Author Spotlight Shines On Alice Wade

I'm excited to introduce another Eternal Press author today, Alice Wade.

Alice kindly enough is offering a cool giveaway at the end of her interview, so make sure you enter to win.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you became a writer.

I graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Psychology. I am a Marketing Professional by day, writer by night and have devoted myself to using the written word to motivate emotional responses. When I am not writing, I love camping with my family (two step daughters plus husband), learning to fly fish around California, and playing with my two Boxer dogs.

I’ve always had an idea for a novel in my head that I kept saying, ‘one day’. Well, that ‘one day’ came about three years ago with a challenge my husband delivered – he dared me to write it. He regrets challenging me, because I’ve not stopped writing. He had no clue it what would happen, hahaha. Through this experience, I’ve proven that anything is possible if you just try, as evident by the accomplishments to date. I have written a total of nine novels, two of which are being published with Eternal Press. Talon (April 2012) is an Erotic Paranormal Romance and was be the first to release. This is followed by the first book in the Flame Thrower Saga: Flame Thrower (May 2012) which is an Erotic Fantasy. I’ve also got one more novel (Gem) in the works and the chapters can be found on my website. I am not formally trained; have not really taken creative writing classes; and I was not part of any writing groups before I began. I really only had a passion for reading and knew what it was I liked with the books I read. I just wanted to emulate what I enjoyed so much in my own work and continue to strive for that today.

I love your story, it always amazes me how we started. p.s I love camping too.

I know you write different genres like myself but do you have a certain theme or trademark to your stories?

Oh yes, I am a fantasy gal through and through. If I write something without magic, elves or dragons, I could be accused of being ill. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve written other genre’s before, but my trademark happens to be the fantasy elements I bring into any story I write.

And you do it well.

Do you have an agent and how important do you think they are in the publication world

Agents are critical, but the path to publication is a very individual one. Everyone gets here differently, and I’ve yet to find ‘the one way’ or ‘the right way’ to get published. I don’t have an agent at the moment, however it is my goal. That is, once I get the courage is to find one for my Mass Market Sci Fi Fantasy novel.

How do your stories come to life, from fiction or fantasy?

I love writing wounded souls and how they find their way. I love to write the emotional responses horrific events can generate, and I know they are not the most endearing of content, but they stir up the reactions I am shooting for. Another thing that I love to write is that I am addicted the fact that love can heal all wounds and very few characters are irredeemable. I like to find the worst thing that could happen and spin a romantic plot around the solution. Surprise, surprise! Sometimes this takes me into dark and twisted places. In reality, I truly believe that in bad times, the way we react defines our true nature and it’s in those situations where I search for my inspiration. What better way to highlight a hero than have him save the woman he loves under the worst of circumstances?

Mmmm, heroes. Especially buff ones like yours. The give me the whole Spartacus feel. Mmmm, Spartacus.

Are you a ‘go with the flow’ writer or do you have structure?

I don’t outline, I don’t do detailed character maps and I don’t draw the entire plot out. I usually only have a focus (magic, elves, fairies, etc) married with a problem (quest, issue to be resolved, etc) and then my hero and heroine. I then start writing and it may take at least two chapters before I settled on an approach but once I do, it moves pretty quickly. When that happens, I typically lock myself away because I’ve entered ‘the zone’ and it’s really difficult to pull me out of it. I am known to snarl at people who want to chat when I am in the middle of a complicated scene and they try to interrupt the process. LOL. It’s best to just leave me be until I get it written.

After I’ve written the bulk of the chapter, I will then go back through and polish what I’ve written with emotions, descriptions and enhancements by filling in the holes. It is pretty common that I will go over each chapter at least three times before I will send to a trusted friend to do a proof read. Depending on the complexity of the story, this process could be days or weeks.

I equate the process to cooking – you start with a basic recipe but every chef will modify it to make it theirs, make it unique. That’s all I do. Start with the foundation that I’ve churned out and then I build on it from there by adding the emotions and character development. The final act is filling in the holes I may have missed before it is presented.

Wow, that's so interesting how you do this process chapter by chapter. I'm too impatient that sadly, but I am thinking of giving it a try.

Have you always wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?

I originally wanted to be a experimental psychologist studying sleep. I had grand plans, I really did. However personal beliefs (I refuse to test on animals) prevented me continuing on with my PhD, so instead I found my way into a marketing department of a college textbook publisher working on the psychology book list instead. If I couldn’t write books or practice psychology, at least I could help bring them to life – even if they were text books. From there, I’ve done different marketing roles and since it’s become my professional career.

Good on you, a woman who keeps to her principals no matter the cost.

What groups are you affiliated with and how have they helped you through your journey of publication?

I am a staunch believer in such groups. After struggling by myself for about six months, I finally stumbled across a friendship that I still hold dear today. That friend and I began a writing group, and found new authors like ourselves and created a safe environment to grow and share our ideas without ridicule. I also am members of multiple online sites where I post my stories and received feedback and votes and participate in virtual communities about writing. I’ve also found social media channels like Twitter and FB to be quite powerful to connect with others.

I would say these interactions and groups have been critical in my writing career. What I had was an immediate group of amazing authors (you all know who you are!) who guided me by providing critic and support. I also return the favour though. I edit, read and critic their work as well, which helps me sharpen my own skills. This community allows me to practice on both sides – editing and writing. I am honoured to have had that experience.

Awwwwe, bow to the girls!

How much marketing do you involve yourself in and with the mass consumption of social media, does this play a part in your marketing choice?

I will not lie, the social media portion of marketing terrified me. My friends still laugh because I didn’t join FB until March of 2011, or get my first Twitter account until May of 2011. I had never seen a blog until about six months ago. Now I am dialled in with a website, blog and multiple FB and Twitter accounts (personal and writing). I’m now blogging (online and radio) and doing virtual book tours. Yeah, you could say I’ve fallen off the wagon.

Social media plays a dominant role in my marketing. The power and reach all the different channels provide is insane and should not be ignored. I’ve enjoyed my crash course, but I will not mislead you, I am still learning.

At the moment, I would say I spend more of my time marketing than I do writing. So yeah, I spend a lot of time focused on that. I know that is just because I am supporting two book launches, and once I get organized, I will be able to find my rhythm. My goal is to find a balance between marketing and writing, but for now, it’s slanted towards marketing.

Here’s a random one for you. If you could be one animal, which would it be and why?

A dog because I a loyal and trustworthy. Seems like a good fit for me, don’t you think?

Me too.

What would you say is your inspiration to write in general and scene based?

It really depends. If I am writing a fighting scene or a battle, I usually look to history as my influence. The best examples to use are from our past and can be the best inspiration for fiction. For magic or fantasy, I think through all the thousands of stories I’ve read and tried to find a unique way to spun something that has been told hundreds of times before. For the emotional scenes, well that is my psychology training. Overall, nature inspires me at every turn. I am constantly finding influences from sound, to light to landscape.

With your titles and covers, did you get much of a say in this matter and how important is it to you to have input?

If you mean in the cover design and the editing, then yes. Eternal Press included me.

For my cover art, they designed them around direction from me and I had the opportunity to comment. I didn’t get exactly what I wanted, but I love what I got regardless (Dawne is an amazing designer). In the editing, a good editor is one that partners with the author to polish off their work. They are also critical to copy editing, since the author should not be expected to catch those little things. If you wrote it wrong, you will edit it wrong. Again, it should be a partnership.

Do you have any tips for other aspiring writers or authors out there?

Don’t give up! Ever! If you work hard at what you love, you will succeed. I am proof of that, because I didn’t intend to be a writer and stumbled into this by accident. I love it, and have worked hard at getting better. Find a writers group (there are many out there) or start your own – but get feedback and loads of it. If you are serious about getting published, create your community on blogs, Twitter, FB and online venues where you can post your stories. Get involved and stay involved. The most important thing to remember is to stay in love with what you are doing and have fun. Without that, writing will become a chore not a passion.

Well said!

So, I think we’ve gotten to know you a little now. How’s about we step it up a notch. Are you panicking? Lol. Do you have any dirty little secrets or confessions you’d like to share with us- what’s on the blog stays on the blog, right guys. (wink)

Yeah, I blush while writing my naughty scenes! I have a very G Rated approach to my writing, that it is an embarrassing push to write the erotic. I am fairly reserved and old school, therefore I didn’t tell anyone other than my close friends and husband I was writing romance novels. It wasn’t until I got published when I had to ‘come out of the closet’ about my other writing life, LOL. I still remember telling my mother for the first time, and her reaction was classic! She laughed and said, “Oh Honey, I’ve read it all. You can’t shock me.” Ha ha! Who would have known my prim and proper mother had ‘read it all’.

Don’t get me wrong, the steamy scenes are easier to write now, but I still blush while doing it.

I was scared because my Nan would read it. lol

Where’s your favourite place to write?

At home with my family surrounding me even if my mind is lost somewhere in one of worlds.

If I am writing a new story and have to enter the ‘zone’, I will lock myself away and just write. If I am tweaking, editing or adding flavour, I will plop myself in front of the TV with my family and kill two birds with one stone. I don’t outline ideas or jot scenes or characters down. I think about them first and then cut loose and let the story tell itself as I write. Once I have the shell down, I will go back through and add flavour, tweak the dialogue or give more depth to my characters.

Tell us of your releases- where and when can we buy them?

I have two releases: Talon and Flame Thrower. You can buy them through my website, www.alicewadewritings.com or at places like Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble. I’ve included the links below.

Talon, Erotic Paranormal Romance

Talon is my one and only paranormal novel, merging my beloved fantasy with that of vampires. Blending vampires and elves, hmm, it makes total sense to me, doesn’t it to you? I don’t have your typical elf envisioned in my head, and I’ve never written them to be small, skinny and delicate. My elves are more warrior-based, tall and strong. Which absolutely fits with a vampire, so this made perfect sense to blend the two.

Blurb:

Vampires only fear one name -- Talon. The elven prince and his mate, Kailani, have made it their mission to hunt down the violent vampire covens that have been destroying hundreds of innocent lives in their pursuit of selfish and depraved entertainment. Their strategy would have been fool-proof, except for one problem: Talon and Kailani are vampires too.

But when they enter a castle overrun, they realize they are out of their league. The vampire leader has stolen elven magic, something Talon takes personally and can’t fight alone. This sets them on a path of redemption, destruction and closure. Along the way, they pair up with two humans who are destined to become the family Talon craves.

Pick up a copy of Talon: http://www.amazon.com/Talon-ebook/dp/B007RU63XY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337491186&sr=1-1

Flame Thrower, Erotic Fantasy/Romance

Flame Thrower is more my traditional style of writing and the first in a series of six books in the Flame Thrower saga. It spins an interwoven epic timeline spanning three different kingdoms and the families involved. It’s an adult fairy tale with some serious heat. However, this is romance novel, through and through and the tag line on the cover sums up perfectly - ‘Love heals all wounds through blood and sacrifice’. This first book sets a story arc into motion that carries through the entire erotic saga.

Blurb:

While out hunting with his men, King Ryan of Yorath finds a badly-beaten woman who had been left for dead by her attackers. He is surprised to discover that she is none other than Tillian, the Princess who had been reported missing by messengers from the neighboring realm of Folkyn.

Despite her injuries and the circumstances behind her disappearance, Ryan is swept by an immediate attraction for Tillian, and his vows to never marry are tested when he learns the truth behind her abduction. Tensions rise as Ryan's overwhelming need to protect Tillian leads them straight into a war that will change their lives and their kingdoms forever.

Pick up a copy of Flame Thrower: http://www.amazon.com/Flame-Thrower-ebook/dp/B00830P9RS/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

I’ll tell you is my motivation behind King Ryan from Flame Thrower. It is somewhat personal, so not many know it. To highlight the meaning, I’ve included an excerpt from the book that captures the moment.

He spun around and closed the distance between them. He

passionately clasped her face with both his searing hot hands, and

then kissed her soundly on the lips. The abruptness of his contact

caused Tillian to pull back but his insistently gentle lips teased

hers open and he dipped his tongue into heated depths where he

plundered her mouth until they both moaned in unison.

The touch instantly cooled his anger and the magic boiling

within simmered down to a manageable level. She was his balm,

his control. Tillian. Only Tillian. Ryan deepened the kiss, letting

her lips soothe his anger and remind him she deserved more than

his wrath. She deserved to be cherished.

His reaction overwhelmed her and his kiss...oh, the kiss. At

first contact, the scorching heat almost burned her, but it faded.

When he deepened the caress, she felt her insides melt. Not only

with the feel of his tongue but also the taste of him, the smell of

him and the feeling of his body against hers was just too much.

Tears fell freely down her face while this man, this king, delivered

the loving kiss filled with passion that she feared she’d lost. She

felt her hope grow that maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t rejecting her.

After a long moment, he pulled back but kept his lips touching

hers for a moment longer. It was because of that contact that she

felt him smile. His breathing was labored and his body trembled

while he clutched her to his chest in a painful embrace.

Resting his forehead against hers, he finally spoke softly. “I’m

so sorry, Tillian.” He sighed. “I was angry and almost lost control

of my magic. I feared I’d hurt you so needed to walk away. It is

beyond me that you’ve had to deal with such pain at the hands of

your own family, your own Father for that matter. I’m of a mind to

kill all those who have brought you harm, Tillian. I know Akland

and he is high on the list of guilty persons.”

Ryan leaned back and looked her in the eye. “You are not going

back. I was going to seduce you to stay, but that was before I

knew who organized this. I’ll not return you to a man who would

willingly whore his stunningly beautiful daughter to that low life

scum. Absolutely not. You deserve to be cherished.” He kissed

her again then whispered, “I want to do that cherishing, Tillian. I

want to remove this pain and fear I see in your eyes and I want to

make you laugh. You are not going back.”

Ryan’s mission to make her laugh is something that carries through the entire saga straight through to book 6. Irfan’s one horrific act torments Tillian for the rest of her life, but I’ve written Ryan to be her ever protector; her one reason to never give up.

The inspiration for Ryan’s behavior and the feeling of safe harbor he created was a personal experience of mine and one that is still fresh in my own mind. I experienced something so profound that it rocked me, rattling me to my core. I lost someone very dear due to cancer and it changed me forever. I had my very own King Ryan though, and without the safe harbor my husband created, I would have drifted and been lost. He reminded me it was okay to feel the sorrow and to feel the pain in order to find a way past it. I hate crying, but he allowed me a safe place to do it, giving me permission to be sad. His actions alone helped me heal. So when it came time to create Ryan and all that he is, I modeled the feeling I had during that time and asked myself ‘how would Tillian be feeling and what she would she need?’. Love…Safety…Trust. That is what. I wanted him to heal Tillian and help her find her way back from the sorrow. Through love.

I have a confession to make now, my hero in my current MS is a Talon also. Hahahaha

In one word, how would you best describe yourself?

Tenacious.

Now that we’re all friends, tell us your most embarrassing moment?

Uh, no way, LOL. I try not to remember them!

Do you have any upcoming signings or author appearances you would like to share?

I am just finishing up my two month long book tour this month with this amazing interview. It’s a perfect way to close it out, I must say. If you want to see where I’ve been, please visit my Event Page on my website and stop by some of awesome places I’ve had the honor of appearing over the past two months. http://www.alicewadewritings.com/event-page/

I plan to continue with my interviews on my own blog so I can keep discovering new and incredible authors to highlight. That experience so far has been extremely rewarding and plan to continue with that as time allows.

I also plan to keep writing – a lot. I have more books I’d like to publish and a handful that are humming in my head to be told. One of which has six chapters posted on my website http://www.alicewadewritings.com/ under Works in Progress. Gem is a collaborative piece with my husband and it has more fight scenes in it and is less steamy.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us?

I would like to say thank you to all my fans (new and existing). It’s been amazing to see how many people have come to love my characters as much as I do. I thank all my readers, editors and fans that have helped shaped my novels into what you will see, and frankly, helped shaped me into the author that I am today. I grew from your feedback and I honed my ability to tell you a story because of your direction. Again, THANK YOU.

I am also very grateful for the opportunity to appear on your blog, Kerri! I feel ‘grilled’ now and love the experience! It’s been a great experience and I hope you don’t mind getting the novel back in reply!

Now the fun stuff…GIVEAWAYS!

See the included image? This will be a solid sterling silver charm that is hand designed and carved by Paxton. He is generously creating one specifically for this novel release and is carving Tillian’s Rose that I will award to a winner once this pendant is cast and polished (should be any day). What you see is the wax carving of the final product.

Yes, I am going to give one away! It will be on a leather chord to the winner from those who post a review on either Amazon or GoodReads for Flame Thrower by 6/14. If you post two, you’ll have two chances to win!

I will not be de-duping the responses and I will assign a number to each name and then use www.random.org to select a winner on 6/15. I will notify the lucky person through email. If you are not connected through FB, Twitter or email, please make sure you send this to me so I can connect with you. From there will have 48 hours to send me your address and then it will be shipped directly to you.

You can connect with me at the below places:

Website/blog: www.alicewadewritings.com

Twitter: @AliceWadexx https://twitter.com/#!/AliceWadexx

Facebook: Alice Wade http://www.facebook.com/AliceWadeWriting

Come explore my world!

Well, I must say I have now decided I need a copy of Talon. Again, thank you Alice it has been a true pleasure to interview you and learn what makes you tick.

Good luck everyone and happy writing and reading.

Kez