Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Who's Who Wednesday Author Louisa Bacio




Hello everyone, let's please give a warm welcome to Author Louisa Bacio! She will be giving away her book The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf! For your chance to win please follow this blog, follow her blog (http://louisabacio.blogspot.com) and leave a comment with your email address where the book can be sent. Now on to this great interview!



1) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Fortunately, I’ve always known what I wanted to do, and I was talented enough to earn money writing as a career. I started writing poetry about Garfield when I was 7 years old. In junior high and high school, I was on the yearbook staff and I won my first short story contest in high school. In college and grad school, I worked for the school newspapers, and afterward I got a job in magazine editing.

2) What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

Insane. I honestly have an insane “work” schedule. If I think too much about it, I get nervous. Seriously, in addition to writing, I teach college (at multiple schools), work part-time in an office, edit books and magazines, do some freelance writing. All of that doesn’t include being a mom, and wife, and working on self-promotion. I also volunteer with my local RWA chapter, Orange County. (And they have meetings twice a month.)

Oh, wait, back to writing: If I’m on a strict (coming quick) deadline, the I write much more often. Honestly, I try to do at least an hour a day, or 1,000 words. That means it should take me two months to write at 50,000 word book, but usually with life and edits I need three months. While I write late at night, I edit during the daytime when the brain is “fresh.”

3) Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Sometimes I wonder myself. As a trained journalist, I’m a good observer. I like to watch others, and listen to conversations. On a daily basis, I’m struck by something that sounds like it could be a good story. Some those elements may work their way into a storyline. I also like looking at the “calls for submissions.” Most of the time, I think: “I’ve got nothing for that!” and then an idea pops up a few days later. Most recently, it was a call for erotic threesome re-tellings of mythology. I submitted by short story to that anthology, so fingers-crossed!

There are times when the characters speak to me, too. Further in the interview, I mention an upcoming release, Chains of Silver. As soon as that book was finished and submitted, I thought of a sequel that continues with Silver’s storyline. She’s not finished yet. Now, to only have the time to write it!

4) Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?

You know, hon, one of my goals is to help you become a published writer! Seriously … Be honest with your writing, and let your creativity flow without boundaries. One reason why I write late at night is because I turn off my filter. Drinking alcohol doesn’t seem to work well for me because after two glasses of wine all I want to do is sleep! But, put it in the story and you can always take it out … if you feel like you need to.

5) If you were to do your career as an author again, what would you do differently, and why?

That’s an extremely difficult question to answer. I’ve been fortunate to sell a few short stories to Ravenous Romance, and then met with Editorial Director Lori Perkins, who also owns the L. Perkins Agency. She took a chance on me with offering a contract for an as-yet-unfinished book. I sold on proposal. I also ended up signing with one of her agents, Saritza Hernandez.

Overall, I’ve been very fortunate. That said, maybe I would have started finishing my novels sooner. I finaled in a writing contest about six years ago, and an editor requested a full. I never sent it in because I was finishing a second master’s degree and then undergoing infertility treatments – two extremely stressful events. But if I hadn’t taken this path, then who knows where I may have ended up?

Mostly, I don’t believe in regret … just moving forward and embracing one’s past.

6) Have you ever been surprised by a controversy among fans or reviewers - for example, you created a character without thinking too much about what people would think of him, and found some readers loved him and some hated him?

The more I write, and am published, I’m learning that people have such varied tastes. When it comes to erotic romance, I go for pretty much everything. When my first book, Sex University: Physical Education was released, I received some negative reviews because while it’s primarily a M/F novel, it contains one voyeuristic M/M scene and a F/F scene. The reviewer wanted straight M/F without any same-sex, but me it’s a sex school! Anything goes. (And it wasn’t the primary characters involved with someone else.)

With The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf: A New Orleans Threesome, I’ve had a few reviewers/readers say that they love Lawrence, the vamp, and Trevor, the were, but why did Lily have to come along? Personally, I like reading M/F/M ménage. I like putting myself into that scene. But, others don’t want it. So – for them, and me – I’m working a on Christmas-themed prequel right now titled The Vampire & The Werewolf. Law and Trev were together for five years before Lily came along, and I’m going to give a peek into that storyline.

7) Favorite dessert?

Can I really eat anything I want, without gaining weight or getting sick from it being too rich? If so, it would be some sort of rich, creamy chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and vanilla ice cream. Sigh. Something most don’t know, I’m lactose-intolerant and can’t do that too often! But, I can dream about it. What I get in real life are Smartees or Licorice.

8) Favorite way to relax?

As a writer, it’s a good thing that one way is actually writing. When I haven’t for a while, I get all tied up in knots and nervous. I’ve always said, too, if I wasn’t a writer, I’d be a chef. So being alone, in the kitchen, and creating something fabulously delicious is a turn-off. (Having to do it with two kids, hubby and two dogs underfoot gets annoying.)

9) What TV shows do you watch?

Survivors ready! Yes, I’m a long-time Survivor fan. I also regularly watch Castle, Body of Proof and Ringer. OnDemand, I tend to choose shows like Food Truck Race and Chopped! But, with two small kids keeping up with shows can be tough. I stopped watching True Blood after the first episode this summer because my kids got up and came inside five times in the first 15 minutes. With all the wild sex and violence, it’s not something you want your 4-year-old seeing!

10) Tell us about your newest release. 

I’ve got a “coming soon,” that has been turned in but hasn’t been given a release date yet from my publisher, Ravenous Romance. Follow my blog for information.

The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf 2: Chains of Silver

Adopted at birth, Silver Ashe discovers her blood-brother Trevor Pack is a werewolf, with a vampire and witch for lovers. All her teachings about the evils of the paranormal Others come into question. She runs to a family friend, Nick, for help.

Nick Stake takes his hobby as a vampire hunter personally. He strives to rid the world of evil bloodsuckers. When his best friend’s “kid” sister comes to him for advice, Nick discovers Silver’s more than grown up. He battles his growing desire for Silver and blindly holds true to his convictions.

Once Silver reaches her sexual maturity, she’ll inherit her full genetic heritage and turn into a werewolf. When death comes calling, Silver and Nick must face their darkest fears in order to break free from the chains that bind.

Where can readers find you (What websites, emails etc)?



Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Who's Who Wednesday Author Kathleen Grieve


Our Who's Who Wednesday Author is the lovely Kathleen Grieve.  Please make sure to follow this blog and Kathleen's  blog (http://www.kathleengrieve.blogspot.com ), along with commenting on this blog and leaving your email address as Kathleen will be doing a book giveaway to a lucky winner!  

Now on to the wonderful interview!

1. What do you think makes a good story?

Characterization and conflict. I love a well developed, sensitive hero and a strong but vulnerable heroine.

2. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

So many things…firefighter, veterinarian, journalist!! But ended up as a registered nurse with a flair for the dramatic. LOL

3. What quirks (flaws) if any do your hero and heroines have?

I think I have inserted a few of my own quirks/flaws into my heroines. My very first book that I wrote (completely awful and shoved into a drawer BTW) my heroine is a klutz. Faith Daniels, in The Doctor’s Deception has an obsession for chocolate. In Dating 911, Roxanne Carter loves to bake, finding the entire process cathartic and a way to relieve her stress. Dr. JJ Jones, the heroine I’m currently working on loves useless mindless facts. You will see her in the next novel of my Dating Series, Dating Impossible. The last novel of my Dating Series, Dating Trouble will be Ambra’s story. She is a bit selfish, but I think with good reason. She’s a work in progress and I’m still working out her goals and conflict.

4. Which of your books was the easiest/hardest to write?

The easiest? My first one. The completely awful, shoved in the drawer, been rejected multiple times book! LOL. I had no idea what I was doing. The characters are written flat and two-dimensional. The conflict is weak… Too much passive voice… I could go on and on. But I do love the characters, though and someday, plan to pull it out and fix all of its flaws.

The hardest? Right now, that is the paranormal/erotica wip that I started that has tried to monopolize my time. It’s called From Lust To Ashes and my heroine is a Phoenix with some unusual powers of persuasion. I have excerpts of this on my blog and have received some very positive responses. What makes it hard is that I’m dabbling in something I’ve never tried before, but that also makes the project very exciting!

5. Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
The only reviews I have are from The Doctor’s Deception and it was received more than positively! I couldn’t have been more humbled by how well it was received. As Dating 911 will begin making the rounds, I’m more than nervous. This book is not the sweet romance that The Doctor’s Deception is. My hero, firefighter Jett Avery is in a very dark place. It was difficult to balance his posttraumatic stress disorder with the levity I like to write. He toed the line a couple of times, pushing my heroine, ER nurse Roxanne Carter passed her comfort zone…I really have no idea what people will think.

That being said, reviews are important. They are a tool for readers to use when choosing which books to buy on limited budgets in this age of a sour economy. Most of the professional reviewers out there try to be more than fair and everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Not everyone is going to like or even love the same types of stories. The passion for reading is very personal.

6. Favorite dessert?

Cheesecake…and of course anything chocolate!

7. Tell us five things about you, that we wouldn't know.
1-I think most peeps know that I’m a nurse but they may not now that I work night shift at the hospital because I am soooo not a morning person. I don’t function before 3pm in the afternoon. 2-The music on my iPod contains anything from Alice in Chains and Seether to Brad Paisley and Toby Keith along with some jazz and big band swing music. 3-I’m dating a respiratory therapist. 4- The older I get, the less tolerance for stupidity I seem to have. 5-I’m half Irish and half Mexican and extremely laid back.

8. Tell us about your newest release.
Dating 911 is my release from Evernight Publishing and is the first book in my Dating Series. Here is the Blurb:

Emergency room nurse, Roxanne Carter is a loser-magnet wishing she could enjoy her single life. Commiserating with girlfriends over butterscotch martinis creates the idea of The Dating Manifesto--a not so scientific research project which promises to point the way to dating success. While gathering data to find the most suitable single men available, she wades through a series of unsavory, stale dates, which literally places her back at ground zero. Just when she is ready to give up, sin personified in the form of sexy firefighter Jett Avery, arrives tainting all of her previous data.

A traumatic warehouse fire, in which firefighter Jett Avery's closest friend dies, has him suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Attempting to stave off the worst of his depression, he decides to use his brand of therapy...Sex. The remedy has lost luster until he encounters ER nurse Roxanne Carter.

The pursuit of Roxanne by Jett's twin brother, Doctor Cruz Avery, complicates her research and interferes with Jett's therapy. Does Roxanne choose the brother who by analysis is the perfect match? Or the broken, dark and irresistible one?

Excerpt:


She held up her hands, palms facing toward him. “Stop. This is a hospital. Not some stupid television show where the medical staff is always making out in a closet. I work here. Don’t even think about it!”

Jett closed the distance between them until her hands pressed against his chest, searing their imprint through the thin cotton of his T-shirt. He grasped her fingers and lifted them to his mouth, licking the sensitive tips with his tongue one by one. Heat filled her eyes and she trembled.

“You feel the pull, too. Don’t you?” he asked, dropping her hand.

Jett slid his hands to her waist, and molded her against his erection. A perfect fit. Her sharp intake of breath as she shook her head told him all he needed to know. He smiled. Satisfaction filled him.

“Liar. Shake your head in denial all you want, but I can see the reflection mirrored in your eyes, and feel the powerful draw when I touch you,” he said in a husky tone. He rubbed his stiff cock against her stomach. The intensity of his desire eliminated all reason.

Jett buried his face in her neck and breathed in her sweetness. “Hmm. Today you smell like chocolate.” His tongue traced the delicate shell of her ear as his hands stroked her bare arms. “But you taste like honey.”

Her knees bent and he placed his leg between hers to support her. On the brink of total insanity, he continued his light exploration. His hand skimmed her torso, and skirted the side of her breast. With slow, deliberate care, he let his fingertips graze her collarbone on the way to grasp the back of her neck. Another tremor rippled through her.

God, she felt so damn good.

She tilted her chin and her head rested in his open palm. “Jett,” her sultry voice caused his penis to throb. “This is not a good idea. Anyone could come in here and….”

He pushed his thigh against her crotch. She inhaled sharply, desire deepening the blue of her eyes. “You were saying?”

Her brow furrowed. “And…”

“Intoxicating being a little naughty, isn’t it?” he rasped. He gently tugged her face closer to his. “Hmm. I believe you mentioned the other night that your most recent sexual exploits have been lacking. Let’s add something of interest for your science venture.”


9. What can the readers expect from you in the near future?


Well, I have 2 more books in my Dating Series to come, Dating Impossible and Dating Trouble. I also have 3 other books in progress one I’ve started to call Heart & Soul about a loveable matchmaking ghost; Temperatures Rising is a tentative series about a group of nursing students; and From Lust To Ashes, my paranormal erotica wip. All of these I have shared and will continue to share pieces on my blog, http://www.kathleengrieve.blogspot.com In fact, the entire first chapter of From Lust To Ashes is posted on there.

10. Where can we find your book(s)?


Amazon.com and www.evernightpublishing.com

I have buy links posted on my website www.kathleengrieve.com

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Who's Who Wednesday Author Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy!




Our newest Who's Who Wednesday Author is Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy! Let's give a lovely welcome to her. And for one lucky winner, when you follow this blog, Lee Ann's blog http://leeannsontheimermurphy.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment with your email on this blog. Lee Ann will be offering up to the winner a choice of one of her available titles! Some come on join the fun!

Bio:  Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy is a full-time romance author. A native of the old historic city of St. Joseph, Missouri, one time home to both Jesse James and the Pony Express, she now lives and writes in the beautiful Missouri Ozark region. Her romance novels include Wolfe’s Lady (December 2010 Evernight Publishing), Love Tattoo, (March 2011, Evernight), Love Scars (June 2011, Evernight), Love Never Fails (May 2011, Rebel Ink Press), Kinfolk (July 2011, Champagne Books) and The Marriage Cure (Astraea Press). Other works scheduled for upcoming publication include four other novels, short fiction in several anthologies and more.

Her work also appears in nine anthologies to date. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Missouri Writers Guild, EPIC, The Ozark Writers League and Paranormal Authors Guild. She earned a BA degree in both English and History from Missouri Southern State University as well as an AA Degree in Journalism from Crowder College. She worked in broadcast media for a decade and has also worked in the education field.

She is married to Roy W. Murphy and the couple has three children, Emily, Megan, and Patrick Murphy.

If Lee Ann – or Lee as many of her writing friends know her – isn’t writing, she’s reading or spending time outdoors.

In Neosho, Missouri, the small town she now calls home, she serves on the local library board, is active in the annual Relay For Life fight against cancer, has worked with the local Arts Council, and is active in her parish.

 Now on to the interview.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
It's crazy and since I'm writing all the time, everyday, weekends, holidays, my life's more than a little crazy too. I'm up early to tend my blogs, emails, etc before the family's up and I'm often still at the computer late. I work around everything else and try to keep it balanced.


How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
By the end of 2011 I will have nine novels out plus several novellas, a novella and three novels so far for 2012, one unsold novel and multiple works-in-progress. So a lot, I guess. Picking a favorite novel would be trying to pick a favorite out of my three kids - I love them all. That said, I have to admit that Guy's Angel, a historical romance set in my old hometown in 1925, is very close to my heart. The setting came out of my grandparents' stories.

Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Write, write, write. Learn to write as concise and clean as possible. I've learned so much from edits and I'm still learning. Write the story that only you can - never worry about what may trend or what's popular.



What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?
That's a good question. I've worked in broadcast radio doing a little bit of everthing, on air work, writing ad copy, voicing commericals, all of it and loved it. I also spent some time substitute teaching and considered getting teacher certification to do it full time. But my dream job if I wasn't an author would be to run a restaurant, a traditional old school place with daily specials. I grew up hanging around the fringes of the restaurant business - two of my aunts, at different times, had restaurants. Before I went to school, I loved playing around my Aunt Mackie's restaurant, filling the spring loaded napkin holders, etc. When I was in high school, my Aunt Janet and Uncle Bill owned a restaurant. On one visit to see them, I ended up cooking short orders. I also worked in restaurants in my high school and college years. And my mom's grandparents owned restaurants back in the day. I love the hustle and bustle, the rattle of dishes, the customers, and all of it.

If you were to do your career as an author again, what would you do differently, and why?
I would get serious sooner. When things really began to take off for me, I had made writing a priorit in my life, treating it like a job. That means that I sat my rear down at the computer everyday, that I worked whether I wanted to or not, and got serious.


Have you ever been surprised by a controversy among fans or reviewers - for example, you created a character without thinking too much about what people would think of him, and found some readers loved him and some hated him?
The biggest controversary I ever stirred up was in one of my newspaper columns. I've been a newspaper columnist in various places for more than twenty years. One of the larger papers that I wrote a Sunday column for is a regional one that extends coverage into four different states. That one was an opinion column and when Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ" came out, I couldn't believe how people were being affected by the movie so I wrote my column with the headline "It's not holy - it's Hollywood". I still stand by that, too. I'm a person of faith and in my Catholic religion, we focus on the events depicted in the movie each Easter season. The events are holy but the movie? It's just a movie. But my opinions sparked a firestorm of comments and controversary. Some people hated me, predicted I'd go to hell, and the paper ended up dropping me as a columnist not long after. No worries, though, I found a new gig!



What TV shows do you watch?
I don't watch a lot of television but shows I like tend to be different and quirky. Thanks to my daughters, I've become a fan of Supernatural and those Winchester brothers. Some of my favorites aren't on air right now but include Dead Like Me and Paranormal Cops. I love Billy the Exterminator and I watch several old retro shows like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie.



Tell us about your newest release.
My next up release is a romantic suspense story, Witness Protection Program, and it will be out from Rebel Ink Press October 3, 2011. It's a good story about a woman in the federal witness protection program whose cover is blown so she's whisked off to a safe house. She falls for the federal agent and against all rules, he falls for her too.


What can the readers expect from you in the near future.
I've got Witness Protection Program , my second Champagne Books release, A Time To Love (A time travel romance) is out now, and Sing We Now of Christmas, a poignant little love story out from Rebel Ink Press on December 3, 2011. I have three (so far - I expect that number to rise) coming out next year from Rebel Ink Press including Guy's Angel and a novella from Champagne Books that has Elvis as a character, Long Live The King.

I also have stories in several anthologies coming soon - Jack O'Spec from Raven Electrick Press, Stories From The Hearth from Woodland Press, Midnight Seduction from Evernight Publishing, Stockings and Suspenders, also from Evernight, and a stand alone short from Silver Publishing out October 29 (a Halloween story, romance and speculative) called "World Without End, Amen".


Where can we find your book(s)?
Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Coffee Time Romance, All Romance Ebooks, Bookstrand, just to name the first few that come to mind. Some are available through the publishers including Champagne Books and Evernight Publishing.



Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy:  Romance That Lives And Breathes The Power of Love!

Love Never Fails, Rebel Ink Press now available in paperback, all other titles in ebook format

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Never-Fails-Sontheimer-Murphy/dp/1937265056/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_6

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Who's Who Wednesday Author C.R. Moss



Let's all welcome author C.R. Moss to Epically Romantic. An eccentric and eclectic writer, C.R. Moss pens stories for the mainstream and erotic markets, giving readers Worlds of Possibilities. For more about the woman behind the keyboard, visit www.crmoss.net.



1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 


A: I’ve been working toward a career in writing for as long as I can remember. I had been creating stories since I started to read, but the thought of writing for a living solidified when I was in middle school and received an A in English. I looked at the grade and that’s when my life was defined. I realized I could do it. From that point on, I put pen to paper to get my thoughts down and made sure to take classes appropriate to learning and honing the craft. I did Creative Writing and Drama in high school. My BA from Rutgers College stems from a concentration of courses in Communications and English. I’ve even taken a couple of novel writing workshops where I was mentored one-on-one by a Kensington author. Now, there are the classes at the conventions, conferences and through the local RWA chapter that I attend, which helps to keep me writing. So, yeah, it’s been in my blood a long, long time.

2. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

A: Snippets on television, news headlines on the web, songs on the radio, the interesting things people say and my dreams influence my writing and give me ideas. On occasion, I do composites of people/events. I’ll take a basis of a person/event and mix it with quirks, mannerisms, personalities, situations of other people/events.

3. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

A: I listen to music that puts my mind into a specific frame of reference for the type of story I’m writing. The genres of music I’ve been known to listen to are spa, alternative, new wave, country, Flamenco, etc. If I'm still particularly stuck, I'm known to light incense.

4. When did you write your first book and how old were you?

A: Geez, we’re talking almost thirty years ago. LOL! I remember I referenced popular music in it and submitted it. Don't remember where & it was rejected. Broke my little pre-teen heart.

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

A: I watch a lot of television—catch up on DVR’d shows, watch movies and educational type shows. I read. I’ve also been known to crochet, which keeps the mind occupied and helps me relax. Plus, I can make presents for the people I care about.

6. Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?

A: For all wannabe authors—learn the craft. This means grammar, characterization, plot, etc., all the good things that go into a story. You might be able to ‘tell’ a good story, but if you can’t write it by showing what the characters are doing/feeling and making it read well, your writing career won’t go anywhere. Get involved in a critique partnership/group. Learn the non-creative side of the business as well. Be prepared.


7. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

A: There was a very short time period when I was young that I wanted to be an astronaut. Then I thought of teaching. But when it comes right down to it—the one constant throughout the years—I’ve always wanted to write, be a published author. And, here I am.

8: Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why?

A: For dinner, Dakota from Wild West Weekend. He's a handsome cowboy who's easy on the eyes and would make a nice dinner companion. For dessert though, I'd have sexy demon Ash (from my Dirty Little series). Who would I least like? There aren't any characters who I wouldn't have dinner with. They're all interesting in one way or another.


9. What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

A: I've held such a range of jobs trying to find the right combination of something to bring in income while I worked on getting my writing off the ground that I now realize, if I couldn't write, I would have to do something that dealt with creativity. I danced when I was younger, drew, sang, played some instruments, did some acting…I need a creative outlet. Maybe I would pursue something behind the scenes in the movie industry like I thought of doing when I graduated high school, but finances at the time prohibited me moving across country to go to LA. Or go into the music industry in one form or another.
10. If you were to do your career as an author again, what would you do differently, and why?

A: I started writing in the 80’s and seriously took it on in the 90’s. If I could go back, I’d tell myself to just do it, get something written, put myself out there and don’t wait to pursue my dream or let excuses get in the way.


Where can readers find you (What websites, emails etc)?
Readers can find me at:
Website: www.crmoss.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/crmoss
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CRMoss

Blog: http://www.crmoss.blogspot.com/

Thanks for having me on your blog! It's been a pleasure.


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Who's Who Wednesday Author Casea Major


Help me welcome Author Casea Major for Who's Who Wednesday Author Spotlight!  Casea Major will be giving away her ebook Pinnochio Syndrome to a lucky winner.  To be entered please comment on this blog with your email, along with following this blog and the author's blog at http://caseamajor.wordpress.com/!  
Now on to the interview!


How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on how long the story is. Generally a full-length 75-100K takes me two months to write the first draft. A short story takes about a week.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I write/critique/read anywhere from 12-15 hours a day, seven days a week - all the time.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I get inspiration from many sources but generally I use other books (the Bible quite a bit) and music.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I completed my first novel in January. I was 29 for the 12th year in a row. ;)

How many books have you written? Two full-length novels and three short stories

Which is your favorite?
Whichever one I'm working on. The Pirate Princess is my strongest writing but I really enjoyed writing my short story Pinocchio Syndrome. I laughed so much writing that story. The Implanting is my first manuscript and it is my heart. It is my favorite.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be a soap opera actress. If that failed, I wanted to write them which is pretty much what I do now.

Which of your characters is your favorite?

My favorite character is the divinely inspired Petra, a blonde-haired, brown-eyed nobleman in the mystical land of Jastain. His Gift of Implanting includes diplomacy, animal speak, and the taming of wild beasts – which makes him the perfect match for the feral pirate, Charlee. He's unassuming, lighthearted, and a man of exceptional quality and character. I call him my Mary Poppins "practically perfect in every way", which oddly enough is what seems to get him into trouble. He was rejected by the heroine in The Implanting but finds his Happily Ever After in The Pirate Princess.


Tell us about your current release.

I have a current release with New Dawning International Bookfair, Pinocchio Syndrome. It's a humorous erotic take on the Italian fairytale, kind of like Pinocchio meets the Sopranos.

Tell us about your next release.

My next release is a 1NS story titled One Knight in Brooklyn. It's loosely based on Robin Hood. Sick of trying to find Mr. Right in a world of Mr. Right Now, Marianne seeks the services of Madame Eve to introduce her to a romantic knight who will sweep her off her feet. But what she gets is Robert, a crass car salesman from Brooklyn and a zany adventure in Sherwood Forest.



Thanks for sharing your time with me. Please leave a comment and let me know you stopped by.

You can find out more about me and my books at Major Romance Blog Spot or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CaseaMajor.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Who's Who Wednesday Author Alexandra O'Hurley




Let's all welcome Author Alexandra O'Hurley to Epically Romantic.  Alexandra will be giving away a PDF copy of All's Fair In Love and Lust.  So to get in on the  chance to win, please visit her website (http://alexohurley.blogspot.com/) and follow it, as well as clicking follow on this blog and when you comment on this blog leave your email address so you can be contacted if you are the lucky winner!  Now on to the interview.

How long does it take you to write a book? It really depends on the story and my distractions, but I can usually finish a novel in about a two month window or a novella in one. But life and work happens, so I do my best to just keep at it.


Are you anything like your heroines or heroes? I think any writer has a little piece of themselves in each and every character. But I admit that each one of my heroines has quite a bit of me in them.


Where do you get your ideas for your books? Gosh, I really wish I could tell you. I have had ideas come as dreams, researching an idea that has lead to new ideas, a simple comment from someone else, or even some guy walking out in a sports uniform from a convenience store one day gave me a spark of 'oh!'. I think our muses speak to us all the time. We just need to keep our eyes and ears open.


How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? I currently have nine published/contracted pieces ranging from two shorts in two anthologies, two novellas and five novels. My favorite? Whichever I am working on! I think the story consumes you when it is in your head begging to get to the page. But if I had to choose, I would have to pick The Lottery.


Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing? I read them. Most creative people have a slight narcissistic side to them. We want people to like our work. It feeds the fire to continue creating. And I do take note of some of the critiques, especially if it something I hear repeatedly. But I also have to be true to myself and my vision. You have writers who are all about the money and will write any ole crap to get it out there. And then you have the ones who see their work as above reproach and they refuse to change it to fit the market. I am that writer in between. I want to make a career from this, so I need to listen to my audience/publisher, but I also want the writing to be good and the story to draw the reader in. At least that's my hope.


What do you like to do when you're not writing? I work full time and go to school part time. So when I am not writing, I sleep and eat. Both of which I excel at, by the way.

What does your family think of your writing?
My 15 year old calls my books "those smutty things" and my mother refuses to read them due to content. But they are very proud of me. I actually got an earful one day when my mother didn't know I was there. It almost made me squirm it was so gushy.



Tell us five things about you, that we wouldn't know. One, I went to culinary school. Two, I originally wanted to be a History teacher. Three, I build websites. Four, I have two spoiled dogs. Five, I went to four different elementary schools in the fourth grade alone.


Tell us about your newest release. I have several. Night of the Dragon was released August 26 from Evernight Publishing and All's Fair in Love and Lust was published September 27 from Siren Publishing. Being Improper will be out October 7th from Evernight. The Midnight SeductionAnthology includes my short Going Berserk, and it will be out in mid-October.

Where can we find your book(s)? I have multiple publishers, so the easiest way would be to go to www.alexandraohurley.com, but they are available on Barnes and Noble Online, Amazon, Fictionwise, ARe, Bookstrand, and my publisher's websites - www.newconceptspublishing.com, www.evernightpublishing.com and www.bookstrand.com.


Thanks for having me, Nichelle!

Friday, September 30, 2011

Review: Busted by Lizze Lynn Lee






Title: Busted
Author: Lizzie Lynn Lee
Review Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Ebony Dreams
Author: Lizzie Lynn Lee
Publisher: Summerhouse Publishing

Release Date: March 2011

Book Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance



Blurb:

James and Anna are hiding their relationship from her father. Or are they?


Review:

If you're looking for a short read that will excite you, this is it. Another short page that just wowed me. Ten pages of heat. I loved this. Loved Anna and how she went for what she wanted no matter the circumstances. James desires Anna and when Anna has him in her sights, no matter his protests, she is going to go for what she wants. Even if that means her father is near and her lover James has to try and act as if nothing is going on. Will they get caught? That remains to be seen, but let me tell you the ending is excellent.

I will be looking for more from this author. I do hope she has more out.

Five stars for packing the heat in such a little space.

Uncle Dominic's Touch



Title:
Uncle Dominic's Touch (Wickedly Taboo)
Author: Jenika Snow
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by: Ebony Dreams
Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Release Date: June 2011
ISBN: 9781926950594

Book Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance

Blurb:
Where do we draw the line between love and desire?

Chloe has always loved to spend time at Aunt Clara and her husband's cottage during the summer. The problem is she loves Uncle Dominic more than a niece should.

With Aunt Clara out of the picture, Chloe needs to show her uncle just how hot she burns for him, and prove that what they feel for each other is not wrong, no matter what he or anyone else thinks.

Maybe not a conventional relationship, but no one can help who they fall in love with? Even if it is...wickedly taboo.

Review:
A sexy and tempting read. Let me warn you, right now before you read this book. If you cannot handle a love as powerful and sexy as the one between an Uncle (not blood) and his of-age niece, then you do not need to read this. It is not for the faint of heart. Coming from a family who believes "once a family, always a family", I can understand why many think this is taboo. But understanding it and believing it to be true are two different things. The heart wants what it wants.

Chloe has always loved her Uncle but it isn't until she is eighteen that she realizes she loves him as a woman loves a man. It is confusing to her to find that she needs her Uncle in a way she never thought she would or could. The affection of child turns and becomes the love of a young woman. Chloe never felt she fit in with her family, feeling as if she has to fit a mold that they have set for her. A mold that she is dying to break free from. The thing I find that is interesting in the dynamic between the two is that Chloe immediately embraces the idea and it is her Uncle Dominic who fights it hard. I liked that. Because for me it, didn't make him seem like a dirty old man. It made him real to me. Someone who wasn't a freak and had been lusting for his niece.

Dominic is dumbfounded, to say the least, that he feels what he feels for his niece. He struggles with his feelings for Chloe as valiantly as he can because he feels that he is taking advantage of her innocence. The battle is lost and he can no longer deny what he feels. When he finally does touch Chloe as he has wanted to and as she has needed him to, the heat burns up the pages. Hot, hot...oh and yeah did I say hot?

Then all hell seriously breaks loose and the lovers part. Years pass and finally they meet again. Loved it. It was heated and it was filled with pain, need and love.

This book pushes the conservative boundaries of society. I like that. We need more of this. Evernight Publishing has another gem of an author, but then I am sure they know that.

I absolutely adored Jenika Snow's approach and answer to this age old conflict. This book is a surefire page turner for me and I will be reading it again and again. What a wonderful keeper. Author Jenika Snow is an author I will continue to look for.

Five stars for sexy Taboo.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Who's Who Author Lilith Duvalier!






Let's give a warm welcome to Lilith Duvalier!  For your chance to win a book from Lilith, please follow this blog, her  blog (http://www.lookoninlust.blogspot.com/) and leave a comment for the author with your email address on this post!

Tell us five things about you, that we wouldn't know.
1. I am the only non-cartoon to ever slip on a banana peel.
2. My favorite season is fall, because I love pumpkin flavored things, particularly scones and beer (but not together).
3. I love X-men, especially Wolverine Origins.
4. I have a huge crush on Darren Criss.
5. My room is painted turquoise.

How long does it take you to write a book?
A couple months to a year. I had a very demanding work schedule, and I tend to build a story from the middle out.
So around a 50-65 hour work week I start with the climax, write that, then start at the beginning and get myself to the climax, then short out on ideas for that story for a couple of weeks, start at the climax of another story then go back to the original and finish it. So it’s a big cycle of two stories going at once, all jammed in around work and friends.

Which of your characters is your favorite?
Thomas. He’s a minor character in The Promise of Silk. He’s one of Alaric’s pirate friends, and he’s just an incompetent drunken goofball, but he was fun to write and, in a way, prods along a lot of the story.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I read a quote from an author once where he basically suggested never ever taking notes while researching for fiction because if it didn’t stick with you it wasn’t important enough to regurgitate. I don’t remember who said this (because I didn’t write it down) but I’ve always liked that idea. I get all of my ideas from “an article I read somewhere” or “this movie my roommate was watching”  or “this thing I found on Google”.  I’m very rarely able to cite an exact source of a plot bunny.


What does your family think of your writing?
My mother, despite being expressly forbidden, several times, from reading this book (which, by the way, when she finds this interview, I want to make clear I am very serious about) is super excited about me being published and apparently keeps bringing it up. My brother texted me recently so that he could suggest my book to one of his friends. I’m terrified of the next family gathering, I don’t know how I’m going to explain this. I’m considering dropping dead on the spot rather than letting the topic come up around my grandfather.
My chosen friends are all excited. I have a friend who is essentially a roadie right now who was reading it aloud on his tour bus to the other roadies. The books been out for a week and we still haven’t had a release party because everyone’s busy and/or broke, but we’re going out for drinks to celebrate. I’ve recently discover seven and sevens, which seem author-y.

What do you think makes a good story?
Character, first and foremost. No matter how intricate your plot, no matter innovative your sex scenes, no matter how great your prose, if it’s all woven around cardboard cutouts acting like people, it will always be dull, generic and repetitive.

Favorite way to relax?
 I like to make a cup of fancy loose leaf tea with milk and brown sugar, and watch Glee or Buffy. I like to hang out and do nothing with my friends.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
… write some more? This is really what I do for fun. My other hobbies include tequila.

Tell us about your newest release.
“The Promise of Silk” is an erotic BDSM steampunk novella about an airship pirate and a courtesan who meet at a carnival in the “Victorian” English countryside.
What was really interesting about writing this novella was trying to write some of the common BDSM kinks, which are fun to write about in and of themselves because they forcibly pull you out of the “Tab A, Slot B” sex scene that it can be easy to fall into writing, and then adding the freedom of the steampunk fantasy world on top of that.
Where can we find your book?
My book can be found at:

Where can readers find you (What websites, emails etc)?
I’m on facebook, please be my friend. And I have my Blog “Look On In Lust”
http://www.lookoninlust.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Who's Who Wednesday Author Avril Ashton




Hello all please help me welcome Author Avril Ashton to Who's Who Wednesday! Looking for something, exciting, spicy and hot? Avril delivers in spades! Here is a bit about here then on to the interview:


A Caribbean transplant, Avril now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y with a Spousal Equivalent of eight years. Together they raise a 7 y/o daughter who loves reading and school (wonder how long that will last). Avril’s earliest memories of reading revolve around discussing plot points of The Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys with an equally book-minded mother


Always in love with the written word, Avril finally decided to do the writing in August of ’09 and never looked back. Spicy love scenes, delicious heroes, and wicked women burn up the pages of Avril’s stories, but there’ll always be a happy ending; Avril remains a believer of love in all its forms.


Visit: http://www.avrilashton.webs.com

http://www.avril-ashton.blogspot.com

Friend Avril on: http://www.facebook.com/writeravrilashton

http://www.twitter.com/#!/AvrilAsh


What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I must have music. I must have coffee…hot or iced, it doesn’t matter.

What do you like to do when you're not writing? Read…Okay, I watch TV and read. Or hang with the family…then read. Either way I’m reading.

Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they? Write because you love it. Because you can’t breathe without putting those words on paper. Because anything else is unacceptable.



What quirks (flaws) if any do your hero and heroines have? We’re all vulgar…is that a quirk or a flaw? I never can tell J


Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why?
Sasha Forde from A Wicked Ride for both…that b*tch crazy!

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author? I’d be involved somehow in someway with writing. When I began writing seriously, I told the SO if the writing didn’t happen I wanted to be an agent. Now I’d love to be an editor with any one of my pubs, although for the life of me I have no idea of the requirements...should google that, shouldn’t I?


Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing? Reviews are great. I read them. I appreciate them. They bring a smile to my face but they don’t influence my writing in any way.

Are you anything like your heroines or heroes? Of course! My heroines and I have a thing for strong, sexy men, five inch heels, and colorful language. My heroes and I have a thing for vulgar women/men who insist on hurting us so good. We’re all alike ;0)


Where can readers find you? My website:
http://avrilashton.webs.com

Blog: http://avril-ashton.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/writeravrilashton

Twitter: @AvrilAsh


Favorite dessert? Cake!!! Any kind is fine with me…care to bake me one?

What TV shows do you watch? Ahhh…Castle; Nikita; Daytime soaps (all of ‘em); Criminal Minds; anything on the Investigative Discovery Channel; NCIS/L.A; The Closer; Sons of Anarchy; Justified.


Tell us five things about you, that we wouldn't know. 1). I’m younger than you think. Wayyy younger LOL. 2). I’m antisocial. 3). For all that I love to eat, I abhor cooking. 4). I need absolute silence and darkness to fall asleep. 5). I’m the oldest of seven.


Tell us about your newest release. My newest release is my timid steps into the paranormal/shifter genre with my Paranormal Security Council (PSC) series.


Series Log Line: They’re the elusive agents of the Paranormal Security Council, trained killers, dangerous to all. Even the ones they love. Now the Council is crumbling from the inside out. Is it every man for himself? And who will be left standing when the dust settles?


Book #1 is Till Abandon. It releases Oct 17 and you can best believe I bring the naughty ;) Can you tell from the blurb?


They call her ‘The woman in white,’ whisper ‘Death-Bringer’ with their last breath, but no one knows exactly what she is. Not even Voltaire herself. The deadly magic within her is a living thing, able to crush anyone and everything with a blink. Abandoning the blood-soaked world she’s used to, Voltaire seeks out the one constant in her tired life—the green-eyed wolf in her dreams. She’s ignored the wolf’s call for years, afraid to surrender, but danger haunts her mate. He needs her.


Wolf-shifter Blake Montez is in the middle of a war, battling the usurpers intent on taking over his territory. Unfamiliar magic hums in the air, unnoticed—it seems—by everyone but him. He finds the source already under his nose, in his home. The delicate woman in white knows things no one should know, and the heat simmering between them is unlike anything he’s ever felt. His wolf recognizes her as his mate, though Blake remains unsure he can trust her.

Voltaire sets out to prove herself with time running out, enemies are on the prowl, some foreseen, others remain cloaked in shadow. She and Blake team up, fighting side by side, but in the end Voltaire might be the biggest threat to their love.


Where can we find your book(s)? My books are all on Amazon, ARe, Bookstrand, and NOOK.


Thank you for the fabulous interview Avril!