The Witch Brothers Saga - Book Tour and Giveaway

Emerald Earth
The Witch Brothers Saga Book 1
by Adam J. Ridley
Genre: LGBTQ M/M Romantic Urban Fantasy 

Cursed to never find love, Crea is shocked when he finds the perfect man. Choosing to fight the curse could cost him everything, including his life.

After his father cursed him, Crea has faced decades of dead end relationships. Just as he’s almost given up hope he finds a handsome stranger broken on the side of a desolate road. Once he drops the stranger off at the hospital, he figures all is done. Nothing could be further from the truth. The stranger becomes so much more as he pursues Crea, threatening the curse. Crea learns quickly falling in love is easy, but surviving a nasty cantation that’s determined to destroy you, isn’t as much.

Eli isn’t what you’d call a social person. His love for isolation in his beloved forest fully defines him. After breaking his leg in a mishap, Eli’s life is turned upside down as his life is filled with things he didn’t even dream of having before.

Unfortunately, those dreams turn to nightmares as he and Crea, the man he’s become bonded to, battle a curse that should’ve never been cast.

Crea and Eli’s bonding must be strong enough to overcome the curse, or they could both be lost, forever.

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​I should’ve known he was going to react like he did. Hell, if I thought someone was trying to hurt Jennie, I’d react the very same way and I’d only known her for a few weeks, but his rejection had hit me in the heart like an arrow.

I also knew the upset and anger I was feeling toward him was more than just me. I’d seen it in my dreams, been warned by them that I was going to be tested by this, and despite that, I wasn’t able to resist the anger and frustration at how he’d reacted.

I expected it to be done with after leaving his home. Jennie was upset too, but I thought it was more to do with her being embarrassed and maybe feeling a little guilty about how things worked out. We’d driven the six hours back to the workshop mostly in silence.

That night, Lee and Indigo demanded we go to their home for dinner, and Indigo basically confirmed that my reaction was more than just being upset. “Aren’t you concerned you’re being manipulated?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m concerned, but I also don’t seem to have the ability not to feel what I’m feeling.”

She nodded and said, “It’ll work out, but you are going to have to work through your emotions.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s over. I’ve delivered the piece, and now I’m free.”

She actually laughed at me. “You know it won’t be that easy. You were warned if you finished that piece, you’d be challenged. He’ll be coming. You and I both know it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t show up tomorrow.”

Something about that statement sent a rush of anger flowing through my entire being. I could almost see the darkness settling over me. Indigo looked concerned, but didn’t try to touch me. I wrestled back the emotion, and when I had it under control again, she said, “This is the curse you are fighting. These emotions aren’t yours.” She picked up a leather pouch, and it looked like she was going to hand it to me, then thought better of it.

Her eyes took on the light that told me she was prophesying. “You must fight this yourself. You are the tool to overcome this hatred. He is strong, but he’s been hurt time and again. You must be strong for him, lend your strength to him. That’s what’s needed to overcome.”

She sighed, the light leaving her eyes along with her strength. “Damn,” she said. “That really gets more exhausting as I grow older. Go, prepare yourself for his arrival. We’ll keep Jennie here for now,” she said. “You must work through this anger, so you don’t attack him when he arrives.”

I knew she was right. The anger was real, even if it wasn’t mine. It seemed to possess me. I went back to my workshop, and used my hand planer to work out my frustrations on some rather gnarly pieces of wood for another project.

I could tell Jennie was concerned, and my desire to protect her kept me from letting the anger go. I was glad she wasn’t with me in the workshop, that she hadn’t come back with me when I left Indigo and Lee’s place.

After a few hours’ work, I cleaned up my mess, put the tools away and went home. Of course, the anger that continued to course through me kept me awake, sitting in the chair, and staring at the fire until I remembered the raven’s feather. I pulled it out, laid it on the floor in front of my little fireplace, and said, “Well, if you can help, this would be the time to do so.”

The feather lifted from the ground as if a wind was blowing it, then when it was at eye level, it seemed to explode in green light.

I was standing in a forest I didn’t recognize. There was a waterfall, and I was in a cave behind it. The forest smells were all around, and with the exception of the water, all other sounds were muted.
I saw him lying naked on a blanket in the corner of the great cave. I went to him, the anger still coursing through me, but that anger was banked up against my lust. I was torn between aggression and wanting to press my own naked body against his. My lust won out, and when I knelt beside him, he pulled me into an embrace.
As our bodies entwined, the anger began to lose its hold on me as it was replaced with need.

I awoke hard and swollen. Where the anger had once been, now I only felt desire--hot, inconsolable desire.

I looked at where the feather had been. I’m not sure how that helped, but at least I can do something about the situation at hand. When I got into bed, I let my hand take over, relieving myself again and again. Still, the feeling of need and want quickly returned. I knew before this was over, I’d need to have him under me. It would be the only remedy for this kind of craving.

The next morning, I didn’t go to the workshop. Instead, I walked through the forests adjoining Lee’s and my properties. Ours backed up to state forest land, but both Lee and I had agreed not to harvest our trees, so it was clear where our land ended, and the state’s began.

I stayed among the older trees, letting them help me navigate the anger and frustration. Forests always touched my soul and grounded me. Even with their help, I was still struggling between the desire to hit and destroy things, and the lust I’d experienced the night before.

By late afternoon, I was beginning to lose the fight, and anger was beginning to find purchase inside me again. I walked back to the workshop, intending to work off the frustrations again with the hand planer and gnarled wood when I saw a car coming up my driveway. I knew it was Crea the moment he pulled up, although I couldn’t see him. It was like whatever possessed me was telling me he was here.

I walked toward the car, red anger blazing my trail, and saw Jennie step up and speak to him. She was angry too, but seeing her and experiencing my feelings for her caused the anger to lose some ground. I hesitated until I saw her stomp off, and found myself standing in front of him.

That which possessed me wanted me to attack, prompted me to damage him. Remembering the feather, the vision of lust and sexuality between us, I allowed those feelings to take over instead. I tried to warn him to leave, willed him to do so while I warred with the emotions that I neither understood nor controlled, but he wasn’t afraid, didn’t cower down.

His bravery gave me pause and magnified my natural attraction for him.

When he resisted me, the anger wanted to explode. I channeled it into a kiss, rough and edgy, hoping he’d feel the anger, hoping he’d see I was trying to control it. I pulled away from him then and intended to leave.

Instead, he twisted me around and kissed me back. His kiss was different, pliant, giving. He expressed himself in that kiss in the only way my brain could comprehend at that point.

When he pulled back, I yearned for him. The anger still there, banked in the back of my mind. I was unable to compete with the kind, sweet and gentle kiss he’d returned for my angry and aggressive one.

He had undone me with his reaction. It was like cold water on a flame. I was still unsteady, so I issued the only warning I could. “You should leave now before it’s too late.”

As I walked away, I knew he wouldn’t go. I didn’t want him to. I had the vision of the sculpture in his hands, and felt the anger give way again. I’d found the antidote–compassion. My own feelings of gratitude and compassion were stronger than the imposed emotions of this cursed anger.

Jennie looked up at me when I walked into the workshop, but neither of us spoke. I went to where I’d left the boards attached to the clamps and began to plane them. This time, it wasn’t with anger, but with the feelings I’d had the night he came to meet me before I went into surgery. I let the emotions I’d felt so strongly take precedence over any other feelings within me as Jennie and I worked in silence.

I worked late into the night, and when I finally got home, I crashed on my bed. When I woke at dawn the next day, the anger was almost gone—almost. I showered and got dressed. I was about to leave for Lee and Indigo’s house when I froze, sexual need coursing through me. Like a predator who knew his prey was never going to escape, I sensed I was about to have my prize. I just needed to take it, and it was mine.
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Diamond Air
The Witch Brothers Saga Book 2 

Could this man be his first real chance at love, or will his curse stop it from happening? More important, could pursuing this man put both of their lives at risk?

Lance loved his grandmother, but, even though he knew it was real, he tried hard not to buy into all her witch stuff. Real enough that his homophobic father cursed him and his brothers to never find love.

Regardless of what he believed or wanted to believe, his late grandmother’s young friend and former roommate was causing him to feel things he didn’t want and didn’t trust. After all, love had only ever left him in pain.

Drew is a pragmatist. His skills with magic only heighted under the mentorship of his late friend Gwen. When Gwen’s much too sexy and arrogant grandson shows up to collect his grandmother’s things, Drew is immediately dragged into a decades long drama filled with curses and malicious hatred embodied in Lance’s father’s cantation.

The curse Lance’s father cast on him and his brothers continues to plague him. Because of their attraction, their love/hate relationship embolden’s the curse and puts both men’s lives at risk.

Will the two men learn to trust one another, or will their animosity be what the curse needs to destroy them both once and for all?


**New Release – Aug 5th 2022!!**
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Adam J. Ridley is the pen name used by Blake Allwood for his urban fantasy and fantasy novels. I travel full time with my husband and two dogs in a forty-foot motor home, constantly looking for inspiration in the towns we find ourselves in.
I’ve loved fantasy all my life, and after several years of writing romance, finally took the time to try my hand at a romantic urban fantasy.
The Witch Brothers Saga is my debut series. Next year, I’ll release a Selkie series and possible my first science fiction, superhero novel as well.
Thanks for joining me on this journey and I look forward to reading your reviews on the Witch Brothers Saga.


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Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I started writing several years ago. My foster son had just come out of the closet and was having a hard time adjusting to the new lifestyle. Being an avid reader, I immediately began searching for books that he could read.
I was rather surprised by how few books were out there at the time about healthy gay male relationships. So, I began writing short stories for him. After that, I caught the bug and have been writing ever since.
Adam J. Ridley is my pen name I chose for my Urban Fantasy (UF) novels. I realized not everyone who reads my romances will want UF and certainly not all my UF readers would want to wade through my romance books. So, it just made sense to give life to Adam, with my new release of the Witch Brothers Saga.

Where were you born/grew up at?
I grew up in a tiny place, can’t really call it a town, in the middle of West Tennessee, surrounded by pine forests and farmland. Needless to say, I spent most of my childhood out in the wood playing.
I think my childhood had a lasting impact on me, especially in the world of creativity. Because I spent so much time alone out in nature, I became rather good at creating all sorts of imaginary worlds. Nowadays you can experience some of those worlds in my writing.

Who is your hero and why?
Wow, so I have several. That being said, my grandmother has to be the top of the list because she was such a big advocate of mine early on. I suffer from a list of issues that in the 1970s weren’t well known or respected… ADHD, Dyslexia, not to mention basic stubbornness.
My granny would sit down with me at night, and we’d read together in her silent living room long after my grandfather had gone to sleep. When we’d finish a book, we’d discuss them and she’d tell me her favorite parts of the story, and I’d tell her mine.
Because of her, I’m a lifelong lover of reading and learning in general. Not to mention, an author. So, yeah, she get’s the number one spot for me.

What kind of world ruler would you be?
Let’s just say it’s good I’m not the leader of the world and leave it at that… (Cue evil laughter…) LOL

What do you do to unwind and relax?
I’m such a typical book geek. There is NOTHING I love more than a good, sappy, romance novel with all the feels. Or a dark and foreboding fantasy/urban fantasy. That’s my go to for getting the world out of my head and letting myself unwind.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
So, this is hard and something I struggled with for a long time.
I really struggled with writing in general. My pre-college education was sketchy in regard to language arts, and as such, writing scared me. I was convinced I was bad at it. However, after getting a degree that forced me to write a lot, I was able to overcome the fear enough to give creative writing a try.
It didn’t take me long to figure out how much I loved writing. Then I began to see reviews which said other people liked what they were reading.
So, long story short, I guess I didn’t consider myself a real author until I realized people actually liked what I was putting out in the world enough to buy and read them.

Do you have a favorite movie?
Oh yeah, Practical Magic will always be my favorite, then Steel Magnolias cause you know snark and tears are the best!

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
Humm… since I’m a visual writer, all my books take place visually in my mind, so to me they are already movies.
That being said, here’s a bit of trivia. I initially began writing Taking a Chance for Love for Hallmark. Of course, it became much too sexually explicit for them as the writing continued. However, I could still see it being a movie. Of course,
If any of you are movie producers, give me a call, I’m sure we can work out some favorable terms! ?

What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
Oh, so this is a fun question. My hubby and I sold our homes (we had two on a 3-acre urban organic farm) and moved into a 40 foot RV five years ago.
Now, we travel around the United States exploring areas I’d only heard about before. Most of the settings in my books are a product of traveling the country.
For example, The Witch Brothers Saga is set in a part of Oregon where we spent the summer. Even thought the town, Chemeketa, doesn’t exist in real life, if you know the area between Tillamook and Lincoln City, you’ll recognize the landscape.

What inspired you to write this series?
A couple things. One, I have always loved fantasy. There’s something deep inside me that just forced me to try writing it. So, the Witch Brothers is my first go at writing urban fantasy.
Second, I have had several older men ask if I could write something more their age, and as I pondered it, I kept coming back to three brothers who’d been cursed by a homophobic dad and had spent their lives searching for love as a result. Learning to overcome that curse seemed to be the perfect way to incorporate older gay men, learning to love another man for the first time.

What can we expect from you in the future?
There are several books in the works. Next year, I plan to release a Selkie series based on a long lost relative of the Witch Brother.
I’m also working on a young adult fantasy series about a sorcerer’s son, and playing with the idea of a urban fantasy horror with all sorts of delightful yet rather nasty monsters.

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?
I guess there are always side stories for me and my writing. In the first book, Emerald Earth, for example, I may have a bit of a crush on Eli, the lumberjack. LOL
I love contrasting characters, so I really enjoyed writing all three books since there’s a bit of an opposites attract in each of the stories, and those are always fun to play with.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Emerald Earth?
Sure, Eli is everything you’d think an independent, introverted, lumberjack male witch would be. Tall, dark, handsome, intimidating, with a soft underbelly. Crea is much more of an open book emotionally, and although he’s desperate for love, he’s quick to let outside influences keep him from looking Eli’s way.
There are a lot of side characters in this story as well, and I let those side characters do most of the world building for me. You’ll meet Gwen, who frankly, even though she’s dead, and a ghost, she’s a nutty, wonderful, character.
You’ll also get to know Jenny, Crea’s niece, Donna, a nosy hippie who is definitely one of my favorite character in the story, and some powerful forest dwellers who help both MCs overcome the dark that stalks them.
You also meet the side characters again in the other two books, along with additional characters who live in the unique little town governed by modern day witches.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Urban fantasy and fantasy in general seemed to let my imagination go wild. Unintentionally, I wrote book one with much more of a romantic twist to it, than the other two books. I think that’s because I was used to writing romance. However, as books two then three came to be, I felt myself letting go more and more. By the time you get to book three you’ll see it’s much more of an urban fiction book, and the romantic elements slip further and further to the side.
Again, I love reading fantasy and urban fantasy, so it was a lot of fun to write stories, so different from what I’ve written in the past.

Who designed your book covers?
A couple of years ago, a young writer by the name of Samrat contacted me via Facebook asking if I would be willing to read his writing. Of course, always a sucker for a young person learning to write, I quickly agreed.
Since then, Samrat has become my personal assistant and an exceptionally good one at that. About a year ago, Samrat disclosed that he is both an artist and graphic designer. So, after seeing some of his amazing artwork, I challenged him to attempt a cover. The end result is that I fell in love with his work.
The Witch Brothers Saga is the series I’ve let him take full creative license with and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I truly love these covers.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest books?
I mean yes and no. This is my first attempt at an urban fantasy series. I’ve learned so much by my experience writing them. I believe any author would tell you their writing improves with every book they put out. I’m certainly the first to admit, I grow as a writer each time I take on a new project.
So, would I do anything different? Sure, if I were to start this series all over again, it’d probably be an entirely different series, but I’m extremely proud of the witch boys, exactly as they are…

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
Oh honey, I have an intense crush on Ewan McGregor. How does he get better looking with age? I need his secrets! Anyway, I digress… Ewan McGregor for Crea, and maybe Chris Hemsworth, Henry Cavill, or Jason Momoa for Eli… you didn’t say we couldn’t reach for the stars… (pun intended.)

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Ride the wave. I did intentionally make the book slower in the beginning and built the suspense, so it has a pretty climatic ending. All three books follow that some formula. Just remember, these three guys have been living under a curse that’s kept love just out of reach. There are several hurtles to cross before they can let themselves trust again.

What is your favorite part of these books and why?
I think I love that these books are about letting go of the past. I mean, there are a lot of us who’ve had some level of trauma about coming out of the closet? I’d say, even though this is fantasy, many of us have dealt with our own curses from family, friends, and society in general.
I believe, the game is won by overcoming that crap. I don’t mean to say this book is some deep philosophical attempt at making a point because it really isn’t. Mostly I wrote it just for fun, but there are elements I think play true to a lot of LGBTQ+ folks experiences. Especially those who’ve had to fight to be who they are.
Helping show that there is life after trauma is kinda my thing, so of course, that’s my favorite part about writing these books.

If you could spend time with a character from your book who would it be? And what would you do during that day?
Eli, and it’s um, probably not appropriate to say why in this interview. LOL

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Nope, they are all imaginary. Although I’ve known people who remind me of the characters, not one person influenced them more than anyone else.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
My characters hijack the story every single time, then take it where they want it to go. LOL
For the most part, I’m what they call a pantser, or someone who writes by the seat of their pants. That’s virtually impossible to do when you are writing a series where each book builds upon the next, but, I will say, I wrote an outline for Emerald Earth and the characters destroyed it. Then I rewrote an outline for the Diamond Air, which those characters destroyed… well you’re getting my point.

Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yep, I have over a dozen books working their way through the pipeline. There’s a superhero novel which will probably show up next year, there’s a young adult fiction series about a deceased sorcerer’s son, and many others that are still being drafted.

Is there a writer which brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?
Terry Brooks is one of my favorite fantasy novelists. I would LOVE to pick his brain… more than that I’d love to cowrite a book/series with him.

Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes/Did You Know?'-type tidbits about the author, the book or the writing process of the book.

1. I’m prefer pansting over outlining… but writing fantasy requires me to be organized, Ugh!
2. I write romance under Blake Allwood.
3. I live full time in a 40 foot RV with my dogs and husband. We’ve been full time for 5 years. Time really flies when you’re having fun.
4. I have a Jack (jerk) Russell Terrier (terrorist) named Buddy who just turned 17 years old. During our last vet visit the vet was shocked and she called him a miracle dog. I say he’s alive cause he loves to torment me. We also have a lug of a Siberian Husky mix named Denver who truly believes he’s a lap dog. Both of these nutty creatures keep me well entertained and my heart full.
5. My husband and I have been married for over 27 years. Our anniversary is on Valentine’s Day.
6. I grew up in Tennessee, went to college in Iowa, but lived most of my life in Kansas City.
7. I taught kindergarten for five years, became a foster parent and did that for 12 years before we sold everything and ran away from home. My favorite saying is if the kids can’t find you, they can’t move back in. I joke, we adore all our youngons.

What are your top favorite books/authors?

1. Romance – Nora Roberts, Mary Stewart (from back in the day,) Lily Morton, Lucy Lenox, Bryan T. Clark, Tal Bauer… well the list is never-ending I’m afraid.
2. Fantasy/UF – Jeff Jackson, Terry Brooks, M.D. Neu, Seb Carter, again, I could go on and on…
3. Historical Fiction: Glenn Quigley, Edward Rutherford…

What book do you think everyone should read?
Depends on the genre. Nora Robert’s Three Sisters is one of my all time favorite series in romance. Edward Rutherford’s Sarum is one of the best historical fiction ever written, Terry Brooks Shannara series is amazing… My take is just read a lot and hopefully, you’ll get most of the great ones in the process. ?

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
It depends on the story. Most of the time, my characters show up as the book is progressing. Occasionally, like in Emerald Earth, most of the characters show up in the beginning.

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
Lots, and lots, and lots… I have never minded the research, so I do it before, during and even sometimes after I finish a book’s draft. I try to look at all the angles to make sure I represented the characters the best way possible. I will say, the Witch Brothers was one of the most difficult books I’ve written because I had to do extensive amounts of research to represent the magical community appropriately. And yes, there is a magical community that exists in the real world!

Do you see writing as a career?
Yes, this is what I do. Do I make enough money to live off of it? Well, let’s just say, I’m lucky my hubby has a good job! ?

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?
A good writer has to be a great reader. That’s always been my philosophy. My favorite genres are romance and fantasy. If they mix as with paranormal romance or romantic fantasy, then I’m a happy camper!

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I’m ADHD, so any distraction will completely halt the creative writing process. I write when the dogs are asleep, and the hubby is at work or asleep (if he works nights.) I can edit anytime though, so when they are all around me making noise, that’s what I’m doing. ?

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
I have found that when a book isn’t ready to be written, it doesn’t matter how hard I push it, the dang thing won’t move. So, I’ve learned that when one book is sticking its heels into the sand refusing to budge, I can simple move over to another project that is choosing to be a bit more… accommodating.
I have over twenty ideas, we call them plot bunnies, swimming around in my head. Some are close to being written (drafted,) while others might only have a few pages done. There is no shortage of project I can be working on at any given time.

Pen or type writer or computer?
I write on my laptop. The hubby has tried to get me to do dictation writing, and I hated it. I’ve got a strange brain condition called dysgraphia (just learned about that in the past 10 years) that keeps me from being able to write well by hand, but even in high school, I found I was a fast typist, so that’s my go to.
Thank you to whomever came up with the idea of creating the laptop!

A day in the life of the author?
Boring as all heck… I get up, I have coffee, I FB, I answer emails, I FB some more, I argue with my beloved PA before he goes to bed (he lives in India,) then sometime around one in the afternoon, I start to write… I may write up until time to go to bed but if not, I tend to either watch TV (if I’ve been writing all day,) or if I’ve been editing, I might curl up to a book, which always has to be the complete opposite than the one I’m editing…
See told you, boring.

Do you have any advice to offer for new authors?
Yeah, I have offered this more than a few times. When you sit down to pen (type) your first novel, remember the first draft is for you. Don’t worry about what your English teachers would’ve said, don’t worry about your spelling or grammar, in fact, move any and all things out of your head that might stop you from getting the words on paper.
This is important to remember because the moment your draft is done, the moment you begin to read it and clean up the grammar, plot holes, spelling mistakes, and all the other things that you’ll have to fix, the book belongs to others.
You write the first draft for yourself; you edit it for others.

Describe your writing style.
Eclectic… I write what I love, so it’s a mix of happy and sad, frustrating and endearing… I almost always have a moral (although I don’t like to admit that about my writing,) and ultimately, it’s about giving the reader a fun journey.

What makes a good story?
A good story takes you on a journey, and a great story causes you to lose track of time, get lost in the story, or have a hard time putting it down.

What are you currently reading?
I’ve got a long list. Today, I’m reading Never Stay Gone by Tal Bauer, because it’s set in the same part of the world as my (Blake Allwood’s) ghost story, The Big Bend Series.

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
If it’s a stand alone book, I always pants it. However, for a series I have to continue to plan and outline the story since my characters are always pulling a fast one on me. I have to keep notes to keep them from completely leaving the ballpark.
Unfortunately, I’ve found I simply can’t pants (write by the seat of my pants) a fantasy or urban fantasy series. There are just too many moving parts.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Trying to do it right. You can’t do a creative project right. You just have to go with the flow. Get your story down in print then worry about all the “doing it right” stuff later.

What is your writing Kryptonite?
My bleeding family. LOL My husband, who is like an emotional stoneman most of the time, wants to chat when I’m writing, or the dogs love to take walks or need snacks, or… well you get my drift. Luckily, hubby has to work, and dogs get tired and sleep so I’ve found my way around them.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
A bit of both. I let the stories go where they go, so sometimes that’s not exactly what the readers want. However, I do read a lot and do try to read popular books as much as I can, so I know what readers are reading.
Ultimately though, I’m a rebel at heart, so there’s only so much conformity I’m able to provide.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Don’t wait to try. The water isn’t nearly as deep nor as full of sharks as you thought it would be.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from other genders?
I have zero problem writing characters from other genders. Why? Well, cause most of my friends are women and they have NEVER hesitated to fill me in on all the intricacies of their lives… even when I would’ve really preferred they not!

How long on average does it take you to write a book?
I write roughly a thousand words per hour. A typical novel can be between 50k to 100k. So, you can do the math. It’s a lot more time consuming than people realize. I like to tell my friends who ask this question that I’m basically writing a thesis, but without a degree or student loans…

Do you believe in writer’s block?
I think it’s real for some writers. I don’t really relate to writers block personally. If a book is being a jerk, (yes I think of them as people, and yes some of them are jerks,) I just set it aside and go on to the next project.
There’ve been times when I’ve gotten up against a wall with my writing. Sometimes it’s been like if I have to write or edit another word, I might just start killing off every character in the book… in those instances, reading a few books or watching a nice movie seems to fix the problem.
For me, writing is something I love to do. Even when it’s hard, even when I’m fighting my characters, so, my attitude is if it’s not working, give it a break and see what happens. At least up until now, I can only resist the process for a week or so before I’m itching to get back into it.

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

July 26
kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours
Bedazzled By Books

July 27
Never Hollowed By The Stare – GUEST POST
The Book Junkie Reads . . .
The Sexy Nerd 'Revue'

July 28
A Wonderful World of Words – GUEST POST
Lady Hawkeye
@NatilliePainter

July 29
SSLY
#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

July 30
Naughty Nightie Book Blog
4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼

July 31
Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree
Craving Lovely Books

Aug 1
❧Defining Ways❧
eBook Addicts
Word Processor, Romance, Cats, Kids and Creed

Aug 2
Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Books all things paranormal and romance

Aug 3
ⒾⓃⓉⓇⓄⓈⓅⒺⒸⓉⒾⓋⒺ ⓅⓇⒺⓈⓈ
Girl with Pen

Aug 4
Tina Donahue - Heat with Heart
Inside the Insanity – GUEST POST

Aug 5
Insane Books
Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read

Aug 6
Midnight Book Reader
Sylv.net

Aug 7
Scrupulous Dreams
The Bookshelf Fairy

Aug 8
Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
The Book Dragon
The Scratching Post

Aug 9
Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author
Drops of Ink
Twisted Book Ramblings

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