Maggie Blackbird

Today, author Maya Alden is guesting. She’s talking about her latest release Quake, book one in the Jazz Sessions series, a romantic suspense. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

“The secrets of the bayou dance to the rhythm of jazz!”

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This Writer’s Dirty Secret: I Write for the Research

Here’s a confession that might surprise you: my primary motivation for writing isn’t just to tell a story. It’s the research. Yes, you read that right. The allure of delving into new worlds, uncovering facts, and learning about diverse subjects is what drives me to write. Each book I’ve written has been a journey into a new realm of knowledge, and I want to share this thrilling aspect of my writing process.

When I wrote Quake, I wasn’t just crafting a story set in New Orleans; I was immersing myself in the city’s rich history. I learned about Herbsaint, a traditional anise-flavored liqueur that was invented in New Orleans when the absinthe was banned. Herbsaint was then used to make Sazerac cocktails. As I wrote the book I learnt a lot about the vibrant history of the French Quarter. The research was like a trip through time, uncovering the soul of New Orleans that I then wove into the fabric of my story.

With An Ugly Love, where my characters ventured into the world of winemaking. I found myself learning how to make GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) wine. The process was fascinating, enriching my narrative with the authenticity of the wine culture. I also learnt a lot about dyslexia, though I already knew a lot because my father-in-law has this different ability and some of my friends as well.

In The Temporary Wife, I explored the challenges of living with rheumatoid arthritis. This wasn’t just about adding a condition to a character. It was about understanding the daily struggles and the emotional journey of those affected, adding depth and empathy to my characters.

Twisted Hearts took me on a dual journey: first, into the life of journalists, revealing their struggles when they’re kidnapped and what happens to their families. Then, it led me into the heart of the conflict in Nigeria, a topic both complex and heart-wrenching. This book was a testament to the courage and resilience of journalists and those who rescue them.

Writing Not A Love Marriage unveiled the intricacies of the senate confirmation process for judges. This research was an eye-opener into the political nuances and the judicial system, which I found incredibly enlightening.

In A Golden Christmas, I ventured into a new genre, Agatha Christie style whodunit. Learning how to craft a mystery that would keep readers guessing until the last page was both challenging and exhilarating.

And now, with my upcoming book Twisted Love, I’ve dived into the dark world of serial killers and the grim realities of death row. Understanding serial killer profiles and the conditions of prisoners on death row was not just about adding thrill to the story; it was about peering into the depths of human psychology and the justice system.

So, there you have it, my dirty little secret. I write as much for the love of storytelling as I do for the love of learning. Each book is a passport to a new world, a new subject, a new understanding of the complexities of life. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. As I continue on this journey, I invite you to join me in exploring these diverse worlds through the pages of my books.

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Title: Quake
Series: Jazz Sessions, Book 1
Author: Maya Alden
Genre: Romantic Suspense

She was the princess of Bayou Belle, sleeping with me, a bayou rat born on the wrong sides of the sheets.

Blurb: Gaia Doucet was my first love, the one who had me body and soul…until she accused me of something terrible; and I was sent into cruel exile by her mother. But now, ten years later, I’m back. Her grandfather has left me controlling interest of the Doucet empire and I’m ready to enjoy my revenge. I’ll start with her mother and end with her.

While I made a fortune in New York, she’s slinging drinks at Jazz Sessions, her brothers’ bar in the pulsing heart of the French Quarter. I have achieved all my dreams and she’s a failure.

I’m ready to crush her into the ground even though I want her with the same desperation as I did a decade ago.

But when someone hires a hitman to kill her, it sets off a tumultuous QUAKE that shakes the very foundations of our lives. Hate her, I may, but I won’t be able to live in a world where she’s not there.

In the steamy, seductive streets of New Orleans, where secrets and scandals are as common as the sultry jazz rhythms, Quake is the first book in the Jazz Sessions series. Please note, each novel in this series is a standalone romance, complete with its own satisfying happily ever after. Yet, the shadow of a sinister family mystery stretches across the arc of the first three books.

Perfect for fans of LJ Shen and Shain Rose.

Note: This book contains mature themes, including violence, strong language, & sexual content, for full content warnings, please see Content Warnings page on Maya’s website

**PreOrder Now for Only .99cents!**

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Gaia

I knew he was back when I saw the single calla lily left at the doorstep. The prodigal son had returned. My first lover, my only love, had left his calling card.

I’d have thought it was a romantic gesture when I was younger, but now I knew it was a threat. Rome Decuir didn’t do romantic gestures. Even ten years ago, when I’d first fallen into bed with him, he told me what we had was just sex.

I’d been seventeen, silly in love.

I picked up the calla lily and walked out to the front porch of the Bayou Belle Mansion: my childhood home, my prison, my source of joy and pain, all wrapped into one.

This is where Rome and I had begun. I was so much in love that I’d done what I could to protect him, which included staying away from him. He’d been exiled from Bayou Belle for his sin of fucking Gaia Doucet, granddaughter of Lucien Doucet. Rome may have been banished from Bayou Belle, but I had been discarded.

I knew he’d come to New Orleans.

My grandfather had told me what was in his will before he died. I’d told no one, not even my brothers, because Grandpère had asked me not to. He’d wanted to warn me that Rome Decuir would be the first non-Doucet to own fifty-five percent of Bayou Belle Holdings and the beautiful prison I had grown up in, the house that was more palace than home.

But what was in a name? Rome was more Doucet, more like my grandfather Lucien when it came to business acumen, than my mother, siblings, and cousins all put together, even if he was born on the wrong side of the sheets and had noDoucet blood flowing in his veins.

My mother and cousins all owned shares of Bayou Belle Holdings—but Rome would have the deciding vote as soon as Lucien Doucet’s will was read. Grandpère had done this to make right what had been done wrong ten years ago. He’d done it to punish my mother for her crimes against Rome and to punish me for being weak.

I had lived for ten years without Rome, knowing he hated me, wasn’t that punishment enough?

“The whole family will be out for blood,” Grandpère had chuckled.

For Rome’s blood.

Well, good luck with that. The boy he used to be had been tough, but the man he’d become, from all accounts, was more formidable. He’d made a lot of money, like he’d wanted. He’d become the corporate juggernaut he’d promised he’d be. And now he’d own Bayou Belle and have more power than any Doucet. A big fuck you to all of us, Doucets.

I was happy for him. I had wanted this for him. Had made sure he’d have it. I had given up Bayou Belle, relinquished my inheritance, and invested in Rome’s future.

I knew that my brothers wouldn’t mind what Grandpère had done; in fact, they’d celebrate. My oldest brother, Blaze, had jazz and traveled the world with his saxophone and band. Sure, he got a law degree from Duke, but he ditched that. He had no interest in the law, Bayou Belle or being a Doucet. My middle brother, Zephyr, co-owned Jazz Sessions with Blaze, a jazz club in the French Quarter where I managed the bar and kitchen, and he the jazz.

I didn’t have any of the Bayou Belle fortune; instead, I was free of my mother and of being that Doucet.

My brothers still had plenty of Doucet money in their bank accounts after selling their shares of Bayou Belle to Grandpère and buying Jazz Sessions. They’d given me a job at the bar and a place to stay in the apartment upstairs. They’d tried to make me an equal partner, but I’d resisted. I couldn’t take something I hadn’t earned.

I had changed ten years ago; they saw it and correctly associated it with Rome and me breaking up.

Zephyr had begged me to tell him what had happened when Rome was exiled. I didn’t. Couldn’t. Then, it had been perilous in case Rome returned. Now, it didn’t matter. The statute of limitations for rape was only five years in Louisiana.

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Maya has a passion for weaving tales of love and desire.

With a background in literature and a heart filled with hope, Maya pours her emotions onto the pages of her novels, capturing the essence of true love and the power it holds to transform lives. Combining unforgettable characters, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt emotions, Maya’s stories will whisk you into a world of passion and enchantment.

Maya invites you to join her on a journey of love, laughter, and happily-ever-afters that will leave you with a sigh and a smile.

Follow Maya: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bookbub | Amazon | Goodreads

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