Lets give a great big welcome to Anita. She's joining us on the blog today to share all kind of goodies with us such as an interview, author bio, excerpts and a giveaway. So don't forget to enter to win the giveaway at the very end. So lets get started:
I know you get asked this question over and over but can you tell us a
little about yourself? Maybe something juicy. ;)
I’ve always been in love. Honestly, I can’t
remember a time I wasn’t head over heels over someone. It all started with
Donny Osmond when I was 9 years old. There were many movie star loves
afterwards, and some real boys. I was madly, and secretly, in love with one boy
from 7th grade all the way through 10th grade. I think I
actually stalked him. J He was two years older than me. I finally got up the nerve to talk to
him when I was in 10th grade, and I even got a kiss. Oh, the joy,
until I found out he had a girlfriend. Ah, all those wasted years. But good or
bad, my adventures in love have been good inspiration for writing romance, and
stalking!
When did you first start writing? Are you a full time author or do you
do it on the side?
I am a full time author. I started writing February
6, 2006. I sold my first book three years, eleven months, and twenty two days
later.
Do you have an author that has really
inspired you?
I love reading, and I think my love of fascinating
stories has inspired me to write, but when I dig down deep and recall a story I
really connected with as an adult, I think of the Amelia Peabody series by
Elizabeth Peters. I fell in love her characters and her writing, so it’s
possible that she influenced me more than I realize.
How long does it normally take you to write an average book or your last
book?
I’m anxious to find that out myself. Neither of my
books have been “normal” situations. Awaken the Highland warrior, my first book
published was the second manuscript I started, and my second book published was
my first manuscript started. I really polished my craft on Awaken and my agent
allowed me lots of time. When I realized that the first manuscript should also
be part of the series, I had to do a complete revision to make it paranormal.
What do you think makes a story great?
It needs to be engaging and memorable, to capture
the reader’s interest for the moment, and have them thinking about it after
they’ve finished the story. I love romance and mystery, so for me, the best
stories have both.
Can you describe your book "Embrace The Highland Warrior" in
one sentence?
When antiques dealer, Shay Logan becomes the
target of the powerful demon who left her for dead as a child, she’s forced to
return to the Scottish Warrior who betrayed her…the only man she’s ever loved.
Tell us a little about your book “Awaken the Highland Warrior. Is this a
series and do you suggest reading them in order?
While searching for treasure, a
mis-adventurous historian discovers a 19th century Scottish warrior
buried in a crypt, but the warrior isn’t dead. When he wakes, he has no choice
but accept the help of this modern day woman, but she’s more fearsome than the
demon who’s trying to kill him. If he’s not careful, she’ll uncover every
secret his clan has bled and died to protect. There are many warriors in
countries all over the world, but this series just deals with the Scottish
warriors of the Connor Clan. They’re strong, sexy, and most of them have secrets.
Let me introduce them to you.
There’s Faelan, the only warrior who’s ever been assigned two
ancient demons. Born in the 19th century, Faelan was most powerful warrior
of his time. He was trapped in a time vault and slept for 150 years, waking to
a strange world filled with modern technology and even stranger…modern females.
For God’s sakes, they’re even warriors, now. What will they do next, he ponders,
send children into battle? Then there’s Ronan, 6’3 inches of raw, sexy warrior,
better than Robin Hood with his bow, and equally at home with a sword or a bonny
lass. Cody, the only other warrior who’s been assigned an ancient demon, might
have pretended to be the tough boy next door, and he’s good at hiding secrets,
but his world will never be the same when he finds out what’s been hidden from
him. Shane is quiet but the fastest with a sword, and Niall is a one-man army, with
legs like tree trunks. Brodie’s the prankster of the bunch, always getting into
trouble. Tomas is a clan medic and Brodie’s reluctant partner in mischief. Duncan
is brooding and frustrated and spends too much time worrying about Sorcha, a
feisty redhead who likes flirting almost as much as killing demons. Anna, a
stunning beauty, has a shocking, troubled past and has chosen to remain a
warrior forever, but destiny has some surprises in store. And my heroines are
more than just mates to these sexy warriors. They have talents that will shock
even them.
The stories would be best read in order since
there are some threads that carry over, and the secondary characters reappear.
Have you done lots of research for your books or do the stories just
come to you?
This series started with a dream, so it kind of
just came to me, but there is research to be done for accuracy’s sake. It’s
surprising how many questions arise when writing.
What are you currently working on?
I’m trying to get the third book in the Connor Clan
series out this year. Unleash the
Highland Warrior is going to be really intense with lots of surprises.
I’m also working on a new paranormal relic hunters series
with mysterious relics, secret curses, and two really great heroes that the
heroine will have to choose between. This story has lots of twists and turns,
and will be even heavier on the mystery.
Can you tell us about some of your prior achievements?
I was thrilled that Awaken made the USA Today
and the New York Times bestseller
lists after only four months. That was a wow moment!
Is there anything that I didn't cover that you would like to talk about
or say to your potential readers?
I love readers.
Writers would be nothing without readers to curl up and get lost in their
stories. So come and find me and let’s talk books. I’m on Facebook, Twitter,
Goodreads, Shelfari. Also, sign up for my newsletter on my website for updates
on the books. And if you have a Kindle, both books are on sale now!
Just for fun:
Hardback or Paperback?
Paperback
Dog ears or Bookmarks? Bookmarks, but not normal ones. I’m not that organized.
I have to use whatever is at hand. Usually a scrap of paper.
YA novels or Adult novels? Adult
Library or Bookstore? Both.
Reading glasses or No glasses? Reading glasses.
Snack while reading or No snacks? Snack.
Beach or Mountain? Mountain.
Vampire or Werewolf? Half vamp-half wolf
Hot or Flirty? Flirty
Movie 1st or Book 1st? Book 1st
Contemporary or Historical? Both. J Time travel!
Page-Turner or Tear Jerker? Page turner.
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Anita
Clenney writes mysteries, and paranormal romantic suspense. Before giving
herself over to the writing bug, she worked in a pickle factory and a
preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, and has been a secretary,
executive assistant, and a real estate agent. She lives with her husband and
two children in suburban Virginia. To find out more information, please visit http://www.anitaclenney.com/, follow her on Twitter @anitaclenney, or like her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/anitaclenneyAUTHOR.
Some
places you can buy Embrace:
Cody sighed. Might as well get it over with. He removed the shackles,
returned them, and bent over her. “Shay, wake up.”
Her eyes flew open. She planted both hands against his chest and
shoved, knocking him on his back, then sprang on top of him. “How dare you
handcuff me to a bed?” she yelled, punctuating each word with a shake that
rattled his brain. He didn’t fight back. She had to get it out of her system,
and he didn’t blame her. He’d be more than pissed if someone shackled him.
She landed a fist into his stomach, and the breath rushed out of
him. Okay, enough was enough. He captured her hands and rolled, trapping her
under him.
“Get off me, you oaf.”
“I’ll get off when you stop beating the snot out of me.”
She let out a war cry and lunged for his throat, teeth bared.
Intrigued, he hesitated a second too long, and she sank her teeth into his
neck. A jolt of desire shot straight to his groin. He’d never been one for the
rough stuff, but damn! He pulled back before she could do more than leave a
bruise. He trapped her legs with his and held her hands above her head, letting
his full weight press her into the soft mattress. She still struggled but could
move only enough to get him excited.
“I’m sorry, Shay. I had to do it. It was too dangerous to let you go
traipsing through the woods. I had to keep you safe.”
“What if he was hiding in one of the other bedrooms and sneaked in
here while I was handcuffed to the bed? You left me so I couldn’t even protect
myself.”
“Lach heard him out in the woods, but that’s why I locked the door, just
in case. If this guy had broken it down to get to you, you would’ve screamed,
and I would’ve come running. I was never far from the house.” He’d heard every
name she called him.
Her eyes still flashed fire, but her breath was steadier, and she
kept glancing at his mouth. He thought that was a good thing. He wondered if she’d
calmed enough not to hit him, because he should move. She had to notice the
effect all the wiggling around was having on him. He felt her hips push against
his, and he groaned. He relaxed his grip and lowered his head, letting his lips
touch her chin. He kissed his way to her mouth, and she head butted him in the
nose.
While the stars exploded in his head, she shoved him aside and
bolted out the door. He jumped up and went after her as she pounded down the
stairs. He caught up with her outside. She was swinging her purse like a whip,
headed for the car.
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
“Get away from me.”
“You can’t leave.”
“Watch me.” She opened the door. “I’m tired of people hiding things
from me. I thought you were going to stop. Now you’re handcuffing me to the
bed.”
“I explained it to you.”
“Don’t touch me,” she said, jerking away when he grabbed her arm.
“You’re not leaving.”
Shay straightened her shoulders. “You can’t stop me.”
He grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder, kicked the car door
shut, and stomped up the steps.
“Put me down!” Shay kicked and twisted, cursing at him. He dumped
her on her feet inside the door.
She blew her hair out of her face, and as soon as she could see, she
threw a punch at his chin. He deflected it and grabbed her arm. “Stop hitting
me.”
“How dare you throw me over your shoulder like some kind of caveman,”
she spat, trying to wrench her arm free. It didn’t work, so she used her knee.
“Ah, not there.” Cody trapped her knee. “I made the mistake of letting
you leave here nine years ago without listening to me. By God, I won’t do it
again. You’ll listen if I have to sit on you,” he growled.
She drew back her other arm, and before she could throw the punch,
he had her on the floor and was sitting astride her, pinning her wrists to the
floor. She bucked and twisted, but he held her down. “We can do this all night
if you want, but you’re going to listen to me this time.”
“Listen to more lies? You’re still hiding things from me. Like the
fact that you have Nina’s entire house under surveillance. Like the fact that
you’ve got a Bat Cave in your basement. Like the fact that you were in Scotland
when the stalking started.”
“You think I’m your stalker?” he yelled. “Me! I’m trying to keep you
alive. We’re all trying to keep you alive. That’s what the clan’s been doing
your whole damned life, trying to keep you alive! And just like always, you’re
making it hard as hell. Your father wasn’t a bloody spy, and that thing in your
living room wasn’t a man!”
I’ll give away one paperback copy of Embrace the Highland Warrior
to a commenter. To enter, answer the question:
Based on my warrior descriptions, which warrior’s
story would you want to read next?
An amazing story! Definitely a keeper.
A must read. A good page turner.
A enjoyable read. An average book.
A book that has flaws and is hard to finish.
Terrible and couldn't finish it.
