Interview with Author Tonya Burrows and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome back author Tonya Burrows. Tonya is celebrating the recent release of her book SEAL of Honor and has stopped by to answer a few questions. Please give Tonya a warm welcome.

Writing has always been my one true love. I wrote my first novel-length story in 8th grade and haven't stopped since. I received a B.A. in creative writing from SUNY Oswego and I'm now working on a MFA in popular fiction at Seton Hill University.

When I'm not writing, I spend my time reading, painting (badly), exploring new places, and enjoying time with my family. Give me a good horror movie over a chick flick any day. (And, let's be honest, I'll take a bad horror movie too!) I'm a geek at heart and pledge my avid TV fandom to Supernatural and Doctor Who. I'm also a big fan of The Voice. What can I say? Guilty pleasure.​​

I share my life with two dogs and a ginormous cat. We live in a small town in PA, but I suffer from a bad case of wanderlust and usually end up moving someplace new every few years. Luckily, my animals are all excellent travel buddies.

Places to find Tonya:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
Sure! And let me just say, thanks for having me here today!

I’m a shopaholic, chocaholic fulltime grad student working on a master of fine arts in writing popular fiction. I love to travel and I have two dogs and a cat that I enjoy dragging around the country with me. (Don’t worry, they like it too!) I write sexy romantic suspense because I just love a man in uniform.

Did you always want to be a writer?
Yup. Always. I remember telling my first grade teacher that I wanted to be an author when I grew up. She rolled her eyes at me.

What kind of writer are you? Panster or Plotter?
A little of both. I plot out the major points of a story like a road map, but then let the characters take over from there. Most times, my characters drive me off course but that’s fine with me! It’s one of the things I find thrilling about writing.

Where do your ideas come from?
Everywhere. An idea can come from a photograph, a TV show, a movie, or any random what if…? that pops into my head.

However, I do tend to start with character before plot. Creating characters is one of my favorite things to do when I’m starting a new book.

A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
Gabe Bristow has to keep his ragtag team of misfits from killing each other while also keeping feisty Audrey Van Amee out of harm's way.

What are some of your favorite kinds of stories to read?
I like romance, of course, but I’m also a big fan of thrillers. I’m a series junkie. I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward. J.D. Robb’s In Death series is another big favorite. And John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport series. I also love true stories such as military nonfiction and memoirs.

Do you have a favorite book and if so what is it?
Hah. Where do I start? I have so many favorites, it’d take me all day to name them.

What are the scenes that are the hardest for you to write?
Without a doubt, the love scenes. It’s a fine line between describing the act in a readable way and purple prose. And if anyone knows of a good sexy word thesaurus, let me know. I’m in desperate need of one. There’s only so many times you can use words like “thrust” and “stroke,” ya know?

If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose and why?

1. Nora Roberts. Her books are the reason I fell in love with romance.
2. Suzanne Brockmann. Her books are the reason I started writing military romances.
3. And if I could time travel, I’d love to pick Arthur Conan Doyle’s brain. Sherlock Holmes is my all-time favorite fictional detective.

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
Actually, my second book, a Brazen called WILDE NIGHTS IN PARADISE, just released on June 10th. It’s the first in my Wilde Security series about 5 brothers who own a private security company and it takes place in the same world as my HORNET series. You’ll see some character crossover between the books!

I’m also working on the second Wilde Security book, which will be out this fall sometime, and doing the research for the second HORNET book, which is set for a spring 2014 release.

So, readers, do you love a man in uniform as much as I do? What about them makes you swoon?

It’s a good thing Gabe Bristow lives and breathes the Navy SEAL credo, “the only easy day was yesterday,” because today, his life is unrecognizable. When his prestigious career comes to a crashing halt, he’s left with a bum leg and few prospects for employment that don’t include a desk.

That is, until he’s offered the chance to command a private hostage rescue team and free a wealthy American businessman from Colombian paramilitary rebels. It seems like a good deal—until he meets his new team: a drunk Cajun linguist, a boy-genius CIA threat analyst, an FBI negotiator with mob ties, a cowboy medic, and an EOD expert as volatile as the bombs he defuses. Oh, and who could forget the sexy, frustratingly impulsive Audrey Van Amee? She’s determined to help rescue her brother—or drive Gabe crazy. Whichever comes first.

As the death toll rises, Gabe’s team of delinquents must figure out how to work together long enough to save the day. Or, at least, not get themselves killed. Because Gabe’s finally found something worth living for, and God help him if he can’t bring her brother back alive.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble |

Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs For Entire Tour:

• 1 lucky person will win the following:
• Signed copy of Seal of Honor
• Swag
• Chance to Name a Character

To Enter: 

• Please answer the question: Do you love a man in uniform as much as I do? What about them makes you swoon?
• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck! 

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