I’m delighted to have Shirleen Davies, author of Faster Than The Rest, in the Blue Rose Writing Room today.
She even attended Oregon State University, my alma mater!
Tell, us, how long have you been writing?
I’ve written most of my life but focused on strategy and articles for business journals. My fictional stories were penned on slips of paper and notebooks with the hope that some day I’d be able to carve out the time to create the books in my head. That time came a few years ago and I couldn’t be enjoying it more.
What’s one thing you can’t write without?
Liquid: Coffee in the morning, diet Pepsi at noon, tea in the evening, and water all the time.
I’m chuckling. I have water and coffee on my desk right now. Can you tell a s a place you absolutely want to visit before you die?
I’m going there on vacation this fall and I can’t wait—Italy and the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea.
Sounds wonderful! Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever written any other genre? Do you plan on doing so in the future?
I’ve always enjoyed the depth of the characters available in all romance genres. Although, like most writers, I’ve read many genres, I found that I was always drawn back to romance. Humans, struggling with relationships, doing right and avoiding wrong, seeking a connection. The wonderful thing about romance is that it can be placed at any point in time and within any type of story—historical western (like my current series), Regency, contemporary suspense, mystery, crime, Christian, fantasy, and paranormal. Books are just better with romance.
I agree! What historical figure do you wish you could have met?
I did have the honor of meeting this man, but only in passing. Ronald Reagan is a fascinating study of a person who had very firm values and expectations without the need to be politically correct or pacify detractors. He made things happen, stayed the course, and turned critics into believers.
Tell us one unusual, weird, or curious fact you discovered while researching this book.
I had never realized the number of people taken hostage during the mid 1800s in the southwest United States. Most were abducted by bandits who crossed the border from Mexico, but some were taken by various Native American tribes. If rescued, it was almost impossible to adjust back into their previous life. Discrimination against kidnap victims was widespread, especially against women.
Very interesting. How do you respond to negative reviews?
I don’t know that an author can or should respond to negative reviews. I’ve had the opportunity to write reviews and I made the decision a long time ago to not write a review for a book I thought should only garner a 1 or 2. Reading negative reviews is quite a study of personal biases entering into a process that should be constructive and useful. Too many times reviewers use the platform for attacks that aren’t productive or throw out comments that are not well considered.
I won’t write a review for less than three myself. So, what’s one new thing you’d like to try?
Fly touch-and-goes off an aircraft carrier. I lived in San Diego and at times there were two or three aircraft carriers. Navy pilots practice what is called ‘”ouch-and-goes” by flying off the carrier, circle then do a mock landing on the carrier before rising into the air again—a “touch and go” exercise. I was always fascinated at the skill it took to perform this maneuver.
Do you have a favorite quote?
Actually, I have two, both by Winston Churchill:
“Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
and,
“Never, never, never give up.”
Okay, now for the quickie questions: Answer in three words or less. Ready? Go!
Favorite Disney Character? Peter Pan
Favorite Fruit? Fresh peaches
Favorite Hero? Fiction: Aragorn (LOTR), Darcy (P&P), Mal Reynolds (Firefly). Non-Fiction: 911 and other emergency responders.
Favorite Eye Color? Blue/Green
Best Vacation destination? Just about any cruise that stops at great ports
Food you can’t stand? Red beets
What annoys you? Indecision
Coffee, tea, or something else? Both plus diet Pepsi
Nightgown or Jammies? Ummm, well…
Prefer dogs or cats? Dogs, but cats are so easy
A bit of information about Shirleen Davies
Shirleen Davies grew up in Southern California. She attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.
Shirleen began her new series, MacLarens of Fire Mountain, with Tougher than the Rest, the story of the oldest brother, Niall MacLaren. The other books in the series, Faster than the Rest, Harder than the Rest, and Stronger than the rest, are due for release between August and December 2013.
The blurb from FASTER Than The REST
Handsome, ruthless, young U.S. Marshal Jamie MacLaren had lost everything—his parents, his family connections, and his childhood sweetheart—but now he’s back in Fire Mountain and ready for another chance. Just as he successfully reconnects with his family and starts to rebuild his life, he gets the unexpected and unwanted assignment of rescuing the woman who broke his heart.
Beautiful, wealthy Victoria Wicklin chose money and power over love, but is now fighting for her life—or is she? Who has she become in the seven years since she left Fire Mountain to take up her life in San Francisco? Is she really as innocent as she says?
Marshal MacLaren struggles to learn the truth and do his job, but the past and present lead him in different directions as his heart and brain wage battle. Is Victoria a victim or a villain? Is life offering him another chance, or just another heartbreak?
As Jamie and Victoria struggle to uncover past secrets and come to grips with their shared passion, another danger arises. A life-altering danger that is out of their control and threatens to destroy any chance for a shared future.
Enjoy an excerpt from FASTER Than The REST
“Tell me, Victoria. Why did you leave if it wasn’t for the money?” His voice was a whisper across her face. She could almost smell the anger pulsing from him, along with all the other familiar scents of the man she’d always loved. He was just as intoxicating now, just as impossible to resist.
She lifted her face to his to look into eyes that had turned a deep steel grey. She could lose herself in those eyes. It was her last coherent thought as his mouth moved towards hers inch-by-inch, brushing across her lips, and coaxing them to open for him. When she didn’t resist Jamie moved one arm to the back of her neck, holding her in place while his other arm moved to her back, pressing her to him. Her arms slid up and around his neck, pulling his head down to hers. His mouth moved to her eyes, traveled across her checks and down her neck, before settling again on her parted lips.
Jamie was amazed at how the taste and feel of Victoria in his arms hadn’t changed. She was still the most desirable woman he’d ever known. No matter what else had transpired, his body still craved hers as it had none other.
Buy Link for FASTER Than The REST (Book 2 of MacLarens of Fire Mountain)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EEE52DI
Here’s how you can contact Shirleen Davies
Shirleen’s blog: http://www.shirleendavies.com/blog.html
Twitter: http://twitter.com/shirleendavies
Google+:http://www.gplusid.com/shirleendavies
Thanks again,Shirleen, for joining me here today.
