Interview with Narrator Zachary Johnson and Giveaway for Quest of the Dreamwalker

Please help me welcome audiobook narrator Zachary Johnson to Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf.

M: Hello Zachary – Thank you for joining me in the blog world at Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf and for sharing a bit about your experience as a book narrator.

ZJ: Thank you so much for having me! I'm thrilled to be here!

M: I’m going to jump right in and ask if you would briefly share a little of your background and more particularly, what experience you had with theater, media, announcing etc. that led to you becoming a narrator.

ZJ: Sure thing! In school, I was always the kid teachers would call on to read stuff out loud, so you could argue I got my start very young, but I actually didn't start formal training in acting until I was 21. I studied at a school called Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop for two years. My dad and I actually took some classes there together. It was one of those “I secretly really want to do this but I'll only do it if you do” things. Probably one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. I think that was what really made me want to give it a try in some form. The transition from the stage to the booth was somewhat jarring at first, but I'm an introvert, so it works well for me. It's kinda nice to have a little imagination chamber where I can act out the books as I read them and get paid for the privilege!

M: That is very cool to have taken classes with your Dad. As more background, did you always like reading and did you listen to audiobooks before entering the field?

ZJ: I loved reading from a very young age. My dad actually read the first four Harry Potter books to me when I was little. I think my interest really started there. I was just old enough to read books three and four myself, but I always liked it better the way he told it. There was something magical about it being brought to life by a good reader. He always put expression and nuance in the dialogue. It was wonderful. Plus we could geek out about it afterwards. I think, looking back, that's where my interest in the whole craft of reading out loud started, even if I didn't know it at the time. I became a pretty avid reader after that. I was always the kid with a book in high school, and in my adult life I really fell in love with science fiction and fantasy. I started reading Neil Gaiman, James S.A. Corey, whatever I could get my hands on. Still do. I just finished The Fold by Peter Clines, and, as of the time of writing, I'm reading The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.

As for audiobooks, I had listened to a few before I tried my hand at it. Jim Dale's reading of Harry Potter was a big one for me. I absolutely loved his voice. I think that was my first example of an audiobook so perfectly cast you really can't imagine anyone else reading it. My in earnest consumption of audiobooks began shortly after I finished my third project, a book called SIMPOC: Human Remants. Someone who had listened to and enjoyed one of my projects was kind enough to invite me to a group of avid audiobook listeners on Facebook and I mentioned that I wasn't a huge consumer of the medium. A fellow narrator in the group promptly set me straight with the admonition that “listening to audiobooks is a critical part of our jobs.” I can emphatically state that he was right. I started listening to Scott Brick and was immediately hooked. Now I frequently have one playing on my commutes to work or any long drive, really. It's amazing what one can learn from another narrator's style of performance. They might have a speech quirk or an emphasis pattern or a delivery style or character voice that could be just what I need for a future project!

M: I agree that Jim Dale did a fabulous job with the narration of the Harry Potter series. 
How do you prepare for a particular work? Do you read the book or talk to the author beforehand? For example, when I listened to Quest of the Dreamwalker, it seemed like you knew the characters and you knew exactly where the book was going so it seemed that you had read the entire book first.

ZJ: Oh yeah. Both. All the time. Talking to the author and hashing out the voices is absolutely critical, as is reading the book beforehand. I like to go through and highlight the text to help me when I'm narrating. It indicates what lines require emphasis or signify a tonal shift of some kind. Notes in the margins, things like musings on the tone of the piece, or even just one-word reactions are good (frequently my one word reactions are just things like “s***” when something bad happens; seeing it while I'm narrating helps me get in that state of mind and live it with the characters). It also helps to know of any plot twists or major developments in advance of performing the book, as it helps to highlight the foreshadowing during the narration. For Quest of the Dreamwalker, I think I ended up reading it three times before I recorded it. I kept getting sick and couldn't record, so I'd just make more and more notes in the text so that, when I finally could, it would be the best it could be.

M: I was certainly impressed with your narration in Quest of the Dreamwalket which seemed "spot on".
Do you work on developing special voices for each character or do you focus more on the emotional inflection to carry the personality of the character? Does this vary depending on the project?

ZJ: I use accents frequently, though I always check with the author before incorporating those. Some, like Quest of the Dreamwalker, feature sprawling fantasy universes wherein it makes sense for the language to have diverged a bit from culture to culture, so I can vary accents by the region the character hails from, some with a Scottish accent, some with a British one, others borderline Australian, that kinda thing. In terms of doing special voices, I would say I'm definitely more in the “emotional inflection” camp if characters are from the same area and have the same accent. Certainly I can make one voice lower and another more nasal and another a bit more gravelly, but I have to be careful not to stray into caricature territory unless that's what the character calls for. Sometimes ridiculously exaggerated mannerisms work, but in those cases, I've found the author usually has a pretty specific voice in mind.

How I approach it is indeed unique to the project I'm working on, but I've found that, by and large, my biggest asset in character voice development is my tendency to read character dialogue out loud to myself anyway when I'm reading, whether for business or for pleasure. Usually, as I get to know a character, their voice will start to take on certain characteristics that come to define them, and, in some cases, it's even helped to write down a list of adjectives to describe the voice as it's forming. I also like to send a sample reel to the author before I begin performing, containing a line from every significant character in the book. That way, the author can direct me as much as possible before I really dive in.

M: I really enjoyed your accents in Quest of the Dreamwalker.
I'm curious, do you work in a studio or at home?

ZJ: At home. I lined my closet with foam mattress toppers to sound treat it and set up a microphone, an audio interface, a chair, and a little desk with a wireless keyboard on it so I can keep my computer outside and my booth free of fan noise. It also doubles as a wardrobe and a triples as a small book repository. It's cozy.

M: That does sound like a cozy spot - if a bit crowed - in a nice way with books especially.
In your opinion, what makes a good narrator? Do you have any advice you would you give to narrator-hopefuls?

ZJ: I would say that a good narrator is someone who is able to feel what the characters are feeling and who can bring that emotion into their read. I love when the narrator seems emotionally invested in what's going on. An audiobook told that way can take on the magical quality of stories told by firelight during childhood. It's amazing.

As for hopefuls, here are a few things I've learned:

1. If you've not yet tried the craft, but are considering it, test yourself by reading out loud to yourself in a closet for an hour or two a day. Do this every day for two weeks. If you enjoy it, you're probably possessed of the temperament to narrate. So happy reading!
2. Don't skimp on the equipment. Really do some research and get the tools that will make you sound professional. It'll take some saving up, but it's worth it. If you know a good sound engineer, talk to them. See what you can get that's both capable of producing a quality sound and saving your bank account undue evisceration.
3. Listen to audiobooks. You never know what you can learn from a fellow performer.
4. Understand that rejection is almost never personal. That author you've submitted to wants to make the job offer as badly as you want to get it, but it's just the nature of creative work that certain people are better suited for certain jobs. You could be an absolutely sterling example of your narration niche, but it's just that: a niche. No one voice is suited to every single story. Some require a deep, thrumming tone. Some require a gentle, soothing read. And some require you. Find those jobs, and be at your best when they appear. Lincoln said it best: “I will study and prepare myself, and someday, my chance will come.”

M: That sounds like very good advise.
I don't think I really appreciated how much work is involved, in addition to skills, in being a good narrator. The narration in Quest of the Dreamwalker helped me recognize this in you as a new narrator for me. You certainly succeeded as a wonderful storyteller for me. 

Thank you again for stopping by. It was nice chatting with you, Zach! Where can folks go to find out more about you and your work?

ZJ: It has been my pleasure! If you're interested in checking out projects I've narrated, you can follow this link here:
http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_1_srNarr?searchNarrator=Zachary+Johnson&qid=1497326122&sr=1-1

I can also be found on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/zacharyjohnsonvo/
[M comment: Zach has a cute bunny gif if you scroll down his facebook; not to mention a photo with his mouth stuffed with marshmallows for voice effect!]

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/zjohnson1020

And, of course, ACX:

https://www.acx.com/narrator?p=A3BTDM4SYY7KM1

And again, thank you! Happy listening, everybody!
-Zach

[M: Image from ACX]

GIVEAWAY:
TWO WINNERS: Audible Credit Code for Quest of the Dreamwalker download. One for US Listener and One for UK listener.
(Codes courtesy of the author and narrator.)

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!)
For 3 Extra Bonus entries
(a) comment on the review, OR
(b) Comment on this Narrator Interview.

* This contest is open to US and UK for Audible Code.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) July 1, 2017. Winner will be announced in the Sunday Post on July 2, 2017.
Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email

Interview with narrator James C. Lewis

Interview with narrator James C. Lewis

Tell us a little about yourself.

I've worked in some form of media all my life, starting out at age 15. First radio, then I hosted a local television show, "Sock Hop". It was a local knockoff of "American Bandstand". Later I transitioned into newspaper reporting and photography. Then TV news. And, finally, television weather. Even now, I'm recognized in Nashville as "the weather guy" and it's been over 10 years since I was there.

How do you prepare for accents and different characters?

Once I was narrating a book of 19th century preachers in Wales. One of them was from Cynghordy, a village in the rural community of Llanfair-ar-y-bryn in Carmarhenshire. Oh my! I went to my usual sources: You Tube and several web sites. Finally I called Spire Hospital in Cardiff, the capital. (I have a phone plan that costs only one cent per minute for international calls.) But they were too busy saving lives and hung up on me. Then I phoned up the newspaper, the South Wales Argus in Cardiff. The young reporter thought I was joking. But I convinced him I was on the level. And he helped me right away! I think that my decidedly American accent may have helped.

Are there any genres you prefer narrating?

I have a fondness for crime fiction and spy dramas. I come from a journalism background. At one time, I was a police reporter in Seattle and I came to deeply respect cops and their emotionally taxing jobs. And I enjoy being the voice of the tall tough-talking private detective with the snazzy girlfriend. (I’m not very tall. But please keep that information just between us.)

Will you narrate any book if the conditions are right?

I have narrated a wide range of books but not erotica. But I’ve narrated some horror fiction with really creepy monsters. (They’re actually the best!)

What is the hardest part of narrating a book?

The hardest part is finding the voice of the character. Is the character old, young, angry, happy, educated, ignorant? And of course where are they from. I find that evil characters from Eastern Europe are the easiest to do. And it’s hard being confined to a small studio by myself (other than the character’s voices). 

How is it working with the author?

I really like Lauren Carr’s work. Being the voice of Mac Faraday is great fun. Lauren writes for the ear as well as the eye. She would be a great screen writer. (And she’s wonderful to work with!)

Interview with Sean Danker, Author of Admiral, Plus Giveaway!

MBS is pleased to welcome Sean Danker, author of Admiral, for interview today.
I enjoyed this sci fi mystery adventure. Please see my REVIEW for more information about the book. 

Q1. Why sci fi mystery? What do you enjoy most about writing, and reading, in the genre?

SEAN: I've always been into mysteries, and SF appeals to me because it's home to straightforward, exciting things like creature features, but it can also be used to explore larger and more complex issues.

Q2. What inspired you to write this particular story?

SEAN: I really wanted to do something in space - there's been a lot of SF in my life, so it was kind of a given that at some point I'd write a space opera. With Admiral, I got to combine the things that characterize my writing in other genres with the things I really like in science fiction.

Q3. What is the biggest obstacle you have to overcome when you want to write?
SEAN: Deciding which projects to pursue has been a struggle for me. Sometimes the book I want to write isn't necessarily the most commercially viable book to write. I have to find a balance.

Q4. Can you please share one thing you found surprising or unusual when researching or writing Admiral?
SEAN: I originally wrote Admiral as a standalone novel telling a very contained story; I was worried when I was asked to turn it into a series, but the story actually lent itself very well to sequels and an overarching story - that surprised me, but I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out.

Q5. Do your work career/hobbies/interests influence your writing?
SEAN: My hobbies and interests certainly do, but I try to keep fiction and my professional life separate.

Q6. What are some of the best tips you’ve received on writing and what one tip would you pass on to new authors?
SEAN: The best tip I've ever gotten is to persevere - whether in the writing itself or the publication process. Not giving up is important in any career. A thick skin and a willingness to cooperate are good to have too.

Q7. What do you normally read and what are you reading now?
SEAN: My reading's pretty eclectic, but at the moment I'm reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Q8. Are the interesting portraits on your blog your own art work? Renderings of your views of your characters?
SEAN: There might be some of my work on the site somewhere, but the vast majority of what goes into the blog posts is done by other artists.

Thank you for sharing with your readers.

ABOUT SEAN DANKER:

Sean Danker has been writing since he was fifteen. He read entirely too much Asimov in college, and now we’re all paying the price for it. His hobbies include biting off more than he can chew, feeling sorry for himself on Twitter, and telling people to lighten up. He is currently serving in the military on a base in North Dakota. Find the author online at http://evagard.com/

 

GIVEAWAY

One print book from the Publisher; US only

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review, the interview OR

(b) Visit the Author's website and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US only for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) May 14, 2016.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after May 14, 2016.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Author Interview with Giveaway: Mary Burton Author of No Escape

MEET MARY BURTON...

       Mary Burton enjoys the hunt. This New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist, whose work has been compared to that of Steig Larson*, Lisa Gardner**, and Lisa Jackson***, has been intrigued by investigative work and the people who do it since Virginia, her home state, was stung by a string of serial killings that spanned more than twenty years. Not surprisingly, many of her suspense novels are fueled by the acts of multiple killers and the people who pursue them, as is NO ESCAPE, Mary's latest novel and the second in a trio of stories set in and around Austin. There she calls upon the people and resources of the state's lead investigative team, the Texas Rangers.

       NO ESCAPE's predecessor, THE SEVENTH VICTIM quickly became a USA Today bestseller. It was praised by reviewers, including Publishers Weekly, which says it "delivers action-packed suspense" and calls it "compelling.” Suspense Magazine hailed it as “an excellent thriller” and a “saga that readers will find unbelievably hard to put down.”
      Mary's admiration for the work of law enforcement and the skills, insights and tools necessary to do it, is evident even in her earliest forays into suspense, such as In Dark Waters, in which a romance evolves when the Sheriff's office is called upon to solve a murder in rural Virginia. Future plots explored arson investigation, flaws within a witness protection program, and the reopening of a cold case.
       Beginning with her novel I'm Watching You, Mary started connecting several cases and characters within the same department or agency. For I'm Watching You she invented a homicide unit for her hometown of Richmond, defined its strengths, weaknesses and resources, and kept those characters and elements in place through two additional stand-alone, but related, books, Dead Ringer and Dying Scream.
       The three-book arc provided numerous creative options, especially as regards character development. This larger canvas allowed her to incorporate more of the forensic and procedural detail that fascinates her and her readers, and created new opportunities to explore dynamics unique to investigators working together over time.
       Her other "connected" novels are Senseless, Merciless and Before She Dies, all set in Alexandria, and THE SEVENTH VICTIM, NO ESCAPE and YOU'RE NOT SAFE, which is being published in April 2014.
       Mary's research has led her to interview a wide range of law enforcement personnel, to attend forensic seminars and to handle weaponry at the firing range. She is a graduate of the Henrico County Citizens Police Academy and the Richmond FBI Citizen's Academy, and has attended Sisters in Crime's Forensic University program and the Writers Police Academy in Jamestown, North Carolina, where the focus was on undercover work, autopsies, and the theories behind why people kill.
       Despite her emphasis on hard facts related to the crimes she writes about, Mary's approach to each new novel is psychological. She backs away from details, whether it's forensic research or a plot point she's already fixating upon. To begin her story she needs answers to three questions about her killers: why do they kill, what demons drive them, and how do they choose their victims. The answers are critical to her plot, she says, just as they are for detectives solving a murder.
       A Richmond native whose family roots run as deep as the nation's, Mary has lived there for most of her life. She graduated from Virginia's Hollins University and worked in marketing before deciding to write full time. Her first manuscript, a historical romance, was published in 2000.
       Mary wrote several more romance novels and three novellas before embracing the dark world of suspense. She even managed to bring danger to her holiday novella, Christmas Past, which appears in the New York Times bestselling holiday anthology Silver Bells.
       The author of twenty published novels and four novellas, Mary is a member of Thriller Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, for which she is president of the Central Virginia chapter. She travels frequently for signings, speaking engagements and other appearances. She is a frequent speaker at conferences, book festivals, book stores and libraries regarding writing and genre fiction, and is frequently asked to present her "Unraveling Romantic Suspense" workshop or her day-long program "Writing Your Book...The First Step."
       An avid baker and an accomplished cook, Mary's discovered that the creativity of the kitchen entwines with her professional routine in unanticipated ways. It’s her ideal retreat when the writing hits a rough spot. Once there, she's working out dialogue, untangling plot lines and figuring out how to trap a killer before the oven has a chance to preheat.
       When not committing murder, Mary pursues her Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate at the University of Richmond's Culinary Arts Program, and continues her involvement and appearances on behalf of Coordinators2inc, a lifetime adoption resource organization. She and her husband spend time alternately enjoying and lamenting their newly empty nest and spoiling their miniature dachshunds Buddy and Bella.
       Mary is currently at work on her next novel, set in Nashville, and anticipating the November publication of her new Union Street Bakery novel, Sweet Expectations, written as Mary Ellen Taylor.

*Publishers Weekly, **Library Journal, ***Library Journal

www.maryburton.com    http://www.facebook.com/maryburtonfanpage   www.kensingtonbooks.com

NO ESCAPE by Mary Burton

Zebra Books/Mass Market Original/Fiction

November 2013/On Sale 10-29-13/$7.99 ($8.99 Canada)

978-1-4201-2506-1

I was pleased to ask Ms. Burton a few more questions about her writing:

Q1. What inspires you to write the different genres you write– Romantic Suspense, Historical Fiction and Women’s Fiction? Do you have plans to write in any other genres?

MB:  I love to write and sometimes a story just fits into a certain genre.  Some are fast-paced mystery/thrillers and others are more introspective and emotional. If a story really excites me I’ll find a way to write it.

Q2. Is there a big transition in your writing style from one genre to another?

MB:  There is a huge difference between my suspense and my women’s fiction stories. The suspense novels are written as edgy page turners and have some real dark moments. The women’s fiction novels are a little slower paced and I can take more time to explore emotions.

Q3. Do your characters live with you or haunt your dreams as you write?

MB:  They haunt me. I’m always thinking about the next story and, as they take form, the characters seem to get louder and louder. I know that sounds a little crazy but I think most writers will tell you that their characters are constantly tapping them on the shoulder and shouting for attention.

Q4. What is one of the best tips you’ve received on writing?

MB:  Write every day. When you write every day your skills really sharpen and you don’t lose the thread of your story. When I take long breaks I lose the habit of writing so I’ve learned to keep the breaks short.

Q5. What is the single most important thing you've learned about managing your career?

MB:  Be a professional. Write the best stories you can but be mindful of your deadlines and be kind and polite to the folks you meet along the way.

Q6. What is the craziest thing you've done to research a story idea?

MB:  I attended a shallow grave seminar at the Writers’ Police Academy. It was a fascinating afternoon and it inspired NO ESCAPE.

Q7. What do you hope your readers get out of your books?

MB:  I want to pull them out of real life and take them on a great ride. My hope is that the story keeps them up way past their bedtime and maybe they forget to cook dinner or switch the laundry along the way.

I have to say that Ms. Burton succeeded in her goal by pulling me into NO ESCAPE!

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for a Print Copy from the publicist:

ENTRY FORM HERE

Don't forget to fill in the form for entry! 

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.  

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Comment on the Author's bio or Interview.

For additional 3 Extra bonus entries, Comment on the Review Post. 

* This contest is open to those with US or Canada address only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 8, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after November 8, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Author Interview plus Giveaway: Barbara Bretton, author of The Crosse Harbor Time Travel Trilogy

Please help me welcome Barbara Bretton and enjoy the insightful answers provided in this Interview.

About the Author:
Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.

Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette, among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.

Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.

Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.
WEB: www.barbarabretton.com
FACEBOOK:  www.facebook.com/barbarabretton
TWITTER:  www.twitter.com/barbarabretton
GOODREADS:  www.goodreads.com/Barbara_Bretton
RAVELRY:  www.ravelry.com/wickedsplitty

 Learn more from Barbara's answers below:

Q1.  I have read some of your contemporary fiction and really enjoyed the easy flow. Now I am excited to read the time travels. Is there a big transition in your writing style from one genre to another?

BB:
Hi, Martha! Thanks so much for hosting me today. I love Q&A interviews.

Thanks, also, for the kind words about my contemporaries. Good question about writing style. I think my style is essentially the same from genre to genre with a few minor differences. (Word choice in historicals comes to mind.) I tend to write in a conversational style which (I hope) lends itself to easy, effortless reading. I don't want to get between the reader and the story.

Q2.  I love series and I am always curious: When you do a series do you have each book plotted out before you start the first one or do the subsequent books flow from the first book?

BB:
I'm taking a deep breath here before I plunge ahead with the answer. The truth? I don't plot. I was a great plotter with my first ten books and then something happened (A comet? A meteor?) and suddenly I didn't want any part of plotting. I went from plotter to what they currently call "pantser" in the blink of an eye. There was something very comforting about having an outline to follow but that same sense of comfort also deadened the excitement. At least it did for me. I love not knowing what's going to happen when I hit the keyboard.

And here's another dark truth: I never once planned to write a series. In each instance I had a single, clear idea and a passion to write it that I guess transmitted itself to my publishers who (to my delight) subsequently asked for me to continue the storylines.

Q3.  What most inspires your plots?

BB:
So many things! The Time Travel trilogy came to life when a hot-air balloon landed in the parking lot of my parents' condo. My Sugar Maple series sprang to life in my dentist's waiting room. I was leafing through a brochure on dental implants (fun reading, right?) and found myself wondering what happens to a vampire with tooth troubles. Sometimes it's a whisper of conversation overheard in a diner or a photograph in a magazine that lingers long after I've turned the page.

Q4.  If you could jump into a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

BB:
Right now I'm re-reading Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels so I'd probably like to be transported to his fictional Boston and be Susan Silverman for a day. And I'm almost (but not quite) embarrassed to admit that it would be fun to be the heroine of one of Victoria Holt's wonderful classic Gothic novels. Maybe I could be the Bride of Pendorric or Mistress of Mellyn. I cut my romance-reading teeth on those books when I was a teenager and I still love them.

Q5.  Have you had to do any unique research or what was one of the most surprising things you learned in researching for any of your books?

BB:
Some years ago I was lucky enough to be chosen to participate in Harlequin American's Century of American Romance project, a series of romances each set in a different decade of the 20th century. It was an ambitious project and we were all over-the-moon excited about it. I was given the privilege of writing about the 1940s and 1950s which meant some of the best research opportunities of my life. I had always loved my parents' stories about World War II and this gave me the chance to sit down and really listen. Not as a daughter but as a writer.

Be careful what you wish for! My dad's stories were mostly about being a Sea Bee in New Guinea, but my mom's were filled with Manhattan in the 1940s, of whirlwind romances and being a real life Rosie the Riveter and dancing the night away at the Stork Club  and Copacabana. I'd heard the stories a thousand times before but this time I listened differently and the past became as real to me as the world I was living in.

And then came the Big Surprise. My mom had been engaged twice before she met and fell in love with my father and one of those men died in Europe during the War. The funny thing is, it wasn't my mother who told me. It was my dad. She was furious that he'd blurted out her "secret" and distraught that I might think less of her.

Think less of her?! It only made me want to hear every single story she had to tell.

My parents both died in 2001 (within four months of each other) and I'm so grateful I had the chance to sit down and really listen to the stories of their lives when I had the chance.

Q6.  How do you handle it when some element of what you're writing decides that it just doesn't want to work the way you want it to?

BB:
Like any professional writer: first I cry, then I reach for the chocolate.

Once I emerge from my chocolate coma, I sit down and take a hard look at the material and nine times out of ten I discover that I made a wrong turn somewhere along the line and I have to take a scalpel to the manuscript and slice my way back down to the bones of the story.

Q7.  You have been writing for many years. Is there anything you see that is different in style or writing technique or tools from when you first became published?

BB:
Where do I start?? I've been re-reading some of my older books recently (think early to mid 1980s) and the difference in style and technique is astonishing. Technology has changed so dramatically in the last 30 years that most plot twists could be eliminated with a cell phone call or a minute with Google. But beyond that I'd say the long-winded descriptions of clothing and food have been stripped to the bone . . . and in a good way. Female characters are stronger, more independent. Male characters, even our beloved Alpha males, have been forced to adapt to the changing social landscape.

Storytelling is faster-paced, leaner, more dialogue-heavy than narrative-rich. I've often wondered if that's partially a result of creating on a computer. I wrote my first books by hand then typed (yes, typed!) them at the kitchen table on an old IBM Selectric. This was back in the days when you had to make sloppy, annoying carbon copies and sit there painstakingly daubing Liquid Paper over your typos. While I wouldn't want to go back to the pre-computer days, I have to admit there was something very satisfying about watching that stack of pages mount up.

Research meant a trip to the library and maybe a long wait for special order volumes to be delivered. Communication with publishers was snail mail. Writers haunted their mailboxes for acceptance checks or the dreaded rejection letters. A writer's life revolved around the post office: sending off our work, waiting to find out what The Powers That Be thought of it.

And everything took a veeeerrryyy loooonnnnggggg time.

Q8.  Which character did you have the most fun with in the Time Travel trilogy, and why do you choose that character?

BB:
My smart-mouth psychic librarian Dakota Wylie, hands down. She popped up early in TOMORROW & ALWAYS and I was a goner. There's something about secondary characters that seems to free a writer and make them much easier to write than the primary characters. Dakota is funny, painfully honest, curious about this world and what may lie beyond, unlucky in love, addicted to donuts, and willing to grab hold of adventure when it comes her way. What's not to like? Dakota didn't come with the romantic baggage Emilie and Shannon brought with them and that was part of what made her such a delight. She was as close to a clean slate as I was ever going to find. So it was pretty much of a no-brainer when she got her own book and her own hero, DESTINY'S CHILD, Crosse Harbor #3.

Q9.  What three words would you use to describe yourself and your personality?

BB:
Happy. Spontaneous. Creative.

Q10.  If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be?

BB:
I wish I could . . .

Thank you so much for taking time to share (both your writing and this interview) with readers.

BB:
It was my pleasure entirely. This was fun! Besides, we Marthas have to stick together.
--Barbara Martha Anne Bretton

Isn't that cool she shares my name too!
Visit all the tour stops linked at Bewitching Book Tour.

Somewhere in Time is currently free for download from iTunes, Amazon, Smashwords. It can be downloaded in all formats from this Smashwords link.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for an AUDIO VERSION OF SOMEWHERE IN TIME - Digital Format:

ENTRY FORM HERE

Don't forget to fill in the form for entry! 

I have noticed a few commentors who forgot to enter through the Form. 

For 3 Extra Bonus entries COMMENT ON THE INTERVIEW above or Complete the sentence started by Barbara (BB) at Q10.
For 2 Extra Bonus entries COMMENT ON THE REVIEW.

* This contest is open to anyone who can download digital audio.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on June 21, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on June 22, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Interview with Wendy Vella, Author of The Reluctant Countess

Please help me welcome Wendy Vella, author of The Reluctant Countess, to Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf.

M:  First, let me say "Congratulations" on your debut novel, The Reluctant Countess.
Wendy: Thanks so much and thank you for having me on your wonderful blog site.

Q1.  I'm always interested to discover the story behind the story. Where did the inspiration for The Reluctant Countess come from?
Wendy:  I was actually looking online for a competition to enter and found one that gave you a scenario for the opening scene; handsome Earl, mysterious Countess and they were both in a ballroom. I’ve never written a story from someone else’s idea before it was quite an interesting exercise and, ‘The Reluctant Countess’ grew from there. I never entered the competition but the book turned out well.

M: Yes, the book turned out well! I’m glad you expanded on the opening scene.
Q2.  What inspired you to write this genre??
Wendy:  The first book I read was Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades, and I was pretty much hooked from the opening page. I loved the idea of writing about an era that I knew so little about and that I or nobody I have ever known has lived in. You do get a certain amount of freedom too, because we know only what we’ve learnt in books not through our own experiences. It’s important that it’s historically correct of course but you can let your imagination run riot. 

M: Georgette Heyer is classic for Historical Romance, especially with that touch of mystery that you brought to The Reluctant Countess.
Q3.  Is there an ancillary character in this book that you had a lot or fun with? Might they appear in a future book?
Wendy:  Lord Sumner was great fun to write.  He’s Patrick, the hero’s, best friend and also finds love in ‘The Reluctant Countess.’ He’s the opposite of Patrick, he laughs often and jokes a lot and has some great one liners in the book. Unfortunately he won’t get his own book because his romance is tied up neatly in the end too. I love his relationship with Patrick, he’s probably the only one in the book who doesn’t give Patrick an inch, and he’s always challenging him.

M:  Yes. Stephen, Lord Sumner, was a great sidekick and provided lots of added color and fun.
Q4.  What would you say makes a romance novel a great love story?
Wendy:  I think a romance novel has to have several elements to make it great; humor is big for me and characters that are not quite perfect. I love sharp dialogue but most of all I love a bit of intrigue. I like stories where the hero and heroine finally get together despite the obstacles they had to hurdle to find each other.

M:  All of those are good elements and I like how you worked them together well in your story.
Q5. Would you please share a surprising thing about your experience writing this book, or about your research?
Wendy:  I didn’t end up using it in the book, but I was researching shops in London and came across the Cow Keepers Shop in Golden Lane in the city of London. The shop was the ground floor of his house where the cows were kept in well ventilated stalls.  People and the milk maids could come and purchase their milk, I thought this was ingenious!

M: Very interesting and thanks for the image!
Q6.  Is any of your writing from your own experiences or is it completely your imagination?
Wendy:  No it’s all my imagination. I do use some traits in my characters from people I know, but mostly it’s just inside my head. It can get a busy in there at times.

M: I appreciate a busy imagination especially when it gets shared in writing!
Q7.  Do your work career/hobbies/interests influence your writing?
Wendy:  Probably only in so far as they limit my ability to write as often as I would like. I work full time and write in the evenings but I’m also a road cyclist so that takes up a bit of time as sometimes my husband and I can be out on the roads for a few hours. I’ve always found the time to write each day and usually fit in 2 to 3 hours most nights.

M: I’m glad you fit the writing time in and share with readers like me.
Q8.  When you get time to read what authors do you read?
Wendy: I have my favorites; Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn and Nora Roberts, but there are so many more who I enjoy, but these are the ones whose books I read as soon as they come out.

M: I agree with several of these… I just have been busy reading “new-to-me” authors like you. J
Q9.  What do you hope your readers get out of your book?
Wendy: I hope my readers enjoy Patrick and Sophie’s journey as much as I did writing it. I hope they laugh and cry and sigh, but most importantly I hope they can’t put it down.

M:  Success - As I noted in my review it does keep you glued and not wanting to put it down.
Q10.   If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be?

***Wendy: She picked up her skirts and ran towards him as he came through the door, she was distraught and his blood ran cold as he heard her say…

M: Thank you for taking time to share.

Wendy Vella is a lover of all things romantic. She started reading her first Georgette Heyer book at a young age and instantly fell in love with the Regency era. Writing is something she has always found time for; she penned her first novel at eighteen though she says it will never make an appearance further than the closet in which it currently resides.

After having her two children Wendy then joined RWNZ and started honing her chosen craft by entering competitions with some success and attending conferences. Her Clendon and Readers Choice award-winning historical romance The Reluctant Countess will debut in Jan 2013 with Random House in their Loveswept line.

She has an addiction to reading and loves a wide range of genres while her first love will always be historical. She relishes novels steeped in Romance and excitement with feisty heroines and delicious heroes, especially when they are set amongst the treacherous waters of London society.

Wendy is a sucker for a happy ending having secured her own. She has been married to her own dark brooding hero for 28 years and shares her home with two wonderful children, two dogs and anyone else who happens to be visiting at the time. Born and raised in a rural area in the North Island of New Zealand, Wendy loves the beaches and lush green rolling hills of her homeland and is proud to call herself a very patriotic Kiwi!

Visit my website: http://www.wendyvella.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/AuthorWendyVella
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/wendy_vella
Email: wendy@wendyvella.com

“THE RELUCTANT COUNTESS” can be purchased from Random House Inc. http://www.randomhouse.com/book/221633/the-reluctant-countess-by-wendy-vella

From Wendy Vella comes a Cinderella story of whirlwind passion between a dashing earl and a beautiful countess—and the secret that threatens to tear them apart.

Regal, poised, and elegant, Sophie, Countess of Monmouth, is everything that a highborn lady should be. But Sophie is hiding a past that is far from royal. When Patrick, Earl of Coulter, realizes that her story doesn’t add up, he resolves to find out the truth of what Sophie and her sister-in-law are concealing. Although Sophie has every reason to avoid him, the handsome and charismatic Patrick awakens something wicked deep within her soul . . . a powerful need that Sophie must stifle in order to protect her place in society.

Despite Sophie’s humble background, the raven-haired beauty has won Patrick’s heart. But what Sophie needs now is an ally. Viscount Myles Dumbly, the disgruntled former heir of Monmouth, is determined to expose Sophie as a fraud to recapture his lost inheritance. Soon Patrick is drawn into a fight for both their lives. Somehow he must find a way not only to rescue Sophie from poverty once and for all, but to keep her in his arms forever.

Scribd FREE Excerpt available:Vella ReluctantCountess Final

Thank you to Random House for allowing me to Host a 

GIVEAWAY

1 print book and 3 Net Galley Preview copies.

ENTRY FORM HERE

3 Extra Bonus entries: Comment with an answer to the question from author Vella in violet block and red text above (marked ***).
2 Extra Bonus entries: Comment on my Review - Previous Post.

* This contest is open: US ONLY for Print and 3 Net Galley copies open to ALL.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on January 18, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on January 19, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Blog Tour Interview with Author Lisa Mondello

Please help me give a nice Holiday Welcome to Lisa Mondello author of All I Want for Christmas is You.

Book Available at:

Amazon   Barnes and Noble  iTunes  Smashwords

(Free at Amazon, iTunes and Smashwords; $.99 at B&N!)

Thank you, Lisa, for sharing with Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf.

Q1. What inspired you to write this particular title?

LM:  I love Christmas stories.  Who doesn’t ?  Each year I would stock up on Christmas books and read them one after one during the holidays.  I was caring for an injured stray kitten who’d been hurt by a neighbor’s dog and I started singing All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey.  It was August, so yes, I was a little early for the holiday.  But from that moment, that stray kitten became a stray dog and a family of foster kids and a displaced single mom.

Q2. What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?

LM:  A teen?  I remember reading the book Always, a reincarnation romance story.  I loved it!  I must have read it five times when I was in high school.  I lost the original book when I went to college, but I managed to track down a used copy a few years ago.

Q3. What are some of the best tips you’ve received on writing?

LM:  Keep writing.  And writing.  Then finish it.  There are a lot of writers who have parts of books on their hard drive but nothing complete.  You can always revise a manuscript that needs work.  So even if it doesn’t feel like it’s great when you’re writing it, keep writing and finish it.

Q4. Is there any one thing you struggle with in your writing?

LM:  Confidence.  I’m never confident I’m going to pull the story together until about 80% of the way through the story.  This comes from the fact that I’m a puzzle writer and I write in pieces.  I’ve always wished I was more linear in my writing, but I’m not.  My brain doesn’t work that way.

Q5. Do you have any strange habits when you write?

LM:  Strange?  No.  I’m just a coffee fiend.  I have to have a cup of coffee on my desk even if I’m not drinking it.  Okay, so maybe that’s strange.

Q6.  Which authors have influenced you most how?

LM:  There are way too many to even list.  I’d say that the type of author who influences me is the kind who can make me forget that I’m a writer.  If I’m critiquing the story, either good or bad, as I’m reading a story, then I’m not fully engaged.  But if I can get so wrapped up in a story that I forget about the craft of writing, I love it. 

Q7. Please share your most rewarding experience since being published.

LM:  There are steps and I don’t think any one of them is any less important than the last one.  Getting your first contract is always a rush.  Finally in your first contest, another rush.  Winning, even nicer.  It brings validation because writers are such insecure creatures.  Getting reader mail is awesome!  Getting paid is always nice, too!  I don’t think any writer ever sits back and says, “I’ve made it.”  Made what?  There is always something more to strive for, either in her career or creatively.  I’m always reaching for that next thing, which is why I write all over the place.  I don’t stick to one type of writing.  That keeps me fresh and I hope the readers see that in the stories I create.

Having just enjoyed All I Want for Christmas... I'd say that that story is fresh and wonderfully enjoyable.

About the Author:

Lisa Mondello (a.k.a. LA Mondello) has held many jobs in her life but being a published authors is the last job she'll ever have. She's not retiring! She blames the creation of the personal computer for her leap into writing novels. Otherwise, she'd still be penning stories with paper and pen.  Her first book, All I Want for Christmas is You, was the winner of the Golden Quill contest for Best First Book and to date has had over 400,000 downloads worldwide.
She is currently the author of 14 novels under the name Lisa Mondello and LA Mondello. You can find more information about Lisa Mondello at http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com
www.LisaMondello.blogspot.com  
@LisaMondello
http://www.facebook.com/lisa.mondello.1

VISIT THE FULL BLOG TOUR TO CHECK OUT OTHER FEATURES AND GIVEAWAYS.



 

Giveaway + Q&A Interview with Rochelle Alers, Author of Angel's Landing

Please help me welcome National Bestselling Author Rochelle Alers.

“The lifestyle portrayed in these pages reveals snippets of the rich history of African-Americans, and the details of the island’s social structure from past eras are intriguing. It’s always a pleasure to discover little-known facts about racial history in America. Even better, the slow build to the love affair between the leads is believable and satisfying, on all levels. Sit back and enjoy!”

– RT Book Reviews, Top Pick

Q1.  I love series and I always am curious: When you do a series do you have each book plotted out before you start the first one or do the subsequent books flow from the first book?

RA:  I usually plot the first title very carefully. During that process I know whether there will be subsequent books. Spin-off characters seemingly whisper in my ear that they, too, want their stories told. This is what happened with Jeffrey Hamilton from Sanctuary Cove.

Q2.  What inspired you to write this genre?

RA: I wanted to connect with my Gullah culture, and the only way I could do that was to write about it. I’d grown listening to my mother and aunts talk about customs and superstitions that were frightening as well as fascinating. I’d believed many of the superstitions were archaic until I began researching their origins and finally understood why so many have survived countless generations spanning continents and centuries.
Q3.  If you could jump into a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

RA: I would love to live on Cavanaugh Island. Although I was born and raised in New York City – Manhattan to be exact – I’ve come to appreciate small town life where neighbors look out for one another and once the sun goes down a comforting quietness descend on the town.  There are disadvantages of living in a small town – gossip in particular, but the advantages definitely outweigh them.  Living on Cavanaugh Island is like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cool night.  It’s nurturing and soothing.

Q4.  What is one thing you struggle with when you’re writing?

RA: There are times when I struggle with pacing.  I have to ask myself if I’m taking too long to set up the plot by bogging it down with too much detail, and if I am then I’ll definitely have to rush the ending.  There are also times when I reread what I’ve written, and then I have go back and cut, review or even tweak to even out the pacing.

Q5.  What are some of the best tips you’ve received on writing?

RA: Read in the genre in which you choose to write.  If you want to write romance, then it has to be romance.  The same can be said with mysteries or political thrillers.  I read more than 2,000 romance novels before I attempted to write one.  Many were very good and some were just okay, but they helped me to recognize the elements that identify it as a romance novel.

Q6.  Please share your most rewarding experience since being published.

RA:  I’m happy to say there are three:  The first is when I received the call from Veronica Mixon an editor for Doubleday’s Starlight Romance series that she was offering for my very first romance title.  The second was when I received the Vivian Stephens Career Achievement Award for Excellence in Romance Novel Writing.  And the third is when Latoya Smith from Hachette’s Forever line offered for the Cavanaugh Island series.  I’m certain there will be others in the future, but these are the rewarding experiences that stay with me.  

Thank you for sharing with Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf.

Thanks also to Ms. Alers and the fine folks at Forever Romance, Hachette, for offering THREE Books for Giveaway!

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for THREE Print Copies

ENTRY FORM HERE

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.
Extra bonus +2 for comment on Review and or Interview.

THERE WILL BE THREE WINNERS!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* Limit one win per household.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on October 26, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on October 27, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Q&A with Author, Debra Webb; Book Review: Power

Please help me welcome author Debra Webb and learn more about her new series, Faces of Evil!
{See Review below Author Interview.}

I really liked Power and actually want to go back to get the first two novels in the series! I am impressed with the character development and energy in the work.
Q1.  I love series and I like to this question:  When you do a series do you have each book plotted out before you start the first one or do the subsequent books flow from the first?

DW: Thank you so much, Martha! I wish I was such an organized planner/plotter. What I do have is an idea of the big showdown at the end and some of the points I want to hit along the way. With the Faces of Evil part of the journey is already in place. Each story will focus on a crime just a little more heinous than the last. The motive for the crime will escalate in urgency.

Q2.  Have you noted many changes in romance writing over your years of experience?

DW:  There are fewer taboos. Real life issues are explored on a much deeper level. Female characters continue to be stronger and more independent. It has been a truly interesting journey and I look forward to what’s to come!

Q3.  Can you share one of the things you found most difficult on your road to publication?

DW:  Allowing my voice to shine. There’s so much to learn when you jump into the fray of pursuing publication. You hear all these rules, all the do’s and don’t’s. Sometimes trying to color so closely inside the lines can hamper your unique voice. And fear, of course, there’s always the fear of failure which prompts striving for a more perfectly polished manuscript which can prove detrimental. Find what it is you write best. Know your genre. Know the industry. Write the book.  But remember that for every rule there is the exception. For all the do’s and don’t’s there are the did-it-anyway’s.

Q4.  In Power you touched on the topic of ‘bullies’.   Do you think that is that something you might explore more fully in another book?

DW:  I sincerely believe there’s a fine line between good old competitiveness and just being plain old mean. I don’t tolerate bullies very well. And I will be exploring the issue further in Revenge.

Q5.  If you could have a theme song for the Faces of Evil Series, what would it be? And/or do you have a dream cast for your books? 

DW:  Someone Like You by Adele!Kristen Bell would definitely be Jess!  John Cusack would be awesome as Dan!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and good writing with readers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~:

Power
by Debra Webb

Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Forever (March 26, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455527564
ISBN-13: 978-1455527564

Genre: Thriller

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Release Date: March 26, 2013

Agent Jess Harris is back in another thrilling installment of Debra Webb's Faces of Evil series.

Jess is ready to start the next chapter in her life as the new deputy chief of Birmingham's major crimes division. But with her first love, Chief of Police Dan Burnett, acting as her new boss, it looks like Jess won't be able to put the past behind her that easily.

Jess has decided to focus all of her attention on work when a celebrated ballet instructor is found dead by one of her students. Though Jess's instincts tell her otherwise, the death is ruled an accident, and the case is assigned to another division. Still, Jess can't shake the feeling that there's more to the story, and her investigation leads her into the worlds of Birmingham's gang culture and its powerful elite.
Now Jess's investigation has dug a little too deep, and there's a target painted on her own forehead. Will she be able to solve the crime before her own life is in jeopardy?

Review:
Jess Harris is a tough minded female law officer.  A former FBI profiler, she has taken on a new position as the Deputy Chief of a Special Problems Unit (SPU) in Birmingham’s police department. She faces unique difficulties. Her boss is her first love and they need to walk a fine line so she isn’t shown favoritism. Jess is also  having difficulty gaining acceptance with other Deputy Chiefs who are looking for her to earn respect in their ranks. But Jess isn’t there to seek protection from Dan nor to make friends. Her goal is to solve the crime, even if it means stepping on the toes of the Homicide Division.

Jess is the first on the scene of a death of a celebrated ballet instructor. The case is pulled from her and although she wants to cooperate with the division of duties this is made difficult when outside influences and witnesses keep bringing arguments and facts to her that strengthen her belief that the death is murder, not suicide.

Jess’s division is assigned to locate a missing young black man. The boy has a good reputation and is set to go to college yet it appears there is a connection to a local gang that is becoming more of a community problem.  There is a lot of pressure to find the boy before the public or media claim the case isn’t being handled properly due to racial issues.

Jess has to juggle her unrequested leads and desire to investigate the death with her assignment to track down the missing young man. As her search gets closer she finds herself facing local gang leaders and potentially disrupting undercover operations of other law enforcement agencies. All in all, not safe places to be.

I was immediately impressed with the high level of energy that came across in the writing. Even though this is the third book in a series I was quickly drawn into the characters. It didn’t seem like a lot of backstory but there was good depth so that I felt like I understood the underlying dynamics and difficulties that were at play in the ‘office politics’ as well as several personal conflicts.  The conflicts and crime situations are real to life and touch current issues. There is a good line of suspects and clues and Jess has to hunt through the standard motives and push to find the source of evil.  The focus in this book is more mystery but it has some romantic tension as well. I enjoyed this book and I recommend it to fans of thrillers, mysteries and romantic suspense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Part of Jess's description:

Unorthodox didn’t begin to describe her blunt, overbearing tactics. Location 359.

The investigation process:

If the motive was unearthed, all the rest fell into place. It was that simple and, at the same time, vastly complicated.  Location 1033.

I received this eBook from Forever/Hachette for an honest review.

Interview with Bec McMaster and Giveaway of Kiss of Steel

Please welcome Bec McMaster, Author of Kiss of Steel. 
See Below to enter the Giveaway for a print copy.

Q1.  What inspired you to write this genre?

BM: I have always had a love of science and a curiosity about the world and how it works – I studied two years of biology at University before deciding it wasn’t for me – so a lot of movie or books with a science base have always appealed. And the more outlandish the inventions or ideas, the more I like them. I remember my Dad taking me to see Wild, Wild, West when it first came out and we loved it. Then of course it started infiltrating a lot of the genres I read and my mind started racing. The story and world practically built itself.

Q2.  Do you do anything especially helpful for your world building? (Notebook, Bulletin board, etc.?)

BM: I stare out the window a lot. Kidding. Keeping track of it is hard, and I have started keeping detailed records, but honestly a lot of it is in my head. I have entire worlds and plots in there and I can recall most of it off the top of my head. It’s the names I need to keep track of mostly.

Q3.  Do your work career/hobbies/interests influence your writing?

BM: Everything I see, do or read influences my writing in some way. I’m particularly interested in travel, so I love setting my books in places I’ve been to or want to visit. It’s the next best thing to being there, and I love researching travel blogs and weird little facts about the places I set my books so that it truly feels like you’re there. I spent several months living in London four years ago, so a lot of that went into creating Kiss of Steel. London has such an atmosphere and a weight of history about it. I spent hours walking down random streets and staring at all the houses or little museums and pubs that were everywhere. Or absorbing all the little details of costumes at the Victoria & Albert museum. They’re amazing!
 
Q4.  Did you find anything “hands on” or unusual required when researching these books?

BM: Again, it’s a combination of experiences over the years popping up in the stream of my sub-conscious. For example, I did a junior pentathlon once, so we studied fencing, which came in handy for certain scenes. And my step-sister’s boyfriend is English so I spent a lot of time listening to him and the way he speaks. Not that he probably knows that.
 
Q5.  What is one thing you struggle with in your writing?

BM: Adverbs. They’re everywhere. Luckily I give the manuscript a good prune with the editorial scissors before anyone else lays eyes on it. I remember my critique partner highlighting them in a page once, just to show me. There was a lot of yellow.
 
Q6.  Please share your most rewarding experience since being published. 

BM: It actually happened two nights ago. I had my local book launch at the library in town and 120 people showed up, which is pretty good for a small town. The level of local support has been amazing, and people have been really, genuinely excited about hearing what has happened. I’ve always been a private person – in fact a lot of my friends weren’t even aware I wrote until a few years ago – so it’s been an eye-opening experience for me.

Q7.  If you could ask readers a question, what would it be?

BM: If you could create an invention to do anything you wanted, what would it be? (I must admit, I want the Tardis).

 

KISS OF STEEL BY BEC MCMASTER 

IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2012

 

A brilliantly creative debut where vampires, werewolves, and clockwork creatures roam the mist–shrouded streets of London...

When Nowhere is Safe…

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Bec McMaster lives in a small town in Australia and grew up with her nose in a book. A member of RWA, she writes sexy, dark paranormals and steampunk romance. When not writing, reading, or poring over travel brochures, she loves spending time with her very own hero or daydreaming about new worlds. For more information, please visit http://www.becmcmaster.com/ or follow her on Twitter, @BecMcMaster.

GIVEAWAY ONE PRINT COPY OF Kiss of Steel

Thank you to Sourcebooks for allowing me to host a giveaway!
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for Print Copy from Sourcebooks:

ENTER HERE

For 3 Extra Bonus entries: Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.
For 3 Extra Bonus entries: Comment on this Interview and/or Answer the Author's Q7 above in pink.
For 2 Extra Bonus entries: Comment on my review (the previous post).

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on October 5, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on October 6, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.