Please tell us a bit about yourself: Well, let’s see. I’m 35, mom to 4 kids ages 1yr, 3.5yr old twins, and a 6yr old! Born and raised in Michigan. My love of reading and writing began with Shakespeare in middle school and high school. I’ve wanted to write smut, I’m sorry, romance, since I was a teenager. I figured after baby #4, who is quite possibly the spawn of Christian Grey, that there was no time like the present!!!
Tell us about Letting Go: Letting Go is about a young woman, Cassidy, who thinks all her secrets are behind her. But when she meets James, when she’s attached to someone else, and then suffers another tragedy, the last thing on her mind is love…until James comes walking back into her life. She can’t resist the attraction to him and the feeling is mutual. James knows he wants her, but his heart and head keep warring with one another. James has his own tragedy looming overhead when Cassidy’s secrets are laid out for all to see. James has never let anyone break down his barriers and the same can be said about Cassidy. Together they’ll battle their own demons, uncover unknown truths, discover sexual appetites not yet realized, and push each other away because they’re too afraid to love.
What inspired you to write this particular story?: Wow. I’m not really sure ‘what’ inspired it. I decided I was going to start writing and my imagination took over. I started writing a couple different scenes and scenarios and then filled in the gaps! I love a little bdsm, SOA, music and lots of sex in my books. What can I say!? :-D
Which comes first for you – a character's looks, personality or name?: Hmm. A little of both. I knew I wanted James to be an Alpha, tall and built, but a genuinely good guy!! Cassidy was personality first. I wanted her to be fiery, sarcastic, funny, insecure, and a little klutzy!!
Any tips for aspiring authors?: Just do it! Start with an outline of who and what your characters are and just start writing!!! If I can do it with 4 kids so can you!!! Oh and check that you’re format is correct and save often!
Questions for fun: (please choose five to answer)
If you had the power of time travel, is there anything you would go back and change? Why/why not?: Hmmm. I’ve always been fascinated with Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn and that entire dynasty. I would love to go back and discover the truth of things.
What super-power would you choose?: That’s a tough toss-up between flying and invisibility!!!
If you could have three wishes, what would they be?: Can I be selfish?! I would love to travel the world with my husband and kids. World peace. A money tree!!
Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster, Butterbeer or Romulan ale?: Butterbeer!
Coffee, tea or wine?: Don’t like tea, wine occasionally, so COFFEE!!!
And to finish:
What is your favorite book? (aside from one of your own!): I can’t pick one, I just can’t. Hamlet, Dracula and Pride & Prejudice!
Favorite genre and why?: Love Romance of any kind; paranormal, erotica, suspense, love love love it!
Favorite colour?: Blue!
Upcoming news and plans for the future?: I’ve started Vol. 2 in the Anchored Hearts collection. I hope to have it out in the Spring with Vol. 3 close behind!
Thanks so much for visiting us!
Synopsis:
When your past threatens to destroy your future; how long will you hang on before Letting Go?
Cassidy Charles is picking up the pieces of her life after another terrible tragedy. The last thing she's looking for is love. James bursting back into her life is the last thing she expected, but possibly everything she needs. She can’t deny the attraction, but can she get past the fact that he may be the reason she’s lost so much? He opens up a whole new world to her that she’s only dreamed about and that she easily falls into. As a result, her relationship with him reveals secrets from her past she thought were long forgotten.
James Benedict III, local playboy and successful real estate investor hasn’t stopped thinking about her since that fateful night all those months ago. He has her back in his life, but for how long? Forever if he has anything to say about it. As more and more secrets from her past are revealed, his own demons and tragedies loom overhead threatening to destroy everything he's built and done for her. He wants her in his life, but because of him her world comes tumbling down, again.
Will they discover that the love they have is strong enough to survive everything and everyone trying to tear them apart before it’s too late?
Excerpt
I slowly came to before the sun made its arrival. Slowly, everything from the night before came back to me. His arm was around me as he cradled me to his chest. The warmth was almost insufferable. I turned my head to find he was dead asleep. I was suddenly overcome with panic and decided I had to get out of there. I crept out of the hold of his stellar body and got off the bed with ease. I didn’t want to risk waking him so I just grabbed my dress and shoes and made my way out of his room and down the stairs. I found my purse on the kitchen island and headed for the door.
“Cassidy!”
I nearly screamed I was so startled. I rushed to the door, opened it and tip toed thru it just for it to slam shut. I ran full force down the hall in nothing but his t-shirt with my arms full of my dress, shoes and purse. I fumbled with my key and finally got into my room. My door closed and I swore I heard another, “Cassidy!” booming down the hall.
“Shit, shit, shit.” Why was I running from him?
I threw my dress and shoes to the floor and sank down the door. My knees were pulled to my chest while I rested my head on them and then I felt my door shake like there was a gorilla pounding on it. Bang, bang, bang! My entire body vibrated against the force of him hitting the door.
“Cassidy, I know you’re in there. Please open up.”
I pushed myself up the door and sighed. I didn’t know what to say to him. “Go away!”
“Cassidy Charles open this door. You can’t run from me forever.”
“Yes I can!” This was ridiculous. We were acting like twelve year olds.
“Don’t make me call hotel security! You let me in or I’ll let myself in.”
He wouldn’t dare, would he? I decided to face him. I opened the door yelling at him, “You wouldn’t dare!”
He was on me instantly. I didn’t even have a moment to take in his appearance. His arms were around my back as he lifted me off the floor. He set me on the kitchen island.
“Why did you leave? You scared me.” He was holding my face in his hands. “Cassidy, look at me. You can’t deny the attraction between us. It was there all those months ago and it’s still here.”
There was so much emotion surrounding my thoughts and feelings for him. I was attracted to him like a fish to water the first time I saw him and still was. Then it all went to shit in one night. I looked in his eyes and saw that they were full of concern.
“I’m scared of what I feel when I’m around you. You scare the hell out of me.” He looked stricken and dropped his hands from my face. “Not afraid of you, afraid of this,” I waved my hand between us. “I’ve never been so drawn to someone. You left me that horrible night without a word. I didn’t know what to think. Then you were arrested and I couldn’t process it.”
He pulled me to him and started talking into my hair. “Baby, I didn’t leave you that night. I never wanted to leave you. I came back with our coffee and I saw you with a cop. He was holding you and I got the wrong impression.”
“Wait, what?! Calvin, you thought I was with…” Now I was crying and laughing at the same time. “Calvin is my brother.” I pushed away from him just enough to look at him.
He wiped my tears and said, “I know, I found out a few days later when they were questioning me.” He must have felt me stiffen. “Cassidy, the charges were dropped. You know that right?” I nodded my answer and he embraced me again. “I promise you I had nothing to do with what happened that night.”
“I spent months trying to hate you so I could get over you, but I couldn’t and I never even had you.”
“Baby, you had me, you have me still. Last night was just confirmation Cassidy.”
About the Author:
JM Witt
I’m a stay-at-home mom with four young children and one extremely supportive husband. We’ve been married for nine years and reside in Highland, Michigan.
I've dreamed of writing romance novels since I was little. After having baby #4, who may or may not have been fathered by Christian Grey, I decided it was time to pursue my dreams.
When I'm not volunteering at the schools of my children, running to various appointments, enjoying time with my friends and my book club, dating my husband, or avoiding cleaning my house, I'm writing!
I love music and believe that books and music can't exist without the other. My goal is for you to read more than a good book, but for you to have an experience!
