Talking with author Chanta Rand today

Please give a warm welcome to author Chanta Rand today as I sit down with her to talk about her latest book, Rise of a Queen. 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a superhero, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a constant daydreamer. I’m always thinking about the possibilities of what could be. Thankfully, I have an outlet as an author to communicate my daydreams to readers. I write sexy romances and smart-aleck dialogue. 

If you could be any paranormal creature what would you be?

I don’t know if this could be considered paranormal, but I would be an invisible mermaid. I love mermaids and I love the idea of only appearing when I want to. Being invisible allows me to spy on conversations and see what people are doing when they think no one is looking. Now that I think about it, that’s a great idea for a book—The Invisible Mermaid.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I add to my massive collection of comic books and action figures. I specifically collect comics featuring strong female heroines, African American characters, and apocalyptic themes. I also enjoy traveling with my husband and trying to improve my 130 bowling average.

Are any of your characters like you?

All of my characters have some bits and pieces of me in them—even the men. I’m opinionated, sassy, compassionate, loyal, determined, creative, hard-working, curious, and sometimes (only sometimes) a bit of a diva. So, yeah my characters tend to reflect those qualities.

What genres do you write in?

Contemporary and historical romance chock full of sizzling sex scenes between strong women and even stronger men. Right now, I’m branching out and working on a series about a female bounty hunter. She’s a badazz.

Is there anything you will never write about?

Rape, incest, and sexual abuse of children. There’s enough disgusting crap going on in the world. Readers don’t need to be reminded of it in my books.

Do you have a favorite quote from your book(s)?

“Scars are God’s way of letting us know we’re alive.”

This is a quote from my contemporary sports romance, The Highest Bidder. One of my characters says that when the heroine complains about being emotionally scarred.

If zombies attacked what kind of supplies would you want?

As a serious Walking Dead fan, this question literally gives me a nerdgasm.  First, I would want my husband with me. He’s the toughest guy I know, and I’m convinced he wouldn’t let anything happen to me. Besides common sense and fighting skills, I would want plenty of bullets, guns, a machete, matches, rope, a Swiss Army knife (with a can opener on it), a good pair of boots, blanket, water, a canteen, a toothbrush, and a baseball cap. Can you tell I’ve been thinking about this?

Do you keep a notebook near your for when new ideas pop into your head?

Yes, I have two. I keep one beside my night stand. It seems I always wake up from a dream where I have a blockbuster idea for a book. That notepad gives me the opportunity to jot down snippets of ideas. The other notebook I keep has outlines and plot ideas for books.

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

Yes, I have to. Sometimes, it’s 6 months or more before I write the second book in the series. In the case of my historical romance, Goddess, two years had passed since I wrote book 1 (Pharaoh’s Desire). It’s filled with rich details of Egyptian and Nubian history. I had to go back and refresh my memory and brush up on my facts so the books would have a seamless transition from one to the other.

Rise of a Queen

Historical Romance

Release day: November 22nd, 2015

From now until Nov. 22nd you can get this at $0.99. 

A dead husband. An unconsummated marriage. She needs an heir. Any man will do.

1061 AD. A sprawling empire rich in gold, resources, and military might dominates West Africa. It’s The Kingdom of Ghana, and it’s at the height of its power.

Twenty-year old Nabeela is grappling with her own power struggle. In order to save her younger sister from their step-brother’s clutches, Nabeela agrees to marry a repulsive African prince and bear him an heir. However, her plans are waylaid when tragedy strikes on her wedding night—her new husband dies—without consummating their marriage.

She must find a replacement to impregnate her immediately. Any man will do—including a drunken soldier her servants find naked taking a bath in a neighboring village. Nabeela holds him captive and coerces him into having sex with her—stealing the one thing he can never get back—his seed.

What she doesn’t know is the soldier is Rafan, Commander of a warring tribe’s royal army, and one of her family’s arch enemies. Eager for revenge, Rafan tracks her down once he’s released. But when these two reunite, they realize their lust for each other is far greater than their disdain.

Enamored by Nabeela’s beauty and bravery, Rafan makes her an offer of marriage, and the promise to help her become queen. He convinces her that they are stronger allies than enemies. Even though they share a commitment to unite, there are others who are determined to destroy them and their plans, including the one person Nabeela would have never suspected. In the end, she’s is forced to choose between her passion and her ambition.

Buy at Amazon

About the Author

Chanta Jefferson Rand is an Emma Award winning Debut Author of the Year, a multi-published, best-selling author of sizzling-hot romance, and the former host of The Chanta Rand Show. An avid reader of all genres, she stepped onto the scene in 2010 with her first published historical romance, Pharaoh's Desire. 

Chanta is a history junkie, a Walking Dead fan, and a recovering shoe addict. She never met a stiletto she didn't like! If you still want more, check her out at www.ChantaRand.com or email her at Chanta@chantarand.com.



Remember: You can't expect any sizzle...if you don't turn up the heat!

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