I'm so excited for today's guest! She is one of my favorite authors! M.J. Schiller writes contemporary romance with a rock edge! And she's on Wednesday Words to highlight Rocked By Grace, the first book in her Love and Chaos Series. Here we go!
Good morning! Thanks, Kara, for having me here and allowing me to share a little bit about my newest release!
ROCKED BY GRACE is a rock romance and the first in my LOVE AND CHAOS SERIES (the band’s name is Just Short Of Chaos.) Let me start off by giving you a blurb:
When videos hit the Internet of rock star Zane Sanders and a random fan performing what he says is a spontaneous dance, no one believes it’s unrehearsed in this sizzling romance from bestselling author M.J. Schiller.
ROCKED BY GRACE is a rock romance and the first in my LOVE AND CHAOS SERIES (the band’s name is Just Short Of Chaos.) Let me start off by giving you a blurb:
When videos hit the Internet of rock star Zane Sanders and a random fan performing what he says is a spontaneous dance, no one believes it’s unrehearsed in this sizzling romance from bestselling author M.J. Schiller.
Zane Sanders, lead singer of Just Short of Chaos, surprised everyone, including himself, when he plucked a fan out of the audience at one of his concerts.
I don’t know what possessed me to do it. I’d never done anything like that before. But something about Grace drew me to her. And within minutes of pulling her on stage, I knew I’d made one of the best decisions of my life. Since our drummer Devin’s overdose, I’d felt dead inside. Perhaps for even longer than that. But Grace was fun, sexy—and as I would discover later—good and selfless. And an irresistible magic surrounded us that made me feel alive again.
That is, until I blew it. In classic Zane style. Funny thing is, when I first got Grace up on stage, I had no idea what to do with her. Now I have no idea what I’ll do without her.
Grace Prescott was living out every girl’s fantasy.
Only thing is, fantasies ended, and I realized pretty quickly that I didn’t want this one to stop. Zane had a magnetism about him that was more than mere charisma. That was evident the moment I—the girl who normally had to be dragged out onto the dance floor—practically became a pole dancer in his arms. Then it happened. The moment everyone kept referring to as “The Kiss.” But it was all part of the show, right? It didn’t matter that Zane made more than my feet move. He stirred up feelings that scared the crap out of me. The depth of his sadness called out to me even more than his unbelievable sex appeal, and that was saying something.
But it could never work between us. He may have come from a small town like me, but he was all rock star now and totally out of my league. I was a flower shop owner, not his saving Grace.
Are some actions beyond forgiveness or will he be rocked by Grace?
I don’t know what possessed me to do it. I’d never done anything like that before. But something about Grace drew me to her. And within minutes of pulling her on stage, I knew I’d made one of the best decisions of my life. Since our drummer Devin’s overdose, I’d felt dead inside. Perhaps for even longer than that. But Grace was fun, sexy—and as I would discover later—good and selfless. And an irresistible magic surrounded us that made me feel alive again.
That is, until I blew it. In classic Zane style. Funny thing is, when I first got Grace up on stage, I had no idea what to do with her. Now I have no idea what I’ll do without her.
Grace Prescott was living out every girl’s fantasy.
Only thing is, fantasies ended, and I realized pretty quickly that I didn’t want this one to stop. Zane had a magnetism about him that was more than mere charisma. That was evident the moment I—the girl who normally had to be dragged out onto the dance floor—practically became a pole dancer in his arms. Then it happened. The moment everyone kept referring to as “The Kiss.” But it was all part of the show, right? It didn’t matter that Zane made more than my feet move. He stirred up feelings that scared the crap out of me. The depth of his sadness called out to me even more than his unbelievable sex appeal, and that was saying something.
But it could never work between us. He may have come from a small town like me, but he was all rock star now and totally out of my league. I was a flower shop owner, not his saving Grace.
Are some actions beyond forgiveness or will he be rocked by Grace?
The story came to life on a car trip while I was listening to Panic! At The Disco and Train. The song with “Latin flare” that Zane and Grace dance to in the beginning is based on Panic!’s “Nicotine.” I love that song and it makes me want to dance, so it’s not too surprising that this story developed while listening to it. I may have had a fantasy about a lead singer pulling me out of the audience like Zane did to Grace. Yeah. Definitely a possibility.
Zane is an introverted rock star, but most people would think he is an extrovert. As the front man for Just Short Of Chaos, he had to create a persona for himself who could entertain an audience, whether at a concert, or in a radio station interview. But that doesn’t change who he really is, a somewhat quirky, sweet, sensitive guy who suffers with social anxiety. Creative people are often introverted, which can make being an entertainer challenging. To get inside Zane’s head, so to speak, I studied the personalities outlined in the Myer Briggs test and even created a Pinterest board for Zane and Grace’s personality type, INFP. (Here’s the link if you’re interested: https://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/infp/.)
[As a fun side note, my son Ryan designed Just Short Of Chaos’ logo!]
One of the things I really love about this book is the way the band members interact with each other, like in this scene after Zane and Grace dance…
Zane is an introverted rock star, but most people would think he is an extrovert. As the front man for Just Short Of Chaos, he had to create a persona for himself who could entertain an audience, whether at a concert, or in a radio station interview. But that doesn’t change who he really is, a somewhat quirky, sweet, sensitive guy who suffers with social anxiety. Creative people are often introverted, which can make being an entertainer challenging. To get inside Zane’s head, so to speak, I studied the personalities outlined in the Myer Briggs test and even created a Pinterest board for Zane and Grace’s personality type, INFP. (Here’s the link if you’re interested: https://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/infp/.)
[As a fun side note, my son Ryan designed Just Short Of Chaos’ logo!]
One of the things I really love about this book is the way the band members interact with each other, like in this scene after Zane and Grace dance…
“Yeah, man,” Rafe seconded. “When the hell did you find time to put all that together without us knowing?”
I was pinching my lips together, sorting through what happened and was only aware of their conversation in a vague sort of way. But when everybody waited for my answer, the quiet jarred me. “Huh? All what?”
Rafe crossed his arms. “Come on. You know what I’m talking about. The dancing.”
“Yeah,” Jericho mimicked Rafe’s pose. “Who’s the girl? And, more importantly, is she available?”
Dex grinned. “Yeah. No shit.”
They were all staring at me, waiting for an answer. “I have no idea who she is.”
That’s the problem.
They glanced at each other. Dex chuckled. “Come on, man. Are you trying to tell us that wasn’t choreographed and practiced?”
Rafe rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Right.”
I looked from one to the other. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you.”
Again, they peered at each other. Jericho shrugged. Rafe took over the questioning, swatting my arms. “He wants to keep her for himself.”
“I can’t blame him,” Dex commented.
I took a step forward. “I swear, man. I never saw that girl before tonight.”
Jericho studied me then lifted his shoulders with a laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, I don’t know.”
Rafe wasn’t about to let it go. “Oh, come on.”
“I’m not shitting you.”
Rafe stared at Dex, his mouth hanging open. Jericho sat his ass on a crate, still shaking his head, then scratching his chin as he studied me.
Dex shifted his weight. “So…” His gaze swung to Rafe.
“I don’t know, man.” Rafe threw up his hands and grabbed a towel to mop his neck.
Dex was working his jaw. All three of them wore amused smiles. “So, what? Did she call you over or something?” He looked back at the guys, but they were watching me.
“No. It all just sort of…happened.”
Dex tugged on his earlobe and nodded. “Uh-huh.”
I scanned the group again, trying to explain something I myself didn’t understand. “I just…I don’t know. I saw her in the audience and…” I stared off.
Jericho jumped to his feet. “And what?”
They all drew in closer. “I don’t know.” I rubbed my chin. “I guess I asked her to join me on stage.”
“Mmm.” Dex raised his brows.
“To dance?” Jericho continued.
I raised my arms to the side, palms out. “No. To tell you the truth, I don’t know why I asked her.” I observed them, then tried again. “And I didn’t have a fucking clue what to do with her when I got her up there.”
Dex looked at Rafe out of the corner of his eye. “Could have fooled me.” This was the most the drummer had ever talked since joining the group.
“It sure the hell seemed like you knew what to do with her. We practically had to hose you guys down.”
Jericho interrupted. “So, let’s review.” He held up a finger and stared at me. “You don’t know her.”
“No.”
“Never saw the girl before.”
“That’s right.”
He huffed. “Oh, come on. That kiss says differently.”
“Yeah. That was hot,” Dex added.
“You have no idea.” I zoned out for a moment, recalling the feel of her lips on mine. I rubbed my mouth.
Rafe chuckled. “Well that silenced him.”
So join the boys of Just Short of Chaos for a lot of fun, heat, and love. Get ROCKED BY GRACE from one of the retailers below. Thanks for the opportunity to share Zane and Grace’s story, Kara!
Buy Rocked By Grace:
I was pinching my lips together, sorting through what happened and was only aware of their conversation in a vague sort of way. But when everybody waited for my answer, the quiet jarred me. “Huh? All what?”
Rafe crossed his arms. “Come on. You know what I’m talking about. The dancing.”
“Yeah,” Jericho mimicked Rafe’s pose. “Who’s the girl? And, more importantly, is she available?”
Dex grinned. “Yeah. No shit.”
They were all staring at me, waiting for an answer. “I have no idea who she is.”
That’s the problem.
They glanced at each other. Dex chuckled. “Come on, man. Are you trying to tell us that wasn’t choreographed and practiced?”
Rafe rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Right.”
I looked from one to the other. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you.”
Again, they peered at each other. Jericho shrugged. Rafe took over the questioning, swatting my arms. “He wants to keep her for himself.”
“I can’t blame him,” Dex commented.
I took a step forward. “I swear, man. I never saw that girl before tonight.”
Jericho studied me then lifted his shoulders with a laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, I don’t know.”
Rafe wasn’t about to let it go. “Oh, come on.”
“I’m not shitting you.”
Rafe stared at Dex, his mouth hanging open. Jericho sat his ass on a crate, still shaking his head, then scratching his chin as he studied me.
Dex shifted his weight. “So…” His gaze swung to Rafe.
“I don’t know, man.” Rafe threw up his hands and grabbed a towel to mop his neck.
Dex was working his jaw. All three of them wore amused smiles. “So, what? Did she call you over or something?” He looked back at the guys, but they were watching me.
“No. It all just sort of…happened.”
Dex tugged on his earlobe and nodded. “Uh-huh.”
I scanned the group again, trying to explain something I myself didn’t understand. “I just…I don’t know. I saw her in the audience and…” I stared off.
Jericho jumped to his feet. “And what?”
They all drew in closer. “I don’t know.” I rubbed my chin. “I guess I asked her to join me on stage.”
“Mmm.” Dex raised his brows.
“To dance?” Jericho continued.
I raised my arms to the side, palms out. “No. To tell you the truth, I don’t know why I asked her.” I observed them, then tried again. “And I didn’t have a fucking clue what to do with her when I got her up there.”
Dex looked at Rafe out of the corner of his eye. “Could have fooled me.” This was the most the drummer had ever talked since joining the group.
“It sure the hell seemed like you knew what to do with her. We practically had to hose you guys down.”
Jericho interrupted. “So, let’s review.” He held up a finger and stared at me. “You don’t know her.”
“No.”
“Never saw the girl before.”
“That’s right.”
He huffed. “Oh, come on. That kiss says differently.”
“Yeah. That was hot,” Dex added.
“You have no idea.” I zoned out for a moment, recalling the feel of her lips on mine. I rubbed my mouth.
Rafe chuckled. “Well that silenced him.”
So join the boys of Just Short of Chaos for a lot of fun, heat, and love. Get ROCKED BY GRACE from one of the retailers below. Thanks for the opportunity to share Zane and Grace’s story, Kara!
Buy Rocked By Grace:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
iTunes
A Giveaway!
To win an e-copy of any book from my ROCKING ROMANCE COLLECTION, answer one of the following questions and we’ll pick two winners!
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
Do you know your Myer Briggs Personality type? Would you consider yourself an introvert (social interaction drains you) or an extrovert (interacting with people gives you energy)?
Thanks for joining us!
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
iTunes
A Giveaway!
To win an e-copy of any book from my ROCKING ROMANCE COLLECTION, answer one of the following questions and we’ll pick two winners!
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
Do you know your Myer Briggs Personality type? Would you consider yourself an introvert (social interaction drains you) or an extrovert (interacting with people gives you energy)?
Thanks for joining us!
Bio: M.J. Schiller
M.J. Schiller is a lunch lady/romance-romantic suspense writer. She enjoys writing novels whose characters include rock stars, desert princes, teachers, futuristic Knights, construction workers, cops, and a wide variety of others. In her mind everybody has a romance. She is the mother of a twenty-two-year-old and three twenty-year-olds. That's right, triplets! So having recently taught four children to drive, she likes to escape from life on occasion by pretending to be a rock star at karaoke. However…you won’t be seeing her name on any record labels soon.
Website: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/m-j-schiller
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Schiller-Romance-Author/286382241460365?ref=hl
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjschiller
Tumblr: http://mjschilz.tumblr.com/
M.J. Schiller is a lunch lady/romance-romantic suspense writer. She enjoys writing novels whose characters include rock stars, desert princes, teachers, futuristic Knights, construction workers, cops, and a wide variety of others. In her mind everybody has a romance. She is the mother of a twenty-two-year-old and three twenty-year-olds. That's right, triplets! So having recently taught four children to drive, she likes to escape from life on occasion by pretending to be a rock star at karaoke. However…you won’t be seeing her name on any record labels soon.
Website: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/m-j-schiller
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Schiller-Romance-Author/286382241460365?ref=hl
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjschiller
Tumblr: http://mjschilz.tumblr.com/
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