Laurel Cremant's Blog, page 15

Friday Spotlight Interview Hosted by D.C. McMillen

Good Morning Lovelies,

The awesome D.C. McMillen was nice enough to interview me for her author Friday Spotlight post today. Stop by and check it out. I had a lot of fun with the interview. There is a giveaway involved. I'll be giving away a free digital coy of Negotiating Skills and a $25 Amazon gift certificate to my favorite commenter, so mosey on over and show some love. While you're at it take some time to click through D.C's site (www.dcmcmillen.com), she's a fellow smut peddler after my own heart.

Talk to you soon,
Laurel 

Casual Smex Friday with Emelia Hayes

Hello All,

Happy Casual Smex Friday! As usual today you’re encouraged to sit back, relax and get smexy. Remember that Smex day posts consist of the following four segments:

1.) The Quickie- For those of you who only have time for some quick relief.2.) The Afternoon Delight- For the reader who wants a little foreplay before smexing.3.) The Midnight Grind-For those of you who want to go beyond foreplay and get to main show.4.) The After Glow Strut- For those of you not afraid to show your love and go for another round.
Today I’m bringing you an interview with the smeXXXily inclined Emelia Hayes. So close the drapes (or not, depending on what you’re into) and let’s get the smexing started!

The Quickie…

Name: Emelia Hayes
Stats: Emelia is a sensual and passionate person who loves to write.  She lives in one of the best places in the world [Down Under] and loves being an Aussie. She’s always liked spicy tales and fantasies, and see’s reading as an escape from the drudgery of everyday life. Her childhood wasn’t always pleasant so she would escape into imaginary worlds. She has been writing stories in her  head since she was a child, and reading racy novels in her teens also clinched her fate. Her writing is a twist on the favourite ‘happy ending’ stories she grew up with.  Her ‘prince’ isn’t always conventional, but he always aims to please.
Latest Release: Taste
Genre: Contemporary Erotica
Taste Blurb: A chance encounter with a stranger opens up a whole new world for Alison Ambrosi.  Kyle Lancaster is one hot, sexy man who introduces her to his wicked ways. With Kyle’s encouragement, Alison realises just how naughty she can be.
Availability: Amazon | Smashwords | Sony Reader
Smex Quotient: This is a SCORCHER! Approach with caution because there isn’t a flame warning high enough for this naughty little jaunt into the erotic.
                                           
The Afternoon Delight…

You start the reader right in on the action so to speak, with a super hot scene between Kyle and Allie. Why did you chose to open the book with that particular scene?
Emelia: At the beginning of my stories, I like to leave a little mystery as to how and why the couple are together. I then piece it together gradually for the reader.  It’s not always intentional but seems to be a habit of mine. In ‘Taste’, I wanted to set a scene where the couple couldn’t keep their hands off each other, so much so, that they alter their work plans to remain together. In a novella, one can’t be bogged down in too much detail.

I love that you made Allie such a strong woman both professionally and sexually. If she were to pick a segment of Casual Smex Friday, which would be her favorite and why? The quickie, the afternoon delight or the midnight grind or the afterglow strut? What about Kyle?
Emelia: I think Allie’s favourite would be the quickie in the office.  It is out-of-character for her as a strong businesswoman and is also played out in her ‘domain’.  Despite her protests, she wants to be controlled in a place where she is boss. For Kyle, I would have to go with the midnight grind.  He likes Allie in his bed so he can ravage her when he pleases.  

Kyle is alpha to the max and I loved him as the hero. What was your favorite part about writing his character?
Emelia: Who doesn’t love an alpha male?  Kyle needed to be strong but able to satisfy Allie’s needs. My favourite part of developing his character was showing how caring he was despite his overt masculinity. I also wanted him to be open-minded, not possessive. It’s not a trait I like in men.

Okay I have two words for you...window washer. Wowzah! That was...inspired. what was your inspiration there?
Emelia: Sometimes things just play out.  As I was writing the sex scene in the office, I could picture the view from the window.  The window washer just appeared out of nowhere.  I don’t always plan these things.  My characters are very spontaneous. I also wanted to emphasize that Allie’s sexual drought was over.  What better way than to have a man appear out of the blue?

The Midnight Grind…
Lock the door, clear your desk and strip. You will sweat, you will pant and you will beg for more so brace yourself because here's a smexxxy excerpt for your reading pleasure...

With each plunge of his fingers inside her pussy, the tremors intensified until they erupted within her.  She arched her back as wave after wave of hot, explosive spasms tore through her being.
She cried out in ecstasy and shuddered beneath Kyle’s touch.
Finally, he made his way to her mouth.  His breath was hot and heavy against her lips but he didn’t kiss her, just drew in her every gasp.“I’m gonna fuck you now,” he whispered and pulled her to feet.  “Right over your desk.”Her eyes widened.“Then every time you sit there in your fancy office chair, you’re gonna think of me fucking you over your desk.”She swallowed the lump in her throat and stared at him.A sly smile traced his lips.  “But first, let’s get rid of these clothes.”Within seconds, she was completely naked and Kyle had unzipped his trousers.  He pushed them down over his knees and her breath caught in her throat.  His cock looked exceptionally primed.  She watched as he rolled on a condom.  The man certainly came prepared.  She wondered if this was a regular occurrence.“Bend over the desk and spread your legs,” he ordered, and she did.She felt a torrent of excitement pass through her.  She’d never done anything this raunchy in her office before.Kyle came up behind her and rubbed his cock up and down her pussy for a few seconds and then plunged straight into her.He moaned and so did she.  Kyle was fucking her over the desk in her office and she was so turned on.“God, that feels good,” he growled.“Mm,” was all she could manage.When Kyle began thrusting inside her, all her paperwork began to fall off her desk.  She didn’t care.  He could fuck her all day and she wouldn’t say no.He reached under her and tweaked her nipples.  The sensation caused her pussy to contract.  “You like that,” he whispered.She nodded and he began to fuck harder.  Oh, it was heaven being fucked over her desk. In daylight.  In working hours.  Susan would come back from lunch soon.  Would they still be at it?  The thought shot through her like a missile.As Kyle fucked her, she watched the birds in the sky.  She felt free.  And then she saw it!Oh, God.  The window-washer contraption was edging its way up the glass outside.  She gasped.Kyle chuckled from behind her.  “Looks like we’ve got an audience,” he said, without any loss of momentum.The thought that someone could see them sent a scorching flame down her spine.  “You like that, don’t you?” Kyle asked as he pounded into her.  “You want someone to see me fucking you over your desk.”She wanted to deny it but couldn’t.  It really was a turn on.  She didn’t think the window washer could see inside but imagined he could.“You’re a bad girl,” Kyle growled as he pinched both her nipples.
TASTE, Available Now Via Amazon | Smashwords | Sony Reader

The Afterglow Strut…

You can stalk, follow and beg Emelia for more via her blog, Twitter and Facebook. She loves to hear from readers so don’t be shy. Saunter and swagger those hips on over to her blog and say hello. Don’t forget to leave your stats behind in the form of a follow so that you can learn more about her upcoming projects and releases.
Website & Blog: http://emeliahayes.blogspot.com.au/
Twitter: @EmeliaHayes
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/emelia.hayes
Facebook Page  | Pinterest | Goodreads | Google + | Romance Novel Center  

Negotiating Skills: Book Tour Schedule

Good Morning Lovelies!
I'm super excited to announce the blog stops for the Negotiating Skills Virtual Book Tour! The tour will begin on November 19th and end on December 17th. I've been running around doing happy dances all weekend, ever since I got the first booking confirmations from Goddess Fish. The ladies there have been amazing! 
Since I've got a crazy amount of work of get done and last time I checked there are still only 24 hours in a day I better get to work. Arghhh! I'm super excited and feel like vomiting all at the same time. Hooray for my Gemini nature (blar). 
Anyhoo, show some love for my lovely hosts and stay tuned! I'll be giving away some great goodies at each stop so mark your calendars and stop by to join in on the fun and free stuff. 

DATE HOST
November 17th * Rachel Leigh Romance
November 26th * Sugarbeat's Books
December 3rd * Harlie's Book Blog
* Reviews by Molly
December 10th * Bodice Ripper Novels
December 17th * Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess
* Queen of the Night Reviews

Talk to you soon,
Laurel

Negotiating Skills Free on All Romance!

Good Morning All,

Negotiating Skills is free today through Wednesday October 17th at All Romance (ARe).  Yes I said free so go forth and download!  I just got confirmation of my first few book tour stops last night so I'm in a hammer time dancing kind of mood, which nicely translates into a free read for you. I would have done the same for Amazon and BnB but it sadly is not allowed.

I'll post a little later this week about each tour stop. By then I will most likely have moved on from hammer time to the cabbage patch so please just be forewarned :)

Talk to you soon,
Laurel 

Casual Smex Friday with Jordan Hawk

Hello All,

Happy Casual Smex Friday! As usual today you’re encouraged to sit back, relax and get smexy. Remember that Smex day posts consist of the following four segments.
1.) The Quickie- For those of you who only have time for some quick relief.
2.) The Afternoon Delight- For the reader who wants a little foreplay before smexing.3.) The Midnight Grind-For those of you who want to go beyond foreplay and get to main show.4.) The After Glow Strut- For those of you not afraid to show your love and go for another round.
Today I’m bringing you an interview with the smexily quirky and spook loving Jordan Hawk. So dim the lights and silence that phone and let’s get the smexing started! The Quickie…Name: Jordan HawkStats: Jordan L. Hawk grew up in the wilds of North Carolina, where she was raised on stories of haints and mountain magic by her bootlegging granny. After using a silver knife in the light of a full moon to summon her true love, she turned her talents to spinning tales. She weaves together couples who need to fall in love, then throws in some evil sorcerers and undead just to make sure they want it bad enough. In Jordan’s world, love might conquer all, but it just as easily could end up in the grave.Latest Release: HaintedGenre: M/M Paranormal RomanceHainted Blurb: The Good Guy: Haint-working runs in Dan Miller’s blood. Not everyone can help the restless dead cross over, especially when the haunting threatens the Living. But the death of his parents six years ago forced Dan to give it up in exchange for raising his brother and sister, all the while struggling to keep their rural NC farm afloat. So when the flamboyantly goth Leif Helsvin shows up on Dan’s doorstep looking for help with an evil necromancer named Runar, Dan’s first instinct is to turn him down. With two teenagers to look after, he’s already got all the trouble he can handle. Besides, the sexy Leif is too much of a temptation, and Dan is firmly in the closet.The Bad Boy: Pierced, tattooed Leif never has sex with the same guy twice. It keeps things simple, especially since his oath to stop Runar has him constantly drifting from one town to the next. But this time, it looks like Leif is going to need help, in the form of the very down-to-earth Dan. Since Nice Guys are off the menu, Leif just has to keep his hands to himself for as long as it will take to stop Runar’s latest scheme. But as Leif finds himself drawn deeper into Dan’s life, he quickly realizes he’s not just in danger of breaking the rules, but breaking his heart as well.Availability: ARe | Amazon |B&N | SmashwordsSmex Quotient: Don’t let this cold haint filled world fool you. There is no doubt that you will break a sweat here. These two hot, spook fighting men can heat up any room and will have you begging for some ghost busting of your own. Who are you gonna call? Hmmm 1-800-HAINTme!
The Afternoon Delight…School a city slicker here and tell me what is a haint? Why did you decide to build your book around them?Jordan: “Haint” is an Appalachian term meaning “ghost,” if it’s used as a noun, or “haunt” if it’s a verb. So to be hainted is to be haunted.When I set out to write a paranormal romance, I wanted to feature one of the less-used paranormal creatures and to give the book a southern flavor. Most southern PNRs take place in Louisiana, which is very different from the part of the south where I grew up. I eventually hit on the idea of a pair of sexy guys whose job is to put the unquiet dead to rest—by any means necessary. Given the area the book takes place in, Dan would naturally refer to them as “haints.”
Dan and Leif have some pretty explosive chemistry. What was your inspiration for their first love scene?Jordan: Thank you! They’re attracted to each other from the beginning, but they both have reasons not to act on it. Dan is legitimately worried he’ll lose custody of his brother and sister if people find out he’s gay. Leif is a bit more complicated: he has serious baggage and sees himself as tainted by his past. Both of them are determined not to give in to desire, but they’re in a pressure cooker: working together, staying in the same house, and regularly ending up in intense situations. I just kept turning up the heat until something had to give!
I love that you made Dan both a brother and a father figure. If he could give his siblings any advice about love, what would it be? How about Leif's?Jordan: Dan, being Mr. Responsible Guy, would probably say something about not confusing sex and love. Leif would tell them that things don’t always work out, but not to let past mistakes keep them from future happiness.  
You blended smex, haints and magic incredibly well in this book. What was your most difficult scene to write and which one is your favorite?Jordan: The most difficult scene was when Dan comes to find Leif in Asheville, which leads up to their first really romantic encounter. I must have rewritten that bit a dozen times! It’s a pivotal moment for their relationship, so the pacing and feel had to be just right.As for favorite…hmm, that’s a tough one. I really like pay-offs; I struggle through setting up all the pieces, but I love knocking them down. The scene I mentioned above, which I wrestled with so much, is probably one of my favorites because all the sexual and emotional tension up to that point finally pays off!
The Midnight Grind…Assume the position and brace yourselves darlings and remember they’ll still respect you in the morning because here's a smexy excerpt for your reading pleasure... “Leif!” The wand fell unheeded from his hand, and Dan stumbled through the swirl of disturbed leaves, reaching for the other man. No, no, goddesses of the Underworld, please let him be all right.Leif struggled to his knees. “I’m fine,” he gasped. “It knocked the wind out of me, and I’ll have a pretty good bruise on my back tomorrow, but I’m fine.”Relief shivered through Dan. Leif made it to his feet, leaning against the tree for support. “Thanks. I owe you one.”Dan took a small sip of breath, meaning to say…he didn’t even know, exactly. The moonlight cut across Leif’s features, revealing every plane of his high cheekbones, the delicate sweep of his brow. His long, pale hair tumbled about his face, tousled and utterly mad, like some fey spirit from the very dawn of time.Safe. Safe, and relatively unhurt, and yet Dan’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Heat and cold boiled in his chest, until he wasn’t even sure where fear ended and relief began. Gods, Leif could have died if he’d hit the tree wrong, and Dan needed to say how fucking glad he was Leif was okay, but he couldn’t get the words out past the storm of emotion. He took a step forward, and another, until he could practically feel the heat of Leif’s body. Leif’s eyes widened slightly, pupils dilating. The tip of his tongue licked his lower lip.The unconscious gesture snapped the hair-fine thread of Dan’s control. He pressed Leif back against the tree, needing to taste those lips just once, to feel Leif’s heartbeat, to know they were both warm and alive.Leif’s mouth froze under his, and oh fuck, he’d screwed up. He started to pull away, to apologize, to rebuild whatever his impulsive action might have torn down.Leif’s hands closed on his shoulders, and he returned the kiss with desperation, like this was something he needed just as bad. His lips were firm and supple, and tasted like the moonshine they had drunk and something else, something unique and indisputably masculine. The silver hoop in his lower lip was warm from his heat.Gods, it was good, just what Dan needed. He leaned in tighter, felt Leif’s body against his, hard and sinewy through the layers of their clothing. Leif’s hands threaded through Dan’s hair, tugging and gripping, and he drew away just far enough to nip at Dan’s lip with his teeth, before diving back into the kiss again.  HAINTED, Available Now Via ARe | Amazon |B&N | Smashwords
The After Glow Strut…You can stalk and follow and haint Jordan via her website, Twitter and Facebook. She loves to hear from readers so don’t be shy. Check out her website and say hello and don’t forget to follow her so that you can learn more about her upcoming projects and releases. Website: http://www.jordanlhawk.comTwitter: @jordanlhawkFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/jordanlhawk

Website Overhaul

SourceGood Evening Lovelies,
Some of you may have noticed that for the last 48 hours my website www.LaurelCremant.com was under construction. For the last year I've had my web address point towards this blog for a variety of reasons the foremost being convenience  However, ever since I finally made the big leap into publishing my first book I've come to realize that in order to be taken seriously in the writing and publishing world I would have to sit down and take the time to have a more streamlined website outside of this blog. Don't get me wrong, though. I will not be ending this blog, merely incorporating into my new website.
Take some time and click around the new site. I had a lot of fun putting it together. And yes I did put it together myself. As much as I would have loved to farm it out to a designer, I hate paying for things I know I can actually capably (that's a key word by the way-capably) do myself, plus I didn't have the time to do a back and forth with someone who couldn't get inside my head. I kept the color scheme the same. Mainly because despite my science background and techy ways I love (I mean seriously love) the color pink. So sue me. 
Anyway I hope you enjoy the new site and let me know what you think!
Talk to you soon, Laurel   

How To Kill Your Immortal: Update

Good Morning All, 
I just wanted to give you all a quick update regarding the progress of How To Kill Your Immortal. This book has been a long time in the making. As many of you know I released the first five chapters as a sneak peak early this year through Amazon, BnB and Smashwords. At the time of that release the book was (I thought) complete. However, after some reader feedback and passing it through a few critique groups I made the decision to revise the book and rework some pivotal scenes.
I was also approached by a publisher (who shall remain nameless- I don't burn bridges) interested in the book, but their suggestions to change certain things about HTKYI did not sit well with me. So after that initial excitement wore down I sat back down at my computer and began the difficult task of revisions. 
Since that first re-work I've done several of my own self editing runs on the book and have been sitting on HTKYI reluctant to send it out to my editor for a professional walk through. 
Despite working on this book for almost a year now I've felt a sick attachment to it as well as a reluctance to put it back out into the cyber world despite all of the great feedback I've gotten from readers.
Fortunately, my husband recently knocked some sense into me (figuratively not literally) and made me realize that I've been having the writer's equivalent to performance anxiety. 
So with all of that being said I'm happy to announce that I'll be sending HTKYI out to an editor next week and will begin working on setting up a book tour and release date as soon as the final edits and formatting go in.
I'll keep you all up to date, and will be posting the release and tour date before the new year. I'll also run a contest as a token of my appreciation for all of your feedback and critiques and for all of the readers who have been so supportive of this book over the past year .
Talk To You Soon, Laurel 

Virtual Book Tour!

Good Evening Everyone,

I'm excited to announce that Negotiating Skills will be heading out on a virtual book tour in November! The lovely ladies at Goddess Fish Promotions have set up a tour for the book.

So what is a virtual book tour you ask? A virtual book tour is a tour where an author (moi) tours different blogs around the internet instead of bookstores. I get to have guests posts and interviews with different book bloggers and review sites that and get exposure to their readers and audience. It's a great way to get exposure and to  meet other bloggers.


I super excited and can't wait to get started! I'll be posting all of the tour stops soon and keep you all updated, so stay tuned.  
Talk to you soon,
Laurel

Casual Smex Friday with Angelica Dawson

Hello All,
Welcome to the very first Casual Smex Friday! Today you’re encouraged to sit back, relax and get smexy. Smex day posts consist of four segments.


1.) The Quickie- For those of you who only have time for some quick relief. 2.) The Afternoon Delight- For the reader who wants a little foreplay before smexing.3.) The Midnight Grind-For those of you who want to go beyond foreplay and get to main show.4.) The After Glow Strut- For those of you not afraid to show your love and go for another round.
Today I’m bringing you an interview with the ever lovely and ever naughty Angelica Dawson. Let’s get started shall we?

The Quickie…
Name: Angelica Dawson
Stats: Angelica has been writing for several years and having sex a lot longer than that. She is a wife, mother and environmental consultant. Her love of plants and the outdoors is not diminished by the bloodsucking hoards — mosquitoes and black flies, not vampires.
Latest Release: Blue Moon House
Genre: Paranormal Erotica with BDSM elements
Blue Moon House Blurb: Julia has the chance to become one of the vampires of the Blue Moon House. Before being accepted, however, she must prove herself to each of the vampires, and each has their own exacting cost. Ranging from lesbian, to being forced, to physical torture, she is pushed to her breaking point time and again. Eventually her perseverance pays off and she crosses from submissive to dominant and vampire.
Availability: ARe | Amazon | Smashwords
Smex Quotient: A definite scorcher. This is so not your Mamma’s romance. Dust out your sex dungeon, break out the handcuffs and tell your man to get home early.

The Afternoon Delight… 

So tell us about your latest release, Blue Moon House...
Angelica: Well, it's intended to have a little bit of everything. I've been reading the Marquis de Sade lately, and upfront he warns readers that they won't like everything he describes, but he expects they'll all find something they enjoy. That's essentially what I did with Blue Moon House. Julia, the human candidate, is exposed to almost everything she can and can't imagine. Some of it doesn't appeal to her, much of it won't appeal to the reader, however, the Doms and Julia find something in it that reveals something of the pair indulging. There is a reason for the actions of the vampires which is usually obvious to the reader and quickly evident to Julia. That said, the most crazy acts are tempered by the mutually satisfying orgies that occur toward the end of her testing.

The vamps in your book are definitely hot and dominant. Did you have a favorite character to write?
Angelica: At the time, it was probably Nicholas. He struck me as the most moderate. However, since writing Jocelyn's story for a prequel, I'm actually really enjoying Will!

Hmmm, that sounds promising. What was your favorite scene to write?
Angelica: Julia and Justin immediately after she wakes as a new vampire. Justin is in it for pain, and the new vampire can deliver.

Are you working on anything new now? What should readers be on the look out for in the future?
Angelica: As I mentioned I'm writing prequels based on each of the vampires. Jocelyn's is already through the first draft and I'm in the middle of Harry's. It's nice, writing something historical without having to be over precise (little happens outside the salons and bedrooms).

The Midnight Grind…
Dust off your flogger, unbutton that blouse, loosen that tie and kick off your shoes. Here's a smexy excerpt for your reading pleasure...

     “Control?” Julia asked.     “You know this,” Nicholas scoffed. “The control is always with the submissive. You have the ultimate power, the maximum control.” He smiled at her own safe word.

     “The Dominant can only take what you choose to give. He had the power to stop Lynn when she fed, when she stretched him, when she tested him by giving him to me. You could say he had control in his real life as well. He could have stopped his parents, he could have shunned society, but here his control was so much more palpable, especially after the first time he used it. The way everything came to a complete halt surprised him, I think. I think he never really believed that power was his. He got a little giddy with it, and Lynn nearly sent him away for using it too freely. Instead, she gave him to me, and he realized that he might be put out of our house. He didn't enjoy his time with me, but he endured it and that endeared him to Lynn.”
     “So he and Lynn...?”
     Again Nicholas laughed. “They did continue for a few years after his change, but as you will find, if you choose to join us, we aren't so... possessive of one another as that. It would make things very awkward and difficult. No, we are testing you, in part, because you will be one of us. We would all share you and have you spend your time equally with all of us. You will cling to Harry most at first, of course, owing to your existing relationship, but to exist together, we need to be... freer than that.”
     Julia wasn't sure she understood, but certainly much of what Nicholas told her made sense.
     “And you still want your turn with me?”
     “Most definitely. Though, I think I already know most of what I need. You are an intelligent woman, if somewhat naive. That’s to be expected of a human who hasn't lived more than a few decades herself.
     Julia started. She was young. It hadn't occurred to her as she’d always been so much older than the others, but she was young compared to the vampires. Their experiences far outweighed hers.
     “What else do you need to know?” she asked, water sloshing in the tub as she lifted her hands to wash her face again.     “When you are ready, I will show you,” he told her and rose from the toilet, closing the bathroom door behind him. 
Blue Moon House, Available Now Via  ARe | Amazon | Smashwords 
The After Glow Strut…
You can contact and follow Angelica via her blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and Google +. Angelica loves to here from readers so don’t be shy. Check out her blog and say hello.

Website: http://angelicadawson.blogspot.com

Twitter: @angelicadawson

Facebook | Amazon | GoodReads | Google +

Casual Smex Friday: October Slots Filled!

Good Morning Lovelies,

I'm so excited to tell you that all of the October slots for Casual Smex Fridays have been filled. The schedule for this month is listed below:

         ~October 5th: Angelica Dawson          ~October 12th: Jordan Hawk          ~October 19th: Emelia Hayes          ~October 26th: Kenra Daniels 

All of these authors have new releases to present for your smexy reading pleasure so stay tuned!

Talk to you soon, Laurel