Bitten by Books
BBB: Describe yourself with five adjectives.
TB: Nerdy, quiet, adventurous, awkward, creative
BBB: What real-life science, pseudo-science, history, religion, or mythologies did you research for your book?
TB: For Wilde at Heart, I didn’t need to do as much research as I usually do. Little things here and there, but nothing that really stands out in my memory. But with my other series, HORNET, I go all-out on the research. I’ve been known to spend months researching the setting for those books.
BBB: Would your main character win on the show Survivor by strength, cheating or not at all?
TB: Reece would win by his wits. Shelby, too, for that matter. They’re both survivors, they’d just go about it in entirely different ways.
BBB: Have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on backwards, or your slippers on, and when realizing it, just said screw it?
TB: Ha! So. Many. Times. I once went to a job interview in my slippers. Luckily I had a pair of heels in my trunk or it would have been awkward.
BBB: Please tell us more about Wilde at Heart and the storyline that drives it. (Don’t use the book synopsis, please write this in your own words.)
TB: Wilde at Heart is a story about family. The good, bad, and ugly. It’s about how hiding your true self from the world only leads to heartache. And, of course, it’s an opposites attract story. Sometimes the one you want isn’t the one you need.
BBB: How many more books will there be in the Wilde Security series?
TB: Two more. Next up is Vaughn’s book, followed by the oldest Wilde brother, Greer.
BBB: What sets the Wilde Security series apart from other books in the same genre?
TB: Most other security companies in Romancelandia are well-funded, well-oiled machines. Not so much with Wilde Security. It’s a family start-up struggling to make ends meet.
BBB: What types of characters can readers expect in your world?
TB: Real characters-they don’t always react in the best manner to their situations, and sometimes they say hurtful things to each other as they navigate the choppy waters of relationship. A character you enjoyed in one book, you might not like so much in another. But they all have a strong sense of family, love, and honor, and they always have each others’ backs.
BBB: What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his creator.
TB: I think Reece would be annoyed with me for airing all of his dirty laundry (and telling everyone his one big secret!) Shelby, on the other hand, would think it was awesome I was writing about her-as long as I kept to the fun stuff and didn’t dig too deep.
BBB: What are the 5 books your hero or heroine loves best!
TB: Reece is a sci-fi nerd, so I think his top 5 would be 1.) Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, 2.) Redshirts by John Scalzi, 3.) The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, 4.) The Forever War by Joe Haldenman and 5.) he’s most definitely reading The Martian by Andy Weir right now, getting ready to go see the movie. Shelby’s taste in books is more eclectic. She’d probably read and love all of Reece’s favorites, but she’s also a big fan of the classics. Her favorite is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
BBB: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve Googled?
TB: I… honestly don’t even remember. How to cook up ANFO? The rate of body decomp? How to get married by Elvis in Vegas? Googling weird crap is a daily thing for me. I’m definitely on some kind of NSA watchlist, though.
BBB: What’s coming up for you for the rest of 2015 and 2016?
TB: So much! Later this year (or possibly early next year-don’t have an exact date yet), the fourth Wilde Security book, Running Wilde, will release. Next year, I have all kinds of releases. I’ll finish the Wilde Security series and release a couple more HORNET books. I’m also starting two new series…but I can’t officially say anything about them yet. I’m super excited about both of them, though!
Buy a print copy of Wilde at Heart from Amazon by clicking here.
Buy a Kindle copy of Wilde at Heart from Amazon by clicking here. – ONLY $2.99!
Books in the Wilde Security series in the order they should be read:
Wilde Nights in Paradise
Wilde for Her
Wilde at Heart
About Tonya Burrows
Author Bio:
Tonya Burrows wrote her first romance in 8th grade and hasn’t put down her pen since. Originally from a small town in Western New York, she suffers from a bad case of wanderlust and usually ends up moving someplace new every few years. Luckily, her two dogs and ginormous cat are excellent travel buddies.
When she’s not writing about hunky military heroes, Tonya can be found at a bookstore or the dog park. She also enjoys painting, watching movies, and her daily barre workouts. A geek at heart, she pledges her TV fandom to Supernatural and Dr. Who.
11 Quick Things About Tonya
Favorite Food? Pasta
Favorite Color? Purple & teal
Favorite Movie or TV Show of all Time? Changes constantly. Right now, Strike Back.
Favorite Drink? Diet Dr Pepper
Favorite Current Book? Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
Favorite Season? Fall
Favorite Online Hangout? (think FB, Twitter, Goodreads) FB
Favorite Animal? Dog (domesticated), elephant (wild)
Favorite Band or Musician? Shinedown
Mode of Travel? (Trains, Planes or Automobiles) ALL!
Favorite Vacation Destination? Anywhere. When are we leaving? *packs bags*
Connect with Tonya
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Who are some of your favourite authors?
Oh, so many. But some of my atuo-buy authors include J.R. Ward, Nora Roberts, Suzanne Brockmann, and John Sandford.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
This book was actually one of the hardest I’ve written, and I’m not entirely sure why. I struggled with it and it took me 13 months to finish. I didn’t have a good grip on the plot, didn’t know the characters, didn’t really even like the hero much when I first started the book (he was always a jerk in the other books of the series), so I had a lot to work through before I was able to write Reece and Shelby’s story. I’m glad, though, because I really appreciate the characters so much more now.
What was your favorite part about writing the book and is there a character you had the most fun with?
The chemistry between Reece & Shelby! They were so opposite, but in bed…whew! I had fun with Shelby in this book. She’s so colorful and out there and secretly wounded, she was a blast to write. Normally, it’s the hero I enjoy writing most, but not this time.
When building a character where do you start? Is it a personality trait or a physical defect/look?
It really depends on the character, but usually it’s a personality archetype like “lost soul” or “bad boy”, then I layer on more unique personality traits as I write. A lot of the time, the characters take on their own personalities and surprise even me! Reece in this book did that to me. He has a secret that even I didn’t see coming when I started writing his book.
Hi Tonya and Congratulations! What kind of painting do you do?
I dabble in acrylics. I’m not very good honestly, but I think it’s fun and relaxing, so I do it anyway! Do you paint?
I used to paint with acrylics years ago. The most I’ve done in recent years is painting on old roof slates. I have some old multi-pane windows that I intend to paint on. And I recently decided to try watercolors but stuff keeps getting in the way. You know the stuff…laundry, housecleaning, cooking…
Oh, yeah. I know how that goes. All that stuff likes to get in the way of writing too.
keeps saying live but nothing here everytime i look
I hope it’s working for you now!
did start working…lol
wow you wrote your 1st book in 8th grade!! did it seem to come naturally?
Yes. Writing has always come naturally to me. It’s just…a part of me. I don’t know how else to describe it.
Congratulations on the release of Wilde at Heart! What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of being a writer? What is the most difficult part of being a writer?
Thank you!
The most rewarding thing about being a writer is when a reader contacts me to tell me how much they appreciated one of my books. It puts a smile on my face all day. Even better, if one of my books helps a reader through a difficult time. What other career out there lets you help a cancer patient through chemo by giving them a little bit of an escape? I’m honored and humbled when readers tell me my stories have helped them in some way.
Most difficult part? Time management. Working at home, it’s so so easy to get distracted by Netflix or housework or whatever else. It’s easy to fall into the habit of procrastination.
Hello! What writers have influenced you?
My first published book, SEAL of Honor, was influence by Suzanne Brockmann. I was listening to her Troubleshooters series during my commutes to and from school and got this crazy idea that I wanted to write a SEAL story. That was how my HORNET series started. I also used J.R. Ward’s Back Dagger Brotherhood as a kind of template when I was planning out the team in that series. I also really admire Nora Roberts’ ability to create characters who just drag you into their lives and don’t let you go until the book is done.
Hi, Tonya!
Welcome to Bitten by Books. Congratulations on your new release.
It is fantastic to have you with us today.
My question for you is; do you have a favorite book or series that you have written so far????
If so, which is it and why???
LOL that’s kind of like asking me to pick a favorite child! I like all my series equally, but I think the best book I’ve written so far is Honor Reclaimed. I’ll admit, I have a real big soft spot for Seth Harlan, the hero of that book.
Hi Tonya!
Welcome to Bitten by Books. It is fantastic to have you here today.
My question for you is; what is you favorite guilty pleasure as far as music and food goes?
Ice cream is totally my food guilty pleasure. I know it’s bad for me and I just don’t care. In fact, I have a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in my freezer right now. Hmm….
As far as music, my guilty pleasure is Nickelback. I know a lot of people out there seem to hate them with a passion, but I don’t care that all their songs sound the same. They make me happy.
Music is so subjective. If it makes you happy then who cares! I love all kinds of music. Some I started out hating then grew to love it as I listened to the lyrics. I fell in love with the Andrews Sisters 25 years ago right before they became popular again. Since I was in my 20′s my friends thought I was a freak. LOL
And yesssss Ice cream! Weight Watchers has some fantastic raspberry chocolate bars and another one that tastes like a frozen snickers ice cream bar. *drool*. I can’t eat a lot of ice cream/sugar. But man I loved me some B&J back in the day!
To answer your questions on the Giveaway Tools Widget.
1. If you had a Vegas-style shotgun wedding, what theme would you choose?
ELVIS baby! hahaha that would be a hoot.
What about you Tonya, what them would you have?
Oh, totally Elvis! That’s why I wrote the shotgun Elvis wedding into Wilde at Heart!
OMG that is so funny, admittedly I haven’t had a chance to read your fantastic new book or the series. Glad we are on the same wavelength. I imagine this being a question on Family Feud! Name the top five wedding themes for Vegas. Elvis would be #1! lol
2. What is your favorite kind of hero (i.e. the nerd, the bad boy, the billionaire) and why?
I like a combo of all of them. Smart, rich naughty and a bit geeky so they aren’t too serious!
What about you Tonya? What’s your favorite kind of hero?
I’m with you. I like heroes that can’t be categorized. Reece in Wilde at Heart is a nerd, but he’s also a total alpha male, which I find so attractive!
Smart and in CHARGE! Rar! lol
3. Shelby drags you to a tattoo shop! What tattoo do you get?
That’s hard. I have been trying to hold off on getting new ink until I lose some more weight. But I really want a cool Egyptian theme on my left shoulder. Then I was inspired by another tattoo I saw to put a band of some sort extending out from my current Celtic triquetra tattoo. It would have to be something uber personal to me. I do want to include books in a few of my tattoos.
What about you Tonya, what kind of ink would you get?
I already have 7 tattoos. A quill pen and ink well on my ankle, a hot air balloon on my shoulder, a typewriter on my other shoulder, an open book across my lower back, the word imagine on my wrist and the word dreamer on my foot. On my calf I have a palm tree which was an ill-advised Key West tattoo. I plan to get it covered up with an apple tree in all four seasons.
Oh I love the hot air balloon! Is it kind of a steampunk style or just a cool HAB? sounds like you have some fantastic ink. What’s your next one going to be besides your cover up?
I’m not entirely sure, but I’d love to get some star-gazer lilies somewhere. They’re my favorite flower.
Those are gorgeous flowers. I like Cala Lillies one of the first real pieces of painted art I purchased was of them. I still have it.
And the hot air balloon it’s steam punk. It kind of looks stitched together, like a rag doll.
Oops. That’s supposed to say “isn’t steampunk” lol
Oh that is cool! Do you have a link to a picture of it you could share? I’d love to see it!
I don’t have a good picture of the balloon, but if you go here:
http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2015/07/romance-readers-literary-tattoos/
And scroll down, you can see my quill pen and typewriter.
Wow those are AMAZING! Thanks for sharing. Loved seeing all of the different ones.
what was the most terrifying prospect to writing for you to overcome?
Honestly, every time I sit down to start a new book, I experience a moment of sheer terror. What if I can’t do it again? What if I can’t write a book as good as or better than the last book? For me, it’s so scary starting a new book.
Something else I’m still working to overcome—I doubt my talent. I have 7 books published, I’m contracted for at least 10 more, I was nominated for a RITA this year (the romance industry’s version of the Oscars) and I still think everyone is just humoring me and I’m really not all that talented.
?! when in Vegas, do Elivs
?2 I live dif ones, nerds are fun tho as they are sexy
?3 I have a rose
Elvis
Totally Elvis. It seems almost blasphemous to do a Vegas wedding without him!
Since I’m an elvis movie junkie you can guess would be an elvis themed wedding!!
Yay Elvis! What is your favorite Elvis movie?
First Congratultions on your accomplishment! I have a Niece,who’s recently written 3 books.How are you feeling after you were finished with your book?
After I finished Wilde at Heart, I felt relieved. It was kind of a pain-in-the-you-know-what to write. Usually when I finish a book, it’s a mixture of pride, relief, and excitement.
Since I married a bad boy tattooed biker I’d go with the bad boy themed favorites!!!
Who doesn’t love a bad boy?
since I have 7 tattooes and hubby has 48…. its not a stretch… I’d get two horse fish entwined!
I have 7 too. And, wow, 48! He must be covered!
guess most call them seahorses
LOL I was wondering if that’s what you meant. I’ve never heard them called horse fish before.
Author questions
Even though it is a shotgun wedding, I would have a romantic Venetian gondola wedding.
My favorite type of hero is the sexy paranormal alpha.
I would choose a colorful butterfly tattoo.
Oh, the Venetian gondola would be so romantic!
I adore the sexy paranormal alpha.
I’ve thought about getting a couple butterflies somewhere.
Q) If you had a Vegas-style shotgun wedding, what theme would you choose? A) The Eiffel Tower wedding.
Q) What is your favorite kind of hero (i.e. the nerd, the bad boy, the billionaire) and why? A) A tall, dark, muscular hero because they are so attractive.
Q) Shelby drags you to a tattoo shop! What tattoo do you get? A) A tattoo of a Budgerigar.
Oh, interesting! What’s a Budgerigar? I’ve never heard of that before.
A favorite pet bird variety. They also go by budgie or parakeet.
Aw! I’ve always wanted a pet bird. That’s kinda why I wrote one into Wilde at Heart.
Birds are the best. I kept and raised Budgies for over 15 years - such sweet little rascals! People tend to think birds are not exciting to have as pets, but they are so intelligent and loving, they make great companions
You just have to make sure you buy the breed most compatible with you and your environment.
Who’s your favorite Simpsons character and why?
Um… I don’t watch The Simpsons. *runs and hides*
The Neon Boneyard wedding sounds kinda cool!
I like the shy, unassuming guy who ends up surprising everyone…it’d be fun to discover all his secrets!
Oh, boy. It’d be something really small and unassuming (think of the BOSOM BUDDIES episode where Kip got his “love dot”). More likely, I’d try to distract everybody and run out the door when they weren’t looking…just that scared of needles!
Oh, yeah, the Neon Boneyard would be so cool!
If you had a Vegas-style shotgun wedding, what theme would you choose?
Elvis! is there any other kind?!
What is your favorite kind of hero (i.e. the nerd, the bad boy, the billionaire) and why? I enjoy the average joe- a construction worker, farmer, cowboy- seems more realistic
Shelby drags you to a tattoo shop! What tattoo do you get? something tiny
I like the average Joe hero too. You don’t see him nearly enough!
Do you have a favorite stand-alone novel?
Yes! Envy by Sandra Brown.
do you have any dogs/cats/critters?
Yes, I have two dogs, Ella and Otto, and a fat cat named Nabisco. Ella’s a schnoodle and Otto is a multi-pug.
1. Elvis theme
2. navy seals
3. wolf
Yes…I have a soft spot for those SEALs too.
Who do you think should be the next Dr after Peter Capaldi?
I think Tom Hiddleston would make an excellent Doctor.
I’d have a Dr who wedding theme.
YES! I’ll admit, I’ve looked at Doctor Who engagement rings. Not that I’m getting engaged anytime soon. But if I ever do, my future hubby should at least be open to the idea.
What is your favorite restaurant?
Oh, that’s a hard one.
I guess… there’s a place in my hometown called Beef-N-Barrel. (Also affectionately called “The Beef” in my family.) I always have to go there whenever I visit. They make a butter brickle pie that is just amazing.
Are there any other genres you would have an interest in writing ?
Mystery. When I started writing novel-length stories in middle school, they were all very Sherlockian. I’ve often thought about writing mysteries under a pen name.
Within romance, I’d love to write some paranormals.
Can you tell us what the romance you wrote in 8th grade was about? Bonus points for including anything super embarrassing:)
Oh God.
It was…hideous.
I mean, really bad.
But if you must know… it was a weird sic-fi/mystery/romance mash-up. All I really remember about it is there was some kind of quest for a rose necklace, the heroine was an alien princess who didn’t know she was a princess, and the hero’s name was Roan. Oh, and there was a secret baby plot.
*hides in shame*
Um that’s supposed to say sci-fi. Stupid autocorrect!
Shotgun wedding theme-Orphan Black. We’d each dress as a clone. Any friends along must dress as other clones.
Type- Rich, good-looking nerd? No motorcycles or pet snakes.
Tattoo- I already have a few, but if I eventually get another one I want to get a wolf.
I’ve heard a lot about Orphan Black. I love British shows, but I haven’t checked it out yet. Any good?
It’s only my favorite show ever.
I so don’t need another show to get addicted to…but I might just have to check it out.
Do you like sports?
No, never really been much of a sports person.
maybe Elvis
alphas- don’t read about betas
no tattoo
Gotta love alpha males!
If you decided to change your name, what would you call yourself?
I’ve actually thought about this a lot because I’m not really a fan of my first name. It’s so… 80s. Which, yeah, that’s when I was born, but still. I think I’d go with my middle name, Marie. It’s simple, classic, used all the time for middle names, but not as often for first names, which makes it somewhat unique.
If you could only give ONE piece of advice to newbie authors and writers, what advice do you think is the most important one to give? One PRO to becoming an author? One CON to becoming an author?
Wow, this is a toughie. There are so many things I didn’t know about being a full time author until I was one, I could write a book on it. But I guess I’d say the best piece of advice I can give is treat it like a job, not a hobby. If you want to write, especially if you want to write full time someday, you need to treat it as you would any other business. Set a schedule for yourself and write every single day you’re scheduled to, even if you don’t feel like it. (Granted, this is still something I struggle with.) That’s the best piece of advice I can give.
A pro of being an author… my readers. Hearing from them is the best thing ever.
A con… lots of late nights, missed events and family time.
What things inspired to write books ?
I’m inspired by all kinds of things. It could be something as simple as a man I see walking down the street, or it could be something I hear on the news or read in a book. Inspiration is everywhere. You just have to be open to it.
If you had a Vegas-style shotgun wedding, what theme would you choose?
—- - Laughs – I have absolutely NO clue of themes
What is your favorite kind of hero (i.e. the nerd, the bad boy, the billionaire) and why?
— The tortured kind, the ones who are haunted by trauma either mental or physical. Although, I kinda want more slightly unbalance, crazed type. Stephanie Tyler did a great one with her character Jem. I enjoyed him.
Shelby drags you to a tattoo shop! What tattoo do you get?
—- A red (fire) dragon wrapped in vines to represent my Chinese and Celtic zodiac signs. It is something I have been debating about for couple years now.
I LOVE the tortured hero. He’s my favorite ever.
From any of your books, what has been one of your favorite scenes, or types of scenes, to write?
Christina G from USA.
What are your dogs names?
My dogs are Ella and Otto. I also have a cat named Nabisco.
My dogs are Ella and Otto. I also have a cat named Nabisco.
Oops. This was supposed to be a reply to Christina. Wonder why it didn’t post as a reply?
Is there another genre or a specific them you would like to write about in future books?
I’d like to write a mystery someday, maybe under a pen name. Within romance, I’d like to write some paranormals. Love me a good wolf shifter story!
Hi, I see you have a couple of dogs just wondering what breeds (or mixtures) they are and if you do any dog sports? We have an elderly 17yo jack russell foxy cross, a 4yo cocker spaniel (That I do agility with) and have just received a 20month German shepherd who’s had no training or socialization so is proving interesting.
Hi Emma! I have a 7 year old schnoodle and a 5 year old multi-pug. We don’t do any dog sports—they are pretty much lap dogs who keep me company while I write.
Before I got my schnoodle, I had a Jack Russell. She lived to be 17. Great dogs!
Yeah I got Ham from the Hamilton pound as a puppy (hence his name of hamilton lol). He’s now completely deaf which is a good thing as he freaked with fireworks.
1. I’d go with Elvis~Love Me Tender, right?
2. Nerdy geek because looks aren’t everything and intelligience matters.
3. I’d get a small open book with the pages kinda flying away as they get smaller.
Love that tattoo idea!
Thank you, Tonya! Doesn’t it sound neat? I can see it but it would be difficult to explain, I think. Please feel free to get one and then share a picture!
I already have an open book across my lower back!
Seriously! Great minds, right?
wheres your favorite place to write?
I bounce around. I don’t really have a favorite spot… where I end up writing for the day just depends on my mood.
who is your favorite author?
I have a bunch of favorites. J.R. Ward, Nora Roberts, John Sandford, Suzanne Brockmann… and so on.
What’s your favourite genre to read?
I read a bit of everything.
Do you have any current favorite shows or books?
My current favorite show is Strike Back. My favorite book changes with the wind.
1. If you had a Vegas-style shotgun wedding, what theme would you choose? romantic french wedding or harlequin theme
2. What is your favorite kind of hero (i.e. the nerd, the bad boy, the billionaire) and why? strong muscular tortured alpha or the super smart but awkward nerd because there both so complex and usually make for great characters and chemistry with the leading lady
3. Shelby drags you to a tattoo shop! What tattoo do you get? a stack of my favorite books all down my back
Nice! Love that tattoo idea!
Do you sometimes wish you could end the book differently?
If you had a Vegas-style shotgun wedding, what theme would you choose?
Wow I really don’t know…probably t will be something spontaneity..
What is your favorite kind of hero (i.e. the nerd, the bad boy, the billionaire) and why?
Bad boys wins always….A tall, dark, muscular, sarcastic ….
Shelby drags you to a tattoo shop! What tattoo do you get?
A Wave
if you could go anywhere in the world on a Vacation where would you go?
am looking for a good vacation spot for next year. Any suggestions.
Who would be your dream casting if the Wilde at Heart was being made into a movie?
1. Ok, that would never happen, but if it did I’m thinking Elvis would be involved.
2. All of them! I like reading a variety of characters. Probably the boy next door is my fav. Someone who I would find lovable in real life.
3. Nothing, I’m outta there! Tats are not for me.
What was the most recent book that you absolutely loved?
1) umm… anything but the Elvis theme
2) the man of mystery
3) Something meaningful in elvish runes or something nerdy
To answer you author questions:
1) I would have to choose an Elvis theme because I just love him.
2) I would have to choose a combination of all three. I like a hero who is not too full of himself and not too serious.
3) No tattoo for me.