Sunday Coffee Time Chat with Author Christine Warner

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Stacy

Welcome to Sunday morning Coffee Chat time!

Today’s guest is Christine Warner!

SE: Another great Sunday, and for many of us, the fall season is converging quickly upon us! I’m excited to have a new friend on my blog today! Welcome Christine!

CW: Hi Stacy! Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I?m excited to meet your readers?so let?s do this!!!

SE: It’s great to have you. Routine first question I ask, Coffee or Tea??

CW: I used to love coffee, and I miss it. But I?ve always enjoyed tea?hot or cold. But more than either of those I admit to being a total water junkie. Ice cold, I carry around a travel mug filled to the brim everywhere I go J

?SE: I drink a lot of water too, but I don’t like it cold. So, of course you are an author, but do you work another job when you are not writing?

CW: Although writing is my passion and what I hope to do full time, at the moment I work for a large hospital about 30 miles from me. I work part time and at the beginning of the summer I transferred from Hospice to the Imaging Department. I love it there. Great people, and a fun place to be.

SE: Hospitals, where people tell you things you really don’t want to know about. Kind of like police work, lol… So what is your favorite thing to do when you aren?t writing or working?

CW: I?m a total addict to the Investigation Discovery channel. Lol Other than that I enjoy taking walks and trying out new paths, photographer (which I admit I need lots of work at?lol), and light gardening, as well as being with my family. Now that the kids are older, that?s rare occasion though.

SE: Oh!! Photography, we need to talk more about that! I love taking pictures. What is your favorite color?

CW: I love the color red. It?s vibrant and happy and just makes me feel good.

SE: And very bold and daring! Love it!? What is your favorite season?

CW: I?m a person that enjoys cooler weather. So Fall has always been my favorite season. I love the crisp air, the cool breezes at night, and the warm sunshine during the day?and you can?t beat all that color filling the trees! There?s just something exciting about Fall.

SE: So, this time of year is right up your alley! Perfect! If you could live anyplace on earth, where would it be?

CW: I always imagine living in Hawaii, that?s my dream locale. But I?ve never actually been there. So I?d have to visit it first to know for sure. Lol

SE: Hawaii is very pretty. I was there for seven weeks. It is very, very expensive though. Other than writing, what do you have a passion for?

CW: There?s something other than writing? Lol I don?t know, I?ve always written, won awards as a kid in school?it?s always been my passion and my dream. Other than that I wanted to have a family, and I have that?so all is good J I?m a happy girl.

SE: Easy to please you are! Okay, let’s get into the writing now! How long have your been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby?

CW: I?ve been seriously writing for close to 6 years I think. I?ve learned a lot. That?s the fun part about writing, you can continually learn and improve and you?ll never get bored. And, it?s definitely been a lifelong dream. I?ve talked about it for years, but life got in the way with family, jobs?just life. About six years ago my sister kicked me in the butt and told me to quit daydreaming about it and go for it. So, here I am JSE:

SE: I love your sister! Go her! How many hours a day do you devote to writing?

CW: That depends on the day. If it?s a workday I am lucky if I get some promotion done, or maybe write out a synopsis or rough draft of a scene. If I can devote an entire day to it, I shoot for at least six to eight hours.

SE: Very good. Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes?

CW: I like to write in the morning, first thing when my mind is uncluttered and the world is quiet. As the day progresses, I find it harder and harder to write and concentrate.

SE: I love morning for just that reason! I get so much accomplished then. Is there some place special you like to be when you write?

CW: In the summer I enjoy writing outside on the front porch. I live in the country and it?s full of sounds of nature and very peaceful. In the winter I write in the living room, nestled into my big comfy chair with my feet up. And, yes, I do have an office, but it?s small with one little window and just isn?t a very inspirational space. Lol

SE: Have to have the inspiration! Do you listen to music or do you need a quiet place to write?

CW: I wish I could listen to music, but I prefer quiet J

SE: Try playing classical music – it helps inspire creativity. Okay, now, let’s talk about your book!? What is the name of it and is it part of a series or a stand alone novel?

CW: I?m really excited about Secret Love. This is my first novella and it was a fun challenge to pack a lot into a short story, but I think I managed it. I had originally started this as a stand alone, but decided it would be fun to make it into a series. I have 2 more books planned. The second in the series is titled A Basket Full of Love and the third in the series is No Other Love. If any more ideas for other short stories that are related pop into my head, I might just add to the series.

SE: Sounds great! Where did the idea come from?

CW: I love the 50s and thought it?d be fun to set a story in that era. So I did.

SE: lol… What is it about?

CW: here is the blurb for it:

Saranac, Michigan 1955

Lizzie Tarleton has always done things her own way?including the time at the tender age of thirteen when she confessed to her brother?s best friend she loved him. But now she?s a new teacher at the local high school, and independent enough to know that you can?t force love. She?ll find love when the time is right?even though her parents are adamant the time is now. The only downfall to her idyllic life is the fact that her childhood crush?who broke her heart?is now her boss. If only she could stop daydreaming about him.

Wayne Whitmore grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and worked hard to get where he?s at in life. Even though he enjoys being principal at the small town high school, he dreams of coaching baseball. When his best friend asks him to watch over his little sister at her new job at Wayne?s school, he agrees. What he doesn?t count on is how she?s grown from the pig tailed kid who told him she loved him, to the woman who breaks his concentration with her beauty and smile. Unable to get over his fascination, and afraid he?ll ruin his friend?s trust, Wayne applies for his dream job?one that will take him far away.

One night while decorating the school gymnasium for an upcoming sock hop, Lizzie and Wayne find themselves alone. They share a kiss and Lizzie realizes her childhood crush for Wayne has never died. Wayne decides he doesn?t want to let Lizzie get away.

Can they come to terms with their secret love and then overcome the other secrets they are hiding in order to get what they each want? Or is their timing for love still off?

SE: That sounds so good! What about what’s coming up next?

CW: I have a ton of projects in the works besides the 2 other novellas planned. I have a couple of contemporary novels in various stages of being written. As for other books, I have 3 others published besides Secret Love. The first book I ever wrote is titled Some Like it in Handcuffs and is a suspense with humor, my second book is titled Two-Timing the Boss and is about an office romance, twins, and a little deception, and my third book is Bachelor?s Special and involves a chef, a millionaire, a mansion and a kitchen full of ?romance and attraction J

Oh I didn’t know about those last two! I need to go look for those! Thank you so much for coming to visit today!!!

CW: Thanks again for having me Stacy! I had a great time. I hope you and your readers enjoy my blurb and excerpt for Secret Love J

Christine was nice enough to include a small blurb from her book: Check it out!

EXCERPT:

She blinked away the heat of tears forming at the back of her eyes. Their conversation had grown too serious. She needed to lighten things up a bit. ?Remember when we used to play ?What if???

He laughed. ?What if Lizzie wore a dress??

?Either she was going to church, or her mom was having a ladies? social.? Lizzie giggled. ?Ricky hated that game.?

?He?d get so mad when you?d start it.? He made the final cut on a small snowflake and added it to the pile before him.

?What if Wayne couldn?t throw his famous curve ball??

?The school trophy case would be one trophy short. What if Lizzie wasn?t teaching here??

She pouted. ?She?d be sad. I have no idea what I?d be doing if I hadn?t found a job here. What does Lizzie have to do to show Wayne she thanks him?? She winked, enjoying their fun.

He cleared his throat. ?What if Wayne said Lizzie owed him a kiss??

Her belly trembled. What if?

?What if he stole one?? His voice lowered and he leaned in.

?Why don?t you find out?? she whispered.

To Find out more about Christine Warner:

Website: http://christine-warner.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristinesWords

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5763713.Christine_Warner

To Purchase books by Christine Warner:

?Amazon

Barnes and Noble

All books are available on Nook!

Sunday Coffee Time Chat with Author Amy Manemann

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Stacy

Welcome to Sunday morning Coffee Chat time!

Today’s guest is Amy Manemann!

Today’s Guest is a very good friend of mine! So glad that you could make it today Amy!

AM: Good morning, Stacy, and good morning readers! So excited to be here today, love what you?ve done with the place.

SE: lol… Okay lady, Coffee or Tea?

AM: Ooh that?s a tough one, I love them both! Definitely coffee in the morning, nothing else can get me moving quite as well. I typically drink a cup of tea in the afternoon.

SE: So you are one of “those” peeps, huh?? Okay, okay, I get it. Let’s talk about you for a little while.? Obviously, the blog title says you’re an author, but do you work another job when you are not writing?

AM: Is this the part where I get to dish on my coworkers? lol Since writing doesn?t pay the bills, I do work part time at a medical office as a receptionist.?

SE: You do know it will someday, right? Have faith my friend. So what is your favorite thing to do when you aren?t writing or working?

AM: That would be spending time with my family. My son does travel baseball so we?re gone a lot for that, and my daughter has just started gymnastics. This summer brought tennis lessons, swim lessons and band lessons, so as you can see, we?re quite busy here!

SE: Personally, I know you are! You guys run as much as I do! What is your favorite color?

AM: Blue! It?s such a calming color and reminds of water, which is very soothing for a creative personality. It?s also my husband?s eye color 😉

SE: Awww… Okay, enough sap. What is your favorite season?

AM: I?d have to say Spring. Spring to me reflects the opportunity for new possibilities and seems to breathe a fresh breath of air after such an icy cold winter. ?Iowa can get pretty darn cold!

SE: I can only imagine, and when I say that, I only ever want to imagine, no offense! If you could live anyplace on earth, where would it be?

AM: Oregon or Washington State, somewhere on the coast. They?re such beautiful states, no matter what time of year you visit.

SE: They are pretty. Other than writing, what do you have a passion for?

AM: My children. When I?m not plotting story lines, my attention is focused on them and their activities. As you can tell, we?re quite busy at our house so squeezing in quality family time is very important to us.

SE: I’m glad you make time for family! Let’s switch tracks now and talk about your writing. How long have you been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby?

AM: Oh wow, now you?re actually going to make me think. I?ve been a serious writer since around age 25, though I?ve been writing stories since I was a little girl. Over the past 20 + years my writing has evolved from pen and paper, to an electric type writer and then on to using a computer. What started off as a dream and a need to tell a story has turned into a full fledged career I very much enjoy.

SE: And I am thankful that you do that because I enjoy your stories! How many hours a day do you devote to writing?

AM: Ugh, not enough! I would write from the moment I got up in the morning if I could. Unfortunately, that doesn?t happen. When I?m in writing mode, my goal is to get at least 1500 words in a day, whether that takes me one hour or four.

SE: That’s a decent goal and easily obtainable if you stay on track. Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes?

AM: Both. When I?m knee deep in a project I have a set deadline, so having a routine laid out is a must. On the flip side to that, I also will take time out to jot down a storyline or idea when it strikes me out of the blue. I keep a journal with me just for that reason.

SE: I have a notebook I do that with too! Is there some place special you like to be when you write?

AM: In my kitchen at the bar where I can readily reach the pot of coffee.

SE: Wait! You said you only drink coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. I guess you are doing your writing in the morning then. Do you listen to music or do you need a quiet place to write?

AM: That would depend on the mood I?m in. I typically prefer the quiet, though sometimes when I get stuck in a particular scene I?ll turn on the radio and find some inspiration. Songs are really just stories with notes, so finding some inspiration usually doesn?t take me too long.

SE: I use music to inspire me all the time. Okay, now the good part, let’s talk books!? What is the name of it and is it part of a series or a stand alone novel?

AM: My newest release, Into the Light, is a YA paranormal novel and is book one of the Lightkeeper Series.

SE: Yep! I read that one, loved it and waiting for the next one! Where did the idea come from?

AM: I actually started writing this story around seven years ago. At the time it was set for an older audience, and I had reached a point in the book where I was just stuck. So I set it aside. It wasn?t until last year that I realized why I had been so stuck with finishing this book. It wasn?t meant to be geared for adults. Pulling it back out, I rewrote the storyline for YA and am thrilled with how the book turned out.

SE: Now that is great! Tell the readers what it is about.

AM: In a time of dark unrest, one will hold the light of the world in the palm of her hand.

Nineteen-year-old Willa Devries is no ordinary witch. Born to a sacred race known as the lightkeepers, for centuries her lineage has been charged to carry out their time honored duty of holding the light of the world against the darkness.? Willa?s twentieth birthday will mark the day when she comes into her full powers, a day she?s been anticipating forever. Only the rising darkness has become more powerful than anyone has ever seen, and with her birthday only a week away, Willa begins to question if she?s ready to feel the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Braeden Mathiesen is a Guardian sworn and trained to protect the keepers of light. His life has been spent preparing for the day when he would be sent to aid Willa in her lightkeeper training. Yet upon his arrival to the sleepy town of Salem, Massachusetts, he quickly realizes he is unprepared for the extent of her incredible power–or for the woman who will steal his heart.

The fate of the world lies in Braeden and Willa’s ability to push past their feelings and learn to harness her powers, before the dark underworld rises up and covers the world under a blanket of darkness. Failure isn?t an option; the world depends on it.

SE: Do you have any upcoming projects in the works or other books that have been published ? Tell us about them?

AM: Isn?t there always a story on the horizon? lol I am currently working on a few different projects, one about friendship and rediscovering who you are, and the other a contemporary romance. I also have a romantic suspense project in the works, the fourth installment in my Deadly Series. I love how uniquely different each of these books are, allowing for the creative juices to be continuously flowing by switching gears when one storyline gets stuck. This is actually the first time I?ve ever worked on more than one project at once. Not to quote Mc D?s, but I?m lovin? it!

SE: lol… That is great! Thank you so much for visiting Amy! I’m so glad you stopped by!

Watch the video trailer:

Into the Light: http://bit.ly/1vNc5Wm

If you want to find out more about Amy Manneman:

Website: www.amymanemann.blogspot.com

Blog: www.amymanemann.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1qKMOym

Twitter: @amymanemann

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/VPHkFG

Google +: http://bit.ly/1ksqIZY

Video Trailer for Deadly Reunion: http://bit.ly/1jccIbQ

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/amymanemann/

To Purchase on Amazon:

?Also available on Barnes and Noble!

Sunday Coffee Time Chat with Author Marie Godley

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Stacy

Welcome to Sunday morning Coffee Chat time!

Today’s guest is Marie Godley!

Good Morning everyone!? Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee Time Chat!!? I’m excited to have another author here for you today, and she is a special one to me. Marie Godley is part of my Beta Team. She’s one of those wonderful people who gets to read my stories before they even see my editor.? Now, it’s my turn to help her get the word out! So… let’s get started!

MD: Hi Stacy. Thanks for having me on here. I hope you and your readers ? good morning to you too ? have their tea or coffee ready for our chat.

SE: Morning Marie – I have my coffee – which do you prefer, Coffee or Tea?

MD: Tea ? it? s one of the few things I drink ? even on a hot day. I do like my tea quite weak though which is the cause for much hilarity between my daughter and my Mum ? comments like ?scaring the cup with the teabag? that sort of thing ? I don?t know why I put up with them.

For those of you who don’t know, Marie lives in the United Kingdom, hence the use of the word ‘mum’, I think that is so cute. Let’s just into some questions that will allow the reader to get to know you better. We know you?re an author, but do you work another job when you are not writing? What is your favorite thing to do when you aren?t writing or working?

MD: I am a housewife ? or should that be ? child minder, chef, accountant, chauffeur, maid, ok let?s not dwell on that too long. When not doing those things or scribbling away I love to read. I always have. I was the child with the book and torch under the covers when I was supposed to be sleeping.? I read different books depending on my mood but I don?t read horror. I love Christmas books and have been known to read them in the summer. Also because we live near the sea and a National Park I love to walk, in either of those places ? preferably away from others. It?s so peaceful and just a short time watching the waves or being amongst the trees can restore my sanity.

SE: I always feel at peace when I am near the ocean! I know exactly how you feel.? Do you have a favorite color?

MD: I don?t really have a favourite colour.

SE: Alright, what about a favorite season?

MD: I love Spring because of all the bulbs flowering and the new shoots, also because you get some warm days. But I also love the autumn. The different coloured leaves look beautiful and I still love to stamp on crisp leaves so they crunch underfoot ? my husband despairs of me. Winter frosts are beautiful too but I don?t like being cold.

SE: I’m not much of a cold person either. If you could live anyplace on earth, where would it be? Why?

MD: Here in Dorset, UK. We always wanted to live here and were fortunate enough to be able to move when our children were little. Our town has historical buildings, rivers, the beach and we?re an easy drive away from the New Forest with its wild horses.

SE: Sounds beautiful! Other than writing, what do you have a passion for?

MD: Nature. I love animals too, although sadly I?m allergic to some, but I can spend hours staring out to sea or walking in the forest. I get angry when I see people disrespecting our world.

SE: Many of my readers are here in the US and I know you are over in the UK. Have you ever come over here to visit? And if so, what was your favorite place to visit?

MD: I haven?t been to the US, although some of my in-laws live over there.

SE: I hope you come over and visit us someday. Let’s talk about your writing Marie, how long have your been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby?

MD: I?ve been writing for about 7 years. When I wrote my first children?s story I had no thought to getting it published, I was just writing at the same time as my daughter was doing homework. Now it?s my life and I would love to get one of my Young Adult stories published.

SE: I hope that you do. How many hours a day do you devote to writing? Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes? Is there some place special you like to be when you write? Do you listen to music or do you need a quiet place to write?

MD: I write whenever I can ? that depends a lot on whether my family is around, so I don?t get much done during school holidays. I like to write when the mood strikes but sometimes I just have to take advantage of alone time and pick my pen up. Surprisingly I?ve found that once I get going I wonder what had been stopping me from starting earlier. Sometimes though I have to admit that writing ?just isn?t going to happen? and do something else. I write wherever I can, sometimes in the garden but normally on the sofa. My favourite place to write is actually snuggled up in bed. I think I like the feeling of being cozy and warm. Recently I?ve taken my note pad to the train station ?Whilst I sit and wait for my daughter?s train to come in I rest my note pad against the steering wheel and write ? the only trouble with that is when I forget not to press ?down too hard and I blare my horn! I find that using the few minutes of what would have been wasted time is quite affective, although it?s annoying when the train pulls in just when I?m in the middle of a good bit. I don?t listen to music whilst I write because I start writing the lyrics down or sing along. Occasionally I will put an instrumental, nature inspired cd on and it becomes background noise.

SE: I love that you write and hit the horn – I have done that myself! So tell us about your book, what is the name of it and is it part of a series or a stand alone novel? Where did the idea come from?

MD: Time Slide is a fantasy book for children aged 10 or over, although I know of one mother who read it to her 8yr old ? a chapter a night as a bed time story and he loved it. It isn?t part of a series and is a short story, so ideal if a child only wants to read for a short length of time. I know my son used to be put off if the book was too thick ? even if he was capable of reading it. I was thinking about the some of the great books published for kids that incorporated Ancient Egypt or Greek mythology and thought it would be great to do something about China ? I?ve always loved Chinese ornaments etc. One day an opening for a story came to me ? it was just the first paragraph and decided that was perfect for turning into a book connected with China. I did some research on Beijing and the Mongol society and had great fun weaving fact and fiction together into a story.

SE: That sounds great! I will have to show my daughter! What is it about? (You can use your own words or your blurb)

MD: Put yourself in Jerry’s shoes… His parents have been invited to China to take part in an archaeological dig. Because it is the summer holiday, he and his sister Sammy are going along. Jerry and Sammy meet some interesting people, and they find a beautiful hair slide. All seems great, but things are already starting to go wrong. Suddenly, Sammy thinks she is having visions from the past. They soon discover that the hair slide is linked to an old portrait in the museum and an old Mongolian tale. Jerry’s summer is about to get very complicated…

SE: That sounds so cool! Do you have any upcoming projects in the works or other books that have been published ? Tell us about them?

MD: My first two books were a Christmas book for the under 5?s called The Special Christmas Bear. Teddy loves travelling around Santa’s workshop on the big blue wagon! There is so much to look at and he has lots of elf friends. But Santa has a special task for Teddy – will Teddy take it on? and a first chapter, fantasy book called The Guardian of the Globe. After buying a beautiful snow globe, Phoebe finds herself pulled inside! Zoozer the unicorn has been kidnapped by a troll and is being taken to the evil wizard Mishra who wants to steal his powers. Summoned by the sorceress Vivien, Phoebe must find a way to stop him. How will she trick the troll? Will she succeed? Join Phoebe and her new friends Capstan the stag and Skimpish the wood elf as they hurry to catch up with the troll and save Zoozer.

As you can see all my stories have a fantasy element about them.

I?m also part of a group of authors called Authors For Charity. We write stories to be made into an anthology and any profits we make go to a charity ? we change the charity each year. Last year we published Tales of an Old Wizard for 9+ readers and later in 2014 we will be publishing Paranormal Love for YA readers.

For myself, I am working on stories for Young Adults. I have one finished which I?m trying to get representation for, one I?m editing and one that I?m writing (when I?m not leaning on my horn and scaring myself)

SE: hahahaha – That is so precious!! I love that you write YA and for children – we need more awesome books for them so they keep reading pages instead of texts! So glad you came to visit today Marie! It’s been a true pleasure!