Friday Feature: Chatting with Karilyn Bentley about DEMON CURSED

My guest today is Karilyn Bentley, author of the awesome Demon Huntress series from The Wild Rose Press. She has a new installment to the series adn I was lucky enough to read an advance copy - I love her snarky heroine! Welcome to my blog, Karilyn!

First, can you tell us a little about yourself? What kind of books you like to read and write?

I'd be happy to! I write urban fantasy and paranormal romance (more UF lately, though) and I love to read what I write as well as mysteries, historical romance and the occasional thriller. Here's my official bio:

Karilyn Bentley's love of reading stories and preference of sitting in front of a computer at home instead of in a cube, drove her to pen her own works, blending fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny.

Her paranormal romance novella, Werewolves in London, placed in the Got Wolf contest and started her writing career as an author of sexy heroes and lush fantasy worlds.

Karilyn lives in Colorado with her own hunky hero, a crazy dog nicknamed The Kraken, a silly puppy, and a handful of colorful saltwater fish.

I've read your puppy blogs - Kraken sounds as crazy as my own oversized puppy. But back to writing.... What's your favorite part of being an author?

Getting to tell the stories of my heart. It's really special when readers tell me they enjoy my books.

What's your approach to writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?

I'm more of a go with the flow type of gal. I'm somewhat of a pantser, more of a hybrid author. Which means I need a beginning, an end and the character's motivation or a turning point. Other than that, I start writing and see where it takes me. Then I have to go back and tie up loose ends.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

So many to choose from! Let's see. I'd love to be able to wave my hand and get items to move. Then I could sit on the couch and read while the housework is being done. Wouldn't that be nice!

As long as it doesn't turn into The Sorcerer's Apprentice, with the mops taking over your house... Now, tell us about your new/latest release!

I'd love to! Demon Cursed is the third book in the Demon Huntress series. The series is five books and this one is the middle one. We all know what happens in the middle of books, right? So much for the tease, here's the blurb:

Gin Crawford, the world's newest demon huntress, just wants to enjoy a football game, but finds herself hunting a serial killer minion instead. When his victims turn out to be the local football star’s female fans, she must determine if the player has joined forces with the minion, but her efforts lead her deeper into danger. When her mentor, Aidan Smythe, is attacked, Gin resolves to go to any lengths to save him, even if it exposes her most tightly held secret. Minions and demons, however, aren't the only terrors she faces. Will she realize the greatest danger lies within—before it's too late?

And here's the excerpt:

     I shake my head at him before straightening my shoulders. And slapping a hand over my mouth and nose. Yuck. Hours-old death in humid Texas weather makes for a smelly situation. At least I’m not the only one with their hand, or handkerchief, over their mouths.
     “What happened?” Smythe meets the gaze of each guard and the hyperventilating janitorial women who clearly found the body.
     One of the women points to where the body lies in front of the Dumpster, flat on her back, hands resting in classic death pose on her bloody stabbed chest, a red rose clasped in her fingers. Her open eyes stare into the night, her mouth curled into a grimace of pain and death. Her clothes look like she came from a club: tight, short, and low-cut, with spiky heels. At one time, I would’ve been jealous of her hot-to-trot figure. Now all I notice is the pain and terror stamped on her face and the unfurling anger deep in my core.
     Fucking murderers. I might be a fancy-assed demon huntress, but I destroy minions, not human killers. Lucky for me, I can tell which type of kill this scene belongs to with little effort.
     Closing my eyes, I start to take a deep calming breath, think better of it, and focus on activating my minion sensors. Tapping into the power of the entity lying along my nerves, I open my eyes to a tactical grid display of reds and oranges, a clear indication of a minion’s presence at the scene.
     Looks like I’ll get my wish to annihilate the bastard who killed this poor woman.

* ~ * ~ *

I so love your character's voice! Okay, you’re casting the movie version of your novel – who would you choose for the main characters? We’re talking dream cast.

Oh man. I am really bad at this. I can't tell actors apart (unless they are Robert Redford or Harrison Ford) and the only actress I can see in my mind is Nicole Kidman. You can ask my hubby. He'll say, so-and-so is on TV and I'll answer with a who's that? That's bad, isn't it? :)

Since none of them will fit my characters, I am at a loss.

Actually, Nicole Kidman would be great for the role of Samantha (who doesn't have a big part in this book, but still) and Robert Redford would be a great David, Smythe's father (he showed he could not-so-nice in the Avengers, right?) Maybe a snarky Emma Stone, circa Easy A, but with long dark hair for Gin?  We'll have to think about that. 

Okay, so Where can readers find your book and where can they find you online?

 
I'm all over the social media as is my book. But I'll list the top 4 places to get my book. Here goes!

Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4RTO97/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demon-cursed-karilyn-bentley/1125540623?ean=2940157496326
TWRP: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4908-demon-cursed.html?search_query=karilyn+bentley&results=17
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/demon-cursed/id1196948081?mt=11

Where to find Karilyn
Website:         www.karilynbentley.com
Newsletter:         http://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf
Facebook:         https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor
Twitter:            http://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1
Blog:            http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com
Goodreads:        http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley
Pinterest:        http://www.pinterest.com/karilynbentley

Thanks for being my guest today, Karilyn! Congrats on your latest release, and on the success of this series! Looking forward to book 4 (and 5!)

And if any of you are familiar with this series, feel free to give Karilyn suggestions for the movie version in the comments. Let's pick a cast for her, shall we?

Writing Wednesday: Debut Author Claire Marti

Today, I'm hosting a new author from The Wild Rose Press, Claire Marti. I was lucky enough to read an ARC of her debut novel, Second Chance In Laguna, a fun romp of a read (review coming soon) and invited her to visit!

Hi Claire! Give us your "brief bio."

Here's my "standard" pitch about myself... (sorry it's in the third person!)

Claire Marti started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress.

Finally, Claire followed her heart and now focuses on two of her true passions: writing romance novels and teaching yoga. Her debut, Second Chance in Laguna, releases from The Wild Rose Press on March 31, 2017 and is the first in the Finding Forever in Laguna series.

The part about managing an animal rescue sounds ripe for more stories... What's your favorite part of being an author?
I’ve got two favorite parts. First, I love creating the characters because the entire story springs from their inner conflicts. Learning to love and accept themselves frees them up to love and accept others. Second, I enjoy transforming the crappy first draft into flowing prose. I compare it to fitting puzzle pieces together.

What's your approach to the actual writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
I’ve got a hybrid approach. I do detailed character sketches and create and analyze the characters’ inner conflicts. Then, I have a loose story plotted over a three-act structure. I don’t do a detailed outline because I need the freedom to see what happens within my initial story concept.

I totally get that. Now, for a more creative question... If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
To transport myself from place to place in seconds. I’d love to visit my friends and family around the world in a blink of an eye. I’m impatient and would love to skip all that pesky driving and flying.

OMG, Totally get that. I recently spent 7 hours just sitting at Logan while waiting for JetBlue to fix a broken plane! Could've totally used that superpower!!

Now, for the meat. Tell us about your new release!

My debut novel, Second Chance in Laguna, won best unpublished contemporary romance in the Heart of the Molly and third place in the Maggie and releases on March 31, 2017. Here’s what it’s about:

Magazine editor and aspiring novelist Sophie Barnes left everything she knew to move to Laguna Beach to rebuild her life after being devastated by her fiancé’s jilting her at the altar. Little does she know she’ll meet the love of her life, player Nicholas Morgan, and fulfill her deepest dreams of becoming a successful author.

And I've read it so I know it's a fun read! Okay, you’re casting the movie version of your novel – who would you choose for the main characters? We’re talking dream cast.

Hero Nicholas Morgan can be played by Chris Hemsworth with green contact lenses. (YUM!)

Heroine Sophie Barnes can be played by either Allison Williams or Barbara Palvin. (Yep, can totally see that. Good choices!)

Thanks for visiting today, Claire, and best of luck with your new release! I'll be watching out for the next book int he series too - - Where can readers like me find your book and where can we find you online?

My website is www.clairemarti.com and you’ll find me on Twitter @clairepmarti, on Facebook at ClaireMartiAuthor, and on Goodreads.

My book is available in eBook and paperback at all major retailers. Here are the links:

·       Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kafVLW

·       The Wild Rose Press, Inc.: http://bit.ly/2jk8iQY

·       Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2mpGgq9

·       Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/second-chance-in-laguna

·       iBooks:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/second-chance-in-laguna/id1196981760?mt=11

·      

Monday Book Review: Sex, Lies & Sweet Tea, by Kris Calvert

Sex, Lies and Sweet Tea, (Sex & Lies, Book One) by Kris Calvert
Published November 2013

About the Book:

Hotter than hell and half of Alabama, FBI Agent, Mac Callahan is thirsty for everything except love. Coming home to bust a white-collar crime ring, Mac intends to execute his usual practice with work and women¬ – get in, get it on and get out. Instead, he finds himself unexpectedly drawn to the legacy of his family, his plantation, and the charms of a Southern girl. Samantha Peterson possesses everything he needs in a woman, including the evidence to wrap his case. As the investigation heats up, so does their passion and a dangerous game ignites. But, then again, everything’s hotter in the South.

My Take:

I may have mentioned recently how enamored I've been lately with Southern romances. From Savannah to New Orleans, I've read quite a few novels that are set South of the Mason-Dixon Line.  Well, I've found another talented author in this romance subset, with a series set in Alabama that's fast paced and sizzling.

Sex, Lies and Sweet Tea is the first in the series, introducing us to a hot and rugged FBI special agent, McKay "Mac" Callahan, who is also a true Southern gentleman at heart. When he leaves D.C. to head an investigation in his hometown, he meets Samantha Peterson and falls hard.

She thinks he's just home to visit his mother in the upscale elder-care facility where she just took a new job. He's actually investigating fraud and corruption at the same business, and isn't sure whether Sam is involved in the scheme. And what will happen if she finds out he investigated her along with the other suspects as he looks for clues in between kisses?

I enjoyed the weaving of mystery with the rich Southern plantation lifestyle, but some of the excess goes over the top. Taken in context (and a few grains of salt) it all works pretty well. While this is the start of a series, the novel is a standalone story that gives this plot a complete resolution and this couple their HEA, while simultaneously introducing the reader to other characters in this setting who might also be looking for love.

I'm looking forward to reading more from this author, and more stories set in this quirky yet traditional Southern town. Grab this first book on Amazon

Friday Feature: Chatting with Romance Author Donna Simonetta

Hi Donna! I'm so happy to have you here as my guest today. Tell readers a little bit about yourself.

Like Katie, I’m a New England girl. I was born and raised in Connecticut, went to college in Massachusetts and then moved back to Connecticut and later to New Hampshire. But like Magda, in my new release A Sweeter Spot, I fell in love with a man from Virginia. We ended up in Maryland, because it plopped us in between our two moms, and it’s where we stayed. I worked in the business world for a long time, but my love of reading led me to get my MLS, and now I work part-time in a school library, in addition to my writing. Although, it’s getting harder to find enough time in the day to do everything I need to do for my writing and the library. Something’s gotta give, and it won’t be my writing!

I like a cozy mystery, and I love to read romance! I love the happy endings in romance novels. Real life gives us plenty of stuff to worry about, and reasons to be sad. When I read, I want to escape to a world where I know the mystery will be solved, and true love will triumph. I prefer contemporary romance with some humor…like Katie’s My Kind of Crazy, what a fun book! It’s what I try to bring to my writing as well, humor and heart.


What's your favorite part of being an author?
 
The actual writing! On a good day writing, I can get lost in my work, and forget about everything else. I’ll suddenly realize it’s almost time for my husband to get home and cross my fingers that frozen pizza will be okay with him for dinner – lol! I’ve really liked some aspects of my library work, but that has never happened to me there. You could interrupt me at any point in my day in the library, and I could tell you, to the minute, how much longer I have to be at work.

What's your approach to writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?

I do a little of both. I figure out where to start, where to end, and what the high point is in between those two points. And I spend a fair amount of time before I start, thinking about my characters, their appearance, background, and what motivates them. So when I do start writing, things can flow. And sometimes, they flow in a direction I didn’t anticipate!

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

It would be teleportation. My family and friends are scattered all over the place, and it would be great to be able to just teleport to wherever they are for a visit. I hate the hassle of traveling, but love the opportunity to see loved ones. It would be great to pop to Ireland for a cup of tea with my best friend, and then zap to California for cocktails with my brother-in-law.

I've gotta say, that's one of the more popular superpowers that all of us busy authors would love! Now, let's get to the good stuff... Tell us about your new release!

I’m really excited about A Sweeter Spot! It is the first book I wrote that has no fantasy elements, which was a challenge for me, but I am so happy with the result. It’s set in a fictional small town called Rivers Bend, on the Virginia-Maryland border. The heroine moves there to help her best friend run the library, but also to get away from her wealthy, controlling grandmother back in New York. She expects to be a fish out of water, and just stay until her friend is back on her feet, but ends up falling in love…with the quirky little town and with its favorite son, former NFL player and hunky single dad, Jeff Braden.

A Sweeter Spot is the first book in a trilogy about Rivers Bend and the Braden family. Some exciting Rivers Bend news …I just signed a contract with the Wild Rose Press for book 2 of the series! It’s going to be Heather Braden’s story, and whether or not she finally gets her HEA with her first love, and Jeff’s former NFL teammate, Mick Evans.  I’ll keep you posted on all the deets about it, title, cover, release date, as soon as I know them!

About the Book:

Magda knows a 28-year-old shouldn’t run away from home, but Rivers Bend is the ideal escape. Helping out her best friend will get her away from her uber-wealthy, controlling grandmother and duplicitous ex. She doesn’t expect the quirky little town to feel so much like home. Add in hotter-than-the-sun Jeff and his daughter, and leaving seems as unthinkable as it is inevitable.

Raising Sam alone, Jeff knew he wanted her to grow up in his supportive hometown. The arrival of a feisty new tenant sends Jeff's world spinning. Magda fills a void in his life that he’d like to make permanent.

Will love triumph over the most powerful woman in the country, and can they figure out how to make this happy-for-now in Rivers Bend into their happy-ever-after?

Wow, I love the sound of this story! Think I need to add it to my read/review pile right now! Okay, you’re casting the movie version of your novel – who would you choose for the main characters? We’re talking dream cast.

Fair warning to visitors, I’m going to have a boring answer to this one. As a reader, I never picture characters as movie stars. I always see it in my mind when I read, and it’s vivid and clear. I didn’t realize until fairly recently that not everyone reads that way, but that’s another story. When a movie is made of a book I love, I’m frequently disappointed, because the world looks different. Wrong. At least to me! And the actors don’t look like anything like the characters I’ve come to know.

When I began writing, it sort of happened the same way for me as reading. If you dropped me on Main Street, in totally fictional Rivers Bend, I would be able to find my way anywhere, because it’s that real to me. So, to me, Jeff just looks like Jeff. I really tried to come up with some hot actor’s name to answer this question,  but I honestly can’t think of anyone who looks like Jeff does to me.


Hey, that's fine! We'll cast some hunky unknown and start his career with a bang, lol. Tell us where can readers find your book and where can they find you online?

I’m all over the place online, and would love to connect with my readers there! Here are some links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donnasimonettaauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/donna_simonetta
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15422407.Donna_Simonetta
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Donna-Simonetta/e/B06X415TWW/

And my books are available from my publisher, the Wild Rose Press, and from all the usual places…here are some links to A Sweeter Spot:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sweeter-Spot-Rivers-Bend-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B01N1S1K06
TWRP: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4862-a-sweeter-spot.html
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-sweeter-spot-donna-simonetta/1125338511?ean=2940157374921
Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/14pwrnP

And here are the links for  Angels Fly:

Amazon: https://amzn.com/B01G46DQQ8
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angels-fly-donna-simonetta/1123842226?ean=2940158160998
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Angels-Fly-Donna-Simonetta-ebook/dp/B01G46DQQ8/
The Wild Rose Press: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4409-angels-fly.html


I would love it if your readers wanted to pick up one of my books, and if they do, and like it, I would really appreciate it if they could leave a short review of it where they bought it, or on Goodreads. Before I was published, I didn’t realize how important that was to the author!

Thanks so much for letting me visit today, Katie!