It's been a while since I had an author interview, and this is a fun one. Becky and I have been friends since we both started publishing with Crimson Romance. She's just a little bit cray (in the *best* possible way!), and I so hope you enjoy it!
LR: What’s the most compelling thing about Fated
Desires, the thing that’s kept your butt in the chair through hours of
writing and revising?
BF: Fated Desires was,
to date, the hardest book to write. Which was totally Jenna’s fault. I often
didn’t like her, even though I understood her. And she was going through the
hardest time. I know that’s a big claim to make considering what both Maggie
and Henley were dealing with in their respective stories, but for Jenna,
there’s no bad guy, no stalker, no crazy ex-lover or former patient. Nope, my
girl Jenna had to deal with her fractured sense of self and a young child whom
was acting-out. It made this one an emotional and, I hope, compelling read.
LR: I bet it is! Now, Fated
Desires is the third book in a series, right? How do you keep track of
characters from one book to the next? Do the books share characters &/or
themes?
BF: Yep, Fated Desires
is the third book in what I loosely call the Trappers’ Cove series. Honestly, I
keep my Kindle near my computer so I can spot check facts and guarantee a
certain degree of continuity. Continuity errors have nearly ruined the X-men
movies for me. Ha! Maggie and Aidan, the lovers from Fated Souls, are in every
book. They are the glue that holds the series together.
LR: Cool. I love Maggie and Aidan! Changing direction a little, which book or author has influenced you the most? What
is it about their work that grabs you?
BF: I’d have say Nora
Roberts has probably influenced me the most. I read the bodice rippers back in
the day and while I love myself a good hero, I never really connected with the
heroines. Nora was probably the first author I can remember who wrote heroines
I could respect. Strong and flawed women that gave as good as they got. That I
could see myself reflected in (I may not be a hero, per se, but I’m definitely
not a DID nor shrinking violet).
LR: I know you must get asked this a lot, but how do you find
time to write when you’ve got a day job and family?
BF: I drink way too
much coffee and get not nearly enough sleep. It is not easy. There are times I
have to walk away from the computer and do the mom/wife thing. In the
beginning, that was every time I had to choose between them and my writing.
Then I taught myself it’s okay to say, “I’m doing this right now.” And I lean,
a lot, on my husband. He cooks way more than he thinks he should have to. Ha!
LR: Ha! Same with my husband. I swear we wouldn't eat if he couldn't find his way around the kitchen. Now, next question...what’s your favorite non-writing activity? Like, are you
a closet yoga fiend? Could you macramé a plant hanger if you had to? Do you
secretly want to appear on America’s Got
Talent?
BF: The obvious answer
is reading. I’ve never met a writer who isn’t a voracious reader and who am I
to buck a trend? But I’m guessing you weren’t asking about the obvious. I love
to crochet: blankets, hats, scarves, socks, slippers, pillow covers, even
amigurumi. I bought Nuance a while back so I could write and crochet simultaneously
but my poor beleaguered laptop doesn’t have enough memory to support the
software.
LR: (*raises crochet hook in solidarity*) What’s next on your writing horizon? Another Fated story? Or are you traveling back
to the world of hot, sexy espionage?
BF: That is a harder
question to answer than you might think. I’ve already got a rough start to the
4th books in both series and I have to choose which one to do first!
Plus I have a tentative release date in October with Tirgearr Publishing, the
edits on which I’ve yet to receive. And so many other story ideas I want to
explore.
LR: Do you have any writerly advice for my readers, maybe
something you wish you had known early on in the game?
BF: You can’t take it
personally. That’s way easier said than done. Between rejections, edits,
reviews, sweet mother, you have to develop a hide or you’re going to quit
before you even get started. The first time a manuscript came back full of
deletions, corrections, suggestions – I cried for about five minutes, then I
sucked it up and got to work.
Great advice, and great interview, Becky. Thanks so much for being on my blog today.
~*~
Fated
Desires
by Becky Flade
Jenna Gavin is searching for a fresh start and, more importantly, for
balance. Her heart, and perhaps the hands of fate, have led her and her son to
Trappers' Cove, Minnesota. Settling in the small, quirky town, she's not in the
market for a casual relationship but finds herself in one with the young
widower next door.
Former shortstop, Gabriel Foxx, is drawn to his difficult new neighbor.
The more the prickly divorcee tries to keep him at arm's length, the more
determined he is to break down her walls. He can't avoid the passion Jenna
inspires and his friendship with Finn has him yearning for family, but Gabe
won't allow himself to feel more.
When friendship grows complicated by stronger emotions and mutual desire
just isn't enough, will love be worth the risk?
Enjoy the following excerpt from Fated
Desires:
She had
drifted closer to him. Or him to her. Jenna couldn’t be sure. But it would take
only a shift of balance to touch her body to his. Life was about balance. And
the shifting of worlds. In the space of a day her world had changed for better
and for worse. She’d spent the previous nine years trying to find her balance
again.
Jenna
felt the familiar kick of desire. She’d never understood the girls who spoke of
butterflies and stirrings. For her it was more akin to a donkey
kick—pleasurable, sure, like the first jolt of caffeine in the morning and as
sure and swift and strong. Her pulse sped up and she knew the vein in her neck
would visibly pulse; it did when she was angry and when she was aroused. Gabe
was sure to notice it. As she noticed his heart pounding against her palm in a
rhythm she found seductive.
She
raised her gaze from the back of her hand. His mouth was aligned with her own.
She hadn’t realized how close in height they were. All she had to do was…shift.
“This is
the longest conversation we’ve had.” Her voice was husky; she heard it, knew he
would. He shifted, imperceptibly but she sensed it.
“Maybe
this,” his voice was husky too, “is why.”
She
thought she knew what he meant. The tension between them was awareness.
“The day
we met I wanted to get close enough to see what color your eyes were. They’re
gray. Like storm clouds. Perfect.”
Jenna
could feel his breath on the flesh of her lips and her nipples tightened.
“Mom!”
Finn’s
shout was punctuated by his feet drumming down the stairs. Gabe brushed his
lips over the curve of her cheek, his eyes conveying amused regret, and slipped
out the back door, barely making a sound. Jenna grabbed the counter and
breathed. She needed to settle herself before her son found his way to the
kitchen.
What the hell?
About
the Author:
Home is
where the heart is and I make mine with my very own knight in slightly
tarnished armor in southeastern Pennsylvania. When I’m not busy living my own
happily ever after, I’m writing about someone else’s.
Contact
Details:
beckyfladeauthor@gmail.com
http://www.beckyfladeauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BeckyFlade
https://twitter.com/beckyflade
Thank you for having me, Liv! It's always a pleasure to hang out with you (I even behaved myself ;) )
ReplyDeleteYou did! :) All the best with your release!
DeleteWrite and crochet at the same time? With no holes in either? Hm-m-m. Best of luck with the new release, Becky!
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking in, Arlene!
Delete