In Claiming Ana, why are we left wondering about Sam Murphyu2019s murder? Itu2019s mentioned, set up, but no follow through. Howl and Ana’s relationship moves too fast. etc. Why does the story play out thisu00a0way?u00a0Claiming Ana is a prequel of the Triple Star Ranch series meant only to introduce readers to a new world and characters outside of Elemental Magic. The focus for CA was always Howl and Anau2019s whirl-wind romance not the investigation. It was meant to be a fast, intense and hot beginning to a roller coaster ride, which it is. Werewolves retain animal insticts in their human form. I think animals know their mates on scent, just as a mother animal knows her offspring. I allowed this to push Howl and Ana closer. His wolf would not be satisfied with a several months long courtship. Most of my couples end up together fairly quickly. (They are meant to be together after all.) I think it must just be more noticeable with this story. For instance, Jack and Liv (Earth Enchanted) story spansu00a0the course of a month, Gabe and Lea (To Take Up the Sword) a couple of weeks, Kate and Ryan (Wait for the Wind) days (or 12 years depending on how you look at it). Same with Skye and Rhiannon (Sea’s Sorceress), they’ve known each other their whole lives, but once their relationship shifts, its only days. And Devin and Arianne (Fire’s Ice) have been connected for literally a thousand or more years, but once they break the spell, they story spans a few days.
There are four books in the Triple Star Ranch series. Howlu2019s role is only to follow the money as a second plot thread, which he will in book two, Tempting Taylor. u00a0He doesnu2019t have an emotional investment in the case.u00a0u00a0The Murphy triplets will discover their fatheru2019s killer, and the reason behind the murder, in time as a part of their grieving process. We wonu2019t know what really happened until the last page of Saving Sarah,u00a0Jace Murphyu2019s story. There is no instant gratification in my story world. As a rule, I don’t leave the romance on a cliffhanger, but there will generally be an arcing storyline left unresolved for the next book in the series.
Now thatu00a0Fireu2019s Iceu00a0has been released, will you be writing more books featuring Devin McLoch?u00a0u00a0Devin will have a major role inu00a0Charm of Lightu00a0(Allieu2019s story), the other Shadow books as well as a future series featuring his children, Vaughn, Cian, and Grayson McLoch.
Out of all the books youu2019ve written, who is your favorite character?u00a0Devin.
Will you be writing sequels for any of the characters in your older books?u00a0Yes. I haveu00a0two new series planned for that story world, Shadows of Seven and Highland Magic, ten books total. There is a page set up foru00a0each book under the books tab with a little peek into those stories.
What formats are your books available in?u00a0Currently available in eBook from Kensington Books (vendors everywhere). Due to their shorter novellau00a0length, all titles released prior to January 2015u00a0will not be released in print. Future work may be released in print at the publisher’s discretion.u00a0
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How long does it take for you to write a book?u00a0It depends on what kind of things are going on in my personal life. I have gone weeksu00a0or months without writing anything at all. It took a year to finish Earth, a weekend to finish Sword and a month to write Wind. It also depends on how fast the story is moving for me. u00a0My husbandu00a0was in ill healthu00a0for a very long time. Now that Jackieu00a0has passed on, I find writing necessary for my sanity and still the words escape me sometimes. I am still trying to find a balance within my heart that allows the words to flow. u00a0Iu2019m an emotional writer and itu2019s not the same without my best friend. One day that will be easier to handle, but today is not that day.
How do you deal with criticism/rejection? u00a0Eat ice cream and let it go. Thatu2019s the price you pay for putting the work out there. You have to be able to deal with good reviews and the bad. Best way to deal is just get back to work. Iu2019ve had reviews that literally had me in tears. Some that made no sense to the point that I wondered if they actually read the book. And still others that made me burst out laughing. Favorite bad review to date u2013 u201cthe hell?u201d u00a0Thatu2019s all it said.
What is your stand on piracy?u00a0Ah, for this you should read.u00a0http://0kl.da2.myftpupload.com/2011/09/pirates-and-ebooks-arghh/
What made you want to write paranormal romance?u00a0Iu2019ve always liked spooky and magical stories as well as suspense. It seemed like the natural choice, even still, Iu2019m not sure it was a conscious choice. My characters just seem to lean that way.
What makes a book great in your eyes?u00a0Itu2019s all about the story. It has to be vivid and well told regardless of the formatu00a0a book is published in.
What do you hope readers will take from your writing?u00a0Escape from daily life. A smile, a tear, a sigh. I want them to feel like theyu2019re meeting an old friend when they see a returning character.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?u00a0When I mailed my first submission to Harlequin. It was politely rejected.
Do you ever suffer from writeru2019s block?u00a0No. Not really. I usually have several projects going at once. When one set of characters is quiet, one of the others will u2018speaku2019 to me and Iu2019ll work on their book. The story is almost always better for the time away and fresh read through. I have found that my writing is strongly tied to my emotions.
How do you respond when someone saysu2026u201dOh, you write THAT kind of book?u201d u201cYeah, so. Want to read one?u201d Writers recreate that rare fall into true love. Now that is something special, no matter what path the book takes to happy-ever-after.
Whatu2019s your advice for someone who wants to be a writer? Read. If you like to read a variety of genres, get into e-book reviewing. Youu2019ll learn a lot about house style and what works. Write about what you know. Write the best story you possibly can and then edit it like crazy. Then find a critique group (or find a crit partner to read your work)u00a0one that isnu2019t afraid to tell you what sucks and what works. Then edit again. And again. Then have a reader but non-writer (not a family member either) read it. Get their thoughts. But the most important thing is to actually write. At the end of the day, you will never succeed unless you TRY.
How did you get started as a writer?u00a0It seems like Iu2019ve always been a writer, which is to say Iu2019ve been making up stories since I can remember. Still I didnu2019t try to publish anything until I finishedu00a0Earth Enchanted.u00a0I tried submitting to Harlequin first and was rejected. Several years wiser, I can see the things I could have done to make the writer stronger. u00a0Thanks to a friendu2019s urging, I decided to try e-presses and subbed to Lyrical Press, which was later merged with Kensington Books (my dream publisher). u00a0I couldnu2019t be more pleased with all the great people Iu2019ve had the chance to work with and my editor is awesome.
I just finished my manuscript. Will you read/critique it for me?u00a0Will you review my book? Will you provide a u201ccover quoteu201d for my book? Since Jackieu2019s death, I am solely refocusing my energy on our children and my writing. Iu2019m sorry but I no longer review, critique, or provide quotes foru00a0anyu00a0works.u00a0Several years ago, I reviewed so many books I became burned out on the process. u00a0I do run a review site, but I solely handle the incoming / outgoing things. u00a0If youu2019d like your book reviewed, pleaseu00a0consider offering your book to You Gotta Readu2019s wonderful team of reviewers by sending book information only to yougottaread@gmail.com or using the contact form on site.
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Whatu00a0sort of books do you likeu00a0to read?u00a0I love paranormal romance, thrillers, romantic suspenseu00a0and police procedural too. I donu2019t mind readingu00a0any heat level, not much shocks me, but I donu2019t readu00a0LGBT any more. The exceptions are the story blurb really has to pull me in, and I mean really has to hook me, the book is part of a series Iu2019ve reviewed and I obsessively must know what happens next,u00a0or Iu2019ve enjoyed the authoru2019s previous work in another genre (blurb rule still applies.)u00a0u00a0I dislikeu00a0most non-fiction, self help, chick lit, new adult, books where all the main characters die and generally anything that does not have a happy ending. u00a0Anything that spouts an u201cif you likeu201d resemblance to Twilight or Fifty Shades or is a gossip book about this yearu2019s celebrity of the week will haveu00a0me run screaming.u00a0u00a0Favorite authors includeu00a0Norau00a0Roberts,u00a0Julie Garwood, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jayne Ann Krentz, but I never really cared for romance books until I started reading NR. Iu2019m just one of those girls who likes suspense and kick end heroines. Category Romance featured wilting wildflowers, not my style, but times have changed and books along with them.
Is there anything readers would be shocked to know about you? Iu2019m very opinionated. Wait, thatu2019s not a secret.u00a0Well, just one thing. Iu2019m handy around the house. I like to fix things and Iu2019m a huge DIYu2019er. Iu2019ve been known to tackle just about any home repair project myself, except electrical, including re-plumbing the house myself.
Do you prefer paperback or ebooks? u00a0Both, theu00a0formatu00a0a book is published in doesnu2019t matter to me as long as the story is compelling. I like audiobooks too.
Cat or dog person? I have become a u2018crazy cat ladyu2019. u00a0Jackie used to have a lot of hunting dogs. Because of his health, he stopped hunting and we only had Spot (he came with the name.) Spot isu00a0getting old and doesnu2019t chase cats much anymore. u00a0He misses his daddy and mostly hangs out on the porch or at my mother-in-laws house next door. We had three orphaned kittens wanderu00a0up to the house back this fall and Jackie had been feeding them before he died (even though he said he hated cats.) So theyu00a0just kind of stayed, eventually wandering off, and now we just have Ms. Kitty (Jackie liked Gunsmoke and that’s where her name came from.) who keeps Spot company outside. (It would be cruel to keep her inside when she’su00a0been outside her whole life.) u00a0Asheron, Styxx and Jace are my spoiled rotten minion housecats.
