Dawn's Reading Nook: Blog Stop and Giveaway~ If Wishes Were Horses by Silvia Violet

Talking with Silvia Violet

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’ve been writing romance for over a decade. I got my start with Regency historicals then branched into paranormal. I wrote my first m/m romance in 2011 and I love it so much I starting writing m/m almost exclusively. I homeschool my daughters and writing gets fit in during the day around their schoolwork. I also love to cook and especially bake.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on Unexpected Trust, the sequel to Unexpected Rescue. This book focuses on Sport, on of the secondary characters from Unexpected Rescue. He’s a former SEAL who is now an FBI agent. He gets put on a special black ops assignment where he meets Danny O’Sullivan a spy who’s past is filled with shadows.

How long did it take you to get your rough draft finished on your latest release?

I finished the rough draft in about 7weeks. When I’m writing first drafts, I usually set a goal of at least 10k words/week.

Are any of your characters like you?

Eli from Needing A Little Christmas is more like me than any of my characters.

What genres do you write in?

For the last few years I’ve mostly stuck to shapeshifter paranormals and contemporary but I’ve also written sci fi, historicals and other paranormals.

Is there anything you would tell aspiring writers?

Keep going. Set a goal of an amount of time or a word count each day or week and don’t stop until you have your whole story down. First drafts can always be edited. The most important thing is to get the story out of your head and onto the page.

If you write a series do you reread your previous books before you begin the new one?

I do re-read at least the book that came right before the one I’m writing. It helps me get back into the characters and the setting and reminds me of details that have slipped my mind.

Is there anything you wish to say to your readers?

For readers who haven't tried your books yet, how do you think your editor or loyal readers would describe your books?

When writing, how do you keep track of timelines, ideas, inspiration and such? By notes on the computer, a notebook perhaps?

One of my favorite apps is Simplenote which is (like it sounds) a very basic note-taking app that can be synced with Scrivener. I have it on my phone and my iPad and that’s where I tend to make nots about my stories. I also have a file on my laptop for each book where I keep inspiration photos, research links, etc.

I’m always looking for book recommendations. What books have you been reading? Would you recommend them?

I’m currently reading Bad Company by KA Mitchell and I would highly recommend it. Some other great books I’ve read recently are The Only One Who Knows by Cat Grant and LA Witt and Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane (be prepared for a major tears with this one)

If Wishes Were Horses by Silvia Violet

Cover Artist: LC Chase

Publisher: Self-published

More information at Author website
Available here: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ifwisheswerehorses-1501235-148.html

Amazon

Kenneth Carver had everything growing up except warmth and acceptance. When protecting his family’s name became more than he could bear, he came out as gay, sold his company, and bought a horse ranch.

Andrew Wofford’s last undercover assignment nearly cost him his sanity. Now he has another chance of catching the drug runner who killed one of his informants and then escaped, but gruesome flashbacks threaten his ability to function in the field.

Andy’s latest investigation sends him to Ken’s ranch where he poses as a ranch hand. Ken is a prime suspect, but Andy refuses to believe Ken is guilty, in part because Andy is falling for him. Ken knows Andy isn’t who he seems, but he can’t bring himself to push the man away. When Ken hears rumors that someone is using his land to move drugs out of the city, he worries that it’s Andy. Neither man can trust the other even though that’s exactly what their hearts tell them to do.

Teaser Excerpt:

Andrew glanced down at his copy of the job application he’d submitted under the name, Andy Watson. His new identity kept with the rule of using a name enough like his own that he wasn’t likely to forget it—maybe it was too close but while he’d occasionally been called Drew, he’d never been Andy—and his background was mostly truth with a few embellishments like recent ranch experience. He’d learned that Kenneth Carver, rebellious rich boy, had taken a hands-on approach to running his ranch. He suppressed a shudder as he imagined just where he’d like the man’s hands, and he hoped Carver was just playing cowboy rather than having solid ranching knowledge. He didn’t need the man noticing how little several summers spent on his uncle’s ranch had actually taught Andy.

He slammed the door of the truck the department had given for him for the assignment, and a rusted-out patch caved in. Fuck, it had been seized from some asshole they’d locked up, and it was so old and beaten up Andy had doubted it would get him to the ranch. He hoped to hell there were ranch-owned vehicles he could drive, or he’d likely find himself walking wherever he needed to go.

The front door of the traditionally-styled ranch house was solid dark wood. Andy knocked and waited. A few seconds later, Mr. Carver opened it himself. Andy had been expecting a maid. He wasn’t at all prepared to be confronted with Kenneth Carver live and in person wearing an expensive white button-down, worn jeans that probably had a designer label over his fine ass, and cowboy boots that had actual dust on them. He was more rugged than he looked on TV, his face angled and craggy. His hands looked like he’d missed his recent manicure, but that would only make them sexier wrapped around Andy’s dick. But his smirk and those knowing eyes, those were just as Andy had expected. The man was a walking fantasy.

“Andy Watson?”

Andrew almost forgot and said his real name instead, but just in time, he caught himself. “Yeah, that’s me. I’m here about a job.”

“Do come in.” Carver bowed slightly and swept his hand out to indicate that Andy should enter.

Fuck, was the man flirting with him? Andy’s dick said it liked that a whole lot, but his other head knew that could lead to serious trouble. Despite what Gomez thought he might do, no matter what answers he would get from fucking Ken, getting that close would compromise him. The last thing he needed was flashbacks in bed.

But oh my holy God, Carver was even sexier in person than he’d been when the media had spent day and night detailing the events of his coming out. The man moved like he knew he could have whatever he wanted, and wow, that ass. His jeans fit it perfectly, and Andy wanted to reach out and test its firmness. Kenneth Carver was dangerous, like a jungle cat, ready to leap down from the trees and devour him. All Andy’s senses told him this man was shrewder than anyone gave him credit for and far more in his element on a ranch than Andy had thought he’d be. There was little or none of the ridiculous city playboy in him. That must have been an act for the cameras. This was a man who played for keeps. Andy was in a fuckload of trouble.

He followed Carver into his office. The heavy oak desk spoke of power and the wall of glass with French doors said he enjoyed looking at the land he’d made his own. Carver sat in his leather swivel chair, and Andy stood, facing him down, pissed as hell that he was so fucking nervous. He was no rookie. Sure the last time he’d been undercover he’d lost big. A good man had ended up dead, and he’d been left so screwed up he might not actually be fit for police work anymore, but he’d gone back in anyway, and he’d done it, putting assholes in jail, busting his ass, not looking back. So why was he acting like such a fucking baby now?

Ken studied Andy for several seconds. Then he grinned. “I’ve looked over your application. I’m glad you’ve had some experience, but frankly, a man can learn how to work a ranch fairly quickly. You’ve got to be willing to follow my rules if you want to be here.”

Andy nodded. Arrogant son of a bitch. At least, he wasn’t questioning Andy’s history. Gomez assured him his background was solid, but Ken was a billionaire whose fact-checking resources probably exceeded the FBI’s.

“What are those rules?” Andy asked, not quite succeeding in keeping his annoyance out of his voice.

Carver grinned at him. The asshole knew he was pissing Andy off, and he liked it.

“Forget everything you’ve heard about me. This ranch is my life now, and I take it very seriously. I have every intention of being involved in running it.”

“Yes, sir. I can’t see how that would be a problem for me.”

Carver ignored him and continued. “If you have a problem with who I am, a gay man with an asshole for a father and too much money, then walk out that door right now. I do not tolerate prejudice on this ranch. Everyone pulls their weight and respects all the other employees.”

Andy fought not to show his surprise, but knew he’d failed by the way Ken’s sexy mouth quirked up and his hazel eyes mocked Andy.

About the Author:

Silvia Violet writes erotic romance in a variety of genres including paranormal, contemporary, sci fi, and historical. She can be found haunting coffee shops looking for the darkest, strongest cup of coffee she can find. Once equipped with the needed fuel, she can happily sit for hours pounding away at her laptop. Silvia typically leaves home disguised as a suburban stay-at-home-mom, and other coffee shop patrons tend to ask her hilarious questions like "Do you write children's books?" She loves watching the looks on their faces when they learn what she's actually up to. When not writing, Silvia enjoys baking sinfully delicious treats, exploring new styles of cooking, and reading to her incorrigible offspring.

Author Links:

Website: http://silviaviolet.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/silvia.violet
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Silvia_Violet