Alyssa Bailey

Alyssa Bailey-Sassy, Sensual, Suspense- Romance

State your name for this Interview and your Genre(s) and please at the bottom let people know your list of social media links where you can be found. 

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a Writer/Author? At about ten years old, I realized writing books was a “Thing” that people could do. Once I knew it was a profession, I wanted to be someone who could become an author. 

2. How long does it take you to write a book?

I can do the first Rough Draft (about 10k) in a day if I have it stewing in my head. To the finished, ready to “go live” is anywhere from four to eight weeks.

3. What is your work/home schedule like when your writing?

Depends. If I am homeschooling, then up around nine/ten, do homeschool, social media, housework/dinner, time with hubby, then at about ten pm. I write/edit for four to five hours. I always write at night, in a quiet house. I sometimes write during the day but it’s harder.

4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I can’t have something that I “must” do hanging over my head. It drives me mad until I go do it first. Then I must have relative quiet. I must have little to no interruptions, and I write on my laptop only. I have a couple of laptops so I always have one to use. This is why I usually write at night. Nothing else on my mind. 

5. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

My ideas: Well, I have eleven children, twelve unofficially, so life offers plenty of examples of things. I will hear something in the news, or anywhere, really, and immediately a story will start to form in my mind. I have more ideas than I will ever write and that’s just fun.

6. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

READ, watch home improvement shows, READ, mystery programs, READ, travel, READ, enjoy my family/genealogy… did I say READ?

7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

A few things have surprised me on this journey. That people really read what I write. I want fire in my women and am rarely satisfied in what I read or write unless I have it. I have found that I have a distinctive “voice” and that I can write more than one subgenre. I thought I was just a Regency Era writer, but I write all kinds, and can pull it off well enough to sell books. That’s amazing to me. 

8. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I have written 54 books but they aren’t all published yet. I love the cowboy books but I think one of my favorites is Taming Texanna. Cowboy stories just pour out but this one, an American Historical, was harder than the others and I loved it.

9. Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a Writer/Author? If so, what are they?

Be prepared for hard work and let the writing be it’s own reward because it takes a while to build up your fan base. Do not get into writing to make money. Do it for the love of creating a story.

10. What do you think makes a good story?

1. Engaging Characters you can “see” while you read. They draw you in. Use all the emotions. 2. Next is PLOT. I want my characters to be living a life you believe they could. 3. A steady movement of the story. Let it ebb and flow evenly with dramatic peaks and rolling valleys. 4. A solid HEA. If they question the HEA, you have disappointed a romance reader.

Thank you, for taking the time to do this interview. If anything you would like to add please do so. Happy Writing, 

Cherry ❤

Thanks Cherry… it was fun.

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Well February will certainly go down in Texas history! I left Alaska to retire in Texas especially for the less dramatic winters and what happens? We get down to -4 degrees in a winter storm. I can guarantee you I never thought I’d see that in NE Texas! And it snowed twice! Many years Texas never sees snow!  

 Last week it was as high as 80 degrees and melting this author into a puddle. Weather Whiplash!

Anyway, despite the excitement of broken water pipes, loss of electricity, and taking out my “Alaska” clothes from the back of the closet, the month is gone and I have no idea where it went!

But, regardless of the craziness of the month’s weather, I was able to put out book 3 of Safe and Secure, Saving Ivy.

First, she stole his heart and left him bleeding, then she stole from the Mob. Now he is the only one who can save her. If he will.

Passions burn hot when Kaden rescues Ivy from kidnappers, but she leaves without a word when her fears overcome her. Amid new chaos, Ivy reappears with the mob on her tail and nowhere to run but to Kaden. He will protect her. 

It has been a year since sexy as sin, heiress Ivy Linton made the mistake of leaving Kaden’s protection and his bed. When a someone wants her dead or alive, she rushes to the only man who can rock her world and keep her safe.

Kaden ignored his instincts and was too gentle the first time, but he won’t make that mistake again. He wants all of Ivy, and he won’t accept less. To keep her safe, she must agree to his rules and follow his commands, in and out of bed, or there will be consequences.  The price is high, and he wants her first payment upfront.

Kaden shook his head as he pulled Ivy into his arms. “Hush, sweetheart. I don’t have a girlfriend. Why would I when I was waiting for you to figure out you belong right here in my arms?”

“Really?” She had to see his face. “You haven’t moved on? You still want me? After I left for so long?”

“Oh, I still want you, but do you want me? You chose to leave without talking. And you need to realize the rules governing my life haven’t changed. My expectations are what they were when you met me and when you walked away from me.”

“But not because we weren’t good together. I left to find out how I really felt about my whole life. Rules?” but she could feel her face heating up. “I’m not sure I remember any rules.”

“Ivy, you know there are things important in my life. I live by certain rules, and you did too. I’ll refresh your memory later. For now, are you coming back to stay, play, or just passing through?”

“That isn’t what I did, Kaden. I wasn’t just playing around. I needed the space.”

“From us?”

“From everything.

“I’m glad you understood when you needed to take a step back to think about those things, but I expected better. We deserved better. There should have been a real conversation, not a bolt to the nearest exit.”

“I know. I’m sorry I didn’t know how to tell you. I couldn’t explain my feelings because I didn’t understand them myself. I panicked.”

“If I take you back now, you have to agree to my way of handling things.”

“Kaden, I can take care of myself. A relationship with you doesn’t mean I’m giving up my autonomy.”

He smiled and hugged her tight again. “Good, because I don’t want a clingy woman in my life, but when I say something is for your safety or health, you will have to trust me.”

“You mean if I don’t see the health or safety hazard myself.”

“I mean, if I say there is a problem, you believe me.”

“Of course. When have I not listened?”

“Montana? Here, last year, when I said I knew there was a problem and going home wasn’t safe. Sharlee offered her home, you accepted­­ then disappeared. We tracked you until you got home but do you know what that did to me?”

Ivy shook her head. “Not then, but as I figured things out in my mind, I realized what happened. I was scared.” She hoped her expression showed how she’d beg for his forgiveness if necessary.

Kaden brushed Ivy’s wind tousled hair away from her face. She ached at the seriousness of the man she knew she loved. “When you’re confused or have questions, you aren’t going to run off and hide; you will come talk to me.” Not a question.

“Yes.”

“And I’m the boss when one is needed.”

“Oh, but… Um, okay. That’s acceptable.”

Kaden cocked his head to the side and openly scrutinized Ivy. “You don’t sound sure.”

“I am. It’s just a big step. I like to be my own boss, but I miss you so much it hurts. I want to agree with your way of doing things, but I’m afraid I don’t know how to let go. What if I can’t?”

“Ivy, do you want to be with me?”

Ivy’s shoulder muscles, held tight, seemed to tighten even more. “Isn’t that what I’ve been saying? But what if I can’t be all you want?”

“Is that a formal commitment? Because I want you, but I’ve already gone through the pain of losing you once. I won’t do it again.” He pulled back to stare into Ivy’s face.

“I suppose I am if there is an “us.”

“Oh, there’s an “us” sweetheart. It has taken you a while to work it out, but there has always been an us. You’ve just been on a long hiatus but no more, understand? I need you in my life every day, not just when it’s convenient. If you stay, there is no leaving. We will move heaven and earth to make this relationship work. I’m in for the long haul. If you stay, so are you.”

The fearful uncertainty vanished in the wake of Ivy’s growing annoyance. “I told you. I didn’t leave you because it was convenient. Nothing in my life has been convenient in the last year and a half. Don’t be such an ass.”

Kaden threw his head back and laughed without restraint. “I have missed you, honey.”

The irritation melted away in a smile. “I’ve missed you, too.”

His head swooped closer and warm kisses tickled Ivy’s lips. Gentle pressure gave way to a deeper, probing kiss, his tongue showing a slight impatience to enter her warmth. Before his libido was too high and his control was gone, he lifted his head.

“And you are due one whopper of a spanking for leaving me hanging for so long.”

Now, on to MARCH!

Make no mistake, there is plenty of evidence behind this RWA Banning of Blushing Books but I encourage you to ask around to other authors who have published with this company and any other publishing companies owned and operated by the same owner. Ask for advise and, if they want to share, their personal accounts of dealing with BB or any of their other publishing companies under ABCD Graphics and Design. Do the research on any publisher you would like to do business with. I didn’t.

I was worried about indie-publishing outside a group but 8 months after I left this company and took my future books with me I can say I am beginning to realize the quick potential of exponentially increasing my profits while lowering my stress and keeping ALL my rights.

Not all publishing companies are like this one.

I leave this notice here for your edification. Remember, EYES WIDE OPEN.

Below notice was copied in it’s entirety from RWA.

Notice Regarding Blushing Books

On June 12, 2019, Blushing Books was placed on six-month probation from RWA’s Qualifying Markets list for violating the sections of RWA’s Industry Code of Conduct that state: 

• Honesty and Integrity. An Industry Professional shall perform his/her duties with honesty and integrity. The Industry Professional shall not mislead, deceive, dupe, defraud or victimize clients, members of the organization, the general public, or any person with whom RWA does business as an Association.
• Information. An Industry Professional shall keep each author apprised of all matters relating to their agreements and promptly respond to the author’s reasonable requests for information.

On September 23, 2020 RWA reached out to the publisher to request information on the steps taken to resolve the Industry Code violations and to request an updated boilerplate contract to determine if the contract met our standards to be included on the Qualifying Markets list. RWA received no response for 60 days. As a result, Blushing Books has been banned from the Qualifying Markets list for a minimum of three years. They will not be able to participate in RWA events or publications during this time. Pursuant to RWA Policy, Blushing Books may reapply for inclusion on the Qualifying Markets list after three years, provided that the prior Industry Code violation and any Code of Ethics violation(s) have been dealt with to RWA’s satisfaction and that no other violations have occurred in the interim.

Because RWA was in a period of significant transition in 2020 and a review of the publisher’s probationary status was not undertaken in December of 2019 as it should have been, RWA considers this ban to be effective retroactively as of December 12, 2019, making the expiration of the three-year period be on December 12, 2022. 

Blushing Books was notified of the above on December 4, 2020.