Meet author Denise Moncrief. Denise is a Southern girl. She has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her writing moods, but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. Besides writing romantic suspense, she enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking.

Accounting is a skill she learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. She wrote he first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she read. She’s been writing off and on ever since, and with more than a few full-length manuscripts already completed, she has no desire to slow down.

What made you pick the genre you write?
I write romantic suspense. I love the build-up of tension in the plot until that moment when all the threads come together and the tension reaches a crescendo.

How many books do you have published?
seventeen

Who is your favorite author?
Heather Graham

Where do you most like to vacation?
Colorado. I love the mountains.

If you could have lunch with anyone (living or deceased) who would it be and why?
My father. I miss him so much. I never realized how much I depended on him for advice until after he died. I miss him every single day.
​
Where can readers find out more about you?
www.denisemoncrief.com or www.denisemoncrief.blogspot.com

Meet Joel Van Valin, author of The Grand Dissolute. Joel Van Valin is the author of the fantasy novel The Flower of Clear Burning and the publisher of Whistling Shade literary journal (www.whistlingshade.com). He lives with his wife Lisa, a real life veterinarian, in St. Paul.

What made you pick the genre you write?
I have written in sci-fi, fantasy and historical genres. In the case of The Grand Dissolute, an idea I had about a guy whose girlfriend is a time traveler really captivated me. I wrote a short story about it but it still wouldn't let me go. So I wound up blending sci-fi, historical and romance together in a novel.

How many books do you have published?
Two - The Grand Dissolute and an earlier fantasy, The Flower of Clear Burning.

Have you won any awards with your writing?
A short story I wrote won a local story contest.$500! That's the most I've ever earned for creative writing. I've also won a couple of newspaper poetry contest and had a winning sonnet in a sonnet contest sponsored by the Great River Shakespeare Festival.

Who is your favorite author?
Dead: Edna St. Vincent Millay. Living: David Mitchell.

Where do you most like to vacation?
England

If you could have lunch with anyone (living or deceased) who would it be and why?
Lord Byron. I would be curious about his opinions on our 21st century world. And also perhaps he could talk about his own personal life (his friends burned his memoirs shortly after his death, for fear of scandal).
​
Where can readers find out more about you?
My website is www.whistlingshade.com/joel.html

Meet Susan Lohrer, author of Rocky Road, a romantic comedy. Susan Lohrer grew up all over western Canada and lives in BC with her husband, their two children who are still at home, three dogs, and far too many aquariums. She believes life is always better with a healthy dose of humor.

What made you pick the genre you write?
It wasn't planned. That's just how the words came out.

How many books do you have published?
Three.

Have you won any awards with your writing?
The opening chapters of Rocky Road took second place in a minor RWA contest. So...not really.

Who is your favorite author?
Bernadette Marie. She's not just a great storyteller, she's also a wonderful person in general.

Where do you most like to vacation?
Anywhere peaceful and sunny. For instance, our family spending a week inside the RV with three dogs basically on top of my head because it rained the entire time we were there. One of the dogs was a half-grown Labrador. That remains the most memorable vacation ever.

If you could have lunch with anyone (living or deceased) who would it be and why?
My grandparents. They've always been a tremendous inspiration to me, especially because they deliberately remained married to each other for about a million years.
​
Where can readers find out more about you?
susanlohrer.com or facebook.com/Author.Susan.Lohrer

M.J. Kane stumbled into writing. An avid reader, this once stay-at-home mom never lost the overactive imagination of an only child. As an adult she made up stories, though never shared them, to keep herself entertained. It wasn’t until surviving a traumatic medical incident in 2006 that she found a reason to let the characters inhabiting her imagination free.  Upon the suggestion of her husband, she commandeered his laptop and allowed the characters to take life. It was that, or look over her shoulder for men caring a purple strait jacket. And the rest, as they say, is history. 



What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

Being able to listen to the voices in my head and know that they are my characters talking and that I’m not crazy! Being a writer is the perfect excuse to be an adult and use my imagination all the time and get paid for it!

What genre(s) do you write?

My stories are a mixture of Women’s Fiction, Interracial Romance, and Contemporary Romance.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Deciding what point on a timeline to start the story. First chapters can make or break a story. Knowing what about the characters story would draw a reader in the most can take the longer than deciding how the story will end.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a plotter all the way!

Why do you think people should choose your books over another author?

I wouldn’t say a reader should choose my book over anyone. There are tons of authors out there with amazing stories to tell. I would tell readers that if you like stories that are about imperfect characters that make mistakes, yet learn from them and evolve into stronger individuals based on their experiences, them my books are for you!

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?

My stories are about the reality of finding love and living life. Regardless of our racial or economic backgrounds, we all face the same issues in life. Be it financial, family, career, or medical…there are experiences we face that can be life changing. My stories are about those situations and follow the characters as they grow.

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

Oh yes! My wish is that my readers be able to find encouragement from my stories and learn to open their hearts and minds to the world and people around them.

How long have you been a writer? 

I started my writing journey in 2005 when I wrote a short Fan-Fic story for the show, Lost. I decided to dig in and learn the art of writing in 2009.

How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published?

It took four years. During that time I had several major re-writes, character name and plot changes. It took six months of query letter writing, then I was signed to 5 Prince Publishing!

What other careers have you had?

Most of my careers have involved Customer Service. I’ve worked for Safelite Autoglass as a dispatcher and customer service rep. UPS Logistics as a dispatcher. Several bank operations locations as a 10-Key operator (back when people actually wrote checks!), and I currently work at a library as a Library Assistant. This has been my favorite job, for obvious reasons. J

Where are you from?

Atlanta, Georgia, yep, I’m a Georgia Peach!

How do you come up with the titles?

I love symbolism and use the butterfly as a part of each story. Colors are also key, but when it comes to book titles, they are statements based on the characters story and theme of the book. Often times it’s something that jumps out from me. One of my writing signatures is having a character use the title of their story in their dialogue as a part of their story or another characters story when they appear.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?

Well, I haven’t gotten Nora Roberts money yet, but I stay busy! I also have the pleasure of running into people who have read my books or recognize the covers or my name when I tell them I am a writer. It feels good to know that my work is making it around the world!


Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?

I mostly focus on writing one story at a time, but I’m learning to multi-task and write more than one at a time.

Here are some questions just for fun. Answer as many as you would like.

Do you have any pets?

Yes, we have four pit bulls, Vader, Ivy, Smokey, and Sugar.

What was your first car?

Ford Escort, two door, black, stick shift. I loved that car!

What genre of books do you enjoy reading? Do you have a favorite author?

Mystery, Sci-Fi, and Romantic Comedy. My favorite authors: J.R. Ward, Suzanne Brockmann, Stephanie Evanovich.

Please tell us 5 miscellaneous facts about yourself.

 

1.     Favorite color: Purple

2.     Favorite candy: Skittles

3.     Favorite flower: Magnolia

4.     Favorite song: Stella by Andres Vollenweider

5.     Favorite book series: The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward

 

Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.

My current release is Nobody’s Business, the fourth novel in The Butterfly Memoir series. I am currently working on the fifth novel, Alone, which will be available Summer 2016.

Where can readers find you?

MJKaneMedia.com     

Facebook    

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram

Denise is a Southern girl. She has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her writing moods, but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. Besides writing romantic suspense, she enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking.

Accounting is a skill she learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. She wrote he first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she read. She’s been writing off and on ever since, and with more than a few full-length manuscripts already completed, she has no desire to slow down.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

Using my imagination for something creative. I am a proficient daydreamer, and I used to spend a lot of time dreaming about being somewhere else, doing other things, with other people. I felt a little guilty about how much time I spent in my own thoughts, and I’m not sure all that daydreaming was healthy. Then one day I was hit with a bit of inspiration. Why not put those daydreams into a book? That’s when my writing career was truly born.

What genre(s) do you write?

I began writing romance with a hint of suspense, but over time my focus has shifted toward suspense with a hint of romance. I love the build up of the tension and the release of energy when the suspense hits its peak. Lately, I’ve been adding a third, paranormal thread to the romance and suspense. I’ve found this to be the perfect genre mix for my imagination.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Until recently, I’ve been a pantser. I have the beginning and ending in mind, and maybe a few of the plot twists in the middle already developed, but to get from the beginning to the ending, I usually allow my characters and their development to lead me. For my current work in process, I used a storyboard before beginning the writing process. I haven’t finished the project, so I’m not sure how well plotting will work for me yet.

How long have you been a writer? 

I wrote my first “novel” many years ago when I was a teen. It was seventeen pages on school ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last Harlequin romance I’d read. Over the years, I’ve started novels only to push the projects aside unfinished. It wasn’t until about ten or twelve years ago that I seriously began writing with the intent of publication. By the end of 2010, I had fifteen unpublished manuscripts on my computer that needed a lot of polish before they were publishable. In 2011, my first short story was contracted for an anthology released in April 2012. The funny thing about that story? I wrote it to the writing prompt for the anthology right before I submitted it. As of 2015, some of those older manuscripts are now published.

What other careers have you had?

My college degree is in accounting. I sat for the CPA exam in 1986. I’ve worked in accounting ever since then. Currently, I work for a CPA firm doing books and preparing tax returns. I actually tried to quit this summer and pursue my writing career full time, but my CPA boss talked me into staying part time. I tell people that accounting is a skill I’ve learned to earn a few bucks to support my writing habit. Accounting is a job, but it’s not my passion.

Do you write under more than one name? Why?

No, I have only one pen name. I chose to write under a pen name because I wanted my public life and my private life separated. However, I have been playing around with the idea lately of moving into a very different genre under a different pen name.

Are any of your characters based on real people or events?

My characters all have a little bit of someone I know in them, but I’ve never based a character entirely on a real person. I think when I add real mannerisms, personality quirks, or habits into a character’s persona, it makes the character seem more relatable to the reader.

I very often add real events into my stories. I have a notebook where I collect incidents that I think might be an interesting scene in a story. My family, friends, and co-workers often get the question, “Can I put that in a story?” In one of my first published stories, I added a scene where an older woman is picking figs from her neighbor’s bush and is attacked by an angry mockingbird that doesn’t want to share them with her. This actually happened to my mother, and the event seemed exactly like something that would happen to my character.

How would you describe yourself if you were “speed dating” your readers?

 

Writing is my passion. I write romantic suspense, often with a paranormal twist. When I’m not pursuing my dream, I spend time with the people most important to me, my family. You can find me and my books on the web; just Google my name.

What’s something fans would find fascinating about you?

I confess that I indulge in searching the web for ruin porn. There is a sub-culture on the internet that photographs and posts the ruins of abandoned buildings, amusement parks, resorts, schools, houses, etc. I find the ruins fascinating and the haunting images are fuel for my imagination.

How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?

 

My family and friends are very supportive of my writing career. My husband is probably my biggest fan. He reads all of my books before anyone else does and gives great feedback. Probably the best thing my family does to support me is endure my many writing moods. When I’m in the writing zone, I can get a little cranky if I’m interrupted.

Where are you from?

I’ve lived in Louisiana all my life, and yes, I have a drawl. I can’t hear it, but I’ve been told it is there. I tell people I’m not talking with an accent, but rather they are listening with one.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?

Yes, my life has changed very much. Most of my life, I’ve been a shy, introverted person. Since publication, I’ve developed quite a bit of self-confidence. I feel that I’ve achieved a level of success with my published work and my dream of being an established writer has come true, which is such a tremendous thing I’m still in awe of it. The path my career has taken has not exactly been smooth or straight, but it’s set me in the direction I want to go…and I’m only really just getting started.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?

I usually have one project that I’m primarily focused on writing, but there will be two or three others that I have percolating in the concept stage.

When not writing, how do you relax?

Okay, confession time. I’m one of those people who will curl up on the sofa with a cup of coffee (or five) and watch Netflix marathons of my favorite television shows. Right now, I’m deep in the middle of Leverage. My daughter and I have watched countless seasons of American’s Next Top Model and Australia’s Next Top Model. We just finished the entire series of Gilmore Girls.

Now for something fun…

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Colorado. I think I’ve been there ten times during my life, and I’d go back there again this minute. We might retire there.

Which food could you not live without?

Tex-Mex. I would eat it every day.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you travel?

Scotland. I have Scot in my heritage.

Do you have a favorite beverage that you drink when you write?

Coffee, the elixir of life.

What genre of books do you enjoy reading? Do you have a favorite author?

I read an eclectic mix. I just finished an historical fiction about the life of Isabella of Castile, a contemporary women’s fiction about a group of people born under different astrological signs and how their lives interacted, and a paranormal romantic suspense by my favorite author, Heather Graham.

www.denisemoncrief.com

www.denisemoncrief.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/DeniseMoncriefAuthor

www.twitter.com/dmoncrief0131

www.pinterest.com/denisemoncrief

Doug Simpson is a retired high school teacher who has turned his talents to writing. His first novel, a spiritual mystery titled Soul Awakening, was published in the United States in October of 2011, by Booklocker. It was reissued in October of 2012 by 5 Prince Publishing as Soul Awakening, Book I of the Dacque Chronicles. For further details visit them at http://5princebooks.com/. It is available in print and eBook format through most bookstores around the world. Soul Rescue, Book II of the Dacque Chronicles was published in November of 2012, Soul Mind, Book III of the Dacque Chronicles was published in January of 2013, and Soul Connections, Book IV of the Dacque Chronicles was published in April of 2013. Doug’s first non-fiction book, titled The Soul of Jesus, was published by 5 Prince Publishing in January of 2014. In March of 2014, it earned recognition as a #1 Bestseller on Amazon, USA. His magazine and website articles have been published in 2010 to 2015 in Australia, Canada, France, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. His articles can be accessed through his website at http://dousimp.mnsi.net. 

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

It is not easy to single out one thing but here is one that is high on my list. I am a firm believer in survival of souls after the death of bodies and reincarnation of souls, so all of my fiction and non-fiction books contain reincarnation events or information which I hope will encourage readers to do some investigation of their own on these topics. I have been amazed as well as pleased by the number of individuals who have contacted me to share their personal experiences.

What genre(s) do you write?
Inspirational, Paranormal, Reincarnation.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Definitely a pantser. I do not think I have had one book end up where I intended it to in the beginning before I got rolling.

How long have you been a writer?
I dabbled at it a little earlier but I was first published in 2010.  

What other careers have you had?
I am a retired high school teacher.

Do you write under more than one name? Why?
I write under my real name as I am proud of what I write about.

Are any of your characters based on real people or events?
I do get ideas from other people concerning past lives for my fictional characters and I have also snuck a number of my previous incarnations into my novels.

How would you describe yourself if you were “speed dating” your readers?
I am not as crazy as you might think!

What’s something fans would find fascinating about you?
I receive messages from the other side including advice on what to add to my stories.

How do your family and/or friends feel about your books or writing venture in general?
Many of them think along the same lines as I do so most love my stories.

How do you come up with the titles?
The titles seem to find me or become obvious during the story.

When not writing, how do you relax?
I have done thousands of Sudoku puzzles.

Let's have some fun...

Which food could you not live without?
Apples. They keep the Doctor away!

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you travel?
I would love to visit the sites of the early lost civilizations like Machu Picchu, the pyramids, Stonehenge, etc.

Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.
My next release, scheduled for January of 2016 by 5PP, is Abandoned Soul, Book V of The Dacque Chronicles. I am working on two non-fiction books, like my already published by 5PP, The Soul of Jesus, using the readings of the legendary American mystic, Edgar Cayce. One is an account of the past lives of over 500 people who experienced incarnations in Atlantis. The second one is currently titled Understanding Your Soul Group and it explains why groups of souls incarnate together over and over to work on past Karmic connections.

Where can readers find you?
Website – http://dousimp.mnsi.net
Blog - http://doug-simpson-author.blogspot.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/doug.simpson.902
Twitter - https://twitter.com/1DougSimpson
Amazon Author Page - http://www.amazon.com/Doug-Simpson/e/B006GDWTQI
5PP Author Page - http://www.5princebooks.com/dougsimpson.html


The Soul of Jesus is my most recently published book.

As part of His preparations for the long-prophesied birth of our Savior, God selected a devout group of primarily Jewish Essenes to oversee this monumental undertaking. The Soul of Jesus delves into numerous details surrounding these readily-available but little-known preparations which preceded the birth of Jesus, and then carries on to share delightful snippets concerning the birth and life of Jesus before the commencing of His Ministry, Jesus’ Healings and other Miracles, His Apostles, relatives, friends and the group of seventy disciples, the Crucifixion and Resurrection, His activities after the Resurrection, and Jesus’ Ascension, that are not recorded in the Scriptures.

The surprises do not stop there. The Soul of Jesus saves the block-buster news until the very end – the soul of Jesus had a number of historical incarnations before its final incarnation, commencing many centuries back in time as the soul of Adam in the Garden of Eden. 

Excerpt from The Soul of Jesus.

12. Then the entity aided, so that all was in readiness, when in the evening - just before the sun in all its glory of the Palestine hills gave forth almost into the voice of nature, proclaiming the heralding of a new hope, a new birth to the earth, and the glorifying of man's hope in God - the specter of His Star in the evening sky brought awe and wonder to all that beheld.

13. And the entity, being anxious, gazed with wondering awe at that UNUSUAL experience to all, and wept with JOY of those unfoldments within self, of the emotions that made for the expectancy of glory surpassing what had been told of all the glories of her peoples in the days of old. 14. There the entity felt what may be very close akin to the experiences in self in the present - that a new light, a new vision, a new experience was BEING BORN in every atom of its being. 15. Then when it was known to the entity that the den, the cave, the stable had been occupied - Oh, the rush, Oh, the desire to be off to see what that experience might be, held the very being of the entity!

16. And as soon as its duties were cleared about the home, as the space was very near, the entity started. But as the entity walked into the open upon that Eve, the brightness of His Star came nearer and nearer. And the entity heard, even as the Shepherds, ‘PEACE on earth GOOD WILL to men.’ 17. There came again that awe, that feeling of a new creation, of a new experience, as the entity among those - only with the closer attendant of the Mother - hastened; while all the rabble, all the jeers of a world were stopped!

18. As it hastened to the quarters where the Mother lay, in all that awe of a new experience, and the light as from His Star filled the place, the entity then first beheld the BABE. That was the crowning experience, until the plea that she - too - might hold that glorious child in her arms also! 19. Then as this became a reality, there were those feelings, those experiences - O that the world might know the beauty, the joy, the glory of the experiences of His Life in their own hearts and minds and beings! 20. There the entity also saw the shepherds gather, there the entity also saw on the morrow the Wise Men - with their ladened beasts or camels, with all their praise for those who had kept the faith, in making and preserving, in keeping and helping those that were in need, that were alone - yet GOD was with them! 21. There were those experiences of the presence as well as that expressed in those strange tongues to the entity, though the entity knew and thought and felt and experienced the reverence and awe as shown by all. [1152-3]

It is times like this where I like to pause and reflect, and try to imagine how Mrs.1152 must have felt as she sat there and listened to the in-trance Edgar Cayce describe her close and personal association with Glory.

Ann lives in Texas with her husband and rescue pets. She loves libraries and book stores and owns two e-readers just for fun. Ann writes what she likes to read. 
 








  What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

 My favorite part about writing is when the words and images in my head translate to the page the same way I hear/see them. Sometimes it’s difficult to make that happen, but when it does, it makes me (and my readers) very happy.



What genre(s) do you write?
 I write in several genres. From ghost stories and speculative fiction to realistic romance and suspense. I write what I like to read (and what the little man with the Muse-broom tells me to write). I was always told not to do this—publisher after publisher told me to choose a genre and stick with it. Then I found 5 Prince and they gave me free rein. It also made me feel much better when I attended an author event that included Neil Gaiman. He said he could never stick to one genre, either. And he turned out okay. * wink *


Are you a plotter or a pantser?
 I’m a hybrid. I start with an idea—usually a scrap of something I’ve read in the news or something that has happened in my life (or a little nugget the Muse sweeps into my consciousness while I’m out walking the trail or taking a shower)—and then I ask myself what the ending would be. I can’t write a story or book without knowing the ending first. Then I write a few lines to try it out, if it seems interesting to me, I work on a very lenient outline.

 Why do you think people should choose your books over another author?
Seriously? I don’t. I think the reader should choose both.  Everyone has his/her favorite author(s). And if I hook you with book one, you’ll be back for more. I don’t worry about competition. There’s room for everyone.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?

I hope I’ve touched them in some way, made them feel something, or perhaps made them question something they’d never thought of before. At the very least, I hope I’ve entertained them for a while. Sometimes it’s enough just to take readers away from their own lives for a few hours.

 How would you describe yourself if you were “speed dating” your readers?

Shy, loves music, pets, children, books and my hubby. Not in that order.

What books or authors have most influenced your life?
 There have been so many authors who influenced me. Mary Stewart. Harper Lee. Danielle Steel. Sidney Sheldon. Edgar Allan Poe. Shakespeare. Stephen King. Ray Bradbury. Rod Serling, and Alfred Hitchcock (his stories were always in print when I was a kid—plus he had that magazine that’s still going strong today). I’ve always loved a good scare and a good romance—they do go hand in hand, right, or is that just in my work?

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I work on several pieces at the same time. It’s the sure way to avoid writer’s block. If I get stumped on one thing, I put it aside and work on another. That gives the sweeper time to work his magic on problems that were bothering me on the first piece, and eventually I get back to it and clean it up. The only problem with working on more than one at a time is when that silly Muse throws ideas at me for all of them!

When not writing, how do you relax?
I love to read—anything and everything. Right now I’m reading Lee Child. Wow. He can write a character with only a few words and that character will almost leap off the page. When not reading I love to walk the trails around our area with my husband while listening to music on my iPhone. I have a couple thousand songs downloaded so there’s always a variety. In fact, I’ve got everything from Meghan Trainor to Micky and the Motorcars to Adele and more. Of course I’ve got all the classics (in rock, natch) such as Janis Joplin, The Beatles, The Stones, ZZ Top, and Elton John. I also like some country and some “real” classical. I could go on and on. Music and books—the soundtrack of my life.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
For many years it was Ruidoso, NM but I also like the Gulf Coast

What kind of kid were you in school? Which social path did you take?
I was the definition of straight-A wallflower until it came to choir and band. I loved both of those.

Which food could you not live without?
Toss up between Diet Coke and Chocolate (ridiculous, I know)

Do you have any pets?
I’ve never been without pets. Currently, we have an eleven-year-old Carolina dog, Rocky, that I inherited from my daughter, author Sara Barnard. She rescued him from an agency in South Carolina. He’d been thrown from a moving vehicle.  I also have a seventeen-year-old cat, Maggie Mae, named after the Rod Stewart song, that was also rescued by Sara when she was a student at Permian High School (yes, the school in that movie Friday Night Lights). Little Maggie’s momma gave birth in the school’s atrium and when the kittens were old enough, a teacher gathered them up and kept them in a wastebasket until she found students willing to give them a new home—and my Sara was always willing to give a stray a new home. Maggie was the tiniest little thing—she fit right in the palm of my hand. She still isn’t very big. She thinks she is my furry editor—always asleep in my lap when I’m writing. We also have a silly tomcat named Mojo that appeared in our driveway one night all skin and bones and rusty meow. My sweet hubby fed him and he moved right in. Now the black and white monster weighs eighteen pounds.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you travel?
I would like to take a haunted-castle tour of Europe. 

 What are you working on now? What's coming up?
I have two books ready. Takers: Apocalypse in Eden (Book One) is being edited now—it is horror. It will be out before the end of the year. Copper Lake, the third book in the Stutter Creek suspense trilogy is waiting in the wings—ready for editing.

Where can readers find you?
 

5 Prince Publishing: http://www.5princebooks.com/annswann.html

Amazon Author page: http://tinyurl.com/6wl3oe2

Blog: www.annswann.blogspot.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/annswann.author 

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/annnswann.books

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ann_swann  or @ann_swann

Email: swannann76@yahoo.com

Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/6vuw7vl


Here's a snippet from what's coming next from Ann Swann.

  The bones were wet and cold. The clay in the soil trapped the moisture as efficiently as a layer of mulch in a flowerbed. When Edgar held the femur up to the moonlight, he was thrilled to observe how fully the dirt and mold had settled into the cuts. It created an inky labyrinthine abstract on the once-white surface.            

            He caressed the soil around the bones, and then lifted the rest of them from their shallow bed. “Welcome back,” he whispered.

            It took hours to finish his work. But it was all right. He didn’t think of his other girl even once. Well, not more than once, maybe twice at the most. The main thing was, the important thing was, he was finally free. He no longer felt trapped. 

            As soon as he’d begun to free the bones, he’d begun to free himself, too. His mood lightened. His outlook improved. The world looked brighter, even beneath the moon.

            Guess I had buried myself along with my girls.

            He felt so light by the time he finished it was as if his feet no longer touched the ground. Starting back down the trail, he realized he didn’t want to leave. 

            An idea entered his brain like an arrow. 

            I have my hiking gear in the car, my sleeping bag, water, an energy bar, maybe even a package of trail mix. 

            He grew so excited, the flesh of his scalp tingled. 

            I’m doing it. I’m going to spend the night with my girl.

            My best girl.

Melynda Price is the author of several contemporary and paranormal romance titles, including Until Darkness Comes, Shades of Darkness, Courting Darkness, and Braving the Darkness, all in the Redemption Series. Price writes for ardent readers who want to fall in love over and over again. Her goal is to make the unbelievable believable while taking her characters to the limit with stories full of passion, heart, and unexpected twists. Salting stories with undertones of history whenever possible, Price adds immeasurable depth to her well-crafted books. Win by Submission is the first book of her upcoming mixed martial arts–themed Against the Cage series. She lives with her husband and two children in Northern Minnesota, where there are plenty of snow-filled days to curl up in front of the fireplace with a hot cup of coffee and write.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
I love creating and world building. Being an author of paranormal romance, I get to create characters that are larger than life and stretch beyond the borders of our world as we know it. My only challenge is to make the unbelievable believable.

What genre(s) do you write?
Contemporary and Paranormal Romance

What genres and authors would we find you reading?
I read whatever genre I’m currently writing to keep my mindset from shifting genres. I prefer series. It’s so sad when a good book ends, I like series because it keeps the characters alive. The bigger the book the better, I don’t like investing my time into a shooting star story. I want development, strong plotting and believable world building—that takes time.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Writing the ending. It’s hard for me to say goodbye to the characters I’ve fallen in love with. I also find it the most challenging to wrap up a story that brings good closure and a conclusion that doesn’t leave that reader feeling cheated or rushed.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m a pantser by nature. Most of the time I don’t know what’s going to happen in the story until I’m writing it. But, I have been doing some plotting when it comes to the endings. I just don’t have the patience to plot out an entire storyline before I start writing it. I like being surprised by my characters, lol. J

Why do you think people should choose your books over another author?
I wouldn’t necessarily say that a reader should choose me over other people. I don’t believe in putting others down to build yourself up. All I can say is that I believe I have a very original storyline and a good “voice” in my writing, that I hope people enjoy.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?
I hope that my characters become so real to them that they find themselves thinking about them for days after the book is finished. I want them to be as sad as I am that the book has ended and excited to read the next one. J

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
There are a few messages in my Redemption Series that I hope come through strong. First, true love often requires sacrifice. Second, we all make mistakes. Third, it’s never too late for second chances.

How long have you been a writer? 
I’ve always enjoyed writing and did quite a bit of it in college. After that, I needed and outlet for my creativity, so I picked up writing again. I’ve been doing it now full-time for the past five years.

How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published?
It took me a year to find the right home for Until Darkness Comes. During that time, I probably rewrote it six times. When the offer came through to contract with 5PP, I also had another offer for the book. It was very flattering because so much of this industry is rejection. You really have to have perseverance and thick skin in this business.

What other careers have you had?
Well, I was a rocket scientist and a brain surgeon at Mayo Hospital, but, ultimately, I’ve found that writing is my true calling. J

Do you write under more than one name?
I only write as Melynda Price.

Are any of your characters based on real people or events?
My characters are all my imagination. Inspiration to write a fallen angel series came from the Book of Enoch. However, this story is its own and does not replicate any specific angels or events. I just found it a fascinating read.

How would you describe yourself if you were “speed dating” your readers?
I write fast-paced, voice-driven novels without a lot of filler. They’re believable, high-stakes stories, with good vs. evil conflicts and eternal consequences. Also, I like cheap wine and expensive chocolate.

What else would you like readers to know about you or your work?
I wasn’t really a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon. I just made that up, because I’m rather good at making sh!t up.

What books or authors have most influenced your career?
I would have to say that I most enjoy works by Lara Adrian and J.R. Ward as far as paranormal goes.

How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
For the most part my family and friends are extremely supportive. I have a few that beta read for me and that’s really fun. It’s hard to find balance with writing and family sometimes because my characters aren’t always willing to punch a clock. J

Where are you from?
I live in northern Minnesota, though I’d prefer sunny California.

How do you come up with the titles?
I make a list of ones I like and then research them to see if there are other books with the same titles. I narrow them down and take a poll if I can’t decide.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?
No, not really. I’m the same I always was, except I’m busier with marketing now and have less time to write sometimes. Some days it’s hard to fit it all in.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I was writing one project at a time. I think I work faster and more efficiently that way, but now I’m multi-tasking with another series I’m writing and sometimes those characters don’t want to wait their turn, lol.

When not writing, how do you relax?
To me, writing is relaxing, but when I’m not doing that, I’m spending time with my husband and two children. We sit down almost every night together and watch a movie, though some of them are pretty terrible. They tease me that I’m a horrible movie picker. Other than that, I really just enjoy a glass of wine, a good book, and my Chihuahua, Ren.

Please tell us 5 miscellaneous facts about yourself.

1. I have a very sick sense of humor. My daughter even had a facebook page called “Things Mother’s Should Never Say To Their Daughters.” All filled with my quotes. 
2. My Chihuahua is named Ren. Yes, from Ren and Stimpy.
3. I’ve been on seven wine tasting events in California with my brother and sisters, and an $8 bottle of Arbor Mist Blackberry Merlot is still my favorite. 
4. I love slapstick comedy and laugh inappropriately when people get injured, especially my kids. They don’t find it nearly as amusing as I do. They’ve stopped getting mad at me for being so insensitive and usually join in after they’ve finished crying, lol.
5. I have horrible fashion sense. My favorite outfit is sweatpants and a t-shit. My daughter dresses me when I have to go out in public.

Please share any links you would like listed in the Interview. Website, Myspace, blog, facebook, yahoo group etc.

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/melynda.price.9

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MelyndaPrice1

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13829312-until-darkness-comes

Blog: http://melyndaprice.wordpress.com/

       Website: www.melyndaprice.com

Look for Melynda's books in box set and individually through 5 Prince Publishing.
Digital only $9.99
Amazon

A guardian angel… A forbidden love… Eternal consequences…

Olivia Norton was born with a gift—a gift heaven has sworn to protect, and hell is bound to destroy. Her perfect world is turned upside-down when two handsome strangers, Max and Liam, step into her life. Olivia soon discovers that her ‘Mr. Perfect’ is actually a perfect nightmare. ~~~Until Darkness Comes

Free will comes at a cost…

Three years after losing the love of her life, Olivia Norton refuses to continue living in the shadows of what will never be. But how can she marry another when her guardian angel still holds her heart? ~~~Shades of Darkness

She’s captured the hearts of Heaven and Hell…

Betrayed by her true love, Olivia cannot let go of the angel her mind no longer remembers, but her heart refuses to forget. In an attempt to reclaim her broken life, she is determined to unearth her past, but some secrets are better left buried. ~~~Courting Darkness

All have sacrificed, but one will sacrifice all…

Just when Olivia thought she’d finally have everything she always wanted, she was never closer to losing it all. Haden rocked Olivia’s foundation when he professed his love for her, and then turned himself in to the High Court. Although it was for the best, watching him walk out of her life was one of the hardest things she’d ever done.

Liam has always been the angel that holds her heart. But nothing will test the bonds of that love more than when a sick twist of fate brings all their lives crashing back together again.

Bitter enemies in love with the same woman, Liam and Haden must put their differences aside to battle an evil whose reach is far greater than either of them ever imagined. It will take all their strength to protect Olivia from an enemy that’s come to claim her and usher in a power-play to overthrow the High Court.

Love, sacrifice, and betrayal… It all comes to a heart-stopping conclusion in Braving the Darkness.

Christina OW writes suspense, thrillers, erotica, interracial and multicultural romance books. She is the author of Contemporary, Fantasy, Paranormal, Regency Romance books and a poet of currently 3 titles. She loves reading novels that take her on a ride of wild emotions. Books have always been an escape for her, for a few hours she gets to live the lives of characters she grows to cherish and admire. She's always had an active imagination and because of it has lived in her head more than she has been in the outside world. She always imagined scenarios and wondered how they would turn out in the end, and what kind of emotions they would invoke. Thus began her writing career.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
When I get feedback from a reader who loved my books. Some of those messages are so uplifting I just ride cloud 9 the rest of the day.

What genre(s) do you write?
Interracial and Multicultural contemporary romance

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The writing. There is this meme about having voices in your head. For authors we need those voices, those characters, in writing the book because when they go silent, I end up staring at a blank page for hours even days. It’s not fun at all especially when there deadline is looming in the horizon.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Both. Before I begin a book, I plot it out. How I would like it to begin, the climax, the conflict and finally the ending. But sometimes the book takes a life of it’s on and the only thing that stuck to the plan was the beginning.

How long have you been a writer?  
Five years.

How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published?
The first book I ever wrote just got published in January- Fate Reborn. So I would say from the first word written to publication, four and a half years.

What other careers have you had? 
I have a BA in International Studies and Communications & Media, and a Diploma in Law. I worked at a law firm, and a fashion house while studying. But at the moment, I’m a writer and a fashion designer. This is where the ‘We make plans and God laughs’ joke comes in.

What else would you like readers to know about you or your work? My books are just different social scenerials and how I think I would react to them. 

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer? 
Yes. I wasn’t much of a fan of social media but these days I spend around six hours a day engaging my fans and promoting my books.

Here are some questions just for fun. 

What is your favorite vacation spot? 
Mombasa, Kenya

What kind of kid were you in school? Which social path did you take? 
A loner with few friends. I liked it like that but being a twin in a private boarding school of a thousand students a year made me popular by default. I was also the team captain of our girls’ basketball team.

Do you have any pets? 
No, but I’ve always wanted a dog. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you travel?
 Italy.

Do you have siblings? What was it like growing up with them? 
Yes, a twin, and an older sister. Growing up, let’s just say complicated. No one likes to share but people seem to think just because you’re a twin, it’s a given.

What was your first car? 
Don’t have one yet. I’m not much of a fan of driving either.

Do you have a favorite beverage that you drink when you write? 
Orange juice and chocolate chip cookies

Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.Look out for the third and final book in the series Fatal Desire out in November. In the meantime, get cozy with Fatal Jealousy and Fatal Obsession. Stories about two twins, one as sweet as honey and the other a psychopathic killer.

Where can readers find you?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christina-OW/254729541266869

Twitter https://twitter.com/Christina_OW

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5817911.Christina_OW

Website http://tmdangel.wix.com/chrisitnaow

Blog https://christinaow.wordpress.com/
Amazon Page http://www.amazon.com/Christina-OW/e/B00A8XYFM8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Newsletter Sigh Up http://tmdangel.wix.com/chrisitnaow#!news-and-events/c1pz

Book List http://tmdangel.wix.com/chrisitnaow#!books/cnec