Welcome special guest: author Wendi Zwaduk @WendiZwaduk

Today we have author, Wendi Zwaduk, visiting. Wendi earned a BA in education at Kent State university and as well as a Masters in Education from Nova Southeastern University. She’s tried her hand at teaching, waitressing, and retail sales, but writing holds her heart. She also writes as Megan Slayer.

* So, Wendi, what inspired you to become a writer?
I read a Harlequin book and thought, gee, I can do that. Plus, I didn’t particularly care for the heroine and thought, if I’d written her, I’d have done this. Then I thought, why am I thinking about this when I could be writing it? So I did.
* When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
2005. It was a NASCAR themed story. Started out at 70k because I thought I’d sell it to Harlequin. Chuckle, chuckle. They didn’t give it a second look. I shelved it for 5 years and then got it back out. Trimmed it down to 30k and resubbed it to Total-E-Bound in 2011. It came out in August of 2011.
* How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
Five full length NASCAR stories, a firefighter novel and a stripper novel.
* What genre(s) do you write in? What drew you to write in it/them? What’s your favorite genre of all to write in?
I write in the contemporary romance genre and the paranormal, but I’ve dabbled in historical. Megan loves to write in the mm genre. Favorite? Racing themed books, but I love a spicy hot contemporary, too.
* What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
Best: Read. Lots. In your genre.
Worst: Wow, you should totally sub this—only to find out that they never really thought it was ready.
* How do you celebrate/deal with acceptance/rejection letters?

First acceptance? I screamed and ran down the stairs. Then we went out to dinner. First rejection? I cried. Shelved the book for a month and then made myself go back to it.
* In regard to the book you’re promoting, which actor and actress do you envision playing the roles of your hero and heroine? If there’s a villain or other characters who are pertinent to the story, who would play those parts?
For Megan’s latest work, Fire Woman, I’d say... Zac would be played by Billy Zane or Niall Matter. Atria would be either Dakota Fanning a little older or, and I know this is impossible because she’s dead, but a really good actress for Atria would be Jean Arthur back in the day.  Villain? Hmm. Bradley Cooper would be great as Niccolo – he can do the smarmy yet sexy look very well.
For my latest, Savin’ Me... Parkur is Brett Chukerman. Jacoby is very much Zak Bagans from Ghost Adventures and Juniper would be Evan Rachel Wood. Villains? I’m not totally sure. The producer is almost a Telly Savales looking guy, so probably him. But for the female villain...Winona Ryder with blonde hair.
* The book you’re promoting, is it a stand-alone story or part of a series? If it’s part of a series, please list the order the books need to be read in for maximum reading enjoyment.
Fire Woman is part of a loose paranormal series about the band Glow and is out with Changeling Press. Half of the members are elementals and the other half aren’t. It’s a rock/punk band and the exploits of the members. There will be four books in all plus a Christmas story! Savin’ Me is part of the Treble Anthology with Total-E-Bound. This is a standalone story, but works well with the rest of the stories in the anthology.
*** Now for some fun info… ***
* What’s your favorite color?
Blue, dark blue
* What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Mint chocolate chip, but it has to be green with chocolate bits in it, not the white with minty stuff added.
* Are you a cat, dog or both kind of person?
Cat, but I have two dogs and two cats.
* Would you/have you own(ed) a snake or some other exotic pet?
Does a kid count?
* Which do you prefer: rain or sun & warm weather or cold weather?
73 degrees and a little overcast.
* Are you a morning person or night owl?
Night owl

*** About her books and series… ***
Megan’s:
Fire Woman – Megan Slayer
Contemporary Paranormal
Short Story
Changeling Press
Buy Link:
http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1683
She’s everything he needs...if he can withstand the burn.
Atria Moline isn’t your average photographer. She controls fire. Sounds fun, being able to scorch whenever you like? Think again. She’s lonely and desperate for the touch of the man who can dance in her flame—if she doesn’t immolate him first.
Zac “Iceman” Frost controls the stage with his band Glow. He’s not about to back down from Atria’s challenge. He’s got secrets of his own and his sights set on her.
Can they find love in each other’s arms before a threat from her past destroys their future?
(I wanted to write for Changeling, talked to the authors there who encouraged me and I subbed. This is what I ended up with and I’m thrilled.)

For Wendi:

Savin’ Me
Treble Anthology
Total-E-Bound
Contemporary, Erotic, Menage, BDSM, toys, M/F/M, M/M, M/F, M/M/F, voyeurism
Short Story
Buy Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1355
Three is their magic number. Now they’ve got to decide if the magic is worth saving.
Razrs Edge packed stadiums, fuelled by the inner turmoil and passion of the three founding members. The lights aren’t as bright and the crowds cheer a little less now that the threesome has parted ways.
It’s time to bring the magic back.
Parkur’s not convinced the split is for good. They were meant to be three. But can he write the music to convince Juniper and Jacoby to give him a second chance? Juniper and Jacoby want the triad intact. Is the love they shared as three enough to erase the destruction in their collective past?
Contains two heroes hell bent on making sweet music with the woman of their dreams, the rediscovery of passion between three people, hot manlove and ménage action, a little spanking, some toy play, and some bondage...oh yes...
(I pushed myself to write something for the anthology and had an editor tell me I had to. So I did.)

***Find Wendi/Megan here***

Wendi’s Site: http://www.wendizwaduk.com/ (Megan’s site addition coming soon!)
Wendi’s Blog: http://wendizwaduk.blogspot.com/
Megan’s Site with the Menagerie: www.menagerieauthors.com
Megan’s Blog: http://theauthormeganslayer.blogspot.com/
Menagerie Blog: http://menagerieauthors.blogspot.com/
On twitter as @WendiZwaduk and @Megan Slayer
I’m on Facebook as both Wendi Zwaduk and Megan Slayer, as well as a part of the Menagerie Authors Fan page.

Thank you for joining us here today, Wendi! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your work.

Wendi is offering a prize to a random commenter! Leave a comment on this post with your name and email to be put into the drawing for a $5 GC to Changeling, Amazon, or TEB. Winner will be drawn and notified by Wendi after 6:00 pm PST on Thursday, October 27.