12 days of Clean Romance - Day 8

Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie is known for building families readers want to be part of. Her series The Keller Family has graced bestseller charts since its release in 2011. Since then she has authored and published over thirty books. 

The married mother of five sons promises romances with a Happily Ever After always…and says she can write it because she lives it.

Connect with the Author here: 

~ Facebook ~ Website ~
~ Twitter ~
~ YouTube ~ Pinterest ~

Seeing the future is a curse that Abigail Weston has carried her entire life. Knowing how and when someone will be hurt, or the whereabouts of missing people, haunts her enough to move away from the town that no longer trusts her.

When real estate developer Carson Stone meets the intuitive Abigail, he can't help but feel the connection to her and wonder if love at first sight is possible, especially since they share a passion for old buildings. She believes they all should remain, while he builds new ones in their place.

No matter Abigail's feelings for Carson, knowing that their future is to be together does not ensure them a happily ever after, especially if she can't figure out what the other side is trying to show her--because in her visions Carson's future is dark and cold.

~ Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Google Play ~

  

Top Ten List:

1.   Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing? 

a.   I have recently taken up loom knitting. I do this when I leave my office each night. I also enjoy yoga!

2.   What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it? 

a.   Really the only struggle I have is getting enough time to write. I'm the CEO of 3 companies and that takes a big chunk of my time. 

3.   What are your future projects? 

a.   I am currently working on 3 projects. My 8th Walker Family Series book called Beginnings, a new paranormal romance called The House on Whisper Hill, and a Christmas romance, A Christmas Wedding Bouquet.

4.   What is the “message” of your writing?

a.   My purpose in my writing is to give everyone who reads my novels a moment of happily ever after. I like to walk away from books feeling refreshed and hopeful.

5.   Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life? 

a.   I find that it's a game to me to trickle in some real life into every story. So if I know you personally, you might be there!

6.   Have you done anything writing-related, besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you? 

a.   My blog, This House of Boys, is a great writing release that gets many great reviews. It's about raising 5 teenage sons. Also, I wrote a lot in high school, which was always met with great feedback and I went on to study journalism in college.

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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12 Days of Romance - Day 7

Lillith Black lives in Southern California, where she enjoys sun and warm weather and writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

She loves a good book; her favorite genres are paranormal romance, sci-fi and fairy tales. Her favorite shows include Doctor Who, Stranger Things and X-files. Her favorite book hero is Sherlock Holmes and, when she travels, she spends her evenings in the hotel room binging on Forensic Science.

She is currently working on a vampire romance Love Me or Bite Me.

Connect with the Author here: 

~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Instagram ~

He was born to love her, but will she allow herself to be loved? 

Amaris comes from a poor broken family where she was never loved. On the night of her 19th birthday, she meets Gustavo, handsome, eloquent, wealthy. When he tells her that he is destined to love her, she rejects the idea, but the mysterious sparks that fly every time they touch, stop her in her tracks.

Gustavo reveals to Amaris that they both belong to an ancient order of the Moon, and he is born to be only with her, to love and protect her. When she falls violently sick, and only Gustavo knows how to save her, they are forced to travel across the world where Amaris discovers her true self and wakes up the powers that could start a war between two feuding ancient clans.

When the fight breaks out, and Gustavo and others are kidnapped, Amaris has to accept who she is and step into her power to save the ones she loves.

~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ 

~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon Australia ~

Q&A With The Author:

1.   Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing?

a.   I love to sing and go to karaoke any chance I get. I also have a karaoke app on my phone

b.   I love reading and can get easily lost in a book for hours, not hearing anything that’s going on around me

c.   I do yoga and tai chi – they make me strong, flexible and happy

2.   What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?

a.   Getting distracted by the social media and household chores. To combat these, I go to the library where all I do is write, turn off the wifi on my computer and put my phone on airplane mode. I also remind myself that if I feel like procrastinating that means I’m dealing with fear and there should be no fear in writing.

3.   What are your future projects?

a.   I’m about to release my vampire romance novel “Love Me or Bite Me” and I began to write second installment in my YA series, the Sleepwalker Chronicles. This year I’m also planning to write and publish 2^nd book in the Gifted by the Moon series and 2^nd book in the Love Me or Bite me series. In 2019 all 3 series will get complete with the 3^rd book in each.

4.   What is the “message” of your writing? 

a.   The message in my books is the message of empowerment. I want young women to find their voice, their strength, their light and then shine it onto others. As much as my books are about romance, my heroines are no damsels in distress. They are strong and can take care of themselves. Their men are proud to be by their sides.

5.   Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life?

a.   Since my books are all in a paranormal realm, the characters in them are all made up, but I do get influenced by the character traits of people around me and some of the experiences from my own life. I do like for my stories to take place in real places, so far I have “visited” Sweet Home, Oregon, Canadian Rockies, Malibu, California, Quito, Ecuador, Denver, Colorado and Seattle, Washington.

6.   Have you done anything writing-related, besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?

a.   I have done some fun stuff related to the world of writing and books in the past few years. I have attended several writers’ conferences, been part of a writing group, participated in NaNoWriMo and also shared a booth at the WonderCon in Anaheim where I got to talk to readers and share my book. At the last conference I got to participate in a late-night critique circle led by my editor, Robert Yehling, and it was lot of fun interacting with other authors, giving them perspective on their work and cheering them on.

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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12 days of Clean Romance - Day 6

Ines Bautista-Yao is the author of One Crazy Summer, What’s in your Heart, Only A Kiss, When Sparks Fly, All That Glitters, and Someday With You. She has also written several short stories. Among them are “Plain Vanilla,” “A Captured Dream,” one of the four short stories in Sola Musica: Love Notes from a Festival, “Things I’ll Never Say,” part of the Summit Books anthology Coming of Age, and “Before the Sun Rises,” part of the Ateneo University Press anthology Friend Zones. 

She is the former editor-in-chief of Candy and K-Zone magazines and a former high school and college English and Literature teacher. She is also a wife and mom who lives in the Philippines with her husband and two little girls. Her books are available digitally on Amazon and Buqo.ph.

Connect with the Author here: 

~ Facebook ~ Website ~ Amazon ~
~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~

Twenty-four-year-old photographer's apprentice Regina has always felt like the plain, dull orange next to the shiny red apple that is her best friend Lana. But then she meets Ben—the first guy to ever break Lana's heart, and the first guy to ever make Regina feel that he only has eyes for her. 

As Regina finds herself falling hard for Ben, she also finds herself breaking all the rules of best-friendship. Will she give up the love of her life for Lana, or will she finally realize that she deserves her share of the spotlight, too?

~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ 

~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon Australia ~

Q&A With The Author:

1.   Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing?

I love traveling. I love visiting different places and learning about the culture of the people, tasting their food, and learning a few phrases from their language. I also love visiting theme parks and museums with my kids :) I also love dancing. I recently signed up for dancing classes near my house. What makes me really happy though is being with my friends and family -- even if we're just hanging out at home. 

2. What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?

Right now, my biggest struggle is finding time to write. I’m a full-time mom and most of my day is spent taking care of my kids or doing chores at home. I also do freelance writing and editing work and I usually need to get this out of the way before I can work on my fiction. But of course it’s my fiction that makes me happy. So what I do is make sure I stick to a schedule. I work when my kids are in school (that’s a short 2.5 hours every week day) and I focus on my freelance work during the first three days of the week. The last two days are devoted to my stories. I’ve done this and it works. Takes longer to finish a book but at least I still get to write! 

3. What are your future projects?

I’ve re-releasing two of my previously traditionally published books. I’m working on new covers and additional material. I’m also revising a manuscript I finished last year which is in a different genre so I’m excited and nervous about it! I’ve gotten great feedback from my beta readers though, so I hope that’s a good sign! I’m also working on a series of children’s books. I hope these all work out!

4. What is the “message” of your writing? 

What I hope my readers will take away when they read my books is that they too deserve a love like this. They too can have their own happily ever after. And I hope I can give them a peek into my culture, the culture of the Philippines. 

5. Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life? 

I take a lot of inspiration from real life. While I was writing my book, When Sparks Fly, I was so enchanted by the ancestral home of a friend (she posted photos of it on Facebook) that I messaged her right away and asked if I could talk to her about it because I wanted to include it in my story. At the same time, Regina is a photographer’s assistant and I based her experiences on the photographers I worked with several years ago (in the 90s when you needed polaroids to check the photos because digital cameras weren’t the norm yet). And riding horses? When I was a child, I took riding lessons in the same province Regina and Lana visited when they were teenagers. 

There’s so much of myself in my books, but at the same time I make a conscious effort to separate myself as well. I interviewed photographers about their apprenticeships and I interviewed a former sportscaster about his job. Oh! But Mang Mario the guard is based on the guard in my daughter’s school. And he’s just as lovable. And yes, his name is Mang Mario too. 

6. Have you done anything writing-related, besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?

Before I began writing fiction, I wrote feature articles for local magazines and newspapers. Then when I became the editor in chief of a teen magazine, my ed’s letters would get such wonderful, heartwarming responses — especially the personal ones. I noticed the same thing when I was doing a mommy blog. The more I opened myself up when I wrote, the more positive the response was. It taught me that people want you to be real when you write. And this is what I try my best to do as I write my characters. Fingers crossed that it comes across! 

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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12 Days of Clean Romance - Day 5

Hannah R. Conway is a military wife, mother of two, middle school teacher, and speaker. Her novels are a deployment experience of their own, threaded with faith, and filled with twists and turns sure to thrill, and encourage. Hannah is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and My book Therapy. She and her family live near Nashville, Tennessee.

Connect with the Author here: 

~ Facebook ~ Website ~ Instagram ~

"Life heats up for Leanna Wilson when an accident claims her parent’s lives. Her dreams of a high profile law career are reduced to rubble when she returns home to assume custody of her sister, Brie. Without the financial means to take legal custody of her sister—or a binding will to place her safely in her arms—Leanna’s future becomes more uncertain than ever. Already prepared for a blazing custody battle, with less than capable relatives, Leanna’s world is set ablaze when her ex-fiancé complicates matters in an attempt to destroy her future and her faith. US Army, SSG Garrison Burke has spent the last few years alone—balancing flag and fatherhood since the tragic death of his wife. Facing deployment, Garrison is desperate to find a safe caretaker for his son, Ezra—preferably anywhere but the abusive home he grew up in. So, when Leanna Wilson walks unexpectedly back into his life, he’s not sure if she’s a blessing or a curse. More importantly, Garrison cannot seem to forget how he betrayed Leanna many years ago. Yet, as Leanna and Garrison begin to run out of time, they start to see that the solution to their problems might lie within each other, but will they forget the past and allow their broken hearts to mend? As sparks begin to fly and their love is rekindled, a marriage of convenience will either make their wildest dreams come true or cause their best-laid plans to go up in smoke."

~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ 

~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon Australia ~

Q & A With The Author:

1.     Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing?

  Besides writing, I really enjoy reading, and a good cup of coffee. I also enjoy cooking with my kiddos and making some sort of craft or playing board games with our family. 

2.     What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?

  Just sitting and writing. My mind races and I think of all the things I have to get done in the other areas of my life. Defeating “it” is a constant, daily battle. Setting goals and inviting friends to hold me accountable is how I battle that struggle.

3.     What are your future projects?

  I loved writing “Up in Smoke”, and I’m excited about my current work in progress…and I’m getting very excited about some upcoming projects that involve love, loss, and the length a parent would go to bring their child back home safely.

4.     What is the “message” of your writing? (For example, is your purpose to encourage old-fashioned values, encourage romance, or do you have different purposes in different books?)

 Redemption and freedom seem to be messages in my books. So help me, it just comes out that way, and perhaps that’s because I’ve experience both in my life.

5.     Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life?

 Yes and no. The main plot idea for “Up in Smoke” came to me when we were stationed in Colorado. I heard of a couple getting married for the duration of a deployment and planned to divorce once their spouse returned. I always wondered what happened to them, and what would have happened if they decided to stay together.

6.     Have you done anything writing-related, besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?

I try to share my life with my readers, and get a great response on social media, and even when I send out a newsletter. I love when readers write back! It’s so encouraging to hear from them and get to know them.

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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12 Days of Clean Romance - Day 4

ZINA ABBOTT is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her adult Golden Oaks series which includes Family Secrets, the first book in the series, and her historical novels.

Except for the first year of her life, Robyn has lived in California. She started her young life in San Diego and has had gradually moved northward. She has been writing since she was in junior high school.

After working several jobs, including that of being a rural carrier and union steward for the California Rural Letter Carriers' Association, she has spent years learning and teaching family history topics. She enjoys focusing on history from a genealogist's perspective by seeking out the details of everyday life in the past. Several of her family history articles have been published in genealogy magazines.

She resides with her husband in California near the "Gateway to Yosemite." When she is not piecing together novel plots and characters, she enjoys piecing together quilt blocks.

Connect with the Author here: 

~ Facebook ~ Website ~ Amazon ~ Pinterest ~
~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Blog ~

In 1868, Otto Atwell has a 160 acre homestead near Abilene, Kansas and a limp as a result of an arrow shot in his low back while with the 16th Kansas Cavalry on the Powder River Expedition in 1865. What he doesn’t have is a wife. Then again, what woman would want to marry a cripple? 

Libby Jones comes to Junction City as a mail order bride. Not only does the man who sent for her reject her, he tries to sell her to the local brothel to recoup his fee. Otto offers to marry her, but she rejects him in favor of a job with his relatives. 

Will Otto’s offer still stand when trouble from Libby’s past catches up with her?

~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ 

~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon Australia ~

Q&A With The Author:

1.     Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing?

I enjoy driving into the mountains to sightsee and take photos. I also enjoy going to one or two seminars a year so I can tour along the way and while I’m there. I’m also a quilter.

2.     What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?

I want to write more novels than what I have time to do. I try to be more realistic with my scheduling. I have been looking at ways to market more effectively without spending an excessive amount of time on social media.

3.     What are your future projects?

I have an 80K book written that I need to do rewrites on after getting feedback from a cultural sensitivity beta reader. I have another novel written that needs some rewrites, then it gets published. I have a new adult series I published under my real name that needs the next book written. I also hope to write more books for two series—one my own and one sponsored by the Sweet Americana Sweethearts blog.

4.     What is the “message” of your writing? 

I write sweet historical romance, but I often touch on gritty, sensitive issues such as the one in Otto’s Offer. I often write about legal and cultural barriers women faced in the past. Even though many today feel those times are over, I don’t wish my women readers to forget (1) many of those legal disadvantages still existed during my lifetime, and (2) the glass ceiling and other forms of discrimination against women may not be as oppressive now, but they are still there. Don’t lose the legal, social and cultural ground we have gained.

5.     Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life?

I try for more depth than many romance authors in that I will incorporate actual historical events in my books in addition to the developing romantic relationship and the angst. One example is the history of the American Civil War-era 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry that plays a role in Otto’s Offer. Another entire book series I wrote is set in 1884 Mono County, California east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The plots in most of those books are based on actual historical events and conditions of the involved communities. Those who read my books risk learning something.

6.     Have you done anything writing-related, besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?

I’m a blogger. I need to write more for my Zina Abbot Books blog—another goal for this year—but in the meantime I post monthly on three group blogs. One group blog, Sweet Americana Sweethearts, I started two and a half years ago for the purpose of promoting sweet secular romance novels set in North America between 1820 and 1929. As of now, fifteen other sweet romance authors (some are Christian authors) take one day a month to share historical information and spotlight their published books. This blog has its own Twitter account, book club group on Facebook, and we have sponsored several book series for those of our authors who wish to participate. It takes far more time than I would like to administer these activities. However, I feel gratified that I am helping to promote American historical romances that meet sweet standards and are often inspirational, as well as other authors besides myself who write them.  

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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