This week in The Loft: Author Christina Lynn Lambert!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Christina Lynn Lambert. Christina writes the Stranger Creatures series, which features stories of suspenseful, paranormal romance. She also writes poetry and science fiction. After working in sales, and as a case manager and a personal trainer/running coach, Christina turned to writing romance. She loves creating imperfect but determined characters who find the courage to love and the strength to survive in a world where there are no guarantees. When not writing, Christina enjoys spending time outside and finding ways to avoid cooking. She lives in Virginia with her husband, two teenagers, a sweet hairy monster of a dog, and two devious cats.

Author Christina Lynn Lambert

S:  Welcome, Christina! I'm happy you could join me today!

Why did you start writing romance?

C:  I have always loved writing. For years, I wrote poetry and essays for fun then stored them in a folder, never to be seen again. I never planned on writing a novel until I got an idea for a story that wouldn’t leave me alone. Completely changing careers to enter a field I knew nothing about was hard and overwhelming at times but I found my passion. I love creating stories about characters who find the courage to love and be loved.

S:  That passion is so important when writing romance.

Book banning/book censorship is once again in the news. What can you, as an author, do to fight censorship? What can readers do?

C:  Authors and readers alike can keep calling lawmakers and politicians out on their attempts to gatekeep information and ideas. Continuously engaging in discussions that illustrate the truth about what information is being hidden and why these strangely fearful groups want to hide it can help illustrate that suppressing or censoring information that one groups feels goes against their beliefs does not make the material truly objectionable. When I was a kid, my grandmother would send me books that highlighted different cultures and ideas as well as highlighting some of the tough issues people face and the sometimes heartbreaking decisions they have to make. These thought-provoking books taught me a lot about humanity and our flawed but persevering nature. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure politicians can’t continue to interfere with readers’ access to books.

S:  People have to speak up and take a stand. Otherwise, the book banners win.

Do you write in other genres? 

C:  In addition to romance, I also write poetry, essays, and speculative fiction short stories. Writing paranormal romance allows me to create worlds and possibilities beyond the everyday, beyond the mundane. Even though a character may be able to shape shift into a wolf or a bear, they still want the same things most of us want— love, acceptance, and of course, sometimes justice or revenge. I have only just started writing dystopian, horror, and science fiction short stories. For poems and short stories, I like the challenge of creating a substantial story in only a paragraph or a few pages. When space is limited, every word and every action is intensely important. Writing essays gives me a chance to take on an issue directly while using tone and vivid imagery to make my statement impactful.

S:  Do you think romance books have become too spicy?

C:  There’s a spice level for everyone’s preference now. I prefer spice in the books I read, and while plot is the most important detail to me when I write, I include plenty of steamy scenes because that’s what my characters require from me. If a reader wants a story with no steamy scenes, there a ton of great books to choose from that won’t leave them blushing in public if they happen to be reading at a coffee shop or on break at work. Writers typically do a great job of using their blurb, book cover, explanation, and keywords to inform readers what the spice level of a book is so that readers can choose stories they will be comfortable with.

S:  Exactly. People have the freedom to chose their "spice level." We need to ensure that opportunity is available for all readers.

What would you like people to know about you?

C:  I love animals--cats, dogs, snakes, birds, lizards--pretty much everything. There are occasional sightings of bears and coyotes where I live. I leave them alone and they leave me alone. I set food out for the foxes that roam through my woods and try to always remember to fill up the water dishes I keep outside for the bees. My favorite part of the morning is taking my dog, Yuki, for a walk and enjoying the fresh air with him. It rains a lot in Virginia, though, and the water makes his fur stink like wet wool, so I go through a lot of waterless wash foam.

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

C:  Writing is what I was meant to do. I wouldn’t change it for anything. I spent many years in different careers completely unrelated to writing and had no formal training in fiction writing except for one fun, short story class in college that was an elective, so when I had an idea for a book, I had to spend a lot of time researching how to write fiction. I still got a lot of things wrong in the beginning. Luckily, I had a great editor who helped along the path. Even though I’ve written a few books now, I still get stuck or write chapters that I end up hating and have to start all over again, but I love what I do so much that it’s worth the pain and tears trying to create a story can sometimes bring.

S:  What inspired "Coyote’s Vow?"

C:  Trevor Ryland was a minor character in "Wolf’s Challenge (Stranger Creatures book 1)" and in "Tiger’s Last Chance (Stranger Creatures book 3)." The gruff coyote shifter really needed his own story. For Trevor, nothing is ever easy but he’s tough and he’s strong so he’s used to persevering and getting things done. When he falls for a psy, he is convinced he can forget about her. Kylie Claremont, a smart, beautiful web designer turns out to be unforgettable.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Coyote’s Vow?"

C:  Each story in my Stranger Creatures series features a different couple as they fight for their happily ever after. "Coyote's Vow" is Trevor and Kylie's story. Love finds the telekinetic psy and the coyote shifter but they try hard to ignore every sign and clue along the way. If love is ignored for too long, the chance is gone and the loss is devastating. When their survival is at stake, Trevor and Kylie have to make some tough decisions. Trust doesn’t come easily for most people, especially not when life teaches so many painful lessons, but sometimes the universe sends a rare gift that requires a ton of courage to accept. Kylie and Trevor have to take a huge risk if they want the chance to be together.

Here's the blurb:

Kylie Claremont wants answers. She was the victim of a brutal experiment that caused her to develop telekinetic abilities. The position she’s offered as a liaison between Shifters United and the Psy Guild will give her the chance to find the elusive research company that disappeared after experimenting on her and bring them to justice. The only thing standing in her way is an arrogant coyote shifter who is convinced that Kylie is a threat to shifters and shouldn’t be allowed to be a part of Shifters United. She never expected to fall for the gruff, mistrusting man.

Coyote shifter Trevor Ryland will never trust the psy. Still, he knows the time has come to strengthen the tentative alliance between shifters and psy. He fully intends to ignore his attraction to the beautiful psy liaison, but he’d never forgive himself if something happened to her. His plan to protect Kylie from afar is wrecked when they’re forced to work together. She could be his mate but Trevor can’t let that happen. The struggle to deny his need for the one woman with the power to destroy him gets harder every day.

Trevor and Kylie uncover a web of greed and deceit during their search for a travelling research group. They’ll have to work fast and fight hard to stop the CEO’s latest plans or shifters and psy everywhere will suffer.

S:  The story sounds intriguing! Where can readers buy your book?

C:  It's available at--

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZT58GXZ

Barnes and Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coyotes-vow-christina-lynn-lambert/1143274092?ean=2940185830819

Apple iBooks:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/coyotes-vow/id6447381379?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=books_box_link

Kobo Books:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/coyote-s-vow

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1370196

Google Books:  Coyote's Vow by Christina Lynn Lambert - Books on Google Play

S:  Christina, thanks so much for visiting me in The Loft! If you'd like to learn more about Christina and her books, please visit--

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Christina-Lynn-Lambert/e/B01MCYK0K7

BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christina-lynn-lambert

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

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15900423.Christina_Lynn_Lambert

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

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/christinalynnlambert

Twitter:  https://www.twitter.com/chris4lamb

Wordpress:  https://christinalynnlambertwordpress.com

This week in The Loft: Author Reet Singh!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Reet Singh. Reet spent her childhood traveling to the postings of her father, who was in the Army. Those adventures provided experiences that begged to find a place in her romance novels. Now an eye surgeon in India, Reet makes time to pursue her passions, including reading and writing stories, watching romantic comedies, and doing creative things with wool and a crochet hook. She also loves solving cryptic crosswords and when her my muse is elusive, she enjoys pitting her wits against her husband's playing Scrabble. Occasionally, she can also be found in the kitchen putting together her "world-famous" one-pot meals, so named because no one else would consider combining the same ingredients in one dish!

Author Reet Singh

S:  Welcome, Reet! I am so happy you could join me today.

Why did you start writing romance?

R:  Romance is my favorite genre to read. I grew up on Georgette Heyer, Lucy Walker, and Mills, and Boon. It was a natural transition for me to move from reading it to writing it.

S:  Are you self-published or traditionally published?

R:  I began to write for publication only about eight years ago. I got my big break when Mills and Boon® India announced the Passions Contest - they were looking for romance writers from India. I decided to participate and I won a two-book contract with them in 2013. The first book, "Scorched by His Fire," was released in February 2014, and the second, "The Cure was Love," came out in November that year. After these two traditionally published books, I took on self-publishing and I have never enjoyed myself more. As an Indie Author, I have tons of freedom. Tons of responsibility too. But it’s a much more transparent process and so you know what’s what when you self-publish. 

S:  What attracted you to your current partner?

R:  I adore the man I’m with--37 years and counting. I fell for his sense of humor, his groundedness, and his integrity.

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

R:  Definitely. In fact, I could stop writing any day and go do something else that fascinates me, but my imagination works overtime. So I just have to write.

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

R:  Reet was fun, funny, candid, and kind. And she loved the Oxford comma.

S:  What inspired "Take One Suave Surgeon?"

R:  I was keen to write a medical romance. I taught medical students for decades and many of them clerked in the States, then either came back to practice in India, or relocated to the U.S. I was excited to see if I could cook up a romance around an intern from India and a surgeon in the U.S. I do hope readers enjoy the story.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Take One Suave Surgeon?"

R:  "Take One Suave Surgeon" is an entirely refurbished, revamped, remodeled version of “The Cure was Love,” which was published by Harlequin/Mills and Boon in 2015. I’ve practically rewritten it. I have learned so much about the art of storytelling in the intervening years. When I got the rights to the book back, I decided to apply the new learning before republishing it as an indie book.

Here's the blurb--

Passion clashes with obligation in this trans-continental romance…

Simi Gill has had it with surgeons. In her opinion, the fewers surgeons there are in the world, the better for everyone. She takes a break from her medical studies in India to intern at a prestigious NYC cancer center for four months. In New York, her resolve to steer clear of surgeons, rooted in past heartbreak by an unscrupulous ex, is challenged when she crosses paths with Dr. Rudy Atwal.

A dashing surgeon with a complicated personal life, Rudy helps Simi navigate unexpected perils and pitfalls that seem to plague her. In return, he seeks her aid in escaping his dysfunctional family's schemes.

Saying no to Rudy is what she must do if she is to stay true to her goals. But Simi says yes, and that is her second mistake. The first is a tiny, accidental kiss…

Will Simi be able to return to India with her heart intact, or will the suave surgeon tempt her to break her own rules?

S: I love these types of stories! Where can readers buy your book?

R:  It's available at https://mybook.to/TOSS.

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

My Website

Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon author page
Instagram
Google Play Books

BookBub

This week in The Loft: Author Tena Stetler!

Joining me today in The Loft is international best-selling author Tena Stetler. Tena has written 18 paranormal romance books, no doubt drawing on past lives as a savings and loan branch manager, a paralegal for a criminal law firm, and an IT Manager for an electrical contracting firm. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. When she’s not writing, Tena's time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking, or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors. Tena shares her Colorado home with her husband of many moons, a brilliant 11-year-old Chow Chow, a spoiled 25-year-old parrot, and a 42-year-old box turtle. 

Author Tena Stetler

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

Why did you start writing romance? 

T:  For me, crafting a romance is all about respect, trust, and love, except most of my characters are of the paranormal persuasion. I want to create a memorable love story with spice, adventure, and of course, a happily ever after. Characters that will grab hold of your heart and hang on long after you’ve read the last word and closed the book with a satisfied sigh.

S:  That's a worthy goal as an author.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

T:  I am traditionally published. I guess you could say the path chose me. Recently, I’ve considered self-publishing, but find it would take time away from my writing, where my passion lives.

S:  Self-publishing is a lot of work. I admire those who attempt it.

Do you write in other genres?

T:  I do write in different genres. "Security Force of Two" was my first attempt at a mystery, maybe cozy. It was very well received and the first book in my Mountain Town Mystery Series. I also tried my hand at a historical, western, time travel paranormal all rolled into one. Whew it was a challenge. It turned out good and the reviewers loved "An Angel’s Wylder Assignment." Would I attempt it again? Jury is still out on that.

S:  What attracted you to your current partner? 

T:  He is kind, understanding, smart, funny, loves animals, and is supportive. He enjoys my books and loves to brainstorm with me.

S:  What do you want inscribed on your tombstone? 

T:  She dared to dream and never gave up. 

S:  How do you want to be remembered? 

T:  As kind, determined and that I loved to write stories to entertain people.

S:  What do you consider your greatest achievement? 

T:  Writing and finishing a book that people enjoy.

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

T:  I have two. To write what you love. If you don’t your readers will know. The other is that Everyone gets bad reviews. Writing is subjective and not all will like your books. People can break your heart. Read the review only once, glean any bit of constructive information from them, if any, and never read them again.

S:  That's great advice.

What inspired "Security Force of Two?" 

T:  "Security Force of Two" is the first book in my Mountain Town Mystery series. All the books in the series can be read as a standalone. A few years ago, I attended a writing conference. I had lunch with an individual from a publishing house. She was a hoot and talked about her father who was the chief of police for a small town. Growing up in that small town she knew everybody’s business more than most, being the chief’s daughter. Nothing really bad ever happened in her town. Our conversation got me to thinking, which is always a dangerous thing. What if the police chief of 35 years retired? What if his replacement succumbed to an untimely death in that tiny town that never saw much crime, let alone a violent murder? What if the retired police chief’s daughter left the CIA for a quiet life only to become mixed up in the investigation? The what-ifs went on and on. I made notes and stored them on my computer. As it turned out, when I arrived home from the conference, an email awaited me. My debut novel, "A Demon’s Witch," which I pitched at that conference was contracted by The Wild Rose Press.  which has since published 18 of my books. In my excitement, the file was completely forgotten. Years later, I came across the file and reviewed it. "Security Force of Two" was born. I keep thinking, someday, I should drop the individual an email and let her know our conversation inspired my book. Then again, maybe not. 

Here's the blurb--

Miacoh Zane, a Special Forces veteran, returns to Aspen Ridge, Colorado a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains, to settle his beloved grandmother’s estate. But the town holds painful memories and mystical family secrets he wants to leave behind for good.

Candle Bearclaw, is a gifted computer analyst/programmer with psychic talents she buried when recruited out of college by the CIA. After fifteen years, she abruptly resigns her position and returns to her sleepy hometown to discover her childhood crush has also returned and a violent crime has been committed.

Due to their covert operations experience, Candle and Miacoh are thrown together to assist Homeland Security, FBI, and her father, the former chief of police, with a murder investigation. As they search for the perpetrators, their secrets risk being revealed as the investigation takes an unusual twist that could blow the case wide open.

S:  Mystical family secrets. That's a great way to hook a reader.

Where can readers buy your book?

T:  All booksellers are listed here: https://books2read.com/u/bMN2X5.

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

Website:  https://www.tenastetler.com

Authors’ Secret’s Blog:  https://www.tenastetler.com/category/authors-secrets-blog/

My Say What Blog:  http://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/TenaStetler
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187532.Tena_Stetler
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tena-stetler
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/tenastetler/
Tumblr:  https://www.tumblr.com/blog/tenajean2014
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tena-stetler-10057978/
YouTube:  @tenastetler283

Newsletter:  https://www.tenastetler.com/newsletter-signup/

He doesn't remember a thing...

Saint Con: Scintillating Romantic Suspense!

Excerpt:

Jessica was on the verge of tears. He really didn’t remember a thing. “We may have only known each other for days, but what we had was real. It was strong and passionate and overwhelming. As for why I allowed volunteers into my home for the search efforts—Sydney asked. And I agreed, because although I’d only known you for four days, we had one magical night. I wanted another.” Jessica gazed at him. “Sure, it’s not logical. But love doesn’t have to be logical. All that matters is that two people meet, and their hearts, minds, and bodies connect. That is what love is.” She studied Con. “But you don’t remember that, do you? And you most certainly don’t feel it.” Jessica was devastated. She brushed at her wet cheeks and closed her eyes, trying to settle herself. Finally, she gazed at Sydney and said, “I’m sorry, I can’t do this. You’re going to have to find another place for him to stay.”

Read more excerpts at www.seeliekay.com.

At all booksellers.

This week in The Loft: Author Sadira Stone!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Sadira Stone. Sadira writes contemporary romance with "heart and heat." Her stories highlight chosen family, friendship, and the sizzling chemistry that pulls unlikely partners together. After a 28-year career teaching high school English, German, French, and theater on US military bases in Germany, Sadira returned to the Pacific Northwest, and eventually settled in Las Vegas. When she emerges from her "writing cave," you’ll find her shaking her hips in Zumba class or on the dance floor, strumming her ukulele, singing in her community choir, taking in live music and comedy shows with her charming husband, or cooking up a storm.

Author Sadira Stone

S:  Good morning, Sadira!

Why did you start writing romance?

SS:  Funny story: I started out writing cozy mystery, but each story had a strong romantic thread. You’d think I’d take the hint, right? Around 2016, I read an article about how fun and lucrative writing erotic stories can be, so I tried writing one. Turns out that story wanted to become a full-blown romance novel, and I was hooked. "Through the Red Door" caught a small publisher’s attention, and I was off to the races.

S:  How do you determine the "heat level" of your stories?

SS:  In my humble opinion, sexual chemistry is an important part of the falling in love process, and sex with someone you love is one of life’s peak experiences. No way am I going to leave out the good stuff! I enjoy a deliciously slow-burn build-up to that pivotal moment, and the revved-up emotion that comes with a sizzling sexual connection. That said, I’m not interested in kink, power games, etc., so I don’t write those.

S:  Sex plays an important role in many relationships. Ignoring that makes no sense. 

Book banning is back in the news and even some very popular romance authors' books are being removed from school libraries. How do you feel about this trend? How do we fight it?

SS:  Obviously, I’m opposed to book banning. My parents were conservative and uptight, so my only real sexual education came from the public library. Should parents have the right to limit what their kids read? To an extent, I suppose so—though when it comes to teens, it’s foolish to think you can keep a tight rein on their information flow, and a fool’s errand to try. Better to talk out important issues with them and explain what you believe and why. Do parents have the right to limit what other kids can read? Never. One way to fight this is to write to your local library and praise to the heavens what you love about their services. This gives them ammo to use at hearings aimed at limiting their collections and services. And if such a hearing occurs in your community, show up! Can you tell I feel strongly about this subject?

S:  In the U.S., people do need to fight against censorship of any kind, especially when it's directed at taxpayer-funded institutions, like libraries and schools. We cannot sit back and wait for someone else to do it.

Are you self-published or traditionally published? Why did you choose that path?

SS:  I started out with a small press, a wonderful way to learn the publishing business. After a few books with them, I went indie and plan to continue on that path for the foreseeable future. I love the control I have over covers, content, style, and publishing timeline.

S:  What attracted you to your current partner?

SS:  I met Hubs at the high school where we both worked. Does that make him my high school sweetheart? We were both recovering from bad marriages and connected over that and other common interests. I adore his humor, his generous support of my writing, his acceptance of my introverted nature, his willingness to try new things, and he’s a great kisser!

S:  I'm one of the first to say kissing is a lost art. You're a lucky woman!

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

SS:  How could I not? I’ve been a bookworm since I taught myself to read at age four. Books are the golden thread that runs through my life.

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

SS:  As a matter of fact, I have three as-yet-unpublished books I’d call cozy romantic suspense. I do intend to polish them up and publish them someday. They’re not quite as steamy as my Sadira Stone books, so I might choose a different pen name. Who knows? It’s nice to have options.

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

SS:  A wise old Southern lady once told me, “Honey, ever’body has something to teach you, even if it’s how not to be.” Best advice ever!

S:  That's very sound advice.

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

SS:  “She loved life and had a blast!”

S:  I like that!

What inspired "Passion in the Cards" and "Passionate Brew?"

SS:  The first two novellas in the Trappers Cove romance series were originally part of last year’s Zodiac Encounters anthology and have been expanded and re-edited. Book 3, "The Billionaire’s Christmas Castle," coming in October, is a full-length novel. This series was inspired by the Washington State and Oregon beach towns I love so much--Ocean Shores, Long Beach, and many more. I love their kitschy souvenir shops, antique shops, community festivals, arcades, hippie-dippy crystal shops, funky bars and casual restaurants, and their welcoming, we-don’t-take-ourselves-too-seriously vibe. I go to the ocean to renew and refresh my body and soul, and these steamy romances deliver that same experience for my characters—and hopefully my readers too! "Passion in the Cards" plays with one of my favorite tropes-- opposites attract, and "Passionate Brew" plays with another--enemies to lovers.

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

Website:  https://sadirastone.com

Social media:  https://linktr.ee/SadiraStone

It's release day for Saint Con!

It was a night dreams are made of, until the man of Jessica Knight’s dreams disappears.

When self-proclaimed good girl Jessica Knight literally bumps into apparent bad boy Connor O’Brien in a suburban Milwaukee wine bar, she is skeptical—of his intentions and the prospect for real love. A former priest, Saint Con is now a street lawyer for Milwaukee’s homeless. After a night of sizzling romance, Jess begins to thaw, and in the days that follow, she is so charmed by Con that she allows herself to start falling in love. Unfortunately, on their first real date, Con fails to appear. Jess doesn’t know if she’s been ghosted or if Con was unavoidably detained, but she leaves their meeting spot devastated. Until she discovers that Con is missing. Really missing. The police won’t help because he’s not a vulnerable adult nor is there proof that he has been harmed. So, it falls to Jess and her friends to find him. After surmounting numerous obstacles, Con is finally found, gravely injured and in a coma. Suddenly, it appears a promising love match may be over before it really began.

Excerpt:

Her best friend, Sadie English, who had been waiting for her return, giggled. “I’ve heard about catching diseases from public toilets, but I’ve never heard about catching a man.” A sly expression crossed her sweet face, and she extended her hand to Connor. “Hello, I’m Sadie. What apple cart did you fall off of?” She tossed her head of burgundy pink-tipped curls and her stylishly trimmed eyebrows pitched up over curious brown eyes.

Connor rolled his eyes as he took the stool next to Jessica. “Name’s Con.” He shook her hand. “Both lawyers?”

Sadie burst out laughing. “Hell, no. I enjoy my life. You won’t find me trapped in some windowless office working sixty hours a week. I’m into bagels.” Sadie pointed at the tee shirt she was wearing, bearing the words, bagels are my everything.

Con made a face. “Bagels?”

Sadie grinned. “My family owns Bagels & More. We make twenty kinds of bagels daily.”

Jessica nodded. “Not just bagels, but bagelwiches and bagel cakes and stuffed bagels. My favorite is the egg-in-the-hole bagel.”

Connor studied Sadie. “I think I know your father. Tall, thin, gray hair? Name of Jeb?”

Sadie stared at him. “How the heck do you know my father? I’ve never seen you in the store and believe me, I’d remember.”

“St. Ben’s Social Justice Committee. I’m the chair.”

Sadie’s jaw dropped. “You’re the guy with the traveling justice center? The guy who got kicked out of the seminary and became a lawyer?”

“Or, as your father claims, got dumped into the devil’s lair.”

Sadie bounced up and down on her stool, her eyes wide with excitement. “My God, I can’t believe it.” She grabbed onto Jessica to steady herself. “Jess, this is the guy I told you about. He travels around Milwaukee County offering legal services to the unhoused. In an old food truck.” She bounced again. “And you have a motorcycle. You’re a biker. Not that kind of biker, but a member of God’s Warriors. You guys are amazing. You do so much good, but in secret.” Sadie pounded on Jessica’s back. “I can’t believe he’s that guy.”

Jessica’s eyes narrowed, and she stared at Con. “She’s kidding, right? You’re not Saint Con.” She shook her head in disbelief. Even she had heard of the guy. She nudged Sadie. “Trust me, he’s no saint. He hit on me.”

At all booksellers!

 

This week In the Loft: Author Tina Donahue!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Tina Donahue. The Amazon and international bestselling novelist writes passionate romance--heat with heart. She’s won Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction. Tina is an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and has been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She claims to be horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.

Author Tina Donahue

S:  Good morning, Tina. Thanks for sitting down for a chat today.

Book banning is back in the news and even some very popular romance authors' books are being removed from school libraries. How do you feel about this trend? How do we fight it?

T:  I resent anyone believing they can tell me what I can and can’t read. How dare they. Mind your own business (MYOB) is my motto. When I was 17, I went to the local library to check out a romance I heard about. It had a few erotic elements, but was super tame by today’s standards. The librarian frowned at me and said, “What gives you the right to check out a book like this?” I said “My parents pay taxes, which means they pay your salary. Check the book out for me or I’ll contact the powers-that-be and tell them you’re censoring books here.” She didn’t say another word and checked me out. I have never and will never take crap from anyone.

S:  Do you think romance books have become “too spicy?”

T:  If you mean erotic, then it’s up to the author and the readers to make that decision. I know what I like to write and read… that’s where my opinion ends on the matter.

S:  After the publication of the “Fifty Shades” trilogy, it was reported that some readers ventured into the BDSM world seeking their own Christian Grey. Some were scammed, sexually assaulted, or otherwise harmed. Does an author bear any responsibility for those types of consequences?

T:  If you enjoy role-playing about being dominated then go for it. However, if you’re so trusting that you don’t set ground rules before you engage in BDSM, that’s on you. Authors don’t parent readers. They merely write stories. For me, personally, I think O in "The Story of O" needed serious psychological counseling. No way would I allow anyone to treat me like that.

S:  Authors don't parent readers. That's a very good point.

What was your worst date ever?

T:  Every date I had for prom in high school. I went to an all-girls high school, so getting a date when you don’t know too many guys is dicey. I met a few guys when I was in plays at all-boy high schools. That evolved into them being my dates at the proms. Talk about godawful. Boring, awkward, and not worth the effort.

S:  How do you get in the mood for writing? 

T:  I don’t have to get in the mood. I’m always thinking of storylines. I may read a news report then think, "Wouldn’t it be interesting if fill in the blank happened?" Or I’ll be driving and suddenly an idea pops into my head.

S:  Sometimes, it's hard to get the brain to shut down when you're a writer.

What’s the best advice you have ever given?

T:  Don’t give up.

S:  Good advice for a writer.

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

T:  All the stories have been told. All you have to sell is voice--style. If I’m remembering correctly, that was in a Dean Koontz non-fiction book.

S:  What do you consider your greatest achievement?

T:  Being true to myself and living a life I want, not what society or others believe I should settle for.

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

T:  The thought of being buried makes my skin crawl. I’m going to be cremated. The only thing I’d like to be remembered for is being fair and that I demand justice for everyone.

S:  What inspired "Target?" 

T:  I’ve always wanted to write a dark mafia romance, especially with protagonists unwittingly caught up in all that crime and wanting out.

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

T:  This is the first dark mafia romance I’ve written, and I enjoyed doing so. 

Here’s the blurb:

A Russian kingpin wants her dead… the only one who can stop it is the man sent to murder her.

Toni Flores loved her dream job working for a respected US senator until he raped her. She’s determined to bring him to justice, no matter the cost.

For years, Dimitri Valesky, head of a Russian crime family in America, has bought off those in government. Just like the senator responsible for Toni’s assault. When she won’t keep quiet about it and risks Dimitri’s business, he orders his stepson Michael to kill her.

Michael’s a lobbyist not a mafia enforcer. He refuses the insane demand, but Dimitri insists. The power he holds over Michael and his brothers is absolute… or so he believes.

Rather than murder Toni, Michael intends to romance her. Once he convinces her to keep quiet about the Senator, she won’t be a target any longer and Dimitri will back off on the hit. The plan falls apart and now they are dodging mafia enforcers, bullets, and Dimitri’s outrage.

Michael and Toni fight to stay alive and save those dearest to them as they also fall hopelessly in love.

Publisher’s Note: This contemporary dark mafia romance contains elements of mystery, suspense, action, adventure, adult themes, and possible triggers for some readers.

S:  That sounds really suspenseful! Where can readers can buy your book?

T:  It's available on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HDWS8QN/.

S:  Tina, thanks so much for visiting The Loft today. If you'd like to learn more about Tina and her books, please visit--

MeWe:  https://mewe.com/i/tinadonahue

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