GOOD GUYS OR BAD BOYS?

My guest is the multifaceted  Leanne Ellis who writes the Plain Fear series—complex paranormal stories set with the Amish community that touch your heart and lift your spirit. Her topic today is good guys and bad guys.

Mention Russell Crowe to a room full of women, and you’re likely to get many different reactions, from a shrug of indifference to heart palpitations. He has played both the hero and villain in movies but he definitely has that bad boy quality. What about Benedict Cumberbatch? He is quite the villain in Into Darkness. But he still makes hearts go pitter pat. The same is true of any main character in your favorite book. Mention a character like Atticus Finch, and you’re likely to get sighs from a female readership, mostly because Gregory Peck portrayed him so well in the movie version of To Kill A Mockingbird, but also because Atticus makes hard choices and is a strong voice of reason during turbulent times. What about Rhett in Gone with the Wind? 

Good guys and bad boys are throughout literature, and I find them both equally compelling and desirable, depending on the tale to be told.

In my Plain Fear series, I was able to utilize both good guys (some being Amish) and bad boys (some also being Amish), and it was a lot of fun allowing these characters to reveal their true identity no matter what kind of clothes they wore or car or buggy they drove. In the first book, Forsaken, Levi Fisher is more like Atticus Finch, and he must make some tough decisions, choosing if he will fight for the woman he loves. Forbidden, the second book in the series, has Roc Girouard, a Cajun ex-cop, who is definitely a bad boy. His match is a not-so-goodie-goodie Amish woman, who brings out the good in him. In the final book of the series, Forgiven, Samuel Fisher, is an Amish man sitting on the fence, trying to right the wrongs he’s committed and trying to figure out where he belongs in this world—inside the picket fence of the Amish world or battling the evils that threaten his family.

• So do you like to read about good guys or bad boys or both?

Sourcebooks is giving away a set of all three books in the Plain Fear series, US/Canada only please.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

BUY: Amazon • Books•A•Million 

• Barnes & Noble 

• IndieBound

FORGIVEN

Leanna Ellis

What Must We Sacrifice to be Forgiven?

Samuel Fisher has committed a sin of biblical proportions—he killed his own brother, Jacob. Haunted by guilt and talked by a vampire out for his soul, Samuel starts down the same dark path of destruction that led to his brother's death.

A captivating coming-of-age story unlike any other, Plain Fear: Forgiven pits redemption against temptation, love against fear, and simple faith against the intricacies of sin and salvation. In the gripping final battle between hunters and vampires, Samuel must choose where his loyalties lie. The lives of those he loves—as well as his own ultimate forgiveness—hangs in the balance.

SNEAK PEEK

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Deep in the heart not only describes where Leanna Ellis lives in Texas but also the way she writes. Her books, whether romance, inspirational, women’s fiction, or paranormal, are infused with heartfelt emotion. Having written twenty published novels, Ellis has won many awards including the National Readers Choice Award and the Maggie Award.

When not chasing vampires through the darkened recesses of her mind or roping and riding along with her characters through sun-drenched plains, she stays busy driving her children to their multitude of activities, figuring out what to make for dinner (or where to order takeout), chasing her menagerie of crazy pets around the house, and researching the next idea. 

You can find Leanna: website, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

IT TAKES A TEAM TO CREATE A BOOK

It's my pleasure to have Gina Lamm visiting with us Over Coffee. We often think that once you're published you don't have writing problems, and the stories just flow without problems. Certainly a published author doesn't get writer's block, especially when they have a deadline, right? 

But... what happens if they do? I'll let Gina tell you a bit about that. 

Hi again Sia! I’m thrilled to be back here at Over Coffee, chatting with you guys again. I had so much fun with THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL’s blog tour that getting to come to your place again was a real treat. Thanks for having me! J

Today I want to talk a little bit about my writing team. No, I don’t currently co-author any projects; all my books are single-author efforts. But even single authors need a huge team to get a book off the ground, and I’m totally no exception!

It has always fascinated me to find out how some of my favorite things came to being. Like my favorite books, or my favorite TV shows. Behind-the-scenes glimpses are really fun to me. So here’s my little behind-the-scenes for GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES.

It all started in 2011, when I met Leah Hultenschmidt, then-editor at Sourcebooks. I pitched the idea for THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL to her, and she loved it, but she told me that Sourcebooks preferred contracting series of books over single titles. Could I come up with a couple more ideas for additional books? Sure I could, right?

Denise Tompkins, one of my BEST FRIENDS EVA and super-duper critique buddy, helped me brainstorm a couple more ideas, and between us, we hammered out the idea for GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES. Sourcebooks liked it, and contracted books 1 and 2 of the “Geek Girls” series.

And then it was time to write the darned thing. Ever heard of the sophomore slump? I hit that, and I hit it HARD. Writer’s block was too good for what was happening there. I just couldn't get past the wall in my head, and here’s where my team came in.

My husband, my parents, my sister, Denise, my incredible editor Leah, all of them combined to pull me out of this hole and get me writing. My parents would ask me how the book was coming. My husband would listen to me moan and whine about why WAS THIS SO HARD???? Denise would help me brainstorm, and my sister would read things and shoot them back to me so fast. If not for that team helping me through, I don’t know that the book would ever have been finished!

And once the book was finished, it went to Sourcebooks, and they turned that little lump of coal into gold. First my editor Leah ripped it apart (wonderfully) and helped me put it back together. Then it went through copy edits and proofreaders, I don’t know how many passes. The incredible art department made one of the best covers I've ever seen on a romance novel, one that captures the attitude and characters perfectly on the first go. You may not know this, but authors get very little input on their book covers. There’s usually a little form to be filled out, and once the author has done that, they have to trust in their publisher to get them the right cover. And I have to say, that so far I've been so very impressed with Sourcebooks’ art department. Both “Geek Girls” books have looked incredible, and I couldn't be happier.

Then the book moves forward, to Netgalley, where wonderful bloggers like Sia can review it. These guys are also a hugely important part of the team. Where would a book be with no reviews? Sitting in the bottom of the Amazon rankings, that’s where! Through reviews, good and bad, word of mouth, advertising, bloggers and book reviewers can really shape the way a book sells. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the opportunity to post here and on other blog sites. I’m honored to have you guys as part of my team!

And then, once the advanced copies have been reviewed, and release day has come and gone, I get to the biggest (and most important) part of my book team.

You guys. The readers.

Without you, Leah and Avery can only live inside MY head. But with you? These two characters have traveled the world, having their adventure again and again, causing laughs and tears in so many different time zones, zip codes, and countries. And that, my friends, is a humbling thought. This book that took me so many months to create has flown worldwide, and I couldn't be happier, or more grateful.

Thank you for being part of my team. Thanks for reading these crazy tales that come pouring out of my noggin. Thanks for laughing, for sharing, for buying and borrowing and telling your friends.

I couldn't  do this without you.

                                                                                                                                                            

BUY: AMAZON, B&N, INDIEBOUND

GEEK GIRLS DON'T DATE DUKES

The Royal Treatment

All Leah wanted was a little gallantry. But in this day and age, chivalry was most definitely dead. If only there were a way to travel back in time and snag her very own duke...

Avery Russell was polishing some boots when a woman fell through the bedchamber mirror into his arms. All he could make out from her breathless babbling was some nonsense about "my one true love, Your Grace." Clearly the chit was mad if she couldn't tell a valet from a duke!

As much as Avery wanted to give in and give her a good tumble, he knew it wouldn't be proper. No, he'd take as long as necessary to convince Leah that sometimes a duke just won't do. EXCERPT

                                                                                                                                                                              

Becoming a magician proved to be less interesting than Gina Lamm had anticipated when she was six, so in her adult life, she's turned to writing.

This belly-dancing, wisecracking, marshmallow-addicted mother of three energetic fur-children loves nothing more than penning funny, emotional tales of love, lust, and entertaining mishaps.

A multi-published author, Gina also writes erotic romance under the pen name Regina Cole. THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL, GEEK GIRLS DON'T DATE DUKES, INDELIBLY INTIMATE, CAUGHT IN CRIMSON, and DEAR ADDI are only a few of her stories.

Married to a real live superhero, she and her family live in North Carolina, surrounded by tobacco farms, possums, and the occasional hurricane. You can find Gina:  Website, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter. 

FIUANA LUND—MY WORSE ENEMY

You have to take control of both writer and critic and learn where and when to let each voice emerge.

She’s rude. She has no regard for my feelings—or anybody else’s for that matter. When I see her looking my way, I cringe. I mean, my stomach really curdles. I would

run in the opposite direction if I could.  But there are times when she has me trapped, backed into a corner. Those are the worst times. She’s mean, she’s ugly, she’s got a HUGE rear end—and she hates me. The worst thing about her is that I find myself facing her in the mirror every morning.

I am my own worst enemy, my toughest critic, and the least supportive person in my life where my writing is concerned.

The same can be said for most writers I know. That’s not to say that a part of me isn't still delusional, witlessly hoping to win a Pulitzer prize or earn the title of New York Times Bestseller at some point. But the truth is, when asked about my books or my writing, I struggle to find anything positive to say. In fact, I recently did a radio interview to promote my book. The kind host asked me to talk about Indigo, to get into the book and talk about the story. I opened my mouth and began to blather on and on about a mythology class I took in college. Why did I do that? Why did I practically change the subject instead of sing the praises for a story I poured my heart and soul into, a book I really do like?

I love writing. There are times when imagination matches energy and words spring forth with carefully controlled urgency and I find myself glued to my keyboard, unable and unwilling to pull myself from my constructed world. That’s where the magic is; those moments of writing flow are what we ink slingers live for. But the rest of it? The rest of it is pretty close to agony. In order to sell your work you must be able to sell yourself. How can you sell yourself while there is a battle brewing inside your mind between the writer and the critic? In a word: balance.

Mind over matter, is what my husband says. You have to take control of both writer and critic and learn where and when to let each voice emerge. To be a successful writer, you must cultivate both voices, temper them, and learn where and when each is appropriate. For example, during the creative phase of writing—you know, that point when you've outlined and storyboarded and it’s time to add meat to the bones of your story—that’s when the writer voice needs to emerge loud and strong. That other voice, the one nobody likes to listen to, the critic—well, she needs to shut up. No, like really. Cover her mouth with duct tape and hide her fat butt in a closet. That writer in you needs to be set free without worry or concern.

On the other hand, when it’s time to edit—and I don’t care who you are, you need to edit—tell the writer in you to go take a nap and let the critic out of the closet. Despite all the ugly things I've said about the critic, she’s not all bad.  In fact, in the right setting, she can become one of your greatest allies, allowing you to polish your skills, accept constructive comments, and manage your expectations.

But that’s pretty much where her reign ends. Sooner or later you’re going to have to find the energy and passion to sell your story. That’s when the critic needs to be put away—far, far away. Book her a ticket on a one-way cruise to somewhere icy and cold and perfect for witches like her. Am I right?

The bottom line is this: Believe in yourself. Believe in your talent. Trust your gut, paying attention to both the writer and critic in you. And when you find yourself loathing the critic staring you in the mirror every morning, take a break, take a breath, and then write her out of your next chapter.

• How do you overcome the blues when you become your own worst critic?

                                                                                                                                                                                      

BUY: AMAZON, B&N, INDIEBOUND

INDIGO

Fiauna Lund

Seventeen-year-old Brit Kavanagh is hiding something: Just before her mother disappeared, she gave Brit faery wings … sewn into her skin.

When her father’s death forces Brit to leave the only home she’s ever known, danger follows her like a shadow. Catastrophe strikes again and again, and at every turn, she is confronted by the terrifying apparition of an otherworldly banshee.

Desperate to unravel the mysteries behind her wings and the curse of the banshee, Brit turns to Gentry O’Neill, a handsome stranger who knows more than he’s telling. With Gentry’s help, Brit pieces together her mother’s troubled past and discovers the horrifying truth of her own existence.

Her mother gave her wings, but she never meant for Brit to fly.

EXCERPT
                                                                                                                                                                                        

Fiauna Lund is a grown woman with an overactive imagination, a passion for writing, four children, and the dirty house to prove it.

Reading and writing have always been passions for Fiauna. During her childhood she spent hours exploring the woods of rural western Pennsylvania where she first began creating stories about faeries, pixies, magic, and mystical creatures.

She met her husband, Aaron, while attending Utah State University, and later earned a degree in human services from Columbia College which allowed her to study the uniquely challenged and inspiring people who serve as her collective muse. She now resides in Farmington, Utah. When she's not reading, writing, or running, she spends her time caring for her four adorable children and two curious cats. 

You can find Fiauna:  Facebook, Goodreads, Website/Blog