Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

GIVEAWAY - Brother's Best Friend Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:02:44 GMT

WIN 5 BOOKS

These 5 romance reads deliver on the forbidden factor that is a brother's best friend, and you can win all five in celebration of the release of my new book, Burning for Secrets .

One winner will receive Until You by Catharina Maura, Fractured Freedom by Shain Rose, Off Limits by Chelle Sloan, More than a Memory by Molly McLain, and my new release, Burning for Secrets.

Want a Bonus Entry?

Join the Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell Facebook Group and comment on the giveaway post that is pinned in the announcements. If you like giveaways, man candy, talking about books, and meeting cool a.f. romance readers from around the world, then this is the group for you!

Rescued by Chance by Kaye Kennedy

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on June 7, 2032 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on June 8, 2023 and will be notified by e-mail. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

GIVEAWAY - Military Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 22:07:54 GMT

WIN 5 BOOKS

These 5 romance reads deliver on love that is found in the face of danger, and you can win all five in celebration of the release of my new book, Rescued by Chance .

One winner will receive Cyclone by Janie Crouch, Securing Caite by Susan Stoker, Ace by Jaime Lewis, Broken by JL Drake, and my new release, Rescued by Chance .

Want a Bonus Entry?

Rescued by Chance by Kaye Kennedy

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on December 11, 2022 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on December 12, 2022 and will be notified by e-mail. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

GIVEAWAY - Reverse Age Gap Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 19:05:10 GMT

WIN 5 BOOKS

One good thing about an older woman and a younger man: their sex drives match up!

These five romance reads deliver on love that is found unexpectedly, and you can win all five in celebration of the release of my new book, Flirting with Faith .

Want a Bonus Entry?

Flirting with Fame by Kaye Kennedy

You could also win these!

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on August 31, 2022 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on September 1, 2022 and will be notified by e-mail. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

Romance at Sea 2023

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 19:11:01 GMT

Get Ready to Set Sail!

Spend time in paradise with some of the best romance authors and devoted readers! We're hosting a Romance at Sea getaway for summer 2023! You're not going to want to miss this inaugural event, so please fill out the corresponding interest form below.

Our cruise will leave from Florida in Summer 2023. We'll use your responses on the interest form to plan our trip. For a no-hassle experience, a professional travel agency will handle all of the details that way all you'll have to do is register and show up on departure day!

*Filling out the interest form does not obligate you to travel with us, but we hope that you will!

2022 Travels

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 22:34:32 GMT

January 2022

I went up to New York and Connecticut for a writing retreat and to visit family. While there, I finalized Flirting with Fame . My rescue mutt, Zeus, road tripped it with me and he got to see snow for the first time. He was super apprehensive at first, but then he got the zoomies in full force. One of the highlights was getting to spend time with my best friend, who I hadn't seen in far too long.

February 2022

I spent a week aboard the Norwegian Encore, making stops in St. Thomas, Tortola, and Puerto Plata. It was a much needed trip after having a really rough month emotionally. I made a great new friend who happens to be a firefighter and a former Army Ranger, because of course that's who I'd randomly meet and befriend ��.

The trip started off strong when I got a free room upgrade and won a spa credit. Getting to watch the Superbowl on the pool deck was pretty cool, too, and I might have to make that a tradition. Unfortunately, we had to skip our stop in the Bahamas, but the rest of the trip was wonderful. I went out on a catamaran in St. Thomas and got to snorkel a shipwreck and swim with the sea turtles. In Tortola, BVI I had a relaxing beach day and explored the island a bit, deciding that I totally want to move there! In the Dominican Republic, I went hiking and ziplining then got to slide down and jump off a bunch of waterfalls before exploring downtown Puerto Plata. Overall, the trip was exactly what I needed to get out of my funk.

Oh, and I started writing a new book!

GIVEAWAY - Bodyguard Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 22:02:56 GMT

WIN 5 BOOKS

The danger, the protectiveness, the forbidden aspect...all things we love about bodyguard romances!

These five romance reads deliver on love that is found where it shouldn't be, and you can win all five in celebration of the release of my new book, Flirting with Fame .

Want a Bonus Entry?

Read on to learn a little more about each of the books in this giveaway.

Flirting with Fame by Kaye Kennedy

You could also win these!

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on January 26, 2021 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on August 27, 2021 and will be notified by e-mail. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

GIVEAWAY - Undercover Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 02:27:59 GMT

WIN 5 BOOKS

The danger, the protectiveness, the high stakes...all things we love about undercover romances!

These five romance reads deliver on love that is found where it shouldn't be, and you can win all five in celebration of the release of my new book, Flirting with Forever.

Want a Bonus Entry?

Read on to learn a little more about each of the books in this giveaway.

Flirting with Forever by Kaye Kennedy

Justice for Mickie by Susan Stoker

Finding His Mark by Brittney Sahin

Chief by Kris Michaels

Behind the Veil by Kathryn Nolan

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on August 24, 2021 at 11:45 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on August 25, 2021 and will be notified by e-mail. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

One Year of Happily Ever Afters

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 21:08:36 GMT

One Year Publishiversary

365 Days

8 Novels -- 1 Novella -- 1 Box Set

2,578 Pages

709,147 Words

This month marks my one year publishing anniversary! I can't believe how quickly I've reached this milestone. It's been a whirlwind of a year and I couldn't have done it without YOU! So, I'll be rewarding you with giveaways (details below).

I never could've predicted the success I've seen this year when I'd held my breath as I'd hit publish on Burning for More a year ago. That had been one of the most terrifying/exciting moments I've ever had. I'd sent a piece of my soul out into the world, hoping for the best, but secretly expecting the worst. Thank you for loving Dylan and Autumn. Thank you for wanting more from me. Thank you for pushing me to work harder, to hone my craft, and to embrace my greatest passion.

Are you new to me?

Check out my Burning for the Bravest Series , which features New York City firefighters who love hard and make love harder. Get started with Burning for More (Book 1) for free on Kindle Unlimited or get it on Amazon for only 99¢.

My 9th novel, Flirting with the Finest , the debut for my second series, will be released August 17th!

Giveaways

Win a SURPRISE package of signed books, swag, and bookish things from me!

Enter Below

I will also be doing a new giveaway every Thursday this month across my social media platforms, so watch out for those posts for a chance at some cool prizes.

GIVEAWAY - Workplace Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 19:43:37 GMT

WIN 5 BOOKS

The secrecy, the power dynamic, the risks, the taboo of the forbidden...all things we love about workplace romances!

These five romance reads deliver on love that is found where it shouldn't be, and you can win all five in celebration of the release of my new book, Burning for Trouble , on June 23rd!

* Burning for Trouble is the seventh book in my Burning for the Bravest Series , which features New York City firefighters who love hard and make love harder. While each book in the series features a different couple, the books are intended to be read in order as the previous couples continue to be a part of the series. Get started with Burning for More (Book 1) for free on Kindle Unlimited or get it on Amazon for only 99¢.

Want a Bonus Entry?

Read on to learn a little more about each of the books in this giveaway.

Burning for Trouble by Kaye Kennedy

By a Thread by Lucy Score

The One I Want by S.L. Scott

Southern Hotshot by Jessica Peterson

Alaska Spark by LoLo Paige

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on June 24, 2021 at 12:00 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on June 24, 2021 and will be notified by e-mail. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

How Writing Sex Changed My Life

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 20:57:44 GMT

When I first started writing romance, I was intimidated by the idea of penning steamy sex scenes. I *almost* decided to be a fade-to-black author �� but I knew that the stories I wanted to write needed sex. Despite being terrified by the idea, I put my fingers to the keyboard and pushed myself to get the words out.

Best. Decision. Ever.

Here's why:

I was raised in a conservative family. The only "sex talk" I got from my mother happened when I started dating my first boyfriend. All she said was, "Don't kiss him with your mouth open."

Yeah...it was too late for that because he'd already kissed me. And my mouth was open. And I hadn't been struck down on the spot because of it...

So, how did that translate as I got older? I was ashamed of my sexual side. That isn't to say that I wasn't sexually active, but I never talked about it with anyone. Sometimes, that even included my partner; I wouldn't communicate what I liked/disliked/wanted to try/etc... Not exactly healthy. I'd been labeled as a "little bit of a prude" by more than one person, which I knew was not who I authentically was (I am a Scorpio after all ��), but the shame had kept me from arguing.

I had started reading romance novels during my college years, and they opened my eyes a little bit, but I would have never admitted to anyone that I was reading those books for fear of being labeled a slut. My shame ran deep. So when I started writing those books, there were several moments of panic. I didn't want anyone--especially my family--to know that I was writing steamy romance.

After writing my first book, I found there was a part of me that truly enjoyed writing those sexy scenes and they were actually much easier to write than I'd worked them up to be in my head. As I wrote book 2, I upped the sexy factor and I found myself having fun as I wrote those toe-curling orgasms.

That was empowering moment #1.

When Burning for More went out there into the world, I ping ponged between being ecstatic and being terrified. My husband encouraged me as did my fairy godmothers (aka my aunts who are practically my moms). They read my work and, again, I wasn't struck down on the spot. Win!

My very proud husband started shouting from the rooftops that I was an author. He even told his grandparents that I was writing romance (and I nearly killed him). I had an entire conversation about my work with his 93 year old grandfather, who is a retired Lt. General in the Air Force...talk about terrifying. To this day, he always asks me about them when I call him to say hi.

As if that wasn't terrifying enough, one of my fairy godmothers told my grandma--my catholic grandma--that I was writing. My grandma, who has always been my #1 fan in absolutely everything I've ever done, read my book.

[Insert me having a panic attack]

And she loved it.

That was empowering moment #2.

Then, total strangers read my book and no one called me a slut. In fact, their reviews told me that they enjoyed my steamy scenes. I actually started telling my friends that I published a romance novel, which they then read and loved. And I could still look them in the eyes afterwards!

That was empowering moment #3.

When I published Burning for This , I had to do a lot of deep breathing exercises to keep the panic at bay. That book is very steamy. Strangers read it. Family read it. Friends read it. I waited on the edge of my seat...

Another success. One reviewer labeled it "Third Degree Hot" and several reviewers mentioned Jesse and Lana's "off the charts chemistry."

Grandma read it. Grandma loved it. And I hadn't been struck down on the spot.

Empowering Moment #4.

Now, with several well-received published books under my belt, I am feeling a lot more confident in my role as Writer of Sexy/Swoony Stuff. I'm even starting to tell people about my books that I never in a million years would've imagined telling. Further, I can get on Facebook Live and read from my books and talk about those NSFW scenes without my heart threatening to abandon me.

Total win.

I never imagined that one of the results of me being a romance author would be me becoming a more empowered woman. And I've got to say, that might be my favorite result of all. My goal now is that when you read those scenes, they empower you a little bit, too.

I'm still a work in progress, but I can honestly say that the sexy/swoony scenes are now my favorite to write.

Unabashedly,

Kaye Kennedy

GIVEAWAY - Bad Boy Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 03:10:37 GMT

WIN 5 BOOKS

The danger, the control, the "oh no he didn't" reactions...all things we love about bad boy romances!

These five romance reads deliver on love that is found in the most unlikely places, and you can win all five in celebration of the release of my new book, Burning for Love , on April 14th!

* Burning for Love is the sixth book in my Burning for the Bravest Series , which features New York City firefighters who love hard and make love harder. While each book in the series features a different couple, the books are intended to be read in order as the previous couples continue to be a part of the series. Get started with Burning for More (Book 1) for free on Kindle Unlimited or get it on Amazon for only 99¢.

Want a Bonus Entry?

Read on to learn a little more about each of the books in this giveaway.

Burning for Love by Kaye Kennedy

Vicious by LJ Shen

Don't Kiss the Bride by Carian Cole

Break Me by Geneva Lee

Reign by Jessica Gadziala

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on April 14, 2021 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on April 15, 2021 and will be notified by e-mail. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

GIVEAWAY - Friends to Lovers Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 18:13:27 GMT

WIN 5 BOOKS

The playfulness, the natural chemistry, the shouting at the page for the characters to just do it already...all things we love about friends-to-lovers romances!

These five romance reads deliver on love that is built on a strong foundation of friendship, and you can win all five !

To celebrate the release of my new book, Burning for You , on January 19th, I am giving away 5 e-books by some of my favorite authors all with the friends-to-lovers trope. One winner will receive J.S. Cooper's new release One Night Pact , Jamie Schlosser's The Fae King's Curse , Heather M. Orgeron's Breakaway , J.L. Beck & C. Hallman's Kissing & Telling , and my new release, Burning for You .

* Burning for You is the fifth book in my Burning for the Bravest Series , which features New York City firefighters who love hard and make love harder. While each book in the series features a different couple, the books are intended to be read in order as the previous couples continue to be a part of the series. Get started with Burning for More (Book 1) for free on Kindle Unlimited or get it on Amazon for only 99¢.

Want a Bonus Entry?

Read on to learn a little more about each of the books in this giveaway.

Burning for You by Kaye Kennedy

One Night Pact by J.S. Cooper

The Fae King's Curse by Jamie Schlosser

Breakaway by Heather M. Orgeron

Kissing & Telling by J.L. Beck & C. Hallman

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on January 18, 2021 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on January 19, 2021 and will be notified by e-mail. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

GIVEAWAY - Love/Hate Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 18:42:19 GMT

WIN 5 BOOKS

GIVEAWAY ENDED

The witty banter, the push and pull, the shouting at the page for the characters to get over themselves already...all things we love about enemies-to-lovers romances!

These five romance reads deliver on the love/hate, and you can win all five !

To celebrate the release of my new book, Burning for Fate , on November 11th, I am giving away 5 e-books by some of my favorite authors all with the enemies-to-lovers trope. One winner will receive LJ Shen's The Hunter , Kristy Marie's Subscriber Wars , Kathryn Nolan's Under the Rose , Teagan Hunter's Loathe Thy Neighbor , and my new release, Burning for Fate .

* Burning for Fate is the fourth book in my Burning for the Bravest Series , which features New York City firefighters who love hard and make love harder. While each book in the series features a different couple, the books are intended to be read in order as the previous couples continue to be a part of the series. Get started with Burning for More (Book 1) for free on Kindle Unlimited or get it on Amazon for only 99¢ (that couple's wedding is at the beginning of Burning for Fate !)

Want a Bonus Entry?

Read on to learn a little more about each of the books in this giveaway.

Burning for Fate by Kaye Kennedy

The Hunter by LJ Shen

Subscriber Wars by Kristy Marie

Under the Rose by Kathryn Nolan

Loathe Thy Neighbor by Teagan Hunter

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on November 10, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on November 11, 2020 and will be e-mailed. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

GIVEAWAY - Doctor Love Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 19:06:01 GMT

WIN 5 BOOKS

GIVEAWAY ENDED

You go to the doctor to get a solution to a problem. Sometimes, that problem is being single, and sometimes the doctor can personally provide the solution.

These five romance reads deliver on the fantasy of falling for your doctor or your nurse, and you can win all five !

To celebrate the release of my new book, Burning for Her , on September 30th, I am giving away 5 e-books by some of my favorite authors all with the similar theme of finding love with a doctor or a nurse.

*This giveaway includes Burning for Her, which is the second book in my Burning for the Bravest series featuring New York City Firemen who love hard and make love hard. The series is intended to be read in order. You can read Burning for More (Book 1) for free on Kindle Unlimited or get it on Amazon for only 99¢. Burning for This (Book 2) is free on Kindle Unlimited, as well.

Want a Bonus Entry?

Read on to learn a little more about each of the books in this giveaway.

Burning for Her by Kaye Kennedy

Honor by J.L. Drake

Challenge by Amy Daws

Hero by Lauren Rowe

Wrong by Jana Aston

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on September 29, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on September 30, 2020 and will be e-mailed. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

GIVEAWAY - 5 Scorching Hot Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 03:28:43 GMT

GIVEAWAY ENDED

To celebrate the release of Burning for This on August 18, 2020 I gave away five firefighter books from some of my favorite authors!

If you're here, I assume that you love a good firefighter romance (who doesn't?) so be sure to check out my Burning for the Bravest Series , which will be fully released by early 2021! I'll be bringing you 8 New York City firemen who love hard and make love harder.

*This giveaway includes Burning for This which is the second book in my series. The series is intended to be read in order. You can read the first book in the series for free on Kindle Unlimited or get it on Amazon for only 99¢. If you click here , you'll get the first 100 pages!

If you want to be notified about other giveaways, please sign up for my newsletter using the form below.

(Enter your birthday if you like surprises and free stuff)

What now?

Join the Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell Facebook Group ! If you like giveaways, man candy, talking about books, and meeting cool a.f. romance readers from around the world, then this is the group for you!

Read on to learn a little more about each of the books that were in this giveaway.

Burning for This by Kaye Kennedy

Protecting What's Mine by Lucy Score

Light Up the Night by Weston Parker

Igniting Ivy by Samantha Christy

Ignite by Emma Renshaw

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on August 17, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on August 18, 2020 and will be e-mailed. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

Beach Bag Giveaway

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 17:50:21 GMT

Enter to Win this Beach Bag

To celebrate the release of Burning for More on August 5, 2020 I am teaming up with An Unlikely Pear , my favorite online women's shoe boutique, to give one lucky winner this beach bag of goodies!

The winner will receive this mesh beach bag, Turkish towel (made in Turkey), 27 oz. SIC insulated tumbler, a pair of studded sandals from An Unlikely Pear , and a personalized signed copy of my new release, Burning for More !

Leave your email below to enter to win this Beach Bag Giveaway , then follow the instructions to complete your entry.

(Enter your birthday if you like surprises and free stuff)

Burning for More

Book 1 in the Burning for the Bravest Series by Kaye Kennedy

Contest Rules

*Giveaway open to US residents only. Giveaway ends on August 4, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on August 5, 2020 on the An Unlikely Pear Facebook Group page. For your entry to be valid, you must do the second part, detailed on the confirmation page after you hit submit on this entry form.

Another Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive FIVE e-books!

GIVEAWAY - 5 Binge Worthy Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell

183:816918228 (Kaye Kennedy) — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 02:33:03 GMT

GIVEAWAY ENDED

To celebrate the release of Burning for More on August 5, 2020 I gave away five first-in-series books from some of my favorite authors!

If you're like me, you love getting sucked into a series and living in a new world for a bit with a cast of characters who feel like friends by the end. I'll be delivering on that with my Burning for the Bravest Series, which will be fully released by early 2021!

If you want to be notified about other giveaways, please sign up for my newsletter using the form below.

(Enter your birthday if you like surprises and free stuff)

What now?

Read on to learn a little more about each of the books that were in this giveaway.

Burning for More : Book 1 in the Burning for the Bravest Series by Kaye Kennedy

Hold Me Today : Book 1 in the Put a Ring on It Series by Maria Luis

Book Boyfriend : Book 1 in the Book Boyfriends Series by Claire Kingsley

Wildcat : Book 1 in the Mavericks Tackle Love Series by Max Monroe

Defending Allye : Book 1 in the Mountain Mercenaries Series by Susan Stoker

Contest Rules

*Giveaway ends on August 4, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be announced on August 5, 2020 and will be e-mailed. Winner must respond to that e-mail in order to receive the books. This giveaway is sponsored by Kaye Kennedy and is not affiliated with Amazon or the other authors.

Behind the Scenes: Burning for the Bravest Series

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 05:17:05 GMT

How the Burning for the Bravest Series came to be

Fun Fact: I was a firefighter in a previous chapter of my life, until an injury sustained in a house fire put an end to that. I was actually one of four generations of firefighters in my family. I grew up with a father who is now an ex-chief, and I told myself that I would never date a firefighter...but then I fell in love with my Lieutenant.

After seven years together, our relationship ended, but I took with it a plethora of knowledge about the inner workings of the FDNY (that's the New York City Fire Department, in case you don't know). When I decided that I was going to get serious about publishing a novel, I knew it had to be in the romance genre, and I knew I had to write from experience - that's how Burning for the Bravest came to be.

I knew I could accurately describe the job, having done it myself, as well as the operations of the FDNY. Plus, the stereotype of firemen being sexy comes from somewhere, right? I don't think I've ever met a woman who hasn't had a fireman fantasy of some sort.

Introducing the Burning for the Bravest Series, featuring four brothers and their friends, all of whom are firemen in the FDNY.

Keep checking back for updates! If you want to be a part of the creation of this series, make sure to join my exclusive Facebook Group: Romance Reads that Kiss & Tell with Kaye Kennedy. See you in there!

Author Interview - Kaye Kennedy

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 20:52:46 GMT

Author Interview - Kaye Kennedy

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I started reading when I was three. My grandmother instilled the love for the written word in me from a young age. We also used to make up stories together about a little girl who got herself into all kinds of trouble. Maybe you'll see a line of children's books from me one day!

I wrote my first "book" in the fourth grade. I filled a marble composition notebook with a story about a little girl who found a portal in her backyard that took her to magical places. As an only child, I used reading and writing to entertain myself. The characters became my friends and I couldn't imagine my life without books. I started taking writing seriously when I was in middle school. I used to sit on the front porch and write on this old typewriter that my parents had. I decided then that I would be an author one day.

Q: How long does it take you to write a book?

The number of half-finished manuscripts on my computer is embarrassing! I'm a perfectionist and I always ran into the problem of trying to make my first draft a polished draft at the same time I was writing it. Once I figured out that editing while writing is the best way to kill a project, getting stories completed became easy. The most I've written in a day is fourteen thousand words, but I average about five thousand words in a day. My novels typically range from 70k - 80k words.

In theory, I could finish writing a manuscript in a week, but life tends to get in the way. The quickest I've gone from first words on the page to ready to publish is two and a half months, but that's about to get even shorter as I progress through writing my Burning for the Bravest Series. My first novel took me four months to complete my draft, but I went weeks without touching it before picking the project back up. Editing usually takes one to two months, depending on my beta readers' and editors' schedules.

Q: Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I write what I like to read. I create characters that make me fall in love, and I put them in worlds that I can imagine myself in. I always start by writing what I know. Again, being that I'm a perfectionist, I am a stickler for accuracy, so if I can start with something I already have knowledge in, that helps. I'll often incorporate scenes that come from something that's happened in my life or that is from a story I heard from a friend. Experiences spark creativity.

Often times I'll say, "I want to write a story about X," then I'll sit down and write a scene and let the story just come to me. I'll use people I know or characters in other books or movies as inspiration. Watching a fully-functioning character come to life beneath my fingertips is one of my favorite parts of being a writer. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a psychology degree in my future because I enjoy diving deep into the human psyche.

Q: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I'm a CEO and I've started three businesses, so I'm a very busy entrepreneur! I live on the Florida coast with my husband and we like to spend a lot of time outdoors. The beach is my happy place. We're also foodies, so we enjoy delicious food and creative drinks. My favorite pass time though is reading. I love to escape into another world for a little bit every night.

Q: What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

Since I start writing from something familiar, that helps cut down on my research time, which is crucial because...[perfectionist]. That being said, I still spend hours researching. I hate when I read a book that has a plot line or setting I'm familiar with and the facts are off; I refuse to be that kind of writer. Yes, there are times where you need to take some creative liberties, but I try to keep my stories as accurate as possible while still allowing the story to happen.

Q: As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

I had to ask my husband for help with this one! He says I'm a cat. I'm a silent observer which helps me build my idea bank for stories. I also retreat into myself when I write, going off into my own world. I'm nocturnal, like a cat, and I do my best writing late at night and into the wee hours of the morning. I'm a cat because I'm the one in charge of my novels, getting my characters to do my bidding without them consciously knowing it. I'd say that fits!