Laura Kaye's Blog, page 84

The Baltimore Book Festival Is Here!

It's finally here!

All weekend, I'm taking part in my first Baltimore Book Festival. My RWA chapter, the Maryland Romance Writers, is one of the sponsors of the event and we have a whole pavilion dedicated to romantic fiction the whole weekend. Click here to see the entire killer MRW schedule.

I'm going to be one busy author lady all weekend! I'll be talking on panels, offering book readings, raffling baskets, and doing signings. Forever Freed and Hearts in Darkness will both be available for signing and purchase.

Here are the specifics events where you can find me:

Friday, 9/23:
12PM - READINGS & RAFFLES with Mindy Klasky, Christie Barth, Laura Kaye and Robin Kaye (Hearts in Darkness reading and Elevator Survival Kit Basket)
1:30PM - Charmed by Charm City: Baltimore Makes a Great Novel Setting with Joya Fields, Sharon Buchbinder, Laura Kaye, Kate Dolan and Jeri Smith-Ready

5:30PM - Chocolate Tasting! with Eliza Knight, Christi Barth, Laura Kaye, Mindy Klasky and Robin Kaye

7:00PM - Erotica Panel with Megan Hart, Sharon Buchbinder, Kate Poole and Letty James; moderated by Laura Kaye

Saturday, 9/24:
2PM - READINGS & RAFFLES with Christie Kelley, Stephanie Draven, Laura Kaye and Laurel Wanrow (Forever Freed reading and Vampire Lover Basket)

3PM - Making the Most of Publishing with Small Presses and E-Pubs with Diane Wylie, Laura Kaye, Christi Barth, Kate Pool, Sharon Buchbinder and Joya Fields

7PM - Diversity in Genre Fiction with Catherine Asaro, Afton Locke, Laura Kaye, Stephanie Draven and Hanne Blank

Er, psst, did you notice up there I'm on panels with Megan Hart and Jeri Smith-Ready???? zomg

So, doesn't this look like great fun? If you're within driving distance, consider coming on down and immersing in some book fun today through Sunday! And please say hi!

Thanks for reading,
Laura

Heather Thurmeier's Gonna Make You Laugh...

I'm so excited to welcome Heather Thurmeier to the blog today to celebrate her debut release!
Before you start reading, settle in with your favorite cup of coffee. Just, maybe, don't take a drink quite yet... Take it away, Heather!
First I just want to say a super quick thank you to Laura for having me on her blog today!
LOVE AND LATTES is set in a bookstore, and I can't think of anything that goes with reading and writing better than coffee. There's something so soothing about a hot coffee first thing in the morning. Even just the scent of coffee is enough to open my eyes and get me going. After I drop the kids at school, I brew my fresh cup of "favorite du jour" in my Keurig—best thing eva!—then I cuddle up on the couch and get to work. I can't think of a single thing that would keep me from my morning coffee…
Unless that coffee came from an animal's butt.
Oh, yes. It's true.
Kopi Luwak is a coffee that is actually harvested from the feces of the Asian Palm Civet (a rat-looking thing) most commonly on the island of Sumatra. Apparently the little animals eat the coffee berries, digest them, and deposit them. Then the deposits are collected—Eww, eww, eww—washed (thank God!), sun-dried and roasted—kill those germs!—then brewed.
Really?
Regular coffee isn't good enough for people? We have to go and collect it from poop.
From. Poop.
I rest my case.
They say this fancy poop coffee is less bitter, more aromatic and has more free amino acids because of the digestion process of the Civet. It's also the most expensive coffee in the world… We're talking hundreds of dollars per pound!!
So, an animal poops out my coffee and then I have to pay out the ass for it too?
No thanks. I think I'll stick to lattes.
[Okay, admit it! Who snarfed coffee all over their monitor???]
Find Heather Thurmeier online at the following links: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Buy LOVE AND LATTES at Silver Publishing or Amazon!
LOVE AND LATTES Blurb:

Chase gave up hope of ever finding someone interested in more than his wealth--then he met Julia. She could be the one to tame his player ways, but can their love survive once he becomes her new boss?
Chase has given up hope of ever finding a woman who wants something more than just his family name. Julia is funny, incredibly sexy, and finally, after two years of playing the field, Chase gets a chance to date a girl who's interested in him, not his status.
Julia can't forget the night of passion she spent with Chase after dancing at the club. When she runs into him on her first day at a new job, she's thrilled to see him again--until she learns he's her new boss.
Julia doesn't know what to think when she's threatened to stay away from Chase and then overhears gossips painting him as a player and Julia as his new toy. Should Julia heed the threats and gossip or is a chance to fall in love worth the risk?

LOVE AND LATTES Excerpt:
Elbowing her way through the crowd, Julia Walker finally reached the bar and attempted to flag down a bartender. She wiggled her fingers at the one nearest her as he walked by. Of course, he stopped at a woman further down and leaned across the bar to hear her order. As far as she could see, other people seemed to be trying the same tactic as her own. If the drinks lining the edge of the bar were any indication, all of them had apparently been more successful than she had.
Sighing, Julia propped her head in her hand and resigned herself to the fact she wasn't likely to get a drink anytime soon. In a normal setting, people looked right through her. Why had she thought the bar would be any different?
Why is coming to the club fun?
Maybe if she was tall and blonde, with her breasts bursting out of her top like so many of the other women she saw around the bar, she'd stand a chance of being noticed. But, with her straight black hair falling slightly above her shoulders and a dress only providing a hint of what hid underneath, she simply couldn't compete.
She surveyed the dance floor from her position at the bar but couldn't make out her friend anywhere in the sea of people. Julia had never been to Oasis before, even though there were only three clubs in the neighborhood. 
Her friend and roommate Tali had sworn she'd stay by her side so Julia wouldn't end up standing alone and bored the entire night. But where's Tali now? They'd gotten separated almost as soon as they'd entered the bar, with men naturally flocking to Tali's side, hoping for her attention.
The club was inside the gates of Meadow Ridge, so all the customers were either born and raised in the Meadow--which meant they were stinking rich--or they were students from the local university like she was--which meant they were dirt poor and barely scrimping by on meager student loans. Tali fell easily into the first group and Julia did not. Somehow, they'd remained friends regardless of the difference in their bank account balances.
Julia turned away from the dance floor and back to the bar. She needed a drink soon. She was already dehydrated from the hot, sweaty club and hadn't even danced yet. Sending her most award-winning smile directly at the bartender, she waved her hand again. He looked right past her to the girl in the see-through dress, which may as well have been non-existent for all the coverage the flimsy material provided.
A man in a dark blue button-up shirt suddenly blocked her view. "Hey," he said, smiling at her with perfect Hollywood teeth, bending down until his mouth brushed her earlobe. His warm breath caressed her delicate skin. "You look like you could use a drink. Can I get you one?"
You could get me more than a drink, I'm sure.
He must have been about six feet tall, with the most gorgeous sandy-brown hair. His features were sharp and defined with a strong jaw and chiseled cheekbones. Even though she could tell he was only a couple of years older than she was, he looked far too distinguished to be mingling in a club full of students and twenty-something singles. The warmth of his breath at her neck sent a tingle along her flesh.
"You can try." She finally found her voice enough to answer him. "I haven't had much luck yet."
"What'll you have?"
"A Cosmo."
He leaned across the bar and instantly a bartender wandered over to take his order.
How'd he do that?
She couldn't hear his words over the sounds of music pounding through the club, but moments later a frosty martini glass filled with bright pink liquid was at her lips. The tart cranberry instantly quenched her thirst as the heat of the liquor quieted the butterflies in her stomach.
"Thanks," she shouted, hoping he could hear her over the noise. She reached into the small clutch she'd brought filled with essentials and pulled out a couple of neatly folded bills. Before she could offer them to him, he put his hand on hers, shaking his head.
She should have insisted on paying. She wanted to pay. But the moment his hand touched hers, every thought she'd ever had vanished. The only thing she could focus on was the heat of his touch. His hand lingered on hers and she would swear she could feel actual sparks firing against her skin. Does that really happen to people?
She'd read plenty of romance novels that talked about the chemistry--the spark between two people--but she'd always thought an actual spark sounded a bit farfetched. Stuff like that didn't happen in real life, did it?
Her eyes sought his, finding the most interesting kaleidoscope of colors she'd ever seen. Flecks of blue, brown, and green intermingled to create eyes she wanted to stare at forever. "The next one's on me."
"There'll be another?" He gave her a teasing grin.
Oh, damn. She began to sweat and wondered if her assumption about another drink had been completely wrong. When he'd bought her this drink, he was probably just trying to be nice to the poor, thirsty girl at the bar. He most likely had a girlfriend somewhere in the club waiting for him right now and wondering where he was.
"No, I didn't mean that. I just wanted to repay you for this drink since you were so nice to buy me one. That's all. I'm sure you have someone else to buy you the next drink, so you won't need me too. Of course it's not like you need anyone to buy you a drink, I'm sure you can afford to buy your own drinks--" She shook her head and sighed under her breath. Damn it. At the ripe old age of twenty-two, she still couldn't speak to men without getting flustered.
His grin spread across his face and she thought she heard a small chuckle escape his lips, but it was impossible to know for sure over the dance music relentlessly thumping through the speakers. "On second thought, I'd love it if you'd buy the next round."
He's exceptionally cute when he smiles.
Thanks so much for reading! Please leave Heather some comment love!Laura

Find Me At The Baltimore Book Festival!!!

I'm totally looking forward to taking part in my first Baltimore Book Festival. My RWA chapter, the Maryland Romance Writers, is one of the sponsors of the event and we have a whole pavilion dedicated to romantic fiction the whole weekend. Click here to see the entire killer MRW schedule.
I'm going to be one busy author lady all weekend! I'll be talking on panels, offering book readings, raffling baskets, and doing signings. Forever Freed and Hearts in Darkness will both be available for signing and purchase.
Here are the specifics events where you can find me:
Friday, 9/23:12PM - READINGS & RAFFLES with Mindy Klasky, Christie Barth, Laura Kaye and Robin Kaye (Hearts in Darkness reading and Elevator Survival Kit Basket)
1:30PM - Charmed by Charm City: Baltimore Makes a Great Novel Setting with Joya Fields, Sharon Buchbinder, Laura Kaye, Kate Dolan and Jeri Smith-Ready
5:30PM - Chocolate Tasting! with Eliza Knight, Christi Barth, Laura Kaye, Mindy Klasky and Robin Kaye
7:00PM - Erotica Panel with Megan Hart, Sharon Buchbinder, Kate Poole and Letty James; moderated by Laura Kaye
Saturday, 9/24:2PM - READINGS & RAFFLES with Christie Kelley, Stephanie Draven, Laura Kaye and Laurel Wanrow (Forever Freed reading and Vampire Lover Basket)
3PM - Making the Most of Publishing with Small Presses and E-Pubs with Diane Wylie, Laura Kaye, Christi Barth, Kate Pool, Sharon Buchbinder and Joya Fields
7PM - Diversity in Genre Fiction with Catherine Asaro, Afton Locke, Laura Kaye, Stephanie Draven and Hanne Blank
Er, psst, did you notice up there I'm on panels with Megan Hart and Jeri Smith-Ready???? zomg
So, doesn't this look like great fun? If you're within driving distance, consider coming on down and immersing in some book fun this weekend! And please say hi!
Thanks for reading,Laura

Happy Book Birthday to Me!

It's the 20th of the month, and that means I'm celebrating book birthdays around here! HEARTS IN DARKNESS is officially five months old and FOREVER FREED is four months old! To celebrate, I'm running giveaways for BOTH books!
1) In conjunction with Lucien Demarco's interview, I'm giving away a signed print copy of FOREVER FREED (open to international!)
2) I'm also running my inaugural Goodreads giveaway from 9/20 -9/30 where you can win one of two signed print copies of HEARTS IN DARKNESS (open to U.S./Canada)!




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    Goodreads Book Giveaway
 



 
   
   


     
       
     
   

   
   


     

       
          Hearts in Darkness
       
     

     

       
          by Laura Kaye
       
     

     
     


       
         
            Giveaway ends September 30, 2011.
         


         
            See the giveaway details
            at Goodreads.
         


       
     

   

   


   
   
      Enter to win
   
   
 
Don't miss out on the party! Or the freebies!
Thanks for reading,Laura

Welcome Guest Author Christi Barth!

Want to end the summer with a funny, sexy romp through the Caribbean? Of course you do!  
So dive into the pages of Cruising Toward Love by Christi Barth.
The reviews are rolling in – Cheryl's Book Nook said, "You have a funny, sexy mystery comedy all rolled into one. This book was great!" Sizzling Hot Book Reviews recommends it "to anyone looking for a story that transports you." Here's a blurb to get you started. If you really want to get your feet wet, there's an excerpt below the banner.
Can an unexplained breakup and ten years of heartache be cured by the romance – and endless buffets – of a tropical cruise?  When her sister is left at the altar, small town librarian Zoe Balis jumps at the chance to take the bride's unused ticket for the honeymoon cruise.  But she didn't count on sharing a cabin with the man who broke her heart ten years ago!
Army medic Nate Hyatt never told Zoe goodbye when he enlisted - or the real reason why he dumped her on prom night after a year as high school sweethearts.  And he never stopped dreaming about the girl he left behind.  Could this voyage be his chance to fix the worst mistake he ever made?  After all, a Caribbean cruise should be romantic… if he can convince her to move past ten years of bitterness and hurt.
Once aboard the luxury liner, Zoe befriends a bored Internet mogul with more heart than tact. Nate vents his problems to a ship's photographer battling PTSD. The four team up on an island hopping treasure hunt. The stakes grow higher with each of Zoe's mysterious brushes with death. They race to discover why she's a target and who's behind it, while still competing in the treasure hunt. Zoe's never gotten over her first love, and is tempted to let Nate back into her life. But she already lost him once. She's not willing to risk loving a man whose career keeps in him a combat zone. Can Nate breach her defenses and suture her broken heart? Grab a deck chair and see if they survive the stormy relationship seas as they cruise toward love!

"Did you stop kissing me because you weren't enjoying it? You see, I've dealt with the first time you rejected me, when you left all those years ago. There's no need to rehash the past. But I don't think I could bear you rejecting me a second time. So I have to know—did you not take me to bed the other night because I didn't turn you on, or was it because I somehow wasn't good enough at it?" 
The world stood still while she waited for his answer. Zoe focused on the squawk of sea gulls and the muted slap of the surf at the base of the wall. The lyrical lilt of Spanish from the group of teenagers passing by. A low buzz which must be some exotic insect in the shrubbery along the path. Every sound in her immediate vicinity rang with absurd clarity—except the sound she waited on with bated breath—Nate's reply.
"If you still don't want me, just say so, damn it!" she burst out.
Was it anger that hardened the lines of his body? Disinterest? Annoyance? Zoe couldn't get a read on him. Nate advanced slowly. She backed into the turret, the space tight and cramped even for her stature. Built for the far shorter men of an earlier century, Nate had to duck his head as he edged ever closer. His sheer presence commanded as much area as his physical body. Something, some emotion rolled off him in waves, shimmering like heat above asphalt on a summer day. Why couldn't she tell what was going on in his head?
"The sky is blue," said Nate, his face separated from hers by only a breath.
Huh? "Is that a military thing? Are you talking in code?"
"The sun rises in the east. Play with fire and you'll get burned. These are all absolute truths. Indisputable facts. Well, there's one more absolute you need to file away in your mental card catalog."
Nate brought the lower half of his body so close Zoe felt the heat radiating from his legs. Despite the heat, her goose bumps had goose bumps. The anticipation of his touch brought her every sense to high alert. He raised his arms up, planted his hands on either side of her head to cage her in place. Then he tilted so his forehead bumped hers. Her field of vision narrowed to the indigo sea of his eyes, pupils flooding black in the shaded darkness of the narrow turret they shared.
"I want you, Zoe." He forced the words out in a heavy rasp. "I wanted you the day we met. You wore a red ribbon in your hair, dropped a stack of books on my foot, and apologized adorably for ten minutes. All I could think of was wrapping the ribbon around my hand to pull you in for a kiss. I wanted you the first time we kissed, on the bridge in a storm. One by one, I licked off every raindrop that clung to your skin. I wanted you when I saw you covered in mud last Friday. Wanted you badly enough to crawl right into the mud to be with you. I want you now, and I will always want you."
Zoe let her eyes flutter shut in preparation for a kiss. Such a heartfelt, utterly romantic speech could only end one way. Just as whipped cream hungered for a cherry, his words demanded to be topped off by a kiss. She didn't care about the past. With a handful of sentences he'd put her insecurities to rest. Nate dazzled her, and she was ready for more.
What was taking him so long? From beneath her lashes she snuck a peek. No Nate. Hoping the knees he'd melted to jelly would hold her, Zoe scrambled out onto the dirt path. Twenty strides ahead, Nate bellowed at her over his shoulder. "Hurry up. We don't want to miss the reading of the clue."
From confusion to relief with paper hearts dancing overhead...right back to confusion, all in less than five minutes. Zoe trudged after him with one thought uppermost in her mind--now what?
 Visit Christi on the Web:Buy Cruising Toward Love Blog | Website
Leave my good friend, Christi, some comment love, y'all! And thanks for reading,Laura

Six Sentence Sunday #28

It's Sunday, so you know that means I've got six sentences for ya. I'm sticking with JUST GOTTA SAY again, since it's just 12 days til release day! Today I received the final ebook, and it sure looks spiffy! Here's a peek:

Holy mother of kissing men! Callie turned so she could see them better and leaned back against Lucas's huge, hard chest."Watching them turns you on?" he murmured against her ear.The guys were so forceful with each other, and now that they didn't have to hide themselves, their passion burst uncontrollably from them. Bare, muscled chests pressed and rubbed, masculine hands tugged hair, erections ground together through denim."Yeah," she rasped.

Coming soon! Get ready to win!Thanks, as always, to all of you who come back each week to read and comment! You always make my Sunday! Don't forget to read the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on twitter.
Oh, and if you're so inclined, please consider voting for me for a 2012 AAD Bookie Award for Debut Author of the Year. I won't lie to ya--there are other great authors nominated, including some fellow Sixers. So, if not me, one of them? Vote early, vote often! :-)
Thanks for reading,Laura

Tonya Kinzer Interviews Two Hawt Characters!

[image error] Book OneA huge welcome to erotic romance authorTonya Kinzer!She and her characters are taking over the place today.Take it away, Tonya!
First I'd like to thank Laura for letting me blog with you for a few days! Readers, thank you for stopping by to meet Nick and Sondra, the main characters in my series, The Boss's Pet. He's handsome, a proper gentleman and his eyes will undress you before you even know it!  Psst...I'm not sure I could work in the same office with a man this handsome! Sondra is a beautiful distraction to any office and smart enough to run things. 
GIVEAWAY DETAILS DOWN BELOW!
So, let's get things started.
Tonya:  Nick, Sondra, thank you so much for being with us today. I'll start with Nick - I know you're a workaholic but that really isn't good for a man to lock himself away like that. You poor thing, you need down time to stay balanced! 
[image error]
Nick:  *loosening his tie* My firm is growing by leaps and bounds. Although that's a good thing, it makes for too many hours hunched over my desk at the computer. I have to stay up on the market changes because my clients depend on me to know what's happening in case they want to change their investment strategies. In turn, that takes away from my time at home and unfortunately, makes for an unhappy wife at home, which is why I no longer have one. I can't blame her; I work horrendous hours.
Tonya:  So what does a busy man do for down time when you DO take it?
Nick:   I enjoy being at home where it's quiet. My property is surrounded by woods and only the driveway is visible from the highway. It's peaceful out on my back patio by the pool and hot tub; it's a great place for entertaining, I'm just not there enough to do that. I do think I've found a woman who can make it more fun to be at home and share the luxuries with.
Tonya:  I bet you have muscles knotted all over you then. I know someone who could help you with that! *wink* Finding good office help can't be easy but I understand you've recently hired an office manager, correct?
[image error] Book Two Nick: *giving me a huge sexy smile* I have. Sondra Prentice is more than qualified to run my office while I take care of business. She did bring a substantial book of business with her. Those clients didn't want to stay with the new owner of her prior firm so needless to say, I was happy to help her with that. Her husband also didn't like the long hours our profession requires and he found someone else to occupy his time with. I think Sondra will fit in well with her management skills and she's already helping to encourage the sales staff I have, not to mention her marketing ideas. I've just not had time to do that myself and to pay someone to do that as an outside source is very expensive. Perhaps now I can redirect my funds to help with inside sales, we'll see.
Tonya:  Sondra, I know you and Nick are busy; it has to be hard to keep you mind on your job. What is it about Nick that draws you to him?
Sondra:   I'm not sure I can put a finger on just what it is that pulls me toward this sexy man. *she looks Nick in the eye, runs her hand down his thigh and squeezes his knee* I know he has a magnetism that attracts all women and when he looks at you with those sexy blues of his, it's as though he can read your mind and implant thoughts into your brain of what he wants from you!
Tonya:  I'm not sure how you pull it off having a boss with sexy eyes like Nick has. Is it hard to work and concentrate in the same office with a man who tugs at your wants and needs?
[image error]
Sondra:   If we're working on a client portfolio, it's all business for both of us. We want to make sure we get the investment recommendations right for that client. We look at the amount of money being invested, what their goals are and the portfolio has to match what the client goals are for their future and the number of years they have to go to meet that goal. When it's time for us to relax, it's only after the research is done.
Tonya:  Nick, is it a bad thing for a woman to be beautiful and smart?
Nick:   Not at all! I find that very attractive and especially if she knows what she wants out of life. Sondra does and she doesn't take shit from any man from what I've seen. So I find her a huge challenge. In the beginning, she refused to go out with me very often and I needed to find a way to break through her walls because she had them pretty high.
Tonya: I sense that you understand the normal wants and needs of a woman but I think you go much deeper than that. Care to explain further for our curious minds out there?
Nick:   Not at all. I enjoy a life style that I don't share with many people, but since I find you so appealing, I'll share a bit with you *he winks*...if you keep it to yourself. It's a challenge for me to make a woman realize that once she trusts me, she can learn that I know what's best for her in certain situations....meaning...you have to let go of wanting to control when and where you receive certain pleasure. When you don't have to worry over that and just relax your 'mind' to accept pleasure and submit to what is being done to you, it becomes quite satisfying.
Tonya:  I'm guessing not just any woman off the street would appeal to you for this type of fun. [image error]
Nick:   No. A strong, secure woman knows in her heart where she stands in life and has a good self-esteem. Being able to submit to someone else and allow them to be in charge takes a lot of control within the mind. One can submit without being a slave to another and feeling beat down, because if one doesn't have a strong self-esteem, this type of life style is all wrong for them, although it can be taught, but that road takes a bit longer. I don't have that kind of time.
Tonya:  *squirming in my seat as my thoughts begin to wrap around exactly what he's referring to*  So I'm guessing you enjoy being in charge and helping others learn what's best for them?
Nick:   My life style has never come into the office nor does anyone there know I live a different way in some aspects of my life, but that may be changing. Sondra has a sexual attraction that I can't seem to ignore. *Nick eyes me intently* I also think you'd be great at turning your control over to me, what do say?
Tonya:  Me? Oh no, I don't think I could ever do that. I like being in control.
Nick:  Well, in a way you would be. We'd agree to let you control, to a point, how far I could go with you.
Tonya:  *squirming in my seat again* Umm, let's move on, shall we? Sondra, has anything surprised you about entering into the lifestyle that Nick has introduced you to?
Sondra:  I think that would have to be the way your thought process changes when you're in the submissive mode. Both parties have to agree beforehand what can and can't be done. It saves a lot of misunderstanding and hurt feelings. As a Dom, Nick seems to know exactly what I want and need; His patience and control are above anyone I've ever met. I'm not sure how he does that, but I love his thought process.
Tonya:  You enjoy the blindfold and restraints. Doesn't that require a lot of trust between two people?
Sondra :  Yes, it does. I totally trust Nick not to hurt me or do something that I've not agreed to ahead of time. Not being able to anticipate what he is going to do to tease and torment me just adds to the excitement.
Tonya:  The two of you are becoming closer and I would guess the feelings you have for one another are building. What's in the future for you two.
[image error] Book Three Sondra:   I can't speak for Nick, but yes, I'm falling in love with the man. He's in my thoughts constantly, I find myself doing things that will please him and when I'm not with him, I want to be. If our readers would care to read Chapter One of each book out so far, they can click HERE.  For those who enjoy the erotic excerpt, you can click HERE!
Tonya:  Great idea but…readers DO come back and finish reading here, please! LOL Sondra, have you ever thought about being the Dominant at all and could you do that?

Sondra: *wicked laugh* I can't answer that without spoiling the next book....but, yes, the thought has entered my mind quite bit lately!
Tonya:  Readers, there you have it - if we read between the lines, I think that tells us what's coming up in book four. I don't have a release date for you yet so keep my website and blog bookmarked so you can be one of the first to know when book four comes out!

CONTEST - all who comment and leave their email addy in the comment will be entered into the drawing I do on Saturday, Sept 24th to win a $20 gift card to Amazon, B & N, or All Romance eBooks!

I will be around for comments and questions, not just today but all next week so be sure to find this interview and leave a comment or question. Thank you so much for stopping in to read about my characters and my work. Please visit my sites where you will find a sign up for my news letter! I'd love for you to join us! Below are the links where you can find me:
Blog | Website | FB Fan Page | Facebook | Twitter | BookBuzzr | IAN | Author's Den | Manic Readers | My Erotic Fantasy Gazette
Book Trailer

Tonya Kinzer writes erotic romance for readers who love to become a silent character within the story! You will be pulled into scenes to partake of the activities, to feel what her characters feel and taste what they taste...strong sexual desires! Be prepared to enter a world you'll not want to leave and can't wait to get back to. Their future holds new submissives and demanding Doms.
Her series, The Boss's Pet, will take you on a journey alongside Nick and Sondra as they venture into a lifestyle that pulls them deeper into a world of sensuality and submission. You'll not want to miss any of the books in this series so stay locked on her website to know when the next books get released.

Don't forget to leave Tonya, Nick and Sondra some comment love to enter to win! Thanks for being here, Tonya!Laura

Welcome Guest Author C.J. Ellisson!

[image error] I'm so pleased to welcomeguest author C.J. Ellisson to the blog today!
And she's talking vampires, so you know I'm happy! ;)=
Welcome!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, and any other pen names you use.
Hello and thank you so much for having me, Laura! I've been writing for a few years now and have books published under both contemporary fantasy and erotica. My preference to write in first person present tense is not common in either genre, but is growing in popularity, and has been well received by readers so far. I'm also working on a middle-grade fiction series for my children and hope to sell it under the pen name C.J. Stern.
Ooh, very interesting! I'm a fan of first-person myself! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
The second full-length book in my fantasy series, The V V Inn, called The Hunt, released over the summer. It involves all the characters from the first book and introduces readers to new ones as well. In this book, I use six rotating points of view and the story is told progressively from one person to the next, meaning we never go over the same scene again. Like the first one, it has some explicit sex—but, since we're in other very distinct POVs, the eroticism found throughout the first book, told from the ancient vampire's perspective, is not as prevalent.
The POVs sound like they'd make this book so unique! Very interesting! Which character is your favorite and why?
When I first started writing it was an escape. Not knowing I was breaking the "rules" by writing in present tense and never expecting the book to sell, I gave the main character, Vivian, many of my own traits, including my hair color. She is by far my favorite character because she gets to say and do things I only dream about. Her husband, Rafe, and the delectable werewolf, Jonathan, would be a tie for second place.
Vivian does sound great! As the author, what surprised you about this story?
A few things surprised me—first, the difficulty in writing from so many POVs and keeping the story flowing well was the hardest challenge. Some of my readers weren't so sure they wanted to read this story when Vivian wouldn't be telling all of it. I spent weeks perfecting the opening chapters, trying to make each voice distinct. My next surprise was deviating from the outlined ending. I changed it on the fly as I was writing and think the story came out better for it.
There's a reason when that happens, I think! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?
Book OneYes, this book is number two and the third one will continue with the underlying story-arc. Each title has it's own stand-alone adventure, but the plan is to wrap up the main one regarding Vivian's old enemies in book three.
Book four will be a blast to the past. I've mapped out three parts to the book – Vivian's past, Rafe's past, and how they came together. Each one will be a novella length (under 40k words) and fitted together in one full-length novel. If the series does well, I'm happy to plan more adventures for the characters
Sounds great! I love series! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
I've incorporated people I know into both books. Whether I steal their names, parts of their lives, or borrow character traits, it's always something. I was about one third of the way done with this book when my 21-year-old nephew, Eric, died in an accident. We'd just spent time with him the previous month and talked excitedly over the werewolf character I was basing on him. His older brother, Asa, is woven into the first book and we thought it would be cool to have their characters meet up in this fantasy world and interact.
When he died, I was left floundering on what to do. Writing the scenes with him in them became particularly hard. This past winter, his best friend, Pat, read the first book and loved it. When he told me how much he thought Eric would have enjoyed it (it was published a few months after his death), I revealed to him that Eric was slotted to be in the second book. I decided to work a new character in and base it on Pat so the two of them could continue to have adventures together forever.
I may never be a NYT bestseller, but being able to memorialize their friendship and Eric means a lot me, my family, and to the people who've followed my journey as a writer. In turn, it makes me feel like I've accomplished something bigger with my simple fantasy story.
That's really special. Thanks for sharing that! What are you working on right now?
Book three in The V V Inn series, Big Game, a fantasy story for my children called Black is for Lies, and an erotica short story collection for my publisher's Partiotica line, Army.  
Wow, you're one busy writer chick! I love it! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
I'm not the typical writer, I didn't write as a child or in college. I have no stories in drawers I can dust off and re-edit to sell in later years. I came to this new career when I was 38. My very first piece of fiction writing, much to my editor's surprise, was the manuscript Vampire Vacation, published in October 2010.
Good for you! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
For me, dialogue and sex scenes are the easiest to write. I have a vivid imagination and tend to listen better than people give me credit for. The first trait makes the sex parts fun and the latter makes writing conversations more realistic.
The hardest for me are fight scenes and deep emotional scenes. I worry about slipping too far into telling what is going on and not showing it. Good writing is not one or the other; it's an appropriate mix of both. Getting the correct balance in a scene can be a challenge.
Yes, so true! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
Yes, as you saw above with character names and traits. As for events? Not with the fantasy and erotica works, but with the children's book the answer is yes. We love to camp and do so quite often in the warmer months. Black is for Lies is set in a place we went camping as a family and has to do with an adventure two kids have while camping with their own families in the same location.
That's awesome! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
In the adult stories there is a definite theme. I call it hot monogamy . I became tired of the kick-ass heroines messing up yet another relationship in their latest adventure – hasn't anyone realized it's much harder to maintain a happy, healthy relationship than it is to fall in love/lust with a new fling?
Readers love the married protagonists in J.D. Robb's In Death series, or Amelia and Emerson in Elizabeth Peters' many adventures for the couple. Why is this monogamy trait missing in other bestselling series like Sookie Stackhouse, Anita Blake, Dresden Files, and Kim Harrison's The Hollows?
I wanted to read about a hot married couple, so I wrote one.
Love that! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
LOL! I'm not sure. I'm pretty open on my blog and on Facebook. They all know about my battle with three autoimmune diseases and the three serious tick-borne diseases (the former making the latter very hard to cure).
Perhaps, what might surprise them is something very small—I have trouble spelling and rarely write handwritten thank you notes to people. When I do a book signing I almost always clarify the spelling of the name first and don't often write long passages on the title page – secretly fearing I'll spell something wrong and mess up the book (which I have done in the past when writing in books to mail to readers).
Okay, now, C.J., these are just for fun: Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark, baby!
Salty or sweet? Salty.
Bed or kitchen table? Gee, what could you possibly mean? LOL! Bed, thank you very much.
Beach or mountains? Mountains with a lake.
Give or receive? LOl, wow, such double entendre questions! I'm always better at giving than I am receiving – especially when it comes to praise or thanks.
How 'bout a little more about C.J.'s great books? You got it!:

Vivian thinks she can control every aspect of a deadly game with her usual manipulations... but what if she can't?

Seven vampires and seven werewolves pay to hunt a supernatural criminal across the cold, vast grounds of an Alaskan resort. The one to catch her, and live through the encounter, will increase their power by feasting on hers.

The tiny vampire they track is more than she appears, however. To escape a fate of twelve years in silver chains, she'll do anything to survive the weeklong excursion. This time, the darkness holds more than just the stinging bite of the Arctic--it holds death.

Journey along, in this next installment of  The V V Inn series, for a wild ride as the tale is told through the eyes of all the new seethe members.

Warning: This book contains some explicit sex scenes and is not intended for readers under 18.

Excerpt from The Hunt:
Chapter One
As I lie here, curled around my husband's firm body, I begin to wonder: Am I crazy? What in the hell made me think organizing a hunt, here at our hotel, would be a good idea? Over a dozen supernatural predators are flying in from all over the world; ones who've paid an exorbitant price for the privilege of removing their everyday masks and killing one of their own kind. I must be crazy.

I have a feeling this week is going to turn out to be more than any of us bargained for. Self-doubt plagues me as I rise from the warmth of the bed and stroll, naked, to my closet. The glow of the artificial landscape lighting beams in through the windows. The changing gradient indicates it's probably midday here above the Arctic Circle.

Part of my nervous edge could be associated with learning to trust the new members of our seethe. While the vampires appear upfront and honest—as much as a pack of bloodsuckers can be—my old habits of distrust have served me well over the years.

The two months since November's tracking and killing of Ivan have been a trial for me, this upcoming hunt week has been a long time in the planning, but I don't have to like it. Having anyone from the Tribunal of Ancients on our property sucks, especially when I have no idea who they're sending.

Grabbing the clothes I set out in the wee hours of the morning, I head to the shower in our private suite.

The hot water cascading over me fills my mind with horrible memories of my own first hunt. My seethe wore cloth-lined, silver skullcaps to thwart my unique vamp-to-vamp mind-control abilities. They orchestrated the hunt to rid themselves of their "pet" manipulator. What started for the group as demented undead fun, ended with a young, redheaded vampire surprising them all with her ability to kill ruthlessly and without remorse.

The blood of my seethe-mates once covered my body, as the water does now. Later, I stacked their headless corpses in our old farmhouse before setting the structure on fire. Killing that sick group was the least I could do to avenge the murders of my first and second husbands. Considering all I'd been through under their rule for twenty-six years, I let the bastards off easy. Thankfully, even a semi-mortal vampire can only die once—if it's done right.

The sound of Rafe stirring in the next room pulls me out of my dark thoughts and tells me he's getting up as well.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," I call out over the noise of the water. "Get enough rest?"

"You mean after you ravaged me for hours? Oh yeah, I slept pretty damn sound."

 Thanks for coming on the blog! 
Where can we find you on the web?
Website | Blog 1 | Blog 2 | Blog 3 | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

C.J. Ellisson writes erotica and urban fantasy. Her vampire series, The V V Inn, mixes a heavy dose of erotic elements with suspense, action, a little bit of mystery and some light humor. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband, two children, two dogs, and a fluffy black cat who makes her sneeze.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, C.J!
Thank you for having me!
Everyone, leave C.J. some comment love! TWO COMMENTERS WILL WIN **BOTH** OF C.J.'S EBOOKS! (must leave email address) 

Thanks for reading! Laura & C.J.

Announcing the Just Gotta Say Blog Tour!

Hey guys! I'm really, really excited to announce my virtual book tour for my contemporary erotic romance, JUST GOTTA SAY, that releases on September 30 from Decadent Publishing!
One of the super exciting things about this tour is that my publisher will be giving away an ebook at every stop along the tour. Plus I'll throw in my brand-spanking new and smokin' hot romance trading cards, too!
So, here's what you need to know and where you can find me between September 24 and October 12 during my JUST GOTTA BLOG TOUR:
9/24: Guest blog at Savvy Authors (Not an official stop, but announces the tour....)
9/26 - 30: 5-day spotlight at Whipped Cream Reviews
9/26 – 30 Author interview at Tonya's Tales 9/27: Author interview at Manic Readers Blog
9/28: Character interviews at Fantasy Unbound Blog
9/29: Guest blog at All Things Books
9/30: Author interview at The Forbidden Bookshelf
10/1: Show and Tell Saturday at Daily Dose of Decadence
10/4: Author interview at Tigris Eden's The Forbidden Blog
10/6: Three Way Thursday at Daily Dose of Decadence
10/7: Author interview at Book Lovers, Inc.
10/12: Guest blog at Mare's Place
10/29: Show and Tell Saturday at Daily Dose of Decadence

Here's the blurb:

Callie Davis stumbles upon two of her three male roommates in a surprising, molten-hot midnight tryst and discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. Desire to play with them grips her, and she can't stop fantasizing about having multiple men, particularly her three long-time best friends.

Callie is thrilled when a guys' night out gives her the perfect opportunity to recreate her fantasy, with the help of a threesome porn video and a bag of sex toys. That is, until Lucas, Jack and Noah return early and catch her in the act. More than anything, the guys want to make her fantasy come true. But Callie has a secret, and she can't help wondering if being with all three men will risk the future she's always wanted with one of them.

As three strong sets of hands caress and undress her, Callie surrenders to desire, because sometimes you just gotta say...yes.

The tour's just around the corner, so mark your calendars and get ready to win!

Thanks for reading,
Laura

Six Sentence Sunday #27 - September 11th Edition

Welcome everyone to Six Sentence Sunday. In recognition of the 10th anniversary of September 11th, I'm offering a brief look into the backstory of one of the heroes from my September 30 erotic romance, Just Gotta Say.

When he graduated high school, he hadn't even waited one day, much to his parents' heartbreak, before going down to the recruiting office and signing up. He'd just been restless to do something after the attacks of the previous September. But the consequences of twenty-four months in Iraq carved a major chip into his shoulder. Souvenirs from his time there included the haunting experience of watching one of his best friends die within arm's reach and his total loss of hearing in his left ear from when his transport tripped an IED. The disability prevented him from having any kind of a career in the military.Not being able to serve carved out the biggest part of that chip, and he'd still been bitter about it when he'd met Callie.

My heart goes out to all those who lost friends and family ten years ago today.
Don't forget to read the Other Sixers' posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter. And, as always, thanks for reading and commenting!
Laura

My new trading cards for this story:
Just Gotta Say