Friday, December 22, 2017

Guest Author Day with NJ Walters

Please give a warm welcome to author NJ Walters who writes some of the most wonderfully sexy stories that will steal your heart. 

How did you start writing romance?

Like most romance writers, I was a voracious reader long before I started writing. Back in the mid 1990s, I found myself wondering if I could write a romance. I wrote two, both of which ended up being put in a drawer after they were rejected a couple of times.

I was drawn back to writing in late 2003 and wrote a short novel, which ended up becoming Annabelle Lee, published by Ellora’s Cave back in October 2004. That book has since been released as Uncovering Annabelle.

And those two books I originally wrote? I dusted them off, rewrote them and they became Discovering Dani and The Way Home, the first two books of my Jamesville series.

The past few years, I’ve been writing paranormal romance almost exclusively, but I did start out writing contemporary romance.


Plotter or pantster?

I’m mostly a pantster. I do character sketches and have a vague idea what might be happening in the book. Once I have the opening scene in my head, I start writing. The plot unfolds as I write. I can’t plot in advance as I lose the drive to actually write the story.


What are three things you have on your writing desk?

I have a very small desk tucked away in the corner of my living room so there isn’t a lot of space. I always have a mug of water at hand when I write. My file cards with my character sketches are propped up where I can see them and easily refer to them. I also have blank file cards to jot notes as needed. And a purple pen, because I love purple.


Tell us a little about your new release. What character in the book really spoke to you?

Endless Chase is the final book in the Dalakis Passion vampire series. Both Chase and Katya are at a crossroads in their lives. I think most of us can relate to times like that. They both know life is about to change in a big way, but aren’t sure how it will turn out for them. Katya has been through a huge loss with the death of her parents. She’s tough and focused. I love that she’s smart and strong, but also had a loving heart underneath all that toughness.


Finish this sentence: I write because ____...

I have to. I can’t imagine not writing. There are so many stories in my head just waiting to be told. Even if I didn’t publish, I’d still write.


What is your favorite type of character to write about?

I’m a sucker for a wounded hero or antihero, a man who doesn’t necessarily follow the rules of society but who has a code of his own that he lives by. While he doesn’t perceive himself as anyone’s hero, he’s willing to step up to protect those he loves.


What is the sexiest scene you ever wrote?

After so many books I can’t pick one. Each book is different. The characters tell their own stories, which always includes a few very sexy scenes. All I do is take dictation.


What is next on your writerly horizon?

I’m excited to have another Blood of the Drakon book out in the new year. Drakon’s Past is out January 29th. And there is another Salvation Pack book in March—Wolf of her Own.

I’m currently writing more drakon books. I’m thinking there might be seven books before I’m done.



ENDLESS CHASE, the final book in the sizzling Dalakis Passion vampire romance series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author N. J. Walters!

Since the night her parents were brutally murdered, Katya Markova has been driven by a dark quest for vengeance. When her search for the killers leads her to the heart of Transylvania and the ancestral home of the Dalakis, she hopes to finally take her revenge and put her horrific memories and the souls of her parents to rest. Then she meets the mesmerizing Chase Deveraux, and his intensely passionate touch threatens to weaken her resolve as she surrenders to his sensual promise.

With his life in disarray, Chase has retreated to the remote castle of the Dalakis clan to sort things out in isolation, but instead is inexplicably drawn to the mysterious Katya. Instantly spellbound by her tough warrior exterior and compelling beauty, Chase finds that Katya captivates him like no other woman has before—until he learns of her dark intent and is torn between his own needs and those of his family.

Because Katya is enmeshed in a world of lies and deceptions, and has brought that world to the Dalakis doorstep. As their unquenchable passion spirals to incredible sensual heights, Chase and Katya will be forced to make a choice, one that could destroy the Dalakis clan for all time or unite the desperate young lovers for eternity…

This is a revised edition of a previous published book.


BUY LINKS:


EXCERPT

A shadow detached itself from the trees and he caught his first glimpse of the intruder. He blinked. Twice. Not quite believing his eyes.

A woman strode toward him, no hesitation in her step. She was fairly tall, but was still a half foot shorter than him. Her hair was black as midnight and cropped short. Her body was lithe and lean, clad in combat boots, leather pants, and a black leather jacket.

As she came closer, the first rays of sunlight hit her face and she blinked, throwing up her hand to shield her eyes. Unable to stop himself, Chase walked toward her. He needed to touch her to see if she was real. They met about halfway, both stopping to stare at the other.

Up close, he could see that her skin was soft and pale, almost porcelain. It was the kind of skin that only babies and young children seemed to have. His fingers itched to touch it, to see if it was as soft as it appeared.

Her chin was rounded, but tilted at a stubborn angle. Her nose was small and perfect, her cheekbones high. But it was her eyes that captivated him. Dark blue, so dark they were almost black. They were the eyes of an old soul. She blinked and her long, dark lashes swept down to touch her cheekbones.

He reached out and traced his thumb over the curve of her cheek. Her eyes flew open and she took a quick step back.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Her eyes darkened even further and her lips thinned. “I am afraid of nothing.” Her voice was slightly accented. Maybe Russian, or maybe she was Romanian. It was hard to say. Still, her voice was low and husky, and he liked the way she sounded. He wanted to hear her speak again.

“My mistake.” He inclined his head in apology.

She snorted but didn’t turn away. It appeared he wasn’t the only one fascinated. She licked her lips and Chase felt his gut tighten. God, her lips were full and rosy and totally kissable.

“Why are you here?”

Chase felt the corners of his mouth turn up. He sensed this woman wouldn’t back down from anyone or anything. “That’s my line, not yours,” he countered. “This land belongs to extended family of mine. If anyone is trespassing, it’s you.”

“You’re a Dalakis.” Her hands opened and closed at her sides, but other than that she was as still as a stone.

“Not exactly.” He could sense her growing tension and tilted his head to one side to study her better. She intrigued him. “If you know who owns this land, then you know you’re trespassing.” Cristofor didn’t mind the occasional hiker, but mostly discouraged folks from tromping around the land by posting warnings about bears and wolves. The place was fairly isolated in the mountains so it usually wasn’t much of a problem.

“I’m just hiking.” There was an edge to her words. She turned slightly, easing back toward the shadows, and he saw the crossbow on her back.

“Hunting isn’t allowed.”

“That is for protection only. I don’t hunt”—she paused—“animals.”

Before he could understand the deeper meaning he was certain was underlying her words, she headed back toward the woods. “Wait!” Chase stalked after her, unwilling to let her go. Some dormant instinct within him was screaming at him not to let her leave him, to grab her and drag her back to the castle with him.

Images of the two of them naked in his large bed filled his mind. He shook his head to clear it. He must be going out of his mind. He’d just met this woman trespassing on family land. “What’s your name?” he demanded as he caught her by the shoulder.

She whirled away, crouching, her body in a defensive fighting stance.

Chase held up his hands. “I’m not going to hurt you.” The mere thought appalled him. “I would never hurt you. I just want to know who you are.”

“You should be more worried about me hurting you.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

 Author Information and Links:

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

           
Visit me at:


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