Q&A with Author Elizabeth Reyes

Elizabeth Reyes was born and raised and continues to live in sunny southern California. She's married and has two wonderful teens. Her love for writing began when she was just a kid though, she never really had any dreams or aspirations of doing it for a living. Then along came the age of eReaders and she saw an opportunity to get her writing out for the world to read without jumping through hoops and getting past the red tape of trying to get traditionally published. The Moreno Brothers series has literally changed her life. She now wakes up to go to work a few yards from her bed. 5th Street is her second series with 4 out--Noah, Gio, Hector and Abel out already and on more to come. There is also the Moreno Brothers spinoff series. Recently, she just put out her first traditionally published book, Desert Heat. For more information, log onto http://authorelizabethreyes.blogspot.com


Welcome, Elizabeth!

1. You have written several books—many are part of a series (The Moreno Brothers, Fate, 5^th Street). How do you plan out the books for a series?
 
I don't. The stories just suddenly come to me. Like Fate for example. I had never planned on writing a spinoff of the series and then along came cousin Vincent Moreno in Making You Mine. He and Rosie hit it off and, next thing you know, I had another story coming fast and furiously. Same goes for all the others. I thought I was DONE with the Moreno Brothers then I got the idea for Forever Yours and now I have 2 novellas in the works and possibly more. When the story comes to me it just does and there is no silencing it until I write it out.

 
2. We understand you are promoting your new novel, Desert Heat. How is this different from your previous books?

It's a brand new series. Brand new family. Brand new place (Vegas) and a whole new dynamic. Muscle cars and bands. It's also my debut traditionally published book and the first that is available in stores.   


3. What is your writing process like?

I really don't have one. A story just comes to me and I start writing. I never outline. I write as the scenes play out in my head and sometimes the scenes play out while I'm writing and even I'm like What the? There are times when I'll be writing 2 or even three stories at a time because I hit a wall with one so I move on to the other.

Where do you start?
All over. I've been known to start in one place then suddenly that becomes the middle and I have to go back and write the back story rather than tell it. Sometimes I start at the climax in the prologue and then the first chapter goes back to when they first met like in Desert Heat and Making You Mine. It's always different. 


4. What personality features do you consider when writing lead female characters?

I like them to be strong but not too strong. I know most want the female lead to be strong and independent but sometimes it gets annoying when they're a little too headstrong. They come across as overly stubborn and unyielding.

What features do you consider for lead male characters?
PROTECTIVE! It's a must. They protect their loved ones fiercely! They are also very down to earth and likable even if they are rough around the edges. But I personally like to see male leads fall and fall hard. So when they love they love with everything they have. This goes both ways. I hate reading books where one seems to be more into the other. They have to be mutually head over heels for each other.  *sigh* I also personally don't care for "perfect" characters. So they have to always be slightly flawed because aren't we all? I think it's very unrealistic to have a character be perfect in every way.



5. As a romance author, what do you think is the key element for that “spark” between your characters?

Something's gotta click. They have to do something for one another that no one else has ever done. This is a tough one too because you can't have the same thing click in every story. I just think about ALL the couples I know and it's funny but there is always something very unique that each does for the other. Not everyone needs the same things either. So while tough to come up with a different thing it's also one of the parts I enjoy best about bringing characters together.


6. What do you do when writer's block hits you?

I start another story. LOL I mentioned this in one of the previous questions. Writing has become a bit of an addiction for me. If I planned on writing all day and I suddenly hit a wall I don't walk away I simply open another doc usually one I've already started and get that story going. Something usually comes to me eventually and I can get back to the other story.


7. We understand that you write for young adult as well. How do you reply to those that deem these books a tad too sexual for younger audiences?

I don't. To each his own. Just like parents parent differently and I'd never be one to tell anyone they were doing it wrong. It's the same thing with YA stories. Like a parent I believe in being realistic. I have a seventeen and a nineteen year old. They both have lots of friends and I have lots of nephews and nieces who are at that same age. I refuse to sugar coat or close my eyes and pretend that underage drinking and sex don't happen. Like when I talk to my kids openly and honestly, I'd rather write the truth and include real consequences. I'd prefer my kids read a book that says yes teens have sex but there is a responsible way to go about it and then the wrong way and see here? There are some major consequences both physically and emotionally. They can then decide if they are ready for it. Because at the end of the day they will be the ones who make the final decision. Not me.       



8.  What do you hope people to gain from your books?

A temporary escape from the real world. Maybe a smile or two, some laughs and even a heartfelt cry. So far my books have all had happy endings. So even if you cry a little I promise you'll go away feeling all warm and fuzzy in the end...so far. ;) 


9. Do you feel your books are an inspiration to today’s Latina? If so, how?

I never came into this to inspire anyone. My reasons for writing is really quite selfish. It fulfills a need in me. A passion. I just love writing stories. It's my therapy. Even when things are falling apart around me I can sit and write and escape from everything in the world of my characters. But I have had many emails and messages who have been inspired by my writing. Not necessarily all Latina but just aspiring writers. So that's just been the icing for me. 



10. What’s your next project?

I have so many! I've already written the final story of my 5th Street series "Felix" and am SO excited about it. I should do the cover reveal sometime in late summer or early fall. I'm also working on two Moreno Brother's novellas. I also have Lorenzo and Sydney's stories brewing and then there is the next in my Desert Heat series. So much MUCH more to come and very excited about it! Stay tuned!     

Review: PLAYING WITH DESTINY by Diane Escalera

Destiny Quinn lives for her job. She loves being an IT Recruiter, traveling nationwide. But all work and no play has left her feeling restless. It's been a year since she's gone out on a date — or slept with a man. Suddenly, Destiny can't think about anything else. She's not looking for a relationship, just a good time and a sexy diversion. One steamy night of mind-blowing pleasure, then maybe she can get back to business.

Christian LaCosta wants to prove to his family — and himself — that he is relationship material. Lately, it seems like everyone around him is in love. Maybe it's time to give up the fast life and fast women, quit being the odd man out. Christian decides to take the plunge and join an online dating service. When he's unwittingly hooked up with a luscious neighbor named Destiny, the coincidence is too much. Christian doesn't believe in fate, but one look at Destiny, and he's seeing a whole new future. Now he must convince this career-driven beauty that work isn't everything. Take a chance on them, and she can have it all.

WARNING: Food Play, Hot Sex, Latin Hunk


Reviewed by: Bela
Rating: 4 stars

Review:  Destiny wasn’t looking for love; she was just looking for a good time. No strings attached. Then came Christian LaCosta, a gorgeous hunk of male.

[Excerpt]

“Christian LaCosta,” he said, with a husky timbre in his voice. He reached for her hand.

“Destiny Quinn,” she replied, trying not to stammer. She gave him a firm handshake, did her best to maintain composure, because up-close he looked even more incredible.

“Destiny, huh?” Still grasping her hand, he stared into her eyes. “I think so,” he said, nodding approvingly.

What a line. Yet she secretly loved it. “Can I have my hand back?”

Wowza! He had me from the very first hand shake. Also, he knows martial arts, he can build a house, and he cooks? Can you say “PERFECTION”!? The best part about Christian was his restrained and protective nature.

The sexual energy between the two exploded from page one. Who doesn’t think that Latin guys are so freaking hot?

The bulk of the story basically concentrated on the physical heat between the two lovers with a brief history of the characters. It was lust at first sight for these two, and the details can be quite racy.

Working women will be able to relate to Destiny’s marriage to her job. She is the fiercely independent woman that’s needed in today’s tough world. She’s happy being the leader of her life and refuses to settle—that’s absolutely admirable!

Who can blame Destiny for wanting to keep things simple without the drama? After all, she had enough of it with her ex, who, of course, decided to show up out of the blue. The ex is always the complication. What a psycho!

A well-written, fast-paced, spicy romance!

Q&A with Author Diane Escalera

 

Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, Diane Escalera makes her home in coastal North Carolina. The sultry surroundings are a steady source of inspiration for her hot love stories. Diane is married, has two children and a super cute dachshund she can’t get enough of. She writes contemporary romance and is published with Kensington Publishing and Lyrical Press.

DianeEscalera.com

Facebook.com/DianeEscaleraOfficial
Twitter.com/DianeEscalera
Goodreads.com/DianeEscalera

***

 

 

Promoting her newest novella, PLAYING WITH DESTINY, Diane joins us for a quick Q&A.

 

 

 

1) What gave you the idea for PLAYING WITH DESTINY?

The hero in this story had never been in a real relationship. He loved the fast life, fast chicks. I thought it would be fun to turn the tables on him. What if he fell for a woman who was just looking for a one-night stand?   

2) This is book 3 of the LATIN HEAT TRILOGY. Can you please tell us a little about this series?

I had been wanting to feature a Latin hero in a mainstream book because there aren't too many out there. The character ended up exceeding my expectations, so I figured, why not throw an equally sexy brother and a cousin into the mix? The idea evolved into a Latin Heat Trilogy starring the hunky LaCosta men. Each story can stand alone, and readers who love sensual tales and passionate heroes should enjoy this series.       

 

3) What personality traits or features do you consider when writing your lead female characters? How about your male characters?

I spend a lot of time figuring out who my characters are. So many things shape a person, and I start with their childhood, family, etc. Where did they come from? What made them who they are today? I try to draw from my Latin roots, create characters we can all relate to. They have flaws, but they also have integrity, respect, and a good heart. Sometimes they're humorous. And always sexy!

4) Destiny states that you can’t have a job and a relationship. “It’d be the same as a long-distance relationship; they’d hardly ever see each other.” What are your thoughts?

Destiny's job makes her apprehensive because she travels on a regular basis. Relationships take work. You have to nurture them, which is harder to do when you're miles apart. But if you love someone, you do what it takes to be together.    

 

5) What is your process when writing a romance novel?

I need to have a few things in place before starting a new story such as a working title, my main characters, and the premise of the story. I like to have an idea where I’m going, but I’m never sure how I’m going to get there until I start writing.

6) What do you like best about being a writer? What do you dislike?

The best thing for me is seeing an idea transform into a story, and then sharing it with everyone else. I feel truly blessed to be able to do this. The only thing I dislike is that I can't write any faster.

7) What do you do when you get writer’s block?

Fortunately, I rarely have writer's block because I usually know where the story is going.  If I hit a bump, I'll step away and do something else. The answer eventually comes to me.

8) Who are some of your favorite authors?

recently Linda Howard, Lori Foster, and Jill Shalvis are my go-to authors. They're gifted storytellers who create smokin' hot heroes like the ones I adore.

 

9) Are you working on any other books?

I recently got back the rights to my Lyrical Press titles, and I'm in the process of self-publishing these books. I'm also working on a boxed set and a print edition of the Latin Heat Trilogy, which I hope to have available in the fall.

10) What advice would you give to our Latina readers?

I'll tell you what works for me. It's not easy being a woman, especially today. There are so many expectations, so much pressure to think, look, feel a certain way. But there are also endless opportunities. Listen to your heart, follow your instincts. Take care of yourself first, then take care of others. Find something you're passionate about. Work hard. And above all, smile! 

 

 

 

PLAYING WITH DESTINY is available at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble    

**Our review of PLAYING WITH DESTINY is coming up next!**



Review: ONCE UPON A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN by Patrick Sanchez

Patrick Sanchez delivers a hilarious, moving, and all-too-true snapshot of a generation of women stretched between extremes, frazzled by time and tides, and determined to make everything work without losing themselves in the process. Jennifer Costas has her hands full. She's the single mother of a five-year-old son; her full-time job is only getting busier; her force-of-nature college roommate recently showed up on her doorstep in need of a place to stay. . .indefinitely; her increasingly cranky "old-world" mother answers the phone every morning with, "I'm not dead," and her newly out-of-the-closet ex-husband is constantly late with his child support payments while he tries to get his new restaurant, Gonads (think gay Hooters) off the ground. She feels guilty about not making "stay-at-home mom cookies" and wary about tip-toeing into the dating scene carrying thirty-six years' worth of baggage. Having it all means juggling it all, and Jennifer's trying desperately not to drop anything. But just when Jennifer thinks she's operating at maximum capacity, her mother's health begins to fail. Faced with taking care of her mother in addition to her son, keeping her career on track, and maintaining some semblance of a social life, Jennifer's in for the ride of her life--one that will challenge her sense of humor, her sense of self, and her sense of sanity.


Reviewed by: Bela
Rating: 4 stars


Review: When I first read the prologue, I was instantly reminded of Fran Drescher’s Happily Divorced; however, unlike the title of the show, Jennifer Costas is not happy. In fact, she has too much on her plate—from dealing with the divorce from her gay ex-husband, to taking care of her 5-year old son, to spending time with her elderly and lonesome mother, to having to put up with all the dating advice from her two friends. Who wouldn’t go crazy?

Jennifer is somebody that anyone can relate to. I totally agreed when she mentioned that mothers that make crafts and bake good all day are clearly the ones who don’t work (this was when her son was bugging her to make cookies from scratch for a bake sale.) Jennifer didn’t have time to wipe her a**.

It was sad how she was the only person her mother could depend on, which only filled her with even more obligation. I find it ironic how parents eventually become the children with their constant petulance and neediness.

Ben seemed like a totally nice (normal) guy, at first, but I agreed with Jen when she didn’t want to add more drama in her life. With all the crap she had going, who would? And what if it becomes a thing? What if he turns out to be gay too? Who would seriously be okay to go to a drag-queen show!?

Her two friends are definitely characters you remember. Desma is a political, vegetarian pain in the neck; and Claire is such a “free lover.” Should Jen be hanging around with these broads?

Some of Jen’s dates were hilarious! I especially liked the one going through the “heterosexual rehab.”  The only thing I didn’t like was that it got too racy sometimes.

I LOVED the sense of humor blended with the sarcasm. This is a real-life story of drama and stress. You can’t help but have a nervous breakdown yourself as you’re reading it. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll feel right at home.

Review: THE HOLY TORTILLA AND A POT OF BEANS by Carmen Tafolla

As a helping of a down-home magical realism, this collection of 16 short stories explores the human spirit inherent in the bilingual, bicultural world of the Texas-Mexico border. With a fresh sense of humor and human understanding, these stories skillfully bridge the gap between miracles and tragedies, prejudice and transcendence, and oppression and liberation. From the comical exploration of the hypocrisy expressed at funerals to the spiritual mission of a magical tortilla, the collection draws upon a wide range of emotions but comes together in a singular, powerful voice that reflects the holiness found in everyday life.


Reviewed by: Bela
Rating: 3 stars

Review: Author Carmen Tafolla presents us with a collection of short stories with a delicious blend of heart and poetry. Originating from a land of healing and wonder, these tales will make you feel as if you were listening to a Mexican curandera.

 

I particularly enjoyed "La Santisima Maria Pilar, the Queen of Mean," a story of a girl that ruins a beloved dish by hiding a dirty diaper in it. Who would want to be around this girl? I guess it's true what they say: "...some men are so stupid they'll fall for anything wearing a skirt. Anything." (16) 

In “Invisible,” a woman sees beauty in herself by acknowledging the beauty in people that refused to see her.

I did feel, however, that some stories were a tad bit eccentric, like “The Holy Tortilla,” a story of a simple tortilla reflecting an image of the Virgin Mary in its rising steam.

Although beautifully written, these stories contained too much of a religious aspect that seemed too ludicrous at times. Still, I can’t imagine anyone not finding a story to relate to or cherish somewhere in this collection.

 

 

 

 

Review: THE BOLERO OF ANDI ROWE by Toni Margarita Plummer

Winner of the Miguel Mármol Prize, this collection of inter-related stories delves into the life of Andi Rowe—a young woman of Mexican and Irish heritage—to give an intimate account of one family’s passage from the immigrant story to the American story, and the cycle of loss, adaptation, and rediscovery that is innate to that experience. Set largely in Los Angeles’s San Gabriel Valley, and crossing generations and borders, these stories focus on the quiet moments between explosions, where tension simmers just beneath the surface. From a Border Patrol agent whose own mother crossed the border illegally to a lonely woman seeking companionship with her hired day-laborer, characters seek revelation in the most ordinary of experiences, their actions filled with humor, longing, and honesty. In the tradition of Flannery O’Connor, Toni Margarita Plummer explores themes of grace and redemption as each story spirals toward a surprising but inevitable conclusion.


Reviewed by: Bela
Rating: 1 star

Review: The Bolero of Andi Rowe is a collection of short stories that are not necessarily centered on Andi. For instance, in “Olivia’s Roses,” a high school senior discovers the possibility of a college education along with her burgeoning womanhood from an attractive boy she meets at the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena.

The book is a well-written account of L.A. life colorfully drafted by a diverse set of characters. Each story attempts to enlighten the reader as the characters try to break through the barriers that entrap them; however, there often lay an obscurity that disoriented the reader throughout. The point of view would change, sometimes within the same story. Half the time I kept wondering who was talking.

The back story was misleading because it made you think that it was all about Andi and it wasn’t, even though some of the stories did reference her at times. I thought these stories would surround Andi, that we would experience them through her, that we would see what she saw and hear what she heard. Why was her name even in the title if she wasn’t the star?

I also noticed that the stories with the girls mainly involved the complexity of love, sex, and relationships. In fact, the details may have been a little too explicit for my taste.

This book seemed to be a novel weaved together by various short stories by the way Andi kept showing up in a lot of them, but I thought the composite was weakened by a lack of focus. All the details are so scattered that it is nearly impossible to see any clarity to the plot. You often forget the characters and what they were in relation to each other. For example, who was “Dad” in “Happy Hour?” Whose dad was he? And what was he to Andi? Was he her uncle or something?

By the end, I was dissatisfied with the overall structure. I’d have to say that the best story was “Olivia’s Roses,” because I thought it was rendered a little more genuinely, and I liked that it tried to promote a college education.

 

Review: THE HUSBAND HABIT by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

Why does Vanessa keep falling for married men?

Not that she knows she does. At least not at first. But every man who seems like he might be the one turns out to be someone else’s. So maybe the right thing to do is take a vow to stay single, to keep away from all men, until she can figure things out.

At least work is a bright spot: It’s an anchor to be so good at something, to lose yourself in your job, and Vanessa is a whiz of a chef, so good she makes her grandstanding boss, Hawk—of Albuquerque’s chic Nuevo American restaurant hawk—look good. After all, it’s his name on the awning above the door. If only her friends and family would get on board with Vanessa’s plan and stop trying to fix her up. If she can’t fix her life, nobody else is going to get the chance to try—not her parents, not her friends, and certainly not her ultra-well-meaning but just-not-getting-it sister, Larissa.

And nothing could be more with the plan than helping out at her parents’ house—gardening, keeping them fed, getting them organized with her loyal pet Red Dog by her side. Red Dog is all the companionship she needs. Until Vanessa meets Paul, her parents’ neighbor—he’s all wrong on paper, but he’s got great manners and certainly seems safe. Not bad in the kissing department, either. But just when Vanessa’s guard goes down, the red flag goes up: Could Paul be yet another married man?



Reviewed by: Celia
Rating: 1 star


Review: The story starts off with Vanessa meeting a man for the first time ever after months of correspondence via online dating. After making a quick remark about the stick-figured woman on the bathroom door being sexually biased because of the triangle-shaped skirt (chill out, girl, it’s just a sign,) Vanessa goes into a frenzy trying to make herself look “good” for a stranger; and, when she does meet him, she gets a little too “friendly” and becomes naïve at the assurance that “he is her soul mate.” (pg. 8) Oh, please.

It was only after a horrific scene with an angry ex-wife that Vanessa realizes that she’s developed “quite the husband habit.” (pg. 17) Part of me actually thought that she deserved what she got for being so fast with men; on the other hand, I couldn’t help but wonder if her intentions were truly genuine.

One thing that bothered me about Vanessa was how adamant she’d be about taking things slow—gardening, cooking, biking, walking, and generally living—but, for some reason, she refused to do the same with men. The character also spent too much talking about her New Mexico house and her food. We get it, she loves them. Can we move on now?

Overall, the writing reads as if you were being preached to. I didn’t feel like I was a part of the story, or even a spectator of it. At times, the author went off on a tangent to insert a personal commentary or opinion that had virtually nothing to do with the story. Also, there were a lot of fragments—too many words and phrases that were segregated from each other and stationed in their own sentence that made for some pretty tedious reading. Additionally, the POV was constantly changing. One minute, the story is being told in the third person, and the next, the first person takes over in the voice of Vanessa. I really wish the author would’ve kept this consistent.

If you ask me, I think this book required more effort. I would’ve liked to have seen Vanessa in her dating journey and how she came to develop this “husband habit” just so I could’ve known her better. Maybe if I’d gotten to know her better, I would’ve cared more for Vanessa and the rest of the cast instead of thinking that they all could’ve used more renditions of clearly drawn attributes. The best part about this book was chapter one, where the reader becomes introduced to Vanessa’s “husband habit,” even though the history of it was never specified.

In conclusion, this was just a boring and disappointing book that I had higher hopes for.