Interview with author Bella Scully

NOTE: The opinions expressed in this interview are that of the author and are in no way affiliated with SBR. Happy reading!

Genre: New Adult/Erotica

Claim to Fame: "Wicked Game" published in August 2015.

Why we love her: Sexy cover's aside, Scully creates the kind of build up that makes you want to throw your kindle across the room. Whether it's sitting in a lunch room, or talking to the parental figures, Scully's character's know how to bring the heat. 

1) How long did it take you to right Save Me?

 It took me a month to write Save Me.

2)  What made you chose Self-Publishing instead of going the Traditional route?

Self-publishing gives me more control over my work.  I can choose my own cover designers, editors, prices, and marketing.  It also helps me get my books out to my readers faster and cheaper than I could if I were traditionally published.

3) Any celebrities of whom you feel resemble your characters? (Nate, Natalie..Cal.)

 Nat would be Dianna Agron.  Cal would probably be Channing Tatum.

4) (Not required, but we've been asking): Opinion on the fan fiction turned published work by mainstream publishers? Aka, Fifty Shades, Beautiful Bastard, Gabriel's Inferno...

I love fanfiction; I think it’s a great way to get more people reading and writing.  Turning fanfiction into a commercially published work is fine as long as the book has been rewritten to remove any identifiable traces of the work it is based on.  The first time I read Fifty Shades, I didn’t know it was Twilight fanfiction and was surprised when I found out; I think that’s a good litmus test for these kinds of things.  Fifty Shades is such a different book in tone, plot, and character from Twilight that I couldn’t tell it was originally Twilight fanfiction from the text alone, which (to me) makes it okay.  It’s a good example of taking fanfiction and turning it into “inspired by” instead of “plagiarized from,” if that makes sense.

5) Playlist that inspired Cal and Nat's love affair?

Hmm…  I’m not sure.  I think R U Mine by Arctic Monkeys, The Mother We Share by Chvrches, Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons, and Someone Like You by Adele would make a good playlist.

6) Hardest scene to write?

The parking lot scene near the end.

7) If Nat were to go to Harvard, what would her major be?

 I can definitely see Nat aiming for Harvard Business School.  Her bachelor’s would probably be sociology or psychology.

8)  If Cal were to go to college, what would he do?

I think Cal would prefer to go to a trade school or become a mechanic.  After all, it would let him spend more time with his bike!  And it would give him an excuse to strut around shirtless and covered in sweat in front of Nat.

9) Upcoming Works?

My newest novel, Wicked Game, was published August 21, 2015; it’s a billionaire stepbrother romance you can find at Amazon.  I’m also planning an upcoming dark biker trilogy with lots of cute bad boys and plot twists; the working titles of the three books are Toxic, Twisted, and Torn.

BLOGGER NOTE: As of today, Scully's latest effort "Wicked Game" sits at #216 in the Amazon paid Kindle Store. For more information on Save Me, Wicked Game, or anything Bella Scully (in general) check out her Facebook page: Bella Scully Facebook

read more

Interview with S.R. Grey

Genre: New Adult/Coming of Age Romance

Claim to Fame:  “Harbor Falls” (published in 2012). It reached #27 on the Amazon top 100 and #5 on Barnes & Noble.

Why we love her: Chase Gartner & Co. And she's the Queen of angst.  

1)   Where did you come up with the idea to write I Stand Before You?

The initial idea came to me on a country road in rural Ohio. I was driving along, and I kept imagining this guy coming back to his hometown after serving a prison sentence. I saw him as broken, but healing, and ready to rebuild his life. That character became Chase Gartner, and the story took off from there.

2)   What is your editing process like?

I have to say it’s evolved since I Stand Before You. I go through more rounds of editing and beta reading now, but even then I always employed professional editors to go through the manuscript. Still, there are always things you wish you’d put in…and things you’d love to take out.

3)   Any books you draw inspiration from? Authors?

Absolutely! I love, love, love Tiffanie DeBartolo, Janet Fitch, and John Green. I have paperback copies of God-Shaped Hole and White Oleander that are marked up with highlights. And almost everything John Green writes inspires me to become a better writer.

4)   How long did it take you to write I Stand Before You? 

About three and a half months for the first draft.

5)   Were you shocked by the reception it's got so far?

I have been shocked, but also happy and humbled. It’s been two years since publication, and when I check the rankings, I Stand Before You is consistently under 10,000 on Amazon. I am so glad readers have embraced Chase and Kay. I also receive a lot of messages regarding Chase’s brother, Will. And I’m happy to say he will be getting his own book in the spring. Chase and Kay are going to be a part of the story since it will be book four in the Judge Me Not series, but it will be primarily Will’s story.

6)   Any celebrities you feel resemble your characters? (Not mentally, but physically.) Or is the cover a good representation of Kay and Chase?

The cover is a pretty good representation, but I have seen readers’ photos that really strike me as on-point. No well-known stars, but models whose names I unfortunately don’t know.

7)   What made you decide on the Church? 

That came about almost accidentally. I saw Kay at her sister’s grave behind a small church, and then I imagined her working there. What I liked about adding the church in is that Chase and Kay are not particularly religious, yet their lives are entwined in this place of worship. 

8)   Have you ever typed Chase Gartner in google search? (If not, a picture of Emma Watson and a stunning fellow pops up.) 

I just typed it in, and I know that pic! It’s from a reader’s review on Goodreads that I love. 

9)   Tomorrow’s Lies will be released this October. Can you give us a spoiler or quote?

“My heart breaks, and I can almost see the shards of what’s left of me falling into the darkness.” ~ Jaynie (Tomorrow’s Lies)

  

When today's promises become tomorrow's lies, how can you believe in anything . . . or anyone?

Jaynie Cumberland has no idea how to trust again, so she’s given up on trying. Dumped in to the state foster care system at age fourteen, Jaynie spent three years treading water, just trying to get by.

Still, Jaynie always knew she was broken in some way. After all, why did her own mother abandon her? And following a harrowing experience at her first foster home, Jaynie’s worst fears are confirmed, leaving her feeling worthless and shattered.

Now Jaynie counts the days till she turns eighteen and can go out on her own. All she wants is to be free of everyone and everything. But before that can happen, she must make it through the next few months at one final foster home. There Jaynie meets a gorgeous, albeit rough-around-the-edges, boy who is dealing with the repercussions of his own turbulent past.

Flynn O'Neill is immediately taken with this new, fragile girl. He becomes determined to show Jaynie there is more to life than hurt and pain. Unfortunately, this new home they live in, one that promised to be a haven for unwanted kids, is more like a living hell.

So what do you do when you’re trapped and there’s no way out?

What if you fall in love and protecting the other person becomes the most important thing in your life?

What if something unthinkable happens, testing your love, and the stakes are raised higher than ever? Will you come out unscathed? Can today’s promises be kept? Or will they simply become more of tomorrow’s lies?

Tomorrow’s Lies is a beautiful story of an all-consuming love and broken people building a family out of nothing. It's about never giving up, even in the face of adversity.


New Adult/Coming of Age Romance

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26047038-tomorrow-s-lies

S.R. Grey is an Amazon Top 100 Bestselling author and a Barnes & Noble #1 Bestselling author. She is the author of the popular Judge Me Not series, the Inevitability duology, A Harbour Falls Mystery trilogy, and the new Laid Bare series of novellas. Ms. Grey's novels have appeared on Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestseller lists in multiple categories, including #1 on the Barnes & Noble Nook Bestsellers list last year. 

read more