Blog Tours - What Would You Like to Know

I'm doing a tele-seminar next week about blog tours and I would love input from you all.

There are many things to discuss about blog tours and I worked out some initial questions to get people thinking - they are:

Discover Ways to Promote Your Book on a Virtual Blog Tour to Gain Greater Visibility and Sales

• What are the benefits of doing a blog tour?

• Should you promote your book in a blog tour?

• Should fiction and non fiction books be promoted differently in a blog tour?

• Should you organize your own blog tour?

• Why hire a publicist to organize your tour?

• If you hire a publicist, will you still need to work on the tour?

• Can you use a blog tour to promote anything besides books?

• Is there a new option in book blog tours?

But, now I need to create a couple of handouts and I'd love your input. Is there any specific info about blog tours that any of you think would be most helpful? Some folks here have done tours, some have hosted touring authors and I bet some of you have thought about doing a tour. So, since many of the people here are authors, I figured it would be a great place to pose the question. What information would you suggest I offer in handouts? Thank you all for your thoughts. There will be plenty of blog tour info coming very soon .

Nikki Leigh

PS - The answer to the last question is - most definitely. Stay tuned for much more information about that option - SOON. Or, contact me to be added to the mailing list - nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com with Mailing List in the subject line.

"The Second Line" by Sheryl Nantus

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

What's her name?

Jacklyn Amanda St. George (Jackie for short!)

Why did you pick that name?

It's classy and she's a classy broad. Can I say broad?

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

Young redhead with an attitude - jeans, torn combat jacket or leather jacket to get around; doesn't dress up. Ever.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

She looks very normal - which is good when you're a corporate spy!

Who does she love? Why?

No one yet... but there's someone on the horizon!

Does this person love her?

Maybe... there's a chance!

Tell us about her family.

Mother passed away from cancer; father... well, you'll have to read the book to find out. She's alone in the world.

Where is she from?

Toronto, Canada! (Parkdale, for the Canucks who know of where I speak!)

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

She loves her city and knows it inside and out - she loves the bars, the nightlife as well as the businesses she has to break into.

What does she want out of life?

Inner peace. Which is hard to get.

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

Ah... can't say. In book!

Did you write more than one story about her?

Just the one book so far... but there's always a chance for more!

How would she describe you?

A fellow Canuck who should really get out more.

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

Jackie's a self-made woman - a corporate spy who knows how to get what her clients want and how to make good money. She has money to burn, but doesn't show off. She loves her steak.

Please provide your website link.

www.sherylnantus.com

What is the link to buy your book?

www.mundania.com

www.sherylnantus.com

Late Night Sessions

What's her name?

Vicky

Why did you pick that name?

She’s named after Vicki Williams, a favourite folk singer of mine. My Vicky is a folk enthusiast living in the Midlands, and a flautist, while Vicki Williams is a singer songwriter from Wales who gigs with her husband Trefor – so aside from the folk connection they don’t have much in common.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

Vicky isn’t a great beauty, but is pretty in her own way. She’s on the tall side of average height, with curly, reddish brown hair that falls to her shoulders. Grief has taken a toll on her, and at the outset of the book, she looks gaunt and weary. Despite her relative youth (26) you can tell from her eyes that she’s been through a lot. Slow to smile, and prone to fits of deep melancholy, Vicky isn’t an approachable young woman, but when she plays her flute, you can see something of the joy and passion she had before everything went tragically wrong.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance? Aside from the marks of sorrow and hard experience, Vicky looks quite unremarkable. She is a typical, bright twenty something young woman, with jeans, doc martin boots and skimpy tops.

Who does she love? Why? Vicky’s life used to centre around her flatmate and best friend, Kirsten. Death has not destroyed her attachment, but she needs to move on. Her affections are engaged by Dan – a much older folk musician who has his own difficult past to contend with.

Does this person love her? Initially, Vicky has no idea what to make of Dan – he seems interested, but his personality is full of contradictions and he reveals little about himself. He isn’t an easy person to trust, and it takes Vicky quite a while to determine how he feels about her.

Tell us about her family. Vicky grew up in Malvern – a small town on the edge of the Malvern hills, in the UK Midlands. Her mother is an unpredictable matriarch, her father is laid back to the point of seldom bothering to communicate. Vicky has a younger sister, with whom she is on good terms, and a large extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins who all live in the same area. Although they are nice enough people, Vicky seldom knows how to relate to them.

Where is she from?

Malvern is an old town spread along the side of some very big hills. It’s a spa town, with a reputation for health giving mineral waters. Vicky grew up hankering after city life, and greater possibility. Having gone to Birmingham University for her degree, she stayed on in the city, only to find that wasn’t what she wanted either. Being the sort of person who can feel isolated anywhere, she’s never really found her place in the world.

Does her hometown affect her behaviour, thoughts and attitude? Vicky has struck out on her own, moving away from her hometown and trying to find her own ways of doing things. She rejects a lot of her parents’ attitudes, but is affected by the small town values she acquired growing up.

What does she want out of life? At the outset of the novel, Vicky has no idea what she wants. She isn’t happy with her job, she doesn’t like the city and has let a lot of her friendships falter. She’s single, but not really looking for love. Still trying to get to grips with her recent bereavement, she can’t yet plan for the future. Only when she knows herself a little better will she be able to figure out what she wants.

What's her biggest secret? Vicky still talks to Kirsten, even though the other girl is some months dead. Sometimes Kirsten seems to answer her, but this isn’t something Vicky feels able to share with most of the people in her life.

Did you write more than one story about her?

Vicky has the lead role in ‘Late Night Sessions’ but also turns up as bit part in the book I’m currently working on – ‘Hazel Arden’ which is also set in the Midlands.

How would she describe you? I’m very likely someone Vicky would enjoy jamming with as her flute playing would compliment me singing and playing the bouzouki. She would describe me as a fellow folky, and a druid like her friend Kirsten. I am the sort of person she could sit up late talking with, and would get along well enough with her eccentric older man.


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

Vicky is on a challenging journey, one that will bring insights, self awareness and hope. It takes her a while to discover her own strength.

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

What is the link to buy your book?

Late Night Sessions

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Late-Night-Sessions/dp/1934446076/ref=sr_1_1/202-6559455-6676664?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191227563&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Late-Night-Sessions-Bryn-Colvin/dp/1934446076/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_ttl_in/105-8048599-4428442?ie=UTF8&qid=1191227046&sr=8-8

Judgment Fire by Marilyn Meredith

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

What's her name? Deputy Tempe Crabtree, the Tempe is short for Temperance.

Why did you pick that name?
Tempe Crabtree was my great-grandmother's name. I never met her, but she was a strong and valiant woman who lived an exciting life. I wrote about her in an historical family saga called Two Ways West. The name seemed perfect for my heroine who is also strong, valiant and lives and exciting life.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.
Tempe is about 5'8" with long, black hair she usually wears in a single braid. When she's working she fastens the braid up with a barrette. Her Native American heritage also shows in her facial bone structure and her coloring. She looks a lot like my daughter-in-law who is part Indian and beautiful.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance? She has blue eyes, which is surprising to many.

Who does she love? Why? She loves her husband, Hutch, who is the minister of the local church. They've not been married long--both had previous spouses who died. Though they love each other deeply, at times they have problems because of Tempe's use of the spiritual side of her heritage.

Does this person love her? Hutch loves her as much as she loves him though he worries about the danger she often finds herself in--both physically and spiritually.

Tell us about her family. She has one son, Blair. He is now in college taking fire science courses. He figure predominately in the book I'm now writing.

Where is she from? She was born and raised in Bear Creek where she is now the resident Deputy.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?
Though she's a quarter Indian, she ignored that part of her life for many years. In Bear Creek, everyone knows her and she knows everyone. As a Native American she is treated much better now than she was growing up.

What does she want out of life? Tempe biggest desire is to have a long and loving life with Hutch. But she also wants to keep the peace in Bear Creek.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.) I don't think she has any secrets except when she does something that she knows will upset her husband.

Did you write more than one story about her? Oh, my yes, I've written a whole series about Tempe, seven books in all. The latest is Judgment Fire which brings up some painful memories for Tempe.

How would she describe you? If Tempe wasn't a product of my imagination and was the resident Deputy here, she probably wouldn't know me at all, since I don't get speeding tickets or cause problems in town.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share. In every book, Tempe does something that upsets her husband but enables her to learn something which helps her solve a murder.

Please provide your website link.
http://fictionforyou.com

What is the link to buy your book?
Judgment Fire and Calling the Dead, the latest in the series, can be purchased from http://www.mundania.com or ordered from any bookstore.

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

The Dowry Bride by Shobhan Bantwal

The heroine of my debut book, THE DOWRY BRIDE, is a twenty-one year old bride. She’s smart but naïve at the beginning of the story. She learns one or two tough lessons in living as the story progresses.

What's her name?Megha.

Why did you pick that name?In Sanskrit, Megha means “cloud.” The reason I picked the name is because she feels her parents named her Megha since she cast a shadow over them rather late in their lives, when they were older and already had two girls. She was an unexpected baby. Besides, a girl in many Indian families is considered a burden, and hence a shadow or dark cloud.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.She’s tall, rather thin, with big brown eyes, a full mouth, and long hair that reaches her waist. She wears it in a single braid. She wears saris at all times because of the culture she’s raised in.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?No particularly unusual, other than the fact that she’s taller than the average Indian woman.

Who does she love? Why?In the beginning she doesn’t love anyone, including the arranged marriage husband she’s been forced to marry. But later in the story, she falls in love with the man who shields her from her evil mother-in-law. She loves him (Kiran) because he has all the wonderful qualities she admires in a man – loyalty, bravery, and mostly, a kind and generous heart.

Does this person love her?Yes. He has always been in love with her, even when she was married to another man, but has never mentioned it to her because in an old-fashioned culture it is wrong to have anything to do with a married woman. Besides her husband is his own cousin. He can’t hurt his own family by declaring his feelings.

Tell us about her family.Megha’s father is retired and not in good health, which makes him cantankerous. Her mother is still quite young and beautiful, but she’s timid and totally under her husband’s thumb, so she can’t help Megha when she’s clearly in trouble. Megha’s two older sisters are well-settled in comfortable marriages even while Megha is a little girl because of the difference in their ages.

Where is she from?She is born and raised in Palgaum, a small (fictitious) town in southwestern India. She is also married to a man in the same town.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?Yes, very much so. When she runs from her in-laws and her husband after she discovers their plot to kill her, she has no place to go, precisely because it is a small town and she will be easily found. Also later, when she and Kiran fall in love, she’s afraid to surrender to the sentiment because in a conservative town they will be discovered and bring shame upon their respective families. Her thoughts and behavior are directly affected by the small town atmosphere she’s been raised in.

What does she want out of life?
Most of all, she wants to be independent and have a career, and at the same time she wants a caring man in her life, marriage and family.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)
She doesn’t really have one, until later, when she falls in love with her husband’s cousin.

Did you write more than one story about her?No. THE DOWRY BRIDE is the first and only story about Megha.

How would she describe you?She’d probably consider me a woman who’s too outspoken and too forward for her tastes. But she would probably envy my courage to do what I please, something she hasn’t learned to do.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share.Megha is good with words and has always dreamt about being a journalist. Her father won’t hear of her pursuing a career because in his old-fashioned world, women don’t need to work. They have to depend on their husbands for support. And Megha abhors the thought of being dependent on a man. But in her world she has no choice but to obey her father.

Please provide your website link.http://www.shobhanbantwal.com

What is the link to buy your book?http://tinyurl.com/24dlec

It was wonderful to meet her. Thank you for bringing her to meet us.Thank you for inviting me to share my heroine with you and your readers. I enjoyed creating Megha and love talking about her. This is the first time someone has specifically asked me so many interesting questions about her and her alone. I appreciate it.

Friday House by D K Gaston

From the novel: The Friday House by D. K. Gaston

Tell us about your heroine – the female lead in your book

She is a Special Agent with the FBI. She recently returned from a six month long medical leave. After surviving a brutal attack she has become clairvoyant. Before her visions appear, she suffers from a severe headache.

What’s her name?

Jamaica Kurtz

Why did you pick that name?

I wanted something that was a little different. I also wanted a name that would stand out. I’ve always liked visiting Jamaica and thought it would be a cool name for a character.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

Dark caramel complexion

Shoulder length mop-thick black hair

Almond shaped eyes

Unique amber eyes almost like the color of a peach

Who does she love? Why?

She meets a New York homicide detective Raymond Kilgore and she is starting to fall in love with him. They met under dangerous circumstances and bonded as they worked together to resolve the stories conflict.

Does this person love her?

He’s falling in love with Jamaica. She is unlike any woman he has ever met.

Tell us about her family

Jamaica’s parents are alive though they have a strained relationship with her. Her parents are scientists and wanted Jamaica to follow in their footsteps. When she earned several scholarships and picked a college and curriculum that her parents did not approve of, they cut her off.

Her father is American; her mother British. Jamaica has duel citizenships.

Where is she from?

Jamaica was born in Los Angeles (or so she believes).

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

It was not so much her hometown but more of her living conditions at home. Groomed to become a doctor by her parents, she was deprived a lot of things other children have experiences. She was home schooled until she went off to college. Her friends (they few she had) was handpicked by her parents.

When she went off to college, she developed a sense of humor, made friends and began to experience life late in life. It affected her dealings with men and she never maintained a relationship for longer than a couple of months.

What does she want out of life?

She surviving her attack and gaining her clairvoyant abilities, all Jamaica has wanted was to be normal again.

What’s her biggest secret?

Her clairvoyant ability and she also blames herself for the death of her partner.

Did you write more than one story about her?

Jamaica first appeared in my first novel XIII as a minor character. It was in that novel she is attacked and put into a coma.

How would she describe you?

She would describe me as a big teddy bear. (But don’t tell my wife.)

The Draconis and the Stallion by Laura Elliott

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

She has red eyes, flame resistant skin, a spiked tail, and she can breathe fire. Need I say more?

Wing is a sentinel – a border guardian between the human and Draconis world. That’s her people, the Draconis. They are the evolved descendents of dragons, forced to live in an alternate dimension to escape the centuries of butchery by humans.

It’s her job to keep the species separate to prevent more violence, and maybe someday, help pave the way to unite the two.

What's her name?

Codename is Wing, real name is Annie – but don’t tell anyone. She only lets people she trusts know her real name.

Why did you pick that name?

Wing sometimes imagines she can fly, the feel of wind in her face, the current underneath her, just like her ancestors. The only problem is that evolution took care of the wings, but it didn’t take away the desire to soar.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

She looks human, for the most part. Her facial features have a reptilian look, almost predatory. It helps her intimidate humans. She’s wiry and athletic – she has to be to do her job, as a border guardian. Chasing demons and escaped psychopaths is a great workout.

She has a long, whip-like tail with dozens of tiny spikes (it’s hell on the bed sheets). When Wing goes out in public, she wears long trench coats and wraps her tail around her waist, spikes out of course.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

You could say that. Her spiked tail is her best weapon, and her red eyes glow when she’s aroused.

Who does she love? Why?

She loves a human warrior who goes by the codename Stallion. She makes quite a few jokes at his expense for having such a crappy codename. He’s the first person to accept her as she is and not try to put her in a freak show or sell her to a research study. Plus, he makes one heck of a partner when it comes to catching the bad guys.

Does this person love her?

You bet he does. He’s never seen anything like her and that’s saying a lot. He’s a demon hunter. They met on a case of mistaken identity.

Tell us about her family.

She comes from a long line of border guardians, trained from birth to take her parents place as soldier and sentinel. She’s never actually lived in the realm of her people, the Draconis. She was born and raised among humans but never found acceptance among them.

Where is she from?
America. The FBI puts up with her existence because she keeps the bad things out of this dimension. And she pays her taxes.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

Not really. She likes humans, likes living on Earth but she’s never felt like she had a home. She walks among them in hiding, never able to show her true nature out of fear for her life. All she really wants is acceptance, maybe even love.

What does she want out of life?

A place to call home, love, and family. She might be able to breathe fire but in the end, she’s not all that different from the rest of us.

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

Her biggest secret – she’s afraid to spend the rest of her life alone, alienated from the world.

Did you write more than one story about her?

Not yet, more of her adventures will come soon.

How would she describe you?

As her torturer. I put her through hell, making her run for days on end with only scraps to eat, driven to catch demons and child-killers.

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

Please provide your website link.

http://laelliott.com

http://www.myspace.com/lauraelliott1

What is the link to buy your book?
http://www.eternalpress.com.au/

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

Fated Love by Darcy McKenna

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

What's her name? Sarah Cameron

Why did you pick that name? This will sound crazy, but the character told me what her name was. I’d been leaning toward Emily, but when I changed it to Sarah everything just started jelling.

Give us a brief description of how she looks. She’s five feet tall with long strawberry blonde curly hair and electric blue eyes.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance? She looks almost exactly like the long lost girlfriend of the hero of the story.

Who does she love? Why? She loves Jake Riordan. At the moment of their first meeting Sarah felt she’d met her soul mate, but she has some issues she has to get past before she can make that leap to truly loving him.

Does this person love her? Yes. Very much. But Jake has to get past his issues with his long lost girlfriend who Sarah resembles so much.

Tell us about her family. Sarah’s family died prior to the beginning of the book. Her mother, father and sister were killed in an automobile accident a year prior to the time frame in the book. The loss of her family made Sarah very leery of giving her heart to anyone again because she never wanted to feel that kind of pain again.

Where is she from? Memphis, Tennessee

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude? She’s very much a Southern girl.

What does she want out of life? She wants to become a well know artist and (deep down) to find that one perfect man to love her.

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

Did you write more than one story about her? No. This is the first story about Sarah.

How would she describe you? Hm. Probably as an obsessive reader who needs to get out more.

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

Please provide your website link. www.darcymckenna.com

What is the link to buy your book? www.thewildrosepress.com

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

Runaway Hearts by Terry L. White

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.: The heroine in my book is a real historical figure, a woman who was born a slave, helped take her family and friends North to freedom, a nurse and spy for the Union Army during the Civil War.

What's her name? Harriet Tubman, also known as Hat or Hattie, and Araminta as a child.

Why did you pick that name? Harriet Tubman was her real name.

Give us a brief description of how she looks. Harriet was a frail, wiry black woman.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance? No.

Who does she love? Why? Harriet loves Freedom. She had a husband but he stole her money and ran around with other women. His name was Tubman, but that is all he gave her.

Does this person love her? No.

Tell us about her family. Harriet’s family are all slaves. Her father runs a sawmill and she helps him.

Where is she from? Bucktown, in Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude? Her home town is part of a state divided on the question of slavery. Itinerant preachers tell the slaves that running away is stealing the master’s property, but the slaves know the Quakers and others will help them if they can get away from their home farm and avoid the patrollers.

What does she want out of life? Freedom.

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

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

How would she describe you? Harriet would call me an old white woman. I don’t know if she would like me.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share. Harriet stopped at nothing to achieve freedom for her people and herself. Harriet Tubman founded what historians call the Underground Railroad.

Please provide your website link. http://www.terrylwhite.com

What is the link to buy your book? www.ebooksonthe.net or Amazon.com

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

The TRUTH, I'm 10, I'm Smart and I Know Everything! by Dr Barbara Holstein

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book. The heroine in THE TRUTH, I'm Ten, I'm Smart and I Know Everything! is a ten-year old girl. She is funny, wise, honest and she really does know the truth about most things.

What's her name? Her name is never mentioned in the book, which is her diary over a two year period.

Why did you pick that name? Not giving her a name makes it easy to identify with her. She is really all of us -once, when we were young.

Give us a brief description of how she looks. She has light brown hair and hazel eyes. She is certain that she would be very pretty if she could wear make-up. Her mother won't let her. She has a space between her two front teeth.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance? No-except that she is growing fast and keeps getting taller while the boy she is in love with keeps getting shorter.

Who does she love? Why? She loves Paul. She doesn't know why. When he came to her classroom as a new student she just felt her heart turn over in her body and she couldn't stop the most amazing feelings from overwhelming her.

Does this person love her? No. He isn't aware of her passions.

Tell us about her family. She has one younger brother. They have a house. Her parents fight a lot and that upsets her. Sometimes they all have fun together, like going on mystery rides. She hates some of her cousins cause they tease her.

Where is she from? Somewhere out there in Middle America.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude? Yes. For example, it is safe and she can take the bus downtown all by herself and shop in the stores.

What does she want out of life? She wants to marry Paul. She wants to have her deepest questions answered. She wants to hold on to herself!

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.) I can't tell but it has to do with a locket she receives from her aunt.

Did you write more than one story about her? Yes, she will be my heroine in the sequel to the first book.

How would she describe you? A nice, smart woman who took the time to really understand her.

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

Please provide your website link. www.enchantedself.com

What is the link to buy your book? http://www.enchantedself.com/shop/
It was wonderful to meet her. Thank you for bringing her to meet us.



Post a comment for Dr Barbara Holstein in September and be entered in a drawing for a free copy of The TRUTH !

Only Moments by Nick Oliva

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

What's her name?Angela Vander

Why did you pick that name?She is named aptly because she acts as an angel in the climax of the book. Her last name was originally Vanderhausen of royal Dutch descent, but was shortened to "Americanize" the family name.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.
She was a Scorpio-Virgo-rising, of Dutch stock, and her ancestors were of royal origin. Two hundred and seventy-five years ago, they had become more than wealthy, being one of the first families to begin plying the business of slave trading in the original colonies. There was very little of the Vanderhausen’s fortune remaining by the time she was born.

I gave her a light complexion, which amplified the freckles on her face and body. She used to go through liquid sun shield like water, due to the human-induced ozone depletion, and the added moisturizing elements of the shield kept her skin smooth and wrinkle-free. She barely looked in her thirties, when she was actually in her mid-forties. Of course, her physical aging had a lot to do with her gene history more than anything else, but the shield certainly helped.


Is there anything unusual about her appearance?She has beautiful red hair and green eyes that captured you immediately when you were in her presence. It gave her the aura of a goddess.

What is her drive, her motivation?She is a virtuoso violinist driven to perfection by forces deep within her subconscious. Her brother died at an early age and another secret in her past causes her to seek love from the outside as she is very insecure and difficult to get along with anyone including Chris her lover, husband, best friend, and musical partner. She hides behind her talent in her own world of fantasy to shield herself from reality. Chris touches her soul as he is so down to earth and naturally tolerant of her moodiness and spurts of anger and she falls madly in love with him, as he her.

Does Chris really love her?Unconditionally without question. They love each other for different reasons and as Chris reveals later in the novel, they loved each other for what "they were not."
To quote Chris:
........Angela, don’t you think I’ve known who you are and who you are not? In all the years we’ve been together, don’t you realize that I’ve always counted on you being the person that you aren’t?” She cleared her nose and wiped off the tears.

“I don’t understand,” she replied. “The person that I’m not?”

“Think about it. We have struggled for years and not always been happy with each other. We’ve each had common goals and relied upon each other to achieve them. We pushed each other, we’ve insulted each other, and we’ve been through very difficult times. We never once faced the fact that alone we were incapable of doing it. We treasured each other because of the things we were not. We imagined. We took the chance, regardless of our fears. You are not the perfect wife, and I am not the perfect husband, musician, or person; but we loved each other for things that we could never quantify. We believed. We had blind faith in each other. I have let you down and you have let me down. The issue today is whether you want to be afraid with me or without me. If you love me, I don’t think you have to contemplate for long.”

Tell us about her family.
Her mother and father are both musicians. Her mother is a pianist and teacher, her father is a high school teacher and gave up being a trumpeter many years earlier to support the family. They are both proud of their daughter but Angela and her father have a natural competitiveness that drives them to argue constantly. Her father is envious of her ability to be able to take her art to levels he could have only dreamed for, but he loves her unconditionally. Her mother constantly intervenes and becomes a referee between them at times.

Where is she from?Venice Beach, California

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?It is the late sixties, the height of the hippie age and women's movement and she is independent and a dominant force. She embodies the emergence of females from that era and will not be told that she is to be a child-bearer and housewife, and takes her own path to capture success on her terms.

What does she want out of life?She seeks perfection in her music, and doesn't realize that it is not attainable. She spends her entire life pursuing it, only to fall short of her expections. She discounts her successes and doesn't realize how great she really is and that is due to the things that happened to her in her childhood that have driven her to greatness and ultimately brings her downfall. It is her denial of human imperfection that causes the conflicts within.

How would she describe you?A neurotic driving determined force that seeks perfection while knowing there is no such thing. LOL! Everyone thinks that I modeled Chris the male lead after me, and although Angela is a fictional character based in fantasy, I relate more to her than to Chris.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share.
First and foremost this a love story that shows unlimited devotion even after one mate dies. When we open up the first chapter, we already know Chris' wife is long gone and he has suffered greatly. The depression he allows himself to stay in for so long, changes as he begins to recount the past-though involuntary. The setting of the future, it's technology and the human nature that rarely changes though the ages is exposed during the exposition. The real fun begins when we go back to his youth.

One of the messages of this book was to show that regardless of the age, future, past, or present-the needs and wants of the human heart can never be replaced by technology. The other aspect was to show that regardless that these two people were together twenty-four hours a day and experiencing everything together, they grew apart because of the flaws that each had and those flaws prove to be what made them great as well. Great art comes from imperfection and like the ying and yang, there is always danger in beauty be it the cliffs of Big Sur and rocks below, the infatuation of human beauty, or the spiritual dogma entrenched by centuries of emotional manipulation.

"They believed without question, without doubt."

That is quite a lot to write into a romance novel, but it is what life is all about if one wants to take the time to understand it's meaning and one's place in it.

Chris is every woman's dream. A man so incredibly devoted that no other woman could ever take the place of his wife and soul mate Angela. A man so patient and understanding, gifted and tolerant of her mood swings and temper. He understood her every move and motivation and their music echoed the love that they both shared. They both gave each other confidence and the ability to dream their dream together. Angela's pure determination is what makes them the best they can be, and at the same time causes all of the heartache.

There are many other obvious and hidden messages within this "road of life" novel but it's main message is live life to it's fullest everyday! Don't expect life to treat you kindly and the "road" will be bumpy with potholes and dangerous curves, but it will take you places you have never been as long as you stay on it and that is the important part. Stay on it! Don't give up no matter what. Death is over-rated and the other side is an eternity. I know. I was there. Stay awhile and let time heal and be good to yourself and as the love of Chris' life tells him to remember that "Love is all there is. Never lose that gift."

Please provide your website link.www.onlymomentsbook.com

What is the link to buy your book?
Amazon or go to www.onlymomentsbook.com

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

CJ Maxx - Coming Back a Virgin

What's her name?

Lorraine, she wasn’t given a last name by Walter.

Why did you pick that name?

I had used Lorraine in an earlier work in a sensual setting. I liked her then and thought I’d given her a wider role to showcase her talents.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

She comes from Walter’s pornographic mind. You know she has the perfect body with large breasts, a narrow waist, and perfect legs and hips. In his books he never mentions how beautiful she is. It comes out in this story.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

The perfect woman—from a man’s point of view.

Who does she love? Why?

She’s fictional so doesn’t love anyone in the beginning. She does start to fall in love with Walter as she progresses in turning him into a competent writer.

Does this person love her?

At first he lusts after her, then lust turns to love.

Tell us about her family.

No family.

Where is she from?

I answered this question earlier on the blog. It needed to be explained up front or the reader would be somewhat confused.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

Yes, it does. Her character in Walter’s self-published books is so slutty she can’t get a date up there. She’s upset about that. Her motivation is to teach him to present her in a much more favorable light—a romance heroine.

What does she want out of life?

Her initial goal is to teach him to be a better writer. As that goal is met she wants something else—to come back as a real person.

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

It’s in the title and isn’t really one of her secrets. Walter thinks his character Lorraine will be back. That’s not quite the case.

Did you write more than one story about her?

No, just this one.

How would she describe you?

She loves me. Everything she wanted, she got. (Kind of like my wife.)

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

This story is a fantasy. Just keep that in mind that she’s not real—in the beginning. Not too real, anyway.

Please provide your website link.

My website is: www.cjmaxx.net

What is the link to buy your book?

https://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=211
It was wonderful to meet her. Thank you for bringing her to meet us.

Thank you. I hope your readers enjoy this book. I had a lot of fun writing it.

Partially Human by Dwayne Anderson

What's her name? Kimberly Derth

Why did you pick that name? No special reason.

Give us a brief description of how she looks. She’s blonde and attractive.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance? Nope.

Who does she love? Joshua Valkron Plofhard

Why? As she cares for him while most others are cruel to him, she finds herself falling in love.

Does this person love her? After she professes her love to him, Joshua at first is confused, but later understands, and later admits that the feelings are mutual.

Tell us about her family. Kimberly’s family is wealthy and looks down upon others in a lower social position, judging others only by wealth or their lack of it. They disown and send her off to live with relatives all because she gives Joshua a priceless ring as a token of friendship.

Where is she from? She originally lived in Los Angeles along with Joshua, but was sent to live with her relatives in Sacramento until they moved to Los Angeles.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude? No.

What does she want out of life? She wants to be a teacher.

What's her biggest secret? Sorry, I can’t spoil that one here.

Did you write more than one story about her? Nope.

How would she describe you? Kimberly’s the type of girl who sees the good in people despite what others and themselves think of them. So I would think she would see me as a misunderstood man whose heart is in the right place when it comes to finding his place in the world.

Dominic by Hazel Statham

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.
London 1775 – Eighteen-year-old Sophie Thornton is in the care of an abusive brother. When he attacks her in an attempt to coerce her into complying with his wishes she flees and finds herself sheltering on the Earl of Vale’s doorstep. Despite her naivety she enthrals the Earl and in time becomes his pupil and his love.

What's her name?
Sophie Thornton

Why did you pick that name?
I wanted to tie her into the sequel, ‘My Dearest Friend’ which is the story of her son. I actually wrote the sequel first. Despite being related, both books are stand alone and can be read without reference to the other.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.
Petite. Blonde curly hair and expressive blue eyes.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?
Sophie has a penchant for dressing in boys’ clothing as she believes it gives her the freedom she lacks in her conventional role as a young Georgian lady.

Who does she love? Why?
Dominic Blake, Earl of Vale who rescues her from her tyrannical brother and in turn becomes her tutor and her love.

Does this person love her?
Although he tries very hard to deny the attraction, he nonetheless succumbs to his emotions.

Tell us about her family.
Both her parents are dead and her brother Raymond is her guardian. He is a violent man and a scoundrel. She also has a younger brother who is also mistreated by Raymond.

Where is she from?
London

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?
It is difficult for a young woman of her era to survive without the protection of a male member of her family and when she is forced to flee her home she finds she almost starves on the streets.

What does she want out of life?
Security!

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)
Under Dominic’s tutelage, she looks and acts as a boy.

Did you write more than one story about her?
No, this is her only appearance in a novel.

How would she describe you?
Kind – I hope!

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share.
She idolises Dominic from their first meeting.

Please provide your website link.
www.hazel-statham.co.uk

What is the link to buy your book?
http://www.amazon.com/Dominic-Hazel-Statham/dp/1597058009/ref=sr_11_1/104-9549334-9146335?ie=UTF8&qid=1186157065&sr=11-1

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

Runaway Hearts by Terry L. White

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.: The heroine in my book is a real historical figure, a woman who was born a slave, helped take her family and friends North to freedom, a nurse and spy for the Union Army during the Civil War.

What's her name? Harriet Tubman, also known as Hat or Hattie, and Araminta as a child.

Why did you pick that name? Harriet Tubman was her real name.

Give us a brief description of how she looks. Harriet was a frail, wiry black woman.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance? No.

Who does she love? Why? Harriet loves Freedom. She had a husband but he stole her money and ran around with other women. His name was Tubman, but that is all he gave her.

Does this person love her? No.

Tell us about her family. Harriet’s family are all slaves. Her father runs a sawmill and she helps him.

Where is she from? Bucktown, in Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude? Her home town is part of a state divided on the question of slavery. Itinerant preachers tell the slaves that running away is stealing the master’s property, but the slaves know the Quakers and others will help them if they can get away from their home farm and avoid the patrollers.

What does she want out of life? Freedom.

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

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

How would she describe you? Harriet would call me an old white woman. I don’t know if she would like me.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share. Harriet stopped at nothing to achieve freedom for her people and herself. Harriet Tubman founded what historians call the Underground Railroad.

Please provide your website link. http://www.terrylwhite.com

What is the link to buy your book? www.ebooksonthe.net or Amazon.com

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

Feel free to email your answers to nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com and I'll add your information. They will be posted, but not all at once. That will give everyone an opportunity to get plenty of exposure.


You can find Terry L. White's books at www.ebooksonthe.net and amazon.com by typing her name in the search engines. Look for Runaway Hearts, Mystick Moon, Ancient Memories, The Last Priestess, Mustard Seed, Crazy Quilt, Hang Your Head Over, Imagine, Hell or High Water and more. Terry is also a bead artist and musician.

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/

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

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

What's her name?

Nemu.

Why did you pick that name?

I wanted something exotic sounding because she is half-human and half-faery. Actually, that is a shortened version of her real name. Her real name can not be pronounced by mortals. Give us a brief description of how she looks. Long black hair, green eyes, translucent white skin and white feathery wings. She is under five feet tall.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

Yes, her white wings.

Who does she love? Why?

She loves a human called Ambiorix. They were fated to meet so it was destiny for them and in the next book, we find out that she has known his soul before. Does this person love her? Yes, but it wasn't always easy for them. It seems as much as they were destined to meet, there are obstacles trying to keep them apart.

Tell us about her family.

Her father was human, a Greek sailor whose ship washed up near what is now called Skara Brae. One day he was fishing and caught Nemu's mother in his fishing net. After Nemu was born, her mother had to return to the sea so her father raised her. Nemu's mother and the rest of her kind were once human and were cursed to be faeries that had to stay under the sea. Because Nemu was half-human, she was able to stay on land.

Where is she from?

Nemu was born in Scotland (Alba) around 916 BC.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

I think so. She hates the Romans and sympathizes with the Celts. What does she want out of life? She is lonely, having lived most of her life in the thick forest near the highlands so when she meets Ambiorix, she is smitten with him. She also wishes she were human so he will love her.

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

Nemu has a lot of secrets, some she is not even aware of yet. She is not perfect and did something that caused thousands of people to die. Of course, the Roman legions were involved.

Did you write more than one story about her?

Yes. The next book, Ravenwolf will be released on September 7, 2007 and I am working on a prequel to the series. Nemu turned out to be one of my most prolific characters so far.

How would she describe you?

She would probably think I was a weak mortal, but I think we would get along. There are some things we share. Nemu has a hard time opening up even to the one she loves. I have a tendency to do that and not realize I am doing it. We also share a love of music, but she has a beautiful singing voice. Alas, I was not given that gift.

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

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/

“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

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/

XIII by Keith Gaston

What's her name?
Mary Jamison

Why did you pick that name?
Mary’s name comes from a relative of mine.Give us a brief description of how she looks.
She looks like Demi Moore, she stands at five ten, and usually wears her long hair in a bun.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?
She looks like Demi Moore.

Who does she love? Why?
She’s still in love with her late husband, Eric. He was killed during a botched federal sting operation.

Does this person love her?
Always

Tell us about her family.
No family, Mary was an orphan. Though she is very close to the family that works for her at a bed and breakfast; Eula, Edward and their daughter Diane.

Where is she from?
Mary is originally from Dearborn, Michigan but later moved to Devereux (fictional town) where she was placed into the Friday House Orphanage.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?
She grew up in a tough environment and became a bit of a loner because of it.

What does she want out of life?
To be left alone with her thoughts and to live a simple, quiet life.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)
That she had thought of killing herself on more than one occasion.

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

How would she describe you?
She would say that I watch too many cartoons.

Keith (D. K. Gaston)
http://www.dkgaston.com/
www.myspace.com/dkgaston