Stephen Brayton Directs Mallory Peterson in Alpha

 

Stephen Brayton is a Fifth Degree Black Belt instructor in the American Taekwondo Association.

In 1996, he opened his first taekwondo club in Grinnell, Iowa, and later assumed ownership of the club in Oskaloosa.

He’s been employed in various fields: radio broadcaster and sales, printing, warehouse/trucking, and hospitality. He’s a reader; a writer; an instructor; a graphic designer; a lover of books, movies, wine, women, music, fine food, good humor, sunny summer days spent hiking or fishing; and a catnip drug dealer to a thirteen pound cat, Thomas.

Brayton resides in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

 

Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself.

 

I was raised by desert mutants and until age eighteen participated in the kidnapping of unsuspecting cross country travelers. You know, families with beautiful young daughters...

Actually, I grew up in the Quad Cities and later in a small Iowa town. I attended Iowa Wesleyan College. Since graduation I've held a number of jobs, including radio, trucking, printing, newspaper, and hospitality. When I moved to Oskaloosa, I was involved with community theatre until I started attending taekwondo classes. Currently, I'm a Fifth Degree Black Belt and operate Brayton's Black Belt Academy.

 

Please tell us your latest news!

 

I have developed the power of invisibility. Yep, that's right. So watch out, if you ever get an eerie feeling you're being watched...it may be me...

Seriously, I wanted to let you know that I have three books published. The first, Night Shadows, is about a homicide detective in Des Moines who teams up with an FBI agent who investigates supernatural incidents, to solve a series of heinous murders in the capital city.

The second book, Beta, is the first in the Mallory Petersen mystery series. Mallory is a Fourth Degree Black Belt and private investigator in Des Moines. Most of her cases involved some oddball clients, but in this book, she searches for a kidnapped girl and ends up uncovering a child pornography ring. Both Night Shadows and Beta are available in eBook format.

My third book, Alpha, has Mallory investigating the murder of her boyfriend and discovering all of his dirty secrets. This book is available in trade paperback at Amazon and at Oak Tree Books.

 

How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

 

I thoroughly enjoy research. I try to use actual locations and I usually end up traveling to the spots to get a feel for the area and to jot down realistic descriptions. I end up meeting some interesting people, some of whom have been included in the stories. One particular fun situation involved my experience at the Val Air Ballroom where I walked in on a Mexican birthday party for a fifteen year old girl. The place was packed with people, music playing, food cooking. After obtaining the information I sought, I knew I had to put this into the story. It fit so well with Mallory's style.

 

What are your hobbies?

 

Robbing banks, heisting cars, graffiti, a little arson now and then to empty buildings...

No, do not send the cops my way; I'm kidding. Actually, I am into taekwondo (of course), fishing, and although I haven't played in years, both golf and racquetball.

 

If you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?

 

Miss July, 2001 for obvious reasons...

Just kidding (or am I?) I can't think of anybody I'd rather have dinner with than Jesus. Come on, dining and chatting with the Big Guy himself? I'd want to ask about his younger years. I mean, you read about his birth and then nothing till age thirty. What did he do as a child? With whom did he hang during high school? Did he have a nickname? And what exactly does the H stand for in his name?

 

Do you have a website recommendation for other writers?

 

Other than mine? Well, obviously, I have to promote the Posse. It's a group of writers and authors who share information about cool websites, marketing and promotion tips, blogs, and other useful tidbits about publishing and writing. I joined the Posse after meeting Sunny Frazier, Oak Tree's acquisition editor. I branched out on my own and have formed the Gang of my own writers and authors and fans. I keep them up to date on my projects and share tips. Check out the Oak Tree blog or www.sunnyfrazier.com and look under Posse Posts.

 

Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen and a comfy place.

 

A giant bong, a fifth of gin, and NPR classical music on the radio. A poster of Miss July 2001 on the wall for inspiration, and I'm ready to begin...

Uh, wait a minute. Scratch all of that except for the classical music. (And now that I've mentioned her twice, I know some of you are scrambling to find out who July '01 is. Come on, tell the truth.) Anyway, I usually write late at night when nobody is around at work. I turned the volume down on the radio so it becomes background noise. Besides, all classical music sounds the same (apologies to those aficionados, but it does). I usually start with pen and a legal pad because I can think faster than I can write. So while I'm writing, my brain is coming up with the next sentence or scene. Then I transfer the longhand onto the computer, which becomes my first edit. I write until I finish a chapter or my hand starts to ache.

 

Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?

 

Well, I contemplated writing the next Harry Potter book, but thought btaining the rights to it would be difficult, so now I'm outlining a book about a ditzy bounty hunter in New Jersey...huh? Already done? Sigh!

Actually, I'm working on Delta, the next in the Mallory Petersen series. In this one, I really take her down to her lowest point and her most challenging experience. I also am trying (desperately) to get the sequel to Night Shadows completed. I've been working on this for many years and I haven't been satisfied. But there is hope. I also am sporadically rewriting a stand-alone mystery. Plus, outlining a couple of others.

 

Who is your favorite cover model? And why?

 

I don't think I've ever been asked this question? Sorry, I just can't pick just one. I take a second look at Kristen Bell, Maggie Lawson (who would be my choice to play Mallory in the movie), Avril Lavigne, and I'd buy several copies of any magazine featuring Elisabeth Harnois (oh my!)

 

Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you?

 

Excellent question. Without a doubt: yes and yes it helps immensely. I began writing Alpha back in the middle 90s but found a critique group around 2000. When I started reading the first draft (which at that time was only about 40,000 words), I realized I still had a lot to learn about the craft of writing. So, I settled on short stories while the idea for Beta bugged me and I started writing that one. Then Night Shadows came along. By 2007, I had been involved with three critique groups and I've been a member of three others since. The most recent one has many fine writers who are knowledgeable and provide very fine critiques on the intricacies of writing.

This group has been very helpful in showing me my strengths and weaknesses. I learn from every member whether beginner or published author. Writers need groups like this to assist them, to point out errors, make suggestions, and to have contacts that may lead to future success for both parties.

 

Website link: www.stephenbrayton.com
           Blog links: www.stephenbrayton.wordpress.com; www.braytonsbookbuzz.wordpress.com

 

Fourth Degree Black Belt and private investigator investigates the murder of her boyfriend. Almost immediately, devastating secrets are uncovered and Mallory finds herself in mortal danger at nearly every turn. On top of the murder, she is asked by her landlord to find his missing daughter.

It’s high kicking action when Des Moines’ most gorgeous investigator enters a world of betrayal, murder, and illegal narcotics, as well as the usual assortment of oddball individual unique to Mallory’s world.

 

Amazon / OakTreePress

 

 

CONTEST:  Since this will be coming after February 14th, Mallory would accept belated Valentine's Day cards (to be put into the comments sections). The best poem, quote, compliments, or well-wishes receive a copy of Beta. So, I'd need an email link.

 

 

 

Mysteries Louisiana Style With Arlene Messa

 

Arlene Messa, writing as Anne Clayre Mason/A.C. Mason, is a Louisiana native and resident. She writes mystery and romantic suspense. Her paranormal romantic suspense Renaissance Woman, published in 2009 by The Wild Rose Press, explores the possibility of reincarnation in Venice. April Fools, a murder mystery set in New Orleans written as A. C. Mason, was released in December 2010 by Wings ePress. She is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Romance Writers of America and Heart of Louisiana RWA (HeartLa).

Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?

I am a Louisiana native and resident. Three spoiled cats share my home. My two married daughters and their families live in nearby communities.

My sun sign is Sagittarius, a sign associated with travel and the Archer in me loves to travel. My romantic suspense stories are set in foreign countries, some I’ve visited and some I’d like to. However, the mystery series I’m writing is set in the Bayou State. The romances are written under the pseudonym Anne Clayre Mason and the mysteries as A.C. Mason.

Please tell us your latest news!

Golden Labrys, a paranormal romantic suspense, is a February release by Whiskey Creek Press. Here’s a blurb for Golden Labrys:

A Minoan artifact, contact with an ancient spirit, a case of mistaken identity, plus a strong attraction to sexy photographer Nikolas Tyler, all add up to a thrill a minute for astrology buff Adriane Ducote during her trip to the Greek island of Crete. Several different factions want the golden labrys, a ceremonial double-headed axe, and will stop at nothing, even murder, to take possession of the artifact which was sold to Adriane by mistake. She gets a little help from a Minoan priestess, but the lovely spirit has her own agenda regarding the labrys.

Although strongly attracted to Adriane, Nikolas believes she is the mysterious relic smuggler his brother’s artifacts recovery agency ARPA is trying to locate. He soon discovers she’s not the only player in this dangerous game.

WhiskeyCreekPress

 

Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

I have a basic idea about the characters, but they develop as I write. Other authors have stated—and I tend to agree—characters do sometimes take on a life of their own.  

What main genre do you write in?

I write in both romantic suspense and mystery. The romantic suspense stories always have light paranormal elements—no vampires or were wolves. For example, an ancient spirit is prominent in Golden Labrys. The possibility of reincarnation in Venice is explored by the characters in my first book—Renaissance Woman.  

How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?

My family is very supportive of me and they do read my books…and sometimes promote a few sales for me.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Reading has always been a part of my life all the way from the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, and books by Louisa May Alcott. Writing naturally seemed to follow. I wrote an Easter skit once and convinced several of my fourth grade classmates to take part in putting on the skit for the class. I wrote a number of stories to read to the class during the following years.   

Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or Still do?

I’ve been a full time writer since 2003 when I retired from the Louisiana Department of Revenue and Taxation.

What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

I’ve tried writing an outline, but for some reason it doesn’t seem to work. Mostly I fly by the seat of my pants. However if I run into a plot problem I sit down with paper and pencil and try to work the problems out off computer. I write every day five days a week, usually after lunch, but occasionally I write in the mornings and on the weekends.

Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?

Although my romantic suspense novels contain elements of international intrigue, I would love to write a thriller mixing the international intrigue with espionage.

What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?

I can be contacted through my website. www.anneclayremason.com Readers can also find out more about me and my books through the site. I have a Facebook page under my legal name where I occasionally promote my books.

 

Met RWA® Golden Heart® finalist Diana Layne

Native small town Texan Diana Layne is an award-winning published author and an RWA® Golden Heart® finalist. She's a homeschooling mom of six kids who grew up riding horses and motorcycles, practicing the piano and reading every chance she could. As an only child she kept herself entertained with imaginary playmates and now writes romantic suspense thrillers and historical romances.

What do you do on a typical writing day?

I’m not certain any day is typical. In my fantasies, I have created a perfect, typical day, but reality has yet to live up to the fantasy. Since I’ve always homeschooled and I’m on the last two (though two of the older ones, a DIL and two grandkids live with me), I find it’s easier for me to get up early, like at 4 am early, to get any writing done. Our homeschooling could probably be labeled eclectic, meaning it’s a combination of unschooling and homeschooling. Which means I let the kids sleep as late as they can; no “get up at a certain time, start lessons at a certain time.” The longer they sleep in the mornings, the longer I can write. With the first four kids (who are much older) I had an early riser in the bunch. And now with the last two—yep, I have another early riser. He rarely sleeps past seven. Still, if I’ve managed to haul myself out of bed on time, I can get a couple good hours in before he wakes up. In the winter, it’s a LOT harder getting out of bed that early on a cold morning though. (I live in an old house so I have to light the heaters every morning, until it warms up, it’s pretty danged cold! At least cold for this Texan!)

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Growing up as an only child (and only grandchild), many of my best friends were imaginary. These were the days before cable, computers, video games-heck, the TV only had four channels. So I played a lot with those imaginary friends.

While I wrote to entertain myself, it never occurred to me I could write novels for others to read.  I thought writers were members of special clubs, were super smart and rich, everything I wasn’t. One day when I put the kids down for a nap (at the time I was running a home childcare business and naps were vital then) I picked up my Romantic Times magazine and read an article about RWA. You mean they let normal people write romance? (okay, okay, normal is probably subjective, how many normal people’s best friends are imaginary, right?)

Is there anyone who really mentored or inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?

The path to publishing was a long and bumpy one, marred by a very bitter divorce which knocked me off balance for a long time. The characters had deserted me, the silence was deafening. And I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to write again.

As they say here in Texas if the horse bucks you off, get up and dust yourself off and climb back on. That sucker bucked me off and I flew through the air and had the wind knocked out of me when I landed flat on my back and hurt so much I didn’t want to move. But I wanted my kids to see that you never give up if you have a dream. So I pulled myself up, dusted myself off and climbed back on that horse.

When you have writer's block how do you break free?

Yeah. Been there a few times. Or twenty. First time it was bad. Scary. What happened, why couldn’t I write?

I read The Artists Way by Julia Cameron, saved my sanity. Morning pages. Hate them. Really. Hate them. Don’t do them anymore but I do something similar, I just don’t call it morning pages. I journal. Write down all I’m feeling, analyze it, figure out where I’m blocked-usually it’s some situation or an emotional reaction to a situation that I’m ignoring and real life has leaked over and destroyed writing life. Writing all that down gets it out of my head so my brain doesn’t have to worry with it like a cat with a toy mouse, and I know I won’t forget about it because it’s all down on paper. At that point, my characters have room to come back and play.

How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

I do however much research is needed. Usually a lot because usually I’m clueless. Why can’t I pick something I know to write about? Like wiping snotty noses or changing diapers… But assassins? Yeah, that’s something a small town homeschooling mom is gonna know about. Sailing a pirate ship? Um, no, my toy bathtub boats sink. Tanning hides? Well, I got my hide tanned a few times when I was a kid, but…tanning an animal hide like the 1800s Native Americans, no clue.

Cool tidbits? I learned how to kill someone with a hat pin. I learned that the Elm tree I wanted cut down because it’s right in the way is actually quite useful in several herbal remedies. And I learned that I’m not made for the seafaring life, I got seasick just researching.

What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

I actually write like I homeschool, half and half. What’s that mean? As I mentioned previously, I do a combination of unschooling and homeschooling, no rigid school schedules here and while we cover basics, the kids are free to explore whatever subjects beyond that make them happy.

For writing, while I look super organized, I have scene sentences on notecards in a notecard notebook after all, they’re actually bare bones sentences and the scene pretty much develops on its own after I start writing the story.

Mainly I start each book with the “sentence” that boils the story down to this: Protagonist with a need vs. antagonist with a need in an interesting setting with a twist. I learned this from Holly Lisle’s course How To Think Sideways, which is a really cool course. Next, I work on scene ideas from that sentence ala Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake method (incidentally Randy starts with a sentence too, I just like how Holly’s is structured). I write each scene sentence on a notecard, file them in my notecard notebook and ready, set, go! (Randy’s also got great Snowflake software but since I do my rough draft writing by hand, I prefer having my notecard notebook by me.)

What I did learn when I wrote Pirate’s Proposal is that if I start off with the wrong sentence, the story will not work, no matter how I organize myself. I had to ditch the first three chapters on my first attempt-so much for all my organization.

Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?

This is from a novella that will be out this month. If you’ve read my romantic suspense The Good Daughter, this is the beginning of the love story of two characters who play a prominent role in The Good Daughter, Nia and Sandro. This isn’t a suspense book, it’s strictly a romance; although since Nia’s still in college it might be classified as one of those New Adult romances. If you haven’t read The Good Daughter, no big deal. Red-Hot Italian will stand on its own.

Nia, the heroine, is a world-class soccer player for the American women, while hero Sandro is an international Italian soccer star. Yeah, you could say like Beckham but Sandro is Italian and if you actually go back in history a couple of decades you can say like Roberto Baggio, who was FIFA World Player of the Year in 1994.

Anyway, Sandro is Nia’s soccer hero, she always studied and emulated his style until it developed as her own and by a fluke of unimaginable luck (at least to her) her soccer coach is Sandro’s uncle. When the Italian national team is in town for a friendly match with the American national team, the uncle invites Sandro over.

Here Sandro and Nia are cleaning up the dinner dishes while coach and his wife are having a very loud argument in the other room.

“I know these dishwashers are supposed to clean without rinsing, but it just seems--”

Nia abruptly cut off her sentence when she realized she was chattering to cover her nervousness and the noise in the other room.  Noise which could no longer be ignored.

She stopped to listen, dried her wet hands on a towel. “Do you know what’s going on out there?”

“Si.”

“Well, come on, don’t keep me in suspense.”

Sandro’s gaze captured hers. “I asked if you could stay the night.” 

Ahhh. Why is Sandro wanting Nia, who he just met earlier that day, to stay the night at his uncle’s house? Is he wanting to be naughty or is it something else?

Do you have a website recommendation for other writers?

Naturally I recommend the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com.  We’re a group of 2009 Golden Heart® finalists who formed the group the day the finalists were announced. It wasn’t long after we started our blog, designed to help other writers. Our motto is: Your sisters on the yellow brick road to writing success.

How can readers find out more about you and your books?

www.dianalayne.com

Nominated for the RWA® Golden Heart® Award

When reality is a web of lies and the truth endangers all you hold dear . . . you Trust No One.

Drafted into the nebulous underworld of a secret agent right out of college, MJ Thornberg survived betrayal and attempted murder at the hands of her trusted partner. Instead of returning to the deadly realm of espionage, she chose to retire to a small Texas town and work as a mechanic while raising her soon-to-be-adopted baby daughter.

Ben Walker is a man with his own secrets. An agent with MJ's former employer, Vista Security, Ben is clawing his way out of a downward spiral from a job gone wrong when Vista sends him after MJ, with orders to use the threat of halting her baby's adoption to ensure her cooperation.

Furious and trusting no one, MJ intends on working the job solo until a sniper's bullet alters her plans. With no choice but to work with Ben, MJ must confront ghosts from her past, discover truths of her present, and trust that the future she deserves is in her hands to create.

 Excerpt / Amazon / Amazon UK

 

CONTEST: $20 Amazon or BN gift card

Anna Kittrell—California Born, Oklahoma Raised—Beaches for Prairies for Scrimshaw dolls

 

Anna Kittrell has written stories for as long as she can remember. She still has most of her tattered creations—leftovers she was unable to sell on the playground for a dime—written in childish handwriting on notebook paper, bound with too many staples. Her love of storytelling has grown throughout the years, and she is thrilled her tales are now worth more than ten cents.

Growing up in small town Oklahoma, Anna spent many a summer day on the lakeshores she often writes about. Today, she works as a middle school secretary in her beloved hometown, where she resides with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband, Tim, and their two practically grown children, Evan and Brandilyn. She still loves visiting those muddy red lakeshores of her childhood, when she’s not too busy writing about them instead.  

Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?  

I was born in Riverside, California—a loooong way from my smallish hometown of Anadarko, Oklahoma. My family moved to Anadarko in when I was four years old. With the exception of a three-year absence in the early nineties, I’ve lived here ever since. My husband, Tim, and I have been together since I was fifteen years old, and celebrated our twenty-third wedding anniversary in October. We have two children, Evan, age twenty-one, and Brandilyn, age fifteen. This is my twelfth year working as secretary of Anadarko Middle School—the greatest place on earth this side of Disney World. 

Please tell us a little about your new release without giving too much of a spoiler away. 

Skinbound is part of a series called ‘Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll,’ created by members of Oklahoma Romance Writers of America. Each stand-alone story in the series ties to the others by a common thread: a cursed, bone-carved doll that passes through various parts of Oklahoma.

My story is set at Chickasha Lake, Oklahoma, and surrounding areas. It is about identical twins, Darcy and Scarlett Vaughan. The good-twin/bad-twin dynamic has always fascinated me, how two people can look exactly alike, but be so deceptively different.

Since childhood, Darcy dreamed of having a sisterly bond with her twin, Scarlett. Scarlett, however, had no such dreams. In fact, her sinister behavior made a loving relationship impossible, and Darcy’s life miserable.

Even in infancy, Scarlett’s maliciousness toward Darcy was evident to their great-grandmother, Gigi. She purchased an ancient scrimshaw doll from an old gypsy woman to protect Darcy from her evil twin. Darcy loved Gigi, and grew to love the old scrimshaw doll as well. Watching it sell at her deceased grandmother’s estate sale was almost more than she could bear.

Years later, the doll reappeared on adult Darcy’s doorstep, as did evil Scarlett. Darcy still desperately wanted a relationship with her sister and was willing to do whatever it took to make amends with her wayward twin—a situation Scarlett was more than happy to take advantage of.

Again, Darcy found herself at the mercy of her sister, dangerously close losing everything, including the man she loves, and very possibly her own life.

In a bitter struggle of life and death, Darcy discovers a chilling revelation within those unwavering green eyes so similar to her own.

Scarlett has no soul. 

What was the hardest part of writing your book?  

I’d have to say, re-writing it. Skinbound required a lot of editing in order to get it where it needed to be. Because the book is part of a series, there were certain rules and character-established timelines I had to follow. Early on, I adjusted the story to keep it within the guidelines.

The common thread that ties all of the ‘Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll’ stories together is an ancient, cursed scrimshaw doll. Since my story is about a set of identical twins that sort-of confound the scrimshaw doll, it was tricky to write at times because I had to stay within the boundaries of the curse, and remain true to the doll’s nature in such an unusual circumstance.  

When the manuscript was completed, I decided to change the story from a romance to a romantic suspense, which required adding and cutting scenes. A brand new suspense thread was woven throughout the entire manuscript. The rewrites were hard work, but the experience proved to be invaluable. My editor at the Wild Rose Press, Ally Robertson, was an ever-present source of encouragement; I can’t thank her enough. I have to say, now that it’s all said and done, I’m thrilled with the story I created.  

What comes first: the plot or the characters? 

Plot and characters surface at the same time for me. A story idea usually pops into my head, or whispers into my spirit, with the characters already at their stations. 

Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write? 

I plan my characters before I write, but I don’t really get to know them until the words flow onto the paper. Their presence deepens as I write. They reveal things to me, and leave me nodding and talking to myself, “Oh…I see…that’s why my character did that crazy thing in chapter one. Now I get it…”

Writing, to me, is almost supernatural. It truly seems as if the characters show me what to write. I’m amazed by what they have to say, and how they choose to say it. I know… crazy, right? 

Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place. 

I need lots of tiny little notebooks. I put them in the car, in the bathroom—everywhere, really. I write notes down when the characters nudge me, then tear out the pages and skew them to the message-spike I keep on my desk. I like working with bite-sized chunks of information, quilting it together into scenes. 

Do your books have a common theme or are they all different? 

Presently, I am working on a not-yet-published (or as we like to say in the writing-world, “pre-published”) YA Christian thriller series with shared characters and locations. My other books are quite different. However, I have noticed Oklahoma lakes make a recurring appearance in all of my stories. I’ve spent many a summer on red Oklahoma lakeshores, and forged very fond and vivid memories there. Maybe that’s why my mind revisits them so often. Perhaps my subconscious is living vicariously through my characters? 

How long does it take you to write and then edit a story? 

Skinbound took approximately three months to write, and five months to edit. The last book I completed, Another Man’s Treasure, also a romantic suspense, but double the length, (will release in print and ebook format through The Wild Rose Press) took around four months total writing/editing time. Of course, that doesn’t count the intense editing and revisions it will go through prior to publication. 

How do you go about naming characters? 

I always have my ears open for interesting names. I love names that are different, sometimes even unheard of.  Dr. Creighton, the hero in Skinbound, has the first name of “Cabin.” I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from readers concerning the individuality of his name. Funny thing is, I borrowed that name after I heard it in a conversation with a friend—or at least Cabin is the name I thought I heard. Turns out the name she’d mentioned was Kavan, not Cabin. LOL.  

What so you see for the future of publishing and e-books? 

I must admit, I was a real foot-dragger when it came to e-readers. I just didn’t understand the need for such a device. After all, I love to read in the bathtub—couldn’t I get electrocuted or something? My husband shoved me onboard by gifting me with a Kindle Fire last Christmas. I love it. I can read and oh-so-much more on that little tablet. Ordering books is insanely simple, and I can do it virtually anywhere. And e-books are so affordable! So, I guess my answer is: I believe the future of e-publishing and e-books is very bright. Of course, the most exciting part for me is seeing my own e-book on that never-ending cyber shelf. Now, if they could just make e-readers submergible… 

What are your current books out right now, and what are the books coming up for release? 

Skinbound, a romantic suspense novella published through The Wild Rose Press, is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and The Wild Rose Press. My full-length romantic suspense novel, Another Man’s Treasure, is soon to be published through The Wild Rose Press, and will be available in print as well as in ebook format—which is quite exciting for me. Its 2013 release date has not yet been announced. 

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?  

Usually, when I’m not writing, I’m feeling guilty or frustrated because I’m not writing. However, I do like to read, watch Netflix movies with my husband, and have been known to play a few ‘SongPop’ games on Facebook. 

Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on? 

The ‘Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll’ authors have a collective blog site we are very proud of. The blog updates each Wednesday, and is hosted by our own scrimshaw doll, Rosa, who candidly offers her point of view and welcomes questions and comments. We would LOVE to hear from readers and fans of the series.  

http://talesofthescrimshawdoll.wordpress.com/

Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web?  

Twitter link: https://twitter.com/KittrellAnna

Twitter user name: @KittrellAnna 

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/mskittyanna / mskittyanna@facebook.com

Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anna-Kittrell/308789205843840?ref=ts&fref=ts 

Website: http://www.annakittrell.com 

E-mail: mskittyanna@yahoo.com

An ancient scrimshaw doll—does its gypsy magic protect or destroy?

As a child, Darcy Vaughan cowered beneath the malice of her twin sister, Scarlett. Now, Scarlett is back and Darcy hopes to establish the sisterly bond she’s always longed for. Instead, Scarlett tries to destroy Darcy’s life—and her new relationship with the town doctor.

Dr. Cabin Creighton returned to his hometown near Lake Chickasha, Oklahoma to take over his father’s practice. One look at Darcy, and Cabin wants nothing more than to love her forever. But a guilty heart and memories of his deceased wife are holding him back.

When someone from Scarlett’s past reappears, bad things start to happen. Darcy and Cabin struggle to keep their love alive, but as danger draws closer, Darcy finds herself once more at her sister’s mercy, with nothing but the yellowed bones of an ancient doll to protect her. 

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