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Meet author Rachel Van Dyken - Giveaway

ANNOUNCEMENT:  The winner of Rachel's giveaway is Desere


I'm very happy to welcome Rachel Van Dyken to MBB today. Rachel's one of my fellow reviewers on ROMANCING THE BOOK and she's also an author in her own right with a prolific output and an impressive backlist.  Her recent release THE BET hit number one in the Amazon (paid) charts recently and was there for a number of days. I had a few question up my sleeve to ask Rachel and she very graciously took time out of her busy schedule to answer them.

RACHEL ON THE WEB

Twitter    Facebook     Website/Blog





What made you decide to write?
I was a school counselor right out of college and also worked for the state as a therapist. Things were stressful to say the least. As a way to de-stress I started writing--and I haven't stopped since! I always have a story of some kind rolling around in my head. It doesn't feel like work for me. If anything, Im angry that I actually need to sleep!

What are your preferred genres for writing and reading?
I really enjoy writing regency romance.  Lately I've been writing a lot more New Adult which is a newer genre that just popped up within the last year or so. Historical romance is an escape for me and New Adult is just fun. I don't know if I could choose between the two. 

Could you possibly enlighten me as to what the New Adult genre is?  I don't know it at all.

New Adult books deal with more mature themes, they are books based on characters that are just out of high school and starting college. It's a more coming-of-age genre. Good examples of authors in this genre are: Jamie Mcguire (Beautiful Disaster), Abbi Glines (Twisted Perfection), Monica Murphy (Second Chance Boyfriend) etc. Most of these books come with warnings so 12 year olds know not to pick them up. They aren't by any means bad, so I don't want you to get that impression, they just deal, like I said with  more mature life altering topics. Hope that helps!


Do you write according to a daily target or do you go with the muse, when inspiration hits?
I do both. I like to have a goal of at least 4000 words a day, some days I'll write 10,000 words, and some days I can only get half of my goal. But I always write something. If Im stuck I open a different manuscript and write some of that then come back to the one thats on deadline. 

Can you describe your book in a tweet sized sentence?
One brother is right for her, one wants to use her. Who will she choose?

What's next on your agenda?

I'm currently working on the third book in the Seaside Series entitled, "Shatter." It's been kind of difficult because I also have another book releasing this month! Somehow it ended up working out that I had a book a month releasing until June....I have no idea why....clearly I need a vacation from my computer ;) My newest release (this month) is entitled Elite and it's about a private college with lots of history and dark secrets. I'm really excited about it!


THE BET



"I have a proposition for you..."

Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. Instead, she made a deal with the devil in hopes of putting her past behind her once and for all.

Four days.

She could do four days!

But she wasn't counting on Jake’s older brother Travis being there to witness their farce of an engagement.

One thing is for certain.

One brother is right for her.

One wants a lifetime.

And one is in league with the devil.

She should have gotten Jake’s signature in blood.

Get it here:

Amazon     Amazon UK    

Rachel has very kindly agreed to give away a copy of the ebook to one lucky commenter.  Sp please leave a comment before you go.


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Comments

  1. Nas13 May 2013 at 08:55

    Hi Rachel, Hello Maria!

    It was lovely reading this interview. Thanks for sharing!

    Congratulations on the release of The Bet!

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  2. my summitt13 May 2013 at 18:05

    Hello Rachel, nice post quite interesting...
    Vacationing

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  3. bn10014 May 2013 at 07:22

    Nice first sentence in the excerpt

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  4. Maria Perry Mohan14 May 2013 at 18:56

    Nice to see you over here, Nas.

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  5. Maria Perry Mohan14 May 2013 at 18:56

    Thank you.

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  6. Maria Perry Mohan14 May 2013 at 18:57

    Hi bn100. Good to see you again as always.

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  7. TashNz14 May 2013 at 19:42

    Hi Rachel, Hi Maria. Firstly Maria, thank you for introducing me to another fantastic website, I didnt know about Romancing the Book. Thank you both for also introducing me to "New Adult". Now when i hear the term I'll know what it means. Best of luck Rachel xx

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  8. Desere14 May 2013 at 19:47

    This book sounds fabulous ! Thanks Maria for the interview and telling me about this I am off to purchase it asap!

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  9. Cherie Le Clare14 May 2013 at 19:57

    I admire your daily writing output, Rachel, you are very prolific. When I started writing I found it a kind of therapy for dealing with emotions, so I guess that was a kind of stress release for me, too.

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  10. Caroline14 May 2013 at 21:45

    Hi Rachel, Hello Maria!

    Great blod - I loved the explanation of New Adult - it's much clearer now. As a lover of all things Historical I'm going to look out for your Regencies as well. Good luck with the new book(s). And BTW 10,000 a DAY is a phenomincal work output! Caroline x

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  11. Caroline14 May 2013 at 21:48

    Duh - that should be "blog" not "blod" - although in Wales (where I live) it's English for "flower" which is quite nice! Caroline p.s Thanks to Maria for posting too.

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  12. Poisoned Rose15 May 2013 at 01:05

    Such a great book! Hi Rachel and Maria. *waves excitedly*

    Having a word goal every day is a really good idea. Thanks for that.

    ckpoisonedrose AT gmail DOT com

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  13. Helen15 May 2013 at 01:34

    That was great! xx

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  14. Rachel Van Dyken15 May 2013 at 01:40

    Thank you! :)

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  15. Sue Blackburn15 May 2013 at 01:41

    Very inspiring. Wow what an output, Rachel.

    How wonderful to 'always have a story of some kind rolling around in my head.' That's certainly something I wish would happen to me!!

    Great interview. Thank you Maria and Rachel :o) xx

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  16. Rachel Van Dyken15 May 2013 at 01:41

    Thank you ;) And yes, writing is such good therapy...Its cheaper too! :)

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  17. Rachel Van Dyken15 May 2013 at 01:42

    Hello! Thanks for stopping by! :) I'm glad Maria had me explain the NA genre, I know it's somewhat new for everyone! ;)

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  18. Rachel Van Dyken15 May 2013 at 01:42

    Thanks for stopping by! :)

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  19. Teresa Ashby15 May 2013 at 02:29

    Great post Maria and Rachel - and Rachel, wow, your output! That is amazing :-) x

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  20. Edith15 May 2013 at 03:00

    Great interview. Fascinating story about how you began writing. Also delighted to learn what 'NewAdult' means....I've been wondering......

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  21. Edith15 May 2013 at 03:07

    Just had a peep at your web site and it's so lovely! Your Regency books look delightful!

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  22. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:22

    Hi Desere, I confess, I've not yet read it but I've got my copy and am looking forward to familiarizing myself with Rachel's work.

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  23. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:24

    Hi Cherie - writing as therapy, yes definitely. I used to find my diary blog very cathartic when I blogged anonymously as gaelikaa - but when I shed the cloak of anonymity, I had to zip up! I found writing my yet unpubbed novel FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS very healing though.

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  24. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:27

    I use the opportunity of having authors from different genres to explain the genre - I had a steampunk author, Annie Seaton, on here recently and many of my readers were very surprised because it was their total introduction to the genre.

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  25. Kath15 May 2013 at 05:27

    Thanks, Maria and Rachel - fascinating! x

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  26. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:29

    I knew you must live in Wales. 'Blod' must be a Welsh word. It sounds like 'blaith' which is the Irish for flower (pronounced 'blaw')

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  27. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:30

    Hi Poisoned Rose!

    I bet I know you from somewhere. I'm going mad to know from where. Thank you for stopping by.

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  28. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:31

    Thanks Helen!

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  29. Karen15 May 2013 at 05:32

    I too find writing is a great way to de-stress, and I'm envious of your 10,000 word count! The book sounds great - lots of luck with it :o)

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  30. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:32

    Thanks Sue! I'm finding this post very inspiring too, for my own writiing.

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  31. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:34

    Yeah, she's quite a prodigy Teresa. But I suppose all writers have their level of output. On a good day, I could manage three or four thousand, that's the most I ever could. But I read somewhere that there are many who get by on five hundred per day.

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  32. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:34

    Delighted to be able to inform you about the new genre, Edith!

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  33. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:35

    Thanks Edith!

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  34. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:35

    Lovely to see you here, Kath!

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  35. Maria Perry Mohan15 May 2013 at 05:36

    Thanks for stopping by Karen. Your output's pretty high I think. All those short stories!

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  36. Nancy Crocker15 May 2013 at 07:25

    Maria, Thanks for letting me know about this blog, and Author. The book looks really good.

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  37. Wes15 May 2013 at 18:22

    Thanks Maria and Rachel for the interview. I wish I could write 10 000 words a day too,Rachel. Amazing.

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  38. Wes15 May 2013 at 18:23

    Maria, how do we subscribe to your blog?

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  39. Maria Perry Mohan16 May 2013 at 00:56

    Oh, it is, Nancy! :) Thank you.

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  40. Maria Perry Mohan16 May 2013 at 00:57

    Hi Wes, great to see you here.

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  41. Maria Perry Mohan16 May 2013 at 00:59

    Should be followable on Google. I'll try to add a 'subcribe by email' option. Thanks Wes Mx

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  42. Maria Perry Mohan16 May 2013 at 01:03

    The follow by email gadget is added Wes on the top right hand corner.

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  43. Wes16 May 2013 at 02:32

    Thanks Maria

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  44. J.L. Campbell16 May 2013 at 06:48

    Hi, Maria & Rachel,

    Rachel is plenty prolific. I'm in awe of her. Hope the release goes well.

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  45. Lea Jerančič16 May 2013 at 22:38

    Hey! I loved The Bet. The story was awesome :)
    Thank you for the giveaway!!!

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  46. Maria Perry Mohan16 May 2013 at 23:29

    Welcome Wes

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  47. Maria Perry Mohan16 May 2013 at 23:30

    Hi Joy,

    Good to see you here, thanks for stopping by.

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  48. Maria Perry Mohan16 May 2013 at 23:31

    Hi Lea, you're very welcome. Thanks for visiting and commenting.

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  49. Amy Woolard17 May 2013 at 00:36

    I really want to read this!! It sounds so good!!! Thank you for the giveaway!!

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  50. Regine18 May 2013 at 00:22

    I want to read this because I have seen positive reviews from the readers. I also found this book in one blog (sorry I forgot the name) listed in her top Amazon books so this interests me.

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  51. Maria Perry Mohan18 May 2013 at 18:30

    Hi Amy,

    You're very welcome to my blog. Best of luck with the giveaway.

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  52. Maria Perry Mohan18 May 2013 at 18:31

    Hi Regine,

    Thanks for coming over. You are very welcome. I hope you get to read the book and enjoy it.

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  53. Rachel Van Dyken19 May 2013 at 09:19

    Thank you so much!

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  54. Rachel Van Dyken19 May 2013 at 09:20

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  55. Rachel Van Dyken19 May 2013 at 09:20

    Thank you so much! :)

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  56. Rachel Van Dyken19 May 2013 at 09:20

    Thank you!!! :)

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  57. Rachel Van Dyken19 May 2013 at 09:20

    Awesome! Well I hope you enjoy it, Regine!

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