Author Interview: Wareeze Woodson

Exquisite Quills Welcomes Wareeze Woodson

EQ: Welcome to EQ! Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Wareeze: I am a native Texan married to my high-school sweetheart for years and years and years. We have 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl. They presented us with 8 lovely grandchildren. Grandchildren are GRAND. We still live in Texas near Houston and we remain in love with each other after all these years. My husband tells me I’m beautiful and will always be beautiful to him. After all, romance is the search for enduring love.

EQ: Tell us a little bit about your most recent release.

Wareeeze: My debut novel, Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman, released May 2, 2013 is a Regency romance with a twist of suspense. My second book is due for release March 26, 2014. An Enduring Love is also a Regency romance. I love romance and happy endings mixed with intrigue, suspense along with an occasional murder thrown in to keep things moving.

EQ: What was your defining moment as a writer?

Wareeze: The most defining moment for me as a writer happened when I finished my first novel. I might mention, I wrote it on a typewriter with write-out as the only correction method I owned. I’m happy to say the typewriter was electric. Of course, that happened years ago.

The second and most significant occurrence happened when I opened my email and received the news my book had been accepted for publication. I ran outside, since my husband was at the barn, and yelled the thrilling news at him. YEAH!

There was never a thought of self-publishing in my mind. I needed the validation of being accepted by an actual publisher.

EQ: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your writing?

Wareeze: My critique partners have the biggest influence on my writing. Bless each one of them. They tell me when something doesn’t click, when there is a misspelled word, when I use an incorrect passage in a scene besides encouraging me to continue writing. I deeply appreciate their help. We rip each other’s manuscript to shreds with marks all over nearly every page. If a partner will not kindly tell you what is wrong with your work, you can’t correct it.

I even appreciate the 3 star reviews I received on Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman because I listened and am improving my craft. The 2 stars all complained about the hero being such a jerk, they couldn’t stand the book. All of those reviewers got the book when it was free on Amazon. I think some of those reviewers where not open to the position men held in the early 1800 through 1900. It was truly a man’s world. I touched a raw spot. Perhaps that is good or maybe not. I’m also grateful to all of the reviewers that gave me 5 stars and rave reviews. Talk about a swelled head. It is very gratifying to received praise for your very hard work.

EQ: What kinds of female characters do you prefer to write?

Wareeze: I like to write about a courageous woman, loyal and certainly nurturing, tender with gentle hands matching her heart, always accepting what can’t be changed and moving on. She has a weak moment or two. When I grow up, I want to be that woman.

EQ: What kinds of male characters do you prefer to write?

Wareeze: I love strong men, both physically and emotionally able. Strength of character is important as well with all the attributes that entails. They must have a few faults as well. That is the type of person I admire.

EQ: Share a funny or ironic anecdote.

Wareeze: I am the first to admit not all agents fall into the category of the first agent I met. Thank goodness! Surprisingly, even after my unfortunate encounter with that particular agent, I still found the fortitude to continue writing. I attended a writer’s conference carrying my five pages for review as requested. All the victims—I mean writers lined up before one of the three agents present. When it was my turn, the agent scanned through my pages, looked at me as if I were a very unpleasant insect he’d found in his cereal that morning and proceeded to fray be alive with words. He told me I was too fat and unattractive to make it as a writer. The sneer on his face has been stamped on my best villains features since that day. Needless to say, I’m still writing. Nana nana booboo.

Find Wareeze Woodson at these places:

website - http://www.wareezewoodson.com/

face book - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wareeze-Woodson/523727757689755

twitter - twitter.com@wareeze

face book - https://www.goodreads.com/wareeze

blog site:  http://regencyquills.com/

Read these titles by Wareeze Woodson:

Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman

An Enduring Love—Coming March 26, 2014

The Genesis of a Book - Wet and Willing Series by Berengaria Brown #equills

How the “Wet and Willing” series came to be.

As most readers will have worked out from my books, I love summer, the hot weather, the beach, and walking through national parks. For some years I’ve enjoyed swimming at a local, large Aquatic Center. One day as I was swimming up and down in my lane (the slow lane, sadly, not the fast lane, or even the medium lane), I started thinking that an Aquatic Center would be a mighty fine place to meet Mr. Right. After all, there’s plenty of brawny, naked chests, quite a lot of young, good-looking, ultra-fit life guards, and lots of sweaty, delicious muscles in the gym. The only surprising part of my decision was that I hadn’t thought of doing it long ago.

So I started writing the “Wet and Willing” series right there and then (in my head) as I swam. I expected it to be a paranormal series, as I’ve been writing a lot of paranormal stories lately, but the characters stayed firmly fixed in the here and now, showing no unusual abilities, remaining stolidly contemporary. Hey, that’s okay. Half the time I just take dictation from demanding characters anyway.

But then the unthinkable happened. The management of the Aquatic Center announced it was closing so they could undertake a major upgrade, and all the members had to find somewhere else to exercise for the eighteen months construction would take.

WAIT!! Just wait a minute! You can’t close the Aquatic Center! I’m in the middle of writing a series of books!!! Eighteen months! The readers would kill me if I took eighteen months off in the middle of it!

Fortunately for my peace of mind, we were given passes to another Aquatic Center, a little farther away, but just as big and exciting. So the series, “Wet and Willing” was written. Thank god!

Each of these books is a complete story in itself, but previous characters return for cameo appearances in later books.

“Wet and Willing” Book 1: “Woman in Hot Water” blurb:

Unemployed and homeless, Kendra gets a job at the local Aquatic Center. Her new boss, Osborne, is very yummy, but he’s partnered to Jordan. When she’s offered a threesome with two such delicious men, how can she say no? And with so many opportunities to see their semi-naked bodies, being a good girl is not that easy either. Fun on the waterslide, a hot time in the sauna, slick, gleaming muscles in the gym...

When Jordan deduces that Kendra is sleeping in her car, the men ask her to stay in their guest room. She’s hesitant, but allows them to persuade her. Despite the best sex of her life, Kendra is determined to move into an apartment of her own as soon as possible, so she goes house-hunting. The men don’t like either of the places she chooses. She can’t risk losing her job but values her independence too.

Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/woman-in-hot-water

 

“Wet and Willing” Book 2:"Cold Woman, Hot Men" blurb:

Melusine Carmichael mistakes the plunge pool at the Aquatic Center for a regular pool and almost drowns with the sudden shock of the icy-cold water. While underwater she hears a voice calling her "Melly," a name she never uses. Yehudi and Arlington are nearby in the sauna and rescue her, using their personal body heat and the sauna to warm her up. They keep in contact with her via Facebook, and finally convince her to let them teach her to swim.

But Mel hears the voice again and worries that they’re stalking her, so she cuts contact with them. Yehudi and Arlington try everything to see her and she prevents them, so they meet her parents after their swimming class. They learn about the voice saying "Melly" and that someone is stalking her.

But who is it? And how can they get Mel to spend time with them again so they can convince her of their innocence?

Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/cold-woman-hot-men

 

“Wet and Willing” Book 3: “Small Woman, Big Trouble” blurb:

Deb Steele hikes through a Water Authority reservation. But houses are being built on one section of it, and she can’t get home. She phones Kai Cole, and he and Harry Anders come to get her. While she’s waiting for them, her cell phone battery dies and a young man turns up on an electric scooter. When he realizes she’s quite alone, he plans to sexually assault her. She escapes from him just as Kai and Harry arrive.

Kai worries about how he can protect Deborah if this man is following her, and Harry suggests they learn karate. Kai decides the only way their beginning threesome relationship can progress further is if they all move in together.

But, as Deb is leaving work late that evening, the attacker jumps her once again. Why is he after her? How can the men protect her? And will they ever have enough time to build their friendship into a genuine relationship?

Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/small-woman-big-trouble

 

Berengaria Brown

http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/

http://berengariabrown.com/

Friend me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter.

First Kiss Wednesday

It's  First Kiss Wednesday!

 
Kisses are the mainstay of romance writing.  No matter how sweet or spicy our stories are, they usually involve at least a kiss or two.  And the first kiss is especially lovely - that first, soft touch of lips - or perhaps the kiss is fierce and hungry.  Maybe the characters murmur words of love or words of teasing while discovering the texture and taste of each other.  Maybe the only sounds they can emit are gentle, timorous moans or deep, throaty groans.

Okay, now that we've set the premise, here's what you can do.  In the comment box, give us your best kiss from a published work or a work-in-progress in a maximum of 300 words. Be sure to include one link to your website/blog and one buy link. 

Read and luxuriate in the glories of the first kiss...

Oh, and lips only...  ;-)

 Share your participation with our
ready-to-go tweet!

Come see my snippet on Exquisite Quills' First Kiss Wednesday! http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/ #AuthorRT #Romance #EQuills

Tickle Us Tuesday,

In comments, and in 300 words or less, give us a snippet from your novel that will bring a smile, incite a giggle, or make us laugh out loud. Don't forget your buy link and website/blog link. Have fun!

Share your participation with a ready-to-go tweet!

Come see my snippet on Exquisite Quills' Tickle Us Tuesday! http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/ #AuthorRT #Romance #EQuills

Wash Line Monday!

Our Monday meme shines a light on apparel. From Regency to Steampunk, and everything in between, we dress our characters to reflect the story we want to tell.

In comments, and in 300 words or less, give us a snippet from your novel that describes what your heroes, heroines, or bit players are wearing. Don't forget your buy link and website/blog link. Have fun!

 Share that you're participating with our
ready-to-go tweet!

Come see my snippet on Exquisite Quills' Wash Line Monday! http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/ #AuthorRT #Romance #EQuills

Set the Scene in Six Sentences Sunday - Share the Six!

One of the finest aspects of fiction writing is the ability to set the scene.  Characters act and react, but they don't do so in a vacuum.  In their world, they meet, fall in love, solve problems, sometimes horrendous problems.  Maybe it's a small town, maybe the big city, the green, humid jungle, dust-dry desert, a mountainous region.  On the sea.  Under the sea.  In space! 

Setting the scene sets up the unexpected. It's also done by using character dialogue to paint a picture of loveliness, danger, evil, trepidation, excitement, awe...

Give us six sentences that set the scene.  Set the Scene in Six Sentences - Sunday is a new opportunity on the Exquisite Quills Blog to tout your talent.  How have you set the scene or the lead-up in your books?  How have you put the reader into the life of your characters?

Every Sunday, the blog will be open to six-sentence scene-setting.  Just post your six sentences, your name, and one link in the comment box.  We can't wait to read you!

Pass the word!  Open to all!