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Thursday, October 9, 2014

Meet Barbara Donlon Bradley #MFRWauthor

Barbara Donlon Bradley is my guest today. Without further ado, here she is!
Welcome, Barbara. Please tell us about yourself.



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

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:


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.


Thank you for being here, Barbara, and best wishes for your latest release.

1 comment:

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