Spotlight On...Elaine Cantrell

Please help me in welcoming Elaine Cantrell to the keyboard today.  Welcome Elaine, tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in South Carolina, I hold a master’s degree in personnel services from Clemson University and am a member of Romance Writers of America, EPIC authors, and Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary society for women educators. I’ve been married for thirty five years to my college sweetheart. We have two sons-a physicist and a fraud investigator. They’ve given us three wonderful grandchildren-one girl and two boys. We also have two mean cats and one sweet, brown dog. In my spare time I enjoy reading, gardening, collecting vintage Christmas ornaments, and discovering new restaurants, not to mention playing Spider Man with my grandson.


How did you start writing?

I've been writing since 2001 when my son asked me to proofread a book he'd written. I figured if he could, so could I. My first published novel, A New Leaf, was the winner of the 2003 Timeless Love contest. If I wasn't sold on writing before, that did it. I've been writing ever since and don't have any plans to stop. Frankly, I don't think I could even if I wanted to. Writing is a strange compulsion that drives me to spend long hours in front of a keyboard when I could be doing important things like napping or eating chocolate. My house isn't dusted as often, I rarely cook, and who cares if the laundry got done or not. Yeah, no doubt about it, I'm addicted.


How many books have you published?

I’ve had 6 altogether. They are:

1.A New Leaf-  http://www.oaktreebooks.com/

2.Grandfather’s Legacy: the publisher died so this one is available from me at  elainecsc@aol.com

3.Purple Heart:  http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

4.The Welcome Inn:  http://www.wings-press.com/

5.The Best Selling Toy Of The Season:  http://www.midnightshowcase.com/

6.Return Engagement: coming in July to  http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/


Where do you get your ideas?

Ideas come from almost anywhere. Sometimes I’ll read a book and wonder what would have happened if one of the characters had made a different choice. Sometimes I’ll hear a song that inspires me. Sometimes even real situations inspire me. I wrote one of my favorite books, the sequel to Return Engagement after I read a book about secret codes. A secret code is the key to that story.


What genre do you read? What are you reading now?

I read all genres, but I guess I read contemporary romance the most. Right now I’m reading Return to Sullivan’s Island by Dorothea Benton Frank.


What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?

The most challenging aspect is letting go of my characters when I finish a book. I usually fall in love with them and don’t want to let them go. The easiest part is the beginning. I get a good idea and I can’t type fast enough to get the words down.

Tell us about your newest release. Where can we find it?

My newest release comes out in July from Whiskey Creek Press. It’s called Return Engagement, and I just love it! As usual I fell in love with my hero who in this case is mouth-watering. He’s passionate, handsome, and just a little dangerous, but he has a romantic side and would die for the woman he loves. Here’s a blurb to tell you about the book.

Elizabeth Lane has heard the call of the four most seductive words in the entire English language: what might have been. Would you risk everything you hold dear to find out what might have been? That’s the choice which Elizabeth has to make.

Elizabeth is lucky, for she has it all, money, fame, a satisfying career and a devoted fiancé. Her humble beginnings are all but obscured, but she isn’t the kind of woman Senator Henry Lovinggood wants for his son, Richard. Senator Lovinggood plans to make Richard the President of the United States; he’ll need a woman from a wealthy, powerful family by his side. Ten years ago he broke Richard and Elizabeth up, but this time it won’t be so easy, for Elizabeth wants to know what might have been. This time she’ll fight back, a struggle which ultimately leads to kidnapping and attempted murder and alienates her from the man of her dreams.

You can read an excerpt HERE.


What's next for you?

I’ve started work on a fantasy novel. It’s loads of fun to write whatever you can imagine unhindered by reality.


Where can we find you on the web?

My web site is  http://www.elainecantrell.com/

My blog is  http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com/

My My Space page is at  http://www.myspace.com/elainecantrell

My Facebook page is  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100000153041486

I’d love to be friends on My Space or Facebook or both.

Do you have anything you'd like to ask our readers?


I’d like to ask them to let me know how they liked Return Engagement. Also, if they’ll email or mail me a receipt I’ll send them a PDF copy of Grandfather’s Legacy. This is good for the first 50 readers or 48 hours whichever comes first

Thanks for visiting with me today, Elaine.

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Return Engagement by Elaine Cantrell

NOTE:  Due to computer failure, Elaine's interview, set to post today, is unavailable.  I have my tech guy working on the problem with my laptop.  Until then, I invite you to check out Elaine's new release, RETURN ENGAGEMENT, coming in July from Whiskey Creek Press.

Elizabeth Lane has heard the call of the four most seductive words in the entire English language: what might have been. Would you risk everything you hold dear to find out what might have been? That’s the choice which Elizabeth has to make.

Elizabeth is lucky, for she has it all, money, fame, a satisfying career and a devoted fiancé. Her humble beginnings are all but obscured, but she isn’t the kind of woman Senator Henry Lovinggood wants for his son, Richard. Senator Lovinggood plans to make Richard the President of the United States; he’ll need a woman from a wealthy, powerful family by his side. Ten years ago he broke Richard and Elizabeth up, but this time it won’t be so easy, for Elizabeth wants to know what might have been. This time she’ll fight back, a struggle which ultimately leads to kidnapping and attempted murder and alienates her from the man of her dreams.


Excerpt:


In this excerpt Richard and Elizabeth have reunited on the beach and spent the evening together after a ten year separation.



They rode the Ferris wheel and the tilt-a-whirl two times each. Then they went through the haunted mansion which gave Elizabeth a great chance to scream and cling to his side. She hid her face against his shoulder, savoring the male scent of him. When they left the haunted mansion, they found a place that sold cotton candy and funnel cakes. They bought a huge amount of both and devoured the sugary treats as if they’d never had anything so tasty. I shouldn’t flirt so brazenly with him, Elizabeth thought but who cares? Her obvious joy caused some bystanders to smile as they remembered their own courtships.

She paused when they passed a shooting arcade. “Richard, you’re FBI, so I guess you’re supposed to be a good shot. Win me a stuffed animal.”

Richard groaned. “Those guns are probably all sighted wrong so you can’t win. Couldn’t I just buy you one instead?”

“No, that won’t do at all. Never mind. It’s okay if you don’t think you can do it,” she replied with no hint of a smile whatsoever. Would he try to win a prize for her or not?

Richard stepped up to the counter and inspected the row of guns provided by the arcade. “Okay, I know a challenge when I hear it. I’ll win you an animal if I have to stay here all night.”

The attendant, a wizened gnome of a man with a sour expression on his face, wandered over to them. “Win a prize for the lady, mister? Dollar a shot.”

“Yeah, I’ll give it a try.”

He selected the gun he wanted and shot, but he missed. “Just as I expected, the sights are off, and it pulls to the left.” He adjusted for the bad sights, aimed, and squeezed the trigger. This time he hit the target dead center.

“Hooray,” cheered Elizabeth. “I want that big white cat over there. How many does he have to hit to get it?”

“Ten in a row,” the man sourly replied.

A few minutes later Richard and Elizabeth walked away carrying the big cat with them.

Elizabeth tucked her arm through his. “This is so exciting! Nobody ever won anything for me before. You are such a good shot. I bet you’re one of the FBI’s best marksmen.” Is he blushing? thought Elizabeth. I bet it’s been a long time since a woman made him blush.

She couldn’t resist the urge to tease him. She came to a halt and looked intently into his face. “Why, Richard, are you blushing?”

The color in Richard’s face deepened. “I don’t think so. It’s just the lights.”

“Oh, yes you are! You always used to blush when I teased you. Did I embarrass you?”

Richard ducked his head, a little gesture that probably sent her blood pressure sky high. “All right, my face does feel a little warm” he admitted, “but no, you didn’t embarrass me. It’s… well it’s kind of nice to have you flirt with me and brag on me. I’m surprised how bad I wanted to show off and win that damn cat for you.”

“You are so sweet,” she declared, giving him a warm smile.

“I don’t believe it! Is that what I get for winning the cat? Sweet? I don’t want to be sweet.” Ignoring the crowds of people all around them, he jerked her close which made her breath leave her in a little woof. “I want to be your lover. I want you to say I’m sexy and that you want me. I can’t believe you think I’m sweet.”

Elizabeth willingly threw both discretion and Alex to the wind. What did discretion or Alex matter at a time like this? “Oh, that’s what you want, is it? I’m glad you made your intentions clear, Mr. Lovinggood.” She took a small step toward him and obligingly tilted her face upward.



Make sure to visit Elaine's website for more information on her books:

http://www.elainecantrell.com/

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