Interview with Fantasy Romance Author Serena Clarke

Serena Clarke is from sunny Southern Utah. She has loved writing since she was young and has taken several writing classes. She loves fantasy with a hint of romance. Serena has a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design and is a member of the Red Mountain Shadows Publishing team. She is passionate about learning, reading, art, and design. She also enjoys designing book covers for many authors.

“Fantastic read! Lots of adventure and a truly humble hero that is worth admiring! Prince Ander and Rimelda each have so much responsibility on their shoulders. They are determined to protect Camdia and free their people from the darkness. In the process, they learn about themselves and each other. I loved that both the hero and the heroine are both such very good people. They each are willing to sacrifice much to overcome the darkness that is destroying their lands. I love that it is their truly good qualities that helps them conquer their enemies!” --Cheryl Larson

Welcome back to my blog, Serena. The Isian Series is a trilogy. Each book has its own plot and can be read separately, although it’s best to begin at the beginning. The Secret of Isian is the third book in the series and is full of romance, intrigue, and mystery. Please tell us about your new book.

Many prophecies have been uttered about the impending war and those who will seek to stop it. With the war finally upon them, Rimelda, a talented seer, has heard the prophecies and believes she can help. Prince Ander, doubtful of her abilities and her true intensions, but determined to save his kingdom accepts her help and they proceed on a quest to end the war. Hindered by enemies as well as their own doubts, Ander and Rimelda must search for guidance in unlikely places and unravel the mysteries of the prophecies. 

With the world shrouded in darkness, will Ander accept his destiny in time to save the kingdoms and will he admit his true feelings for Rimelda?

Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

Prince Ander is introduced in the first book of the series, The Treasure of Isian.  I absolutely loved his character.  He is generous, genuine and courageous.  After finishing the first book, I knew he was going to return to the series.  He was worthy of being a main character and having his own story told.  When I thought about who he was and what kind of adventures he would have and what would help him grow as a character, I came up with the plot for The Secret of Isian. 

Since this is fantasy and almost anything goes, do you have to do any research?

Absolutely.  Though I get to bend the rules a lot because I write fantasy, there are still things that need to be researched.  Emotions that may be experienced by my characters; tools and weapons they might use and the techniques to wield them, for example.  One thing I had to put extensive research into was the practice of knife-fighting and knife-throwing, because Ander is an expert with knives.

Please tell us about one of the main characters in this story and what you like about him or her.

Since I have already told a little about Ander, I will tell you about my other favorite character in The Secret of Isian, and that is Rimelda.  Rimelda is a seer.  She can see the future.  She is confident in her abilities.  She respects those who earn her respect.  She does not care about titles and does not seek praise. 

I read The Secret of Isian and loved it. You are absolutely right about Rimelda. She is a completely different character than any of your other heroines. Where can my readers find you and your books online?

You can visit my website: serenaclarke.wordpress.com

You can also find my books at redmountainshadowspublishing.wordpress.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Isian-Book-ebook/dp/B01AOU7VZM

The books in this series are called: The Treasure of Isian, The Alliance of Isian, and The Secret of Isian. They are in paperback and ebook form. Since I have read this Romantic/Fantasy, my review is below:

“The Secret of Isian is a fast moving tale. Not only does it have romance, but also lots of action, intrigue, and battles as the characters make their trek to save the kingdom. While Prince Ander learns to accept his destiny, he also realizes that his love for Rimelda is growing day by day. For the first time in his life, he has met his match! She is spunky, obstinate, and frustrating. But at the same time, she intrigues Ander because she demands respect. Even from the prince!” –Review by Author Linda Weaver Clarke

Interview with Sweet Romance Author Renee Blare

Born in Arkansas and raised in Louisiana and Wyoming, Renee Blare finds herself nestled against the Black Hills with her husband, crazy dogs and ornery cat. She serves the community of northeastern Wyoming as a pharmacist while penning her Christian stories of action and intrigue. Her first book, Beast of Stratton was an ACFW Genesis semi-finalist and her series, the Snowy Range Chronicles captures the essence of life in the modern west with the release of To Soar on Eagle's Wings.
A true outdoor gal, she loves to fish and hunt and has been seen picking away on her classical guitar next to a mountain lake. She also enjoys interacting with readers and invites you check out her website, blog, and social media.

Welcome to my blog, Renee. Please tell us about your novel: To Soar on Eagle’s Wings.

Thank you for having me, Linda. I’m excited to be here. Of course, I’d love to tell you about To Soar. That’s what I like to call it. J It’s the first book of seven planned novels in my Snowy Range Chronicles series. The Snowy Range is a mountain range in the southern part of Wyoming. It’s in the foothills of these mountains that you’ll find Timber Springs (my own little paradise of a make-believe town where this series takes place…for the most part). This novel and series introduces the world to the rugged wiles of modern Wyoming life and follows the Fitzgerald family as they piece their lives back together following a tragedy which rips them apart at the seams…the death of Becca, the matriarch of the family.

Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

I actually lived in Mt. Pleasant, Texas when I wrote this novel. I was far from the mountains of Wyoming and rather homesick. After buying a “Christian” book on Amazon and ranting for an hour about the not-so pure content I’d read in the first two chapters, my husband challenged me to “write my own.” So I did. What came to mind? Home. Not the multitude of trees, marshy lakes, or beautiful green landscape outside my window, but the towering rugged mountains, icy winters, and small town life of Wyoming so far, far away. I pictured a large family of children, Christian, but human, imperfect with their own little quirks. The Snowy Range Chronicles was born that day.

You are so right, Renee. We need more “clean” romances. What kind of research did you do?

To Soar on Eagle’s Wings was primarily written from my own experiences and knowledge. I did have to research current practices of the Wyoming Game and Fish and how they interact with local law enforcement to verify my own “opinions,” so to speak. Things do change over the years, you know. The upcoming books in the series have taken a bit more research. J The town of Timber Springs is a fictional town but for those who may be curious and know about Wyoming, it’s inspired by several real towns already in existence…Albany, Saratoga, Centennial, Lander, and Jackson. My little town is very small and is located at the foothills of the Snowy Range, southeast of Laramie.

Please tell us about the main character in this story and what you love about him or her.

Rachel Fitzgerald is a preacher’s daughter. She strives to be perfect but knows she’s not, and the illusion is an overbearing load. She’s also a twin which, in many ways, kept her steady and sane amidst the burden. But following her mother’s death, he vanishes from her life and she’s left to battle hers…alone. Rachel is a special person. She shows the battle every Christian faces, not just a preacher’s child. I love how she faces amazing pressure and insecurity and doesn’t buckle. She reaches into the depths of her soul and moves forward. Even in the face of uncertainty and fear, she has enormous strength and faith.

Now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

About me? That’s the one thing that I’ve had to get used to about interviews. I don’t talk about myself very easily. Well, let’s see… I know. I remember a time in South Louisiana (I was born in the south.) when I went to a water park. It was such a cool place to go in the summertime. All of us kids congregated in the shallow end and goofed off as our parents lounged on the beach. The older kids usually took to the deeper part of the bayou or raced down the slide. We loved the dragon. It was tall and green and would spit water out of its snout. It kept us drenched as we splashed in the sweltering summer heat. Then…we’d giggle and dunk each other under the muddy water.

It wasn’t until a few years later and we’d moved to Wyoming that reports of this same park being closed drifted our way. I was confused. It was such a fun place to play! My mom said it was for the best but I was so disappointed. I’d never get to go back and splash under the dragon with my friends on summer vacation.

Years later, I discovered alarming news about the water park! It hadn’t merely been closed, but it had been closed the year after my last visit. A huge nest (ball) of water moccasins (snakes) had been disrupted by an unsuspecting child playing around the dragon in the exact spot where I’d been the year before. (They surmised the snakes had been there for a very long time.) I was shocked!

The Lord protected an unsuspecting fool and her friends that day. Why? I don’t know. But I really want to ask Him when I get to Heaven.

Thank you for this wonderful interview, Renee. Below is my review of To Soar on Eagle’s Wings.

"To Soar on Eagle's Wings is such a fun Christian Romance. Even though Rachel is having to deal with the loss of her mother and help her brothers and dearest friend with their little problems, she seems to keep it together. I also enjoyed that the author didn't dwell on the drama of the family, but centered on the the relationship of Rachel and Steve, whom she loved since her teenage years. Steve is so adorable. I loved the fact that he could cook and be so romantic with Rachel and yet he was totally masculine at the same time. I enjoyed this story very much." --Review by Author Linda Weaver Clarke

Visit Renee at these websites:

Website: http://www.reneeblare.com
Blog: https://reneeblare.blogspot.com
Group Blog: http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com
Contributor to Putting on the New Blog: http://puttingonthenew.com

Interview with Romance/Comedy Author Jennifer Peel

Jennifer Peel is the mother of three amazing kiddos. Wife to her one and only for the past twenty-one years. Lover of late night talks, beach vacations, the mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head.

“His Personal Relationship Manager is a humorous love story. The bantering between Kenadie and Zander, her guy friend, is hilarious. Whenever Zander teases her, her response to him is adorable. You can tell that he wants to secretly set her up with his friend, Jason, but she won’t have any of it. Her relationship with her mother and her elderly friends is so funny, too. This story is fast paced because of the fun conversations between the characters. It’s a love story full of humor.” –Review by Author Linda Weaver Clarke

Welcome back to my blog, Jennifer. Please tell us about your new romance: His Personal Relationship Manager.

His Personal Relationship Manager is the start of a new series called Dating by Design. This first book is a romantic comedy about savvy business woman, Kenadie Marshall, who is woefully unskilled in the personal arena. After being left at the altar, Kenadie swears off men and starts a high-tech dating service to help people avoid the same fate as her. What or who she didn’t count on was Jason Hadley, a mutual friend of her best friend Zander. Jason is obviously taken with her, but she is too damaged from her previous relationship to see it. Determined to win her over, he does anything and everything he can think of, even if it means using her firm’s service and dating other women to stay close to her.

Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

I will have to give my daughter Kayla, the credit for this one. She came up with the idea of a “matchmaker” that refuses to have a relationship of her own.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

I researched a lot of dating sites, which for a married person was a little strange. I also had to make sure I was using coding lingo correctly. Thankfully, my husband is a software developer. But my favorite research was hitting the beach. A huge scene in the book takes place in Florida. Best research trip ever!

Please tell us about one of the main characters in this story and what you like about him or her.

My hero, Jason Hadley has the patience of Job. He knows what he wants and he goes after it, but not in an overbearing way. He uses humor and finesse. He has this way of making Kenadie feel comfortable in her own skin. He’s the perfect guy to take home to meet your parents.

 

Thank you so much for this interview, Jennifer.  I hope my readers will check out your books. Don’t forget to check out Jennifer’s websites online below.

http://www.jenniferpeel.com

https://www.facebook.com/jenniferpeelauthor

https://twitter.com/jpeel_author

Interview with Author Kathryn Elizabeth Jones

Kathryn loves the idea of finding all of the information for marketing in just one book. When she began marketing in 2002, papers were scattered everywhere - it was hard for her to find the marketing information she needed. Today, at her husband's request, she puts out a newly updated marketing book for herself and for other authors screaming for a little order in their lives. She loves reading, taking walks and spending time at the beach - a hard to reach venture in Utah where mountains are the rule.

Welcome back to my blog, Kathryn. This is an updated book for authors. Please tell us about your book.

Marketing Your Book on a Budget is a hands-on resource for authors needing to get a handle on reviews, blog interviews, free advertising, book trailers, and more. I update the book in January and weed out and add new great places to market for the new year. 

What is the best advice you can give an author?

Stick to it. You won't know everything in the beginning. Don't expect to, but keep an open mind and learn through trial and error what works and what doesn't. Marketing is the hard thing that comes after writing a book, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming or cost you loads of money to do right.

Did you use your own experiences for this book or add some from other authors?

Because this book is my experience only, everything has been tried out by me. If an avenue of marketing hasn't worked for me, I don't include it in the book.

Where can my readers find you online?

Authors can find me at: http://www.ariverofstones.com or at my place of business: http://www.ideacreationspress.com. Right now we have our first ever novel writing contest going! There is no entry fee and two winners will get free editing and their book published with Idea Creations Press!

Thank you so much, Kathryn, for this wonderful interview. I hope many authors will take advantage of this book and learn from it.

Interview with Fantasy Romance Author Anna Del C. Dye

Anna has written seven High Fantasy books in her Elf Series. Two in her Royal Romance Series. One middle grade boy’s Fairy book in electronic format only. She speaks Spanish as a first language and English. She loves fantasy, the medieval era, ruins and romantic music. Anna and her husband are the parents of three princes and a princess.

Don't forget to stop by regularly because I have a new interview and giveaway every week.

Welcome back to my blog, Anna. Please tell us about your Royal Romance, A Kingdom by the Sea.

A secret passageway conceals more than spider webs. The common belief in two kingdoms is that Serena, the Princess of Delmar, wants slaves. Even her fiancé loses his love for her, in commiseration with the islanders captured in her name. When she discovers his betrayal with Linah, a slave girl, it could be the end for Linah and all the slaves held prisoner in Delmar. A brokenhearted princess, now the queen, could become a weapon too powerful and deadly for her opponents to survive. And what will she do about the spies and political intrigue found in Delmar? Will this new queen use her powers to bring destruction to both kingdoms? To mend the rift between her and her fiancé? Or use it as a reason to become a true and kind monarch to her people?

A Kingdom by the Sea is book two in my Royal Romance Series. It has Spanish names and happens by the shores of Chile, my native country. “Serena,” the main character’s name means “mermaid” in Spanish. Her kingdom is “Delmar” which means “from the sea.” “Miramar” the capital’s name, means “look at the sea” or “lookout toward the sea.” Both of these names are those of real cities in Valparaiso, Chile.

In this story is also mentioned their great wine industry, a similitude to the real Chile which has the best wine and grape industry in South America.

Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

The night after I saw the musical AIDA, I couldn’t sleep because I was disappointed with the ending. I spent the night thinking what would I have done different if it was my story and by morning Kingdom by the Sea had been born.

Aida has a ship’s captain and he is the main protagonist. He is the princess’ lover and he does fall in love with a slave girl. Kingdom by the Sea has some of these elements but the story follows the princess and her awakening to a world she was part of but never knew. It turns out completely different from the musical Aida and that is what makes it awesome.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

Mostly memories of my childhood and the scenes I saw when growing up. The salty smell in the air, the seagulls’ noise at the beach and the sea breeze in my face. I also read how to get the names of the different parts of a ship right and a bit about what is entailed in navigating a ship.

Please tell us about one of the main characters in this story and what you like about him or her.

Princess Serena, she is a naïve, self-centered and quite “blond” for a black haired girl. Her fiancé of many years becomes disappointed with the princess when he is told to get slaves for her. After a couple of years, he takes refuge in the company of a beautiful slave girl. The princess, now the queen, is devastated by his betrayal, and the lives of all the slaves in her realm are now at risk because of it. Could she use her new found power to force the captain’s fulfillment of his promise to her? But, why gain his love back when she doesn’t even know what love is… she has never felt it.

What about  Elazar, the affectionate, intelligent stable-hand, who makes her feel different in an exciting new way. Despite Elazar’s own secrets, should he have a chance at her heart after all?

Life is quite complicated for Serena once she opens her eyes and sees what is going on under her nose. What I like the best about her is that she was a sleeping princess, but becomes a powerful queen and although it breaks her heart, the real “her” turns out divine.

Where can my readers find you online?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDelC

My website: http://www.annadelc.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/o1517897501/shelf

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1066077.Anna_del_C_Dye

Thank you so much for this interview, Anna. My husband loves your fantasies and I know others will, too. Here are some links to where Anna's book is sold.

Anna's Website

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble