It’s that time of the week again, beautiful people, and we have a jam-packed episode today. Settle in and get comfy!
This week we have E Broom and Rian Durant.
Author Bio
E’s Quirky Questions
Holly: If you could live anywhere real or imaginary where would it be and why?
Broom: I would love to live in Cadenbury, where magic is abound and Ernest has his squirt bottle.
But in real life, I’d love to live in the middle of the countryside.
Holly: What was the first book that made you cry?
Broom: Watership Down, is the first book I can remember crying at. Since then, there have been a few more, but that book scarred me lol.
Holly: What other artistic pursuits (if any) do you indulge in apart from writing?
Broom: So many. I love most things crafty. I paint, I play with clay and resin. I junk journal, I make jewellery, I used to make cards as well, but something had to give.
Holly: What are some day jobs that you have had/have? Do they impact your writing, share an example.
Broom: My longest weekend job was at B&Q, a DIY store. I loved it, I worked on the customer service desk and ended up weekend till supervisor.
My first full time job was as office admin for a holographic company in their R&D department. I had no idea what those scientists were talking about most of the time, so me taking minutes in a meeting was just me putting people’s initials and leaving everything else blank. After the meeting I would send an email and tell everyone to just fill out their parts.
I have books coming up where these jobs will be helpful.
But mostly I pull on my ghost hunting experiences. I used to volunteer for a paranormal tours company and lead groups around haunted locations. I also used to go around the country reading cards. I use a lot of the people I met and the experiences I had in my books.
Holly: How did you come up with the idea for this book?
Broom: Grey is the New Black is part of my Cadenbury Series. When we first met Sal in Where There’s a Witch, I thought he was just a bit character, but that soon changed. I loved writing his story, but he did go through a lot.
Holly: What was the hardest part of writing this book?
Broom: For me, I don’t plan my books. I just start typing and see what happens.
The only time I tried to plan a book out was for The Eulogy. I started writing that on the day of my Nan’s funeral. It was supposed to be sad, and whatnot, but my characters laughed at that and did their own thing. The book I ended up with was the complete opposite.
Holly: What do you do when you get writer’s block?
Broom: I usually start another story, as I only get it when stumped with my current WIP.
Holly: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Broom: I’d tell myself that self publishing isn’t scary and to start sooner.
Holly: Do you ever base your characters on real people? Do you tell them?
Broom: I do. In my book Clueless, Molly and Dolly are based on my Mum and friend of hers. I have also used mum as inspiration for Ray’s mum in The Eulogy. I didn’t need to tell her, as she spotted herself, but Helen I did tell. She was flattered but doesn’t like the phrase, ‘Deary Ducks’.
I also used my old assistant in a book. He made my life hell, and was one of the reasons I got so sick. I made him a vampire who has a nasty death.
Holly: Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
Broom: When I first started releasing books I use to read all reviews. Now, I look at the first couple and leave it at that.
For low star review, I use to use them for marketing purposes. I’d copy part of the review and pop it next to a picture of the book, and then ask readers to make their own mind up.
Grey is the New Black.
“We use cupcakes to stop the vicious killer flying puppies?” Sion asks, trying not to laugh. “Any particular flavour?
Saladin Edenwood is a true dark witch from one of the original lines, but he doesn’t want to use his magic for evil. He gets to decide how he uses his magic, not his family or his magic.
But Sal has a secret: his magic talks to him every day, offering him whatever he wants as long as he gives in to his dark magic. However, help is at hand! Sal can merge his light and dark magic and become the first grey true witch. Simple right?
Nothing in life is ever simple, especially as the dark witches are upping their game and pulling out different moves and demons bringing even more danger.
Sal has a secret wish… that Jude Stone, the handsome carpenter, would want to help ground him and love him.
With danger lurking, killer animals, monsters, dark witches, and demons, can Sal combine his magic, start something with Jude, and receive perfect tens from the town?
E’s Follow Me Links:
Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/279310059875194/
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/authore.broom.7
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebroomauthor/
Author Bio
Rian Durant is a writer roaming the MM fiction sphere but doesn’t like being confined by (sub)genres and categories. The only rule she believes in when it comes to life, love, and writing is to do everything with passion or not at all.
Rian’s Quirky Questions
Holly: Describe yourself using… (choose one: a food, a book, a song, a movie, an animal, a drink, a place etc)
RIAN DURANT: Lizard 🙂 Every time I see one basking in the sun, I’m thinking that’s it, this is my spirit animal, as I really like doing the same. Then out of curiosity, I checked what is the symbolism of lizards as spirit animals – intellectual growth by shedding old layers, igniting passion and so many more, I totally claimed them.
Holly: Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favorite?
RIAN DURANT: Usually, I (or the characters) prefer silence around me. However, I get inspired by music a lot and it’s hard to speak about a favourite because my playlists are as eclectic as my writing. There’s one song, though, that I found while I was writing Destination:Love and it fit perfectly with the part of the story I was at. It’s Tyler Brayden’s Try Losing One.
Holly: Name an underappreciated novel that you love. What is it about this book that you adore?
RIAN DURANT: Love Hate Repeat by Vivian Lynne. I love how intense and lyrical it is. It’s not a traditional romance, more like a New Adult contemporary but I love it as it captures all the passion and chaos of youth on the shimmering borderline between lust and devotion at a time when love can be all-consuming but there is also a whole world to discover.
Holly: What secondary character would you like to explore more? Tell me about them.
RIAN DURANT: Jun-seo. He’s the type of character who likes to keep a secret or two and throw them at you mid-writing.
Holly: Who has been your favorite character to write and why?
RIAN DURANT: Willam. He’s pure sunshine and takes everything in a stride, although he can be a bit (over)dramatic sometimes. A very chatty character.
Holly: Let’s talk to your characters for a minute – what’s it like to work for such a demanding writer?
RIAN DURANT: Oh, no, no darling *teasing wing* it’s tottaly the other way around.
Holly: Are you a plotter or a pantster?
RIAN DURANT: I’d say 80/20 in favour of pantsing, or discovery writing as I like to call it. Writing a plotted-out story feels too much like work for me and I prefer writing to feel like an exciting trip.
Holly: How many books are you usually working on at the same time? How many unfinished WIPs do you have?
RIAN DURANT: Let’s not go there! *nervous laugh* Let’s just say I’m working on three main projects at the moment.
Destination: Love
William, a cute history teacher with a past connected to the escort business, moves to a small town across the country to “uncomplicate” his life after mixing up with a shady company.
School life is better than he ever imagined but his growing feelings for his gorgeous landlord are about to complicate it again when Grayson’s past disappointments and view on sex workers come into play.
Love conquers all, or does it?
Teaser from Destination: Love
“You are devastating today, Will,” he whispered.
“Mmm, am I?” I asked and tilted my head some more. He traced my neck and collarbone with his lips while his hands moved freely over my back and ventured down. He cupped my ass and pulled me forward until we started grinding together. By this time, I was already on fire and so was he. I twisted my hand in his hair once again and he looked up with a question in his eyes.
“Bedroom?”
“You think we can reach it?” I asked, pulling frantically at his belt.
“It’s worth trying, ain’t it?”
He slapped my hand jokingly and lifted me off the ground. I gripped his waist with my thighs.
“You’re not going to drop me?”
“I’ve lifted heavier things than you,” he smirked. “Just don’t fidget so much.”
“Oh, but I want to fidget. You realize that some of your body parts are right under my ass?”
He laughed so hard that, maybe afraid that he’d really drop me, he eased me on the third step of the second flight. I continued gripping him, thus making him kneel on the quarter space landing.
“That’s a comfortable position,” I said and licked my lips.
Rians’s Social Links
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rian_durant
NEW IN MM ROMANCE
CHARITY ANTHOLOGY RELEASING ON FRIDAY
Do you like mechanical devices with personality? Sure, who doesn’t? How about when they hold your life in the palm of their hands? Hmm…less sure now, yes? Don’t worry, you’re gonna love this.
At an LGBTQ literary retreat in October of 2022, a group of authors met a particularly cantankerous elevator. Doors slamming open or closed for no apparent reason? Check. Scary noises, also for no apparent reason? Also, check. Were we concerned for our lives? Okay, listen…
This cranky elevator figured heavily into conversations for the next few days, many of which included expletives in a dozen languages, but eventually, it became a (somewhat) beloved mascot. Some people actually chose it over the other elevators!
The resulting mayhem is over twenty-five different author takes on the underlying story behind the elevator’s peculiar behavior. Possession? Poltergeists? Personified mechanical objects? Vampires?
All these unique stories come together in one volume: Midnight in the Renaissance Elevator. Join us as we attempt to explain the unexplainable, rationalize the unrationalizable, and give imagination free rein.
Proceeds for the sale of this book benefit The Trevor Project, which provides crisis support services to LGBTQ young people.
Pre-order for the best price at $2.99
FOR THE LOVE OF THE PROTECTOR
By Kelsey Hodge
Frank
My job is to protect, and it’s a job that I’m good at… but it comes at a cost. In order to survive and keep my family safe, I need to hide my true self. Then he comes along and quite literally pushes himself into my world and changes everything. Now I need to decide if I have the courage to come out of hiding and face the world…. with him.
Gio
When I saw him across the room, I knew I had to have him. It was supposed to be one night, but once wasn’t enough. I need more. The only problem is no one knows who I really am. So the question is simple – am I brave enough to risk everything — home, job, family — to be with him.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s episode of Holly’s Quirky Questions. I’m constantly reflecting on how I do things, and there will be a few changes, updates, upgrades, and simplifications coming to the blog in the coming weeks and months. I hope you’re enjoying these interviews and if you have any suggestions or questions you’d like to ask, feel free to email me – you can find all of my contact details in the contact me tab 🙂
A huge thank you to E and Rian- you two are amazing! Next week we have April Kelley
Until then: Find a Spark of Magic Every Day.
