Author Interview: Freda Lightfoot on Writing

Landra: Today I welcome Freda Lightfoot and she's graciously willing to submit to an

author interview. Nothing risque, like Victoria's sessions for sure, but still equally exciting.

My first question is: What has your journey to publication been like?

Freda: It was filled with rejections like all would-be authors, but finally I learned to target my market, read and learn more about the genre I was writing and as a result acceptance followed. First with historical romances for Mills and Boon back in the 80s, and then with historical sagas for Hodder. Practise, patience and persistence pays off in the end.

Landra: Wow! That's a pretty awesome career. I like those 3 P's. What about advice, maybe for those just starting out?

Freda: It’s a different world now. When I started I learned my craft through short stories and articles before moving on to historical romance novels. It was never easy to get published but it’s even more difficult today. Choosing a genre you love is important, and writing from the heart is essential. Don’t be afraid to show your emotions on the page. Reading a novel is a much more intimate experience than watching a play or TV drama. And always look for that plus factor, something of yourself or your life that you can add to give it your personal brand.

Landra: Couldn't agree with you more. The personal brand makes your books yours. Now, self-publishing, traditional, or hybrid?

Freda: I started out in traditional publishing, naturally, since I’ve been in the business many years. But later became hybrid when sagas went out of fashion for a while and I was dropped. Fortunately I moved on to work for two other publishers but also managed to get the rights to my back list reverted, and self-published them as ebooks. It was seeing how well these were selling which brought Amazon Publishing knocking on my door, or rather they rang me up from Seattle, which was so exciting. Self-publishing is definitely an option these days, as it can open doors.

Landra: What would you say is the biggest risk you take with your writing?

Freda: I do seem to constantly challenge myself as that helps to keep my mind fresh. The Amber Keeper was certainly a challenge as it is set mainly in Russia before and during the revolution so demanded a great deal of research. Fortunately I love research although the story must always come first. There always comes a point when you have to set all those books aside and sit down and write. I also had to work out in what way events of the past had affected life for my heroine and her family fifty years later. That was even greater fun.

Landra: It's exciting to blend history with your characters. Would you care to share any writing rituals you have (certain cup, certain spot, etc)?

Freda: I prefer to work in my office which feels like a womb to me, with the door shut fast against the world. I start each morning by visiting facebook and twitter, and dealing with emails from loops I am on, which all helps to get my brain going. Then I revise whatever I wrote the previous day which soon has me motoring with new material. I’ve written over forty books but starting a new one doesn’t get any easier. The fear kicks in and I wonder if I should bin it. Fortunately I manage to resist that urge. I mentally bribe myself to keep writing even if it is rubbish at first, with the promise I can revise it later, once it exists. I write through the pain, then rewrite and rewrite and rewrite until I’m happy with it.

Thank you Freda for stopping by and chatting with me. Now here's some more information on Freda's latest release, The Amber Keeper

Blurb: Set against the backdrop of revolutionary Russia, The Amber Keeper is a sweeping tale of jealousy and revenge, reconciliation and forgiveness.

English Lake District, 1960s: A young Abbie Myers returns home after learning of her mother’s death. Estranged from her turbulent family for many years, Abbie is heartbroken to hear that they blame her for the tragedy.

Determined to uncover her mother’s past, Abbie approaches her beloved grandmother, Millie, in search of answers. As the old woman recounts her own past, Abbie is transported back to the grandeur of the Russian Empire in 1911 with tales of her grandmother’s life as a governess and the revolution that exploded around her.

As Abbie struggles to reconcile with her family, and to support herself and her child, she realizes that those long-ago events created aftershocks that threaten to upset the fragile peace she longs to create.

Get a copy at: Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble 

http://www.writermarketing.co.uk/prpromotion/blog-tours/currently-on-tour/freda-lightfoot-2/

Blog Tour: Rescued by Felice Stevens

Book Blurb: Ryder Daniels has spent the last year recovering from rejection: his parents couldn’t accept his sexuality and his lover chose drugs over his love. The only bright lights in his life are his younger brother and his rescued pit bull. But now his mother's punishment for his lifestyle has cut him off from his brother he loves so deeply. Devastated, he throws himself into the work of the Pit Bull Foundation he and his friends started.

Jason Mallory can no longer hide the dissatisfaction of his relationship with his longtime girlfriend. When her marriage ultimatum pushes him to break things off, he's determined not to jump into the dating scene. But when a group of injured pit bulls are found on his construction site, he can’t forget the guy who shows up to help.

After Jason adopts one of the dogs, he and Ryder become fast friends—until one night, Ryder lets down his guard and Jason recognizes his desire. Soon, they can’t deny the passion between them but will family differences and ugly prejudices keep them apart, or can they fight to prove that love is precious, no matter the flavor?

What People are saying about Rescued:

Via Barnes and Noble ~ Dogs + Romance = A Fantastic Read! Felice Stevens is a new author and I loved her writing style. I was hooked on page one and stayed hooked to the end. This a m/m romance full of love and discovery and I enjoyed every minute.

Excerpt: 
The pulse of the music pounded into Ryder’s brain. Why he allowed Connor and Emily to drag him here, he couldn’t say. They meant well, but he had no desire to chat up some random guy to have hurried sex in a bathroom stall or a dark hallway.

“Come on, let’s get some drinks. This place looks like it could be fun.” Connor pushed him toward the large glittering bar, waving at the shirtless bartender to get his attention. “Two beers, my man, with lime, and one Sea Breeze.” He grinned, and Ryder saw the bartender wink and smile at his friend.

“Another conquest, Con.” Poor guy would be sad to know Connor was here with his wife. And not into threesomes. Ryder accepted the mixed drink from his friend and passed it to Emily. She stood, facing the dance floor, enthralled by the men dancing, the light show, or both. “Em, here, take your drink.”

“Thanks.” Her hand reached out, but her gaze remained fixed on two men out on the floor. Their bodies were sinuously entwined, arms and lips pressed together. To Ryder, they looked hot, wild, and sexy as fuck.

“They are so free and beautiful, aren’t they?” He had to bend down to hear her. “I can’t see how anyone could think this is wrong.”

A tight little grin thinned his lips. “Well, obviously my parents do, since they have no desire to ever see me again unless I become ‘normal’ in their eyes.” He gulped half his beer, licking his lips afterward.

Connor draped an arm over his shoulder. “Screw ’em, I say. You’re doing nothing wrong. Live your life and find some happiness. We’ll always be here for you. You know that, right?” His friend’s arm tightened around his shoulder as Ryder nodded.

“They’ll come around one day, Ryder. You have to believe that. In the meantime, find someone to share your dreams with.” Ryder watched his friend’s gaze flicker over to Emily, who returned his look with her sweet smile. “It’s no good to be alone, man. It sucks the soul out of you.” Connor took his wife’s empty glass and placed it on a mirrored shelf next to where they were standing. “Now I’m going to dance with my wife, and I want you to find someone to dance with.” He took Emily’s hand and pulled her onto the floor.

Ryder chuckled and took another swallow of his beer. When he finished, he looked to put his bottle down, but instead caught the eye of a man who stood watching him. He recognized that look. It was one of heat, desire, and the need to get down and dirty as fast as possible. His groin responded, but he ignored it and instead returned to the bar to get another beer.

It took a while to make his way to the front of the bar and catch the bartender’s attention to order a drink. A large palm pressed against the small of his back. “Why did you turn away from me?” The voice murmured in his ear, sending tingles up his spine while a hard body pressed him into the wooden railing of the bar. An impressive erection nestled into the crease of his ass. He could feel the heat pouring off the man’s body.

Ryder froze. He took his change from the bartender, then spoke. “You need to take your hands off me.”

“Come on, I only wanted to talk and maybe get to know you better.” The man moved closer, rubbing himself against Ryder’s ass. In another minute the guy would be humping him in public.

That did it. Snarling, Ryder whipped around to face him. “I said back the fuck up, man.”

The stranger was extremely handsome. European, Ryder surmised, with a pale complexion, dark hair and eyes, and a full, sexy mouth that hinted at all things wicked. His six-foot-plus frame was clothed in an expensive suit, which did little to hide his broad shoulders and narrow waist. The thin shirt he wore pulled against the muscles of his chest, and Ryder could see the hard nipples poking through the silky fabric. Heat blazed in his glittering black eyes.

“I noticed you as soon as you walked in, so beautiful with your golden hair and skin and those bright blue eyes like a summer sky.” He licked his lips, drawing Ryder’s attention once more to their fullness. “I like your mouth too. I watched you drink your beer and wished your lips were wrapped around my cock instead of that bottle. Imagine, a grown man being jealous of a bottle.”

Ryder sucked in his breath. He’d never been so blatantly seduced. In his mind he pictured this man stripped bare, pale body, glowing damp with perspiration, draped over Ryder’s own naked flesh. If he wanted, he knew he could take him, lead him to the back, and have him on his knees within minutes. Ryder imagined sliding his zipper down, pulling out his dick, and stuffing the man’s sexy, full mouth.

Sex with a stranger, in a club. How predictable and fucking depressing.

Finishing his second beer, he reined in his temper. “I don’t like people touching me unless I give them permission first.” He leaned closer, catching a whiff of the man’s cologne, mixed with the faint aroma of tequila and sweat. “And I didn’t give you”--Ryder touched the man’s nose with his fingertip--“permission to touch me.”

A groan burst forward from the man’s mouth as he closed his eyes. Ryder took the opportunity to escape and join his friends on the dance floor. Emily slipped her arm around his waist. “What was that all about, sweetie? He looked hot and totally into you.”

Ryder shrugged and swayed his body to the music as he danced with his friends. “Nothing and nobody. Someone looking for a fuck buddy for the night.” The music changed, and he made a face. “I hate this song. Come on, let’s get another drink.” He grabbed her hand, pushing his way off the dance floor, Connor trailing behind them, grumbling about rude friends.

“I’ve got this round, Connor. What’ll it be?” It was so tight by the bar they overlapped shoulders. Connor, touchy-feely bastard that he was, clasped the back of Ryder’s neck, resting his hand there.

“Get me another beer and Em another Sea Breeze.”

He’d given the bartender his order when he came face-to-face with the man he’d left before. Only this time the sexy mouth was sneering, and his handsome face twisted in an ugly grimace.

“So you let this pretty boy touch you, but you disappear on me?” His anger had Ryder taking a step back, forcing Connor to grasp him around the neck. The man’s eyes flashed. “He came with a woman. I saw. You like it three way, maybe? I can arrange for that.” He stepped in closer, and Ryder knew he had to get out of there.

“I’m out.” He spoke over his shoulder to Connor. “See you tomorrow.” Ryder pushed past the man and hustled out of the club. The cold wind bit through his shirt. Shit, he forgot his jacket inside. He texted Connor to get it from the coat check and take it with him when he left. There was no way in hell he was going back in there. Hailing a cab was simple, and within minutes he was hurtling down Broadway back home. Another disaster. Letting his head fall back on the headrest, he closed his eyes, and as always when he was alone and depressed, his thoughts turned to his former lover, Matt.

Was the man even alive, or had the path he’d chosen--drugs over his love--sent him to an early grave? What a waste of life. Matt had been so vibrant and healthy when they’d first met at the gym. But his easygoing, California-surfer-dude mentality hid a dark side. Drugs had always been prevalent in the music industry, but Matt wasn’t into weed. He was into the hard stuff--heroin. Ryder begged him to get help, to go to rehab, but his boyfriend insisted he didn’t have a problem. Working for an Internet radio station gave him easy access to all the drugs he could ever want.

The last ugly episode, when Ryder came home to find Matt passed out with a needle on the floor, would remain forever scalded in his brain. Never in his life had he been so scared as he was at that moment.

“Matt, Matt.” His earsplitting screams had no effect on his unconscious lover. Waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Ryder thought he’d go mad. He tried slapping Matt, pushing him, anything to rouse him out of his stupor. But Matt remained unmoving.

Three days later in the hospital, still looking like shit, Matt tried to joke it off. “Come on, dude, it wasn’t so bad. I promise I’ll cut back.” He grinned that wide-open smile that before had always melted Ryder’s heart.

Not this time.

“I can’t do it anymore. You have to make the choice.”

Matt’s grin faded. “I don’t know, man. It makes me feel good. And life is about feeling good, you know?”

No, Ryder didn’t know. “I’m sorry, but no. I don’t want any part of it.” He stared at the man he thought he loved. Did he even exist anymore, or had the drugs leeched into him too deep to let go? Was he wrong, forcing him to choose? “Aren’t I enough to make you feel good?”

“If you loved me, you wouldn’t make me choose.” Matt’s face tightened in anger, and his brown eyes darkened. “But it’s no problem, dude. I’ll pick up my stuff and head over to Troy’s. He’s cool with me.”

Pain sliced through Ryder’s chest. He gasped. “Have you been sleeping with him?” Though they always practiced safe sex, he didn’t want to know his lover had cheated on him.

A sigh of relief escaped him when Matt shook his head. “Nah, man. Troy’s not gay. We’re friends.” His face softened. “I’m sorry, Ry. We had fun, though, right?”

Fun. That was all their year together meant to the man? Matt didn’t love him, never had. Ryder turned on his heel and left Matt’s room and the hospital.

He never saw Matt again.

The gruff voice of the cabbie interrupted his thoughts. “Hey, buddy. We’re here.”

Swiping his credit card, he tipped the driver, then took his receipt. He scrambled out of the cab, anxious to get inside and out of the cold night air. By the time he made it to the entrance, he was shivering. Clarence, the doorman, pulled open the door.

“Mr. Daniels, where is your coat? It’s freezing tonight, sir.”

Ryder chuckled. “Clarence, you’re like a mother hen. Connor has it, and I’ll pick it up tomorrow. I trust you had a nice holiday?” He pulled his keys out of his pocket.

The elderly, gray-haired doorman smiled. “Yes, all the grandchildren were there, and they kept my lap busy. I trust you had a nice holiday, sir?”

Ryder nodded and knew his strained smile didn’t fool the man. “Well, good night, Clarence.”

“Shane wanted me to tell you he walked Pearl and fed her tonight. He even stayed and played with her a bit. Good night, sir.”

“When you see him, tell him how much I appreciate it, please.” Ryder took the elevator to the sixteenth floor and was greeted by a whining Pearl. She hated being left alone. Ryder gave her some treats, drank two glasses of water, and after shedding his clothes, fell into bed. Within moments he was asleep, his arm around his dog.


Purchase Rescued at: Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo ~ AllRomance Ebooks

Dragonfly Moments 1st Birthday Blog Tour & Sale! #Giveaway

Thank you to Landra Graf for hosting me on Rise of the Slush blog.

It's the tenth stop of my tour today. Don't forget there are still great prizes to be won. Enter by clicking the rafflecopter link below.

Today, I’m giving some quotes from my book (specifically from Ryan's Point of View) and its reviews.

 Blurb:

Seven years earlier, a young and serious Tessa Calitz wrote a letter to free spirit Ryan le Roux promising her undying love. As time passed she forgot about that letter...but Ryan did not.

When he walks back into her life, Tessa is in a relationship and busy setting up her art gallery in Johannesburg. She has plans to start a family, and the arrival of Ryan throws her for a spin. He is the worst thing that could happen to her dream of stability...or is he?

When everything she clung to starts to crumble, Ryan is right beside her to inspire her to greater things. But her compulsion for having marriage and children on her terms alone pushes Ryan away--until she falls in love with an orphaned baby.

What can Ryan do to make Tessa realize that being with him is what her heart has longed for all along?

Here's a trailer of the book for a foretaste: Dragonfly Moments Book Trailer

Excerpt:

The swish of the door opening wider and the squeak of rubber-soled shoes on the polished floor caught her attention. A customer. Precious gold—so rare and so needed. Turning to face her potential sale, she put on a bright smile…that turned to jelly. The breath froze in her lungs.

“Ryan. Is that you?” she said with a whisper.

The man who had filled her dreams and inspired her whole art career years ago stood before her, taller, broader, tanned, and smiling wide. She had somehow thought he’d disappeared off the globe. Not much had changed. That slight curl to his hair, the dark halo a perfect frame for his broad-jawed, rugged face. Thick, velvet locks, the color of dew-soaked mountains and earth. Piercing eyes, like planets orbiting her heart. The longing of years seemed to converge on this particular moment. She pulled back, frightened by the intensity of her feelings.

“I like your new gallery.”

She shivered and clasped her chiffon top close to her chest. His voice had deepened over the years. He had matured like she had grown up, changed, and moved on.

“Thanks. I’ve been open for three months already.”

Her voice came out like a squeak. Her palms were moist and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him. He truly was the best artwork in the world—the way his body moved—the whole picture of him.

“May I?” He pointed to the art she’d spent days arranging perfectly on the walls.

“Of course.”

He paused before each painting as she held her breath, longing to read his mind on what he thought of them. Then he spent longer before her latest work. She moved up behind him and stared at the misty oil canvas in muted colors of a figure standing on a pier, overlooking a churning sea. The man appeared pensive and peaceful with the grey, choppy waves around him and the dark, billowing clouds above him. She followed the shape of the real man in front of her with her gaze. Who would have thought he would come here? All these years, she’d figured him gone forever. Buried under new dreams and desires. Little did she know her need for him could resurrect just with a brief encounter.

“How come they’re all landscapes?”

She shrugged. “Landscapes are my genre.”

Except for those crazy mother and child paintings stashed away at home that no-one’s ever seen. Days and days of her spare time were taken away painting a picture of an African mother with her newborn twins, a Chinese mother with a toddler in a pram, and the hippie mom with her baby in a pouch attached to her middle. The feeling bubbling inside her while she painted them had been unsurpassed by any other. What would Ryan think of them? It was safer that he didn’t know. Better he believe she was a landscape painter and nothing else.

He moved on to one of the other artists’ works. Did he hate her landscapes? Why did it matter to her so much what he thought of her art? Not like she still loved him. Not after all these years. But he had inspired her art in a way—got the ball rolling because she used to spend hours sketching him while he romanced her best friend and roommate, Annie. That felt like decades ago, yet was only seven years. Ryan had been the highlight of her waking hours then, her shy and aimless period when she worked in a mindless job for little pay, before she realized she could study her passion. Art.

“Where are your sketches?” he asked.

She frowned. “They’re at home. I stopped sketching my second year in college because that’s when I developed my best painting style. My sketches didn’t get me top marks.”

“But they’re so realistic.”

“You never looked at them.”

“I’ve studied the one. Constantly.”

She turned away, her face hot and the hairs rising on her arms in a wash of tingles. Had he come into the gallery on purpose? She strode to her desk, reaching it in a moment, relishing the distance between them. If Ryan could evoke such feelings in her now when she was with another man, would she ever be free from his grip? The heat of the room suffocated her, and she tried to take in several breaths. If only she had the power to block out the effect he had on her. So, he’d been thinking of the letter she sent him. The same one that disclosed her heart’s feelings toward him. Too late to come here now and talk about it. Stir up feelings she had no right feeling anymore. And why all the questions about her art? As if he really cared. Ryan didn’t care. If he did, he’d have come back to her years ago.

Hero Point of View Quotes from Dragonfly Moments:

Now he’d found her, and she didn’t love him anymore. She’d moved on. The Tess in the letter wasn’t real. The Tess he’d loved years ago had changed, grown up, and her heart had moved away.

Ryan pulled off his bandana, threw it into his car, and ran up the pathway to Tess’s home. His heart pounded with the adrenaline rush of getting there so fast. For so many years, he’d wondered how she was doing. Not on the outside only, but deep inside. She was a sensitive soul behind the independent façade she tried to erect. Mark had hurt her, he could tell. The guy didn’t deserve her.

“Listen, I’m not going to try to win your heart because I can see you don’t want that. We can still be friends though, like old times, right?”

She shrugged. “I suppose.”

He pulled her close for a hug, and then knew he couldn’t possibly just be friends with Tess. Her form against his body brought the male urge to full alert. Snagging a breath, he pulled away.

How could he give up on her already? Although she wasn’t the same innocent girl he remembered from all those years back, she still was special to him. They’d been friends, and he cared for her. He didn’t like to see her hurting. And she was hurting bad. More than she realized.

Quotes from Reviews:

“His words serenaded her soul” Who wouldn't fall for a hero like that? Thanks for a lovely read. Amazon Review

What I liked about this story is that it isn’t predictable - it doesn't follow a typical romance novel template, so there are some nice surprises along the way. Amazon Review

Ms Bosman once again provided her readers with an emotional read, one that will stay with the reader for quite some time after finishing the last sentence. Amazon Review

This book is surely one among the best romance novels that I've ever read. Goodreads Review

Buy Links:

Decadent Publishing

Amazon

Amazon UK

Barnes and Noble

All Romance Ebooks

Smashwords

Where to find me online:

Website and Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

YouTube

If you click on the Rafflecopter link below, you could either win the grand prize of a $15 Amazon voucher or one of 5 dragonfly swag bags. I've made beautiful beaded necklaces in a variety of colours and designs - one for each bag.

Here's a pic of one of them:

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Love dogs? This might be up your alley! * Update*

Everyone who follows me on Twitter, Facebook, or even this blog knows that I'm not good at promoting my own stuff. I find it challenging because I don't want to over saturate people with ad like posts, and constantly attempt to drive attention to my activities outside of the blog. That being said, when I do post something about my outside-this-blog activities that means it's near and dear to my heart.
Without further ado, I would like to announce the upcoming:

Pawsibilities ‘I <3 Rescue Dogs’ Blog Tour
*Update*- Awesome author and fellow blogger Cate has just offered up a great giveaway for those on the fence about participating. If you leave a comment on her post about the tour here and sign up for participation (even just one week) then you get entered into a drawing for a $25 GC from Amazon. The drawing will be done on Feb. 20th our blog tour launch date*

Our rescue blog ‘Small Town Rescue’ is hosting an 8-week blog tour all about rescue dogs and pets, and the owners who love them. The tour starts Monday, February 20th, 2012, and is a great chance to show your love for the animals that have touched your heart or changed your life. Now how do you get involved? Easy, you sign up! Below you'll find info on how to sign your blog up to participate.

What does participating mean?

It means you’re committing to posting 1 blog post a week, based on that particular week’s theme. Anyone can be involved: rescue, author, chef, mom, or random blogger. You can choose the day you would like to make your theme post on your blog. Just let us know which day that is so we can help promote your involvement. With the post, if you’d like hold a giveaway for commenters you can. All we ask is that with each post you add a small blurb about our tour/rescue and a link back to our blog. There’s no other catch; we just want to hear your stories and information, and spread our stories and information as well.

What are the Themes?

Week 1 (2/20-2/26) - Favorite animal organization/rescue

Week 2 (2/27-3/4) - Favorite pet story (Tell us about your favorite pet! Doesn’t have to be a dog)

Week 3 (3/5-3/11) - Favorite animal-related book, movie, song, etc.

Week 4 (3/12-3/18) - What I know about dog rescues organizations?

Week 5 (3/19-3/25) - The gorgeous, the active, and the unique. Tell us your favorite dog breed.

Week 6 (3/26-4/1) - Favorite Dog/Pet Stores in your area.

Week 7 (4/2-4/8) - Favorite dog parks and dog-friendly attractions in your area.

Week 8 (4/9-4/15) - If I had a dream… What would you do for rescue dogs if you could?

What if I can’t blog, but still want to be involved?

-Mention and promote our tour on your blog/tweet stream/ facebook wall over the course of the tour.

-Send us an item to give away on one of our themed posts; we will link back to your blog/website and promote information about you in return.

If interested:

-Send an email to landra.graf7@gmail.com

-Include your info: link to blog, website, email, and any other information you’d like me to have.

-Tell me which weeks you would like to participate in (you’re not required to participate in all of them), and which day of the week you’re planning on posting.

-If you can’t participate by blogging, let me know how you would like to assist.

P.S. If you visit the rescue blog, there's not a ton of content up yet. We're really just getting started! :)