Allyson Carter and Wounded Hearts!!

I'm super excited to have Allyson Carter here with me today!! Her new release, Wounded Hearts, came out last Saturday. So, she has graced my blog to sit down for an interview :) Let's get this started:

Welcome Allyson! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I always hate this question. Okay, so here goes nothing. I’m a wife and mother. I home school my four children and have three on the Autism spectrum. In my free time, yeah like that happens often, I knit.

What is the most romantic thing your significant other or anyone has done for you? That’s a hard one cause my hubby has done a lot of things that are romantic.  I guess one would be at times he’ll make supper for the both of us after the kids are in bed. We can sit and relax and talk.

Awww. See, now that is romantic. Do you ever write in your PJ’s?

Oh my goodness, yes I sure do.

What are your pet peeves?

Lying. I can’t stand when people do this. I guess though my biggest one is when I see those who have Autism or any special needs getting treated wrong.

Cats or dogs?

I have 3 cats.

White wine or red?

Either

Coffee or tea?

Both. Coffee in the morning is a must and then sweet tea in the afternoon.

 Vanilla or chocolate ice cream?

 Chocolate.

 What are 4 things you never leave home without?

My purse, cell phone, mascara and car keys

Laptop or desktop for writing?

Laptop

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I’d prefer to do it in the morning but that isn’t always possible when homeschooling. I sneak time in throughout the day when the kids are doing their school work. Usually, I sit in the recliner to write.

If you were deserted on an island, who are 3 famous people you would want with you?

Oh, this question could get me into a lot of trouble. Let’s hope hubby doesn’t read this interview. LOL Channing Tatum, Chris Young and Luke Bryan.

Now those are some great ones to have along! An actor you have a crush on?

Channing Tatum

What is a movie or TV show that you watched recently and really enjoyed?

DR. Who

What made you decide to be an author?

I was going crazy 5 years ago stuck in a snow storm with the kids. I remember waking up with this idea in my head. At this time, I’d not written anything since high school. Only a couple friends knew that I wrote and back then it was mostly poems. This idea for a YA book wouldn’t go away, so I got my two oldest daughters going on their schooling for the day, and then sat down at the computer and started typing. The book just poured out of me. That’s when it all clicked and I knew I wanted to be an author.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

ell, that took some time. I first started writing YA (nothing published there yet.) I then went into another genre under a pen name, but after awhile got bored of writing really hot. So, I guess the sweet genre picked me. I’ve always written romance and suspense. Both are something that I love.

Are you a punster or a plotter and why?

I’m a plotter. It just works better for me this way to know where things are going. My characters still surprise me all the time though.

 

Is there a particular author who may have influenced you?

Yes, there is one who really did influence me as I switched genres. That’s Julie Lessman.

What is your all time favorite book?

I can’t pick just one. There are too many!

What is your favorite sentence or quote in your new release?

That would have to be from the heroine’s daughter Hannah. Actually there are a couple from her that are my favorites.

How much trouble did your characters give you while writing your new release? Which one?

A lot! Mark was a pain in the behind. He didn’t want to admit how tortured he was. Shelby didn’t want to admit how much she cared for Mark. I wanted to slap them both.

Where do you get your ideas from?

Everywhere.

How did you choose your title?

I just picked a few and asked feedback from some close people to me.

 How do you cure writer’s block?

By slamming my head on the computer…not really but at times I want to. I usually go clean, cook, play with the kids, knit or something else. It always passes.

Do you have any advice for an aspiring writer?

Yes. Don’t give up … no matter what someone tells you. It takes a lot of hard work to get published. Keep working on polishing your craft and learning. And of course most importantly, keep writing.

What sacred advice have you been giving by another writer?

To never give up and push through when something isn’t going right with the book. Don’t be afraid to break the rules at times as well.

Where can your readers stalk you?

They can stalk me at Facebook, Twitter and my website.  

You can buy Wounded Hearts HERE

 

Tell us about your new release:

After a bitter divorce, Shelby Johnson is looking to rebuild a life for her and her daughter, Hannah, while avoiding the thing she mistrusts most: men. Her resolve is tested, however, when her brother’s best friend, Mark, moves in across the street and her long-buried feelings for him return. Can she possibly open up her heart again? Is she willing to let herself love? When someone threatens her life she quickly realizes that her heart isn’t the only thing on the line and she turns to the only man she feels she can trust.

Reliving everything he lost overseas, Mark Daniels goes back to his hometown to try and live a peaceful life but instead gets caught up in Shelby’s troubles.. He knows she needs someone to protect her but can he be that man? Except, being near Shelby again is making him feel things he’d rather never feel—again. When his past comes to haunt him in a way he never expected, he vows to protect Shelby and her daughter until his last breath.

Excerpt

“Stay right here, sweetie.”

Reaching in, she picked up the paper. At first, the words written on the thing didn’t register. She had to re-read them twice.

Keep quiet or else.

Her hands shook. A lump formed in her throat. When Mark walked out to the car, their gazes met. She noted the concern on his face as he stared at her.

“What’s the matter, Shell?”

She tried to talk, but nothing would come out. When he rushed to her side, she gave him the note. The words had been created with letters out of magazines or something, glued to the paper. She tightened her hold on Hannah. Someone had put the paper there when they were a few feet away. Why?

“Take Hannah and move to the sidewalk.”

Shelby nodded then moved to where he told her. He pulled out his cell and punched in a number. Mark moved with determination as he talked on the phone with the police. Within moments, a squad car showed up. So much for not having attention on her while she was out with Mark. Who had put the note in her car? Better yet, how did they get in when she’d locked the car?

“Shelby, do you have someone mad at you?” Detective Moore asked as he shut the door to his car and made his way over to her.