I’m very excited to have  author Rachel Sharpe as my guest this week. Today’s a special day for Rachel: it’s release day for her book, Cold Ambition, but more on that later. Welcome Rachel. Let’s get to know a little bit about you.

If you could go anywhere in the world, what would be your top three dream destinations?

RACHEL: First, Hawaii, because it’s Hawaii, and because it’s the location of Magnum, PI, a show without which I wouldn’t have been inspired to write the Jordan James, PI series. Second, the UK. I visited there when I was younger and have always wanted to go back. Third would be Germany and Austria. I have a very close friend who lives in Hanover and I’ve always wanted to visit her homeland. 

MJ: Ah yes, Magnum. The inspiration for many things. Do you have a secret talent?

RACHEL: I don’t know if it’s really a secret, but I like to play guitar. Also, I was in a band in high school. We called ourselves Outta the Blue. We were a short-lived phenomenon.  

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

RACHEL: I guess I would either act or focus more on music. I did both in high school and they were both a lot of fun.

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

RACHEL: Editor. If I couldn’t write, I would love to help someone else make their writing better. As the daughter of an English teacher, I’m a second generation grammar nazi. There’s no fighting that title. I’ve accepted it now.

MJ: People always say “Grammar Nazi” as if it were a bad thing. What is the one thing you won’t leave home without?

RACHEL: My cell phone. It’s amazing to think how dependent society has become on them. Almost everything you could ever need is on a cell phone now. That’s a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it… 

MJ: Okay, let’s get down to your writing. Can you describe your ideal writing space?

RACHEL: Honestly, I write anywhere. I’ve never been one to just sit behind a desk and write. I have an app on my phone which allows me to email my pages to myself, so if I’m out and about and have a couple minutes to kill, I’ll try to write at least half a chapter.

MJ: That’s fabulous use of your time. What book or books do you wish you could have written:

RACHEL: Harry Potter because it is an original story that has had such a tremendous impact on the world. The series was not only translated into seventy languages and eight films, they also have a theme park dedicated to it. A story with that much clout is worth emulating.  

MJ: Name three things on your desk right now.

RACHEL: Computer, printer, and cell phone. 

MJ: Do you listen to music when you write?

RACHEL: It depends on the day. Sometimes, I’ll listen to music for background noise. Other times, I need silence to focus. If I do listen to music while I write, I tend to stick to ’80s pop or instrumental film scores. 

MJ: Synopses. Love them or hate them?

RACHEL: Hate. Don’t get me wrong – they’re very important, but trying to sum up the heart and soul of your work in four to six lines is an art form. It’s not easy and often frustrating, but very worthwhile.

MJ: Ready for the lightning round: Addams Family or Munsters-

RACHEL: Addams Family

MJ: Wine-Red or white?

RACHEL: White

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

RACHEL: St. Patrick’s Day.

MJ: Paper or e-books?

RACHEL: Paper.

MJ: Pepsi or coke?

RACHEL: Coke.

MJ: Favorite ethnic food?

RACHEL: Thai.

MJ: Now, what we’ve all been waiting for . . . what are you working on now?

RACHEL:  The working title is Retribution. Here are the first few lines.

 “My life is completely ruined!” the girl sobbed, covering her eyes, thick with black mascara, with her carefully-manicured nails. “He told me he loved me and that we would be together forever. Now I’ve lost him and everything else. What am I supposed to do?”

Her mother sat on the love seat beside her, stroking her silky-blonde hair. “My dear, it’s not the end of the world,” she insisted. “He’s one foolish boy. You’re overreacting.”

She sat up and stared into her mother’s eyes. “You don’t understand. I lost my job. I’ll never work again after this gets out….”

Suddenly alarmed, her mother grabbed her shoulders and studied her eyes intently. “After what gets out?”

MJ: You’ve certain piqued my curiosity! Now I understand you have book coming out today. Where can we buy it?

RACHEL:  At Amazon. Here’s the link:

MJ: And how can we stay touch with you?

RACHEL: Here are my links:

Website www.rachelsharpe.com 

Blog  www.rachelcsharpe.wordpress.com

Facebook  www.facebook.com/authorrachelsharpe 

Twitter  www.twitter.com/RachelCSharpe 

MJ: Thanks for stopping by and good luck with your books.

Today I am delighted to welcome my good friend (and critique partner) Gayle Callen. Gayle is a USA Today best selling author of historical romance for Avon.

MJ: Gayle, can you tell us something about you that most people don’t know?

Gayle: Most people don’t know that I majored in aerospace engineering in college. But I took all my electives in writing, and realized that I preferred creating stories to creating technology.

MJ: So, it you didn’t write, you’d be an astronaut or building an International Space Station? Or does something else strike your fancy?

Gayle: I love to sing and act. Right now, I’m in my church choir, which makes me feel fulfilled. But if I didn’t write, I’d have time for community theater again. I’d love to be in another musical. The last was when my son was in middle school, and we did “Oliver” together. So fun!

MJ: Sounds like a lot fun. Next question: what one item won’t you leave home without?

Gayle: Like everyone else, I wouldn’t leave home without my cell phone. And not just for phone calls, texting, or Facebook. I love having access to data when I have a question. And the maps! Be still my heart—I’m a closet map geek. I also keep all my lists on there, everything from what I need at the store, to a list of the sweaters I own (so I don’t double-buy) to the crochet hooks I already have as I contemplate a new project. Christmas lists, my kids’ Easter candy favorites—I have it all.

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

Gayle: I’d love to be J.K. Rowling for a day, just to see how her brain works. The world of Harry Potter is so brilliantly created. I just finished rereading the series for the third time now, and I kept finding new things to be amazed at.

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

Gayle: I can only think of one: Jaws. Saw the movie first as a kid, was totally creeped out and wowed by story. Then read the book as an adult. Major characters had a pointless affair, and other things distracted from the focus of the story, that the movie was able to home in on so brilliantly.

MJ: Describe your ideal/dream writing space.

Gayle:  Oh, I’d love to work in an office with huge windows overlooking a beautiful countryside, mountains in the distance, gorgeous landscape close by. Right now I can see trees and birds, and believe me, I appreciate that, but I’d love so much more. Beautiful scenery helps my mind relax and focus on the writing. And of course, every wall would have to be floor-to-ceiling bookcases!

MJ: What book do you wish you could have written?

Gayle: I wish I could have written Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels. The hero is brilliantly created, flawed and tragic. The opening prologue, where you see his childhood and discover WHY he’s so flawed, is a masterpiece in itself. But the romance, the sexual tension of the rest of the book… {blissful sigh}

MJ:  Oh, I love that book! Okay, I have to ask: Plotter or Pantser?

Gayle: Plotter, big time! I need a blueprint, an idea of where I’m going. Things can change as I go along, but I need to have a path to follow, big scenes to work toward.

MJ: Do you believe in writer’s block?

Gayle: No, not really. But I do believe in writing problems. When I have a problem writing, I know it’s because I’ve made a mistake somewhere, either in my plotting or POV or executive of the scene—something. So I’ve learned over fifteen years of being a professional writer (and thirteen years of working toward that goal) that I have to clear my mind for a while and let my subconscious work. I do the dishes, go for a walk with my dogs, watch TV. Miraculously, my brain eventually comes up with the solution. If that doesn’t happen, then I talk out my problem to my writing buddies, and eventually, we come up with an idea to jumpstart the flow of words again.

MJ: Name 3 things on your desk right now

Gayle: Index cards (which I use to plot out a book), my logbook (where I log in my daily writing time and accomplishments), and, of course, my laptop. Speaking as a writer who began on a typewriter, retyping out the same book numerous times, I believe computers are a true gift to writers.

MJ: Do you listen to music when you write?

Gayle: No, I don’t listen to music when I write. If the music has lyrics, I get distracted singing. Even if it’s instrumental, I find myself choreographing dances in my head (I was a figure skater in my youth). I like the peaceful sound of quiet—although I don’t mind the sounds of others in the house, as long as I can’t hear the actual conversations.

MJ: Now for the lightning round.  Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day?

Gayle: St. Patrick’s Day—I’m Irish!

MJ: Last movie you saw in a theater?

Gayle:  The Monuments Men—eh, a little boring.

MJ: Favorite TV Show?

Gayle: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine or Buffy the Vampire Slayer—so hard to choose!

MJ: Paper or e-books?

Gayle: Both—I listen to audio-books, too!

MJ: Favorite band when you were in high school (Marching band doesn’t count)

Gayle: Styx

MJ: Introvert or extrovert:

Gayle: Introvert. Crowds tire me—I need alone time to recharge and work.

MJ: Now for the meat of the interview: Can you share the first five to ten lines of your current work-in-progress with us?

Gayle:  I haven’t begun writing the book yet, but I’ve written a synopsis, a short story version of The Wrong Bride, coming out in summer, 2015.

Conor is the new laird of his remote Scottish clan, where time seems to have passed them by. On his father’s deathbed, Conor was told that there’d be salvation for their people, a match contracted with a wealthy Scottish lord (with lands nearby) for the hand of his daughter. His father wouldn’t say what the clan had had to give up for this marriage and impressive dowry, and Conor fears the worst. But he has no choice if he wants to better the lives of his people. It doesn’t matter that he’s giving over his own life, his own freedom–his own happiness is unimportant.

So off he goes to find his Scottish bride in London, a world as foreign to him as a fantasy land. The bride’s uncle looks grim but does not deny the truth in Conor’s words. When the bride’s aunt tries to object to the betrothal, to delay, he feels perfectly justified in stealing their niece away in the middle of the night. Since they’ve never met—and his future wife objects quite loudly—he’s forced to gag her until they’re well away from London. When he finally frees her mouth, she protests that he’s got the wrong bride, but he doesn’t believe her.

MJ: Wow! That sounds fabulous. Now how can we buy your current release and stay in touch with you on social media?

Gayle: Redemption of the Duke  (Book 3 of the “Brides of Redemption” trilogy)

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FJ376TQ/?tag=gaylecallenshome

B&N: http://tinyurl.com/oqakel9

BAM: http://tinyurl.com/nql4c42

iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/oyyk9hk

You can follow me on my website, http://www.GayleCallen.com

on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GayleCallen

and on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GayleCallen