Interview with Author Renee Vincent

Today I’m interviewing Renee Vincent. Her book, Silent Partner, is a contemporary romance and was just released in April 2011.



Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

Silent Partner is a special story that I wrote where the heroine has a secret and the hero is unaware of it, even after meeting her, dancing with her, and having a one-night stand with her. There is a play on words with the title and, like my other romances, there is a twist at the end. Silent Partner is my first attempt at writing a contemporary romance and I’m pleased to say it’s been well received so far.

Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?

Like I said above, it's a contemporary romance, but I’ve found that my niche is still historicals. I have always loved to read them for the sake of their deep plots, intriguing characters, and extraordinary “period” time frames. I enjoy being taken to a different place and time when I read historicals and logically, it’s a genre in which I love to write as well. Though I’ve wholeheartedly enjoyed trying my hand at the contemporary genre, my heart remains in historical love stories. Hence, my Emerald Isle Trilogy.



When did you start writing toward publication?

My journey toward publication was not the usual path that most writers find themselves walking. I wrote Ræliksen, my first historical romance, for no other reason than because I’ve always wanted to write one and because my sister, who passed in 2005, had told me before she died to finish it. I was not initially aiming at a career in writing. I was simply doing what my sister encouraged me to do, never giving thought to submitting to a publisher.


In 2008, I self-published Ræliksen and was working diligently on its sequel, Mac Liam. Once my first book started to gain great reviews, I began thinking this might be the right career choice for me. Consequently, my dream of being an author seemed a bit closer to reality than I’d ever imagined possible.

Then, in 2010, I was signed by Turquoise Morning Press. We would re-release Ræliksen (with a much better cover) and publish the other two books in the series in the months to follow. After that, I pitched my idea of Silent Partner to TMP and the rest is history.

Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold?

I wish. When I sold the trilogy, Mac Liam was only half way finished and I had a deadline of a few months before it would release 5 months after Ræliksen. Putting that on top of doing another bout of edits for Ræliksen, I was severely worried I wouldn’t make either deadline. But somehow, I pulled through and the release of both books came off without a hitch, relatively speaking.



After about a week’s worth of a breather, I had to get writing on Silent Partner, because its release was only four months away from Mac Liam’s. Yes, I was glutton for punishment then.



Why have you become a published author?

It has always been my dream since I was a little girl. As a child, I wrote stories, poems, and songs, and I’ve saved every one.



Do you have any rejection stories to share?

Oh, yes. Don’t we all…


Mine came after I first finished Ræliksen and began investigating the publishing world. I quickly found out that no one would readily sign me, much less take a look at my work, simply because my word count was over 190,000 words. Talk about a rude awakening.

I had no idea there was such a thing as a word count stipulation. And for the next few years, I began cutting Ræliksen back, removing unimportant characters and frivolous plot paths, while still trying to maintain flow of sentence structure, character development, and pace. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do as an author because I was so worried I would ultimately destroy Ræliksen’s beautiful love story piece by piece. But in the end, it was the best thing I could’ve ever done, not to mention the critical learning experience that came with it.



What is your writing routine like?

I am a mother of two, so I wake up, get the kids off to school and then make my coffee. (That is a must.) Then I spend the next few hours of my morning answering emails, doing promo for other authors on my romance site, Deep In The Heart Romance, and, of course, fitting in a bit of promo for myself.


At about 10am, I can finally concentrate on writing.



What sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?

I use the usual social networks daily (Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Linked, etc.) but I also have a blog to keep my readers up to date on what is going on with my books, their reviews, my book signings, contests, and updates of future book releases. I also am a member of many yahoo groups and love to chat it up with my fellow authors and loyal readers on a daily basis.



Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?


Getting those surprise emails from readers who’ve read and loved my work. I treasure them all and it amazes me to think that I’ve touched so many people with my stories. It’s what being an author is all about; connecting with readers on an emotional level and giving them a love story they will always remember, even after they close my book and open someone else’s.



Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?

I’m a member of Romance Writers of America and the following RWA chapters: Kentucky Romance Writers, Ohio Valley Romance Writers, Celtic Hearts, and Hearts Through History. I’ve met some amazing authors through these groups and have established a tight bond with a select few members as well. They’ve been an amazing life line for my career and the support they provide is astounding. I highly recommend (if you are either an aspiring or published author) to find and join your genre/local chapters.



Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?

I’ve said this from the start of my career and I’ll say it again now. Dream big—as big as you want. But keep your goals within reach. As you attain each goal you’ve set for yourself, you climb that much closer to the distant dream and eventually, you will make that dream a reality.


Another piece of advice I never forget as it came from my dear father is “You can’t do everything. But you can do anything with God at your side.”



What’s next for you?

Right now I’m finishing The Fall of Rain (Book 3 of the Emerald Isle Trilogy) and then I’ll work on The Temperate Warrior. After that, I’d like to delve into the YA genre as my daughters are very eager to read my work. I’ve got a few storylines swimming in my head and I’d really like to give my children a story that would fascinate them. We’ll see what the future brings…



BOOK BLURB for SILENT PARTNER

Grayson Anders has it all. He’s the co-owner of a happening nightclub in downtown Boston, he’s wealthy, and women practically throw themselves at his feet the moment he steps on the dance floor. But profiting from these obvious benefits is not his desire. His passion is dancing and he wants nothing more than to find the perfect dance partner.


Chloe LaRoche is a talented artist, but a failing entrepreneur. Her once thriving studio is now on the brink of foreclosure and unless she paints the next Van Gogh Starry Night, she’ll have to cut her losses and say goodbye to her quaint little gallery. Fearing her career is at an end, she drags herself to the local hot spot, determined to drown her worries in the bottom of a shot glass. At least that was the plan…until she lays eyes on a wickedly sexy, swarthy dancer in the club—Grayson Anders.


Unable to resist, Chloe finds herself in Grayson’s arms, indulging in a passionate, out-of-control, one-night stand. And when they awaken the next morning, they are both consumed with inspiration.

Grayson finds his perfect dance partner and Chloe finally finds her muse. But, will her secret destroy both their dreams?




Excerpt

There he was.


Shaking his cute little ass on the dance floor of Gyrations, the hippest night club in downtown Boston, amid a flock of beautiful women.


Chloe had first noticed him, chatting with the bartender, when she entered the strobe-lit room and wandered up to the bar. Their discussion looked important since they were both hovered over a business calendar. But, once a change of song had happened, he skirted away from the conversation with a look of intent on his face—probably to score one of the many loose women who had caught his eye earlier in the night.


She couldn’t tell which one he was looking to get lucky with as there were so many dancing around him, their barely-there clothes shimmering underneath the illuminating black light, each one competing for his attention. She didn’t blame them. He was quite possibly the sexiest man she’d ever seen.


He wore sleek, black, painted-on leather pants, a tight white tank, and a have-your-fill-of-me grin on his handsome face. He was enjoying himself—that was for certain—as he moved his body to the beat of the booming bass, his hips looking as if they were dislocated from the rest of him.


Oh, he knew how to dance—quite well—and he was not afraid to show it among the many who crammed into the joint. In fact, he held many people’s attention—not just hers—as if he had a reputation to live up to. As if the status of ‘the best male dancer’ was up for grabs.


She didn’t think there was such an event going on at the crowded nightspot, but she would definitely cast her vote in his favor if there was. No one in the place could even come close to matching his abilities. His steps were graceful, his rhythm was spot on, and his lithe muscular body moved in ways she didn’t think possible. His hips entranced every female in the club, and probably infuriated every male who was left holding up the bar.


Chloe gazed around the trendy, atmospheric room and took in the many grievous faces of the men standing in random corners, drinks in hand, their attention focused. She assumed they were all either watching Casanova in hopes of learning something, or, more likely, waiting for him to make a move on their girlfriends just so they could have a reason to open a can of whup-ass and vent their jealousies.

As she glanced back at Mr. Gyration, he was now grinding against some blonde’s tight-jeaned derriere, his hands on her hips as though he was having sex with her. She noticed the bimbo’s expressive face, her lips parted and her eyes half-closed from the pleasures he was dishing out, and it was obvious the girl wished he’d get into her pants before the night was over.


Chloe sighed and looked away, tossing back a shot of Tequila, knowing the only way she was going to get ‘lucky’ tonight was if she awoke tomorrow morning without a horrendous hangover. At this point in the game, she didn’t look beyond her next shot, and let the burn of the alcohol soothe her troubled mind.

She was two drinks in and raised her hand for another.


The bartender, cool and confident, opened the broad-bottomed bottle of Patrón and leaned toward her, his weight casually resting on one elbow. “You sure ‘bout this, honey?”



Of course she was sure. She wouldn’t have ordered it to begin with had she been apprehensive about the drink’s potential. She knew well what the hard liquor could do, and since she was there for one thing and one thing only, she had high hopes it would soon help her to forget her worries and drown her stress.



She was an artist—a starving artist. If she didn’t find a way to sell more of her paintings, she was going to lose everything. Her shop. Her home. Her life.


Every little bit of her savings had gone toward the funding of her big dream. And for a while, things looked promising. Her paintings were moving out the door on a relatively regular basis. Her biggest clients had been young, wealthy doctors and lawyers who aimed to spruce up their bachelor penthouse pads with risqué nudity in an artistic form. On occasion, she had even locked in a few hairdressers who wanted the more tasteful pieces for their salons.


But those avenues had soon run dry.


Word of mouth had only gone so far, and with the changing economy, no one was willing to spend their hard-earned money on needless fine art. If she didn’t figure out a way to stimulate the public’s senses enough to open their wallets, she would have to give up her small independent business and kiss her entrepreneur life goodbye.


With a flip of her hand, she gestured for the concerned bartender to pour another shot, fixed on the goal of drinking away her problems.


“This may look like water, darlin’, and go down just as smooth, but it ain’t so easy on the body once it hits your head.” He looked her over, as if measuring her determination, and after a few seconds, he popped the cork-lined glass top. “What do I care, huh? As long as you’re paying…”


“You shouldn’t care at all, Jack, especially if I’m footing the bill. And make that two.”


Chloe looked to her left upon feeling something brush against her arm. To her surprise, it was Mr. Gyration, flipping a twenty on the bar.



Her stomach fluttered and she lost all sense of herself. Being on the receiving end of that cocky smile really did a number on her heart. As her breath staggered out of her, all she could do was smile in return.


She glanced at the crisp Jackson resting next to her shot glass, appreciative of his generosity. At least he was trying to be a gentleman, which was completely opposite of the impression he had made on her from the dance floor. She could only hope he’d continue to be that way, for she had no intention of tolerating anything less.


“You’re a pretty little thing,” he said, leaning against the bar. “A girl like you shouldn’t be anywhere alone. Especially here.”


“Easy, Don Juan,” Jack interrupted as he slammed another shot of Tequila on the slick lacquered wood of the bar. “She’s new.”


“I can see that.”


Chloe had to look away. His devilish smile was too much to handle. And even though a warning had slipped from the bartender’s lips, Mr. Gyration didn’t seem to care. He was staring at her with such hunger, she half expected him to growl like an animal if some other man-whore got too close.


In trying to rid the weight of his close presence, she reached for the alcohol, dying to douse the flaming heat of his dark, amber eyes from her memory. But his hand stopped her.


The abruptness of his actions caused the drink to slosh and splash her fingers. She barely noticed. All she could feel were his masculine fingers, curling gently around her tiny wrist and the warmth of his palm, flattened across her forearm, spreading like wildfire throughout her body. The shock of his touch nearly stopped her heart. What stunned her more, was watching him lift her hand and taking her wet finger into his mouth, sucking the small droplets of Tequila from it.

Her stomach dropped to her pelvis and a sweltering inferno raged from within her core. The only thing that kept her from incinerating right there on that barstool was the tingling sensation dispersing between her thighs. Though his tongue only swirled around her one knuckle, she could feel its torment on her whole body, a warmth spreading like fire between her legs.

She crossed them tightly, trying to get a grip on her emotions, trying to keep him from weaseling into her good sense. But the manner in which he withdrew her finger ever so slowly from his soft, full lips clouded her brain, his inviting brown eyes blurring everything around her.


No one existed, save him.


“Let’s dance first,” he suggested.



A little bit about the author

Renee Vincent is an author with a passionate interest in Irish and Norse history. She lives in the rolling hills of Kentucky with her husband and two children on a beautiful secluded farm of horses and hay fields.



How can my readers buy your book?


Readers can go to the publisher’s home page at http://www.turquoisemorningpress.com/.

My books are also available in both ebook and print formats at:

Amazon
Kindle
B&N
Nook
Sony
ARe
Smashwords
1Place For Romance
Digi Books
Books-A-Million
Joseph Beth
Coffee Time Romance
Diesel
Turquoise Morning Press
Book Strand
KOBO

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win big prizes from Renee. You can follow her on her blog tour. For a list of dates and places, go to her web site at http://www.pasttheprint.blogspot.com/ for more details.


You can find more information about Renee Vincent and my book, Silent Partner by visiting my website, http://www.reneevincent.com/.  or my blog at http://www.pasttheprint.blogspot.com/.