Please join me in welcoming my guest blogger for the day, Amylynn Bright.
Hi everyone! I’m Amylynn Bright. I write primarily historical romance – especially Regency. That being said, neither of my two latest releases, Out of Heaven and The Sea Rose, fit into that category. Out of Heaven is a contemporary/paranormal and The Sea Rose is a pirate story that takes place in 1718.
Out of Heaven was created when I was folding laundry in my excruciatingly hot laundry room. I had my iPod on and had it set on random. I love to do that because my musical tastes are so eclectic. I can hear a really heavy song by say White Zombie to be immediately followed up by Frank Sinatra and then Johnny Cash and then Iggy Pop and the Stooges. It’s like my iPod has ADHD. Anyway, Nickleback’s song Burn it to the Ground came on and for some reason I started picturing angels come down to earth and raising a little hell. It was originally conceived as a much darker story than it ended up being. I’m always as amazed as anyone by the way my stories end up. I don’t plot. I just sort of follow the story along as it creates itself.
Ultimately, it’s about the Arch Angel Gabriel coming to Earth to make the woman he’s been in love with for eons fall in love with him so he can spend a life on Earth with her. Some of the early reviews have described it as a tear-jerker which surprises me.
The Sea Rose is a rollicking pirate tale. I had a really, really fun time writing it because I’ve always loved pirates. Who hasn’t, right? The hunky, hot pirates anyway, not the scary Somali pirates hanging around S. Africa these days. My pirate, Handsome Jack, rescues a woman afloat in a life boat after a tremendous storm. She’s off to surprise her minister fiancé, and Jack promises to take her there, but whether she’ll go to the fiancé or stay with Jack is still very much up in the air.
I loved writing this story because the dialogue is fast, flirty and funny. I honestly can’t remember how it was conceived. I wrote it in two weeks from the idea to the last word. I’ve been asked to write the continuing adventures of Jack and Roselyn but so far I just don’t have time. If I get more requests, I’ll have to give it serious consideration though.
A lot of people have asked me about my writing process. It’s not complicated, but not a lot of people can do it or want to either. Because my kids are small (5 & 7) it is completely impossible to write while they are awake so all my writing is done after they go to bed. I write and research and screw around pretending that I’m writing from 9ish to somewhere around 12:30 or 1:00 when I make myself go to bed because I still have to get up at 6:30 in the morning to get the kids off to school and get to my day job. I’m frequently very tired, but I’m a night person by nature. If left alone, I’d easily write all night long.
Also, I always have the TV on when I’m writing but I generally ignore it. And it’s always tuned to an action movie – one I’ve seen a gazillion times like Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, Armageddon, 300, Spiderman – that kind of thing. I like the noise and, because I’ve seen it a million times, I don’t have to pay attention to it. The TV doesn’t ask me questions nor does it tattle on its brother. It’s the perfect writing companion.
Out of Heaven
By Amylynn Bright
Genre: Paranormal Romance
PUBLISHER: Keith Publications
ISBN: 978-1-936372-00-3
AUTHOR’S KP WEB PAGE:
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BLURB: The Archangel Gabriel is going to Earth to win the woman he has loved for eons. He is confident that it won’t be that difficult… but, he only has one day to meet her and make her fall in love with him. She’s been hurt before and he finds that she’s not exactly a pushover. And as if he needed a further challenge, there are mischievous demons trying to keep them apart.
EXCERPT:
The instant he left her, a screaming infant under the bright lights in a modern hospital room, he return and demanded an interview with Michael.
“I’m going. You know the love I have with her is different. One life is all I want. I have watched her leave me and return for eons, and this time I’m going whether you approve or not.”
Michael studied Gabriel. “Oh Gabriel ….Why do you want to go? Humans are only mortal. They are lesser beings than our kind.”
“As you say,” Gabriel nodded, “but, humans are also more than you give them credit for. Otherwise, she would not be compelled to return back there, especially not after the last horrid life. Why would a soul willfully return to pain unless the passion is more than you or I can imagine?”
Michael deliberated. Gabriel spoke with such ferocity, making it difficult not to consider his request and, being a warrior himself, Michael could appreciate his friend putting up a fight for what he wanted. Michael sat forward in his chair, steepled his fingers, and gazed at the other Archangel.
“What you ask is too dangerous, Gabriel.” Michael shook his head. “There’s no way to predict what could happen. Once they hear you’re down there . . . we couldn’t protect you.”
“I’m willing to accept the risk.”
“I’m glad to hear you are, but I’m not sure I want to accept the risks with you.”
Gabriel sighed in frustration. “Please allow me the chance. Just one life with her. I want to hold her with my arms and make love to her the way mortal men can.”
After a long silence, Michael sat back in his chair, his polished armor gleaming in the ethereal light from the Astral Plane, and nodded. “One life. But, due to the risks, there will be rules and conditions.”
“Anything.”
“You have one earth cycle to entice the mortal woman to fall in love with you, true love. And you may not reveal your identity to her under any circumstances.” Michael paused, probably for effect. He was not only the most powerful Archangel, but also the most dramatic. He stood and sheathed his massive sword. “If you fail, you will immediately return to the Akasha and there will be no other similar opportunity.” His tone didn’t allow for negotiation.
Only twenty-four hours. That amount of time would have to be enough time. “Thank you, Michael,” he told the retreating warrior.
“God speed,” Michael called over his shoulder. “And good luck.”
Thank you for being here today Amylynn. I wish you tons of sales and much success!