Release Day Promotion & Author Interview! Walk With Me (The Thin Blue Thread) by Kaitlyn Stone

Posted July 22, 2014 by Karen in Author Interviews, Book Release, Giveaways / 0 Comments

WalkwithMeBanner_zps98596b44   walkwithmecover

 Title: Walk with Me (The Thin Blue Thread)

Author: Kaitlyn Stone

Genre: Contemporary New Adult

Publish Date: July 22nd, 2014

Publisher: BookStrand

Organized by Literati Author Services

~ Synopsis ~

After escaping her abusive parents, nineteen-year-old Kenna Sloane is determined to create an independent life, free of emotional distraction. The last thing this focused college student wants is a relationship, especially with a hot rookie cop popular with the badge bunnies. When Kenna reluctantly agrees to a double date with Santa Monica cop Donovan Alexander, she’s launched on an exciting and dangerous journey. With time, she discovers some souls are instinctively drawn together to quiet the pain of their traumatic pasts. But even after the revelation of Donovan’s own secret burden, Kenna continues to battle the fear she may be too broken for her modern day knight in blue. Can Kenna open her heart to the healing light of true love before peril strikes?  photo Goodreads_zps0c83997b.jpg

Purchase Links

Amazon | BookStrand | Kobo

AUTHOR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Inspiration for book

Well, I love New Adult romances. I go for the popular book with the highest rating and coolest cover. I figure if everyone else thinks it’s worth 4 or 5 stars, then it must be good. One day I was reading one, and thought, my romance story is better than this. Not my writing, but my story. So I sat down to write it, never thinking I’d actually publish it. My book is inspired by true events in my own life. But once I started to write my story, it didn’t seem quite as interesting on paper, so I fictionalized my characters, created backstories, and developed a more intriguing plot. Once my characters came to life, they had a mind and mouth of their own and started saying and doing things true to their character. But the simple storyline and about half the scenes in the novel were inspired by true events. Let me tell you this: motorcycle muffler burns on your inner calf are really painful and slow to heal.  

Why—out of all the ideas swimming around in your brain were you compelled to work on this?

I’ve always thought my husband and I had a fairytale romance, an amazing connection. True soul mates. I wanted to put our story into writing to inspire others to believe in “true love”, and to believe that unconditional love has the power to heal. That was the underlying message in this first book. I wrote WALK WITH ME as a dedication to my husband for our milestone anniversary coming up this year.

Name of one or two people who helped you and why? 

There have been so many wonderful people I’ve met along the way, and I have found my sister writers to be nothing but encouraging and supportive. But I have to give a lot of credit to someone who doesn’t even know the impact they made on me. In my day job I’m a counselor of sorts. I meet and speak at length with the most amazing people. One day I was counseling a famous 85 year-old woman who was working on a screen play with her even more famous celebrity granddaughter. During this time, I was about half way through my book. Without her knowing she inspired me to pursue my crazy idea of finishing this book and trying to get it published. She told me she didn’t begin writing until middle age and went on to turn some of her books into screenplays, one of which won her an Emmy. Now, I don’t think I’m going to win an Emmy, but I thought, if this 85-year-old woman can start writing in her forties and get published, so can I. You never know who is going to impact your life at just the right time.

If you could give fellow artists/fans/followers key advice from your experience working on this project—what would it be? 

This isn’t really advice, but more of a certain mindset which has helped me through my journey. I know it’s difficult, but try not to take rejection, critiques, or criticisms personally. If you look at everything as an opportunity to improve your craft, you won’t let your emotions get in the way of your goals. It has nothing to do with you as a person. I never had dreams to be a famous writer, so my ego or feelings aren’t hurt if I fail or get knocked down. I just get up and use the problem as a lesson and foundation for a stepping stone to reach my next goal.

Your hopes/plans for the future and/or next project?

Like I said above. I plan to continue on this path until it ends or it is no longer fun. Donovan and Kenna’s story isn’t over. I still have more to tell. I will take the criticism from my reviews and use that to improve my writing and my next project. The next book in my series deals with other typical growing pains that arise in new adults when they’re trying to find themselves and their own identity, plus, consequences of actions that took place at the end of book one.

Hit us with your BRAGGING RIGHTS! (Awards/Attention – that kind of stuff!)

Okay, Bragging Rights. How about this: I like to set goals, work toward those goals, complete them, and then make new goals. It keeps me focused and on task. I knew I needed to start practicing my pitching for agents and publishers, so started pitching everywhere I could – agents, contests, etc. On a fluke I pitched to a small publishing house looking for steamy novels of all genre, including New Adult. This was my first pitch to a publishing house and a week later I was offered a contract. I think that’s something to brag about.

4af3e-excerpt

He drops his mouth to my neck and grazes his teeth on my ear. “I have needed this, I have needed you and I didn’t even know it until you came in to my life.” Donovan crushes his mouth to mine, forcing a moan deep from my throat. He teases my tongue with his and lets out a guttural growl as his hands start to wander down my shoulder to my waist and slowly back up to my breast. I arch my breast into his palm, begging for more of his touch. I hitch my leg over his, digging my hip into his side, feeling his hardened length against my thigh. I whimper from the tightening and pulling in my groin and begin grabbing at fistfuls of his shirt, trying to pull him closer to my body.

Donovan responds to my need for him to be closer by dropping his chest on mine with the support of one elbow and moving his hand from my breast to my hip and thigh hitched over his leg. He cups my ass and pulls it closer to his side, grinding me on his leg. The sensation from the friction of my jeans over my underwear is building and I moan and whimper louder and more frequently into his mouth. Donovan releases his grip on my ass and pulls me by the waist flat on top of him.

I betray my body, reaching behind me, taking a hold of Donovan’s hands, pulling them off me and up next to our heads, interlacing our fingers. I slow the kissing and steady the rocking. I pull my face back slightly and we smile at each other, basking in the afterglow of such passion. I think we both know how amazing it’s going to be when I completely surrender to him. But after hearing his confession I now want to wait—to make it special. This is different than with any of the other guys I’ve ever been with, and I want my first time with Donovan to be magical. This is going to be more than amazing sex. I can see that now. This is going to be the merging of our bodies, our minds, and our souls.
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 About the Author

Since childhood, Kaitlyn Stone has gravitated toward fairy tales and happily- ever-after’s, forever chasing the first love dragon. She is a self-professed adventure junkie, constantly talking her husband and family into some new life adventure, where they’ve learned to just buckle up for the exciting ride. When they do stay home, it’s in sunny Southern California located along the Pacific Ocean.

Connect with the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter| Goodreads

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