The Best of Times & The Worst of Times

What do you consider the best and the worst of your career?

That was one of the questions I was asked in Rachel Brimble's interview about my writing. Find out what I consider to be the best thing about being a writer as well as the worst part by visiting me today at Rachel Brimble's.

Then let me know what the best part of your career is, and what you consider is the worst part of it!

Storm Goddess

If you could have one paranormal ability, what would you choose?

That's one of the questions Storm Goddess asked me in their unique interview. Another was what type of pet I would have if I could have any kind of paranormal pet. Makes you think, doesn't it?

Check out my answers at Storm Goddess Book Reviews and then let me know what paranormal ability you would choose, and what type of paranormal pet you'd like to have!

Coffee Addicted Writer

Do you ever wonder about the path writers take to success?

I've come to the conclusion that my own path must have been preordained. It seems everything from my earliest memories to the present have placed me on the path to writing. And I can't imagine doing anything else.

Find out how my childhood memories influenced my writing and the genre I chose today at Coffee Addicted Writer. Then let me know what your path has been like with your chosen career!

Change the Word

Have you ever wondered how an author goes from a creative idea to the nuts and bolts of writing a good book?

Change the Word asked me how I developed the Black Swamp Mysteries series from the ground up. How I went from the idea of Vicki Boyd as a psychic spy to using Lumberton as a backdrop, sending Vicki to Afghanistan in her mind's eye, and much, much more.

Come join me at Change the Word and let me know how you develop your writing!

Lisa Haselton's Reviews & Interviews

Do you ever wonder how people wake up one morning and decide they want to be an author?

That's one of the questions Lisa Haselton asked me in this unique interview. Find out when I decided I wanted to write, what my personal writing quirks are, and what I wanted to do for a living if the writing didn't work out!

Pop in and read the whole interview at Lisa Haselton's Reviews & Interviews and then let me know when and how you decided on your career!

Lil Gracie Lou

What do you want to know about an author but are afraid to ask?

That's one of the questions I faced in a unique interview with Lil Gracie Lou. A lot of fans have told me they'd love to know more about my private life - and whether my own experiences find their way into my books.

One thing you might not know about me is I adore freshwater angelfish. And yes, that is exactly how I arrived at Vicki's Boyd's "cover" as an angelfish breeder when she's really a CIA spy. Below is a video I took of 11 baby angels barely the size of a nickel when I moved them from their hospital tank (maternity ward) to their very own "digs". They will each grow to be from 8 inches tall to 10 inches tall.

Find out more personal facts about me by visiting Lil Gracie Lou today and asking me your questions!

LASR: Mystery

Ever wonder about the very personal facts of a writer's life?

LASR: Mystery asked me to name 10 very personal things about me that no one except my closest friends know. One of the things that might just blow your mind is that I know every single dance move to Proud Mary by Tina Turner! I've been a Tina Turner fan since the early 1970's when she was touring as Ike & Tina Turner and the Ikettes. And she's only grown better over time!

Drop into LASR: Mystery and find out more things about me you might not even have imagined... And then let me know something interesting about you!

For the Love of Animals

I don't generally post on weekends. After working 60+ hours from Monday through Friday, I try to take it a little easier on the weekends. But today I wanted to share a very special story.

This is Lucy. One month ago, Lucy was in the dog pound and would have been euthanized on a Monday morning except the Robeson County (NC) Humane Society rescued her on Saturday, about 36 hours before she would have died.

The following day as she was being fostered by a RCHS board member, Bill, she became very sick. It turned out she had parvo. She spent the next week fighting for her life. Unable to eat, she was kept alive at the vet's office through IV's.

The Robeson County Humane Society, a no-kill facility, was committed to getting her the best medical care possible. And when she was able to be released from the veterinary hospital, she returned to the board member's home to foster.

When that person suffered a death in the family, I was asked if I could foster Lucy. I have to admit, I am a failure at fostering. Once they get here, they never leave. And Lucy won't, either.

She is just 10 pounds and a sack of bones and the sweetest thing you ever saw. She was listed as a Jack Russell mix but if you could see her paws and the way she stands, you'd know she has Basset Hound in her. So we're calling her a Jack Bassett.

Eddie, our Jack Russell, is calling her "girlfriend." (Lucy is wearing the orange collar and Eddie is wearing the blue collar. We've ordered a hot pink collar for Lucy with her name and phone number embroidered on it.)

Eddie is another rescue from the Robeson County Humane Society. He had been shot in the leg, rescued by the Humane Society, and adopted by my family. We had his leg reconstructed with a metal plate and he's doing great.

Lucy also joins our collie, our third rescue from the Robeson County Humane Society, and a foxhound, who we adopted from the Richmond (VA) SPCA along with her brother Skipper, who passed away about a year and a half ago.

I think Lucy knows she's home.

Happy Weekend, everybody!

Paranormal Romance

What types of men or women are you romantically attracted to?

When I developed the Black Swamp Mysteries series, I needed the Perfect Man for Vicki Boyd's love interested, because that role featured prominently in the book. I visited websites for Redbook, Vogue, Cosmo (which is an experience in itself) and many others to find out what their research said about our romantic preferences.

Find out how I chose Dylan Maguire, the Irishman Vicki falls in love with, by visiting Paranormal Romantic Suspense today. Then let me know what characters you enjoy falling in love with!

It's Raining Books!

Can an author learn something from the hero or heroine in their book?

That's the question posed to me from It's Raining Books. And I thought of several things I'd learned from Vicki Boyd, the psychic spy and main character in Vicki's Key and the Black Swamp Mysteries series.

Find out what she taught me by visiting It's Raining Books. Then let me know what you've learned from characters you've created yourself or read in another's books!

Books are Magic

Books are Magic asked me a question I'd never received before: what were the best moments in my life and which ones were the worst?

I had to think long and hard about all of them. I've had some terrific peaks and some truly horrible lows. Read what I came up with at Books are Magic, and let me know what your best and worst moments have been!

Rogue Angels

Do you ever wonder how authors get their ideas and how they stay motivated as they write 75,000 words or more?

Join me today at Rogue Angels to hear how I get my ideas, how I maintain my creativity, and the best and worst advice I ever got as a writer.

Then let me know the best or worst advice you ever received - and whether you followed the advice or did something differently!

Live to Read

Have you ever wondered about a female author who writes a book from a male's perspective? Or a male who writes as a female?

When Stephen King wrote Carrie, he threw the entire manuscript in the trash because he thought it was ludicrous for him to have written it as a teenage girl. Fortunately for him and millions of horror fans, his wife Tabitha pulled it out of the trash can and encouraged him to submit it. It was the first book he'd ever had accepted - and the one that catapulted him to fame.

Join me at Live to Read to find out how I select the voice to write in. And leave me a comment or a question about books you've read and what you thought of the male vs. female voice!

Join Me on a Fun Book Tour!

Starting next Monday, July 16, I'll be participating in a 3-week Internet Book Tour that is going to be a ton of fun.

With each of my earlier releases, I toured the country - one year going all the way to the West Coast to meet with Hollywood execs. But this summer, I am going to be visiting 16 places in 3 weeks - one website is even located in India.

I'll hope you'll join me to read information that you won't find anywhere else - from what paranormal talent I'd love to have, to what paranormal pet I'd love to own, to which book I wish I had written, and all sorts of other fun facts. Leave me a comment or a question at each of these tour spots and I'll be sure to answer you:

July 16: Live to Read


July 17: Rogue Angels


July 18: Books are Magic


July 19: It's Raining Books


July 20: Paranormal Romantic Suspense


July 23: LASR: Mystery


July 24: Lil Gracie Lou


July 25: Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews


July 26: Change the Word


July 27: Coffee Addicted Writer


July 30: Storm Goddess Book Reviews


July 31: Rachel Brimble


August 1: The Author's View


August 2: Jersey Girl Book Reviews


August 3: Reader Girls


August 6: Kala Ambrose

When Songs Inspire

Last week I finished my 15th book and off it went to my agent. This one will be released by a publisher other than Drake Valley Press so I don't yet have a release date on it. I have to say I am disappointed I finished it because I fell so in love with the main characters and the premise behind the plot.

Ryan O'Clery is a detective working a serial killer case. He's had vivid dreams his entire life of another place and time and a woman he would have given his soul for but who tragically died at the hands of a killer. Now the dreams are becoming more frequent and when he meets a reporter, Cathleen Reilly, who looks identical to the woman in his dreams, reality and fantasy begin to blend together. And when he comes across a journal from a detective in 1839 Ireland that mirrors his serial killer case exactly -- ending in the death of his beloved Caitlin O'Conor to the hands of a killer - he becomes convinced that he is the reincarnation of Rian Kelly and Cathleen is Caitlin. But as Hurricane Irene barrels down on the North Carolina coastline, he begins to wonder if he can alter events in this lifetime - or if they are destined to play out the same scenario, lifetime after lifetime, always ending in Cait's death.

My agent is shopping a movie deal and if fantasies come true, I'd love to hear Alex Band's song, Will Not Back Down, as the movie trailer and theme song. Imagine this scene and then listen to the song:

Ryan and Cathleen had a misunderstanding due in part to Ryan jumping to conclusions and not allowing her to explain her past, though he is madly in love with her. He discovers she's left for the Outer Banks as Hurricane Irene approaches the coast - and he's also discovered the serial killer is following her. In a dramatic attempt to stop Fate from repeating itself, he goes after Cathleen and tries to reach her before the hurricane overtakes the island and sweeps her out to sea -- and before the killer can find her and end her life as he did nearly 200 years earlier during the worst storm to hit Ireland in more than 300 years.

This was the best audio I could find of Will Not Back Down:

What songs do you envision for the books you are writing or reading? Do you ever associate a specific song with a book or movie?

p.m.terrell is the award-winning author of more than 15 books, including Vicki's Key (released in March 2012) which is a 2012 International Book Awards finalist and a 2012 USA Best Book Awards nominee. Read more about her and her books at www.pmterrell.com.