Take me away… Interview with author Heather Rodney-Diaz

So bloggy friends did I mention that month is the launch month of Crimson Romance, the new line from my spanking new publisher? Yeah, I’m thinking I did, but just put up with me since saying new publisher won’t get old to me anytime too soon.

Well, today I’m very happy to have a debut author from their spicy line, Heather Rodney-Diaz here to talk about her novel Island Pursuits.

First a bit about Island Pursuits:

When former U.S. Marine Adrian Mendez decided to return to his beautiful twin-island homeland of Trinidad and Tobago in the southern Caribbean, he didn’t expect to find the woman of his dreams. But one chance encounter with the captivating Cory Phillips was all it took. Adrian quickly realizes once just isn’t enough with this beautiful but feisty island goddess.

Headstrong and set in her ways, Cory struggles tremendously with the military stereotypes of the island. But when this gorgeous, sensual—and deadly—soldier offers her his help, how could she resist him? After many sultry and pleasure-filled steamy Caribbean nights with Adrian, Cory finds herself going against everything she once believed in.

Their lustful island pursuits lead to a sizzling romance in paradise—but what they both discover about the past threatens to destroy any chance of a happily ever after. Can their love survive this tropical turbulence even as danger and deception lurks?

Sounds good huh? Well, now that I’ve got you going let’s chat with Heather.

Hi Heather thanks so much for being here. Please tell us a bit about yourself. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Hi Kwana, thank you so much for having me here today! I hail from the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the southern Caribbean where I live with my husband of eight years. Therefore, my writing and books will always reflect a Caribbean theme but also have strong ties or links to the U.S. as I have lots of family and friends living there. I work full-time in the diplomatic corps so I am only able to write part-time.

Hmmm, have I always wanted to be a writer? That’s a great question and my answer might sound quite funny but it’s the truth. I have always loved writing since I was a child. When I was 12-years-old, I began hearing different voices and people in my head talking to me and I didn’t know what the hell that was all about. And no I was never or still ever diagnosed with any crazy people disorders!!!! However, as recent as 2009, it was only then that I realized what that was all about. Those voices were there all these years telling me things so that I could record them. It’s only now that I finally realize that perhaps I was destined to become a writer. I think writing was my gift. Now, could you all only imagine where I might have been today if only I had listened to these voices since I was 12! Island Pursuits is my debut spicy release from Crimson Romance. Well, better late than never, right?

I’m excited about the island setting of this book (especially since I have an island setting in my book too. Was totally dreaming of a getaway). Please tell us what made you set your novel in Trinidad and Tobago?

Well, that’s easy! I was born, raised and still live on the twin-islands of Trinidad and   Tobago. And it’s pretty easy to write what you know. Besides, who doesn’t like a sweet but steamy romance in a tropical paradise? I also wanted to give the perspective of islanders falling in love too and telling their stories because there are so few of them published. This was also a very good opportunity for me to afford readers an escape by showing off my islands to the entire world through the pages of my romance novel!

Now I love a real life hero, tell us what was the draw for you to write a military hero for this book?

First of, military men are super hot in my book. I love that they are disciplined, dangerous and deadly but controlled and yet they could love passionately and tenderly. I love a man who is willing to give his life for his country or the woman of his dreams. Also, having so many friends in the military stationed all over the globe, it made writing this book even more special to me. I think we really do owe them a great deal of respect for what they do for us on a daily basis.

Now my favorite part. Please tell us the story of your “overnight” success.

I started writing Island Pursuits in 2009 and in about two months time the 90,000 words manuscript was completed. Then I edited, and tweaked and changed and revised and submitted and got a couple rejection letters and did everything all over again. Then one day in March this year, I got an email from Writer’s Digest about submitting to Crimson Romance and it just sounded so much simpler and less complicated than any other submission guidelines from other publishers I came across. So I immediately emailed my query and then I was asked to submit my manuscript and then a few days later I received an email from editor Jennifer Lawler saying that they wanted to use Island Pursuits for Crimson’s Spicy line. And I was like spicy?????? But hell yeah!!!!!! And just like that, that was the day my life changed and I am now a happily published author!

What’s next for you?

I’m definitely going to continue with my writing career, further developing it and learning as I go along. I have just started the editing phase of my second manuscript and I have also just started writing a third.

Cool. I can’t wait for the next books. Thanks so much for being here and I wish you much success with Island Pursuits!

Thank you so much Kwana, it was definitely a pleasure being here!

Check out www.crimsonromance.com for the buy links for Island Pursuits.

You can also find Heather on Facebook and feel free to “Like” her author page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/HeatherRodneyDiazAuthor

Or follow Heather on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherRodneyDi

Best,

Kwana