Lacey Wolfe's Blog, page 26

Bound at the Ball by Lea Barrymire #eroticromance #newrelease #giveaway!

Rella Cinder was born to the submissive race on her planet and has finally reached the age of maturity. She has hated her nature since birth and has fought her submissiveness. As the youngest of four sisters, she’s watched the others go off and look for mates. This time she’s forced to comply with the government’s edicts, which includes attending the Unity Ball and taking a mate from the warrior species. What she doesn’t know is that she has already caught the eye of a warrior before stepping foot into the Ball.

Warrior Sabar T'Brun is ready to take a mate but doesn’t want a weak female. He sees what he craves in the willful Rella during her Initiation Ceremony. Her sweet submission and soft cries of passion are exactly what he wants in a mate.

Can they find each other before the Unity Ball ends? Or will someone else claim her?
Excerpt Donning a clean shift, she sped toward the dining room on silent feet. The fabric moved against her still-peaked nipples, making every movement arousing. That is what happens when you touch yourself before lessons. She slowed as she walked into the room. She didn’t want to keep Bana waiting any longer than she needed to, but running through the house was frowned upon. Her sister stood, beautiful as always. Bana’s curvy body was perfect in its stillness. Golden hair framed a heart-shaped face and lay over her shoulder in a long braid. Jealousy made its course through her. Why was she so different than her sisters? Bana was a perfect example of their race, and a perfect female according to the teachings. Light in hair and skin, plump breasts, wide hips and a narrow waist. Grace and silent submission oozed from every pore when she was around anyone else. Rella would never be able to match that, ever.

“There you are. I was thinking I’d have to come in there and get you.” Her sister’s words were bitten off, shortened by her irritation, but that was nothing unusual. Rella took a deep breath, schooling her face in the smooth mask of submission she used around everyone. Don’t take the bait.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Wouldn’t want your nose to wrinkle at my stench. Rella sat quickly at her seat and pulled her tablet and marker to her, hiding her grin. “I’m ready.”

“Good. We will cover the union of our two races and the reason why we celebrate with the Unity Festival.”

“I’ve learned this every year, nothing new has happened, so why are we going over it again?” The hint of whine in her voice made her grimace. She tried not to sound like a petulant child, but her daily studies brought out the worst in her.

“You will learn it again because I said so, and because this is your first ball. It is most important for you to understand the history of our world and how much we owe the Zabyr warriors for our freedom,” Bana barked.

“Like we’re really free,” Rella whispered. A loud crack reverberated around the room as her sister’s hand connected with her cheek. She closed her eyes. Don’t react. Instead of flinching or reaching up to smooth the sting, she willed the pain away.

“You will do as you’re told,” Bana shouted in an uncharacteristic burst of emotion.
Buy Bookstrand - http://www.bookstrand.com/bound-at-th... About The Author Lea lives in Western New York with her hubby, three children, and miscellaneous critters. Before the rugrats, she lived a life of adventure, following her husband all over Europe with the US military. She’s slept in a car outside Paris, drove six hours just to see tulips in the Netherlands, and knocked ash from her shoes at Pompeii. Now she spends her time in life’s adventures at soccer games, PTA meetings and school plays.

Lea has loved reading from a very young age, spending many sleepless nights devouring books. Science fiction and paranormal were her favorite genres to read as a teenager, and that love bled into her adult life. She started writing during a bout of insomnia, to fill time, and found it filled a creative void. Now she communes regularly with the characters in her head and tries not to laugh out loud when they say something funny.

When Lea isn’t reading, writing or corralling kids, she enjoys watching movies and sciencey shows, or just kicking back and listening to some music.


Find Lea on her Website – Facebook – Twitter - Blog
Giveaway! Tour long Giveaway: $25 GC to Amazon, B&N or ARe
Dates: 1/28/2013 thru 2/15/2013
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The Publisher's Proposal by Sonia Hightower and D.F. Kreiger

Daring Desires book 2

Sylvia must fess up her secrets, but things go too far when Ivy, the publisher at Daring Desires Publishing, wants to use Katia as her own personal learning tool for BDSM. What ensues is a catfight between editor and boss, as both try to win over author Katia Lane.

Katia never expected BDSM to come up when she's invited to meet with the publisher for dinner, but sure enough, a ménage is in the making. What Katia can't understand is, if Sylvia asked her to come, why isn't the editor enjoying this too?

Be Warned: menage sex (FFF), BDSM, voyeurism, sex toys Excerpt Determined to win this little game, Sylvia moved up to her sub's neck. She nipped and kissed lightly before running her tongue across Katia's earlobe. The whimper turned into a moan and Sylvia couldn't help glancing at Ivy out of the corner of her eye. Her boss had one of Katia's legs lifted and she was mirroring Sylvia's motions on the inside of Katia's thigh.
Oh, now that's playing dirty. I would have started by kissing her ankles.
Sylvia narrowed her eyes and decided to beat the redhead to the punch. They all knew where this was headed, and she'd be damned if Ivy got to her sweet spot first. She adjusted so that she was seated on the edge of the bed, her feet still planted firmly on the floor, and her ass hanging half off. It wasn't too comfortable, but it gave her access to what she wanted. Katia's pert nipples beckoned her like cupcakes in a bakery. She wanted nothing more than to lick the sweet tips of them until she was satisfied.
As Sylvia began lowering her head, she noticed Ivy had paused to watch her. The woman's eyes were narrowed, as if studying Sylvia's movements. That's right, you are the student and I am the master. You better be studying hard.
With slow, deliberate movements, Sylvia swirled her tongue around Katia's breast. She avoided the nipple with great care. When she tilted her head to glance at Katia's face, the woman was staring at her with wide, pleading eyes. Oh yes, she knew that look and knew exactly what the sub wanted. Suddenly, Katia threw back her head, her body arched off the bed, and her eyes shut. Her breast almost slammed right into Sylvia's mouth.
A quick glance back down at Katia's pussy confirmed Sylvia's suspicions: Ivy was fingering her, fast and hard. An orgasm was wracking the blonde's body, and her moans were clearly audible through the gag. Katia was tugging at her restraints, her fists clenched.


She's right on the edge, slipping, but not free-falling yet. Here's my chance.

Buy Links:   Amazon     Smashwords        Barnes & Noble   About The Authors Sonia Hightower is a pen name for Tara Chevrestt, a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, writer, and an editor. She is most passionate about planes, motorcycles, dogs, and above all, reading. That led to her love of writing. Between her writing and her editing, which allows her to be home with her little canine kids, she believes she has the greatest job in the world. She is very happily married.

Sonia writes the racy stuff and argues she was here first. She just wasn't allowed to be unleashed until the last year.

They both agree, however, that strong is sexy, and they don't write the average, simpering damsel. They write about women who see what they want and obtain it.
While Tara and Sonia continue to fight over the laptop and debate who writes the next book, you can find buy links, blurbs, and other fun bits on their website:

Website    Facebook

When D. F. Krieger was banned from writing contests at her school, she immediately set it in her head that she would become a professional writer. Since then, she has thrown away her plans of world domination through books, but she still enjoys writing. Her tastes run from classy urban witches to dragons, space pirates to shape shifters. By the time she pens her final book with a hand ravaged by age, she hopes to introduce her readers to many alternate worlds, lines of thinking, and captivating characters.

You can find D. F. on the East Coast, hiding away from the real world with a gleam in her eye and a plot in her head. She resides with her husband, kids, and pets; who all kindly put up with her random bouts of laughter (over things she can't explain) and journal collecting fetish

Creak - An Erotic Thriller by Elizabeth Morgan

I'm very excited to have Elizabeth Morgan on the blog today. And she has a new release! Creak - an erotic thriller. It has definitely peeked my interest! I hope it does yours as well.

“What happens in Silver Creek, stays in Silver Creek.”

After spending the summer as a recluse due to a bad break-up, Nicole Saunders agrees to go to The Heat Wave Festival with her best friends, Kacey and Tyler.

Along with three other friends they plan to take a shortcut through the small town of Silver Creek; the last thing any of them expected was to become lost and end up pulling in to a motel for the night.

The Creek Motel is isolated and the last place Nicole wants to be, especially after meeting the glacial owner, but her discomfort is soon forgot as she finally gives in to her feelings and asks Kacey and Tyler to spend the night with her.

A decision she quickly regrets when she discovers that their friend has mysteriously disappeared from her locked room in the middle of the night. Worried, Nicole presumes the worst, but quickly discovers that Jayne's disappearance is more disturbing than any of them could have guessed.
Excerpt Chapter Two

Friday, September 12th, 2014
9:38 p.m.

We had lost the sun about two hours ago, the helpful lights of the other cars and the freeway about an hour after that.

We had all agreed to cut through the small town of Silver Creek in order to knock an hour off our journey—a decision I was beginning to regret.

My face had been practically glued to the window for the last half an hour as I tried to figure out where the night sky ended and the ground began. It was pitch black out there. Not the kind of night painted in a mixture of dark hues with the added color jumping out once in a while. This was total and complete darkness, the type that seemed to move with us. The half moon and clear blanket of stars above had become our only indication that we hadn't just driven into a tunnel with no end.

The headlights of Kacey's green camper van continued to guide us along the narrow road and further toward Silver Creek, which I still wasn't sure if we had arrived in or not.

In the dim orange glow of the overhead light, I turned to look at Kacey. The blood had drained from his knuckles due to the grip he had on the steering wheel, and his plump lips were set in a firm line. He was pissed. I would even say livid. Which meant only one thing, we had gotten lost.

"Kay?" I said softly. "You might as well pull over."

His eyes narrowed to slits. His focus stuck to the ongoing road. "No."

"It’s pitch black. There are no lights anywhere. No sign of life. Pull over, and let's all spend the night in the van. We can set off early tomorrow, when we can actually see, and figure out where the hell we are exactly."

He may have been a mechanic, but puncturing a tire or crashing into a tree was the last thing any of us needed.

"There's a Motel."

I looked at the surrounding darkness with wide eyes. "I don't see one."

He turned the GPS we had attached to the dashboard toward me, and pointed at a small blue square. "It should be here somewhere."

I stared at the small screen and then back out the front window. Who the hell would put a motel out here? Then again, I suppose if it’s a small trade town, and people did cut through like we’re doing….

"There's the fucker." Kacey declared and put his foot on the gas.

The van jolted as we went over a bump in the road, and a groan came from the back. "What the hell, Kay?" I turned to see Tyler rubbing the back of his head, and looking at us through hooded lids. "Are we there yet?"

I shook my head. "We're lost."

"We're not lost." Kacey stated sharply. "I came down the right route. It's just fucking taking forever because I have to go at a tortoise pace because some stupid asshole didn't think about putting up lights on this shitty back road."

Tyler yawned. "So, we're lost?"

Kacey growled. "We'll stop here and set off in the morning."

I looked back out at the road and watched the speck of light that had suddenly emerged from nowhere, growing bigger and bigger, and finally forming in to a readable size and shape.

The tall sign to the "Creek Motel" flickered in the on-going darkness. The faulty light to the isolated establishment appeared to be the only indication that actual people lived in the area. After an hour of nothing but darkness, the sight caused a pop of relief to tickle my stomach.

Kacey slowed and turned the van in to the small parking lot.

Apart from the two cars sitting along the front of the L-shaped building, the only other sign that the motel operated came from the dull light seeping through the curtains of a few rooms. The van filled with soft groans as Tyler woke up the others and Kacey maneuvered into a free space.

"Are you kidding me?" Disgust leaked in to Jayne's sleep-filled voice.

Kacey scrubbed his hands down his face. "What did you expect, the Hilton?"

"I expected to be in a packed parking lot with tons of people, and lights and loud music." She yawned. "Where are we?"

He cut the engine, and slid out of his seatbelt. "We're stopping here for the night."

"Where is here?"

"We're in Silver Creek."

"Yeah, which is just another name for we're in the middle of fucking nowhere."

Kacey twisted in his seat. "Look, it's too dark. So we're stopping here. We'll set off in the morning and be at the festival in no time. Deal with it."

Dry laughter scraped her throat. "You're so grumpy. Jesus. It's not my fault we had to set off at half past five. We should have set off tomorrow morning."

Kacey popped his jaw, and slid a look at me. "I'll go get us signed in, shall I?"

"I'll come with you." I pushed the door open, and climbed out of the van.

I pulled my jacket tightly around me as we made our way across the rough gravel ground toward the entrance. In the silence, I could hear each small gust of wind whipping around the solitary building.

I followed Kacey through the open doorway in to the dingy, snug reception, which had bare brick walls with old photographs lining them and a heavily worn and scratched wooden floor. Kacey hit the small brass bell sitting on the reception desk and we both stood looking at the closed office door.

Buy Links Amazon / Secret Cravings / Nook About the Author Elizabeth lives in a small country village in Cheshire, England, with two cats. You will always find her on the computer, blasting music and writing away. She started life wanting to be an actress because she loved performing. She enjoyed nothing more than being able to make people laugh, to distract them from reality for a few hours. She studied Musical Theatre in college, but during her second year, her mind started to overflow with ideas for scripts and she began writing plays. Slowly over the following three years, she was writing more and more, channeling her imagination into more detailed manuscripts... Here she is, years later, hiding away like a hermit, writing like crazy and loving every minute of it.

Where to find Elizabeth Online:
Website: www.e-morgan.com
My Blog: http://xxxxmyworldxxxx.blogspot.com/
Joint Blog: http://notjustastiffupperlip.blogspot.com
Twitter: @EMorgan2010
Facebook: Elizabeth Morgan

For The Love of Sphynx by Heather Sharpe

When time’s the enemy, there’s no room to pussyfoot around.

Betrayed by her fiancé, Mahri Lassler swears never to risk losing her heart again. She’s convinced she may as well collect cats since she’s on the path to spinsterhood. She adopts a tomcat, and just as they’re beginning to learn each other’s idiosyncrasies, the cat bolts out the door, disappearing without a trace. Her quest to find the darn cat leads her to a confused, naked man writhing on the street. The hopeless look in his eyes touches something deep inside Mahri. Can she trust her heart enough to risk it on a man with no past? Will her love be enough to break his curse?

Excerpt Unimaginable agony ripped through him, searing every nerve, and igniting his blood. Contorting in pain, his muscles contracted independently, twisting his body into impossible positions.

What seemed an eternity later, he lay gasping in the dirt. He pulled his lips back in a painful grimace as he sucked air into his aching lungs and looked around for Brigid. He would think twice before giving her an opportunity to hurt him that profoundly again. In all the battles he’d fought, he’d never felt such pain.

The clearing was empty. Brigid, the cottage, his horse, the small garden where they’d spent hours talking; all of it, had disappeared without a trace. A shiver of unease raced through his limbs.

The breeze, gentle now, ruffled his hair playfully. Testing his muscles tentatively, he noticed only a slight tenderness remained after the unbearable agony of before. His muscle and joint pain paled in comparison to a sudden thirst.

Climbing unsteadily to his feet, he stumbled to the brook. Whatever she’d done to him had messed with his vision. Everything seemed skewed. While trees and other still objects appeared fuzzy, anything that moved snapped with clarity, instantly claiming his undivided attention. A silver sheen blanketed the world before him. It dampened the saturation of the forest colors, but he noticed more small animals scurrying about than ever before.

Closing his eyes to offset the dizzying effects of this visual phenomenon, Morgan stretched toward the musical bubbling of water over stones and lapped several mouthfuls before daring to crack his eyes open. After the tortuous eternity and weird theatrics, he was unsure what he’d expected, but it definitely wasn’t this.

A furry black face with two short, pointed ears and feline eyes stared up at him from the surface of the water. What the hell?
Buy http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com...
About The Author Heather Sharpe lives on six acres in Central Kansas with her husband, perfect baby boy, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law. In case the house isn’t full enough, it also includes four noisy dogs, one cat who inspired For the Love of a Sphynx and another who torments him, and a lizard. At night, all of them think they need room on the bed (except the lizard, thankfully). Up until the birth of her son, Heather taught elementary school. Now she chases around her toddler and writes whenever he naps.

Connect with the Author:

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Interview with editor, Tara Chevrestt. #WWOW

Hi Tara! Thank you so much for coming on to chat with me today and be a part of Writer’s Word of Wisdom. 

Lacey: To start off, tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been editing. 

Tara: I’ve been editing for a little over a year. I started as a writer and discovered that thanks to having had a great editor myself, a knack for English and literature, and my prior years as a book reviewer, I made a pretty decent editor, and I like the job. I love to read, so what could be better? 
I’m an author who dabbles in just about everything. I’m a book reviewer, and I run a blog called Book Babe. I am married with canine kids. 

Lacey: Is there a common mistake you find in most of the stories you edit? 

Tara: Oh yes. Let’s see. Eyes, eyes, eyes everywhere. And lots of THATS. It’s an unnecessary word half the time. Breathing. You breath 24/7, so why it’s used as a dialogue tag is beyond me.
Lacey: Some words simply aren’t needed when we write and sometimes we tend to over use the words. Can you give us a few of the words to look for as we read through finished stories before turning them in? You know, to make our editor’s life easier. 

Tara: THAT’S and OFS. In today’s lingo, it’s not necessary to say, “Get off of me.”  
“Get of me” works just as well. 
“I said that I loved her.” 
“I said I loved her.” 
I also see some authors overusing passive voice...such as sentences beginning with ING words. 

Lacey: What amount of editing should an author do before submitting their work? As in, a basic spelling and grammar check in word? Or something a little more complex. 

Tara: You can’t expect a first-time author to know much of anything, so I’m pretty patient with them and don’t have a lot of high expectations. I do advise any author submitting a book to closely read the publisher submission guidelines though. If you can’t pay attention to that and follow directions, chances are, you’re going to be a difficult author to work with. 

NOW, if you want to talk about an author that has five, six, seven books behind their name, I have high expectations. After working with you on five books, I expect them to know what a head hop is, how to do a dialogue tag, etc. 

After five books with me, if you’re still handing me this: 
“I want to go too.” She said. OR Placing the cup down, he turned to look at her, “I like that idea.”  

I’m going to be pretty PO’d editor. 

Lacey: Now, listen up authors, I’ve got a good question for Tara. What is your biggest pet peeve that authors do and you’re always having to correct? 

Tara: Dialogue tags! Urgh!  

Lacey: What makes a story great in your opinion?  

Tara: I think it’s really important that readers LIKE your characters. If they don’t like your characters at all, they aren’t going to care about them or what happens to them. The best way to engage a reader is with characters they can relate to. Oh, the story and plot is important too, but first step: create likable people. We don’t want to read about assholes. We get that in our everyday life. ;) 

Lacey: By day you’re an editor and by night you’re an author. You’ve had the pleasure of working as an author with publishing houses as well as the self-publishing route. For an author who is looking to self publish, any tips on what they need to look for in an editor and questions to ask before the editor and author embark on a relationship together? 

Tara: Quit worrying about prices. Yes, money is tight, but you get what you pay for. There are a lot of editors out there charging pennies and they are making nothing...this means their workload is toppling. Lots of work because they’re cheap, but because they’re cheap, they have to take more of it. Your book isn’t going to get the attention it deserves. So while I’m not saying not to take advantage of a good deal if it comes, be careful. Don’t make price your number-one factor. 

Lacey: Any advice you would like to give to un-published, or even published authors? 

Tara: Get your work edited before you seek an agent. If you don’t do the agent route, do get a beta reader to read your MS before you submit it. DO shop around and research publishers. I’m seeing an alarming trend in the industry. People are just so desperate to have their names on books they don’t even care if the publisher who offers them a contract has the crappiest reputation in the business. Check places like Absolute Write or Piers Anthony and don’t get in a hurry. 

Because once the excitement settles down...once you’ve been sitting there waiting 8 months and haven’t seen a dime, you’re going to want that book back. 

So calm down, think clearly, and don’t just get obsessed with having your name on a book. Think long-term. 
About Tara Tara Chevrestt is a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, writer, and an editor. She is most passionate about planes, motorcycles, dogs, and above all, reading. That led to her love of writing. Between her writing and her editing, which allows her to be home with her little canine kids, she believes she has the greatest job in the world. She is very happily married.

Her theme is Strong is Sexy. She shares a website with her naughty pen name: http://tarachevrestt.weebly.com/index.html and they have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Chevrestt-Sonia-Hightower/218383211513877.

Want more Writers Wisdom? #WWOW or Writers Word of Wisdom - A Smart & Savvy Group of Authors who write a weekly feature for their blog -Writer's Words of Wisdom- each Wednesday. The goal is to impart what we've learned about writing, editing, getting published, book promotion, and more along the way.

For more Wisdom, be sure to check out these authors as well.
Melinda Dozier: http://melindadozier.blogspot.com
Tammy Dennings Maggy: http://tammydenningsmaggy.blogspot.com
Paloma Beck: http://romancebeckons.blogspot.com/search/label/WoW#.UN348m_AeSo

Interview with the fab Aimee Duffy on her new book, Isle of Sensuality

Today I have fellow Beachwalk Press author, Aimee Duffy, in for a chat!

1. Tell us a little about yourself. 
I’m a little bit bonkers, but I’m sure you already knew that :). I grew up in a small village on the East Coast of Scotland, work for the funniest lawyers I’ve ever met (honestly) and I have no self-control when it comes to buying new shoes…handbags…clothes… 

2. What genre do you write? 
Mostly contemporary romance but I’m working on a secret project at the moment. I hope to self-publish this story with two very talented authors next year. It’s a mix between fantasy, fairytale and erotic.  

3. Please tell us about your latest release Isle of Sensuality and how you came up with the idea. 
Caitlyn and Jake were the first characters who grabbed my heart and made me focus on writing seriously. The first version was very different, though Caitlyn was still an actress but Jake was more a tycoon. Now they’re both shooting a movie in Rio. I went through two rounds of revisions with Harlequin, re-writing the story twice. By that time I needed a break away from them to see it with fresh eyes and when my editor suggested I could revise again or work on something else for a while, I decided to put Caitlyn and Jake aside for a bit and work on the new story. Still, I did revise again and couldn’t wait to share these two so I sent it off to Beachwalk. It’s a bit steamier than my other stories, but they’re stuck on an island for three months. What better way to spend it than tangled up with each other between the sheets? ;o)  
4. Is it part of a series? 
Not officially, though I do hope to give Jake’s two sexy, younger brothers their own story one day. They have a bit of growing up to do first. 

5. A must have snack while you write. 
When I’m lost in a story I don’t eat and hardly sleep. But chocolate is a MUST during revisions.  

6. A fact that someone might not know about you. 
I’m very shy, though not in a blush-every-second kind of way.  

7. If you had to choose a favorite book that you’ve written, which would it be? 
That’s tough. I love these two, and they made me knuckle down and start to write seriously. Book 2 in The Price of Fame series gave me such a hard time, but the finished version makes all the angst worth it. I’d say Never Say Never.  

8. Advice to writers who have yet to be published. 
Never ever give up. If you do you’ll never be published. The road is a tough one and you need to take the bad with the good, but I guarantee when you get there the struggle will make it so much sweeter.  

9. Is there a genre you haven’t written yet that you want to? 
Hmmm. Young Adult, single title erotic, suspense, I could go on all day.  

10. Any quirky habits? 
I wouldn’t say quirky, but when a story isn’t going my way I chew off all my nails.  

11. Have you written a character that most resembles you? 
Not yet. I’m too scared people will know it’s me.  

12. What type of hero do you enjoy writing about? 
That’s tough, because so far no two have been remotely similar. Miles, from The Monster of Fame is powerful, tortured, but more BETA than alpha. Jake is charming, fun but not so alpha either. Sander in Never Say Never is alpha and caring (even though he doesn’t realize the latter), and Ric, my Spanish hero in a story I’m revising for Harlequin is very alpha and cheeky. Out of them all I prefer Ric though I suspect it has more to do with all the bronzed muscles and tattoo.  

13. What are you currently reading? 
Feels So Right by Isobel Sharpe. She’s a new author to me. I’ll definitely be buying more from her.  

Thanks for having me on your blog today, Lacey!  
Buy Links Beachwalk Press , Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble,All Romance Ebooks, Bookstrand & Kobo.
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Too many authors? Too many books?

Over the weekend, a post caught my attention on Facebook. It was someones opinion on being an author now a days and that the market is saturated in books and authors. And as I thought about it, I knew it was true. Ten years ago, I doubt as many books released a day as they do now. There is no certain day of the week any longer like there are for movies. Any day of the week, I would guess hundreds of new books release. And, books by your favorite authors are getting to your hands quicker and new ones are releasing faster as well. You no longer have to wait a year or two for that highly anticipated sequel. You might only have to wait six months! The question is, is this good or bad? Personally, I think it's great. We live in a world now where 'we want what we want and we want it NOW'. No one wants to wait any longer for anything. I want a new book, one-click buy, it's on your eReader. No more driving down to your local bookstore and finding out someone just bought the last one and you have to wait a week. Same as music. Who needs to go to the store for a CD when you have an MP3 player with all your music on it.

So I do agree with the post I read, the book market is full of authors and books. How in the world do you choose though? What author to try? What book? There are so many! I say, start with the cover, then the blurb, followed by the sample. If all three gets a thumbs up, the next step is to BUY!

And as an author, how do I stand out so they pick me to read? That, I'm still trying to figure out. I think staying positive and doing your best to keep your name out there helps. Does the in your face approach work? I'm not really sure. But you certainly can't be quiet and hope readers find you. 

Also, make sure the work you're putting out there is your best. Not just a piece to have your name on so your name stays fresh. As well, not everything you write has to be sold. Offer short pieces for free so readers aren't feeling ripped off.

Best of luck to authors published and unpublished. The digital age is with us and making our dreams come true much faster!

An interview with L.M. David and look into Touched #paranormalromance

Today author L.M. David is stopping by with one of her characters from her book, Touched. 
Oh, and before we get started, over on Goodreads, there is a giveaway going on for this book!

* * * *

This is L.M. David. Today, I’d like introduce you to my guest, Preston Ciora the main character of Touched: The Hunter Legacy. He has taken time out of his busy schedule to be here with us tonight. Thanks for coming, Mr. Ciora.

A.  You can call me Preston, no need to be formal.

Q. Okay, great. Let’s start with you telling us a little bit about you.
 A. To be honest, I am not at liberty to express things about what I am or what I do. I can tell you that I’m rich, miserable and enjoy the physical pleasures of relationships since it is, at least for me, mind-numbing entertainment. You’re attractive enough – want to find out what women find irresistible about me?

Q. Ah, no.
A.  I assure you nothing compares to a night in bed with me.

Q. I will take your word for it. Could you tell me something few people know about you?
 A. Since there is no one here with us, I will admit to you what I am…which is a vampyre. If you print that anywhere, I seriously doubt people will believe you. And if they do, I will deny it, erase this interview from your laptop and destroy memories of this moment from your mind afterwards. **He takes a deep breath** Your blood type is 0 positive … my favorite which means I will definitely snack on you just before I wipe your mind clean.

Q. Have you noticed I’m wearing a cross…
A. And a very lovely one, I dare say. I assure you that if I wanted to dine on you, Ms. David, that thing would do nothing to stop me. You see, Hollywood has made such a mockery of vampyres that it has left my people in a poor light with humans. Yes we have weaknesses but don’t expect me to divulge them to you. I can say we don’t sparkle in the sun, only those who choose to live a nocturnal life are pasty and for goodness sake, we don’t sleep in dirt from our native country. That’s disgusting. And don’t get me started on what soil would do to my black, silk pajamas.

Q. What about stakes?
A. Poke one in me and see just how angry I get if you damage my designer clothes.

Q.  Okay, let’s move to away from that subject to a safer one. As a vampyre, why is it important to remain anonymous?
A.  Again, I blame Hollywood, and the Carpathian Brotherhood zealots for the reputation we vampyres have. Granted some of us, around the first century, were, how shall I say, a bit eager to bite humans but it rarely happens now-a-days. We have laws and even obey those created by mortals … we even pay for the blood we take. But mention the word vampyre in a crowded room and it empties like a skunk had perfumed it.

Q.  Okay, granted there are falsehoods about vampyres but, as you said, there are some truths to folklore and myths. Can you explain what those are?
A. The only truth that holds up is our need for blood. I would truly appreciate it if your kind thought of vampyres as humans with special needs.

Q.  What do your peers think about you?
A. Some of the nicer ones have called me a self-absorbed, arrogant, egotistical, narcissistic prick. No, wait, narcissistic was bumped off the list. I do need to work at getting that back in the long list of things Morgana, my ex, hates about me. I would not enjoy her getting sentimental or want to get together again … the thought makes me want to drink from an alcoholic.

Q.  Okay, moving along, let’s talk about your new love interest.
A. Oh, right, her. For the record, I had no desire in finding a new mate. I had what I considered the perfect woman, who also happened to be my sire. You see, when the Carpathian Brotherhood sent a hunter after Adelina, and he killed her, well let’s say I turned into a first class prick.  So when an elderly woman walked into a vampyre bar, The Guacara Taina – which means The Cave – and tells me I did her family a favor centuries ago, and she has come to offer me restitution, I never dreamed it would be new love interest.

Q.  And how did that work out?
A. The woman – Lindsey Kavanagh – tried to run me over with her car on our first date.

Q. Guess that male vampyre magnetism of yours didn’t work on her.
A. They don’t seem to work on you either. Why is that, Ms. David? Are you, by chance, related to Lindsey?

Q. No, why do you ask?
 A. There is a mild resemblance. That and the fact you have the same look of mayhem in your eyes she has whenever I am close to her.

Q. I happen to be locked in a windowless room with a vampyre sex maniac who could scrub my mind clean with a look, not to mention the fact you have made a pass at me, told me my blood type is your favorite and you think the look of mayhem in my eyes is not deserved?
A. You have a valid point. But don’t worry, I would never harm you, especially with all the witnesses hovering around outside the door armed with garlic. I’m thinking pizza for lunch after this interview is over?

Q: No. That’s for … never-mind. I understand you are a presider. Can you explain what that is?
A. Yes, of course. The USA is divided into four sections, the northern, southern, eastern and northern territories. Each has its own vampyre lord assigned to it. I am overseer the western district.

Q. And what do you do as a presider?
A. Part of my duties includes being an adjudicator over Advocate Court, which is equivalent to your judicial court system. After a vampyre is judged guilty, I level sentence on them, which more often than not means execution since we don’t have jails. And if the Vampyric Council rules a vampyre worthy of being terminated, it’s my job to kill them as well.

Q. You’re also a homicide detective, right?
A.    Yes

Q. Aren’t you suppose to investigate deaths, not add to them?
A. We are discussing vampyre justice, not human.

Q. Right. Well in your role as a homicide detective, I assume you know lots of ways to get rid of a body.
A. Yes, but I would never harm you.  I have minions for that purpose.

Q. Okay… I think that’s about all the questions I have for you. Is there anything else you would like to share before we end this conversation?
A. Now that you mention it, I have a couple Benjamins in my pocket that have your name on it if you’d allow me taste just a little bit of your blood…
About the Author L.M. David has been writing stories since she was a teenager. Originally drawn to the genre of science fiction, she later became drawn into the enigmatic world of vampires. She has a massive collection of books delving into the subject of romantic, evil and scary vampires.  Touched, The Hunter Legacy is her first novel and part of a trilogy which follows the lives of Preston and Lindsey.

L.M. David prefers writing paranormal/urban fantasy stories but has recently found a muse in writing paranormal and contemporary erotica. It’s a giant leap into new territory but it’s a challenge she wants to pursue.

L.M. David, in her spare time, does crafts, quilts, crochets, knits and sews. She also builds computers, makes book trailers and composes music on her computer.

With respect to new writers, just remember that writing a book is the easiest part of this process. After that, it’s persistence, rewrites and submitting to agents or publishers.  From start to finish, Touched, The Hunter Legacy took seven years to go from her head to query and, finally, publication. It was rejected thirty times and yes, there was a lot of hair pulling. It’s said that 1% of aspiring writers achieve their goal because the other 99% give up. Hang in there, be persistent and you will find an agent or publisher who will recognize your talent.

As a side note, L.M. David is currently conducting a giveaway on Goodreads, one signed copy of Touched: The Hunter Legacy. The giveaway ends February 24, 2013.

Blog: lmdavid54.wordpress.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorlmdavid

Goodreads: www.goodreads/authorlmdavid54

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260314

YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0CwKtvKIlg&feature=share

Writing tips from Ella Jade on #WWOW and a look into Master of the Inn.

I have the lovely Ella Jade here today not only telling us about her new release, Master of the Inn, but also she is my special guest for Words of Wisdom today. 

Thanks so much for featuring Master of the Inn today.

I don’t know how insightful I am but I can tell you what works for me when I’m writing a book. I let my characters be my guide. Kind of like Jiminy Cricket and his conscience. LOL When I begin a novel I know the general direction I’m headed. I do a skeleton outline for chapter order and approximate word count.  After that anything goes and usually does.

Once I start developing the characters. I let them take the lead. I try to stay true to them and not let them do anything to OOC. If I write something and it doesn’t seem right, I toss it. By staying realistic for a particular set of characters I find I end up with a stronger plot, dimensional people that readers care about and an inevitable HEA.
Great wisdom from Ella Jade! Always staying true to the characters we are writing. Get more Writer's Wisdom #WWOW or Writers Word of Wisdom - A Smart & Savvy Group of Authors who write a weekly feature for their blog -Writer's Words of Wisdom- each Wednesday. The goal is to impart what we've learned about writing, editing, getting published, book promotion, and more along the way.

For more Wisdom, be sure to check out these authors as well.
Paloma Beck: http://romancebeckons.blogspot.com/search/label/WoW
Eden Glenn: http://edenglenn.com/2013/01/16/wow-writers-words-of-wisdom
More about Master of the Inn Book One in the Pleasure Inn Series

Pleasure Inn… Where all of your fantasies become reality.

Executive chef Elyse Clapton has had it with city life. She’s spent the last few years building her cheating boyfriend’s trendy New York City restaurant into a success. When their relationship ends, so does her desire to be in his kitchen. She flees to a quaint inn she remembers visiting as a child. She gets more than she bargains for when she meets the sexy, reclusive inn keeper.

Handyman Logan Cole inherited Pleasure Inn against his wishes. Ever since he got caught up in a scandal involving another man’s wife, he keeps to himself – finding solace in a bottle. He didn’t realize how lonely he’d become until Elyse shows up on his porch. He’s instantly drawn to her and convinces her to stay at the Bed and Breakfast.

Elyse comes to town looking for a getaway. She never expects to fall for Logan. It doesn’t take her long to believe the inn’s motto. Logan’s dominance in the bedroom makes all of her fantasies a reality.
Excerpt A light came on in an upstairs window indicating someone was there. Elyse walked up the front steps and tried the door, but it was locked. Just as she reached for the bell, the door flew open and a large, muscular figure appeared. The old screen door and the absence of lighting in the foyer concealed his face.

“Hi,” Elyse said. “I was driving by and wondered if you had any vacancies.”

“Here?”

“This is an inn, isn’t it?”

“It hasn’t been for over four years.” He turned on the porch light. “I thought everyone in this town knew that.”

His disheveled appearance made her think he wasn’t planning on entertaining visitors. His dark, thick hair looked as if he’d run his fingers through it causing it to stand on end. He hadn’t bothered to button his faded blue jeans or put on a shirt before answering the door. Elyse couldn’t help but notice how his well-defined abs disappeared into his waistband.

“I’m sorry.” She moved away from the entrance. “I’m intruding.”

“No.” He stepped out onto the porch in his bare feet. “I just didn’t expect anyone out here at this time of the night.”

“I drove from the city. I thought I might stay the night. I used to come here as a kid.” She looked past his shoulder into the foyer. She saw a fresh stack of wood in the corner and several cans of paint. “Are you renovating?”

“Trying to.” He nodded. “It’s a work in progress.”

She caught a wave of alcohol on his breath.

 “Are you just passing through?”

“I’m not sure. I just needed to get away and I remembered how perfect this place always was.”

“Yeah,” he looked over his shoulder. “Not so much anymore.”

“What happened?”

“My uncle owned the place, but he couldn’t keep up with the maintenance. He and my aunt retired and left it to me. It’s just been sitting vacant since then. It needed a ton of work. I didn’t realize how much until I actually started ripping things out.”

“How long have you been renovating?”

“A little over six months.”

 “Well, thanks for your time. Maybe I’ll visit when you’re finished,” She smiled encouragement, but disappointment filled Elyse’s heart at the thought of not staying there. “Good luck with the renovations.”

When she turned to leave, he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “Wait.”

When she turned, his ice blue eyes held her gaze. The intensity there made her stomach flutter. It should have been a warning sign to run fast and far, but her body responded in other ways. The sensation he created from just one touch coursed through her system, landing straight between her legs.

Oh my…

“For the past few months I’ve been renovating the third floor. If I’m going to live here and run this place, I wanted my rooms to be done first before I started on the rest of the inn. There are two bedrooms up there; both have private bathrooms. You could stay if you want.”

“That’s very nice of you, but—”

“Your room has a lock.”

As if that would keep you out. You have the keys.

 

“I’m not ready to have guests yet, so I wouldn’t charge you.”

“I couldn’t, but thank you.”

“You drove all this way to Pleasure Inn. There isn’t another place for miles. Spend the night and then you can leave in the morning.”

She wasn’t familiar with the surrounding area and the drive had made her tired. What if she couldn’t find another place to spend the night?

“I don’t blame you for being cautious.” He shrugged. “You do what your gut tells you: but you’re more than welcome to stay here.”

She stared into his deep eyes for a few moments. She’d left the city to get away and forget about the disaster of a relationship with Phillip. She’d done nothing but work for years. She hadn’t been to a restaurant or on a vacation in months. She was too busy cooking for others. Would one night in a beautiful Victorian inn be so bad? How could it be, especially when the inn keeper looked like a goddamned Calvin Klein model?

 

“I’ll stay on one condition.”

“Sure.”

“You have to tell me your name.”

“Oh.” He ran his fingers through his hair and smiled for the first time since greeting her. “Forgive my manners. I’m Logan Cole.” He extended his hand to her.

“Nice to meet you, Logan,” She said properly as she shook his hand. “I’m Elyse Clapton.”

“Welcome to Pleasure Inn, Ms. Clapton.” He dipped his head as he held the door open for her. “Where all of your fantasies become reality.”

About Ella Jade Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped.

Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.

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Forever Love by Melissa Keir

Fifteen years ago, Syndie Wilder left her small hometown- Amherst, Ohio- to escape the pain of losing her best friend and boyfriend. Deciding that Chicago offered more for an up and coming jewelry designer, she enjoyed the big city life until she chooses to return and care for her father. Taking care of her father and relocating her internet business, Syndie has no time or desire for romance but fate has a way of playing with best-laid plans.

Thom Johnson broke Syndie’s heart all those years ago and regrets it every day. As a firefighter, Thom sets out to protect Amherst and redeem himself for his bad choices. However, he never has forgotten Syndie and the hurt he caused her.

When a chance meeting happens, can the two former friends allow themselves the chance to become friends again, or will the sparks turn a childhood friendship into a forever love?
Excerpt After getting out of my car, I hiked down the stairs. It was a mild September day, and the beach was fairly empty—just myself and a few seagulls. I walked slowly along the shoreline with my head down, not noticing the person swimming in the water until he began to climb out of the surf.

A dark, cropped haircut framed a face so beautiful that it could be described as the face of a Roman god. He had a strong nose and jawline that showed just a sprinkling of whisker stubble. However, it was his body that made me pause. His muscular shoulders and upper arms looked like they could carry a girl off to bed. His wet torso was covered with hair that immediately drew my eyes and tempted me to caress it. The chest hair tapered down his narrow waist and seemed to lead the way to paradise. I stopped walking and just stared. God, please let there be no drool dripping off my chin. This guy was smokin’ hot! Then he smiled and I noticed his face, complete with a little dimple in his chin. He seemed familiar, but I wasn’t sure where I recognized him from. When he saw that I noticed him, he winked as if he recognized me too.

“Hello! Nice day for a walk, huh? The weather has been kind to us this year.” He spoke and my knees wobbled. His voice was like chocolate, smooth and delicious.

“Hi…Yes…I’m glad the weather is nice enough to get out, but isn’t the water too cold for a swim?”

“Not at all. I enjoy my morning workouts after a long shift at the station. You don’t remember me, do you, Syndie?”

My mind was drawing a blank. How did he know my name? Who was this hottie?

“Not really. You do look familiar, but I can’t place you. I’m sorry.”

“It’s been a long time. We grew up together, our parents were best friends. We even went out in high school. I’m not surprised you don’t remember me, you hightailed it out of Amherst like your butt was on fire after graduation. We never saw each other again. I’m Thom Johnson, but everyone called me T.J.”

Oh wow. I’ve got a lot on my plate and he has changed over the years, but to not know someone so connected to most of my life was baffling. This man had been my best childhood friend. I was T.J.’s girlfriend for a while, but he dumped me for someone who put out. Before we went out in high school, I grew up with images in my head of him as the ideal guy. Our families encouraged our dating, thinking we were perfect together. When he dumped me, it broke my heart. I couldn’t stand watching him move on without me.

“Yes, I recognize you now, T.J. I took off because I thought that a big city had more to offer me. Well, it was nice to see you again. I had better get back to my walk, you seem busy.” I took off wanting to escape this awkward moment. Having to explain to T.J. why I was back in town was the last thing on my to-do list today.

“All right, Syn. See you around.” T.J. smiled. “Glad you’re back!”

I began heading back to my car, no sea glass having been found. Instead, I’d discovered the one guy who broke my heart and, based upon my initial reaction to the sight of him, has the potential to do it again. I backed out of the parking spot and headed back onto the main road into town, thoughts of T.J. occupying my mind.

Buy Links Amazon / Secret Cravings / All Romance About the Author Melissa Keir has always wanted to be an author when she wasn’t hoping for a career as a race car driver.  Her love of books was instilled by her mother and grandparents who were avid readers. She’d often sneak books away from them so that she could fantasize about those strong alpha males and plucky heroines.  In middle school and high school, Melissa wrote sappy love poems and shared them with her friends.  She still has those poems today! In college, her writing changed to sarcastic musings on life as well as poems with a modern twist on fairy tales and won awards for her writing. You can find many of these musings along with her latest releases on her website and blog.   

As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of interest in the world of writing.  She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and EPIC.  Melissa is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars.  She also believes in helping other authors and features authors and their books on her blog.

Melissa doesn’t believe in down time.  She’s always keeping busy.  Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a book reviewer, an editor for a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature “happy endings” and is often found plotting her next story.

This is what readers are saying about Melissa’s books:

Amazon 5 star review for Second Time’s the Charm- “Such a sweet and heart warming story. As I read it, and the details unfolded, I was engrossed to see if that I thought was going to happen, would really happen.” – Lacey Wolfe, Romance Author.

Barnes and Nobel 5 star review for Protecting His Wolfe- “Great read. I couldn't put it down. I really liked the characters, especially Betsie and the Pigg brothers. A love story with suspense and surprise.” – Anonymous

 Melissa loves hearing from readers!

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