The Fire is Hot today with Author Sadira Stone

Greeting fellow earthlings! And aliens, because who's to say. I recently watched Tomorrow War with Chris Pratt. Yep, aliens. Anyway, we're hosting a Christmas Open House to spend time and holiday spirit with friends. Oh yes, and show off Pete's displays. It's only a short time until Christmas. The eve of the day we hope to have my son and family come up, church service, and some time sitting around the fire. Christmas morning we have a breakfast open house for friends and neighbors. Pete mans the omelet bar. I may enjoy a mimosa. This is what the holiday is about. Celebrating the Lord's birthday with friends and family.  ​

​Today's guest and I teasingly call each other cousin. We're both Stone, get it? And I wouldn't mind having a lady with such a lovely smile in the family. So, Sadira, stop blushing and tell us who you are other than your bio?
I’m an ex-expat, having lived in Germany for a total of 30 years. I’m a new Las Vegan, slowly finding my way in my desert home. I’m a performer—acting, music, dance, I love the rush of being on stage. Lately I get my fix by performing with my belly dance group. I’m an avid home chef who collects more recipes than she could possibly ever cook. I’m a baby musician who loves to play along with the big kids—mostly on ukulele, sometimes guitar. I’m a mom of one, wife of the best dude, and soon-to-be grandmother! Oh, let’s not forget my most important job: gobbler of all the steamy romance books. As long as they’re not too dark and angsty, gimme! 

I've never been to Vegas. We're planning on a stop during one of our camping adventures. Being in a new place can be an adjustment. Who is your network or support system? 
My writing posse from the former Olympia, Washington RWA are the best! I also belong to several online writing communities who provide support, critique, and a kick in the butt when I need it.

Inspiration comes from so many places especially other books and authors. Do you have someone who sparked your creativeness?
I could never pinpoint just one! Like so many authors, I started down the path to publication when I read a book and realized I could do just as well. So I did! Turns out, it’s not quite as easy as I thought, of course. Some favorite romance authors are Sonali Dev, Tessa Dare, Lucy Score, Claire Kingsley, Sarah MacLean, Alyssa Cole, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Talia Hibbert…

LOL! I did the same thing. Read a string of books that were let's say sub-par. "I can do that better." Ah, nope. Do you have any fun or outrageous talent?
I can belly dance with a sword balanced on my head. And none of those Cheater McCheat-Pants padded turbans, thank you very much!

What? You woke up one day and said, "Yeah, I think my life is to safe?" We'll chat more on this later. Tell us about your neighborhood? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special? 
We moved to Las Vegas a few months ago and bought a house in a 55+ community, something I thought I’d never do. We’re still unpacking and getting our bearings. There’s a lovely gym and pool, a community center where I can take art classes, a pretty little library, and an armada of bunnies and quail. Haven’t seen a coyote yet, but I have seen a few roadrunners. Meep meep! The women in our Zumba class are a hoot—especially 90-year-old Ida, who still shakes it like a diva. At the tender age of fifty-nine, it’s kind of fun to be the youngster among the seniors.
Vegas is much greener than I expected, at least in the built-up areas. I love our backyard view of the mountains, and the 70-degree November weather is a delight. My favorite place so far is the public library—the closest one is huge with an auditorium, an art gallery, and beautiful public spaces. And the Smith Center downtown offers wonderful shows. A few weeks back we saw the Branford Marsalis Quartet—amazing jazz show!

It sounds so wonderful. Please give our regards to Ida and tell her to keep shaking that thing. Years ago, there was a commercial that talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a moment in time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours? 
For seventeen years I lived in the lovely German city of Würzburg on the Main River. The Baroque Residenz palace is a UNESCO world heritage site, and I’d drive past at least weekly, always muttering to myself, “Can’t believe I actually live here.” My Kodak moment would be my daughter and I perched on the fountain out front, under the watchful eye of Frankonia, patron of the area. Such a beautiful place! (*see photo below*)

If you could time travel, where would you go and when? Why?
I’ve always been fascinated by the 1920s, a time of tremendous social change and increased freedom for women. I’m a jazz baby at heart and would love to dance away the night in a swanky speakeasy.

I'd love to wear one of those shimmery shiny dresses and cute hate. When someone develops a time machine we'll make a day (and night) of it Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?
Put me down for restaurants! Even in comfortable seats, long airplane flights are a drag—goodness knows I’ve done enough of those. That Frankfurt to San Francisco flight is a killer! But I’m a wannabe chef and hardcore foodie, so the chance to visit Las Vegas’s many fantastic restaurants would be a dream come true. 

Yes! I knew I likes you. Everyone else is on the plane but ahh to enjoy fabulous food. We live in such a wonderful world. What’s the most amazing natural occurrence you’ve witnessed?
December 26, 1999, we were headed from our home in Bavaria to a week-long stay in a Gîte (vacation rental) in Alsace, France, and got caught up in Cyclone Lothar, the worst European windstorm of the 20th century. Tall pines snapped and toppled before our very eyes. The whole, heavily forested area was decimated. Thank the gods we were on the westbound side of the autobahn because the fatalities occurred on the eastbound side. We saw many crushed cars, and one in which the driver was beheaded by a falling tree that sheared the car’s roof clean off. Emergency workers had covered the body with a blanket, but the poor driver’s fate was clear enough. Chilling! 

That is awesomely terrifying. Thank goodness you were safe. No matter what an author pens some sort of research has to happen. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I enjoy writing about all my woulda/coulda/shoulda alternate career paths—bookshop owner, bar owner, boutique owner, chef, food truck owner, art gallery owner, artist…I seem to have a small business fetish. So I end up doing lots of research on these career fields, as well as medical conditions, legal questions, and other details I want to get right. I’ve interviewed cops, firefighters, doctors, bartenders, graphic designers, a process server, and many more. When I tell people I’m working on a novel and want to portray their job correctly and respectfully, they’re always generous with their expertise.  

What was your hardest scene to write?
Killing off a character is always tough, even if they die of natural causes. Family reconciliations make me cry too. But you know what they say: “No tears from the writer, no tears from the reader.” I like to take my readers along on a full-spectrum emotional journey, and that means tackling the hard stuff.

I have several scenes that make me cry in various novels. In one of my WIPs, a main character gets gone. It's tough. That said, Sadira, will you leave a little peek at your book and where to find out more about it and you? Thank you so much for stopping by, Cuz.

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Oh, my! Sadira shared a picture of The Baroque Residenz palace. A UNESCO world heritage site. It's so gorgeous. What do you think?

Christmas Rekindled
by
Sadira Stone
(Rated R)

Bartender River Lundqvist has a damn good reason for hating Christmas. Bangers Tavern is the perfect place to lay low over the holidays—until Charlie walks in. His first encounter with the saucy server nine years ago was utter humiliation. Her reappearance stirs up powerful desires and hopes for a new start. But the timing is all wrong.
Back in Tacoma to care for her estranged dad over the holidays, freelance web designer Charlie Khoury braces herself for the suckiest Christmas ever. A temporary job at Bangers Tavern gives her a chance to escape Dad’s criticism and blow off some steam. But why does the hunky bartender seem to hate her?    
A pretend girlfriend is just what River needs to keep his family off his back—until a kiss under the mistletoe flares hot enough to melt the North Pole. When greedy developers threaten Bangers Tavern, River and Charlie must team up to save it. Their sizzling chemistry feels like the real thing—but everyone knows rebound relationships don’t last.
Come to Bangers Tavern for an enemies-to-lovers tale of reconciliation, found family, holiday cocktails, and the steamiest Christmas miracle ever.
Christmas Rekindled delivers a guaranteed HEA, no cliffhangers, and is on sale for just $2.99 through 12/27, so treat yourself today!
Universal book link: https://books2read.com/b/3JjPxP
Embedded: Click to get your copy of Christmas Rekindled.
Review:
Once again, author Sadira Stone has not failed her fans with this colorful setting, which she populated with unique characters and even more unique events designed to save the bar. [Gus the Grump in his SpongeBob pajama shirt to celebrate PJ Nite was a particularly fun touch.] As well, her skill for nicely subtle sexual tension, slowly building to a mind-blowing crescendo is well done. For fans of well-drawn plot lines with steamy romance, terrific characters and snappy dialogue, this is the book for you. 
On a scale of 1-5, Christmas Rekindled earns a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
 
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