Lacey Wolfe's Blog, page 37
July 10, 2012
Spotlight - Annette Gisby
Prince Severin has been brought up to put duty before all else. Now, his duty is to marry and produce an heir. He has his choice of princesses. Unfortunately, his passion is for princes.Havyn has been a slave all his life. When his powers are discovered, he finds himself purchased and freed by a Prince and apprenticed to the royal wizard, Ildar. His duty is to stay chaste to keep his powers strong. Unfortunately, his passion is for Severin.
With kingdoms at war, the throne hanging in the balance, and magic in the air, can the two men find happiness together, or is duty more important than love?
Annette Gisby grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland. Being a very small town there were no bookshops and a small library. When she'd devoured every book she could get her hands on in the library, she started writing her own stories so that she would always have something to read.
When not writing she enjoys reading, playing The Sims, cinema and theatre. She loves to travel, especially ancient castles and deserted beaches, great places for inspiration.
She currently lives in Hampshire with her husband, a collection of porcelain dolls and enough books to fill a library. The library is diminishing gradually since the discovery of ebooks but still has a long way to go.
Website / Goodreads
Excerpt:
“What is going on in here?” demanded Ildar from the doorway. “Severin? What are you doing with my apprentice?”
“Iri and I were just sorting out Havyn’s new wardrobe,” said Severin, waving to Havyn that he could get dressed again. Havyn quickly pulled on the tunic and leggings Ildar had given him on his first night at the palace. A fierce blush heated his cheeks.
“Havyn is my apprentice!” snapped Ildar. “He is my responsibility. Furs and velvets? Silks? A wizard has no need for all of that. I will ensure Havyn gets all the clothing he needs, not you.”
Havyn wondered how the wizard could talk back so forcefully to a prince without worrying about execution. Maybe wizards had no fear of death.
“He’s my responsibility,” protested Severin, his hands on his hips as he stared the wizard down. “I bought him. He’s mine!”
July 9, 2012
Manic Monday Update
I've always been an organized person. Typically I don't fall behind and I know what is going on. Well, then March 1st...everything changed. My house went on the market, a week later it was under contract. The scramble to find a new home started...finally offer number four on different homes almost two months later, we have a home. But then, it wasn't that easy. Our home was closed on sooner then we anticipated, so we had to move in with my parents for over a month. And finally, at the end of June, I am in my home again. But now...I have years and years of accumulated stuff to unpack. Ick!Now the above really wasn't to bad. What I am having a hard time with is the lack of organization. Boxes here and there. Stuff on the counter that doesn't belong there. Oh...and not meeting my deadline I set for myself with Opposites Attract (Hot Bods 4). I really wanted my series to be complete this year. But, life happens and things change I guess. I am halfway through...have been since April. I am hoping to work on it this week. My office is almost set up and I decided, the rest of the house can wait. Francesca and Randy's story can be told! The boxes can wait...as long as I don't see the house, I won't stress.
Hopefully next Monday I can have a great writing update! If not...then my house should be well organized.
To see other Manic Monday updates, stop by and see Carrie Ann Ryan and Lia Davis.
July 8, 2012
Interview - Shonell Bacon
Please welcome, Shonell Bacon as we learn a little more about her and her novel, Into The Web. 
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
Everywhere, I often write: Author.Blogger.Editor.Educator.Everywoman. This describes me pretty well, I think. I’m a published author of essays, academic works, short stories, and novels. I blog about the writing craft, faith, my personal life, and other women writers. I edit fiction and non-fiction and have done so for 12 years. I’ve taught in the university level for 11 years, teaching freshman and sophomore level English classes, mass communication courses, and fiction writing courses. And I do SO many more things that I have to add on “everywoman” just to save space!
2. What genre do you write?
Genre is a hard word for me. I’ve always considered myself a LIFE WRITER. I write about life. My earlier novels were probably clumped into African American romance or contemporary fiction or contemporary urban fiction. Other writings of mine fit into commercial women’s fiction. Death at the Double Inkwell and my latest novel, Into the Web, fit into mystery. In the end, I write about the broken woman and if (and how) she’s able to overcome the circumstances that befall her.
3. Please tell us about your latest release (insert title) and how you came up with the idea.
The minute twins and mystery novelists Jovan and Cheyenne Parham find their lives settling into a nice rhythm, all hell breaks loose – in their personal lives and in the latest crime they find themselves mixed up in. Jo is trying to build a relationship with Mark Brockman, but the deaths of her husband and Mark’s wife, and the sordid nature of their coming together keeps her from jumping into the relationship with both feet. Cheyenne is head over heels in love with former detective-now P.I. Ian Davenport, but unexpected news and Ian’s involvement in a new case causes Chey to second guess the deepness of their love. Trying to figure out their love lives becomes all the more complicated when Jo and Chey are thrust into a series of kidnappings and murders involving young girls who seem to make the wrong friends online. When a mayoral candidate’s daughter is kidnapped, Ian finds himself on the case, much to the chagrin of Chey considering he spends an awful lot of time holding and caring for the candidate’s wife. Bringing the girl home safely and finding the killer pushes the twins to the limits of their personal and professional lives. Going into a web of infidelity, lies, deception, and murder often leaves all involved in disarray. Will Jovan and Cheyenne find themselves, once again, trying to pick up the remaining fragments of their lives once this is all over?
4. Is it part of a series?
Yes, Into the Web follows the debut book in the Double Inkwell series, Death at the Double Inkwell. Although ITW is a standalone book, it is DEFINITELY a smart thing to pick up DDIW to see how the main characters, Jovan and Cheyenne, came to be.
5. A must have snack while you write.
Boring as all get out, but I love me some pretzels, particularly the honey wheat braided pretzels. I always keep a bag near the desk.
6. A fact that someone might not know about you.
I played Max in a first grade production of Where the Wild Things Are. I always joke of how I was the first African-American female to do so. LOL
7. If you had to choose a favorite book that you’ve written, which would it be?
It might sound corny, but my fave book is the newest release, INTO THE WEB. Before ITW, Death at the Double Inkwell was my favorite because it was the first story I wrote that went beyond the typical stories I wrote. It’s not easy to write a mystery, and I felt I had accomplished a lot in writing DDIW. With Into the Web, I went a step beyond, developing a strong mystery layered with really nice subplots and interesting minor characters.
8. Advice to writers who have yet to be published.
a- Write something you care about. If you don’t care, it will show in the reading of the story.
b- Be a lifelong learner of the craft. Loving to write isn’t enough. You need to study the craft, read, and work to be better with each new story.
c- Not only study the craft – study the industry and study effective marketing and promotional endeavors.
9. Is there a genre you haven’t written yet that you want to?
Hmmm. I don’t know. LOL. Mystery writing, and the desire to write it, came out of an opportunity in a novel writing class. It wasn’t something I was thinking about doing in my writing career. I don’t necessarily write to genres. I write to the initial feelings I have about a character that came to me and won’t leave me. A genre usually comes later in the writing process.
10. Any quirky habits?
Not really. Aside from my “push it the limit” writing jags where I sit, set my timer for thirty minutes or an hour, and then write like someone’s waiting to slay me if I don’t write a certain amount of words.
11. Have you written a character that most resembles you?
All my characters, for the most part, resemble me in some way. It’s funny. When I pursued my MFA degree several years ago, I had a theory that every MFA thesis was really an autobiography of the student. Beyond the thesis, and for many stories afterward, we still wrote of the “self,” but there would come a time when we would exorcise the personal demons enough that we’d write stories that were not ABOUT us but were stories that mattered to us—there is a slight difference between the two. Now, eight years since graduating, I find that I’m blending the two. Some characters still resemble me, trying to exorcise demons, but more often than not, they reflect ideas, thoughts that are important to me.
12. What type of hero do you enjoy writing about?
The broken hero. I like broken people. They are the most vulnerable and the most real. Especially the broken person (usually a woman) that still manages to do everything well on the surface, but inside she is falling apart. I like to see if ... and how she will overcome her circumstances.
13. What are you currently reading?
Right now, my reading is academic as I’m working on my dissertation. However, I do plan to start reading some classics geared toward young girls, such as Pippi Longstocking, Harriet the Spy, The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew), and Ramona Quimby, Age 8.
14. What are you currently working on?
Aside from dissertation? Well, a short work titled Between the Pages that will be released this summer about a successful erotica novelist that decides to break her anonymity in order to show her true self to the man she’s loved for nearly ten years. I’m in the process of organizing my writing schedule to decide what works I will continue writing for 2012. I know I will start the third novel in the Double Inkwell series, title unknown at the moment, during NaNoWriMo in November.
About The Author Shonell Bacon is an author, doctoral candidate, editor, educator–everywoman. She
has published both creatively and academically–novels, short stories, essays, and textbooks.
She has had an essay of hers developed as part of a live theatre documentary production. In addition to her love of writing and what the future holds in her literary life, she is also an editor who loves helping writers hone their literary craft. Since 2001, she has edited for hundreds of writers who have gone on to pursue self-publishing careers and have been published within the traditional publishing arena. Her love for helping writers also moved her to begin writing articles and commentaries regarding the writing life and craft, and she publishes these articles on various
websites. She is an educator, having taught English and mass communication courses in addition to fiction writing and other courses related to creative writing. And while taking part in all of those things, Shonell also finds the time to pursue her Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric at Texas Tech University. Now a doctoral candidate, she is conducting research and writing her dissertation.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Blog
Buy Into The Web AMAZON
1. Tell us a little about yourself.Everywhere, I often write: Author.Blogger.Editor.Educator.Everywoman. This describes me pretty well, I think. I’m a published author of essays, academic works, short stories, and novels. I blog about the writing craft, faith, my personal life, and other women writers. I edit fiction and non-fiction and have done so for 12 years. I’ve taught in the university level for 11 years, teaching freshman and sophomore level English classes, mass communication courses, and fiction writing courses. And I do SO many more things that I have to add on “everywoman” just to save space!
2. What genre do you write?
Genre is a hard word for me. I’ve always considered myself a LIFE WRITER. I write about life. My earlier novels were probably clumped into African American romance or contemporary fiction or contemporary urban fiction. Other writings of mine fit into commercial women’s fiction. Death at the Double Inkwell and my latest novel, Into the Web, fit into mystery. In the end, I write about the broken woman and if (and how) she’s able to overcome the circumstances that befall her.
3. Please tell us about your latest release (insert title) and how you came up with the idea.
The minute twins and mystery novelists Jovan and Cheyenne Parham find their lives settling into a nice rhythm, all hell breaks loose – in their personal lives and in the latest crime they find themselves mixed up in. Jo is trying to build a relationship with Mark Brockman, but the deaths of her husband and Mark’s wife, and the sordid nature of their coming together keeps her from jumping into the relationship with both feet. Cheyenne is head over heels in love with former detective-now P.I. Ian Davenport, but unexpected news and Ian’s involvement in a new case causes Chey to second guess the deepness of their love. Trying to figure out their love lives becomes all the more complicated when Jo and Chey are thrust into a series of kidnappings and murders involving young girls who seem to make the wrong friends online. When a mayoral candidate’s daughter is kidnapped, Ian finds himself on the case, much to the chagrin of Chey considering he spends an awful lot of time holding and caring for the candidate’s wife. Bringing the girl home safely and finding the killer pushes the twins to the limits of their personal and professional lives. Going into a web of infidelity, lies, deception, and murder often leaves all involved in disarray. Will Jovan and Cheyenne find themselves, once again, trying to pick up the remaining fragments of their lives once this is all over?
4. Is it part of a series?
Yes, Into the Web follows the debut book in the Double Inkwell series, Death at the Double Inkwell. Although ITW is a standalone book, it is DEFINITELY a smart thing to pick up DDIW to see how the main characters, Jovan and Cheyenne, came to be.
5. A must have snack while you write.
Boring as all get out, but I love me some pretzels, particularly the honey wheat braided pretzels. I always keep a bag near the desk.
6. A fact that someone might not know about you.
I played Max in a first grade production of Where the Wild Things Are. I always joke of how I was the first African-American female to do so. LOL
7. If you had to choose a favorite book that you’ve written, which would it be?
It might sound corny, but my fave book is the newest release, INTO THE WEB. Before ITW, Death at the Double Inkwell was my favorite because it was the first story I wrote that went beyond the typical stories I wrote. It’s not easy to write a mystery, and I felt I had accomplished a lot in writing DDIW. With Into the Web, I went a step beyond, developing a strong mystery layered with really nice subplots and interesting minor characters.
8. Advice to writers who have yet to be published.
a- Write something you care about. If you don’t care, it will show in the reading of the story.
b- Be a lifelong learner of the craft. Loving to write isn’t enough. You need to study the craft, read, and work to be better with each new story.
c- Not only study the craft – study the industry and study effective marketing and promotional endeavors.
9. Is there a genre you haven’t written yet that you want to?
Hmmm. I don’t know. LOL. Mystery writing, and the desire to write it, came out of an opportunity in a novel writing class. It wasn’t something I was thinking about doing in my writing career. I don’t necessarily write to genres. I write to the initial feelings I have about a character that came to me and won’t leave me. A genre usually comes later in the writing process.
10. Any quirky habits?
Not really. Aside from my “push it the limit” writing jags where I sit, set my timer for thirty minutes or an hour, and then write like someone’s waiting to slay me if I don’t write a certain amount of words.
11. Have you written a character that most resembles you?
All my characters, for the most part, resemble me in some way. It’s funny. When I pursued my MFA degree several years ago, I had a theory that every MFA thesis was really an autobiography of the student. Beyond the thesis, and for many stories afterward, we still wrote of the “self,” but there would come a time when we would exorcise the personal demons enough that we’d write stories that were not ABOUT us but were stories that mattered to us—there is a slight difference between the two. Now, eight years since graduating, I find that I’m blending the two. Some characters still resemble me, trying to exorcise demons, but more often than not, they reflect ideas, thoughts that are important to me.
12. What type of hero do you enjoy writing about?
The broken hero. I like broken people. They are the most vulnerable and the most real. Especially the broken person (usually a woman) that still manages to do everything well on the surface, but inside she is falling apart. I like to see if ... and how she will overcome her circumstances.
13. What are you currently reading?
Right now, my reading is academic as I’m working on my dissertation. However, I do plan to start reading some classics geared toward young girls, such as Pippi Longstocking, Harriet the Spy, The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew), and Ramona Quimby, Age 8.
14. What are you currently working on?
Aside from dissertation? Well, a short work titled Between the Pages that will be released this summer about a successful erotica novelist that decides to break her anonymity in order to show her true self to the man she’s loved for nearly ten years. I’m in the process of organizing my writing schedule to decide what works I will continue writing for 2012. I know I will start the third novel in the Double Inkwell series, title unknown at the moment, during NaNoWriMo in November.
About The Author Shonell Bacon is an author, doctoral candidate, editor, educator–everywoman. She
has published both creatively and academically–novels, short stories, essays, and textbooks.
She has had an essay of hers developed as part of a live theatre documentary production. In addition to her love of writing and what the future holds in her literary life, she is also an editor who loves helping writers hone their literary craft. Since 2001, she has edited for hundreds of writers who have gone on to pursue self-publishing careers and have been published within the traditional publishing arena. Her love for helping writers also moved her to begin writing articles and commentaries regarding the writing life and craft, and she publishes these articles on various
websites. She is an educator, having taught English and mass communication courses in addition to fiction writing and other courses related to creative writing. And while taking part in all of those things, Shonell also finds the time to pursue her Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric at Texas Tech University. Now a doctoral candidate, she is conducting research and writing her dissertation.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Blog
Buy Into The Web AMAZON
July 3, 2012
Character Interview - A Demon and His Witch with Eve Langlais
Today I have a very fun character interview from Eve Langlais. 
Eve: Hi folks. I thought you might be tired of reading boring interviews about my mundane life, so I thought we’d invite my two newest characters for a chat. Say hello to my hero and heroine from A Demon And His Witch, Remy and Ysabel. [wild applause erupts]
Remy (stands and bows): Ladies, your response overwhelms me, and if I wasn’t mated, I would show you just how much. [A devastating smile spreads across his face. Ysabel kicks him and he winces.] Er, just kidding, my hot cougar. You know I notice no one but you now.
Ysabel [snorts]: Pig. Don’t make me punish you.
Remy [winks]: Please do. You know how I like restraints.
Ysabel [a blush across her cheeks]: Would you stop that? We’re in public.
Remy: I’ll behave, promise.
Eve: You’d better or I’ll add a new scene to your story with Ysabel’s cat in it. I hear Felipe has a hankering for demon flesh.
Remy [holds his hands up in surrender]: I give up. I’ll be good. Just don’t feed me to that hellspawn.
Ysabel: Don’t talk about my baby like that.
Remy: Baby? That overgrown feline is the size of a bloody car. And his fangs are the length of my forearm.
Ysabel [crosses her arms over her chest and gives him a look]
Remy [sighs]: He’s a wonderful pet. [mutters under his breath] Not!
Eve: So Ysabel, tell us, what did you think of Remy when you first met him.
Ysabel: He didn’t make the greatest impression. I thought he was a womanizing pig –
Remy: Hey! Not anymore.
Ysabel: -- and I accused him of being nothing more than a pole dancer. But, he grew on me. Once I got past his foul mouth, I discovered his good points. And he’s cute. [Remy renders her an affectionate smile and laces his fingers through hers.]
Eve: I know your relationship got off to a rocky start, what with Ysabel hating men and all. How did you change her mind?
Remy: I begged, on my hands and knees, for her to give me a chance.
Ysabel: That was for sex. My heart he won simply by being him. Despite his ridiculously corny pickup lines, he possesses a big heart, a lot of courage, a mountain of patience and –
Remy: A really big tool?
Ysabel: Remy!
Remy: What? Can I help it if my sword is so big? [He pulls it out of the sheath he’s got leaning against his chair and grins while Ysabel shakes her head]
Eve: You just can’t help yourself can you?
Remy: Nope. It’s a gift.
Ysabel: Making everything into a sexual innuendo is not a gift.
Lucifer [appearing in a puff of brimstone]: It is too a gift. One that I like to think he learned from me. Can I help it if my greatness rubs off on those who worship me?
Eve: Er, no one actually worships you.
Ysabel [raises a hand looking sheepish]: I kind of did before I got burned at the stake for witchcraft.
Lucifer [a fond smile on his lips]: Ah, the good old days when covens would strip and dance naked around fires. Today’s witches are more into blood rituals and sex with warlocks to increase their magic. What a shame.
Eve: I’m sure Mother Earth is happy for the change.
Lucifer [casts a wary glance around]: Shhh. Don’t say her name.
Ysabel: Are you hiding again? What did you do this time?
Lucifer: Nothing.
Remy [snorts]: Even she can smell the grog and perfume from here. You better shower before you know who catches you.
Lucifer: When did you have the time to bathe? I thought you went straight home after our last mug of grog?
Ysabel [not looking too happy]: You went to watch the strippers?
Remy: The boss asked me out for a beer after work. How could I say no? [casting a glare at Lucifer, he mutters] Thanks a lot. See if I cover your ass next time your girlfriend asks where you are.
[A flowery scent wafts over everyone and Gaia appears.]
Gaia: What has he done now?
Ysabel [pointing at the devil]: He is trying to lead my mate into temptation by taking him to watch hoes strip.
Lucifer: You are so fired. Again.
[Ysabel smirks.]
Gaia: Our bedroom. Now!
Lucifer [grumbling]: I can’t have any fun anymore. How can I be a proper Lord Of Sin when I can’t even sin a little?
[Lucifer and Gaia disappear. Ysabel shakes her finger at Remy who grabs her hand and places a kiss on the palm. His lips move up her arm. They also disappear before he makes it to her mouth.]
Eve: Um, I think this concludes the interview. Be sure to check out Remy and Ysabel’s lover story in A Demon And His Witch. And remember, even when Lucifer is fighting with his girlfriend, he’s watching, waiting for you to sin so he can call dibs on your soul. Thanks for coming everyone.
More about A Demon and his With Website / Facebook
Roasted at the stake as a witch, while her lover watches, Ysabel sells her soul to the devil in return for revenge. A fair trade until her ex-boyfriend escapes the bowels of Hell and she’s forced to team up with a demon to fetch the jerk back.
Remy’s seen a lot of things during his tenure in Lucifer’s guard, but nothing can prepare him for the witch with the acerbic tongue--and voluptuous figure. Her mouth says ‘Screw you,' but her body screams ‘Take me.’ What’s a poor demon to do when his heart makes things even more complicated by goading him to make her his, forever?
Before he can decide if his demonizing days are done, though, he needs to catch the bad guys, save the girl and then find a way to convince her to love him and not kill him.
Eve: Hi folks. I thought you might be tired of reading boring interviews about my mundane life, so I thought we’d invite my two newest characters for a chat. Say hello to my hero and heroine from A Demon And His Witch, Remy and Ysabel. [wild applause erupts]Remy (stands and bows): Ladies, your response overwhelms me, and if I wasn’t mated, I would show you just how much. [A devastating smile spreads across his face. Ysabel kicks him and he winces.] Er, just kidding, my hot cougar. You know I notice no one but you now.
Ysabel [snorts]: Pig. Don’t make me punish you.
Remy [winks]: Please do. You know how I like restraints.
Ysabel [a blush across her cheeks]: Would you stop that? We’re in public.
Remy: I’ll behave, promise.
Eve: You’d better or I’ll add a new scene to your story with Ysabel’s cat in it. I hear Felipe has a hankering for demon flesh.
Remy [holds his hands up in surrender]: I give up. I’ll be good. Just don’t feed me to that hellspawn.
Ysabel: Don’t talk about my baby like that.
Remy: Baby? That overgrown feline is the size of a bloody car. And his fangs are the length of my forearm.
Ysabel [crosses her arms over her chest and gives him a look]
Remy [sighs]: He’s a wonderful pet. [mutters under his breath] Not!
Eve: So Ysabel, tell us, what did you think of Remy when you first met him.
Ysabel: He didn’t make the greatest impression. I thought he was a womanizing pig –
Remy: Hey! Not anymore.
Ysabel: -- and I accused him of being nothing more than a pole dancer. But, he grew on me. Once I got past his foul mouth, I discovered his good points. And he’s cute. [Remy renders her an affectionate smile and laces his fingers through hers.]
Eve: I know your relationship got off to a rocky start, what with Ysabel hating men and all. How did you change her mind?
Remy: I begged, on my hands and knees, for her to give me a chance.
Ysabel: That was for sex. My heart he won simply by being him. Despite his ridiculously corny pickup lines, he possesses a big heart, a lot of courage, a mountain of patience and –
Remy: A really big tool?
Ysabel: Remy!
Remy: What? Can I help it if my sword is so big? [He pulls it out of the sheath he’s got leaning against his chair and grins while Ysabel shakes her head]
Eve: You just can’t help yourself can you?
Remy: Nope. It’s a gift.
Ysabel: Making everything into a sexual innuendo is not a gift.
Lucifer [appearing in a puff of brimstone]: It is too a gift. One that I like to think he learned from me. Can I help it if my greatness rubs off on those who worship me?
Eve: Er, no one actually worships you.
Ysabel [raises a hand looking sheepish]: I kind of did before I got burned at the stake for witchcraft.
Lucifer [a fond smile on his lips]: Ah, the good old days when covens would strip and dance naked around fires. Today’s witches are more into blood rituals and sex with warlocks to increase their magic. What a shame.
Eve: I’m sure Mother Earth is happy for the change.
Lucifer [casts a wary glance around]: Shhh. Don’t say her name.
Ysabel: Are you hiding again? What did you do this time?
Lucifer: Nothing.
Remy [snorts]: Even she can smell the grog and perfume from here. You better shower before you know who catches you.
Lucifer: When did you have the time to bathe? I thought you went straight home after our last mug of grog?
Ysabel [not looking too happy]: You went to watch the strippers?
Remy: The boss asked me out for a beer after work. How could I say no? [casting a glare at Lucifer, he mutters] Thanks a lot. See if I cover your ass next time your girlfriend asks where you are.
[A flowery scent wafts over everyone and Gaia appears.]
Gaia: What has he done now?
Ysabel [pointing at the devil]: He is trying to lead my mate into temptation by taking him to watch hoes strip.
Lucifer: You are so fired. Again.
[Ysabel smirks.]
Gaia: Our bedroom. Now!
Lucifer [grumbling]: I can’t have any fun anymore. How can I be a proper Lord Of Sin when I can’t even sin a little?
[Lucifer and Gaia disappear. Ysabel shakes her finger at Remy who grabs her hand and places a kiss on the palm. His lips move up her arm. They also disappear before he makes it to her mouth.]
Eve: Um, I think this concludes the interview. Be sure to check out Remy and Ysabel’s lover story in A Demon And His Witch. And remember, even when Lucifer is fighting with his girlfriend, he’s watching, waiting for you to sin so he can call dibs on your soul. Thanks for coming everyone.
More about A Demon and his With Website / Facebook
Roasted at the stake as a witch, while her lover watches, Ysabel sells her soul to the devil in return for revenge. A fair trade until her ex-boyfriend escapes the bowels of Hell and she’s forced to team up with a demon to fetch the jerk back.
Remy’s seen a lot of things during his tenure in Lucifer’s guard, but nothing can prepare him for the witch with the acerbic tongue--and voluptuous figure. Her mouth says ‘Screw you,' but her body screams ‘Take me.’ What’s a poor demon to do when his heart makes things even more complicated by goading him to make her his, forever?
Before he can decide if his demonizing days are done, though, he needs to catch the bad guys, save the girl and then find a way to convince her to love him and not kill him.
July 1, 2012
Spotlight - Just One More by Stephanie Beck
Looking for something just a tad different then the usual romance? If so, this is one to check out! 
Two is enough, but three could be everything.
Kit and Adam Jacobs know what their marriage needs—Gavan Karik. He's the one man they both want and the only one who can make their relationship complete.
Making Gav part of the family comes with a price. Family, infidelity and self-worth issues plague Gav, but Adam and Kit are willing to tackle those issues if Gav is willing to commit.
For every problem they conquer, another one pops up. Not only are the three adults working to meld a broken family into one, they're also struggling with a blackmailer threatening to out the two men's sexuality and issues with the kids being mistreated at school. With each battle all three have to decide if the vision each sees for the future can match and if the reward is worth the fight.
Content Warning: Strong language, graphic sex, and explicit incidents of laundry washing within.
Available in print and digital
Beachwalk Press / Amazon / Allromance / B&N
Excerpt "And the sleeping arrangements?" Gav asked.
Adam knew this question had been weighing on the other man. Gav had played thirds in relationships before. Usually, the third was a plaything, in for pleasure, out for the intimacy.
"You'd be in our room. The 'our' would include you," Adam told him. "I'll steal your t-shirts to wear to bed, and we'll share the task of warming Kit's cold toes every night. We'll have amazing sex when we're all in the mood together. We'll have nearly as amazing sex in pairs if the third is in the mood to watch or sleep. There won't be favorites, but, because we've been together so long, Kit and I might slip up there on occasion. You'll have to be patient with us, Gav."
"And once our open relationship includes you," Kit said, "it turns into a closed one. We don't cheat or lie, and we tell each other if our needs change."
Adam watched to see what Gav's reaction to that big rule would be. It was one he supported wholeheartedly. Within the terms of their relationship, he and Kit had never once cheated. They were open, honest, and made the decisions and compromises needed to keep them happy. But his heart was hers. Always. If Gav decided to take the plunge, Adam's heart would grow to include him, and he would never cheat on him either.
Loyalty and faithfulness in an open relationship seemed like oxymorons, but not the way he and Kit worked. They were a unit, a family. If Gav chose, he could be the piece that had been missing from the start.
Gav covered his face and rubbed much harder than Adam would have rubbed any place on his lover's body. He didn't like to see Gav being so rough with himself. He hated when the other man treated his body harshly. It was because no one else had cared for him. He saw himself as worth less than most and acted on that vision. If he'd quit being stubborn, Adam would try every day to prove him wrong. There would be fabric softener for Gav's clothes and something sweet for him when he wanted a treat. It was the little things Adam knew he and Kit took for granted that would make the most difference with Gav.
"I don't know." Gav didn't look past his hands at either of them as he spoke. "I'll think about it. There's nothing in there I don't think I can do, I just…I need to think."
"That's fine, Gav," Kit said gently. "Time is something we have, and we'd never rush you."
"I know that." His sigh was heavy and haggard. "I know all the good things about you guys, and Kit, it's nothing in you that's missing. It's me. You have to know that. No matter what happens, it's not you. It's me."
"But I love you just the way you are," she replied. "So that means there's something amazing in you if you'll let it out."
About Stephanie Beck Even before she understood what all the thrusting meant, Stephanie Beck loved reading romance. When the stories didn’t end the way she wanted, writing her own was the perfect solution. From ridiculous humor to erotica, Stephanie loves being transported within a story. When she’s not elbow deep in words, her husband and three children command her attention. After they are sleeping she knits or bakes cookies…or squeezes in more writing.
Stephanie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at stephaniebeckauthor@gmail.com
Website / Twitter / Facebook
Two is enough, but three could be everything.Kit and Adam Jacobs know what their marriage needs—Gavan Karik. He's the one man they both want and the only one who can make their relationship complete.
Making Gav part of the family comes with a price. Family, infidelity and self-worth issues plague Gav, but Adam and Kit are willing to tackle those issues if Gav is willing to commit.
For every problem they conquer, another one pops up. Not only are the three adults working to meld a broken family into one, they're also struggling with a blackmailer threatening to out the two men's sexuality and issues with the kids being mistreated at school. With each battle all three have to decide if the vision each sees for the future can match and if the reward is worth the fight.
Content Warning: Strong language, graphic sex, and explicit incidents of laundry washing within.
Available in print and digital
Beachwalk Press / Amazon / Allromance / B&N
Excerpt "And the sleeping arrangements?" Gav asked.
Adam knew this question had been weighing on the other man. Gav had played thirds in relationships before. Usually, the third was a plaything, in for pleasure, out for the intimacy.
"You'd be in our room. The 'our' would include you," Adam told him. "I'll steal your t-shirts to wear to bed, and we'll share the task of warming Kit's cold toes every night. We'll have amazing sex when we're all in the mood together. We'll have nearly as amazing sex in pairs if the third is in the mood to watch or sleep. There won't be favorites, but, because we've been together so long, Kit and I might slip up there on occasion. You'll have to be patient with us, Gav."
"And once our open relationship includes you," Kit said, "it turns into a closed one. We don't cheat or lie, and we tell each other if our needs change."
Adam watched to see what Gav's reaction to that big rule would be. It was one he supported wholeheartedly. Within the terms of their relationship, he and Kit had never once cheated. They were open, honest, and made the decisions and compromises needed to keep them happy. But his heart was hers. Always. If Gav decided to take the plunge, Adam's heart would grow to include him, and he would never cheat on him either.
Loyalty and faithfulness in an open relationship seemed like oxymorons, but not the way he and Kit worked. They were a unit, a family. If Gav chose, he could be the piece that had been missing from the start.
Gav covered his face and rubbed much harder than Adam would have rubbed any place on his lover's body. He didn't like to see Gav being so rough with himself. He hated when the other man treated his body harshly. It was because no one else had cared for him. He saw himself as worth less than most and acted on that vision. If he'd quit being stubborn, Adam would try every day to prove him wrong. There would be fabric softener for Gav's clothes and something sweet for him when he wanted a treat. It was the little things Adam knew he and Kit took for granted that would make the most difference with Gav.
"I don't know." Gav didn't look past his hands at either of them as he spoke. "I'll think about it. There's nothing in there I don't think I can do, I just…I need to think."
"That's fine, Gav," Kit said gently. "Time is something we have, and we'd never rush you."
"I know that." His sigh was heavy and haggard. "I know all the good things about you guys, and Kit, it's nothing in you that's missing. It's me. You have to know that. No matter what happens, it's not you. It's me."
"But I love you just the way you are," she replied. "So that means there's something amazing in you if you'll let it out."
About Stephanie Beck Even before she understood what all the thrusting meant, Stephanie Beck loved reading romance. When the stories didn’t end the way she wanted, writing her own was the perfect solution. From ridiculous humor to erotica, Stephanie loves being transported within a story. When she’s not elbow deep in words, her husband and three children command her attention. After they are sleeping she knits or bakes cookies…or squeezes in more writing.
Stephanie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at stephaniebeckauthor@gmail.com
Website / Twitter / Facebook
June 29, 2012
Interview - Rosa Sophia
Today I have author Rosa Sophia here. Let's get to know her a little better! 
Tell us a little about yourself. I am a mechanic disguised as a librarian. What that means is, I work in a library, but my dream is to work in a garage—preferably one that specializes in classics and antiques. Currently, I live in south Florida, and I love to travel, run, and hike. When I’m not working, I’m working. I edit for Ruby Lioness Press and Oaklight Publishing. Life is good—but it sure is exhausting!
What genre do you write?
For the most part, I write Mystery, but I also enjoy crossing genres. Lately, I’ve been working on a book series that is a mix of several genres—Science Fiction, Mystery, and Romance.
Please tell us about your latest release, Check Out Time, and how you came up with the idea?
I thought of the idea behind Check Out Time when I was working night shift in a grocery store. I decided to make up a character, give her my job stocking shelves, and let the story go from there. No, the character isn’t really based on me, but the situations and the setting are certainly drawn from my own experiences.
Is it part of a series?
Yes—the second book is called At the Turn of a Wrench, and I am already fifty pages in. It will concentrate more on Naomi and her relationship with her father. I’d like to make the second novel more character-oriented than plot driven.
A must have snack while you write.
Actually, I have to force myself to eat when I write! I have been known to spend entire days writing, without eating a single thing. I get so into the story that I completely forget food exists.
If you had to choose a favorite book that you’ve written, which would it be?
A Siren for the Dead—it is currently unpublished, but I hope to publish it soon.
It is part of a series, and one of my cross-genre projects. It’s a mix between Science Fiction and Mystery. The third book in the series also has some Romance. I just love mixing genres, and I love this series because the main character is a man. So I get to write from a completely different perspective.
Advice to writers who have yet to be published.
I know you hear this all the time, but . . . Don’t give up. Don’t let rejections or negative reviews dissuade you. Even after you get published, there will always be someone who won’t like your writing. It can’t be helped. Just do the best you can, and don’t be afraid to share it with the world.
Is there a genre you haven’t written yet that you want to?
I would like to write Chick Lit. I would like to write something from every genre, actually, but Chick Lit would be quite a challenge for me. I love a good challenge!
Any quirky habits?
Yes—I carry good luck charms everywhere I go. I always have to have something with me that I find comforting, so the “charm” can be anything. In my car, I have a “lucky gasket” hanging from my rear-view mirror. It’s actually the gasket from an exhaust pipe that I replaced several years back; for whatever reason, it became a good luck charm. I also cannot leave the house without a set of tools, or I become antsy and somewhat paranoid. I rented a car to drive to North Carolina two years ago. It was a brand new car, but I grabbed my tool box and put it in the trunk anyway. I knew I wouldn’t need it, but for some reason, I just can’t travel without it!
Have you written a character that most resembles you?
In my opinion, no, I have not. But friends and family swear that they “see” me when they read my books.
What type of hero do you enjoy writing about?
I like to write about a hero who is working to overcome his or her flaws. I have a lot that I’m trying to work through right now, so I guess it’s my way of writing what I feel through the eyes of a fictional character.
Thank you for having me, Lacey! I am currently looking for reviewers. If anyone would like to review Check Out Time, I will gladly provide a free digital copy. Readers can email me at: author.rosa.sophia@gmail.com
Tell us a little about yourself. I am a mechanic disguised as a librarian. What that means is, I work in a library, but my dream is to work in a garage—preferably one that specializes in classics and antiques. Currently, I live in south Florida, and I love to travel, run, and hike. When I’m not working, I’m working. I edit for Ruby Lioness Press and Oaklight Publishing. Life is good—but it sure is exhausting! What genre do you write?
For the most part, I write Mystery, but I also enjoy crossing genres. Lately, I’ve been working on a book series that is a mix of several genres—Science Fiction, Mystery, and Romance.
Please tell us about your latest release, Check Out Time, and how you came up with the idea?
I thought of the idea behind Check Out Time when I was working night shift in a grocery store. I decided to make up a character, give her my job stocking shelves, and let the story go from there. No, the character isn’t really based on me, but the situations and the setting are certainly drawn from my own experiences.
Is it part of a series?
Yes—the second book is called At the Turn of a Wrench, and I am already fifty pages in. It will concentrate more on Naomi and her relationship with her father. I’d like to make the second novel more character-oriented than plot driven.
A must have snack while you write.
Actually, I have to force myself to eat when I write! I have been known to spend entire days writing, without eating a single thing. I get so into the story that I completely forget food exists.
If you had to choose a favorite book that you’ve written, which would it be?
A Siren for the Dead—it is currently unpublished, but I hope to publish it soon.
It is part of a series, and one of my cross-genre projects. It’s a mix between Science Fiction and Mystery. The third book in the series also has some Romance. I just love mixing genres, and I love this series because the main character is a man. So I get to write from a completely different perspective.
Advice to writers who have yet to be published.
I know you hear this all the time, but . . . Don’t give up. Don’t let rejections or negative reviews dissuade you. Even after you get published, there will always be someone who won’t like your writing. It can’t be helped. Just do the best you can, and don’t be afraid to share it with the world.
Is there a genre you haven’t written yet that you want to?
I would like to write Chick Lit. I would like to write something from every genre, actually, but Chick Lit would be quite a challenge for me. I love a good challenge!
Any quirky habits?
Yes—I carry good luck charms everywhere I go. I always have to have something with me that I find comforting, so the “charm” can be anything. In my car, I have a “lucky gasket” hanging from my rear-view mirror. It’s actually the gasket from an exhaust pipe that I replaced several years back; for whatever reason, it became a good luck charm. I also cannot leave the house without a set of tools, or I become antsy and somewhat paranoid. I rented a car to drive to North Carolina two years ago. It was a brand new car, but I grabbed my tool box and put it in the trunk anyway. I knew I wouldn’t need it, but for some reason, I just can’t travel without it!
Have you written a character that most resembles you?
In my opinion, no, I have not. But friends and family swear that they “see” me when they read my books.
What type of hero do you enjoy writing about?
I like to write about a hero who is working to overcome his or her flaws. I have a lot that I’m trying to work through right now, so I guess it’s my way of writing what I feel through the eyes of a fictional character.
Thank you for having me, Lacey! I am currently looking for reviewers. If anyone would like to review Check Out Time, I will gladly provide a free digital copy. Readers can email me at: author.rosa.sophia@gmail.com
June 25, 2012
Manic Monday Update
It's Monday and I'm thrilled! Yippee!!! Can I shout from the roof tops?We close on our new home tomorrow. I'm so excited to to be moving in. Since May 18, the four of us have been bunking in with my parents. Which has been fine. For over a month now, I haven't had to cook or clean house. lol. Then again, that could be why I've put 5 pounds on.
In other news, I finished Bare Necessities. I really can't wait until October to share this story with you. Its a sweet story. And I had so much fun writing it. I'm almost done with the sequel to Sarah's Chase, and I've decided its title is Sarah's Caught. Its only going to be about 5k also. But its meant to be quick and steamy.
Then, its full swing into the last Hot Bods book, Opposites Attract. In case you did know, the third book released last week! Accidental Love. Check out the excerpt, blurb, and buy links HERE.
I don't think much writing will be done this week with moving. But perhaps the next week when I need a break from unpacking. I'll see you next Monday!
Stop by and see Carrie Ann Ryan and Lia Davis as well for their Manic Monday Updates.
June 19, 2012
Just Released - Accidental Love (Hot Bods 3)
The third installment in my Hot Bods series has released! This one is about an older man and younger woman. Be sure to check it out. 
Has Jane accidentally fallen for the decoy?
Sometimes there is only one thing to do when you get dumped—make the ex jealous with someone new. Which is exactly what Jane plans to do with Ben, an older, handsome man who has agreed to act as her new love interest.
When Ben meets Toby, Jane's unruly dog, he offers to help her train him. But as Ben helps Jane gain control of her dog, he realizes he's lost control of his feelings, and he's beginning to fall for the much younger woman.
Suddenly, Jane can't seem to remember what she ever saw in her ex. All she can focus on is the way Ben makes her feel each time he kisses her. But now the ex has decided he wants her back, and he's willing to play dirty to make it happen.
Content Warning: Explicit sex
Excerpt Matt cleared his throat behind her. Jane's eyes widened in shock and she slowly slid her hands from Ben's neck, down his firm chest. She turned to face her ex-lover, and Ben's arm tightened around her waist, holding her close.
"Hi, I'm Ben." He extended his hand toward Matt.
Matt kept his arms crossed. He looked pissed, which was good, she hoped.
"Well, I'm off on my lunch break," she said.
"Don't be late, Jane. We have a staff meeting, so you'll need to be back to handle any gym members." Matt walked away, heavy footed.
Ben took her hand and led her outside to his car. As they reached the vehicle she expected him to drop the act, but instead he opened her door for her and then closed it once she was seated.
He climbed in and asked, "How long do you have?"
"An hour. Fast food is fine if you want to drop me off and then pick me up."
He chuckled. "I know a place where we can share a meal in under an hour."
"You don't have to eat with me."
"Jane, I want to."
The hour went much faster than Jane would have liked. Ben was a lot of fun and took his boyfriend duties seriously. He had opened her car door and held her hand. This was something she could easily get used to. She was going to tell him he didn't have to pretend when they were away from the gym but each time he touched her she was at peace. Was it wrong to have a crush on the decoy? Perhaps it was the George Clooney look he had going on. It was every girl's fantasy.
Ben parked in front of Hot Bods and quickly came around the side of the car and helped her out. Taking her hand in his again, he walked her back. She started to object and it was like he sensed it. Releasing her hand, he tugged her closer and wrapped his arm around her waist, cradling her to him.
They stopped in front of the door.
"I had a lovely lunch," he said.
"Thank you. Me too."
He stepped closer. She sensed what was coming next, and she was more than ready. He rubbed her cheek with the back of his fingers then tilted her face toward his. Leaning down, he gently brushed his lips across hers. She moaned and was almost embarrassed to be reacting this way. He kissed a small line to her neck and her mouth opened, still whimpering. She was lost in the sensation of his light kisses and forgot they were out in the open. She was so turned on that if they had been alone she would have let this man explore her entire body.
Ben released her face, and she was slightly disappointed it was over.
"Have a good day." He kissed her once more on the lips.
He'd kissed her speechless. She didn't say a word. Instead, she simply watched as the most amazing man she'd ever met headed across the parking lot toward his car.
He was good. Very good. Maybe that was why Francesca was always after older men. They really knew what they were doing.
Buy Links Amazon / Nook / Beachwalk Press / AllRomance / Bookstrand / 1PlaceForRomance
Has Jane accidentally fallen for the decoy?Sometimes there is only one thing to do when you get dumped—make the ex jealous with someone new. Which is exactly what Jane plans to do with Ben, an older, handsome man who has agreed to act as her new love interest.
When Ben meets Toby, Jane's unruly dog, he offers to help her train him. But as Ben helps Jane gain control of her dog, he realizes he's lost control of his feelings, and he's beginning to fall for the much younger woman.
Suddenly, Jane can't seem to remember what she ever saw in her ex. All she can focus on is the way Ben makes her feel each time he kisses her. But now the ex has decided he wants her back, and he's willing to play dirty to make it happen.
Content Warning: Explicit sex
Excerpt Matt cleared his throat behind her. Jane's eyes widened in shock and she slowly slid her hands from Ben's neck, down his firm chest. She turned to face her ex-lover, and Ben's arm tightened around her waist, holding her close.
"Hi, I'm Ben." He extended his hand toward Matt.
Matt kept his arms crossed. He looked pissed, which was good, she hoped.
"Well, I'm off on my lunch break," she said.
"Don't be late, Jane. We have a staff meeting, so you'll need to be back to handle any gym members." Matt walked away, heavy footed.
Ben took her hand and led her outside to his car. As they reached the vehicle she expected him to drop the act, but instead he opened her door for her and then closed it once she was seated.
He climbed in and asked, "How long do you have?"
"An hour. Fast food is fine if you want to drop me off and then pick me up."
He chuckled. "I know a place where we can share a meal in under an hour."
"You don't have to eat with me."
"Jane, I want to."
The hour went much faster than Jane would have liked. Ben was a lot of fun and took his boyfriend duties seriously. He had opened her car door and held her hand. This was something she could easily get used to. She was going to tell him he didn't have to pretend when they were away from the gym but each time he touched her she was at peace. Was it wrong to have a crush on the decoy? Perhaps it was the George Clooney look he had going on. It was every girl's fantasy.
Ben parked in front of Hot Bods and quickly came around the side of the car and helped her out. Taking her hand in his again, he walked her back. She started to object and it was like he sensed it. Releasing her hand, he tugged her closer and wrapped his arm around her waist, cradling her to him.
They stopped in front of the door.
"I had a lovely lunch," he said.
"Thank you. Me too."
He stepped closer. She sensed what was coming next, and she was more than ready. He rubbed her cheek with the back of his fingers then tilted her face toward his. Leaning down, he gently brushed his lips across hers. She moaned and was almost embarrassed to be reacting this way. He kissed a small line to her neck and her mouth opened, still whimpering. She was lost in the sensation of his light kisses and forgot they were out in the open. She was so turned on that if they had been alone she would have let this man explore her entire body.
Ben released her face, and she was slightly disappointed it was over.
"Have a good day." He kissed her once more on the lips.
He'd kissed her speechless. She didn't say a word. Instead, she simply watched as the most amazing man she'd ever met headed across the parking lot toward his car.
He was good. Very good. Maybe that was why Francesca was always after older men. They really knew what they were doing.
Buy Links Amazon / Nook / Beachwalk Press / AllRomance / Bookstrand / 1PlaceForRomance
Author Spotlight: Lisa Sanchez
Faythe Reclaimedby Lisa Sanchez Running through a strange forest with a bloodthirsty demon hot on her heels wasn’t Taylor’s idea of a rockin’ evening. Then again, neither rwas soaring backward through time and space. Time travel chafed and left a rank, nasty aftertaste. So, when she finds herself floundering amidst a sea of Commandment-loving holy rollers who fling accusations of witchcraft and bedevilment like hotcakes in a diner, finding her way home jumps to the top of her to do list. Too bad she can’t remember who she is or where she came from. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Taylor realizes she’s fallen for Gabriel, the mysterious Latin warlock who came to her rescue.
Battling an identity crisis and lost in a time that’s not her own, Taylor is determined to find her way back to twenty-first century Hanaford Park. But first, she and Gabriel must work together to uncover the dark scourge lurking in the shadows of Salem Village, and in doing so, save their lives, and the lives of countless innocents from a lethal date with the hangman’s noose.
Lisa Sanchez is a California cheer mom taxiing her way through life, one car ride at a time. Along with chauffer, she sports several job titles, including, but not limited to: author, chef, seamstress, videographer, nurse, enforcer, and general slave to her three daughters.
The first two books in her Hanaford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold) are published with Omnific Publishing. The third book, Faythe Reclaimed, is currently on submission. Her erotic suspense, Obsessed was published March 29th 2011 with Loose Id.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
Excerpt:
Dark, viscous liquid pooled onto the rotting floorboards below her body, the blackened puddle oddly reminiscent of a Rorschach inkblot.
Suppressed memories and emotions I’d believed long dead amassed from deep within, slamming me with a powerful crescendo of…Madre de Dios…feeling. Something I hadn’t experienced since the moment I’d lost my other half.
Nausea and desperation mimicked acid, burning a hole through my gut and my chest as I allowed my gaze to wander north. I knew what I’d find, and, fuck it all to hell, it scared me to death.
Taylor. The exotic beauty who’d breezed into my life just days before. The angel who’d awoken me from the state of numbness I’d resided in for three centuries. The woman who was an exact matchin every way to my long deceased Faythe, hanged upside down and unconscious in front of me.
Thud…
Thud…
Thud…
My heartbeat… It echoed in my ears like a muted drumbeat. The rapid tympani so synonymous with anger and rage oddly diminished and muffled as though I were listening to it from deep within the bowels of the ocean.
How? How had I allowed my enemy to capture the beautiful creature who’d breathed life into my pathetic existence?
I thrashed against the magical bonds holding me captive, every fiber of my being filled with panic, desperation—and rage. Supernatural throw downs were a normal part of my everyday life. A warlock, an exiled member of one of Europe’s most powerful covens, I’d been bred to do battle, to fight the dregs of the underworld—with magic.
Magic. It had been my saving grace, time and again. It was also the bane of my fucking existence. Much like time. I hated my magic, almost as much as I hated myself. Witchcraft, limitless power… Both proved worthless when they didn’t allow you to save the one you loved. My magic hadn’t kept Faythe’s neck out of the hangman’s noose.
June 16, 2012
Interview: Debbie Gould and LJ Garland
Please welcome the talented authors, L.J. Garland and Debbie Gould as I chat with them about their new book, Sins of the Mind. And I must warn you, this is a seriously fun interview. These ladies will have you laughing. :)DEBBIE GOULD : Thanks for inviting us, I’m excited.
LJ GARLAND : Yes, thanks so much for having us today!
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
LJ GARLAND : Though born and raised in the south, I’ve lived on both the east and west coasts. I love traveling, and the latest adventures I’ve added to my Bucket List: Machu Pichu and Australia’s Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef. Someday, I hope to get to those places! I’ve been married to my best friend for over twenty years, spend my time home schooling three rambunctious boys, editing in the epub industry, and writing stories that I hopes catches readers’ imaginations as much as the characters and plotlines captivate me. In my spare time (what there is of it LOL), I have tons of hobbies, including building archery equipment from scratch and creating stained glass. I have a passion for anything that goes Boom! …from fireworks to high-powered combat rifles…it’s all good. My hubby and I are both rated helicopter pilots and spent our 10th anniversary flying cross-country from east to west coast…an adventure I highly recommend.
DEBBIE GOULD : Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the age of two my mother and I moved to New Jersey, spending many happy years on my grandparents' horse farm. You'll sometimes find this setting as a backdrop in my stories. As a teenager, my mother and I found a new home in Vermont, which is where I currently reside. With a daughter in the Air Force (along with my six-year-old grandson), and two sons working for the family Well Drilling business, I now shuffle my time between a full time job as a nurse and my writing career. About seven years ago, while looking at over three hundred treasured books lining the shelves, I realized there was a multitude of stories of my own clamoring for release. Since then, I’ve seriously persevered in keeping the keyboard in constant motion.
2. What genre do you write?
LJ GARLAND : I write paranormal, sci-fi, suspense, and time travel romance.
DEBBIE GOULD : Romantic Suspense and paranormal.
LJ GARLAND : Together, Debbie and I started out with romantic suspense. But lately, we’ve really branched out! I think we’ve hit 4-5 other romance genres. The story we just finished is paranormal romance.
3. Please tell us about your latest release Sins of the Mind and how you came up with the idea?Our latest release is the first book from the Red River series. It’s a romantic suspense from Decadent Publishing called Sins of the Mind.
BLURB:
Seven years ago, Abby Montgomery survived a brutal attack. Now she is ready to put her pain in the past and move on with her life. The problem is, one by one the men in her life are being viciously murdered.
The detective assigned to the case, Ethan Parker, has demons of his own to hide. As the danger gets closer to Abby, so does Ethan. But can they get past his secrets before the killer gets to them? Sometimes the sins of the mind are more depraved than the sins of the heart.
LJ GARLAND : Well, as I recall, we were both on the same Internet forum. We’d known each other for…what? Two years, Deb?
DEBBIE GOULD : Yup, about that. We had been brainstorming a plot in one of the books I was writing (still unfinished, lol) and I showed her the first chapter of another story that had been screaming in my brain at me. She liked it, and I asked her if she wanted to co-write it.
LJ GARLAND : That’s right! And I was excited because the story was interesting. Romance and murder, what’s not to like? So, we started brainstorming ideas and things got pretty intense and…what’s the word I’m looking for?
DEBBIE GOULD : Twisted?
LJ GARLAND : Yes. That’s a great descriptor. But we both loved it and voilà, Sins of the Mind!
4. Is it part of a series?
DEBBIE GOULD : Yes it is.
LJ GARLAND : The Red River Series
DEBBIE GOULD : Red River is a small town located in Vermont.
LJ GARLAND : And there’s a river, too.
DEBBIE GOULD : Yeah…the town’s namesake.
LJ GARLAND : Yep. The Red River river.
DEBBIE GOULD : Anyway…the series revolves around the town and surrounding areas.
LJ GARLAND : And people get murdered. People always die.
DEBBIE GOULD : Um, not sure we could call it a romantic suspense if they didn’t.
LJ GARLAND : True.
5. A must have snack while you write.
LJ GARLAND : Coffee and a spoon of peanut butter. Mmm. Coffee and mixed nuts. Coffee and cheesecake. Um, coffee…
DEBBIE GOULD : You see the theme with her, right?
LJ GARLAND : Yep, junk food and caffeine. Aren’t those most authors’ staples?
DEBBIE GOULD : I just have to have some ice-cold water and something to crunch on. Carrots, chips, nuts, grapes, it really doesn’t matter.
6. A fact that someone might not know about you.
LJ GARLAND : I wanted to be President of the United States…but that dream went its merry way when I hit twelve and discovered boys.
DEBBIE GOULD : I’m a closet Words with Friends addict.
7. If you had to choose a favorite book that you’ve written, which would it be?
DEBBIE GOULD : Good gosh, I love them all. But if I had to narrow it down, it would be Infidelity. There was so much raw, dark emotion in that one.
LJ GARLAND : I’ll be honest…whichever book I’m currently working on is my favorite. I love each and every one of them. Sooo, since the last one we just finished is a paranormal romance, that’s my fav. lol
8. Advice to writers who have yet to be published.
LJ GARLAND : Learn the craft. Write the best story…and most important…Never quit.
DEBBIE GOULD : Ditto! Oh, and research what you’re not sure of.
LJ GARLAND : Yeah, research is good, too. And the Internet makes that part so much easier…though, I’d still cross-reference stuff. People put some weird stuff out there and call it the truth! lol
9. Is there a genre you haven’t written yet that you want to?
LJ GARLAND : I would love to write steampunk, but not sure I could pull that off. Right now, I’m leaning toward urban or maybe cyberpunk.
DEBBIE GOULD : Nope, lol. LJ and I are running the gambit with a paranormal series at the moment and I think the only thing not in there is steampunk, which I have no desire to write.
LJ GARLAND : Aw, c’mon. Live on the edge. LOL
DEBBIE GOULD : Nope. Of course, I said that to sci-fi, too.
LJ GARLAND : I know! And we’re already laying the groundwork for one. LOL I’ll wear ya down…eventually.
10. Any quirky habits?
DEBBIE GOULD : Nope, don’t think so. I’m pretty basic.
LJ GARLAND : Maybe not unusual but I do like to listen to music and drink coffee. LOL Usually there’s a cat in my lap, too. They swear they’re helping with my creativity…I swear they’re bringing on carpal tunnel syndrome. But they’re sweet and furry, so how can I say no?
11. Have you written a character that most resembles you?
DEBBIE GOULD : Honestly, the characters I write are mostly a combination of people I know. I think Laura must have met an Elliot along the way though.
LJ GARLAND : LOL Well, I think a lot of women have met an Elliot type somewhere. Those self-absorbed types seem to pop up like mushrooms…and they thrive on their own sh—
DEBBIE GOULD : Laura! PG-13 please, woman!
LJ GARLAND : I was going to say, shining dispositions.
DEBBIE GOULD : Yeah, right. Sure you were.
LJ GARLAND : No. Really, I was.
DEBBIE GOULD : (sigh) Next question, please!
12. What type of hero do you enjoy writing about?
LJ GARLAND : Strong, hot, sexy. Will do whatever’s needed to save the heroine and make things right in the world. But at the same time, he has to have some feelings, sensitive to the heroines needs, and he needs to romance her.
DEBBIE GOULD : Ditto! Strong yet vulnerable to his woman. Can get through anything, live without, but NEEDS the woman he loves. Hmm…that doesn’t sound right. I mean he’s done just fine without her all these years, but man, once he finds her, she’s a craving he can’t ignore. Not like he’s a stalker or anything, he just loves hard…um…never mind. Ditto what Laura said.
LJ GARLAND : Hmm. Yeah, I’m seeing some things between the lines here. Care to elaborate?
DEBBIE GOULD : Nope. Just never mind! LOL
13. What are you currently reading?
DEBBIE GOULD : Christine Feehan’s Spirit Bound
LJ GARLAND : Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins on my Android Pad.
14. What are you currently working on?
DEBBIE GOULD : We are working on the next book in the Red River Series, yup more murder, mayhem, and romance, lol.
LJ GARLAND : Yep, we’ll be torturing the next characters even more than the first. Though, I think Sins of the Mind had several unexpected twists…and the characters got banged up pretty good.
15. Anything that you’d like to share.
- We can be tracked down at http://www.garland-and-gould.blogspot.com/ where we blog, chat about stuff, and interview other authors.
- L.J. can be caught at www.lj-garland.com and emailed at mail@lj-garland.com You can also tweet her at @LJ_Garland1
- Debbie can be found at http://www.authordebbiegould.com/ and emailed at mountecho2006@yahoo.com.
- We love hearing from people who have enjoyed our stories!
And you can find Sins of the Mind here!
LJ GARLAND : Thank you so much for having us here today!
DEBBIE GOULD : Yes, thanks! We had an awesome time!
