on my blog today--this multi-published author (with 15 titles out there, and counting) has mastered the art of story-telling to such a degree, she is published in multiple genres--paranormal, western romance, contemporary, time travel...you name it, she's written it!
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Hi, Dylan, thanks for
having me! I love this story. It practically wrote itself. When my editor
contacted me about doing a story for their new Honky Tonk Hearts series where
the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk and it’s owner Gus needed to have an appearance
in the story, I’d immediately envisioned a hero driving there to pick up a
surprise from his deployed twin brother (because I love to write military
heroes and cowboys). Then I thought, oh man, wouldn’t it be funny if the twins
were in different branches of the service? So Finn became my Navy SEAL and his
prankster twin Brett is a deployed Marine...and the ‘surprise’ is also a female Marine. And viola, Cowboy-Sexy and all
sorts of fun was born.
Oh, and Alex
O’Loughlin’s version of Steve McGarrett on the new Hawaii Five-0 was the
inspiration to my former Navy SEAL, Lt Commander Finn Brennan. J (So he’s also the inspiration to the sequel
Cowboy Payback—Brett’s story due out next year.)
Ooh, love that title! Okay, next question: what
is THE most important thing writers can do for themselves to get an
agent/publisher in today's market?
I don’t have an agent,
so I can’t give any advice on that subject, but as for publishers, you need to
know who you are submitting to and what they are looking for to make sure
you’re the perfect fit. You don’t want to submit your historical to a publisher
who is looking for contemporaries. You need to know their ‘wants’ are something
you can fulfill.
If
you could have done anything differently with your writing career so far, what
would it be?
I wish I would’ve
realized that my love for writing humor, and my love for writing cowboys and
military heroes were actually a good mix. I would’ve started it a few years
sooner.
Who
are your writing role models, and how have they influenced you?
I didn’t really have a
writing role model when I first started, but just a year ago I discovered Jill
Shalvis. Yeah, I know, I must’ve been living under a rock. Actually, a writing
cave. lol Seriously, though, I love Jill’s books, they are exactly what I love
to write so she helps me strive to write better. I want my readers to come away
from reading one of my stories, like I do from reading her stories—feeling
happy and satisfied and entertained.
Do
you have any upcoming releases? If so, tell us about it!
Yes, the third book in
my Harland County Series, HER UNIFORM COWBOY is due out in early December. Kade
is a sheriff, part owner of a horse ranch and a First Sergeant in the Texas
Army National Guard. He has some lingering issues, but so does my heroine,
Brandi. She has a thyroid disease and is a designer, but used to be a violinist
in the philharmonic and in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, which she
keeps to herself for a bit. I like to keep my protagonists real with real
issues.
HER UNIFORM COWBOY will
be FREE for the first three days of release. Please keep an eye on my website
to look for the download link.
I love free books! I'll keep an eye out for it. Last question: what's
one fact about you that most people don't know?
That I, in fact, have
the very thyroid disease I just gave to my heroine. Hoshimoto Thyroiditis. Most
of what she goes through in the story is something I’ve experienced. I hadn’t
realized my fatigue and weight gain had to do with my thyroid, so I’m hoping to
shed light on the disease and help people get diagnosed so they can get healthy
too.
I
know people will want to check you out online. Can you give us your website
links and contact information?
Sure, I’m all over the
web, and even have a newsletter signup on my website. Here are my links:
One lucky commenter to the blog today will win a paperback copy of Donna
Michaels' incredible "Cowboy-Sexy". Just leave a comment and you’re
in the running. Good luck!
Finn Brennan was used to his brother playing practical
jokes, but this time he’d gone too far--sending him a woman as a ranch
hand, and not just a woman, but a Marine.
When Lt. Camilla Walker's CO asks her to help out at his
family's dude ranch until he returns from deployment, she never expected to be
thrust into a mistaken engagement to his sexy, cowboy twin--a former Navy SEAL
who hates the Corps.
The Corps took Finn’s father, his girlfriend and threatened
his naval career. He’s worked hard for another shot at getting back to active
duty and won’t let his brother’s prank interfere. The last thing he needs is
the temptation of a headstrong, unyielding, hot Marine getting in the way.
Excerpt:
“Your…ah…package
is in the back. I’ll tell my nephew you’re here,” Gus informed.
The
man’s handle-bar mustache twitched as if he swallowed a secret dying to get
out. Alarm instantly erased Finn’s doubt. Trouble was on the way. He set his
shoulders and watched the owner closely.
Gus
leaned into the kitchen pass-through. “Win, Finn’s here for his….ah…package.”
When
the owner turned around there was more than the usual twinkle lighting his
eyes.
“I’ll
tell ya, my brother never sent me anything like this,” the cowboy from the end
of the bar informed with a grin.
Another
round of snickers echoed through the room. Just what the hell had Brett sent?
Couldn’t be a camel; Gus would never keep an animal in the kitchen.
His
gaze snapped to his foreman. Did Terry know? The older man sat there, mug half
raised, frowning at Gus. No. He was the only one not smiling. In fact, he
looked as confused as Finn felt.
“You’re
one lucky man,” one of the pool players called out.
“Damn
straight,” the other agreed.
“Too
bad my daughter wasn’t here.” Gus winked at the woman he’d been talking to
earlier.
She
nodded and returned his smile. “Yes, Keira would’ve loved to see this.”
“Oh,
it’s just like Christmas!” Even the elderly couple was getting in on the
action.
Finn
turned to find them smiling, delight sparkling in their gazes, easing the lines
in their happy faces.
“We
can’t wait to see what it is!”
The
hinges on the kitchen door creaked behind him, and a second later Terry’s mug
hit the bar, sending half his coffee over the edge.
About
to ask what was wrong, the words died in Finn’s throat. His foreman’s
expression changed from shock to amusement to worry as their gazes met.
Finn
stiffened. He knew instinctively he was not going to like whatever Win brought
out from the kitchen, and knowing his prankster brother, it could be anything.
Silently cursing his twin, he slowly turned around.
Son-of-a…
He
blinked, unable to stop his jaw from dropping. His brother had gone too far.
Win hadn’t brought anything out. The present walked out on its own.
Standing
not ten feet from him was a tall, curvy brunette with a big red bow stuck to
her right shoulder. A long braid trailed down the left side of her ample chest
and delicate features graced a face worthy of magazine covers. She was the most
beautiful woman he’d ever seen...and the very last thing he wanted. Or needed.
The
“package” sauntered closer, and his pulse responded with pin point accuracy to
each individual sway of her rounded hips. She was model-beautiful, but not
exactly model-thin. He noted a full bust, teasing him with a luscious line of
cleavage as his gaze followed her white tank top to where it disappeared into a
pair of skinny, tan cargo pants lovingly hugging a set of magnificent legs. Damn,
the woman was hot.
“Happy
birthday, Finn.”
His
gut rippled as if punched. Of course she’d have a sexy voice to match. Too bad.
He straightened his shoulders and told himself he wasn’t interested. He
preferred to get his own dates. He didn’t need his brother’s charity.
Doesn't this sound amazing? Comment below for your chance to win a signed paperback copy of COWBOY SEXY, from Donna Michaels!
Happily My Ever After,
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