Xandra: Hi, thanks for having me here today.
I really dislike telling people about me – I never know what to say – so I’ll keep it brief. I’m a Brit, married with cats and I’ve been obsessed with romance books since forever. I have a love of Captain Jack Sparrow that extends to having a bath towel of him and I make the most awesome Yorkshire Puddings. Ever. Oh and I write paranormal romance. 
Xandra: I loved writing Shadow Justice! Here’s the blurb:
Luka was a bounty hunter who just wanted to do his job and get paid. Being a banished Shadow, he’d learnt the bitter lesson long ago that he was alone, after he was expelled from his home world by his own blood. Now, he needed to understand why he was wanted dead whilst his desire for the fiery haired witch erupted, out of control.
As a rare moon-witch, all she’d ever known was a life of misery under the oppressive Fae-Guard. Nine years ago Cerys escaped the Meta-World after regretting the forced banishment of a Shadow. Now, she leads a normal life without her abilities and all she wants is to blend in. When a bounty hunter wants to take her back for a crime she didn’t commit, she’s willing to take a chance on her future by trusting the man who had no idea she’d wronged him years before.
You can currently find it on Bookstrand but it’ll be on Amazon and all other third party retailers, any time now.
Xandra: I was about ten. I’ve always surrounded myself with books and I’d forever be in my own little world, imagining something weird and wonderful. Then a friend and I decided to write our own books. It was the longest and most erratic thing you ever did read! It was about New Kids On The Block and a romance between two young couples (sounds amazing, right?! Lol) and I never did finish it. It was notebooks and notebooks long. I still have it somewhere now (I should really burn it since it shouldn’t be for other eyes). But yeah, that was my first taste of ‘proper’ writing and I haven’t looked back since.
Xandra: I’m very lucky as they’re all very supportive, especially my hubby. I still cringe though if my mum wants to read one of my romance stories. My characters swear and have sex (usually in that order) so my face flames whenever it gets mentioned (I’m 33, not 12 just in case you were wondering). Lol.
Xandra: I wish I did but, alas, no. I usually wing it and any writing happens between drinking copious amounts of coffee, procrastinating, pretending I’m doing chores and other work and getting distracted on the internet. Strangely enough, my reaching word count usually coincides with my hubby’s imminent arrival home…
Xandra: It seems I can’t write without one. I’ve always been the same (I managed to do so many homework assignments at the last minute during my school days) and now I can’t work without a self-imposed strict deadline. I wish I didn’t work like that as it can be slightly hairy if I have a literal deadline to comply with but, so far, it’s worked for me.
Xandra: So far, they’ve all been set in the UK so, yeah. It’s a ‘write what you know’ kinda thing but I do enjoy setting them in England.
Xandra: I love contemporary and urban fantasy and have written both (although, only published in paranormal). I’m not so keen on historical romance nowadays but, as usually happens, I’ll probably find a book I love and fall back in love with it. I guess it’s a never say never answer.
Xandra: My main research was to do with the Meta-World, the home that both my main characters left, in Shadow Justice. By creating another world, I had to figure out how to make my ideas work on another level – a whole way of living.
Xandra: I’m always writing down names I like in a notebook. So when I go to start something new, I go through the list and see what two names jump out at me. A pair always will and that’s how the inkling of the story will begin.
Xandra: I’m just about to start reading the last Chicagoland vampires book by Chloe Neill and Kerrelyn Sparks latest in her Love At Stakes series. Authors I love are Janet Evanovich, Karina Buchanon, Inez Kelley, Doris O’ Connor… I can name lots of authors I will always purchase without question. As for favourite books, I really enjoy reading the re-releases from Evanovich and anything that’s fun and makes you escape life for a while.
Xandra: For my very first release, Reluctant Revenge, I ran around the house, barreled into my hubby who jumped up and down with me for a minute and then went and made me a celebratory drink. Apart from that, no. And on release day, it’s all stress and panic for me.
Xandra: I’ll be finishing the next two stories in the Moon Magic series soon. Also, I’ll be writing a Christmas story and editing a book I wrote over Nanowrimo in 2010. Apart from that, I’ll be taking it one day at a time so check my website for more news.
Xandra: I’m all over the place (usually when I shouldn’t be!).
Xandra: I’d love to know your favourite authors/books – any recommendations?
Contest details:
- The prize is an ebook copy of Shadow Justice.
- The contest is open to anyone, international readers included, over the age of 18.
- You must leave a meaningful comment for entry. This means your comment needs to be more than “please enter me in the contest”.
- A valid email address needs to be included in your comment. If you’re worried about spam, please modify your address, such as admin.bookblog AT gmail.com. You can also send a message to this email after your comment has been posted.
- While following the blog isn’t required, it is appreciated.
- The contest ends on Sunday, February 5.
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