MM March Madness – March 27 – Heather Ranier

03-27 - Heather Ranier

MM MARCH MADNESS!!

March 27

Twinsie Talk is proud to present the 3rd Annual MM March Madness – a month to focus on the M/M, F/F, M/M/F, M/F/M authors. We love these books and want to share it with the rest of the world. Each day we will post an interview. We will also include any reviews that we have done on these books as well as links to the books.

Our hope is that you will love this genre as much as we do! <3

Today is devoted to Heather Ranier

author bio

I live in South Central Texas, writing the type of novel I love to read: more erotic and edgy than the mainstream, with plenty of sweet romance mixed in. My love of romantic fiction began as a teenager when my mom gave me copies of Kathleen Woodiwiss’s “The Flame and the Flower” and Bertrice Small’s “Skye O’Malley.” To this day I’m pretty sure that was her idea of the “birds and the bees” talk. My husband and I met in a scenario very much like the ones I’ve written about. He was the alpha hero who stepped in when this “damsel in distress” needed rescuing from a nefarious pervert. It’s no wonder I went on to write erotic romance when I had him to inspire me. I love to chat with readers on Facebook and talk about my books and whatever else comes to mind on my blog, The Divine Tease. When not pounding on my keyboard, I’m usually busy corralling my kids or loving on my smokin’ hot husband, who thankfully loves to cook.

Tell us about something about you (not included in your normal author bio) that maybe not everyone knows about you.

An old friend from high school recently asked me what I “do” now that my kids are teenagers. My response: “I’m still a stay at home mom.” She nodded with a slightly mystified look in her eyes when I didn’t elaborate further. Living in a small town in Texas, and having children enrolled in a private school, my privacy and anonymity are of primary importance to me…at least until the youngest graduates. For the last five years I’ve balanced maintaining that anonymity for my pen name and my personal privacy while building a following for Heather Rainier that rivals any pre-published dreams I might’ve had.

There’s been a trend in writing a series. How do you feel about series? Do you write them? Do you think they are easier or harder?

As a reader, I prefer series, and will follow along with the rest of fandom…if the stories and characters are interwoven and well-written. I tend to bond to well-formed characters and storylines and am never quite ready to let go when the book ends and always want more stories set in that world. As a writer, I’ve devoted my time to writing a long running series because I believe I share that sentiment with the majority of readers. Writing a series can be challenging, what with keeping world-building facts straight and not “painting” myself into too many corners. After 23 books, I know my characters pretty well, but I still have to refer back to my cheat sheets when it comes to basic facts. Even with all that, it’s worth it.

Where do you do most of your writing?

In my office at the desk my husband built for me. Prior to our move in 2015, I wrote at a small desk set up in our living room with chaos all around me. It’s a wonder I accomplished as much as I did.

What are you currently reading? Any suggestions for your favorite books (beside your own, of course)?

In preparation for the release of “The Beast” in April, I’m enjoying a re-read of the entire Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. I love to read paranormal and urban fantasy and I’ve always enjoyed her characters and very unique author’s voice. I’m also a big fan of anything written by Cherise Sinclair, Laurann Dohner, and Diana Gabaldon, the author of the ultimate book boyfriend, Jamie Fraser.

Do you feel that this genre is growing? And what do you contribute to that growth or decline?

I’ll preface my answer by stating that I’m not an expert in the industry, but I do listen to the experts. I think the growth has slowed a bit perhaps, due to the overabundance of cheap and poorly-edited/formatted/covered e-books, whether self-published or otherwise, combined with a growing sub-culture that demands more and more content cheaper…or for free. Writers who work fulltime jobs and then come home and write fulltime are on a collision course with burn-out. If what they produce is of value, they should expect to be paid a fair price. I think the genre will recover and continue to grow, provided authors stay consistent, avoid getting caught up in hype, continue nurturing their skills, and write to the best of their abilities. The bottom line is that romance readers will always want to read happily-ever-afters.

What is the most surprising thing you have learned about writing?

The idea that the world I created in my head is a place readers of my series would gladly move to or visit, given the chance. Knowing this strengthens my resolve to continue creating a world in the small town of Divine, Texas that is so vivid none of my readers will ever feel let down by subsequent books.

What are you working on now?

I’m finishing up “How Cassie Got Her Grind Back,” the 23rd book in the Divine Creek Ranch Collection (Releases May 2016). Readers have gotten to know Cassie, the owner of Divine Drip over the last several books, and met one of her heroes, Samson Cutter, in “Bunny and the Beast.” While Samson’s twin, Ivan, may be his mirror image, he and Samson are worlds apart in their approach to women, especially Cassie. Blurb for “How Cassie Got Her Grind Back” Cassie, Samson, and Ivan made promises on the day they graduated from high school and then life took them in unexpected directions. Raised in a traditional home, Cassie was expected to work hard and obey her elders and because of her nature she complies, until life throws her so many curve balls she has no choice but to begin standing up for herself. Aspiring to join the military, identical twins Samson and Ivan Cutter find themselves pulled in opposite directions on life paths that couldn’t be more different, but through the years, they’ve unknowingly had one thing in common. Cassie Villalobos. Or more to the point—love for Cassie Villalobos. Samson’s successful career in the military and then in law enforcement was interrupted when he was injured in the line of duty. With a well-earned reputation for level-headedness, Samson enjoys his job as an emergency dispatch operator but there’s always been something missing. Not even his private lifestyle as a Dominant, and role as Joseph Hazelle’s right hand man at Hazelle House, brings him much satisfaction these days. Good-humored and affectionate, it’s probably a good thing Ivan didn’t make the cut in the military due to an injury because he’s found his passion and his purpose in his kitchen. An award-winning chef with a major following, he satisfies his sensual nature with culinary prowess while always feeling the inner emptiness that long hours at his Viking stove can’t fulfill. Thirty years have passed since they made those broken promises to each other, and when presented with a second chance, Samson and Ivan are determined to not let Cassie slip through their fingers again.

What is your favorite thing to do on a Saturday night?

Go out to eat for Mexican food (there are an abundance of authentic Mexican restaurants in my neck of the woods), and watch movies with my husband and family. We watched “The Martian” recently and loved it.

Tell us about the highest HIGH and lowest LOW in your career so far. How has it changed you?

The highest HIGH would be the first phone call I ever received from Siren Publishing in 2010, letting me know they wanted to publish my first book, Divine Grace, and they were excited to hear that it was the first in a series and wanted me to submit more. I think any writer out there will say that the lowest LOW comes in moments of creative self-doubt, writer’s block, and writer’s anxiety—that insidious belief that we’re not very good at what we do and it’s just a matter of time before others figure it out.

social links

 

AMAZON facebookwebsite goodreadstwitter (1)

 

buy links

AMAZON (1)

 

reviews

Lumberjack Weekend (MFM)

Angie’s Goodreads Review

giveaway

Enter the giveaway!! You could win a Kindle from the Twinsies or one of the great prizes donated by our featured authors during the MM March Madness Celebration!!

Heather Ranier has donated a gifted digital copy of “How Cassie Got Her Grind Back” when it is released. (pdf only)  **The book releases May 2016.**

Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A big THANK YOU to all of the authors participating in our month long celebration!! We appreciate all that you do!!! MUAH!!

Much Love from the Twinsies!!! Angie, Brenda, Deb, Kelly, Kristi, Jen, Jo, and Melinda!!!

muah

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “MM March Madness – March 27 – Heather Ranier”

  1. One of my all time favorite authors! My most read series in my collection is DivineCreek Ranch!

  2. Heather Rainier is one of my favorite writers and her books are always a go to for me when my life is hard or happy. Her books the Divine Creek Ranch series is an automatic buy for me. and I love her group the Divine Divas they are such a caring fun bunch. Her first book in the series (Divine Grace) is still my favorite, but the way her writing has expanded and her talent has bloomed amazes me. Heather along with her good friend and fellow author Moran Ashbury/ Cara Covington
    of The Lusty TX series) have combined their characters and stories into wonderful and unexpected delightful crossover books . Those books are some of my favorites. Her books just get better and better and just when I think, this is my favorite book along comes the next one and then I think no This is my favorite one. They are all my favorite!

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