Giveaway and Interview with author L.J. Garland and her book MechMan

What a way to kick-off June!!  I'd like to welcome LJ Garland to CEWTNK!!!  Thanks for making this one of your stops along your tour!!  I was lucky enough to snag an interview with this interesting duo and here is what they had to say:

How old were you when you first realized you wanted to write?

Hmm, well, I’m not going to mention my age <wg> but it wasn’t until I met my husband that the bug really bit. This story idea just jumped into my head, and I came home from work one day and said, “Honey, I want to write a book.” He was like, “Okay.” We discussed the plot and characters, the setting, etc. until we both agreed (we were on the same page <g>) So, off I went to write the first few chapters. Around chapter five, I decided to stop and show him what I’d done. I’ll tell you, there’s nothing so intense as sitting by, gnawing your nails, while the man you love reads what you wrote. Course later he told me that he’d been just as nervous. Before he ever read the first word, he wondered how he would tell me if it sucked. LOL  We’ve been writing together ever since.

Most authors have an unusual story or way that they come up with their ideas for books…Do you have one?

Don’t know if it’s unusual or not, but a lot of my ideas come from dreams. Sometimes I’ll get them in the shower…who knows? Maybe the steam clears my head or something?? lol

What was your biggest influence that steered you towards writing?

I’ve always loved to read. But my husband’s encouragement was probably the biggest push.

I have to ask, what are the hardest scenes for you to write?

I think probably the opening scene. Most times I have the scene in my head, but it has to be worded to capture the reader’s attention and hold it, otherwise they’ll put the story down. Can’t have that! So, I work hard to try to hook ‘em and keep ‘em reading.

Are sex scenes difficult for you to word?

The hardest part about sex scenes are coming up with enough terms so body parts aren’t repeated over and over…and to keep the verbiage from leaning toward purple prose. lol

Do you see yourself writing in another genre?

I write several genre in the romance area…paranormal, suspense, time travel, sci-fi, and contemporary.

Has your family been supportive?

My family is very supportive. My husband is forever discussing plot problems and character arcs. We work as a team on most everything!

Are any of your characters reflective of you?

Maybe when I was younger. LOL My heroines tend to be daring and jump right into the middle of things. Now that I’m older (and wiser lol) I tend to look before I leap now. <wg>

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Well, I’d like to ride mountain bikes, shop, visit family, and cross stitch…but with three rambunctious boys, I usually end up cooking, catching up on the laundry, and cleaning house. lol

Who is your favorite book heroine?

Probably Raven from MechMan. She’s very strong and is the captain of her own ship. She kicks butt all the way around.

Do you have any unusual habits that revolve around writing?

Maybe not unusual but I do like to listen to music and drink coffee. LOL Usually there’s a cat in my lap, too. They swear they’re helping with my creativity…I swear they’re bringing on carpal tunnel syndrome. But they’re sweet and furry, so how can I say no?

What is you favorite mystical creature?

Love unicorns. But  a griffin takes a close second!

What were some of your biggest challenges at the beginning of your career?

Learning the craft. There’s so much to learn about how to construct stories, character arcs, plots, GMC, sentence structure, passive voice, …and to keep every thing consistent throughout! The list just goes on and on. And writing is a fluid art, forever changing. Look back twenty years ago, and the stories are completely different from today.

How do you feel about reader comments?

Love to get them from anyone who’s enjoyed our stories. Our goal is to give our readers a moment away from everyday life.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Study the craft. Take classes, ask questions, get a critique partner to help you hone your story. And don’t ever quit. There are a lot of people who would like to write a story, who might even start one but for whatever reason never finish it. A pile of rejection letters doesn’t mean you’re not an author…you completed a manuscript and submitted it. Keep going!

Where are your books available?

MechMan – Paperback / Ebook
On the Fringes – Kindle
Cadence Interrupted – Kindle
Dreamspell Revenge – Paperback / Kindle / Ebook
Dead or Alive – Ebook
Sins of the Mind – May 20 from Decadent Publishing

What can we expect from you in the future?

The romantic suspense, Sins of the Mind—co-authored with the awesome Debbie Gould—will be coming from Decadent Publishing on May 20^th. He wants to protect her, but everyone she loves is being murdered. Is he next on the killer’s list?

Where can we reach you and become informed of updates? We can be tracked down at www.lj-garland.com. Or we can be caught at http://www.garland-and-gould.blogspot.com/ where we blog, chat about stuff, and interview other authors. Or, we can be emailed at mail@lj-garland.com - We love hearing from people who have enjoyed our stories.

That was a great interview!!!  Now let's take a closer look at MechMan:

Raven is on a suicide mission. Jex is a biomech on a mission to save humanity. They discover their mutual passion to destroy the enemy isn’t their only desire.

A war against the Darch has raged for years, and humanity is on the verge of extinction. Scientists have created biomechs to supplement as warriors, but it’s just a temporary fix on what appears an insurmountable problem. One desperate scientist injects JXS241, a biomech warrior, with what he hopes is the solution for mankind’s survival. But the biomech is captured by the enemy.

Raven Nirvanni survives on the fringes of a shattered culture. While on a self-imposed suicide mission to annihilate an enemy destroyer, she encounters the imprisoned biomech. Deciding the fate of humanity far outweighs the destruction of a single ship, she recues him and decides to ensure he reaches his destination.

With the enemy anticipating their every move, Raven is completely taken aback when she realizes she’s falling for JXS241. But can she really love a machine? And if so, can he reciprocate?

 About the Duo!!

L.J. Garland is a husband-wife writing team who has thrived within their own romance for over 20 years. One of their favorite things to do is get into a hot bubble bath and brainstorm story ideas. Amid their long list of hobbies and interests, two activities stand above the rest. They are both licensed helicopter pilots with hundreds of hours of flight time, and they practice with a variety of weaponry from long bows to high-powered combat rifles. This, along with years of military experience, gives their books a heightened sense of reality. They enjoy their life together in a house filled with love, laughter, and adventure along with their three cats, whistling guinea pig, and three boisterous sons—who conspire to ensure there’s never a dull moment. They love hearing from readers who’ve enjoyed their stories at mail@lj-garland.com.

Website / Blog

Excerpt:

The needle slid between the third and fourth vertebrae in his neck. A flash of heat shot through him. More pressure was exerted to penetrate the synthetic cartilage of his neurospine. Accessing his internal response center, he raised the pain threshold, but not so high he couldn’t monitor the procedure. Immobile, he waited for it to be finished.

“Done.” The doctor stepped back. “JXS241, system check?”

“No change,” he said, and reset his pain threshold. “As you said, Doctor Mechins. Just a pinch.”

“Good.” The doctor made a note on his techpad. “There are three biomechs just outside the lab, waiting to escort you and the information I implanted into your neurospine to the planet Altaiga.”

“Give me a ship, doctor. I’ll get myself to Altaiga.” Taking three biomechs away from the war to act as escort was a waste of resources.

“The information you carry is critical to the war effort.” Dr. Mechins tapped the techpad. “You’ll take the escort.”

JXS241 rose from his chair. The decision was illogical, but sometimes humans determined situations based on feelings rather than sound military strategy. He yanked a black shirt over his head and shrugged into his military-issue jacket.

The science lab shook, equipment toppled, and assorted paraphernalia crashed to the floor. Alarms barked to life, an alert that the base was under attack. Dr. Mechins’ reserved manner morphed to terror. His gaze rolled toward the ceiling.

“They’ve discovered us.” He grabbed JXS241’s arm, dragged him to the lab door. “You’ve got to get out of here. Take the other biomechs, commandeer a ship, and get to Altaiga. The fate of humanity may very well depend on you.”

JXS241 stepped through the doorway. Three heavily armed escorts awaited him. One shoved a pulse rifle into his hands. He grasped the familiar weapon, glanced at it, and toggled the setting to kill.  

“Wait.” The doctor clutched his shoulder. “You may notice some changes—”

The lab exploded. Hot twisted metal and glass missiled through the air, spiking everything in its path. A rush of heat shoved Dr. Mechins against JXS241, and they tumbled into the outer hallway.

Hands grabbed the biomech, lifted him to his feet, and propelled him away from the lab. On the floor lay the doctor, ripped metal and shards of glass jutting from his back, blood pooling beneath him.

“Medic required at lab, level seven,” the tallest biomech said into his com-band. His gaze shifted from the doctor to JXS241. “In line, soldier. Primary objective is to obtain a ship and fly out.”

JXS241 moved behind the other biomechs, and they hastened to the hangar where pilots scrambled to their fighters.

Scattered throughout the bay, sparks of light appeared and stretched into beings. Six-and-a-half to seven-foot men and women materialized. Graced with flaxen hair, and beatific smiles, immense gossamer wings protruded from their backs. With a serene facade they surveyed the hangar.

The enemy had arrived.

This book sounds amazing!!  So would you like to win a copy?  Just fill out the rafflecopter!!

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