Happy Release Day: Divinely Ruined

"She finally meets a decent man–after she’s oath-bound never to touch men again!

Rebecca’s life sucked before she became an angel. Crappy apartment, awful jobs, abusive boyfriends–it was no wonder she jumped at the chance to escape it all and become a real live angel. The problem is Rebecca’s not very angelic, and she’ll have to do more to earn her wings than end her love affair with the word f–er, frick.

Especially when she’s assigned to save single father Tony Weis, whose less-than-pure thoughts wreak hell on a telepathic angel’s nerves. It’s all Rebecca can do to keep her hands off him…but when she loses her memory injuring herself to save Tony’s daughter, now it’s Tony’s turn to be her angel and care for her. But will Tony’s devotion tempt her from her angelic path, even if it means being human again?"

Congratulations and Happy Book Birthday, Diane Alberts! Love that cover! I wish you lots of success!

Check out Diane on her blog and Twitter.

Interview with Stephen Black

Today we're chatting with writer Stephen Black. He's an American from Ohio who's been living in Singapore for the last decade. *does the expat secret hand shake*

Welcome, Stephen. How long have you been writing? 

My father sells books; I grew up surrounded with boxes and boxes of books. I’ve written for as long as I can remember. 

Tell us about your books and what inspired you to write them.

Obama Search Words was planned to be a book about the man’s life using food as a motif: the African food of his father, the Hawaiian food of his childhood, the range of Chicago cuisine, etc. I went to Jakarta to research what he had eaten there and discovered that very very few people had heard of him.Then he became the Democratic Presidential candidate and I realized that history was being made. I needed to challenge myself to record and interpret things; the book would have to be more than recipes,restaurants and the relationship between culture and food. My other books have been inspired by things like Japanese restaurants, the letter W or strolling. 

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

I am very honored to have professional editors, curators and writers as my sparring partners. 

Are you a planner or a pantser? 

"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” -Douglas Adams

Actually I am an OK planner. I do meet deadlines, though the days preceding them are usually very interesting. 

What’s the hardest part of writing for you? 

The silence of the pages. 

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

The music of 3how. 

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

(The five paragraphs above were written in invisible ink, in keeping with my super power of invisibilty.)

LOL. What's the weirdest thing you've googled? 

The world’s deepest pub.It’s in a former donkey stable in what used to be a gold mine.

Interesting! Okay, quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: hot chocolate, kangaroo, and water balloon.

I replied with an anagram made of hot chocolate, kangaroo, water balloon and a few letters more:

"Aha! Nona, your collaborator’s tooth... Acknowledge!"

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

My parents, my brother, my daughter. V Weston. M. Lee.D. East. Mr. Subra. Spirits. 

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

Obama Search Words http://www.amazon.com/Obama-Search-Words-ebook/dp/B001U8981S 
Furikake http://www.amazon.com/Furikake-ebook/dp/B002PAQAXE 
Contact With Shadow http://www.xinxii.co.uk/contact-with-shadow-p-333066.html 
Book Merah of Facebook and Twitter 
Blog of sorts http://stephenblacksteps.weebly.com/ 

Stephen, thanks for chatting with us today. I wish you lots of success with your writing.

THANKS DOROTHY! 

Interview with Hazel M Larsen

Today we welcome writer Hazel M Larsen to sit and have a chat with us about her most recent book, THE SMELL OF RAIN. There's a title that tickles the senses!

Welcome, Hazel. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I have been doing lots of things in my life, tried several different careers, but it never really felt right. Writing, however, felt right from the start and I have now switched to a part-time job to be able to concentrate more on writing than before. I also spend ridiculous amounts of time sleeping and updating my facebook profile. I love eating and cooking and probably do too much of both. I’m a big fan of museums and art in general. I travel whenever I can afford it, but I’d be terrified to go anywhere where they don’t speak English or German. That’s me in a nutshell...

How long have you been writing?

I started back when I still at university, in 2009. It feels much longer than it has actually been. It’s been a great time.

Tell us about ‘The Smell of Rain’. What’s the story about?

It’s about Alannah, a young guardian angel who starts a new life in a little town by the sea, without knowing what’s going on there. She befriends the local angels and soon learns that her seemingly peaceful new home is also home to a pair of brothers who are anything but peaceful. It becomes increasingly difficult for her to tell right from wrong and falling in love doesn’t make it any easier.


It’s a lovely book about young love and trust and friendship.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

Good question. I kind of like my idea of guardian angels - Not as biblical creatures, but as supernaturals with the mission to help and protect human beings. In my first book, Perfect Fudge, I told the story from a human perspective. Now I wanted to do something from the viewpoint of an angel and I also wanted a different kind of hero. I think the rough story idea must have come to me in my sleep. I get lots of ideas from dreams.

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

Both. I do have beta-readers who will suggest changes and point out errors and flaws in the story, but I also go over each story several times until I am completely happy.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

I guess every writer knows the menace of the blank page. It’s not any different for me... Finding the first words is the hardest part, I think.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A window. I need to be able to look outside and see the sky while I think.

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

Does flying count as super power? If so, then definitely that. Flying must be great.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: ripple, quadruped, and toffee.

A ripple went through the quadruped as it swallowed the toffee, thinking it would be happy to give an arm and a leg for another piece.

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

I would like to thank my usual facebook gang. They all have been extremely helpful, as beta-readers, critics, and friends. I also would like to thank my friends in real life for enduring all my ramblings about my books, even encouraging them. And thank you, Dorothy, for having me ;-)

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

My website is on www.hazelwriter.com and my books can be found in the amazon kindle stores.


Hazel, thanks so much for taking to time to talk with us. I look forward to reading your book!

No Vacation for Writers?

So tomorrow's my last day of work before I go on vacation for two weeks. YES! I seriously need a break.

But as writers, do we really get a break? I'm waiting on the first round of edits from my editor which should be landing in my inbox any day now, a fact that makes me extremely nervous. I'm also waiting on bits of news from my publisher I can't stop thinking about. I also have to write the sequel to my not-even-released-yet debut novel. Okay, I've outlined it, at least. So that's a start. But knowing I'll have a time crunch eventually, I feel like I need to dive into writing it. How do I do that when I'm on vacation visiting family? Even if I bring a laptop, will I get the time?

Tell me how you do it. Do you leave all writerly things behind when on vacation, or do you sneak in as much writing as you can while you're away?

Interview with JK Dark

Today we're chatting with author JK Dark who's got a new book coming out next month.

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

Well, I’m your typical middle aged balding white man. I was born and raised in St Louis, Missouri, and have had the good fortune to live on both the east & west coast of this beautiful country, before coming home in 1998. I have worked in the plant & soil science field all my adult life, which is an embellished way to say I know a lot about Fertilizer!

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing my entire life. I decided after prompting from family and friends, to really persue it seriously about 5 years ago. It beats writing copy for trade and industry publications, which is what I found myself spending a great deal of time doing career wise.

Let's hear about your new book. What's it called and what's it about?

Dark Thoughts and Dark Forces is the title, it is a collection of fictional short stories in the horror/ mystery/suspense genre. To summarize it, I suppose it examines and questions the mind of man and the mystery of killing human beings. There are a few supernatural twists in the stories and a glimpse of New Orleans voodoo sprinkled in for good measure. It is a departure from my normal genre, and one I enjoyed writing, As I found fiction removes the need for logical endings to a story.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

Gosh, these stories are a collection of experiences, cultures, and the search for understanding or order in a senseless mystery, which I find killing of man to be.

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

I use my blog as a raw unedited sharing of my stories. I find the readers that visit regularly provide great feedback and are not hesitant to express like and dislikes to opinions or a subject. From that I have determined both by feedback and raw number of hits, what my audience not only likes, but as important reads and wants more of from me.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

I am very much a planner. I’m already planning two books ahead. Next is a full length novel of the same genre. I find most of my writer friends to be the same way, planning and crafting of a book is very much a planning function.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Easily the hardest part has been editing, as you have discovered by now. Finding a professional editor to work with has been the best thing I have ever done. And learning to come to grips with the fact that perhaps what I believe to be my best paragraph or writing may need to be discarded in order to better the story or chapter. That can be a hard pill to swallow for a writer.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Dorothy, if you find black coffee and cigarettes deep, then my CD collection must make me Hemmingway like!

LOL.

I don’t know how deep that probes or speaks to my writing habits, but I find all three to be both prominent and a necessity when writing. I hope to drop the cigarettes from the mix soon though.

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

Easy, it would be Super hearing. Imagine the story possibilities!

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Oh Lord! I would be afraid to even look at my google history!
I guess on the exciting side, an erotic thesaurus, searching for the right words for a story. On the boring side, a data table on the fishing industry in Plaquemines Parrish Louisiana, while doing research for another story.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: plastic wrap, dinosaur, and arguable.


The man’s body went in the plastic wrap in an arguable fashion, as he was still alive, but he would soon become as extinct as a dinosaur when the air escaped his lungs.

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

I will undoubtedly fail to mention someone; however I am blessed with many good friends who lend me encouragement and support. Among them, many writers who are arguably (do I get bonus points for the use in two sentences?) (Yes, you do!) are the most selfless people when it comes to helping or providing feedback to another writer. And of course my family, I promise I gave proper credit in the acknowledgement section of the new book.

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

Both my first book: Anecdotes, Short Stories & Mind Clutter, as well as Dark Thoughts & Dark Forces, are available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, As well as the many great Independent bookstores. They can also be found on my blog which is www.onthedarksidewordpress.com

I am also a contributor to The Good Men project www.goodmenproject.com which is an e-magazine.

Dark Thoughts and Dark Forces will be available April 1st in ebook format and April 15th in paperback.

Thanks so much for chatting with us today. I wish you continued success with your books.

Thanks!

Author Update: K S Collier

Back in December of 2010, I interviewed writer Kathy Collier. I'm happy to announce her new book, THE VEIL, is now available.

Here's a little about the book:

Tommie and William Lanier are twins destined for Hawaii with a group of friends to celebrate their right of passage into adulthood after graduation.


Once on the island of Maui, Tommie discovers another world of ancient myths alive and thriving.  She uncovers secrets that have been hidden for centuries.  These secrets send her spiraling down a path of misfortune where her choices affect her family, her friends, and even her life.  


Will she live to tell her story?  Only The Veil will reveal the secret.


Congrats, Kathy! I wish you tons of success with the book.

Interview with Jolene Perry

I'm excited to be a part of Jolene Perry's blog tour for her young adult contemporary romance NIGHT SKY, a new release from Tribute Books. She's clever and funny and I know you'll just love her.

Welcome, Jolene. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm pretty much just like Wonder Woman, so picture her and you'll be good . . . KIDDING. I grew up in Alaska, and then HAD to get out, which led to all sorts of adventures in Washington, Utah, and then in Las Vegas. I taught myself to play the guitar, built two houses (one of which I live in) and am back in Alaska with my husband, two kids, cat, and the moose who wander into my yard. I go sail-boating whenever I can, and snow-machine as close to the sound-barrier as I can get.

How long have you been writing?

I've been writing in some form or another since I could write. In the fall of 2009 I wrote down a scene, just for fun, just because I was bored. I loved it. I wrote a few more random scenes, in a few different story lines, and one grabbed me. A few months later, I had over 100 pages, and more story left to tell. The second time I sat down to write, in the spring of 2010, I knew I was going to write a whole book, it took a lot less time, and was published in 2011 - The Next Door Boys.

Let's hear about NIGHT SKY. What’s the story about?

Night Sky is about my beloved Jameson. He's been in love with his best friend for three years, and never told her. At the beginning of the book, she's found someone else to be with, and he's destroyed. Fortunately he meets Sky soon after, and she provides him with a lot more than distraction. In Night Sky, I want to be as sexy as Sky, and I love how Jameson fumbles around desperately trying to keep up with this very seemingly self-assured Native American girl.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

I actually REMEMBER this one!
Mike (husband) and I were waiting in line at the Taco Bell drive-through a few days after Valentine's Day in 2011, and we were talking 80's movies. (A little before our time, but so much that we don't appreciate them) and I still think that Duckie should have gotten the girl in Pretty in Pink. So I wanted to write a story about the jilted friend of the girl who's moved on - only the girl might change her mind . . .
Giving Sky Native American roots came later, but is a part of the story that I just love.

I totally agree. Duckie should have gotten the girl. Are you a planner or a pantser?

Pantser. Also - I can almost never even write one SCENE in order. I skip around in my MS all the time. I do have to have a general idea, but the story doesn't unfold itself until I really start writing. And the smaller threads usually get woven through last. My favorite is when I know how a scene will turn out, and something unexpected is said or done in the scene that gives the whole story a new twist.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?


Narrowing ideas and possibilities as I write. I don't get writer's block - I get writer's indecision. When I can see that more than one path will get my characters to where they want to be, I have a hard time deciding which way to go. This is when I plug myself into music and go for a run. It usually sorts itself out then.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?


All I HAVE to have is my laptop. I canNOT write fast enough longhand. What I LOVE to have around is Pellegrino from that really cold spot in the back of the fridge, and dark chocolate almonds . . . or a salty dog chocolate bar. They're the best.

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


Either the ability to go without sleep - can you imagine how much I could get done?? OR the ability to eat whatever I want without gaining any weight. That would be awesome.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?


Parts for a 75 Corvette. College hockey schedules. Myself . . .

Hehehe, okay, I'll admit it. I've googled myself too. Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: damp, consult, and borderline.


I can consult the guidelines, but the damp feeling from the milk on my oreos is borderline delicious
;-D This didn't have to be a serious sentence, right?

Of course not, it was perfect! Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

My daughter was really bent out of shape when her name wasn't in the acknowledgements of my first book. So, thanks to my kids - Emma Rose and Jack.
Also - my friend and fellow author, Kelley Vitollo, and her love of guy POV books, which definitely pushed me to write this one.

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

The easiest place is the website for Night Sky that the publisher set up. You can find it HERE

Thanks so much for chatting with us, Jolene. Your book sounds great and I wish you lots of success with it.

Thanks a ton for having me!!!!