Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome the wonderful CJ Ellisson to the blog for the first time.

C.J. Ellisson, author of contemporary fantasy and erotica, lives near DC with her husband, two children aged eleven and nine, two Staffordshire Bull Terriers and a fluffy black cat who makes her sneeze.

After spending most of her working life dealing with real estate – either as a sales manager in wholesale mortgage banking, a corporate trainer, a Realtor, or as a property manager – she’s now writing full-time and happy for the first time in years. 

Writing has become her passion and to find people want to read her stories feels like a dream come true.

To find out more about C.J. please visit her online:  Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

The VV Inn Series 

Vampire Vacation 

(The V V Inn #1)

Meet Vivian. She’s a 580-year-old vampire who exudes sex, has a talent for drama, and is passionate about two things: her human husband, Rafe, and their resort for the undead. Her ability to project physical illusions has created the perfect vacation spot a dark, isolated Alaskan hideaway where visitors can have their wildest fantasies come true.

Vivian knows the best performance requires perfect timing, but the powerful vamp is put to the test when she discovers a corpse in a locked guestroom minutes before the next arrivals. Always cool-headed, Rafe hides the body, convinced he and Vivian can find the culprit without disturbing their guests.

Juggling the increasingly outrageous demands of their customers while tracking a killer isn’t easy. Will their poking and prodding give them the answers they need, or will it uncover secrets Vivian would kill to protect?

Warning: This story contains some explicit sex scenes and is not intended for readers under 18.

Purchase Links:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble

The Hunt (The V V Inn #2)

Vivian thinks she can control every aspect of a deadly game with her usual manipulations… but what if she can’t? Journey along, in this next installment of The V V Inn series, for a wild ride as the tale is told through the eyes of all her new seethe members.

Seven vampires and seven werewolves pay to hunt a supernatural criminal across the cold, vast grounds of an Alaskan resort. The one to catch her, and live through the encounter, will increase their power by feasting on hers.

The tiny vampire they track is more than she appears, however. To escape a fate of ten years in silver chains, she’ll do anything to survive the week long excursion. This time, the darkness holds more than just the stinging bite of the Arctic—it holds death.

Purchase Links:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Big Game (The V V Inn #3)

In this much-anticipated third installment of the V V Inn series, our sexy couple journeys to Argentina, bringing half their seethe along for the ride. Vivian and Rafe venture into the Seat of Darkness, the Tribunal’s base, to uncover who’s plotting against them and why. From a cold, windy island off the southern Argentine coast, to the decadence of Buenos Aires, the group has plenty to keep their attention–seductive twins, deadly games, and a bunch of bloodsucking fiends who hate our much-loved, despotic innkeeper enough to see her dead. Asa and Jon remain in Alaska, to manage the famous inn as it opens doors to a new type of guest. Visiting werewolves go on their first exploration of the property, looking for big game–hormones run high and shots ring out across the tundra. Soon, the hunters become the hunted and the peaceful getaway resembles a battleground. How many will survive the next five days and will they ever be the same again? Warning: This book contains very explicit sex scenes and is not intended for readers under 18

Purchase Links:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’m a mother of two, a full time writer, and a devoted wife who hasn’t killed her spouse, yet. 😉 Just kidding, he’s a keeper.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I never thought I could ever be a writer. I sat down and started writing one day. A good friend with a journalism degree and twenty years experience as an editor read my work and told me I was a natural. I believed her and haven’t looked back since!

Are you a plotter or a panster? And can you explain the difference?

I’m a plotter who leaves the outline loose enough for the story to evolve as I’m writing it.  A true panster writes without an kind of outline, letting it flow from concept to creation, right onto the page. I’ve heard some pansters have a hard time with story arcs and dangling plot threads, and must edit a lot on the finished MS.

Some plotters have really extensive outlines, like fifty pages or more. Mine are never that detailed but they do help guide me while crafting the story.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Hmm… I had to think hard on this one. Perhaps the most interesting quirk I have is the style in which I choose to write. I like first person present tense, not past tense (which is more commonly done). There are more and more books being done in present tense, but it’s still rare enough that for some readers mine is the first they’ve ever tried.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

BIG GAME is an adventurous erotic vampire mystery with two distinct storylines. One is set in Alaska, following the werewolves, and the other is Argentina, with most of Vivian’s vampire seethe.

How did you come up with the idea for this story?

I’ve had the idea for this story since the first book, VAMPIRE VACATION. I thought I knew exactly how I wanted BIG GAME to end, but while writing it I altered some small points as it evolved. Conceptually, I knew I wanted Vivian to need rescuing. Setting up the scenario and premise was the fun part!

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

I’m aiming at the Fifty Shades of Grey readership. I’ve written erotica in the past and anyone who has read my books knows I don’t shy away from incredibly hot sex scenes! Crafting an erotic romance that would appeal to women and men is my goal. Whereas the current sensation calls to women, I’d like to write something couples can read together. The novel will take the reader on one woman’s journey of sexual discovery, while teaching the man in the book a little about himself as well.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Hmm… I can’t say. There are lots of authors I admire and lots of books I’ve loved. I don’t have one that stands out as the be-all-end-all rock star that I’d love to meet.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Develop a thick skin and hire an experienced editor. So many authors think publishing houses have editors and the company will take care of all of that stuff for them. In reality, if your manuscript isn’t as close to perfect as you can possibly make it before an agent or big editor sees it, then you can bet there won’t be any contract offers or a chance to work with their editing team to follow. They really expect you to have a clear grasp of the mechanics and hand them something that is extrememly well polished.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I’d like to learn several foreign languages and travel around the world, staying for long periods of time on each continent. I realize that’s a tall order, especially learning languages, too, but it’s a dream I’ve had for years.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

Fall. Not simply for the return of the school year (yay!), but for the cooler weather and the anticipation of my favorite excuse to dress up – Halloween!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’d like to ask readers to give my work a try. Download the free eBook JUST ONE TASTE to read half of my first book, Vampire Vacation. It’s available on Kindle, Nook, Apple, and through Smashwords. It’s a chance to see if the characters, storyline, and writing style appeal to you before you lay out a dime.

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** CJ is having  a big contest this month.  To enter fill out the rafflecopter form below**

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