I’ve worked for Black Velvet Seductions Publishing for about two years now …

WOW, what a rush!!!

The anthologies are always my favorites, at least when it comes to promoting. I LOVE seeing what everyone else wrote, upon being handed a basic theme. What fascinates me most is that every author has his or her niche. Some of us are aces at historical fiction. Some of us rock at sweet romance, and others are masters/mistresses of spicier tales.

And a small handful of us reign as the Lords and Ladies of Literary Darkness. (And yeah, that’s me. Just in case you missed the memo … DUH!!!)

What I love about the BVS anthologies is that most of us inevitably have to stray out of our respective comfort zones. Sure, I was BORN for Dark Desire … but I damn sure wasn’t born for Cowboy Desire, I’ll tell you that! I almost bailed on the project, but I finally came through at the last minute. Stepping out of my ‘safe space’ forced me onto a higher plane of creativity, and the experience was nothing but good for me.

And that’s what makes the anthologies so very, very special. There are always a handful of authors whose work easily fits the topic matter at hand—and there are also a lot whose work doesn’t. They have to step up; they have to expand their horizons. And the BVS crew does exactly that, every single time. Dark Desire features a few authors who eat dark fiction for breakfast …

It also feature a fair few who generally don’t

The beauty of the anthology is this: you can’t tell the difference. It reads smoothly from beginning to end. You can’t tell the authors who habitually write ghoulish fare from those who do not. Everyone stepped up. Everyone pulled out all the creative stops, and got the job done. That’s what authors do: they write, and they accept the oddball assignment as a challenge rather than an insurmountable obstacle.

And thus it is my honor, ladies and gentleman, to present to you: DARK DESIRE, from Black Velvet Seductions!!! Meet the authors, and their absolutely STELLAR work!

Blood of the Ocean by Alice Renaud

With Mermaids Marry in Green, Alice Renaud gave us a glimpse of the darker side of her brilliant Sea of Love series.

That eerie thread continues in Blood of the Ocean, pulling back the curtain on the secret world hidden just beyond humanity’s gaze. Just around the corner—barely hidden from sight—one just might encounter a mermaid.

Or, if one is terribly unlucky …

Perhaps even a vampire.

Blood of the Ocean proves, once and for all, that Alice Renaud’s fanciful, mystical world is expansive enough to handle even nightmarish fare, adding a new element of fear to her already-gripping mythos.

Wonder Town Station, by Alan Souter

Was there ever any doubt that Alan Souter is the king of historical fiction? Particularly when it comes to tales about the American West, set during the dawn of the twentieth century.

In Wonder Town Station, one can almost hear the buzzing of cicadas, and envision the dry tumbleweeds rolling down half-abandoned, dusty streets. Set during a period of both social tension and economic malaise, one gets the sense that something awful is about to happen from the very first page.

And it does.

In the tradition of A Thread of Sand and Kilgore’s Colt, Alan Souter brings the past to gripping, pulse-pounding life like no one else. His ability to create massive suspense in very short order makes him a master storyteller …

And Wonder Town Station is a worthy addition to his body of work.

Grow Where You’re Planted by Nancy Golinski

What if the world really is full of dead people, just out of sight, but quite tangible in their influence? What if only a select few can see them, let alone communicate with them?

In Grow Where You’re Planted, Nancy Golinski unveils a disturbing vision of the world, one in which the line between the Living and the Dead is less concrete than most of us would like to believe. In the tradition of The Wyoming Way, the romance is sweet, tamer than most literary offerings …

But that doesn’t mean the story still doesn’t have a set of claws.

Seen and Unseen by Anne Krist

Anne’s story Life Saving was my absolute favorite in the Mystic Desire anthology. Not that all the other stories in that volume weren’t fantastic, mind you, but there was just something about that one that struck a nerve with me.

That ‘something’ struck again with Seen and Unseen.

While this is ostensibly a detective story, there’s a supernatural element to it that pulls it out of reality and makes it feel more than a little dream-like. Of all the tales in Dark Desire, this is the one about which I hesitate to say to too much. Spoilers, you know?

But read it. It has a distinct Nightmare on Elm Street vibe to it, albeit far less violent. The story leaves the reader with a lingering sense of un-reality, like the world has faded into the background for a while.

Linked  by S.K. White

Linked is such a surreal, brooding tale that I’m reminded on the haunting, epic film Cemetery Man. Why have Lily and Colin found themselves together, alone in an abandoned cabin? Why does the cabin mysteriously provide all their needs? What happened to the outside world?

Is this the afterlife? Or is it something else entirely, something that exists outside of the known world—or even the known universe?

Fans of Ray Bradbury’s writing –or television’s The Twlight Zone— will LOVE this story! It’s a bizarre, psychedelic tale, written in the rich tradition of old-school dark fantasy.

The Ritual by Virginia Wallace (Review by BVS author Suzanne Smith)

Romy and Bert are psychopaths in every sense of the word.

But, in spite of who they are, Virginia Wallace has written their story in such a way that the reader can’t help but to fall in love with them. While there’s plenty of action, dark humor, and gore in this work, what makes The Ritual different, I should say better, than all of the blood and guts love stories I’ve read, is the connection between Romy and Bert.

They understand each other. That understanding inspires a loyalty and commitment that is indeed admirable. In addition to the depth and complexity of the main characters, the imagery in this story was fantastic. Without giving away too much of the story, I’ll just tell you that fire, guns, and stolen vehicles all play a part in Romy and Bert’s perverse world. If you like your romance reads tame and conventional, this isn’t the story for you.

But, if you’re looking for a passionate, bizarre, no holds barred, love at first sight romance, you’ll simply adore The Ritual. Five stars. 

The Substitute by F. Burn

Anyone who’s read Secret Love knows that F. Burn doesn’t shy away from bold subject matter. And while vampires are comfortably tried-and-true fare, it’s the way The Substitute is written that makes it truly shine.

Is this a contemporary soap opera with vampires? Or is it a vampire tale in a contemporary setting? Somehow, the story feels strangely real despite the supernatural elements. One usually expects a vampire tale to be set at night, in dreary settings.

That this one set in a brightly-lit classroom makes it more than a little unnerving; I was reminded of the ghastly horror film Midsommer, which is set entirely in broad daylight. Taking monsters out of their dark hidey-holes seems to somehow make them even more frightening.

I have long admired F. Burn for her ability to dig into the dark recesses of the human mind, to delve into those thoughts that we all think … but we don’t know we’re thinking them. Or maybe we just can’t admit that we’re thinking them.

Her work truly is the epitome of Stephen King’s iconic quote: ‘As writer, you try to listen to what others aren’t saying, and write about that silence.’

Electrifying by Gibby Campbell

Electrifying begins on the most depressing note possible: fired from her job just before catching her boyfriend in bed with another woman, Alex is having a really, really bad day!

It should be all uphill from there, right?

Maybe … or maybe not. The chaos of Alex’s life is rivaled only by her peculiar sexual appetites, appetites that a stubborn cowboy named Josh Hanson just may or may not be willing to fulfill.

In the tradition of Paging Dr. Turov, Gibby Campbell once again merges mundane life with the sexually bizarre, making for a very intriguing read! Fans of erotic romance will LOVE this one!

Beginning Forever by Virginia Wallace (Review by BVS author Callie Carmen)

Beginning Forever was exciting and full of passion.

I loved learning how Dave and Jillian met up again after so many years. This first person read had me engrossed in the overwhelming emotions that flooded through Jillian. You just knew these two were destined to be together because her desire and arousal for him was so strong. What Jillian wanted Jillian got or else … Definitely a five star ‘must read’.

Ryker’s Destiny by Zia Westfield

Okay, this one really threw me for a loop!

Ryker’s Destiny is epic, high fantasy at its absolute BEST!!! Shapeshifters, fae, witches, and tons of references to the old Norse gods … This story could be made into a role-playing game. It’s Conan the Barbarian meets Dungeons and Dragons, with a dash of The Lord of the Rings thrown in.

What makes Ryker’s Destiny truly noteworthy is this: the over-top, mythical adventure isn’t so mythical that the romance gets lost. The love story between Ryker and Lana is truly heart-melting

This … is romantic adventure done RIGHT!!!

The Wolf of Varg Island by Estelle Pettersen

The trick with writing werewolves, of course, is that the setting of one’s tale must be very original. Because werewolves, by default, are not at all original. If you don’t believe me, check out any paranormal romance reading group.

Estelle Pettersen obviously knows this.

The Worf of Varg Island is set in northern Europe, a rather exotic location to most western readers. One can almost feel the chill in the air, and sense the danger looming over Varg Island like a black cloud.

While this story isn’t nearly as erotic as Lessons on Seduction, it is spicier than the sweet, heart-melting Elizabeth. The sexual content falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, which allows the fantasy elements to really shine.

I must say, this short really surprised me. I’ve never seen Estelle write paranormal fiction before; I thought I had her pegged as a contemporary romance author.

Wrong!

Estelle Pettersen is living proof that a solid writer can write just about anything. As evidence, I present to you: The Wolf of Varg Island.

And that, friends and rock stars, is my synopsis of Dark Desire! I cannot even begin to tell you how proud I am to be part of such an eclectic cast of authors. Our publisher Richard Savage has assembled an amazing pool of talent, and done a fabulous job of coordinating our writing and marketing efforts.

I’m just grateful to have a place at the table …

‘Cuz it’s a GREAT damn table!!!

TO ORDER DARK DESIRE: https://amzn.to/3SMFfY7

Artists are a rather odd dichotomy, I think.

Every artist is unique, be they an author, a musician, or visual artist. Every person lives through experiences that belong to him or her alone, and thus no one’s art can be truly duplicated. Imitated, perhaps, but never duplicated.

The irony is this: every artist is also the lump sum of his or her influences. There are some experiences that are shared—in some way—by nearly all of humanity, and thus we see common threads in almost everyone’s creative output.

But there’s only one me. No one writes quite like ol’ ‘Crazy V’, after all. Some authors may write similar content to mine, and others may have a similar style … but in the end, they’re not me. But that idea begs the question: who helped make me ‘me’? Whose work thrust me headlong into paradigm shifts that forever altered who and what I am as a writer?

Let me give you a glimpse …

Frankenstein (or The Modern Prometheus) by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Knowing what I know of Mary Shelley’s life, I can honestly say that I do not share her morals or social philosophy. She—like her husband and peers—was a shameless hedonist. But I first read Frankenstein when I was around eight or so, and the book blew my fragile lil’ mind. I didn’t have a happy childhood, and the ghosts of my past haunt me to this day. Shelley’s work taught me that dark literature can be cathartic. It taught me that one can turn fear and pain into art, and in so doing, strip fear and pain of some of their power. Honestly, I believe reading this novel began my journey as a writer, even if I wouldn’t pick up the pen until years later.

Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

I first read this book when I was nine. Literary scholars call it ‘the first American novel’, and I agree. As much as I love Frankenstein, that novel was English. And early American authors—such as the talented Washington Irving, and the deplorable James Fenimore Cooper—were distinctly British in style and tone, despite being American. Mark Twain was the first American novelist to use words such as ‘ain’t’, and the first to exhibit the dry, sarcastic style that would forever become known as American humor.

Above all else, Twain taught me that yes, you can actually write the same way that you talk. I am often described as having a ‘conversational writing style’, and I consider that high praise.

Mark Twain taught me how to write that way.

Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier

I was fourteen when I first read Rebecca, and the story blew my mind. I have suffered my entire life from insomnia, and on the rare occasions that I do actually sleep … well, let’s just say that I don’t really sleep. Vivid dreams and nightmares torment my every slumbering moment.

Rebecca—as does all of Daphne du Maurier’s work—feels like a dream. It feels like a tale completely removed from reality, one that makes sense only according to those ill-defined, ever-changing terms that always define a dream.

It was Daphne du Maurier who taught me how to pull my dreams out of my head, and turn them into fiction.

The Brute and I, by Suzanne Smith

I researched dozens of romance novels when I decided to venture into that world. Most of them were published by Harlequin, and honestly? Most of ‘em sucked. I learned a hard lesson, pretty quickly: romance can often be a brilliant genre, but because of the sheer consumer demand, a lot of sub-standard work slips through the cracks. That’s just a marketing reality. There is so much demand for romance that publishers often cut corners, in ways that they would never do with less popular genres like science fiction or fantasy. (The only bright spot in my research was Daphne Clair, who writes for Harlequin; she truly is a brilliant writer.)

So I wrote When the White Knight Falls, which is now available from Black Velvet Seductions. I took what I learned from ‘the Harlequin formula’, and found a way to make it my own.

Then I read Suzanne Smith’s The Brute and I ...  

Suddenly a whole new world opened up. Romance is meant to be a beautiful, heart-warming genre … but it can also be ugly. It can reflect the darkest parts of the human psyche, and learning this tied my new-found grasp of romance to my roots in horror and dark fantasy.

The Brute and I brought my understanding of romance full circle. It taught me that I can work in romance without disavowing the darker side of my work. I would later read Patrick, by Callie Carmen, which cemented the lesson I learned from The Brute and I. Both novels are defined just as much by mental illness as they are passionate love.

There’s only one me. No one else could ever write like I do. But I am also Mary, Mark, Daphne, Suzanne, and Callie. I carry their legacy like an eager apprentice, even as I revel in my uniqueness.

And that’s what it means to be an author: to be forever original, and yet forever derivative. To glory in new creations, while always carrying the torch for those who made you who you are.

Every writer is one of a kind.

And every writer is also part of an ever-expanding coven.

That’s a beautiful thing …

   

I always wished I could write historical fiction …

Alas, I am NOTHING if not a literary lazy-ass! I make stuff up, and I never do any more research than I absolutely have to. I’m a ‘write what you know’ kind of author. It doesn’t help that a lot of what I know is really, really weird, but hey … to thine own self be true!

But that’s not Viola Russell. She has a keen grasp of history, and the ability to chronicle it in an wonderfully engaging manner. So let’s check out her latest release! And do stick around for an interview afterwards!

The Legacy: Sins of the Fathers blurb:

As war rages in Europe and Asia, Jude Mooney’s progeny battle to survive. From Europe to Asia to the Home Front, the Mooney clan faces the terrors and danger in the jungles of Asia or the city streets of Europe. In New Orleans, war offers its own challenges.

Daniel—the son who married his brother’s wife to protect her. Daniel thought he would surrender the beautiful Esther to his brother Paul if they survived the war, but his feelings for her now smolder, surpassing the friendship he’d initially proposed. Nonetheless, he and his brother must resolve the tension between them as they embark on a dangerous mission.

Paul—the son who escaped from the hell of Colditz prison only to find that his brother had married the woman he loved. He is caught between the abiding love for his brother and the love for the woman he desires. The war will change him forever and lead him onto an unforeseen path.

Esther—the beautiful Jewish operative skilled in espionage is adapting to her life as a wife and mother, but she sees a world of hate and vengeance enveloping her. When war ends, she will be faced with a monumental choice.

Julia—Jude’s niece, trapped in San Tomas. She wrestles with a sin for which she can’t forgive herself as she treats Allied prisoners of war. Scarred by war, she sacrifices for her captured friends.

Jade—Jude’s step-daughter and friend of Julia. Like Julia, she cares for prisoners in San Tomas, but her love for a handsome British officer could lead to disaster.

Wally—Jude’s nephew, reckless and daring. He fights his way through the jungles of the Philippines to rescue his sister and to save the beautiful Filipino woman he loves.

Peppy—Wally’s honest and honorable brother who suffers but endures in the hell of a burning Europe.

On the home front, Jude and his wife, Marjorie, wrestle with the challenges war brings to the United States and with the changes taking place within the beautiful and passionate Aoife, Jude’s daughter. How will the Mooney family survive the war and adapt to a post-war New Orleans?

Interview with Viola:

(All opinions and statements contained in this interview are solely those of the author providing them, and may not necessarily reflect my own. – Virginia)

When did you start writing? What made you first decide to try your hand at it?

I always wrote, but I never had the time or discipline to finish major projects. Grad school, work, etc. always intruded on my time.

What was your first published work? What do you think of it now?

My first published work is no longer in print. It was a contemporary/second chance story called Buried Truths.

How do you balance writing with your personal life?

This is a continuous difficulty. I have a full-time teaching job, a husband, and own a rental house. I write mostly in the summer (which will be short this year because of Hurricane Ida) and during school holidays.

Do people you actually know make appearances in your stories?

Some historical figures make appearances, not people I know; however, I think elements of my personality, the personalities of friends and family, etc., make appearances in my writing.

Do family members or friends help with your writing? Your marketing?

I have some individuals who help me with marketing in a professional capacity. Friends and family help me by spreading the word.

Do you have stories you want to write that you haven’t yet?

I’m trying to finish a manuscript right now. I also may want to tell the story of the Mooney family yet again.

Do you ever target differing age groups or demographics with your writing?

My contribution to Rainbow Desire, “The Holy Trinity,” was about teen gay love. As a teacher, I’ve seen how young people struggle with their sexuality and/or experiment sexually.

Have you ever written non-fiction? If so, what?

My graduate career was all non-fiction and all analysis.

Are you married? How does being a writer affect that? Has your marriage affected the way you write love stories?

I married later in life. Marriage to my man has taught me that there are happy endings.

If you could see one of your stories made into a movie, which one would you pick and why?

I’d love to see my Mooney saga stories become films, and I also think Love at War has that potential.

Do you try to keep your stories within their pre-determined genres, or do you just tell the story your way regardless of genre expectations?

I write the story, not the genre.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what kinds? Does music influence your stories?

Music often inspires me. For instance, I listen to Irish rebel music before writing one a scene set in Ireland and the war for Irish Independence.

Do you let real-life events influence your work, or is there a ‘disconnect’ between your stories and world/national/local events?

Local and national events definitely influence my writing. For example, The Unveiling of Amber dealt with the way an ex-lover could use the Internet to betray and ruin someone. The Doctor and the War Widow dealt with online dating and its pitfalls.

Is your writing time planned out or structured? Do you go on writing ‘benders’?

I plan, but as I said, the time has to come between work commitments. Sometimes, a plan doesn’t always end as planned.

What to you is the most rewarding aspect of being a writer?

I love creating, and having my books published is a dream come true.

Which character of yours is your favorite? Why? Whom would you pick to play him/her/it in a movie?

I don’t know if I have a favorite character, but the one actor who could be Jude Mooney was the late, great Marlon Brando. Colin Ferrell, the talented Irish actor, could be his son Daniel. I’d have to think about who should play Paul. That’s a tough one.

Do you write when you take a vacation, or do you prefer to simply relax?

To my husband’s chagrin, I write.

Do you prefer to read fiction that’s similar to what you write, or do you pick different types of stories?

I love mysteries and historical fiction.

Do you set up events to meet your readers, or is your interaction with them strictly online?

I haven’t met much with anyone since COVID, but I love book signings and have one quickly approaching in July.

Have you ever had to exhaustively research something (say, history) for any of your books?

I do a lot of research on my historical work. I love the WWI and WWII eras. Right now, I’m researching The Troubles in Ireland.

Thank you, Viola, for joining us today! It was an honor to have you!

Check out Viola’s Website! www.violarussell.com

Order The Legacy: Sins of the Fathers: https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Sins-Fathers-Viola-Russell-ebook/dp/B09Z2VKDCK/ref=sr_1_2?crid=302XT5NGVLXYQ&keywords=viola+russell+the+legacy&qid=1654135569&sprefix=%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-2

I have always been a huge fan of Eileen’s writing, ever since I stumbled across the epic dark fantasy ‘Dragon Lord’s Mate’. Not only is she one of the most prolific authors I know, she’s also one of the most unique.

So here’s a sneak peak at her latest book: Marelo.

Marelo was part of a group write about a world this group created. While I kept the scene I wrote, I didn’t like where the group was going so I opted out. I had 1500 words which made a great scene but not a great story so I wrote the story. 

Fantasy is one of my favorite genres – to both read and write. In this case it involved dragons, love, and unusual laws and customs. The cover was my inspiration. I loved this cover from the moment I saw it and had to have it. As I wrote the fuller story, I used the cover as a reminder of the type of world I created. It helped me stay on top of things.

Marelo

Marelo studies water dragons. Bandor studies her heart.

Driven to succeed, Marelo focuses on her studies. She doesn’t have time for males claiming her as a mate. She came here to study the dragon’s ancestral home. She will find the evidence she needs while avoiding all males especially Bandor who makes her heart rush.

Bandor takes one look at Marelo and knows she’s his mate. Her haughty demeaner doesn’t put him off. She’s his mate, he’ll do anything to win her. But he has secrets only his mate can know. Can he convince her to be his mate or will it take something more?

TO ORDER MARELO: https://books2read.com/marelo

TO CONNECT WITH EILEEN: https://linktr.ee/eileentroemel

TO READ MORE ABOUT EILEEN AND HER WORK:

Meet Eileen Troemel!!!

‘Dragon Lord’s Mate’, by Eileen Troemel (A Review)

I have long been a fan of Annabel Allan/Stephanie Douglas’ writing …

So, my dear readers, welcome to the entire skinny on the ‘Smoke Chaser’ series!!!!

SMOKE CHASER: WILDFIRE

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire…

Blurb:

Stephanie Fournier is an assistant to a high-priced divorce lawyer in Toronto, Ontario. Her boring 9-to-5 heats up on one January day, when the gorgeous owner of the building—and multimillionaire—Robert Quinlan takes a sudden interest in her. 

Things start to scorch as they plan a hookup after a work event—until he finds out she’s a virgin. His sudden disinterest is not only embarrassing for Stephanie, but also infuriating. She sets out to prove that she doesn’t need his affections, the heat still present between them, eventually enticing him to make her an offer she doesn’t want to refuse.

Can an amateur like Stephanie keep it casual or has she started a fire that will quickly spread out of her control?

Story behind:

I didn’t start out writing erotic romance—I started in sweet romance. It was January 2015 when I crossed that line into the former genre. I was at a stand-still in my writing career, so I figured I would write something to appease the writing gods. And you know what? Sex sells!

I sat down and started a manuscript titled “Licking the Flames”. Oh, it was a naughty one! It was certainly too naughty to use my real name, so I thought of a pen name; Esmerée Delamort. I decided to pursue it, submitting to Xcite Books, who turned it over to their sister publisher, Cariad Romances. It was decided that due to it being heavy with the romance element, it was best suited to that imprint. I was offered a three book deal that June.

It was also decided to re-title it. “Wildfire” was suggested to me…I liked it! Then I was informed my pen name was too sexy. I looked around my desk, seeing my edition of the Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe. The name Annabel Lee was first to come to me, then I quickly squished Allan onto it. Of course, they shortened it to Annabel Allan. Voila! You now have the current title and pen name 🙂

FIRESTORM

Things really heat up…

Blurb:

Stephanie Fournier’s life is turned upside down by multimillionaire bad boy & the man of her dreams, Robert Quinlan. 

Things are going well, until doubts start creeping into Stephanie’s mind due to being targeted by Quinn’s disapproving aunt. Things start to bubble until they peak, boiling over and sending Quinn into a pit of despair and back to dancing with his demons.

Is their relationship strong enough to survive the perilous fires of his past?

Story behind:

Due to the end being a little open ended for a sequel (which was intentional on my part) and now having a three book deal, I quickly started on the second book, which I titled “Firestorm”. It was also then that I thought of the series name, “Smoke Chaser”. I knew I needed to amp up the stakes for both Stephanie & Quinn. So, I brought his demons out to play.

FIRELINE

Have they crossed a line?

Blurb:

It’s been thirty days, but finally Stephanie Fournier gets to put her arms around the man of her dreams again. 

After his stint with a dangerous addiction that nearly destroyed their relationship, Robert Quinlan is back and ready to put the demons of his past behind him. Feeling eager to start anew, Stephanie welcomes him back with open arms, but she’s not the only one to do so. 

With an unwanted admirer and his family against them, being with Quinn never seems simple. Their love is stronger than ever but outside forces still threaten to demolish their relationship. 

Now they must walk the fine line to preserve the love they fought so hard to save from the flames.

Story behind:

Again, three book deal! Haha. I needed a third book and knew that the ending of the previous book left an interesting circumstance for Stephanie. Of course, the edition that is available now is an updated edit—I parted ways with Accent Press in the fall of 2020. I left it for nearly a year before I decided I was going to self-publish the entire series. I re-wrote nearly the entire story, only keeping certain elements…I feel we have a stronger, better “Fireline” now!

FIREWHIRL

Happily ever after?

Blurb:

Stephanie Fournier has accepted Robert Quinlan’s proposal & in a short five months they are to be married in a wedding that is every girl’s dream. Everything is happening so fast that Stephanie finds herself dazed but confident to make her day go forward as planned, no matter what Quinn’s aunt or anyone else has to say about it.

Story behind:

I wrote the end of “Fireline” and realized…uh-oh! There’s gonna be a fourth book. After I submitted the third, they were excited for a fourth to end the series. Again, when I parted ways with Accent Press, I decided to re-write the book, giving it an updated edit as well.

All four books in the Smoke Chaser series have new covers, a new edit, and the addition of the “Quintessential Short” in the back of the book. “Firewhirl” was intended to be the final installment, but a fifth book is planned, taking place 5 years after the fourth. Keep an eye out on my social media for when that goes ahead!

THANK you, Stephanie/Annabel, for gracing our pages today! Best of luck to you in the future! In the meantime, y’all can stalk her here … AND order her books!!!

https://linktr.ee/AnnabelAllan

BLURB:

It’s 1996 and Elizabeth has to choose: work for six months at a country newspaper, Maranoa Herald, or lose her job. Convincing herself this is just another stepping stone, Elizabeth leaves the city and her fiancé, lawyer Paul Ricci, for a small town in rural Australia. Despite the scorching heat and pests, Bandara holds a charm of its own—Keith Starling, a handsome farmer with sky-blue eyes and a spellbinding smile.

MY REVIEW:

Estelle Pettersen has long been a favorite of writer of mine, beginning with her novel Lessons on Seduction …

Now, there’s Elizabeth.

What fascinates me about Elizabeth is how different it feels from Lessons on Seduction. Estelle’s publicly-available bios reveal her to be happily married, and a devoted family woman. Thus, Lessons on Seduction felt surreal, dream-like. It read like what it probably is: fantasy. It’s kind of like when I write about murder and mayhem. It reads like fantasy, because, well … I’ve never actually killed anyone!

Elizabeth, on the other hand, feels real. It reads like Estelle was writing from a place of experience. I loved the title heroine! She’s smart and assertive, but not so assertive that she crosses the line into being obnoxious. There is a fine line between strong and being a china-shop bull, and Elizabeth straddles it nicely.

Keith was an interesting hero. He’s basically small-town royalty, a big fish in a small pond. Often such men are insufferable, but it’s clear that Keith cares deeply for his community, and wants the best for it.

The relationship dynamic was fascinating. Elizabeth—a journalist from Brisbane, Australia—is forced by her editor to move to the small town of Bandara. Adjusting to small-town life after having lived in a big city is a reality that many of us have lived, myself included. So not only does Elizabeth have to adjust to small-town life, she has to come to grips with falling for a man who is absolutely enamored with said small town.

All I can say about the ending is that I love how it skips forward in time. Romances, by definition, always have a ‘happily ever after’ ending. But this one is more realistic than most, and that’s all I’ll say.

Spoilers, you know?

So if you’re looking for a short, fairly sweet romance read …

Elizabeth is the book for you!

A FEW WORDS FROM ESTELLE ABOUT ELIZABETH:

The novella Elizabeth is very close to my heart because it is about a city journalist moving to a small town in rural Australia. She deals with lifestyle differences, prejudices, and spiders, snakes, and other animals at the start. However, she also learns to adapt, make friends, and…fall in love with someone who loves and cares for her very much.

Set in the fictional town of Bandara in western Queensland in 1996-1997, the story focuses on a love triangle between Elizabeth, hotshot city lawyer Paul Ricci, and gorgeous farmer Keith Starling. Elizabeth must choose between Paul and Keith, but she doesn’t see things so clearly until a few hidden truths start to pop out in the novella.

The story is fun, light, and flirty – it’s the prequel to the Starling Sisters series, a trilogy coming soon.

Much of the novella’s setting is based on a country town I lived in when I was a journalist for a rural newspaper. A few elements in the story are based on real memories , including stumbling around in the cattle saleyards, interviewing the football team (and not reading their names aloud after), and living in an apartment where there were King Brown snakes in the backyard and poorly designed doors.

Writing Elizabeth brought light into my world, as it was written during the COVID times when I was unable to travel back to Australia. I’m an Aussie married to a Norwegian, so I live in Norway these days.I hope that romance readers wanting to know a bit about rural Australia will find the story entertaining.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ESTELLE, READ HER INTERVIEW HERE: https://virginiawallace.com/2021/03/09/meet-estelle-pettersen/

STALK ESTELLE (AND BUY HER BOOKS) HERE!!! https://linktr.ee/estellepettersen

THANK you, Estelle, for appearing here today! Best of luck to you in the future!

Well, well … ANOTHER epic from the mistress of historical fiction herself, Jan Selbourne!!! This baby goes live 2/1/2022, so let’s take a peek!!!

Blurb:

According to Dr. Arthur Sanders, a terrible miscarriage of justice has taken place. His entire fortune and that of his partner, Mr. Frank Owens, has disappeared along with Owen’s secretary/accountant and the secretary’s assistant. Owens himself is visiting the Australian colony. Is he, like Sanders, a victim or the perpetrator? That is what Sanders wants Lloyd Harrington to find out and as swiftly as possible.

Harrington is recovering from an injury received while on the job in the Metropolitan Police as well as guilt from a personal loss. He’s bored from forced inactivity and the chance to use his skills to track down Owens interests him. Sanders agrees to pay all expenses, and so Harrington sets off for Australia. Before he leaves, a body is discovered—the secretary. And the assistant holds a ticket on a ship bound for Australia. It seems the action is all set to take place Down Under.

Miss Carey Stafford arrives at the home of Owens’ host just as Harrington does and announces to the stunned Owens that he is bankrupt, along with his partner, Dr. Sanders. How does she know this, Harrington wonders. His tingly detective senses warn him that something very wrong is going on here, and he arrests the lovely Carey for theft and possible participant in the murder of Owen’s secretary. He has no way of knowing then that she holds secrets upon secrets upon secrets. They will either provide the answers to everything or will drag Lloyd into a morass of trouble with his former comrades at the Met.

Full Circle is a complex tale of mystery, intrigue, and revenge. How the tale and its principals actually come full circle will keep you on the edge of your seat!

BIO:

Jan Selbourne was born and educated in Melbourne, Australia and her love of literature and history began as soon as she learned to read and hold a pen., After graduating from a Melbourne Business College her career began in the dusty world of ledgers and accounting, working in Victoria, Queensland and the United Kingdom. On the point of retiring she changed course to work as secretary of a large NSW historical society. Now retired Jan is enjoying her love of travelling and literature. She has two children, a stray live in cat and lives near Maitland, New South Wales.

MY REVIEW OF FULL CIRCLE:

I’ve been at least somewhat familiar with Jan Selbourne’s work for a while now.

Her short story A Convict’s Prayer (featured in anthology Desire Me Again, by Black Velvet Seductions) is a major favorite of mine. So it was exciting to finally read a full-length story: her new release, Full Circle.

 Wow …!

Jan’s writing, to me, always reads like a throwback to my favorite era in literature: the nineteenth century. The angst-ridden, complex relationship between Police Inspector Lloyd and his ex-con lover Carey reminds me of one of my favorite, obscure novels: Robert Louis Stevenson’s David Balfour. There’s an intensity there that one doesn’t find very often.

At its heart, this book is a mystery. Who is this Frank Owens fellow? What exactly did he do, and how did he do it? There’s a element of Agatha Christie in Full Circle, but the emphasis slowly teeters toward striking a balance between mystery and romance.

Historical fiction is difficult to write, because the author must make the past feel real to a modern reader. At this, Jan Selbourne excels. I also appreciate that she took the time to make this book very readable to an American audience. The geography is easy to follow, and she describes the locations clearly.

The world of Full Circle is an immersive one, quickly pulling the reader into the past, and leaving them there until the ending.

And such an ending it is!!!

Full Circle, by Jan Selbourne …

Give it a read!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET TO KNOW JAN BETTER, READ HER AUTHOR INTERVIEW HERE:

MEET JAN SELBOURNE!!!

STALK JAN (AND ORDER HER BOOKS) HERE!!!

https://linktr.ee/Selbourne

THANK you, Jan, for gracing our page today! Congratulations, and BEST of luck to you in the future!!!

It is my honor, my dear readers, to present to you my esteemed teammate at Black Velvet Seductions, the one and only STEPHANIE DOUGLAS!!!

Stephanie’s work spans the entire gamut of literature, from horror to romance to gothic suspense … and back again. She is not only one of the most prolific authors I know, but also one of the most versatile.

So let’s a take a peek at her latest release, ‘Fright Club’!

BLURB

Evelyn Walker is a simple library technician in the bustling city of Toronto. It’s an unusual time, as supernatural creatures have woken from their slumber and made themselves known, fighting for the same rights as mortals, running businesses, even raising families. Evie keeps out of the supernatural business, living the “normal” life, until one hot July night when the library stays open for a specific visitor—a vampire. She finds herself thrust into a new world with new rules, fighting to stay alive, all the while locked in the cold embrace of the undead love of her life.

REVIEW

It was a long while at the police station, so long that Rick and I just decided to skip out on dinner and go back to my place. I obviously wasn’t in the mood for earth-shattering sex, so he just curled up on the couch with me, watching late night TV until I fell asleep. – Line from Stephanie Douglas’ ‘Fright Club’

Meet Evelyn, a librarian.

Whoops, ‘scuse me … ‘library technician’.

Welcome to the world of ‘Fright Club’!!! Now, let’s be honest here. In a post-Anne Rice world, it’s very hard to be original when it comes to vampires and werewolves. The appeal of such fare is not that it’s particularly original, but rather that it’s comfortingly tried and true.

So yes, the setting’s pretty familiar.

When one chooses to work within a tried-and-true genre, it’s best to pull out all the stops in regards to characterization. And this is where Stephanie Douglas NAILS it! Evelyn is not exactly the type of character that you’d expect to find in a horror-laced novel. What I loved most about this story was the bait-and-switch. You think it’s gonna be a love story involving two particular characters, but it may or may not work out that way.

And that’s all I’m gonna say. Spoilers, you know?

As a bonus, I LOVED Alistair the werewolf! He was just a low-key, blue-collar kinda dude. I felt like I’d love to sit down with him at the bar, and drink beer with him.

Also, I loved that the tale revolved around the characters, their personalities, and their interactions. So many paranormal tales are absolutely awash with gratuitous sex, and honestly …? I’m not over-fond of that. While the erotica genre is perfectly appropriate for pervasive sexual content, I find it distracting in paranormal. For every chapter you spend describing sexual encounters, you sacrifice pages that you could have spent on character development. While sex scenes are occasionally appropriate in literature—sex being a part of life, after all—at the end of the day, sex is just that: a part of life, not the whole thing. The nuances of human nature, on the other hand, encompass the entirety of human existence. That’s why I love to read about them, and it’s in this department that Stephanie TOTALLY delivers! ‘Fright Club’ is a decisively character-driven tale, and I adore it for that.

‘Fright Club’ is a story set within a well-established genre. The setting is immediately familiar, and that, my dear readers, is simply the nature of the beast. Stephanie Douglas is an author whose work I know fairly well, and I can tell you that she is a very original thinker. It just so happens that—this time around—she made a willful decision to go down a road that others paved for her.

But when it comes to the characters and the plot, well DONE!!! ‘Fright Club’ … yeah, it’s a five-star read.

Check it OUT!!! The setting is familiar. The story is not. You’ll love it!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

(All opinions and statements contained in this interview are solely those of the author providing them, and may not necessarily reflect my own. – Virginia)

When did you start writing? What made you first decide to try your hand at it?

Stephanie:

I have always had an active imagination, telling stories for entertainment purposes (mostly my own!). In high school I received awards in the English contest, but my thirst to tell stories was through visuals, so I tried to focus on film, and upon graduating I went to film school. It was while I was there that I discovered I am really not too great at directing, which was my aspiration, so I was going to fall back on screenwriting because I was receiving praise for my abilities. That was ultimately unfulfilling, even in film school. I couldn’t see myself doing it as my job. So, I decided to try my hand at writing a short story as an exercise in July of 2008, while I was still in fourth term. Everything kind of snowballed & went downhill from there!

What was your first published work? What do you think of it now?

Stephanie:

My first published work was self-published through a vanity publisher, a sweet vampire romance titled “Out of My Grave” in 2010. Ultimately, I think I really shouldn’t have gone that route, as I was still trying to figure out how to tell a story and kind of who I was in both writing & life. I can’t take it back, so I just own it, and it was a learning experience. Gotta start somewhere.

How do you balance writing with your personal life?

Stephanie:

Easy! I have no personal life! Haha. My work takes up most of my time, and I’m one of those writers that if I’m not actively writing, I’m always thinking about writing. I even think of scenes before I go to sleep and some of my dreams end up novel ideas. I’m kind of in this 1000% and it’s just part of my personality now. I’m the crazy author friend & cat lady.

Do people you actually know make appearances in your stories?

Stephanie:

I have used real people in my life for character references or “based on” purposes. I’ve started to shy away from that though because some people are flattered, some not so much. Rather than make waves, I try to just go with interesting aspects of a person for the character.

Do family members or friends help with your writing? Your marketing?

Stephanie:

My mum is my sounding board for ideas. If I get stuck, I know I can just sit and start talking about my story and we’ll eventually figure it out. But I do have friends I go to when I need help too, some of my writer friends, especially Eileen Troemel! She’s been a wonderful mentor for me and is always a gem when I’m stuck.

Do you have stories you want to write that you haven’t yet?

Stephanie:

I usually write down all the ideas I get in an actual notebook my mum bought me one year for Christmas, it has a little typewriter on it in gold. When I have a good amount of them, I transfer to my laptop, do up little blurbs for them. I usually let the ideas kind of sit for a while, then go back and read them over. Some of them I keep, some of them I bin. Having said that, I have a lot of files I’m pretty jazzed about. But it’s hard to juggle new ideas when you also have a series or multiple series going on, because readers want more books with the established characters. Hopefully I’ll get to them!

Is there a story you’re afraid to write for some reason? Why?

Stephanie:

I’m afraid to write a character that I can’t say I identify with, honestly. For instance, someone not of the same ethnicity or sexuality. Mainly because I feel like those stories should be told by those particular writers. I worry about being considered a hack for writing a character and not being able to represent them, but then again…I feel there’s not enough representation for the LGBTQI+ spectrum, as well as ethnicity or even just cultures other than North American or white European. I do have an Annabel Allan project that features the heroine being mixed, white & Chinese, and the lovely Estelle Pettersen helped me with confidence in that project so, so much! I think research makes a big difference, as well as getting feedback and proper education from that minority in literature. It’s another story I hope to get to soon.

Do you ever target differing age groups or demographics with your writing?

Stephanie:

I try to ignore that stuff while I’m writing. I just let the Muse talk and write down what they say. Sometimes I end up with something that appeals to certain groups or demos, but I never aim for it. I usually write what I want to read or what I’m inspired to attempt. “Fright Club” came about when I was reading The Southern Vampires series (True Blood/Sookie Stackhouse) and Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. I love that urban fantasy genre and the character of Evie came to me. So, I started writing it. I had a blast doing it too, and now I have ideas for multiple installments and the second book written.

Have you ever written non-fiction? If so, what?

Stephanie:

I have a memoir I’m working on, mainly because it’s a great way of keeping details of my memories. I lost my grandmother when I was twelve, and we were very close. She’s actually the reason I want to be successful as a writer. She used to make up stories for me and even wrote a novel in the 70’s, tried to get it published, but was ultimately rejected. I still have the rejection letter. I kind of want to do it for her, as well as myself. But there are memories of her I want to keep fresh, so I write them down. I don’t know if I’ll ever release it, but it’s nice to have to look back on.

Are you a ‘normal’ person who likes to write, or do you consider yourself more of the tormented/driven ‘artist’ type?

Stephanie:

As I said, writing is kind of my personality now. I definitely don’t see myself as “normal” but I feel the tormented part was just a phase in life that I’m now beyond. I’m definitely driven though, very ambitious, so I try to make my work a priority.

Do you drink? Why or why not?

Stephanie:

I do not drink, never have. I honestly have never been drunk before, or even tipsy. I dislike the taste of alcohol, so it’s never really been in my lifestyle. I’ve also never done drugs either. I think the “why” for that is just that I’ve never been interested. It’s not something I’ve been eager to try or do.

Are you married? How does being a writer affect that? Has your marriage affected the way you write love stories?

Stephanie:

I am a single Pringle right now, though I have found that most of the people I have dated often are uncomfortable with the fact that I write for a living as well as the subject matter I write about. I don’t know if it’s the thought of being a character reference/the fact that real events often inspire me that deters them, or because my life is kind of public due to my work. Everyone knows me as both Stephanie Douglas and Annabel Allan, which is a bit of a damper on the love-life.

If you could see one of your stories made into a movie, which one would you pick and why?

Stephanie:

I would actually love for my NOLA vampires in The Raven Series (under R. M. Draven) to either be a film or a TV show. I just think that history and vampires hasn’t really been done enough—it’s mostly modern settings, like in “Fright Club”. But I do have hopes for “Fright Club” to be adapted too, as I feel it would make a pretty epic franchise.

How does your life experience influence your writing?

Stephanie:

I think experiences shape who we are and we’re constantly growing and changing as people. I don’t think we’re ever the ultimate “this is how I am” because things change and people change. I think I try to keep that in my stories. We don’t stay the same forever and that goes for characters too. They grow, they develop. That’s part of the reason I rewrote the third instalment in the Smoke Chaser series, “Fireline”. I’ve grown as a writer and a person, so I could see how it wasn’t working. The characters didn’t grow with me, so I had to change that. I think it’s much stronger now having made the changes.

Do you try to keep your stories within their pre-determined genres, or do you just tell the story your way regardless of genre expectations?

Stephanie:

I definitely just write. In The Raven Series, I was trying to keep it just the paranormal element, but by the fifth instalment, I added fantasy elements as well. I think again, it’s all about growth, and setting the expectations and rigid structure isn’t going to really let something grow to its full potential. A story should not only grow up, but out.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what kinds? Does music influence your stories?

Stephanie:

I usually make a quick playlist on how I’m feeling before I start the script. Sometimes if I need more music, I put my music on shuffle, try to see if there’s a song that has a certain beat that feeds the Muse. Sometimes it surprises me! For “The Beast of Bradley Downs” it was all playlists from high school, dark, gritty, metal. But when I did the Smoke Chaser series, it was all 90’s pop. Usually for when I do historical settings, I end up on a classical and opera kick.

Have you ever written a story based on a personal experience you had? If so, what was it about?

Stephanie:

I actually have! My horror novel, “Summoned: A Battle With Darkness” was inspired by spooky things happening around my apartment. I also drew inspiration from my mother’s own experiences with the paranormal in the past. It’s just easy to sometimes fall back on reality, especially in horror. The real stuff is often the scariest.

Do you let real-life events influence your work, or is there a ‘disconnect’ between your stories and world/national/local events?

Stephanie:

I try to keep a disconnect unless I can’t avoid it. I want readers to be able to escape into the world I’m creating, so I try to keep real-world stuff out of it. Unless it’s something historical where the history is important, ie. The French Revolution or even the American Revolution.

Is your writing time planned out or structured? Do you go on writing ‘benders’?

Stephanie:

It depends on what story I’m writing. I have found that lately, I write best in the afternoon and later in the evening. I try to follow a schedule while I’m actively working on a story, especially if I have a deadline. I also always have either a word count goal or a page count goal in mind when I start for the day, based on what my target is for the end product and that deadline.

What to you is the most rewarding aspect of being a writer?

Stephanie:

I think it’s when a reader says to you how much they love a story you created. Especially if they go out of their way to tell you. I had a woman get in contact with me on my FB page, tell me how much she loved the Smoke Chaser series and what it meant to her. It blew me away, because she really could have just left it at a review, but she went out of her way and told me. It made my week, made me realize that I was actually reaching people.

Who is your favorite author, and why?

Stephanie:

The late Anne Rice has always been my favourite author. I started reading her stories when I was ill and it required surgery, back in 2009. This was after I fell into writing, but she inspired The Raven Series and my love for New Orleans. Basically, it was sort of like fan fiction, in that I wanted more of Lestat in the 18^th century…so I was like, okay, I’ll create my own vampire in the 18^th century in NOLA. So, Eduard La Roche was born and he’s had a pretty adventurous time in the Quarter of 1775.

If you could pick anyone to narrate one of your books, who would it be?

Stephanie:

I’m actually hoping that if “Edgeplay” gets the audio book treatment that Lilly Canon will do the narration for it. Sometimes, you meet someone and their voice just puts you in mind of your character. It doesn’t even need to be a big Hollywood celebrity, but a friend you meet through other friends. When I heard Lilly’s voice for the first time while doing her and Kyle’s podcast “Speak Seductively” I was just like, man! Ava’s voice sounds exactly like that. Sexy, sultry, yet confident and bold.

Which character of yours is your favorite? Why? Whom would you pick to play him/her/it in a movie?

Stephanie:

This is actually a tough question! I think my favourite character is Evelyn Walker from “Fright Club” and the Bite Scene series. I see her as a Rachel Weisz type, specifically from The Mummy (1999). It’s why I named the character Evie. She’s funny and relatable, yet has that charisma. I feel like she still has so much growing to do and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. For a film/TV adaptation…I don’t know, I don’t know who could play Evie. I think I’d like an unknown who just is Evie.

Do you write when you take a vacation, or do you prefer to simply relax?

Stephanie:

The only vacation I’ve taken as an adult was to NOLA and that was for research purposes. Other than that, it was Disney when I was a kid, and I wasn’t into writing yet. When I went to New Orleans it was basically trying to soak up everything I could about the French Quarter and the history, and I remember writing a chapter in the hotel as well. All the places I plan to visit (when travel is possible) are mainly for research purposes, so I’ll be writing a book in my head while I’m there.

Do you prefer to read fiction that’s similar to what you write, or do you pick different types of stories?

Stephanie:

I think I read similar fiction in that I read a lot of romance novels. If I want to disconnect from work (which is rare) I’ll read a saucy Highland romance. That’s kind of my go-to for shutting my mind down, I don’t know why. But there are genres I don’t read because I’m not too enthused about it, like sci-fi or certain fantasy stories. I guess because I don’t write those genres. I read to feed the Muse, so I end up giving them what they really enjoy, which is romance.

What’s one quirky thing about you that your readers might not know?

Stephanie:

I watch the same movies over and over and over. Legit, I can watch certain films repeatedly. And I mean that in that, when it ends, I start it over again. I always joke with my mum, saying, “Let’s play a game. How many times can I watch X in a day?” It’s a compulsion due to my having obsessive compulsive disorder, but it’s also part of my process now, and again, just me! Haha.

What’s your favorite movie? Why?

Stephanie:

I usually kind of lie with this question when I’m asked it! Haha. I usually say either Bram Stoker’s Dracula or Dangerous Liaisons. They arefavourites, don’t get me wrong, but if someone said I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life, it’d be Jurassic Park. It was the first movie I vividly remember seeing in theatres. I think the VHS came out in the summer of ’94, so I got that for my birthday, my grandmother ordered it for me. I kind of went dinosaur crazy after seeing it and everything I owned was either JP or had dinosaurs on it. I even wanted to be a paleontologist too, from age 4 until high school, when interests shifted.

Do you set up events to meet your readers, or is your interaction with them strictly online?

Stephanie:

I’m kind of an inside person, haha. I would love to do signings and readings eventually, but my interaction so far has been strictly online. Hopefully, once things clear up with the pandemic, we can do book signings and events.

Have you ever had to exhaustively research something (say, history) for any of your books?

Stephanie:

Pretty much everything I write needs some sort of research done. I did a lot of research on 18^th century fashion, as well as the history in both France and NOLA for separate projects. I also did research on BDSM elements I’m not familiar with, stuff that I felt I wasn’t versed enough in to explain in the Goode Pain series. Sometimes it’s not only portraying things accurately, but also safely.

THANK you, Stephanie, for gracing the pages of virginiawallace.com today! And best of luck to you in the future!!!

ORDER STEPHANIE’S BOOKS (AND STALK HER) HERE!!!!

https://linktr.ee/sdouglasauthor

I am SO excited for this release!!! So without any further review, ladies and gentlemen, meet my teammate from Black Velvet Seductions, S.K. WHITE!!!

Blurb

Are the newly discovered crop circles an invitation to the second coming or a first contact? Investigative reporter, Paige Martin, finds herself thrust into a perilous mystery. The search for answers takes her on a wild adventure of survival, betrayal, and romance. Join Paige on her search for answers and the adventure of a lifetime.

Review

I haven’t read a good science fiction novel in years …

Enter ‘All Gone’, by S.K. White! It’s a rock-solid tale, written in the tradition of H.G. Wells and Isaac Asimov. To be perfectly honest with you, I’m a bit surprised that it was published by Black Velvet Seductions—a romance imprint. ‘All Gone’ has a strong romance element to it, sure, but as far as I can tell it’s straight-up science fiction.

Which makes it AWESOME!!!

I found the lead characters quite relatable. Not only did I find them relatable, but I also found them to be very balanced. One of my pet peeves is characters with one-sided personalities, whether that personality is too sappy, or too hard-nosed. The best character is one in which strength and softness strike a balance. In that sense, Paige and Nick are amazing characters. Both have an edge, a strong—or in Nick’s case, even violent—streak, but their strength doesn’t tarnish their inborn sense of compassion. They’re tough, sure, but they’re still good people. They treat others with courtesy and respect, and I love them for that.

And then there’s Logan …

I can’t comment on him for spoiler reasons, but I don’t like him at all. Which is also good writing. You can only dislike a character if his or her story is told well.

We’ve all read ‘alien abduction’ tales before. It’s difficult to put a new spin on an old genre, but S.K. White figured it out. Okay, so the aliens make legions of people disappear. We’ve read that before, but it’s the ‘why’ of the matter that makes this tale truly shine! And that’s all I’m gonna say. No spoilers! But yeah, this story does have a strikingly original approach to the ‘alien abduction’ genre.

I will point out that some readers might dislike the secular-humanist viewpoint of some of the characters. A few of them seem to hold the unspoken assumption that those who look at the mass disappearances from a faith-based perspective must somehow be superstitious rubes. Also, the sociology-political philosophy of the aliens is disturbing as well. Some would call it ‘environmental sustainability’, while others would refer to it as ‘Eco-Fascist genocide’. It is a testament to S.K. White’s writing prowess that I haven’t the foggiest idea what her politics or religion are, and to be honest I don’t care. Inserting one’s obvious sociology-political leaning into a novel is a ham-handed faux pas, and she certainly does not. This story is just told with an acceptance of modern reality, for better or for worse, and that’s what makes it resonate so well with the reader.

It feels real, ya know?

I hafta admit, I kinda bludgeoned S.K. White for this script. I’m like that. I’m smugly pleased to have access to books that the general public hasn’t seen yet …

So here’s my message to the general public: YOU’RE GONNA LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

‘All Gone’, by S.K. White. Give it a read!

Author Interview

When did you start writing? What made you first decide to try your hand at it?

I first started writing in high school in a creative writing class. It was there I discovered a love for short stories and poetry.

What was your first published work? What do you think of it now?

I had my first poem published in one of my high school annuals. Later, I received third place in a poetry contest. Of course, the winners made it into the local paper. It’s funny to look back on the writings I did in high school and college. After college, I had other poetry published in anthologies throughout the years. The first book I published was a children’s book when I was teaching. That was a fun experience. I did assemblies in schools and visited classrooms throughout the state.

How do you balance writing with your personal life?

Balancing is hard. In the early years, when my son was at home, I had to squeeze it in whenever I could. Now, I have more time and do most of my writing at night.

Do people you actually know make appearances in your stories?

I think my characters are a combination of many people I know. Nora Ephron always said,‘Everything’s copy’. Meaning, we take our experiences, parts of ourselves and the people we know, and then take all of those perceptions and create the characters and worlds they live in.Everything that happens in your life usually ends up on the pages in one form or another; we’re the product of our experiences and our writing reflects that.

Do family members or friends help with your writing? Your marketing?

Yes, I have one family member who is kind enough to read and edit for me, but most of my friends and family just lend-an-ear on a new idea for a book. As far as marketing, friends and family promote my books to everyone they know and do what they can.

Do you have stories you want to write that you haven’t yet?

Yes, I do. I have a whole book of ideas.So, when the mood strikes, I can pluck an idea from my book and roll with it. Fortunately, the good ones seem to bubble up to the top just at the right time.

Is there a story you’re afraid to write for some reason? Why?

Not really. If the muse speaks, then the challenge is on.

Do you ever target differing age groups or demographics with your writing?

Absolutely. From the very start, I challenged myself to write one story or book for every age group; and I have done that, but not all of them are published. However, early in my writing career, I found a publisher that chose one of my children’s stories about a visually impaired Native American boy on a vision quest. Fortunately, that children’s book fulfilled all the age groups all at once, so the pressure was off. I’ve shared that book with every age group—from readings in senior centers to small children in public libraries. I even shared a copy of the book in braille (that a member from the Commission of the Blind embossed for me) at the K-12 schools that I visited. Working with the Commission and members of the Nez Perce Tribe was deeply rewarding.

Have you ever written non-fiction? If so, what?

I did. I started my autobiography or memoir. Problem is, knowing when to cut it off. Also, having the courage to write a tell-all and resisting the urge to turn it into fiction. Fiction is easier, there’s not as much blow-back or the risk of hurting the feelings of the people you know. 

Are you a ‘normal’ person who likes to write, or do you consider yourself more of the tormented/driven ‘artist’ type?

Well, I’m not normal, so I must be the tormented/driven ‘artist’ type. One might describe me as a recluse. I’m the weird lady on the corner,happily tucked away in a quiet corner of the world, writing in solitude.

Do you drink? Why or why not?

I did enough in my younger years. These days I’m pretty much a teetotaler. Perfectly happy with a hot cup of tea with a splash of cream.

Are you married? How does being a writer affect that? Has your marriage affected the way you write love stories?

Yes, I’m married. I probably drive my husband crazy;I’m always reading a paragraph to him or pondering a new idea. He’s learned to just listen and nod. Being married hasn’t affected the way I write love stories at all. I remember one time, after my first manuscript, my husband read it and said, “I hope I’m Evan (the hero) and not the villain. After that first manuscript, I still get the attentive nod, but once in a while, it’s accompanied by a raised eyebrow. And that arched brow usually tells me this passage or draft is pretty good. Fortunately, no matter what, upon the publication of one of my books, he gives me a hug and says, “I’m proud of you.”

If you could see one of your stories made into a movie, which one would you pick and why?

That’s interesting. When I write, I visualize my character like they were in a movie. The way they speak, react, and move. You might say, I write scene by scene. Sometimes I’ll watch a show or movie and think a particular actor or actress would be a great Nick or Paige from All Gone or a great Whitney or Jason from Bounce. Therefore, it’s easy for me to picture Bounce and All Gone as a movie. As-a-matter-of-fact, I’ve had people tell me both would be great movies. Not likely, but a girl can dream.

How does your life experience influence your writing?

I think everything I’ve been through: the good, the bad, and the ugly, has influenced everything I write. All those lived experiences and the things I observe filters into the characters I create and the worlds I construct around them. 

Do you try to keep your stories within their pre-determined genres, or do you just tell the story your way regardless of genre expectations?

I just tell the story and let the story determine where it fits. I let the story speak.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what kinds? Does music influence your stories?

Always. Music is often the inspiration for some of my creations; and although some songs change as I edit, they all become the soundtrack behind the scenes I write. I have an eclectic playlist that I use and constantly add to it.

Have you ever written a story based on a personal experience you had? If so, what was it about?

I wrote a story called, “Messy Danny.” The story centered around a student I taught in middle school that had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper-Active Disorder). The story chronicled his experiences in elementary and middle school. Many of the quirky qualities the teachers displayed in the story were from educators I had as a child and those I taught with. In “Messy Danny”, Danny had earned that unfortunate nickname from one of his teachers, and that nickname carried on through his elementary and middle grades. Of course, there was one teacher who understood his disability and changed his life. The story ends with a list of recommendations and lessons on study skills. 

Do you let real-life events influence your work, or is there a ‘disconnect’ between your stories and world/national/local events?

Absolutely. In “All Gone,”some of the challenges we currently face filter into the story. In fact, many of the characters tackle some of those challenges head-on, and the consequences of their choices are fully realized—both good and bad.

In my first published adult novel—written around 2014—called,“Bounce,”the real-world events snuck into Whitney’s life; and those events set the stage for the alternate worlds I created in Whit’s and Annie’s reality.First, Whitney bounces into Whit’s world and discovers a more advanced society,then later is thrust into Annie’s brutal world and experiences being ruled by an autocratic dictator called, “The Founding Father.” His ruthless military regime forbid any free thought or expression. This difficult situation required Whitney to navigate Annie’s reality with extreme caution because the consequences for her were dire.

Is your writing time planned out or structured? Do you go on writing ‘benders’?

I try to write every day, usually in the evening; but if it’s really flowing, then it becomes a full-on-bender.

What to you is the most rewarding aspect of being a writer?

It’s after the final round of editing,when I look down at the last page and push send. That satisfaction of completion is gratifying; but, even better, is dreaming of all the possibilities afterward.

Who is your favorite author, and why?

That’s a hard one. There are so many and it keeps changing. However, there was one book that changed my life. One of my amazing high school teachers suggested I read it. So, the book that opened the world to me was called “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran. If an author can crack open a reader’s limited view of the world and expose them to new experiences, that’s an amazing accomplishment. One I hope to achieve someday.

If you could pick anyone to narrate one of your books, who would it be?

Probably Cate Blanchett. I’d like her to narrate,“All Gone.”I’d want a female voice to represent Paige’s voice.She’s the main character and is an investigative reporter.

Which character of yours is your favorite? Why? Whom would you pick to play him/her/it in a movie?

It’s hard to pick one because I love them all. But if I had to choose… In “All Gone”,it’s definitely Nick.He’s complicated and so fun to write. I would pick Ben Robinson from (ANIMAL KINGDOM) or Luke Grimes from (YELLOWSTONE) to play his character. Nick’s a ruggedly handsome guy and complex; both actors could do an amazing job. 

Do you write when you take a vacation, or do you prefer to simply relax?

Even on vacation, I jot down notes. I’ll see something or hear something I think I can use and have to write it down. I’ve even pulled my car over to write down that perfect sentence. Also, I’ve crept out of bed in the middle of the night to scribble a phrase or idea on a notepad.No rest for the obsessed.

Do you prefer to read fiction that’s similar to what you write, or do you pick different types of stories?

I choose different types of stories. If it piques my interest, I read it.

What’s one quirky thing about you that your readers might not know?

I don’t know how quirky it is, but my friends tell me that if they tied my hands down, I couldn’t speak. It’s true. My hands flail around when I talk. I’m very animated and expressive with them.When I taught a hearing-impaired student in one of my elementary classes, I learned a little bit of sign language. I taught my students the alphabet and a few signs just for fun. In fact, I almost studied to be a speech therapist twice in my life. Once, right after I received my B.A. in Education; and then later, when I worked for a school district. But I ended up teaching Title 1 Reading instead.

What’s your favorite movie? Why?

Dragonfly. That’s the one movie I can watch over and over. It gets me every time. Okay, it doesn’t hurt that Kevin Costner is in it(I’m a fan) and the amazing Kathy Bates.Or that it deals with the afterlife—which is a fascinating topic. It also has all the makings of a great movie and checks several boxes: thriller,mystery, suspense, and romance.

Do you set up events to meet your readers, or is your interaction with them strictly online?

I’ve done both; but currently, it’s online.

Have you ever had to exhaustively research something (say, history) for any of your books?

I love this question. Yes, for “All Gone,” I researched several science-related theories, military procedures and weapons. There was extensive research for Bounce in science as well. With Emily’s Cabinet—a complex time travel novel— (unpublished) there was a great deal of history required for different time periods.It was extensive and exhausting, but rewarding. I loved every minute.

What’s a question I haven’t asked that you’d like to answer?

I can’t think of any. Your questions are pretty thorough. Thank you for putting all the time and effort into this interview. It has been a treat to go down memory lane on some of your questions. It brought up things I haven’t thought about in a long time.

THANK you, S.K. White, for gracing the pages of virginiawallace.com today! Here’s hoping for a bright literary future for you!

Feel free to stalk S.K White: https://linktr.ee/skwhite

This is a piece I wrote back in 2009. Obviously, I was in a bit of a cynical place back then. While I honestly don’t feel this way anymore, I do think there is nevertheless an element of truth to what I had to say back then. See yeah … this was me, in ’09. – V

‘I never knew what changed you… Did they paint your dreams?’

                                                            – Nevermore Lyric, from ‘Dreaming Neon Black’

Art is insanity.

?

My better half asked me the other day why he never sees me drawing pictures anymore. He loves my old paintings, and he shows them off proudly when our friends come to visit. He often prods me to play guitar for him, too. Sometimes I do, because I love him and I like seeing him smile. Thankfully, he’s not much of a reader; he seldom delves into my old writings, and that’s probably a good thing. He would see far more of me in them than he’d want to, and he would come to know me far better than anyone should wish to know their lover.

From time immemorial (or at least as far back as I can remember, immemorial or not) I was an artist. Childhood crayons turned into pencils, which became ink pens, and then evolved into paintbrushes. Schoolwork essays became short stories, which matured into novels, which then blossomed into epics. Head-bobbing to hard rock led to guitar playing, that …

And there I stopped.

Rather suddenly, actually, for I learned something over my short little lifetime:

Everything has a price tag.

Everything has a price tag, and you will pay it. No one cheats death, for instance; it is the price tag attached the unavoidable act of living. The price of love is loss. The price of finding God is the abandonment of self. The fee for freedom is the unholy carnage we know as war.

Every eternal constant is paid for by its own polar opposite, creating a pell-mell kaleidoscope of endless juxtaposition. Those who think that they can avoid paying the price end up paying double the price, reeling as fate deals them its hand in gleeful vengeance. Everything has a price …

And the price of art is madness. The more you seek of one, the more of the other you will find, until at last you cease to make coherent sense. The world around you becomes a surreal fog, scarcely more than an evanescent haze that irritates you at best. The only thing that is real to the artist is himself … and his fantasies, without which ‘himself’ would soon become a meaningless concept.

His self-inflicted poison might be visual imagery. Or maybe it’s music, and he despairs that the rest of us will ever understand the messages conveyed by his notes. For notes speak in a language that transcends the mundane-ness of words, but alas … only a few can translate their whispered messages.

Perhaps his self-destructive muse is the written word. I don’t mean the ‘written word’ as it pertains to the journalist, or the random scribbler. No, I am talking about the ‘written word’ as in Poe, Twain, and Mary Shelley. Perhaps he wallows in tales best left unspoken, and views the world through the multiple personalities that he’s conjured from his own fractured being.

I myself leapt into a mystical pool of self-obsessed thought, first jumping from the diving board of visual media. Thirsting for more, I swam toward the deeper waters of the written word. I scrambled out of the pool before Music consumed me … but in the years prior, I sold my soul in exchange for gifts that enriched my life no one whit.

Artists are a broken lot, a twisted breed that redefines ‘narcissism’. Without exception, the artist—more so than anyone else—lives in two worlds: The one into which he was forced by ignominious indignity of birth, and the one he himself has created.

The problem is, no one was ever meant to play god save God Himself. With every nibble from the Tree of Knowledge, a burning flare is tossed on your behalf toward the Tree of Life. Artists feel pain like no one else, and consequently they fear it so badly that they cannot pull their thoughts from it. Artists see life more clearly than anyone else ever could … and they run screaming from it, diving into maudlin, feverish creation until life at last offers them some relief by becoming a bit blurry.

As every fantasy—every picture, paragraph, and note—becomes clearer, life becomes less clearly defined. And the better the artist becomes at art, the more he fails at life. The more he grasps the transcendent, the less he is able to handle the humdrum. Careers fail, marriages fall, addictions form, relationships strain, and the only relief for the artist is more of the same behavior that caused his melancholia in the first place.

This cycle is breakable.

But only barely, and relapses are quite frequent …

Artists have a lot in common with alcoholics, I think.