Q&A with Author Natalie Charles: The Burden of Desire

I've been looking forward to this interview since I first read this manuscript more than a year ago, and it is an honor to be chatting once again with my oldest friend and critique partner, Natalie Charles, on her captivating and highly entertaining new release, THE BURDEN OF DESIRE.

Former lovers become partners in Natalie Charles's new novel of the perfect crime…

On the eve of trial, prosecutor Sally Dawson has all the evidence she needs to convict a man of killing his wife—until the "victim" reappears. Now, alone and pregnant, to save her career she must trust the very man who broke her heart—her sworn enemy, Ben McNamara.

The case confounds Ben, a former marine JAG, but not the attraction budding between him and Sally. Their mutual desire never died. Can Ben prove to her that he's a changed man? He may never get the chance, because the closer Sally gets to the surprising truth, the closer she gets to a desperate killer….

AMAZON  | Barnes & Noble



Congrats on your new release, THE BURDEN OF DESIRE. Can you tell us a little about the book? 

Prosecutor Sally Dawson is having the worst day of her life. Not only is she stuck working with her ex, Ben McNamara, but the murder case she was working on has just blown up in her face. To save the job she loves, she needs to swallow her pride and accept help from the man who broke her heart. Sally is certain of three things: she works best alone, she's done with men, and she despises the arrogant Ben…so how is it that working with him calls all three of those convictions into question?

Where did the inspiration for this book come from? 

I've been a little obsessed with forensics for years, and I once watched something about a real-life case in which a man was successfully tried for murder when no one could find the victim's body. My immediate thought was, What if the fail-proof forensic science was all wrong? From there, I developed the suspense part of the book. 
 

As for the romance…after my daughter was born, I joined a group to socialize with other new moms and met a single woman who'd conceived her baby through intrauterine insemination. Of course I listened with rapt attention as she explained the process of choosing a father for her child, and then she kind of shrugged and said, "I figured I wasn't getting any younger, and it was now or never." It was such a bold, brave statement, and I knew at that moment that I had to write this book.

This is your second novel. In what ways was the writing experience different than with the first? 

I found the experience of writing the second book extremely difficult. Maybe that's because I wrote my first book after winning a competition, but I had this anxiety that I was a one-hit wonder. It reached a point where I struggled with every single word, imagining the manuscript collecting dust in a drawer. I resisted writing, and then when I neared the end, I resisted finishing. If my editor, Rachel, hadn't prodded me for another manuscript, I'm not sure how long I would have taken. Now that it's finished, I love the book, but I was experiencing second book syndrome every step of the way.

Now that you have your debut under your belt, do you feel like a "real" writer? 

In my mind, real writers lounge by the pool and breezily work on their manuscripts. My process is more like pounding coffee and staying up too late just to get another 500 words in. Real writers are much more glamorous in my mind than I could ever hope to be.

Is there a particular character or scene that you most connect with in this story?
 

I do love Sally. I'm not nearly as dramatic as she is (maybe some would disagree…) but I relate to her struggle to assert herself and be taken seriously in a tough profession.

You're a lawyer by day, and your procedural knowledge shines through in your books. Can you tell us how your professional training has changed the way you approach your creative work? 

Law school teaches you about the power of words. Lawyers analyze commas and obsess over meaning and intent, and I'm in a job where we get downright pedantic about language. Words matter. I call on my professional training to understand how lawyers might approach a case or a problem, but I think that most of my training appears behind the scenes, where I edit my work like crazy.

THE BURDEN OF DESIRE has some page-turning plot twists. When you sit down to brainstorm a new book, which comes first, the suspense or the romance? 

They kind of evolve together, to be honest. Some days, the romance is easier to write and I focus on that, and other days the suspense comes easier. I enjoy shifting between the two plots and playing one off the other. As for plot twists, I've always started off knowing whodunit. Getting my characters to figure it out is a completely different matter. I'm never quite sure how that will happen.

Tell us, why is your hero the perfect man for your heroine? 

Ben is Sally's worst nightmare. He is the person who out-performed her in law school, broke her heart, and now threatens to displace her in her workplace. Ben also sees right through Sally's armor to her essence, and this, more than anything, terrifies her. It's what Ben does with that power that makes him perfect for Sally. I hate to give specifics because I don't want to spoil the book, but let's just say that Ben spends the entire book surprising Sally.

What are you working on now and what can readers look forward to reading by you next?

My next book for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, When No One is Watching, will be out in September. Aside from that, I'm currently working on something a little different – one of those projects that has been haunting me for years, so I need to get it out of my system. I promise I'll make an announcement as soon as I am able to share more details!

You can find out more about Natalie's books on her website, www.nataliecharlesromance.com. 
 

Q&A + Giveaway With Olivia Miles: 'Twas the Week Before Christmas

I may be the most excited guest at this party. Olivia is my oldest and dearest friend and my trusted critique partner, and I'm thrilled to have her in the Hot Seat today to talk about her charming debut, 'Twas the Week Before Christmas. Leave a comment for your chance to win a copy!

Congratulations on your debut release, Olivia! Holly and Max are so easy to like and root for. What do you love most about each of them?

Max has had a hard life in many ways and I love the fact that he’s tough but not bitter. He has a good sense of people, he’s friendly, and even though he has a wall up, he’s approachable. With Holly, I love her creative side and the way she approaches everything she does with her whole heart. She’s not just playing a role of innkeeper; she wants to open her doors and bring people into her home. She’s very genuine.

When I read 'Twas the Week Before Christmas, I'm instantly transported to a little town that loves Christmas. Am I right to assume that this reflects an author who loves the holiday?

I do love Christmas. I’m a homebody, and I love cold weather months in general because it’s a reason to stay inside. The holidays are an extra cozy time of year because the house is filled with so many more beautiful things than it normally is--lights and ornaments, music and delicious smells. What’s not to love?

What inspired you to write 'Twas the Week Before Christmas?

I have a bit of a “thing” for made for television Christmas movies. I get excited about them every year. I re-watch my favorites and make sure to record all the new ones. I even go through the channel websites to check the line up and make sure I don’t miss any. Needless to say, when that Happy Holidays contest popped up, it was like a sign from above. It was my calling. I love watching holiday romances,  so what better than to write one myself?

Can we talk about the food? Cookies, pies, rich hot chocolate – your books ruin my diet! But there's something very warm and nostalgic about these food references. What are Max and Holly's favorite holiday foods? What's yours?

Hmm, I never even thought about this but that’s an interesting observation. After all, my next Special Edition is called Recipe for Romance and I’m yet again working on a book set in a restaurant…! Well, this really isn’t conscious. I must have food on the brain! For this particular book, it’s set over the holidays, and what are the holidays without rich foods? I’d say that Max doesn’t have many holiday traditions to fall back on, so he’s open to the traditions Holly has carried over into her inn. He loves the pies she picks up fresh in town. Holly enjoys cooking; it’s yet another way for her to nurture and take care of people. She’s a people pleaser, and she’s creative, and I think that she sees delicious food as part of the overall service she provides. As for my favorite holiday foods, I do like cookies, but again, I’d rather eat cookie dough. I’m not much of a chocolate person (really!) but I do love vanilla, and we’ve made a wonderful trifle for the past few holidays. The one thing I really do think of as a true Christmas treat is eggnog.

Do you have any more books planned for the characters in 'Twas the Week Before Christmas?

My next release, Recipe for Romance, is also set in the town of Maple Woods and several of the characters from ‘Twas the Week Before Christmas will make an appearance.

What role did writing competitions play in your publication journey?

The first chapter of this book was the winning entry for Special Edition’s Happy Holidays Contest. The win led to a full request and shortly thereafter ‘The Call.’ I have no way of knowing how things might have played out had I not entered that contest, but it was a turning moment in my road to publication. I’d have to think it kick started something that might otherwise have taken a considerably longer time.

You're a mom, a wife, and a writer with (ahem) a number of books under contract. How do you manage to make it all work?

I have become very organized, and this was not per se in my nature before I was forced to juggle so many daily responsibilities. My writing time is limited to my daughter’s schedule more or less, and I make sure to put the time I have for writing to the best possible use. I plan ahead and know what I need to accomplish that day. I don’t always meet my goals, but I usually come close.

You're a fairly prolific writer -- do you believe in writer's block? If so, how do you deal with it? And if not, why not?

Yes and no. Sometimes a story idea just isn’t working, and when that happens, I find myself unable to move forward with my writing. I often still try to force it, but I have realized it is better not to. It only leads to frustration. Often a day or two away from writing is the best thing I can do for myself, and of course a little feedback from my critique partner never hurts J When I come back to the draft I’m working on, I am almost in a better place with it. I think it’s common to write yourself into a dead end, but I don’t think that’s the same as feeling like you just can’t write. I imagine that for most writers, like myself, the mind just never switches off…there are always ideas floating around, and it’s about deciding which ones work the best.

Your book just hit shelves. Pinch yourself. Do you feel like a real writer?

I wish I could say that I felt like a real writer but I really just feel like nothing has changed. I keep waiting for something to click, to feel like my life’s goal has been reached, but I’m always setting new goals for myself, so I never feel like I am quite there. I am a writer. It’s what I do. But a real writer? I just feel like me.

What are you working on now, and what's next?

My second Special Edition, Recipe for Romance, releases on March 18^th. In September, my first single-title romance, Mistletoe on Main Street, will release. This book is the first in my Briar Creek Series from Grand Central Publishing. Right now I’m working on my second Briar Creek novel, A Match Made on Main Street, which has a release date of April 2015.

Any departing words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

Create a goal for yourself, however big or small, and never lose sight of it.

 A romantic inn. . .a white Christmas. . .hot cocoa by a roaring fire. . .it all adds up to a perfect holiday romance from Special Edition debut author Olivia Miles!  

A storm is about to shake up Holly Tate’s quaint lifestyle, and the Nor’easter scheduled to hit the small town of Maple Woods, Connecticut will have nothing on the upheaval real estate tycoon Max Hamilton creates during his week-long stay at The White Barn Inn. Since inheriting her grandmother’s house five years ago, Holly has poured her heart and soul into transforming the old mansion into a successful inn, hoping to be able to save enough to buy the property when the ninety-nine year lease expires on Christmas Day. 

Max has a different plan. But as attraction builds and emotions stir, will Holly’s contagious Christmas spirit have him changing his mind? Or will Holly be forced to start the new year with no home or business, but instead, only a broken heart?

AMAZON || B&N

Q&A with SYTYCW Finalist Jan Schliesman

I was thrilled to be asked to mentor Harlequin's 2013 So You Think You Can Write finalist Jan Schliesman. Jan is the only finalist writing romantic suspense -- the subgenre nearest and dearest to my heart. Every writer has a journey, right? I invited Jan to the Hot Seat to talk about hers.

Welcome, Jan! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Thanks for having me on your blog, Natalie.  I’m originally from eastern Iowa and currently reside in Wichita, Kansas.  I believe in love at first sight because I met my future husband, Tim, while working as a bank teller.  One look and I knew he was the one. He, on the other hand, waited several months before asking me out. We’ve been married for twenty-five years and have three kids: Jalynn, Tanner and Karlee. I worked for five years as a police dispatcher, which sent me back to college. I earned my criminal justice degree in 2012 and really thought I’d get another chance to dispatch but the crazy hours aren’t conducive to a family life.  I currently work at a jewelry store and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be my last day job;)

Can you tell us about your manuscript, Kira's Keeper?

Kira’s Keeper is a romantic suspense story.  My heroine, Kira Kincaid, works as an insurance investigator and has always believed in playing by the rules and doing the right thing. Then she’s arrested for embezzling from the government’s Medicare program after a large sum of money is found in an old bank account.  Her almost ex-husband, Joshua Kincaid, swore the account had been closed right after their marriage and now she needs to track him down.  Without his help to clear her name, she’ll end up in prison.

Dalton Matthews, CEO for Buckshot’s Coffee, has been hiding out in the woods for over a year. After his wife’s suicide, the overzealous paparazzi are fighting for any picture of him in exile. When Kira arrives at his cabin, he’s certain she’s motivated by dollar signs. Then an attempt is made on her life and he’s forced into action. But his plan to turn her over to the police is derailed when she insists she’s married to his brother…his dead brother. The last thing his family needs is another headline.

But when a second attempt is made on her life he’s torn. Should he walk away from the woman who’s succeeded in dredging up a few family secrets? Or should he believe the danger surrounding her is real and remain Kira’s Keeper?

Every writer's journey has ups and downs. What has yours been like so far?

I started writing in 1997. I got a subscription to Writer’s Digest magazine and purchased several books on writing. I found a nearby writer’s group, Heart of Iowa Fiction Authors. To show how determined I was, I drove seventy miles (one way) on a Thursday night to attend a meeting!  My kids were little and it required a lot of planning.  But the gals I met were all very enthusiastic and welcoming. I brought along part of the story I had started and no one laughed at me, even though it was single spaced on lavender paperJ  I tried to learn as much as I could and attended my first RWA national conference in Chicago in 1999. Although determination was high, I was also dealing with a child with autism and his needs frequently outweighed anything else.  In 2003, I attended the New York conference and came home with a new attitude. I could do this!  Discipline was all I needed.  Tanner had his first seizure three weeks later while I was working as a police dispatcher.  I still get chills thinking about the 911 call from my husband.  Our family relocated to Iowa City to be closer to a hospital that could treat him.  As you can guess, writing was the furthest thing from my mind.  It was the fall of 2008 before I really got serious about writing again. I entered chapter contests and won my first award in 2009---I got an email while sitting in a Laundromat in Wichita, a week after my husband took a promotion. The next year I took second place in the Daphne’s, along with a request for my full manuscript. It took me six months, but I got it polished and sent in. I started writing a new story and entering contests again, but as any parent of a special needs child can tell you, working outside the home is sometimes your only salvation. I also wanted to finish my degree, and everything seemed to be vying for my attention. I returned to college full-time, took a job as a 911 call taker, and then received a revision request on Kira’s Keeper.  Three more months and I sent the revisions.  In May 2012, I graduated from college and received a second revision request, this one telling me that the romantic suspense line had increased to 70,000 words.  More writing and revising before I stumbled upon a writer’s loop that turned out to be my ultimate support.  And I don’t know if I’d call it a total rewrite (nods headJ), but I finally got it finished last spring and started a new story.  Evidently I’m getting a little better at this writing thing because my second book won the Sheila contest in August and is a finalist in the Golden Pen.  I had this brilliant plan to enter my new story in the SYTYCW contest, when another author suggested I stick with Kira’s Keeper.  Really?  I stalled a bit before entering and was so disappointed when I didn’t make the Top 50.  Yes, you read that correctly…I didn’t make the Top 50!  It took me a week to get over the disappointment, and then the next day I received an email stating another spot had opened up and requesting my book by Friday. I made that deadline with the support of my Texas ladies: Angi Morgan, Jen FitzGerald and Sarah Cannon.  I also started calling myself Magic #51!  Because someone in the initial 50 hadn’t been able to meet their deadline, I was granted another chance.  Imagine my shock when I made it into the Top 10!  So, there’s my story.  Sixteen years of writing brought me to this point, along with some amazing highs and bottomless lows.  I have a bulletin board above my desk with lots of important phrases written on index cards.  My favorite: Determination Trumps Talent.

In addition to being a writer, you're a wife and a mother. How do you find balance?

Balance?  That’s a tough question.  For many years I didn’t feel like I balanced things very well.  Other writers made it look easy and I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. But when you have kids, especially one with special needs, they have to come first. Everyone has a different path and different challenges.  Feeling like a real author was a big turning point for me.  When our youngest moved to the college dorms, I took over one of the bedrooms for my office.  My hubby painted the walls red and I have an official “wall of fame”.  I’ve gotten used to interruptions but I’ve also learned to ignore a lot of things.  I am never going to have a perfect life so I don’t know why I ever thought that my writing world had to be perfect or I couldn’t function. Sometimes I’m in my office and if the words aren’t flowing, I move to another room and switch to my laptop. I also say no a lot now.  I have to write.  No one else is going to do it for me.  No one else has invested what I’ve invested.  There are still days where everything doesn’t work out the way I wish it would, but tomorrow is another chance to get it right.

Where do you find inspiration?

I got a lot of great story ideas while working for the police department and through my college classes.  Sometimes a single line of dialogue will pop into my head and it’s enough to write an entire scene. If my day is going well, I might get a few pages down where my heroine is overcoming an obstacle. If nothing is going right in my real world, I’ll escape to my current story and write an emotional scene. If I’m angry…I’m gonna have to kill somebody off! I’ve also gotten many ideas from brainstorming with other authors.

You can check out Jan's entry, Kira's Keeper, right here. Don't forget to vote for your favorite entry! Voting closes November 25.

Guest Post: Decorating a New Home + Giveaway! by C.J. Miller

My family and I recently moved to a new home and I feel like I have a blank canvas to start with. Or maybe since I'm a writer, I should say I have a blank document in front of me.

Unlike when I write, I don’t know where to start with furnishing and decorating the house. I've never been big into decorating and I don’t know a thing about coordinating colors and textures. When I like something, I start to wonder how it will look with everything else in the room and if it's something I want to look at day in and day out. I could burn hours on jossandmain.com and wayfair.com. Both sites are filled with cool ideas.

My brother is a great decorator. He coordinates, he changes color schemes and his place just works. Walking from room to room, I feel like I am in a home, not a series of random spaces with clashing colors and piles of mess. I'm planning to invite him for dinner and then pump him for ideas.

I have two young children, so my home will not be filled with vases and glass, but I like comfortable furniture and pretty things! Have any decorating tips? What's your favorite place to shop for home and décor items?

Share your thoughts and leave your email address (or email me at cj AT cj-miller DOT COM with the subject line HPT Giveaway) for your chance to win a copy of Protecting His Princess. Giveaway limited to US mailing addresses only, adults aged 18+.

In this kingdom, not even the royals are immune to danger

With a sexy FBI agent posing as her suitor, Princess Laila of Qamsar is home for the wedding of her brother the Emir. In truth, the beautiful royal and Harris Truman are on an undercover mission: to find the infamous terrorist her brother is suspected of aiding.

But once the festivities begin, Laila faces a bigger threat than Al-Adel. Her secret meetings with Harris pose a danger to her safety­—and her heart. To gain his love and live in freedom as his equal is her ardent desire. But will she betray her traditions for a man whose kisses are part of a charade?

Protecting His Princess, the third and final book in the Truman brother miniseries, is out this month from Harlequin Romantic Suspense and is available in print and e-book.

Amazon || BN 

About C.J. Miller:

A 3rd generation Harlequin reader and the 1st in her family to write professionally, C.J. published her first book with Harlequin Romantic Suspense in 2012.

She lives in Maryland with her family. When she isn't writing, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and reading. C.J. believes in first loves, second chances, and happily ever after.

Website: http://www.cj-miller.com/

Blog: http://cjmillerwrites.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CJMillerWrites