Interview With Kelly Moran, Author of The Drake House

I’m delighted to welcome fellow Wild Rose Press author Kelly Moran here today for an interview and a look at her new paranormal romantic suspense, The Drake House. Don’t forget to comment and leave your email address for a chance to win in her giveaway!

Tell us a little about your current release: The Drake House

Funny story. One night, a few years back, my husband, sister-in-law, friend, and I went to this secluded abandoned house. We did this on occasion–visited “haunted” locations. The house was not visible from the road, and was surrounded by dense woods. We’re all walking down this gravel path when I stop. Just stop. Like I can’t walk any farther. In a blink, the flashlight flies from my hand and across the path. A voice whispered in my ear, but it was in another language, so I don’t know what it said. Plus, everyone else was three steps ahead of me, so no one human whispered the words. Needless to say we booked it outta there. But this event inspired The Drake House.

Blurb:

In her dreams, a ghost demands to be heard…

Once plagued by mysterious nightmares, Trisha Eaton always chalked them up to childish nuisances–until they return with a vengeance. Something about the Drake house next door haunts her, and now her night terrors and sleepwalking seem to be luring her to something dark. After a series of strange events, Trisha turns to Nick Mackey. As the new deputy in town, Nick wants to forget his traumatic past. His undeniable attraction for Trisha has him wondering if a shot at a normal life is possible. But Trisha has somehow struck a nerve in their small, superstitious town, and a long-buried secret threatens to surface again. A secret that someone will kill to keep veiled. Answers only lead to more questions in a case where nothing makes sense, but one chilling fact remains…some nightmares are all too real.

What are you working on now? Do you have any releases scheduled for this year?

I just contracted a quirky contemporary romance called: The Dysfunctional Test (You are cordially challenged to a test of true love). No release date yet. And I’m querying a serious contemporary romance called: The Weight of Weeping (Second chances aren’t meant to erase the past, but meant to ultimately forgive). My site or Facebook Page will keep readers posted.

What are your writing goals for this year?

My main goal is to get the two books I finished contracted. I’m currently working on a quirky contemporary titled: Ghost of a Chance, which I need to finish. I’m debating whether I want to make that book part of a series. It’s about a team of ghost hunters.

How do you come up with ideas?

They come from everywhere. Books. TV. Music. My friends. I have 20 something books in my head right now.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

I can be whoever I want, wherever I want. Plus, bossing characters around is empowering. LOL.

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, character, or…?

I typically know the beginning or ending, or a character, sometimes just a great line. It goes from there. I do a tentative timeline and just type.

What is the best thing about being an author?

Working in pajamas, drinking coffee, with no one bothering me.

What is your favorite scene from this story and why?

The ending. It combines crazy love, ghosts, and capturing/revealing the murderer. Vindication.

How do you balance writing and everyday life?

I take a lot of psych meds, drink a lot of coffee, and never sleep. Oh, you were serious? Um… Eh, schedule? Yes, I just stick to a schedule.

These are few of my favorite things:

1. Coffee

2. Coffee and chocolate

3. Coffee and friends

Excerpt:

Her voice was inviting when she wasn’t mad at him. Like hot cocoa on a frigid day.

“You should smile more often,” he claimed quietly, glancing ahead at the orchard approaching.

She halted abruptly and tilted her head as if contemplating how to respond. “I smile all the time,” she said. No hint of irritation now.

Clearing his throat, he said, “I meant at me. You should smile like that more often at me.” He couldn’t believe he said it. There was a very long awkward silence as she studied him, brown eyes widened. Talk about feeling like an idiot.    Finally, she let out a laugh, smooth and rich from someone so small. She wove her arm through his affectionately like he’d seen her do with others and kept walking. “Give me a reason to smile and I just might.”

“I’ll take it into consideration,” he mumbled. He already had. From the first moment he walked into her house tonight, he’d been considering her. Before, really, but why argue semantics.

Bio:

Kelly’s been known to say that she gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her, and there’s always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself.

She began her writing career in the Indie market, becoming the recipient of an Editor’s Choice Award, a Finalist in the 2008 Best Book Awards, and a Finalist in the 2009 Indie Excellence Awards before moving into traditional publishing. Her books not only have honors from the top review sites, but from NY Times bestsellers too. She is a respected reviewer and a Romance Writers of America member.

Kelly’s interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don’t tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, Darren, three sons, Logan, Evan, & Ethan, and her black lab, Willow. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well.

You can find Kelly at:

Website: www.authorkellymoran.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorkellymoran

Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorkmoran

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/authorkellymoran

You can buy The Drake House at:

The Wild Rose Press

Amazon.com

Kelly’s giveaway: I’ll give away one free eBook to a commenter. Good luck! And thanks for the interest!