Meet Me Mondays

Meet Me Mondays
Meet My Author Friends...Make Them Yours

Monday, April 11, 2011

Meet Me Mondays ~ Author Interview, CINDY JACKS



Please welcome multi-published author, Cindy Jacks, to the spotlight.   Cindy has over a dozen published works, in multiple genres, and has recently been accepted for additional works. Wow! She’s one crazy-busy gal ;)

Thanks so much for hosting me today, Kienna. I’m thrilled to be here!

Q1. Cindy, you have experience with multiple publishers (Ellora’s Cave, Cobblestone Press, Wild Child Publishing, and more) for your twelve titles, what words of wisdom can you share with other writers about the publisher selection process?

The two most important thing to consider when selecting a publisher are the genres they specialize in and professionalism. Some publishers have built readerships that prefer paranormal romance, some specialize in erotica, some specialize in mystery/suspense, etc. Choosing a publisher that comes with a following interested in the genre you write is a win/win situation.

As for professionalism, that sounds like a no-brainer, but all too often authors are so eager to get their work published, they jump at any publisher who shows interest. But unfortunately there are lots of fly-by-night e-publishers and some run by people who just don’t have a head for business. Submit your work to the biggest and most respected publishers you can, don’t be afraid to take that leap. You’ll save yourself a world of frustration!


Q2. What is your writing process? Do you write every day? Do you write in chunks? In your living room? At a café? With a cat your lap?

As a general rule, I write every day—there are exceptions, like when I’m under the weather or my son has a particularly busy Saturday or when I make the mistake of purchasing a new video game, LOL. I can write just about anywhere, but I usually do it in my little office nook by the kitchen. Lately I’ve taken to sitting on a balance ball as opposed to in a regular chair. It’s done wonders for my core muscles, plus I get in a little exercise while chained to my laptop.

I’m very much a plotter, I have to see the entire story from beginning to end. That being said, I have no trouble jumping around within the outline, working on different scene out of sequence. Whatever chapter speaks to me that day—that the chapter I work on.


Q3. For readers meeting you for the first time, which of your titles would you recommend they read and why?




For fans of erotic romance, I think Love Game and Waking Maggie are two great titles to start with. They’re both chock full of sensuality, romance, and very sexy heroes, but there’s also a lot of real emotion and vulnerability on the part of the heroines. I think the average woman can identify with their insecurities and wants.

If paranormal romance is your cup of tea, I recommend my Four Brothers Clan series. It revolves around four sexy wolf-shifters whose clan is under attack by a powerful and mysterious force. Not only do the critics loved the series, but it’s gaining it’s own fan base. I have folks on Facebook who debate which brother is the hottest. Personally, I love all four of them. And I’m excited to announce that the third book in the series, Cry Wolf, has been contracted by Cobbleston Press for release later this year!

Q4.  Waking Maggie, is an Ellora’s Cave Quickie that features a super hot 27 year old, Calvin, and a 40 year old, Maggie. You also have a few other titles in your “love after 30” category, All the Good Men, Love Game, and Leap.  What can readers find (and enjoy) in these titles? Are they all cougar themed? Or is the message that love (and the fun) doesn’t end in your 20s?

Of all my “love after 30” books, only Waking Maggie revolves around an older woman with a younger man and Maggie’s sort of an accidental cougar. She wasn’t looking for a younger man, she just happened to run into one—literally.

The other titles feature heroines and heroes who are both in the their thirties or forties. As I age, I find love and romance is more sophisticated and deliciously complicated than it was in my 20s. I’ve been told by readers and reviewers that these books give them hope. Romance, sex, and fun doesn’t end in your 20s—if anything I think it gets better with age.


Q5. What do you like most about being a published author?

I love connecting with readers. It’s the best feeling to hear that I’ve helped someone escape a stressful day or find hope for love. One reader said the Four Brothers Clan series made her want to slap her husband and buy another of my books, LOL. Not that I’m advocating violence against hubbies, but let’s face it, day-to-day life is boring and montonous and stressful. If I can help a reader escape all that, even for just a few hours, I feel like a total success.

Q6. As authors, we aim to have a style and a voice that is unique to our name.  When we CINDY JACKS on the cover, what can readers expect?

I think my slogan—Fiction for the bad girl in every woman—says it all. And I mean “bad girl” in a very positive way. With every book, I explore and celebrate female sexuality in all its forms. I also strive to strip sex and romance down to those rare, but beautiful moments when two people connect without barriers, without boundaries, when they are at their most vulnerable. Nothing fascinates me more and I hope to continue exploring love and passion for years to come!



Q7. How may your readers/fans contact you?





Twitter: @CindyJacks

Commenter Prizes!!!

Cindy ~ Do you have any free reads or other items for one lucky commenter?

I do! I’ll be giving away a copy of my latest release, Waking Maggie! Thank you so much, Kienna, for having me as your guest. I’ve enjoyed spending this time with you!


Monday, April 4, 2011

Author Spotlight ~ Rhiannon Ellis


Please welcome debut author, Rhiannon Ellis, to the spotlight.   We are so delighted that she’s decided to land at my blog, during her blog tour.Cozy up to those keyboards, guys and gals, and let’s talk romance!


Rhiannon, thank you for taking the time to chat with us today, with two new releases, BONDED in BRAZIL, and DARK WOLF PROTECTOR, you certainly have a lot to talk about.



Q1. Dark Wolf Protector features animal protector, Jaci Waters, hunting down a wolf that has invaded her tiny town and is preying on women.  Enter Dolton Freye, the protector who storms into town destined to hunt and kill the wolf that’s after Jaci.  Where did your inspiration to write the sensual romance, Dark Wolf come from?

I can’t pin down my inspiration to one thing or another, but after reading dozens of paranormal/shifter stories and loving them all, I wanted to write one of my own. Isn’t that how all of us writers start out? We get sucked into a genre or series and can’t let it go, even after we get to the end. The desire to live in that world never goes away, so we continue it in our own words, with new characters, and in fresh locations.

Q2. With two preschool-age kids at home, where do you find the time two write? Two releases at the same time, you are one incredibly busy gal!

I get this question a lot. The answer is simple: I don’t. Lol. Really, I don’t find time; time sort of finds me in between dirty dishes, boo boos, building forts and cooking meals. I’m constantly throwing my writer’s hat on and off as I center my 2nd greatest passion, writing, around my 1st greatest passion—my family.

Q3. Now that you have two releases available, please share your road to publication.  Perhaps, any rejection and how you handled them. How you felt when you received a proposal.

I have a knack for bad timing, so I started writing my first novel when my daughter was 2 years old and my son was 6 months old. Since then I’ve written three novels and a novella. That first book was eventually offered representation by my current agent, but we’ve put it on hold for further revisions. As mentioned, I have two releases available now, and I also have a newly completed MS with my agent.

The journey thus far has been exhausting but exhilarating. I’m so happy and proud to be part of such an exciting process and supportive community, and I can’t imagine writing not being in my life. Sure, there have been rejections, but that’s what being an artist is about. Some people will like your work, some people won’t.

Q4.  Brazil is the setting for your novel BONDED IN BRAZIL. What is one fascinating fact you discovered while conducting your research?


Oh, boy. This is a tough one. I learned SO MUCH while doing research for this story. It isn’t just a story about Brazil (and Napa Valley); it’s also a story about a vineyard. Matter of fact, I learned so much about both locations and vineyards that I decided to write a sequel J

One thing I’d love to share is that Brazil is home to the largest tropical rainforest on the planet. The Amazon rainforest doesn’t make an appearance in my stories, but I learned a lot about the importance of rainforests—many facts I didn’t know before—and even did some special projects with my 5-year-old so she could learn about them, too.

She really liked learning about some of the over 4 million species of plants and animals that live in Brazil. If you have children, they’d probably enjoy learning about them, too J

Q5. What do you like most about being a published author?

It’s an accomplishment no one can ever take away. Even if I never write another book, I can always say that I’m an author. I also love that, one day, I can tell my daughter that just because you’re a stay-at-home mom and your life revolves around your family, it doesn’t mean your dreams have to die. Women really can have, and be, it all!
  
Q6. As authors, we aim to have a style and a voice that is unique to our name.  When we RHIANNON ELLIS on the cover, what can readers expect?

First, readers can expect dynamic, memorable characters. Characters are what drive my stories and what will linger with the reader afterward.

Secondly, I love strong female characters. I aim to create heroines who are a lot like my female friends and family members—real women who are capable of incredible things. And my heroines don’t need rescuing, even if it seems they do at the beginning of the story. However, my strong women still love their alpha-male heroes…don’t we all?

Q7. How may your readers/fans contact you?

My website! There you will find everything about my books, links to my Facebook page, Twitter, blog and email. If you’re interested in learning more about Bonded In Brazil or Dark Wolf Protector, my website has trailers, blurbs and excerpts.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BLOG IS MODERATED, SO ONCE YOU LEAVE YOUR COMMENT, IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO APPEAR (AFTER MODERATION). THANK YOU.

Commenter Prizes!!!

Rhiannon ~ Do you have any free reads or other items for one lucky commenter?

Sure do! My online book tour ends this Friday. At that time, I’ll randomly pick 4 commenters from my blog stops and give each winner an e-copy of either Bonded In Brazil or Dark Wolf Protector.

AND

One lucky commenter will receive a readers pack from Kienna.  This includes a pencil with Thomas Jefferson’s famed quote, “I cannot live without books”, and a bookmark purchased from the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.