Tami Winbush - Writes

Throughout my writing career, I’ve read and been given the advice that says, “Make sure you write what you know.” If you take this suggestion at face value and run with it, your writing will be quite interesting and realistic. This is something that all readers want, no... demand. It’s something that helps them escape from reality and enter into another world for a while. They want to be the hero or the heroine swept off her feet by a man who truly knows what love is. I’m not sure how this piece of advice works. When I first started writing in junior high school I wrote love poems. I knew NOTHING of love, hell, I hadn’t even been kissed (but thank you N.M. for the distracted make-out scene under the bush). So how in the world was I able to write such ‘moving’ pieces? In all honesty, they were only moving to me, but they seem to make sense now that I’m grown up.  Let’s take a look at my first poem: Lazily we walk along the beach You and I hand in hand Nature has its things to teach We l

The Widow's Guide to Second Chances by Valerie Pepper My rating: 5 of 5 stars I think I need a paramedic! A hot sexy one named Aaron. I really don't care that Devon is the heroine of this story - I'll step in in a heartbeat! When guilt and pain hit you after the devastating news that your husband has been killed, what do you do? If you're Devon you hightail it out of there and try to run from all the pain. But when Gigi dies she's forced to return to the place she's been running from for 5 years. A couple of nosey community members, a scraggly dog, a hot paramedic, and Gigi's will are all working against Devon's goal of getting out of dodge as soon as the will's terms have been fulfilled. If you like a mixture of sweet, spicy, and downright HOT this is the book for you. I want to thank Ms. Pepper for her character portrayal of the mindset of a widow. It wasn't glossed over, made to seem trivial, and wasn't meant to be annoying and full of

Today I thought I’d share with you, dear readers, an interview with one of my dearest friends and author Tamara Monteau. Tamara and I met when we both had books under the now defunct Secret Cravings Publishing umbrella. We became fast friends and have remained such for many years. I felt that it was selfish to hoard her all to myself so, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, Tamara take it away.  Tamara : Thanks so much for the invite, Tami! I’m always happy to talk about my favorite vampires. I have a few questions for you that I think my readers wouldn’t love answers to, so here we go: Tell me a little bit about Haven’s Realm. Where did you get the idea for this wonderful world? Tamara : It was something that evolved as my stories grew. I began with an obscure–at the time–vampire clan led by a Council and living in a place I called Haven. The culture didn’t completely evolve until I wrote the fifth book in the series, and it was my husband’s suggestion to incorporate the seven H

As an insomniac, I have tons of time to think about writing (when one should be writing) and what they have learned, and how. I honestly think that my cats have taught me most of what I need to know. 1. Steady and cunning get you what you want. If you don’t have a cat and have never seen them stalk a fly/ladybug/moth you’ve missed out on a lifetime of lessons. They will sit as still as can be and stalk that thing till it’s just in reach. And eight times out of ten, they get what they are going after. Just like writing! You have to be steady in your course and you will achieve your goals. You have to make sure that you keep the eye on the prize. If you don’t get it the first time keep on keeping on, it WILL happen. 2. Know who you can lean on. Cats are particularly finicky over who they will ‘sit’ with. My cat Earl can walk up to me, nudge the laptop from my lap, curl up, and fall asleep. He only stays there long enough for a cat nap, but he knows that he can do it and won’t be chasti