INTERVIEW WITH SUSPENSE AND PARANORMAL AUTHOR ALICIA DEAN

When you have Misophonia

Today we sit down for a chat with suspense and paranormal author Alicia Dean. She wrote her first romance at age ten (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Learn more about her and her books at her website.  

When did you realize you wanted to write novels? 

When I was a child. I wrote my first romance at age 10.

 

How long did it take you to realize your dream of publication? 

My first novel was published in 2007, so 36 years. 😊

 

Are you traditionally published, indie published, or a hybrid author? 

Hybrid

 

Where do you write? 

Usually in my living room recliner, but I love to get away and write in other locations when I can, preferably a secluded cabin in the woods…as long as there are no serial killers in the vicinity.

 

Is silence golden, or do you need music to write by? What kind? 

I like either silence, or rain sounds. Not music.

 

How much of your plots and characters are drawn from real life? From your life in particular? 

Only bits and pieces. I try not to put too much of myself into characters, but I know that most authors, whether they intend to or not, usually do. The plots are not drawn from real life at all.

 

Describe your process for naming your character? 

Most of the time, I look up baby names and see which names seem to fit my character. Sometimes, I like to give my characters a name that has meaning, even if it’s just meaningful to me. 

 

Real settings or fictional towns? 

Both. I prefer fictional since I can mold it to fit my needs and I don’t have to worry about accuracy. 

 

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has? 

Well, this isn’t really a quirk, but the protagonist in my current work in progress has a condition called ‘Misophonia’ which translates to ‘hatred of sound’ wherein certain sounds, mostly eating sounds like crunching and smacking, trigger an uncontrollable reaction—part of which is rage and disgust and the desire to flee. 

 

What’s your quirkiest quirk? 

I actually have Misophonia. I’ve suffered from it all my life and didn’t know it was an actual condition with a name until a few years back. I always thought I was just picky and neurotic.

 

If you could have written any book (one that someone else has already written,) which one would it be? Why? 

Probably Gone with the Wind. It’s my favorite novel which, of course, was made into a fabulous movie and both have been loved by generations. The characters and the plot were gripping.

 

Everyone at some point wishes for a do-over. What’s yours? 

I would have seriously pursued writing much sooner and stuck with it.

 

What’s your biggest pet peeve? 

See above. 😊 Crunching, smacking, and other sounds like people brushing their teeth, jiggling keys, pen clicking, rocking in a chair (yes, it’s weird, but those things drive me nuts…)

 

You’re stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves? 

Books, coffee, Elvis music. (Would I have power? :D)

 

What was the worst job you’ve ever held? 

I was once a Telemarketer. I hated it…it didn’t last long at all. Not only do I hate talking on the phone, period, I also hated encroaching on people’s time and having to be so aggressive in trying to get them to buy the product. I also had a supervisor breathing down my neck and admonishing me for not being forceful enough. Miserable!

 

What’s the best book you’ve ever read? 

Gone with the Wind. Although, since it’s also the book I mentioned that I wish I’d written, I’ll add a few other standouts, like the Bosch series by Michael Connelly and Mystic River by Dennis Lehane.

 

Ocean or mountains? 

Mountains. (Although, if it’s an ocean where it’s cold, I’d pick ocean 😊)

 

City girl/guy or country girl/guy? 

City, all the way!

 

What’s on the horizon for you? 

I’m working on a police procedural that I hope to finish soon. And I have three series for which I need to write sequels. I’m also working on a Friday the 13^th story to be released on Friday, May 13, which is part of a project I’m doing with 12 other authors…get it, 13 total? 😊

 

Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself and/or your books? 

Liberty Awakened is one of many of my books I’m re-releasing through The Wild Rose Press. They are getting all new covers, and I absolutely love the new looks. I’m also an editor at Wild Rose, and I love being published with them.

 

Thank you so much for having me as your guest!

 

Liberty Awakened

Isle of Fangs Series, Book 1

Liberty Delacort doesn't believe in Vampires. Then she meets the father she never knew, just before his death, and learns she's the last of the Van Helsing bloodline.

Eli, a 300 year old Vampire, doesn't believe Liberty has what it takes to stand between the humans and the Evil Ones on Sang Croc Island, and orders her back to the mainland.

Ryan, a friend of Liberty's late-father, disagrees and insists that Eli provide the promised training.

Now the Full Moon has come and Liberty must stand in the gap. But unbeknownst to her--she's fallen for the wrong vampire.

 

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FAVORITES, FAILURES & FRUSTRATIONS--AUTHOR ALICIA DEAN ON KID ANECDOTES

Alicia's Three Kids All Grown Up

Alicia Dean is a suspense and paranormal author who wrote her first romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley) at age ten. She still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Learn more about Alicia and her books at her website. 

Favorites: Kid Anecdotes

My three children are grown now, my son, Presley is twenty-three. My daughters, Lana and Lacey, are thirty-two and thirty, respectively. Although I know raising kids is a tough job, looking back, I mostly remember the joy, the fun. My kids were adorable, smart and so funny. I’m sure most parents feel that way, but mine really were. ;) I decided I’d share a few cute things they’ve said over the years in today’s post.

I pulled out an old spiral notebook where I’d written down some things so I wouldn’t forget them. What I didn’t recall was that I’d actually journaled for a little while in 1991. I’d read a book on writing and it recommended that if you want to write, you should journal. I’m not much of a journaler, and it was another ten years before I really pursued writing seriously, but I found a treasure trove of memories from what I’d written all those years ago. This was before my son was born, so it was mostly about the girls. I won’t bore you with tons of anecdotes, but I’ll share a few. These aren’t necessarily my actual favorites, but they are a few that made me laugh. Some are the ‘you had to be there’ kind of stories. I have a few to share from my son as well; they just weren’t in this particular notebook.

Lana

Lana: When she was three, my then husband worked for Coca-Cola. I was driving downtown, with Lana in the car, and we stopped at a light where a Coca-Cola sign sat on the street corner. A couple of bums were hanging around, one was leaning against the sign. Lana pointed at the sign and said, “That’s where Daddy works.” I said, “Yes, it is.” She curled up her nose and said, “Daddy sure works with some gross people.”

Lacey

Lacey: When she was about three, she said, “Momma, if Jesus is in your heart, what does he do when you drink milk?” And, another when she was about the same age: We were going through the drive-through at a bank where the tellers were enclosed in their outside cubicles. She said, “What do bank people do when it’s time to go to sleep?”

Presley

Presley: When he was two, I put him in a “Mother’s Day Out” program where he could socialize with other kids. He wasn’t thrilled with the prospect and was always reluctant to go. One day around Easter we were on our way and I was trying to pump him up about going. I said, “Presley, it’s going to be fun. You get to hunt Easter eggs!” He said, “Well, see, I can’t go. I didn’t bring my gun.”

What about you? Any funny little things your kids said when they were little? If your kids are still little, I encourage you to jot down the adorable things they say. You’ll cherish them in the years to come.

Devil’s Promenade, *A World of Gothic: United States

Amidst a blizzard, paranormal debunker Camille Burditt arrives at Devil’s Promenade in Oklahoma to research a supernatural 'spook light' phenomenon for her latest book. There she encounters a ghostly being, which she dismisses as a figment of her imagination. But as the apparition becomes too persistent to deny, Camille realizes the woman’s ghost is quite real—and that her demise was not accidental. 

Declan Rush—the inhospitable, reclusive owner of the inn where Camille is staying—is linked to the deceased woman, but he is less than forthcoming. Despite his unfriendliness, Camille is oddly drawn to him, even though she suspects his connection to the spirit might be that of killer to victim. 

When another suspicious death occurs, Camille intensifies her investigation. She has precious little time to ferret out the truth. Not only is her book deadline looming—she's desperate to discover if the man she’s falling for is a murderer. 

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*A World of Gothic is a Gothic Mystery Romance Series by authors from all over the world. For information on other titles and for interesting tidbits on mysteries and the authors, check out A World of Gothic Facebook page. 

#FASHION WITH TESSA--GUEST AUTHOR ALICIA DEAN

Award-winning author Alicia Dean began wrote her first romance, featuring an Elvis Presley look-alike hero, at the age of eleven. She still has the tattered, pencil-written manuscript. Today she joins us to talk about the fashions of the 1920s. Learn more about Alicia and her books at her website. 

Fashion in the 1920’s – Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

Clothing in the 1920s, especially for women, brought about one of the most drastic fashion changes in history. With the new era of independence and freedom and change, women shucked the uncomfortable bindings of corsets and long dresses. Hemlines began to rise, and the restrictive clothing began to loosen. Dancing and going out on the town was a big part of socializing in the 1920s and to accommodate that way of life, women began to wear loose-fitting dresses with lower waist lines, which was especially comfortable for the popular dance of the time, The Charleston.

The cloche hat was quite popular.

In the Martini Club 4 series, all of our heroines, although from England, adopted the flapper wardrobe after arriving in New York City, with the exception of Meggie, from Kathy L Wheeler’s, Reckless. Meggie is a singer, who prefers the body hugging style of dress. But after all, what else should a sexy, siren songstress wear?

Men’s fashions changed quite a bit as well. Less often did you see the stuffy, buttoned-up look and drab-colored suits. Men adopted more colorful, rather unusual looks, much of it patterned after the style of popular athletes.

In Ruined, my hero, Vince, wears a newsboy cap and suspenders. I modeled him after Robert Redford and these are photos I used as inspiration:

Although I’m not much of a clotheshorse, I do love the gorgeous, fun dresses from the 1920s. (I’m satisfied to knock around in jeans. Or even sweat pants. But my very favorite go-to outfit is my comfy pajamas.) My heroine, Eliza, had an opportunity to attend elegant affairs in the story, which gave me the opportunity to dress her in all kinds of awesome outfits.

What about you? What do you think of the styles of the 1920s? Would you like it if we went back to wearing the flapper dresses, beads, and funky hats?

 

Ruined: Martini Club 4 Series—The 1920’s

She vowed she’d be no man’s doxy, but fate had other plans... 

After the Earl of Goodwin attempts to force himself on her, housemaid Eliza Gilbert flees England for New York, hoping to build a better life. But the land of opportunity proves as harsh as the London docks, and she finds herself in a situation more dreadful than the one she escaped. 

When Vince Taggart’s childhood friend disappears, he heads to New York in search of her and meets Eliza, a woman with a less than honorable reputation. Inexplicably captivated, Vince can’t force himself to stay away, especially when he learns Eliza may be the key to finding his missing friend. 

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Ruined is one of the books in the Martini Club series, four themed novellas written by four different authors. All are currently on sale for 99 cents. Check out the other books in the series here.

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--THE MARTINI CLUB

Left to Right: Alicia Dean, Amanda McCabe, Kathy L Wheeler, Krysta Scott

Alicia Dean is one of the members of the Martini Club. The club is comprised of four writing friends. Today Alicia talks about how they collaborated on a new romance series set in the Roaring Twenties. Learn more about the Martini Club at their Facebook page. 

  

Martini Club 4 – The 1920s

A few years ago, myself and three of my writer friends—Amanda McCabe, Kathy L. Wheeler, and Krysta Scott—began meeting each Friday evening (unless something extremely important kept one of us away, and trust me, it had to be IMPORTANT) for Martinis and various other libations, at the Martini Lounge in Edmond, Oklahoma. In time, we came to dub our gathering the ‘Martini Club.’ We unwind, vent, chat about writing, laugh, and strengthen an already strong bond of friendship. It’s not only fun, it’s beneficial. As all writers know, no other friend besides a writer friend truly understands us. (We also have an honorary MC member, Cindy Sorenson. Although she is a writer, she declined to write one of the stories, but she has been invaluable as far as brainstorming and beta reading. So, what else could we do…we named a character after her in the series!)

During one of these gatherings, one of us, and I can’t remember who, made an offhand remark about writing stories centered around the Martini Club. The idea blossomed from there, and the ‘Martini Club 4’ series was born. We thought it would be fun to set our first MC4 stories in the 1920’s, but we intend to write more in other decades in the future. During the planning, plotting, and writing, we have had a few weekend retreats that were loads of fun, and some were even productive. J What a joy to do something that I love so much—writing—with a group of ladies that I love so much!

The four books that comprise the Martini Club 4 series officially release on February 26. Right now you can pre-order any of the books at the sale price of only 99¢. The price will go up to $2.99 after the release date.

Martini Club 4 – The 1920s

Four young English women discover friendship, romance, and danger in 1920’s New York City...

Rebellious, Book 1 by Amanda McCabe

Can an aristocratic lady melt the cold heart of a Russian gangster?

Lady Jessica Hatton fled her high-society London debutante life for one of investigative journalism in New York—only to be relegated to the fashion pages. Searching for a juicy story leads her to Club 501, the city's most glamorous speakeasy—and its handsome, mysterious owner, Frank Markov. But his past of war and revolution puts their hearts—and their lives—in danger...

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Ruined, book 2 by Alicia Dean

She vowed she’d be no man’s doxy, but fate had other plans...

After the Earl of Goodwin attempts to force himself on her, housemaid Eliza Gilbert flees England for New York, hoping to build a better life. But the land of opportunity proves as harsh as the London docks, and she finds herself in a situation more dreadful than the one she escaped.

When Vince Taggart’s childhood friend disappears, he heads to New York in search of her and meets Eliza, a woman with a less than honorable reputation. Inexplicably captivated, Vince can’t force himself to stay away, especially when he learns Eliza may be the key to finding his missing friend.

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Reckless, Book 3 by Kathy L. Wheeler

Lady Margaret turned Lady Bootlegger…

Singer Margaret (Meggie) Montley needs money…fast. Her friend is in a dire situation with nowhere to turn. While Meggie is on the brink of stardom, it’s not soon enough to save her friend.

Harry Dempsey is out to avenge the deaths of his father and brother at the hands of a ruthless gangster. But trouble spirals out of control when Meggie Montley shows up the night he meets his nemesis to settle the score. Saving the impetuous woman from a crime lord might be easier than saving her from her own reckless behavior.

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Runaway, Book 4 by Krysta Scott

Can she prove her innocence before more than her dreams are destroyed?

After escaping an arranged marriage, Lady Charlotte Leighton lands on a new shore, determined to realize her dream of opening her own bakery. But her plans are shattered when her former fiancé follows her to New York. Now, she finds herself in a fight for her freedom.

Haunted by a string of failures, Detective Felix Noble is determined to solve his latest case. But his efforts to find a murderer are jeopardized by a forbidden attraction to his number one suspect. While he’s certain Charlotte Leighton is keeping secrets, instinct tells him she’s not the murderess he first believed.

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