Thank you so much for hosting the Mortar & Pestle authors, Janet. I took a good, long look at your body of work on your eclectic writer website, and I’m very impressed by the scope and variety. I look forward to discovering a new writer.
My book releases March 21. It’s a paranormal romance, my first ever.
Tell me about your latest release, how you got the idea for the book, and the genre.
The idea for Revamped, my latest book, came about one afternoon when I was socializing with six other author friends––or mateys––as I’ve grown fond of calling them. Mind you, we weren’t at a happy hour in a restaurant.
We were all on Zoom.
By the way, I borrowed the term “matey” from my author bestie Marilyn Barr. I have six author besties in our Mortar & Pestle group. Over the past year and a half, the six of us got to know one another online as we discussed publishing, writing, marketing, and brainstormed our story ideas. I wouldn’t have written Revamped without my besties.
One day, when we were gathered around our computer screens, someone suggested we write a series together with a common element that travels through time. How we decided on a Mortar & Pestle, I don’t recall. We all came up with book proposals and chattered about them. It’s much easier to pop out ideas for a book than to write it.
Since my favorite books to read and write were women’s humorous romantic fiction, that’s what I said I’d write.
Until Sydney said, “Why don’t you throw in a little paranormal?”
“I don’t know anything about paranormal.” Thinking how ridiculous. “And I don’t like all that blood.”
“You make it all up. It’s your scene, jelly bean,” piped up Darlene. Or was it Jean? Or Marilyn?
“Your character can be an energy vampire,” said Donna. “No blood.”
“Yeah. No fuss, no mess,” Ginny laughed.
The truth is I don’t remember who said what, but the end result? I took the bait and invented a new world, different from the world I usually wrote in. What fun I had cooking up trouble for Dante, my energy vampire, and Sophie, his honey. And figuring out how the Mortar & Pestle would appear in the book and bring the two main characters together.
As a side bonus, I now find myself open to reading across many genres as I devour my mateys’ books.
The series starts with Sidney’s Selkie. I can’t wait to read her book. I’ve already read Jean’s Seeker, Marilyn’s Quartermaster, and D.V.’s Sea Hunter, all thoroughly researched. In fact, D.V. traveled to immerse herself in her research by climbing all over a ship off the coast of Massachusetts. Darlene’s Trickster was a hoot, and Ginny’s Artist comes next on my TBR pile. Our books are the three contemporary romances in the series.
How much research was involved in Revamped?
Not much. I read up on energy vampires and watched a few YouTube episodes of What We Do in the Shadows to learn about psychic vampires, called energy vampires in the book.
Mostly, I had to create a world in which energy vampires were a thing and figure out how to reveal the world to the reader without info-dumping. I wanted my vampires to be able to go outside since they live in Florida, and I read that energy vampires aren’t affected by sunlight. So, that worked.
How long did you take to write the book?
I think it took me three months to write, but I rewrote and edited for another two months afterward.
Now a bit about you. How long have you been writing? What is your Sun Sign?
I wrote short stories back when I was a teenager, wrote a book I self-pubbed but didn’t know how to promote, and that’s my story.
Sorry, but I have no idea what my sun sign is.
Do you write in a number of genres or stick to one? I write women’s fiction that’s heavy on romance. Revamped is my first paranormal story.
Where on the internet can you be found? Don’t forget to grab a copy of our FREE Prequel to The Mortar & Pestle series where you’ll meet all the characters I mentioned in the books above.
Here’s the LINK: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3vhm7opc1r
LINK to Revamped: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRYS5159
https://midagedating.com/
https://www.facebook.com/shirley.goldberg.9469/ (personal)
https://www.facebook.com/midagedating
https://twitter.com/mylifeasadate
https://www.instagram.com/shirleygoldbergauthor/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3916624.Shirley_Goldberg
Book Bub (profile) https://www.bookbub.com/profile/shirley-goldberg
1. Tell me about your latest release or the book you wish to feature? Genre?
Selkie is a fantasy viking romance set in 900 A.D. When Klaus’s bride is snatched on his wedding day, he makes the drastic choice to capture a powerful selkie and use her to barter for his bride back. However, he never expects to fall for the alluring selkie. But as the blood feud between clans creates tension, he might realize too late that he had everything he wanted by his side all along.
The Mortar & Pestle plays a big part in Selkie, symbolizing true love and complete sacrifice.
2. Where did the idea arise?
I already had some of the story mapped out in my head but didn’t quite have a use for it yet. When a group of authors proposed the Mortar & Pestle series, I knew this would be the perfect fit. I thought the idea of Selkies was something new and fun to write about, and pairing it with Vikings just made sense.
3. How much research was involved? Did you stay on point or be distracted by wanting to look at just one more thing?
A frustrating among of research. I’m not normally a historical author, so when I write historical pieces, it really stretches my comfort zone, and I only hope to get everything correct by the end.
4. How long did you take to write the book?
About a month. Once I have an outline, I aim to write 1500 words a day. The editing takes longer, especially when I have to add, subtract, and polish. Overall, around three months.
5. Now a bit about you. How long have you been writing? What is your Sun Sign?
I’ve been writing for about fifteen years. Though, only in the past three years have I focused on an actual publishing career. Leo is my Sun Sign.
6. Do you write in a number of genres of stick to one?
I read a ton of different genres, but I usually stick to writing fantasy and paranormal romance. Occasionally, I’ll write a historical, but it’s usually infused with a fantasy element.
7. Where on the internet can you be found?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SydneyWinward
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyewinward
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneywinward/
Website: https://sydneywinward.com/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sydneywinward
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sydney-winward
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19712442.Sydney_Winward
Trickster is a contemporary romance with a mix of fantasy. Here's a teaser and the blurb...
Revamped with energy, the mortar and pestle materialize in Redford Falls. As smoke circles within the stone, orange flecks of glitter turn to green, strengthening its chosen path and setting its magic in the hands of a woman with eyes the colour of jadestone. She is the only one who has the gift to heal the man known as the trickster.
Can she heal a trickster before he breaks her heart?
Working for a top modeling agency is Jade Parsons’s dream job until her boss suffers a heart attack, and his son temporarily fills his position. Eric’s push-pull approach fuels her frustration. While anticipating the troublemaker’s imminent departure, Jade’s destiny is revealed through a magical mortar and pestle, leaving her heart tormented by whispers of a different fate.
World-renowned photographer Eric Martini returns home to restore his relationship with his estranged father, but wounds from the past haunt him. Enchanted by his father’s feisty assistant, he masks his heart and refuses to give in to desire. Convinced his destined future is already written in the stars—and doesn’t include Jade, Eric’s only choice is to walk away.
Will Jade and Eric find the courage to trust the mythical and smokey signs before their paths are severed forever?
2. Where did the idea arise?
Jade Parsons, the heroine, has appeared in two other books in my Redford Falls series, and I had a story planned for her, but when my group of writers brought up the idea of writing a series of books with a common link, Jade's story quickly came to life.
3. How much research was involved? Did you stay on point or be distracted by wanting to look at just one more thing?
Because I was working within a series already developed, I only had to research some Italian and Indigenous language, but one always seems to fall into the proverbial rabbit hole of research.
4. How long did you take to write the book?
I started Trickster in April of 2022 and finished in October. I'm a slow writer.
5. Now a bit about you. How long have you been writing? What is your Sun Sign?
I've been writing since my teens, but scripted my first full manuscript over fifteen years ago. I'm a Capricorn, and Capricorns can be incredibly hard on themselves and that trait is especially true with my writing, leading me to be persistent and determined.
6. Do you write in a number of genres of stick to one?
I tend to stick to contemporary romance on the sweet side, but I enjoyed mixing in fantasy. I've also slipped some mystery into some of my contemporary romances and have a mystery trilogy I'm hoping to write.
Where on the internet can you be found?
Website: http://darlenefredette.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com
