Welcome Jaye Garland, author of “The 25th Hour”

Jaye GarlandI’m pleased to welcome my friend, author Jaye Garland, as my guest today. Jaye’s going to give away a free ebook to one lucky commenter – the winner will be announced on Monday, September 9. Welcome, Jaye! Please tell us a little about your story, The 25th Hour.The 25th Hour

The impossible can be quite simple, actually. Just imagine…. With one stroke of her architect’s eraser, an heiress is chased through time by her father’s murderer and lands in the arms of a 19th century Wyoming rancher. The enduring lovers must find the killer before another life is taken—and the rift in time closes, separating them, forever.

What a terrific read, Jaye! Now, let’s talk about you. What earns a book a place on your keeper shelf, real or virtual?

Memorable characters, setting, and/or a plot that lives on in my mind days, sometimes months and years, after I’ve read the last page. Yes, I have quite a few of those on my keeper shelves and re-read them many times. Gone With The Wind is a great example. I’ve read that book at least six times.

I have quite a few keeper books…I loved the old “gothics” of Barbara Michaels, and Jude Devereaux, Julie Garwood, Amanda Quick, and Teresa Medeiros all have a special place on my shelves.

If you could bring a fictional hero to life, which one would it be? Heathcliff? Mr. Darcy? Mr. Rochester? Tarzan? Captain Mal? One of your own heroes?

Easy answer is Colonel William F. Cody. Yeah baby, I’m talking about Buffalo Bill.  While he’s not the hero of my debut novel, THE 25th HOUR, he does make several appearances in that story. I’d love to hear his first-hand accounts of how things really happened back in the late 19th century.

Oh, that would be fascinating…if you ever pull it off, make sure to invite me, too! I’d love to chat!

If you could live during any era in time, when would that be? Why?

Another easy answer. I’d have to pick 1877 which is the time frame of THE 25th HOUR. That way I could interview several of my characters—because they’re all real, right? No? Okay, in all seriousness, I’ve used real-life people and events in that story and they will be making appearances in my next book which is in the final drafting stage. Along with Buffalo Bill, there are a few other real people in this story, too. I’m wondering how many readers will pick up on that—aside from Buffalo Bill.

I love that era, too…essentially the years between the Civil War and the Gilded Age are my favorites for reading and writing…so many exciting changes and adventurous people.
What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

Cat-napping on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I think I gave up sleep when I became a writer. Just not enough time in the day for everything. Oh, and chocolate, of course. Good chocolate.

Chocolate is one of my food groups!

What’s one thing about you that would surprise readers?

I absolutely hate to try on clothes and spend the money to get them, aka: shopping. Please don’t take my Girl Card away, because other than that one flaw, I’m all girly-girl.

Which would you rather possess: flying monkeys or Toto?

You know that meme drifting through Facebook, the one where you only see the shoes and red & white stockinged legs of the Wicked Witch of the West, and she’s saying it’s a good day when you don’t have to release the flying monkeys? Yeah, that would be me.

I’m a flying monkeys gal, too! They’d be so handy to have around the house.

What’s your all-time favorite movie? Why?

I can’t pick just one because I watch these over and over, if nothing else to hear their incredibly fabulous sound tracks:  Quigley Down Under, Hunt for Red October, and Medicine Man. Eye candy along with great plots and sound tracks. Triple win!

Great choices…I’d have to add Raiders of the Lost Ark to that list…gotta have me some Indiana Jones.

Do you follow sports? Favorite teams?

I love football and live in Houston, Texas. “GO Texans!”

Jaye, I love football, too. I’m Steelers by marriage…originally a Virginia gal (Redskins), but marriage to a guy from Pittsburgh means you wear a lot of black and gold.

Thanks so much for stopping by and getting to know a little bit about Jaye. Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win “The 25th Hour”. Or order if for wonderful weekend reading – Here’s the link: http://tinyurl.com/oxjfa7t

A little about Jaye:

Born and raised on the Great Plains, Jaye Garland thrives on ‘what-if’ scenarios by turning ordinary ranch life events into novels steeped in adventure on the American West. Her award winning first novel, THE 25th HOUR, is now available as an eBook on Amazon.com.

Welcome Guest Author Gina Danna

Her Eternal RogueIt’s my pleasure to welcome author Gina Danna to the blog today. She’s going to tell us a little about her latest release, Her Eternal Rogue, a scorching paranormal romance. Gina’s graciously offering an e-book to one lucky commenter. Be sure to leave your comment by Saturday, July 6. The winner will be announced by Monday, July 8.

Welcome, Gina. Please tell us about Her Eternal Rogue.

Alexander Barrington flees his tyrannical uncle for the open seas where he becomes a ruthless pirate who turns vampire.

Captured and sentence to hang, a fate he must avoid to keep his vampire self hidden, a reprieve comes if he rescues Lady Lavinia Sinclair from the French pirates and returns her to her fiancé in England.

In this Vampire Diaries meets Pirates of the Caribbean, Alexander falls for the woman who makes him feel human and alive, but can he really have her without exposing what he is – a thief, the undead? The damned?  Refusing to taint her innocence any further, he erases her memory of him and vanishes into the night but can he really exist without her?

Wow, that is going to be a terrific read. Now, tell us some things about your future releases, Gina.

Love my debut – Her Eternal Rogue (Regency w/ paranormal twist) but also excited about my release next April – Love & Vengeance (Ancient Rome – gladiators!) & next June – The Wicked Bargain (Regency – about a male courtesan).

Who would you cast to play your hero and heroine in an adaptation of your story?

Hard to answer – got the heroes figured out. For Her Eternal Rogue, Alexander was fashioned after Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvadore – Vampire Diaries) & my gladiator in Love & Vengeance was Channing Tatum <sweet!>

If you could live during any era in time, when would that be? Why?

Probably America, 1861 & probably in Deep South – my mother’s family was from the South, Mississippi at that time. Why? I’m very drawn to the American Civil War. It changed this nation – I teach college US History & the War is the focal point to my classes – how settling in the US pushed us towards this calamity and how the after-effects are still around even today in 2013.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Rome. I’m ½ Italian (Sicilian actually) My family migrated from Northern Italy down to Palermo, Sicily before my grandfather came to the US.

What’s your all-time favorite movie? Why?

Tough Question – I have a lot, but probably Gladiator. It is a fascinating time in history, the Roman Empire.

Do you follow sports? Favorite teams?

Fave is a tie: Horseracing (love the Triple Crown & the Breeder’s Cup – wanted to be a jockey) & Baseball – ST. LOUIS CARDINALS!!!!!!!!! (Hey, I live in Cardinal-Nation!)

Thanks for stopping by, Gina. I’m sure one lucky reader will be thrilled to win a copy of Her Eternal Rogue.

Her Eternal Rogue is available from Amazonhttp://bit.ly/HerEternalRogue

You can check out Gina’s web page at: http://ginadanna.com