V.K. Tritschler's Blog

Fleur Blüm is captivating author known for her enthralling tales that delve into the mysterious and the supernatural. With a passion for the paranormal that ignited in her youth, Fleur weaves intricate narratives that blend suspense, romance, and the otherworldly. Her unique storytelling ability invites readers into realms filled with ghosts, mythical creatures, and unexplained phenomena, leaving them both enchanted and intrigued. Fleur’s writing is characterized by rich, atmospheric settings...

Paranormal romance is a genre that captivates readers with its blend of love, mystery, and the supernatural. VK Tritschler has carved a...

Australia is a land of wonders, filled with unique wildlife and rich cultural stories. Among these stories are the fascinating tales of...

If you are a fan of dark romance and paranormal tales, you are in for a treat. VK Tritschler is an author who masterfully blends these...

Vadya tried to close her mind to the flood of feelings that were bombarding her. From the minute her mother’s small Toyota had touched its wheels on the earth of the island, she had felt an unease in the pit of her stomach. A roiling and churning that was not like any roller-coaster or thrill ride in the universe. Something about this place made the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand to attention, and the blood in her veins clamber to get out. Where was this place?

Early that morning had been like any other prior to the phone call. She was brushing her teeth in her tiny Vancouver apartment when the phone rang for the first time. Ignoring it had become a personal habit, and almost a challenge in her younger adult life. Through her college years, her mother had phoned several times a day, but as Vadya got older, she had pushed back and claim her life for herself. When the phone rang for the fourth time, Vadya finally picked up. After all, she couldn’t ignore her the whole day.

‘Where are you?’ her mother had barked, the terse gritty sound sounding almost like she was worried. But surely not. Since Vadya had left the orphanage as a small child, her adopted mother had only ever shown her an icy disdain. Sure, she liked to control her every move, but she never seemed worried about her before. Normally, it was more anger than concern. But today she had sounded different. It caught Vadya off-guard.

In her distraction with the conversation, she had agreed to travel with her, even though the destination and reasoning had been vague. The entire car trip, her mother hadn’t spoken over two words, and as they boarded a ferry for a remote island off the coastline, Vadya had multiple questions on her mind but, like usual, held her tongue.

Now she was here, in the middle of a dense forest, with her mother marching towards a man who leaned on the handle of a sizable axe. Vadya was wondering if maybe her mother had finally lost her mind.

She didn’t have time to get her bearings before they had roared into this stranger’s driveway. A small wooden cottage nestled in the middle of the trees, and a tall handsome man in a white singlet, with a shirt tied around his waist and tight low-slung jeans, was cutting wood near the house. As the car pulled to a stop, Vadya felt her hands trembling. What was going on with her body? She didn’t recall ever feeling this anxious. Not even the time when she left the orphanage had she been this on edge.

Her mother’s body was equally tense as she stepped out of the car, and as Vadya followed suit, it drew her eyes to the face of the man who was now watching her intently from beside the front door.

He was tall, with a strong square jawline and dark hair. The way he watched her made her blood thicken and her limbs weaken. There was something about him that radiated danger, and yet she found herself unable to draw her eyes away from his own. She heard him disagree with her mother and pulled her eyes away to control the tremble in her body. Stop fighting, her internal voice screamed at her. This will end badly. Stop it.

Looking back up, she caught his gaze and shook her head. No, this needed to stop. She didn’t know why, but she knew that this tension was dangerous for all of them. The man blinked, then seemed to relent, and suddenly her mother headed towards the house under the careful gaze of the new host. At least she hoped he was their host, and not their captor.

But before they could step inside, there was the sound of someone else arriving. Turning her head, she watched as a dirty old truck pulled into the space behind their small Toyota. A man with a grey grizzled beard stepped out and looked across at them all, his face grim.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ he growled across at her mother.

It’s time to make a choice!

Should Vadya ~

A) Turn around and get back in the car. This place isn’t safe.

B) Wait and find out what is going on.

Put your choice in the comments below. The one selected the most will determine what happens to the characters next!

As Kerr lifted his arm, the glint from the edge of the axe flickered through the trees before the sharp strike. Repeating the process, his breathing slowed to reflect the calmness that fell over him and the deafening quiet of the woodland creatures around. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he looked across at the wooden cabin that he called home.

Smoke rose from the chimney in a long, thin, gray stream. It reminded him he wouldn’t have long before he would have to stoke the flames again with fresh fodder.

The sound of tires crunching on the gravel drive and heading in his direction caught his attention. His father had gone into town for supplies earlier that morning, so whilst he was expecting him back, the car sounded smaller and lighter. He hoisted the axe over his shoulder and headed back towards the front door to put it back in its

It was unusual to get visitors, given they lived in the middle of a forest on a remote Canadian island. Normally they would have plenty of advanced warning, since there was only one ferry on and off the island and his best friend Blake was the captain of the boat, such as it was. But Kerr had left his phone inside on the bench that morning and had been doing yard-work ever since.

A small yellow hatchback came roaring into view, the wheels flying across the dirt until slamming to a stop near the edge of his porch. Kerr could make out the two female figures inside, both blond. As the doors opened, they stepped out. He noticed one was older and the other around his own age. The older woman wore expensive looking clothing and wore a grim expression. But the younger one almost took his breath away. Her eyes were the most startling shade of purple he had ever seen. It was almost as if they glowed like amethysts as she stared across the car in his direction.

‘Um hello?’ he stumbled through the words, unable to take his gaze away from the almond-shaped eyes, heart-shaped face, and lush pink lips. He caught the soft flush of pink that tinged the woman’s cheekbones. ‘Can I help you?’

The older woman’s eyes narrowed, and she glared at Kerr before looking past him toward the front door.

‘Is Gerald home?’

Whoever this woman was, she apparently knew his father. It piqued his interest. He had lived on this island his entire life and had never once met this woman, nor heard anything about her he was aware of. Surely his father would have mentioned if he had a long-lost female relative. Or perhaps an old flame? Since his own mother had died in his infancy, he had always assumed that his father had never sought comfort from another woman. But perhaps he had? Maybe those trips for supplies through the years had hidden his true intentions?

‘No,’ he rested the blade of the axe against the decking, and leaned on the handle sightly. The older woman’s lips pinched. Whilst he was dying to ask more questions, his father had strict rules for the island. Rule number six was no visitors without permission. No exceptions. And though he loved his father dearly, he knew better than to break the rules.

‘Well?’ she arched an eyebrow in his direction.

‘Well, what?’ he countered back. He noticed that the younger one had lowered her gaze, as if avoiding what he suspected was about to become a feisty confrontation.

Even from the distance, he heard the sharp click of the woman’s tongue.

‘Don’t waste my time, please,’ she growled out. ‘Where is Gerald?’

He was going to answer back with something equally sharp when the younger woman caught his attention when he thought he saw her give a quick shake of her head. Her gaze lifted and caught his own again. There was something about her eyes that seemed to draw him in. They were mesmerizing. Sucking in his breath, he replied, ‘He shouldn’t be long,’ surprising himself that he revealed the truth. What was going on? Why had he told her that?

‘Good,’ the woman slammed close the door of the car and strode in his direction, casually calling to over her shoulder. ‘Come on, Vadya, let’s go inside and wait.’

Vadya. An unusual name for an unusual lady.

Its time to make a choice!

Should Kerr ~

A) Let them inside they seem harmless enough...

B) Tell them to leave. His Father made the rules for a reason...

Put your choice in the comments below. The one selected the most will determine what happens to the characters next!

For a bit of fun I thought I would create a 'pick your own adventure' on my blog and update it weekly for readers to enjoy. Life has been a little hectic, and I am neglecting my writing as a result. This gives me both a chance to engage directly with you, dear readers, but also sets me a task to complete each week to keep on track.

From social media I had requested the genre choice to begin my task, and the winner in this regard is Paranormal Romance, so its going to be a little fun with things that change and go bang in the night.

The story will start with this little introduction...

Kerr grew up wanting to follow in the footsteps of his father. An artist and woodcarver, his father John was passionate about his work and about protecting the forest in which they resided. But there was a dark side to their family tree that Kerr was only just beginning to understand. And the truth started to unravel the day he met her…

Tune in next week to read the first chapter of the instalment....

And at the end of each chapter you will have a decision to make. What direction will you point the story in?

Let the adventure begin!

In the author world, we have a range of people that help us to make it through the whole process of writing a book. From having friends and authors to bounce ideas around with, to family who allow us time to escape and write. We need all these people to allow us to make our art. But equally important is the reading teams and editors. They read the book before the readers can, and make sure that the storylines work and fix all our small mistakes. Sometimes they point out the obvious, and sometimes its the subtle, but their combined forces make for a better story. They are the quality controllers. And this month I had them back at work, and they were so helpful, yet again. Amazing even. So this month I am giving a shout out to my B team who are simply A for amazing. Thank you for all your help in making my work shine!

This month I got to speak with another two amazing authors to find out who supports their art.

This month's authors: JP Mclean

JP writes contemporary fantasy thrillers with a provocative edge. She is best known for The Gift Legacy series. The first book of the series received Honourable Mention at the Whistler Independent Book Awards.

What drew you to supernatural thriller writing?

Growing up, I was always a string bean, the skinny kid, so people assumed I was also physically weak, which really irked me. I think that’s why I’ve always been fascinated by the supernatural; It levels the field. But I also like the possibility that phenomena we can’t explain may exist in the world, like telekinesis and mind-reading. And when you combine supernatural possibilities with a thriller plot, you have endless opportunities for entertaining stories. At least that’s how my writer’s imagination sees it.

You have written a number of books now, are there any standout characters or plots from your collection that are favourites for you?

My favourite character is the protagonist in the series, Emelynn Taylor. She shares a mentor/student sub-plot with another major character, Sebastian Kirk. I had a lot of fun writing their scenes and their dialogue. They are opposites in many ways: she’s down to earth, he’s a snob; she’s new to their secret society, he’s from one of the society’s founding families; she earns her respect, he demands it. Those opposing values provided ample opportunity for sparks in the form of conflict or misunderstanding, and whenever possible, I threw in some humour and sarcasm. In real life, the perfect retort comes a day late, so it’s very gratifying to have the time to write dialogue that delivers the perfect retort right on time.

What’s the most interesting thing that has happened while you writing?

When I began writing fiction, I kept a running list of story ideas in a document on my computer. Some were major items, like plot twists or conflicts, and others were minor items, like a character description, a turn of phrase, or an interesting setting. Back then, I was afraid I’d run out of story ideas, so I hoarded them. One of the most interesting things that happened was discovering that my list of ideas kept growing. With each book, more and more ideas piled up. I’ve since come to realize that my writer’s imagination is a muscle, and the more I use it, the stronger it becomes. I still have that document on my computer, but I no longer hoard the ideas.

If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

I’d visit my family in Ontario’s cottage country. I wasn’t able to make my usual summer visit last year due to Covid, and this year, family health issues are keeping me away. Hopefully, by Christmas I’ll be able to make the trip out and catch up.

JP loves to hear from her readers. They can reach her through her website at https://jpmcleanauthor.com.

I hope you can take a moment to offer support by checking out a book or two, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed! Check out her latest book coming out in October 2021 - Blood Mark!

MJ PrestonMJ Preston is a horror author who lives in Canada. His debut novel: THE EQUINOX was a semi final contender in the Amazon Breakthrough Awards and was called: A solid Horror Novel, by a reviewer from Publishers Weekly. It also captured the attention of horror enthusiasts in the Podcast world where it was met with high praise.

What is the appeal of horror writing for you?

I suppose it's because horror offers much more in a way of versatility to both the storyteller and the reader. I mean horror distorts our reality and core beliefs? For a writer, that's highly exploitable. You get to do stuff to people in horror that would get you arrested in real life. You can put a character into varying degrees of circumstances. From moderate to off the charts. Maybe the protagonist's love interest has a murderous doppelganger? Maybe the protagonist is mildly conflicted. I mean he really digs the Girl with the Doppelganger. So, what's a few dead people in pursuit of true love and long-term relationships? Well, maybe not as conflicted as we thought. In horror you decide how far down that funhouse corridor you are willing to go. The joy of writing horror is that almost anything goes. The only challenge for me is knowing where the line past almost anything is.

Do you prefer short story writing or novel writing, and why?

I don't have a straight answer on this. In the last decade, most of my projects have been novels or a series of novels. I'm comfortable writing larger tales, and most of my novels come in around 400 plus pages. My second novel, ACADIA EVENT is almost 600 pages. But there is a bit of gray in that statement. For me, telling a story comes a chapter at a time with an overall outline in my head. Each chapter is in itself a story, that's why all chapters in my books are named. As an example, going back to ACADIA EVENT, Chapter 18 - The Kitchen Nazi. In this chapter I weave a tale of a female cook in a bunkhouse north of the 60th parallel who is both loathed and feared by the drivers. She is the kitchen nazi, a woman who is reported to touched the eggs she cooks with a bare hand after scratching a personal area. She will also chase down anyone taking extra apple or cookie from the kitchen.

With your multiple artistic endeavours, do you find they assist each other and how?

Generally, I am all in on a writing project and try not to do anything that will impede getting that book to the finish line. But I do have selfish pleasures in photography and art which help to distract from the bumps in the road. If I have a particularly piece or chapter, I'm struggling with, sometimes a little music on the earbuds and breaking out the paint program is just the remedy. Much of my art has been used in the covers of my books and stories. Not all of it, but much of it and that's all a part of the creative process for me. If I could play a guitar, I'd probably compose a soundtrack for my books, but I leave that to the pros.

I am working on a new novel, and its funny you should ask this because, I also have a mistress story that I run too. I'm not ready to talk about that project other than to say, I have no idea where it's going and only that it is funny and sure to offend. But it is a good place to go if I need to step out of one world and into another as a virtual long weekend.

Who is one author you have never met but would love to, and why?

30 years ago: Hands down! It would have been Stephen King. Twenty years: Robert R. McCammon. Ten: Tom Clancy. Present day: John Sanford. But behind Sanford, there are plenty of close bets. I've been lucky enough to meet some of the folks I've read, I won't drop names, but none of the above.

Now, about John Sanford, I think I'd love to meet him, because his writing has entertained me so much over the years and I'll get fawn all over him like Annie Wilkes from Misery. Seriously though, I'm just a fan of his work, I look forward to more. Who wouldn't want to have a beer with the guy who gave us Virgil Flowers?

MJ loves interacting with readers and talking about writing.

Come and find him at the following links.

Homepage https://mjpreston.net

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mj.preston.9

Twitter: @MJPreston1

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for them by checking out his books, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone! VK Tritschler Coming out in October 2021!

He’s back, and he’s protective.

Nicci, an abandoned were-panther only just reunited with her family, has now not only formed her own pack and become the Alpha, but has become a target for others who want her bloodline.

Dru, a famous race car driver and inheritor of one of the most influential packs in Australia, was trying to escape notoriety and his fate but instead found Nicci and fell in love. Now he must prove himself worthy of being pack Alpha by being a better leader than his father ever was.

Together they formed a new pack in a deserted town called Nowhere in the wilderness of rural Australia.

When Sebastian, a were-bear from Nicci’s past comes to town to warn them that she is in danger, Dru can’t handle his emotions. Mad with jealousy, he soon finds himself unintentionally back in the clutches of his father’s plans. Nicci’s family come to help defend the folk of Nowhere, but are their efforts genuine or do they have plans of their own?

Who will save Nowhere, or will both their worlds collide?

Coming soon! Stay tuned for more or subscribe to my website for the latest information!

I was watching Harry Potter with the family again the other day (a bit of quality bonding time as it were), and the characters were in deep pursuit of the horcrux to defeat the villain. The horcrux held a part of the villains soul (as it were) to allow them to stay immortal.

It got me thinking. If I was the villain, what would my horcrux be? A pen, carefully carved and holding in it all the tales I have yet to be written? Or maybe it would be a key on a laptop, just the letter that I typed with most often. Or could I be braver than that, and have my favourite book, carefully signed by my favourite author? Or would that steal a part of their soul as well?

And then I realised the truth of the matter. Every book that I write is my own kind of horcrux. A part of my life and thoughts is intertwined in those lines of text. But unlike those of JK Rowlings world, destroying mine will not destroy me (although that thought does make me wince a little). And they will survive and hopefully live on long after I have shuffled off this mortal coil. Which is, I guess, a kind or immortality.

This month's authors: VS HolmesVS Holmes is an international bestselling author. They created the BLOOD OF TITANS series and the NEL BENTLY BOOKS. Smoke and Rain, the first book in their fantasy quartet, won New Apple Literary's Excellence in Independent Publishing Award in 2015 and a Literary Titan Gold in 2020.

What is it that drew you towards fantasy writing?

I grew up reading a lot of science fiction and fantasy, and adored worlds that made my imagination really work. But, I noticed a lot of these books didn’t have characters who were like me. It was odd to see a world where dragons were possible, but people who looked, loved, or thought like me weren’t. When I started writing, I wanted to change that. I create worlds where all sorts of different people can live and thrive and face danger--but not because of who they are. Speculative fiction is a wonderful medium, because it allows us to imagine worlds we wish ours could become.

What would you consider the biggest highlight of your writing career to date?

Finding my incredible readers! I’ve won a few awards and the first books in both of my series are now international bestsellers, but honestly, what strikes me the most is when a reader reaches out to say they saw themselves in my work, or that my characters helped them find solace or community. While writing is a career, making money isn’t why I write--and honestly, unless you’re incredibly privileged, it’s very difficult to make this career your day job. I write because I’m fascinated by people, and the way we work, and I want to bring my readers inclusivity, entertainment, and hope.

Who would you consider biggest supporter or influencer for your books and why?

Oh there are so many! Being an independent creator is such a difficult and yet rewarding process--especially for those of us who are marginalized. I’ve been very lucky to find such a fantastic corner of the writing community. Of course there’s Mickey at Creative Edge, who fights tooth and nail for my work to reach its audience, and I’ve been so grateful to also work with a fantastic marketing team at Zero Alchemy. Honestly, though, I’m so deeply grateful for every queer and disabled reader and writer out there who reminds me why I do this, and that I’m not making this journey alone.

If you could be in any universe, what one would you like to visit and why?

I’d love to visit the Doctor Who Universe or the Star Trek Universe. Both have such a sense of fun, inclusion, and hope that I really appreciate. Plus, not having to deal with money in the Star Trek Universe would certainly help out a whole lot! Doctor Who speaks to my little trans heart, since I think it would be pretty incredible to transform your body every so often! I love speculative fiction that really leans into the diversity such a massive universe has to offer, and love creators who don’t fall into the trope of a bleak, authoritarian, dark future.

VS is active on a range of social media--but mainly Twitter--but also has a newsletter where you can snag free copies of Disciples and The Tempest, check out early cover reveals, and get interesting books you might like delivered to your inbox each month! If you’re already a fan, you can check out Patreon where certain tiers offer yearly paperbacks, eBooks, and even a chance to be written into a project as a side character!

Site: https://www.vsholmes.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/V-S-Holmes/e/B014B55FJ0/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VS_Holmes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vsholmesofficial/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vs_holmes/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/VS_Homes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/vs_holmes

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/v-s-holmes

Podcast: https://podcast.amphibianpress.online

I hope you can take a moment to offer support by checking out a book or two, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Dave & Lillian BrummettThis power-couple not only write books, they are talented in music, business, blogging and more. With such extensive talents I was keen to learn more about them and how they do things.

How did you begin writing books and what was your first inspiration?

The first book we published was based on a column I wrote as a freelance and also as a staff writer... that column ran every 2 weeks and was published all over the world, from Canada to Africa and the UK. There was so much information we could not fit into the column and that often frustrated me, and so we decided that would be our first book. We hoped that the topic would be timely with the increased interest for information on living a green lifestyle, saving money while reducing waste and cutting back on energy and water use. We queried quite a few traditional publishers and received a few positive responses and after some research and back and forth communications we made the decision and went from there. Later, in 2012, this became a 2-book series: Trash Talk - It's Easy To Be Green.

As prolific writers, podcasters, bloggers and marketers, how do you manage your time and day?

Time management is always an issue - it's a delicate balance, really. I often feel like I have more to do than time allows. While it is true, we have worn many hats (professional product and book reviewers, blog managers, talk radio hosts, self-marketing authors, freelance writers, staff writers, etc.) we now focus on 3 aspects of the business - managing the 2 blogs, writing and marketing books, and running the music studio. Dave holds a 'day-job' and so is gone for more than 8 hours a day, and so my job is to run the office, deal with members of the media, submit queries, run the blogs and manage social networking sites. I'm also responsible for managing the household, the 3 dogs and cat, the gardens (and garden harvests) and the yard. Dave does house, yard, car maintenance but also runs the music studio and manages the website. He handles the images, does the technological duties from formatting books to designing ads. I find I've become quite a multi-tasker (she laughs) - running laundry and watering the garden (using a timer) and doing an interview like this at the same time. I'll turn off the phones, put a sign on the door and generally disappear from the public view when the office is busy. It is a balancing act, for sure.

The Brummetts love to chat to their readers so make sure you drop them a line: http://BrummetMedia.ca

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for them by checking out their books, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone! VK Tritschler Have you got your copy yet? The next book is coming out in October 2021!

What happens when two lost were-panthers meet for the first time?

Nicci, a were-panther abandoned as a child and without a pack, finds herself on the run from the law. With nothing left to lose, she doesn’t trust anyone, especially her own heart.

Dru, a famous race car driver and inheritor of one of the most influential packs in Australia, is trying to escape notoriety, and his fate. Prepared to throw away everything, he is trusting his instincts to get him through.

Together they find themselves stuck in a small rundown deserted town called Nowhere in the wilderness of rural Australia.

Can they learn to trust each other and find a future, or is the call of the wild too strong?

AMAZONKOBOBN

Unlike a painting that you can hang on your wall, or a statue sitting picturesque in your garden, a book is a tangible artistic expression that requires work. Not just by the author (artist) but also by the reader (admirer). And like a painting, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I have always been a Jane Austen fan. I admire her wit and characterisation of social inequity cleverly coated in romance and family drama. But equally I know many people who can't stand her work, and instead would prefer a Tolstoy or a Stephen King. I feel however as an author that the reward that we get from our artistic expression is when we connect with those people who see the beauty underneath the page. The hidden message between the lines. But as a reader, the reward is connecting to a character or a place. To feel emotionally invested in a story and to feel like you are a part of this new world.

I was keen to find out what reward this months authors were receiving as they continued on their artistic pathway and this is what they told me.

This month's authors: Diane HesterDiane is an Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist, and writes compelling, and relentlessly suspenseful books. With a new book out, I was keen to see what rewards she was getting recently.

You have a new book out full of twists and turns, what appeals to you about suspense writing?

First of all, VK, thanks for having me on your blog!

Yes, my new book, No Good Deed, is a thriller set in Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills. I love writing about ordinary people thrust into danger. The unexpected twists and turns in suspense give my characters extra surprises to deal with.

I think of suspense as being different to mystery or crime. With mystery/crime the hero is the person in charge who often possesses some sort of expertise or training – a police detective, a forensic expert, a profiler, private eye, etc.

The suspense protagonist on the other hand generally has no special training and is unprepared for the dangers they face. They must dig deep to find hidden strengths they never knew they had to better the villain.

Where mystery is more an intellectual exercise – unravelling clues to solve the crime – suspense is more an emotional ride. It’s that emotional roller coaster and character growth that appeal to me about writing suspense.

With a background as a violinist, do you ever get inspiration from your musical training and how does that manifest in your writing?

My musical background hasn’t really had much impact on the types of stories I write. However the training I went through to become a musician has definitely helped me cope with the ups and downs of being a writer.

One of the first things I learned from music is that, no matter how much (or little) talent I might have for something, if I practice it every day I’ll get better at it. Because violin is such a hard instrument I also had to find coping mechanisms for dealing with delayed gratification. A valuable tool for facing rejections as a writer!

Another thing I learned, both as a student and from being a teacher, is that it’s often the people who have to work the hardest who go the distance. I’ve seen many naturally talented students become discouraged or give up entirely the first time they hit a major challenge – up until then everything had come easily to them. Whereas students who had to work for every advancement took such hurdles in their stride.

What’s your favourite part of writing a book, and what part do you find the hardest?

My favourite part is when I get a little germ of an idea and realize there’s a story in it, that I’ve struck a vein of possible gold. I love when an idea grabs hold of me and sets me on fire creatively.

I also love the first time I see my characters come to life on the page and start doing things I hadn’t expected.

The hardest part of writing for me is getting my story’s first draft written. Once it’s done, however, I love tinkering with what I’ve written, the editing part. To me it’s like, the Christmas tree is up, now I get to decorate it!

Diane likes to connect with readers via Facebook and their comments about her books on Goodreads. (Yes, she's read every review and often takes on board things readers say for her next novel!) You can also find her at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diane-Hester-author-382428688549296

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30986067-hit-and-run?from_search=true

Website: http://www.dianehester.com/

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her book, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Luna JoyaAward-winning author Luna Joya writes hex and sex in The Legacy Series, praised for its romance, mystery, and magic. I was keen to hear about how she expresses her artistic world.

What is it about paranormal romance that appeals to you and have you ever written other genres?

I love how paranormal adds that “extra” to the guaranteed happily ever after with magical and supernatural elements. It lets me layer more twists and turns into every story to keep my readers flipping pages.

I once wrote dark stories with dark endings, and my agent asked for even darker. But I wasn’t happy, and I was thankful they weren’t published so that now I can always guarantee a great ending for my readers.

Romance is love and hope. Who doesn’t need a little extra of that in their lives right now?

Who are your support people, and how do they help you?

I have so many support people. I have a great publisher, an amazing editor, and great teachers. (Yes, I will always be learning new craft skills because my readers deserve the best.) Writers can be extremely generous and supportive when you find the right group. I have too many writer friends to name even as an introvert. My husband will listen to any crazy plot ideas I throw at him without ever reading a single page.

But my biggest supporters? My readers. When they email me what they loved about the books or post encouragement on social media, it’s the best.

Is there any part of the writing process that you find more difficult than other parts?

Most writers hate revisions. I love them because they let me take an “okay” draft and tinker it into something great for my readers. Worrying about the first draft, if it has all the right pieces of the oh-so-massive puzzle to emotionally connect with readers is probably the hardest. Oh, and the two kinds of scenes where I dedicate the most writing time? Steamy sexy times and fight scenes.

Who is your favourite character, either one that you created or one that you have read, and why?

I have to pick one? But I love all of my characters. Even the villains. Maybe especially the villains. They’re so much fun to write because you can sink into their characters and make them larger than life. Queen Clio in my series is a blast to write with her warped immortal perspective—a goddess of beauty with such brutality. Maybe that’s why she keeps reappearing.

Luna loves writing her reader newsletters, and having readers respond. She also adores talking with readers as part of the Paranormal Romance Rock Stars on Facebook. Maybe you could stop by and hang out with them!

https://lunajoya.com/newsletter/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/paran...

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her books, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone! VK Tritschler Join me for a LIVESTREAM launch of my latest book A TOWN CALLED NOWHERE...It will be available at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1351912111851763/ on Friday at 6:30 PM UTC+09:30It will have INSIDER tips and stories about how the series was created and the characters involved!

What happens when two lost were-panthers meet for the first time?

Nicci, a were-panther abandoned as a child and without a pack, finds herself on the run from the law. With nothing left to lose, she doesn’t trust anyone, especially her own heart.

Dru, a famous race car driver and inheritor of one of the most influential packs in Australia, is trying to escape notoriety, and his fate. Prepared to throw away everything, he is trusting his instincts to get him through.

Together they find themselves stuck in a small rundown deserted town called Nowhere in the wilderness of rural Australia.

Can they learn to trust each other and find a future, or is the call of the wild too strong?

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PREORDERAMAZONKOBOBN