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Interview with Cara Cartwright, Author of Spell Bound

What can you tell us about your new release, Spell Bound?

In Spell Bound, Sunshine meets the vampires, and her life takes a new course. She also does something amazing, and it requires her to take a leap of faith in trusting someone. It shows her loyalty, courage, and growth. She can only hope her trust isn't misplaced, and it will be a while before she finds out the answer to that.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I was a voracious reader growing up, and read almost anything I could get my hands on in certain genres. It started with romance, and eventually led me to science fiction and fantasy. After reading story after story for years, I started dreaming of writing my own heroines.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

There are too many to list! Here goes: Laurell K. Hamilton's Guilty Pleasures, Karen Marie Moning's DarkFever, Charlaine Harris's Dead Until Dark, Kim Harrison's Dead Witch Walking, Judith McNaught's Perfect, and Michelle Sagara's Cast in Shadow. Oh, my, that six, so I guess I should stop.

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

My first guest would be Karen Marie Moning. I would want to ask if she plotted her entire Fever series at once, or if she plotted them book by book. Then I'd ask what her inspiration was for writing Jericho Barrons.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I enjoy breathing life into characters, and watching them fail, succeed, or quit, and psychoanalyzing why they do certain things.

What is a typical day like for you?

It's rather boring. Get up a little after 5am, write or plot for a until 2-3pm, then work on social media. I finish about 5pm, and put in over eight hours a day. Sometimes I venture to the gym for a workout, or workout at home. During the day I take breaks to play with my Chihuahua, Oreo.

What scene from Spell Bound was your favorite to write?

My fav scene to write was when Sunshine makes her big decision at the end of the book. That was a very difficult scene to write and I wanted it to be perfect for both characters. I had no clue what either character would be saying or doing, or how to clue the reader in that there was more to her arrival than just her showing up. She also had to relay the information to the other character so that the guards wouldn't understand what she was talking about. It was a balancing act to write that scene. Say too little and the reader is lost. Say too much, and the guards would be storming the room.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Yes, I do. It's called The Don't Quit Poem by Anonymous. (There is debate on who the actual author is.) Anyway, I have it hanging on my desk. When I'm discouraged, I read it again and again. It's highly motivating. It's easily found in an online search.

Cara Cartwright is the author of the new book Spell Bound

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Interview with Ariella Talix, Author of Just Curious

What can you tell us about your new release, Just Curious?

This is my second MMF story and the first that is not connected to any of my previous books. I dreamed up characters I’d like to know and fell in love with all of them. Willa is a writer, so that was an easy persona to identify with. Jackson is the successful brainiac who has a strong, protective spirit. Casey is the artistic one who tends to go a little overboard now and then. They were so much fun! In order for the book to sound plausible, I consulted with a leading authority in web security who also owns a Tesla. So, while a few reviewers have intimated that the plot is a bit far-fetched, it’s truly not that crazy. I think readers will be hard-pressed to not get sucked into the drama as it unfolds.

I grew up in the town where the story takes place, and despite living at the beach, managed to become an avid snow skier. The skiing scenes are near and dear to my heart. All in all, this book is meant to be great escapism.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

When I was in the third grade, my teacher recommended an after-school enrichment program for creative writing. It was so much fun, I was hooked, and I love to write. I didn’t actually write a novel, however, until 2018—mostly because I was busy with my career as an artist. While I enjoy reading all genres, contemporary romance sparked something that finally compelled me to try it myself. When I got to 50K words and the story still wasn’t finished, the feeling of accomplishment was amazing. I can’t imagine life without writing now.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

I can only pick 5? Books that stand out to me are To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Once and Future King by T.H. White, The Red by Tiffany Reisz, This Man and the rest of that series by Jodi Ellen Malpas, and all of the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling. Obviously, I have eclectic tastes. Not all of the books are the best things ever written, but they sure are some of the best stories ever told! I also have to give kudos to Karen Marie Moning, George R. R. Martin and Philip Pullman for sheer imagination. Wow.

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

There are many authors who would be interesting, but I’m sure other people you’ve interviewed have covered them. So, since this is a pipedream type of question, I’d interview William Shakespeare. I’d be tempted to ask if he really wrote all of what was attributed to him, or were the rumors true that it was someone else. But… that would be impertinent. So, I guess I’d ask him if he had any idea of the impact his work would have on the world.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I love to create something from nothing. I’m sure it’s obvious from reading my books that I have a strong background in art and use that as a theme quite often. I get a similar feeling when creating visual art for people to enjoy as writing a great story to entertain readers. The big difference, however, is that writing is far more personal and actually more satisfying.

Someone near and dear to me was asked once why he enjoyed being a musician. The questioner seemed to expect “applause” as an answer and was shocked to hear, “I like making people happy.” I feel the same way. We all need an escape from the harsh realities of life now and then, so creating art to look at, beautiful music to enjoy, or writing a wonderful story that can transport the reader for a while is the best gift a creative person can give.

What is a typical day like for you?

It’s certainly been less active in the past year while we’ve been stuck at home thanks to COVID. Generally, I have breakfast with my husband and then write or do “book stuff” for a few hours until lunch. Depending on the weather, I take one or two walks with my dog and spend the rest of the time writing unless I’m grocery shopping or cooking. We have a pretty quiet life here. I used to be a lot more exciting, but least I have plenty of time to write now and I’m a lot less sleep-deprived.

What scene from Just Curious was your favorite to write?

Oh my! Is this a loaded question, given the MMF theme of the book? I love the way the book starts when Willa meets Jackson, and I used something special from my real life to carry that scene. But I guess the scene that resonates with me the most is when they are in Casey’s study and the triad begins. It’s always a challenge to figure out how to go about getting three people into a relationship, and I’ve tried to do that in different ways for each of the books. (I’m writing a third MMF book right now). I think the study scene was unexpected and steamy, so I’m extremely happy with it.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“Oh, just go for it!”

Ariella Talix is the author of the new book Just Curious

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Interview with Nalini Warriar, Author of Beguiling Julian

What can you tell us about your new release, Beguiling Julian?

Let this series sweep you off your feet. Bollywood glitter, skyscrapers in New York and Mumbai and a fabulous desert palace you’ll love. Beguiling Julian is a multicultural romance set in Mumbai, the Rajasthan desert and New York.

While nothing rattles the cool and collected composure of billionaire CEO Julian Westphal, head of the Orion Group, news of his visit to India is enough to crack Bollywood superstar Samaira Nayak’s. There’s a lot of baggage between them: they’re opposites; he was her brother Nik’s BF; he’s her ex-guardian and they live on opposite ends of the world. And that’s not counting the fact that Sam’s had a crush on Julian since forever.

The moment he sees Sam, Julian’s life is turned upside down. Now at twenty-two she’s a stunning beauty he can’t get out of his mind. He resists his feelings for Sam for she is his best friend’s little sister and out of bounds. He has betrayed Nik’s trust and his only goal now is to make amends.

Can Julian get past his guilt and can Sam accept Julian into her life? A threat to Sam’s life brings things into perspective and the only solution for Sam and Julian is a sham marriage. One thing leads to another and they’re left with burning unfulfilled desires for each other. Can they put aside their differences and give in to their dreams?

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Somerset Maugham and his short stories

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

The Far Pavillions by M.M.Kaye

Dynasty of Death by Taylor Caldwell

The Mallen Streak by Catherine Cookson

Olivia and Jai by Rebecca Ryman

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Rebecca Ryman. ‘How did your agent and publisher react when they heard/read about the interracial romance in this fascinating work of historical fiction?’ I’d also ask M.M Kaye the same question. Striking is the fact that both novels (1990 and 1978 for the latter) were published by St. Martins Press.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

The creative part where the narrative develops slowly, trickling in phrase by phrase, paragraph by paragraph then evolves into this gushing waterfall of prose.

What is a typical day like for you?

Get up and have coffee/tea, catch up on ‘Breaking News’ to make sure the world is not falling apart and get in my word count for the day. Then go for a walk, or play pickleball.

What scene from Beguiling Julian was your favorite to write?

The scene where Sam confronts her fake husband and Julian discovers she’s a virgin. I hope it came off as hilarious because it was exactly what I was aiming for!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Bringing cultures together one book at a time.

Nalini Warriar is the author of the new book Beguiling Julian

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Interview with Katy Regnery, Author of Love Is Never Lost

What can you tell us about your new release, Love Is Never Lost?

I love a good fairytale. That’s been established (this is the 8^th book in my collection!) But not all fairytales are ripe for modern adaption. Some tough ones? The Princess and the Pea...Snow White and the Seven Dwarves...Rumpelstiltskin...with these and many other tales, it’s hard to come up with a good, solid, captivating, modern-day romance angle that lends itself to the structure of the original fairy tale.

So I started branching out from conventional fairytales to American folklore, and at the top of the list was The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. It’s an awesome story, to be sure, but it’s hard to avoid a paranormal element when re-writing it, since the Headless Horseman is not only a main character, but a ghost. Now...right next to Sleepy Hollow on the list of popular American folklore, was Irving’s other well-known story, The Legend of Rip Van Winkle. And this one? Well, it immediately got my juices going.

In the legend, Rip wanders up into the Catskills, goes bowling with dwarves, gets drunk, falls asleep and wakes up twenty years later. When he walked up into the mountains, it was a year before the American Revolution, and when he walks down, it’s a year after. This MASSIVE change has taken place in New York and he’s missed it all. So, I started thinking about that...about someone losing two decades of their life. And my story, LOVE IS NEVER LOST, was born.

In my version, Ripley Van Winkle falls from the top of a lighthouse in 1985, only to wake up from a coma twenty years later in 2005. He has an 18-year-old sister, his former best friend and onetime girlfriend are married, and his parents are in their 60s. Not to mention, the internet, GPS, cell phones, oh my! He has to relearn a whole new world. It was just so much fun to write.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

I have three remotes on my nightstand, but (shhhh! Don’t judge!) no books! Lately, I’ve been on a streaming binge, and getting all of my stories (and some awesome story inspiration!) from Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Sundance, etc. There are so many amazing shows available right now, I can’t get enough!!

Do you listen to anything while you write? If so, what is your audio of choice?

Sometimes I do. For this book, I listened to quite a bit of 80s music for the first five chapters, which take place in 1985. “Jessie’s Girl”...”Everybody Wants To Rule The World”...”Don’t You (Forget About Me)”... the list goes on and on. But I only listened to one song occasionally while writing the subsequent fourteen chapters: Neil Young’s “Harvest.” I heard it on a show called “Big Sky,” and the lyrics stuck with me. I even refer to it in Chapter 18!

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

My family. Definitely. During these strange Covid-19 days, I’ve been (mostly) sequestered at home with my husband and two kids, Henry (16) and Callie (13), in Connecticut. And you know? I might be in the minority, but I think I’m actually going to feel nostalgic about it (all of this time spent together) someday. I’ll look back on these days spent at home like a pause, a little haven, a little heaven, even, where I had my beloved family around me all the time. Plus, my parents and brother live nearby, and we’ve been able to see a lot of them over the past year. Everyone had to slow down, you know? I didn’t write as many books. My husband worked from home. My kids often attended school remotely. Sure, there were moments we got on each other’s nerves, but mostly I loved having them around me all the time. Part of me will miss it when our lives return to hectic-normal.

What's in your Nexflix queue?

OMG. SO MUCH. My family is headed to Norway for Christmas break 2021 (think snowmobiles, northern lights and dog sledding!) so I have a bunch of Norwegian shows ready to watch. In my “Coming Soon,” queue, I have: “The One,” “Deadly Illusions,” “Who Killed Sara?” and “A Week Away.” LOL! Maybe I’ll come up with a thriller next!

What scene from Love Is Never Lost was your favorite to write?

Instead of doing an Epilogue at the end, I wrote a four-page Update instead. So, instead of one scene that gives you a glimpse into Rip and Trina’s life, I give the reader the rest of their lives in shorthand, with updates at five, eleven, twenty and fifty years later. My early readers are LOVING this long view into my characters’ futures. And I had the best time imagining it, so it’s a win-win!

Katy Regnery is the author of the new book Love Is Never Lost

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Interview with Melissa F. Miller, Author of Burned

What can you tell us about your new release, Burned?

Burned (Shenandoah Shadows No. 1) is the first book in my brand-new romantic suspense novella series! It introduces Olivia Santos, a CIA NOC (non-official cover) operative and Trent Mann, a former Navy SEAL who now works as a defensive driving instructor for Potomac Private Services. When Olivia's cover is compromised by someone on the inside, she and Trent are forced to go on the run together. Soon Trent and Olivia are dodging the government, foreign agents, and an endless list of shadowy enemies. As the danger reaches a boiling point, Olivia and Trent will have to ignore the fire crackling between them to focus on staying alive. Their story continues in Scorched and reaches its sizzling conclusion in Ablaze. Each novella in the trilogy contains a complete mystery/thriller arc and advances the romance arc, with cliffhangers at the end of Book 1 and Book 2. At the end of Book 3, the overarching suspense plot comes together and Trent and Olivia have their happily ever after.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

From the time I was a young girl, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I wrote my first mystery when I was four, dictating it to my mom, who typed it up. We made a cover for the book using contact paper. But that dream was deferred for thirty-five years. I was inspired to actually become a published writer when I found myself on hospitalized bed rest while pregnant with my third child. Confined to bed for twenty-three hours and fifteen minutes of every day, I did a lot of reading... and writing. Five weeks later, I had a healthy baby girl and the first draft of my first novel!

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

No way! That's like asking me to pick a favorite child! Five books that have had a strong impact on me are The Alchemist (Paolo Coelho), The Lincoln Lawyer (Michael Connelly), Peace Is Every Step (Thich Nhat Hanh), and two recent reads—The Book of Longing (Sue Monk Kidd) and The Once and Future Witches (Alix E. Harrow).

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

I'm guessing this is an "any author living or dead" question, right? I think, if I brushed up on my Middle English first, I'd want to interview Geoffrey Chaucer. I majored in English with a concentration in Medieval Literature, and I spent a lot of time reading The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer is surprisingly feminist! I'd love to ask him about that quality in his writing.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Definitely when my subconscious seeds a fact in a story that I don't realize is crucial until later in the book. This happens all the time for me, and it's such a rush to see the story come together. (I am not a plotter, although I sketch out a framework for my books). The most important details usually are worked out somewhere in my brain without it bothering to let me know!

My favorite thing about publishing is hearing from readers who've been touched, affected, or changed by one of my books—most often, in a way I could never have predicted!

What is a typical day like for you?

My typical day has shifted some in the past year, as I imagine is true for many people! These days, I typically wake up by around 5 AM to meditate, journal, and start consuming coffee. When I'm fully awake, I take our beagle/basset mix, Chase, for an hour-long walk around sunrise while I chat with my sister, who is taking her own morning walk several hundred miles away. After my walk, write or do research or administrative work (go over edits, meet with my husband to discuss translations, audiobooks, website updates, and that sort of thing) until lunchtime. The cat (Java) is my office companion. She hangs out on my desk all morning. In the afternoon, I homeschool my three kids (who've been working independently until lunch). My husband (who's the chef in the family) makes dinner and I clean up! After dinner, we take a family walk with the dog. In the evenings, I'll read or watch a movie or play a board game with my family. If I am on deadline or feeling very inspired, I'll sneak away to my home office and get in a late-night writing session. Then it's off to bed to read until I fall asleep.

What scene from Burned was your favorite to write?

Probably the scene where Olivia executes the perfect reverse bootleg turn during her driving instruction with Trent. I'm a cautious (to a fault) driver, but my husband is a high-performance driving instructor. He tracks his little Miata, and I have never enjoyed being in the car on track (I don't even like roller coasters), so it was great fun to create a character who shared his need for speed.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

"We can do hard things." It's something I tell myself and my kids. We hung canvas word art with these words over our garage door to remind us when we leave the house. Two others that I come back to time and again are "Action expresses priority" (Mahatma Gandhi) and "Always be a little kinder than is necessary" (J.M. Barrie).

Melissa F. Miller is the author of the new book Burned

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