Sunday Coffee Time Chat with Author Michele Shriver

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Stacy

Welcome to Sunday morning Coffee Chat time!

Today’s guest is Michele Shriver!

SE: Welcome Michele!!! So glad you could join us today!

MS: Hello, Stacy and readers of this blog. I?m very excited to join you this morning to chat about my writing and my upcoming release. Thank you for having me.

SE: I have a very standard first questions, Coffee or Tea?

MS: A cafe mocha, please. I?m a bit of a snob when it comes to my coffee.?

SE: Be all the snog you want! I’m a mocha person myself!? So glad you are here. We just met recently and I’m really excited to learn more about you, so let’s jump right in!? We know you?re an author, but do you work another job when you are not writing?

MS: I do work another job. I?m an attorney specializing mainly in juvenile and child welfare law. I also do some criminal defense work, so I guess that kind of puts us on opposite sides. My real passion is the juvenile work, though.

SE: Ewww… you said the “D” word.? lol.. now worries, I know that people deserve to be represented, especially children. So what what is your favorite thing to do when you aren?t writing or working?

MS: I?m a big sports fan, mainly football and hockey.? I?ll pretty much watch any game on TV. I also enjoy reading other people?s books. And due to some current health issues, I?d have to put sleeping up there as a favorite activity.

SE: Hey, napping should always be on that list!!!? So, what is your favorite color?

MS: Green. I?m not really sure why. Maybe because I like frogs and have collected them since I was about three. Not real ones, but stuffed, ceramic, wooden, you name it. I?ve got frogs in my house.

SE: Oh, my daughter would love to see them! She loves frogs too! What is your favorite season?

MS: Fall, because I love seeing the leaves change. And hoodies, jeans and boots are my favorite attire. And it?s the start of hockey season. Unfortunately, in Iowa it sometimes seems we skip fall and transition straight to winter.

SE: I have a good friend in Iowa, she said the same thing about the weather. Okay, so talking about living, if you could live anyplace on earth, where would it be?

MS: That?s a tough one. I most want to visit Portugal, but not having done that yet, I can?t say if I like it enough to live there. So I?ll go with Austin, TX because my family is there.? Except I can?t handle the heat, so I?d probably still want to spend 3 of 4 seasons where I am. I love Canada too.

SE: I love that so many people I interview love where they live! Other than writing, what do you have a passion for?

MS: Sports, books, food and wine.

SE: Nice! Okay, let’s switch tracks and talk about writing.? How long have your been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby?

MS: I?ve been writing fiction in some capacity pretty much most of my life. I first caught the bug back in sixth grade with an assignment to write the first chapter of a book. I wanted to write the whole thing! It was mainly just a hobby until about 7 years ago when it became much more of a passion and goal.? Now I can?t stop.

SE: I love hearing that! How many hours a day do you devote to writing?

MS: I try to devote at least an hour or two a day to get some words written, if my job and my health allow. If I?m not actively writing, though, I am pretty much always thinking about it.

SE: Hard not to think about it when we aren’t clicking on our keyboards, isn’t it? Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes?

MS: I try to follow a routine and do something each day, but I can?t force my writing. Some days the words just aren?t there, so I?ll take a break that day.

SE: That is the best thing to do! Is there some place special you like to be when you write?

MS: Weather permitting, out on my back patio.

SE: Do you listen to music or do you need a quiet place to write?

MS: No music for me. Quiet, or the TV on in the background even though I never really pay much attention to what?s on when I?m immersed in writing.

SE: Very good, so let’s get on to one of your books,? What is the name of it and is it part of a series or a stand alone novel?

MS: The Art of Love. It?s stand alone, but with a spin off novel coming in a couple months.? Chelsea?s mom, Liz, played a big role in this book and kind of demanded a story of her own, so I just finished writing that.

SE; lol… I love demanding characters!? Where did the idea come from?

MS: This story was inspired by the cover. I bought a pre-made cover featuring an artsy scene simply because it caught my eye, and then planned a book about two art students finding love.

SE: Wow, that’s a different kind of inspiration! Cool! What is it about?

MS: Chelsea Matthews has a simple dream?travel the country on the art fair circuit selling her hand-crafted jewelry. When her disapproving father refuses to release her trust fund money to support her ambitions, she takes a part-time job in a campus gallery. While counting the days until she can be free of its stuffy confines, an unexpected temptation comes in the form of a sensitive painter.

For Hayden Shaw, having his paintings displayed in the finest galleries is the true measure of an artist?s success. When the pursuit of his goal puts him in contact with the free-spirited Chelsea, his world is turned upside down.

Can two seemingly opposite artists find middle ground and discover the art of love, or will a gallery curator with an agenda of her own undermine both their dreams?

SE: Sounds great Michele!? What about your other work, do you have any upcoming projects in the works or other books that have been published ? Tell us about them?

MS: I have three published women?s fiction novels, along with two contemporary romance.? More information about all of them is available on my website. My upcoming project is Starting Over, about a fifty-something divorcee getting another chance at love.

SE: That sounds great! I hope some of my readers check it out! Thank you so much for stopping by today! I loved having you and learning more about you!

If you would like to know more about Michele Shriver, you can check out these links:

Website: www.micheleshriver.com

Blog: http://micheleshriver.wordpress.com/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Michele-Shriver/241190605939040

Twitter: www.twitter.com/micheleshriver

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5303070.Michele_Shriver

To Purchase The Art of Love:

R.E. Blake’s Latest Release: N/A, Y/A, Contemp Romance or Coming of Age? You decide!

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Stacy

Today’s Guest is a friend of mine and a very accomplished author.? He seems to have been in a quandry as to which genre his newest fiction should be added, maybe you have an opinion? I know I do, but my opinion is to download it and read it and then try to answer the question! Check this guest post out!

When I sat down to write the trilogy that turned out to be the Less Than Nothing novels, I had no idea what genre they were going to be. I sort of thought maybe NA, because they?d have some heat to them, there?s a central romantic theme to the story, and they deal with subjects that are more serious than the YA books I?ve read. What ensued has me scratching my head, though, and now I?m not so sure.

The books cover the trials and tribulations of Sage and Derek, two homeless teen street musicians in San Francisco who make a life-altering decision to hitch cross-country and enter a talent contest in New York.

Seems straightforward enough. That?s a road book. Like Huckleberry Finn, or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, or any number of other road tomes, only with a teen romance as the central driver. Only that?s not how it turned out. The characters took over, and apparently their story wasn?t a road story at all, but rather a love story combined with a coming-of-age saga.

There aren?t a lot of books that feature homeless main characters, much less homeless teens grappling with the demons of their pasts. These are characters with flaws, with depth, with problems and hopes and needs. Who aren?t adults yet, but also aren?t kids ? caught in that neverland between responsibility and adolescence, but dealing with the harsh reality of survival on the streets.

Less Than Nothing is a tip of the hat to the Janis Joplin rendition of Me & Bobby McGee. It came on the radio while I was driving, and as I listened to Janis belt it out, I thought, ?wow, wouldn?t that be an awesome story ? road trip, two young spirits in love, making mistakes, fighting to succeed?? And that?s how the book idea was born.

But how to classify it? It deals with more complex and nuanced subject matter than the usual YA outing, so it?s not really Young Adult. And it?s got some steamy scenes, so it?s spicier than that genre. Which means it?s probably New Adult, but then we have the problem that the protagonists are both teenagers?in what becomes an adventure/romance. And there are no shirtless biker alpha billionaires, so not typical NA fare. So is it contemporary romance? Not really. Is it NA? Not really. Is it YA? Not really.

Whatever it is, it?s getting rave reviews, so maybe the genre isn?t as important as the story. A young girl developing into a self-directed being, on the threshold of adulthood but still possessing adolescent impulses and doubts, which aren?t always logical and can be in conflict with each other while co-existing simultaneously.

Whatever the genre, I?m thrilled at how it turned out. I think it?s a truly original take on the familiar story of boy meets girl. Because it?s about that. And not that. It?s about love, and dreams, and desperation, and possibility, and the hope for redemption, the fear of loss, of betrayal, of being let down and hurt by those who are supposed to protect you, and about overcoming your past to build a brighter future.

Anyhow, if you like stories that are off the beaten path, are quirky, and deal with teens growing into their own skin and discovering what they?re made of, this might be a good choice. If you enjoy love stories in a big, sweeping, complicated sense, with imperfect characters who sometimes behave in frustrating ways ? just like real people do ? then give this a try.

And if you figure out what the books are, let me know. Because when asked, I?m still uncertain what to say, other than, ?You?ve kinda just got to read them to understand.?

Blurb:?Sage?s life as a teenage runaway in San Francisco is simple: Snatch a few hours of sleep on park benches and bus stops; dodge perverts, predators, and cops; and make enough as a street musician to eat. But her world flips upside down when she meets Derek ? hot, tattooed, and charming, a singer from Seattle whose looks and talent take her breath away.

What begins as a reluctant partnership quickly develops into a cross-country race against time – and awakens a hunger in Sage that?s unfamiliar and exciting.

As they travel from coast to coast, Sage and Derek pursue their dream, only to discover that they can never run far enough to escape the demons from their pasts.

Less Than Nothing is the breakout debut NA novel from USA Today bestseller R.E. Blake that critics are buzzing about and readers can?t put down.

Thank you you for checking this out! I’ll be interested in hearing what you all think about this!

Purchase Links:

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1rnax8b

Apple: http://bit.ly/1xPBQe0

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