Eden Baylee's Blog, page 106

NEW Release by @CaseSheridan ~ Sirus Bandai – The Invisible Bandit

Casey was originally interviewed for Inside the Author’s Mind – December 17, 2010. She’s one of the first people I connected to when I started writing, and she’s also one of the sweetest women you’d want to meet. I am always thrilled to offer her space on my blog.

Please welcome the beautiful and gracious, Casey Sheridan and learn more about her fascinating new book, Sirus Bandai – The Invisible Bandit.

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I want to start by thanking Eden for allowing me to be a guest on her blog. Eden is not only a talented author, but she’s the nicest, most giving person out there. She has many friends, followers, and admirers. I’m honored to be here.

Thank you, Eden.

xoxoxo

[Eden] Always my pleasure to have you here, Casey.

Buy links

Print | Smashwords | Amazon US | Amason UK | B&N | ARe  

Read what Casey says about “Cross-dressing Reality”

I write fiction. I write fiction in the form of erotica and erotic romance.

Hey! I saw that! You rolled your eyes at me. Erotica and erotic romance are fiction. Trust me on this. 

They consist of fictitious characters, lives, etc. They are stories of the imagination, therefore, fiction. Sometimes these stories, and/or the characters, are based on reality, real people.

I know from stalking following Eden, she has been asked many times if her characters are based on real people in her life. Like Eden, I draw on the traits of people I know and incorporate those traits into my characters.

In my latest release, the character of Blue Gill is a cross-dressing thief. I don’t know anyone that’s a cross-dresser, or a thief, and I certainly don’t know a cross-dressing thief, but Blue Gill is based, loosely, on someone I know, a real person.

This person isn’t a cross-dresser, but I can see him doing so as a joke. And no, he’s not a thief either.

Here’s a small excerpt from Sirus Bandai—The Invisible Bandit with Blue Gill my cross-dressing thief.

It was hard to believe how swiftly this person moved in four-inch heels—especially since it was a man. He dodged Ciara’s attempts to take back her necklace with the ease of a basketball player dribbling a ball down an open court.

“You might as well just give it back. You’re not leaving here with it,” Ciara warned through clenched teeth.

“We shall see,” he countered in his odd singsong voice. “I so love pearls.”

Ciara ground her teeth. She should have known something was wrong when the guy entered her small shop. How was she to know that the hairy little man in the white sequined tube top, shiny blue hot pants, and high heels was a thief?

Yes, the person I know would dress just like that for a joke. In my mind, I can see him as clearly as I see these words.

Although you may not know the person, I hope that when you read Sirus Bandai, Blue Gill will be as real to you as he is to me and you see him as clearly as I do.

Book blurb

Ciara Walker is torn between two men.

With sexy superhero, Ace of Spades, Ciara soon learns that dating a superhero isn’t easy, no matter how hot he looks in, or out of, black spandex. Besides, Ace misses more dates than he keeps.

There’s also seductive billionaire, Moose Hannigan whose good looks would capture the attention of any woman. But he’s also suspected of being an underground crime lord.

Can Ciara choose between them? She may not have to if erotic Sirus Bandai, the Invisible Bandit, has her way. After all, what Sirus wants, Sirus gets.

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Congratulations, Casey on your new release! Readers, please find out more about this wonderful author and follow Casey on all her networks.

Also, don’t forget to pick up your copy of Sirus Bandai – The Invisible Bandit! 

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Connect with Casey

Casey Sheridan wrote her first erotic story on a dare, and she loved writing it so much she never stopped. Her erotica and erotic romance has been published by Breathless Press and Cobblestone Press, and has appeared on The Erotic Woman, Every Night Erotica and RSVP-Erotica.

She loves to read and write, could spend all day in a book story, art museum, or chocolate shop. She also enjoys music, watching movies, and cooking.

Casey lives with her crazy, but lovable, orange tabby cat.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter @casesheridan | About.me

Filed under: Author Promotions

My First Book Club Meet was Oh SO SWEET

I’m still in NYC right now, but this post is about something that happened just before I got here. I was invited to be the guest of honor at a book club—my first! And you know you never forget your first.

The meeting was to discuss Fall into Winter – my debut anthology of erotic novellas.

Sweet right? Damn right it was.

S.W.E.E.T also happens to be the name of this unique book club, which stands for: Sophisticated Women Exploring Erotic Texts.

I love sophisticated women. I love exploring, and I definitely love erotic texts. I knew this would be my type of club.

I arrived at 7:30 in the evening, and the majority of women were already gathered at the meeting place—a beautiful home in North Toronto.  The club was made up of professional women in their twenties and thirties. It was their third meeting, after having read  Fifty Shades of Gray and Bared to You.

There was food and wine and dessert, and … there was an agenda.  Holy god, these women were serious. They came prepared with overall impressions, suggestions, likes and dislikes. Their questions were specific.

Animated, lively, at times vulgar and hilarious, we discussed favorite stories, specific scenes, and male characters. We even talked about synonyms because they liked my word choices. This was a great compliment as I’m a logophile and words are important to me. I’ve written about their impact in a previous post called “It’s Only Words … or is it?”

For erotic writing, however, I rely on several aids, and one I particularly like is The Bald-Headed Hermit and the Artichoke. It’s an erotic thesaurus with a sense of humor. There are more synonyms to describe the penis than any other word in the English language, but a  ”steamin’ semen truck” or “purple headed yogurt slinger”? Not exactly erotic, is it? I promise you’ll never find those terms in my books!

A large part of the discussion centered around my story “Act Three” and its controversial scene. From there, we talked about rape fantasies, fear, and how writers push the envelope of what is erotic.

One of the biggest compliments I received was their thoughts on my female leads. They considered the women smart and intelligent unlike the leads in the previous two books they had read. For me, this was extremely flattering considering my demographic is more of the 30-40 age group. It was so encouraging to meet women who identified with themselves in my stories.

FACT: I don’t write for stupid women so you won’t find them in my books.

The evening ended close to midnight, and I had to get up in seven hours to catch a plane. It was wonderful to hang out with open-minded women who talk about sex, sexuality, and their love of good writing. No, I don’t consider these women open-minded just because they read erotica. They are open-minded. Period. Because of that, they’ve taken to exploring this in their books.

I want to thank the beautiful women of SWEET for their praise, charm, and humor.

A special thanks to O, the gracious host, for making my first book club meet such a sweet experience.

eden

xoxo

Filed under: -Promo of Fall into Winter

I Took Part in ~ Mike Geffner Presents @InspiredWordNYC

When in NYC, I always do something different. It’s a crazy town, and I’m open to trying new things. Last night, I tried something new.

I’m no longer an open mic virgin, and I can say I’ve stood on a stage in NYC. Well … it wasn’t actually a stage, but that’s a good thing. I tend to be clumsy and would’ve probably fallen off.

Acclaimed poet and friend, Steven Marty Grant connected me to Mike Geffner and The Inspired Word when he learned I was looking for places to read while in New York.

Not even a cold, rainy evening kept the crowd away. Along with poets, comedians, and performance artists, I read a passage from my second book, Spring into Summer. It was scary but the audience was warm and gracious, and the experience a very good one for an introvert like me.

I’d highly encourage all artists to give The Inspired Word a try. It’s a gem of an event to have in a great city.

Thanks Mike, for your vision and for giving artists a forum to express themselves.

Readers, connect to Mike, follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Get to know this sweetheart of a man.

Website | Twitter @InspiredWordNYC | Twitter @MikeGeffner | Facebook

Filed under: -Promo of Spring into Summer, Revelations & Humor

Music Monday ~ Walk on the Wild Side

New York City, baby!

There are so many ways to be wild in this city—it’s a matter of degrees.

Tonight I’ll be at the Nexus Lounge, maybe doing a reading or just hanging out.

Come by and say “hi” if you’re around. Meet Mike and all the great artists who will be there.

Follow on Twitter at: @InspiredWordNYC and @MikeGeffner

One of my favorite poets might also be there. If he is, you’ll definitely want to meet the always fabulous and lovely Steven Marty Grant.

In the meantime, here’s Lou Reed doing his thing.

enjoy,

eden

Filed under: Musical Mondays

Inside the Mind of @KenFlott

I had the great pleasure of meeting Ken Flott when working on the Indies Unite for Joshua IndieGoGo campaign. His generosity of spirit and support gave a huge boost to the fundraiser. From there, I discovered more interesting tidbits about Ken.

~ He lives in one of my favorite cities—Boston.

~ He’s Sicilian and tweets in Italian – it’s molto sexy.

~ He can be a very scary dude on film.

Watch him in The Darkness Within and you’ll see what I mean. That’s him looking pretty frightening below.

Ken as Mr. Reed in The Darkness Within

Aside from being a film producer, actor, and active social media supporter of his peers, Ken is an excellent writer. I read his script for Nicky, based on his short story by the same name. Nicky is currently in post-production. The story is intense; at times I laughed aloud right before I cringed. As a short story writer, I know how difficult it can be to pack so much into a limited number of words.

Dom and Ken

Along with the talents of director, Dom Portalla, Ken is part of Door Eleven Productions where they create independent films.

As if all this wasn’t enough, what impresses me most about Ken is he’s a genuinely nice man. I mean—truly nice. You only need to interact with him once to know that.

I’m a big fan of Ken and his work. Get to know him—you’ll become a fan too.

Years after his little brother’s abduction, a man seeks resolution now having learned the truth.

Buy the story on Amazon Kindle 


Watch the trailer on Door Eleven Productions

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Inside Ken Flott’s Mind

What is your idea of perfect happiness? A world that’s not crippled by political or religious ideology would make me perfectly happy.

What turns you on creatively? Whenever I speak to someone I truly admire, love or miss (sometimes they’re the same person) it inspires me to do something creative.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Fuck. The “C” bomb, Hubris. Poutine. Please. “I am leaving, you don’t have to push”, “Shut up”, “I do”, “I’ll get that”, “Have another drink, I’ll be more handsome”, “How much for a table dance?” “Go fuck yourself”

What quality do you most admire in a man? Responsibility.

What quality do you most admire in a woman? Strength of character.

What is your greatest regret? I never should have gotten married; either time.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My ears, if you cut them off, sewed them together and filled them with air; they’d be the size of a football.

What is your greatest fear? Disappointing the people I love.

Which living person do you most admire? My Mother; she’s my hero. Ti amo mama!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Farming.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? A bra.

[Eden] Ken … you’re incorrigible

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Avoiding complacency.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? A lack of introspection.

What is your greatest extravagance? Video games. Lame I know.

What is one thing you want to do before you die? Take a year and drive around North America alone.

What is your favorite movie/director? Betty Blue and Paris, Texas. Both tied for 1st.

What are some of your favorite curse words? See above. But I have to say; motherfucker has a certain cathartic quality to it. Nothing feels better than a good, “motherfucker!” Try it.

What is your motto? “No obstacles, only challenges” I heard it in the movie Groove and it struck me as simple but true.

Ken, you’re a man of few words but an absolute darling. I loved your answers. 

Readers, leave a comment for this wonderfully talented and funny man.

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Connect with Ken, Door Eleven Productions, & use the #NickyMovie hashtag on Twitter

Ken

Twitter @kenflott | 

Door Eleven Productions

Website | Facebook | Twitter @Door_Eleven_Pro | Twitter @DomPortalla

Nicky ~ The Movie

Facebook |  Nicky on IMDB | #NickyMovie on Twitter

Filed under: Author Interviews

NEW Release by @SelenaBlake ~ Ready and Willing

Selena Blake is a new author to me who is currently on a book tour for her latest release, Ready & Willing.

Find out more about the woman who is a movie buff with a penchant for all things supernatural and sexy.

Please welcome Selena Blake.

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Ava Garnier is the middle daughter of WhitePaw’s Alpha pair and she’s spent almost a decade preparing to take over her father’s role as leader of the Pack.There’s one big snag and his name is Kaden Black. Kaden assumes that because he’s the Beta of the pack, the position is automatically his.Ava’s had a crush on Kaden for years but he’s never given her the time of day…until her sister marries his best friend. Now sparks are flying and there’s only a week until her father decides who will become the next Alpha of WhitePaw pack. The question is, who will come out on top?

Buy link: Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

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Excerpt from Ready & Willing 

Ava carefully tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, just as they’d practiced the evening before. Only this time she had a smile on her face that made his gut tighten.

It was a show, he was certain of it. His sixth sense could feel the tension radiating through her. She grinned at her parents, made eye contact with a few of the people in the crowd, but she held herself rigid. And her hand barely touched his arm.

Was she still upset because he was determined to take her father’s place?

He’d thought her anger would have diminished by now, but this was just a new facet of her that he needed to learn. It also meant he had to keep his cool…while making her lose hers.

Kaden was ready to be Alpha. He’d been doing battle all his life to become beta of the pack. He’d proven that he was strong, smart, capable, ready and willing to defend the pack. He knew all the pack laws and all the pack members. Yes, his resume was looking stellar.

“You’re not going to be Alpha,” the woman at his side said through her faux smile.

It was almost like she could read his mind. He wished for a moment that he could read hers.

Instead, he ducked his head closer, catching her subtle honey-vanilla fragrance. “I’d say it’s a done deal, sweetheart.”

Those warm brown eyes flashed up at him with flecks of golden fire. Why had he never noticed their exquisite color before? They were like cinnamon and amber. “The deal is hardly done. Why would my father hand over the leadership of the pack to an outsider?”

The last word hung in the air between them. Kaden didn’t feel like an outsider. He hadn’t for a long time. WhitePaw was his home. He had friends, a nice house, and a good job in the city. And he was Beta of the pack, a position he took seriously.

“Especially since he has offspring reading and willing to do the job.”

With the processional gathering in the lobby of the church, the photographer began organizing people for the photos. Kaden quickly steered Ava into a nearby room.

“What—“

He cut off her words. “Ready and willing, huh?”

Ava stared up at the insanely handsome werewolf as her stomach fluttered like a wounded butterfly. Her reaction to him was nothing new. But the intensity of it was.

How did he manage to make three little words sound so naughty? And why couldn’t she seem to remember that he was the enemy?

She couldn’t, wouldn’t, tell him just how ready and willing she was when it came to him. How she’d fantasized about kissing him more often than was decent. Or how she daydreamed of running her fingers through his sexy almost-shoulder-length-but-not-quite golden, brown hair.

No. She could never tell him those things…at least not until she’d secured her spot as Alpha.

“I come from a long line of WhitePaw leaders—“

“What about your brother?”

“Gregory? What about him?”

“You don’t think he’d be interested in the top spot? He is male, after all.”

“That’s irrelevant,” she said as her temper spiked. “I need to get back to the wedding.” Flustered, she ducked around him. Two steps away from the door, he caught her by the arm and turned her back toward him. Why did those warm, strong fingers on her arm have to feel so good? Inside she whimpered at the delicious touch, brief as it was. And why couldn’t she stop herself from thinking about those same warm, strong fingers sliding up her arm to cup  her head and run through her hair, knocking the bobby pens aside…

“I think it’s entirely relevant,” he murmured.

“Gregory doesn’t want to lead. Besides, I’m older. And I have more experience.”

“You really think Phillip is going to name someone Alpha who’s experience is organizing parties and Pack meetings?”

Her hand arced through the air before the last word had left his lips. Pride bruised and anger simmering, she saw red. Wanted blood. His blood. But his reflexes were faster and he caught her hand before it connected with his cheek.

Before she could react, he’d backed her up until her back was flat against the door. His big body crowded her, pinned her there as he stared down at her like a wolf who’d just spotted his dinner. With his hand tight around her wrist, holding it beside her head against the polished wood, a mild panic crept through her. She brought her other hand up to push against the solid wall of his chest, needing to get away from him, but he easily caught that one too.

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Connect with Selena on all her blog stops

Selena Blake writes erotic paranormal and contemporary romance. First published in 2008, her series Stormy Weather has been on the best seller lists and nominated for awards.  She’s a fan of action movies, Diet Coke, Milky Way bars and thunderstorms, not necessarily in that order.

Website | Twitter @SelenaBlake |  Facebook Fan Page 

 

Filed under: Author Promotions

Land of Hope Book Tour by Junying Kirk (@Junying007 )

Friend and author, Junying Kirk, originally interviewed November 2011, has launched the final book in her trilogy. She’s on a month-long tour all over the interwebs and will be giving away prizes too!

Follow her journey and find out more about her latest book, Land of Hope, the long-awaited follow-up toThe Same Moon and Trials of Life.

Junying will be on my blog Oct. 24th to talk more about her book. Don’t miss it!

eden

Connect with Junying

Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Goodreads

Filed under: Author Promotions

Music Monday w/ Joe Cocker ~ Dedicated to Marie

A week ago, I lost a beautiful friend, a woman I met when I started my banking career who spoke with a strange accent. At the time, I didn’t know she was English … from Sheffield, England.

Marie returned to her homeland some years ago, but we remained friends. She was one of the most generous and supportive women I knew. She also helped me through a very difficult time in my life and got me drunk doing it too.

For always being such a kind heart, this one’s for you, dear friend, from a native son.

eden ♥

Filed under: Musical Mondays

Three Reviews for Spring into Summer

Spring into Summer was reviewed by three excellent sites this past week.

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Wendy Hines from Minding Spot said:

” … If you’ve been wanting to try erotica, but have been holding back for whatever reason, Eden Baylee is the place to start! “

Read the full review here and comment to win a copy of either of my books. Contest ends Oct. 18th.

Diantha Jones, a reviewer for the Masqerade Crew said:

” … Spring into Summer was a great read and I recommend it to romance lovers who aren’t afraid to let Baylee access their more raw side.”

Read the full review here.

From Niina C of For the Love of Reading Reviews, I received a two-star review. That doesn’t sound too good, but I believe an author should always want honesty when he/she asks for a review. Despite the low number of stars, Niina’s words impressed me. She said:

“I really wanted to like Spring into Summer, the blurb was beautiful and the stories seemed interesting at first glance. So why didn’t I like it? …”

Find out by reading the full review here.

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Connect to all these wonderful people on Twitter:

Wendy Hines at @MindingSpot

Diantha Jones at @DianthaJones

Masquerade Crew at @MasqCrew

Niina C at @Freywyn

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Buy Fall into Winter from Amazon.com and Amazon.UK

Buy Spring into Summer from Amazon.com and Amazon.UK

No Kindle? No Worries.

There is a Kindle App for just about any electronic device (Click here to get one). If you own a computer, smart phone, iPad, or iPod touch, then you are able to download my e-books.

Filed under: -Promo of Fall into Winter, -Promo of Spring into Summer

Inside the Author’s Mind of David Vinjamuri ~ @dvinjamuri

Shakespeare said “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Perhaps, he was thinking of David Vinjamuri when he wrote that line in Hamlet.

I had the pleasure of meeting David via author and friend, Rachel Thompson. Though his answers to my interview are short, the list of his accomplishments is anything but.

As a columnist for Forbes magazine, he describes himself as a longtime brand guy who writes mostly about smart or foolish things that brands do. I was fortunate to contribute to his article about “How Amazon Quietly Subverts Bestseller Lists with KDP.”

He also teaches branding and social media at NYU and ThirdWay Brand Trainers, having worked with Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, DoubleClick and others.

In addition to this, he’s the author of the non-fiction book, Accidental Branding: How Ordinary People Build Extraordinary Brands and his fiction debut thriller Operator, which recently released is FREE TODAY!

You heard me. David is generously offering Operator TODAY for FREE. Just download it at the links below and help spread the word.  

In the meantime, please welcome David Vinjamuri, a man whose talents speak louder than words.

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When Michael Herne’s high school girlfriend Melissa commits suicide, he makes the fateful decision to return home for her funeral. Michael hasn’t stepped foot in his Catskills hometown for more than a dozen years since he left it and a college football scholarship behind to join the Army. Michael quickly learns that his hometown has changed as he is pulled into the web of mystery and corruption surrounding Melissa’s death. He will soon confront the abusive ex-boyfriend, a town sheriff with mixed motives and the ruthless Russian gang at the heart of it all. Michael will be forced to choose between two paths – that of the desk-working, college-educated intelligence analyst he has become or the Tier I Army Operator he once was. Only one of these identities will survive as Michael is relentlessly hunted by a series of ruthless men.

This meticulously researched, seamlessly plotted thriller is the first in a new series by David Vinjamuri.

FREE TODAY at: Amazon US | Amazon UK

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Every year, thousands of new business are started by people with no knowledge of modern marketing at all, and some of them survive and thrive. Accidental Branding tells the story of seven “accidental” brands and how their founders beat bigger competitors by breaking the standard rules of marketing. Successful brands like Burt’s Bees, J. Peterman, and Clif Bar reveal how doing things differently can lead to big-time success.

If you’re an entrepreneur or a marketer, this guide will show you how to build stronger brands.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

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Inside David Vinjamuri’s Mind

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Basically what I have now – writing fiction and living with my wife and kids, but with the logistic and financial ability to travel at will.  And 8 or 12 years of college tuition in the bank.

What turns you on creatively? Seeing readers connect emotionally with characters I’ve created.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? As it turns out …

What quality do you most admire in a man? Perseverance.

What quality do you most admire in a woman? Forgiveness.

What is your greatest regret? I had an offer to work for the CIA that I turned down to go to graduate school.  I would have been the sort of analyst I’d already been for another agency, but I would have had the chance to spend a year learning to do things like jump out of planes first.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? That I would be a nicer person when sleep-deprived.

What is your greatest fear? That everything I believe as a parent will turn out to be wrong.

Which living person do you most admire? Nelson Mandela – 27 years in prison and he comes out without hate.  That is a testament to the human spirit.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? World’s Best Consulting detective.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? A peregrine falcon.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Operator – professionally.  Spenser & Tessa – personally.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lack of empathy – empathy for others is all that separates average people from serial killers.

What is your greatest extravagance? Books. Even during my worst days financially as an entrepreneur I kept reading new stuff.

What is one thing you want to do before you die? Have dinner at the White House.

What is your favorite music (genre/artist/album/song)? I listen widely but classical is my first love.  Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony or Schubert string quartets …

What are some of your favorite curse words? I have small children so I’m going on the record as never F-ing cursing.

What is your motto? Wait for it.

Thanks David  for your succinct answers. I thought they were terrific. 

Readers, please connect to David at all his networks and don’t forget to get your copy of Operator today for free!

Leave a comment for David and ask him any questions too.

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Connect with David

After a brief stint as an intelligence analyst, David spent nearly 20 years working with corporate brands. He writes for Forbes, teaches at New York University and loves reading and the outdoors.

Twitter @dvinjamuri |  Facebook 

Forbes | Accidental Branding | Thirdway Brand Trainers

Filed under: Author Interviews