Friday Friend: Joanne C. Berroa

It's my pleasure to welcome fellow Rebel Ink Press author, Joanne C. Berroa, as today's Friday Friend. 

Joanne, please tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve been writing all my life and that’s a few years. Back in 1983, Dell published my novel, “The Barbary Coasters.”  It was set during the 1860’s in the Barbary Coast of San Francisco and was part of a series of books written by different authors called, “The Making of America.” My pseudonym was Lee Davis Willoughby.

I’ve written articles for several computer magazines over the last thirty years doing software and hardware reviews and ads.  I was also a photographer for cover art for two magazines back in the 80’s, and currently write profiles for businesses and professionals for Micromedia Publications, a local newspaper publisher.

Rebel Ink Press has released three of my historical romances thus far: My Life, My Heart – a time travel novel with a twist; On Angels’ Wings – a novel set during the turbulent years of World War II; and Love’s Sweet Vengeance – a novel set in the old west in 1866. 

When I’m not reading or writing, I teach piano and organ.

When did you first start writing?

I began writing in grade school, was first published in 1983, and have had three romance novels released in e-book format this year.

Where do your ideas come from?

When I can’t sleep at night, I dream of scenarios I can use for future novels. Everything seems clearer in the quiet of night and characters come alive for me. In the morning I type on my laptop whatever I plotted during the night, jotting down a rough working outline that will be enhanced when I actually begin the novel.

Do you sit down and write, waiting to see what happens next? or do you otline first? (i.e. pantser or plotter)

I outline but ultimately my characters take me off the beaten path and I have to do additional outlines. My characters have freedom to evolve, but when they do, I revise and update my outline so I’m always working off one.

What is the best thing about being an author? And the worst?

The ability to bring a story to life and live vicariously through my characters is the best thing about writing. The worst is rejection. To me a writer is a super sensitive being because you have to be that way to create believable characters and storyline. That said, rejection hurts.

What is the best compliment you could receive from a reader.

“A great read with an interesting and informative blend of history and fiction.” I’ve gotten several reviews like that and it made me happy.

Tell us about your latest book.

Love’s Sweet Vengeance is a romance set in 1866 in the Old West. It’s about love, danger, and revenge featuring a lady sheriff and a sexy bounty hunter. I had a blast writing it!

What are you working on now?

The novel I’m writing now is a romantic family saga taking place in the late 1800’s starting in Hungary and traveling across the Atlantic Ocean to New York City and up to Saratoga Springs. It’s unlike anything I’ve done so far and I’m enjoying it immensely.

BLURB: Love’s Sweet Vengeance

The Old West in 1866 spells romance and danger. Pair a smart and independent lady sheriff in New Mexico Territory with a virile bounty hunter and you get sizzling chemistry, even though they’re at odds with each other and their objectives.

Garrett Wade and Amanda Larson form a truce to work together to track down Clem Jones, the outlaw responsible for Garrett’s wife’s murder. But will the justice they’re after consist of Amanda’s way or Garrett’s?   Amanda, a lawman first and foremost, wants to bring Jones in for a fair trial, but Garrett wants only revenge--to put a bullet between the wretched outlaw’s eyes. 

Their quest leads them into mortal danger, while a powerful lust brings them together in ways neither bargained for. Can they survive the peril, exact justice, endure a gut-wrenching separation, and still nurture their lust into an abiding love?

EXCERPT: Love’s Sweet Vengeance

Through the trees a gray wolf appeared, its fangs dripping with saliva. The wolf saw Amanda the same time she saw it. She leveled the gun in her hand and was about to release a warning shot to scare away the wolf.

“Fire that gun and you’ll alert Clem Jones you’re on his tail.”

She turned quickly to her left where a man in black attire sat atop a handsome stallion. On his head was a ten gallon hat with ties beneath his chin. She recognized the face as that of Garrett Wade.

“How’d you get out of jail?” she asked.

He removed his hat and flung it deftly in the wolf’s direction, sending the animal scurrying back into the woods. Garrett dismounted and retrieved his hat. Dusting it off on the side of his leg, he crossed to where Amanda was standing.

“Your deputy’s a good man, Sheriff,” he said. “We had a little chat. I explained to him if he let me go, I’d look out for you and make sure no harm came to you. He said he promised your pa he’d take care of you. He admitted he didn’t like you riding out alone after that sonofabitch Jones.”

“John let you go?” she said, her pretty blue eyes wide as saucers.

“Sometimes it takes a man like him and not a boy like you to know what’s right and what’s wrong. He shares the same code of honor as I do.”

She frowned. Had she heard him correctly? He thought she was a boy? “A boy?” she said incredulously. “Are you calling me a boy?” Her scowl showed her irritation.

“No offense. You look kinda young to be a man.”

“You are a fool, Mister Wade. I’m not a boy. I’m a woman. ”

Even in the waning light she could see his startled expression and it pleased her. The idiot couldn’t tell a woman from a boy.

He looked her over as if seeing her for the first time then a slow smile spread across his face. He laughed. “Well, I’ll be damned. A woman sheriff? What won’t they think of next?”

LSV Purchase Links:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=joanne+c.+berroa

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/joanne-c.-berroa

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Joanne+C.+Berroa

http://www.bookstrand.com/joanne-c-berroa

BLOG:

www.joannecberroa.blogspot.com

WEBSITE:

www.joannecberroa.wordpress.com