Thursday, August 23, 2018

Amber Daulton & Arresting Mason #MysteryExchange


The Mystery Exchange isn't over yet! This week I'm please to present Amber Daulton and her story, Arresting Mason. Let's start with a few questions for Amber.


What first gave you the idea for Arresting Mason?

A few years ago, I found a submission call for a bad boy anthology, and the stories were supposed to be pretty short. By the time I finished the first draft of my manuscript, I had exceeded the word count and still wanted to add more scenes. So I forgot all about the submission call and kept revising the manuscript until it clocked in at 80 thousand words and sparked ideas for more books, which is now a 5-book series.
For how I came up with the plot, I must thank my subconscious since I dreamed about it. For days after, I kept thinking about the hero, the heroine, and her brother, and the characters wouldn’t leave me in peace until I wrote out a rough plotline. Though I changed quite a bit as I put the dream down on paper (or rather computer), the main premise remained the same.

Please tell us a little about your hero, Mason.

Mason made some foolish mistakes as a teenager, and then ended up in jail. Though he joined a prison gang, he gave it up after the State released him on parole. He’s doing his best stay out of trouble, but the people from his past aren’t ready to let him go.

What's a positive quality does Mason have that he isn’t aware of?

His ability to love. Though Mason wants to be a good person, he doesn’t think he deserves to have a woman show him unconditional love and acceptance. But when he loves someone, he doesn’t let anything stop him from showing and proving it.

Will readers like or dislike him, and why?

Mason has made a ton of mistakes—everyone has to one degree or another—but he’s ready to change and move on with his life. I think a lot of readers could relate to that, and they’ll like him because he’s a good person beneath all the scars and tattoos.

Does he see morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?


Shades of gray. He’s made too many mistakes and done too many bad things to see the world as straight forward as black-and-white.

How do others perceive Mason based upon his looks?


Most women find him hot and only care about the exterior packaging, and most men find him shady or dangerous. These assumptions are correct. Mason is one sexy man, and he’s hiding a bunch of secrets that could cost him his life. Deep down, however, he’s a good man and determined to do everything in his power to protect those he loves from his past.

Do you write using an outline or do you just start writing?

I would be so lost with an outline. When I get an idea, I write down everything on paper, chapter by chapter, and sometimes scene by scene if my muse is really flowing. Usually, I end up with 30 or 40 sheets of paper, jammed with additions in the margins, and with some paragraphs highlighted for reference. Once that’s done, I finally start writing the story on my computer.
In your stories, is there more action or romance?

I try to maintain a good mix of action and romance scenes, and let those scenes play off each another. It can be difficult to not overdue one type of sequence at times, and sometimes I have to cut a scene or move it elsewhere, but I’m all about the final product. What works for the story at large is more important than an awesome but unnecessary scene somewhere in the middle. It may hurt to cut that scene, but if it’s needed, I’ll do it.

Did you always want to be a writer?

Yes, since I was twelve years old. It’s pretty cliché to say this, but I was hooked the first time I snuck a Harlequin book from my mom’s bedroom. (I’ve heard a lot of romance authors say something similar.) After reading that book, I knew what I wanted to do with my life.

 What's next for you?

Book one in the Arresting Onyx series came out in April 2018. The other four books in the series are already done, but I want to go through and edit them again before I submit them to my editor at The Wild Rose Press. Each book will probably take a few months to go through. I’ve already started on book 2, Arresting Jeremiah, and I’m anxious to get the publishing ball rolling for that book.

Arresting Mason

Series: Arresting Onyx (book 1)
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 80k
Heat Rating: 5 Flames

Blurb

Once you’re in a prison gang, you’re in it for life. That’s what Mason Harding thought until the boss accepted his resignation. After the State releases him on parole, a sexy divorcée behind the wheel of a car almost ends his life quicker than a shank. His chance encounter with Mia Eddison results in a night of passion, but her brother—his parole officer—catches them together and doesn’t approve.
Mia falls hard for the cocky ex-con, but not because of his chiseled body. She vows to break through his walls and discover his secrets, but never expects those secrets to threaten her life.
When members of an organized crime ring kidnap Mia to force Mason’s return to the gang, he goes up against an old friend to save the woman he loves. Will his sacrifice be enough or will everything fall apart in a blaze of gunfire?

Tagline


Their chance encounter resulted in a steamy affair, but will his former gang and a parole officer tear them apart?

Excerpt


“Which one is your car?” She glanced around the crowded parking lot. A few streetlights pushed back the darkness and shadows. The restaurant served customers until midnight on the weekends, but no one loitered in the lot, at least from what Mia could see.
“Don’t have one at the moment.” Mason hooked his thumbs in the belt loops of his jeans. “I took the bus. It stopped a few blocks from here.”
“Would you like a ride?” She pulled the car keys from her purse. “I feel a little ridiculous we met here tonight. I just wasn’t sure if you were some kind of freak.”
His eyebrow lifted, and he closed the distance between them as a tiger would zero in on its mate. A sexy, masculine smile curled his lips. “Have you made up your mind yet?”
“I’ll let you know in the morning.” Desire trickled down her spine. Mia nodded toward the passenger side of the car for him to hop in.
He confiscated her keys instead to unlock and open the driver’s side door for her like a gentleman. Then he leaned closer and nuzzled her temple with his nose.
Not sure if he planned to seduce her in the parking lot or if he merely wanted to tease her, Mia pressed her hand to his chest and tried to think straight. “You’re the first guy I’ve gone on a date with since my divorce. I haven’t slept with anyone since Evan.”
He tunneled his fingers through her wavy, chestnut-brown hair. “I haven’t dated anyone in a long time either. We’ll take it slow or fast, whatever you want, but I promise you one thing. After I’m done with you, you won’t even remember that bastard’s name.”
Oh, God. She almost melted right then and there. “Fast. I want you, Mason.”
“Take me to your place and you can have me.”


Buy Links:

Barnes and Noble – https://bit.ly/2uOj90J

Official Book Trailer

HTML





About the Author:

Writing is the fruit of happiness.
Amber Daulton lives her life by that one belief even though she normally isn’t so Zen.
As a fan of contemporary, paranormal, and historical romance novels alike, she can’t get enough of feisty heroines and alpha heroes. Her mind is a wonderland of adventure, laughter, and awesome ways of kicking a guy when he’s down. She probably wouldn’t be too sane without her computer and notebooks. After all, what’s a girl to do when people are jabbering away in her head and it’s hard to shut them up? Write! Nothing else works.

Social Media Links:

Facebook Author Page – www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.author
Amazon Author Page – http://amzn.to/14JoZff 

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)