Meet Romance Author Maria K. Alexander

A big welcome to Maria K. Alexander, this week’s awesome romance author. Maria writes contemporary romance about career women with strong families and friends for Wild Rose Press.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, Zara, and thanks for having me on your blog. I’m a Contemporary romance author, with two published books, and a third releasing in May. I write part-time, in the scattered hours before my day job and in the evening after caring for my family. If I’m lucky, I get to exercise somewhere in there, too! I started writing nine years ago inspired by my life-long passion of reading romance. As a teenager, I devoured romance books as a way to escape to a place where no matter what happened, there was always a happy ending. When I’m not writing, I like to read, exercise, run, downhill ski, and bake. I’ve taken a few cake decorating classes with my teen son. It’s a fun way to spend some time together, and we get to eat the end product! It’s a win-win for both of us!

What was the most interesting place you ever visited?

Right after I was married, I went on a couple week multi-city tour through Europe with my husband, parents, brother, and an aunt and uncle. We bounced around from place to place, but my favorite is a tie between Switzerland and Austria. The mountains were beautiful and right out of a painting. We didn’t spend nearly enough time there, and I plan to go back one day with my children.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

Absolutely! I especially find it difficult starting a new series. After working on the same series for years, now that I’m working on a new series, I’m finding it challenging to find my character’s voices. There’s also been various things in my life that have made it challenging to write. Life has its ups and downs and sometimes it impacts our ability to write. Other times it feeds it and the words jump onto the page. But no matter how hard, I try my best to write every day, even if it’s only for thirty minutes.

I’ve also participated in writing challenges to help motivate me. Every year I participate in Jersey Romance Writing Month (JeRoWriMo), which is sponsored by the NJ Romance Writers (NJRW) chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA). During the months of February, we strive to write 30,000 words. We use a writing loop to offer encouragement to other writers who are in the challenge and cheer each other as we hit various goals. You feel accomplished no matter how many or few words you write. I wrote around 17,000 words this year, but have met the goal three times in past years. It’s a great way to bond with other writers and push yourself to meet a goal.

Is anything in your books based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

My Italian upbringing influenced my award-winning Tangled Hearts series. I had a great childhood and incorporated many of my family traditions when I created the fictional DiFrancesco family. No one character is like any of my family members, but there are fun things, like how we used to have Sunday afternoon dinners and how we call the red stuff you put on pasta gravy not sauce. Writing a story is personal, and the closer you can relate to the characters, the easier they are to write.

Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

Most of us have that book under the bed. I wrote and re-wrote my first book so many times I stopped counting. I tried to make it what others wanted, and ultimately, it was too much. But through that process I developed Kate DiFrancesco, my heroine from Untangle My Heart, the first book in the Tangled Hearts series. She was the BFF of the heroine in the book under the bed. Kate’s voice and story resonated with me and voilà, it was the jump start of my series! My original heroine (Meghan) appears in several of the stores in my Tangled Hearts series. One day, I have plans to revisit and tell Meghan’s story.

Can you tell us about your current release?

My most recent release is Forever in My Heart, which is book 2 in the Tangled Hearts series. This book placed first in the Heart of Excellence Reader’s Choice contest for Long Contemporary. It also finaled in the Aspen Gold contest. In Forever in My Heart, the heroine owns the hot new café in town and is working hard to build her business. Her high school boyfriend returns home from the army and causes her to remember feelings she thought she’d put behind her. And with bad blood between their families, things get a lot awkward as they struggle with their feelings. But when her life is at risk, she must turn to her ex even if he’s the last person she thought she’d need. It’s a second chance at love story that integrates family traditions, friendship with a light overlay of suspense.

Can you tell us about your upcoming books?

My upcoming release is Awaken My Heart, which is book 3, and is releasing on May 10^th. I love the hero in this story (of course, I say that about all of them J)! The hero is the oldest DiFrancesco son, Nick. He’s just gotten divorced, after his wife cheated on him. He’s struggling to have a relationship with his two teens, and his drug trafficking case just went cold. He meets up with the heroine when he stops to help her change a flat tire. Not recognizing her, they’re both surprised to see each other, given that the last time they did was over fourteen years ago when they had a one-night stand. Now, when a secret she’s kept from him is revealed, she’ll need to right a wrong and chance losing her heart to the very man she deceived.

 

You can read excerpts from all of my books and sign-up for my newsletter, where I share cover reveals, release news, offer specials contests, and more, at http://mariakalexander.com.

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Forever in My Heart  by Maria K. Alexander

Vicky DiFrancesco is ready to put the past behind her. After a humiliating divorce, she’s determined to make her new café a success. The last thing she needs is her first love around, reminding her of what they’d lost. But when her life is threatened, could he be the very man she needs?

Jamie DiSilva’s homecoming after retiring from the army isn’t the one he’d been hoping for. Now, he’s trying to start a home improvement business in a town settled on holding him accountable for the sins of his late brothers. Redeeming himself to the girl he never stopped loving and her family is difficult when his brothers’ secrets come back to haunt him.

Untangling themselves from the past means righting several wrongs and deciding if their love is meant to last forever.

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Buy Links

Apple | Kindle | Amazon Print | B&N  | TWRP | TWRP Print | Kobo  | iBooks | Google Play

 

 

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Learn more about Maria K. Alexander

A romantic at heart, Maria K. Alexander spent hours as a young girl getting lost in and wishing to be one of the heroines in the stories she read. Books gave her the ability to go to another world where she loved meeting new characters, learning about their problems, and watching them fall in love.

Maria is an award-winning author of contemporary romance. When not writing, Maria loves to read, bake, downhill ski, visit the beach, and watch romantic comedies. Maria lives in New Jersey with her husband and children, and writes in her “spare” time between juggling a full-time job and her kids’ busy schedules.

You can keep in touch with Maria at:

Website | Facebook  | Twitter  | Goodreads  | Pinterest  | Amazon | Book Bub  | Google+

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If you have any questions or comments for Maria K. Alexander, please post them below, and she will get back to you.