Coast to Coast Romance

In this Episode Skylar and I have fun breaking down the different Conflict Tropes

We will cover:

Amnesia
Aupair/Nanny
Beauty and the Beast
Betrayal
Blackmail
Bully
Dare/Bet
Gay for you
Hidden Identity
Identical Twins
Incest
Tutor/Instructor
Love triangle
May/December
Medical
Wrong Side of the Tracks

Contact Us:

Ann Jensen

[email protected]

https://annjensenwrites.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jensen/e/B08VRMR5SK/

https://www.facebook.com/annjensenbooks

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Skylar West/Rogue London

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On this episode we interview  Deborah Ainsley Apodaca a good friend and great Book Reviewer.

We ask her:
 
What made you decide to blog

Only Romance?

What kind of  books can’t you put down. 

Do you get a lot of Book Review Requests

Deborah discusses interviews and requests from narrators.

Do you have a favorite sub-genre? 

Deb discusses elements of dark romance that she is drawn to.

Favorite Book? 

A book that took you by surprise?

Deb discusses how blurbs can be completely different than the book. They discuss covers as a reader and an author.

How do you find new authors to read?

Deb discusses ARC’s 

Are they sent to you?

Do you have an author that you automatically work with, buy and/or review?

What aspect of all the services that you offer do you enjoy the most?

Discuses authors feedback. Learning stories from the authors perspective and behind the scenes with stories was born. And is doing well. Discusses views and blogging. Additional reading outlets to interview and review.

Check out Deborah Apodaca's blog Reading by Deb and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter!

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Contact Us:

Ann Jensen

[email protected]

https://annjensenwrites.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jensen/e/B08VRMR5SK/

https://www.facebook.com/annjensenbooks

https://www.instagram.com/annjensenbooks/

Skylar West/Rogue London

https://www.authorskylarwest.com/   https://www.authorroguelondon.com 

https://www.amazon.com/author/skylarwest/ 

https://www.facebook.com/authorskylarwest/  https://www.facebook.com/authorroguelondon/ 

https://www.instagram.com/author_skylarwest/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/SkylarW63773206

Special guest, Regency Author, Kate Bateman

In this episode we discus

Kate Explains regency time period and the subgenre. 

What drew her to regency?

Bridgerton series, differences between the adaptation vs. the books. 

How much real live events go into your writing?

Kate's Background in history 

Are her character driven, or plot driven as an author?

Non PC or dated values. How does she find the balance between reality adjacent close to real but not stepping on modern toes?

Kate discusses reinvention for entertainment.

Customs in Regency that need to be observed?

Do you have any particular influences for fiction or nonfiction that inspires you to write Regency?

Regency newbie, what should we know if we are going in to read our first regency book?

Suggestions based on tropes and preferences.

Are there other sub genres you write in, or would like to write in? 

As a reader, do you run in the opposite direction and read alien romance 😊 or is there a specific type of romance you enjoy reading simply for pleasure?

Discusses the writing reading relationship

Contact us:

Ann Jensen

[email protected]
https://annjensenwrites.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jensen/e/B08VRMR5SK/
https://www.facebook.com/annjensenbooks
https://www.instagram.com/annjensenbooks/

Skylar West

[email protected]
https://www.authorskylarwest.com/
https://www.amazon.com/author/skylarwest/
https://www.facebook.com/authorskylarwest/
https://www.instagram.com/author_skylarwest/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/SkylarW63773206

Kate Bateman / K.C. Bateman, is the #1 bestselling author of Regency, Victorian, and Renaissance historical romances. Contact her via her website: www.kcbateman.com and sign up for her newsletter to receive regular updates on new releases, giveaways and exclusive excerpts. 

Sign Up for Kate’s newsletter: https://www.kcbateman.com/subscribe/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kcbatemanauthor/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/katebateman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kc_bateman/
Join Kate’s FB reader Group 'Badasses In Bodices': http://bit.ly/JoinKatesBadasses

Find Kate's books at:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KygAb9
Apple: https://apple.co/378YPXL
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Google Play: https://bit.ly/GoogleKateBateman
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Behind the Scenes with Skylar West, and Angels and Demons Romance

How do you classify the sub genre: Demon in book 1 could be considered paranormal. Outside of being explained by science. Urban fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural, my specific story is defined by ‘they walk among us.’ — Described as a Current contemporary end of the world possibility in which it is doomed or saved by a sect of beings we can not see.

What drew you to using angels and demons: I wrote the series because of topics I’ve wrestled with as a person. I was exposed to things that would be considered evil, then was baptised in the church, I wanted to create a world in which there was more acceptance of the pathway we take. That individuals can come together without judgment. 

Reason some people avoid A&D stories: our influences can make us feel uncomfortable with reading about angels or demons. Moral context preaching, or the opposite that’s not what angels do. Don’t want their belief system questioned. My books don’t preach, or question people’s beliefs. People are looking for reality adjacent romance literature, and that’s what I provide.

When we pick genres and tropes, we pick the best plot to show off our characters. I don’t classify myself as a paranormal writer although I have a paranormal series.

Loki character as a leading man: We want our book boyfriends to be evil to everyone but the female heroine. We would never want Loki to be captain America to the rest of the world, but her could be with the leading lady. 

Vanilla romance harder to tell, touches, glances, conversations, often in our steamier stories the very act of kink or sex they engage in is necessary as part of the growth of the characters. The level of trust has to form faster, establish those relationships much sooner and often in real life too.

Encourage readers to explore different genres and tropes of romance, be an educated reader. Read blurbs, and reviews, before deciding to buy. Ann discusses M.A Innes, an example of trying a story that she couldn’t image she’d like about alien tentacle love and was surprised by how much she enjoyed it.

Contact Information:

Ann Jensen

[email protected]

https://annjensenwrites.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jensen/e/B08VRMR5SK/

https://www.facebook.com/annjensenbooks

https://www.instagram.com/annjensenbooks/

Skylar West

https://www.authorskylarwest.com/

https://www.amazon.com/author/skylarwest/

https://www.facebook.com/authorskylarwest/

https://www.instagram.com/author_skylarwest/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/SkylarW63773206

https://www.tiktok.com/@skylarwest08

Coast to Coast Romance with Shaw Montgomery

In this episode we ask her:

What is your favorite subgenre to write in?

What is your Favorite to read?

What are your favorite Tropes?

What trope do you dislike?

We discuss how flamboyant characters that can be triggers

What comes first the story or the characters

A review or comment about a book or series that stayed with you

A bad one?

What do you write under your seperate pen names?

Shaw Montgomery mainstream kink and bdsm female dom etc.

I.M. Innes no mainstream mm authors at that time I started under their same name, so I used a separate pen name for age play etc. the world has changed since I started

If you could write anything, what would it be?

WIP – I juggle between 3 different projects:

Next dirty daddy’s anthology

Contact Info:

Shaw Montgomery
http://authorshawmontgomery.com/

Ann Jensen

[email protected]

https://annjensenwrites.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jensen/e/B08VRMR5SK/
https://www.facebook.com/annjensenbooks
https://www.instagram.com/annjensenbooks/

Skylar West

https://www.authorskylarwest.com/
https://www.amazon.com/author/skylarwest/
https://www.facebook.com/authorskylarwest/
https://www.instagram.com/author_skylarwest/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/SkylarW63773206

Interview with Joe Arden audio artist and owner of Blue Nose Audio

We ask him:

How did you get into Audio Narration?
What do you look for in narrators?
What are the benefits of using and trusting an audio company.?
What projects are harder than others?
Audio tapes – back in the day – the narrative, the voices never shifted. When did that start to evolve and how did you get involved?
Are their any favorite narrating projects?
What advice do you have for independent authors looking to create their first audiobook?
What is it like working with crazy first timers like Ann Jensen? :P

You just co-authored your own book. How was that experience and will we be seeing more from you?

Contact Information:
Joe Arden
@TheRealJoeArden everywhere 

Blue Nose is @BlueNoseAudio and bluenoseaudio.com for queries and submissions. 

Ann Jensen

[email protected]

https://annjensenwrites.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jensen/e/B08VRMR5SK/
https://www.facebook.com/annjensenbooks
https://www.instagram.com/annjensenbooks/

Skylar West

https://www.authorskylarwest.com/
https://www.amazon.com/author/skylarwest/
https://www.facebook.com/authorskylarwest/
https://www.instagram.com/author_skylarwest/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/SkylarW63773206

Behind The Scenes with Ann Jensen

In this Episode Ann tells you about writing the Dark Sons MC Series.

Series: favorite book and why? Favorite characters and why?

Lost in the dark – one scene makes me cry every time. Tami caught in the dark favorite character to write, loved inhabiting aspects of Cami that I really enjoyed. Dragon and his dirty talk because I like dirty talk. Tell us more about Dragon – big brother vibe, his love interest, Tari in book 2. Yoga scenes and the reality of what you can write, vs what you can actually do.

MC live in a world that is dark, but the men that create darks sons are special forces guy that missed the sense of purpose higher calling, brotherhood they shared in the military. They strive to create a community and world. Home, and family. Key element in my books is found family.

Was there a book in the series you found difficult to write?

Book 4 – the first time my characters tried to veer off course. Undercover in the Dark

Character, takeovers, happen for me, in the outline stages and I spend three weeks percolating and allowing it to settle. Before I decide to move forward with my final decisions on the plot and character development.

Most fun to Write: Caught in the dark, favorite to write.

Soon to release - Leap into the dark book 5 coming out next. Steamy sex scenes. Idea with this novel was to blow open stereo types.

Did you have an external inspiration for the series like another writer or series you have read?

Why MC? I had written urban fantasy with shifters and couldn’t find a home for it. I wanted to write a spicy romance with villains instead of internal angst. I spent some time in a MC bar and learned a little of their culture. I wanted to create the ultimate MC fantasy.

Are any of the characters based on real people? 

I like to study people and makeup backstories about people I observe. I take these elements and place them into a made-up person.

What is your process for picking and developing a storyline?

For the Dark sons, I first outlined Hawks love story, the president of the club. I built his club around him. Characters, officers and a few others beneath it. Once I had the cast of characters. I wanted the women to have trouble but not be a bunch of victims. One kind of women would thrive inside the dark son’s environment. Then I created my female cast and then I placed them together. Every man was assigned a kink and that played into which woman would go for that? Which helped with matchmaking. 

Next?

Two series that are slowly percolating. Mercenary and Alien. I’m also still working on my Urban Fantasy

What would you love to write?

A mystery if I had the skill set to write it.

Contact Information:

Ann Jensen

[email protected]

https://annjensenwrites.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jensen/e/B08VRMR5SK/

https://www.facebook.com/annjensenbooks

https://www.instagram.com/annjensenbooks/

Skylar West

https://www.authorskylarwest.com/

https://www.amazon.com/author/skylarwest/

https://www.facebook.com/authorskylarwest/

https://www.instagram.com/author_skylarwest/

Setup Tropes: 
I this show we cover tropes that have to do with where a love story starts. How they meet or come together.

Circle Of Friends: This trope features three or more protagonists all searching for love.

Coming Of Age: The first discovery of love as teenager can be a powerful theme to explore in a romance novel or story. 

Coming Out: A gay hero, heroine, or transgender lead character decides to come out about their true sexuality or identity – their coming out is a catalyst for a new love interest.

Country Inn: A career-driven city girl inherits or buys a charming little inn, bed-and-breakfast, or guest house in the calm, bucolic splendour of the countryside. 

Cursed: In a fantasy or folklore-inspired romance, the heroine may have fallen under a curse, spell, or wicked charm that only the hero can break or reverse. 

Ghost: The heroine falls in love with a ghost, or both romantic protagonists are paranormal entities. 

A Divorce Never Went Through: The lead characters discover that their marriage was never annulled, or a divorce decree was never issued because of a bureaucratic mistake or some other misunderstanding.

Grieving Lover: The heroine falls in love with a man who has lost a spouse or lover in the recent past. (a secondary trope to First Love)

The Guardian Or Ward: An older male is bound by the obligation of a legal will or promise to oversee the care of a young charge. 

Makeover: The heroine is transformed from drab to fab to catch the hero’s attention. Alternatively, the hero has to transform his looks, body, and attitude to prove his worth to the heroine.

Rags To Riches: A struggling, or down-on-her-luck heroine comes into money and/or fame through a surprising windfall

Riches To Rags: A wealthy heroine or heiress loses her money and status overnight. 

Return From the Dead: A man she believes is dead returns to upset the heroine’s life in a major way. 

Secret Billionaire: The hero hides his identity and/or his wealth from the heroine, usually to test if she loves him for his true nature or his enormous wealth. 

Small Town: Heart-warming stories set in small towns. 

Trauma: A main character who has been traumatized in the past, finds healing through a romantic relationship. 

Unexpected Inheritance: The heroine comes into a windfall from a distant relative. 

Unexpected Parenthood: After a sibling dies or becomes ill, the heroine is now the sole guardian of one or more children.

Unexpected Pregnancy: After learning of an unplanned pregnancy, the heroine must deal with the unexpected news and decide if she will tell the hero or not. 

Contact Information:

Ann Jensen

[email protected]
https://annjensenwrites.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jensen/e/B08VRMR5SK/
https://www.facebook.com/annjensenbooks
https://www.instagram.com/annjensenbooks/

Skylar West

https://www.authorskylarwest.com/
https://www.amazon.com/author/skylarwest/
https://www.facebook.com/authorskylarwest/
https://www.instagram.com/author_skylarwest/?hl=en

Interview with with author and publisher Maren Smith

In this episode we discuss:

Do you write under one Pen Name or severs?

I write under several pen names mostly BDSM, adult romance with plot, and Daddy Dom

What your sub genre of romance? Reading Contemporary Western, Paranormal Writing – contemporary -discusses villains and her book “Dark Vows”

Regardless of the genre you’re writing, you prefer down to earth male POV? 

Yes, discusses hero characters.

Focus of your publishing house? Kink

How did you choose high heat? Write what you know. Discusses 50 shades popularity

Favorite Tropes? Contemporary, alpha male, trapped, fake relationship

Least Favorite? Enemies to lovers, Mafia

Characters or story, what comes first? It’s different every time. An action comes first, and the character defines themselves as I’m writing it.

From a fan or a review that was positive? Stopped reading most reviews, but the ones I like most where the comments from a book I wrote with Delta James. 

Worst thing about your book that you’ve read? The worst review, the one that made me angry in a laughy way “The Suffragettes” written in early 2000’s. Discusses feminism.

As a writer if you could write anything what would if be? Horror

What is one thing about you that people probably don’t know? Hard to offend, easy to approach.

WIP?  Anthology 2021, Daddy’s little convict, contemporary kinda paranormalish anthology in the new year.

As a publisher? Eden Bradley – San Fran Dom Series – rebranding 

Contact Information:

Maren Smith

I also write under the names of Denise Hall, Darla Phelps, and Penny Alley.

Want information on free stories, new releases, takeovers, giveaways and prizes? Join my newsletter! http://MarenSmith.com/newsletter/
Get the latest on sales and special release pricing by following me on Bookbub! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maren-smith
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthMarenSmith/
Twitter: @authmarensmith
Instagram: maren_smith
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2886639.Maren_Smith

Ann Jensen

[email protected]

https://annjensenwrites.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jensen/e/B08VRMR5SK/
https://www.facebook.com/annjensenbooks
https://www.instagram.com/annjensenbooks/

Skylar West

https://www.authorskylarwest.com/
https://www.amazon.com/author/skylarwest/
https://www.facebook.com/authorskylarwest/
https://www.instagram.com/author_skylarwest/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/SkylarW63773206

Personality Tropes (What are the Main characters, Like?)

Personality, or Character Tropes? ... In the context of fiction, character tropes refer to common attributes or even entire stock characters. 

• Alien Hero: A human heroine falls in love with, or is abducted by, an alien life force hero from another planet.
• Alpha Hero: The heroine must contend with a strong-willed, domineering, hyper-masculine, successful and wealthy hero.
• Armed Forces: A sexy, dynamic hero in uniform draws the heroine into a relationship, but a career in the army, navy etc., creates conflict.
• Athlete Hero: Sports themes are popular in North American romances, especially for teen and young adult audiences.
• Beta Hero: The good guy, the guy next door – this type of hero is usually more even-tempered and more realistic than the typical alpha hero.
• Bisexual Hero Or Heroine: This character is openly and equally attracted to both men and women. As a protagonist, they live by their own rules or sexual code, which makes them irresistibly unpredictable.
• Cowboys: Whether a rancher or a Texas Ranger, the hero embodies the characteristics and moral codes of the American frontier: courage, integrity, and usually a bit of chauvinism.
• Cyborg Hero: The heroine falls in love with an electromechanically enhanced man. The hero may have become cyborg after an experiment, accident, or some other tragedy.
• Dominant Alpha: An archetypal character in explicit, erotic fiction, the dominant alpha is rich, sexy, possessive, and always in charge.
• Domme Heroine: A domme, female dominatrix or BDSM mistress is often found in erotica, steamy romances, or period romances.
• Fish out of water: The heroine comes from a small town to a big city and is unprepared for the sophistication of the hero. Similarly, a city girl finds herself working or stranded in a small town and falls for the charm of a local hero. 

Thank you for joining us,

Ann Jensen & Skylar West

Contact Information:

Ann Jensen

[email protected]
https://annjensenwrites.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jensen/e/B08VRMR5SK/
https://www.facebook.com/annjensenbooks
https://www.instagram.com/annjensenbooks/

Skylar West

https://www.authorskylarwest.com/
https://www.amazon.com/author/skylarwest/
https://www.facebook.com/authorskylarwest/
https://www.instagram.com/author_skylarwest/?hl=en