This month we're going to introduce you to one of our authors every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Each short interview ends with what they're thankful for because, it is after all almost Thanksgiving, and the time of year when we often reflect.

Our last but not the least author interview is with Delaney Diamond! ​
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When you were a kid, what career did you want to have?
Like almost every girl I grew up with, I wanted to be a teacher. At one point my dreams switched to secretary because I took typing classes. By high school my average typing speed was 80 wpm.

What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten for breakfast that is not a breakfast food?
Leftover salad. I didn’t feel like making breakfast or even putting ingredients in a blender to make a smoothie—my go-to simple breakfast. I ate a leftover Zaxby’s chicken salad that was supposed to be my lunch. No regrets.  

Do you remember your first crush? What happened with that person?
I do! In elementary school I had a crush on a guy who wore an Afro pick in his big Afro and was loud and sort of a bad boy in the neighborhood. Nothing happened because I was shy and he was several grades ahead of me. Thinking back, I’m not even sure why I liked him. He was cute, but definitely a troublemaker. Maybe he just stood out because he was the loudest one on the block, lol.

Quick answers: Favorite perfume? Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet. Favorite ice cream? Rum raisin. Favorite season? Spring. Favorite color? Yellow. Coffee or tea? Tea. Cats or dogs? Neither, but if I must choose, a cute little dog like a Yorkie.

Writing-wise, what are you working on?
I have so many ideas it’s hard to concentrate on one project! I’m currently working on the next princess book in my Royal Brides series, titled Princess of Estoria. I’m also kinda-sorta writing my first romantic suspense, while also doing research for the book. I’m learning a lot about spies, weapons, and the skillsets of people in special forces. I have to remember not to go down the rabbit hole of research because I won’t use most of this information in my stories, but so far it’s been fascinating.
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What are you thankful for?
I’m thankful for my health and my family and friends—people I can count on. It’s nice to be able to pick up the phone and know that there are people who have your back and care about you. Or to be able to say, “Hey, let’s get together and do xyz” and they’re game for it. I’m also thankful for the wonderful readers that support my passion of writing. I can’t say that enough. Getting so much love and support is a blessing, and I don’t take it for granted. I look forward to many more years of writing and sharing my stories with readers.
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Delaney Diamond writes sweet, sensual, passionate romance novels. You can find out more about her and her books at www.delaneydiamond.com and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. 

Come back every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to meet another author!
November 5: Chanta Rand
November 7: S. Taylor
November 9: Nyora Rene
November 12: Tiye
November 14: Colette Miller Watkins
November 19: J.L. Campbell
November 21: Delaney Diamond

When you were a kid, what career did you want to have?
I’m not even ashamed to admit that when I was growing up, I had no idea what I wanted to be. For a bit, when people asked me, I’d say I wanted to be a teacher. But, I knew I didn’t have the patience to teach anybody anything. The irony is that several years ago, I conducted writing workshops for a short stint.

What genres do you like to read?
My first love is romance, in particular I enjoy romantic suspense. I also enjoy thrillers and women’s fiction, but I’ll read almost anything.

If all your clothes had to be one color forever, what color would you pick?
Purple. Doesn’t matter what shade.
 
Writing-wise, what are you working on?
I’m half-way through the second book in the In Medias Res series, The Heart of Things. Khalila and Douglas are now settling into their relationship, but some storms are brewing on the horizon. They want each other, and their life together, but they also need different things which make their relationship a bit rocky.

What’s the best part about being a writer?
I absolutely love getting a flash of inspiration and then building an entire world and story around that one spark, knowing that readers will appreciate the end product. It is plain fun (and humbling) doing something I enjoy that touches the lives of others in a meaningful way.
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What are you thankful for?
I’m thankful for good health, family, friends, faith, and a happy life. I’m also grateful for the gift of storytelling and that I have the opportunity to share my writing with readers.  It’s wonderful being able to let my imagination run with no limits.
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 J.L. Campbell features Jamaican culture in her stories and writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and women's fiction with compelling characters. Visit her website at www.joylcampbell.com or connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This month we're going to introduce you to one of our authors every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Each short interview ends with what they're thankful for because, it is after all almost Thanksgiving, and the time of year when we often reflect.

Today, Colette Miller Watkins will share some fun facts about herself! 
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What was the first concert you ever went to?
My aunt took my brother and me to see James Brown.

What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten for breakfast that is not a breakfast food?
When I was in my late 20’s, I recall dancing 'till dawn and hanging out with my cousin, and stopping at a White Castle’s before crashing at my aunt’s house. I was too tired to eat when I got there, so the next morning I ate a couple of room temperature cheeseburgers, and washed it down with a Champale and grenadine from the juke joint that somebody bought me and I didn’t get a chance to drink.

If you could plan the perfect date, what would it be?
It would involve music definitely, and possibly art - either a gallery or museum. Or maybe it’s an art house film. Or perhaps it’s a blockbuster that has reeled me in (ahem, Black Panther, ahem). I can tell you what it’s not - sitting around my house. You can’t date me at my house.

Which celebrity do you shamelessly follow in the news?
Probably Pam Grier and Chuck D. They followed me on Twitter and I followed them back.

What’s the hardest part about being a writer?
Finding the time and focus to write when there are responsibilities you must meet.
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What are you thankful for?
This life. Wonderful family and friends. The talents given to me by the Creator. Another day to get it right. Another day to make magic!
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When Colette is not writing, she travels extensively, reads frequently, and loves family and friends fiercely. You can find more information about her on her website which will be up soon. Stay tuned!

Do you have any crazy roommate stories?
I actually have several crazy roommate stories, though I will share two.  I don’t know if I just attract the crazies or maybe I’m the crazy (LOL!).  I thought I had the best roommate in the world because she was so giving until I realized she was stealing my money.  She was so good that she would buy gifts and borrow from me and pay me back with my own money! I had another roommate who hated me so much and made my life a living hell.  After she began to scare me with her unwarranted hatred, I had my other roommate guard the front door, so I could search her room for any evidence that she was out to get me. Luckily, I didn’t find any weapons (whew!), but I did find and read her diary (hey, I was 20 years old) and in it she cursed my name and wished me harm. I ended up in therapy for one session to deal with her foolishness. Literally, my roommate drove me crazy (at least for a moment)…

Do you remember your first crush? What happened with that person?
Yes, and I remember his first and last name and I was in the third grade.  Why do you remember first and last name of your classmates? Maybe because it’s how the teachers call the roll or it’s just how we remember our classmates.  We definitely don’t say the whole names of people who you meet as an adult.  I have no idea what happened to him because I moved to another city when I was in the fifth grade, but I will always remember how excited I was to go to school each day. 

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
I had several horrible jobs just to make ends meet.  The worse one or at least the most unbelievable was a telemarketer who sold boats. I’m like who would buy a boat from a random sales person on the phone?  Needless to say, I sold no boats and I lasted three whole days before I just didn’t show up to work anymore.

Which celebrity do you shamelessly follow in the news?
Michael B Jordan! I have been a fan since Fruitvale Station and it has been amazing to watch his star shine brighter over the years. I was lucky to attend a party he hosted in New Orleans and it was a blast and he appeared to be humble, friendly, and likeable. And more importantly, he looked even better in person!

Quick answers: Favorite perfume? Happy by Clinique. Favorite ice cream? Don’t like ice cream but if I had to choose because I have had to choose: cherries jubilee. Favorite season? Fall. Favorite color? Purple. Coffee or tea? Tea. Cats or dogs? Cats though I’m allergic.

What are you thankful for?
First, I am thankful that I have a series and a stand-alone novel to be published by GAP in the new year!  It’s the perfect way to start off a new year to share my passion with others.  I am also thankful for the opportunity to even answer these questions about myself (and I realized I’m not the most romantic person though I love LOVE).  Lastly, I am most thankful for and feel very blessed that I have my family, my health, my friends, and most of all this life that I accept with all its beauty and flaws.
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Tiye is determined to live her best life and loves to write sensuous, passionate, and racy romance novels. If you want to know more about this author and her stories, she can be found at tiyelovebooks.com and on Instagram at tiye28always.  

​What was the first concert you ever went to? 
MC Hammer (Hammer time!)
 
When you were a kid, what career did you want to have? 
A Corporate Lawyer
 
If you could plan the perfect date, what would it be? 
Dinner at Le Jules Verne (2nd level of the Eiffel Tower), then drinks at the Champagne Bar (top of the Eiffel Tower). Afterwards a boat ride on the Seine.
 
Which celebrity do you shamelessly follow in the news? 
The British Royal Family 
 
Writing-wise, what are you working on? 
A new series surrounding the family and friends of the Jones family.
 
What are you thankful for? 
I am thankful for my loving and supportive family and friends. I’m also thankful for God’s grace and mercy, as well as the home I have found at Garden Avenue Press.
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Nyora René writes sweet, passionate, and occasionally spicy romance novels. You can find more about her and her books at www.nyorarene.com and connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.   

What’s the best part about being a writer?
Being in a new relationship when I want. 😊
 
If all your clothes had to be one color forever, what color would you pick?
I’d choose gray, but honestly over half of my clothes are gray anyway.
 
Quick answers: Favorite perfume? BBW Japanese Cherry Blossom. Favorite ice cream? Butter Pecan. Favorite season? Fall (I’m a November baby). Favorite color? Pink (but I don’t wear it). Coffee or tea? Coffee (heavy on the cream no sugar). Cats or dogs? Dogs.
 
What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten for breakfast that is not a breakfast food?
A large bowl of spicy, seafood Gumbo (I did have a slice of buttered toast.)  
 
Which album do you find yourself listening to constantly?
Solange, A Seat at the Table
 
What are you thankful for?
I have so much to be thankful for, I have my health, continuous support and encouragement from my family and friends, my journey thus far. I’m thankful for all the times I was able to get back up when life just tried it! I’m thankful for flip flops, white polish, spell check and red wine. 
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S. Taylor writes steamy, love-at-first-sight, erotic romance novels. You can find out more about her and upcoming books at www.staylorromance.com. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram. 

This month we're going to introduce you to one of our authors every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Each short interview ends with what they're thankful for because, it is after all almost Thanksgiving, and the time of year when we often reflect.
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​First up is Chanta Rand! 
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​What was the first concert you ever went to?
Picture it: 1983. San Antonio, TX. Prince (or the artist now formerly known as Prince) comes to the Convention Center. I’m just two months past my 13th birthday. All I knew was that my cousins (all older boys) were going to a concert. I begged my parents to let me tag along. They’d never heard of Prince. After all these years, the one thing that burns in my mind is Prince laying on the stage and dry-humping while singing Do Me Baby. Even as a preteen, I knew I had no business being at that concert! I think I was scarred for life.

Do you have any crazy roommate stories?
The one and only time I had a roommate was when I was twenty-nine. A co-worker of mine got kicked out of the home in which she was housesitting. Her boyfriend broke up with her that same day. My heart goes out to any female going through so much drama. So, I let her stay with me for the weekend. It ended up being a whole month! She played glaringly loud evangelical sermons at 5 AM every day. When people called for me, she never gave me the messages. Finally, when I came home one day and found her washing my panties, she had to go! I’ve never had a roommate ever again.
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Which celebrity do you shamelessly follow in the news?
Cardi B. I love her music. It’s raw and real. A lot of people say she’s tough. But if you listen to the words of her songs, she’s really vulnerable. In Be Careful, she’s pouring our her feelings when she says, “My heart is like a package with a fragile label on it.” Between the lines of her braggadocio lyrics, she admits to loving a man so much she hates him. In her song, Thru Your Phone she expresses the outrage of having her heart ripped open and her trust broken. Haven’t we all been made a fool of at one time or another by a man? When you get to the level of serving someone a “bowl of cereal with a teaspoon of bleach” you know he’s done you wrong!  With numerous awards, 4 million Twitter followers, and being the first female rapper to attain multiple number-one songs in the Billboard Hot 100, I guess I’m not the only person who shamelessly follows her.

Writing-wise, what are you working on?
My first love is sci-fi. When it comes to anything space-related, I’m the HNIC (Head Nerd in Charge). So, I took my passion for that and translated it into a series about a female bounty hunter in outer space. Abandoned at birth and forced to work on a penal colony until she escapes as a teen, my heroine now has commitment issues. So, instead of focusing so much on the romance, I focus on her growth as a young woman. Once she learns to love herself, she’s in a better position to be loved by a man who’s worthy of her. 

What’s the hardest part about being a writer?
For me, the hardest part about this business is definitely marketing and promoting. I’ve been a published author since 2009, and I’m still trying to find a healthy balance between writing the next book and marketing the current one. I’m an extrovert; I can work any room full of strangers, but all that promo exhausts me. What I love about the Garden Press family is that they’re constantly promoting their authors and teasing readers with new releases. They make it easy for me to piggyback on all of the catchy tweets and posts they create for First Love Second Chance.
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What are you thankful for?
I’m thankful for the freedom to express myself. We live in a country with a lot of injustices that concern me: racism, sexism, police brutality, sexual assault, and immigrant children being snatched from their parents and thrown in cages.  Despite all this, I’m free to protest and write about these atrocities on social media and in my books. Not everyone is that blessed. When I say my prayers at night, I thank God that I’m able to fight these battles, and I pray that I’ll be able to stand up for others around the world who aren’t so fortunate.
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Chanta Rand writes romance with unpredictable characters, laugh out loud moments and well-placed profanity. You can find out more about her books at www.chantarand.com or follow her Amazon page.  
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Come back every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to meet another author!
​November 5: Chanta Rand
November 7: S. Taylor
November 9: Nyora Rene
November 12: Tiye
November 14: Colette Miller Watkins
November 19: J.L. Campbell
November 21: Delaney Diamond