Tilly Green/Susan Marie Knight

Tilly Green/Susan Marie Knight

Wildfire would like to welcome Tilly Green and Susan Marie Knight. These ladies agree that the best thing about being an author is hearing from fans. So pull up a chair, let us introduce you, then pop on over to their websites and say hello!

Tilly Greene

Angela: What makes your characters so vulnerable yet strong? Can you describe them to us?

Tilly: They’re real, not perfect from every angle, but with flaws and insecurities like all of us. The women are comfortable in their skin, independent, confident, and know where they’re going and what they want out of life—including the type of man or men who best suits them and their needs. The men are handsome, intelligent, self-sufficient, and although they don’t always understand women, they do know when the one for them is there before them and will do anything to keep them there and happy.

Angela: What do you do when characters stop talking to you when writing?

Tilly: The solution I’ve found that suits me best is to go back and reread what I’ve written, see if I can pick their voices back up. It’s also possible the story has moved away from a character’s nature, if that were the case then I’d most likely stop and see how to get everything back on track—or set it aside.

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

Tilly: I love it! There’s nothing better than a reader sending me an email or piping up during a chat and saying how much they enjoyed so-and-so, or how cool that “thing” was (asking if it’s real and where can they buy it), or something else that drew their attention. It makes me smile for quite a while and also gives a boost to what I’m working on—feedback is fantastic.

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

Tilly: Absolutely! Luckily I can write in almost every environment, even the most crowded and rambunctious of locales. But, if I’m home in my own space, then it depends on the mood I’m in when I sit down in front of the laptop. Generally, I like there to be something going on noise-wise. I can block it out, and will randomly tune in when a little break is needed. When the mental break is done, I leave it all behind and go back into whatever I’m working on.

Angela: Any advice for aspiring authors?

Tilly: Yes, submit it! Many aspiring authors have something they’ve written and will keep reworking it for years. If you don’t submit the manuscript for consideration, you’ll always wonder what could have been or might have happened. If they haven’t written anything yet, then I say get your backside in the chair and do it! Why wait? Time is never going to be easy to carve out of real life, so be brutal and take it. It won’t be long before making the time to write will get easier to do because of the release writing will offer is so rewarding.

Angela: What are you working on now?

Tilly: Right now I have The Gilded Cage underneath my fingertips. It’s the third installment in the A Passion for Fashion and Bondage series being sold through Phaze. The first book, The Leather Bride (available now) is about a designer’s muse, the second, Taming Marie Antoinette, (October 2007) focuses on Haute Couture, and The Gilded Cage has a jeweler as its heroine. England, tea houses, environmental awareness, and, of course, a good dose of BDSM all have a place in this book. I’m having a blast researching and writing this series, I’m not entirely sure where it will end.

Angela: When you set out to become an author, I’m sure that you have a vision in your mind about what it would be like. What aspect of an author’s life has been the most surprising to you?

Tilly: I pretty much knew what to expect professionally, there really haven’t been any big surprises. That said, I think the amount of time and hard work it takes to be an author has been a shock to my family and friends. I’m not sure what they envisioned, but I’m thinking they must have had a pretty glamorous vision in mind—and the reality with piles of laundry is definitely not exciting.

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

Tilly: Oh yes, the evil bug has tapped on my door a few times. I like to take a productive approach to its presence. I’ll do research on another story I have plotted, work on finding new and interesting links for my newsletter, maybe write a few blog entries—Hump Day Reflections has been great for kicking the beast to the curb. All that said, the best way I get over a hurdle is take a nice hot bubble bath and think through the story from start to finish, see what shakes loose.

Angela: Out of all of the characters that you’ve written, who is your favorite and why?

Tilly: They’re like my children and I love them all equally, but two came to mind when I read the question and they are the lovers in Zandia. This couple doesn’t have a straightforward path to love and happiness. Instead they find some interesting blocks in their way, including each other. When up against the wall, he relies on instincts to make decisions, which on the surface don’t look to be the best for the woman who is his center. At the same time, Sui Erom isn’t prepared for the emotions that fill her when it comes to Xer, and makes her own mistakes when it comes to him. I like these two because they show how life and relationships aren’t always easy, and that with give and take, common ground can be found and, with love and attention, a HEA (happily-ever-after) achieved.

Angela: What books are currently on your nightstand?

Tilly: I recently finished Museum of the Missing by Simon Houpt, and it’s still on the table because I keep going back to different cases that come to mind. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich has been there since June and will remain there until I have the time to read it—this series is just plain fun. I’m also a self-confessed rereader. I forget who did it or how they got where they were going within weeks, if not days of reading the book. In that vein, I also have Memory in Death by JD Robb on the go. On my virtual bookshelf, the eBook I started last night is the new release A Slaves Way Out by C.A. Salo and it has definitely grabbed my attention.

Tilly Greene was born into the easy folds of a sleepy beach town and embraces the laid back mindset she grew up with. Life took a turn one day while sitting in the back of the school bus with her friends: she was introduced to the joys of romance novels and has never looked back. Every day she looks forward to writing about women who are independent and confident, the men who love them, and their twisting passionate path to a happy-ever-after ending.

Backlist:
The Painted Lady, Winter Wishes Anthology, Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Come, Sweet Creature, Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Extreme Speed, Total Control, Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
New Beginnings: Carpe Diem, Samhain Publishing
An Invitation to the World:  Russia and New Zealand, Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Dragon Lust, loveyoudivine
The Leather Bride, Phaze
An Invitation to the World 2: China and India,  Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Zandia, Samhain Publishing

Coming Soon:
Taming Marie Antoinette, Phaze
OohRah!, Phaze, Phaze
Ride ‘em, Ellora’s Cave


Links:
Tilly Greene’s Website
Tilly Greene’s Hot Thoughts Blog
Tilly Greene’s Newsletter:  The Monthly Scorcher on
Yahoo or Google

Susanne Marie Knight

Angela: Did you always know that you wanted to be a writer?

Susanne: No, I didn’t. Even though I always did well on school writing assignments, it took me a long time to figure out that perhaps I should make a career out of writing. I drifted into creating stories on my own—the more I wrote, the more I enjoyed it, be it novels, short stories, or even business letters! I love to combine fantasy with my own particular kind of reality; thus my motto: Romance Writing with a Twist.

Angela: What have you found to be the best experience(s) since you began writing?

Susanne: The most rewarding part of writing is receiving feedback from readers. It’s always a thrill and an honor to hear how my writing has touched people’s lives. One reader said not only did she reread my time-travel Regency, Timeless Deception, but the second time while reading it, she was so engrossed she almost missed her train stop! And a fan wrote to tell me how much he enjoyed Past Indiscretions because I “cleverly bring together the past and mythology”. To hear how your book touches a reader’s heart is the ultimate compliment, and all fan letters are GREATLY appreciated.

The next best part is to have your work recognized by professional writing organizations. I’ve been blessed by having The Coming win the Dream Realm Award for Best Speculative Fiction Romance and Janus Is A Two-Headed God win the P & E Poll for Best Science Fiction Novel. I’m also a five time EPPIE Award Finalist. What a fantastic rush!

Angela: Where do you get your inspiration?

Susanne: To develop stories, I love to let my imagination roam by playing the “what if” game. Here are just a few examples: What if “having a nice spot of tea” took on a sinister meaning? (Tainted Tea For Two) What if a Shakespeare-quoting ghost found a way to avenge his death? (Grave Future) What if a golden coin had the power to change one’s fortunes? (The Magic Token) What if a lonely woman's dream man turned out to be her arrogant, new boss? (Love At The Top)

I also enjoy using bits and pieces from real life to help inspire me. For example: in The Reluctant Landlord, young Freddy likes to insist he's the Duke of Wellington, a hero from the Napoleonic Wars. I can thank a child from my daughter's pre-school for this. Out of the blue, a boy walked over to me and with a serious face, told me he was Batman!

For Alien Heat, secondary character of Will Flagg was inspired by a boy I knew in seventh grade, and generated this passage: "There were two things Will Flagg hated above all else. The first was to be called 'short'. The second was to be a disappointment to someone he thought highly of. Unfortunately, the latter was just about to happen."

When I was writing Past Indiscretions, I created the Colby clan with three boys and a girl. One weekend, my family met a couple with three boys and a girl in the same birth order. My daughter mentioned, "Mom, they all have the same face. It's scary!" I pounced on this sentence because it was a perfect fit, especially since my book deals with cloning.

Angela: Describe the space where you write

Susanne: I’m extremely lucky to have my own office space... cluttered with books, files, pictures, computers, etc. Yep, I’m a junkie for business supplies—colorful paperclips, file dividers—you name it! But my most important “accessory” is my Siamese cat who keeps me company by lying next to the keyboard. He suns himself to sleep under the desk light. Now that’s the life!

Angela: Do you feel pressured when you sit down to write, to live up to the standards that readers may have set for you?

Susanne: This is a very interesting question! Yes, I do feel stressed about it. Writer’s insecurity, I guess. I always wonder whether my current work will be as satisfying to my readers as previous ones. Also, since I write in many different genres, I hope my readers cross over to another genre and find they enjoy a different type of story.

Angela: How involved do you typically get with regards to cover art for your books?

Susanne: I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve had a great deal of input for most of my books. I’ve also been blessed in working with some wonderfully creative artists. Lately I’ve been doing my own covers. Examples are Lucky 13, Have Christmas Card...Will Travel, Competitors!, Janus Is A Two-Faced Moon, and the upcoming Regency Society Revisited.

Angela: Do you work on multiple projects at the same time?

Susanne: I think the nature of the publishing business is juggling books and time. While I’m writing my work-in-progress, I usually must stop to handle details on contracted books in the publishing queue. I might have to promote, do edits, or prepare promotional material. Sometimes an opportunity arises where I need to write a short story. If inspiration hits, I’m also writing down ideas for future stories. So there’s always something going on!

Angela: Out of all of the characters that you’ve written, who is your favorite and why?

Susanne: Tough question! For my heroines, I’d have to pick two. Lexia Cappello in The Contrary Contessa is the one heroine most unlike me. I truly enjoyed “living” in her world. What a saucy minx! This Regency is flavored with Sicilian cooking, giving it a special little twist.

And also Sophia (Sam) McLaren in Janus Is A Two-Headed God. She is extremely devoted to her sick brother, a quality I find very admirable. I had fun with her intergalactic journey to the fabled center of the galaxy.

As for a male character, I’m in love with all my heroes, so how can I possibly choose??

Angela: If someone hasn’t read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?

Susanne: Actually, any title is a great place to start! I write Regency, science fiction, suspense, paranormal, and mystery. Whenever I’m asked which book I’d recommend for a particular reader, I always ask about his or her interests to help narrow the choices. For Regencies, I’d say Have Christmas Card...Will Travel. It’s a whimsical story that’s perfect for the upcoming holidays. For a classic English murder mystery, I recommend Tainted Tea For Two. For those who enjoy science fiction and sequels, then it’s Janus Is A Two-Headed God, and the sequel Janus Is A Two-Faced Moon.

Angela: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?

Susanne: One of my writing hopes is to complete a new book every year. These past few years have been so busy that I haven’t been able to accomplish this. Also, every year I hope to write a few short stories for publication. My ongoing goal is to increase the readership of my books. In any case, my mission is to continue to bring entertainment, adventure, and rollicking good fun to all my fans!

Thank you, Angela, and All Romance eBooks for giving me this opportunity to connect with your readers!

Award-winning author Susanne Marie Knight specializes in Romance Writing with a Twist! She currently has sold 20 books including the Dream Realm speculative fiction winner The Coming and science fiction romance winner Janus Is A Two-Headed God. Originally from New York, Susanne lives in the Pacific Northwest, by way of Okinawa, Montana, Alabama, and Florida. Along with her husband, daughter, and feisty Siamese cat, she enjoys the area’s beautiful ponderosa pine trees and wide, open spaces—a perfect environment for writing. For more information about Susanne, please visit her website at www.susanneknight.com and sign up for her newsletter: newsletter@susanneknight.com.

Backlist:
A Continental Marriage, Wings ePress
Janus Is A Two-Faced Moon, Awe-Struck eBooks
Competitors!, Awe-Struck eBooks
Have Christmas Card...Will Travel, Uncial Press
Lucky 13 (anthology), Fictionwise.com
The Contrary Contessa, Awe-Struck eBooks
The Coming, Awe-Struck eBooks
Past Indiscretions, Awe-Struck eBooks
Alien Heat, Wings ePress
Timeless Deception, Awe-Struck eBooks
The Reluctant Landlord, Wings ePress
Love At The Top, Awe-Struck eBooks
The Magic Token, LionHearted Publishing
Janus Is A Two-Headed God, Awe-Struck eBooks
Grave Future, Awe-Struck eBooks
Tainted Tea For Two, Uncial Press
Lord Darver’s Match, LionHearted Publishing

Coming Soon:
Regency Society Revisited, Awe-Struck eBooks
The Wakefield Disturbance, Uncial Press
Sojourn Through Time, Awe-Struck eBooks
 
If you would like to request an interview, please send a query to
info@allromanceebooks.com

Until next time!
Angela Lovell
Wildfire Interview Coordinator
All Romance eBooks
 

Breathe, I told myself. Just Breathe.

It’s funny how things that you normally do without conscious effort become all but impossible when your world crashes in on you. I remembered it being that way when my mother died, I remembered it being that way when I found out that my ex-husband was cheating on me, and I remembered it happening the day that I had the accident in Yosemite: the day that a pack of wild wolves sprang from the woods, cutting across the trail I’d been hiking, the day that he found me. And now, he was here.

“Allison!” he shouted from behind me. I could tell that he was close. I quickened my step, my heart pounding a staccato beat that matched the sounds of my frantic steps. I raced down the stairs in my high-heeled black pumps, praying that I wouldn’t trip and fall.

When I rounded the corner to my office I had my keys in my hand. Only my hand was shaking. I couldn’t get the key in the lock.

“Allison?” he said quietly.

I closed my eyes.

“You said you were from Dallas,” I whispered. “You said you were a lawyer.”

The corridor was teaming with students, co-eds in their late teens and early twenties that had come here to learn. Boys and girls who placed their faith in teachers…teachers like me. My stomach lurched. I swallowed down the bile that had risen up in my throat, slipped the key into the lock and opened the door. Before I could close it, his boot was there. Those same God damned black cowboy boots that I saw when I first came to on that trail back in the woods.

“I said I worked for a law-firm in Dallas. It was true. Last summer I worked for my uncle in Dallas and stayed with him. Let me in Aly. People are going to wonder—”

That did it. For better or for worse, I stepped back and Jake Madison crossed the threshold, all six-one and one hundred eighty pounds of him. Jake was all muscle and sinew. His body was beautiful and hard and I knew it well. I knew how it looked, I knew how it smelled, I knew how it tasted, and I knew how it responded to my touch.

I placed my hands behind my back and moved to the far wall.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I gasped. “You can’t be a college student.”

Jake smiled that big lop-sided grin of his and wagged his finger at me. “You said that you taught at a college in southern California. That was a lie, I called every one. None of them had a Professor Connelly.

“Connelly is my maiden name, Jake. I used to be Allison Robinson. I was offered this job at the last minute,” I explained, “when Deborah Marshall decided not to come back from maternity leave. How old are you, Jake?”

“Twenty-one,” he said, moving closer, his steps fluid and confident. “Twenty-two in a few weeks.”

“Twenty-one,” I repeated, trying to let it sink in.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, as he placed his hands on the wall on either side of me. “Now, shut up and kiss me.”

I reached out and placed my hand on his chest. I’d meant to push him away, honest I did. But somehow my hand developed a mind of its own and it took a detour, trailing down over Jake’s stomach. It quivered expectantly under his tight white t-shirt.

“I never should have let you in this door. I want you to leave,” I told him, my voice was breathless and rough with want; even to my own ears it sounded like a lie.

“You shouldn’t have let me in the door? I never should have let you go. You want me, I’ll give you that…” he murmured.

His mouth was just a hairsbreadth away from mine. “Jake,” I gasped, as he took my hand and slid it down over the bulge in his jeans.

“Kiss me,” he demanded.

“You’re a student,” I reminded him. Or, maybe I was reminding myself.

He deftly moved one of my hands around to the back of his neck and the other around his waist, then he stepped closer still, crushing me to him in a way that reminded me of everything that I wanted, everything that I’d missed for the last few months, everything that I thought I’d never have again and couldn’t take now.

“I can’t. It’s wrong.” I closed my eyes. Wishing, praying that things could be different.

“It’s not wrong. I’m not your student. I didn’t get into the class. I was going to try to crash. I was every bit as surprised to see you as you were to see me, Allison. Our relationship pre-dates you coming here. No one can accuse you of anything,” he reasoned.

“You’re being naïve. One week of good sex—”

“Great, mind-blowing sex,” he corrected.

I couldn’t help but smile and agree. “Okay, great, mind-blowing sex. That’s…that’s not a relationship.”

“No?” he asked, his hand gliding down over my hip, past my thigh. He gingerly began to gather up the edge of my skirt.

“No,” I replied.

His calloused fingertips were tracing the tops of my silk stockings, exploring. “Maybe not,” he agreed, brushing him lips across mine, his tongue darting out to tease my bottom lip. “But it was something, and it could be more.”

“More?”

“Much, much more. It could be a great beginning,” Jake whispered. “Come on, Aly. Don’t push me away. Don’t let this chance pass us by. People wait their entire lives for the right person to come along. What if you’re it? What if I’m it? I know you’re still getting over a bad relationship. I know that I’m asking you to take a big risk here but—”

“Jake? Shut up and kiss me.”

“Oh, honey, I’m going to do much more than that,” he groaned, the deep timber of his smooth voice washing over me like a warm evening rain, removing the grime from my past and giving me something fresh, something I thought I’d lost forever…hope.

As his lips neared mine, Breathe, I told myself. Just Breathe.


Wanting a bit more of Allison and Jake? Look for Book 4 of Samantha Sommersby’s Forbidden series, Forbidden: The Temptation coming sometime in 2008.

Samantha Sommersby was first published in 2005 and has now left what she used to call her "real life" day job to pursue writing and working in the publishing industry full-time. Sam's background in the psychiatric field is apparent in her work and allows her to bring a unique perspective to her characters and stories. She loves to spend the day in her office spinning rich tales and weaving together interesting plots. Her aim is to create a hero that will literally sweep a reader off her feet.

Sam currently lives in Southern California with her husband of seventeen years, her thirteen year old son, and her cocker spaniel, Buck. Her husband is a social worker who works with abused children. He's an avid sailor who loves to surf, and you'll find bits of him in every hero that Sam has ever written. Her son is wonderfully sensitive, with a sarcastic sense of humor. He plays the piano, composes his own music, is a competitive fencer, and worships video games.

On the rare occasion when Sam manages to set aside some play time for herself, you'll most likely find her reading a book, at the movies, or out wine tasting (she collects California Cabernets).

Websites:
Samantha Sommersby
Yahoo Group
Blog
MySpace

Backlist:
Blazing Sun Burning Hearts, Linden Bay Romance
In the Still of the Night, Linden Bay Romance
As You Wish, Linden Bay Romance
Trilogy No. 101: Turning up the Heat, Linden Bay Romance
Shelter from the Storm, Linden Bay Romance
Forbidden: The Claim, Linden Bay Romance
Forbidden: The Awakening, Linden Bay Romance

Coming Soon:
Forbidden: The Revolution
Forbidden: The Temptation

Submissions to The Weekly Sizzle should be sent to Sizzle@allromanceebooks.com. We are looking for original short stories, 1-5 flames, 200-2000 words.

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