Friday Author Spotlight Interview - Denise Wheatley

Interview

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

Los Angeles. I love all things Hollywood!

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

My characters are always sipping on some sort of fancy cocktail, but readers are always surprised to find out that I don’t drink alcohol. Never have.

How do you come up with names for your characters?

Usually when I think about a character’s traits, a name just pops into my head that’s fitting. When that doesn’t happen, I turn to the internet and search various websites.

Give a shout-out to a fellow author.

I’d like to shout out my fellow eXtasy Books author V.J. Allison. Not only is she an extremely talented writer, but she’s one of the most supportive authors I’ve met within the writing community.

What would the logline be for your book?

They bought men from a prison to fulfill their every need. What could possibly go wrong with such a simple little purchase?

What is your favorite word, and why?

Right now my favorite word is amazing. It’s got such a lovely ring to it, and is associated with positivity and success.

Describe your writing space.

If I’m not out and about writing in a shared workspace, I’m at home writing in bed or on my chaise lounge.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I have written ten books. My favorite is I WISH I NEVER MET YOU, because I was so free with my thoughts and words as I wrote. I allowed myself to pen whatever came to mind, which was a really liberating experience.

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book(s)?

I’m oftentimes surprised when my characters take over my plot. I don’t always stick to the original plot that I’d outlined in the beginning due to twists and turns my characters may unexpectedly take, and that occurrence always fascinates me.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

I love the heroine Devon Jacobs in my upcoming novel, SHE GETS WHAT SHE WANTS. Devon is so brave and fearless, and proves that when you cast your doubts aside and go for what you want in life, things have a way of falling right into place.

Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you

can share with your readers?

I’ll just say that my character runs into several unexpected situations that readers won’t see coming. I love a good plot twist.

Does one of your main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

My main character in I WISH I NEVER MET YOU holds a special place in my heart because she’s so open and honest. She’s not afraid to go after what she wants, even if it’s the wrong thing. She just swallows her pride and accepts the lesson. She also fails at love over and over again but somehow manages to dust herself off and keep on trying.

If one of your books was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?

I love Regina Hall, Zazie Beets, Trevante Rhodes, and Morris Chestnut.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?

I recently completed a book proposal for my upcoming contemporary romance series SHE GETS WHAT SHE WANTS, and I’m currently writing the sequel.

How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?

Right now I’m plotting out a romantic thriller about a woman in law enforcement who’s pursuing a serial killer.

What are you reading now?

I’m rereading Whacked by Jules Asner for inspiration.

What famous author do you wish would be your mentor?

Terry McMillan

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love studying true crime cases.

What is the best part of your day?

The middle of the night, which is usually when I hit my writing stride.

Would you rather be in a room full of snakes or a room full of spiders?

Spiders

What is your favorite word?

Amazing

What is your least favorite word?

Moist

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

There is something about the city of LA that turns me on creatively. I come up with great ideas and churn out my best work when I’m there.

What turns you off?

Insecurity and moodiness

What is your favorite curse word?

Shit

What sound or noise do you love?

A baby’s laughter

What sound or noise do you hate?

Loud music coming from my neighbors’ homes

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

A forensic scientist

What profession would you not like to do?

A mortician

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

You did well, my child. I’m proud of you.

~~~

Denise N. Wheatley is a lover of happily-ever-afters and the art of storytelling. She has written (and ghostwritten) numerous novels and novellas that run the romance gamut, from contemporary to paranormal, sweet to steamy. Denise strives to pen entertaining stories that embody matters of the heart, while creating characters who are strong, colorful and relatable.

She is an RWA member and received a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, the city where she was born and raised. When Denise is not sitting behind a computer, you can find her in a movie theater, on a tennis court, watching true crime television or chatting on social media.

Social Media Links

Writer’s Blog: https://www.denisenwheatley.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denise_wheatley_writer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/denisewheatley?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeniseNWheatley/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/denise-n-wheatley

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3118421.Denise_Wheatley

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KHBZ7E

eXtasy Book Author Page: https://www.extasybooks.com/denise-n-wheatley/

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Wednesday Words of Wisdom - You are a Radio so Tune into Universal Intelligence

You don’t attract into your life what you want. You don’t attract what you think about. You don’t attract what you feel. Desires, thoughts, and feelings are all important, but these are more effects than causes.

You attract what you’re signaling.

Think of yourself as a vibrational transmitter. You’re constantly sending out signals that tell the universe who you are in this moment. Those signals will either attract or repel other vibrational beings, events, and experiences.

You naturally attract that which is in harmony with your state of being, and you’ll repel that which is out of sync with your state.

If your energetic self-radiates wealth and abundance, your physical reality will reflect wealth and abundance for your physical being.

If your energetic transmits anger and frustration, your physical reality will again mirror the transmission.

Since the signals you’re sending out at any given moment tend to be fairly complex, your experience of physical reality will be equally complex.

Once you can accept that your vibrational self attracts compatible patterns, it becomes clear that if you want to experience something different in your life, you must somehow change the signals you’re putting out. ~ Unknown

~

I’ve been listening to and or reading a collection of books over the past few months. I’ve mentioned them before, several times.

You Are a Badass Series by Jen Sincero.

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

You are a Badass at Making Money

You are a Badass Everyday

First off, no I am not in the Sincero payroll, although if I was yay! I am repeatedly talking about these books because

A.) They are awesome.

B.) They are helping me create a more awesome life

C.) I want you to have an awesome life too

– No this is not a cult, although admittedly I worship Jen Sincero and have a gratefulness alter dedicated to her in my bedroom – just kidding about the altar, kinda.

Back to the words of wisdom. What these words are talking about is Universal Intelligence. And yes, you do know what this is. You have heard about it a million and one times.

Done unto others as you would have done to do

Reap what you sow

What goes around comes around

Give Love, get Love

You get the idea. If you are full of optimism, joy and gratefulness you will receive the same in return. Being optimistic, joyful and grateful in every moment, to the best of your ability (wait, my credit card just got hacked), opens you up to the possibilities and wonders of the world.

Wait, back up – yes, I heard the little voice in your head saying… oh goodness Amy is drinking the cool-aide.

I am going to try and put this as simply as possible.

We all want love, joy, hope, good fortune and options.

How do we get it?

Project joy, hope, good fortune and options.

Be joyful you have three screaming kids in the back of your mini-van at McDonalds. Because they are screaming, which in turn means they are happy, and comfortable in their world enough to feel free to express themselves. Have very healthy lungs and racing hearts determined they will get the toy surprise in the Happy Meal and brag to all their friends.

Have hope in the pouring rain that while making your car needing a good wash and the floors mopped due to all of the mud, the rain will provide the ground the nourishment it needs to bring about the greenery you love, the animals you watch on Instagram and the beautiful world we live in to thrive.

Be grateful in your good fortune. The generosity of others, the nod and smiles of those you pass. The child who opens the door as you walk into Little Caesars for Friday Pizza.

Think about your options, now and in the future. We live in a world of options – just go to Bath and Body Works, and a plethora of scents you can wear to match your awesomeness will deliciously overwhelm you. The universe is the bath and body works of Life!

You create your reality. Vibrate your power, your gratefulness, your badass awesome self (as Jen would say)

Make it awesome and don’t let anyone make you believe otherwise.  

The Badass Books – I picked up the first Badass Book because simply I have always wanted to be one. Now I am.

Love it.

Live it.

Own it.

Thanks so much, Jen!

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Teaser Tuesday - Stupid Car (Working Title)

Teaser Tuesdays I share a little excerpt of what I am currently working on ~ This week is Stupid Car (working title) ~

When Reese Clifton becomes stranded in small-town Georgia she never expects the man, the mystery and the danger awaiting.

~

Eyes open Jess Winters mentally checked everything was still attached and where it was supposed to be. He moved, his body protested, but he did it anyway. He was on his side, rather the truck was on its side, sitting in three feet of water. "Shit."

Jess looked to his right. His passenger hung by her seat-belt above him. Her eyes closed he couldn't tell if she was hurt. Grabbing for the CB mike, it fell apart and into the water. With no way to exit the door, he shifted and thrust his boot into the already cracked glass of the windshield. The safety glass shattered, and another kick finished it off. Jess moved to his passenger, he hesitated about moving her without knowing the extent of her injuries. Should he try to wake her?

She stirred and he breathed a small sigh of relief. "Miss, can you hear me? Miss..." Damn it, what the hell is her name? I suck at remembering people’s names. He saw his clipboard behind him and grabbed it. Reese. Reese Clifton. "Reese, can you hear me?" She shifted slightly and opened her eyes. At first there was nothing, then came the disorientation and fear.

"What happened?" She struggled against the seat belt and he instinctively put his hands over hers.

"Stop. Calm down, one thing at a time. Are you hurt?" Her eyes rose to meet his, clear and shiny, his chest tightened at the mirror before him.

"I don't think so. My head-- my head just hurts." Her hands shook beneath his and he knew it was a reaction to the trauma. He grasped them tightly, keeping her focus on him.

"I’m going to loosen your seat-belt. I want you to wrap your arm around my shoulder." She nodded doing as he stated while he worked the belt. It was stuck.

"What's wrong?" the evident panic in her voice irritated him, one little hiccup and she was already freaking out. "Is there a problem?"

"The belt is stuck," he grunted, tugging on it repeatedly.

"My purse."

He grumbled, women, "We can worry about..."

"No, there is a hunting knife in my purse. Maybe you could cut me out?" Jess stopped, for once there was a pleasant helpful surprise.

"Uh, okay, let me see if I can find it." His eyes scanned the immediate cab, he reached down into the water feeling around. "What does your purse look like?"
"Brown, handle, leather... it's a purse." He didn't respond, in fact, he suppressed a chuckle as he was expecting this detailed description down to the inlet on the side or the look of the tag. He kept his thoughts to himself continuing to search for the bag. His hand caught on something in the water and he pulled. The purse appeared and he dug into it. "Where is it? How can you find anything in here?"

"Just give me the damn thing." She took the bag out of his hand and after a moment retrieved the hunting knife. Handing it to him, he noticed she didn't even look at the remnants of her belongings, just zipped it up and dropped it on the ground in front of her. "Will that work?"

"Should, depends the last time it was sharpened." The blade was magnificent, serrated and curved, it was a paper thin but strong. He knew it could take his hand off with one swipe no problem.

"Two months ago, I know it has been a little while, but it hasn't been used so it should be fine... well that is not true exactly, I used it a few weeks ago to cut a hose to gerry-rig my fuel pump."

Jess took note of the comment, seemingly innocent but in fact very telling of her character. He began work on the thick belt and she waited silently. As the belt held her weight to the seat, he gave her fair warning when the belt came to its final strands. She braced for the release and when it came, she barely needed his assistance. "What now?"

"After you." He gestured to the broken-out windshield. She seemed to ponder how she was going to navigate the exit with a pencil skirt and heels, and he honestly was curious as well. Would she ask for help?

"Aw hell." He heard the ripping of fabric just before she climbed out the window. Using her arms, she lifted her body up and onto the exposed tire above her. Jess followed behind, seeing her working her way over to the muddy side of the ditch. He realized she'd removed her shoes and thrown them across the embankment. Next thing he knew he saw her lithe form in midair to get to the other side. She hit and rolled, exactly what he would have told her to do. Something you learned watching every action movie known to man. She wasn't a wimp he'd give her that. Jess once again followed her lead, landing on the ground just beside her. "My car!"

She rose, and he shifted in the direction she was facing. Her once intact car was upside down and smashed like a pancake. Her hand went through her disheveled hair and a pang of guilt curled in his stomach. "Now what?"

"Both of our phones are underwater, and the CB was shattered."

"What does that mean exactly?"

"It means we walk."

"Awesome."

* * * *

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