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Friday, July 27, 2012

Tessa Berkley sits down to chat with PIP


Tessa: Hi, my name is Tessa Berkley and I'd like to thank the staff from Passion In Print for inviting me here today.

Colleen: Hi Tessa! Thanks for stopping by. Let’s get started. Do you recall the very first book you read that turned you on to romance/erotic romance books?

Tessa: I've always considered myself a devotee of the written word. From early childhood, I devoured the Nancy Drew Mysteries. But, as an adult, I read many traditional authors. One book that really stands out in my memory as leading me toward romance was Danielle Steel's Palomino. That poor tortured heroine, the action as she worked to overcome difficulties and find true love had me bawling, but it kept me up all night. From there, it was a journey finding more, craving that need for the happy ever after.

Colleen: Palomino was also one of my first favorite romances. Tell us, why do you write?

Tessa: A good question. People always ask why. The first answer that rolls of my lips is because I have to. It's not a question of why, but more of why not. Writing stories and creating scenarios in my own little world, leaded to dialogue in my head that had to be put down on paper. These stories may have been a way of dealing with being around my children all day long, creating a world in which adults speak. But, the stories I wrote took on life and became important enough to put down and give to others.

Colleen: What is your least favorite book you wrote? Why?

Tessa: Hm? Can't say that I have written a least favorite book.

Colleen: That is nice! I have certainly written stuff I that makes cringe! So for a harder question, what is your favorite book that you wrote?

Tessa: Well, I tend to fall in love with my heroes. I think my favorite right now is Texas Ranger Tyrone Calhoun Dixon from Tejas Conspiracy Incident at Cold Creek. His character is larger than life. He rides in and like the horse whisper - or in this case the widow whisper - helps the heroine, Lily Prentiss find her independence and awakens the sensual woman inside.

Colleen: Tyrone is a wonderful hero! Tejas Conpirarcy was release in June by us here at PIP. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed. So are you a plotter or pantser?
Tessa: Oy, now I'm in trouble. I swing from part pantser to part plotter I think. My stories often start with a single scene from some part in the novel or even a sentence that one of the characters utters and the wheels begin to turn. I'll construct a small blurb like you find on the back of the book, maybe even do a bit on a characters back story, then I begin writing. This has gotten me into a few corners from time to time. But luckily, I've some great friends who can talk me off the edge and help me through these blocks.
Colleen: Listen to music while you write? If so who?
Tessa: Like most authors, I enjoy listening to music when I'm working. My play list alternates between Broadway, Movies, and Country tunes. It's a wild list that can go from Daniel Radcliff in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying to The Band Perry's When I Die Young. Sprinkle in a bit of Zac Brown, Toby Keith, music from Camelot with Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave. My musical taste is eclectic as my reading. I love J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, but despise the Twilight series. Love Suzanne Brockman's Tall Dark and Dangerous series, dislike Linda Laurel Miller's. Can't get enough of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Hate Gone With The Wind, but admire Margaret Mitchell. Go Figure, I'm all over the place.
Colleen: What inspires you?
Tessa: I think the thing that most inspires me is the indomitable spirit of man. The human race seeks that higher calling, a justice, a need to do the right thing regardless of circumstances. We protect the innocent. Defend those that need our help according to our personal creed, which is why my stories involve cowboys and ranchers because they embody this spirit, that heart of an American.
Colleen: What do you have coming out next with Passion In Print Press?
Tessa: I'm coming out in August with a short story that is connected to a piece crafted by the wonderful Aliyah Burke. Her story is called Something Tangible. Mine is Unexpected Consequences. The heroes in these stories are half brothers who are pitted against one another in a test to see who can come out on top and win their father's company Midas Development. Asa Kingston is a wealthy developer whose assignment is to purchase a pristine island on Virginia's Eastern Shore. If he does so before his half brother Brett, Asa will win control. Asa is the 'golden boy', a cross between Brad Pitt and Robert Redford. It blows him away that Mallory Bennett, the heroine, wants nothing to do with him. It's not going to be easy. I won't tell who wins, you'll have to buy both books to find out.
Colleen: The suspense! Both are going in my TBR pile! What is your current story? 
Tessa: My current work in progress is a return to the Texas Rangers series. Tyrone's best buddy, Joaquin Balboa De Montanna is getting his own story. He's half Spanish, half Texican if you will. His family has hand long standing land holdings on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. For those of you who have read Tejas Conspiracy, he's the ranger that comes to Cold Creek impersonating the hired killer Wyatt Hayes.
It seems that Joaquin has found a very pregnant woman abandoned in the desert. This woman refuses to say why she was there or identify who left her behind. There's a world of mystery around this young Irish lass.
Colleen: Oh I can’t wait for you to finish this one! Lastly tell us what groups or social media networks can readers frequently find you posting and chatting in?
Tessa: I'm out and about on the internet. You can find me on twitter at: @tessa_berkley You can find me on Facebook at:http://www.facebook.com/tessa.berkley
and at my website: www.tessaberkley.com
Drop me a line, say hello, let me know how you liked my stories. I love hearing from readers.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

That Fateful Ride -- New release for July!


The Nebraskan Territory is a harsh place and yet love finds a way to bloom; still, Cy has to fight to keep the woman who has stolen his heart.


Rebecca Freeman assumes her brother's identity and rides for the Pony Express. She thinks she's ready, not counting on Cy Spencer or her attraction for him. Cy is the station manager for a stop along the route. Discovering one of the riders is really a she; they strike a deal for his silence, and grow closer every day.


Soon it doesn't matter how wrong it was for them to be together. When her brother returns, can Cy let her go? Or will he put everything on the line to find the woman who came to him on that fateful ride?

July new release!


Kevin and Teresa are madly in love and inherit a piece of land in the mountains where they design a cabin site and try it out.

It is amazing what a little creativity, some string and wooden stakes, and red hot passion can build when romantically blended in a mountain meadow. Kevin and Teresa are madly in love and inherit a piece of land in the mountains where they design a cabin site and try it out. Follow along with them as they test their passion in, of course, the bedroom, but what about the kitchen and living room? After sharing their adventure, you will want to take your own string and stakes out into a private meadow.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Karenna Colcroft speaks on vegan werewolves and more


: We are starting off this month with an interview with Karenna Colcroft. Karenna, thank you for joining me during this holiday week! Your books are a great way to kick off summer reading! Let’s begin. First tell us why do you write?
Karenna: Basically I write because if I didn’t, I would probably go insane. I have so many characters and ideas in my head I have to write them down. I’ve also been through some really tough times in my life, and during those times writing literally kept me sane; I could shut myself away with my characters and escape from my situation for a while. Things are much, much better for me now, so now writing is just a way to quiet the voices in my head, LOL, and to hopefully give readers a good story.

Colleen: What is your favorite book that you wrote?

Karenna: I would have to say my favorite of my own books is my M/M novel Salad on the Side. I wasn’t sure I could write M/M romance or paranormal romance, but somehow I pulled off both, along with some humor and some action. And a gay vegan werewolf. My latest Passion in Print release, Beta Test, which just came out a couple weeks ago, is actually a spin-off of Salad on the Side, and the hero of Beta Test was introduced in Salad as a minor secondary character.

Colleen: I adore the idea of a vegan werewolf! What is your current story?

Karenna: Beta Test is a full-length paranormal romance novel, just released. Justin Ruel is the Beta of the City Pack, the largest werewolf pack in the northeastern United States. When he meets Tareth McConnell, he knows he’s found his true mate, but there’s a problem—Tareth is human, and humans aren’t supposed to know that werewolves exist. And someone is targeting the City Pack wolves, which means Tareth may be in danger.

Colleen: What groups or social media networks can readers frequently find you posting and chatting in?

 Karenna: I’m on Twitter, https://twitter.com/#!/KarennaColcroft and Facebook,http://www.facebook.com/karenna.colcroft. I also have a group on Facebook where readers can chat with me and each other, http://www.facebook.com/groups/261093317316839/. I belong to a number of Yahoo loops, including LoveRomancesCafe.


Karenna Colcroft is the alter-ego of a relatively shy and sedate wife and mother. She- well, her mild-mannered counterpart, at least- wrote her first story at the age of five, and was immediately hooked by seeing her imagination printed on paper. Throughout elementary, junior high, and high school, she continued writing, though was too shy to show her work to anyone. By the time she graduated college, she had written over 20 book-length manuscripts, all longhand. *Shudder*
In 2006, on a challenge from a friend, she wrote her first erotic scene and discovered a talent for erotic romance. She began posting her stories on a free site, where feedback encouraged her to continue and develop her skills. Karenna was offered her first publishing contract in January 2009. Her first book with Passion in Print was Shiny Objects.