The fab writing team known as Moira Rogers is here for an interview today. Welcome to the party, everyone. Moira Rogers is a combo team of writers, Bree & Donna. Let’s get right to the Q & A shall we?

Q. How did the two of you decide to start writing together?

Bree: Well, we’ve been writing alongside one another for almost eight years now. We’ve also been playing RPGs together for years. (We even met our husbands in a game we joined in 2001.) Between the two activities, we’ve been building universes, characters and plots for the better part of a decade.

Donna: After we realized we were doing all of our development and plotting together, the next logical step seemed to be the writing. Not many people could tell our stuff apart, anyway. Sometimes we couldn’t even do it.

Bree: Of course, that’s not to say the words appeared on the page and were perfect. It’s amazing how hard it is to keep your POV straight when you’ve got two people writing. The first 400,000 words or so were good practice, but unlikely to ever see the light of day.
Q. How did the two of your create your pseudonym and why?

Donna: We never wanted to pretend we were one person, but we did think a pen name would suit our purposes. We chose it for simplicity’s sake, and because we think it sounds good. LOL

Bree: We both worked at Barnes & Noble for a long time, and have seen how difficult it can be for multi-author books to go MIA. No one ever knows which name to look under. Of course, at the time we had considered starting out with e-publication, where such things don’t matter as much.

Donna: We were going to use our middle names, since mine is Jo and Bree’s is Rogers, but it sounded a little dated. So I used my daughter’s middle name instead–Moira.

Q. Have you ever wanted to branch out and try writing on your own?

Bree: Eh. Been there, done that. Or rather, failed to do that! Even if we were trying to write by ourselves, we’d end up helping each other with the characters and plot. We simply work well as a team. We keep each other on track, too.

Donna: The decision to write separately would be more of a step back than “branching out.” We don’t write as well separately. And we don’t get things done! We both need that extra shove that comes from knowing someone else is depending on you doing a good job. And Bree cracks a mean whip!

Q. Do you each take a separate role in writing…in other words, does one
writer excel at one particular aspect of developing a story? Or do you just
take turns in the driver’s seat?

Donna: Oh, man. We definitely each have our strengths and weaknesses.

Bree: Like the fact that I have the attention span of an inebriated kitten.

Donna: Yeah. And Bree has to rein me in when I start getting melodramatic with my romance novel conventions. It isn’t pretty. Of course, beyond that, Bree is better at pacing and action than I am.

Bree: But I have a tendency to go overboard and make things a little too dark and gritty, if Donna doesn’t jerk me back. I’d cheerfully depress the hell out of everyone, left to my own devices. She reminds me that the goal isn’t to make the audience want to drink Windex when they’re done with the story.

Q. Tell us about your first release with Cobblestone Press - MOONSHINE.

Donna: It’s a story about a shapeshifter trying to balance both halves of her–the human and the coyote–and coming up short. She can’t seem to find a man who appreciates everything she is.

Bree: The title actually has several meanings, with the joke about shapeshifters and the full moon being the least of them. Moonshine is the name of a powerful aphrodisiac created specifically for shapeshifters. It unleashes their basest instincts while trapping them in human form. For someone who has spent her life repressing everything inside of her that isn’t human, it seems like the perfect way to embrace her wild side.

Donna: And there’s a hot guy!

Bree: As evidenced by the smoking hot cover art Sable Grey made for us. Of course, while the hot guy is willing to show our heroine the joys of letting go, he’s not interested in a woman who has to use moonshine to be with him. It leaves our poor shapeshifter faced with a hard choice: take the safe route and conform to society’s demands, or learn to be comfortable with who and what she is.

Q. Tell us more about your Mystic Valley series of books and where you plan
on heading.

Bree: Mystic Valley is is less a series and more of an evolving universe, filled with characters who have stories to tell. Sometimes the stories overlap, but each one is its own book with its own hero and heroine and, if we do our job right, you’ll be able to pick up any one of the books, in any order, and enjoy it without missing a thing.

Donna: In this universe, the paranormal–shapeshifters, vampires, witches–is normal. Not really accepted, but out there. For the most part, they’re just people, trying to get by. But a lot of factors, internal and external, make that difficult. They have advantages, but also a lot of disadvantages. All of the stories are about that–living, and even finding love, when your very place in the world can make that hard.

Bree: We’re also trying out free reads. Our first attempt at this is FAKING HUMAN, a series of short vignettes that together will make up a prequel to MOONSHINE. We’ve just posted the second one on our website, so anyone interested in a sneek peak at the heroine of Moonshine can check it out here: http://moirarogers.com/?q=node/126

Q. What are you working on now?

Bree: A lot of our projects are Mystic Valley projects at the moment. We’re working on the second draft of what was meant to be a Mystic Valley novella, but it is actually turning out to be a novel, if a short one.

Donna: Then there’re two more novellas, a seasonal submission, some freebie reads, and a Wicked. There’s also a paranormal romance/urban fantasy novel that is separate from the Mystic Valley stuff, and another contemporary romantic suspense/paranormal novel. We’re busy!

Q. Do you have any other books out there with other publishers?

Donna: We have two upcoming releases with The Wild Rose Press. They’re both short, spicy contemporary romances.

Q. When did you start your obsession with Karl Urban? (it had to be asked!
LOL!)

Bree: Oh, Karl Urban. He is the latest in our string of TV/Movie crushes. We do fall in lust so easily.

Donna: About a month or so now, maybe? LOL Jeffrey Dean Morgan is still my One True Movie Love. (Sorry, Karl. I love you, too!!)

Bree: We do tend to switch them up. If you ever are wondering who our favorites are…well, wander over to our blog and check out Eyecandy Monday. We do love to share pretty pictures. It’s inspirational research, though. That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it.

Thanks so much Bree & Donna for a fun interview. Be sure to check out their first Cobblestone Press release - MOONSHINE - coming soon. I’ve had a sneak peek at another short for their Mystic Valley series, and it’s seriously hot. These two can write!

Kris

Okay, this just gets more exciting by the day. MOONLIGHTING has now moved up to the number 5 spot on The Wild Rose Press page on Fictionwise. AND I found it listed at number 88 on the erotica bestsellers list…which may not sound like a lot, but there are 5024 books on that list!

I’m thrilled!!!  So neat to see your hard work be enjoyed by readers. Thanks to everyone for putting me there. You are fabulous!

Looks like I need to finish THE OPAL HUNTER as soon as possible. I want to get that book out there, too.

I must thank my wonderful editor, Trish, for helping me shape that book into something wonderful. And to Rhonda Penders for taking the time to help with the final edit. I couldn’t be more pleased with my experience.

I just found out this morning I have another review for MOONLIGHTING. This one is from Night Owl Romance Book Reviews. They gave the book a 3.25 out of 5, which translates somewhere between “a great read” and an “excellent read” on their scale. Here’s a quote from it:

“Eton was successful in packing this short story with plenty of emotion and desire. The scenes flow smoothly keeping you interested in the characters and their goals.”

Click here to read the whole thing.

Also, I found out yesterday that MOONLIGHTING has moved up to spot number 6 on The Wild Rose Press page on Fictionwise!  So thank you to everyone who may have helped me move up the list.

This is also my chance to remind you to come back on Monday, March 31st for my interview with the two-woman writing team MOIRA ROGERS. You don’t want to miss this…not only are these girls entertaining with their answers, their writing rocks. Seriously awesome stuff.

Kris

As I’ve mentioned in a few previous posts, I’m in the middle of writing what seems to be a full-length contemporary, THE OPAL HUNTER. This was originally supposed to be no more than 30K, but now I think I’ve reached 30K, and the story’s still going. Guess I’ll try for at least 40K and see where it goes from there.

Typically, with the shorter erotic stuff I’ve done, the writing is a snap. Part of the reason is that I can get to the sex pretty quickly. The scenario usually calls for that. When you’re dealing with something under 20,000 words, you have to move things along. VARGAS GIRL, for example, I started and finished in a week or so.

But THE OPAL HUNTER started out with a slower introduction of the hero and heroine. I had to build more of their backgrounds and characters. Dig a little deeper. And when you put a lot of obstacles between the hero and heroine, it takes a lot more work to bring them together.

I’ve gotten to the point where I’m struggling with moving things forward in the right way. Then, this morning it struck me….I need to please myself first. My writing always works best when I’m thinking about what *I* would like to read next. And right now, I really want these two people to get together. In other words, bring on the sex, baby!

So, I’m really looking forward to diving into my story today. I get to write a hot sex scene!  Hooray! Bring these two people together and let the sparks fly.

That’s one of the best parts about being a writer. I get to write the story the way that I want and satisfy myself first. In the end, that will satisfy my audience, too.

I always found posts about how writers write to be interesting. Now, I guess it’s my turn to weigh in on the topic.

First, a little background. I began seriously writing about 5 1/2 years ago. Not erotic romance. But sort of literary women’s fiction. Vague ideas I’d had for books, but had never had the gumption to try. When I finally got around to writing, I went in full force without really thinking about plot or rhythm. I had no true beginning or ending. It was more an experiment in using my creative brain and to see what the limits were.

As many writers can tell you, each book brings you closer to your ‘process.’ Maybe you use notecards or a structured outline or maybe you use very little at all. I’m definitely a more organic writer. I don’t like anything to be too put together before I start writing. It takes away some of the magic. But I do tend to have generic things…a good beginning, a few characters, an idea of where it all might end up…in place before I start writing.

However, I find I’m gravitating towards a certain amount of structure. Not a scene-by-scene breakdown or sticky note chart on the wall. Something more in the realm of world building. Creating the ‘rules’ of the game, and then playing the game.

My non-erotic self has written a few paranormal suspense books. The current book I am working on has been tough. I had a great idea, but I am getting lost in the middle of it. The suspense is there, but I didn’t establish enough ‘rules’ to carry it out. I see now that I could have saved myself a lot of grief if I’d only written down the basics of this ‘world’ and how it worked and how the people act within it.

In my head, it was always a contemporary story with a paranormal twist. I didn’t feel there were any ‘rules’ to set. Not like in a vampire or werewolf book. I mean, 21st century America…I should kind of be an automatic expert on that,  shouldn’t I?

What I didn’t realize is that even the small amount of paranormal in my book needs to have a basis in fact. Made-up fact, sure, but some kind of solid something that I can depend on and turn to when I get stuck.

Besides writing what looks to be a full-length erotic contemporary, I am working on the world building for a werewolf duo of books (who knows, I suppose it could turn into more books…but the plan is for 2 right now). As I crafted this world,  it really struck me how valuable a tool this type of structuring would be for any book. Even if the plot is not outlined…the characters are, the rules are, the functions of people, places and things. And somehow that still allows me to write organically without feeling tied down to a particular storyline.

I admit, I am super duper slow on the uptake when it comes to creating any kind of process or organization. For me this has been particularly difficult.

I do feel like I’m closer now. That I have figured out a way that works for me. My mind really has to grasp something, hold on to it, turn it over and over before it ‘gets’ what it’s holding.

Let’s hope I’m closer to perfecting my process….

Kris

Hope you enjoyed yesterday’s peek into the writing world of Leila Brown. If you want to learn more about Cobblestone Press’s Vampire Oracle, why don’t you check out the Vampire Oracle blog. This will be CP’s first series of print books, all based in the same world. The releases will start this summer and continue into the late fall.

Next week, I will be interviewing the writing team Moira Rogers. Moira Rogers is the pseudonym of two fabulous young women - Bree and Donna. They have their very first CP book coming out this summer for the Wicked line (short, but seriously HOT stories). And they are furiously working on several other books.

Let me tell you right now, these two are fabulous! I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at a new story of theirs, and I was just blown away. And I’m not one to throw compliments around.

So come back next Monday for another author interview! It should be fun.

Kris

Leila is one of my fellow authors at Cobblestone Press. Her current release is THE DIAMOND HEARTSTONE.Alycia’s always possessed an affinity for cats, big and small. But when she’s kidnapped by a being more feline than human it turns from an asset to a issue. A six-foot five sexy one. Barrick never dreamed when he paid the best matchmaker in the galaxy to find his mate she would choose one so… different. Alycia is a headstrong, opinionated, melt in your mouth delicious distraction. She’s nothing he wanted and everything he needs.

I had the opportunity to ask her some questions about her writing and what’s in the future for her.

Q. I noticed your book THE DIAMOND HEARTSTONE has a sci-fi element to it. Do you only write science fiction?

A. No. I love to write paranormal and sci-fi but I also write erotic contemporary. I have a novel coming out in late fall that is an erotic contempary with a wicked bend. It’s the first book in a new series currently called Stolen. My book is Stealing the Show.

Q. What are you working on now?

I am currently working on a interracial story starring superheroine Glossy and good guy gone bad Hot Hands…the working title of this story is Too Hot To Handle.

Q. How long did it take for you to become published?

Almost 4 years. I have been writing for since about 2002 but life, work and kids have made me take time off from writing. But in late 2006 I decided that I needed to really do this. It was less than a year since I made that a goal until my first book came out.

Q. Why did you choose Cobblestone Press?

It was the way they treated their authors. They feel their authors are their number one commodity. And the CP authors were so happy with them. I felt like I wanted to be a part of that.

Q. Are you a plotter or a pantster?

Half and half. I write out a 1-2 page outline of the high points and a paragraph for the hero, heroine, and villian. I pick out pictures. Then I start writing.

Q. What do you like most about writing?

The feeling you get when a publisher accepts a story. Closely followed by writing the words …The End.

Q. What do you like the least?

Writing thousand of words that will end up getting cut out of the story in the end. I usually know right after I finish that those words aren’t going to make the final cut but I celebrate writing them anyway.

Q. Tell us about your Vampire Oracle book. It sounds like such a great series. I’d love to hear more about how your book fits into it.

My book is all about Sacrifice. Here is a blurb:

Ex-Navy Seal, Sienna James, trained with the best of the best. She held them while they died right in front of her. Her last mission was the breaking point.
Elias doesn’t remember how old he is, or the date he was born. He only remembers two dates. The date he was changed and the date he was cursed. Cursed with a never-ending hunger, which can only be satisfied by the blood of one family. Hers.
Sienna is his last chance at redemption. But when dangers from Sienna’s past resurfaces, he’ll have to choose between breaking the curse and saving Sienna.

Thanks so much to Leila for the interview! If you want to find out more about Leila, visit her website:

Leila’s Website

Just a little reminder that on  Sunday, March 23rd I will be interviewed on the Cobblestone Press blog. Come find out more about me and my books….you definitely will find out something new about me. I guarantee.

Then, return to my blog on Monday, March 24th, for my author interview with Cobblestone author, Leila Brown!

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

Kris

Hey!  I just got a Google notification that my first review for MOONLIGHTING is now live. The reviewer gave it a B, but her only complaint was that the story wasn’t longer.   I think I can live with that kind of criticism.

Here’s a link, if you want to read it for yourself:

Simply Romance Reviews - MOONLIGHTING

I will add a snippet of this to the My Books page in the next day or two.

Kris

After just two short days on Fictionwise, MOONLIGHTING is number 19 on The Wild Rose Press page! I’m hoping I can break into a top 10 spot before the week is over. It’s so exciting to have some instant ‘feedback’ for my book. I’m hoping one or two customers post a rating soon.

If you want to play along with me, just go to The Wild Rose Press page and select Display: best-selling and hit [Go]. Seems that the ranking changed a whole lot yesterday evening (from #36 to #19), so check it out around 7 or 8 pm EST to see what happens!

Thanks to everyone who has purchased my book. I hope you enjoyed it!

Kris