Interview with Dayna Leigh Cheser and a Sneak Peek inside inside Janelle's Time

 

 

Good Morning my Lovelies!!  I'm so glad you could join me and Dayna in our cozy little dungeon!  Have a seat while I begin interviewing this lovely lady and watch out for spiders!!  LOL!!!

 

Hello and Welcome to The Dungeon!  I’m so happy to have you here visiting and sharing your newest work.  Thank you for having me. *looks around uneasily*  Interesting place, you have here.    Don’t mind the noise from the prison… err guests, they get noisy during their…treatments..lol.  Let me clear a spot so you can have a seat.  Would you like some refreshments before you get started?  Thanks, but I’m good for now.  Just scoot Marcus out of the way, he is still getting used to visitors, and I know his size can be intimidating (Marcus is one of my spiders).  It’s too early for him to feel frisky enough to play .  O-o-o-h, he kinda tickles … Do you have any more like him, er, hanging around?  Oh, there’s one, over there. *pointing to an only slightly smaller specimen.

Yes!!  That’s AriaJ  And then of course his offspring is around here somewhere…lol.

So I have to ask…Why Time Travel?

Why not?  With today’s technology, it isn’t possible, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done at some point in the future, or by someone else further along the evolution scale from somewhere else.  It is a risky thing, however.  The presence of someone who doesn’t belong there can upset the timeline, and even present a clear danger to anyone, even innocent bystanders, and critters, like your arachnid here. pets Marcus

Tell us a little bit about your book.

Janelle’s Time is an adult historical romance with a tad of time travel.  Janelle’s mother died giving birth to her so she never learned about the familial powers she possesses, including time travel.  On their first date, Richard and Janelle encounter a strange light that takes them far from home, both in terms of miles, and time.  They met Richard’s ancestors, had their evening meal with them, and slept in the castle.  Later, on a return trip, they arrived just in time to watch the castle being looted. Jumping ahead a few years to get away from the potential danger, the met the new owners of the castle – with devastating results. 

But, the young couple weathered that storm and went on to get married, although even that was not without incident.  Their wedding trip to England was marred by one of Richard’s childhood friends attempting to kidnap Janelle.  Later, on a trip to London, Richard is mugged and left for dead … and things got worse after that.  It seems like at every turn, there’s something to wreak havoc in their lives.  Do they ever get it right?

What first sparked the series idea?

Janelle’s Time was to be a stand-alone.  For my entire life, I wanted to be a published author, but thinking beyond the one book didn’t occur to me until after it was complete.  A minor character (Logan Conor, Duke of Muileach, from the wedding chapter and off and on after that) came to me and demanded his own book.  Now, Logan is a red-headed Fabio with an attitude who is 6’8” tall, weighs in at around 300 pounds and, as a Duke, is accustomed to getting what he wants.  He was relentless until I caved in.  He’s still hanging around because I’m not actually working on his book at the moment even though the first draft is over half-way complete.  Logan’s book is not a sequel – he’s not a relative.  It’s timeline runs parallel to that of Richard and Janelle’s, and actually starts 30 years BEFORE Janelle’s Time, for all it’s book 4 in the series.

When Janelle’s twins were born, it was clear that Moria’s story needed to be told (as a sequel).  Moria grows up to be a remarkable woman.  Knowing from an early age, she wanted to be a doctor in an age where that wasn’t allowed, she overcomes insurmountable odds and meets a number of real historical figures along the way.

Her sister, Adelle, is just the opposite.  Not to be outdone, she                 started making waves about having HER own book, too.  Because Richard is English and the son of a Duke, she comes by her haughtiness naturally.  Determined from a young age to find and marry a Duke of her own, her life is anything but what she thought it would be – until she discovers what is really important.

Then, I had a problem.  With 2 parallel timelines, there was no way to end the series.  So, in one of the many rereads before submitting it, I found the answer.  The two families unite bringing the timelines together and as America slides into the Civil War, the series can end.

That’s how the series came to be.

What is the key element in your character creation?

Believability as a human being.  Everything about the character must be as believable as if (s)he were human.  Their actions, their situations, their dialogue, everything must be as if that character were sitting in the room with you.  It goes along with getting the facts as correct as possible in a historical romance.
Who is the character that in your opinion everyone is going to fall in love with?

One would normally expect this to be one of the main characters, in this case, Richard or Janelle.  However, reviewers and readers have said more about Logan, the minor character who demanded his own book.  Apparently, he knew something I didn’t when he did that.  He knew he’d be much-loved, in a J.R. Ewing kind of way, and wanted more than ‘minor character’ status for himself, hence his own book.  While his size and his temper are frightening, he’s really a gentle giant.

As an author, if you truly could time travel, where would you go for research?

Janelle’s Time takes place in a very real town in south-central New Hampshire.  My husband and I lived near the location of the farm Janelle grew up on.  We actually lived at that farm briefly in 1981.  The farm that is there right now is nothing like the farm in the book, but the real estate is on the east side of a small lake, just like the farm in the book.  So, if I really could time travel, I’d go across the lake (from where we lived) to what, in the book, is called the LeDuc Farm and hang with the folks there.

Who would you love to interact with?

All of them – I’d love to have a chat with each and every one of them.  I did a multi-part ‘interview’ with Richard and Janelle but I know that interview could have been better if other characters had checked in.

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

The hardest scenes were not in Janelle’s Time.  I’m working on the next book, Moria’s Time.  Several chapters (so far) have been quite difficult, for different reasons.  One chapter brought out some childhood issues – a totally ME thing.  But, the most difficult, by far, was when Maura, Janelle’s companion, died in her sleep of old age.  In that same year, Angus, Maura’s husband, older than Maura, died.  The chapter took a week, and a couple of boxes of tissues, to write.  The intensity of my grief for two people who, at this point, exist only in my mind was a big surprise to me.

How would you rate the sex scenes throughout the series?

HOT!  This is, after all, a young couple, very much in love.  Richard, with experience with the ladies in Paris in the days before he met Janelle, knows just what it takes, and he’s good at what he does.  I set out to dispel the myth that Regency and Victorian couples were prudes, that they are no different from couples today.  Some books would have you believe that couples lived their whole lives without once seeing their spouse naked.  Richard and Janelle, and their peers, are people, just like we are, with the same sexual drives.  They are, at the same time, tender, sensitive, and caring, and, wild and free.  The women, especially, with the clothes of the day, and the strict rules of society, were often frustrated – so, when they had the chance …

Do you see yourself writing any more stories in this series or a spin-off? 

I’m working on the four more books in the series.  Two of the books are over half-way through the first draft.  The third will be my NaNo project this year (book 2 was my NaNo winner in 2011).  The last book is a ways down the road time-wise, so there’s no immediate rush.

Are any of your characters reflective of you? 

There is very little of me in the book, but that’s not to say other people aren’t there.  I don’t believe anyone could recognize themselves as I didn’t pattern a character after a specific person.  I only used certain characteristics, personality quirks and other little pieces – not the whole package.  Those who know me know I love autumn in New England.  The scenic beauty of the colors in the mountains, the warm days and cool nights.  That part of Janelle is me.  Otherwise, the characters are themselves, for the most part.

Tell us about some up and coming books. 

Book 2, Moria’s Time, follows Moria from infancy through to young adulthood.  It’s discovered early in her life that she is an excellent natural healer – a trait that comes through the female line.  She’s presented with an opportunity to meet Elizabeth Blackwell (the real-life first female doctor in both the US and the UK.  On the same trip, her brother wants to meet Frederick Douglass, slave-turned-newspaperman-author.  Later, Elizabeth Blackwell meets Florence Nightingale.  She decides Moria must also meet the woman and that is arranged.  Florence Nightingale will play a major role in Moria’s life.  I haven’t written that part yet so I’m not sure how it will play out.  During that same trip to England, the entire Grayson family meets Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. 

Book 3, Adelle’s Time, is the story of Moria’s twin who is determined to find and marry a Duke, for the money and the power.  She’s the opposite of Moria in just about every way, and isn’t a very likable person.  Prone to temper tantrums, demanding, shallow and selfish, her story will be difficult to write, but, in the end, she’ll finally discover what is most important in life.  This book is a blank screen – and my NaNo project for this year.

Book  4, Logan’s Time (a spinoff, rather than a sequel), I suspect will be the best book of the series.  It follows Logan from age 7 when he hides in his mother’s room and is present when his brother is born – and his mother abandons the family, taking up residence in the South Tower of the castle, cutting off all communications with the community, and her family.  Forced to marry Logan’s father (who also didn’t want the marriage), she blackmailed her father in return for her quiet acquiescence to the marriage.  She used the money to survive until her father’s death, at which time, she was freed from the stipulations that kept the money coming – she and her entourage leave the castle.  Logan’s father denounced his title and went off in search of her.  

Book 5, Clarissa’s Time will unite the two families – the Graysons and the Conors as America slides into the Civil War.  How will it end?  I don’t have a clue.  LOL

Will any of your characters from this series cameo in other future books?

Many of the characters will be in all or most of the series.  They will have lesser or greater parts in the other books, depending on how the story line develops.  Beyond that, I have no idea.  I haven’t given much thought to post-TIME Series writing.  More than likely, I’ll start another series.  I like the challenges involved in a series – and I love reading a good series.  I don’t have every book I’ve ever read any more, but those books that I kept are mostly multiple-book series.

Where can we find you for future updates? (add all your social links here)

I’m a member of too many social links.  There just aren’t enough hours in the day to be active in all of them and get any work done, so I limit myself to, primarily, the ‘BIG TWO.’  My Twitter account, @Writers_Cafe, has almost 15,000 followers, nearly all in the publishing industry, directly or indirectly. 

I have 2 Facebook accounts – my personal account, and my Fan Page – ‘Author Dayna Leigh Cheser.’  There’s a FB Group Page I hang out on – Excerpt Flight Deck for Readers and Writers.  It’s an open group for authors who post excepts from their current works.  The founders of the page, Alex and Donna Carrick, of Carrick Publishing in Toronto, were so surprised by the quality of the excepts posted, they came up with an anthology of works from the members of the page, EDF1: Starship Goodwords.  This will be published on or about September 9^th, and will be available from Amazon (for now – more outlets may be coming).  My short story, The Legend of Corkscrew Swamp, is included in this anthology.   If anyone is looking to find a new favorite author, checking out this page would be a good place to start.

I have an account on Goodreads, but I haven’t done much with it yet.  I also plan to put Janelle’s Time on Smashwords in the near future.

Right now, Janelle’s Time is available at Amazon and AmazonUK (book and Kindle), and Barnes & Noble (Nook). 

Any future touring in the works?

I’d like to get another tour in before the end of the year, but time is growing short.  We’re already into September … November is NaNoWriMo month … December is Christmas.  That only leaves the rest of September and most of October (allowing some prep-time for NaNoWriMo.  I’m not sure I’ll be able to get another tour in along with everything else – including getting Moria’s Time ready for submission.  We’ll see how it plays out.

I’m so happy you have made this a stop.  Would you like a tour of the..err…levels?  J I can introduce you to the “guests”, if you just hand me that box back.

I thank you very much for having me here.  It’s been an interesting experience, seeing your ‘friends,’ here.  I am interested, however, in the tour of the ‘levels.’  Thanks to your readers for stopping by to check me out!  I hope I passed muster, and that you’ll consider checking out Janelle’s Time.

 Let’s get you suited up:

Wine, mixed drink, or straight up?

My drink of choice, on the rare occasion I partake, is a ‘Smoky Mary’ which is a Bloody Mary with barbeque sauce and horseradish.  Do you have the fixings for that?  If not, I’ll take a Bloody Mary.

Leather straps or chains?

I’m thinking leather would be a bit more comfortable.

Cat-o-nine, braided leather, or chain length whip?

Um, I’m thinking more along the lines of a cat toy on a string …

Collar and Leash or Ordornment?

Don’t you trust me?  I don’t need to be restrained … I won’t run away.

Fishnets or garterbelt?

Oh, I haven’t been up-close-and-personal with fishnets since high school …

Leather pants, mini, or a long skirt slitted up both sides?

With my body type, I’m thinking the long skirt would be best.

Lace up boots or high heels?

Whichever one has the lower heel – I never did learn to walk in high heels.

Ball gag, manacles, or blindfold?

You do have your trust issues, don’t you?  Well, if you must, let’s do the blindfold.

The rack or the whipping post?

Hey, things seem to be getting a little rough here.

Candle wax or clamps?

Um, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. *looks around for an exit*

 

Blonde, red-head, or Brunette?  He is my personal favorite, but I have a thing for dark haired tattooed demonsJ.  And the nipple piercings just add that little bit of kink.  The humans are kept on the upper levels even though I’m slowly weeding them out.  They just can’t seem to handle our….services.  And of course, the further down you go the more of the paranormal comes to light.  So …what’s your poison?   We also have a new level of shapeshifters that can take on ANY form you want  Shapeshifters?  Are they anything like Odo on DeepSpace 9?  I can see where there might be an advantage to being able to do that.  I wonder if you can learn that? ……it’s actually quite amusing if you want to switch during….you get the picture!!!

 

Thanks so much Dayna for being such an awesome participant!!  Now let's take a look at you book:

 

Title: Janelle's Time (TIME Series, Book 1)

Author: Dayna Leigh Cheser

Publisher: All Things That Matter Press

Length: 98,600 words

Genres: Historical Romance (ADULT with a little time travel)

Heat Level: Steamy

 

BLURB:

Janelle’s Time is the story of the great love between a New Hampshire farmer’s daughter and the younger son of an English Duke.

 

From her father’s death to the birth of twin daughters, Janelle makes it difficult for Richard to keep her safe.

 

Unaware of Janelle’s maternal-line powers, the couple time-travel to 14^th century England, where they meet Richard’s ancestors - and discover some startling truths about his aristocratic family.

 

Logan Conor, the Scots Duke of Muileach, crashes Richard and Janelle’s wedding, bent on revenge, but finds his own true love instead.

 

On their wedding trip, a madman attempts to kidnap Janelle - twice.

 

Later, Richard unknowingly betrays Janelle who strands him in England. Richard finally arrives home, but fate separates them again – and he misses the birth of his son. Will they ever make a life together?

 

Filled with unexpected twists and turns, their love story spans two continents, and hundreds of years. But, can their love survive their very different backgrounds and the endless obstacles life throws at them?

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Writing ‘runs in the family.’ My mother is a multi-published non-fiction author, and my two brothers make a living writing, one as a newspaperman, the other as a copywriter. My sister edits her church newsletter.

 

My father was a school teacher/reading specialist (later an elementary school principal) when I was little. During story-time one night when I was about four years old, I stopped him and asked how he said the same thing every time he read that story to me. That night, he started teaching me to read. It began a life-long love affair between books and me – for that, I am grateful.

 

In junior high, I wrote short stories to entertain classmates. In high school, one English assignment was to write my autobiography. In the teacher-specified chapter entitled ‘Future Plans,’ being a published writer topped the list.

 

After a college professor told me I ‘couldn’t write my way out of a paper bag,’ I stopped writing for many years. Then, in the late 1970s, I wrote an article for “World Radio News” (San Diego, CA) about our amateur radio club providing communications for a March of Dimes Walkathon. The ‘WRN’ editor used my article word-for-word.

 

In early 2002, between jobs and wanting to write, I sought a third-shift position and used the ‘free time’ to write what became ‘Janelle’s Time.’ When it was complete, I shelved it. In 2009, the WIP came off the shelf. By August 2011, it was ready – at last - for submission.

 

In 2009, I started a Twitter account, @Writers_Cafe. I feel as if I’ve earned a degree in ‘book publishing’ since then! You can learn so much from over 14,000 followers. 

 

I penned an article about @RileyCarney, a Colorado teen, and very prolific YA fantasy author, who heads her own non-profit literacy project. Never officially published, countless people have seen it, thanks to Twitter retweets and some carefully chosen email inboxes.

 

On New Year’s Day, 2010, I went ‘live’ with my blog. It has evolved into a combination of chronicling my writing journey and hopefully helpful posts on publishing industry topics.

 

In the fall of 2011, I added ‘DIY Interviews’ to my blog (see the left column of my blog for details on doing your own interview). Several authors have submitted ‘interviews’ to date.

 

Janelle’s Time is Book 1 of my TIME Series. Book 2, ‘Moria’s Time’ was my NaNoWriMo project for 2011. I reached 51,000 words on November 26! Now, I have to finish that book, and three more in the series: ‘Adelle’s Time,’ ‘Logan’s Time,’ and ‘Clarissa’s Time.’

 

Moving into 2012, I’m very excited about the release of ‘Janelle’s Time.’ It’s the culmination of a life-long dream – and is only the beginning of my retirement career. I’m working on “Moria’s Time,” book 2 of the Time Series.

My husband, Pete, and I have been married over forty-three years – no children. We lived in Massachusetts for thirteen years, and then moved to New Hampshire for eleven years. In 1992, we moved to Florida.

 

Find me on Twitter and Facebook:

@Writers_Cafe

Author Dayna Leigh Cheser

 

Sneak Peek:

 

He sat on the edge of the bed, clinging to the bedpost as memories flooded in, elbowing each other for space in his consciousness.

He remembered everything. He remembered her love for him, and his for her. Their love was pure unbridled passion, wild and joyous.

Now she was gone. And now, he knew how much he’d lost.

Everything.

He also knew there was nothing holding him here. The love of his life was in America. He had to get to her as fast as he could. He had to somehow make things right again.

Calling for Bates to pack his things, his plan was to go to Liverpool and book passage to Portsmouth, New Hampshire on the next available ship. His journey back to Janelle would take weeks, or maybe a lifetime. He loved her and she loved him. He knew they could make it.

First, he had to get home to Janelle.

Within an hour, Richard was explaining what had happened to his mother. She was delighted, and relieved, he was their old Richard again, but shocked at the situation. While she agreed he should make haste back to New Hampshire, she wondered silently how he could have been so foolish.

Sinjin, on hearing his plans, agreed he needed to get home—and the sooner the better. He also wondered about Richard’s foolishness, but decided it had to be a result of the injury he’d suffered.

Richard had but one thought.