Monday, May 16, 2016

SIMPLY THE BEST -- AWARD WINNING AUTHORS' BOX SET

By L. A. Sartor

Hi Caroline, thank you so much for allowing me this opportunity to meet your readers and hopefully help them find six new authors in this boxed set.

Were you the shy kid or the tomboy? Married, single? Children?

Not shy at all, in fact, mom always said when someone wanted to help me with something I’d say “Lessie do it.”  I’m still that way today. I’m married to the man I met on a blind date, arranged by his father and a coworker. I told the woman that I didn’t want to meet this man because I knew I’d marry him. Yep, going on 30+ years.  (I was a child bride J hehe)

We don’t have children. I have a blood condition that would make carrying a baby full term very difficult. My brother and I were very lucky to be adopted, and Gary and I thought about going that route. But we both had demanding careers, I owned a jewelry business and he is an attorney. It just became a non-starter.  But I love watching babies grow into children (skip the teens) and into adults.

How long have you been writing?

Mom says I’ve been telling stories since I was 3 or 4 years old.  Later I wrote what would now be fan-fiction in Jr. High School until my English teacher called a conference with my parents and me and told us I’d never be a writer because I hated grammar. That all I apparently wanted to do was tell stories. 

Mom recounted this story years later when I told her I was going to write a book.  Apparently I stopped writing that very day. I didn’t recall the incident at all.  It’s amazing what a bad teacher can do, just as it’s amazing what a good teacher can do.
My editor told me recently that anyone can learn grammar, but not everyone can tell a story.  I’m keeping that close to my heart.

Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?

I write either in my home office or during the spring, summer and fall, outside.  I need quiet and solitude, which makes writing outside difficult. But being inside on a gorgeous day is criminal J I love music, but can only listen to it when I’m trying to get into a mood. Some of my favorites are Pirates of the Carribean’s I Don’t Think Now is the Best Time from World’s End. It has so many emotions in that one song. Or when I was writing Stone of Heaven, I’d listen endlessly to All That I Am by Rob Thomas.
I write on a laptop and edit on my PC. I have an iMac as well that I use for my photography.  I love computers.

When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge? Hobbies?

When I left the day job, I turned into a writing machine.  Everything got pushed aside.  This year, I decided it was time to pull back and play. I’m relearning the piano, it’s amazing what happens when you leave it for even a short time.  It’s certainly not like riding a bicycle. I love photography and I am honing my skills.  I enjoy the artistic editing of photos and paper crafts…oh and sewing.  So I could literally spend all day just playing.  And that doesn’t include my need for beach and travel time. 

What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

I love this question, it’s never been asked before. We authors love to find the perfect setting, the perfect guy (eventually), but a satisfying romance is more than glamour and all that is attendant with the genre.

So at first, I wanted to answer your question with the word “escape”, and I still like that answer. I want to visit places and learn things when I read (from newspapers to books, I love to read). But as a writer, I also want to bring a sense of believing in the power of yourself.  Of learning to trust yourself and trust others. Trust is a theme I use a lot in my writing.  The biggest compliment I can get from a reader other than “I loved your story,” is “wow, you understand exactly what I’ve been through.” They identify with some part of the story, even the sad parts. If you smile or cry or laugh, then I’m a happy writer.

Thanks for asking such wonderful interview questions.

My links are below and I’d love to meet your readers on any of my social media.

I have two wonderful book related things happening this year.  A new book Prince of Granola, set in Costa Rica (maybe Caroline will ask me back when it’s finished and I can tell you about it.) And my participation in this boxed set: SIMPLY THE BEST -- A COLLECTION OF INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL AWARD WINNING ROMANCES. Six award-winning authors, six books, one incredible collection, all for 99 cents. Yep, that's right.





Links:



THE BOOKS:

HAUNTED BY DEATH by Dale Mayer
Suspense Winner
Death haunts anthropologist Meg Pearce...  In her last summer before college, an innocent camping trip ended in a friend’s disappearance...and destroyed her life.

ANGEL'S ASSASSIN by Laurel O'Donnell
Historical Winner
Damien is an assassin, a man with a tortured past. Sold into slavery, he is trained to kill. Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness. When Damien enters Aurora's life, tempting her with promises of forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart.

** BE MINE THIS CHRISTMAS NIGHT by L.A. Sartor ** ME J
Short Contemporary Winner
Children’s author Annie Hamilton’s dream of having a family resurfaces when Cole Evans moves next door with his two young boys during the Christmas season. But the lure of happily-ever-after with the brilliant scientist is overshadowed by the risk that revealing her secret will destroy this chance.

 AHUNTER4RESCUE by Cynthia A. Clement
Paranormal Winner
A unit of elite alien warriors, known as Hunters, crash lands on earth and their leader is torn between getting his men to safety or protecting the human woman he has bonded with.

THE FINE ART OF KEEPING QUIET by Charity Tahmaseb
Young Adult (Contemporary) Winner
No one expects the girl who has mastered the art of keeping quiet to join the speech team. But Jolia does. When a crush-worthy rival offers to coach her in secret, she can't say no. But secrets have a price, and this one might cost Jolia everything.

THE MAPMAKER'S WIFE by Kathy L. Wheeler
Short Historical Winner
A flippant proposal and an attack on her person finds one young woman married to the mapmaker who only needs someone to take control of his ungovernable child. Feelings quickly shift into something less platonic and when the enemy gains vital secrets, her suspicions land her in jail.

 THE AUTHORS :

DALE MAYER is a USA Today bestselling author known for her page turning plotlines and heartwarming characters. A prolific writer, she specializes in Romantic Suspense, but also writes thrillers, comedy, and contemporary romances.
And if you’d like to try out one of her books for free – click here - http://dalemayer.com/starterlibrarytc/

LAUREL O'DONNELL is a best-selling author and has won numerous awards for her medieval romances, including the International Digital Award and the Holt Medallion Award. You can visit her website at www.laurel-odonnell.com to stay up to date on future releases.

L. A. Sartor, Author


L.A. SARTOR is a bestselling, award-winning author writing novels with a dash--or a lot--of romance.  She lives in Colorado with her husband whom she met on a blind date. Find her at www.lasartor.com  for book information and sign up for her mailing list.

CYNTHIA A. CLEMENT is an award-winning author who began writing when she was a teenager. Her novels reflect her love of romance, strong honorable heroes, and suspense intertwined with the intriguing and unexplained.


CHARITY TAHMASEB has slung corn on the cob for Green Giant and jumped out of airplanes (but not at the same time). She’s worn both Girl Scout and Army green. These days, she writes fiction (short and long) and works as a technical writer.

KATHY L WHEELER
Award-winning author Kathy L Wheeler loves travel, fantasy football, NBA and musical theatre. As an avid reader of romance and patron of the theatre, her main sources of inspiration come mostly from an over-active imagination. Kathy writes contemporary and historical romance, from sweet to spicy.



6 comments:

Caroline Clemmons said...

Welcome, Leslie, and all the ladies. Sounds like your box set is "simply the best" and I look forward to reading your books. Thanks for sharing with us today. I apologize for the white streaks--no idea why they appeared. I deleted and reposted, but so did the streaks.

Leslie Ann aka LA said...

Hi Caroline, I had the best time answering your questions. Thanks so much for hosting me.
The white streaks are probably the BG color when you copy and pasted. I get those once in awhile as well, they are a BEAR to remove.

I hope you enjoy the set. And I'll see you soon on my blog. Can't wait.

Hugs to all,
L.A.

Kathy L Wheeler said...

So fun!!!

Audra Harders said...

Hi LA!

I love your editor's philosophy - anyone can learn grammar, but not everyone can write a book. There's truth in every word of that! I can't count how many contest entries I've judged by unpublished authors where not a word or comma was out of place, but the story didn't have heart.

I've read all of LA's book and I promise there's plenty of heart in each of them. I know this collection will not disappoint either.

Thanks for sharing your inner secrets and thank you Caroline for hosting LA!!

Unknown said...

Fantastic.
Thank you Caroline for hosting and Leslie for your wonderful interview.


Lisa Potocar said...

Fun questions, Caroline, and great interview, Leslie Ann! I can't tell you how thrilled I am that you overcame your teacher's bad advice to write the stories that you do. And, boy oh boy, what wonderful stories you write--definitely why you are an award-winning author. I'm so looking forward to your next tale.

What a thrill for you to gaze upon your book as part of a box set with other award-winning authors. Congratulations--you so deserve it. Keep up the exemplary work!!!