Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Interview and Giveaway- Wildfire by J.D. Wright



What inspired you to become an author?

I wish I could say that I’ve always wanted to be an author, but that simply wasn’t the case. I have written poetry since I was a young child, and eventually got into songwriting. I even started writing a fantasy novel while I was in high school, which I left unfinished, but I’ve never wanted to do this as a profession. I just decided one day that I wanted to do something just for me and prove to myself that I could do it. Once I started writing, however, something changed. I suddenly became obsessed and inspired. It’s been a whirlwind ever since.  

Do you have a specific writing style?

I’m not really sure. I do write in third person and my experience with poetry does tend to find its way into my writing, but I don’t really know how to describe my “style”. I just write the story as I see it play out in my mind.

Do you write in different genres?

At this time, I am sticking with my fantasy-romance. In the future, I may go full YA for a series or even try my hand at writing in a more modern environment, rather than my current medieval-ish world. I do plan to stick with fantasy and romance as my main focus. The characters and time periods may change, though.


Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?

I try to title the book first so that I know what to call it when referring to it. So far, it’s been fairly easy to come up with titles for the first three books because the titles were taken from something inside the story. For the fourth book, I may have to get creative. Even though I have a plot already decided, nothing is coming to mind yet to use as a title.


Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?

I do not base characters on people I know. However, for the scenes and plots, I do pull from my own personal experience. For example, I lost my father as a child, so the death of a parent has shown up in my series. It’s easier and more comfortable to write about things I have personal experience with.

What book are you reading now?

I’m sad to say that I haven’t found much time to read between writing, family time, and my “day job”. But I do have a long list of recommendations from my favorite book bloggers, so when I am ready to take a break from writing, I have a lot of awesome books to choose from!

 What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?

I am currently writing Blood Moon, the third book of the Everealm Series and will go straight into the fourth book, after. I don’t want to take too much time off between books because I like to keep everything fresh in my mind. After I finish the Everealm Series, I do have a few other ideas for spin-off series. We will stay inside Everealm, but we may play around with the time period a bit.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Sure! Here is a short and steamy teaser from the first chapter of Blood Moon (book three):

The crowd was still applauding so she gave a quick bow, signifying that her performance was finished. Then she stepped over to the counter and took a key from the barkeeper. She didn’t need to look back at the man in the corner. She knew he was watching her. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked up the stairs.

The wait was incredibly annoying. She knew he would come, but she wasn’t sure when. When she heard a short rap on the door, she took her time in opening it. But once the door was open, she wasted no time in grabbing a fistful of his shirt and pulling him inside.
Immediately, his mouth was on hers. Her stomach burned from the nerves and excitement. He was a stranger, but they had been toying with each other all evening in the tavern. There was no denying their attraction. It was fierce and explosive.

He knew her lips would be soft because he had watched them all night, singing and teasing him. But he didn’t expect her to taste so amazing, like a fine wine. And he certainly knew something about wine. She pushed him backward, against the door and pressed her body against him.

When her hands flew to his hair, he grabbed her waist and spun her around, pinning her to the door this time. She had already found his weakness. He loved feeling a woman’s hands in his hair. She had managed to remove her corset before he arrived, which made things much easier. He pulled her blouse up and over her head while she yanked her skirts down. They stopped kissing just long enough for him to remove his own shirt. Then their lips were back together again, their tongues taking turns teasing each other.

He was already aroused before he came up the stairs, so it took almost nothing to make him completely stiff again. And she was definitely able to feel it against her thigh. She moved her hands down and unbuttoned his trousers, freeing him. Even though the room was cool, the heat from their bodies made it impossible for either of them to notice.

He stopped kissing her mouth and moved to her neck and shoulders. The same neck and shoulders that he had been fantasizing about all evening. Her smooth skin was warm and smelled like wildflowers. When he kissed the base of her neck, she groaned and squeezed his bare bottom, pulling him closer. It seemed that he may have found her weakness, as well. It was a huge boost to his ego. He put his hands under her rear and gripped her, lifting her up. She put her hands around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist just as he slipped inside her. This time, he was the one who groaned.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

The most challenging part of writing, for me, is simply finding time to write. Once I get into the “zone”, I can get a lot of writing done at once. But it isn’t easy to find the time to get away from everything and focus on writing. I now understand why authors take long vacations in quiet places!

Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that you think represents this book?

I have a writing playlist for anytime I am writing, but I found that some songs received more play than others while writing Wildfire. Here are a few:

-        Switchfoot: Dare You To Move
-        Chevelle: Take Out the Gunman
-        Muse: Madness
-        Taylor Swift: Red

-        Dido: Here With Me


Wildfire
Everealm Series
Book Two
J.D. Wright

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Date of Publication: 9-1-15

ISBN: 978-1517257408
ASIN: B0137Y7XVO

Number of pages: 270
Word Count: 84,000

Cover Artist: J.D. Wright

Book Description:

The journey through Everealm continues as new evil arrives, casting mayhem about the realm. While war and wildfire are causing disorder, Bree and Rowan find that assistance from the fairies isn't what they imagined. As Dagan and Sidonie seek answers to uncover the truth about her family and her magic, they are plagued with even more mystery to unveil. As the wildfire burns, who will be left standing in the ashes?


Amazon    Barnes and Noble


Book 1 Everealm Free for Kindle November 23-27


Excerpt:
Isabelle took another sip and sat her goblet down, looking around at her children. Xavier looked miserable and tired. Tristan appeared bored and Rianne seemed ready to flee at any moment. Seeing no better time to share her news, she cleared her throat.
“It has been several weeks since we’ve all shared an early meal together,” she said. “And I know that you have much more important matters to attend to so I will not keep you long.”
“We’re here for as long as you’d like, Mother,” Tristan said, earning a sharp glare from his brother across the table.
“Actually, the seamstress is on her way here to fit me for a new gown,” Rianne said, hoping it may excuse her. However, her mother paid her no mind.
“I have some news to share with you and wanted to do it in private. I would prefer your father be here, but I suspect this time is as good as any.” The queen paused for a moment to make sure that she had their attention. Then she turned to her daughter and continued.
“Rianne, your father has received a proposal for your hand in marriage from King Carneath.”
“King Carneath?” Rianne asked.
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. I didn’t think King Carneath had a son.”
“He doesn’t,” Tristan said, frowning. He realized immediately what his sister had yet to understand.
“Then, who am I supposed to ma—” She stopped, finally grasping what her mother was trying to say. “You mean him, the king? Don’t you?”
“I do,” her mother replied.
“But Carneath is over twice my age! Father would never consider such a proposal.” Rianne was sure of it.
“He is considering it.”
“That simply cannot be true! What does he want with a new wife anyway? His first wife had given him several daughters before she died. Right?”
“Three of them,” Tristan added.
“Precisely!” Rianne shouted. “Why would he need to remarry?”
 “I suppose he wants a son. Or perhaps he is lonely. It is also possible that he wants a mother for his children. Honestly, that is something I cannot answer,” Isabelle said, keeping calm.
“Mother to his children? I am only a few years older than those children, myself!”
“I find it hard to believe that Father would consider this proposal, as well,” Tristan said. “What could we possibly gain from the arrangement?”
“I have yet to be informed of the details, but I gather it involves acreage of Carneath land to the north, to expand our orchards.”
“Orchards? Is that all my future is worth? A few acres of land to plant more trees? We already have more trees than people in this wretched place.”
“Rianne,” her mother warned. “Your tone is unwelcome at my table.”
“My tone? What about my happiness? Is that unwelcome, too?”
Unable to control her emotions, Rianne stood and excused herself. She turned away from her mother and walked, quickly, back into the castle. She had made it all the way to her room before Tristan caught up with her. He found her curled up on the window seat, crying.
“Go away!”
“I know it may not seem like it right now, but everything will be alright.”
“Is that supposed to comfort her?” Xavier said, entering the room and closing the door behind him.
“What am I supposed to say?” Tristan said, standing beside the bedpost. “If Father approves the proposal, there is nothing anyone can do about it.”
Xavier shook his head at his brother and sat beside Rianne, who crawled over to cry on his arm.
“It isn’t fair. Tristan is to marry a princess who is young and beautiful. The same age as I am, even. And I have to marry an old man!”
“For all we know, Tristan’s princess may be ugly,” Xavier teased. “With a pig nose and warts all over. Hell, he hasn’t seen her since she was a baby. She could be a real hag of a lady.”
Rianne sat up, chuckling. Her light brown hair that had been pinned atop her head was now falling down and her perfect porcelain skin was blotchy from crying.
“I probably won’t even get to see her if I am married before their wedding,” Rianne frowned. “This entire idea is ridiculous! There are plenty of eligible women in the realm. Junacave, Moorine, Veyace. Why doesn’t he marry one of them? Why me?”
“The Princess of Junacave just became the queen, so she is no longer a prospect, I suspect,” Tristan said. “Moorine is on the other side of the Valerian Mountains, so Carneath land would be of no use to them. And the daughters in Veyace are still quite young.”
He looked up to see his brother and sister scowling at him.
“Constantly, the deliverer of unhelpful thoughts,” Xavier mumbled.





About the Author:

Writing has always been a hobby of mine, beginning as a young child. It was a way to cope with losing my father at seven years of age. I started with poetry and was featured several times on the amazing poetry blog, Autumn Leaves, by Sondra Ball. My love for poetry soon led to writing songs in middle school and beyond, which I still do occasionally. Music has always been an important part of my existence, so writing songs came naturally to me. In high school, I started my own novel, however, life got in the way and I never finished it.

Fast forward many years later and I find myself married with four children, absorbed in my busy life with commitments to my family, work, school, church, and charities, among other things. One day I came across my old binder, with notes from my first novel, and it was with those notes that I conjured up the elusive Everealm.

I write to please readers such as myself, who have a love for fantasy and romance, but like a little danger and sex in their reading. I wrote the book with a mature audience in mind, who can appreciate a hearty imaginary world with magic and the unknown, but want more than fluffy love stories with wizards in them. They want the romance, magic, and danger, all wrapped into one.




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1 comments:

J.D. Wright said...

Thank you so much for the awesome post!