AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AND THROUGH KINDLE UNLIMITED
Muscly is good, I agree. How do you choose your character’s names? Do you have a process or a pattern?
I’ve got the stunning and talented Elodie Colt on my blog today. Her very first book In Blood We Trust just released April 5th. I met Elodie though a random post on Goodreads. She was looking to build her Facebook following and was offering free “likes” for anyone that “liked” her page in return. From there we’ve stumbled into this fantastic friendship where she makes me beautiful teasers and I help her with her blurbs. I couldn’t imagine a better person to find on this crazy journey into the publishing world than my new friend, Elodie. Welcome Elodie and thanks for taking the time to hang out.
So, I know where you’re from, but how about we let everyone else know too.
I live in Vienna, Austria, so probably very far away from you all!
Yes, very far from me indeed. But that’s the beauty of social media, we can connect no matter where we are. What about family? Relationship status? Kids? Fur-kids? Tell us who you share your life with. Who celebrates your sales and release days with you?
I’m in a long-term relationship with my boyfriend, no kids, no pets. I want to have kids someday but I’d rather focus on my books for a few more years. I celebrate my release days with my best friend, and of course all those awesome people online!
Was this your dream career or did you just fall into writing? Do you have another career or job outside of writing?
I really just fell into writing. I’m an avid reader since the Kindle came up, and wrote for myself for a couple of months. After I realized that I wrote 150K words within 2 months, I decided to publish. Unfortunately, I have a fulltime job which takes most of my time, but I spend every free minute on writing (much to my boyfriend’s annoyance).
How long have you been writing?
That’s a difficult question. I think no one “starts” writing at a particular point. If you love writing, you probably loved it your whole life. I remember writing fan fictions when I was little, just for the fun of it. I started with “serious writing” just two years ago.
That’s a great answer, an I totally agree. Do you read the same genre as you write? What do you read?
I have a wide range of genres I like – Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, etc. This is also why I write everything, no matter if contemporary, paranormal, or dystopian, as long as it includes some steamy romance 😉
Where do you draw your inspiration?
From everywhere, really. I talk to my boyfriend about his work and suddenly I have an idea. I watch a movie, or hear a song, and a book scene plays in front of my mental eye. I write down every idea I have and use this patchwork to create a book.
Who’s your book boyfriend? Tell us the hero you’d date or marry if he existed out here in the real world.
That would definitely be Dominic Draven from Stephanie Hudson’s gothic/fantasy/erotica saga “Afterlife”. I think he’s every girl’s wet dream. He’s the king of demons & angels who exists since the beginning of time, is dominant, gentle, sweet, just everything! I can’t describe him in words, you really need to read the books 😉
I’ve never read that series, but it’s definitely on the TBR pile. Tell me about your current WIP, if it was made into a movie and you had your choice of actors, who would play the hero and heroine?
I’m currently finishing the 1st book of a 5-book contemporary erotica series called “The Heed Me Novellas”. In “Hire Me” she’s the sweet girl next door and he’s the sexy gardener working for her neighbor. I think the best choice would be Emma Roberts & Nicholas Galitzine (he should gain some muscles for the movie, though 😃)
No pattern. If I can’t come up with a name by myself, I search on Google.
How many of your characters are based on people in your life
None, all of them are completely fictional.
How do you de-stress and deal with writer’s block?
I’m lucky, I don’t have writer’s block that often. I can usually write a book from beginning to end without complications. When I don’t know how the story should continue, I just close my eyes and replay every possible outcome. If that’s not working, I write something else, and focus on the other book a few days later.
You’re lucky, I get writer’s block all the time. Take us through your process. From the plot bunny bouncing around in your head to the day you write “The End” how do you write? Plotter, pantser , quilter? Do you have several WIP’s on the go at one time?
I usually don’t work with concepts, which is bad, I know ^^ I get the ideas while writing, not before. Now that I’m working on 2 projects at the same time, I make a rough concept of the first 3 chapters, that’s usually sufficient.
What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?
Cakes & cookies with as much chocolate as possible.
Mmm, chocolate, yes! What about relaxation? How do you unwind?
Playing with Photoshop while listening to music usually does the job. I create all graphics myself, so I can be productive and relax at the same time.
Your graphics are beautiful, so even when you’re relaxing you’re creating magic, that’s awesome. What about peace? Where do you find yours?
In writing. I think there’s nothing that brings an author more peace than writing, don’t you think?
Favorite cocktail or wine? Do you drink while you write?
No, I don’t drink when I write. I’m not an at-home-drinker in general, but I enjoy white wine & cocktails whenever I’m going out, so I definitely have my fun :D
If you could sit down and have lunch with anyone, dead or alive who would it be, and what three questions would you ask them?
Author Stephanie Hudson of the Afterlife saga. I’m pretty sure I would ask her more than 3 questions, haha, but maybe 1) how did you get the idea for this awesome saga? 2) how did you manage to write so beautifully when you were diagnosed with dyslexia? 3) did you know that the series will become 9 books when you started the first?
Now I really have to read this series. What is your brand? Who do you write for and why?
I write wholly for myself. I love writing, and wouldn’t do anything else. Even if I didn’t sell any books, I’d write anyway.
What are your writing and publishing goals for 2017 and 2018? How many books do you hope to write and hope to put out? What’s your lineup look like?
Well, I’m currently working on 2 projects: A 4-book urban fantasy/steamy romance novel series, and a 5-book contemporary erotica novella series. I hope to publish all of them within the next 2 years but as I just became an author, I don’t know how that plan works out in the future.
Best piece of advice you could offer a newbie writer on how to get their name and books out there to the masses?
Read at least 100 books of the genre you want to write, and stalk all the authors. I read more than 200 books before I even started writing. This way you internalize the language, the writing styles, the stories, the structures, etc. I think that’s the best you can do, it will save you a lot of work.
Anything else you’d like to add or tell us about yourself and your books?
As some might know, I’m not an English native. My mother tongue is German, but I read English books my whole life, so I couldn’t even think in German anymore. This is also why it took me a long time to really take the step into publishing because I was afraid that I wouldn’t get anywhere with being a non-native. My determination won in the end, and I hope it was worth it 😊
Thanks so much for being here, Elodie, this was so much fun. I really appreciate it and I wish you nothing but great success and a big future in your writing career! Congratulations, girl! xoxo
FIND ELODIE HERE!
2078. The Future, as it was once called. A better time you imagine? Most would say yes.
Jordan would say they’d switched one evil for another…
Ever since the SDCT—the Scientific Department for Cancer Treatment—made a scientific breakthrough, creating a cure for cancer and therefore saving billions of lives from the cruel disease over the last few decades, the world seems to be a better place.
But the Cure came with a side effect.
The Recipients need to consume human blood along with it, and as Jordan has the rarest blood type, she needs to donate every week. To keep a tight legal structure between Recipients and the rest of the population, the FDR—Federal Division for Recipients—was created, making her job as Sergeant at the NYPD hell on earth.
The real trouble, though, begins the day she becomes burdened with a case that will force her to extend the law to its limits. Worse still—the new Lieutenant, Aiden Davis, has set an eye on Jordan, and it doesn’t help that he is an unrelenting, too-hot-to-be-allowed ex-marine and more intense than she can bear. But her past makes it impossible to get involved with anyone without resurfacing memories of the one fateful night she desperately wants to forget.
And when the one man she’d never wanted to lay eyes upon again—the man who had inflicted pain on her worse than anyone could ever imagine, the man who had drained her until there was nothing left—shows up once again, her growing attraction toward the new Lieutenant seems to be the least of her problems…
Suspenseful Dystopian Romance
*This book contains violence, as well as explicit sexual content and harsh language. Recommended age 18+
*Written in first person, single POV
*Stand-alone, no cliff-hanger
I took a gulp of air bracing myself for what was about to come. Sheryl knocked on the door, and I ran my hands over my dress in an attempt to smooth out the fabric. My need for food nearly made me sick. I hoped my stomach stayed quiet.
Patrick and Davis lifted their heads simultaneously as we entered.
“Patrick,” Sheryl greeted him. Her voice changed to a sweeter tone as she addressed the newcomer. “Lieutenant Davis.”
I stood next to Sheryl but deliberately stopped a foot behind her. Davis looked at Sheryl, but to my surprise, his gaze never went lower than her face despite the amazing view she provided at chest height. He gave her a short nod in greeting, neither overly friendly nor unfriendly. I bit my lower lip. He didn’t seem like a social kind of guy. Was that a good thing or not?
“Ah, yes,” Patrick said, adjusting the knot of his tie before standing up. “Lieutenant Davis, let me introduce you to my best.”
Davis raised his eyebrows appearing surprised that Patrick was referring to two women, and it was only then that his gaze finally fell upon me.
His eyes zoomed in on my face, his stare penetrating me. I automatically held my breath. Then, he raked my body head to toe with one quick but thorough glance. Fast. So fast, I nearly missed it.
My heart did a crazy little jump. Was he checking me out? Why would he do that when a sexy goddess like Sheryl was standing next to me? I suddenly felt very naked, as though he’d just stripped me down to nothing but my underwear with his intense, unwavering stare.
Davis elegantly rose from his chair. He was so intimidating—respect and power pouring from him in waves—I had the urge to avert my eyes, but they appeared to be glued to his. My headache from before was suddenly forgotten.
He stepped around the desk closing the distance between us in a few strides. He towered over me when he stood that close—claiming my comfort zone—his strong neck at my eye level. I bit back the urge to step back. Or was it an impulse to step forward? Confusing.
“Sergeant Jordan Lively,” Patrick introduced me, oblivious to the wordless conversation that the Lieutenant and I were having, although I wasn’t sure what exactly our silent exchange meant. Standing that close, I could make out the color of his eyes that continued to bore into me—deep blue with shades of turquoise that reminded me of the sea’s hue . I remembered seeing that color printed on the old postcards of a tropical island paradise that had been swallowed by a tsunami decades ago. I think it had been called ‘Hawaii’ or something exotic like that.
Simply stunning. Beautiful, drown-worthy, and unique.
His eyes flitted back and forth between mine until stopping to rest on a particular spot. I could read the question on his face. Everyone asked the same question when they met me the first time: Why was there a misshaped little speck of gray next to my left pupil whereas the rest of the eye was a regular green like the right one? I usually gave my standard excuse: Genetic. No one knew the real truth besides me.
As if on cue, Davis’ gaze landed on my scarf most likely wondering why I was even wearing one. Understandable. It was far too hot in here. I was probably the only person in this part of the country who even owned scarves.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
His voice skimmed my senses, an underlying timbre I couldn’t quite decipher swinging with it. The way the word ‘pleasure’ left his mouth sent funny vibrations through my belly. It took me a second to realize that he’d extended his hand to shake mine. I grasped his hand, and I swear I felt a thumb softly caress my skin before he pulled away.
“It’s an honor,” I managed to say before lifting my chin a little higher. I didn’t want him to think he’d intimidated me. He stepped sideways to greet Sheryl long before his slicing gaze left mine.
“And Detective Sheryl Frayman ,” Patrick informed.
“Welcome, Lieutenant Davis,” Sheryl greeted him with a strong voice emanating way more confidence.
“Thanks. Nice to meet you.”
Polite. Nothing more. Was I imagining it? I threw a sideways glance at Sheryl expecting to find disappointment on her face, but instead, she smiled after Davis’ eyes found mine again.
My heart rate increased pounding through my eardrums. Damn, it was stifling in here. The air conditioning must have conked out again.
“What are you specialized in?” Davis asked, perching on the office desk and crossing his ankles. Sheryl folded her hands in front of her but didn’t answer. Davis looked at me expectantly. Apparently, the question was meant for me.
“Murder and rape,” I answered. No point in sugar-coating that. I swear I saw his nostrils flare a tiny bit. Yeah. The question wasn’t exactly one people used to reply with ‘Really? What a great thing to do!’
“Why?” he asked. That was a question I couldn’t possibly answer honestly. It would be a, let’s say, extremely heavy topic to discuss during an initial meeting.
“Because it’s so much fun,” I blurted sarcastically, quirking an eyebrow. I regretted my words as soon as they were out of my mouth. What had gotten into me? Must have been the low blood sugar. Sheryl’s head shot in my direction, and I could feel her what-the-fuck-are-you-doing glare on me. I glared back, shrugging. What was an appropriate answer here?
“Jordan!” Patrick exclaimed in shock, but Davis didn’t seem to bother. His expression hadn’t changed in the slightest still deeply lost in analyzing me. His stare made the air around me even more stifling.
He smacked his lips, the movement attracting my attention. I imagined tracing a finger over them which was silly, really. “You’re one of the best in what you’re doing. That only comes with a proper amount of devotion,” he stated, continuing to study me carefully.
We were getting into dangerous terrain. I needed a way out, so I prompted, “You mean the satisfaction I feel when I finally put the bastard behind bars?” In all honesty, I felt immense satisfaction when I took one of them down during an exchange of fire. It was exhilarating, giving me the feeling I’d done the world something good. However, that wouldn’t be the appropriate thing to say if I wanted to stay professional. I always tried to hide my dark side as best as I could.
“Sergeant Lively apprehended over thirty criminals on her own last year,” Patrick threw in, doing his best to cast a positive light on me. “She tends to work alone.”
Davis nodded in acknowledgment, though he seemed distracted. I transferred my weight to my other foot. God, my heels were killing me. And you couldn’t even open a window when you were stuck on the hundredth-something floor!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment