Monday, July 27, 2020

Welcome Shawna Delacorte to our Garden Interviews

Hello Shawna

Tell us about you and your books.


Have you ever cried while writing a book?
Absolutely! When I have an emotional scene dealing with sadness or momentary despair, it usually brings tears to my eyes. When the same scene, during revisions and/or edits, brings tears to my eyes again even though I know what's coming, I consider that I've successfully gotten across the emotion I'm trying to convey.

When did you decide to become an author?
I've lived most of my life in California—specifically the greater Los Angeles area. For over twenty years, I worked in television production. I was very interested in photography but found that I had a much better chance at marketing my photographs if they were attached to magazine articles. So I started writing magazine articles, primarily destination pieces about travel. After having several of my articles and photographs published, people I worked with told me I should write scripts since my job as a production manager gave me access to producers and directors. I enrolled in a screen writing class at UCLA. The first thing the instructor said on day one of class was if you're in love with words, you don't want to write screen plays. By the end of the class, I knew exactly what he meant and agreed with him—I didn't want to write scripts. However, I did want to try fiction, specifically novels. My third completed manuscript was contracted by Harlequin and published in print (in the days before ebooks). Harlequin then contracted my second completed manuscript and over the years a total of 21 books.

What tips would you give a new writer?
First and foremost is persistence. If you really want to write (especially if you want to be published rather than writing for yourself), you have to stick with it. Unlike what you see in movies and on television, you don't labor over your manuscript, send it cold/unsolicited to a publisher, then a week later you have a contract. It's time consuming. While you're waiting to hear back from a publisher, use that time to start on a new manuscript. It's imperative that you learn the craft of writing, not just the basics of the English language like how to construct a grammatically correct sentence. Active vs. passive, point-of-view, narrative vs. dialogue, action vs. introspection, and characterization are just some of the aspects of fiction writing. And finally, realize that every word you write is not golden. Sometimes it's difficult to see something you've labored over be changed by an editor. But remember, the writer and the editor are looking at the material differently. As the writer, you're creating this incredible masterpiece. The editor is making it commercially viable and publishable.

And remember—the acceptance/appreciation of any creative endeavor (writing, art, music, etc.) is a subjective thing. Just because someone enjoys country music doesn't mean that same person will like jazz. A rejection is one person's subjective opinion on that given day—assuming the writer/artist/composer knows their craft and has constructed a viable product. Sometimes the rejection, those non-descript words "does not meet our editorial needs at this time," is nothing more than the fact that your manuscript was too similar to something they had just contracted or they have too many submissions with a story centering around a pandemic. I've had manuscripts rejected by an editor, then the same manuscript with no changes was contracted by that same editor two years later. Or sometimes you have a great premise, you just need to re-think how you're presenting it in story form.

Does working to deadline inspire or annoy you?
Probably both. 😊 I suppose you could say inspire in that it keeps me on track and allows me to prioritize everything so I don't spend too much time working on something new that doesn't have any type of deadline while getting behind on something that has a higher priority. And on the other hand, you could say it annoys me to have to set aside something that's really flowing and working so that I can return to something with a deadline that isn't flowing as well.

What are your current projects?
I'm currently working on edits for another contemporary romance novella also for The Wild Rose Press, this one for their Deerbourne Inn series.

I also have two mystery/romantic suspense novels that I'm working on as time permits. I'm particularly fond of mysteries, love creating the twists and turns of the plot and characters who may or may not be who and what they seem to be.



and for something a little personal...

Are you jealous of other writers?
No. There are certainly many other writers who have achieved much greater success than I have, but they've earned it. Writing a novel doesn't just happen where you sit down to the keyboard one day and whip out a great manuscript. There's a lot of work that goes into writing a novel. Other writers have put in the time and work required. They've earned their success.

Are you fun to go on vacation with?
I think so. I love to travel, both returning to favorite places and seeing new places. I enjoy a variety of things. I love museums of all kinds (natural history, history, art, etc.). As an avid photographer, I want to see anything and everything where I can take pictures. I like learning about local culture and customs. If in a foreign country, going to the local pub and talking with the people who live in that area.

Do you have any hobbies?
As I mentioned earlier, my primary hobby and outside area of interest is photography. At one time, I wanted to be a National Geographic type photographer. I even took a photography workshop taught by a freelance photographer who worked for National Geographic. Back in the days of film, before digital, I even had my own darkroom. Now, of course, the darkroom is whatever computer programs you use.

If you could have three wishes granted, what would you wish for?
World peace, health, and happiness. I don't think I need to elaborate on that.

What is your favorite comfort food?

I'm embarrassed to say, but it's mac and cheese. Lots of pasta carbs, lots of cholesterol choking cheese, and lots of calories. It's definitely comfort food. And then there's gelato—not just ice cream, that extra creamy calorie-laden gelato which is definitely my dessert weakness. I don't buy desserts very often, not really a sugar person. But when I do, it's usually gelato which doesn't last long. I think creatures sneak into my kitchen and steal it from my freezer in the middle of the night.

Where can we find you online?


https://shawnadelacorte.blogspot.com  a new post almost every Saturday.

Download The Rocky Road to Romance on Amazon and other online retailers. It's part of the summer romance series One Scoop or Two













Sunday, July 26, 2020

New Romance and Fiction In The Garden

Click on covers for more information and to purchase
 
No matter how far you run, you can never really escape a haunted past.

Darrell Henshaw—teacher, coach, and paranormal sensitive—learned this lesson the hard way. Now, with his job gone and few options, he heads for Cape May to coach a summer football camp. The resort town, with gorgeous beaches, rich history and famous Victorian mansions, might just be the getaway he needs. Only, no one told him Cape May is the most haunted seaport on the East Coast.

When a resident ghost, the Haunted Bride, stalks Darrell, begging for his help, he can't refuse, and joins forces with Cassie, another sensitive. As Darrell and the street-wise teen investigate the bride's death, they uncover something far more sinister than a murder. Can Darrell and Cassie expose those behind the crimes before they end up becoming the next victims?
Tax consultant Katherine Weller isn't ready for a relationship after a divorce that left her empty. But when her best friend suggests she set up a sex-only date through Lusty Liaisons, a unique and exclusive dating service, she's uncertain but intrigued. Maybe a hot romp with a sexy, younger man is exactly what she needs to take that confident first step into her new life as a single woman.
First-term U.S. Senator Lance Michaels resists his campaign team involving his high school reunion in a re-election bid. He prefers keeping politics separate from his personal life. But his planned brief visit at the event goes awry when he runs into Kate Taylor.

In the guise of a visiting alumna, Kate works undercover in order to jump from tabloid reporter to mainstream media. To succeed she must uncover dirt on the senator before the November election.

Their attraction burns hotter than a Washington scandal and could put both their careers in jeopardy. When the smoke clears, nobody can guess who will be left standing.
Breanna Casey has only ever wanted two things in life: to race and to get the hell out of Arkadia, Texas. Stifled beneath her family's turbo-charged reputation, she's got her thumb firmly on the self-destruct button. A night of hyper-driven racing and rebellion leads to a one night stand with the one guy who knows how to press all her buttons: Noah McKay.

Torn apart by the toll of his high-intensity enlistment in the Marines and guilt-ridden by what he's seen, Noah McKay left the military to find peace. A chance encounter sends him working for the parents of a raven-haired Amazon goddess with a tongue that cuts sharper than any knife. Quiet is the last thing he'll get.

Finally, she gets her chance. Calloway Racing wants her to drive for them. But that's not all they want. A good friend of her father's, Calloway insists she take Noah along for the ride. Suddenly, her dreams are feeling more like a nightmare. Will they be able to help each other, maybe even find love, when living life full tilt boogie?
Claudia Molina lives a calendar-driven life, every day the same, to protect her heart. A broken marriage and her son's death have made her wary of men. She has her pristine house, her book club, and her accounting job—which includes a most untypical client.
Blake Campos lost his management position three years ago after a nasty divorce, and now he's a truck driver. Women are only a momentary pleasure and motorcycles are for fun and for helping others while he's set on getting another corporate job.
Until the day they meet…         

Saturday, July 18, 2020

Summer Reading! New Romance and Fiction from The Wild Rose Press

New Romance and Fiction In The Garden

Click on covers for more information and to purchase
 
Alexia Craddock is a small-town attorney who moonlights during her lunch break at her grandmother's ice cream parlor. She's delivering flyers for her grandmother's annual specials when she tangles with a pesky Pomeranian and falls at the feet of a handsome stranger whose chivalrous humor eases her embarrassment and kicks her pulse into overdrive.

Wounded captain Jesse Garland has moved to Craddock's Cove to recuperate and discover what life holds after the navy. When he rescues Alexia from a furry, pint-sized disaster, life suddenly seems full of passion and promise. He vows to get closer to her—one crazy sundae special at a time.
A descendant of legendary wise women, Lissa Capoen has a gift. She can see the future. But the visions don't include capture by the Spanish, nor her rescue by a handsome captain.

Rand Van Locken expects to find treasure when he and his crew board the galleon. Instead, they discover a bedraggled beauty in chains behind a locked door.

He wants to know more about her. She wonders if he can be trusted with her secrets. Hunted by the Spanish, they embark on a quest to rescue Lissa's kidnapped sister. But when Lissa disappears in the ghost mists, is Rand's love enough to bring her back?
After being shunned by her Middle Eastern family, medical assistant Leila Solomon struggles to build a life for herself and her child. Landscape photographer Aiden Stone built a career seeing what others miss, and the second he meets Leila, he is drawn to her unassuming beauty and fragile strength.

Leila cannot defy the gravitational forces pulling her toward Aiden and to the family who cast her out. To build a future with Aiden, she must face the past but is she strong enough to resist being pulled back into the family fold?
Surrendered to a powerful witch at birth, RapAnn doesn't know her parents. When she resists becoming the mistress of a lecherous roué, her guardian imprisons her in a tall tower as punishment. There, she has only the music of her voice and the company of the birds for comfort.
Prince Kenzie, hearing her song, vows to free her, but the tower lies in the grip of the witch's dark magic. Even if their love survives the spell, how can RapAnn, deceived by illusion, ever see the truth in Prince Kenzie's eyes?
Mega-talented glass sculptor Chase Durand just scored the commission of a lifetime. The southern bayou's poshest new hotel is about to open with his art the star feature. His motorcycle-riding, bad-boy reputation perfectly fits the hotel's modern, edgy look. And when a drop-dead gorgeous IT engineer hard wires his high-tech art, her luscious curves ignite a fire in him that's hotter than molten glass. Between them, he sees a perfect pairing of minds...and bodies.

What Autumn Rivette sees is danger. The minute she lays eyes on the sexy artist, her unruly desire screams for satisfaction. His arresting good looks and mammoth muscles make every nerve sizzle. Yet years in foster care taught her two lessons--trust no one and never get attached. Physical pleasure is one thing, but her heart is off limits. When her past threatens both their careers, it's time to learn to embrace the fire or to douse it forever...
Former burglar on demand, Emily Atterberry has left her life of crime behind. Or so she thinks until she stumbles on a piece of her past holding clues to her biological family's identity. She feels guilty but steals it hoping it will lead her to the answers she is searching for.

Detective Armand Lecavalier is investigating recent luxury car thefts and is convinced Emily knows more than she's saying. He needs to find out what she knows to prove to the big-time police precincts he's more than just a small-town officer.

Thrown together, Emily and Armand find it hard to remain professional. All they want to do is have fun—with and without handcuffs. But can Armand look past his code of conduct for love or is Emily facing time behind bars?         

Sunday, July 12, 2020

New Romance and Fiction from The Wild Rose Press

New Romance and Fiction In The Garden

Click on covers for more information and to purchase
 
One Marquess. One debutante. One waltz. And Miss Daisy Vincent's first season will never be the same. A less than stellar beginning to her first ball took a sudden and irrevocable change of direction once the handsome and popular Marquess of Ashton took notice of her.

Ashton, prone not to interfere with the ton, certainly made a hash of things when he did. Trying to aid a naïve debutante has brought him into the limelight as every busy-body began betting on who his marchioness would be. And the one who most interested him wasn't even on the list.
Amelia Cavendash is a Regency Miss who does as she pleases. Instead of following society's dictates she follows her own. Which means hunting beasts who can turn into men, and allowing the duke next door to warm her bed. But while searching a nearby graveyard to find an elusive creature, Amelia discovers the big bad wolf is someone she knows.

Gideon Rochester has his hands full trying to convince the beautiful Amelia to marry him. Sharing her bed is not enough. But his chances of success dwindle even more when she finds out he is a wolf. His Melia is not happy with his lie of omission and becomes even more upset when a compromising situation forces her to become Gideon's betrothed.

The timing couldn't be worse, for a band of rogues has invaded the London territory and Gideon and Amelia must put aside their differences before hearts and lives are broken forever.
Retired and widowed Gloriana Jones is forging on with the plans she and her late husband dreamed of—bringing joy and happiness, one ice cream cone at a time, to Lake Unami. But bad weather is drowning her dream.
A trip to Upstate NY is bittersweet for Nathan James. He is excited to see his first granddaughter but without his wife he's lonely. When his car breaks down, he heads to the only light he can see, an ice cream shop.
With aid from a heavenly source, electricity sparks, but will the two weather the summer storms and find love a second time? Or will their hopes and dreams melt away?
Silicon Valley investor Ryn Brennan is on the verge of achieving everything she dreamed. She's succeeded in the male-dominated venture capital world, has a supportive husband, and is about to close the deal of her career. Everything is going exactly as planned, until she meets Carly, her husband's mistress, across the negotiating table.

Carly clawed her way back from being a teenage runaway to become an accomplished scientist, caring single mom, and co-founder of her startup. Once she marries her loving fiancé, she'll secure the complete family she craves. But she's blindsided to discover her not so perfect fiancé is already married—to Ryn, her company's biggest investor.

In an industry full of not-so-subtle sexism, can the two women rise above, and work together to overcome heartbreak, and ensure their success?
The Complete Boxed Set
Sary's Gold
While battling a brutal town and one obsessed man, Sary must change into a ruthless, determined gold miner/outlaw in 1890s California. Upon the untimely death of her husband, Sary is forced into her brother's charge. Neither is pleased with this arrangement. He's an impotent, sadistic dreamer with ideas of striking gold, using his sister as his mule...

Sary 's Diamonds
Sarabande Swinford has lost her fortune, swindled by an expert con man from whom she gained in return only a handful of worthless paper and a questionable—and partial—treasure map. Taking ship to Cape Town with her lover Tommy and her son Jude, she pursues more of the map as well as its promised treasure, but encounters potential death in many forms...

Sary and the Maharajah's Emeralds
Imprisoned by a fanatical, corrupt maharajah in the torrid climes of 1910 India, Sarabande Swinford battles the maharajah's lust and another man's passions, all while desperately trying to regain her memory. She has forgotten her perilous adventures in both love and fortunes, but her intrepid spirit remains as she encounters jealousy in the harem, man- and woman-eating crocodiles, and venomous snakes, all in her attempts at escape...         

Monday, July 06, 2020

Garden Interview with Alana Lorens

Hello Alana

tell us about you and your books


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

I definitely start with a strong idea--for example, in TENDER MISDEMEANORS, I knew the opposites attract idea would be set between the law enforcement hero and the monkeywrencher. Both are trying to protect the forests in different ways, but one is legal and one isn’t. Then what unfolded after that came in bits and pieces, and adding the other folk at the office, her sister’s pagan group and the local militia allowed the story to expand. Then at about two-thirds done, I usually write down a chapter by chapter plan to bring the story to the correct finale.

What's your favorite book you've written?

The book of my heart is now a series called The Color of Fear, a YA post-apocalyptic series where a group of POC takes on a white supremacist in the face of a weaponized virus that kills mostly Caucasians. The books are WINDMILLS, DESTINATIONS and ADVERSARIES.

How did you do in English as a kid?

It was just about my favorite. I majored in English in college and took many, many writing classes in the interim.

When did you decide to become an author?

When I was 9. I wrote a story, blow by blow, about my cat eating a rabbit it had killed. The principal read it in front of the whole school!

What tips would you give a new writer?

Write. Write and then read your writing out loud to help catch odd cadences. If you can find a great critique group, grab on to them and love them!


And for a little fun...


If you were going to commit the perfect murder, how would you go about it?

It would involve alligators and swamps. That’s all I’m saying. J

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I have wanted to be a writer as long as I can remember. I took the path through waitress, floral designer, newspaper reporter, and then a family law attorney…. but I’m finally back here.

What is your favorite drink?

A really great grind of strong, rich coffee with just the right amount of cream and sugar…..perfection.

Are you fun to go on vacation with?

I was when I was healthier—I’d look up all sorts of interesting things to do and present choices that were available. We always hit the things on that 50 Weird Things for Each State lists….

Do you have any hobbies?

I quilt and garden—and also foster kittens, some bottle babies and some just for socialization. I also love to cook big ethnic dinners—which I don’t get to do so much now that my children are mostly grown.


Where can we find you online?

http://alana-lorens.com

https://www.facebook.com/AlanaLorens/

Download Tender Misdemeanors on Amazon and other online retailers

https://www.amazon.com/Tender-Misdemeanors-Alana-Lorens-ebook/dp/B084FTTWP2/


Sunday, July 05, 2020

Summer Reading from The Wild Rose Press

New Romance and Fiction In The Garden

Click on covers for more information and to purchase
 
Forty-two-year-old divorcée Danielle Peters ends up alone on her family's annual beach vacation. Maybe time to herself is exactly what she needs. That and gelato from her favorite ice cream shop. But when the owner's intoxicating, young nephew offers more than sweet treats, she's tempted to indulge in a hot, summer fling before returning home.

Thirty-one-year-old Matteo Verducci craved a fresh start to mend his broken heart, and he's found almost perfection in Ocean View, where he scoops gelato by day and crafts furniture by night. But when a sexy older woman stops to sample his wares—Mamma mia! He only has two weeks to convince her their passion is more than a delicious surprise.
After she discovers the abusive side of his personality, Janet Mitchell leaves Jack Dexter, the professor who swept her off her feet. Will she discover the same darkness in Wes, the handsome young man who rescues her during a hurricane?
Years ago, Wes Corbett vowed not to get romantically involved again, fearing anyone close to him might be harmed by his brother William, a born criminal. Now, as he weathers the storm with Janet, their mutual attraction becomes clear. Can he keep that vow—even though he knows William is on the loose and may be headed directly for them?
As the summer season ends, Daria Drake and her father prepare to close their ice cream shop on the Atlantic City boardwalk. After Labor Day, they'll return to the mer-city of Tor, their home under the ocean. When a handsome man enters one day and kicks out a trio of troublemakers, Daria's captivated but won't chance loving a human.

Zale Monroe is the captain of the palace guard in Tor, but the queen has forced him to take a vacation. He didn't expect to find a beautiful girl and her father being harassed in their ice cream shop. These men are trouble, but how can he convince Daria of this without giving away his merman secret?
Ginger Carmichael is determined to make a fresh start in San Antonio after a disastrous relationship with a colleague. Her new number one rule is to never get involved with a coworker. Her resolve weakens when she lands a job at a construction company and her incredibly handsome, charming boss refuses to stay away from her home remodeling project.

Greg Tucker was badly burned in his last serious relationship and isn't looking for another. But Ginger fascinates him. She's not in the same category of deceitful female as others in his past. He wouldn't mind a friendship with casual intimacy, but getting past her guard will be a lot tougher than wielding a hammer and nails.
Las Vegas limousine driver Micah Donovan prides himself on his discretion. Regardless of what transpires in the back of his car every night, he keeps his eyes on the road and his heart so far away he can no longer reach it.But when the son of a imprisoned gangster requests a beautiful young dancer be delivered to his door, Micah is unable to turn a deaf ear, and he rescues Katelyn just before the man can hurt her. Together they flee into the night, with a sinister enforcer pursuing them.Micah's carefully crafted life, so far free of impediment and incident, breaks apart in his hands. He has only Katelyn to keep him standing — a woman he hardly knows yet is unable to resist. Can the two find common ground and keep themselves alive?
Practical Caroline Saxon must travel to London for the season, when all she really wants is to stay in Ireland and breed horses. But a carriage accident leaves her unchaperoned at a posting inn.

Dashing Christopher Hawking just wants a bed for the night. He didn't expect to find it occupied by a beautiful woman or to be caught sneaking out of her room. In the light of day, a London-bound member of the ton finds them together.

Attraction flares between the two in spite of themselves. But how will they save Caroline's reputation and calm the storm of the ton's gossip?         

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Garden Interview with Kathy Otten

Hello Kathy

welcome to the garden interviews. tell us about you and your books.

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

I’m a pantser. I get an idea and run with it. However, over the years, I’ve learned to look ahead to see that dark moment when everything goes wrong, then I go back to sketch it out. Next, I seek out my main characters to ask them about their goals and motivation. When I’m done, I have a rough outline, so I’ve sort of morphed into a bit of a plotter.

Are your characters based on real people?

I write historical romance, so often there are real people in my stories. They are usually mentioned only as my fictional characters would have encountered them. I only give them a few lines here and there. If I have to describe them, I dig for pictures and try to keep things as close as I can.

What's your favorite book you've written?

I like all my books for different reasons. Because I’m always learning new things about craft and character development, there are times I wish I could go back and fix my earlier stories, but I can’t so I have to learn to let it go. It’s the same with my characters. I’ve spent so much time with them, I like them all.
If I am going to pick a favorite, it would be Lost Hearts. Johnny had a tough life with no way out, but she had a pragmatic attitude that got her through the bad stuff. Rab too was floundering, trying to deal with flashbacks and guilt for a part of his life his mind had blocked out.

When did you decide to become an author?

I can’t remember not writing. There were always stories and characters bouncing around in my head. I never knew that wasn’t normal. My mom would occasionally buy my brothers and I Little Golden Books at the grocery store. One day I asked for one, and she told me she didn’t have enough money; that I should write my own. I think that’s when it started. Lucky the Dog, The Lost Uranium Mine, and the Mystery of the Old Yellow House. In those early stories the illustrations were done in crayon and the pages tied together with yarn. I have old notebooks filled with stuff and file folders of ideas; stories that will never see the light of day, but they got me this point, so the time spent on them wasn’t wasted.

What are your current projects?

I have a contemporary young adult novel I’ve been querying to different agents.  I just finished a M/M historical romance short story. I’ll be submitting that soon. I’ve started the first draft of another historical romance novel and I’m playing around with a rough draft for the first novel in a M/M historical romance series. I think I’m an ADD writer.

And for a little fun.

Do you have a favorite quote?

“I write for the same reason that I breathe—because I have to.”  --Isaac Asimov

Has the dog ever eaten your manuscript?

No. Most of my stuff is on my computer. He does however, bite the pages that come out of my printer. He’s a German Shepherd, so it’s sometimes hard to stop him. I’ve had critique copies with bite holes, wet spots, and wrinkles that need smoothing before a meeting.

Do you have any hobbies?

I take my dog on long walks down the road, or on trails in the woods. I read a lot, fiction and non-fiction. I bake occasionally, though not so much anymore since the kids have grown. Otherwise, my job and family keep me busy. Oh, I forgot to mention, I like to write.

What is your favorite time of year and why?

Summer and early fall. I live on two and a half acres surrounded by woods and farm fields. Pretty views in all directions on a quiet back road with occasional buggies clip-clopping by. My deck is the perfect place to take a notebook and pen, sit in the sun, and write.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for you?


Music, a box of pencils, and plenty of thick, spiral bound notebooks.

Where can we find you online?

www.kathyotten.com
www.facebook.com/kathyottenauthor
www.twitter.com/kathyotten

Download A Place in Your Heart on Amazon and other online retailers



Wednesday, July 01, 2020

Garden Interview with Gabbi Grey

Hello Gabbi

Tell us about you and your books.




Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?
I write romances, so I have a beginning, a happy ending, and two main characters. (Two men or two women for my gay romances, a man and a woman for the rest). I also usually know what the dark moment will be. Beyond that, it’s pantsing all the way. I’ve tried plotting, but the results never looked anything like the plan. I feel most comfortable letting my characters guide me to tell their story. For me, it’s all about the characterization.

When did you first, without hesitation, call yourself a writer?
I’m not sure I do yet, despite the fact my second novella is now published. I’ve also had three short stories published, and my first full-length novel is coming out later this year. Still, I hesitate to say I’m a writer. That being said, I’m happy to say that I write. I prefer the active verb. I’m hopeful the day will come when I’m comfortable calling myself a writer.

Have you ever cried while writing a book?
Several times. I wrote a book several years ago when I had to kill a dog. I know—gasp, you never kill an animal. In this case, the dog was old and suffering, and I needed a way for the hero and heroine to meet and connect. She’s a veterinarian, he’s a recluse. It worked. We’ll see how readers take the tragedy. Hopefully they’ll understand. More recently, on my current project, I wound up sobbing. I was crying so hard I had to touch type the scene. The scene is critical to understanding the hero, so I persevered through it. The few people I’ve shared the scene with have also cried, so I feel that’s a success. I can’t wait to put the story, and the scene, in front of readers.

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to characters?
I do, I truly do. Whenever possible, I try to write other books in the same world. For instance, my first book was with the Deerbourne Inn series. I’m now writing a second book and, of course, the couple from my first story have to make a cameo. The same applies to my BDSM series. The couple from the first book are strong secondary characters in the two subsequent books. At some point I’ll have to let go of these characters, but I’m not there yet.

Do you write under a pen name?
I do use a pen name. Several, in fact. I work for the federal government by day, and although I have support from my direct supervisor, I can’t say the higher-ups would be happy with what I write. Under the pen name Gabbi Grey I write gay and lesbian romances. Under the pen name Gabbi Black I write dark erotic BDSM books and, finally, under Gabbi Powell I write medium-heat, medium-angst contemporary romances. As I’m slowly developing my connection to readers, I don’t want them to come across a book that doesn’t fit the type of book I write as a certain persona. Of course I’m hoping to find readers who enjoy all three types of books, but I’m happy if a reader finds one of my books and makes a connection to it.


and for a little fun...


What makes you cry?
Great question. I love to read romances and am easily pulled in and cry, even though I know I’ll get a happy ending. I’m also sappy when it comes to certain commercials. These days, anything that shows unity, solidarity, and people coming together is likely to bring a tear to my eye. Finally, my cat. She’s sixteen years old and I know I won’t have her forever and that thought makes me sad. Then I remember to enjoy the time left I have with her.

What makes you laugh?
Honestly, my dog. I rescued her four years ago and she’s brought nothing but joy into my life—okay, and panic. One day we were driving home, and when I arrived, my back seat was empty. Total panic set in because I had seen her in the rearview mirror in the back seat about halfway home. I live in a rural area, and the grass is tall along the side of the road. That, and I was driving about thirty-five miles an hour, and had no idea how or when she’d left the car. I drove back to where I’d last seen her and began a search. After about an hour, a lady stopped and asked what I was doing. When I told her I was looking for a little dog, she let me know she’d seen one earlier, and when she stopped, the dog had run onto a property. I followed her car with mine until we arrived at the place she’d last seen the little white dog. I went to the top of the property line, and sure as the summer day is long, my little white pup was down near the back of the property.
At first, she was hesitant to come (my sobbing probably didn’t help) but then my sister, who had come to help with the search, shook a bag of treats, and within moments I had a dog in my arms. We left, and I checked her over and she was completely fine. Not a scratch or a pulled muscle or anything. That night my sister helped me install the restraint system I’d bought a year prior but had been too lazy to put in. It clips to my dog’s Therapy Dog vest perfectly and, needless to say, we don’t go anywhere without her strapped in.
Lesson learned.

What is your favorite time of year and why?
Winter is my favorite time of year. The quiet as I take my dog for a walk. The deadened silence after a huge snowfall. The sense of solidtude – voluntary, of course. All that being said—I hate slush, ice is dangerous, and when it snows so much that I get snowed in and can’t get out, I get cranky. No Starbucks, and my stash of Diet Coke running out? Not good…

Has the dog ever eaten your manuscript?
Not my dog. I lucked out with my dog, and she never went through a chewing phase. Now, I used to breed Himalayan cats and my male sprayed. More than one manuscript wound up being ‘christened’. You’d think I would learn after the first three times…

Do you ever go around in a corset, high heels, and a whip to get you in the mood to write something naughty?
As Gabbi Black, I write BDSM dark erotic romances. I went one step further than dressing up – I joined the kink community. I love my new friends, and after five years, I’m no longer the newbie. I also discovered I’m a bit of a masochist, so that’s led to many adventures. I’m also innately curious, always asking questions. All that knowledge has been poured into my Into Their Eyes series.


Where can we find you online?




https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/



Download Catch a Tiger by the Tail on Amazon and other online retailers

https://www.amazon.com/Catch-Tiger-Tail-One-Scoop-ebook/dp/B088QS34BX