Category: Author Interviews

AUTHOR INTERVIEW – ELLA SHERIDAN

Posted on by Melissa Chambers

Excited today to feature Ella Sheridan and her new release Dirty Little Secret. I’ve seen some excerpts from Ella’s writing and shew!  Get out your fans, ladies because it’s gonna heat up!

Ella was nominated for this year’s coveted Golden Heart award, the Romance Writers of America’s most prestigious award for non-published authors. So you know the girl’s got some street cred. I’ve just downloaded Dirty Little Secret and am looking forward to ignoring my family and binge-reading. Here is what awaits me on my Kindle:

Cailin Gray transferred to the new Atlanta branch of her company to work for the senior vice president, Alex Brannigan. But before her job begins, she allows the anonymity of the big city to lure her into a night of dancing–and the arms of a mystery lover hotter than anything this country girl could imagine. When she wakes alone, his absence hurts more than she thought it would, but not nearly as much as walking into the office Monday morning and discovering her lover is her new, married boss.


Alex has one goal: help his best friend, Sara Beth, keep her inheritance. This plan included a marriage of convenience–check–taking over the vice president’s position–check–and keeping the platonic state of their relationship secret until their position of power is solidified. That last takes time, but the resulting solitude weighs heavily. Until Cailin. He told himself a single night would have to be enough, but fate had other plans. Now he must choose between keeping his dirty little secret and fulfilling his promise to Sara Beth, or finding the strength to free them all from the secrets that bind them.

                                                                    

Thanks so much, Ella, for stopping by the blog this morning. Let’s jump right in.

*What is in store for us lucky ones who have chosen to read Dirty Little Secret? On a scale of 1-10, what’s the heat level?

I’d say a 7—lots of open-door intimacy without kink or some of the trigger words some readers find a bit “over the top.” I’m a little shy that way. ☺

*Ha! Yes, those terms can get a little creepy sometimes. What’s Cailin, our heroine, like? How do you think we’ll relate to her?

Cailin is at a time in her life I think many women identify with: a time of change. Even if she’s not divorced, a woman often faces those moments, maybe their thirty-fifth birthday or their child’s moving out, where she looks back at her life and has a few regrets. When I wrote DLS, that’s where I was in my own life. Cailin is there as well. She’s looking back and realizing she never really gave in to that “wild side,” that part of her that takes chances and lives a little. Of course, when she does…oh boy, is it a doozy! 

*Sounds like it from the blurb! (which, by the way, did not fail to get my attention—yowza!) What parts of writing DLS came naturally, and which did you hit speed bumps with (without giving too much away, of course!)?

The opening scenes, where Cailin and Alex meet, came very naturally. I love delving into an imperfect but alpha male character, and Alex is just that. He is protective and strong and all the things a woman wants from a hero, but he faces a moral dilemma he’s not sure how to deal with. I wasn’t sure how to deal with it either, and that’s where things got rocky—at the end. How could Alex find his happily ever after and still protect his best friend? But don’t worry (even though I did!). I finally came up with an answer, thank goodness.

*Oh, yes. How we love our alpha heroes! What, if anything would you like for your readers to know about DLS?

The thing that has worried me most since DLS sold was how readers would react to Alex’s situation. I’ll admit, I wrote the book as an exercise in creativity. I wanted to see if I could take some of the old “romance tropes” (boss and secretary, marriage of convenience, starting over in a new job/place) and make those into something new and interesting. But a marriage of convenience in a contemporary setting, where the married people aren’t the ones falling in love? Most readers struggle with any semblance of infidelity—I do too. I wasn’t certain if the relationship between Cailin and Alex and Sara Beth would be too much for some readers. I hope by showing Alex’s true relationship with Sara Beth (definitely friends, not lovers), and that Sara Beth has her own happily ever after waiting for her, the readers will see not infidelity, but a man of integrity and strength ready to sacrifice everything he wants just to help his best friend. That is what makes Alex a hero for me.

*I’m confident that we are in good hands with you, and that you handled it superbly! Which authors do you love, in or out of the romance genre and what are you reading now?

I read romance almost exclusively, both for work (I’m a line editor) and because it’s the best escape in the world for this particular high-stress person. I just finished Lexi Blake’s Love and Let Die, which was awesome, let me tell you! Her alpha males are protective and caring, much like Alex, only in a slightly different (*cough—dominating—cough*) way. ☺ I’m a huge fan of author Maya Banks, as well as Cherise Sinclair, Belle Andre, Lauren Dane… I could go on forever! My Golden Heart final, Unbroken, is a gritty paranormal romance (think shape-shifters but based on mythical creatures, set in Nashville—apparently I have a thing for Southern cities), and so I do read a good bit of that as well: Lara Adrian, J. R. Ward, Larissa Ione. So many wonderful books and authors out there, and so very little time to indulge, but books are my go-to indulgence, even over chocolate. Maybe not over man candy, but definitely over chocolate.

*OMG – I would follow Maya Banks into an erupting volcano! I’ll have to check out your other suggestions. What’s next on your writing agenda?

I have several projects on my plate right now, including my paranormal series and an indie series that will release late next year. The sequel to DLS is in the works right now. That will be Damien’s story. Talk about smokin’—Damien is every girl’s fantasy come to life, and we get to indulge in some very sexy fantasies with him. His heroine is sassy and sarcastic and his match in every way. And her secret? Well, you’ll have to wait a little bit to find out, but it’s a doozy as well!


*Well played, Ms. Sheridan. I am officially teased and hooked! I’m off now to start on Dirty Little Secret. Nobody bug me until about midnight tonight!

Dirty Little Secret is available through Loose Id or Amazon or All Romance eBooks


www.ellasheridan.wordpress.com


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AUTHOR INTERVIEW-RAE ANN PARKER

Posted on by Melissa Chambers

My son and I are both excited to have Rae Ann Parker, author of The Devil’s Backbone on my blog today. We tackled this book together and had a blast discussing each chapter as we went. I’ve never been down the Natchez Trace, but after having read this book, I most definitely want to plan a family trip there soon. My son loved the book, and we both learned so much about the history of the Trace and had a lot of fun at the same time!

(About the Book) David Baxter takes the blame for the graffiti on the school gym doors to keep his friend out of trouble and earns a three-day suspension. His dad, the juvenile judge, forces him to go on a road trip to redemption on the Natchez Trace Parkway. What his dad doesn’t know is that David meets a ghost carrying the last letter of Meriwether Lewis—the piece of evidence that may solve the 200-year-old mystery of Lewis’s death. Thanks to the ghost, David just might figure out how to relate to his dad and forgive his wayward mom.

Welcome Rae Ann! Thanks so much for stopping by today to answer a few of our questions!

Thank you to you and your son for taking the time to read The Devil’s Backbone! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for having me on your blog.

I’ll jump right in. Where does the title The Devil’s Backbone come from?

The Devil’s Backbone was the nickname for the Natchez Trace in the early 1800s when outlaws roamed the Trace, robbing travelers who walked back up the Trace after selling their goods in Natchez and New Orleans. I think it’s a really cool name and wanted to use it for the title of the book.


For those who aren’t familiar, can you give us a brief summary of what makes the Natchez Trace special and unique enough to merit its own book?

The first time I visited the Natchez Trace Parkway after moving to Tennessee, I knew right away that it was a place full of history. Many people had traveled the road and they all had stories. I wanted to learn more about those people and their stories. I began reading about the history of the Trace and decided to write a fictional story about a boy who makes a special discovery while traveling on the Trace.


You describe the stops along the Trace in such fantastic detail—I’m picturing weeks or months of research on your part! What kinds of research did you tackle for this book?

I started by reading about the Trace, but I knew I needed to travel the Trace (all 444 miles of it) in person before writing my story. Or maybe I just wanted an excuse to explore the Trace. It is fascinating! On the research trip, I documented my journey in a notebook (similar to David’s journal) noting the time I stopped at each site, the Park Rangers I talked to and what I learned from them and the historical markers on the Trace. I am still researching the Trace. It amazes me and I often learn something new when I visit.


One part in this book that made me squirm was (part of) the reason for the trip—to see David’s mom who had left her family to follow her dream. I think you as an author handled her more than fairly. Was her storyline difficult for you to write?

I always want the people and families in my books to have real problems that readers can relate to. My previous work as a social worker influences my writing. The theme of this book is forgiveness and second chances. We all face challenges, but we work through them together.


In your acknowledgements you thank your family for dinnertime conversations about the book. How involved was your family in the writing of this book?

My family helped a lot in my research for the book. They accompanied me on my primary research trip on the Trace, taking photos, reading maps, and walking on the trails with me. They’re always willing to listen to me talk about my writing at dinnertime or anywhere else. I appreciate it!


You’ve set the bar pretty high with this one. Can you tell us about your next project in the works?

Thank you! I’m working on another middle grade novel about a middle school boy with a big problem to solve. This book is a realistic novel, so there are no ghosts in this one.

You can find more info on the Trace at www.scenictrace.com

Rae Ann Parker lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her family. When she is not writing or reading, she enjoys exploring the Natchez Trace Parkway and playing the piano and violin. The Devil’s Backbone is her first novel. For more information about the author, visit www.raeannparker.com