Interview on PnP Authors Talk site

Saturday, April 19, 2014



PnPAuthors Book Club is introducing

Author Marie Lavender

Who is an exciting writer

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Marie Lavender joined PnPAuthors two months ago and we wanted to interview her, feature her, and spotlight her book - Magick & Moonlight which can be viewed on Marie’s web site: http:// www.marielavender.webs.com/

 

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Here are some more of Marie’s websites

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                                            Our Interview with Marie~                                ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself Marie? 

I have been writing for over twenty years.  I have been writing since I was nine years old.  After graduating from college, I focused on finishing my writing projects so I could finally get published.  Since then I have published 18 books, 16 of which were self-published.

What was the most difficult part of writing your book?

Magick & Moonlight was challenging because I am not Wiccan, but I had to do a lot of research on the religion to write about it.  I even had a couple of Wiccan beta readers double-check my work just to be sure.

What are you working on now?

Right now, I am working on the third book in the Heiresses in Love series.  The second book, Upon Your Honor, will be out very soon.

What blogs do you belong to and are they blogs that support your book. What is the address to your book?

I have three blogs.  One contains updates about me and my books.  Another is a blog I run with guest author posts and interviews.  And the third is about the subject of romance.  Sometimes I blog on there about my books and other times, it is simply about love.

My two books through Solstice Publishing can be found on Amazon at:  http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Lavender/e/B00C10Q94I/

When did you join PnPAuthor? (Tell us a little bit about them) 

I just joined it recently so I am very new to it.  Maurice Tudor referred me.  He runs a magnificent set of sites that help promote authors and other writing services.

When did you write your first book? What led you to do so?

I started writing stories when I was a child.  But, my first official book began in 2002.  I got the idea in my head one day.  I heard the characters arguing and from there, Upon Your Return was born.  It ended up being a nine year project, but it was my first historical romance so I was new to it.  In between then and now, I published other books (contemporary romance, romantic suspense, romantic mystery and paranormal romance).

Your book cover picture goes here….
 
Tell a little about your book….Magick& Moonlight

Magick & Moonlight is a short paranormal romance about two people who have different secrets.  I came up with the title after the first scene came to me, where Ethan is walking along the shore and then notices a fire in the distance.  When he goes to investigate, he finds something very surprising.

Here is the blurb:

Messing with free will is always a bad idea…

Ethan Hamilton moves to a lazy little town in Oregon, hoping to escape his demons. But, instead he discovers a woman dancing nude in the moonlight. This woman who claims she is a witch dazzles him with her sensual presence. He thinks she’s crazy, but what if she’s not?

Jessie Anderson has been taught that her kind hides who they really are. And she has a problem on her hands. Someone knows her secret and she has to do all she can to protect herself. What other choice does she have? Jessie casts a love spell on a good man, a man with whom she can’t fight her attraction. The spell doesn’t work quite as planned – she ends up falling for Ethan.

To top it off, Ethan’s treatment of her, his “love”, is so addictive. Deep down, she knows the spell will wear off, and yet his feelings seem genuine. It’s just a spell…right?

Here is the book trailer:
 
 

Purchase links:


Jessie Anderson closed the door and waited for Ethan to leave before she relaxed.  When his truck was gone, she released a long sigh.  She also felt strangely bereft, though she had no idea why.  She shrugged it off.  Maybe she was simply tired.  It had been an eventful night.

She removed the coat and lifted it to her nose without thinking.  It carried his scent, of cologne and something very male.  It made her feel warm.  She carefully laid the coat on a table, then moved upstairs to locate something to wear.  At the closet, she paused.

She thought of Ethan Hamilton.  He had only been wearing jeans, a tee shirt and hiking boots.  He had looked really good though.  Ethan wore his hair long on top in dark brown layers.  His blue eyes were very compelling.  The moonlight had caught the color so perfectly, she had wanted to drown in his gaze.  He was tall and muscular, built very well.  And dear Goddess, his kiss was really something.  She had never felt like she had when he’d kissed her.  There was such passion, such power in his embrace.  She had nearly lost herself in the moment.

But, why had she told him what she was doing out there?  That was so stupid.  She wondered if she’d momentarily lost her mind.  The man made her want to be completely honest.  And that was just crazy.  Sure, he was a cop, or a former cop – she wasn’t sure – but, that didn’t mean she had to give him full disclosure.

She had told him her secret.  The implications really hit her then.  She could be found out.  What if he told someone?  Her grandmother had told her to be careful for a reason.  Her business might suffer because of it.  What if something worse happened?  What if they ran her out of town?  Or institutionalized her?  Panic could make people crazy.

This wasn’t good at all.
 
Connect with Marie:


 

Magick and Moonlight
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Interview on The IndieView


IndieView with Marie Lavender, author of Upon Your Return

Posted on April 20, 2014 by | Leave a comment
UponYourReturn_E-bookCover2

Oh, and the number one thing – never give up.  You have to have a pretty strong backbone to compete in this industry, and perseverance will help.
Marie Lavender – 20 April 2014

The Back Flap

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life. But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position. Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms. Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society…

About the book

What is the book about?

The book is about a young heiress who gets into trouble one night and a strange man comes to her rescue.  He appoints himself as her protector later on and she struggles with her growing feelings for him.

When did you start writing the book?

Oh, where do I start?  I think I started writing it in 2001 or 2002.  It’s been awhile.

How long did it take you to write it?

It was my first historical romance novel so it took me around ten years to write.

Where did you get the idea from?

I’m not too sure why it came to me, but I could suddenly hear the two characters having an argument in my head.  Just after that, I began to fill in the details for the story.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Oh, yes.  For quite some time, I struggled with the research.  Placing it in a specific time period was probably one of the hardest parts.  I knew the location and characters, even the story.  I just didn’t know the exact year.  After a bit of research, I figured out I wanted it in Victorian France.

What came easily?

Delving into the characters’ mindsets was pretty natural.  The dialogue flowed pretty well too.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

For this book, yes, they are entirely fictitious.  I don’t often base my characters on real people, though I may take the occasional quirk from them.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

When I first came across romance novels, other than the occasional Harlequin book, I started out reading books by Catherine Coulter and Rosemary Rogers.  They really woke me up to the historical romance genre.  Over time, I added others like Emma Wildes, Jane Feather and Tessa Dare.  I also have read contemporary romance by authors like Nora Roberts and Barbara Delinksy.   I am on a kick right now, following paranormal romance authors such as J.R. Ward, P.C. Cast, Kerrelyn Sparks and Chloe Neill.  I think all of these authors have influenced my style.  I have branched out in so many different directions.  Recently, I released a paranormal romance called Magick & Moonlight.

Do you have a target reader? 

Not really.  I think Upon Your Return can appeal to anyone between the ages of 18-75.  I imagine it will appeal to women and historical romance fans more though.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

My writing process is pretty haphazard.  I have a lot of different ideas at once.  I write scenes randomly.  But, when I am really focused on a project, I do an outline and do a lot of research.  Then I fill in the details of the book.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

When I first get an idea for a story or book, I do a basic summary.  Later, I do a more detailed outline.  This outline keeps me on track so I know what to work on next and what element of the story to find more information about.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I do basic editing as I go.  Usually if something jumps out at me that will distract me if I don’t fix it, I will edit.  The major editing comes after I write the book.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Yes, sometimes I do listen to music.  It really depends on my mood.   I listen to different kinds of music – new age, rock, alternative, pop, hip hop.  Just whatever I’m in the mood for.  Once, I was listening to some upbeat Celtic music and a dancing scene came into my head.  Each type of music influences your writing.  Sad songs have worked in particularly dramatic scenes while alternative or rage songs help when my characters are upset or angry.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, I certainly tried that route.  The competition is fierce in the industry.  Each agent has a specific idea of what they want.  In the end, I ended up going with a publisher that didn’t require an agent.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process? 

I have self-published books before, but with Upon Your Return, I was intent on trying the traditional route first.  If that didn’t work out, I would have self-published it eventually.  It took about a year of submitting to various places before I got a bite.  When Solstice accepted the book, I was ecstatic!

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

It was professionally done.  A cover artist handled the book cover.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Upon Your Return has been out since February of 2013.  I have done everything I can to draw attention to it.  I kept up my profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.  I launched three blogs.  I have done numerous interviews and guest blogs.  I have placed book cover ads.  In September, the book received bestseller status on Amazon.  In December, I entered the book into the MARSocial Author of the Year Competition and became a finalist/runner-up.  I also made it into the Top 50 on Authors Database so I don’t think I’m doing too bad with it all.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors? 

Start blogging early.  Learn everything you can about marketing/promotion.  Oh, and the number one thing – never give up.  You have to have a pretty strong backbone to compete in this industry, and perseverance will help.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a very small town in the Midwest, in central Indiana.

Where do you live now?

I’m still in Indiana, but I hope to move to another state as soon as I get married.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I have many other series on the backburner in different subgenres of romance so I will never run out of books to publish.

What are you working on now?

My publisher just accepted the sequel to Upon Your Return so I’ll be working on getting that ready for release.  I also want to finish up the Heiresses in Love trilogy so I will start work on the third book soon.  I am working on re-releasing my self-published books as well.  And I am doing a romantic suspense collaboration with another writer.

End of Interview:

For more from Marie, she has an extensive web presence, not all of which is listed. For starters, you could visit her website, or two blogs, here or here. You can like her Facebook author page or a page for this book. You can also check out her Goodreads page, add her to one of your circles on Google +, or follow her on twitter.

And don’t forget to buy your copy of Upon Your Return from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook).

During the time between doing this interview and it’s publication, Marie and her publisher have completed the sequel to Upon Your Return, called Upon Your Honor. It is scheduled for release the day after publication of this interview. Here’s the blurb and cover to whet your appetite.

Upon Your Honor
New York City, August, 1891 – Orphaned after the death of her father, Chloe Waverly stows away on La Voyageur to escape the clutches of her cruel fiancé, Lamonte Beckett. Gabriel Hill, a strange and compelling gentleman, comes upon Chloe and promises to protect her without knowing the true circumstances of why she is running away. During their journey, Gabriel doesn’t bargain on being distracted by her fair beauty or succumbing to her many charms. As their attraction to each other grows, so does the danger and Gabriel suspects things are not as they should be.
Both are determined to get to New Orleans, where she can start a new life. But, once they reach their destination, events spin out of their control and Chloe is captured by the fiancé she escaped. Gabriel is left wondering if he can overlook her betrayal. Soon he finds himself in a race against time, to reach her before Beckett can exact revenge.
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New 5 Star Review for UPON YOUR RETURN!

Just in time for the sequel to release on Monday, UPON YOUR RETURN just got a wonderful five star review on Amazon! Thank you, David from the Kindle Book Review team! http://www.amazon.com/review/R2JZDSQ8J4I2J5/


5.0 out of 5 stars Fara has a Mind of her Own, April 19, 2014
  This review is from: Upon Your Return (Kindle Edition)
Fara’s Bellemont’s parents die when she is a child and her uncle becomes her guardian. After school at Cluny Abbey, she is of age to marry. Her uncle arranges a marriage, announcing it to the public ─ and to her ─ at a dinner party. When her fiancé, whom she has just met, asks if she loves him, she of course must say no. He asks her to meet him near the dock late one night. When she arrives she is attacked by two men, presumably sent by her fiancé in an effort to fabricate a reason to break their engagement. She is rescued by Grant Hill. Grant is a sea captain, and he takes her aboard his ship, notifies her uncle, and has his doctor see to her injuries. Fara and Grant fall in love, but a sea captain is not a proper husband for someone of Fara’s status, so her uncle will not consider him as a potential husband for her.

While it tells the story of Fara’s and Grant’s relationship, the book is much more than a simple love story. It is a story of the place of women, particularly upper class women, in France in the early nineteenth century. It also is a story of one woman’s response to her lot in life.
Fara’s life is controlled by her uncle until she marries and will be controlled by her husband afterwards. Fara, however, has a mind of her own and chafes under the restrictions imposed on her. People marry for power, position, and money. Fara, however, wants to marry only for love.

I fell in love with Fara from the first page. I found Grant to be infuriating. Fara did, too. How can a man not know his own mind? How can he not say what he feels?

The author does an excellent job, weaving the history of France and the social customs of the day into the account of Fara’s love for Grant and his for her. Readers who enjoy a Victorian romance will love this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Your-Return-Marie-Lavender-ebook/dp/B00I0D9LQ8/ref=cm_rdp_product

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