Showing posts with label Laurel O'Donnell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laurel O'Donnell. Show all posts

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.



Monday, September 19, 2011

AUTHOR LAUREL O'DONNELL PAYS A VISIT

Before we start our interview today, let me reveal that the winner of Karilyn Bentley's free download of MAGICAL LOVER is Lilly Gayle. Congratulations, Lilly. Karilyn will be in touch. Now on to our regularly scheduled blog interview.
Readers, please welcome award winning author,  Laurel O'Donnell, as our guest today. Laurel's awards include the prestigious Holt Medallion for A KNIGHT OF HONOR.



Laurel O'Donnell, Author
Caroline: Readers love to get to know authors. Please tell us about growing up.

Laurel: I was raised as the oldest in a family of five, one brother and three sisters. I am now married with four children of my own and live in Illionis.

Caroline: Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?

Laurel: They change all the time. I like finding new authors to love! Right now, I’m reading Victoria Alexander and Loretta Chase. I really enjoy medievals and, ironically, I really like reading about the Victorian era. I say ironically, because I don’t write in that era.

Caroline: Loretta Chase is one of my favorites. I just started her latest, SEDUCTION IN SILK. How many books do you read a month? What are you reading now?

Laurel: It’s hard to find time to read when all my time is taken up by writing. I am a very slow reader, as it takes me about three months to read an entire book. Right now, I’m reading Loretta Chase’s LAST NIGHT’S SCANDAL.

Caroline: I can imagine with four children and your writing, you reading time is curtailed. When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge? Hobbies?

Laurel: I play Rock Band on the Xbox and sing. It’s more fun if my children play with me. I also play SIMS Medieval on the computer. Or sometimes I just play Spider Solitaire or chess on the computer. I also enjoy shopping!

Caroline: Would you like to share any guilty pleasures that feed your muse?

Laurel: Coffee, chocolate. “Supernatural,” the television show. Those boys are very inspirational!

Caroline: Um, yes and as writers we can call it research, right? Describe yourself in three words.

Laurel: Loyal, devoted, and friendly.

Caroline: How long have you been writing?

Laurel: Since junior high school. I used to write myself in as the heroine in television series like Starsky and Hutch.


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


Laurel: I write at my desk in my bedroom on my PC. Semi quiet is good. I usually don’t listen to music, but my children have the television on in the other room. I also can write in a notebook if I need to.


Caroline: Are you a plotter or a panzer?

Laurel: I am definitely a panzer. I’ve tried to plot, but it just doesn’t work for me.

Caroline: Do you use real events or persons in your stories?

Laurel: I have used real events and persons in my writings. THE ANGEL AND THE PRINCE was set during the Hundred Years War between England and France. One of the major battles took place during the battle of Agincourt and both the Ryen and Bryce, the heroine and hero, were in the fight.

Caroline: Do you do your research before you begin a new project, or as you go along?

Laurel: I did a ton of research on my first novel, THE ANGEL AND THE PRINCE. But it took me five years to write it. Now, I research as I go. The web is a wonderful tool!

Caroline: Yes, I imagine the research for that book was very time consuming. Tell us about your writing schedule. Do you set goals? Do you write daily?

Laurel: I try to write at least one page a day. If I do more then that, great. More importantly, I give myself one to two hours a day for my writing.

Caroline: Do you write full time or do you have a day job.

Laurel: I have a part time day job. I drive a bus for the school district my children attend.

Caroline: Ooh, you must have nerves of steel. LOL What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

Laurel: I would love my writing to bring a sense of hope to my readers and excitement. I just want them to enjoy the story I have to tell.

Caroline: Me, too...and for them to buy my next book. What advice would you give to pre-published authors?

Laurel: Finish your novel! So many writers tell me they’ve started three or four novels. Finish it! When you’re done, go back and polish. Don’t get discouraged. Be persistent. And never give up!

Caroline: Great advice. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself?

Laurel: I have five cats. I used to work at King Richard’s Faire where I was taught to sword fight!


Caroline: I love cats, but don’t have a clue about sword fighting. Tell us about your latest release.

Laurel: CHAMPION OF THE HEART is a medieval romance set in 1333. It’s the story of Lady Jordan Ruvane who is lifelong friends with Fox Mercer until his father is stripped of his lands and titles. Feeling betrayed by Jordan’s desertion, Fox’s turns to a life of crime, hiding in the decaying ruins of a haunted castle with his gang of thieves.


Jordan hides a dark secret from her childhood, a secret that will threaten the lives of everyone she holds dear. As she comes of marrying age, her father announces a tournament in her honor. The winner of the tournament will earn the right to claim Jordan as his bride. A mysterious champion clad in black armor enters the tournament, but he is after much more than just the Lady’s hand in marriage.


What happens next will change the Fox and Jordan’s lives forever. Can Fox conquer the secrets of the past and truly become the champion of his lady’s heart?

Caroline: Intriguing. Can you give us an excerpt to tempt us more?


Laurel: Here’s an excerpt:


“I told you before you could not escape,” he whispered hotly. He held her firmly against the wall, his body pressed against hers.


Jordan knew he spoke the truth, but not the truth as he believed it. It was the truth as she knew it. How could she escape from Fox? And how could her children ever depend on her again if she couldn’t fight to get to them? She couldn’t hold even a trembling dagger to Fox. Uselessness, frustration, and helplessness all welled up inside her, spinning and churning until Jordan couldn’t keep her feelings inside. Warm tears slipped from her eyes and dripped onto her cheeks, and her body trembled with a sob.


Fox placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face to his, studying it for an eternal moment in which Jordan fought hard to bury her feelings. She lifted her chin slightly, waiting for his scorn, waiting for his berating words.


But when the silence stretched on, she lifted her gaze to his. She was unprepared for the tenderness she saw in those blue depths. He lifted a finger to trace the path of one of her tears. Then he pulled his hand away from her, slowly rubbing the tear in his fingers, staring at the glistening drop for a moment.


His blue eyes seemed confused, and a slight scowl marred his brow as he continued to inspect the tear on his fingertip. Then he looked at her again and his gaze swept every inch of her face. A warmth spread throughout her body that suddenly brought her senses to life, sharpening them. The muscles in his strong chest pressed against her breasts. The power in his thighs crushed against her. And something dangerous stirred inside her — something powerful threatened to engulf her. Her vision dropped to his lips, lips that were so sensual, so entrancing. Lips that were slowly moving closer and closer.


Jordan didn’t fight him; she wanted to feel his kiss. She wanted the intoxicating feeling rushing through her body to grow. His kiss would only make the dangerously delicious sensation run wild inside of her.


And then his lips closed over hers, a startlingly gentle caress, a warm, wet brush of his lips. But with that simple touch, exhilaration filled Jordan’s body. It was unlike anything she had ever felt, tender and warm, but filled with a fiery spice all the same.


Then his tongue touched her lips, gently sliding along the length of her mouth, caressing, coaxing. She felt a jolt igniting its way through her entire body from the tips of her hair to the edges of her toes. She gasped against his lips and he dropped his hands to the small of her back, pulling her closer to him as he delved into the recesses of her mouth.


Jordan felt herself being swept away by the emotions raging through her. Her world was spinning on its axis, and she had to cling to Fox as if he were the only thing keeping her from falling. But the tighter she clung, the greater the waters seemed to swirl about her.


“I won’t let you go, Jordan,” he whispered against her lips. “Not this time.”


Laurel: For more excerpts and sample chapters, visit my website - http://www.laurel-odonnell.com/champion-of-the-heart/

Caroline: Where can readers find your books?


Laurel: All of my books are listed on my website, as well as sample chapters and links to purchase them. http://www.laurel-odonnell.com/

Caroline: How can readers learn more about you?

Laurel: Again, please check out my website. All your questions should be answered! And if they’re not, please feel free to contact me with your question. You can contact me through my website. http://www.laurel-odonnell.com/



Thanks Caroline, for interviewing me! It was a pleasure to let your readers get to know me.

Thank you, Laurel. Wishing you continued success with your busy writing career!