Interview with an Author: Tamela Quijas

Indie author, Tamela Quijas joins us today with her paranormal romances. To see more of her books (and her beautiful cover art), reviews, her latest release, and her upcoming book, read on!

About the Author: 

Ms. Quijas was raised in Europe, a wonderfully diverse country filled with magically induced superstitions and the mystical beliefs of the old. The ancient tales told there, the basis to many of our fairytales, she learned were meant to frighten children. Strangely enough, all these beloved tales hold a semblance of truth in their dark depths.

The stories Ms. Quijas writes hold that essence, where the darkness of life borders on the edge of sunset and where the dead savor or regret those long and lonely hours until the sun rises on the horizon.

Where every soul has a chance at redemption….

On a quick note, Ms. Quijas does write the occasional contemporary romance and cookbooks.

Follow her on her Blogsite--At Your Fingertips: http://tamelaquijas.wordpress.com and
at http://tamelaquijas.webs.com!

Remember—you can always find me on Facebook---I would love to friend you! 

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m married and a mom to 7 wonderful children and 2 grandchildren.  I’m a former military dependent raised all over the world, but  I’ve lived in the United States since 1987 and consider the far southwest my home.  Recently, I returned to college to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming an elementary school teacher.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always written—writing was my passion from an early age.  I can remember writing entire journals filled with fairytale stories as far back as elementary school.

What book are you reading now?

I’m reading a little bit of everything right now.  I’ve Exodus by April Alisa Marquette, Ambasadora by Heidi Ruby Miller, Shadowbrook Manor by Shannon Bailey, Fallen from Grace by J.R. Lindermuth, and Song of Eidolons by Jessica McHugh.

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

I’m a big fan of the movies—with action flicks being high on my list of must sees.  I recently went to see Conan and adore Jason Momoa.

Where do you get your ideas for your books?

Oddly enough, music.  There will be one certain phrase from a song that will inspire me to write my next story.

 
What was your favourite chapter to write and why?

The first chapter is my favourite.  I love to introduce the hero/heroine and give a bit of insight into their past, what makes them tick, and how they’ve become what they are.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

            The book that is my current work in progress is Tears of Blood, which is Book 3 to The Blood Chronicles.  The story is loosely based around cinema heart throb Rudolph Valentino, but my hero’s name is Amado Gianni.  The proposed backcover blurb is:

Once the darling bad boy of the silver screen, Amado Gianni had swept through Hollywood with his dark good looks, and sultry charm. One night, and a chance encounter with a dark soul, had taken everything from him. He was left a shadow in the modern world, in a constant battle of good and evil.

Elodia Deville was a lost soul, battling the inescapable odds mounting against her. Blind, with a human evil seeking to destroy her, she was unaware of her appeal to the world of the undead.

Fate would join them in a battle of survival, one that would lead to tears of blood...

 Find her books at:

Amazon (United States, Germany, and UK) 

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tamelaquijas 

1 Place for Romance: http://1placeforromance.com/index.php?searchMe=tamela+quijas&column=author&_a=viewCat

All Romance Ebooks/OmniLit:http://www.allromanceebooks.com/

Barnes & Nobles: http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=tamela+quijas&page=index&prod=univ&choice=allproducts&query=tamela+quijas&flag=False&pos=-1&box=tamela+quijas&ugrp=2

Diesel Ebooks: http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/author/Quijas,%20Tamela/results/1.html

What are others are saying about Tam Quijas' books? 

Blood of the Beast:

"Tamela Quijas' Blood of the Beast is a sensual, deeply written tale from a gifted storyteller. Demetri is a tortured soul who longs for the light...and the woman who might bring about final redemption. Val is the street-smart cop who longs to honor her father's memory...and close her case at any cost. Together they must challenge a bloodthirsty minion who ravages the city, and a love that could be Demetri's final doom.

Ms. Quijas' prose and elegance leaps from page one, and holds the reader captive until the last. For fans of lush, delightfully dark romance, this is a must-read!" Lisa Phillips

 Blood Moon:


"This series just keeps getting better!!! ...The story is unique, fast paced and well written... Although this book is a series, each book can be read as a stand alone. I cannot wait for another installment into this wonderful world." grammy1

My Lord Raven:
 
"This book pulled me in to it's spell from the very start...it's one of those books that I just couldn't put down...I absolutely LOVED the characters...especially the handsome Dante...and the beautiful Kate. The characters in this romance stepped off the written page and became someone I wanted to know more about and once I did I wanted the best for them. If you are looking for a really great romance story than look no further than My Lord Raven!" Brandy Rose

Angel's Fire, Demon's Blood.

"A book that makes you go "wow"... While this story starts out in times gone by, it quickly jumps to the present day and takes off at a dead run. Suspense, intrigue, romance, sibling rivalry, ghosts, and a group of psychics... you name and it this book has it! My hat's off to Ms. Quijas for creating such a delightful tale. I can't wait to see what she'll write next..." KitCatMS

 Moonlight Deception:

Just released this month!

Interview with an Author: Nicholas Olivo

Please welcome Nicholas Olivo and his urban fantasy, IMPERIUM to the blog today. To learn more about the inspiration behind Imperium, the characters, and who he would cast if the book was made into a movie, read on!

About the Author:

My childhood consisted of way too many video games, comic books and 80's cartoons. Add in a healthy appetite for Tolkien and Stephen King, and the end result was a geek who had visions of someday writing his own novels.

It was Terry Brooks' Wishsong of Shannara that really clinched it and got me excited about writing. But it wasn't until years later, after reading Jim Butcher's Storm Front, that I decided to take a crack at urban fantasy. After a month of Pepsi-and-Snickers-assisted brainstorming, Vincent Corinthos and the Caulborn were conceived. A year later I published the first Caulborn novel, Imperium.

I've lived my entire life in various New England states, and I'm fascinated by New England's paranormal history. One thing I really enjoy is incorporating local paranormal events and urban legends into the books. Each Caulborn novel will include references to real-world supernatural occurrences, and explains how they fit into the Caulborn's world.

I live with my wife and three children, and a shape-shifting cat who may or may not be be in human form at any given moment. If you'd like to drop me a line, swing by my site -
www.nicholasolivo.com 

Vincent Corinthos leads a triple life. As a secret agent, he handles paranormal threats; as a god, he protects his followers from evil forces; as a stock clerk, he keeps the back room of an antique store tidy.

When one of his fellow agents goes missing, Vincent begins with the usual suspects. His investigation takes him to vampire lairs, golem laboratories, and the realm of the fae. Along the way he squares off against genetically modified gremlins, virus-spawned zombies
and a horseman of the Apocalypse.

But it's only when he infiltrates a private medical lab that he realizes just how big of a threat he's facing, and even being a god might not be enough of an edge...




What inspired you to write your first book?
When I was in Junior High, I read Terry Brooks’ Wishsong of Shannara. I didn’t know it was the third book in a series, nor did I know anything about fantasy beyond the Hobbit. After reading that book, I decided that I wanted to write fantasy stories of my own. I sat down and over the next seven years gradually built out my own epic fantasy novel. It went through several incarnations, and in the end, it was a total piece of crap. My wife’s the only one who’s read it, and is the only person who will ever read it, but I learned a lot from the experience.


If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Jim Butcher. His book Storm Front was the first urban fantasy novel I’d ever read and was what inspired me to try my hand at the genre. He also has a fantastic LiveJournal site with a ton of writing advice that I’m using for my series.



Where do you get your ideas for your books?
I keep a sheet of random thoughts and phrases that occur to me. For example, the impetus behind my main character, Vincent, was the phrase “god for hire.” Once I have a bunch of phrases on the sheet, I’ll grab a soda and a candy bar and start looking to see which ones would make interesting combinations. IMPERIUM was birthed out of that process.


What was your favourite chapter to write and why?
I’d say the first chapter was my favorite. I had to rewrite it a bunch of times before I got the flow and voice down, but once I did, I had a lot of fun with it. It gives the reader a chance to see Vincent at the height of his power and a full appreciation for what he can do before everything in his world goes horrifically wrong.

Introduce the main characters from your latest book. Who are they? Let them speak for themselves. What would they like to say?

“My name is Vincent Corinthos. I’m a god.”

“Well, technically, you’re half-god.”

“Thank you, Megan. Yes, I’m a half-god, my father was the Roman god Janus. Megan and I are agents of a supernatural police force called the Caulborn. We keep the peace between Boston’s paranormal and normal communities.”

“And sometimes we even get to do a little B&E.”

“Only when it’s necessary for the job.”

“Right. Which is why I carry lockpicks at all times.”

“Megan also carries this ray gun that can blow holes in nearly every known substance in the universe, and she’s got a handy extradimensional locker that lets her smuggle gear in and out of pretty much anywhere. You wouldn’t think she was trained as a diplomat.”

“And Vincent’s got a whole  bunch of psychic powers like telekinesis, pyrokinesis and telepathy. You wouldn’t peg him as a guy who’d carry a switchblade.”

“Megan and I just started working together. She’s working with me on a missing persons  case. Some paranormals and one of our fellow agents have disappeared. We’re going to have to turn over a lot of rocks to get to the bottom of this one, and I don’t like where it might lead.”

“On the plus side, we’ve got a lot of help. Our office has diviners, medical staff, artificers and a super whizbang genius of a gremlin who can build or fix just about anything.”

“Speaking of which, where is Gearstripper, Megan?”

“I saw him just before we came in here, he was going into the conference room.”

“Someone must’ve brought donuts in. Let’s go before he eats them all.”

If you could have a paranormal power or be a creature, what would it be?

I’d like the ability to warp time so I could have more time to write. There just aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything I want, and if I could wave my hands and say “tempus fugit” or some other bad attempt at Latin to gain another three or four hours, that’d be great.

What do you do when you're not writing?

My favorite thing to do is play with my kids. If I’m not doing that, I’m usually reading comic books or playing video games. Lately though, I find I’m spending a lot of time promoting IMPERIUM :)

Add a question of your choice: If IMPERIUM were made into a movie, who would you cast in the main roles?

Vincent - Christian Bale

Petra - Summer Glau

Gearstripper (who would be a puppet so we just need a voice) - Greg Cipes (he was Beast Boy in Teen Titans, and I totally hear him when I write Gearstripper’s dialog)

Megan - Reese Witherspoon

Thanks for having me on your blog, Angel!

To Connect with Nick:

My site: www.nicholasolivo.com
My Twitter: @NicholasOlivo
My Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5018856.Nicholas_Olivo
Imperium on Amazon 

Imperium on Smashwords

What are others saying about Imperium? 

"I almost can't believe this is Nicholas Olivo's first book. It was that good!
I am so impressed and completely enamored with this dark urban fantasy novel by Nick Olivo!
Urban Fantasy fans stand up and take notice. There is a new voice in town!" Nurslings

"The supporting cast is full of quirky, fun characters drawn from all manner of mystical mythology. You're guaranteed to fall in love with Gears, the Caulborns' resident IT gremlin. As well as Corinthos's girlfriend, the mighty Petra--every man's dream girl and then some...I'll definitely keep an eye out for the sequel, and hope this series lives as long as the immortal undead. " Rob Cornell  

Huge Ebook Giveaway! 24 Titles!

JeanzBookReadNReview will be having an ebook giveaway as soon as she reaches 100 followers.

24 ebooks means 48 winners! .... See details below to be in the draw.
All you have to do is tweet and facebook this post and leave a comment below then shoot over to one of these blogs to enter. 

Enter on one of these two blogs: JeanzBookReadNReview or After the Book



Rules: You can only enter one blog - either After The Book or JeanzBookReadNReview. Not both.
.

As soon as each Blogger reaches 100 followers - the first winners on that blog will be drawn. 1st winner drawn gets 1st pick of the ebooks on the list.
.
The eBooks: click on the links to learn more. Support the Author by clicking "liked" on their book on Amazon. Either Amazon US or UK or both.

1. Paradox - The Angels Are Here - Patti Roberts Twitter

2. A Job From Hell - Jayde Scott Twitter

3. Black Wood - Jayde Scott

4. Raven - Suzy Turner Twitter

5. Paranormal Doorway to the Triquetra - Lenore Wolfe Twitter

6. Dark Warrior - Lenore Wolfe

7. The Bringer - Samantha Towle Twitter

8. HIDDEN - Marchwood Vampire Series - Shalini Boland Twitter

9. Ruby and the Mix Games (Hue Series -Volume 1) - Joseph Seegitz Twitter

10. Salt Bowl Death – Cypher Lx Twitter

11. Darkest Before Dawn – Cypher Lx

12. Coexist (Keegan’s Chronicles) – Julia Crane Twitter

13. Beautiful Evil – Robbi Sommers Bryant Twitter

14. Caged In Darkness - J.D. Stroube Twitter

15. Crossroads - Mary Ting Twitter

16. Forever Sunshine - Collette Scott Twitter

17. Piercing Through the Darkness - Emerald Barnes Twitter

18. Nalia and the Potion Maker (Nalia, Book 1) - Queenbe Monyei Twitter

19. Scorpio Rising (The Scorpio Series) - Monique Domovitch Twitter
20. Legacies of Talimura: War of the Witch - Angel Haze Twitter

21. Bloodletter - Angel Haze

22. Chasing Destiny - Linda Eble Swain Twitter

23. Outside - Shalini Boland

24. Fairy Circle - Johanna Frappier Twitter

What contestants must do:

*follow one of the blogs - either After The Book or JeanzBookReadNReview. Not both.
*follow the blogger on twitter
*follow the Authors on twitter or facebook or both
*tweet and facebook the blog promoting the giveaway, including this one.
*leave their email address to be contacted if they win
*comment about one of the ebooks in the competition.
*"Like" the Authors on Amazon
Must be over the age of 14

Interview with an Author: J.D. Stroube

Because I love showcasing the amazing talent of all the indie authors out there, please welcome J.D. Stroube and her debut urban fantasy , CAGED IN DARKNESS. To learn more about this author, her inspiration, marketing plan, and her upcoming releases, read on!

J.D. Stroube is a debut author, who released her first novel on August 1st. Caged will be her first series. J.D. will be coming out with three more series and a stand alone novel within the next year and a half. 

She is a psychology major, who attends Roosevelt University and intends to open her own practice in the future. She lives in Naperville with her husband and is extremely close to her family. She began telling people stories when she was three years old. Although, those stories mostly consisted of scribbles on the back of menus. She began writing short stories at age six and her first novel at 12, which was a horror story that was accidentally tossed with the trash.

 

A witch raised in a cage of darkness...

Savannah Cross was born into a life of isolation and abuse. As a child, she witnessed her parents perform acts of malevolent evil, and now feels permanently tainted by their dark deeds.

When a coven discovers a tear stricken child, wounded on their elders lawn, they offer her a sanctuary she has never known. Savannah spends the next several years shattered, continuously looking over her shoulder, waiting for the darkness to claim her.

On her 16th birthday, Savannah’s life takes a drastic turn.She is consumed by overwhelming power that forever alters her emotionally and physically.

She must choose between two loves; the one who taught her to smile or the darkly seductive stranger who tempts her towards another path. Savannah must decide between the coven that was her haven and another one vying for her initiation. Just as Savannah begins to grasp what fate has in store for her, an evil looms over her loved ones; coming to claim an unbreakable debt.

How will she choose and survive the greatest evil she has ever witnessed... long enough to have a choice to make? 




What inspired you to write your first book?

 

The inspiration behind Caged in Darkness began with my craving for a paranormal book that was not a vampire novel. I have always been fascinated by witches and the Wiccan religion. When I couldn’t find a book to sate my craving, I decided to write one. Caged in Darkness ended up evolving past the plot I originally imagined and took on a life of its own. When I was developing Savannah’s character, I gave her a dark past that she overcomes. As a psychology major, I have an appreciation for anyone who manages to carve their own path. I fueled Savannah’s personality with a great deal of my own. 

What book are you reading now?

I am currently reading many different books. The Game of Thrones is my favorite out of the ones I am reading. I began reading it because I watched the show and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. It’s refreshingly original and it’s nice to read a fantasy novel since I rarely do.

I have many favorite authors. My favorites depend on the genre. Historical Romance, my favorites are Eloisa James, Sabrina Jeffries, Sarah Maclean, Lisa Kleypas, and Julia Quinn. Mystery my favorites are Lisa Jackson and Kay Hooper. Fantasy would be James Clemens and Jim Butcher. The genre with most of my favorite authors is probably Young Adult. I absolutely love Rick Riordan, Richelle Mead, Rachel Hawkins, Claudia Gray, Cassandra Clare, J.K. Rowling, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, and L.J. Smith. I love reading most genres. However, my favorites are Historical Romance and Young Adult. 

Why do you feel you had to write this story?

I’ve been writing my whole life, but have always been insecure about letting people read my pieces. My friends and family told me that I was a natural and was destined to become a writer. It has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. However, I always had a little voice telling me that they were only saying those things, because they felt obligated. My professors often compliment my essays, but those are academic. Then, about six months ago, I had to write a personal narrative for one of my classes. My professor called me and told me that my essay was phenomenal. It was vastly different hearing it from her, because I knew she didn’t feel an obligation to compliment me. I also befriended a girl from my University, who quickly became an email buddy. We would tell each other about our experiences. Every time she read my emails, she would mention that she felt pulled in by them. She continually told me I should be a writer, which was amazing since I never told her about that dream. Finally, I decided that I needed to publish my books. I am sure there will be some people who won’t enjoy my books, but hopefully the people who do enjoy them will out number the ones who don’t. 

How do you market your books?

I plan to release my novels quickly. As a reader, I despise waiting a year for the next book in a series and I refuse to do this with my readers. I have three series and a stand alone novel that I will be releasing. I think people will be interested in reading my books because my writing style is unique and I have an extraordinary imagination. The people who know me, often comment on how I see the world differently. I am extremely descriptive, obsessed with editing, and I try to incorporate many twists to my stories. When I read, I can usually figure out everything that will happen in a book within the first few chapters. I don’t want people to have that issue with my books. I try to ensure that my readers will be completely surprised by my books. I also make my characters personalities realistic. There are so many different people in the world and each personality is unique. My characters aren’t perfect; they have flaws. However, I think their flaws are what make them captivating. 

If you had to chose, which author would you consider a mentor?

The authors I most consider my mentors are James Clemens and Richelle Mead. James Clemens pulled me into his Banned and the Banished series because he constantly introduced new developments into each book. His books were so unique that I still have not found a fantasy author who lives up to him. His series has remained by favorite since I was in junior high. Richelle Mead captivates me with her writing because it is so sincere. She goes the extra step to create her characters and her plot. I admire both authors.

Behind every great writer is a great support network. Who are your cheerleaders?

I’ve been lucky to have an amazing support network! My family is encouraging and is with me every step I take. My friends (Lisa, Jackie, Sarah, Regina, and Kari) all help with my editing and constantly beg me for the next piece I write. They really help to boost my self esteem. My husband is phenomenal, because he doesn’t let me give up. My father has always believed in me, which makes it easier to believe in myself. Surprisingly, my cover artist “Regina Wamba” has been great for support. We became friends during the process of creating the cover for Caged in Darkness. I feel blessed to know that I have so many people to catch me if I fall. 

If you couldn't be an author, what would your ideal career be?

I am hoping to make writing novels a career. However, I also understand that many authors cannot make a living on writing alone. I write because it’s my passion, not for money. For now, writing is something I do purely because it makes me happy. My career will be a psychologist once I am finished with the massive amount of schooling it takes to become one. 

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

My interest in writing originated when I was too young to write properly. My stories were scribbles back then. I remember beginning because my family told me to write a story during dinner. I think it was to get me to sit still, but it turned into one of my favorite things to do. When I gazed on my scribbles, I saw a real story and would read it to family members. As I aged, I became a better writer. My family quickly picked up on my natural ability and encouraged it. 

Thank you for joining us J.D!

Caged in Darkness is available on:

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Smashwords

Connect with J.D.

http://jdstroube.weebly.com/index.html

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4846190.J_D_Stroube

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/JD-Stroube/186338091413684

Upcoming Releases:

Release Date: October 14

A bloodstone dagger to ward off evil…

In a matter of weeks, Savannah Cross has ascended, overcome a prince of darkness, and lost one whom she loved. Her powers have become a liability in the wake of her shattered world. Her rapid descent into a delusional vortex has made her unable to tell fantasy from reality. She knows her visions cannot be real and yet are as unquestionable as the air she breathes. Her only solace is the demise of the evil that would have destroyed her loved ones, but can evil ever truly die?

Willow watches as Savannah spirals into chaos, but is unable to help. She must answer Death’s ultimatum with one of her own. How will she leave behind everything to embrace a sisterhood of immortals, who do not accept her?

Savannah must pull herself from the dark void that has invaded her soul, while Willow must learn to embrace the hellhound within, because an evil has awakened to avenge hell’s lost prince.

Will they be strong enough to face the wrath of hell?

 

Release Date: December 16

The myth is wrong…

Death is only a man, but one who has control over all living beings. He chooses who will live or die. He commands the fates and gives the order to cut the thread of life. However, Death isn’t alone.

In the beginning of time, he realized that it would be impossible for a single figure to wield power over life and death, while still having time to punish the wicked. Death summoned the tainted souls of the dead and from them created a race of females. They would be the takers of souls, the guardians of the afterlife, and the harbingers of death.

They are Death’s Hellhounds. Wild, impulsive, and terrifying, these sisters have a solitary goal: to hunt down unspeakable evils. When Death calls his Hellhounds to embark on the Wild Hunt, they must forsake their humanity to consume the most depraved souls in existence. Six remain in the veil between life and death, but step through the threshold when Death calls.

Kali has spent her immortal life avoiding attachment. She hides her true self from all but her sisters. When Death gives her an assignment to hunt a rogue angel, she must confront the one man who places her heart in danger. Alone, she must face an enemy too powerful for a solitary Hellhound and find a way to break Death’s leash.

When wicked souls turn from the light,

And baying calls ring through the night.

Face your end or turn to flee,

For Death’s Hellhounds have come for thee!

Release Date: April 12

Synopsis soon to be posted on her website.

What are others are saying about Caged in Darkness?

"WOW! This book was pretty intense! This book has it all - my favorite shifter of a Panther - the romance triangle, and the friendship and love that grows between these witches :)" Jen Stewart

 "A twisting fantasy read. The author includes many twists to keep the reader on the edge of his/her seat. The ending is not predictable at all-a little unexpected. This book is fast-paced and fun to read. This book is recommended to fantasy readers." Chels

Interview with an Author: Diane Majeske

It's a pleasure to welcome Diane Majeske and her novel, DEATH ON DEADLINE. To learn more about this reporter-turned-writer, her passions, inspirations, and peculiar habits, read on!

Diane Majeske: Author of Death on Deadline

About the Author:

Author Diane Majeske was a full-time staffer in newspapers for more than 15 years, serving as an award-winning reporter, editor and columnist until she couldn't take any more bad coffee or late nights.

She worked at a variety of newspapers throughout the Midwest, including a lengthy stint in the Ozarks, which is the setting for her first novel, Death on Deadline.

She now lives in Michigan with her husband, two children and somewhat overweight cat. The two children really, really, really want a dog.

Diane is working on her next novel.

Newspaper reporter America Miles knows that picturesque Hyacinth, Missouri, is a place to raise a family, not a fuss. But when her mean-as-a-snake editor keels over dead and her best friend falls under suspicion, America starts looking closer at her town - and her co-workers. She finds out that even small-town journalists can live dangerously, and there are some secrets that can get you killed. 

Onto the questions . . .


Tell us a bit about yourself:  I’m a former print reporter turned fiction writer who recently completed my first novel, Death on Deadline. I have a husband, two kids and an overweight cat, and I think we’re about to acquire a dog.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?  Like most writers, I’ve been writing all my life. Ever since I was little, I’ve had very definitive ideas about my stories – I’d write them out in my head before they ever hit paper. That caused a bit of a problem in school sometimes. I went to a parochial grade school, and you know, we’d have a story assignment of maybe five pages. Well, if my story ended at four and a half, that was it. I’d just fill the rest of the page with words like, “And ... hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory Be!! Hallelujah!!!” Luckily, our nuns had a sense of humor. But looking through old school papers – my mom saved all of them – is pretty funny.

What inspired you to write your first book? I think reporters are the original starving artists. When you’re on assignment, if you miss lunch, you miss lunch. But later, you’re starving. So if there’s food in the newsroom, you eat it – and ask later where it came from. One time, when I was wolfing down zucchini bread, it occurred to me I had no idea where that bread came from. And I started thinking there might be a germ of an idea for a murder mystery there. And if you read Death on Deadline, you’ll see that there is.

Where do you get ideas for your books? Well, I’m working on a sequel to Death on Deadline right now, and elements of that storyline are taken from the real-life dramas that are playing out in newsrooms today, as reporters are fighting to keep their jobs and corporations are striving to make a profit.

What was your favorite chapter to write and why? Okay ... that’s a tough question. I can’t say my VERY favorite one, because that’s the one that gives everything away ... but one of my favorite ones is where the protagonist, America Miles, comes home after a very long day of working and grocery shopping and finds this off-duty policeman that she knows, David Dano, waiting for her on her porch swing. He’d been waiting to ask her out, but she didn’t know that, of course, and she’s kind of rude, and he ends up inviting himself in ... and well, I just kind of liked the bantering between them. It was fun to write.

How do you market your books? I’m always trying to think of new promotions! Right now, my book is an e-book, so that’s taken a little creative thinking because I don’t have anything tangible that I can go out there and show off.  So I’ve put my book out on Kindle and Nook and Smashwords, I work to get it reviewed,  I have a blog (http://deathondeadline.blogspot.com); I’m on twitter (http://twitter.com/dlmajeske); I created a trailer that’s up on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtwfDQmSLkg)

and I’m learning how to podcast. And I keep thinking!

What similarities do you find between yourself and your protagonist? My protagonist, America Miles, is funny and smart and nosy and goes out on a limb – probably way too far – to help her friends.  I’m probably not quite as witty as she is – I tend to think of those funny responses 10 minutes too late, and I definitely don’t have a problem being too skinny like she does.  But we both love to write, and we’ve both realized how important friendship is in this world.

Introduce the main characters from your latest book. Who are they? Let them speak for themselves. What would they like to say? My latest book – which I’m still working on – is tentatively called Paper Cut. I’ll let these guys tell the rest:

“Hi, I’m America Miles. I just moved from Hyacinth, Mo., to Six Mile to start a new chapter of my life working on a magazine. But I didn’t count on the Missouri rains flooding the office and leaving me scrambling for free-lance jobs. I’ve been working over at The Daily Clarion until ... well, you’ve probably heard by now, right? What happened to the editor? I can’t say she was the nicest woman I ever met, but my Lord, nobody deserves that!! Stabbed with a spindle? Right in the jugular? I know what everyone’s saying, but there’s no way Harlan did it. Just no way. But really – I don’t want to get involved. I mean, it’s not my business, right? Except ...”

“I don’t understand this. I just don’t understand how it’s come to this. I’ve never even had a parking ticket, and now I’m under suspicion for murder? Me – Harlan Fisch? I’m practically the town historian!  That horrid woman.  I can’t say I’m sorry she’s dead.  And I know, I shouldn’t have had that outburst in the middle of the newsroom  ... but to be delivered a pink slip so callously, after 26 years of giving my heart to that paper , I just lost my temper.... but I couldn’t have ... and I didn’t. That’s the main thing. I didn’t.""

“I’ve been a cop in this town for more than 15 years.  We don’t see much crime here, but when we do, it it’s a doozy.  Two years ago, we had a guy who decided he didn’t like his mail-order bride , so he killed her, stuffed her in a barrel and buried her under his trailer. No one would’ve  probably noticed, actually, except the neighbors started complaining about the smell. So they called me, Larry Samson – I’m the sheriff.  Now I got this – the murdered editor-in-chief of the local paper. And a copy editor who’s practically serving himself up as the prime suspect. Let’s face it – this Fisch is hooked.”

Who designed the cover? The cover of Death on Deadline was designed by Claire Innes-Wilbur, an award-winning graphic artist I worked during one of my reporting gigs. Claire has agreed to do the cover of Paper Cut, too. She’s a great collaborator. She’s able to take a literary concept and translate into art. And she’s quirky and fun to be around, too. I highly recommend her, obviously. She can be reached at innes_claire@yahoo.com

Name 5 interesting/weird facts about yourself:

1.      I like to watch TV standing up.

2.      I’m double-jointed in my thumbs and middle fingers.

3.      I love the old 1970s TV series Kolchak: The Night Stalker

4.      I didn’t know there were types of lettuce other than iceberg until I was a grown-up.

5.      I like to sing while I brush my teeth. It can get messy.

Thank you for joining us today Diane!

If you want to learn more about Diane and her books, Death on Deadline is an e-book, offered at a variety of venues in a variety of formats:

For Amazon Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/Death-on-Deadline-ebook/dp/B004N62MLC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312149674&sr=8-1

For Barnes and Noble Nook:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/death-on-deadline?store=ebook

For Smashwords, which offers a variety of formats to download:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/12671

Looking to connect with author Diane Majeske? Check out her blog at:

http://deathondeadline.blogspot.com

What are others saying about Death on Deadline?

"Do yourself a favor and read Diane Majeske's "Death on Deadline." It's a compelling mystery --- with plenty of humor spliced in ---that will appeal to everyone, but especially those who have spent even one day in a newsroom. Majeske clearly gets it. She's not only a terrific storyteller; she's a wonderful writer. Like many of you, I don't have a lot of time to read books, but something told me to make the time for this one. I'm glad that I did."Gary Piccirillo

"This is quite simply a standout novel, by author Diane Majeske. Diane's writing is fluid, clear and crisp. Her story's main character, America Miles, instantly likable, and the cast of supporting characters are all well developed and believable." Paul A. Jones