Welcome author Elysa Hendricks

Happy today to introduce you to a new author for me, Elysa Hendricks, a self-described author of multiple genres. Listen carefully to how she caught the writing bug-a tale similar to mine. Out of sad circumstances miracles happen. Sometimes we have to be reduced to the person we are in the wee small hours of the morning, where no one else is near, before we get in touch with that muse, that voice inside us that won't be denied. Welcome to my place, Elyssa. So glad you are here with me today.

What genres do you write and why? Anything interesting about how you got started? 

I write in a variety of romance sub-genres - contemporary, western historical, fantasy and sci-fi. I let "the story" decide which sub-genre it needs to be in.

You must meet my friend and fellow western historical writer, Arletta Dawdy. Tell me more about your journey.

I started writing one lonely Christmas Eve. My sister-in-law passed away early that morning. My husband, his mother and younger sister, as well as our older son, took the train to Phoenix to attend the funeral. We postponed celebrating Christmas and I remained at home with our younger son. That night, after putting him to bed, I sat down at my typewriter (yes, I began writing long before computers were common) and started writing what I thought was going to be a short contemporary romance. It turned out to be about a winged, telepathic alien who stows away aboard a passing space ship. That book is hidden under my bed guarded by killer dust bunnies. Maybe someday I'll resurrect and rewrite it. Maybe.

LOL. I think every writer has a few of those. One question I have is, do the bunnies read? I digress... Do you like writing in series, or single?

I enjoy writing both, but once I've created a fictional world it's fun to revisit it, so I have several books that are linked together.  My western historical romances THIS HEART FOR HIRE and HER WILD TEXAS HEART are companion books about a brother and sister surviving in the old west. My sci-fi romances STAR CRASH   and STAR RAIDERS   are both set in the same futuristic universe, a combination of Star Trek/Star Wars and Planet of the Apes/Pirates of the Carribean. I also have a series of alternative universe fantasy romances published by ImaJinn Books that are all linked together:

GEMINI MOON 

CRYSTAL MOON

SHADOW MOON

FORBIDDEN MOON 

Wow. You are prolific. Did you get “the call” or did you get the call to “go Indie?"

My first sale to a traditional publishing house came via email, so I've never gotten "the call." (Editor's note: LOL) I've just recently jumped into the self-publishing pond (ocean) with several books that I've gotten my rights back on, as well as some new titles. I have a traditionally published book DARK STAR DAWNING is coming out with ImaJinn Books in 2013. Because I want to have my cake and eat it too, I intend to pursue both traditional publishing and indie publishing.

Very savvy of you. A lot of traditionally published authors are doing the same. Many with great success. Who is your favorite character you've created? Why?

Since each character I create reflects a small part (good and bad) of me, it's hard to pick a favorite. I suppose if I had to choose the one that reflects me the closest I'd say Brandon Alexander Davis, the slightly neurotic hero of THE SWORD AND THE PEN. 

Do you find it easier to write the bad boys or the good boys? I'm assuming both are heroic, but which ones are more fun to write?

While bad boys are more fun to read and sometimes to write, they're definitely NOT easy to write. Writing bad boys is nearly as hard as living with one in "real" life. They're strong, opinionated, pushy, arrogant and always think they know better than the woman (or author) in their lives.

I find it kind of sexy when they try to have their way with me. What about the heroines? Do you find it easiest to write the bad girls or the good girls?

I'm of the opinion that there are no "bad girls" just girls who haven't found the right man yet, but both are tough to write.

If you could have a date with one of your characters, which one would it be and why? Where would you go?

I'm a one-man woman who has been married to the love of her life for over forty years, so I'm not going to step out on him with anyone, not even a fictional character. Besides, if I even tried, the woman in that character's life would get pissed at me and some of those ladies are really, really tough.

If you could go to a desert island with two companions, who would you bring? What would you do there? What would you bring if you could bring anything?

I'd have to take my husband/best friend, and Surviorman, Less Stroud. I think I'd bring along a portable generator that runs on sea water. Need to have electricity for light, heat and running hot and cold water. I'll leave it to your imagination as to what I'd be doing.

Love it! I have such an active imagination, too. Pretend you have just sold your 100,000th copy of one of your books. What will you do to celebrate?

Since I celebrate each time I sell one book, I probably wouldn't do much different when I reach 100,000. Besides, I'm afraid by the time it happens the only thing I'll be capable of doing in celebration is sipping my Ensure through a straw.

LOL, but you never can tell, right? Tell us something about you that most people wouldn't know or guess about you?

My life is pretty much an open book. Basically boring and bland. No secrets. No skeletons. I'm 5'6" tall. I have curly hair and brown eyes. I'm an author, a wife, and a  mother. Everything else is subject to change without notice. If you want to know more check out my web site  or Like my Facebook page.  

Who are your favorite authors/books?

I've been reading for a long, long, long time, so my list of favorite authors and books is extensive. Here are just a few of the authors whose books are on my keeper shelf: Kathleen Woodiwiss, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Karen Robards, Arthur C Clarke, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov.

Some of my faves in there too. Especially Kathleen Woodiwiss. What are you working on now?

I have several projects actively in the works. TANGO IN PARADISE is a contemporary adventure romance featuring an idealistic schoolteacher and a mercenary caught in the middle of a South American revolution. THE NINE LIVES OF THOMAS CASH RILEY is a humorous contemporary fantasy romance that features a matchmaking cat. I'm also working on another sci-fi romance in my Star Chronicles series. And I have about a dozen other stories on simmer in the back of my mind just waiting to be written.

As a Thank You to everyone who stopped by today I'd like to offer you a FREE ebook - your choice of one of the following titles from Smashwords:

COUNTERFEIT LOVE (Small town romance)

THE BABY RACE (Small town romance)

THIS HEART FOR HIRE (Western Historical Romance)

HER WILD TEXAS HEART (Western Historical Romance)

Just drop me an email at: elysa@elysahendricks.com and let me know which title you'd like and I'll send you the Smashwords link and Coupon Code to download that title for FREE!

Excerpt:

THE SWORD AND THE PEN

Contemporary Fantasy

Blurb:

It was time. After penning ten popular sword-and-sorcery novels, Brandon Alexander Davis was ready to move on. Ready to stop hiding in his fictional world. Ready to start living a real life. There was just one problem: as he plotted the noble death of Serilda D'Lar, his fictional creation, complete with mile-long sword, skimpy leather outfit and badass attitude, appeared in his study.

Was she nothing more than a crazy fan, or had Brandon finally cracked?

This warrior woman whom he knew so well, so strong yet vulnerable, was both fantasy and reality. She was an invitation to rediscover all he once knew--that life is an incredible, magical journey and, for love, any man can be a hero.

EXCERPT:

She poked him in the arm with the tip of her sword.

"Ow!" Brandon scooted back, nearly under his desk.

"Warrior? Priest? Sorcerer?" She crouched down to rest on her heels, and stared at him. The position put her full breasts nearly in his face. "Definitely not a warrior." She pinched his arm. "You have muscle, but not enough to wield a sword in battle. No courage, either. Priest? Unlikely. They don't fear the sword. Only their god makes them cower.  Wizard? Perhaps, but not one of any power, or else I'd be at your feet. So…you're the wizard's assistant most likely." As if satisfied with her conclusion, she rose to her feet.

"Get up. I'll not harm you. I wish to speak to your master. He and I have business to discuss."

Brandon eyed the woman warily. Though her speech and clothing were odd, she sounded and looked extremely familiar. Why? Was she a crazy fan he'd somehow communicated with before?

To be honest, she bore a striking resemblance to Serilda, if shorter. She was five feet seven or eight inches, rather than six feet, and she was less buxom and had softer features than the character he'd ultimately developed.

Despite the trampy clothing and hard scowl, she was attractive. Short reddish blonde curls framed an elfin face. Dark lashes fringed large, cat-like green eyes. Sun-kissed skin covered high cheekbones, and her lips, though currently set in a hard line, were full and red.

"I said get up!" She grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet.

He was surprised that, when he stood, he topped her by a good six inches and probably outweighed her by sixty pounds. That size difference gave him a bit of confidence, but the nasty-looking sword she held with such self-assurance negated it. One could never trust the actions of a crazy person.

"Who are you?" She looked him up and down then seemed to dismiss him.

"Brandon Alexander Davis. This is my home."

Unimpressed, she laughed. "Brandon? What kind of name is that? Bran is what I eat to ease my bowels."

Heat crept up Brandon's neck. "Who the hell are you? And what are you doing here in that ridiculous costume?"

"Who I am and" -- two spots of color stained her cheeks -- "what I wear is a matter I will discuss with your master. Where is he? Has he run to hide from me? It will do him no good. I'm determined to find him and solve this."

"I don't have a master. I live here alone." Damn! Why had he told her that? He eased back from the lunatic toward the phone. Could he wrest the sword away from her before then?

His size would be an advantage, but even standing at ease, the woman radiated strength and skill. The odds seemed against him. To win he'd have to hit her-- hard-- and he doubted he could bring himself to do so. The lessons of chivalry his grandmother had taught were too deeply ingrained. In that way, he and Donoval were of one mind. No matter how greatly provoked, men didn't hit women.

Although, the thought of wrestling with this woman was appealing.

"No master? Do not lie to me." The lunatic's fingers flexed around the hilt of her sword.

"Why would I lie?" he snapped. "It's obvious your beef is with someone else. If I knew who and where he was, why would I protect him?"

"Because you're a coward. A powerful sorcerer inspires fear if not loyalty in his minions. But you should fear me more than him," she warned.

"There is no him! I'm the only one here. And I'm not a coward." Being called one triggered something inside him. Having phobias about crowds, insects and small furry animals didn't make him a coward. Not really.

She gave him a thoughtful look. "Is it possible? Are you the one?"

"The one what?"

She ignored his question and studied him. Her intense perusal made him squirm.

"Why didn't I see the resemblance?" she murmured.

"What resemblance?" He didn't like the turn of this conversation. Come to think of it, he hadn't liked the original direction, either.

"To Donoval. You are him-- in form at least." A bit of fear crossed her features, though anger quickly erased it. "I'm loath to believe it, but you are the wizard. Did you construct me so you could play God in my world? Does it give you pleasure to toy with me?"

"What the hell are you talking about? Play God? I'm just a writer trying to make a living. I write stories for people to read and enjoy. It's just entertainment."

Thank you so much Elysa. Commenters, please leave a coded email address in your comments for a chance to win the freebies. 

I've really enjoyed having you here today. Always fun to find another new writer (to me) and another one who is so prolific. Good luck with your continued success!