SEELIE KAY: Postcards from The Ledge: November 2020

Friday, November 27, 2020

Get your Christmas miracle December 11!

Blurb:

At Christmas time, everyone deserves a miracle!

David Wright is dying from cancer. He is not expected to see another Christmas. At least that’s what the medical professionals say. Fortunately, Santa begs to differ. After all, modern medicine is nothing more than a best guess. Santa believes anything is possible until you give up. When Santa tells David’s wife, Joan, that heaven is full and she has to keep her husband alive, she is beside herself. She has no medical skills. How can she save anyone’s life? Set your skepticism aside as Santa embraces a family already mourning their father’s terminal diagnosis and teaches them that a Christmas miracle doesn’t always require heavenly intervention. Sometimes, all it takes is a family with enough love to create their own. As Santa says, a true miracle is when love combines with action to get the desired results. And only humans are capable of that. Will Santa’s words fall on deaf ears? Or will Team Wright find a way to save their father’s life?

Excerpt:

“It’s not about you, it’s about him, Joan.,” a grumbly voice said. “You’re looking at this all wrong.”

Joan turned so fast she almost lost her balance. She glared at the old man who had spoken. He was around seventy, with ruddy cheeks and twinkling blue eyes. And thick white hair. Lots of white hair. Flowing over his shoulders, winding up in a very lush beard. On top of his head was perched a brightly colored red knit hat. She frowned. “Wait a minute. You’re Santa Claus. Without the red suit, but clearly, you’re him. I’d know you anywhere.”

The man bowed and with a smile, said, “At your service.” He gestured toward a park across the street. “Let’s take a walk.”

“Oh, no. I’m not going anywhere with you.” Joan shook her head. “I didn’t mean you actually were Santa Claus. Everyone knows he doesn’t exist. I just meant you looked like him. You’re just a man who looks like him. I don’t know you. Why would I…” She glared at him. “You’re not even wearing a red suit. And since when has Santa taken up armchair psychiatry?” She ran a hand through her blonde hair. “I must be hallucinating.” Despite her objections, she followed him across the street.

Santa laughed. “My dear, I have been dispensing advice since I was old enough to talk and make people listen. God chose my role a long time ago and I have gotten very good at it.” He looked toward the heavens. “Sorry, old boy. Still working on that humility!” He chuckled. “Man never stops reminding me.” He smiled at Joan. “Do you sense any ill-intentions from me? Of course not. I’m Santa. All I want to do is talk.”

Joan reached out and touched his shoulder.

He laughed again. A laugh that came directly from his belly. “Yes, I’m real. Well, as real as a centuries-old spirit gets. I even eat all those cookies children leave me each year. And let me tell you, that’s a heavenly feat.” Again, he looked skyward. “Yes, sir, I am well aware that borders on gluttony. A sin. You know darn well it has nothing to do with gluttony and everything to do with the magic of Christmas, an affirmation that Santa is real. I do it for the children.” He smiled at Joan. “Sometimes, He gets a little overbearing with his angels.”

He smirked. “Even God has his faults. He is by no means perfect.” A strong wind swirled through the plaza, nearly catching his knitted cap. He clapped his hand on his head to hold it down. He whispered, “And he doesn’t take criticism too well, either.”

Joan stared at the man. Surely, she was losing it. Santa a spirit, an angel? He and God didn’t even travel in the same circles. She shook her head, trying to make the hallucination go away.

Santa sighed. “I know, I know. You’ve been taught that I’m not real. That I’m a myth. That’s a rumor started by Satan himself, the old devil. He can’t stand the fact that people embrace the goodness in the world. And that I spread good cheer. He would much rather unleash a plague and make people miserable. He hates Christmas. He hates that the birth of Christ is celebrated, and his birth, well, is not. He really can’t stand the fact that love binds people so tightly during the holidays.” Santa shook his fist toward the ground. “The fool pouts all through the holidays.” He then sat up straight and gazed at Joan. “Christmas is really about love, you know. All kinds of love. The type of love he’ll never have. Love of family, love of children, love of—”

“What the heck do you want?” Joan blurted. “People are starting to stare.”

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxQgCiHO4S4

Preorder: https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2999-7-the-last-christmas/

Someone is killing Chicago lawyers!

Blurb:

Someone is killing lawyers, but a particular vampire lawyer won't stay dead!

Donovan Trait is a marked man. He is flamboyant, stunningly handsome, and notoriously insatiable, but his attitude and style belie his skills in the courtroom. No one survives a cross-examination at Donovan’s hands. His knowledge of the law and trial practice has accumulated over the years… and years, of experience. More than three hundred years. You see, when Donovan isn’t seducing judges and juries, he’s a creature of the night. And now that someone has decided that it’s time to kill all lawyers, his lust for attention has set him in the murderer’s sights.

The problem is that vampires don’t die. Not easily, anyway. That’s good news for Donovan, not so much for his very human lady love, also a target of the serial killer. Will several unsuccessful attempts on his life expose Donovan’s true nature? Will the killer learn the secret that will guarantee a permanent death? Or will Donovan finally manage to put an end to the killer’s murderous spree and live happily ever after, with his lady love?

Excerpt:

Donovan’s cell phone pinged. He pulled himself into a small alleyway, away from the stampede trudging back to their workplaces after lunch, and leaned back against a building to read a text. His face screwed up in confusion. The text read, The first thing we do, let’s kill all lawyers! Starting with you!

“What the bloody hell?” he muttered. “Is this some kind of joke?” Donovan’s eyes surveyed his surroundings. He gazed right, then left. It did not appear that someone had made him the focus of their attention. Everyone was scurrying about, like mice in pursuit of a big cheese. “Must be Finley,” he said. “Finley is always plying me with lawyer jokes. He thinks he’s funny.”

Donovan shrugged. Not funny at all. He left the alleyway and re-entered the mass migration on the sidewalk. He approached the crosswalk at Michigan and Superior and emitted a snort of frustration as the light changed and the crosswalk filled with cars. He was bumped hard by someone behind him. Donovan was forced to step into the street to regain his balance. A cab rushed by and narrowly missed clipping his side. Donovan jumped back onto the sidewalk.

A woman screamed and Donovan jerked his head around, trying to see what all the fuss was about. The woman was pointing at him. Donovan frowned and turned away. God save me from simpering females who saw the last issue of City Magazine. Donovan had appeared on the cover after being named as one of Chicago’s most eligible bachelors. Since then, he had learned that the female population was comprised of women of questionable morals and distressing behavior. He was growing weary of the attention. While his colleagues thought it a wise marketing strategy, it had brought him nothing but unwanted female attention. He had become prey.

Vampires were predators. They stalked their victims. Sometimes, they pursued them with a vengeance. That was why he had joined the legal profession. His predilections were well-suited to that particular world. Now, his role had apparently shifted and he was not pleased.

Someone tapped Donovan on the shoulder. “Sir? Are you alright? You’re bleeding. It appears someone stuck a knife into your side.”

Donovan’s mouth gaped and he turned toward the man who had spoken. Then he looked at where the man pointed. There was indeed a knife sticking out of his left side and a stream of his blood was flowing onto the sidewalk. He had a very high threshold of pain. He hadn’t felt the knife thrust into his side. If it wasn’t so appalling, he would be embarrassed. Donovan opened his mouth to reply. Then the pain in his side exploded and his vision dulled. Slowly he slid onto the sidewalk as if he planned to sit on the curb.

Then everything went black.

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/qd90v4Oae1E

Buy link: https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-3125-9-first-we-kill-all-the-lawyers/

Coming soon to all major booksellers!

This week in The Loft: Author Sadira Stone!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Sadira Stone. Sadira began writing steamy contemporary romance after leaving her teaching career in Germany. Now a resident of Tacoma, Washington, her stories are set in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, including a quirky bookshop in Oregon and a neighborhood tavern in Tacoma. Her Bangers Tavern series features holiday celebrations and tasty cocktail recipes (personally tested). Under another name, Sadira also writes cozy mysteries and creepy short stories. When not writing, Sadira explores the area with her husband. She enjoys the local music scene, and playing darts and guitar.

Author Sadira Stone

S: Welcome, Sadira! Thanks so much for joining me in The Loft!

Do you write full or part-time? Do you have another job/other responsibilities?

SS: I left my teaching career—high school English, German, French, and theater—in 2014, so now I’m a full-time author. It was quite a culture shock returning to the U.S. after nearly 30 years in Germany, but I’m loving my second chapter in life.

S: (Smiles.) Wow. After 30 years, I imagine this country has changed significantly.

Did you undergo any sort of educational or other preparation/training to become a writer?

SS: Well, I have a B.A. in English education and many years’ experience teaching composition, so that gives me a head start. I’ve also taken dozens of writing courses and attended many workshops and conferences in the past six years.

S: Complete this sentence: "When I started writing books, I wish I had known..."

SS: ...how much time marketing and promotion take! It’s all well and good to write and polish your book, but then you’ve got to let readers know what you’ve written and persuade them to buy it!

S: What attracted you to the romance genre?

SS: You know, for a long time I was one of those literary snobs who thought romance fiction was too fluffy, too formulaic, not real literature—as if the mysteries I gobbled had any more claim to literary merit. Then, after reading an article on how lucrative writing erotica can be, I tried writing a short, sexy story that morphed into a full-blown romance novel. I’d never had so much fun with a writing project. So I went to the library, loaded up on romance novels, and educated myself about the genre, joining Romance Writers of America and taking classes. I love the guaranteed happy ending that counterbalances whatever strife and sorrow the characters endure.

S: (Laughs.) I was one of those snobs, too. Until I realized that romance novels got me through some of toughest challenges in my life. They were a great diversion from reality.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Has it ever happened to you?

SS: I do not. Attraction at first meeting, perhaps, but that chemical pull toward another person who may or not be a good match—that comes from the way he sounds and smells and moves, the words he chooses, the color of his shoes, and eyes, the curve of his thighs. In other words, a lot of factors go into initial attraction, but love only comes when you truly know someone, and that’s not possible at first meeting.

S: Why did you write "Christmas Rekindled?" What was your inspiration?

SS: I knew I wanted to write a series set in my hometown of Tacoma, Washington, and I needed a setting where an interesting cast would assemble. Found family is a favorite theme of mine, and just a mile or two away is this wonderful stretch of Sixth Avenue filled with funky shops, restaurants, and bars. So I invented Bangers Tavern and plopped it down in one of my favorite neighborhoods. Dawn, the bar’s owner, is a surrogate/extra mom to the young people who work there—she’s my sister under the skin.

S: Is there anything about "Christmas Rekindled" that makes it special to you? To readers?

SS: As I said, the setting for this series is real, though the bar is not, and I love being able to spend time there—virtually, for now, since the bars are closed. We do support our favorite restaurants with takeout, but we won’t be browsing the vintage shops, record shops, and weird boutiques anytime soon, alas. I hope y’all enjoy this visit to my gritty, warm, and welcoming hometown.

Here's the blurb--

When two Scrooges unite to save a bar in trouble, a kiss under the mistletoe sparks the sexiest Christmas miracle ever.

Bartender River Lundqvist has a damn good reason for hating Christmas. Bangers Tavern is the perfect place to lay low over the holidays—until Charlie walks in. His first encounter with the saucy server nine years ago was utter humiliation. Her reappearance stirs up powerful desires and hopes for a new start. But the timing is all wrong.

Back in Tacoma to care for her estranged dad over the holidays, freelance web designer Charlie Khoury braces herself for the suckiest Christmas ever. A temporary job at Bangers Tavern gives her a chance to escape Dad’s criticism and blow off some steam. But why does the hunky bartender seem to hate her?

A pretend girlfriend is just what River needs to keep his family off his back—until a kiss under the mistletoe flares hot enough to melt the North Pole. When greedy developers threaten Bangers Tavern, River and Charlie must team up to save it. Their sizzling chemistry feels like the real thing—but everyone knows rebound relationships don’t last.

Come to Bangers Tavern for an enemies-to-lovers tale of reconciliation, found family, holiday cocktails, and the sexiest Christmas miracle ever.

S: Where can readers buy your book?

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JKW3XR2

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-rekindled-sadira-stone/1137720901?ean=2940162818212

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1532772664

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-rekindled

Universal book link: https://books2read.com/u/brW5Ok

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SadiraStone

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sadira-Stone/e/B07KWK5FBX

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

Author newsletter: https://eepurl.com/dKLMP2

Friday, November 20, 2020

This week in The Loft: Author Cadence Vonn!

Joining me today in The Loft is Cadence Vonn. An award-winning romance author, Cadence writes erotic romantic suspense. An accomplished doodler and daydreamer, she also holds a BFA in photography and silversmithing. After many years spent living in Pennsylvania, she and her husband moved to an island in the Pacific Northwest, where she wakes every morning to a sunrise over the Puget Sound.

Avatar for Cadence Vonn

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

Why did you become a writer?

C: I’ve always been involved in some form of creative art –jewelry making, photography and weaving to name a few things. When my mother became ill, I’d sit in the hospital with her for many hours at a time. I’d read, and keep a journal about ideas and thoughts. I remember reading "Fifty Shades" and telling my mom about the story. She laughed and told me I could be a writer. She always encouraged me to go after what I wanted. So when she passed, I sat down and decided to write.

S: Did you have a mentor when you became a writer?

C: Not one, but many in the form of members of the Central Pennsylvania Romance Writers. Every single one of them encouraged all the newbies. They pointed me in the direction of all the craft workshops and courses that would help me understand the art of writing. I’ll admit it was daunting. But after cranking out a few terrible manuscripts, I got the feel for my voice.

S: Complete this sentence, "When I started writing I wish I had known…"

C: That’s interesting to think about. I’m sure every writer dreams of selling millions of copies of their book. I wish I’d known the reality of marketing books. I might have gone in a different direction. But once I wrote one book, I had so many ideas crammed into my head that I needed to write another and then another, whether I sell any or not.

S: (Nods.) I think people would be surprised at how many authors write for the pure joy of it. Frankly, it is difficult to make a living writing romance!

What attracted you to the romance genre?

C: Growing up, I always read romance novels. I loved Victoria Holt. My mother had a stash of Barbara Cartland books that I read. I used to be one of those voracious readers that authors wish would discover their books. Although now I read fantasy novels most of the time and romance novels only when I’m not writing.

S: What attracted you to your current partner?

C: I married my high school sweetheart. It was love at first sight. The usual young adult things attracted me to him. He was an athlete and good looking, taller than me with a great smile. He made me laugh and still does. We’ve been together longer than some of my readers have been alive. And we’re still going strong and having fun.

S: (Smiles.) I love stories like yours. They are evidence of lasting love and I think that's important for people to witness.

Why did you write "Yours...Mine...Always?" What was your inspiration?

C: I grew up in Central Pennsylvania and lived near Hershey, where all The Blacke Brothers novels are set. "Yours…Mine…Always" is about the last brother, Jonathan. He meets Laura in D.C. at the DuPont Circle metro station. If you’ve ever been there, you’ll understand how she freezes at the top of the escalator. I did. If it hadn’t been for my husband, I wouldn’t have been able to get to the bottom. I gave Laura my fear of heights and my love of art. She was headed to the Fine Art Museum, when she meets Jonathan. Then when she goes back to Hershey with him, I included all the scenes in the area that I love.

S: (Laughs.) I literally fell on my ex-husband on the stairs at a train station. Not because of the height or him. My heel got caught in a crack in the cement!

Is there anything about this book that makes it special to you? To the readers?

C: For me, it wraps up the series. I loved creating four brothers who find the love of their lives. They fall hard and fast because love at first sight is a real thing. I’m living proof. I think a lot of readers love a book where a couple gets together and conquers anything that tries to stop them from being with each other. I love a sizzling hot book with a HEA (happily ever after). That’s what this series gives the reader. I’m also excited that "Yours…Mine…Always" is a New Jersey Romance Writer’s Golden Leaf finalist.

S: Congratulations. That's wonderful and I imagine, very gratifying.

Can you share the blurb for "Yours...Mine...Always?"

C: Sure. As I said, this is the last book in Blacke Brothers series--

Laura Barrett is a strong and determined woman. After surviving an attack by a sadistic stalker, she avoids relationships and focuses on her job, and most of all, her painting. Living day to day, she doesn’t believe in all that nonsense about karma…until her world spins upside down and she ends up in the arms of a stranger.

Jonathan is the last Blacke brother without a partner. Unlike his siblings, he proclaims he’ll take his time falling in love—if ever. When he rescues Laura, his body betrays his conviction to stay single. He’ll protect her with his life if necessary. Sex with her is off the charts, but she’ll bolt and take his heart if the danger chasing her threatens his family.

Destiny is a powerful force. It’ll take all his connections and sexual creativity to convince her to believe in fate…and his love.

S: That sounds like an exciting story! Where can readers buy your book?

C: It's available at the following booksellers--

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088DZW49S

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1136957646?ean=2940163038428

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CadenceVonn

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

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cadence-vonn

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Cadence-Vonn/e/B077H4PQYF?

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Congratulations to author Amber Daulton on her new release!

Blurb:

Reuniting with the man who broke her heart has never felt so right.

Divorced dad Birley Haynes is too busy raising his children and running his family’s music academy to start a relationship. Then Harmony Holdich, his high school sweetheart, returns home to Willow Springs, Vermont for Christmas and falls into his bed. She brings light and fun back into his life, but he can’t brush aside the threatening incidents around his workplace.

Harmony hadn’t expected a complication like Birley, especially so soon after the death of her unfaithful husband. With her life a mess, she plans to move across the country and start over. All she can offer him is a fling, but her heart yearns for more.

When the threats rise, how will Birley keep his children safe and convince Harmony to give love another chance?

Excerpt:

Dear God. His heart slammed harder. He’d died and gone to Heaven.

Harmony stretched her arms above her head and danced in the middle of the living room. Her hips pulsated with the beat of the music. Twisty locks of her hair bounced around her shoulders. She winked, then glided her hands across her breasts and stomach, daring his gaze to follow.

Birley licked his lips. The organ pressing against his zipper throbbed. Sweat slicked his nape. He dropped his scarf beside her purse, jacket, and beanie on the coffee table.

“Dance with me?”

Her husky entreaty ricocheted through him like a ping-pong ball. How could he deny her? He gripped her waist. She slid her arms around him. They swayed, their bodies a scant inch apart. She nuzzled his neck, her breath fanning his skin. His hair prickled. The air crackled around them. He shuddered and held her tighter.

“I’ve missed this.”

His chest heaved. He struggled to fill his lungs with air. “Dancing?”

“Dancing with you.” Harmony stroked his clean-shaven jaw. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out with you and Susannah, but I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything.”

Oh, God. He kissed her and swept his tongue past her parting lips. Delicious. The taste of chocolate and wine clung to her breath. He nibbled and licked the smooth slope of her neck.

“Birley, yes.” She ducked her head and claimed his mouth with hers. Then she feathered kisses across his face. “I need your hands, your mouth, your scent all over me. Take me, Birley. Hard, soft, I don’t care.”

Fuck. Her breathy plea wrapped around his heart and shot blood to his groin. She eased back, drawing him with her. The wall halted her retreat, and he trapped her between it and his body. Their tongues dueled and teeth clanked. Heat sizzled through his veins and pulsed through every organ. Her body writhed against his. Was she trying to drive him mad? He snapped open the fasteners of her pants and slid his finger beneath the waistband of her insulated leggings. Silk brushed his skin, then he slipped into her warmth.

Buy links:

Amazon--https://www.amazon.com/Harmonys-Embrace-Deerbourne-Amber-Daulton-ebook/dp/B08L73TB9C/

Barnes and Noble--https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/harmonys-embrace-amber-daulton/1137951572

Apple/iBooks--https://books.apple.com/us/book/harmonys-embrace/id1539081673

Universal link--https://books2read.com/u/bPX6kR

Monday, November 16, 2020

Congratulations to Lisabet Sarai on her new release!

Blurb:

In prudish, patriarchal Victorian England, nineteen year old prodigy Gillian Smith finds a secret society dedicated to the erotic arts. She’ll need both her intellect and her physical charms to earn the permanent position she craves.

Inspired by a salacious catalogue found in her deceased uncle’s library, she applies for an apprenticeship with the Toymakers Guild. The Guild fabricates bespoke sexual artifacts for the private pleasure of select clients – an occupation for which Gillian, with her technical abilities and her lascivious temperament, is eminently suited.

The other apprentices, initially skeptical about a female engineer, become enthusiastic supporters once they’ve tested her erotic aptitude. The voluptuous Governing Director, and the dashing French journeyman likewise help expand her carnal repertoire. The final decision, however, rests with the reclusive Master Toymaker, who has been missing for nearly two years.

When an unscrupulous nobleman sets up a competing enterprise, he threatens not only the livelihood of the Guild’s members but their lives as well. Gillian hatches an audacious plan to entrap the villain, save the Guild, and leave the absent Master no choice but to grant her heart’s desire.

If you like steam punk erotica with a kinky feminist bent, you'll love The Pornographer's Apprentice.

Online Excerpt:

https://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/2020/11/a-powerful-appetite-mfrwsteam.html

Buy links:

Kinky Literature--https://www.kinkyliterature.com/book/8424-the-pornographers-apprentice-the-toymakers-guild-book-1/

Amazon US--https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MWMZZGP

Smashwords--https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1053072

Friday, November 13, 2020

Now available for preorder!

Blurb:

Someone is killing lawyers, but a particular vampire lawyer won’t stay dead.

Donovan Trait is a marked man. Flamboyant, stunningly handsome, and notoriously insatiable, his attitude and style belie his skills in the courtroom. No one survives a cross-examination at Donovan’s hands. His knowledge of the law and trial practice has accumulated over the years… and years, of experience. More than three hundred years. You see, when Donovan isn’t seducing judges and juries, he’s a creature of the night. And now that someone has decided that it’s time to kill all lawyers, his lust for attention has set him in the murderer’s sights. The problem is, vampires don’t die. Not easily, anyway. That’s good news for Donovan, not so much for his very human lady love, also a target of the serial killer. Will several unsuccessful attempts on his life expose Donovan’s true nature? Will the killer learn the secret that will guarantee a permanent death? Or will Donovan finally manage to put an end to the killer’s murderous spree and live happily ever after, with his lady love?

Excerpt:

Someone tapped Donovan on the shoulder. “Sir? Are you alright? You’re bleeding. It appears someone stuck a knife into your side.”

Then everything went black.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd90v4Oae1E

Preorder: https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-3125-9-first-we-kill-all-the-lawyers/

This week in The Loft: Author K.A. Raines!

Joining me today in The Loft is author K.A. Raines. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Kari writes dystopian romance and romantic suspense. Her writing career began with penning Twilight fan fiction. She was also named a finalist in a writing contest sponsored by New York Times bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Ultimately, her love of science fiction, the paranormal, and romance led her to write her first book, "The Infiltrator." When not writing, Kari enjoys reading, red wine, horror movies, and good food. Kari lives in Longview, TX with her children and a cat.

Author K. A. Raines

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

Why did you become a writer?

K: This question is phrased as if was a choice. The truth is, I've always had the drive to write because I've always made up stories in my head, and writing them out is my chosen outlet. I've always assumed it's the same for most writers, but you know what they say about assumptions.

S: What makes you unique--as a writer and or a person?

K: I have a lot of worldly experience, and while my writing isn’t autobiographical by any means, I’m able to incorporate my experiences into my writing to give it an authentic feel. For instance, I’ve had several jobs in various fields--prison guard, missile technician on a naval destroyer, medical assistant--and I’ve traveled all over the world. These experiences have proven useful as a novelist.

S: Wow, you must have a lot of great information stored away to use in stories.

Complete this sentence: "As a writer, my dream is to..."

K: Eventually write full-time. I'd love to say that I love my day job, but I've wanted to be a full-time author for pretty much as long as I can remember. So that's the end game. I don't even want to make a ton of money. I just want to be able to make my own schedule and pick my daughter up from school.

S: Well, you're off to a great start!

What attracted you to the romance genre?

K: While I enjoy a multitude of genres, particularly horror and science fiction, for me the romantic subplot was always the pulse of the story. Whether a book or film, if the lead protagonists have scorching chemistry and there's an amazing sexual tension build-up, I'm hooked. Give me some heat to go with the plot/action!

S: Do you write in other genres?

K: I've been known to produce the occasional horror story or two, but generally, I like to mesh genres. There's room for romance in every genre.

S: Why did you write "The Infiltrator?" What was your inspiration?

K: I love post-apocalyptic/dystopian storylines, and I wanted to write a romance story in this setting about a gruff, rough-around-the-edges guy who saves a woman from a group of scumbags at the end of the world. The woman would turn out to be the girl he loved as a boy whom he never forgot, but life has hardened them both. Regarding my inspiration, I suppose my book is what "The Walking Dead" would look like if a romance writer got their hands on the scripts.

S: Is there anything about this book that makes it special to you? To readers?

K: Ha, I’m not sure what to say about it without tooting my own horn.

S: (Smiles.) Please toot away! That's what this blog is for!

K: I know I’m proud of it. I feel like the action, plot, romance, and sex scenes are well-balanced, and there’s just the right smattering of humor. Also, I’ve been told that the ending is “epic” and the double-twist “shocking.” Personally, it’s everything I’d want to read in a book, but I wrote it. Of course, I’d think that.

Here's the blurb:

A virus has rendered humanity mostly extinct. Keira Starr is alone, staying alive by staying on the run, sleeping in empty gas stations and the trunks of cars long abandoned on the highway. The world is overrun by “Ghosts,” the mindless, bloodthirsty dead, but they are the least of her problems. She is being hunted by ragtag groups of ruthless men, independent contractors working for a mysterious human trafficking ring. When she is finally captured, she discovers that Derrick Caine, despite his gruff demeanor and appearance, may just have a different agenda altogether.

S: Sounds fascinating. These are the types of stories that keep me up at night!

Where can readers buy your book?

K: It's available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CFRXZCS.

S: Kari, thanks so much for joining me today. If you would like to learn more about K. A. Raines and her books, please visit--

Website: https://www.karaines.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KA_Raines

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100052614996318

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

This week in The Loft: Author Linda O'Connor!

Joining me today in The Loft is award-winning author Linda O'Connor. Linda draws on her experiences as a practicing physician to develop funny and sexy tales of romance. (And these days, everyone needs a laugh!) When not writing or working at an Urgent Care Clinic, she enjoys cycling, cross-country skiing, skating, and dancing. The mother of three grown sons, Linda resides in Canada. Her favorite prescription? Laugh every day. Love every minute.

Author Linda O'Connor

S: Good morning, Linda. It's good to have you back in The Loft!

Why did you become a writer?

L: I’m a physician, and I started writing because I wanted to find a fun way to disseminate medical information, and to educate and empower readers to take ownership of their health. Targeting a female audience with romance novels seemed like a good idea, because women are usually the ones who see a doctor. Men typically only go when a girlfriend, partner, spouse, or mom encourages them to do so. I write romantic comedies because I love being in a fun headspace when I’m writing. Laughter is essential to great health and nothing is better than a happily-ever-after ending.

S: Did you undergo any sort of education or preparation/training to become a writer?

L: I don’t have any formal writing education, but I took advantage of multiple online workshops. They were great, because I could target my areas of weakness and use examples of my writing, or my current work-in-progress, to learn from.

S: What is your favorite thing about writing romance?

L: I love romance’s happily-ever-after endings. There may be ups and downs, obstacles and laughter, but it’s knowing that there will be a happy ending that makes romance my favorite.

S: What attracted you to the romance genre?

L: I read to escape and love that romances have happily-ever-after endings. Because I’ve read a lot, I know what romance readers expect in a story, so it made it easy for me to write in that genre. I also appreciate that you can query publishers directly when you write romance--you don’t necessarily have to have an agent. It has a large market with a group of voracious readers, which is great for sales, and there are a wide range of sub-genres in romance so you can write anything from historical to suspense to romantic comedy, which is my personal favorite.

S: What is your writing process?

L: Sometimes, I have a great idea for a plot line and then I dream up the characters who would add the most fun. Sometimes, the characteristics of the hero and heroine are what drives the plot, so I start with that. I can't start writing until I've nailed down the heroine's and hero's names. The name of the males is the hardest. It has to be a name that I don't associate with anyone else. With three sons and five nephews, and all of their friends, it becomes a challenge!

S: Why did you write "Don't Mess with Christmas?" What was your inspiration?

L: This is the fourth book of the Dr. Brogan Matchmaking Doctor series. All of the books in the series are stand-alone stories, but Brogan Corkie’s own romance arcs throughout the series, so it is preferable to read them in order. I think it’s rare these days to come from a large family. I thought it would be fun to write a story about a woman who grew up smack dab in the middle of four brothers. Imagine how that would affect her perception of men. Parker Roy owns a hydroponic business, runs a Christmas Shoppe, plows snow in the winter, and volunteers as a set designer for the local theatre. She’s self-sufficient and independent. Falling in love is not on her bucket list. So what is she going to do when the very sexy, very determined, very interested Julian Murphy wants to change her mind?

S: Is there anything about "Don't Mess with Christmas" that makes it special to you? To readers?

L: This book has a Christmas theme. I find the Christmas season hectic, and I love to read to unwind and relax. I hope that this story finds itself in reader’s hands and that they can take a moment for themselves to sit, relax, laugh, and escape from the hustle and bustle of the season.

Here's the blurb--

Dr. Brogan Corkie is happily semi-retired from medicine and now has time for other hobbies. Her passion for food is second only to her skill at matchmaking!

Parker Roy grew up in the middle of four brothers and has lived with enough testosterone to last her a lifetime. She’s finally moved out and made a life of her own. Between putting the finishing touches on the set for Mapleton’s Christmas play, plowing snow, and transforming her hydroponic greenhouse into a Christmas wonderland, it’s ramping up to be a hectic season.

Dr. Julian Murphy, the only allergist in town, has his eye on the woman behind the set design of the holiday play. He’s volunteering backstage in the hope of getting to know her. There’s a bit of a snag when she’s referred to his clinic for a rash – doctors aren’t allowed to date their patients – but Dr. Brogan Corkie doesn’t see it as an insurmountable problem and steps in to give their romance a nudge. She’d better be right because, if not, it could seriously mess with Christmas.

The allergist or the rash– which itch does Parker want to scratch?

S: Where can readers buy your book?

L: It's available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L1DHDMS.

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

Website: https://www.lindaoconnor.net

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaOConnor98

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-OConnor/e/B00S7CNLEA

Friday, November 6, 2020

This week in The Loft: Author Sloan McBride!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Sloan McBride. Sloan writes romance that leans toward the paranormal. She adds in suspense and a hint of mythology for her Time Walker series and dances through the Highlands, making merry with the clans, in The Talisman Trilogy. Her Men of Fire Trilogy turns up the heat in the world of smokejumpers. By day, she works at a law firm, at night she spins romantic fantasies. Sloan lives in Illinois with her husband of 39 years and her two children.

Author Sloan McBride

S: Hello, Sloan! Thanks for joining me today!

Do you write full or part-time? Do you have another job/other responsibilities?

SM: I write part-time some evenings and weekends. I work full-time at a law firm. I'm the Office Business Manager. It totally consumes me, which is why I write part-time.

S: (Nods.) Having been in that world for 20 years, I can totally understand that.

Did you have a mentor when you became a writer?

SM: I didn't have a mentor. I did join Romance Writers of America, where I learned a lot about the writing industry and being a writer.

S: Complete this sentence: "As a writer, my dream is to..."

SM: ...writes stories that allow people to escape for a little while.

S: (Smiles.) In today's world, the ability to escape from reality has become more important than ever.

What is your writing process?

SM: I write the love story between the hero and heroine, first dabbling things in as I write, then I go back through in the next draft and add more, and so on until I get it finished.

S: What attracted you to the romance genre?

SM: I grew up with fairy tales and romance. I love the idea of love at first sight and happily ever after.

S: Wow, that's a perfect mindset for writing romance.

What is your favorite thing about writing romance?

SM: I'm a fan of romantic relationships. I like the journey from the first meeting, across time, overcoming various obstacles to end up happily together in the end.

S: What did you write "Highland Stone?" What was your inspiration?

SM: I had major surgery and was off of work for over two months. One night, I dreamed this story. Not all of it, but the time travel part and the Highlanders. I woke up and wrote it all down in a notebook. "Highland Stone" is my very first novel. No, I didn't leave it in a box under bed or in a closet. I learned more and more about writing, and kept revising it until it was ready to be seen. I've always been fascinated with the history of Scotland, so Highlanders were right up my alley. I loved writing this book. I enjoyed the research. I met a man who belonged to a historic Scottish re-enactment group who taught me about the proper clothing, speech, and other things, which assisted in the book.

Here's the blurb:

A mysterious inheritance and magical forces thrust Kara Malone through the ages to the Scottish Highlands of old. There, she encounters Alaxandar McLeod, the dark stranger who inhabits her dreams.

Alaxandar leads the charge to learn the truth about the violent raids against his clan. When his horse almost tramples a beautiful stranger, he is beguiled but skeptical. If she a spy, or worse, a witch come to lure him with her body and distract him from his quest?

With his clan ever leery of Kara's presence, and the raids intensifying, Alaxandar must decide what is right for his family and his heart. Will Kara choose to stay with the stranger from her dreams made flesh or the mission she vowed to complete?

S: Where can readers buy your book?

SM: It's available from major booksellers, including--

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Stone-Sloan-McBride-ebook/dp/B0043EV9B8/

Barnes and Nobel (NOOK): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highland-stone-sloan-mcbride/1017478320?ean=2940148837930

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/highland-stone?utm_source=walmarthybrid&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Sloan+McBride&utm_term=&ranMID=37217&ranEAID=nEKCGk5ir4I&ranSiteID=nEKCGk5ir4I-t6XgeD.bGtXwHz_SPhCn9w&siteID=nEKCGk5ir4I-t6XgeD.bGtXwHz_SPhCn9w

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id791035665

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sloan_McBride_HIGHLAND_STONE?id=lH-PAgAAQBAJ

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sloan.mcbride

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SloanMcBride1

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sloanmcbride

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sloan-mcbride

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

This week in The Loft: Author Dee S. Knight!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Dee S. Knight. Dee writes contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy romance. She has led a varied life, working as a truck driver, computer consultant, high school and adult education teacher, and technical writer. Married to her high school sweetheart, Dee and her husband, Jack, live in Idaho

Author Dee S. Knight

S: Welcome back, Dee!

Did you undergo any sort of educational or other preparation/training to become a writer?

D: No. I know people who have taken writing courses, and I'm very sure they learned a lot more than I know about writing, but I just jumped in. Actually, it never even occurred to me that I might take a class in writing. Who knew of such a thing?? I think (but I could be wrong) that storytelling is more knack than training. The mechanics of writing a story (plot structure, POV, and such) can be taught. I had to learn the mechanics as I went along and through friendships with other authors. I hope I have the storytelling knack.

S: Did you have a mentor when you started writing?

D: No. Again, I just sort of jumped in. I had a story in mind and sat down to write it. When I finished, I submitted it to a publisher and it was accepted. I quickly submitted four more books before I ever received the edits back on the first, so I didn't even have those guidelines to follow as I kept writing, much less a mentor. But I developed friends within a publisher's author group and learned a lot from them.

S: Is there anything you wish you'd done differently when you began writing books?

D: I wish I'd learned something about marketing! No one tells you that a huge part of any business—including writing—is to market your work. When my first publisher said that it was up to me to make waves about my books, I had absolutely no clue what to do and I definitely wish I had. Even now, all these years later, this is the hardest thing about writing.

S: (Nods.) I think marketing if the bane of all writers' existence. With so much competition, it's hard to figure out how to break through the noise.

What attracted you to the romance genre?

D: I guess because I read so many romances, I thought it was a safe genre to write. That is, I had some level of comfort in romance. I didn't read much sci-fi, so the thought of world-building and writing in that genre made me a little itchy. I did try writing a murder mystery once when I was a kid, and scared myself half to death, so I'm not sure I have the power to pull off mystery. And I like romance. I'm happy when I finish reading or writing one and all is right in the book's world. Nothing wrong with a little HEA (happily ever after)!

S: (Smiles.) These days, we all need happy endings, a reason to smile.

What attracted you to your current partner?

D: Jack and I had been acquaintances two years prior to our more serious meeting—school mates in Algebra I class. But I didn't think of him as anything other than the guy who sat with our group in the back of the room and really understood math. I was 13 and not interested in him as anything more. Then, a chance meeting at a school Christmas concert two years later led to our dating. My dad was very strict, though, so dating was really not what anyone thinks of now. However, Jack's kindness and his sense of humor opened my mind and heart. Just a few months after the Christmas concert, we told each other that someday we would get married, though we always dated other people and even attended different schools and lived in different states. I've known him for over 55 years and loved him as my soul mate for 53 of those years. I've always been grateful that God put him in my life.

S: That really is an amazing love story.

Why did you write "Passionate Destiny?" What was your inspiration?

D: There is a road in a small town near where we used to live in Virginia that always seemed like it should have a ghost story set on it. It's near the Rivanna River, and in the chill of the early mornings, mist twists and winds from the water up through the trees and across the fields. Very spooky! In that same town, a couple I know have a house with a secret. While outside one day, they discovered an anomaly between the outside dimensions and the inside rooms. They found a hidden room! There was no great secret connected to it, as far as they could discover, but I stored that find in my brain and pulled it out for this book. In "Passionate Destiny," the ghost house sits on a bluff over the river and the hidden room has a very big secret to impart.

S: Is there anything about this book that makes it special to you?

D: I first thought of the story line when Jack and I were driving up to see his parents in Virginia from where we were living in North Carolina. It was winter. I stared out the passenger side of the window and imagined Confederate and Union soldiers traipsing through the woods, not wanting to die, wishing they were home and safe—like soldiers in all wars, I suppose. I had an eerie feeling, almost as though those soldiers watched me from long ago, as we flew by in our car. I feel the hair rise on my neck as I write about it now. You can't live in Virginia and not feel or appreciate history in some way. I think areas where wars were fought feel the aftermaths more acutely, and Virginia saw her share of battles, between the Revolutionary and Civil wars. It was many, many years later when I finally wrote "Passionate Destiny," but that original sense of seeing back in time remained with me. I have only had that feeling for one other book, and that's "Burning Bridges" (written as Anne Krist).

Here's the blurb for "Passionate Destiny"--

Dr. Margaret Amis-Hollings, professor of women’s studies at a small New Jersey college, is a woman who confidently knows who she is and what she expects of life. Until she loses her teaching position and her well-ordered life gets turned upside down. Then, in a subtle stroke of whimsy, fate tosses her a gift in an historic home and property in Virginia.

Harboring visions of Gone With the Wind, she determines to use River Peace as a temporary reprieve from her troubles. Images of Tara quickly evaporate when she arrives to discover the reality of her inheritance, however.

River Peace has history, grace and style going for it. After only one night, Margaret discovers that it also has a ghost. She’s visited by a male spirit from the time of the War Between the States, who knows how to make a woman feel special. And very loved.

Aaron Belton meets Margaret when she first arrives in Virginia. He’s renowned for historic renovations on a multitude of properties, but he’s got a special place in his heart for River Peace. He and his family believe the property always should have belonged to them. In fact, Aaron will do almost anything to make that happen. When his passion for the house changes to a passion for the house’s owner, Aaron’s as surprised as anyone. Can he gain both, the woman and the house? To do so, he’ll have to face a spectral being.

And his own destiny.