Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Interview with Author Samna Ghani


Samna Ghani
Canada

Good morning, Samna, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the place for art and authors. What have you written? 
Romance novels/ novelettes and Children’s stories

What is your favorite genre to write? 
Romance; Humour is what I aspire to do in the long-run.

Favorite food: 
Biryani

Tea or coffee? 
Tea

Pizza or ice cream? 
Ice cream

Wine or beer?
Coke J

Where would you like to visit?
Paris

Favorite musical artist.  Do you listen to music when you write?  What?
I like the oldies: Frank Sinatra, Engelbert Humperdinck, Elvis Presley, Paul Anka, Beatles. I also like U2 and Michael Jackson. Yes, I listen to music when I write. These days it’s the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack. Don’t ask me why J

What makes you laugh? 
More like who makes me laugh. P.G. Wodehouse


How old were you when you started writing? 
10

Describe your perfect evening: 
Nobody around. Music. A good book. A bag of potato chips J

Where do you get your inspiration?
From the books I read and dreams.

What do you do when you get a writer's block? 
My mentor Nicholas Boving says there is no such thing as a writer’s block. So now I don’t believe in the concept J

believe that, Samna.  I think  we've grown accustom to called a fear/exhaustion syndrome 'writer's block. Who is your favorite author? 
P.G. Wodehouse

Best book you ever read: 
There are too many but if I really have to choose it would be Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Last book you read:
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North. It is a terrific book.

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 
Something in Marketing and New Product Development.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 
My parents. I am what I am today because of their love, encouragement and upbringing. They always motivated me to read, write and have an independent soul. I am eternally grateful to them.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 
Henry Tudor VIII. He fascinates me. I want to ask him how he changed from an intelligent, athletic, energetic and handsome man to someone so cruel, mean, nasty and ugly.

I also find him fascination, and scary at the same time.What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? 
Don’t let anyone discourage you. Be open to criticism and use it to improve your skill but never give up on writing just because people don’t like your work. You can never please everyone and you shouldn’t even bother trying.

Soon to be released: 
Protest of Love (Book 5 of the Monday Mystery Society)

Book Blurb:

Mary Gardner is a workaholic with a passion for books. She is working on the biggest deal of her career. She is excited and happy but in walks Stefan Larsson. He is all fired up to stop it from going through and has put everything at risk. Will Mary be able to stop him from destroying everything that matters to her? And if she does, what will she lose in the process?

Book Excerpt:

“Found what you’re looking for?” Mary looked up with a start. Stefan stood there; cross legged, casually leaning against the wall.

“So the real-estate industry and the pharmaceutical industry. Is there anyone you like?” she asked bitterly.

He slowly walked toward her, his eyes locked on hers.

“I like you,” he said as he came around and took the paper from her hand.

“If this is what you do to people you like, I feel sorry for those you don’t.” The office space suddenly seemed smaller to her. Nobody knew she was here. She didn’t think Stefan would hurt her, but she had been snooping around. He had every right to be angry. She wondered what he planned to do.

“I’m impressed. You don’t seem like the breaking and entering type.” Mary was not short, but Stefan towered over her. Her pulse started to race. She took a step back but stumbled on the chair. Stefan grabbed her by the waist to prevent her from losing her balance.

“You seem kind of distracted Mary,” Stefan said as his eyes roamed over her face and rested on her lips.

Mary flushed. She realized his arms were still around her. 

“Keep your hands off me, Mr. Larsson,” she said.

“You know, all this Sir and Mr. Larsson …it’s really not doing it for me.” Stefan flashed his gorgeous smile with that tilt of his head.

“Maybe because I have no desire to do it for you Mr. Larsson.” Mary glared at him and walked out of his office.

Short Bio: 
Samna Ghani is a romance novelist. She works as the Regional Editor at Healthmanagement.org and is a published author with Books To Go Now and Laurus Publishing. Samna is the Co-Founder and an active member of the Mississauga Writers Group, Canada. Her books include All Aboard, ‘Tis But a Dream, One of Those Days, Valentine in Love and Just like Christmas. Her children’s stories include The Shoe, the Necklace and the Giant and The Tooth Fairy Goes to School. She is currently working on two romance stories “Protest of Love” and “The Mirror of Love”. They will be released during the summer of 2015.

Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/SamnaG.Khan
https://twitter.com/SamnaGhani
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/samna-ghani/23/b19/87a
https://www.goodreads.com/SamnaGhani

https://www.goodreads.com/SamnaGhani

Come back and see us again, Samna. We at Vision and Verse wish you continued success in all your writing endeavors.
Hugs,
Carol



Monday, March 30, 2015

Unforgettable Kiss by Angela Ford


Angela Ford originates from Nova Scotia... Canada's Ocean Playground! Her love of the ocean and sunsets are always in her heart and give her inspiration. Her love for words keeps her turning the page. She is never without a book, whether she’s reading or writing. Now residing in Ontario, Angela works in Finance – numbers by daywords by night. Her dedication to volunteer and involvement with cyber safety seminars gave her an Award of Distinction and sparked the idea for her first book Closure – suspense with a dash of romance that hit the best- selling Action/Adventure and Women’s Fiction. Angela continued this FBI suspense with Forbidden  and will deliver the final of the series in 2015. She also writes contemporary romance, sometimes sweet…sometimes spicy and sometimes with a dash of suspense. Unforgettable Kiss  delivers a spicy romance with a dash of suspense. Blind Tasting of The Love List series and The Christmas Wreath of the Forever Christmas series are sweet reads. 2015 kicked off with a new Romantic Suspense Surrender .

Between two jobs, being a mom with a home always filled with young adults and rather interesting stories; she is lucky to have one very patient and understanding man. But it is the furry family members who rule the house – a Puggle (Pug/Beagle), a new Chug puppy (Pug/Chihuahua) and two loveable cats. Every possible quiet moment she finds, she treasures and just writes about the moments to come. Angela is an avid reader of romance, a member of the RWA, KOD (Kiss of Death – Suspense Chapter) and Mississauga Writers Group. You can follow her at BTGN www.bookstogonow.com or visit her website/blog Romantic Escapes at http://www.angelafordauthor.com to connect with her on her social network sites. She loves to hear from her readers – they keep her smiling!
                   







Romantic Suspense – FBI gripping seriesFBI profiler Agent Jessica Resario is compelled to save the fourth victim from a sexual predator; only to put her own life into the hands of a serial killer.
CLOSURE - An elite FBI task force tracks online predators while they hunt their prey. A series of murders in Presario Heights has forced Special Agent Jessica Resario to follow her gut instinct to save the next victim. Supervisory Special Agent Tom Erickson removes her from the case. The only place to escape the danger is her family beach home. She hadn’t been there since her parents were murdered. The level of intensity climbs higher with her discovery of postcards marked ‘I Crave You’. Old ghosts, secrets, imminent threats and an inevitable attraction to Tom send her on an emotional roller coaster. If that wasn’t enough, she opens the door to a man she thought was dead. Tom is stabbed and his case files go missing…high emotions put Jess at the killer’s mercy. Amazon - Closure
Suddenly reality hit her. She let no one in. Brave at work, yet in her personal life, she didn’t have the courage to confess her true feelings to Tom. The murder of her parents ten years before kept her from loving, for fear of losing again. All she had was her work, and her work put her life into the hands of a serial killer. Closure on YouTube



FORBIDDEN Closure’s sequel - Supervisory Special Agent Jessica Resario thought she found Closure. She did not expect a Déjà vu.
In this sequel to Closure, Supervisory Special Agent Jessica Resario continues to deliver spine-chilling seminars to educate parents of lurking internet predators. A seminar one night introduces her to Mr. & Mrs. Bennett who are deeply concerned of their daughter Tiffany’s safety. Jess did not expect to feel Déjà vu when she unraveled the forbidding prospect that she has another Trevor Marshall on her hands.
Kyle Davidson’s personality fits a stalker through obsessive and addictive traits. A close call one night makes Tiffany realize he is a threat. Jess takes the law into her own hands to protect Tiffany and enters Kyle’s house illegally. He can’t be held with Jess’s illegal entry and without Tiffany pressing charges. Tiffany decides to accept her father’s offer to a private school in England. But the news of her parents’ murders brings her back. Jess races to save her, only to put her own life into the hands of a killer. Kyle now has both Jess and Tiffany. As the team searches for them, they find the past begins to creep up on them.  Amazon – Forbidden
Best Selling Author Angela Ford continues her story with Forbidden...the next in her FBI Series. Supervisory Special Agent Jessica Resario thought she found Closure...she didn't expect a Deja vu. Forbidden on YouTube



Contemporary Romance - Spicy or Sweet – Sometimes with a Dash of Suspense!
UNFORGETTABLE KISS - One kiss leaves Meghan questioning her decision to never love again. Meghan Eden swore she would never love again. The tragic death of her son, at the hands of her husband, destroyed her emotionally. She believed her successful Spa would fulfill her life until a business seminar takes her to a golf resort in Arizona. Meghan’s love of golf gets her paired up with a man she doesn’t know. The rest of the world does. Eric Nolan is the most sought after actor in Hollywood and the most eligible bachelor in the hearts of many women. Eric draws out hidden desires Meghan never imagined and leaves an unforgettable kiss etched in her memory. One kiss leaves her questioning her decision to never love again. An emotional struggle to love again cannot stop the passion that unravels. But perhaps Meghan’s ex can. Released on early parole without her knowledge and he’s had the time to develop an obsession. Eric races to save her. He reaches the door, only to hear the gun shot.

She placed her hand on his chest, the tempo of his pulse increased. She could feel herself tremble, getting weaker by the moment. Reality faded and paradise set in. He pulled her hips in closer to his. The passion she felt could defy analysis. Meghan told herself to respond not react. He pushed her shoulders against the wall, aggressive yet gentle with an incredible rhythm. His hips never left hers in the sudden movement. A sensational appetite stirred within her.
Sweet Contemporary Romance
BLIND TASTING - Dr. Rebecca Miller is devastated over her fiancé's affair...with her best friend. Country charm is the best medicine…along with a good friend and a bottle of wine. 
In the heart of wine country, four friends spice up their book club and create The Love List. Love is the last thing on Becca’s mind until she’s matched with Chase Tanner.
Chase discovers the love list and believes to be fooled. Can Becca convince him she really does love him?  Amazon – Blind Tasting
His lips were as soft as she imagined. The taste of his kiss made her wonder why she waited so long. She wanted to kiss him six months ago at the cafe. His fingers played with her hair and briefly touched the skin on her neck. He deepened the kiss. She followed his lead and moved in closer. She felt his heartbeat against hers.



THE CHRISTMAS WREATH – Will the magic of the holidays forever connect these two hearts?
Annie Dixon’s love for nature and her hometown of Glenville has her driven to find a way to keep the tree farm from outsiders. When the bank grants sixty days before the tree farm is listed for public sale, Annie and her friends devise a plan to finance the buy.
The death of Annie’s childhood friend brings Detective Ryder Harris back to town. Fifteen years before, Annie had a big crush for Ryder. A child in his eyes, he always called her ‘Sweet Annie’. Now he sees her differently. That familiar flutter is back in her heart. But she knows he’d never settle in Glenville. And is he really back for his sister’s funeral or is he in Glenville because of the recent disappearance of the town resort’s manager? Amazon – The Christmas Wreath

“Sweet Annie”
Annie’s hands stopped arranging the flowers at the altar. She froze. Only one person called her that. It had been fifteen years since she heard it. Annie slowly turned to see her biggest crush in school, though not one she admitted to. Not even to Carrie. He left Glenville when she turned fifteen, the day after he graduated high school. He was three years older and determined to leave ‘the small dull town’ he called it. Annie dried her tears before she turned.
“Ryder Harris”
Annie smiled at Carrie’s older brother. The smile in return almost made her fall back into the flowers she’d just arranged for the fourth time. I forgot what that smile used to do to me. And, I guess, still does.


Edge-of-your-seat Romantic Suspense!
SURRENDER – A sexy narcotics agent and a rich suburban widow are weaved into a tangled mess…one hot steamy night weaves them into tangled sheets.

Deceit, greed, secrets, and in the midst of all the turmoil, two strangers find an attraction. But one that puts them both in danger. FBI undercover Narcotics Agent Brett Donovan discovers a lead in Mexico that brings him back to New Jersey. His assignment is to protect Lauren Reynolds.
Brett lives for danger. Lauren lives for new shoes at Saks. An attempt on her life forces them on the fun. Will Brett be able to keep Lauren alive? Will desire be enough when they are from two different worlds? Or are they?  Amazon - Surrender


      “You need to relax. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re very uptight,” Brett informed her.
 “I have every right to be uptight. My husband just died. Someone wants me dead. You’re parading around naked. I’m stuck in a dingy motel room—with no air conditioning I might add.”
 “There’s only one way to shut you up.” Brett smiled and took her in his arms quickly and kissed her.
 Lauren took a step back and looked at him. She wasn’t sure whether to slap him or kiss him. An inevitable desire to kiss him answered for her. Her hands touched his chest. She felt his heart pound. He hadn’t yet dressed. She felt his arousal against her. His lips parted. His fresh-showered scent drove her senses wild. Nothing else mattered at this moment. Desire overcame her as she met his inviting kiss. His lips brushed against hers as the thought of danger left her thoughts. The fact she’d just buried her husband no longer registered. She opened her mouth to deepen his kiss and the outside world disappeared. She stepped back toward the bed. He followed her lead without letting go of the kiss. A tangled mess led to tangled sheets as they devoured every inch of each other’s bodies.

                                                                                                                        Angela Ford
                                                                                                           angelafordauthor@gmail.com



Friday, March 27, 2015

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Excerpt from THE BASLICATO



Excerpt from The Baslicato:

"Mr. Maxwell, hello, I'm your doctor, Dr. Brook Wilson. Your father called me in as your specialist.”  He stirred.  He opened his eyes and gave her the most beautiful smile she had ever seen in her life.  It was heart stopping.  And those eyes!  And just where have YOU been all my life, she thought to herself, surprised by her own reaction to him.

“Hello, my love, I am so glad you’re here.  I’ve been calling you.  Did you hear me?”  He reached for her and pulling up toward her, hugged her middle tightly, burying his head in her breasts, and leaving her momentarily stunned.  “Oh, my head hurts.  Nothing makes any sense.  What happened to me, do you know?  Did they tell you anything?  They won’t tell me a damn thing.  They just tell me to rest,” he said.  She hugged him back just enough to hit the button on the other side of his bed.  Her two assistants came in and pulled him off of her.

“Nicole, love, what’s the matter?  What’s wrong?”

“Mr. Maxwell, listen to me carefully.  I am afraid you have me confused with someone else.  I am your new doctor, Dr. Brook Wilson.  Now, are you going behave and keep your hands to yourself or do I need to restrain you?”  He looked at her and blinked.  He became very agitated.
“Nicole?  Keep my hands to my…  What’s the meaning of this?  You know me!  You know who I am.  Richard. Richard MacKenzie, your husband, not some… Mr. Maxwell.  And you are my wife, Nicole,” he said unwaveringly.  He paused and thought a moment and began to doubt himself.  “Oh, what’s the matter with me? Nicole!  Why don’t you know me?  My God, will this bloody nightmare never end?”  

     He held his head with both hands, visibly shaken.  She very gently injected him with something to calm him down, to make him sleep a little, and give her some time to figure out what was going on here.  She didn’t let him see the needle.  Somehow she knew he hated needles.