Guest Blog: Randi Alexander (Contest)

New Release and Book Giveaway!

I'm Randi Alexander and I write cowboy erotic romance. My first book, Chase and Seduction was released May 27 from The Wild Rose Press' Cowboy Kink line. I want to thank Delilah for letting me guest blog today. She and I share a love of cowboys. We both blog on Wild and Wicked Cowboys with 12 other erotic romance authors.

Some of the 14 published authors on W&W are full-time writers, others have day jobs and write evenings and weekends. I'm a stay-at-home author, and I wonder if sometimes I'm not as focused on the actual writing as someone who works a day job. Someone who needs to get things done in a condensed amount of time.

So, here's my story. "A day in the life of a full-time writer." I hear my husband get up at 6:30 AM because I'm a light sleeper. I get up, too, put on my pull-over robe, which he calls my muumuu, and shuffle off into the kitchen to make coffee, breakfast for two, and his lunch. He says I don't have to make him lunch, but if I don't, he goes out and spends $15 a day at a restaurant. (Have I mentioned I'm very frugal?)

I kiss him goodbye at 8:00 and power up the ol' laptop. Checking all my social networking hangouts takes about an hour. It gets longer every day as I add more favorites. Then it's e-mails, which can take a little or a LOT of time.

I still haven't written anything, and it's already 10:00. Yeay! Time for a snack! Oh, and I put on real clothes right about now, too, because when the mail comes, I want to be ready! Mail is an exciting part of my day!

Now the neighbor guy starts mowing his lawn. I watch him for a while, concocting a story about the lonely stay-at-home writer who falls for the handsome hunk next door. Except Burt is about 83, and has on a huge, floppy sun hat that I'm sure his wife makes him wear, so I really have to use my imagination.

Okay, butt back into the writing chair. Tummy's full, water glass is full, brain…isn't so much. I'm outlining a book, and things just aren't flowing. So, I open my library book on voiceover acting and do my voice exercises. "Unique New York, unique New York, red leather, yellow leather, blue blood, black blood."

Whoa, it's almost noon. I've got to write something! So I meditate a few minutes, open the outline document, and write a few scenes. Woot! Something's working up there in the old noggin.

But now it's lunchtime. Which means, I get to watch TV. I allow myself a half hour of television while eating lunch. Nothing powerful like CNN. I need something trite, like a soap opera. (There goes all that brainpower I just invoked before lunch!)Then I clean the kitchen, empty the dishwasher, put in a load of laundry, and get the mail. Love the mail

All righty, time to get back to work. Again, I check my social networking sites, answer my e-mails, then begin the outlining process again. But out my window, I see two squad cars stop across the street. Uh oh, time to peek out the curtains and see what's up.

Nothing interesting. Back to the outline. Oops, it's 3:00. Time for a snack. Apples and carrots. And another load of laundry.

4:00 rolls around, and it's my witching hour. Hubby will be home soon, and I want to finish this elusive outline. I promised myself I'd get it done today, and nothing will stop me from achieving my goal. But first – my drum set is calling. I practice every day in preparation for the moment when the perfect storm of musicians comes together and I can fulfill my dream of playing in a tropical-rock band. So I bang around on them, today tapping along to Zac Brown, Jimmy Buffett, and an old Bon Jovi.

Now I'm energized. I write for a half hour, then pop into the kitchen to get supper started. I'm not really the Stepford housewife I might seem to be. Usually supper is baked fish and lettuce salad, because we're on a health kick.

When he gets home, we have supper together, take a walk, then he wanders off to do his guy-stuff, and I finally have the motivation to finish that outline. (Getting to bed before midnight is a great motivator!) Three hours later, I finish what I'd told myself I'd have done by noon.

I'm sure other full-time writers have perfected the art of stick-to-it during the day, but I'm still rather new at this. What don't I know that hugely successful authors, like Delilah, know?How do people with corporate telecommuting jobs do it? Why do I find myself wandering off to stare at something shiny?

I know it'll come to me eventually. But for now, I'm happy doing what little writing I can in between all the fun, fluffy time-wasters.

Country music superstar/actor Chase Tanner has yet to be denied anything–and he's never wanted anything or anyone more than gorgeous screenplay writer Reno Linden. So when the film they are working on is finally finished, Chase decides to turn up the volume on seducing Reno.

Reno Linden lived a quiet, rural life until she was thrust into the Hollywood scene when her book was adapted to film. Chase Tanner is larger than life, sinfully sexy and hell-bent on getting her into bed. Skittish after a failed wedding engagement, Reno risks the plunge into Chase's arms, and is surprised that her good girl self can keep up with bad boy Chase.

Though Chase returns to his cowboy roots often, and Reno cherishes the time spent with him on his ranch, the two find their careers pulling them in different directions. Will their attraction survive the glitz and stress of fame?

Chase stood and walked across the room leaving Reno sitting on the couch staring at his back. All of a sudden, she could use a drink.

When he turned to face her, he spread his feet apart, his hands fisted at his sides. "Last night, you wouldn't let me explain, and I'm damn sure going to set you straight now." His low voice rumbled.

Reno swallowed, shaking a little inside. Not from fear, but desire. Something about the way he took control made her feel secure and…mushy inside. She didn't expect him to grovel, but he came on surprisingly forceful. She hadn't known that quality in a man before.

"The condoms were a gag. My drummer stuffed them in that drawer a couple months ago, and told me to use them all before filming ended. Did you see how many were in there?"

Reno nodded and opened her mouth to answer.

"All of them. I didn't use any." He walked toward her. "You wanna know why?"

She just blinked and drank in his intensity.

He paused a second, then said, "When I met you, I knew I'd found someone special. But I didn't want to believe it at first. I had to test it, and poke at it, and stir it up some, but you're real." His brow furrowed, and his gaze bore into hers. "You're as nice as you seem, and as smart as they come, and way too good for a hick like me."

"Too good? No, Chase—" She stood and reached her hand out toward him, but he backed away.

"Let me get this said. I lose my concentration when you're close."

Reno clasped her hands in front of her. She wanted so badly to be in his arms, she pressed her knees together to keep from running to him.

* * * * *

To celebrate the release of Chase and Seduction, I'm giving away, to one lucky *commenter, an e-copy of my novella Her Cowboy Stud. Just leave a comment today and we'll choose a winner tomorrow. *Commenter must be 18 years of age or older to win.

I'm also giving away a cowgirl hat to one subscriber to my newsletter. For more details, and to sign up for this contest, please go to my website, RandiAlexander.com And while you're there, you can read the first chapter of Chase and Seduction.

Good luck, and thank you!

Randi

RandiAlexander.com

WildAndWickedCowboysBlog

Chase and Seduction available at The Wild Rose Press Wilder Roses