When you do something effortlessly and people commend you
continuously, you have found your gift. That's what I tell people all the time. And it's true.
I'm Ally Bishop. I get story. I always have. I started writing when I was eight on a
Smith Corona (the electronic kind -- I'm not THAT old). I wrote stories in
every spiral notebook I had. Eventually, I graduated to a Mac (yes, I'm one of
THOSE people). I imagined new worlds, emotional conflicts, and HEAs while I
waited at stoplights or wandered the grocery store. But here's the thing: I
didn't just dream it up and write it down -- I critiqued what I read. I knew
when ideas were good, and when they stunk. I ran writing groups, judged
creative contests, and eventually got two graduate degrees in writing. That's
right: I love it that much.
So here I am, years later, writing kickass heroines and devastating
good guys, along with some mystery and vampires thrown in (I promise: THEY'RE
COMING). And what's really cool? I do what I love. Wanna write a success story
for your life: I promise you, that's it. Do what you love. And hopefully, you
can make a living at it too. That's the golden ticket, Charlie.
And chocolate doesn't hurt, either...
About the Book
Title Outside the Lines
Genre Erotic Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
Don’t take up space.
Don’t talk too loud.
Don’t tell anyone.
Blue. I’ve always
been the problem child. My name alone should have warned anyone with a half a
mind that I’d be trouble. Who’s named for the broken crayon nobody wants?
Professor Rhys
Kennison should have seen me coming a mile away, and I should have known better
than to fall for someone so far out of my league. But his touch is like fire
and his taste…like the finest chocolate. What woman could resist that
combination?
We’re headed for
disaster, though—after all, it’s what I know best. No matter how hard I try, I
can’t stop destroying anyone who gets too close. And Rhys doesn’t understand.
How could he? When I don’t even understand myself?
Introducing Blue Trace
Welcome to Romance Lives Forever! We're happy to
have you here today.
Name: Blue Trace
Age: Twenty-eight
Gender: Female
Birthplace: Bakertown, PA, USA
Profession: That’s up for debate
Ethnicity/Species (if not human): Some days…
Describe
your body and build, skin tone, height and weight. Include any unique features
such as dimples, freckles, or scars.
5’2”, sunburnable, the ol’ string-bean
build—nothing like my sexy sisters, Lux and Zi. :sigh: I’m super freckled,
thanks to my frizzy red hair, and my eyes are dishwater green (someone once
described them as “mossy,” so I’m going with that).
Who
is the significant other in your life?
Currently, no one. But I’ve been seeing
someone…well, “seeing” is a relative term, isn’t it? Let’s just say, he’s
definitely not my type, and there’s no way this can ever work.
Please
tell us a little about yourself.
Oy…not much to tell. I just got laid-off—that’s
the nice term for it, so I’m trying to figure out my place in life. My sister
Lux insists I should get into art, but I’m not sure. I’m not very good, despite
her insistence otherwise. She’s biased.
Life’s a mess right now. Not as bad as it’s ever
been…but that’s not comforting, to be honest. Whenever I’m around, it seems
like things can slide backwards pretty fast.
Still…I’m repairing my relationship with my
sisters, I’m trying to figure out my skills, and at least Dr. Rhys Kennison is
crazy-sexy. If you’re going to go down in flames, you might as well make it hot
enough to really burn, right?
If
we could only hear your voice (but not see you) what characteristic would
identify you?
God help you all. Ugh. My voice is, um, normal,
I guess? I hate hearing it on voicemail, but I guess everyone does. Plus, I
guess you’re kind of doing that now, right—“hearing” me without seeing me? Not
sure I’m doing very well.
Please
tell us about your education.
Ah, well, you can read about that above. I’m not
good in school. I’m not really sure why—I try. My teachers said I was lazy, and
I ended up on the “Morons and Mayhem” track in high school—you know, the
“remedial” classes. And even there, I struggled, though I eventually passed.
Now I’m taking Pre-Algebra, and even that feels
too hard—the letters don’t look right. It’s like they move around or something.
I don’t know.
I know I’m failing, and my sister says I should
get tutoring. And I will say, if tutoring were always like the last time, I’d
be an A-student! ;) But that’s a world of trouble, and I’m trying really hard
to get life right this time.
Do
you get by, live comfortably, live extravagantly?
Answer D: survive?
Are
any of your skills a source of pride or embarrassment, and if so, which ones
and why?
I don’t, um, really have any, to be honest. My
sister Lux insists I do, and she thinks I should take another look at the whole
art thing, but I’m not that good. Not really. And I don’t know how to use
Photoshop or anything like that.
Mind you, if I told her that, she’d immediately
pay for classes and buy me computer. She’s like that, and I love her for it.
Among other things.
What
kinds of things do you always carry (in pockets or purse)?
Cash, my bank card, and my little Yoda keychain.
Zi bought that for me when I was…eight, maybe? It was originally one of those
candy dispensers—Pez, I think they’re called—but the dispenser part broke off,
so I threaded silky bracelet thread through it and I carry that. Speaking of, I
always have one of those silly luck bracelets on my arm—the kind you buy at
dollar stores and wear until they fall off. I don’t know why—I just do.
What
is your family like?
Complicated. My mom just died, and she
was…mentally ill. I’m still coming to terms with that—I didn’t handle her death
well. And my grandmother’s a controlling b—um, *witch*.
My sisters, though, and their partners are great
and very supportive. They have a lot of friends I don’t know, so I’m just
starting to get comfortable enough to hang out with everyone.
Do
you see morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?
My *life* is a shade of gray. I’d be a hypocrite
to look at others any other way.
How
do others perceive you based upon looks, and is this assumption accurate?
I’m small and skinny, so most people think that
I need to be protected. Which…if we’re being honest, used to be the case. I’m
tougher than I look though.
I’m not ugly—I mean, I got lucky in the sense
that I have a decent face and a little makeup does wonders for my eyes. But I’m
not curvy, so guys don’t really notice me all that often.
If
someone from your past showed up, who would you most want it to be, and why?
My best friend in middle school. When my sisters
and I were put into foster care, we moved into a different school district, and
I lost touch with her.
If
someone from your past showed up, who would you most NOT want it to be, and
why?
My ex-boyfriend. I don’t have many…I’m not a
commitment kind of girl. But he was a bit of a jerk most of the time.
Can
you keep a secret? Why or why not?
Yes. I’ve never taken someone’s trust for granted.
Someone like me doesn’t earn trust easily, so I try hard not to screw that up.
What
inner doubt causes you the most difficulty?
I don’t know that I’m good at anything, to be
honest. What if I’m destined to never be anything more than an underpaid server?
What
past event causes you the most fear?
When I was younger, I was a cutter. I’m
terrified I’ll do that again.
What
is your biggest need?
Heck, if I knew that, I could have saved on
years of therapy. Maybe to be seen? Valued?
What
are your biggest hopes and dreams?
I’ve always wanted to have my own “thing.”
Business, craft, hobby, something. I at least have my apartment. It’s the first
place I’ve ever had on my own.
What
would help you face hardship and meet any challenge?
I guess I already have it, though I don’t know
what *it* is. I’m still standing, after all.
If
you could make any one thing happen, what would it be?
To stop hurting my sisters. We’ve all been hurt
enough by people who should have loved us. Yet I keep making things worse on
them. I try so hard not to be the problem, but some days…that’s all I seem to
serve up.
When
there is a setback, what doubt or flaw surfaces?
That I deserve this. That’s it all I’m ever
going to have.
How
do you express disappointment?
In the past or now? Before…not very well. Let’s
just say, the red hair wasn’t *enough* warning. But now, with my therapist’s
help, I’m able to say what’s bothering me and talk through it.
When
(if) you lie or are upset, what gives you away?
:chuckles: My skin. I blush at the drop of a
hat.
Who
in your life has the power to hurt you the most and why?
My sisters. I would do anything for them.
What
would you like people who hear your story to know?
We are lovable, as-is. No magic pill or perfect
body will ever be enough for someone who doesn’t think you’re enough as you are
right now. I’m not perfect—far from it. I’m damaged, from the scars on my body
to the holes in my memory. But I’m enough.
I had to realize that on my own, and let me be
enough for *me.* Then I can be enough for someone else too.
You can do that, too, promise. It’s a sucky ride
at first, but it gets better. <3
Buy This Book
Publisher Scarlet River Press
Amazon
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