Jessica E. Subject's Blog, page 168

Blog Fest 2012 – Enter to WIN!

Thank you to A Journey of Books for hosting another fabulous blog hop!

It’s a very exciting day for me, as my tenth ebook

officially releases today from Decadent Publishing.

Crash Landing is a short science fiction erotica story about an alien who crash lands on Earth, and what happens to him when he meets his rescuers.

Crash Landing:

As his ship plummets toward Earth, Cael believes his life to be over. His last ditch effort to save himself ends in a fiery crash. When he wakes up, he believes he’s entered the afterlife, but his surroundings indicate otherwise. He made it to Earth. But who saved him, and what do they want with him?

Excerpt:

Cael gripped the cushioned arms of the captain’s chair as his ship tumbled bow over stern. The console flashed a blinding red in front of him. Piercing alarms drilled into his mind and he lost focus. The seconds raced by as he plummeted toward Earth. He’d fucked up this mission of peace. Contact with his home planet had ended months ago. No one from Narien could save him now. His death was imminent.

The water below wouldn’t soften his landing. At its current speed, his ship would disintegrate on splashdown. The planet’s gravity pulled him down faster.

He coughed; the acrid scent of fried electronics stung his nose and the back of his throat.Please let my death be quick. 

A rattling to the left caught his attention above all other noise. The handle on the cabin door shook. Freedom. It wasn’t his time to die, if he could get out.

The altimeter on the dashboard read six thousand meters, high enough to jump and land safely with his chute. Only to land in frigid water and die of exhaustion or hypothermia from treading without any hope of a rescue.

“Shit.” But he’d die if he stayed. He had to take the chance. Yanking off his safety harness, he pulled himself to standing and strained to reach the recess where his pack hung. Stretching up, he fingered the cloth strap. Not close enough to grab hold of it.

The ship jolted and flung him to the stern. He weaved his arm through the straps of the pack on his way past, dislodging it from the hook. Yes. 

His triumph was short-lived as he flew starboard, smashing his shoulder against the wall. He groaned when an electrifying spasm shot down his arm to the tips of his fingers. The ship lurched again, and he tumbled back toward the console. He grabbed the door, his feet dangling in mid air. If he didn’t get out now, he’d forfeit any chance to survive.

The ship righted again. He planted his feet against the bottom of the door and twisted the crank. The latch snapped open, filling him with a sense of hope. Careful to keep at least one hand on the handle at all times, he slung the pack over his shoulders.

All set. Time to jump. Pushing off the floor, he slammed his uninjured shoulder against the door. It blew open and tore away from its hinges, lost to the sky.

Cael teetered on the edge before plunging out of his failing ship. Wind whipped all around him as he twisted to catch his bearing during freefall.

Glancing down, he spied crystal blue lake, much closer than he’d expected. Too close.

He jerked the cord on his chute–several hundred feet lower than he should have. At least. His feet skimmed the cold waves just as his chute caught the current and heaved him back into the air.

The ship splashed into the water beside him, disintegrating into millions of pieces. He raised his hands in front of his face as shrapnel flew at him. Tiny shards sliced into his arms and legs, but the extreme heat from the cloud of steam billowing up at him stung the most.

From the moment his toes touched down in the once frigid water, his skin sizzled. He screamed in agony. His death would have been quicker and less agonizing if he’d remained in the ship.

A hard piece of his spacecraft smashed down on his head, and he welcomed the darkness.

 Available From:

       more

Giveaway!!

For your chance to WIN 1 of 3 book swag packages, including magnets, pen, notebook & more, leave a comment on this post. Subscribe to my newsletter and/or “like” me on Facebook for more entries, and indicate so in your comment.

Follow along with Blog Fest 2012!

Here are the next five stops of the blog hop:

Dianne Hartsock

Diva’s Bookcase

Hope. Dreams. Life… Love

Jennifer Lane Books

Fierce Dolan’s Writing Utopia, One Word at a Time

Click here for the complete list.

Alien Invasions & Hockey?

Today is my day on Backward Momentum, and I’m talking about movies that include aliens, and whether they have aliens that come in peace, or to invade. Plus, I’m giving a sneak peak at CRASH LANDING, which releases tomorrow:

http://backwardmomentum.blogspot.ca/2012/09/aliens-mission-of-peace-or-invasion.html

Plus, if you didn’t catch it Tuesday, I was on Sophie Sansregret’s blog talking about how I included hockey in a Science Fiction Romance:

http://www.sophiesansregret.com/3/post/2012/09/september-24th-2012.html

VBT: Interview with Joshua K Johnson, author of The Cerberus Rebellion & Giveaway!

Welcome, Joshua! Tell us about your new release.

The Cerberus Rebellion is a Gunpowder Fantasy that combines elements of traditional high fantasy (Elves, magic, epic scale) with more advanced gunpowder technologies (rifles, artillery and early steam power).  I would say that it’s a step below Steampunk as it doesn’t have airships or other fantastical steam-creations of that particular genre.

The nation of Ansgar is torn apart by a rebellion when the King demands that his nobles provide soldiers for a war thousands of miles away.

Describe the heroine in three words.

The Cerberus Rebellion doesn’t have a heroine, however a major character in the sequel would probably qualify for the title.

What was your inspiration for this story?

I had the idea for a fantasy world that was different in some major way from most other epic fantasy out there. Gunpowder ended up being the thing that made it stand out.

Who is your favorite character from this book?

I have a special place in my mind for all 4 of the main characters in Cerberus, but Magnus Jarmann (the leader of the rebellion) was my favorite to write. His grand-father launched an invasion on the nation of Ansgar that went bad; the nation of Kerberos was annexed and the Jarmann family was relegated to the title of Duke. Magnus plans to free his nation from the oppression and return them to independence.

Roland Jarmann swept into the room followed by his bodyguards. The heir to the Agilard Duchy still wore his riding clothes: leather chaps over woolen pants, a black wool shirt and a fur-lined black greatcoat. He was nearly identical to his father; even his eyes were the same shade as the elder Jarmann. He spent much of his time at sea in command of the frigate Eastern Honor; he was the most respected captain in the Kerberosi squadrons of the Ansgari navy.

“Father, how unlike you to start without me,” Roland said in their native tongue. Kerberosi was a throaty language, rough and loud. Several of the men whispered; others shook their heads.

King William the Defender had proclaimed that in exchange for the freedom of their nobility the Kerberosi would forget their language and learn the common tongue of the Ansgari. Laws were passed against the teaching or learning of the language; no new books were to be printed in Kerberosi.

“You know the laws,” Magnus reminded his son, in Ansgari, as the younger Jarmann draped himself on his chair. One leg was hung over one of the chair’s arm and one of his arms draped over its back.

The others in the room spoke Kerberosi; they had all learned from the same secret order of priests that Magnus had. But to speak the tongue in open council was dangerous. No one knew whose guards were spies for the Ansgari throne.

“The laws that tell us not to learn the language of our ancestors, or that we must follow the laws of a King that is not our own,” Roland continued in Kerberosi. “Those laws are—”

“Those laws are what has kept our people safe and under the control of their own nobles.” Magnus was on his feet with a speed that no one would have thought him capable of. He slammed his fists against the table. Everyone stared. He continued in Ansgari, “We will continue this meeting without any further disruption. If anyone has a problem with that, you are free to leave now and explain to your nobles why they are not a part of my plans for this nation.”

No one stood. No one moved. Magnus wondered if anyone even breathed in the silence that followed his proclamation. Roland straightened in his chair under the withering glare of his father.

Magnus let his subordinates cringe for another long moment before he inhaled deeply and sat back in his chair.

“I have plans for our nation,” he announced as if everyone didn’t know. “Those plans are not yet ready to be revealed. Nor are they ready to be set into motion.”

How long have you been writing with the hopes of publication?

I first tried to get published about 5 years ago.

How did you get started?

I got started at about the age 13. My family moved out into the country and I needed something to keep me occupied.

What genres do you write in, and what appeals to you about those genres?

I write Fantasy and Sci-Fi. The ability to create my own world and make the rules is one of the things that appeals to me about these genres. Another is the ability to write sweeping epics that span the face of worlds or galaxies.

What other titles do you have published?

The Sithean Betrayal: A short story set in the Griffins & Gunpowder world. It tells the story of two commanders on opposite sides of a battle for the nation of Jarin.

The Red Dragon’s Gold: A short story set in the Griffins & Gunpowder world. Kasimir Parten commands a small fortress that stands in the way of the juggernaut that is the Chesian Empire. The Army of Malkala must fight a juggernaut many times its size and face the temptation of gold and lands; a temptation not everyone can resist.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on The Hydra Rebellion, the sequel to The Cerberus Rebellion and the 2nd of 6 planned novels in this series of the Griffins & Gunpowder universe.

Can you describe your daily writing routine?

I basically try to squeeze writing in whenever I can. I have an 18 month old son and he can be a handful.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m 85% Plotter and 15% Pantser.

What genres do you enjoy reading?

Fantasy, Sci-Fi and a sprinkle of others.

What author(s) have influenced your writing style?

Like most writers in the Fantasy genre, George RR Martin has had a profound effect on my writing. For Sci-Fi, David Weber’s writing pushed me into the Space Opera sub-set.

Where do your best ideas come from?

They just like to wander through my head.

What is your favorite book that you’ve read?

A Game of Thrones was definitely major; Ashes of Victory by David Weber was the first book in his Honor Harrington series that I read and it caused me to go back through and buy the rest of the series and every book after.

Who is your favorite character from any of the books you’ve read?

I really like Tyrion Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire; Honor Harrington herself is the other.

Do you belong to a critique group or have critique partners? If so, what have you learned from them? How has it affected your writing?

I work with a couple of other authors, but not really an organized group.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to aspiring authors?

Keep writing; it makes you better.

Is there anything else my readers should know about you?

The Griffins & Gunpowder universe is going to be huge; I have 4 series planned and at least 3 more smaller sets that I’ll be bringing into the world. I just need the time to write them.

Where can my readers find you?

My website/blog is www.gunpowderfantasy.com

Where can my readers find your books?

My books are on Amazon. My amazon author page is http://www.amazon.com/Joshua-Johnson/e/B008C25030/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Author Giveaway!!

Joshua will be awarding .mobi copies of his short stories (details available at www.gunpowderfantasy.com/products) to one commenter at every stop during the tour. Grand Prize for one random commentor: The Chesian Wars collection (all published 3 short stories and an additional prelude short story exclusive to the collection).

Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/07/virtual-book-tour-cerberus-rebellion-by.html

The Cerberus Rebellion:

One hundred years of peace and prosperity. War changes everything.

On the world of Zaria, Elves, magic and mythical beasts coexist beside rifles and railroads. The futures of two nations hang in the balance as rebels and revolutionaries trade gunfire with loyalists and tyrants.

Eadric Garrard was raised to believe that as the rightful King of Ansgar, his loyal nobles and fearful subjects answered to his every whim, no matter the cost or consequence. His decision to send his troops thousands of miles away will test that fear, and loyalty.

Raedan Clyve was ordinary until an Elven ritual involving a griffin’s heart turned him into something more. Twenty years later, he still struggles with the magics that rage through his body. His mentor holds him back from his full potential and he faces pressure to find a suitable wife and father an heir.

Hadrian Clyve has picked up where his father left off and works to expand his family’s influence amongst the Ansgari nobility. His aggressive negotiation of alliances and shrewd choice of marriage agreements has earned him respect, and resentment. When his King calls his troops to arms, Hadrian has other things in mind.

After a century of scheming and decades of preparation, Magnus Jarmann is ready to bring his family’s plans to fruition by launching a war of independence that will free his people and return his country to its rightful place among the nations of Zaria. The King’s call to arms creates an opportunity that Magnus cannot afford to miss.

In a war, little is held back; in a revolution, nothing is safe.

Excerpt:

The crackle of musket fire drifted up from the trenches; only a few quick shots at first, but quickly followed by full volleys. Flashes of light marked the battle in the trenches and Raedan listened carefully for the command to push his troops forward. He glanced behind him quickly.

The color guard stood resolute, the banners of Arndell and the North Griffin Cliffs at the front of the formation. A half-company of infantry had been assigned to protect the flags should they come under attack.

Wounded began to drift back out of the trenches. Some retreated under their own power; others were carried between two of their fellows. Raedan tried to count the men fleeing the battle, but quickly lost count.

Finally, the trumpets sounded again, ordering him forward.

“How’s it look in there?” he asked a retreating officer. The man wore the gaudy orange of Sea Watch and the stripes of a captain. He had taken a round through his shoulder and was supporting a corporal that had taken a shot to the leg.

“The artillery did a job on them,” the captain said. “But they’ve still got some fight left.”

“All right, men! Let’s take it to them!” Raedan started toward the trenches at the double time and his men started to trot after him.

The earthworks twisted and zagged one way and another, slowly leading the infantry closer to the fortress that loomed large above. The sun had finally set and flares were exploding high overhead.

Author Bio and Links:

Joshua Johnson is the author of “Gunpowder Fantasy” The Cerberus Rebellion (due to release in early July) and the creator of the Griffins & Gunpowder universe. When he isn’t working or spending time with his family, he writes novels, short stories and novellas.

He currently lives in Northern Illinois with his wife and young son.

Website: www.gunpowderfantasy.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/authorjkjohnson 

Writing Outside the Box: Guest Post by author Tamaria Soana

When writing Naughty Little Bedtimes Stories I wanted to stretch my writing wings. There is a light bondage story called Giving In and a ménage (M/M/F) called Spicing Things Up. Writing both was a new experience for me.

I’ve always wanted to write a BDSM scene but never thought I could pull it off. I enjoy reading the lighter BDSM stories that are romanced based. My heroine in Giving In has some past ghosts to deal with. My hero wants her to give up some control so he can give pleasure beyond anything she’s experienced before. This short story was hard for me to write, but I’m a little more comfortable with the topic now and maybe I’ll even stretch my wings further someday!

As for Spicing Things Up, that was a whole different story. This was my first ménage writing experience and my first M/M. To say this was difficult for me is a HUGE understatement. I re-wrote this story many times until I was happy with it. Writing the threesome scenes were easier then writing the M/M ones to say the least.

I’m happy I decided to write out of my comfort zone, and I believe writing Naughty Little Bedtime Stories made me a stronger writer.

Naughty Little Bedtime Stories:

Bedtime stories that will heat up your night.

Naughty Little Bedtime Stories contains twelve short stories that will arouse your senses. You’ll find stories that contain light bondage, food play, ménage (m/m/f), and other erotic events. Each story has a different setting and couple who explore all things naughty in and out of the bedroom.

Content Warning: adult language, graphic sexual situations

Purchase: Beach walk Press

EXCERPT FROM Strawberries and Whipped Cream

We ate dinner, drank some wine, and talked about our week. Maybe tonight I would finally pop the question. After cleaning up, I refilled our glasses.

“Did you get something for dessert?” Emma asked.

I smiled. “Yes, I did. Why don’t you go into the living room and make yourself comfortable while I get it ready.”

“Okay. Are you sure you don’t need help?”

“I’m sure.”

After she left the kitchen, I gathered the bowl of strawberries and can whipped cream from the fridge. I walked in the room to find her on the couch, sipping her wine. I sat down next to her and placed the food on the coffee table.

“I love strawberries, but why the can of whipped cream?” she asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Close your eyes. No peeking,” I whispered in her ear.

I took a strawberry and traced her bottom lip with it. She opened her mouth slightly, and I allowed her to take a small bite. A low moan escaped her lips, and my dick twitched in response. I began to feed her another piece of fruit. My cock was getting harder by the minute as I watched her lips wrap around the strawberries.

“I want to feed you one,” she said as she opened her eyes.

“I have a better idea. Close your eyes,” I said in a deep voice.

Emma sighed and closed her eyes. I picked up a strawberry and touched her bottom lip with it, and she opened her mouth to take it in. I leaned in and bit the other end, letting our lips meet and eliciting a faint squeal from her.

“Would you like some whipped cream?” I asked her as I grabbed the can and shook it.

“Yes,” she whimpered.

I squirted some whipped cream on her bottom lip. She seductively licked them while looking at me lustfully. I groaned, shifted to adjust myself, and placed my lips on hers. She wrapped her arms around me and the kiss deepened. Our tongues rubbed against each other. She tasted like whipped cream. Pulling away, I placed kisses down her neck and made my way to her chest. I lifted her shirt over her head. She was wearing a pink lace bra.

“Beautiful,” I whispered as I reached around her and unhooked her bra. I slid the straps off her arms, placing more kisses on her neck. “Lay back,” I told her as I took my shirt off.

I unbuttoned her jeans and slowly unzipped them. She lifted herself up as I slid them down her amazing legs and threw them on the floor. She was a sight to behold in just a pair of pink boy shorts.

“Do you trust me?” I asked.

Author Bio:

Tamaria Soana is middle-aged but feels like her life has just begun. She writes contemporary romance stories with a high heat level that always end with a ‘happily ever after’. Growing up, she loved to read and make up new places in her head to escape to. In her late teens she began writing short stories and poetry. It wasn’t until her late thirties before she began to spin a full story.

She’s married and a stay-at-home mom of two beautiful young girls. They reside in Western New York. Cuddling up with a good book under an electric throw is her way to escape the cold Buffalo nights.

Besides writing, she co-owns Shades of Rose Marketing and Shades of Rose YA Marketing, and she also hosts a talk show on Talkshoe called Live with Tamaria ~ Giving Authors a Voice.

You can find Tamaria at the following places:

Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Six Sentence Sunday: More from my upcoming sci-fi erotica release, Crash Landing #SixSunday

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for coming to read my Six Sentence Sunday posts!

Today, I’m sharing another six from CRASH LANDING

which is set to release this Friday! Yay!

In this six, Cael wakes after he’s crashed to Earth, but doesn’t know where he is.

(blurb & more info here)

Something thumped against the wall behind him. He spun around, but no one else occupied the room. Strange. Was he about to meet the Terran who had rescued him?

“Oh, God,” a woman moaned. “Harder.”

Be sure to visit http://www.sixsunday.com/ to find out who’s participating in

Six Sentence Sunday this week or follow the #sixsunday hashtag on twitter.

Readers Have the Power

Come visit Sci-Fi Romance author, Cynthia Sax, today on Backward Momentum, where she talks about how readers have the power to influence what an author writes.

I`m still over at the TRS End of Summer Bash, sharing excerpts and more from my stories.

And The Power of Three blog tour continues at Sinful Reads with a review.

Come visit me. I have giveaways!

Today is the third day of The Power of Three blog tour with CBLS Promotions. Today there is a feature and review over at Reviews by Molly. Enter to win a $10 Amazon gift certificate!

And if you missed the first two stops on the tour, you can find them here:

Sapphyria’s Steamy Book Reviews - Feature

Harlie’s Books - Feature/Review

And I’m also at The Romance Studio’s End of Summer Bash for the next four days, sharing excerpts from all of my releases, and a sneak peek at some upcoming releases. And be sure to enter both the Nook Giveaway as well as the party giveaway where you can WIN your choice of an ebook copy of any one of my stories, plus prizes from many other fabulous authors.

Author Kacey Hammell shares Life Lessons & a Giveaway!!

It gives me great pleasure to welcome fellow Decadent author and sweetheart, Kacey Hammell to my blog today. She is here to talk about life lessons one of her new releases this month, Awakenings.

I get asked a lot about what inspires the stories I write, or how if I write from experience in my own life. I think many authors do, I could be wrong, but some ideas are sometimes sparked from what happens to us or someone we know.

Such was the case, in some ways, with Awakenings. This was the 2nd book I wrote years ago, and while very extensively revised and enhanced in depth and layering, the emotions of Alicia’s remained the same. And stem from a dark place in my own life.

I won’t go into too many specifics, but as a survivor of Domestic Violence, the range of emotion that I once felt seemed to have channeled into Alicia. The fear, uncertainty, rage and darkness I felt thanks to my abuser are very much felt in Awakenings. Fear of being attacked/hurt again. Uncertainty and trust in myself, and all I thought I knew about life closed in on me. The rage for allowing it to happen to me, and the darkness of all those things mixed together made for some intense moments/scenes.

Alicia, because of her abduction in book one (Illusions), has to find her own way past all the aforementioned. Being a cop, she has to be able to trust her instincts, and hell, in her profession she should never have let someone get the jump on her! (Her thoughts not mine)

I believe the uncertainty if I knew who I was, if I could trust myself to make the same choices in the future, was the largest obstacle – for both Alicia and me. And learning to trust others as well.

In the darkest times for me, my husband was the only one who was able to reach me, be patient and understanding. Thankfully, we had the base of friendship already established. Boy did he wait a long time to ask me out! LOL I was blessed to have him in my life, and I made sure that Alicia had a man to teach her to live again and that we all learn from mistakes or tragedies in our lives.

Even thirteen years later, and married eleven to my dream guy, I still have days where old feelings try to break free. Thanks to my husband, who is my rock, I push them aside and know he’s there to catch me if I need him to. Writing Awakenings helped me heal. And while Alicia and I butted heads more times than I like to think about, I’d write her story all over again because as a woman, I understand her completely.

Giveaway:

What life lessons have you learned the most from?

Leave your answer/comment below and be entered to win one backlist title of mine (either Last Man Standing, Sinful or Illusions). Winner will be chosen on September 19th

AWAKENINGS

In the Arms of the Law, Book 2

Available at Decadent Publishing

On the trail of a killer, and with her old flame back in her life, Detective Alicia Knowles is forced to face the past as she tries to make decisions about her future…

Detective Alicia Knowles once believed there was good in everyone. Not anymore. After a harrowing experience, her life had changed and she was a very different woman. Now more dangerous, she moves through the darkness of her once sunny world, unsure what to do with her pent up feelings of fear and anger.

Even her new boss, Cole Douglass, makes her feel out of control. One night, years ago, he made her feel things she’d never felt with any other man. This time it can only be business between them.

With her latest case, however, temperatures flare.

Their passion is rekindled as the search is on for a missing child and a murderer on the run. Can Alicia protect her heart from the most dangerous power of all…love?

Awakenings Excerpt © Kacey Hammell

She turned around. Their chests brushed, and she gave him a half-smile. “I know Hannah might not blame me, but I do. A few more moments, it’s all we would have needed. I’d change it if I could.” When Cole opened his mouth, she placed her fingers on his lips to silence him. “I can’t, but I vow to do whatever it takes to catch this son-of-a-bitch.”

Alicia tried to convey the sincerity of her promise as she stared into his eyes. For Hannah, and this man, she’d do whatever she could to bring peace to their family once more.

“I know you would. But you can’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. We’ll get him.” He raised his hand to her cheek and pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen over her face. Her breath quickened at the light touch. Her body stilled.

The air crackled with electricity. She was sure he could feel it, too; the tension rolled off his body like waves in the ocean. To walk away would be the best thing to do, but for the life of her, Alicia couldn’t get her feet to move.

“You know what, Ali?” His voice was soft and powerfully seductive. “You know what I remember most about our night together?”

Alicia’s hand clasped his wrist, below where his fingers rested lightly on her cheek. She wanted to fall into his arms, burn beneath his touch again. They’d never talked about it and she was curious to know what he remembered.

She remembered it all.

Every touch and sigh. Every kiss and pleasure she basked in.

Through many a cold and lonely night, she cherished the memories of Cole’s hard body pressed against hers, pushing her against the mattress—and the wall and the bathroom counter—but she marveled at how he’d made her feel like more of a woman in one night than she’d felt in all her adult years.

Her voice hoarse and scratchy, she whispered, “What do you remember?”

“Our fire.”

When his mouth claimed hers, her body ignited with long-repressed emotions. Hunger, mind-blowing hunger, rattled through her. It was so hard to breathe.

Available at Decadent Publishing

About Kacey:

The writer: Canadian author, Kacey Hammell is a multi-published erotic romance author who writes mainly in the Contemporary Erotic/Romantic Suspense genres.  She is a true romantic at heart.

The Wife and Mom: Born, raised and still living in her hometown in Ontario, Canada, Kacey found true love with her husband.  As a Mom of three, Kacey has made certain that each of her children know the value of the written word and the adventures they could escape on by becoming book-a-holics in their own right.

Readers can learn more about her books/contact her via …

Website/Blog / Facebook / Facebook Author Page / Twitter / Amazon / Goodreads

 

Virtual Book Tour: The Undead Space Initiative by Casey Wyatt & Giveaway!!

Welcome, Casey to Mark of the Stars. It is a pleasure to have you here. Can you tell us about your new release , The Undead Space Initiative?

CW: Thank you so much for having me here today!

The Undead Space Initiative is a paranormal romance about a vampire stripper named Cherry Cordial. Cherry rescues a vampire hottie named Ian McDevitt from a gang of blood thirsty revenants and soon regrets it. When the vampire queen is murdered, she and Ian are the number one suspects. Her only choices are escape to Mars, where she has a chance to survive, or remain on Earth and die for sure.

Describe your heroine, Cherry, in three words.

CW: Sassy, adventurous, loyal

What traits does the hero, Ian, posses that makes Cherry swoon?

CW: Ian is incredibly charming, handsome, and sexy. What woman wouldn’t swoon? Ian also lives as a rogue, independent of vampire society’s accepted structure. That’s really appealing to Cherry. She yearns for more in life and Ian is about to help her get it, whether she’s ready or not!

Here’s a brief scene between them:

Reality settled in. We were leaving the Earth. I’d be strapped into a tube and hurtled into space. If we survived the journey, I’d be on my way to Mars.

My kneecaps dissolved to water. I clutched the railing, trying to calm my stomach and stay upright.

“You don’t have to go, Cherry,” Ian said from behind me.

I stiffened. His offer seemed more tempting by the minute, yet I couldn’t abandon my family. “I’m afraid to board the ship. But I can’t disobey my sire.”

“You could ask him to emancipate you. You’re plenty old enough.”

“Why are you still here?” Old enough? No woman likes to be told she’s old. Especially when it’s true.

“Concerned is all,” he shrugged and joined me by the railing. He stared out, side profile as handsome as the full frontal.

“Don’t be. I’m a big girl,” I chirped with way more bravado than I felt. Now I knew what Alice experienced when she fell into the rabbit hole. Afraid, confused. Freaked out. I reminded myself Jonathan was a great leader. Even though we had our personal baggage, he would do his best to ensure we survived. He hadn’t let us down yet.

Heavy machines moved into position. The workers unlatched more hoses, wires and mechanical items from the ship’s side. Blood pounded in my head, caused by my tight jaw and grinding teeth.

“I didn’t mean to offend. Or imply Jonathan can’t defend you.” Ian’s voice softened. The low tone made my toes curl. “I hoped we could prove our innocence together.”

What was your inspiration for this story?

CW: The story popped into my head, the concept almost fully formed.  I had the name and her dilemma in a flash while I was driving my car.  I clearly remember the words: Cherry Cordial, vampire stripper forced to flee to Mars.

How did you get started writing?

CW: As a kid, I used to make up stories and keep them in a notebook, but it wasn’t until the mid-nineties that I decided to make a serious go of it. I struggled for a long while, starting and stopping books, unable to finish anything to my satisfaction. Eventually, I stopped writing in 2004. But I never forgot my characters or the unfinished stories. They drove me nuts. I got serious in 2009 when I found Kelley Armstrong’s NaNo tips. She filled in the last bit of the puzzle for me – I needed to plot my stories! After that, everything fell into place. I finished three books and sold two of them in 2011.

What genres do you write in, and what appeals to you about those genres?

CW: I write paranormal romance. I want to write a true Urban Fantasy, but romance always creeps in. Originally, I thought The Undead Space Initiative would be an Urban Fantasy, but it didn’t turn out that way.

I chose the genre because I’ve always loved fantasy and sci-fi and I read tons of it growing up. I still do. I enjoy the otherworldly creatures, the magic, and the fantastic adventure.

What other titles do you have published?

CW: My other published novel is Mystic Ink. It’s a paranormal romance that takes place in Mystic, CT. The main character is Nix, a talented tattoo artist who keeps finding dead mortals in the alley next to her tattoo shop.  Her love interest, Calder Quinne, is a supernatural police officer sent to investigate. The premise behind this story is what if the Gods and Goddesses of old still lived among us? This is the first book in the series.

What are you working on now?

CW: I just completed another paranormal romance called Misfortune Cookie. And I’m in the process of completing Mystic Storm, the next book after Mystic Ink.

Can you describe your daily writing routine?

CW: I work a full time day job so I write for a few hours in the evening. I also don’t actively write every day. The actual writing process is rather fast for me since I plot my books ahead of time.

What genres do you enjoy reading?

CW: Paranormal romance, science fiction, fantasy, contemporary romance, non-fiction (mostly history), YA, children’s books and some literary fiction. So basically, almost any kind of book!

What author(s) have influenced your writing style?

CW: I don’t know that any particular author has influenced my style. I would say, if anything, they helped validate my style. I like to write fast paced books infused with some snark and magical elements. Knowing that other authors have been published with similar voices encourages me!

Where do your best ideas come from?

CW: They all come from some magical part of my brain that seems to activate when I’m not thinking about writing. I’ve learned to recognize those ideas and to write them down. I used to argue with myself and discount them. I’ve since learned not to do that!

What is the best piece of advice you would give to aspiring authors?

CW: Don’t spend years and years writing one book. There is such a thing as polishing the life right out of your story. Writing is a craft and it takes practice. Lots and lots of practice. Each book you write will only make you a better writer. If you spend all your time on one story or one series, then you risk stifling your growth as a writer.

Where can my readers find you?

CW: I’m all over the internet. I can be found on Facebook, Twitter and at my blog. I love to make new friends, so stop by and say hello!

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr

Where can my readers find your books?

CW: My books are on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and various other third party sites. Thank you so much. It’s been fun!

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Pink Petal Books

Thank you very much for visiting us today!

Author Giveaway!!

Casey will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card and an e-copy of Mystic Ink to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://www.goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/07/virtual-book-tour-undead-space.html

The Undead Space Initiative:

Cherry Cordial, vampire stripper extraordinaire, spectacularly messes up her life with a single act of kindness. How could she have known when she rescued gorgeous rogue Ian McDevitt that she would be implicated in the vampire queen’s murder? Soon, she faces the wrath of the entire vampire community. To escape retribution, she joins a settlement program to colonize Mars. Her choices are grim: hurtle through space to the red planet to face the unknown and possible death, or stay on Earth and face certain annihilation. To make things even more complicated, a certain gorgeous rogue seems to be shadowing her every move…

Excerpt:

Life sucks, then you die. It’s a universal truth. But here’s what’s scarier. Even in death, life can still suck.

Case in point … wait for it….

“Cherry! Get your skinny ass up on stage!” Jonathan barked through my dressing room door. How do I describe him? Pain in my rump? Benefactor? Reason for my current situation? None of them seem adequate. His main occupation? Yelling at me to perform and to make him money. And he’s always interrupting. Never lets a girl have even a moment to think.

“I’m on my way. Geez Louise.” I flung open the door, narrowly missing Jonathan’s long Roman nose. The tops of his fangs peeked out from his full lips as he smiled at me. This was a game we liked to play. I would try to smack him with the door whenever possible.

Okay, it was a game I liked to play. I’ve never managed to nail him in the face. My vampire sire is too damned fast.

Jonathan tsked and crooked his finger. A slow smile curled his lips. “Cherry, I don’t know why I put up with you.”

“Of course you do. I’m your number one performer.” I flashed fang. My pearly whites are nowhere near as long as his, but they can still do the job. Due to feed soon, I tried not to stare at Jonathan’s jugular. I hated needing my sire’s blood to stay strong and avoid overpowering hunger. The kind, if left untended long enough, that made vamps go feral. I buried my nose in a bouquet of fragrant red roses, a gift from one of my many fans.

Jonathan smirked. Damn. I hated when he caught me eyeing him like a roast. Another game we liked to play – I pretended I didn’t need him. And he pretended not to notice. We both knew otherwise.

I needed him.

Crap on toast.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Casey Wyatt has no personal knowledge of the paranormal, but she hopes someday that may change. If there are ancient Gods, elves or satyrs living nearby, they’re more than welcome to visit. Bring pizza and chocolate please!

Her paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels have won or placed in numerous RWA contests. When not writing, Casey enjoys time with her family, loves to read, and enjoys knitting and crocheting.

She lives in a bustling Connecticut town with her husband, two sons and an assortment of pets (none of which are shape-shifters).

Visit Casey here:

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr

 

Six Sentence Sunday: The opening six of Crash Landing, a science fiction erotica story #SixSunday

18 and Over Giveaway Hop – click here

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for coming to read my Six Sentence Sunday posts! This week, I’ve been busy working on edits for Made For Her, and going over the template for my first print book, Intergalactic Heat, which will be a collection of my 1Night Stand stories.

But today, I’m going to start sharing excerpts from CRASH LANDING

which is set to release September 28.

Here are the first six.

(blurb & more info here)

Cael gripped the cushioned arms of the captain’s chair as his ship tumbled bow over stern. The console flashed a blinding red in front of him. Piercing alarms drilled into his mind and he lost focus. The seconds raced by as he plummeted toward Earth. He’d fucked up this mission of peace.

Be sure to visit http://www.sixsunday.com/ to find out who’s participating in

Six Sentence Sunday this week or follow the #sixsunday hashtag on twitter.