Sunday Brunch 1/19/14

TODAY'S BRUNCH SPOTLIGHT GUEST IS

AUTHOR BRIANNA HUGHES

First and foremost, it is a pleasure to have you here. Welcome to Harper’s Sunday Brunch Interview!
It is a pleasure, thank you for the opportunity to share a tidbit about myself and my work with everyone.

So, can you tell us what makes Brianna Hughes tick? What got you started on the path to becoming an author?
What makes me tick? Let me see, I have a vast imagination with voices attached fighting to come out on the pages of books, short stories and poems. I am one of five children and the middle child. I grew up as a navy brat moving from one place to another. I have always loved reading books and dabbled in writing throughout my high school years, but dropped off when I went to college. Never in my mind did I see myself as a writer. In fact, I went to college to be a nurse. After college, I married the most wonderful man and have two wonderful boys, but in 2001 I became disabled and unable to continue working in the medical field, or your standard job due to my health, so I took up my writing again. I started out writing inspirational poetry, and then in 2009 started to work on my first book. Two years later, I became a published author and enjoy it. 

What are you currently working on? Would you care to share a snippet?
Well, currently, I have several projects on the slab. First off for this year, is my first fantasy novel, “The Hunter’s Realm.” Also, I have been working on the revision of Blood Ties, along with the second book in the series.

This past November I took on the NaNo challenge and wrote a thriller novel and currently have it with beta readers, getting it ready to be submitted this year.
Also, working on a short story for BookRhythm’s summer submission and should have it ready by the end of the month if all goes well.

As for a snippet, well, I can share some of my next book The Hunter’s Realm. The Hunter’s Realm is a story of strength; love and courage; face your worst fear and survive. To put your faith and trust in another person, along with the joy that comes when you do. Also, since The Hunter’s Realm deals with the subject matter of domestic violence, I will be donating a percentage of what is made on sales to the local chapter here in my town for Domestic Violence Awareness and the shelter.

Excerpt

Kellie Jackson and her kids stared in a stunned silence at the stranger who had vaulted into their new yard holding a gun. What a sight!

A half-dressed, dark haired Adonis with moves she'd never seen outside of a movie was standing so close she could almost touch the smooth, lightly tanned skin rippling with muscle. Not that she had an urge to. Nope, being single suited her just fine, and she intended to stay that way.

Gathering her two children in her arms, she sat up and stared at the stranger who hastily flipped on the safety of his gun and backed away with his hand up, holding the gun to his side. His wide eyes had a panicked look to them, and his cheeks flushed.

Oh my God, he's embarrassed. Kellie held back an urge to giggle. Anyone in their right mind should have been scared, but Kellie found herself more intrigued by the man who'd vaulted over her fence. Apparently, she and the kids weren't what he'd expected to find.

"Sorry," he said, his deep baritone voice making her shiver.

The kind of voice you heard on the radio when you awake in the wee hours of the morning, a velvety tone.

"I just woke up and heard screaming and ..."

Trust Rea to be the first to talk.

“Look mommy. That man has a gun. Is he a policeman?" he lisped adorably.

"Mine!" piped in Renee, his twin.

Did she mean the gun or the man? Knowing Renee she meant both.

"What? Um..." The stranger backed up toward the fence he'd flown over, his look of confusion finally making the giggles Kellie had been holding back burst forth. Tempted as she was to let him stutter a little bit more--after all, he'd scared them first--she kind of felt sorry for him, and knowing her two little angels, they'd make him regret his actions with a million questions. Seems like time to save him.

"Hi, we're your new neighbors," Kellie said cheerily, getting up and brushing the grass and dirt off her scuffed, holey jeans.

Do you include some of your own personal experiences in your books or do you prefer to use your imagination?
I tend to do a little bit of both. I want my readers to be able to relate, connect to the character, and essentially become that character as they are reading. Some subject matter I write about has been hard, but I made it through looking at the end result, whether it was a positive or negative situation.

What genre do you typically write in and why did you choose this over others?
Well, when I first started out, I mainly wrote Paranormal Romance and Erotica, but have ventured into several genres now. I will be covering Fantasy, Historical, Contemporary Romance, Thriller Romance, and even Horror.

Do you have a specific process or a ritual you go through when sitting down to write?
Oh most definitely! The first is a cup of coffee on hand, mood setting music, Writeway Pro program, and my storyboard opened. Oh let’s not forget locking my door during my writing hours.

Where do you find your inspiration for your plots? Do you have any tricks of the trade you would care to share?
Life is filled with Dreams, Dreams which give our life meaning and inspire us to change. Writing can be that dream, so dream of finishing that paragraph, or that chapter, or most of all pick up a piece of paper and just write. The words will flow from the ends of the pen. All you have to do is believe in yourself.

Between yourself and every goal that you wish to achieve, there is a series of obstacles and the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Remember your decision to be, having and doing something out of the ordinary entails facing difficulties and challenges that are out of the ordinary as well. Writing is no different, nor is becoming an author. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.

We dream about change and improvement, we set goals, seemingly impossible goals, goals which challenge us, and we dream about the future, when we will reach our goals, when our lives will change for the better. Why not dream of writing and reaching the finish line of that dream, then making it come true? Never give up!

What is the oddest place/situation where an idea for a book/plot has come to you?
Oh help me, honestly a few places, and my husband will kill me for saying this, but one plot came to me while we were having our private time. I know, not the time, but hey, the voices started grunting, moaning on their own to be heard. Another thing is sometimes while doing everyday things, laundry, dishes, taking care of kids, or even the task of checking my mailbox. I never know what will go BAM in my noggin. That is what makes writing fun. Spontaneous visions sparked by one thing or another.

What makes a book stand out and perk your interest?
Well, one depends on the mood I am looking for to read. Whether it is a romance, horror, or whatever genre. I also will go off book reviews or recommendations from other fellow authors or friends. A cover can also make an impression, but not always. I have read many books where the cover didn’t match the book content at all. Book Blurbs I always read, if it gets a reaction of ‘oh yeah baby this is what I am looking for,’ then I will give it a read.

We all have our favorite authors. Can you share some of yours and tell us why you like them?
Oh gosh, I have so many that I consider my favorites, but I have more books from a few. Such as, Shayla Black, Gena Showatler, Stephen King, C.H. Admirand, but I also have started reading newer authors too, like Jas T. Ward, Rory Ni Coileain, N. Kuhn. Oh, I can go on and on with the new authors I like. My reading list this year is very long.

Why I like these in particular? Well, that is not easily answered in a few words. They all have one or more books, or a series that I can’t stop reading over and over.
 
We all have a pet peeve, care to share yours?
Well, on a personal basis, it would have to be disrespectful drivers who text while they are driving. That text can wait. All it takes is a split second, and you end someone’s life because you “just had to reply.” A few years back, I was in a car accident that was caused by a woman texting while driving, and she veered into my lane, forcing me off the road, and then she fled the scene.

When you’re not writing, what are the things you enjoy doing to relax?
Well, first and foremost is being with my husband and two boys. Family always helps me settle. I also knit, read, and workout at the gym. I have, on occasion, been known to watch television too.

Thank you so much for joining me here today, Brianna. I know my followers will enjoy this spotlight as much as I have conducting it. Good luck on all your future endeavors.
 

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT BRIANNA

A little about me is I am a person who loves life and living in the moment. I have found a deep passion in my life in writing romance and erotica novels as much as I enjoy reading them too. I started writing as a hobby and since have been inspired to publish what I have. My heroines are always strong women that can stand up for themselves.

My favorite genre to write is Paranormal, but I am delving into other genres as well. My passion is to express how I feel and see romance, sex, and creatures of the unknown come alive on the pages of my books. Immortal highlanders, witches, vampires, Lycans, warlocks and many more, some of my work is inspired by my interest in role-playing and daydreaming , but mostly by a wild imagination. 

My first book was published on May 7, 2012, ever since Blood Ties (Wicked Blood Series #1) hit the shelves, it has been great and a dream come true. Taking the characters that are in my head and bringing life to them is exhilarating. I am staying very busy these days as I am working on three more books for this year. One is another in the Wicked Blood Series and another from my Marshal’s Series and a final one with my Co-Author J.L.Raven. 

I could not have gotten this far without the Lord's help and several friends and family.
 

PLACES ONLINE WHERE YOU 

CAN FIND BRIANNA

FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE
GOODREADS
HER BLOG
HER WEBSITE
PINTEREST
TUMBLR
WICKED BLOOD SERIES FACEBOOK PAGE
TWITTER or @hughesbrianna69

BRIANNA'S SOON TO BE 

RE-RELEASED BOOK

(WICKED BLOOD SERIES #1)

Gabriel Moreno was aware the tenacious beauty Alexis wanted him dead, and would stop at nothing to exact her vengeance. Mistakes he made over his long life filled him with grief and regret. Turning her vampire was not one of them. Isolated and lonely, the light in her soul warmed his bitter existence. He would have her for himself or die trying.

Alexis Silver had been called Dark monster, vampire, killer over the centuries. They were all true. Only once had someone named her a Dark Angel, mistaking this passionate seductress for something less than deadly. She hated being a killer, she detested the dark monster she had become, but most of all she loathed the man who made her what she is today. She vowed vengeance at any cost.  

PURCHASE LINKS FOR THE ORIGINAL RELEASE OF 

BLOOD TIES 

BARNES & NOBLE
LULU