On The Window Seat wtith Lisa Swallow

Today, the Limitless Publishing author, Lisa Swallow joins me on the window seat! It’s a little dreary here today, but I’m sure having grown up in Europe yourself, Lisa, that you are used to such weather. Anywho! Welcome and thank you for keeping me company!

First things first, tell us five things about yourself as a person and as a writer (genre, hobbies, personality, are you a little on the quirky side?)

I write in the New Adult genre (paranormal and contemporary), I’m a gamer, I’m an introvert who avoids cameras at all costs, I’m originally from the UK and still find it strange when kangaroos hop down my street. One day, when I was writing Soul Ties, I was so engrossed I didn’t notice there was a bush fire heading my way. Not until emergency services knocked on the door an told me to evacuate.

And here I was thinking a career in writing wasn’t life threatening hehe. So when did you first start writing, Lisa? Was it just an unbridled urge to write or had it been a matter of ‘it’s now or never’?

I started aged nine when my poem was published in a local newspaper. By fourteen, I wrote my first book. This was a story of a vampire who fell in love with a girl at high school. Unfortunately I was a bit ahead of my time and it never got published!

Love hearing of people starting young! :) Is there a reason as to why you write? And what’s your favourite part about being a writer?

I write because I love creating characters and worlds to lose myself in, and have other people read and like those characters and worlds too. My favourite part about being a writer is when people tell me they enjoyed my book!

What inspires you? The novels you read? Other authors? Life itself?

Reading inspires me, especially well-crafted stories and characters. Or I might see something or hear something and think what a great idea for a story. My local writing group has been a huge inspiration for me too.

When did your writing dream become a published reality?

My first book was published July this year.

What was the hardest part of the publishing process for you?

Finding a publisher I felt I fitted with. I chose the e-publishing route.

 It’s so important to find a publisher you feel you can work with! Do you have any inspirational words for aspiring writers?

Write and read! I think all writers say this? Practice the craft, learn what other writers have to share and keep going.

I agree with you 100%! Now, could you pitch you current/upcoming release to us in ten words or less?

Because of Lucy their lives won’t be what they planned.

Lovely! So who is your favourite character in Because of Lucy?

Evan. He’s a real mix of personalities and I like them all!

What’s next for Lisa Swallow?

I also write paranormal romance and the second book in the Soul Ties series, Torn Souls, is due for release later this year. I’m also writing a sequel to Because of Lucy. I originally intended the book to be standalone because it has a happy ending, but readers want more Ness and Evan. And as they’re both nineteen, I doubt their story is over yet...

I wish you all the best with everything! Now for some fun!

Have you kissed the Blarney Stone, Lisa? If you haven’t does the thought of dangling over the edge of a medieval castle to kiss a saliva (and good knows what else) covered stone make your head spin?

 

You make it sounds so appealing! Maybe I’ll visit and leave the stone-kissing to others while I go and explore the local countryside (and pubs).

The estate surround Blarney Castle is beautiful. Even if it is bucketing down and the wind’s blowing you away. My characters in Deceive Me in Ireland visit Blarney. My heroine, Cara preferred to walk the ground too hehe.

Now for a question to appeal to our readers visually, but which Hollywood star would you choose to play your hero and heroine? And if not one, are they a mixture?

When writing Because of Lucy, I was also watching a lot of Supernatural so in my mind Evan began to look like Jared Padalecki (but not as tall). Ness is trickier because I don’t have anyone in mind. A lot of the Hollywood stars are too skinny - Ness has curves.

Now, for all writers, there’s something magical about creating a novel. What is your favourite part of creating a novel? Are you a Happily-Ever-After kind of writer, a cheeky black moment maker, or a first-sight-and-first-kiss kind of writer?

I’m a plot twist kind of writer! One of my ARC readers for Soul Ties said she got whiplash from all the twists and turns. I love when readers couldn’t see the twists coming and I hear their reactions. And in Because of Lucy, Lucy’s identity is secret until half way through the book. I’ve only had one person tell me they guessed who she was before she was revealed!

love twists as a reader - as long as they make sense within the plot they definitely keep you reading on.

That’s an answer I haven’t heard! Thanks so much Lisa for joining me. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next! Readers, if you’d like to get to know Lisa more you can contact her at the following links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lisaswallowbooks

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lisa_swallow_au

Website: www.lisaswallow.net

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091632.Lisa_Swallow

 

And if you like the sound of Because of Lucy, here’s a little more to tempt you!

"In life, there are some people you have to lose in order to find yourself."

Ness’s parents are shocked when she turns down her place at Leeds University and takes on a full-time job in a call center. Determined to begin her adult life the way she wants, Ness moves to Leeds to live with her best friend Abby.

One night she meets Evan, who is everything she hates about guys. He may be hot but he’s also drunken, arrogant, and on top of that, he apparently has sex with girls and forgets about it. But Evan isn't what he seems and Ness soon discovers they have more in common than she thought.

Evan is struggling to escape from his past too, and when Lucy appears she threatens his new relationship with Ness. Unsure if she can deal with the effect Lucy has on Evan, Ness makes a decision about her future which pulls them apart.

When their new lives don't go as planned, Ness and Evan are both faced with difficult choices. All because of Lucy. 

*Recommended 17+ due to strong language and sexual content*

 

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Because-of-Lucy-ebook/dp/B00EUSMJHK

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Because-of-Lucy-ebook/dp/B00EUSMJHK

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18217862-because-of-lucy

On The Window Seat with Tamara Hoffa!

Today, fellow SCP author, and lover of cowboys, Tamara Hoffa joins me on the window seat to enjoy some of Ireland's beautiful sunshine. 'Sunshine in Ireland?' you might ask. Well, yes! Despite Ireland's high rainfall, we get some beautiful sunny days here. I like to think that you appreciate the sunny days more here for a times, they can be rare. :)

And lucky Tamara! You've got your sunny day! Welcome. :)

Now to start things off, tell us five things about yourself as a person and as a writer (genre, hobbies, personality, are you a little on the quirky side?)

I am married.

I have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.
I love to read and cook.
I am basically a really shy person.
I write contemporary romance.

When did you first start writing? Was it just an unbridled urge to write or had it been a matter of ‘it’s now or never’?

I wrote angsty poetry in high school, but didn’t start writing for publication until 2012. I kind of fell into it. I saw an ad for a submission and contest and decided to give it a try.

 

An act of fate, me thinks hehe :)

So it started as an opportunity, is there a reason as to why you have continued to write? And what’s your favourite part about being a writer?

I love to read, and I wanted to share my own stories with readers. My favorite part is hearing from readers!

What inspires you? The novels you read? Other authors? Life itself?

Everything. So yes, Life!                      

When did your writing dream become a published reality?

September 2012.

What was the hardest part of the publishing process for you?

Don’t hate me, but I had no problems publishing. I got a contract on my first submission and my second, I’ve never gotten a rejection letter. I’ve been very lucky.

Haha, some say the first rejection is a rite of passage, but hey? I think that's wonderful that you a found a home for your novel the first time round. :) And in SCP no less!

So, do you have any inspirational words for aspiring writers?

It’s never too late to follow your dreams

Can you pitch you current/upcoming release to us in ten words or less?

A hot cowboy gets a second chance at love.

You had me at 'Hot' hehe!

Who is your favourite character in Roping Love? Should I guess?

Chance’s brother Chase. I am writing his story now J

Oh! You are just like me. I was crushing on my Jack's brother whenever I wrote about him in Jack's story. Though, Jack has charms of his own :)

What’s next for Tamara Hoffa?

A lot I hope! I have one manuscript in submission now, A Special Kind of Love, I am working on the sequel to Roping Love, Giving Chase and I am trying my hand at my first paranormal romance, Windy City Dragons, along with my blog partner, Beverly Ovalle.

Big plans! And plans I'm looking forward to! I love a good paranormal and Dragons are so interesting.

 

Are you reading a novel right now?

I read so many novels that I couldn’t begin to guess what I’ll be reading when this posts, so I’ll share with you the best book I’ve read in quite a while, Code Name Ghost. It is by a fabulous new author, Natasza Waters

Now, this author runs on coffee and the occasional nip of whiskey. What refuels your writerly engines?

Coffee, coffee and more coffee! When I am working I drink about 2 pots a day, with lots of flavored coffee creamer

We are kindred hearts haha.

Now, there’s something magical about creating a novel. What is your favourite part of creating a novel? Are you a Happily-Ever-After kind of writer, a cheeky black moment maker, or a first-sight-and-first-kiss kind of writer?

I am happily ever after kind of girl. I love a happy ending!

 

I know few who don't love a HEA! Now, that's our interview over, but I do hope you will come and stay again Tamara. :) Thanks so much for joining me.

 

Now readers, if you'd like to keep up with Tamara, you can find her at the following places:

 

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TamaraHoffa

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6537898.Tamara_Hoffa

Blog: http://sslyblog.wordpress.com/

 

And here's a little about her fabulous books:

 

Ten Years ago love slipped through Chance’s lasso. This time “He was going after her and she didn’t stand a chance, just like a calf in a chute, he was going to rope her with his love and ride back into her life.”

Carrie Stewart is a dedicated horsewoman. She runs a successful breeding and training program. She is a good friend, a good sister and a favorite aunt, but she has been burned by love. Carrie has never gotten over her first love, Chance Ryan. After ten years of absence Chance shows back up in her life. Should she risk her heart again, with the man who left it broken at her feet in the past? Chance has some serious work ahead of him to win back the one woman he could never forget.

 

Excerpt:

Chance felt like he’d been thrown from a bucking bronco. Ten years. He hadn’t seen her in ten years. And it was just like before. God, she was even more beautiful than she had been at eighteen. Time had matured her body, her curves a little fuller than they had been. Her hair was short now, almost boyish in length, but curling softly around her face it looked feminine and flirty. It was a deeper shade of blonde now too, a golden honey color that looked stunning against her sun-bronzed skin. What the hell was she doing here? And who the hell was the kid with her? Chance was busy doing mental math, the kid looked nine or ten. Carrie had called him several times in the months after he left. He’d never returned her calls. Could she have been trying to tell him she was pregnant? No it couldn’t be, she would have told him. Wouldn’t she have?

“I’d say small world, but since it really is a small world and we haven’t run into each other in ten years…”

Carrie arched one eyebrow, he always loved when she did that, it looked so haughty and hot.

“What brings you here?” Chance asked

“Same as you I guess, looking for some brood mares.”

“Actually, we’re selling this mare.” Nodding at the other, nearly forgotten man in the stall. “This is my brother, Chase.”

“Nice to meet you,” Carrie said, looking down at Tyler, “Well, we need to get to the Coliseum, Tyler wants to see the cutting.” Keeping her arm around his shoulders they turned to leave.

“We should talk,” Chance said

Carrie looked over her shoulder and stared him straight in the eye. “I think the time for talking is long past.”

The phrase she was so mad she could chew nails and spit screws ran though his mind at her look. Damn. He had really fucked things up between them. Why hadn’t he taken her calls again?

Oh, yeah, to give her a chance at a good life.

“I really need to talk to you.”

“There’s nothing left to say.”

 

 

Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Roping-Love-ebook/dp/B00CO9R68O/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1368021740&sr=1-1&keywords=Roping+Love

All Romance E-books: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ropinglove-1190964-149.html

Secret Cravings Publishing: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=584

Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/roping-love

 

On The Window Seat with Robert Wacaster!

Today, Secret Cravings author, Robert Wacaster joins me to share a nip or two off whiskey! I'm celebrating the release of the paperback issue of What Happens in Ireland and Robert is celebrating the up-and-coming release of his second novel with SCP, A Writer's Proposal! Sláinte Robert and welcome to Ireland!

And now, for the interview to begin :)

 

First things first, tell us five things about yourself as a person and as a writer (genre, hobbies, personality, are you a little on the quirky side?)

1. I not only love to write, but also like to make videos.  Not big productions things, but just small, fun youtube things.  I think those are some of the most fun to watch, too.  Much better than regular tv!  Feel free to take a look.  Quite a bit of eclectic videos!  *chuckle*  http://www.youtube.com/user/lvyoyo

2. Though I’ve written romance, my favorite kind of videos to make involve video games.  I’m not your typical romance author!

3. Though a lot of books that I’ve written involve romance, the most popular book I’ve written is a self published military novel.  It mostly involves a crazy naval crew and a dangerous pirate hunt.  It’s unedited and rough, but outsells all my other books put together!

4.  I’ve written for most of my life, but never really kept anything.  I didn’t start writing seriously until 2007 when I wanted to write a book about my completely insane job in casino security.  That was my first book.  Also rough and unedited it still sells occasionally.

5. I may seem outgoing and loud, but it’s mostly a front.  I can be pretty shy at times.  Quite a few women have inspired my writing without even knowing they have.

Interesting stuff, Robert! :) Typical or not, your welcome here haha. :)

When did you first start writing? Was it just an unbridled urge to write or had it been a matter of ‘it’s now or never’?

I think I’ve always been a writer.  Going back to when I used to beg my mother to let me “play” with an old typewriter, to creative writing in high school.  Something inside me always drove me to write.

Is there a reason as to why you write? And what’s your favourite part about being a writer?

For me I think writing represents a healthy fantasy life.  I’ve used myself in a number of the books I’ve writen and can see myself in the role of the character I write about.  It’s a way to send myself off to another world where I have different problems to deal with.  Usually fun and strange problems.  *chuckle*

I agree. I love my fantasy world. :)

What inspires you? The novels you read? Other authors? Life itself?

Life itself inspires me quite a bit.  I can find inspiration from all kinds of places.  One of the stories I’ve just had published called Beauty and the Bet was actually inspired by the owner of a new publishing company doing an internet radio interview.  She was speaking about how the publisher was looking for “something different” and my mind just went wild.  *chuckle*  I’ve been inspired by women I’ve known.  I doubt they even realized they’ve inspired stories, though.  I can find inspiration all over.

When did your writing dream become a published reality?

I self published my first book in 2007 and it’s still for sale.  A rough title called Adventures in Casino Security.  It’s not for everyone.  *chuckle*  But it does still sell a couple copies a month both in print and digital.  As for being published by a professional publisher, that first story came out 3/21/2012 and is called Kiss the Darkness.  It was published by Secret Cravings Publishing and is the story of a U.S. Air Force Sergeant who is blinded in Afghanistan.  He ends up falling in love with the nurse at the rehab hospital in Germany.  Not your typical love story, it does deal with a few rough topics such as survivor guilt, and some of the horrors of war.  Not really a happy ending, the main character is blinded for life.

What was the hardest part of the publishing process for you?

Promotion.  Definitely promotion.  Writing a book is easy, getting people to read what you’ve written is a bit more of a challenge.  A lot of times I don’t even know where to start.  If you’re a really popular author, getting your books noticed is easy.  If you’re a bit less popular…well...you’ve really got to work.  And even with a lot of hard work sometimes your books just don’t sell.  There is no secret to what makes a best selling book.

You're not the only one! In this new day and age with digital publishing more and more books are hitting the shelves. It's hard to stand out in such a big crowd. :)

Do you have any inspirational words for aspiring writers?

Keep writing!  Don’t think just because your first book wasn’t accepted by a publisher that you’ve failed!  Or if you’ve gotten a book published and it isn’t selling well, or isn’t even selling at all, don’t think you’re a failure!  People just haven’t noticed your book.  Keep in mind there are a few hundred thousand books coming out every week!  Amazon has millions of books for sale!  Keep writing!  There is one quote I like that goes “You only fail if you stop writing”.  So if you want to have things published, keep working!

Can you pitch you current/upcoming release to us in ten words or less?

Ten words?  Robert meets Katie’s parents and finally proposes.  Katie’s very happy.
That’s awful!  Just awful!  *chuckle*  How can you describe a story in just ten words?  I have enough problems trying to write blurbs for my books, let alone being limited in word count.  And this next release is the second book in a three book series.  So how do you only use ten words to describe the upcoming release while getting readers up on what went on in the first book?  *chuckle* 

It's not easy haha. I struggle with blurbs myself. I think it's because you want to tell readers so much. I have always battled with word counts haha.

Who is your favourite character in A Writer’s Wedding?

First, let me say that A Writer’s Wedding isn’t scheduled to be released until around December 2013 I think.  It’s the third book in a romance trilogy.  My favorite character is Matt Smith.  The character of Matt is based on my real life friend Matt and after writing his parts into the book I would send excerpts to him to make sure he felt the character was true to life.  Matt’s character is crude, rude, and just the guy who makes the Best Man role at a wedding fun!  An example of Matt’s character would be this: In the book the main characters have a Catholic wedding.  When Matt sees the priest in his formal wedding outfit and papal hat, he says “Are you the Pope now?  Robert, you’re being married by the Pope!”  Matt was really fun to write!

Haha, I have a few friends worried about what I'm going to do to them in my novels. My characters aren't them per say, as Matt is for you, but they have similar traits and my attachment to the fictional characters and my real friends are much the same. :)

So, what’s next for Robert Wacaster?

I’ve actually been working on (dragging out working on…*chuckle*) a series called The Mailroom Series for Front Porch Romance Publishing.  The first book which was just released is titled Beauty and the Bet.  The stories are kind of Twilight Zone type things and are a bit hard to describe.  The first story has an aging executive who thinks if she had the looks of a young intern, she could easily flirt and sleep her way to the top.  She ends up in the intern’s body, but things don’t work out the way she thought they would.  *chuckle*  The characters are guided through the stories by a mailroom manager named Earl who will appear in the sequel books.  The publisher said they wanted “different” and these stories are definitely different!  *chuckle*

They certainly sound so! Love a good body swap haha.

 

Now, I think of my muse as some being. An alter ego of sorts. Tell us about your muse. Are they male or female? Can you describe three of their personality traits?

My “Muse” is not so much a person as a thing.  Mine would be a projector.  It shows little scenes in my head.  And if I don’t write out the scene or story, they just keep running through my head over and over.  But once I write out the scene, the projector will move on to the next scene.  Strange, huh?  *chuckle*

Connecting it with you love of making films, I would not say so. But definitely a very unique Muse. :)

 

If you were about to encounter the rakish charms of an Irishman, what would you arm yourself with?

An Irishman?  He probably wouldn’t charm me at all.  I’m not an easy person to impress.  *chuckle*  An Irish woman however…well, that’s a different story.  I’m not sure I’d have much defense against a charming, sweet, Irish girl.  Like most American men I think her accent would draw me in and then if you were to add some charm on top of that,  I’d probably be putty in her hands!  *chuckle*


Haha, fair enough! :) You might like one of my sub-characters Jen then. She is a force to be reckoned with. :)

 

Now, this author runs on coffee and the occasional nip of whiskey. What refuel your writerly engines?

Mountain Dew and Pepsi.

 

Now for a question to appeal to our readers visually, but which Hollywood star would you choose to play your hero and heroine? And if not one, are they a mixture? (please provide pictures)

Wow, that’s a tough one!  I think for my romance series Robert should probably be played by Luke Wilson. 
And for Robert’s love interest Katie, I think she would probably look like a news reporter named Katherine Whaley.  Though she’s a reporter and not an actress, I do think she portrays the look that Katie would have.  

 

Now, for all writers, there’s something magical about creating a novel. What is your favourite part of creating a novel? Are you a Happily-Ever-After kind of writer, a cheeky black moment maker, or a first-sight-and-first-kiss kind of writer?

The favorite part for me would be the characters.  Seeing how they react to the situations I put them in, how things don’t go quite as they thought they would.  *chuckle*  My favorite part would be creating the characters.

 

Now, I’ve had some strange encounters where I’ve met my characters in real life. After I’d created them! Has this ever happened to you?

 

No, but I have used people I’ve know as characters.  It does happen.  In one book I took girls that I’ve had crushes on throughout life and mixed up their names for characters. 

 

Hahaha! I always warn people to watch themselves writers. If you're too interesting, they might just use you as one of their characters.

Well, that's the end of our chat for today. Thank you, Robert, for joining me. It's been a pleasure and definitely a very interesting chat.

For my readers, Robert would love to hear from you. :)
And here's the cover and links for Robert's novels! Happy Reading!

A Writer's Love Story:

 

Buy links:

Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/A-Writers-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B00B3VBM1G/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1375324804&sr=1-3&keywords=wacaster

Amazon UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Writers-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B00B3VBM1G/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1375324959&sr=1-7&keywords=wacaster

Barnes& Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-writers-love-story-robert-e-wacaster/1018396139?ean=2940016021430

Secret Cravings Publishing: http://store.sweetcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=122&zenid=18257ff915136b5ba40e7cf358e671c4

 

 

 

 

This sequel is scheduled for a release soon, so I don’t currently have any buy links.  But it’ll be out soon!