SPRING BREAK!

Hello, friends!

Dorothy and I will be taking a break from blogging for the rest of this week. Dorothy will be on vacation (even a super woman like Dorothy needs a break once in a while) and I will be attending a conference for my day-job.

We will be back for an interview with Lisa Voisin on April 1st. Please come by and join us! But, in the meantime:

HAPPY

SPRING!

Interview with Lindsay Ribar

Happy Monday! Joining us today is Lindsay Ribar, agent extraordinaire and the author of THE ART OF WISHING (which I reviewed last week, here, if you missed it).

Welcome to We Do Write, Lindsay! Tell us a bit about yourself.

But of course! Here’s me, in a nutshell: Associate literary agent by day. Writer by night. Concert junkie 24/7.  Lover of kissing scenes, fictional boys with magical powers and great hair, gender-bendy/queer stories, red wine, and bourbon.  Taurus.  Blue-eyed, suspicious of many things, and overly fond of vacation.

As someone who is counting down the days to my own vacation (32, if you're wondering), I don't think it's possible to be too fond of vacation. How long have you been writing?

Oh, I’ve been writing since I learned what letters were.  Seriously.  Ask my parents. But I’ve only been writing with an eye toward publication since about 2007 – the same time I started working in the publishing industry.  Before that, it was all fanfiction, all the time!

Ha! I'd love to get my hands on some of your fanfic. I bet it was great. So, tell us about THE ART OF WISHING. What’s the story about?

It’s about a high school senior named Margo McKenna, who accidentally finds out that a boy she only-sort-of-knows from school, a sophomore named Oliver Parish, is actually a genie.  Not only that, but he has become bound to her… which means she is his master, and he owes her three wishes.  They (spoilers) fall in love! There is kissing! But there is also Oliver’s crazypants ex-boyfriend (also a genie), who’s out to get him.  And Margo might just be the only one who can save him.

Believe me, folks, it's as awesome as it sounds. How did the idea of the story come to you?

I’ve long been a fan of human-girl-meets-supernatural-boy stories, whether it’s vampires, werewolves, ghosts, or what have you.  What drew me to genies, though, was the power dynamic inherent in genie magic, at least in certain stories.  They have all this magic, but they have to use it to serve the whims of masters who are, more often than not, far less inherently powerful than they are.  So the master is automatically the alpha of that relationship, not the genie.  Add romance to the mix, and… hey! Fun for everyone!

What a cool idea. I love the genie aspect and how that power dynamic worked between Margo and Oliver. Their relationship is so unique and refreshing, as compared to many other YA paranormal romances. 

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I always self-edit as much as I can before I send my work out, but yes, I’ve always depended on the kindness of beta readers.  This is largely a holdover from my fanfiction days, when beta readers were the only source of editorial advice you could get before you posted a story online – but even now that I’m working with an editor and an agent, I cling as tightly as I can to my beta readers.  I’m a very collaborative writer, so I love having as much outside input as I can get.  

Well said. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a pantser with latent plotter tendencies.  By which I mean, I usually know certain points in my books that I want to hit – usually the end, plus one or two key points in the middle – but I don’t know how I’m going to get there until I’ve already arrived.  I like to discover things as my characters do.  Makes it more interesting!

Yes. Yes, it does. What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part of writing is writing.  I may be quoting someone else on that, but I don’t know who… so hey, whoever you are? Speak up now, or I’m totally taking credit!

It's a good quote, and so true! What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Water and/or tea, and my laptop.  That’s about it.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

It hasn’t even been a week since my book hit shelves, so I’m going to go with my gut and say: The power to make everyone in the world buy my book and love it.  Ask me again next week, though.  I’ll probably have a more sensible answer by then, like the ability to fly, or turn invisible, or breathe underwater.  Or to turn into a cat.  Ooh, that’s a good one.

That IS a good one! Just think of all you could do as a cat... always land on your feet, climb furniture/drapes/people's legs, get free tummy rubs. That would rock. 

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

I can’t actually recall anything particularly weird – not book-related, anyway.  But I’ve definitely spent far too many hours on TVTropes.org looking up everything I could find about common tropes in genie-centric stories.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: wish, theater, insensitive.

Only the most insensitive master would force his genie to grant a wish in the middle of a crowded theater.

Maybe that was too easy... Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

…at a concert.  (Or reading.  Actually, probably reading. Or maybe even reading while waiting for a concert to start.)

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Who would you like to thank for supporting you throughout this process?

Well, I will say that my acknowledgments page takes up two entire pages in the back of the book – in a very small font.  All those people know who they are, and they deserve all the hugs in the world.  But right now, during release week, I especially want to thank everyone who’s kept me going throughout the Very Questionable Month of March.  My friends.  My roommates.  My very patient clients.  My favorite musicians.  And especially my agent, Brenda Bowen, who has kept me from jumping off soooooo many ledges.

Well, I guess I should thank Brenda Bowen, too! If she didn't keep you from jumping off ledges, who would keep me from doing the same?

And finally, where can our readers find you and your books online?

Well, gosh, thank you for asking!  Here are some links:

My website: http:///lindsayribar.com

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindsayRibar

My Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5771853.Lindsay_Ribar

Goodreads page for The Art of Wishing: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13530566-the-art-of-wishing

Thank you so much for joining us, Lindsay! Congratulations and best wishes (did you see what I did there?) to you and THE ART OF WISHING!

Happy Book Birthday + Interview with Kelley Lynn

Hello, We-Do-Writers! Please help me welcome Kelley Lynn. She is here to discuss her debut novel, FRACTION OF STONE, which releases today!

Happy release day, Kelley! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Brown hair, brown eyes, likes long walks on the beach. Okay, that’s true but I’m pretty sure that’s not what you’re asking. Haha. I am an engineer by degree and blessed to have found someone who likes my work as an author. I enjoy keeping active: playing soccer, softball and volleyball in my free time as well as being crazy enough to run with other crazies in a number of half marathons. I participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and find that there is never enough time to do everything I would love to do.

You sound busy. Maybe you can sign my petition to add a few more hours to the day. 

How long have you been writing?

I declared myself a ‘serious writer’ July of 2011. So, all in all, not very long. Since that day I have completed eight manuscripts, three of which are collaboration projects. One of the collab projects, with Jenny S. Morris, is titled ALREADY THERE and is represented by the fabulous Jamie Bodnar Drowley.

Tell us about FRACTION OF STONE. What’s the story about?

Wind tunnels, torrential rains and earthquakes tear apart Casden. The cause of the world’s imbalance is unknown, but the mounting occurrences suggest there’s little time before life ceases to exist.

Rydan Gale and Akara Nazreth are the only humans with the ability to wield magic. The tattoo on their necks and the discovery of an ancient book explaining the importance of a blue stone, dictate they are the key to the world’s survival.

But the greatest obstacle for saving mankind isn’t the natural disasters, extreme betrayals and magic-fearing men hunting them.

It’s that Akara doesn’t believe the world is worth saving.

Ooh! Intriguing! How did the idea of the story come to you?

FRACTION was my second 2011 NaNo (National Novel Writing Month) project. I was working on a YA Contemporary at the start of NaNo and just wasn’t feeling it. While flying home from a business trip I closed my laptop and asked myself what I was feeling. A girl, so broken and depressed she had no faith in the world, came to me. Ten days later, the first draft of FRACTION OF STONE was complete.

Ten days? Wow! Not only are you busy, you're fast! Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers to help you clean up the loose ends, or do you self-edit?

Oh man, self-edit? My work would be HORRIBLE if I did that. Ha! I have many CPs/Beta readers. I love critiquing and find my work greatly benefits from doing so and my CPs are some of my best friends. My core group of CPs are the ladies of Falling for Fiction. It was them, as well as the amazing Angela Cothran, that helped get FRACTION OF STONE to where it is today.

Yes. CPs and beta readers are awesome, wonderful people. So, planner or pantser?

Pantser. Definitely. Before I worked on ALREADY THERE, with Jenny Morris, she thought she was a Pantser, but I proved there can be someone more clueless as she plods through a book than she was. After I sold FRACTION I realized I didn’t really know what was going to happen in the next four books. (I sorta knew…) So I went through and outlined. That felt weird and I’m sure it will all change.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Finding the time. There’s just never enough time.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Music. Must, have, music. When writing FRACTION OF STONE I had the self titled Evanescence CD on constant replay. When the movie comes out (wink, wink) that CD could be the soundtrack for it.

Oh, I love that CD! Amy Lee's voice is so powerful and beautiful, it's easy to see the inspiration.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Oh geez. It’d be cool to fly.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Haha. This is a great question. It’s not that weird, but one of my MS has a lot to do with Space, of which I know little to nothing about. Doing research for that story was super fun.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: fraction, fracture, and fabricated.

The fabricated excuse was the catalyst for the fracture in our friendship, leaving us a fraction of what we once were. (That was kinda dark… sorry. Haha)

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

Thinking about writing. It’s an obsession I tell ya!

Don't I know it. But, a fun obsession.

Who would you like to thank for supporting you and your writing? 

I’ll keep my ‘thanks’ short here (since I literally wrote a book of acknowledgements in my book.) A huge shout out to my CPs/Betas. Not only are these ladies fantastic writers but they are fabulous women. Also thank you to the whole Sapphire Star Publishing family. FRACTION OF STONE couldn’t be in better hands and I can’t wait to continue the FRACTION Series with them. And of course, thanks to my family and non-writing friends. This dream/obsession snuck up on them and they are doing a great job of helping me to balance both jobs and what is most important, spending time with them.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

It feels so weird to actually be asking people to buy my book now, but obviously I would be completely honored if you would do so. You can get FRACTION OF STONE through the Sapphire Star Publishing website, as well as through Barnes and Noble and Amazon. And of course, if you love it, request to have it stocked at your local bookstore/library. ;)

Thanks so much for having me!

You're more than welcome! Thanks for playing along! 

Happy Book Birthday + Review of The Art of Wishing!

Today, I am pleased to announce the release of The Art of Wishing by my awesome agent, Lindsay Ribar!

He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life.

Margo McKenna has a plan of attack for everything, from landing the lead in her high school musical to dealing with her increasingly absent parents. But when she finds herself in possession of a genies's ring and the opportunity to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Especially since Oliver--not blue-skinned, not bottle-dwelling, but a genie nonetheless--can see more than what she's willing to show him. With one peek into her mind, he can see the wishes that even Margo herself doesn't know she wants.

But Oliver comes with more than just mind-reading abilities, a flair for magic, and the prettiest eyes Margo's ever seen. Someone from his past is hunting him--someone bent on killing him, along with all the other genies in the world, for the sake of honor. And as Margo soon discovers, it will take more than three wishes to save him.

A whole lot more.

Okay, two words: GENIES + kissing! I have never read a YA paranormal romance with a genie as the main love interest and I was so intrigued by the premise that I couldn't wait for my preordered copy to come in the mail. So, when Lindsay asked if I'd like to read the e-ARC, I jumped at the chance.

What can I say? I love this book, and I can't wait for the next in the series. It's well written and the pacing is fast and exciting. I kept turning those pages well after my bedtime, wondering what Margo would wish for next, who was Oliver running from, and when would they kiss again.

Margo is a smart, funny, likable character that jumped right off the page. She's real. She has flaws. But, what struck me the most is she's not a pushover heroine. She doesn't live and breathe Oliver, and she even tries to give him up a few times.

*record scratch* What?!?

Yes, a YA heroine who is willing to give up her dreamboat, wish-granting, genie boyfriend! (So much <3 for Margo!)

And Oliver... I just adore Oliver. There is a certain confidence about his character that was so fun to read. He likes his job, he knows he's good at it, and he loves seeing his masters happy with his work (especially Margo). Add in the extra suspense of him being the target of a genie-serial-killer, and you have one awesome read.

If you like YA paranormal romance or even YA contemporary, I highly recommend picking this one up. And if you are interested in reading more about Lindsay Ribar, she will be back on Monday, March 25th, for an interview!

You can pick up your copy of The Art of Wishing:
IndieBound
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Interview with Cinthia Ritchie

It's March 20th. Which means, it's SPRING! But, who was counting? If only Ol' Man Winter knew this fact. He is throwing a mighty fit outside my house, right now. Seriously. It sounds like the house is about to lift off, Wizard of Oz style, and it's scaring my animals. Not me, though. I'm one tough cookie (eep!).

As long the roof stays over my head, I'd like to welcome Cinthia Ritchie to We Do Write.

Cinthia Ritchie is a former journalist and Pushcart Prize nominee who lives and runs mountains in Alaska.

She’s a recipient of two Rasmuson Individual Artist Awards, a Connie Boocheever Fellowship, residencies at Hedgebrook, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts and Hidden River Arts, the Brenda Ueland Prose Award, Memoir Prose Award, Sport Literate Essay Award, Northwest PEN Women Creative Nonfiction Award, Drexel Magazine Creative Nonfiction Award and Once Written Grand Prize Award.

Her work can be found in New York Times Magazine, Sport Literate, Water-Stone Review, Memoir, Under the Sun, Literary Mama, Slow Trains Literary Journal, Sugar Mule, Breadcrumbs and Scabs, Third Wednesday, Writer’s Digest, Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, Cactus Heart Press and over 30 other literary magazines and small presses.

Her debut novel, Dolls Behaving Badly, released Feb. 5 from Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group. 

Welcome to We Do Write, Cinthia. You have an impressive list of accomplishments. How long have you been writing?

Oh wow, I've been writing since I was about five years old. I used to write stories for my stuffed animals. I still remember jumping from my sister’s bed to my bed, the floor beneath us littered with scraps of my stories, which for some reason we pretended were crocodiles.

Yikes! I've heard those paper crocs are FAR worse than the real ones. Glad you and your sister survived.

Tell us about DOLLS BEHAVING BADLY. I have to admit, I am in love with your cover. So, what is the story about? 

It’s a quirky Alaska story with oddball characters, the ghost of a Polish grandmother, a couple of ornery moose and a recipe for communion wafers. Here’s the official blurb:

Carla Richards is many things: an Alaska waitress who secretly makes erotic dolls for extra income; a divorcee who can't quite detach from her ex-husband; and a single mom trying to support her gifted eight-year-old son, her pregnant sister and her babysitter-turned-resident-teenager.

She's one overdue bill away from completely losing control--when inspiration strikes in the form of a TV personality. Now she's scribbling away in a diary, flirting with an anthropologist, and baking up desserts with the ghost of her Polish grandmother.

Still, getting her life and dreams back on track is difficult. Is perfection really within reach? Or will she wind up with something even better?

Sounds like a really fun read. How did the idea of the story come to you? 

I was a single mother working two jobs at the time and late at night I’d sit in the bathroom and read (the bathroom was the only place where I could get away from the cats). One night it hit me: There were very few books with single mother heroines. I decided to change that.

A few nights later while I was reading in the bathtub, I saw or imagined I saw, the ghost of my Polish grandmother. Ach, Pudel, she said, and just like that the story came to me.

As a single mother working two jobs myself, I LOVE the idea of a single mother heroine. We just don't get enough props, do we? With time stretched so thin, do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers to help you out, or do you self-edit? 

I belong to a writing group and trust their opinions more than my own, yet mostly I self-edit. The process inevitably opens up untapped parts of my writing, and myself, and while this is sometimes painful, it’s always necessary.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? 

I totally write by the seat of my pants. I don’t plan or outline. I sit down each night not knowing what will happen next, where my characters will take me. It’s what I love most about writing, the mystery and the revelations.

Amen, sister. What’s the hardest part of writing for you? 

Sitting down each night and writing. I stall. I fold laundry, wash the dishes, brush the dog, floss my teeth (and I hate to floss my teeth). Writing is scary. It demands so much emotional energy, so much discipline and dedication. Mostly, it demands hope, and that’s not always an easy thing to muster.

And Amen to that, too! Getting started is such a challenge sometimes. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing? 

Fizzy water. I don’t drink alcoholic or sugary beverages so I keep tall glasses of carbonated water at my desk. The bubbles perk me up.

Hmmm... I should try that instead of the gallons of coffee I consume. If you could have any super power, what would it be? 

I don’t know. Probably it sounds corny but I’m pretty happy with myself and my life at this point. Though it would be cool to fly.

Not corny at all. But, if you have an interest in flying, you should head on over to my house. I think it's about to be ripped from it's foundation and carried away. What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Last summer I goggled “moose infatuation,” because when running, I had a young male moose trot after me. He wouldn’t leave me alone and, face it, he was quite a bit larger than me. His ears were all perked up and he looked so happy, almost as if he knew me. I veered off in the woods and hid in a grove of trees, and each time I peeked out, his ears perked up again, almost as if we were playing hide and seek. It was the oddest thing. The google search brought up recipes for moose stew and moose burgers—too funny!

Okay. Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: behavior, havoc, and vacuuming. I’d love to except, um, what is a vacuum again? 

Vacuum? Hmm...I'm sorry. I can't help you with that one (but my dust bunnies are grateful for that, at least). 

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

Running. I’m a long distance runner and I LOVE running. In the summers I’m always up on the mountain trails, dodging moose and bear scat. There’s nothing like running in the vast silence of wilderness. I can’t get enough of it.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs. 

There are so many and I’m sure I’ll forget more than I remember: My partner, Mike. My sister, Candace. My mother, who is 78 and drove 30 miles into the city three times, anxiously waiting for my books to arrive. My friends, running buds and writing groupers: Ela, Susie, Sarana, Louise, David and Jonnie, Scooter and Roy, Deb, Lucian, Kris, Karen, Don, Holly, and the “other” Deb. And strangely, my dog, who is always there for me and doesn’t mind when I hug her smelly head and sob, when I’m stuck in the throes of writing agony.

Thanks for joining us today, Cinthia! It was a pleasure having you.

Cinthia Ritchie and her novel, DOLLS BEHAVING BADLY, can be found: 

Amazon

Barnes& Noble

IndieBound

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Interview with Barbara Morgenroth PLUS Giveaway

Leave a comment below for your chance to win an ebook of PASS OR FAIL!

Today we're chatting with author Barbara Morgenroth about her novel PASS OR FAIL. Barbara was born in New York City and but now lives somewhere else.  Starting her career by writing tweens and YA books, she wound up in television writing soap operas for some years.  Barbara then wrote a couple cookbooks and a nonfiction book on knitting.  She returned to fiction and wrote romantic comedies.

When digital publishing became a possibility, Barbara leaped at the opportunity and has never looked back.  In addition to the 15 traditionally published books she wrote, in digital format Barbara has something to appeal to almost every reader from Mature YAs like the Bad Apple series and the Flash series, to contemporary romances like Love in the Air published by Amazon/Montlake, and Unspeakably Desirable, Nothing Serious and Almost Breathing.

Welcome to We Do Write, Barbara. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thank you for inviting me to your blog, Dorothy.
I live in a rural area with a large river running through it.  There's wildlife but I don't live a wild life.

How long have you been writing?

My entire adult life.  I've never had a job outside of writing, which is great
but I suppose for research I should have worked in a real estate office or maybe a toy shop so I could play with the radiometers.

Tell us about PASS OR FAIL. What’s the story about?

The book is about what we want and how far we'll go to get what we desire.
Evan Augustine is in high school and plays in a local rock band.  His young English teacher believes they are soulmates from a past life and will do anything to be reunited
with him in this one.  He doesn't want any part of her but she is the type of person who won't take no for an answer.

Interesting premise. How did the idea of the story come to you?

I heard a rumor.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I've been at this quite for a while now and edited as part of my job when I worked in television, so I self-edit very happily.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I know in general where I'm going but if I plotted and outlined first, all excitement for the
story would be lost for me.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Promotion.  Scientific studies have determined that finding ways to increase awareness for your book employs a different part of your brain than writing the book.  Trying to switch between the two makes my brain grumpy.

I heard chocolate works for that. ;) What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

These soft candies from Indonesia called Ginger/Mango Chews.

Mmm, sounds yummy! If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Remembering why I came into the room.  That and being able to find things I
misplaced and are now buried under a stack of books, papers, yarn and beads.

LOL, been there! What's the weirdest thing you've googled? 

How long did it take to mummify a body in ancient Egypt.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: passed, literally, and realization.

When Evan passed the English test, he literally could not believe it and soon came to the realization that Mrs. Grey would expect something for the high mark he had just received.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

holding my camera looking for the next photo to take.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

Thank you Megan McDade for taking her time and energy to arrange this tour.

And finally, where can people find you and your book online?

http://barbaramorgenroth.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbara-Morgenroth/372724289453553
@BarbMorgenroth

http://www.amazon.com/Pass-Fail-Mature-Novel-ebook/dp/B007SRTWOS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362578104&sr=8-1&keywords=pass+or+fail+morgenroth

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself to your visitors, Dorothy,
and best of luck with your book.

Thanks so much! Best of luck with your book too!

Interview with Karen Magill

Is it spring yet? I, for one, hope it doesn't take too much longer before the weather warms up and the sun decides to be part of our lives again. In the meantime, let's get to know Karen Magill, author of MISSING FLOWERS.

Welcome to We Do Write, Karen. Tell us a bit about yourself.


I come from a family of writers. My grandmother was a published author and one of my paternal uncles writes. Ever since I first learned how to put words together, I have written.

So it's in your blood! That's awesome. Tell us about MISSING FLOWERS. What’s the story about?

When psychic Julie Seer moves to Vancouver, her dreams are filled with visions of women being murdered. She doesn’t know who is being killed or why until the day Julie goes to a press conference held by the Vancouver Police Station. A press conference to announce the formation of a special task force that will investigate the case of the prostitutes who have gone missing from Vancouver’s East Side.

Detective Constable Santoro Ricci is an officer with the Vancouver Police Department and he wants on the special task force. When he happens upon Julie at the press conference, Ricci finds himself unofficially investigating the case.

Julie also finds herself having visions where she is transported back in time into the body of a Chinese prostitute in the late 1800s. Through these visions, and stories told to her by long time residents of the city, Julie learns more of the history of Vancouver.

With the help of Francine, an east side prostitute, Julie and Santoro work together to solve the mystery of the missing women. When Francine and Julie are taken by the killer, Santoro must find the missing answers fast.

How did you come up with the title?

A friend of my parents’ refers to the prostitutes on Hastings Street as ‘Hastings Street Flowers’ so I took the flowers to signify those women and the missing is because they have disappeared.

Oooh, intriguing! How did the idea of the story come to you?

I write a blog on Vancouver and its history – Vancouver Vagabond http://karen-magill.blogspot.com – and I knew I wanted to do something with Vancouver history. The missing prostitutes was an actual case here in Vancouver where there was a serial killer targeting the prostitutes. I found a way to combine the two.

So interesting! Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I have a very good friend who has read my books over before publication. I don’t know what I will do in the future but I don’t think I will work in a group – I don’t play well with others.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I am more of a pantser and many times will write my book in sections when a scene comes to me and figure out how to fit that scene in the book later.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Getting started. Once I get into the groove I just keep writing but it getting there is difficult. I am great at procrastinating.

I hear ya; I'm a procrastinator too. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Music. I love to write while listening to music and blocking out all other noises. I get so lost in the sounds sometimes and my story that I forget the time.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I would love to be able to see far enough in the future so that I could see what the lottery numbers were for the next draw!

Ha! Don't we all. ;) What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

I have googled size statistics for a man’s penis. Research for a novel. LOL

LOL! Sure, sure. I totally believe you. *smirk* Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: mystery, terrier, and realize.

It took a moment to realize that the terrier was at the center of the mystery.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

Walking. I regularly roam the city getting photos and seeing places where the history happened for my blog.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

First, there is my parents – they are great supporters – and Diana is a friend that reads my work and gives me her opinion. So many people on Facebook like Kim Mutch Emerson, Martin Crosbie, Tasha Turner, T.L. Burns and K.R. Hughes. Too many to mention! I also want to thank Denise Beilchick. She had problems with the eBook of Missing Flowers so I fixed that and now she has become a great supporter. I also have to thank Saga Books for believing in me and publishing Missing Flowers.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

Webpage: : www.karenmagill.com
Blog: http://karen-magill.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenMagill
Facebook: http://goo.gl/0LrRK
Facebook Fan Page: http://goo.gl/ulvSy
FB Karen Magill’s Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/124352631064366/
(I started the street team in January to help promote my books and to better get to know the people who are supporting me.)
Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Karen-Magill/e/B003DI10YG/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Thanks for chatting with us today, Karen. I look forward to reading your book!

Cover Reveal: Need by Stephanie Lawton

We're proud to present to our readers the cover reveal for NEED by Stephanie Lawton.

Synopsis:

Isaac Laroche is cursed. All he wants to do is hide out and feel sorry for himself. Never mind that he got caught sleeping with his seventeen-year-old piano student, or that he abandoned her when the truth was exposed.

Isaac’s feisty high school sweetheart has different plans. Heather Swann has returned to their hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to regroup after breaking up with her troll of a fiancé. She’s restless and looking for a diversion, but she bites off more than she can chew when she sets her sights on rehabilitating Isaac with her unorthodox sexual, mental, and physical plans.

The two quickly reconnect, but their happiness is threatened by family secrets, old vendettas and the death of a beloved father-figure.

Can Heather handle Isaac’s baggage, or will her own come back to haunt them both?

Published by Inkspell Publishing

http://www.inkspellpublishing.com

Release date: May 17, 2013

Author bio:
After collecting a couple English degrees in the Midwest, Stephanie Lawton suddenly awoke in the deepest reaches of the Deep South. Culture shock inspired her to write about Mobile, Alabama, her adopted city, and all the ways Southern culture, history and attitudes seduce the unsuspecting.
A lover of all things gothic, she can often be spotted photographing old cemeteries, historic buildings and, ironically, the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast. She also has a tendency to psychoanalyze people, which comes in handy when creating character profiles.

Links:
Author website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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Interview #2 with O. M. Grey

For those of you who don’t remember, We Do Write interviewed O. M. Grey when her book, AVALON REVISITED, was first released, back in 2010. Then, we celebrated when AVALON REVISITED was re-released in January of this year. And today, we are lucky to have Ms. Grey back for another interview!

Welcome back to We Do Write! Tell us about the re-release of AVALON REVISITED. How did this all come about?

Imagine my surprise when my agent, Louise Fury, called one day late last year and told me Riverdale Ave Books wanted to re-release Avalon Revisited! Louise has worked with Lori Perkins for several years, and they both adored the novel. We were all disappointed when several NY publishers said they loved it but ultimately couldn't publish it because of the unconventional male POV in a romance novel. Lori has breathed new life into Avalon Revisited, and I couldn't be more pleased. 

I've had the most fabulous time working with the lovely folks at Riverdale Ave Books. Plus, they love my work. Since the re-release of Avalon Revisited, they've also released my short story "A Kiss in the Rain" on the Kindle and opened their WE LOVE NY anthology with my short story "For the Love of a Book." 

"A Kiss in the Rain" is a Gothic Erotica Ghost Story from another era. Eliot, a professor and inventor, suffers unbearable grief over the loss of his dead wife. Though an expert in the new invention of electricity, it seems that even modern science cannot bring her back, but maybe there is a force even more powerful? My publisher, Lori Perkins, calls me the female Edgar Allen Poe, and I don't think there could be a higher compliment for someone who writes Gothic Horror.

That is quite a compliment! Your writing must really impress her. Remind us all what AVALON REVISITED is about.

Arthur Tudor has made his existence as a vampire bearable for over three hundred years by immersing himself in blood and debauchery. Aboard an airship gala, he meets Avalon, an aspiring vampire slayer who sparks fire into Arthur’s shriveled heart. Together they try to solve the mystery of several horrendous murders on the dark streets of London. Cultures clash and pressures rise in this sexy Steampunk Romance.

Sounds intriguing. I mean, who can resist a steampunk vampire/vampire-hunter romance? Very hot! And what an awesome cover! 

What's your favorite thing about writing steampunk?

My favorite thing about writing Steampunk is, on one hand, anything goes! If you can imagine it, you can build it. From fantasy to romance to horror, the gadgetry and technology of Steampunk can create wondrous worlds. At the same time, the way I write Steampunk, you can choose to keep some historical parameters, giving your world a structure in reality. For me, it makes it all more believable. My characters are sometimes real historical figures, like Madame Jeffries, and the technology used within my novels actually existed 150 years ago. 

In steampunk, it is ALL about those details. They really make the world of the story into a world you wish you could walk around in for a day.

Now that AVALON REVISITED has been out for a few months, what are you working on?

I've just finished the final draft of Avalon Revamped, a sequel, of sorts. I always throw the "of sorts" into the mix because although it takes place in the same world with many of the same characters, it is an altogether different book. Not the dark, cheeky romance of Avalon Revisited, Avalon Revamped is horror through and through. This is what happens AFTER the "happily ever after," when Prince Charming turns out to be a narcissist sociopath who not only fooled the princess, but also has complete control over her and her body. While Arthur as the anti-hero again, emphasis on ANTI, I introduce Constance, a succubus who punishes those who abuse and destroy women, as the anti-antagonist. A supernatural female Dexter in Steampunk London, as it were. The book is ruthless, and so is Constance. Any false character growth from the first book is washed away as Arthur reveals his true self: a sociopathic vampire who cares for nothing or no one besides his own selfish desires, forever looking for that fairy tale perfect love. A narcissist, bored with his existence and his relatively new lover. So horrified by the darkness within himself, he's always looking for the next distraction, the next warm body to fill. It will take the strength, love, and empathy of Avalon to save him from a most horrific fate at the hands of Constance, but after the way he treats Avalon, will she want him to be saved?

Very cool premise! I can’t wait to get my hands on it, and on AVALON REVISITED.

Thanks for joining us!

Thank you so much for having me today. May you all find peace.

You can find O. M. Grey's books online: 

Avalon Revisited: http://t.co/96ECerwM

The Zombies of Mesmer: http://t.co/2EQG5UQy

Caught in the Cogs: http://amzn.to/frd5hv

We Love NY anthology: http://goo.gl/bkTWk

"A Kiss in the Rain": http://goo.gl/1wGqw

Look for all my titles on my Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/eqd7MQ