Robena Grant on Writer Wednesday

Robena Grant on Writer Wednesday

Writer Wednesday with Robena Grant

Writer Wednesday is that day I get the chance to share writer friends with you. Today I’m thrilled to have Robena Grant with me. She’s the author of the Desert Heat series, which includes Unlock the Truth and The Blue Dolphin.

Photo of Robena Grant

My friend, author Robena Grant.

CA: What made you decide to write a novel?
RG: I took a class at UCLA Extension with my then 18-year-old daughter. I thought it was to learn how to write. I didn’t know I was supposed to be working on a novel. So I ran home and started to write, and that became my first finished manuscript. : )

CA: Wow, what a jolt to the system! What genre do you write in, and why?
RG: I write contemporary romance, but I’m always mixing genres. I like stories about people in the world as I know it, and enjoy the journey that young lovers take, or the leap of faith with the second chance at love from an older heroine. I’ve written women’s fiction, paranormal, romantic suspense, and am now venturing into contemporary romance with a magical realism thread.

 CA:  Is this a series or standalone book? If a series, what is the name of this series, and how many books/short stories do you have planned?
RG: Unlock the Truth is Book #1 of the Desert Heat Series, #2 is The Blue Dolphin, and #3: Desert Exposure. I think of them as spin-offs, a series linked by location and secondary characters who clamor to have their story told. The books can be read out of order.

CA: Ooh, very cool. So there’s really no limit on the number of books you could write in that series! Where would you live, if you could live anywhere in the world?
RG: Italy, no France…no, wherever, but I’d want good plumbing, phone, and internet. : )

CA: LOL – I’m totally with you! Italy and France are in my top 5 places, too! Um…Name 3 simple joys in your life.
RG: Hanging out with my adult kids. Drinking a glass of fine red wine. Reading an amazing book.

CA: If you could have dinner with any person, living or dead or fictional, who would it be and where would you go to eat?
RG: Ernest Hemingway. We’d go to Aux Deux Magots, on Boulevard St-Germain…not so much for the food but for the espresso and the people watching. Then we’d gossip about everyone.    

CA: Wouldn’t that be totally fascinating? And I’m sure he’d be drinking whiskey! If you could give just one piece of advice to a writer starting out, what would it be?
RG: Always be working on something fresh while you’re submitting something you’ve finished.

CA: Excellent advice! What do you do when you’re not writing? Do you have a Day Job?
RG: I’m retired from the workforce. Writing is now my full-time job. I volunteer on several committees in my community, like to exercise, attend book club, hang out with friends, take in a movie, or lunch, and travel whenever and wherever I can.

CA: Sounds like an Awesome life! Now…Name one thing your fans would be surprised to learn about you.
RG: I like karaoke, but I can’t sing.

CA: Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?
RG: Just to mention that Unlock the Truth and The Blue Dolphin are available for Kindle readers. It’s an Amazon three month exclusive with KDP Select, then in May they will be released in print and all digital formats through Wild Rose Press Publishers. Desert Exposure is TBA, but it will also be released in 2013.

How exciting, to have three novels come out in one year! Let’s take a look at Unlock the Truth.

BLURB: Dena Roman needs closure. Three months ago, her sister’s murdered body was
found in the California desert. When a second body is found at the same site, Dena jeopardizes her public relations position to go undercover and investigate. But falling for the main suspect isn’t part of her plan.

Zeke Cabrera needs help. He sold a portion of his family’s Three C’s Estates to keep his citrus farm afloat, but when bodies are unearthed on the site, he’s suspected of murder. Help comes in the form of a communications expert who makes all the difference in his life and business–and in his heart.

Amidst an attack on her life and run-ins with a cantankerous foreman, Dena digs for the truth, even as she forms a strong bond with Zeke. But can their newly found love survive all the deep secrets hidden at Three C’s Estates?

And The Blue Dolphin:

BLURB: When Debbie Williams discovers a dismembered body in the dumpster behind her health spa, she’s determined to find out what happened. As a single parent, she must be sure the town she loves is safe for her daughter. Debbie won’t be deterred by anyone–not even the ruggedly handsome agent on the case who doesn’t appreciate her amateur sleuthing.

After his partner’s body is uncovered, DEA agent Jack Davis vows revenge. But three words shouted over the phone before his partner died–azul, delfin, Almagro–are Jack’s only clues. Even worse, a sexy blonde spa owner refuses to stay out of his investigation, and the chemistry between them is difficult to ignore.

As danger strikes ever closer, Jack and Debbie must figure out what blue dolphins and a small California desert town have to do with a dangerous drug cartel…all while protecting their hearts from an attraction neither can resist.

More About Robena: 
Robena Grant is Australian by birth but resides in Southern California. She has two adult children, loves travel, and enjoys writing stories about ordinary women faced with extraordinary circumstances. She may be contacted at: www.robenagrant.com where she blogs on a slice of life on Mondays. Also, FB, Twitter, Google+.

Here’s Robena’s Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/author/robenagrant Go “Like” her – and don’t forget to “Like” her books.

I’m sure Robena will be around today, so feel free to ask her questions!

~oOo~

Demon Soul and Demon Hunt are both available for both the Kindle and KoboHave you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?

Different Roads Cover Reveal by Lori L. Clark

Different Roads Cover Reveal by Lori L. Clark

Sneaking in a cover reveal for a Savvy pal of mine, Lori L. Clark. Plus we have an interview!

Here’s the blurb:
It’s been said that when we look back over our lives, we are able to recognize the pivotal moments that in some way, shape, or form have led us to where we are today.

When Jacqueline Carter is fifteen, she crosses paths for the first time with Seth Thomas, a young man who unwittingly alters the direction of her life forever.

Jaq plans to break-up with her boyfriend on her sixteenth birthday. Instead, she is date-raped, and left emotionally broken. She builds a wall around her heart and begins spiraling downward on a road filled with drinking, drugs and physical abuse.

When Seth re-enters her life a few years later, the walls around her heart slowly come down and the two of them fall in love. Unfortunately fate has other ideas, and they’re forced down a different road from which they initially set out.

Here’s the interview:
CA: What made you decide to write a novel?
LLC: I enjoy reading so much that I thought I would like to try my hand at writing. I’m too wordy to write short stories, so I decided to go big or go home.

CA: What do you write?
LLC: I used to read paranormal a lot, in fact, I credit Twilight for getting me to read again. But I don’t write it. I guess I’m just not that imaginative. Or maybe I feel like all the good ideas have been taken. I write contemporary romance.

CA: How many books/short stories do you have planned for this series?
LLC: My latest book, DIFFERENT ROADS is completely stand-alone. Though I have had several readers comment to me that they would love to see a sequel from Seth’s POV.

CA: Where would you live, if you could live anywhere in the world?
LLC: I love living where I am. But maybe Ft. Lauderdale when I become ridiculously wealthy.

CA:Name 3 simple joys in your life.
LLC: Reading. Writing. Running.

CA: If you could have dinner with any person, living or dead or fictional, who would it be and where would you go to eat?
LLC: I have never thought about this before. But I think maybe I’d say Stephen King. Although I am not a huge fan of his work, I think he has a lot of advice to offer writers. I have read his stuff enough to know that his imagination must be in over-drive 24/7. I think he would be a fascinating dinner companion. Where would we eat? Why the hotel in Colorado where they filmed The Shining, of course.

CA: If you could give just one piece of advice to a writer starting out, what would it be?
LLC: Don’t get discouraged. If you have a story to tell, you have to believe there’s someone who wants to read it. You must read, read, and then read some more. Write a book that you want to read. Don’t try fitting into a niche because you think it’s wildly popular. But write the book you would go to a bookstore and pull off the shelf to read.

CA: What do you do when you’re not writing? Do you have a Day Job?
LLC: I have a full-time job outside the house. I love my day job, but I can tell you… there are times when I feel like there are just not enough hours in the day.

CA: I hear you! Name one thing your fans would be surprised to learn about you.
LLC: I worked for over two years as an online psychic reader. It was my sole income and I made pretty good money doing it. Yes, I really am psychic.

CA: Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?
LLC: Summer. I’m ready for summer.

Here’s where you can find Lori!

Book Review Blog:  http://justbookinaround.blogspot.com/
Author Blog:   http://www.shewritesbooks.com/
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6093884.Lori_L_Clark
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/clarklori
Author Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/LoriLClarkAuthor

Thanks so much for stopping by, Lori – and good luck on your release!

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Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?