Author Interview – Libby Waterford ( @LibbyWaterford ) – Passionate History ( A #DecadentPub #Romance )

It seems an age ago that I first interviewed my fellow Decadent Publishing author Libby Waterford about her book Love Unlocked (this is a prime example of “author time” since said post is dated January 27). Less than a year has passed, and she’s back to promote her new release, Passionate History. It features a strait-laced art history professor, a returning college graduate, and a tumultuous reunion.

Let’s find out more about it

1. Hi Libby, and welcome back to my blog. It’s looks like you’ve been busy writing over the past eight months. Can you tell us how the idea for this story first came to you?

Thanks for having me back, Tara! I first got the inspiration to set a story at a college reunion weekend what I got the notice that mine was around the corner. All sorts of possibilities filtered through my brain. This is the first of three novellas that I wrote around the theme.

2. How cool. I can't wait for you to get done with them! Back to Passionate History— I understand why the good professor might have been reluctant to get together with your heroine while she was his student. What’s holding him back the second time they meet?

When Aidan and Bree meet five years after their one and only night together, Aidan is suspicious of the fact that he hasn’t heard from Bree in all that time. He worries that he took advantage of her and he won’t let himself do it again. The fact they have as much chemistry now as they ever did makes it difficult to keep his hands off her.

3. What factors did you concoct to push these two less-than-eager lovers together? Both of them do seem rather resistant to the idea.

Neither of them are looking to rekindle the past, but events (rainstorms, missing automobiles) conspire to keep them together, forcing them to reexamine what happened all those years ago, and confront the truth that they want each other more than ever.

4. Missing automobiles ... this gets more intriguing by the minute. Now I’m really curious about the chemistry between the two. Would you mind giving us a sneak peek from when sparks first fly?

Sure…here’s a brief excerpt from their first kiss. I warn you, it’s pretty fiery.

In that case, let me play it safe.

Mature Content Warning: If you're underthe age of consent in your country (or if reading about a kiss offends you), kindly skip to Question 5. The excerpt's beginning and end are marked by lines. 

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He stood motionless, six inches away from her, as she accepted the glass and took a tiny swallow. He met her gaze, searching her emerald green eyes for some clue of how she felt, of what she wanted. She didn’t seem afraid or confused or needy. She seemed in control, happy almost. If he’d seen anything else in her eyes, he told himself he’d show her the door that very minute. But her eyes were clear and bright, and she was so incredibly beautiful. She handed him back the glass. He dropped it heedlessly on the worn sisal carpet, smelling the last sip as its aroma pervaded the air. After a moment, there was nothing more between them as he wrapped his arms around her waist and crushed her to him. He kissed her with a feverish intensity, one still-rational part of his brain hoping she’d shove him away so he’d be saved from this madness, the rest of him intent upon wringing every moment of pleasure from this unexpected encounter. She didn’t shove him away. She kissed him back, opening her mouth to him like the sweetest of gifts. He’d take what she offered, and to hell with regret.

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5. Before I let you go—what project(s) are you working on right now? Is it another contemporary romance?

I’m working on edits for the next two novellas in this reunion/commencement series, and then I’ve got another contemporary series on the (distant) horizon. I hope I can check back in with you with another new release soon. Thanks so much for having me, Tara!

Since book release month is crazy busy for any writer, I’ll let Libby run off. For more information about the book and author, just scroll down. As always, comments are much appreciated.

Passionate History

by Libby Waterford

On the eve of her college graduation, Bree Ross seduces her favorite art history professor. She doesn’t expect buttoned-up Professor Worthy to give her the best sex of her life, or anticipate that leaving him to start her post-college life would be so difficult. Their unforgettable encounter haunts her, and five years later, she finds herself back on campus for her college reunion—with a specific goal in mind. How hard could it be to convince her ex-professor to write her a letter of recommendation for graduate school?

Straight-laced Professor Aidan Worthy has adhered to his carefully-aligned morals his entire teaching career…until Bree Ross walks into his classroom. Guilt plagues him for his one transgression because that one amazing night has been seared onto his brain. When she waltzes back into his life after five years of silence, he’s not thrilled. But he can’t deny the illicit spark they once shared has not disappeared, and he worries he won’t be able to resist temptation a second time.

Over the course of the tumultuous reunion and commencement weekend at Weston University, rain, relatives, and rental cars force the two to confront their sizzling desire and burgeoning feelings. Is their passionate history enough to keep them together, or will it drive them apart?

Buy Links: Amazon | Decadent | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Amazon UK

About Libby Waterford

Libby Waterford writes steamy contemporary romances. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and works off her weekly pilgrimage to In-N-Out by swimming and climbing the city’s hidden staircases.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Email: libby@libbywaterford.com

Author Interview – Richard Brawer

Richard Brawer is visiting me today to chat up his new release, Love’s Sweet Sorrow. It’s a suspenseful story about how a couple’s love and faith are tested as they battle to expose smugglers selling weapons to terrorists.

I’ll now cede the spotlight and let him tell you all about it.

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Giveaway

Just a note to bring your attention to Richard's giveaway, details about which are at the very bottom this post. 

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1. Hi Richard, and welcome to my blog. You’re an experienced author with multiple books under your belt. What sets your new release apart from you previous works? Did you try something new with this story?

What sets Love’s Sweet Sorrow apart from my previous books is the relationship between Jason, the protagonist, and Ariel, his Quaker love interest. In my other books, the female is there to help the protagonist. They have a few spats but nothing monumental. In Love’s Sweet Sorrow the two characters are entirely different and often at odds with each other.

The introduction of the Quaker female character in Love’s Sweet Sorrow changed the entire nature of the book. It started out as a strictly suspense novel but rapidly became a romantic suspense which I had never written before.

2. Do Ariel’s beliefs become a source of conflict in your book?

Absolutely! They have been getting along well despite their differing views of the world until Ariel becomes caught up in the battle to retrieve the evidence Jason has uncovered that implicated his boss in a conspiracy to sell weapons to terrorists.

In this scene, they have been taken captive and are locked in a basement. Jason sees something he can use as a weapon and asks Ariel to help him. She refuses.

To paraphrase the dialogue this is their first verbal blowup:

“If I am not successful in making this weapon, we are going to die.”

“If that is God’s will.”

He jumped up. “God’s will! That’s the excuse you Quakers use to let someone else do your fighting for you.”

“I didn’t expect to hear that from you. I thought you were different.”

It was the first time he ever saw her angry. He hadn’t meant what he said and wanted to suck it back into his mouth the instant it came out, but he was so frustrated with her because she wouldn’t help him. “I’m sorry.”

“No you’re not. You said what you thought.”

He started to reply.

She raised her hand to silence him. “You malign me because I am true to my beliefs and the testimonies of my forbearers. In every war this country fought Friends have been branded traitors and cowards because we held fast to our beliefs that war and fighting and killing are against God’s will. Yet we were there on the front lines, unprotected, helping the wounded and those that suffered because of war.”

As the chases and escapes continue Ariel falls deeper and deeper into depression at having to abandon her convictions and Jason works very hard to try and convince her she has not forsaken her faith.

Please do not misunderstand me. Love’s Sweet Sorrow is not a religious book or Christian themed book. There is no preaching. It is a romantic suspense novel. However to show the differences between the characters I had to explain the Quaker religion both in dialogue and action scenes as depicted above. I think readers will find it interesting.

3. Let’s talk a bit about your hero, Jason. Can you tell me a bit about him and what he does for a living?

Jason is the head of the legal department of America’s largest weapons manufacturer. He is six feet two inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. That is his physical description. His depiction of himself is that he is God’s gift to women.

He is also a cynic. He says to Ariel, “If the world should blow itself up and there are only two people left, when they cross paths one will pick up a rock and throw it at the other.”

Ariel, being an idealist, responds, “I will never believe that.”

4. Considering the backgrounds of your main characters, it’s hard to imagine their lives intersecting. What brings them together? Can you share a snippet from when they first meet?

He had met her at a lawyer’s seminar, one of those boring continual education conferences that he hated, but had to attend to maintain his license. Entering the lecture hall, he had spotted the profile of a beautiful woman in the front row. He usually sat as far back as possible so he could work on a brief. It seemed the other attendees were of the same mind because, except for the woman, the first ten rows were empty. Continuing to gaze at her, he decided to forgo his normal choice of seat, thinking, maybe today wouldn’t be such a bore. He walked to her.

“Is this seat taken?”

“No.”

The lack of inflection in her voice and her banal expression threw him off balance. He thought of himself as a good-looking guy, and women must have also because they usually reacted positively when he approached them. He had fully expected a wry smile that silently asked, with all the empty seats you want to sit next to me? Okay, I’ll play.

“Jason Sorren.”

“Ariel Hammond,” she answered softly.

She didn’t sound annoyed that he had intruded on her solitude. A good sign. He was about to ask where she practiced when a speaker took the podium.

He never heard a thing the lecturer said during the entire morning session. He kept glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, her delicate nose, her alluring lips, her exquisite chin, her satiny hair that fell in soft waves across her shoulders, a vision of long, curvy legs behind a skirt that was a couple of inches below her knees. She wore no makeup, but she didn’t need it. She was gorgeous. A natural beauty.

When the seminar broke, he asked her what kind of law she practiced.

“Real estate.”

“Do you litigate?”

“I handle contracts and leases.”

Her willingness to chat healed his earlier bruised ego.

“Where do you practice?” she asked.

“Rathborn United Industries. I’m head of their legal department.”

She didn’t respond.

That reaction can’t be good. Had she had a run-in with his company? He couldn’t recall any problems with a real estate developer. Maybe it happened before he got there.

“You know Rathborn United?”

She raised her head. “I know of them. They’re an armaments manufacturer.”

“Yes, the biggest.”

She gave him a tight smile. Not a smirk that showed condemnation, but more like a look that said, I’m not pleased, but I’m not going to get all bent out of shape about it.

Something was going on between her and Rathborn United, which made him hesitant to ask her for a date, but he couldn’t resist her. He steeled himself for a rebuff, but she accepted.

5. Before I let you go—any last-minute advice for newbie authors (such as myself)?

Don’t give up. I had written four mysteries before I hit my stride with The Nano Experiment. Writing like everything else comes from doing. If you are thinking of becoming a writer you can read books about writing, but I think the best thing you can do is read books by major authors. Once you have decided you want to write, while you read you will analyze how the authors create characters, scenes and conflicts.

Find a critique group that will give you honest feedback on character development, dialogue, voice, plot, conflict and setting.  But don’t automatically take anyone’s critique as gospel.  Remember, it’s your story.  Analyze the critiques to see if they have merit.  Say you have a six person group.  If one person criticizes something then it may or may not be valid.  But if three or four in the group say the same thing about a segment then you should take it under serious consideration.

Have a lawyer go over your contract. If you or he finds something you don’t like try to get it changed. If the publisher or agent will not change that section, then you have two choices, sign or pass.

Hire an editor, or the very least, a proof reader. It is difficult for the author to proof read his own book. He knows it too well and will begin skimming.

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Since book release month is jam packed for any writer, I’ll let Richard run off. For more about the book and author, just scroll down. As always, comments are much appreciated. (And don't forget to scroll to the bottom to see the book giveaway!)

Love's Sweet Sorrow by Richard Brawer

Readers have said:

“Extremely well-crafted, with consistently excellent writing, impeccable plotting, and nicely developed characters” - Shoshana Hathaway

“I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see if they were able to resolve their differences or if they would split up. An enjoyable read from beginning to end.” - GBP and avid reader

Love’s Sweet Sorrow is available in a trade paperback and e-book wherever books are sold.

Blurb: 

A true test of love and faith... 

Jason Sorren’s and Ariel Hammond’s love and her Quaker faith are tested when Jason accidentally uncovers evidence that will expose arms smugglers selling weapons to terrorists. 

As the chases to retrieve the evidence intensify and Ariel is forced to kill to save Jason’s life, she withdraws into a battle raging inside her, unable to reconcile whom she has been to whom she has become.

Love’s Sweet Sorrow is published by Vinspire Publishing. 

Popular Buy Links: Amazon | B&N |  (E-book: $2.99, Trade Paperback: $11.99)

It also can be ordered from any bookstore by title or ISBN: 978-0-9890632-7-2

About Richard Brawer

Richard Brawer writes mystery, suspense and historical fiction novels. When not writing, he spends his time sailing and exploring local history.  He has two married daughters and lives in New Jersey with his wife. Read more about Richard and his books at his website: www.silklegacy.com

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | GoodReads | Pinterest 

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Giveaway

If you have a Kindle or a Nook, I will send “Love’s Sweet Sorrow” to the first 10 readers who respond to this blog in either Mobi format for Kindle or epub format for Nook to anyone who would like to review this book.

The only thing I ask is you read it as soon as you get it and post a review on Amazon, B & N, and if you belong, to Goodreads. I do not expect anyone to compromise their ethics because I gifted you the book. Please write what you think.

You can contact me at rich1braw(at)aol(dot)com. Please put―Lss  giveaway Tara’s blog― in the subject line so I do not delete your message as spam. Please include the e-mail address you want to use to receive the attachment and which format you need.

~ Richard Brawer

Author Interview - Greta van der Rol - Nebula Nights (A Sci-Fi #Romance Box Set)

I'm delighted to welcome fellow SFR Brigade author Greta van der Rol to my blog today. If you haven't yet heard, a group of very awesome authors got together to release the Nebula Nights box set. For the low price of $0.99, you get eleven sci-fi romances to enjoy. I've managed to snag a few spare moments from Greta so I can get details about her contribution to this collection - The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy. 

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1. Hi, Greta, and thank you for stopping by today. It’s a pleasure to be one of your hosts for the Nebula Nights tour. Could you tell us a little about your contribution to the box set?

The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy is a love story told against a backdrop of rising tension between the two sentient species in the galaxy, humans and the alien Ptorix Empire. After a massacre of Ptorix miners on a remote planet, Admiral Saahren is sacked in an attempt to appease the outraged Ptorix. He wants his job back, so goes undercover to find evidence to clear his name. In that process he meets Allysha, who was brought up with the Ptorix, can speak their language and is also an information systems expert. Saahren falls head over heels in love for the first time in his life. But Allysha is shattered when she finds out the under cover agent is really Admiral Saahren, the man she blames for the death of her father and many other civilians in an attack a few years ago. Saahren must win her trust, at least, if he is to get his job back and prevent the coming war. Of course, he also wants to win her heart.

2. If you had to describe your novel in one sentence, or, if there is a sentence in the book that captures the essence of the work as a whole, what would that sentence be and why?

Truth depends on your point of view. You know the saying that history is always written from the point of view of the winners? That's what I'm talking about. Everything we see around us, every situation, is coloured by our own standards and perceptions. And that happens in IA:C. Allysha, with her sympathy for the Ptorix, sees the attack which killed her father as a war crime. To the humans, Saahren is a hero. Which is right?

3. What was your most defining moment in your novel? Was there a point in time where a certain character had a truly standout moment, or, even for you as an author, was there a moment where during your writing process you felt that your work truly shined?

This book was the first I ever wrote and it went through a variety of incarnations. I had to learn a lot of lessons on the way, not least how to add romance to my characters. When my editor finally agreed I'd got it right, I was over the moon.

4. Avoiding spoilers, which character surprised you over the course of their development? Is this character your favorite, or is there another that you prefer?

Saahren kept on surprising me. He falls in love at first sight (yes, I do believe that happens) but he's an admiral, used to giving orders and being obeyed. Except it doesn't work like that with Allysha. He's on a long learning curve that doesn't end with this book.

5. Did your novel end the way you believed it would back when you first started writing it? Or did things change along the way?

Things changed all over the place :) But the plot did not. That was fixed a long time back. It was more who was involved in various scenes. Originally, I had intended that Saahren take up his role as a leader, from a distance, much earlier. Rather than be involved in the hand to hand fighting (so to speak) he would be forced to send Allysha with a team to do the dirty work. It was an agent who suggested the story would work better as a romance if he became an undercover agent. And she was right.

6. As I’m sure you know, the romance genre is vast, spanning countless subgenres and even crossing or mixing genres. What, do you think, sets your book apart from the rest of the other novels in the genre?

My novel combines action, politics and romance set against a backdrop of war with an alien species. More than one person has compared the book to Star Wars or Star Trek – but with a romance in the mix. I think that's a fair assessment. But I'll add that the science in my book is a bit better than you'll find in Star Wars.

7. What drew you to the romance genre? Did you know from the start that your book was going to be a romance, or did the plot develop into one?

I'm not actually a romance reader, never read Mills & Boon. Although I did enjoy the Angelique books. I always was (still am) a science fiction reader, but that very human romance element was so often skipped over, or omitted altogether. SF was books for the boys. The pulp fiction covers said it all, token scantily-dressed, swooning female being rescued by the bronzed alpha male. So I guess what I always intended was for something with the flavour of Star Wars, but with that romance arc. I mean, sex is a pretty timeless element, isn't it?

8. What would you say to readers who are hesitant to try reading books in the romance genre?

Romance has so many sub-genres there's something for everyone. If you like science fiction, you may well like SF romance. If you like historical fiction, you'll probably like historical romance. Romance is a huge part of life, which has had a compelling influence on our history.

9. Behind every great author, there’s a great reader. Who are some of your favorite authors? Who inspires you?

There are so many. I'll mention only a few. Anne McCaffrey, whose Pern novels are without a doubt science fiction romance. Elizabeth Moon, who included romantic elements in her Serrano and Vatta series. (I suspect she had to tone down the romance in those books to appease the SF boys only club) Jack McDevitt's Benedict novels, which combine hard science with made up but very convincing history. And I must include Terry Pratchett, because I love his work.

10. Last question, what’s up next for you? Do you have any projects you’re working on right now? What are your future plans?

I'm still writing science fiction romance. I've started a new series in a different universe from the Iron Admiral's. It's called Morgan's Misfits, a spin off from my most successful Morgan Selwood books. Which reminds me, I really must get on with that Work in Progress.

Thanks so much for hosting me, and asking such thought-provoking questions.

The pleasure was definitely all mine!

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Nebula Nights: Love Among The Stars

by Melisse Aires, SJ Pajonas, PK Hrezo, C.E. Kilgore, Cathryn Cade, Catrina Taylor, Veronica Scott, Lyn Brittan, Pauline Baird Jones, K.G. Stutts, and Greta van der Rol

11 Sci-Fi Romances that’ll sweep you away! 

If you like your science fiction blazing with adventure and your space opera spiced with romance, this boxed set is for you. From first contact to battles for survival and love on war-torn planets, this collection from bestselling & award winning authors, including Cathryn Cade, Veronica Scott, PK Hrezo and more, will leave you sighing with satisfaction. 

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | AllRomance | Kobo

Her Cyborg Awakes by Melisse Aires 
Her gentle cyborg servant helped her escape violence--but now he's changed into a warrior! Is he safe? 

Removed (The Nogiku Series, #1) by SJ Pajonas 
In this Japan-inspired tale, one woman’s family destiny is key to the survival of the last city on Earth. 

Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. by PK Hrezo 
Welcome to Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your hands.

Noelle In His Heart by C.E. Kilgore
Noelle wishes for someone who understands she has love to give but commitments to honor. Stranded on Earth, Steve longs for someone who will understand that his alien heart can love just as deeply. 

Stark Pleasure: the Space Magnate's Mistress by Cathryn Cade 
Kiri te Nawa survives the perils of the galaxy on her wits ... although when it comes to space magnate Logan Stark, she’d rather use her body. But can she trust him with her secrets? 

Birth of an Empire: The Beginning by Catrina Taylor 
Three former genetic experiments chose peace over war in a sector that's known only war for a century. As each one squares against their governments they will question the experiences that guide them. 

Escape From Zulaire by Veronica Scott 
When the planet erupts into war, Sectors Special Forces Captain Tom Deverane must decide whether to save Andi Markriss, the intergalactic businesswoman he loves, or sacrifice her to save Zulaire. 

Solia's Moon by Lyn Brittan 
SFR Galaxy Award Winner! When Dr. Solia uncovers her company's foray into creating humanoid life, she enlists the help of her handsome ex, Sheriff Sable, in bringing a little justice to the universe. 

The Key by Pauline Baird Jones 
Her orders are simple: do the impossible and do it yesterday. But this time the impossible might actually be impossible. The only way it could get worse? If her heart starts beating for the wrong guy. 

The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy by Greta van der Rol 
The Galaxy teeters on the brink of war. Can ex-admiral Saahren persuade the woman who hates him to help him prevent the coming conflagration? And perhaps even love him? 

Mirror Image by KG Stutts 
Maddie's entire world is turned upside down when she finds out that she is a clone. Now she must work with her counterpart to protect Earth.