Guest Author Day with Denyse Bridger/Contest

Give a warm welcome to Denyse Bridger as she talks about her new series, Warrior Mine, written under pen name Elliot Devereaux.

CONTESTPRIZE: One reader will win a zip prize packet of aminimum of 4 ebooks and a $10 XoXo Publishing™ Gift certificate. All you need to do is comment to be entered. Contest ends on April 9th, 2012 and is open internationally.

How long did it take to write the story? From the dayyou came up with the idea to the very last day of writing.

With the Western, WINNER TAKE ALL, it was a relatively shortperiod of time. The idea came to me when I was asked to write a western, and Ithink probably from start to finish, the entire process took about two weeks.For the Warrior stories, that’s trickier because those stories are the resultof a few hours of role-play writing with my partner. We say – let’s write – andthen for the next 1-2 hours we create a storyline that becomes the actual book.So, often times a new ebook is created within a few hours on the series. Mypartner is very talented and very focused, we seldom speak while we write, justgo back and forth. Then when it’s done, we discuss it.

Tell us about your latest release/Upcoming release.

Well, two releases on the same day, so it’s kind of a crazy day toput it mildly. And, they’re very different types of books, too. One isparanormal, book two in a series, and the other is historical Western. TheWarrior Mine series is being written under the name “Elliot Devereaux” becauseit’s written with my partner, and we are making amazing progress. As Imentioned earlier, we actually role-play the stories, then they’re turned intothe book series. It’s very exciting in that we do it all by instinct andimprove. It makes for an immediacy that keeps it exciting for us, and we hopereaders, too! Our characters have their Facebook profiles, and we’ve createdthe groups where the stories are actually written live.

Winner Take All harkens back to my life-long love affair withcowboys. This book was re-released last year for about a month, and I requestedreturn because the publisher and I weren’t really doing each other much good.So, after a new edit and cover, it’s back and will remain available now.

What made you want to write?

I’ve written for as long as I can remember, in one way or another.In school English was always something I enjoyed, and creative writing is asnatural to me as breathing. So, it just seems to be the thing to do!

What authors do enjoy reading in your downtime?

Depends largely on the mood, honestly. Paranormal: Lara Adrian,Gena Showalter, Nalini Singh, JR Ward, Cynthia Garner, Kristen Painter… lovethem all. Straight-up romance, Lucy Monroe. Fantasy is Terry Brooks or GerogeR.R. Martin.

How important is the beginning chapter - the opening -the first few lines?

I think those first few paragraphs are crucial to drawing areader’s attention. If you don’t present them with a premise that intereststhem at that point, it’s unlikely they’ll be willing to read further in hopesof something changing radically. So, while opening paragraphs are often actionoriented, or explanatory, they always have to be intriguing or you’ve lost yourbest chance to hook the reader.

In what order do you write? For example starting beginningto end, combining parts, in random order or in developmentcycle?

Beginning to end, with virtually everything. Once in awhile I willwrite a middle piece, then work around it – but that is very rare indeed.Mostly, I have a clear picture of the story before I start working, so as I seeit unfold, that’s how I write it.

You are called upon, at a school, to tell those interested inbecoming an author, all the ins and outs of good writing skills andgetting published. What are the three important elements in writing,publishing and promoting that you would give them?

In writing I would say you have to first learn to actually DO thewriting, not simply talk about it. Get the story onto the page, and make it asgood as you can, then accept that it’s never going to be perfect. Submit it,and begin something new immediately.

Getting published – listen to your editors, and NOT your friendsand family. A professional is not going to stroke your ego and soften theirtruth, you will get an honest assessment of your talent, accept it as such andlearn from it. Always be courteous and do not try to talk a publisher intoaccepting your book if they don’t want it. Most of all, READ the submissionguidelines they post, and then FOLLOW THEM to the letter. It will win youpoints, believe me!

Promoting – that’s an on-going, never ending process. You have todedicate part of every day to the promotion of your work. YOU are responsiblefor that, not your publisher. Understand that going in. You need to networkwith other authors, blog, Twitter, use whatever resources are available tobring your book(s) to readers so they know you. Branding your name takes time,years really, so don’t expect to be an “overnight” success, no such thing trulyexists. Be prepared to sell your work and make yourself accessible to readersso they know you and want to be part of your creative journey.

Do you plot out each chapter? Or are you a seat of the pantswriter?

In a novel length project, every chapter is outlined and insequence. I have to do that with novels, because most of the time they’recomplicated stories. My last novel had three separate plots running together,so you have to make sure your details are lining up correctly. In shortstories, my outline can be a single page or a single paragraph, depending onhow much there is to the plot. I can write a story seat of the pants style, butI’m rarely happy with it – they always read sort of “fluffy” to me if I do themthat way. ;)

Do you listen to music while you write? If so what are yourfavorites Artists and or albums?

I listen to a lot of environmental music, and wolves… I thinkwolves are the most beautiful sounding creatures in the world. And, when I wantmusic and lyrics, I listen to Italian music, singers like Giada Valenti,Pasquale Esposito, Riccardo Foresi, Emanuele Dabbono… I love them all!!

Out of all your characters which one do you identify the most withand why?

I don’t really know if there is one character of mine that Ireally relate to. Each of them contains some aspect of my personality, that’s agiven, but more often than not, I find it easier to relate to other authors’creations in terms of resonating emotional makeup or personality.

Out of all your books, do you have a favorite book/character(s)?What is it about that particular book/character that you enjoy so much?

At the moment, my favourite creation is Angelique Devereaux, theheroine of the Warrior Mine stories. She is an ancient warrior in a modernworld, and she’s fallen in love with a man who is very much of the modernworld. So, she is equal parts lethal killer and confused woman trying to dealwith falling in love for the first time in her long life. It makes hervulnerable in unexpected ways, and I think she is complex and compelling, soshe is fascinating to write.

Do you have a book that makes you just cringe? If so, whichone is it, and why?

That would be my first full-length erotic novel, Simply The Best. Itmakes me cringe because despite having a decent plot, it is pretty heavy on theerotic element and for me it could have been much better if I hadn’t done that.I was angry at the time and this book was my way of proving something…I did,it’s one of my best-selling books to date, but I’ve never been too proud of it.Having said that, JERR gave me my first “O” in a review rating, and it’s gottenseveral 5 star reviews, so maybe it’s only me who hates it?

What are your writing goals for the future?

Ultimately, I want to be published with Harlequin – that’s been mydream for more years than I care to think about. So, who knows? Apart fromthat, I just want to keep telling stories that entertain people and make themsmile.

Now a few funquestions:

Howwould you describe yourself using only five words?

Empathic,caring, determined, supportive, creative.

Ifyou could write a warning label for yourself as a person or an author, whatwould it say?

Icry easily, care deeply, and love passionately. I do not tolerate bullshit ordishonesty.

Doyou have any guilty pleasures?

Someof the television shows I love might be considered guilty pleasures!!

Nameone thing readers would be surprised to know about you.

I’mpainfully shy, though most people find it hard to believe.

If you could go any place in the world and to any time period,what place or time period would you choose to visit?

That’s a tough one, it would have to be someplace in the AmericanWest after the Civil War, or Victorian London around the time of Jack the Ripper. Ilove both places and eras so much.

What is your favorite super power and why do you want it?

I think telekinesis would be usueful, I’d like to get stuff donewhile I write!

WARRIORMINE: RETRIBUTIONS

AngeliqueDevereaux is a dark legend, once a Chosen Warrior of god, she betrayed heroaths to love one who was forbidden. Cast out, cursed and scarred, shecontinues her battle alone. Until a soul as tortured as her own stumbles acrossher path. Asher Elliot is lost in his own darkness when he first sees the tallwarrior known to legend simply as The Slayer. Tortured by the deaths of hiswife and children, this grieving warrior is nonetheless drawn to the timeless,cold being he witnesses at work. Like him, she deals in death and her justiceis swift, sometimes messy, but always final. He follows her, watching, growingever more captivated by her, until finally he must reach out to claim what hisreawakened heart wants most…

Book Twoin the exciting new series WARRIOR MINE, Retributions continues the passionateand ever-changing relationship that is building between Asher Elliot andAngelique Devereaux.

Asher'spast has come back to haunt him in a way that threatens to open old wounds justas they've begun to heal. When he is contracted to do a job, he shuts"Angie" out and goes to exact his personal vengeance for the sinscommitted against those he loved.

Angeliquehas never been part of humanity, is still struggling to find her way in themidst of love and passion that is alien to her immortal soul. The ties of bloodhave revealed Asher's pain to her, and she will not allow anyone to hurt him ifshe is able to stop it.

As thetwo warriors each set out on the path of retribution, they are once again drawnback to each other. Face to face with Asher, Angelique wonders if he canforgive her, and her beloved male is trying hard to understand her fear of notbeing good enough for his love.

Theyhave a long way to travel before true understanding will make them whole, willtheir love be strong enough to keep them together for their journey?

* * * * *

Once in awhile you create a book that seems to resonate with people, andthis is one of them. A historical Western that was born in my fascination formy childhood hero, Paladin. So, Dylan Coulter is a combination of Paladin'surbane charm and sophistication and his lethal side, of course. Maggie is awoman a little ahead of her time, strong, compassionate, and independent. Ihope you'll like her. I hope you enjoy their story, it's exciting, andpassionate, and has some surprises in store too!

WINNER TAKEALL

Genre: Historical/Western EroticaNovella

When Dylan Coulter rides into SparklingSprings, he quickly discovers the woman who runs the local saloon is worth therisk of facing the hangman. Things get ugly fast when Dylan is accused ofkilling the only son of the richest rancher in the area. Unwilling to leave herbehind, Dylan takes Maggie with him as he tries to dodge bounty hunters and adetermined Pinkerton agent who just happens to be Maggie's old love...

Coming April 5th from XoXo Publishing

Denysé
"Live the Romance, Become the Fantasy..."
** Best-Selling Author of 2011 **
http://www.denysebridger.com