Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Welcome Joanne C. Berroa

Joanne is a fellow Rebel Ink Press author. Her latest book, Rapture on the High Seas, is a pirate romance that just came out. She was kind enough to answer my questions, so read on to get to know her. 


What inspires you to write?

I love to tell stories. I began telling ghost stories as a child of about 7 to the neighbor kids. We all used to sit out on one or another’s porch till late at night telling ghost stories and everyone loved mine the best.

How do you develop your characters? 

I start out with a basic outline of what each character is like and how they will interact with the other characters. Then I give them each free reign and let them do what they want as long as they remain true to the general outline.

How long have you been writing?

I began writing down those ghost stories and evolved into science fiction and then finally romance novels. It all began at the tender age of 8.

Do you outline ahead of time or do you write from your head (are you a plotter or a pantser)?  

Oh, I’m definitely a plotter. I always write a detailed, lengthy outline that consists of more than just plot, and includes feelings, perspectives, and even dialogue. I keep to this as much as possible, and if I vary from it, I go back to the outline and readjust it to fit and/or write alternate endings and such.

What is your writing routine? 

The creative juices flow better at night. I like that time because everything I needed to do during the day is usually done by then, like housework, cooking, shopping, errands, etc. It’s a quiet time all to myself and the juices flow like crazy. Sometimes I’m up till 2 a.m.  I quit when I get bleary eyed, but even as I lay in bed, my brain is still writing.

What do you do when you’re not writing? 

I guess you could say I’m a regular wife and mother in that I do pretty much normal things. Up until just recently I taught piano, but I’m retired now. I still write articles and do profiles for a local newspaper, however.

What are you currently working on?    

I’m currently working on a sequel to my popular The Diamond Cross romance/saga. It takes place in 1907 and picks up where the Diamond Cross left off. It’s entitled The Diamond Legacy.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure? 

Iced coffee with lots of creamers, and Milky Ways.





BIO
            Back in 1983, Dell Publishing published my novel, “The Barbary Coasters.”  It was set during the 1860’s in the Barbary Coast of San Francisco and was part of a series of books written by different authors called, “The Making of America.” My pseudonym was Lee Davis Willoughby.
            I’ve written articles for several computer magazines over the last thirty years doing software and hardware reviews and ads.  I was also a photographer for cover art for two magazines back in the 80’s, and currently write profiles for businesses and professionals for Micromedia Publications, a local newspaper publisher who puts out the Southern Ocean Times.
            Rebel Ink Press has released five of my romances with a sixth coming out in Dec. 2014.
             I live in southern New Jersey with my husband and have two grown sons. I love to hear from my fans!


Joanne C. Berroa

Title: Rapture on the High Seas

Genre: Contemporary pirate romance novella

Rebel Ink Press: Dec. 10, 2014


Blurb:


Laurel Vanderman Delacroix is the daughter of billionaire Victor Vanderman, owner and CEO of multi-national World One Bank. Although Laurel has a high level job within the family business, her life is unfulfilled, and she takes an extended African vacation with friends aboard her multi-million dollar yacht. She never expects to be hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, some three hundred miles out in International waters off the coast of Tanzania. She has no way of knowing that this is no random act of piracy. Someone who wants to bankrupt her father set the hijacking in motion, and the perpetrator doesn’t care what happens to Laurel and her friends in the process.

The Somali pirate leader who captures Laurel and her friends aboard Bubbles is extremely competent and dangerous, which makes him a force to be reckoned with. He’s also an astute businessman with millions in his Swiss bank account. Will this Somali pirate carry out his mission and put Laurel’s and her friends’ lives on the line, or does he subscribe to another agenda? Will he capture Laurel’s heart along with his ransom demands, or completely destroy it?

Rapture on the High Seas is a contemporary story of intrigue and betrayal. Above all else, it’s a sensual tale of love that’ll leave you feeling warm all over and believing that nothing is ever as it seems

Excerpt:

His scowl made her heart hammer, and he crossed the distance between them with panther-like grace. Before she could blink, a six-inch blade materialized in his right hand. He yanked the sheet away and slashed the scanty material at the center of her bra, severing it. With precision and skill, the knife drew no blood, and she felt no pain. The bra fell open, exposing Laurel’s upturned breasts to his lascivious gaze. She gasped. The haughty pirate touched the tip of the knife to his lips and licked it. His face harbored a smug smile. “That could’ve been your throat, Mrs. Delacroix. Luckily, I was aiming a bit lower.”

She squinted and said, “You don’t scare me. Just who are you, anyway?”

“My name’s Rayn Ammar. Speak my name with caution.”


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