My Interview with Author Desiree King

What’s your name and what genre would you consider your books to be?

My name is Desiree King, my books so far are paranormal drama/romance but more is planned outside that even.

Tell me about your book. How did you come up with that (story, angle, idea)?

Currently we are talking about the rerelease for my first title Moondance, the story is about a young woman who has gone through hell in her younger years, death of her mother at her own hands, the transformation from a normal girl to a mysterious siren creature, violence and abuse all while just trying to keep it together. Now there are things in her life that seem to make it easier like the fact that her brother is famous for being a former boyband member and she lives with him and enjoys a comfortable home life except for the fact that her ex-boyfriend is inescapable due to him being her brother`s friend. She is ready for a change when the story starts and the universe agrees, she is having strange dreams that leave her yearning for her own adventure which comes in the form of a job. She is offered a job as a dancer and cover model and music video actress for one of the rowdiest rockband there is CASE, the rock star werewolves of Hollywood. She jumps at the opportunity and craziness ensues.

As far as where I came up with the idea it began where all my ideas do in a dream and grew from there. I very much let my characters take me on their adventures and not the other way around I turn on so music and follow merrily along with them.

 

How did you get interested in writing this particular genre (historical novels, mysteries, sci-fi, children’s books, etc.)?

Believe it or not I got hooked on the paranormal from a movie, Interview with the Vampire, I was young maybe 10 or 12 when I saw it for the first time and within days I had read all of Anne Rice`s books to that point and was looking for other authors to read the first of which I believe was Laurel K Hamilton and it just grew out of control from there.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

Luckily for me I see to have a type with my male characters lol musicians, so I`m sure it’s not a shock that I married a musician. We`ve not had the fame and fortune part of the rock and roll life but that is easy the hard part is the reality of the band dynamic and that I`ve gotten to witness first hand with my hubby on his musical adventures of the years. So for this book I didn`t really need to do any for other`s I have.

Can you tell me about your Series?

This title will have at least one sequel and perhaps a prequel but that’s as far as I`ve thought about it. I`m currently working on the sequel to Moondance.

Do you have a favorite book out of this series?

LOL So far it’s the only book finished in the series so sure it’s my favorite.

Where did you get the inspiration/idea for your series?

What kind of research did you do for this book?

Was it always meant to become a series?

Yeah Moondance was originally to be book 3 but I was swept up by Victor and needed to write his book and get it on the page and sadly I still haven’t gone back to write Jacob`s books yet but the ideas are still brewing maybe someday.

What’s a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?

My life is a bit crazy the last few years, about the time my hubby convinced me to publish my writing (which has been piling up for years at that point) a few years ago and got it released (self-published) it was just the two of us and our fur babies but we decided our family was not complete yet and after many issues and some loss we finally got our son, he is now two years old and a little wild man that keeps us on our toes, I also still have a full time job and a close extended family so between birthday parties , family dinners, work and loving on my baby and hubby I write as much as I can maybe one day I can do just the fun stuff and write and family stuff but alas that day is not today. I don`t have goals I just get what I can on the page as often as I can.

 

Do you have a new book in the making and if so, what’s the name of your upcoming book?

I have another book that was just released again self-published but soon it will also be rerelease with zombie cupcake press I hope (planning for this summer). It’s called “Our New World”. However I do have a few shorts coming soon as well, I wrote a zombie comedy erotica called “Guess who is for Dinner” and a Paranormal romance retelling/modernization of The phantom of the opera called “Night Music” both of which were written for Anthologies in the works you can go to my page for more info on both coming soon. Then of course the time many people has asked me about is here, I`ve started the sequel to Moondance, however I don`t have a title for it yet.

How important are character names to you in your books? Is there a special meaning to any of the names?

I pick names I like but not really I just like my main characters to stand out from the crowd including their names for the most part.

Where do your ideas come from?

Most of my ideas come from dreams but not all just depends on the piece I take inspiration where it comes and don`t question it too much.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

This part, I`m a introvert and find the promotion an anxiety maker but I`m working through it lol.

What do you think of book trailers? Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book?

I`ve never had a book trailer, I`ve been told both that they are invaluable and worthless but I`ve not tried it myself so I don`t have an opinion one way or the other, I`ve seen a few I like but I`ve not really dived that deep into that pool yet.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

Having the guts to actually put my books out for other`s to read. I was told at a young age that my work hurt someone close to me (embarrassed her) when she found it, and for a long time after that felt shame and that I should just keep it to myself only now as an adult do I realize how wrong she was to say those words.

What’s the best thing about being an author?

I`m not sure yet I`ve barely scratched the surface of that but so far it’s when a reader tells me how much they enjoyed the book. It’s nice to feel the support of that approval.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I have no idea, I try not to limit myself to what my whims of the moment are.

Have you always liked to write?

For a long as I can remember I`ve written.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Don`t let anyone else`s views or values tell you not to follow your inspiration.

If you didn’t like writing books, or weren’t any good at it, what would you like to do for a living?

Own a bookstore or movie store, I would like to talk about my joy of storytelling with others for a living.

Do you read reviews of your book(s)? Do you respond to them, good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?

Reviews it part of the deal, I like good ones and have only received a few (like 2 maybe) 4 star reviews that stated issues with editing as the reason which I`ll give them sometimes I am a story teller not an English major lol before now I`ve not gotten the chance to work with a professional editor, My husband edited for me which was better than me doing it lol but the new version of Moondance has been re-edited now that I`m with zombie cupcake and should be much better.

What is your least favourite part of the writing / publishing process?

Again the promotion is hard for me, I also tend to write long hand with ink and paper then type it and the typing can be tedious but I call the hand written pages my first draft and the typed the second draft then my hubby gets it to read through and content edit when he has time then the 3 rd. draft is finished and then it’s either sent to zombie cupcake or self-published or what not.

What are you working on now?

I just today finished the Zombie comedy short “Guess who is for Dinner” for an anthology with Zombie cupcake press so here is hoping it will be chosen, then finishing my other Short “Night music” For another anthology out later this year.

Can you give us a few tasty morsels from your work-in-progress?

I`ll give you the 1st section of “Night Music”

Friday Night

Greyson

I sit perched on a black velvet couch in the shadows of the balcony in the club ‘Maison des Mort Vivant’ all alone watching the stunning angel on the stage below. The theater turned gothic night club in the oldest part of the city was both my sanctuary and my prison. The black leather mask hiding my identity is tight across my face perhaps it is time for a new design.

I had been stunned when I saw the band below perform the first time, haunting melodies with the clear beautiful soprano of the songstress with the adorable lavender chin length curls. I had informed my brother Fitzwilliam, or Fitzi as he preferred, that they would be given a house band gig as long and as often as they wanted and that they would be paid handsomely in return. I settle myself here on the balcony every time they play and allow her voice to fill my head and chase my fears away. She sways with the music and closes her heavily lined eyes and seems to sing from her soul. As her glossy ruby colored lips, pouted and full, open as she breathes deep and joins the screaming violin through the speakers and my blood begins to race in my veins.

“You know lurking up here every time The Broken Dolls play is bordering on creepy.” Fitzi said as he stepped up beside my seat with a short glass of whiskey in hand, which he set at my right-hand table.

“She is stunning, the best I`ve ever heard.” I smiled never looking away from her sweet porcelain face under the stage lights.

“Whatever you say, just remember don`t be seen or you`ll be sorry. I have to get back. Behave!” Fitzi demanded and slipped back down the stairs to the bar he manned below me on the ground floor.

Much to my disappointment within another twenty minutes she was speaking thanking the crowd and announcing that starting at midnight, The Phantom, takes over for the night. ‘That is my que’ I thought getting to my feet and heading down carefully using the shadows and low lighting to my advantage I need to make it to the stage after it goes black. “Fitzi! Give me a green appletini!” I hear Sara Kane the drummer for the dolls shout over the bar top.

“Sure thing, animal,” Fitzi called back starting the drink as Sara and Emily, the angel voiced vocalist took seats at the bar and I settled back into the shadows to listen.

“Hey Fitzi! Didn`t this place used to belong to The Greyson Sharp before he died?” Sara asked, what are the odds?

“Yes ladies, this club was bought, and designed by the late great Greyson Sharp, My big brother.” He passed the neon green martini to the girl.

“I`m so sorry,” Emily reacted honestly,

“It’s painful every day without him, it breaks my heart. But I go on for him.” Fitzi was laying it on thick and I could not help the snicker that escaped me and I took the opportunity to pass them slipping in close behind her, my angel and get a brush of her presence as I passed by. Her scent was sweet and warm and made me want to linger but all it would take is one person to notice the shadow of a man in their midst and the last eight years would be for nothing. So, I continued on my way headed for the basement to prepare for The Phantom to take the stage once again.

The Phantom performs in total darkness on the stage. He wears a mask while he sings in his base voice and running the backing music al on his own. He performs every night at midnight no matter the crowd of curious goths. His drive was the music not the idolization and praise but for just a moment as he looked up into her emerald colored eyes across the sea of bodies on the dance floor he wished he could step into that spotlight and be his old self the version of himself that she could accept. However, like every time before that he had this thought the scar running from his cheekbone over his jaw across his throat ending at his opposite collarbone burned at just the thought. So tonight, like every night before for the last eight years I slipped onto the stage in the inky blackness of the darkened stage and turned on the processor readying to begin the night music.

Why did you choose to write in your genre? If you write in more than one, how do you balance them?

I just love the paranormal creatures it takes a darkness and whimsy to write them and that is me lol.

Where did your love of books come from?

Honestly I don`t really know my mom reads but not like me lol.

Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

WAY TOO MANY! Lol but I`ll list a few, Anne Rice, Stephen King , laurel K Hamilton, Jeanene frost, Kelley Armstrong, J R ward, Jane Austen, Kipling, the mars books, George RR martin, anything in wonderland, it goes on and on.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite and why?

My favorite is actually yet to be published his name is Donovan and he will join my published as soon as I can but that book was written with a friend who is not a writer and she is not interested in finishing it so I will have to recreate him into another story perhaps one day it will happen lol. Of my published characters it would be a tie between Victor (Moondance) and Darien (our new world) Victor is a cool, hot, smart man who just wants to be happy its simple but its genuine and that’s what I love about him. Darien is fun because he is a little self-centered as a vampire prince would be and smart enough to manipulate the world around him to get his way even if he tends to have a short fuse and tear a head off here and there .

Where can readers go to discover more about you and your books?

I have a Facebook, twitter and website links here , twitter : @deskinglit Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/360220750835665

And website is http://deskinglit.com

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Depends on the book and what stage it’s in, the ending of our new world went to such a dark place that I had trouble rebounding from it to move on to the next project.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Sometimes I have to plan out seeing a movie or reading a book because I know it will ruin my current inspiration with something new and I need to finish what I was working on I currently have two shows and 3 books on my tbr pile that is awaiting the right time lol.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I write what I feel like and if anyone likes it then great but I write to get the story out of my head otherwise they tend to take over my thoughts lol.

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

Sadly I`m not sure I would go so far as to say friends because life if crazy and I`m a shy person but I`ve met many wonderful people that I would be joyous to call friends.

If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?

Awkward and crazy

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

I`ve never thought about that perhaps next time I`ll have an answer that this one lol.

 

Life can be hell for the supernatural,
and no one knows that better than Alex.
Pre-Order Available: hyperurl.co/a3hsnv
#PNR #Paranormal #Romance #PreOrder

I recently was able to Interview Author Yolanda Allard!! She’s a new and upcoming author.

What’s your name and what genre would you consider your books to be?

I’m Yolanda Allard, I write Young Adult Paranormal and Fantasy stories.

Tell me about your book. How did you come up with that (story, angle, idea)?

It actually was a dream. I was writing another novel at the time and dreamt the entire story of ILLUMINOUS. It was so real and vivid to me I knew I had to write it.

How did you get interested in writing this particular genre (historical novels, mysteries, sci-fi, children’s books, etc.)?

I’ve always written YA. Even before I knew there was a name for it. I never really considered writing anything else.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

Not a lot. It’s all fiction, with just a few realistic elements from my own life. Dinners of Ire is based on something I used to do with my children when they were small.

Can you tell me about your Series?

The Series will all be following Allie, a young girl that just wants to grow up and ‘start’ her life, only to end up an immortal werewolf that doesn’t age. She’s plucked from everything she wants and has everyone around her pulling her in different directions. It’s all about her choosing what to do with her newfound eternity and how the sacrifices she makes based on her choices will change her.

Was it always meant to become a series?

No. Illuminous was meant to be a stand alone novel. It became a series on its own. I’m still writing it actually.

 

What’s a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?

I am a ridiculously busy person. I have too many passions and things going on to usually fit in a single day. I work most often on my writing in the middle of the night, when my little Flock of Allards are sleeping. I do get woken up at 4 am a lot with a new crazy idea or two that needs to be put onto paper as well. I don’t have a daily goal. My life is a series of random chaotic events so I couldn’t stick to something so linear. I do have weekly wordcount check-ins with myself to make sure I’m progressing.

Do you have a new book in the making and if so, what’s the name of your upcoming book?

I have a couple. The second book in the Illuminous series is well on it’s way. I call it Astral.
I also have a fantasy novel all written and ready to go and its tentatively named Song of Fire.

How important are character names to you in your books? Is there a special meaning to any of the names?

Naming characters is like naming my own children. I get absurdly attached. I’ve even gotten a few names by asking my husband “If we had another daughter/son what would you want to name them.” Naming characters is a huge undertaking for me.

Where do your ideas come from?

Dreams mostly. I also get a lot inspiration in the weightroom listening to music and pumping iron, oddly enough.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Taming the rabbit trails. All of my ideas seem to want to be 3 different stories with 3 different endings. Afterthoughts, backstories, leagues and leagues of notes. It’s hard to coral it all into one single train of thought. Even Illuminous originally had two alternate endings. Choosing one was torture.

What do you think of book trailers? Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book?

I love them! I plan to make one for Illuminous and all future books.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

In life or in writing? In life, my husband and our Flock hands down. In writing, it would be the fact I stopped waiting for someday and put myself out there. I let others read my stories. I got the nerve to query, and be rejected time and again and still keep going. I didn’t let someday stop me from living the dream today.

What’s the best thing about being an author?

Sharing your work. Knowing that someone else sees these incredible stories that I watch play out in my mind. Stories I couldn’t properly describe verbally if I tried, but because of this I can share them. Talk about them, and know someone else saw just a glimpse of the world inside my head.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Reading… Writing… being outrageously clever after a conversation is already over. So, basically now only hopefully with many many more books published.

Have you always liked to write?

I have always been a writer. I had stacks of journals in kindergarten, I helped start a school wide poetry anthology in high school. There’s never been a time I wasn’t thinking up strange new worlds and putting them to paper.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Just go for it. Don’t get discouraged or give up. Keep telling your stories that are uniquely and wonderfully you. Being a story teller is a grand adventure.
If you didn’t like writing books, or weren’t any good at it, what would you like to do for a living?
GHOST HUNTING COMEDIAN!!! Ha. I have this dream back up job, to be a “professional” ghost hunter then create a comedy act based on my ghost hunting debauchery… I mean adventures.

Do you read reviews of your book(s)? Do you respond to them, good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?

I’ve had bad reviews, but I treat them like rejections. I’m not here to please everyone. I’m not even here to please most people. I’m here to share my stories and mine alone. They’re definitely not for everyone and that’s okay. If I disappoint a fan of YA Fantasy, that sucks, but considering I’m an avid reader I know even in our genre we won’t always be happy. I’ve thrown a few books across the room in frustration before. Ha. So, I’m here for that one person, the one who sees what I see. Who can read light and in depth stories alike and just enjoy it.

What is your least favourite part of the writing / publishing process?

Query letters! There is some agent of pure evil out there who created these monsters and they must be stopped!

What are you working on now?

I am currently writing part 2 to Illuminous.
Can you give us a few tasty morsels from your work-in-progress?
“The thing about being in two places at once, is sometimes you see too much. Especially when you end up catching someone you love, calling you a monster. Astral projection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

Why did you choose to write in your genre? If you write in more than one, how do you balance them?

It’s just what I’ve always done. It’s less of a choice and more of a Siren’s call that I have to answer.

 

Where did your love of books come from?

My parents. They were both avid readers. My home was always drowning in books and the amazing worlds they held.

Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

All time favorite, God and The Bible.
Fantasy writers there are too many. Ive always loved Dean Koontz. I love Julie Kagawa, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Brandon Sanderson, Sara J. Maas… Oh man so many more.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite and why?

My favorite character of all time is my Wisp named Hop. He’s innocent, sweet, funny, and brave. He’s my tiny Wisp hero.

Where can readers go to discover more about you and your books?

Oh boy it feels like I’m everywhere. Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, I have a website coming up in a day or so and a blog where people can track this entire journey with me.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Honestly, both. When I get a new idea, or random ideas come together and I’m on a roll I’m absolutely on top of the world. Talking, thinking, and typing all at Mach 10 motormouth speed. But when I get emotionally invested just to have the worst happen to one of my characters, it’s sad and exhausting and I wonder why I torture myself so.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Query letters. Seriously, they’re evil. It’s a thing.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I was told in a rejection letter once with Illuminous that “No one wants werewolf stories anymore.” And I had to make a decision if that mattered to me. I decided it didn’t. I write MY stories, and just hope someone else out there will enjoy them.

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

My cousin, A. Maslo. She is great for bouncing ideas off of or questions.
Kimberly Miller, she inspires me and doesn’t even know it.
I have many writer friends. One in particular isn’t published yet but she’s my favorite beta reader and person to talk to about all of my crazy ideas.
If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?
*Tries to think of something that doesn’t sound too pretentious… fails* Honestly I don’t know. It would be a story book. With Once Upon a Time, and a dark insidious background whatever then in comes the Happily Ever After wrapped in an inconspicuous package with a wild adventurous colorful forever hidden inside it. It’s the journey that makes the story.

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Hmmm…. The question I’ve always wanted to be asked is, “How does it feel to be a bestselling author who has been to Paris?” hahahaha.
How would I answer? As of right now I’d say; “I don’t know yet, but let’s find out shall we?”

 

Illuminous Release Party
Author appearance, May 20, 2017 03:00PM
Facebook, US
https://www.facebook.com/events/1750336415296917/
Release party for the release of Illuminous by Yolanda Allard.

Yolanda Allard will be giving away Gift Cards at her ILLUMINOUS Release Party.  She will be giving away 3 gift cards.
Two – 5 dollar gift cards
and one 10 dollar gift card.
All for amazon.

☆¸.•*¨*★☆The Collective ☆¸.•*¨*★☆

Learning to Breathe is now LIVE!!!

Learning to Breathe – A second chance at love story

#EllieMasters #LearningtoBreathe

★☆ Buy Link ★☆

books2read.com/LearningtoBreathe

WORK. EAT. SLEEP. REPEAT.

Since her husband’s death, Sally Levenson’s life has become dull and monotonous. She’s the county Coroner, and while the dead reveal their secrets on the exam table, she hides from the living. But hiding isn’t working anymore. Sally is trapped in a bland, colorless existence. She can’t breathe! She’s suffocating and wants more, whatever that might be.

When the dark and mysterious Derek Lemark enters her world, he opens doors to new possibilities, reveals dark desires, and challenges her to take a second chance on life. He dares her to breathe again, and promises…more. But what he offers comes at a price.

Sally must choose: take the next step, or speak the one word which will end everything before it even begins.

↠ http://eepurl.com/cBkqKn ↞

★☆ What readers are saying ★☆

“WOW, this story….. I felt my heart pound faster and I couldn’t catch my breath throughout the book.” – Amazon Reviewer

“Have you ever experienced grief? Grief so tremendous it paralyzed you in fear at the thought of moving on? Living day to day going through the motions but knowing there had to be something more? In Learning to Breathe, Ellie Masters tells the captivating story of Sally, a woman who has suffered great loss and has hidden herself from the world, her feelings, and life – and Derek, a confident, rich man who knows exactly what and who he wants. Derek opens Sally’s eyes to new, exciting, sexy and unconventional things. Their relationship taps into passion and hidden desires deep within Sally that she never knew existed. But it all comes at a cost. Will she choose this new life that brings her great pleasure or retreat once again to the familiar, safe, mundane, and unimaginative life she led before? As part of The Collective, Ellie has written a beautiful story with strong characters. I loved this story –a definite must read.” – Amazon reviewer

 

 

.I’m Definitely a Daddy You’d Love To…

 

 

 

 

 

 

★★★WELCOME TO THE DOUBLE COVER REVEAL FOR THE SAVAGE LOVE DUET BY TL SMITH★★★

Title: Savage Collision

Series: The Savage Love Duet Book #1

Author: TL Smith

Photographer: Perrywinkle Photography

Cover Designer: Romantic Book Affairs

Release Date: May 12

Genre: Contemporary Romance

A kiss could bond you, taint you, claim you. If you let it, it could own you.
A kiss from a stranger was highly unlikely.
A kiss from a man who hid himself from me, yet slowly tormented me, was unlike any other kiss.
It was the kiss of death.
It was my hands in cuffs chained to his waist.
And only he could set me free.
How could I be so blind? How could I have let a man that was delicious as sin take a grip on me? No matter how hard I tried to pull, those cuffs stayed glued to him as the wall that stood between us.
I had to smash that wall, I had to see the truth.
Even if we collide. Even if he’s my own savage collision. I have to be set free.

★★★★★★★★★

Title: Savage Reckoning

Series: The Savage Love Duet Book #2

Author: TL Smith

Photographer: Perrywinkle Photography

Cover Designer: Romantic Book Affairs

Release Date: May 29

Genre: Contemporary Romance

She was everything, yet she was nothing.
She was there, then she wasn’t.
I didn’t expect her, never wanted her.
But there she was, everywhere yet nowhere.
She drew me in with her looks. Locked me with her first words, then stole me with her lust.
She was everything I didn’t know I was searching for, yet nothing I needed.
She was a conundrum, difficult and confusing.
One who was impossible of staying away from.

T.L Smith Lover of chocolate, books, but mostly words.

T.L Smith loves to travel, loves to shop for books, sometimes shoes 😉

Don’t be shy about contacting T.L Smith, she doesn’t bite, hard!

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