I’m Barbara Donlon Bradley and I
write SF/Futuristic Erotic Romance for Phaze, fantasy short stories for Melange
books/Satin Romances, and have three books of varying genres at Hard Shell Word
Factory. I love writing and the way a story unfurls in my head. I have fifteen
titles sold so far. I’ll write as long as the stories keep coming.
Where can readers find you?
I seem to be all over the web – my website: http://www.barbaradonlonbradley.com/ My publishers
websites: http://www.phaze.com/author.php?author=21
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/barbaradbradley/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbbradley
When did you first realize you
wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been writing all my life.
When I was a teenager I wrote short stories to be apart of my favorite comic
books and movies.
How long does it take you to
write a book?
That varies. In the beginning it
took me almost two years to write, the shortest time was five weeks to do the
rough draft. On average I’d say about 6 months. Maybe a little longer depending
on the MS.
How many books have you written?
Which is your favorite?
I have written eighteen books and
sold fifteen of them. I’m one of the lucky ones who have been able to sell most
of their stories. In fact the reason I haven’t sold the other three is because
I haven’t really submitted them yet. I have a time travel I wrote over ten
years ago and there is something not quite right with it, but as the author I
can’t figure it out. I need to go back and reread it and see how much my
writing has changed. Maybe that will fix it. Then there is my werewolf story. I
wrote that about five years ago and submitted it once or twice and found out
that I keep my heroine in the dark too ling. I’ve been wanting to pull it out
and revise it but the series I’ve been working on hasn’t allowed me to do that.
The third book is another installment in my series and I just finished the
rough draft so I’m not ready to submit it yet.
Where do you start when writing?
Research, plotting, outline, or...
It really depends – I’m considered a pantser
because I do my plotting in my head. I start with a scene then as I write I
create the world I’m working with. My books are now SF/Futuristic or fantasy
books so what I do is more world building. If I need to do any research, which
with SF I do that every day via TV shows (science as well as SF shows), I do it
as I write.
If you could give the younger
version of yourself advice what would it be?
Start writing at a younger age.
I’ve had the talent but never thought of pursuing it until my mother in law
moved back to VA and wanted someone to drive her to the local RWA meetings.
Are your stories driven by plot
or character?
They are driven by character, but
I always have a strong plot. I like stories with strong plots and strong
characters so I tend to write that way.
How do you balance a life outside
of writing with deadlines and writing muses?
It’s not always easy. Sometimes
my muses sit on my shoulder and beat on my head until I sit down and start
writing. Other times they have a party in my head while I’m working my day job
working on how to get around a plot twist or a scene that just doesn’t want to
go on paper. I’m pretty good with deadlines, but my publishers are a little
more lenient.
Tell us about your latest book.
I’m working on a series right now
called the Vespian way. My heroine is Heather Drexel, a member of Earth’s
security. Storm, my hero, is the Vespian ambassador and the future leader of
his planet. Heather is assigned to protect him, which he finds laughable. He’s
seven foot four and she’s six foot three. But Heather proves she can do the
job. He finds her fascinating and when the Vespian and Earth governments want
them to marry to help a treaty he goes along with it.
Heather is actually from a race
called the ancients by the Vespians. She has been genetically engineered and
that causes trouble for my characters. The man who created her wants her back
as does one of his enemies.
There are seven books in the
series out and I’m hoping to hear on book eight any day now.
When Heather is confronted with her time
traveling self she fears the worse. The woman came to warn them of a terrible
accident but something isn’t right. The visitors her future self says are there
to help only wants to kidnap her and kill her mate.
Using her mind she tries to protect
her friends and family. Yet she wakes up as a prisoner after seeing the ship
Storm is in blow up. She is now alone, and trapped.
Somehow she has to figure out a way
home and hopefully reverse all the horrible things that have taken her family
from her.
Buy:
Phaze Books – http://phaze.com/book.php?title=Stolen+Desire
Excerpt
Heather sighed as she opened her eyes
and stretched. Before she could move she felt a warm hand on her breast.
“I see you’re awake.” Storm’s breath
brushed against her cheek.
She looked up at her mate, who had a
knowing smile on his face. “And I see you are awake too.” She was referring to
the erection pressed against her hip.
“True, but I can’t help it when I have
such a wonderful partner lying beside me.” Storm nibbled against her throat.
“We still have time before we need to be anywhere.”
“Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” She
smiled as he settled himself between her thighs. “You could have had all the
time you want if you had.”
“Because the twins aren’t allowing you
to get enough sleep yet. I don’t mind watching you sleep when I know you need
it. It gives me time to appreciate having you in my life.” He dipped his head
to her mark. “And waking you up this way is an anticipation I look forward to.
I don’t mind stretching that out a little.”
“Because you know what will happen
when I wake.”
“That is the best part.”
She felt him smile against her neck as
he pulled the soft tissue of her mark into his mouth before he worked his way
down her body.
“You are incorrigible.”
“And that is why I’m your heart.”
A growl escaped him when they were
interrupted by the computer system. “Heather, you have a communiqué from Admiral
Barrister.”
She sighed again. This time in
frustration. What did he want now?
“The last time he contacted us you
ended up being whipped.” Storm climbed back up
her body. “I’m inclined to not let you answer him.”
“Storm, I’m still part of Earth’s
security.” She looked up at him, his face only inches above hers. “I can’t
ignore him.”
“Fine, but you’re not getting out of
this bed until I say so.” He rolled off her and helped her sit up and settle
herself against him. “Put him on, Cim.”
“Sir.” She adjusted the cover to make
sure she didn’t expose herself.
“Commander, sorry if I interrupted
something, but we need to talk, in person.”
“Sir?” What was so important that he
wanted them to make a trip to Earth. “You know it’s not that easy for me to
step away from my duties here.”
“I know, but I have something to show
you that you need to see.” Bear pressed a key and changed the image they were
looking at. The new picture was a holding cell. Inside was a woman who looked a
whole lot like Heather. “Before you ask I ran DNA tests against the data you
gave me. She is you.”
“That isn’t possible.” She suddenly
felt cold.
“Tell that to her.” Bear switched the
image back to him. “Needless to say this was something I didn’t want Earth
security to investigate too deeply so I pretended she was you. I’m on my way to
Vespia and will need clearance in about fifteen minutes.”
“We’ll meet you at the landing port.”
Storm closed the communiqué and was the first one up. “I don’t like this at
all.”
About
the Author
Writing for Barbara Donlon Bradley
started innocently enough, like most she kept diaries, journals, and wrote an
occasional letter but she also had a vivid imagination and wrote scenes and
short stories adding characters to her favorite shows and comic books. As time
went on she found the passion for writing to be a strong drive for her. Humor
is also very strong in her life. No matter how hard she tries to write
something deep and dark, it will never happen. That humor bleeds into her
writing. Since she can’t beat it she has learned to use it to her advantage.
Now she lives in Tidewater Virginia with two cats, one mother in law – who is
87 now - her husband and son.
Website: http://www.barbaradonlonbradley.com/
Publisher: http://www.phaze.com/author.php?author=21
Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbbradley
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/barbaradbradley/
Thank you for being here, Barbara, and best wishes for your latest release.
Thanks for having me, Diane!
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