Interview with Cari Quinn

1)Tell us about your favorite character from your books.
Hmm, that’s a toughie. I’d have to say Kelly from Provoke Me. Her voice just flows from me and after all the days I struggle to write, I’m doubly grateful for the easy characters! We have some similarities—I’d like to think we’re both honest and generous, but she definitely wears her heart on her sleeve more than I do.

2)Tell us about your current release.
Gladly! Provoke Me just released in June. More than anything else, it’s a love story, though it take a while for the hero and heroine to acknowledge that! It's a journey of two people who ultimately realize they've found the piece that was missing inside them, even if the hole's a little jagged and the fit hurts. I absolutely love these characters - don't tell my other ones, but Kelly and Spencer are my favorites - and really hope readers enjoy their story too.
Provoke Me is book 2 in the Unveiled series, with four more books to go. Next up are Marcia and Tony...and maybe someone else, too!

Here’s the blurb:

Attracted

Kelly's focus is the bookstore she manages. Sex is relegated to a list of candidates on her PDA. Only one man pushes all her buttons―her boss.

Fascinated.

Spencer is determined to fight his desire for Kelly. For years they’ve bumped heads over the store they both love. But there's more than one reason their getting together is complicated.


Provoked.

When Kelly and Spencer unexpectedly meet up at a sex club, all the rules go out the window. Suddenly there’s only way this match of wills can end―naked, preferably all night long. In this battle for sexual supremacy, there are two winners—and two losers when their stubbornness leads to the very thing each dreads most.


Here’s the buy link at Ellora’s Cave:
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9417-provoke-me.aspx


3) Tell us about your next release.

Next up is Bad Kitty from The Wild Rose Press, coming this fall. It’s a Halloween story (my favorite holiday) and features Nikki and Patrick, who’s a twin. I might write about his twin, Easton, next Halloween if there’s interest! And nope, there’s no twin action of *that* sort!

4) Who is your favorite author?
Nora Roberts. Without Nora, I’m not entirely sure I’d have turned to writing. To me, she’s the gold standard and hugely inspiring. Her talent is just monumental.

5) When was your first sale?
August, 2009. Eight contracts and many WIPs later, I’m about to hit my 2-year anniversary. Seems like yesterday!


6) Plotter or Pantser? Why?
Completely a pantser. I’ve tried to plot. I’ve done synops beforehand for proposals and thought I was ahead of the game…then ended up trashing the front and the end of the book. I always seem to have to redo beginnings and ends, no matter what. For some reason my sagging middles usually aren’t that saggy, thank goodness.

7) Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with it?
Yes, I do. Cari is a shortened form of my real name (and a name people have called me since junior high) and Quinn is actually a short version of a childhood nickname. I needed names that meant something to me…and I knew I’d actually respond to Cari if someone called that name! Now in some ways Cari feels more “real” to me than my own name.

8) Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?
Yes, yes, yes! I love all kinds of music from hip hop to country to classical. Best of all, I like playing it loud. Something about music helps me think my way more clearly through a scene.

9) What book are you reading now?
Right now I’m about to start Karen Marie Moning’s Darkfever…I know, I’m way behind the 8-ball on this one! But yum, that Barrons…

10) Morning Person? Or Night Person?
Oh my gosh, I’m such a night person. I’d stay up all night and sleep all day if I could. Alas, I have a day job but I still stay up way later than I should. I think my pale skin has given me a touch of vampirism!

Visit me and check out my latest books at www.cariquinn.com.
And thanks so much to Amber for allowing me to guest blog with her today!

Guest Blogger - Julia Barrett

Why You Should Read Incorporeal
1. Because it’s fun.
2. Because it’s cheap fun.
3. Because it’s well-written cheap fun.
4. Because it’s well-written cheap fun about ghosts.
5. Because it’s well-written cheap fun about ghosts, love, loss and love regained.
The decision to self-publish wasn’t easy, but writing Incorporeal set me free. I feel free to create characters that are other than the character of the moment among the publishing houses. If I want to write a ghost love story, I can write a ghost love story. It a nice feeling.
Buy links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/mTvA1j
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/pnoQpt
ARE: http://bit.ly/r0uKQs

Thanks, Amber!

Incorporeal blurb:
Sara Wise is sick of ghosts. They’ve haunted her since she was a child, destroying her family, endangering her life. When an incorporeal being appears in her shower, she curses him soundly and orders him out, but this ghost is sticky. Not only does he invade her shower, he moves into her home, invading her dreams, sharing her bed. The reluctant Sara finds herself falling in love with a dead man.
Despite Sara’s objections, Natan de Manua isn’t permitted to leave. Protecting the woman is both his penance and his means to redemption. She’s not easy to protect, she fights him nearly every step of the way, except in her bed. Nathan may have come to regain his soul, but instead he risks losing his heart.
Incorporeal excerpt:
Sara stood on the porch, her purse over her shoulder, keys in her hand. She didn’t want to leave him. “You’re sure you’ll be all right?”
Nathan grinned at her, his grin heating her all the way down to her toes. “I’ve lived in this house for three months. I’m sure I’ll be safe for one day.”
“If you take a shower, don’t scald yourself. Test the water first. I left you a full pot of coffee and there’s cream and sugar if you don’t like it black. And be sure to drink water. Remember, you need to drink water now or you’ll get dehydrated. Eat whatever you want, but maybe it would be better if you didn’t use the stove, and…”
“Sara, shhhhh.” Nathan slid a warm hand beneath her chin. Tilting her head up, he kissed her soundly. When he ended the kiss, he said, “I’ll be fine. Go.”
“You’re sure you can’t come with me? You can’t come outside?”
He shook his head. “I cannot cross the threshold.”
Sara studied his face. “You’re sure?”
Nathan gazed down, first at his bare feet, and then his eyes roved over the grass, green and lush from the winter rains. “I’m tempted to try, but no, I cannot leave this house.”
“What will happen if you do?” Sara cleared her throat and waited for his answer.
Nathan rocked back on his heels. “I believe I would vanish again and I have no desire to become incorporeal.” He winked at her. “I would miss the taste of your, uh, coffee.”
Sara couldn’t hold back what she knew was an ear to ear grin. “All right, I’ll go.” She reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. “Be here when I get home. I have more questions for you. Promise you’ll be here.”
“I promise.”
“Okay, bye.” She continued to stand on the porch steps.
“Sara, you must let go of my hand if you wish to get to work on time.”
“Right.” She laughed out loud. “I’m going. It’s just that, well, over the years I’ve met many incorporeal beings, but never one like you.” She stared at Nathan for a moment. “There’s something we never got around to discussing, and I have to ask this question because it’s going to bug me all day.”
“Ask your question.”
Sara took a deep breath and blew it out. “What are you?”
It seemed to Sara that Nathan looked everywhere but into her eyes. At last he met her gaze. “I don’t know. Sara, I wish to hell I did, but I don’t know what I am.”
Sara knew she should leave, but she couldn’t let go of Nathan’s hand. “One more question. What language do you speak? I mean, when we make love, sometimes you say things to me, words that don’t sound like Spanish.”
Nathan’s smile crinkled his eyes, causing her heart to flip-flop. “I speak Castilian, Andaluz, Arabic and Hebrew, Greek, Latin and of course, English. I’m not always aware which language I use when we make love.”
Blushing now, Sara made a move to leave the porch, but Nathan tugged her back. “You have another question on the tip of your tongue. I can sense it.”
Holding back her laughter, Sara asked him, “You can, can you?”
“Yes. I’ve come to know you very well. Remember, I watched you for a very long time before I made my presence known.”
“Hey, that’s right. About that…” Nathan drew her into his arms, interrupting her thoughts.
“I have to leave, Nathan.” Sara looked up at him.
“Yes, I know. Ask your question.”
She rubbed her cheek against his rough linen shirt, realizing she’d have to buy him some clothes now that he was corporeal. “Your mother,” Sara murmured. “What was her name?”
Nathan’s chest expanded as he answered. “Katherine Neville.”
For an instant, the name didn’t register. Sara sucked in a breath and took a step back. “Katherine Neville, as in the War of the Roses Nevilles? You said she was from a semi-royal family. Did you mean, like, the Kingmaker’s family? Richard Neville?”
Nathan nodded. One look at the expression on his face told Sara it would be better to leave well enough alone, at least for now. She rose on tip-toes and gave him a kiss before leaving him, forcing her legs to walk to the garage. This is a lot to digest.
“Will you write it?” He called after her, his voice low. “Will you include my mother in your book?”
Sara turned. “I don’t know, Nathan. I don’t know that I want to finish the book.”
Before she could run back to him and bury herself in his arms, she threw up the garage door and climbed behind the wheel of her car. Unreality is starting to set in. I’ve got to leave because I’m about to convince myself that I’ve lost my mind. There is no other explanation; at least nothing logical comes to mind.
In fact, the only real question here involves my sanity.
Sara backed the car down the driveway, shooting a glance at the house. The front door was closed and Nathan was nowhere in sight. The story of his family’s fate spun round and round in her brain like a windmill.
They were burned by the Inquisitors. The Crown confiscated his father’s wealth only to lose it a year later. His mother was a Neville. I’m in love with a man who’s been dead for over five hundred years. But he doesn’t remember dying. Gaaaa! Sara smacked the steering wheel with her open palm. Quit it! You’ll go mad if you think about the impossible nature of, well, this, of everything. Nathan is impossible. Sure there are ghosts, you’ve seen plenty, but Nathan’s presence is simply impossible.
He can’t exist. You’re in love with a man who can’t exist on any plane. Not on earth, not in heaven, and not in hell. Apparently, he’s only corporeal in your house and between your thighs.
Sara stopped at a red light and rested her forehead on her hands. Your mother was right, you know; you girl, are certifiable. I wish my dad was still alive.

Contest Winner and Other Stuff

And the winner is Molly Daniels. Please send an email to amberskyze AT aol DOT com with your choice of one of my ebook backlist and I’ll email your copy.
Weekend plans didn’t go accordingly. Because of the extreme heat we cancelled our picnic. It was way too hot to sit on the deck. Turned out okay though because we went to my in-laws where we spent time with our new niece. Then yesterday as I was not feeling good my father in law was taken to the hospital. Hopefully he’ll be okay. It was feared he was having a stroke, but now it appears his issues might be related to his pain meds. Either way it was a scary night for my hubby and family.
I finally got most of the ending to my latest wip written over the weekend. Need to sit and write the rest, but it felt refreshing to actually write and see an end in sight. It’s the editing that is causing me trouble right now. I’ll get through it though. I must write, right? :o)
Off to pick up my daughter to bring my grandson to his surgery this morning. He’s having tubes put in his ears. Little guy will be a year old in a few weeks.
Happy Monday!

Impromptu Contest

I’m in a good mood. The summer is here and I’ve finally gotten some use out of the pool and the new deck. The temps are in the high nineties and I know others are suffering, but it’s a blessing for those of us in New England who lived through the terrible winter.
Although I have to work the dreaded day job Saturday I’m still looking forward to having a picnic in the yard.
So, the contest will run through Sunday July 24th at midnight EST. Just leave a comment telling me what you like most about the summer. I’ll chose a winner at random and announce it on Monday.

What will you win? A copy of one of my ebooks.

Guest - Larissa Lyons

Authors writing reviews—taboo or not?



Today I hope to hear opinions, from both readers and authors, on the topic of whether or not authors should leave reviews for books they've read.



Howdy. I’m Larissa Lyons and I write spicy (some say sleazy >^..^<) regencies and upbeat erotica. Thanks to Amber for having me today.



So, the topic of authors reviewing books. Is it okay? Tacky? Taboo? This is something I’ve seen come up on a couple of author loops lately. Some folks say, “No, never.” Others chime in with, “Only in genres they write in.” (Which I admit seems almost the opposite of what I’d think.) Still others claim, “All authors are readers first and if I buy a book and read it, I have a right to state my opinion.”



I don’t know...it seems to me the proliferation of reviews (via retail outlets, review sites and forums) has turned downright nasty in a lot of cases. Before I ever wrote my first book, I’d heard that only one in four readers truly like a book. That means 25% of the people who pick up your story are going to love it and want to read everything else you’ve done. Conversely, 75% won’t find you their cup of tea. In the past, when reviews weren’t plastered everywhere, individuals had to form their own opinions, on their own.



When I got my driver’s license in the 1980s, the first thing I asked for wasn’t a car. Or a raise in my allowance to save for a car. Oh no. I asked to borrow Mom’s keys and for directions to the used bookstore, a place I haunted frequently and with relish.



For every 20 books I bought (assuming I had no prior knowledge of the authors) I’d typically love two or three (and maybe consider one of these a “keeper”), thoroughly enjoy 10-12, be indifferent to maybe three, and choose not to finish (i.e., really dislike) the remaining 2-5, usually because the writing was flat and/or the storyline simply didn’t hold my interest. But it never occurred to me to badmouth the books I didn’t like—that’s why there are 31 flavors!



Flash forward to the new millennium and a decade later, to constant Internet access and connections, where it seems everyone has an opinion and doesn’t hesitate to voice it. So now I ask yours—should authors post reviews? If so, with what restrictions, disclaimers or caveats?



Let the discussion begin!



When she’s not debating the merits of reviews or wrangling ornery cats, Larissa’s writing. Info on her latest projects can be found at LiteraryMadness.com.

Interview with Jean Hart Stewart

Q. How did you start your writing career?

A. Actually I wrote my first novel when I was sixteen. The only thing I remember about it is the heroine was named Aurora and I thought I was terribly original. Thankfully it’s long lost. After I married I was in real estate, and that helped put the kids through college. When they were educated I quit to do what I’d always wanted, and that is write. Best decision I ever made… Love, love, love writing and being published.

Q.Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

A. Not easy to answer, since they’re all my babies and it hard to point to a favorite. If I have to pick I’d pick Lord Lance, the chief inspector in my first book, Druid’s Daughter. Lance is the quintessential aristocrat, unable to believe he must work with a Druid to solve a kidnapping case. And falling in love with her, which is really too much

Q. Tell us about your current release.


A. Thought you’d never ask! It’s Quest for Magic, co-authored with Lee Pearce who wrote the steamier bits. It’s coming out August 9th from PIP press, in both hardback and e-book, so that’s pretty great. It’s a sequel to Quest for Love. I wrote the prequel, Quest for Love, pubbed last year, but then when my husband died nine months ago I turned to Lee to get me kick-started again. I’m very happy with the book. It tells the story of Jonathan and Hayley. Jono is a confirmed Lothario, and Hayley, knowing his reputation, refuses even speak to him even though they’re neighbors. When Hayley is in danger due to a pedophile obsessed with her younger sister, Jono must find his Mage powers to save them both. And somehow convince her he’s changed his life for her. And I’ve written two more Mage books for PIP and am working on the fourth and last one.

Q. Tell us about your next release.

A. The next in the Mage series, Victoria’s Visions, and has a great cover which I just approved. Vicky is not happy with possessing mage powers, especially when she had two different visions of how her romance with Cabot is going to end. Reconciling them leads her into diabolical danger and Cabot must help her find the truth.

Q. Has someone been instrumental in inspiring you as a writer?

A. I’d have to say Mary Balogh. I don’t write like her, but I love everything she’s written.

Q. Who is your favorite author?

A. Lots of favorite authors. Mary Balogh, Julia Quinn, Johanna Lindsey, Stephanie Laurens to name a few.

Q. When was your first sale?

A. About five years ago. Now I’m starting book 22.

Q. I do e-mail, promo and research in the morning.
A. By three I’ve settled to writing and write until bedtime, unless I’m lucky enough to be going out to dinner.

Q. What is the hardest part of writing your books?

A. Another easy one to answer. I purely hate the editing, takes me forever before I’m satisfied enough to send it to an author friend, Carlene Dater, who’s my beta editor now that my husband’s gone. She’s a toughie and very good for me. Then I get it back and edit again.

Q. Where do you research for your books?

A. All over the web and library. I also buy a book if I think it’s one I’ll use again, such as my books on Druids and Mages. Each one of my books is in a different year, so they all demanded intensive research. I spend four to six weeks on research and plotting before I start to write.

Q. Tell us about your family.

A. I have two children and two grandchildren. My daughter lives nearby and takes solicitous care of me. We travel together when she can get off and go to the desert a lot, which we both love. I simply can’t imagine a better daughter. My son is also wonderful, but since he lives in New York and I’m in California we don’t see each other as often as we’d both like.

Q. What books have most influenced your life?

A. My father died early, from a golf ball of all things, and my mother started teaching when I was six. I was confined to the house until she got home, so I read and read. Books on Merlin, King Arthur and his knights were my favorites, but I also devoured Jane Austen. I still read both.

Q. How do you develop your plots and your characters? Do you use any set formula?

A. When writing, I don’t use any set formula but I usually know the beginning and ending of a book and jot them down first. The beginning is easy and the first chapter generally rolls out almost by itself. The sticky middle it the part I hate. I can get so bogged down in that it’s disgraceful The best advice I heard on that is from Mary Balogh. She told me the answer is simple, “make it worse.” So I do and generally can slog through that way.

Q. What book are you reading now?

A. I have several going. One by Susan Johnson, and one by Julie Quinn. I’m also researching a new book about Merlin called the 21 Messages of Merlin. Fascinating. As for what I wanted to be when I grew up, it was always to be happily married and be a writer. Since I’ve been lucky enough to experience both I realize how fortunate I am.

Q. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

A. To encapsulate the last questions, I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Let’s see, I’m a morning person and the brain gets dimmer as the day goes along. What you’ll find under my bed are Xmas presents since I shop all year long and when I see the right thing for the right person I buy it. My favorite restaurant is the Club House here in our small town, when everybody knows everybody and the waiters have come to be friends. I love answering mail, so do write me at jswriter@earthlink.net if you have any questions I’ve missed. Amber, love, thank you for having me.

Thanks for dropping by Jean...I loved having you today! :o)

Blurb:

Vicky has two conflicting visions that haunt her. Mages’ visions are true, but she can’t reconcile hers. In one she and Cabot are blissfully happy, in the other he weeps on his knees at her side. How can they both be true?
Vicky save several small animals with her mage abilities, and earns the enmity of three vicious louts. When they capture her and her best friend with rape in mind, she wonders how to save herself without endangering Linnet.
Will her mage abilities be enough? Can Cabot find her in time to help her and Linnet? Or is the dire second vision destined to come true as she loses all she longs for?

Excerpt:

That night Jono lay in bed a long time. He’d hoped to make some progress sexually with her, and hadn’t. But he’d loved every minute. Her huge dark eyes flashing as she argued her points with conviction and intelligence, her graceful movements. He’d dropped a light kiss on her forehead after he opened her door for her, and then ran down her steps and up his own.
He’d been afraid to linger. Afraid he might grab her and try to use the sexual magnetism that sparked between them. She wasn’t ready for what he wanted, and he’d settle for nothing less. When he took her he wanted no regrets. She possessed a magic that drew him, a magic more powerful than his own.
It was time to plan a serious campaign. By Merlin’s mercy he seemed to have stumbled on the key to Hayley’s heart. He’d missed intriguing conversation. Although he’d never expected arguing on an intellectual topic could help win a girl.
With Hayley he should have. But then he’d never in his amorous life thought about campaigning for a woman’s interest. He was scared to death. She was creeping into his heart in a way he’d never expected.

Another Work Week!

Last week was a week from hell for me at my job. This week isn’t going to be much better. Next week, which is my last before my leave of absence should be relatively quiet? Knock on wood.
We had a good weekend, traveling to Boston to celebrate my brother in laws birthday and shopping for the remainder of things need for our pending arrival.
Casey Anthony is a free woman. That’s the headlines everywhere you look. But she’s not free. The public still wants justice for her precious little daughter and I believe one day they’ll get it. Of all the people I know who long to be a parent; stories like this enrage me to no end. Whether it was intentional or an accident – and no I’m not referring to the swimming pool story, which I don’t believe. Why is it that life is so easy for these women to have children? That’s all I can say on the subject. I get too emotional.
So it’s back to work and back to adding KINK to my current wip. Here’s the problem. I have no desire to write about kink or sex for that matter. This will surely make my sex scene suffer. Hopefully my editor will push to make it stronger. I may take my friend up on her offer to read the scene and see where I can spice it up. I really hope once the baby arrives my desire to write will return.

Christmas in July is half over and we only have 17 entries. You can win some awesome prizes. Check out the details to the right and enter today!
Happy Monday!

Tired

It seems I can’t do much without wearing myself out these days. Some days I take three naps. Mind you have a ton of things on my to-do list.
My editor informed me I’m penciled in for an October 11th release on a book that I haven’t finished writing yet. On top of not finishing it, it has to be to line edits the second week of August. That means we have to do our edits first. YIKES! Talk about pressure. I know the story is close to done, but I have a bunch of research and a revision of 4k that needs to have kink added. Oh and I only have 15 days to finish this!
The other day the DH and I were having lunch on the deck when a woodpecker flew right up and landed on the deck railing. It was so cool. I’d never seen one that close up and he didn’t resemble the one from my childhood cartoon. :o) Wish I had a camera handy, but the little guy didn’t stay long and I really don’t blame him. When you have three large dogs looking at you I’d fly away too!
Off to get some things done before my energy dissipates.
In other news my awesome friend Julia Barrett has self-published a book called Incorporeal that sounds like a must read. If I know Julia this is going to be incredible.
You can buy her book here:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/mTvA1j

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/73683

I’m running over to get my copy now.

Guest Blogger - Janice Seagraves

Hi, my name is Janice Seagraves. I’m a romance writer.
Today I want to talk about nails.
Have you ever thought about nails?
I’m not talking about the nails you hammer into wall, but the kind on the end of your fingers. Whether you paint them, chew them, or pay lots of money to glue acrylics over the top of them—we all have nails.
Have you ever found finger nails sexy?
A lot of women who spend their hard earn cashed at salons, would probably say, yes.
What if they got broke off? Would they still be sexy?
No?
But what if a really sexy guy offered to bit them off for you?
Did that get your attention?

Excerpt from Windswept Shores:
Megan fought the dried branches tangled in her pack. Fingernails broke. Skin tore from her hands, but she couldn’t pull free.
“Hold still, mate. I got ya.” The snap of branches being broken overhead sounded as loud as gun shots, causing her to flinch. Seth pulled her up, setting her gently on a boulder, then stared at her thigh. “Gawd, that looks bad.”
“It hurts.” She reached for the stick that jutted out of her leg.
“Let me, I’ve got a better vantage point.” He gingerly grabbed the end of the age-blackened twig, pulling on it gently.
“Ow, ow, ow,” Megan complained.
“I’ll have to get it in one go.” Seth looked at her a moment. “Brace yourself.” He got a good grip, giving it a hard yank.
When the end came free, Megan yelped. Taking a quick look at the torn skin, she felt the blood drain from her face.
Seth tossed the blood-stained stick away. “I reckon that’s done it, eh?” He examined the wound. “Do you have a first-aid kit on you?”
“Backpack.” She gasped. “God, that hurt worse than when it went in.”
“It had a barb on it like a hook, causing it to rip on the way out.” Pulling off her pack, he found the kit at the bottom. “There’s not much here, just band aids and antibiotic ointment.”
“There’s antiseptic wipes.” She pointed them out.
“Naw, Megz, these aren’t any good for a puncture wound. I need to get ya to me mate’s boat, he has a proper kit.” He did what he could to clean the area, but had to use the two biggest bandages to cover the injury. “That’s the best I can do for now. There might be a piece still in there.”
“Another piece? That’ll cause an infection.” She bit her lip as fear gripped her. This is a bad place to be without a doctor.
"It might at that." He cleaned her knees so he could bandage them. "Bill knows a bit about nursing, being a medic in the war, and he'll know what to do." Taking one of her hands, he turned it over. "Skinned yer-self here, too?" Removing another wipe, he ran it over her palms.
"My nails broke off." Megan scrutinized her hands. "Damn, I didn't pack the clippers."
Seth held up one of her fingers. "There's a trick I did when my son were a babe." He set her fingernail between his teeth.
Megan gasped at the feel of his full lips as he nibbled. Heat pooled in her panties, as she gave a shuddered breath. I should make him stop. But when Seth's dove-gray eyes met hers, she couldn't find the strength to speak.
He took another of her fingers into his mouth.
"Orright, Megz?" He spat and wiped the spittle from his chin, then jammed the remnants of the first aid kit into her backpack.
"Y-yes," she stammered as she inspected his handiwork. "Neatly done." Megan glanced down at her other hand, wishing she had the nerve to ask him to do that one, too.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Windswept shores available at Pink Petal Books: http://pinkpetalbooks.com/Windswept-Shores-Janice-Seagraves.html

Janice’s website: http://janiceseagraves,org/
Janice’s main blog: http://ladyjanice.blogspot.com/

Sunshine, Water and Dogs

This is my combination of happiness. As most of you know I love summer and my pool. The pool has been opened since the end of May and I’d yet to use it. That all changed yesterday. After an extremely stressful workday on Monday, I had some wrapping up to do. By 2pm things settled down and I thought about a nap and realized – NO! I want to use the pool. So I threw on my bathing suit, grabbed a glass of ice water and my iPod. Off to the pool deck I went.
I jumped into the water – well not really. I walked down the stairs slowly until I was underwater. Cooled off and then went to relax on my gravity chair. With great music I leaned back and chilled. For the next hour I dipped in the pool every ten minutes, sipped ice water and enjoyed pure bliss. This was exactly what I needed.
I was happy the rest of the day! Though I must say my golden retriever is a little turd. Before dinner I took a nap. The two labs wouldn’t dare bother me for anything. They’re very patient dogs. Not the golden. When he feels I’ve slept too long he’ll come over and lick my face. Just once. One big lick. And when I open my eyes he’s staring down at me looking all sad. Tough to get upset at him when he’s giving you that puppy dog look. LOL

Off to do some writing.
Happy Wednesday!

Interview with Kay Jaybee

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Back to Work

After almost two weeks off I have to return to work today. YUCK! I still have family in town that came for a baby shower my mother and mother in law gave me yesterday. I’m still recovering from three days in the hospital, but doing much better.
There have been a lot of authors talking about how difficult it’s been to write lately. I’m one of them. I wish I knew the reason I can’t write, but it’s just not there. The words won’t flow. I’m so damn close to finishing my current wip and believe me I want to get the finished product off to my editor before August 1st. Maybe I’ll be struck by the writing bug and finish it.
After what I know will be an insane day today I hope the rest of the work week is smooth sailing.

As I was surfing some of the third party sites yesterday I found this little beauty on Barnes and Noble. I’m very excited to have another print book coming out!

You can check it out HERE

Guest Blogger - Rachel Haimowitz

Playing In the Sandbox

If you ask a speculative fiction author what she enjoys most about her genre, it’s a good bet she’ll tell you “worldbuilding.” Creating a fantasy or sci-fi world from scratch is, at least for me, one of the most exciting steps in the writing process. Even more interesting, though, was the process of creating an alternate universe: a modern-day America with a twist.

In Anchored: Belonging and my new release, Where He Belongs, I’ve had the pleasure of building a contemporary world wherein slavery is legal pretty much everywhere. As part of that exploration, I built a very self-serious website, BelongingVerse.com, that treats the visitor as a citizen of the world of Belonging.

Along the way, something extraordinary happened. My dear friend and occasional co-writer Aleksandr Voinov asked a question fanfic writers—but not, for some reason, original fic writers—hear quite a lot: “Can I play in your sandbox?” He wanted to write a story set in the Belonging-verse about a slave boxer named Brooklyn Marshall. I was tickled. How could I say no?

So rather than talk on and on about my own books today—which, let’s face it, authors do an awful lot of when they’ve just released a new one—I thought I’d give a shout-out to Aleks and his brilliant book, Counterpunch. Here’s a taste:

Fight like a man, or die like a slave.Brooklyn Marshall used to be a policeman in London, with a wife and a promising future ahead of him. Then he accidentally killed a rioter whose father was a Member of Parliament and had him convicted of murder. To ease the burden on the overcrowded prison system, Brooklyn was sold into slavery rather than incarcerated. Now, he's the “Mean Machine,” a boxer on the slave prizefighting circuit, pummeling other slaves for the entertainment of freemen and being rented out for the sexual service of his wealthier fans.When Nathaniel Bishop purchases Brooklyn's services for a night, it seems like any other assignation. But the pair form an unexpected bond that grows into something more. Brooklyn hesitates to call it “love”—such things do not exist between freemen and slaves—but when Nathaniel reveals that he wants to help get Brooklyn's conviction overturned, he dares to hope. Then, an accident in the ring sends Brooklyn on the run, jeopardizing everything he has worked so hard to achieve and sending him into the most important fight of all—the fight for freedom.

It won’t be out until November, I’m afraid, but you can read all about it—and about Brooklyn, his owners, and the stable where he trains—right here. And if you’ve ever thought about investing in your own slave boxer? Well, Fitzhughes Boxing Stable is the way to go.

* * * * *

The hottest name in network news is Daniel Halstrom. He is a sensation, a rising star. He is also a slave, owned wholly and completely by NewWorld Media.But before he was a star, he was a frightened child from a bad place with a promising, if limited, future ahead of him. In The New Kid, young Daniel begins his schooling. Then, for a slave, the simple pleasure of a Bathroom Break is sometimes the only pleasure to be had. Later, Daniel doesn't know it, but A Chance Encountermight be the most important of his life. Next, in Camera Obscura, one of Daniel's colleagues reflects on the fact that as much as the camera may show, it can hide even more. Finally, when you're a slave, Independence Day is just another day.

Available at Storm Moon Press.

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Rachel is an M/M erotic romance author and a freelance writer and editor. She's also a sadist with a pesky conscience, shamelessly silly, and quite proudly pervish. Fortunately, all those things make writing a lot more fun for her . . . if not so much for her characters.
When she's not writing about hot guys getting it on (or just plain getting it; her characters rarely escape a story unscathed), she loves to read, hike, camp, sing, perform in community theater, and glue captions to cats. She also has a particular fondness for her very needy dog, her even needier cat, and shouting at kids to get off her lawn.
She's a twitter addict (@rachelhaimowitz), and she blogs every M/W/F at Fantasy Unbound. She also keeps a website, of course, with all her current and upcoming projects. She loves to hear from folks, so feel free to drop her a line anytime at metarachel (at) gmail (dot) com.

Guest Blogger - Desmond Haas

What Would You Do For Love? – Desmond Haas

If you met someone and, after a time, knew you were in love, what would you do if you were separated?

I wanted to explore these concepts in three of my books: Never Let You Go, No Time For Love and Sex, Love, and Happiness. In the first two books, the main character has to make a life altering decision, such that it becomes an all or nothing choice. I realize these are fictional romance books, but there is an element of truth based on reality.

In the aftermath of an argument with a lover, following the adrenaline high, when thoughts clear, there are choices. You can continue to support your side of the discussion to be right or you can compromise or you can capitulate. The cost of being right can exacerbate the separation, which results in further detachment. Depending on the intensity of the emotions, compromise may or may not be a worthwhile consideration and certainly ego can refuse complete surrender.

In Never Let You Go, Marisa has to make a decision when her lover, Sam, stops calling her. Upon hearing about Sam’s automobile accident and knowing she’s a continent away, she needs to make up her mind whether she’s willing to drop everything and go to him. Certainly, this is nothing like an argument, or is it?

Following a heated disagreement, there is an opportunity to determine how to reconcile loving feelings, now put aside. By concentrating on heart, instead of the brain and approaching your partner under a flag of truce, it’s possible to shelve the intensive emotions. As Marisa did in Never Let You Go, it’s possible to bridge the ocean of separation to be with a loving partner. It’s not always easy, but by being the first to make the move demonstrates a want to reconcile.

Crossing the ocean takes courage, courage to put self aside to reestablish the connection, instead of fighting to win. What Marisa chooses becomes a hardship, but she makes her decision from a loving heart.

Desmond Haas – Multi-Volume Romance Author
Host of the popular Romance Radio Network author interviews
http://www.desmondhaas.com
http://romanceradio.net
Never Let You Go
Click to buy at Amazon.com
Click to buy at Secret Cravings Publishing
Click to buy at All Romance eBooks
Click to buy at Bookstrand
No Time For Love
Click to buy at Amazon.com
Click to buy at All Romance eBooks
Click to buy at Manic Readers
Click to buy at Secret Cravings Publishing
Sex, Love and Happiness (Paperback)
Click to buy at CreateSpace

In The Hospital

So I spent three nights in the hospital. I was in pre-term labor. They managed to get it under control and sent me home yesterday. I slept the day away. Anyone who has spent time in the hospital knows you can’t sleep there.
I’m not on any bed rest, but obviously need to use common sense. I’m glad I can enjoy this warm weather, once I feel 100% again. The next few weeks will be low key for us.
I was catching up on my DVR’d shows this morning and while watching Cupcake Wars I was shocked to see the woman who made my wedding cake. Her name is Nancy and her shop Nancies Fancies. I thought it was so cool. She came sooooo close, but didn’t win. I felt bad, but she has great baked goods.
I did read a few good books while in the hospital. I’ll share those later this week. :o)

Happy Wednesday!

Lots of News!

I missed the boat big time. I didn’t realize yesterday was the beginning of July. The DH and I vegged out catching up on the last 5 episodes of Game of Thrones. Damn show isn’t coming back until Spring 2012. Frustrating! LOL

I don’t think I got out of my jammies until 3 pm and that was only to have a late lunch on the deck. I didn’t want the neighbors to see me in my pjs.

So let’s see what news do I have? I’m the featured author in N.J. Walters newsletter. I love N.J.’s books and was excited to be interviewed by her. To read the interview you must be a newsletter subscriber. You can subscribe here: awakeningdesires-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

I’m participating in the second annual Christmas in July contest. This contest has some great prizes. Here are the details!
2nd Annual Christmas in July TWO Contests!
Dates: 1 July through midnight EST 31 July.We only ship snail mail items to US and Canadian addresses.
CONTEST 1: (Open to readers/unpublished writers.industry reps - NOT published authors unless you're already a RBRU Yahoo group member)Prizes: Amazon/Barnes & Noble $125 Gift Certificate, Christmas ornaments, decks of Ellora's Cave/Blush playing cards, RBRU hats, tee-shirts and tote bags. To enter:1. Join RBRU yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus2. Visit http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com. Click on each of the 20 Bloggers names left sidebar) to visit their sites. Find the name of one of their books along with the names of the hero and heroine. COLLECT THE 20 BLOGGER NAMES, BOOK NAMES, AND HERO AND HEROINE NAMES. (If a blogger has two pen names, only do one). In ONE email message, send all this information to: contests.rbrus@gmail.com
CONTEST 2: (Open to everyone, including published authors) Prize: Amazon/Barnes & Noble $25 Gift Certificate.To enter:1. Join RBRU Chat group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rbruchat2. Become a Follower at our blog: http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com

In other news I signed a contract with Loose Id for I Wanna Sext U Up. I’m currently finishing it up and doing some revisions. I’ll share more in the future.
My July newsletter out and it has another great contest. You must be a subscriber to win so sign up here: authoramberskyze-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


Happy Saturday!