Saturday, November 9, 2013

Talking with author June Kramin and a Giveaway

Please give a warm welcome to author June Kramin who stopped to chat with me recently.


To get us started can you tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?

Thanks for having me again, Dawn! Your cabana boys are always the best!

I’ve had quite a time the past few months with selling our house  and moving, so some things are backed up a bit.  I’ve learned I’m better at Tetris than I ever dreamed! We downsized by almost half, so it’s been a trick getting settled in the new digs.   

As far as the question of what I’m working on, originally, book 1 of what I plan on making a series was going to be out next month. I’ve decided to bump that back to spring. I was working on the sequel before we packed up – I’m dying to dig back in and see where I left Hailey and Parker hanging! I Got Your Back, Hailey is the title of the 1st book.

Next month I have a new release, The Green Flash at Sunset, but it doesn’t really fall under romance. There is a romantic element for story flow, but the focus was a hard one for me to deal with. Like a lot of my books, some of my past made its way into the pages. It’s a story I needed to do for me, for closure. Dealing (poorly) with a friend’s murder makes things even harder on Veronica as she tries to pull herself together after a horrible breakup.  It’s set where I grew up – on Maui.

If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?

I always ask what kind of read they like before I suggest anything. If you love a tearjerker, Come and Talk to Me is for you. It’s the one I’ve received the most e-mails & facebook messages over. That one takes you through more emotions then you will be prepared for. My “SWAG” always included a pocket tissue. If a little more suspense is your thing, I always suggest Double Mocha, Heavy on Your Phone Number.  It’s so hard to pick a favorite dude but I really, really loved Bix.

Where do you find the inspirations for your stories?

Honestly, they come from everywhere. I made myself the “Be careful or you’ll end up in my novel” shirt because it couldn’t be more true. The chiropractor in Dustin Time came about because I loved to pick on mine at the time. He was a ton of fun so I “abused” him & teased he was my book character. I watched a pregnant woman “waddle” down the street & dedicated a chapter to my pregnant MC being pissed at seeing herself waddle in a store window. In one book yet to be released, everything that happened that week made its way in my WIP from my son’s mother-in-law fostering a dog to my sister-in-law setting off the smoke detector. Friends of writers beware! We’re watching you! LOL



When you begin your stories, do you go with the flow, or go with an outline?

I have never outlined. I tend to turn the reins over to my characters. We get along best that way.

Is it hard coming up with titles or characters names?

The title is almost always the last thing for me. For me things usually go in the flow of easiest to hardest. Story, synopsis, back cover blurb, tag line, title. Somewhere in trying to shorten the details up, the title comes to me. As far as characters, I always keep an ear out for a great name to use. Bix in Double Mocha was one of those that I heard & knew I had to use it in a book. I’ve started keeping a going list of names. The stories tend to pick their characters. Rarely have I changed any. Once you start writing it, the story becomes them.

What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know? 

Gah. It’s hard to pick just one. You really need to do your homework in this business. Don’t be in a hurry to get your work out there. Take your time in finding what will work best for you and your hard work. I did create a “Tips” page on my website. Hopefully it can help answer a question or 2. http://www.junekramin.com/tips

If a movie or TV production company chose to produce your books into a series of shows or movies, who would your ideal cast be?

I never liked to play this game. I picked Heath Ledger for a character in a series of mine. Once he died, I couldn’t imagine anyone else. I haven’t reread the books since. Recently though, after watching Step Up again, I have decided that Channing Tatum in definitely Ben in Come and Talk to Me. I haven’t decided who Reggie is.

Two of my books, Come and Talk to Me and Money Didn’t Buy her Love have just been set up at Amazon. If you buy the print – the e-book is free. See Dawn’s rafflecopter for a chance at Money Didn’t Buy Her Love.

Thanks so much for having me here again! Sorry my new release is a little behind but you can follow my facebook page for info. http://www.facebook.com/JuneKramin
May everyone here have a TBR (to be read) pile that is out of control!
Happy Reading!
<3 o:p="">
June
https://twitter.com/junekramin


  
Come and Talk to Me
Available Amazon / B&N


Regina was determined to keep the secrets from her past buried. She had her reasons for keeping her distance from men, but Donovan refused to play by her rules.

Giving into her heart and marrying him, Regina finally began to feel whole again. When an injury ultimately claims his life, she moves a few states away to a small town where she couldn’t be reminded of him everywhere she turned.

Trying to live her life in isolation, she wasn’t prepared for what the humble cabin next door would bring her. Reggie is not sure she will be able to overcome the horrible twist fate has thrown her way.







Money Didn't Buy Her Love
Available at Amazon / B&N

A billion reasons not to fall in love, but only two hearts matter.

Trying to get his bearings on an unfamiliar street and not paying attention, Jeremy slams his brakes to avoid hitting the most beautiful bride he has ever seen. When Danielle climbs in his truck, he assumes she’s in a hurry to get to her wedding; he didn’t realize she was escaping one. He agrees to let her return to his apartment so she can call for help, only she refuses to leave.
 As the days pass, Jeremy finds it harder to fight off her passes and claims of falling in love with him. Besides having almost ten years on her, Jeremy discovers the family secret she had been trying to hide. How could the daughter of a billionaire settle for a plumber living paycheck to paycheck?
 Despite every tactic her father throws at her and an ex-fiancĂ© who refuses to let her go, Dani stakes her claim to the only thing she has ever truly wanted in her life and fights to make Jeremy hers.

Double Mocha, Heavy on Your Number
Available at Amazon / Publisher

Bix finally won Ellie’s affection. Little did he know, that was the easy part.

Unable to make it home in a snowstorm, Ellie seeks shelter at an old farmhouse. When the owner’s grandson shows up and happens to be the man she had given the brush off to twice, it takes all they have not to kill each other during the snowed-in days that follow.

The last thing Ellie plans on is the relationship outlasting the storm. Bix’s persistence at a relationship and attempts to help her at her job with his computer skills proves to be more than Ellie can continue to push away. She finds herself where she never wanted to be after losing her fiancĂ© a year ago. In love again.

When Ellie’s twin sister shows up and puts all their lives at risk, they must now weather a different kind of storm together.



About the Author

Wife, Mother, Writer, Lunatic. Not necessarily in that order. 

"There is a fine line between genius and crazy... I like to use that line as a jump rope!"

June, who prefers to go by Bug, was born in Philadelphia but moved to Maui, Hawaii when she was four. She met her “Prince Charming” on Kauai and is currently living “Happily Ever After” on a hobby farm in a small town in Southern Minnesota. 

She enjoys riding her Paint horse, Ringo, around the small ghost town they are playfully reestablishing with the neighbors and playing in Photoshop. Her son and daughter are her greatest accomplishments. She takes pride in embarrassing them every chance she gets. 

Being hopelessly addicted to 80's music is her super power. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

3 comments:

June Kramin said...

Eep! Almost forgot about this! Thanks again, Dawn!
<3
June

Rhea Rhodan said...

Sure, DOUBLE MOCHA was good. But what about HUNTER'S FIND? Great romantic suspense!

June Kramin said...

Thanks, Rhea. I wanted to give them a plug, too... just babbled on too much. I wish I could say there was a 3rd in my future. Just have too many pots on the fire right now. :/
<3

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