Please join me in welcoming this talented author to Books & Benches today!
Q&A with Rachel Demeter
Fall for a romance hot enough to melt the snow. <Tweet This>
What inspired you to
write your newest release? Is anything in the story based on personal
experiences?
Definitely.
Writing A Kindled Winter was an
incredibly personal experience that touched home in a profound way. The hero of
the story, Dr. David Drake, is a cardiovascular surgeon. I was born with a
congenital heart defect (Transposition of the Great Arteries—a condition that
is mentioned in the story). I underwent
two major surgeries while writing A
Kindled Winter, and completed the majority of the work during my
recoveries. In hindsight, I realize that the subject matter was therapeutic and
my personal way of working through this time in my life. :)
What are
three things people may not know about you?
1. When I was ten years old, my house was sieged by the SWAT Team.
Rifles, handcuffs, surveillance of our house for several months prior … the
whole nine yards. Long story short: my cousin and I had taken shirtless (and
10000% innocent) pictures of each other holding a Barbie doll … and an employee
at Costco misinterpreted the photos, to put it mildly … !
2. I began my college career as a philosophy major (with an
emphasis in metaphysics), but changed to film and media arts (specifically,
screenwriting) about halfway through. Even though I’m primarily a novelist now,
film school deepened my passion for crafting fiction tenfold. It taught me to
concentrate on plotting, dynamic characters, and effective pacing, as well as
the importance of visual storytelling. I wouldn’t trade my college education
for anything in the world!
3. What’s in a name? Everything! A ton of thought goes into the
selection of my characters’ names. I always ensure their meanings symbolize the
story in some way. For example, in Finding
Gabriel, my most recent historical romance, Ariah means “lioness” in
Hebrew—and she, indeed, behaves very much like a mother lioness when it comes
to protecting her loved ones. Plus, she is blonde and quite fierce at times.
“Gabriel” represents one of the archangels in the Old and New Testament.
(Though the story itself contains no religious undertones.)
How do
you feel about book trailers and do you have any?
Coming
from a background in film—I love
them, especially when they are produced well! In my eyes, they are much more
than a promotional outlet; they can be a very unique and powerful expression of
the story and characters. For every book I write, I dedicate a lot of time to
my trailers: the audio, visuals, written text—everything! Please take a moment
and visit them below :)—and be sure to subscribe to my YouTube
channel:
Finding Gabriel trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO2RGf7C4D0
A Kindled Winter trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixzSbtt3BWs
What else
have you written?
Currently three of my babies have entered the
world:
The Frost of
Springtime was
released in 2014 under Black Lyon Publishing, LLC. It’s an edgy historical
romance of forbidden love during the 1870s uprisings in Paris.
On a cold Parisian night, Vicomte Aleksender de
Lefèvre forges an everlasting bond with a broken girl during her darkest hour,
saving her from a life of abuse and misery. But while Aleksender is drawn away
by war, Sofia matures into a stunning young woman - and upon his tormented
return, she alone might bring an end to the winter in his heart.
Finding Gabriel was released in 2015 under Momentum Books (Pan
Macmillan).
During the chaotic ending of the Napoleonic Wars,
two tortured souls struggle to overcome adversity and find hope in the wreckage
of their pasts. Equal parts steamy and heartfelt, FINDING GABRIEL is an
evocative journey through darkness and light, loss and hope, searing passion
and the redeeming power of love.
A Kindled Winter, my first contemporary romance and beta hero, released on November 1st under Black Lyon Publishing, LLC.
A KINDLED WINTER brings the spirit of the
holidays to life with a passionate story of second chances and healing love.
I’ve also written several screenplay
adaptations, original scripts, and pilots!
Fun tidbit: During college I wrote an
edgy TV pilot entitled the Red Light
District, which was chiefly based on a porn studio and actor. As part of my
research, I spent a day at an actual porn shoot. And yes . . . I got to see and
hear everything. While sitting only
feet away. The experience was truly eye-opening and one of a kind—and the actor
and actress were some of the nicest, most interesting individuals I’ve ever met!
Do
you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer to just see where an idea takes
you?
Oh, I
definitely use an outline. In fact, I’m
seriously an organizational freak—at least during the brainstorming and
plotting phases. I plan my days out months in advance, and draw up detailed
plot outlines and character sketches before ever beginning a new story. Though,
I can certainly veer away from ritual and become a “pantser” when the
manuscript calls for it. Once I’m immersed in the “writing phase,” the outline
becomes more of a road map than a strict guideline. I follow the basic course,
but will take side trips, travel into unexpected territories, meet new people
along the way, etc.
Starting January 1st, I’ll be implementing a Motivational Writing Calendar into my process. All writers should check it out—it’s awesome and really spices up a stale routine.
A Kindled Winter
Meet the Author
Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim,
California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school
sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing poignant romances that challenge
the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.
Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Newsletter
THANK YOU FOR VISITING TODAY. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON!
Starting January 1st, I’ll be implementing a Motivational Writing Calendar into my process. All writers should check it out—it’s awesome and really spices up a stale routine.
“Christmas, my child, is love in action.
Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.” — Dale Evans
A week before Christmas, Jeseca Reed sets off for Blue
River, Oregon—her childhood home and a vault of tender memories. However, fate
takes an unexpected turn when she’s left stranded in the mountains’ vast,
untamed wilderness. Desperate and alone, she seeks shelter at a cottage and
finds herself in the arms of a mysterious stranger.
Dr. David Drake
was once a renowned cardiovascular surgeon. But a devastating tragedy has left
him scarred both inside and out, unable to use his hands to operate again.
For the past five years, his Blue River cottage has been his
sole escape—a safe haven where he can shut out the world, bury himself in his
grief, and reunite with his son’s memory.
Together they are summer and winter. Fire and
ice. And yet a poignant connection forms between them. Jeseca awakens David and
thaws his heart with a romance hot enough to melt snow. But before David and
Jeseca can fully embrace each other, they must wade through darkness and
confront the ghosts of their pasts …
Equal parts steamy and heartfelt, A
Kindled Winter brings the spirit of the holidays to life with a
passionate story of second chances and healing love.
Get your copy at: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble
Title: A Kindled Winter
Author: Rachel L. Demeter
Publisher: Black Lyon Publishing, LLC
Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Release Date: November 1st 2015
Formats: eBook and Paperback Author: Rachel L. Demeter
Publisher: Black Lyon Publishing, LLC
Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Release Date: November 1st 2015
Get your copy at: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble
Meet the Author
Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim,
California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school
sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing poignant romances that challenge
the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.
Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Newsletter
THANK YOU FOR VISITING TODAY. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON!
