C.A. Szarek's Blog, page 9

Tell Me About it Tuesday Welcomes back Lavender Daye!

Today I am welcoming back one of my Critique Partners, the lovely Lavender Daye!


Meet Lavender:

Lavender was born and raised in Texas and began her writing career in elementary school, where she wrote about the romance of two fellow students. Now she writes with happily-ever-after in mind at all times, sure that every woman deserves a little fairy tale of her own.





Q. How has your journey in publishing been? Anything you would or wouldn’t do again?

Gee, Chrissy-just jump in with the hard ones!  Honestly, I regret letting my fear keep me from pursuing a writing career when I was in my twenties.  A couple of my teachers, one an English professor and the other a writing teacher, encourage me to write more and be serious about it. Instead, I jumped into the grownup world: got a job, got a car payment, got a boyfriend. I always wanted to write but procrastination was easier. It took me many years and the love of a good man to chase the fear away. (Shh...it still sneaks back when I’m not careful.)

Q. What made you pick your particular genre?

Doesn’t everyone like sex? I was never really a wild child, but I talked a good game and my friends thought I was cool.  And I read a lot of books, mostly romance. After a while, I got a little irritated when the door closed right in the middle of the climactic love scene. (This was when those kind of books were mail-order items and arrived in brown paper packages.) I’m glad society has loosened up a bit, but I worry that since the bar has been crashed, kids are seeing too much freedom.


Q. What are you working on right now? Can you tell us about it?

I’m currently managing a series with several installments under the Private Delights label. And I’m working on another, the first of which is Tempest, a paranormal erotic new adult story about a woman who wakes up one morning to discover she’s murdered her boyfriend-and she doesn’t know how or why.

Q. Do you have a favorite story of the ones you’ve written, either published or not? Why?

I think the Tempest stories is truly pushing me to write it. The story has been rolling around in my head for a couple of years and I’m afraid the only way I can keep it from waking me up at night is to just write the dang thing.


Okay...enough with the business questions! How about some fun stuff?



Q. If you won the lottery, what is the FIRST thing you’d do? What would you buy and why?

I would build a house that looked like a castle. My Prince Charming and I have always talked about it, but the concept is too outlandish and expensive in the real world. But with the right lotto numbers? Maybe....

Q. When YOU read, what do you like to pick up?

How many pages do I have here? Hmm. I’m all over the place with novels.  I’m a big fan of Jill Shalvis, Lori Foster, and of course, JR Ward (your fault, you know). I love a good story, a good romance, especially when the author throws in a few hot scenes.  I could list all the authors on my nook, but it would take all day. Oh, yeah, there’s this author I really enjoy.  She writes police drama and fantasies with elves and bonded wolves....
**Editor's notes LOL. I love my CPs!*** 



***COMING SOON****






Steve Gladston is a security specialist, a Dom, and part owner of the new BDSM club opening south of Dallas. He and his two business partners bought an old country club and refurbished it into a state of the art fetish club. All three are looking forward to the upcoming opening of Private Delights while they finish the remodel and work at their various careers in the community.
As owner of D&S Security, Steve arrives early one morning to evaluate the security needs of an investment firm and discovers a robbery in progress. Using skills he developed in SEAL training, he immobilizes two intruders and rescues the luscious Dena Lindsay, one of the owners.
Dena, frazzled and irritated at her lack of self-defense skills, is intrigued by tall dark and handsome Steve, especially when he easily deflects her over protective brothers. She sees him as a man to free her from a lackluster love life, an experienced man who won’t be intimidated by her family.
When Steve calmly averts her attempt at seduction, she’s embarrassed and then angry when he tells her he won’t take her to bed but will teach her some discipline. His lessons in bondage and submission fly beyond her expectations and she worries about her feelings, trying to decide if she’s falling in love with the man or the lifestyle.
Meanwhile, the mastermind behind her office’s break-in is trying to locate passcodes to her office files and decides to force Dena into helping him, whether she wants to or not. When the danger intrudes in her life, she turns to Steve for protection. Proximity makes her both apprehensive and aroused. At some point, she’ll have to decide what she wants from her man. Protection or Passion?






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Friday Feature: N.R. Walker on Inspiration!

This week on Friday Feature, I have fellow Totally Bound author, N.R. Walker! She's going to talk about inspiration! And let me tell you, it's SPOT ON!


Meet N.R.

Who am I?

Good question… 
I am many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. 
I have pretty, pretty boys who live in my head, who don't let me sleep at night unless I give them life with words. 
I like it when they do dirty, dirty things...but I like it even more when they fall in love. 
I used to think having people in my head talking to me was weird, until one day I happened across other writers who told me it was normal. 
I've been writing ever since…



Inspiration
Inspiration is a funny thing. Inspiration can come from the most random things.  You might be stuck in traffic, and BAM! You’re hit by a character or story line that is so crystal clear you just haveto write it. Or a story on the news, or a documentary on National Geographic, or a line from a song, or even some random person you saw on the street. It could be a picture of your favourite swoon-worthy celeb (aka: Daniel Craig, Marlon Teixeira, Jeremy Renner, Chris Pine, Anderson Cooper... okay, so they’re some of mine...) and sometimes it’s a song by your favourite band/singer that feeds the plot of your story. 
Wherever we get an idea from, or an inkling, or a full-blown plot arc, we take the simplest of ideas and from that, create tens of thousands of words in the form of fiction. I have playlists of songs for each book, for each main character, ranging from Thirty Seconds to Mars to the Beatles. I have folders and folders on my laptop full of inspirational pictures - some are PG rated, some are... not. ;) 
And writers quite often joke that these not-PG rated pics are not just inspiration, but also “research” – and quite often they are. But boy, they can be inspiring. Yes, the visuals help with physical limits and positions, but sometimes these small details are that give a character depth. 
Small details that bring a character to life, that might have been overlooked if it weren’t for an image you found online somewhere. Maybe it’s tiny creases at the corner of his eyes, or the small scar on his chin, or a tattoo on a hip or maybe there’s a sadness in his eyes that gives the story a whole other sub-plot.
For my new story, Breaking Point, the inspiration came from watching MMA (cage fighting).  My husband watches it, and by association, I do too. Admittedly it’s not an easy sport to watch. It’s violent and sometimes cruel, but there’s also something inspiring about having two half-dressed men in a cage, fighting, all sweaty and grappling on the floor.
Inspiration can come in the most unexpected of ways. And whether it’s sexy, or hauntingly sad, it’s a beautiful thing. 





Blurb:
A fight for what's right becomes a fight for his life. As guilt plagues him, Matthew Elliott’s world begins to spiral out of control. The harder he holds on, the more it slips through his fingers, and he’s helpless to stop it.

Entering into the underground cage-fighting scene, he starts out fighting for what’s right. The deeper he gets, the more guilt consumes him—the more pain he takes for his penance—and he’s soon fighting for more than justice.

He’s fighting for love. He’s fighting for his life.


 Excerpt:
My phone beeped thirty long, torturous seconds later. On my way home. Won’t be long.
Fifteen minutes later he came in through the front door, walked through the lightless house, to find me in the kitchen. 
“Matt?” he asked cautiously. “What are you doing in the dark?” I exhaled at the sound of his voice. “I was worried…”
He walked closer, but kept a very cold four feet between us. “What were you worried about?”
“That something had happened to you,” I admitted quietly. “That you were too mad at me to come home.”
“Matt,” he said then let out a shaky breath. “I went and saw Mitch.”
My head shot up to look at him. “You what?”
He nodded. “I asked one of the guys at work if they’d seen him at the office, and they said yes. So I called him and asked if I could see him.”
I didn’t know where he was going with this. “And?”
“I told him I’m worried about you,” he whispered. “I told him about your fight last night, that I think something changed for you, somewhere along the way, something changed.”
My heart was hammering and it was getting harder to breathe. “I’m fine.”
“No,” he said quietly. Adamantly. “No, you’re not.”
“If this is about what Arizona said about the fight last night…”
“Partly, it is, yes. But something’s gotten into you, Matt.”
I shook my head and said the only thing I could think of to say. “Please don’t leave me.”
“What?”
“Remember when you said to me,” I said, my words were a rush. 
“Remember at the cabin when we stayed there for the week, you said if I were to leave you it was all for nothing. Remember? You said that?”



Buy it!
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Tell Me About it Tuesday Welcomes Jennifer Wright!

I am super stoked to have another Totally Bound author with me today for Tell Me About it Tuesday! She's pretty awesome, and I am excited about our interview and her new book!

Meet Jen!

In her own words...


I was born in Arizona, but have spent the better part of my life in Wisconsin.  While I enjoy living close to my family, my heart longs to live in the South – or anywhere where the winters are warmer, and I hope to someday get there.  I love writing, and try to dedicate as much of my free time to it (ha! what free time?).  If I’m not typing away on my laptop, you’ll find me with my nose buried in a book, or with my loving boyfriend debating on what movie to watch and the never ending back and forth decision of what we should have for dinner.  I love spending time with my family and boyfriend, cuddling with my two cats, and laughing as much as possible (cuz I like to think I’m funny ).Some little tidbits about me are – I love horses and cats, I have a really big sweet-tooth, and I’ve been told I like to talk with my hands (insert hand gestures here).

Q. How has your journey in publishing been? Anything you would or wouldn’t do again?

It’s been amazing! I’ve got a great publisher (thank you Totally Bound!), an awesome editor (don’t know how I would’ve survived without her), a fantastic cover artist, and some wonderful support from fellow authors.

I wouldn’t change a thing!


Q. What advice do you have for someone who wants a career in writing?

Stay calm and keep writing. :) There’ll be plenty of bumps in the road – be prepared for rejections letters (it happens to us all) - but as long as you keep your passion for writing you’ll do just fine.

Q. What other interests or hobbies do you have outside of writing?

I love to read, of course :), but I also love watching movies and spending as much time with my family and my man as I can.

Q. Do you have a favorite story of the ones you’ve written, either published or not? Why?

My favorite story is actually Airos. There’s been an ongoing pull between Zane and Larken, and throwing Bo into the mix just blew my mind (I didn’t even see him coming – he just kind of snuck up on me, lol!). Writing Airos was a struggle, but one I was happy to trudge through. The twists and turns these three men threw at me made it very adventurous to write.



Okay...enough with the business questions! How about some fun stuff?



Q. If you won the lottery, what is the FIRST thing you’d do? What would you buy and why?

The first thing I’d do is take care of anything and everything that’ll make it so my entire family can live care-free. That’s it. I’m happy living simple. ;)

Q. When YOU read, what do you like to pick up?

Anything M/M! There is very little I don’t like to read…well, except for ménages and hardcore BDSM.

Q. Tell us one thing about you that might surprise us...it can be a secret...we won't tell. :)

I don’t like coffee and I’m not all that into chocolate. There, I said it, let the razzing begin!



Thanx for the awesome interview!

Now my fave part!

 TELL US ABOUT THAT BOOK!  


As I said above, there has been an ongoing pull between Larken and Zane. Larken is in love with his best friend Zane, but Zane is none-the-wiser to it. In Airos, Bo, a dragon, is mistakenly (and I use that term loosely) ‘kidnapped’ by Larken and Damien. When Zane sees Bo, he’s torn by what he feels for the little dragon. Larken, of course, will have none of it, so he decided it was time to finally tell Zane how he feels.

Now, I will note, this is not a ménage story. This story is about Zane’s struggle of how he feels about both Bo and Larken and which man he will choose to be with.

Oh, and I’m happy to say that Airos made ARe’s Best Sellers list! Woohoo!  


Blurb:

Zane has everything in his life under control and in order, but can he keep it that way when a young dragon is thrown into his life?

Zane was meant to be a warrior—end of story. Though he may not have had the most pleasant life living at the coven, he still loved being there. But the steadiness of his world came to a halt all within one day’s events. A man he never saw coming has pushed the boundaries of what little normalcy he has, and learning of a secret love is just confusing him even more. Zane has never felt more torn on what he should be feeling…and for whom. Though, if he assumed having two men plaguing his every waking thought was hard enough, learning of the danger his mother is in nearly has his head spinning off into another dimension.

The leader of the Dráguns is threatening to take everything away from him, his best friend is slipping further and further away from him, and a little dragon is managing to get under his skin in more ways than one. Sorting out what he has to do, what he wants, and what’s right for him will be the biggest challenge he’s ever been faced with. Will he follow his heart or will he take the easy path…or is the easy path the right path to begin with? 











 Buy it!
TB  Amazon |Amazon UK |ARe



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Friday Feature: Jasmine Hill on Personal Experiences!

So I am uber excited to welcome another fellow Totally Bound author! Jasmine Hill is a multi-published author who has alot to share!

Without further ado, meet Jasmine!



Jasmine’s alter ego lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and their Border Collie. She enjoys cooking, travelling with her husband, outdoor activities and skiing. She loves reading all genres but in particular she enjoys romance novels and thrillers and her Kindle is never far from her side.
Jasmine loves writing and is always looking for new ideas for stories that will provoke inner passions, stimulate the senses and ignite the imagination.
She has won some short story competitions but now she is excited to be publishing her first novel, From Leather to Lace through Total-E-Bound publishing. Later this year, also through Total-E-Bound, Jasmine’s second romance, Serena’s Submission will be published.





Personal Experiences Providing Erotic Inspiration

I am excited to be invited to C.A.’s Friday Feature. Today I am going to share with you, some of my inspiration for stories and how I try (where I can) to experience the things that I write about.
Earlier this year I was excited to publish my first novel – From Leather to Lace. My latest release, in Totally Bound Publishing’s Lust Bites range, is Serena’s Submission. BDSM is the key genre for both of these stories and Serena’s Submission, particularly, is packed full of kinky BDSM elements.
Whilst I definitely haven’t experienced all of the things that I write about, I have had the opportunity to visit a BDSM club and take part in the BDSM activities. This was an experience that I will never forget. I was bound, spanked, whipped, clamped and waxed – all whilst wearing nothing but a pair of G-string panties and on display before quite a crowd of enthusiastic onlookers! This might sound extreme, and I have to admit that at the time I hadn’t yet ventured into novel writing territory, however it was a unique experience and one that I am glad that I can draw on today. I also have to admit that I would definitely do it again – it was exciting and exhilarating and let’s face it – we only live once!
Recently I have started Pole Dancing classes as I have a view to including a pole dancing element in one of my next stories. This has proven to be a lot of fun with the additional benefit of a rather intensive work out. People of all persuasions and ages are enjoying pole dancing at the moment as an alternative form of exercise and I must admit that I love it! Another advantage is that I get to wear outrageous platform stilettos and booty shorts as part of the ‘uniform’ – what’s not to love! Currently our class is working on a routine to Christina Aguilera’s “Candyman” – it is sexy and fun and hopefully, when we learn our routine, we will totally look the part.
I can draw upon both of these experiences for inspiration and interpretation in my writing. It is also exciting (albeit often intimidating) to step out of my comfort zone and try something new and different.
I have enjoyed the opportunity to share these experiences with you and I thank you for reading. My second, and latest release, Serena’s Submission, is now available for early download through Totally Bound Publishing.

Jasmine has not one, but two fab reads to share with us!


Will her deception threaten her first chance at love?
Sarah Maddox is a beautiful, intelligent and sexy journalism graduate – she is also Mistress Kitty the Dominatrix. Sarah loves her Dominatrix role at Fantasy – the exclusive Sydney BDSM club. Only her best friend knows what she really does each evening and her secret is safe until she meets the charming, handsome and successful Maxwell McIver who turns her world upside down and has Sarah questioning her priorities and wondering – has she finally met the man for whom she would be willing to compromise?
Handsome Maxwell McIver at 35 is one of the richest men in the country – sophisticated and powerful, Maxwell is accustomed to getting what he wants and after meeting Sarah at a party, he decides that he wants her. He has always avoided serious relationships but Sarah has captivated him and once their romance starts to heat up he decides that he doesn’t want to let her go. But like Sarah, Maxwell is also hiding something, a secret that will threaten their newfound relationship and have Sarah reeling with indecision and uncertainty.







He wants her submission, she wants a story – the collision of
their desires is explosive.
Serena Davies is on a mission – to write an exposé on the BDSM scene and in particular about the infamous BDSM club, Club Erebus. Little does Serena anticipate that her under cover mission will not only lead her deep into the BDSM scene but will also lead her into the path of Dominant Aaron Blue, who will awaken in her previously unexplored dark and erotic desires.
When Aaron sees Serena enter Club Erebus he recognises that she is a natural submissive and vows that he will have her. He proposes to show Serena the BDSM scene and be her protector while she explores her darker urges on the stipulation that he will become her Dom.
Serena agrees to Aaron’s proposal and finds herself immersed in a world where pleasure and pain are one, a world that ignites in her a desire and need to be dominated and arouses in her an unexplored sexuality.
Serena fears that Aaron will discover her true agenda for visiting Club Erebus and if that happens, she worries that no punishment would be severe enough to satisfy him.


Buy them!
KOBO|TB|ARe|Amazon

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Tell Me About it Tuesday Welcomes Back Taige Crenshaw!

I am excited to welcome back an author I ADORE reading! She's got a fascinating post on why she's passionate about being a writer!

So, meet Taige!


Taige Crenshaw is a multi-published author with books available at Ellora's Cave Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, Loose Id, and Total-E-Bound. Taige has been enthralled with the written word from time she picked up her first book. It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance. With novels set in today, in alternate dimensions, or in the future she writes with adventure, fun sassy heroine’s, and sexy hero’s. Always hard at work creating new and exciting places Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun, frolic, interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels. 






Because I love it
A conversation that I’ve had a few times in the past and more recently got me to thinking. A lot of blood, sweat, time, sleepless nights and tears go into anything that you love. Whether it is sewing that fabulous outfit, painting a picture, crocheting a throw or any other number of things you do. With each it takes all of what I mentioned above on my your to get to that finished point. It is the same with being a writer. Let me break it down.
Blood – I’ve typed so hard that I’ve left blood on the keyboard or gotten paper cuts while reading through pages of my manuscript. Hey paper cuts hurt something awful. (grin). I put my figurative blood into each book I write. My heart and soul are on each page.
Sweat – I’ve broken into lots of sweat as I pounded away at the keyboard trying to get a scene just right. Talked with a reader which I love to do. Since I am shy this is the hardest for me. Hush those who know me that are laughing. I am shy, just not with those I know and am comfortable with. But I digress. I’ve sweated about a variety of things. Waiting anxiously to hear back on a submission. Edits for my book. Opened a review of my book.
Time– The amount of time spent with writing the book, doing self editing, then again self editing, crit partner editing, your editing again and then off to publisher who you will have to wait for a response. And if you get that all lovely response of “yes” then even more waiting to get to the process. When in the process even more waiting to get through the process. Then after process even more waiting to actual release. Then release then more waiting to see what people think. Whew I am tired of even imagining the time. Yet each moment is worth it. So worth it all.
Sleepless night– The idea in your brain that will not understand that you are sleeping that forces you out of bed in search of paper to write it down. The book you are writing that will not let you rest until that last scene is just so or that last word is complete. The excitement of a new project. The wait for the submission that you sent. Or waiting for a note/call from your editor on something.
Tears – Oh the tears I have cried as I write a scene in a book or read a letter from a reader who actually got the story as intended. The awesome review that said that one phrase that made you smile that the story did as you intended it to do. The bad review that even though they didn’t like the story there was something constructive in it that you took away for future reference. The tears of completion that you finished the story and it was written to the best you could get it. The tears of relief for the contract that you went after or publisher you wanted that story to be with. The tears of making hard choices that will be best for your career.
I could go on and on with a list of what all the things above mean in correlation to writing. I’ve been asked many times why do I write. My quick response is “it’s in my blood, soul and heart”. The more complex one is “because the blood, sweat, time, sleepless nights and tears go into it because I love it.” I get lots of confused looks when I give the complex one so I usually give the simple explanation. With the complex response I’ve never tried to articulate what I meant until now. There are so many layers to it all. So much to say. If you think about it all those points cover many things you do in your life. I have many creative outlets that I pursue. I draw, love to sew, do crafts and cook. Each are things I love and that I want to be my best at.
No matter what you are pursuing. The things that you put your heart into – that you bleed for – figuratively and in reality. The things that bring you closer to people you would never have expected to have anything in common with. Things that may, take time away from family and friends. What you sweat over because you want it to be you upmost best and create a reaction – good or bad. The nights you cannot sleep because your thoughts are consumed with whatever project you are working on. Or the wonder when it is seen by the world and how will they react. The tears you shed to get there, between going there and as you get there. Each tear has a purpose to make you go forward. They each make you learn and grow.
In each thing you do that involves blood, sweat, time, sleepless nights and tears none of it matters because it all boils down to one thing. You do it because you love it.






Singleton:

Singleton, New York, is a mix between big city and small town. Enjoy the scenic views, variety of places and interactions within our community.

Come into the lives of our residents and get ready for the adventure that falling in love brings. The journey to happily ever is emotional, has unexpected turns, and is deeply passionate.

Engage your senses in Singleton.

 

Book two in the Singleton series

If you loved Unwritten: A Novel by Charles Martin and Mine (The REAL series) by Katy Evans, then you will not be able to put down this absolute treat!

When your love for someone is tested, how do you get beyond the silence and pain back to what made you become an us?

After a busy day, Regina Jacobs gets home to the empty house she used to share with her husband. The sight of the divorce papers waiting for her devastates her. She loves her husband and although they have not lived together for a while or even really talked, she'd thought they could work it out. She pushes off the hurt and embraces the fury. She won't give up her ‘us' without a fight. Determined to reclaim the man who she has known was hers from the time she was a teenager, Regina seeks out her husband—the man who knows her heart, soul and body, and sets each aflame. 


Spencer Jacobs knows he is doing the right thing in filing for divorce. It is painful but he knows it is necessary. He loves Regina but sometimes love is not enough. When Regina comes to him after receiving the papers, Spencer doesn't know what to make of her words that he was giving up so easily on them. He'd already fought for them, and is bruised and battered from the loss of the woman who makes him forget all else but being hers. It will take everything he has to return, and this time he know failure means the end. 


Can two people who have let the silence between them linger too long find each other again? It will take opening the wounds that led to the silence and getting back to the basic belief to rebuild what has been broken. For these two there is no one else that matches them. Together they are the other half to…The Perfect Fit.




And Check out BOOK ONE!


Buy Them!Barnes & Noble Amazon | ARe



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Friday Feature: Dawn Colclasure: Making the Old New Again!

Today I'm welcoming back the lovely Dawn Colclasure, a fellow Gypsy Shadow author! She's got an interesting take on renewing manuscripts!

Make sure you scroll down and check out her fantastic new release!



Making the Old New Again
It’s not very often an author gets a second chance with a first book. After my failure to become a novelist in 1995 after the publisher went bankrupt, I came across several stories from novelists who could only cringe when they looked back at their first novel. Thankfully, my novel got a second chance.
This didn’t happen right away. It took nearly 20 years before the new version of my novel would see print. During that time, I researched my options, and meanwhile, worked on making this story better.
In its past life, my novel went by the title November’s Child. The thing I didn’t like about this book was the ending. Actually, it wasn’t much of an ending at all, but more of a “to be continued” sort of thing. And since this book is not destined to have a sequel, I knew the ending had to go. The new version has a more satisfying ending.
Something else I didn’t like about the original version of my novel was that my “bad guy” wasn’t really much of a bad guy. Actually, he was more of a good guy, so it didn’t really feel like the story had an antagonist. It felt like there were two protagonists. In the new version, I changed this, making my antagonist an actual bad guy.
What else did I want to change? Certain scenes didn’t jive with me. They got tossed.
Another thing that changed were character names. This, however, was not my choice, but a suggestion made by my publisher. I’m happy with the new names; they fit those characters better.
Finally, I also changed the title. Everybody I talked to made this suggestion: If your book is going to have a new version, it’s going to have to have a new title. There was no way around this. I loved the original title and wanted to keep it since, after all, it was inspired by a dream (as this whole novel was). Also, some people told me they liked the title “November’s Child” because it sounded interesting. It caught their eye – as well as the attention of people born in November. The title, alas, had to go.
After a while, I figured out a new title for the novel: Shadow of Samhain. Since the story was about a curse placed on Druid descendants born of Samhain, and since my character Jonathan was haunted by things from his past (as though he had a shadow constantly hovering over him), I felt this title was a perfect fit. People who have seen that title have asked me to let them know when the book is out without even asking what the story is about!
These changes to what had once been my “first” novel are changes I am very satisfied with in what is now my real first novel. My second attempt to become a novelist finally happened and I hope that this time, this particular novel is here to stay.




 Blurb:
She called him the “dark man.”

Who is Jonathan, a man haunting Malissa Ratham’s dreams? What sort of secrets from his past does he try to keep buried? Everybody says the dreams are only dreams and nothing more. But soon Malissa starts acting strangely, knowing about ancient Druidic rituals and a history too mysterious to unearth. With the help of Jovin, an ancient Druidic spirit on a mission to stop Jonathan from his path of death and destruction, and Tessie Malkin, a psychic with an advantage over Jonathan’s power, Malissa must own up to her past and walk between worlds to destroy an ancient curse . . .

. . . before it is too late




Buy it:Barnes & Noble|GSP|Amazon
***Look for Print soon!***


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Tell Me About it Tuesday: Welcome back Ashe Barker!

 Today I'm excited to welcome back fellow Totally Bound author, Ashe Barker, who's celebrating the release of her third book, which ends a trilogy! She's come on-scene with three back to back releases, and isn't that awesome!? I think the covers are just fantastic, and this trilogy is a fantastic read! 

















    Blurb:


The Dark Side trilogy, charts the sensual journey of academic musician Eva Byrne as she struggles to overcome painful shyness, sexual inhibition, and personal tragedy. Lonely, unsophisticated, fragile, and desperately seeking love and approval, Eva is easy prey for sensual and experienced Nathan Darke. 
He wants her submission, and he knows how to go about getting it. Eva is quickly caught up by the whirlwind of his effortless seduction, though she has her own reasons for agreeing to join him in his world of pain and pleasure, on The Dark Side.
Inexplicably fascinated and at the same time totally frustrated by his new submissive, Nathan is increasingly drawn to her as she opens up in his hands and he realises there is much, much more to his latest playmate than he ever could have imagined. 
The Dark Side charts the turbulent relationship between Eva and Nathan as their mutual fascination builds. They both discover what surrender truly means as together they explore the fragile bonds of desire, trust, risk and reward, and the destructive power of betrayal.



Buy the books:

Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble | All Romance | Totally Bound |Sony |Kobo

  

More Ashe: 

Website 
Goodreads 
Facebook 

Until 2010 Ashe was a director of a regeneration company in Leeds, in the UK, before becoming convinced there must be more to life. She left to work as an independent consultant, and still does some of that though most of her time is now spent writing, as at last she’s been able to realise her dream of writing erotic romance herself. Ashe has been an avid reader of women’s fiction for many years, and still loves reading historical and contemporary romances – the hotter the better. But now she has a good excuse for her guilty pleasure – research.
Ashe usually draws on settings and anecdotes from her own experience to lend colour, detail and realism to her plots and characters, but her stories of love, challenge, resilience and compassion are the conjurings of her own lurid and decidedly smutty imagination.
When not writing – which is not very often - her time is divided between her role as resident taxi driver for her teenage daughter and friends, and caring for a menagerie of dogs, rabbits, tortoises.  And a cockatiel.  Ashe is a rural parish Councillor, and she’s passionate about evolving rural traditions and values to suit twenty first century lifestyles.
Ashe has just completed her third trilogy in the Black Combe ‘family’ as well as a novella and a short story. All are due for release over the next few months.

Friday Feature: J. Kathleen Cheney on Mermaids AND a GIVEAWAY!

Today I'm welcoming fellow NTRWA member AND fantasy author, J. Katheen Cheney! She has an interesting theory on building characters.

Meet J. Kathleen:



J. Kathleen Cheney is a former teacher and has taught mathematics ranging from 7th grade to Calculus, with a brief stint as a Gifted and Talented Specialist.  

 Her short fiction has been published in Jim Baen's Universe, Writers of the Future, and Fantasy Magazine, among others, and her novella "Iron Shoes" was a 2010 Nebula Award Finalist.   

Her novel, "The Golden City" just released from Penguin, November 5, 2013.






***Answer J. Kathleen's question, at the bottom of her guestpost, "What's your book pet peeve?" OR "What drives you nuts when you're reading?" And be entered in a giveaway of her book! SIGNED PAPERBACK! Please leave your email so I can contact you for your physical address!***


Without further ado, here's J!




Building Reasonable Mermaids…


Everyone has their pet peeves, those things that make them throw a book across a room when they read it.  I'm not talking about an ending they don't like, but instead, a plot element or character that just doesn't work. 


My personal pet peeve is humans with wings slapped on their backs. 


Now I don't mean angels or aliens, I mean a person who's essentially a human, but they just happen to have wings.  This really bugs me because a human simply doesn't have the skeletal structure to have wings, much less fly with them.  We would need extra muscles to move them, extra nerves to command them, and if we're going to fly, we need to be a lot lighter.  At some point, these creatures would cross the line.  They wouldn't be human any longer.  (And a culture that can fly would probably be very different from human cultures.)


A lot of writers do this really well (Martha Wells' Raskura and Sharon Shinn's Archangels come to mind.)  Other writers don't, and that's where they lose me.


I know my take on mermaids is probably going to set off a few people's pet peeve button.  I don't expect everyone to agree with what I've done, but I did try to think it out logically. 


My starting point was an ancient Portuguese epic poem, where Vasco da Gama's men find the Island of Love where "sea nymphs" await them.  The sea nymphs run away from the sailors.  That means legs--no fish tails.  One of them is later referred to as a "siren", so I took that up as their name--sereia.  (That's just the Portuguese word for siren or mermaid.) I tried to think of them as creatures who'd evolved in the water, so they have gills and webbing between their fingers. 


But the hardest thing I have to think about is their culture.  How many male mermaids do we see in classical paintings or read about in stories?  I honestly can't think of any.  So that begs the question of why I don't see the males.  Do they not exist?  (Which would open all sorts of questions about procreation.)  Or are they hidden away, like in a harem? 


I'm working on Book 3 in this series right now, and this becomes more of an issue as I go along.  I don't exactly have much guidance to go by—it's not like there's a Wikipedia entry for my mermaids!  So I'm trying to make the right choices.  We'll just have to wait and see what people think.


So what drives you nuts when you're reading?  What's your fantasy pet peeve?





Blurb:
For two years, Oriana Paredes has been a spy among the social elite of the Golden City, reporting back to her people, the sereia, sea folk banned from the city’s shores....
 
 When her employer and only confidante decides to elope, Oriana agrees to accompany her to Paris. But before they can depart, the two women are abducted and left to drown. Trapped beneath the waves, Oriana’s heritage allows her to survive while she is forced to watch her only friend die.
 
 Vowing vengeance, Oriana crosses paths with Duilio Ferreira—a police consultant who has been investigating the disappearance of a string of servants from the city’s wealthiest homes. Duilio also has a secret: He is a seer and his gifts have led him to Oriana.
 
 Bound by their secrets, not trusting each other completely yet having no choice but to work together, Oriana and Duilio must expose a twisted plot of magic so dark that it could cause the very fabric of history to come undone....








***Answer J. Kathleen's question, at the bottom of her guestpost, "What's your book pet peeve?" OR "What drives you nuts when you're reading?" And be entered in a giveaway of her book! SIGNED PAPERBACK! Please leave your email so I can contact you for your physical address!***



Buy it:Walmart|Barnes & Noble|Amazon


More J. Kathleen:Facebook Twitter Website 
  

Tell Me About it Tuesday welcomes Susan Sheehey!

I am so excited about this week's guest. Susie, as I know her, is one of my very good friends, and her debut, Audrey's Promise is a FANTASTIC read. I realllllly love this story and this book!



Meet Susie!



Susan Sheehey writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense and women's fiction. After spending six years in the corporate world, her true passion wouldn't let go and she's been writing ever since. She lives and laughs in Texas with her husband and son. 







She'd like to share with us her feelings on music.
 

Music is such an important part of my writing. It clears my head and helps immerse my mind in the story.

It’s like a piece of music in a movie that moves you so much that it becomes just as alive and holds just as much impact as the characters. Chariots of Fire is noted for the one incredible instrumental piece, and no one could possibly mistake the Indiana Jones theme. In writing, it’s very similar. So much so, that books should come with their own soundtracks, too. Not just the movies.

Granted, this brings its own hassles with copyrights and trademarks that I’m sure the publishing industry isn’t equipped to deal with on a large scale. Or at least financially. But having music with the story would give readers that much more enjoyment from a novel. The way we currently only experience in cinema, the opera, or the live stage.

The technology already exists in audio books. Logistically, this could easily transfer to e-books as well. You’d download the music in the same click as the novel file, and the music would automatically play and move along with you as you reach certain chapters. Print books would probably have a CD attached in the back or a website address to download it, so you could play at your leisure.

The problem lies with the extra money publishers would need to pay for more royalties to musicians (the rights-holders), in addition to author royalties. The legalities are far too complex and expensive than companies would be willing to risk. As strapped as budgets already are in that industry, I don’t see this trend happening anytime soon. But it would be an awesome feature that enriches the stories that much more.

So I guess I’ll keep living in my fantasyland of creating my own soundtracks and posting the list on my website. Readers can find it and by the music on their own (a la carte). At the very least, the music makes me happy. I’ve created my own soundtrack for Audrey’s Promise and posted it online. I hope you enjoy it. Hopefully, I’ll be lucky enough to create a soundtrack for every novel I complete.

Now I’m off to write. And find that next song that moves me.




Blurb:  Audrey Allen is poised to become the youngest Texas senator, a position that fits her nickname, The Peacemaker. But she's unable to make peace with many in her hometown, where memories and grudges run deep from a decade-old tragedy.

Ethan Tanner, an ambitious and tantalizing journalist, joins her at Thanksgiving for an in-depth look at the promising candidate. But he has an agenda of his own that's not entirely honorable.
Ethan could stir up trouble for her budding career, or awaken the deep passions she's buried for so long. Will Ethan find that he values love more than getting the story?  Buy it:TWRP|Amazon | Amazon UK |Amazon CA     More Susan: Website Facebook Twitter  

Welcome Maggie Mitchell's Chasing Terpsichore!

Blurb:
When a goddess lands in modern times there’s bound to be trouble.
Banished from her home in Olympus and trapped in modern day Australia, Terpsichore does her best to fit in, but when she is mistaken for a prostitute she needs the services of straight- laced solicitor James Barrington to help.
James Barrington is a man on a fast track to a stellar legal career. Being involved with a pole dancing tango teacher is not part of the plan.
Together they fight a Titan rebel and a journey through the Underworld but can they find each other on the way?




Buy It: Barnes & Noble|Amazon|AmazonUK
|Totally Bound






About the author:
Maggie Mitchell lives in her dream place by the sea. Of course, sometimes she even gets the dreams written down in a story. Lucky for her she has a musician for a husband who understands the creative spirit. In her other life she teaches undergraduate university nursing students and designs eLearning courses for health organisations. Most days you’ll find her out on her balcony enjoying a glass of Moscato or a cappuccino made on her beloved espresso machine.




More Maggie:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maggiemitchellwrites?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mmitchellwrites
Website: http://maggiemitchell.net/home/