Lamashtu

1.The subtle touches go a long way. Having the head of a donkey or a pig suckling at your breast really helps with street cred. Just ask Lilith or Lamashtu.

2. Make sure you eat children. Any demoness worth her salt has to be missing the mothering gene completely (unless you count mothering other demons, which I do not). You have to like eating children.

3. Man flesh is yum! You can be super beautiful, but your only goal once you seduce a man must be to eat him. Make no bones about it (yeah, I couldn’t resist), this is hard work! You might be required to drink their blood, chew on their bones, or devour them whole.

Now, I must admit, I make a fairly bad demoness. I don’t have a non-human head, I (mostly) adore children, and I do think man flesh is yum, but in a totally different way. So, like any respectable author, I’ve decided to make one of my characters a kick ass demoness instead. *Rubs hands together* If you can’t be evil, write it! It’s almost as much fun.

Is your demoness kick ass?

Up from the Js comes author Anne E. Johnson! Her middle grade paranormal mystery, Ebenezer’s Locker, will be out from MuseItUp Publishing in June 2012.

About Ebenezer’s Locker:

A hundred years ago, Corbin Elementary School’s building housed Dr. Ebenezer Corbin’s School for Psychical Research. It seems that a couple of old spirits are still wandering the halls. It’s up to Rhonda Zymler to find out what they want.

Ooh, sounds intriguing!

1. When you were writing this book, what part(s) made you want to tear your hair out? Why?

The biggest challenge for me was getting all the elements of the mystery to work out. Sometimes I had no idea myself how one thing would lead to another, and I was discovering clues at the same time my characters were!

 2. What parts were especially easy and/or fun to write?

The most fun were the scenes in the home of Tallulah Radley, an elderly woman who lives in the neighborhood. She’s a psychic medium, so Rhonda and her friends go to her for advice. To make Tallulah’s home, behavior, and dialog authentic, I did all kinds of fascinating research about the history of Spiritualism and Psychical practices in America.

 3. Tell us how and when this idea came to you.

I had the idea for this novel after I’d just written my tween medieval mystery, Trouble at the Scriptorium (which is coming out in July, 2012). I wanted another book-length project, but with a contemporary setting. I also thought that having a magical or fantastical element would make a nice change, since Scriptorium is realistic.

A school setting was an obvious choice, but I also wanted a mystery. I considered where something might be hidden at a school? In a locker! But I decided it would be more of a mystery if the locker itself was missing.

 4. Ten years ago, would you have believed that you’d be the author of a book such as this one? Why or why not?

No, I wouldn’t have believed it. Ten years ago I was very contented teaching music history at a college in New York. I began writing fiction about four years ago, and with each passing day it has become more and more my passion.

 5. What did you do while writing this book that you will never do again (this doesn’t necessarily have to be writing-related)?

I worried a great deal while I wrote Ebenezer’s Locker. Not about the book, but about my writing career. I’ve since figured out that worrying gets you nowhere. Working and thinking and planning–those are useful to building a career. Worrying is a waste of energy.

This fox is so zen.

Great advice! Now, onto the character questions.

Out of all the characters you’ve written, who do you think would be:

1. Most likely to get a movie deal from Hollywood? Why?

I have a character named Stravin in my noir sci fi novel, Green Light Delivery (due out in late June from Candlemark & Gleam). He’s tall and slender, covered in downy white feathers, and rather vain. He’s the starlet type.

2. Most willing to streak naked across a parking lot for money? How much money and why?

Oddly, there is a scene in Green Light Delivery where Webrid, the main character, runs zigzag across a parking lot. As for money, he’s always got an angle, since he’s self-employed. And he’s always interested in attracting ladies. I bet he’d take his clothes off for that run in the parking lot if there were an extra thousand dendiacs in it. (Dendiacs are the basic monetary units of his world; think of them as dollars, I suppose.)
 
3. Least willing to use someone else’s toothbrush, even in a dire dental emergency? Why?

Twelve-year-old Mica Rasheed, one of the main characters in Ebenezer’s Locker, has a strong sense of fashion and decorum. A used toothbrush would certainly gross her out.

4. Least likely to win the Nobel Peace prize? Why?

I can think of several, but discussing them would cause spoilers. Let’s just say that there are some snarly antagonists in all my novels, and they do not shy away from violence.

5. The best person to have around when a woman goes into labor unexpectedly? Why?

That would be Professor Al-Zarkali, the Moorish scholar and castle adviser in my tween medieval mystery, Trouble at the Scriptorium (due out in July from Royal Fireworks Press).  He’s a skilled physician, and very calm in an emergency.

About Anne

Drawing on an eclectic background that includes degrees in classical languages and musicology, Anne E. Johnson has published works on a wide variety of topics.

She’s written non-fiction books for kids with the Rosen Group and feature articles for adults in serials such as The New York Times and Stagebill Magazine. Her short stories, in several genres and for both children and adults, can be found in Underneath the Juniper Tree, Spaceports & Spidersilk, Hogglepot, and elsewhere. She has upcoming works in and several magazines and anthologies.

Visit Anne at her website: http://www.anneejohnson.com

or email her at: contact [at] anneejohnson [dot] com

Starting March 1, 2012 a group of paranormal/fantasy authors will be doing a blog hop! We’ll be visiting each others’ blogs, talking about our books, and giving away lots of cool prizes like gift cards, books, and swag.

Here’s a list of who’s on board!

M. L. Archer

Krista D. Ball

Gabrielle Bisset

J.D. Brown

A.H. Browne

Chastity Bush

Savannah Chase

Wren Emerson

Janie Franz

Sharon Hamilton

Dianne Hartsock

Alexandra Kane

Ash Krafton

Marsha A. Moore

Sky Purington

Liv Rancourt

Rebecca Ryals Russell

Adriana Ryan

Rosalie Skinner

Jan Fischer-Wade

(Now closed to entries.)

3 Reasons Zombies Are the Bomb Diggity

1. They’re uncomplicated. Have you ever heard a zombie whine about lost love or the economy? No. They have a zest for life brains that totally takes up their time. You don’t have to worry that you’re going to tune in to The Walking Dead and have to see a zombie crying about the famine in Africa. Or anything, really.

2. They’re not shallow. Just because they want to rip your flesh off doesn’t mean they don’t have admirable qualities. Zombies are the least vain entities you’ll find. They don’t care about new clothes or a new hairstyle. They don’t even care whether or not you’ve bathed before they eat you. All they care about is what you’re made of. Who doesn’t want that in a friend?

3. They help us feel superior. I have to confess–I look at them shuffling around, moaning for our brains, and I feel smart. I feel beautiful. I feel witty. You can’t lose with a zombie. Challenge one to a chess match and you’ll see what I mean.

So, have you hugged a zombie today?

Dianne Hartsock is the wonderfully talented author of Trials of a Lonely Spectre, a paranormal short story available now. What I really love about this story is that it’s m/m (male-male romance) without being erotica. So few stories have that, and I think it’s so important. I know there are so many readers like me out there, who are looking for more diversity and risk-taking in books.

About Trials of a Lonely Spectre

MuseItUp Publishing: http://bit.ly/z7YljO

Amazon: http://amzn.to/oSJqEX

There’s been an accident. Quinn believes he’s dead, though Liam insists otherwise. But if that is the case, why does Quinn see the two of them as ghosts? And why does Liam play along? Exposed to mediums and apparitions, Quinn has to make a decision: either accept his fate or risk everything to trust Liam one more time.

So, Dianne…

1. When you were writing this book, what part(s) made you want to tear your hair out? Why?

That’s a very good question! I like to pretend I’m in control when writing a story, but there were times when I’d try to get Liam to do something for me he didn’t want to do. Goodness! He’d turn those intense blue eyes on me, look me up and down coolly, and do exactly what he wanted, despite me! There were times I wanted to erase that smirk from his face, but then he would pout and not cooperate at all. I tell you, sometimes characters can be so spoiled!

2. What parts were especially easy and/or fun to write?

I had so much fun writing this story! There was a spark between Liam and Quinn right from the beginning. I simply went with it, letting them interact freely. The story told itself. My very favorite scene to write was the one between Liam and Quinn in the graveyard. We get to see the arrogant Liam’s vulnerable side. He truly does love Quinn.

3. Tell us how and when this idea came to you.

I was finishing the final edits on my paranormal thriller novel ALEX last spring, a very intense and emotionally draining experience. I needed to write something light hearted and fun.  I have a secret love affair with the paranormal and thought a good ghost story was in order. But I also wanted to write a love story. I’m a sap for romance and the happily ever after. My lovely, shy Quinn came to mind first. I thought of the house he’d haunt. Added his love interest, and wham, my story was born!

4. Ten years ago, would you have believed that you’d be the author of a book such as this one? Why or why not?

Yes and no. I’ve been jotting stories down since I first learned to write, mostly horror and the paranormal. The big surprise came when one of them was finally going to be published!

I also say no, because 10 years ago I didn’t see myself writing m/m stories. That’s a recent development and one I thoroughly enjoy.

5. What did you do while writing this book that you will never do again (this doesn’t necessarily have to be writing-related! )?

Well, never is a long time… I did make a slight mistake here. I was also writing an m/m erotic story at the same time I wrote ‘Trials of a Lonely Specter’. I didn’t realize it then, but the characters in both books are very similar. I try to be very careful now to keep each book separate in my mind as I write it. Yes, I’m one of those crazy authors who have two or three MS going at once.

Now, out of all the characters you’ve written, who do you think would be:

1. Most likely to get a movie deal from Hollywood? Why?

This one’s easy! Liam, of course. Tall, dark, gorgeous, cocky, arrogant, and a natural flirt. Pretty much describes every movie star out there!

2. Most willing to streak naked across a parking lot for money? How much money and why?

This one’s tougher. Liam? No, he’d stroll across naked just for fun. Quinn? He’d die of embarrassment. Liam’s sister Becca? She’d look at you like you’re out of your mind. Margaret? Sure. Being a shrewd kid, she’d do it for twenty bucks, if none of her friends were there to see her.

3. Least willing to use someone else’s toothbrush, even in a dire dental emergency? Why?

That would have to be my darling, fastidious Quinn. He could just imagine all the germs crawling over it! He’d use a damp cloth and toothpaste instead.

4. Least likely to win the Nobel Peace prize? Why?

Hands down, Liam. He couldn’t be good to save his life. He’s never more happy than when he stirs people up. Being a passionate person himself, he loves to see the passion in others.

5. The best person to have around when a woman goes into labor unexpectedly? Why?

A doctor? Okay, Liam because he can keep a cool head under pressure.  But you’d want Quinn there also, to deal with the messier aspects. He’d be wonderfully gentle with the baby while Liam’s petting and complimenting the exhausted mother afterwards, too. They are good together, my ghosts!

About Dianne Hartsock

Dianne lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play.

She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write her tales. There’s something about being cooped up in the house while it pours rain outside and a fire crackles on the hearth inside that kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which she says is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/

FB: http://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock

1. When you were writing this book, what part(s) made you want to tear your hair out? Why?

Probably the middle. You always hear about the sagging middle and I had somewhat of a hard time with keeping the story from blah-ing out. Also the ending. I had a hard time deciding where to end Katherine and Mitchell’s story. I guess I struggled with the fact that I actually had to end the book eventually, lol.

2. What parts were especially easy and/or fun to write?

I had fun writing the mob boss’s doom at the end.

3. Tell us how and when this idea came to you.

Four years ago. And it just popped into my head. I wanted to write a story of a romantic reunion with a child the hero didn’t know he had. And I love suspense so the best way to accomplish the suspense was to have the teenage girl kidnapped.

4. Ten years ago, would you have believed that you’d be the author of a book such as this one? Why or why not?

Oh yes. No doubt in my mind. I love reading suspense novels of all sorts. And of course I love my romance. So it was just natural for me to combine the two.

5. What did you do while writing this book that you will never do again (this doesn’t necessarily have to be writing-related! )?  

After I had received a rejection from Harlequin, I put the book away for nearly two years. I’ll never do that again. That’s time I’ll never get back.

Great words of advice–keep on truckin’, authors. Readers are waiting.

About Secrets of Jenkins Bridge:

Hunting down a dangerous mob boss has brought FBI agent Mitchell Donovan home, reawakening an old flame, resurrecting a dead best friend, and discovering fatherhood. As if those aren’t enough, his new case will push everything else aside: finding the kidnappers who took the daughter he never knew he had.

Katherine Delaney never forgot the heartbreak Mitchell had caused with his abrupt departure all those years ago. With her dead ex-husband accused of murder and her daughter kidnapped, she will place her trust in the one man who could trample her heart again if she gets too close.  But, will the resurrection of Katherine’s ex-husband and Mitchell’s chase for a killer destroy their second chance at love and happiness?

About Donna Shields

Donna Shields grew up on romance and scary stories. With her love for suspense and the slightly unusual, she enjoys tying these elements together to create stories full of love, danger and the paranormal.

She lives in the beautiful upstate of South Carolina with her husband, her children, and some great haunts. She’s a mom, a ‘gramma,’ a wife, a friend, an avid reader and writer. When she’s not occupied with all that, she loves traveling to Playa del Carmen and Jamaica.

You can find her:

At her blog: http://donna-realworldwriting.blogspot.com

On Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/shieldsdonna

On Twitter: @Donna_Shields

On Soul Mate Publishings’s Author Blog: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/

Buy Secrets of Jenkins Bridge at: http://soulmatepublishing.com

Coming soon to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

A Bit About the Book:

Spirited Lydia Hetherington is uninterested in marriage, until her brother’s friend, Lord Marcus Sheldon, rides into her life to unseat her from her horse and unsettle her heart. An undercover spy for the government, Sheldon is equally unsettled by Lydia. But spies, villains and a tangled web of deception bring danger, until a traitor is unmasked.

Complicated by a French spy, her best friend’s unrequited love for Lydia’s brother, James, and a traitorous villain, Lydia gradually finds her emotions stirred by Lord Sheldon. But what is his relationship with the beautiful Lady Smythe and his part in an old scandal?

Available from http://champagnebooks.com; http://www.amazon.com and http://www.amazon.co.uk

Now, Romy, while you were writing the book, do tell us:

1. What part(s) made you want to tear your hair out? Why?

 Dangerous Deceit, a historical novel, is romantic intrigue set in Regency England of 1813. What made me want to tear my hair out was getting the historical detail just right, including expressions, clothes and daily life.  I know a lot of history having studied it, but I don’t like doing too much research all at once as it becomes overwhelming! Much better to come back and fill any gaps that might arise.

 2. What parts were especially easy and/or fun to write?

I’m a character-led writer so I loved writing the scenes between my heroine, Lydia, and hero, Lord Sheldon, especially the bantering dialogue. I like to keep  to the historical social  conventions, so there is no sex at all in the novel, but I loved writing scenes of awakening sexual tension between Lydia and Sheldon.

 3. Tell us how and when this idea came to you.

I grew up reading  the Georgian and Regency romances of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, so when I finally decided to move from short stories to novel length, it seemed natural to set my first one in this period. I studied different periods of history for my degrees and have been reading the Jane Austen World Magazine since its first edition many years ago, so I feel comfortable in that era. I began Dangerous Deceit with my two main characters, the exact year, and a vague idea of the plot. I like to let my characters play to see where they will take me.

4. Ten years ago, would you have believed that you’d be the author of a book such as this one? Why or why not?

I often imagined it and hoped it would happen one day, but I had difficulty believing in myself as a novelist. I’ve been writing published short stories and articles for so long that I had serious doubts about having enough self-discipline for the long haul of novels!

5. What did you do while writing this book that you will never do again (this doesn’t necessarily have to be writing-related! )?

I’d like to say I’ll completely finish one book before getting on with any other writing, but I fear that won’t happen as I need the variety! But it means my first tween novel, Summer of the Eagles, is about to be published by MuseItUp Publishing in March. And at the moment, I’m working on another novel, a novella and two children’s novels, in addition to short stories.

About Rosemary Gemmell

Rosemary Gemmell’s first historical novel, Dangerous Deceit, set in Regency England, was published by Champagne Books in May 2011 (as Romy). Her first tween novel, Summer of the Eagles, which is set in Scotland, is being published by MuseItUp Publishing in March 2012 (as Ros).

Her short stories and articles are published in UK magazines, in the US, and Online, and her children’s stories are in three different anthologies. One of her short stories was included in the fundraising book, 100 Stories for Haiti, in 2010. A historical short story was published in The Waterloo Collection, launched by the late professor Richard Holmes in April 2011, and a short story was included in the cancer anthology, Lavender Dreams, from MuseItUp. She has won a few competitions and will be a short story adjudicator at the annual Scottish Association of Writers’ Conference in March 2012.

Website: www.rosemarygemmell.com

General writing/information blog: http://ros-readingandwriting.blogspot.com

Historical writing blog: http://romygemmell.blogspot.com

Children’s writing blog: http://rosgemmell.blogspot.com

Twitter: @rosemarygemmell

A very prolific writer indeed, as are many of the guest authors on this blog! Thank you so much for stopping by, Rosemary!

Carl, thank you so much for being here tonight!

 1. From the little you told me before this interview, you encountered most of these while working at a group home. Is that correct?

Yes, I was working in a group home for disadvantaged youth.  The average age of the residents was 15.  The residents were all female.  I worked there for about a year and a half.  The experiences that I had while working there were not what prompted me to leave.  I need benefits for my family.

2. Can you tell us about the first time you encountered something out of the ordinary?

The first time I felt something odd was in my second week working in the home.  The whole house was in an uproar over some little thing, and things were tense.  One of the residents pushed to move past me, and I was standing in a door way.  As she moved past me, I was pushed into her.  For the longest time, I thought I lost my balance, but looking back at it years later, I know I wasn’t having balance issues.  Later, in the Spring of the year, I had just come on shift, and was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee.  I remember thinking about my Uncle Will who had just passed away.  I had my back to a wall so that I could greet the residents as they came into the kitchen area of the home.  I felt someone pat my hand.  A short time later, I smelled a flowery type of perfume.  I didn’t feel at all threatened by the experience but was rather freaked out.  I spent the remainder of my time waiting for the residents on the front porch.

The Group Home Where Carl Worked

3. Were there other instances?

Another time I experienced something odd, I was working as the overnight staff.  It was very early in the morning, and I heard what sounded like furniture being moved around upstairs.  For privacy reasons, we didn’t have cameras above the main floor in the bedroom areas.  So I went upstairs.  I announced myself after opening the door to the stairway.  The noise stopped immediately after I opened the door.  As I got to the top of the stairs, I looked into each room.  All of the furniture was as it was supposed to be in the room.  All of the residents were sleeping.  Most of the furniture was old heavy antique stuff that had been donated to the facility.  So I went back to the main floor.  I noted the event in the evening logbook.

4. Did other staff or residents also experience anything similar?

The next day when I came on for the after school shift, the house manager approached me.  She mentioned seeing my entry about the noises.  She went on to explain that I wasn’t the first one to hear noises at night.  Other staff had reported the same noises.  None of the residents have ever heard noises in the home.

 5. Do you know anything about the history of the home, or who or what was behind these encounters?

A bit of history behind the house.

It is one of the oldest homes in town, dating back to the early 1890′s.  At one time there had been an old cistern behind the house at the back of the property.  A previous owner found his mother dead in the cistern.  Other people have reportedly passed away on the property, but this is the only one that I know of who died of something other than a natural death.  I don’t know what happened to her, or how she got into the cistern.  The home has been a residential facility for disadvantaged youth since the mid-1960′s.  The cistern has since been removed.

6. How would you define the term “ghost” or “spirit”?

I am certain that there is a world that exists within ours that we can’t or aren’t supposed to see and/or experience.  I think that there are three kinds of spirits.  The malevolent ones, the pranksters and the compassionate ones. The malevolent ones cause problems for people.  Not sure why, as I am not a ghost expert, it is just my opinion.  The pranksters, are fun, and like to do things just because they can.  The compassionate ones, comfort people in times of sadness.  I think that the person who experiences ghosts has to be in a certain frame of mind or spirit themselves in order to have the opportunity to connect to this other world.

In our home, we have experienced odd things at times.  Toy cars moving across the floor, the dog suddenly starts barking at nothing.  The cat walking around and suddenly jumping up in the air, and to one side.  Cold spots above floor vents that are blowing heat.  We haven’t felt anything else, or seen anything walking around.  One of the first nights I stayed in the house, I saw this creature come out of a hole in the baseboard.  At first I thought it was a mouse, until it unfolded its wings and took flight.  Freaked me out!  I opened up doors on both ends of the house and turned on the lights in each room that the bat vacated.  Eventually it left the house.  We live well over 4 miles from any body of water, and last year had an infestation of frogs.  Just little things…

Carl's House

Whoa. Okay, now I’m sufficiently spooked for the week. Infestations of frogs–really? And you still live there?!

About Carl Young

I am a 39 year old father of five kids.  Three of whom have special needs.  I am currently on sabbatical from my PhD Dissertation studies.  I live in a small town in an old house in the middle of nowhere in the Upper Great Plains.  I love technology almost as much as I love my wife and kids.  I believe in ghosts.

I am an author, self-described social scientist, and blogger.  I write @ http://www.whynotfathers.com on twitter @whynotfathers and on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/WhyNotFathers/337838169577461

Please welcome Janie Franz, prolific author of The Premier and eight other works!

Let’s get started with some questions about your books!

1. When you were writing your books, what part(s) made you want to tear your hair out? Why?

Most of the books I write are actually Zen practice. In other words, I begin and get into a zone of creativity where I just am living along side my characters. I don’t outline. I go in every day with an idea of where my characters are heading and the problem they’ll deal with, but I never know what will happen exactly.

However when I wrote The Neighbor, my spooky little occult story about a newlywed’s neighbor who wants to be her constant companion, I had some troubles.  I wrote it first in third person. Then someone suggested that it would be better in first. When I pitched it to another publisher, they suggested I rewrite it into third. That publisher got swamped with submissions and I ultimately pulled the book and offered it to Muse It Up. They sent it back to me for another rewrite for stronger verbs.

2. What parts were especially easy and/or fun to write?

The next two questions deal with The Lost Song trilogy. These books will be books 4, 5, and 6 of the Bowdancer Saga. I started those books with another publisher and Muse It Up Publishing will continue the story with The Lost Song trilogy. The first three books will come to Muse next year when my contracts expire and I offer them to Muse.

I wrote the entire Lost Song trilogy in about three months—well over 200,000 words. The scenes and characters just appeared and I was trying really hard to capture everything that seemed to be given to me.  The writing just flowed.

3. Tell us how and when this idea came to you.

I had finished Warrior Women, the third book in the Bowdancer Saga. It broke my heart to leave these women I’d created and come to love like family. I literally cried for three days when I finished that book. My daughter, thinking I was being pretty foolish, simply said, “You can always write a sequel, Mom.”

So I started. I jumped ahead about eleven years and went forth. The bowdancer then went out across the wide land and discovered exotic people and other beliefs, great cruelty, and deep love. She also found a wealth of music, song, dance, spirituality, and culinary and healing herb lore.

I love these books. I hope that they will be my legacy….And the story isn’t over yet. There’s another trilogy waiting to be written after The Lost Song, but I have no idea what it will be called.

 4. Ten years ago, would you have believed that you’d be the author of books such as these? Why or why not?

Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have believed I’d have one book published, much less nine, with more pending contracts and a whole new series waiting to be birthed. I was a freelance journalist who was making a small but decent living writing for magazines, newspapers, and online publications here in the US and abroad. I was just beginning to cover music and art in a big way as well as food, wine, business, the environment, and medical topics.  I thought I’d spend the rest of my life telling other people’s stories and never my own. I thought the only way I’d get any fiction out there was to self-publish, which a number of my writer friends did.  I never had the extra money to do that, and I think that was the hand of Spirit in my life. If I had self-published, I wouldn’t have had the benefit of the editing skills of Annie Duguid and Penny Ehrenkranz to help me tighten up my language. I also wouldn’t have had the company of so many wonder authors as those in the Muse It Up Publishing house. I’m content.

5. What did you do while writing your books that you will never do again (this doesn’t necessarily have to be writing-related! )?

Actually, through writing (or should I say rewriting and tweaking) most of the books I have out, I was in the middle of a divorce or the circumstances that let up to it. Writing was a great comfort to me and allowed me to get out of my own situation and immerse myself into my characters’ lives. It was very therapeutic. But I hope I never have to do that again.

Here’s a short excerpt from The Premier to whet your appetite for Janie’s writing!

The door opened. A tanned, dark-haired man, slight of build, entered.

Susan recalled the lines from her book.  “…the stranger’s black hair that was beginning to gray at his temples caught her eye. It was an odd quality in someone his age with his obvious Spanish lineage and apparent refinement. She scanned his features, taking in his sensitive mouth and a nose hinting at an Aztec-like hawkishness…. His dark eyes concentrated intently for a few seconds on her and then retreated into his thoughts as if he could only focus on the world around him in brief glimpses…”

My God! Susan thought. If he looks at me like that, I’ll…I’ll… She took a deep breath. I’ll smile and shake his hand, she bolstered herself.

He was more than a handsome man and successful film star, more than a romantic leading man. He emanated an aura of confidence and aloofness, both irresistible qualities. Though he wore a casual tan bush shirt and snug European fit slacks, he still looked elegant, crisp, and neat as if he could repair his car and not smell of gasoline.

Janie Franz comes from a long line of liars and storytellers with roots deep in east Tennessee. Honed by the frigid Northern Plains and a degree in anthropology, her writing skill and curiosity have generated thousands of feature and cover articles over a vast range of topics for more than a hundred regional, national, and international publications for over a decade.

She has co-written two books with Texas wedding DJ, Bill Cox (The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Book and The Ultimate Wedding Reception Book), and has self-published a writing manual, Freelance Writing: It’s a Business, Stupid!

She runs her own online music publication, Refrain Magazine (www.refrainmagazine.com), is a book and music reviewer, and was a radio announcer, a booking agent/publicist for a groove/funk band, and a yoga/relaxation instructor.

The Premier is her seventh publication.

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