FRIDAY FAVORITES WITH WENDI ZWADUK

Kiki: What is your favorite genre to read in, and what is it about that genre that attracts you to it? If you like a specific mix of genres, please state that particular combination. 

Wendi: I love contemporary paranormal because it’s a world I can see living in. I like reading about vampires and other characters that have powers they can control but in many cases aren’t sure what to do with. I think the paranormal genre is one where the authors can explore emotions deeper than others because with the supers, they feeling things on another level than mere humans.


Kiki: List of at least 5 Favorite Books in that Genre.

Wendi:

Contemporary:

What She Wants – Anne Rainey

Damn Good Man – Michelle Witvliet

Wild Card – Lora Leigh

Mouth to Mouth – Erin McCarthy

The Life of Bryan – Lori Foster

Paranormal:

Blood Curse by Mychael Black

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

Bit the Jackpot by Erin McCarthy

Megan’s Mark by Lora Leigh

Feral Cravings by Jenika Snow

Kiki: What is your favorite author to read in that genre, and why? Also, please tell me a little about the best book by that author you have read. 


Wendi: Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark Series. I like how Ms. Cole manages to intertwine the characters into each book. You know what each is up to and see how the stories that might not make sense right away reveal themselves later on. I love her world building as well. It’s hard to make a reader truly believe they are there with the characters when a great deal of the world is something they themselves might not experience, but Ms. Cole does this well.


Kiki: Do you have a Favorite Book of All Time? Of course, please tell us what about that book makes it your favorite. 


Wendi: Shoeless Joe by WP Kinsella. I read this book in the eighth grade and immediately fell in love with the movie. The total abandon Ray shows while making the demands come true is fun to read about. I loved Joe. Actually when I read the book, I wanted to meet him and did a ton of research to see what he looked like and what exactly happened.


Kiki: What is the best book you read last month, and would you recommend it to a friend? 


Wendi: What She Wants by Anne Rainey. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes a good story about redemption and finding one’s heart.


Kiki: What are your reading habits like? For example, how many books do you read on average in a week, what format do you prefer to read in, what time of day do you read, and what setting is ideal for you to get lost in that book? 


Wendi: I tend to read about three books at a time. I’ll read any format print or digital because my DH got me an ereader which I won’t leave home without. If the book is short, I’ll read right on my computer. I tend to read when I’m alone so I won’t get bothered or if there are parts little eyes shouldn’t see, then they can’t. I can get lost in a book at almost any time as long as there is a strong enough hook and tight writing to keep my attention.


Kiki: If pressed, could you chose a favorite from the books you have written? Why is it your favorite? 

Wendi: It’s not out yet, but my favorite book I wrote would be You’ll Think of Me. I have a good friend who is in the Air Force and I’ve seen plenty of families torn apart by the ravages of war. When Cade—my hero—told me he wanted his own story, I set out to tell it, but he’s a damaged man and so it wasn’t an easy journey. But it’s been totally worth the ride. Cade wrapped himself around my heart and didn’t let go until I told his story as he wanted.


Kiki: How do you become inspired to write?

Wendi: I read a Harlequin NASCAR book. I love racing and thought, gee, pairing it with romance... what a GREAT idea! But as I worked my way through the book, I was struck by the almost lack of technical information about the sport. Why write a book about a race team when 90%  focused on the hero/heroine. Now I realize that the author wanted the story to be romantic. There is a lot of romance in racing, but when a realistic driver spends most of his or her time focused on racing, then the story isn’t so realistic after all. So I decided, hey, I can do this. I put fingers to keyboard and produced four of my own NASCAR themed novels. One small issue. Most readers want the romance and not necessarily the technicals of racing. Makes me the oddball, but oh well.
Still, I learned a lot from writing those novels. There is this great thing called point of view. I thought at the time you could put EVERYONE’s pov in. No. I had no clue passive voice was a no-no. Well, duh, it slows the story down and no one really wants to read 1154 incidents of the word was.
Yeah, I lived, learned, and got loves. Well, got better at writing anyway.


Kiki: What part of the story do you think is your strength to write? 


Wendi: The love scenes. Actually I’m never sure I really can write anything. I cringe when I send things to my crit partner in fear she’ll start reading and end up crying its so bad. But in all fairness, my cp tells me I write a great love scene.  It’s my favorite part because you get to use all five senses and can really delve into the character’s head.


Kiki: Give Us One More Favorite Thing Beyond Books.

 Wendi: Art! I love art, especially Art Nouveau. The curls and colors of the Art Nouveau style captivate me. I love the prints and advertisements of that time. They are so pretty and eye catching. My favorite medium is oil crayon and my favorite subject is my animals because they never sit still, but they have the best poses.


Kiki: Please share with ABA readers something I did not think to ask you about. 
Wendi: I have an addiction to shoe shopping and the music of Billy Joel. I have no idea why I love shoe shopping other than it’s a girl thing. But the Billy Joel fetish came before I was born. Mom had his tunes and I got to hear the concerts. Coincidentally, my youngling was at a Billy Joel concert before he was born, too. He’s not a huge fan.
When I was in second grade, I had to name my favorite song. I think the teacher nearly blew a gasket when I said it was “I’ve Loved These Days” by Billy Joel because he talks about drug use and drinking. What did I know? I was what... 8? I thought it was a good tune. I didn’t give a hoot about the lyrics.

Wendi Zwaduk
Romance to Make Your Heart Race
www.wendizwaduk.com
www.wendizwaduk.blogspot.com

My Immortal Blurb: What’s a girl to do when she finds out the man of her dreams is a 340 year old vampire?

 Run like hell or offer her heart.

Being a vampire hasn’t been easy for Storm Richardson. He’s not programmed to kill or harm, unless he needs to feed. When he meets Stephanie “Stevie” Persing, he knows he’s found his mate. But if he crosses the line between work and play, he risks losing the only person who matters—her.

Stevie’s been in love with Storm since the moment she laid eyes on him. He’s brooding, intense, and her one weakness. But is her heart too steep a price to pay for his love, especially when she discovers his deepest secrets?

My Immortal Excerpt:

The woman cackled, no doubt knowing that Stevie wasn’t his lover. “When you’re done with the time killer, come find me.”

“Thank you but I’m not interested.”

Stevie rolled her eyes again. Why did he insist on being a gentleman? Why didn’t he just wuss out of the damned bet and stroll off with the bimbo?

Because he didn’t want to lose any more than she did. She bit back a grin. His king sized bed with the Egyptian cotton sheets became more appetizing by the minute.

Storm turned her around in his embrace. “Stevie, I believe I owe you something.”

She refocused her attention to the man who kept her warm with nothing more than the sound of his velvet voice. “You didn’t lose the bet.” She tried to ignore the way he made her feel. He smelled like clean linen and danger. Like sin and sex.

Storm brushed her hair off her face and stroked her jaw with his middle finger. His lips, not too full and luscious enough for kissing, were inches away from hers. No stubble marred his chiselled jaw; just perfect, though a bit pale, skin. No wonder the women flocked to him in droves. He was romance hero/cover model gorgeous.

He cupped her head and tightened his other arm around her waist. She sucked in a ragged breath as her heartbeat thumped in her ears and liquid heat swirled between her legs.

Good Lord, this man was good.

“I don’t care about the damn bet.” He crushed his lips against hers.