Dawn Marie Hamilton dares you to dream. She is a 2013 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist who pens Scottish-inspired fantasy and paranormal romance. Some of her tales are rife with mischief-making faeries, brownies, and other fae creatures. More tormented souls—shape shifters, vampires, and maybe a zombie or two—stalk across the pages of other stories. She is a member of The Golden Network, Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal, Celtic Hearts, and From the Heart chapters of RWA. When not writing, she’s cooking, gardening, or paddling the local creeks of Southern Maryland with her husband.

Thank you for inviting me here, Morgan.

How long did it take you to write your first book?

Long time. I wrote the first draft in a year. Then I joined RWA® and a local chapter and learned I didn’t know the rules. I spent the next year taking workshops, working with critique partners, and revising. I entered several RWA chapter sponsored contests and received wonderful feedback along with a couple of finals. After working with a freelance editor, I released ‘Just Beyond the Garden Gate’ in May.

Describe your first break.

Finalling in the 2013 Golden Heart®. It was thrilling to receive the call from RWA. I screamed, I cried, and well, you get the picture. I am beyond happy and honored.

Did releasing your book go as you planned? What was easier? What was harder?

Mostly went as planned. The hardest part was getting the formatting right. In the future, I’ll consider outsourcing that. Marketing is time consuming, but expected.

Who do you consider your role model writer? Why?

J R Ward. She is a skillful storyteller and savvy business woman.

Do you have a character/book crush? Who?

I must admit to having two. Jamie MacLeod from ‘A Dance Through Time’ by Lynn Kurland. And Wrath from ‘Dark Lover’ by J R Ward.

What is the best thing about being a writer?
 Can make my own hours.

What is the worst thing?
Can make my own hours.

You write about hunky, muscular highlanders. What do you consider three must haves in your hot male?

Muscular arms and shoulders to provide loving hugs, eyes that draw a woman in, and a tenderness within their hard exterior.

What book will you never get tired of rereading?

‘Dark Lover’ by J R Ward

Why set your books in Scotland?

Being of Scottish descent, I’ve always been enamored with all things Scottish. Especially the dramatic history.

How did you research your book?

A lot of reading. Reading about the culture, history, settings, etc. After choosing North Carolina as the current period setting for ‘Just Beyond the Garden Gate’, I attended the Highland Games and Gathering of the Scottish Clans at Grandfather Mountain. I continue to attend local Scottish events and I’m a member of Clan Hamilton. If you have the chance, I highly recommend attending a Scottish Gathering near you.

What is the most romantic thing to ever happen to you?

Meeting my husband while hiking. I literally tripped over him on top of a mountain. Love at first sight.

Pantser or plotter?

Mostly pantser, however, I start with an outline of the story and short character sketches on index cards. I storyboard while writing.

What do you see the direction of your future writing taking? What can we expect next? Give us a little taste.

Write, write, write. I hope to add several more stories to the Highland Gardens series. ‘Just Once in a Verra Blue Moon’ is planned for a September release. ‘Sea Panther’ my Golden Heart finalling manuscript is the first in a Scottish inspired paranormal series.


Cat or Dog person ?

Dog. I love shelties.

Wine or Beer ?

Wine, preferably a rich, pinot noir.

Milk Chocolate Dark Chocolate?

Dark, the darker the better.

Jeans or Dresses?

Dresses. 

Check out Dawn Marie's book, Beyond The Garden Gate

Come Find Me Two Years Ago...

Six words that propel ice-hockey-playing tomboy, Arizona, into an alternate dimension.

She suddenly finds herself  living the life of a glamorous cheerleader. She finds herself transported from her happy life with her dad to living with the mother she hates.

Everyone knows her as Arizona Darley, but she isn't. She is Arizona Stevens.

As she struggles to find answers she is certain of two things -- that her mother is somehow responsible, and that she wants to go back home to her real life.

That's until she meets Kellan...

PORTAL REVIEW ***** Five Stars

Portal by Imogen Rose is the first in the series of what has been described as a science fiction romance. It is more than that. Science fiction is often things we wish could be true. Other times it is the alternative reality that we are terrified if it came to be.  Portal manages to be both sides of the coin.

The book starts with Olivia being pregnant with her unborn daughter, Arizona, and facing the inevitable breakup of an already rocky marriage. She walks into a bar to meet friends and rubs against a blue-eyed man who steals her heart with one look. The strangest thing is he tells her to come meet him in the past. Olivia does just that. How many of us wouldn’t love to live part of our lives over especially when we find ourselves in a sticky situation? Olivia is no exception.

The only problem is not everyone might be on board with the plan. Arizona, her daughter, has developed into a tough hockey-playing girl who doesn’t take crap off anyone. She falls asleep in her father’s car and wakes up in her mother’s car. If that isn’t weird enough her mother insists she is taking her home. Only their home is palatial. The man her mother keeps insisting she call Dad is unknown to her. Her bratty sister turns out to be nice and she has an older brother. If that isn’t enough in her new world, she’s a blonde cheerleader.

This might be someone’s version of paradise, but it isn’t hers.  All she wants to do is go back to the way things used to be. There are a few problems. Her mother is determined to keep her there. She’s met a guy who only exists in the new world. Some kids at school seem to have it in for her. Then there’s the chance her new place might be self-destructing. It’s up to Arizona to find out what is going on because the adults aren’t talking.

Portal is amazing in detail, but I find Arizona’s inner struggles even more complex. While she realizes she doesn’t fit in her new world, she does find things to like about the new Arizona’s life.  Her desire to return interferes with her mother’s perfect world for her family. There is a great deal of teen angst too for the younger readers. There’s a message for the mothers too.

Portal is a great read from its beautiful cover to riveting plot. Adult and teen will both enjoy it.  Two thumbs up for this book.  




Imogen Rose Interview
What are your ambitions for your writing career?

My main aim is to keep having fun with it.  Although the publishing end will always feel like a job, albeit an enjoyable one, the writing process has to remain effortless. I would love to see my books eventually adapted for TV or film.
Which writers inspire you?

I am inspired by authors who step outside the norm and explore new visions. George Orwell, in my opinion, did so when he wrote 1984 (which seems to be a precursor to all things dystopian. And Koushun Takami, who wrote Battle Royale (precursor to all things Hunger Games).

What have you written?

Up to 2010, my writing was limited to scientific papers published in journals as part of my work as a surgical immunologist. Portal was my first work of fiction. This series has now been completed and is composed of five books. I have written four books in my new series, the Bonfire Chronicles (the fourth yet to be published). I am not great at blogging. I leave that to the experts.

Give us some insight into the main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

She is suddenly uprooted from her life and dumped into a new one in the past. She has to learn to live with her new circumstances, while trying to figure out what’s happened to her and what she can do about it. Thrown into this mix are Wanderers—time traveling paranormals.
What are you working on right now?

I am working on Uprising, part of my Bonfire Chronicles series.
What genre are your books?

YA/paranormal

What draws you to this genre?

I never set out to write in this genre, but found that I tap most easily into my teen years. It’s also a fun genre to be able to share with my daughter who is addicted to YA TV.

Have you written any other novels in collaboration with any other authors?

Not exactly, but I have been a small contributor in a few (Drabbles II, by Michale Crane, Let’s Get Digital, by David Gaughran,  and Interviews with Indie Authors by Claire Ridgway).

When did you decide to become an author?

It was only after I had published Portal that I felt driven to continue the story. Combined with the warm reception that my first book received, that made me decide to become an author.

Why do you write?

To give the characters who live in my imagination an outlet to express themselves.

Do you have a special time you write or how is your day structured?

No… I write when I feel like it, often when I am waiting for my daughter to finish whatever activity (ballet, theater, voice lessons, hockey, surfing) she is busy with.

Where do your ideas come from?

My imagination seems to be overflowing with them.

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

The last book I published was Fusion, the final saga in the Portal Chronicles. This book had to conclude the story line, and that frightened me a bit since I am a total panster who never outlines or plans anything. To my surprise, the story came to a natural conclusion without me having to manipulate it in anyway. The hard part was when I wrote the last couple of chapters. It was so very difficult saying goodbye to those characters that I have come to love and that have become so much a part of me.

What is the easiest thing about writing?

The actual telling of the story comes naturally. I just sit down with my computer in my lap and start typing.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

The first draft takes under a month for me to complete.

Do you ever get writer’s block?

Not so far.

How many more books do you plan to be in this series?

The Portal Chronicles is now complete with five books in the series. I am, however, planning a prequel (Nucleus), which I will be working on next year.

What project are you working on now?

I am working on Uprising (Bonfire Chronicles). I am also having my books translated into German, French, Spanish, and Japanese, which is very exciting.

Who designs your book covers?

I designed the Portal Chronicles covers. The Bonfire Chronicles covers are designed by either Phatpuppyart and Najla Qamber Designs.

How are you published (*i.e. indie, traditional, or both) and why?

Indie only. I love the independence and control that offers me.

What would you say are the main advantages/disadvantages about being self-published/traditional publishing?

The main advantages are that I am in charge of my own destiny as far as storyline, covers, and marketing go. The disadvantage is that marketing on my own is a challenge, and I feel that this is where traditional publishing has an upper hand (if one is published by the big six or Amazon).

How do you market your books?

I aim mostly to get visibility via book bloggers. I am very fortunate to have received such a warm reception within the blogging community. I also occasionally buy ads on Facebook and other media outlets. My fans have been a great support to me and are awesome at sharing my books with their friends and family.

How did you choose this route?

I accidently stumbled into it. I never went into this thinking that I would publish Portal. I was merely looking for a nice way to bind the book so that my daughter could have a copy of it to share with her friends. I found Createspace, which had a “publish” option. I thought, why not?

Do you have any advice for other authors taking the same route as you?

Have your book professionally edited and stick a genre-appropriate cover on your book. Then market constantly and persevere.

Do you have a strategy for finding book reviewers?

I tend to send my books out on blog tours. It’s a fun and relatively easy way to reach book bloggers who are interested in your book.

What are your views on social networking for marketing? Which worked best for you?

I use Facebook and Twitter the most. They both work well. I’m sure that I should be using my Instagram more, but I am pushed for time at the moment.

Did you make any marketing mistakes or is there anything you would avoid in the future?

Marketing is a fluid endeavor. What worked two years ago may not work today, so it’s important to be flexible and learn to let go of things that may have worked in the past but are just not getting results any longer. I have sometimes found it hard to let go, especially if the marketing was via someone I have become friends with.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

Get off your butt and do it.

What is your favorite book and why?

1984, by George Orwell. The book is original and beautifully written, keeping me glued to the pages no matter how many times I read it.

Where can you see yourself in 5 years time?

My younger daughter will be seventeen in five years… so I will be doing the college rounds. J

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Never starve your dreams to feed somebody else’s ambition.

How can readers discover more about you?

Website: http://imogenrose.com/

Blog: http://imogenroseblog.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Imogen-Rose/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ImogenRoseTweet

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/imogen-rose/24/a15/72b/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/imogenrosepin/

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Imogen-Rose/e/B0035Z3ZPO/

Instagram: ImogenRoseGram

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3397290.Imogen_Rose
To end: Give us three Good to Know things about you. Be creative.

I hate whiners.

 Compliment my bag or shoes, and I’ll immediately bond with you.

 I write fiction. I make stuff up… all the time.

 

Amazon Review backlash is gathering speed. Perhaps you heard of authors having their reviews pulled from Amazon. This is especially frustrating because many authors do review books for online sites. All authors read so why can’t they enjoy the same right to review books as Mama Kitty Cat or Anonymous? The reason traces back to a few venomous authors, or authors’ spouses, who felt the need to write critical reviews of their competition having never read the books.

Amazon, discovering this practice by an isolated few, believed all writers were guilty of it. If you were a known writer, your review was suspect and removed. Ironically, several good reviews penned by authors disappeared too. Why is that? Apparently, the few who wrote scathing reviews also wrote glowing reviews about their work, often making new Amazon accounts to do so.

The ban against authors writing reviews is only for the author’s genre. If a writer wrote science fiction, all his reviews about science fiction novels would vanish. Get a clue Amazon, a genre writer would be a huge fan of that genre. Joanne Harris, author of the popular Chocolat book and movie, remarked that an author of the genre is an expert reviewer of the material since they understand the genre.

In fact, they are much better than the amateur reviewer who condemns a book for being what the genre demands it to be. A good example of this was a bondage romance that an author offered free for a week. The book cover featured two naked people tied together. The blurb mentioned it was a bondage novel. Several reviews condemned the book for all the nasty sex.  Obviously, these were not fans of the genre, and only picked it up because it was free. It could be they never read the book, but wanted to blast the genre or author.

What about mean spirited people who write scathing reviews about books they never read? The Michael Jackson biography, Untouchable by Randall Sullivan is a good example. As soon as the book went live, a Twitter campaign started to slam the book and demanded its’ removal from the site. It temporarily vanished to keep MJ’s fans from crashing the site with their bogus reviews. If reviewers actually bought the book, Sullivan would be a millionaire. Was the book so horrible and as bad as fans believe? I don’t know, but I find it highly suspicious that the book has equal number of five stars and one star reviews.

Amazon’s review system is flawed. I am often amused by how many alleged former English teachers attempt to criticize a book’s mechanics, but failed to string together two coherent sentences. Trust me; an English teacher should be able to cobble together a decent review. I’ve also read reviews where apparently the person saw the provocative book title and felt the need to comment, not having read the book.

Authors beware. There are folks out there with much more time on their hands than most who troll Amazon, looking for titles to post nasty reviews about. Words that tend to set them off include devil, witch, god and even sex. The average hateful review is about two or three sentences long. An author review is about 500-700 thoughtful words, due to having read the entire book.

If we disallow author reviews, maybe we should cut all the reviews where the person states they couldn’t finish the book or get past the first chapter. Since they did not finish the book, they will be unable to create an accurate review. Then there are the people who misspell every other word in their review and ramble on about something not included in the book. Should their reviews be included?

Mark Billingham, crime fiction author, finds the anonymous reviews the most appalling. A person hides behind the anonymous wall and throws mud at you. Why would a reviewer need to be anonymous? Everyone has a right to his or her opinion. Not all people like the same books. Which begs the question, why anonymous? Mr. Billingham believes if the anonymous label disappeared, then the review system would be better.

Good reviews are suspect too. I will admit to reading books that felt more like a punishment than a pleasure, then wondering why the author only had five star reviews on Amazon. One of the big name authors encouraged fellow authors not to be downhearted when they received a single star review on Amazon. A variety of stars meant the reviews were real as opposed to only glowing ratings from friends.

  Amazon recently did away with likes on books when the practice of authors asking for likes became known. Asking for likes and getting them are two different things.  Amazon must believe authors have endless hours to write bogus reviews and like books. Not so, the working author is one of the busiest people around, often working seven days a week. Who has time to write mean spirited reviews? Why would you?

An author understands more than anyone else how much work goes into a single book. With that in mind, an average author would be more considerate in their review looking for the good along with the occasional typo.

What’s your take on Amazon reviews?

Why I claim the romance genre, even when writing science fiction and fantasy

My book plots are at least 50% dedicated to the romance in the story. As an author, I like exploring how letting the right or wrong person into a character’s life (and bed) can change his or her outlook and reactions to everything else. Something about the process of helping characters find and make personal connections fascinates me enough to write about it over and over. I carefully craft both their out of bed and in bed time with equal writer enthusiasm.

I choose over and over to categorize my books in the romance genre primarily because I unapologetically seek a happy ending in every story. Since Star Wars managed it with Leah and Hans, I have come to expect all my science fiction and fantasy to offer an HEA at the end of the story, if not always the book.

What makes each Forced To Serve story a true “romance” is the amount of emphasis put on the relationship in the story. Okay, it’s also the fact that I have a lot of sexual content in them. Well, okay—maybe not “a lot” by some recent NYT bestselling book standards—but I definitely include sex scenes unabashedly, as I deem necessary.

Where science fiction comes into my work

Most of my 17 published books are classified as contemporary romances. In truth, they are romantic comedies. However, my writing roots are in what used to be lumped under an emerging romance genre back in the 90’s called “paranormal”. This label pre-dates the sub-genres of Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, and even Science Fiction Romances, which is the label I think most closely fits the Forced To Serve series books. I do often call them Space Opera because many of the ebook sales channels offer that category specifically.

Why do I Science Fiction at all? Well, I grew watching Star Trek, Star Wars, and every other space related show I could find on TV. In 2011, thanks to my book editor and Amazon Prime, I also joined the ranks of other Browncoat fans grieving the cancellation of Firefly. It was a great attempt to spin the future in a way that was both scary and yet hopeful. I think there is a definite Firefly-esque feeling to the relationships among my crew members.

Where the sex comes into science fiction and what I do with it

I jokingly describe writing science fiction to my contemporary readers as a “writer vacation” for me, which really isn’t a joke. Even with all the humor in my work, the contemporaries can be emotionally draining at times with their 100% romance stories. Writing fight scenes in the science fiction books is fun for me. I love depicting ongoing life on board a space ship with a crew that goes on rescue missions to other planets. I find it very easy to satisfy my romance roots while this is happening by letting one or more of the characters always fall in love.

Why do my books contain a lot of sex? Without it, I think the stories would be okay stories, but to be one my stories, they are going to explore romance and sex. Sexual relationships offer me a literary way to talk about issues of control, exercising power, making commitments, and the spiritual push in a character to honor certain sexual traditions, such as celibacy or the total lack of discretion. Following a character couple’s developing sexual relationship allows me to show that physical connections can be taken casually by all genders or taken equally seriously by all genders. Through sex I can explore biological imperatives and/or blow them apart. I like getting to explore the selfishness or selflessness of giving pleasure to your partner, and love exploring what that says about a character’s overall “goodness”.

Fantasy author, LB Gale’s blog posted an intriguing article about “What the romance genre can teach Science Fiction and Fantasy authors”. I was excited to see that others were thinking about this subject as well in their science fiction and fantasy.

To illustrate how I use romance and sex, here is a little snippet from the The Healer’s Kiss, which is Book 4 of the Forced To Serve series. In a scene leading up to this one, a visiting entity on the ship has frozen several crew members during a conflict. When the entity is eventually defeated, ship’s counselor, Lt. Dorian Zade is brought out of the frozen state first and has a panic attack when he sees Commander Gwen Jet (his mate) still frozen. He immediately thinks Gwen is dead.

In the beginning of this lovemaking scene as he is undressing her, Dorian is looking to reassure himself that Gwen is okay and that their relationship is the way he’s come to rely on it being. This is actually a good example of how I use sex to show the emotional state of the characters.

“Last good pair. Last good pair,” Gwen said, panting between his probing, aggressive kisses. “I concede control. Please don’t destroy them.”

Smiling at her pleas to spare her clothing, Dorian slowed his hasty struggles, flicking open the fasteners with slow, deliberate intent instead. He liked the way Gwen quivered with every brush of his fingertips against the new skin he revealed in the process.

 Falling to his knees, he worked the pants over her rounded hips, down thighs that enclosed all the delights a male could ever hope for in any life. When he had to stop tugging to unclip the thigh holster for her weapon, Dorian felt his hands trembling again.

Raging fires of Helios, the warrior in her always called to him to be conquered. It was all he could do not to throw her on the floor and unleash the anxious Siren side of him wanting physical proof she still lived.

But with his memories of their mating week now restored, Dorian knew with startling clarity now that he was the first bonding partner Gwen Jet had ever let have any control over her. They hadn’t even gotten a chance to discuss that yet. Knowing they might never have done so if she had died, shook his foundations. The swift change of fierceness into tenderness brought a sweep of compassion so encompassing that it threatened to dissolve him into a puddle at her feet. Nothing would scare his warrior mate more than to know he wept over her.

Leaning his forehead against Gwen’s belly to soothe his spirit and to reassure her of his desire, Dorian whispered a prayer for her continued safety. Then he simply refused to think anymore about the possibility of losing his mate, even though such a threat was always going to be a reality for as long as they served on the Liberator.

 

Next, the scene gets even better from a romance novel perspective, but I think this is enough to make my point.

Certainly you don’t need this kind of intimate scene to show the alien world, the details of the mission, the larger conflicts they must resolve in rescuing someone, or the hierarchy on the ship. But what this kind of scene does for readers, especially those who enjoy romance, is to raise the bar on the personal risk of the characters. Instead of just mentally assuming Dorian is going to be devastated if Gwen dies, my readers have experienced his connection to her on many levels and in many ways, so they are going to feel the pain too. Plus, this particular couple has a complicated history already in the story. Gwen was captured and tortured during a mission in Book 2. Dorian ended up kidnapped by black market traders in Book 3 and Gwen had to go rescue him. This little scene in Book 4 is actually going to reassure those who have followed the couple from mission to mission and book to book. Love conquers all, right? Readers want that to be true in every world and reality, and I do, too.

It is always my intention to show the romantic relationship as just part of their daily lives (like it is for us) and as a aspect of their character (romantic partner, good father, understanding friend). In a typical romance novel, a character is often defined greatly by how they handle emotional connections. The physical is used to illustrate the depth of connection, but to me, the sexual relationship can be just as revealing about personality. Are they a control freak in bed? Are they laid back? Are they generous with giving pleasure to their partner?

The gut reaction of most is that romance is a woman’s genre, but that has not been the case with any of my work. I find that the interest in relationships crosses genders. I’ve estimated from comments, email, and social media connections, that at least a third of my readers are male. As a romance author, I find this to be extremely flattering. It further validates my adherence to the typical romance genre requirement of an HEA and monogamy. Everyone who reads my work knows I intentionally pair up couples by the end of most books.

I will admit that the romance between Captain Liam Synar and Peace Keeper Ania Looren spanned both Books 1 and 2. Initially, I did that because I did most of the world building in Book 1. But when I got to Book 2, I realized this couple’s relationship destiny was going to be a driving force in the series and affect everyone else in every book. Since George Lucas took three movies to get Leah and Hans together in the original Star Wars trilogy, I figured taking two books to resolve Liam and Ania’s relationship was probably okay. Most readers haven’t minded, but linking Books 1 and 2 more tightly was the primary reason I released the first Forced To Serve series box set which contains them both.

As a former Catholic schoolteacher, I penned serious novels about abused women escaping their abusive mates to carve out a life for themselves and their children. It all sounded rather noble in theory, but not publishable. Although an agent did pick up the tale and went immediately out of business. I am not sure if the two were connected. Getting published always managed to elude me.

There was one woman in my former RWA group that managed to get everything she wrote published. She wrote erotic novels. Some of the other members whispered this information to me as if it were a secret. No secret since she dressed like a character from the cover of her books in a major push-up bra that peeked out from a top barely resting on her shoulders. With her flamboyant hair and tiny stilettos, she became our own regional Dolly Parton.  In my mind, she was the epitome of an erotic romance writer.

Can’t say I knew exactly what an erotic romance writer wrote, but I knew it was hotter than anything I ever wrote. My stories pounded out of the gritty reality of day to day life were less than slinky. They didn’t enter a room on a cloud of perfume and promise; instead, they clomped in with a chip on their shoulder.  I was that angry white woman writer.

Something unusual happened. I kept going to workshops, conferences and Nationals and met tons of writers, even ones who confessed to writing erotica. Their ordinariness amazed me. I met nurses, grandmothers and stay-at-home moms that wrote such steamy and complex tales that I had to ask a few for explanations of how certain things were physically possible. Sometimes I would argue that they weren’t, but they’d assure me they were. I never asked how they knew.

My image of the erotic romance writer evolved from my flamboyant friend to a middle-aged woman, a mom, a teacher, maybe even someone like myself.  I played with writing hot love scenes and felt a little silly for my efforts. My first success came when I sent a snippet from a story I wrote to PLAYGIRL Magazine. They published it in their twins’ edition. I got paid and got a free copy for my efforts, which did not please my husband at that time. I still have the magazine, but not the husband.

Even with that small success, I did not consider myself a writer of steamy scenes until a fateful submission call from Secret Cravings for hot cougar novels. I wrote my first erotic novel, Reluctant Cougar, whose main character a fortyish woman becomes involved with a younger man she meets at a funeral.

I followed that novel with Cub in Blue and Puppy Love. Three more books followed those including Unexpected Cougar, Dangerous Curves and my about to be released novella, Incognito. Suddenly, I am an erotic romance novelist.

Have I changed to suit my new genre? Not too much, although I am less the angry white woman. Now, I am more the smiling author. Partly because Secret Cravings took a chance on me, but mainly because I took a page from one of my novels and winked at a younger guy, and married him.

What is your image of an erotic romance novelist?

Maybe you are wondering what it is? I remember back in the day when a reasonably handsome millionaire on the front cover was enough to make a woman pick up a romance book. Harlequin literally made millions including the words, millionaire, tycoon, prince or even sheik in the title.

Why is this you might wonder? One reason is these names conjure up romantic images. Dashing men who would sweep ordinary women out of their hum drum lives.  The movie, Pretty Woman, won big with this accepted lie. C’mon, people, is a millionaire even going to let a twenty-dollar hooker in his car? I think not. While a five hundred dollar one would suit his purposes fine. She wouldn’t even need a new wardrobe, but you wouldn’t have the rags to true love and riches story, though.

The men on covers of romance books are tall, muscular and handsome. Do  they have to be rich too? Good question, do they? They absolutely have to be for some women or men to pick up the book. They want a Cinderella story. Not the actual one the Brothers Grimm wrote where Cinderella had her evil stepsisters blinded and sent off into the forest. They want the one were the woman gets the prince, the palace and the power.

To achieve this huge status change, you need gobs of money. Love is not enough anymore. Falling for a comfortable doctor or a kind lawyer doesn’t cut it. Women apparently want money more than actual affection this is brought home by Fifty Shades of Grey and its devoted following. A man can ignore you, abuse you, degrade you, ridicule you, but if he’s a handsome billionaire then he’s the answer to your dream. The pivotal word in the previous sentence was billionaire.

Millionaires don’t cut it anymore. A recent look  at Amazon’s offerings in the billionaire romance department offered: Bad Boys Billionaire Club, Borrowed Billionaire, Billionaire’s Revenge, My First Billionaire, The Billionaire’s Seduction, Dallas Billionaires, Heart of the Billionaire, and Billionaire’s Defiant Mistress. There are over 4000 more romance titles with word billionaire in it just on Amazon.

My point is the billionaire is the new millionaire. Why does a woman need a billionaire? She never ever wants to think about working or paying bills. Life should be a continual party jetting from exotic island locales to international cities in a private plane. Apparently, it looked like the millionaire might run out of funds with everything going up in price.

The billionaire can dazzle the impoverished or small town girl. A billionaire has to work to impress a wealthy woman because she comes from money.  What is wrong with the billionaire scenario? Not much, if you ask the authors whose books are flying off the shelf.

There is a soft, compassionate part of me that wonders when gold money clips and ropes replaced genuine caring. Are we teaching our young women if the man has enough money that he has you? Most of the women who read the books will call them harmless fantasies. This is true. Consider we read romance novels because part of us wishes it could happen. Then there is the inflation issue. When will the billionaire not make enough to lift us out of our humdrum existence. Gadzillionaire is difficult to say, never mind getting your mind around how money is involved.

Has inflation cheapened the idea of romance? What is your opinion?

Teresa Gallagher did not expect to become an old maid school teacher at the great age of thirty-six, but she does teach and is single. She also didn’t expect a gorgeous stranger to slip into her university writing class. The man claims a historical name as his own and an interest in writing. She has high school students who lie better.

Marcus Aronson specializes in small colleges with problems. His company usually gobbles up the college, lays off people and takes over administration. Jefferson is his latest project. He slips into a classroom to check out if a favorite professor might be the embezzler. What he finds instead is a passionate woman hiding behind a button up exterior. Someone needs to release Teresa from her inhibitions and that someone would be him. There were rules about mixing business and pleasure. Rules he intended to break.

Interview with Neighbor Millie Fleming

Welcome, today we are speaking with Millie Fleming, the helpful neighbor in Incognito by Morgan K Wyatt.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am the person who knows what goes on in Jefferson. Not only am I as old as dirt, but my eyes and ears still work. Retired from teaching music almost twenty years ago, so there is a good chance I’ve had most of the citizens in class at one time. I can tell you who the stinkers are because they haven’t changed too much. My Hubert died five years ago which doesn’t leave me a great deal to do except garden and worry about my neighbor, Teresa.

Why do you worry about your neighbor?

(Raises an eyebrow.) The gal isn’t getting any younger. It’s been some time since she had an actual gentleman friend. I’ve heard the rumors around town about maybe she didn’t like men. I don’t believe it. I am here to tell you no one comes to her door, man or woman, unless it’s the deliveryman. She sure buys a lot online.

Teresa comes from decent stock. That brother of hers who is always collecting wayward dogs is a bit crazy about the canines, but good family all the same. I knew her grandmother, Ruby, so I feel obligated to look out for her. She’s a nice girl, but either, she’s backward or stupid when it comes to men. She’s not one to put herself forward not like that Loretta at the high school.

I expect to see some article about that one in the evening newspaper about her enticing some high school boy. Getting him drunk and forcing him is more like it.

Mrs. Fleming, I think you strayed off topic. Why are you worried about Teresa?

 (She giggles.) Goodness, me I ran off at the mouth. Jefferson is a nice place to live if you’re young or already married. There isn’t much left for women Teresa’s age. The men worth having were snatched up early by the enterprising women of Jefferson. Teresa was off getting a degree and unable to get an opportunity at the prime candidates. Shame, she didn’t bring a man home with her. Truthfully, what was your name again?

It’s Jane, ma’am. You were saying.

Truthfully, Jane, as far as men go there isn’t a lot left in Jefferson. You got half dozen men who marry a new wife every year. Always surprises me how they manage to convince a new one. Then you got those who don’t care for men either because they had a bad marriage or never liked women. The others aren’t up to my standards for the girl.

May I ask what your standards are?

I think every woman deserves to experience a toe-curling love. She also needs a man who will cherish her like my dear Hubert did me. I figure she needs an educated man to appreciate her and it will give them mutual interests. When you get older, there’s less time shaking the bedsprings and more time talking. Since she’s still young, I think someone who would strike her fancy would be important. I don’t see this happening, though. (She lets out a long sigh.)

Why not?

(Turns unbelieving look on the reporter) Jane, haven’t you been listening to me? There are no decent prospects left in Jefferson. A new man would have to come to town.  Someone not put off by Teresa’s aloof attitude. She’s really just shy, but men do not always understand that.

I heard there was a new man in town.

 I heard that too. No doubt, Loretta or Orleana will run him down like a rabbit. Poor man never had a chance.

Incognito coming soon to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Secret Cravings Publishing, Bookstrand, Smashwords and more.

 

Teresa Gallagher did not expect to become an old maid school teacher at the great age of thirty-six, but she does teach and is single. She also didn’t expect a gorgeous stranger to slip into her university writing class. The man claims a historical name as his own and an interest in writing. She has high school students who lie better.

Marcus Aronson specializes in small colleges with problems. His company usually gobbles up the college, lays off people and takes over administration. Jefferson is his latest project. He slips into a classroom to check out if a favorite professor might be the embezzler. What he finds instead is a passionate woman hiding behind a button up exterior. Someone needs to release Teresa from her inhibitions and that someone would be him. There were rules about mixing business and pleasure. Rules he intended to break.

Welcome, today we are speaking with Abraham Menard, the close friend and associate of Teresa Gallagher in Incognito by Morgan K Wyatt.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Gladly. I am a graduate of University of Louisville. I teach philosophy and art history at Jefferson College. I am a huge fan of Broadway musicals, contemporary dance and fashion. I enjoy the seashore more than the mountains. My perfect date would be a beach picnic followed by a sunset walk. I am also single. I live life full throttle. You want a fun guy, not you honey, but your readers, who is not afraid to try something new, I am your man.

News is there are some unusual happenings at Jefferson College. Care to elaborate?

(He sits up a little straighter.) How right you are. At first, I don’t think anyone notice money missing because it wasn’t that big. Five hundred here, a thousand there, people assume someone went over budget remodeling their office. Then it became so bad, they brought in help to track the leak down. A stranger came to investigate our little college.

A stranger sounds interesting. What can you tell me about him?

 (Crosses his legs and smirks.) Let me tell you if they want to pick out someone who would get noticed then they picked the right person. Might as well put a turban on his head. Not bad looking, not my type, but maybe he’s more my associate Teresa Gallagher’s type. I will say he certainly has her riled up in more than one way.

How so?

Well (he gestures with hands out); Teresa is used to things being a certain way. This Marcus guy didn’t get the script, so he is improvising from talking back to making innuendos. Personally, I think the man has what it takes to back it up. The ice princess act she’s so fond of keeps men at bay. I recognize it as a coping mechanism to keep from getting her heart broken.  Sometimes though, a person has to take a chance.

Do you think she should take a chance on Marcus?

Ah, there I go speaking from my perspective.  Yes, it would be great if she got out of her comfort zone. Since the man appears so interested in her, maybe she could do a little sleuthing, which would benefit all of us at Jefferson College. She could find out what is really going on while enjoying the man. Then on the other hand, what if she gets her heart broke when Marcus disappears? Some of the blame might rest on me if I encourage her. What I think she should do and what she does is two separate things.  The real impetus in this scenario is Marcus. If he pushes enough he can break through Teresa’s proper façade.

Do you think breaking down her façade is a good thing?

There you go again asking me the hard questions. (He sighs. Puts head in hands, then straightens up.) I think it would be wonderful for her. She has spent too much time in neutral not fully living her life. On the other hand, this is a small town with small town morals. A single teacher engaged in a noticeable affair could cause trouble with the old biddies at the school board since her day job is at the high school.

Would it work if it were a secret affair?

(Abraham laughs hard, wiping tears from his eyes.)  Obviously, you don’t live in a small town. Nothing is secret. Teresa only dates in other cities to keep rumors of her love life quiet. Not much has come out of those dates, except now she has other small towns to avoid too. As a result of keeping her dating low profile, a rumor is circulating that she doesn’t even like men.

Because of the rumor, any interaction with Marcus would be front-page news.

Knowing what you know, do you think anything will happen between the two?

I don’t know. What I do know is that it will be fun watching.

Incognito coming soon to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookstrand, Smashwords and Secret Cravings Publishing.

Teresa Gallagher did not expect to become an old maid school teacher at the great age of thirty-six, but she does teach and is single. She also didn’t expect a gorgeous stranger to slip into her university writing class. The man claims a historical name as his own and an interest in writing. She has high school students who lie better.

Marcus Aronson specializes in small colleges with problems. His company usually gobbles up the college, lays off people and takes over administration. Jefferson is his latest project. He slips into a classroom to check out if a favorite professor might be the embezzler. What he finds instead is a passionate woman hiding behind a button up exterior. Someone needs to release Teresa from her inhibitions and that someone would be him. There were rules about mixing business and pleasure. Rules he intended to break.