The Tales of a Contemporary Romance Writer


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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Talkin' Tuesday with Brynna Curry!

Welcome everyone to Talkin' Tuesday with Paranormal writer, Brynna Curry! She's sitting down with me on my porch. We're watching the clouds roll in over the water while the birds glide gently to land upon it. 
 
RR-As a reviewer for You Gotta Read, what's your favorite genre to review?
BC-My favorite would be Romantic Suspense. I don't mind reviewing any heat level, but usually steer clear of LGBT. Unless the story blurb really pulls me in, the book is part of a series I've reviewed or I've enjoyed the author's previous work in another genre.

RR-You write as two different people, Brynna Curry and Brianna Roarke, do you ever get confused as to who you really are?  
BC-Lol. No. They are just another part of who I am, what I do. I created the first pen name as a barrier between my children and the outside world. The second was to differentiate between the very different heat levels I write.

RR-Writing seems to have been a natural thing for you, what part is the hardest?  
BC-Looking through stock photos for cover art suggestions. 
I'm always at a lost for cover art!


RR-Too organized Plotter or Maniac Panster?
BC-Depends on the story. A series does require some planning, but the individual books are character driven.

 
RR-When writing, must you hide from the kids? Where do you go and what kind of death threats do you shout? 
BC-I never hide from them really. I listen to music pretty loud on my laptop. They know if I'm wearing the white ear buds, I'm working and it had better be important. They're all older (junior, sophomore, and 7th grade) so they do understand I have to work just like they have to play volleyball and do cheerleading.
I'll hear mine in hushed whispers arguing, "NO, you get to ask her." LOL

 
RR-Is there any thing we all would be shocked to know about you? 
BC-Hmm. Can't think of anything at the moment that's truly shocking.

RR-What's the pet-peeve that makes you want to beat something? 
BC-I really hate it when someone drives two feet from your bumper, speeds or pulls out in front of you in the rain. That really irritates me. I mean are they crazy? Seriously.
I know! Don't they realize we're the only two good drivers on the road? 

For Fun
Red and sexy or Black and mysterious? 
Black and mysterious.
 
Wine with cheese or Beer with TV? 
Soda (I don't drink alcohol of any kind), pizza and TV (preferably a football game or cop show).
Paperback or ebooks?  
Both, the venue a book is published in doesn't matter to me as long as the story is compelling.

Independent kitty cat or adoring lovable dog? 
kitty cat, but then I don't have one. I have lots of hunting dogs, or rather Jackie does. So can't have a cat. :( sad

Great cook or master at ordering take out?  
Queen of take out. I have all the restaurants phone numbers memorized.  lol I do cook sweets like cakes and cookies when I have time.

Back to Work 
RR-Are you insanely organized or are there note written on everything? 
BC-Notes everywhere, but I usually know where to find  the notes. Not always, but most of the time.
LOL I was crazy for ten minutes this morning looking for a note that I wrote on the back of our grocery list!

RR-What's the biggest misconception people have about you and your writing? 
BC-Most people I know don't know I'm a writer, just close family and friends. Even so, they dismiss it as just what I do.
RR-What made you want to be a paranormal author? 
BC-I've always liked spooky and magical stories as well as suspense. It seemed like the natural choice, even still, I'm not sure it was a conscious choice. My characters just seem to lean that way.
Our characters really do have a mind of their own, don't they? :)

RR-What part of writing makes you want to pull your hair out and scream like a banshee? 
BC-Not being able to just sit down and write the whole book all at once. I hate having the story interrupted when it's flowing well.
You look up with blood shot eyes and squint at the ticking clock, "Ohhh...How'd it get to be four in the morning? I'll just finish up this scene." Two hours later, the kids start getting up for school. :)


RR-You're a crazy lady! How many jobs do you have? Reviewer, review editor, author, secretary, mom, wife, lover of video games.  
BC-LOL. I like to say I have a job and a career. One feeds the family, the other feeds the soul.

RR-Any advice for aspiring writers?
BC-Always do your homework. Research is as important as the writing. Read books in the genre you want to write. See what sells. Read agent/publisher/author blogs. They are a fountain of invaluable advice. And mostly just work very hard. Treat it like a job, because it is. Never give up.

Thanks for letting me visit with you today, Rebecca!

Brynna, thank you for visiting me, it was wonderful meeting you! Now everyone, here's a sneak peek at Brynna Curry's Elemental Series. ENJOY!
 
When telepath meets ex-cop, will it be death or diamonds.
Writer Liv Corrigan has the worst luck with men -- her telepathy tends to make them run for the hills. When she meets widower and ex-cop Jack Roarke, she decides to keep her talent hidden. Things are looking up until their third date crashes and burns as the man who murdered Jack’s wife turns out to be after him too.

Injured, Jack retreats with Liv to his house under armed guard. But with Liv’s mysteries rapidly coming unraveled, a diamond-thief killer to stop and passion in the air, the safe house is anything but safe for their hearts!


Excerpt from Earth Enchanted: Elemental Magic Book One

Jack scanned the bookstore as he sat in the hard metal folding chair, at the small table, and wrote. He thought his hand would fall off. Whoever said writing wasn’t real work had to have been crazy. He knew things about two hours’ worth of people their mothers probably didn’t know. Mandy Lou something or other had a granny who thought he was grade A and she was his number one fan. She didn’t look old enough to be allowed to read his brand of horror, but she had two copies of each of his books.

Jack had politely—he hoped—shrugged off the forty invitations to dinner, fourteen offers for coffee, and two very indecent proposals for ‘wild, hanging from the chandelier sex’ to quote one lovely fan. All in all, a long day barely described it, but he’d seen people and observed, that was for sure. If it helped with the new book, it might have been worth it, and then again maybe not.
Ellie dropped by to see how things were going, and then promptly ran away when he tried to beg out. He didn’t like being maneuvered, and Ellie was a champion at it. Entertaining the notion of strangling her got him through the second hour, but considering he needed a good editor, he changed his mind.

The line grew shorter. While he juggled the newest Hastings baby on his knee, which the boy’s proud papa had insisted on, Jack inscribed a message in the front cover to Mrs. Hastings, another number one fan and the mother of six children all under ten. How does she have the time to read at all? His message to her read, “Mrs. Hastings, I’m your number one fan. You rule. Jack.” Mentally saluting her efforts, he passed back junior, and sent them on their way. He automatically reached for the book a slim hand offered. Eyes down on the cover of what he’d created, he said the same thing he’d told countless others. “Hi, who should I make this out to?”

“Just sign it to Olivia Corrigan, fellow mystery writer.”

Her voice alone lifted his eyes to meet hers, a musical lilt that teased of mist and bogs, faeries and leprechauns. She was dressed professionally, but he could easily imagine her calling up a wild wind or casting spells. She was only about 5’4” and slim, claimed black Irish coloring. He saw a flash of what might have been a premonition, but after blocking the gift so long he couldn’t hold on to it. Did he smell rain? Candles or lightning? But the sun was shining. For a moment he just stared, couldn’t speak , and was certain he knew her but couldn’t remember where from.

“Is something the matter?”

He quickly signed her book, before he forgot that was the reason for their meeting in the first place. She was the last in line, and he was free. Thank God! Sorry, muse, position filled.

“Jack Roarke, it’s a pleasure, Miss Corrigan.”
 

http://www.lyricalpress.com/brynna_curry
*Note* Series titles build on the previous book and should be read in order.

Join me next week when I have the honor of author and Publishing House owner, Pamela Tyner, blogging!
Have a Sparkling Day!
Rebecca Rose

3 comments:

  1. What a fun interview! I love this line:
    I like to say I have a job and a career. One feeds the family, the other feeds the soul.

    So true. thanks again for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for stopping in, Donna. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for hosting me, Rebecca!

    Hi, Donna! Thanks! Very true indeed.

    ReplyDelete