Damaged and the Cobra Now Available

Damaged and the Cobra is now available at Amazon and Smashwords. ***Nook and paperback versions are coming soon.

Summary
Aaron Barnes has found his muse in Lark Foster. However, his inspiration is saddled with a domineering stepfamily and the lingering guilt from a childhood loss.

 

Once Aaron claims his muse, Lark embraces the fighter inside her gentle heart. When fate stands in the way of love, the only choices are giving up or taking what your heart demands.

 
 
 
 
 

Interview with Romance Author Stephanie Nicole Garza

Stephanie Nicole Garza is a romance lover turned romance author. Her first book is the second chance romance Love Came Back. Let's learn more about Stephanie and her writing...

 

Q: How long have you been writing and when did you decide to indie publish? What was the biggest hurdle in going it alone?

A: I’ve actually written for a long time. Since I was a teenager, I’ve been in love with writing. I had a few publishers call me and either they never returned my calls or I got so busy with my full time job I never had time to really look into getting it published with a big company. A lot of my author friends are indie authors and I support what they do and figured hey! I could do that too. Biggest hurdle? I think everything. I’m so new and green sometimes I think maybe I should’ve just tried getting it published. But I wouldn’t have changed my decision in the long run.

Q: You recently published Love Came Back. Can you explain the idea behind your first novel? Where did the inspiration come from?

A: The inspiration came from an experience I had when I was 17. I knew this guy who was a Navy SEAL and we hit it off and I know deep in my heart that he was my true soul mate. Everything just clicked. I was 17 but even then I just knew I loved him deeply. The novel isn’t too far away from my own story.

Q: Do you plan to write more in the series? If so, how many books do you envision?

A: Oh yes. It’s a 5 book, 3 novella series. So that’s 4 more books and 3 novellas, but those 3 novellas might turn into full length novels.

Q: What drew you to romance as a genre? Do you plan to branch out to other genres as your career progresses?

A: The only books I ever read on my own were the Harry Potter series. I never took it upon myself to read, but I was about 21 when I was in a stump. I was single, working a full time job, and being a part time student and felt meh. I walked into Wal-Mart and I looked in the book/mag area for my Cosmo, when I saw these Silhouette stand alones books. I looked at the covers thought they were pretty and bought them without reading the back story (I knew they were romance of course) and read them and since then I’ve been hooked. (Obsessively hooked lol). Beside romance? Not likely. I’ve tried reading other genres and naw. Not for me. I love a HEA and I love romance. I won’t branch out. I know I won’t.

Q: The heroine in Love Came Back is Siddaleigh Carrington. Can you tell us about her?

A: As a teenager, she dreams of being a fashion designer. She’s never been a skinny twig. (All my heroines are sizes 8+). She has a tight knit family. As she grew up into womanhood, she ends up becoming a victim and survivor of a violent domestic crime. She doesn’t trust men in general. Especially since she’s a full figured woman, it’s not easy. She has small insecurities about her body but she’s never had a problem being her size. She embraces it and starts her own clothing line made for that type of body. She’s a God fearing Christian who goes to church, tries to be a good person and just really wants to be loved.

Q: The romance’s hero is Konner O’Brian. What is his story?

A: Konner. I love Konner. He is special to me. In the beginning you see he’s a Navy SEAL. So he’s all hard body, sexy, alpha male. He’s Irish. (Yummy) So he has an accent that melts your insides. He’s from a loving family. He fell in love with a girl and after being called away, he finds himself in a situation that makes it unsafe to contact Siddaleigh. When he comes back from the mission, he finds out Sidda and her family moved to another city and think it was a flailing relationship. You know, she’s young, she has too much to live up to yada yada. But he never forgets her. Always in the back of his mind. He figures if fate had plans for them that they’ll be together again. So he moves on and puts himself solely in his military career. It’s what he is.

Q: How do you come up with the names for your characters?

A: Well Konner is close to the guys’ name I knew when I was younger. As for Siddaleigh, I actually changed her name a few times. Or rather she changed it for me. She didn’t like the previous names I starting writing with and we settled on something that’s southern and pretty. In LCB I wanted to stay true to what my heart felt. It felt as if I was giving my younger self her HEA. The gentleman I knew has never strayed from my mind and I wanted to make her dreams come true. I love designing clothes, but I know I’ll never pursue it. Back on topic. Lol, yea Konner was the constant in this for me. Although it’s really in Siddaleigh’s POV for the most part, it’s revolved around Konner.

Q: Chicken or the egg question. Do you create a character and build around him/her? Or do you imagine a concept and create characters which fit the idea?

A: Actually a bit of both. I had all the characters names when I first started book one. Except for Candace, she kinda added herself and told me to give her a HEA someday, weird how the chicks in my head tell me what to do lol. For each book I hope to have a not really a moral but Idk what its called. Like in LCB the ‘bad situation’ was a violent domestic crime. For my second book, the ‘bad sitch’ is one that I can’t really write about, it’s pretty bad. But it leads to PTSD, for her and her hero. One will be about human trafficking, one will be about cutting, another about an abusive stepfather and one about being adopted. So on etc. The topic is serious but each heroine finds a way to overcome it and fall in love. Always gotta have a HEA. That and to bring awareness to readers that this stuff really does happen. As I was writing LCB, each girl kinda told me her story. But I knew I wanted to take these topics and make books out of them.

Q: How do you avoid writing a Mary Sue or Marty Stu when most writers can’t help falling desperately in love with their creations?

A: Oh, that doesn’t happen. My characters have problems. Extreme problems, but by the end they get their HEA. I want my characters to have obstacles to face so they learn from it and I want to make aware to my readers how serious these situations are. Like domestic violence, human trafficking, abduction etc. So they have serious issues but they fall in love and the women learn to be empowered by their male counterparts and become stronger women. The males are hard military types but they have a soft side when it comes to the women they love.

Q: Do you use anything to inspire you while you’re writing? Music, visual aids, etc? Also have you found ideas come to you more freely in particular places or at certain times of the day?

A: Music. Music is a big thing for me. I really only listen to Country, Christian and Christian Alternative and in some scenes certain songs really get me writing. Like it’s pumping me up for a big OMG moment I guess. In LCB, music was a major factor, for example, at the end when Siddaleigh finds herself confronting her ‘obstacle’ I guess, Carrie Underwood's Blown Away was like the theme for it. I know it won’t be the last time that song is used because the song has nothing to do the kind of situation she’s in but it empowered me. It impacted me in a way that those kinds of songs do. Visual aids, well I have the general idea of what my characters look like. Atleast the girls. The heroes? Eh, when I’m Facebooking I have certain pages that I’ve liked and they show a lot of guys. Shirtless guys. So sometimes when I see them, it’s like oooh. That is so Konner or Nathan. Or has that bad boy thing going and I can use that. So sometimes.

Places? No not really. I only ever write at home and sometimes work. So if any ideas sprout out while I’m driving or somewhere else I usually jot down the main idea and save it for later. The only time I usually write is at night. After my kids go to bed. I have two small kids and sometimes I’m able to write but it’s safer to wait until they are asleep.

Q: When an idea hits you, do you start writing immediately or plot it out first?

A: Write it down immediately. I’m trying to outline my second book a little bit as I go. Like certain scenes need more plot thought etc. But I usually wing it.

Q: When you read less than fawning reviews, how do you know when to use the critique to improve your future writing and when do you chalk up the criticism as different strokes for different folks?

A: I only have had one person review my book and it was 5 stars but I think that when I get them I’ll learn something if it’s something like critiquing. I would hope I can tell the difference between good fawning reviews and nasty rude fawning reviews.

Q: I’ve read criticism from particular bloggers (Fangs for the Fantasy being one) about the lack of people of color and different sexual orientations in fiction. Do you take this lack of diversity into consideration when creating plots and characters?

A: No. Not really. I mean I write what I know. I might think in the future about it, but most likely not.

Q: Do word counts mean anything to you? Do you find your books top out at around the same lengths?

A: I’ve only ever written one book. At first I was probably only going to have maybe 50k but a friend of mine told me a full legth is like 60+ so I went for that goal. I ended up writing almost 90k. I don’t know about my others, maybe. I would like them to be about the same.

Q: How big a deal is writer’s block for you and what do you do to shake it off?

A: It’s a little deal. I try not to stress over it. I shake it off by reading. I am an obsessively avid reader.

Q: What books did you enjoy most in 2012?

A: I can’t remember last year but this year 2013, I would say-

Darkness Kindled by Samantha Young

Stygian’s Honor by Lora Leigh

Charmed by Cambria Hebert

Damaged and the Knight by Bijou Hunter

Chosen at Nightfall by C.C. Hunter

Shades of Gray: A KGI Novel by Maya Banks

I’ve read probably about 500 books this year so far… too many.

Q: What trends do you hope die in 2013? Are there any you hope take off?

A: I don’t really care about trends. As long as I like the summary and cover and it sounds good I read it. I’m not too picky when it comes to romance. As long as it’s a man and a woman faling in love with their obstacles in between. Trust me, basically every romance is the same. If it ends with a HEA then I’m sold.

Q: What are you plans for the rest of 2013 as an indie writer? What are your hopes for 2014?

A: For this year I would like to promote my book more. My life is so busy with being a full time employee at Chili’s and being with my kids.

I hope in early 2014 to get Anchor Me, Brianne and Nathan’s story out and by winter Mag’s and Lucan’s novella out and work on Finding Aurora, that one is with Callie and Mac.

All the characters are in my first book. I also tend to read, a lot. LOL. If you don’t find me working, or writing, I read. A LOT!

Find Love Came Back at Amazon and B&N.

Follow Stephanie on Goodreads, Facebook, and her blog.

Cover Reveal for NA Romance "Damaged and the Cobra"

Damaged and the Cobra

by Bijou Hunter

Expected publication: Oct. 1, 2013

Aaron Barnes has found his muse in Lark Foster. However, his inspiration is saddled with a domineering stepfamily and the lingering guilt from a childhood loss.

Once Aaron claims his muse, Lark embraces the fighter inside her gentle heart. When fate stands in the way of love, the only choices are giving up or taking what your heart demands.

Cover Reveal for "The Gate" by KT Grant

A chance encounter between a successful author and a billionaire owner of an underground BDSM club, leads to the most pivotal relationship of their lives…

 

Erika Walsh has carried a torch for Christopher Milton, heir to her father’s publishing empire for years. After one steamy make out session she begins to wonder if it might develop into something more. But when M. L. Crawford, better known as Max, her father’s publishing rival, seeks her out at a society event, she’s drawn to his magnetic charisma and powerful demeanor. Their verbal bantering and innuendo laced overtones stir feelings she never knew existed, and soon Erika is consumed with knowing the real man under Max’s restrained public façade.

 

Erika’s sweet nature and naivety excites Max to near madness. He wants to train her in the art of seduction and make her succumb to his every wish and command…as his perfect submissive. Yet, Christopher is determined to keep Erika from becoming the latest victim of Max's sinister sexual hungers. He knows all too well what Max hides in his black soul and will stop at nothing to reveal all of Max’s secrets in order to protect the one thing he holds dear above all else- Erika.

 

Max’s dark desires scare yet arouse Erika, as he opens her eyes to a new bold world full of passion and ecstasy she never imagined until him. But the biggest question remains: Is Erika’s craving for Max just an illusion that transpires behind the walls of The Gate?

 

Keep an eye out in October for this hot novel. Find more KT Grant treats at Amazon.

"Grace Lost" by M. Lauryl Lewis is FREE Sept. 2-3

With Halloween just around the corner, it's time for zombies. Wouldn't you like a little romance with your horror? Well, M. Lauryl Lewis has a book for you!
 
Grace Lost is free Sept. 2-3 at Amazon! The first book in the Grace series is a great gory read. Once you devour it, check out Tainted Grace and Dark Grace. Also keep an eye out for the upcoming Fallen from Grace.

Once you check out this haunting trailer for the series, get your free copy of Grace Lost today!

Summary
Young and naïve, Zoe Kate finds herself thrust into harm’s way when the dead rise overnight. Armed with very little, she and her lifelong friend, Adam Boggs, flee their small hometown in search of safety. Joined by two other survivors, they will face unimaginable horrors and suffer unthinkable losses as the rules of nature are rewritten.
 
Find the Grace books at Amazon.

Follow M. Lauryl Lewis at her website, blog, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.