When her mother passed away, Luz Ramirez was given a second chance at a happy life with her foster mother. What she didn’t count on was that she would meet the dangerous but magnetic Lucien. Even after forcing herself to move away rather than become like her mother, it only takes a few days back for this bail bondswoman to recognize who her heart belongs to.
1. What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
I don’t know if these count, but I’ve gone to Ohio, Nevada, Maine, as well as Lake George and Staten Island, NY for signings/workshops. I love travelling especially for writing!
2. What is the first book that made you cry?
Well, books frequently make me cry but I would say Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire. She was my first major author addiction, and I fancied myself a bit like Claudia.
3. What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Comparisons. This is a trap for new and seasoned writers as well. You should never compare yourself to others. At the end of the day you are your own biggest competition. Every project I take on, I hope is better than my last.
5. Does a big ego help or hurt writers?
Ego is often talked about in the negative but it is just someone’s sense of self-esteem or importance. We should have good self-esteem and definitely a sense of importance. When having a big ego hurts a writer is if it stops them from accepting criticism, or relating to their readers.
6. What is your writing Kryptonite?
Time, I have to manage my time wisely. I think most writers who are also mothers, wives, etc., have to balance their time.
7. Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I don’t really have a choice but to be original. I dream my books so I write whatever I happen to have dreamed about. That doesn’t mean that I don’t get an idea sometimes or plan something out for special projects, but I wouldn’t write something that I didn’t feel inspired to do.
8. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Get contracts for absolutely –everything-.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Hands down I would say conventions and signings. If I didn’t have an opportunity to come out and meet everyone it would be so much harder to make some of the reader connections that I’ve made. I truly love hanging out with everyone!
9. As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
I absolutely love Owls. They’re all over my offices and I have actual barn owls that moved into our barn shortly after we bought our house. They aren’t domesticated but they leave me gifts on the porch in the form of partially digested rabbits and mice.
10. What does literary success look like to you?
I think that changes for me all the time. I always have a higher goal set than what I’m accomplishing. When I set out to write for publication my goal was to be published. It has evolved since then.
11. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
The internet is amazing, however, if I can’t find information that I can trust on the web, I will contact someone who is an expert. An example of this would be the time I asked about a rocket launcher and was given a million youtube links of what they actually do to buildings. That was research gold.
12. What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
I think it’s writing the character in a genuine way but not catering to stereotypes. I don’t tend to focus on the gender of my characters as much as the character of them if that makes any sense.
13. What did you edit out of this book?
Oh boy, well I have to say I edited more –into- it than out of it. I don’t tend to like the delete button but I will sometimes replace or add things to a book. In my mind once it has been written it’s like it happened so I hate to undo it, though I do if it’s not benefitting the story.
14. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I love this question. I sometimes do read them but I’m not obsessive about reading them or knowing how many I have. If a blogger does a nice review I will often share it and thank them. If I receive a “bad” review, I will typically analyze the information and if it’s helpful use it in my next project. If the review is not necessarily helpful I will just accept it and move on. I never engage with people over reviews, other than to thank them.
15. What is your favorite childhood book?
It wasn’t one book, it was a collection of old versions of Fairy Tales and Fables. My favorite story was Billy Goat’s Gruff and the Princess and the Pea. My mother had a hilarious way of doing Billy Goat’s Gruff that I ended up feeling bad for the troll.
16. What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Balancing the artistic creation with the business piece of this industry. I know I’d love to do nothing but crank out stories I love all day every day but there is so much more to writing and being a professional in this industry.
17. How long on average does it take you to write a book?
It really depends on the time of year, how forceful the muse is, and how long the book is. I would say if the stars all align about a month or two at most for a full-length book. I can finish a book in a few weeks if it’s a novella sized story.
18. Do you believe in writer’s block?
I do believe in it. I don’t tend to suffer from it because my muse is my dreams. I never lack for material in fact I sometimes am overloaded. I have friends who write however that have had stretches of silence from their muses. I think the best you can do is keep writing, even if it’s a grocery list or a journal. Listen to music, take in the arts. I feel like the first thing that jumpstarts the muse is other creative outlets.
I don’t know if these count, but I’ve gone to Ohio, Nevada, Maine, as well as Lake George and Staten Island, NY for signings/workshops. I love travelling especially for writing!
2. What is the first book that made you cry?
Well, books frequently make me cry but I would say Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire. She was my first major author addiction, and I fancied myself a bit like Claudia.
3. What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Comparisons. This is a trap for new and seasoned writers as well. You should never compare yourself to others. At the end of the day you are your own biggest competition. Every project I take on, I hope is better than my last.
5. Does a big ego help or hurt writers?
Ego is often talked about in the negative but it is just someone’s sense of self-esteem or importance. We should have good self-esteem and definitely a sense of importance. When having a big ego hurts a writer is if it stops them from accepting criticism, or relating to their readers.
6. What is your writing Kryptonite?
Time, I have to manage my time wisely. I think most writers who are also mothers, wives, etc., have to balance their time.
7. Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I don’t really have a choice but to be original. I dream my books so I write whatever I happen to have dreamed about. That doesn’t mean that I don’t get an idea sometimes or plan something out for special projects, but I wouldn’t write something that I didn’t feel inspired to do.
8. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Get contracts for absolutely –everything-.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Hands down I would say conventions and signings. If I didn’t have an opportunity to come out and meet everyone it would be so much harder to make some of the reader connections that I’ve made. I truly love hanging out with everyone!
9. As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
I absolutely love Owls. They’re all over my offices and I have actual barn owls that moved into our barn shortly after we bought our house. They aren’t domesticated but they leave me gifts on the porch in the form of partially digested rabbits and mice.
10. What does literary success look like to you?
I think that changes for me all the time. I always have a higher goal set than what I’m accomplishing. When I set out to write for publication my goal was to be published. It has evolved since then.
11. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
The internet is amazing, however, if I can’t find information that I can trust on the web, I will contact someone who is an expert. An example of this would be the time I asked about a rocket launcher and was given a million youtube links of what they actually do to buildings. That was research gold.
12. What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
I think it’s writing the character in a genuine way but not catering to stereotypes. I don’t tend to focus on the gender of my characters as much as the character of them if that makes any sense.
13. What did you edit out of this book?
Oh boy, well I have to say I edited more –into- it than out of it. I don’t tend to like the delete button but I will sometimes replace or add things to a book. In my mind once it has been written it’s like it happened so I hate to undo it, though I do if it’s not benefitting the story.
14. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I love this question. I sometimes do read them but I’m not obsessive about reading them or knowing how many I have. If a blogger does a nice review I will often share it and thank them. If I receive a “bad” review, I will typically analyze the information and if it’s helpful use it in my next project. If the review is not necessarily helpful I will just accept it and move on. I never engage with people over reviews, other than to thank them.
15. What is your favorite childhood book?
It wasn’t one book, it was a collection of old versions of Fairy Tales and Fables. My favorite story was Billy Goat’s Gruff and the Princess and the Pea. My mother had a hilarious way of doing Billy Goat’s Gruff that I ended up feeling bad for the troll.
16. What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Balancing the artistic creation with the business piece of this industry. I know I’d love to do nothing but crank out stories I love all day every day but there is so much more to writing and being a professional in this industry.
17. How long on average does it take you to write a book?
It really depends on the time of year, how forceful the muse is, and how long the book is. I would say if the stars all align about a month or two at most for a full-length book. I can finish a book in a few weeks if it’s a novella sized story.
18. Do you believe in writer’s block?
I do believe in it. I don’t tend to suffer from it because my muse is my dreams. I never lack for material in fact I sometimes am overloaded. I have friends who write however that have had stretches of silence from their muses. I think the best you can do is keep writing, even if it’s a grocery list or a journal. Listen to music, take in the arts. I feel like the first thing that jumpstarts the muse is other creative outlets.
Leaning forward he pressed his forehead against hers with a smile he couldn’t hold back. "As to the state of my purity, don't ask questions you don't want the answers to. You live in a world of black and white where the guilty are punished and the innocent live happily-ever-after, but my world is and has always been full of shades of gray."
Luz's eyes darkened to that near black as she looked into his. "I've not yet found a happily-ever-after, and I'm far from innocent. I don't need your charity, your pity, or your protection."
Lucien saw the look of hurt flash over her face before she once again hid behind that blank mask she so often slipped on when she dealt with the outside world. He'd be damned if she'd use it on him, though. Before he could stop and think rationally about his next move he was kneeling on the floor in front of her. "I've never pitied you, and your acquaintance to me has been anything but charitable for you. My protection you will get, whether you like it or not, Luzzy. Even when I'm not there, I'll be damned if someone gets anywhere near you to hurt you."
Luz opened her mouth, and before she could get a word out, Lucien’s impulse and need collided, resulting with his hands speared into her curls, and his mouth eating hungrily at hers. Her muffled shriek of surprise was quickly turned into a moan against his tongue as he took no time in plunging it between her lips when they opened. He knew this was the worst possible thing he could have done, as they'd always been like gas and fire when angry, but he couldn't deny himself.
When her head snapped back he was certain she was going to slap him, or worse. Instead, she gasped for air briefly, then grabbed his ears and pulled him back in for another meeting of lips, teeth, and tongue. He'd never known Luz this way, not for lack of wishing, and he was quickly regretting that he'd not tried this sooner. The sound of persistent banging was the only thing that had him breaking the kiss and backing away from her.
Luz's eyes darkened to that near black as she looked into his. "I've not yet found a happily-ever-after, and I'm far from innocent. I don't need your charity, your pity, or your protection."
Lucien saw the look of hurt flash over her face before she once again hid behind that blank mask she so often slipped on when she dealt with the outside world. He'd be damned if she'd use it on him, though. Before he could stop and think rationally about his next move he was kneeling on the floor in front of her. "I've never pitied you, and your acquaintance to me has been anything but charitable for you. My protection you will get, whether you like it or not, Luzzy. Even when I'm not there, I'll be damned if someone gets anywhere near you to hurt you."
Luz opened her mouth, and before she could get a word out, Lucien’s impulse and need collided, resulting with his hands speared into her curls, and his mouth eating hungrily at hers. Her muffled shriek of surprise was quickly turned into a moan against his tongue as he took no time in plunging it between her lips when they opened. He knew this was the worst possible thing he could have done, as they'd always been like gas and fire when angry, but he couldn't deny himself.
When her head snapped back he was certain she was going to slap him, or worse. Instead, she gasped for air briefly, then grabbed his ears and pulled him back in for another meeting of lips, teeth, and tongue. He'd never known Luz this way, not for lack of wishing, and he was quickly regretting that he'd not tried this sooner. The sound of persistent banging was the only thing that had him breaking the kiss and backing away from her.
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Love the Cover, this is a new author to me but this book sounds awesome and something I would thoroughly enjoy.
ReplyDeletelove the cover and it sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteI think the book sounds great and I'd love to read it
ReplyDeleteAmazing cover and intriguing blurb!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like an interesting read.
ReplyDeletei think the book cover would make a great coffe cup pic on it
ReplyDelete