Sage Marlowe's Blog, page 23

Blast from the Past

Hi all,

Welcome to this week's Blast from the Past. Those are snippets from the interviews I've given in the past, because some of my interviewers' questions were just too good to answer only once. They can be serious or funny, insightful or just plain naughty, so - Enjoy!

Here it goes:


Q: How did you come up with the title? (Talking about Re-Submission)

A: My first book’s title Sub-Mission is a play on words, referring both to submission within a BDSM context and the “mission” one of the heroes embarks upon. Of course there’s also the submission of a manuscript and with Sub-Mission being the first book I ever submitted, I thought the title was a good fit. For the sequel, or rather the next book in the series, I wanted a similar title, so I guess Re-Submission was an obvious choice. Funnily enough, the book actually lived up to its title, because it’s the one that required by far the most changes.

Sage is Out: Visiting Lily Harlem

Hi all,

The fabulous Lily Harlem has invited me to her blog today! I seized the chance to talk about the Sub-Series and some of those pesky characters that keep me on my toes. Hop on over http://www.lilyharlem.blogspot.de/201...


Sage
xxx

Tuesday Teaser: Lynn Stark

Hi all,

I'm very happy to welcome another one of my friends as today's Tuesday Teaser. She's a lovely person who has a vivid imagination but doesn't like to talk about herself. She fell in love with a character she didn't want and bought a machine to satisfy her cravings. Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome Lynn Stark!



Hi Lynn, thanks for being my guest today! Take a seat and make yourself comfortable. Let's keep it simple and start with

The business ones

Please give us a short introduction about yourself
Well, that’s probably the most difficult of all. Who likes to talk about themselves? I’m an erotic romance author with a vivid imagination and a need to explore what makes people crave the things they do. I do have a list of things I will not write a story about. On the flip side of that, I will create stories about what two or more adults do sexually with full understanding and agreement.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?
Though I began writing mainstream contemporary romances years ago for my own entertainment, as time went on they continually became more and more erotic in nature. I would always tell myself that I would make a G version if I ever decided to send one off to a publisher. Now I’ve given up all pretence at writing for mainstream. It’s erotic romance I love and erotic romance I write. I also write medieval and regency period erotic romances. Some people might call describe them as historical romances, but I don’t. While I give enough detail to make it true to the period, and I won’t change major players in history, I’m not writing a history book. I also enjoy writing fantasy and paranormal erotic romances, though I have yet to submit them. I hope to do so before too much longer.

Tell us about your latest release
Cowboys and Pearls is my first all-male romance. The first hero is Nick Walker, a man who has suffered a terrible loss and isn’t looking for love. The second is Breck Gordon, a man almost desperate to find someone to love and doesn’t believe he ever will. Then there are the twins, Teddy and Wesley Kimura, who suffer both heartbreak and a new love within a day.

Do you need a special setting to write in or do you have a ceremony to get you in the mood? What does it look like?
First I have to get the husband out of the house. He’s very needy. Other than that I’m terribly boring. I get my workspace organized, get pencils, sticky notes, and pads, and then I begin. Hopefully I don’t stare at the page too long before the story begins spinning again. Once it does, I’m usually good for the remainder of the day.

Describe your feelings when you learnt that your first book was accepted for publication
I cried for about five minutes, I was so happy and relieved. After sending the same manuscript in twice, messing up the submission both times (I didn’t make the same mistake twice) I included the missing information and sent it a third time. When I didn’t hear anything from the publisher after nearly a month I was about to withdraw it. This was on a Friday. After giving it some thought I decided to leave it until Monday. On Monday, however, I received the acceptance from Siren-Bookstrand. I don’t know if I would have cried so hard if I hadn’t messed up twice before. This was a process which took four months and created stress and a delay which could have been avoided by using a highlighting marker.

Has the release of your first book changed anything in your personal life? If so, what?
Other than focusing more time on writing, I don’t believe it has changed much yet. Though my husband has always supported my writing, being published did validate it. The people I know are rather shocked by my being an author of erotic romances. I never shared the information with anyone but my closest friends.

Where do you find inspiration?
I’m very visual. I can look at a photograph of a room or some other setting and I immediately fill it with a story and characters. The meaning behind a song can trigger a story in my head, too. Not necessarily the lyrics, but what’s being said to me.

Who is your favourite character and why?
My favourite character is one who wasn’t supposed to be there. It’s Gracie from With Cherry on Top (Loving in Silver 2) She is so absolutely sweet, rather innocent, but determined to have a wicked side.

A favourite line from one of your books
What would you do for this chocolate delight? This line is from Butterfly Madness (Loving in Silver 3)(MMF). It’s a scene with Marley Jacobson and the sheriff, Grayson Evans. It’s not so much the question, but the sizzling moments between the heroine and hero which follow.

Your favourite drink and food when writing
I begin with tea and advance to a carbonated fountain cola. I got so tired of interrupting myself to go to the store to get it; I bought the machine to have at home. I absently crunch on pretzel sticks or trail mix while writing.



Lol. That last bit is like me with all my coffee machines. So, let's move on to

The nosy ones
How much of the real “you” is in your stories?
I never realized how much of myself I did put into my stories until I was on the third in the series. Now I’m very aware of it and tend to shy away from some issues, though I force myself to go on. I’m finding it very freeing.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? Who was it?
I’ve had a few, actually. Though I love all of my characters, both male and female, my biggest crush is on Colt Redford, a man always included in my stories, but yet to have his own. If I could write the man I would have, and have him come to life just for me, it would be Colt.

What’s the silliest error in a book you’ve submitted?
I had changed the name of a character in one story and about halfway through I started using the original. It was a real DUH moment. I blushed so hard when I saw it in edits that it’s a wonder I didn’t catch fire.

Who is your least favourite of the characters you’ve written? Why?
I actually don’t believe I have a least favourite so far. Not among the main ones. I couldn’t work with them if I didn’t like them. I’m actually developing a character now for my next m/m that I won’t like very much in the beginning, but will work with his redeeming qualities to help me get over that.

The steamiest scene from your books
Though I have many, the first one that comes to mind is the moment in Peaches ‘n’ Cream when Logan has had enough of Ryan and Damien’s ineptness in the bedroom while they are making love to Peaches. Up until this point he had resisted becoming involved with her. Cowboys and Pearls also has a scene which will make you wish you were sitting on a block of ice, but I don’t want to give anything away. All my books have such scenes.

Favourite comfort food?
German chocolate cake.

A person you admire
Any and all people brave enough to be who they are and love who they are meant to love. (Nice answer!)

If you could ask any person in the world one question of your choice, who would it be and what would you ask them?
It wouldn’t be a single person. But if I could get an honest, soul-revealing answer, I would ask haters why they really hate.


Lovely, Lynn. Just a few more and I'll let you off the hook. Here are

The fast ones

Favourite colour?
Red.. though I’m told psychologists prefer green or blue as the answer.

Favourite pet?
My current favourite is my cat Scooter Pie or Scootie for short. She’s about eleven years old now and my best buddy.

Dog or cat?
I have six dogs of various breeds, two of which are rescues, one cat, two rescued ferrets, four birds, and eleven very comical chickens. (Cool! My dream, although I'd never find the time for all those pets)

Coffee or tea?
Tea

Quickie or candles?
Uh, both?

Hunky or chunky?
Sexy comes in all kinds of packages.

Suit & tie or jeans & boots?
That depends on the man…and if it’s what I prefer to wear? It’s jeans and boots.

Walk in the park or chat over cocktails?
Walk in the park every time.


Thanks so much, Lynn! I had a great time interviewing you and you may let go of the armrests now ;)




After the deaths of his wife Jessica and his partner Don, Nick wasn’t looking for love. All he wants is his heart to heal. He has to go on, not only for himself, but for his teenage daughter. Then he meets Teddy and Wesley Kimura and things begin to change in ways he hadn’t been expecting. Still, he rejects their obvious love. Though there had never been anything beyond the mildest flirtation with the handsome rancher, it was apparent Nick didn’t want Teddy and Wesley. Bruised but not broken, the twins turned to Breck Gordon for comfort and discovered a man who could love them both without reservation. Breck found two men, not one, for him to love. It was perfect, with the exception of one thing. Nick Walker was never far from their thoughts and never left their hearts. It was knowledge Breck didn’t know if he could accept.





Buy link: www.bookstrand.com/cowboys-and-pearls


For all of Lynn's books, please go to: www.bookstrand.com/lynn-stark
(Please note: All books in the Loving in Silver series are currently on sale! Look out for the offer on the product page!)







Author bio:

I live in Ohio with my husband and a houseful of animals. When I’m not working the real job, or cleaning house, I’m writing. My life isn’t nearly as exciting as I’d like it to be, though someday I hope to re-write it with a few adventures. I would like to visit Scotland for a month or so, if the people there can put up with me. If not, then maybe ten days.

Author website: http://lynnstarkromances.weebly.com, on Facebook at Lynn Stark Romances and my author’s page on Facebook is Lynn Stark Erotic Romances.

Sage is Out: Cocktails at Dawn Roberto's

Hi all,

I'm spending this beautiful Sunday over at Dawn's Reading Nook, getting spoiled with Cocktails while chatting about being an author and the Romeo & Julian series in particular. Come check it out and grab a drink while you're at it. http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/...


Happy Sunday!

Sage
xxx

Pre-order: A Life as a Ghost (R&J 3)

Hi all, 
Yee-haw! A Life as a Ghost, the third book in the Romeo & Julian series, is now available to pre-order (10% discount!) from Siren-BookStrand. To what your appetite, here's the story excerpt. It's a scene early on in the story that speaks for itself.




A Life as a Ghost (Romeo & Julian 3) MM erotic romance, contemporary, action / suspense. NovellaHeat level: scorchingPublished by: Siren-BookStrand

Blurb After leading a life as a ghost for years, will former thief Romeo’s love for FBI agent Julian be enough to make him settle?
The tragic losses of his home and a dear one take FBI agent Julian Harris one step closer to a shared life with his consultant and lover, former art thief Romeo aka Paris Moore. They have just moved in together and are trying to re-establish a certain normalcy when Romeo once again shuffles the cards. He surprises Julian by finally revealing some information about his true identity along with some unexpected news regarding his position in Julian's division. During the nerve-wrecking hunt for the person that has been pulling the strings all along, Julian once again comes to realise that when dealing with Romeo, the only certainty is that all is not as it seems. But one question is more important than ever—after leading a life as a ghost for years, will Romeo’s love for Julian be strong enough to make him settle at last?



Story excerpt from A Life as a Ghost(Copyright: Sage Marlowe, 2013)


The phone was ringing with astonishing persistence, and it must have been ringing for quite some time, Julian realized drowsily, but he had simply assimilated the familiar melody into his dream. It was still dark, but now that he was beginning to wake up, he recognized the sound as it reverberated in the silence of the apartment around him. “Don’t you want to answer it?” He reached out to touch the warm body next to him—except there was none. Neither warm nor otherwise. The other side of the bed was empty and cold. Not again. The thought shot through Julian’s sleep-befuddled brain and left an acid trail in its wake. Julian rubbed his temples and groaned. He hated waking up with a headache. Especially when it came with a furry tongue and dried-out throat. He threw back the cool, silken sheets and the heavy quilt and sat up. Answering the phone was not an option, even though the poor thing was still begging for his attention with its shrill cries that bore a faint resemblance to some well-known, classic tune. This was Romeo’s home, even though they were sharing it officially now. Julian swung his legs out of bed, pushed to his feet, and waited for the world to catch up with his motion. Then he shuffled to the bathroom which was in a strategically idiotic location at the other end of the big apartment. He barely turned his head to check the living area in passing, knowing that it was pointless. Romeo wasn’t in. He had once again taken off in the middle of the night, at some point after Julian had drifted off to sleep in his arms. Or maybe holding Romeo in his own arms. Falling asleep with his lover close to him was one of the merits of living together, Julian thought. Waking up with him would have been nice, too, but the chances were poor. Of all the times they had gone to bed together, there hadn’t been a single occasion Julian hadn’t woken in an empty bed. Apparently the fact that he was living at Romeo’s place now wasn’t going to change that. He still wasn’t sure why Romeo had invited him to move in after Julian’s house had been blown up. Was it really because he wanted him near? Or had he just been under orders from Julian’s boss, Chief Baxter, to take him to a safe place and keep him there? Romeo’s own home would have been the obvious choice, the stylish penthouse apartment at the top floor of an expensive townhouse. So much had happened in the past thirty hours, and with his head pounding from a hangover like it was, he had no intention of putting the shattered fragments of his memories back together.He shuffled to the kitchen area, remembering the box containing Band-Aids and various over-the-counter medication that could be found in any average household. Hopefully it also contained some decent pain killers. A noise made him freeze and then perk up. A faint rustle. It was almost too low to hear, and he wouldn’t have noticed it if he had still been asleep, but since he was leaning on the kitchen counter at three in the morning, he did hear it. Something, or someone, moved in the sleeping area. It was a blind spot due to the angle the far wall created. Julian wished he hadn’t been so damn responsible as to lock up his firearm in the small safe in Romeo’s bookshelf. He remembered Romeo’s and his boss’s warning not to go anywhere by himself. But I didn’t go anywhere by myself. He left me here by myself. There was a difference, wasn’t there? A difference the person who intended to kill him wouldn’t waste another thought on. Julian quietly slid a drawer open and sneaked a hand inside. Yes. It was the one with the sharp kitchen knives. He gingerly ran a fingertip up the cold steel length of one, careful to stay on the blunt side of the blade, until he found the handle and was convinced that he could pull it out without making too much noise. The knife followed his tug easily. Julian weighed it in his hand. It wasn’t long, but it would have to do. At least it was really sharp. It was the one he had used in the evening to chop vegetables. He tightened his grip around the handle. He was damned if he let a bloody burglar—or the person who had assumedly already tried to kill him once—unsettle him that much. He checked the knife instinctively, reassured by its slender yet solid shape. It was a good knife. Somehow it reminded him of Romeo. He, too, had the deceptively slender and graceful build of a ballet dancer but possessed an astonishing strength. His well-trained muscles were like flexible steel when used, and Julian had felt them in use. He suppressed a shudder at the memory of that moment outside the interrogation room when he had realized that Romeo was a lot more dangerous than he had ever assumed him to be. 


A Life as a Ghost (Romeo & Julian 3) releases from Siren-Bookstrand on March 2nd, 2013Pre-order it now at a 10% discount and have it delivered as soon as it releases! Here's the buy link: www.bookstrand.com/a-life-as-a-ghost

Special Guest: LM Somerton

Hi all, 

I'm delighted to present a special guest today. This lovely lady lives in a location very similar to my own. Ah, the picturesque countryside - you gotta love it. Actually, I would have loved to write more of an introduction for her, but just skimming through this blog post made me itch to read her book so much that I'll pick it up as soon as I have this set up.Ladies and Gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to L M Somerton!



The business ones
Please give us a short introduction about yourselfL M Somerton lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted.She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. 
What genre(s) do you write in and why?MM BDSM because I’m fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially between men, and the power dynamics of BDSM.
Tell us about your latest release Stroke Rate is about the developing romance between Ben and Lucien, set against the backdrop of an English rowing club. Ben is sweet and shy, only just coming to accept his submissive tendencies. Lucien is dominant, possessive and arrogant – but not quite what he seems on the surface. Their relationship is tested as they fight to save their club and understand each others needs.
Describe your feelings when you learnt that your first book was accepted for publicationSheer panic and a total crisis of confidence. I never expected to be accepted and it was a huge shock. I still can’t quite believe it’s true.
Where do you find inspiration?It’s often places that inspire me first rather than people or events. I fit the story to the setting – some of my favourite places are the English Lakes and moors, the Cornish coastline and Scottish islands. 
Who is your favourite character and why?Oh, I can’t play favourites; I love all my boys. I do have a special fondness for the really dominant alpha males though, so Lucien would be near the top of the list.
A favourite line from one of your booksFrom Stroke Rate:
They had been joined by three boisterous Labradors who’d played around their feet and had generally got in the way until Lucien had ordered them to lie down, which they all had, instantly.He glanced across at Ben. “You should take note. That’s what obedience looks like.”
Your favourite drink and food when writingChocolate of course, and hot chocolate… and chocolate biscuits… hmm, bit of a theme here. ~ I'm familiar with that theme, lol!
The nosy ones
How much of the real “you” is in your stories?As a character – nothing at all, but I do base characters on people I know and use places I’m familiar with.
The steamiest scene from your booksOh that’s hard! (Pun not intended) When you write BDSM there tends to be quite a lot of steaminess. There is a scene in The Portrait though… here’s an excerpt:Garrick nearly always had a brush or two stored about his person. The one he pulled from his back pocket was quite long, with a flat head of stiff bristles. “Please tell me you’re not going to start painting now, Garrick!” Tristan’s voice was a little strained. “I think you’ll enjoy my brushwork tonight.” Garrick rooted around in a dresser drawer and extracted a small, stoppered bottle containing an innocuous clear liquid. He left the bottle and the brush on the dresser and stepped back towards Tristan. Tantalisingly, he brushed the swelling jutting from his fly with one hand. Tristan jerked against the cord holding him and moaned. Garrick untied the cord from the bedpost, but left the loop around his narrow wrist. Firmly, he pushed Tristan down onto the bed and waited while he swung his legs up. Kneeling across him, Garrick retied the cord so that one wrist was stretched above Tristan’s head to the top corner of the bed. The other hand he left free. “If you touch yourself, I’ll tie the other wrist as well.” He moved down the bed, giving another brief stroke to Tristan’s swollen cock as he passed, eliciting a tormented groan from his prisoner. The frustration was agonising. Leaving one hand free was much more effective torture than restraining them both, because Tristan was consumed with the need to give himself some relief. Garrick picked up the bottle and removed the stopper. He dipped the brush into the liquid and swirled it around so that each bristle was thoroughly coated, then leaned across Tristan’s chest. “In a moment I’m going to paint more interesting bits of you with this, but I wanted to give you a preview of what it’s going to feel like.” Deftly, he circled the brush around each of Tristan’s swollen nipples. The prickling sensation of the bristles and the cool wetness that followed sparked an instant reaction, and Tristan arched his back as the fire in his groin was stoked further. The liquid dried rapidly, and as it did Tristan began to feel a tingling sensation that gradually developed into burning heat. The feeling was intense, like thousands of tiny needles repeatedly stabbing his flesh. He’d never felt anything like it—it was so close to pain that he couldn’t decide if what he was feeling was agony or ecstasy. There were fingers at his waistband. Garrick was smiling down at him as he writhed on the bed, pulling his jeans and trunks down and off. Free at last, Tristan’s cock slapped his stomach before settling into an upright position. The brief relief was soon replaced by panic as Tristan realised that Garrick was going to create the same feeling down there that was currently searing his chest. “No! You can’t!” He tried to grab the brush from Garrick’s hovering hand. Garrick sighed, a pained expression on his face. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice.” Swiftly, he bound Tristan’s free wrist to the other bedpost, ignoring his pleas. Garrick sat across his legs again and gently stroked his jutting cock. Then, slowly and deliberately, he dipped his brush into the bottle and began to paint.
~Okay, I'm hooked! 

The fast ones
Favourite colour?Blue
Dog or cat?Cat 
Coffee or tea?Coffee (I realise that’s heresy from an English woman)
Quickie or candles?Candles
Hunky or chunky?Hunky
Suit & tie or jeans & boots?Jeans and boots
Walk in the park or chat over cocktails?Walk in the park

Thanks so much for the interview, Lu! I'm amazed, because most of your answers could have come from me, so all the more reason to explore your books, hehe - Talking of which, here's Stroke Rate



Lucien Thorne likes to be in control, but the boy he wants to own may take some convincing. Gorgeous but shy, Benedict Astor does his best to keep a low profile at the rowing club where he works. However, unbeknown to Benedict, he has attracted the attention of Lucien Thorne, rowing aristocracy, an Olympic medallist and a Lord.Whilst looking for a new rowing partner, Lucien believes he has found what he needs in Ben. He pushes him to his limits on the water and it becomes clear that rowing with the pretty young man is not his only interest. Ben is attracted to Lucien but confused about his feelings. Lucien is demanding, arrogant and dominant—which Benedict responds to even though he feels he should resist.Fighting emotions he doesn’t understand, Ben has to contend with the bullying rowing club president and a humiliating auction of promises.Lucien recognises Ben’s hidden submissive streak and makes his own need for control very clear. He bids for Ben’s time and then forces Ben to admit to his own desire to test the ground between them.When the deeds to the boat club are gambled away, Lucien and Ben must work together to save it. Will their growing love survive the pressure, Ben’s uncertainty and Lucien’s desire to own him completely?

Buy link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1991
Author website: http://lmsomerton.wordpress.com

Sage is Out: On the Bench with Donna Gallagher

Hi all,

Donna Gallagher has put me on the bench and asked a few questions. If you want to know what vegemite has to do with Stuart Reardon, come on over: http://donnagallagherromance.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/sage-marlowe-is-on-the-bench/

See you soon!

Sage
xxx

Tuesday Teaser: Clair de Lune

Hi all, 
I'm delighted to welcome back a very special guest today as my Tuesday Teaser. She's not only known as the BDSM-writing and dragon-slaying grandma from Scotland, she's also the queen of typos and one of my closest friends. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Clair de Lune.

Hello Clair, it's great to have you back. Now, before you try to put me into bondage and spank me because I called you the queen of typos, let me ask you some questions first. Here are

The business ones
Please give us a short introduction about yourselfI have been writing only since April of this year. I never intended to be an author. I have always read widely and avidly. I read fast and in the school holidays would get through as many books as I could in the sure and certain knowledge that there would be little time in term time to read anything other than job related stuffWhat genre(s) do you write in and why?I write in erotic fiction usually M/F but some MM and some ménage. I also write BDSM most of it light, preferring loving dominants to sadists. Why is a difficult question to answer. Why not? When I got my Kindle I discovered a whole world of books I'd never dreamed of before. I read a lot of BDSM and enjoyed it. When I sat down to write my first book Jane chose to go to a club and it's gone on from there. 
Tell us about your latest releaseMy latest release is no 9 in the Prometheus in Chains series. Prometheus gave me a rough ride before I got the whole of his story. He and Torquil would appear and let me see a little of their story then go away again. It was frustrating and I cursed them both roundly.Prometheus has wanted Jenny ever since she first came to the club and it's obvious that she wants him, but only in public. There is a secret in her past that she is afraid to reveal in case she loses him and the new life she has built for herself. Fate intervenes in the shape of someone who hurt her in the past and she realises that if she wants Prometheus she is going to have to make a leap of faith.
Do you need a special setting to write in or do you have a ceremony to get you in the mood? What does it look like?I like to write with peace and quiet. I have a sitting room that is mine as the house we have at the moment is the family home our children grew up in, so we have plenty of space. I sit on my sofa with my laptop and feet up on a stool. The room is at the back of the house and there are woods behind it so I can hear birdsong. It's close to the kitchen so snacks and drinks are easily obtainable if I want them.Having said that I will write anywhere, if something comes to mind. I have written amidst a crowd of children in the Roman Army Museum, in the supermarket car park and several times, after a shower, wrapped in a towel in a cubicle at the pool. I have woken up at 1 am and had to write the scene before the characters would let me go back to sleep. I suspect that this is common to a lot of people.
Describe your feelings when you learnt that your first book was accepted for publicationComplete and utter shock. I had no idea what to do when I'd written the book. I hadn't thought beyond writing it. I had to Google for a publisher and when I saw Siren I sent it there as I had an account to buy books from them. When I got the email I sat and stared at it until my husband asked what was wrong. Then he got the shock of his life as that was the first time he'd heard anything about it. 
Has the release of your first book changed anything in your personal life? If so, what?It has changed my life completely. There are not enough hours in the day now for all the things I want to do and need to do. In my naïveté I had assumed that the publisher would do the promotion etc. I was in for a shock. I did tell you I hadn't thought beyond writing the book, so the promotion, blogs and all the other things have had to be assimilated into my routine. What routine? There isn't one any more. We have meals at the same times but all else has changed. I have found some of it hard to cope with, in the best tradition of old dog and new tricks. I have tried to meet all the challenges but sometimes it's difficult. It goes with not being the young sprig most of you are.  I have met many pleasant people through the book,  and many of my readers have become friends. I have been moved by the way the other Siren authors will help wherever they can and in my turn I have tried to carry on that tradition.
Where do you find inspiration?Anywhere and everywhere. It can be a news item like the one that started Fiona's Two Masters. Women were being prosecuted and jailed because, under duress, they withdrew statements against violent partners. Total misuse of a law never designed for that purpose. The atmosphere at the Roman Army Museum seemed to speak to me and has given me a story of life on Hadrian's wall. On holiday in Loch Ness the idea of the monster gave me two dragon shape-shifting books and the third is my WIP.
Who is your favourite character and why? Jane is a favourite. She represents the older woman, the one who is invisible in shops. The one everyone assumes has done with love and sex because she is over 30. She proves that it's never too late to find love and a BDSM  relationship.
 A favourite line from one of your books"What have I done to deserve you in my life, Jane? " Who could resist a man who' say that to you?
Your favourite drink and food when writingI tend to neglect food and drink when I'm writing, on occasion even forgetting to get dinner ready. I like black tea with milk and no sugar but drink less of it now. I do need a glass of water by me. If I eat anything it will be a couple of squares of roasted almond chocolate.

Thank you, dear. Now that you've dropped the bondage rope, how about we continue with  The nosy ones
How much of the real “you” is in your stories?Quite a lot I've been told. No I'm not going to tell you where to find it, you will have to be good at reading between the lines. 
Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? Who was it?Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.
What’s the silliest error in a book you’ve submitted?It was a typo, not surprisingly. I wrote 50s, instead of 40s and made my heroine's son only 10 years younger than her. 
Who is your least favourite of the characters you’ve written? Why?Jessica. She hated Jane because Jane got Master Angus. She was given a second chance and threw it away basically because she didn't listen and didn't trust enough.
The steamiest scene from your booksThat "Hunt the Sub" game.
Favourite comfort food?Porage and brown sugar, but honey and oatcakes come a very close second.
A person you admireMy daughter. She is dedicated and determined. She has gone over to the USA by herself,  made a new life for herself and is pursuing a writing career at the same time as holding down two jobs. She never fails to email me twice a day and works incredibly hard. I miss her terribly. 
If you could ask any person in the world one question of your choice, who would it be and what would you ask them?David Cameron, Prime Minister of Great Britain . Why do you think that throwing more and more people out of work is going to solve our problems as it never has in the past and do you ever consider the misery it causes? 

Ah, great, now you've found someone else to be mad at. Let's finish up quickly so you can hunt down the Prime Minister ;) The fast ones
Favourite colour?Aqua
Favourite pet?My husband*snort* Why doesn't this answer surprise me?
Dog or cat?Cat
Coffee or tea?Tea so long as it's black.
Quickie or candles?A quickie by candlight.
Hunky or chunky?Neither, tall, slim, athletic and sex on legs. 
Suit & tie or jeans & boots?Suit and tie. Well-tailored suit, shirt open at the neck. 
Walk in the park or chat over cocktails?Walk in the park.
Thank you for inviting me onto your blog, Sage. As always it's a pleasure to talk to you.
Thanks for being my guest, Clair and wow, there were hardly any typos in your answers...
   Prometheus Triumphant, the new book by Clair de Lune - available now from Siren-BookStrand


Prometheus loves Jenny Oliver, and she him, but the course of true love doesn’t run smoothly. She has a dark secret, which she believes will split them up, and she won’t be alone with him. Fate takes a hand in the shape of Alfred, a man from Jenny’s past who follows her to the club and confronts her, forcing her to reveal the truth. Will Prometheus want her now?


Jenny must confront her abusers in court if she is to have a future with Prometheus, but then she is kidnapped before she even has the chance. Can Prometheus and the police manage to get to her before her kidnapper does her any harm? Will the jury believe her story? Will Jenny and Prometheus get their happily ever after?

A Siren Erotic Romance



Buy link: www.bookstrand.com/prometheus-triumphant

Author bio:
I was born in South Yorkshire in England and moved to south west Scotland more than twenty years ago. I retired from teaching a few years ago and spent my time reading, sewing, cooking and gardening.  I decided that there ought to be more to retirement than that.
Author website: www.clairdelunebooks.co.uk

Blast from the Past

Hi all,

Welcome to this week's Blast from the Past. Those are snippets from the interviews I've given in the past, because some of my interviewers' questions were just too good to answer only once. They can be serious or funny, insightful or just plain naughty, so - Enjoy!

Here it goes:




Q: What is your favorite thing about writing?
A: Getting really absorbed in a scene. And I mean, really - to the point where I forget all about where I am and live in the story, when I can feel my characters and see the world through their eyes. It doesn’t always work that way, but when it does, it’s magic.

Cover Art reveal: A Life as a Ghost

Hi all,

Oh, I'm so excited! The fabulous new cover art for A Life as a Ghost (Romeo & Julian 3) has arrived! Here it is in all its glory:




I really love it that Romeo, who is usually so super-slick, gets a bit more hands-on here - what do you think?




A Life as a Ghost (Romeo & Julian 3) releases from Siren-BookStrand on March 2nd, 2013!MM erotic romance, contemporary, action / suspense. NovellaHeat level: scorchingPublished by: Siren-BookStrand

BlurbAfter leading a life as a ghost for years, will former thief Romeo’s love for FBI agent Julian be enough to make him settle?
The tragic losses of his home and a dear one take FBI agent Julian Harris one step closer to a shared life with his consultant and lover, former art thief Romeo aka Paris Moore. They have just moved in together and are trying to re-establish a certain normalcy when Romeo once again shuffles the cards. He surprises Julian by finally revealing some information about his true identity along with some unexpected news regarding his position in Julian's division. During the nerve-wrecking hunt for the person that has been pulling the strings all along, Julian once again comes to realise that when dealing with Romeo, the only certainty is that all is not as it seems. But one question is more important than ever—after leading a life as a ghost for years, will Romeo’s love for Julian be strong enough to make him settle at last?