Author Archives: Alyssa Linn Palmer

The Bandit Creek finale, CURSED, by Vivi Anna, is released!

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The grand finale of the Bandit Creek Books series is here! Read Vivi Anna’s CURSED, the story of Jack, at Amazon!

cursed-banditcreekFor as long as Jack can remember he’d been a resident of Bandit Creek. For almost two hundred years he’s been roaming the streets, alone, drinking to forget about his damned life. Cursed by a demon, he can’t die, although he’s tried many times.  The only thing that can release him from this wretched existence is to find the gold he stole all those years ago and return it to those who died in the flood. Only problem is…with his mind so ruined he can’t remember where he buried it.

His salvation comes with Kristen Morgan’s arrival. The infamous psychic and the sheriff’s daughter can help him. There’s only one other person who knows where the gold is…his long dead partner Colton. And Kristen’s seen him in her dreams.

Read the excerpt.

Carla interviews Michelle Pierce, author of ‘Angel Fire’

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Hello, I’m Carla Roma and I’m sitting in the living room of author Michelle Pierce, having had a delicious meal of Vietnamese noodles. I’m so full I might fall asleep, but I have a sexy fireman on the brain. *fans self*

Carla Roma: So Michelle, your book features a sexy fireman. What made you choose such a great alpha role for your hero, Jason?

Michelle Pierce: Mostly I knew that my story would feature lots of fire, and I needed a good, life-threatening but heroic job, something that would require the services of a guardian angel.

CR: I can see where that would be one of those professions! How do people get a guardian angel to begin with?

MP: In my story, they aren’t exactly guardian angels, more like fallen heroes themselves. They weren’t always off to save the day, but they die saving someone else. The way that someone is assigned a guardian angel further on is because you have some great destiny or heroic life that entails saving many hundreds of lives.

CR: So if they’re not guardian angels, what are they called?

MP: They’re called Shields. Keira is Jason’s Shield and she’s been working herself to the bone protecting him. She fell for him a long time ago, back in his army days, and now that he’s a firefighter, she’s determined that he won’t die on her watch.

CR: Does Jason know about Keira?

MP: He’s not supposed to know she exists, but when his destiny–and his death–draw near, he starts to see visions of her at perilous moments, which means their time is coming to an end.

CR: So, how’d he take that?

MP: Well, he thinks he’s going crazy, and his boss thinks he has PTSD from being in the military. He’s even gotten a psychiatrist and is taking medication for it, thanks to his visions.

CR: Something really awful must have happened for her to show herself.

MP: Someone is setting fires in Bandit Creek, and they’re not just little fires; they’re getting bigger and are becoming more dangerous, threatening people and their homes. Keira, realizing that Jason can see her, doesn’t trust that Jason will survive. She decides that she’s going to throw all caution to the wind, and reveal herself to him.

CR: Does this freak him out, or does he take it in stride?

MP: He totally freaks. And when she propositions him, to exchange her services for a good time in the sack, he grudgingly agrees to her help. He feels uncomfortable about taking advantage of her, but she assures him this isn’t the case, and he realizes that he’s been celibate for too long.

CR: Now that sounds hot!

MP: I was trying to make this a little hotter than I normally write, and I think I succeeded, and not just because there’s lots of fire.

CR: I think I could handle having a sexy firefighter come save me from a burning building. Know any?

MP: The one I know is taken. And I don’t think Keira would want to share.

CR: Too bad! But I can’t wait to read ANGEL FIRE! It’s out on October 1st, on Amazon and Smashwords.

MP: And just so all your readers know, up until Christmas, I’m donating a portion of my royalties from the book to the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society. (cfbts.org).

CR: Fantastic! Readers, you can read hot romance AND help out firefighters! Now that’s my kind of book.

Angel Fire will be released on October 1st at Amazon and Smashwords.

‘Silent Waters’ Released Today!

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Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Silent Waters by Trip Williams! Click for Kindle and Smashwords (other formats).

For Jake McCord, Bandit Creek comes with an expiration date. But when Jake starts to
find the bodies of women, whom the town folks have never seen before, that expiration
date may become a life sentence.

Read the excerpt.

Carla Interviews Trip Williams on ‘Silent Waters’

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Bandit Creek. I’m on the trail of Bandit Creek’s only male writer, Trip Williams.  At first, I thought that Trip was purposefully avoiding me, but soon I realized he is just that busy!  Always exploring and looking for new leads in the many mysteries that surround Bandit Creek, I finally caught up with Trip as he was coming back from a dive in Lost Lake. I patiently waited as he dropped his tanks and shed his BC vest and gear on the dock. Walking towards me as he stripped out of his wetsuit to the waist, I was a bit taken aback by his unabashed smile and confidence. Uhmm… and not to mention his healthy – condition.

Carla:        You are a hard man to catch up to, Trip – are you avoiding me?

Trip:    (Smiling, he sits beside me outside of Charlie’s Dive Shack) I never avoid a pretty girl, Carla. (He gives me a wink).  I heard you were looking for me but the water was too perfect for a dive this morning.

Carla:    So Trip, what’s it like being then only male writer amongst a bevy of female writers?

Trip:    (He laughs) What man wouldn’t want to have his own private harem?  Seriously though, these beautiful women are amazing writers and I feel very privileged to be a part of this with them.

Carla:    Your main character, Jake McCord, is rumored to actually be you…  How do you feel about that?

Trip:    Well… in all honesty, I guess he’s my alter-ego.  Sure, many of his character traits are the same as mine, but to be that good!  It’s a pretty tall order for any man.  To always win the day and get the girl is not exactly reality.  I can usually win the day but to get the girl (he laughs) is the hard part!  You gals can be fickle.

Carla:    So where did Jake come from?

Trip:    Jake was literally born in the jungles of Tanzania back in ’87.  He has been evolving ever since.  I was working there doing oil exploration when the whole “Mkeri” project was born.

Carla:    Mkeri?

Trip:    It’s a book series that I have been working on.  Mkeri is a village along the coast north of Dar es Salaam. Bandit Creek Books has offered me a platform to introduce Jake to the world.  “Fool’s Gold” was his first intro.  It is a light hearted tale that shows his personality.  “Silent Waters” shows you what I like to call the man behind the gun. You really get to know his mettle.

Carla:    So who is this “Colleen” that keeps appearing in your stories?  I hear that she isn’t quite so fictitious.

Trip:    (He looks away and smiles in contemplation).  Colleen is a very special gal who cuts may hair.  She’s beautiful inside and out, so that is why I have her on my cover of “Silent Waters.”

Carla:    Oh – a love interest maybe?

Trip:    (Laughing and shaking his head) No – just a gal I think highly of and a dear friend.

Carla:    Your story takes a different track from the other Bandit Creek books.  It has a 5 Bandit rating and you seem to have a fair bit of detail. Both graphic and settings.

Trip:    I have always believed that if you are to write a good story, you have to completely draw in your readers.  For me, that only comes with details to help with the visualization.  Sure, some things may be a bit disturbing for some, but that is why we have the Bandit rating system.  Life is not always a romance and even though this story is pure fiction, I have based it upon some real life mysteries and crimes.

Carla:    Care to elaborate?

Trip:    (Winking, he gives me that all too familiar cocky grin) Best leave that to the readers to piece together. After all, what’s a thriller without a little suspense and mystery?

Carla:    (Laughing) Well, it has been great to finally catch up with the elusive Trip Williams.  I can now see what all the talk is about.  I look forward to seeing the response to your Thriller as it launches on July 1st.  Thank you, for joining me today, Trip.  Everyone can join Trip for a chat and catch up on his blog at http://tripwilliams-author.blogspot.ca/ or follow him on Twitter @TripWilliams.  If you wish to chat with Trip personally, you can reach him at Tripwilliamsauthor@gmail.com.

His new Mkeri Series will be launching in the fall of 2012.

Carla Roma Interviews Pamela Yaye on ‘A Night to Remember’

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Hello Friends! Carla Roma here, and I’m back in Bandit Creek, interviewing one of my favorite romance authors, Pamela Yaye. When this busy wife and mother first suggested a sunrise hike up the Bitterroot mountains, I turned her down, but when she offered to throw in lunch at the Grey Rose—the only upscale, five-star restaurant in town—I readily agreed. I’m having a heck of a time keeping up with her, but the view is breathtaking, and I haven’t felt this good in months!  

Carla (panting): You don’t wake up at the crack of dawn every morning do you?

Pamela: Yeah, I do, but I go to bed super early. I get seven hours of sleep every night, and wake up feeling well-rested, and ready to take on the day.

Carla:  I read somewhere that you climbed the Great Wall of China. I didn’t believe it, but seeing you fly up this and steep mountain, has made me a believer.

Pamela: I did climb the Great Wall. Just ask my brother; I forced him to climb it with me! (laughs softly) I love being outside, and in the summer I bike for an hour or more every day. Exercise is a great stress reliever, and believe it or not, I do a lot of plotting while I’m out on my bike. Ideas come to me as I ride, and for some strange reason, the most sensual love scenes…

Carla:  Speaking of love scenes, your novella, A Night to Remember, has one that made me blush. (Fans a hand to her face) I had to drink two glasses of lemonade to cool off!

Pamela (laughs out loud): I’m just giving readers what they want. And my fans like scorching, hot love scenes. Even the little, old church ladies. :-)

Carla:  I’ve read all of your previous novels, and noticed that all your books start off with a bang. A Night to Remember is no different. I just love the opening scene.

Pamela: Me too! My favorite scene to write in every book is when the hero and heroine meet for the first time.  Nothing is off-limits, anything goes, and if I do my job right, two things will happen: The reader will be hooked from the first page, and she’ll fall in love with the hero at first “sight” (just like the heroine)

Carla: Well, I certainly fell hard for Michael Mosley. How could I not when he was so smooth  and debonair. Did you model him after a real-life person? Your handsome husband, maybe?

Pamela: I don’t know why, but I get this question a lot. My husband is a hottie, and definitely sexy enough to be on one of my book covers, but all of my characters are a figment of my imagination. I take great pride in creating strong, memorable characters, and I don’t cheat or cut corners when it comes to writing my romance stories.

Carla: The heroine, Savannah Vaughn, is a strong, feisty woman who speaks her mind, and does things her way. As you were writing, was there anything about her that surprised you?

Pamela: Yes, that she was so taken by, Michael, she slept with him the first day they met! I never saw that one coming, and I’m the author. (laughs) Savannah has been disappointed by men countless times, and burned by love, so this time around she’s determined to be smart. But Michael Mosley makes it hard for her. He won’t take no for an answer, and his kisses leave her weak. Poor girl. Truth be told, Savannah never stood a chance.

Carla: All of your novels have a hint of erotica in them. Any plans to write one in the future?

Pamela: I would love to! Erotica is one of my favorite genres, and I think I would have great fun writing a full-length story. I’d also like to write a Christian Romance in the near future. I know, I know, they’re on different ends of the spectrum, but why not? (Wears a cheeky smile) You’ve read my books. You know who I am… Sometimes I’m naughty, and sometimes I’m nice!

Carla: What’s next for you? Besides, killer hikes and long, bike rides, of course.

Pamela: I’m in the process of writing book one in my new series, Seduced by a Millionaire, and I’m having a blast with it. My next Kimani Romance, Evidence of Desire, will be released in September 2012. (Raises her eyebrows, and cocks her head to the right) Carla, make sure you keep a whole pitcher of lemonade nearby, because the love scenes in this book are ten times hotter than what I wrote in, A Night to Remember!

Carla (bursts out laughing): I’m so glad I was able to spend the morning catching up with Pamela Yaye. It was great fun! A Night to Remember, a Bandit Creek novella, will be available on June 15th at Amazon.com and Smashwords. To check out Pamela’s sexy new book covers, or to read excerpts of her novels, go to www.pamelayaye.com or visit her on Facebook.

A Bandit Creek Miracle released today!

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A Bandit Creek Miracle is available on Amazon (Kindle) and Smashwords (other formats)!

City girl Amanda Bailey arrives in Bandit Creek to replace the bank manager who is on maternity leave. After surviving her first day at work, Amanda spends a toe-curling night in the arms of a Hollywood-handsome local cowboy.

Several doctors had predicted Amanda would never conceive a baby, a devastating side effect of her successful cancer chemo treatments. But she is both shocked and elated to discover a few weeks later that she is pregnant!

Joyful thoughts of motherhood swirl in her head, but the baby’s grandfather threatens Amanda with his unwelcome demands. Protecting her professional reputation by keeping her condition a secret in this small town is the least of her worries when she discovers something is seriously wrong at the bank.

The local gossip-mongers hit an all-time low when rumors abound that Amanda herself is the thief and is covering her tracks by accusing one of the locals.

Amanda must fight to save her career and her reputation, but will this temporary work assignment prove to be her ruin?

Read excerpt

Carla Roma interviews Brenda Sinclair about A Bandit Creek Miracle

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Carla: I first crossed paths with Brenda Sinclair on the walking trails in Fish Creek Park in the beautiful city of Calgary where she lives with her husband and a cute little dog named Kelly. Today, Brenda and I strolled through picturesque Ellis Park in Bandit Creek and walked along the creek that meanders through the town. We’ve just reached Ma’s Kitchen and decided to stop for a cup of Lucy’s delicious coffee while we discuss Brenda’s upcoming book A BANDIT CREEK MIRACLE available May 15, 2012.

Lucy:  What can I get you, ladies?

Carla:  Good morning, Lucy. We’d love a cup of coffee and one of those homemade oatmeal berry muffins.

Brenda:  Sounds perfect. Thanks, Lucy.

<Lucy pours the coffee and heads toward the kitchen>

Carla:  Why do people see you out walking so often?

Brenda:  I’m a member of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a non-profit weight loss group that was founded in 1948. Through TOPS I’ve lost over thirty pounds and learned to maintain my weight loss through a healthy diet and moderate exercise. And I’ve found the support from my fellow TOPS members is incomparable.

Carla:  TOPS is working for you. Now, tell me, how long have you been writing, and why did you start writing in the first place?

Brenda:  My mother likes to show people a poem I wrote in Grade Two. It’s rather embarrassing. <laughs> But I didn’t start writing romance until my sons left me with an empty nest. I worked in the accounting field for years, but awhile back I retired from numbers to concentrate on words. And joining the Calgary chapter of Romance Writers of America was definitely a smart decision. I’ve learned so much through the monthly meetings, guest speakers, and the spring and fall workshops. I would encourage other writers to find a writing group. The support is a huge motivator, and there’s always someone to answer a question or lend an opinion when needed.

Carla:  What genre do you prefer?

Brenda:  I love the romance genre…always a happy ending. And don’t we all need a happy ending in our lives? I write both contemporary and historical American West romance.  And I cannot tell you how excited I am to be included in this wonderful group of writers involved in the Bandit Creek project.

Carla:  I agree with you wholeheartedly. I’ve interviewed many of those talented gals, and Trip, too, of course.

Brenda:  Yes, Trip keeps us entertained.  <chuckles>

Carla:  Tell me about A BANDIT CREEK MIRACLE.  How did the story come about?

Brenda:  Well, as I said, I love writing both contemporary and historical American West stories. For my Bandit Creek story, I decided to create a total character contrast—a die-hard city girl with a promising corporate career and a fifth-generation cowboy glued to his family’s ranch. City meets country. But, in Amanda and Jeremy’s case, it’s more like city collides with country.

Carla:  Your heroine and hero don’t hit it off at first?

Brenda:  Oh, they hit it off all too well. Amanda intends to show up, fulfill her job commitment, and then return to the big city and carry on with her life. To say her plans go awry is an understatement. She’s faced with a difficult decision that will affect the rest of her life, and she’s forced to defend her reputation and save her career on top of everything else.

Carla:  It sounds like Amanda is a strong woman.

Brenda:  Amanda is a cancer survivor, and anyone who faces cancer and wins is a fighter. Amanda fights to prove her innocence while deciding if there’s a place for Jeremy in her future.

Carla:  I’m looking forward to reading your story. Do you have any other projects in the works?

Brenda:  Watch for the first book in my ‘Escape to Alaska Trilogy’, NOT WHAT IT SEEMS, set in the lovely city of Anchorage, Alaska available June 1, 2012 through Amazon.

Carla:  <glances out the window> The sun just slipped behind a dark cloud. We should head back to our vehicles before it rains.

Brenda:  Let’s go. And thank you for joining me this morning. I’ve enjoyed our walk together and the coffee break.

A BANDIT CREEK MIRACLE launches on May 15, 2012 at http://www.amazon.com/

Carla Interviews Brenda M. Collins About ‘Witch in the Wind’

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Hi, I’m Carla Roma and welcome to Bandit Creek, a small town with a mountain of secrets.

Up here in the mountains, May is the time of year when you might have to shovel snow one day and be out in your shorts the next. It’s that wonderful month when anything can happen. While I’m all for getting out in the sunshine whenever possible, I didn’t mind our last rainy day because it gave me a chance to read the latest Bandit Creek paranormal romance, Witch in the Wind, by Brenda Collins. Afterwards I had to call Brenda to find out where she came up the new magical dimension for Bandit Creek.

Carla: I hear you’ve been a closet writer for a long time. What made you finally take the leap to publication now?

BMC:  I’ve wanted to be a romance writer since I was twelve years old, but didn’t start seriously studying the creative writing craft until middle age. As for finally releasing something, I have the Bandit Creek gang to thank for taking me on this wild ride called e-publishing. The authors who’d given it a try were so energized by their experience, they just drew the rest of us into the Bandit Creek project.

Carla: How do you feel about the growing popularity of e-books?

BMC:  I’ve spent most of my career working in high tech so I appreciate the benefits of digital publishing and was an early adopter when it came to eReader devices. But I also love the feel of a traditional book and the experience of snuggling under a blanket on the couch with a good book on my lap. It doesn’t have to be either, or. There’s room for both in the marketplace.

Carla: What is the biggest benefit in your opinion?

BMC: For both the reader and the author, it removes a lot of the restrictions that limit how the story is told. EPublishing lets me blend, and cross, genre lines so I can tell the story in the best way possible for the readers to experience it. My hubby described ‘Witch in the Wind” as a paranormal romantic adventure with mystery elements. Where would that fit in the tradition book publishing market?

Carla: When we first met back in the day, you were writing murder mysteries. Why the flip to fantasy with this one?

BMC: The Wizard of Oz captivated me as a kid and, even as an adult, I read all of the Harry Potter and Twilight books as they were released, so writing fantasy isn’t that big a leap for me.  Witch in the Wind did start with a murder but then the story just took on a life of its own.  A powerful warlock showed up to investigate the murder, and a stray dog arrived with some very strange characteristics. Before I knew it, the heroine’s whole world was not what she thought and she was fighting for her life while trying to figure out who killed her parents.

Carla: I thought your story did have a touch of The Wizard of Oz meets Twilight to it. Seems to me, I’ve read something about your hero earlier in the Bandit Creek series.  Has he been living in town all along?

BMC: My warlock, Marcus Egan, is not from Bandit Creek but we met him very briefly in Shanna Gekko’s story, Skin Deep (Jan. 2012). When Shanna’s hero, Kai Hunter, needs magical help he calls Marcus from The Otherland.

Carla: The Otherland? That doesn’t sound like Montana.

BMC: You’re definitely not in Montana anymore. And any dog in The Otherland named Toto would have to be a magical creature like a familiar.

Carla: (Laughing) And Dorothy isn’t anywhere to be found?

BMC:    Absolutely not! My heroine is Avalon Gwynn. She grew up in Bandit Creek and has no idea she’s an extraordinary, hereditary witch.

Carla: Where on earth does your imagination come from?

BMC:    Newfoundland, where I was born, is definitely on earth although far enough out in the North Atlantic to forget at times. Its history dates back to the Vikings and leans heavily to Irish. Folktales are bred into my family genes.

Carla: Do you see yourself writing another story about Marcus and Avy.

BMC: Who knows? The Otherland is a complex world so there’s lots of room to develop more stories if readers are interested.

Carla: Congratulations on your first publication, Brenda!

Witch in the Wind will be available on May 1, 2012 from Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.

Help Support Brenda Novak’s Auction for a Cure for Diabetes!

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The Bandit Creek Books group of authors has put together a fantastic basket of goodies to be auctioned off at Brenda Novak’s annual Cure for Diabetes auction online. You can view the auction HERE, and check out the list of goodies below:

The winner of this auction will receive a basket from the authors of the unique Bandit Creek series of books!

The basket will include the full library of current Bandit Creek books:

  • Lost by Vivi Anna
  • Siren’s Song by D.L. Snow
  • Penny Candy and Hard Candy by Jade Buchanan
  • Devil Unknown by Steena Holmes
  • Death at Bandit Creek by Amy Jo Fleming
  • Quinn’s Christmas Wish by Lawna Mackie
  • The Gift by C.J. Carmichael
  • Skin Deep by Shanna Gecko
  • Prohibited Passion by Alyssa Linn Palmer
  • Shafted by Kymber Morgan
  • A Stranger’s Kiss by Roxy Boroughs
  • Spunky by Sherile Reilly
  • Always a Lady by Victoria Chatham
  • Fool’s Gold Anthology featuring stories by Louise Behiel, Victoria Chatham, Alyssa Linn Palmer, Julie Rowe, Sheila Seabrook, Brenda Sinclair and Trip Williams
  • Heart of Mine by Michelle Beattie
  • A Witch in the Wind by Brenda Collins
  • A Bandit Creek Miracle by Brenda Sinclair

PLUS

  • Montana Wild Huckleberry Pancake Mix and Jelly Beans from Jade Buchanan
  • One Japanese screen hard covered notebook from Lauren Hawkeye
  • Soups For All Seasons by Anne Ellis and The WG2E All-For-Indies Anthologies: Viva La Valentine Edition from Sheila Seabrook (featuring her story The Valentine Grinch!)
  • The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Communicating with Spirits by Rita S. Berkowitz and Deborah S. Romaine from Vivi Anna

The auction begins on April 30th, and ends on May 31st! Help us support finding a cure for diabetes!