Author Spotlight & Review - Stay With Me by Elyssa Patrick

Elyssa Patrick is a former high school English teacher who left the classroom to write sexy, emotional contemporary romances and New Adult.

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Stephanie: Hi Elyssa! Congratulations on the release of Stay With Me. I read it and absolutely loved it. What was your inspiration for writing the story?

Elyssa: Hi, Stephanie! Thanks so much for having me on your blog. I’m so glad you loved Stay With Me. :)

Basically the inspiration for the story was that I really wanted to write a famous heroine who leaves it all behind for a normal life. I would read articles about famous actresses who attend college (like Anne Hathaway, the Olsen twins, Emma Watson, and Brooke Shields), but all of those actresses returned to Hollywood or are still in the public eye, like the Olsen twins. I just kept thinking, well, what if she didn’t want to return and she went to college to get away from it all.

Stephanie: Being that you are a former high school English teacher, which I am sure is a crazy job itself, what made you decide to make the jump from teacher to author? Was it something you've always wanted to do?

Elyssa: Yes, writing and being an author is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was really little. But it seemed like something that other people did, and there was no way I could do that, could I? When I was teaching, it was a really bad experience for me, and I decided to go after my dream, because I don’t want to look back on my life and wonder: what if? I left my first job and had a one-year teaching job at another high school, but at the end of that year, I decided to leave teaching behind for a variety of reasons.

Stephanie: I was excited to discover that Stay With Me is the first in a series. What can we look forward to in the future for the series?

Elyssa: Yay! I’m so glad you’re looking forward to the rest. In December of this year, Christmas With Me, a novella (1.5 in the series), will be released. It takes place in a made up town in Connecticut and Jamie McAlister is the hero in that story. That novella will be a combo of funny and sad—and, of course, sexy. I can’t wait for everyone to meet Zelda (the heroine). Go With Me, Book 2, is Nick Brady’s book and that will come out in Spring 2014. I’ll reveal Nick’s heroine probably in the back of Christmas With Me. And the last book, Dream With Me, is Griff Sinclair’s book and will come out Fall 2014. I’m still debating about doing a novella between books 2 and 3, but I’ll have to see about that after I start writing book Nick’s book, as I think that would push Book 3’s release to early 2015. It all depends if Kai or Dylan want their story told. :)

 

Him: Caleb Fox

Her: Hailey Bloom

The Story:

With one look, I’m his . . .

With one touch, he’s mine . . .

With one kiss, it changes everything between us . . .

I’ve been famous since I can remember. Singing, acting, dancing—I’ve done it all. The tabloids cover my every move, but I don’t want that anymore. I want to be normal, whatever that is.

When I leave Hollywood for college in Vermont, I’m on my own for the first time in my life. This is my chance to figure out who I am and what I want in life.

But it’s a lot harder than I expected. I can’t escape my image. Classes are difficult, and I’m struggling. And then there’s Caleb Fox.

Sexy, intriguing Caleb Fox.

Caleb is the one man who doesn’t want to use me. He breaks down my walls. He challenges me. He wants me. And I just don’t know if I can give him the same—or if he’ll stick around when he finds out my shameful secret that the tabloids haven’t managed to uncover.

Dating him is risky enough, but loving him could break me.

 

Trying to find a new purpose in life after leaving the spotlight, Hailey is wary about trusting anyone. She's never met anyone like Caleb, who seems to be genuinely interested in her and not for what she can do for him. I loved Hailey and Caleb. Hailey is on her own for the first time in her life and is working to creating a life separate from the fame she grew up with. She is determined not to let anyone sidetrack her. Caleb is just as determined to show her that he wants to get to know her and not her celebrity persona. Elyssa Patrick is a new author for me. I came across Stay With Me and I loved the cover. When I read the blurb it sounded interesting so I decided to give it a shot and requested it. I am happy that I did. I loved Caleb and Hailey. The chemistry was between them from the start. Even though Hailey was wary about trusting him, she still took the risk that Caleb wouldn't hurt her. You also meet Daphne, Caleb's sister, who quickly becomes friends with Hailey. Daphne is a hoot and I hope she gets her own book. Stay With Me will make you laugh, it'll make you feel, it'll make you want to punch Hailey's mother. ;) if you haven't read Elyssa yet, I would definitely pick up Stay With Me. I look forward to more books in the series.

Favorite quote:

"I wait a second before texting: You're a good writer.

Caleb: ???

Me: I Googled you.

My cheeks heat at this admission, and I bite my lower lip. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all.

Caleb: You Googled me, huh? That sounds kinda dirty. I like that. "

 

Kindle

Paperback

 

I took a shot at an unknown-to-me author and found a book/series that I really enjoyed. I look forward to reading more by Elyssa. Do you like to discover new-to-you authors? 

Author Spotlight - Cora Cade

Today the spotlight is shining on debut author Cora Cade. Cora's novel, MORNING LIGHT was released in July. It's book one in her A DAY OF PLEASURE series.
 

Stephanie: Hi Cora! Congratulations on your debut novel! How does it feel being a published author?

Cora: Thank you! Being a published author is a touch surreal. I still blush when someone brings it up and I have yet to manage to casually work it into conversation. But on the inside I'm actively dancing a jig ALL the time.

Stephanie: When you found out that Samhain was interested in purchasing MORNING LIGHT, how did you react?

Cora: Exactly the opposite of how I expected! I thought there'd be celebratory drinks and a dinner out with the hubs. Instead I bawled, and not the pretty kind of crying but the serious melt down kind of cry. And then I bought some Pez to celebrate. The lemon kind. So, to soothe my emotional breakdown I ate candy and went home from my day job like normal.
I think that might be the saddest celebratory story ever told. But it was the very best day.

Stephanie: What inspired you to write MORNING LIGHT?

Cora: Noah and Tenn were just bouncing around in my head demanding a story! I fall in love with my characters and then build a story around them. It sounds so simple when you say it that way!
I actually had their opening scene fully formed in my head before I even dreamed of getting it down on paper. That scene was driving me crazy, it just played like a movie in my head for days. Finally I broke down, even though I was actively working on another project.
And then I couldn't walk away from them. And Morning Light was born. Not quickly and not easily, but Noah and Tenn finally had their story and my overactive imagination finally got some rest. No. Just kidding. I was already working on the rest of the characters for the series before I was even four chapters in with the first book!

Stephanie: What can we expect next in the A DAY OF PLEASURE series?

Cora: So much! TWO IN THE AFTERNOON is in the revision stage right now. In the first book we met Molly Ryan and that girl just stood up and demanded to be next. And since I'm easily swayed I totally let her call the shots. Molly keeps her past under wraps, but when Callum Eversman comes to town with his tough Army Ranger bravado... well, suffice it to say sparks fly between the two.
And I've got book three, as yet unnamed, started and we'll catch Noah's brother Chris totally by surprise with Lainey Eversman. She's Cal's twin sister and she'll be knocking Chris out with her sassy attitude.

Stephanie: Where is your favorite place to write? 

Cora: My husband bought me a laptop when I first started writing and that leaves me so many options. We have a hammock near the pond in the backyard that is a lovely spot, a great little patio that has some nice shade, and even a comfy chair in the living room with a foot stool.
As boring as it may seem I actually do most of my writing at this tiny little Ikea desk I bought a few years back. I picked up an antique library chair that is really cute, but ridiculously uncomfortable, to finish off the desk around the same time. And I still sit here about 80% of the time. Something about the routine gets me in mood to write. I also like that I've got little mementos from friends that remind me they are always in my corner rooting for my latest chapter. So, the routine is as follows: uncomfortable chair, tiny desk, iPod and earbuds, four dogs under foot, and a fresh cup of coffee. All that equals a productive word count. Usually.

Thank you, Cora! Very excited about books 2 & 3 and love your writing nook.

I talked to a couple readers about Cora and this is what they said:

"I loved the book..it was full of emotion and steamy goodness! It was The Tits!!!  Cora Cade is one of the most sincere and genuine people I know. I love her to bits!!" - Hollie R.

"Nobody loves a friend turned lover story more than me and this one was fantastic! Sexy, playful, emotional, it hits all the requirements and then some. Definitely an up and coming author that you'll want to watch for! Cora Cade will for sure be a go to author for me!" - Mandi B.


To find out more on Cora and her books, check out her website at http://www.coracade.com.

Pick up your own copy of MORNING LIGHT here: http://amzn.to/155VLGo


Cora has graciously offered an e-copy of Morning Light to one lucky person. To enter, comment below with your email address and tell me what you like to do when you're celebrating exciting news or accomplishments?

Author Spotlight - Cherry Adair

 

 

Today the AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT is shining down on New York Times Bestselling Author Cherry Adair. As an author, Cherry brings you books that are just the right mixture of romance and suspense and, whether you are reading one for the first time or the tenth, they will keep you hooked from the beginning. As a person, Cherry is a fascinating, smart and witty woman. I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with her on several occasions and you never know what kind of fun you might be in for. Today we’re going to talk to Cherry about her T-FLAC series.

  

Stephanie: T-FLAC is a favorite series among your readers. I know it’s one of my favorites. How did the idea for T-FLAC come about?

Cherry: Ahh. Marc and Tori. <g> I came up with the idea for T-FLAC on a verrrrry long flight home from a wonderful trip in Italy. I'd written 17 books- none of which sold, although I had a lot of bites, and had no intention of writing on the plane. But things conspired against me.

First, I ran out of books several days before the flight. Only a fellow book-a-holic knows the panicky, freaked out feeling of being bookless – for an hour, let alone a dozen! I ended up buying a thick book at the airport by an author I loved, for $80.00! Of course I'd already read it, but I tried to make it last once buckled into my seat.

In those days everyone still smoked on planes. I smoked, too, so I didn't give it much thought. . .But OMG I was on a plane full of Europeans – and they LOVED to smoke, and talk, and gather in large, boisterous groups right near my seat! I finished the book in an hour, and was faced with eleven, long, boring, noisy, smoky hours to go without a lethal weapon or even a parachute! lol

In desperation, I started writing longhand in my notebook. Since I was feeling quite homicidal at that time, and since my subjects were within arm’s reach, I decided to kill them all on paper (less possibility of going to jail that way) And since I didn't want to write about a serial killer, I had to come up with a way to kill a lot of people legally. Lol

So I started with who the Bad Guys would be (eyes left – all those freaking men standing in a large group, the entire freaking flight, chain smoking, drinking, talking and getting on my last nerve. Check.)

I loved Italy. LOVED IT! So of course my story had to take place there. At that time, publishers weren't buying books set outside the USA. (Can you see a pattern here?) But I didn't care. This book was being written as a means of preventing my incarceration into a mental institution. (Killing the smokers + nothing to read = Murder/Insanity)

And T-FLAC was born. J (and I gave up smoking cold turkey. Lol)I typed the book when I got home (my handwriting is almost completely illegible) and sent it in. The editor bought in within two weeks. WooHoo. That wrenched flight was so worth it. <G>

 

Stephanie: Do you have a favorite T-Flac character that you've written?

Cherry: My favorite character is always the guy in the book I'm currently writing. It has to be. I have to love him, or I won't be able to write him. But I must admit, Marc Savin from The Mercenary will always have a place in my heart because he was my first. And we always remember our first, right J

Stephanie: You just released an enhanced version of KISS AND TELL. What can readers expect with the enhanced version?

Cherry: As I write each book, I have a huge, three ring binder on my desk to keep all my notes and all my research in some semblance of order. I not only keep hundreds of pages of research in it, but also everything about each character, even the secondary characters, I pretty much know everything, especially for my hero and heroine, from birth to the day their story starts. Most of it never gets into the book. It's just too much information, too much detail, and would slow the story down.

Whenever fellow writers come to my house, they love going through the binders, and have told me for years that my readers would also LOVE to know this, or that. Until e books became so accessible, I had no way to share all this 'bonus' material with anyone unless they came to my house and sat in my office to pour over each binder. lol

The enhanced version has no changes in the actual book itself. There are bonus pages in the back, with all the 'extras.' How and why the book was written, titles I considered at the time, interviews, and stories about the character development. There are details about all things T-FLAC, and pictures I collected while writing the book (not all of them- the book would be longer than War & Peace!) Fun stuff I think my readers will find interesting when they reread Kiss and Tell.

Stephanie: What can we expect next in the series?

Cherry: Next is the enhanced version of OUT OF SIGHT (The book which got me into trouble with the dreaded C.A.M.E.L Union lol) The novella SNOWBALL'S CHANCE, and a brand new T-FLAC novella RICOCHET.

 

A big THANK YOU to Cherry for taking the time to join us today!

 

Check out the links below for more info on Cherry and be sure to leave a comment and tell me who your favorite T-Flac hero is. One lucky commenter is going to win a Kindle version of THE MERCENARY. (USA/Canada ONLY at this time. Winner will be chosen Saturday evening so be sure to leave your email address so I have a way to contact you.)

 

Get your own copy of THE MERCENARY here : http://amzn.to/1efcMz5

Get your own copy of the Enhanced KISS AND TELL here: http://amzn.to/12Kfn40

If you want to find out what the C.A.M.E.L. Union situation is, you can read all about it in the Press section of Cherry's website: http://cherryadair.com/press

For more on Cherry, you can find her at the following places on the web:

Website: http://www.CherryAdair.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CherryAdairAuthor 

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cherryadair