From the bestselling author of The Cornish Hotel By The Sea

Every summer has a story... Fun-loving travel rep Jess doesn’t want to be chief bridesmaid at her snooty cousin’s wedding, but it will cause a family feud if she refuses. She doesn’t want to fall in love either but when a raucous stag party arrives at her Majorcan hotel, Jess hits it off instantly with best man, Eddie. A summer romance is exactly what commitment-phobe Jess needs and, as the stag-do draws to a close, so does the holiday fling. She has no intentions of carrying on the summer fun but when Eddie turns up again, Jess is faced with a big dilemma.
Will this bridesmaid get the happy-ever-after she never knew she wanted...

L: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
KK: I’ve been a published writer for over thirty years. I write mainly romance and young adult novels now, but I’ve written many children’s books (120) and several short stories for women’s magazines. I’m also a writing tutor. I started my writing career working for Jackie magazine then other teen magazines and children’s comics such as Postman Pat and Winnie the Pooh, writing stories, comic strips and activities. Gradually I got some children’s books published and for the first twenty years of my writing career wrote mainly for children, before moving onto romance and getting my first romance novel, Never Say Forever, published in 2007 as a People’s Friend Pocket novel, it was then republished by a US company, and then by Accent Press.

L:  Who or what inspired you to be an author?
KK: My dad encouraged a love of reading and writing in me as a child, as did authors such as Richmal Crompton (Just William books), Enid Blyton and – as I got older – Agatha Christie.

L:  Who or what inspired your novel?
KK: I’ve often admired the travel reps at the resorts I’ve holidayed in, they work hard and play hard. I thought a story involving a character working as a travel rep would be really interesting. They have to cope with so many different customers, including stag and hen parties, and there might be times when they have a summer romance with holiday-makers. When my husband booked us an anniversary trip to Majorca a couple of years ago I thought that would make a great setting, popped in a few complications to the story, and off I went.

L:   What would you say is the genre of your novel?  
KK: Romance with a touch of humour.

L:  Why did you pick this/these genre(s)?
KK: I like writing stories that readers can identify with, and most of us have had experience of falling in love and all the complications that brings. I keep my novels light-hearted and usually set them in holiday locations as I like to take my readers away from the stresses of everyday life for a while and provide a, hopefully, relaxing read.

L:  How did you develop your plot and characters?
KK: I work out the story outline so that I have a basic structure for the story, write character profiles to make sure I know my characters well, then I start writing. I write the first draft as it comes and often find that as I’m writing the characters will do something I hadn’t planned or the story will go off in an unexpected tangent, I go with it as long as it works. Once the first draft is finished I start editing and often do several rewrites before I’m happy enough to send it to my editor.

L:  Who or what inspired your protagonist?
KK: I wanted her to be a bit unconventional, fun-loving, extrovert. I flicked through some Pinterest pictures for inspiration and saw one of a woman with long, bright red tousled hair, casually dressed. She was perfect for Jess.

L:  Who or what inspired your antagonist?
KK: I wanted Charlotte to be the opposite of Jess, to be snobby, controlling, wanting everything to be perfect. I’ve known a few people like this so it was easy to draw on experience without basing her on one person.

L:  What was the most difficult part to write in the book?
KK: I always find setting and description the most difficult to write. I find that writing character, action and dialogue flows quite easily, but I really have to stop and think when I write setting and description. I think it may be because of all my earlier work writing for teen and children’s magazines where the word limit was too tight to allow for description, the picture told it all. When I’ve written my first draft I go back over it and add more description and visualization to the scenes.

L:  What was your favourite part of your book to write?
KK: I had a lot of fun writing the scenes with the guys on the stag do, but I think the favourite one was in the Caves of Drach. I visited them with my husband on our anniversary and was blown away by how magical they were.

L:  Are you a full time or a part time writer? If part time, what do you do besides write?
KK: I’ve earned my living as a writer and writing tutor for the past thirty years, but now I’m concentrating on writing.

L:  What are you currently reading?
KK: Nothing at the moment, I’m too busy writing, but my Kindle is loaded up with a dozen or so books to read and I’m looking forward to reading Mandy Baggot’s latest book Desperately Seeking Summer.

L:  What are some of your favourite books or authors?
KK: I have far too many favourite authors, and books to name but Mandy Baggot is one of my favourites as is Sophie Kinsella and Sharon Shinn.

L:  What are your future projects, if any?
KK: I’m delighted to have recently signed a contract for two romance novels with Bookouture, and am now working on the first one, Snowy Nights at the Lonely Hearts Hotel, which will be out in November, the second book will be out in February. I’ve also signed with Littwitz Press for my YA books, and my afterlife romance, Rise of the Soul Catchers, was published by them in April.

L:  What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you and your books?
KK: I always love to hear from readers.
Website | Twitter | Romance Facebook | YA Facebook

L:  Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
KK: Don’t give up on your dream. Keep writing, rewriting and sending off your work. And don’t forget to make time for reading, reading is the foundation for writing.

Giovanna has served the Holy Mother Church since the day they burned her at the stake. As a member of the Sinistra Dei, a secret order within the Catholic Church, Gia excelled at the art of assassinations.

Lately, the biggest crisis Gia has had to face is a long night at work. That is until her quiet world begins to unravel when her commander, and former lover, sinks into insanity. Before she can come to terms with his illness, and centuries of secrets and lies, dark immortals terrorize the French Quarter.

In the face of new enemies, old fears, a rising death toll, and the unexpected evolution of her supernatural powers—Gia is forced to choose between duty and loyalty to save those she loves.

This was quite an interesting urban fantasy. It was a new take on vampires and their existence. I definitely enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the characters being created mainly to work for the Vatican. Even more interesting that they can sink into a form of madness that makes them a threat.

Gia is a strong character. Despite the pain she endures and will endure. The tension between Lochlan and her, plus the tension between Lochlan and Torben is very apparent. I enjoyed the love and patience of Torben. What man will truly wait centuries to be with the woman he loves? Really quite formidable.

I definitely would love to read the other's stories to see how their personal stories and how they came to be where they are today.

If you are looking for a different take on vampires and enjoy a little sexy romance, this is a good place to start.

Kathryn M. Hearst is a southern girl with a love of the dark and strange. She has been a story teller her entire life, as a child she took people watching to new heights by creating back stories of complete strangers. Besides writing, she has a passion for shoes, vintage clothing, antique British cars, music, musicians and all things musical (including theatre). Kate lives in central Florida with her chocolate lab, Jolene; and two rescue pups, Jagger and Roxanne. She is a self-proclaimed nerd, raising a nerdling.

Aon, a solid core planet made from the priceless and most dense element in the galaxy, caladium, is under silent attack. Plans are made by off-worlders to dissolve the unbreakable core using crude oil obtained from 19th century earth. Once the oil is refined, the byproduct, gasoline, will soften the caladium, allowing it to be collected. It is soon discovered the core is made from living beings created from caladium itself. The off-worlders employ a band of corrupt inhabitants to carry on this work. They find themselves in a constant struggle with a small coalition of Aonians bent on saving their home world. Both factions clash with the indestructible core creatures. With horrendous beasts one step behind and deadly pitfalls ahead, the coalition struggles to finish its journey, hoping to insure their races’ survival.

L: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
LS: Born in Richmond, Virginia, I spent most of my adult life as a supervisor in the field of construction and fabrication. When my department was outsourced within two months of my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, I realized the need to transition onto a new path due to energy and mobility challenges. My son suggested I consider writing as a career; having enjoyed my short stories. I agreed to the challenge and my first novel, “Rising Tide”, was accepted for publication, released in 2009 then re-released in 2015 with additional content. "Rising Tide" has become a series with two follow up novels "Eden’s Wake" and "Deadly Reign," with a fourth in the works. I have also published "Terminal Core," a stand-alone science fiction novel. I write mainly science fiction, fantasy, dystopian and hybrids of all three genres, including action adventures, all with a Christian premise.

L: Who or what inspired you to be an author?
LS: There were suggestions and support, but no real inspiration until I began to write. The action of writing itself inspires me to continue, especially when I learn I have brought pleasure to a stranger, hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

L: Who or what inspired your novel?
LS: When I write, I sit before my virtual sheet of paper moiling thoughts through my brain until an idea clicks. As soon as I begin to pen the manuscript it takes on a life of its own and writes itself. Fortunately, it pulls me along for the ride, and I can be sure of what a wild ride it will be.

L: What would you say is the genre of your novel?
LS: Science Fiction / Fantasy, Hybrid . . . more on the sci-fi side.

L: Why did you pick this/these genre(s)?
LS: Sci-fi and Fantasy have been my favorites since I was a kid. When it comes to Fantasy, I don't do Kings, Queens, Knights, Fairies and never Unicorns. The only exception to this rule is J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.

L: How did you develop your plot and characters?
LS: If you'll give them a chance and not press, I find they develop more completely when left to their own devices. Of course I'll keep one hand on the steering wheel.

L: Who or what inspired your protagonist?
LS: Once again, no inspiration. My novels will begin with a protagonist or one will make themselves known as the book progresses. It's possible the protagonist may die and bring about the need for another.

L: Who or what inspired your antagonist?
LS: Same as above; however, there may be multiple antagonists that have to be dealt with until the ultimate evil one is exposed.

L: What was the most difficult part to write in the book?
LS: The majority of the book was extremely difficult.There were as many as six different groups, some from the planet Aon and others from 19th Century earth. In some cases, groups were mixed with both. Certain characters would travel from earth to Aon and visa versa. Add with these a number of off-worlders, dimensional travel and the core of a world made from living beings ready to attack and I had a challenge that kept me on my toes and then some.

L: What was your favourite part of your book to write?
LS: There were numerous parts that were exciting to write, but the ending held a special meaning for me and was very unpredictable.

L: Are you a full time or a part time writer? If part time, what do you do besides write?
LS: Full Time

L: What are you currently reading?
LS: Stephen King's Dark Tower Series

L: What are some of your favourite books or authors?
LS: Stephen King, Robert Heinlein, Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea"

L: What are your future projects, if any?
LS: I have two novels in the works: The fourth in The "Rising Tide" series and a stand alone, sci-fi fantasy, hybrid.

L: What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you and your books?
LS:
Email: [email protected]
www.lynnsteigleder.com

L: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
LS: Don't let rejection get you down, it's a large part of the business. Don't take yourself too seriously. And above all have fun. Ben Fountain said it best, "If you want to write, then write."