Welcome Kate Hill

Hello Kate. Tell us about yourself.

I’m a forty-something vegetarian New Englander who loves to read, write, work out and watch horror and action movies.

I love connecting with readers, so I visit my publishers’ yahoo/chat groups as often as I can. Also I enjoy hosting special events at my site, such as my annual Halloween page. I have a blog, yahoo group and a website that’s regularly updated. I’m also on Twitter.

My latest series is Combustion, which is published by Changeling Press. It’s erotic science fiction that focuses on a group of aliens who are temporarily stranded on Earth. Trouble in Paradise is my first independently published story. It’s a traditional romantic adventure.
I wanted to write a traditional romance with a heroine who was a little unconventional for her time. Also I wanted to work on a story with a bit more of a buildup to the hero and heroine getting into bed than what I generally write for my current publishers.

Are you a plotter or a pantser, Kate?  

I guess I’m a bit of both, although I’m more of a plotter. Before I start writing, I like to know my characters pretty well and I also need to have a loose outline so I know where the story is going.

Are you traditionally published, self-published or both? 

Both. I write regularly for Changeling Press and I’ve also been published by Ellora’s Cave and New Concepts Publishing. They’ve been fantastic to work with. Trouble in Paradise is my first self-published book. I didn’t feel it would fit well with any of my publishers, so instead of submitting it I decided to publish it independently. Right now I’m revising a previously published story to re-release independently. It will probably be out toward the end of this year or early next year.
I’ve only had one book self-published so far, but I found it to be a lot of work and pretty stressful. With a publisher, you have a lot of help. You’re supplied with editors and cover art. The publisher oversees distribution of the book. Self-published authors are in charge of everything and it takes a lot of time and effort, but it has a tradeoff. You get to see the kind of story you want to write done exactly how you want it, from cover art to characterization. It took over a year of revisions before I felt Trouble in Paradise was in shape to be published.

How do you create sexual tension in your romances? For me it depends on the characters. For some, lust-at-first-sight works. Others take more time before they get together. In Trouble in Paradise, when Grace and RC first meet, she’s completely disgusted with him and with good reason. Once he cleans up his act, she finds him hard to resist.

Do you have any rejection stories to share? Tons!! Rejection just goes with the territory. One that stands out in my mind is a rejection letter that told me my character who was a college student acted too much like a college student. I’m still trying to figure that one out! I eventually sold the story, but I’m still amused by that particular criticism.

What is your writing routine like? I set aside a certain amount of time each day for writing, editing and promo. Since I love keeping calendars and charts, I use them to keep track of my time and drive my family crazy leaving them all over the house.

What are you reading now? Right now I’m reading Making Waves by Cathryn Fox and Jaci Burton.

We’d love a blurb and an excerpt from your latest book.

Trouble in Paradise by Kate Hill (Romantic Suspense) Available at
All Romance Ebooks
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-troubleinparadise-1153845-152.html
Barnes & Noble
http://tinyurl.com/d2ok42u
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302667

Before cell phones and reality TV, when women had big hair and men were all about action and adventure, a girl walks into a bar searching for a hero. She finds R. C. Benson, a soldier turned grave robber wallowing in past sins. With a marriage of convenience, a pet shark and a shady butler, Grace and R. C. have their work cut out for them, but that gives them the perfect chance to fall in love.

Excerpt:
“That was some night.” Grace slipped off her shoes once she and R. C. returned to their hotel room. “I can’t wait to get to bed.”
He rubbed his hands together. “Now you’re talking.”
Grace shot him a serious look and pointed in his face. “Remember this is not for real. If you think I’m having sex with you, you’re crazy.”
“Of course I’m crazy. I’ve gone along with this ridiculous idea of yours, haven’t I?”
“I mean it, Benson. You come near me and I’ll castrate you.”
He chuckled and winced at the same time. “Oh and you’d try, too.”
“You can count on it.”
“Well you can’t blame me for trying.” He hung his jacket next to the others in the closet and removed his tie. He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the lean, hair-dusted chest she longed to caress.
“I’m changing in the bathroom,” she said.
“You like the right side of the bed or the left?”
She glanced over her shoulder, one hand on the bathroom door. “I said I’m not sleeping with you.”
“No. You said you’re not having sex with me. If you think I’m going to sleep on the floor, you’re the one who’s nuts.”
“Fine. I’ll sleep on the floor, seeing how you’re such a gentleman.”
“The bed is king size. You don’t even have to touch me.”
“Damn right about that.”
“Look.” He piled pillows down the center of the bed. “How’s that?”
She narrowed her eyes. The thought of sleeping on the floor wasn't appealing.
“When we get to the island, we’re going to have to share everything, so we might as well start now.”

http://www.kate-hill.com
http://www.twitter.com/katehillromance
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/katehill/info

Kate is giving away a pdf copy of her book to one lucky commenter.

Jane Toombs Is My Guest

Please welcome Jane Toombs. Tell us about yourself, Jane.
I've been a writer for forty years, ever since my first gothic, Tule Witch, was bought by Avon in 1973. During that time I raised five children, divorced my first husband, had my second husband die of malignant leukemia and met up with an old classmate who became my Significant Other. Our meeting was directly due to a book I'd written that he'd bought and read, found out where I lived and called me.
My education includes graduation from high school, one year of college (Mich. State). Then three years of being a Cadet Nurse to get my R.N. I am now my S.O.'s caretaker because he developed Parkinson's this year.

You've had your share of triumphs and tragedies, Jane. Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?
Yes, I am an R.N and worked off and on for many years.

How did you get started writing?
When I was seven, I wanted to use my father's big old L.C. Smith typewriter sat on his desk--because he was a nonfiction writer. He said if I promised to write him a story on it, he'd teach me to use it. So I agreed and he taught me how to use the typewriter. He did gently critique every one of my little stories, showing me ways they could be better.

What a lovely beginning. What genres do you write in and why?
It's easier to say that I've never written either men's action or erotica, because I've written in all the rest. My favorite is paranormal due to E.A. Poe's early influence in my life.

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
I've never counted them all, but if you include novellas as well as novels, I must be up to around one hundred. Probably Ladies Of The Lakes is my favorite, since it brought me Elmer as my S.O.

Wow! You're prolific!Tell us about your current series.
I have several series going.
The Underground Series features another world connected to ours and to other worlds by "gates," It's possible to fall through one and wind up there. I've finished two—Unwise and Unwanted and am working on the third, Uncanny.
Dangerous Darkness Series, the stories of four Special Ops once then return to civilian life. The first three have seen the fourth ripped apart by bullets from an AK47 and are sure he's dead.
Shadow On The Floor
Watcher at The Door
Terror From Before
Stranger On The Shore
I've finished the first three and they've been published. I'm writing Stranger On the Shore, the story of a man who should be dead.
Dagan House Trilogy (Ghosts)
Taken In is finished and been published
Where's There's Smoke and Ghost Hunt are not done yet

What is your next project and when will it be released?
My next project is scanning Blue Glory, a rights-back book of mine and sending it to Books We Love, Ltd. to put up as an ebook.

Exciting. You sound like a very organized person. What is your typical day like?
First I get Elmer up and into his wheel chair. If it's a shower day we do that. He essentially can shower himself once he's in the shower chair in the handicapped shower. Then breakfast--he makes his own. He can also transfer out of the W/C onto the toilet and back--also in and out of the lounge chair. I feed the cat, look at email and answer what needs to be. Do any errands like going to the store, P.O. the pharmacy, etc. If no errands, I tend to any correspondence that needs to be done. Then I make dinner--we eat our main meal at noon. I either read or do some writing after we eat. At five we have our cocktail hour. (Tonic or juice, no vodka anymore, with a light snack). Then supper, which is always some kind of cereal and fruit. He watches TV in the evening, I write or read.

Do you self-publish?
Never. I am no techie. It took me long enough to learn how to scan my old rights-back books into the computer. Besides, BWL gives me a beautiful cover and also edits.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I wrote my first two books (gothics)by simply sitting down and writing them. But my agent couldn't sell my third book. This was the heyday of gothics and he called to tell me a packager was doing a Zodiac Series of gothics and needed a writer to do Sagittarius. All I had to do was send him three chapters and a synopsis. I asked what he meant by a synopsis. He told me. So I gave it a try. With the synopsis , I noticed how easy it was to write the chapters. Well, when the packager went to contract on the partial, I was stunned. I didn't have to write an entire book to get a contract for it? So then I always started out by writing a synopsis and found the books were much easier to write, even if I departed from the synopsis which I usually did. Tried finally to write a synopsis for that third book and discovered why it never sold—I'd wandered all over the place. So I wrote a synopsis for it and followed it, which cut out a bunch of stuff. The book sold. I never wrote another book without one. But, as I said, I don't stick slavishly to the synopsis. Does that make me a plotter? I really don't think so, because I've talked to plotters and they work differently. I think I'm a half and half hybrid.

Do you belong to a writing organisation?
I still belong to RWA, and to several other writing groups online, but no longer am able to go to conferences. Conferences are great—your friends know editors and so you meet them, which is always a plus. Plus you make new writer friends and make other contacts, which always is a help to a writer. I miss that. I'm now so old that RWA was formed after I sold my first book, but before it came out.

Where can readers find your print and Ebooks?
All of them are on my website, including the ebooks: http://www.JaneToombs.com or just www.JaneToombs.com and the ebooks are also on Amazon and all the other usual places,

Lynda Bailey

Welcome, Lynda.

Thanks so much, Anna, for letting me hang out with you today!

I live in Reno, Nevada with my Prince Charming of 30 years. I’m a former stagehand, certified welder and fitness instructor. When not in my cave writing, I divide my time between digging in the dirt and walking the dogs.

A welder! Fantastic. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Actually I don’t think I’d choose to live anywhere but in Reno. I know it sounds corny, but I've got mountains, desert, the beautiful Lake Tahoe, all within an hour’s drive. And San Francisco is a mere four hours away as are the awesome wineries in Amador County, California. 

Sounds wonderful. How did you get started writing?
I suppose like most authors, writing has been a part of my world since I was a child. I've always loved making up stories, whether in my head or on paper. It such an added bonus to actually get paid for doing what I love!

I agree. Tell us about your current WIP.

My newest release, BATTLE-TESTED LOVE, is the second book in my *Battle for Love* series. It’s about a decent guy who does a bad thing for a good reason – and the adventure-seeking gal who gets caught up in the action.

I'm intrigued. What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your books?
I simply wanted them published. I’m not one to send out query after query, waiting for a traditional publisher to notice me. I’m just not that patient.  I’m more an instant gratification person, which meant overcoming my techno inadequacies and self-pubbing my books.

You sound like a gal after my own heart! What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?
Make sure the mechanics of your stories are the best they can be: the plot, the characters and their motivations, the conflict—everything. I’m extremely blessed to have several terrific critique partners as well as some great beta readers who don’t allow me to get away with shoddy work.

Can you list some Pros/Cons of self-publishing?
There are two major *cons* for me in self-publishing: techno problems with formatting and having to promote yourself. Fortunately, there are numerous Yahoo and Google author groups where information and expertise is freely shared. The biggest *pro* for me is having my books available to readers – right now.J

What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict or emotions? Why?
My greatest issue is nailing down the characters’ motivations. If I get that wrong, I spin in circles worse that Roger Rabbit.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Total plotter.

What do you have planned for the future? How far do you plan ahead?
I've got a Christmas short story coming out in late November. It’s part of a new anthology of short stories titled *Holiday Hunks* which will center around the different holidays. In 2014, I plan to release the third novella in my *Heartache and Hopeful* series as well as the first story in my *Trustworthy Texas* trilogy. I like to have at least three releases per year.

Where can readers find you?
Readers can check out my website: www.lyndabailey.net;

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LyndaBaileyRomanceAuthor;

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlyndab; 

Or find me on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6472849.Lynda_Bailey

Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?
All my books are available at Amazon.com and most are for sale at Barnesandnoble.com. Three of my books, BATTLE-BORN LOVE, WILDFLOWER and NAUGHTY NEIGHBORHOOD are also available in print through Createspace.com.

Thanks again to Anna for hosting me today!

Thanks for sharing, Lynda.

Saluting Charles Dickens

This week we are observing two momentous anniversaries. Two hundred years ago, Charles Dickens was born. Sixty years ago Elizabeth Windsor ascended to the throne of England.
These two events are significant for me. Let’s start with Charles Dickens. He was a prolific writer who popularized the idea of serializing stories. Unlike most authors who employed the same method of bringing their work to the mass market, Dickens often made the episodes up as he went along. I tend to write in the same way. I’m what’s known as a “pantster”—I write by the seat of my pants! True I have a general idea of where the story is going when I begin, but the events, twists and turns usually come to me as I write, or sometimes when I’m asleep!
As I get to know my characters their lives seem to evolve “before my very eyes”. Who knew, for example, that my heroine in Conquering Passion, Mabelle de Valtesse, would be kidnapped by a Welsh rebel chieftain, Rhodri ap Owain? Even less likely was that Rhodri would spawn a clan and a book series of his own! (Coming later in 2012)
Many writers would find my way of doing things difficult. They are “plotters” who have most of the story outlined before they begin. Both methods are of course legitimate and equally creative. I suspect a lot of authors fall somewhere in between.
So I salute Dickens. He wrote what he knew. His childhood was difficult and many of his experiences feature in his stories. It’s reported his last words were, “Be natural my children. For the writer that is natural has fulfilled all the rules of art.”
My favourite book is A Tale of Two Cities. I cried buckets the first time I read it! What’s yours?