Welcome this Week’s Featured Author
ABOUT
Honor is a thirty-something woman, born in the
mid-seventies, who has always had a love of the written word. Whether it is
reading a book on a rainy day, or pounding away at the keyboard of her
computer, she’s always exploring new worlds. Her tastes are eclectic, from
Shakespeare to mysteries, paranormal to the erotic. She will literally read
practically anything she can get her hands on.
When first starting out it was with poetry, for nearly
a full three years. But don’t bother asking to see any, she won’t show her
earliest works to anyone, not even her husband has gotten a peek at them. After
that she moved onto short stories before she finally began to write for more
than just writing. Not just whatever came to mind, she started to create whole
worlds, developing characters and delving much deeper into just who these
“people” were.
But real life sometimes throws you for a loop. Family
came next and, while working as a Customer Service Rep and raising two children
became her main focus, the writing she so loved as a teenager was pushed to the
back burner. For a time.
As her children grew up and were steadily becoming less
dependent on her, which she still is a little miffed about, she was able to
stretch her writing muscles once more. So, between dealing with the latest of
teenage angst, she began to flex her inner brain and practice her craft once
again.
Starting with scribbles in a notebook that never
completely developed, her imagination never fully at rest, she looked to another
outlet. For where one door closes, another one opens up. In this case, she got
a computer and was off to the races, or so you could say.
These days Honor spends many a sleepless night pounding
on her keyboard. A consummate professional by day, she slips into her writing
cape by night and into worlds very similar or very, very different from our
own. In the wee hours, when her husband and children are tucked in their beds,
visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads, she is diligently working to weave
together the perfect blend of words to give her readers a glimpse into the
world she has envisioned. Honor James has brought us new worlds, new realms,
new characters of spice, heat and a lot of sex appeal that are burning up the
pages and having her readers asking for more.
Crowning Glory
The Royal Wolves 3
When you are the oldest of five brothers there are certain standards
that you are held to no matter what. Don't hit them (even if they really
deserve it), set a good example, and keep them safe from all enemies. Lazlo
Farkas has always lived by the rules his parents set out before them and tried
to do his best by his family at all times. Thrust into a role of parent at too
young an age, he had to keep them from all becoming the next victims of the
Rebels and to ensure that all his brothers had the life their parents would
have wanted. Never taking for himself, he has always given, but a man can only
give so much before he wants something in return, and in her he finds it.
Brash, loud, authoritative, and just plain crazy, Desmonda Franco is
attitude personified and proud of it. She has never been one to just lie down
and take it. Dishing it out was always more her style. And then it happens she
meets the man that can stand up to her and even put her in her place when
needed. He's strong, determined, and unbelievably sexy, and she just arrested
his brother for murder. Not exactly how one expects to meet the man of her
dreams, but it could have been worse…maybe.Thrown together against their wills
but with Fate giving each a strong push, these two have more than just a killer
to worry about. They have whole society wanting his head on a silver platter.
Together they must stay ahead of all those that are coming for them and find a
little time for romance and love, too. Oh, to be King for a day…that may be all
they get!
Excerpt
The song from Madagascar 2, “I like to move it”, was stuck
in her mind and was a nightmare to try to think over and around the tune as she
looked at the scene before her. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” Desmonda, or
Demon as everyone called her, asked the rookie standing before her looking
green and pasty. The crime scene behind her was a mess and a half, the
rookie’s eyes already glazing over as he tried desperately not to stare.
“They are asking if you want each part to be put in a separate bag.” His
body heaved. Throwing his hand over his mouth, he didn’t wait for her to excuse
him as he ran past her, rushing for the safety of the trash cans lining the
main street.
“Puke in a bag, don’t contaminate my scene!” She shouted at him and
sighed, shaking her head. Rookies, you couldn’t live with them, and killing
them was just too much trouble.
No, Demon wasn’t the ME but she was the highest ranking officer on the
scene, which troubled her to no end. Walking over to the Detective on site she
accepted the coffee he held out and looked down between the two narrow
buildings and filthy alley. “You do know that you have a serial now,
right?”
“Yeah, and it pisses me off,” the man said as he heaved a sigh, his
large bulk shifting slightly from foot to foot.
“Why didn’t you call for a specialist earlier?” This was the question
downtown. It wasn’t like they were in freaking New York City!
Hello, her mind screamed to him, wake up and smell the Gouda, asshole.
“Because as a part of the Upper Ninth, we take care of our own,” he said
pointedly.
“Yeah, smart, and because you take care of your own another woman died.
You boys of the Upper Ninth are really brilliant. Remind me never to walk in
the dark in your neck of the woods.” Yeah, she was a bitch, but she couldn’t
stand incompetence, and that was what the jackass beside her was, incompetent.
Every fiber of her being had him pegged as a wife-beater who got off on
making women squirm, just the way he tried to intimidate her told her that
much. He was a jackass and she would bet a month’s salary that he had been out
on mental medical more than once in his career and likely got off on shooting
perps.
Moving away from him, she walked toward the ME who finally made it and
tossed her coffee in the trash as she moved. She was the best there was, the
best profiler ever at Quantico, and part of that was because she could usually
sum people up with just a brief chat or look into their lives. Her profiling
experience launched her into field work and since then she had moved up the
ranks and was now lead in the Homicide Division of Quantico, a spot normally
only held by a man.
She had gotten the tip about the murders through a snitch on the
streets. After pulling the computer files without the Ninth knowing, she found
she had a serial on their hands, one who not only killed in NYC, but Jersey as
well. The man doing these killings was an enigma, and she fucking hated puzzles.
“Hey Bill, about time you showed up.” She had worked with Bill Chambers
on more than one occasion, he was quiet and shy, but damn good at his job,
too.
“They had me neck deep in paperwork and sent the rookie.” Said rookie
who was now barfing in a plastic bag thrust into his hands by one of the EMTs.
“Looks like I will be requesting another one, huh?” he asked and moved toward
the body, well body pieces, as it was.
It was half an hour later, many photos taken of the scene before Bill
was able to roll the torso part of the body. The torso still had one arm
attached and it was under the chest and when Bill rolled it Demon saw what she
needed. “Fuck me,” she growled and then said, “thanks for letting me hang,
Bill, will you cc me in on your report?”
“Sure thing Demon.” He said as he continued to make verbal notes into
the voice recorder.
Striding down the alley and toward the Lexus, she stripped off her
gloves and paused at her trunk to peel off the booties over her heeled boots
and slipped into the car. Later she would go and check on Harker, but for now
she would leave it because Harker’s lover would ask her questions that she
didn’t have answers for right now, she knew one thing for sure, she would
never, never have a cop for a boyfriend, or even lover.
The Inside Scoop
Q. Thinking back on your first book, is there anything
you would have done differently?
A. Probably a couple
things, but nothing I fret over.
Q, Has your perspective on the writing
process changed since you became published?
A. Oh,
definitely yes on this one.
Q. Do you work best on a deadline, or do
you need freedom from time constraints?
A. I’m
the sort that needs freedom from time constraints, I can work under a deadline
but I do it under severe and loud protest.
Q. Is there a word or phrase you catch
yourself overusing?
A. There
are a few but I’ve learned to watch for them now since I’ve been doing this for
a little bit of time. But I’m sure I’ll end up with a few more in the years to
come.
Q. How do you know you’ve written a good
book?
A. I’m
never really sure. I always feel sure when I send it to my publisher but, even
after it’s been out and the fans give me their feedback I always think about
what else I could have done or added to make it great.
Q. How do you keep your characters and
stories organized?
A. A
lot of luck and a list of things off to the side when I’m working
Q. Are you a Swooper (write first, edit
later,) a Basher (edit each sentence as you go,) or both?
A. Definitely
a Swooper. I have to write the story, errors and all as it comes to me, I can’t
go back until I’m fully done to do edits or it throws off my rhythm.
Q. What is the one thing you must have to
be able to write?
A. A
can of Red Bull or Pepsi sitting on one side and my phone on the other.
Q. Did you have any bad habits when you
began writing? How did you correct those habits?
A. Uh,
I was supposed to correct them? No one told me this!
Q. Is there anything you haven’t written
that you would like to try some day? Why have you avoided it in the past?
A. That’s
a tough one, I suppose I wouldn’t trying my hand at a mystery but I’ve avoided
it because I’m too impatient all the time, I tend to drop the hints too early.
If I ever break myself of that habit, I might just give it a shot.
Q. Do you have any rituals, habits, or
superstitions about your writing?
A. Not
a one, but I’ve been thinking about getting me some.
Q. What types of scenes are your favorite
to write?
A. The
final scene, the HEA of the book is the best and worst scene for me to write.
The best because it means I’ve completed another book and the worst for the
exact same reason.
Q. How do you feel about the term “Mommy
Porn”?
A. It sounds incredibly derogatory.
Q. Do you prefer to write 1st or
3rd Person POV? Why?
A. 3rd
person definitely, I tried 1st person once and it felt mildly creepy
to me so I stopped.
Q. What do you feel are the most important
aspects to a good romance?
A. Character building is key to any
story, if you have bad or incomplete characters than your story will always be
lacking. A good hook is necessary too, something that keeps the readers
engaged.
Q. Are you always in the driver’s seat? Or
do your characters drag you along for the ride?
A. I
haven’t been driving this writing bus since I started. I don’t even attempt to
wrestle control back anymore. I do occasionally throw them ideas and either
they throw them back or use them.
Q. What is your least favorite part of the
writing process?
A. Finishing a series. It seems so final
to me and makes me sad to think I won’t be enjoying the world I created any
more.
Character Profile
Name: Desmonda “Desi” Franco
DOB:
April
1, 1981
Height: 5’ 11”
Eye Color:
Blue
Occupation: Cop
Bio: Desmonda is a lone wolf sort of girl, but
all she really wants is to be accepted for who she is. Smart mouth and sarcasm
included, though that really just hides the tender and too vulnerable heart
within. She has had to fight tooth and nail in a man’s world to get where she
is and she’s damned good at it. But what she really wants is a family and a man
to love and appreciate her for who she is and what she brings to the
relationship. Strength, honor and a heart that will never waver from the one
she gives it to.
Favorites
Food: Cake
Color: Green
Book: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
Movie: Mission Impossible
TV Show:
NCIS
and NCIS: LA
Holiday: July 4th, fireworks, food and
family close at hand
Sport:
Football
Guilty Indulgence: Anything I can manage to hide from the family
over 24 hours.
Dessert:
I love mousse desserts, so light and fluffy…
Time of Day: Sunset
Lightning Round
Pepsi or Coke: Red Bull
Boxers or Briefs: Boxer-briefs
Steak or Chicken: Steak
Rock or Country Music: Definitely rock
Beer or Wine: Vodka, neat
In Depth
How do you feel about being the center of
attention? Definitely not my cup of tea
What makes you blush? Being the center of attention
How do you feel, generally, about the
opposite sex? I feel fine about
them, better if I can get my hands on a fine example of one though with that
restraining order…
What is your worst habit? Chewing on my nails when I’m an emotional
wreck
How do you think your exes would describe
you? Fun loving, expressive, chatty (very chatty),
friendly to anyone and everyone, there is no such thing as a stranger to me
What are you the most hopeless at? Being artistically creative (beyond writing)
without a how-to manual and a twenty-four hour help line
No comments:
Post a Comment