1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

For my day job, I am a lunch lady, which is the perfect job for me. I get to work with kids, and take a nap before my own crew gets home. I have a seventeen-year-old daughter and fifteen-year-old triplets (boy, boy, girl). I’ve been blissfully married for twenty-four years and have a secret passion for karaoke.

2. What does a typical writing day look for you?

Day? A whole day?! Never seen one. I write in the nooks and crannies of the day. The hour between work, and when my kids get home from school, the fifteen minutes before I leave the house in the morning, while dinner’s cooking…. I write in fast food joints while waiting for my kids’ practice, game, doctor’s appointment, while getting the oil changed in my van….

3. Can you please tell the readers a little bit about your book "Taken by Storm"?

Taken by Storm begins as the darkly bitter Grand Vizier, Lord Boltar, is about to claim what he believes belongs to him, the rule of Avistad. The King of Avistad’s son, Prince Tahj, has just returned from a trip and senses the unrest even before his best friend and captain, Radeem, warns him. Radeem has heard rumors and suspects that the King’s advisor is planning to overthrow the crown. Just as Tahj discovers a “gift” from Lord Boltar, a young girl bound and gagged on the prince’s bedroom floor, fighting erupts. Tahj, Radeem, and the captive girl, Bashea, escape the castle in a hail of arrows.

Born from the fire of a coup, Tahj and Bashea’s relationship burns with a passion that neither of them quite understands. The pair is drawn closer together as they face various perils, Boltar’s soldiers, a screaming panther, even the scathing winds of a desert storm. But after what she had been through at the hands of Boltar’s men, Bashea is afraid to trust and her fiery nature is both what appeals to Tahj, and what drives him crazy. In fact, when Bashea’s brother, Bagrat, informs Tahj that Bashea means “lips of the gods,” he retorts, “Are you sure you don’t mean tongue of the devil?” It takes a long separation to bring them back to each other, but when Tahj does return, it is once again during a battle with Lord Boltar. But now the overlord, who has been forced beyond reason by Tahj’s success in retaking the throne, is an even more dangerous threat than before. Reunited, will Tahj and Bashea be strong enough to defeat their twisted and powerful enemy?

4. How long have you been a writer and who or what inspired you?

I have been a writer since I could put a sentence together. I was a big reader as a child, so I think that children’s liturgy started me on my path. That, and my dad was a fantastic storyteller. He used to make up all kinds of stories for us when we were young. For instance, when he combed our hair after a bath, he would name the tangles. There was Tina Tangle, and Tommy Tangle…and they would carry on so when they were combed out!

5. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

I think I would like the super power of reach as I have unusually short arms!

6. What was the easiest and hardest scene to write in "Taken by Storm"?

The beginning sort of wrote itself, so I guess that would have been the easiest. As far as the most difficult scene goes, there is one scene that comes to mind. In the scene, Tahj is teasing Bashea in what, I thought, was a cute way. But my editor thought Tahj was being a jerk. I struggled changing that because I thought maybe she was being hypersensitive. Then I showed it to a few writer friends who agreed that it could be viewed as mean-spirited. A few I asked loved the scene and thought I should keep it as is, but I didn’t want anyone to see Tahj for anything but the wonderful man that he is, so I altered the scene.

7. Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you get over it?

My fellow writers are going to kill me here, but, knock on wood, I haven’t really had that problem yet. 

8. When you are not writing, what are your hobbies and interests?

Uhh, pretty much just karaoke. Oh, I also like to listen to live music, and dance (I’m not very good at it, though). I’ve decided that you shouldn’t let lack of talent stand in your way when it comes to singing and dancing because it is just such a kick! It’s a release for me from everyday stressors. You just sort of lose yourself to the music.

9. Do you have anything specific you want to say to your readers?

You mean, besides buy my book? Just kidding. Well, I’m not, but I am. Anyway, I’d like to invite them to meet Tahj and Bashea and watch their romance blossom. I’d like them to enjoy the colorful characters of Radeem and Bagrat. I want them to get caught up in adventure and connect with the sense of family they see whenever Bashea interacts with one of her siblings. I want them to feel the desert heat!

Fun quick questions:

1. Coffee or Hot Tea

…uh, neither? I’m more of a hot chocolate, Diet Pepsi, martini kinda gal.

2. Beach or Mountains

…sorry, too tough. I love both!

3. Sunrise or Sunset

…sunset, ‘cause sunrise comes too early in the morning!

4. Summer or Winter

 …summer, ‘cause I’m off in the summer!

5. Country Music or Rock N' Roll

…oh, now this one’s too easy—ROCK AND ROLL ALL THE WAY!!!! (My next book, Trapped Under Ice, is about a rock star and is the first in my Rocking Romance Collection).

Thanks for having me!

I enjoyed being here. Pick up Taken by Storm at Amazon.com, BN.com, and other E-Book retailers! Check out my upcoming releases at www.mjschiller.com!