I'm delighted to welcome my fellow MFRW author and dragon collector, Janet Lane Walters, to my blog. Be sure to read her interview as well as her excerpt from The Amber Chronicles.
Interview with Janet Lane Walters
Why do you write romance?
Romance
is just one of the genres I write in but the reason I enjoy writing romances is
watching the developing relationship between two characters who have come
together. I do like to write those with a past and a reason they’ve been driven
apart and figuring how to make the relationship work when they write again.
Actually looking at this again, other than the YA stories I’ve written and the
non-fiction, there is a hint of romance in all I write.
What
romance subgenres do you write in? Why?
Subgenres
include paranormal, fantasy, contemporary, mystery, suspense. Why do I write in
so many? That’s because I enjoy reading many kind of books and I like writing
what I enjoy. I also have a twisted mind that takes me on many tracks.
Are
you aware of any themes that run through your stories? If so, what are they?
Themes
are for the literary critic. I write stories and don’t look for themes unless
you look at rather general ones like love conquers all, or good vs evil with
good winning. Had a hard time while obtaining my degree in English for the
teachers were always harping about find the theme in the story. Was not my
thing and though I passed with flying colors, I never could find the theme in
other people’s stories or in my own. Now I do have some symbols that occur in
many of my stories like jewels and Astrology, and all kinds of healing.
What
would you like readers to take away from your stories?
Perhaps
hope but also escape from the daily grind. I have no themes to push or anything
but having people find a new world to spend some time with and hopefully
characters that make them realize love is possible.
What
inspires your stories?
Hard
question to answer since inspiration comes from so many things. Usually a plot
idea pops into my head. May be triggered by
something I read or something I hear. Seldom inspired by something I
see.
What is your writing schedule?
Since
I’m long retired I write by bits and pieces but I write every day. I handwrite
out the first few drafts of a story since I’m a draft writer and have planned
my stories before I begin. When I type, I put in notes to myself so I can go
back and expand scenes or look up research material. Some people consider me a
fast writer but I don’t think so. The length of time to finish a book depends
on how long the book or story is.
Do
you have any other passions besides writing? If yes, what are they? Why?
I’d
say my grandchildren. They range from six to 26 and there are 7 of them. Four,
the oldest ones are black. We adopted their biracial mother when she was nearly
four. The other four are adopted from China
Another
passion is collecting dragons. I have about 40 of different varieties. Why
dragons? I’ve always loved fantasy and dragons mean fantasy to me.
Where
is your favorite place to write? Why?
I
have a study that’s off the living room of the Dutch Colonial house where I
live. There’s a recliner since I write be hand on a clipboard. There’s also a
desk with a computer and printer plus a shelf of dragons above. I took this
place over when we moved into the house and would hate to give it up. One of
the great reasons is I could keep an eye on the children when they were younger
and create messe when doing research.
If
you have/had another career, what was it?
For
many years I was a nurse. In fact my nursing and writing careers were divided.
I worked as a nurse, then left to be with my children. I began to write and had
a small success until the market for short stories dried up. I began writing
novels and interrupted that when the children became college age. Once that was
done I returned to writing.
If
you could have one wish, what would it be?
To
rid the world of all the ugliness that seems to be cropping up lately.
If you could describe yourself in only one word, what would it be? Why?
If you could describe yourself in only one word, what would it be? Why?
Eclectic.
That’s the way I write and the way I live my life by not being bogged down with
anything, other than writing.
Are you a cat or dog person? Do you have any pets and if so, please tell us about them.
Are you a cat or dog person? Do you have any pets and if so, please tell us about them.
I’m
a cat person who no longer has one. My Maine Coon cat, Robespierre died and I
had no urge to have another. He’s memorialized in the Katherine Miller mystery
series. He came to the house as a stray kitten found in the wire rims of my
car. Robespierre was so small we had to feed him with a baby doll bottle. He
spent much time sitting on my shoulder until he became too large. At top weight
he was 25 pounds and all of that was muscle. My favorite memory of him was when
he taught my oldest granddaughter how to crawl by bumping her rear when she was
rocking.
Please
tell us about your most recent release and where we can purchase it.
My
latest release is Amber Chronicles. The story begins when Emme, a witch and the
herir of her kingdom acts in a nasty way. She is banished until she learns how
to love. When her first attempt to charm a prince into loving her on her
demand, she curses the family. What follows is a group of stories of how the
princes of Rivand enter the amber orb and their adventures. Emme finally
figures out that love is selfless and sacrifices herself to become the Woman
Cast In Amber. Will she ever escape the amber orb and find the love that will
free her?
Amber Chronicles
Amber Chronicles
Print
version here among other places. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-amber-chronicles-janet-lane-walter/1120105169?ean=9781771452724
Please
give us your urls and your publisher’s url.
Twitter
JanetL717
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com
Website
http://janetlanewalters.com/home
Publishers:
Books
We Love http://bookswelove.net/
DiskUs
Publishing http://www.diskuspublishing.com/
Blurb:
Amber Chronicles
Collection: Emme, a witch and the heir to the throne of the world called Amber
is banished from her home to find love. She believes she can command a man to
love her but this does not work. Angry at being told no by the crown prince of
Rivand she casts a spell on the Riva family. Every hundred years when the moon
is full at the summer solstice she will call the crown prince. If he refuses to
cede his love to her he will enter the amber orb and vanish. Four times she
fails and the princes find adventure on other worlds. One turns an enchanted
amber dragon into a princess. The second is imprisoned in an amber tower and
must select a bride. The third must free the heroine from an amber cage. Emme
slowly learns her lesson and returns to spend her childhood with the fourth prince.
Hoping knowing each other will help. She has fallen in love with the crown
prince and enters the amber orb in his place. Can Emme who is Cast in Amber be
freed and gain the love she has sought for all those years?
Excerpt:
Strains of music wafted
from the ball room of the Amber Palace into the garden. Emme tapped her foot
against the flagstone walk in an angry counterpoint to the dulcet tones. With
each passing moment, the realization of another failure strengthened. Four times
a prince had appeared at the palace seeking her hand in marriage. Four times
the prince had chosen one of her younger sisters. Tonight the last prince would
name her youngest as his chosen bride.
With great effort Emme
capped her anger. Lysanda would pay just as her other sisters had. As the
oldest, she should have been the first to find a bridegroom. Envy twisted with
jealousy to form a rope binding her thoughts. This prince should be here for he
was the last of the eligible ones in this world called Amber suited for
training as a wizard and destined to sit on the amber throne beside Emme’s.
The scent of roses,
jasmine and bluet filled the air with their sweet breath. The heavy aroma
pressed against her forcing Emme to gasp.
She heard light tapping
of slippers on the stones and knew Lysanda approached. Her sister expected to
find Prince, what was his name, waiting to declare his love. Then amber lights
would radiate across the night sky announcing Emme had failed again. That would
not happen.
Lysanda came into view.
Her hair, a few shades darker than Emme’s pure amber tones, hung in ringlets
down her back. “Where is Rendel?” she asked.
“Looking for you,” Emme
said. “I sent him to the Tower of Sighs.”
“Why?”
Emme stepped toward her
sister. She smiled at the alarm in Lysanda’s pale blue eyes. Only Emme’s
matched the blue of a summer sky. “You stole him. He was to be my prince.”
Lysanda asked. “He fell
in love with me. His heart once given can never change.” She stepped closer.
Don’t think to take him from me. That is impossible.”
Emme fisted her hand on
her hips. “I have no desire for a man who chose another over me. I’m sure he
believes he will be able to rule you for your power is small and you can never
sit on the amber throne. You have taken my last chance for love and rulership.
I will take from you.”
Lysanda tore her gaze
from Emme’s face. “What do you mean?”
“Face me, sister. Power
against power or are you afraid?”
“I fear no one. I am a
witch with power equal to yours.”
Emme heard a slight
tremor in her sister’s voice. Knowledge filled her. She would drain Lysanda and
leave her week. Three times before she had faced a sister and won.
She drew the wind to
eddy around Lysanda in wispy bands and sped and tightened them. One by one
Lysanda broke the restraints. With each snap, Emme absorbed the power of the
breaking.
Emme set the torches of
the garden blazing. Tendrils of fire flowed toward her sister.
Lysanda gathered the
flames and sent burning orbs toward Emme. “You will not win.”
Emme pulled water from the
fountain. Fire and water met turning to steam shrouding the air with sizzling
vapor. With slow steps Emme moved through the mist. The earth shook beneath her
feet. Lysanda’s body wove in an attempt to remain standing.
Emme grasped her
sister’s wrist. “Cede to me.” She drained the essence of magic from her
sister’s cells.
“A curse I cry.”
Lysanda’s shrill voice pierced Emme’s concentration. “Long will you search.
Until you can give with forcing and demanding you will be alone.”
Those words forced Emme
to release her sister. Lysanda slumped to the ground. Four times one of her
sisters had said the same curse. Four times a sister had survived. She raised
her hand and released all she’d taken from Lysanda. Brilliant flashes of light
colored the night sky with all the colors possible except for amber.
She heard the sound of
pounding boots. The prince stepped into view. “What have you done?”
“What I had to. Lysanda
remains a witch and in a hundred years or so she will recover. You will never
become a wizard. You will never rule the world called Amber.
The prince drew his
sword and stalked toward her. “Why have you done this to my beloved?”
“You chose the wrong
sister as those before you have done. Take her. Announce your betrothal. You
can’t defeat me. You are the last to try.”
The sword slipped from
his hands. Lysanda stirred. He lifted her to her feet. “My love.” He glared at
Emme. “You will never find love until you love another more than you love
yourself.”
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