Read the next excerpt from In the Midst of Angels!

 

Read all the excerpts at

https://www.seeliekay.com

Honor the fallen!

In America, it's Memorial Day weekend, a time when we honor those who died while serving our country in the U.S. military.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LCf44Wt8N7M

This week in The Loft: An interview with Gayle M. Irwin!

Joining me today in The Loft is award-winning author Gayle M. Irwin.  Gayle writes sweet contemporary, later-in-life romance stories set in the Rocky Mountain West.  She is also a contributing writer to eight Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books for children and adults. Gayle retired from her day-job in December 2022 to pursue writing full-time. She enjoys traveling, especially to national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges, and nature photography. Gayle lives with her husband, Greg, and their rescued pets--Murphy, a nearly 18-year-old longhaired tuxedo cat; Sadie, a brown and white springer spaniel; and Jeremiah, a black and white shih tzu who is a puppy mill survivor and the mascot for her Pet Rescue Romance series.

Author Gayle M. Irwin

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

What’s love got to do with writing romance?

G:  As an older romance writer, I reflect upon the times when I was a younger woman in love. I recall the nervousness, excitement, and joy as well as the chemistry shared with the man. Although the word ‘"love" can have different connotations for different people, I think most romance book readers enjoy not just the saucy and spice, but also the sweetness of romance and love, such as hand-holding, tender kisses, cuddles on the couch, and waltzes/dances shared between a couple in a romance story. Love and subtle intimacy equal romance, in my opinion, and therefore, that’s how I write my stories.

S:  Do you write in other genres? 

G:  I’m a multi-genre author, although my focus is on sweet/clean contemporary romance. I recently joined a group of five other sweet and Christian romance authors to release a romance anthology earlier this month titled, You Have Made My Heart. Proceeds from book sales go to a nonprofit. This was my first experience writing for a romance anthology, and I’ll be participating again with these and other authors for a charity anthology for the 2023 holiday season. In addition to sweet romance books, I’ve crafted children’s books and Christian devotions. I enjoy variety, and when I feel called to write in a specific genre, I heed that nudging. I’m currently working on another children’s book and a devotion, in addition to three more romance stories. My goal as an author is to inspire, entertain, and educate, and with the writing that I do, whether for children or for adults, I strive to meet those goals.

S:  What was your worst date ever?

G:  I’ve experienced several ‘not-so-fun’ dates in my life, but the one that stays in my memory happened when I was 21. A friend of mine set me up with a guy she knew--the date was simple enough, dinner and a movie. He and I conversed readily over dinner, and I was enjoying myself. Then, he drove us to the movie theater--to see “The Howling.” I hate horror movies, even those that come close to horror. I refused to go in. He kept saying, “It’s not that bad. It won’t be that bad.” I still refused and asked him to take me home. He said, “Well, we’re already here. Let’s just see the movie.” I began walking home. He caught up with me and reluctantly said he would drive me home, which he did. We never went out again. And I still don’t watch horror movies!

S:  I would have done the same thing. If I watch a horror film, nightmares follow.

What attracted you to your current partner?

G:  I’ve been married for nearly 23 years. Four things attracted me to my husband: his concern for the environment, his smile and laughter, his musical ability, and his love for pets. My dog and cat took to him and he to them, and I thought, “If my pets like him, he must be a great guy.” They were right!

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

G:  I mentioned my concern for the environment and my enjoyment of pets--nature and animals are important to me. I support many conservation causes, from wild horse advocacy to national park preservation. I also support pet rescue organizations. I’ve served as a rescue transporter for various groups, including Mid-America Boston Terrier Rescue and English Springer Spaniel Rescue. I donate a percentage of book sales to such groups, and my books feature rescued animals, from horses and sheep to dogs and cats.

S:  Those are wonderful causes. Although I can't have a pet, my family always adopts rescue cats and dogs.

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

G:  I’ve experienced several positives in my writing career, from reader emails to awards. In January of this year, I was awarded first place by the Wyoming Press Association for a magazine article I wrote in 2022, "Missing and Murdered Indigenous People." I’m proud of the award and grateful for that recognition. The article sheds light on and educates readers about this important topic that still needs a solution.

S:  Congratulations. On the award and the topic. 

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

G:  If I had a life to do over again, I would pursue writing more vigorously and at a younger age. I still find writing thrilling, but I struggle more with novels--I seem to become more easily distracted and travel rabbit trails instead of focusing on the plot and manuscript at hand. I still write short stories--my eighth acceptance into Chicken Soup for the Soul happened in January--and magazine articles, and those shorter works still come fairly easily. I attribute my lack of focus to my older age, and since I’m not getting any younger, I may seek to write shorter romance works in the coming years.

S:  I have the same problem. I think it's due to training as a journalist. We're taught to keep things short and simple. Writing books is so different. We need to take more time developing plots and characters. 

How do you get in the mood for writing?

G:  I write best in the mornings, or at least prior to 2 p.m. I tend to rise early and place myself in front of the computer by 8 or 9 a.m. and work for three to four hours straight. I then eat lunch and either do interviews for magazine articles, work on social media, or watch educational videos on the craft or marketing of writing. I listen to soft, instrumental music as I write, and I sit next to my dog on the couch while watching educational videos. I primarily write in my home office that has windows looking upon bird feeders and a side garden. I also spend time at a friend’s ranch and at my mountain cabin for self-imposed writing retreats. I recently joined two programs by which I’m seeking to improve as an author and businessperson, and I expect to spend more time with those courses during the next few months.

S:  Have you ever shelved or thrown out a manuscript?

G:  I’ve shelved three manuscripts in the past, two of which I’ve brought out to finish this year, and the other I plan to pick up and work on again in 2024. Last year, I threw out a Christmas novella I had started--the characters and direction of the story just wasn’t going where I envisioned it when I started writing. The work is still on my computer, however, and maybe next year I’ll pull it out again … or maybe not.

S:  What do you consider your greatest achievement?

G:  My greatest writing achievement is two-fold--writing the story on "Missing and Murdered Indigenous People" and being recognized for that work, and also having eight stories published in eight Chicken Soup for the Soul books. My most life-fulfilling achievement is helping animals through rescue and adoption. I love serving as a transporter --I get to know the animals that I travel with and I get to help them have a second chance with a new family. Knowing that nearly one million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters in the U.S. every year breaks my heart, so when I can help alleviate that in a personal way as a transporter as well as through monetary donations and with subtle education within the pages of my books, my heart and soul are uplifted. My own pets are rescues, and I will always adopt instead of purchase from a pet store or breeder. Too many dogs and cats die in shelters every year through no fault of their own, and my life mission is to make a difference for rescue animals and organizations.

S:  Gayle, I'm so glad you could visit today. If you'd like to learn more about Gayle and her books, please visit:

Website:  https://gaylemirwin.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GayleMIrwin (author page)

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/wycabinlady/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/wyoauthor1
Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/gaylemirwin

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/author/gayleirwin

The first excerpt: In the Midst of Angels!

Read the full excerpt at https://www.seeliekay.com!

This week in The Loft: Author Ann Raina!

Joining me today in The Loft is fellow Extasy author Ann Raina. The author of more than 30 books, Ann writes contemporary and erotic romance, and romantic suspense and science fiction. Her series include The Bodyguard, Living for the Act, and Nick and Jacklyn. She blames her career as a writer on Han Solo and her love for writing fanfiction. Ann lives and works in Germany, where she enjoys spending time with her horse and two cats. 

S:  Good morning, Ann! Thanks for visiting The Loft!

What’s love got to do with writing romance?

A:  If you’re living in a loving relationship, you’ll find many sweet little moments to include in your writing. If not, you can at least imagine such moments or listen to your friends reporting about their relationships. Love has a lot to do with how you write romance. You’re by far more credible if you speak out of experience.

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

A:  No. On the one hand, readers want to escape reality and slip into the warm embrace of a romance story. On the other hand, there’s so much love in many relationships that the stories we as romance authors write aren’t that far away from reality. In many cases, I've heard stories from friends and felt a warmth in my heart that I tried to project into my stories. Nicolas and Jacklyn have a unique relationship, and they love each other dearly. Because of that and to beat the clichés of women being disappointed by the police officer lover, this love will last. So if you as a reader are into intact relationships that aren’t hassled by fabricated drama, join me.

S:  I think it's important to remember that a romance author's goal usually is to provide an escape from reality. 

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

A:  My first kiss wasn’t that romantic at all. The young man wanted too much at once, and I shied away from the sudden and previously unknown intimacy. I guess I frustrated him more than I brought him joy.

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

A:  Writing erotic romance and thriller novels isn’t my only hobby. I’m also a passionate rider, have a garden I take care of, and I’m a yoga trainee. I found out that riding and yoga fit well together–while the first one needs strength and stamina, the latter helps me stay flexible.

S:  I have found yoga an essential part of aging. It is the key to a peaceful mind and a healthy body.

What inspired "Best Intentions?"

A:  It’s the tenth book in my series. With this book, my muse and I were trying to break new ground. It started with a conversation with a friend about marine pollution. Then we took it a step further—how far would people go to protect marine wildlife? Would they protest peacefully or would they attack polluters? It was interesting brainstorming. That's how this book was created.

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

A:  I hope the story will inspire some readers to think about environmental protection. That is a wonderful thought.

Here's the blurb--

The man with the baseball cap stifled a grin as he approached the jetty that was still blocked by the police. Among other spectators, he watched the still smoldering remnants of the fishing boats. When he had seen enough, he walked away, and his smile turned to a full laugh.

S:  It sounds like a thought-provoking book. Where can readers buy "Best Intentions?"

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

Publisher:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Best-Intentions?search=Best%20Intentions

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B0C2PBFQKP/

Barnes and Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-intentions-ann-raina/1143366237?ean=2940166869197

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

Website:  annraina.org

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

Cover reveal!

Check out the cover for "In the Midst of Angels," coming June 30, 2023. Contemporary romance with a heavenly twist!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ1eVrOymQg

This week in The Loft: Chicago's own Madison Michael!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Madison Michael. Born and raised in Chicago, Maddy writes steamy romance about Chicago's elite--billionaire heroines and heroes who ultimately discover that money can't buy love. The author of the Beguiling Bachelor series, and several stand-alone romance novels, Maddy loves cats, cat jokes and cat videos, anything with too much sugar, and everything writing. She can be found in Chicago, writing, eating sugar, pizza or hotdogs, surrounded by cats.

Author Madison Michael 

S:  Good morning, Maddy. I'm always happy to have someone from Chicago visit. I spent 10 years commuting by train to Chicago. Loved the city, but I don't miss the train ride.

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

M:  I think I choose over again each time I finish a book and start another. I could stop and walk away, but there is always a new story brewing in my mind, and my need to tell it compels me to keep writing.

S:  I know exactly what you mean. The ideas just keep on flowing. I can't turn it off.

Have you ever shelved or thrown out a manuscript?

M:  I have shelved manuscripts a couple times, and once I deleted one by mistake. That was so painful it still haunts me. Usually, I shelve a book that is not going well, or one I want to revisit with fresh eyes before editing. I would say that shelving is part of my writing process.

S:  Sometimes, a story just doesn't go anywhere, and rather than force it, it's best to set it aside.

What was your worst date ever? 

M:  I was 16 and it was a fixup with an older guy. He was really cute and I liked him right away. But he took me to an R-rated movie and they carded me. You guessed it, I was turned away at the door. Meanwhile, it was January in Chicago and snow piled up like crazy where we had parked the car. We were stuck in a snowdrift, unable to go to the movies and freezing to boot! Worst date ever, but I got another chance and we dated for several years.

S:  Do you believe in love at first sight?

M:  Love, maybe not, but attraction for sure. I knew the night I met my husband that I wanted to marry him, but it was after several hours of conversation, not the first glance. On the other hand, the first glance made me want that conversation so...

S:  Do you read reviews? 

M:  I do read reviews, but I remember, good or bad, that they are only one person's impression of my work. I learn a great deal from thoughtful reviews including what a reader likes or hates about a character, if I confuse them or draw them in, if there is not enough action or I take too long getting to "the good parts."

S:  I think reviews are a good learning tool, but it's important to remember that not everyone will like what you write. I've had reviews complaining that there was too much sex in my stories and reviews saying there wasn't enough--all for the same book.

What inspired "Crazy to Believe?"

M:  The entire Crazy series was inspired by a long weekend I spent with my wonderful group of girlfriends at the beach in North Carolina. Unbelievably, we have been friends for over 30 years and making this beach trip the entire time. I was so sad to leave them at the end of days of laughs and making memories, that I decided to take traits from each of them to create the Crazy Eights. The characters are fiction, but bits and pieces of the characters or stories come from interactions with them over the years.

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

M:  I wrote this book as the first in the series originally, and called it "Dare to Hope." But after a complete rewrite and the creation of several of the other All's Crazy in Love books, I changed the titles for all the books and the order for their release. "Crazy to Believe" is now the second book in the series. Crazy to Wed, the prequel is available for free from my website, madisonmichael.net. I created the prequel to give readers an extra chance to meet these extraordinary women.

Here's the blurb--

She’s Betting on Love and the Stakes are High

The “Crazy Eights” make an audacious dare. Each of the eight friends must marry within twelve months or complete a personally mortifying task.

Starting over after a divorce, Sofia is focused on her career, not some foolhardy dare. Until she meets Jeremy, a sexy engineer, at a conference. They bond over shared interests and a chemistry that sizzles.

The stakes are high. When the wager is nothing short of true love, are Jeremy and Sofia crazy to believe?

S:  Now that sounds like a steamy romance! Where can readers buy "Crazy to Believe?"

M:  It's available in eBook and Kindle Unlimited exclusively on Amazon. Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Believe-Alls-Love-Romance-ebook/dp/B0BSDTLD2 In addition, a prequel, "Crazy to Wed" is available for free by joining my mailing list or on Amazon at https://us.amazon.com/Crazy-Wed-Alls-Love-Prequel-ebook/dp/B09ZN3JKVK or https://storyoriginapp.com/giveaways/bba449d0-7bc5-11ed-b12d-b74a6218cdd7

S: Maddy, thanks for visiting my loft today. If you'd like to learn more about Maddy and her books, please visit:

Website:  www.madisonmichael.net

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/madisonmichaelromance

Instagram:  www.instagram.com/madisonmichaelromance

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Madison-Michael/e/B01EVUGG6G
Pinterest:  www.pinterest,com/madisonmichaelromance

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/madison-michael

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15221601.Madison_Michael

This week in The Loft: Fellow Extasy authors Adriana Kraft!

Joining me today is the husband and wife writing team using the pen name Adriana Kraft. Known for their steamy erotic romance and erotic romantic suspense tales, the Krafts have published more than 50 novels and novellas. As former academics, they lived in many states across the Midwest, but after retirement, they sold their home and took off across country in a motor home. Ultimately, they landed in southern Arizona, where they enjoy hiking, golf, bowling, western dance, and travel, especially to the many Arizona Native American historical sites.

The avatar for Adriana Kraft

S:  Welcome back to The Loft!

You've built an impressive catalog of erotic romance and romantic suspense books. Do you write in any other genres?

A:  Yes! Like you, we’ve just now branched out into something new for us. Our new release, "Two Seeds are Sown," is historical, taking place in what is now Wales, UK, during the Roman occupation in the second century AD. This short story sets the stage for its contemporary sequel, coming out in July. Up until now, all our novels and stories have been contemporary, though we’ve often written characters who can travel back in time or to other dimensions. Within contemporary romance, we write several subgenres: Romantic suspense, typically with a male/female pairing who must find their happy ending while dodging perilous danger and solving a crime. Erotic romance, sometimes with male/female pairing, but more often with a bisexual woman and three way or more-way menage. And we’ve also published a few female/female erotic romance stories. This venture into historical writing takes us back to the sources of our paranormal elements. Of course, it also taps into dimensions we’ve recently been exploring in our pleasure reading.

S:  Historical romance can be a weighty endeavor. It requires a lot of research.

What would you like to people know about you? 

A:  Together, we have studied shamanism and energy work, and taken some beginning training in both disciplines. I feel these approaches to understanding life, spirituality, and healing hark back to the worldview of the Celtic ancestors both of us have found in our family trees, chiefly in Scotland and Wales. It is profoundly meaningful to both of us to make these connections. I think we will never cease to learn new things as we continue to explore both what is known historically about the Druids and the Celts, as well as what other fiction authors conjecture about life in the late iron age in the British Isles as well as western Europe.

S:  As you probably know, my pen name, "Seelie," is derived from Scottish folklore and a nod to a family heritage in the paranormal arts.

Do you read reviews? 

A:  Yes. Absolutely. Do I believe everything they say about our books? No. But do they inform me? Almost always. A good review, of course, is always welcome, especially if it offers details and not just general praise that could apply to any book. It’s hard to describe the feeling of knowing that another person not only loved what we wrote, but understood it and appreciated its nuances, and then took the trouble to share it in a review. Deeply affirming. A negative review can have a lot of different meanings. Sometimes it means we mis-marketed the book, and someone picked it up who doesn’t love explicit steamy scenes in the stories they’re reading. Sometimes it’s a negative judgment about some of the characters we write. If there’s to be a menage, and it’s not a committed polyamory relationship, it’s bound to be non-monogamous. There are a lot of romance readers who don’t like that. We tend to write women who take charge of their bodies and their sex lives--some readers think such women are sluts. Both of us oppose slut shaming. Some readers think if a character has a sexual relationship with a third person, the book isn’t a romance. We disagree. Love is love is love. Whatever the reason, even a negative review can lead to brand name exposure and opportunities to comment on what we write and why.

S:  I so agree. Love comes in all shapes and sizes, and it's troubling when people can't accept that. There are plenty of books out there that shock even me, but my mantra has always been "tolerance, not judgment." 

Have you ever shelved or thrown out a manuscript? 

A:  It’s too soon to say. Have we written books we haven’t published? Yes, several. Have we thrown any out? Never. When we started writing fiction together instead of academic articles, we had a lot to learn. The structure and craft of our early efforts weren’t necessarily the best, but we have always had intriguing characters and solid plots. In recent years, we’ve revisited and published several, and some of them continue to call us. I’d especially like us to get back to a three-book series that begins in Wyoming just after the civil war and comes up to the present. A lot of historical research went into that draft, and I think the story is pretty solid, though it might not qualify as a romance.

S:  Sometimes, you know what the story is, but it just doesn't flow. I have 10 years of research into a book about a relative who was a cult leader, but after two drafts it's still is not right. 

What wakes you up in the middle of the night?

A:  Characters. Often, they have a mind of their own about what is supposed to happen next. Does that come from our inner psyches? From the characteristics and motivations we think we’ve given them? Did we invent them? Or are we tapping into something that exists in some other reality, something that already has its own trajectory and outcome? We don’t mind that so much in the daytime, though sometimes it radically alters where a work is headed. But waking up in the middle of the night…

S:  I imagine more than a few writers can identify with that.

What inspired "Two Seeds are Sown?"

A:  I’m not sure I can do justice to all the threads that have converged to create the two-book series that is Seren’s Story. Certainly our study and exploration of our Celtic roots--the sacredness of all creation, the deep connectedness with the cycles of the year, the Druidic traditions, and especially the belief in a life or lives) beyond the one we’re aware of. Can I separate our interest in the paranormal from those roots? It probably doesn’t matter. In this story, Seren can communicate with her grandmother, who has died, and with her daughter, from whom she becomes physically separated forever. We wanted to explore those connections, and to play with paranormal elements as we brought the story forward to the present day, when Seren is still seeking to unite what was severed.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Two Seeds are Sown?"

A:  The book is being released today, May 5.  It’s a great example of a manuscript that was shelved for a long time and called to us recently. We wrote a first draft of what we then called The Welsh Story several years back, and we’d already envisioned it as the first book in a series that would bring Seren into the present era. Meanwhile, we had already begun two other series that are now published in full, Meghan’s Playhouse and Swinging Games, and we became more involved in getting those books out in a timely fashion. The Welsh Story sat on a back burner. I’m never sure quite what happens on back burners, but I think this one came to a boil and began to cook in earnest when we started exploring Celtic history, Roman occupied Britain, and Druidic spirituality. The time was right, and we picked it up to revise and publish. I also suspect we’d been a little hesitant about branching into historical fiction, and with good cause, it turns out. We were able to flesh out that early draft with accurate detail and specific information.

Here's the blurb:

Resist, or yield? The choice is not Seren’s alone.

Late in the Roman occupation of Britain, a young Welsh tribeswoman is hand selected and captured to serve as a courtesan to a Roman Legate and his wife. Escape proves impossible, but Seren is never completely abandoned. Her grandmother’s cryptic prophecy through their psychic connection seals her fate—it will be Seren’s lot to yield. The words both relieve Seren and further mystify her: You must find pleasure in your present life. Fulfillment will not be yours until after you cross into the next.

S:  A worthy message. Where can readers find your book?

A:  Today it's available on the Extasy Books site at https://www.extasybooks.com/Two-Seeds-are-Sown. It will be available from other booksellers soon.

S:  Adriana, thanks so much for joining me today and good luck with your new book. If you'd like to learn more about the Krafts, please visit--

Website:  https://adrianakraft.com/
Blog:  https://www.adrianakraft.com/blog
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AdrianaKraft
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/adriana.kraft.5
Facebook Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/AdrianaKraftAuthor

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kraftadriana/
Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/author/adrianakraft
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1578571.Adriana_Kraft
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/adriana-kraft
Extasy Books Page: https://www.extasybooks.com/adriana-kraft
MeWe:  https://mewe.com/i/adriana1kraft
Mastadon:  @AdrianaKraft@mastodon.otherworldsink.com
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