romance series that will be released later this year.

The avatar for Arabella Ames

S:  Good morning, Arabella. Thanks for joining me today!

How do you develop the characters in your books? Do you use photos or a vision board?

A:  I meet my characters in the same way I might come to know someone in real life. With every interaction, I have a better understanding of their motivations and personality, and even begin to know their more private hopes and fears. I tend to avoid photos as reference for my characters, unless they are inspired by a real person, and there are details I find important to include.

S:  Do you utilize tropes when writing romance?

A:  I do use tropes when writing romance. There's a certain joy in picking up a novel and knowing things will work out in a way that the reader likes. Happily Ever Afters and guaranteed plot points aren't for everyone or every genre, and that's okay. But in romance, I think there's an added thrill in seeing common themes play out. So much of real life mirrors art and vice versa. In fiction, we have control. And there's comfort in that.

S:  I think people read romance for the comfort the stories bring. Despite how bad things get, readers hold onto the hope of a happy ending.

What do you write first—the blurb or the book?

A:  I will always write the book first. It's funny, I can easily write 60,000 words, but ask me to write a short paragraph summarizing the story, and I'll panic.

S:  Blurbs are tough to write, but holding off until the manuscript is finished makes it so much easier.

Do you write in other genres?

A:  I do write in other genres. My second favorite is fantasy, but every story I write includes love in some way. Our lives need love, and I think our fictions do as well.

S:  I find it hard to write a story without some sort of romance. It comes in so many shapes and sizes. It's everywhere around us. 

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A:  Summiting Mt.Kilimanjaro in 2022. It was my second attempt. I'd previously climbed Kilimanjaro in 2018, and wound up 2000 feet short of the summit. So being able to go back and overcome, not only a mountain, but a previous personal failure, was the ultimate accomplishment.

S:  Wow. That's an amazing accomplishment. 

What inspired "Hostile Takeover?"

A:  I found myself falling out of love with my career, which was a corporate management role at the time. Although growth at the company was no longer what I wanted for myself, there was endless inspiration, and it began with a seemingly simple premise. We've all had, or known someone who's had, a forbidden workplace romance that fizzles out for one reason or another. But what if, despite all odds, you were meant to meet them, and they were determined to make things work, no matter what. Naturally, I took that idea and made it into a dark romance kidnapping plot.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Hostile Takeover?"

A:  This is my debut novel. I finished the book, got it to the editor, and three weeks before it came out, quit my corporate job. It's a huge risk, but I've never been happier. In many ways, I credit this book with changing my life.

Here's the blurb--

Career-driven Meghan always thought that she would make partner by thirty until a new transfer is brought in to help close a corporate merger, disrupting her plan with motives that have the potential to upend more than just her career.

S:  That certainly sounds suspenseful! Where can readers buy "Hostile Takeover?"

A:  It's available at most booksellers, including--

eXtasy Books:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Hostile-Takeover

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Hostile-Takeover-Arabella-Ames/dp/1487439822/

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hostile-takeover-arabella-ames/1144802664?ean=2940179564072

Google Books:  https://books.google.com/books/about/Hostile_Takeover.html?id=PTnxEAAAQBAJ

S:  Arabella, congratulations on the publication of your first book! If you'd like to learn more about Arabella and her books, please visit--

Website:  www.arabellaames.com
TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@authorarabella

This week in The Loft: Author Janina Grey

Joining me today in The Loft is author Janina Grey. While her latest series is contemporary romance, with a magical/paranormal twist, Janina also writes historical and paranormal time travel romances. By day, she guides domestic and sexual assault survivors down their path of healing and empowerment. By night and in the shadows, Janina works her magic as a pagan high priestess. In the wee hours before dawn, Janina brings her characters to life, creating their journeys based on the crazy adventures she’s lived out over the years. When not working, Janina may be marching for women’s rights, kayaking, camping, or drumming and dancing around a fire. She and her husband, David, share their 115-year-old Mohawk Valley farmhouse homestead with a few resident spirits and a very squawky murder of crows.

Author Janina Grey

S:  It's so nice to see you again, Janina. Thanks for visiting!

What do you think is the biggest issue facing romance authors today?
 
J:  Writing romance is the easy part of the game, if you ask me. The most challenging aspect of becoming a successful romance author would have to be marketing and as a part of that, building your fan base. Many authors are working full-time day jobs, taking care of kiddos at home, and writing their stories in any spare moments they can find. When do we find the time to market? By that, I mean finding the time to explore the market, create the content we need to promote our work, keep up on social media, find the best avenues to promote our work, and finally, scheduling and distributing your promo materials into an already jam-packed life. 

S:  I agree with you. Marketing is a lot of work and very time-consuming. I hate that it takes away from writing.

Have you ever attended a writer’s retreat? Did you find it helpful? 

J:  Writing retreats are da bomb! I belong to a group of writers who frequent a beautiful B&B in Remsen, NY called Thistle Dew. It is run by Andrea Kaczor, a romance author herself. We try to schedule a weekend-long retreat quarterly, peppering in supportive lunches here and there throughout the year. These writing retreats are where I usually get my batteries recharged, where I plot my WIP, and where I really get to know my characters.
If you’ve got a supportive writing tribe, a quiet, spacious location that has lovely views, ample writing space, romantic history, and great food, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to for your weekend getaway.

S:  That sounds like a wonderful experience!

Why write romance?

J:  Have you seen the state of the world? As a journalist, I wrote love stories with no intention of getting published. It was like my therapy to get my mind off my job. I’d print them all out and put them in boxes--usually boot boxes although one ended up in a box the family Bible came in--and share them around to my friends. We called them my Boot Box series. When we moved up here and I started working with domestic violence victims, I again wrote as a means to escape. I needed to reaffirm that true love is possible. Add into that mix wars, a pandemic, famine, murder, riots, a climate crisis that’s threatening our very existence, and we need a little happiness to take our minds off the chaos that’s spinning all around us. On top of all that, the market is filled with genres that do not have happy endings normally. True crime, horror, suspense, murder mysteries, and action movies blow people up every three minutes and leave the hero or heroine surviving, but oftentimes, alone. There is not enough love in this world. Not enough consensual sex. Not enough happily-ever-afters.

S: How do you develop your characters? Do you use photos or a vision board?

J:  Tarot is my go-to when it comes to fleshing out my characters. I have a general idea of what their personality may be like, so I give them a birthdate and an astrological sign and moon sign that backs up their personality. Then I do a Tarot spread--usually the Celtic Cross--to find out what their conflicts past and present are, what their hopes and dreams are, and all that fun stuff. I do a second spread called The Bridge that tells me what they need to do to get where they have to go. I tweak the plot and backstory a bit based on what the characters tell me, but the general story starts with Tarot.

S:  What a fascinating way to develop characters! 

What would you like to people know about you as a person or as a writer?

J:  Sometimes romance authors are viewed as dreamers who aren’t very logical, or who have soap opera mentalities. I’m tough. I’m a fighter. I’ve beaten three different types of cancer in my lifetime. I work with domestic violence survivors. I wrote a program and teach it to convicted domestic violence offenders that helps them relearn what healthy relationships look like. I’m not a person who lives in a fantasy world. In addition, I’m a practicing third-degree high priestess and witch running a six-coven tradition for the last nearly 20 years. I may be an advocate for true love, but I’m not a pushover. All of this is reflected in my characters, especially my heroines.

S:  What is the best/worst thing that has ever happened to you as a writer?

J:  The worst thing that happened to me as a writer was losing my first, and only agent. She was an editor from a prestigious publishing house just starting her literary agency business and I won a chance to talk to her at a RWA conference I attended. She liked what she heard, and I thought her connections would prove to be really beneficial. She was having a lot of family issues. I was having a lot of family issues. For more than a year, she said she was submitting my work and it was getting rejected. Finally, she said she was closing her business due to her family situation. I asked for the list of publishing houses she’d submitted my work to, so I could continue submitting and not duplicate the ones who’d already rejected me. She never gave me the names, so part of me thinks she’d never submitted my work. By the time all was said and done two years had passed. I think that’s why I haven’t approached any agents since then.

S:  I have to admit, when I began publishing books, I was told that I had to have an agent. I decided to put that decision on hold and 25 books later, I've never regretted that decision. 

If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose to write books?

J:  The thing is, I never chose to write books. It just happened. I’ve always written stories, from the time I was in elementary school, to my time as a journalist, until now as a romance author. I don’t think I could ever stop writing books. As it is, I have three first drafts completed, two first drafts half-done, and two books roughly outlined. I’m midway through my current WIP, and there are not enough hours in a day to get these all written. So, yeah. I think I’ll always be writing books.

S:  What do you consider your greatest achievement?

J:  I have so many achievements that I would consider great. My two kids, Anthony who is now 32 years old and Allie Rose who is 26 years old, top the list. Surviving thyroid, kidney, and uterine cancers over the course of 30 years definitely deserves the #2 spot. But one particular experienced I aced that brought me out of my comfort zone would have to be the trip to Australia I took alone. This was huge because I’d never gone anywhere without my husband. It meant leaving my young babies with my husband and that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. That trip changed my life. I feel like it was my awakening, a rebirthing of sorts. I found myself. It made me realize what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. And when I returned my world was different, and it’s never been the same. Looking back now, I believe that trip down under, where I got to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge as the sun set and a full moon rose, saved my life and is the reason why I am still here to this day. So, aside from birthing my two babies, and kicking cancer’s butt, my solo trip to Oz was my greatest achievement in my life so far. But who knows what tomorrow holds?

S:  What inspired "Lost in Your Rhythm?"

J:  I had a dream about a guy and a girl who had tattoos that sort of matched, even though they were privately designed and the two did not know one another. I don’t have any tattoos, but I love the artwork and stories behind some of the ink I’ve seen. The tattoo the woman in my dream had flowed over her whole upper body like a sleeveless tank top, and covered scars from a radical double mastectomy she’d undergone as the result of breast cancer. I was just recovering from uterine cancer and a full hysterectomy and I felt this dream was telling me that it was time to tell the story of a survivor. I have numerous friends—beautiful, strong, courageous, resilient women— who have battled all sorts of cancers and won. I wanted Liza Minelli Purkypile and "Lost in Your Rhythm?" to be a tribute to them/us.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Lost in Your Rhythm?"

J:  This third book of the Earth and Sky series. published by soulmatepublishing.com. It also takes place in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York, just like Books 1 and 2, "Love in the Forest" and "Life is for Living." It touches upon small-town life and big-city life, both of which I’ve lived. It takes things from my life and expands on them, like the Ancestors Supper that Brooke hosts, and the seasonal celebrations mentioned throughout the series that are actually Pagan holy days, equinoxes and solstices. Finally, Purkypile is a real last name. I’ve been researching my family genealogy and discovered that name a few hundred years back in my lineage. I thought it was a cool name so I decided to use it.

S:  Janina, thanks for joining me today. If you'd like to learn more about Janina and her books, please visit--

Website:  www.janinagrey.com
Amazon:  amazon.com/author/janinagrey
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/janinagreyauthor
Goodreads:  goodreads.com/author/show/18967836.Janina_Grey
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/janinagrey_author/
Bookbub.com: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/janina-grey

This week in The Loft: Canadian Author Dani Collins

Joining me today in The Loft is award-winning and USA Today Bestselling author Dani Collins. While she is best known for writing contemporary romance for Harlequin Presents and Tule Publishing, Dani also writes historical and erotic romance. She thrives on giving readers emotional, compelling, heart-soaring romance with laughter and heat thrown in, just like real life. Dani lives in southern British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, who was her high school sweetheart.

Author Dani Collins

S:  Good morning, Dani. Thanks for joining me in The Loft!

What do you think is the biggest issue facing romance authors today?

D:  Finding your reader, but that’s always been a challenge. This is the best of times and the worst of times for it. Social media makes it possible to connect with people around the globe, but there’s so much content, it’s hard to be seen.

S:  The rise of self-publishing has really flooded the marketplace, and that makes it difficult to promote a book. I've found social media very time consuming, but it has to be done.

Do you have a literary agent? 

D:  I did have an agent and I got her with this book, actually! We had a very good relationship and I found her to be invaluable with industry information, but we’ve since parted on good terms.

S:  Have you ever attended a writer’s retreat? Did you find it helpful? 

D:  I’m going to attend my first one this May. I find writing conferences to be overwhelming, but this will be only a dozen people and it feels like there will be a slower pace and a chance to really connect. I’m very excited!

S:  Why write romance?

D:  Why not? I’ve always found romance, with its guaranteed HEA (Happily Ever After) to be very hopeful and uplifting. The world is a rough place. In romance, everything works out. I’ve always found that to be very reassuring. 

S:  I've always found reading romance to be a great stress reliever.  When I was in law school, we'd trade romance books. It provided the break we needed from studying.

Do you outline the plot for your stories before writing?

D:  Sometimes, I plot ahead. I often like to go into the opening blind, with only a few details and an idea for the first few scenes. Once I get to know my characters, I might plot out the rest. Sometimes, I have to write a synopsis for my publisher before I’ve finished writing. Sometimes, if I get stuck, or if I’m rewriting a draft that doesn’t seem to be working, I’ll write out the plot points and rearrange them before going in and moving the chunks of story. Often, when I’m in the final push through the last fifteen thousand words, I’ll write out the various scenes that have to happen which helps me get it all down, then I go back and clean it up.

S:  I find outlines too limiting. I pretty much let my characters dictate where a story goes. 

Do you write in other genres? 

D:  I like to say I write anything, so long as it’s romance. I write billionaires and virgins for Harlequin, small town for Tule, historical and erotic romance, and romantic comedy for other markets, including self-publishing. I like variety. I find that when I switch between subgenres, I come into another one feeling fresh and ready to exercise different creative muscles.

S:  If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose to write books?

D:  Absolutely!

S:  What do you consider your greatest achievement?

D:  Publishing. Making it my full-time career.

S:  What inspired "Marrying the Nanny?"

D:  My aunt showed me pictures from her visit to a tiny village on the British Columbian coast where her son--my cousin Lorne--had worked for 20 years. I immediately knew it would be a wonderful place to set a book. I had been noodling a Three Men and a Baby take-off, one where three half-brothers take custody of their infant half-sister. From there, it was a matter of finding them the appropriately complicated love interests.

S:  That sounds like a great twist.

Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Marrying the Nanny?" 

D:  It’s the first in my Raven’s Cove trilogy, coming out in 2024. After "Marrying the Nanny," look for 'Forgiving Her First Love." Book Three isn’t titled yet. These books are pure delicious escape to the wilds of British Columbia’s central coast. You’ll see wildlife, go whale watching, and witness three rugged, remote, untethered men fall head over heels for the women who bring them out of their shells, while they also learn to become a family with their adorable baby sister.

Here's the blurb--

When infant Storm is orphaned, nanny Emma Wright, on a work visa and still reeling from a painful divorce, yearns to adopt her but must relinquish Storm to her three adult half-brothers. They remind her of a pack of wolves–protective, but not prepared to care for a baby. Alpha male Reid is especially aloof and intimidating.

Like his younger brothers, Reid Fraser left the Westcoast village of Raven’s Cove at eighteen and never looked back. Now a successful corporate consultant who rescues failing businesses—which is what this fly-in fishing resort has become, Reid must rally his brothers to save Storm’s inheritance, but he and his estranged brothers barely get along. They can’t deal with an infant, too. They need the nanny.

As Emma coaches Reid through midnight feedings and teething, they try to ignore the sexual pull between them. Then they learn Storm may have family who could take her from them. Reid proposes a marriage of convenience, but will it be enough to keep this fractured family together?

S:   That sounds like such a sweet story! Where can readers purchase your book?

D:  It's available from--

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C95P69GS

Nook:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marrying-the-nanny-dani-collins/1143697276?ean=2940160866758

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/marrying-the-nanny

Apple:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/marrying-the-nanny/id6450614753

Google:  https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Dani_Collins_Marrying_the_Nanny?id=RY7kEAAAQBAJ

S:  Dani, thanks so much for joining me today! If you'd like to learn more about Dani and her books, please visit--

Website:  https://danicollins.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DaniCollinsAuthor

X:  https://twitter.com/DaniCollinsBook

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/danicollinsauthor

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@danicollinsauthor

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dani-collins

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Dani-Collins/e/B009RC6AAG

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6572063.Dani_Collins

Linktr.ee:  https://linktr.ee/danicollins