Tag: Sizzling PR

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Interview with Tamaria Soana

Can you please share with us a little about yourself. 

I’m a forty year old stay-at-home of two young girls. I’ve always loved to read, especially on a cold Buffalo night. My first book Obsession published this past March and my feet still haven’t touched the ground. Besides writing, I co-own Shades of Rose Marketing and Shades of Rose YA Marketing. I also host a talk show on Talkshoe called Live with Tamaria ~ Giving authors a voice.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

No, I always loved to drabble in writing. Just over 3 years ago I started to put my ideas into stories.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I most snack on something while writing.

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

Tropical Cougar

Will one night with an older woman change everything?


After finding the love of his life in bed with someone else, twenty-six-year-old Seth Reynolds wanted a fresh start and found it in Jamaica. Being a bartender at one of the island’s exclusive resorts has its perks…not the least of them being a very sexy, older woman: Sylvia Radcliff. While she’s determined to celebrate her forty-fifth birthday, Seth is equally determined to seduce the most enchanting woman he’s ever met.
 

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’ve been wanting to write a cougar type story for a while now. The older woman, younger man pairing to me is highly erotic.

When mulling over the aspect of my story and developing it, I knew I wanted the following things. A tropical location, my heroine to be strong, and my hero to a bit lost in life.

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

Sweet Dreams – The inspiration for this short sext story came from the song Sweet Dream by Beyoncé.

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

Ella Jade. She is my mentor and g-chat bestie. I would love to meet her someday.

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

Never give up. Keep trying! Every story should be told and read!

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

LOL! I don’t have one, maybe I need to start one!

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I’m addicted to the 1 Night Stand Series by Decadent. I have 10I need to read!

Is there anything else you would like to add?  

Thank you for hosting me!

Learn more about Tamaria here:   Website / Facebook / Twitter

Amazon

Will one night with an older woman change everything?

After finding the love of his life in bed with someone else, twenty-six-year-old Seth Reynolds wanted a fresh start and found it in Jamaica. Being a bartender at one of the island’s exclusive resorts has its perks…not the least of them being a very sexy, older woman: Sylvia Radcliff. While she’s determined to celebrate her forty-fifth birthday, Seth is equally determined to seduce the most enchanting woman he’s ever met.

Excerpt:

Seth woke to the smell of eggs and coffee. Sylvia had ordered them breakfast.

“Get up, sleepyhead, breakfast is here,” she said, crawling up his naked body.

“I would rather have you for breakfast, but you have a robe on.”

“I couldn’t answer the door naked, could I?”

“No, I guess not,” he whispered, reaching to tug on the belt of her robe.

“The food will get cold,” she replied as she playfully pushed him away.

Seth let out a laugh. “I don’t care. I just need a taste. I’ll make it quick; just trust me,” he said as he hovered over her. He looked into her blue eyes and smiled when she nodded, giving him all the incentive he needed. He leaned down and kissed her lips before traveling down her body. He took each nipple in his mouth and sucked hard before he pushed her legs apart, and his tongue found heaven “Mmmm, you taste so sweet.” He moaned into her warm flesh.

 

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Interview with Theresa Stillwagon

Can you please share with us a little about yourself? 

I’ve been writing for over twenty-five years, married for almost thirty. I come from Ohio, but recently moved to Georgia. I like it in the South, but I’m still not used to the heat.

I write for five different publishers. I’m concentrating on two of them right now because I have series with them.

Have you always wanted to be an author? I don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to write.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing? I really don’t have any favorite writers. I like all kinds of books. I don’t have one writer that influenced my work.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre? 

Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? I love contemporary romances because you can add a bit of other genres like a touch of mystery or danger. The Winter Creek series are contemporary with paranormal elements.

What are some of your writing rituals?

It needs to be completely quiet for me to write new stuff. I can do edits, blog post, and other stuff like that at any time. I also need to check my email, Twitter, and Facebook before I start writing. If I don’t I can’t really concentrate.

And I always have a cup of coffee on the table near me.

Need that coffee.

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

My latest book is the second story in the Winter Creek, Montana series. Here’s the blurb about it.

A ghost from Barb’s past is an ever-present reminder that she’s not good mother material, so what happens when she falls for a man with a ready-made family?

Barb Grant is the resident dressmaker for Winter Creek, an old ghost town that’s being rebuilt. But the town ghosts aren’t the main thing that’s causing Barb trouble. It’s the pre-teen girl who suddenly decides she would make a good substitute mother. And the girl’s father.

Wyatt Campbell has been the bane of Barb’s existence since their first meeting. One minute the cowboy is pissing her off thoroughly, but then the next moment she’s wanting to rip his clothes off and make love to him. When rumors start flying that he’s a horrible lover, she can’t believe they could possibly be true. How could a man who can evoke so much passion be a bad lover? Her need to know the truth is the only reason she says “yes” to his date request. Her plan—have sex with him and then say goodbye.

Unfortunately, Wyatt has other plans. He wants a real relationship. But he comes with a ready-made family, and that scares Barb. A ghost from her own past keeps reminding her that she’s not good mother material. She’s made mistakes, mistakes that resulted in a child’s life ending, and she can’t ever forget that.

Could Wyatt be the one man capable of getting past her barriers? Or will Barb’s past forever affect her life?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

To be truthful, I not really sure. It actually started as a straight-forward contemporary romance but then the dressmaker’s ghost showed up. Winter Creek, Montana series kind of just happened. I’m still trying to figure things out with the rest of the stories.

But I love these books. They’re fun to write.

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

Right now I’m writing the last chapter a sexy contemporary story called Winning the Bet. This one is breaking new ground for me. I’m also working on the fourth book of another series with another publisher. I’m writing them both at the same time because they are so different.

What would you be if you were not an author?

Good question. I worked in a nursing home for years, but I would never do that again. If I was smart when I was younger I would’ve gotten into nursing or some other medical field. A part of me still wishes I did.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I have about 35 or so books stored in my Kindle right now. I’m not really dying to read any of them right now. I’m thinking that’s because I’m concentrating on my writing.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

No, just that I hope everyone is having a great summer. And I want to thank you for hosting me on your blog.

Here are a few links.

http://TheresaStillwagon.webs.com

http://tstillwagon.wordpress.com

http://twitter.com/tstillwagon

http://www.facebook.com/TheresaStillwagon

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Spotlight feature of Haunted by Dana Michelle Burnett

 

Haunted 

Spiritus Series Book Two

Amazon | B&N 

Alastor came at me then, forcing me back against the wall. He was so solid that I could feel his weight against me. I could feel his frozen breath on my face….He ran his hand up my arm, over my shoulder, and rested at the base of my throat. His blue eyes glittered dangerously.

With the publication of Spiritus, Dana Michelle Burnett created ghostly romance in a small town. Now, in her new novel, she brings us again – even more magically – into the midst of the haunted love story she introduced in Spiritus, of the solitary and beautiful Becca McAllister and Alastor, the darkly captivating ghost whom she loves and killed over a century ago.

Becca has already decided that it’s Alastor that she loves, but now, as their uncommon relationship limits Becca’s future, Alastor must decide if he’s willing to make the ultimate

sacrifice for Becca’s happiness….

 

Excerpt

I clutched his hand as we moved along toward Magnolia Bridge. Still yards away, I could hear the drums as well as feel them vibrating somewhere deep inside the middle of my body. As the bridge came into view, the beat of the drums took over the air and shook the ground beneath my feet.

The crowd kept moving closer and closer to the old wood and metal bridge. As I stepped up on the first creaking wooden plank, I saw eerie drawings of symbols and words in glowing white chalk scratched on its surface.

The air was thick with humidity and noise, too loud to even breathe. It all began to spin, the drums, the wooden planks covered in glowing drawings, and the sickening sweet smell of so many bodies pushed together.

I felt myself staggering, everything going hazy and then coming back to quickly, like a record played at the wrong speed. Before I could recover, I was spinning and the drums became loud booms that shook the ground and far off there was a baby crying.

It wasn’t safe here. I had to get away. They were going to find us. They were going to get

“Jonah,” I pleaded, “I’ve got to get out of here.”

He didn’t hear me. I was clutching at his arm, but he was lost in the sea of bodies. At last, I clasped his hand and jerked him around to face me.

“Now!” I demanded. “I want to go now!”

Jonah was reluctant to leave, but the expression on my face must’ve convinced him because he guided me through the crowd without complaint.

As we stepped off the bridge, a beautiful woman with deep olive skin stepped into our path. She seemed to glow in her long white dress and white head wrap. There was something

pulsating on her shoulders. It took a moment for my eyes to focus enough to see that it was a large snake that slithered about her neck.

“I see that which you want most,” she declared, pulling the snake’s head up to hers so that it’s forked tongue could flicker across her lips.

I stepped around her, cringing away from the serpent.

The woman laughed, showing a wide mouth of bright white teeth, “He can come back, you know.”

The air left my lungs and I stopped short. I couldn’t have heard her right. I dropped Jonah’s hand and turned around slowly.

“What did you say?” I asked.

She stepped over to me, swaying her hips so that her dress swung like a bell.

“I can bring him back,” She whispered as she came within inches of my face. “I know that is the thing that you want most.”

There was a surge of air swirling around me and over my head. The woman’s eyes focused on it with a knowing smile.

“He will be angry,” She said and took a card out of the waistband of her dress. “Come and see me when you can.”

I clutched the card in my hand as Jonah led me away. I looked back and watched the woman disappear in the darkening crowd.

Jonah pulled me along, oblivious to the exchange. Once we were safe in a taxi and heading back to the hotel, Jonah put his arm around me and kissed me on my cheek.

“You’ll feel better after a long soak in the tub and a little rest.” He whispered hot and wet in my ear.

I don’t remember saying anything. I just remember the feeling of the card’s sharp edges in my palm. Nothing else in the world mattered except that card.

Late that night, I slipped from the bed were Jonah still lay sleeping. I dressed and went down to the Carousel Bar. Again, the card that I was turning over and over in my fingers held my attention.

MADAME MARIE DESMARAIS’S SHOP OF VOODOO

Royal Street

New Orleans, LA

Could it really be possible? Could Alastor actually come back?

I glanced around at the other patrons of the bar reflected in the many lights and mirrors throughout the room. Were they aware of such possibilities? If so, how could they just sit there and drink the night away?

I sipped at my hurricane cocktail and enjoyed the tingling burn as it went down my throat. I tapped the edge of the card on the table one, two, three times.

The bartender sat another cocktail in front of me. I was already lightheaded, but I took it anyway.

What was I supposed to do now? Could I bring Alastor back and lose Jonah forever?

Would I ever be happy with Jonah if I knew there was even the smallest chance that Alastor could come back?

It was just too impossible to sort out. It was easier to just keep drinking and pretend like I didn’t already know the answer.

Two more drinks later and I barely recognized Jonah when he took a seat at the bar beside me.

“Why aren’t you upstairs?” He asked, taking the drink from me and pushing it away.

I rubbed my hands over my face, “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Is anything wrong?”

I looked down at the card on the bar and then covered it with my hands.

“Not really,” I said. “Just restless, I guess.”

Jonah leaned over and kissed my cheek. He brushed his lips over my ear, “Why don’t you come back upstairs?”

I slid off the barstool, struggling to stand on unsteady feet. Jonah’s arm went around my waist to steady me.

As I reached back to get the stiff white card from the bar, I saw Alastor’s face reflected in the mirrors surrounding the bar. He glared at me with angry blue eyes as I took the card and slid it into my pocket. I silently dared him to try to stop me.

I glanced back at Alastor’s image as I stepped into the elevator with Jonah. He glared at me with hostile eyes until the elevator doors closed and it was just me and my new husband

alone in the elevator.

I leaned back and let out a sigh.

Alastor’s secret voice reverberated in my brain, “Becca, throw the card away, no good will come of it.”

I can’t do that.

“What you’re thinking is impossible,” He argued. “I wish it could be different, but it cannot.”

You don’t know that.

“Yes, I do and you’re not being fair to Jonah.”

I glanced over at Jonah. He leaned against the wall, watching the floor numbers change as we went up. He felt me watching him and turned and gave me one of his brilliant smiles.

“I love you.” He said simply and looked back up at the numbers.

How could he be so trusting? That familiar stab of guilt hit me in the gut.

“I love you too.” I answered.

But I love him more…

Alastor swirled near me, whispering inside my head. “I’m telling you that what you want is impossible.”

I can’t give up while there is even the slightest chance for you.

“Becca, you have to see that this is a lost cause.”

I can’t believe that.

“You have to believe it or else you will drive yourself mad.”

 

About Dana:

Dana Michelle Burnett spent most of her life writing short stories and sharing them with family

and friends. Over the years, her work was published in numerous commercial and literary magazines including Just Labs, Mindprints: A Literary Journal, Foliate Oak, and many more. Her short story John Lennon and the Chicken Holocaust was included in The Best of Foliate Oak in 2006.

In 2010, Burnett’s first novel, Ghost Country, was released. Based on her own Cherokee heritage, the novel marked her return to the literary world after a four year hiatus. She followed that with the release of her romance novel, Two Out of Three in the summer of 2011.

Spiritus is the first novel in her new paranormal romance series by the same name. The second book, Haunted, is now available.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

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Interview with Annette Gisby

Can you please share with us a little about yourself
I grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland and moved to London with my family when I was seventeen. It was a lot different to small town life. My family moved back, but I’d already met and fallen in love with my soon-to-be husband, John, so I stayed in London. We lived in London for quite a while after we were married, but recently we moved to the outskirts of Basingstoke in Hamsphire. It has the best of both worlds, we don’t have to travel too far for shops, cinema or theatre and the countryside is only minutes away as well. Our house is overflowing with books (mostly read by me) and music (mostly listened to by John). We have enough books and CDs to open a small shop.

 Have you always wanted to be an author?

I’ve always wanted to tell stories. When I was a little girl, I made up stories in my head an used my dolls to act them out. As I got older, I started writing them down so that I would always have something to read later. In the small town I grew up in, there were no bookshops and a small library. It didn’t take me long to go through the library’s selection!

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

As a teenager I read a lot of Stephen King’s books. I wouldn’t say his stories had a big influence on me, as I don’t write a lot of horror, but his author’s notes and his non-fiction book, ‘On Writing’ did. Reading that book was like reading about myself. At the moment some of my favourite writers are Carol Berg and Lynn Flewelling for fantasy, S. J. Bolton, Phil Rickman and Sarah Rayne for thrillers, some of which have a supernatural bent as well. I also like Elizabeth Chadwick for her medieval historical.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

I knew I wanted The Chosen to be either fantasy or with a fairy-tale element, but it becoming a male/male romance happened a bit my accident. I wanted to write a fairy tale for adults. I had the prince, Severin, and I thought he needed a princess to rescue. I could picture Severin quite clearly, but I couldn’t get a feel for the princess at all. Instead, I kept being haunted by a handsome slave called Havyn. That’s who Severin wanted to rescue, not a princess. Once I’d finally figured out that Severin was gay, the story flowed much better.

I have written other genres, I never think of a book’s genre as I’m writing it. I let the characters tell their stories and worry about what genre it might be later. Genres don’t define my writing, the characters do. I’ve written mysteries, suspense, erotica, romance, science-fiction, paranormal and everything in between.

What are some of your writing rituals?

I use a kitchen timer that I set for an hour or two at a time and during that time I do nothing but write. No checking emails, no browsing the web. If I really need to research something, I just leave a note in the text and carry on writing. Then I can go back and fill in the bit that I needed to research. It’s amazing how much you get done without any distractions.

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

The Chosen is a male/male fantasy romance. Here is the blurb:

Love or duty – which would you choose?

Prince Severin has been brought up to put duty before all else. Now, his duty is to marry and produce an heir. He has his choice of princesses. Unfortunately, his passion is for princes.

Havyn has been a slave all his life. When his powers are discovered, he finds himself purchased and freed by a Prince and apprenticed to the royal wizard, Ildar. His duty is to stay chaste to keep his powers strong. Unfortunately, his passion is for Severin.

With kingdoms at war, the throne hanging in the balance, and magic in the air, can the two men find happiness together, or is duty more important than love?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I already answered that one above 🙂 Instead, here is a small extract from the book:

“What is going on in here?” demanded Ildar from the doorway. “Severin? What are you doing with my apprentice?”

“Iri and I were just sorting out Havyn’s new wardrobe,” said Severin, waving to Havyn that he could get dressed again. Havyn quickly pulled on the tunic and leggings Ildar had given him on his first night at the palace. A fierce blush heated his cheeks.

“Havyn is my apprentice!” snapped Ildar. “He is my responsibility. Furs and velvets? Silks? A wizard has no need for all of that. I will ensure Havyn gets all the clothing he needs, not you.”

Havyn wondered how the wizard could talk back so forcefully to a prince without worrying about execution. Maybe wizards had no fear of death.

“He’s my responsibility,” protested Severin, his hands on his hips as he stared the wizard down. “I bought him. He’s mine!”

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

Far too many! I get lots of ideas at once and take ages to settle down to one. At the moment there is a murder mystery set at a boarding school (also an m/m romance), a romantic suspense (m/f) that is under consideration at a new publisher since the rights have reverted back to me, and a couple of more m/m romances that are on the back-burner. I have an m/m erotica story, Of Pets and Pleasures, out in an anthology with Excessica Publishing which is also available as a stand-alone short story

What would you be if you were not an author?

Probably a librarian or running a bookshop. It would have to be something to do with books.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I am eagerly awaiting Casket of Souls by Lynn Flewelling, the final part of the Nightrunner series. It’ll be a pity to see it end, but once I have the whole set I can re-read them all again.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

My author page is here:

http://annettegisby.blogspot.co.uk/

I have a blog with reviews and interviews here:

http://booksandtales.blogspot.co.uk/

and a goodreads page here:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/252221.Annette_Gisby

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Spotlight Feature of Into The Web by Shonell Bacon

Into The Web

by Shonell Bacon

The minute twins and mystery novelists Jovan and Cheyenne Parham find their lives settlinginto a nice rhythm, all hell breaks loose – in their personal lives and in the latest crime they find themselves mixed up in. Jo is trying to build a relationship with Mark Brockman, but the deaths of her husband and Mark’s wife, and the sordid nature of their coming together keeps her from jumping into the relationship with both feet. Cheyenne is head over heels in love with former detective-now P.I. Ian Davenport, but unexpected news and Ian’s involvement in a new case causes Chey to second guess the deepness of their love. Trying to figure out their love lives becomes all the more complicated when Jo and Chey are thrust into a series of kidnappings and murders involving young girls who seem to make the wrong friends online. When a mayoral candidate’s daughter is kidnapped, Ian finds himself on the case, much to the chagrin of Chey considering he spends an awful lot of time holding and caring for the candidate’s wife. Bringing the girl home safely and finding the killer pushes the twins to the limits of their personal and professional lives. Going into a web of infidelity, lies, deception, and murder often leaves all involved in disarray. Will Jovan and Cheyenne find themselves, once again, trying to pick up the remaining fragments of their lives once this is all over?

  

About The Author

 Shonell Bacon is an author, doctoral candidate, editor, educator–everywoman. Shehas published both creatively and academically–novels, short stories, essays, and textbooks.
She has had an essay of hers developed as part of a live theatre documentary production. In addition to her love of writing and what the future holds in her literary life, she is also an editor who loves helping writers hone their literary craft. Since 2001, she has edited for hundreds of writers who have gone on to pursue self-publishing careers and have been published within the traditional publishing arena. Her love for helping writers also moved her to begin writing articles and commentaries regarding the writing life and craft, and she publishes these articles on various websites

She is an educator, having taught English and mass communication courses in addition to fiction writing and other courses related to creative writing. And while taking part in all of those things, Shonell also finds the time to pursue her Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric at Texas Tech University. Now a doctoral candidate, she is conducting research and writing her dissertation.
 

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Blog

 

Excerpt

One
 
October 21
 
Take down.
 
Those words rang in Jovan Parham’s mind as she danced around the ring, staring into the eyes of Derryck, her kickboxing trainer.
 
“Come on, Jo,” Derryck said while holding up his padded hands. “Pay attention. Jab left, cross right, jab right.”
 
“I’m doing it,” she said, her voice nearing a whine.
 
“You look lazy.” Derryck’s left hand made its way to Jovan’s headgear. She just managed to move, but heard the sound of his fist whizzing by her face. “I haven’t tagged your face in nearly four months.”
 
Jovan smiled and took two jabs to the side of Derryck’s face; the second one connected.
 
“And you didn’t get me this time either,” she replied.
 
The two continued to spar, sharing words and punches and kicks, but Jovan’s mind was still stuck on two words: take down.
 
She woke up in the middle of the night after a horrific nightmare, one she had almost every month since she moved into her new condo a year ago. The nightmare was always the same: she watching as a host of characters took part in killing her. She lay, shackled to a metal table, dressed in a white loose gown that had been ripped to shreds. Every few minutes, someone would come into the dimly lit room and cut her with a sharp, curved blade. No words were ever exchanged. She screamed with each flick of the blade, begged for her life, but it was all for naught. Cordell came in and took a chunk of her. As did his mother. As did his brother. Alisha took her share as well, as did Sarah, which broke Jovan’s heart more than Cordell wanting to kill her. She had thought Sarah was her best friend. Finding out she had slept with Cordell and carried his child tore at her heart. To know that even in her nightmares Sarah wanted to hurt her more nearly broke her.

 
The last person to come in was always Linda Hayes. And unlike the others, who were more like automatons, coming to do their robotic bidding, Linda had a sparkle in her eyes, a curl of her lip, an extra dig of her cut when she took her swipe of Jovan. She had hoped that her time at the altar during service that morning, where she begged God, begged him to remove the nightmares, might give her a night of respite, but it wasn’t to be. If she actually took time to think about it, she’d realize that her continuous thinking about the nightmares would only create more of them.

 
When she woke up last night from the nightmare, Jovan rushed to her office—a place that held warm, soft thoughts for her as it was the place where words took to life. She reached for the small blue bible she kept on the desk and rifled through the pages before landing her finger on Luke 10:19, I have given you authority …to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

 
The words brought her peace, but she had an even better way of using her authority to overcome her enemies. She took out a pad and pen, and spent a good hour creating a list of people she needed to take down.

 

Linda Hayes was at the top of that list. For going on two years, the Trés Chic head reporter-now executive producer had been relentless in her pursuit to find something bad to report about Jovan. Even after everyone else had put the murder of Jovan’s husband and the fallout of it behind them, Linda was determined to continue to bring up Jovan’s painful story: Cordell’s murder. Cordell’s affair with Alisha. Cordell’s affair with Sarah. The baby Sarah carried. The complex scheming and plotting that revealed Cordell’s drugged-out brother was supposed to kill Jovan but instead killed Cordell. Jovan’s reaching out to Mark, Sarah’s husband, in a time of need and the subsequent relationship that continued long after Cordell was buried. The justice (though not peace) that was brought to Jovan and her family.

 

In all parts of the world, Jovan’s soap opera of a life had come and gone as new, crazier stories unfolded. But in Baltimore, where she and her twin Cheyenne were deemed stars for their bestselling-authors status and their charities, Jovan’s story continued to live—mostly thanks to Linda Hayes.
 
And somehow, she had managed to overcome her anger at Linda and this ferocious, tenacious need Linda had to break her down.
 
But then yesterday arrived, and Jovan became undone.
 
She had tried to go about her day. She went to a speaking engagement for her solo inspirational non-fiction, Picking up the Pieces, a book that detailed the story of her life with Cordell and the aftermath. She met with Cheyenne to work on the outline of their next mystery, Vanishing Keys. She even got ready to meet Mark for a dinner date down at the Inner Harbor. Not once did anyone in her inner circle mention the significance of the day: the second anniversary of Cordell’s death. They knew it wasn’t needed. They knew Jovan would have stayed up the entire night prior, still crying over the loss, still angry over the betrayal, still unsteady on what to do with her life. She was still fragile from the coming and going of Cordell’s birthday nearly three weeks ago. She had spent that day in quiet reflection, wondering why, yet again, she couldn’t find out about Cordell’s lies before anyone had to die. She still felt like an idiot over believing Sarah was her friend. She had spent hours talking to Sarah, telling her about the decline in her marriage—never realizing that her supposed friend was sleeping with her husband.
 
Any normal person, knowing what she’d been through, would have given Jovan this day to grieve, to feel, to think in her own personal space.
 
But not Linda Hayes.
 
Jovan had expected to hear from her. After all, she saw commercials regarding Linda’s anniversary special. Linda had her assistant call her earlier in the month, trying to get her to talk about Cordell on the day of his birthday. Jovan had told her to “Go read Picking up the Pieces if you’re so damn interested in learning what I’m willing to say about Cordell. Other than that, leave me the hell alone, Miss Hayes.”
 
It was only a matter of time that Linda would call her again, trying to get some comment to use for her latest special.
 
Linda’s assistant called. Six, seven, eight times. Every time, Jovan would hang up.
 
On the ninth time, as she slipped her feet into her black stilettos, Jovan finally relented.
 
She picked up the phone and yelled, “Let me speak to Linda.” She quickly raced into the office and picked up her digital recorder, turning it on and setting her phone on speakerphone. Linda came on to the phone, her voice warm and soft as she said, “I’m so sorry for your loss, Jovan.”
 
“If you’re so sorry, why are you harassing me? Obviously, I have nothing to say to you.”
 
 
 

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Interview with SJ McMillian

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome S.J. McMillian to the blog today to talk about her new book City of the Gods. 

1. Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

     I live in southwest Missouri with my supportive husband and my three fun loving kids. Along with being a wife and mother, I have a full time job as an administrative assistant during the work week. I enjoy reading, exercising, eating junk food, watching movies & TV, singing loudly, and dancing terribly.

2. Have you always wanted to be an author?

     I didn’t even consider becoming an author until I finished The Descendant a couple years ago. I remember when I was younger I wanted to be a teacher, but as I grew older I changed my mind several times. For a while I wanted to be an FBI agent, which changed into wanting to be a photo-journalist. The photo-journalist didn’t work out because even though I wanted to write, I didn’t want to write about news. Well that, and the fact that I suck at photography.

3. Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

     My favorite writers include Katie McAlister, Michele Bardsley, Lynsay Sands, & Christine Feehan. Any and all of these amazing writers influenced my writing. All these women write strong characters that I always end up falling in love with. Not to mention, they all have an element of humor in them which is another thing I love about their books. I want to have those strong believable characters in my stories. I want the reader to love my characters and stories just as much as I love these ladies stories.

4. How did you get into writing in this specific genre? Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

     As you can see from my list of favorite authors, I have an affinity for paranormal romance. I’m just not real comfortable writing the steamy love scenes you often get in those. Urban fantasy is a nice blend of paranormal, horror, and romance. I can put a bit of romance into the story without having to write that full on steamy love scene, but still put just enough gore in the story to make you cringe, but not puke.

Once I finish the City of the Gods trilogy, I do have a story in mind that rides the line between paranormal and urban fantasy. I also have plans for a ghost story and a humorous fiction series. One day I will venture out of my comfortable urban fantasy world, but it will be a few years from now.

5. What are some of your writing rituals?

     I usually have to have some kind of music playing as background noise and I always have to have something to drink handy. Those are the only things that are a must for me while writing. Anything else would be a distraction.

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

     The title of my current release is City of the Gods: The Descendant. It’s about Katalina, a girl who is a descendant of an ancient civilization. Unknown to her, she has been appointed by the Gods to save humanity from annihilation by an evil priest. Three of the original citizens of the civilization are given the mission to train and protect Katalina until she is ready to defeat the evil.

Katalina’s life has been a constant struggle since the loss of her parents when she was younger. She doubts her ability to save the human race, when she can barely protect herself. It’s up to her friends, who have survived for many centuries, to convince her that she does indeed have what it takes to accept the mantle of Redeemer.

7. How did you come up with idea for this story?

     This story has been in the making for over ten years. At the time I was reading lots of paranormal romances. I wanted to write a story of my own. The earliest version of this story had vampires, werewolves, and witches running amuck throughout it. Then came that little phenomenon Twilight, and then Vampire Dairies hot on its heels. I didn’t want to write something that was like everything else out there. I wanted to give the reader something different. One day while researching I came across the city of Teotihuacan in Mexico. I was intrigued by its limited history. I consumed all the information I could find on the city, short of traveling there myself. I took out the vampires and werewolves, and created something unique. It came out better than I could have possibly hoped for.

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

     I’m currently working on the second book for the City of the Gods trilogy. I’m hoping to have it completed by the end of June. The only things I can tell you about the book without spoiling the story is that it takes off where The Descendant ends, and centers more on another character.

9. What would you be if you were not an author?

     A poet or artist. I can’t draw worth a crap, but I would still have that need to express my creativity. As an author, I’m able to express that side of me.

10. What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

       I’m so far behind on my reading. On my nightstand right now is Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Yep that’s right, the 2nd book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I was also told by a good friend of mine to read Shades of Grey. There are probably many others out there that I would read if I had the time.

11. Is there anything else you would like to add?

       I would like to thank your readers for taking the time to stop by and read my babbling. I also love hearing from readers and fellow authors. You can find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcmillansj, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mcmillansj, or come by my website at www.mcmillansj.com.

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Interview with Liz Crowe

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Let’s see…Southern girl by birth, Midwesterner by fate, world traveler and semi-professional ex-pat American by luck I own a microbrewery, handle guys who brew and sell beer daily including my own Tap Room staff. I love my day job. But I also love to write.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not really, no. I wanted to be a veterinarian for a lot of years, then toyed with med school until I hit organic chemistry and my essential missing math gene made me pick up my minor in English as a major. I’ve worked my entire life in sales, public relations and some non-profit fundraising and wrote everything from press releases to ad copy. Spent 8 fairly lucrative years as a licensed real estate agent, and now, I own a brewery. But I never thought I’d do that either!

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I can flesh out an entire plot in my head and actually have to do that before I sit and write at the keyboard.

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

The 2 books that have released this month from Decadent book end the trilogy of stories I wrote for their popular 1NightStand series earlier this year. The Diplomat’s Daughter is the prequel and tells the “forbidden love” story of the Deniz parents—she the daughter of the American Consul General, he the son of servants.

Flower Passage: Tarkan’s Story is the final novella of the series and brings back a very popular but short lived character from the early trilogy.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I wrote Turkish Delights (the 1st of the trilogy for the 1NightStand series) and quickly concocted the other 2. Each one of about one of the siblings in the Deniz family (see: Diplomat’s Daughter for their parents’ fairly romantic story). When I decided to have one of the family members die in a terrorist attack I sort of knew all along that there would be “more” to that story but not until the family had more or less moved on or at least come to terms with the tragedy of his death.

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

Sure! What writer doesn’t want to go on (and on…and on) about their projects? I have an entire series as a spin off to my popular Stewart Realty series coming soon and am in the middle of hard edits for a brewery-based romance coming from Ellora’s Cave later this year. I am also going off in a slightly different direction and coming up with a slightly more mainstream/less erotic second chances story about a woman who spent years as an ex-pat trailing spouse and the collapse and re-assembly of her marriage.

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

Margaret Atwood—she is my hero. Barring that John Irving, same reason.

Also, Orhan Pamuk, Pulitzer prize winning, Turkish author.

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

Don’t ever submit anything without a very hard round of critique.  It wastes your time and the publishers and costs you credibility.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I want to spend a month in Germany visiting all the famous breweries for like, 2 months. And write a book about starting my brewery business. I’ve saved all the pretty hilarious chains of emails I have shared with my 2 biz partners, our brewer, and now my Bar manager.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I cannot wait to start John Irving’s new book In One Person.

Want to learn more about Liz and her books?  You can find her here

www.lizcrowe.com

www.brewingpassion.com

www.facebook.com/lizcroweauthor

www.twitter.com/a2beerwench

www.pinterest.com/lizcrowe

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Spotlight feature of Finding a Home by Lacey Wolfe

Finding Home

Clearwater Series

By Lacey Wolfe

Blurb:

Julie Miller has returned to her home in Clearwater, Wyoming after discovering she is pregnant. All she wants is her mother to comfort her after her boyfriend told her to either have an abortion or leave. The only problem is, when she gets to her mother’s house, she doesn’t find her mom—she finds a half-naked man cooking breakfast. Mark Thomas has moved to Clearwater to escape his past. He needs a fresh start to try and forget the things that haunt him, and Clearwater seems like the perfect place. As if it isn’t bad enough that Julie doesn’t find her mother, a blizzard buries the town, and she is snowed in with Mark. Leaving them no choice, they begin a friendship while trying to resist the attraction they feel for one another. Once the snow melts, Julie is free to leave. Will she choose to start a life in Clearwater or run back to New York? Meanwhile, Mark struggles to let go of his past and, if he does, is Julie his future?

 

Buy Links: Amazon / Nook / Smashwords / Ruby Lioness Press / All Romance

 

Excerpt:

The sun shined brightly through the windows. Julie wished now she had noticed the blinds were open last night. Pulling the sheets over her face, she closed her eyes for a few more minutes as she tried to wake up.

Finally, after battling with herself, she climbed out of the bed. She put her jeans back on and then pulled her hair up in a ponytail. A sudden urge to use the restroom took over, and she rushed toward the bathroom. This was something new—no bladder control. She didn’t expect to already have to pee so much.

She quickly brushed her teeth then made sure everything was tidy as though she hadn’t been there. Grabbing her suitcase, she left the room. She expected to find Chloe up front, but she was nowhere to be seen. So she stopped by the front desk and scribbled a note, thanking Chloe for the stay and saying they would talk soon. After all, she was going to need someone during this process. As young girls, she and Chloe had always gotten along.

Outside, the sun was bright. There was a chill to the air, however. The few clouds in the sky were thick and fluffy. She bet there would be a light snow shower before the day was over. In fact, she was surprised to not see any snow on the ground yet. It would be anytime now.

The drive to her mother’s house was short. She lived on the older side of town, and it was unchanged except that the trees had gotten taller.

Julie was excited to see her mom. It had been almost a year since she’d seen her. Julie had flown her out last Christmas to visit her in New York City. She’d taken her mother everywhere, showing her every tourist spot there was to see. Her mother had loved it and said it had always been a dream of hers to travel. Julie hoped one day her mother would get to. Her father had died about ten years ago, and her mother had never remarried. She had a few close friends, though, and maybe one day they would all get together and travel.

But for now, Julie needed her mom. She couldn’t wait to have her mother embrace her and hold her tight, telling her it would all work out.

She pulled up to the house. It looked the same. A small ranch-style home painted a light blue color. It was time for a fresh coat of paint, that was sure. Perhaps she could get someone out here in the spring to spruce the place up. Her mother’s car wasn’t in its usual spot but instead pulled over near the picket fence. A pick-up truck sat where the car was usually parked. Maybe something was wrong with the vehicle, and she was borrowing the truck.

Climbing out of the car, Julie could smell bacon. A smiled crossed her face. Her mom was cooking breakfast. Shutting the car door quickly, she went up the front steps two at a time. As she turned the doorknob, she found it locked. Groaning, she dug through her purse until she found the key to the house and let herself in.

Loud music blared through the house. It was set to a local country station. This was so unlike her mother. In fact, as Julie looked around the living room and saw how untidy it was, she wondered if she was in the right house.

Following the smell of food, she stepped into the kitchen. Julie froze. A half-naked man stood at the stove, flipping pancakes. It was as if he sensed he was no longer alone. He turned, and Julie thought she was going to faint.

“Hi,” the man said.

“Who the hell are you, and where is my mother?” Julie demanded.

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Interview with LJ Garland & Debbie Gould

Books-n-Kisses is please to welcome the wonderful team of LJ Garland & Debbie Gould to that blog today to chat about their new book Sins of the Mind

DEBBIE: Thanks for inviting us, I’m excited.

LJ: Yes, thanks so much for having us today!

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

LJ: Though born and raised in the south, I’ve lived on both the east and west coasts. I love traveling, and  the latest adventures I’ve added to my Bucket List: Machu Pichu and Australia’s Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef. Someday, I hope to get to those places! I’ve been married to my best friend for over twenty years, spend my time home schooling three rambunctious boys, editing in the epub industry, and writing stories that I hopes catches readers’ imaginations as much as the characters and plotlines captivate me. In my spare time (what there is of it LOL), I have tons of hobbies, including building archery equipment from scratch and creating stained glass. I have a passion for anything that goes Boom! …from fireworks to high-powered combat rifles…it’s all good. My hubby and I are both rated helicopter pilots and spent our 10th anniversary flying cross-country from east to west coast…an adventure I highly recommend.

DEBBIE: Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the age of two my mother and I moved to New Jersey, spending many happy years on my grandparents’ horse farm. You’ll sometimes find this setting as a backdrop in my stories. As a teenager, my mother and I found a new home in Vermont, which is where I currently reside. With a daughter in the Air Force (along with my six-year-old grandson), and two sons working for the family Well Drilling business, I now shuffle my time between a full time job as a nurse and my writing career. About seven years ago, while looking at over three hundred treasured books lining the shelves, I realized there was a multitude of stories of my own clamoring for release. Since then, I’ve seriously persevered in keeping the keyboard in constant motion.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

DEBBIE: First I wanted to be a Marine Biologist, then I wanted to join the Navy and be a chef on one of their boats, but I ended up being a nurse, then writing came along.

LJ: Well, I wanted to be the President of the United States until I was twelve. Then I smartened up! lol After that I wanted to be an actress. Did that for a while then moved to teaching college and that led to home schooling my three boys… Wow, I’m old!

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

LJ: Uh, a typical day? Do we have any typical writing days??

DEBBIE: No routine here. I keep telling her we need a routine, but she’s too busy drinking coffee all day.

LJ: Hey, it works, and we get the stories finished. Hmm…my mug’s empty. Back in a sec.

DEBBIE: See what I mean?

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

DEBBIE: Getting positive reactions from the readers would be the most rewarding. I’d say the most challenging would be coming up with a unique story they will enjoy.

LJ: Yeah. And I would add that first page. You always want to grab the reader and ensure they keep going. And reader tastes vary widely. Pretty daunting task, that.

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

Our latest release is the first book from the Red River series. It’s a romantic suspense from Decadent Publishing called Sins of the Mind.

BLURB: Seven years ago, Abby Montgomery survived a brutal attack. Now she is ready to put her pain in the past and move on with her life. The problem is, one by one the men in her life are being viciously murdered. The detective assigned to the case, Ethan Parker, has demons of his own to hide. As the danger gets closer to Abby, so does Ethan. But can they get past his secrets before the killer gets to them? Sometimes the sins of the mind are more depraved than the sins of the heart.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

LJ: Well, as I recall, we were both on the same Internet forum. We’d known each other for…what? Two years, Deb?

Debbie: Yup, about that. We had been brainstorming a plot in one of the books I was writing (still unfinished, lol) and I showed her the first chapter of another story that had been screaming in my brain at me. She liked it, and I asked her if she wanted to co-write it.

LJ: That’s right! And I was excited because the story was interesting. Romance and murder, what’s not to like? So, we started brainstorming ideas and things got pretty intense and…what’s the word I’m looking for?

DEBBIE: Twisted?

LJ: Yes. That’s a great descriptor. But we both loved it and voilà, Sins of the Mind!

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

DEBBIE: We’re working on the next book in the Red River Series. Yup more murder, mayhem, and romance, lol.

LJ: Yep, we’ll be torturing the next characters even more than the first. Though, I think Sins of the Mind had several unexpected twists…and the characters got banged up pretty good.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

DEBBIE: Suzanne Brockmann, Stephen King, Tami Hoag, Cindy Gerard, Kat Martin, Lori Foster…oh the list goes on and on.

LJ: LOL I know! There are so many! Anne McCaffrey – her stories are so creative, yet easy to visualize. Her detailed worlds and series are inspirational, not to mention fun to read! Henry Beam Piper – his Little Fuzzy series is creative and memorable for sure! Orson Scott Card – Ender’s Game and all that came after was amazing. And he also did a nice twist on ‘What you think is true, might not be.’ Stephen King – because he didn’t write horror just for the sake of writing horror, there was a deep, psychological aspect that caused the blood to run cold. Dean Koontz – because his style of writing drew me. The way he wove his earlier stories was unusual, never in a straight line, which left me wondering how these diverse characters would ever collide. Suzanne Brockmann – for her high-action stories and her hero’s perspective. Robert Jordan – for his epic stories. Thomas Harris – psychologically terrifying.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 

LJ: Absolutely! I think if I look at the list above, I can see bits of them all in my stories. Wow, talk about multiple personalities. lol

DEBBIE: Ditto, lol. I grew up on King, so sometimes my stories tend to be a tad dark.

LJ: Right there with you, Deb. Probably why we like writing together so much!

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

DEBBIE: Lori Foster’s A Perfect Storm and Christine Feehan’s Spirit Bound

LJ: Suzanne Collin’s Mockingjay and Linnea Sinclair’s Shades of Dark.

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

We can be tracked down at http://www.garland-and-gould.blogspot.com/ where we blog, chat about stuff, and interview other authors. –

L.J. can be caught at www.lj-garland.com and emailed at mail@lj-garland.com You can also tweet her at @LJ_Garland1 –

Debbie can be found at http://www.authordebbiegould.com/ and emailed at mountecho2006@yahoo.com. – We love hearing from people who have enjoyed our stories!

And you can find Sins of the Mind here!

LJ: Thank you so much for having us here today! We had an awesome time!

DEBBIE: Yes, thank you!

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Interview with Lisa Sanchez

Book-n-Kisses is happy to welcome Lisa Sanchez to the blog today to talk about her new release Faythe Reclaimed.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself:
 You bet! I’m a stay-at-home-mom to three beautiful girls. I love chocolate, purses, reality television and books.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
Yes. I’ve always loved to write, and even as a little girl, I had dreams of making people laugh with my words.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
J.R. Ward is my favorite author. Love, love, love her! I’ve also got mad love for Karen Marie Moning, and Diana Gabaldon.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?
Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? I’m a huge fan of paranormal romance, always have been. So, it came as big shock to me, that I write in the same genre that I read. I’ve actually also written an erotic suspense, and a contemporary YA. I’m pretty comfortable switching genres. I think, for me, it’s not so much about the genre, but the story.

What are some of your writing rituals?
I do most of my writing in the morning while my girls are in school. My Chihuahua usually snuggles up next to me in my big chair while I pound away at the keys on my laptop.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Faythe Reclaimed is the third (and for now) final installment in the Hanaford Park series, and features Taylor and Gabriel’s love story. Unlike the first two books, which were set in present day, Faythe Reclaimed takes place in Salem Village Massachusetts in the year 1692. Taylor has gone back in time, and the story follows her on her journey to return to her own time

How did you come with the idea for this story?
I’m a panster, so I never know what’s going to happen with a story until I sit down and start typing. I realized at the end of Pleasures Untold, that Taylor had gone back in time to the Salem Witch Trials, but as for what happened after that, I was just as surprised as I hope the readers will be.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’ve just finished up a contemporary YA involving cheerleaders and the very prevalent problem of teenage drinking and driving. It’s very different from what I normally write, and I’m super excited about it.

What would you be if you were not an author?
I’m a mom first, before anything else. If I didn’t write, I’d still be doing what I do on a daily basis: care for my children.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’m anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Love, love, love Daemon

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’m just so thankful to be here today. Thanks for having me on your blog!

Fathye Reclaimed
Available at:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Tulipe Noire Press

Running through a strange forest with a bloodthirsty demon hot on her heels wasn’t Taylor’s idea of a rockin’ evening. Then again, neither was soaring backward through time and space. Time travel chafed and left a rank, nasty aftertaste. So, when she finds herself floundering amidst a sea of Commandment-loving holy rollers who fling accusations of witchcraft and bedevilment like hotcakes in a diner, finding her way home jumps to the top of her to do list. Too bad she can’t remember who she is or where she came from. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Taylor has to fall for the mysterious Latin warlock living on the edge of Salem Village and who comes to her rescue, Gabriel Castillo.
Battling an identity crisis and lost in a time that’s not her own, Taylor is determined to find her way back to twenty-first century Hanaford Park. But first, she and Gabriel must work together to uncover the dark scourge lurking in Salem’s shadows, and in doing so, save their own lives, and the lives of countless innocents from a lethal date with the hangman’s noose.

 

About the author:

Lisa Sanchez is a California cheer mom taxiing her way through life, one car ride at a time. Along with chauffer, she sports several job titles, including, but not limited to: author, chef, seamstress, videographer, nurse, enforcer, and general slave to her three daughters. The first two books in her Hanaford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold) are published with Omnific Publishing. The third book, Faythe Reclaimed, releases with Tulipe Noire Press on May 17th 2012. Her erotic suspense, Obsessed was published March 29th 2011 with Loose Id. Lisa also took the plunge into self-publishing this year and released the first novella, Cursing Athena, in her new Order Of Seven erotic paranormal romance series.

Blog:www.lisasanchezromanceauthor.com

Twitter: @LisaSanchez3

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaSanchezRomanceAuthor

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Interview with Ella Jade

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Ella Jade to the blog today.  This is Ella’s first visit to Books-n-Kisses so please make her feel welcomed.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. As a child, I often had a notebook and pen with me and now as an adult, my laptop is never far. The plots and dialog have always played out in my head, but I never knew what to do with them. That all changed when I discovered the eBooks industry. I started penning novels at a rapid pace and now I can’t be stopped. I’m obsessed!

I live in New Jersey with my husband and two boys. When I’m not writing, I can be found attending PTO meetings, kickboxing and hanging out with my kids.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes! I don’t know that I always believed I could be one, but I’ve always been a writer.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I envision a scene in my head or come up with a line or two of dialog and I can build the whole story around it. I can come up with an idea on a Tuesday night and by Friday afternoon the story is plotted. It often starts with no more than two or three sentences.

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

Sure! Three’s A Crowd is a short, highly-erotic tale of a sexy, contemporary couple.

Here’s the blurb…

Connor Hughes is a lucky man. Janine and Sierra, the two sexy women who live downstairs from him have invited him to watch their intimate time in the bedroom. Connor is a willing spectator, but can’t believe it when Janine asks him to join in on the fun.

Connor is drawn to Sierra in ways he’d never imagined. There is something very familiar about the dark-haired beauty that has him wondering why she calls to him. When fantasy mixes with reality, Connor gives into temptation in more ways than one. Will he figure out who Sierra is to him? Can the feeling last all night?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I do this writing exercise where I search for images (usually of the erotic kind) and write scenes for them. Sometimes the drabbles are no more than 1,000 words. I do this when I need to work out a sexy scene or get in the right frame of mind to write in the male POV. I saw this particular image and Three’s A Crowd was born. I thought the tale made for a perfect little steamy read.

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

This July, my BDSM romance Make Me Stay releases. There was a secondary character named Martin in that story who begged me to tell his story. Lol So, I’m working on his book now. It’s called Surrender to Me.

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

There are so many! If I had to choose, I’d go with Stephen King. I think the man is brilliant and his journey is inspiring. I’ve been reading him since I was a teenager. The stories he spins are amazing.

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

Don’t give up. It’s not an easy road. It takes hard work and dedication, but if you’re the type of person who has to tell the story, then be persistent.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Hmm… I don’t have a bucket list. Two years ago, it would have been to become a published author;)

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Too many to name. I have several 1NS (1 Night Stand from Decadent Publishing) books waiting for me on my Kindle. That’s a great series. I look forward to reading as many of them as I can this summer.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much for having me. If I’m a “new to you author”, Three’s A Crowd is a great way to get to know me. The book is an Amazon exclusive published through Ruby Lioness Press. It’s a quick, steamy read priced at $0.99 and free to Prime Members. It is a fun pool or beach read.

http://ellajadeauthor.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ella-Jade-Author/186959391390708

@ellajade1 Twitter

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Spotlight Feature of Killer Flies by William Hicks

William D. Hicks

Killer Flies and Twist

Find the author on Twitter

Twist

As a boy growing up in 1953, Kevin Hull enjoyed playing games with his group of boyhood friends, like the game of “ledge.” After one such game with his friend Billy Hawkins, the two find themselves involved in a terrible accident that will forever change their lives. A work of short psychological horror from our Spectres line.

Killer Flies

The Army plans to use a new breed of flies to protect combat soldiers. But Dr. John Pankow, their creator, is worried that his killer flies are uncontrollable. Will Mother Nature’s most genetically-altered weapon be the ultimate armor, or the potential ravager of the entire world? A work of short horror from our Spectres line.

Excerpt – Killer Flies

“So, you created a vaccine?” General Donner asked.
“Yes, but its effectiveness is only twenty days, or less, depending on metabolic rate. Plus upon further testing this treatment doesn’t work on everyone.”

“Any more questions before I continue?” Pankow waited, no one’s hand went up. “Even though many of my colleagues see little harm in allowing the mix of killer flies with general house flies, I disagree. Currently interbreeding appears safe, because few can survive alone, and without ‘mothers,’ as we call the females, they can’t multiply. But that doesn’t prevent these flies from mutating and forming a new lethal strain. And this would be even more likely if one of the mothers escapes.”
“That won’t happen,” General Bider quickly interjected. “We have one room of mothers which is segregated from all the others.”
“But what happens if one does escape?” Carrie Jacobs, Dr. Pankow’s new research assistant, asked.
Before the doctor could respond, General Willard did. “We’ve taken precautions so that won’t happen; a full bee suit, a security access door, and researchers must go through a sealed room to get at those dangerous mothers. Pardon the pun.”
A slight giggle circled the room. It irritated Pankow. This was serious business, not a place for stupid puns.
“If one female escapes or gets into the wrong hands it will have dire effects. That is why all doors require a key card, and an electrical Flash-Kill system will be installed next year. Funding cuts, you understand, made it impossible to purchase this system until then,” General Bider said, giving no indication he was sorry about the funding issues.
“If one ever escapes it might mean the end of the world,” Pankow finished, allowing his last words to reverberate in their minds.

“I think Dr. Pankow is reading too many science fiction magazines.” General Bider laughed. “These flies will save our soldiers’ lives. We have them under control gentlemen. Are there any questions I can answer?”

Several hands shot up.