Jo-Anna Walker: May 2013

Book Blurb:

Running is always easier.

Tori McLeod moved to the big city to get away from her mother—and her past. Her new routine is destroyed when she meets a mysterious stranger who won’t take no for an answer. Sebastian intrigues her, but his eyes hold secrets she would rather avoid.

Sebastian Chelios, a hard-as-nails enforcer, is a new-in-town loner. He has to have her. Control her. Possess her. But he can’t—won’t—lose control, even though Tori’s innocence fascinates him. The last thing he’s going to do is love her, even after he gets her in his bed.

Losing control is dangerous, especially when someone from Sebastian’s past covets Tori, putting more than just her heart in danger.

Can Sebastian protect Tori from Jose’s sadistic obsession? If he gets his hands on her, will she make it out in one piece?

About ME:

Jo-Anna is from a small city in Ontario, Canada -- born and raised. She just started taking up writing in 2013 and loves it! She absolutely loves her characters and cannot wait to share their stories with the world.
She's currently working at a call center which allows her the time to write. She also crochets as a hobby and if it wasn't for the 9-5 job, she wouldn't get half the projects done that she's been lucky to finish.
Jo-Anna is going to be self publishing her books -- first one coming out this summer.

*** GIVEAWAY ***

Anyone who comments will be entered into possibly winning a ebook copy of Savin' Me. Good luck everyone!

Alannah believes there's nothing more magical than finding the other half of your soul, experiencing fiery passion, and knowing you've found happily-ever-after.

She loves going to work each day (in sweats and a T-shirt) and writing about hot heroes and feisty heroines who torment each other in the most delicious ways before finding their happy ending.

She lives in the coastal region of North Carolina with her husband, who also happens to be her best friend and biggest fan. They have two sons, a dog, two cats, and an outrageous number of ducks and geese that inhabit the pond on their farm.

To stay abreast of her current releases and contests, visit her website (www.alannahlynne.com) and sign up for her newsletter. She loves connecting with readers, so drop by her blog (www.alannahlynne.blogspot.com) and chat, or visit with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorAlannahLynne).

My interview with Alannah Lynne:

Thanks for letting me visit with you and your readers!

1. How has your journey in publishing been? Anything you would or wouldn’t do again?

Long! LOL I’ve been writing seriously about 7 years. My first novella, “Reaction Time,” was published by Samhain in 2008. In 2010, “Savin’ Me” was published by The Wild Rose Press. In 2010, I wrote “Last Call” and entered it into Kensington Brava’s Writing With the Stars Competition. I was one of the top 10 finalists and was incredibly blessed to have HelenKay Dimon as my mentor. After getting knocked out of that competition in the second round, I started shopping the story around. It garnered interest from one publisher in particular, but it was going to be 2013 before they could assign an editor, and 2014 before it released. My contract with The Wild Rose Press had expired, so in a huge leap of faith, I withdrew the submission of “Last Call,” took the rights to “Savin’ Me” back, rewrote and reedited it, and then used those two stories to launch the Heat Wave Series. Which was the best thing I’ve ever done career wise, and the one thing I would definitely do all over again!

2. What are you working on right now? Can you tell us about it?

I’m currently writing “Coveted,” the first story in a spin-off series called Pandora’s Playground. The Pandora’s Playground series will be erotic romances, all revolving around a kink club by the same name. I hope to release the stories this summer, starting in July. There will be 3 of them, and then I’ll alternate between Heat Wave books and Pandora’s Playground books. I also have a mystery series that I would love to release in early 2014. I’ll just have to see how the writing time goes. :D

3. What/Who inspired you to start writing?

I was a late bloomer and didn’t start reading romance until I was in my 30’s. The first romance I read was Janelle Denison’s “The Wilde Side.” I was instantly hooked on the genre and all of Janelle’s books, and read everything of hers I could get my hands on. She’s the reason I’m a lover of romance, and she’s the reason I wanted to be a writer. Janelle recently invited me to participate in a box set with her and several of her writing friends. The Sinfully Sweet Box Set includes stories by Janelle Denison, Leslie Kelly, Marquita Valentine, Rhonda Nelson, Carly Phillips, and myself. To be included in a collection with authors I’ve admired for years was a dream come true!!

4. How long have you been writing?

About seven years

5. What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

Two things. First, just start writing. Don’t worry about getting it “right.” There’s plenty of time for that later. In the beginning, just write, write, write. And while you’re writing, always tell the truth as it applies to your characters. It might be something that you would never think or do yourself, but if you want the story to be authentic, you have to let the characters do things you might not approve of or like.

6. Are you a pantser or a plotter?

A total pantser!! I’ve tried plotting, it never works out well. I come up with these grand plans, and then my characters look at me and say, “Ummm… no, we’re doing this our way” and off they go. And their way is ALWAYS so much better than anything I could’ve conceived of!

7. Who is your favorite author?

Janelle Denison – mad love for Janelle Denison!! :D

8. When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Hmmm… That’s a tough question. I don’t really know. I didn’t really tell anyone I was a writer until after I’d first published. And then, I still didn’t tell a lot of people, because I wrote under a pen name and I didn’t want to out myself. LOL I think when I started showing up to “work” every day, sitting down and writing, even when I didn’t want to, that’s when I considered myself a “real” writer.

9. What is the hardest part about writing for you?

All of it!! :D No, seriously, I’d say getting started it the hardest for me. In the beginning, when I don’t know my characters that well, nor do I have the foggiest idea of where the stories are going… that’s pure hell. Making myself sit down and write when I’m at a total loss is awful. That’s actually the point where I am right now. I don’t know my characters in “Coveted” very well, and while Muriel has been very sweet and open, Mathew has remained the “Isle of Matt,” as his friends refer to him. I’ve begged and pleaded and threatened and he still hasn’t opened himself up to me enough to get comfortable with him.

I finally booked my editor the other day and told him, “Okay, bub, we’ve got a deadline. If you don’t start talking and giving me some direction, you’re going to be doing things my way.” As a Dom, that didn’t sit real well with him, so he’s been a little more forthcoming the past few days! LOL

10. Do you have a favorite character from your books? If so, why and who?

Oh gosh, that’s like asking me to pick my favorite child. I’d say Erik (“Savin’ Me”) and Kevin (“Crossing Lines”) are my favorites. Erik, because he got things started for me. “Reaction Time” was the first story I published, but “Savin’ Me” was the first one I wrote. He talked to me for years before I figured out who he was and what I was supposed to be doing with him. Kevin is just super hawt and has been with me nearly as long as Erik.

11. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I’ve finished 4, and have another 5 or 6 started. Again, it’s so hard to pick a favorite, but I think I’d say “Last Call” is my fave, so far. Sunny and Gavin were so much fun to write!

12. Do you do research for your books or does it all come from your head?

I sometimes have to do research. <big grin> Actually, I do a lot of research. I get ideas, but then I have to research it and see if what I’m imagining is possible or feasible. My husband loves research! LOL

13. What is your favorite colour?

Purple

14. What is your favorite food?

Tacos – any Mexican food, really

15. What is your favorite smell?

Honeydew or lavender candles

16. Do you have any strange habits?

Haha… a TON!! I have a strange writing quirk that is a necessary part of my writing. I actually see the scenes before I write them. So, when it’s time to write, I lie down on the bed, get really comfy and relaxed and let the scene start running. Then, I jump up and run to my computer and try to capture as much of what I’ve seen as I can. Sometimes, when my husband walks into the bedroom and finds me lying down he’ll say, “Are you writing or resting?” :D

17. Where are you from? Do you still live there? If not, what do you miss about it?

I grew up in a small town in Southern Ohio, right on the Ohio River. I don’t live there anymore, thankfully. It’s a great place to be from, and I love going back to visit, but it’s a depressed area with very little opportunities. I lived in Arizona for 6 ½ years and also consider Tucson to be home. I miss the desert, mountains, and warm winters terrible! LOL Currently, I live along the North Carolina coast. And I LOVE it!! Someday, hopefully someday soon, I’ll live right on the beach.

18. Ebook or print? And why?

eBook, print, and audio for “Savin’ Me.” Hopefully, I’ll be able to get “Last Call” and “Crossing Lines” into audio soon. I like to give my readers options, so I make all of my books available in as many formats as possible (or is feasible, given the length of the books).

19. How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?

That is the million dollar question, isn’t it? I think it all comes down to voice. I’m often told that my voice is distinctive, and readers enjoy the tone of my stories – which are deeply emotional, but also have humor mixed in with them – so I consider that a huge blessing. I’m not sure how one develops voice, I think it’s just a matter of writing and writing and writing until it starts to develop.

20. What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?

Hmm… I grew up on a farm and my dad owned a construction company. We lived in a very rural area, so he taught me to drive when I was 10, and by the time I was 13 I was driving his dump trucks. DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME! LOL

Thanks so much for letting me visit with you!! This has been a great experience for me, as it’s helped me understand why I’ve been struggling so badly with this new story. Thanks for helping me sort it out so I can get on the right track – and meet my deadline!!! :-D