Friday, April 26, 2024

This week in The Loft: Author Helen Henderson!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Helen Henderson! A former computer designer, feature-story writer, and correspondent, Helen writes historical, western, science fiction, and fantasy romance. Her series include the Dragshi Chronicles, The Windmaster Novels, and the Tear Stone Collectors. Her heritage is a reflection of contrasts--the descendent of a Pennsylvania German/Scot and a Czech, a coal miner's daughter, and a flight engineer she grew up knowing the simple life on a rural New Jersey farm. 

Author Helen Henderson

S:  Good morning, Helen. I'm so pleased that you could visit today!

Have you ever attended a writer’s retreat? Did you find it helpful? 

H:  The area where I used to live had several active writing groups so I was fortunate to be able to attend a number of different writer’s conferences. However, there were no affordable formal writer’s retreats. That said, with the number of books, online courses, and other materials, with the right materials and suitable surroundings, you can create your own retreat. Mine was the deck of a lakeside cabin in the Pocono Mountains. The cost? Staining the logs and deck.

S:  My best ideas come through meditation, so I'm not sure I would benefit from a group retreat. I think I would find it distracting.

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

H:  Definitely the book. I need to know the entire story to identify the points I want the readers to know. Then pertinent keywords have to be researched and included. When a blurb is created, it is not set in stone. Just like the movie disclaimer when it is shown on television-- "This has been modified to fit the time frame and format"--the original blurb is transformed into short, medium, long, and back cover formats.

S:  I think writing the blurb first can be limiting. Waiting to finish the book before composing a blurb is much more freeing.

Do you write in other genres?

H:  At this point, I admit my long works fall into the fantasy genre. However, over the years my writing has crossed into other worlds of imagination including historical westerns and science fiction. Inspiration for the westerns was the Ashokan Farewell and western movie themes. Science fiction and fantasy usually have Celtic harp and flute playing in the background.

S:  Do you have a “the one who got away” tale? 

H:  I would say that the tale of "Hell Lost," a retired gunfighter who straps her guns back on and takes to the outlaw trail to save her family, is the “one who got away.” The story has been thought about several times but never gotten further than a short story that was published many years ago. For a long time, whenever the story rose to the forefront, either life got in the way or I received a paying assignment. These days, instead of going to the past, I seem to be working in worlds of imagination, hanging out with mages, and flying with dragons.

S:  What do you consider your greatest achievement?

H:  I am proud of the titles under my name. Besides a few hundred feature articles, there are three fantasy series and three local histories. There is also “Hearth and Sand: Stories from the Front Lines and the Homefront,” a multi-genre collection of poetry, short stories, and novellas. That has a special place in my heart because it was written in tribute to family members who wore the uniform to defend their country. However, my greatest achievement is my marriage of 50 years.

S:  Fifty years is an amazing accomplishment. Congratulations.

What do you want inscribed on your tombstone? How do you want to be remembered?

H:  Surprisingly, this question has been on my mind recently. Names and dates don’t capture the imagination of the viewer when they walk through the cemetery. I prefer the old-fashioned sandstones with epitaphs rather than the new-fangled markers with a video embedded in it. So here goes: "Here lies an author, storyteller, and historian. She captured the past for the future and cared for all." As to the why? Although I am no longer as active in the field, history is still part of my past and is embedded in every one of the fantasy worlds I visit. Storyteller because at some time we all need to escape our everyday lives and a good tale will take us to another time and place. The last has nothing to do with my career, although I like to think I’ve given a hand up to people rather than trampling them, but rather with me as a person and my hope that the scales of life tilt in favor of a loving, caring, decent human being.

S:  What inspired "Fire and Redemption?"

H:  When "Fire and Amulet" was finished, I knew there probably should be another book continuing Trelleir’s search for the homeland of his dragon kin. However, he said he needed more clues. He was curious as to what happened to the man whom Deneas spared after the attempt to kill her. The title came about when what started as a budding romance between Brial and Karst provided the opportunity for his redemption.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Fire and Redemption?"

H:  My favorite character was a toss-up between the magic equines or the legendary hunting bird called a helwr. Tywyll, a helwr who selected Karst as the human he would protect, won the toss-up.

Here's the blurb--

Shunned by his kind and expelled from the dragon isle, Medraut is forced to shed his wings and take on human form to live amongst the people of the mainland. His problem? There are slayers, sworn to kill all dragons.

Brial has one chance to stop the fever ravaging her kin, but her healer powers have not yet awakened. To have the future she desires, she must survive the fever, raiders, and most of all, Medraut’s dragon ability to control minds.

Karst, son of the head slayer, was disowned and sent on an impossible quest to kill a dragon. Rather than return to his village and be subjected to the deadly justice of the Goddess, he made himself a home in the trading wagons of Clan Vreis. His newfound happiness is threatened when the caravan stops to help an injured man lying in the middle of the trail.

Three men and a dragon desire the same woman. One wants her for power, one for her beauty, and one for love. The dragon just wants her.


S:  That sounds intriguing! Where can readers buy, "Fire and Redemption?"

H:  It's available at--


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


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Friday, April 19, 2024

This week in The Loft: Author Tim Smith!

Joining me today in The Loft is fellow Extasy author Tim Smith. Tim is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic mystery/thrillers and contemporary erotic romance. His novels featuring former CIA agent Nick Seven have garnered several awards and international critical praise. He is also a freelance writer, blogger, editor, and photographer. When he isn’t pursuing those interests, he can be found in the Florida Keys, doing research in between parasailing and seeking out the perfect Mojito.

Author Tim Smith

S:  Welcome back, Tim! I'm excited to hear about your latest book.

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

T:  I think book banning and cancel culture both present issues for today’s romance authors. There are so many people looking for things to label as offensive that it’s getting more difficult to tell a good story without rubbing someone the wrong way. This is especially true for those who write LGBTQ or interracial romance. These subjects seem to dominate the banned book lists. For years, traditional romance publishers have strictly adhered to a list of off-limits story topics. Now we have people intent on adding their own politically-motivated pet peeves to the list.

S:  A particular group of book banners has been very active in my area, submitting requests to school libraries to ban 200 books or more. As a parent and an author, I find their attempts to usurp my judgment aggravating.

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

T:  When I’m conceiving a character, I have a certain personality and body type in mind, including hairstyle and clothing choices. I’m a people watcher and I pick up on little things, like a behavior or speech pattern, that I can use to make the characters realistic. In some cases, I might envision a specific actor, and I’ll use a headshot to capture certain details. My Florida-based stories are populated by Latino characters because they’re part of the cultural fabric, and they add realism. The challenge with specifying a character’s ethnicity is doing so without being derogatory or condescending.

S:  I love developing characters. I have so much fun employing quirks I have observed in other settings.

Do you outline the plot for your stories before writing?

T:  I typically begin with a rough outline in my head, including the ending I have in mind. I divide the story into chapters as I go. I seldom write an outline unless I’m stuck, and need to identify the problem. Although I have the story pretty much figured out before I begin, I’m not averse to changing course if the narrative dictates it. There have been times when I’m rolling along then something will make me stop and think “Hey, what if we did this instead?”

S:  I am more of a pantser. I know where I want to start, but I never know where I'll wind up!

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

T:  The book comes first because writing the blurb is one of the toughest things for me. I’ll make a few notes on what to include while writing the story, but when it comes time to finish the blurb, I agonize over it. That’s the first impression you get to make with potential readers. It isn’t easy to write a 250-word summary that will grab their attention.

S:  I agree. Writing blurbs can be painful. 

Do you write in other genres? 

T:  I’ve published a number of short books that were romantic comedies instead of mystery/thrillers. Some were holiday-themed romances, and others were part of a series I called Key West Heat. All of those stories took place in Key West, but they each had different characters. I like to do the shorter ones as a change of pace. It challenges me to write a complete story in 10,000 words.

S:  What would you like to people know about you as a person or as a writer?

T:  My goal is to give readers an entertaining story, one that will help them temporarily escape this stressful thing called life. It’s why I work hard at creating realistic atmosphere, characters, situations, and dialogue. I don’t intentionally try to include messages or opinions, but sometimes they slip in by accident. I consider writing to be part of the entertainment business, because that’s what we do—we write to entertain and enlighten. I don’t write for the critics, but for the person in Parma, Ohio, or Rugby, North Dakota who just wants a diversion. One of the nicest compliments I can get is when someone says they can’t wait to read my next book. It doesn’t get much better than that!

S:  What inspired “One Way Out?"

T:  My previous series entry, “Out of the Shadows," did very well, and followers of the Nick Seven stories asked when I’d be releasing a sequel. I didn’t see a need for one, but the consensus was that I had left some loose threads at the end. This was done intentionally, because I wanted to leave a question mark about the Holy Grail everyone was after, but never found. After thinking about it, I viewed it as a challenge to see if I could write a story that would pick up where the previous one left off, while still working as a stand-alone adventure. I believe I accomplished that. I was also influenced by current events, social media trends, and political themes that piqued my interest.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about “One Way Out?"

T:  “One Way Out” is my thirtieth published book, and the ninth installment in the Nick Seven series of Florida Keys-based adventures. The books do not need to be read in order. Although I incorporated topical themes into the plot, it’s a breezy, quick-paced adventure with romance, humor, interesting characters, snappy dialogue, and vivid atmosphere. It’s escapism, pure and simple. Chase away the blues by joining Nick and Felicia in sunny, sultry Key Largo for their latest adventure. I think you’ll enjoy the trip!

Here's the blurb--

Lauren Scott is a wealthy widow with a lot of embarrassing secrets. Her late husband, a convicted stock swindler, died under mysterious circumstances, just as he was about to name names in Federal court. His legacy supposedly includes a list of VIPs who attended sex parties on a private Caribbean island, among other things. Now Lauren has become the target of too many people who think she holds the secrets he once kept, and they just might kill her for them.

She calls on her friends, former CIA spies Nick Seven and Felicia Hagens, for help. Despite initial misgivings, they agree to assist her. But their laidback Florida Keys life is quickly disrupted by those in hot pursuit, including a zealous podcaster who is making Lauren’s private life public, a Treasury agent, victims of her late husband’s Ponzi scheme, and a Southern governor who has his eye on the White House.

Looks like there might be trouble brewing in paradise.


S:  That sounds like a fascinating plot! Where can readers buy your book?

T:  It's available at all major booksellers, including--


Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/one-way-out-22

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

Tim Smith, Author | Books | Series | Interview | Deals | Newsletter | Contact | Site | AllAuthor
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Friday, April 12, 2024

This week in The Loft: Author Christina Alexandra!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Christina Alexandra. Christina writes historical romance spanning from Georgian and Regency England to the gold fields of California. She uses her varied life and work experiences to craft true-to-life characters and emotional stories with a unique twist on modern issues. When not researching, writing, or working as an emergency services operator, she spends her spare time traveling, cooking—oftentimes with a historical flare—and connecting with fans and friends on social media. An avid trivia junkie, Christina is constantly on the lookout for random facts in the hopes that it will help her in her never-ending quest for a spot on “Jeopardy!”

Author Christina Alexandra

S:  Good morning, Christina. Thanks for joining me today.

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

C:  I know a lot of people are worried about AI in the writer and artist spaces. I’m not terribly concerned over this since AI is still a soulless machine that has no hope of replicating human emotion, tone, or voice. To me, the biggest threat facing romance is visibility. There are so many books out there, some wonderful and complex, and others wonderful and comforting, others, not so much. With so many books out there, it is very difficult for new independent authors to find their audience. Yes, there is a reader for every book out there, but getting that book into the hands of the reader is where it becomes difficult.

S:  Self-publishing certainly opened the floodgates. Estimates are that up to four million books are now published a year. That makes for some pretty stiff competition.

Why write romance?

C:  You know all those bad cliches about romance that people always use to denigrate the genre? Those are the absolute reasons I love romance and write it. I love the formula Hero + Heroine + Shenanigans = HEA. I love the predictability of romance and its emotional payout. I work in a very real-world day job that doesn’t always have a positive end. Romance gives me that blast of endorphins that I need to get through my day. I love the angst, drama, and trauma of the relationships, but I also love how it all falls together in the end. I think we all need that boost of positivity and something to look forward to at the end of the day. And if someone else needs that rush of endorphins and gets it from what I write, then I will be happy.

S:  It would be a dark, dark world without romance--in fiction and the real world.

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

C:  Oh, my… characters. I have a list of characters and character pairings that I work off of. I don’t really know who they are. Their personalities, backgrounds, and drama/trauma don’t come into play until I start writing or outlining. I do use Pinterest to find images for characters and settings that I put in a mood board. I try to make a Pinterest board for each of my stories, so readers who follow me there can see what the inspiration for the characters and stories are.

S:  That's a clever idea and a good way to keep readers engaged.

Do you outline the plot for your stories before writing?

C:  I outline my longer stories, especially my series. My long-form stories and series have several plot threads in them, some running through the entire series, and I definitely need to keep track of who does what, how that thread impacts which characters, and how it relates to other external events. I have this big dry-erase board that I keep a series-long timeline on and plot out those points. I like being able to see it all in front of me and writing it out helps cement it in my brain. My short stories, like "A Midnight Scandal," usually only have one plot thread and don’t require any heavy outlining. They only have the main relationship plot so there isn’t much for me to keep track of. I do keep a minimalist outline that is basically a list of whose point of view I’m in and the major plot point that happens.

S:  Do you utilize tropes when writing romance? 

C:  I do now, kind of. It took me a long time to figure out tropes and how to use them. Now they kind of happen accidentally in the story. I can definitely recognize them when they do happen. My current story, "A Midnight Scandal," is trope-centric. Its part of an anthology project where the only requirement was that all stories had to be the Wrong Bed trope. That was a fun challenge!

S:  I was also confused about tropes when I began writing romance. Then I realized I was already utilizing them. I just hadn't affixed a label to them.

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

C:  For my short stories, I write the story first. Mainly because I don’t outline or plot them as heavily, so I don’t know what’s going to happen. On my longer stories, I come up with a concept first–usually a single line that gives the main relationship plot. I build a blurb around that, then I go into the rough outline, and finally, I start writing. It’s a whole process. 

S:  Do you write in other genres? 

C:  I tried! I had one disastrous attempt at science fiction, but I always revert back to romance. Specifically, historical romance. I tried contemporary once, but that didn’t work. I couldn’t figure out the language, or the clothing--especially the clothing. And what is up with all this technology? I think I was always destined to write historical fiction and romance.

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

C:  I was in a critique group years ago. It was three writers seeking publication, and a published author acting as a mentor for the group. We all submitted a chapter a week, then met up in person to discuss and critique each other's pages. The published mentor happened to write in my genre, and they had a bad case of writer’s block. They’d written and traditionally published at least five books, and was feeling the pressure from their agent to submit something soon. One night they ripped my chapter to shreds, telling me the story idea I had was ridiculous, that the concept was unbelievable, no one would believe a heroine would be desperate enough to behave in such a way, and the entire situation was anachronous to the time period. I wasn’t too happy to hear that, but the worst part came two weeks later when they came to the group and showed us what they were submitting to their agent as their next book–the exact same scenario that I had written the month before. I know you can’t copyright ideas, but this felt like a stab in the back. If the idea was so wrong and unbelievable as they said, why did they turn around and use it themselves? That, along with literally throwing a dictionary at me when I questioned some word choices, made me realize this was not the help I needed to get my book written. Luckily, I didn’t take their initial advice, and they never submitted that book to their agent. That author has since stopped writing in the genre altogether. That was a tough time for me. I ended up shelving that entire project and didn’t write anything for over a year.

S:  What a horrible experience.

What inspired "A Midnight Scandal?"

C:  "A Midnight Scandal" was inspired by tropes! The main trope and theme of the anthology was Wrong Bed. For the longest time that was how I referred to it. It didn’t get a title until I was forced to choose one upon submitting to the anthology coordinator. Using that trope as a starting point, I took off from there. The story itself went through about 15 different versions before I settled on the story as it is now. I started with a Maid in Manhattan vibe, but that evolved into a second-chance romance between a battle-weary soldier with PTSD, and his childhood friend and first love.


S:  Christina, thanks for visiting The Loft today. Good luck with the anthology! If you'd like to  learn more about Christina and her books, please visit--

 Website:  https://www.ChristinaAlexandra.net

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

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

Other links:  https://linktr.ee/authorchrisalex



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