Showing posts with label Extasy Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Extasy Books. Show all posts

Monday, January 15, 2024

SPOTLIGHT w/INTERVIEW - CONTEMPORARY - HER NAME WAS LOLA by Karen Janowsky

Her Name Was Lola
by Karen Janowsky
Date of Publication: December 22nd 2023
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Cover Artist: Martine Jardin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN:  978-1-4874-4027-5
Number of pages: 300 
Word Count: 8,859

Tagline: Sometimes you have to lose your heart to gain your dream.


BLURB
Lover of fairy tales Lola Nelsson learned at an early age that darker truths lay behind their bright facades. At twenty-two, she still hopes for her fairy tale to come true before she graduates college. But she hasn’t met her prince yet and she doesn’t know how to navigate the real world. Then a handsome man at a conference catches her eye. She’s sure he’s out of her league, but tries to get his attention anyway. And she’s successful… until she isn’t.

Only one thing matters to Professor Vance Anderson—gaining tenure. Known as Dr. Casanova on campus, he’s a true love ‘em and leave ’em kind of guy. For now though, he’s sworn off the distraction of women. When he spots a beauty of a different sort at a conference, he can’t stop thinking about her.  But when she accepts his invitation to his room, his insecurities kick in. Everything goes well… until it doesn’t.

The night ends disastrously, and it’s all over. Until Lola and Vance wind up in a working relationship, making it impossible to avoid one another. The situation can only end in one of two ways. They’ll either end up madly in love or they’ll want to kill each other. Before they can discover their real feelings, they need to learn to trust themselves. Only time will tell if their fairy tale is sweet or dark.
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Excerpt:
From behind Lola, a pleasant, male alto voice said, “Hi, I’m Vance.”
She turned around and found her five-foot-four self face-to-solid-chest with GQ. Taking a step backward and sure she’d turned pale, she looked up at him. The peeling name badge on his lapel said, M. Vance, but his last name was hidden by a shadow. “Oh, hi. I’m Lola.”
Vance held a shot glass in each hand. He was smiling, lips pulled back a little too much, as if he was unsure of himself. “Your friend told me I was being very obvious about staring at you and to go introduce myself. She said to give you this.” He handed her a whiskey.
His eyes were the color of freshly mown grass with silver flecks of dew at sunrise. When they locked on hers, her hands began to sweat, making the glass slip through her palm when she took it from him.
She grabbed it with the other hand at the last second. “Oh. Okay.”
He clinked his glass against hers, downed the shot, then smiled at her again. His upper lip had a minutely askew cherub’s bow.
Knocking hers back as well, Lola did her best not to react to the five-alarm fire scorching through her esophagus. She was reasonably sure smoke was about to billow from her nose and ears. Then that warm, melty feeling crept in.
Okay, Naomi. Here goes. “To be honest, I was watching you too.”
“Were you now?” He arched his eyebrows.
Silently thanking Naomi, Lola asked, “So, are you a visiting speaker?”
“I’m attending. I teach at Jewett College. You?”
“I’m at Jewett also. Library science department.” Hopefully he wouldn’t ask what she did there.
She’d tell him the rest later…if they hit it off.
His fingers lingered over hers as he took the drink glass from her hand. “Another?”
One was her usual limit, and balancing on heels after two was inadvisable. “Yes, please.” She let him guide her through the crowd surrounding the bar.
He offered her an empty barstool and stood next to it as he waved at the bartender. “How long have you been at the college? I don’t recognize you.” He lowered his eyes and raised them to her again, offering an uncertain smile as he smoothed his hand over his thigh.
Looking down, she noticed her topped-off glass. “I’m going into my fourth year.” Lola swirled her fresh drink and watched the amber liquid make slow, wavy circles. She saw a chip in her pale pink nail polish and fought the urge to tuck it into her palm. “What about you? Where do you work?”
“In the English Department.”
GQ—or probably Dr. GQ—Vance—shivered a little when he slid his hand toward hers until their fingertips were millimeters apart. A tiny static spark jumped between them and they both chuckled.
Lola drank half of the shot. “What do you teach?”
“Comparative and European literature. My specialty is fairy tales.”
“I’ve been obsessed with fairy tales—the real ones, not the kids’ ones—for as long as I can remember.”
Vance leaned against the bar. “Same.”
A new song began, and they listened as he played with his tie for a few moments. “After watching you in action, I’m not sure I can keep up, but feel like a dance?”
Lola blinked then nodded. The rest of the room bobbed slightly with her head. She slid off the stool, and he rested his hand on the small of her back as they wound through the crowd. Heat radiated through the thin fabric of her dress.
He took her hand in his. They were about five paces from the dance floor when a man caught her shoulder, causing her and Vance to stumble backward.
“You’re not gonna pass by without a hello, are you?” The tall, thin man had brown roots and blond tips. His hand was sweaty and his words slurred.
Vance looked at her. “Do you know him?”
Sobering, she shook her head, grateful that the world didn’t move with it.
The man sidled closer and squeezed her shoulder more tightly.
Letting go of her hand, Vance took a step toward him.
Lola tugged her shoulder away and pulled a hair stick from her updo. Stepping closer, she waved the tapered end at the stranger.
He gasped and stepped backward, letting go of her shoulder.
“Leave me alone.” She kept her voice as quiet and stern as she could.
The man muttered, “Slut,” as he retreated.
Lola replaced the stick through what was left of her updo.
Vance licked along his teeth. “You’re already full of surprises.”
The night’s cool dampness draped around the crowded dance floor, covering them like an airy shawl as they found their way to an open space.
“Remind me never, ever to upset you.” He spread his fingers over her mid-back and held her hand to his chest. His heart beat against her palm as he held it there, his hand cool and dry.
They looked at each other and smiled.  He said “ever.” As in future tense. As in "long term." I should probably let him know I’m a student now. That could wait a few minutes more.
She inhaled a mix of tangerines, leather, and something else—ginger, maybe—that she could almost taste as his scent hovered between them. She moved closer, and their hips touched.
There was an unmistakable twitch against her. She was sure it was a trick of the lights that made him appear to blush.
This might happen.
He took a half-step back, face pink against the white lights that  outlined him. She imagined using her finger as a silver gel pen around his jaw, under his cheekbones, and across his forehead, illuminating his face. He brought his hand farther down her back.
She raised her voice over the music. “So, what’s your favorite fairy tale?”
He lowered his head closer to hers. Their mouths were centimeters from each other. “What?”
She asked again.
He said something.
She tilted her head up. “Didn’t catch that.”
Chuckling, he leaned in until his mouth was close to her ear. Cupping it, he repeated,
“It’s hard to talk here. Do you want to go somewhere quieter?” The whiskey on his breath had mellowed to spiced caramel, and his voice melted through her.
The imaginary talking mice scampering under her skin morphed into butterflies. “Okay.”
Holding her hand, Vance led her into the lobby. Her heart thumped like a scared rabbit’s as he threaded his fingers between hers. She glanced toward the quieter, emptier bar, but he kept going straight toward the elevator bank.
“Grimm, Andersen, or Perrault?” Vance winked.
Lola bit her lip and released it. “Why do you ask?”
Vance seemed to stare at her mouth. Narrowing his eyes, he stopped and gave her a closed-mouthed smile. “Good to know whether you’re into physical pain, mental torture, or happy endings.”
“What?” Lola froze as her jaw dropped.
Vance tilted his head back and laughed. “I’m kidding.” He headed toward the elevators again, but Lola couldn’t move. He stumbled back. “I’m harmless. I promise.”
She glanced around the vast lobby, checking for security officers.
“I didn’t mean to upset or scare you.” Leaning in, he lifted the back of her hand to his lips, then smiled that same smile that had dissolved her into a puddle the first time she’d laid eyes on him.
“All right.”
He led her into an empty elevator.
This is happening.
Inside, he let go of her hand and took a step back. “Is it okay to go up to my room? I should’ve asked first.” He gave that earlier, uncertain smile, revealing a tiny dimple in his right cheek and lighter green bands surrounding his irises.

“That sounds perfect, Vance.” Lola’s mouth and throat went dry as he hit the button for the eleventh floor. For the first time in her life, she was going to say, “Yes.”








AuthorInfo
Karen wanted to be an author and/or Wonder Woman when she grew up. One of those jobs was already taken, though. She lives with her husband, son, and six cats in Maryland, where she works as an English professor. Karen received her MA in literature and creative writing from Florida State University. When she isn't writing, she can often be found sitting at a friend's dining room table drinking wine and playing RPGs, hanging out at the local Indian restaurant with her bestie, or curled up in bed with a few cats, listening to the rain and either reading a book or watching a BBC mystery.

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with . . . Karen Janowsky . . . 

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?
Contemporary romance with a more literary vibe, balancing humor with more complex themes. Think Emily Henry meets Angela Carter.
 
Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?

I definitely like to watch them grow over the course of composing. I usually have a finish line I want my characters to cross by the end, but what happens in between sometimes changes or gets replaced as I revise. The more I revise, the better I get to know them, and have a deeper understanding of who these people are. It’s important to me for the character to undergo some fundamental change—a wider or different perspective, maybe, over the course of the novel. Anything the characters do at any time needs to demonstrate that progression. I try to make every word count. By the time I’m done with the third or fourth complete revision, I know these characters as if they were my closest confidantes.


Have you found yourself bonding with any particular character(s)? If so which one(s)?

Oh goodness, yes! All of my characters seem to take up real estate in my head. They’re very busy, and their circadian rhythms are apparently opposite mine, and they hang out with me on sleepless nights. The character nearest and dearest to me is Daniel Hecht, a character from my first few books in a superhero romance series that is currently out of print. Maybe that’s because he’s my very first fiction protagonist ever, but I’m very protective of him. I think Lola from Her Name Was Lola and Shawn from Dear Prudence are close seconds. 


What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year?

I’d like to complete the third contemporary novel I’ve begun to write, and hopefully have some firm ideas of what to write next. This semester of teaching has been especially busy and stressful, and my writing has suffered as a result. In 2024, I want to do better.


If you could spend one-week with 5 fictional character, who would they be and where would you spend that time? Hmm...probably the original MCU Avengers. We’d have a large-ish 5-bedroom estate home in the South of France. Since that’s a team of six, Captain America would share my room 😉

Thank you Karen Janowsky for joining and giving a little insight to you and your process. Your work is appreciated.
Website and blog: https://karenjanowsky.com


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Tuesday, April 11, 2023

SPOTLIGHT w/INTERVIEW - SCIENCE FICTION THRILLER - MID-FLIGHT by Lisa Wilkes


Mid-Flight
by Lisa Wilkes
Date of Publication: March 31st 2023
Publisher: Extasy Books 
Cover Artist: Extasy Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller/Romance 
ISBN: 978-1-4874-3651-3
Number of pages: 270
Word Count: 78,451

Tagline: She failed to save her brother and her best friend from destructive forces. Could she topple the most sinister villain of all time?


BLURB
2037 was a really bad year.

Lexi Brennan’s best friend was killed in a plane crash. Two weeks later, an intergalactic crisis threatened the fate of humanity. Authorities responded by launching a genocide.

Lexi opposed this vicious attack. Then again, what could she do? An eccentric flight attendant drawn to glamorous trysts, she felt powerless to incite change. 

Until tragedy struck close to home. Suddenly, Lexi was forced to acknowledge the widespread atrocities. She uncovered a network of lies along with an opportunity to restore basic human rights. To protect others, Lexi would have to launch a movement that could destroy everything important to her, including her promising new romance.

Amazon

Excerpt:
Wordlessly, Lexi grabbed her purse and darted for the exit. She needed to see it. She had to know for sure.
The midnight sky was pierced by jagged red veins. A thousand burgundy fingers tore through the stratosphere like lightning etched in the wrong color. Puffs of smoke dotted the horizon, mushroom clouds rising toward the ominous red ether. From the descriptions and images in Lexi’s VirtuAlarms, it appeared Santa Fe had gotten off easy. Other cities looked like they’d been struck by an atomic bomb.
The world was blazing. The sky was breaking apart in pieces.
AutoScan—Jorge Rodrigues, I didn’t see your texts ‘til just now. They’re grounding all planes immediately? Scary stuff. Wish I was there with you. Where’s your plane landing?
With a rapid-fire double blink, Lexi sent the message.
Jorge’s response flitted across Lexi’s cornea. His words felt frantic. Can’t get down. Capitol Hill is burning. Dense population, nowhere to land. 80 miles from Dulles Airport. I don’t think we’ll make it.
Lexi read the last sentence and crumbled. She fell to her knees on the hot New Mexico concrete, sirens blaring in the distance and meteors crashing to the ground with a fiery scarlet vengeance.
“No,” she begged the universe. “Please, no.”
Her vision blurred. Lexi ached to rip her skin off her body, inch by inch, melting into a heap of exposed veins. It was so enticing. She wanted it so badly. It was what she deserved, truly.
She should’ve been on that airplane with Jorge. Self-reproval flitted through her mind on an endless loop. Should have, should have, should have, you worthless idiot.
She gasped for air.
AutoScan—Colin Brennan, dial right now, she instructed, calling her brother via electrical impulses connected to her cranium. Five beeps sounded in her ear, then the line went dead.
Tears rolled down Lexi’s cheeks as she mentally composed another note to her best friend at SkyLine.
AutoScan—Jorge Rodrigues, don’t talk that way. You will land safely. Reagan International probably has space for diverted aircraft. You’ll be fine. I promise.
As she waited for Jorge’s reply, she dug her nails into her leg, reopening the wound on her thigh.
She picked at it, forcing the gash to widen. It was the size of a dime, then a quarter. She kept pulling, peeling, exposing her insides. She wanted her entire soul to leak out.
“Don’t leave me, Jorge,” she whispered. “Don’t you dare leave me.”
Colin tried to leave all the time. Lexi couldn’t handle another loss. She needed Jorge. He was her partner in crime, her other half. He was the best thing about being a flight attendant.
Words appeared in front of Lexi’s eyeball. Her chest tightened.
I don’t think we— Jorge began.
“What?” Lexi murmured aloud. Her hands fell to her sides, limp. “What is it, J.R.?”
Lexi craned her neck toward the red-streaked sky. She shouted, pleaded, implored her buddy bidder to write back. She wanted to hear details about his safe landing, after the pilots found an open runway someplace in Maryland.
Arms clasped around Lexi’s waist, dragging her back into the restaurant. She kicked and screamed, fighting to stay outside. She wanted the sky to collapse on her and drag her into the deep black unknown. She didn’t deserve the safety of four solid walls and a roof. She didn’t deserve to be in a city that had received minimal damage from the celestial hellfire.
Lexi began to chuckle as she was forced back inside the restaurant. She could barely breathe from laughing so hard. Through narrowed eyelids, Lexi saw customers and staff staring at her in disbelief. She continued flailing her limbs. She laughed with all her might, a deep guttural guffaw that echoed through the bar.
When a VirtuAlarm informed Lexi that two planes in the Northeast had been struck down, she was convinced she’d dreamt the whole thing. The aircraft she was supposed to be on that night had not burst into flames. No way, no how. Jorge was not dead. Lexi would wake up soon, she knew. She would call him. They’d talk about her silly nightmare, her tendency to imagine the worst possible scenario, her bizarre fear of erupting into laughter during a moment of crisis.

Lexi would wake up and chat with Jorge for hours. And she would not swap out of their next scheduled airline trip.





Author Info
Lisa Wilkes has spent 13 years as a flight attendant, jetting across the globe and collecting inspiration for her writings. Her debut novel, Flight Path, is a fast-paced romance laced with serendipitous encounters. This book follows a daydreaming stewardess as she learns to navigate a new terrain: unconditional love.

In her second novel, Mid-Flight, Lisa transports readers to the year 2038. A flight attendant begins to unravel after her best friend is killed in a plane crash. In the throes of unspeakable grief, she uncovers a political ploy to decimate one-fifth of the population. To combat this sinister plan, she must risk everything. Including her breathtaking new romance.

Lisa’s writing is provocative and timely, with a focus on societal issues and powerful internal conflict. Flight Path’s readers will appreciate Mid-Flight's emphasis on hope and redemption, while newcomers to Lisa’s work will be drawn to the power of her storytelling.

The Book Junkie Reads . . .Reckless Dreams  Interview with  . . . Lisa Wilkes . . .

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

I’d like to think my writing is stirring and insightful, with a heavy emphasis on indestructible bonds between friends. All my novels thus far (Mid-Flight is my second published novel, but the fifteenth one I’ve written) have included an airtight best-friendship, a lifelong connection that perseveres even in times of extreme hardship.


As an empath, I’ve always felt quality relationships outweigh material wealth or career ambitions. I love smooth, free-flowing communication among pals. There’s magic in that playful banter, which provides a sense of familiarity, warmth, and acceptance. Maybe that’s why I became a flight attendant and social worker. Both jobs rely heavily on communication, and they’d quickly unravel if a person was standoffish or disconnected.


My books and short stories emphasize the power of kinship, which extends far beyond genealogical ties, in my opinion. Community takes center stage in my literary works. 


My first novel, Flight Path, was told in the first person. Mid-Flight utilizes a third-person omniscient perspective. However, they’re both sentimental novels. My goal was to incite emotion among readers. I aimed to capture the close-knit relationships that have shaped my protagonists, as well as the growth these characters experienced through each precious alliance.



What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just free writing)?

I like to dream up the plot and iron out most—if not all—details before diving into each book. I allow ample time for the story to swirl around in my mind. Often, I consider alternative endings and secondary characters. Before writing my first novel, I let the plot ruminate in my head for several months. There was a sizable delay between the time I conjured the story and the moment I officially put pen to paper.


Also, I usually read several books in that genre before I begin writing. This allows me to select the tone and recurring themes I want my novel to contain. I’m a genre chameleon; over the years, I’ve written romance, science fiction, thrillers, fantasy, and one memoir. I enjoy delving into new terrain even though that shift certainly comes with challenges.



Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details?

Currently, I have several projects that are unrelated to writing. I do a ton of animal rescue, through my airline’s animal transport team and also in conjunction with local nonprofits. Over a three-year period, I fostered 19 cats, two dogs, two birds, and a bunny. Thankfully, all these animals went to amazing homes where they are now living their best lives! My dream is to start my own 501(c)(3) nonprofit someday. I’d love to open an indie bookstore where the profits go to rescuing pets from the Hillsborough County shelter, which has a high euthanasia rate, sadly.


In February of 2023, I created an Etsy page to sell personalized items which raise money for animal rescue missions. Currently, I offer personalized pet tags (for animal carriers, backpacks, or luggage) as well as themed clothing and accessories. Crafting is quite therapeutic for me, so I figured I could use that hobby to raise money to help homeless dogs and cats.


In terms of writing projects, I’m thirty pages into my next novel. It’s about a flight attendant who is dating a chemist. The chemist stumbles across a chemical compound believed to open our brains to various dimensions. When the chemist goes missing under suspicious circumstances, it’s up to the flight attendant to figure out what really happened to her beau.



What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year?

This year, I am focused on the release of Mid-Flight, my first futuristic sci-fi novel. Mid-Flight was released on March 31st. I partnered with a local nonprofit, Rags to Riches Animal Rescue, Inc., to raise money in support of their amazing mission. For the first few weeks following the release of this novel, I donated all proceeds (every penny of my royalties) to Rags to Riches. It’s been exciting to merge my passion for writing with my lifelong love of animals.


I want to build my presence online to reach a broader audience. Indie authors know it’s hard to stand out in a saturated market, so my goal for 2023 is to really expand my reach. The more people I can connect with, the greater the odds that someday I can fulfill my dream of running a literary-themed animal rescue nonprofit. 



Have you ever felt that there was something inside of you that you couldn't control? If so, what? If not, what spurs you to reach for the unexperienced?

I’m a lifelong insomniac, which is definitely beyond my control. There’s a special kind of misery that comes with being unable to rest, even when exhaustion threatens to consume you. My body gets tired, but my mind does not.


Anyone with chronic, extreme insomnia can tell you that the tricks/tips most medical professionals offer are ineffective. I’ve tried them all, from turning off the lights an hour before bed to limiting caffeine intake to leaving electronics outside the bedroom, etc. I’ve done yoga and meditation, both of which I enjoy! But they haven’t impacted my sleep, unfortunately.


After 38 years on this planet, I’ve grown familiar with my ongoing inability to sleep. In some ways, it’s given me an advantage, although I can’t say I’m thankful for the condition (tossing and turning all night can be brutal, especially when I have a big event coming up). I wrote my first full-length contemporary fiction novel in college. The bulk of the writing was completed late at night, while the rest of my dormmates got much-needed rest. I try to make use of the extra time and channel my energy into something productive.



Where would you spend one full year, if you could go ANYWhere, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time?

True to character, I’d spend a year surrounded by rescue animals on a private island. I’m a huge fan of the tropics! I lived in Trinidad during my twenties and loved every minute of it. Currently, I live in Tampa, a couple miles from the shoreline. Warm weather is my scene. It inspires me and fuels my soul.


I’d need a ridiculous amount of money on this private island, because I’d build a massive sanctuary for rescued animals. I would also run a bed & breakfast for animal-lovers seeking a tropical vacation which supports a great cause. I’d rescue all the cats and dogs facing euthanasia at the shelters in Hillsborough County. Then I would charter a plane to take them to this gorgeous island which would become their new home. I’d set the plan into motion with a way to sustain revenue, through vacationers visiting the island and touring the massive animal sanctuary. This way, when my year was up, there would be income to keep the sanctuary running. Oh, and I’d probably write a few books during those twelve months. As always, my stories would include a rescue animal or two. Or five.


Thanks for hosting me! This has been fun. I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts with you & your followers.


Website: https://www.lisamichellewilkes.com  

 
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Friday, March 31, 2023

RELEASE DAY BLITZ - SCIENCE FICTION THRILLER - MID-FLIGHT by Lisa Wilkes

Mid-Flight
by Lisa Wilkes
Date of Publication: March 31st 2023
Publisher: Extasy Books 
Cover Artist: Extasy Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller/Romance 
ISBN: 978-1-4874-3651-3
Number of pages: 270
Word Count: 78,451

Tagline: She failed to save her brother and her best friend from destructive forces. Could she topple the most sinister villain of all time?


BLURB
2037 was a really bad year.

Lexi Brennan’s best friend was killed in a plane crash. Two weeks later, an intergalactic crisis threatened the fate of humanity. Authorities responded by launching a genocide.

Lexi opposed this vicious attack. Then again, what could she do? An eccentric flight attendant drawn to glamorous trysts, she felt powerless to incite change. 

Until tragedy struck close to home. Suddenly, Lexi was forced to acknowledge the widespread atrocities. She uncovered a network of lies along with an opportunity to restore basic human rights. To protect others, Lexi would have to launch a movement that could destroy everything important to her, including her promising new romance.





Author Info
Lisa Wilkes has spent 13 years as a flight attendant, jetting across the globe and collecting inspiration for her writings. Her debut novel, Flight Path, is a fast-paced romance laced with serendipitous encounters. This book follows a daydreaming stewardess as she learns to navigate a new terrain: unconditional love.

In her second novel, Mid-Flight, Lisa transports readers to the year 2038. A flight attendant begins to unravel after her best friend is killed in a plane crash. In the throes of unspeakable grief, she uncovers a political ploy to decimate one-fifth of the population. To combat this sinister plan, she must risk everything. Including her breathtaking new romance.

Lisa’s writing is provocative and timely, with a focus on societal issues and powerful internal conflict. Flight Path’s readers will appreciate Mid-Flight's emphasis on hope and redemption, while newcomers to Lisa’s work will be drawn to the power of her storytelling.

 

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