Character Spotlight with Emily Carrington: Wanderer’s Rest/Wanderer’s Haven, two halves of the same story

 

Please give a warm welcome to Agent Garrett Redpath, a spy/hunter/executioner from Wanderer’s Rest/Wanderer’s Haven by Emily Carrington today as we sit down and see what makes him tick. 

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not saving (the world, clients, your mate)?

In all honesty, it’s having fun in the sack, but I’m not sure I’m allowed to say that in a “nice” interview. This tendency of mine to enjoy others’ company actually caused most of my problems in Wanderer’s Rest/Wanderer’s Haven. 

What is it about your love interest, Michael Brighton, that makes you crazy in a good way?

There’s just something about a person, man or werewolf, trying to do the right thing in spite of all the challenges he’s facing that really turns me on. Michael runs this little storefront operation that helps the poor in Buffalo, New York. His heart is as “big as all outdoors” as the song goes.

Do you sometimes want to strangle your writer? Thrash her to within an inch of her life? Make her do the stupid crap she makes you do?

Sometimes, yeah. Emily is disabled too but not in the way I am. You see, I lost my lower legs decades ago, and Night Wanderers, which is the species I belong to, don’t always heal like most werewolves or dragons.  We’re sometimes stuck with the injuries that happen to us. Anyway, before I get too frustrated with her for putting me in a wheelchair, I have to say that at least I have prosthetic legs so the wheelchair isn’t always necessary.

However, that’s just the backstory. For putting Michael in danger, for making him carry the burden of another’s love without help… yeah, I’m angry with her. If I could, I’d… No, I wouldn’t seek revenge. I’ll just wait until there’s another book about us. Then I’ll get her back.

Do you have a favorite food?

I know this is a “nice” interview, so I’ll say… Tortillas. The kind an old Hispanic grandmother, una abuelita, sells from the back of her car. 

Tell me a little bit about your world. What are your greatest challenges in that world?

SearchLight is my world, a place populated by common magical creatures, like werewolves, dragons, the grand fae, and vampires but also full of the less-common folk, kelpies,, genies, and Night Wanderers. Who capitalized our name? Blame Emily.

My greatest challenge up until I met Michael was convincing able-bodied people that I can do the jobs they can, just differently. Even with the prosthetics, you see, I struggle against prejudice. Also, I’m not white, so there’s that added level of discrimination.

Well, dang, I didn’t mean for that to come out. My current greatest challenge is finding time between my job and Michael’s to make love to my mate every chance I get. 

Describe yourself in four words.

Hunter, lover, horny bastard

What do you do for a living?

I’m a tracker, which is a combination in the SearchLight universe of hunter, spy, negotiator, and, when necessary, executioner. I’m an expert in how diverse poisons harm different magical species as well as humans.

What do you fear the most?

Of course you’re going to go there! I don’t fear being without my legs or wheelchair; I can turn into a hawk, just with no talons, so I always have a means of escape. What I fear the most is losing Michael. He’s not my reason for living but he’s my joy, my warm fire in the midst of winter.

 

Wanderer's Rest (A Pack of His Own 3)

Amazon

https://amzn.to/3eVQd9X

Changeling Press

https://bit.ly/3mFTL5M

BN: http://bit.ly/3a5wAvK

Kobo: http://bit.ly/3jD8b3H

 When Michael has sex with a lusty hawk shifter, he thinks they’re mated for life. However Garrett isn’t one of Michael’s people, and he doesn’t understand the traditions -- and very real consequences -- that go with having a good time in bed.

Will their forced mating ruin their lustful desires, or feed the flames instead?

Wanderer's Haven (A Pack of His Own 4)

Amazon

https://amzn.to/2W42QXW

Changeling Press

https://bit.ly/3FB6dLs

BN: http://bit.ly/3rLfARv

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2MRX1fy

Trapped in what he is convinced will be a loveless mating, Garrett’s only consolation is that he lusts after the wolf he’s mated to. As another wolf threatens the safety of the Tilthos pack, Garrett must put aside frustration and lust to protect the wolf he might just love against all odds.

Thanks for the rough interview. I’ll let an excerpt from Wanderer’s Rest  speak for me. 

Let me introduce you to how I first met Michael… 

once the door was closed and the wind was outside, Ethan said, “But you’re welcome. Please find a place among the pack.”

Pack? Singular? It seemed to Garrett there were enough vehicles outside for two groups of wolves. Especially considering that most werewolf groups numbered less than twenty members.

He followed Ethan into the room guarded by the three-foot-high wolf toy, and slipped into an empty place by the wall as Ethan went to join…

Jeremy? Is that really Jeremy Redpath? Of no blood relation, Jeremy Redpath was a former lover. But “former” was definitely the right word; the two of them hadn’t walked together as a couple since the mid nineteen-forties. A lot had changed since then, and Garrett having prosthetics was the least of it. Last time he’d seen Jeremy, he, Garrett, hadn’t worked for SearchLight.

It was obvious right away that Jeremy and Ethan were together; Ethan fit perfectly into the circle of Jeremy’s arm. Their similar black-blue hair -- Ethan’s Japanese heritage and Jeremy’s Native American appearance -- blended together like a woven blanket.

Jeremy turned his head, and his mouth formed a perfect “o” of surprise. Then he blinked, shook his head, looked again, and at last seemed to accept Garrett’s presence. His gaze dropped to the place where Garrett’s shorts ended, the spot where his legs of plastic, metal, and other materials started. Then he met Garrett’s eyes and mouthed, Welcome. After which, he turned his attention back to the center of the room where two wolves stood alone.

Well, one wolf and one half wolf. Charles stood with his feet wide apart and his hand on the shoulder of a kneeling figure with black hair -- duller, somehow, than Ethan’s or Jeremy’s. The guy on the floor raised his head and blazing blue eyes shone forth out of a creamy-complexioned face.

Black Irish. And handsome as hell. Garrett wished fervently that this was the beta of the Rowan pack. He wasn’t above mixing business with pleasure.

“We are so joined,” Charles was saying. “Michael, beta of the Rowan pack no more, rise.”

Michael did, and then cast a half-frightened glance at Jeremy that Garrett didn’t understand.

“There will be time for a test of dominance later,” Charles said. “For now we have a guest, and also preparations for tomorrow to make.”

As if these words were a signal, the tightly organized group of wolves broke up into smaller contingents and began leaving the room. Garrett kept his eyes on Charles and the attractive black Irish wolf.

Meet the Character with Kelli A. Wilkins: A Thousand Summer Secrets

 

Meet the Character Day: Chatting with Eric Warren from A Thousand Summer Secrets

 

By Kelli A. Wilkins

www.KelliWilkins.com

 

This “Meet the Character Day” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each “Behind the Scenes” blog, I talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book.

 

The “Meet the Character Day” blogs are fun chats with the heroes and heroines from my romances. Warning: blogs may contain spoilers. If you missed any blog in this series, you can catch up here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog

Today we’re chatting with Eric Warren, the main character from my new romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets. Let’s get to know him better…

 

Q: Greetings, Eric. Before we get started, could you tell readers about the book?

Sure, I’m glad to. A Thousand Summer Secrets is a contemporary gay romance that takes place in an Upstate New York cabin over a Fourth of July weekend. It has a little bit of everything: family drama, humor, sadness, introspection, and of course, secrets.

 

Here’s the summary and links…

 

A Thousand Summer Secrets

You can’t outrun your past…

Ten years after being disowned by his family for being gay, Eric Warren pays a visit to his family’s summer cabin. It’s his last attempt at reconciliation before moving on. But a surprise from the past is waiting for him.

Eric’s intolerant brother, Jamey, has several friends staying at the cabin for the weekend, including Matt, Eric’s boyhood friend and secret crush. The years haven’t faded their mutual attraction, and they quickly reconnect. But Eric is hesitant to get romantically involved. He’s emotionally broken and scarred from his traumatic past.

As Matt tries to help Eric, Jamey goes out of his way to sabotage his brother. And when the weekend events take a disastrous turn, Eric finds himself at a crossroads.

Should he follow his search for love and acceptance with Matt? Or leave the past behind forever?

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Summer-Secrets-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CZYYP5HC

All Other Platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3nMKA8

***

 

Q: Tell us about yourself. How does the story begin for you?

When the book opens, I’m at the cabin in rural Upstate New York. Each year, my family would go to the cabin to celebrate the Fourth of July, so I decided to surprise them with a visit. Well, I got the surprise. My brother, his friend Dave, and their girlfriends showed up at the cabin, along with Matt, a friend I hadn’t seen in ten years.

 

My brother and Dave immediately got aggressive toward me and I started to worry that I’d made a big mistake by coming to the cabin. But Matt stood up for me. We went for a walk and I told him about my past and my problems, and he made me feel a lot better. Even though this visit wasn’t going to be easy (or ideal), I knew it was something I had to go through if I wanted to come to terms with my family and my past.

 

Q: Before the story began, you had a rough life. Care to share what happened with readers?
Yes and no. Yes, because readers will be interested, but no, because I’ve finally moved on and put it all behind me.

 

Basically I was in a terrible car accident and a family member died. My parents blamed me for the accident. Then things got worse when they found out I’m gay. They didn’t want to deal with me or listen to reason, so they kicked me out of the house.

 

I drove out to California and fell on some really hard times. I developed a drinking problem and got into several bad relationships. After hitting rock bottom, I finally joined AA and got sober.

 

As part of my recovery I wanted to see if I could reestablish a relationship with my family and make peace. So I flew back to New York and made my way to the cabin. That’s where the story begins.

 

Q: Wow! Speaking of family, your brother Jamey is the antagonist (along with his friend Dave). Can you tell us about them?

Sure. My brother is the product of the intolerant, violent household we grew up in. I say several times in the story that Jamey has turned into my father, and he acts just like him. Dave is another jerk who’s anti-gay and not afraid to be verbally abusive.

I have to deal with their bad behavior over the course of the weekend. They go out of their way to make my life hell. At one point in the story I sit down with Jamey to talk things out and we start to get along. I don’t want to give away any of the plot, but the peace is short-lived.

Q: It’s a good thing Matt is there for you. How did it feel to see him after ten years?
I never expected to see Matt again, ever. When I closed the door on my old life, I put him and everyone else out of my mind. I had to focus on surviving alone in the world.

 

Seeing Matt was a pleasant surprise. I was given a chance to make things right between us, explain why I vanished, and tell him what happened to me over the years. Matt was thrilled to see me, and we quickly resumed our friendship. I was stunned to learn Matt always had a crush on me… and he still does!

 

We spent the weekend talking and reconnecting, and decided to take this budding romance slow. Neither of us wanted to rush into anything. But we do find ways to share some tender moments in the story.

 

Matt is a great listener and fun to be around, but he doesn’t let me get away with any crap! (Laughs) That’s why I’m crazy about him. He has helped me turn my life around, and I can never thank him enough.

 

Q: The title of the book is A Thousand Summer Secrets. I suppose there are lots of secrets in the story?
Oh yes! Everyone is keeping secrets—from themselves and from the other characters. Everything isn’t what it seems on the surface, and everyone has something they’re holding back for a variety of reasons. I can’t give away any of the secrets, but Kelli keeps them coming right up to the end of the story.

All the family and relationship drama is packed into a long weekend, so things get pretty intense. But it’s not all feuds and fighting, there are funny scenes, a bit of sadness, emotional upheaval, introspection, and danger. I hope readers enjoy the book.

Q: Sounds intriguing! Anything else you want to add?

This is Kelli’s fourth gay romance. The other three are: Four Days with Jack, A Secret Match, and Killer in Wolf’s Clothing. They all sound interesting and have spicy love scenes, so I can’t wait to check them out.

 

In case readers are wondering, Kelli’s romances span all genres (contemporary, historical/fantasy, gay, paranormal) and range from mild to super-hot. She would like me to encourage everyone to read more about them on her site: www.KelliWilkins.com and mention that she’s also published mysteries, thrillers, and horror stories. Her site has a contact form and links to her social media.

 

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with readers. This was fun!

 

Happy Pride Month and Best Wishes,

 

Eric Warren

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, and 6 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and mystery stories.

Kelli released her fourth gay romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets, in April 2024. This tender contemporary romance takes place over a summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while seeking love and acceptance.

She published The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in early 2023.

Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.

 

Welcome Emily Carrington and her boys from Dragon Schooled Box Set

 

Please give a warm welcome to Blau, James, and Chen from Dragon Schooled 1 (box set) by Emily Carrington today as we sit down and see what makes them tick.

 

Q: So tell us about yourself. What got you in the crosshairs for your author?

Blau: I think it was because she wanted a lover for Professor Rob Boyle, who used to be a casual love interest for another of her characters. Rob is sexy in a non-traditional way, and he’s wicked smart.

James: I’m Mark Tavery’s (Dragon in Training) younger brother. Unlike Mark, I’ve lived in terror of my human lovers being hurt by other dragons, and I’ve only taken human lovers because I’m a runt dragon, not worth the others’ time.

Chen: I’m still mad at Emily Carrington for making me like bondage and discipline so much.

 

Q: What was it that drew you to your mate(s)?

Blau: He’s… *blushes* attractive in his manner, his mind, and his body. He is like a beacon in the darkness.

James: He’s fiery and never backs down from a fight. Of course, that’s what drives me nuts about him, too.

Chen: He’s not afraid, either of my noble birth or the fact that I could easily roast him. And he’s unafraid of giving pleasure, even when that means he has to be dominant over a virile land dragon like me.

 

Q: A little naughty fun, where was the wildest place you seduced your partner(s)?

Blau: an airport bathroom, in a handicap stall. I was so afraid we’d be overherad…

James: A closet in a rehab center where I wasn’t even supposed to be.

Chen: Honestly, he surprises me almost every time we make love. I’d be amazed if we didn’t , one day, try be exhibitionists.

 

Q: So, Boxers, briefs or Commando on a man?
Blau: Boxers. I like to unwrap my packages slowly.

James: Anything, as long as I can have Hank in my bed.

Chen: commando. Although, he likes me in briefs to restrict e. And for spanking.

Q: If your partner wants to seduce you, what's one sure fire trick they can do to seduce you?

Blau: Ice swimming. Now that we’re both ice dragons, Rob craves the silky chilliness of the water and it arouses us both.

James: I like reading the stories he writes. Those get me hot and bothered.

Chen: Bring out the leather handcuffs and the paddle.

 

Q: What is the one place on your partner's body that you know will drive them wild-in and out of bed?

Blau: …Rob’s ears are very sensitive when he’s in his ice dragon form… *blushes again* And they’re almost as erection-inducing in human form.

James: It’s different with Hank. He’s so changeable that I’m always guessing.

Chen: My lover likes his palms tickled. I’ve never met anyone who gets so turned on by that.

 

Q: What was one of the most embarrassing things your author did to you in Dragon Schooled 1 (box set)?

Blau: She made me attracted to a man who was nursing a broken heart.

James: Emily made me a coward. Okay, not really. What she actually did was make me have common sense, and it’s hard to have common sense when your partner’s a hothead.

Chen: She dug into my soul and revealed how much I enjoy BDSM, at lease with Travis.

 

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Blau: I’m not the best chess player, but Rob takes pity on me and lets me win sometimes… Yes, this is part of our foreplay at times.

James: Hank is related to a man who’s part of a werewolf pack, and that makes things kind of strained between his father’s lovers and me. But we’re slowly working it out.

Chen: Travis is hot as a land dragon.

 

Thank you Blau, James and Chen for joining us on 'Meet the Character' day here at Dawn’s Reading Nook Blog. You can find all of Emily Carrington’s books at Amazon and Changeling Press.

Dragon Schooled Box Set

Paranormal MM Dragon Shifter Romance

Changeling Press

Available at Publisher

Three men and the dragons they love confront their fears to find forever in each other’s arms…

Russian Blau: Ice dragon Blau Lepa seeks nothing more or less than to be a professor at SearchLight Academy. He’s wanted to teach his whole life, and considers it a sacred calling. When he meets Professor Rob Boyle, he’s instantly attracted, but they’re both convinced that teachers and students shouldn’t have sex, not to mention that Blau’s afraid to bond with a human who will pass away so quickly. Eventually Rob gives in to his attraction and finds being dominated by Blau fills him with soaring desires and heals his wounded heart. But is that enough to make him decide to throw away his humanity and accept magical powers so that he can spend all eternity with his lover?

American Telepath: James is a water dragon who fell in love with a human. Rather than expose that human to a dangerous magical world, James abandons Henry. When they meet again it’s like they were never separated. Except Henry refuses -- beyond the occasional bang -- to have anything to do with James. Together they struggle to overcome the past.

Chinese Morning: Travis longs to remain in the magical world which has given him so much pleasure. The only problem: he’s terrible at his job, and without his job he cannot stay. To distract himself, he seeks out the challenge of sexually dominating a dragon. As Chen falls for Travis’s mouth and hands and mind, he is forced to accept the truth: submission is where he’s meant to be. Will their attraction be enough to rescue them?

Character Spotlight with author Kelli Wilkins: Dangerous Indenture

 

Meet the Character Day: Chatting with Ashton Bailey from Dangerous Indenture

 

By Kelli A. Wilkins

www.KelliWilkins.com

 

This “Meet the Character Day” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each “Behind the Scenes” blog, I talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. The “Meet the Character Day” blogs are fun chats with the heroes and heroines from my romances. Warning: blogs may contain spoilers.

Today we’re chatting with Ashton Bailey, the hero from Kelli’s historical mystery-romance, Dangerous Indenture. Let’s get to know him better…

 

Q: Greetings, Ashton. Before we get started, could you tell readers about the book?

Certainly. Dangerous Indenture is a historical romance novel set in Colonial Pennsylvania. It blends romance with mystery and suspense. The heroine (Shauna) is an Irish indentured servant, and the hero (me) is a dashing gentleman… with more than a few problems. Here’s the summary and important links (whatever those are):

 

DANGEROUS INDENTURE

Indentured for five years… how long can Shauna resist her master’s son?

 

Desperate to escape her past in Ireland, Shauna Farrow signs on to become an indentured servant to Joshua Stewart, a wealthy man in Pennsylvania Colony. But a life of servitude quickly turns to drudgery, and Shauna’s hopes for starting over and creating a better life for herself are waning—until she meets her master’s roguish son, Ashton.

Ashton needs to redeem himself in his father’s eyes and earn the respect he has always longed for. Meeting Shauna turns his life around, and he sets out to win her heart. Torn between propriety and passion, Shauna struggles against her growing attraction to Ashton as long as she can.

But amidst their flirting, something dark stirs. Shauna soon discovers why no other servants wanted to work for the strange Stewart family.

Stewart House has an unsavory reputation: a previous servant died there under mysterious circumstances. When another servant goes missing in the middle of the night, Shauna is convinced that a member of the family is responsible.

Shauna’s investigation leads her close to the truth, and yet, she’s not sure who she can trust. Events take a deadly turn when she confronts the murderer and discovers the mystery of the Stewart family. 

 

Will Shauna be rescued before time runs out, or will she meet with the same fate as the other servants? 

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PJVQ7XJ

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3JyROP

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/dangerous-indenture

Like historical romances? Follow Kelli’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Historical-Romances-by-Kelli-A-Wilkins-1703805359922371/

 

Q: Tell us about Dangerous Indenture. How does the story begin for you?
The book opens with our new servant, Shauna, arriving from Ireland and settling into the house. She has left everything behind to work for my father, Joshua Stewart. For me, the story begins when I meet Shauna. I’ve been sent home to Stewart House in disgrace and I’m at a pretty low point. I’m drinking too much, womanizing too much, and basically hating my life. I didn’t want to return to Stewart House, but I had no choice.

Anyway, as I sat down to dinner, Shauna came into the room. The moment I saw her, I was glad I’d been sent home, because that meant I could spend time with her. Shauna was having a rough time serving dinner; my father was constantly scolding her and my despicable half-brother Colin was making her drop things, just so she’d get in trouble. I felt bad for Shauna because she was trying so hard to do a good job.

Over the course of the next few days I got to know Shauna a little better. She’s intelligent, strong-willed, has a temper, and is pretty damn courageous for coming to the Colonies to start a new life. I fell in love with her, and I swore I’d protect her while she was living at Stewart House.

I don’t want to go into too many details, but the house has a bad reputation, and my father couldn’t hire any local servants to work for him. A previous servant named Sarah Purdy was murdered and nobody was certain who did it.

Q: What was your life like before Kelli started pulling your strings?

Where do I start? I’ve been described as “a bit of a rogue” by people: I’m opinioned, have a biting wit, tend to be sarcastic… and yet, I’m utterly charming… when I haven’t been drinking too much at the local tavern. (Laughs.) Of course, these “good qualities” have driven members of my stuffy family utterly mad. They referred to me as the “drunken whoremonger with no sense of responsibility”—but I had my reasons.

 

When Kelli was writing about me, she was kind enough to see past all of my so-called faults and realized that deep down I’m a sensitive, caring individual who needed to find my way in the world. Meeting Shauna changed me for the better.

 

Q: Dangerous Indenture features several interesting secondary characters. What can you tell us about them?

Although everyone’s family has issues, the Stewart clan is probably more dysfunctional than most. The house is always filled with conflict or some sort of drama. My father, Joshua, is rather stern and has high standards. We don’t get along very well, and he sees me as a failure. My half-brother, Colin, is a vile beast, and his long-suffering wife, Minerva, is a little off balance (to put it politely). Adding Lila (a new servant) to the mix really stirs up things around the house and sets people on edge. Kelli has created quite a unique group of individuals! (And one of them might be a killer.)

Q: Yes, this is a mystery-romance… tell us more about the mystery elements of the book.
After Shauna learned that Sarah had been murdered, she was extra cautious when she was alone with Colin and Minerva. Minerva is a troubled woman, has fits of rage, and can be quite violent. Colin is a horrid excuse for a human being and is condescending and abusive to everyone in the house, even my father. We’ve certainly had our fair share of arguments and brawls.

I warned Shauna to be careful and not to be alone with Minerva or Colin. I didn’t trust either one of them, and for all we knew, one of them could have killed Sarah. Things were fine in the house for a while, until Colin convinced my father to hire Lila. Lila was more trouble than she was worth and caused even more problems for Shauna.

One night during a storm, Shauna heard a racket downstairs. There was lots of yelling and fighting. Come morning, Lila was nowhere to be found. Minerva told Shauna that she dismissed Lila in the middle of the night. Shauna was suspicious and started investigating… She suspected Lila had been murdered. I’m ashamed to say that none of us believed her—until it was too late.

I won’t give away the ending of the book, but I can reveal that Kelli keeps everyone guessing about the identity of the murderer up until the end. Readers follow along and figure out the clues as Shauna does, and there are many twists and turns.

Q: You have a lot of emotional and physical struggles in the book. Kelli put you through the wringer at times. How do you feel about that?
Well, I realize Kelli knows what she’s doing when it comes to writing a good story, but really? I had my fair share of heartache, self-doubt, depression, lack of purpose, and a few thrashings over the course of the book.

All the emotional baggage forced me to take a long hard look at my life and my choices and decide I wanted something better. I wanted to have a happy life with Shauna. She was my main inspiration for turning my life around. I wanted to prove to her that I was decent, respectable, and I could make something of myself. I also had to redeem myself to my father. He had a very low opinion of me and thought I was a worthless failure.

I also got the hell beat out of me on a few occasions and suffered a near-fatal accident toward the end of the book. And I confronted the murderer when I was in less than peak health. So, Kelli really made me suffer! I understand it was all for the good of the story, but still…

Q: Kelli has written a lot of romances in all genres in all heat levels. How does she switch back and forth so easily?

I’ve been curious about this myself, so I asked some of her other characters. Basically, each book comes to her in a different form. Sometimes an entire story “jumps” into her head, and she’ll know everything that happens to the characters. (It happened with A Deceptive Match, A Most Unusual Princess, Loving a Wild Stranger, and Four Days with Jack.)

Other times, she gets bits of the story and parts of the characters. Once in a while, she’ll have a character come first and then the other pieces of the book fall into place, like a puzzle. (It happened with Redemption from a Dark Past, Trust with Hearts, and A Secret Match.)

Before Kelli starts a book, she says she needs to know who the characters are and what’s going to happen to them. Then she outlines the scenes and starts writing. As Kelli writes, she explores things she hadn’t considered in her outline and might add entire scenes or write scenes that are later omitted. Writing a new book is always an adventure, and she never knows where the characters or stories will take her.

 

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Kelli did an excellent job of blending romance, mystery, and even a bit of humor into this anything-but-boring historical romance novel. I’d recommend it to readers everywhere. I’ve also heard her other historical romances (such as Redemption from a Dark Past, Loving a Wild Stranger, and Love, Lies & Redemption just to mention a few), are excellent reads, as well. I’m looking forward to reading all of her romances. I want to see what other interesting characters she has created and follow their adventures.

 

Q: Tell us more about your author. Where can readers find her website/blog?

Kelli asked me to tell readers that she is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. She released two mini-mysteries in 2021: More Than I Bargained For and Silent Sentinel. Earlier in 2022 she published a full-length paranormal mystery-romance novel, In Another World.

Kelli says readers can visit her website www.KelliWilkins.com and blog http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/ to learn more about all of her writings.

 

Thank you for letting me chat here today. I hope everyone reads Dangerous Indenture and falls in love with me as much as Shauna has. If you missed any blog in this series, you can catch up here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog

 

Cheers!

Ashton Bailey

 

 

Guest Author Day with HS Burney

 

Please give a warm welcome to Fati Rizvi from The Lake Templeton Murders by HS Burney today as we sit down and see what makes him/her tick.

 

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not saving (the world, clients, your mate)?

Learning languages! I’m fluent in four right now. And scrabbling around trying to learn my fifth – Mandarin – right now. It’s got to be the hardest one I’ve ever worked on.

 

What is it about your love interest (can put name here) that makes you crazy in a good way?

I’m blissfully single. Relationships are a distraction from solving cases. Not that I don’t enjoy a good romp in the hay from time to time. There is a hazel-eyed, muscled detective that’s been keeping me at night, though…

 

Do you sometimes want to strangle your writer? Thrash her/him to within an inch of their life? Make them do the stupid crap they makes you do?

All the time! I mean – she makes me break locks, trespass into places where I’m not welcome, stick my foot in my mouth with all kinds of dangerous people. Not to mention, I barely get any sleep, my diet is horrendous, and she keeps making me work with this dreamy detective who I know I can’t have but keep having dirty thoughts about. It’s inconvenient!

 

Do you have a favorite food?

Chocolate croissants! But I’m not averse to a good, juicy burger and fries from time to time. Especially when I’ve been living on baked goods for days.

 

Tell me a little bit about your world. What are your greatest challenges in that world?

I live in beautiful Vancouver BC. I live on my own in a twelfth-floor condo on a hill about five minutes away from downtown. We are not exactly crime capital but we do have lots of rich people that own big houses. And stew in their secrets. Things are rarely how they seem on the surface. We Canadians may be polite – but we can be just as devious as anyone else. We just hide it well!

Although I have to work with the police (they’re a necessary evil!), we don’t always see eye-to-eye. The police are handcuffed by procedure but I’m not afraid to sneak in through the back door. That’s landed me in hot water with the force in the past. Thankfully, having spent three years as a beat cop, I have some great relationships within the department too. You can call it a love-hate relationship.

 

Describe yourself in four words.

 

Relentless. Direct. Obsessive. Suspicious.

All in service of solving the case!

 

What do you do for a living?

 

I’m a Private Investigator for hire. Although I do pick up the odd case pro-bono, if it’s interesting enough and involves a dead body. And by pro-bono, I mean forcibly insert myself into a case that sparks my fancy!

 

What do you fear the most?

 

My mother – no, really, a phone call from her is enough to get me shuddering. She’s never approved of my life choices. And the fact that I’m unmarried and child-free at thirty-five is, to her, worse than being an axe murderer.

The Lake Templeton Murders, by HS Burney

Genre: Mystery / Crime  

Buy Links:

Kobo

Amazon

 

Blurb:

An edge-of-your seat murder mystery set in a forgotten, ocean-facing town on Vancouver Island! 

 

A body washes up on the shores of Lake Templeton, a small town on the coast of Vancouver Island. Sharon Reese, the victim, was a dedicated government employee. Everyone liked her, but no one knew much about her. Was she hiding something? Maybe a questionable past riddled with scandal. And did it lead to her plunge to death, in a drunken stupor, off the dock outside her secluded lakefront lodge?

 

Was it an accident? A suicide? Or cold-blooded murder? Private Investigator, Fati Rizvi, is determined to find out. 

Fati arrives in Lake Templeton to find secrets that run as deep as the City’s sewers. Everyone is hiding something and nothing is as it seems. A cult escapee. A corrupt politician. A struggling airline. A multi-million dollar public-private project to revitalize the Lake Templeton waterfront. How are they all connected? 

 

As Fati valiantly unravels the knots, another body is found on the shore. Is it the same killer? And can Fati stop them before they strike again?

Excerpt:

 

Sharon’s body was half-reposed face-down on the wet sand, deposited on the shore like plastic waste. Clumps of hair were caught in the jagged rocks that edge the receding land, one bloated arm flung over a large boulder, as if trying to find a grip. Her legs floated behind her like windsocks. Silk shirt ballooned over the surface of the water like a parachute. 

The crime scene has been cleared up. Culver Beach sparkles in the vestiges of the sinking sunlight, sand glinting like diamond dust. The only remnants of the morning’s tragic discovery - dried boot prints in the grassy sand, left behind by the police. 

The nearest house is walled off by a thicket of trees and is currently empty, owned by a businessman who only spends a few months here in the summers. The beach is quiet, with not even a dog walker in sight. I walk on the sand for a few minutes, shoes in hand, reveling in the quietude. I breathe in the fresh air, slightly briny, and crisp enough to open up my nasal pathways. 

No answers will be found here. Not for me. I have limited experience analyzing crime scenes. Even though, as a beat cop, I elbowed my way to many sites above my pay grade, attaching myself to the most brilliant detectives like a barnacle. Thankfully, you don’t need to be an expert at crime scene analysis to catch a killer.

And catching a killer is what I do best. 

I will answer the plea in Sharon’s outstretched arms, still flailing in death as her body collided against the land, unmoored from its watery grave. I will unravel the secrets in the wide eyes and rote responses of Sharon’s colleagues, all identical, parroting one another. The combative non-responses of Mayor Alena Krutova. And the exaggerated sorrow of Sergio Alvarez, Marketing Manager at City Hall, who claims to only know Sharon as a dear colleague. 

I will piece together the puzzle of Sharon’s life. Who was she? What was she doing in Lake Templeton? Did she steal a half a million dollars from the City? And did it drag her to an early death, pitched off the deck outside her own home? 

What transpired on Sharon’s deck last night after the sun sank behind the heavy winter shadows?