I am absolutely delighted to have my great friend and critique partner, Kris Fletcher, here at Comptonplations today.  Kris, do you have a life memory you recall often and that you’d be willing to share with us and tell us why it stays with you?

KRIS: Our adoption of our second daughter, from Russia, involved a rather grueling court session with many difficult questions. It was nerve-wracking and intimidating, and her future literally hung on what we would say – but there came a moment when I realized I was kind of enjoying it. The judge and ministry representatives had many questions, HARD questions, but I was handling them all and staying calm. I remember looking at the officials and thinking, go ahead, try to trip me up – I’ve got this. It was a rather empowering moment and reminds me that I can do more than I think I can.

MJ: I can see why that one sticks with you. It also sounds like you’ve done a bit of traveling. Do you have any dream destinations you’d like to visit?

KRIS: Wherever my kids are at the moment. I really hate traveling, so the only reason I ever want to go someplace is to see people I love. 

MJ: Do you have a secret talent?

KRIS: Coming up with fun and sometimes honest answers to interview questions. 

MJ: OUCH! Okay, what’s the top book on your TBR pile?

KRIS: At the moment, The Last Original Wife, by Dorothea Benton Frank

MJ: Do you have any recurring dreams you could share with us?

KRIS: I’m in a house and discover a secret room that keeps opening into other rooms. And they’re all awesome.

MJ: If you didn’t write, what would be your creative outlet?

KRIS: Singing. Knitting and other needlework. And I would love to learn how to play the piano, saxophone, and bagpipes.

MJ: If you had a theme song, what would it be?

KRIS: “Just a Gigolo”

MJ: Name one thing you won’t leave home without.

KRIS: Clothing.

MJ: I wish more people felt that way! If you could trade places with anyone for just one day, who would you be and why?

KRIS: Hillary Clinton. I think she has accomplished some amazing things in her life, and I would love to know how it feels to operate at that level.

MJ: Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version of the story?

KRIS: How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The animated version, never ever ever the Jim Carrey one.

MJ: What do you normally eat for breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work?

KRIS: Some peanut butter & grape jelly slapped on a slice of whole wheat bread & eaten as I get folks ready for school – and then a blissful, solitary iced latte once they’re all gone.

MJ: Describe your ideal or dream writing space.

KRIS: A cabin in the woods, on a not-too-hot summer day, with no Internet or family expectations, surrounded by other writers. Also chocolate.

MJ: That sounds heavenly. Briefly describe your writing day/process.

KRIS: Procrastinate. Procrastinate. Panic. Write frantically. Lather, rinse, repeat.

MJ: Is there a book you wish you could have written:

KRIS: Bet Me, by Jennifer Crusie.

MJ: Plotter or Pantser?

KRIS: Planter working to become a plotter.

MJ: Ha! Do you believe in writer’s block?

KRIS: Yes. It’s very, very scary. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

MJ: Name three things on your desk right now.

KRIS: Hand lotion, my Kindle, and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.

MJ: Do you listen to music while you write?

KRIS: Yes, but only soothing instrumentals – lots of Bill Leslie and Jim Brickman. Otherwise I end up singing instead of writing.

MJ: Do you collage your story before writing?

KRIS: Not with pictures, but I do make a soundtrack, which I consider a musical collage.

MJ: Synopses: love them or hate them?

KRIS: They’re like exercise: I hate them while writing them, but once they’re done, I am ever so grateful.

MJ: Now it’s time for the lightning round. Addams Family or Munsters?

KRIS: Addams Family.  Mostly because every time I speak French, I imagine Gomez kissing his way up my arm.

MJ: Wine-red or white?

KRIS: Whatever tastes most like Welch’s Grape Juice.

MJ: Beer-can or bottle?

KRIS: Can. Shoved inside a chicken on the grill.

MJ: Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day?

KRIS: Cinco de Mayo for the food, St. Patrick’s for the leprechauns.

MJ: Last movie you saw in a theater?

KRIS: Muppets Most Wanted. And I loved it.

MJ: Favorite TV show?

KRIS: Now: Big Bang Theory. All time: BBT, Soap, and Alienation.

MJ: Paper or e-books:

KRIS: Both!

MJ: Coke or Pepsi?

KRIS: Coke when I want high-test, Pepsi for diet/uncaffeinated.

MJ: Introvert or extrovert?

KRIS: Introverted all the way.

MJ: Favorite ethnic food?

KRIS: Canadian. Bring on the poutine and doughnuts!

MJ: Now’s the moment! Will you share the first five to ten sentences of your current work in progress:KRIS: The man hovering at the entry to Ian North’s garage was very tall, very blond, and very late.

KRIS:

“Hey Ian. Long time no see.”

“Xander?” Ian tugged his work gloves from his hands and set them on the anvil where, moments earlier, he had been happily pounding the hell out of a piece of hot iron. With a quick glance to make sure everything in his home forge could be safely ignored for a few minutes, he ventured toward his old college roommate. “What are you doing back here?”

Xander pulled sunglasses from his face and hooked them casually over the neck of his silky black tee. “I came to get my dog.”

MJ: Oh, I can’t wait to read this! Do you have buy links for any current releases?

KRIS: Oh, yes.

http://www.amazon.com/Dating-Single-Dad-Harlequin-Superromance/dp/0373608616/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393961863&sr=8-1&keywords=dating+a+single+dad+kris+fletcher

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dating-a-single-dad-kris-fletcher/1118053063?ean=9781460335338

http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=52559

MJ: And where can people find or follow you?

KRIS: Here you go!

Website: http://krisfletcher.com/

Blog: http://krisbooks.wordpress.com/blog/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/krisfletcher

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kristhelatest/

MJ: Thanks, Kris! Good luck.

 

 

 

 

It gives me a great deal of pleasure to have Samanthya Wyatt as my guest today.

MJ: Samanthya, can you share a life memory you recall frequently and tell us why you think about it.

Samanthya: “Granddaddy, are you my friend?”

We took our granddaughter to Myrtle Beach on vacation when she was 4yrs. We were in the hotel pool and she looks at my husband and asked this question. We were so awed. I’ve never forgotten and when it often comes to mind. I’m around children a lot. They are so open and so innocent. And you never know what goes through their little minds or what may come out of their mouths.

MJ: That is too precious! What are your top three destinations, and why?

Samanthya: Scotland, Ireland, New York City.

I would love to see the country and castles. There is so much history and so many stories behind those walls. As for New York, I want to see the Statue of Liberty.

MJ: What’s your secret talent?

Samanthya: Writing romance. My family and friends do not know.

MJ: Wow. That’s a pretty big secret. What’s the top book on your TBR pile?

Samanthya: The True One – Stephen’s story, the sequel to The Right One.

MJ: If you didn’t write, what would be your creative outlet?

Samanthya: Painting. I’ve done some Tri-chem pictures, and I love working on family photo albums – decorations, adding memorabilia.

MJ: Other than writing, what would be your dream job?

Samanthya: When I retire, I will be doing my dream job of writing romance novels.

MJ: If you could trade places with anyone for just one day, who would you be and why?

Samanthya:  Anyone who owned a totally private farm and had a pool where I could relax, do nothing and have no interruptions.

MJ: I think all writers long for that! Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version of the story?

Samanthya: Gone With The Wind. It is the greatest movie of all time. Everyone knows it. I don’t think that could be said about any book.

MJ: Interesting answer. What do you normally eat for breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work?

Samanthya: Coffee – coffee- and coffee!

MJ: Let’s talk a little more about  your writing. Can you describe your ideal or dream writing space?

Samanthya: A library full of books and a huge desk with lots of space. A wall of current research books, a shelf of cubby holes for all my projects and an assistant to file and keep up with my sticky notes. I am a very organized person. But with my writing, my fingers can’t keep up with the sporadic thoughts running through my brain, so I jot down notes and desperately need them sorted or filed. LOL.

MJ: Briefly describe your writing day and your process.

Samanthya: Get up in the morning, grab a cup of coffee and go to my computer. Of course this is only on the weekends and when no one else is in the house.

MJ: Name one writing-related website you use a lot.

Samanthya: I use many, and I google topics searching for new sites to get all the information I can.

MJ: Plotter or pantser?

Samanthya: A little of both. Typing my thoughts without trying to perfect what I’m writing works best. But I still make a plot and do a character sheet and work on GMC. I have some type of sketch or idea of where my story is headed.

MJ: Do you believe in writer’s block?

Samanthya: Of course. If nothing comes to mind, I leave, go do something else and come back.

MJ: Love and true love – what is the difference and what do your characters believe about LOVE?

Samanthya: I love a lot of things. I love a lot of people. But true love – in love – with the man of your dreams is a feeling like no other – and what every reader wants. I try to capture that with my characters.

MJ: Would you consider self-publishing?

Samanthya: No. Having a publisher gives me the assurance my work is good enough to be published.

MJ: Do you listen to music while you write?

Samanthya: Some days I have the house Rockin’. The music is in the living room and I am in the bedroom/office.

MJ: Synopsis: love them or hate them:

Samanthya: Before I perfected my first one, I hated them. Now, they are okay. Most publishers want a pitch/hook before they even consider a synopsis. Hooks drive me crazy.

MJ: OK, now it’s time for the lightning round. Addams Family or Munsters?

Samanthya: Munsters.

MJ: Wine–red or white?

Samanthya: Red

MJ: Beer–can or bottle?

Samanthya: bottle/glass

MJ: Stephanie Plum or Eve Dallas?

Samanthya: either

MJ: Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day?

Samanthya: Love both!

MJ: Last movie you saw in a theater?

Samanthya: Thor

MJ: Favorite TV show?

Samanthya: Person of Interest

MJ: Paper or e-books?

Samanthya: paperback

MJ: Favorite band when you were in high school?

Samanthya: The Commodores

MJ: Coke or Pepsi?

Samanthya: Coke

MJ: Introvert or extrovert?

Samanthya: Extrovert.

MJ: Favorite ethnic food?

Samanthya: I love Italian.

MJ: Now for the nitty-gritty. Please share the opening lines of your current work in progress.

Samanthya: I’m currently working on Firemen of Station 8 series.

A red image appeared in Cassie’s peripheral vision. Turning, her gaze landed on a Portsmouth fire truck. Right in front of the building.

A silent alarm went off in her brain – the same way it did every time she heard a siren or any emergency vehicle roaring down the road. Ever since her cousin’s house burned a few months ago. The shock of flames climbing six feet above the roof had paralyzed her and brought reality crashing down. She remembered the desolation seeing their home in ruins. The sudden realization of how quickly one could lose everything.

No lights.  No siren.

Still, a little pang of fear sent her pulse racing.

MJ: You’ve got my attention! I understand you have a book coming out today?

Samanthya: Yes, today is release day for my second book, Something More. You can purchase it here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And my first book, The Right One, is still available —  http://amzn.to/1lEk2qY

 

MJ: And how can readers stay in touch with you?

Samanthya: Through my website and blog – www.samanthyawyatt.com or on Goodreads.

MJ: Thanks again for joining me. Good luck!