INSIDE with ANJEL, Author of CROSS MY HEART

An author always has to be at the ready to pitch her story and make a reader HAVE to buy the book - how would you pitch CROSS MY HEART to us if you only had 50 words to do so?
Cross My Heart will take you on a rollercoaster ride through the up’s and down’s of love. Follow David and Kia through their journey into each other's arms. Their story will make you laugh, turn up the heat, and keep you craving for more.


Every story has a backstory, that event or experience that sparked a story to life...what is the backstory of CROSS MY HEART?
Cross My Heart actually started out as another story called “The Key”. I had written one page and then it just sat in the files on my computer for a few months. I got the writing itch one day and opened it back up. Then the characters basically led me through the story. It was a pretty easy write.

Order YOUR copy of CROSS MY HEART today by clicking the cover!

What are three of your guilty pleasures?
Most recently I’ve been into sappy movies, the ones that make you cry, LOL. “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” and “Spanglish” have me bawling like a baby every time. I also love music and dancing so either I’ll turn up the stereo and jam in front of the mirror singing and dancing to some reggae or I’ll read while I listen to Billie Holiday.


At the end of the day, what do you hope the reader will get from reading CROSS MY HEART?
I’m a hopeless romantic, so I guess the “love can conquer all” idea and life’s too short to be bitter. Also, no matter what happens in a relationship, stay true to yourself. It’s so easy to get caught up and “settle”, but eventually you have to speak up and do what’s right for you and your happiness.


What is the ideal space for you to write?
Anywhere that I’m comfortable. Although I’m usually sitting at a computer desk, I’m not opposed to grabbing a notebook and sitting by myself on the couch while I write.


CROSS MY HEART is published by Pilot Publishing; was PP your first move for the novel, or did you pursue other avenues with the book? Talk to us a bit about your journey to publication and how you ultimately became connected with Pilot Publishing.
Honestly when I wrote Cross My Heart, I wasn’t intending on getting it published at all. I just wrote it for fun, but then everyone kept telling me that they loved the story. One day, I was talking to someone on MySpace who told me about this self-publishing called site Lulu.com. I posted my story there and got some good responses. Leila Jefferson has a novel called “Survivin’ Tha Game” on that site and the synopsis for her novel interested me so I sent her an email asking if we could switch stories. Unbeknownst to me, she was already involved with Pilot and loved my story so she sent my novel to them. And the rest as they say is history, LOL.


Do you have a standard process to your writing? Are you an outliner or a jump-right-in writer?
No, I don’t have a real process. I usually just jump right in after some brainstorming and let the characters of the story lead me.


Do you ever listen to music when you write? If so, what songs were on your CROSS MY HEART "soundtrack"?
Do I listen to music when I write? ALL THE TIME! LOL Slow jams help me concentrate and I can get lost in my own world. I listen to anything written or sung by Alicia Keys, so that includes both of her albums, as well as songs sung by Mario, Christina Aguilera, and Keyshia Cole. I also love to hear Musiq Soulchild, India Arie, and Floetry while I write.


What's your favorite thing about CROSS MY HEART?
My favorite thing about this novel would be that with the way I wrote the story, the reader is actually taken on a journey and grows with the characters.


What three adjectives best describe CROSS MY HEART?
Cross My Heart is witty, real, and heart-warming.


What three adjectives best describe YOU?
I’d like to think that I’m funny, LOL. I’m generous and nonchalant.


How do you spend your time when you're not writing?
I love, love, love to read any and everything. I never stick to one particular genre. I love music. I’ve been singing since I could talk. I also love watching basketball, football, and boxing.


As a published author, what advice might you offer to writers hoping to get published?
Read everything you can get your hands on. Knowledge is definitely power, and I believe you have to read to know what it takes to write a good story. I would also tell them to follow their dreams no matter what anyone says.


If there were a soundtrack to your life, what would be THREE MUST-HAVE TRACKS on that disc?
There would be more than three songs on my soundtrack, but since I have to pick, “It’s Whatever” by Aaliyah because I’m extremely laid back. Also, “Around the Way Girl” by LL Cool J. And “Time” by Musiq because I truly believe that everything has its time, place, and reason.


What are you currently working on?
Well, there were so many requests for a sequel to Cross My Heart that I actually started writing it. This novel will start a few months after where the first novel left off. And there are a few other projects and ideas that I’m working on as well.

Wanna learn MORE about Anjel and what's going on in her literary world? Then check her out on MYSPACE!

In the Know with Author Leila Jefferson

Every writer needs to have a quick answer to the question, "So, what's your story about?" In 50 words or less, makes us salivate over your novel, HE'S A KEEPER!
He’s A Keeper is about an everyday couple living a not so everyday life. This novel is full of sex, drugs, lies, love, and unpredictable outcomes. It gives you a glimpse of what an everyday couple could be possible of behind closed doors.


What is the initial spark that began your journey to writing HE'S A KEEPER?
The initial spark came from a real life situation of domestic violence along with the thought of everything ain’t what it seems. I added a few what if’s, and He’s A Keeper was born.



Click on the cover to purchase YOUR copy of HE'S A KEEPER today!

What are three of your guilty pleasures?
Shoe shopping, blaring my radio loudly, and oversleeping on weekends


WORD ASSOCIATION: What do you immediately think about when you read the following words:
HE'S A KEEPER: definitely not, lol
WRITING: can’t see myself never doing it
LOVE: something precious and often taken for granted
AUTHOR: me, lol
RELATIONSHIPS: hard work


What do you hope the reader will get from reading HE'S A KEEPER?
I’m a fiction writer, so I don’t think I have ‘messages’ in my writing, but overall, I’d want people to see how the choices you make can change your whole life. I’d want them to see communication in a relationship is a main key along with trust. No matter what happened before, no woman deserves to be mentally and physically abused.


What is the ideal space for you to write?
I’m usually writing late night after the kids are in bed. I’m curled up on my couch with my media player going and my fingers working their magic.


I know that HE'S A KEEPER is published by Pilot Publishing; it's also your third novel. Talk to us a bit about your journey to publication and how you ultimately became connected with Pilot Publishing.
I’ve always been a writer. I started with poetry and short stories, then my sisters and a couple friends kept telling me I should write a book because the West Coast isn’t represented enough in books. I began writing for fun, and when I finished the first one, I immediately had another story in mind. I sat on both of those novels for about 4 years, and as I was working on He’s A Keeper, an online friend told me about lulu.com. I thought it would be cool to see my words in actual book form, so I went through them. I didn’t push the first novel at all, and the second one, I was a little more confident with allowing others to read my work. The people at Pilot was browsing through lulu.com, looking at excerpts of books, and they came across mine, contacted me, and it went from there.


Do you have a standard process to your writing? Are you an outliner or a jump-right-in writer?
An idea will come to my head and I will spin a few scenarios around, think of the main characters, and begin writing. After I get the first couple of chapters done, I know where I’m trying to go and the story flows better.


What's your favorite thing about HE'S A KEEPER?
It’s real life. There are things they [characters] do that everyone does in everyday life, but of course they have ‘extras’ that others aren’t exposed to, but ultimately, I think people would be able to relate to the characters and situations in life.


What three adjectives best describe HE'S A KEEPER?
Wild, fast paced, freaky


What three adjectives best describe YOU?
Unpredictable, laid back, friendly


How do you spend your time when you're not writing?
I have a day job, so I’m working or being a mother, lol


As a published author, what advice might you offer to writers hoping to get published?
Never give up on your dreams and always keep that pen moving! You always have to hone your craft, and writing makes you a better writer. I’d say study the publishing industry so that you already know what you’re walking into before you make that first step. All publishers don’t have the writer’s best interest at heart, and I see a lot of writers upset with their company and stuck in a bad situation.


If there were a soundtrack to your life, what would be THREE MUST-HAVE TRACKS on that disc?
My life- Mary J
Happy- Mary J
Survivor- Destiny’s Child


What are you currently working on?
I’ve just finished my next novel for Pilot which is entitled Every Man’s Dream. My titles are usually the opposite of what they say, lol, so you know this dream turns into a nightmare. It’s basically about these two women that go out to have fun one night, and they meet a guy and bring him home. They instantly are all drawn to each other and become involved in this threesome relationship. It sounds good to all of them at first, but when reality sets in of their situation, things begin to get sticky and they all feel like they are in the twilight zone at times.

Want to learn MORE about author Leila Jefferson? Then head to Leila's WEBSITE now!

You Oughta Know: Author Patricia Pickett

QUICK, you have 50 words - pitch us your debut novel, HEARTS NEVER LIE, and make us want to race out and buy it!

Hearts Never Lie is a story about winning in life especially in love and in happiness. It’s a story about growing up after making bad choices then learning from them by deciding that life is too short. It’s about family and loyalty and everything else that makes us human.

Every story has a backstory, that event or experience that sparked a story to life...what is the backstory of HEARTS NEVER LIE?

I wanted to show how strong first crushes can be. I never stopped loving my first love, and I finally got him and that’s kind of what inspired this story.

Order your copy of HEARTS NEVER LIE by clicking on the COVER!

What are three of your guilty pleasures?

Eating at Fatburger, having a pedicure, and always wearing cute shoes.

At the end of the day, what do you hope the reader will get from reading HEARTS NEVER LIE?

Hope. I think that everyone who reads my book should come out of the story believing there is hope.

HEARTS NEVER LIE is not your first foray into publishing. I learned that you published a book of poetry entitled GREEN EYES OPEN after a close call with death. Did any of the themes or feelings that were captured in your poetry collection reveal themselves again in your novel?

No, I was saving them for the book based on my story. lol

What is the ideal space for you to write?

I can write almost anywhere, but I tend to flow the best while I’m on my lunch at work. Shhhh, don’t tell no one.

I know that HEARTS NEVER LIE is published by Pilot Publishing; was PP your first move for the novel, or did you pursue other avenues with the book?

Hearts Never Lie was titled Life’s a Bitch originally and to be honest it needed a lot of work and Pilot was the one who took the time to believe in me and the story of Mariposa. I am very thankful for them.

Talk to us a bit about your journey to publication and how you ultimately became connected with Pilot Publishing.

After self publishing Green Eyes Open, I looked forward to the day that I could finally put out one of my stories but wasn’t sure what was next until me and the owner of Pilot began speaking (I was a fan of his work). He eventually approached me about my book, and the rest is history. hehe.

Do you have a standard process to your writing? Are you an outliner or a jump-right-in writer?

I am a jump right in writer. I have to just go from the first sentence and keep going although I do tend to find inspiration in going back to edit. I don’t know why but once a re-read, I end up getting more ideas.

Do you ever listen to music when you write? If so, what songs were on your HEARTS NEVER LIE "soundtrack"?

Oooh, there are so many. Coffee’s theme song was by Brotha Lynch, and yes, SVW “Weak in the Knees,” “Just Kickin' It” by Escape, and I most definitely thought I heard Janet Jackson’s “Anytime, Anyplace” whenever Caesar and Mariposa were together. I usually write to Tupac. He brings out so much inspiration in me.

What's your favorite thing about HEARTS NEVER LIE?

Abuelo’s character because he was so much like my real grandfather only my Grandpa was Dominican not Puerto Rican.

What three adjectives best describe HEARTS NEVER LIE?

Sexy, Emotional, Poetic.

How do you spend your time when you're not writing?

I love reading and spending time with my kids. I also love cooking and am always looking for good recipes.

As a published author, what advice might you offer to writers hoping to get published?

Don’t give up. It’ll all be worth it when you are holding your novel in your hands. Also when you are blocked, make sure you write something whether it’s a blog, journal, short story, or a poem. If you keep writing, you can become more seasoned.

Dream-on: The movie adaptation of HEARTS NEVER LIE is greenlighted! Who would play the main characters, Mariposa Sota and Caesar Simpson?

I think maybe Christina Milian for Mariposa, but I’d have to scour the country to find the perfect Caesar though.

If there were a soundtrack to your life, what would be THREE MUST-HAVE TRACKS on that disc?

Mary J’s “My Life”, Tupac’s “Hail Mary”, and right now I’m really digging Shareefa, so I’ll say her song “They Don’t Know Me.”

What are you currently working on?

Right now, I am working on two different novels; one is based loosely on my life, and the other is a fictional love story entitled “Another Man’s Treasure.”

Wanna learn more about Patricia and HEARTS DON'T LIE? Check them both out at Patricia's MySpace page!

Got a Crazy Breakup or Wedding Story? Share with Us!

We know you got 'em - stories about breakups and weddings that are so outrageous, so completely off the wall that you refuse to tell people because you know that NO ONE would believe you. Well, ChickLitGurrl and SisterDivas WILL believe you, and not only that, we are going to pick the two craziest stories and give the winners of said stories an autograph copy of Brenda Janowitz's hilarious debut novel, SCOT ON THE ROCKS (ChickLitGurrl's review of SOTR is below).

We will be accepting stories until Friday, September 21, 2007, and we will be announcing our winners and posting their stories (if they give us the okay) on Friday, September 28, 2007!

Submit all stories to us at sdb6812@hotmail.com with the subject CRAZIEST BREAKUP (or WEDDING) STORY!

Release the insanity of your stories, and submit TODAY!

ChickLitGurrl's Review of SCOT ON THE ROCKS - 4.5 out of 5 Rating

I'm a lover of titles, and when I heard of SCOT ON THE ROCKS, the debut novel by Brenda Janowitz, I immediately thought, "Witty, cool title - maybe the book's as witty and cool as it." It was.

The novel follows Manhattan attorney Brooke Miller, a woman who finds her great life gone to pot when her ex-boyfriend announces his engagement to the latest Hollywood IT girl. That in and of itself wouldn't bother her...well, too much, considering she has a hunky, sexy Scottish boyfriend she plans to take to the wedding. But wouldn't you know it, the Scottish hunk breaks up with her, leaving her dateless for her ex's wedding. Unwilling to forgo attending the wedding, zany Brooke concocts a plan to find a replacement date for the wedding and to get the love of her life. With a woman willing to a) attend her ex's wedding and b) instead of telling the truth, find a fake Scottish boyfriend, you know that craziness will ensue in Brooke's journey to happiness.

SCOT ON THE ROCKS was a breezy, funny romp of a story. Our storyteller, Brooke, has a very distinct voice, which I really liked. She had shortcomings - lots of them, but she acknowledged them, made fun of them, encouraged others to do so, too. As I listened to her tale of woe and of triumphant, I felt I was right alongside her. Author Brenda Janowitz does a great job with infusing nice characters, minor and major, and scenes that made me smile and say, I can totally see that, such as when Brooke and Jack are playing with the Magic 8-Ball (you'll have to get the book yourself to know what I mean!). Overall, SCOT ON THE ROCKS is a book that I would definitely recommend; it's a book that fits really well in today's contemporary women's fiction climate. I'm impressed with Janowitz's skills as a writer, especially with this being her first book. I look forward to what she serves us next.

Enter Another World with Author TL Schaefer

You have 50 words - or less - to make us fall in love with THE SAINTS OF MIDLAND: what are they?
Amanda Sims wants a fresh start…one with purpose. Josh Kent needs redemption. Thrown together on an alternate plane of existence, they never expect to discover their deepest desires in each other, nor the peril their travels through another realm will present.


On your site, you mention that Alicia Key's Songs in A Minor, Annie Lennox's Diva, Sarah McLachlan's Afterglow and Mirrorball, Sade's Lover's Rock, and ANYTHING by Bonnie Raitt were your musical muses for this novel. I can DEFINITELY see that as this book is very pro-woman, women's empowerment, and on and on. Can you talk to us specifically about a particular song or album and how it influenced you and the writing of the book directly?
For Saints, Mirrorball was probably the most influential because McLachlan’s voice is so achingly poignant it breaks my heart, and the lyrics quite simply kick ass. For Amanda’s character, Building a Mystery and Fear were the two that resonated the deepest.

I chose girl power when it came to my listening pleasure because this was the first first-person book I’d written, and music was a fabulous way for me to get in touch with Amanda…her foibles, her hidden power, what was really deep in her heart, even if she couldn’t acknowledge it for fear of destroying herself.

What are three of your guilty pleasures?
You’re totally going to laugh, but high-school dramas (i.e., Can’t Buy Me Love, She’s All That, Sixteen Candles, The New Guy, etc), dark chocolate, and Age of Empires (ancient computer game).


On your site, you state that you wrote THE SAINTS OF MIDLAND before you started on your erotic works - so was THE SAINTS OF MIDLAND an older novel that you picked up and decided to work on?
Actually, I finished Saints quite a while ago, and started shopping it out. It won a contest, came in second in another, then got nibbles from New York publishers, but in the end, it was rejected as “hard to shelve” because it’s not really an urban fantasy, not really a straight fantasy, and not really a romance…it’s a bundle of all three. Soooo, long story short, I took it to my first e-house of choice for mainstream work, Samhain Publishing, and it was accepted shortly thereafter.


THE SAINTS OF MIDLAND is a very complex novel - we are in a different realm, universe, and I can only assume you spent a great deal of time researching and developing the world to which your characters would live. How long did it take you to write this novel, to research it, to create the universe of Midland?
Most of my “big” books take about a year to write, including getting shredded by my critique partners. Saints took about eleven months, and many tweaks of both Amanda & Josh’s characters. I always have a “surprise guest” character in every book I write, someone who wasn’t in my head when I started, but ends up being integral to the plot. For Saints, it was Gabriel…so much so that he’ll have his own book in the semi-near future. Then again, thinking about it, Rick was pretty damned cool, too, and I NEVER imagined the role he would really play.

When it comes to research, I’d already done a ton of background work on Wicca for my first two TL Schaefer books, so that flowed really well (or at least my Wiccan advisors tell me). Because of that, I was free to really concentrate on creating the world, and that’s what a bunch of reviewers have commented on, so apparently I did it right!


What is the ideal space for you to write?
I can write almost anywhere, but right now my fave place is…get this…in my truck at lunchtime, smoking a cigar, and listening to my alternative music station. I take an old-fashioned tablet and pen and just kind of chill for an hour. Because there’s no real outside input, and I can’t get online *g*, it’s a great productive time for me…I can usually get at least 800-1000 words written in that timeframe, which is my daily goal, so everything else is gravy.

Now that football season is coming up, I’ll plug in my iPod and get some serious writing done now that Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday are spoken for!
LOL.


Talk to us a bit about your journey to publication - when did you decide writing was what you wanted to do, when did you begin to take it seriously, how it felt to go through the publishing process and to become a PUBLISHED author.
I guess I’ve always written…starting with truly awful poetry and semi-intelligent letters to the editor. I wrote my first book when I was sixteen—an atrocious Harlequin Presents rip-off. That “book” (and I *really* hesitate to call it that) is in a hiding place of shame right now. My hubby keeps teasing that he’s going to “out” me after I’m rich and famous. Anyway, I put down the pen for a good long while (over 15 years) while I bounced along with life. When my husband and I returned from our overseas assignment, a story idea literally struck out of the blue, and I was consumed with writing it down. I was lucky enough to have that book (The Summerland) published in 2000, and have been working ever since, albeit part-time (Uncle Sam pays waaaaay to well for me to walk away easily). I absolutely adore Atlantic Bridge/Liquid Silver, because they gave me my start and have been such a joy to work with. I recently tried out Samhain with Saints, and have been really happy with all of the staffers and the process in general.

Being “published” has so many connotations with different people. To everyone I meet outside the publishing arena, they’re just thrilled that I have written books they can buy--they don’t really care about the format. Sometimes it seems like those of us within the publishing community are our own worst enemies when it comes to stratifying success based upon platform. That may sound like a bit of sour grapes, but in reality it’s not. I know of many epubbed authors who make more than series and even midlist writers and are happier writing “outside the box”. I guess my point (and really, I was coming to it *g*) is that as long as you’re happy doing what you’re doing, who’s to judge?


Do you have a standard process to your writing? Are you an outliner or a jump-right-in writer?
I’m a COMPLETE pantser! The two books I’ve tried to plot out are sitting on my hard drive right now, probably waiting for me to forget all of the “bones” work I did on them and to get on with the creative process *g*. I traditionally get a picture in my head, be it of a person, place or situation, and sit down to write out a quick blurb. If the story is ready to be told, that blurb will quickly become more as I flesh out the idea. If not, then it percolates in my head until I’m ready to rock.


What are your favorite music genres/artists?
I tend to vary wildly in my musical taste. Right now, because I’m working on something grittier, I tend to listen to that type of music…think Disturbed, Linkin Park and Breaking Benjamin. For a book that was pubbed earlier this year, it was all about the eighties, so I went out and grabbed things like REM, Concrete Blonde and the Violent Femmes. When I wrote my second book, it was all country because that was what the character liked...I still can’t hear Clint Black without thinking of Doug. To say my music collection is a bit eclectic is putting it mildly.


What's your favorite thing about THE SAINTS OF MIDLAND?
When it’s all said and done, I love the world I’d created. The plan is to head back in Angels of Retribution, but in a way no one would ever expect *g*.


What three adjectives best describe THE SAINTS OF MIDLAND?
Magical, epic, romantic


How do you spend your time when you're not writing?
A couple of ways…first, I have a day job working as a risk/patient safety manager for an Air Force clinic. I’m also the editorial director for Liquid Silver Books, and even though I don’t edit directly any more, it can take a good chunk of time (at least to make things run to my satisfaction). Lastly, I’m a HUGE reader. I traditionally have at least 80-100 books either on my e-reader or in my TBR pile, and I turn to them to avoid burnout and to see where the industry is headed. I adore losing myself in another world, and I’m never happier than when I re-read something I wrote myself and say “damn, that’s pretty good!”


As a published author, what advice might you offer to writers hoping to get published?
Keep at it! Whether your dream is to be published by a traditional NY house or by the more boundary-pushing e-publishers, keep honing your craft. Your first book might not be the “one”, but practice makes perfect! As a side tidbit…don’t let anyone change your voice. Craft and voice are two completely different beasts…the structure of how you put something together is negotiable, but the distinct way you tell a story is what is unique to you. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is YOUR “brand”.


Dream-on: The movie adaptation of THE SAINTS OF MIDLAND is greenlighted! Who would play the main characters, Amanda Sims and Josh Kent?
See, I’m a total geek because I’m one of those authors who goes through magazines and pulls out the pics of what my characters would look like so I can visualize it more fully. In my oh-so-happy world, it would be Julia Stiles as Amanda and Jake Gyllenhaal as Josh. Yeah, both of them look like the characters in my head, but they also have that “something” that just makes them click for me.


If there were a soundtrack to your life, what would be THREE MUST-HAVE TRACKS on that disc?
Interstate Love Song, Stone Temple Pilots
Selling the Drama, Live
Walkin’ After Midnight, Patsy Cline


What are you currently working on?
I’m about halfway through my third RuneQuest novella (as Keira Ramsay), Sea of Dreams, and I’m beginning to ponder the follow-up to the “big” book I just finished (View to a Kill) that I’m going to begin shopping out soon. I always put excerpts of my works in progress up on the website, so swing on by and let me know what you think!

To learn more about TL and her novels, check her out at her WEBSITE!!!