FAITH V. SMITH --

My first guest blogger of 2011 is multi-published author, Faith V. Smith. Faith, tell us how you transitioned into what I would--with great envy, I might add--call a talented, effective, speed writer.

First off, let me say how happy I am to be here at “Vintage Vonnie.” Thank you, Vonnie!

I started my career as an author in the trenches, doing reviews for a lovely magazine called Bridges. From there, I polished my pen or keyboard by writing reviews for Romantic Times Bookreviews Magazine. I have also had the pleasure of working with the wonderful staff at MyShelf.Com.     

When not penning reviews, I have turned in my share of interviews with authors, cover models and editors from different publishing houses. Actually, I have done my share of editing also. Not to mention penning a column for a local newspaper. So, when it comes to reading romance, I too like a book that takes me away from life's troubles.


Now with the sale of six books in less than two years, I am pleased to add Gideon’s Heart, the third book in my Bound By Blood, The Legends series, as well as Semper Fi Magick, a time travel with a sexy Marine to my list of books. Gideon’s Heart, the 3rd in my vampire series as well as Semper Fi Magick will be out in early 2011. All books are available at www.thewildrosepress.com as well as http://www.amazon.com/.

                          DREAMS DO COME TRUE

Decades ago, I knew I wanted to write, I just had no clue as to what needed to be done to make my work contractible. As with any new writer with wanna-be-published stamped on my heart, I made mistakes.

My first completed manuscript was a medieval. I love that time period, and I submitted the first three chapters to a contest. No, I did not win, but I did get feedback that I could use—once I asked a published friend of mine what it meant. So many things make up the composition of a book besides the plot, and it can be confusing at times.

 It was this contest that made me realize I needed to know more about the fundamentals of writing romance. I did not know what point of view was, Rue or resist the urge to explain, past perfect tense or any of the other basics. Now, I am considered to be somewhat of a Point of View expert…lol. Go figure. What I’m trying to say is I had some wonderful critique partners who took the time to help me learn the craft of romance writing.

Still, it took me almost eight years after I finished by first book before I was published, and no it was not with my first book. I entered another contest called “Through The Garden Gate,” at the Wild Rose Press and even though I did not win, I was asked to revamp the setting and much to my surprise, once I did, I was offered a contract. Yeah me! I was over the moon. But let me tell you that signing a contract is not the end of the book. More edits, covers, copyeditors, etc., are all part of the publication process. I think I shall never forget what I felt like when I saw my first cover! It was for “Beware What You Wish,” my first time travel and from the contest. I kept saying over and over, “I have a cover, I have a cover.”                      

Since then I have had three more books published. “Kensington’s Soul” and “Dunbar’s Curse” from my vampire series, “Bound By Blood, The Legends,” and “Viking, Go Home,” a second time travel. I also have the third vampire book, “Gideon’s Heart,” as well as a sequel “Semper Fi Magick, “ to “Viking, Go Home,” coming out in early 2011.

I have truly been blessed by God to be able to create the works I love. I hope that anyone of you reading this will realize that if you are serious about writing, and you cannot NOT write, then don’t give up on your dreams!

Hugs and check out my website and blog:

www.faithvsmith.com

http://www.faithvsmith.blogspot.com/

You can also find me on Twitter and Face Book. 

Blurbs ~ ~    

        Kensington's Soul

Four centuries ago, a spurned lover damned Lord Zachary Kensington to eternity as a vampire. Convinced no woman could love the beast within, he concentrates his attention on the quest for redemption. He now stalks evil in the 21st century, working as a police detective. His job puts him up close and personal with Dr. Miranda James when she is carjacked. The sensual doctor captures his heart, but before he can claim her as his, Zacke's past comes back to haunt him.

Miranda James falls hard and fast for the seductive Detective Zacke Kensington, but the closer she gets to him the more elusive he becomes. His mysterious air grates on her nerves, and when she discovers him kissing a beautiful woman, Miranda is devastated.

Tables turn when ex-lover and vampire Gabriella designates Miranda as her next meal. Miranda swears off men while Zacke vows to stop Gabriella's vindictive murder spree before she turns Savannah into a city of carnage.
            Dunbar’s Curse
A Vampire with morals and a doctor who's afraid of monsters.

Dr. Hope Morgan is having erotic dreams. The man who makes her burn with desire is only a figment of her imagination—or so she thinks until she meets him at a party. She fears she is losing her mind and flees the handsome stranger but finds she can’t get him out of her heart.



Miles is over four hundred years old. A bit long in the fang department to fall in love. But when the child he once rescued grows up into a beautiful and sensual woman he can’t keep his heart or desire under control. He moves Heaven and Earth to protect her when Hope’s life is threatened again, but wonders who will protect her from him.



    Beware What You Wish                                      
                                            
Leah Barnett's travel to research a romance novel sends her back two hundred years--right into the bathtub of one hunky half Scot, half English male. His chauvinist attitude stiffens her spine, but his sensual kisses weaken her knees. Not to mention flipping her heart like a kilt in the wind.

Alistair MacKinnon's vow to stay out of trouble falls by the wayside when a sensual, outspoken woman falls into his tub out of nowhere. Her insistence that she's from the future doesn't cause him as much concern as the way his heart thuds just looking at her. He's finally found a woman who sees eye-to-eye with him--even if she does only reach his chest.

When Alistair orders the headstrong Leah to marry him to keep his despicable cousin from taking her to bed, the Scottish-English hottie gets a talking to that singes his ears. But it's not his ears that sting when they find a portal to the future for Leah. 
      Viking, Go Home

Wulgar Thorrason’s inability to keep his lust under control earns him the ire of a Faery Princess, who sends him forward in time to modern-day Michigan to learn the difference between lust and love. There he meets Raven Harrison, a romance author. The petite beauty piques his lust, but he sees red when she scoffs at his tale of being a time-traveling Viking.

Raven is blown over by the handsome and half-dressed man who comes out of nowhere. His sensuality sends a shiver of desire straight to her feminine core. However, his tale of being curse by a Faery leads her to believe he should be locked up for his own protection. Before she can suggest just that, someone begins shooting at them, and both she and the Viking are running for their lives.

A circumstance that brings them closer in more ways than one, until their unknown assailant threatens Wulf’s life. Now both must make decisions that could destroy their relationship before it gets off the ground—and before the Viking is snatched back to the past.

NEW RELEASES:






                                            Gideon’s Heart


Every day Detective Gideon Hawks works the dangerous streets of Savannah, but when he meets Katheryne Alastair he discovers a bigger threat…one to his heart. Her delicately sensual features and old-fashion clothing leads him to believe she is homeless…or a prostitute. Against his better judgment and the concern from friends, he decides to take Katheryne home.

Katheryne, a lady from a different century, is a vampire ready to end her existence. However, when the handsome detective tries to help her, she finds peace within her heart. His kisses ignite a fire and the heat of his touch triggers a bloodlust she’s kept dormant for centuries. How can she fight the yearning to be Gideon’s soul mate?
When Gideon is mortally wounded, Katheryne must save his life. But if she turns him, will he forgive her, or worse turn away? Or will the eternal love she has for him end the suffering of her vampiric curse?

              Semper Fi Magick

After a failed mission, Special Ops Marine Derek Hansen wants peace and quiet as he recuperates at his cousin’s home. What he gets is a sex-on-heels woman, with a snooty attitude. Not only does she remind him of his ex-fiancée, but she claims she’s a Faery Princess of the Seelie Court. Now she’s not only getting under his skin, she’s getting into his head and delving into his nightmares. Maybe there is more to Catriona than he first realized.

Catriona is restricted to her palace for interfering in human affairs, but that doesn’t stop her from sneaking away to visit her mortal friends. Her fun ends—and passion ignites when she finds herself involved with a sexy mortal male who treats her like a woman instead of a pampered Faery princess.

But when magick and terrorism collide, Derek is injured. Catriona spirits the man she loves to her Faery home, but can her magick save him?