Young adult authors are sometimes accused of writing unrealistic narratives—teens who save intergalactic worlds, start revolutions, or end The Hunger Games. Where are the parents? We’re asked. Where is the trademark teenage apathy? Where are the cops? Wouldn’t these characters wait for help? Well, maybe they’re tired of waiting. In the first book of the Anastasia Phoenix series, PROOF OF LIES, Anastasia dives into the criminal espionage world that her late parents thrust upon her. She searches for her missing and presumed dead sister on her own, after all the adults in her life tell her she’s wrong and she should give up. She doesn’t. It’s an adventure story, with a lot of action and romance, and I admit the plot can be viewed as unrealistic. A teen fighting spies? A teen who can speak four languages? A teen going after a corrupt organization? But as I look at the world today, as I watch the news, I think maybe us authors in the young adult community are getting it right. I’m not surprised one bit by the activism I’m seeing, by the articulation of a long-needed message, by the change that will undoubtedly be brought to our country by…

I’m a Southern girl, and in the South we love to feed people. In good times and in bad, food is often the currency we use to demonstrate our affection or concern. A homemade pie can say, “Thank you!” A full meal can say, “I know you’re going through a hard time and I want to help.” I love to cook and entertain friends and the heroine in my upcoming release Beneath the Surface, Leigh Weston, definitely got that from me. Leigh and I are kindred spirits when it comes to expressing our love with an open door and lots of tasty treats. Most of what Leigh cooks is from scratch with no recipe, but one of her go-to desserts can be whipped up in a jiffy with just a few ingredients that she keeps on hand. The fact that it’s the favorite dessert of Ryan Parker, the hero in Beneath the Surface, made it a no-brainer for Leigh to serve to the men and women of the Dive Team who need to use her lakeside home’s dock for an investigation. They loved it! Better Than Anything Cake Ingredients: 1 prepared German Chocolate Cake in a 13×9 pan 1 14…

It’s not a mystery! You gotta love vampires if you’re going to write them. But you also have to know a lot about the lore if you’re going to do a new take on a very old theme. For me, that meant dusting off some of my old favorites and figuring what to keep and what to throw away. Hint: My vampires drink coffee and walk in the sun, though they don’t particularly enjoy it! As for my inspiration for this new series? You have to take a trip back in time with me! Ready? I give you my all-time favorite things vampire! INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE, by Anne Rice Originally published in 1967, this book always goes on my list of all-time favorite anything! I think it’s the first book I ever read and truly fell in love with. It’s suspenseful and sexy and so, so good. In fact, I JUST bought a new copy because I lost mine and it’s time to reread it! Another reason this goes on my list is because it’s the first book my mother and I actually shared. I read this first part of The Vampire Chronicles right about the time book two…

So I’ve been doing some weird things this week. Guess what they are… Running around the neighborhood yelling, “The Grizzlies are here! The Grizzlies are here!” Well, I’m just saying it now because the cops said I shouldn’t Okay, so maybe I’m whispering it, but that’s beside the point. The Grizzlies are here! Are you kidding me? It’s too cold outside for me to be running around. I’m sitting in a hot sauna with a sexy shifter. We’re playing Simon Says… Today is the day I get to feed an animal other than my cat Cinnamon. And look what kind of animals they are! No wait! The GRIZZLIES GO WILD series continued this week! Yup, my wonderful grizzly bear shifter series has started up again. This time something strange is happening in Detroit and I’m…well, I’m really excited about it. Answer: D! Yes, the new trilogy launched on Tuesday with ALPHA UNLEASHED. Fresh Fiction has already reviewed it review and it is the best review of my career. So I’m pretty excited about that. As for the other options, it really is too cold for me to run around the neighborhood right now. And I wish, wish, wish that I…

I am so excited to be back on the Fresh Fiction blog today! Thank you guys for having me! So my new book, PHOENIX FIRE, just came out, and when I was thinking of a topic that I really wanted to talk about, the word “bromance” echoed in the back of my skull like a really great idea. TBH, I think a lot of fiction gets wrapped up in character love relationships and the dreaded triangles. (Haters gonna hate, I guess. I personally like the ones that are well done though.) Not that this is a bad thing! I love a good romantic subplot! I love romance well done. I mean, I write the romance-y things!! But that’s not what draws me in to reading. Character relationships in general are my bread and butter as a reader. Yes, romance is part of that. But there’s so much more to it. Friendships. Family relationship. Enemies turned friends. If I don’t see character connection on the pages, it’s not a story for me. I want relationships to feel real, not matter what kind it is, while I’m immersed in a story world. What are some of your favorite bromances in fiction? Supernatural,…

Whenever you mention Las Vegas, you always think of the gambling – and why not, the casinos dominate the skyline and almost every vacation image you see include a shot of the gambling tables! But there’s more to Vegas than just the slots… and if you’re looking for some quiet time, I’ve got the place for you! Mandalay Bay is a great casino, but if you step to the side and turn a corner, you’ll find yourself at the Aquarium – and another entire world waiting for you to explore! The Shark Reef aquarium gives an entire different experience and for only a few dollars you can not only find yourself nose-to-nose with a shark, but also a chance to touch a live stingray! When I was writing HARD PURSUIT, I needed a quiet place for Trey to take Ally – somewhere that wasn’t filled with loud music and provided a welcome distraction. But aside from a restaurant (and I’ve been told I write a LOT of eating scenes!), where do you go, especially in Las Vegas? Answer – a magical, wonderful aquarium where you can imagine yourself swimming with the sharks, far away from the dry heat and frantic…

When I was writing THE VANISHING SPARK OF DUSK, there was no question in my mind that the romance would take a little time to warm up. I love romance, but what I love more than the steamy love scenes, is the deep connection two characters develop before they even realize they love each other. So here are five reasons I love to write slow-burn romances: Instalove never felt real to me. I’d never developed a crush on anyone at first sight, and I’d never finished a book where the hero *instantly* falls in love with the love interest. When the main character turns around and sees the super hot love interest crossing the scene, and they instantly have a crush, I feel. literally. nothing. It kind of takes away from character’s journey, for me at least. Let me get to know the love interest. Let me hear how they talk, how they laugh, what makes them tick and how passionate they can be about certain issues. I love teasing the reader, keeping them wondering if these two characters will actually end up together. That’s what keeps readers turning the pages. It’s what keeps me turning the pages as a…

When I was writing THE VANISHING SPARK OF DUSK, there was no question in my mind that the romance would take a little time to warm up. I love romance, but what I love more than the steamy love scenes, is the deep connection two characters develop before they even realize they love each other. So here are five reasons I love to write slow-burn romances: Instalove never felt real to me. I’d never developed a crush on anyone at first sight, and I’d never finished a book where the hero *instantly* falls in love with the love interest. When the main character turns around and sees the super hot love interest crossing the scene, and they instantly have a crush, I feel. literally. nothing. It kind of takes away from character’s journey, for me at least. Let me get to know the love interest. Let me hear how they talk, how they laugh, what makes them tick and how passionate they can be about certain issues. I love teasing the reader, keeping them wondering if these two characters will actually end up together. That’s what keeps readers turning the pages. It’s what keeps me turning the pages as a…

So I’ve been doing some weird things today. Guess what they are… Running around the neighborhood yelling, “The Grizzlies are here! The Grizzlies are here!” Well, I’m just saying it now because the cops said I shouldn’t Okay, so maybe I’m whispering it, but that’s beside the point. The Grizzlies are here! Are you kidding me? It’s too cold outside for me to be running around. I’m sitting in a hot sauna with a sexy shifter. We’re playing Simon Says… Today is the day I get to feed an animal other than my cat Cinnamon. And look what kind of animals they are! No wait! Today is the day that the GRIZZLIES GO WILD series continues! Yup, my wonderful grizzly bear shifter series has started up again. This time something strange is happening in Detroit and I’m…well, I’m really excited about it. Answer: D! Yes, the new trilogy launches today with Alpha Unleashed. Fresh Fiction has already reviewed it  and it is the best review of my career. So I’m pretty excited about that. As for the other options, it really is too cold for me to run around the neighborhood right now. And I wish, wish, wish that I…

Writes: Music-lover’s romance. My latest release PLAYING THE PAUSES, standalone Book #2 in the Sex, Love, and Rock & Roll series, hits the shelves on March 5, 2018. About Author: Nomadic romance author seeks readers for vivid, unforgettable rock star romance. Features a Life of the Party, Queen of the Spreadsheet tour manager heroine and a dark, quiet-souled tattoo artist/bassist who also happens to be a Dom. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Would give their favorite fuzzy throw blanket for a strong alpha male who wasn’t a jerk Craves a series full of found family, bromance, and absolutely unconditional friendship Dreams of a happily ever after that feels real Drools for a man’s quick fingers on the frets of a bass guitar Would definitely be besties with a badass tour manager who has the whole music industry wrapped around her little finger, but isn’t too good to break a sweat toting speakers Wants a romance with a Real Man who will take charge—especially in the bedroom—but doesn’t get all bossy and patronizing the rest of the time Giggles over tour bus hijinks with roadies and the band Has a Pinterest page full of gorgeous tattoo designs…