Nocturnal Journal–Mandy M. Roth

Marketing with Mandy ~ Author Patrice Michelle

Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Samhain.

A: I’ve had a great experience working with Samhain. From my manuscript’s acceptance to contracts to working with my editor, I’ve been pleased with the quick response time and professional working relationship.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

PATRICE: My latest release is a sexy, contemporary called SUSANNA’S SEDUCTION. The cover for this book is so perfect.

Here’s the ‘fun’ story behind this book:

My readers often ask how I come up with a story idea, so I thought I’d post where my idea for Susanna’s Seduction came from. Five years ago I originally wrote a short 1,400 word story targeting a national magazine that publishes short romantic fiction. The story didn’t sell to that publisher and it sat on my hard drive for a few years. I often share short stories with my Yahoo group members and one day I shared that short story with them. I had so many readers asking, “Where is the rest of the story?” Which I replied, “Um, that’s it. It’s a short story.” Many of my readers said they wanted to know what happens and well…that’s why I wrote Susanna’s Seduction. I guess you could say more writing experience and my readers inspired me to keep going. :o)

Here’ the blurb for Susanna’s Seduction:

Seduction can be spontaneous…

Susan Brennon never expected that running an errand for her future sister-in-law would land her a spur-of-the-moment date. When Michael leads her down a sensual path of seduction, she takes on the sexy Italian full-throttle, all the while keeping her heart under tight guard. Every person she’s formed a close attachment to has moved on. She doesn’t expect Michael to be any different.

From the moment he touches Susan, Michael Piccoli wants her. But as their relationship grows more physical, he finds that for the first time in his life he desires more than sex from a woman—he wants the whole package with Susanna. Michael’s determined to break through the rigid hold Susanna has on her emotions. He’ll do anything to reach her, even if that means taking their relationship to a whole new level.

Q: What’s your favorite genre to write in and why?

PATRICE: I write in both the contemporary and paranormal genres. I love writing in BOTH genres for different reasons. Writing in the paranormal genre allows me to a ton of flexibility in world-building and in creating unique powers for the characters. In this genre, my only limitation is my imagination. The challenge I face the most with the paranormal genre is making sure I’ve successfully suspended the reader’s disbelief so they can dive headlong into the hero and heroine’s story without reservation.

Writing in the contemporary genre, at least to me, is more challenging in some ways, because I’m forced to adhere to ‘real life’ laws of physics and reality when I write my stories. What this means is that I can’t use unique and intriguing external forces, such as world-building, to help move the story forward. Instead, I must focus even more on the hero and heroine’s story, working to build the relationship from the inside out, making their internal issues deeply felt in order to bring that uniqueness to my story to keep the reader’s rapt attention. As you can see, both genres have their distinctive challenges. Therefore switching back and forth between them gives me a much needed mental break. That way my mind can stay fresh with each new story I create.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?

PATRICE: I’m currently working on my second Harlequin/Silhouette Nocturne called INSURRECTION featuring a werewolf hero. This book is the second in my SCIONS trilogy. The first book in the trilogy is entitled RESURRECTION and features a vampire hero. The first book RESURRECTION is tentatively scheduled for an early 2008 release.

I also have another sexy contemporary book coming out with Samhain in March of 2008 entitled ANTICIPATION. For my readers who’ve missed my cowboys…this story features another irresistible alpha hero…a wrangler turned sheriff. :o)

Q: How did you get into writing?

PATRICE: From a fairly early age, I knew I wanted to be an author. I was an avid reader and after closing my umpteenth book with a smile on my face, I decided I wanted to be the person who wrote the books that made people think about the story long after the book was finished.

Q: What would you do if you weren’t a writer?

PATRICE: I can’t imagine NOT writing, but if for some reason I couldn’t, I’d throw myself headlong into photography, taking classes and really learning the craft instead of tinkering with it from an ‘avid amateur’ perspective. Currently, I enjoy the challenge of capturing unique photos that make you stop and look, either because of the colors or the uniqueness of the picture.

Here’s a couple:

Vibrant colors:

I call this one…Nature’s Diamonds. :o)

If I took on photography professionally, instead of landscapes, I’d focus on portraits, especially of children. They have such genuine and beautifully innocent expressions.

LINKS:

Patrice Michelle’s Website
Patrice Michelle’s Newsletter
Patrice Michelle’s Yahoo group
Patrice Michelle’s Blog
Patrice Michelle’s MySpace

Marketing with Mandy ~ Author TJ Michaels

Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Samhain.

A: My experience with Samhain has been fabulous. I really lucked out with the editor I got on my first submission. It was the first book I’d ever written and submitted anywhere. She suggested a rewrite and told me exactly why. The woman gave me some fabulous ideas as well as information about what editors look for that you just don’t learn outside of the industry. Also, I appreciate the communication at Samhain. I always know what’s going on. I never have to guess about what’s happening. I know my release date WAY ahead of time so I can do promotions. I get timely responses from my editors and the staff. My editors will tell me in a minute, ‘TJ, if you send me that new stuff in the next couple of weeks I can get to it by such-and-such a date,’ and they’ve always delivered on time. Is it a perfect organization? Not. But at least you’re informed of WHY things aren’t perfect. And for a ‘gotta know what’s up’ nutball like me, it’s important.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

A: My first print book just hit the shelves. It’s called CARINIAN’S SEEKER and is the first in a series. Book 2 will be released August 21, 2007. Carinian is a biogeneticist who is obsessed with death, or rather NOT dying. Through her research (which she isn’t supposed to be doing) she manages to manipulate DNA in a way that duplicates vampire traits. Or at least she’s close to a solution. Meanwhile, Jon is sent to spy on her, basically use her to get close to a bad guy he’s hunting. Unknown to Carin, Jon is vampire law enforcement after a rogue vamp. There’s lots of action, suspense and steamy romance. The characters are emotionally invested in one another and gives the story substance. The science ain’t too bad either. Not boring.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?

A: Working on Book 3 of the Vampire Council of Ethics series. I takes place in Japan. Anyone who’s known me for ten minutes or more is aware that I’m totally in love with Japan. Ain’t ever been there, but I will someday. Book 3 brings back all the characters you love from the first two books, along with some characters you love to hate.

Q: How did you get into writing?

A: *tj tilts head and thinks a minute* You know what, I remember exactly when it happened. I was sitting around having coffee with a co-worker and we’d both just read the latest Heather Graham romance. We looked at each and said, “If she can write a romance, then we certainly can.” And it’s not that the Heather Graham book was awful, because it was actually awesome. But we knew about romance and figured we had nothing to lose. So I started writing. Then I put it down. I did that a million times for years. Then I decided, screw it, I’m gonna write something, finish it, and submit it somewhere. So I did. Last year I wrote and sold my first book. I came out June 2006, and was followed by 7 others.

Q: Why do you like writing romance/erotica?

A: I enjoy writing romance and erotic romance because I believe that women can have healthy relationships that include lots of hot sex. When I was growing up, I was taught that “good girls don’t.” Well, that’s not necessarily true. I want my daughter to grow up knowing that she’s a fabulous person, and still enjoy a sexual relationship. I do know women my age (I just turned 39 last month) who have a hard time enjoying their husbands because they feel guilty. Why? They were always taught that sex was wrong. Sex was bad…until you got married. Well, which switch do you flip to make a woman feel psychologically okay with sex once she says “I do.” She needs to be comfortable with her own sexuality before that. So, my heroines are strong women, self-reliant, are choosy about who they fall in love with. But once they fall in love and are ready to commit, that man better look out because she’s gonna rock his world!

LINKS:
www.tjmichaels.com
www.dynamicthree.com/blog
www.myspace.com/tj_michaels
and I have a monthly newsletter that goes out to subscribers.

Marketing with Mandy ~ Author Sela Carsen

Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

A: How about my upcoming release? HEART OF THE SEA will come out in
November (I think) as part of the Celtic LOVE AND LORE anthology. It’ll
be released on its own as an e-book, but as one of three stories in a
print anthology, along with tales by Carolan Ivey and Gia Dawn.

HEART OF THE SEA is a contemporary paranormal romance set on the coast of Rhode Island.
Ronan Burbank’s life was going pretty well until an employee took a header off a cliff and his whole life came apart at the seams.

Meriel Byrne’s life was going pretty well until she fell off that cliff and turned into a Selkie, as dictated by a generations old family curse.
Seven years later, their lives intersect again and they find that true love comes from the Heart of the Sea.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?

A: Which one? LOL The most pressing one is a werewolf story with the
entirely uninspired title of Big Bad Wolf. *gg* Debra Henry is new to
the small town of Culford, SC. She’s got secrets she doesn’t even know about.
Maddox Moreau, the mayor of Culford, would have liked to keep his
secret longer than he did, but when the pretty librarian is in danger,
only turning furry will save her life.

Then there’s Definitely Dead, which is the follow-up to my previous Samhain release, NOT QUITE DEAD. Richard St Ivraie has been looking for the right girl for a long time. A veeeery long time. She’s searching for her fate, just as he is. It looks like they’re fated to be together.

And then there are all the other stories floating around in my head. The Western Steampunk, the retold Scandinavian fairy tale, the futuristic Norse legend, the Gilded Age of New York historical, the romantic suspense that needs a new setting, and the fantasy based on the element of fire. I think I’ve got enough to keep me busy for a while!

Q: How did you get into writing?

A: I’ve been a reporter, a magazine writer, I even wrote obituaries for
a while! I worked in advertising and wrote copy for that. But I never
considered myself a writer until I started writing fiction (well,
advertising aside). One day I had an idea while I was in the shower.
When I got out, I started writing and never looked back. Been at it for
about 5 years now.

Q: What types of research do you do for your books?

A: It depends on the book. *gg* A lot of my stories have some other
story at the base of them. I read mythology and fairy tales, so that
provides a lot of story fodder. Settings require a lot of research
things in places I’ve been, but that doesn’t always work out. So the
internet is my friend. These days I start at Wikipedia and branch out
from there, looking for source documents, looking for maps, looking for
specifics. Libraries are wonderful places, of course. I discovered that
a good way to get an overview of a subject is to hit the children’s
section. They’ve got books on hundreds of subjects, but not in-depth.
They provide wonderful jumping-off points, though.

LINKS:
http://www.selacarsen.com
http://selacarsen.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/selacarsen

Marketing with Mandy ~ Author Caitlyn Nicholas

My experience with Samhain has been fantastic. As a newbie writer my first novel, Running Scared, took a lot of editing. I learned so much from my fabulous editor, Linda. When I began I didn’t even know how to punctuate conversations properly, and I’ll never forget getting my first set of edits - you’ve never seen so many comments! Linda was very gentle with me though, she took me through it all very slowly and made sure I didn’t get overwhelmed. I just signed a contract with Samhain for my second novel, Best Intention, and I’m thrilled that I’ll be working with the company again.

Q: How did you get into writing?

A: Actually, I got into writing because I had post-natal depression! Not a bad case, I think it could more accurately described as post-natal exhaustion. I had a 9month old and was pregnant with number two (yes, they were unseemly close! Discuss THAT with my husband), and in the throes of 19 weeks of morning-sickness. I was just over everything. So my husband suggested I take up a project just for me, something that would get me off my feet. So I decided to try to write a book. I’d always wanted to, but with full-time work, plus part-time University study, I’d never had time left over for writing. So off I went. I finished Running Scared in early December, and my daughter was born shortly thereafter. The book was sold to Samhain Publishing in late January and the rest is history. Although I did then have to cope with edits, a newborn and a very cranky toddler. LOL! But that’s another story!

Q: What types of research do you do for your books?

A: I just love research! It was another reason I got into writing. The Library is my most favourite place in the world, and I adore reading books. No fact is too trivial, and even if I don’t use it in the book, I think it helps to have loads of background information. So I do most of my research in the Library and on the internet. Wikipedia is an awesome resource, especially if you’re just starting out with a subject. Running Scared is set in the Gem industry and I was recently asked if I’d worked there by someone who’d read the book. I was completely chuffed! Nearest I’ve come to that industry is wandering around jewellery stores!

Q: How do balance family and writing?

A: Sheer bloody-mindedness!

No seriously. Most of the timeI don’t balance them at all! Right now I’m spooning porridge into bowls, distracting the Angel Delights with Kids TV and writing this. Generally I set a goal of 300 - 500 words a day, some days I don’t manage it, some days I manage 1,000. Sometimes I manage 300 words at 9pm at night when I’m so tired I can’t move, they inevitably get deleted the next day, due to being pointless drivel. It’s all about plodding along and keeping that word count creeping upwards. Or sending the family away to spend the weekend with their Grandmother!

Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

A: Running Scared was released as an e-book in January 2007 and will be out in print in July 2007. It’s a great story, I’m really proud of it, and thrilled about the good reviews and great feeback that I’ve received.

I”ve put a quick summary below, and you can find a full excerpt on my website http://www.caitlynnicholas.com.

Poised and sophisticated, Julie Marchant lives for her job. Buying gems, she travels the world mixing with the rich, the famous and the sinister. Throwing her usual caution to the wind, Julie is swept away in a night of passion. When she wakes to find herself alone, she thinks she’ll never see archaeologist Mitchell Cartwright again. However, fate has other ideas. She travels to Laos and they meet, just as the country teeters on the brink of civil war. Trapped, they flee together, but their past history and a murderous secret mean the road to safety, and love, is complicated and treacherous.

LINKS:
http://www.caitlynnicholas.com
http://samhainpublishing.com
http://www.caitlynnicholas.blogspot.com

CONTEST: Monday-Friday of this week– anyone who comments on ANY of the posts for Marketing with Mandy’s Samhain Publisher Spotlight (going on all week long) will be entered to win a download of their choice from Mandy’s Samhain backlist and Michelle’s Samhain backlist. (There will be two winners, each selecting one download)

To enter: Comment on the blog this week! The more you enter, the more chances you have to win. Winners will be selected on Saturday and announced on the blog.