Wildfire would like to welcome authors A.D. Roland, Stevie Woods, and Bronwyn Green.

A.D. Roland

Julie: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

A.D.: I've been writing since I was a little girl. My mom kept my very first story—written on a bed sheet in permanent marker. I don't remember a time when I wasn't spinning some story about a man and a woman falling in love.

Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

A.D.: It's a pretty fair combination of both. I usually start with a basic guide to the story—mostly just a quick paragraph about the characters' motivations, the plot, the main theme, and where the story should end. Of course, by page three, it's usually a completely different story than I started out with!

Julie: When you write, is atmosphere important? For example, do you use mood music or candles? Do you need complete quiet to concentrate?

A.D.: Music is my biggest tool for focusing on a story. As I start a story, I pick just the right songs to make the stories come alive in my head. Some stories I can use an entire CD, others I mix and match until I get it just right. But I always have music. It helps keep the 'blocks' at bay.

Julie: What's next for you?

A.D.: At the moment I'm working on a collaborative project with best-selling horror author Joe McGee.  It's working out really well, and we've got great expectations for the book!

Julie: Most people envision an author's life as being really glamorous. What's the most unglamorous thing that you've done in the past week?

A.D.: Changing 24-plus diapers a day. I'm a preschool teacher with a full classroom of two year olds. My days are anything but glamorous!

Julie: Describe the space where you write.

A.D.: Yikes. Only I could work here. I have everything from hair ties to art supplies to rubber duckies piled up around my monitor and keyboard. I have a print of Picasso's The Dreamer on the wall above my desk,  and Gustav Klimt's The Kiss on the adjacent wall. My printer and the caddy that is supposed to hold my art supplies is on the table next to my desk. I've got craft books and video games and a million other little odds and ends that I won't ever need until I throw them away piled up on the shelves.

Julie: What do you do when you aren't writing? Any hobbies or special interests that you can tell us about?

A.D.: When I'm not wearing my 'writer' hat, I'm a graphic designer. I'm working towards my bachelor's degree in graphic design, so I spend a lot of time developing a professional portfolio. My art is featured in a couple of different internationally distributed print magazines, as well as on the covers of many books and eBooks. I have an online gallery at www.asharceneaux.deviantart.com.

Julie: Do you ever experience writer's block? If you do, how do you cope with it?

A.D.: I do experience writer's block. Usually it's the story's way of telling me to back up and redo something. I'm bad about not listening to the little voices in my head and writing the story the way it wants to be written. When I go back and change POV's or start the scene at a different place, it usually helps.

Julie: Are there any absolutely-must-have characteristics for your heroes or heroines?

A.D.: They have to be realistic. Strong, intelligent, self-sufficient, but capable of being swept off their feet (even if it's when the hero or heroine is catching them after they trip over the rug).

Julie: If you weren't writing romance, what would you be writing?

A.D.: Probably Christian thrillers, like Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti's works.

A preacher's daughter, Ms. Roland lives in central Florida with her two daughters. In addition to writing for Tease Publishing, Ms. Roland is an accomplished graphic artist and a certified preschool teacher with a degree in early childhood education.

 

Backlist:
Restoring Water, Tease Publishing

Links:
MySpace
Deviant Art

Stevie Woods

Julie: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

Stevie:  I've dabbled with writing on and off for quite a long time but I never showed my scribblings to anyone.  Then about 5-6 years ago I took to it more seriously when I discovered fan-fiction, particularly what is commonly known as 'slash' and found I just had to add my little contribution.  My stuff was very well received and about 2 years ago I decided to try my hand at original fiction. A little nervously I admit, because now I had to create characters of my own instead of borrowing someone else's and, of course, the characters are the heart of any story. 

I'm still very much caught up in writing gay romantic fiction and thoroughly enjoying myself, hopefully the readers are having a good time too!

Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

Stevie:  I guess it's fair to say it's a combination of both.  I usually start out flying by the seat of my pants and end up having to jot down innumerable notes as things begin to develop.  I wish I could outline more fully but my characters seem to have a mind of their own and I usually just follow on along behind.

Julie: How long does it take you to finish a book from start to submission?

Stevie:  Hmm, that depends.  I have written a total of four novels so far, one published, two are contracted and the fourth is in the submission process right now.  I would say the novels have taken between six to nine months each, but I have written half a dozen shorter stories at the same time.  I usually turn to a shorter story as a break from a novel, either because I've hit a stumbling block or I just need a change of pace or scenery.  There has also been a conscious effort to produce shorter work for publication in between the release of novels, which take a lot longer to come out.

Julie: When you write, is atmosphere important? For example, do you use mood music or candles? Do you need complete quiet to concentrate?

Stevie:  Yes, atmosphere is important but quiet is one thing I don't really relate to very well.  I like background sound, either music or even just the TV on showing something like the news or a documentary.  It's not so much that I listen to it, I guess I just like the illusion of company, but I don't like the real thing, I need to be alone when I write.

Julie: Most people envision an author's life as being really glamorous. What's the most unglamorous thing that you've done in the past week?

Stevie:  LOL, take your pick – taking out the trash, scrubbing the loo?

Julie: There are so many publishers out there, how do you decide who to submit your work to?

Stevie:  Well specializing in m/m appeared to limit my options at first.  I'm from the UK and there seemed little scope in home markets so I did some checking in the US and found there were more options, especially in eBook publication.  I did my research and decided Torquere Press seemed a good prospect so I submitted my historical novel, Cane.  That was early December 2006 and I was delighted when just before New Year I got an acceptance email.  My novel was actually published in August 2007, but I wrote a couple of novelettes that in fact were published earlier, a historical one in June and a Sci-fi story in July.  Last summer was quite the roller coaster ride for me!  I have since submitted and had accepted, a couple of novels to another publisher, Phaze, and I couldn't happier.

Julie: Describe the space where you write.

Stevie:  I've basically taken over the dining room table!  I have my laptop and beside it I keep the docking station for my iPaq, which I use to read the many eBooks I acquire – have to research the competition, that's my excuse anyway!  I keep a notepad and pen next to my computer, which I constantly use to jot down ideas in, and I also have a dictionary and thesaurus handy, too.  There are bookshelves behind where I have various reference books – I love to write historical stuff and use both books and the net for research.  Oh, and last but not least, the coaster on which you will find a cup of coffee, or tea, depending on the time of day.

Julie: What do you do when you aren't writing? Any hobbies or special interests that you can tell us about?

Stevie: I don't really have time for hobbies any more.  Writing fan-fic used to be a hobby but that has progressed somewhat now J.  I still have a day job and my spare time is taken up with my writing.  I suppose I could say reading is still a hobby because I really enjoy it and I do still manage to watch my favorite TV programmes

Julie: Do you ever experience writer's block? If you do, how do you cope with it?

Stevie: Yes, well maybe not block exactly, more like a hurdle I can't get over at that particular moment.  What do I do? Depends how I feel.  I might turn to a short story I'm working on, or perhaps read whatever book I'm presently in the middle of.  Or perhaps watch some TV.  Or even turn to the dreaded housework, just to get away from whatever has me stumped for a while.  Then later, I'll go and read over the last page or two I had written and more often than not I'll be able to carry on then.  If I'm still stumped at that stage, I'll leave it for a few days and come back to it fresh, usually that works.

Julie: Dealing with writing deadlines can be a challenge. What do you do to cope with the stress?

Stevie: I've not really had a deadline as such yet, unless you count the editing phase when I'm usually given an idea of when they want the edits back.  Other than that, so far I have just submitted a piece when it is finished.  I must say I'm not entirely sure I could write to demand like that!  I guess I might find out some day though.

Julie: What's next for you?

Stevie: If you're asking about the next major thing, that would have to be the release of my second novel, another historical called Beyond the Veil, coming out from Phaze in July.  I do have another novelette, this one a contemporary entitled Tactics, coming out before then from Torquere, of which I am proud, but I have a soft spot for my second novel.  I did actually write this one first but I had some problems needing a partial re-write and it turned out the second novel I wrote was published first.

If you referring to my next writing project, I have various other ideas floating around in my head and I have just begun work on another novel, this one something of a fantasy but that is mostly because it is set in a different world, rather than anything particularly magical or paranormal about it.

I'm a Brit from the Northwest of England where I live with my husband. I have a son but he has flown the nest. I would like nothing better than to leave my day job behind and be able to write full-time.

I like reading a story with a good strong plot and believable characters and do my best to create them in my own work.  I have a particular fondness for historical settings but also thoroughly enjoy sci-fi and fantasy and more recently I have ventured into writing contemporary stories.  I find the similarities as intriguing as the differences.

I love to hear from readers and will happily respond to all queries.

Backlist:
Smoke Screen, Torquere Press
A Million Pinpricks, Torquere Press
Cane, Torquere Press
The Wrong Path, Torquere Press
Roll of the Dice, Torquere Press
Cut & Thrust, Men in Uniform II anthology, Torquere Press
Tutelary, Torquere Press

Coming soon:
Tactics, Torquere Press
Beyond the Veil, Phaze
Conflict (Sequel to 'Cane'), Phaze

Links:
Website
Blog
My Space      

Bronwyn Green

Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both? 

Bronwyn: It's a combination of both. I usually have some major story points I know will occur, but I rarely know how I'll get there.  I love the surprise of discovering what happens next right along with my characters.

Julie: How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author?

Bronwyn: It means a lot to me to know that something I've written has affected someone else – either positively or negatively. Writing (even when you have the support of friends and family) is a very solitary activity, so when a reader takes the time to drop me a note, I really appreciate it.

Julie: When you write, is atmosphere important? For example, do you use mood music or candles? Do you need complete quiet to concentrate?

Bronwyn: Ha!  If I had to count on atmosphere to help me write – I'd never get anything done.   My house is pretty chaotic.  I've got two kids, three daycare kids, a husband and five cats. There's rarely anything resembling quiet around here.  However, I do use music to help me focus.  Each story has its own soundtrack – although some of my favorite songs and artists appear on nearly all the soundtracks because those songs speak so clearly to what I write.

Julie: Most people envision an author's life as being really glamorous. What's the most unglamorous thing that you've done in the past week?

Bronwyn:  Cleaning up cat puke.  Ugh!

Julie: What do you do when you aren't writing? Any hobbies or special interests that you can tell us about?

Bronwyn: I have more hobbies than I know what to do with.  Seriously.  I sew (mostly clothes and costumes) cross stitch, knit, draw, paint (watercolors) work with clay, make jewelry, listen to music and read.  I also collect Fairy Tale books and Arthurian literature. During the school year I volunteer in my youngest son's classroom and run a literature circle for the advanced readers in my oldest son's class.

Julie: Do you ever experience writer's block? If you do, how do you cope with it?

Bronwyn: I don't so much experience writer's block as crippling procrastination. When that happens I rely on the butt-kicking abilities of dear friends/fellow writers to get me moving again. I also find that if I set realistic goals for myself, like say writing a thousand words in a day, I have the motivation to move beyond the bout of procrastination.

Julie: Are there any absolutely-must-have characteristics for your heroes or heroines?

Bronwyn: For me, the most important characteristics the heroes and heroines need to have are flaws.  I don't know about you, but I have no interest in reading about Mary Sue Perfect-Pants falling in love with Sir Edward Flawless.  I think it makes for a much more interesting story when the characters have flaws that most readers can relate to or possibly can even indentify with. Watching these characters overcome their own shortcomings and issues on the way to their happily ever after is incredibly satisfying

Julie: Dealing with writing deadlines can be a challenge. What do you do to cope with the stress?

Bronwyn: Chocolate and salt-and-vinegar potato chips.  Definitely not good coping mechanisms. I'm making a concerted effort to replace those (or at least counteract them – lol) with working out at the gym. 

Julie: Do you remember the first romance novel that you read?

Bronwyn: Absolutely.  A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss.  Oh man, I loved that book!

Julie: What's next for you?

Bronwyn: Well, on June 30^th, I have a story called Moonlit Magic coming out in the Legend  anthology from Total-e-bound with three of my dearest friends, Brynn Paulin, Carol Lynne and Lacey Thorn.  It's a group of interconnected stories revolving around a tragic love story, an enchanted necklace and destiny fulfilled.

Here's the blurb for Moonlit Magic:

Brought back to Ireland by her job, American Beckett Matthews jumps at the chance to study an artefact that recently washed ashore on an Irish beach. She's thrilled to have the opportunity to explore the history of the necklace. She's far less enthused to explore her personal history with the man who found the treasure—her first love.

Kieran Brennan has waited five years for Beckett to finally return to Ireland. When he found the necklace, he knew it was more than a historical find—it was the key to reclaiming the only woman he ever loved. Under a curse from the Faery King, he couldn't follow her when she'd fled to her home in the States years ago and now in his arms he'll help her face her fears and return to him.

Unfortunately, he isn't the only one after Beckett. Denied his tribute, when she fled, Aodhan the Faery King wants to claim her for his own.

I live in Michigan with my wonderful husband, two amazing sons and five somewhat psychotic cats.

When not tormenting my characters, I can usually be found helping with reading, writing and art projects in my sons' classrooms as well as providing child care and tutoring for several daycare children.

Besides writing, I also enjoy reading, knitting, sewing, cross stitching, pottery, drawing, jewelry making – basically anything that helps me avoid cooking and cleaning.

Backlist:
Overlord's Vessel, Ellora's Cave
Best Laid Plans, Cerridwen Press
I Put a Spell on You, Ellora's Cave
Ronan's Grail, Ellora's Cave
Mystic Circle, Elloras's Cave
From the Ruins, Camouflaged Hearts Anthology, Total-e-bound
Solstice Seduction, Total-e-bound

Coming soon:
Moonlit Magic, Legend Anthology, Total-e-bound

Links:
Blog
Website

If you would like to request an interview, please send a query to info@allromanceebooks.com

Until next time!

Julie Cummings
Wildfire Interview Coordinator
All Romance eBooks

Jared's Choice by Tara Manderino
This story is rated 1 flame. Love scenes are not consummated, or if the love scenes are consummated details are not given.

 

"Miss Annabelle, Mister Morgan is here. Do you want to see him now?"

Annabelle looked up from her seat. She had been reading, but put her finger in the book when she heard someone at the door. Now she laid the book aside and stood. "Please, Thomas. It would be better if I talked to him here, I think."

She paced about the room, waiting for Jared to enter. What she had to say wouldn't be easy. And it would hurt him. She had never wanted to hurt him, no matter that his engagement to her sister had torn her apart.

"Annabelle! I came as soon as I got your message."

At the sound of his voice, she closed her eyes to savor it, then opened them and turned to face him. She didn't hold out her hands to him, as she usually did. Instead, she crossed them over her middle.  He seemed to notice and came to stand in front of her, grasping her shoulders and giving her a swift salutation on her cheek. She held her self stiffly. She tried not to breathe, but when his lips touched her cheek, she inhaled sharply. He still smelled of horse and leather, and Jared. He swiftly stepped away from her and frowned as he looked at her.

"I just got back from Lancashire and got your message. What is the problem? It sounded dreadfully urgent."

It was, and it had been even more so ten days ago when she sent the message.

"I hadn't realized you were going to be gone so long, or I would have tried another method of contacting you."

Jared ran his hand through his hair. "There was no other method. I told Cynthia that father and I would be traveling to Preston by water. Unless you knew our ports I would have never received a message. And no one knew, not even myself!" He looked around the room as if he would find someone hiding there. "Where is Cynthia?"

"She's not here! That's what I needed to tell you."

He focused his sharp blue gaze on her and came to a complete halt. "Where is she?"

"Jared, please sit down."

He stepped closer to her and grasped her hands. "Tell me, Annabelle, where is she? She's all right, isn't she?

"She's fine as far as I know."

She felt him relax, and he dropped his hands from hers. She missed the warmth of them. But it was only because he was concerned about her sister she told herself.

"She is my fiancée," he said. "I think I need to know."

Annabelle nodded, and then sank into the sofa she recently vacated. When Jared didn't join her, she stood again and walked closer to him. No matter that she was only his fiancée's sister, she cared about him and didn't want him hurt.

"She went to Scotland." 

She had his complete attention again. "I don't understand. Do you have a relative there or something?"

Annabelle shook her head. She wasn't handling this very well at all. "Oh, Jared! I'm so sorry to tell you, but she went to Gretna Green. I haven't heard from her, but I don't doubt that she's married by now."

"Married? To whom?"

He sounded more curious than upset. Maybe he was in shock and hadn't heard her.

"That's just the thing. I don't really know who he is. He showed up here one day, said he was a friend of yours  -- a Mister Harrison, and the next thing I knew they were practically in each other's pockets."

"Robert Harrison," he said absently.

"Yes. I tried to stop her; to make her see reason."

"Cynthia doesn't reason very well," Jared said wryly,

"No, she doesn't." This time Annabelle did frown, but not at what Jared had said. As lifelong neighbors, there were certainly very few secrets. There was something wrong. He didn't sound like she thought he would. And she had played the scene over numerous ways waiting for him to return home. None of them matched this…unfeeling experience.

She took a step closer to him.

"Wasn't he a friend of yours?"

Jared smiled at her, causing the dimples to appear on the side of his cheeks. She blinked. She loved those dimples. She dropped her gaze, but raised it again at his next words. "He's a very good friend. One of the best, in fact."

"Then aren't you angry? That he ran off with your fiancée, I mean." She tried to explain it to him, but he didn't seem to understand it. Why else would he look so satisfied?

"I ran into Robert before we set sail. He nearly came with us, but I convinced him that since he gets seasick it would be best if he stayed behind. It wouldn't be that long of a trip." He shrugged. "When I was at home, no one mentioned that he had come by so I figured that he decided not to take the opportunity to visit."

"But why would he come here, we don't know him."

Jared gave her that slow smile again and she really, really wished he wouldn't. It made her weak at the knees. Even if he was no longer engaged to her sister, they were still neighbors. Even so, she was glad that he would marry someone else. She didn't think she could stand to see him with her sister too often. Now she wouldn't have to, but she hadn't wanted him hurt, either. He was much too nice for that.

"I asked him to stop by and say hello," he said.

"So, he did. But I think that was a pretty poor way to repay you for your friendship." She tried not to sound as heated as she felt. Well, she told him the news, now he could go and they would just meet at events in the area.

Jared was close enough that he could reach out and capture her chin, forcing her to look at him. "I think it was a wonderful way," he said softly.

She jerked her chin from his grasp, and his words penetrated. Her eyes widened in surprise. "You wanted him to run off with my sister?"

"Not quite," he said wryly, dropping his hand to her shoulder.

She hardly noticed. How could that be? Why would he want his friend and her sister to run off? He said not quite. Did that mean he wanted him to run off with her!

She asked him. That made him start.

"Good God, no! I never even thought of that." He sounded more appalled than at any time since he had entered the room.

"Then I simply don't understand you, Sir."

"Don't you, Annabelle? Truly?" He stepped closer to her and she watched him warily, but she didn't back away when he put both hands on her arms, forcing her to face him.

"How could I marry Cynthia when it's you I love, have always loved?"

Intense joy spread through her. Had he meant what he said? She placed her hands over his. "Then why did you offer for my sister?"

"I didn't! She decided that she wanted to marry me –"

"Probably so I wouldn't," she finished bitterly.

"I don't know about that, dearest Annabelle. I certainly didn't know of your feelings or I would not have let things go as they had." He gave a soft chuckle. "I still don't know of them!" He started to let his hands slip away, but she caught them in her grasp and pulled them to her lips.

"I have always loved you, Jared. Why do you think I had spent so much time at your house?"

"I didn't know. You never let me know, and Cynthia was there, too."

Slipping his hands from her grasp, he raised them to cup her face, letting his thumbs move over her cheeks as he looked into her eyes, clear and truthful and full of love for him.

"Will you marry me, dearest Annabelle and let me love you forever?"

"All my days are yours, darling Jared."

Tara Manderino loves to create stories and situations for the people running around in her head. She first began writing in third grade when she realized she couldn't afford her reading habit.

Tara resides in her native town in southwestern Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. When she's not writing her own stories, or reading, Tara can be found baking, watching old movies, and doing a variety of crafts.

Backlist:
Dere's Demons, Awe-Struck
The Heir, Awe-Struck
Whisper My Name, Awe-Struck
Soul Guardian, Ebooks on the net

Links:
Website