How Romance Inspires Author Carla Swafford

Woot! I'm happy to welcome my sister writer and Southern Magic RWA chapter mate Carla Swafford. Both of us published within months of each other. Check out the HAWT cover of her book:


And here's the blurb for CIRCLE OF DESIRE:


As the top assassin at The Circle, a shadowy group of mercenaries, Olivia St. Vincent can hunt down anyone. She's been trained since she was a teenager to kill without feeling, to interact with men without love. But when she's kidnapped by the enigmatic leader of a rival organization, she learns she's been lied to for years. She never worked for the good guys.


Collin Ryker believes the sultry woman he's abducted knows more than she's telling about The Circle and its plans for complete domination. Over time, as they work together, Olivia's tenacity and vulnerability captivate him. But if he isn't careful, Collin will fall into the biggest trap of all: caring for a woman who can betray him to his greatest enemy.

So, are you salivating yet? Itching to get this hot book in your hands?

Being a fun, fab Southern lady, Carla is giving away a copy of the book to one lucky person who visits the blog today.  Read on....



Thank you, Mina, for inviting me to your blog. I’m not too sure how I can compete with Cap’n Jack Sparrow from the other day, but I’ll give it a stab.

You’d said you wanted to know what inspires me as a writer. Well, it’s actually simple. A good well-written romantic story.  


When I pick up a book and read a story that takes me away from the here and now and I become so involved in the characters’ lives that I don’t want it to end, that inspires me. When I feel not only the passion the couple sparks off each other but the love they’re destined to share, that inspires me. When I cry with happiness because the heroine and hero finally receive the love they deserve, well, you get the idea.


I’ve always been a glass half-full gal though I will say there are times in my life I’ve allowed myself to drift over to the dark side and talk like a Debbie-downer. Thankfully, the Pollyanna inside of me is alive and well and loves to read and write romances.


It’s that never ending optimism in romance that I love so dearly and inspires me to keep improving my craft as one day I hope to inspire someone to write their stories.


So tell me what about romance inspires you every day?  At 10 p.m. central, I’ll draw a name for someone to win a copy of my current book, Circle of Desire.

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Carla Swafford inherited her love of books from her dad and his father. Growing up, she read every book with a horse on the cover until the age of twelve when she read her first romance. Tired of waiting for her favorite authors to publish more books, she decided to write one. She joined Romance Writers of America and was the finalist in several writing contests.

Carla lives in Alabama and works in a male-dominated occupation at the same company with her husband

Thanks Carla for visiting! You can find out more about her by visiting her

Website
Blog
Facebook Page

Or you can follow her on twitter @carlaswafford

12 comments:

  1. Hi Mina and Carla

    I got my copy as I've known Carla for a while. I'm happy to get the chance to acquaint myself with her work.

    I very much agree with all she's said in this interview. I'm much on the same wavelength myself. I particularly understand when she says that she gets lost in the story and never wants it to end.

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  2. Thanks for visiting Maria! It's always hard to put down a good story, so thank goodness for sequels :)

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  3. Hey, Maria! I'm looking forward to reading a book of yours one day. Your blog posts always show your talent in turning a phrase. Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Happy Boxing Day! :)

    I'm with you on being inspired by being able to emotionally connect with characters. I firmly believe that being given the opportunity to live through fictional people and their experiences is beneficial to my sense of empathy toward the non-fictional people in my life. ^_^

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  5. Oh, good point, Angela. LOL! Thanks for coming by!

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  6. I am definitely drooling! Another book I need!

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  7. Thanks, Mary. I appreciate you visiting me and Mina. (or Mina and I.) :-)

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  8. Hi, Carla! I hope you had a great holiday.

    I love the overcome-every-obstacle-to-be-together part of romance; to know that a man will risk it all to be with the woman he loves. *happy sigh*

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  9. Oh, yeah. Me too. I also like when they're all rough with everyone but her. Thanks, Abigail!

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  10. I know that Abigail, Mina and Maria have my book. So let's give away two. Congratulations to Mary and RedPeril (Angela)! Email me at carlaswafford @ charter.net and let me know what format you want it in?

    Thanks, Mina, for inviting me to your blog!

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  11. Woot! Congratulations Mary & RedPeril! And thank you Carla for visiting & sharing your wonderful book :)

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  12. Like you, Carla, I love it when the romance comes together and the HEA! I already have your book...so don't put me in the pot. Looking forward to your next one!

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