Michele Micheal Rakes's Blog, page 6
September 15, 2014
Rainbow Book Reviews Saving Kane
Kane Abel is stalked by a sadistic killer.
Garrett Young fears he will be too late to save the man he loves.
http://www.rainbowbookreviews.com/book-reviews/saving-kane-by-michele-m-rakes-at-loose-id
Review: Saving Kane by Michele M. Rakes
TNA reviewed Saving Kane.
Originally posted on The Novel Approach:
Author: Michele M. Rakes
Publisher: Loose Id
Pages/Word Count: 260 Pages
Rating: 3 Stars
Blurb: Kane Abel can’t help falling for his caregiver, the handsome paramedic who saves his life, but he’s resistant. The one time Kane threw caution to the wind, he was left with a wired jaw and a tracheostomy. He can’t take much more hurt. But with his attacker’s promise to return, Kane lives in a constant state of fear, and with the ever-present paramedic, arousal.
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August 26, 2014
Authors for Authors
Today’s Authors for Authors answer is from Meg Amor, author of Dark War from MuseItHot Publishing.
Are you independent, or with a publisher?
I’m actually both. For my self help book The Mystic Manifestor, I published that myself in print, four years ago, and just released it as an ebook on Amazon. But for my romance erotica, I’m glad to say I’m with a publisher. I’m with Muse It Up Publishing, a small to medium size, independent good press out of Canada. Mikey and I are both with them, and she’s with Loose Id. It certainly gives you a leg up, I think. And added confidence, that a house will pick you up and have the confidence in you to publish your work. It’s fantastic having the professional editors, seeing the processes that go into a book.
Can you compare the two, if involved in both forms of publishing?
I like the fastness of being an independent publisher and doing it on my own. I get to decide how fast I get this book up, how its cover will be. And I get all the royalties from it.
But with a publisher, I get backup and support. I get a team behind me, staff and other writers in the publishing group. And writers lives can be a wee bit lonesome at times. I don’t mind that per se, but having other writers you can ask a question of, or just moan about a cover say, is a boon being in a group. You definitely get more support being with a publisher. Your promoting is cut down, although you still need to do it. You get the wonderful editing that a good house has, which we have at Muse. We go through a content edit, back and forth, until the editor and I are both happy with where it’s sitting. Then it goes to the line editor, who gets all our commas, grammar and anything else in a row.
We then get a cover for each book, even in an anthology which is REALLY nice. And finally we get ‘galley’ or the proofreading, which we do ourselves. But by then, it should be pretty clean. It’s a thorough process. Sometimes I find it overly long, and each house has different processing times, but I do love being with a house.
It does make you feel slightly more like a ‘real’ author. Not that you’re not, if you’re not with a house. It’s just an internal feeling for me, having also self published. The truth of it today is that you’d be hard pressed to tell a lot of indies from house books. Sometimes the only thing that let’s people down is the editing. You can tell a book hasn’t gone through a professional house editor. You can learn so much from a decent editor.
I love the process. A decent editor will take your chunk of story, then cut and polish it until it shines and sparkles, bringing out the best facets of it. I think you miss that sometimes as an independent. I had to completely reedit The Mystic Manifestor for re-release. It was a nightmare. LOL. (as in, my first edit in the print version was a nightmare.)
Dark War by Meg Amor
MuseItHot Publishing.
Buy Links:
https://museithotpublishing.com/index.php/coming-soon/dark-war-detail
Social Media Links:
http://www.troikaromance.blogspot.com/ http://www.themysticmanifestor.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @amor_meg
Dark War:
This sensuous sultry romance is set in an old planation house in The Bayou of Louisiana. Three hearts entwined between two beautiful Creole men and one wild redhead woman. Thunderheads roll in off the bay on a hot and sultry night. The wind chimes are going wild. This heat flash has been building for a few days. Anything could happen…
Lonely Charlie Laralde aches with pent-up sexual tension and love for his two best friends, Henry and Izzy. His desire for them is torn to shreds by a vicious woman convincing him, he’s unlovable trash. Like the inner Dark War struggle he’s fought his whole life, he gives in to the darkness.
Frustrated and hell bent on destruction, he disappears with an unsavory crowd on a depraved death wish booty-call.
Will Henry and Izzy rescue him in time? Can they convince Charlie he’s their hearts desire? And the deep passionate love and desire they have for him?
Excerpt
I’ve known Charlie since the day he was born. He’s ten years younger, a Creole from a good Louisiana family like I am. Tall, charismatic, charming, oozes sex like the call of a siren going out into the night. He has a slight look of Smokey Robinson in his eyes, raw sexuality, and the women flock to him. They always have. Charlie’s sexy, light-skinned, what would have been called pardo in the old days, not like my darker skin. He keeps his hair slightly long and swept back. He still colors it, just vain enough to not want to age yet.
I’ve long let my short afro progress to salt and pepper. Izzy likes it. She thinks I look and sound a little like that popular, distinguished black actor, which I take as a compliment. He’s older than me and apparently comes under the “sex on a stick,” category. She says I do, too. I’m not sure what she sees, I’m sixty-eight to her thirty-eight years, but she loves me on a deep, soul level. I remind myself everyday how lucky I am.
“We have to find him,” Izzy’s plugged in energetically and this makes me more nervous.
After a lot of calls back and forth to Danny, I’m still none the wiser as to where Charlie went. Hell, I’m worried. It’s been an hour. We’ve achieved precisely nothing.
Izzy comes back from the office, her face taut with stress. “I know where he is.” She loves him as much as I do.
“Where?” I frown.
She shows me on the map. Oh thank God. Okay, I know where he is now. “How did you get this information?”
She grimaces. “I managed to get the stupid car-tracking software to activate.”
“Thank God, baby. I was going mad.”
“Me too.”
In reality he’s not far. It’s an old property of his family’s, kind of Bayou, out on the river. An old plantation house, falling down now, the Spanish moss choking everything it touches.
“Let’s go,” says Izzy, grabbing her purse and sliding her feet into a pair of flip-flops.
I want to leave her here but know she won’t let me go by myself. Her long, red curls and bright, tropical sundresses make her exotic and sexy, all that beauty dragged into something squalid.
“Not even,” she says.
“Iz, babe, let me deal with Charlie.”
“No, for fuck’s sake, I’m not letting you go there by yourself. Crikey, you don’t really think that’s going to happen, do you? He’s my friend too. We need to sort this out. He’s probably trolleyed out of his brain. You’re not going to deal with him by yourself.”
“Iz,” I say seriously.
“We’re bloody going. Charlie needs us.”
“Yes, he does, but I have a bad feeling about this. There’s probably going to be some sleazy people there. And who knows what else will be going on.”
“Fuck you, Charlie,” she hisses.
I don’t want her to see him like that. I know when he wakes up, sober and sick, he’ll be ashamed. I’ve been here with him. She hasn’t. Admittedly, even for me, a long time ago.
“We’ll take my truck.”
She nods, already helping me grab things we’ll need. Oh God, Charlie. Please be okay. I toss the big first-aid kit in the car, grab water and blankets. I run upstairs to his bathroom and pack shampoo, soap, toiletries, and towels. I throw spare clothes into a bag. Izzy’s eyes silently ask me why. She grimaces and shuts her eyes.
It’s hot, sultry, and steamy. A storm’s brewing out in the bay, picking up the wind. The big thunderheads rolling in earlier have been slow reaching us.
We’re sweating from fear as much as the velvety warmth. A sheen of sweat coats our skin. It’s the height of summer. The heat hasn’t dropped any at night. This heat flash has been brewing for a few days, increasing tensions each day. I’m not surprised something crazy is happening.
We hop into the truck. She grabs my hand. I pull her into me, wrapping my whole body around hers, breathing in her sweet plumeria scent. I wish I could go back inside, shut the door, take her to bed, and make love to her slowly. Deep heat, sensuous lingering arousal, until we’re both going mad with desire. The screaming need for each other has never diminished or abated.
It can’t be easy for Charlie at times, living with us. He wants what we have, I know that. I thought this was taking a different direction but unless I’m mistaken, something’s jumped the rails somewhere.
“I feel bad, I should have caught this sooner,” I say.
“I didn’t pick up on it either, babe. Maybe something happened at The Club and he got triggered.”
She’s as worried as I am.
“I love you, babe, more than life itself.”
“I know, baby. Back at you, always.” She kisses me slowly, her soft lips opening up, letting me slide my tongue into her mouth, all the heat in her eyes, despite the worry. Beautiful girl. How did I get this lucky?
I don’t even have to plug in the address. I know where he is.
*** Henry and Isolde ~ Muse It Up ~ Sensual Erotic Romance ~ Troika Love Series – Book 1 of Trilogy ~ Spring 2015 release Saint Nicholas ~ Muse It Up ~ Sensual Erotic Romance ~ a beautiful heartfelt m/f love story ~ Christmas 2014 release.
Dark War ~ Muse It Up ~ Sensual Erotic Romance ~ a committed Troika/poly relationship.
The Mystic Manifestor ~ Island Spirit Amor ~ Spiritual/Self-Help
***
“Everyone lives a thousand lives, but only one life to remember ~
Will this be yours?”
August 25, 2014
Authors for Authors
What drove you to say, fuck it, I want to write whatever genre you write?
When my cousin asked what I was writing, she prefaced it with “I hope you aren’t writing 50 Shades of Grey” – as if that was the worst genre I could choose. Right then and there I decided it wouldn’t matter what genre I chose because someone would have something to say about it. In the end, I write erotic romance because that’s what I like to read. Most people in this world have sex, so leaving it out amongst characters just seemed silly to me. Sex is one of the most powerful forces on our planet and yet some people don’t want to talk about it or read it. I do not understand those people.
Holiday Ties buy links:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LZA6HO2 (ASIN: B00LZA6HO2)
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/459841
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/holiday-ties
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/holiday-ties-elizabeth-safleur/1119993060?ean=2940045653084
Social media connections:
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/elizabethlovest/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethSaFleur
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElizaLoveStory
Google+ profile: google.com/+ElizabethSaFleur
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8409162.Elizabeth_SaFleur
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/elizabethsafleur
When Yvette Sava takes a spill on the ice outside of her Washington, D.C hotel, she knows the handsome man that helps her up spells trouble. Ryan Knightbridge is strong, passionate and demanding—and far too young for her. But Ryan has waited a year for his chance with the lovely submissive, who withdrew from society following her high-profile divorce. Unable to resist his charm, Yvette agrees to spend two days and two nights with him, allowing herself to indulge in desires shuttered long ago—but with a clear deadline. Now, Ryan has one wintry weekend to prove to her she’s worthy of love—and he’s worthy of her submission.
August 19, 2014
Authors for Authors
Two men—Kenyon a street cop, and Teo a social worker—come together as they try to help a seven-year-old boy abandoned by his mother. Neal, a young boy abandoned on the streets by his mother, is found by policeman Kenyon Hagerty and instantly bonds with him. Social worker Teo Marino becomes involved when the boy is placed in the care of Human Services. Soon after, the body of Neal’s murdered mother is discovered then later Neal’s father tries to kidnap him from the kids’ home. Kenyon is a man looking for real love, while Teo is the consummate playboy, going from one man to another as the spirit moves him. And yet these two men, truly yin and yang, are drawn together. It takes a misunderstanding to force them to face their feelings for each other. When Neal runs away looking for Kenyon—who he believes will adopt him—the two men must make a decision regarding Neal’s life—and their own. Publisher’s Note: This book was previously released by another publisher. It has been revised and re-edited for release with Totally Bound Publishing.
Today’s Authors for Authors is about promotion.
Here’s the biggie: theories on promo, self-promotion vs. spamming, and what is your social media quota for each day or week?
The answer comes from Edward Kendrick again, per request of the readers.
I promote each of my books about a week before they’re due out, and then on the day they come out, on my Facebook page, my blog, and on several Facebook groups—as well as some Yahoo groups—that I belong to. I’ll also let people know when I get a good review, or make a best-sellers list. I try to keep it to that because I don’t want people to get the ‘Jeez, I’ve already seen that ten times’ feeling. I do put links to my books, with the cover image, on the sidebar of my blog, and the cover images with the publisher’s name on my Facebook banner. That’s about the extent of my promoting. Too little? Perhaps. But I’m not willing to take the chance that people will get tired of seeing ‘Buy my book/books’ every time they turn around.
Blog:
http://edwardkendrick.blogspot.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/edward.kendrick.5
Google+
https://plus.google.com/u/0/115527711406227698357/about
August 18, 2014
Authors for Authors
Scene designer Charlie Cox is in a clandestine relationship with the theater’s lead actor, Ricky Moore. Charlie knows it will never be more than that because Ricky is too egotistical to want to be seen in public with a man who has deep burn scars on one arm. Not that Charlie blames him, since he’s certain he’s a freak in almost everyone’s eyes.
Jace Parish, the scene shop boss, is in love with Charlie but will never let him know. Jace thinks of himself as uninteresting because he’s thirty and starting to bald, which makes him look middle-aged. He also has never admitted to anyone he works with that he’s gay.
Liam Dolan owns the gym where Jace comes to work out his anger and frustration. Liam has been drawn to Jace from the beginning but believes Jace is straight, so has never revealed his feelings to Jace.
Ricky Moore knows he is using Charlie for his own selfish ends. What Ricky can’t figure out is why, when he can and does have anyone he wants in his bed, he keeps coming back to Charlie.
These four men have preconceived ideas about themselves and each other. What will it take for them to realize love is possible, if they will only give it a chance?
Today’s question:
At what point did you feel you finally had this under control?
We are joined by Edward Kendrick, author of over fifty published eBooks.
Define ‘control’ :D I finally figured out that I was an author for real after my fourth or fifth book came out. By then I had the hang of promoting it above and beyond what my publisher was doing. I had also, by that time, learned the ins and outs of how to self-edit before submitting a book, so that what I submitted was the best that I had to offer. Of course there were more edits once a book was accepted, and each one of them was/is a learning experience that I try to take to heart.
Where you can find me:
Blog:
http://edwardkendrick.blogspot.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/edward.kendrick.5
Google+
https://plus.google.com/u/0/115527711406227698357/about
August 17, 2014
Authors for Authors
This is a new segment for The Writer’s Nest featuring a new question for authors answered by authors each day. Readers and authors alike will hopefully enjoy the insights, humor, and slight madness we all will bring to the segment.
Christina McArdle must cast out the demons of her past and present or lose the love of her life. In the prosperous community of Bliss, New Hampshire, in 1995, Christina McArdle is living a feminist dream. In short order she has become the first female partner of the venerable, male dominated CPA firm of Driscol, Ryan, Jensen and Palmer. The honor followed by her selection as the first female member of the prestigious Maplewood Country Club. But Christina fears that her career success has come at a terrible price. Her husband, Ben, has lost sexual interest in her. Unable to ignite his passion for her and desperate for understanding of her own inhibitions, Christina turns to Dr. Rachel Morrisey, a sex therapist, who helps her uncover dark secrets from her past. Christina’s path to recovery is blocked by a misogynistic pastor who traps her and many other women of her church in a shame bind that serves his purulent interests. Her path to freedom requires Christina to break bonds from past and present or lose the thing she loves most in life—the love of husband and family.
The day’s question: Are you in the closet as a writer, or balls to the wall open?
Spencer Dryden, Author of Bliss released from Breathless Press.
I write under a pen name. I may have shed my inhibitions on erotica, but if my family, friends and associated knew of my interests, they’d drop dead in horror. My wife is the only person in the family circle who knows I write erotica. A few others know I write. I tell them I’m writing a novel but I don’t know what it is about yet. I am deep in the closet and have no desire to come out. I’ve told my wife I want it revealed at my wake with poster sized replica’s of the tawdry covers from my books. That’ll give them something to talk about.
Buy Link for Bliss:
http://www.amazon.com/Bliss-Spencer-Dryden-ebook/dp/B00JS2NCWY/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_dnr_1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomspencer_dryden
Twitter: @SpencerDryden
Its not MY blog but I blog at Oh Get a Grip: http://www.ohgetagrip.blogspot.com
Visit Spencer’s Fantasy Island
Quick Trips to Adult Fantasy: Leave Your Baggage Behind http://www.fictionbyspencer.com/
August 15, 2014
Troika Romance
http://www.troikaromance.blogspot.com/
Go check it out and give Meg a shout out as author of Dark War by MuseItHot Publishing.
Meg and I started out together and with her encouragement, among others, I finished and submitted Saving Kane. I thank her for that everyday.
Thanks Meggers!
She's a New Zealander, and wild as all get out! A fellow redhead, although, I'm pink now.
August 14, 2014
August 13, 2014
The Sense of Accomplishment
As a writer who tends to lean more toward the dark side, themes others might not want to touch, but I find those are the books I’m drawn to as a reader. Some are so dark, even I can’t finish them, or do so at my own peril. Writing characters deal with deep emotional and physical scars, while making them entirely real, is what I enjoy about the story writing process. I like to see my characters drag themselves from the depths of self-destruction, or escape the hands of a truly villainous adversary.
Sometimes, I write BDSM, and I have a special character, Vincent Sweetwater, who delves deep into his own psychological trauma’s through BDSM. He doesn’t feel sick, or suffers his deep self loathing when he’s with the man who makes him feel whole. For him, BDSM is his savior, but his Master is his the one who truly saves him. Vince has many struggles: his estrangement with his wife, a woman he’s loved all his life, and his desire to be held by the man whose whip made him feel whole. In pieces, Vince longs to put himself back together, but he’s a puzzle with pieces missing.
Kane is a young man who never imagined his world being anything but lonely. This poor man suffers for many reasons and he needs a savior. To me, I felt his savior needed to suffer too. I wanted someone who would be a perfect protector for Kane, and then gave him deeply ingrained flaws.
This is me, I like the anti-hero, the man who can barely keep himself emotionally solvent. A man on the edge, dangling his feet over the precipice, and trying to decide to jump or not. Behind him is a group of folks who hope, beg, and pray the fall never happens. I’m often inspired by music when I develop a character. Currently, I’m listen to Seether’s Broken, and I can’t help the knocking of two new characters at my door, but they have to wait. I need to finish Fourth and Long, and give Trainwreck another read over because my ballsy ass decided it was time to pimp Trainwreck in person at a conference. Foolhardy? Perhaps. Will I fall flat on my face? Maybe. Will my skin be the color of my hair (pink)? Possibly. Could this be the biggest cockup of my life? Doubtful. Not when wonderful things are happening for me now. A grandbaby on the way, my 14 year anniversary coming up, and my first conference, all in one month. September will prove to be interesting. My son’s birthday might be the date my restless grandbaby will decide to grace us with her presence.
A lot to look forward to in the coming months. A lot of challenges. I say bring it on. I’m ready. Even if I’m not ready, I will be. Thanks for reading. Just needed to get some thoughts out of my head before I had to go to work. Mostly, how happy I am to have Saving Kane out to the world and now looking to get Jackson McCoy and Irus Beaumont to the universe, along with Vincent Sweetwater, Mica Sweetwater, and Greg Dunne.
Mikey
