Welcome special guest: author Starla Kaye

Today we have romance author, Starla Kaye, visiting. Welcome!
I asked her how she got into being a writer and what she loves about it, and this is what she had to say…


Like many writers, I have been writing ever since I was a child. I’ve always had a vivid imagination, which I got from my dad. He was an amazing man. Because of him I grew up reading science fiction and not romance. I didn’t actually read my first romance until I joined a romance writers group. But I have always loved books and movies that ended with the two main people getting some kind of Happily Ever After. So writing romance has fit me.
I started with my first short story, The Little Family,

around age ten and eventually wrote my first attempt at a mystery about fifteen years later. The hard copy of that is buried somewhere, but will never be among my list of books published. Sometimes it is best to move on. Since then I have published 18 novels, 17 novellas, and 5 anthologies…all in some sub-genre of romance. I write for Black Velvet Seductions, Blushing Books Publications, Decadent Publishing, and Red Rose Publishing.

What I love about writing is that it gives me a chance to let my imagination run free. I can write about whatever I want, in whatever sub-genre strikes my fancy at the time. I am lucky enough to sell almost all of what I write. But I also write some “for fun” stuff on the side to take a break from deadlines and avoid the whole assembly line feeling of writing one project to sell after another. For fun, I
write a short story series about this adventurous, imaginative, romantic cow named Blossom and her bullfriend Ferdinand. It started as a goofy writing exercise for one of my writer’s groups and has “blossomed” since then. She even has her own website http://blossomandfriends.com.

Being a writer isn’t nearly as easy as some people think it will be when they read a book and think, “I could do that. I could write better than that.” You might have a lot of ideas, but can you really sit down and put them to paper (or on computer)?

There is so much to learn when you first start writing, particularly if you want to make this a career. You can read and analyze every writer’s help book out there. But if you don’t sit down and actually hit that keyboard long enough to finish a story, novella, or novel, you will never reach your dream of being published. This is a serious “stick to it” business. You have to want it. You have to love writing, with all its ups and downs. I do.

Starla Kaye has worn many hats professionally and as a writer. She works part-time with her husband (who believes he is the model example for each of her heroes, “yes, honey, of course you are”) in an accounting firm. A gerontologist by degree, she volunteers in the community with a very active group of senior adults, who provide her with story ideas for senior adult romances she occasionally likes to write for fun. She is a multi-published author on-line in e-book and Print-On-Demand book form, writing as both Starla Kaye and S. K. Fero for Black Velvet Seductions, Blushing Books, Decadent Publishing, and Red Rose Publishing.

Today she is promoting her new release: ‘Their Lady Gloriana’ available at Black Velvet Seductions
Blurb:
Think medieval times when honorable men must do what is required of them.  Thomas Lancaster, a widower with bad memories of marriage and a young son he barely knows, is a hardened knight loyal to his king. In reward for his efforts fighting in the Crusades, King Edward gives him Middlemound Castle to hold for the crown. But he must marry the beautiful young widow of the castle’s previous lord.
Lady Gloriana Stewart suffered brutally in her first marriage and has no desire to marry again. She has no choice and must protect her people and obey her king. All she wants is for her new husband to give her a baby. Thomas refuses to even consider it.
Complicating the situation is Sir Rowan Montgomery, Thomas’s first knight, friend, and lover. Complicating the problem even more, Gloriana has feelings for both her new husband and for Rowan.
Excerpt:
Gloriana was a tiny woman, delicate, fragile for a man such as him. Thomas’s first wife had been a woman of fair size, not that he’d minded. They hadn’t been in love and he’d never grown to love her. She had managed his household well. His people had respected her, as had he. There had been no lustful feelings between them. This small woman drew him as no other before her ever had. He was both uneasy with that and glad, for they were to marry.
He heard Rowan’s heavy footsteps behind him as they walked toward the solar. The two of them had talked about Edward’s decree during their long ride from Tunis. Both of them had concerns. Neither wanted this marriage to affect their deepening relationship, but both knew it would. But Thomas would not give up Rowan. Somehow he had to make both situations work.
“She’s a pretty one,” Rowan said quietly. “I’m thinking ‘twill nay be a hardship to have her as a wife.”
Thomas considered what his friend said. He was certain he’d heard a touch of envy in his lover’s tone. As if he, too, well appreciated the petite beauty thrust into their lives. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
To his surprise, she faced him and thrust out her chin. “I feared Geoffrey every day of our life together. But, know you this, I will not endure that kind of life again. No man will ever treat me that way again.”
Thomas felt his chest swell with admiration. “You will never need to fear me, little one.”

Find Starla here:
Starla Kaye’s website:  http://starlakaye.com

Black Velvet Seductions:  http://www.blackvelvetseductions.com

Starla will be giving a piece of medieval-style jewelry to one randomly drawn commenter! Please visit http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/04/virtual-tour-their-lady-gloriana-by.html to follow the tour because the more you comment on the blogs she's visiting the better chances you have of winning!