Character spotlight with Jackson Taylor

Hello, Jackson. Would you introduce yourself?
Hello. I’m Jackson Taylor from the book Those Who Wait by Lynn Hones. Simone O’Henley is the female protagonist in said book and she talked me into this interview. I don’t like talking about myself, but I’ll do my best. Oh, and you can get the book through http://www.devinedestinies.com/, or going directly there using http://tinyurl.com/ye24bmc. I have no idea what that is, but Lynn asked me to mention it.

What makes you special?
Wow, that’s a hard question to answer. *laughs* Simone told me this might make me uncomfortable and boy, she’s right. I think she talked me into this so she could watch me squirm. *Looks over at Simone, who sits in the corner smiling.* Well, I guess what makes me so special is that I finally got Simone to fall in love with me. *Looks at her and winks.*

Tell me about your most current adventure.
My current adventure is one that I hadn’t planned on. I wasn’t being a stalker or anything, but when I saw Simone sitting on the porch that day. Well, let’s just say, I now believe in love at first sight. *Lights his pipe and takes a puff*

If you could offer your author advice, what would it be?
Write more love scenes. * laughs and looks over at Simone who is cracking up*

Are you happy with the way people perceive you?
What’s important to me, as a southern gentleman, is how I perceive myself. If I live my life with honor and courage, then people will only have one way to see me. *Puffs on his pipe*

Tell us a little bit about your world.
I made a promise years ago to a group of friends. I can’t tell you what that promise was, but…it would have been easier for me to abandon that pledge, to take the easy way out, rather than spend years in lonely isolation. But in the world where I was raised, that’s not even an option. I’d rather be dead, than go back on my word.

Is expressing love difficult for you? Why?
Yes, it is. I can’t express it the way most men do I guess. Simone got mad at me one time. I’m sure she told you she was raised by nuns. I thought a comment she made to me once was a bit, um…well, let’s just say I told her I was surprised a lady would say something like that. She didn’t cotton to that too kindly. She let me know she was a lady and by God, I’d better never insinuate she was anything but. I’m old fashioned. I can’t help it. It’s how I was raised.

If you could pull your author into your world, what do you think would happen to her?
I’ll admit I really like Lynn. She’s a good listener. Simone and her have gotten to be good friends. They talk a lot. Ya know, girl talk. The thing is, Lynn’s a bit more…*shakes his head. * She’s not shy around men. She had her share of boyfriends before she got married and never felt… Well, I think she considers me a bit of a fuddy-duddy. I’m not a believer in kissing on the first date, although I’ll admit with Simone, I couldn’t help it. Here’s how it happened.

While the yellow light of the porch cast a gentle glow, without hesitation he turned toward her. A brisk couple of steps over, he took her face in his forceful hands and kissed her.
His kiss searched or longed for something and created the sensation of a life of its own. She returned the longed-for kiss and her head swam while her legs quivered. An electric current-like force drove all logic and sense of reason from her. His arms went quickly around her waist and he squeezed her tightly. In a rough moment, his lips ran along her chin and down to her neck. He opened his mouth and his tongue tasted her lightly scented skin.
At the front of her throat, he worked his warm mouth and soft tongue to the side and then under her ear. He grabbed her earlobe with his teeth and she heard his breath, which made her heady. Back to her lips, his hand pushed her mouth harder against his.
She gasped in between his hungry bites on her lips and was ready to be swept away. He stopped. His breath came out in short, heavy bursts. Soberly, he looked into her eyes and spoke. “I’m sorry, Simone.” Guilty, as if he’d done something wrong, something bad, he looked ashamed.
But it wasn’t wrong and it wasn’t bad. How could the glorious ecstasy that coursed through her body be bad? Nothing ever felt, so right or…so good. Him and her together. But his look, like an icicle melting in a snowstorm, confused her.
After a long glance, Jackson walked off the porch into the starlit night. Speechless and confused, she watched his back disappear into the grove. He left so abruptly, she felt cheated somehow. One minute they sat and enjoyed each other immensely and the next, she was alone.

Lynn asked me to clear up the fact that she wasn’t in any means a loose woman, if that’s how that came across. Sorry, Lynn, I just meant that you seem the type of gal who enjoyed kissing on the first date.

Share a little bit of the ‘real’ you with our readers. Any Dark secrets?
Simone, quit your gigglin’, darlin’. Seriously though, I think both of us would love to let you in on our dark secret. The real me is…a man who cannot possibly be understood. Not until you truly grasp who I am. It’s not something that the mind can possibly comprehend in a short time.

How many sex partners have you had? How many at one time?
I would never compromise my self-respect or the self-respect of the woman I’m to marry by…by doing anything improper. I was raised by parents who grew up in a different place and time. By God, they instilled those morals into me. *Relights pipe and stretches out his long legs*

What’s the oddest thing you’ve seen or done?
This interview. *Looks over at Simone and growls. *

Tell us what it’s like to spend a day with you.
I’ll be honest. I’m a simple man. A picnic lunch and a day out in the woods with my hound dog, Blue, is the perfect day. Oh, * looks to Simone with a sheepish grin* and spending it with my darlin’.

What’s the one thing you wish you could change about yourself or someone you love?
For the one I love, I wouldn’t change a thing. I love Simone and even time couldn’t keep us apart. As for myself, I’d love to change the fact that I couldn’t save my…*stops and looks down, quiet for several moments* I can’t think of anything at the moment.

How do you deal with stress?
I enjoy reading the classics and of course my pipe.

Tell us about the first time you laid eyes on Simone.
I was walking by the cottage she was staying at. I was used to seeing strangers there because the owners let friends use it. I saw this vision sitting in a rocker. She had long dark hair, and the cutest freckled face and upturned nose I’d ever seen. I think I surprised her, but I just had to say hi that very moment. Her raggy looking mutt, Vinnie, came down first, growling and such, but once my dog, Blue, made an entrance, it was the two of them running and playing that caught her attention. She stood to watch, and when she did, that clinched it. I knew then I was in love.

Finally, is there something you wished we had asked, but didn’t?
Enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Here’s an excerpt:

They sat in a comfortable silence before he cleared his throat and smiled at her. “I can remember years ago watching my parents sit on the front porch of our old home holding hands. It was usually in the evening after all the commotion of the day was at rest. They’d be rocking and talking of the struggles life brings and what would become of each one of us kids, I loved to crawl under the floorboards of that old porch and listen to ‘em going on about the here and there of raisin’ such a big brood.” Jackson laughed. “My brothers and I would give ‘em the hardest time. We’d be raising a ruckus about this or that. Climbing trees, getting stung by bees, chasing the girls with snakes.”
Simone smiled at Jackson. She loved to hear him talk about himself, but even more, she loved the feel of her hand in his.
“When my folks thought they were alone and no one listened, I’d hear them declare their love for each other. It made me feel so…safe and warm. I always hoped I’d be that kind of a parent, but it didn’t work out that way.”
She put her head back and sighed.
Jackson shook his head. “I’m sorry, Simone. Here I am going on and on about my family, my parents and you didn’t have…I mean you…”
Simone saved him. “Jackson, please don’t apologize. I love to hear about your parents. I may have missed out on that, but listening to you, I can imagine it. I guess like a seeing person, explaining the beauty of sight to the blind.” She shrugged resignedly and again laid her head back.
“I’m glad to hear that. Life is so short, Simone. We don’t know what tomorrow holds for us. If we only exist on this earth without feeling…the good and bad, then we aren’t growing. Like we’re standing outside in the pouring rain and not feeling the wet.”

Character spotlight with Simone O'Henley

Hello, Simone. Would you introduce yourself?
Hi, My name is Simone O’Henley. First off, let me just say thanks to Devine Destinies for allowing me this time to get to know you, and hopefully, for you to get to know me. With that said, I’ll let you know that I’m the main character in the book Those Who Wait by Lynn Hones. It’s a paranormal romance and I’m honored she chose me to be in it. I know that might sound hokey, but I really am.

A little background about me. I’m what, in the literature of old, would have been referred to as a foundling. A foundling, as you may, or may not know, is a baby that has been laid down somewhere and taken in by others. My birthmother laid me on the steps of the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy. It wasn’t an orphanage, but that’s where I grew up. I couldn’t have asked for better moms.

When I was twenty-one, I set out on my own. I got an apartment and lived alone for a few years, supporting myself as an accountant. I’m shy around people, but mostly men. I get all tongue-tied. Must be from being raised in a convent. I was lonely, so I got myself a mutt. He was a foundling, too, I guess because someone dropped him off at the local pound. His ear was half cut off, so I named him Vincent Van Gogh, after my favorite painter. I called him by many names…Vinnie, Vinners, Vinnaroonie, Vinmeister…well you get the idea. He was my buddy, pal and very best friend.

You can get my book through http://www.devinedestinies.com/, or going directly there using http://tinyurl.com/ye24bmc.

What makes you special?
Probably the number one thing that makes me so special is that I’m very trusting. I know that’s not always a good thing, but…it must come from that whole convent thing. I also haven’t met many foundlings, or many kids raised by a bunch of nuns. I sound like Whoopie Goldberg from the movie Ghost. *laughs*

Tell me about your most current adventure.
I had a clandestine crush on a man at the company I worked at for years. Unfortunately, he hardly knew I existed. He got engaged to the new girl in the office and it devastated me. My boss, Nancy, said I could stay at her cottage on an Island on Lake Erie for a few weeks. My first day, I met an amazing man named Jackson. He’s a caretaker for a plot of land there. I was so comfortable around him, which was odd, considering my hang-up regarding men and all. Weird things began to happen immediately. My dog, Vinnie, picked up on the vibes, too. Anyway, one night I…Well, here’s an excerpt to give you an idea:

“Help me!” someone yelled from the grove.
Simone stood, frozen. Fear paralyzed her. “Who are you? Are you hurt?” Her desperate cries were swallowed by the overwhelming squeal of the wind.
“Help! Help me!”
Several voices called out in great turmoil and their heartrending cries of anguish sickened Simone. Aches coursed through her body as she turned to go back inside the cottage when she caught movement on the porch with her. Out of the shadows, the figure of a man approached her. “Jackson!” Relief filled her. “Is that you?”
When he stepped into the light, Simone let out a gasp. “You…what are you doing here?” She backed herself away and reached for the door, but he stepped in quickly and uncomfortably close. The strange man from the wildflower field, close enough for her to feel his breath on her face, sneered.
“Aren’t you going to help them, sweetie pie?”
“Get back! Go away!” She leaned against the door and felt for the handle, but he pushed in close to her.
“They never learn.” He shook his head. “It didn’t work then and it sure ain’t going to work now.” From his back, he pulled out the old grave marker from the shed and laughed knowingly. “This is what they’ll get.”
Simone shuddered at the sight of the marker and let out a frightened gasp. “Where did you get that? Why do you have it? Please, just leave me alone.”
He inched closer to her, silently he held out the offending piece of wood in his outstretched hands.
“My boyfriend’s inside,” she lied. “Jackson!” she called out. “Jackson, come here, I need you.”
He snickered, which sent a shudder along her spine.
“I ain’t goin’ to bother you none, little lady and, I know your precious Jackson ain’t in there. I was just wonderin’ if you planned on helpin’, is all.”
He backed away slightly and gave Simone enough time to turn around and grab the handle with her shaking hand. She pulled it and felt his icy grip on her shoulder. She shrugged him off her and ran in, slamming the door closed and locking it.
“I’m calling the police,” shouted Simone. She banged shut the wooden door and turned the deadbolt. She cradled the phone to her ear she tried to call 911, but couldn’t get a dial tone. Dead. The phone lines were out. The lights flickered and after a couple of seconds went out too.

If you could offer your author advice, what would it be?
Just because you’re sitting down to write, you don’t have to stuff your mouth with chocolate. Also, chill out. Characters have their own minds and personalities. We will tell you what to write. Quit putting words in our mouths. Oh, and one more thing, freckles, really? I mean they’re cute and all, but…never mind, don’t get me started.

Are you happy with the way people perceive you?
All in all, yeah, I’d say I’m happy with how people see me. I wish they wouldn’t judge me so harshly though, just because I’m kinda shy and dress conservatively. I was raised by nuns, after all! While on the island, I did dress a little bit more, um…sexy. *laughs*

Is there a message you want to get across in this interview?
Yes, there is. I think that romance now days, and remember this is simply my humble opinion, is gone. The old movies of the thirties and forties didn’t show a lot of sex. It was mostly implied. They hinted at it. I think that’s what I’m trying to get across to people in my own sorry way. One of my friends in the book, Victoria, is almost 100 years old and we talked about true love, romance and soul mates a lot. Her husband died in World War I and she, to this day, talks like he’s still around. I think there’s a lot to be said about true, old-fashioned love. In other words, you don’t have to jump into bed to find love. Oh gosh, I’m sounding like a nun, huh. *laughs* My writer has young daughters. One’s a teenager. She likes to have romantic books for her girls to read. She’s trying to show them that true love, and true romance, are possible without always getting, ahem...naked.

What was the least interesting thing that has ever happened to you?
My entire life, before I went to the island was boring. *laughs* That island changed my life. It was haunted, magical, cursed…I could go on and on. I wouldn’t change it for a minute. Sometimes when we least expect it, our lives take such a turn that we have to sit back and shake our heads and say, Wow, did that really happen?What was the best sexual experience you’ve had?

Have you ever lost control?
I lost control with Jackson. Not like you’re thinking though. *laughs* One day we were picking berries. He missed Georgia so much that he jumped into the lake and turned toward the South. It was cold and blistery that day. He asked me to jump in, too, but I didn’t want to. It really wasn’t in my nature, and I’m a freeze-baby anyway. Something happened though, and before I knew it, I was in the waves with him. We were twirling, singing and just cutting up. Totally out of character for me. I loved it.

How many sex partners have you had? How many at one time?
I will say it again. I was raised by nuns! *laughs* I didn’t even know there was such a thing as sex until I turned twenty-one and moved out. I’m being somewhat facetious, but really, Jackson was my first, my last, my one and only.

What was the best sexual experience you've had?
I’ll let my excerpt speak for itself. But I’d say it’s more romantic than sexual.

Jackson, tall and dignified, reached over, picked her up quickly and carried her into the woods.
She put her arms around his neck and laughed. “This is what you want, isn’t it?” he asked in a low voice.
He put her down on a patch of dried leaves left from the previous autumn and stared down at her. Desire, indescribable in his eyes, shot out at her. He fell to his knees, reached over and pulled a lock of hair away from her face.
“Jackson…” Simone’s eyes closed. The birds sang and the rays of a late spring sun trickled through the overhanging branches and warmed their skin. Jackson slowly kissed Simone’s cheek while the smells of damp earth and vegetation surrounded them. He wrapped her in his arms and enveloped her in his love.
He kissed her eyes, her temples, her ears. He worked his way to her neck and buried his face in her hair that fanned out around them. Simone could hear the world around them, muffled, like a choir that sang far off in the distance.
Wrapped in each other’s insecurities, their desperation hung over them heavy and created a fear to let go. They clung to each other, obsessed. A wave could come to shore, grab both of them and pull back on its instinctual way from where it came and simply absorb them into its surge of strength. Simultaneously, peace and unfounded energy, like nothing the world ever knew, engulfed her.
The birds sang and the crickets chirped, but they were aware of nothing but each other. Jackson took Simone to heights she never even imagined existed. Every second brought new wonders and she cried out and held him, loved him.

Hello! Every time I think back to that day, I get misty-eyed. He is the man that I was meant to be with. I think every one has that someone. Their soul mate.

What’s the oddest thing you’ve seen or done?
The oddest thing that I have ever seen takes place at the end of my book. I’m telling you, until the day I die, I’ll scratch my head and say, huh? It left me paralyzed in awe, fear and hope. I can’t tell you what it is though, lest I ruin the end for you. *smiles*

Tell us what it’s like to spend a day with you.
Wow, you know that’s a hard question. I’d have to say that I’m laid back, yet excitable. Quiet, in a loud sort of way. Funny and serious at the same time. Have I confused you yet? *laughs* Cuz, I’ve sure confused myself. But in all seriousness, give me a beach, the sun, a good book and a fruity drink and you can be my best friend. Oh, and let’s not forget the hot guy in the cut-off shorts. Sorry, Sister Maria Joseph. *laughs*

What’s the one thing you wish you could change about yourself or someone you love?
I’d love to change the fact that I feel I was born in the wrong time period. If you read my book, I think you’d understand a little more of where I’m coming from with this…but again, I don’t want to give too much away. I love romance!!! The good old-fashioned kind.

How do you deal with stress?
A hot bath, candles and a glass of wine.

Tell us about when you first arrived on the island.
Again, I wouldn’t believe it if it didn’t happen to me. A woman picked me up at the ferry. Her name was Madge. She was plump, talkative…a real character. She even scarred Vinnie, the poor thing. She told me she was the wife of the ferry captain. No biggie. Sure okay, whatever. Anyway, later in the book, when I’m leaving the island, something happens and it blows my mind. It involves Madge. I mean she is a really minor character, but it sorta lets you know that the island has a lot of secrets shall we say.

Finally, is there something you wished we had asked, but didn’t?
I’d like to mention how much I loved my dog. *laughs* I know it sounds weird, but he was all I had for years. Dogs give us such unconditional love. I really think my Vinnie had a human brain in a dog’s body. His eyes spoke louder and clearer than most people I know. I got him from the pound. He would have been put to sleep the very next day because no one claimed him. I think it was his ear and he was kinda scrawny looking. But if I ever get another dog, I’m going to go to the pound again and get the saddest, most pathetic looking dog there. They make the best pets. *laughs* I lost my Vinnie. He was thirteen when he died. I still hear him and feel him around me. *quiet for a moment* I know I’ll see him again. Anyone who’s ever loved and lost a pet knows what I mean.What makes you special?

Author spotlight with Lisa Vance

Dear Lisa,

What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?
As a child, I remember my mother excitedly opening response letters from publishers, always hoping that one day she’d get a contract for one of her stories. Sadly, she never did, but her enthusiasm, faith and hope were contagious!

How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract?
I was stunned. I couldn’t move for at least five minutes. I kept re-reading it, to make sure it really said I had a contract.

What makes a book great in your eyes?
When you finish the book, and actually miss the characters, THAT was a good book!

What is the biggest piece of your advice you can give a beginning writer?
Never give up. Even Best Sellers were rejected a few times before they were published.

What are you working on now?
The first of a series, LeeAnn Vaughn: A Way With Murder. She is a Nursing Supervisor at a small NJ hospital. After a patient is brought into the Emergency Room one night, suffering from a supposed asthma attack and dies, LeeAnn begins to wonder… was it murder?

Are love scenes easy/difficult to write?
Yes *blush*. I always imagine what my grown children will think when they read it, and that thought often inhibits me. LOL.

How do you deal with the dreaded writer’s block?
When I read others’ writers work, it inspires and excites me. That gets me thinking, and before I know it, I’m writing again.

Do you have another career besides writing? What is it?
I am an RN, working as a Nursing Supervisor at a small NJ hospital. LOL. It’s where I got my inspiration for my upcoming series.

What’s your biggest reward in being a writer?
I was awestruck as I watched the face of my daughter’s friend, as she read one of my tear-jerking chapters in Passing Whispers. When I actually SAW that it moved her to tears, I was thrilled that my writing could affect someone like that.

How do you go about developing your characters and setting?
I like to use regular people in ordinary settings who face extraordinary circumstances. As we say in the hospital, there’s a story behind every door.

http://theoccupant.blogspot.com/

http://tbrnetwork.ning.com/profile/LisaVance

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Character spotlight with Jeremy

Hello. I’m Jeremy and I’m the ghostly character in His to Possess, Su Halfwerk’s standalone & sweet paranormal romance release from Devine Destinies http://tinyurl.com/3xdm56f

Since Su is busy with a dark fiction novella, she asked if I could be interviewed. I accepted :)

What makes you special? What differentiates you from your kind? Do you have special abilities?

I’m not sure what differentiates me from other specters—I haven’t met any since my death, but I know what makes me special—Stacy’s affections for me. The love of a good woman can do miracles to a ghost’s vitality.

Tell us about your most current adventure.

His to Possess is indeed an adventure, the sweet type. It started when Stacy began appraising valuable books at the mansion I was haunting. At that stage, I had settled into a gray and dull existence, but the moment she stepped through the mansion doors, my days were gray no more.

I’ll share with you a short scene here, this is the first proper chat I shared with Stacy.

A weary look had crept in and settled over her beautiful eyes. When she leaned forward, more candlelight softened her already delicate features, as she asked, “Are you a good guy, or a bad one?”

Jeremy shook his head desolately and settled back on the floor cross-legged. “If I were one of the bad guys, would I tell you?”

Stacy pursed her lips. “No. I guess not. You have a valid point there. Just know that my protective circle will stop any contact between us.”

He mulled over that information for a moment. He understood that she had to shield herself. “I understand.”

Jeremy could hardly maintain the thrill that surged through him, even though their conversation took place on the dusty, cold marble floor of the kitchen, in the darkness of the mansion, with the storm raging outside.

Her temple furrowed. “You sound familiar.”

“That’s because we’ve met before.” He beamed at her.

She considered that for a moment, and then nodded. “You mean while you were alive? Where?”

Jeremy decided to be honest with her, since she already knew his spectral nature. “No. We’ve met after my death. To be specific, this afternoon.”

“No. I’ve seen only Paul this afternoon, and he’s no ghost.” She scowled at him. “Are you one of those playful spirits?”

Jeremy raised both hands in entreaty. “No, no, no. I would never lie to you.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m not sure what had happened, but when you fainted, I managed to gain form for one instant.”

She gasped, her eyes widening. “You’re Jeremy? Stacy swallowed hard, seeming at a loss. “Well, why did you disappear again?”

“I have no clue how I gained form and then lost it. I’m as confused about it as you are,” he replied. But deep inside, Jeremy’s confusion took a back seat. God. I am talking to Stacy! Even after death, there are miracles.

He pointed his chin at the candles. “You seem experienced at conjuring spirits. But you don’t know how this happened either.”

Stacy shook her head. “Ah, no, I am as inexperienced as you appear to be in this. I’m a Sensitive, as my grandmother used to say—sort of a ghost whisperer by inheritance. It means I can draw the spirits to me easily.”

Happiness swarmed Jeremy’s heart. For the first time, he was happy to be the only ghost in the mansion. “Wow. So, you don’t know how I was able to gain physical form.”

Stacy cocked her head to one side. “I think you’re starting to repeat yourself.”

“You think I don’t know?” Jeremy ran shaky fingers through his hair and chuckled awkwardly. He noticed that Stacy’s eyes fixed on the spot where he sat, as though she could see him. “It’s just that I’ve dreamt of this—talking to you—since the first day you started working on those books.”

Stacy continued to gaze in his direction without uttering a word, which Jeremy found unnerving. Does she regret conjuring me? “You’re silent,” he said softly. “What’s wrong?”

“Tell me, why do you run your hand through your hair?”

Jeremy shrugged self-consciously. “I do that a lot when I’m nervous.”

Only after he finished his reply did the meaning of her words sink in.

If you could offer your author advice, what would it be?

Trust your muse more often and believe in your intuition, it guides you well—no, not the voices you hear, Su.

Are you happy with the way people perceive you?

Can’t say I have an opinion about that. As a ghost, not many people can see or hear me—only Stacy can. However, through the book, I got the chance to be seen, heard and felt by many. I’m happy with that outcome.

Does your author ever try to take over the story? And how do you deal with it?

Does the sun rise from the east? Su tries, but she is a logical person. Approach her with logic and probable outcome, leave her to think about it, and she will most probably listen.

What is the most interesting thing that has happened to you?

Let’s see…my death was sudden and uninteresting. Now, meeting Stacy during the role casting for the book was a life changer.

Role casting? That’s interesting. Tell us how you ended up in His to Possess.

Su’s muse announced the role casting in our world. By the time my turn came, Su had been through a shadowman, a revenant and few others—I came right in after a poltergeist. You should’ve seen the state of Su’s office after a poltergeist demonstrated his talent. That spirit made me look angelic in her eyes. When Stacy stepped into that almost demolished room to deliver a document Su had requested from her during her role casting the day before, our gazes met. Su couldn’t miss the chemistry.

Is there a message you want to get across in this interview?

Yes. Value your life, with its shortcomings and troubles. Never give up hope, not even in the after life. I’m the biggest proof of that fact.

If you were brought into this world, what would be your first order of business?

A huge bowl of jamoca ice cream along with a bag of very salty chips. I never knew how important taste buds were until now. Stacy keeps telling me to stop staring at her while she eats, but I can’t help it. Like everything else she does, I became engrossed in watching her.

Have you ever lost control?

I was the epitome of mellowness during my life. After my death, I almost lost control at a very crucial point. *frown* I’m sorry, but I don’t like to remember that moment, and prefer not to talk about it.

What are your opinions on Paul?

He’s a pompous full of himself chauvinist who lost a good thing in his life, and for that I pity him. His loss is my gain though, and for that, I thank him.

What are the pros and cons to being a ghost?

Pros: No need for sleep, food, warmth, materialistic gains.

Cons: It puts limitations on the type of life I want to give to Stacy.

How does one become a ghost?

I know only the first step—dying. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine. Do all dead people become ghosts? I don’t think so, but I’m aware of one thing—if you die without accomplishing a very important goal in your life, you tend to hang in there waiting for its fulfillment. I’m not sure if there are other criteria.

Describe your best kill. Why was it the best?

I haven’t killed anyone, but was on the verge of killing two people in one go.

What kind of abilities do you get when you become a spirit?

Invisibility, mood swings mainly due to loneliness, immortality in a sense.

What makes being with a ghost the best sexual experience?

LOL You’ll have to interview Stacy for that one.

Do you really see a bright light when you die?

Hmmm, I haven’t seen one when I died, so I’m not sure how true this bright light business is. Perhaps you see it when you truly depart from this plane.

Can you touch things in the traditional way?

Traditional way? Not all the time.

What’s the one thing that is difficult to get used to as a ghost?

Not being noticed, felt and perceived as an entity, as though I’m nothing.

Do ghosts have a social calendar to adhere to?

:) Not me. But there are different types of spirits around, perhaps they have a social calendar.

Thank you Devine Destinies for accepting His to Possess and for having these thought provoking questions. If you desire to get in touch with either Stacy or myself, then send us a note through Su’s website: http://www.su-halfwerk.com/contact.htm

Author spotlight with Su Halfwerk

Su, what has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?

My family. They believed, and still do, in my talent and creativity. Their encouragement and flexibility to accommodate my schedule has been a great help. Even my eight-year-old son is supportive and offers to give me monsters whenever I’m stuck in a scene. How a monster would help anyone is beyond me, but I’ve learned not to argue when he’s helping. Seriously, bad idea! :)

How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?

I’m a bit of both, I’m afraid. I start off by plotting for no other reason but my fear of forgetting the events, their sequence and the twists. A gold fish’s memory is better than mine. As the story progresses, I start changing details impulsively, as long as the main events of the story remain unchanged.

What makes a book great in your eyes?

Two things:

1. Suspense is an important element. If the readers don’t speculate, then they will not care and will put the book face down on the first picnic bench they find.

2. Plausibility is another factor. JK Rowling created a magical world loaded with mythical creatures, magical spells and unbelievable obstacles. A realistic magical world!

What influences your writing? And why?

Unfortunately, my mood influences my writing schedule and the writing itself. I think the answer to the why bit lies in the stars. I’m as typical a Taurean as they come. 8-D

Who is your favorite all-time author?

Indisputably, Kresley Cole. Her Immortals After Dark series is a must read.

Do you write in one genre or several different ones? And why?

Besides the paranormal romance, I write in the horror and thriller genres. Why? I guess I’m drawn to the darker side of the fictional world. Of course, His to Possess, though paranormal romance, is sweet, and that’s the work of my characters. They held me down and forced me to do it :)

To know more about my writing check out my website: http://www.su-halfwerk.com/Books.htm

If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

At a cottage on a beach. If you’re going to grant this wish, please make sure there is electricity in the cottage—for my laptop.

How do you deal with the dreaded writer’s block?

I don’t get writer’s block. On the other hand, I suffer from total addiction to writer’s procrastination. I handle it the same way I handle everything else in life, I tempt myself with a reward if I do get off my %$# and go to work again. No work, no reward.

Do you have another career besides writing? What is it?

I paint, here’s a link to some of my paintings: http://www.su-halfwerk.com/Paintings.htm

I also design book trailers, here’s the trailer for His to Possess: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiiL_ettk6A

To date, which is your favorite story? Which one did you have the most fun writing?

His to Possess. Its details fit in place as tight as a jigsaw puzzle pieces. I had no difficulties with it—the characters were easygoing and the ending surprised me as much as the next person. In simple words, it was exciting, suspenseful and engaging.

You can read more about His to Possess here http://tinyurl.com/3xdm56f

How do you go about developing your characters and setting?

Usually, the sequence is like this:

1. I get the idea for the book.

2. Then I sit and decide on the characters’ personalities, concentrating on their flaws and strengths to decide on their background and their occupations. Lots of research goes here.

3. Finally, I decide on the location of the story—again, loads of research—to give the characters the best environment for conflict and climax.

However, for His to Possess, Stacy’s job was the first thing that came to my mind, even before the idea of the book. Go figure!

Thank you for these challenging questions. I would like to leave you with one thought:

Don’t give up hope no matter what challenges life hurls at you. There’s always a way, might not be an easy one, but give it a try. You might be surprised.

I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I enjoyed answering its questions.

Cheers,

Su Halfwerk

www.su-halfwerk.com

http://www.suhalfwerk.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/SuHalfwerk

Character spotlight with Myrddin, a C.R. Moss creation

~ Good day and welcome. I am a feline familiar named Myrddin. Sometimes my mistress, Cassandra, calls me Myrd. Other people call me Merlin. My mistress and her family’s stories will be available at Devine Destinies in the Look What the Cat Dragged In series by C.R. Moss.

What makes you special? What differentiates you from your kind? Do you have special abilities?
~ I am a handsome black cat, if I do say so myself, with long silky hair, fluffy tail and piercing yellow green eyes. And, due to my connection with my mistress, I can make suggestions which she is usually wise enough to follow. Through her, I can engage others to assist me. I fancy myself a matchmaker. Some people need a gentle push. Some people need a hard poke or two. While others, well, they need a good kick in the arse. I know that may come off sounding a bit harsh, but I am a tough love kind of fellow. There is only so much leeway I will allow my loved ones to take before I intervene. After all, my charges do need to make mistakes and try to find their way in life on their own. But if they continue to flounder and not get on the right path, you can be sure I will be there to re-direct them. Granted, due to my stature and physical nature, I cannot kick anyone in the bum in the literal sense, but I can get under their feet. And the lovely ladies I live with know that all too well. I am a lucky guy to have such wonderful women in my life to love and be loved by. But alas, I cannot fill all of their needs.

Tell us about your most current adventure.
~ My first adventure, available April 1 from Devine Destinies, follows my mistress’s cousin’s friend, Evelyn. She’s a lass from Texas who’s in love with our manor’s resident ghost, Quinn. But she can only experience his embrace in her dreams. Quinn, who doesn’t realize he’s a ghost, loves Eve and wishes she’d stop saying they can’t be together. I have my work cut out trying to get these two together. I mean, one person is dead and the other is alive, how much harder can love and matchmaking get? Then I get to play matchmaker for Julie and Cassandra. Julie meets up with a time traveler. My author says to tell you that you can find out more at: http://www.crmoss.net/lookwhatthecatdraggedin/

If you could offer your author advice, what would it be?
~ Live. Laugh. Love. Take lots of catnaps.

Are you happy with the way people perceive you?
~ For the most part, yes. The ladies love to stroke me, run their fingers through my hair. They appreciate my insights. And most visitors think I’m a wonderful feline. But then there’s Alex. I don’t think he was loved much as a child since he’s none too kind to me.

Is expressing love difficult for you? Why?
~ Not usually, if the human is receptive. Give me a lap and a hand to pet me and you’ll have my purr-motor running in no time. I love attention and affection. But if the human doesn’t like cats, believe me, I can think up devious ways to make the human’s life interesting. A shoe and a hairball can do wonders.

If you could time travel, where would you go?
~ I would love to go forward in time. See the world that will be here after my nine lives are over. Maybe visit a time when space travel has been perfected and I could be the first feline in space. How wonderful would that be? Brilliant, I’d say.

If you had the chance to meet another character, who would it be and why?
~ I would love to meet Marius. My author’s cat is named after Rice’s character and I’d like to be able to tell her about him first hand.

What is your most favorite thing to do?
~ Sun myself in Aunt Mae’s garden on one of the decorative rocks as Cassandra tends to her herbs.

Do you think you are a superior being?
~ But of course. I am a cat. My ancestors were venerated by all in Egypt and held in the most high admiration and respect. Plus, I come from a long line of familiars.

Describe your abilities and how exactly did you get them?
~ I am a familiar, a mystical being that assumed the form of a cat. With my supernatural qualities, I can attend to and assist my Wiccan mistress, providing psychic guidance and companionship during spell casting and beyond. One night, when she was young and hurting, she called out to the Universe and I was sent to her. We bonded. I am, however, more than just an instrument for her Wiccan magic. As with all familiars, the relationship between us is unlike any other. It’s a relationship that surpasses the natural plane of reality, where we can commune together on a higher level. As dogs are to man, so is the familiar to a Wiccan.

Is your gift always right?
~ My heightened senses haven’t failed me so far.

Does your gift get you in trouble?
~ It hasn’t yet, but I have a feeling when I bring in Cassandra’s true love she won’t be too happy and believe me to be in a world of trouble. I’ll probably end up in the proverbial doghouse. Same with Julie. Her true love is arriving at an inopportune time and she might blame me for that, too.

What good thing have you done with your gift?
~ I have brought love into my human caretakers’ lives.

Would you trade your gift for a different gift?
~No. Things are as they should be.

Author spotlight with C.R. Moss

Hello C.R. Moss!

How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?
I do both. It depends upon my mood and my muse. If my muse is chattering away, I’ll do what I call an information dump~lots of narrative or dialogue or basic ideas for a chapter/the story~which is my way of outlining. If he’s not very communicative, I’ll write what I can until he intervenes. I don’t like to say I plot because it seems so strict and straight-laced to me. Outlining what I’m working on works so I have an idea of where to go. The outlines especially help if I have to put the project down for a bit and return to it at a later date. I also flip between the two, depending upon the story and what the characters are dictating, since there have been times my characters have taken over and changed things up. When the characters take over is when pantster mode kicks in because they don’t want to follow the initial outline.

What is the biggest piece of your advice you can give a beginning writer?
Learn the craft! This means grammar, characterization, plot, etc., all the good things that go into a story. You might be able to tell a good story, but, if you can’t write it by showing what the characters are doing/feeling, your writing career won’t go anywhere. Get involved in a critique partnership/group. Learn the non-creative side of the business as well. Be prepared.

Do you write in one genre or several different ones? And why?
I started off writing in the horror genre. Then in the early 90’s a friend of mine gave me Jude Deveraux’s A Knight in Shining Armor and I started writing romance. Now I find myself to be a bit of an eclectic romance writer with bits of paranormal, horror, sci-fi, etc. thrown into the mix. It keeps things interesting for me and my muse.

If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?
I’d be an author beach bum on a tropical island.

To date, which is your favorite story? Which one did you have the most fun writing?
To date, my favorite Devine Destinies story is Postponing Eternity… Well, actually all three stories in the series are my favorites. I enjoyed writing about Tarrin and seeing him on a regular basis. But, I have a feeling that Cassandra’s story in my Look What the Cat Dragged In series will be lots of fun to write. I’m brining back Philip, a secondary character from Concealed Affairs, who Cassandra has no warm and fuzzy feelings for. He helps her to have a change of heart.

How do you go about developing your characters and setting?
The developments of my stories are character driven. I’m always more heavy on the character aspects of my stories when I start—knowing who they are and their internal conflicts—than I am with what they need to do and the obstacles they have to overcome. The characters normally tell me their names or give me an idea of what their name should mean. If I get a meaning, I look up names in a baby book until the character goes yes, that’s it. If I don’t get a name or meaning right away, they get a ___ in the story until they speak up. As for personalities, sometimes the characters just show up, like someone I meet for the first time who I get to know real quick. Other times I have inklings and vague ideas of who the characters are and I’ll create astrological charts for them to get a deeper sense. When it comes to settings, I try to place the stories in locations I’ve lived or visited. If the story dictates being somewhere I haven’t been, then I do lots of research on the locale.

C.R. Moss, a self-proclaimed eccentric and eclectic writer, pens stories for both the mainstream and erotic romance markets, giving readers Worlds of Possibilities.

For more about the woman behind the keyboard and her books, visit: www.crmoss.net

Character spotlight with Fiona

Hi. I’m Fiona from The Path of Innocence. I’m at St Andrews University and I’m so proud to be here, determined to make the most of the opportunity.

I s’pose I’m quite feisty and opinionated—actually, I prefer strong-willed, but the author keeps interfering. Although I’m pretty focused on work, there’s time for all the clubs and societies, too. I s’pose I’m different from a lot of the others in that I’m not really a party animal. I imagine people think that I’m really sorted, that I know my own mind, but sometimes I ache inside…

Well, like I said, it’s great to be here, a dream come true, and I want to savour every moment. Sometimes, I’m so busy that my feet don’t seem to touch the ground. I’m really fulfilled, really I am…it’s just that these urges inside keep coming back to torment me, struggling with me like a beast waiting to be unleashed.

My advice to the author?

Get therapy. She is so mean to keep putting temptation in my path. Everything will be going along fine and then WHAM she hits me with another testosterone-fuelled boy. I try so hard to be good, to save myself for true love, but she’s determined to make it as difficult as possible for me. Like I said, she’s twisted and needs help.

Everybody thinks I’m so sorted, but sometimes I feel that I am trapped inside this stereotype and I’m just yearning to break free. Sometimes, I wish I could be more like Lucy, my roommate, flitting around like a beautiful butterfly, taking pleasure wherever she chooses.

Excerpt:

Studying her reflection in the mirror, Fiona turned this way and that. Her figure wasn’t bad. Everything was in proportion—medium height, medium build, and her face, whilst not exactly beautiful, had a certain character. She ran her fingers through her hair, admiring the threads of natural copper highlights that gave it a burnished glow. She was attractive enough, but not, she knew, exceptional. Perhaps her whole persona was too intense, anyway, to attract men in the way that Lucy did. She sighed longingly. Yet, being fickle or flirtatious was not in her make-up. Her role within a group, she knew, was to help maintain harmony rather than to stand out by virtue of any remarkable qualities. Not that she was a wallflower, she straightened her shoulders squarely. She could assert her presence when necessary, but mostly she was happy to be one of the crowd, an affable companion and certainly not a threat.

She stared hard into her own eyes, blue-grey with flecks of green, and silently admitted that she would never be the type to set men’s hearts alight. Behind the veneer, however, she also knew that there was a heart beating wildly. Flopping on to the bed, she gazed sightlessly toward the ceiling. An alluring Venus she might not be, but there were times when she lay in bed at night yearning for someone to engulf her in a passionate embrace. She cradled herself in her arms, knowing that her lascivious thoughts were never more than fantasy and that, in the cold light of day, she would wake up a prisoner, still trapped within the boundaries of her own stereotyped behaviour, still aching to find a release for the emotions pent-up inside her. Glancing at Lucy’s bed, empty yet again, she let out a weary yawn and resignedly turned out the light.

Other characters who have influenced me?

When I first started, I went round in a small group led by Donald, a mad Scotsman. He was such fun and made sure that everything we did turned out hilarious. Yet, I can’t look at him now, not after walking in on his sordid ménage a trois.

My world?

It’s beautiful here at St Andrews and I’ve joined the Ramblers club so that I can get out to really appreciate the environment. Unfortunately, the wimps have cancelled for the winter, so I’ve been going out on my own...that’s how I bumped into Roger again. He’s really easy to get on with, but so detached…

My dark secrets?

Well, they won’t be secrets if I tell, but I will say that the author has got a lot to answer for!

How does Roger deal with my adventures?

When I first met Roger it took ages for him to make a move. Everything was great for a while—he’d had a pretty disastrous past, too, so that wasn’t an issue. However, fate—or that twisted author—intervened and dealt a blow neither of us could have foreseen, not in our wildest dreams. It really hit hard and we both fell apart.

Do I think I’m a superior being?

No, but other people think I do. I met this dishy guy on a train once and he really laid into me for being high and mighty. Can’t win them all!

The oddest thing I’ve seen?

The raisin Monday parade when Donald turned up in a tutu dressed as a fairy queen with us all following him dressed as fairy helpers. Like I said, he was fun, but, boy, was I wrong about his character!

Spending a day with me.

I guess a lot of people would find it exhausting. I can’t bear to sit around doing nothing, so I tend to pack in as much as I can.

What would I change about myself or the one I love?

Well, I wish that I could be more easy-going, not so buttoned-up, but I wouldn’t want to change anything about Roger. *Sigh* Except for his horrible father.

How do you deal with stress?

I take it by the neck and strangle it.

Tell us about that party…

Okay, you keep pushing me for more info. All I will tell you is that I’d met this guy before and he seemed fine. And, yes, I did fancy him, but although I thought I was ready, I wasn’t. Maybe it was the drink, but he turned into a complete beast… Actually, that was the first time I met Roger. I was throwing up on the grass outside at the time.

Excerpt:

Something about the gentleness of tone penetrated her flimsy defences and a loud sob erupted, despite her efforts to suppress it. Suddenly her hands began to shake uncontrollably and a river of teardrops spilled down her cheeks.
“I…I’m sorry,” she choked. “Making a fool of myself.”
“It happens to the best of us. Look, I don’t want to interfere, but are you sure there’s nothing I can do?”
“My jacket,” she sobbed. “It’s so cold.”
“Where is it?”
“In there,” she nodded toward the flat. “In one of the bedrooms.”
“Can I get it for you?”
“No! You can’t go in!”
“Well, perhaps I could ask somebody else to get it?”
She raised her bleary eyes to meet the stranger’s face and forced a tight smile.

What do I wish you’d asked?

Did Roger and I manage to get over our problems and make it to the end?

Answer—not telling!

Purchase The Path Of Innocence

Author spotlight with Sally Odgers

What makes a book great in your eyes?
Shine! So many books don’t have it, but my favourite authors do. Shine is difficult to define, but it has to do with originality, writing style and character. Not every book by a shiny author will have it. In some cases, quite flawed first books have shine, which is often lost in the authors’ more technically-proficient later books. Originality, to me, is inbuilt in an author. Some people come up with ideas that are unmistakably their own.

It is impossible for me to imagine Deep Secret or Black Maria being written by anyone other than the brilliant Diana Wynne Jones. Her characters are equally brilliant—rounded people with real faults and virtues. For anyone wanting to learn style, I’d say get hold of Margaret Mahy’s The Changeover or read the passage at the beginning of the Blossoming Stones chapter in Monica Edwards’ Hidden in a Dream. I am probably biased, but I think the best of my own books have shine…at least, for me. That’s probably because I wrote them to my own taste. Under the Waterfall is one of the books I wanted to write, and I think it shows.

What is the biggest piece of your advice you can give a beginning writer?
Learn to write proper grammar and get your structure and characterisation right before you send anything to a publisher. Then decide if you’re going to write purely for yourself or for the market. Some lucky people get to do both, but most don’t. Therefore, you should decide what is most important to you and write accordingly.

Name one thing readers don’t know about you.
That I know the obsolete plural of toe!

Who is your favorite all-time author?
I have three—Diana Wynne Jones, Elizabeth Marie Pope and Margaret Mahy. I love about 1/3 of the output of two of them. EMP is a bit different—she wrote only two novels. One is good. The other is brilliant.

How do you deal with the dreaded writer’s block?
I don’t get it. To me, it’s like saying a teacher gets teacher’s block or a farmer gets farmer’s block. Just imagine if a dairy farmer got up one morning and claimed he couldn’t bring himself to milk the cows! You’d give him a sharp kick in the pants and say get on with it. He might not do the most stylish milking of his life, but milk there would be.

If you had the opportunity to say one thing to your readers, what would that be?
Buy lots of copies of my books. You know you want to!

To find out more about me and my books—the books are more exciting—check out my website at www.sallyodgers.com