Today I have the pleasure welcoming Rachel Kall author of Legally Undercover. My question: Does reading shape who you are as a writer?
Authors often write about the process of writing. What inspires them to write, what their writing process is, and other similar topics. But I’d like to write a little bit about reading. My love for reading is what influenced me to begin writing. We all love books—that’s why we’re on this blog, right?
Reading is essential to being a good writer. I read very heavily in the romantic suspense genre—the genre in which I write. I do this for a few reasons. Of course I love reading romantic suspense. But I also feel that reading in the genre is critical for me to understand the genre and to become a better writer. I think it’s also important to read outside your genre and your comfort zone. Who knows what a writer can learn by reading something different. I enjoy reading in new genres—even though I don’t do it as often as reading in my favorite genres.
Reading is essential to being a good writer. I read very heavily in the romantic suspense genre—the genre in which I write. I do this for a few reasons. Of course I love reading romantic suspense. But I also feel that reading in the genre is critical for me to understand the genre and to become a better writer. I think it’s also important to read outside your genre and your comfort zone. Who knows what a writer can learn by reading something different. I enjoy reading in new genres—even though I don’t do it as often as reading in my favorite genres.
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| (CC) PaulBence |
I often say that writing makes me happy like nothing else does. The same goes for reading. Reading is a joy. Reading takes me places that I can’t go in real life. Reading expands my imagination. Reading is inspirational. Reading gets me through painful cardio workouts. (I highly recommend trying to read instead of listening to music. It makes the time go by so much faster while on a treadmill or elliptical!)
~note to shelf: buy more audio books!
Writers are often so busy that it’s easy to neglect reading. I never want to get to the point where I can’t find the time to read. I always remind myself why I started writing in the first place—the love of reading.
Do you read outside of your favorite genres? Has any book surprised you?
Writers are often so busy that it’s easy to neglect reading. I never want to get to the point where I can’t find the time to read. I always remind myself why I started writing in the first place—the love of reading.
Do you read outside of your favorite genres? Has any book surprised you?
I normally stay within my favorite genres, but once and a great while Ill take a chance. Last year I stepped way out of my comfort zone and tried On Dublin Street by Samantha Young, I wound up loving it!! Now Im not ready to blast my way into the Adult/Erotica fiction scene, but I did appreciate the great read and was surprised taking a chance on that one. Thanks Rachel for stopping by and chatting with me today.
Excerpt:
Don't worry. We'll start nice and easy. And rule number one is this: The connection between the man and the woman is more important than the steps. You could have the most amazing dance steps in the world, but if there's no connection between the man and the woman, then it's really not the salsa."
He positioned her left hand on his shoulder. Then he put his left hand into her right and placed his right hand gently on her back.
"The thing to remember about the salsa is you hold the one count and step on two. It'll be easier for you to follow me, but let me walk you through it once. Hold on one. On two, step back with your right foot. Step forward with your right foot. Then hold the beat. Step forward with your left. Step back onto your right. Step back on your left. And that's it."
Alex surprised herself as she caught onto the basic salsa steps. They started dancing to the music, and he began to improvise, adding additional steps. She kept up with him as well as she could, and she couldn't keep the smile off her face. With each additional step she was drawn closer to him and could smell the scent of his light but masculine cologne. She couldn't miss that flash of heat in his eyes. But he still wasn't being pushy with her.
She officially felt like she was in the twilight zone. It almost seemed like they were on a real date. All of the stress and pressure of the past days melted off of her with every step and with each touch of his hand on her body. They finished dancing, and stood
laughing hand in hand.
"You've actually cheered me up, Pedro, much better than the wine and pizza therapy. I needed some salsa."
"You've got the perfect body for Latin dancing."
She felt her cheeks redden. "I have a few extra curves," she said, feeling a bit self-conscious.
"Your curves are just right the way they are." He cupped his hands on her face, and never dropping eye contact, pulled her to him. As his lips touched hers for the first time, she got lost in the moment. While she knew she should back away, she couldn't help but give in. Right then, she wanted him. It was undeniable.
Momentarily letting go of her doubts, she grabbed onto his shoulders and ran her hands lightly down his back. She strained, going up on her toes to get even closer to him because of their height difference. His lips were soft, and there was something so forbidden about what she was doing. He deepened the kiss and she allowed it to continue for a few minutes, savoring the way his lips felt against hers. All of her senses were heightened as his hands glided down to her waist. She wanted this to continue, but she had to get a grip. Reluctantly, she took a step back but still remained in his arms.
"Pedro, I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm not sure this is a good idea." Even she didn't
believe the words as they came out of her mouth.
He leaned down and spoke quietly into her ear giving her chills. "Alex, I can be
very persistent…”
Rachel Kall writes romantic suspense. She enjoys writing spicy and suspenseful stories to keep readers guessing. She’s a lawyer by day and passionate about writing. Her favorite genres are romantic suspense and contemporary romance, but she’s always open to an amazing story in any genre. Rachel is a member of Romance Writers of America, KOD, and Georgia Romance Writers. She loves animals and is active in animal rescue. She enjoys adding loveable pets to her stories. She lives in Georgia with her husband and five furkids—two dogs and three cats.
Excerpt:
Don't worry. We'll start nice and easy. And rule number one is this: The connection between the man and the woman is more important than the steps. You could have the most amazing dance steps in the world, but if there's no connection between the man and the woman, then it's really not the salsa."
He positioned her left hand on his shoulder. Then he put his left hand into her right and placed his right hand gently on her back.
"The thing to remember about the salsa is you hold the one count and step on two. It'll be easier for you to follow me, but let me walk you through it once. Hold on one. On two, step back with your right foot. Step forward with your right foot. Then hold the beat. Step forward with your left. Step back onto your right. Step back on your left. And that's it."
Alex surprised herself as she caught onto the basic salsa steps. They started dancing to the music, and he began to improvise, adding additional steps. She kept up with him as well as she could, and she couldn't keep the smile off her face. With each additional step she was drawn closer to him and could smell the scent of his light but masculine cologne. She couldn't miss that flash of heat in his eyes. But he still wasn't being pushy with her.
She officially felt like she was in the twilight zone. It almost seemed like they were on a real date. All of the stress and pressure of the past days melted off of her with every step and with each touch of his hand on her body. They finished dancing, and stood
laughing hand in hand.
"You've actually cheered me up, Pedro, much better than the wine and pizza therapy. I needed some salsa."
"You've got the perfect body for Latin dancing."
She felt her cheeks redden. "I have a few extra curves," she said, feeling a bit self-conscious.
"Your curves are just right the way they are." He cupped his hands on her face, and never dropping eye contact, pulled her to him. As his lips touched hers for the first time, she got lost in the moment. While she knew she should back away, she couldn't help but give in. Right then, she wanted him. It was undeniable.
Momentarily letting go of her doubts, she grabbed onto his shoulders and ran her hands lightly down his back. She strained, going up on her toes to get even closer to him because of their height difference. His lips were soft, and there was something so forbidden about what she was doing. He deepened the kiss and she allowed it to continue for a few minutes, savoring the way his lips felt against hers. All of her senses were heightened as his hands glided down to her waist. She wanted this to continue, but she had to get a grip. Reluctantly, she took a step back but still remained in his arms.
"Pedro, I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm not sure this is a good idea." Even she didn't
believe the words as they came out of her mouth.
He leaned down and spoke quietly into her ear giving her chills. "Alex, I can be
very persistent…”
Giveaway
Enter for your chance to win a Ebook copy of Rachel's book. Follow link here:
RAFFLECOPTER
Attorney Alex Popov’s dream of partnership is put to the test when she’s pulled into a top-secret investigation involving arms dealers and one of her clients, Rodrigues Capital. The only good part about her association with the secretive organization is her client contact, Pedro MartÃn. She’s drawn to him, but he’s hiding something.
When Jacob shows up as a new attorney at Alex’s firm, it’s clear Pedro isn’t the only one with secrets. As Alex tries to determine Jacob’s true identity, she’s drawn closer to Pedro and deeper into the mystery of Rodrigues Capital and its shadowy networks. Everyone has an agenda. In a world of lies, where no one is what they seem, Alex puts everything — even her dreams of partnership — on the line for love.
Find out more about this author at:
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I agree. Audios make working out way easier for me too. :) (not an entry)
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I always wonder that where you authers get the inspires to write. And I think there must be the record of their life.
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