ANNE ELIZABETH ON ROMANCE, COMICS, AND HEROES

My guest is romance author, Anne Elizabeth. Anne, welcome to Over Coffee! 

You write both for adults, such as the sexy action packed story, Once A Seal, and for teens. I found it interesting that you also write graphic novels. 

How did your Pulse of Power comic world come to be?

• It was created when I was in high school. I wrote several short stories as part of an assignment and [the stories] continued to grow through college and graduate school. Now the series is blooming with the main storyline and off-shoot journeys.

How has being published changed your life? In what ways?

• Being published has changed my life in many ways. I find myself walking around with a constant writing track in my head. It was happening before my books were released, but now there is direction and purpose and the words come faster. I also find I need to be attentive to how I write and what I’m working on. It’s hard to dial-out when the day is done, but it’s important to me to be present in my marriage and personal life. No wants a mate or friend that’s only half-there. Being whole is monumentally important.

What’s a hobby you enjoy?

• I hike, mountain bike, kayak, swim, volunteer for the California Parks, and do a multitude of outdoor sports. It’s fun to get my inner-athlete excited and I like to bring that love to sports and activities into my writing.

Does a hobby play into your writing?

• My hero and heroine are into the outdoors. They are engaged in their environment, which is also very typical of individuals living in Southern California. People spend a lot of time outdoors.

What temptation do you wish you could resist?

• Chocolate. I cannot decide if it’s evil or angelic.

Who is your real life hero and why?

• My real-life hero is my husband. He’s a retired Navy SEAL who continues to contribute to the community and teaches what he’s learned to others. His humbleness and thoughtfulness are two attributes that awe me, and that true kindness inspires me to face each day with joy in my heart.

What’s the last thing that made you laugh?

• I just watched an episode of The Neighbors. The Weavers were a BLT sandwich (Seriously, they were dressed as parts of a sandwich) and that image is seared into my brain. Anything that has aliens and/or humor is something I’m going to watch, read or collect.

What’s the last time you stopped and reflected and realized you’re happy just where you are?

• I like to hike. Oftentimes, I will sit and meditate or commune with the world around me. It was during one of these experiences I realized how blessed and grateful I am. 

If they made a movie of your life, what would it look like? What genre would it be? 

• If a movie could be made out of my life, I’d like to be animated. My characters from my PULSE OF POWER comic book world would be there and they’d be participating as well as narrating it. Everyone would concentrate on having fun and the only hard moments would be teachable moments and they would resonate with the audience. The ending would be a happily-ever-after and it would bring peace everywhere, national fiscal solutions, and solve world-hunger, too. Hey...a writer can dream. :)

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why there?

• In Hawaii. My husband and I feel very connected to Oahu. The sand, the surf, the rhythm...it’s very peaceful.

                                                                                                                                                     

ONCE A SEAL

A Hero of Her Own

What woman hasn't dreamed of what it would be like to marry a Navy SEAL? Dan McCullum is everything Aria has ever imagined—sweet, strong, and sexy as hell. She just never expected how tough the SEAL life would be. Dan could be gone at a moment's notice and not allowed to tell her where he's going or when he'll be back.

Dan has never backed down from a challenge in his life. But this one is his hardest yet. How does he balance his duty to his country with a soul-deep love for Aria? It's going to require patience, ingenuity, and some of the hottest homecomings he can dream up. Because for him, this isn't a fling: this is forever...

EXCERPT (Chapter 1 Sourcebooks)
BUY: Amazon, B&N, INDIEBOUND

                                                                                                                                                        

Anne Elizabeth is an award winning romance author, the creator of the teen PULSE OF POWER comic book series, and the Columnist on Comics, Manga, and Graphics Novels for RT BOOK REVIEWS magazine. With a BS in Business and MS in Communications from Boston University, she is a regular presenter at the RT Book Lovers Convention as well as a member of the Authors Guild and Romance Writers of America. Her published credits include stories with Atria/Simon & Schuster, Highland Press, Dynamite Entertainment, Sea Lion Books, Bravo Zulu Studios, LLC, and Sourcebooks, Inc. She grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and now lives in the mountains above San Diego with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL. In her free time, she is also a serious Amelia Earhart who is always on the hunt for a new adventure. Catch AE on the Web at AnneElizabeth.net.

INTERVIEW WITH SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR ALEX CAVANAUGH

Science Fiction has always been a love of mine. I love the adventure of new worlds and people. My guest is Amazon Bestseller, Alex Cavanaugh, and he's written a sci-fi trilogy which has given me hours of pleasure. His latest, CassaStorm, in my opinion, is his best. His characters are well drawn and the story has emotional depth and I like the touch of darkness and danger of the story. Well worth the read. Recently, I had a chance to chat a bit with Alex.

I don’t think it’s a secret that I grew up in a household with seven brothers. We all had great imaginations and fun stories to create and act out. I know that spinning adventures where my brothers were heroes who saved the day and against all odds was a favorite. 

• I imagine the exploits of an intrepid fighter pilot would be a great adventure—especially in a place far removed from the restrictions of the world you lived in—not to mention being out of the reach of parental restrictions. Was this something that drew you, as a teen, to this world of Byron's? 

Hey, doesn't that sound enticing to you? I've never been the adventurous sort—I have this thing about safety—but the idea of flying a space fighter in my imagination was awesome. There were a lot of adventures with Byron—and Bassa—that I created. And out there, anything could happen.

It was very enticing to the teen me. I wouldn't say no to such an adventure now, Alex, providing I was safe. 

• Are you surprised with how your fighter pilot has grown and changed?

I could see beyond the end of CassaStar to a time when he’d meet Athee, but not the growth he experienced over three books. 

• What would you say was the biggest change you've seen in Byron?

His biggest change was in his willingness to trust and really care about others. Byron liked to do things solo and he didn't want to admit he needed anyone. [Another change was Byron] also lost the edge to his temper. 

• What do you like and respect about Byron?

What I admire is his ability to command and take control of a situation. He fights for what is right and works harder than anyone. 

• I like how your latest story explores the roots of the races inhabiting your world. There are a lot of frontiers yet to explore in this world you've created. You mentioned you’re working on another space opera idea. Is it set in this same world?

I have an outline for another space opera – whether I’ll ever write it is another story! (So many things happening in my life right now.) It’s not set in the Cassan universe though. It would be a whole new world, with new races, new planets, new wars…

I’m ready and willing to read it. Not that I’m exerting any pressure or anything, lol! 

• You've come a long way from the teen that once wrote a story of a fighter pilot set in a galaxy far from ours. As you look back, what was the biggest surprise that occurred while you were writing this series?

Biggest surprise? That I was actually writing a series! I never planned three books.

Within the stories though, the biggest surprise was the character of Piten in the third book. He was such a minor character; he originally didn't even have a name. A suggestion from a critique partner (who saw the outline before I wrote the book) led to character who played a pivotal role in the ending. 

I loved Pitten, especially his interaction with Byron's son (another favorite character). Actually, I'd love to see a story set around his people—just sayin'. :-)

• If you could choose the music theme for CassaStorm, what would it be? What song would you use?

The theme music would be Daft Punk’s Recognizer from the Tron: Legacy soundtrack. I’m not much for soundtracks, but my wife loves that one, so I heard it a lot when writing. The ominous feel, along with the rise in tempo, echo the tone of CassaStorm.

Tron has a great soundtrack. I like several from Legacy—End Of The Line and the Recognizer are favorites of mine. I can see Recognizer as the theme for CassaStorm. 

• Speaking of music. You once told me that you play music every evening as a way to relax after the stresses of the day. So how did this move from an escape and relaxation to a band?

I've been a musician most of my life, but always wanted to try guitar. After several years of practicing, I was asked to join a band through church. It’s been very rewarding! 

• I know you play rock, but is your band a Christian rock band or does the band play music at local venues for entertainment? Give me a couple of songs that your band really likes to play? 

We play at Christian venues and churches, and sometimes for the youth. We’ll play Christian standards like God of Wonders (by Third Day) and Nothing is Impossible (by Planetshakers.) Sometimes we’ll play secular music by bands such as U2. We do all covers, so we haven’t recorded anything yet. 

• You’re a very creative person—you design graphics and do web design, you write, you play music. All parts of a creative mind. Do these creative endeavors feed each other or are they something you have to juggle—shut the door on one to let the other have the spotlight. 

I definitely think they feed each other. I can practice my guitar and be inspired with a scene that will fit into one of my manuscripts. I believe people who are creative in one area are creative in others, even if they haven’t discovered it yet. 

• Any words of hard earned wisdom you’d like to share?

If you’re just starting on this journey, prepare for an amazing ride. It will take you places you never imagined and some that might scare you. Embrace it all. Become the author and the person you were meant to be.

• Alex, it's always a pleasure to chat with you! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit with us today.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                      CassaStorm

From the Amazon Best Selling Series!

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…EXCERPT

BUY: AMAZON, B&N, INDIEBOUND

                                                                                                                                                           

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

You can find Alex: 

Website – http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

Twitter – http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4287922.Alex_J_Cavanaugh

A LOVER OF ALL THINGS SCOT—VICTORIA ROBERTS

wikicommons . 

My guest is historical author Victoria Roberts. She’s a lover of all things Scot. A bonny lassie after me own heart! 

I was able to pull her head out of the highlands, and the cloud of midges, long enough to answer a few questions, and apply soothing balm for the midge bites and some fine coffee to wash away the ones she might have inadvertently breathed in… 

Victoria, welcome to Over Coffee. That’s quite a story you wrote and I have to say, I love your two main characters!

Thank you for having me. It’s great to be here.

• Did you try other genres before you hit with this one?

No. It’s funny you ask that because over a year ago I sat down with one of my male friends and told him I write Scottish historical romances. Contrary to what one might think, he was actually pretty interested and asked me the same question. I was curious why he asked me that and this was his response. 

"I admire you for knowing what you want and going after it. You didn't play around with writing another genre in the hopes someone would notice you." I had never really thought of it that way, but I guess that would be true.

• Why this genre instead of another?

As soon as I picked up my first Scottish historical, I recognized this is where my path led. In reality, that’s when Temptation in a Kilt was born. But don’t get me wrong. I love reading other genres such as paranormal, regency, urban-fantasy, etc. It just so happens to be that Scottish historical romance is where my heart lies. And as long as I still have stories to be told, this is the genre where I’ll be—well, as long as the readers keep enjoying my wee Scottish tales.

• What excites you about this genre?

How much time do we have? *checking watch*

It all starts with Scotland. The bonny glens, lochs, heather, castles, history, clans, Highlanders, men in kilts—yep, I could go on and on and on. My family will tell you the same. With a country so rich in history, Scotland is the perfect backdrop for a historical romance. Throw in an alpha-Highland laird and a feisty lass and the possibilities are endless.

  

Now whether Scotland’s political past adds to the drama of writing this genre or the never-ending battles between the clans, there is definitely something for everyone. Don’t you agree?

Vickie, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions. I wish you the best with this series!

Thank you so much for having me here today. Great questions!

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble
| Books-A-Million 

Temptation In A Kilt

She’s on her way to safety...

It’s a sign of Lady Rosalia Armstrong’s desperation that she’s seeking refuge in a place as rugged and challenging the Scottish Highlands. She doesn't care about hardship and discomfort, if only she can become master of her own life. Laird Ciaran MacGregor, however, is completely beyond her control…

He redefines dangerous…

Ciaran MacGregor knows it’s perilous to get

embroiled with a fiery Lowland lass, especially one as

headstrong as Rosalia. Having made a rash promise

to escort her all the way to Glengarry, now he’s stuck

with her, even though she challenges his legendary

prowess at every opportunity. When temptation

reaches its peak, he’ll be ready to show her who he

really is…on and off the battlefield. First Chapter Excerpt on Amazon Book Trailer

Victoria lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband of nineteen years and their two beautiful children—not to mention one spoiled dog. When she is not plotting her next Scottish romp, she enjoys reading, nature and antiques.

Victoria Roberts writes sexy, Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. 

You can find her: Facebook, Goodreads, Website 

KIM SANDERS: Her Romance Blooms On A Porch

Please welcome my guest Kim Sanders. When she's not almost becoming an alligator snack, she writes romantic suspense. I'm thinking she likes that touch of danger in her life.

Kim, welcome to Over Coffee. Glad you could make it.
Hi, Sia! Thanks for inviting me.
I'm curious, why did you choose this genre—romantic suspense?

I think the genre chose me. 


I've been a hopeless romantic my entire life—the cheesy type. My family groans if I claim a “me” day during our annual Fourth of July beach vacation. I’ll threaten to leave the television tuned to the Lifetime Channel for an entire rainy day just to watch them cringe. But for the sake of peace and family unity, I’ll pop in the movie Independence Day instead and everybody’s happy—plus there’s a kiss at the end.

There is advice out there for writers that suggest trying other genres. Have you?

I did try another genre recently. I entered a horror story in a Writer’s Digest short story contest. I’d read news reports about young girls in Africa being raped by men who believed violating virgins would cure their AIDS. I transformed that horror into a short story. I gave my main character, a girl named Fatimah, a supernatural ability to save women.  But regardless of the grave tone, two new characters made an appearance that were bound and determined to have a full-blown romance. A young Scottish doctor encountered an American Peace Corps worker, and the next thing you know, there it is—a cheesy romance blooming right in the middle of horror. I tried to edit it out, but love stories seem to be my nature. Needless to say, it didn’t win. I’ve decided to file the story away and look at it again later as a possible romance novel.


Your muse seems quite happy with Shades of Gray and it seems to be doing quite well.

I have been more successful with the romance genre. My novel, Shades of Gray,  has received awards and praise and climbed to Number One on the Amazon Best Sellers’ lists for contemporary romance and Number Two for romantic suspense—so I think I’ve found my niche. Besides, I tend to live in my main character’s world while I’m writing, and the romance world is safer and more satisfying. So even though I might wander into other branches of fiction in the future, until I’m a bit braver, I think I’ll stick with love.

Congratulations! Describe your writing space?

Porches. Front porches, back porches; screened porches, verandas. As long as the weather hasn’t reached that unbearable Southern humidity, I spend hours writing from porches. If there is an ocean breeze and the faint sound of birds in the distance, I write. If the rain pounds on the tin roof, I write.

What would be your DREAM writing space?
My dream writing space would be...a sweeping veranda with the perfect view of crashing ocean waves during a storm. Of course, dream laptops are very rain resistant.

And dream verandas are safe from stray rogue waves, too. What's a favorite thing you do to relax or recharge your creative spirit?

Besides reading, photography is my favorite hobby. I try to take a camera with me every time I go for a long walk. If I leave it behind, I always regret its absence. I love landscapes and nature. Last summer, I was walking along a trail and spotted and a beautiful heron. I had a short lens, but the bird was asleep so I crouched really low and got closer and closer. Eventually, it flew off. By that point, I was pretty close to the edge of the water so I stood up and glanced down. A huge alligator was lurking just a few feet below me. I snapped a couple of shots and backed off quickly. If I’d have waited a few more minutes before scaring the bird away, I might have had an amazing action shot, but I might have been next on the menu.



Yikes! That would have been a definite bad ending. But, it's interesting that your hobby is also creative in nature. Any similarities between writing and taking pictures?

Photography fits in well with my writing.  Looking through the camera lens, I notice the details of the scenes around me with an isolated intensity. I frame the pictures and later crop them for impact. The same applies to writing in a lot of ways, but I must admit, I find it easier to crop a photograph than a page of words.

Oh, me too. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to getting the photo just right. Editing photos gives you immediate results and that's not always the case with writing.   What's next for you?

I am currently working on two more novels—SHADES OF JUSTICE and THE EX LOTTERY, and hope to have another novel ready for release by the end of the year.


Kim, thank you for taking the time, away from your lovely porch and writing, to visit with us a bit today. I've enjoyed it.

• Readers and writers: have you ever had something totally unexpected happen when you've been involved with a hobby?

SHADES OF GRAY

Nothing is black-and-white when dealing with love or murder. In “Shades of Gray,” an award-winning photojournalist finds herself on the wrong side of the lens when she is framed for murder.

Samantha "Sam" Jennings has been hiding from the world since she was seventeen years old. At twenty-seven, living in isolation on a small private island off the coast of South Carolina, Sam guards her privacy. Her photographs are famous, but her face is anonymous. And she likes it that way.

Caleb McCloud is a defense attorney who basks in the spotlight. His legal successes have him on a career path to become the youngest president in the United States. But an entanglement from his past may put a kink in that path.

When front-page headlines scream: "Photographer Shoots to Kill," Sam finds herself facing murder charges in the death of Ben Fuller. To stay out of jail and catch the true killer, she must turn to Caleb, the one man who has haunted her dreams since she was a teenager. She vows to trust him with her life but not her heart. But as the two begin a journey to find a killer, Caleb vows to win both. Is he too late? Find out in the action packed love story of Samantha and Caleb. There is an excerpt on Amazon, and an additional one HERE

Oozes all the necessary passion of any good romance novel . . . The romance enthusiast won't be disappointed with this novel that never skimps on passion or story. 

Kirkus Reviews

BUY: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million 

Rachel Brown photography

Kim Sanders was born in Smithfield, North Carolina, the middle of three children. Her father owned and managed a small dime store in a tiny town in eastern North Carolina, and her mother was an English teacher. Kim attended the University of North Carolina, earning a degree in Journalism, and later, a law degree from Emory University. She and her husband, Paul, have two children.


You can find Kim: Facebook, Twitter, Website

World Building With Jennifer Estep

My guest today is Jennifer Estep. She's a USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series, and the Bigtime paranormal romance series.


I'd say she might know a bit about successful world building in a story. I had a chance to pick her brain a bit about world building in her Mythos Academy series.

Most of us associate world building to paranormal and Sci-Fi. How important is world building to a story? 

JE: World building is always important in a story, no matter what genre you’re writing in. You always want to transport readers to another place, whether it’s a small town, an alien planet, or a medieval castle. You want to make folks feel like they are right there in the story with your characters, having a burger and fries at the local diner; or exploring a hot, muggy, tropical rainforest; or even feeling their toes go numb as they trudge through a mountain blizzard. You want people to connect with your characters, and bringing your world to life is one way to help do that.

However, I would say that world building is a little more important when you’re writing a fantasy/sci-fi book. Readers who enjoy those genres expect to see a lot of magic, sorcery, science, technology, etc. You have to create a world where those things are possible, and then make readers feel like they are in the middle of your world, whatever and wherever it is.

While you were writing Touch of Frost, did you already have an idea in mind for a setting/location for Mythos Academy or did you have to do some research for it?

JE: The great thing about writing fantasy is that you get to create your own world. I didn’t really do any research about the setting/location. I knew that I wanted Mythos Academy to be a private/boarding type of school with a Southern, mountainous setting, so I came up with Cypress Mountain, my fictional suburb that’s supposedly near Asheville, North Carolina.

After that, it was just a matter of deciding what sort of buildings the academy needed and how I could use the buildings and their descriptions to give the whole campus a dark, creepy, mythological feel.

Is Mythos Academy patterned or inspired by any building/structure you've visited or come across?

JE: No, the academy isn’t really patterned on any specific building. But several years ago, I visited the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee, which I thought had some really cool architecture. Visiting the Parthenon reminded me how much I’ve always liked mythology and made me think that it would be fun to write a mythology-based story someday. And now, I have.

How do you decide what to include in your description of Mythos Academy (buildings, etc)? Was it difficult to write Mythos Academy at all?

JE: It wasn’t too hard for me to dream up the academy. Since it’s a school setting, I knew that there needed to be some school-type buildings, so I designed an upper quad where students spend most of their time. The quad features five buildings – the Library of Antiquities, the dining hall, the gym, the math-science building, and the English-history building.

Basically, these buildings tie in with everything that students would normally do, as well as some things that only the Mythos kids do. These buildings give students a place to eat (the dining hall); a place to go to classes (English-history and math-science); a place to train with weapons (the gym); and a place to study and socialize after classes (the library). There are also student dorms on campus, along with some other outbuildings.

I decided to use these buildings because I thought I could stage a lot of different scenes in and around the various buildings – everything from Gwen doing weapons training with the other students in the gym to her wandering through the library to her walking across campus late at night.

Complete this: Mythos Academy would cease to exist if _____ is missing. (Can be a person, place, an object, etc.)

JE: The Library of Antiquities. The library is a seven-story tall building with towers, parapets, and balconies. Gwen says it looks like something out of an old, Gothic horror movie. The library is also covered with statues of mythological creatures like gryphons, gargoyles, dragons, chimeras, and more, which adds to the creepiness factor. Inside, the library features hundreds of thousands of books, along with glass cases that contain artifacts that have been used by various gods, goddesses, heroes, and more – things like armor, weapons, jewelry, etc. There are also marble statues of gods and goddesses on the second floor balcony of the library.

The Library of Antiquities definitely the centerpiece of the academy and where a lot of the action in all the books in the series takes place. It’s also a place where the kids can Hang Out and Be Seen, as Gwen puts it.

Any advice for writers on how to effectively build worlds for their books?

JE: I think you just have to think about your story, your characters, and go with your instincts. What do you want your setting to be? How will it impact your characters and the overall story? Where are the places that your characters are likely to interact? What can you do to make these places special, interesting, unique, and memorable? How can you give a house or restaurant or graveyard a distinct look, feel, and personality of its own and make it almost become another character in your story?

Those are some of the things that folks might think about when it comes to world building. Also, you don’t have to go overboard on the description of a house, restaurant, etc. Small, subtle touches here and there can really add up and give your world/book a lot of atmosphere and personality. 

Jennifer, thank you so much for taking time from your busy schedule to be here and share your thoughts on the importance of building a believable world regardless of the genre we write.

Touch of Frost Available July 26th

Gwen Frost is an outsider at Mythos Academy, a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword. Gwen is an outsider both to the students of the Academy and the rest of the world. But when her gift of psychometry - the ability to know an object's history just by touching it reveals dark undercurrents and danger afoot, she has no choice but to get involved. EXCERPT

BUY: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Borders

Available in both print and e-format. You can also read the prequel, First Frost for 99 cents from the above on-line stores in e-format..

~*~*~

Jennifer Estep is a Southern gal through and through. Sassy, sarcastic, and just a tad crazy.  She happens to think the greatest thing ever created was a library. Indoor plumbing is a close second, though. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism, and a master’s degree in professional communications. Currently, I’m an award-winning features page designer for a daily newspaper.

Jennifer has worked as a features writer and page designer for a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper and has more than 10 years of journalism experience. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and other writing groups.

.

Jennifer’s books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Southern Living, and a variety of other publications. You can follow her on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.