Guest Author Interview: K.M. Daughters

Today we are interviewing K.M. Daughters, inspirational romance authors.

Alexis: Hi K.M., thank you for visiting Happily Ever After Thoughts :-) I think it's great that two sisters can work together to write a book. How does your process work? Do you ever run into trouble?

K.M.: Thank you for inviting us, Alexis. We genuinely love writing together, and we must have developed an effective “debate” style since childhood because our partnership never involves bloody noses now, unlike when we were kids. Our collaboration is equally balanced from inception to finished manuscript. Our process includes a lengthy verbal brainstorming stage during which we develop plot, conflicts, and characters. Once we have a solid story line and our characters become real to us, we jot down a chapter sequence/action map. We divide writing responsibility evenly, alternating chapters. Pat keeps the master manuscript. By the time we complete the first draft, we have edited/critiqued once or twice more along the way. We read the novel aloud to each other and then revise and/or edit to polish. 

Alexis: What a great system. I can see where having a partner there all the time can help speed the process, especially since you two get along so well. I understand you just released a new book RESURRECTED LOVE. Can you tell our readers a little about it?

K.M.: This is the last novella in our three-part Gospa Journeys series, following related novels, JEWEL OF THE ADRIATIC and ROSE OF THE ADRIATIC. Each Gospa journey “calls” our hero and heroine to Valselo, a tiny Adriatic village where millions believe the Mother Of God imparts messages for the world to three visionaries. Beth and Jack Dunne were separated when their infant son died of SIDS years ago. Neither has recovered from the loss nor the displaced blame that shattered their marriage. Philanthropy brings them to Valselo – at least that’s what they think. But in reality, they’re responding to a gentle call to rediscover the unlimited love God grants if we open our hearts and trust Him.

Alexis: Reuniting stories always hold such depth. Where did you get the idea for this book?

K.M.: Story ideas come to us organically: in dreams, in prayer, walking for exercise or recreation. They just are.

Alexis: That's great that they come so easily, plus two brains being receptive is probably better than one :-) What are your favorite character traits of Beth and Jack?

K.M.: Neither Beth nor Jack are impressed with material things. They’re unaffected by their wealth – mostly they give their money away. They both know it’s more important to be rich in faith, love and charity.

Alexis: Ah, then they are characters many people can relate to, even if we don't have the "money" part. You actually write romantic suspense as well as inspirational. What is it that attracts you to each subgenre?

K.M.:  A “sister visit” to Medjugorje, a site of contemporary Marian apparitions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, inspired our inspirational romance novels and gave rise to the fictional village, Valselo. In prayer, Kathie was given the clear directive to write these stories. We were already collaborating at the time in the RS genre – our now published Sullivan Boys Series. The Sullivan family holds tremendous appeal for us. We also enjoy the pulse racing aspect of writing suspense.

Alexis: So what can we expect next from you two? Do you have any new releases coming or a work in progress?

K.M.: Our agent is representing our latest finished project, a contemporary mainstream fiction. In the works is a fiction novel with religious supernatural elements, intrigue and suspense.

Alexis: All of those sound interesting. Good luck with them! Thank you so much for sharing your stories with us. It's a pleasure having you visit.

K.M.: A blessing to visit today. Thank you again.

Alexis: For a chance to win an ebook version of RESURRECTED LOVE, be sure to leave a comment for K.M.  If I have contact information, I will let you know when you win, otherwise, check the side column for your name on Wednesday under WINNERS :-)

For more information on K.M.’s Romances go to http://www.kmdaughters.com/booklist.html 

Alexis: Check out this excerpt from RESURRECTED LOVE.

Excerpt:

Teresa smiled when she noticed the pile of clothes on the add-on front porch. The villagers remembered her children with care packages that magically appeared on an almost daily basis. Anonymous donations included a loaf or two of home-baked bread, eggs plucked fresh from the coop, or vegetables from home gardens, which still glistened with morning dew. Today’s bounty looked like hand-me-downs. The kids loved to sort through the donated clothes—especially her girls.

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus...

Grinning she approached the porch along the narrow brick path and then stopped short when the bundle of clothes seemed to move. She balled her hands and rubbed them over her eyes, but she thought she detected subtle movement again. Drifting closer as she vowed to find a few pennies to buy those eyeglasses she obviously needed, the bundle of clothes morphed into the figure of a young girl huddling at the doorstep in a fetal position.

Hurrying, Teresa stumbled up the three slab stairs. She dropped to her knees in front of the frail girl, set the basket of flowers on the wood slatted deck, and rested her hand on the youth’s thin shoulder. “Child, are you all right?”

“Yes, Sister Teresa,” came a muffled, lyrical voice. She raised her head, a radiant smile lighting a heart shaped face. “I have been waiting for you.”

On an exhaled breath, Teresa exclaimed, ”Oh my!”

Sitting back on her haunches, she hung captivated by this youngster’s crystal clear, turquoise eyes and dimpled, alabaster cheeks. In the many years Teresa had worked with children, she had never encountered a more beautiful child. Silky, straight, platinum blonde hair hung down her back. Skin like exquisite porcelain glowed in the dawn’s light.

With difficulty, the sister found her voice. “Why are you waiting for me? How do you know my name? Where are you from, dear?”

“They told me to wait for you here.”


”Who? The villagers?”


The child cocked her head, but remained silent as she stretched out bony legs. Lifting stick-thin arms over her head she yawned, and then giggled. In bell- like tones she said, ”I have been waiting forever, and I am starving.”

“Where is your home?” Certainly, not in the village. I know every village family. “What is your name?”

“My name is Marta and my home is here now. With you.”

She stood and extended her hand toward Teresa.

Clasping the offered hand, joy flooded Teresa’s senses, an ecstatic avalanche that swelled her heart to near bursting.

Alexis: Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win this wonderful story!

Review: PURSUIT by Karen Robards

Initially, Jessica ford, a low level and hard working attorney, was sent to pursue the First Lady after she slipped away from an international dinner party.  The First Lady, dressed incognito, escaped to a D.C. hotel where Jessica tracked her down.

When called upon, a limo equipped with Secret Service heralded the First Lady and Jessica for a short trip from the hotel, which ended in a ball of flames.  Jessica was thrown from the wreck and was the only survivor, a dangerous position.

Jessica soon fell into the arms and security of Mark Ryan, another Secret Service agent.  The unnerving thread to her safety was that she suspected the Secret Service as party to the death of the First Lady, so how could she trust the buff and handsome Mark Ryan?

After a slew of bombs, gunshots, and chases by the Dark Suits, Jessica had no choice but to love, I mean trust (!) Mark.  With his strong arms pulling her to safety and his luscious lips keeping her warm, Jessica gave him her trust.

But that wasn’t enough to keep the barrel of a Glock from resting against her forehead.  What could Mark do when she saw him shot and fall to the ground?  Was there a plan C?

Robards writes a thriller full of surprises and the unthinkable.  I sat on the edge of my sofa wondering whether there really could be a way for Jessica and Mark to escape trained assassins-alive.  Keep your curtains pulled when you read Pursuit.              

Enjoy,

Dawn

Guest Author: Meg Benjamin

Our guest author today is Meg Benjamin and she is giving away a copy of DON'T FORGET ME to one lucky commenter.

10 TIPS FOR THE ROMANTIC TIMES BOOK LOVERS CONVENTION

 Okay, this is my second Romantic Times Convention coming up, which makes me an expert, right? Other people will tell you how to do pitch sessions with editors and agents, or how to take advantage of the workshops (hint: join the Nine Naughty Novelists for the panel on group blogging on Thursday morning) and parties (another hint: come by the Nine Naughty Novelists/Smutketeers Karaoke Party). Me, I’m going straight for the important stuff.

1. Bring comfortable shoes. No kidding. This goes for both readers and writers. You’ll be trotting all over that hotel and if you’re wearing tight shoes, you’ll be in agony by day two. My friend Kelly Jamieson can make it in three-inch heels (the woman has arches of steel). I can’t. I’ll be wearing my Jambus, courtesy of REI.

2. A bottle of water is never amiss for anyone at RT. Coffee is frequently available, but water will get you farther as the days wear on. Staying hydrated is a good idea.

3. Layers, layers, layers. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like in Rosemont—inside the hotel the climate will vary from room to room. Besides this is a great place to break out your more flamboyant jackets and sweaters. Everybody gets to be a peacock at RT.

4. Theme parties are there for everybody, both readers and writers, and costumes are often flamboyant. But packing lots of costumes can be expensive in terms of luggage fees. Instead of full-blown costumes, go with accessories. Earrings, scarves, and the occasional flashy belt will count for a lot.

5. For writers, if you do the book signings, put an energy bar in your purse. You’ll be there for around three hours and you’ll get very hungry before it’s through unless you’ve eaten a huge breakfast before you arrive.

6. If you’re a reader hitting Promo Alley, where writers leave promotional items out for the taking, go back several times. Lots of us writers will be putting up different promo materials on different days.

7. If you’re a writer, on the other hand, bring something to Promo Alley besides bookmarks. Everybody will have them and some people will take them, but more unusual promo is more likely to be picked up.

8. For everybody, going to the various parties and receptions can save on dinner costs—and save time since you won’t have to leave the hotel to find something to eat.

9. In some ways, it’s more fun to drop in on people’s hotel rooms than to hit the various scheduled parties. There are lots of informal parties going on and it’s a great way to meet readers, writers and publishing people.

10. For anyone who wants to be remembered—writers, bloggers, reviewers, booksellers, etc.—bring cards. Lots of cards. You’ll be handing them out and collecting them all week long. And don’t forget to tuck a few into your pocket when you go to parties.

And one more tip—have fun. That’s what RT is all about, really. Yes, you’re there to you’re your favorite authors or promote your books, but you’re also there to enjoy yourself. So have a good time, and look me up. I’ll definitely be around!

More about the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention - http://www.rtconvention.com/

Meg Benjamin is the author of the Konigsburg series for Samhain Publishing. Book #3, Be My Baby, won a 2011 EPIC Award for Contemporary Romance. Book #4, Long Time Gone, received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Indie Press Romance. Book #5, Brand New Me, was nominated for Book Of the Year at Long and Short Reviews. 

Meg lives in Colorado with her DH and two rather large Maine coon kitties (well, partly Maine Coon anyway). Her Web site is http://www.MegBenjamin.com. You can follow her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1), and Twitter (http://twitter.com/megbenj1). Meg loves to hear from readers—contact her at meg@megbenjamin.com.

Leave a comment for a chance to win the latest book in the series, DON'T FORGET ME!

Epilogs

Are epilogs necessary? Well, it all depends on the story, I think. And the author. 

It’s usually the place where loose ends are tied up and a reader can get to see what happens to the hero and heroine, sometimes ten years down the road, sometimes just the next day. And it’s a great place to set up the next book in the series (and makes me hunger for that next story).

           

I love a good epilog. Especially if they bring a tear to my eye (this should come as no surprise to you if you’ve read my blogs before…I love emotional writing). The best epilog I’ve ever read? Jodi Thomas’ The Texan’s Reward. I have to tell you that I cried like a baby...it was that good! Such a satisfying ending to a great story. 

What about you? Do you like epilogs in the stories you read? What’s the best one you’ve ever come across?

Happy Reading!

Marie

Guest Author: Buffy Christopher

Our guest author today is Buffy Christopher. She is giving away two different books, so be sure to leave her a comment :-)

HOW DO YOU WRITE THE PERFECT SEX SCENE?

Well my lovelies first you must let your imagination run free. And do a bit of research. When writing sexy scenes, relax! You can't screw it up if you have ever had sex. You already know what goes where even if you have never done what you're writing. You know how it feels, what emotions go along with it. Today, tomorrow, years ago, sex hasn't changed. We all still make love in pretty much the same way, except today not much is taboo. And if you have never tried something, experience it. Even if you don't like it at first, it may grow on you.

The perfect scene has a few components. Well first sex, second emotions, third your characters and last maybe some plot. Depends on the situation you thrust your characters into. Is it a quicky? Is it a slow long love scene? Are they meeting for the first time? It's all up to you.

I have written several sex scenes for both male and female and male and male characters. Have I ever had gay sex, male on male, well no. I'm not a man, but I have done my research. I can't tell you how many m/m books I've read because I've lost count. Some are contemporary, some are hard core BDSM, but one thing is always the same in every sex scene no matter who the characters are. Tab A goes in slot B or C. Simple.

So start by finding your location or setting. Are they in a bedroom, a forest, up against a wall? Anywhere public or private will do as it is your imagination and scene. After you have your setting, pick your point of view or perspective. Are you writing the male role? The female role? If you do either, make sure you stay in that POV for the whole scene. Head hopping mid-scene confuses the reader and takes them out of the story. Next decide what they are doing or will do. Is it making out? Oral? Missionary? Whatever you choose cannot be wrong because it is your scene. Begin. Just start writing and let your imagination flow. Have an idea of where they are going but not necessarily how they will get there. Is the goal to climax? Just find pleasure? Make the other person feel good? Make them see God? Obviously the more dramatic the scene, the hotter you will need to write. Slow and steady doesn't always win the race. Sometimes a good hard drive is what is needed.  Once you determine where you're going, crank it up until you achieve the desired outcome. And remember, if it doesn't crank you up... it probably won't make anyone else excited either. I have known authors who have said, "Wow! I think I need a smoke after that!"

The point is, you can't do it wrong. So go for it!!

Thank you for letting me blog here on Happily Ever After Thoughts and may your endings always be just that!

Your amorously,

Buffy Christopher

http://buffychristopher.com/books/

For a chance to win a copy of Twin Moon or Ivy's Surprise be sure to leave a comment :-)