5 Stars for Changeup

I have started calling Nicole Rodrigues the 'Swoon Queen' … and for darn good reason.
Once again, she’s written a book worthy of 5 stars! Hook, line and sinker.
 
Devin John Gavinwood is the starting pitcher for the Cajuns and he’s cocky, smooth-talking, and a true lady’s man.
 
Normani Jameson is a broken spirit with a dark secret and a fighting determination. She’s simply trying to hide in the shadows of her sordid past and is content to stay there until Devin brings his cocky self to Double Play PT one fine day.
 
These two met at Charlotte’s birthday party and haven’t been able to get their minds off one another since. Devin plays a good game, though, on and off the field and soon, he’s starting to tear down Normani’s walls.
 
As fate would have it though, our pasts have a way of sneaking back up on us when we let our guards down, and Normani’s is no different. Devin is a protective man and starts to take Normani, the woman who’s slowly crawling under his skin and right into his heart, under his wing. But even Devin can’t prepare for what’s coming…
 
I loved this book, as I have all the others in this heart-warming, swoon-worthy series.
 
Devin-- Charlotte and Gabe’s son and Bella’s brother-- is a true southern gentleman (aka caveman/cowboy) and he had me swooning right away with his accent and mannerisms. Normani is the inner bad-ass chic in all of us, a true fighter who’s been through hell, wiped the blood from her lips, and stands back up for more. She’s stronger than she knows, despite her fears and her big heart is the most amazing thing about her. She’s a true blue heroine that’s super easy to love. This love story was sassy, sexy and had all the feels. And as always, I loved hearing about the other Gavinwoods, Turners and now Johnsons :-D
 
If you love baseball-- cowboys-- feisty female leads and a story with a good twist then Changeup is right up your alley -- or down the plate (wink, wink).
 
It truly has something for every romance fan. You won’t be disappointed!
 
P.S. I’m super excited for Lacey and Nico’s story, coming up in Walk Off: Book 5 of the Double Play series… super swoon…

I met Joshua Grant through Goodreads and became a member on his amazing indie author supporting website www.diabolicshrimp.com. I found his books to sound thoroughly intriguing and entertaining -- and being a fan of all things horror-- I decided to read Pandora back in December, the first book in his heart-pounding The Organization series. (Check out  my review on it here.)  After reading this thrilling tale, with all the surprise elements, horror and action of The Thing and Dead Space, I wanted to “sit down” with him and ask him what inspired it.

Here’s what he had to say:

Me: Hi Joshua, tell me a little about yourself?  When did you know you were going to be a writer?

Joshua: Oh gosh, a dangerous thing when asking a writer to tell you his story! :)  I’m a crazy guy who loves working with kiddos, playing video games, and occasionally writing.  I’ve had a pretty adventurous life so far with things like sailing the ocean and surviving a flash flood, but I really just love people and laughing and experiencing life together.  Not sure I ever really knew I was going to be a writer (maybe even still haha!). My middle school English teacher left some nice comments on one of my short stories that made me think ‘hey, maybe I can write something decent.’  I then just wrote for the fun of it ever since. I quit a lot along the way but always got that writer’s bug back. I just love imagining stories when I run out of stuff that entertains me and decide to write it all down.

Me: Haha, that seems to be the going answer… We don’t know we’ll be writers...until we are!

So, what inspired you to write The Organization books?

Joshua: A lot of things came together at the right time for The Organization.  I always loved things like Resident Evil and The Thing growing up (even though I’m a big scaredy cat) and I wanted to capture the gritty feel, creepy but fascinating creatures, and hapless heroes of those types of things.  After playing a game called Dead Space (a friend made me do it), I had this nightmare that became the basis of Pandora, although it was set in space.  Right at that same time, I took a cruise for the first time and thought that’d be the perfect interesting setting for the book that’s both isolated but also within the reach of everyday people as opposed to my original space idea.

Me: Yes, I’m a huge fan of horror and love both those movies. Hubby has played Dead Space many times, and I would watch along as if I were watching a movie, so entrancing! Those things would creep me out when they jump out of the vents and such. It was definitely not a game you could play alone or at night, haha! I saw elements of it in Pandora for sure.

Now, which character in your Organization series is your favorite?  Why?

Joshua: Yeesh!  That’s a tough one!  I love all my characters (even the horrible ones).  Coby is a kid in Jericho, and I love his dynamic with Thomas, his stepbrother since it highlights a lot of the moral struggle that The Organization series is all about.  All of the characters in Pandora are really near and dear to my heart, but I loved setting up everything between Aubrey and Julian.  All of my characters in The Organization are survivors in more ways than one, so making Aubrey vulnerable and kickbutt at the same time was really hard but I like how it all turned out.

One of the things I really love about writing this series is making my creatures in each book a character. Even though it’s really creepy, I enjoyed getting to highlight Watcher’s dark mind and showing the runoff dangers of unchecked evil.

Me: Yes, Aubrey was awesome…and Julian too! You did a great job defining them! And I LOVED getting Watcher’s POV. It was so unique and entertaining! Did anyone in real life inspire your characters?

Joshua: In a roundabout way. I never write someone into a character directly.  I’m not a good enough writer to do that well honestly.  In Pandora, Julian is a mercenary who is trying to get enough money to get his younger brother Ricardo out of a life of slums and drug lords.  They’re named after two kiddos I support from El Salvador. Aubrey’s last name is for a friend of mine and his family. He passed from cancer shortly after publishing that book, so I wanted to honor him through some of her character and her struggle.  She’s also a bit of me though since I lost someone I really loved and slowly had to piece myself back together (that’s also sort of the central theme in Pandora as well).  
In Jericho, there’s this kick butt cop named Angela who heads to this mountain town to find her brother.  She’s named after my sister and some of their sibling dynamic is based on that. So I guess…yes? Haha!

Me: LOL! I think we tend to write a bit of ourselves and loved ones, subconsciously, into our characters ;-)

What are you working on now?

Joshua: I sort of put myself in a hole by publishing the start to about 7,000 series! :)  I’m hard at work kicking out Silly Tales from Albanon, a quirky light hearted collection of short stories in a fantasy world that are all connected and build towards a twist ending. That’ll be published in a month, so I’m in the final production phase on that one. I’m almost (fingers crossed) finished writing the rough draft for The Sixth Ascendant, the second novel in my Ascendants trilogy.  I’m also several chapters into Icarus, the third novel in The Organization, as well as Axiom, the follow up to Nexus.

Me: Wow!! You are on a roll!! And here I thought I was busy, LOL!!

Are there going to be more books in the Organization series?

Joshua: Oh yes!  The Organization was always meant to be four books long: Pandora, Jericho, Icarus, and Babel.  The first three are sort of standalone stories (they’re all connected, some more subtly than others).  They all build towards the fourth one that pulls them all together. Each title is connected to an ancient story that is the heart of the moral struggle happening within it.  It’s basically like building a house of cards that I’m going to pull down in the fourth one!

Me: That’s awesome!! I can’t wait to read them all!

Now, as a busy teacher, how do you ever get any writing done?

Joshua: Haha!  I haven’t quite figured that one out yet!  These days I just guest teach to still be involved with my degree, and I work with kiddos at church and at camp, so I get a decent amount of time to write.  I’m kinda a night owl so I do a lot of writing while burning the midnight oil (it’s especially creepy when I’m writing one of my horror books).

Me: Oh, I’m sure and a great time to write horror tales too ;-)
Tell me a bit about your new book, Nexus, that just released in February.  How many books will be in the series?

Joshua: Nexus is like the weird mash up between the meaningful tones of my fantasy series and the intense horror scenes of my horror series.  I was kinda going for the emotional punch of The Giver meets the actiony chase scenes of The Terminator.  I was listening to one of the world’s lead developers of robotics one day and he talked about how human beings aren’t special which I fundamentally disagreed with.  I started thinking about what makes us special, which is actually more of a difficult question than I thought. I think I laid it out pretty well in Nexus.  15 year old Jonah is surviving in the horror of a post apocalyptic world controlled by killing machines, but he’s not entirely human.  He might be my favorite character I ever created, but that’s always hard to say. It’s an emotional book and definitely the deepest thing I’ve ever written.  Nexus is a trilogy, followed by Axiom and eventually Confluence.

Me: Sounds intriguing! I can’t wait to check it out! What drew you to the horror genre?

Joshua: I never expected to write a horror book (let alone several). Growing up with things like Resident Evil and Phantoms, I always loved the weird creatures and how close people could get while trying to escape them.  It was interesting to me how dire situations highlighted the best and worst that humanity had to offer and thought that would be the perfect place to have this larger moral argument. It was all about trying to capture this feeling of true good versus the different shades of evil. I also just love creature features and eventually ran out of them so I decided to write my own.

Me: Nice! I agree! And I just love a good scare! Now, who are your favorite authors/books?

Joshua: I actually started reading late in life so that list is a little short.  I’m a huge movie and video game buff so a lot of my influence comes from those. Lately though I’ve fallen in love with reading! There are three authors I will always have to come back to.  Lois Lowry is the best author in existence. She doesn’t have a lot of plot, but her writing worms its way into your heart and sticks there. Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson) is just incredible. And the biggest influence on my writing has to be S.D. Perry who does a fantastic job making a heart pounding thriller!

Me: Sounds like I have some authors to check out ;-) So, what do you love about writing?

Joshua: As much as I love movies and video games, books have the greatest power of any medium to make you feel something.  You can take more time in a book to explore meaningful topics. Writing has changed me on a profound level and allows me to feel a deeper connection to the world.  I also love putting twists in all of my stories. It’s like a surprise birthday and you can’t wait to see the reader open their presents.

Me: Haha, I love that! It’s a great way to describe it!
What are you looking forward to in 2019?

Joshua: There’s so much to look forward to these days I’m having trouble keeping up!  One of the number one things I’m looking forward to seeing this year is the SpaceX Starship test flight.  It’s a revolutionary rocket that can potentially take 100 people to Mars and will open up space to the masses and they’re testing its prototype at the end of this year!  I’m also looking forward to seeing them finish off the pointless Star Wars trilogy so we can get back to the cooler side Star Wars stories! :)

Me: Haha yes! Star Wars and The Avengers: Endgame (premieres tonight) are two I’m looking forward to myself as well as this last season of GOT :-D!

Well, thank you so much, Joshua, for being my guest tonight! It’s been a pleasure and I wish you all the best in your writing career.


You can find all Joshua Grant’s books on Amazon. He’s a fantasy, science fiction and horror writer. ​

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a HUGE fan of anything horror! I fell in love at an early age with movie monsters. My favorite movie at the age of eight was Silver Bullet and I’ve always been fascinated with the unknown and unexplained- UFOs, cryptids, ghosts, mysteries and the paranormal. So when I saw WB advertising her book on Twitter back in December, I knew immediately from reading the blurb that it was going to be right up my alley! I finished Blood Drops in early January (you can read my lovely review of it here: http://shannaswenson.com/my-blog/review-of-blood-drops-by-wb-welch)
After finishing this incredibly poignant and very well-written collection of horror stories, I was curious to know more about WB and her work, so I recently got with her and interviewed her about her debut horror collection and what her writing life is like.
 
Here’s what she had to say:
 
 
Me:   Hi WB, tell me a little about yourself? When did you know you were going to be a writer?

WB: A little about myself? I’m short, I love coffee and tea and kombucha, and my favorite shoes are my slides. When did I know I was going to be a writer? That’s a kind of hard thing to nail down. I had dreams of being a novelist when I was seven or eight years old, but that wasn’t a practical or guaranteed career choice, so I didn’t start actively taking steps towards full-time writer status until about four years ago. I continued to self-study fiction writing after college, but when I re-read Stephen King’s On Writing in 2015, it lit some kind of new fire under my butt. Within a couple of months, I was starting my first novella.
 
​
Me:   Awesome! What inspired you to write Blood Drops?  
 
WB: I created a small, hand-printed anthology called “Blood Drop” a couple of years ago. That was inspired by a burlap coated book I came across in a bookstore one day. My boyfriend said it would be really cool if I printed some of my stories and made my own little book, so I did. Then later last year, I realized I had a bunch of stories I could pull together for a new collection, only this time, I printed it with Amazon so the potential for reach was greater.
 
 
Me:   Nice, so which character in your collection is your favorite? Why?
 
WB: Ooooo. That’s tough. I guess I would have to say Her. We never learn her name, in the first story, but she is such a free-spirited, present, trusting, and experience-driven person.
 

Me:   Yes, I can see that! Did anyone in real life inspire your characters?
 
WB: Yes and no. For me, I am always observing people and their tendencies, from relatives to strangers I see. While no character was directly inspired by one person, I am sure bits and pieces of lots of people reside in the pages.


Me:   Haha, yes. I understand that well! Now, what are you working on currently?
 
WB: A few things actually. I am working on a zombie novella with Tory Hunter that we are both very excited about. We have some surprises lined up and some announcements coming soon, and we can’t wait to share more. I am also querying one novel while working on another, AND I recently started a short secret project that I hope to announce soon.
OH. Also, I’ll be starting stories for Blood Drops II sooooon!


Me:   Yaayyy! How exciting! And Zombies…oohh, I’ll be checking that one out for sure! So, tell us a little about your writing process?

WB: I actually have an important technique I haven’t talked about too much publicly, so I’m glad you asked. I always, always, always find a photo of a person who I feel could represent my main character. I usually do this with my antagonist too. Now, this isn’t always true for short projects, but for anything over about five to ten thousand words, this is important. For some reason, it helps me connect with the MC…whenever I feel stuck, I stare at the photo, try to feel what they would feel, think what they would think. Maybe this helps me ‘not be myself,’ to cause some separation, so I don’t just feel like all of it is in my head. If I can stare at this real person and believe they are my MC, I can dive much further into their consciousness. Is that weird? I hope it’s not weird.
I also grab a thin, ruled, Moleskin journal for all new projects I start. This is where my story ideas go, as well as any notes I take when I am researching. Going off the idea that writing things down helps you remember them, I feel like this helps me retain the important details to access them when I am writing.
 

Me:   That’s such a unique and interesting idea! I LOVE it! What drew you to the horror genre?
 
WB: I am drawn to all kinds of genres, but horror has always held a special place in my heart. I couldn’t tell you why. I saw my first scary movie when I was young, younger than ten at least. It terrified me, but I was hooked; the horror shelves at Blockbuster became my favorite. I collected and read Goosebumps, too.
 

Me:    Who are your favorite authors/books?
 
WB: So many. Stephen King, Koontz, Lovecraft, Chuck Palahniuk, Joe Hill, Patrick Rothfuss, C.S Lewis, Thomas Ligotti…I’ve read some good ones lately by Paul Harding, Edan Lepucki, Jennifer McMahon, Kiersten White, and Bryce Andrews.
 

Me:   All great ones! What do you love about writing?
 
WB: I love surprising myself. I love when I finish writing, read back over it, then find myself wondering where it came from. I love when I am able to get into the zone so well that the writing starts writing itself.
 

Me:  Haha, yes, I know the feeling and yes, sometimes I read back through and I’m like “Man, that’s good stuff!” WB, final question: What are you looking forward to in 2019?

WB: All of it. You might have been expecting a more specific answer, but I don’t have one. There are a lot of good things happening, and I feel like there are many more still to come. Life is one surprise after another, and all we can do is take it as it comes, but I am willing, and I am ready.


Me: Agreed! That’s wonderful! Well, thank you so much for being my guest tonight, WB. It’s been a pleasure! I wish you all the best in your upcoming endeavors and look forward to checking out more of your future works!


You can find WB Welch’s Blood Drops on Amazon or order a signed paperback copy from her website. The links are below. 

 4 stars- Great premise for a book!
 
Jacob Rundle has written a unique action-packed urban fantasy novel with lovable characters.
 
Henri is a young teen, who after moving to NY following the death of his father, learns that his life isn’t quite as ordinary as he thought. After meeting the incredibly attractive Simeon, Henri feels an instant connection, but Simeon is also more than meets the eye. He shows Henri what his “dreams” actually mean about him and that he is a highly gifted individual; an augur. He can teleport and project through time, among other incredible things too ;-)
 
I won’t give too much away, but after teaming up with Etlina, the bruja, this threesome become the Destined, the three (of possibly 4?- wink, wink) individuals that are to save the fate of the cosmos from the Old ones.
 
This book was unique in that it touched on all kinds of “controversial” elements. It deals with grief, loss, love, religion- well sorta, the end times, coming out and coming of age. You will meet angels, demons and deities, travel to exotic places, and be caught up as these three “kids” who were chosen by their destiny take on unbelievable odds and dangerous missions.
 
I enjoyed this book. The dialogue and wording at times was repetitive and the scenes where Henri projects got a bit confusing, but all in all, it kept my interest and I loved that it was such a one-of-a-kind idea. I enjoyed seeing Henri find himself as the tale weaved on and overcome the obstacles that he had to face in the literal face of adversity; the strength that he possessed. This book was hopeful, encouraging and adrenaline-pumping. If you enjoy apocalyptic young adult reads then this book is for you!  

I look forward to seeing what the team encounters in the next installment! 

I met the kind and comical JD Park on Goodreads and we became quick friends. JD is a busy wife and mother who writes sweet, clean romance novels. Her debut novel Coming Home was like taking a trip into a Hallmark movie. It was such a cute and endearing read that I wanted to know more about what inspired it and her Home series.

Here's what she had to say: 

Me:   Hi JD, tell me a little about yourself? When did you know you were going to be a writer?

JD: Hey Shanna! I am a stay at home mom with a 6yo boy and 3yo girl. I’ve been married to my husband for almost 8 years but have been with him for nearly 17. When did I know I was going to be a writer? Probably when my first book was published, haha. Really, though, I started reading a lot when my son wouldn't sleep at night. I read mostly romance and found that KU and .99 books were my jam. But with that came some not to thought out or edited books. I found myself saying “I think I can do this” and “I might be able to do it with fewer errors”, so I tried.


Me:   LOL! That’s how it goes, you don’t know ‘til you know, right? So, what inspired you to write Coming Home?  

JD: By the time my daughter arrived, I needed an outlet. Something that was just mine. Coming Home came from an idea I had. It ended up totally different than when it started. It just grew from there. The characters decided where their story would go and I was just along for the ride. It took over two years to get Coming Home finished and published.


Me:   LOL! It’s so true, the characters kinda take the story away how they see fit, don’t they? (Shrug) Writers are the only ones who can say, “I do what the voices tell me to,” without being committed LOL!!! So, which character in your Home series is your favorite? Why?

JD: This is a tough question. I love so much about each of the characters. I guess I would say, Cole. He’s just good. Not because he has to be but because he can’t be any other way. It doesn’t hurt that he's a dreamboat ;)


Me:    Haha! Yes, he is! ;-) Now, did anyone in real life inspire your characters?

JD: Bits and pieces of my friends and family are in each one. They aren’t based on any one person. I have a lot of myself in my MC’s but they are not.


Me:  Agreed. We can’t help but put ourselves into our characters… What are you working on now?

JD: Well, Finding Home is just about ready for publication, so I’ve switched my focus to Kira’s story. It doesn’t have a finished title yet, but I am leaning towards Building a Home.


Me:   Aww, that sounds cute! How many books are there going to be in the Home series?

JD: There will be three. Coming Home, Finding Home and Building a Home. I never intended to have these books become a stand-alone series. Heck, I never intended to write more than one! But the characters took on a life of their own in my head and demanded to have their stories told.


Me:   Ha ha, yes, they tend to do that! Now, I have to ask: As a busy wife and mom, how do you get any writing done?

JD: It’s not easy. I am not a morning person, so I don’t get up before the kids. I am a night owl but find it hard to get into the groove once the kids are in bed. I do a lot when my daughter goes to my mother-in-law's house to play. I can do it some afternoons when the kids play outside. It’s very sporadic. My dad is also ill and that took most of my December through early February. The first draft of Finding Home was done in November, but here is it April, and I am just now able to get to the publishing step.


Me:  Aww, yes life tends to get in the way. I remember that about your dad, I hope he’s doing better. Tell me a bit about your new book, Finding Home, when is its debut?

JD: Finding Home is Jo’s story, who we met in Coming Home. She has a very cynical view of marriage since her mom has been married seven times! She believes in happily ever after just not the traditional way for her. This is a problem since the man she has chosen to build a life with is the marrying kind. Struggles arise, inner turmoil ensues, girlfriends come to the rescue. You know, a Hallmark movie. I have a release date set for April 26th barring any issues!


Me:   Oooh, SO exciting!! It’s coming up soon! Now, what drew you to the romance genre?

JD: I love a happy ending. I’ve always been a huge sap. And the Hallmark channel is the greatest thing ever. It was a no brainer for me.


Me:    Yes, happily ever after is so heart-warming!! Who are your favorite authors/books?

JD: When I was younger I read all the Nicholas Sparks book. Now that I’m older, the stories are a little too close to home. Once I started reading all the time, Maggie Shayne was a favorite for a long time. I love Lauren Blakely, Addison Moore, and Erin Nicholas. I don’t think I will ever be able to write the style of books they do, but I love reading them. The biggest bonus to becoming an indie author is being around so many great authors and finding their work. I love your books and can’t wait for Escape From Abundance! And of course, JK Rowling.



Me:   Aww, well thank you! I’m excited to share Dallie’s story! It will be premiering soon! (Squeee) So, what do you love about writing?

JD: I love that it’s just mine. As a mom, there is almost nothing that isn’t shared. My husband, my food, and most importantly, my time. Writing is just for me. I also love being able to show my kids they can do anything. I’m a firm believer we lead by example and I want my kids to have a love of books and a drive to succeed.


Me:  Aww, that’s so inspiring! I LOVE it!!! Now, what are you looking forward to in 2019?

JD: I’m looking forward to a lot! The release of Finding Home this month! Finishing up with Kira’s story and getting it published sometime this fall. But mostly, summer vacation! My husband is an Organic Farmer and the summer is our busiest season; It’s nice to have the freedom from school and the luxury of seeing dad when and wherever possible.

Shanna, I want to thank you for this interview and all the others you’ve done. It is such a great way to learn more about our fellow indie authors and the inspiration behind their characters. I also want to thank you for your continued support of the indie author community. You have been an integral part of my journey, and I know that many out there can say the same.


Me: Aww, well, I certainly try and thank you, JD. We are all in this together after all. Supporting one another is as vital as any other aspect of our process, I believe.

It’s truly been a pleasure getting to know all you wonderful authors and your works. I have made lasting connections and discovered some amazing books. I look forward to continuing these interviews and reading lots more indie books this year. I’m already up to 13 now. That’s gotta be a record for me as I’m a slow reader! I can’t wait to see how many I end up reading before the end of the year :-D


You can find Coming Home on Amazon in Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and in paperback formats. Finding Home, book 2 in the Home series, comes out on April 26th, so be sure to catch up now!!!

Veronica and I met on Twitter last year when I first joined up on the #WritingCommunity there. I was "bedazzled" by her book teasers, tags and "glamorous" GIFs. I just read her debut cozy mystery novel, The Crown for Castlewood Manor, this month and wanted to talk with her about her book, her series and what inspired her to write it! 

Here's what she had to say: 

Me:   Hi Veronica, tell me a little about yourself? When did you know you were going to be a writer?


Veronica: Hi Shanna, thank you for having me as your guest! I’m a full time writer these days who loves to travel (the colder the destination the better!), read, and have a good time with friends and family (which includes my two cats, Daisy and Ebbie 😊).
I’ve always done technical writing during my engineering and software careers and have been an avid reader since I was a little girl. I was fortunate enough to ‘retire’ early and decided I was going to go out on a limb and see if I could put my little gray cells to work and write a cozy mystery. I started in 2016 and haven’t looked back!


Me:   That’s wonderful, Veronica. How awesome! What inspired you to write The Crown for Castlewood Manor?  


Veronica: I’m a huge fan of Downton Abbey, and after the 6th season ended I had to find a way to still experience the joys, adventures, sorrows and dangers that I had come to depend on from my beloved show. I have always heard it was best to write about the things you love, so that words will flow. I took inventory of all the things that made me feel inspired, thrilled, and delighted as a watcher of DA, and reader in the cozy mystery world, and transformed them to fit into my fictional world at the Cherrywood Hall estate in the English countryside. I asked the question, “Would you want a period drama series filmed at your home?” My writer’s mind took off from there…


Me:   So cool! Which character in your series is your favorite? Why?


Veronica: I love my main character, Gemma Lancaster Phillips, PhD. I can empathize with some of her personal dilemmas (love life, career) and I thoroughly enjoy the world she’s fortunate enough to live in! She’s a young woman of privilege who finds herself by going back to her ancestral home, re-connecting with her British family members, meeting some very nice (and not so nice) people, and just maybe, find the man of her dreams. I love seeing how she reacts to the situations I put her in—I have to say, I’m quite impressed, LOL!


Me:   Ha ha, nice! Did anyone in real life inspire your characters?


Veronica: I have bits and pieces of me in all my characters (I kind of know where Gemma gets her love of boots from, ahem). I use traits, mannerisms, and personalities from people I’ve met, both the good and the bad. I keep a log of expressions, phrases, etc. that I think are unique—you never know when they might be used!


Me:   So true! I think we put a part of ourselves into each character! It just sorta happens. So, what are you working on now?


Veronica: I just finished the 4th book in the My American Almost Royal Cousin Series. I’m in the editing phase now…dun-dun-dun!


Me:   Ah, yes the lovely editing phase…(banging head against a counter! LOL) Now, how many books are there going to be in the My Almost Royal American Cousin series?

Veronica: Initially I was planning for 7-10 books. I love writing a series because you get to know the characters and watch them develop. I know how I will end the series, and I may try an off-shoot for the next book—I’m still deciding 😊. Need to keep things interesting for myself and readers!


Me:   Yes, series are so much fun! Love how they kinda spin off on their own! LOL! So, you write full time now? When do you get your writing in?

Veronica: I do write full time these days. I like to write early in the morning, but when I’m in full book mode, you just never know. The cats are used to coming downstairs with me at 1am or sleeping during the day. I’ve learned to strike while the inspiration is hot!


Me:  Yes, agreed! Gotta take advantage of when those ideas when they are flowing. Now, tell me a bit about book 4. Does it have a title yet? When is its debut?

Veronica: Book 4 sees some major changes occurring at Cherrywood Hall for many of the characters. There was a big cliffhanger at the end of the 3rd book, Deadly Receptions; the Debut of Castlewood Manor. It was decision time for me as a writer—how far should I go? I’m still going back and forth with the title, hope to decide soon. As for the release, I’m shooting for an early July date. The 4th book takes place during Christmas/New Year’s, so we’ll have a ‘Christmas in July’ party!

​
Me:   Ooh, sounds exciting! What drew you to the mystery genre?


Veronica: I’ve always loved mysteries—started with Trixie Belden when I was a girl and went on from there. I prefer cozy style mysteries vs. true crime—we get enough of that in real life, IMO. In the cozy world bad things happen (really bad things…) but life goes on around them, usually sipping tea or sherry, LOL. I have a lot of food scenes in my stories—the characters are often together at breakfast, lunch, tea or dinner. It’s a good way to get the dialogue flowing, and clues/insights exchanged.


Me:    Ah, ha, yes! Who are your favorite authors/books?


Veronica: I adore Dame Agatha Christie, especially her Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot stories. Rhys Bowen is another favorite (Her Royal Spyness series). Since I became active on Twitter in 2018, I’ve been able to read many other authors and genres (including you, LUV Abundance!), and I love it! I try and read 1-2 books/week and do reviews. It’s my way of staying current and giving a little thank you to the #WritingCommunity.


Me:   Yes, agreed! I’m so glad I found all these amazing writers… and their work! It’s been fun and exciting! Aww, thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed my book :-D So, what do you love about writing?


Veronica: I love meeting new characters and their worlds. I try and give a lot of detail in my books and being able to travel helps a lot with the setting descriptions. I enjoy sneaking to the locations my characters go to in my stories. It’s fun to sit in the ‘exact’ spot where events/conversations take place in your books, seeing the room from their perspective.


Me:  That’s awesome! I can tell you put a lot of detail into your settings ;-) Alright, final question, Veronica: What are you looking forward to in 2019?

​
Veronica: For my writing life: I’m looking forward to the querying process, which I hope to start in the next few weeks (agent and publisher). It’s time to see how far my series can go. I will continue with the marketing and promos for the series (I just had book trailers completed for the 3 published books, I love them!). Most likely book 5 will be started too. 😊

For my personal life: Travel, travel, and more travel. Hubby and I have some fantastic trips lined up this year for our 20th wedding anniversary and I can’t wait!

Thank you very much for inviting me in as your guest, Shanna!
Crowns and Kisses,
Veronica


Me: Wonderful! And thank you, Veronica! Happy travels and best of luck to you in your book ventures! It’s truly been a pleasure.
​

You can find Veronica’s books, My American Almost Royal Cousin series, (click on the pictures below) on Amazon in Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and paperback formats.

 5 stars for Ballers with Benefits!

Well, readers - unsurprisingly - she did it AGAIN! Nicole Rodrigues has hit another one out of the ball park….
 
As if two swoon-worthy book boyfriends weren’t enough (from books 1 and 2), be prepared to meet three more in the next book of the Double Play series!
 
We get to catch up with a grown-up Bella Daniels-Gavinwood as she now has both a PT company, thanks to her aunt Savannah and her dad, and she’s playing softball for the US team too. Talk about one ambitious young lady! She’s drowning her anger and pain away in a bar after catching her boyfriend of four years cheating on her - she obviously breaks it off.
Enter the cocky and suave pro baseball player, Damon Johnson (swoon-worthy book bf #1) who too is chasing away his own regrets after his girlfriend broke up with him over his injured knee, via text message (Ouch!)
 
Two broken hearts are about to collide!
 
And boy do they! Nic takes you on a journey of their stories as they both enjoy the “benefits” of their arrangement. Bella starts to break out of her shell as she comes into her own and explores her “bad” side and Dirty Damon starts to see this “angel” of his has some dark wings that need to be unfurled. It’s a battle of wills as they both fight their fears, past heartaches, and desires of making this “friends with benefits” deal just that, but will their hearts have other plans?
 
Dirty Damon is sexy, funny and completely swoon-worthy as he tries hard not to fall for the girl he’s admired from his pinup calendar and now has in the flesh. Bella is admirable, strong, sweet and resembles both her mother, Charlotte, and her aunt Savannah, in her fortitude. I loved getting to catch up with Bella’s family, the Gavinwoods and the Turners and meeting Damon’s, the Johnsons. I loved the sisterly relationship between her and Lacey (loving and fighting each other as sisters tend to do) and the budding relationship that’s simultaneously going on between Lace and Nico (enter swoon-worthy book bf #2) and I just adored the brother and sister connection portrayed when Bella goes to see Devin (her twin brother) - aka book boyfriend #3 - in Texas and the protective side that he shows. (You also get a protective dad moment with Gabe which I also loved.)
 
This book was sexy, funny and simply swoon-worthy (how many times am I allowed to use that word in one review? - Ah, who cares, it’s true!)

So, if you’re looking for tough and ruggedly handsome guys who will have you eating out of their hands, these books are definitely for you. 

I read KJ Backer's epic debut fantasy novel Nav'Aria: The Marked Heir back in January and fell in love with unicorns all over again as she wove pure magic into the pages. (Read my review of it here.) After reading such a new and interesting take on the mythical creatures that I adored as a young girl, I had to "sit down" with her and ask her about her book, the writing life and what's next for this up and coming indie author! 

Here's what she had to say: 

Me:   Hi Katie, tell me a little about yourself? When did you know you were going to be a writer?

KJ:  Hi Shanna! Thanks for having me.
I am a former History teacher, turned adoptive/homeschool mom.

I have always been an avid reader… my Dad got me into reading at a young age. I think it was stories that drew me to teaching History. I’ve always loved learning about the world, and other cultures, and so it seemed like a natural fit. I enjoyed my time teaching and working with teens, and still love learning/discussing history, however, it is only more recently that I’ve realized that it is the “story” component that really drives my passion. In the past decade, I began writing, and it was then that I knew THIS is what I want to do. I’m excited for this next season of life.


Me:   That’s awesome! I’m a bit of a history buff myself! So, what inspired you to write the Nav’Aria series?  

KJ: When I was a little girl, I would visit my Grandpa’s house and run to stare at his painting in the hallway. It was of a downtrodden unicorn, appearing weary and worn, and I always wondered, “What could have happened to the unicorn to make it look so dejected?”

Years later, while I was a substitute teacher, I ran out of reading material for the day, and began scribbling. Doodling in a notebook really. My love for fantasy, the image of the unicorn, working with high school students, and my childhood growing up in Oregon, all kinda fell out on the page. I drew a hand with markings, with no idea where it would take me… eventually Nav’Aria presented itself on the page in that very classroom!
*Painting: “Beginning of the End” by Gene Waggoner (1981).

Me:  Very cool! Which character of the series is your favorite? Why?

KJ: Ohhhhhh wow… tough question. I love them all, of course… well maybe not all. Narco is just awful!

I would probably have to say the unicorns are my favorite, specifically Trixon. I love writing his scenes!! He’s fierce, tough, loyal, a bit rash, and funny. I think some of my personality transferred to the page while writing him. If I was a unicorn, I’d want to be a warrior like Trixon.


Me:   Haha! Yes, I love Trixon! And yes, boo Narco! So, did anyone in real life inspire your character, Darion? Vikaris?

KJ: My youngest brother, Danny, inspired the character of Darion… melded with some of my former students. Danny had just had a musical clef tattooed on his middle finger around the time I started writing, and it inspired the idea of a “Mark”.

Vikaris wasn’t necessarily inspired by any people I know, but more influenced by the great leaders/heroes I’ve read, taught about, and/or watched over the years. I wanted someone who so clearly exuded strength, valor, and the willingness to fight for his subjects. He is also a very fun character to write, because he is everything you’d want in a hero… and that’s extremely satisfying to create.

Me:   Lol! Where the “mark” idea came from was gonna be my next question! And you did a great job portraying Vikaris as the noble king he is! Now, I gotta ask- Where did you get the idea for these battle-worthy unicorns that can talk?

KJ:  That idea goes back to the gritty unicorn painting. When my Grandpa died, he left the painting to me in his will. It’s currently hanging in my office. I look at it EVERY DAY.

Having grown up looking at that unicorn… I wanted to see MORE from unicorns in other stories. They seem to so often be background characters. Passive. Weak. Pure. Cartoon. Sparkles and rainbows. And while that works in a lot of tales, I wanted to see them at the forefront—in battle--fighting for their Kingdom, and willing to do whatever it takes to rid their land of an evil usurper. THEY HAVE FREAKING HORNS AFTERALL, why not let them use them in a fight!?!?

Haha sorry… I’m getting a bit worked up on this one.

Me:   Haha! Yes!!! Exactly! Well, it’s a great idea and a good reason to be passionate! ;-) What are you working on now?

KJ: Presently, I’m in the revision stages with the sequel, Nav’Aria: The Pyre of Tarsin. I’m also outlining and working on a non-fiction work as well.

Me:   Now, how many books are there going to be in the series?

KJ: Nav’Aria is set to be a trilogy… and then, perhaps I’ll add in a collection of short stories showcasing the various species in Nav’Aria (unicorn, centaur, merfolk, troll, nymph).


Me:   That would be cool!! So, what are you planning for after the series is complete?

KJ: I have a few other works in mind… like the non-fiction book for example, which highlights our adoption journey. I also have a fun YA Fantasy stand-alone novel that I’m itching to get started! It’s EPIC!

Me:   Nice! I can dig EPIC!!! Now, as a wife and mother, how do you get any writing done?

KJ: RIGHT!? It’s tough to balance… as I’m sure most writers find. It definitely takes will-power, and focus. And I’m the first to admit, that I’m still working on it.

This year, I have really tried to safeguard my mornings. I get up at 5 a.m. every day to ensure that I have some writing time before my family wakes up. I find that my brain works best first thing as far as writing goes. I live for that quiet time…. Just me and my pomeranians, and of course, a steaming cup of coffee!

Me:   Yes, that coffee makes life so much easier! So, tell us a little about the next book of the series! When is its debut?

KJ: Nav’Aria: The Pyre of Tarsin is the second book in the series. It is intense! It has more of everything! More fighting, more intrigue, more suspense, heartache, love, and loss! It picks up right where the first book ends, and it is action-packed till the very end.

I had a friend recently (jokingly) get mad saying that the first book kept her on the edge of her seat and left her hanging, and wanted to make sure that the second wouldn’t do that. I just laughed…. I better get going on the third, because I know readers will be anxious to find out what happens next!

Hoping to release the sequel by Fall 2019! (Readers can learn more at www.kjbacker.com, and sign up there for my newsletter in order to be the FIRST to see the sequel’s cover reveal!)

Me:   Oohh, I can’t wait!!! WHAT?! I live for books that keep me on the edge of my seat and if book 2 is half as good as book 1 was - which I know it will be ;-) - I’m gonna LOVE it!! What drew you to the fantasy genre?

KJ:  My Dad. He took me to get my very first library card, and has fostered my love for reading my entire life. We love swapping books!

As a child I loved anything with a dragon, unicorn, and magic..clearly, I still do! I love reading and writing fantasy, and letting my imagination soar.

Me:    Haha, understood. I still have an obsession with fantasy myself! Who are your favorite authors/books?

KJ:  O.k. now we’re talking!! Is there a cut off for this question!? I LOVE SO MANY!

My MOST FAVORITE series is “The Wheel of Time” by Robert Jordan (concluded by Brandon Sanderson).

I also have read most of Brandon Sanderson’s works, and love them all… especially “The Stormlight Archive” series and “Warbreaker”. He is an incredible inspiration as an author. His love and dedication to his craft… and fans, is truly admirable. I so respect him.

Other favorite Fantasy series would include “A Song of Ice and Fire” and the “Harry Potter” series.

Jennifer Donnelly is another of my favorite authors. Her “Tea Rose” trilogy is super intense, and inspired me as a writer to not shy away from the gritty as a female author, and just as a writer in general. She is fantastic… and I enjoy following her on social media.

Another favorite is Ken Follett. I love reading Historical Fiction, and his “Pillars of the Earth”, “World Without End”, and “A Place Called Freedom” are some of my very most favorites.

Me:    Wow! Looks like I have more books to add to my TBR pile ;-) So, what do you love about writing?

KJ: I honestly enjoy it all!

I am taking it in stride, and trying to enjoy the process as I learn from fellow authors, like YOU Shanna Swenson!! And, continue to push myself further with my writing, storytelling, goals, and expectations. It has honestly been an incredible journey.

Me:    Aww, well, I’m glad to help in any way I can! :-D We are all in it together after all, and learning and connecting with each other is vital in this process, I believe! Final question, Katie! What are you looking forward to in 2019?

KJ: I published Nav’Aria: The Marked Heir on January 1st, so I already achieved one of my life-goals of actually publishing a book! And then to top it off, I wrote the entire sequel (first draft) in just three months… which for perspective, I started the first book 8 years ago, never expecting to actually finish it. So to be here in 2019 with a published book, and the sequel already in the editing phase is simply mind-blowing.

I truly feel blessed and inspired by the readers, my amazing family and friends, and the AWESOME #writingcommunity I have found on Twitter and Instagram, that has led me to make writer connections/friendships with people like you, Shanna. 2019 has been amazing… and I’m hoping it ends in a big way with the sequel published and book three in the works!!!!
***Look for me, K.J. Backer, on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)!

Thanks again, Shanna. This was a true privilege.

Me: Aww, yes, this journey has been incredible and the #writingcommunity has been invaluable. So many wonderful writers and readers.

Katie that sounds EPIC! I wish you all the best in your endeavors and look forward to reading the rest of the books in your action-packed fantasy series. It has truly been a pleasure! Thank you so much!  


You can purchase KJ Backer’s debut novel Nav’Aria: The Marked Heir on Amazon (in Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and paperback formats) Be sure to follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads AND sign up for her newsletter, for the latest info on all things Nav’Arian.

P.S. She’ll be releasing the cover for book two soon, so DON’T miss out ;-) !!!

(Sign up here: www.kjbacker.com )