Fraterfamilias by Peter Ferrer

We want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force.

Who causes friction is the story?
The most dangerous character in the story is a Homicide cop named Charlie Rains. He's in a bad place in life, which makes him vulnerable to manipulation by someone very, very scary who wants him to gather information about one of the book's main protagonists, Alan Kedward. But Charlie also finds himself sympathizing with Alan. It puts him in a tug of loyalties between his blackmailer and Alan that endangers everyone.

Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?
Bad gals, definitely. I want to read about tough gals who are willing to do bad things to get what they want, just like men. Do the bad things outright rather than manipulate men into doing them or dither over whether or not to do something bad that needs to be done.

How do you use your bad guys?
I have never believed in "villains", per se. In real life, everyone is the hero of their own story and the villain of their story is whoever tries to stop them from doing or getting what they want in life. Alan Kedward, for example, is trying to cover up for his brother, Paul Farrell, who murdered four people in Paris. So, depending on whether the POV belongs to Alan or the investigators pursuing his brother, he's either a good guy or a bad guy. Sure, he's in a lot of the book and a lot of the book is from his point of view. But that was true of the villains of Eye of the Needle and Day of the Jackal, too.

Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?
No, it's a fun challenge. You just keep in mind that no matter how scuzzy this person is, that person is the hero of his or her own story. It's the effect of his or her actions on others in the story that determines whether or not he or she is a villain. You should never write a character with whom you can't sympathize. It backfires and makes the reader dislike you for betting on the character. There's nothing more annoying than an insufferable protagonist.
And anyway, most of my protagonists are pretty bad, depending on how you look at them.

Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?
I think that people who are backed into a corner don't act "nice", and that a lot of times, people can do horrible things to others under the cover of being nice and polite. I find that the underdogs who have to do "bad" things to survive are far more fascinating than clean-cut heroes who don't have to question the rigid moral codes by which they judge themselves and everyone around them.

Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books?
I'd have to say Charlie Rains. He's wonderfully conflicted. He's only a bad guy in this story. Doesn't mean he'll stay a bad guy. He's no Renfield in Dracula. The guy isn't weak, just in a bad place. He's capable of redemption.

Which bad guy and which book are they in?
Fraterfamilias.

Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?
Brian de Bois-Guilbert in Ivanhoe and Lucifer in Paradise Lost. Weren't they gloriously bad?

Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.
Keep an eye on them. They don't always stay bad. The good guys don't always stay good, either. It keeps things interesting.

Please provide your website link.
http://www.geocities.com/rpcv.geo/other.html

What is the link to buy your book?
http://www.virtualtales.com/StoryProducts~tn~Fraterfamilias.html

Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".
You're welcome!

Fraterfamilias by Peter Ferrer (pseudonym of Judith Doloughan and Paula R. Stiles)

Okay -- its time to tell us about that hunky hero in your book.

What's his name?
Paul (Pavya) Farrell and Alan (Ayanke) Kedward

Why did you pick that name?
Pavya and Ayanke are names that are meant to sound ancient. I did some research on ancient Indo-European linguistic theory to get them right. The other names are modern versions that the two brothers adopted. Alan's first and last names are taken from different academics in history and prehistory, as a bit of a joke.

Give us a brief description of how he looks.
They are twins--fraternal not identical. So, there's a strong family resemblance, but if you knew them, you wouldn't mistake them for each other. Both are tall (close to six feet), dark-haired and rangy. Celtic-looking but with something else. Pavya has short, curly hair; Ayanke's is straight. They look to be in their mid to late forties. Ayanke is a little grayer and thinner than Pavya, but also more hyperactive.

Ayanke has a lateral scar under his left eye and wears glasses. Both start off the book clean-shaven, but Pavya later favors a beard. Pavya wears a turtleneck sweater, jeans and a dark-blue coat. Ayanke wears a shabby green Army-Navy jacket that's more than it seems, sweatshirt and jeans.

Is there anything unusual about his appearance?
Not at all. Like Jason Bourne, they are notable only in their ordinariness, and for similar reasons.
Who does he love? Why?
Pavya loves his dead wife Sarah. Ayanke also loves Sarah. As you can see, this is problematical, especially since Ayanke met her first and continues to communicate with her now she's dead. Both loved Sarah's exotic beauty (she was Cameroonian), her artistic talent and her love of life.

Does this person love him?
Yes, she loved them both.

Tell us about his family.
They have each other, of course, and Pavya was married to Sarah. Ayanke also has a grandson and Pavya...well, that would be telling. They also have friends whom they have adopted for family.

Are they important to him?
Absolutely. A central theme of the story is how far each one would go to protect family. It's pretty far.

Where is he from?
That is a bit of a mystery. Ayanke appears to be Russian and Pavya is apparently French. Ayanke has spent a lot of time in St. Petersburg while Pavya has favored Paris.

Does his hometown affect his behavior, thoughts and attitude?
They grew up in the wilderness. They have a lot of trouble adjusting to the fast, loud and overly controlled pace of modern life.

What does he want out of life?
They want to be left in peace. As far as their vocations in life, Pavya is a talented painter and Ayanke is an equally talented shaman.

What's his biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)
That they are not quite what they seem to be.

Did you write more than one story about him?
Yes, we did. We've written three books so far, and parts of a few others.

How would he describe you?
Judith and I used to joke that if we were in the situation of these two brothers, that she would be Pavya and I would be Ayanke.

Is there anything else about your hero that we need to know? Feel free to share.
They're both very, very dangerous, but they're not evil.

Please provide your website link.
http://www.geocities.com/rpcv.geo/other.html

What is the link to buy your book?
http://www.virtualtales.com/StoryProducts~tn~Fraterfamilias.html

It was wonderful to meet him. Thank you for bringing him to meet us.
And thanks to you, too.

By the way, do you have a picture of him that you'd like to share?
'Fraid not, though we know who we'd cast them as in the movie.

Judi Moreo and Kim Baccelia - Virtual Tour Stops

Promotional Interview with Judi Moreo

This is the first author promotional interview that I've posted on my Self Promotion blog on the Inspired Author site. This is the first interview in a series that I'm doing with Kathleen Gage. She is posting some on her blog and I'll be posting all of the interviews on my site. To read about Judi Moreo's promotion - visit

http://inspiredauthor.com/v3/promotional-interview-judi-moreo-0

~ and ~

Kim Baccellia - Young Adult Author - Earrings of Ixtumea

Join Nikki Leigh and Muze as they interview young adult author Kim Baccelia about her book - Earrings of Ixtumea. This is the opening question of the interview - Nikki & Muze – I was reading the synopsis for your book and was intrigued by the inner struggle that your character faces. It’s also interesting that she is confronted by the same cultural problems in the fantasy world. Can you give us some information about how you came up with this idea and what sort of problems she deals with in the story?

Kim –As a bilingual teacher in the later ‘80’s and early ‘90’s, I saw a lot with my second language students. I taught in a LA county school district, close to East LA. I also was researching my own family history at this time. I was bothered how each year my students would draw themselves blond, blue-eyed, and fair skinned.

Click here to learn more about Kim and Earrings of
Iztumeahttp://muzesmusings.blogspot.com/

Nikki Leigh – Fiction Author – www.nikkileigh.com
Book Promo 101 – www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm
“Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance”

Judi Moreo and Kim Baccellia Virtual Tour Stops

Promotional Interview with Judi Moreo

This is the first author promotional interview that I've posted on my Self Promotion blog on the Inspired Author site. This is the first interview in a series that I'm doing with Kathleen Gage. She is posting some on her blog and I'll be posting all of the interviews on my site. To read about Judi Moreo's promotion - visit

http://inspiredauthor.com/v3/promotional-interview-judi-moreo-0

~ and ~

Kim Baccellia - Young Adult Author - Earrings of Ixtumea

Join Nikki Leigh and Muze as they interview young adult author Kim Baccelia about her book - Earrings of Ixtumea. This is the opening question of the interview -

Nikki & Muze – I was reading the synopsis for your book and was intrigued by the inner struggle that your character faces. It’s also interesting that she is confronted by the same cultural problems in the fantasy world. Can you give us some information about how you came up with this idea and what sort of problems she deals with in the story?

Kim –As a bilingual teacher in the later ‘80’s and early ‘90’s, I saw a lot with my second language students. I taught in a LA county school district, close to East LA. I also was researching my own family history at this time. I was bothered how each year my students would draw themselves blond, blue-eyed, and fair skinned.

Click here to learn more about Kim and Earrings of Iztumea
http://muzesmusings.blogspot.com/

Nikki Leigh – Fiction Author – www.nikkileigh.com
Book Promo 101 – www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm
“Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance”

Scion of the Dark Moon by Kingsley Montgomery

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.What's her name?

There are two heroines in Scion of the Dark Moon, each very different from one another. The first is the noble-born young sorceress apprentice Alyssa Deveron. The second is Yeva, a commoner and a thief.

Why did you pick that name?

“Alyssa” is Greek in origin and means “rational” or “bright”. Alyssa in the story is very intelligent and rational-minded, which makes her a great investigator (in this case, an investigator of dark magic practices). “Yeva” is Russian in origin and means “life”. Yeva in the story is driven by her emotions and lives for the moment, enjoying as much out of life as she can. For a peasant who was abused as a child, enjoying the moment helps her forget the past.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

Alyssa has long black hair, usually worn in a single long braid over one shoulder, in the style of the Crown Robes sorceresses. Her skin is alabaster, as is customary for the nobility of Aralan. Short and of average build, she has piercing aquamarine eyes. Yeva is tall and athletic, exuding sexuality and often exploiting it to her advantage. She is not well educated, but makes up for it with a keen street-sense, which is reflected in her bearing. Her skin is tan, hair tawny brown, and eyes smoldering chocolate.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

Alyssa’s aquamarine colored eyes are an anomaly, attributed to her family’s long heritage as gifted magic practitioners. Yeva’s most unusual aspect is her electric attractiveness, though no man (or woman) can quite pinpoint the reason for this.

Who does she love? Why?

Alyssa loves her work. Yeva ‘loves’ her mentor, the Fox Knight, a dashing bandit lord turn hero. Both eventually fall in love with Bryn, Scion’s main protagonist.

Does this person love her?

Bryn, like Alyssa and Yeva, is young (17 at the start of the book). He doesn’t know what he wants, and has little experience with women. He is definitely attracted to both – Alyssa for her charm, wit, and intelligence, and Yeva for her obvious physical charms and intense free spirit. He is quite torn, but will eventually have to chose, or lose them both.

Tell us about her family.

Alyssa belongs to the Deveron noble family. House Deveron is considered “minor” landed gentry, and her father is a respected knight-captain in service to the Baron of Eastmont. Alyssa’s mother displayed some magical talent when young, but never developed the skill. Her brother is a knight. She gets along with her family well enough. Yeva is an orphan. Her mother died of disease when she was young, and her father abused her for years during her early teenage years. She ran away from home at 14, living primarily as a thief and occasionally as a prostitute. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, she is strong-willed and self-determined and is more than capable of taking care of herself.

Where is she from?

Alyssa is from Eastmont, a moderate sized barony in the Kingdom of Aralan . She has spent half of her life training in High Tower , Aralan’s capital city, to become a Crown Robes sorceress. Yeva is from a small peasant village in the central plains of Aralan, which she currently avoids like the plague.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

With Alyssa, not so much. She is much more influenced by the sorcerers of High Tower , where she has lived and trained for half her life. Yeva was very much affected by her hometown. She despises it and the meek peasants that farm the lands around it.

What does she want out of life?

Alyssa is torn between marriage and raising a family and her duty as an investigator for the Crown Robes. Yeva doesn’t think that far ahead, but lives only in the moment.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)

Alyssa fears she is cursed, as her mentors have a way of dying in horrible ways. Yeva fears being alone, though her often coarse nature pushes people away as much as her physique draws them near.

Did you write more than one story about her?

Alyssa and Yeva both have major roles in the second book in the Terralis Legacy series, Echoes of Empire.

How would she describe you?

Alyssa would analyze me too much, and I’d be afraid of what she would say! Yeva would find me alluring enough to seduce, until she could steal my wallet. Only to find it was empty.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share.
I’ve had a great time writing the female parts in Scion of the Dark Moon. For me, they were a challenge to write and ended up more multi-dimensional than most of the male characters. I’ve always appreciated strong female characters in fantasy novels, and it has been a joy to create two of them in Scion who are almost mirror opposites in personality. The play between them is limitless.

Please provide your website link.

Scion of the Dark Moon, and my other books, can be found at http://www.kvmbooks.com/.

What is the link to buy your book?

Scion of the Dark Moon can be purchased at my Web site, http://www.kvmbooks.com/, via Amazon.

Kingsley V. Montgomery, Author
Visit my book Web site! http://www.kvmbooks.com/

Round Table Magician by Ann Tracy Marr

Who causes friction in Round Table Magician?

Someone stole Mr. Jackson's papers. Whoa - lets change that to someone stole military papers from Mr. Jackson's library. Confidential, secret military plans. It is a case of espionage, pure and simple, but Lady Martha doesn't know that. Round Table Magician Lord Brinston has all the background facts, but being a typical male, he doesn't share the facts. No wonder the poor man tears his hair out, trying to keep Martha from looking for the spy.

The baddie?

You have to read Round Table Magician. Help Martha pick the spy out of a cast of suspects. Try to deduce the motive for the theft. Then you can cheer Brinston on as he catches the villain.

Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?

Both are interesting. What I enjoy revealing is villainy done in the name of a good cause.

How do you use your bad guys?

My villains haven't done murder, though they may come close. They just decide they want something and do what they can to grab it. Nothing wrong with having goals -- except they go about it the wrong way -- and they go too far.

Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?

Villains are easy. They are people just like you and me, but with something twisted inside them. Where they should step back -- where anyone else would realize they were going too far -- the villains have blinders on. Like an elephant stampeding the circus to snuffle the peanuts scattered by a silly kid in the parking lot.

Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way.

Not being a huge fan of the mystery genre or monsters, I don't go all out and create a mystery, complete with clues, red herrings, and detectives or a horror novel with psychos running rampant. What I love is creating a character with a quirk that makes life difficult for everyone else.

Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?

Mothers can't favor one child over another. Besides, I only have two books and two baddies so far.

Round Table Magician and the thief is available on http://www.amazon.com/ as a trade paperback. Check out www.freewebs.com/marr794 to see what's up.

Scion of the Dark Moon by Kingsley Montgomery

We want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force.

Who causes friction is the story?

A goblin skin-shaper named Urchul is the primary antagonist in Scion of the Dark Moon, though there are many others, ranging from scheming politicians to demons of the void. Goblins in the world of Terralis are a race of powerful beings that pose a constant threat to the other major race – humans. Goblin society is built around necromancy and demons, who they worship as gods.

Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? Both have their place.

How do you use your bad guys?

The ‘bad guys’ in Scion of the Dark Moon work at opposing purposes from the protagonists, who are predominantly human. Though many of the antagonists are clearly ‘evil’ people (and creatures), some are not so clearly defined.

Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?

I find it easier to write about the bad guys. Bad guys are typically more dynamic, and definitely have fewer limitations. It’s a good reason to make ‘good guys’ somewhat ‘bad’!

Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?

Bad guys are fun to write because they have fewer acceptable limits – they typically do what they want, when they want, and they are more often unpredictable. These features lead to more possibilities for interesting writing. I feel less constraint when writing about the bad guys. In fantasy, this is particularly true because you can create all manner of diabolical plot lines for your antagonists, whereas your protagonists usually have to walk the ‘straight and narrow’.

Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?

My favorite bad guy is Urchul in Scion of the Dark Moon. He’s a goblin skin-shaper, an assassin who can take the appearance of those he kills by magically adhering their skin to his own. Though he would be considered repulsive and decidedly ‘evil’ to most of us, he was bred to do what he does, and feels he is serving his race in a justifiable way. His single-minded adherence to duty is actually a very respectable trait.

Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?

One of my favorite fictional bad guys is the robot Erasmus in Brian Herbert’s Dune prequels (The Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade, and The Battle of Corrin). Erasmus is a sentient robot and one of the rulers of the Synchronized Empire that has enslaved most of humanity. Ironically, he is constantly torturing people in his eternal quest to ‘understand’ humans and be more like them. Ironically again, he ends up adopting a human ‘son’ who he grows to love, in his own way, which is his undoing in the end. This dichotomy, and the author’s brilliant portrayal, make Erasmus one of the best bad guys I’ve read in a long time.

Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.

The bad guys in Scion of the Dark Moon take many forms. The human bad guys are often nobles grabbing for power, backstabbing, and intriguing their way to the top. Then there are the goblins, a race inimical to mankind that have been manipulating human affairs as they seek to dominate Terralis as they once did, before the ascendance of Man. They are schemers as well as necromancers and demonologists, both of which are central to their religion and culture.

Please provide your website link.

Books by Kingsley Montgomery can be found at http://www.kvmbooks.com/.

What is the link to buy your book?

Scion of the Dark Moon can be purchased from my Web site at http://www.kvmbooks.com/, via Amazon.

Kingsley Montgomery
Fantasy or sci-fi reader? Visit my author site at http://www.kvmbooks.com/

Scion of the Dark Moon by Kingsley Montgomery

Okay -- its time to tell us about that hunky hero in your book.

What's his name?

Bryn Tabral is the hero’s name in Scion of the Dark Moon.

Why did you pick that name?

“Bryn” sounded fairly harmless and kind, and the main character starts out as a naïve young nobleman. “Tabral” sounded somewhat aristocratic, strong, yet not menacing.

Give us a brief description of how he looks.

Bryn has long straight raven hair that falls to his shoulders and intelligent steel gray eyes that have a way of seeing past facades. His skin is white with a tinge of bronze that comes from spending a fair amount of time outdoors. His face is typical of his race, with aquiline features and thin lips, and his stature is tall and slender. He carries himself with the confident and energetic stride of a man who is comfortable with his ability to take care of himself. He is considered handsome by most.

Is there anything unusual about his appearance?

Bryn’s eyes are magnetic, and his emotions play out in their depths for those canny enough to notice. Other than that, he is of typical Arani noble stock.

Who does he love? Why?

Bryn loves two women, or at least thinks he does. One is Alyssa, a noble Arani sorceress apprentice with the Crown Robes. He loves her because she is intelligent, kind-hearted, and intensely loyal. The other is Yeva, an Ulari commoner and thief by circumstance. Bryn is attracted to her unbridled independence and fierce emotions, as well as her physical charms, which she uses to her advantage without regard for station or protocol. This is alluring to Bryn.

Does this person love him?

Both Alyssa and Yeva become enamored of Bryn, and this causes complications for them all.Tell us about his family.

Are they important to him?

Bryn is adopted. His adopted family is very important to him, and he is intensely loyal and loving to his adopted parents, and adores his little sister Vela. His older brother by adoption, Feran, on the other hand, despises Bryn and Bryn returns the feeling. Bryn does not know his birth parents. Though not a relative, his closest friend is his tutor, Nibiru, a hulking black man from the far South. Nibiru is also Bryn’s bodyguard and is in the employ of Bryn’s adopted father, Lord Earlen Tabral of Falcon Vale, though Nibiru’s past is a mystery.

Where is he from?

Bryn’s birthplace is unknown. He was raised as an orphan by Lord Earlen Tabral of Falcon Vale, a rural barony in the kingdom of Aralan . Falcon Vale is a collection of rural villages and a handful of border keeps situated in the Drakespire Mountains , on the fringes of the nation.

Does his hometown affect his behavior, thoughts and attitude?

Very much so. Falcon Vale is a rural barony and Bryn is the second son of the baron. He therefore does not have the responsibility of his older brother who will one day inherit the barony, nor does he have to deal with the daily intrigue of court life in the more settled parts of the kingdom. Therefore, Bryn is allowed much freedom. He hunts, practices archery, and helps out in judging disputes within the barony. Thanks to his tutor, Nibiru, he is also an accomplished swordsman, literate, and generally better educated than most folks in his barony, including the gentry.

What does he want out of life?

Though this changes significantly as the plot progresses, in the beginning Bryn simply wants to be happy with his life and his lot in it. He is content but restless. He knows there is something important he should be doing, but knows not what it is. Though he is aware Feran, his older brother, will inherit the barony one day, he fears what effect his callous brother will have on the people of Falcon Vale.

What's his biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)

His biggest secret is his uncanny sixth sense, which allows him to “see” things that others cannot, sometimes manifesting in dreams. This also gives him a strong connection with his canid Stalker, bordering on telepathy. (Canids are large intelligent wolf-like quadrupeds.)

Did you write more than one story about him?

Yes, Scion of the Dark Moon is only the first book in a trilogy.

How would he describe you?

He would see me as I am, as opposed to what I appear to be.

Is there anything else about your hero that we need to know? Feel free to share.

Guilt and responsibility weigh heavily on Bryn, which causes him to suffer internally more than most, especially when tragedy strikes those he loves.

Please provide your website link.

My book Web site is http://www.kvmbooks.com/.

What is the link to buy your book?

Scion of the Dark Moon can be bought on my Web site at http://www.kvmbooks.com/, via Amazon.com.

Kingsley Montgomery
Fantasy or sci-fi reader? Visit my author site at http://www.kvmbooks.com/

One Night in Boston

1 - Tell us a bit about your book. One Night in Boston is a contemporary romance novel that takes place over a single day and night. Twenty-four chapters equal twenty-four hours for the main characters, former lovers who meet up after ten years apart and realize they still have feelings for one another.

2 - Tell us about the best friend - gender, age, appearance, how they came to be with the hero or heroine and anything else we need to know about them. Eden Browning has known our heroine, Maggie Doyle, since elementary school. The two girls grew up together, went to NYU together, and were joined at the hip until Maggie moved to Rhode Island to start her own business and Eden ended up working as an assistant to a high-powered attorney in Boston. Eden is a heartbreaker: beautiful, bold, and sensual. She’s small in stature, has long blonde hair and perfect makeup, and can wind any guy around her little finger. She also takes charge of situations where Maggie tends to waffle.

3 - Who does the "best friend" help in the book? Eden helps out Maggie, who is searching for the stepbrother she lost contact with long ago. Later in the story, Eden also helps both the stepbrother, Dillon, and the hero, Jack. She is one of those characters who has a way of

managing and manipulating situations while remaining entirely likable.

4 - Does the best friend have a specific purpose in the book? She helps Maggie both with the details of finding her stepbrother and with the emotional turmoil that Maggie faces once she finds Dillon and after she meets up with Jack. She also has a major role in the ending of the novel.

5 - How does your hero or heroine feel about the best friend? While Eden might be a little flighty at times, and while Maggie feels that Eden doesn’t take life as seriously as she should, deep down she adores Eden for sticking by her.

6 - How would your hero or heroine handle their problems or difficulties with the best friend? As the quieter and more mature friend in the relationship, Maggie would probably just let things blow over. Eden’s a tough woman to fight with.

7 - Are there problems between the best friend and your main characters? Only in the respect that Eden can’t understand Maggie’s hesitance in going after what she really wants.

8 - Do you see the best friend ever having their own story? Maybe. When my line editor read the final version of this novel, she asked if I had planned a sequel with Eden as the main character. I took that as a positive sign that readers will get to know and love her, and want to see more of her!

9 - Was the best friend inspired by anyone you know? I’m lucky enough to have 2 close friends who have many of the same personality qualities as Eden. So, yes.

10 - Is there anything else about the best friend that we need to know? Feel free to share.

11 - Please provide your website link. http://www.allieboniface.com/

12 - What is the link to buy your book? http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/one-night-in-boston

Earrings of Ixtumea by Kim Baccellia

Young Adult fantasy author Kim Baccellia joins us today to tell us about the heroine in her book - Earrings of Ixtumea.

What's her name?

Guadalupe Hernandez. Her nickname is Lupe.

Why did you pick that name?

I wanted to name her after a very sacred saint from Mexico. The Virgin Guadalupe. I always loved the story of how the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego, a humble Mexican Christian Indian.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

She’s five feet four, about 115-120 lbs. She’s a Latina with long brown hair with bangs. Large hazel eyes.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

No. She does have a nervous habit of shaking her leg.

Who does she love? Why?

She loves her grandmother who has raised her since she was six years old.

Does this person love her?

Oh, yes!

Tell us about her family.

She’s the only child being raised by her grandmother. Her mother deserted her when she was six years old. She doesn’t know anything about her father.

Where is she from?

She was born in Santa Ana, Ca. She lives in Tustin.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

Yes. She goes to a private school and being around mostly Anglo students makes her want to be like them. She’s embarrassed of living in her cramped apartment and having her friends find out. She also wants to be like her Anglo pop star Ashley Snow. I based this pop star on Ashley Simpson and other blonde pop stars.

What does she want out of life?

To be like her peers at her middle school. She also wants to be accepted by them to the point she denies who she is.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)

She’s afraid of spiders. Which is ironic considering who she meets!

Did you write more than one story about her?

Yes. I started writing a short story for the LA Times section. I had Lupe in first grade and wanting to share her favorite story to her classmates. This is when she still believed in her grandmother’s tales of Ixtumea and the Spider Goddess.

I’m a former first grade teacher. I wondered what would happen if Lupe was one of my students and on her sharing day instead of bringing the usual princess book she brought a book based on a story from Ixtumea. I can only image the reaction from my class!

How would she describe you?

Someone who reads too much and actually believes some of Abuela’s crazy tales!

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share.

Though Lupe’s mother deserted her, she still loves and fantasizes about her returning. So when she finds her, mixed emotions surface. These feelings are almost too much for her to bear.

Please provide your website link.

http://www.kim-baccellia.com/

What is the link to buy your book?

http://www.amazon.com/Earrings-Ixtumea-Kim-Baccellia/dp/0978215710/ref=cm_pdp_profile_rp_title/002-6210995-3381637?ie=UTF8&coliid=I276MLTEY89D4E&colid=18LHS97ZDM307

It was wonderful to meet her. Thank you for bringing her to meet us.

Dancing on the Edge by S L Connors

Tell us about your heroine - the female lead in your book.

What's her name?

The heroine in Dancing on the Edge is Callie Michelle Rowan.

Why did you pick that name?

I wanted a unique name, something that signified delicate nature but strength of will. Calla Lilly is a beautifully delicate yet strong flower, and a Rowan is a sturdy, stead-fast tree, thus encompassing Callie's character traits. Funny thing is once I'd chosen the name; it suddenly popped up in several places. A peer writer had also chosen the name, as well a couple of TV drama shows suddenly had Callies. Ugh! Isn't that the way?

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

Callie is petite built, five foot four inches, shoulder length golden brown hair, lightly sun-streaked. She has feminine curves: shapely legs, small waist, an average bust line and a lean athletic build. A soft mouth not overly full lips, heart-shaped face with hazel eyes that change color according to her moods.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

No other than the fact her appearance is deceiving in that she appears too delicate to be in her chosen profession. This tends to put her at an advantage in dealing with suspects. Callie is a police detective.

Who does she love? Why?

Callie loves her family for obvious reasons, animals so much the she can't bear to watch or read anything where animals are hurt or endangered. And last but not least, Callie loves Evan Pochesko, her best friend and soon to be partner. Evan is the only man with which she has ever achieved a healthy, risk-free, trusting relationship. They have been extremely close albeit, platonic friends since the Police Academy and have shared happiness, sadness, hurts, and disappointments. No one beside her family knows her better and no one of the male species but Evan will even get as close. Callie has shut herself off to matters of the heart.

Does this person love her?

Absolutely, more than life itself.

Tell us about her family.

Callie's family lives in the Northeast while she resides in sunny Southern Florida. She is a daddy's girl and even followed in her father's footsteps as far as career choice. Her father is a retired Philadelphia street cop. Callie's mother is a loving and nurturing woman of gentle principles. Callie also has a younger brother who married his high school sweetheart and now has a family of his own affording Callie two nephews who she enjoys whenever she goes home to visit.

Where is she from?

Philadelphia, PA though the family summers were spent at the Jersey shore.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

absolutely

What does she want out of life?

Independence and someone to share herself with without losing herself.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)

I'll waive this question at the risk of sharing too much.

Did you write more than one story about her?

Yes, a sequel is in the works.

How would she describe you?

Everything she is and everything she is not. She is the person I strive to be but somehow fall short.

It was wonderful to meet her. Thank you for bringing her to meet us.

Now Available at http://www.lulu.com/ (print version) and http://www.fictionwise.com/ (ebook)

Websites:http://www.sharonlconnors.com/http://www.romawolftales.com/

Tara's Honour by Bryn Colvin

What's her name?
Tara.

Why did you pick that name?
I’d been struggling for a while to find the right name, then, coming home from a folk club in Birmingham one night, a friend mentioned his daughter in London – he hadn’t said anything about her previously. Her name is Tara, and as soon as he said it, I knew that would be the perfect name for my heroine.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.
Tara is quite pale skinned for an inhabitant of Estraguil. She is lightly built, graceful and tends to wear dark colours. She has a striking, memorable face – not beautiful exactly, but unmistakably her own. She has an unassuming presence and tends to look thoughtful. She smiles readily however. Her dark hair looks green in sunlight.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance? By the standards of Estraguil, Tara is quite unremarkable. She doesn’t have any major deviations from normal human form.

Who does she love? Why? Tara loves her family, even though her relationship with her mother is strained. She admires her father and adores her younger brothers. She has a deep bond with Mist – her avowry who has sworn to protect her. Tara also has a strong attachment to her former mentor, Emyr. Although she gives readily of her care and affection, she has never really been in love with anyone.

Does this person love her? The vast majority of people in Tara’s life return her affection. To her knowledge, no-one has ever been in love with her.

Tell us about her family. Tara comes from the Tolthian kith- a group who prize learning and knowledge above all else. Her father Rhys is a lore master, as is her uncle. Her mother – Lia prefers working with animals and is practically minded. Tara has two younger brothers – Faolan and Lavel. In addition to this, her familiar household also includes Will – her father’s avowry, his mate Orna, and Orna’s daughter Joy. Joy is a marcher child – no one knows whether it was Rhys or Will who fathered her. Will and Orna have a daughter – Mist, who is of an age with Tara and is Tara’s avowry. This domestic arrangement is entirely normal in Estraguil society.

Where is she from?
Tara lives in a tref – a small settlement of people who share a kith group. They live deep in the forests of Estraguil.

Does her hometown affect her behaviour, thoughts and attitude? Very much so. Like her community, Tara prizes learning and knowledge highly. She believes that everything can be rationally figured out, given time. She also believes in honour – coming from a culture where the giving of your word is the basis of the law, and all interactions, she struggles to comprehend how anyone could be dishonest – not an ideal condition to be in when conducting a murder investigation.

What does she want out of life? Tara wants to qualify as a lore master in her own right. At the outset of the book, she hasn’t thought beyond that. She’s not an especially ambitious person and has little idea what she wants to do with herself.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.) At the outset of the book, Tara has no secrets. Her life and heart are open books that anyone can read. By nature she is an open and trusting soul, but as she becomes exposed to the dark secrets of others, she loses some of this innocence.

Did you write more than one story about her?
As yet I’ve only written one story, but I might revisit her.

How would she describe you? Coming from such a radically different world and culture, there are many things about me that would confuse her, especially the technology I use. She might mistake me for a Straifian, because I am a musician and a writer, and their kith prizes those skills. My own hunger for learning and sense of honour would probably seem familiar to her, but she would be perplexed by the sexually restrictive culture I live in, and by our lack of care for the environment. She would be equally intrigued by our similarities and differences, but I doubt she would try to describe me in anything other than my measurable quantities – that I am taller and broader than her, with brown hair, brown eyes and dexterous fingers.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share. Tara’s particular area of study involves trying to predict the movements of the fickle moon. Estraguil has two moons – the constant moon is large and has an entirely predictable cycle. The fickle moon is much smaller, and although it has been studied in detail, no one has unlocked the mystery of its cycles. Tara has spent two years making observations and trying to plot the course this smaller moon with take.

Please provide your website link. http://bryncolvin.mysite.orange.co.uk

What is the link to buy your book? http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/chapters/TarasHonour_BrynnethColvin.shtml

MACBETH'S NIECE by Peggy Herring

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.

A young Scottish girl, raised in the Grampion Mountains. Her father's brother is the thane of Glamis, Macbeth.

What's her name?

Tessa macFindlaech

Why did you pick that name?

Tessa is a student I once had with similar looks and an independent spirit. MacFindlaech is Macbeth's last name (son of Findlaech).

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

Tessa is tiny but lovely, with green eyes and unruly auburn hair.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

Tessa is a bit smaller than is deemed healthy by Scottish mothers looking for women to bear strong children for their sons. Contrary to appearances, she's healthy as a horse!

Who does she love? Why?

She is attracted to Jeffrey Brixton, an English spy sent to encourage rebellion against the king of Scotland, Duncan.

Does this person love her?

Jeffrey is attracted to her as well but won't admit to it. When they're thrown together, he usually retreats into anger to hide his feelings for her.

Tell us about her family.

Tessa is sent to live with her uncle, Macbeth. His wife is rather cold but not unkind. She teaches Tessa the things a good wife must know about keeping a house.

Where is she from?

When the book begins she goes to live at Glamis Castle, on the eastern shore of Scotland.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

Tessa was raised in the mountains, since her father rejected his noble background. When she's sent to Glamis, she must learn to live in a more refined world. She is expected to be meek and quiet, but she isn't always good at it.

What does she want out of life?

Tessa doesn't want to settle for a "good" marriage with a man she does not love. She feels there is more to life than that.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)

Tessa is attracted to Jeffrey, but he kidnaps her and takes her to England, so he is her enemy.

Did you write more than one story about her?

I'm at work on the sequel, which concerns Tessa's sister and her quest to find Tessa.

How would she describe you?

Tessa would see me as someone too taken up with sitting still. She'd tell me to get out more and do things.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share.

Tessa is very human, and through her eyes we see a very real Macbeth. They both make mistakes, and they both struggle on, accepting the blame for their failures. The fact that one succeeds and the other fails is what life is all about: our choices define us, but how we deal with the results is what makes a great story.

Please provide your website link.

http://www.pegherring.com/

What is the link to buy your book?

MACBETH'S NIECE will be available from Five Star in January of 2008 through Amazon, bookstores, and libraries.

Email: pherring@m33access.com

Website: pegherring.com

Blog:http://theplaysthething.blogspot.com/

Plays: available from Drama Source and Playscripts, Inc.MACBETH'S NIECE, coming January of 2008 from Five Star

Kelly Heckart - Of Water and Dragons

We want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force.Who causes friction is the story?

There is more than one negative force in Of Water and Dragons. The Roman legions play a roll as a negative force trying to bend the Celts to their will, but one character, a female warrior named Rhonwyn, causes friction in the story, but she isn't an evil person. She acts on love and ends up causing trouble for herself and everyone else.

Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?

I like both bad boys and bad gals. It depends on the plot of the story. How do you use your bad guys? So far, the bad boys or girls I have written are not totally evil. Something usually happens to change their thinking or they have a redeeming quality about them.

Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?

I enjoy writing troubled characters. I think that makes them more real because we all struggle with our inner demons.

Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?

I think everyone has a dark side and only some decide to act on it at some point in their life. I find it interesting as to what exactly causes that breaking point within a person. As a writer, it is also fun to get inside a villain's head and get to act out my dark side that way.

Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?

I think I would have to say Morgaine from White Rose of Avalon, which is going to be released November 16, 2007. She isn't an evil being, but in her desperation to save Avalon, she nearly destroys everyone she cares about. Because of that, some people might view her as evil.

Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?

I am going with a t.v. character because he really defined a redemptive bad boy in my eyes. Spike, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, once a totally evil vampire without a conscience, goes through a change and gives own life to save Sunnydale in the last episode. The drastic change he went through was believable.

Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".

Kelley Heckart

Author of Of Water and Dragons,

"an appealing amalgam of magic, erotica, military history, and romance that will leave readers breathless in its wake." Ellen Tanner Marsh, NYT best-selling author
http://http://www.kelleyheckart.com/

Tempted by Rita Thedford

Okay -- its time to tell us about that hunky hero in your book.

What's his name? Christian Delaford, the eight Duke of Haverton

Why did you pick that name?
Hm. Not really sure about that one. Guess I just liked the sound of it. He is a Duke so had to be the Duke of something. Give us a brief description of how he looks.

The heroine, Elizabeth, calls him “a beautiful but savage beast” and I suppose he is. Christian is a big man and very dark, perhaps from his travels in the Orient. He wears his hair longer than is fashionable in Regency England (ties it back at the nape of his neck) and isn’t the sort to wear evening gloves. He’d probably laugh in the face of anyone who dared suggest it! Oh, and that long hair? Black as sin. His eyelashes are perhaps the only pretty thing about the man. They are black, thick, and frame eyes the exact color of a rainy day. Yummy. Is there anything unusual about his appearance? Well, yes, his hair. He wears it longer than what was fashionable during that time period and tends to club it back.

Who does he love? Why? He loves several people, actually, besides Elizabeth, the heroine. His first love was his mother, who is deceased, but her memory is alive in his heart. He also loves, in a pure sense, An Li. Christian first saw her as a slave girl when he was on business in China. She is a tortured soul whom Christian rescues. He buys her freedom and brings her to England with him. It is Elizabeth whom he most loves. Yes, she is beautiful but there are plenty of beautiful women in England. No, he loves her fiery spirit and the loyalty she feels for those she loves.

Does this person love him?
Every woman in Christian’s life loves him. He is immensely loveable once you get past the powerful, masculine good looks. Elizabeth fears the things he makes her feel but she soon learns that beneath the surface of that very broad chest beats a chivalrous heart. She is mad for him! Tell us about his family. Are they important to him? His mother was vastly important to Christian and helped shape his views about women and his relationships to them. His father was a despicable adulterer who broke his mother’s heart. Every protective instinct he now possesses is due to the ill treatment of his beloved mother.

Where is he from? He is an Englishman and a member of the aristocracy. Though he is well-traveled, he has residences in London and several large estates scattered throughout England.

Does his hometown affect his behavior, thoughts and attitude?
Absolutely not! Christian is a man of the world and not one who would give a fig what anyone thought about him. His travels have perhaps influenced his more liberal attitudes. What does he want out of life? I believe that more than anything, Christian wants to live in peace with the woman he loves. He wants her intelligence and wit challenging him daily. He wants to be free of intrigue and the manipulative ways of others. Christian is a man who would be perfectly content to grow old with his love by his side. If he did, on occasion, go adventuring, Elizabeth would be with him.

What's his biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)

Perhaps Christian’s biggest secret is that deep inside, he is a compassionate man. He is so big, tough, rich, and powerful that people view him with awe. Inside, he is a pussycat.

Did you write more than one story about him? No.

How would he describe you?

Christian finds me funny. Let me rephrase that…humorous. He finds me an amusing companion with whom he could share a joke or two and perhaps a glass of brandy by a crackling fire.

It was wonderful to meet him. Thank you for bringing him to meet us.

By the way, do you have a picture of him that you'd like to share?

No. No pictures unfortunately but if I could describe him, he would look a bit like Clive Owen with a bit of Daniel Day Lewis’ intense eyes tossed in. Mmm. I love an intense hero with a heart of gold.

Tempted- by Rita Thedford
published by Wings ePress
Available now at http://www.wingsepress.com/
Paperback ISBN 978-1-59705-911-0
Ebook- ISBN 978-1-59705-098-9

“The Daemonhold Curse”

"The Daemonhold Curse”

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.

What's her name?
Dame Arinna Cabal

Why did you pick that name?
I often sound names since I’m also a traditional storyteller- a sennache—so it has to sound right.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.
Arinna Cabal, scrubbed clean and dressed up, was a delicately beautiful woman in her late twenties. Her short red hair combed out and framed her face to highlight sharp cheekbones and bright blue eyes. She wore combat leathers and full breeches with high boots and wore a short rapier on her hip. Her whole demeanor cried out of barely contained energy, as if eight feet of personality had been confined in five feet of woman.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?
She would be petite, except that she is muscular with a fencer’s thighs. An elf that can kick any butt she wants to.

Who does she love?
The great love of her life is Yuzen, a tall dark haired dancer. She is also closer ‘than a lover’ to her friend Erique Shoutte –they practically grew up together and are life long friends.

Why?
Yuzen is a girly girl and they make each other laugh. Erique and Arinna have trusted each other with their lives dozens of times and with complete confidence.

Does this person love her?
Yes. Yuzen loves her and Erique would do anything for her.

Tell us about her family
Arinna is the daughter of Master Braphon Cabal, the head sword instructor of the Acadamy Kova, and is his best student. Her mother died when she was a young teenager and she is very close to her father.

Where is she from?
She was born and raised in Cozen, the capital city of Tolan, and where the Academy Kova is located.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?
Her whole life was within the confines of the Academy among devout Kova priests and would be priests. Despite that, she retains the religion of her mother, the worship of the Goddess of Light: Yoni. Since the Kova do not proselytize, this is not unusual.

What does she want out of life?
She has no deep mission like Erique or her father. She is a swashbuckler who enjoys the moment and is devoted to the ‘way of the sword’ and to having fun.

What's her biggest secret?
Can’t tell you that one….

Did you write more than one story about her?
So far, she appears in a ‘cameo’ in a short story about Erique and is the costar with him in the Daemonhold Curse and its sequel, but I expect she will be showing up in more stories.

How would she describe you?
Lazy with terrible sword form.

It was wonderful to meet her. Thank you for bringing her to meet us.

Available from http://www.epress-online.com/ in September

The Coming Evil by Greg Mitchell

The Coming Evil

Book One: The Strange Man

by Greg Mitchell

What's his name?

Dras (drAHz) Weldon, slacker extraordinaire.

Why did you pick that name?

I wanted something you didn’t hear everyday. Something really unique.

Give us a brief description of how he looks.

Taken from the book: “With sandy-blonde hair that could never retain a coherent shape and a face young and untouched by the rigors of the world, Dras possessed that little brother quality that women always found attractive on a simply platonic level.” Is there anything unusual about his appearance? Unusual how? He doesn’t have, like, an unsightly mole or anything.

Who does he love? Why?

Well, that’s a loaded question. In the beginning, he loves only himself. But, as the story progresses, he realizes how much he loves his best-friend-since-the-embryonic-stage, Rosalyn Myers. She’s the one that the Strange Man is after. She’s the reason Dras chooses to fight.

Does this person love him?

Yes. How much she loves him, even she doesn’t realize.

Tell us about his family. Are they important to him?

His older brother Jeff is a major player in the series. Jeff pretty much got everything right that Dras got wrong. He’s responsible, happily married, well-liked, and just a good, decent guy. Needless to say, Dras is resentful of that, feeling that his brother is living his nice, shiny life in front of him as a way to rub it in. Dras’ parents are good, hard-working folk who are forever patient with Dras and his refusal to grow up, but, again, once he starts down this road that will lead to a showdown with the Strange Man, he begins to see his family in a new light and realizes how much they mean to him. Where is he from? He was born and raised in his little town of Greensboro, but many would argue he came from Mars.

Does his hometown affect his behavior, thoughts and attitude?

Absolutely. Greensboro is the town that never changes. While this has prompted many people Dras’ age to pull up stakes and find their fortunes elsewhere, Dras really sees his town as his sanctuary. It’s familiar to him. Safe. He surmises that, as long as he stays there, change will never find him. Boy, is he wrong…

What does he want out of life?

Play video games. Read comics. Hang with Rosalyn. Avoid responsibility wherever it might rear its ugly head. What's his biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.) He doesn’t really have a big secret. He’s pretty much lived his misspent life in front of God and everybody without shame. Well, there was that time in third grade when he flooded the girls’ bathroom, but…

Did you write more than one story about him?

I wrote a whole trilogy dealing with the one fateful choice he made to “put away childish things” and take on the forces of darkness. It’s called The Coming Evil and you should really be reading it now.

How would he describe you?

Probably as really, really mean. I’m the one who upset his peaceful existence by introducing him to the Strange Man.

The Coming Evil, Book One: The Strange Man

"Evil comes for us all...and for some of us, it's already here."

http://www.thecomingevil.com/

http://www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com/

The Coming Evil, Book One: The Strange Man by Greg Mitchell

The Coming Evil
Book One: The Strange Man
by Greg Mitchell

Who causes friction in the story? A demon known only as “The Strange Man”.

Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?

Bad gals. Don’t ask me why, but I think they’re more interesting. Maybe that’s just me being a chauvinist, or whatever, but when I see a girl-gone-bad, I wonder about the wounded little girl inside and how I might help her. Awww…

How do you use your bad guys?

As they say, your hero is only as good as your villain. In the case of The Coming Evil, the villain is sort of a blessing in disguise. Those who should be heroes have, basically, fallen asleep on the job. And it’s only when they’re faced with the Strange Man that they realize that. I don’t really see bad guys as opposition but as an awakening. We don’t know what we’re made of until we’re tried and tested.

Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?

I really like writing the Strange Man because he’s just so nasty. He’s really that dark side of me—if I had no compassion, no mercy, no love, no Christ—I think I would be a lot like the Strange Man. He’s much more a mystery in this first book, but as the series progresses, we’ll learn more about what makes him tick. I’m looking forward to that. I think his reasoning might surprise you.

Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way.

Again, he’s the dark side of me. He’s my fears, my insecurities, even my anger. So writing him—and more importantly writing about those who overcome him—is a way for me to battle my own demons. It’s really cathartic.

Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?

Well, the Strange Man is the only bad guy in the books…so far. I’ve got other favorites that appear later on in the trilogy, but to tell you would spoil it. So, I’ll just say the Strange Man for now. Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? I know I should pick some famous character from literature—like Moriarty or something—but I’m going to have to say Freddy Krueger. That guy terrified me as a kid (still does, come to think of it) because he was just so happy about being evil. He got such a thrill out of seeing others suffer and, to me, there’s nothing scarier than that. It’s not the cold, methodic, sophisticated mastermind. It’s the deranged lunatic that gets a giggle from visiting terror on others. Frightening.

The Coming Evil, Book One: The Strange Man
"Evil comes for us all...and for some of us, it's already here."
http://www.thecomingevil.com/
http://www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com/

Tempted by Rita Thedford

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.

What's her name?

My heroine in Tempted is Elizabeth Grayson. Because this is a regency historical and her father is an Earl, she is a ‘lady’ or a ‘miss”.

Why did you pick that name?

Some historical names of the day just didn’t suit her personality. Hortense just wouldn’t cut it for this elegant woman. Elizabeth seemed an elegant name and was also used in this time period. Give us a brief description of how she looks.

My hero describes her as “an exotic flower, more tropical than domestic” and I believe he’s correct in his assessment. She is tall for a woman in this time period, perhaps five-eight, long auburn hair, long legs, violet blue eyes that are somewhat almond shaped. She is also very fair.

Elizabeth Grayson is elegant and almost regal in her bearing. Quiet and reserved. Is there anything unusual about her appearance? Her eyes are probably the most unusual thing about her. She is very intelligent and shrew and this shows in her eyes.

Who does she love? Why?

She loves Christian Delaford, the eight Duke of Haverton. He’s handsome, strong and not what she expects a man to be. Beneath his austere, dark appearance, he has the soul of a gentleman and is chivalrous and caring. To Elizabeth, he is unlike any other man.

Does this person love her?

Oh, yes! At first, Christian wants her. He wants to crack the cool reserve she hides behind to find the fiery woman beneath. She is a woman of secrets and he’s a very curious man. When he learns her frightening secret, he longs to protect her…perhaps from herself. He finds in Elizabeth a depth of compassion and caring that he never expected.

Tell us about her family.

Elizabeth is greatly loved by her warm and generous parents. They have suffered great loss through the death of their daughter, Elizabeth’s sister, Charlotte. Elizabeth’s mother, Millicent is vivacious and funny wanting so desperately for Elizabeth to make a wonderful life for herself despite the family tragedy. Lord Henry is a gentleman through and through, who adores his daughter while despairing that he couldn’t save his other daughter from a husband’s abuse. He is tortured by his failings and doesn’t want to fail Elizabeth as well.

Where is she from?

Elizabeth lives in England during the regency period. Her parents have a home in London and several other country estates. Her family is very wealthy.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

No. I don’t think so. What does she want out of life? More than anything she wants to avenge her sister’s horrific death. When it becomes clear this will be harder than she imagined, she channels her quest into helping other women whom the current laws do not protect.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)

Her biggest secret is that she leads a very dangerous double life, and yes, there is a spoiler here). She does, however, have another secret that I can share. She wants to believe there is such a thing as happy ever after. Desperately, she hides the soft, tender heart of a woman who loves and needs and desires.

Did you write more than one story about her?

Nope. This is it.

How would she describe you?

Elizabeth would describe me as a good listener and a compassionate friend. She hasn’t many friends but I know her better than anyone else.

It was wonderful to meet her. Thank you for bringing her to meet us.

Rita Thedford

Tempted- a sizzling romance set in regency England available now at http://www.wingsepress.com/ Golden Wings Award Winner

FIVE ANGELS- Fallen Angel Reviewshttp://www.fallenangelreviews.com/http://www.ritathedford.com/