Welcome to A Passion for Romance! So great to have you here with
us.
Can you tell us a little about
yourself?
Thanks
for having me today! I work as a behavioral health nurse during the day, and
I’m a writer by night. I have two beautiful little girls, a wonderful husband,
love HBO (although I’m on boycott after True Blood *shakes fists angrily*), the
beach, and of course books!
APFR) Do real life events find their way into your
stories?
Hmm…I
would have to say that real life situations have inspired me and through me, my
writing.
APFR) Do you ever mimic family members or people
you know
when you choose characters?
Sure.
There are some strong characteristics I’ve ran across and implemented into some
of my own characters.
APFR) Do you find yourself going back to the same
inspiration for
each story or is it always something different?
A
mixture of things inspire me: music, a certain place, a certain time…Black
Atonement was interesting for me. While I planned this pair out, I hadn’t quite
planned on them having their own book. But a real-life situation occurred and
inspired me to write more about these characters and how happiness can somehow
rise up from the deepest despair.
APFR) When do you write? Early morning? During the day
sometime or all
day? After the kids go to bed?
Whenever
the opportunity presents itself. I try to balance out working a full time job,
having children and writing. It can be…interesting :)
APFR) How do you feel about marketing your book?
It’s
essential to market your book/s, otherwise, how will anyone know it’s out
there? With that said, I think it’s imperative to not overdo it and take a
humble approach to soliciting your novel. I love a blog hop, that’s a fun way
to meet other authors/bloggers/reviewers while showcasing yourself as a writer
and others. I’ve found that the author community is awesome. Sharing and giving
feedback, great advice, etc.
APFR) What social sites do you feel work best for
marketing?
Facebook
would have to be a huge outlet. Twitter works well for connecting with readers
and other writers. I also really like Goodreads.
APFR) Do you like to pitch stories to your
publisher or do you wait
until you have written the story and have a final
manuscript to turn in?
Oh, I
definitely wait until I have the completed proofed, formatted, and polished
manuscript before even thinking about submission!
APFR) Is there any other genre that you would love
to try writing? If so, what is it?
Over
the last year I’ve become fond of Dystopian. I think it would be interesting to
try dabbling in that genre.
APFR) Do you always/ever see yourself as the
heroine/hero when you write a story?
No. I
like to write them sure enough, but none of them have been a reflection of
myself.
APFR) Just for fun, I have a few personal
questions,
Favorite
5
1) Favorite Male Actor - Clark Gable
2) Favorite vehicle –Subaru
3) Favorite way to relax –Reading and drinking
a fresh cup of coffee J
4) Favorite ice cream –Ben and Jerry’s-Cherry
Garcia
5) Favorite outfit –I wear too much black, so
anything I guess in that color and preferably corduroy
And for
a bonus: If you could pick any place in
the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be? (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or
money needed)
I’ve
always been fascinated by New Zealand…so probably there :)
Where can
our readers find you??
Twitter:
@SashaHibbs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sasha-Hibbs/658779730814634?ref=hl
Website/blog: http://sashahibbs.blogspot.com/
Amazon
author page: http://www.amazon.com/Sasha-Hibbs/e/B00H13UK04/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18367540-black-amaranth
Is
there an upcoming or current release you would like
to share with us today and
where can we find it?
My
third novel, Black Atonement. I’m super excited about book 3 in the Vulcan
Legacies series. It’s a bit of a departure from the first two where I switch up
the leading female. Of course she’s been in the first two books, but my main
character comes with a different set of issues.
Book
description:
The
burden of Dave’s girlfriend’s death pushes Brandi, the Seraph of Love, to abduct
David Howels in hopes of protecting Dave from his murderous father. Will Brandi
be able to show Dave that all in life is not lost in death? Twists and turns
abound as Brandi discovers her own shocking revelation—that Dave has been her
soul mate all along.
Separating Dave and herself from their allies on the threshold of the apocalypse, Brandi turns to an old friend for help—a witch—to aid her in her quest to prepare Dave to face his worst fears and her own. Filled with curses, and secrets that threaten to destroy everything, Brandi must find forgiveness from within before she can find love. In the past, healing a broken heart would’ve been easy, but now faced with the task of healing Dave’s broken heart while not exposing her own, Brandi learns why love is truly the greatest gift of all.
Separating Dave and herself from their allies on the threshold of the apocalypse, Brandi turns to an old friend for help—a witch—to aid her in her quest to prepare Dave to face his worst fears and her own. Filled with curses, and secrets that threaten to destroy everything, Brandi must find forgiveness from within before she can find love. In the past, healing a broken heart would’ve been easy, but now faced with the task of healing Dave’s broken heart while not exposing her own, Brandi learns why love is truly the greatest gift of all.
Excerpt from BLACK ATONEMENT:
She began walking towards Dave and
stopped. It occurred to her to bolt from the room. She knew Abraham cast a
spell on Dave, that he wouldn’t remember anything from tonight. But she would.
What would he think of her? God! It had never occurred to Brandi before, in all
her vanity, would Dave even think she was pretty? Doubts surfaced in her mind.
She’d never had to deal with these kinds of emotions before. She was Brandi,
the Seraph of Love. She was gorgeous. Every mortal wanted her. But Dave wasn’t
mortal. Dave wasn’t everyone.
Brandi turned to leave, but stopped dead
in her tracks as Dave turned at the same moment. His blue eyes caught hers, a
glass of punch up to his lips, him stopping as though stunned at what he was
looking at. Brandi looked behind her. Did something else capture his attention?
She turned her gaze back around. Dave kept his gaze fixed on hers while setting
his drink down. His mouth formed a perfect O. Brandi’s heart leapt into her
throat. He started walking towards Brandi, his pace slow, as though time stood
still.
Dave stopped inches from her, almost as
though unsure of himself. He wore a black tuxedo, a matching black mask
covering his face. He slowly removed his mask as though it was obstructing a
clear view of her.
They stood there together in a timeless
moment just taking each other in. Brandi felt like a timid rabbit, too scared
to move. Finally Dave took the first step.
“Would you like to dance with me?” Dave
asked, his voice so different. It was the same, but it was the Dave she knew
before he had lost so much, before he had been thrust into a supernatural world
he knew nothing of, before he lost his soul mate. This Dave was untainted by
the stains of loving and losing.
Brandi’s voice was jammed in her throat,
a first for her. She had never been so nervous before, never had a reason to
care what anyone thought of her. “Yes….”
Brandi extended her hand, her gaze
locked onto Dave’s. He put his mask back on. Dave brought her up close to him,
one hand holding hers up and the other going to the small of her back. He spun
her around in circles and all Brandi could do was stare into his blue eyes. She
was mesmerized, lost.
She had never been this close to him. If
there was something about the Dave spinning her around now, he seemed surer of
himself, more confident. Brandi would hold this moment close to her for the
rest of her days.
The room was buzzing with music, men and
women swirling in symmetrical patterns, the lights casting shadows on the
walls, but to Brandi there was only one girl, one boy.
It was only her and Dave in the
ballroom, dancing close together, the only melody heard in the great room was
the sound of their hearts beating wildly. Brandi gave up on love a long time
ago, but staring into Dave’s blue eyes was the closest she came to renewing her
faith that something beyond her own self torment existed. She could see a
paradise in his gaze, one she wanted to live in.
In this moment with him, Brandi realized
a surge of truths. Dave had been the most carefree-vibrant-full-of-life boy
she’d ever encountered, a sense of humor so bright it would light up the
darkest days. He was everything Brandi wasn’t. And she loved him for it. Brandi
Frasier, aka the Seraph of Love, was in love with Dave, aka the man-child whose
heart had been shattered by the death of his soul mate, whose mind was
currently under the care of a witch, and who right now, this very precious
second, was looking at Brandi as no one in the world ever had. Dave looked down
on Brandi as though he felt the same way Brandi did.
“What’s your name?” Dave asked, his
voice a breathy whisper.
“Brandi.”
“You look stunning,” Dave said, his
voice low.
“Thank you,” Brandi said nervously.
“Would you think I’m crazy if I told you
it felt as though we’ve met before?” Dave asked, his voice warm.
“Not at all,” Brandi said, her gaze
still locked with his. She couldn’t steal her eyes away from his.
“Do I know you?” Dave asked, the corners
of his lips turning up into a smile.
“Perhaps in a previous life we knew each
other,” Brandi said, the truth painful.
“What were we in our previous lives?”
Dave asked.
“Hmm…I don’t know,” Brandi said leaning
in closer to Dave.
“I know,” Dave said, twirling her out
and then bringing her in closer and closer. “I was a composer and you were a
ballerina, my little dancer.”
“A ballerina?” Brandi said, arching a
brow and smiling at him unconvinced.
“Sure. I wrote music, not just any
music, but I strung together sounds and melodies so great, they would have
matched Amadeus, and they were written just for you. I can see you, a dress as
elegant as the lines of your body. You’re in the distance, a soft spotlight
framing your tiny figure, you gliding across the stage gracefully…a little
ballerina. My little ballerina,” Dave
said, his voice dropping an octave.
“Was I happy dancing for you?” Brandi
asked breathlessly, his presence closing in on her.
“Yes, and I was happy writing music for
you, watching you dance. But in our previous lives, I always watched from afar,
never brave enough to ask you to dance with me, as you are now,” Dave said.
“Well,” Brandi said, her gaze lowered to
his lips, “it’s good we have our chance.”
Dave lowered his head, resting his brow
on hers. Brandi’s heart jumped into her throat. She had never craved anything
more. David Lee Howels, her soul mate, the greatest love of her life, only
discovered weeks ago, was seconds away from kissing her and she felt like the
most fragile girl in the world, her sanity hanging by threads.
Dave cupped her face, tilting her head
so she was looking into his eyes.
“My beautiful little ballerina,” he
said, and then he kissed her softly, his lips moving gently across hers.
Brandi melted in his arms, leaning into
his kiss in complete rapture, her guard down, her heart wide open, the walls
protecting that muscle now down. She tangled her fingers up in his red hair,
pulling him down on her. She was dizzy, the music playing softly, the moment
more perfect than she’d ever dared hope.
Giveaway
Sasha is giving away a $25 Evernight GC
* * * * *
Last thing before we let you leave us today. Do you have a favorite recipe you'd
like to share? I like to cook and am
always looking for new recipes to try and share.
Yes. I
love Buffalo Chicken Dip.
2 (10
ounce) cans chunk chicken, drained
2 (8
ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup Ranch
Dressing
3/4 cup
pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot)
1 ½ cup
of shredded cheddar cheese
1 bunch
celery, cleaned and cut into 4 inch pieces
Heat
chicken and hot sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until heated through. Stir
in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook, stirring until well blended and warm.
Mix in half of the shredded cheese, and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover, and cook on Low setting
until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery sticks and crackers.
Sasha thanks so much for visiting with us today ! I love the cover of Black Atonement and am looking forward to reading this series. And, let me just tell you that Buffalo Chicken Dip is my FAVORITE !!!
Please feel free to stop back any time !!
~Krista
I've been to New Zealand briefly on a cruise, would love to go back too.
ReplyDeleteacm05atjuno.com
Anne, that's so awesome! I'd love to make it there someday!
ReplyDeleteSasha, your excerpt is very compelling. The emotional investment in your characters, even their first impressions of each other, is clear and engaging!
ReplyDeleteFun interview -- thanks! :) (Man, that sauce sounds yum but HOT...I might be too wimpy for 3/4 cup hot sauce, lol.)
ReplyDelete