Sharon Sala investigates Rebel Ridge

 

Sharon Sala is a long-time member of RWA, as well as a member of OKRWA.  She has 85 plus books in print, published in four different genres – Romance, Young Adult, Western, and Women’s Fiction.  First published in 1991, she’s a seven-time RITA finalist, winner of the Janet Dailey Award, four-time Career Achievement winner from RT Magazine, five time winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award, and five time winner of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence as well as winner of the Booksellers Best Award.  In 2011 she was named RWA’s recipient of the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award.  Her books are New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly best-sellers.  Writing changed her life, her world, and her fate.

Please tell us your latest news! 

I have several books coming out this year.  The first one is TIL DEATH, a romantic suspense, which is book 3 of my Rebel Ridge Trilogy.  It will be out mid-March for paperback and April 1 for digital version.  I’m writing another Young Adult book in my Lunatic Ghost series.  LUNATIC TIMES TWO is the 4^th book in that series.  It will be out some time this fall, I think.  I’ll also have the second book out in a paranormal series I’m self-pubbing under my pen name, Dinah McCall.  The first book WINDWALKER, in my Prophecy series, came out last fall.  It’s available in print and ebook from Amazon.com, from B&N, and for order from any bookstore in print, as well.  The second book in the Prophecy series will be THE DOVE.  It will be available sometime later this year.  I also have a southern women’s fiction book coming out from Sourcebooks in Sept/October.  The short story introducing the book will be out in September in ebook format only.  It’s called COLOR ME BAD.  The book that follows in October is THE CURL UP AND DYE, available in both print and ebook.  It’s about a small southern town (Blessings, Georgia) and how their lives seem to revolve around the beauty shop, The Curl Up and Dye.  I’ll also have the first in a new romantic suspense trilogy out this fall.  The book, GOING ONCE, will be released by Mira books.  The other two books in that trilogy are GOING TWICE and GOING GONE.

Please describe your writing environment. 

Because I take care of my 93 year old Mother full-time (she has dementia and lives with me) my writing environment is anywhere I can find some time on my own and some peace and quiet.  I have and office, but it’s next door to her room, so that’s no longer a viable option.  I’m not picky.  I’ve learned to write pretty much anywhere.  Right now, the favorite spot is on a sofa that has a recliner built in.  It’s situated in a family room that’s part of a very large kitchen.

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

Most of my books come to me in dreams, so I know all of it before I start, except some of the secondary plots.  They develop as the book goes, but I am required to do a synopsis format for my publisher beforehand, and part of it comes from that aspect as well.

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

I research according to the storyline, not across the board.  I already know a lot of what I’m writing about, and what I don’t, I look up.  I am NOT a history buff, so research is usually a distraction I do not look enjoy.  I write in a contemporary voice because I don’t like making history ‘fit’ my stories.  I don’t want to be held to historic details.  I always say, I write fiction, which means I can make it what I want it to be. 

What main genre do you write in? 

Romantic suspense but of late, I’m branching out into women’s fiction and fiction.

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

My family is proud of me and the career that I’ve made for myself, and yes, they read my books.  I started writing Young Adult for the simple fact that my younger grandchildren weren’t old enough to read the romance, although most of them are now.  But I enjoy writing in different genres and will probably continue to do so.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I always laugh and say my writing originated because of chickens.  I had a job I hated checking groceries in a local grocery store, and once a month they would put chicken on sale.  People bought so many chickens during sale day that I couldn’t get that smell out of my nose.  I wanted a job that had NOTHING to do with chickens, and writing romance was about as far away as a person could get.

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

Yes, I write full time now and am single, but before I did that, I was a full-time farmer’s wife.  I drove tractors, hauled hay, helped combine wheat, drove trucks to market, helped fix fence, raised a large truck garden, chased cows… cooked three huge meals a day for husband and workers, everything that the now famous “Pioneer Woman” blogger turned TV cook does without getting paid for my labor.  LOL  In between all of that, I also was a secretary at public school, worked in a florist shop, was a court clerk in the local city hall.

Do you have a specific writing style?

My readers say I write with emotional intensity.  I don’t really know what my specific voice is, but I do believe that everything in life eventually comes full circle, so… however my book begins, I like to tie it up at the end with the same references at the ending.

If you could be one of your characters - Who would you be? And why?

I would be Layla Birdsong, the heroine from WINDWALKER, under my pen name, Dinah McCall, because she is most closely aligned with how I see and want to live in the world.What do you do on a typical writing day?

Who is your perfect hero? And why?

For me, the perfect hero has to be the WINDWALKER himself.  He was male personified.

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

I can’t afford to have writer’s block.  I have a mortgage.

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

Readers can contact me at sharonsala@cox.net, or on FB as Sharon Sala.

 

He left in handcuffs. Now it's time to set himself free.

Nearly twenty years after he was wrongly convicted of setting the fire that killed his father, Lincoln Fox returns to Rebel Ridge, Kentucky. There, deep in the Appalachians, the truth of that terrible night lies buried—and he's sworn to uncover it.

His plans take an unexpected turn when, in the midst of a blizzard, he rescues Meg Walker from her wrecked car. Suddenly Linc discovers another reason to clear his name. Meg, his high school sweetheart, had always believed in his innocence, and if he wants a future with her, he has to show the world proof that she was right.

As the community chooses sides, those who once let a teenage boy take the fall for their crime are forced to raise the stakes. They kidnap Meg, leaving her to the mercy of the mountain. And a second rescue may be more than even Linc can manage….

 

Amazon / Harlequin 

 

 

Lynn Cahoon Takes Life by the Bull’s Horns

 

 

        Lynn Cahoon is a contemporary romance author with a love of hot, sexy men, real and imagined. Her alpha heroes range from rogue witch hunters to modern cowboys. And her heroines all have one thing in common, their strong need for independence. Or at least that’s what they think they want. She blogs at her website, A Fairy Tale Life. http://lynncahoon.wordpress.com/

Lynn isn’t that writer that would tell you they’ve been writing since they found a pencil in the nursery.  Lynn’s life hasn’t been easy, but she’s made the best of bad situations and tried to stay upbeat.  When Lynn tired of making up stories about what could be her life, she made some changes, (like divorce) and started using that imagination to make up real stories, with imaginary people. What Lynn Cahoon used to call day dreaming, she now calls plotting.

Please tell us your latest news!

2012 has been a good year for me.  I’ve signed 6 contracts for manuscripts.  Three of those have released this year. The Bull Rider’s Manager is my most recent release.  I’ve got a second in The Council series in edits along with two new contemporaries.  And I just had my second story published in Woman’s World in November.

2013’s looking great as well.  I’ll be teaching my time management class for NOLA’s conference in March, my chapter’s bringing in Michael Hauge in April, and this summer, I’ll be attending RWA Nationals in Atlanta.  And I’ll have at least three releases. 

Please describe your writing environment.

My husband and I share an office. But I have the big desk…LOL. I’ve got stuff all over the desk, hard to admit, but true.  I have a 32 inch monitor (again, thanks hubby). A file stand to my right, which makes me think I’m organized. A collage with my WIP (work in progress) pictures hidden behind a couple test photos I did of my paranormal cover for A Member of the Council.  And most importantly, a white board with a calendar and a note pad to keep me on track.

What are your hobbies?

Besides working, writing, and sleeping? When I’m not doing one of the above, I love crafting.  And baking.  This winter I’m buying a new sewing machine and taking up quilting again.  I love making something out of scraps – my 70’s retro shining through.  My goal this winter is to make a remembrance quilt out of our old dart league tee shirts.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

One day I couldn’t be at home.  My first marriage was over, but I hadn’t called in the hearse yet.  So, with all that angst bubbling in side of me, I just drove.  When I realized I was a few hours away from the west coast and making the decision by default, I turned around.  The exit off the freeway didn’t have anything except a dirt road heading over a foothill.  I started asking why?  Why was there this exit that didn’t go anywhere?  Did someone live on that dirt road?  When I got home, I sat and wrote out my first short story.  And I was hooked.

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

I don’t write full time.  I wish.  However, both my husband and I know someone has to work for the insurance.  Right now, we’re on a mission to be the one that gets enough income from other sources (like writing) to allow that person to quit.  So, I’m working for a large leasing company in an administrative capacity.  I’ve worked for a social service agency, long term care facilities, as well as a small non-profit as a grant writer. 

What do you do on a typical writing day?

I don’t have a typical writing day.  I plan on writing 7,000 words a week.  That’s 1K a day.  If I’m good, that gets done.  If I feel like I need a break, I’ll probably write less.  Because I work full time, writing has to fit in between the major rocks in my life.  I’ll write first thing in the morning, then write at lunch, and finally, if I don’t have my words in yet, I’ll make another session for more words in the evening which is a great excuse not to do the dishes.

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

I have a woman’s fiction idea running through my head.  But I don’t know if I can write it yet.  The good thing is every time I think of it, the plot solidifies just a bit more.  I have a few projects to write first, then I’m digging in.

What is the best and worst advice you have ever received?

The best – two pieces.  One was ‘Just finish the book.’ You can’t call yourself a writer until you’ve finished a book.  And once you’re done, that’s when the fun of revisions starts. The other piece of advice is ‘There’s always a lake monster.’ Or in translation, there has to be conflict in the story or why write it?

The worse – get a critique partner.  I can’t write the first draft if I have editors/critiquers in my head while I’m creating.  I stop writing.  When I take my work to my chapter’s critique group, I have to be in revision mode or my playful, writing side just clams up and won’t let me finish the book.  So I don’t ask for critique unless I’m done with the first draft.

 

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

 

I do have an accountability partner/friend/mentor. She’s the one who told me to just finish the book.  Actually, she’s said that to me many times over the four years I’ve known her.  She’s generous with her time and I can ask her anything about the publishing business without feeling stupid.  

 

1- Website link http://lynncahoon.wordpress.com/

2) Blog link http://lynncahoon.wordpress.com/blog/

 

 

Barb Carico’s life is all about business. Now that her best friend has tied the knot with her high school sweetheart and Barb’s new partner, she’s busier than ever. Managing Jesse Sullivan’s career and public persona can be a handful. Add in an aging mother who goes through home health nurses like candy, Barb’s hanging on the edge.

Her one salvation? Hunter Martin, prodigal son of Martin Family Dairy and, hopefully, Jesse’s next sponsor. A promise his father had already made before Hunter took over the public relations department. After his brother’s death, Hunter’s become an instant dad to his seven year old niece. More responsibility. For Hunter, the rodeo weekend with Barb is the perfect excuse to relax.

When their dinner turns into drinks and then a quick trip to a Vegas wedding chapel, both Barb and Hunter agree their nuptials were a mistake. A mistake they consummated the next evening. As soon as they’re home, the marriage will be annulled. That’s what they both want. Or at least what they tell themselves.

Upon their return, Hunter finds that distant relatives are suing him for custody of his niece. The only way for him to keep custody is to design a life that matches the promise of a perfect family. For that, he needs Barb to stay married to him. Hunter would give her anything to go along with the charade.

Barb doesn’t know anything about being a wife or mother but she needs one favor. A favor she’ll trade her lifestyle, independence, and even risk her heart to make come true.

 

Amazon / Crimson Romance