The Man Who Lived at the End of the World by Robert Davies @ahundredstories

September, 2013: When the summer ended, so did the world.

Staggering under a volley of meteorite hits, cities the world over are evacuated by the military as violent earthquakes, floods, storms and fires rage across the planet.

The journey unfolds through the jaded yet childlike eyes of Silas Stanley, a recently escaped psychiatric patient who must travel hundreds of miles across a devastated Britain to find his dying daughter before the world ends. Through ruined and deserted cities, flooded countryside and burning fields, Silas makes his way from an evacuated London all the way to his old home town in the Lake District, all the while startled and amazed by the world around him. En route he must avoid the strict martial law that is in force, and steer clear of the huge nuclear explosions being set off by the military in a last-ditch attempt to correct the earth’s faltering orbit.

On a world knocked off course and brought to its knees, love for his family finally forces Silas to face the enormity of his own past with just as much bravery as his uncertain future.

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Genre - Apocalyptic fiction

Rating – PG

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Website http://robertdavies.co

Malpractice! The Novel by William Louis Harvey @sexandlawnovel

Despite Paul’s sexual frustration, his high-school years passed relatively happily, as they did for most of the boys in town. (p. 21)

Malpractice! the Novel is an electrifying work of realistic fiction written by an anonymous insider who worked the frontlines of the clash between the medical and legal professions during the California medical malpractice insurance crisis, which began in the 1960s. William Louis Harvey, a nom de plume, takes readers on a steamy adventure involving power, sex, lies and money in this candid courtroom suspense thriller. While Malpractice! The Novel, is a work of fiction, it is rooted in the personal experiences and firsthand knowledge the author acquired during his decades of working inside the medical industry. California in the 1960s and first half of the 1970s had already seen a dramatic increase in medical malpractice lawsuits as juries awarded progressively higher sums for “pain and suffering,” a category that had no concrete limits and caused physicians’ insurance premiums for malpractice to skyrocket. Harvey chaired a committee that reviewed all malpractice claims involving a major California hospital during the crisis. Details of some of the cases he experienced are engraved in his memory, and small portions of these tidbits find their way into Malpractice! the Novel, his first novel. Roused by a recent New York Times article about the American male novelist’s fear of addressing sexuality, Harvey interleaved honest sex histories for his novel’s characters, adding a titillating sensuality to the suspenseful novel.

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Genre – Steamy Courtroom Drama

Rating – R

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Author Interview – Dora Machado @DoraMachado

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?

I’m most proud of my kids, my family and my books, in that order.

Who is your book’s intended audience?  Have you been able to crossover into other audiences as well?

The Curse Giver will appeal to readers of the epic fantasy genre who enjoy a clever, plot-twisting adventure centered on a forbidden, irresistible and daring romance. It will also appeal to readers of the romance and historical genres, who will appreciate the medieval inspiration and gritty realism that drive the story.

Why did you decide to write a book?

I write books because I have to. I swear, my mind is like a story generator, constantly churning out ideas. When I’m not writing, I’m constantly thinking about writing.  For a long time, I waited for the time and opportunity to be able to write. And now that the time has come, I have a feeling that I’ll be writing all the way to The End.

What do you want readers to take away from reading your works?

I want them to taste the adventure, experience the range of emotions and find themselves in the stories. I want them to journey through new worlds while exploring the nuances of our world and the questions of our times. I want them to dream and love along with my characters. I want to challenge their minds and touch their hearts. Above all, I want them to free themselves from the moment, get away and enjoy.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

I’m most comfortable writing fantasy, romance and historical fiction. I really like to mix all of these elements. I often use medieval history to validate the details in my fantasy stories just as I use romance to deepen, enrich and authenticate my characters. My latest novel, The Curse Giver, is all of that plus mystery and intrigue.

Describe your creative/writing process.

I tend to fixate on an idea and think on it subconsciously for a while, until it transforms into a specific concept, scene, or character, which usually comes out pretty well formed. At that point, I might make some notes, which might include a loose outline and maybe a few scribbled paragraphs that wouldn’t make sense to anyone but me. Typically I know the beginning and the end of a story before I start writing and I have a general idea of where the story needs to go. Writing is always a process of discovery for me, which might be one of the reasons why it’s so enjoyable to me.

Are you consciously aware of the plot before you begin a novel, or do you discover it as you write?

I typically know the beginning and the end of my novels before I start writing. I also have a pretty good idea of the plot and the big issues I want to tackle. But my plots are always twisting and I discover a lot about my characters and the storyline as I go along. The best plot twists are those that surprise not just the reader, but the author as well.

What kind of research did you have to do during the writing process?

I had to do a lot of research for The Curse Giver. In the story, my main character, Lusielle, is a healer and a remedy mixer. All of Lusielle’s healing practices are based on medieval knowledge and procedures. I studied medieval primary sources to understand the use of herbs, minerals, and other ingredients and based many of her potions on authentic medieval prescriptions. I also spent a lot of time researching weapons and fighting methods to authenticate my hero’s character. Finally, I devoted a lot of time to studying the concept and uses of curses throughout human history to come up with a fresh take on my villain, the mysterious curse giver.

What was the first thing you did as far as promotion when you were published for the first time?

The first thing? Let me think. I did an interview for SFFmedia.com. It was a really in-depth interview that made me think hard about the novel I had just written. It was a very positive and eye-opening experience, and even though interviews are commonplace in my life these days, that’s the interview that taught me all about interviews.

If you could give one book promotion tip to new authors, what would that be?

I think that word of mouth continues to be the best and most reliable way of promoting a book and therefore any and all situations where people are blogging, tweeting, posting, reviewing, and talking about your book to their friends, readers and colleagues are very helpful to a book’s promotion.

Do your pets actually get their food on time or do they have to wait until you type just one more word?

My cats are fortunate because my husband feeds them and I’m only the backup plan. Otherwise… yikes.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received that you’d like to pass to other authors?

Write like the wind, write often, diligently and continuously, write for yourself and my favorite, write all the way to The End.

What can we expect from you in the future?  More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

You can expect more stories from me in the future, more fantasy, a dark contemporary fantasy with a Latin twist, and more about the world of The Curse Giver in its companion novel, The Soul Chaser.

Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your work?

I do and I’d love to welcome your readers to http://www.doramachado.com. I can also be contacted through email at Dora@doramachado.com, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DoraMachado101, my blog, http://www.doramachado.com/blog/ or https://twitter.com/DoraMachado on Twitter.

Lusielle's bleak but orderly life as a remedy mixer is shattered when she is sentenced to die for a crime she didn't commit. She's on the pyre, about to be burned, when a stranger breaks through the crowd and rescues her from the flames. Brennus, Lord of Laonia is the last of his line. He is caught in the grip of a mysterious curse that has murdered his kin, doomed his people and embittered his life. To defeat the curse, he must hunt a birthmark and kill the woman who bears it in the foulest of ways. Lusielle bears such a mark. Stalked by intrigue and confounded by the forbidden passion flaring between them, predator and prey must come together to defeat not only the vile curse, but also the curse giver who has already conjured their demise.

Award-Winning Finalist in the fantasy category of The 2013 USA Best Book Awards, sponsored by USA Book News

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Genre – Fantasy/Dark Fantasy

Rating – PG-18

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Website http://www.doramachado.com/

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Author Interview - J.B. McCauley @MccauleyJay

What’s your favorite place in the entire world?

My pool

How has your upbringing influenced your writing?

Of course it has. Writing is all about drawing on your inner self and your upbringing is part of that.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

It just came. I have always done it.

When and why did you begin writing?

Funnily enough as soon as I could hold a pen and read. They both go hand in hand.

How long have you been writing?

Since I was six.

The King of Sunday Morning is a geezer. Not in the traditional sense of the word as in old man. This geezer is a face, a wannabe, a top notch bloke. He is the greatest DJ that never was. He should have been. Could have been. Would have been. Now becoming a has-been.

Tray McCarthy was born into privilege but with the genetic coding of London’s violent East End. Having broken the underworld’s sacred honour code, it is only his family’s gangland connections that save him. But in return for his life, he must deny that which he has ever known or ever will be and runs to Australia where he is forced to live an inconsequential life.

But trouble never strays far from Tray McCarthy and eventually his past and present collide to put everyone he has ever loved in danger. He must now make a stand and fight against those that are set to destroy him and play their game according to his rules.

Set against the subterfuge and violence of the international drugs trade, The King of Sunday Morning is the tale of what can go wrong when you make bad decisions. Tray McCarthy has made some of the worst. He must now save those he holds dear but in the process gets trapped deeper and deeper into a world where he doesn’t belong.

“I want three pump-action shotguns, about twelve sticks of dynamite and a blowtorch”

THIS BOOK CONTAINS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE, FREQUENT DRUG USE AND SEX SCENES – NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PEOPLE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE

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Genre – Thriller, Action, Suspense, Gangster, Crime, Music

Rating – PG-18

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Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Author Interview – Sarah Krisch

Do you have any specific last thoughts that you want to say to your readers?
My readers have been so supportive so far!  I love talking to readers, either about my work or books in general.  You can drop me an email at:  sarahkrisch@gmail.com
Who is your favorite author? 
Nora Roberts is probably my favorite author.  She does so many things so well as a writer.  Her characters are compelling and her pacing is dynamic.  Even after having written so many wonderful books, she still amazes me nearly every time I read her.
What book should everybody read at least once?
Gone With the Wind.  I’ve read GWtW at least four times, and every time I read it, I learn something new.
What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?
With the advent of indie publishing, getting published is almost too easy.  Not that I discourage anyone with a good story idea not to give it a try.  Writing and marketing are equally difficult, but in different ways.  Sometimes you sit down to write and you have the black screen and that darned blinking cursor staring at you and you haven’t the slightest idea what you’re going to write.  Luckily for me, those moments don’t stretch out into something more substantial.  I don’t necessarily ever get writer’s block, but I can understand how some people do.  That blank page can be intimidating.  I just remind myself that I control my output.  Marketing, especially for a new author like myself, can be just as intimidating as that blank screen.  Approaching reviewers can feel like those awkward childhood moments when you wanted to ask a boy to dance at a junior high dance.
Do you plan to publish more books?
The Good Life series is a trilogy, so yes I do.  I’m hoping to complete the trilogy by the spring.  And after that… I have an idea for a YA paranormal series.  I don’t want to give away the details, but it’s going to be fun to write!

A failed actress, twenty-something Julia McCarthy begins writing a fictionalized blog as a form of self-therapy. Based on her carefree summers at her grandparents’ farm, she never expects her little experiment to garner a viral following, but it does. Boy, does it ever.

Now, with thousands of loyal blog followers, and a syndication deal with the Chicago Herald, Julia is approached by GreenTV to adapt her blog into a TV show. The producers see her as a “Rachel Ray on the Prairie-type”. She sees herself as a fraud.

In Julia’s fictional world, she’s successful. She can pay her bills on time. Heck, she even has a fictional gorgeous husband and charming little boy. Ready to realize her dreams, Julia returns to her grandparents’ farm to shoot the TV pilot.

Brad Taylor is definitely not her type: he’s rugged, sensible, and oh-so smug about learning that Julia’s blog is a farce. As the manager of her grandparent’s farm, Brad doesn’t have time to deal with whimsical women who don’t even know how to cook.

Julia can’t allow her attraction to Brad to distract her, not when her dreams are about to come true. But are these truly her dreams, her good life?

A fun, fast (150 pages) contemporary romance

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Genre – Contemporary Romance

Rating – PG-13

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Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Author Interview – Michael J. Webb @mjwebbbooks

Are you reading any interesting books at the moment?

Here’s what is sitting on my desk next to my computer:

The Source Field Investigations by David Wilcock, Beneath the Pyramids by Andrew Collins, The Genius of the Few by Christian O’Brien; Hitler’s Jewish Soldiers by Bryan Mark Rigg; Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell; Writing 21^st Century Fiction by my agent Don Maass; Genes, Giants, Monsters, and Men by Joseph Farrell; DMT: The Spirit Molecule by Rick Strassman, M.D.; Forbidden Gates by Tom Horn; and The Thrones of our Souls by Paul Keith Davis.

When you wish to end your career, stop writing, and look back on your life, what thoughts would you like to have?

That I made a difference.

Here’s what I would like on my tombstone.  I’ve paraphrased it from the New Testament Book of Acts:  He was an ignorant and unlearned man, but he has been with Jesus.

Why do you write?

First, and foremost, I’m a storyteller. I love to entertain readers with pulse-pounding action, flawed–but intriguing–characters, and fascinating plots that have my readers asking, “How did he come up with that?” My tagline is “stories that ignite imaginations and stir souls . . .”  I like to get people thinking about the world they live in from a very different perspective than they are used to, especially as it relates to the realm of the spirit, angels and demons, and the intersection of the biblical, scientific, and historical disciplines.

There is an ancient battle being fought around us on an hourly basis in the realm of the spirit. It regularly manifests in the natural, or terrestrial realm, yet few people really understand the true nature of the battle. Hence, many perish for lack of knowledge. Like Toto in the Wizard of Oz, I love pulling back the curtain and exposing “the wizard” for who he is–a short, balding, fat man from Kansas!

While all of my thrillers do have the purpose of provoking my readers to examine their belief system, at their core I hope they are simply good stories; the kind that keep you turning pages long after the sun goes down and make you wish there was more to read once you’ve finished. My heart is to figuratively serve up a ten course meal with each new story I tell, and leave my readers hungry for their next serving.

What writing are you most proud of?

My most recent novel, Infernal Gates.  I’ve been writing since 1984 and it just seems like I finally hit my stride with this thriller.  I’m very excited about the sequel that I’m just finishing up as well.  I’ve fallen in love with the diversity and uniqueness of my characters and I’m trying to decide if there is a credible way to continue on with them once the second book is complete.

What books did you love growing up?

The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew when I was young, then anything Science Fiction from Junior High through College, especially Robert Heinlein, Phillip K. Dick (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep was a favorite), Isaac Asimov, Phillip Jose Farmer, Arthur C. Clarke (all the oldies, but goodies).  I read everything James Michener wrote, but my favorite was The Source. I also read a lot of books on biology, chemistry, astronomy, physics, metaphysics, and philosophy. Guess you can tell I was, and still am, an eclectic reader.

Ethan Freeman, ex-Special Forces Ranger, wakes up to discover he is the sole survivor of a fiery commercial airline crash that killed his entire family. His nightmare is only beginning when he becomes the FBI’s prime suspect. Only Ethan knows he’s not a cold-hearted murderer, but he has no idea what happened to him–and why he alone survived.

He finds an unlikely ally in Sam Weaver, the NTSB Chief Investigator. An ex-military pilot, Sam senses Ethan is innocent. She tries to remain dispassionate in her investigation of the crash even as she finds herself attracted to the man who may be America=s worst homegrown mass-murderer.

Neither Ethan nor Sam realize that shadowy spiritual forces are at work which will alter their lives forever.

A monstrous evil, imprisoned since the time of the Pharaohs, has been released by The Nine, a sinister group of powerful men and women who believe they are the direct descendants of the Anunnaki, ancient Sumerian gods. The demon they have unleashed intends to free The Destroyer from The Abyss, the angelic prison referred to in the Book of Revelation, and unleash a worldwide reign of terror and annihilation.

Facing impossible odds, time is running out for Ethan and all of humanity as he is drawn into an ever-deeper conspiracy–millennia in the making–and learns that he is the key to stopping The Nine. Will he overcome his deepest fears and find reserves of strength he never knew he had as he confronts pure evil in order to save himself and an unsuspecting world?

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Genre – Christian Thriller, Fantasy, Adventure

Rating – PG-13

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Website http://www.michaeljwebbfiction.com/

Author Interview – Pepper Winters @PepperWinters

Do you know your neighbors?
Yes. They’re the best neighbors ever. They bring us cake and muffins on a fairly regular basis. LOL
How important are friends in your life?
Very important. Without my writerly friends I might never have got to this stage. I owe them everything.
How many friends does a person need?
Endless, but close friends is up to you. I’m very lucky to have a great support network and love each and every one
What does love mean to you?
Unconditional. I love my husband with all my heart. He’s my ultimate best friend, confidant, support, and life partner. Even when we don’t see eye to eye I love him as we made a promise to spend our lives together. I don’t believe in divorce and I”ve been very very lucky to find my soulmate.
When you get free time on the internet or you go to the library – what do you want to read about?
Successful stories. Authors who are doing well. Things that inspire me. J

Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.

For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

But lusty paradise is shattered.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.

Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.

Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?

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Genre – Dark New Adult Contemporary Romance

Rating – PG-18

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Website http://www.pepperwinters.wordpress.com/

Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Author Interview – Colin Falconer @colin_falconer

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?

First person I’d ask is that amazing British chef, Heston Blumenthal – I’d send him into the kitchen to cook. Leonardo da Vinci so I could ask him if he created the Shroud of Turin. Elvis Presley, to find out whether he really is still alive. Shakespeare: I’d get him drunk and find out if he had any great ideas he wasn’t able to develop before he died, and if he did, I’d steal them. I’d also invite my dog, Scout, she died about 8 years ago. I’d give her all the titbits I never gave her when she was alive because I didn’t want her to get fat. I’d let her eat all she wanted and steal stuff off the table. Oh, and Cinderella to clean up afterwards.

What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?

A passion for life and for making every second count.

What movie do you love to watch?

I watch what I like to write – the big historical epics – Gladiator, The Last Samurai, Dances with Wolves, Gone with the Wind.

How do you feel about social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter? Are they a good thing?

I think they’re great to establish and develop connections with your readers. I love that I can talk to my readers now, it was so much harder than the old days when letters to my publishers would take weeks sometimes months to get to me. It’s also great to make connections with other writers. But I think there’s a real danger of spending all your time on social media instead of spending your time writing books. It can be a great time waster. Most writers procrastinated enough before social media came along!

How do you think people perceive writers?

People either think I spend all day drinking coffee, having deep conversations about Hemingway with John Grisham and driving supermodels around in a Ferrari or they look at me with genuine pity, assuming I survive on benefits. There’s rarely any middle ground.

She was taught to obey. Now she has learned to rebel.

12 year old Isabella, a French princess marries the King of England – only to discover he has a terrible secret. Ten long years later she is in utter despair – does she submit to a lifetime of solitude and a spiritual death – or seize her destiny and take the throne of England for herself?

Isabella is just twelve years old when she marries Edward II of England. For the young princess it is love at first sight – but Edward has a terrible secret that threatens to tear their marriage – and England apart.

Who is Piers Gaveston – and why is his presence in the king’s court about to plunge England into civil war?

The young queen believes in the love songs of the troubadours and her own exalted destiny – but she finds reality very different. As she grows to a woman in the deadly maelstrom of Edward’s court, she must decide between her husband, her children, even her life – and one breath-taking gamble that will change the course of history.

This is the story of Isabella, the only woman ever to invade England – and win.

In the tradition of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick, ISABELLA is thoroughly researched and fast paced, the little known story of the one invasion the English never talk about.

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Genre – Historical Fiction

Rating – PG-13

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Website https://colinfalconer.wordpress.com/

Author Interview – Rayne Hall @RayneHall

When did you first know you could be a writer?
As soon as I discovered that there were people who wrote books I wanted to become one of them.
Who designed the cover?
I commissioned an artist, Xteve Abanto, to paint an image for Thirty Scary Tales. I didn’t want the usual blood-dripping axe and gory grinning head so often seen on horror covers, because my stories aren’t violent and gory. Creepy, atmospheric, spooky, attractive, eerie, scary… that’s what I asked Xteve to convey visually. He came up with this head of which he says “It scared the shit outta me.”
Will you write others in this same genre?
Definitely. I’ve had several horror books published and plan to write many more. I enjoy scaring readers.
Do you have any advice for writers?
Learn the writing craft and master it to the highest standard you’re capable of, so your books are as good as you can possibly make them. Use instruction books, classes, workshops, critique groups, beta readers, mentors, whatever suits you. Make your books stand out because of their quality.
What scares you the most?
I have so many fears! The high-pitched whine of a dentist’s drill. Slimy garden slugs. Big spiders in my bathtub. Crowds. Fire.  Dark tunnels. Heights. The worst is always the one I’m thinking about. I’m a real coward, which is a good thing for a horror writer, because I know what it feels like to be afraid, and I never run out of ideas.
Many of my best horror stories are inspired by my own fears. Sometimes, it takes courage to confront that fear in my writing.  Once the story is finished, though, the fear is replaced by a sense of triumph: By fictionalising the fear, I’ve gained control over it. By writing about what frightens me, I can make it less frightening.

Thirty creepy, atmospheric stories by Rayne Hall.

The horror in these stories is spooky, creepy, unsettling and sometimes disturbing. It is not very violent or gory; however, the stories may not be suitable for young readers without parental guidance. PG 13.

This book is a compilation of volumes 1-5 of the Six Scary Tales books. It includes the acclaimed stories Burning and The Bridge Chamber.

All stories have been previously published in magazines, ezines, collections and anthologies. British English.

Stories in collection include:
The Devil You Know, Greywalker, Prophetess, Each Stone A Life, By Your Own Free Will, The Bridge Chamber, Only A Fool, Four Bony Hands, The Black Boar, Double Rainbows, Druid Stones, Burning, Scruples, Seagulls, Night Train, Through the Tunnel, Black Karma, Take Me To St. Roch’s, Turkish Night, Never Leave Me, The Colour of Dishonour, Beltane, The Painted Staircase, I Dived The Pandora, Terre Vert and Payne’s Grey, They Say, Tuppence Special, Disturbed Sleep, Normal Considering the Weather, Arete.

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Genre – Horror

Rating – PG-13

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Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Author Interview – J.L. Myers @BloodBoundJLM

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I always loved reading and as a teenager began writing poems, song lyrics and short stories about the dark things from my nightmares and the devastating events of my actual life. Writing has always been an emotional outlet for me.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing after the birth of my son when I suffered postpartum depression. Writing became a way for me to express all the terrible things I was feeling and to work through them in a constructive way.

How long have you been writing?

I started writing poems, song lyrics and short stories as a young teen, but the first real writing project I began was in 2009. This is the year the first words to What Lies Inside were written.

When did you first know you could be a writer?

I never thought of myself as a writer, nor did I ever think I would become one. I’d always had a creative side and apart from poetry, song lyrics and short stories, I used to put my efforts into drawing and painting. Unfortunately the things I drew never resembled what I imagined in my mind, well except for the dark evil creatures I sketched sometimes. So when did I first know I could be a writer? I guess I always knew I could write, but until I’d finished the draft for What Lies Inside I guess I hadn’t accepted it.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

I love writing paranormal and urban fantasy with compelling romance. These are also the genres I love to read. That said, I’m also drawn to thrillers and plan to write a psychological thriller once the Blood Bound Series is finished.

Amelia Lamont never asked to unleash her inner vampire

Amelia’s normal teen world is shattered when a terrifying nightmare awakens the monster inside her. A newfound, insatiable thirst for blood that leads her to drain the school quarterback is only the beginning; she’s horrified to discover that her family and best friend Kendrick have been harboring the secret all along. And is the strangely alluring boy who seems hell-bent on curbing her murderous, blood-filled desires a friend, or foe?

To escape detection Amelia and her twin brother Dorian are forced to move to a new town, and the challenge of a new, exclusive high school where nearly every classmate smells like prey. Including the irresistible Ty, who seems hauntingly familiar, yet darkly menacing …

Amelia’s disturbing dreams and entanglement in a web of forbidden romance render her increasingly powerless against the chilling lies and secrets of vampire power struggles. And, as she soon discovers, vampire politics mixed with outlawed love can be a lethal cocktail.

Falling in love may just cost Amelia everything: her friends, her family…even her life

Move over Twilight, True Blood and Underworld! J.L. Myers’ first book in the Blood Bound series will have you swooning for more!

Warning – This book contains some language and sexual situations.

YA/ Vampire/ Paranormal Fiction

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Genre – YA Paranormal Romance

Rating – PG-13+

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Website http://bloodboundnovels.com

Author Interview – James Shipman @jshipman_author

Do you intend to make writing a career?

I don’t know, I enjoy my career as an attorney, I definitely want writing to be a big part of my life, but I don’t know if I want to quit my day job.

Have you developed a specific writing style?

I don’t know about style, but I hear a lot of feedback that my particular strength as a writer is character development.

How did you come up with the title?

“Constantinopolis” is the Greek name for Constantinopole.

Why did you choose to write this particular book?

I have always been interested in the fall of Constantinople and I always wanted to write this book.

What was the hardest part about writing this book?

The hardest part was making sure to build an interesting but also historically accurate book.

In 1453 Constantinople is the impregnable jewel of the East. It has stood as the greatest Christian city for a millennium as hordes have crashed fruitlessly against its walls.

But Mehmet II, the youthful Sultan of the Ottoman Turks, has besieged the city. His opponent is Constantine XI, the wise and capable ruler of the crumbling Eastern Roman Empire. Mehmet, distrusted by his people and hated by his Grand Vizer, must accomplish what all those before him have failed to do: capture Constantinople. To prove that he deserves the throne that his father once took from him, Mehmet, against all advice, storms the city. If he fails, he will not only have failed himself and his people, but he will surely lose his life.

On the other side of the city walls, the emperor Constantine must find a way to stop the greatest army in the medieval world. To finance his defenses, he becomes a beggar to the Pope, the Italian city-states, and the Hungarians. But the price for aid is high: The Pope demands the Greeks reunite the Eastern and Western churches and accept the Latin faith. If Constantine wants aid for his people he must choose between their lives and their souls.

Two leaders, two peoples, two faiths battle for their future before the mighty walls of Constantinople.

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Genre – Historical Fiction

Rating – PG

More details about the author and the book

Connect with  James Shipman on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://james-shipman.com

Author Interview – Regan Black @ReganBlack

How did you develop your writing?

Trial and error. Seriously. It’s that simple. If you want to hone and develop your writing, you have to put in the time. The more you write, the more you discover about yourself, your voice, and the message you have to share.

My dad wasn’t exactly thrilled when I launched my writing career because he knew it was a tough road and he worried I would get hurt. And that was sixteen years ago. When I told him what I planned to do, all he said was, “Well, writers write.”

I was all, “Gee, Dad, ya think?” But there was more truth and wisdom to those three words than I realized at the time. As a mother of toddlers, getting in that writing time didn’t just happen, and it wasn’t until I really made the time for writing as a career that it took off.

Looking back, I appreciate my father’s blunt reaction and that he didn’t try to prop me up with unrealistic expectations. I think he’d be proud of how far I’ve come.

What’s your next project?

Along with Bulletproof, Double Vision and another novella will debut at the end of October so readers can enjoy a few adventures in the Unknown Identities and really get a full escape into that world.

As readers relish those three UI stories, I will be working on expanding the series with another short story which will be included in an anthology entitled My Evil Valentine which is set to release in February 2014.

And I’ll let you in on a secret, the fourth novel in the UI series stars an assassin referred to as End Game. His adventure will be a tough one, but I can’t wait to see where he leads me.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from everywhere. Could be a news story, something my husband shares from his Army experience, or even a science journal. For Bulletproof, much of the inspiration for the plots of the ongoing Unknown Identities series came from brainstorming sessions with the ever-so-talented romantic suspense author Debra Webb.

But inspiration is just that – an inspired jumping off point. I love to give my imagination free rein and experience the surprise as the adventure unfolds. There is a scene in Bulletproof that still gives me chills because I absolutely did not see it coming. (Weird but true.)

The beauty of being a ‘pantser’ is never having to apologize to an outline for leaving it in the dust.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?

With all the recent changes in publishing, no matter what route an author chooses to go with a particular book, the marketing falls on the author’s shoulders. For Bulletproof, I had a few more marketing options, simply because of the recent success of previous projects. But more options doesn’t always equal easy.

While social media has streamlined some aspects of marketing and I am thrilled to have more access and methods than ever before to connect with readers, marketing is still the toughest part of the process for me.

As an author who tends to be introverted, sometimes it’s challenging to put myself out there and build relationships with readers. But I’ve learned to have fun with it and how to balance the part of me that needs quiet to produce more great adventures.

Savvy marketing involves so much more than telling the universe the book is out there, please go buy it. It’s the cover design, the blurb, the technology advances, genre trends, and more. Marketing requires consistent attention to effectively juggle all of those elements with the vital feedback from readers and still move forward with the next project.

Wine helps. Hmm, I wonder if that counts as a business deduction?

What marketing works for you?

The direct kind! These days I prefer connecting with readers online through twitter, Facebook, and bloggers and reviewers who are gracious enough to host me and my novels.

Way back when my books released in print first (rather than ebook first) I enjoyed book signings, but the effectiveness of an event was dependent on so many other factors competing for attention that day. Sometimes the best way I connected with customers was to point them to the restrooms.

Now, events like this tour for Bulletproof are a fine example of how much things have changed – in a good way – for readers and authors alike.

“Dark, gritty, sexy suspense with one hell of a hot hero.” -USA Today bestseller Debra Webb

A soldier is nothing without his honor.

To avoid a dishonorable end to his decorated military career, John Noble made a deal with the devil. He gave up his name, endured harrowing training, and accepted every mission thrown at him for one purpose: redemption.

When he accepts his latest orders, providing personal security for a reporter in trouble, he bargains hard to guarantee it will be his last job for the shadow agency he knows only Unknown Identities (UI).

An ambitious reporter, Amelia Bennett, is about to break the story of her career, if she lives long enough to tell it. Caving to her boss’s demand, she hires a bodyguard and soon it is obvious John Noble is the only obstacle standing between her and certain death.

Just when John believes he has found someone he can trust and love, who loves him unconditionally for who and what he has become, his orders are amended: Amelia Bennett is to be terminated.

Introducing Unknown Identities: an alternative for elite soldiers and spies facing criminal charges… if they can survive the program.

Don’t miss Double Vision, the next installment of this sizzling, action-packed series.

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Genre - Romantic Suspense

Rating – R

More details about the author and the book

Connect with  Regan Black on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://www.reganblack.com

Author Interview–Parker Paige @parkerpaige86

What is the one characteristic that you value most in others?

I value kindness above anything else.

What is your new book about?

Whitley & Austin is about a woman who is bored with her humdrum life and decides to color her hair red and take on the wild and adventurous persona of her late sister and ends up becoming one of three redhead suspects to murder.

How did you come up with the title of your novel, Whitley & Austin?

My novel takes place in a prestigious law firm and Whitley & Austin is a cross between the name of a real law firm and a made-up law firm.

What was the last great movie that you saw?

Behind the Candelabra with Michael Douglas. I have a weakness for a good drama, and this movie was just such a film, not to mention, it has one of my all-time favorite actors, Michael Douglas. How can you not love him?

What is your greatest character strength?

My love and compassion for people.

Have you always enjoyed writing?

Yes, I have been journaling since I was 13 years old. When Marcia Brady from the Brady Bunch began writing in her diary, I knew I had to have one.

THREE beautiful redheads – THREE Motives – ONE Murder

Tapping into the common wish to be someone else, if only for a short time, this suspense drama explores what happens when a woman, bored with her humdrum existence dyes her hair red and takes on the persona of her late sister.

After the murder of her beloved sister, a quiet and warmhearted legal secretary, Charlie Weiss, who works for the prestigious Whitley & Austin, is in search of an escape. A few sessions with her psychologist propel her to the realization that the excitement that she seeks is in a new life, the life of her late sister.

With a daring wish to continue the wild life of her late sister, she colors her hair red and dares to reinvent herself. And with this new persona comes a different type of experience, including becoming one of three redhead suspects to a murder.

“This whodunit suspense drama will keep you guessing until the last page.”–Elance book editor

Parker Paige has been writing fiction for several years with a passion for creating eccentric characters. She is fascinated with true stories and for that reason, she is drawn to the network Investigation Discovery like a drug. She is the author of “The Color Pink” and “Whitley and Austin.” She is not completely insane, maybe just a little bit crazy. She lives in Los Angeles.

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Genre - Romantic Suspense

Rating – PG-13

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Connect with  Parker Paige on Twitter

Website parkerpaige.wordpress.com

Author Interview – Vadim Babenko

What contributes to making a writer successful? Many things, but the main one is: you have to write a good book.

Do you have any advice for writers? I don’t feel I have any right to give advice, or that I know any more or anything better than other writers.

What do you do to unwind and relax? I ski in the Alps, I play tennis, and I travel a lot.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing? None. I’ve never had any dreams related to writing. I only have one goal: to write as well as I can.

Tell us a bit about your family. My father and mother are typical Soviet Union folks: very well educated, with strong moral principles. “Never take bribes, never steal, never betray your friends,” is what I learned from my childhood. Then, when I moved to the US, those things were combined with the American principles, “never explain, never complain,” which completed my list of values.    I must add that my parents are both 75 now, and they are still really full of energy!

I’m living with my third wife, Asha, and we are very much in love. My latest book, SEMMANT, is dedicated to her.

What is your least favorite quality about yourself? I have a very short temper.

His crafty plan results in a deadly threat. Her hopes keep her locked in a vicious circle. They parted ways, supposedly forever. But will they be able to live apart?

Elizaveta, an attractive Muscovite, experiences a series of odd events: she is followed; she receives anonymous calls, flowers, and gifts. The culprit is her former lover, Timofey. He now lives far from Moscow and has a flourishing business, but a serious threat emerges when the daughter of a local mafia boss wants to marry him. Timofey knows his life is at risk if he says no. He creates a cunning scheme to save himself by staging a sham marriage with Elizaveta playing a primary role. Masterfully manipulating her feelings, Timofey persuades her to come visit him in his small town, but things soon take a dramatic turn.

A seemingly romantic journey becomes a struggle for survival. Timofey and Elizaveta confront real danger when they least expect it. Love and deception reveal their essence when the best of intentions come into conflict with each other. The protagonists try hard to achieve their goals, but, in the end, each of them finds something much different instead. Illusion, ultimately, proves stronger than reality. And coincidences are often not so random after all.

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Genre – Literary Fiction

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

Website http://www.vadimbabenko.com/

Author Interview - Yvonne Jones

Was it difficult to get “outside” your military life to see the things that you needed to address, that civilians don’t understand?

Not really. I knew what needed to be addressed in order to help our civilian families and friends understand our way of life a bit better. I mean, civilians more or less ask the same questions all the time, like “When are you going to move again?” and “Where are you going to move next?” So I knew I had to include something about the moving process and the assignment process, to help them see how things really work.

What WAS difficult, however, was to think of some issues that NEEDED to be addressed, but are never asked about by outsiders, simply because they don’t know about those differences. You can’t ask questions about something if you’re not even aware of its existence.

For example, in my book I write that it’s not very often that we’re asked to explain the DIFFERENCES between the military and the civilian lifestyles; and that this, in turn, might imply that civilians are simply not aware that there are distinctions between these two worlds.

Most people outside the military, for example, don’t realize that over the years we have created something that is referred to as a Military Culture, in which we share common beliefs and behaviors.

Another example of an issue that needed to be addressed, but is almost never asked about is the wellbeing of a military family AFTER the service member returns home from a deployment. Most assume that once the family is reunited, the hardest part of the deployment process is over; whereas in reality, those that actually HAVE experienced a deployment know that that’s the time where most problems for a military family begin.

These are all important issues, yet, they never get asked about simply because outsiders don’t know about their existence. And that’s where my book comes in. To draw attention to those problems and concerns, so that they can be discussed and talked about.

What part of military life is the hardest for civilians to grasp? How do you think your book helps?

The hardest part of military life for civilians to grasp is probably all the issues associated with our constant moving; you know, issues of constantly having to say goodbye to your friends, of having to find new friends, of having to get accustomed to a new home, of having to find and get used to new schools as a military child, of having to find a new job as a spouse. For most civilians, moving is exciting, simply because they don’t do it as often as we do. Therefore, they tend to project this excitement onto OUR moves, not realizing that it gets really, really exhausting after a while of having to start a new life every 2 years or so.

To help civilians understand us better regarding the constant moving, I dedicated an entire chapter to it in my book. It breaks the moving process into 4 parts: Assignment, PCS Orders (or Permanent Change of Station Orders), Outprocessing, and the Actual Physical Move. This chapter also talks about our more personal challenges, such as how we try to reconnect socially, and how doing so is easier for some than for others.

Another very important issue that is very hard for civilians to understand is that military families actually feel like they are missing out on their non-military family members sometimes. You know, the regular contact with our immediate families. Many civilians are very lucky in that they have their families around them, and with them, which enables them to be able to count on their immediate and extended families’ support at ANY given point in time. Military families want the same. We, too, want to be close and connected to our parents and siblings.

And that is why I wrote this book. I am hoping that by laying out what I have been feeling over the course of all those years, I was able to bring our way of life a bit closer to all our loved one.

What responses have you had from readers whose eyes were opened to the realities of military life?

I’ve had such wonderful responses so far. The book was published right after our last move here to Tampa, so I didn’t really know anybody here outside of the military. So, I met this wonderful civilian woman, who had just moved to Tampa herself. After she heard that I wrote a book about military life, she was very eager to read it and later stated that she was so glad she did, mainly because it addressed so many issues that she would have never thought to ask about. Through the reading she became aware of our differences as well as our similarities. I am really good friends with her now, and I truly believe it’s because of this book. It laid out our way of life in such a way, that she could better relate to me and my family.

Another example is this very beautiful email I received from an aunt of someone in the military. And she basically thanked me for opening her eyes to all the issues a military family goes through during a deployment. Most Americans DO realize to some extent how hard it is to be separated from your loved ones, but can’t truly comprehend the DAILY challenges a service member and his or her family has to go through for such prolonged periods of time.

Of course, I’ve also received some emails from readers that are either military spouses or in the military themselves. I’ve actually gotten a lot of responses from foreign-born military spouses and also military widows, thanking me for having included them in the book and drawing some attention to their specific issues they have to face in the military.

This book has been very well received so far. And I’m hoping I’m able to reach many more, because I truly believe that it can help in closing this gap that currently exists between our military and civilian worlds.

Whom have you approached about this book? How are you trying to spread your message/the message of the book?

Well, I approach anyone who’ll listen and anyone who believes IN and fights FOR the same causes as I do. I even got former U.S. Representative Ike Skelton listen to me on the phone for about 30 minutes. He stands for and supports the same cause. I truly, truly believe this subject matter to be so very important, to both Military Families as well as the American society as a whole, that we can’t afford not to try to open other people’s eyes about this issue. The American people need their military. But the Military also needs the American people.

For the first time, facts and common misconceptions about the Military Lifestyle have been accessibly presented and composed in a manner that specifically appeals to non-military friends and family members. This book is meant to apply to all families and friends of our service(wo)men of every branch within the military. It was written in order to make a positive difference by giving people within the civilian world the information they need to understand the experiences of and reconnect with those that protect their freedoms and rights. Stay close to your service members, for they truly need you.

Reviewed by “Circle of Moms” Top Military Bloggers:

“This resource is perfect for EVERYONE with ANY connection to the military community, and should be on everyone’s shelf!” – Judy Davis – TheDirectionDiva.com

“[This] book is absolutely brilliant!” – Cat Lang – NutsInANutshell.blogspot.com

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Genre – Military Family

Rating – G

More details about the author

Connect with  Yvonne Jones on Facebook

Website http://www.understandingyourserviceman.com/

The Benjamin Chronicles: Relativity by Matthew DiConti

Conal Benjamin never let the love of his life Abigail Bradley know of his romantic feelings for her. Years of living with that regret haunted Conals life and left him with an emptiness in his heart. In one serendipitous moment they are reunited at an alumni science exhibit giving Conal a second chance but in a cruel twist of fate Conal’s triggers an unexpected chain of events sending Abby and himself through a wormhole to 1888 Whitechapel, London, the time and place of one of the most horrifying serial killers in history, Jack the Ripper. With the time machine lost and Conal and Abby separated, the fate of both of their lives hang in the balance. Nothing is what it appears to be and it’s up to Conal to unravel the mysteries that await him, before it’s too late.

“I could not put this cleverly crafted paranormal fiction novel down. I can’t wait to go on the next time travel journey with Benjamin! It would make for a great TV Series/Feature Film. Out of 5 stars I give it 6!”   - Kelly V. Dolan, NBC News Radio

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Genre - Paranormal Fiction

Rating – NC17

More details about the author

Connect with Matthew DiConti on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://matthewdiconti.com/

Author Interview – Dakota Madison

What movie do you love to watch?

The movie that I watch the most is Sweet Home Alabama, not only because it is a cute romance but also because it features a bloodhound.

How often do you write? And when do you write?

I write on a daily basis and I write in the morning. I generally get up at 4:30 am and write until 7:00 am. I also carry my laptop to work with me and write on my lunch hour when possible.

What’s your next project?

I am writing the second book in my Fire on Ice hockey romance series. The book is called The Playmaker.

What social issues interest you the most?

I am most interested in gay rights and marriage equality because my only sibling is gay.

What is your favorite food?

My favorite is Asian Indian followed closely by Mexican.

Who designed the cover?

My husband, who has experience in graphic arts, designs all of my covers.

This NEW ADULT ROMANCE contains MATURE LANGUAGE and SUBJECT MATTER and is intended for readers ages 17+.

“Don’t be someone who defines her life by someone else’s death.”

Dee Dee DeMarco’s brother, Alex, was funny, free-spirited and creative. He was also gay. Tormented by bullies, Alex killed himself on his 15th birthday.

Two years later, and now in college, Dee Dee believes getting a summer job working with a college-prep program for disadvantaged high school students is a stroke of luck, until she discovers that the guy assigned to co-lead her group is Cameron Connelly, a star basketball player and one of the bullies who tormented her brother to death. How can Dee Dee possibly spend the entire summer working so closely with one of the boys she blames for her brother’s death?

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I think this is a little story with a lot of heart. I hope you think so, too!

Buy Now @ Amazon @ Smashwords

Genre - Contemporary/New Adult Romance

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with  Dakota Madison on Facebook

Website http://12novels12months.tumblr.com/

Author Spotlight - Claire Charlins

Where do you get your inspiration from?

From life! I like to look at life, read the paper, talk to people, watch people, and just imagine how romance can play into everything.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?

Marketing. I’m not good at it. I hate talking about myself – lol. I don’t think I’m interesting… but my books are!

Do you plan to publish more books?

Of course! I have to finish the Chasing Cross books and then the Brothers of Rock series will continue into 2014 with another band! And I’m hard at work with more western romance books.

What else do you do to make money, other than write? It is rare today for writers to be full time…

I am so lucky to say that right now I write full time. It’s not easy! I put in about 12-15 hours per day. And I work 7 days a week. But it’s a dream come true right now.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

In a small cabin near a lake in Maine. My dream. J

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?

laptop at my desk. I’m in a basement that overlooks a mountain. It’s beautiful… every morning I watch the sun rise while I write.

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

I get about 5-6 hours a night. That’s perfect for me.

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?

My readers. Honestly. I know every author does that… but without them, where am I? From the second I started Brothers of Rock, the readers took it and ran with it. It was supposed to be five books and nothing more. BUT now it’s going to 10 books and maybe more! Because of the readers, I brought the western romance series to life. It’s just so heart warming and filling.

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?

Stephen King (I believe) once said something along the lines of writing something, selling it, the check clearing, and paying a bill with it… that makes you successful. I agree. But success is personal. For some, it’s just starting and finishing a story. For me, I feel successful because I’ve been able to gain readers, keep their attention, and interact with them.

Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

Finding Love West is a western romance about a young woman who feels forced from her home so she responds to an ad for a mail order bride. She boards a train to Kansas and suddenly has a new life. But there’s a problem… the man who picked her up at the train depot, Edward, is her soon-to-be husband’s brother and Eliza has feelings for him! She stays committed to Clyde though but soon discovers he has gambling issues and debt… that’s where the story becomes intense… there’s love, there’s murder, and it’s all set in the 1800’s. It was such a fun book to write!

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?

I read!

Do you have any tips on how writers can relax?

Walk away from everything. No social media. No writing. Go for a long walk and enjoy fresh air. J

How often do you write? And when do you write?

I write every single day! I try to write as early as possible because of how crazy my house can get. Then I usually write again at night once the house calms down.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Western/ Christian Romance

Rating – PG

More details about the author and the book

Connect with  Claire Charlins on Twitter

Website http://clairecharlins.wordpress.com/