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BLIND ALLEGIANCE
By
Violetta Rand
1.What or who inspired you to start
writing?
My mother encouraged and made us read as children. Early on
I developed a love for writing. When I was very young, I’d copy passages from
encyclopedias and present them as gifts to my mom. I think this strange
behavior prepared me for a future writing career. J
2.How did you come up with ideas for
your books?
I’ve always been fascinated with Vikings, how they
successfully navigated the world and conquered foreign lands. As for the
timeline, the 11th century is such a volatile time; religious
conflict attracts me more than anything. Christianity had an astounding impact
across Europe, literally transforming everything. Finally, the idea of a wicked
mother as the antagonist is something I’ve always wanted to write. How does a
loyal son resolve his relationship with the woman who gave birth to him if
she’s continuously sabotaging his life?
3.What expertise did you bring to
your writing?
I took lots of history classes in college and minored in
religious studies. I’m also an avid fan of nonfiction—historical books are
wonderful.
4.What would you want your readers to
know about you that might not be in your bio?
I’m rebellious. I love riding motorcycles and 4-wheelers
and going really, really fast.
5.As far as your writing goes, what
are your future plans?
Blind Allegiance is the first installment for the
Blind Series. Book 2, Blind Mercy,
will be released later this year. I’m planning a sequel for Blind Allegiance where my main
characters Randvior and Noelle relocate to Scotland. Should be exciting to
write.
6.If you could be one of the
characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
I’d love to be Noelle Sinclair (Blind Allegiance). Who doesn’t want to fall in love with a Viking?
She’s stubborn and strong and has a real opportunity to help positively change
the lives of the people she meets in Norway.
7.Do you belong to a critique group?
If so how does this help or hinder your writing?
I don’t belong to a group. I have two critique partners.
They are invaluable allies and I owe them so much for helping me through this
process. I’m the type of writer who likes brutally honest critiques so I can
improve my manuscript. It works.
8.When did you first decide to submit
your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?
My family faced hard times a couple of years ago and I
needed an outlet. I returned to writing. After I completed Blind Allegiance I started submitting. I was determined to get
published.
9.What is the best and worst advice
you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)
The best advice, write.
The worst advice, don’t let editors/publishers change your
story.
Flexibility is one of the most important attributes an
author needs to be successful.
10.
Do
you outline your books or just start writing?
Completely disorganized, I just write.
11.
Do
you have an all-time favorite book?
In romance, Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
12.
Have
you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your
book?
Editing for Blind
Mercy is underway. Randvior and Noelle’s middle son, Tyr Sigurdsson, has
taken over the family lands in the Trondelag, Norway. After returning from the
tremendous defeat at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in England, my Viking hero
must learn to adapt to the political turmoil plaguing his country.
Here’s a sneak peek when my hero and heroine first meet
(Tyr and Rachelle)…
Without
warning, a humongous hand shot up and flipped her onto her back. Rachelle
shrieked and kicked wildly as he crawled on top of her. She screamed until her
lungs ached. He shoved something into her mouth before she could make another
sound. Eyes open wide, the face she had ashamedly admired, hovered
threateningly above.
Sage-green
eyes… At least one question had been answered. Before she completed another
rational thought, he tore a strip of leather off the bottom of his shirt, tied
her hands together, and rolled her over.
“Vær
stille,” he growled.
Defiantly,
she twisted onto her back and planted her foot in his shoulder. His feral smile
and the menacing laughter left her breathless. He rose to his feet and stared
down at her. Soulless creature… If she dared assault him again he’d probably
kill her. A rational thought came—why
didn’t he tie my hands behind my back? She spit the gag out and returned
his stinging glare.
“How
dare you manhandle me!”
The
snarling sound that came out of that beatific mouth rivaled a wild beast’s. “Det er bedre ting Ã¥ gjøre med de leppene…
Kom her.”
He
dropped to the ground and covered her mouth with his, inhaling her ensuing
scream. Teeth raked angrily across her bottom lip and his tongue dipped inside
her mouth without giving her time to draw a full breath. She considered biting
down, but he’d kill her.
As
his massive body shifted, Rachelle seized the opportunity to tug her hands free
and clubbed him in the face. He roared and grabbed her by the wrists. Wrath
boiled on his face, forcing her to look away before she lost her mind. Angry
eyes swept across her as violently as a winter gale. His features tightened
with his grip until she squealed in pain.
Shoving
her aside, he stood. Rachelle leaned awkwardly up on her elbows as he stomped
away. She watched silently as he scavenged for something on the ground. Obviously
finding it, she wilted at the sound of his devastation. He scooped a body off
the ground, cradled it in his arms. Opportunity had a cruel way of knocking at
the most inopportune times, but if she could take advantage of this distraction
and convince him to let her go, she’d swear to secrecy.
A
fair trade—her freedom for his.
13.
What
is your favorite reality show?
I’m not a big reality show fan. I do enjoy The Voice. I
like the blind trials where singers are chosen for the quality of their voices,
not their looks.
14.
Who
is your favorite actor and actress?
Actor: Timothy Olyphant and Clint Eastwood
Actress: Keira Knightley
15.
If
you were a casting director for the film version of your book, who would play
your lead roles?
Randvior Sigurdsson: Hugh Jackman
Noelle Sinclair: Lindsay Lohan
It’s a risk of
a lifetime loving a man you’re supposed to hate…
Betrayed by a
brother she hardly trusted before the bloodthirsty Viking, Jarl Randvior
Sigurdsson, attacks her home, Noelle Sinclair is conveniently bartered as a
means to save her cowardly sibling’s skin. Forced to leave her homeland and
accompany the petulant Viking to the untamed wilderness of central Norway,
Noelle is ever-aware of the burgeoning dangers around her—including her
weakening resolve to resist Randvior.
Should Noelle
surrender to his resplendent charms and seduction, or fight with every ounce of
strength she possesses to get home?
Cringing from
his brutal words, Noelle finally burst. Through the blur of tears, she saw a
warrior of tremendous proportion storm across the hall. He seized Brian’s arm
and pried his fingers loose from her hair. She heard a loud snap as he curled
Brian’s arm behind his back. Her brother stumbled and hollered, then dropped to
his knees.
“Say it,” the
colossal warrior demanded, visibly applying more pressure to his hand.
Brain tried to
wrestle him down, but the stranger was larger and stronger—controlled him with
little effort.
Although she
detested her brother, her first instinct was to protect her own flesh and
blood. Yet, it seemed a fitting punishment. Let Brian suffer the same
mortification she felt whenever he embarrassed her, which happened too often.
Brain quit
struggling. “Mercy,” he begged.
The Viking
released him, and Brian staggered to his feet as gracelessly as a drunk.
“Is this how
you treat your own kinswoman?” her rescuer asked.
“She’s
faithless—no blood of mine. We’ve made our bargain Norseman, take her.”
Violetta Rand
holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy and a master's degree in
Environmental Management. Serving as an environmental scientist in the state of
Alaska for over seven years, she enjoys the privilege of traveling to remote
places few people have the opportunity to see.
Violetta has
been "in love" with writing since childhood. Struck with an
entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, at five, she wrote short stories
illustrated by her best friend and sold them in her neighborhood. The only
thing she loves more than writing is her wonderful relationship with her
husband, Jeff. She enjoys outdoor activities, reading whatever she can get her
hands on, music, and losing herself in the ancient worlds she enjoys bringing
to life in the pages of her stories.
15 comments:
Thank you for hosting
Thanks for the giveaway :) bobbyehopebooth@yahoo.com
Welcome to my blog. I hope you have a great tour.
Fun interview, thank you.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for hosting Christine.
Glad you stopped by Bobbye.
Thanks for following the tour Ingeborg.
Enjoyed reading your interview today.
kareninnc at gmail dot com
Thanks Karen, good luck on the giveaway.
Great interview! Thanks for sharing.
bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com
I like Outlander, too...both the book and the movie. I think it would be interesting to be able to go back and pay a visit to the Viking Age.
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
Thanks for sharing the interview and the giveaway. Sounds like a great book and I am looking forward to reading it. evamillien at gmail dot com
Violetta, I love how you wrote out the passages for you Mother. OUTLANDER is a great favorite of mine.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I'm glad you found an outlet in Blind Allegiance during your family's hard times!
andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
What a great giveaway! Thanks
hense1kk (at) cmich (dot) edu
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