Category Archives: Writers on the River Attending Author

Author Interviews, Author Spotlight, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #attendingauthor #Authorspotlight – Judith Lynne

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Judith Lynne

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Judith Lynne. I’m a lifelong romance lover; dipped my toe into other types of writing in my life (including trying screenwriting), and came back to finally write the romances of my dreams. I live in Ohio and love it; keeping my houseplants alive, learning to garden – and baking bread! My readers know I have a pet turtle who doesn’t care about my writing at all, and the world’s handsomest nephew-dog. Most people don’t know I have a PhD in literature and a master’s in linguistics, but it’s obvious I get WAY too nerdy with research for my books. I love primary source material.

When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?

Hot tip: the second book is the hardest, for some reason. The first book is the easiest!

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I have characters of *all* kinds, and I write a series by picturing a group of people who will wind up connected somehow (rather than being connected to start with, like a family). I love found families. So I keep things fresh by reminding myself what’s unique about these two people and their relationship compared to the rest of the troop; the story is always driven by the relationship.

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

I’d say get a husband as supportive as mine but he’s taken! Plug into a social network of writers who will support your efforts, and plug into a conference or club that puts on events that will spark your creative juices when they feel stale. Know what fills up your tank.

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

2-3 hours. But some days it’s nothing and some days it’s 12.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

Anthony, because he’s incredible. I never imagined someone giving up so much for love before I “met” him. And Tella because she’s Batman. 🙂

What is your definition of success?

Someone falling in love with one of my characters. Which makes them a friend of mine, because I fall in love with all of my characters!

Do you have anything you want to share that didn’t fit on one of these questions?

I’m putting out my tenth book but I still feel like I’m just getting started. I hope any readers out there who love the Regency time period will let me know what types of books they’d still like to see from me – reader inspiration is the best! It’s not always “I want to see this” but often it’s “I never see this” and I think “Hold my beer…”

What are your social links?

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judith-lynne

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19819362.Judith_Lynne ;

https://www.facebook.com/judithlynnebooks/ ;

https://twitter.com/judithlynnepub ;

https://www.instagram.com/judithlynnebooks/

and I’m just trying Pinterest! https://www.pinterest.com/JudithLynneAuthor/

What are your buy links? (Provide links to your Amazon/iBook’s/Koko/etc Author Home Page if you have quite a few. Also include audible links if applicable.)

All my buy links are at https://judithlynne.com

but I’m also findable at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judith-lynne

and https://www.amazon.com/stores/Judith-Lynne/author/B07ZLH4J3S

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2024?

They are available starting November 6th at Writersontheriver.com

$75 VIP Plus – 11-12 Lunch with the Authors , 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Limited Quantity expected to sell out first day*

$50 VIP -12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Expected to sell out first day*

$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party. *Expected to sell out opening day*

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.

Author Interviews, Author Spotlight, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #attendingauthor #Authorspotlight – K.L. Kreig

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K.L. Kreig

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

KL Kreig: Mother, Nana, Entrepreneur, Love Lover

When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?

First, definitely. It sets everything else in the series up so you don’t want to write yourself into a corner in the first book!

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

Introducing new characters throughout the series helps the reader stay invested. Building the backstories slowly of other critical characters is important to create interest in them and where their individual stories may lead to next. Honestly, the hardest part of writing romance is, oddly, the sex scenes. Keeping those fresh and exciting is challenging.

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

As with anything else in life, build your tribe. Surround yourself with people who you can TRUST, who want you to succeed and find and befriend (not insincerely) seasoned authors who know the ins and outs of the business. Understand that building a loyal readership takes time and tremendous effort on your part. Your work needs to be quality, not quantity. Finally, writing is the easy part. After your story is done, the real hard part begins (packaging it correctly and marketing it appropriately). You are the CEO and, at least initially, the sole employee of your own business, and as such, you need to understand all aspects of business: marketing, finance, social media management, analytics, taxes, etc, etc. Writing and publishing a book is not for the faint of heart! 🙂

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

Completely varies by my schedule. Many days, none. Others, 2-3 hours. I have a full time job and another online side business that I also manage.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

Wow. This is like asking if I have a favorite child. I’m going to take the cop out and say no. Every character I write is special and unique in their own way, even the side characters who never get their own stories!

What is your definition of success?

My personal definition is the accomplishment of finishing what I think is a story that will stay with the reader long after they finish the last page. Every book can’t be that to all readers, but every book is that to at least one reader.

 What are your social links?

Website: http://klkreig.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KL-Kreig/808927362462053
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/klkreig
Instagram: http://instagram.com/klkreig/
Kreig’s Babes (Private Fan page): https://www.facebook.com/groups/646655825434751/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/k-l-kreig
TikTok: @klkreig_author

What are your buy links? (Provide links to your Amazon/iBook’s/Koko/etc Author Home Page if you have quite a few. Also include audible links if applicable.)

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/klkreig
Black Swan Affair audible: https://amzn.to/46IqZXa
Forsaking Gray audible: https://amzn.to/495UCDf

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2024?

They are available starting November 6th at Writersontheriver.com

$75 VIP Plus – 11-12 Lunch with the Authors , 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Limited Quantity expected to sell out first day*

$50 VIP -12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Expected to sell out first day*

$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party. *Expected to sell out opening day*

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.

Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #attendingauthor #Authorspotlight – Laura A. Barnes

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Image for Laura A. Barnes, click to learn more.

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Laura A. Barnes – I’m addicted to reading as much as I am to writing stories with a happily ever after. If I’m not writing, I’m binge watching shows on Netflix or spending time with my children and grandchildren. My husband & I got the traveling bug a few years ago and we’re planning a trip to somewhere in Europe next fall. I write historical romances and just started this year writing contemporary romances. I love to write enemies to lovers story with feisty female characters who bring the gentlemen to their knees.

When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?

The first book is harder, because I’m trying to introduce the other characters in the series without taking away from the main couple. Also, I’m trying to establish a link that will connect all the books together.

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

By trying to come up with scenarios I’ve never used before. Sometimes it’s a matter of writing a common every day activity but adding a twist that makes the scene unique.

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

Don’t feel guilty for carving out time for yourself. Allow yourself the freedom of doing something for yourself and most of relax and have fun.

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

When I’ve started a project, I usually will send about three hours writing. Some days are more productive than others.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

Graham Worthington of The Siren’s Gentleman. I introduced this character in another series, and got such wonderful feedback from readers about how they wanted him to have his own book. He was a passionate soul who loved deeply. His character held a depth that inspired me to write a series around him.

What is your definition of success?

To accomplish a goal I set for myself. With every book I write I set out to write a story that my readers will enjoy.

What are your social links?


Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraA.Barnes/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/labarnesauthor/
Twitter https://twitter.com/labarnesauthor
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@labarnesauthor

What are your buy links? (Provide links to your Amazon/iBook’s/Koko/etc Author Home Page if you have quite a few. Also include audible links if applicable.)

https://www.lauraabarnes.com/

https://amazon.com/author/lauraabarnes

https://books2read.com/Laura-A-Barnes

https://books.apple.com/us/author/laura-a-barnes/id1194175494

https://play.google.com/store/books/author?id=Laura+A.+Barnes

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2024?

They are available starting November 6th at Writersontheriver.com

$75 VIP Plus – 11-12 Lunch with the Authors , 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Limited Quantity expected to sell out first day*

$50 VIP -12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Expected to sell out first day*

$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party. *Expected to sell out opening day*

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.

Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #attendingauthor #Authorspotlight – Melonie Johnson

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Melonie Johnson

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Melonie Johnson – I’m a lifelong Star Wars fan, my dining room has been converted to the “Star Wars bar” and I decoratre entire trees devoted to Star Wars every Christmas. I’m a former high school English and Theatre teacher who started writing as a new mom in search of something to stimulate my brain. Always loved reading romance, gobbled up the classic bodice rippers starting around age 12 even though the local librarian would give me the stink-eye whenever I checked out a stack of Johanna Lindsey books. I write rom-coms and contemporary romance under my real name, and am launching a new romantasy series under the pen name Emoline Thorne (fun fact – Emoline is an anagram of Melonie). I met my husband when we were both teens working across the hall from each other at the local mall, we’ve now been married 20+ years and have two lovely redheaded daughters. My favorite drink is pretty much any cocktail that starts with the letter M. Cheers!

When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?

I think the first book in a series is definitely the hardest, still getting to know the characters, getting a feel for the world.

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

The characters keep things fresh! They are always surprising me with what they decide to do, ha. But also, feeding my brain by reading, listening to music, researching odd things that spark my curiosity all help to keep new ideas and scenes coming.

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

Create a space that helps trigger a “time to write” response in your brain, a specific spot in your home, a playlist, a candle, a drink – all things that help create a habit and signal your mind it’s time to write. Another important thing to do is to stock up on energy pennies, you may think you have no time to do anything else but write, but that mindset is the fastest way to burnout. Taking time to rest, to move your body (like a walk), to enjoy other hobbies – these all feed your soul and enrich your life and will make your writing better and the time you do spend BICHOK (butt in chair, hands on keyboard) more productive.

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

In a perfect world, I’d spend about 4 hours on writing… in the real world, many days I spend zero, and others I spend 20.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

So hard to answer! I’m going to go with a fan favorite, Theo Wharton, the hero of Smitten by the Brit. He is my “Prince Eric” as I like to say. And he can still make me swoon.

What is your definition of success?

Frankly, I’m still figuring that out. Unfortunately, whenever I think I’ve hit a milestone I thought would make me feel like a success, the bar moved and I was convinced the next thing and the next would mean success. I’m trying to change that mindset, but it’s not easy. I will say, one thing that ALWAYS makes me feel like a “real” author is when a reader reaches out, either in person or on-line, to share how much they enjoyed one of my books. THAT feels like success every time.

Do you have anything you want to share that didn’t fit on one of these questions?

I’m an avid audiobook listener who also narrates audiobooks under a pseudonym. I have a fun series on YouTube called Kiss List Confessions where I talk with other authors about all things kissing! I als have an interview series on Instagram called Mad About Meet Cutes where I chat with other romance authors about their their favorite meet cutes in books, movies, and TV, as well as hear about their real life meet stories!

What are your social links?

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MelonieWrites
Facebook Reader Group THE READING LUSHES: https://www.facebook.com/groups/141817033159064
TikTok: @thewritinglush https://www.tiktok.com/@thewritinglush
TikTok: @melonie_johnson https://www.tiktok.com/@melonie_johnson
Instagram: @MelonieJohnson https://www.instagram.com/meloniejohnson/
Instagram: @thewritinglush https://www.instagram.com/thewritinglush/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCRo7jtdZ83ASTaHSrhIq5OQ
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MelonieFJohnson/_saved/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18305208.Melonie_Johnson

What are your buy links? (Provide links to your Amazon/iBook’s/Koko/etc Author Home Page if you have quite a few. Also include audible links if applicable.)

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/meloniejohnson
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melonie-johnson
Audible Author Page: https://www.audible.com/author/Melonie-Johnson/B07GTF5CFL
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/contributors/melonie-johnson

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2024?

They are available starting November 6th at Writersontheriver.com

$75 VIP Plus – 11-12 Lunch with the Authors , 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Limited Quantity expected to sell out first day*

$50 VIP -12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Expected to sell out first day*

$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party. *Expected to sell out opening day*

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.

Fantasy, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Review, Shifters, Suspense, Thriller, Vampire, Witches, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #Review – Shadow Unveiled: Reapers Book One by Tara Vasser

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After a particularly nasty car wreck, I met Death, and he let me live. My doctors claim it was a hallucination brought on by the trauma, but it felt pretty damn real to me. Especially the part where Death said he’d call on me soon. Months after, he still hadn’t shown his face, but my life had fallen apart while I waited. Every waking hour was filled with the incessant chatter of voices in my head, and whenever I closed my eyes, I was plagued by night terrors. It was too much for my fiancé to handle, so he left. I couldn’t get out of bed anymore, so I got fired from my job. Even my own family began distancing themselves. I had no one and nothing left, except the voices and nightmares in my head. I couldn’t wait for Death anymore, so I decided to go to him the old-fashioned way–by dying.

Things don’t go as planned when Death sends his most loyal Reaper, Gunnar, to thwart my foray into The Realm of the Dead. That night I learned there is an entire hidden supernatural world, and the icing on the cake is that I’m a part of it. A BIG part. Magical abilities I didn’t know I had start to manifest and grow, gaining me all kinds of attention. Death offers me a place among his Reapers, and a power-hungry Necromancer tries to convince me to join his plot to overthrow Death.

Both sides make compelling arguments–but which one is right?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

This is truly a unique and captivating story. The world that this author has created is absolutely spellbinding. Tara Vasser is a ‘new to me’ author but has officially pulled me in as I fell into this story headfirst and couldn’t stop until the very end. Chloe feels like she has officially been abandoned. However, when she tries to end her life, Death comes barreling back into her life and does not let her disrupt the delicate balance between life and death. Chloe feels like she is going, very literally, insane. However, her saving grace is a vampire named Gunnar. She soon finds that she is a very powerful…well, no one knows what she is yet, but they are working on trying to figure it out. The one thing everyone can agree on is that she is powerful. While figuring out her powers, she has slipped into Shadow and has come face to face with a necromancer who has it out for her. She has so many obstacles to overcome but does it like any one of us would, she is scared and questions everything.

One of the things that I love about this book is that the story world is completely different from anything that I have read. The characters are great, and our strong female main character is like a normal human being. I have read so many stories where the lead just goes along with the magic stuff like they have lived it their entire lives. But Chloe, she is truly scared, she questions everything, she doubts herself, she doesn’t know if she is doing right or wrong, she truly was at the end of her rope. She is very real, and I think that is the cherry on top and what makes this book great.

I am loving this series and can’t wait to dive into book two!

By the way, don’t forget to pick up the prequel because it might give you some insight into what Chloe is going through. 😊

Tara Vasser profile image

Tara is a writer who lives in the frozen north in Minnesota with her wonderful husband and two rambunctious little dudes. She is an engineer during the day, a crazy mom in the afternoon and a writer at night. She enjoys spending her time playing in the dirt when her gardens aren’t covered in snow and listening to a wide variety of music that inspires her writing – sometimes doing both at the same time.

Be sure to visit Tara’s web page and sign up for her newsletter for updates on works in progress and upcoming new releases! www.authortaravasser.com

Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #attendingauthor #Authorspotlight – Michele Shriver

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Author Logo

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Michele Shriver. By day, I’m an attorney practicing primarily in criminal defense and juvenile law. Evenings and weekends, I am an author of contemporary and sports romance and women’s fiction. I don’t have nearly as much time for writing as I’d like, but I do it because I have stories in my head that demand to be told, and because it’s cheaper than therapy. I love doing books signings and meeting new readers, especially because it gives me the opportunity to visit new cities and states.

When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?

The ones after. With the first book in a series, everything is fresh and new and with endless possibilities, and you don’t have to worry about keep track of previous events in the series or character traits and descriptions, etc.

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

Unfortunately my schedule doesn’t allow for writing every day. I’m more of a weekend writer these days and aim for a few hours each day of the weekend.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

That’s a hard one. All of my characters are special to me in their own way. If I had to name a favorite right now (and since I chose to answer this question, I guess I do), I have to go with Myriah in Tranquil Harbor. She’s only in a supporting role, non POV character in that book, because she is the catalyst of of so many things and changes the life of the MC forever. She’s a beautiful, tortured soul who has survived so much in her young life, and I can’t wait to write more for her and tap further into her enormous potential. Readers have definitely not seen the last of Myriah Banks.

What is your definition of success?

Knowing that in some way, I have connected with a reader, whether it’s a particular story or character they identify with, or even a single line of dialogue that might make them smile or laugh.

What are your social links?

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMicheleShriver/,

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5303070.Michele_Shriver,

Street Team/ Reader’s club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/721292531291721/.

Website: http://www.micheleshriver.com

What are your buy links? (Provide links to your Amazon/iBook’s/Koko/etc Author Home Page if you have quite a few. Also include audible links if applicable.)

Authror Page: https://tinyurl.com/9r67dpej

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2024?

They are available starting November 6th at Writersontheriver.com

$75 VIP Plus – 11-12 Lunch with the Authors , 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Limited Quantity expected to sell out first day*

$50 VIP -12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Expected to sell out first day*

$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party. *Expected to sell out opening day*

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.

Fantasy, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Review, Shifters, Suspense, Thriller, Vampire, Witches, Wolves, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #Review – No More Black Magic (Here Witchy Witchy Book 1) by A.L. Kessler

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A hex. Ancient runes steeped in black magic. A decades-old crime. Abigail Collins has her hands full as a Paranormal Investigation Bureau Agent. Accompanied by a stubborn werewolf, challenged by an overprotective coven, and introduced to a Cult linked to her parent’s death, Abby must solve her case before the murderer comes for her. When an ancient langue connects her past with the murderer’s Abigail might just be in over her head.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I really love when the blurb to a book instantly pulls you. It is even better when the story consumes you! I am a sucker for paranormal books! Abby is a powerful witch and works for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, but also works “on the side” for the vampire that raised her. She is brought in to investigate a murder case where the only information they have on the deceased is an intact arm with a murder scene that brings her into a world that involves her deceased parents. As Abby works on the investigation, she uncovers more questions. The further she dives into this, the more her own life is in danger. This is definitely in the suspense category because everywhere Abby turns, there is a new obstacle that makes you question everything you know. It is harrowing and heart wrenching. You never know who is truly on your side. Even then, how close do you let the ones you love in? I did not see the twists at the end. This story is full of magic, criminals, hexes, multiple types of paranormal creatures, and a crazy cult. What more could you really want from a book? I look forward to continuing this series.

A.L. Kessler profile image

A.L. Kessler is a paranormal romance author residing in beautiful Colorado Springs, Co. Since she was a teenager she has loved spinning tales. She can easily be won over with gifts of coffee or chocolate.

Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #attendingauthor #Authorspotlight – Sara Whitney

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Sara Whitney

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Sara Whitney, author of unforgettable, unputdownable rom-coms and contemporary romance

When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?

First book! Even though I write contemporary romance, it takes time to build that new fictional world. True, nobody in my books use magic or fight bad guys in spaceships but I still have to create the town, the routines, the characters, the business, the backstories, the fears and hopes and dreams and grudges and challenges and successes that my readers are going to fall for. It’s an incredible challenge each time, and I love rising to the occasion.

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

It varies so much! On a good day, I can manage four hours before I get too squirrely to sit still anymore, but it’s usually closer to two hours—and that’s on the days I manage to write at all. In addition to my romance writing, I work as a college professor. On days that I teach, I have a little less gas in the tank to be creative that night. I do a little dictation on my commute when I’m in a place in my writing where I have a firm grasp on what need to happen next. That’s been a lifesaver in terms of getting books done and published!

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

My character Leo from Tempting Fate is such a dreamboat. He’s gruff but romantic, and he’s a mix of sexy, badass competence and emotional upheaval over the woman who’s turning his world upside—again. Who doesn’t love a hero in a second-chance romance leaning to open himself back up again and finding out that love’s even deeper the second time?

What is your definition of success?

Did I make you laugh? Did I make you give a happy sigh? Did I give you a little escape into a sunny, happy, sexy fictional world? Then I’ve succeeded!

What are your social links?

https://www.instagram.com/sarawhitneyauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/SaraWhitneyAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/groups/saras.squad

What are your buy links? (Provide links to your Amazon/iBook’s/Koko/etc Author Home Page if you have quite a few. Also include audible links if applicable.)

https://books.apple.com/us/author/sara-whitney/id1463165311

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Sara%20Whitney%22

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=sara%20whitney&ac=1&acp=sara%20whitney&ac.author=sara%20whitney&sort=Temperature

https://play.google.com/store/books/author?id=Sara+Whitney

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2024?

They are available starting November 6th at Writersontheriver.com

$75 VIP Plus – 11-12 Lunch with the Authors , 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Limited Quantity expected to sell out first day*

$50 VIP -12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Expected to sell out first day*

$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party. *Expected to sell out opening day*

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.

Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, Review, Romantic Comedy, Shifters, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #Review – Hoist the Flag: Triangles and Tribulations Book 1 by Cassandra Featherstone

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***This was previously published in the Jingle My Balls Anthology. This version has bonus content!***

Click to send… and I’m outta here.

Being the infamous fairy tale ‘Jack’ isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. My entire life has been a series of memes—before they were even invented!

My current ‘Jack’ title is companion to the Ice Queen—who spent the first couple of years singing that song—but my sentence here is almost over. I’m going to make a run for it to retire with my shaker of salt on an island in the Caribbean while I drink piña coladas.

Before I leave, I realize my heart wasn’t as frozen as I thought and I have to save Queenie from her evil sister. We make a plan to escape together after the Yule celebration, but even that falls victim to my legendary bad luck.

Enter two bumbling pirates who were playing Robin Hood, a monkey, and a sea voyage to our permanent hiding place…only to trip over a bottle on the beach that contains a mysterious map to a legendary graveyard filled with famous treasure the moment we arrive.

My spill draws the attention of our pirate friends and two other local hotties who can’t resist damsels in distress.

Insert eyeroll here.

My girl and I didn’t ask to be conscripted on an adventure with two shifter pirates, a masseuse, a demi-god, and a merman who think we’re on the menu, but here we are.

Maybe I should have taken the Ice Queen’s musical advice when I first arrived ?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

First, this cover is amazing! I mean we have a gorgeous female pirate and I immediately think of a female version of Jack Sparrow. I was scrolling and immediately stopped to check it out. Second, the blurb grabbed me by throat, pulled my hair, and made me one click, like RIGHT NOW! Needless to say, I have incredibly high hopes that this story is going to consume me. I am ready to ride high and laugh my money maker off. However, I had a difficult time at the beginning. This could be because this is a ‘new to me’ author and I am not familiar with her writing style, but I was expecting a YO HO HO glorious grand time and got stuck in the snow. The beginning was quite foreboding with detail (that is needed) to give you each of the female character’s backgrounds so that you understand why they are planning to escape. There are funny and extremely hot scenes throughout the first half, but it didn’t really pick up until about the 60% mark for me. Now, this is where things get really good. We get a lot more action with the escape, add the shifter pirates and crew, plus a special request comes into play. Now, I am hooked! I need to continue this journey and see what the next leg has in store for this crazy crew!

Cassandra Featherstone profile image

Cassandra Featherstone has been writing since she could hold a pencil.

Her passion for literacy is unmatched, but when she picked up her laptop to write her first published novel in March 2020, she focused on subjects that not only spoke to her soul, but affected many of the women she’d met throughout her twisty life path.

Cass’s vision of a more inclusive whychoose genre lead her to include various types of polycules and diverse characters with three-dimensional personalities, hopes, and dreams that readers adore. Due to her relationships with friends and family, bullying, PTSD, body dysmorphia, mental illness, reinvention, and claiming your space are frequent themes in her books. She frequently champions other authors who also strive for accurate, respectful representation of LGBTQIA+ characters in their whychoose romance.

Her works include urban fantasy, paranormal, contemporary, and academy whychoose/polyam with characters over eighteen. Her books never include non-consensual elements, but feature accurate, safe depictions of BDSM and kink lifestyles.

She’s also affectionately known as the Muppet for her outrageous, extroverted personality and her wacky brand of theater kid social media posts and videos.

Cassandra lives in the Midwest with her computer geek husband, artsy college goblin, an author dog named Tilly, and five cats that Loki himself spawned.

Follow here everywhere: https://cassandrafeatherstone.com/followcasseverywhere/

Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #attendingauthor #Authorspotlight – Sarah Zolton Arthur

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Sarah Zolton Arthur

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

My name is Sarah Zolton Arthur and this will be my second year at WOTR. I’m looking forward to seeing familiar faces after getting to meet so many wonderful people this year. I live in Michigan where I’m constantly busy writing steamy romance with sass and always an HEA. I love to go on adventures. Trips are planned. Adventures are spontaneous. Since I work from home, it’s not uncommon for me to pack up my laptop and just go to see what kind of trouble I can get into. Typically I would bring one or both of my sons with me, but my baby is away at college now so now it’s me and my older son who keeps his mama company. It’s a pretty great life.

When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?

I think for me it’s the consecutive books in a series. The first book is a free-for-all. I’m building the world and the characters, but in consecutive books I have to be mindful of time lapses, character descriptions, world descriptions and that I didn’t already use specific elements in the book before. No one wants to read the same book over and over again just with different character names.

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I step away from that series. I finish one book, and then I start a book from a different series to cleanse my mind. Then I can go back to that other series fresh. This method might not work for every author, but it works for me.

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

Yes. Step back when you need to, but don’t quit. And please don’t ever compare your career to other authors. You are not them and they are not you. You are walking your own path. Comparing yourself to others will only make you sad when you don’t feel like you’ve acheived enough. I get imposter syndrome. We all suffer from it. But you decided to walk this path because most likely you were drawn into it. I like to say, I didn’t choose the writer life, the writer life chose me. And you will read other authors who are brilliant storytellers and write the most beautiful prose. Remember, they most likely didn’t start out as brilliant storytellers writing beautiful prose. They honed their skills by writing. You’ll get there too!

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

I don’t have a PA so my 8-10 hour work day I spend 3-4 hours doing the non-writing aspects of the job and the rest of the time I spend writing. I try to keep it to 8 hours a day, but sometimes you get in the zone and have to finish.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

That’s like asking me to choose my favorite child. Each one of my characters is my favorite from one day to the next for different reasons. Right now, I guess it’s Gloria Parker from Marriage (Red, White, and) Blues. She’s smart, sassy and has a good sense of humor, but she feels invisible a lot of times and I can relate to that. But next week my answer might change.

What is your definition of success?

Success isn’t material for me. Success is feeling content in my home and in my work. It’s knowing my family is happy because I’ve done all I could to help them acheive that. It’s feeling proud of the books I’ve put out. It’s getting feedback from a reader telling me how much they enjoyed a story I wrote. Success is looking at the catalog of books I’ve published and thinking, “Wow! I seriously wrote all these!” A lot of people say they want to write a book but not many of us actually do it, when you think about it.

Do you have anything you want to share that didn’t fit on one of these questions?

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that we need to not get so caught up in the day-to-day of life that we forget to enjoy it. I tell my loved ones that I love them every single day. You might think they know it, they don’t always know. Tell them. And lastly, when you have a chance to be kind, take it. You never know how your words might change someone’s day.

What are your social links?


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorsarahzoltonarthur
Newsletter: https://sarahzoltonarthur.myflodesk.com/sassmatesnewsletter
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sarah-zolton-arthur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahzoltonarthur/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/…/13989100.Sarah_Zolton_Arthur
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1549815968397766

What are your buy links? (Provide links to your Amazon/iBook’s/Koko/etc Author Home Page if you have quite a few. Also include audible links if applicable.)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/…/Sarah-Zolton…/author/B01202KU0U
Website: https://www.sarahzoltonarthur.com/

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2024?

They are available starting November 6th at Writersontheriver.com

$75 VIP Plus – 11-12 Lunch with the Authors , 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Limited Quantity expected to sell out first day*

$50 VIP -12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Expected to sell out first day*

$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party. *Expected to sell out opening day*

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.