Romance author N. J. Walters is with me this morning!

Advisory: This article, blurbs, excerpts and/or cover art may contain adult matter that may be objectionable to some.

N. J. Walters is a highly popular, multipublished author whose name is well known in E-Publishing and on the print shelves, as well.  Welcome, N.J.! Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is N.J. Walters and I am a romance writer. I’ve published with Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing and Pocket Books. I’m happily married to my best friend and biggest supporter. It was my husband who encouraged me to write and submit my work. He continues to be my first reader for everything I write. I gave up my full-time job back in 2005 to pursue writing and, so far, I’ve been very lucky. I hope to continue writing full-time. After all, what other job allows you to go to work in your sweat pants and slippers.

How wonderful! Your hubby sounds like a man after my own heart! LOL! When did you first start writing Romance?

I wrote my first romance back in the mid-nineties—Discovering Dani. I quickly followed it up with The Way Home. (Both of them had different names then.) I tried to get them published, but didn’t have much success. I put them away and did really start writing again until late 2003, when I wrote Annabelle Lee, which would go on to be my first published book with Ellora’s Cave.

I was thrilled when, after extensive rewrites, Discovering Dani and The Way Home were published by Samhain Publishing and became the start of my popular Jamesville series. Because they were written much earlier in my career, they’re a bit different in style from the later books, but I still love them.

Do you remember the first Romance novel you read? Do you have a favorite that remains your guiding star?

The first romance book I read was Surrender by Amanda Quick. Until then, I’d mostly read the occasional historical novel and some popular fiction. Imagine my surprise when I realized the author also wrote under several other names, including Jayne Ann Krentz. From there, I discovered Harlequin/Silhouette books and my life was changed forever. My first Silhouette Intimate Moments book was Mackenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard. I quickly discovered the world of romance books and have dozens of favorite authors that I continue to read.

As for a favorite? That’s a tough one. I have all my Jayne Ann Krentz books (and all her various pen names) on my keeper shelf along with books by Linda Howard, Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, Rachel Lee, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward, and Sharon Sala to name a few.

How do you find ideas for your books? Real happenings? Dreams? A great imagination?

I find ideas everywhere. I’ve found them in magazines, books, television, and overheard snippets of conversation. Usually several ideas will come together to create something special. That’s what happened with Christina’s Tapestry. I’d wanted to write a ménage a trois book and had the character of Christina in mind for quite some time. Then, I came across a book on Medieval tapestries and the ideas started cooking. “What if?” I asked myself. What if this woman comes across a tapestry, but it’s magic and it takes her, not to Medieval Europe, but to an alternative world that is similar, but with several major difference—women are scarce and brothers must share one. From there the plot unfolded.

I’ve never had any dream inspired books. That would be cool. The idea for one of my stories—“A Love Eternal” in the Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV Anthology—just popped into my head when I was at the food court in the mall one day. I have no idea where it came from, but I’ve always been grateful for it. It remains one of my favorite stories to date.

Tell me a little about your new book. How did the inspiration for this work come to you?

My latest book is Sweet Charity, the final book in the Project Alpha trilogy, and is available from Ellora’s Cave. This book is set in a dark, futuristic world in which the elite class live inside the Gate— a high-tech shield that protects the enclosed city from the contaminated and lawless land outside. Adrian is an Alpha—a genetically enhanced assassin—thought dead by the people who created him. Living outside the Gate, he is the leader of the Resistance, living only to bring down the Gate and the people who sought to kill him. Charity Caruthers is the daughter of his most hated enemy. Passion explodes between them, ripping apart the foundations of both their lives. Loyalties are tested and trust pushed to the limits as the final confrontation is at hand. Some will die. Some will live. And Adrian and Charity’s fragile relationship could be the final casualty in this war of retribution and freedom.

This trilogy began as a spin-off from one of my Tapestries books, Threads of Destiny, which feature Tienan and Logan, the heroes of books 1 & 2 of the trilogy—Embracing Silence and Have Mercy. I knew I couldn’t leave their stories untold and the Project Alpha trilogy flowed from there.

Congratulations on your success as an author. How many books do you have in print (or e-pub) now? Do you have a favorite?

Thank you so much. I still have to pinch myself most days to believe I am a published author. Currently, I have 41 e-books and 20 print books available. As for a favorite, that’s a very tough question. I love them all for different reasons. But some books have been extra special.

Christina’s Tapestry was a short novel I wrote in a little over three weeks. The story just poured out of me. It is my best selling book to date and I thank all the readers who have embraced the Tapestries series. It was meant to be a stand-alone book, but quickly turned into a series (which happens with a lot of my books). There are four Tapestries books available with a new one, Embroidered Fantasies coming later in 2010.

“A Love Eternal”, which I mentioned earlier is a favorite. I cried while I wrote it and cried each time I revised and edited it. It’s a story which moved me deeply.

Stefan’s Salvation, part of the Dalakis Passion vampire series, is another special book. I love the way the two wounded characters come together and forge deep bonds. That also happens in The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke, book 4 of the Jamesville series. Two unlikely characters find one another and have to learn to trust amidst turmoil and suspicion.

That’s the long-winded answer. LOL But you asked.

What does your writing schedule look like? What's your best time of day to write? Are you a morning writer or a night owl? Do you have a “writer’s cave”? Where do you do your best work? Do you have any writing rituals that you follow? See, I can multitask, too! LOL!

I’m a morning writer. It’s when I’m at my peak. My mind is fresh and I haven’t been bogged down with the demands of the day. I try to write every weekday morning, but mostly manage about four days. I take Saturday off, but will sometimes write on Sunday morning as well. After lunch is when I tackle emails, groups, promotion, editing, and all the other things that go into having a writing career. I’m trying to pace myself better and to not always be working. It’s a hazard of working from home.

I have a desk and chair in the corner of my living room. A folding screen gives me two partial “walls”. It’s about a 4 X 6 space. It’s small, but it works for me. I dream of having an actual office someday. I need quiet when I write. I find music much too distracting. The only thing by my desk is a mug of water. It sits on the floor because my desktop is so small, there’s no room for it there. The only thing I do in this space is write. So, when I sit at my chair, my mind knows it’s time to get down to business.

Do you have another project in the works?

Too many projects and not enough time to work on them all. As I mentioned earlier, there is a new Tapestries book coming out this year. I’m very excited about that.

I’m currently working on the next book in my Legacy series with Samhain Publishing (Isaiah’s story). I had so much fun writing Alexandra’s Legacy, the first book in this werewolf/shapeshifter series, and am already deep into the follow up, which is currently untitled.

I’m also involved in a group project with three amazing authors—Nicole Austin, Ciana Stone and T.J. Michaels. Hearts of Fire is a series of paranormal books, being released by Ellora’s Cave, featuring four women who become friends in an orphanage when they are children. All the women are very special and have a nasty demon after them. Of course, there are rugged heroes to help the heroines win the day. We all wrote one book for the series and are working on book 5, the final book, together. That’s been a challenging experience, but a very rewarding one as well. My book, Seeking Charlotte will be out sometime soon. No release date yet. Book 1: Memory’s Eye by Ciana Stone is already out and Book 2: Shards of Ecstasy by T.J. Michaels is due out in early February. Book 4: Kenna’s Cowboy by Nicole Austin will also be out this year. We’re still finishing the final book.

Beyond that, I hope to have a couple of Quickies from Ellora’s Cave, which feature the remaining Courage brothers, who readers met in Tempting Tori. Plus, I want to write another Awakening Desires book or two. And…the list goes on.

Did you bring a blurb or excerpt?

Absolutely. I brought along the blurbs for Embracing Silence and Have Mercy since I told you about Sweet Charity. And I also thought I’d share an excerpt from Sweet Charity.

Embracing Silence

First in the Project Alpha series.

Earth 2133

Tienan is an Alpha—an assassin who has been genetically and computer enhanced. He has escaped from the lab that created him and the Ruling Council that controlled him. He is now outside the Gate—a high-tech shield that protects the enclosed city from the contaminated and lawless land outside. Tienan must constantly evade security forces sent to eliminate him, his only goal to destroy his former masters.

Silence is a tracker with the Resistance on the trail of a dangerous stranger. The hunter becomes the hunted and when Tienan kidnaps her, she thinks her life is over. But both captor and captive are enthralled with one another. Desire and need ignite each time they touch. Enemies become lovers.

Treachery and mistrust drive them apart. But nothing can diminish the sexual heat smoldering between them. With enemies all around, they must confront each other one final time. With time running out, sexual longing and trust battle with betrayal for supremacy.

Have Mercy

Second in the Project Alpha series.

Earth 2133

Logan is an Alpha—a genetically enhanced assassin—who has escaped from the lab that created him. He is now outside the Gate, a high-tech shield that protects the enclosed city from the contaminated and lawless land outside. Shot while evading security forces sent to eliminate him, Logan’s only goal is survival.

Mercy Dockins is a healer. Her world is shaken to its foundations when a stranger is brought to her near death. As she heals him, her body and soul respond to him, overwhelming her with sexual desire. With little more than a look and a touch, passion flares out of control, consuming them both.

But this stranger is dangerous to not only her well-being, but also to the safety of everyone she loves. And he has brought the security forces right to her door.

Sweet Charity
©2009 N.J. Walters
All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.
 

Charity stared at the large, imposing man standing in front of her. There was no doubt in her mind that he was the mysterious Adrian. She finally remembered where she’d heard his name before. It was two months before her husband’s death and she’d been eavesdropping on a conversation between him and her father. What had piqued her attention the most was that they seemed to be afraid of this man.

Adrian was the leader of the Resistance, her father’s biggest nemesis.

Most people inside the Gate didn’t know much about the Resistance. The Ruling Council and the General did everything they could to downplay the threat. They didn’t want the general populous thinking that they couldn’t handle things. That would only create unrest in the inner city. And they had their hands full in the outer city.

Members of the security force kept silent about their patrols. To do otherwise would bring death and destruction down on them and their families. Still, there were always rumors and rumblings of unrest. The Ruling Council quickly squashed those. Most folks went about their daily lives and kept their heads down and their noses out of government business. It was the safest way to live.

The man before her had chosen anything but a safe course in life. He was a living legend.

He was a tall man, a few inches over six feet, with incredibly wide shoulders and a lean, muscular body. The T-shirt he was wearing clung to his torso, outlining the rippling muscles beneath the fabric. His waist was lean, his legs long.

His blond hair was cut short in the back, but was slightly longer in the front. He studied her with cool, pale blue eyes, assessing her much as she was doing to him. His jaw was strong, his nose straight. Charity stared at his mouth. Adrian’s lips were full and managed to look soft, yet firm. She wondered what they’d feel like.

The thought startled her. How could she even think about touching a man, let alone having one touch her? Her only experience with sex had been with her husband and that had been cold at best, violent and demeaning at its worst. Still, there was no denying the light fluttering in her belly and it made her uneasy.

“Who are you?” Adrian’s voice was deep and full and very compelling. He didn’t raise it, and yet he commanded immediate respect.

She swallowed the lump of fear rising in her throat. She was so tired of being afraid. “Charity.” Her voice was a mere whisper, so she tried again. “Charity,” she repeated, this time with more force.

Adrian glanced toward the man who’d brought her. “I’ll take it from here, Derrick.”

Charity sensed the unease of the other man before he nodded. “If you’re sure.”

One corner of Adrian’s mouth quirked up. She couldn’t quite call it a smile, but it was close enough to have her wondering what he’d look like if he really smiled. He was already gorgeous. How would any woman resist him if he actually smiled?

“I think I can handle it.” Adrian prowled toward her and she took a step back. He was too big, too male, too powerful. In short, he was a man just like her father and husband. She shivered and locked her knees to keep from taking another step away. She’d come this far. There was no backing down.

Charity heard Derrick leave and close the door behind her, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Adrian. He was a large, sleek predator and she was very afraid that she was his prey.

Adrian circled her once before stopping behind her. She could feel his presence, the heat emanating from his large body. But more than that, she could sense the sheer power of the man. He was smart. He was tough. He was dangerous. And he was focused entirely on her.

Charity hunched her shoulders, an automatic response to the threat of having him behind her. She braced for an attack. But nothing happened. Her heart was racing, blood whooshing so fast in her ears she could barely hear above the din. Her skin was cold, clammy. The anticipation of being struck was almost as bad as the reality.

She jumped when his hand landed on her shoulder, whirled away and turned to face him. She watched him, trying to anticipate his next move.

He stared at her, his eyes narrowed. “Sit.” She swallowed hard as he motioned to a chair. “Please,” he added as an afterthought.

Her knees were shaky, so she decided it probably wasn’t a bad idea if she sat. Keeping him in her sights, she scooted past him. The chair was old and rickety, but it was better than nothing. She gripped the arms tight and lowered herself onto the seat.

Adrian prowled closer. He leaned his hip on the corner of his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. He was imposing without even trying. Her father postured a lot, surrounding himself with security police who were loyal to him, bullying others. But Adrian didn’t need any trappings. This was a man who was confident in himself and his abilities. He didn’t need a full complement of men around him in order to be dangerous. He was that all on his own.

Ooooh!  These sound fabulous!  Looks like I'm going shopping...

Quick Quiz:

Coffee or tea? Herbal tea.

Divinity or fudge? Definitely fudge. Preferably vanilla.

Arnold or Sly? Sly.

Dogs or cats? Dogs.

Spring or Autumn? Autumn. It’s my favorite time of year.

TV or Reading? Need you ask. Reading.

Diet or original? Neither. I love water. If I have to have a soft drink, it’s diet ginger ale.

Twilight or Potter? They’re both about the same to me.

Sunny or rainy? Sunny for sure.

Romance or mystery? Romance, although I do enjoy a romance with a good mystery.

Blond(e) or brunet(te)? Brunette.

Wow, N.J.!  Thanks so much for visiting, and thanks for all the wonderful excerpts! 

You're welcome, Fran. It's been fun!

Questions?  E-Mail Me...