Chantal Fernando's New Romance Has a Release Date!

Get your calendars out because Toxic Girl will be released on April 14. Chantal Fernando's new romance looks to be a hot one too!

Cover Reveal for "See Through Me" by Sera Bright

Check out the cover reveal for See Through Me by Sera Bright. The sexy NA romance will be released in May. Be sure to check out the giveaway below.


Book description

There's only one person I want to see when I return home. But I know he won't be waiting. It's the reason I feel safe enough to come back.

I’m so wrong.

Ash Townsend isn't the same quiet boy from next door. He's tall, dark, and demanding answers. He wants me, but he doesn't trust me. Who can blame him? When his own family tried to break him down, he still sheltered me in this town full of liars. And I repaid it by leaving him without a word.

Because I'll do anything to protect Ash. I have the scars on my wrist to prove it.

*****

Author Bio

When I’m not plotting elaborate schemes in my head, I’m having a fabulous time with my own real life story. That’s what happens when you have three awesome kids, two fluffy (useless) cats, and one very patient husband. Currently, we live in the mountains of West Virginia. You can contact me on Facebook, Twitter, and my website.

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Shooting the Shit with author V.J. Chambers

V.J. Chambers is a prolific young indie author who recently published Out of Heaven's Grasp. Last week, I talked to Valerie about her writing. Now, let's learn more about her as a person...

Favorite Food and Drink

 

Anything pasta… I adore pasta

Blue Sky Root Beer—best root beer in the universe

 

Favorite Books

 

Okay, so hard, because I have too many. Let’s go with The Lord of the Rings, Wuthering Heights, Ender’s Game, The Shining, and The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

 

Favorite Music

 

I’m a big fan of eighties hair bands, and my favorite is Guns N’ Roses. More recently, I’ve been really digging on a band called Future Islands.

 

Favorite Movies

 

Ultimate favorite ever: The Princess Bride. Runners up to The Lost Boys, Fight Club, Scream, The Empire Strikes Back, and Children of Men.

Favorite TV

 

Oh man… So currently, I’m watching The Vampire Diaries, Reign, The Tomorrow People, Supernatural, The Originals, Star-Crossed (just you know whatever’s on the CW, basically) aaaand The Walking Dead, Teen Wolf, Bates Motel, Hannibal, Twisted, and True Detective (best show in the universe!!) I like other shows too, but they’re currently on hiatus or have been cancelled.

 

Best memory from childhood

Uhm… Yeah, nothing’s really sticking out. I didn’t have a bad childhood or anything, but I was always one of those kids that knew deep down I was going to be a better grownup than I was a kid.

 

Best memory from adulthood

 

Well, so when I was first getting to know my boyfriend, he came back to my house after a party and we talked until three or four in the morning, and then he slept on my couch. (I know! I was like, “Does this guy even like me? Why isn’t he trying to sleep with me?”) Anyway I remember that when I woke up, I came out into the living room, and he was still there. And I was so glad he was still there, so happy to get to spend more time with him. I think it’s my happiest memory ever.

 

Life of the party or stand back and observe?

 

I’m, you know, fairly outgoing at parties. I can get pretty introspective other times, but to everything there is a season.

 

What makes you rage?

 

Female genital mutilation. Sexism (against both genders). Hypocrisy. Atrocities committed in the name of something “noble.” Lies, especially the ones we tell ourselves.

 

What makes you giggle?

 

My cat. Mostly I laugh at my cat. Also episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

 

*****

Find Valerie's books at Amazon.

Follow Valerie on Twitter, Facebook, and her website.

Interview with author V.J. Chambers

V.J. Chambers is a prolific young indie author with over a dozen books already published. Her newest is the romance Out of Heaven’s Grasp. Let's learn more about Valerie and her writing...

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

 

Valerie: I’ve been writing forever. I’m one of those people who started writing as soon as she could make words. I think I wrote my first story at six years old, and it was about a hippo named Chubby.

 

I wrote as kid, I wrote as a preteen, I wrote Anne-Rice-esque vampire stories as a teenager… There was a brief period of time in college where I didn’t write at all. And then, after I graduated, I decided it was time to get serious, and I wrote my first complete novel when I was twenty-three. (It was terrible.) I wrote eight other books over the ensuing six years, shopped them around to agents and never even got a request for a partial. I started self-publishing in 2009, but primarily on my website. I would post two chapters a week of my book with a link at the end of each chapter to purchase the whole book.

 

Pretty much no one bought it. It took five more books and two more years before I started to make any real money self-publishing.

 

I guess I feel like all authors really go it alone, no matter whether you’re indie published or not. I don’t think it’s possible to really make it at this if you don’t have an irrational belief in your own greatness. So, I guess the biggest hurdle would be insecurity and doubt. Trying to keep believing in yourself when no one else does.

 

Angie: In February 2014, you published Out of Heaven’s Grasp. Can you explain the idea behind the book? Where did the inspiration come from?

 

Valerie: Well, I guess I’ve been fascinated by polygamy ever since I saw the show Big Love. I’ve been reading and watching things about it ever since. I watched Escape from the Prophet, the short-lived TLC reality show, and picked up Flora Jessup’s autobiography, detailing how she got free of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints, and then I just got sort of addicted to those kinds of autobiographies. I read Rebecca Musser’s, Carolyn Jessup’s, Elissa Wall’s, etc. And I just started thinking that these were dynamite stories, and that I wanted to write a story about escaping from a cult, and I wanted there to be a romantic element.

 

So, I made up my own polygamous religion. It draws heavily on the FLDS, but it also takes its cues from The Family International, the Amish, and my own experiences growing up in a fundamentalist religious sect (which was in no way polygamous).

 

Basically, the story is about a young couple who starts to fall in love, but—before they can really even get to know each other—are punished for interfering with “God’s” plan for them. He’s kicked out and she’s forced to marry an old man with three other wives. The story is about their separate struggles, and then about the two of them finding each other and getting free.

 

Angie: What is the story behind Abigail “Abby” London?

 

Valerie: Abby is an eighteen year old girl who wants to do the right thing. She wants to please her family and please the elders in her religion and ultimately to please God. So, she’s really conflicted about her feelings towards Jesse Wallace. She thinks that it’s wrong for her to be attracted to him, and she tries to fight that attraction, but it simply proves too strong for her.

 

Angie: How about Jesse Wallace?

 

Valerie: Jesse’s also eighteen. He’s not as well positioned in the community as Abby is. His father only has two wives, which means he’s not as favored by the elders (and they claim, by God). His father is also physically abusive to his children and his wives. Everyone in the community knows this, but no one does anything about it. So, Jesse knows that it’s really important that he follow the rules as closely as he can, because he risks his father’s rage, and he risks lowering his family even further out of favor. So, he really should stay away from Abby. But… he can’t resist her either.

 

Angie: You write in many genres. Can you tell us what draws you to your subjects?

 

Valerie: It seems as if all of my ideas come from television shows or books or movies. I always see things, and I think… “Oooh, if I were doing that, I would do it this way.” And then before I know it, I’ve got some crazy idea that barely resembles the thing that inspired it. But the genesis usually comes from some other form of entertainment.

 

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

 

Valerie: I use baby names books. Oh, and I usually search my hard drive to make sure I haven’t already named someone important that before.

 

Angie: 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?

 

Valerie: Generally, the concept comes first. The characters, for me, anyway, fit the story and not the other way around.

 

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

 

Valerie: Honestly, I think that Mary Sue concept is something best worried about if you’re writing fan fiction, which is where the idea first originated. Obviously, if you’re reading fan fiction, then you want to read about the characters in the show, not the author’s wish fulfillment fantasy of inserting herself into Star Trek or something.

 

In actuality, I’d say some of the most compelling characters are ones that make it easy for the reader to sort of graft themselves onto. We all want to be able to identify with the main character of a story and vicariously experience things through them. I’d say characters like Harry Potter, Bella Swan, Bilbo Baggins, and Luke Skywalker are all “Mary Sue/Marty Stus.” And that’s probably a good thing.

 

In my case, though, I tend to write really flawed characters, and that’s mostly because I feel flawed as a person. I like stories about imperfect people because I feel imperfect. And so I naturally write about people who drink too much or have too much sex or are compulsive liars or what have you. I haven’t actually been imperfect in all those ways, but I feel like I can easily identify with weaknesses in characters.

 

Angie: 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?

 

Valerie: I do like to make specific playlists for certain books. I’ve also been known to procrastinate seek inspiration by making Pinterest boards.

 

Time of day and/or place is totally irrelevant to me. But I do need to have my super awesome Kinesis Advantage keyboard if I’m going at it for a while, or it’s tough on my hands and wrists.

 

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

 

Valerie: Usually plot it out.

 

I think that I plot out books because I get scared that I’m not going to be able to figure out the whole story, make it long enough, unravel the plot, or a host of other things. Writing an outline soothes my fears. Sometimes, though, I don’t outline at all—or at least very little. Those are stories that I’m less afraid of, ones that tend to just flow right out of me.

 

Angie: 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?

 

Valerie: When they say something that I have already worried was a problem, then I know I was right and it is a problem.

 

Anything that has to do with being offended by the language or horrified by character’s actions, I ignore. (Actually, I think those reviews are funny.) Anything that speaks to the way the story is crafted, and does it in a way that provides some clue as to what’s wrong, I listen to. (Sometimes people just say, “This is stupid.” And there’s not much to discern from that, you know?)

 

Angie: 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?

 

Valerie: I have to admit I have trepidation about trying to write from the point of view of African American characters. It feels so… I don’t know, great-white-hope and condescending of me. What right do I have to think I can truly understand that struggle? That means, of course, that most of my black characters are in supporting roles, which creates another sort of issue of relegating people of color to the fringes or something, so it’s not great in any respect.

 

I do deal a lot with sexual orientation in my series The Helicon Muses. There’s a main character in that series who’s an androgyne. He’s biologically male, but doesn’t fully identify with either gender and thus struggles to determine whether or not he’s straight/gay/bisexual or anything. I also dream of writing some m/m romance, but I haven’t gotten to it yet.

 

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

 

Valerie: Yes, I totally make goals and write to them. I sometimes come up short, but mostly I succeed at making the book the length I want it to be.

 

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

 

Valerie: I think writer’s block stems from trying to make writing into work instead of play. The best way to shake it off is to throw out all the rules and give yourself permission to have fun.

 

Angie: What books did you enjoy most in 2013?

 

Valerie: Um, probably Gillian Flynn’s books. Especially Dark Places.

 

Angie: What trends do you hope die in 2014? Are there any you hope take off?

 

Valerie: I guess I really wish that trends themselves would die off. It would be cool if there weren’t this glut of same-old-same-old trailing in the wake of every hot new thing. 

 

Angie: What are you plans for 2014 as an indie writer?

 

Valerie: To rule the world, of course. J

*****

Find Valerie's books at Amazon.

Follow Valerie on Twitter, Facebook, and her website.

Interview with Romance Author Ember Casey

Ember Casey is a red hot indie author with a sexy completed series titled His Wicked Games. At the end of February '14, she published the tantalizing spinoff Her Wicked Heart. Let's learn more about Ember and her writing...

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

 

Ember: I’d been writing for several years before I published anything—you do NOT want to see those early novels I wrote! They were absolutely terrible. I needed to get a few “practice” books out of my system before I wrote anything worth showing other people. (Seriously. Those books were BAD.) But I’ve been part of an amazing writing group for years now and those ladies are constantly helping me improve as a writer.

 

When I did decide to self-publish, it was after several of my author friends had already taken the leap—so fortunately, I never felt like I was going it alone! I think a support system is really important no matter where you are in the publishing process, but it’s especially crucial in the self-publishing world. It’s the Wild West out there (the industry is changing so fast that it’s hard to keep up with everything!) and I wouldn’t be where I am today without all the support I’ve received—from critique partners, from friends, and from the reading and blogging communities!

 

Angie: In 2013, you published the His Wicked Games series. Can you explain the idea behind the series? Where did the inspiration come from?

 

Ember: So remember those bad books I was telling you about? Well, back in 2012, I was writing Young Adult—more specifically, I was working on a retelling of a Scottish version of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale (I’m a sucker for fairy tales). The problem? I was going for a very sensual, vivid tone, but apparently it was coming off a little, uh, adult. At least according to my critique partners. Apparently I have a habit of accidentally weaving sexual undertones into everything (like, say, a description of the sky, of all things).

 

Eventually, I decided to do an exercise and work on an adult romance as a side project—and that “side project” eventually evolved into His Wicked Games.

 

Angie: Can you tell us about Lily and Calder?

 

Ember: Oh man, Lily and Calder are so fun to write. They’re both stubborn, and they both hate to lose—which makes their “games” really amusing for me. In Lily, I tried to create a girl who could hold her own against the dominating-billionaire type, and in Calder, my goal was to create a billionaire with a different kind of character arc (but no spoilers. ;) )

 

Angie: How many books were in the series?

 

Ember: Three—two full length novels and a novella. BUT I’m working on a spin-off series now (starring Calder’s sister, Lou) and you definitely haven’t seen the last of Lily and Calder.

 

Angie: In late February 2014, you published Her Wicked Heart. Will you tell us about Lou and Ward?

 

Ember: If Calder’s the damaged one in the Lily/Calder relationship, then Lou is the damaged one here. She and her brother definitely share some issues! Ward is a different sort of leading man than Calder (partially because it would be VERY creepy if Lou fell for someone with the exact same personality as her brother) but he’s very sexy in his own way. He’s very much your rugged, blue-collar type hero, very different from the more refined, controlled Calder.

 

Angie: When do you expect to publish the next book in the Her Wicked Heart series?

 

Ember: Right now, it’s looking like June, but I should be making an official announcement soon. In the meantime, though, I’m planning on releasing some bonus material (including a Lily and Calder story!) before then.

 

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

 

Ember: As I said in my answer above, my first foray into the Romance genre began as a writing exercise, so I definitely see myself branching out into other genres someday (though probably under other names). Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy—I have lots of story ideas! For the time being, though, I’m focusing solely on Romance.

 

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

 

Ember: Female names are usually pretty easy for me—I can usually come up with them off the top of my head. But guy names? Those are a lot harder. I usually spend a lot of time looking through baby name websites and other sources before settling on something. I want something that sounds strong and sexy and “different”—without being too weird. It’s hard! (for me, at least.)

 

Angie: 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?

 

Ember: A little of both. With His Wicked Games, I started with the whole ‘Beauty and the Beast’ concept and created the characters from there. With my other books, though, the characters have come first. Once you have well-formed characters, they create their own plots!

 

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

 

Ember: I love flawed characters—they’re so much more interesting to write! They create all sorts of messes for themselves. For me, it comes down to motivations—you have to figure out what your character wants most in the world, then take it away from them (or at least threaten to take it away from them). Back them into a corner and see what they do. The meaner you are to your characters, the better. Make them desperate or scared or angry and then let them run wild.

 

I like to take either one of two approaches: either have my characters do the “right” thing for the “wrong” reason, or have them do the “wrong” thing for the “right” reason. The specifics come down to the individual character and his or her motivations. Both approaches make your character a little more complex, a little more human. But just as important, they allow your characters to remain sympathetic in the eyes of your readers.

 

Angie: 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?

 

Ember: I listen to a LOT of Lana Del Rey while I write. It’s a bit of an obsession, really. I think it’s because I’m naturally a very upbeat person, and I need a little moody inspiration to get me in the right headspace to write dramatic or emotional scenes.

 

In general, I find I get a LOT more done if I’m not at home. There’s a coffee shop around the corner from me where I work several times a week (they have GIANT slices of cake there, which is perfect for my more stressful days… mmm, red velvet!). But I’ve also had some amazing marathon all-night writing sessions sitting on my bed. So it really depends.

 

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

 

Ember: I’m a pantser. I’ve tried outlining, but I just can’t work that way. I can’t tell whether something is going to work or not until I’ve written it out. Usually I just sit down and write—and by the time I’ve made it about ¾ of the way into the novel, just before the climax, I can tell what’s coming together and what isn’t. Then I go back to the beginning and work through it again, revising and rewriting as needed, and only on the second go do I actually write the climax and ending.

 

Angie: 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?

 

Ember: Actually, I’ve reached the point now where I try not to read any reviews. (It doesn’t always work that way, but I’m getting better.) Why? Because for me, I find that ALL reviews, bad or good, have a way of sticking in my head. I’d read a good review that would say something like, “I really loved x, y, and z! I really hope there’s more x, y, and z in the next book!” And then I’d go into a panic because there wasn’t even a little x, y, and z in my work-in-progress. It became an anxiety spiral for me.

 

Of course, I do keep an (only slightly obsessive) eye on my general ratings. If I see a rash of low ratings pop up, then I might skim a few to make sure they aren’t all complaining about the same thing (or making any other comments otherwise indicative of a larger problem). Otherwise, I try to focus mainly on the comments of my beta readers, critique partners, etc. (and even then, sometimes they offer conflicting opinions) to keep myself sane. Focusing on everyone’s opinion and trying to make everyone happy is, in my experience, a path to a major headache. And a book that’s scattered and unfocused.

 

In general, I’m of the mind that reviews are for other readers, not for the authors. They help other readers find books they’ll enjoy—and avoid those they probably won’t. Not everyone’s going to love my writing style or sense of humor or portrayal of a sexy billionaire, and that’s okay!

 

Angie: 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?

 

Ember: It’s something I definitely intend to take better consideration of in the future. I’m as guilty as many other authors for not featuring as much diversity as I could, and it’s definitely something I’m working on changing (I’ve been bouncing around an idea for a new series that would feature an interracial romance). My most recent book, Her Wicked Heart, initially had an entire subplot revolving around a gay supporting character, but it wasn’t working for me—essentially the character’s sexuality became a plot device, and in the end, I felt that was just as problematic (more so, even) then not having the character’s sexuality come up at all. That was one of the main reasons I ended up cutting that subplot.

 

But yes—romance could definitely use more diversity and it’s something I’m actively working on going forward.

 

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

 

Ember: It’s a little scary how close in length all of my novels are (right at 70,000 words, every time!). Sometimes when I’m drafting, a book will be 10k more words than usual (or 15k fewer), but somehow, after that first major round of revisions is done, it always ends up at 70k again. Don’t ask me how.

 

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

 

Ember: I try to be very structured about my writing, and that means sitting down to write whether I’m feeling it or not. Some days it’s torture getting the words out, but I push through (and funny enough, those are often the scenes that other people love best). Now that writing is my job, I try to treat it like one.

 

Angie: What books did you enjoy most in 2013?

 

Ember: Hmm, that’s a tough one! I would have to say the Sevenwaters books by Juliet Marillier (technically not published in 2013, but that’s when I read them so I’m counting it!). Those books contain some of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read. EVER. They tore up my soul and made me cry so many times.

 

Angie: What trends do you hope die in 2014? Are there any you hope take off?

 

Ember: Whenever I think I’m sick of a trend, some new amazing book comes along and changes my mind! As for trends I’d like to see more of… I’m a huge fan of light-hearted erotic romance. Stuff that’s less angsty and more funny (but just as sexy, of course!).

 

Angie: What are you plans for 2014 as an indie writer?

 

Ember: Write, write, write! I have five more books on the tentative schedule for the year (only one of those—Lost and Found—has been officially announced), but we’ll see how things go! ;)

 

*****

 

Find Ember's books at Amazon.

 

Follow Ember on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog.

New Release by Romance Author Emilia Winters

The final book in the The Rebound Series is now available. Check out Connections by Emilia Winters at Amazon today.

Book Summary

The steamy conclusion to The Rebound Series is finally here…

 

Olivia Ward’s world was turned upside down the moment the sensual and demanding Alex Matlock walked through the door of her cupcake shop. And now their once-casual fling has turned into much more than either ever expected. When it comes to the game of love, they’re finding that the rules are never clear, especially when Alex comes face to face with his painful past and drags Olivia right into the middle of it all. But when Olivia denies them both the very thing that brought them together, will their new love prove to be enough? Or will it bring them crashing down?

 

Connections is the third and final installment of The Rebound Series.

Follow Emilia on Twitter and her website.

New Release by Romance Author V.J. Chambers

Out of Heaven's Grasp by V.J. Chambers is now available on Amazon. Check out this intriguing standalone romance.

Book Summary

Abigail London has always trusted the elders in her strict polygamous community to decide who she would marry. After all, they've got a direct line to God, or so she's always been taught.

But when she is caught holding hands with Jesse Wallace, the elders bring down punishment swiftly and severely. They banish Jesse from the community, telling him never to return. They assign Abby to an older man, who already has three wives. They tell her that submitting to her new spiritual head will curb her willful nature.

Abby wants to please God by forgetting Jesse and doing as she's told. But she can't shake the feeling that this is somehow... wrong. And she's beginning to doubt the wisdom of the elders.

Separated, Jesse and Abby struggle alone--him to find his way in a secular world he doesn't understand, and her to accept her place and submit obediently. But eventually, they both realize they must embrace a more difficult struggle: to find each other again.

*****

Find more V.J. books at Amazon.

Follow V.J. on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.