Featured Interview With Yolonda Sweitzer
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a writer living in the Midwest, specifically Ohio, and when I’m not writing I work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I was born and raised in Ohio and spent two years living in Chicago post college before returning to my rural roots. Caring for animals is one of my passions! I have many pets. Right now that pet list includes 1 dog, 2 cats, 3 rabbits, and 2 squirrels.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always loved writing and books, more so as I’ve grown older. I wrote my first short stories and poems at a very young age, having my first poem published at 11. However, growing up my parents had to force me top read because I liked spending all of my free time outside. I began reading more in college, which is when I began writing with a serious interest in being published rather than just writing for fun. My first novel, a historical romance, was published when I was 26.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love all book genres and I’ll read almost anything. Some of my favorites are Jane Austen, Nicholas Sparks, Brad Meltzer, Richard Matheson, Stephen King. (Like I said, I love a bit of everything!) In my writing I focus on romance, science fiction and fantasy. Many people and things inspire my writing: family, friends, music, movies, travel to name a few. I find inspiration all around me, and often in the most unexpected places.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My most recently published book is a contemporary romance for adults. It took me about two months to write. Here is the blurb of the book.
When small-town police officer, Johnathan Reed, comes crashing from the sky into her remote country home wrecking part of her property and jeopardizing her livelihood, Aribella Corday can’t believe her terrible luck. The last thing she needs is a cop hanging around, snooping into her business and potentially discovering the secret of her illicit side-job operation—even if he does have a body built for sin and a smile to die for.
All Johnathan Reed wanted was a brief, adrenaline-fueled escape from the memories of his failed relationship and the traumas that haunt him from the past. What he gets is a day of off-duty Good Samaritan work cleaning up the mess he created for the pretty, fiery-spirited owner of the property he crash-landed into who refuses to let him off the hook without getting what she wants.
When a blizzard hits, trapping them together, it’s only a matter of time before Johnathan discovers the guilty secret that Aribella’s been keeping, finding himself pulled deeper into her life than he ever could have expected. The question is, can they keep their cool amid the heat of their connection? Or will they lose their cool and find an alternate way to keep warm during the storm, allowing themselves to embrace the fall they never saw coming?
Since Embracing the Fall’s publication I’ve been writing for young adults and am currently working on a science fiction series.
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