Liz Crowe's Blog, page 31

Yeah, but that PIG! A Sudden Attack of Random Funny....

Amazing Facts
If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.

(Hardly seems worth it.)


If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.

(Now that's more like it!)


The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet.

(O.M.G.!)


A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes.

(O.M.G.!!!)


A cockroach will live nine days without itshead before it starves to death.(Creepy)

(I'm still not over the pig.)


Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.

(Don't try this at home; maybe at work.)



The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.

(Honey, I'm home . What the...?)




The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field.

(30 minutes. Lucky pig! Can you imagine?)




The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.

(What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)


Some lions mate over 50 times a day.

(I still can't believe that pig ...quality over quantity.)



Butterflies taste with their feet.

(Something I always wanted to know.)




The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.

(Hmmmmmm.......)


Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people.

(If you're ambidextrous, do you split the difference?)


Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.

(Okay, so that would be a good thing.) 




A cat's urine glows under a black light.

(I wonder how much the government paid to figure that out.)




An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

(I know some people like that.)




Starfish have no brains.

(I know some people like that, too.)




Polar bears are left-handed.

(If they switch, they'll live a lot longer.)




Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.

(What about that pig? Do the dolphins know about the pig?)




Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread these crazy facts and send this to someone you want to bring a smile to, maybe even a chuckle.




In other words, send it to everyone!

(and God love that pig!)

Six from Sweat Equity: Sequel to Floor Time

THANKS for stopping back by today!
I think I managed to count right this week...sorry for the extra sentence last Sunday.

So Jack has managed to screw things up yet again...




Jack watched his now ex-fiancé screech out onto the quiet street, sipped his bourbon and relished its slow lubrication of the horror at what had just happened.  He sank back into the chair and glared at the fucked up still life on the table. "Happiness thwarted" he could call it, or even better, "In Which Jack is a Dumb Ass." 
The purple foil packets stacked next to the nearly twenty-thousand-dollar hunk of metal and compressed coal he'd put so much faith in just a few months ago. 
"God damn it." 
He swept the whole mess onto the floor. 






Be sure and stop by the Six Sunday site for more GREAT snippets!
cheers
Liz

F*ck Bunnies, Freak Sororities, Optional Panties...and Beer. Life Is Good.

Welcome to my Tap Room Stephanie! What can I pour you to start?

I'd say something fruity and delicious, but I have a feeling that will get my ass laughed out of here, so I'll go with something microbrewed and dark. 

Good Call sister...here, try my just release Faustian Stout Baltic Porter.  Orgasm in a glass.

All right, let's just jump right into this shall we? What the hell is the "Fuck Like Bunnies" thing? Is it a series about playboy style bunnies or what? f/f? m/f/? fill us in!
We take out the 'u' and replace it with a stratigically placed bunny head, you know, to class it up a bit. F*ck Like Bunnies is a sexy series detailing the exploits of horny werebunnies and stupid men who deserve what they get. There's nothing playboy in these bunnies, they just like to screw. When the men in the books no longer serve their purpose they are tossed to friends of the bunnies, some of which are vampires, succubus sisters and Japanese kitsune. There's m/f fun, f/f and just for the hell of it some orgie-tastic fun as well. F*ck Like Bunnies fills the 'need something sexy and funny' glass. The latest installment is Air Bunnies. A disreputable business man books a flight on Double Ear Air and gets a hell of a lot more than peanuts. Betweeen the werebunnies and succubus sisters, it should be the flight from heaven, but only the men who can go the distance will get to walk off alive.

Werebunnies and succubus sisters.....must contemplate that a while (pours another beer)... 

What was the first book you got accepted and published? Was it a smooth process? Did you have a bunch to get one acceptance?
My first book was Poppy's Passions. I actually submitted it to a very big house and got a 'this will be going to the next level' email...only to be immediately followed with a 'sorry this isn't what we need' email. After that I learned a lot about writing and publishing and when I pitched it for Lyrical Press, I was ready and it was accepted. From there things were very smooth. I learned a lot from my very patient editor and I had the joy of working for a company who was willing to answer my questions and teach me the ropes."Freak Sorority" eh? What's that all about? (yes I was in one and it was pretty freaky but not like you write I don't think!)
I love my Freaks. Freak Sorority started as a single short story for a Halloween contest. I wanted a group of kickass females who actually work together and enjoy sisterhood. I fell in love with the ladies, Sara (earth angel), Rachel (succubus), Pammy (demon hunter) and Katie (werewolf) and I coudln't put them away. There is a core set of stories for holidays on my website and every year the Freak Sisters get together and host a promotion week full of fun and prizes. They're getting a new sister this year. Merry the Kitchen Witch will be bringing all sorts of first to my paranormal sisterhood.

Look an empty glass! what's next in there for you?

I'll take something rich and dark. And another beer if you have it. rolls eyes....this a BREWERY.  Beer is one thing I ALWAYS have....here, try the Gulo Gulo. it's my fiercely hopped India Pale Lager.  I'm guessing you'll love it...just like I do!

You have one of the most organized and easy to read/follow websites I've seen. Did you design it yourself?  Do you maintain/update it yourself?  How else to do you self promote?

Thanks! I do my own website with the help of Yola. It's been a godsend for my comput-illiterate ass. I used a 'fill in the blank' design and I update it myself (which is why there are usually a few spelling errors). I like to have fun with promotion because it means meeting my amazing readers. I hang out on Facebook (StephanieBeckAuthor) a lot and I'm also on Twitter (StephBeck123).  In real life I do book signings a few times a year which is a blast. I love meeting people, so promoting one on one in chats and on forums is one of the most fun parts of promoting.

How many publishers do you work with? Have you ever considered self-publishing?

That's quite the question. Currently I have work with 8 houses. It was a fluke that I ended up so many places, but it was a time of great discovery and learning. I have self published before. Immoderately Infatuated is part of a self published series I am part of with 6 other amazing authors. I have nothing against self-publishing at all, but to do it right takes a lot of time and effort. It's not just throwing a story together and calling it a masterpiece. Working with friends and great editors and cover artists makes an idea into a marketable book. 

What book did you just finish reading?
I just finished reading a knitting book. It was freaking inspiring and daunting all in one. Knitting books are a little like romance. I read them, I fall in love with some things for their beauty and simplicity. I dislike others because they lack personality and depth. And then there are the ones I really hate because they are beautiful and simply unattainable. Knitting--the ultimate love/hate story.

Huh? Oh, sorry, got sleepy there for a minute.  I do zero crafty things and go out of my way to avoid the kitchen too. Too bad I can't really. 

What is your favorite genre to read?
Other than knitting books? Bahahah, put down the beer glass, I'm kidding. I love paranormal romance. It's fun and has the edge of unreality that transports me somewhere different, while still being of this world. For some reason I love scenes where werewolves and vampires, whatever, go grocery shopping or pay utility bills. Life, along with love, are the great equalizers.

Okay, nightcap what's your poison?Hit me with a Brandy Alexander and don't be stingy with the Alexander.

Oh Christ and you were doing SO WELL.....
It's a beer bar my love. Beer Only.  Here: my bourbon barrel aged Imperial Dark Lager.  11.5% alcohol and better than any bullshit "Alexes" in a glass I promise. 

On the sweet note, I'm giving away PDFs of Bunny Club and Air Bunnies to one lucky commenter. I'd love to hear about your favorite paranormal characters. Be sure to leave an email address!Find more about Stephanie Beck at www.stephaniebeck.net , www.facebook.com/StephanieBeckAuthor andwww.twitter.com/StephBeck123Buy Link for Bunny Club: http://www.amazon.com/Bunny-Club-Like-Bunnies-ebook/dp/B006K0OX70/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326220864&sr=1-1Buy Link for Air Bunnies:  http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9856-air-bunnies.aspx

Wherein Liz Educates Another Rebel About Beer

Welcome to my Tap Room Anne!
What can I pour you to start?
We'd better stick to coffee, thanks. I'm a mom with a job, and a writer, so with the amount of sleep I get, anything alcoholic would likely put me out if I tried it.Well, you are gonna have to head out for a Starbucks or something and come back...I'll wait.*taps bar and sips beer and grumbles but smiles brightly when Anne returns, coffee in hand*
True confessions time, I have "Like Magic" on my TBR list...I can't wait to read it. The blurb is very, very compelling.  And that kid on "Good For the Goose" cover? rawr. Seriously, rawr.
Oh yes, I know. I actually changed the character description in the book a little so I could keep that cover guy. Very rawr, indeed. And Like Magic is one of my favourites – is it conceited to admit that?Nope. Conceit is something that goes hand in hand with "ego" which is what one must maintain as an author. It's required.
All right, on with it. What is the first book you got published? Was it a smooth journey?
Sort of smooth. The first book I had accepted by a publisher was my novel Strings Attached. I originally wrote it back in 2000 or 2001, and sent a single query out to one of the Bog Romance Companies, who sent me a form rejection a year later. By that point, I was off to grad school, so I shrugged and put it in a shoebox, and I forgot about it. In 2010, I finished my PhD, and came across the manuscript. What the hell, right? I re-read it, and I still liked it, so I figured what did I have to lose? I re-wrote some of it, fixed up a main character a bit, polished it, and had a friend read it for me. She liked it, and I had read about these ebook companies, where you didn't need an agent – so off it went. And, within about a month, it was accepted! So, in a way, it was almost too smooth, despite the decade since writing it. At first, I worried it was just a mistake, or a crappy company, but a few months later, I had other stories accepted, so I started to feel okay. The novel came out in May 2011, and I'm really pleased with it. I've been publishing now for well over a year, so I guess it wasn't just a fluke.
Tell us about the Valentine's Day book you have out.  What inspired you to write it?
The Valentine's book is called V-Day. It's a story about a 19 year old violin prodigy who finally gets the chance to romance the woman next door, who he's loved from afar for years. I'm almost embarrassed by how it started out, though. I was messing around on Facebook, and an author – sadly, I no longer recall who – wrote a status about virgin heroes. See, I always thought it was unfair that the chicks were always virginal in old romances, so the topic was of interest to me. There's nothing unsexy about male virgins – quite the opposite, really, when you think about all that pent up energy, right? Anyway, someone dared me to write a virgin hero story, so… Long story made somewhat short, a few months later, V-Day was finished. So, yes, it was inspired by a dare.Love it! I'm creating a little "virgin hero" myself in a new book. He's not technically a virgin. He has had a girlfriend since high school. But he's a virgin when it comes to what he truly wants: man love!  
What sort of self promotions strategy to you follow?
Spurts of rabid promo berserking followed by periods of exhaustion. Does that count as a strategy? Seriously, though, most of my books out right now are holiday books, so I've had to blanket bomb any blog that will have me at Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and now for Valentine's Day. I also tend to concentrate on getting reviews, because I'm fairly confident in my books. So, the strategy is: Do as much as humanly possible to let people know the book exists. That's the key, I think. If a book doesn't sell, it isn't just that people don't think it looks good. It may be that they don't even know it's out there. So, being relatively new, that's my focus right now. Letting people know I exist.
Oh look, an empty glass!  What would you like next?
Oh, what the hell – go ahead and throw some Irish cream in a cup of coffee for me. We'll pretend it's New Years. Good God people I do not have liquor in this bar. How many interviews must I bang my poor head against the wall to make you get that.Here: *shoves a glass of deep amber brew towards Anne*  It's a bourbon barrel aged Oktoberfest. Sip it. You'll love it. Trust me. I'm the Beer Wench.Tell us about your current work in progress?
I have a handful of personal projects I work on constantly, and I have no idea when they'll be done. But, I always have a main project on the go. I was working on a Mountie love story. Being Canadian, I figured it was time for me to hit that – literary-wise, that is. However, I got sidetracked by a project that wouldn't leave me alone. It nagged and nagged me. So, I have put the Mountie romance aside for now, and am writing a literary romance – I don't know if that's a genre, but none of the others seem to fit. It's an interracial romance set in post-WWII America, involving the aftermath of the Holocaust, at a college. Sometimes depressing, but it's totally absorbing me right now. And I don't even know if I'll ever publish it. If I can't get it good enough to suit me, it will go to the shoeboxes, like many, many projects have in the past when I wasn't happy with the finished product.
Have you ever considered self publishing?
I know a number of savy self-pubbed writers, so I have, actually. Not seriously, though. I mean, I haven't really gotten close to it. I don't have the resources to do all the editing, formatting and cover work that publishers take care of. Besides, romance as a genre has a number of good publishers, so I don't feel the need. But, I have a fictionalized "inspired by real events" story that I think I will self-publish. It's about schizophrenia, and a personal story, so I don't think it's commercial enough to entice a publisher. So, if/when that one is ready, I'll do that one myself. I think I have something to say there, but that one isn't about selling. It's personal.
What do you have coming out next?
Around Father's Day, I have a full length contemporary romance novel coming out from Pink Petal Books, about a wonderful ex-cop single father, and a very rigid single mother university professor. It's got some comedy, and a lot of focus on the character development. I like it a lot, and am thrilled it's also slated for paperback release in the fall.
Time for a nightcap! What's your poison?
Well, where I'm from, warm Guinness is considered nourishing and fortifying before bed on a cold night, so why not? You can't argue with medical wisdom, can you?
 Um, no. But you may ask well me for a "Bud Lite" as to ask me for a "Guinness."  Try again...oh never mind, here--drink my Faustian Stout Baltic Porter instead.  It has actual flavor. 


Bio: Anne Holly is a Canadian writer of romance and erotic-romance. You may visit Anne at her blog or website, or find her on GoodReads, Facebook and Twitter  (@anneholly2010). Email: anneholly2010@gmail.com.

Love Revealed with Sorcha Mowbray

Welcome to the Brewing Passion Blog please fellow Decadent Publishing Author Sorcha Mowbray.

Love Revealed is set in Victorian London. I have been a long time reader and lover of historical romance, but do not find much in the erotic romance section that is historical. That was one of the reasons I decided to give this setting a whirl. In my new release, it is the puritanical nature of society that puts added pressure on the hero and heroine's relationship. Without societal pressure they may never have had to hide their natural inclinations. Without that, they may never have wound up at The Market hiding behind masks in order to find what they needed. It is interesting to be able to lace in the social mores of a period so that it adds conflict to the story. Internal struggles help us understand the characters and even lead us to connect to them, but seeing how they deal with the outside pressures really helps me make a connection. It lets me, as a reader, stop and think about what I might do in that situation. If I make the connection with the character, I will find myself rooting for them and speed reading through the pages to see what happens next. As an author, I hope that is what I can give to the reader; an enjoyable story that they just don't want to put down. Some of the historical erotic romances I have enjoyed are: Highland Surrender by Dawn Halliday, Kismet by Monica Burns, Simply Sexual by Kate Pearce, and The Irish Devil by Diane Whiteside. But I got started by stumbling across Thea Devine's books. What historical erotic romances have you read that you really enjoyed? One commenter will win a digital copy of Love Revealed in the format of their choice. Love Revealed (The Market Series) by Sorcha MowbrayLady Katherine Drummond played by the rules set by society, even after the Ton turned on her. Shunned by her peers, she keeps up appearances by day but allows her true self out in the privacy of The Market. There, in the arms of one man, she truly comes alive. So much so, she signed a contract to be his for six months. Despite never having seen his face and knowing him only as Sir, she fears losing her heart to him. Lord Raymond Tarkenton, the Earl of Heathington, despises being one of the most sought after bachelors of the Ton. He could never ask a woman of his circle to submit to his sexual needs, and a mistress would never be an option. For now, one masked woman at The Market holds his undivided attention. When he realizes that his masked lover and Lady Katherine Drummond are one and the same, he must find a way to convince her that they are bound together by more than the straps at her wrist and the contract they signed. He must reveal himself and his love to her.  Excerpt"Why is it you were compelled to make me wait when you were aware I was here and ready? This is not how we should start this arrangement.""I was delayed." She met his gaze, hers teamed with desire, hope, defiance, and perhaps even a tinge of fear. Mostly promising reactions, the defiance would need to be addressed. "You will of course be punished." He paused. "When I am ready." "Yes, Sir." Her eyes lit up with his pronouncement."Not when you are, and it is clear you are." Yes, Kat was the exact woman he needed in his bed. She fit him, was a perfect foil for him, for his needs. No. He must be caught up in the moment.He sat next to her on the bed and caressed the outer edge of one breast. "It was good of you to tell me the truth, Kat. You must always tell me the truth, just as I will always tell you the truth. Do you understand?""I will always be honest with you, Sir." Surprise flitted across her features as the truth of her vow rang through her words and warmed him."Do you trust me, Kat?" Curiosity got the better of him.She hesitated, her thoughts whirling like crazy behind her beautiful eyes. "No." She finally responded and dropped her eyes. He stopped caressing her soft flesh."And yet you let me restrain you. Perhaps you trust me more than you think?" His pulse thrummed through his veins.She glanced up at him. "Maybe a little."
Want a copy? Get it at:http://www.decadentpublishing.com/
Sorcha can be found at:http://sorchamowbray.comhttp://www.goodreads.comhttp://www.facebook.com

Turning up the HEAT with Jack and Sara

From Floor Time, the Realtors: Book One.
Now available from Tri-Destiny Publishing.
Set up: Jack and Sara have just spent several hour working to try and justify an appraisal "do over" so that their challenging transaction will close. Work time, however, is over....





"This is really why you wanted me here, right Jack?  I mean, we could've done this over the phone." Tension she'd held since the awkward morning meeting he'd invaded ebbed away in spite of her submissive position on her knees. She took a breath, let go, and let the touch of his capable hands on her shoulders relax her. The music changed again and Sara heard laughter in the hall, but somehow, she didn't care.            "You like this as much as I do--I can tell. Sort of scary really," he stood in front of her now, hand on his bulging zipper.



thanks for following Jack and Sara!  One more week and I'll start excerpting the sequel to Floor Time: Sweat Equity!
Be sure and catch all the amazing talent this week at Six Sentence Sunday!

A REALTORS Excerpt-a-Palooza Weekend! (WARNING: potential spoiler)

Read to the bottom, answer the question, maybe win $15 of ARe Omni book bucks!




So, as you should know IF you are a good little follower I have a hot new series out.
THE REALTORS:


Love is an easy word to use, a hard one to demonstrate, and sometimes impossible to trust.                    The Realtors is a sweeping epic, encompassing over ten years in the lives of two people who know how to love with their bodies, how to please and get pleasure, to control and be controlled.  When it comes to the deeper meaning of the one word they both need, backgrounds and personalities get in the way and while their physical connection sizzles they continue to disappoint one another emotionally.                   Jack Gordon has it all--money, success, a string of women--but with a deep longing for something more. When he thinks he finds it with Sara Jane Thornton, his world is never the same again.  Sara releases his natural Dom, a side of him he'd thought buried out of frustration and unhappiness. Sara knows a true submissive must trust implicitly, something she cannot associate with him, no matter how many times she tries, and he fails.                   With a rich cast of secondary characters, including a young man who presents a near-perfect foil to Jack's intensity, and who falls hard for Sara; The Realtors series is a romantic saga with an emphasis contemporary life and love, with a healthy dose of white-hot eroticism. Modern, busy, driven characters living lives of purpose and real-time stress, seek the ever-elusive and highly coveted combination --a friend, lover and trusted advisor who will be there for the long haul.




Because I love you, I am gonna highlight THREE Excerpts from the critically acclaimed FLOOR TIME, first of the series.




But first! my latest review....click here (for a major big-time ebook 
giveaway)
(here's part of it:  ***Did I mention that the sex is beyond hot and you will need a hose? *** Oh wait; if you've ever read Liz, then you already know that, right?)
Harlie Reader Loves Jack (hard not to if you are a breathing female) and Sara and wants YOU TO GET A FREE COPY!! CHECK IT OUT! read the review, make your comment. I am sweeting the pot by offering yet another freebie (signed by yours truly). We will run this over the weekend....








And now, let's dive deep into Jack Gordon's head shall we? Post first connection with Sara:

It had been nearly a year since he first saw her—really saw her—when she walked out of that penthouse condo, wearing that fine, just-fucked look on her lovely face.  A solid year and his obsession with her had only increased. Usually, when a woman proved to be inaccessible he moved on to the next one. Not this time.
The evening hadn't gone at all like he had planned. Figuring she'd be dressed for work and would want to go out he had come straight from his own office, and had the night planned from start to finish, not really anticipating his need to take her, right then and there. Something about her had forced him closer, only for a taste. Of course, he'd gotten a lot more than that. Her meeting his need halfway only served to ramp up his urge to take, to own, up against the wall like an animal.            Her early hesitation and shyness reinforced what his research had predicted.  The lovely woman had gone a while without a man's touch. It had only made him want her even more. The usual, smug, self-satisfied feeling eluded him and it pissed him off.  That coupled with the twitchy need to have her again, to make her beg for him, made him embarrassed and horny in equal measure.  Shit. What the hell, Gordon? Jack ran a hand through his hair. He sensed she still had pent up energy. He wanted to release it; wanted more than anything to prove he was the man to do it. But he'd be damned if, for the first time in years, he hadn't let himself go. Allowed himself orgasm without consciously keeping his distance. When she had reached up to capture his lips at the last moment, he hadn't even tried to resist. He'd wanted to be completely aware of her as he shared the ultimate connection; her scent, her hair, her lips. It was as if she knew he normally resisted contact at that moment. He had clutched her ass with one hand and relished the firm feel of her skin and muscle underneath as her amazing walls continued to spasm and contract along the length and width of him. It hit him hard, in his gut and between the eyes, not only in his cock.When she'd gotten embarrassed again after they were done, he'd had to move away from her, or risk acting like a sap. She had looked devastating—her hair disheveled in the back, her color high, and her lips swollen from his kisses. It was one of his favorite looks on a woman—the "Well Fucked by Jack Gordon" face. He knew it well. He would gladly have picked up her and plunked her down on the floor and given it to her again and again to get that connected feeling back. It warred inside him, the need to possess and please, to control and satisfy, all at once. He shook his head once again as he pulled into the parking lot outside the restaurant.  Get hold of yourself man. She's just another pussy—a pretty sweet one at that. You've managed to break that office in, enjoy the afterglow?He smiled as she pulled in behind him and eased out of her car, long, sexy legs leading the way. Damn, the woman was hot.  He held out an arm, she took it with a skeptical look and they walked into the restaurant together.







                                                                         As for Sara, let's see what she thinks when Mr. Gordon shows up at her Open House, bearing gifts: She watched as Jack unfolded his tall frame out of the corvette, and walked around to reach into the passenger's seat. It struck her that she had never seen him in anything but a suit, or at least dress pants, shirt and tie, as she admired his ass in the dark jeans. He looked good enough to eat. Sara pressed her thighs together in anticipation.  Panic replaced her blooming desire. Surely, he didn't think she would leave her open house an hour early.  What was he doing at her open house?  Was there a problem with their deal? She glimpsed a shopping bag from Whole Foods in one hand. He grinned at her, lighting up his arresting eyes. Her breath caught in her throat. Shit. She had made a vow to herself she would not get caught up in the Jack Gordon whirlwind. However, here she was, high and mighty, and yet about to explode with need for his lips on hers. Double shit. She sighed."I thought you might be lonely all the way out here and we should have a picnic, what do you say?" He made his way to the front door. He wore a plain burgundy T-shirt, those jeans that hugged his front as nicely as his rear, and driving shoes. Momentarily blinded by lust, she fought the impulse to pull him into the foyer and make him fuck her until she was spent.  Nice, very nice.  The guy brings you a picnic and you want to skip right to the after-play?  Turning on her heel, she headed back into the house without even responding to his suggestion, assuming he would follow her. Sara realized she had to get control of herself before talking or her voice would surely betray her blatant desire. She glanced at her watch. Three p.m.; she had to focus on her job for one more hour. Let him wait. "Don't you have an open house of your own?" She sounded a tad more irritable than she intended."Nope." He walked right into her personal space, brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her. His firm lips remained noncommittal. She shivered, and he kept his hand on her neck, under her hair. He caressed her almost absentmindedly as he looked around at the house.   "Well, the view is great," he admitted, as he strode into the front bedroom suite.  Sara watched as he strolled out of that room, looking at the high cathedral ceilings made of light ash wood.  He whistled, picked up his grocery bag and walked into the kitchen. His quick eyes took in the skylights, the new gleaming stainless steel appliances and tile floor.  "Nice, but it's sort of cold in here, isn't it? Maybe some color, some flowers or something would help?" "Fuck off Jack; I don't need your help. Why are you here anyway?" "Easy, tiger, easy," he leaned on the counter top.  "I know you know what to do.  I can't help it. It's second nature for me to say something about the house first." Sara caught herself clenching and unclenching her fists, and stopped. Damn the man anyway. She couldn't even stay mad at him. She slumped against the doorframe. "It's a shit listing. I don't get any showings and hardly any new buyers from these open houses. The sellers could care less that it sits here and gets stale," she sighed. She relaxed, only to have her desire for him rush over her like a tidal wave, so she moved away hoping that would help. He attended to his grocery bag, and began setting stuff on the counter."What the hell am I going to do when a guest shows up, Jack? Put that crap away.""It's okay babe, we'll just say we rolled out the red carpet for your potential buyers with these nice strawberries, with cream. He pulled the last container from the bag with a flourish."You are insane, you know that?" She stared at the array of stuff on the counter."You won't think that when I show you this amazing bottle of wine I found. I forgot I had it." He pulled out a green bottle, with a French label of some sort, two wine glasses and a corkscrew."Um, yeah, well, I'm not really comfortable doing this here, I mean, it's not my kitchen." Sara stammered as she took another step away from him to get his smell out of her nose.


oh....just one more....'cause I KNOW You wanna (buy link is at the bottom, just sayin') this is XXX RATED:They've had a tough day, and are about to blow of steam the best way they know how!
Jack smiled at her, once again nearly melting what small bit of resolve she had.  She stood up straighter. He stepped in closer, cupping her chin in his hand.  "I'm just as afraid of losing mine," he declared, making her skin flush. His lips hovered just out of her reach. "But I'm willing to risk it."Fully realizing she could be getting the "worst thing" just as easily as the "best thing," Sara succumbed.  Jack's lips, tongue, hands, body, she wanted them all, right there, and desire blinded every logical synapse she possessed.  "That's my Sara," she startled at his possessive words. "I know what you need. Let me show you." She nodded as his lips and teeth found her neck, sucked, bit down and made her yelp and moisture flood her panties. The deep growl of his voice, the way he gripped her, it made her weak and shaky, all reactions new to her in the arms of any man.He reached back and grabbed the beautiful tie he'd been wearing that morning. He raised an eyebrow and without a second thought, she held out her wrists for him.  "No, turn around first." She trembled as she turned but he held her steady, pulling both arms behind her.The soft touch of silkiness grazed her flesh. Jack swaddled her skin in the luxurious fabric, then put his hands on her shoulders and pressed her to the floor. He remained behind her, out of her line of vision. Sara tensed, fighting her body's need. "This is really why you wanted me here, right Jack?  I mean, we could've done this over the phone." Tension she'd held since the awkward morning meeting he'd invaded ebbed away in spite of her submissive position on her knees. She took a breath, let go, and let the touch of his capable hands on her shoulders relax her. The music changed again and Sara heard laughter in the hall, but somehow, she didn't care.     "You like this as much as I do. I can tell. Sort of scary really," he stood in front of her now. She licked her lips at the sight of his bulging zipper. He put a hand on it, making her squirm and her thighs clench. He was suddenly eye level with her, his gaze hard. "I haven't done… this… in a while." He swallowed hard. "But I think it's something I need. And I promise you won't be disappointed." His hand cupped the back of her neck and drew her in. His lips and tongue were fierce, rough and possessive. Sara moaned and leaned into him. She gasped when he broke away. "Please, Jack. I want you to. I'm," He cut her off by bringing her to her feet then pressing her into the chair. He grinned as he pulled her shaking knees apart. The hand he pressed against her mound nearly burned, bringing a moan to her lips."Yes, I know. That's the thing. I know exactly what you want me to do." He slid her skirt up slowly, hooked a finger in her panties and with a jerk, had them ripped in two. "Don't ever wear these again." She nodded and leaned back as his lips settled around her clit, tugging it into his mouth, and tried very hard not to scream. "Ask me." His voice was low. She shuddered. "Ask me if you can come."The room faded. There was only her and the man between her knees. No anger, no stress, no residual discomfort. Only him."May I…oh God," She gripped her hands together, still bound in the tie, as he teased her with his tongue. "Please, may I come? Jack?""Yes. You may." He pressed fingers high inside and sucked her clit back between his lips. The orgasm ripped through her, tearing her in two as effectively as the discarded silk on the floor.


And now just because I'm feeling extra generous and for those of you who want a quick peak into the early days of the next installment, I give you The Proverbial Morning After from Sweat Equity, which will release in about a week from Tri Destiny Publishing:

New Year's DaySara sat, blanket clutched to her breasts, breathing heavy with sweat trickling down her neck. She was shocked the entire resort didn't awake from her scream. Glancing over at the sleeping man next to her, she tried to let his presence soothe as it normally did. He snored and rolled over onto his side, flinging an arm across her lap.The tall woman from her dream would not fade. "You can't trust him Sara. Believe me. He only gave you that ring because he couldn't have you any other way. He'll be up to his old tricks soon; mark my words." The vision of the dream woman turning to a tall, familiar dark-haired man and wrapping her lean body against his, made Sara clench her eyes shut. Dreams were supposed to fade once you woke.She crawled out from under Jack's arm and the tangle of sheets and sat on the edge of the bed, letting the ocean air rustling through the sheer window coverings cool her overheated skin. The moonlight caught the diamond she wore, making her wince when it hit her square in the eye with its brilliance. Swallowing hard, she padded over to the enormous bathroom, shut the door and slid to the floor, letting tears roll down her face. Evidence of the intense session they'd shared last night lay all around her. Soft leather restraints, a bottle of expensive champagne, a vibrator and a bottle of lubricant. She squirmed on the floor, sore in places she didn't know she had.Jack certainly knew how to throw a party. She brushed the tears away berating herself.You liked it. Don't be such a hypocrite. You love giving him control over you this way.The fact that he'd whisked her away on a surprise New Year's Eve junket to St. Bart's, to this remote, secluded and ultra-exclusive resort that "supported" their apparent lifestyle choice had shocked the shit out of her at first. But by the time he'd worked her into a frenzy on the private jet and they'd emerged in the paradise of seventy-degree weather, ocean breezes and more of his fingers, lips, tongue and cock, she gave into it, loving every breathless minute."Hey," a soft knock and the sound of his deep, morning gravelly voice made her startle. "What's up in there?"She stood, splashed water on her face and opened the door, smile fixed on her face. He frowned and pulled her into his arms. She sighed, letting the mysterious way he calmed her by his sheer presence work its magic. It was so strange, amazingly erotic, highly charged, and seemingly perfect. But for the dreams."I have an idea," he spoke into her hair."Huh, if it involves my ass again, we'd better wait twenty four hours." She giggled at his groan, felt his cock stir against her and suppressed her own surge of horniness.. "Seriously, I may not sit for a week. Not that I'm complaining.""I'm serious." He stepped back, took her face between his hands. His deep blue gaze did its usual song and dance on her emotions. "Marry me.""I already said yes to that remember?" She flashed the giant ring she still couldn't adjust to on her finger. "Under duress I might add."He smiled, ran a finger over her lips. "No, Today. Here."She frowned at him, her brain skipping ahead to what exactly that meant. No big wedding. No parental or brotherly stress. Tying herself to this man forever, without friends or family to witness. Tempting."I can't." She shrugged his hands off her and walked over to the window, winding a soft robe around her nudity."Why not?" His hands on her shoulders, encouraged her to lean against his tall, firm body. "Why go through the torture of planning an event we know will be stressful as hell for everybody involved? Besides, I'm gonna be so busy with this new building thing, I won't really be much help. And I just think…" he leaned down to brush a kiss against her cheek, making her shiver. "I'm afraid we aren't cut out for the whole big wedding thing. You know?""No, We'll be fine. I'll plan. You nod your head at the appropriate moments. I don't need you to do much more than that, other than show up at the right hour in the right suit."He snorted and flopped down in a large leather chair. "Yeah, that and write checks I imagine."She rolled her eyes. "No, I told you my dad would pay…""Stop. Right there. We discussed this already. See, look at us, fighting already. C'mere you sexy beast," he yanked her down onto his lap, covered her protests with his lips, letting his hands roam under the robe, pulling it off her shoulders."Jack," she whispered, threading her hands in his thick hair, letting him take her again, away from a potential conflict, with his body. "You may be right, but, I can't do that to my mom. She wants me to have this moment, the walk-down-the-aisle moment, and I think I do too, okay?""Baby, I want whatever you want, as long as it makes you happy." She pushed his face up off its current mission towards her breasts, making him look at her."Do you really mean that?"He sighed, and wrapped his arms tight around her, holding her so close she heard his beating heart. "I do. There. See? I even know how to say the right words.""But…" She stood, unwilling to let this go yet. "I'm still worried, I mean, you sprung this on me and I need to know."He stood in front of her, took both her hands. "You can trust me. I promise. Even if you are denying me the simple joy of a quickie wedding in paradise." His grin was contagious. She shoved the misgivings that cropped up and haunted her for hours every time she had that same dream into a small corner of her mind and wrapped her arms around him , sucked in a deep breath of him, and kissed him, long and deep, making his cock stand at attention between them.He gripped her ass, pulled her legs up around his body and dove in, no preamble, as he dropped her onto the bed. She gasped. "Wait! No condom." He sighed and eased in further, silencing her with his lips. Oh well, it wasn't a dangerous week for that and damn did it feel good. She cried out his name again, and again, logic lost once again in the swirl of physical satisfaction that only Jack could provide.

Whew....those two....but stay tuned. things go a little, as the English say, "pear shaped" not long after this fun get away!In the Meantime....here is the question:
What kind of car does Jack drive?
Leave you answer....I'll pick one lucky winner for some Omni Bucks. And remember, Harlie is giving away a copy of FLOOR TIME on her review blog!!

Thanks for followinghave a great weekend!Liz

A Second Chance with Debbie and Liz

Welcome to my Tap Room Debbie!What can I pour you to start?How about starting me off easy. what do you have that is similar to Labatte Blue?Wolverine Premium Lager--my best seller and my official "Gateway Beer." You will love it.
so let me just say now I love the little flamey thingies that follow my cursor around on your website.  Did you design that yourself? How long did it take you to jump on the website/blogging wagon? I started my website shortly after my first story was accepted. 2006 I believe. Everyone I talked to said it was a necessity. I did the website myself with the little flamy things, but a good friend revamped it and I love the way it looks now.
What are other things you do to promote yourself?My writing partner, L.J. Gardner and I have a blog, I am a member of various yahoo groups and try to visit other blogs and comment when I can. The whole promoting thing is hard for me. Believe it or not I tend to be shy, lol.
Tell us about the very first book you got published. Was it a smooth journey? Mountain's Echo was my baby. Of course I knew nothing about writing or publishing and thought it was going to be a piece of cake. I had it written in 3 months and had no idea where to go from there. So I did some research and came across RWA. Deciding I was serious about this book and writing, I joined RWA and eventually joined a critique group. That was when I really started learning. The crit group was great and so helpful. It was a very boucny road, but about nine months later Mountain's Echo had a home. 
ok empty glasses---what can I pour you next? 
Hmmmm....okay, how about something a itty bit darker. Ease me in slowly to the dark side, lmao!Because I am a sheer marketing Genius I predict that you will thoroughly enjoy Wolverine Dark lager. Trust me. I'm the Beer Wench.
You have a new 1NightStand coming out with Decadent Publishing. What's it about?Second Chance is about an Air Force Special Ops Lieutenant who lost his wife in child birth while he was away on a mission. Two years later he is still punishing himself over the guilt he feels for not being there when his wife needed him. His sister-in-law, Emily, is raising the baby and he has distanced himself from them. He supports them financially and visits, but doesn't feel worthy of his daughters love or the new attraction between himself and Emily so he withdraws from them even more.Emily, with the help of one of his teammates and Madame Eve, hopes to show him how wrong he is. 
It seems that most of your books have a suspenseful element, is that true?I have a couple short stories, like Second Chance, that are contemporary, but the majority of what I write has the suspense element in it. Is that your favorite sub genre? Very much so, I love romantic suspense and the element of danger. Strong heroines and even stronger hero's are a must. I love military themes and those oh-so-hot cowboys, lol.

What would you say is the heat level of the majority of your books?Spicy, but not erotic. There is sex in my books, but not just for the sake of sex. It story driven.
nightcap time: What's your poison? Okay, lets do it. There is some Irish beer that is layered. I think, lol. It's dark, but I have no idea what it's called, I saw my mother order it once in an Irish Tavern and have been curious about it ever since, but never had the balls to order anything like it. Any idea what I'm talking about?It's called a "black and tan" but because I do not make ales I can't  do that. What I can do is offer you something rich and lovely, my newest addition, a Baltic Porter.But for the record: "black and tan" is a pale ale, blended with a stout.
thanks for stopping by!attached any and all cover art, photos, links and what not and consider offering a contest for comments.I will give away a copy of Second Chance to one of the commenters.
Blurb:Lieutenant Colin Beckett, US Air Force special ops, lost his wife in childbirth while off on a mission. Two years later, he's still trying to come to grips with the guilt that tortures him. And to complicate matters, he finds himself undeniably attracted to his wife's sister, Emily. Struggling with his desire, he tells himself he doesn't deserve a second chance with such an amazing woman.Emily wants Colin in her life and her bed. Enlisting the help of Colin's teammate's and Madame Eve's 1 Night Stand dating service, she plans to prove to Colin he can have everything he lost once again.Will their one night lead to the happy ending she longs for or the loneliness he thinks he deserves?EXCERPT:
Colin took a step back and cringed. "Aw, shit, Bobby. What've you done?"
Bobby punched Zeke in the shoulder and shook his head. "Nothing bad. Actually, it's so simple you're gonna kick your ass for not thinking of it first, Ghost."
He doubted it. More than likely he would kick Bobby's ass. The man worked overtime to hook him up, like he was a damn charity case. If he wanted to get laid, he could go find his own. Unfortunately, the only woman that spurred his senses in the last year had been Emily. He wanted her so bad he caught himself thinking about her during the day and woke up sweat-soaked and hard at night from dreaming about her.
Shit! Maybe he did need to get laid. "I repeat, what have you done?"
Zeke jumped up. "See, there's this woman named Madame Eve––"
Colin threw his hands up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! This is low even for you. I don't need a freaking prostitute. Damn, Bobby. What the hell are you thinking?"
Bobby laughed. "Not that kind of madame. She runs an elite dating service and sets up one-night stands for consenting adults. It's a no-strings-attached kind of thing. Just two like-minded adults looking for a night of pleasure. That's it. You both go in with your eyes open and leave the next more feeling a lot less stressed."
Colin crossed his arms over his chest and lifted a brow, "And how does she go about finding these people and matching them up?"
"Don't worry I've checked it all out. You go on her website, fill out the application. Then she matches you up with someone who meets your needs. She names the date and place and the rest is on you. It's all legit."
"You sound like an infomercial." Colin shook his head. "This is fucking crazy, ya know. I have no trouble finding my own women."
"Never said you did, Lieutenant," Zeke said. "But this way you don't have to troll the bars, hoping to find a woman who wants to get her rocks off exactly like you. We know that's not your scene, but this way everyone gets what they want and walks away happy."
Bobby glared at Zeke. "Where the hell do you come from anyway?" He returned his gaze to Colin. "More like a night of mutual pleasure."
"I have my own ways of relieving stress."
Bobby snorted. "Uh, yeah. I'm not talking about whacking off in the shower, dude."
Colin rubbed his hands over his face. Good God, had he really been reduced to this? "Fine."

Sascha and Liz, Sittin' a....Bar....

Welcome to my beer bar! What can I pour you to start?
Tell me about your beer.  I like hoppy and high in alcohol, but I'm pretty open! 
(BEER GEEK MOMENT: "gulo gulo" is the scientific name for the Wolverine....)
*cracks knuckles* FINALLY!  okay, here---The Gulo Gulo the world's FIRST "India Pale Lager" about 7% ABV and 70 IBUs and the first of my breweries "Gulo Series". "Gulo Noir" is next, an India Black Lager, coming out in June. 

You are a rare bird, a dude writing hot romance!  Love it.  What got you started in this? Who inspired you?
I have a LOT of anger and aggression inside that needs to come out in a non destructive manner and have carried a huge burden on my shoulders forever.  I knew others like me existed and that while I couldn't see a fix for myself, I could attempt to help them. I tried my hand at writing erotica and made a successful career but slowly realized that my stories all had the wonderful HEA with them. That made me happy and gave me courage to continue pursuing romance as a genre.  Mistress Koi of Very-Koi.net was the inspiration to start writing erotica but as far as authors are concerned, Emma Holly, Christina Feehan, Diane Whiteside are only a few of the names that inspire me. 

What was the first book you had/got published?
That would be "Erotic Flowers - a collection of erotic poetry.  Sizzler Editions picked that up in 2000.  A year later they picked up Sensualities, a collection of short story erotica.  At the same time, eXtasy books had bought A Christmas Favor, a Harlequin style romance novel written for my sister.

Tell us about Decadent Publishing
The folks there are good.  I'm pretty thrilled so far to have a release last month and a release this month both in the 1Night Stand series.  Both storeis are truly stories of acceptance and trust, but Surrender to Love is really my story for a loved one who needs to see that sometimes, true power comes from within.  And that love can come in all shapes and sizes, but unique love comes from those who know you.  .

wow--can't wait! I love serious emotion in my hot romance.  
Look! empty Glass! what can I pour you next?
What do YOU like? Let's give that a try! 
Oh honey, I like it ALL but because you are YOU and it's February, I'll pour you an early glass of our FAUSTIAN STOUT BALTIC PORTER, a roasty, chocolately, porter-style beer, deep, dark and delicious.

You have a radio show I believe. How does that work (i.e. how does a Wench such as myself snag a spot)?
I do have a radio show on Radio Dentata.  The UnNamed Romance Show airs twice monthly now with a huge focus on me and the process of craft, writing and the industry.  One show focuses exclusively on the industry, my beefs, towards publishing and towards writers, the other show focuses half on the former and leaves time for a 15 minute excerpt from current or previous work to be read by our lovely and very sexy Oceania.  A beer wench should send me a case of what she wants me to try and review (I have another show that does luxury alcohol) and we can definitely get you on.  Shows are pre recorded and then edited/aired with promotion on twitter, facebook and newsletter.
(pats Sascha's leg under the table and winks. Count me in.  I'm sending beer to both Draft Magazine and All About Beer--2 major national pubs who've finally succumbed to my publicity onslaught and agreed to feature me so I'll put you that list)

What is your favorite sub genre within romance to read and write?
Paranormal romance.  The reason being, I have a LOT of anger and angst that needs to come out.  Paranormal romance allows me to put the heaviness into perspective and let the reader see that just as the characters suffer, the readers suffer and get to release those emotions safely.  Without poisoning their bodies or damaging their minds.  They're allowed to heal if they just read the story.  Just follow the characters.  Pick one, both male and female in my stories are damaged but together they show each other hope.  Then they go on the journey.  Afraid, just like the human condition.  
Again, stories after my own heart. I don't write paranormal and sometimes readers/reviewers are put off by how "real" my real people are, but it's what I enjoy writing so don't plan to stop.
What's on your nightstand/ereader?
Wish I had time to read.  I will tell you I look forward to WILDER by Christina Dodd, anything new by Yasmine Galenorn, Carolyn Jewel and Diane Whiteside share special places on my nightstand.  

Time for a nightcap! what's your poison?
Bourbon or port with my before bed pipe. 
Sorry sweet cheeks. no alcohol but beer hear. Let's share a short pour of my bourbon barrel aged Oktoberfest from last year.  Divine.


Erotic Romance Author – http://saschaillyvichauthor.comFetishist – http://www.saschaillyvich.comRadio Dentata - Surrender to Love:  Buy at ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-surrendertolove-677676-144.html

Gettin' Naked with a Professional! Tiffany Lawson Inman Cracks Open Blue Cruise for a Critique!

Honey Badger Don't Care About A Well Written Romance…But I Do.  AND SO DO YOUR READERS.

What genre comes to mind when you think about great writing craft?  For me, it's Literary Fiction and Suspense Thriller.  Those are the ones that pop into my head straightaway. Forgive me, but it's usually not…um...Romance.  Until now.  Maybe I'm jaded because I open BIG name romance novels and am crushed to see that some (not all) of the writing is rushed. Writing craft, sloppy.  Is it something that happens when you have too many deadlines? When you already have a big name you can ride on?  Here is an example of when it might pay off to be a smaller name.  She's not a clichéd Rock Bottom Brewery.  She's more like that little pub on the corner, on the street that you love, with an absolutely comfortable vibe inside that is unique unto itself.    Liz Crowe.  I happened upon Liz Crowe a few weeks ago while trolling through the Savvy Author loop.  Bumping from author blog to author blog.  Something about her made me stop and look closer. 
·      Her blog is fun and informative, interesting brewery theme – and wow – she is working HARD!·      She has several different romance series going on – I like it when writers can wear more than one hat.·      And this is the MOST IMPORTANT – I downloaded a Kindle sample of one of her titles.She has MUCH MORE than flashy hot flesh in her novels and on her covers – she has a fabulous handle on WRITING CRAFT!
If you already read this blog, you know who she is and what she's all about. But do you know her writing??  Writing craft is my passion. In my Triple Threat Behind Staging A Scene class, I teach writers how to incorporate several different elements into their scenes in order to make them move and grab their readers.  Action scenes with flying fists and hurling hammers aren't the only scenes that have action.  When I say I want more ACTION in a scene– I am talking about emotion, pacing, character power, dialogue, character needs, physicality, setting, AND the choreography.  I think I might be missing a few in that list… you will just have to take my class to find out. *cheesy grin
 Moving on.
When I cracked open my Kindle Ap on my IPad and started reading Liz Crowe's Blue Cruise , a romance,  with ALL of my favorite scene writing elements –oh boy was I excited!   You want proof and analysis don't you.  No problem.  I'm going to let you read an excerpt from Blue Cruise (One Night Stand Series) By Liz Crowe. 
            I'll  be interrupting from time to time for a NakedEditor dissection. 
Honey Badger SHOULD care, because this is where the sweet stuff is. ** If you don't get the Honey Badger reference, I will share a link at the bottom of the blog.  You will get a kick out of it.  I promise!
A sudden, piercing pain between his eyes made him grunt and lean up, forcing the woman drooling on his shoulder back into her own seat."Jesus." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. A flight attendant set a bottle of water on his tray. He gulped it down, but instead of helping, the pain spread, making him squint and grab his temples, trying to quell whatever thrashed around behind his eyes. He groaned and sat back, dreading the thought of a migraine on the last three hours of this flight. Then, as quickly as it gripped him, the headache left. For the first time in his memory he literally saw stars. He took deep breaths until his head cleared when a massive wave of panic replaced the pain.He yanked his seatbelt off and stood. Running a hand over his stubbled face, he tried to fathom what in the hell was happening. It had to be some sort of anxiety attack, brought on by memory, anger, fear, and longing. Jesus, whatever it was it sucked. Shoving his hands in his trouser pockets, he started pacing the aisle, willing the lump away in his throat. He sat again. Got antsy. Stood and paced some more. Flight attendants gave him worried glances.
NakedEditor Dissection Break: Okay!  We have "liftoff!"  ·      Cadence shows movement, Active Description, Word choice: A sudden, piercing pain between his eyes made him grunt and lean up, forcing the woman drooling on his shoulder back into her own seat.·      Crisp choreography, Smooth transition into internalization, Vivid visceral: "Jesus." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. A flight attendant set a bottle of water on his tray. He gulped it down, but instead of helping, the pain spread, making him squint and grab his temples, trying to quell whatever thrashed around behind his eyes. He groaned and sat back, dreading the thought of a migraine on the last three hours of this flight. Then, as quickly as it gripped him, the headache left. For the first time in his memory he literally saw stars. He took deep breaths until his head cleared when a massive wave of panic replaced the pain.·      Active description, Self touch visual for reader to see the character, Crisp and Emotive Choreography, Smooth transition into internalization: He yanked his seatbelt off and stood. Running a hand over his stubbled face, he tried to fathom what in the hell was happening. It had to be some sort of anxiety attack, brought on by memory, anger, fear, and longing. Jesus, whatever it was it sucked. ·      Good cadence showing rising emotion, Strong Pacing, Vivid Visceral: Shoving his hands in his trouser pockets, he started pacing the aisle, willing the lump away in his throat. He sat again. Got antsy. Stood and paced some more. Flight attendants gave him worried glances.
Ready for more Blue Cruise? Okay!
Nothing helped. If anything, he became short of breath. His heart pounded in his ears and he tried to lecture himself into calmness. Attempted to picture Tarkan's soft eyes, imagine his hands on his shoulders, rubbing, soothing away Caleb's Type-A stress. For some reason, for the first time in years, he couldn't conjure mental images of his lover at all. That tore it. He took four long strides to the flight attendant's area. He had to be quite a sight, eyes wild, hair standing up where he'd pulled at it for the last hour, but he no longer cared. Something was seriously wrong. No one acknowledged his presence. That was odd. First class passengers typically wouldn't tolerate being ignored. Caleb cleared his throat. The group stayed clustered around a small screen in their kitchen area. He muscled past them. Someone in the group quickly flicked off the screen. The attendant who'd been bringing him drinks fixed a smile on her face, but he saw the fear in her eyes."What." His jaw ached from clenching it.
NakedEditor Dissection Break!
·      Vivid visceral, Visual and smooth internalization:  Nothing helped. If anything, he became short of breath. His heart pounded in his ears and he tried to lecture himself into calmness. Attempted to picture Tarkan's soft eyes, imagine his hands on his shoulders, rubbing, soothing away Caleb's Type-A stress. For some reason, for the first time in years, he couldn't conjure mental images of his lover at all. That tore it.
·      Crisp choreography, Active character description, Sharp powerful mood change: He took four long strides to the flight attendant's area. He had to be quite a sight, eyes wild, hair standing up where he'd pulled at it for the last hour, but he no longer cared. Something was seriously wrong.
·      Fast and simple transition, Clear incorporation of secondary characters, Emotive body language for POV character. No one acknowledged his presence. That was odd. First class passengers typically wouldn't tolerate being ignored. Caleb cleared his throat. The group stayed clustered around a small screen in their kitchen area. He muscled past them. Someone in the group quickly flicked off the screen. The attendant who'd been bringing him drinks fixed a smile on her face, but he saw the fear in her eyes."What." His jaw ached from clenching it.
Okay, okay, I won't interrupt anymore…if I can help it. This time YOU dissect and tell me what sweet writing you see!
"Nothing sir, can I get you anything else?" The group disbanded, doing their jobs, completely silent. He used all he had not to yell with frustration. Obviously whatever had happened, no one planned to share it with passengers who might panic. His gut rolled again."Water," he croaked. "Can I…?"Someone shoved a piss-warm glass of water into his hand—again, very unlike the formerly polite and attentive crew. He took a deep breath, tried to catch the eye of the uniformed woman now carefully ignoring him. Giving up, he stumbled back to his seat, his knees suddenly unreliable. What in hell is going on? Whatever it was, he didn't want to face it, hoped the flight would simply go on and on forever, never setting down and forcing him deal with the utter devastation that must have occurred. Was it an earthquake? Was Istanbul hit by terrorists? He talked himself out of the doomsday scenarios playing in his head, popped an aspirin, and concentrated on getting some sleep. Anything to hold at bay what was about to make him throw up the bourbon, food, and water he'd had that day. He settled for fuzzy daydreams about Tarkan, their smoking hot beginning, turbulent early days, and the moment he gave in to his true heart and admitted how he felt. He sighed, ignoring the niggling sharp pain that had developed behind his eyes again and drifted. Memories crowded his medicated brain, tumbling around and bringing home the very first time he realized he'd found the love of his life in Turkey.********Caleb startled awake, his lover's soft brown eyes appearing to him the moment the plane touched down in the U.S. As soon as they appeared, they were gone, making his gasp with anxiety. Yanking his leather bag down from the overhead bin, he shouldered his way out, setting his face such that no one questioned his rudeness. One foot in front of the other, one more foot and I'll be out in the terminal, find a fucking television and see…."Sir!"He spun around, annoyed. The attendant was there, holding his phone. "You left this." He yanked it from her hand. Her eyes were full of tears.He gritted his teeth and continued the endless journey out of the plane, up the jet way and out into the hustle and bustle of LAX. People milled around, eating, drinking, going about their business. Caleb found someone in a uniform."Where is the nearest television?" The man frowned at him. He must look and sound like a crazy person, but he didn't care. The uniform pointed to the massive screen right behind him. He heard it before he saw it, the calm tone of the CNN talking head booming out over the gate area."The Turkish capital Ankara has come under terrorist attack. Parliamentary offices were bombed and nearly destroyed. Hundreds are feared dead. It is believed the military was the target of the attack as details are emerging about an entire Turkish military battalion stationed there being completely decimated."The screen was awash with devastation. The camera jerked, jiggled, and showed the same image over and over again. A dazed-looking woman, covered in dust and blood wandered in front of the camera as a policeman intercepted her, rushing her away from what used to be the Parliament building. Her wail of utter terror and pain, on an endless loop on the huge screen reflected exactly how Caleb felt.His vision darkened from the edges inward. Hands guided him into the nearest seat. For the next thirty minutes, he stared at the screen and watched his life end, over and over again.
Are you sitting forward in your seat? Gripping the laptop? Heart racing just a little bit?  Are you worried about this character?   Yes you are! This is what GOOD WRITING CRAFT will do for your fiction. It will bring on the passion.Want to learn how to do this? HEY YOU WRITERS  - Leave a comment and your name will be added to a drawing to WIN a spot in The Triple Threat Behind Staging a Scene:  An Actor's Take on Writing Physicality, Choreography, and Action    Quick – it starts this week!  Comment below and tell us what grabbed you the most from Crowe's writing!  Or, what part of your fiction you think needs some Action and Passion.   Or, just say "Hi!"
WAIT! ---------WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING?
Pop down to the bottom to comment, if you think you will forget, or stay here for a MINI-INTERVIEW with Liz – she answers some interesting questions here!------How do you approach an action scene?  Action scene, meaning: actual action between two or more characters, OR, emotional action, back and forth dialogue between two or more characters.   A.B. or C.   A. You have a big conflict in mind and you tackle the piece as a whole, writing it as it comes  to you. Explain this process.     B. You have several actions or emotional hits to make and you tackle it Dwight Swain style (Motivation Reaction Units.) cause/effect, stimulus/response. Explain this process.     C. None of the above.  Explain your process.   I am a notorious Pantser, and not only that, I'm a "marathoner" once I have head written to the point that I'm nearly insane with the need to get the story out there.I'm also very linear---I've tried to leap over a difficult scene to something already "done" in my head, but I just cannot do it.  Scenes, dialogue, and overall plot flow fairly organically for me and if they don't, I will stop, walk away and come back, usually within the hour, the thing sorted out thanks to a run, walk, or something designed to force my brain to "rest." While I typically do know how a story/novel will end, I fill in the middle as I go including the major conflicts.  -------How important do you think it is to connect the characters to the setting and description actively and emotionally? Do you have a list of descriptive elements you want to showcase in the scene before you start writing, or do you go in after you've started writing and add it in?             My books/novels are typically set outside the norm. My "Brewing Passion" series is             set in the craft beer industry, meaning brewery, attached "tap room" and the environs             owners of a brewery will find themselves in like brewing conventions and on distributor sales days. Therefore, I find myself doing world building for readers in a way that will hopefully draw them in, keep them interested with just enough detail without boring them cross eyed. I use the unique settings to create characters in equally unique situations.            I have 2 upcoming novels both set in the same "world" and so must balance the need             to explain the setting with the urgency to move the story forward without too much detail.            I have a series that is mostly set in Istanbul, Turkey as well, which required a fair bit of             intensive "back story" and setting description to pull the readers into it. The setting of these (Turkish Delights) truly IS a character, to my mind, and my human characters interact with and within it (as either natives, or expats who fall in love with it—and with the natives).  My natives sometimes "hate" their country, and want to escape but it pulls them back, ultimately. My expats "love" the place and the people/person in it, but usually must leave.---------Writing your way through relationship growing scenes often come with a dose of anxiety for most writers.  Do you find these scenes easy to write, in comparison to a scene between two people without a love connection?  What is your process while writing your characters into a relationship?   Body language, types of dialogue?  I've been told by readers and reviewers alike that my characters are some of the most "natural" they've encountered. I build a lot of secondary stories into my longer narrative, giving my main characters close friends, family members, even co workers that they interact with and find personal interaction some of the easiest writing to do.  I'm annoyed by stories with people who only act or react to one or maybe 2 other people. That's not realistic to me and I like my romance/erotica/chick lit or mainstream fiction as realistic as I can get it.To dial it back to the basics, I typically take the 2 people involved in my story (if there is a 3rd they come later), plop them into a situation wherein they must deal with each other, be it via a work situation, awkward family setting or otherwise and …. Make them deal.  That brings out a lot of their true selves as it were, especially to me. Many (most?) times that "situation" involves intimacy, typically physical. That scene will sometimes end up at the beginning of the story but it's been known to get moved around to the middle or end, depending on how things shake out in the revision process.I love characterization—creating fictional people so bloody compelling based on the way they interact with others and come through in their own heads via their Point of View that my readers are salivating to actually meet them in person.  I'm told I'm fairly good at that.----- Is there any part of writing craft that you struggle with? Or a struggle that you have overcome?My struggle right now to be perfectly honest is a "where do I go next" dilemma. I have had some fairly stellar successes this year, publishing 3 shorts stories and 4 novels, and in 2012 I will publish 7 novels/novellas and sold my first one to one of my targeted publishers Ellora's Cave ("Lust On Tap" is a brewery based ménage romance novel slated for a late 2012 release).I have 2 more projects in mind for the year, one brewery based time travel and another hot soccer m/m love story one for each of my bigger publishers.What I'm thinking right now, is "time to find and agent?" I want to grasp the brass ring of NY contracts. I'm a voracious reader, I study the market, I think I have some stories that would fly. But how to take the time from the round of writing/editing/promotion necessary to make even the smallest dent in the huge machine of writers out there in order to find an agent?Somehow I don't think you will have a problem getting an agent – you are a GOOD writer!  I'll make you a tee-shirt, in case you forget  *snicker snicker!
Well, thank you Liz, for letting me SHOW OFF YOUR WRITING, and for answering questions a lot of writers out there are asking themselves.
WRITERS DON'T forget to leave a comment!  Your name will be added to a drawing to WIN a spot in The Triple Threat Behind Staging a Scene:  An Actor's Take on Writing Physicality, Choreography, and Action    
Quick – it starts this week! Buy 2 of MY classes, get 1 FREE! See the Pre-Valentines deal at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002828888002
LEARN MORE FROM NAKED EDITOR! Join me for my February class at Lawson Writer's Academy:  The Triple Threat Behind Staging a Scene:  An Actor's Take on Writing Physicality, Choreography, and Action  AND I have a new class starting in April – Madness to Method : No matter where you are in the writing process – this class will crack open your psyche to reveal dynamic character, motivation, and reaction; showing you how to activate emotion you never knew you had.    ** What was the Honey Badger all about? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg

Tiffany Lawson Inman is a freelance fiction editor and writing instructor.  Find out where she's been guest blogging, where she's going to be next, writing/editing tips, and her EDITING SERVICES at: http://bit.ly/NakedEditorFictionWritingBlog