Greek Gods? I’m In!

Have you ever met someone and known, within five minutes, that your souls had met before? That’s how it was for Kerri and I. We went on a mini-retreat with another writer who is a mutual friend, but we didn’t know each other. Yet almost as soon as we met in person, I felt as if I’d known her forever.

We bonded, Kerri and I, over a prosthetic leg toilet paper holder (no lie, see pic) and marshmallow champagne stoppers (also no lie, see pic) and choking on Brussel sprouts (don’t have a pic for that one) and tripping while acting out a book scene (no pic for that, either, thank goodness. That was me!). By the end of the weekend, I’d written something along the lines of 8k and made a life-long friend.

Prosthetic Leg Toilet Paper Holder
Not Lying
When you need a champagne cork…

So I would like to introduce you to Kerri Keberly, author of BUSINESS OF LOVE, a book in which the Greek gods have day jobs. If you have not read this book, YOU MUST.

Alyssa: Tell me about BUSINESS OF LOVE. What inspired you?

Kerri: First, thanks for having me on your blog! Second, I’m glad you don’t have a pic of me choking on Brussel sprouts (That one was me, folks!).

The Eros & Co. series blends heart, humor, and magic into every story. It takes Greek mythology and gives it a modern day twist—think gods with day jobs! In the first book, The Business of Love, Cupid’s performance is declining big time, so he’s given an ultimatum by the king of the gods, Zeus. He must bind the hearts of two mortal enemies or he loses his immortality. No problem, Cupid’s got this, right? Hint: Not so much.

Alyssa: I heard tell Apollo is getting his own story soon. In fact, I might have read his story (this is what is awesome about being critique partners, you get to read things before everyone else!). Gimme a little about him.

Kerri: Yes! Book two, Mergers & Acquisitions (Releasing January 3rd!), centers around Apollo, Daphne (the nymph he’s been cursed to forever chase), and their discovery about what it really means to love and be loved. What can I say about Apollo? He’s Mount Olympus’s shining victor. Killer abs, sharp dresser, never a hair out of place  . . . Basically, he’s the god of every damn thing and he knows it. The only problem is he’s always too busy hogging the spotlight to realize that being worshiped doesn’t hold a candle to being loved.

Alyssa: OK, so let’s nerd out a bit. Why Greek gods, and what’s your favorite myth?

Kerri: I’ve always loved mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. My first story was a retelling of the little mermaid somewhere around the first or second grade. I’m enamored with magic, and I think all of my stories include some form of magical element because of it.

For this particular series, I was flipping through one of my many reference books on Greek mythology, and when I came to one of my absolute favorites, the myth of Eros and Psyche when an idea hit me: What if they broke up and Cupid’s heart was broken?

Because I love irony and had worked in an advertising agency for years, I also thought: What if Cupid had a day job? What would happen if he had to bind hearts even though his heart was hurting? The rest, as they say, is history.

Some of my other favorite Greek myths include Artemis and Actaeon, Apollo and Daphne, and Echo and Narcissus, Medusa . . . Who am I kidding? They are all my favorite!

Alyssa: Last but not least, you have a prequel to BUSINESS OF LOVE exclusively for newsletter subscribers. What is that about?

Kerri: Oh, yes, the prequel! This was a fun one to write. Aside from suffering from a broken heart, there is another big reason why Eros loses his mojo. In book one, he must bind the hearts of Liz and Leo, two souls he’s been trying to get together for centuries. Much to the dismay of The Fates, he’s missed his mark every time. The prequel, Behind Schedule, is what happens in each of Liz and Leo’s lifetimes.

Now for the lightning round I always force, ahem, ask authors to answer!

Ready? Set? Go!

Blue jeans or party clothes? Blue Jeans.

Sushi or steak? Steak.

Cats or dogs? (Or hamsters?) Cats. Although, my cat is evil so hamsters.

Beer, wine or water? Water.

Coke or Pepsi? (If you answer Pepsi I hereby disown you. Ask my father.) Coke.

Favorite color? Purple.

Favorite word? You know, I don’t think I have a favorite word . . . unless @$%! counts?

Least favorite word? Veggies. As in shortening the word, not eating them.

Coffee or tea? Coffee, iced.

And last but not least…Favorite character trait in your significant other? (Mr. Alexander says my most endearing quality is my ability to talk. He also says it’s my most irritating quality). There are many, but my favorite is his sensitivity.

You can sign up for Kerri’s free prequel here:

https://BookHip.com/VSFGCV

And check out the BUSINESS OF LOVE, which I love, here:

MERGES AND ACQUISITIONS COMES OUT TODAY!

AUTHOR BIO:

Kerri has always told tall tales. When she was in the third grade, she hid her glasses in the linen closet and told her mother a ghost must have stolen them. As you might imagine, that story didn’t end well. Today, however, she tells more lighthearted tales, with happier endings. Fond of making people laugh, and forever a fan of folklore and mythology, she blends heart and humor with a dash of magic into her stories. Kerri lives in Michigan with her husband, son and cat they lovingly but aptly refer to as The Maleficence, Mel for short.

Twitter: @Superkeek

Facebook: Kerri Keberly Author

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrikeberly/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kerri-keberly

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18613739.Kerri_Keberly

Amazon: amazon.com/author/kerrikeberly

Introducing: Meika Usher!

I met Meika Usher at a Capital City Writers meeting (or perhaps conference—I can’t remember now) a few years back. She was just starting out then, and we met at a local coffee shop to write together, or chatted after meetings, went to book signings for local authors.

Then I gave Meika her very first deadline.

Asked her how long she thought it would take her to finish her first book, have it edited, formatted and released on Amazon. She gave me a date. I said I was holding her to it.

From time to time I would heckle her when I saw her on social media instead of writing. I’d check in periodically on her progress. Mostly, though, Meika buckled down, risked carpal tunnel, and finished that manuscript. Then she did all the other things an author must do to get a book out.

She met her deadline. And I got an acknowledgement in her book. <3

Now, her third book, READY TO RUN, has just released. Her fourth book is currently releasing on Radish as well, so if you hop over there and subscribe, you’ll be getting a sneak peek at the next book as well.

Meika is feisty and funny and snarky and has the most gorgeous green eyes. She’s a riot to hang with because you never know what’s going to come out of her mouth—and that’s reflected in her books.

So, for a little fun, I invited Meika to do a Lightning Round of questions, a la James Lipton.

Ready? Set? Go!

Blue jeans or party clothes? Dresses are my go-to, but don’t try to get me in heels. I’ll fall and die.

Sushi or steak? DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE!!! Um…sushi? No! Steak. Yes. Steak. I think.

Cats or dogs? (Or hamsters?) Pssh, dogs. Mine would kill me if I said anything else. Seriously. She’s scary.

Beer, wine or water? Beer, please.

Coke or Pepsi? (If you answer Pepsi I hereby disown you. Ask my father.) Coke! No disowning necessary! Technically, Cherry Coke Zero.

Favorite color? Burgundy. Almost everything I own is this color. Even my hair. It’s a little absurd.

Favorite word? Wanderlust. (PS Alyssa here, adding that Meika is also a solo international traveler, like moi!)

Least favorite word? Hmm. I don’t know if I have one. I know there’s a whole anti-moist movement, but that word has never bothered me. I think I’m gonna have to go with…gaping? Especially when paired with “wound.” Ughhhhh.

Coffee or tea? Hot? Tea. Cold? Coffee.

And last but not least…. Chris Hemsworth or Chris Pine or Chris Evans? This is cruel. Like, super cruel. I don’t know how I’m supposed to choo—Evans. With the beard, please.

Now for a peek at READY TO RUN!

SHE SIDESTEPS FEELINGS LIKE A PRO

Comic book artist Sunny Oliver is prepared for anything. Rabid fans? No biggie. Zombie Apocalypse? Piece of cake. Her older brother’s best friend? Er…not so much. He’s obnoxious. He’s gross. He’s…hot? Back in high school, Ben Owens made her feel invisible. But now he sees her. And the way he’s looking at her has her ready to drop her walls…AND her pants. 

HE’S A MASTER AT DODGING COMMITMENT

ER nurse Ben Owens is a one girl kinda guy. One girl a NIGHT, that is. As a rule, he doesn’t get attached. Sunny Oliver has always been the exception to that rule. Years ago, he made a promise to keep his distance. Breaking it could cost him. But if it’s such a bad idea, why does it feel SO good?

BUT NEITHER CAN OUTRUN LOVE

With each pizza shared and every digital zombie vanquished, Sunny and Ben rekindle the friendship they shared years ago. Only, this time, something’s different. Will they give in to their newfound feelings, or will past promises–and past hurt–send them running in the opposite direction?

Want a little more Meika?

Meika Usher is a Michigan-based romance author, a puppy mama, and a pizza lover. When she’s not writing snarky, sexy love stories, she can be found binge-watching Supernatural (she’s a Dean girl), memorizing all the song lyrics ever (it’s her superpower), or planning her next solo trip (she’s thinking Estonia). She is on the board of Lansing’s Capital City Writers, and a member of Romance Writers of America, and Mid-Michigan RWA. READY TO RUN is her third novel.

Find Meika:
www.meikausher.com
www.facebook.com/authormeikausher
www.instagram.com/meikausher
www.twitter.com/meikausher
meikausher@gmail.com