Welcome Olivia Arnold

Join me as I get to know fellow Rose, Olivia Arnold, writing as Liv Arnold. 

1.   What is your writing style or schedule?

I give myself incentives to write – an ice-cream or junk food reward whenever I finish a page, or I treat myself with reading a chapter of a book. Anything to keep me motivated. Sometimes I use my phone as a timer where I nonstop write for twenty minutes. Amazing how much you can get done when you’re racing against the clock.

2.  Where do you actually write?

On the dining table. My husband plays computer games a lot, so he hogs the study room 24/7. 

3.   Do you write linearly or not?

I write all over the place. But I usually know the ending for my stories. I wish I was more organised with plotting. Sometimes I spend so much time in front of a blank computer screen willing the words to come. My characters grow as I write – I don’t even come up with personality traits beforehand.

4.     What sort of other activities keep you from actually writing? 

Having a full-time job! I’m exhausted all the time. Also marketing myself does take up a lot of my time. 

5.  Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?

A lot from my family. My brothers have been giving ideas on my YA fantasy novel I’ve been working on.

My mum encouraged me to do a creative writing course at RMIT. It’s a short course that runs for 8-10 weeks for three hours a week after work. I loved every moment of the class and ended up doing three short courses. The teachers were so inspiring, and it was great to speak to likeminded people. I workshopped my stories in class and continued with them after the course finished. 

I also get a lot of support from Romance Writers of Australia and the Facebook group, Debut Authors of 2019. They’re all inspiring.

6.  How long does it normally take you to write a novel?

About a year. It’s hard to juggle everything. I mainly write on weeknights and weekends. 

7.  Who or what are your inspirations?

JK Rowling. I love all her books and am a big Harry Potter nut. I have the merchandise around my home. 

8.  If there’s a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?

My least favourite would be my lack of time. With a full time job as well, I’m exhausted permanently. 

9.  Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?

Since I was a child, I admired the library from Beauty and the Beast. Used to love that scene. 

10.     Tell me about your latest book.

It’s an enemies-to-lovers story with a lot of heat. 

11.     Where did you get your inspiration for your book?

I’ve watched the TV show Neighbours since I was a child. I used to come home from school, get changed, have a snack then sit down and watch. I love the community behind the storylines and the more light-hearted moments. So, I thought it would be a fun idea to have the heroine and hero as neighbours, but spice things up a little.

12.     Do you have a favorite character and if so, who and why?

My secondary character Dr. Mendes. He’s antisocial and hates making conversation. We can all relate to this. 

13.  What are you working on now?

I have a novel contracted with The Wild Rose Press called Etched in Stone. It’s a contemporary romance with a financial crime storyline. It should be out roughly late this year. 

Here’s a little something about it: 

Vanessa Lang is thrilled when she lands her dream job at investment company, Stone Corp. But when her kleptomaniac mother is caught shoplifting and faces a criminal record, Vanessa accepts a deal to find evidence of insider trading at Stone Corp.

On her first day, in walks the handsome Sebastian Stone, CEO and the man of her dreams. Determined to save her mom, however, she spies and gathers information about the company. But there’s one small problem—she starts to fall in love with Sebastian. 

How far you would go to protect the people you love? Who will Vanessa choose, her family or her soulmate?

Blurb

Lawyer Juliet Jackson has come head to head with Sergeant Jesse Burns on numerous occasions in court. He is provoking. Pigheaded. Punch-worthy. They don't get along. Not one little bit. The unfortunate fact he's also her next-door neighbor brings her loathing off the charts. But when Juliet's caught locked outside her home in nothing but a skimpy towel, she must swallow her pride and turn to Jesse for help. She doesn't expect the explosive chemistry between them and can't help but wonder if Jesse's as demanding in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom. 

Excerpt

His handsome face smirked before he averted his eyes and turned his head, but she could still see the profile of his face. His police uniform stretched across his chest. Wonder if that chest is chiseled underneath all those clothes.

Her ears burned hotter than chili sauce, spreading to her neck and chest. No point in putting on a mask this time, because there was no escaping this. Her fingers found the ends of the towel to cover her naked body, but her legs froze on the spot. “I got locked out of my house.”

“You got locked out of your house…naked?” A grin spread across his face, revealing the dimple on the bottom lip. She wanted to bite it but didn’t know if it was to hurt him or because of the temperature between her legs.

Scowling at his sarcasm, her fingers gripped the bricks of her house and she pulled herself up. “Yes. Why are you even here? Didn’t you have enough of me this morning?

“Never enough.”

Bio

Liv Arnold has worked as a copywriter for several global companies and now runs her own freelance business. She grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and lives with her husband and their spoiled dog, who only eats freshly cooked meals. When she’s not writing, Liv’s avoiding the gym, devouring a cheese platter, or marathoning way too much TV. And of course, she’s a massive book addict and often reads until all hours of the night.

Contact me

I would love to hear from you! Contact me on:

www.livarnold.com

www.facebook.com/livarnoldauthor

https://twitter.com/liv_au

https://www.instagram.com/liv_au 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18845019.Liv_Arnold 

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/liv-arnold

Buy Links:

Buy Law & Disorder for 99 (US) cents:

•               Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Law-Disorder-Liv-Arnold-ebook/dp/B07NCK1QGF

•               Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Law-Disorder-Liv-Arnold-ebook/dp/B07NCK1QGF

•               Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Law-Disorder-Liv-Arnold-ebook/dp/B07NCK1QGF

•               Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Law-Disorder-Liv-Arnold-ebook/dp/B07NCK1QGF

•               https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130486349?ean=2940161416266

•               https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/law-disorder/id1453327500?mt=11

•               https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/law-disorder-7

The Wizard of Oz

This week’s blogging challenge is books I love that became a movie or TV show. For this one, I’m going back to an old classic—The Wizard of Oz. 

When I was a little girl, my great-uncle used to send me books for my birthday. He’s the one who introduced me to Narnia and to The Wizard of Oz. But not just that story, the complete series. Every night before I went to bed, my dad would pull one of the books and read me a few chapters. I loved the story and the writing and the world L. Frank Baum created. And of course, I loved spending the time with my dad.

The movie, however, terrified me. To this day, I still have nightmares of an evil witch showing up at my door, the world outside alight in fire. And the witch is always the Wicked Witch of the West. But that never stopped me from watching Judy Garland in the movie, and peeking between my fingers when the witch showed up. I loved the progression from black and white to color and back again. I was fascinated to see the characters from Dorothy’s farm transform into the scarecrow and cowardly lion. And being able to carry on their stories throughout the series, to find out what happened later, was even better. 

Perhaps it’s one of the reasons why I like reading series, and why I enjoy writing them. When a character I connect with reaches the end of their story, I don’t want to part with them. I want to know that their happily ever after continues. I want to see where their life takes them and I enjoy making them pop back into other people’s stories to impart some wisdom they’ve learned or to share in a laugh or two. 

Tell me, what books did you love?

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge

Today I’m participating in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge, sponsored by The Long and Short Reviews. Their topic is “favorite TV show and why.” Since my husband and I spend many evenings watching TV, and I often get my writing inspiration from minor characters who flit through the story, this is perfect for me.

However, deciding on one favorite show is tougher. I love the British TV dramas that we watch in BBC America. Sherlock is fantastic. As is, of course, Dr. Who. Netflix and Amazon have great series, such as Man in the High Castle and the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Then there’s Game of Thrones and Outlander. And of course, lots of network shows. They all have one thing in common, though. High emotion and strong characters.

Those characters take control of their lives, even when it seems as if they have none. Seeing them rise above their challenges—whether it’s as a newly divorced Jewish woman in the 1950s, a young girl forced to make her way on her own in Westeros, or people facing the worst type of society in High Castle, somehow, each one of them finds their place and figures out a way not only to survive, but to thrive.

With all that is happening today, I find that inspiring. And therefore, when I’m creating my own characters, I make sure to infuse them with that “never-give-up” spirit, even when I and they want to give up. My writing is an escape from reality. It’s my chance to make my characters’ lives turn out the way I want them to. It’s my chance to give just the right comeback. I get to play God. It’s a heady experience and one that gives me an outlet when this crazy world we actually live in gets even crazier. 

So tell me, what’s your favorite TV show and why?

It's That Time of Year

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged. Honestly, I haven’t had anything to say. I try to be entertaining when I blog, but I don’t feel that way and haven’t for a while. It’s a lot of pressure to keep up and I’m just not feeling it these days. But the seasons are changing and if the rain ever stops, I’ll be able to go out and appreciate the new leaves on the trees, the blooming flowers and someday, the sun! 

In the meantime, I’m trying to write and edit and promote. I’m getting ready for College Girl to come home and then pack her up for Israel. I’m adjusting to the idea that Banana Girl is in the home stretch for high school and is going to college—after she spends the summer working at camp. 

Things are changing and it’s going to be weird. But in a good way. I think. Tell me, what are you looking forward to?

OWSCyCon Romance Blog Tour - Day 3

OWSCyCon is an international, online book convention that is free to attend and features over 100 authors!  Join the fun to meet new authors, snag up some great book deals, and participate in multiple online book events.  

Event Website: http://owscycon.ourwriteside.com

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/574802543016528/

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Enjoy this sneak peek of some of the featured romance authors who will be at the OWS Cyber Book Convention from May 17 - 19!  

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Stephen B. Pearl

❤️❤️❤️

Stephen B. Pearl is an ex-lifeguard, mystic, science enthusiast, home handyman, backyard mechanic, and

Writer among other things.

Married for over 34 years, to a very tolerant woman, his view of romantic love leans to stability and realism. Which doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. A strong core relationship empowers a character to do amazing things.

Stephen writes in many genera, but his romance titles consist of, Paranormal Romance: Worlds Apart and The Hollow Curse and Science Fiction Romance: Cats, Slaves of Love and War of the Worlds 2030. He will warn you War of the Worlds 2030 while quite romantic is also extremely dark.

His fiction in other genera normally incorporates a romantic subplot or two. His characters tend towards a balanced power dynamic where mutual respect and support is possible. Starry-eyed teens don’t get much of a look in.

For more about Stephen and his works visit: www.stephenpearl.com.

R.L. Jackson

❤️❤️❤️

R.L Jackson writes fiction and enjoys reading Romance, Fantasy, Dystopian, YA, and everything in between. She is also a seasoned screenwriter, an avid movie lover, ruthless supporter of all things creative and a hopeless romantic. She aims to tell new kinds of love stories, coupled with fresh concepts to give the reader a realistic jolt to brain. Her hope is to shake up the status quo. Residing in the Sunny state of Florida, she plans on bringing many more novels to life and hopes you will follow her on this new and exciting journey.

Visit http://www.cybillcain.com/ tomorrow for Day 4 of the OWSCyCon 2019 Romance Blog Tour!