Guest Blogger - Tonya Kinzer

Today I am thrilled to welcome author Tonya Kinzer to my world.  Tonya is the author of the super sexy Boss's Pet series. She’s not only sharing a little of herself but also having a great contest for everyone who leaves comments. 

EDH:         How and when did you get your start writing?

TK:            I started writing years ago when I got bored with the books out there. Some of the plot lines were so sappy that I thought I would try my hand at writing my own. It was years after that when I decided to publish my work for others. I’d received many rejection letters before deciding to self-publish and those sales are growing daily.

EDH:         I’m all too familiar with the dreaded rejection letter. I’m glad you didn’t give up.  Tell me, what do you like most about writing?

TK:            I like being my own boss, writing at my own pace, not having major deadline stress and creating characters and worlds that my readers can’t wait to get back to. I do set my own release goals for my books and sometimes have to adjust those according to my schedule since I also have a business in real time!

EDH:         Okay, what about the flip side of the coin?  What do you like least about writing?

TK:            The discipline it takes to keep your butt in the seat and your fingers out of the internet. There a so many time wasters out there. If we want to get any serious writing done, we have to schedule the online stuff AFTER our daily writing goals have been met. For me, I’m still working on that.

EDH:         Facebook and Twitter are huge distractions for me to, but I love them.  Tell me what a typical day is like for you?

TK:            I grab my morning coffee and head straight to the computer to check email, hits on websites, comments on blogs and on-going interviews. Next I make sure to spend an hour or two on marketing on Twitter, Facebook, commenting on other blogs and sites and working on a newsletter. After that, I try to write some daily. I need to work harder on setting a daily writing goal for Tonya.

EDH:         Do you have a writing mentor?  If so how have they inspired or encouraged you?

TK:            Years ago I belonged to a critique group and learn so much from them. As a newbie back then, they were great about sharing things they’d learned from other writers. I kept notes, copies of how-to articles and pointers. I think the main thing I learned was how to stay in my character’s POV. My original works had to be rewritten to correct that and I can laugh about it now. I was in each character’s head in every paragraph so yes, the rewrite was VERY time consuming. I did end up publishing that work but it’s not a big seller so perhaps I need to rewrite again and republish it, who knows. Another thing I learned was to read my finished work out loud. If you have another who is willing to listen, that would help to. Perhaps read into a recorder and listen back but it will help you hear the flow of your words. If it sounds shorts and choppy and a bit like an instruction manual, you need to work a bit harder on the sentence structure…make them flow together so it’s a smooth read.

EDH:         Head-hopping has been an issue for me as well.  Do you have other professional pursuits?

TK:            I do help my husband run a business that we’ve expanded together and it’s doing quite well. We have several offices and I can manage my part of the business a few days a week, which in turn, allows me to write and market my books.  I write under two pen names in separate genres (romance and erotica) and keep them that way because my children read my other work. Combining the two wouldn’t be appropriate…they have a hard time with some of my tame sex scenes!! Writing as Tonya allows me to be free with my topics, characters and more playful with my sex scenes. So far, I’ve not heard any complaints! *wicked laugh*

EDH:         What types of books do you like to read in your spare time?

TK:            I love historical and time travels as well as contemporary romance. I don’t read many paranormal/sci-fi stories.

EDH:         What was the last good book you read?

TK:            I read Best Lover In Town, authored by two friends of mine, Brenda Woody and Steve Tindle. They’ve just released a new book titled Temptation Triggers, which is an anthology of short stories. Currently I’m reading Hour of the Lion by Cherise Sinclair.

EDH:         I’ll have to check out Best Lover in Town.  Tell me something about you that would surprise your fans.

TK:            Hmmm…..maybe that my friends never know who they’re talking to? Hubby tells others that he never knows who he’s going to bed with because I have several personalities - one being ‘The Boss’s Pet’ - *laughing* I’ll not go there, you have to read the series and make up your own mind!

EDH:         I see one of your personalities is a tease *wink*.  Define sexy? 

TK:            That’s a tough one. Sexy is different to everyone. To me, sexy can be many things. Visually, sexy is a nice pair of eyes that can look into my soul with one glance, a strong pair of biceps and a broad chest or strong thighs.  A man’s hands can be sexy or the way he walks or laughs. Mentally, sexy is a man who is faithful to his wife and does things for her everyday that make up the small things. Hubby and I pour coffee for each other, grab a cookie or two while we’re up or whatever. He doesn’t expect me to wait on him nor him on me, it just works for us the way it is. Does that make sense?

EDH:         It makes perfect sense.  What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done or had someone do for you?

TK:            We’ve been together for several years and hubby is still surprising me with things he does for me. He brings in the coffee pot and my half and half to my desk if I’m working away and he knows I haven’t refilled my cup. I’ve planned getaways for us and dropped rose petals into the Jacuzzi with glasses of champagne by candlelight.

EDH:         Wow, I have to try the rose petals in the Jacuzzi. Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?

TK:            My series, titled The Boss’s Pet, now has three books to it. The newest, Sharing Among Friends, was released June 22 and is available at Amazon (http://tinyurl.com/3fetwfq ) and a great reader site, All Romance Ebooks (http://allromaneebooks.com) online store (you must be a member to purchase here). Readers can find me at the following locations:

•    Blog Site:  http://tonyakinzer.blogspot.com
•    Website:  http://tonyakinzer.webs.com/
•    SmashWords:  http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tonyakinzer  Coupon Code is BP75P- good till 7-24-11
•    FB Fan Page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tonya-Kinzer-Fan-Page/197565580276021    Tiny URL:  http://tinyurl.com/4sh37tk
•    FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_163160073732655&ap=1
•    Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/tonyakinzer
•    BookBuzzr:  http://www.freado.com/users/26001/tonya-kinzer
•    IAN:  http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/tonya-kinzer.html

EDH:         Thanks so much for stopping by Tonya.

TK:           Elle, thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog! I’m
                 beginning my book tour for the release of book three, Sharing Among
                 Friends, and appreciate being able to chat with your readers!

CONTEST:  Tonya would like to know what readers find sexy in the opposite sex. Please leave your comment and on Wednesday morning she will pull one lucky winner for a $15 gift card to Amazon or B & N.

Happily writing,
Elle