Kindle Freebie! The Angel's Assassin

Hi all! Just a quick post to let you know that The Angel's Assassin is free on Amazon for the next two days - so grab a copy while you can. I'm pleased to say that it has been very well received so far so if you've enjoyed my previous books, I'm sure you'll like this one. I must admit I loved writing it! Enjoy!

Get your free copy here.

Releases Galore: The One Knight Collection

Today is a busy day release-wise for me! The entire One Knight Collection is now available on Amazon. It includes One Knight and White Knight but also has two new stories that have never been published on Amazon before.

Highland Knight and Black Knight are also available to purchase separately on Amazon for just $0.99/77p.


If you had one night to prove your love...could you?

One Knight
Katerina's arranged marriage promises to be one of indifference as she is convinced of her new husband's dislike of her. Will her wedding night prove her wrong?

Black Knight

Lady Katherine yearns for excitement and danger, something far removed from her life as a lady. So when she discovers a dark intruder in her chambers will she take the opportunity to discover where her lust for danger could lead or will she reject her one chance for excitement and maybe more...? 

White Knight
On the eve of her wedding, Lady Sara makes a bid for escape, having little intention of marrying a man she's never met. But Sara's plans go awry when she ends up in the hands of a mysterious knight.

As she finds herself consumed by the fiery passion that lies between her and this mysterious man, she has little idea that it is not just his name that he is hiding from her. Her knight holds a much bigger secret, but will it tear them apart or will she forgive his deception?

                                                            Highland Knight
The Mackenzie and Sinclair clans have been warring for years so Anna is not impressed when she is told she'll have to marry the arrogant, if handsome, Niall Sinclair  She vows never to let go of her hatred of the Sinclair's but she quickly finds herself questioning her dislike of Niall. Can one night together erase centuries of hatred between two clans?

Author Interview: Kristal Baird

What is your name (or pen name) and where do you live now?

• Kristal Baird
• I currently reside in the UK.

Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

• Long before I started to write an elderly Romany Travelling woman who was selling “lucky” white heather stopped me. She took my hand and told me I would be a writer one day, but not for a very long time. Strange but true. I’ve done quite a few different jobs but when I was very young I wanted to be a veterinarian.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it what would you say?

• My latest published book is actually my debut novel:  PA Exposé

It is a pretty hot erotic romance. Two people set out to dupe each other. They both get much more than they bargained for!!

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

• I take a long time thinking about it, almost delaying writing it, but once I commit, I can write the first draft rather quickly. Then comes the editing stage… a lengthy process.

Do you have plans for a new book?

• I have one with my publisher now and I’m currently writing my third in this genre.

What genre would you place your books into?

• This is a series of erotic romance full-length novels.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

• As a new writer, I had the freedom and wrote in several different genre. This published book came about as a result of entering a competition with an erotic publisher. I didn’t win but they contacted me to say I made the final cut and they liked my work a lot. They asked to see the entire manuscript and then bought it.

Do you have a favourite out of the books you have written? If so why is it your favourite?

• My fave is always the one I’m currently writing. I fall in love with my romantic heroes, you see, even though they can be very naughty boys! I suspect most romantic authors do too.

Do you have a favourite character from your books? Why are they your favourite?

• All my Alpha Heroes – because they are alpha heroes. There is Jake Stone (in PA Exposé)

and Reuben (in PI Honeytrap) and now Jack Ryan (aaahhh) – my latest. They are like my designer men!

Where do you get your book plot ideas from? What/Who is your inspiration?

• I have no trouble having plot ideas. They come from real life, conversations, scientific breakthroughs, current events….

Do you have a certain routine for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

• I write on my laptop so I can do that anywhere. I even write in bed or in the car! No routine. But I still work full-time so all writing has to be fitted in around that. Mostly I write at weekends and during holidays. It’s a 24/7 kind of life.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

• The title, for me, seems to come early on. Generally it arrives along with the original idea.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

• For this series I’ve avoided place names, going for a general feeling of being city or country based. I want to give a sense of “it could happen anywhere”. I let the reader decide. The characters all have contemporary names (to suit my sub-genre) – feminine ones like Cally in PA Exposé or Hayley in PI Honeytrap or Uber-Male ones, like ex-Special Forces, Jake Stone or Gym Owner, Reuben respectively.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

• A bit of both. I sketch out a few core details based on the overall plot ideas but the characters truly breathe as I write. They fully realise as we go along.

Have you ever suffered from a "writer's block"? What did you do to get past the "block"?

• I never feel I have writer’s block. Sometimes I’m not sure how to resolve a situation or get from A to B, but I just leave it alone, do other stuff and somehow my subconscious sorts it all out for me. Thanks Sub-C! I think the worst thing a writer can do is freak out about it. If it’s not working out, there’s usually a pretty good reason why.

Is there a certain author that influenced you in writing?

• All writers influence me. Either because I love their prose, or their characterisation or pace, or simply their ability to “tell a story”. Mostly because they have had the guts to go for it and kept on going.

What is your favourite book and Why?  Have you read it more than once?

• Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities – He is a master of plotting and characterisation. His prose is spectacular. I love all his novels and this was the first I ever read so it has a special place in my heart. I re-read it every now and again. Set in the French Revolution, it has an amazingly romantic line, when the hero sacrifices his life, going to the guillotine in place of another man, for the love of a woman. “It is a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.” A real weepie.

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is your favourite/worst book to movie transfer?

• They always lose something in the transfer, I think. Obviously it is hard to get every little thing from a detailed novel into a 2 hour movie. Also, as a reader I enjoy imagining some of what I read but as a movie goer, I have to accept a director’s own vision. I think the Lord of the Rings Trilogy did a pretty fabulous job however. CGI enables fantasy and Sci-fi to be done particularly well.

What are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it? What format is it? (ebook, hardback or paperback)

• I often have more than one book on the go. I’ve had up to 5 on the go at any one time!! Is that crazy? I manage to keep track of them all. Usually it is just one on my ereader and a paperback beside my bed. I always read a bit before I turn off the light. I’m currently reviewing an erotic anthology and reading a Bernard Cornwell historical. I read many different genres.

Do you think ebooks will ever totally replace printed books?

• Not for a while. I think there are still enough people who, like me, want to keep books as physical objects, but eventually it will probably come. It is like photographs. Everything is digital and no-one worries any more. We all just adapt. I’ve been reading about Print on Demand Books being the future. I think that may be the start of the end actually, because less and less people will bother – but it will take a long, long time. Print books are still objects of beauty.

What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?

• Read lots. Write lots. Learn the craft properly from other writers – you have a duty to uphold standards. Believe in yourself and write what you truly love. Never give up.

Please provide a link to where we can purchase your books and short biography.

• Links to Amazon (US & UK)  

http://www.amazon.com/PA-Expose-submission-Romance-ebook/dp/B008LWR7AU/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342527976&sr=1-10&keywords=PA+Expose

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PA-Expose-submission-Romance-ebook/dp/B008LWR7AU/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

Biography

• Kristal has lived in several different countries as far apart as Australia and Scotland. She loves books and started writing her own a few years ago. She has a big dog who wants to walk far more often than she does (but he keeps her healthy) and a sleepy cat, who she is very jealous of (especially first thing in the morning when the cat wakes Kristal up an hour or two before the alarm goes off and then goes back to sleep again, leaving a sleepy Kristal to get up alone!!).
• She’s had some pretty interesting jobs including driving a four ton truck for a touring theatre company (which she crashed – it wasn’t her fault and she’s sticking to that!) and working as an au pair for an alpine ski-ing instructor…
• Kristal is quite laid-back about life and one of her fave things is to laugh. A lot! She reckons she could have made Genghis Khan not quite such an old meanie…
• Kristal is a vegetarian.
• One of her (many) ambitions is to walk the entire El Camino de Santiago in one go. She loves meeting lots of different people and is quite friendly really. You can find her on Facebook, @kristalbaird and  http://kristalbaird.blogspot.co.uk/

I’m giving away a copy of my debut novel PA Exposé to one lucky person. Just leave your email details in the comments box below. Be lucky!

Giveaway closes 12th November 2012
Terms and conditions viewable here

Work In Progress Bar! Aka motivate oneself to get off backside bar.

You may have noticed this little bar at the side here - well it is at the side currently, obviously if you've not read this post as soon as it came out then it will be a little higher (tut, tut, for not checking in more often!).

I've put this here to encourage myself to get my backside in gear and knuckle down to writing. Somehow seeing your progress like that helps get the gears turning.

As you can see it is currently untitled  Those familiar with my writing will know that titles usually come last for me. At the moment it is simply named Jake and Isabel, who are my hero and heroine, and that is generally how all of my books start - as two names.

Currently the story is complex. I can't reveal too much as there's still a lot to work out (I know you would think being 30,000 words in I would have figured it out!). There will be some sibling rivalry, a little action and some gorgeously steamy moments. Jake is very much growing on me and I fully expect to be head over heels in love with him by the end.

So, dear readers, keep an eye on that bar and don't ever hesitate to give me a prod if it doesn't go up! I need it!

Guest Post: Paula Lofting, author of Sons of the Wolf

Thanks to Paula, who tells us all about her book launch party for her debut novel, Sons of the Wolf, an 11th Century historical drama.
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Hi guys! Very happy to report on how my Book Launch Party for Sons of the Wolf went at Crawley Library last week. My novel is my debut attempt at historical fiction. I wanted my party to have something different than just a book talk, reading and 'buy my book' theme. I wanted people to enjoy the night and be informed, regardless of whether they bought my book or not.

 I am pleased to say that it went amazingly well! I had 5 members of the public turn up the rest were my friends and family. Altogther including myself, my re-enactors and library staff, there were 43 people in the room and to be honest we couldnt have fit any more people in there. It was very exciting for me to see so many people turn up for my debut novel and I was overhwelmed. It felt amazing to have this opportunity and am so grateful to the library staff for their help. I was very lucky to have my re-enactors Adam Price and Katrina Burton who did me very proud and Rich Price who read so beautifully for me and helped his son Adam demonstrate the weaponry.

 The evening started with a welcome, food was laid out and wine and soft drinks for the guests to help themselves to. It was great to see so many of my friends coming through the door and also the people I had not met yet. The library had told me that 15 people had put their names down at the library but at least 5 turned up! Each guest was given a raffle ticket to win a free copy of my book. They didn't show it but I am sure they were delighted! Then when everyone was settled and the Library staff had done their Health&Safety thing, I nervously got up to introduce myself and thank everyone for coming. I must admit I was nervous and felt that I shouldn't be reading from a script but I had been so busy with work and everything I hadn't had a chance to try and 'learn' my speech. Still, people gave me great feedback and I was happy with that.

 After I had done the intro, my dear friend and fellow re-enactor Rich Price read from the first chapter of Sons. To be honest, he blew me away with his rendition, it was amazing. If anyone has ever experienced someone read their book with such grace and eloquence as Rich did for me, then they will certainly know the feeling I got when I heard his deliverance of my prose. I could hardly believe I was hearing the words that I had written. I had to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. the applause he got was heart warming.

 The next part of the presentation was to introduce my first re-enactor, after I had explained a little more about the main character and his background. Initially I had intended to have someone play his part, however, due to work commitments, the actor was unable to make it so his 'wife' Ealdgytha had come accompanied by Wulfhere's deputy, Esegar. Ealdgytha was played by Katrina Burton. I have known Katrina for some years now and she knows her stuff. Katrina has worked for Tunbridge Wells Museum and currently works at the Fishbourne Roman Villa near Chichester. She began by describing what she was wearing, her tunic and her underdress and her wimple and what her day would have been like. She described how she had dyed her clothing with woad, to make her dress a pale blue. She also demonstrated how wool is spun on a drop spindle.

 After Katrina had wowed the audience with her presentation, I spoke a bit more about the land division in Sussex and how the military system in 11thc England was linked to this. Then it was time for my young warrior, 'Esegar' AKA Adam Price to take centre stage. Esegar is Wulfhere's right hand man and shield bearer. He is a semi professional warrior and part time farmer, brought into military service by the one man for every 5 hide law. As a King's thegn, Wulfhere also owed military service. He and Esegar have been through much together having served in two major battles. As Wulfhere was unable to attend due to being on King's business, Esegar has come in his place to demonstrate the weapons used by the 11thc army.

Rich wields a great Dane axe at a terrified audience.

Some of the shields available to a warrior were round.

Rich demonstrates how the sword might have an adverse affect on an armoured warrior.

 Now it was time to talk briefly about the Battle of Hereford before Rich performed the last reading, a scene from Chapter 19 The Battle of Hereford. As I listened to the reading, I was amazed once more at the care and considerstion Rich was giving to the prose. The dramatic lines made me realise how gory it was and I was satisfied that I had done the scene justice, however I apologised to the audience just in case the gore was too much for them. Apparently they thought it was brilliant! 

Next I talked about Regia Anglorum, the re-enactment society that we belonged to and hopefully may have recruited a couple of people. And then it was time for questions and answers and got some great feedback from the audience who asked some really interesting well thought questions to which I tried my best to reply with sensible answers. Of course I had my trusty re-enactors to help me out. This followed with book signing and raffle draw. I managed to sell 12 books, most of my friends already had bought one prior to the launch. I also donated a copy to the library and was pleased that the library people were impressed enough to offer me some more venues around West Sussex libraries. which I am happy to say I will take up in the near future. It was a great evening and I cant thank every body enough for coming and helping me have a fantastic first Book Launch! Find out more about me at www.paulalofting.com

Book Review: Pretending to Love by Ashton Cartwright

I recently downloaded Pretending to Love by Ashton Cartwright on the recommendation of a friend, stating that it might appeal to my British sense of humour. Thanks goodness, I did! Well, you will see from the following review what I thought of it, but this is a must-buy for those who enjoys a good laugh.

A facetious guide to navigating the perils and pitfalls of a modern relationship, Pretending to Love will teach you how to attract the right sort of partner, trick them into liking you, manipulate their feelings to suit your own needs, and then dump them in an appropriate fashion when you get bored and/or hungry. 

Full of useful information such as: 
How to Get Your Own Way 
Improving Your Partner Through the Power of Nagging 
Meeting Your Partner's Hot Friends 
Why Honesty is the Worst Policy

Have a look at what other people have said about Pretending to Love:

"Very slightly amusing."
"Good for reading on the toilet."
"Not as terrible as I expected!"

 5/5 stars

I knew I was going to love this when I read the 'testimonial quotes'. Cartwright's outlook on relationships is dry, witty and WILL make you laugh out loud. And actually some his insights are surprisingly astute. This is rather like reading stand-up comedy, everyone can recognise these observations in their own lives. Depressingly I'm one of those woman who is easily swayed by fluffy kittens. If you have friends with a sense of humour then I would highly recommend gifting it to them. If you don't, then you need new friends.

Will definitely be hoping for more in this series

Author Interview: Dianna BelleRose

What is your name and where do you live now?
My pen name is Dianna Bellerose, and I live in Seattle, WA

Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I always wanted to be someone who creates something with his imagination in fashion, art or acting. Being an Author was something which came to me later on in life, it was not something I was prepared for. It was a voice inside my head, repeating itself, very persistent, it was hard to ignore.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it what would you say?
The latest book’s title is going to be “Breaking the Ice”, a second part of” Fire and Ice”. There are going to be a lot of surprises inside, so get ready for it.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
It depends from the time I have; it could take a year or six months.

Do you have plans for a new book?
Definitely, there is going to be another book after the one I am working right now.

What genre would you place your books into?
I love romance, combined with mystery.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?
It was easy to come up with genre because I had in mind romance and fiction before I even started writing.

Do you have a favourite out of the books you have written? If so why is it your favourite?
Since I have written only one book, it is hard to compare.  I will be able to answer this question in the future.

Do you have a favourite character from your books? Why are they your favourite?
My favourite character is Nancy because I love her strong spirit and determination. She could be a good example for women who find themselves in similar situations and need help coping.

Where do you get your book plot ideas from? What/Who is your inspiration?
I always have been interested into people’s interactions in everyday life and when they are in relationship.  My inspiration is hard working mothers, who need empowerment and admiration for their dedication to family and children.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing?  You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I usually write in the weekend or at night in my office, this I consider quite time for me.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
I choose the title first because I had the story already in my head.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
I made a link in my head from the characters to the names, it just popped up.   

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
As I wrote the book, the description was coming in my mind based on the traits they possessed.

Have you ever suffered from a "writer's block"? What did you do to get past the "block"?
Of course, sometimes my head stops to serve me in a way I want to, and I just give it time to rejuvenate.

Is there a certain author that influenced you in writing?
Stephanie Meyer, I love her books and enjoyed reading it.

What is your favourite book and Why?  Have you read it more than once?
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks because it has everything I love reading about. It is beautiful romantic story; I watched the movie countless times, so as the book.

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favourite/worst book to movie transfer?
Yes I do, with the right director who has the vision and the feel about the story. Anything is possible if you want something bad enough.  

What are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it? What format is it?(ebook, hardback or paperback)
The book’s title is “Fighting the Devil” by Jeannie Walker, it is an eBook. The book is based in a true story, and I am enjoying it.

Do you think eBooks will ever totally replace printed books?
Some people prefer the old traditional way to read their books because I was told by people I met that they like the smell of ink and paper. That is why; both versions should be available for sale to meet the needs of everyone based on their preferences.

What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
Write from your heart

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In Fire and Ice, Nancy, a kindhearted woman, marries her high school sweetheart, Tom. Their marriage is wrecked from the beginning by Tom’s controlling mother, and soon, Tom’s drunken rages and abuse toward Nancy. In America, Tom and Nancy and their daughter, Jen, start a new life. Young Jen is now the referee of all their fights. As the Great Recession tests their mettle, Nancy discovers that for years tom has been sending all of their “savings” to his parents. Now middle-aged, Nancy realizes that she must leave Tom and start all over again with neither a career nor savings.

Diana Bellerose is born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria Europe, but she lives with her husband, daughter and their two dogs and cat in Seattle, WA. She has finished College in her thirties and found passion for writing about relationships obstacles later on. That is how she decided to write her first fiction novel to help woman cope in their marriage and recognize what is acceptable in a relationship and what is not.


She enjoys gardening, photography, drawing, exploring other cultures, visiting interesting places, Languages, and yoga in her free time. She is currently working on her second fiction novel.

You can purchase Fire and Ice on Amazon.

Tour stop: The Pro's and Con's of Being a Medieval Romantic Writer

I'm at Closer Encounters of The Night Kind for my blog tour today. I've written a post on the pro's and con's of my genre - here is a few of them! Check out the full list of pro's and con's at Close Encounters.

Pro's

1. You walk around in a rosy haze making the world seem wonderful.

2. You’re creative! This means you can write wherever you want. The bath is my favourite.

3. You fall in love with a new man each time you write a new book.

Con's

1. You walk around in a rosy haze. Family don’t like this apparently.

2. You brain prefers that you write in bed. At 2am in the morning.

3. You fall in love with a FICTIONAL  man. Husband doesn’t like this much either.

Guest Post: The Tale of Findo Gask

Thanks to Huw Thomas for my featured guest post today. Huw talks about the joys of writing about thieves in his book, The Tale of Findo Gask, which is free on Amazon until the 21st October.
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There are many reasons to be a writer but one of the most basic, for me at least, is the sheer fun involved.

Creation is pleasure. Our chance to play god in a world of our own making and choosing.

If you’re a fantasy writer then it can literally be a whole world to invent - geography, culture, history, science etc. But even if you set your stories in the here and now then there’s still a lot of choices to make… and fun to have.

For my novel The Tale Of Findo Gask all I started out with was a name - taken from a road sign in southern Scotland.

I knew that Findo Gask was going to be an interesting character from the outset. The name sounded slightly Dickensian and definitely not conventional. He was clearly an outsider.

I quickly realised that Findo was a thief and that was where the fun began. I started to hatch all kinds of schemes and escapades that a young thief might get involved in - from raiding the local corner shop to stealing a tiara off an opera diva’s head!

It’s probably true that there’s a little bit of me in most of my main characters and that’s certainly the case with Findo. In many ways he’s an innocent, a bit naïve, a loner but also with a rebellious streak. Some might say bloody-minded.

As my ideas for the book began to coalesce, I thought more about why Findo was an outsider and - more importantly - whether his actions as a thief might be defensible.

The theme that developed started from a single question: do the majority of people obey the law because of their morals or because they’re scared of getting caught?

From that, I wondered whether we should really expect others to conform to our rules if they don’t have a stake in society.

You see: Findo is born into poverty. His mother is a drug addict; he doesn’t go to school and has about the most unpromising upbringing I could imagine. He’s never had any of the benefits most of us take for granted.

And so, in his eyes - those of a young boy growing up without no conventional moral framework - stealing is just a case of taking what he needs from a world that isn’t giving anything out for free.

But that’s the underlying theme of the book. Findo doesn’t stop to analyse what he’s doing: he’s too busy keeping his head down and trying to avoid the police, security guards and various rival criminal gangs.

As a young boy I had a tendency to get into places where I wasn’t supposed to be. Findo gave me an excuse to expand on some of those childhood escapades and take them to a whole different level.

The Tale Of Findo Gask follows his life from birth to late teens. A lot of thieving goes on but also a bit of heroism, a splash of romance - and a dash of social comment. It was a joy to write and I think Findo is still probably the character I’ve most enjoyed releasing onto the page. (I didn’t invent him - he does exist somewhere.)

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For anyone’s interested in reading about Findo’s adventures, the Kindle version is free on Amazon until Sunday 21st October.

Findo Gask is a thief: born in a ditch, raised in a slum and educated by the underworld.
As an unregistered child with no official identity, Findo learns early on how to keep his head down, slip in and out of places unobserved - and run from trouble: perfect talents for a thief.

To begin with, Findo steals to survive but - as he gets older and his exploits more audacious - theft becomes a form of self-expression, a way of asserting his identity and shouting out his name to a world that doesn’t seem to care.

‘The Tale Of Findo Gask’ is a story about a boy who has no identity but a burning desire to prove himself; someone who does what others would love to do if they had no morals… or weren’t frightened of getting caught.

Author Interview: Krystal Brookes

What is your name and where do you live now?  

My name is Krystal Brookes and I live in a small village on the West coast of Scotland

Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be? 

No. I wanted to be an actress when I was very young. And then I wanted to be a French teacher.  I became neither.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it what would you say?  

It's called Highland Haven and is the second book in the Kilrigh Heat Series.  It tells the story of Erin Murray who decides to escape her past in Glasgow and  she the small island of Kilrigh as her haven. Arriving at her new home, she's alone and scared, but is welcomed by the overly cheerful laird's son. The tall, dark and sexy Finlay must earn her trust--something she's not willing to give easily.

Erin begins to let the walls of her heart come down, only for her past to darken Kilrigh. Can Finlay keep her world from falling apart and can their budding relationship survive this threat?

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it? 

Depends on my mood, my holidays, the length of the book and whether my muse is playing ball.  She's being annoyingly quiet of late.

Do you have plans for a new book?  

I have the third book in the Kilrigh Heat series to finish, a short story to complete and I plan to do a double Nanowrimo this year.  I am a teacher and I have a group of students doing the young person's Nanowrimo challenge so I will write a young adult book along with them and then I'll do the adult one with my friends.

What genre would you place your books into? 

Scottish Contemporary.  Though I have a sci fi book and a regular contemporary out too.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?  

I always wanted to write books like Christine Marion Fraser's Rhanna series (although they are sagas.)  I've always loved the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Do you have a favourite out of the books you have written? If so why is it your favourite?  

No.  I love them all.  There are not many of them yet and they all hold a special place in my heart.

Do you have a favourite character from your books? Why are they your favourite?  

I always fall deeply in love my my heroes.  I think I love Brodie MacNeil most.  He was the hero in the first Kilrigh Heat book, Highland Fling.

Where do you get your book plot ideas from?What/Who is your inspiration?  

Usually from talking to friends.  We talk about what we like, what kids of TV shows and books and I often come up with ideas that way.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?  

I tend to sit at my desk.  I used to always have on music or the TV but I don't use them so much nowadays.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?  I usually come up with the title quite near the beginning but not usually before I've started writing.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?  

I usually use one of those online name generators. I may not use the full name and just pick a first name that takes my fancy and team it up with a surname that sounds good. When I created the island of Kilrigh (pronounced Kilree), I thought up Gaelic words that are often in Scottish place names.  I used the words for church and king.  I checked there was no place with the same name or spelling and that was how Kilrigh came about.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along? 

I'm a complete pantser.  More as I go along.

Have you ever suffered from a "writer's block"? What did you do to get past the "block"?  

Not really.  My muse goes off every so often but she usually comes back.  I find if I write through any blockages, I can go back and fix it later.

Is there a certain author that influenced you in writing?  

My editor and fellow writer, Em Petrova.  She's an inspiration and I love her books.

What is your favourite book and Why?  Have you read it more than once? 

I always find this the hardest question to answer.  Maybe Bridget Jones diary.  I totally empathised with Bridget when I was in my early 30s. I've read it a few times.

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favourite/worst  book to movie transfer? 

I think it depends on the books.  I don't think Fifty Shades of Grey will transfer well, although I haven't read it. I also thought the dementors in the Harry Potter movies were nothing like JK described them in the books. I was very disappointed.

What are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it? What format is it?(ebook, hardback or paperback)

I'm reading Reflected in You by Sylvia Day.  I have only just started it.  I loved Bared to You (the first in the trilogy) and read it in one day.  It's on my kindle.

Do you think ebooks will ever totally replace printed books?  

I think they might do.  I would have been sad about that at one time.  I did once say I would never download music as I liked having the CD and the little booklet inside. I download them all the time.  I moved to ebooks with much more ease.

What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?  

Don't compare yourself or your sales with others.  It's a fool's errand and will only depress you or make you insufferable.

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Krystal's books are available from http://pinkpetalbooks.com.  Also from Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, Bookstrand, Allromanceebooks, coffee time romance etc.

When Krystal Brookes isn't enjoying staring at the beautiful scenery of her Scottish home, she's writing about what's under hunky Highlanders' kilts, feeding her nieces too many sweets then taking them home, and drinking way too much coffee.

She started out writing Star Trek fan fiction but has recently progressed to original stories for publication. She writes contemporary Scottish romance and science fiction romance. When the wet dreary weather in Scotland gets too much, she dreams of taking off in a space ship to find warmer climes. Who wants to go to a sunny country when you can head for a sunny planet?

Free Download: Muse by Susie M. Hanley

Following her interview, Susie's book is now free on Amazon. Check it out while you still can on Amazon.

tIn a world not unlike ours, Muses and their Guardians have walked alongside humankind since the beginning of time. From birth Muses assume they are just like everyone else. Not until their twenty-fifth birthdays do they discover their talents have a special purpose, and that Guardians, with their superhuman abilities, will help them in that purpose whether they want that help or not.

Shelby has worked hard to make a life for herself. Her parents died when she was young, and her husband left her with two kids. When her ex-husband comes back to town, he has more to say than just ?I?m sorry?: he's a Guardian, and his new assignment is her. She is a Muse now, one coming into her own no matter how hard she fights it, and trouble stalks her wherever she goes. Her ex-husband can't keep up and, with their history, she doesn't want him to. To complicate matters, there?s another Guardian around when she needs help, and they are falling for each other. He has a dark past that?s trying to reclaim him, and Shelby is in the way. But she has to accept her Museness and figure out fast what being a Muse really means if she iso keep herself and her children alive.

Exploring A Summer Siege: Inside Dover Castle

The other week I shared a little bit about what I had learnt about Dover Castle during my research for my book, A Summer Siege, and I promised to share with you some images of the inside of the castle. This post will be a little picture heavy as there as some wonderful images! The great thing about the main tower is it really gives you a great feel for what it would have been like around the time of the siege in 1216. While much of the rest of the castle is newer, the tower retains that 13th century feel.

So this is the dining hall, this is sat next to the throne room. Several scenes take place in here in the book, including a rather steamy one!

Next to the dining hall it the King's hall or throne room. Here is a picture of the kings chambers as well. Obviously, being the king's chambers, not a lot of action takes place here! 

The final picture is the chapel where a certain happy event takes place between Madeline and Tristan shortly before the French break through the outer wall.

“If we die here, I would have us die as husband and wife. Will you marry me?”

*images courtesy of English Heritage and Georgraph.org.uk

Author Interview: Susie M. Hanley

What is your book about?

Muse is an adult urban fantasy about a woman who finds out she  is a Muse and gains some interesting abilities. The story is about her coming to terms with her new role in life, adjusting to having some superhero type Guardians stalking her every move and all the while,  keeping her kids safe.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I have always been fascinated with the idea of a Muse, that unseen force that influences our endeavors. Even more intriguing is the idea  that a person in our lives can be our Muse. This was such an unexplored  idea that I wanted to build upon it and bring something new to the Urban  Fantasy genre.

What makes your book different than others in your genre?

There are two things that really make Muse different to the Urban  Fantasy genre. The first is simply the idea: it has never been done  before. This uniqueness also makes for a bit of difficulty since people  don't, generally, have any idea of what a Muse is. For example: if I  told you I wrote a book about vampires, you'd have some idea of what  that means (they probably don't go out during the day, they drink blood,  etc.), but when I tell you I wrote a book about a Muse ... you probably  have little, if any idea, what I am talking about. This isn't a bad  thing, but it does make it unique.

The second thing that makes Muse different to the urban fantasy genre  is that the main character has children. I am glad I found a way to  incorporate this important aspect of many women's lives into my story.  My hope is that it makes her a much more relatable character.

Who is your favourite writer? Why?

I don't think I can pick just one. I admire the talents of many  authors and try my best to emulate each one at times. I will have to say that Janet Evanovich and Laurell K. Hamilton have been the most  inspirational while writing Muse. Stephanie Meyer will always have a  place in my heart too and more recently E.L. James taught me a thing or two as well.

 What strange writing rituals do you have?

I think the strangest ritual I have is doing my nails while I think. I  am not big on having my nails done or spending a lot of time on my appearance, but when I am writing and stop to think, I file my nails. Then the next time I stop writing to think I buff them, and so on until I  have a good few coats of clear nail polish on them. Then over the  course of the next few days I peel off the polish and then start again. I  am not sure how or why this ritual evolved, but it certainly helps me think.

Is your writing style similar to any well-known writers? If so, which one(s)?

I write first person and there are a lot of writers that also do so.  Janet Evanovich, Laurell K. Hamilton, Stephanie Meyer, and E.L. James  just to name a few. Charlene Harris also writes this way, as well as  Richelle Mead, Jeanianne Frost and many more.

Who is your Muse?

This question made me chuckle. I have to say that I don't have just one Muse. I pull from a lot of characters when I write and each character that I write has a lot of characters that inspire them. I  guess I'd have to say that my Muses are the people in my life who love  me. They each bring something unique to my writing.

What are your hobbies?

Other than writing? Laundry. Just kidding, with two kids and a  husband I often feel like laundry is a cosmic joke without a punch line  ... it really does never end.

When not writing or doing laundry, I spend a lot of time on DIY type projects. This month I painted an exterior door, last month I repainted  the man cave a couple nice shades of dark brown for my husband. Recently  I made some cool paper window coverings and embroidered curtains for my  daughter’s room and my dining room. I do a lot of needlepoint projects,  and I do enjoy crafty things like painting and such. Otherwise I am organizer extraordinaire. If it can be sorted, I'll be there!

Does your main character resemble anyone in your family or circle of friends?

I suppose my main character most resembles myself, but she is really quite unique. I like to think that I mostly pulled elements from my life  and put them into hers because they were familiar. Things like her car,  house and kids. Otherwise she is definitely her own person.

How long did it take you to write your book?

To actually write Muse only took about 8 months with the help of an award winning writing coach pointing me in the right direction. However, Muse went through no less than 15 drafts over the course of nearly 4  years. There are many important steps in editing that often take more time than the actual writing does. Let alone all the time it takes to  prepare the book for publication.

What are some writing goals for the future?

Muse is intended to be the first in a series of books about Muses and Guardians. My first goal is to have Book 2 released by the end of 2013.  I also have a specific number of books I'd like to have sold by that date, which will also be about the time I turn 30.

If you were stranded on an island which book would you bring with you?

Hmm... Definitely one that would have lots of information about how to survive being trapped on an island.

What was the most difficult thing you have learned being a writer?

This one is easy to answer: rejection.

The most difficult thing to accept as a writer is that not everyone  will like my work and that's okay. I've collected over a hundred rejection letters from agents and publishers and even had friends and  family tell me that the story just wasn't their taste. As you can  imagine, at first that was really difficult to live with, but then after  a while you realize that not everyone likes Harry Potter or Twilight either  and you do your best to get over it. People love to complain and those  who complain often do so louder that those who compliment.

What are you reading at the moment?

At the moment I am reading The Man with the Green Suitcase by Dee  Doanes and someday soon getting back to Game of Thrones. I have a  ridiculously long to-read list at the moment, but it is my to-write list that is keeping me awake at night for the moment.

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In a world not unlike ours, Muses and their Guardians have walked alongside humankind since the beginning of time. From birth Muses assume they are just like everyone else. Not until their twenty-fifth birthdays do they discover their talents have a special purpose, and that Guardians, with their superhuman abilities, will help them in that purpose whether they want that help or not.

Shelby has worked hard to make a life for herself. Her parents died when she was young, and her husband left her with two kids. When her ex-husband comes back to town, he has more to say than just ‘I’m sorry’: he's a Guardian, and his new assignment is her. She is a Muse now, one coming into her own no matter how hard she fights it, and trouble stalks her wherever she goes. Her ex-husband can't keep up and, with their history, she doesn't want him to. To complicate matters, there’s another Guardian around when she needs help, and they are falling for each other. He has a dark past that’s trying to reclaim him, and Shelby is in the way. But she has to accept her Museness and figure out fast what being a Muse really means if she is to keep herself and her children alive.

You can purchase Susie's book on Amazon.