Welcome Lexi Post

Tell us about your current release.

I write erotic romances inspired by the classics, so it was Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Rappaccini’s Daughter” that inspired Passion’s Poison. Hawthorne’s Beatrice Rappaccini takes care of her father’s scientific experiments — poisonous flowers. She has become poisonous herself, though the reader is never sure if her father created her that way or if it was from the flowers. My Beatrice is also poisonous, only she must expel her poisons through sex in order to survive. The problem is that when she does, it makes her partners very ill and she actually sent her first boyfriend into a coma! So she is careful to keep her relationships to one-night stands. That is until she meets Zach.

Zach Woodman is a chainsaw artist with a beautiful log home in the next town over. Bea falls for him, but she doesn’t want to kill him. Zach is excited by Bea, but doesn’t want it to last too long because his past fiancées have all died in accidents. He’s accepted his bachelorhood as a mandate of fate. Still, when he meets Bea, he wants more than his usual three nights. What he doesn’t realize is that sex with her could kill him.

Tell us about your next release.

My next release will come out in 2014. I chose Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” for my inspiration.  In my story, the heroine is the original Katrina Van Tassel, but the hero is a descendent of the original Headless Horseman. It takes place in Sleepy Hollow, New York during the Washington Irving festival. Irving’s story is so detailed that I have been able to use the same scenery, character names, horses, and even the types of trees directly from his story, but mine story has a twist. I can’t say much more, but I will say even the original Headless Horseman shows up, well, sort of ;-)

Has someone helped or mentored you in your writing career?

I have had a great author, Jennifer Ashley/Allyson James, as my role model. She has been very kind over the years to advise me on the industry when I had questions and has always encouraged me. This is inspiring for me as I have never had someone as a role model before, and I still have “fan girl” moments when I am around her. She is such a nice person and so successful that I can’t help it.

When was your first sale?

I signed my first contract on Halloween in 2012. The offer had come earlier, but the contract had to be worked out. I am thrilled with my editor at Ellora’s Cave and had a great time hanging out with her at RWA’s National Conference this year. Pitched her a couple series ideas and she challenged me to write a short novella, so more will hopefully be coming from me next year J

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

I write after the sun goes down. That’s when I am most creative. The daytime is for analytical work, like revisions, edits, polishing, marketing, etc. I don’t have a set amount of time. When I am writing a rough draft as I am now, I write for a couple hours at a time.

What does your family think of your writing career?

They are all thrilled. In fact, it has become a family effort. After my first book, Masque, came out in March, I did a blog tour and wanted to giveaway something special. My sister found these amazing Venetian masks made in Italy, and since my characters in that book wore masks to each Pleasure Room, they were perfect. Mom wanted to help, so she bought the masks and my sister sent them out to winners. Then when I started writing Sleepy Hollow, I found I needed some Dutch words and phrases. Lucky me, my dad’s family is Dutch. My aunt contacted her cousin and her son and they are sending me Dutch phrases I can use. And yes, my aunt has already read Masque and loved it.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I do. I don’t know what I would do without them! My chapter by chapter critique partner is Marie Patrick. We write completely different types of romance and have completely different processes, but somehow that works out perfectly. I have another critique partner, Lyndee Henderson who is awesome with the synopsis critiques. My beta reader is actually my sister. She is an avid romance reader and is brutally honest and always right on the money. One time, she pointed out so many holes in a manuscript I had half-finished that I decided to drop it because it needed too much work. I may go back to it someday, when I feel ready to fix it.

Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with it?

I do use a pen name. Lexi was the easy part as that was what my family called me growing up. The last name was harder. I didn’t want to use the family name as I wasn’t sure how everyone would feel about the erotic piece of what I write. The same went for my mother’s family. So I decided to use my biological father’s last name. I’ve never met him, but my mom assured me it was a red, hot lover affair that produced  me (her words, not mine), so I thought it fitting.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

Well, I live on an island. Relaxing is easy, but that implies stress and there isn’t a lot here. The pace of life is slow. My biggest stressor is meeting a writing deadline. I have gentle waves as background noise all day and all night. I have Caribbean breezes that rustle the palm tree leaves. I have soft white sand and warm turquoise blue water. I also have a bit of reluctance every time I have to leave the island J

Tell us about your favorite fan letter you have received.

I’m a fairly new author so I haven’t received many, but there are a couple. One person said she had read my first book, Masque, four times! Another person said that she had a book hangover and she pitied the book that came next in her To Be Read pile. Those kind of comments make me want to write more and better. I feel a responsibility to keep my readers happy. Besides, writing makes me happy.

Blurb:

Passion’s Poison

Beatrice Rappaccini is tired of the one-night stands that keep her alive. Tired of the illness she causes when she releases her sexual poisons into her partners. But when she meets Zach Woodman, everything changes. Desperate for what she can’t have, she puts her heart and life on the line, ignoring the anonymous letters warning her to stay away from Zach.

Zach Woodman, logger turned chainsaw artist, has the perfect life, but no one to share it with after the deaths of the women he loved. Fascinated by the sexually experienced yet naïve Bea, he promises himself he will end their hot relationship before fate takes another beautiful woman from the world.

But he discovers Bea has no idea how to have a relationship, and he is perplexed by her strange behavior, hippie mother, six fathers and her request to give him every man’s sex fantasy. It is only when he might lose her that he realizes he must make a decision that will break his heart either way.

Excerpt:

She devoured him with her gaze. His chest appeared a golden brown in the fire’s light and his pectorals looked harder than granite, dwarfing his dark, erect nipples. She licked her lips. “Are you cold?”

His seductive grin sent chills racing through her body, readying it for what was to come.

“No, I’m burning up. Want to feel?”

“Yes.” She stood and ran her fingers through the short black hairs covering his contoured torso. They were so soft against the hardness of his muscles that she wanted to stroke his body for hours. She traced her fingers around his nipples, causing the tips to harden more. Her own nipples ached in response as she dropped her hands.

He took a deep breath, causing his chest to grow larger before her eyes until he released it. Following the dark line of hair with her gaze, she itched to slip her fingers into his blue jeans and cradle the hard cock that moved as she stared. Would it be long or thick or ruddy or crooked or—

“Your turn.”

“What?” Startled from her focused concentration, she glanced up to see him raise his eyebrow.

“Fair’s fair. I want to see you without your shirt.”

Moisture seeped along her folds at his words. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, but in a much different way than her normal sex partners. Her attraction to him had nothing to do with her toxic body. Plus, she liked him. What could she do? She could refuse. He would respect her decision, but she wanted this. How could she keep him from coming inside her, from taking her poisons into his body? She didn’t want to hurt him.

“Bea?”

She licked her lips and started to unbutton her sweater. Her mind raced as she let the garment drop on the couch. Hungry for him like no other man she’d been with, she searched for a solution. She pulled the dainty camisole over her head and stood in her lacy pink bra.

He lost his grin as his gaze feasted on her cleavage.

She had to think, but his look, combined with the moisture between her legs, made it difficult for her mind to cooperate.

He gazed into her eyes. “Take off your bra.”

Her heart beat so fast she had a difficult time breathing. Placing her hand between her breasts to calm herself, she unhooked the front clasp of her Fredrick’s bra. His gaze riveted to where her hands separated the two cups, and she shrugged herself out of them.

“You’re beautiful, like the snowfall. Delicate, soft and perfectly formed.”

Her heart melted at his words, but she remained still, wanting his hands upon her, and yet afraid of the fire he started within her.

He stepped closer and massaged her breasts as if he knew they had been uncomfortable in their confines. When he touched her areolas, stroking until the skin puckered into ridges, he caused her nipples to harden to painful tips. She ached inside her core for this man’s cock. She wanted him to the hilt, filling her.

He groaned. “I could eat you right here.”

Passion’s Poison is available in electronic formats:

Amazon

Ellora’s Cave

For more information about Lexi Post:

website:  http://www.lexipostbooks.com/             

Blog:  http://www.happilyeverafterthoughts.com/      

twitter:   https://twitter.com/LexiPost              

Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/lexipostbooks   

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6915542.Lexi_Post

Whet Your Appetite Wednesday - Kathy Kulig

Blurb: Dante’s dimension is on the edge of destruction, he seeks the help of a special mortal woman, Haley Moore. Fierce, undeniable passion between them unravels his plans and threatens Haley’s life. To save her, he must resist temptation, abandon her and leave earth forever. The sacrifices and risks are great, but what if there’s one last chance at love?

Excerpt:

Don’t get personal with your quarry.

He’d seen her walking along the highway alone. Young, attractive, fearless and carrying a backpack. A traveler? Homeless? He didn’t know. She was the perfect Kithra or quarry. She accepted his offer for a ride, with a little telepathic influence on his part, and he’d driven her out into the desert. No one would see them here.

She’d laughed when he’d swung the bike off the road, heading into open desert. While he made a campfire, she’d taken his Navajo blanket from the saddlebag and spread it out by the fire. Now naked and in trance, he craved to take her as a mortal man would take a mortal woman, but he couldn’t. She didn’t need to be naked for the collection. And tonight it was making his task more difficult.

Dante had to make his quota of human lifeforce energy to the demoness of Anartia. The immortals needed his offering to maintain their world. If he failed, he’d be replaced—destroyed—by Gwyllain, or her consort Tarik, the rulers of Anartia.

The woman watched him with hunger and lust in her eyes. The need to climax was great. His cock ached. But he’d have to wait until the offering. Stay in control. The more he teased and prolonged her orgasm, the better the harvest of chi. She whimpered as she watched him work his cock.

Straddling her body, he knelt on either side of her waist. Dante leaned forward and stroked her breasts, then eased his hand over her belly and between her legs. The woman sucked in a breath. The aura around her body told him she was close but he wasn’t ready to harvest her energy yet. As he rubbed her clit, cream coated her folds and moistened his finger. He plunged inside her pussy and shoved deep. She cried out, raising her hips off the blanket. The scent of her arousal was mixed with the scents of the desert—the earth, the sage and mesquite. He loved the desert, and he loved taking his Kithra here. The distraction of its beauty helped him control his own desire.

“Fuck me or lick me. I can’t wait anymore.” She reached down and grabbed his cock and squeezed him.

Damn, it felt good. But he pulled her hand away and pressed both arms above her head. He couldn’t risk having her touch him like that. It’d been so long since he’d had the pleasure to seek release with a human.

Leaning forward, he brushed his lips over her nipple, then bit gently and rolled his tongue over the erect peak. He repeated the tease to the other nipple and she moaned in pleasure. “So good,” she breathed.

“Yes.” He didn’t even know her name. No matter. She wouldn’t remember him after the collection. “Stay still,” he ordered.

“Yes.” She nodded and stopped writhing but he still ached to drive his cock into her. A vibration surged through him as he prepared for the harvest. Opening his mouth, he held his lips close to hers without touching. She parted her lips as if anticipating a deep kiss and her chi energy flowed in a stream of light from her mouth into his. She cried out as the orgasm shattered her but he held her down. His cock throbbed and his balls tightened, his body tensed, aching for release as the chi energy rushed into him. Control, control. He had to slow down or he’d drain her.

When he felt her energy weaken, he pulled away and stood. The woman lay there, in a deep, trancelike sleep, her eyes open but dazed. As he watched her, something inside him stirred. His collection was complete. He should leave her here, now. After all, he’d picked her up along the highway. Why not leave her where he found her? When she awoke, she wouldn’t remember their encounter.

Dropping down onto the sand beside her, he brushed her hair back. He’d been hanging around Sakari too long. No wonder that Drone chose to become a mortal. She got too personal with her Kithra and it always got her into trouble.

Dante got to his feet, got dressed and collected his belongings, stowing them away on his bike. Glancing back to the woman, he saw her curl up on her side and shiver as if the desert night air had chilled her. She was coming out of the trance. He needed to leave. He could cover her with a blanket. The night was cool and she was naked. After covering her, he stood over her and watched her sleep. She snuggled deeper under the covering and sighed. His cock twitched, then hardened. It took all his willpower not to lie next to her and pull her into his arms. Not for another collection of chi, but to feel her body close. Fuck. He kicked a stone into the fire and sparks rose into the sky.

He couldn’t leave her. He didn’t know why but he just couldn’t do it. There was no way he was going to let Sakari or any of the Drones find out about this. After he helped her dress, he folded up the blanket and got her back onto his bike. She was awake, but still in a semitrance. He extinguished the fire, buried the ashes so there was no sign that anyone had ever been there and drove his bike back toward the highway. He found a budget motel and pulled into the parking lot.

“Here’s your stop,” Dante said in a friendly manner. As she climbed off the bike, he slipped some cash into her jeans pocket.

She looked at him a little confused. “My stop? I can’t afford to stay here.”

“Sure you can. You said you found some money at the last rest area you were at. You have it in your pocket.”

Fishing in her jeans, she held up the bills. “Wow. Oh, yeah. I guess I forgot.” She laughed. “I should save this money though. I abandoned my car shortly after I left Texas. It died. But I have a sleeping bag. I’ve been camping out.”

“No, you need a bed and a safe place to sleep for the night.” Dante used his telepathic influence again. He wanted to make sure she’d have a safe place to recover. By morning she’d regain her strength and her mind, although she’d have forgotten all about their encounter, all about him.

“It would be nice to sleep in a real bed and use a shower, not wash up in a rest area. Will you stay too?” she asked.

He gripped the handles on his bike and dared to glance at her lush mouth. Her lips were pressed in a sexy pout. If he kissed her, he knew he wouldn’t have the power to leave. “Can’t.”

She sighed. “Thanks for the lift.” She waved goodbye and strode toward the motel. By morning he knew she’d forget about their sexual encounter in the desert.

Dante turned his bike around and rode back onto the highway.

Ellora’s Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/damned-and-defiant.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Damned-Defiant-Demons-Exile-ebook/dp/B008YXDVAG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1352653864&sr=8-6&keywords=kathy+kulig

B & N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/damned-and-defiant-kathy-kulig/1112582064?ean=9781419940804

Welcome Lisa Carlisle

Hi, I’m Lisa Carlisle, thanks for having me. I’m thrilled to share not, one, but three releases, in April and May. Ellora’s Cave is releasing three books in erotic paranormal romance series called Underground Encounters.

“…Get ready to be hooked on the series.” ~ Sizzling Hot Book Reviews.

·         April 26, 2013 – Night Encounters – an anthology containing the first two books in my Underground Encounters: Smoldering Nights, an erotic vampire novella, and Fiery Nights, an erotic paranormal romance

·         May 15, 2013 – Rock Me Tonight – A mountain lion shapeshifter falls for a hard rock singer at an underground club--but can she trust him with her secret?

·         May 31, 2013 – Bloodlust and Metal – A shapeshifting bounty hunter hunts a young vampire who has disguised herself as a singer of an 80s metal band. Part of Ellora's Cave On the Hunt theme, focused on hot bounty hunters.

Read on for blurbs and excerpts!

Night Encounters

By Lisa Carlisle

Smoldering Nights

Nike loves visiting the goth club Vamps—she can exchange her firefighter uniform for a slinky fantasy outfit. There she runs into the man she’d been admiring from afar at a rock-climbing gym. He’s been the star of all her sexual fantasies, so is it any wonder they end up in his private room upstairs? Just when things begin to heat up, Michel’s enemies appear.

Michel isn’t an ordinary mortal. And someone from his past is on the hunt for vengeance. Michel and Nike are forced to run and hide out in a coastal cottage in Maine. They can’t resist their attraction and spend the nights exploring each other’s bodies while trying to sort out how they feel. Can they overcome their differences while evading the predators chasing them?

Read an excerpt

Fiery Nights

By Lisa Carlisle

He may own a goth nightclub, but Tristan Stone avoids people—the darkness that surrounds them drains him. When he sees Maya for the first time, alone on the dance floor, a light surrounds her. He must discover who she is and what gives her power. 

Maya sees a man with haunting eyes watching her from the back of the club. She feels their connection, but thinks it’s merely physical attraction. Their passion ignites, overpowering them, and they must work together to understand their connection. The heat of their passion reflects their fiery personalities, which could send their world up in flames. 

Read an excerpt

5 Candles for Fiery Nights
“I don’t want to spoil the story but let me say this… you NEED to go and read this, NOW! …There is steamy sizzling hotness and then totally pure romance that makes you awww out loud! The HEA (Happily Ever After) is one of the best I’ve read...” ~ Satin Sheets Romance

To learn more about the Night Encounters anthology or buy now, visit:
Ellora’s Cave
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Rock Me Tonight

Lily Everett harbors a secret she’s certain no one will understand. She needs sex, but won’t consider a permanent relationship. When she meets the singer of a rock band at an underground nightclub, she’s disarmed by his sensual voice and mischievous good looks. After an icy introduction, Lily warms up to Nico’s charms.

A computer geek by day, Nico dons a rock singer persona by night. He’s tired of women pursuing him just because he’s in a band—the sex may be handy, but he wants something more. He’s intrigued by Lily’s reticence.

Keeping her emotional distance proves difficult the more Lily uncovers the intelligent, considerate man hiding behind Nico’s bad boy persona. Their encounters are hot-hot-hot, but Nico wants more from Lily than sex. When Lily lets down her guard and reveal her other side, Nico’s shock destroys their closeness and they both doubt they can overcome their differences.

A Romantica® paranormal/shapeshifter erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
Add to Wish List at Ellora’s Cave

Underground Encounters

Other books in the series include more lovable paranormal characters, including more vampires, shapeshifters, gargoyles, and more. I love to stay in touch with readers. Visit www.lisacarlislebooks.com. More books in the series are coming as well as a military romance. Follow me to stay tuned!

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Interview with Viki Lyn

Thank you Amber for having me as a guest today!

How did you start your writing career? I began writing when I owned an art gallery and didn’t have time to create my mixed media artwork. Writing was a creative outlet and I fell in love with telling stories. When I look back at my childhood, I always created stories in my mind but never wrote them down. So I guess writing wasn’t such a far stretch, but I had a lot to learn! In 2006, I published my first romance set in 1968 and several romance books later I switched to writing m/m romances. I just published by 12^th m/m romance this last year.

Where do you dream of traveling to and why? I’ve always been lucky to have traveled extensively and been to some incredible places. This May, I’m going to Japan, a country I’ve wanted to visit for some time now. I was a gallery assistant for a paper artist in San Diego for several years and fell in love with Japanese papers. I also like to watch Japanese anime and read yaoi (Japanese Boys’ Love comics – confession, I have over 300+ volumes!) and I love Japanese landscape design, aesthetics and art. So, I’m jazzed about the trip. We want to put in a Japanese garden in our atrium so I’ll be taking lots of pics.

Does travel play in the writing of your books? Yes, quite a bit. One of my vampire series (Chances) has Prague as a setting and in the third book my characters find themselves in Egypt (I also have an Egyptian scene in Sins of Lust). I was able to travel to Egypt three years ago. The temples and pyramids were awe-inspiring, and so incredible to see in person vs. the pictures in my art history book. I went to Eastern Europe two years ago and set my novella, Lover’s Trill, in Vienna.

Tell us about your current release. I have two current releases. My first book with Ellora’s Cave, Sins of Lust, is a paranormal m/m romance. It’s about archangels and the Protectors (fallen angels) that kill for them. I love Uri-el and Razi-el (Izar) – two lovers torn apart because one of them commits a sin and must be punished. Razi becomes Izar, a Protector, and loses his memories including his beloved Uri-el. But in the end, love conquers all. It’s very romantic and erotic and one of my hottest books. 

The other release is a novella published by Musa Publishing. Perceived Love is about second chances. A psychic must convince a scientist that his life is in danger.

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day? I usually write in the morning or afternoon, and rarely at night. I don’t have a set schedule, zipping between my writing room and my art studio! I usually get waylaid by friends calling to meet them for coffee. I love to socialize and family and friends comes first in my life. I usually write three books a year, but this year I’ve taken a break from having the need to get something published. I’m writing for fun and because I want to, and trying out other genres.

Where do you research for your books? I research mostly on the Internet these days, rarely going to the library. I also use my old travel books, city maps, and have a paranormal library at home. I’ve taken Tarot classes and other New Age philosophical classes as well, which seeps into my paranormals.

Does your significant other read your stuff? No! He read my first book but he didn’t enjoy the romantic conflict between the characters. Made him too nervous and reminded him too much of his first marriage! LOL. But, he’s my biggest fan. He even went to our well-lighted adult bookstore when I had to purchase gay sex manuals for research.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers? I have a critique partner that I meet with once a week. We’re going on more than six years now. She writes a completely different genre (sweet Regency and YA). We understand each other’s voices and we help each other improve our writing techniques, deepen our characters, plotting and pacing and sometimes teach writing classes together. I also have a good friend who’s an avid reader and helps me with plotting and editing. Sometimes I even get my sister’s involved with the plotting of my stories. No one is safe from me!

What was the scariest moment of your life? I was in a very serious car accident where my good friend almost died. Unfortunately, she didn’t come out of it unscathed and has permanent damage. That was a horrible moment that I hope to never experience again.

What songs are most played on your Ipod? Come Undone, Beautiful Liar, Hey, Soul Sister, Take the Long Way Home, The Pretender, Collide, We Are Young, Us and Them... I have a musical hodgepodge on my iPod.

Thou shall not kill.

For archangel Razi-el, he had no choice. He would break God’s commandment again if it were to save Uri-el from a demon’s talons. Yet even God’s most trusted archangel cannot avoid punishment. No longer Razi-el, he is now Izar, a Protector sworn to kill for the angels.

When a Protector kills an angel, Izar is summoned to work alongside Uri-el to capture the killer. Izar is shocked when his bloodlust spikes hot for the archangel. He knows better than to go after forbidden fruit. Refusing to give in to temptation, he ignores his body’s tempestuous arousal for Uri-el until a heated argument turns his blood into molten lust.

As they rush to find the killer, their passion plays into the demon’s plan. Izar will have to make a choice between life and death if he is to save Uri-el again.

Excerpt and buy link: http://www.ellorascave.com/sins-of-lust.html

Sins of Lust

ISBN 9781419941573

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Sins of Lust Copyright © 2012 Viki Lyn

Through the open archway, he caught a glimpse of the Vox Dei talking with another archangel, his back to Izar. They were backlit in a violet glow from the oracle stone. The crystal’s sheer size and faceted beauty had left him speechless the first time he’d seen it.

Izar tugged on the hem of his jacket. Before entering the cella, he took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. After folding the cloth into a small square, he slipped it back into his pocket. After one last tug on his jacket, he strode in and then abruptly stopped.

His eyes widened and he stepped back as the blond angel turned to him. Oh God almighty…his cock leaped, setting off a shockwave spreading throughout his lower half.

Golden waves of hair and milky skin, a white robe draped seductively around a tall, slender body, eyes bluer than any sky Izar had ever witnessed. The sight of the archangel caused a loss of equilibrium.

The archangel’s brows lifted slightly at Izar’s feeble attempt of appearing in control. Oddly, the angel seemed familiar, but they had never spoken or been in the same room together. Izar would have remembered that face. He’d seen the prince of the Cherubim from a distance, but never this close, this personal, this…distracting.

The quicksilver lust on seeing this vision shocked him. He wasn’t attracted to forbidden fruit. He didn’t need the trouble. He was a practical man, especially when it came to where he put his dick. Protectors were forbidden to lay with angels, except for the ga-aelijan of the Haelan Templum.

Turning away from the ethereal vision, he drew in a breath. He should have attended the Haelan for relief before coming here. His physical reaction to this archangel confirmed the danger of waiting too long to eradicate his bloodlust. He’d already pushed his limits, and if he didn’t get to the temple, he’d fall ill, or worse, lose the reins over his actions.

http://www.vikilyn.com
http://www.vikilyn.com/blog
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Once Viki Lyn wrote her first male/male romance, she was hooked. Now she gets to write about two sexy men as heroes instead of one.
What inspires - the reality that romance between lovers is a hope more than a guarantee. Her stories are sexy, but it’s always romance that drives the story to its final happily-ever-after.
Viki has worn many hats, working in corporate finance to owning her own art gallery, but writing has been a long lasting passion.

 

Viki Lyn: Award winning author of male/male paranormal and contemporary romances. You can find all of Viki's books at the following sites: Amazon, All Romance Ebooks and GLBT Bookshelf.

Pride will be the death of him.
When psychic Nate Coleman dreams of a murder, he knows it’s a premonition. He can’t forget the image of his ex-lover with a bullet hole through his chest. Nate has no choice but to confront William and face the skeptical scientist’s ridicule.
Dr. William Ryner doesn’t believe in what he can’t prove. When Nate comes back into his life, it’s not to rekindle their love, but to bring up more of that mumbo jumbo that split them apart.
Despite William’s refusal to listen, Nate can’t ignore the premonition. And, William can’t ignore Nate. Before the gunman strikes, William must either trust in Nate’s ability or rely only on the facts, but if he does the latter, pride could be the death of him.

Interview with Margaret L Carter

How did you start your writing career?

By teaching myself to type on an old typewriter my aunt had left at my grandmother’s house. Reading DRACULA at the age of twelve inspired me to pick up all the horror fiction I could find in the public library and start buying paperback horror and fantasy when I could afford it (mostly with birthday and Christmas money, but at that time $5.00 bought more than ten paperbacks). Since I could never find enough to read, I decided to start writing horror. What I really wanted, though, were stories from the “monsters” viewpoint or at least sympathetic to the monster, focusing on human-nonhuman relationships. Those weren’t easy to find in the 1960s. So I unearthed a high school textbook left over from my aunt’s beginning typing class and worked through the exercises on my own. While I never got proficient enough to be considered an expert typist, thanks to that book I’ve always used the touch system. I “practiced” by writing stories, starting at age thirteen. The first was about a tragic romance between a man and a ghost. The third was a single-spaced, thirty-plus-page story in the form of a diary of a man unwittingly changing into a vampire. Vampires remained my first love for decades, and I wrote that early story as journal entries because from DRACULA I got the idea that the epistolary structure was THE way to write horror fiction.

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

That would be Roger Darvell, protagonist of my first vampire novel, DARK CHANGELING, and its sequel, CHILD OF TWILIGHT. Roger, a psychiatrist, suffers from a dark thirst and a very strange midlife crisis. At the age of forty, he discovers what he always thought was a pathological obsession with blood is actually the result of his mixed heritage as half human and half vampire. Just when he discovers the existence of vampires and the truth about himself, a rogue vampire targets Roger, his patients, and his partner, female psychiatrist Britt Loren. Two secondary characters in this novel date back to that first vampire tale I wrote at age thirteen. DARK CHANGELING, which also includes a romance subplot between Roger and Britt, is the first book in my “Vanishing Breed” universe about a naturally evolved vampire species. Most of the works in this series can be read on their own in any order, and complete information can be found at the “Vanishing Breed” link on my website, Carter’s Crypt:

http://www.margaretlcarter.com

Tell us about your current release.

“Calling Back Love” an erotic paranormal romance novella from Ellora’s Cave, features a modern witch whose fiance is missing and presumed dead in Afghanistan. She is desperate enough to violate the laws of Nature to cast a spell for one last weekend with him:

http://www.ellorascave.com/calling-back-love.html

I also have a newly released story collection, DAME ONYX TREASURES: LOVE AMONG THE MONSTERS:

http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1092

Tell us about your next release.

In just a couple of days (April 12), Ellora’s Cave will release my erotic paranormal romance short story, Weird Wedding Guest, a sequel to my humorous Lovecraftian erotic romance novella, Tentacles of Love. In Weird Wedding Guest, a bridesmaid can’t wait to meet her e-mail friend, the groom’s brother. Imagine her shock when she discovers he’s a shimmering blob of eye stalks and tentacles:

http://www.ellorascave.com/weird-wedding-guest.html

Also, in May I have a new vampire romance (non-erotic) forthcoming from Amber Quill Press (http://www.amberquill.com ). PASSION IN THE BLOOD is a stand-alone novel in the Vanishing Breed universe.

When was your first sale?

In 1970, in my early twenties, I sold an anthology of vampire stories, CURSE OF THE UNDEAD, as a paperback to Fawcett. I had never seen a vampire anthology in print (though, as I found out soon after the book was accepted, a few did exist, nothing like the abundance of today) and thought a compilation of classic and modern stories in chronological order was just what vampire fans needed. I included an introductory historical overview and a brief timeline of important works. At the time, I was in college and had never had anything published before, except in my high school’s newspaper. I got the publisher’s address from WRITER’S MARKET at the library. I knew nothing about submitting manuscripts except that they had to be double-spaced and accompanied by a SASE. I think I did figure out on my own that an anthology submission should be a proposal package and didn’t have to include photocopies of all the stories first off. About a year went by without a reply from Fawcett. I finally sent them a humorous “why haven’t you written?” greeting card. (See, I knew almost nothing about the publishing business!) They responded by apologizing for the delay and accepting the book. As you can tell from this anecdote, selling anthologies was MUCH easier then than it is now. (In later years, when I had a track record as an author, I sent out anthology proposals with no success whatever.) Immediately after CURSE OF THE UNDEAD was released, Fawcett accepted a second anthology, DEMON LOVERS AND STRANGE SEDUCTIONS. Neither one earned out its advance, but it was a great thrill just to have them in print. And I learned a lot about publishing from the experience. Used copies of both paperbacks can easily be found online.

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

Usually in the afternoon, sometimes in the late morning. When actively working on a project, I write for two hours or 1000 words, whichever comes first. Of course, if I get on a roll and exceed 1000 words in a session, that’s great. I try to write at least five days a week (again, when actively working on a project; this schedule doesn’t strictly apply at the research and outlining stage). Producing 1000 words per day generates the draft of a novella in a month or a standard-length novel in not much more than three months. I consider myself a slow writer, so contemplating this math reassures me.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

The first draft. I have a lot of blank screen anxiety. Unlike some writers (such as Isaac Asimov) who enjoy the act of writing itself, I seldom do. That’s one reason I outline in detail. The more progress I can make on a piece while still fooling my brain that I’m not really “writing,” the easier it is.

Who are your books published with?

Hard Shell Word Factory as a division of Mundania (www.mundania.com ), Amber Quill Press (www.amberquill.com), and Ellora’s Cave (www.ellorascave.com ). I also have a vampire romance, EMBRACING DARKNESS, from Harlequin, available as an e-book from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Most of my books are offered in Kindle and Nook formats.

What books have most influenced your life?

DRACULA, because it led me to read all sorts of horror, fantasy, and soft science fiction and inspired me to start writing (as described above). Because I wanted to be a writer, I majored in English in college and graduate school. Getting into writing fantasy and SF even brought me together, as a teenager, with the boy who eventually became my husband, who was the only other aspiring writer I’d ever met at that age (and we’re still married). The other most influential books were THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the Narnia series, and in general all of C. S. Lewis’s works.

What is your favorite meal?

Chicken curry the way my husband makes it. Homemade spaghetti (tomato and meat sauce) is a close second.

Blurb:
War has stolen Kirsten’s fiancé Shawn from her. After he’s reported missing and presumed dead in Afghanistan, she turns to witchcraft to bring him back. Though she can’t recall him from the dead, magic can grant them one last weekend together for a proper farewell. Once she has tasted his love again, she can hardly bear the thought of letting him go. Yet even this brief interlude violates the laws of nature. There is no way to make his return permanent—or maybe there is.

Excerpt:

The leather-bound notebook lay open on the redwood kitchen table, its scrawls of black ink a mockery of Kirsten’s faint hopes. “I’ve scoured every page of Grandmamma’s Book of Shadows. I can’t find one word about what I need.” She slammed the book shut. “Not a thing about restoring life to a person killed before his time.”

“And you won’t.” Estelle shook her head, the spring of her salt-and-pepper curls punctuating the decree. “No magic can call back the dead. And even if it could, you know that never ends well. You’ve read ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ and that book by Stephen King.”

“But I can’t leave it like this. When we talked on Skype the night before his last patrol, we had another fight about his career. I came this close to making him choose between the Army and me. We didn’t have a real goodbye. If there’s any way magic can give me one more chance, I’ll take it.” In the two months since the report of Shawn’s presumed death in Afghanistan, the memory of that argument had been eating her alive.

“When I promised your grandmother I’d mentor you in the Craft, I accepted certain responsibilities, one of which is to stop you from making reckless choices.”

Kirsten rubbed her eyes, sore from yet another crying fit just before she’d come here, and stared at her mentor with wild hope. “You wouldn’t talk about stopping me if it weren’t possible in the first place. Okay, witchcraft can’t bring the dead back to life. How about calling up his spirit so we can have one last conversation?”

“Have you ever seen me conduct a séance? Me or any other responsible witch? It’s against nature to disturb the peace of the dead.” Estelle strolled to the counter to pour two mugs of coffee. The window over the sink framed her silhouette against a serene background of sun-dappled trees, a mockery of the turmoil that racked Kirsten. Her teacher’s spacious kitchen with its granite floor, exposed oak beams and aromas of drying herbs usually welcomed her with its warmth. Today it felt as bleak as the rest of the world.

“I don’t believe he’s at peace. He was blown to bits on a mountainside with nothing left to bring home.” Survivors of the platoon had reported two explosions, the second of which had obliterated Shawn. No remains had been found, not even a minute fragment, hence the “missing and presumed dead” conclusion that left him in official limbo. “We were supposed to get married after he finished this tour. The IED stole that from us. I’m not at peace with that so how can he be, wherever he is?” She shoved aside the mug Estelle set in front of her.

The older woman clasped her hand across the table. “When the gift for magic skipped your mother, your grandmother entrusted your training to me. She’d find a way to rise up and haunt me if I let you risk yourself with any such dark working.”

“There you go again, hinting at something you’re hiding from me. Well, maybe I don’t need your help. There’s got to be somebody on the left-hand path who’ll teach me what I need to know.”

Estelle’s thin face hardened, as stern as an avenging angel’s, her blue eyes turning icy. “Don’t even think that. Do you imagine for one minute the Goddess would shelter you from the consequences?”

“Where was She when Shawn died on that mountain?” Kirsten stood up and paced around the room, feeling she might explode if she sat still another second. “Last night I remembered something that happened when I was really little, five or six. My pet rat died.”

Estelle froze, staring at her.

“Grandmamma happened to be visiting that day. I peeked into my bedroom and there she was, holding Snowy in the palm of her hand. She whispered some words and he started moving. Somehow I knew I wasn’t supposed to see that so I never said anything. But I know what I saw. Mom said Snowy must have just been sick but I know Grandmamma brought him back to life.”

“As you said, you were very young. You misunderstood. Your pet wasn’t actually dead.”

Kirsten folded her arms and glared at her teacher. “What happened to your core principles of truth in the Craft? I know better. He was dead and then he wasn’t. As soon as I remembered that day, I knew magic could bring Shawn back to me.”