Savannah's Thought Garden: STG's Month of Gratitude - Clair Plaisted Guest Bl...

Savannah's Thought Garden: STG's Month of Gratitude - Clair Plaisted Guest Bl...: Thank you for joining me today, November 20th. Today my guest blogger is a lovely author from New Zealand. You might recognize her from b...

Savannah's Thought Garden: Author Spotlight ~ Claire Plaisted

Savannah's Thought Garden: Author Spotlight ~ Claire Plaisted: Welcome and thank you for stopping by Savannah’s Thought Garden’s Daisy Chain - Author Spotlights. I’m so happy you could join m...

The Infamous Scribbler - Rachel Brune

Please welcome the awesome Infamous Scribbler, the one and only Rachel Brune!

Welcome to my blog, please tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a former Army journalist and current brand-new mom living in Fayetteville, North Carolina. I’ve been writing all my life, but only in the last few years have I started getting serious about it. In addition to writing and taking care of my two-month-old, my husband and I also foster Basset hounds with the Carolina Basset Hound Rescue. I blog about my adventures, and host interviews with interesting characters, at the Infamous Scribbler.

Congratulation on being a new mom - enjoy every moment of it :)

What brought you to the world of writing?

First and foremost a love of reading. There’s nothing I love better than to lose myself in a good book, and when I write, it is my goal to give that gift to my readers.

What is your first book and what do you think of it now?

My first book was a sword-and-sorcery fantasy entitled “Winter Skirmish.” I’m still in love with it, but not blind to its flaws, and so one of my “someday” plans is to go back and re-haul it. I did write a prequel for it during NaNoWriMo 2010, and the early chapters received positive feedback at my writer’s group. I would love to get back to it and whip the series into shape, but the time isn’t right just now.

What type of books do you write and do they fulfil your reader’s needs?

My books that are available are non-fiction essays & photography (Echoes & Premonitions), action suspense/thriller (Soft Target), and shifter urban fantasy (Cold Run.) I’d like to think they fulfil my readers’ needs, except they keep asking for the sequels, and I haven’t written them yet…!

How long does it take you to write your first draft?

Sadly, I am not a fast writer. Also, the flash-to-bang from idea to finished novel is typically years. I tend to let an idea stew and stew until something happens to let me know that I’m ready to go. I’ll also do a lot of research, even for a fiction novel. When I actually sit down to write, it can take me from as little as a month (if it’s November!) to half a year to hammer out a first draft.

Do you plot or not, if so why?

Yes, absolutely. I’ve tried pantsing it, but I ran into trouble and lost track of where I was and had to stop and finish plotting. I may start out with just a jumble of notes and an extra-large cup of coffee, but somewhere along the way, I have to set up a structure and plan my path forward.

Do you write in 1^st or 3^rd person, or have you do both?

I tend to write both. In Soft Target, as well as the novel I’m working on now, I wrote in third person in order to move around and give myself some freedom of perspective. In Cold Run, I wrote in first person, because a lot of the information – and wisecracks – happen in the main character’s head. I enjoyed clueing in the audience as he became aware of things, and treating them to the snarky comments he makes at other people’s expense.

How do you edit your work?  Do you leave your draft alone for a while or edit as you write?

I start a few pages back every time I sit down to write, so that I can review what I’ve written and get back in the swing of things. When I do, I can’t help but fix things that I see. After I’ve finished the book, I have a few trusted beta readers. Also, I’ll workshop the first few chapters with my writing group, to see if they pick up on any patterns of editorial wrongdoing that I can go ahead and fix. Then, after I revise with those edits, I’ll do a personal proofreading pass where I start from the end of the book and read backwards. It’s amazing what you can pick up when you’re not caught up in the story. Then, I’ll start to query it to publishers, or if I’ve decided to go the indie route, hire a professional editor. After receiving his/her edits, I’ll begin sending out ARCs, hiring a graphic designer, planning the launch, and all the other stuff the indies need to do to get their work out there.

Would you like to feature a book, if so which one?  Tell us about it?

I’d love to feature Soft Target! This is a book that took me on a journey that taught me a lot about independent publishing. In fact, I think the lessons learned from writing, editing, hiring a graphic artist, starting a Web site prior to the launching, then launching, formatting the print edition … every step of the journey was a learning experience. Even after publishing with a small press publisher (Cold Run), I realized that every writer needs to learn these lessons and put them into practice. No one else will believe in your work as much as you do! 

What type of people/readers do you market your books to?

Do you like to read? Excellent! Buy my book. :D

Do you self-publish or have you worked with an Agent/Publisher

Both! I find that both paths are rewarding, and you can learn a lot from them. I would love to try finding an agent, and perhaps submitting at a large, traditional house, but until then, I’ll continue to hone my craft and hopefully people will enjoy the books I’m writing.

How do you promote your writing?

I am a member of a number of Goodreads and Facebook groups for readers, reviewers, and writers. I’ve also found a circle of friends who enjoy my work and will share it with their circle of friends. I try my best to get reviews, which as every writer knows, are the best things EVER. And if anyone has any other ideas, I’m willing to try anything once!

Where can we buy your books?

Amazon is your best bet!

Echoes & Premonitions

Soft Target

Cold Run.

I also have a number of eBooks available for reviewers.

Who are your favourite authors?

So many! I love Ray Bradbury, Mercedes Lackey, Jim Butcher, Robert Crais, Michael Connelly, Umberto Eco, Joseph Conrad, Anne McCaffrey, Tanya Huff … I could go on, but these are my top faves that I return to over and over again.

I love you selection of authors, I have many of those on my own bookshelves.

Links

Infamous Scribbler

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Do you have any more information you’d like to share with us?

In addition to being a mom-mom, I’m also a rescue mom. We have a cat, Schnapps, a cattle dog, Brandy, and a Basset hound, Captain. I’d have more, but my husband and city ordinances forbid it… J

                                                 

We have one rescue cat called Sylvia who I have nicknames "Fat Cat" and the other we inherited.  She is known as Tilly or "Flat Cat."  Polar opposites.....lol

                                                                          

Interview with Stephen Christiansen

Please welcome Stephen Christiansen

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am 45, married to a wonderful and beautiful wife. We just celebrated 17 years of marriage. We have a lovely 13-year-old daughter. We live in Everett, Washington and both work together in medical billing, for the same company. We are very active in our community and help with Camp Fire USA.

I was a Navy brat for 16 years before my dad retired and moved to Camano Island, Washington, so I've traveled a lot and got to explore the world. I feel very fortunate to be able to see great landscapes, mountains, deserts, and forests. I’ve seen ruins of ancient civilizations and some of the greatest cities of today. I’ve seen the best and the worst of people and now I’ve been able to put it all into a great storyline.

What bought you to the world of writing?

I’ve always loved reading. It let me go to new, fantastic places and meet wonderful people in the realms of imagination. I guess my mind has always been very creative and now I’m able to release that creativity and share it with the rest of the world.

When I think about it, I think it was a way to escape from the traumas of my childhood. I wasn’t raised in the best of environments and writing let me create a world that I could live in for a short amount of time. I guess this series is still an outlet of my younger years.

What is your first book and what do you think of it now?

My first book is the first book of the Orbbelgguren Series called “Istobarra Commencement.” 

It’s a little slower in the character development than some of the other books of the series, but I didn’t want a several hundred year old female lead to change her personality over night. I think the readers have been very pleased with the book and it sets a good ground level for the rest of the series.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/stephen-christiansen/orbbelgguren-series-book-i-istobarra-commencement/ebook/product-21593831.html

What type of books do you write and do they fulfil your reader’s needs?

I write fantasy fiction, or high fiction. It’s similar to Lord of the Rings or the Dr’zzt books by R.A. Salvatore. Yes, many readers of high fiction have come to love the books.

Would you like to feature a book, if so which one?  Tell us about it?

I would love to feature the 10^th book of the Orbbelgguren Series called “The Troll Wars” 

This book looks at war in its entirety. It shows bravery and stupidity, sacrifice and self-promotion. It looks at famine and disease. It talks about financial, political and religious points of views. This will test relationships and allies. In the end, every life that this war touches will never be the same again. It’s very action packed and very emotional. I think my fans will like it.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/stephen-christiansen/orbbelgguren-series-book-x-the-troll-wars/ebook/product-21786152.html.

How long does it take you to write your first draft?

I write about one thousand words a day so a typical book of about 100,000 words takes about 3 months to write the initial first draft. However, “The Troll Wars” is 120,000 words so it took 4 months to write. Then, when the book is done, there is another month of editing.

Do you plot or not, if so why?

I plot about half of the book. I know where I want my characters to begin and how I want them to end. I also know some of the middle of the plot lines. However, I leave room for the characters to surprise me, as they often do. I find that good characters write themselves.

On the other hand, the plot of the series as a whole is complete. Each book is part of a great plot line, each plot is a minor portion of a greater whole.  

Do you write in 1^st or 3^rd person, or have you do both?

I usually write in third person, but now that the question has been asked, I think I’m inspired to add some first person perspective. There may be a point in book 14 to bring that into play. We shall see.

How do you edit your work?  Do you leave your draft alone for a while or edit as you write?

I do some minor editing during my writing. However, after my initial rough draft, I do a spell check and a first read through. Then I put the story into the correct format and redo some of the structuring. When that is done, I do a second spell check and my final read through. I’m usually very happy with the results by then.

What type of people/readers do you market your books to?

I market to a lot of geeks and gamers, those who would be interested in Dungeons and Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and dark elves. However, many of my readers aren't into these genres and have still loved the series. I think readers have a way of surprising an author and a good plot line reaches beyond its genre. 

Do you self-publish or have you worked with an Agent/Publisher?

Currently I’m a self publisher through Lulu. It’s not easy when I have to write, edit and then try to promote my own books. I still have a family, home, and full time job, so there is a lot of work to be done. An agent may be helpful, however that would start to get into profit. I’m still bouncing around the idea if I should go with an agent eventually or not.

How do you promote your writing?

I post to my Facebook page 

https://www.facebook.com/OrbbelggurenSeries

my Lulu page 

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Orbbelgguren, 

blog on my Goodreads page 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard, 

and finally tweet as 

https://twitter.com/maldev2002.

Where can we buy your books?

You can buy the books on Amazon 

http://www.amazon.com/StephenChristiansen/e/B00M6H1JNM/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

 on B&N 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/stephen-christiansen, 

and iTunes 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/stephen-christiansen/id824374500?mt=11. 

But the lowest prices available are on Lulu 

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Orbbelgguren.

Who are your favourite authors?

My favourite author is Edgar Allen Poe. My other noteworthy and influential authors are Stephen King, R.A. Salvatore, and Silverberg. I think that readers will be able to see aspects of each in several of the books.

Do you have any more information you’d like to share with us?

There have been some shows that I used to watch that have contributed to my inspiration. These include “The Outer Limits”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, “Ray Bradbury”, and “Tales from the Dark Side.” These have given me off-the-wall plot lines, twists, turns and different perspectives. I think the reader will be able to see some of these influences in the series and will be pleasantly surprised.

                                                 

Thank you for your time Stephen, we look forward to hearing more about your up and coming books.

                                                                          

Meet Author - C M Wilson

Introducing to you the lovely C M Wilson

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am C.M. Wilson. I like candle light dinners, long walks on the beach… sorry… I always feel like I’m pimping myself off for a date. I live in Michigan. I've lived here for most of my life and base most of my books off of places from here, although Glow Stick was placed in a fictional city in Michigan.

What brought you to the world of writing?

Honestly? Being an only child. My mother’s answer to the problem of “I’m bored” was to give me a book and then have me write a book report about the books I read. Sounds like torture, right? I liked it. And from the books, I started thinking about the plots that I would do different things with. More specifically, Sweet Valley High. The different things I thought needed to happen to Sweet Valley High have been added into the Northern Lights series.

What is your first book and what do you think of it now?

Northern Lights Part 1. I have a love/hate relationship with that book. That book has gone through 15 different reincarnations since 1996. When my publisher said “I need you to look at it one more time” I threw a temper tantrum that rivalled of a room full of toddlers being told that they had to take a nap.

What type of books do you write and do they fulfill your reader’s needs?

I write interracial romance (except for Glow Stick) and I’d like to think so. Although a couple of my Northern Lights readers say no, simply because the cliff hanger endings kill them. LOL

Would you like to feature a book, if so which one?  Tell us about it?

I keep talking about Northern Lights, so let’s go with that one. It’s going to be a ten part series. The first book is out now and the second one comes out in two weeks.

Carrington Levesque looks like she has it all together. She’s rich, pretty and the apple of her daddy’s eye. A blond hair, blue eyed beauty, with one flash of her pretty smile, and you’re sure she could have the world at the tips of her fingers. But, looks can be deceiving. Carrington’s issues have issues. Abandoned by her mother, she lives in constant fear that everyone else will leave her too, especially if she isn’t perfectly perfect. That is, until she meets Eli.

Eli Warren, a 19 year old 6’2” dark skinned African American man from Detroit, is Carrington’s opposite in every way. With a criminal record, and a brother who is convinced that crime pays, and pays well, it seemed inevitable that Eli would end up another statistic. He spent a lot of time feeling like he had no control over the direction of his life. Until he meets Carrington, and then for the first time he wants to be in the driver’s seat of his own destiny.

It’s been called the urban Sweet Valley High. (As a side note: I screamed… and bounced… and cried… when it was deemed that. LOL)

How long does it take you to write your first draft?

If it’s during National Novel Writing Month (November) then a month. But generally about 2 – 3 months.

Do you plot or not, if so why?

Yes. To the tee. I can be convinced to be a little lenient as I’m going along but when I’m driving somewhere – I like to know how to get there. I cannot just sit down and start writing. My brain doesn't work that way. There was a time where I didn’t stray from my outline. Now that I know what I’m doing, my characters tend to look at my outline and say “Isn't that cute… she’s trying to write the story…” and high jack it from time to time. Or I’ll look at it and say “unless you’re trying to go in circles, you don’t need that.” But for the most part by the time I start a book, I know the beginning, middle and end.

Do you write in 1^st or 3^rd person, or have you done both?

I write in 3^rd. I’m going to attempt to write in 2^nd person (journal entries) in one of the Northern Lights spin offs.

How do you edit your work?  Do you leave your draft alone for a while or edit as you write?

I edit for grammar as I go write. And then when I’m done, I read it and make notes about what I need to change (and take out things that don’t need to be there) and then go back and fix the notes. Then I read it one more time. Then I send it to the publisher and editor who do their magic to it and then they make their notes and send it back to me and I change those notes. LOL

What type of people/readers do you market your books to?

Anybody who will read it. LOL. I’m lucky because even though I write Young Adult, a lot of adults read YA. Though I’m trying to get Glow Stick into High Schools because it’s about bullying.

Do you self-publish or have you worked with an Agent/Publisher

I self-published a few years ago, but I am published with BraveGirl Publishing now.

How do you promote your writing?

Thru Facebook, I've done a few book signings, I’m working on a blog tour now, I've done some interviews  

Where can we buy your books?

Off of Amazon, BN.com, Kobo, Smashwords, CreateSpace and BraveGirlPub.com

Who are your favourite authors?

I’m kind of old school in my authors, V.C. Andrews, Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson. Though I devour anything Sara Shepard puts out.

Links

FB: https://www.facebook.com/conniemoniquewilson

https://www.facebook.com/BraveGirlPublishing

My Amazon Author Page where you can find my books: 

http://www.amazon.com/C.M.-Wilson/e/B0058I00PE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Our website: www.bravegirlpub.com

Our blog: www.bravegirlpublishing.blogspot.com

Do you have any more information you’d like to share with us?

Northern Lights part 2 drops very, very soon. And my first adult, contemporary romance, The Wrong Side of the Mississippi comes out in February.

                                                 

                                                                          

My Interview with Awesome Gang :)

• Claire Plaisted

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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in Cheshire England. As an adult i travelled to New Zealand, fell in love and ended up moving here to marry. I live with my husband, three children and two cats.

I am a family history researcher of the Plaisted line; world wide. I put together family history books and reunions books for others. In 2012, during one lot of research I started to write a novel. It became a Regency Mystery Romance which is yet to be published. It was a good story, though badly written. With help and time I believe it will be published next year.

Since that time I have written two short stories and four books to an adult series. “Garrett Investigation Bureau” revolved around an agency and it’s new agents. With plenty of twists and turn. These are all published and for sale online worldwide, along with my first children’s story called “Zoe’s Journey,” which is aimed at 10yrs and up. I have eight books published.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
At present I am concentrating on a new series for young children based in the insect world. This was inspired by a friend who was looking for a book for to read to her young grandson. She suggested a Ladybug at the adventurer.

Girlie is a blue ladybug who journeys on adventures and quests to help save her friends. The first book is called “Girlies and the War of the Wasps.” This story is about finding the correct diet for a wasp hive so they stop kidnapping insects from the local villages.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Apparently I sometimes laugh when I write and I also talk, well whisper as I type. Other than that I let my fingers do the talking. Is this unusual enough….lol

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have no real idea. I have read so many different kinds of books over the years, some for research, others for enjoyment. I do have some favourite authors though. C S Lewis, A A Milne, Elizabeth Goudge. In the adult world i have enjoyed; J D Robb, Nora Roberts, Colin Forbes, Clive Cussler, Lee Child, to name a few.

What are you working on now?
I tend to work on several drafts at once. I have a lot of editing to do and I am trying to concentrate of “Girlie and the War of the Wasps,” and my adult book “Mascosta’s Dreamgirl,” which is book five in my “Garrett Investigation Bureau Series (GIB)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use as much social media as I can, though I am still learning where I can submit books to share with readers.

I do have a website, blog, pinterest, linkedin, twitter and facebook. I also try and promote locally where I live. I have one book in a local bookstore and I will be having my first book launch at our local library next year

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Dont give up, stay strong and keep writing. There is nothing wrong with self-publishing and there is plenty of advice out there where you can get help.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Grab your dreams and hold on.

What are you reading now?
I am looking at a draft from another author at present. I format draft manuscripts to eBook and Print standard so they can be uploaded online and or printed off and bought. It is a good story so far, by no means finished, so I can’t really tell you what it’s about.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Updating my website and learn better marketing skills. I would also like to see my first novel out there in the public eye.

“The Mystery at Crosswick Manor,” is set in the late Regency and early Victorian times. It tell the story of a young destitute widow and her first love. Showing how they reconnect and try to make each other fall in love, while around them a mystery deepens and a scandal brews.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A notebook so I could write. A survivor’s handbook to help me create a place i’d need to live. A children’s book though I can’t decide which one. Lastly i’d find the largest most entertaining book I could find to keep me company.

Author Websites and Profiles
Claire Plaisted Website
Claire Plaisted Amazon Profile
Claire Plaisted Author Profile on Smashwords

Claire Plaisted’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Introducing Author Akinyi Yimbo.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

With pleasure, and thank you for this fabulous opportunity, Claire.

A P Von K'Ory is my pen name for most of my fiction works. Why a pen name? Out of necessity, since my own name is a mile long and just about impossible to pronounce for most people. I’ve won six Awards from four continents, the last one being the Achievers Award for African Writer Of The Year 2013 in the Netherlands. I studied Economics, Literature and Journalism in London; Germanistics and German-specific Economics in Germany. Finally, I studied socio-economics and philosophy and now have a Ph.D. in sociology.

I also have six doctorates, some of which I got in my late thirties and early forties - I regard knowledge as a lifelong quest of learning something new. I live in Germany, France, Cyprus and Greece with my husband, the Baron of Wimpfen, and our son and two grandsons. Writing is now my full time joy.

I was born in Kisumu, the capital city of Luoland, Kenya, to the Luo royal houses of K’Orinda and Yimbo; sent to a public school (I think Americans call this private school) in Yorkshire, England, when I was too young to say “sod off”. I finally graduated as a journalist - the London Schools of Journalism as well as an economist - the London School of Economics. Love took me to Bavaria, Germany, where I further studied Germanistics and German-specific economics. 

Writing entered my world when I was about five and never left. In between doing other jobs (e.g. working as a cleaner in a mental asylum in northern Germany – great plots there just waiting for me!) and as a freelance journalist since 1980, I've become a grandy (that’s grandma up in Yorkshire!) of two boys aged five and two. 

I give lectures and seminars in various German, Austrian and Swiss universities, colleges and high schools on topics ranging from socio-economy in Africa, Business English, African literature and the socio-ethnological conflicts in the traditions of Africans and Europeans in particular, and the West in general. I’ve published articles, papers, reports that are too numerous to list here. My first (and favourite) book was the novel in German: Khiras Traum. I’ve continued this in the English language where it is now the Bound to Tradition trilogy-turning-into-Saga because I’m already on the fourth and fifth books.

There are loads of autobiographical stuff  especially in my Bound to Tradition books. Bound to Tradition: The Dream; Bound to Tradition: The Initiation and Bound to Tradition: The Separation. I now have six romance books: Secret Shades Aroused, Secret Shades Revealed, Dark Desires Obsession, and Dark Desires Aflame. I’m working on Dark Desires Gilded at the moment. All the books, including series are full books of between 78K to 135K words each.

The non-fiction book “Darkest Europe and Africa’s Nightmare: A critical Observation of the Neighbouring Continents” was published in 2008 by a New York publisher. Since then I’ve written three more political/humanities and socio-economics non-fiction books.

I live in Bavaria mainly, but spend some months of the year in Burgundy, Cyprus and Greece where we have family homes too. Have I mentioned that already?

What bought you to the world of writing?

Well, before I could read and write, I always embellished the stories read to me, making the characters nicer or nastier, inventing new beginnings, middles and endings. By the time I could write, I put the embellishments down in writing -. et voilà!

What is your first book and what do you think of it now?

My first book was Khiras Traum which I still love best. I elaborated on it and turned it into the Bound to Tradition series/saga. But basically, in fiction, I’m in love with each book, laugh and cry with each of my fave characters. I even feel sorry for the antagonist in the end. Consequently, I’m the sort of writer who has to really, really shed buckets of tears when I kill my darlings.

What type of books do you write and do they fulfil your reader’s needs?

The ones I enjoy writing most are of course the romance books. I do sincerely hope that they fulfil my readers’ needs, of course. The political/humanities and economics book are where I rant and rave to fellow earthlings to get their shite together and behave like the civilised species they claim to be. More or less.

Would you like to feature a book, if so which one?  Tell us about it?

Okay, I think right now I’m very much in a hot courtship with my new series Dark Desires. Not only is the series my first erotic romance genre, but I also feel more mature as a writer to tackle that (to me) sensitive genre. 

I didn’t want to take the stereo-typical generalisation for my heroine and hero. Maybe I’m warped too in my own way, because I prefer a bit of the aesthetic. Anyway, here’s the brief syno for Dark Desires 1: Obsession

Roman, a native of Hamburg, is cultured, go-to-hell handsome, wealthier than is good for

anybody and nasty with it. But he has strong principles:  

He loves his parents, especially his mother; he is the supreme commander-in-chief of his highly successful global businesses, which he built himself from the ground up; while he loves the fact that he is “what I am”, he adamantly refuses to be referred to as damaged; and he treats his "reigning queen" exactly like a queen, draping her in priceless gowns, jewels, and all the other accoutrements in exchange for her complete loyalty and sexual devotion. He never two-times, not even for a one night stand, unless it’s a ménage with an “expendable” third party. In the bedroom, he's a nasty Taipan and only his rules count - but top among the rules is complete satisfaction of the woman/women. He prefers relationships that leave him the option to leg it when he wants to. He never takes whips, floggers, chains and the like to his woman as he believes strongly in “pleasure, not pain” for both partners, and he has many varied and effective ways of extracting and dispensing pleasure. Still, he thinks vanilla is something for the chef on the Queen Mary.  

Then Roman meets the Eve that will bring his Dominant Adam teetering on the brinks of insanity... or maybe not quite. He’s suddenly wedged between three women:

Marie feels struck by thunder when Roman suddenly ends their eight-month relationship at the blink of the eye via telephone. However, she has an ace in her hands, which Roman does not know about. Marie is dead sure her incomparable weapon will lasso Roman right back to her.

Alyssa, heiress to a bakery imperium, falls hard for Roman at first sight. She believes she has found the love of her life and the dominant of her dreams. Until she is confronted with the reality that Roman is simply using her to get to her best girlfriend, Shana.

Shana is not only Alyssa’s BFF (best friends forever); the two are also lovers. Shana feels safer sharing love with a woman instead of a man ever since a disastrous relationship in her younger years turned her off all men forever – a secret she has shared with no one, but Alyssa and Shana’s older sister.  Then Shana meets Roman, who pursues her relentlessly all over Europe. He is determined to make Shana his, and what Roman wants, Roman gets. However, is Shana ready for a relationship with a man? Besides, Alyssa is head over heels in love with Roman, and the last thing Shana would do is take the man Alyssa loves away from her beloved girlfriend.  Roman’s biggest problem is that he has never had a woman as a rival. How do you fight a female off the woman you want to be not only your sovereign territory, but also yours forever? Certainly not with fisticuffs. Even more challenging, how do you persuade the object of your ultimate desire that you are just what the doctor prescribed for her?

How long does it take you to write your first draft?

That depends. Since I always have to do elaborate research no matter what genre the book is in, I need between six months to one year for a completed first draft. Of course I tend to revise as I write (since I’m a pantser), chapter for chapter, page for page or even paragraph for paragraph. Then I go through the completed work two or three times before I send it to my editors.

Do you plot or not, if so why?

Yeah, Claire, why am I a pantser. A good question. I think I love a challenge. Like, cooking is one of my favourite hobbies, but I like turning a recipe into something a bit off the chartered waters. Add coriander instead of parsley, ginger instead of pepper. I like the hunt, the chasing of my quarry until I get them where they take over and tell me where they want to go from there. Straight into the boiling water or rather marinated overnight, browned in hot oil and then wrapped in a foil for the oven. That’s my joy in the creative writing.

Do you write in 1^st or 3^rd person, or have you do both?

Quite frankly, I prefer the third POV. My adventurous inclinations, I suppose. I want to roam the globe, have somebody going to bed in Sydney while another’s waking up in London and the third’s going for lunch in Shanghai. My Dark Desires work is my debut with the first POV. But I reserve it only for the protagonist, Roman. The rest of the characters are in third POV.

How do you edit your work?  Do you leave your draft alone for a while or edit as you write?

As I’ve said, I revise as I write. After the six months to a year of writing, I leave the work to “settle down” for one or two weeks. Then I revise/edit again; leave the first and second edits to “brew” for between three and four weeks and go through the work again a final time before I send it out to the editors. But you bet the editors will still find typos and glitches. Always.

What type of people/readers do you market your books to?

I like to think that my books are rather international. However, yes, I particularly aim for a multicultural readership. I love readers who – like me – are curious about other cultures and people outside their spiritual beliefs and/or ethnic groups. Writing/reading such diversities in the romance genre is quite simply exhilarating. I live in an inter-ethnic and intercultural relationship so I guess I’m writing my romances from personal, not imagined, experience. I know where the valleys, hills, mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, the deep seas and the heavens are!

Do you self-publish or have you worked with an Agent/Publisher

I work with an agent/publisher for my non-fiction books and my first novels. But since 2012, I began self-publishing and started my own publishing company, AuthorMeProfessionals Press, which is a member of the Author-me Group of Cook Communications, USA. I’m particularly engaged in helping aspiring writers to improve their works and get published by AuthorMeProfessionals Press. In today’s writing and publishing world, where even certain agents who DO NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED MATERIAL exist, emerging writers have it at least ten times harder to get published.

How do you promote your writing?

That’s where I’m still totally hopeless. I have my Facebook page, joined appropriate Groups and have Author pages, and I do my best with those. Then there are guest blogs and interviews like yours. But I’m still pretty handicapped because one, I have an inborn phobia with anything tech/IT, and second, I hate marketing something that I love so much. It sounds crazy, I know, but I feel like I’m offering my own flesh and blood babies for any willing buyer out there. But – psssst! – please don’t tell my readers that. I said it already – hopeless.

Where can we buy your books?

My books are available worldwide – Amazon.com, Amazon Canada. UK, India, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico and Brazil, in the main. And of course Kindle. I’m still battling with Smashwords and all the others, but not very successful in the tech side. I have to force myself to it personally or I’ll never overcome my phobia.

Who are your favourite authors?

I love the chic-lit of Marian Keyes, romances from Nicholas Sparks, Kate Morton, Zadie Smith, thrillers from

John le Carré, Frederick Forsythe, Nesbo, Lee Child, Olsen Adler, crime from Val McDermid, Tana French – oh it's a long list. All I can say is that I read tons from all sorts of genres but the horror and paranormal.

Links

 Visit my websites at                       http://akinyi-princess.de

                                                    http://AuthorMePro.eu

                                                      http://apvonkorybooks.co.uk

Follow/Like me on my pages      http://facebook.com/AuthorAPVonKOry

                                                            http://facebook.com/AWGADIN

Join my Groups and discuss      http://facebook.com/groups/AWITD

                                                           http://facebook.com/groups/AfricRomance

Chat with me at my FB pages     http://facebook.com/KOrindaYimbo

                                                            http://facebook.com/akinyi.yimbo                                                            http://facebook.com/Professionaless62bloggerP

Follow me on Twitter                    @Apky11162

                                                            @AkinyiMe

Thank you Akinyi for participating in our Interview blog swap.  If anyone else is interested you will find us on https://www.facebook.com/groups/859062540800300/