In Spring of 2011, a neighbor, bearing one little CD, changed my life.

He offered this CD as an introduction to 14 more CDs. If I liked what was on the first CD, I could ask to hear the rest. I liked what I heard enough to ask, so I did. And with the same enthusiasm as I listened to the first, I listened to the rest. I LOVED them.  They opened my mind to a new way of thinking, and they introduced me to a new way of living.

My neighbor hadn't known it (I hadn't yet either), but he had given me those CDs at the most daunting time in my life. Not a few weeks later my husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The tumor took up two-thirds of his bladder. He needed to have it removed. This was something my husband did NOT want to do. But he had no choice. We needed to act quickly. 

During this time, it was easy to slip into pity mode. But since my husband had the right to feel sorry for himself, I knew I had to be strong. Those 14 CDs helped me to do that. How did they help? It was all about the law of attraction - what I would think about, is what would manifest. If I'd thought about my husband suffering, then would I actually think him into suffering? I did not want to do that. So I would listen and listen to what the CDs told me to do...and not to do. I would visualize my husband healthy and happy. I would think about him with a healthy bladder and a healthy attitude.

What I wouldn't do (because the CDs told me not to) was talk about his cancer in the negative. If someone would ask how he was feeling, I would say, "He's feeling better each day." Or, I would say, "We found a great doctor who knows what he's doing." I wouldn't fall prey to those looks of sympathy and I definitely would not talk about his cancer...not unless I was saying something positive.  I also wouldn't say to myself, "John will NOT have cancer," because the law of attraction states that the 'universe' would hear 'cancer' and that's what John would have. 

Should I believe what was said about the law of attraction? 
I felt I had no choice. I wasn't taking the chance.

I listened to those CDs over and over and practiced their way of thinking every moment of every day. I managed to get through that whole summer with merely two mental breakdowns (which was awesome for this highly emotional empathetic Libra). I was determined to stay strong and positive. I couldn't expect my husband to do the same, but I was impressed with his attitude nonetheless. I shared with him each day what I had learned about thinking positively, and I believe he tried to think that way as well.

In any event, within three months, hubby was clean of cancer. Of course he lost a bladder, but he gained a brandy new NeoBladder (if you want to know what that is, you can Google it, that's not what this post is about). It was a long road to recovery, but he recovered. And along the way, I learned that positive thinking can help you through most anything. (I say most, because obviously I have not experienced everything, so I wouldn't know).

So is there a SECRET to getting what you want? I'd say yes. And it's this...YOU DO BECOME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT MOST OF THE TIME.

You can find out more about the law of attraction in many books, the most popular being THE SECRET.  As for the 14 CDs, I'm not sure I'm allowed to share that information, since it was part of a business network that my neighbor was part of. But there are many books on the subject. Since listening to those original CDs, I have found a plethora of books (I download audiobooks, I love to listen in my car) that help enhance my positive thinking. I do not go a day without listening to one of them. 

This post is the first of a series of posts that I would like to talk about on the subjects of the law of attraction and positive thinking.  My life has definitely changed for the better. Since THINKING only positive thoughts, I have changed many things in my life and I am excited to share what they are and HOW I got there. So, stay tuned...I will try to have a new post on the subject each week. 

As always, friend, KEEP SMILING,
Smiles,
J.P.

Post Script: Since publishing this post, I have been given permission to give my neighbor's name and his email. If anyone would like a copy of the 1st CD that began my travels on the road to positive thinking, my neighbor will send you the CD for free. Just tell him 'Julie sent you.' 
His name is Richard DuHaime and his email is: richduhaime@verizon.net

Welcome to our first ever FALL VARIETY BLOG HOP. We are all a bunch of authors who met in an online writing contest called Textnovel.com. All of us became fast friends and big supporters of each other's work. We decided to put our collective heads together and entertain you all with our first ever blog hop. It's a VARIETY because we all write in different genres. So, grab the beverage of your choice and enjoy the hop!


I love Autumn. Just the smell of the falling leaves brings me back to my dear old golden school days:  images of gym class and football games. French class and cheerleading. New friends and first crushes. And with first crushes, I'd be remiss if I didn't remember my first kiss.

FIRST KISSES can be scary, but they can be oh so sweet. 

In every romance book we wait for that moment...when our hero and heroine get those butterflies and they lean in close to one another, foreheads touching, noses colliding, and then... their lip touches lip and before you know it, they're embraced in their FIRST passionate, romantic kiss. I know that's the moment I'm always waiting for when I'm reading a romance. A good author will have me falling in love all over again. 

There can be many first kisses. Our absolute first kiss when we're still in grade school. Our first 'long' kiss (hopefully we're in high school).  Our first kiss to the man we've finally fallen in love with. 
They're all wonderful. First kisses are fun to write, they're fun to read and they're fun to hear about.

Some first kisses can be comical (anybody ever lock braces or pull on your partners hair by accident).  Some can be sexy (maybe you've had a 'Christian Grey' in your life).  Anyway, if you'd like a chance to win a signed copy of one of my books, your choice, (descriptions can be found on my home page) all you have to do is tell me if you're first kiss (ever) was 'great' or 'sweet' or 'yuck'. You don't have to leave details (you can if you want). Just leave a one word comment about it.  I'd love to hear your answers. (Oh, and fyi...my first kiss was 'yuck' - I didn't like it at all)

And, please don't forget to go and visit the rest of the authors in the Fall Variety Blog Hop:

J.P.:  So, Steve, when did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Steve: I've always been a writer. As a kid I made up stories in my head all the time, although I rarely wrote them down. Creating stories and characters was something I just did. I started thinking about publication as a teenager and started a book in my long summer holiday. Unfortunately, school and exams etc. took over and I never got round to completing it.

J.P.:    Well I'm sure glad that changed. Tell me, what inspires your writing?

Steve:  Life in general. People are fascinating. Life itself, nature, the world around us; everything is amazing if you just take the time to look and appreciate. Get your imagination into gear, open your eyes and ears and prepare to be enthralled.

J.P.:    What other jobs have you done or are still doing besides writing?

Steve:  I trained as a biochemist, and worked in cancer research for several years. I've also done stints in a pizza shop and a printers' engineer's.

J.P.:      Wow, that's one diversified list.  What genres do you enjoy writing, and why?

Steve:  I love thrillers. I suppose because that's what I like to read. I also like crime. I find writing for the YA market really satisfying as well.

J.P.:     What’s been the hardest thing on your journey as a writer?

Steve:  I think it's learning to trust myself and have the courage to get the stories down on paper.

J.P.:      What’s the most enjoyable thing on the journey?

Steve:   When I get into the zone and the story just flows. It's a fantastic feeling. Time seems to stand still. And when I read back something I've written and think, “Hey, that's actually good!” it's one of the best feelings in the world.

J.P.:      How much support do you receive from your family?

Steve:   Enormous support. I can't thank my wife enough for enabling me to live my dream.

J.P.:      How do you manage your schedule to balance writing with other responsibilities?

Steve:  Not as well as I should. I need a bigger fence round my writing time to prevent other things breaking through!

J.P.:     Don't we all!  Okay, what aspects of your life (such as hobbies or places you’ve traveled) have you included in your writing?

Steve:  Quite a few. Places I lived as a child, or where my grandparents lived crop up as settings, either named or fictionalized. I use karate in my books too, again either as a sport a character does or just when describing what happened in a fight. Most of my characters like football (soccer) as I do.

J.P.:      What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Steve:   Writing is a skill like any other, so take the time to learn and to practice. You wouldn't expect to win the formula 1 world championship without even bothering to have driving lessons, but many people hope to make millions as an author without giving a thought to the actual craft of writing. Read as much and as widely as you can. Write the story that burns inside you, not the one you think you ought to write or the one you think will sell. Then write, and keep writing until the story is finished. When it's finished, go through and edit, polish it until it shines, until it is the absolute best you are capable of. And enjoy the whole process.

J.P.:   Wow, that is awesome advice, Steve. And, so,so true. Okay, here's another question your readers might want to know. Are you a  plotter or pantster?

Steve:  Plotter.

J.P.:    Describe your ideal “writing room” -- and your real one.

Steve:    My ideal writing room would have a huge window overlooking the sea, a desk and very comfortable chair, a state-of-the-art computer and walls lined with neatly-indexed books. There would also be a comfortable couch to lounge on whilst reading or plotting.

My real writing room is the smallest spare bedroom, overflowing with books and equipment. Incredibly untidy. No chance of a couch.

J.P.:  Too funny. Okay, what, to  you, is  the value of networking

Steve:   I'm not sure words can express the value of networking. It is essential.

J.P.:     Steve, do you ever get writer's block? If you do, how do you overcome and do you have any tricks to stimulate your writing?

Steve:   If I'm really stuck I take one of my characters, usually the main character, and just write anything. For instance, for my WIP, I began, “Hunter was so pig sick of not knowing what to do that he went to visit his sister...” Then I just wrote a stream of consciousness piece on the interaction between Hunter and his sister. None of this has actually gone into the book (yet!) but it got me moving again.

J.P.:     What is your favorite genre to read?

Steve: Thrillers

J.P.:      Do you have a favorite author?

Steve:    Not one author in particular, there are so many brilliant writers out there.

J.P.:      Do you prefer reading or watching television?

Steve:     It depends on the mood I'm in.

J.P.:      What is your favorite television show?

Steve:    I watch a lot of sport. Formula 1 is my favourite, but I'll watch most sports.

J.P.:      Do you have a favorite car?

Steve:    The Aston Martin one-seven-seven brings a smile to my 

J.P.:     What were your inspirations behind your stories?

I can't pinpoint any one thing in particular. I'm not one of those writers who are bombarded with so many ideas they are distracted by them, I have to go and hew them out of the ideas mine by hand, often with a blunt toothpick!

J.P.:     Who is your favorite character from the books you've written, and why?

Steve:    I like my main characters. In PAYBACK it's Skids; he decides what needs to be done and he does it, failure is not an option. In BLIND SPOT it's Jon.

J.P.:    How do you choose your titles?

Steve:   I wanted something short and snappy that also fitted in with the story.

J.P.:      What research was involved?

Steve:   I had to find out some things about police procedure, but for the rest of it I used stuff I knew about already.

J.P.:   So, what do you hope readers will get from your novel?

Steve:   I'd like to think they'll be caught up in the lives of the characters and go through everything with them. I want them to get to know them and care about what happens to them so that they feel angry or indignant when other characters treat them badly, root for them to come through, and share their emotions page by page. At the end of the books I hope they feel satisfied and glad they invested the time in reading them.

J.P.:   Where can readers connect with you online?

Follow me on twitter @SMJauthor

Well, Steve. Thank you so much for joining us today. It was nice to get to know a little bit more about you. I wish you the best of luck and much, much success in your writing career. 


Readers, besides twitter, you can click on the images at the top of the page to read a bit more about Steve Jenkins' books...you can buy them on Amazon.


As always, thank you for visiting my blog. Keep reading. Keep smiling.


Smiles,
J.P.

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with Stefan Ellery, author of science-fiction/fantasy/horror and children's books. He's even tapping into a little romance within his stories.  I've learned a lot from my interview with Stefan, including who's his biggest fan - his son! 


These are some of the questions I asked him. Read on, and find out what makes Stefan Ellery tick.


When did you know you wanted to be a writer?


In Highschool I wanted to be a writer. I would often write poems though they were of teenage angst. I also attempted to write fantasies but I was not ready to write anything long. Unfortunately I was unable to stick through it.

What inspires your writing?

Movies, nature, books. I often walk in a crowded city or through a patch of wildereness and my mind goes wild with thoughts and ideas. Walking through a grove of oaks will make me think about faces in the knots of the tree. Many of my ideas also come when I am walking my dog.


 What other jobs have you done or are still doing besides writing?

·Mostly I have been an audiovisual technician, I’ve worked in Hotels, Hospitals and colleges. I am currently an AV/multimedia Technician in an Environmental college. It is an interesting job and I see interesting things while I am there. I’ve also worked at a digital signage company and demoed video editing equipment. Though I will never forget working at the western Harbor Castle where I had to do an AV set up for Kenny Rogers. I had got to shake his hand.

What genres do you enjoy writing, and why?

I have not limited myself as of yet. I am still learning what I can write. At the moment I have written children stories, short horrors, supernatural and science fiction. I have not written a full romance but I have included elements of it in some of my stories. Though I thing I have enjoyed writing short ghost stories the best. I tend to write them to so I can face the unknown.

What’s been the hardest thing on your journey as a writer?

Getting there has been the hardest part. At each moment I was close to accomplishing a written work, something would push me away from it. People who insult me for what I write. Even when I managed to complete my stories it was because I had become sick from stress and I had been away from work for over a year.

What’s the most enjoyable thing on the journey?

I learnt that writing heals me and now I could never give it up. I also enjoy reading my stories to my son.

How much support do you receive from your family?

My son gives me a lot of support; he wants to read everything I write. My wife finds my work boring because she wants a murder in the beginning of my stories. She is a Dan Browning and Clive Cusler fan and I do not write like them. I do get a lot of support from my mother and she does not want me to give up on writing.

How do you manage your schedule to balance writing with other responsibilities?

I don’t, I am awful at it. I tend to write late at night and I have to push myself away from distractions. I probably would do better if I had a publisher giving me a cutoff date for a manuscript.

What aspects of your life (such as hobbies or places you’ve traveled) have you included in your writing?

I practice Karate and have often used what I have learned in my novels to help make a fight scene more interesting. Many of my short stories include the town of Lindsay since I live there and I want to make it more magical and mysterious than it really is. I also use Toronto as that was my previous residence and I very much love the city.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Listen to your heart and ignore those that think you should give up. You can only become a better writer by writing. Your early works may not be the greatest, but your future works will be so much better.

Plotter? Or Pantster?

I’m a panster. I tried plotting but for some reason I lose track of the story when I plot.I also find my writing clicks together in my head much better than something I had planned on paper.

Describe your ideal “writing room” -- and your real one.

My ideal writing room would be in the middle of the city at the top of a sky scrapper overlooking the buildings and seeing the lights of the traffic. I would have a large oak desk and a dimly lit room. My real room has my bed and a desk with a computer on it. I have iron angels, comics and books in shelves. Though I have a nice desk I tend to write in bed.

The value of networking

Networking is the best thing one can do as a writer. You will learn about publishers, agents from other writers plus many writers will give you morale support when you need it. Always network it will lead you to some great places.

Writer’s block and how you overcome it

There is no such thing. If I can`t come up with something for my story I will write something else than come back to my first story.

Tricks you use to stimulate your thinking

I make-believe. If I see a rock I imagine what lies under it. Trees I pretend there is a dryad inside of them. Clouds especially ominous ones give me all sorts of ideas. Oh and old buildings to have so much to say in the brick and mortar that one cannot help find a story in its foundations.

Then I decided to ask Stefan some fun questions he could answer.  This is what he had to say:

What is your favorite genre to read?

Modern Urban Fantasy

Do you have a favorite author?

Charles De Lint


Do you prefer reading or watching television?

Reading, though I have had trouble reading since my stress problems

Do you watch television? What are your favorites?

Yes though mostly on Netflix. A game of thrones, Grimm and Alphas

Do you have a favorite car?

For some reason I like the Juke apart from that I don`t care so much about cars.
(Just in case you didn't know, a Juke is a funky little Nissan Crossover/SUV)

A favorite pet?

I have had many pets but Shakira my dog calms me down and is there at my bedside to wake me up when I stop breathing in my sleep. I have sleep apnea

Besides writing, what excites you?

I love playing video games. Guildwars 2 and Diablo 3 are my latest distractions. I also enjoy fishing and learning about new technologies.

Favorite vacation spot - real.

P.E.I along the coast
(Prince Edward Island, in case, like me, you didn't know that. lol)

Favorite vacation spot – ideal

I want to visit India and see where my dad was born.
(That's pretty neat, I thought)

Tell us about your books, Stefan.

Currently I have one short story The Miller`s Daughter, published in The Dark Light anthology by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing. I have a self-published novella called Unfililterd and have finished 2 books of a series of four. The name keeps changing so I`m not going to mention the titles. The current novel I am writing is live onTextnovel and you can see the work in progress. It is called Hidden in the Light and it is a dystopian novel about a boy who believes the Angels have saved his planet but he soons find out what they are and how he has been lied too.

 What was the inspiration behind the story?

I`ve read too much news lately and have been getting sick of the lies we have been told to justify each new war and the extra security to keep one safe. In fact I am starting to find the world is starting to represent a more Orwellian look. I wanted to express my feelings in a dystopian novel.

Who is your favorite character from the book, and why?

At the moment it is Kulko. He is bird like humanoid and has an odd sense of humor that is mixed in with his stubbornness.

How did you choose your title?

I needed something temporary it is not the name I will go with.

What research was involved?

A lot of the information I put in was collected from watching lots of documentaries through my life. Heck, I even used noodling for catfish as a way of catching a land creature.

How does the setting play a role in the story?

The setting is very important -  it guides the behavior of my characters and determines how they live. You have one village that is resource rich but the villagers are ignorant to what had happened in the past and what the angels are while on another planet you have a village that is in a dry desolate land and they know who and what they fight.

 What do you hope readers will get from your novel.

I want them to feel that there is more than meets the eye in the current world we live in. I also want them to feel like they are part of Darren`s journey. He is the protagonist in the novel.

 Wow, this story sounds fascinating. Will there be a sequel? 

No Just a one shot

Okay, give me the blurb for the book in 140 characters or less:

Darren on his sixteenth birthday must go into the service of the angels as do all children born that reach the age of sixteen during the day of tribute. He is excited to serve them but soon learns a truth that will change his life forever.

What’s next for you?  

I`m thinking of writing an anthology of ghost stories.

Where can we find you, Stefan?

www.sellery.weebly.com

www.textnovel.com/story/Hidden-in-the-Light/8832/

Stefan, best of luck to you...I can't wait to see more of your books and anthologies out there.
Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer my questions.

Readers - Please go take a look at Hidden in the Light at Textnovel.com and PLEASE, why not give Stefan your vote.

Happy Friday.
Smiles,
J.P.

·        When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

·        I never imagined that I could write a novel. I’ve always been a reader and books were my treasures. It wasn’t until three years ago when my son was going to be going to college and I was facing the empty nest that my sister suggested that I try to write.

·        What genres do you enjoy writing, and why?

·        I write what I read, western romance. Cowboys have always been a favorite of mine.

·        If you had never moved to Texas, what do you think you'd be writing about? Or would you even be writing?

·        Wow good question. I probably wouldn’t have tried writing. It was moving here and not having friends that left me at loose ends looking for something.

·        Who is your most favorite character you have ever written? Why?

·        My favorite character is Rheenie a five year old pistol of a girl who is in my upcoming novel Ryelee’s Cowboy. She brought out the humor in me.

·        Who is your most favorite character that another author has written? Why?

·        Jo March from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. I loved that she dared to be different. She was honest about her insecurities yet she forged ahead.

·        What genres did you read before you started writing?

·        I love anything romance, especially historical novels.

·        What’s been the hardest thing on your journey as a writer?

·        I think the hardest part was trying to prove to my husband and son that writing wasn’t just a cute hobby.

·        What’s the most enjoyable thing on the journey?

·        The friends that I have made.

·        How much support do you receive from your family?

·        My brothers and sisters and my Dad have always been incredibly supportive. I don’t think my husband knew what to think until his co--workers told him how much they liked my novels.

·        How do you manage your schedule to balance writing with other responsibilities?

·        I’m fortunate that I am able to write full time. I don’t know how other authors do it, with kids and work. I admire them.
  

·        What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

·        Read. Write. Find out the rules of writing your genre.

·        Plotter? Or Pantster?

·        Mostly panster.

·        Describe your ideal “writing room” -- and your real one.

·        My ideal one has an assistant that edits as I write-- my real one is at a desk in my living room looking out the front window.

·        The value of networking

·        You have to network if you want to sell books. While you write make friends with authors, join some online groups. I believe that the facebook share button is the most under used tool on the internet. The more you share the more you get shared and that exposure is so valuable.

·        Writer’s block and how you overcome it

·        Haven’t had it-- If I come to a standstill I walk away and jump in later

·        Tricks you use to stimulate your thinking

·        I don’t think I have any

Let's talk about Texas Haven, what was the inspiration behind the story?
·        Texas Haven is the first novel I wrote. The inspiration is pure emotion. I love a book that makes me cry.

·        How did you choose your title?

·        While writing it, I kept saying Texas------ what? It wasn’t until I finished that Haven came to me.

·        What research was involved?

·        I used to read a book a day, that was my research. Being new to Texas I absorbed a lot, from the name of flowers to being around horses.

·        How does the setting play a role in the story?

·        I love small towns with quirky residents. I think it brings depth to a story. The ranch is the place that Annie and Burke get to know each other. In Texas Haven, Annie has never seen cattle before. It’s fun to see everything from her perspective.

·        What do you hope readers will get from your novel

·        I hope that they love the emotion of love and heartbreak and love again.

Give me the blurb for Texas Haven in 140 characters or less:

Advertising for a wife seems like the answer to all of Burke Dawson's problems. He wants a wife and kids without emotional attachments. He has no idea how much havoc one woman can cause. Annie Douglas has her heart set on Burke's love and she isn't about to stop until she gets it

What’s next for you?  

Ryelee’s Cowboy comes out next month

Lone Star Joy comes out in September

Stetson’s Storm comes out in Feb


www.kathleeballromance.com

My author app---- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onseeker.kathleenball&reviewId=04652713688120867808

Buy links

Amazon   http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Haven-Dawson-Series-ebook/dp/B008R0DPYS/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1343906419&sr=8-11&keywords=kathleen+ball

Barnes and Noble  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/texas-haven-kathleen-ball/1111384162?ean=2940015030051 

Kathleen Ball's Author Bio:

A voracious reader, Kathleen quickly discovered the world of romance novels and she knew she was home. Kathleen wrote her first book two years ago. She was shocked to find out that people loved what she wrote. All of Kathleen's novels are award winners. Callie's Heart is her first published novel. It is the first book in The Lasso Springs Series. Kathleen lives in Texas. She moved there from Rochester, New York and is having the time of her life exploring Texas culture. Kathleen is married to her wonderful husband Bruce and they have one son, Steven. They just welcomed new additions to their family, a new daughter in law, Brittany and her cute as a button son, Colt.

She feels blessed to be supported in her writing by her family and friends

Tonight I have a special blog for you. 


I had the pleasure of interviewing author, Amber Dane. Amber recently released Gem of Gravane, a medieval romance and the first in her Northern Knights Series. You can click on the photo to the left to view the description on Amazon.


Although her Northern Knights Series is an historical romance, Amber Dane is multi-genre author and screenwriter. But, instead of me going on and on, why don't I let Ms. Dane speak for herself.



 
When did you know you wanted to be a writer? 


When I was 10 years old and I realized the bubble above my comic book characters limited what I wanted them to say or do. I found myself writing out the details on the back of each frame.

What genres do you enjoy writing, and why? 

I write in several, but Historical romance, sub-genre-medieval is number one. Others: horror, romantic suspense/thriller/crime and non-fiction. 




What’s been the hardest thing on your journey as a writer?

Time, confidence in my writing and working around family life. 

 What’s the most enjoyable thing on the journey? 

Always will be writing ‘The End.’ To date: Getting comments from wonderful fans that they enjoy my writing. It’s an incredible feeling that they take time out of their busy lives to tell you. A great gift I treasure.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

I know we all say it, but it never gets old: perseverance. No matter which route you plan to publish, never give up and stay the course. Write from your heart, dreams and believe in it. The passion will show in your writing. Above all else read and write as much as you can.

Plotter? Or Pantster?


Both. Lol, depends on the genre and characters. Some wake me at 4 am to get their story told.

 Describe your ideal “writing room” -- and your real one.

Large circular window, curved desk and oceanfront. Real one~ L-shaped desk, garden view and use it sparingly. I write mostly in my raised bed. Best spot!

Writer’s block and how you overcome it:  

I don’t get it. There’s always something churning in my head. But I do get bouts where I need to calm myself from a hectic day, clear my head to get in the writing mode. Just a few things I find most calming for me- music in my ears, meditation, tai-chi or a drive

 Tricks you use to stimulate your thinking: 

Hands down, Research! One word can trigger a whole novel from beginning to end in my head. This I think comes from writing scripts.

About your book: 

Conquering the Dark Axe~Release date will be announced on my website.

Who is your favorite character from the book, and why? 
 
Rourke (The Dark Axe). He is modeled after my real-life soul mate. Big and strong with a beautiful heart. The only difference is my character’s hair is blonde.

How did you choose your title? 

When writing a novel, I let the characters tell me. Usually 4 or 5 ideas will pop up. But the more the novel unfolds, one fits in perfectly.

 What research was involved?

History of England and architecture tomes from my bookshelf and some online tidbits.

What do you hope readers will get from your novel? 

An afternoon or two of enjoyable fiction escapism.

 Will there be a sequel? If so, tell us about it. 

Yes. There is one more novel in the Northern Knights series.  I can’t reveal too much without giving it away, so I will just tell you: It involves the last knight of this trio, old wounds are addressed and it is very different from the other two. Some familiar faces may re-appear.

Give me the blurb for the book in 140 characters or less: 


Fearless and battle-scarred, Norman warlord, Rourke Thorsson accepts his fate…he must take to wife the sister of his dead betrothed. But the Saxon hellion has not accepted hers and Rourke vows to bend her to his rule~no matter what it takes.

What’s next for you? 
 
I will be releasing a single title (historical romance) right before the debut of Book 1 in my Viking series.

Amber Dane is a multi-genre author and screenwriter, but her first love is Historical Medieval Romance. She enjoys the old style, bodice rippers, charging knights, alpha males and more.

If you would like to interact online with Amber Dane, you can at the following websites.

Blog: http://dain54.wordpress.com/

Website: http://amberdane.webs.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Amber-Dane-Author-Page/167892949940902

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Amber-Dane/e/B007MXU7VU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1


Thank you, Amber, for a wonderful time getting to know you.

Smiles,
J.P.