Showing posts with label heroes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heroes. Show all posts
12.02.2014
All About Heroes Interview With Diana Nixon
I'd like to welcome author Diana Nixon to Suspense, She Writes. Diana is a bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romances. Her novel In Your Eyes is scheduled for release December 16, 2014.
2.21.2014
All About Heroes Interview With Janet Lane Walters
Please welcome Janet Lane Walters to Suspense, She Writes. First, tell us a little about yourself, Janet.
As I usually say I've been writing since the dark ages, the days of typewriters and carbon paper. Actually I began in 1968 with short stories and graduated to novels when the short story market dried up. I took a break in the eighties to put four children through school and returned to writing in 1994 when I retired. In 1998 I discovered electronic publishing and was off and running and haven't looked back. I tend to be what I call an eclectic writer since I am published in mysteries, suspense, romance - contemporary and historical, plus paranormal stories. I also have a few non-fiction books dating from the days when I was a ghost writer for doctors. Under JL Walters I have a four book YA fantasy series. I've been known to dabble in music composition, Astrology and I do love to read most everything. As I tell everyone, housework is my hobby since that's what I do in my spare time. Not sure how many books I have floating around the internet but there are at least 30. The next book is always my interest.
As writers, we often become emotionally attached to our characters. Who is your favorite hero you’ve ever written?
I'm fickle. Usually my favorite hero is the one in the story I'm working on at present. I have favorite villains and a lot of great heroes. Lately my favorite has been Jules from A Spicy Seduction. He's tall dark and sexy and has a bit of a past that messes with his present.
Have you ever fallen in love with or had a crush on one of your heroes? Tell us about him.
What an interesting question. I imagine I have crushes on most of my heroes. There's Simon from Rekindled Dreams who is the most alpha male I've written. Loved that he was tamed by a baby who wasn't his but the one belonging to his enemy and cousin.
How do you develop your heroes? Do you imagine their personality or their physical appearance first? Do they grow as personalities as you write or do you do a character sketch before you type the first word?
I use Astrology to cast all my characters focusing on the Rising Sign, Sun and Moon. This gives me the face they show the world, their inner nature and their emotional nature. Then I search for a name. Though I have all the info when I begin the rough draft, my heroes grow as I follow the plot line to make the story. Most of this is in my head rather than written down. One of my present projects has all my heroines being Cancers and the heroes are of the different signs. Right now I'm working on a Taurus hero, a music composer.
I like to give my heroes a personality quirk, just so they aren’t too perfect. Have you ever written a quirk for one of your heroes and what was it?
The quirk for my current hero is his obsessive amount of time he spends at the piano causing his hands to ache and needing help. Many times my heroes have quirky reasons for avoiding commitment until they find the right woman. One of my heroes in a fantasy romance can see and read lines of fire on the skin of others. So yes, they always have something that can be a roadblock to romance.
How do you name your hero?
I have a lot of naming books and I use them when I have trouble finding a name. Often the name pops into my head as I'm daydreaming about the character.
Who is your favorite hero in books, movies, or television?
Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. I've read the book maybe 16 times and watch the A&E production of Pride and Prejudice at least once a year. At present I've been following Sherlock and have found Sherlock to be fascinating.
Who is your hero in real life?
Would have to say my husband. He's a psychiatrist and has been known to tell his colleagues that my writing is an obsession he has no intention of curing.
Tell us about your most recent release and where we can find it. Who is the hero and what do you like about him the most?
This is a hard one to write since my latest release arrived on the shelves last week. This is a collection of short stories and novellas in which the heroes of four of the stories are transported to another world. They are princes of Rivand and all descended from the Riva family. They all have black hair and green eyes. They are captured by a witch who demands they love her and on refusal are transported to another world where they must find their way. Stephen saves a princess who has been turned into an amber dragon. Rafel is trapped in a tower and must choose one of two princesses. Ivor must compete musically to save a princess. Kristen has loved the heroine since he first saw her trapped in the amber gem. He must free his family from the curse she set on the Riva family.
Thank you for being here today, Janet. She has so many releases to choose from! Here is the blurb for her book Spicy Seduction released in December 2013.
Trusting others isn't in Jules Grayson's nature. With the firm belief that those he loves will leave him, he always leaves first. When a wedding and a business project force him to return to the Hudson River village, he finds the only woman who ever turned him down.
Will the attraction to the best man at a wedding where she's the Maid of Honor lead Grace to break her vow of no man in her life until she is completely financially secure? And can their passion chase the dark shadows from their past?
Here's an excerpt from Spicy Seductions...
"You can't go back there."
He ignored the young woman and opened the door. Heat, a touch of vanilla
and rum hit him. The aromas formed a collage with the other scents with no
single one stronger than the others.
The baker stood beside a marble-topped counter. She wore a long apron
tied at her slender waist. Temptation to see if his hands could span her waist
nearly made him forget his reason for being here. A white net covered hair as
dark as his. Would her face match the delectable rear view? She held a plastic
bag and swirled icing on a cupcake. The door closed with a loud snap.
Without turning, she held one of the confections. “Try this and let me
know what you think.”
Jules accepted and smiled. The voice belonged to the woman of the brief
phone calls. During those moments he’d conjured a face to match the husky tone.
The image belonged to the only girl who had turned him down.
What if? Such an occurrence would be beyond belief. The thought stirred
his dick.
Cool it, dude.
Jules bit into the pastry. The spice, rum, pineapple, dates and cherries
blended to perfection with the cake.
“What do you think?”
Her question pulled him from a sexual haze. What about sex with me
licking icing from your breasts? Had he said that aloud?
“Well?” She turned.
He nearly dropped the rest of the cupcake. Here was the face from his
memories and the star of his teenage fantasies. Alarms clanged. Trouble. He
drew a deep breath and smiled. This time he intended to reach his goal.
“Actually it’s great. Fruitcake flavor but light. The spices and fruit
blend perfectly.”
****
A frown creased Grace’s forehead. Did she know this man? Something
resonated in her memories but a name didn’t bob to the surface. He resembled
the faceless man of her fantasies. Had the same hair color, not long but short
and styled. Was he someone she’d seen on TV, except she usually watched cooking
shows, not sports or movies?
“How did you get in here?”
“Via the door.”
His crooked grin brought a name closer to the surface. Did he look like
someone she should recognize? “And Bonnie let you come back?”
“The arrival of some customers diverted her.”
Grace sucked in a breath. Who was he? He was too young to be one of the
men her mother had dragged home. “Do you really think the cupcake is good?”
“I do.” He finished the last bite and crumpled the paper. With a flick of
his wrist he tossed the small wad into the trash bin across the room.
His smooth voice flowed over her skin like a swatch of velvet. Whoever he
was, he’d talked about her treat like a man who knew food. Was he a rival? Had
he come to steal her recipes? He certainly hadn’t come to ask for a job. Not
when what he wore looked custom made.
“What will you call this one?”
Grace stepped back. The cold marble of the worktable edge pressed against
her back. “Fruitcake.”
“Not like any I’ve ever tasted.” He grimaced. “Hate holiday parties when
the hostess presses dark dense stuff she’s ordered by mail or baked.”
Grace laughed. “I’ve eaten some of them. For me, this is trial sixteen.”
You can find Janet at the following social media sites..
Twitter http://twitter.com/JanetL717
12.17.2012
All About Heroes Interview with Jennifer Eaton
Today, my guest is Jennifer Eaton. I met Jennifer through the Still Moments Publishing author group.
First, tell us a
little about yourself. Well, like most writers I have a day job. I’m an office professional. After work I put on my mommy hat. I have three great boys under 12 and a
wonderfully supportive husband. Around 9:00 every night I tuck everyone into
bed, close myself in my office, and become a writer.
As writers, we often
become emotionally attached to our characters. Who is your favorite hero you’ve
ever written? Probably Harris Stanton. He’s a very tragic hero, a boy with a big heart striving to
do the right thing, but being pushed in the wrong direction because of “who” he
is. He is a character in an Si-Fi
Fantasy novel I wrote a few years ago.
For now, Harris has been shelved, but I hope to bring him back to life
in a year or so.
Have you ever fallen
in love with or had a crush on one of your heroes? Tell us about him. To an extent, I
have a soft spot for all of my characters. A year ago I would have said Harris. Right now, I am crushing on David, the
hero from my current work in progress Fire in the Woods. He is a wonderfully lost and sweet
teenager who has a huge responsibility that he’s not quite sure if he is ready
for.
How do you develop
your heroes? Do you imagine their personality or their physical appearance
first? Do they grow as personalities as you write or do you do a character
sketch before you type the first word? For David, I had
a picture image in my head before anything. I knew exactly what he looked like in great detail. When I started writing him, he was a
little “flat” to be honest. It was
somewhere in the second draft where he really started to come alive with
emotion and personality. I did do a character sketch for him, but I kind of
just let him “happen” within the constraints of his background and current
setting. I’m really pleased with
who he’s become.
I like to give my
heroes a personality quirk, just so they aren’t too perfect. Have you ever written a quirk for one of your heroes
and what was it? Well let’s flip over to a different “hero”. Jack in Connect the Dots is a
complicated guy, but very real. He
has a temper, and can be easily blinded when he makes a decision. He’s far from “perfect” but I wanted
him that way to keep the story centered and believable. As far as silly quirks, he has pet
names for everyone. “Slugger” for
the female lead in the story, and “Nicky Bomb” for her daughter.
How do you name your
hero? I’d love to say that I have this big, complicated
algorithm for naming my characters, but that would be a big old fat lie. When I
write Science Fiction, I tend to scope through the dictionary and look for
interesting words that sound neat, and have a meaning that suits the character. At the same time though, the names must
be easy to remember. I find it
distracting in novels if I can’t remember a character’s name because it is too
complicated.
In Connect the Dots, the name “Jack” just flew
out of my fingers as I typed. I’m
not really sure where it came from.
“Jill” followed soon after.
I figured I’d change the names later, but Jack and Jill just seemed so
completely right for them.
Who is your favorite
hero in books, movies, or television? Oh wow, this is a
tough one. In my mind, when I think of hero I think of big and epic, not an
everyday person. I don’t really
watch television, and I can’t
think of anyone particular in a book, so I guess I’ll shoot to a movie.
Recently I saw Thor and just loved it. The character of Thor was wonderfully
portrayed. He’s this big almighty
god, thrown off his pedestal and having to come to grips with being like
everyone else. His reactions to me
were very believable. I love the journey he takes that leads him to
understanding that he is not the most important thing in the universe. And he kicks butt, too, which is always
fun. [Grins]
Who is your hero in
real life? I had to stop and think this over. This is a tough question, isn’t
it? As a writer… my hero at the
moment is author Claire Gillian. I
read her novel the P.U.R.E. recently, and it was the first novel written in
first person that I really enjoyed.
Actually, the voice is what made the novel awesome. I contacted her, and she agreed to talk
about “voice” for a day on my blog.
A few months after, I decided to give first
person a try for myself. It was
hard, and I was convinced I was flubbing it up. On a hunch, I contacted her and asked her to read the first
ten pages. She was nice enough to
do so, and gave me some pointers.
I thought that was really nice of her, and my writing became stronger
because of it. She really
encouraged me. I thought that was
great.
Tell us about your
most recent release and where we can find it. Who is the hero and what do you
like about him the most?
I am lucky enough to have two
winter releases coming out this month.
Connect the Dots is part of Still Moments For the Love of Christmas anthology. The hero, Jack, is a very unlikely
romantic lead. Yes, he is tall
handsome with broad shoulders, but he is not the stereotypical perfect dream
guy. That’s what I like about Jack… that he has faults and he is normal. Jack is just the guy in the next cubicle that you overlook
everyday… until someone else goes after him and you realize what you missed out
on. [Smiles]
Also just released this month is Last Winter Red in J.Taylor
Publishing’s Make Believe anthology.
The Hero in this story is Paul, who is struggling with the grief of
losing his wife, and trying to raise a daughter on his own in a Dystopian world. What I like about Paul is how devoted
he is. He will do anything to
protect his daughter, and will even risk his own life to save a friend. He is another essentially “real” person
facing real problems that I think people will be able to identify with.
You can find For the Love of Christmas containing Connect the
Dots on Still Moments Publishing’s ebook store, Amazon, and Smashwords.
The Make Believe Anthology containing Last Winter Red is
available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and
J Taylor Publishing.
I really enjoyed having Jennifer as my guest today. You can find her at the following sites.
J Taylor Publishing.
I really enjoyed having Jennifer as my guest today. You can find her at the following sites.
Twitter
@jennifermeaton
Promo Page:
jennifereaton.com
Blog:
jennifermeaton.com
11.12.2012
All About Heroes Interview with MJ Kane
Today my guest is MJ Kane author of A Heart Not Easily Broken. I met MJ through a group of wonderful new author friends with 5 Prince Publishing.
First, tell us a
little about yourself.
I am a stay-at-home mom with an overactive imagination that
has found a way to put it to use! I’ve gone from being an avid reader, to a
writer. Writing has helped me find myself…becoming a published author has
solidified it! I’ve been married to my high school sweet heart for
eighteen-years and have four beautiful children, and two dogs. Well, ten if you
count the fact my female has just delivered her first litter of puppies, eight
beautiful black and white balls of fur. Can’t wait to sell them!
As writers, we often
become emotionally attached to our characters. Who is your favorite hero you’ve
ever written?
Oh man, that’s a hard question! Since I am writing a series,
and only one book has been published so far, it’s hard to tell. I have very
soft spots for all of my men (all six of them!) and have outlines started for
the following five books in the Butterfly
Memoirs Series. So far, readers have only been introduced to Brian Young,
the sexy blond haired, blue-eyed bass player in A Heart Not Easily Broken. Since he is the first male character I’ve
ever written, I know he will forever hold a soft spot in my heart.
Have you ever fallen
in love with or had a crush on one of your heroes? Tell us about him.
Honestly, yes!
I guess it helps that all of them, despite what race they are, have a
small facet of my husband in them, as well as research and imagination as to
what type of man my heroine needs. As much as I love Brian, Zachariah Givens,
has developed a soft spot. He’s
not your typical hero. He’s an introvert, loves his mother, and is a computer
wiz. Yet he’s extremely passionate about the one he gives his heart to, and
since he’s been hurt, he doesn’t give it freely. He’s exactly the kind of man
the heroine needs. You can look for him in the next book in the Butterfly Memoir Series, Jaded, coming March 2013.
How do you develop
your heroes? Do you imagine their personality or their physical appearance
first? Do they grow as personalities as you write or do you do a character
sketch before you type the first word?
I put a lot of time in developing each of my
characters. Once I have
established the storyline, I decide exactly what I want my ‘man’ to look
like. My books are romance, yet
focus on the development of not only the heroine, but the hero as well. Once
‘she’ has been developed, I look for personality traits that will turn her on
and off, because let’s face it, no one wants the ‘perfect’ man. Sometimes
rubbing her ‘the wrong way’ can be a good thing! Nobody wants a push over! My
men may be willing to give his woman the world, but he will never allow her to
put him down. He knows how to handle her even when it pisses her off. I often
watch movies and study actor’s movements, voice, attitudes, etc. I get very
deep into developing them. At times, it feels as if I’m having an ‘affair’! LOL
I like to give my
heroes a personality quirk, just so they aren’t too perfect. Have you ever written a quirk for one of your heroes
and what was it?
Not, necessarily a quirk, but they do have flaws, don’t we
all? Too perfect makes them unrealistic.
Their flaws come from trust issues, past experiences that led to them
being unsure about themselves or the heroine, and having to overcome their
‘macho’ facade for the one they fall in love with.
How do you name your
hero?
I research popular names from year they were born. Then, I
imagine what it would be like to…ahem…call out that particular name when
properly prompted. If it rolls off the tongue, that’s the one!
Who is your favorite
hero in books, movies, or television?
Hmm…right now, from books, Izzy from the Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockman, the Black
Dagger Brotherhood Vampire, Rhage,
from J.R. Wards series, and Ranger,
from the Stephanie Plumb novels by Janet Evanovich. Movies, Aragorn, from Lord of the Rings (Viggo Mortenson), and TV, Alec
Hardison (Aldes Hodge) from Leverage.
Who is your hero in
real life?
My father, Warren Kelly, who was the first African-American
Fire Chief in the state of Georgia back in the early 80’s. He died in 1985 when
I was ten.
Tell us about your
most recent release and where we can find it. Who is the hero and what do you
like about him the most?
My debut novel, A
Heart Not Easily Broken, book
one of the Butterfly Memoirs,
can be found on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for Kindle
and Nook as well as paperback. It is also available on iTunes.
The story is an Interracial Romance between Ebony Campbell,
who is black, and Brian Young, the white, blond haired, blue-eyed bass player
who refuses to take no for an answer. What I love most about him (and fans of
the book seem to agree!) is his persistence. He doesn’t let the fact she’s
uncomfortable with their racial differences deter him. He keeps after her, whittling
down that barrier until he gets what he wants: her heart. He’s also very
supportive of her career and never pushes her to give up her dreams to accommodate
him or his needs. He’s there for her when she needs him, even when she tries to
push him away. And when he screws up, he’s man enough to admit it and beg for
her forgiveness.
I can't wait to start reading my copy of A Heart Not Easily Broken.
Here's an excerpt from the book...
Her
attention appeared to be on something in her purse as she walked my way, so she
hadn’t seen me yet.
She
was not dressed as she was Saturday night. Her hair wasn’t flowing over her
shoulders, tempting my fingers to get lost in its waves. Her legs were not
bare, nor did she wear a skin tight, short dress, showing off shapely calf
muscles, as she had the other evening. Instead, she wore a baggy shirt over
pants with some kind of printed design, something like standard medical wear.
She wore her hair in a ponytail, and her feet were in tennis shoes. She
struggled to balance an armful of books of various sizes and a book bag over
her shoulder.
Ebony
was still sexy as hell.
“I’m
glad you haven’t got started yet. My roommate called me at the last minute and
told me you were coming. I don’t have any cash on me. Do you take checks or−?”
Her voice faltered when she saw me. “Brian? What are you doing here?”
I
caught a hint of fire in her eyes and something else. Maybe guilt for not
meeting me in VIP?
“I’m
here to cut your grass.” I screwed the top back on the gas can, fighting the
urge to laugh at the irony of the situation.
Play it cool. I was not about to
let her know how disappointed I’d been sitting alone. What happened a few
nights ago had nothing to do with the money she was about to put in my pocket.
“I
thought you were a musician.”
I
pulled goggles and gloves out of the driver’s side door pocket. “I am, but it
doesn’t pay the bills just yet. This is my day job.”
Ebony’s
eyes traveled to the truck and my cousins before settling back on me.
“This
is my business,” I added, watching her thin eyebrows arch.
Since
I hadn’t questioned her about the VIP incident, she seemed to relax. The sound
of a lawnmower cranking up broke the awkward silence.
“Well,
I’ll get out of your way.” She backed away from the truck and headed for her
house.
It
dawned on me I did not answer her question regarding the form of payment. At
least it would give me something to talk about when we were done.
Saturday
night, Ebony disappeared like Cinderella, without leaving a hint of a glass
slipper. Now, barely two days later, I found where she lived. What were the
chances? This was fate.
I
took the opportunity to appreciate every inch of her hidden under baggy
clothes. The image of her in the black form-fitting dress revealing every curvy
inch of her body had haunted my dreams.
Outside
the club, in natural light, Ebony did not disappoint. Her almond shaped eyes
were a rich shade of brown, dark and mysterious. She wore no makeup on her
caramel skin, and her lips were naked, with no hint of gloss.
I
chuckled when she finally got her front door unlocked. It appeared she’d run
into some trouble with her key. Flustered perhaps?
I hoped so. With a little luck, I just
might have a chance to get her to talk to me about more than grass.
You find MJ on the internet at the following links:
10.01.2012
All About Heroes Interview with Ceri Hebert
Today I have as my guest Ceri Hebert. I met Ceri through the Still Moments Publishing writer's group. I read her wonderful story Yesterday's Tomorrow. You can find my review here.
First,
tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in Minnesota but my parents in their best
move ever, brought the family out to New Hampshire. Moving from a city to the
country was a culture shock, but I fell in love with the state. I’ve been
writing since I was about 12 years old and “strange” things were happening in
my neighborhood (all of which had explanations, I’m sure, but to a 12 year old
everything was a mystery.) As I grew, my interest in writing never died, even
though I wanted to do other things with my life, like being an archaeologist,
paleontologist, museum curator, Olympic horseback rider, and actress. I actually
went to college with those things in mind. Somehow I ended up working in
offices after college. It took me about 15 years to really get the writing
going. I still work in an office, but when I come home to my husband, three
kids, dog and two cats, I write as much as I can. I’m still in New Hampshire
and, even in winter, I’m happy to stay.
As
writers, we often become emotionally attached to our characters. Who is your
favorite hero you’ve ever written?
That’s tough. I love Ben from Sweet Forever. He’s romantic and a regular good, hardworking guy. I
have a work in progress with hero Jonas, a man struggling to keep his family
hotel on the Maine coast running. He’s patient and romantic and ready to step in
to be a father figure to the heroine’s newborn.
Have
you ever fallen in love with or had a crush on one of your heroes? Tell us
about him.
Ben and Jonas. Oh, and Craig from the sequel (not yet
released) to Sweet Forever. They’re all strong men who can be tender with those
they love. It helps that I base them on actors or musicians who I already have
a crush on.
How do
you develop your heroes? Do you imagine their personality or their physical
appearance first? Do they grow as personalities as you write or do you do a
character sketch before you type the first word?
Their personality and story is first to emerge but I
generally have an idea of what they look like as I’m figuring them out.
Actually, I rarely do character sketches. I probably should.
I like
to give my heroes a personality quirk, just so they aren’t too perfect. Have you ever written a quirk for one of your heroes
and what was it?
Actually, I don’t. I really should. That being said, my
heroes aren’t alpha males. I like
small town guys with regular jobs. They’re ranchers, run hotels, horse rescue
facilities, are cops and volunteer firemen. And they’re happy that way.
How do
you name your hero?
I used to want soap opera names but now my guys have
everyday names. Sam, Alex, Craig, Patrick. Ironically I’m more likely to give
my heroines odd or uncommon names.
Who is
your favorite hero in books, movies, or television?
Yikes, I couldn’t pick just one. I loved Jack in Men In Trees. He was outdoorsy, handsome, shy but
gentle. The Phantom in the movie Phantom of the Opera. Okay, so he wasn’t the
hero, but OMG he was sexy, damaged but sexy!
Who is
your hero in real life?
Again I can’t pick just one person. I truly admire (as
cliché this might sound) our armed forces. Those men (and women) who sacrifice
everything to keep us safe. I can’t imagine a more perfect hero.
Tell
us about your most recent release and where we can find it. Who is the hero and
what do you like about him the most?
Yesterday’s
Tomorrow isn’t my most recent release, but it’s one of my
favorite stories. It’s a sweet short story about a middle aged woman who’s
dissatisfied with what appears to everyone else as the perfect life. Perfect
job, perfect paycheck, and a successful husband. When she wakes up one morning
in her twenty-three-year-old body she has the unique, and very difficult
opportunity to change everything and take a chance on a new future or make sure
she does everything the same way this second time around. The story focuses on
three different men, the straight-laced, nose-to-the-grindstone man who’d
become her husband, the sexy, intense artist who she secretly had the hots for,
and her very best friend in the world who was always there to offer a shoulder
to cry on. Poor Lila has some decisions to make!
Here’s a short synopsis of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.
No one needs a mental health day more than
forty-four year old Lila Weidner, but when the overworked HR director wakes up
in her twenty-three year old body, she's left wondering what is going on. Where
is her life as a successful business woman? Where is her equally successful
husband? And how is she going to maneuver through the day in order to stay on
the same path she followed over twenty years earlier? Lila soon rediscovers old
dreams and old friendships that she left behind and wonders if this is her
chance for another shot at a truly fulfilling life. Does she dare to step off
her original path and allow yesterday to become her new tomorrow?
My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ceri-Hebert/183730891671970
My Twitter: @CeriHebert
My webpage: www.cerihebert.com
My blog: http://cerihebert.wordpress.com
9.24.2012
All About Heroes with Chantel Rhondeau
As writers, we often
become emotionally attached to our characters. Who is your favorite hero you’ve
ever written?
Well, that is a hard question. I
really love all the characters I write (even the bad guys) but I’m really
enjoying writing the hero in my current WIP. Donovan is a very flawed man with
lots of issues in his past. We are still figuring out what they all are so he
can redeem himself.
Have you ever fallen
in love with or had a crush on one of your heroes? Tell us about him.
Well, honestly, I wrote Zach in Always & Forever based on the type
of man I’m attracted to. I’d have to say I have a bit of a crush on him.
How do you develop
your heroes? Do you imagine their personality or their physical appearance
first? Do they grow as personalities as you write or do you do a character sketch
before you type the first word?
I like to have my heroes’ major
personality and character traits sketched out before I start writing. Usually,
I start with a secret, what one thing they wish to hide from the world. I build
on that, figuring out what they look like, what their strengths are, and what their
weaknesses are. Then, I flesh everything else out as I write.
I like to give my
heroes a personality quirk, just so they aren’t too perfect. Have you ever written a quirk for one of your heroes and
what was it?
I like my heroes to be a bit
flawed. Zach is arrogant. He doesn’t mean to be, but he was born into money. It
becomes a problem when that clashes with Lilly’s lower-class lifestyle. He does
try to be helpful, but the poor guy doesn’t realize how he comes across
sometimes, and tends to get himself into trouble.
How do you name your
hero?
I find names I like and keep
them on file. Then, when I start a new project, I figure out which name fits
the personality I’ve imagined.
Who is your favorite
hero in books, movies, or television?
Hmmm… funnily enough, I am
totally in love with Eric Northman from Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse
books, but he’s a vampire and not always a nice guy. Since I’m usually
attracted to beta males, it is surprising to me that I’m so impressed with him.
And, if you’ve ever watched True Blood on HBO, based on those books, the actor
playing Eric is very sexy!
Who is your hero in
real life?
So many men to admire. This is
tough. I’d have to say my son. He is so amazing. He’s going to be a police
officer and just left to college.
He is a wonderful, compassionate person. I can’t say enough about that
kid!
Tell us about your
most recent release and where we can find it. Who is the hero and what do you
like about him the most?
Always &
Forever is now available on Nook,
Kindle, and as a paperback through Amazon.
Zach Woodbridge is trying to
have a quiet summer writing his new novel, but his plans are thrown out the
window when he meets his grandmother’s new assistant, Lilly Price. Zach has
been hurt in the past and guards his heart against love, but he can’t deny the attraction
he feels for Lilly. When a man from Lilly’s past returns and makes threats,
Zach must do everything he can to protect the woman he loves. Zach is mostly
beta male, but also has a backbone. I love Zach most because he is a gentleman and strong enough
to make a woman feel safe.
Always & Forever Book Blurb
A suspected murderess flees her former life in search of tranquility, but ghosts she left behind refuse to die, threatening to destroy her happiness.
Lilly Price is desperate to escape public scrutiny once released from her incarceration. She moves to a lakeside community in hopes of remaining anonymous while rebuilding her tattered life.
Widowed Zach Woodbridge is in no hurry to find a new bride. He longs for a peaceful summer, writing at his lakeside cottage. Things change after an introduction to his grandmother’s new assistant, Lilly.
When Lilly’s secrets are revealed, can their fragile relationship weather the storm? And when a man from the past returns to reclaim Lilly, using any force necessary, can she and Zach protect the people they love?
CONTENT WARNING: Violence, mild language, sizzling love scenes.You can find Chantel's book at the following sites:
Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/always-forever-chantel-rhondeau/1112557514?ean=2940014900386
Chantel's links:
Website: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChantelRhondeau
9.10.2012
All About Heroes with Maggie Devine
I'd like to welcome author Maggie Devine to Suspense, She writes. I met Maggie through the Still Moments Publishing writer's group.
First, tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in Ontario and did my undergrad at The
University of Toronto and post graduate work at Leeds University in the UK. I
think my love for writing really bloomed when I lived in England. My mother is
from Liverpool and I have always loved the UK, we vacationed there a lot when I
was a child as some of my mum’s family still reside there. But living in
England while I was at school really brought the countryside into a whole new
light. Suddenly my history degree had more meaning, and my romantic sensibilities
exploded with each weekend venture I took with friends and family. A country so
steeped in history soon gave way to many ideas and stories, which I jotted down
upon napkins along the way and stray pieced of A4 (British version of
loose-leaf paper).
It wouldn't be until years later that I would find
the nerve to actually write my first full manuscript which is still sitting
somewhere at Mills & Boon in England in their editorial department.
Since submitting my first full-length book, I have
published four short-stories with Still Moments Publishing and have finished
another two full manuscripts - both unedited at the moment.
I am currently living in Vancouver, British Columbia
where I am involved with the Greater Vancouver Chapter of the Romance Writers
of America, and am working frantically to get all three manuscripts edited for
submission (and re-submission) so that I can start the other three stories I
have in the proverbial ‘hopper’.
As writers, we often become emotionally attached to our characters. Who
is your favorite hero you’ve ever written?
My favorite I would have to say is Shane Smith from
'The White Lion'. There is just something about his compassion for his
disgraced uncle that I find attractive. He is a successful businessman who grew
up in humble surroundings, but who also has a bit of an edge about him. Cocky
but not overtly arrogant, I think he is wonderful. Add to this the fact that he
is good to his mother and he is near perfect in my eyes.
Have you ever fallen in love with or had a crush on one of your heroes?
Tell us about him.
Ahhhh, Garrett Leatherby. You have not met him yet
but he is in my completed manuscript that is sitting at Mills & Boon. I
adore him because he is very much a philanthropist at heart. Like Shane from
the question above, he does not forget his humble roots now that he is a
Hollywood A-Lister and does a lot for those who are less fortunate in his own
city of L.A. He is tall, handsome, kind and has good family values. He is not
what you would expect which is why I adore him.
How do you develop your heroes? Do you imagine their personality or
their physical appearance first? Do they grow as personalities as you
write or do you do a character sketch before you type the first word?
My
hero’s usually grow off of a picture that I find first. I usually choose a
picture from a magazine, or a character from a TV show or movie I like. Garrett
Leatherby’s look in my manuscript, ‘Interior Accident’ is based on Josh
Holloway’s character called “Sawyer” from LOST. I have a few pictures of Josh
that were key to my description of Garrett. In one he is just coming out of the
water, shirtless of course, and he has two days of facial hair. In Garrett’s
opening scene he looks like Josh as Garrett has just finished filming a pirate
movie. The other two pictures I have, Josh Holloway is looking directly at the
camera with a cheeky grin, one with teeth showing the other close-mouthed. In
these two pictures you can see his jaw line, his dimples and the shape of his
nose and his full bottom lip. He is a sexy man and has the colouring and look that
I wanted for Garrett Leatherby. He is perfect.
I like to give my heroes a personality quirk, just so they aren’t too perfect.
Have you ever written a quirk for one of your heroes and what was it?
My
latest manuscript, which is less than 10,000 words away from being complete, is
a Historical Romance. Anton Avery is my hero. I wouldn’t say Anton has a quirk
as much as I would say he fancies himself all
in control and hard as nails. He is not amused by women at the moment, and
feels they are nothing more than a manipulative species out to trap him for
their own benefit. Though he thinks he hates them all and is bullish in his
ways, he is far from it in his heart. I would call him a steel-coated
marshmallow – that is his quirk.
How do you name your hero?
Very
carefully. Based on where the story is set, I will research names and places
and come up with a few variations. In my latest manuscript, I chose Anton’s
last name of Avery based on an
English pirate, Henry Avery, who died in and around the late 1600’s. Anton Avery is a direct descendant one
hundred years later in my story and though his pirating ancestry does not play
a key role in the book, it gives rise to thoughts about who he really is and
where the family money really came from. I love to have a historical point to
proceed from, it helps me develop my characters personalities and my story
lines.
In
my latest story, which has been recently released by Still Moments Publishing,
called “MANATEE KEY” in Love’s A Beach, the name Adams is loosely related to a
historical family in the American Navy, but Bryce is a purely fictional
character, completely made up by myself and my imagination. It is nice however,
to be able to give Bryce a pedigree, it makes him seem more real to me that way
and hopefully to my readers as well.
Who is your favorite hero in books, movies, or television?
Oh,
that is an easy one – Mr. Darcy from the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice. I love his
character in the book, and Collin Firth really brought Mr. Darcy to life on the
screen.
Who is your hero in real life?
Currently,
I am without a hero but I have not given up hope – I am still taking
applications for leading man in ‘my life’.
Tell us about your most recent release and where we can find it. Who is
the hero and what do you like about him the most?
You can find Maggie at this web site.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
