Thursday, April 30, 2020

Welcome Kelly Vincent to our Garden Interviews

Hello Kelly 

tell us about you and your books


Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?
I plan, but when I’m actually writing, that plan changes minute-to-minute. In order to start, I have to have some idea where I’m going, or I’ll just sit there and stare at the screen. But once I get going, new ideas come from all directions and I roll with it.

When did you decide to become an author?
I was unhappy in my day job and decided I’d just write a book and polish it, and get it out there in a year or so. Easy peasy. But actually, it’s not that easy after all. I first wrote Finding Frances in November of 2013, and it only came out February of 2020. Needless to say, I did not quit my day job—but I did get a new one, fortunately.

Do you have set times during the day that you write?
I have a regular day job that keeps me busy during the week until five or so. I write pretty much all the time outside of that. It’s about all I do when I’m not working.

What are your current projects?
A couple of different YA stories. One is a collection of interlocked stories about a cool girl named Sarah who goes from an oblivious 13-year-old who thinks her man-crazy mom is the coolest to being a high-achieving artist. The other is a suspense about a girl who has to figure out why her sister was murdered.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you! Seriously, there’s nothing scarier than putting your work out into the world. Anybody who picks up my book out of the many out there just makes my day. Each time, I feel a little more like a real author.

And for some fun

What did you want to be when you grew up?
First, I was going to be an architect. Then a geneticist. Then a chemical engineer. And then a historian. What I ended up becoming was a computer programmer (at least for a while). And then I became a writer.

Do you laugh at your own jokes?
I never tell jokes per se, but I do say things that are supposed to be funny. And sometimes I do laugh—because man, it can be seriously funny.

Are you jealous of other writers?
Sure. With some of them, I’m jealous of their prolificness (that doesn’t sound like a word, but it’s in at least one dictionary, so I’m using it). With some, I’m jealous of their skill with words and story. With others, I’m just jealous of their big fat bank accounts. Though there’s not many of those.

What makes you cry?
So many things. It’s ridiculous. Books, movies, TV shows, even songs sometimes. Anything with a story that makes me feel a little too much.

What is your favorite time of year and why?
When I was growing up in Oklahoma, it was fall. It was always crisp and cool, the leaves were changing so there was color everywhere, and my birthday was coming. But I now live in Seattle and it’s definitely summer here, because of the long days, lack of rain, and not-too-hot temperatures. 

Where can we find out more?

my website: kellyvincent.net
my Facebook: -
my Twitter: @kvbooks
Find me on Instagram @kvbooks
and other online retailers



Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Garden Interview with K.M. Daughters

Welcome  K.M. Daughters to the garden

Have a cup of tea and settle in for a chat. Tell us about your books


Have you ever cried while writing a book?

Oh, yes! Regularly. For K.M. Daughters that’s kind of the point. Our characters become real to us, and ideally, to our Readers, too, and we intensely feel their sorrow and joy. Every happily-ever-after brings tears to our eyes, and we rejoice with our heroines and heroes. In the case of FILL THE STADIUM – we never made it through without sobbing. But love heals. Every single time.

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to characters?

Absolutely. That’s why we’re so fond of series. J

How much of the book is realistic?

Our settings, and sometimes places like restaurants are realistic: Il Vicinato in Chicago mentioned in the SULLIVAN BOYS SERIES is real and Via Lucci in ONLY ONE SUMMER is an exact replica of this Chicago eatery – even right down to the specialty items. Lou Malnati’s Chicago Pizzerias always feature in our Chicago-based stories. We are really biased about Lou’s pizza and love pizza in general. BEWITCHING BREEZE, ONLY ONE SUMMER and our WIP SKYE WITHOUT LIMITS, features settings in Outer Banks, North Carolina. Kathie walks the stretch of beach that fronts the fictional Inn of the Three Butterflies every morning before sunrise, and Pat joins her whenever she can visit for sister time. Pat actually lived in Bree’s condo building in Chicago. FILL THE STADIUM for ALD is a real event that K.M. Daughters inspired for Kathie’s son, Michael, a former Harvard football captain and o-lineman for the New England Patriots when a little boy who was close to Mike and the Harvard team died of ALD. Harvard alumni, most of whom were NFL pros, played flag football against the Harvard varsity team to “fill the stadium” benefiting ALD research. A dinner with a silent auction followed the game. Unfortunately, the medical description and prognosis for ALD is very realistic, too.

Do you have to travel researching your book(s)?

No, not specifically. Our travels have inspired our settings, so it’s kind of the other way around.

When did you first, without hesitation, call yourself a writer?

The morning, and then early evening, of January 26, 2008. We mark this date as K.M. Daughters official birthday. In the morning we received THE CALL from Nicola Martinez, then head Editor for TWRP’s White Rose Inspirational Romance imprint, when she acquired JEWEL OF THE ADRIATIC, and that evening Joelle Walker, then Editor for TWRP’s Crimson Rose, Romantic Suspense imprint acquired AGAINST DOCTORS ORDERS. We will never forget that day.


and for a little fun

What's the most blatant lie you've ever told?

Bless me Father, it has been two weeks since my last confession.

Who do you see as a hero/heroine in your life?

Our Dad on many levels. His and our Mom’s love story presented the real-life model for our ideal hero and heroine. Dad was a paratrooper and WWII veteran, a true military hero. Beyond doubt, he was our hero storyteller in writing children’s stories for us and the reason we’re writers today.

Do you laugh at your own jokes?

Of course! In our novels, that is. If not, we delete.

Have you ever found true love?

Yes, for which we are deeply thankful. Twice. One for each K.M. Daughter.

What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?


How did it feel to receive Oscars for best adaptation of a novel? J


Where can we find out more?

Our website:       http://www.kmdaughters.com
Our Twitter:         @kmdaughters



And other online retailers




Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Welcome Sadira Stone to our Garden Interviews

Hello Sadira

Tell us about you and your books

How did you do in English as a kid?

English was my favorite subject. An early reader and avid bookworm, I started writing and illustrating my own stories while still in elementary school and later became a high school English teacher. Books are the golden thread running through my life.

Do you have to travel researching your book(s)?

My Book Nirvana series is set in Eugene, Oregon, but I live in Tacoma, Washington. So yeah, I’ve travelled to Eugene several times—lovely college town on the Willamette River! Eugene just vibrates with creativity, and I love the way its hippie heritage enriches its current arts scene. My upcoming romance novella, Gelato Surprise, takes place in a fictional Washington State beach town that’s a mash-up of several real-life towns I’ve visited.

Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction/romance?

Since joining the Romance Writers of America, I’ve read so many defenses of romance as the literature of hope, an act of resistance, and a feminist art form. It’s not just smoochy fluff. Centering women’s agency, desire, pleasure, and worth is truly a radical act. We’re told by so many voices that relationships are not worthy of our literary attention, but think about what makes a person’s life rich and fulfilling, be they male, female, or non-binary—it’s relationships, right?

When you wrote this book, did you have an idea of how it would end at the beginning?

Well, I write romance, and the HEA is non-negotiable. I always start with a basic outline of the major plot points, but new developments spring up like weeds as I write. Some blossom and enrich the story; others get yanked out.

Would you like to be friends with the main character? Follow up question - What is something you can picture the two of you doing together?

Margot and Elmer are the main characters Book Nirvana Book 3, Love, Art, and Other Obstacles. I’d love to spend time with these two young artists! They’re both so creative, funny, determined, and big-hearted, each in their own way. I imagine following them around Eugene, Oregon as they introduce me to their huge circle of artistic friends. 

Do you have a favorite quote?

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we might as well dance.

Do you enjoy giving interviews?

Of course! Who doesn’t love nattering on about themselves?

If you were a tool what would you be?

A sharp pair of scissors. My fiction includes snippets of people I’ve known, situations I’ve experienced, places I’ve been.

What makes you laugh?

Language mistakes crack me up, including my own. Mistranslations are especially funny. A favorite website is www.engrish.com, where people share hilarious mistranslations seen during their travels. 

Example: When I lived in Germany, our favorite Italian restaurant produced an English-language menu that listed egg-drop soup as “sludge deposit soup.” Yum!

Do you ever go around in a corset, high heels, and a whip to get you in the mood to write something naughty?


Sorry, no. Though Hubs and I have a very happy love life, I’m a fan of what some would call “vanilla sex.” I believe sex is a natural, healthy part of a loving relationship, and love writing those steamy scenes—pages and pages of them. Sure, I like to include variety of positions, locations, accessories, etc. One of the hottest scenes I’ve ever written involves a silk scarf. But I just don’t get the appeal of BDSM, and if I don’t feel it, I can’t write it. No judgment there—consenting adults should do whatever tickles their fancy. 

where can we find out more?


Look for new books coming soon and download Runaway Love Story today on all major online retailers









Monday, April 27, 2020

Garden Interview with Marie Tuhart

Welcome Marie

tell us about your books


Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?

Half and half. I do plot out, but as I write my characters always reveal something or take the book in a different direction.

Have you ever cried while writing a book?

Yes, I have. Sometimes writing certain scenes bring up deep emotions in me.

How did you do in English as a kid?

Not good at all. I was never found of English class.

When did you decide to become an author?

Well, I wrote my first romance novel at 19, but then life got in the way. When I was finally able to get back to it, I decided I wanted to become an author and write books. It took a while, but I finally did it.

Do you write under a pen name?

Yes, my real name is hard to pronounce and I was still working in the corporate world when I published.


and tell us a little about you


What did you want to be when you grew up?

I really wanted to be a forest ranger, that was my goal until I was in college. At the time, I had to take a political science class. Talk about boring. I made it through the class, but there were more I needed to take to get my degree. I switched degrees.

Do you ever go around in a corset, high heels, and a whip to get you in the mood to write something naughty?

No, I haven’t. I won’t mention what I have hidden in my closet (LOL). I do have props that I’ll pull out and play with to see how something will feel.

Are you fun to go on vacation with?

I hope I am. I love traveling when I have the time and money.

What makes you laugh?

Family, watching The Big Bang Theory, friends.

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

Watch out, the quiet ones are dangerous


where can we find out more?

Website: www.marietuhart.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarieTuhartAuthor/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/marietuhart

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marie-tuhart

and other online retailers







Sunday, April 26, 2020

New Releases!

New Romance and Fiction In The Garden

Click on covers for more information and to purchase
 
Remembrance Day is just an excuse for vampires and humans to throw themselves a parade. They like to pretend they did us werewolves a favor. But I guess it's not all bad. I do get cheap booze, live in an underground lunar city, which some would find cool, and I am employed.
Sejanus Industries isn't a benevolent corporate ruler, but they're the devil I made a deal with. My life is quiet and mostly non-violent but one message from my cousin could cause me to lose everything I've sacrificed for my peaceful life.
Kate Buckthorn, a sixty-something woman in a predictable marriage, takes a day trip to Florence, Italy, to relive the months she spent there as a college art history student. After visiting all the familiar sights, she returns to her favorite gelato shop where she tosses some coins into the plastic cup of a Roma looking for change. And change is what she gets, literally. After enjoying her triple-scoop gelato, she leaves the shop, magically transformed into her twenty-three-year-old self.
Does she stay in Florence and have a fling with a gorgeous Italian hottie, pursuing her painting career in the birthplace of the Renaissance? Or does she return to her unfaithful husband as her younger self?
Seattle restaurant owner and entrepreneur Brody Danvers met the woman of his dreams a year ago at a party in Phoenix…her and her fiancé. When a chance encounter brings her—minus a ring on her finger—back into his life, he'll do whatever it takes to keep her there.

Graphic artist Shaina Thomas has moved from Phoenix to Seattle to get away from a controlling ex-fiancé who refuses to accept the end of their relationship. Seeing the man she'd nicknamed Mr. Incredibly Sexy and Desirable and not forgotten is an unexpected but complicated surprise. She's seriously attracted to him, but he seems to possess the same controlling traits as her ex. And then there's the beautiful restaurant hostess who has her sights set on him…
Samuel dreamed of being a lot of things, but a monster trapped in a forest realm never entered his mind. The Blacknoc Curse wasn't supposed to be true, only a children's story meant to persuade them away from evil. Yet, here he was tasked with hunting cursed kids. There's nothing left for Samuel except the horror surrounding him.

Layla, a young girl tormented by the same curse, is dropped into the terrifying forest every night, running from the monsters intent on taking her life. She meets Samuel and vows to save all the children, especially Samuel, from their torment.

Working together can they defeat the Blacknoc Curse?
Alison, US Army Intelligence agent and would-be Mata Hari, agrees to help Vatican Security track a potential assassin. She flies to Malta, meets with the contact, and hires a boat and crew to smuggle her and the suspect into Italy.
Max, history buff, former rock drummer, unintentional ex-pat, and bartender in Malta, needs extra cash so he can return to the States. Hired on the boat as cook, he impresses Alison by discovering what the suspect has in his two huge suitcases…just before the man gives them the slip. This Mediterranean boat trip is no vacation cruise, and it will take quick thinking to avoid potential death while capturing the villain red-handed.         

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Welcome Margaret Ann Spence to our Garden Interviews

Hello Margaret

tell us about you and your books

Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?

Both. I sketch a few characters first. The author Michael Stackpole, from whom I took a writing class, advised imagining two characters who write a letter to one another. Next day, add another character – conflicts will appear. I guess this is a pantsing, with a strategy.
Once I have the characters, I can write out a basic plot. But the ending of Lipstick on the Strawberry eluded me for a while. I took the advice of Julia Cameron and wrote “morning pages.” That’s a technique when you keep paper and pen by the bedside and the moment you wake up, write freely. Somehow the subconscious responds, and I had my ending.

Are your characters based on real people?

Everyone asks that question! Usually not, though writers do write from experience. The character of Frederick Fethewell, the father of my heroine, Camilla, in Lipstick on the Strawberry, is drawn from real life – someone I met only once. At a formal dinner, I sat next to a man who was both a clergyman and a physician. I wondered what drove a person to choose two professions which gave him such psychological power over others. His demeanor was dour, (he obviously would have preferred to be seated next to someone more important!) and I wondered, what would it be like to be the daughter of such a father?

When did you decide to become an author?
I wrote a book at age eleven. I found it, written in  penciled cursive in a blue exercise book, while cleaning out old papers. 

How did you come up with the title?

I researched what food stylists do.  They’ll take an unripe lipstick and color it to make it look luscious. I felt that fit the plot of Lipstick on the Strawberry, where what’s underneath a family’s respectability is not so pretty.

What tips would you give a new writer?

Keep going. Rejection is just part of it, and makes your writing better. Join a writers’ critique group before trying to publish. Every work needs improvement and editing. This is one career that’s like wine, age improves it.
Shut Out: How Camilla Feels About Her Family's Home.

And for some fun questions

Do you have a favorite quote?

“The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook.”  – Julia Child


What is your favorite drink?

I love a good pinot noir. Other than that, I am a complete and utter coffee addict.

What makes you laugh?

I actually love puns. Most people find them groan-making. I adore the word play.

Do you have any hobbies?

Always have my head in the oven – baking! And I claim to be a gardener, though the results don’t justify this title.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Just made some delicious banana bread. Want some?

Where can we find out more?

My website:   www.margaretannspence.com
My facebook: www.facebook.com/margaretannspence

Download Lipstick on the Strawberry at your favorite online retailer


https://www.amazon.com/Lipstick-Strawberry-Margaret-Ann-Spence.../B0716X9MB9

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lipstick-on-the-strawberry-margaret-ann-spence/1126406072





Friday, April 24, 2020

A Garden Interview with Suzanne Jefferies

Welcome Suzanne

Tell us about you and your books



How did you do in English as a kid?

Not too well. I was completely confused over participles, modifiers, gerundives, clauses and subordinates.  And ‘qualifying’ verbs? What does that even mean? I hated it.

When did you decide to become an author?

When I was sixteen, out of nowhere, I had a desire to write a soap opera set in an all-girls’ school (guess who was at an all-girls’ school at the time?). Whenever anyone asked what I wanted to do when I left school, I’d say, “author”. They always replied, “Good luck with that.”

Do you have set times during the day that you write?

No, I freelance so the work comes first. I squish my writing into the spaces that free up between projects.

What tips would you give a new writer?

Enjoy the journey because it’s all journey. There’s no destination, it’s all one long winding road with peaks and valleys. If you kick back and relax, you’ll enjoy the rolling along but if you’re looking for an end point, you’ll be disappointed.

Are your books or characters based anyone you know, or events in your own life?

Always to both. The only emotional reference point we have is our own experience. Characters end up amalgams of people I’ve met or watched on screen, rather than one particular person. As for ideas or themes, as a writer you’re always writing through your own ‘stuff’ in some way or other. It’s impossible not to because you’re going to be attracted to themes that speak to your own emotional wounds.

and for a little fun


What's the most blatant lie you've ever told?


“I have no idea what happened.” When I know exactly what happened and why. This lie might get used a lot more than it should.  

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was a kid, an air hostess. The uniform, the hair, the make-up! So glamorous. Now I know better.

Do you ever wish that you had an entirely uncreative job, like data entry or working in a factory?

Yes. I worked in a nursery, keeping inventory, taking plant orders, and generally wandering around through the rose bushes. I loved it. I was outdoors under the hot sun learning about plants, and getting paid for it (not a lot, admittedly). When I went home, work didn’t follow me – no email to check or meetings to schedule.

Do you ever go around in a corset, high heels, and a whip to get you in the mood to write something naughty?

Absolutely, all the time! Sometimes it really unsettles the rest of the customers at Starbucks. 

And where can we find out more



Twitter:@suzannjefferies

Sign up for Suzanne's newsletter at  http://bit.ly/2PE7zhw

And download Heard today on Amazon https://amzn.to/34rutxa
and other online retailers


Thursday, April 23, 2020

Garden Interview with Gloria Joynt-Lang

Welcome Gloria


What's your favorite book you've written?
I’ve written four novels, two of which have been published. They all hold a special place in my heart, however I’m especially proud of how Braking Hard turned out. It’s a slow-burn romance between a man with severe adult ADHD and a strong independent woman who struggles with accepting help. In order to achieve a fair and authentic portrayal, I did a fair amount of research into ADHD. My beta readers and the reviews received thus far, indicate I hit the mark. There are other aspects of Braking Hard that I love as well, including the choice of a blue collar hero, quirky and meddlesome relatives, and splashes of humor, but showing a man who rises to the challenge his ADHD makes this one my favorite.

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to characters?

Absolutely. It’s why I love writing series. That way I can take my time saying good-bye. In Braking Hard, I developed some interesting characters who will get a chance to reappear in the next installment of the Storm Harbor Series. Readers have mentioned they love Aunt Iris. I think most of us have an Aunt Iris in our lives. I woman who is full of life and lacks the ability to filter her thoughts. 
I haven’t yet named the next book, but it will feature Gage O’Neill’s cousin, Cole. Where Braking Hard was a friends to lovers romance, this next one will be enemies to lovers.  I realize I will eventually have to bid farewell to Gage and Eden from Braking Hard, but I’m happy to keep them around for bit longer.


How did you come up with the title?

Braking Hard features a mechanic in a small beachside Oregon town. For those who love fast cars, you’ll  understand not only the excitement of punching the accelerator but also of hitting the brakes fast. There’s a certain thrill to fishtailing but there’s also a danger. Gage’s love for Eden is like braking hard. Swerving out of control gets his adrenaline pumping, bet there’s a risk of plummeting off a cliff.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

At the beginning of the novel Gage O’Neill appears to have it all. His ADHD is under control, he has a hot girlfriend, and he’s running a successful business. But then life takes a turn, and his so-called ideal life unravels.
In Gage’s case, his ADHD makes rebounding a bit more difficult. By the end of the story, he’s not back to where he was, but he’s in a different place. A better place.
Most of us will face multiple challenges, whether they be job losses, relationship issues, health problems, or a variety of other obstacles. We may never get back to where we once were, but sometimes going down a different path can lead to just as much happiness or even more.
Although there’s plenty of struggles in Braking Hard, there’s an overall message of perseverance and hope.

What are your current projects?

I’m working on the next novel in the Storm Harbor Series. It involves Gage O’Neill’s cousin, Cole. Cole is a police officer and a womanizer. He loves practical jokes and doesn’t take life seriously. But then a serious incident happens which shakes his faith in the decisions he’s made. Just like Eden in Braking Hard, I created an equal match to help Cole. She’s a strong independent woman. But unlike the women Cole is used to, this lady wants nothing to do with him.



now for a little fun

Who do you see as a hero/heroine in your life?

My mother. She was the oldest girl in a large family. When conflict broke out in her country, she became a caregiver to many of her younger siblings. She took on responsibilities of an adult when she was just a teen and never allowed the atrocities of war to affect her outlook on life. When she married my father, she couldn’t speak English. She left her country and her family to pursue a new life based upon her love for my father. My mother was the strongest person I ever met. She handled life with grace and resilience. She passed away in 2007. Braking Hard is dedicated to her and my father.

What did you want to be when you grew up?


I wanted to be a goalie. As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved the game of hockey. I collected cards, bought hockey magazines, and was glued to the television set every Saturday when Hockey Night in Canada was on.  Back when I was a kid, most hockey teams weren’t open to girls being on the team. Never one to let obstacles get in the way of his daughter’s dreams, my dad bought me my first hockey stick when I was five. He chopped the end off so it would fit my tiny frame. He took me and my sisters to the outdoor rinks and frozen ponds, and we’d shoot the puck around for hours. I no longer play, but I’m still a die-hard hockey fan. 


Me with the Stanley Cup. As far as I’m concerned this is the best trophy in the world. It’s not only beautiful but it’s also practical. It can hold 23 cans of beer.   

What is your favorite comfort food?

Good old macaroni and cheese. I love it so much that I limit myself to indulging once a year. Otherwise I’d eat it all the time. I’m a purist so you will never see hot dogs, bacon, or disgusting broccoli in my mac and cheese. I even chased my husband away when he tried to put pepper in it.
This year for my birthday, I’ll be eating a whole box of Kraft Dinner. I’m quite excited about it.

What is your favorite time of year and why?


I love all four seasons and living in Canada it’s possible to experience all of them in one day. All kidding aside, if you were to ask what season I could not do without I would say winter. Most of my friends and family don’t get this, but I love snow. To see the hoar frost on the trees is breathtakingly beautiful. And snow is fun. You’re never too old to make snow angels or have a good old-fashioned snowball fight. Of course, when its really cold outside—like minus thirty-five Celsius (that’s -31 Fahrenheit or in laymen’s terms, I can’t feel my face)—I sit inside and watch those large flakes from the window. A blizzard is a wonderful time to write, read a book, or sip coffee with a special splash of Irish cream.  



The reason why I love winter.

If you could have three wishes granted, what would you wish for?

A few months ago the answer would have involved a Corvette, but thing have changed. Now my three wishes would be:
1)      A vaccine for COVID-19;
2)      for the vaccine to be available to everyone (and for free); and
3)      for people to get back to their day to day life.
I’m an introvert so self-isolating isn’t difficult for me. Tuning into the news and see all the human suffering is the hard part. People are going to work to keep us healthy, fed, and safe. The least we can do is stay home when possible and not make the situation worse.  

I wanted to keep this interview light-hearted, but what’s happening in every corner of the world is serious. And we aren’t powerless. We have choices. Let’s just hope we all make good ones.

where can we find out more?


Download  Braking Hard  on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082S7NSY9 and other online retailers






Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Garden Interview with Stephen B King

Welcome Stephen

tell us about your books


Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?
For me, I start with an idea, which could be anything. A title, a line, a ‘what if’ scenario, and in one memorable case a dream. Wherever the inspiration comes from, after I have a think about it and decide how to approach the story I work from that point and write forward. While I have an idea where things are going, and the main characters, I never plan anything. This is especially true of an ending. Whenever I find myself wondering how it will end, I shy away and force myself not to plan, just write it.
As you might imagine, this means a lot of work in re-writes, which I always do a minimum of five times, leaving time between each to try to look at it with fresh eyes.
I have a saying; ‘Write from the heart and edit from the head.’ That works for me and more importantly, I find I want to write because I want to know what happens next to my character(s).




Have you ever cried while writing a book?
I have teared up during writing. I’ve found that the older I get the more likely I am to cry during movies. Funnily enough, my problem comes during rewrites. When I read my own words, after they’ve been written. Even though I know what’s about to happen, that’s when I cry.
In Thirty-Three Days, there are three places that without fail I cry every single time. Now that is strange enough, but when you think that during writing, re-writes, editing, proofing the audio etc., I’ve probably read TTD fifty times. But those three spots get me every time. I’d like to think that means it was well written.






What's your favorite book you've written?
In one way this is easy to answer, Glimpse, The Tender Killer (book 3 of the Deadly Glimpses Trilogy). There are aspects of this book that for me still give me goosebumps. I loved the psychology in the story, and creating an alter ego, named Jolly, for the schizophrenic serial killer. I wrote it so that the reader would ask if Jolly was imagined, or was he somehow real? It also brought a climax to the ‘will they or won’t they’ romantic element of the trilogy.
The reason I said in one way is due to what has happened since it was released. Glimpse was written as a trilogy and I told the story I wanted to tell. The most gratifying thing for me was after publication how many requests I got from readers asking what happens next and reviewers saying they hoped there would be another installment. I had moved on and was writing other projects, but the call for a fourth book continued.

Glimpse 4, called Glimpse, The Angel Shot is now around 85000 words, and OMG, I LOVE it. It’s dark, and for those readers who wondered what would happen to Rick, Pat and Juliet next – hold onto your hats, you-re going on a roller-coaster ride. I can tell you Jolly is back, and how.



Who is the biggest influence on your writing?
For many years it was my (slightly more famous) namesake – the other Stephen King. I’ve been complimented by some readers saying our writing styles in creating characters is similar. All I can say to that is if I could write one hundredth as well as he, I would die a happy man.

Of more recent times I’ve discovered Michael Robotham. Never have I been so moved as reading his stories of clinical psychologist Joseph O’Loughlan. I think the hallmark of a truly great author is one who can make you care for his/her characters as if you were related to them. Michael Robotham gets me every single time.

Did you have to research forensic science or criminal psychology for your latest suspense?
Most definitely. My passion is writing thriller/police procedural stories about serial killers and showing the reader why and how they became the way they did. I think when most people read newspapers about horrific killings, we all ask why? My stories seek to answer that question.
My research for this is exhaustive. My daughter has a degree in criminal psychology and justice (she works for the Supreme Court) and a good friend is a very successful clinical psychologist. I run ideas by both of them and have many in depth discussions to try my best to get it right. I read a lot too, and of course these days Google is a wonderful tool. 


and now for some fun

What's the most blatant lie you've ever told?
The most blatant lie I’ve ever told has never been discovered (I hope). It’s been years since I told it, and I did it because I was researching for a book I wrote many years later called Domin8 (released April 13th though The Wild Rose Press). Domin8 is a contentious story, a thriller/police procedural/whodunnit that puts my protagonist in a poor light. His wife of 26 years due to early menopause has lost all desire for sex, and Dave, through a set of unusual circumstances discovers an online treasure trove of women who crave no strings meetings via chat rooms and dating. Dave thinks he has found Utopia, until someone starts murdering his lovers and he becomes the prime suspect.

I can’t tell you the lie I told, but I can tell you I did a lot of research for Domin8



Do you have a favorite quote?
I do. Among family, friends and work colleagues I am famous for it and I believe this is a truism to live by: “Sometimes it is better to seek forgiveness than permission.”
I’ve found that sometimes it’s better to have an argument after the fact that’s over quickly when I apologize, than protracted debates, ill feelings and fighting before where one tried to stop the other from doing something they really want to do.
Selfish, me? Nah, no way.

Has the dog ever eaten your manuscript?

No, but my laptop did once, but it had a happy ending. I forgot to back up, foolishly thinking WORD was doing it automatically. One day my laptop crashed and I lost almost 20,000 words of a MS. I tried everything to recover it and in the end had to re-write it all from scratch. But what happened was in doing so it took off in a completely different direction and was so much better for it. Some say I should let my PC crash more often J

Are you jealous of other writers?
I’m horrendously jealous of any author who can afford to do it full time. OMG I have so many stories to tell, and so little time to do it because I work for a living managing a large car dealership selling Kia’s.

If only I had more time, not only could I write more books, but I know the quality of what I write would improve because I believe the more a writer writes, the more they hone their craft.

Who's more fun, bad boys or perfect gentlemen? Or Bad Girl or a lady?

There is an old saying I think is very true of most men. We want to marry a virgin who becomes a tigress. My wife of thirty years and I have a joke, and how much truth is in it I will leave up to you to decide. I married her for the sex, and she married me for my money – we both got it wrong.

Where can we find out more?

Website: www.stephen-b-king.com
Facebook: @stephenbkingauthor
Twitter: @stephenbking1
Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/2mrOQJo

Download Domin8 on Amazon and other online retailers https://amzn.to/2xCrMNC