Oct 27, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, Kathryn Le Veque
Rae: First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte and since it’s Fall…well that means it’s time for a Pumpkin Spice Latte with Coconut Milk š What would you order?
Kathryn:Ā I have an issue with caffeine (unlike a lot of my sweet author friends, I am not a caffeine hound!) so I would drink hot chocolate or water. I’m a big water drinker!
Rae: Thanks so much for hanging out with me today. I must say, your Medieval Historical Romance series looks fabulous! I want to let you know that while I haven’t read your series I have downloaded Books1 and 4 of De Wolfe pack to my e-reader thanks to Amazon and am reading The Wolfe now. I am hooked and I’m only on page 3. These books are rich with details and you have an extensive set of characters, how do you keep them all straight?
Kathryn:Ā I don’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday but, somehow, I can keep everything straight in my head about the, literally, hundreds of characters I have written about. I also have an assistant who has done character charts and book bibles, which helps a great deal. When I write, I use an outline – I always know how a story will start and finish, but I let the middle kind of write itself. Any author will tell you that stories do write themselves and I love that fluidity when characters have dialogue that flows so easily or when scenes are seamless from one to the next. I don’t use whiteboards or charts for my novels; just fairly detailed outline in a spiral notebook. I very fortunate I can keep nearly everything straight!
Rae: Congratulations on the launch of Amazon’s World of the de Wolfe Pack for Kindle. Since your books span from 1230-1471 I love that you broke down everything an aspiring and/or established author would need for information on your website.Ā I’m excited to read about the de Wolfe Pack from your backlist and the new adventures that come to life on amazon.Ā Thank you so much for hanging out with me today.
Time for another Latte. Happy Reading Dear Readers.Ā Happy Writing Kathryn!
18 Tantalizing Tidbits
1. What is a must read book and why?
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. Pure brilliance and perfect writing.
The Falcon and the Flower by Virginia Henley. Literally, the best Medieval Romance ever.
Raise the Titanic by Clive Cussler. Cussler at his best with adventure galore. An example of how to leave readers breathless.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?
Old Town Pasadena! This is where the city began. When I was in high school, it was mostly run down and derelict. It was a place you simply didnāt go because of the bums and crime. Then, after I graduated, they started renovating those beautiful old buildings and now itās the gem of the city. Not to be missed!
3. Castles or Beaches?
Seriously? Youāre asking a Medieval writer from California this? Beaches, I got. What I want are castles! LOL!
4. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you?
Iām very musically inclined and educated. I play four different instruments and read in all three clefs.
5. Hard Rock or Classical? Favorite Band or Artist?
I am a head-banger. Yes, thatās meā¦.
6. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where would you go?
Good question! I have always wanted to go to Egypt and the Middle East simply from a historic stand point because I have always wanted to trace the Crusader routes. Maybe someday when the situation there calms down, if it ever doesā¦!
7. What is your guilty pleasure?
Which one?! LOL! We can start with a weekly massage and manicure.
8. What are you afraid of?
Heights, flying, and SNAKES!
9. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one?
No tats. This girlās body is clean.
10. Organized or Free Floating?
Definitely organized in my business. But I throw my clothes all over my closet and leave them there, so thatās free floating. Iām a hybrid of both!
11. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)?
I have an odd habit. I watch old black and white movies ā only ā and use them as white noise when I write. In other words, theyāre on a loop without sound as I write. Thatās kind of my TV habit. I said it was weird!
12. What’s your favorite TV show and why?
I Love Lucy because, well, I love Lucy!
13. If you could pick a book you’ve read and make it into a movie, which book would it be (besides yours :)?
Any of the Clive Cussler novels that Clive wrote before he started collaborating with other authors. He was at his best back in the 70ās. They made Raise the Titanic into a movie and I loved it, so Iād love to see others ā Serpent, Pacific Vortex, etc. Can you tell Iām a big fan? I love a great adventure!
14. What’s your favorite movie of all time and why?
The Thing (from another world). 1956 ā a perfect example of great storyline, snappy dialogue, and great directing, with some cheesy fun thrown in. Adore it.
15. Would you rather see a movie in the theatre or at home on DVD and why?
DVD without question. I donāt like sitting in a dark theatre for two hours. I get too restless!
16. One thing you can’t live without.
My Himilayan cats ā I have two of them and they are my babies. Such sweet, gentle animals.
17. Do you love to cook or go out to eat?
Both. Iām a good cook but Iād rather go out to eat!
18.Ā If you could invite 5 people to dinner (not friends and family – that’s too easy) who would you invite? It could be anyone past or present.
ā¢ Thomas Jefferson (brilliant man and architect)
ā¢ God (explain to me about the universe and how it really works)
ā¢ Major Dick Winters (E Company, 101st Airborne ā Band of Brothers Commander) ā just because I think we will never again see a man like this ever again.
ā¢ Louise Brooks (1920ās movie star, prototype of the flapper, brilliant actress and film historian). Tell me about life in the 1920ās and 1930ās and dish the dirt!
ā¢ Frederick Douglas (Freeman, abolitionist, novelist, philosopher). Because I want to hear his greatness.
Author Info:
KATHRYN LE VEQUE is a USA TODAY Bestselling author, an Amazon All-Star author, and a #1 bestselling, award-winning, multi-published author in Medieval Historical Romance and Historical Fiction. She has been featured in the NEW YORK TIMES and on USA TODAY’s HEA blog. In March 2015, Kathryn was the featured cover story for the March issue of InD’Tale Magazine, the premier Indie author magazine. She is also a quadruple nominee (a record!) for the prestigious RONE awards for 2015.
Sep 29, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, Kate Meader, September 2015
Rae: First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š What would you order?
Kate: I was born and raised in Ireland where we are tea people, through and through. So I would order an Earl Grey tea, hot.
Rae: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. Your Hot In Chicago series is a steamy must read! I love how each book in this series updates the reader on where past characters are, as well as introducing us to another fabulous Dempsey sibling. I love a great firefighter series and the foster family is a great spin. Each sibling has his/her own challenges and I’m thrilled that you never leave the reader wondering what happened as the story progresses into the next chapter. Yet, each book can be read as a stand alone – it’s brilliant!
Kate: Thanks so much for having me! And thank you for your love of the Hot in Chicago books. Itās definitely a series thatās close to my heart. I love the dynamics and how itās about the family you make rather than the one youāre born into.
Rae: As a reader who loves a great book cover I must give a shout out to whoever designed your covers. They are fabulous. I have to say that the model on Flirting with Fire reminds me of a young Jon Hensley from As the World Turns. There are details on the cover that the reader will enjoy after reading the story, appreciating the cover even more.
Kate: Yes, Iāve been blessed with great covers for this series. Lukeās cover is so apt, a dirt-streaked, muscled bruiser for whom family comes first. Though I have to say that Playing with Fireās cover is my favorite of them all. I love that pose and how vulnerable she looks in his arms. Eli and Alex are such a great couple and I think the cover captures their dynamic perfectly.
Rae: Congrats on your newest release, Playing With Fire. My review of Playing with Fire was posted yesterday and I absolutely loved it! As release day is always filled with lots of reviews and visits across the web, I’m thrilled that you are hanging out with me today! I was super excited to read Eli and Alex’s story. This is one that doesn’t disappoint and in fact will keep readers guessing till the end – well done š
Kate: Thanks so much! Eli and Alex are my favorite couple, and Playing with Fire is probably the best book Iāve written to date. I love the enemies-to-lovers theme and these two go at it hammer and tongs, both in and out of the bedroom š
Rae: The Hot in Chicago Series takes place at one Engine Company in Chicago how did you prepared for this series? Were you able to hang out with any firefighters to gather research?
Kate: Well, to prepare I watched A LOT of Chicago Fire TV episodes! Actually, thatās not far off, but I also did some web research about the Chicago Fire Department and watched videos about rescues, firefighter gear, and how to don a mask, for example. But that kind of research is no replacement for talking with someone in the business. Iām so lucky to know a fire captain who invited me to spend a day with him and his crew at a Chicago firehouse. I couldnāt go out on any runs (most of which are paramedic calls these days) but I listened in on dispatch calls, got a tour of the house including the hose drying tower (insert filthy joke here), and talked with guys about the job. I brought cake to bribe them into honesty and they cooked for me, too. CFD firefighters are amazing chefs (as Gage Simpson, one of the Firefightinā Dempseys will no doubt tell you!)
Rae: Can you tell us how many books and/or novellas we can expect in this series?
Kate: As for how many novels/novellas are planned, itās five ā one for each sibling. By the time Playing with Fire releases, four of the stories will be out in the wild, leaving oneāWyattās tale, which will be out in Spring 2016. There are no plans now to expand, as the series was always intended to focus on the Dempsey family rather than the firehouse. But you never know what the future will hold, especially if some more foster siblings crawl out of the Dempsey woodwork, soap opera-style.
Rae: By now in the Hot in Chicago Blitz I’ve posted my reviews for each book in the Hot in Chicago Series. For those readers who missed any or all of my reviews, I’ve included the links below. Thanks again for hanging out – I had a blast! Happy Writing!
Kate: Thanks so much for having me!
9 Tantalizing Tidbits
1. A Must read book and why?
The last book I read that blew my mind was Everything I Left Unsaid by Molly OāKeefe. This is a darker romance, very atmospheric, suspenseful, and sexy. I was lucky to score an ARC and I highly recommend it.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?
My original hometown is Dublin, so if you go there, Iād say you have to walk around my alma mater, Trinity College. Now that I live in Chicago, Iād say no visit to Chi-town is complete without a visit to the Bean in Millennium Park.
3 . Castles or Beaches?
Living in Ireland, you canāt spit without hitting a castle, so Iāll go with that.
4. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you?Ā
I have a masters in medieval history. My concentration was twelfth century nuns and how they used their connection to God to forge new paths to female empowerment. The first feminists, yo!
5. What are you afraid of?
Creepy crawlies. I know, clichĆ©, but thatās my biggest fear.
6. Organized or Free Floating?
Free-floating. I wish I could be more organized as it would make my writing easier but it canāt be helped.
7. What’s your favorite movie of all time and why?
So, so many, and often times, itās a decade thing. So my favorite from the 60s is North by Northwest, from the 70s The Godfather, Part 2, from the 80s, Back to the Future, and from the 90s The Shawshank Redemption.
8. What is one thing you can’t live without?
My Kindle!
9. Do you love to cook or go out to eat?
Eat out. I used to cook more but I donāt have much time these days with my writing schedule. Eating out is probably my favorite thing to do.
**********GIVEAWAY CLOSED***********
Kate Meader is giving away TWO signed print copies of Flirting With Fire.
Tell us…what’s in your mug right now?
Contest ends 9/30 at 12 noon.Ā Winner will be randomly selected.Ā Prizes areĀ provided and sent by the author.Ā If winner can’t be reached BILA has the right to draw a new winner.
In Case You Missed It:
Day 1 – Rekindle the Flame
Day 2 – Flirting With Fire
Day 3 – Melting Point
Day 4 – Playing With Fire
Author Info:
Originally from Ireland, Kate cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Mills & Boon thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and sheās there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.
Sep 24, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, Jeanette Murray, September 2015
Rae: First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š What would you order?
Jeanette: Iād order a mocha with an extra shot if I was under deadline, which I currently am!
Rae: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. I LOVE books about football and your series about The Santa Fe Bobcats I’m really enjoying! š
Jeanette: Thank you so much! Glad to hear it.
Rae: How many books do you anticipate in this series?
Jeanette: I just signed a deal for three more books, so at least five total! But I could see carrying on with the series as long as readers are having funĀ with them. Thatās what matters most. If the readers want them, I can seeĀ moving forward with more.
Rae: How much research did you do for this?
Jeanette:Ā Oh, hours of long, hard work staring at photos of hot men. Hard, hard workā¦
Rae: Were you a fan of football before you started writing this series?
Jeanette:Ā I was, though not as much as my husband. Heās a college football fanatic,Ā and weāre both Colts fans, though we do miss Peyton. So we now follow theĀ Broncos, just for him.
Rae: What was the inspiration for writing a football series?
Jeanette:Ā When I watch sports, I like the ones that are really down and dirty. IāmĀ not a basketball fan because you touch a guy and itās a foul. Come on, getĀ in there, rough it up a bit, guys. Plus, hello sexy tight football pantsā¦
Rae: I can only imagine how much fun that would be! Were you able to hang out with any hunky football players?
Jeanette:Ā Nah. We live a stoneās throw from St. Louis so one day Iād love to find aĀ way to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Rams facilities and get the lowĀ down. But so far, nothing.
Rae: Thank you so much for hanging out.
8 Tantalizing Tidbits
1. A Must read book and why?
Where the Red Fern Growsā¦because I feel like you need to know what itĀ feels like to have a book break your heart, and that one is a 100% given.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?
Me! haha Just kidding. I really adore City Museum. Very unique.
3. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where would you go?
Australia. Iāve always wanted to go, and I wouldnāt hesitate to go for, uh, researchā¦
4. What is your guilty pleasure?
I canāt believe Iām admitting this butā¦ Cheez Whiz (from the can,Ā naturally) and Wheat Thins. I know itās horrible, but I love this combo. Iām gonna go hide nowā¦
5. Organized or Free Floating?
Organizedā¦mostly. Iām free floating on life and home details like mealĀ planning (suck at it) and chore keep up (suck at that, too). But when it comes to work and schedules and knowing who is going where at what time, or bill payingā¦Iām a machine.
6. Binge watcher or weekly viewer?
Binge watcher! Hardcore. We gave up cable about 2.5 years ago and we donātĀ miss it. I wait until stuff hits Netflix and just go crazy. I can get through an entire season of a TV show in under three days.
7. What’s your favorite TV show and why?
Gilmore Girls, because of the dialogue. I adore the way those two girlsĀ can go back and forth almost without taking a breath. In my teenage years,Ā I truly envied how quick Lorelei was with a comeback.
8. Would you rather see a movie in the theatre or at home on DVD and why?
DVD at home. I like being able to pause, rewind, pause again, and eat whatever snack I effing please while watching.
Aug 3, 2015 | August 2015, Blog, Coffee With, Samantha Chase
Rae: First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š
What would you order?
Samantha: Okay, donāt laughā¦but I would drink hot chocolate. Itās my addiction.
Rae: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. Your Montgomery Brothers series is fantastic and a must read! Do you have any more books or novellas planned for this series? I love how each book in the series updates the reader on where past characters are, as well as introducing us to another fabulous Montgomery sibling.
Samantha: I am excited to say that I am getting ready to start writing a seventh Montgomery book! The sixth one ā āIāll be Thereā ā will be out in December and it will conclude the current trilogy. There are three more books (so far!) being planned. They have been such a fun family to create that I think itās going to be hard to see it end.
Rae: Congrats on your newest release, Made for Us, the first book in your next series he Shaughnessy Brothers. I was hopeful Aidan would get his own story and am thrilled that he has! The Shaughnessy Brothers Series involves construction, were you able to visit any sites to gather research?
Samantha: My husband is in the construction business so a lot of what I wrote about comes from personal experience. It was a lot of crazy lingo and things that the average person doesnāt think about but it was fun to put that knowledge to use.
Rae: Can you tell us how many books will be in this series? Will we see the Montgomery Brothers sprinkled in this new series?
Samantha: The series will have six books total ā one for each sibling. And although the series is entitled The Shaughnessy Brothers, we do have one lone Shaughnessy sister. I havenāt put any of the Montgomerys in the stories but all of the stories arenāt written yet so you never know!
Rae: By now in the Blitz I’ve posted my reviews for each book in the Montgomery Series and for those who missed it I’ve included the links below.Ā I’m looking forward to my review tomorrow of Made for Us – I absolutely loved it!
8 Tantalizing Tidbits:
1. A Must read book and why?
Oooā¦good question. If I had to tell someone to read one of MY books, Iād say The Christmas Cottage ā just because itās a fun, light-hearted holiday romance. However, if I had to choose another book/another authorā¦I think I would have to choose Nora Roberts Bridal Quartet. I know itās technically four books, but itās one of the few series Iāve read that every book is just amazing and the flow of them is so well done. Great contemporary romance with enough heat that will leave you sighing happily.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?
I actually have a LOT of hometowns! I moved a lot when I was growing up. But for the sake of the interview, weāll go with my current hometown ā Wake Forest, NC. There is an amazing park not too far from me that has multiple walking trails, creeks, historic cabinsā¦itās simply beautiful. Any time you go there, youāll see bridal parties or prom guests there taking pictures because itās all so pretty. Definitely a must see.
3. Castles or Beaches?
Iāve always wanted to go and see a castle in person but never have! I do love the beaches, but I burn almost instantly in the sun! Decisionsā¦decisionsā¦can I have a castle on the beach???
4. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you?
Iām terrified of the cartoon āUnderdogā. And yes, itās okay to laugh.
5. Hard Rock or Classical? Favorite Band or Artist?
Hard Rock definitely. Iām an 80ās hair band girl all the way. Although I will admit to listening to a lot of Taylor Swift lately! Favorite band? Itās a tie ā Bon Jovi and Def Leppard. Love them both!
6. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where would you go?
Australia. Iāve always wanted to go and everything about it fascinates me and itās probably a trip I wouldnāt do on my own soā¦yes. Definitely Australia.
7. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one?
I actually have three! The first is on my ankle and the artist designed it on the spot for me ā itās very scroll-y and has a cross on the side and wraps around like an ankle bracelet. My husband and I went and got our first tats together for our thirteenth wedding anniversary. He researched for YEARS to find the perfect tat and I walked in and looked at the artist and said, āI kind of want something like thisā¦ā and she drew it. The next one I got is on my wrist and says āChasing Romanceā because thatās my logo and then on my forearm I have the enchanted rose from āBeauty and the Beastā. I think I still want one moreā¦
8. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)?
Weekly viewer. Itās funny because I can sit in front of a computer all day and yet an hour in front of the TV and I get antsy! I donāt watch a whole lot of TV but I will faithfully watch āModern Familyā, āThe Big Bang Theoryā and several HGTV shows ā āLove it or List Itā, āFixer Upperā and āFlip or Flop.ā
Thank you so much for hanging out – I had a great time š
*******Giveaway CLOSED*******
Samantha Chase has generously donated an autographed
book of your choice from The Montgomery Brothers or The Shaughnessy Brothers for todays giveaway.
Answer the following question in the comments below for a chance to win!
What’s your must read book and why?Ā Ā
One winner will be randomly selected at the end of the Blitz.
Comment for a chance to win ā contest ends on 8/5/15 at 12 Noon.
Winner will be contacted via e-mail.
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordanās Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40ās to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well. When sheās not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
For more information, please visit Samanthaās website ā www.chasing-romance.com
May 13, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, Dianna Love, May 2015
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š
What would you order?Ā I love lattes or cappuccino.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions.Ā Ā Your books are described as Romantic Thrillers – that description makes it sound so “on-the-edge-of-your-seat” intense!Ā What drove you to writing romantic thrillers? What type of research did you do to prepare yourself?
I love big complex stories, so I wanted to write a series with a big romance that develops during a big suspense, but one with a larger threat (to a nation or the world), which is why my stories are really not just suspense, but thrillers.Ā I love what I call āwhoās zooming whoā movies like The Italian Job.Ā Itās that thrill of knowing things are getting more dangerous every minute and the romance is tangled up in all of it.Ā Then ā¦ BAM, an unexpected twist. Thatās what I go for in my stories. Lots of emotion, lots of action and lots of surprises.
For those who are not familiar with your work,Ā you write paranormal romance and have a paranormal romance series -theĀ Beladors.Ā Is it easy to switch genres when writing? I love when I encounter authors who can write fabulous books in multiple genres, and do it so well. How do you keep every character and story line straight?
I actually enjoy the change from one genre to another one, because thenĀ my āthrillerā thinking takes a break and my āfantasyā thinking gets to come out and play.Ā Iām fortunate to have Cassondra Murray, who is a first reader familiar with all of my series, and she does a great job of helping me catch continuity issues that pop up.Ā I also go back and re-read prior books to get back into the mindset of those series.Ā As I do that, I highlight and save passages from the previous books on my Kindle Fire, then I refer to those when Iām working on the next book.
Congratulations on the sixth book in your Slye Temp series that released at the end of March. How many books can we expect in this series?Ā I amĀ reviewing Stolen Vengeance tomorrow and look forward to your next book!
Iām so excited that youāre reading and reviewing STOLEN VENGEANCE!Ā I hope you enjoy the āah ha!ā moments I wove into that one.Ā Slye Temp will have seven books in the actual series, but the Slye Temp characters will continue in my upcoming HAMR Brotherhood series.Ā Readers met Logan and Margaux in KISS THE ENEMY. They got their HFN (Happy For Now), but there were complications.Ā Logan heads up the North American division of HAMR Brotherhood and now has Margaux with him.Ā Weāll get to see those two eventually reach their HEA, and weāll see HEAs for some other Slye Temp characters too, but if I say more Iāll give spoilers for Sabrina and Gageās book, so I have to shut up now. *grin*
While reading your bio I was intrigued that yourĀ first career wasĀ as an artist painting signs. What was the most memorable sign you painted? Do you ever miss it?
I do and I donāt .Ā I donāt miss painting outdoors. I loved painting no matter what, and spring and fall, it was the bomb.Ā But I hated the winters and 100+ degree summers outside.Ā Ā As to the most memorableā¦ Wow, hard to think back over all the bazillion miles of walls Iāve painted, but Ā a few stick out in my mind.
Iāve painted a lot of celebrities, and I remember one in particular.Ā Whitney Houston was in town, and they drove her to a painting I did. It was a picture of her, and it was on a billboard that was close to the road in Atlanta.Ā Later I was told she went wild over it, which was incredibly flattering, and Iāve never forgotten that. Another time, I painted a fifty-foot-long sign with five beer bottles in ice.Ā A major liquor distributor Ā (the owner) loved it so much he bought the entire sign, dismantled it and had it assembled inside his plant.Ā But I think all the work I did for Coca-Cola will always be most dear to me, especially during the time leading up to the 1996 OlympicsĀ®.Ā They gave me some outstanding projects that allowed me to stretch my creative wings.
On your website you have a section devoted to motorcycles – I love it! Riding a motorcycle was one thing I was forbidden to do while living at home with my parents. However, one night after a college class I was offered the chance to take a ride on a friends Harley. It was the best hour ever! I never told my parents and was so grateful to have that experience.Ā What is the coolest trip you took on your motorcycle and where?
Another hard question!! I had several Harleys at one time and loved them, but I know have a BMW. I think one of my favorite trips was riding up the Pacific coast from California to Port Townsend, WA (where my author friend Mary Buckham lives). We rode through the redwood forest, a place Iād always wanted to go and it was just incredible.Ā We toured across the top of the country and made our way back to GA.Ā Iāve had a lot of great trips, including a signing tour I did on my motorcycle a couple years back, because my readers kept asking. š I rode up to New England last year and that was beautiful.Ā I had a Harley Softail when I was writing my first book and my husband has a photo of me editing on my pages while I sat on my bike as it was parked on a ferry ride that lasted about 90 min.Ā Lot of memories on my bikes.
Thanks so much for hanging out –Ā I had a blast!
Thank you so much for inviting me.Ā I love hanging out with readers!
Tantalizing Tidbits – A Baker’s Dozen:
1. What is yourĀ must read book and why? Ready Player One, because I keep hearing about it and I havenāt had time to crack that one open.
2. What is one placeĀ I should see if I visit your hometown?Ā Stone Mountain Park.Ā There is no other version of that mountain in the world, and the history of it still baffles geologists, plus the carving is on the largest exposed granite in the world.
3.Ā Castles or Beaches?Ā Beaches
4. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you?Ā I enjoy heights and collect hand-cut eggs.
5. Hard Rock or Classical? Favorite Band or Artist? Love pretty much all music, but Spanish guitarists will always capture my attention.Ā I also love jazz, vintage rock, contemporary rock, and country.
6. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where would you go?Ā Scotland.
7. What is your guilty pleasure? Peanut M&Ms. š
8. What are you afraid of? Not tellinā.Ā *grin*
9. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and whatĀ did youĀ choose for yourĀ first one? None yet, still thinking, and my hubby is prodding me.Ā
10. What’s your favorite TV show and why? LOVE The Voice, because itās so positive, and fun to watch people reach for their dreams. I also LOVE The Blacklist because that is great writing.
11. One thing you can’t live without. My husband. š
12. Do you love to cook or go out to eat? My husbandās a fabulous cook so Iāll stay home with him anytime.
13. If you could invite 5 people to dinner (not friends and family – that’s too easy) who would you invite? It could be anyone past or present. Leonardo Da Vinci because he was such a creative thinker and inventor that it would be amazing to ask him questions, Amelia Earhart (shouldnāt have to explain), Whitney Houston to ask her to sing one more song for me, Gutzon Borglum, to ask him if he was nervous when he made that first strike to carve Mount Rushmore, John D. MacDonald, to ask him to tell me one more Travis McGee story.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for your time.
Thank you, Rae!!
***** CLOSED ******
******GIVEAWAY*****
Dianna will give away an e-copy of STOLEN VENGEANCE and a set of signed Keeper Kase Cards to one reader. (Open to US and int’l readers. Amazon or Barnes & Noble account required to receive e-books)
Comment below for a chance to win!
Tell us…what’s in your mug?
Author Info:
New York Times bestseller Dianna Love once dangled over a hundred feet in the air to create unusual marketing projects for Fortune 500 companies. Now she focuses her energetic muse on storytelling. The first book she wrote won a RITAĀ® Award and sold out in six weeks. She writes high-octane romantic thrillers and urban fantasy. STOLEN VENGEANCE, book 6 in the sexy, fast-paced Slye Temp romantic suspense series released March 2015, and WITCHLOCK, book 6 in the bestselling Belador urban fantasy series will be out this July.
When not in the writing cave, Dianna loves touring the country on her BMW motorcycle. She lives in the Atlanta, GA area with her motorcycle-instructor husband and a tank full of unruly saltwater critters.
Connect with Dianna on facebook at Dianna Love Fan Page or sign up for the crazy fun on her Dianna Love Street Team
Excerpts of all her books are at AuthorDiannaLove.com.
Apr 28, 2015 | April 2015, Blog, Coffee With, Kat Latham
Ā
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š
What would you order? Iād probably have a latte, too, unless weāre in my hometown (San Diego), in which case Iād be having a Mexican hot chocolate. I live in the Netherlands now, and I canāt find Mexican hot chocolate anywhere. I crave it! (And fresh tortilla chips, and guacamole, and cheese enchiladasā¦ What were we talking about?)
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. I love Sport Series Romance books. Your series about the London Legends Rugby Team sounds delicious. Thank you! I have to admit, I do love my rugby boys. š
How many books do you anticipate in this series? Well, the fourth full-length book (Taming the Legend) comes out on May 11. Thereās also a Christmas novella (Unwrapping Her Perfect Match), so thatās five books so far. Iām planning to write two more books, one about Alfie Hardwick (known as Hardy), who had to retire suddenly when a tragedy struck his family, and one about a young alpha stud named Sean Castells. Both Hardy and Sean first made an appearance in Tempting the Player, and readers have been asking me for their stories ever since!
How much research did you do for this? Each book is different, but Iāve been lucky enough to do some cool things for research. My husbandās cousin just retired as the team doctor for a pro rugby team in Dublin, so he has been a huge help with behind-the-scenes info (like what a typical practice looks like, what a weekly schedule is like, the playersā diets, training regimens, fall-back careers, etc).
In Tempting the Player, the heroine is a pilot who teaches the hero how to fly in order to help him overcome the terror he feels every time he gets on a plane. For that book, I interviewed two pilots and even took a flying lesson with one of them! You can see a short video on my website.
For Taming the Legend, I was really struggling with the story, and I talked about it with my good friend Lise. She works with a mega-famous rugby player, Ben Cohen, who retired and founded the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation to fight bullying and promote respect. Lise took me over to his house and told him I write romance novels about rugby players and was struggling with my story. He was so incredibly kind and generous with his time (and funny! Oh my God, funny, funny, funny). He made me a cup of coffee and asked what I wanted to know. Of course, my brain went completely befuddled, so I probably just babbled something at him, but later on I looked at the notes Iād taken and discovered that heād given me two key pieces of info that completely changed the story. It was like he unlocked something in my head, and the story started coming together. So I owe him and Lise a lot!
Were you a fan of rugby before you started writing this series? Yes! I canāt imagine writing five books about something I donāt enjoy.
Iāll be honest, though: Iāve never been the kind of person who follows sports news or can remember details about games. My husband can see a clip on TV and within two seconds say, āOh, yeah, thatās the match from 1992 when So-and-So did Whatever, and Blah-Blah team won by three points with 42 seconds left on the clock.ā I can watch a match, completely enjoy it, scream till my lungs bleed, and then–two hours later–forget who won. Also, I didnāt grow up watching or playing rugby, so I learn new things all the time.
What was the inspiration for writing a Rugby series? I can only imagine how much fun that would be! Were you able to hang out with any hunky Rugby players? Other than that time Ben Cohen took pity on me, the only hunky rugby player Iāve hung out with is my husband. When we first met, he played for a local (non-professional) team in the Czech Republic (though heās British, not Czech. We met when we were living in Prague, teaching English at the same school). I loved watching him play, and heās really my inspiration for writing a rugby series. It might sound strange, but my memories of learning about rugby are entwined with my memories of falling in love, so rugby seems like a very romantic (not to mention very sexy!) sport.
Other than that, itās more like Iāve been in the general vicinity of hunky rugby players. š Remember I mentioned my husbandās cousin, the now-retired team doctor from Dublin? Years ago, before I started writing, we met up with him at a hotel in London, where he was staying with his team the night before a match. The three of us were having a drink together, and my attention sorta wandered to a guy in gym shorts, sitting on the other side of the hotel lobby. His legsā¦ I justā¦ I canāt even describe them. They were phenomenal. After some time, I realized my husband and cousin had gone totally silent, so I looked at them and they were both staring at me, grinning, like āYou are so busted.ā My husband said, āFinished perving over Jamie Heaslipās legs?ā And I thought, āNo, neverā¦ā
The only Rugby player I follow is Stuart Reardon, a North Wales Crusaders footballer. Not only is he a talented athlete, he’s a model and VERY easy on the eyes š Did you see the calendar he put out? OMG!
I follow Stu, too, and yeah, his calendar is…distracting. Fortunately, staring at pictures of hot rugby players is a perfectly valid form of research for me…right? š
Heās also a personal trainer, and there was a brief moment when I lost my mind and considered signing up for one of his courses. Then I remembered that the most strenuous thing Iāve done in the past two years is give birth, and that mostly just involved me lying on my back and gurning, so trying to keep up with a professional athlete would probably kill me. Either that, or I would end up sitting on the couch munching my way through a bag of potato chips while watching Stu work out–which would also end up killing me, but much more slowly.
Congrats on your upcoming release of Taming the Legend (London Legends Book 4). Fans must be anxious! Lucky for them they won’t have to wait much longer. Thank you! I hope it lives up to fansā expectations!
Ok, before you go I just want to mention that you also have a new series, The Wild Montana Nights series that releasedĀ March 27th. It sounds interesting – a complete switch from Legends. Was that easy?
Thank you! Itās been easy in some ways, difficult in others. The first book in the series, One Night with Her Bachelor, was such a joy to write. I love the story, the characters and all the intense problems they face. But these books require quite a bit of research into areas Iām not familiar with–all really interesting stuff, like Air Force pararescuemen, search and rescue, wilderness adventure sports, but itās easy for me to get distracted and discover I spent my whole writing time watching videos of pararescuemen jumping out of helicopters.
How many books do you anticipate in this series? Three. One Night with Her Bachelor, Two Nights with His Bride (June 8), and one later this year that I donāt have a title for yet but will undoubtedly revolve around a couple spending three nights together. The series is also related to Taming the Legend.
Looks like you have a lot of great reads coming out soon – super excited and look forward to spreading the word soon!
Thank you so much, Rae! I really appreciate all your support!
Thanks again, I had a blast! Happy Writing! Thanks for having me! *downs the rest of her latte*
8 Tantalizing Tidbits:
1. A Must read book and why? The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter. Itās a collection of feminist retellings of classic fairy tales. āThe Company of Wolvesā is one of my favorite stories ever.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? The La Jolla Cove. Itās a small beach surrounded by cliffs. I used to spend my summers snorkeling and body surfing there. It also has some caves that I used to imagine hid piratesā treasure, so itās a great place for storytellers!
3. Castles or Beaches? Beaches!
4. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? Iām actually quite shy in real life and have to push myself hard to introduce myself to people I donāt know. Social media makes it much easier. Now when I go to conferences, there are dozens of people Iāve already had conversations with, even though I havenāt met them yet in person.
5. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where would you go? Right now? New Zealand. I just re-read Nalini Singhās Rock Hard, and it made me really want to visit the Land of Rugby.
6. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? No tats, though I love looking at other peopleās tats. I just canāt do anything that permanent. If I chose one, it would be the Greek word agape, which is a pure, selfless kind of love.
7. What is one thing you can’t live without? These days itās my phone. Sad, I know.
8. Do you love to cook or go out to eat? My husband does most of the cooking. Iād much rather eat out or get take-out!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for your time.
*******Giveaway CLOSED*******
Kat Latham has generously donated an e-book (Amazon or B & N) for todays giveaway.
Today’sĀ giveawayĀ is winner’sĀ choice – any published e-bookĀ by Kat Latham to one lucky reader who comments below on the following:
Thanks for joining us for coffee.Ā What’s in your mug (coffee,Ā tea or something else)?
Ā
One winner will be randomly selected at the end of the Blitz.
Comment for a chance to win – contest ends on 4/29/15
at 11:59 PM. Winner will be contacted via e-mail so please be sure we can reach you.
Contest open to US and International – Good luck to all!
Don’t forget to enter the other contests on the following posts. Read and comment at the bottom of each.
A **Spicy Latte** for this Christmas Novella, Book 3.5 of the London Legends series – Review and Giveaway
A **Spicy Latte** for Book 3 of the London Legends series – Review and Giveaway
A **Spicy Latte** for Book 2 of the London Legends series – Review and Giveaway
The London Legends series is a must read **Spicy Latte** series – review & #giveaway
Author Info:
Kat Latham is a California girl who moved to Europe the day after graduating from UCLA, ditching her tank tops for raincoats. She taught English in Prague and worked as an editor in London before she and her British husband moved to the Netherlands, where they are surrounded by miles and miles of green pasture, canals and Shetland ponies. Katās slowly adjusting to life in a place where bicycles and cows seem to outnumber people.
With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the humor and emotion of real life. Katās other career involves writing and editing for charities, and sheās had the privilege of traveling to Kenya, Ethiopia and India to write about the heroic people helping their communities survive disasters.
You can usually find Kat on her blog (katlatham.com), Twitter (@KatrinaLatham), Facebook (facebook.com/KatLathamRomance) and Goodreads. She hopes youāll hang out with her there!
