Interview of Author Adrienne deWolfe

Today it's my pleasure to present an interview of romance author Adrienne deWolfe.
  

Latest Book: VELVET LIES SERIES:
Book 2: His Wicked Dream

BIO:
Adrienne deWolfe is a #1 best-selling author and the recipient of 48 writing awards, including the Best Historical Romance of the Year. She is excited to announce that she will be donating a portion of her royalties from her series, Velvet Lies to  urban reforestation efforts.

Fascinated by all things mystical, Adrienne writes a weekly blog about dragons, magic, and the paranormal at http://magicmayhemblog.com/ to help her research her upcoming paranormal romance series. She also writes a weekly blog featuring tips about the business of writing at http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/. She enjoys mentoring aspiring authors and offers professional story critiques with her book coaching services.

Q: What advice tip would you give to an aspiring author?
A: Never, EVER give up on your writing dream. Criticism always says more about the critic than it does about your writing.

Q: Of all your characters, who’s your favorite, and why?
A: Hero: Wes Rawlins, TEXAS LOVER (Book 2, Wild Texas Nights.) He’s a singing, pancake-making, reins-between-your-teeth riding, two-fisted gun-firing Texas Ranger and an irrepressible flirt.

Heroine: Sadie Michelson, DEVIL IN TEXAS (Book 4, Velvet Lies; plus, she stars in SHADY LADY, the novella, both due out in 2014.) Sadie is a sassy, crafty, pistol-packing madam and a Pinkerton Agent all rolled into one.

Q: Covers. Ever get one you wish you could change?
A: OMG. YES. Imagine receiving this call from your editor: “Oops. Our artist gave your hero a mustache, so you’ll have to write a mustache into the book. But since you gave your last hero a mustache, you’ll have to SHAVE OFF the mustache you’re about to write into THIS book."(Note from Adrienne: Huh?) Oh. And we’re going to press, so we need the rewrites in 30 minutes.”

(Apparently, I write heroes who are offensive to Mustache Phobes Anonymous.)

Q: Out of your entire backlist, which book has the best opening line?
A: “The last time Fancy Holleday robbed a train, she did it in her bloomers.” ~ TEXAS OUTLAW (Book 1, Wild Texas Nights)

Q: How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?
A: Oh . . . I’m in there! The toughest character to write was Eden Mallory, heroine of HIS WICKED DREAM, who is eerily like me. My critique group laughed when I whined, “But I don’t HAVE character flaws! How am I supposed to give Eden character flaws?!” ::snicker::

Q: How do you choose names for your characters?
A: I SLAVE over names: they each carry some nuance of meaning. (Examples: Rexford Sterne – “stern king”. Fancy Holleday – “loose woman.” Silver Nichols “mining heiress.” Raphael (Rafe) Jones – “fallen angel.”) I can’t start writing the character without the name. If I have to change a name, the persona changes, no matter how hard I try to “rein in” that character.

Q: What genre would you like to try writing that you haven’t yet tried?
A: Urban Fantasy. But I keep gravitating toward historical settings, so after I finish the VELVET LIES series, I’m going to tackle a Paranormal Romance.

FUN STUFF:
Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
A: I am a TOTAL Halloween geek – not because of the spooky stuff, but because of the MAGIC!

Q: What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I’m certified as a Reiki Master (energy healer) See post: “Author Learns Hands-on Healing to Write Fantasy Novels” at http://wizardmagicfantasy.com/author-learns-hands-on-healing-to-write-fantasy-novels/.

I started developing my Intuition – on purpose – and it helped me save a child’s life. See post: http://wizardmagicfantasy.com/intuition-helped-me-save-a-childs-life/.

Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A published Romance author! No joke!

Q: Favorite food.
A: I’m on the Ideal Protein Diet so I would KILL for a pizza. Haven’t had one for 13 months.

Q: Favorite drink.
A: Assuming that protein drinks don’t count (eh-hem), my all-time favorite drink is hot chocolate with peppermint. (And no, that’s not on my diet, either.)

Q: Hot summer days or chilly winter nights?
A: In Texas, we have five seasons: Summer is followed by Hell. So let’s go with chilly winter nights.

Q: What is the top thing on your bucket list?
A: Uh . . . can you believe I don’t have a bucket list? But if I were to START a bucket list, I’d put, “Pamper yourself with a massage each week” as the perennial #1 item.

Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
A: I’m having a REALLY hard time deciding between “Time Travel” (first stop: ATLANTIS!) and “Talking to Animals” to find out why Koko, my cat, is so fascinated by water. (She keeps jumping into the bathtub with me!)

BLURB:
HIS WICKED DREAM (Book 2, Velvet Lies Series) Western Historical Romance
Awards: Reader’s Choice Award, Best Hero (Avon Books Website)
Other Recognitions: Doubleday Book of the Month Selection


Haunted by scandal, Eden Mallory is determined to start over in a new town. But she won't soon forget the sexy, rugged doctor who rescued her from an outlaw, then rode off into the storm.

After losing his kid-brother to consumption, Dr. Michael Jones is obsessed with saving lives. He has no room for love or a wife. But the nights are lonely, and Eden haunts his dreams.

When Eden becomes his backdoor neighbor, she turns his world upside-down with her unconventional healing skills and sweet temptations. Then outlaws return, forcing Michael to confront his past if he is to save the most precious life of all.

EXCERPT:
Kentucky, 1881

Suddenly, a towering shadow darkened the Kissing Booth. Eden glanced up in time to see Michael eclipse the sun. Striding out of the crowd, he hoisted a bulging picnic hamper and banged it down on the counter with a challenging thud.

"Forgive the intrusion, ladies," he said, deceptively pleasant, "but there's been a slight change in Eden's plans. This afternoon, she'll be picnicking with me."

Eden was so stunned, she could only blink.

Sera gazed up at her brother as if he had just committed some heinous crime. "Michael, take Eden's basket back to the auction block. If you disqualify her, she'll be ruined in this county!"

"I'm sure Eden's reputation will survive."

"But you can't just steal her basket—"

"I don't consider a one-hundred-dollar investment to be a steal."

One hundred dollars? Eden gulped a shallow breath. She hadn't thought it possible for a corset to grow so tight.

"But the auction hasn’t even started," Sera protested. “Can you do that?”

"I just did. Coming, Eden?" He stretched out his hand. "I believe you owe me the pleasure of your company."

Sera giggled.

Eden pressed her lips together. If Michael Jones wasn’t the fantasy she'd been dreaming of every restless night for a month, she would have told him to go choke on her picnic lunch.

Sweeping past his insufferable hand, she took some small satisfaction in the fact that he'd now have to haul her twenty-pound hamper to some distant spot of shade. To watch him fall into step beside her, the wicker swinging effortlessly from his arm, proved disconcerting. She tried not to appreciate the way his tailored suitcoat accentuated the broad planes of his shoulders, or the way the late morning sun struck flinty shades of blue from his hair.

"Well, you've impressed your authority once more on your sister," she said tartly. "Now that she's out of sight, you can return my basket to the auction so some serious-minded beau can offer for it."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

His drawl, like Kentucky's finest bourbon, was golden smooth, intoxicating. She did her best to ignore the nuance, even though it melted her nerves.

"Why not?" she demanded.

"Certain factions in this county would find a cure for Cupid cramps..."

She stumbled at his jest.

A dimple creased his cheek, which only heightened her aggravation.

"You are a pirate of hearts, Michael Jones. If my cherry pie did indeed have curative powers, every female in this town would be lined up for a slice."

"And that is precisely why your cherry pie shall never see the light of day."

She glared at him, refusing to laugh at this disarming humor. "Your diabolical plot is doomed to fail. Because while I was perfecting my recipe, I tasted plenty of cherry pie, which has made me immune to the charm of irksome male neighbors who prefer to mind my business instead of their own."

He arched a coal-black brow. "Selling kisses to outlaws, in broad daylight, does not connote a sound business sense."

"That is your opinion, sir. Contrary to your belief, I think the orphanage would be enormously grateful for any donation it receives. Chance McCoy can't be all bad, if he is willing to commit a charitable act."

"Charity was the farthest thing from McCoy's mind."

"So you're a mind reader now?"

"Eden." He gentled his voice. "Your willingness to see goodness in the blackest of hearts is one of your most endearing qualities. But it can be a peculiar blindness. Men wear guns for a reason. Don't put yourself in the crossfire."

Where to find Adrienne deWolfe:
http://facebook.com/Writing.Novels
http://www.goodreads.com/Adrienne_deWolfe
https://plus.google.com/109088666107201832076/
http://pinterest.com/AdriennedeWolfe/boards/
http://Twitter.com/AdriennedeWolfe
Websites and Blogs:
http://WritingNovelsThatSell.com
http://MagicMayhemBlog.com
http://WildTexasNights.com

Purchase Links:
Wild Texas Nights Series

VELVET LIES SERIES:
Book 1: Scoundrel for Hire (June 2013)
Book 2: His Wicked Dream (June 2013)
Book 3, Seduced By An Angel (Aug. 2013)
Video Link for Seduced By An Angel:
http://writingnovelsthatsell.com/seduced-by-an-angel-excerpts-read-by-author/
Novella: Shady Lady (2014)
Book 4: Devil in Texas (2014)