A Case of Longing

Author Lily Baines’s contemporary romance novel is available on Amazon. This book tells the story of detective Rose Harper from the Chicago PD who has been partnered with detective Eithan Reed for the better part of a decade and has been in love with him despite herself for almost as long. Eithan was off-limits for a long time for various reasons and Rose isn’t even sure if he sees her as anything more than a partner and a friend. When the ‘we’re partners’ excuse she clung to becomes more and more irrelevant in a new case they handle, she’s forced to confront her own feelings.

You can find out more about this contemporary romance novelist on the Lily Baines website or on Facebook. Ask this contemporary romance novelist questions at Goodreads Author Lily Baines.

Lily’s Interview

Do you consider yourself (1) an introvert OR (2) an extrovert?

I’m a mix but I’d say I’m more of an introvert. I don’t like to be in the front line of things, I prefer being behind the scenes. I’m more comfortable with people I know. People who know me well can’t believe that I am uncomfortable in social situations, because with them I am open, talkative, confident, and funny. But in a new place or with new people, I can’t wait for it to be over. With the years I learned to be more confident, life sort of forces you to be. I managed a HR team in a high-tech company I worked for and was forced to be “the manager”. Even after ten years, I couldn’t get used to the feeling of having all eyes on me in team meetings or when I had to present to management and large groups, and that happened every week… Now, as a self-published author, I have to put myself out there and market my book and myself. Not easy for an introvert. This is why I write under a pen name. Most of the people I know don’t know about my author persona. I hope to be more comfortable reuniting the two in the future.

Easy to understand!

You prefer (1) to people watch OR (2) bird watch?

Watch people! I love people, human dynamics, interactions, behavior. Maybe that’s why I spent 20 years working in HR. That’s probably why I write. Stories pop into my head when I see or witness human interactions, situations, even in passing. For example, my next book’s idea just appeared in my head last summer when I was on a long weekend with my sisters-in-law in Montenegro, Europe. In one of the old towns we visited we witnessed a scene that immediately teased a story out of me. In the middle of this picturesque alley, a local man (who was very handsome, by the way) and a tourist boy who passed there with his parents holding a ball started playing soccer, and everyone stopped and watched because it was so endearing. They called at each other in two different languages while playing, with the only words both shared were Leo Messi and Christian Ronaldo, the famous soccer players. When they finished playing and the boy took the ball and left with his parents, the man had a pensive grimace on his face and my next story wrote itself. By the time I left for home, I had a rough outline in my head – a man who lost something important in life and a lonely woman find love in a surprising way. The soccer scene opens the story.

Wow! Impressive!

Are you (1) a morning person OR (2) a night owl?

A night owl, but I wish I was a morning person. I envy those who wake up early, feeling refreshed and energized and make the most of the day. I need several cups of coffee before I’m fully awake. My best hours are after 9pm. I can write into the night, do the laundry, binge-watch. I love the silence. But having kids and a day-job forced me to be more balanced. I quit my job 18 months ago and now I’m more able to sometimes give in to my natural clock.

Coffee, mana from heaven!

Thanks for being interviewed, Lily!

A Case of Longing
A Case of Longing

The Match Disaster

Author Latesha Kellam’s romance novel is available on Amazon. This book is a story about a woman who found love after leaving a bad marriage. She thought her new relationship was good enough because she was getting treated better than she was in her marriage, but what she didn’t realize was that her new relationship had just as many issues as the relationship she escaped from. Some of the issues were familiar and some of them were different. This book is about realizing you don’t deserve to be treated good enough but you deserve to be treated great in a relationship.

You can find out more about this romance novelist on the Latesha Kellam website. Visit her author page at Goodreads Author Latesha Kellam. You may tweet her, and she’s also on Instagram.

Latesha’s Interview

Do you consider yourself (1) an introvert OR (2) an extrovert?

I consider myself an introvert with some extrovert tendencies. I tend to shy away from big groups and I do not like to be in the spotlight, however if I am comfortable with the people around me I can have a good time and be quite sociable.

Comfort is everyone’s dream!

You prefer (1) to eat a home-cooked meal with family and friends OR (2) to eat in a big-name restaurant.

I prefer to eat a home-cooked meal with family and friends. I am a very picky eater and I tend to be unhappy with whatever I order at a restaurant. I am more likely be pleased with a home-cooked meal, especially if I cooked it and I always enjoy the company of my family and friends.

Bet you are an excellent cook!

You can travel back in time. Will you go back (1) 10 years OR (2) 25 years?

I would go back 25 years because I would be 17 years old. My senior year of high school was one of the best years of my life. I had great friends and an awesome support system for what was coming next in my life.

A fascinating observation!

Your significant other or child asked you to do something you don’t like to do. Do you (1) grin and bear it OR (2) mumble to yourself while doing the task?

I would grin and bear it. I don’t like to let people down, so I definitely wouldn’t want to seem like I was unhappy about whatever task I was doing.

Sound reasoning!

What is your favorite (1) song OR (2) book?

My favorite book is The Notebook. I am a hopeless romantic and this story was full of romance but it also had suspense. I was on the edge of my seat wondering if Noah and Allie would find their way back to each other. Love conquered all in this book and I loved that.

Interesting insight! Thanks for being interviewed, Latesha!

The Match Disaster
The Match Disaster

The Poinciana Tree

Author Rita Lee Chapman’s crime mystery novel is available on Amazon. This story is set around the beautiful Poinciana tree, with its amazing red flowers. Suzanne Matthews arrives home from work to find the kitchen in disarray and her daughter missing. After searching the house, her eyes turn towards the garden, drawn to the Poinciana tree. Underneath its canopy she sees her daughter, slumped against its trunk.

When the police are unable to identify Jennifer’s killer, they turn their attention to her husband, Mark. Whilst trying to cope with her grief, she finds herself fighting to prove her husband’s innocence, as her world is turned upside down. She is inspired by another woman, who went with her husband to the Sudan as medical volunteers for a charity organisation.

A tale of raw emotion, desperation and acceptance.

You can find out more about this crime mystery novelist on the Rita Lee Chapman website or on Smashwords. Visit her author page at  Goodreads Author Rita Lee Chapman. You may even view her blog.

Rita’s Interview

Are you (1) a morning person OR (2) a night owl?

I’m definitely a morning person. I wake up with the sun and can’t wait to start the day, which means that by evening I’m running out of steam. Fortunately I live in Queensland, Australia, where most people go to bed early and get up early. However, if there is something exciting going on, I’m happy to dance the night away – but not much after midnight.

Sounds like you have Cinderella slippers!

Which is more important: (1) a reduction in global warming OR (2) reduction of communicable diseases?

A reduction in communicable diseases. Global warming is a natural phenomena, the earth warms, the earth cools. It would be nice to eradicate communicable diseases, but the real problem facing us now is over-population. Australia used to give foreign aid on the basis that contraception was encouraged but that no longer seems to be the case.

Insightful reasoning!

What provides more inspiration to you: (1) art OR (2) nature?

Nature. I like my art to look like a landscape or a person. Nature is almost always beautiful and lifts the spirit – even when it is cruel it can be amazing.

A fascinating observation!

Do you (1) love shopping OR (2) hate shopping?

I love shopping – even grocery shopping! I prefer to go to a shop rather than shop online but online shopping does have its uses, particularly pricewise. However, for clothes and shoes I enjoy browsing and choosing, even if I don’t buy.

A true window shopper!

Do you prefer to read (1) an e-book OR (2) a paperback?

Definitely a paperback. I’m dreading running out of paperbacks during the coronavirus! I have an e-reader and sometimes read on my laptop but I much prefer to curl up with a paperback.

I can see that! Thanks for being interviewed, Rita!

The Poinciana Tree
The Poinciana Tree

 

Mystics

Author Astralia Dik’s psychological and mystical thriller novel is available on Amazon. It is also dystopian describing the end of the world. It answers the question how to survive in such conditions and offers to learn the ideology of soul development. This book is a journey through parallel worlds showing different states of a soul.

You can find out more about this psychological and mystical thriller novelist at Astralia Dik on Smashwords. Visit her author page at: Goodreads Author Astralia Dik. You may even tweet her!

Astralia’s Interview

Do you consider yourself (1) an introvert OR (2) an extrovert?

I’m introvert because I love to be at home in lonelyness to think about details of my books.

Book details are important!

Science has advanced and we can now colonize other planets. Do you (1) sign up to be a colonist OR (2) remain on Earth?

I remain on Earth because I think other planets are unsuitable for residing because of they were left by ancient civilizations. We must save our planet, must learn to love it, not try to escape from its problems because we are the reason of them.

Definitely a homebody!

You have enough money to do anything. Will you (1) pamper yourself at a spa for a week OR (2) go on a cruise for a week?

I choose a cruise because I prefer an active rest. It gives an opportunity to see many new things and to be inspired from them for writing of new books.

Great choice!

Do you (1) love shopping OR (2) hate shopping?

Hate shopping because I don’t think it’s important to go and choose many useless things. When I need something I know what it is and I go in the shop to buy only it.

A fascinating observation!

What is your favorite (1) song OR (2) book?

My favorite book is Mahabharata because in this epic you can find advice for any case in life. It is no accident that it is considered the fifth Veda, because it includes the wisdom of those who lived in the past Yugas, in which people had a higher consciousness. This is the book where the level of spiritual development of a person directly and clearly affects his capabilities.

Interesting insight. Thanks for being interviewed, Astralia!

Mystics
Mystics by Astralia Dik

 

Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg

Author Longoria Wolfe’s young adult science fiction/fantasy novel is available on Amazon. A young girl discovers she has a connection to a mystical tribe vanquished at the hands of the ruling technological society. The tribe may reemerge through her but she will have to navigate through their system of control and murder. Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg is a sci-fi story with adventure, mystery and paranormal elements. The Kindle edition has been lowered to the lowest price for readers during this unprecedented time of the pandemic.

You can find out more about this YA sci-fi novelist on her website at Longoria Wolfe. Visit his page at: Goodreads Author Longoria Wolfe. You may even tweet her!

Longoria’s Interview

Do you consider yourself (1) an introvert OR (2) an extrovert?

Introvert for sure but I’m a weird hybrid. The college intro Myer-Briggs said I was an introvert but at the same time, I was a performing artist in the Theater. I spent most of my life performing in front of thousands of people and maybe it was the introspective introvert side that yielded the most productive preparation for my roles. Still to this day if I had to choose between a hopping party of a thousand people and a chance to hang out with one person I’d choose the opportunity to spend quality time with someone. I guess I’m socially awkward. Some people really have a grasp on what their personality brings to a gathering or the world in general. I tend to feel like I don’t have a clue about that on the most basic level.

Quality time is always awesome!

You have enough money to do anything. Will you (1) pamper yourself at a spa for a week OR (2) go on a cruise for a week?

I’d like to say a cruise but I’m way to driven by socially conscious issues. If I had so much money I’d buy a home for my loved ones who needed it, send my mom on a cruise, contribute to feeding the poor, help with children’s cancer research, and try to help get a prisoner of conscience released like human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh in Iran who’s been imprisoned multiple times for helping with women’s rights.

A philanthropist in the making!

What is your (1) most favorite thing to do OR (2) least favorite thing to do?

Least favorite thing is to tell an author looking for my support publicly that they need to have their work further edited or developed. Ouch, man, that is rough. As an indie author, getting your work noticed is a tough task it seems. I want to be able to love other author’s work and have mine loved. I wish every author who feels they have a story that needs to be told great success. When I was planning my novel I had to decide, am I going to put the money in for an editor or just rely on my own skill to meet a high-quality standard. After publication, I’m glad I did with an editor. It’s really worth it. Many editors are tried and true professionals who have a lot to offer.

Wonderful reasoning!

You can travel back in time. Will you go back (1) 10 years OR (2) 25 years.

Twenty-five. Maybe further. There was an age when I was pretty self-serving and didn’t care much about suffering outside my bubble. One person can make positive differences with the ones they love and in the community or world at large. I missed some times when I could have done things and directed peoples lives in a more positive way.

A fascinating observation!

What is your favorite (1) song OR (2) book?

Candide, favorite book. The simplicity of the storytelling shows how the greatest events can be like passing flashes but still change the course of life radically. It reveals connections between humans and our need for one another, that go deeper than, “We’re strong and viral, we’re smart and influential, we’re so pretty we’re disarming. The work gets at why people come together with deep connections. Forgiveness. And, that despite our most amazing accomplishments and discoveries, when all is said and done, we need other people.

Interesting insight. Thanks for being interviewed, Longoria!

Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg
Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg