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Enshrine is my first purely stand-alone novel. The inspiration for the story came when I purchased the amazing cover photo from Battershell Photography. As soon as I laid eyes on it, the entire story came to me. Although the photograph is sexy, the story needed to be raw and emotion. I took a leap of faith on Enshrine. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever written before. I take great pride in every word inside the book and hope people fall in love with Callie and Bruno. They’re story isn’t easy, filled with darkness, but in the end they find the love and light.

Which books would we be surprised to find on your shelves?

My collection varies wildly. I adore books by Abbi Glines and Colleen Hoover, authors that lean more towards young adult, to the opposite end of the spectrum with Kitty Thomas and CJ Roberts, who are the masters of Dark Erotica. There’s no book that’s off-limits. I don’t read much pure Erotica. I love a good story even if it’s dark or hell, sex free (gasp).

What's on your writing desk?

I have a desk, but I never sit there to write. I like to sit on my recliner, with the bottom kicked out, and use the footrest as my desk. There’s always a cup of coffee at my side along with my phone. I keep it pretty simple. The one thing I need more anything when I write is a great pair of headphones. Music helps keep me writing and often inspires a lot of the chapters as I write.

What's rocking your world this month?

January has been a whirlwind. The readers and reviewers of Enshrine are rocking my world. There’s nothing more satisfying than getting a message from someone professing his or her love for something that I created. It helps keep me motivated and working on the next project. Each message, review, or comment is like a shot of adrenaline straight to my typing fingers.

Besides Enshrine, I had a great time in Dallas in January meeting readers at Holiday with the Belles. I’m looking forward to a six day cruise, Book Splash, in February. I’ll finally be able to spend quality time with readers and friends instead of running around like a madwoman like I typically am at book events.

What's the best part about living in Florida?

That’s easy… the weather. I grew up in Ohio and lived in the snow-belt for the first thirty years of my life. I hated the cold and snow. In 2007, I moved to Florida and haven’t looked back. I love the sunshine and palm trees even on the days it’s so hot I feel my skin might melt off my body.

Who is your favorite couple from literature?

Wow. That’s a tough question. There are so many amazing couples that have been written. Picking just one is like deciding which child I like more. If I had to go with one couple it would probably be Tack and Tyra from Kristen Ashley’s Motorcycle Man, followed closely by Kellan and Kiera from Thoughtless by SC Stephens. Every book I read I fall in love with a new couple, but those are two couples I could re-read over and over again.

What scene in Enshrine was your favorite to write?

I love the chapters toward the end of the book. I have this thing about families. I love to write them. I giggle while I write the craziest family members that are based off some of my own. Although the reader knows the character by that point, it’s nice to see them through the family’s eyes. I have a big Italian family and to the outside observer they would probably think they’re off their rocker, which is probably true, but they make for great characters.

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

“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” -Denis Waitley

Many writers, especially new ones, often compare their success to others in the same field. It’s a quick way to feel deflated and let the feeling of failure creep inside our psyche. It takes courage to write a book and publish it, opening it up to the masses to form an opinion. I try to remind myself that each day, no matter my rank or sales, I did something so few have tried… I published a novel.

Chelle Bliss is the author of the new book Enshrine.

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