~ M. LEIGHTON ~
Welcome to Under the Covers!ย First, we would like to congratulate you on the success of your books and your new deal with Berkley.
Thank you so much for having me!ย Iโm honored to be here:)
We always like to get to know authors better.ย Tell us five things about you that may surprise us.
- ย I love chocolate, but hate white chocolate. Itโs almost too sweet.ย Wait, did I actually just say that??
- Iโm a huge nature and animal lover, but I am terrified of bugs. Anything that can crawl discreetly up my pants leg, down my shirt or into my hair FREAKS ME OUT! LOLย And yes, I got all shouty in real life, too.ย Hehe ย Seriously, I canโt stand bugs!ย *shudders*
- Giving Cash a fondness for Jack Daniels is part of my aversion therapy. LOLย Iโm not a huge whiskey fan, but Iโm trying to learn to โappreciateโ it.ย What better way than to always think of Cash while drinking it.ย O_Oย Right? Right!!
- I keep rootbeer barrel hard candy in my desk drawer, but I hate rootbeer.ย Is that weird?ย Why are all these strange foody things coming to mind?ย Am I hungry again?ย *does gut check*ย Yep.
- Despite the fact that I ugly cry for a day and a halfย afterward, I still love the movie Untamed Heart. Itโs an older movie with Christian Slater in it.ย If youโveย never seen it, get a box of tissues and get to it!ย LOL
How did you get started writing?
As clichรฉ as it sounds, Twilight started me writing.ย In June of 2009, I read all four books back to back over three days.ย When I finished the fourth book, I was devastated. It felt as though all my friends had moved away.ย Thatโs when I decided to write my own book, one where I had total control and could keep the characters around as long as I want.ย 14 grueling days later, I finished my first novel, a 105-thousand word adult paranormal book.
What has been your experience from first putting out a book to now?
It has been amazing!ย There were hard times.ย There still are. Itโs never easy to put something you love out there for the world to criticize. That never gets any easier.ย And watching a book fall out of popularity is hard at first, especially when it first begins to slide.ย But I always try to focus on my next project, which helps keep me sane.ย Other than a few things like that, it has been one of the most wonderful journeys of my life.ย And this is only the beginning!ย I hope, anyway:)
We are starting to see more and more authors who started out self publishing and now have sold those books and series to publishers.ย Do you see self publishing as a stepping stone toย getting your book in the right handsย in todays’ world?
I think it facilitates things quite a bit, yes.ย The querying process can be difficult and discouraging for an author, and Iโm sure itโs no picnic for agents either.ย I think this way, readers sort of point a big, giant, blinking finger at what they like, at whatโs good, then the agents and publishers can swoop in and snatch them up.ย Put them on the road to being in bookstores.ย In my opinion, I think itโs win-win.
What inspired you to write THE WILD ONES?
Believe it or not, it was two lines from the song Wild Ones by Flo Rida.ย LOLย โI am a wild one, break me in.ย Saddle me up and letโs begin.โย From that short lyric, Trick and Cami were born.ย Maybe I should send Flo Rida a fruit basket.ย LOL
You also have DOWN TO YOU being re-released later this year.ย Can you tell us a bit about that series?
Down to You is book one in the Bad Boys series. Itโs a bit darker than The Wild Ones.ย Itโs about a girl who has a weakness for the bad boys and sheโs trying to move away from them, emotionally.ย When she meets Cash and Nash, identical twins, she realizes that Nash is exactly what sheโs looking for, but Cash is exactly what she wants.ย The rest isโฆwell, youโll just have to read it to find out.ย *winks*
If you were writing a yearbook including Trick and Cami, what would each of them be Most Likely To…
Trick would be most likely to succeed.ย At anything.ย Heโs as intelligent as he is driven and he has lots of reasons to want to succeed in life.ย Plus, he has the heart to do it, too.ย And that, in my opinion, is what makes a winner.
Cami would be the most likely to please.ย LOLย She grew up pleasing Daddy and itโs a hard habit to break. Until the right guy comes along, that is.
And some quick fire questions:
What was the last movie you watched?ย Sinister.ย And yes, itโs terrifying. LOL
What do you like to do when youโre not writing?ย Eat and watch movies. LOL
What is the last book you read?ย Iโm currently reading Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. Itโs my first of his and Iโm really enjoying it!
Morning person or Night Owl?ย ย ย Both. I have terrible insomnia!ย Ack!ย ๐
Thank you so much for taking the time to spend with our readers and sharing about you and your books.
Thank you again for having me and a huge thank you to everyone who has read my work. Iโm forever grateful!!
Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame.
The darling daughter of a champion Thoroughbred breeder, Camille “Camiโ Hines has a pedigree that rivals some of her fatherโs best horses. Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was happy with her boyfriend, her life and her futureโuntil she met Patrick Henley.ย ย “Trickโ blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of herโand he just happens to be so sexy she canโt keep her hands off him. While they both know that Trick would lose his much needed job on the ranch if anyone finds out, they canโt resist the lure of their scorchingly hot encounters.ย ย But when Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome. It turns out thereโs more to Trickโs presence at the ranch than either of them knew, and secrets with the power to tear them apartย .
Purchase Links: Amazon
About the Author
I was born and raised in the United States, and Iโve lived in several of the fabulous fifty.ย Though I currently live in the deep South, I spent much of my childhood up North and hope to return there one day.ย A few other things about me:ย I believe that sometimes you have to look really, REALLY hard to find the good in people, but it’s there.ย I believe that I’m shrinking (I swear five years ago I was two inches taller).ย I believe my husband is quite possibly one of the most amazing men in the entire world (I can’t be sure because I haven’t met all of them).ย I believe coffee and chocolate, when combined, could be the basis for world peace.ย I believe that Jesus rocks and communism doesnโt.ย I believe that white makes me look fat and black collects lint.ย I believe summer’s too hot, winter’s too cold and fall was made for football.ย I like dogs better than cats and the first movie in a trilogy is invariably the best.ย ย But most of all, I believe that love conquers all.
Berkley is graciously giving away a print copy of THE WILD ONES (US only)
I haven’t read her books. Sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing!!!
I love M. Leighton’s books. Never had I thought to read one until my BF told me that I had to read one of her books, and I loved it
Great interview. Adding to my TBR. Thanks.
I hate while chocolate too. Its rather bitter to me. I also hate crawly things. It’s not a fear, I just can’t the thoughts of something crawling on me. *shivers*
I love what M. Leighton said about feeling like her friends had all moved away upon finishing the Twilight series. That’s exactly the way I feel each and every time I finish a series.
Great interview, I love M. Leighton’s books and her writing style. Thanks for sharing ๐
Can’t wait for this series
Have this book on my wish list!
I love the cover of this book. This book will have to go on my TBR list.
Loved the interview. It’s on my TRL. Thanks for the chance.
Carol L
Hot cover, must check out this story..will be my first by this author.
Loved the interview! It is wonderful when authors share little bits of themselves with us. The Wild Ones sounds great and is definitely on my TBR list.
I have all her books on my VERY long Goodreads TBR, but this one sounds pretty good, I might have to move it to the top! Thanks!
A new author for me and awesome interview. I don’t care for white chocolate either but any milk chocolate or boxed chocolates and I’m one happy person.
The book sounds great. Thanks!
Great interview. This book sounds great, going on my TBR!
I’ve been hearing great things about you!….definitely on my tbr list
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I have read a few of M. Leighton books but not this one so it would be so awesome to win this book so thank you for the chance and a Great Interview and congrats on all that is coming up in your world M…..
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I agree…. love does conquers all!
Thanks for the chance to win.
suegaluska (at) yahoo (dot) com
LOVE M. Leighton! Thanks for the interview and giveaway!!!
I love all chocolate. I HATE BUGS! I love Jack Daniels. I loved the Twilight series. Great post and the book looks great.
Loved the interview. Love you books too. Haven’t read The Wild Ones yet. Love how you came up with the title. Thanks for the giveaway.
I cant wait to read this one! I absolutely loved ‘Down to you’!
thanks for the great interview! This is a new to me author and I’m definitely going to have to check out her books! Congrats to the author on the new release!
Great interview! Being from the South myself, I will be reading:)
I loved Down to You and can’t wait to read this one!
Sounds like a great book and would love to read it. Thanks for the giveaway.
kandj7299 at verizon dot net
Fun inspiration for the books
I pretty much love chocolate regardless of the variety…..lol…..I have watched Untamed Heart and I remember that it made me cry and want to throw something at the tv….lol…good post!
haven’t read any by this author yet, liked the interview!
Have not read anything by M. Leighton but that will be corrected very soon ๐ Thank you for the giveaway!
Well, this is a new autho for me. I am going to have to try this book. Sounds very good.
I too do not usually like white chocolate much. Have you tried the Amalfi Bar from Vosges? It has pink peppercorns and lemon zest in white chocolate and is kinda fun.
I have been interested in this authors’ books for a long time. I would love the opportunity to win one of these books. sdylion(at)gmail(dot)com
I love books by M. Leighton and this sounds like another great read!!
Thanks for the giveaway! I love the author’s bio, especially what she said about her husband… awwww!!!
mestith at gmail dot com
Oh my goodness! I loooove Untamed Heart! And I’m not a girl who likes sad movies. But it was so swoony and romantic ๐
The fact that you wrote a book in 14 days blows my brain right out of my head. Respect!
it’s always fun to read about what inspired an author and triggered certain aspects of their books.
Sounds like a great book and would love to read it. Thanks for the giveaway.
I have yet to read any of her books but I’ve heard amazing things!
That is one hot cover!
I love the Bad Boys series and can’t wait to read this one! Great interview.
The books looks awesome. Great interview. I actually like white chocolate because it’s so sweet! Thanks for the giveaway.
Another one that’s already on my wishlist–loved book 1!