Whooooo we made it to DAY 13!!
Yes my friend today is the day we here at the blog spotlight another great Author and Blog!!!
I am so happy to be apart of this Author/Blog Spotlight tour for Book Boyfriend Reviews 2yr blogiversary.
Today I am spotlighting Author N.A. Alcorn and Blog Holly's Red Hot Reviews.
There is a Q&A with both Author and Blog, where you can learn more about Author N.A, as well as Holly from Holly's Red Hot Review so you can get to know a bit more about that blog.
N.A. was chosen because is an awesome writer who writes rom-com and contemporary military romance. In real life she is just as witty as her characters, she will make you laugh and cry but most importantly she is just an overall great person.
We asked her a few questions so you all could get to know her better. Enjoy!
Tell us your Name, books you have written and what you’re working on.
Hi! I’m N.A. Alcorn and I am so honored to be a part of this 2 year blogiversary celebration!
I’ve written a few books over the past year…
I published the first two books in the Infamous Series, The Infamous Ellen James and Avoiding Amy Jackson. This series is a rom-com style of romance with a spice of raunchy, inappropriate humor. Each book is a stand-alone and can be read out of order. There is a warning/disclaimer associated with these books: These books are bound to make you laugh, smile, and provide you with enough sarcasm to choke your grandmother. No, N.A. doesn’t want anything bad to happen to your Grandma Ruth, but she does want you to strongly consider re-naming your vibrator after a guy who’s at the top of your spank bank rotation. Be prepared for dripping juice-boxes, awkward pelvic thrusting, and a little suspense to keep your snatch on edge. Warning: This novel contains explicit sex, profanity and far too much vaginal humor. This novel is not meant for anti-fornicators, up-tight prudes, or virgins who refuse to go to Pound Town.
I also have a romantic suspense series- The Strong Series. The first book, Covertly Strong, was published in October. This series focuses on a Navy SEAL Team. There is lots of romance, lots of action, and sexy alpha males kicking some serious ass. The female leads are no damsels in distress either, they can definitely hold their own.
I’m currently working on the last book in the Infamous Series- Finding Lizzy Montgomery. I’ve also got another project in the works. This project has sex, love, rock n’roll, and a shocking twist that revolves around the idea that sometimes there is more to the story. Sometimes you don’t have all the facts, and sometimes a love triangle, might not really be a love triangle. I hope to get both novels to you very, very soon!
Covertly Strong is different than your first 2 books, what inspired you to write it?
Covertly Strong is definitely different than the Infamous Series. There is some humor, but nothing like the craziness Ellen or Amy bring to the table. I’ve always been intrigued by Navy SEALs. Those men are kind of a breed of their own. The mental strength, tenacity, and endurance they possess is sometimes hard to comprehend.
I decided to write the Strong Series because I loved the idea of writing the female equivalent to a Navy SEAL and then bringing those two hard-asses together. I’ve always been inspired by famous women who’ve held their own, who blaze their own trail, and never back down. Sloan Walker, the female lead in Covertly Strong, is that type of woman. Of course, she has her vulnerabilities, but her strength is my
favorite characteristic. She can definitely kick some ass when she needs to.
If you could have any super power what would it be and why?
Hmmmm…That’s a tough one. I think I would pick mind-reading. I’ve always been intrigued by the way the human mind works. It would be awesome to have the ability to tap into someone’s thought processes and really understand what compels them to make certain decisions or say certain things.
Sure, there would be some serious negatives. I would prefer not to hear someone thinking about how big my ass looks in yoga pants, but I really think the positives of reading someone’s mind would outweigh the good. Imagine the possibilities! I’d be the perfect wing woman, the human version of a lie detector, and not to mention, the ridiculous amounts of fun I could have….*insert evil, maniacal laugh*
Who is your favorite go to author?
Wow. This is a tough one. I have an eclectic taste in books. I love romance, suspense, thrillers, mysteries, crime, autobiographies…Seriously, it’s a very long list. I think the one author who I can always read, no matter what, would be Stephen King. He is the king of mind-f*cking you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in the middle of one of his books and had to pull a Joey Tribiani…hide the paperback in the freezer, or throw the Kindle in the closet. No joke, I’m a total chicken shit when it comes to the horror genre, but for some reason, I just can’t stop myself from reading it.
If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, who would it be?
S.E. Hinton. She is the author of The Outsiders along with many other best-selling, amazing novels. I’m mesmerized by her talent, and the fact that she wrote The Outsiders when she was only 16 years old is insanity! God, when I was 16 I was too busy…never mind, I’ll keep those ridiculous teenage years’ stories to myself.
Anyways, I would love to have the opportunity to pick S.E. Hinton’s brain, to understand what inspired her at such a young age to write a novel that has become a true heirloom to the literary world. The Outsiders was the first novel that I fell in love, and still, to this day, it is one of my all-time favorites.
“Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold.”
What are your writing goals for 2015?
I haven’t set specific writing goals. I honestly try not to. I try not to pressure myself into writing something when I’m not really feeling it, but there are two things I would like to accomplish this year. I’d like to give the Infamous Gang their proper ending. It might end with Lizzy’s book, or it might end with a follow up novella to the series. I’m not quite sure yet how it will pan out, but I can promise it will be worth the wait.
And I’d also like to write something that is really out of my comfort zone, something that scares the shit out of me. Not sure what that will be yet, but I will say, one of my current projects has been pushing my boundaries… A LOT.
Music is amazing and inspiring what music helps you in your writing process?
I agree. Music is amazing. It can make you feel so many emotions. Lyrics can mimic your life, and make you feel like someone else understands the current situation or dilemma or mood that you’re in. Music is almost always on while I’m writing. I strive to find the perfect songs to depict a specific scene I’m working through. Honestly, there is nothing like writing a sexy scene with some hot-ass music in the background to get your characters in the mood.
Name one food you cannot live without while you are writing?
I rarely eat when I’m writing. Not because I’m trying to be healthy or watch my calories, it’s mainly because I’m really messy. Coffee, gum, and Charms Blowpops are about the only thing I could not live without while writing. Coffee is the only thing that I CAN NOT live without.
Whom in this industry have you met that you are so grateful for (besides me duh!)?
Oh wow, this is a tough one. There are so many amazing people in this industry. Readers, bloggers, authors. Everyone is truly unique and adds something magical to the book world.
But if I had to choose just one, I’d have to say that the one person I am most grateful for would be my friend Mo, otherwise known as angst-writing-genius, Author M. Mabie. She started this crazy journey with me back when we were both bloggers, and somehow we just became best friends. We dived into writing at the same time, and I am forever grateful that she is by my side. And I love that our friendship has grown outside of just being blogging-turned-writing buddies.
It’s rare to find someone in life who you can call and say, “I need your help.” And her response is, “Is it a I need you to help me hide a dead body kind of problem or how many minutes am I supposed to cook this pot roast kind of problem?” And your response is, “Does it matter?” And her answer would be, “I just need to know if I’m going to have to put pants on.”
Those are the kind of friends you keep for life, and that’s why I’m keeping Mo forever.
Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?
Probably just the normal everyday hobbies that most Americans enjoy—hookers, cocaine, and sex.
Kidding!
Hobbies…Hobbies…What are my hobbies? I’d say it goes hand-in-hand that reading is a hobby of mine.
Stephen King once said, “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write.
Simple as that.” I truly believe that. Being a voracious reader makes you a stronger writer.
I also love to run, stalk my favorite bands at concerts, and I can eat an entire bag of Reese’s Cups in less than fifteen minutes.
What is the best part of meeting your readers?
Everything. There is no best part in meeting one of my readers, whether it is talking to them in person at a signing or chatting with them through social media, there is no one best part, the whole experience is amazing and extremely humbling. It still boggles my mind that someone has picked up one of my books and read it, and the fact that there are actually people out there who enjoy them is mind-blowing.
Any special words that you would like to say to your readers?
There is not enough space on my Google drive to say everything I want to say, but just know that you, my beautiful, loyal, amazing, hilarious readers, you make life wonderful. The messages, the emails, the words of encouragement, the enthusiasm you bring to my world are what drive me to continue publishing books. I’m honored and grateful that you love escaping into the fictional worlds my crazy brain has created. THANK YOU.
I march to the beat of my drum. Can you hear that? That perpetual bang, bang, bang that’s continually drumming relentlessly inside of my head. Oh, that’s just me? Never mind then, carry on…
Beautiful words. Lovely plot lines. And coffee. Those three things are my kryptonite. My soul’s primary source of nutrition.
I savor the weird, embrace the pervy, and open both arms willingly to anything that will make me laugh.
My obsession is books. I like to read them, write them, and inhale them in any way my ravenous mind will allow.
I’m awkward and sarcastic and can’t take a proper selfie if my life depended on it.
I was once told by my high school English teacher that my colorful ability to state the obvious would be my biggest weakness. I thanked him and made it my life’s mission to make that my biggest strength.
At times, I’m bordering on obscene and have strongly considered tattooing the words Approach With Caution on some part of my body. Tomorrow…I’ll probably do it.
Procrastinator at heart who tries to tell herself that she’ll meet every deadline. Tomorrow. I’ll finish it tomorrow, I swear.
I’ll listen to anything that The Black Keys produce and I won’t deny that I wear Taylor Swift perfume. It’s wonderfully aromatic and smells of heart-break, girls in frilly dresses adorned with ruby red lipstick, and black-and-white Instagram photos.
I can’t wait to continue this writing journey. We should meet sometime. Tomorrow good for you?
Stay Weird
The blogger that is being spotlighted is Holly's Red Hot Reviews Click on the link under her logo to check out her amazing blog.
What made you want to be a blogger?
I started reading a lot more after my mom passed away in 2011 as my escape and started sharing what I was reading on Facebook. After meeting other bloggers and readers I decided to start my own blog; it made it easier for them to follow along with what I was reading.
What has been one of your most favorite books to review?
Karina Halle’s Love, in Spanish. I read Love, in English on the flight to Book Bash and gushed to her about how much I loved Mateo and Vera’s story. Like, LOVED LOVED it! She had ARC opportunities for Love, in Spanish in NYC in October and I think I may have promised her my first
born during my fan girling. I squealed and jumped when Mateo landed in my mailbox (it was a paperback ARC)
What was your number one book of 2014 and why? <– is this a trick question?
Ok, since it’s by the same author, this counts as one lol. Love, in English and Love, in Spanish (to be fair, LiS is a companion novel so it can totally count as one
book!!!) Mateo and Vera’s love story was angsty, and complicated as HELL and they couldn’t be more different, BUT they didn’t let their differences get in the way of how the other made them feel. Their love was deep and it was real.
No matter what BS came their way (and there was plenty) they never stopped loving each other. I could FEEL their
love for one another deep in my chest *sigh*
Who else do you have on the blog with you?
I blog solo
Do you post every day or every other day or certain times of the week?
I used to have posts scheduled every day but I found myself getting burnt out, feeling like I was constantly setting up posts. Now I’ve cut back to every few days and I’m trying to focus on posting more reviews.
What is your favorite genre?
Romance.
You want readers to come to your blog so what do you do to separate it from other blogs?
I try to insert my personality into my posts whether it’s sarcasm, snark, or humor. IDK I just try to let my blog be a reflection of me in real life.
What do you love about blogging?
I love finding the hidden gems of books. I love talking to other bloggers, readers, and authors about the books we all love and having people that get me and get my love for books.
What goals do you have for your blog this upcoming year?
I want to try and review more books than I did last year and just keep growing.
Thank You Holly and N.A for participating.
If you missed yesterdays spotlight day with Author Erika Ashby or the day before with Author Gretchen De La O, links are below. There is still time to enter the giveaways!!
Click HERE for Day 11
