Friday, April 28, 2023

This week in The Loft: New author KD Sherrinford!

Joining me in The Loft today is fellow Extasy author KD Sherrinford. KD writes historical romantic suspense. A talented pianist, her debut novel features some of her favorite composers' music. KD is also an animal lover who has worked with thoroughbred horses and racing greyhounds. She and her husband, John, won the Blackpool Greyhound Derby in 1987 with their dog, Scottie. KD's other hobbies include reading, theatre, music, and dead camp comedians. Now retired, KD writes full-time from her home in the UK on the Fylde Coast, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Author KD Sherrinford

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

How do you get in the mood for writing? 

KD:  I get in the mood for writing by retiring to my office, where I can write and contemplate without interruption. I can't have any distractions, not even music, which I love. The only thing I need is copious amounts of coffee.

S:  Coffee does seem to be essential for me, too. 

Do you write in genres other than romantic suspense? 

KD:  My first three books, The Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries, are all historical romantic suspense stories. However, I recently completed a present-day short cozy mystery for Marla Bradeen, titled, "A Bit of a Do." It will be included in the Malice Matrimony and Murder anthology, which will be published in November. I am considering developing my main character Liv into a possible series.

S:  Do you remember your first kiss? What was memorable about it?

KD:  My first kiss was 60 years ago, when I was six. I'll never forget that day. It was with David Lambert at primary school. I was fortunate to sit beside him in class—this lovely boy with blonde hair and blazing blue eyes. I kissed him on the cheek in front of the whole class. It was pretty way out for me as I was an introverted child and always had my nose in a book. But I couldn't help myself. Alas, my feelings remained unrequited. I don't know who was more embarrassed.

S:  I was five when I was kissed by a classmate, but I got sent to the principal's office! People still remind me about "the kiss."

Do you read reviews?

KD:  I sometimes read reviews, but I would never let them detract me from reading a book I was interested in. I prefer to make up my own mind. I still read my own reviews, although not as often as I used to. Being naturally inquisitive or, as my friends describe it, nosy, I like to read what people think of my books, even if it's not always what I want to hear. I feel blessed to have received some wonderful reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I received a lovely review only the other day, posted in "The Sign of Holmes" by Jon Oshiro. He eloquently quoted the following, " Using multiple narratives, we see and begin to understand the character from each one's perspective. The emotions they wrestle with and the appreciation and acceptance that love allows us to see. We are all different ... and without understanding ... without love, we remain different. Investigate 'Song for Someone.' Highly recommend an endearing look at an enduring love." I love these sentiments. I couldn't have put it better myself.

S:  The good reviews sustain you.

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

KD:  If I had my time over again, I would still write books. There is magic in writing, bringing your characters and plots together on the page that equals nothing else.

S:  What’s the best advice you have ever been given?

KD:  The best advice I've been given is to write about what you know and what interests you. Write a book you would want to read yourself. So, I did.

S:  What do you consider your greatest achievement?

KD:  Having four books published within 12 months. I would have never believed that possible when I first started out.

S:  What was the inspiration for " Song for Someone? "

KD:  My inspiration came from my daughter, Katie, after a visit to The Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street London in October 2019. We went with a few friends. I remember we had a discussion afterwards about Sherlock and the iconic character, Irene Adler. I remarked that it was a shame she was only featured in one of Conan Doyle's stories, "A Scandal in Bohemia," and lamented what might have been if the characters had met again. My daughter suggested I write my own adaptation. So, after much deliberation, I decided to give it a go.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Song for Someone?"  

KD:  What makes my debut novel special to me is the incredible amount of time and effort that went into writing the book. It took two years, six-eight hours each day. I re-read the entire Sherlock Holmes canon and spent ages researching the historical details and real-life characters portrayed in the book. It was tricky, but worthwhile. I wrote the prologue, the story of "A Scandal in Bohemia" from Irene's POV, which I don't believe has ever been done before.

Here's the blurb--

Charlotte Sapori has led a wonderful life safely tucked in the bosom of her family. Her mother, Irene Adler, is a renowned opera singer, while her father, Lucca Sapori, does important government work that frequently takes him away from them. Charlotte is close to her older brother Nicco, and they are both doted on by their parents. All is well until her mother receives an unexpected diagnosis which shakes the family to its core.

Knowing herself to be dying. Adler confesses to Charlotte things that have long been kept from her, telling her to find and read her diary. A distressed Lucca Sapori tells his daughter to read his as well. And by the way, Lucca Sapori is not his real name. In fact, she may have heard of him-he is actually the world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes.

Charlotte finds both diaries and plunges into the hidden world of Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes as she discovers what brought them together and how they managed to stay together for thirty years despite having to battle the odds.


S:  As a lover of all things Sherlock, I can actually picture this scenario. Where can readers buy your book?

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

Publisher:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Song-For-Someone

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Friday, April 21, 2023

This week in The Loft: Author Ruth A. Casie!

Joining me today in the Loft is historical romance author Ruth A. Casie. A USA Today bestselling author, Ruth's stories feature adventures from the shores of medieval Scotland to the cobblestone streets of Regency London. She's currently working on a new series, River of Time, about an elite technology security officer whose job is to eliminate time travelers. He falls in love with a time traveling art appraiser and has to choose between his duty and his one chance for a timeless love. Ruth knows a bit about traveling. Formerly employed by a financial institution with clients around the world, she filled up her passport in one year.

Author Ruth A. Casie

S:  Welcome back to The Loft, Ruth!

Do you think romance books have gotten too spicy?

R:  The beauty of books is you can pick and choose what you want to read. I enjoy a romantic story with the appropriate amount of sex and heat. No, I’m not being prudish. Every story commands its setting and telling. Too much, or even too little sex, heat, etc. impacts the story. So, if a story is too spicy for you, pass it by. Each book has its own audience. And demand is what keeps books on the shelves--real or virtual. If readers demand more spice, authors will write for them. If there are readers who want their historical romance tamer, I’m their author. Just saying.

S:  I think a larger concern would be not being able to choose the heat level you prefer. Right now, romance books are diverse. There is something for everyone.

Critics say romance novels mislead readers about the reality of romance and in fact, give readers false expectations. Do you agree?

R:  Just as fairy tales give people false expectations, so does romance. Romance stories came to forefront because women were not allowed to enjoy or talk about romance or sex. These stories gave women an outlet and encouraged them to be more vocal. As a matter of fact, it is the romance book emergence that started the women’s right movement. Read Maya Rodale. She can give you a much better explanation. I believe she wrote her master’s thesis on the impact of romance books.

S:  After the publication of the Fifty Shades series, some readers ventured into the BDSM world seeking their own Christian Grey. As a result, a few were scammed, sexually assaulted, or otherwise harmed. Does an author bear any responsibility for those types of consequences?

R:  This is a good question. I believe that fictional stories tell you right up front that these are creations of the author’s mind and not fact. I would first demand that non-fiction be accurate, like the news. Whether you're on the right or left of the discussion, facts matter. Not make believe ones.

S:  Good point. Fiction is not fact. Most works of fiction state that up front.

Do you write in other genres?

R:  I have also written contemporary romance stories. I have a series of six, Havenport Romance. These stories started out as short stories for anthologies that my critique partners and I published over the last few years. We decided to individually publish them. My stories take place in a small New England town. While I enjoyed writing them, my readers prefer my historical stories. I believe it has to do with the "voice" of my stories.

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

R:  Yes, but I wouldn’t have waited so long. I loved my job at the bank and spent over 25 years there. However, the creativity and camaraderie I have found in the writing community has been wonderful, and I find out more about myself with each book I write.

S:   Do you read reviews? 

R:  Yes, I do read reviews of my own books and others. I get insight into what readers like and don’t like. For my own stories, I find out what worked and what didn’t. You can tell I am from corporate America where in my day, "continual improvement" was the mantra.

S:  What attracted you to your current partner?

R: Way back, I was a single mom with two kids. I got involved with a singles group and began organizing events. Paul called to come to the Super Bowl Party. We met at the party and had a good time. He asked me out on a date. I brought information about some of the women he met and some that couldn’t make that party. He listened and nodded and said he wasn’t interested in them. The following week he asked me out, I told him about three other women. Again, he listened and nodded then told me, "no." They didn’t interest him. On our third date, I started to tell him about another woman he might want to meet, but I stopped before I got started. He smiled and said thank you. Now, was I interested? Yes, but there was a stumbling block. I am nearly 10 years older than him. This September, we’ll be married for 40 years.

S:  Congratulations! I suspect if you fell in love today, few would react to the age difference. 

What inspired "The Lady and the Barrister?"

R:  If you read the story, I documented those first few dates with Paul. It is my homage to my very dear, very loving husband. In addition, many readers enjoyed my series, The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea. I decided to add three more stories. This series is The Return of The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea. The theme is still women who have special skills, and all are graduates of the same female seminary. Lady Marianna Ravencroft is the ultimate party giver and hostess. Many people want her to create their events. She is more than happy, but Ladies do not work, and especially for money. She does charge a high price, but her fees are given to the village foundation to feed and shelter the needy. Lord Fraser Castleton is surprised to find out he has inherited a title and estate. He has returned from the war. Anna and Fraser are childhood friends. Both find themselves wealthy, single, and attracting money hungry, position seeking people. They decide to pretend they’re courting while they each look for a match for the other. 

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "The Lady and the Barrister?"

R:  The stories in both The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea and The Return of The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea are about strong women who fight with their brains for their place in society as well as for and with the man they love. He just must be worthy!

Here's the blurb:

She swore she’d help him find his soul mate. Will she realize he has met his match?

Lady Anna Ravencroft shines brightly as a much-admired organizer and hostess. In her mind it is the one thing at which she succeeds. Inwardly she is shy, retiring… a wallflower. With two failed seasons that ended in disaster she has accepted marriage might not be in her future.

Lord Fraser Castleton, a London barrister is shocked when he inherits a title and estate from his father’s great uncle and becomes the 8th Duke of Willbury. He returns to Sommer-by-the-Sea to take up permanent residence. He crosses paths with his longtime friend, Lady Anna. He confides that he is the target of every mother with an unmarried daughter. She commiserates with him. Every eligible gentleman sees the Ravencroft purse rather than her. Together they decide to find a mate for each other. Anna presents him with a list of several eligible women. Castleton is receptive, but not enthusiastic. He gives her the same reaction with the subsequent two lists. Will she realize he has already found his match?

Richard Younge who doesn’t always play by the rules wants to be the next Member of Parliament for his borough. His political backer will support him if Younge can finance the campaign himself. He suggests Younge find a wealthy wife to support his political plans. Marrying into the Ravencroft family would all but guarantee not only his backer’s continued support but provide the steady stream of money needed to claim his place amongst the gentry. He calls on Lady Anna for assistance with a campaign event and has an ulterior motive.

Two men vie for Lady Anna, but who will she choose? The smooth politician or the down-to-earth barrister turned duke?



S:  What a sweet story! Where can readers buy "The Lady and the Barrister?"

R:  It's available at Amazon Kindle Unlimited.

S:  Ruth, thanks for joining me today. If you'd like to learn more about Ruth and her books, please visit--
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Thursday, April 20, 2023

Coming soon!


When Greta's parents start bugging her about her love life, 
she tries to ignore them. After all, they're in heaven!

In the Midst of Angels
Coming June 30, 2023
 


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Friday, April 14, 2023

This week in The Loft: Author Lil DeVille!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Lil DeVille. A former nurse, Lil turned to writing erotica after becoming disabled in 2019. Her tales employ quirky characters involved in lusty encounters on a tropical paradise or a rustic mountain village to an all-male mining colony on an asteroid in the distant future. However, Lil's stories also address difficult subjects, such as alcoholism or past abuse. She prefers to end her stories on a Happy for Now note, with a promise of more good things to come. Lil lives with her adult son and three cats in a remote prairie town in Northeastern Colorado. When she isn’t cooking up spicy stories, she enjoys baking and crafts.

Lil DeVille's "Calling Card."

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

What’s love got to do with writing romance?

L:  I imagine a writer needs to know what it feels like to be or have been in love to write romance. It’s probably good to know what a successful romantic relationship looks like even if you’ve never had one yourself. Otherwise, one ends up relying on tropes.

S:  Well, there are certainly a lot of books that rely on tropes. Unfortunately, those can make storylines predictable.

Do you remember your first kiss? What was memorable about it?

L:  I may be the most uninspiring example of a romance writer ever. My first kiss, other than a peck on the lips, was spectacularly awful. I really wasn’t into the guy, but he wanted me to be. He mashed his mouth against mine and tried to stick his tongue down my throat. I think I was 14 at the time and he was the same age. Needless to say, that was not a moment when love bloomed.

S:  Fourteen was a pretty awkward time for many of us. Between the emergence of hormones and a sudden attraction to boys or girls, it was a lot to deal with.

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

L:  I’ve enjoyed self-publishing my own work, although I’ve pulled some of my earlier books from Amazon and won’t re-release them until I’ve done a massive overhaul. I’ve learned a lot about the erotica genre since I first started writing it in 2018, after reading one of those articles saying I could become an overnight millionaire by selling erotica on Amazon. It isn’t really as simple as it sounds. It was a big thrill for me when "The Beasts of Hank’s Wood" was selected to be part of the Beastly Tales anthology. I’m very happy to be included in this wonderful collection of stories.

S:  What’s the best advice you have ever given?

L:  Telling my son to listen to his own intuition rather than what his grandparents insisted he must do, such as select a major by the time you’re eighteen, go to college, then work in that field even if you’ve discovered you didn’t like it as much as you thought you would.

S:  Listen to "your gut" is always great advice.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

L:  Bringing my son into the world. I’m not being hyperbolic. I think he is a person who makes a positive difference in his quiet way.

S:  Complete this sentence: “When one of my books is released, I….”

L:  Feel I have accomplished something wonderful and start thinking about what I should work on next.

S:  What inspired "The Beasts of Hank’s Wood?"

L:  "The Beasts of Hank’s Wood" was actually my third try at creating a story for potential inclusion in the Beastly Tales anthology. I knew I wanted to deal with the issue of the clash between Fundamentalism and homosexuality. My first attempt was a story about a young priest trying to come to terms with his sexual orientation while being haunted by a group of horny and angry spectral heretics. I got stuck working on that one. Eventually, I ended up with the idea for "The Beasts of Hank’s Wood." It pretty much wrote itself.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "The Beasts of Hank’s Wood?"

L:  Above everything else, it is a story about acceptance transforming lives.

Here's the blurb for the anthology--

Monsters deserve love too…

From werewolves, vampires, and even Bigfoot, these beasts manage to find love. Whether they are able to sink their claws into that love and keep it is another story. When it comes down to it, don’t judge a book by its cover. This anthology brings a mixture of what ifs and happily ever afters.

(Featuring stories from T.C. Mill, A.K. Moss, Toni Mobley, Barend Nieuwstraten III, Ashley L. Hunt, Charles Kyffhausen, Lil Deville, Kelly Piner, Jess Monica, and Karen Bayly.)

Here's the blurb for "The Beasts of Hank's Wood"--

Joe Schola III is the eighteen-year-old son of Joseph Schola Junior, a fire-and-brimstone preaching Fundamentalist televangelist. While young Joe is far less homophobic than his father, he is struggling to come to terms with his own sexual orientation. Will Joe dare accept the invitation to become part of a clan of shapeshifters, and will he accept the love being offered to him by the handsome fox shifter Lovell Azarola?



S:  Sounds like an emotional story. Where can readers buy the anthology?

L:  It's available at https://amzn.to/3UV0pmF.

S:  Lil, as always, it's been a pleasure chatting with you. Good luck with the anthology! If you'd like to learn more about Lil and her stories, please visit--

Amazon Author Page:  https://bit.ly/LilDevilleAmazonAuthor

Naughty Netherworld Press Blog:  http://www.naughtynetherworldpress.com

Naughty Netherworld Press Books:  https://bit.ly/NNPBooks

Naughty Netherworld Press Substack:  https://naughtynetherworldpress.substack.com

Readers Roost Book Blog:  https://bit.ly/ReadersRoost

Readers Roost Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ReadersRoost

Naughty Netherworld Newsletter:  https://bit.ly/NaughtyNetherworldNews2

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Friday, April 7, 2023

Happy Easter!


Remember Easter parades? The clip below reminds of a much simpler time. 
To all who celebrate, wishing you a very Happy and Blessed Easter!


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This week in The Loft: Author Lyz Kelley!

Joining me today in The Loft is USA Today Bestselling author Lyz Kelley. Lyz writes contemporary romance, including small town, second chance, and steamy romance, and romantic suspense. In her books, she creates wounded characters who discover what drives them, frightens them, heals them, and makes them laugh. A self-proclaimed disaster in the kitchen, Lyz also claims to be a compulsive neat freak and a tea snob. 

Author Lyz Kelley

S:  Good morning, Lyz. I'm so pleased you could join me today!

Critics say romance novels mislead readers about the reality of romance and, in fact, give readers false expectations. Do you agree?

L:  When I first began writing, I wrote what I would call “real-life” characters. These heroes and heroines were flawed and human-like. However, I found readers preferred the hero factor in all their romance books, which means readers wanted the fantasy, not the reality. They wanted to escape and find that perfect partner. Unfortunately, no one is perfect, and that is why we enjoy finding our perfect escape between the pages of a book.
  
S:  That fantasy also plays out in the models on the book covers. Even I've had to fan myself after spotting a cover with a handsome, swashbuckling pirate!

What’s love got to do with writing romance?

L:  Love has everything to do with romance. I believe we must first love ourselves in order to be vulnerable and open to an intimate relationship. Insecurities and past hurt play a role in every connection we create, whether it’s a kinship, hook-up, or a deeper connection. If we can grant ourselves self-compassion and love who we are, then we may find a way to open our hearts and be loved by others. When I write romance, I always start with a character’s internal wound. I drive the story forward by poking at that wound until I exposed it and the character must face their past in order to heal and move toward accepting another’s love. Because I believe no one can love our hurts away. We must be brave enough to walk into the light of love.

S:  "The light of love." An apt description. Do you write in other genres? 

L:  Yes, I also write in epic fantasy. Quite a difference from romance, huh? However, the reason I started writing in the first place was to write this giant epic fantasy that’s occupied space in my head since age eight, but the crafted world seemed so complex I felt I needed to hone my writing skills before I tackled the massive project. What I discovered is romance is the most complex genre to learn. The hero, heroine, and romance journeys must perfectly align in order for the story to be satisfying. Learning the character-driven writing skills has helped me to have the confidence to begin my epic fantasy. I will not publish the Keystone Prophesy series until late 2023, so don’t look for it just yet.

S:  What was your worst date ever?

L:  My worst date happened many years ago. The guy picked me up and drove me to dinner, where I discovered we had nothing in common. I paid for my dinner and made some excuse that I needed to get home. On the way back to my apartment, he explained his psychologist suggested he should ask me for sex as I was okay looking and somewhat smart. I got out of the car as quickly as possible and never returned his many phone calls.

S:  Wow, it's amazing who's out there, isn't it?

What attracted you to your current partner?

L:  Respect. After 25 years of marriage, I believe love and trust come and go, but respect always remains. As a former Canadian 3 RCR Airbourne, he fought to make this world a better place. After leaving the military, he, like me, worked hard, saved our pennies, and sacrificed to put meals on the table and a roof over our heads. He’s intelligent, funny and loyal to those he elects to have in his life. I couldn’t ask for a better life partner.

S:  It sounds like you've found your own romantic hero!

What inspired The Elkridge Series?

L:  Most of my book inspirations come from normal life. An article in the newspaper, a scenario made up while watching a couple interact, or a topic I wish to explore. I write about everyday heroes, and I think about our struggles. While I love to add humor to my books, I will never be one of those slapstick authors. So, I write about finding love when you least expect it, when you don’t think you deserve it, or when you think love has passed you by.

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

L:  Mara, my unusual heroine, was developed out of an exercise at a writing retreat. C.J. Lyons, a New York Times best-selling author, was giving a lecture on the use of senses in writing. Most authors use sight as the primary go-to sense, and we were exploring the use of other senses to add flavor to our writing. I really struggled with the exercise. Like anything, I knew that conquering a problem takes practice. So, I wrote a novella. Then a friend talked me into writing a full-length book—thus "Blinded" was created.

Here's the blurb--

Do you love finding clues, solving a mystery, and falling in love?

Mara has lost everything: her parents, her sister, her sight. She refuses to let fear control her life, yet something is not right in the mountain town.

Joey, Mara’s high school crush, has returned home for his brother’s funeral. The big city detective will only be in town for a few days, but he’s frustrated. All the facts show his brother was murdered, so why isn’t the Mayor and sheriff’s department looking for a killer? Joey doesn’t believe a poacher shot his brother. Neither does Mara, who's looking sexier than ever.

The last thing Joey wants is to return to Seattle and leave Mara and his family to deal with the Mayor. Perhaps he can do what no one else can—capture a murderer and steal Mara's heart.

If you love a small town, second-chance romance stories layered with emotion, suspense, and two people willing to risk it all for love, escape to Elkridge, a town filled with everyday heroes, and find the one person who's hiding a secret.



S:  Sounds like a suspenseful tale. Where can readers buy your book?

L:  It's available at--

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Blinded-Elkridge-Lyz-Kelley/dp/0997258217
Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blinded-lyz-kelley/1130662612?ean=9781948520010

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

To keep tabs on Lyz’s newest releases, sign up for her newsletter at LyzKelley.com or https://geni.us/LyzKelleyFreeBook.
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