Where do you hail from?
BC: I was born in Russellville, Alabama, but my family moved around alot, always the new kid. We landed in Haleyville, Alabama, after my parents divorced, where I graduated high school. I married my high school sweetheart and we settled in rural Bear Creek with our son L.J. and two daughters, Anna and Kayla.
It's quiet here and always very green in the summer with all the trees on the property. The thermostat tends to soar into the triple digits in July tempered by afternoon thunder showers, in fact it's pouring down rain right now. I love the sound of rain on a metal roof. It's very calming and good for naps, when you can get away with taking one. *smiles*
How has your environment/ upbringing colored your writing?
BC: Until I turned thirteen, I lived in a very stressed and violent environment. My father was a band director and about every two years, he would either quit or get fired from his job. He was bi-polar and stayed in a constant state of being either suicidal to homicidal with no in-between. The only time he was any form of normal was when he was teaching music.
I used books to escape the reality of my psychotic father and began reading things way out of my age range so I'd have to work harder to "get" the story. I guess you can only block out so much, after awhile I turned to writing. I try to put as much imagery in my writing as possible. Some of those images may not be pleasant, but I think having to deal with difficulties makes the characters more human.
What do you do for fun?
BC: Little projects on my house, we are still remodeling. I try to spend the weekends getting as many things crossed off the ‘to do’ list as possible. Sometimes you really need to work with your hands and just give your mind a rest. I also like to read and play video games with the kids. Legend of Zelda and Dragon Ball Z are my games of choice.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?
BC: Love scenes. I still can't write them without blushing (OK so I turn really red in the face and eye everyone in the room to make sure they aren't reading the screen.) I save them for last, when I really know my characters well. I prefer to write tense suspense or battle scenes, those come just a little too easy for me.
Where do you as an author draw the line on gory descriptions and/or erotic content?
BC: If I can't read it while I'm eating, the scene has to go.lol Seriously though, I have a cardinal set of rules in place. I try to let my characters (those who must die) die in peace or at least quickly (unless they deserve worse.) As for erotic content, if it were a movie I draw the line at R rated. Anything beyond that is a big NO for me.
Which is your favorite of the books you have written?
BC: Earth Enchanted, but my favorite character so far is Devin. I enjoy the way he's changed during the course of the series.
How do you deal with rejection letters or less than stellar reviews?
BC: Consoled myself with cookie dough ice cream (my favorite), got mad, dealt with it and went right back to work. As far as reviews, I figure if you ask for them, you’d better be able to deal with the results. Whining to the planet is not going to fix anything, only hard work and time. Not every story affects a reviewer the same way. One may love it, while the other will find everything they can wrong with it, until you doubt everything you’ve ever written. That's life and the nature of the game. Unfortunately, it's also the curse of a series, especially one that is really a continuing story instead of several loosely related books.
The Elemental Magic series follows a set of characters with each book shifting focus on a different couple while continuing an arcing storyline to a final conclusion. So, someone who hasn't read the previous books will certainly be confused if they pick up Wait for the Wind (book 3) since most of Ryan's back story and motivations happen in Earth Enchanted (book 1). Sort of like reading the last Harry Potter book first without seeing a movie or reading the prequels. Lost. Still I’m pleased with the reviews the series has received so far, mostly fours and fives with ‘Gotta Reads’ for each book.
Here's the blurb for book one and an excerpt.
Earth Enchanted
by Brynna Curry
Blurb: When telepath meets ex-cop, will it be death or diamonds.
Writer Liv Corrigan has the worst luck with men -- her telepathy tends to make them run for the hills. When she meets widower and ex-cop Jack Roarke, she decides to keep her talent hidden. Things are looking up until their third date crashes and burns as the man who murdered Jack’s wife turns out to be after him too.
Injured, Jack retreats with Liv to his house under armed guard. But with Liv’s mysteries rapidly coming unraveled, a diamond-thief killer to stop and passion in the air, the safe house is anything but safe for their hearts!
Excerpt:
Ryan Corrigan checked the time on his watch with its Indiglo light, one forty-five. He stood there on the docks waiting for his contact with millions of dollars in historical diamonds strapped to his back. He was surprised to find he couldn’t see any of the agents or locals who were hiding out behind him. Just their presence made him nervous enough to consider calling it off. He paced back and forth, alternating oaths and prayers with each step. His ears pricked up at the sound of an engine coming through the darkness across the water. Time was up.
He watched the figure of a man secure the boat and approach him. Something was off about him, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He heard the man holler. There was just no other word for it,
“You got the rocks or don’t ya?” He had a drawl to his voice, but Ryan couldn’t place it. This was a different contact, but why?
“Yes. I have them.” Ryan heedlessly tossed the duffle to him, as if he didn’t know or care what was in the bag.
The man left it where it lay and drawled back. “Nice doing business with ya.” He bent down to get the bag and when he came back up, the gun was in is hand. “Just one more thing.” He pointed it at Ryan’s head.
* * * *
Liv walked the floor with worry, after waking up alone, the bed cold, her heart racing. Jack hadn’t said goodbye. She couldn’t call him, couldn’t do anything but wait and pray for him to come back safe. When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she had gone down to the kitchen, made tea, and taken it back to Jack’s room to wait.
She was just sitting it on the nightstand when two loud pops sounded outside. Was it a car backfiring or gunshots? She would have to find out if she were to have any peace, but she knew what it was and thought of the two guards assigned to her just outside the front door. She slipped on her tennis shoes, just in case she had to run, and fleetingly wondered where exactly was she going to run to in her silk robe and gown. As an afterthought, she grabbed the lamp on her nightstand and held it like a club over her shoulder, left her door open as she crept into the hall.
Someone grabbed a fistful of her hair and began to drag her down the stairs.
“It’s going to be a pleasure, Ms. Corrigan, a real pleasure taking you apart piece by piece.” A man? Why was that more terrifying?
Liv smelled blood on the knife underneath her nose, and was hit with a wave of nausea so strong it buckled her knees. She thought of the picture Nelson had shown her of two towheaded little girls. Was he dead?
“Come along now, I’m anxious to get started.”
The thin silk she wore barely covered the necessities. Her capturer slid the knife down her neck under the pencil thin strap. She jerked when the blade nicked her shoulder. Something hard hit her behind the ear and darkness swallowed her questions.
* * * *
Someone dove into Ryan, knocking them both to the ground. He gave thanks to God for whoever had saved his skin just now. The breath he drew into his lungs was painfully sharp from having the wind knocked out of him. He heard shouts from the agents behind him, saw the man scrambling to the boat and driving away.
An explosion shook the ground, and completely engulfed the boat. He felt the sweltering heat roll over him in a wave and was shoved, again, to the ground. Who was going to get the unpleasant task of telling the Smithsonian that their precious diamond necklace was blown to kingdom come, especially since they didn’t know it was missing yet?
He glanced over at Jack, who was still lying on the ground where he’d shoved him trying to get his breath back. Easing up, Jack winced from the pain, his leg covered in blood.
Where can we find out more about your books?
BC: At my website http://www.brynnacurry.com
I'm also on Facebook as Brynna Curry. You can find me on Twitter, Stumble, LinkedIn and pretty much everywhere as Brynna Curry. I'm the only one *smiles*
As Brynna Curry http://www.lyricalpress.com/brynna_curry
And as Brianna Roarke
http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=216&products_id=257
Thanks for letting me chat with you today, Dawn.
Brynna Curry
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