Friday, March 11, 2016

Interview with Michelle Jo Quinn, HARLEY


Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

“Harley” (Book one of The West Coast Rock Stars Series)
After her father reveals a devastating secret on his deathbed, CADENCE WILLIAMS begins the search for the truth.  This leads her to Mackinley Security, ran by Mac, her father’s former army friend and the man who may possibly hold the proof Cade needs to support her father’s claims.  But she has to prove herself worthy of Mac’s trust first.  To achieve that, she must be successful in her first assignment to protect an eight-year old girl, HARLEY CLARK.

Harley is not an ordinary girl.  Despite her fragile appearance, she has tenacity and brilliance like nothing Cade has seen before.  To everyone’s surprise, Cade forms an unlikely friendship with the often withdrawn girl.

What should have been a straightforward assignment turns complicated when Harley’s rock star father, JAX CLARK enters the scene, and Cade cannot deny the instant attraction for the self-proclaimed bad-boy.  What’s worse, Jax starts to pay her more attention that she expects.  She has two choices: get lured by the celebrity world or lose any chance of finding out the truth.  Sacrifices have to be made, one of which can be her heart.

Do you have a favorite character?
Hand down, my favourite is Harley.  She’s a big surprise during the writing process.  Despite her fragile appearance, she is a strong girl who is not afraid to show her intelligence.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
All the time.  Not just in this series, but in others too.  I’m excited for it because they give me ammunition to keep firing new stories.

Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?
I learn by doing.  So yes, I am doing both.  I have a couple of MS I plan on self-publishing, and I have a few with a traditional publisher, under a contract.  The experience is exciting and everyday, I am learning.  I hope to only get better from here on.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
Most of my writing happens at night when the house is quiet.  There are times when the subtle noises of my house settling are all I need.  Other times, I listen to music.  It all depends on the mood.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
I am a hybrid.  A true pantser at the start of the story, running the story and backstory in my head before I write, then halfway through, I start plotting the rest of it.  The more I write, the more I get into my characters’ minds, and let them lead me to the right direction. Eventually brilliant plot ideas pop.  Before I forget them, I plot.  So far, it’s the best way I function.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?
Right from the start, I decided that in order to make this work, I needed to be organized.  I keep a schedule for marketing time and writing.  The writing schedule is not as strict as the marketing schedule.  I spend 3-4 hours online every Monday mornings for, what I call, Social Media Mondays.  And go through emails, posts, tweets, etc for no more than an hour a day.  I write whenever and wherever I can.

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
I love arts and design.  I love any hands-on projects, particularly anything that will make my house look beautiful.  Every now and then, I also plan events/parties.  Aside from that, like most writers, I love to read.

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?
I’ve always thought that I’m a cat person, until we got a puppy for Christmas last year.  Her name is Scarlett and she’s a Morkie (maltese-yorkie mix).  And she’s my writing partner.
Chocolate.  The darker, the better.
Coffee.  The darker, the better.
Text.  I’m awkward with phonecalls.
Night.  The darker, the better.

What’s next for you?
Readers should expect more books from me this year.  I have a few on the go, either in the hands of Beta readers or editors.   Books two and three of The West Coast Rock Stars Series are underway, as well as other serials.  And I’ve written a short story as part of an anthology that will be released in April by Simon and Schuster.


Book & Author Details:
Harley by Michelle Jo Quinn
Published by: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: January 19th 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:
All of her life, Cadence “Cade” Williams has been lied to…
With her ailing father on his deathbed, a whispered secret sends Cadence’s life into a tailspin. Determined to either confirm or debunk her father’s claim, she sets out on a mission to grow close to the only man with evidence to set things straight. To do that, Cadence earns a position in an elite security firm owned by her father’s old army buddy, Noah “Mac” Mackinley.
Mac is the only man who could hold the evidence to support her father’s claims…
But first, she must prove herself worthy of Mac’s trust and get close enough to find the truth. Her first mission is to watch over an eight-year old girl, Harley Clark.
Harley is not an ordinary girl. She’s the daughter of a rock star…
Despite her fragile appearance, Harley has tenacity and brilliance like nothing Cade has ever seen. To everyone’s surprise—including her own—Cade forms an unlikely friendship with the beautiful wallflower.
Her first assignment just became more interesting…
When Harley’s rock star father, Jax Clark, enters the scene, Cade can’t deny the instant attraction for the self-proclaimed bad boy. Tattoos, piercing eyes, and a raspy voice that sends thousands of fans into a screaming frenzy, he’s more than just a heartthrob. Worse, Jax starts to pay her more attention than she expects.
She’s faced with a choice—get lured in by the celebrity world and lose any chance of finding out the truth, or stick to the plan and avoid Jax at all costs to earn Mac’s trust.


Purchase:


AUTHOR BIO:
Michelle‘s love for writing blossomed when her father gave her a diary. However, instead of recounting her daily life, she wrote stories of fictional people. Like most of her characters, she believes in Happily Ever After. Naturally, she finds harmony in writing romance.

An unabashed, self-proclaimed foodie, Michelle loves to try new food whenever she travels. She once had triple crème Brie and duck rillette for lunch on top of Grouse Mountain.  She enjoys watching foreign films and reading a good book by the fireside.

Michelle is an active member of RWA and several of its chapters. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids.

Author links: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



No comments:

Post a Comment

Your post will be published after administrator approval.