Siobhan Daiko's Blog, page 8

My Monday Guest, Michelle McLoughney, bestselling author of contemporary romance.

I’m absolutely delighted to welcome the lovely Michelle McLoughney to my blog today.

Michelle and I met via Tracy Smith Comerford, who is Michelle’s PA. Author of the Amazon bestselling saga, The O’Malleys, Michelle lives in County Clare, Ireland, where the novels are set.

Michelle began writing at a young age and won her first national poetry competition at 17. She has been widely published throughout Ireland and internationally.

It’s fab to have you here, Michelle. Tell us, how would you describe yourself as a colour?

I would be bright orange. I consider myself a naturally happy person. I find it easy to laugh and have fun. There are darker sides to my personality but I have the ability to rationalise through dark times. I’m endlessly optimistic, sometimes annoyingly so.

Ha! Optimism is good. What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have an all-time favourite song?

I tend to veer toward the alternative when it comes to music. I’m a huge fan of The Smiths, The Cure, Joy Division, Patti Smith and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. My favourite song is Leonard Cohen’s Famous Blue Raincoat. I love music that can draw emotion from me and hold me captive.

I love Leonard Cohen and that’s a beautiful song. Are you a morning person or a burner of midnight oil?

I’m naturally a morning person, I wake up in a good mood most days at 6am for work. I write in the evening during the week and in morning time at the weekend. I’m most productive in the morning.

So, when did you start writing?

As a young teen, in an effort to cope with the emotional turmoil I felt surrounding my adoption. God-awful angst-ridden stuff. When I was seventeen, I won a national poetry competition in Ireland and realised that I may just be good at something. Since then, I have written at various times in my life. After completing a creative writing course a few years ago, I challenged myself to publish a full novel by the time I turned 40 and succeeded. I’m happily publishing my fourth in a few weeks. I write because I want to write. It’s as simple or as complex as that.

Me too. Where do you get your ideas from, Michelle?

My ideas come out from a phrase I’ve overheard, or an idea that comes into my head as a half formed thing and manifests over time. I like situations that throw people together in unusual circumstances.

How did you come to write your genre?

I read a load of nonfiction, mainly books on history, art or feminism. To unwind I like to read romance, often Mills and Boon, always conflict and always a happily ever after. I write what I like to read, easy reading, warm, fuzzy and sometimes cheesy romantic encounters.

Sounds perfect for unwinding. What’s your favourite part of writing?

My favourite part of writing is the initial idea. I get great pleasure in running the story roughly in my head. I love finding new ideas in everyday things, random conversations, and wondering how it would play out in real life. I also love the meet-cute. How the couple meet is hugely important to me. That initial few minutes of interaction when they feel things they haven’t felt before. That first flush of excitement when a potential new lover comes into the equation.

Ah, the tingle moment! How do you handle writer’s block?

I panic, overeat and fall into a complete slump. I tend to procrastinate until the last minute and cram write. The same way I handled exams in school. I was a last minute crammer.

Snap! Do you write longhand first, or does it go straight onto the computer?

Both. I scribble during the day in work, when time allows. I find longhand great for writing down as many ideas as possible. They only drawback is my handwriting is appalling.

What are you working on now? Would you like to share anything about it?

I’m currently working on a new series called, The Gods of Wrath Security Agency. It’s a series of seven books set in Boston, following a team of Navy SEALs who have become civilians and take over the workings of an agency. Each is a stand-alone, although better read in order as a series. All are contemporary romance with a HEA and involve sexy Alphas and the women who tame them.

They sound great. Tell us about the first book in the series! 

Navy SEAL will be released on December 1st. Odin Byrne believes in two things, the SEAL code of honour and the ability of his Team. When he loses one of his brothers-in-arms, he loses a part of himself. Starting afresh with his Team and back home in Boston, Odin has only one focus, his uncle Declan’s security and detective agency, ‘The Gods of Wrath.’ A new team member is the last thing Odin wants, especially an ex-con who is hot as hell and mouthy to boot. Fighting for control of his agency, his heart, and his damn hormones, isn’t easy. When a new case threatens those closest to him, Odin must work with his adversary to bring a murderer to justice. Simple, apart from the memory of his lips on hers, and that one hot night. Jasmine McCarthy is starting a new life in Boston. After three years in an Irish prison for a crime committed by her ex-husband, she craves a new start, a new chance. When her friend Declan Byrne gifts her a part of his agency, Jasmine see it as her duty to join the team and follow his wishes, regardless of the opinion of her formidable new boss, Odin Byrne. The pig-head arrogant Ex-SEAL would be a lot easier to ignore, if she hadn’t already had a taste. Jasmine and Odin want nothing more than to stay the hell away from each other, if only chemistry and fate would play ball…

Wow, Michelle. I can’t wait to read it. Readers, you can follow Michelle on Twitter @michellesinhell. She’s is very active on her Facebook Page and you can visit her website.

❤ Release Blitz ❤ The Submission of Theodora by Siobhan Daiko ❤ @FCourtesans

siobhandaiko:

“The Submission of Theodora” is out today.

Originally posted on :

 

Title: The Submission Of Theodora

Author: Siobhan Daiko 

Genre: Erotic Romance 

 



 



 



 



 

It’s not every day a girl gets to meet the most powerful man in the world – but it’s not every girl that’s deemed useful. I’ve been deemed useful to the heir apparent to the Roman Emperor!

My skin prickles with awareness of him. 

His hips form a perfect V; his chest seems forged from iron. 

I long to touch him. 

I long to be possessed by him. 

I long to lose all sense of Theodora and be lost in Justinian. 

Crazy, impetuous, domineering Justinian. With each word he speaks, I drift deeper into the maelstrom of his mind.

They tell me he has unusual tastes. They tell me I must surrender to him. “But as a former courtesan  it’s usually been me in charge.”

But when his true plans for me reveal themselves…

View original 241 more words

My Monday Guest, James Milson, storyteller of “The Adventures of Little Red Bear” series

Today, I’m absolutely delighted to welcome James Milson to my blog. Jim and I met last year on Twitter. He’s a lovely man and I’m honoured to count him among my online friends. Tell us about yourself, Jim!

Well-seasoned, but not yet grizzled. That’s me. The father of four grown children, after a career in business management I am retired on disability with more new parts than a corner hardware store, and create One-of-a-Kind Artist Collector Teddy Bears, Raggedy Dolls and Rustic Sea Glass and Natural Stone Pendant Jewelry for my online store on eBay– Old Glory Bears and Raggedy Dolls. When not making things, I write stories for children and the young at heart, primarily “The Adventures of Little Red Bear” short story series, and toss in a little poetry now and then just for fun on days when I seem to be a bit more mental than usual. I am an Eagle Scout, former Scout leader, and love the outdoors, wilderness and nature. I started working 30-40 hours a week in a music store teaching guitar, banjo, bass and others at age 14, put myself thru college teaching music and working in bands, have accumulated a small guitar collection over the years and still bother them a bit in spare time, along with trying to perfect the art of artisan bread baking. Always up for a road trip and adventure, and old enough to know better but still young enough not to really care. It’s always a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

What a great philosophy of life! Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?

Full disclosure. The gravatar image here and on most of my sites and pages is not really me. Readers should probably know that, to avoid any confusion. It’s a Panda Bear named “Sun Tzu Too”. He is handsewn, and I made him from German Mohair a few years ago. Being a somewhat mellow fellow, he likes to lie about in a field of wildflowers finding shapes in the clouds and contemplating the nature of things. He graciously allows me to use his image because he is very kind, generous and, quite frankly, much better looking than me.

Aw, I’m sure that’s not true. If you could morph into any creature what would it be?  

Unquestionably, a bear.

If you don’t mind me asking, why a bear?

Well, if I could transform into a bear I would be able to hopefully keep pace more easily chasing after my friend Little Red Bear. Lagging behind and always scurrying to catch up, I have worn out three pairs of good Writing Boots traipsing over mountains, thru creeks and streams, followed by one holler after another recording and documenting his adventures for the stories. A wolf might be faster, but probably run the risk of scaring away most of the smaller story characters. And I am a little too leery of heights to consider being a bird. So yeah – a bear, please. A fast one. And good looking, if you can manage it. Hope I’m not being too pushy.

I prefer teddy bears to real ones. Hope that’s ok. What kind of music do you listen to, Jim? Do you have an all-time favourite song?

When writing Little Red Bear adventures, if listening to anything at all, it is quiet nature sounds. Birds singing, the buzz and whirr of insects and tree frogs at night, the call of Whip-poor-wills, streams babbling and leaves rustling in the breeze. Whichever fits the writing as it all helps set the mood and place me mentally in the wilderness for the story. Most music for me is distracting from the flow of thoughts while I write. When in the workroom making teddy bears and such, it could be Classical, Bluegrass, Country, Classic Rock, New Age, Southern Rock, Metal, the Blues, Pop Tunes or just about anything depending on the mood. It gets especially loud sometimes with Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Rolling Stones. And a lot of Smooth Jazz. No particular all-time favourite song or artist. A good many all tied for first.  

I’m the same as you. I can’t write with music playing. And I love Jazz. On a different note, if your life were a movie, would it be considered an action film, comedy, drama, romance, fantasy or a combination?  

Hard to tell. It’s not quite finished yet and don’t really know what the Author has in mind. Might want to check back later. So far, there have been mixed periods and elements of action/adventure, comedy, and drama, with a disturbing hint of Greek tragedy tossed in that has me a little concerned. But hopefully, there’s a lot more yet to come. Personally, I’m rooting strongly for a surprise plot twist and heroic ending!

Talking of heroic endings, when did you start writing?

In the fourth grade, our teacher Mrs. Drew leaned a painting against the chalkboard with no other direction and gave us an hour to begin writing a story about it, then to be completed as homework. The painting was a country scene, with a family on a wagon going down a dirt road. Simple enough but I was inspired! A few days later, she read my story to the class, the only one she read, and posted it on the wall for Open House for all the parents to see. When she returned the story later, she told me that she knew that I would be a writer someday, and kept reinforcing that confidence thru the year. My interest in writing began with that story, and has always served as a reminder of how important our words and actions are to guide and shape impressionable young minds. I do not remember the names of many teachers from years ago. I will always remember Mrs. Drew because she believed in me. 

She sounds like a great teacher. Where do you get your ideas from?

First off, I do not consider myself an “author” as much as an old-fashioned “storyteller.” For me, there is a difference, and ideas for stories come from everywhere, all the time. I have enough ideas and story notes to write for three more lifetimes and the list keeps growing. Often, a story character’s name or the title for a story will pop into my head, frequently waking me up around 5am, and that is all I need to get started. Since the initial fourth grade writing assignment, I have always seemed to have the ability to come up with a story for almost any photo or picture, so still am constantly inspired by those. Show me a picture and I will write you a story. Or, I can see someone or a family sitting in a restaurant and write a story about them. Ideas and inspiration are everywhere when we are open to them. That being said, I take no credit for my writing or ideas, feeling that I am just the scribe putting it all down for others. I never try to force my plan, ego or ideas into a story, rather simply letting the story that wants to be told unfold. I try to open my mind, then listen, and the words and stories just seem to flow thru my fingers on to the keyboard. Which explains why I am a pantser and not a plotter, having little idea where things are going story-wise once started. An opening sentence goes on the page and we’re off and running. It all just comes from somewhere and I go with it, with me just the vehicle to deliver the message. Herman Melville put it well in “Moby Dick” – “Is Ahab, Ahab?  Is it I, God, or who that lifts this arm?”  The words flow and I put them on paper. Well, the laptop, specifically. I can no longer read my own writing. Getting older, I now seem to think in English and write in hieroglyphics. I haven’t found a pill or herbal tea for that yet.

  How did you come to write your Little Red Bear stories?

I try to write stories that are entertaining, meaningful and somewhat educational for both children and adults. I care deeply for nature, wildlife, and the environment, because if we remove any, then humans follow right along out the door behind them. And that’s troubling because I have become somewhat fond of humans over the years. I also care deeply for children, for theirs is the future. What children care about now they will hopefully be more inclined to care for in the future, so I try to help that caring along a bit. Everything is connected. I work to introduce that theme while trying to generate a love, interest and appreciation for nature and the outdoors, along with positive values like kindness, respect for others, helping others in need, and more into the stories, hopefully in a fun and entertaining way so reading is enjoyable while also getting the messages across. But it is more difficult now, as kids these days are more advanced than my generation growing up on “Howdy Doody” and “The Mickey Mouse Club”, and can smell an object lesson or story moral coming a mile away so you have to sneak it up on them. And with tweens, that is harder than trying to sneak dawn past a rooster. I take the messages in my writing and the responsibility for them very seriously, but never myself. As I said, I’m just a guy at a keyboard taking dictation from a bear in my head telling his stories. Who in the Universe is telling Little Red Bear the stories, I have no idea. Red talks. I type. It’s a job. But hopefully the world is a little better place when we’re all finished someday.

I hope so too. How long does it take you to create a story on average?

Here’s the deal with that – it’s complicated. Writing short stories, I sit down at a blank screen with a story title or character name in mind, and once the first sentence is put down it could be non-stop from there, start to finish, stopping only for restroom breaks and refreshments. That is just how it works for me. So a “story” can be written in a day or so. And for standalone stories like “Haystack Harry”, “Susie’s Bear” and others on my Blog, add a day or two of editing and reflection and that’s it. So a week, tops. But for the Little Red Bear stories assembled into a collection of adventures, once I select six or seven stories, the real work then is sitting down and weaving them into a coherent group, so that the characters, action and messages flow seamlessly and believably from the very first page thru to the last. The Little Red Bear collections are more similar to a novel in that way, comprised of different short stories, seemingly unrelated, but not. For me, that assembly process can take several months as new ideas and themes emerge along the way, thereby necessitating more revisions and edits, sometimes to the point of almost starting a story over to make it fit and work with the whole. Complicated.

Fascinating. What are you working on now, Jim? Would you like to share anything about it?

I have just finished a standalone short story for a children’s charity anthology primarily aimed at children, about a delightful little girl with displays of madness in all its forms; that it is okay to be different and how to handle feelings of anger. The next collection of Red’s stories, “The Adventures of Little Red Bear: The Second Holler Over!” is underway, also. I have about a dozen stories titled and in process on the list and will need to choose which six or seven fit nicely together for the next collection and which to hold over for later. That’s the hard part, because I want everyone to be able to read them all right now. Then the involved process of stitching them all together begins. The next collection will introduce some additional new, recurring characters, including a strong, female character based loosely on Calamity Jane who may be the most fun writing I have ever done. I literally am laughing out loud writing her character and action, and truly hope that transfers to the page for readers. The most challenging part is trying to keep her dialogue clean and ‘G’ rated for young readers! She has a real potty mouth but is a hoot and I cannot wait to introduce her to everyone. But that’s all you get for now. Red won’t let me say anymore.

I can’t wait to meet her. She sounds fab. Tell us about your recent release! 

  “The Adventures of Little Red Bear: The First Holler!” was released in June, and so far being very well received. Some reviews have likened it to Winnie the Pooh, Wind in the Willows and the Beatrix Potter tales, and adults are enjoying the stories very much for themselves, reading ahead to finish and then going back again to read it to their children and grandchildren. So that’s pretty cool. At this stage of my life, it’s never about the money here. The online store helps pay the bills and the writing is for fun. If the books make one person smile or teach a positive lesson to a child along the way, we’ve done our job. Little Red Bear and I celebrate each five star review with a pizza. I get one slice because I am perpetually on a diet and he gets the rest. He’s a bear. It seems to work okay for him. Where do you even measure a waistline on a bear? He eats and eats, puts gobs of gooey honey on everything and never shows it. Maybe I’m a little envious. Another good reason to transform into a bear, I suppose.

Hahaha! That would cover a multitude of sins. How can readers find you? Do you have a web page, Facebook page or any buy links?

You betcha! “The Adventures of Little Red Bear: The First Holler!” is available on Amazon in Kindle and Print versions. And several stories, poems and other fun things are always on my Blog as Free Reads just for fun. I am always busy creating new Collector Teddy Bears and items and adding them to the eBay store.  And I am on Facebook and Twitter to happily connect there, too. Here are some links.  And thank you for inviting Little Red Bear and me in for a visit. We invite everyone to stop by and visit us anytime! 

THE ADVENTURES OF LITTLE RED BEAR” SHORT STORIES

MY BLOG LINK

OLD GLORY BEARS & RAGGEDY DOLLS SHOP on eBay

AUTHOR FACEBOOK PAGE

TWITTER→ @JimMilson

Thanks for stopping by, Jim. It’s been a real joy chatting with you.

Thanks for having me, Siobhan.

 

My Monday Guest, Jenny Blackhurst, author of debut novel “How I Lost You”- an amazing psychological thriller

Today, I’m absolutely delighted to welcome the lovely Jenny Blackhurst to my blog. Jen and I met a couple of years ago on the peer review site YouWriteOn and it has been a real joy to follow her progress ever since. I was thrilled for her when she was signed to an agent and even more so when Headline published her debut novel.

Jen has a Masters degree in Psychology and, when she isn’t writing, she works as the Fire Safety Systems Administrator for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.  

It’s fab to host you here today, Jen. Are you a morning person, or a midnight candle burner?

I’d love to have a choice! I have a one year old and a four year old so unfortunately sleep is a distant memory for me, but if I had the choice I would be a midnight candle burner – it reminds me of my student days where assignments were started at 5pm the night before they were due.

Ha! Tell me something you would like your readers to know about you.

I’m a massive nerd and very proud of it. I love spreadsheets and formulas, new notebooks and organisation apps and above all…Doctor Who.

Yay! Another “nerdy and proud of it” person. If you could morph into any creature what would it be?

A cat. I don’t particularly like cats (!) but they undoubtedly have the best lives. And they are cleverer than they make out. It’s not that they can’t be trained to sit – they just refuse to bow to mere humans.

I’m a complete cat slave, and mine purrs me to sleep at night. At bedtime, do you like “relaxing so you can sleep sounds” or do you prefer white noise, TV, soft music, ocean waves, forest or meadow sounds, babbling brook, or something else?

Right now I could sleep at the side of the motorway! When I was a student and my head was too full of exam anxiety to sleep I’d listen to Harry Potter, narrated by Stephen Fry. His voice is so hypnotic it would chill me out enough to sleep in no time.

I remember those days. What kind of music do you listen to, Jen? Do you have an all-time favourite song?

I have quite eclectic tastes when it comes to music – my iPod will skip between Miley Cyrus and Jessie J, Paramore, Wiz Khalifa, L’il Wayne and then back to Jess Glynne. With some added Junglebook and Chu Chu Ua thrown in. I don’t have one favourite but certain songs remind me of certain moments in my life – Lonestar, Amazed and Stevie Wonder I just called to say I love you, as well as Bryan Adams Everything I do and anything from Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill album.

Great choice. Now let’s move on to your books. When did you start writing?

When I was about 11 – it was a teenage series to rival Sweet Valley High! I started it with a friend and I think we had some good ideas but I never managed to get past a few chapters.

Where do you get your ideas from?

Anything that happens around me. It always starts with a ‘What if?’ and I’m constantly listening in on people’s conversations (sorry work colleagues) and watching the news. Inspiration is everywhere.

What do you think is the hardest part of writing a book?

All of it! I think you get to a certain stage where you’re convinced it’s awful but it’s too late to turn back and you just have to tell yourself this happens to everyone – just finish the damn book and sort it out in round two.

What is your favourite part?

I love the planning stage, that’s the bit before the self-doubt creeps in and you are convinced that this is THE idea of a lifetime. You can go crazy with spreadsheets and mind maps (I did say I was a nerd) and you create people and worlds and you know you have a bestseller on your hands. Then you sit down to write and your carriage is a pumpkin and your butler is a mouse.

Ha! Tell me, what is your least favourite part of the process?

About 30,000 words in. Before that the blank page is full of opportunity, after that barrier the end is in sight but around 30 – 40,000 words is horrid. I don’t mind edits as much as some people I know but finding time to get the words onto the page in the first place is tough at the moment.

It must be with a baby to look after. Would you ever consider a joint project?

Yes, I’d love to! I’m not sure how good I’d be at it, I can’t understand how joint writers aren’t constantly changing the other one’s work but I love the idea of writing being a less lonely business and having someone to hammer around ideas with when you’ve got a niggly plot point. Mark and Louise (Edwards and Voss) manage it so well I’d be very tempted after seeing their work.

How do you handle a writer’s block?

I get out my trusty paper and pen. Writing longhand for me is a wonderful cure for when the words are clogged. It’s like I’m taking away the barrier between me and the words, my fingers are so much closer to my work and the words flow out of the pen onto the paper so quickly that it’s impossible to feel blocked.

Great! Are you a sit down and play it by ear kind of writer, or do you need a structured guideline, or maybe a little of both?

With my first novel I completely pantsed it. No outline, just me and a computer. It took so much editing and tweaking, went through about thirty drafts before I submitted it, and was a lot of work. This time I have an outline which I have deviated from but I try and revisit it every 10k or so the work out where the story is going. It’s not fool-proof, there are still plot twists that surprise and delight me but I have more of a sense of structure and hopefully there will be less work at the editing stage.

What are you working on now? Would you like to share anything about it?

My next novel is another psychological thriller called Before I Let You In. That’s all you’re getting for now!

Hahaha! How can readers find you, Jen? Do you have a Facebook  page or any buy links?

I certainly do:

Facebook Page

And you can buy my debut How I Lost You here.

I’m also on Twitter as @JennyBlackhurst and I love to talk books so come tweet me!

Fab. It’s been a joy to chat with you today, Jen. I wish you every success with your next novel. I loved How I Lost You and can’t wait.

Thanks for having me, Siobhan. 

My Monday Guest, Tom Winton, author of emotion-packed novels.

I’m absolutely delighted to welcome the lovely Tom Winton to my blog today. Tom and I met several years ago on the peer review site YouWriteOn and have been friends ever since. Tom has done everything from pounding spikes on a rowdy railroad gang in the Colorado Rockies to driving a taxicab in some of New York City’s most dangerous neighbourhoods. He’s also been a Manhattan sales executive, a ditch digger/pipe installer in Florida, a house painter on Long Island, a go-for in Maine, an entrepreneur and a host of other things. Along with his wife and their Jack Russell Terrier, Ginger, he now lives a more toned down life somewhere in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. He has always been a free spirit–doing what he wanted, when he wanted. As a result of his adventuresome nature, he’s lived a life of erratic twists and turns. And that is what today gives him a bottomless well of experiences to draw from when he sits down to write novels.

Listed several times as one of Amazon’s top 100 “Most Popular Authors” in both Mystery/Suspense/Thrillers and Literary Fiction, all of Tom Winton’s full-length novels have been bestsellers.

It’s great to have you here, Tom. How would you describe yourself as a colour?

I’m a chameleon, Siobhan. I can be any colour in the spectrum, and I can also change with very little warning. One night I might be a bright cheery red—the life of any party. The next morning something could set me off and I quickly become the darkest, most forlorn shade of grey. But believe me, since I’m an emotional person all that changing makes for a very colourful life.   

Are you a morning person, or a midnight candle burner?

I’m definitely a morning person. I absolutely love watching the sun come up. The way I see it, nothing in this world can sooth the soul and fill it with hope the way that first rosy glow on the Eastern horizon does. Afternoons? I’m not much for them, particularly during hot weather.    

Tell me something you would like your readers to know about you.

I’d like my readers to know that writing a novel is an extremely difficult process for me. I’m what I call a “grinder” and I usually move along very slowly. I don’t look to pump out a new book every three months like some authors do. Instead I try to get only my most creative ideas on paper and do my best to fill them with emotion. I want my readers to feel my words, not just read them.

That’s fab, Tom. What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have an all-time favourite song?

For the most part I’ve always been into what they now call “classic” Rock ‘n Roll. While coming of age in New York, I probably spent a thousand nights in clubs and discos. As for my all-time favourite songs, four I can think of off the top of my head are Gimme Shelter and Sympathy for the Devil by the Stones, Maggie May by Rod Stewart, and Take it Easy by the Eagles. I love dancing to them all, too.    

I love the Eagles and dancing as well. :-) When writing, where do you get your ideas from?

I believe an author can only draw his or her ideas from three sources—experiences they’ve lived out, experiences they’ve heard about, and whatever useful ideas they can cull from their conscious and subconscious minds. Many of my best ideas—the ones I call “platinum” ideas, come to me when my mind is clear and I’m trying to fall asleep. Almost as if they’re being “delivered” to me, they seemingly come from out of nowhere and pop up in my mind. That’s why I always have a pen and little notebook at my bedside.

Good tactic! How did you come to write your genera of choice?

I’m a self-admitted genre-jumper. Although I believe that an author will make more sales if they stick to just one genre, but I don’t do that. If I’m totally convinced that I have a worthwhile story in my head, and that I’ll be able to go the distance writing it, I simply sit down and write it. Genre shcmenre, I don’t worry about such things. I’m just grateful to get a good story idea when I do.    

What is your favourite part of writing?

My favourite part of writing is doing the second and third drafts. By the time I work on those, I only have to polish words and embellish characters and scenes. The heavy creativity is most necessary when writing the first draft, and that is far and away the most difficult part for me.  

What are you working on now? Would you like to share anything about it?

I’m not sure of the title yet, but I might call it something like Trailing Steinbeck and Charley. It’s about a man who, like John Steinbeck did in 1960, sets out in a camper to rediscover America and its people. Also like the Nobel Laureate’s was, my main character’s health is failing, and that makes the trip both risky and a race against the clock. What genre would this one fall into? you might ask. I’d have to say it’s a bouillabaisse of Suspense, Adventure, and Romance with a slight literary edge.    

Sounds great! Do you have a new book coming out soon or recently released? Tell us about it.

My most recent release, a suspenseful romance entitled Forever Three, was released earlier this year. The stand-alone sequel to one of my bestselling novels Beyond Nostalgia, it’s the story of a man who, for 22 years, has lived with the soul-wrenching misfortune of loving two women.   

How can we find you, Tom? Do you have a web page, Facebook page or any buy links?

I most certainly do.

Author Website

Facebook Page

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

Thanks so much for answering my questions, Tom. It’s been a joy to host you on my blog. All the best with your writing!

Thank you, Siobhan.

My Monday guest, Mandy Jackson Beverly, author of “A Secret Muse”

Today, I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome the lovely Mandy Jackson Beverly to my blog.

Mandy and I met through our fantastic editor, John Hudspith, and have been friends for a few months. She lives in Ojai, California, with her husband, Brian Beverly, a crossed-eyed cat, Luna, a dog named Cash and, sometimes, her sons, Angus and Jack. Her bio is fascinating, and you can read more about Mandy here. A Secret Muse, Mandy’s debut novel, has just been published and it looks fascinating. Here’s the blurb:

UCLA art professor Coco Rhodes knows little about her family’s association with the ancient clandestine organization The Allegiance and wants to keep it that way. She dislikes secrets—they’re a painful reminder of her childhood experiences that were erased as a result of her parents’ tragic deaths when she was four years old.

After a brutal attempt on her life, and the arrival of a birthday letter from her dead mother, Coco demands explanations from her brother, Christopher, a high-powered D.C. lawyer and member of the Allegiance.

Christopher guides Coco to her birthplace, Italy, insisting she’ll find her answers there. Enter the enigmatic Gabriel, a powerful warlock with a vampire father, and the ethereal Prudence, keeper of the Allegiance.

When a close friend is murdered, Coco’s life takes a dark turn. With only a faded portrait torn from a lost sketchbook, and one of her mother’s unfinished paintings, Coco unravels clues from her past, in the hope of saving those she loves.

Tell us, Mandy, at bedtime do you prefer “relaxing so you can sleep sounds” or white noise, TV, soft music, ocean waves, forest or meadow sounds, babbling brook, or something else?

I’m a light sleeper and average about 4 hours each night. I need peace and quiet so I wear earplugs every night—they block out the dog snoring, the cat running around like a mad woman, the coyote’s yapping, and the occasional wild animal realizing it’s about to become another’s dinner.

Snap! I wear earplugs at night too. I need peace and quiet for sleeping but love loud rock music at other times. What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have an all-time favourite song?

I studied classical music at university and hold a place in my heart for this genre. Having said that, there really isn’t a genre that I dislike—but I’m definitely one who loves to buy a song here and there on iTunes, rather than a whole album. Music plays a big part in my writing, as evident in A Secret Muse.

When writing, where do you get your ideas from?

Everyday life, mostly, and for the past twenty-five years I’ve kept a dream journal. I’ve come to accept that nightly dreams reveal so much—I just needed to learn how to listen. During my life I’ve dabbled in many different jobs, travelled, and surrounded myself with people from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. This makes for a vast and irresistible palette of characters and situations to pull from for creating stories.

What’s your favourite part of writing?

I enjoy every aspect of the writing process, from researching historic figures and eras, interviewing people who specialise in a specific area, and getting to know my characters to see where they end up taking me…it’s a scrumptious smorgasbord for my heart and mind. The editing process is fun too, that’s when it really takes shape.

How do you handle a writer’s block?

I used to fight it, but now I’ve come to accept it for what it is—time for some TLC. In the warm months, I swim everyday—there’s something about gliding through water that frees up my mind and allows ideas to enter. I walk early in the mornings and this is therapeutic too, but meeting with a friend for coffee, and getting out of the house works well when I’m stuck. Plus, I love coffee :-)

I’m a coffee-addict too. Do you write long hand first, or does it go straight onto the computer?

I carry journals everywhere so that I can jot ideas or phrases down and use them later. I have about five journals full of ‘stuff’ for A Secret Muse, and these range from entire chapters to character traits. But I do love my Mac! My iPhone is great for snapping a quick shot of something that inspires me—anything from old and twisted tree trunks, to a smiling face. Painting is another source of inspiration—I paint my characters.

That’s amazing! When crafting the story do you go from beginning to end, or do you jump around writing the scenes that are pushing themselves forward in your brain?

I create a basic storyline and put it together on a storyboard, this is a trait left over from working in the film industry, I guess. I’m visual so I need to ‘see’ the story before I write it. But no matter how well I think I’ve planned, my characters often go on tangents and drag me along for the journey. This is evident in my writing room—one side is the storyboard, another my paints and canvases etc., another my library, and in the middle is my Mac and assorted journals. And somewhere amongst this mess is my cat, Luna.

Generally speaking, is your work based on real life experience?

A Secret Muse, has an undercurrent of good versus evil, light and dark, these attributes are around us all constantly, either in our own world or the greater collective. So, yes, what I write is, in some form or another, taken from real life experience. I can think of quite a few ‘dark’ characters that dwell in our everyday existence, I just give them a mythological title.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on A Secret Muse, book two, however, because I also enjoy writing non-fiction, I take breaks to write blog posts for the Huffington Post and Tasmanian Times. Writing non-fiction reminds me of what’s going on in the real world, and in a strange way I find that by ignoring my characters for a bit, they start plotting together in my sub-conscious until their whispers become screams in my head. At that time, I’m forced to listen while they tell me where they want to go next. Sounds a little odd, I guess, but I’m sure this is somewhat ordinary to many writers. Funny to think that I’m figuring out ways to outwit my characters…time for a swim, I guess!

So interesting, Mandy. I’ve got A Secret Muse on my TBR list and can’t wait to read it. How do we find you? Please let us have your stalk links!

With pleasure:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

Buy Link

Thank you so much for answering my questions, Mandy. I wish you every success with A Secret Muse and your future books.

Thanks for having me, Siobhan. I enjoyed the interview :-)

The Submission of Theodora by Siobhan Daiko

siobhandaiko:

Today I have revealed the cover of my erotic romance “The Submission of Theodora”, which will be released on 27th October.

Originally posted on Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock:

Title: The Submission Of Theodora

Author: Siobhan Daiko

Genre: Erotic Romance









It’s not every day a girl gets to meet the most powerful man in the world – but it’s not every girl that’s deemed useful. I’ve been deemed useful to the heir apparent to the Roman Emperor!

My skin prickles with awareness of him.

His hips form a perfect V; his chest seems forged from iron.

I long to touch him.

I long to be possessed by him.

I long to lose all sense of Theodora and be lost in Justinian.

Crazy, impetuous, domineering Justinian. With each word he speaks, I drift deeper into the maelstrom of his mind.

They tell me he has unusual tastes. They tell me I must surrender to him. “But as a former courtesan  it’s usually been me in charge.”

But when his true plans for me reveal themselves, and the darkness in Justinian comes…

View original 150 more words

My Monday guest, Jade West, queen of erotic romance.

Today I’m absolutely delighted to be chatting with the amazing Jade West. Jade and I met about a year ago through our editor John Hudspith. Her “Dirty Bad” erotic romance series has stormed up the Amazon USA charts and her current release, Dirty Bad Strangers, has been ranked as high as #14 in the top 100 bestsellers. All well deserved. Jade is a hugely talented writer, unafraid to push the boundaries, and I love her work.

Welcome, Jade. How would you describe yourself as a colour?

The very darkest red, bordering on black. I’m an absolute goth at heart, but there is a flash of scarlet and blood and Coca-Cola. I’m quite a drama queen – a gothic drama queen – so black-red sums me up very nicely. :-)

Are you a morning person, or a midnight candle burner?

Most definitely a midnight candle burner. I often see the morning, but it’s invariably through lack of sleep the night before. I pull all-nighters way more than I’d recommend. Sleep deprivation is a close buddy of mine.

I find there is something magical in the quiet of the early hours, some kind of psychic stillness which allows my muse to play. I get most of my writing done during this time.

Fascinating! Tell me something you would like your fans to know about you.

I write largely from experience, and I hope that shows. I really was a chatline operator, and I really am a filthy cow.

Hahaha! Bedtime, relaxing so you can sleep sounds or Is your preference for white noise, TV, soft music, ocean waves, forest or meadow sounds, babbling brook, or something else?

My bedtime is often in the middle of the day, and I’m normally like a zombie when I climb between the sheets. Silence and heavy curtains suit me.

When did you start writing?

I started writing years ago, and in fact I quit my day job when I was about twenty-five with the intention of becoming an author. I was working on a godawful paranormal story at the time, and completed a year’s creative writing course with the Open University to help me along my way. Luckily, I didn’t finish that book! I ended up running a business for seven years instead. 

In honesty, I’m not sure as to why I started writing. Some kind of calling, I guess. I’ve written journals since I was eleven, so writing has been a part of life for a long time now. I live in my head, a lot, so stories seem to appear naturally, along with the urge to write them down.

Awesome! Where do you get your ideas from?

The subconscious. It’s a greater storyteller than the rest of me could ever hope to be.

How did you come to write erotica?

I think I was born dirty. Erotica is the obvious choice for me. Nobody who has ever known me in everyday life would be even vaguely surprised!

What is your favourite part of writing a novel?

My favourite part of writing a novel has come about quite recently. I work with John Hudspith, who’s an incredible editor, and we’ve taken on a way of collaborating which suits me well. It’s almost like real-time editing, although we are in completely different parts of the country. I’ll be writing while he’s editing, and it comes together beautifully. It’s one of my greatest joys.

Mine too! So, how do you handle a writer’s block?

I get my editor to kick me up the arse. He has a strong foot. :-)

Hahaha! Do you write long hand first, or does it go straight onto the computer?

Straight onto the computer. I use a software package called WriteItNow and I would strongly recommend it.

Yes, I’ve got that one too but mostly use it for planning and making research notes. Are you a “sit down and play it by ear” kind of writer, or do you need a structured guideline, or maybe a little of both?

I have a structured guideline – a list of scenes – and I let myself flow freely within that. So, I’ll know which scene I’m writing, but let it take shape however it wishes.

So, do you always know how a story will end when you begin writing it?

Yes, although the route to that end will sometimes surprise me.

And your work is definitely based on real life experience?

Most certainly. :-)

Do you like to read the genre that you write?

Yes. I love a good erotica novel, especially a dirty-as-hell one with a filthy talking lead.

Hahaha! What are you working on now? Would you like to share anything about it?

Dirty Bad Strangers was only released last week, and I am now at the beginning on the next project. It’s a dark tale, with Halloween in mind.

Wow! Tell us a bit about your recent release, Dirty Bad Strangers.

Dirty Bad Strangers is the story of a chatline operator who gets involved with one of her clients. They share the same fantasy – group sex. Our lovely curvaceous heroine wants to be taken by multiple men she doesn’t know, and she well and truly gets her wish.

I loved writing this book. The characters really got under my skin, as did the romance. It’s my favourite of the three.

It’s my favourite too. Gemma and Jason are wonderful characters. It’s been great chatting with you, Jade. Before you go, please let us have your stalk links.

You can catch me over at:

www.facebook.com/jadewestauthor

www.twitter.com/jadewestauthor

www.jadewestauthor.com

Thank you for having me!

THANK YOU! :-)

 

My Monday Guest, Pam Howes, queen of rock fiction.

Today, I’m delighted to welcome the lovely Pam Howes to my blog.

Pam and I met about four years ago on the peer review site YouWriteOn, and now we’re friends on Facebook. It was Pam who introduced me to my fantastic editor John Hudspith, the man who has made such a difference to my writing. Pam is the author of The Rock and Roll Years series: Three Steps to Heaven; ‘Til I Kissed You; Always On My Mind; Not Fade Away, and That’ll Be The Day, which follows the lives and loves through the decades of fictional Rock’n’Roll band The Raiders. Her stand-alone true-life romance, Fast Movin’ Train, set in the nineties, was published in early 2012. A new series of Fairground Romances, set in the sixties, begins with Cathy’s Clown. 

Welcome, Pam. How would you describe yourself as a colour? Are you a light and airy pastel person, or more of a deep, dark, sultry and mysterious colour?

Purple, definitely purple. The darker and richer the better. There’s a colour called royal purple. That’s me!

And are you a morning person, or a midnight candle burner?

Midnight candle burner. I don’t do mornings. I have more energy at night for some reason.

I’m the same. Please tell me something you’d like your readers to know about you.

I’m the driving force behind a campaign for Blue Plaque status for buildings in my hometown that housed our brilliant clubs where iconic acts like The Who, Jimi Hendrix, The Small Faces and the Walker Bothers performed in the sixties.

Wow! I hope you’re successful. What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have an all-time favourite song?

Mainly Rock’n’Roll or sixties pop songs. Favourite song of all time would have to be Let The Heartaches Begin by Long John Baldry, one of the best ballads ever recorded.

I love that song too. Pam, if your life were a movie would it be considered an action film, comedy, drama, romance, fantasy or a combination?

Definitely drama mixed with a handful of comedy and a lot of romance. Drama because of the large family I have around me and comedy because there’s plenty of laughter that such a big brood generates and romance – well why not?

Absolutely! Please tell us, when did you start writing?

I first had a dabble in the mid-nineties when I started to write what was to be a factual book about the local music scene in the sixties.

From where do you get the ideas for your novels?

Life in general. My teenage years. Songs inspire me too, and my musician partner’s tales of his times on the road with his old bands.

How did you come to write rock fiction?

By default I think. When my non-fictional attempts were abandoned because someone beat me to it, I turned the facts into rock fiction.

What do you think is the hardest part of writing a book?

Being chained to a desk all day. I get restless and want to go out, especially when the sun is shining.

Which element is most difficult for you?

None of it really. Once I get going I enjoy all the writing part.

What’s your favourite part, then?

When I can picture my characters and see them moving through the lives I’ve created for them.

That’s mine too. What’s your least favourite part?

Marketing! It’s boring and time consuming.

Snap! Would you ever consider a joint project?

Maybe. It’s been mooted. I have a friend who was married to a musician from a well known band. She has diaries and stuff from those days and the tours of America with many famous names. One day we plan on getting it together to collaborate on this non-fiction project. I’m looking forward to it as she promises some wild tales!

Sounds intriguing. Which one of your own releases was your own particular favourite?

Fast Movin’ Train. It’s based on a true tale and is written from deep within my heart.

I can’t wait to read it. Tell us, Pam. How do you handle a writer’s block?

Don’t really get it once I’m on a roll. I had a break this year while my mother was ill and needed care. Took me a while to get back in the saddle, but once I got there I’ve been fine.

That’s good to know. Do you write long-hand first, or does it go straight onto the computer?

I used to write long hand, pads and pads of it, but not anymore. I just use the computer and then print a chapter at a time and add any bits or edits that way and then input them.

Are you a “sit down and play it by ear kind of writer”, or do you need a structured guideline, or maybe a little of both?

I play it by ear most of the time. I don’t work well if I have to stick to structure.

When crafting the story do you go from beginning to end, or do you jump around writing the scenes that are pushing themselves forward in your brain?

I always have the end in my head first. That way it’s easier to start, but sometimes it takes me by surprise…

Generally speaking, is your work based on real life experience?

Yes, a lot of it is. My characters are nearly always based on people I know. I use the looks of one and the traits of another and mix and mingle them a bit!

How long does it take you to create a novel, on average?

About twelve months these days. Maybe a bit less if time permits.

Do you like to read the genre that you write?

Sometimes. But there’s not much around like mine; they’re sagas without clog and shawls. My guys wear jeans and leather jackets in the main. I love to read crime thrillers.

What are you working on now, Pam? Would you like to share anything about it?

I’m working on the second novel of my fairground series, Ruby Tuesday, but I’ve had to put it temporarily on the back burner due to working on a secret project. I’ll be back on the job soon. No release date planned at the moment. This will depend on the secret project and the available time to complete both.

How can we find you? Do you have a web page, Facebook  page or any buy links?

My Facebook author page

My Amazon page with all book links

Twitter

Thanks, Pam. It’s been great chatting to you and I wish you every success with your secret project and Ruby Tuesday. I loved Three Steps to Heaven and really look forward to reading more of your books.

My Monday guest, Joy Wood, definitely not a donkey!

Today, I’m delighted to host debut novelist Joy Wood to my blog. We’ve recently become friends, both of us sharing the same fantastic editor, John Hudspith, and amazing cover designer J D Smith. Welcome, Joy! Please tell me something you would like readers to know about you.

I have worked at a nurse all my adult life, and despite the many reorganisations I have been involved in throughout the NHS, I’m passionate about healthcare with the patient being the focus and not bureaucracy. If we all put the patient at the centre of decision making, then there would be a great improvement in the service. Instead we are driven by numerous targets, which can be ‘fiddled’, and dare I say, implemented at the cost of quality patient care.

If you could morph into any creature what would it be?

A Donkey.

If you don’t mind me asking, why a donkey?

To join the rest of them in Parliament!

Hahaha! Good answer!!

I’m a music lover. What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have an all-time favourite song?

I prefer music from the 50’s 60’s and 70’s. I was brought up on this music as my late father was a fisherman, and when ashore (in those days maybe for just 2 days at a time), music would feature loudly throughout the house each morning ’till dusk. On a school morning, I would wake to the beautiful voice of Roy Orbison, the unique strings of Buddy Holly and the rhythm of Elvis blaring out from the record deck – those where the days!

Sounds great. If your life were a movie would it be considered an action film, comedy, drama, romance, fantasy or a combination? Why?

A drama. It would be a lifelong true story about nursing. I would hope the ending would leave the audience begging for a return to the traditional values of the NHS.

So, when did you start writing and why?

To see if I could. I used to be very successful in consumer competitions as a slogan writer. I love word play, and quickly deduced that humour would win me the prizes. So, I worked on humour, and interjected it into each ditty I wrote, and was rewarded handsomely. I moved onto poems and short stories, and then decided I’d go for a ‘proper story’, and the plot for my book was ‘hatched’.

Where do you get your ideas from, Joy?

I moved to the seaside (Cleethorpes) two years ago. Each day I walk the sea front (come rain or shine) and weather permitting, sit and watch the tide. I just love water.  I make little chapters up in my mind, and then when I’m home, capture them on the laptop.

How did you come to write romance?

I like reading romance myself. It’s a bit of escapism and I felt, as a new writer, I would be more likely to attract a larger audience. What woman doesn’t like a bit of romance?!?

Very true. What do you think is the hardest part of writing a book?

Editing. Without doubt. I’d not written before, remember. I could write what I thought was a good story, but I wondered whether the writing was good enough, and, initially, it wasn’t. So, there was lots of POV work to be done, and lots of cutting, and my grammar needed a bit of work. (I hope John Hudspith is not reading this as he’ll be choking on his tea at ‘a bit of work’!)

What’s your favourite part of writing?

Just writing, initially. Whether it’s satisfactory, bad, not quite good enough, needs some work, etc., doesn’t matter to me. I just love sitting and writing my thoughts down. I write as I speak. Obviously there is a lot of cutting that has to be done, but I like the feeling of getting those words down on paper.

And your least favourite part?

Promoting! I’m not a great one for pushing myself forward. It’s ridiculous really when I’ve spent my life as a health educator, speaking in public/in schools, lecturing at University, and counselling, and yet, when it comes to promoting my book, I’m not good at all. And let’s not go there about having my photograph taken . . .

Would you ever consider a joint project?

No, it wouldn’t be fair on the other person, I’d always think my ideas were the best!

Do you always know how a story will end when you begin writing it?

Yes, I have the beginning and the end written of the next one, I just need to fill the bits in-between!

Generally speaking, is your work based on real-life experience?

Oh, my goodness, no. If I’d been lucky enough to be with any of these hunky leading men, I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this now!

Would you want it to be based on real-life experience?

No, I wouldn’t. I’ve been exceptionally lucky, and have had a wonderful life so far, which, God willing, I hope will continue, but nothing exciting that anyone would want to read about.

What are you working on now? Would you like to share anything about it?

Yes, I’m working on a book about a small independent hospital, and the staff that work in the operating theatre. It’s a romance, but has a definite story to it, with a few surprising twists and turns along the way.

Tell us about your recent release, Joy!

I released my debut novel, For the Love of Emily on 15th August, and the response has been amazing. Currently, it’s received twenty 5 star reviews on UK Amazon, and five 5 star reviews on the US site. The book is a contemporary romance about Rebecca, a young woman with a deadly secret. She creates beautiful dresses by day, and works as a high class prostitute for female clients at night. The two other central characters, a middle-aged lesbian, and a strong charismatic wealthy businessman, both want Rebecca and will stop at nothing to get her.

While the content of the novel is very graphic sexually, (Amazon review ‘…the author gets you turning the pages so quickly, your fingers will be on fire…’), I sincerely hope the reader will enjoy the content of the story and the intrigue along the way. (Amazon review ‘…I found myself led down many dead-ends, as I was convinced I had ‘sussed’ it all out, only to be dealt another clever, well thought out and executed ‘twist’… and there are a number of them so be ready for a roller coaster ride.’) It is available from Amazon as either a paperback, or a Kindle version, and I’ve specifically asked at the end of the book for feedback from the readers, which hopefully will shape my next novel!

How can we find you? Do you have a web page, a Facebook page or any buy links?

Yes, I do:

Buy link: hhttp://bookgoodies.com/a/B012GKUK8I.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/joywoodauthor

Website: joywoodauthor.wordpress.com

Twitter: @Joywoodauthor

Thank you Siobhan for giving me the opportunity to share ‘a little bit about me’ today.

If there are any queries at all, I’m happy to be contacted by email joymarywood@yahoo.co.uk

Thank YOU, my lovely. It’s been a REAL joy hosting you on my blog and I wish you every success with your writing. I’ve got “For the Love of Emily” on my Kindle and can’t wait to start reading.