I’d like to welcome my guest today Rebecca Royce. As a teenager, Rebecca would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.
Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.
She’s in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She’s been told she’s a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you’ll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.
In Rebecca Royce’s world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.
1. Give us an elevator pitch for your story, Love Beyond Loyalty
Okay, I’m so excited to tell you about my new story! I think you’re going to love it. It’s the third book in a series called The Outsiders and in this book, one of the characters who has been walking the line between good and bad finally makes a decision. The war becomes intense and the romance is hot. Interested?
(Did I do that right? LOL. Never done an elevator pitch before)
2. Your hero isn’t keen on following rules. Are you a rule follower?
I am. I really get nervous and upset if I think I’ve done something wrong. It is a rare day that I become a rebel.
3. Your heroine can communicate with animals. What made you decide on this ability for your heroine?
I always wish I could talk to my pets. Honestly. And, to a certain extent, the characters tell me about themselves, not the other way around.
4. What characteristics do you think are important for a hero to possess and why?
Strength, loyalty, honor. A strong set of shoulders and a big heart.
5. Why do you write romance?
I love happy endings.
6. What is the best advice you’ve ever received as a writer?
Treat it like your job. Work at it, keep improving.
7. What are you working on right now?
I am writing the third book in my Young Adult series.
And now, a question for you from Rebecca – What is one supernatural creature you don’t think has been used enough as a romance hero?
CONTEST: Rebecca is giving away a $50 Amazon gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during her tour. All you need to do to enter the draw is comment on this post. To increase your chances of winning the gift certificate follow the rest of Rebecca Royce’s Love Beyond Loyalty tour.
Blurb:
Gabriel Ward has no problem with the fact that he’s an Outsider. Hell, he’s always known he was different. What he takes issue with is the idea he has to follow any destiny at all. He’s taken care of himself-and others-since birth. There’s no way he has to start following rules now.
Loraine Peacock can speak to animals. Other than that she thinks she’s just a regular woman making her way in the world. She figures its not that weird. Many people have unusual abilities.
But when Gabriel and Loraine are forced together by a destiny he denies and she is ignorant of, they will both finally have to accept their Outsider legacy and help the others in their quest to defeat the ultimate evil—a demon bent on world destruction. That is, if they can both survive to find their way to the most important part of their destiny: love.
Excerpt:
“Are you going to tell me what happened to you? You just stood there and let that wave slam into you. I thought you were dead but Futon knew you were alive.”
Futon? He regarded the dog. A medium sized border collie with black spots stared back at him. His heart sped up. He‘d heard that name for a dog before. In fact, it was the same damn dog.
“I know you.” He pointed at the creature. “But the last time I saw you was with an old woman on Magazine Street in New Orleans.”
Gabriel had been working for a shady lingerie storeowner on the bad side of Magazine Street at the time. Trying to find out what Sebastian wanted with the man, he would later uncover that the demon had employed Trent, the owner, to kill virgins by bleeding them to death. Gabriel still didn‘t fully understand how it benefited Sebastian and he wasn‘t sure he ever would. On his second day, he‘d been hassled by an old woman on the street who‘d told him Sebastian was in New Jersey and that he needed to hurry up and get there.
She‘d spoken of fate and a lot of mumbo-jumbo he hadn‘t understood. It had turned out that she was right and he‘d high-tailed it off to New Jersey to help stop Sebastian‘s assault on the Outsiders. The woman had been with Futon.
The woman shook her head. “There are lots of border collies around this area. You must have seen a different one because Futon never leaves me.”
Purchase Love Beyond Loyalty
February 24th, 2012 at 1:22 am · Link
I’ve never heard the term ‘elevator pitch’ before. I’ll buy after that.
I’m liking the ‘strong set of shoulders’ in your characteristics for a hero.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
February 24th, 2012 at 1:59 am · Link
Loved the elevator pitch! Definitely made me interested to read the blurb!
Thank you Rebecca and Shelley!
February 24th, 2012 at 2:02 am · Link
Hi Rebecca and Hello Shelley,
The excerpt is intriguing and Love Beyond Loyalty sounds wonderful.
Thank you Shelley for introducing us to Rebecca!
February 24th, 2012 at 2:25 am · Link
Nice blog post. What supernatural being been used enough? That’s a good one. Has anyone ever used a dolphin? A yeti? Bigfoot? LOL. It would explain why they’re never seen because they shift into human form.
I’m just on the last draft of a shifter story with dragons. I know they’re not rare in fiction
February 24th, 2012 at 4:40 am · Link
Thank you for hosting Rebecca today!
February 24th, 2012 at 5:49 am · Link
I tried to think of one, but couldn’t. I even tried thinking of a flying changeling, but ….sorry. I really tried.
February 24th, 2012 at 6:08 am · Link
There are so many that have been used. How about some sort of insect or perhaps a giraffe shifter? Thanks for sharing an excerpt. I do so want to read more.
debby236 at gmail dot com
February 24th, 2012 at 6:19 am · Link
I’m guessing that a peacock hasn’t been used enough, though the reference probably has :)
Good luck with your book!
February 24th, 2012 at 8:23 am · Link
The animal communication idea is intriguing! I hope you sell a lot of copies!
February 24th, 2012 at 9:31 am · Link
I haven’ t seen a turtle
February 24th, 2012 at 10:04 am · Link
A supernatural squirrel. Hey, you asked. :)
February 24th, 2012 at 10:44 am · Link
I personally can’t come up with anything original either. I suppose if you’re looking for ideas, you could always rewatch Buffy. There are lots of interesting supernatural beings in that program.
Interesting interview. I like the term ‘elevator pitch’…short ride and to the point!
Have a great weekend Rebecca and see you again on Monday for the last week of your tour.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:14 am · Link
I’m so new to reading romance that I don’t know all of the supernatural figures that have been used. There have certainly been a lot of angels, vampires, were, shifters, aliens, even mermaids/mermen! It’s wild! I’m sure Amazonian women have been done, but I haven’t read anything. I can see a series.
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
February 24th, 2012 at 11:18 am · Link
Loved this blog post. I think there are several supernatural beings that haven’t been used as much as they could have been including Sasquatch or The Lock Ness Monster. I also wouldn’t mind seeing a Chimera or Kelpie in more stories also.
Sorry, it was hard to pick just one…lol
February 24th, 2012 at 1:32 pm · Link
I say hamster…LOL…Omg That is just funny…
Hero hamster…
February 24th, 2012 at 1:57 pm · Link
What about gryphons or a sphinx?
Vampires and werewolves are used pretty often but not some of the more exotic mythological creatures….a leviathan perhaps?
February 24th, 2012 at 4:47 pm · Link
I also love a hero with a big heart. Deb P
r.d1@myfairpoint.net
February 24th, 2012 at 8:05 pm · Link
A spirit…… Someone that has lived, and now is a spirit. Buttttttttt…………
He is human now during the day, at night he reverts to a spirit. Hm. Well you never know. :)
February 24th, 2012 at 9:37 pm · Link
I watched Panda Kungfu and I just thought I have never heard of a panda shifter! He was a hero in the picture but not at all macho so I don’t know if he will do well in a book among all those alphas! :o)
February 25th, 2012 at 1:33 am · Link
Thanks for visiting, Rebecca. I think I’d like to read more dragon shifters.
February 25th, 2012 at 2:09 pm · Link
I would like to see a koala shifter, they just look really cute! As to mysthical creatures, well what about brownies or ghosts, zombies those are usually unsexy or anti-heros…one could change that?
gardemarinatgmxdotde
February 25th, 2012 at 7:49 pm · Link
This sounds like a great read. Wishing you many sales.
Hello, Shelley:)
February 26th, 2012 at 5:53 am · Link
I love a hero you can depend on.
Well, they are used sometimes but dragons and dragon shifter cannot be used to often ;)
anas-karina(AT)mail(DOT)ru
February 26th, 2012 at 6:06 pm · Link
Thank you so much for having me. Great ideas everyone. A hamster. LOL