SEELIE KAY: Postcards from The Ledge: This week in The Loft: Author Cadence Vonn!

Joining me today in The Loft is award-winning romance author Cadence Vonn. Cadence writes the erotic stories that dance in her head. The result is tales of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Since moving to a rugged island in the Pacific Northwest, Cadence has been inspired by the dark brooding winter days, which led her to write her most recent dark romance series, Choice & Consequence. Cadence and her husband share a view of Puget Sound outside their front door.

S: Good morning, Cadence. Welcome to The Loft!

How do you get in the mood for writing?

C: I’m not a plotter in the sense that I outline everything first, and then sit down at a particular time of day and write. When ideas rumble around in my head or I wake up in the middle of the night with a solution to a scene problem, I head to my laptop and write them down. Also, with every story, I’ll create a music playlist that’s usually about one and a half hours long. When I sit down to write, I wear my noise-canceling headphones, turn on the music and tune out everything around me. At the end of the playlist, I know it’s time to get up, stretch, and make another cup of tea. Then it’s back to my office for another round of writing and music.

S: (Chuckles.) I have to set alarms so I get up and move while writing. Your system seems much more enjoyable!

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

C: I’m probably the CEO of the love-at-first-sight club! My husband and I met in high school and that was that. We’ve been together for decades. So in most of my books, all my characters know the moment they see each other that something special is about to happen. Romantic angst between them isn’t a major part of my stories. My hero and heroine get together then struggle and fight to survive the external dangers that threaten them. They do it as a team--sort of love-conquers-all scenarios.

S: I also prefer that my couples work as a team. Romantic angst does nothing for me, especially when the reasons for it are silly.

Do you write in other genres?

C: I’ve tried. The first novel I wrote is a paranormal romance with dragons, but as my first attempt with writing a book, it’s now part of my collection of unedited stories that would require an army of editors to make it presentable to the world. As much as I love to read paranormal romances and fantasy novels, I realized early that I don’t have the patience to build a believable world.

S: What would you like people to know about you?

C: I’m a crier. I cry during sappy commercials, at happily ever after endings, and when I read about gestures of kindness. I cried as I typed a scene in my first book where the heroine’s dog died. I don’t watch movies with sad endings. I call them "message-in-a-bottle" movies, since the Nicholas Sparks’ movie by that name was the first and last one I watched with a sad ending. That’s probably why I write books with happily-ever-afters. I might kill off a villain, but the lovers will always win in the end.

S: I don't cry often, but when I do, it tends to be... cleansing? That said, I never know what will trigger tears. It's never what I expect.

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

C: That’s a tough question. I’m sure I’d still be writing. But looking back, I would’ve started earlier. Maybe even ventured into writing screenplays. I love writing dialogue so it’d be fun to create a movie or mini-series for television. Who knows, they say it’s never too late to try something different. That might be my next career.

S: What inspired your book, "Houston?"

C: I love suspense and wanted darker overtones to my new series, Choice & Consequence. After finishing the first book, "Harlow," I knew I had to write Houston's story. If it weren’t for him, Harlow would be dead. So he deserved his own happily-ever- after. What’s fun about the story is it incorporates all the characters from Book One, knowing that one of them will be the hero or heroine of Book Three.

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

C: "Houston" is my favorite book that I’ve written so far. When I started writing it, I had no idea the twists it would take. I was surprised at every turn and I hope readers have the same experience. Nothing like saying, “I didn’t see that coming,” when you get to the end of a book!

Here's the blurb--

Bodyguard Houston Templeton goes with his gut. Lucia Larrson believes in fate. Danger will test their skills—and trust—to stay alive.

It’s another dreary December day for Houston Templeton until a beautiful woman crashes into him on a busy New York City street. The kiss she steals ignites his desire for more. But the man chasing her threatens to kill them both, unless Houston intervenes. As their relationship intensifies, will it destroy his ability to keep her alive?

After surviving a sadistic Dominant, Lucia Larrson struggles to trust anyone. She panics when a stalker follows her to New York City from Chicago. Driven by fear, her chances of surviving alone are slim. Led by an inner voice, she discovers safety in the arms of a stranger. Now she’ll trust him with her life…and her heart.

If you love to read about a serial killer, a heartless Dominant, betrayal, and sex hot enough to sear your eyebrows, this book is for you.