This week in The Loft: Author Kate Hill!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Kate Hill.  Kate is a vegetarian New Englander who loves writing romantic fantasies. Her stories span a broad range of romance subgenres, including Viking historical romance, erotic and paranormal romance, and romantic suspense. When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, watching horror movies, researching vampires and Viking history, and running the Compelling Beasts Blog, which is dedicated to antagonists, antiheroes, and paranormal creatures. Kate also writes as Saloni Quinby.

Author Kate Hill

S:  Welcome, Kate! I'm so glad you had time to join me in The Loft!

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

K:  I think the biggest issue is also the biggest asset. Indie publishing allows for more work to be available for readers and offers greater opportunities for writers, but it also creates more competition. Personally, I think it's better now that there's more access to a wider variety of stories from more authors. People are more likely to find stories and characters they connect with.

S:  Love does indeed come in many shapes and sizes. I love that there is now so much diversity in romance books.

Why write romance? 

K:  I've always enjoyed reading romance, but I couldn't always find the plots or character types I wanted to read, so I wrote them.

S:  I know what you mean. I wanted to see more strong women and more men who supported their dreams in romance books. And that's why I started writing books.

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

K:  I keep notebooks, but my favorite way to get to know characters is to think about how they deal with everyday situations I find myself in. I imagine them with me and think about how they'd react to normal situations.

S:  That lends authenticity to your books.

Do you outline the plot for your stories before writing? 

K:  I like to work with a loose outline, with lots of wiggle room for the inevitable changes that happen during the writing process.

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

K:  I usually write a summary along with an outline, but the actual blurb that goes with the final book is usually written and polished after the book is complete.

S:  I stopped writing the blurb first after I completed a few books. I found them too confining.

How do you get reviews?

K:  I find reviews hard to get and would love to get more. Currently, I have an ARC group I'm grateful for and I also make my new releases available at Booksprout.

S:  A while back, I began to suspect that reviews are not necessarily an accurate measure of the quality of a book. I've read books with thousands of reviews and found them seriously lacking. That makes me wonder what truly drives the "review engine." I still don't have a satisfactory answer. 

Do you write in other genres?

K:  I'm a huge horror fan and enjoy writing it sometimes. Some of my books are romantic horror. I hope to write more horror in the future.

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

K:  Definitely. Writing is a way of life for me. I write because I love it.

S:  What inspired "Northman's Pleasure?" 

K:  "Northman's Pleasure" is the sequel to "Northman's Passion." While writing the first book, I got attached to Grim and Asgerd, and wanted to give them their own story.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Northman's Pleasure?"

K:  "Northman's Pleasure" is a short, spicy historical romance set during the Viking era. It's related to "Northman's Passion," but it can be read as a stand-alone story. It was originally published several years ago. This version has been re-edited and contains two additional scenes after the main story.

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

Website:  https://kate-hill.com/
Blog:  https://kate-hill.com/blog/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KateHillRomance
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Kate-Hill/e/B002BLS7OW
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-hill
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16157.Kate_Hill
Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/katehillromancewritingandmore/_saved/
Tumblr:  https://www.tumblr.com/blog/katehillromancewritingandmore

Newsletter:  https://kate-hill.com/index.php/newsletter/

This week in The Loft: Author Josie Lugo!

Joining me today in The Loft is fellow eXtasy author Josie Lugo. Her debut novel, "The Voices," is a paranormal romance. Josie is a full-time author whose stories are a mix of happily ever after and contemplative endings. Currently based in North Carolina, Josie follows her husband around wherever he takes her, writing on her laptop, her phone, or just jotting down ideas in her notes. When she finally takes a break from writing, she says she’s definitely reading.

Author Josie Lugo

S:  Welcome to The Loft, Josie. I'm pleased you could join me today.

Why write romance?

J:  The simple answer is that I write romance because it’s my favorite genre to read. But the more complex answer is that I write romance because in some aspects it’s easy. Will they or won’t they end up together? The conflict itself already exists so I can focus on the characters. Who are they, what are their goals, and how does that change how they look at relationships. No two of my characters from any of my stories are the same. And that’s the fun part of writing.

S:  Do you utilize tropes when writing? 

J:  Of course! Using tropes is not only really common but also effective for a reason. I’m not even sure it’s possible to write a story without at least one trope. Still, I lean into them since I know I’m writing for a specific audience.

S:  When I started writing romance, I didn't even know what a trope was. Now I see them in my stories, but I don't intentionally adhere to them.

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

J:  Absolutely. I love getting up and going to work every day. I love getting my stories published and writing new ones. This is literally my dream job and I’m happy to get to do it in this life, let alone another.

S:  Do you outline the plot for your stories before writing? 

J:  Yes, I do. Before I start, I write down everything I can think of that I want to happen in the story, every major point that I want to hit in the same way you’d describe the major events to someone who hasn’t read the book. How I get from point A to point B will be determined in the day-to-day writing, but a guideline is great for those moments when I’m asking myself, what next. Also, I think it’s important to note that I’m not strict on plot outlines. If I’m writing, and the story seems to flow better in a different way than I outlined, I’ll let it continue in the new direction. It’s supposed to help me, not hinder me.

S:  I am a true pantser. When I have an idea, I just start writing. I have no idea where the characters or the story will wind up.

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

J:  The book. I never even consider a blurb until I’m getting ready to submit my book for publishing. Somehow, it’s easier to write 85,000 words in a story than a condensed blurb for the back of the book.

S:  What inspired "The Voices?"

J:  There were two major inspirations that came together for this story. The first is my love for the fated mates trope. I’m a big believer in fate and adding romance to that concept is the perfect cup of coffee for me. The second is the idea of parental love. At the core of it, parents are just people. And just like there’s bad people, they’re bad parents.

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

J:  This is my debut novel with eXtasy books. It's a story is all about love. Parental, platonic, and romantic. Leo ends her story with more people in her life to love her. It’s a feel-good read. Also, it's the first book in a series called Shifters of Summerdon.

Here's the blurb--

Leonora Carmichael didn’t think anything of her move to Summerdon, Montana. It was simply a new place to live, another place to need therapy for the voices in her head. Until one day, when she doesn’t adhere to the threats to leave town, and she’s kidnapped, mistreated, and interrogated. Her rescuer? The same male whose voice she’s been hearing in her head her whole life. Instead of a psychotic break, Leo learns she’s part of the supernatural world. Now she has to figure out how to be a human in a shifter relationship, handle a human mother who knows nothing of paranormal creatures, ignore the jealous tantrums of an ex-lover, and how to be brave against the very real nightmares from her time in a cell.

S:  Where can readers buy your book?

J:  It's available at--

Publisher:   https://www.extasybooks.com/The-Voices

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Josie-Lugo/author/B0CJL7KVTK

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-voices-josie-lugo/1144029528

S:  Josie, thanks for joining me today and good luck with "The Voices!" If you'd like to learn more about Josie and her books, please visit--

Website:  https://josielugoauthor.weebly.com/ 

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

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

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43852151.Josie_Lugo

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/people/Josie-Lugo/100055921203630/ 

When politics interferes with love, can love survive?

Getting married isn’t easy when your father’s the President of the United States! After reluctantly agreeing to a White House wedding, Sarah Lee Pearson, the president’s daughter, finds herself swept into a political maelstrom of unimagined proportions.

The White House staff and the first lady see the wedding as a political event, a way to sweep the president into his next term. Congress is complaining about the collateral costs. The media is delightfully rehashing every aspect of Sarah’s life, even those events that have nothing to do with the impending marriage. And the American public? Visions of an American royal wedding have swept them into a frenzy and vendors take advantage, making a quick buck off of everything from limited edition t-shirts to commemorative teacups.

Sarah and her fiancé, Sam, fight hard to ignore the craziness, but after learning a bounty has been put on their heads by an anti-government militia group, they have to decide whether a White House wedding is indeed worth it. And given all the hurtful controversy, perhaps a better solution is to not get married at all.

Now 50% off at: https://www.extasybooks.com/the-white-house-wedding

This week in The Loft: New Extasy Author Andrea Brellick!

Joining me today in The Loft is new eXtasy author Andrea Brellick. Andrea's first book, "At Her Will," is romantic suspense. A resident of Toronto, Canada, Andrea has worked as a waitress, bartender, a film extra, and a retail sales representative. She spends the warm months walking her dog, swimming, snacking with friends, and sketching ideas for her next story. In the cold months, she does the same thing! Andrea says her next book will probably be a horror story.

Author Andrea Brellick

S:  Good morning, Andrea! Thanks for joining me in my loft today.

This is your first book. Do you plan to stick to the romantic suspense genre, or are other genres calling to you?

A:  While I enjoyed writing an erotic thriller, creating the darker scenes was my favorite part of the process. That said, I think I’ll write a horror story next. I’m a big fan of Stephen King–I started reading his work when I was eight years old–so, I’m looking forward to re-reading his stories in preparation for my own. 

S:  I'm a real fraidy-cat. Horror stories almost always lead to nightmares!

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

A:  For the visual development, I watch a lot of movies and shows. Then I go on long walks, preferably on foggy days, and think about it more. When I’m all by myself, which is rare, and usually on public transit commuting to work, I record notes on characters.

S:  Do you outline the plot for your stories before writing?

A:  Yes. The outline often includes dialogue to remind me of the “feel” I’m trying to convey in each chapter.

S:  I always had difficulty with outlines in school and that hasn't changed. I'm a "pantser." I just start writing and see where the story goes.

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

A:  Receiving encouragement throughout the drafting process for this book, particularly in the early stages. I didn’t fully appreciate those early supportive comments at the time, but now I go back and look at the early drafts–yikes. The positivity no doubt kept me going.

S:  Every author needs a few cheerleaders!

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

A:  Yes, but would have started earlier, probably in my twenties. I’ve always been interested in writing books. However, it took time to push through the self-inflicted doubt--I don’t know how, I don’t have the time, etc.--and settle into the right mindset.

S:  What inspired "At Her Will?"

A:  The first source of inspiration is my experience working in many industries. I’ve had jobs in retail, hospitality, childcare, film, advertising, and teaching sports. Second would be the characters from films and shows of all genres.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "At Her Will?"

A:  Despite the book’s dark and disturbing themes, the goal of my story is to entertain readers. When I wrote this book, I constantly reminded myself that it’s my job to convince readers that their time is better spent reading my book than engaging in other forms of entertainment, such as watching TV/a movie, going to a concert, or listening to a podcast. If my audience feels that reading my book was a good use of their time, I did my job.

Here's the blurb--

A year after her sister’s death, Katey Philips receives a mysterious message. The message suggests her sister didn’t die by accident on the night she hosted a work party. Disguising her identity, Katey moves across the country to work at the public relations firm that employed her sister. Katey quickly learns she doesn’t work at an ordinary PR firm. The company runs a second line of business her sister never spoke of. This secret work is dangerous and shameful, and participating in it is the only way Katey can uncover what happened to her sister. Katey must choose how far she’ll go to find the truth, even if it means sharing the same fate as her sister.

S:  That sounds fascinating. Where can readers buy "At Her Will?"

A:  It's available at--

eXtasy Books:  https://www.extasybooks.com/At-Her-Will

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.ca/At-Her-Will-Andrea-Brellick/dp/1487437277/

Barnes and Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/at-her-will-andrea-brellick/1144417723

Books-A-Million:  https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Her-Will/Andrea-Brellick/9781487437275?id

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

Website:  https://www.andreabrellick.com

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

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/andreabrellick?mibextid=hu50Ix