Category: Guest Blogs

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Guest Blog with Gweena Sebastian & Giveaway

For the Love of Books has let Gweena Sebastian take over the blog today.  Gweena is a writer of military romances about gay lovers.  
The floor is all yours Gweena, 


It’s a character flaw
I get into some pretty spirited conversations with writing friends of mine when it comes to the topic of character. Let’s just say I’m a bit passionate about it. I love a lively debate, especially when we don’t agree on character and what he or she would do. I find it fascinating to see another person’s reason for arriving at why a character would or wouldn’t do something and why I may see it entirely differently.
When it comes to my writing, I’m even more passionate. I’m a character writer, my stories come from that angle and it’s the only way I know how to write. I need my characters layered and rich, with back stories, emotions and flaws. Especially flaws. My characters have all kinds of faults and flaws.
But let’s face it, who in this world is perfect? And perfection to me means tedium. It’s highly overrated in my opinion.
To date, probably my most flawed character is from my first novel, Lost and Found. Mark Connor is a former Vietnam veteran who comes with a boatload of issues. He’s an alcoholic and smoker who makes no effort to hide his bitterness or anger with the world in general. He’s also gay. He’s controversial as I found out through various reviews. People either really liked Mark and rooted for him in the hopes that he would eventually accept happiness when it’s offered to him, or they absolutely hated him. Either way, I consider it a win. Why? Because he was being talked about. They’re talking about a character I created and I couldn’t be more flattered.
Some characters seem to be a bit flat at first blush. But if you take the time to get to know them and see what motivates them, you find yourself looking past the surface noise and seeing what’s really going on underneath. Sometimes it takes another person’s angle on that character to wake you up to the possibilities.
I don’t want easy characters. What I do want are characters who invoke a host of emotions and make you think. Even if you don’t necessarily like someone like Mark Connor, I want you to appreciate and understand where he comes from and why. There’s nothing neat and clean about him. He’s a lot of raw and sharp edges and I made him that way deliberately. But under all of that he is a man who is still grieving over losing the love of his life, even forty years later.
I feel the best stories are those that are character driven. In my case, I tend to come up with the character and let him tell me his story. What happens, how it happens, why it happens and how he reacts to it is all based in what makes up that character.
How many of you get attached to a character on a television show? Come on, you know what I mean. You feel like you know him or her, inside and out, what they will say or do next. Then something happens that has you dumbfounded, confused and mouth hanging open because the character you thought you knew did something completely out-of-character. You know what I’m talking about. It’s what you’re ranting about the next day with your friends, saying how the hell did that happen? It’s just not right, what were they thinking?
You’ve ‘invested’ in that character and then someone changes it up and they didn’t consult you about it first. Uh huh. I’ve been there too. But it’s got you talking and more than likely you aren’t the only one. And there it is, the character debate I mentioned at the beginning.
The best characters are the ones that make people talk, because that means they make you think. That’s a good thing in my opinion. If I can motivate you to talking about a character like Mark, then I’ve done my job.
Giveaway Time
What you might ask?  How about an ecopy of Gweena’s new book

Blurb for VN2- my new novel available July 29th, 2011

Ian Davidson is a Truebred, son of a general and a soldier uncomfortably destined for an officer’s role in the military. Worse, he’s got a gift; he can read other’s thoughts and feel their emotions. His father has used him and it to get ahead in his own career despite the fact that Ian can’t quiet the voices in his own head. But when the Bond chooses Nathan as his mate, the pain ebbs and the voices cease. If only he could be sure bonding with Nate doesn’t mean he’s going to be controlled by a partner as much as he’s been controlled by his father, and his destiny…

Several months ago, Sergeant Nathan Williams lost his Bond partner in battle and along with it, his will to live. But a trip to the local recreation hub for black market supplies buys him more than he bargains for – a Bond with a new partner, Lieutenant Ian Davidson. There is something about Ian that forces Nathan to believe that the Bond between them could be stronger than his previous one. If only he can convince Ian to give in and give the Bond a chance.

When Nathan is captured on VN2, the worst post in existence, Ian is forced into new territory that he is not familiar with – the leadership of a reluctant special forces unit and his newly discovered feelings for Nathan. The struggle to accept the Bond spills into the battlefield, and Nathan is pushed to the brink with memories of his old Bond. It becomes sexual tension hell when event after event threatens to tear the couple a part when both wants nothing more than to tear each others clothes off.


To Enter: 
Please a comment 
Please leave you email address

Giveaway will be open until Aug 7th. 
Winner announce Aug 8th. 

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Guest Blog Camryn Rhys & giveaway

For the Love of Books is pleased to have 
Camryn Rhys guest blogging today.. 
We are also going to be giving away an e-copy of her book. 

The Barn Dance:

When Mindy needs a baker’s expertise, Leo offers a trade: one day in the kitchen for one night at the Barn Dance. Either way, the heat is rising…








It looks like she is trying to take over the world starting with my blog..

Take it away Camryn….. 

The Ethics of Twitter and My Master Plan for World Domination

When I went to a romance convention not long ago, I had someone pull me aside because she recognized me from Twitter. “You crack me up,” she said, “and I LOVE your book.” To which I’m sure I blushed. Or had a witty retort. Actually, I think I stood there staring at her like she was crazy.
Me? You follow ME? I mean, sure I know there are people who can see what I say on Twitter, but to be followed. That’s a different deal altogether. It’s tempting to say that everyone who’s “following” me on Twitter is Following me, but the truth is, most of them aren’t. I’m sure you’re like this as well, but I “follow” some people because they’re colleagues or friends. I am not their Follower.
(On a side note, I hate the word “follower” on Twitter. When Twitter says I have 500 followers, I feel like I should be mixing evil Kool-Aid or coming up with a Master Plan of some kind. I prefer to think of them as friends, because that’s what they are.)
One of the things this woman said to me was that even though I was a published author (I admit, I laughed to hear that out loud—this being my first sale), I still talked to her like she was a real person. “And you are hilarious.” You are too kind, really. Or delusional. While I do generally try to be dry and sarcastic on Twitter, I rarely think anyone is paying attention.
But what this woman taught me is that people are paying attention. Not just to what I say, but to how I interact with other people, how I handle ranting, how I interact with my publisher and my fellow authors. People are watching me. People are watching you. What we do and say matters.
I say this because someone told me once, “Just write a good book and the rest will take care of itself.” Well, I don’t think that’s true anymore. You write a good book, you interact with people on social media, you guest blog (which, by the way, is an absolute blast!), and people care what you say EVERYWHERE. Every. Where.
I am generally a nice person, and I genuinely want to meet people and hear about them. I spend most of my time interacting with people. If you want to buy my book, great. If not, great. I just think you’re worth talking to. So stop by and see me on Twitter or on my blog. Especially in the Spring when I get to do the CSAR tournament (I love brackets, enough said, lol). But really, I want to know who you are. I write books about people who fall in love because I love stories. Yours, mine, Nora’s.

Have you ever had an interaction on Twitter/Facebook/Blog with an author that was really memorable for you? What do you remember about it? Did it make you more or less likely to Follow that person?
Giveaway time……. 
Please answer Camryn’s question above. Leave me your email address.  
One lucky winner will receive an e-copy of Camryn’s book The Barn Dance
Giveaway will stay open until July 31st. 
Winner will be announced August 1st 


Extra entries:
Be a follower of my blog
Follow my Facebook Page
Follow Camryn on Facebook 
Follow Camryn on Twitter
Follow Camryn’s blog



Oh, and if you’re interested, I also have a book out. It’s a foodie erotic romance. I like it. Check it out. “When Mindy needs a baker’s expertise, Leo offers a trade: one day in the kitchen for one night at the Barn Dance. Either way, the heat is rising.”

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Barn-Dance-ebook/dp/B0054EADBS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311348668&sr=8-1
Blog: http://camrynrhys.blogspot.com
Facebook: Camryn Rhys
Twitter: @camrynrhys
Camryn Rhys grew up on the border of Canada and the US, and still hasn’t decided which country to call home. She splits her time between the Alberta and Montana Rocky Mountains, with friends and family in both beautiful locations. After running her own restaurant for several years and acquiring advanced degrees in writing, foodie romance seemed the only logical option. When she’s not watching the Food Network, she’s reading a romance novel, or if absolutely necessary, working as a communications consultant. Someone has to put really excellent food on the table.
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Guest Blogger Kathleen Gerard Author of In Transit

Kathleen Gerard author of In Transit stopped by to talk to us about her inspriration for her book.

Take it away Kathleen,

Ordinary People Who Carry a Badge

I’ve always loved cop shows on TV and police procedural novels. Therefore, it’s not surprising that my novel, IN TRANSIT, would center on the world and lifestyles of police officers. I am intrigued with people who choose law enforcement for their careers. Yet before one of my closest friends (whom I’ve known since high school) set out and became a New York City Transit Police Officer, I had this notion that NYPD cops lived in a state of high-drama and excitement by fighting “the bad guys.” Whenever I tried to get my friend to talk about life on the force (I was always goading her for details and dirt), she was very tight-lipped and downplayed the importance and perils of her job. She was more willing to share the laughs she’d had with coworkers and the pranks they’d pulled, rather than what it was really like to fight crime in The Big Apple.

That’s when I came to realize that police work is often over-dramatized and sensationalized in books and on TV. The reality is that those who carry the badge, day-in and day-out, are just ordinary people who have passions, hopes, fears, flaws and insecurities like everyone else. Statistics show that, over the course of entire careers, the majority of police officers in this country never draw their weapons or have an inciting incident. That’s why personal dynamics and the psychology of those who wear the NYPD uniform became as intriguing to me as the details surrounding police work. And that’s why I wanted to creatively explore the “ordinary” aspects of those who carry the badge when I wrote IN TRANSIT – the story of a 20-something “Jersey Girl” who becomes a woman-in-jeopardy once assigned to the NYPD Transit Squad.

Have you ever had your preconceptions shattered? Have you ever thought something or someone was one way, but he/she or it turned out to be completely different than the way you had imagined? Which was better – your notion of the truth or the truth itself? Please share your stories with us.

To learn more about Kathleen Gerard and IN TRANSIT–and to read more details about the story behind the story–visit http://intransit-thenovel.blogspot.com

Can a rookie cop survive the men who cross her path in the NYPD?

When a psychic in a shopping mall tells Rita Del Vecchio that she is “destined for greatness,” and she will “marry a man in uniform,” the restless, wet-behind-the-ears, 22 year-old decides to finally take control of her life. Rita sets out on a quest to become a New York City Police Officer. But can a spry, feisty, single woman thrive in the gritty world of New York’s Finest?
Leaving behind the suburbs of New Jersey and a job as an under-tipped waitress, Rita Del Vecchio hangs up her apron and ballet slippers for a bullet-proof vest. But will she wear it? And if she does, will it protect her on the mean streets of Manhattan? Can it also protect her from Cupid’s arrows if they should land amiss?
Rita is assigned to the New York City Transit Police Squad and gets more than she bargained for. Riding the Lexington Avenue Subway Line, Rita winds up meeting not one man in uniform, but many. Whom will she love?
IN TRANSIT combines romance and suspense. This woman-in-jeopardy story delves into the ordinary lives of NYPD career cops and how their fates are determined by people who hold secrets as dark and as labyrinth-like as the New York City Subway System

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Guest Blog by Gina Gordan author of His Five Favorite Lines

Please Welcome Gina Gordon author of Her Five Favorite Words to For the Love of Books. Gina stopped by to share a little about writing a sequel.   After Gina’s guest blog we will be giving away a copy of her book His Five Favorite Lines. 


Take it away Gina… 


When To Write A Sequel
When I decided to write a sequel to Her Five Favorite Words, I had one main concern–I needed to stay true to my characters. In the first story, Becca and Jordan were stuck in the right place, at the right time, with the right phobia. They were supposed to be a one-time elevator romp. But in the end, this cute couple had some unfinished business.
As a writer, I had to decide between letting my characters run free for another book or quitting while I was ahead. When is a sequel a good idea and when is it just too much? In the case of Becca and Jordan, I know I made the right decision.
I didn’t want to put Becca and Jordan into a frivolous sexual situation nor did I want to compromise the light-hearted ending of the first story. With my idea in hand, I set out to write His Five Favorite Lines, a sequel that needed to have the same feel as the first story but also revealed a little more of the emotional make-up of the characters.
I’m a big fan of books that tell the story from both the hero and the heroine’s point of view. So this time, we get to hear Jordan’s side of the story. Readers can finally learn about what was going on in his mind during their elevator encounter and his progression to a man who realizes the girl from the coffee shop might be a little more than just a piece of ass.
His Five Favorite Lines demonstrates the same sexual chemistry, the same quit-witted banter and of course, a week-long build up to some super-hot office sex.  This time around, Becca and Jordan still haven’t quite found their happily ever after, but who’s to say there won’t be a sequel to the sequel.
Gina Gordon is an erotic romance writer living in Ontario, Canada. Her newest release, His Five Favorite Lines, is available now from Breathless Press. Find out more about Gina at www.ginagordon.net

A little cover love. 

Her Five Favorite Words                               

Becca always starts her day sipping a latte and watching the piping hot Mr. Sexy. When they get stuck together in an elevator, it only takes a minute for Becca’s panic attack to take over. What she needs is to focus on something else. Something hot. Something dirty. Good thing Mr. Sexy knows a thing or two about distraction.         

Want to read some more?  Click HERE to read an excerpt
Buy HERE

GIVEAWAY TIME: 
Here is His Five Favorite Lines

His Five Favorite Lines
How many pick-up lines will it take for Jordan to get the woman of his heart desires?
Jordan hasn’t been able to stop thinking about Becca since their steamy encounter in the elevator. He’s determined to have her again, but when she shoots down his proposition, Jordan decides to get creative. Armed with his best pick-up lines, he sets out to make Becca change her mind. But over the course of the week, Jordan realizes it isn’t only sex that holds his interest and with every pick-up line the stakes get higher. This time, Jordan is playing for keeps.

Read an Except HERE

Want a chance to win a e-copy of His Five Favorite Lines?  Leave a comment/question and your email address.  Must be a follower of my blog.


Giveaway will be open until July 14th.  

Winner will be announce July 15th. 

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Giveaway & Guest Blog by Holden Granger

Please Welcome Holden Granger to For the Love of Books.  Holden is going to talk to us a bit about writing Erotica and then we are going to do a giveaway of the book The Strength To Submit. 


Take it away Holden: 



1.       Why I Write Erotica

I love writing about sex for the pure challenge of it. I look at writing as a means of transporting the reader into another life, and using that vantage point to allow them to look back at their own. As such, I believe the foundation of any story needs to be a universal experience. The best stories allow us to identify with the characters though one of these experiences.  Thrillers do this with fear; a very strong and primitive emotion. I write about lust, an emotion perhaps as strong as fear and just as primitive. A love story may require a full novel to explore its depths, while lust can be delightfully simple.

While lust can be simple, writing about sex is not. There are only a few experiences we almost all face. Death is one, but returning eye-witnesses are rare. Sex, on the other hand, impacts virtually every life. Even the celibate are reacting to this powerful, instinctive drive. In writing about sex, the author walks a narrow wire. On the one hand, it must be exciting and arousing (no one wants a boring sex scene). On the other, even as a fantasy it has to approximate realism. The reader must be able to “buy in” to the moment and any wildly unrealistic details will distract the reader.

I thought writing erotica would be easy. Instead it has consistently challenged me as a writer.  Taking an experience universally experienced and fantasized about, while introducing strong characters and plots, has been a tremendous opportunity. I am deeply grateful to Breathless Press for giving me that chance, and I hope that my readers enjoy my efforts!

2.       The Strength to Submit – The Author’s View

One of the first lessons I learned in researching Bondage and Discipline was that it is the “submissive” or “sub” that needs to have the greater strength of character in many ways. Think for a moment of the strength required to strip away every instinctive desire for power in a relationship.  At the same time there seems to be a great freedom that comes with letting go and placing oneself completely into the power of another.

 I was also intrigued with the fact that it is often those who are very powerful individuals in their public lives that crave the release of control involved in placing themselves under the power of another.  This gave me the launching point for my story, The Strength to Submit.  For me, stories come from answering a “What if?” question. In this case the question was; what if a powerful woman executive opened herself up to experiencing discipline from a competitor? 

I wanted to explore how that might happen, especially if she had to overcome her own fears and doubts along the way. The motives and internal struggles are what made this story interesting to write, and I hope, interesting to read.  The steamy conclusion had to spring from triumphs over these obstacles, as well as providing satisfying growth for the character.  The Strength to Submit is my attempt to explore light bondage and discipline from the point of view of a strong heroine. I hope you all enjoy it!

Giveaway Time!!!!! 

Excerpt

She arrived at the morning session and scanned the room, surprising herself when she felt a twinge of disappointment that Cade was nowhere to be seen. She was early enough to get a seat in the back row, grabbing a glass of orange juice and skipping the offered muffins as she went. She noticed a black leather portfolio on the seat next to hers. The hotel had gone all-out for this conference: each table was wrapped across the front and top with white cloth, giving her a chance to ease off her heels and stretch her toes on the carpet. She studied the day’s agenda in front of her while the speaker began to settle the crowd.

“It must be destiny!” a voice said from beside her.

Cade was sliding into the seat next to her. The notebook was his. Caitlyn felt her face flush slightly. She moved to get up but found her feet clumsy as she tried to get her shoes on again.

“I don’t think so…” she started.

“Oh, relax. I’m not going to bother you,” Cade said with a chuckle. “Besides, we’re starting.”

With that, the graying and pudgy speaker began his presentation on the estimated impact of the economic environment on government defense purchasing. Five seconds in and already she was bored. She heard Cade scratching on his notebook. A moment later, he stopped and tapped his pen on it.

Caitlyn sat staring straight ahead. Again the tapping came from beside her; it sounded impatient this time. She glanced over. Cade looked at her and inclined his head to the page in front of him.

Have you thought about what I said last night? he had written.

This might relieve the boredom. She took out her own pen and wrote on the agenda in front of her. A little, she wrote.

Are you scared? he asked on the page.

Caitlyn suppressed a snort. Nothing you can do would scare me, she added to the running dialogue, tapping the page for emphasis.

Really? Perhaps a challenge, then?

She looked at him; his smile was mocking her. She paused and he wrote again.

Sure you’re not scared?

What the hell? Okay, let’s see what you’ve got.

Good, we’ll talk at lunch.

For the rest of the morning meeting her thoughts raced. She wondered what she’d gotten herself into and decided to bail and changed her mind a dozen times. She couldn’t deny the tingle between her legs. It was all harmless fun, she finally decided; besides, she could turn the tables and have him in the palm of her hand. It was a challenge she found she couldn’t resist.

To enter to win an e-copy of The Strength to Submit Please leave a comment below along with you email address. 

Giveaway will be open until July 7th 

Winner will be announce on July 8th