Desiree Williams | Author Chat

I hope you've got a comfy chair and a tasty drink. I'm excited to welcome author Desiree Williams to the blog today for an author chat.

Desiree is a dreamer by day and chocoholic by night. She lives in the beautiful state of Kentucky with her husband and daughter, where she juggles life as a wannabe supermom. Desiree is a lover of food and avoider of dirty dishes. She delights in making people laugh and strives to bring hope and love with her wherever she goes.

Let's get real...

Two truths and a lie:
Ooh, I love this game! Can you guess the lie?

A) I lived in Alaska for three years.
B) I’m deathly allergic to seafood.
C) In high school, I was a Latino Dancer.

Share one pet peeve you have.
When someone smacks their lips while eating. Ugh! I can’t stand it. A relative of mine does this and I have to fight the urge to throat punch him during meals. (Just kidding! I’m not a violent person. But for real. I hate that sound.)

Cats or dogs or both?
Both. I love animals in general and, as long as they’re willing to snuggle with me, I’m down for some cuddles with a cute doggie or kitty.

Favorite dessert?
Chocolate lava cake. Oh my goodness, I love it. While writing Illusionary, I craved that gooey treat so bad that I wrote it into the book. I was on a strict diet at the time and couldn’t have any. Therefore I lived vicariously through my character.

What's one chore you hate doing?
Can all of them be an answer? I seriously loathe having to clean my house. Most of the time, I only clean when I’m procrastinating with my writing or my task lists. But if I had to pick a number one, dishes would be at the top.

Connect with Desiree:
www.desireewilliamsbooks.com Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads / Newsletter

Illusinoary
by Desiree Williams

Dorothy got sucked into a tornado.
Alice fell down a hole.
Wendy flew to Neverland.
Kamryn? She tripped down the stairs.

Now, Kamryn Kensington finds herself in a strange new world. Within minutes of her arrival, she dodges an archer’s arrow and avoids getting sliced up by a cosplay reject holding a dagger to her throat. And that’s before the storyteller’s breath brings stories to life.

Home is the mission—to return to her family and pursue her life’s dream of art and travel. Yet the longer she’s in the Land of Ur, the harder it is not to feel for the people she meets. Even her artistic side can’t help but breathe in the beautiful wonder and magic of this new world. So when the Oracle hands her a different quest, she takes it on the condition he sends her home afterward.

No one thought to warn her of a jealous queen and her dragon minions. Or that, by helping her, the cute storyteller would go crazy. Or that her heart would rip in two when she left. Those would’ve been great facts to know ahead of time.

Considering that nothing in Ur is what it seems, the mission proves to be more than she ever imagined. But more than her own future will be in jeopardy if Kamryn doesn’t succeed.

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*Note: B is the lie.

The Girl Who Could See by Kara Swanson | New Novel News

The Girl Who Could See 
by Kara Swanson


Published: June 1, 2017
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Purchase: The Girl Who Could See

All her life Fern has been told she is blind to reality—but, what if she is the only one who can truly see?

Fern Johnson is crazy. At least, that's what the doctors have claimed since her childhood. Now nineteen, and one step away from a psych ward, Fern struggles to survive in bustling Los Angeles. Desperate to appear normal, she represses the young man flickering at the edge of her awareness—a blond warrior only she can see.

Tristan was Fern's childhood imaginary hero, saving her from monsters under her bed and outside her walls. As she grew up and his secret world continued to bleed into hers, however, it only caused catastrophe. But, when the city is rocked by the unexplainable, Fern is forced to consider the possibility that this young man is not a hallucination after all—and that the creature who decimated his world may be coming for hers.

Get to know Kara...


If you're main character celebrated Halloween, what would they dress up as?
Oooooh I like this!

Tristan: Legloas (Because he’s blonde, and probably would get a kick out of wearing a wig and having pointy ears. Plus, he has this thing about vibrant costumes and bigger-than-life heroes. J)

Fern: Black Widow (She has the red hair, and Tristan would have convinced her to wear the black leather suit ;) )

If your book became a movie, who would you cast for your main characters?
Hmmm…A young Karen Gillan probably for Fern. Although I have trouble picturing her without an irish/English accent :P

And for Tristan…Heath Ledger! When he was younger. Not 100% how I picture Tristan, but really close!

What’s one thing you must have/do in the morning?
Listen to music as I get ready. It sets my mood and helps me to wake up. Usually I listen to Christian Rap or Praise and Worship. (I know, practically opposites, but they both challenge me to get my butt into gear :P )

Connect: http://karaswanson.com/

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Alexis A. Goring | Author Chat

Grab some coffee and join me as I chat with author and blogger Alexis A. Goring!

Alexis A. Goring is a college graduate with a degree in print journalism from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. Writing is her passion. She hopes that her stories will touch hearts, bring smiles to faces, and inspire minds to seek God whose love for humanity is unfailing.

What’s one thing you would like to impart to your readers about your books and being an author?
I’d like to impart to my readers that the God I write about in my books is not fictional, He’s REAL and He loves them unconditionally with all of His heart.

If you were forced to do karaoke what song would you pick?
“Who I Am” by Blanca! She’s one of my favorite female soloists in the Christian music world.

If your book became a movie, who would you cast for your main characters?
Now that’s a tough question. I think I’d like to cast new actors who are insanely talented but not yet famous A-list celebrities. But since I don’t have that luxury, let me do some research and choose current A-list celebrities who I think would be perfect for acting out A Second Chance…

Amanda Detmer as Traci (the heroine)

Zac Efron as Marc (the hero)

Tamera Mowry-Housley as Carla (Traci’s best friend and colleague)

Mandy Moore (pictured left) OR Alexis Bledel (pictured right) as Gina (Marc’s sister)

Elias Hargar as Regan (Gina’s son) and Mia Talerico as Samantha (Gina’s daughter)

Name three places you’d like to travel to & why
#1: Paris, France because it is the City of Love and I write love stories. So it’s the most romantic destination that for me as an author could turn into a research trip filled with story material and inspiration. I’d love to stroll on the cobblestone streets, dine in the restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower and sample authentic French bread in a lovely French cafe!

#2: Los Angeles, California because, Hollywood. Need I say more? ;) I also want to spend time along the coast in San Diego and San Francisco. I’d love to visit Napa Valley before I return.

#3: London, England because I want to visit The Goring Hotel and discover if there’s a connection between my family and theirs (we have the same last name with English origin).

Favorite dessert?
Brownie a’la Mode

Which of your characters do you secretly have a crush on?
Eric Hazelton from “The Best Gift” which is story number two in my first published book, Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories because he is smart, swoon-worthy and a true gentleman.

Two truths and a lie...
I found my dream wedding dress when lost in Italy.
I love baking banana bread with nuts.
I used to not like spinach until I tried fixing it with onions.

A Second Chance
by Alexis A. Goring

Newly single food critic and newspaper reporter Traci Hightower is done with dating. After the man of her dreams left her at the altar on their wedding day and ran off with the woman she thought was her best friend, Traci resolves to focus on work and resigns herself to being a bachelorette for life. Marc Roberts is a political reporter who is known as Mr. Nice Guy, the one who always finishes last. However, Marc’s compassion and kindness are of invaluable help to his newly widowed sister Gina Braxton who is trying to raise her two kids in the wake of her firefighter husband’s death. Traci and Marc may be the perfect match, but they don’t know it yet. With God’s guidance and the help of Gina’s matchmaking skills honed by her career as a bestselling romance novelist, there is hope for a happily ever after for these two broken hearts.
Purchase: A Second Chance






*The lie is that “I love baking banana bread with nuts.”

Preslaysa Williams {Writer Wednesday}

A little bit about Preslaysa...

Preslaysa Williams is an award-winning author and actress. As an actress, she’s co-starred on a Nickelodeon TV series and has appeared on Off Broadway and regional theatre. After graduating from Columbia University, she began writing heartfelt stories of redemption. In her spare time, she enjoys spending way too much time on social media and training for half marathons to force herself to exercise.

Connect with Preslaysa...

Website: www.preslaysa.com
Blog: www.preslaysa.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12017078.Preslaysa_Williams
Facebook: www.facebook.com/preslaysa
Twitter: www.twitter.com/preslaysawrites
Instagram: www.instagram.com/preslaysa

Get to know Preslaysa...

You and Writing

What has kept you writing? 
Pure love. Really. I love it so much that nothing can keep me from NOT writing. It’s part of who I am. I get twitchy if I go for long stretches of time without writing. For me, writing helps answer the big life questions and sort out all the things I mull over in my head. (I’m an overthinker!)

Writing

Are you a Panster or Plotter?
I started out as a Pantser on my first two books, but now I’m definitely a plotter. Plotting saves me so much time!

What does your writing process look like? 
Now that I’m a plotter J I spend a LOT of time interviewing and chatting with my characters even before I start figuring out scenes in the book. For my current work in progress, I spent about two to three months talking to my characters. When the time came to plot and outline, the story itself came naturally because I knew the characters so well.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of the writing process? 
Favorite part of the writing process is when my scene draft is close to polished, and then I’m wordsmithing or strengthening the character’s voice. My least favorite part of writing is writing first drafts because they are usually so stilted and awkward and flat. Rough writing makes me cringe, but it’s also an invitation for me to do my thing as a writer and fix it up.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, have a favorite artist or playlist to share?
Yes, I do listen to music when I write. When I need extra focus, I listen to non-vocal background noise that’s supposed to stimulate creativity. I go to the Coffitivy website for this; it’s amazing. Right now, my favorite song (with lyrics) that I like listening to while writing is Khalid’s “Location”

Are there any books or resources you could recommend to younger writers looking to grow in their craft?
“Techniques of the Selling Writer” by Dwight Swain and “Scene and Structure” by Jack Bickham

How do you grow in your writing craft? 
I read a lot, and I write a lot. I don’t get writer’s block. I manage to do some form of writing or editing at least six days a week, even if it’s only a page of writing or editing. Those little increments add up!

How do you balance your writing life with “real” life?
Any tips or tricks to share? I used to keep long to-do lists and feel defeated at the end of the day when I didn’t do everything I set out to do. Now, I only have a to-do of 3-5 items. It’s made me more productive and happier!

You

What is one thing you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing?
Read a great book that makes me cry and laugh.

What are you currently reading?
Right now, I’m reading “The Boy in the Black Suit” by Jason Reynolds. It’s a YA book. I’ve been binge reading contemporary YA recently!

Thanks for being my guest Preslaysa! Reader friends, make sure you enter the giveaway below - I know there are some of your out there who love your coffee as much as I do 😉

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Kariss Lynch | Author Chat

It's about time for some iced drinks, don't you think? But...maybe one more latte for me. Grab your favorite drinks and take a seat. It's time for an author chat with my friend, the lovely Kariss Lynch!

Kariss Lynch writes contemporary romance about characters with big dreams, adventurous hearts, and enduring hope. She is the author of the Heart of a Warrior series and loves to encourage her readers to have courage. In her free time, she hangs out with her family and friends, explores the great outdoors, and tries not to plot five stories at once. 

Let's get real...

Would you rather go to the future or go to the past?
As much as I would love to know my future, I think it would take some of the awe out of the journey. Besides, why not go back and watch Michaelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel, or meet some of my ancestors, or have tea with Winston Churchill? I would love to stroll through history.

What’s one thing you must have/do in the morning?
Coffee. It’s become a problem really. I was anti-coffee until about five years ago. I had just signed a book contract, was working a full-time job seven days a week during a busy season, editing Shaken in the evenings, and writing Shadowed. Coffee became a staple. Now it is a necessity. I’m not quite ready to enter a recovery program for this particular addiction.

@createexploreread

If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?
If I were a superhero, I would want to be able to snap my fingers and appear wherever I was needed whenever I needed to get there. This would also come in handy if I happened to be craving pizza from Italy. Who needs a passport then?

Name three places you’d like to travel to & why?
I just got back from Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, and the travel bug is alive and well! I would love to visit Iceland. I’ve had several friends go and love it. The Northern Lights are on my bucket list, especially since I am a night owl, and they just sound magical.

Next up would be Greece. I am a huge ocean girl, and I love the Mediterranean. I would love to go for a month, spend time with the people, in the culture, and enjoy the beautiful blue of the ocean.

I’ve been to Scotland, but I want to go back and watch the Highland Games and maybe even go visit the castle that served as a base for a lot of the Harry Potter films.

If you were stranded on an island what are three things you couldn’t live without?

1. A fully loaded kindle with a forever-lasting battery stocked with hundreds of books, including all my favorites.
2. A tent so I always have shelter.
3. A suitcase of clothes, because this seems practical.

Name one song/artist you're embarrassed you like.
I love One Direction. I have all their albums and know most of their songs.

Which of your characters do you secretly have a crush on?
I definitely have a crush on Micah Richards, which is a HUGE reason why I chose to give him his own book, which I am currently working to finish. He’s a Navy SEAL, tall, dark, and handsome, with a wicked sense of humor, and a gorgeous grin. Plus he is protective, loves his family, and loves Jesus. Unfortunately, he’s going to be a little broken when we meet him next. But don’t worry, I have full confidence that a girl I have in mind is going to remind him of the strength that he has and the protector and warrior he still can be.

If you could live in a fantasy world, who’s would it be?
Hello, Hogwarts, where’s my letter? I love J.K. Rowling’s world because it is familiar yet magical and mysterious. Hand me a wand, give me a house (Gryffindor, please), and turn me loose!


Connect with her at karisslynch.com, or on Facebook, Instagram, or Goodreads.

Shaken
by Kariss Lynch


Ready to change the world, Kaylan Richards leaves her comfortable life in Alabama to serve in poverty-stricken Haiti. But when the earthquake strikes, people she cares for are gone and she is left picking up the pieces. Navy SEAL Nick Carmichael never planned to find a girl he loved more than his country. Now she is a world away, trapped in a deadly situation. Will Nick’s love be enough to help her heal, or will her world forever remain shaken?

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Johnnie Alexander & Teresa Tysinger | New Novel News

What Hope Remembers
by Johnnie Alexander

Published: May 2, 2017
Publisher: Revell
Purchase: What Hope Remembers


When Amy Somers loses her job as a lobbyist, she moves to Misty Willow, well aware that she’s crossing bridges she’d burned years before. With all the mistakes she’s made and the uncaring things she’s done–even to her own family–she can hardly believe that happiness will find her, especially when Gabe Kendall, her first crush and her first kiss, rides back into her life atop a buckskin mare.

A former Marine, Gabe is at loose ends after serving a prison sentence for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He sees beyond Amy’s hard exterior to the girl he once knew and loved, and he longs to see her open her heart. Yet with his vision clouded by shame for his past and fears about the future, he finds it difficult to see the path ahead.

But the memory of that long-ago kiss just may have the power to reignite a romance that brings out the best in both of them.

Get to know Johnnie...

Johnnie Alexander is a wannabe vagabond with a heart for making memories. While relaxing on her Sunshine State patio with her dogs Rugby and Griff, she writes stories that tug at your heartstrings.

In addition to winning the prestigious American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest (Historical), Johnnie has received several conference awards. Her popular debut novel, Where Treasure Hides, is a CBA bestseller and has been translated into Dutch and Norwegian.

She is marketing director for the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference and past president of both the ACFW Memphis and ACFW Central Florida chapters.

Connect with Johnnie...
Website/Blog
Facebook Profile (Friend or Follow!)
Facebook Author Page
Twitter
GoodReads
Amazon Author Page

Someplace Familiar
by Teresa Tysinger

Published: May 30, 2017
Publisher: Good Day Publishing
Purchase: Someplace Familiar


-->Artist Livy Johnson needs a fresh start. That's what a broken heart and forgotten dreams can do to a person. On little more than a whim, she reclaims her grandmother’s old mountain cottage in quaint Laurel Cove, North Carolina and vows to restore its original charm. When she literally collides with childhood friend, Jack Bowdon, Livy wonders if she’s back for an entirely different reason.
Jack can’t believe his childhood crush is back. As the owner of Bowdon's Supplies, and once again the town's most eligible bachelor, he offers to help Livy with repairs. Together they embark on the project—and an undeniable whirlwind romance.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Can they survive the destructive pain of their pasts to discover God’s grace waiting to renovate their hearts?

Get to know Teresa...

--> Who is your favorite secondary character? Without a doubt, my favorite secondary character in Someplace Familiar is Jack’s (our hero) Aunt Bea. She runs the Laurel Cove Inn and is the first to befriend Livy when she comes into town. Aunt Bea is spunky, funny, and full of all the southern charm you could ever hope for. My favorite characteristic is the way she calls everyone “honey” or “dear.” Love!

What’s one thing you must have/do in the morning?
I’m not embarrassed to say that I need my morning coffee to function at full-speed. However, I never started drinking the stuff much until after my daughter was born. My favorite way to drink it is iced with caramel flavor.

Which of your characters do you secretly have a crush on?
I’d be lying if I didn’t say Jack was my not-so-secret character crush. What better perk for romance authors than being able to write our own fantasy leading man? He’s tall, a little rugged, but genuinely kind and tenderhearted. Swoon!

 Find Teresa on her website: https://teresatysinger.com/

Without Warning by Joel C. Rosenberg | RE:view

An epic ending to a fantastic trilogy. Rosenberg will have you on the edge of your seat, tugging at emotions, and gripping your attention through the whole book.

***

Following on the heels of the two, action-packed novels before this, Without Warning lives up to its suspense/thriller title and delivers a powerful, thrilling, and heart-wrenching end to the J. B. Collins series.

We pick up close to where we left off with The First Hostage and jump straight into a very action-packed beginning. It's something I really appreciate about Rosenberg's writing--he grips you with the action but also has the ability to instruct you on issues, thoughts, and (of course) J.B.'s journey as a character.

This book was, in a word, heart-wrenching. I won't say much about why to avoid any spoilers but I will say that it took a few turns I was not expecting--at all. Though, to be fair, everything that happened was logical to the plot and only aided in furthering the story. Yes, there are some hard things, but there is hope too. Such beautiful hope.

I stared this whole series through audiobooks, something I'm really glad I did because I was able to really get a handle on pronouncing some of the names. But I was also able to see how it was to read a tangible copy and I really enjoyed it. The audiobooks are truly fantastic, but there is something to be said about holding the book in your hands.

I would recommend not only this book, but really the whole series! I've told so many people about this series and about Rosenberg's fantastic writing. In my mind, he's on par with some of my other favorite authors like David Baldacci and Roine Kendig with the way he writes and the themes he incorporates. If you like political/action thrillers I think you'll be a fan of this.

One last thing of note for me is the reality that Rosenberg addresses faith in such a real, tangible way. I absolutely loved J.B.'s personal story coinciding with the overall plot of the three books. It was real, refreshing, and at times extremely honest.

My rating: 5*
Purchase: Without Warning

Book Descritpion
(from Amazon)

As he prepares to deliver the State of the Union address, the president of the United States is convinced the Islamic State is on the run, about to be crushed by American forces once and for all. But New York Times foreign correspondent J. B. Collins tells the president he’s dead wrong. With the Middle East on fire, the Israeli prime minister dead, and Amman in ruins, Collins fears a catastrophic attack inside the American homeland is imminent. He argues that only an all-out manhunt to capture or kill Abu Kahlif―the leader of ISIS―can stop the attack and save American lives. But will the president listen and take decisive action before it’s too late?

_______________
I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.