Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author

Interview with an Author featuring Sylvia Black

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Sylvia Black! Her book, Master Descallia : Dark Vampire Romance (Masters of the Consulate Book 1) released on April 30th 2021.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

A large thank you for having me! I’m excited to get to spend time with all of you. My name is Sylvia Black. I am an International Best-selling author of paranormal romance. I currently have six of an anticipated twelve book series published. They are dark vampire romances, in a world of witches, rogue shifters and the syndicate.

What inspired you to start writing?

My family traveled extensively when I was growing up. We lived in England for years, and when traveling, I would always have my nose buried in a book or a pencil in my hand to write my own. A grandmother born and raised in the Baltic sea region nurtured the love for old-world history and folklore of Europe.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

 I don’t know if there’s a quirk that I can think of other than constantly trying to keep one of my golden cocker spaniel puppies from taking over the keyboard. He loves to type!!

How do you deal with the emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

Great question! Sometimes as an author the emotions of your characters turn you inside out emotionally. I think the process of helping them find their way to a happily ever after is what helps me reconcile the emotions.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

 I didn’t realize that once I started writing, the stories would literally write themselves. I’ve heard authors say that before but didn’t really understand what they meant until I started to write myself and got a few books into the series. Sometimes it’s hard for me to keyboard fast enough to keep up to the stories spilling from the characters themselves.

What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?

The characters, probably because all of my stories tend to be in the same world. There is always another hot, possessive master vampire called upon to help the plight of the vampires, and a woman he doesn’t want to get to know at first but falls head over heels for.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That winding myths and lure into a plot would be so intriguing to me. Actually bringing pieces into the story at the right time is oddly challenging and fun!

What gave you that push to press the publish button?

I met a group of women at a writing conference years ago – before I had published my very first book. They have become my closest friends over the years, and they were instrumental.

Do you have any new series planned?

There are two spin-off series rattling around in my mind right now. If you are familiar with the Masters of the Consulate series, you probably already have a good idea of what comes next, but officially it’s being kept under wraps for the moment.

What advice would you give to other authors?

Just keep writing. Read in your genre, get to know your genre, and then just keep writing. A close friend offered me this advice years ago.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

That the vampire masters are alpha, possessive, sinfully hot and end up falling hard for the women they come to love.

Thank you Sylvia Black for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her book, Master Descallia today!

~Synopsis~

Salvatore Descallia, a purebred and Overlord to the Consulate of Masters, rules and fights with an iron fist. When he learns of the coup planned to blame his clan for disappearing women, he must move swiftly to deal with his enemies. He has every intention of killing everything in his way, until a new challenge presents itself, one with crystalline green eyes who is close to death.
To save her life, Salvatore gives her immortality in exchange for a life of servitude in the underworld.
Consumed by coursing desire, Lucianna Denaro is helpless against the dark-eyed dominant stranger who expects her to learn the dangers and rituals of his world. While the underworld is new and death lurks at every corner, it is his touch that threatens to scorch them to ashes with its heat.

Sylvia Black is a master’s prepared and International Best-Selling paranormal romance author with a special love for old-world history and the folklore of Europe. A grandmother born and raised in the Baltic sea region nurtured this love and it grew more profound as a young child living for years in England and traveling extensively. 

Sylvia likes to keep her readers on the edge of their seats one minute and fanning themselves as the heat rises in the next. Her novels feature handsome, dark-minded males who will stop at nothing to protect their mates. 

The perfect day for Sylvia would be spent sitting on a balcony overlooking the Amalfi Coast in Italy while enjoying an espresso as she writes. 

While not writing, she spends time with her husband and family, including an adorable fur-baby. She enjoys traveling extensively, especially when researching for her next novel. 

She also loves to spend time interacting with you, her readers, so please feel free to connect with her on social media! 

For a very limited time, you can download a free copy here of The Beginning, which is the prequel to the much-loved vampire series, Masters of the Consulate. It is the old world back story and gives readers an understanding of how the group of hunky vampire leaders came to be in the modern-day world. Download now

You can also find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Tik Toks and Instagram. Connect with me and say hello while checking out all the interesting pictures, videos, and fun!

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Facebook Readers Group
Facebook Authors Page
Amazon Authors Page
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Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author · New Release

Interview with an Author featuring Felicity Brandon

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Felicity Brandon! Her latest release, Haunted By Desire: A Gothic Dark Romance (Wild Iris Book 1) releases on October 4th 2022.

How long have you been writing?

I have written since I was a child, but I started publishing my stories in 2012 when I finished my family and quit my 9 to 5. I’ve never looked back!

Describe a typical writing day.

I write everyday Monday to Friday, but honestly, I’m not complaining. It’s my passion! I usually write about 5000 words a day and try to enjoy every one of them.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Inspiration is everywhere! I once based a character on a woman I met in my gym changing room. That said, most of my antiheroes come to me in my dreams. I usually see specific scenes and wake up desperate to write them! 

What are some challenges that have come up during your writing and publishing journey?

Imposter syndrome has been my biggest challenge. For the longest time, I didn’t believe it when readers told me that they loved my books. It has taken me years to know that I am worthy. This is where I deserve to be.

When you’re writing an emotionally draining (or sexy, or sad, etc) scene, how do you get in the mood?

I actually love those deep and intense scenes. I’m normally frantic to write them! When my characters speak to me, I’m already in the right headspace. Music also helps though. It sets the emotional tone.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Fierce AF (which is also the name of my reader group).

How do you deal with emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

I totally immerse myself in my stories and want to create that same experience for my readers. I weep, pant and prance while I create, and then head out into nature to work off those emotions.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with me?

I’ve just finished the fourth book in my sexy and super dark Beautiful Deceit series. Enveloped By The Darkness releases February of next year.

I also completed my second pen name, Elodie Crowe’s first series! Shards Of Justice releases on December 31st.

What advice would you give to other aspiring authors?

I love this question. It resonates! I’d say, believe, believe, believe. Write a little every day (or as often as you can) and don’t take reviews personally. If you receive a bad review (and you will) accept that person’s energy and don’t let criticism hold you back.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

I write what I want to read and l always fall in love with my fiendish antiheroes!

Thank you Felicity Brandon for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her newest release, Haunted By Desire today!

~Synopsis~

Lost in the wilderness and desperate for sanctuary,
Iris Parsons stumbles into the mysterious Aidan.
Brooding and enigmatic, he offers her security,
But Aidan’s help comes at a terrible price.
As she struggles with her growing feelings for her dark protector,
Iris realizes it could already be too late.
She might never find her way back to civilization,
But worse, she may not want to.

Haunted By Desire is the first in a new gothic dark romance series.

Felicity is a USA Today Bestselling writer that Writes about the dark, delicious chemistry that develops between alpha males, and their feisty, willful women! Think romance with bondage, submission and good old-fashioned, over-the-knee spankings!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Felicity-Brandon/e/B00CV873JK

Felicity’s Website: About – Felicity Brandon (felicitybrandonauthor.com)

Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author · New Release

Interview with an Author featuring Candace Robinson

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Candace Robinson! Her newest release, The Bone Valley: A Romantic Dark Fantasy released on October 13th 2021.

How long have you been writing?

I started actually writing stories in 2016, but I always knew I wanted to write. It was just a matter of actually getting the words down! Sometimes it takes a life-altering even to get someone in gear which was my case.

Describe a typical writing day.

Oh boy! So, I normally do my writing during the week when my daughter is at school and I’m a morning writer by nature. At night, I can edit, but it’s harder for me to try and fish out creative things from inside my brain. When I’m working on a book, my goal is to get a minimum of two thousand words a day down. If there is more than that, then that is a bonus!

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

So for my dark fantasy things, I draw a lot of inspiration from old horror movies like Bride of Frankenstein or Tim Burton and Guillermo Del Toro. And then I love romance so anything from Ten Things I Hate About You to Pride & Prejudice, then merge all these things together in on big witchy cauldron lol.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

Another toughy but a goody! I have so many but out of my published books, probably Lark from Lyrics & Curses. I just really love her snark and the fact that it’s 80s and she likes all the cool things. Plus, she is just so there for her love interest, Auden—in all the ways he needs.

How do you deal with emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

I’m generally okay with fantasy, so I think maybe the hardest scenes I’ve ever had to write was in one of my contemporaries because in Avocado Bliss, it deals with diabetes which my husband has. And in Hearts Are Like Balloons, the MC lost her dad, the same way I did. But even then, I loved writing those because they felt real.

What book is currently on your bedside table?

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco which I seriously hope to read soon because I loved the first book so much!

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

Here’s where I’m totally bad! I haven’t technically written a direct sequel with the same MC throughout. Most are companion sequels. I take that back because Bride of Glass and Shadowed By Despair did have a same MC, but new MCs were also introduced! However, I would love to write a long series with the MC if I could! So I guess I keep my series fresh by having new MCs.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Anxious. Creative. Nostalgic.

What advice would you give to other authors?

You can’t work with a blank page. So put some words down!

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

 

Thank you Candace Robinson for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her newest release, The Bone Valley today!

~Synopsis~

An unexpected and addictive NA Stand-Alone Fantasy Romance.

He’s a lover. She’s a thief. A magic like no other will bind them together.

After the death of his parents, Anton Bereza works hard to provide for his younger siblings. Love has never been in the cards for him, especially after desperation forces Anton to sell himself for coin. And he has no idea that, beneath the city of Kedaf, lies a place called the Bone Valley.

When Anton’s jealous client plots against him, he is cursed to spend eternity in a world where all that remains are broken bones. There, Anton meets Nahli Yan—a spirited woman who once tried to steal from him—and his cards begin to change. But as the spark between them ignites, so does their desire to escape. All that stands in their way is the deceitful Queen of the Dead, who is determined to wield her vicious magic to break Anton and Nahli apart. Forever.

Perfect for fans of Kingdom of the Wicked, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Daughter of Smoke & Bone. The Bone Valley is one delicious romantic fantasy filled with swoon, enemies to lovers, and unique magic that you won’t want to miss!

Candace Robinson spends her days consumed by words and hoping to one day find her own DeLorean time machine. Her life consists of avoiding migraines, admiring Bonsai trees, watching classic movies, and living with her husband and daughter in Texas—where it can be forty degrees one day and eighty the next.

Website: http://authorcandacerobinson.wordpress.com

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/candace-robinson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literarydust/

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16541001.Candace_Robinson

Audiobook · Review

Undying Embrace: A Dracula Novella by K.L. Bone – My Review

Title: Undying Embrace: A Dracula Novella *Audiobook*

Author: K.L. Bone

Release Date: March 10th 2020

Genre: Gothic Romance

Death, Christabel thought bitterly. An inescapable fate that, for her,would remain forever elusive.

Life was perfect before he came. The vampire who shattered the world she knew. Handsome, intelligent, and charming, a single taste of Dracula’s touch overrode Christabel’s cautious sensibilities and left her breathless, craving a life beyond traditional expectations. A destiny of knowledge, which could only be found in the creature’s eternal embrace.

Fueled by unquenchable passion, and a desperate belief that the brilliant Christabel might break the curse condemning him to darkness, the vampire prince will do anything to claim her.

As her traitorous heart opens, will Christabel resist the vampire’s dark desires, or become his immortal bride?

Great read! This quick and entertaining read had me captivated from beginning to end. The characters were well written. I was eager to know more about the mysterious Dracula. A great story with an interesting ending. I LOVE Kylie Stewart’s voice! Her voice is pleasant and always brings the story to life. LOVED this! I give this 5 stars!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*