CAUTION: Brainstorming session in progress

Click Ginger to Visit DA's blog for Author Interviews and much more.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Tracey H. Kitts: Selling Paranormal & Her Latest Novel "Frank and The Werewolf Tamer"

Listen to them, the children of the night … Hey, they’re not just for Halloween anymore. These days you keep hearing the term “paranormal romance” more and more. But a lot of people are still unclear about exactly what that means. Hopefully, I can help answer a few questions here and maybe help you decide if paranormal romance is something you or a friend might enjoy.
“My name is Tracey H. Kitts, and I write paranormal romance.” That simple statement usually gets me more weird looks than admitting I think Dracula is sexy. I was at an event the other day and a woman picked up one of my flyers. She read it and said, “Oh, I like romance, but what does paranormal mean?”
I said, “Well, in my case it means there are werewolves and vampires involved.” She wrinkled her nose and said, “Oh, I don’t like anything weird.” Really? That’s why she was about to buy a copy of Terminator. Cause people sending their father back in time to get their mom pregnant while avoiding capture/termination by a cybernetic nemesis is “normal.”
Another misconception is that the word paranormal only relates to ghosts or horror. While it could mean that, the literal interpretation is anything that is out of the ordinary. So many people I talk to are shocked when they realize that True Blood is a paranormal romance. Twilight also falls into this category. These stories could be about demons, angels, witches, anything out of the ordinary and of course, romance.
My latest release, Frank and The Werewolf Tamer is about a vampire and a modern (and sexy) version of Frankenstein. To me, paranormal romance is an adventure for women. We just happen to consider a relationship to be part of the adventure. I believe that people crave something different.
The two most common creatures of the night in this type of story are werewolves and vampires. When you think about it, it’s not a mystery why they have such appeal. Wolves for example, mate for life. Who doesn’t crave that kind of commitment? Especially if it comes in a wicked hot package, right? And what about vampires? They can offer what no wrinkle cream ever could: eternal youth and beauty. To never grow old is a fantasy to everyone on some level. Whether or not you’d want to live forever, most people would want to remain younger. Even if it’s only in appearance.
An automatic level of danger is required to even date someone like this! But would it be worth it to have your own loyal protector, your very own knight in shinning moonlight? More and more people seem to think so.
So, if you or someone you know is wondering if this genre is for you, maybe I can help. Paranormal romance is an adventure where a woman falls for someone “not typical.” Every relationship has challenges. What about sunlight or the full moon? Different things, different people, but the same desire to be loved.
If you’re feeling adventurous, why not give it a try?
You can find out more about Tracey at: www.traceyhkitts.com
Grab life by the fangs!
Tracey’s latest book is Frank and The Werewolf Tamer, available exclusively on Amazon Kindle.

Friday, December 23, 2011

A Very Demon Christmas - by Evanne Lorraine

Blurb:


Holly loves her job as a private nurse, but the ill and injured offer little chance to explore her secret longings, especially not for a submissive seeking a master worth risking her heart. When she braves the exclusive La Ceinture Noire, a mysterious dom takes charge of her. She never sees his face, but she’ll never forget his powerful mastery.


Demon hunter, Colin avoids the sweetly submissive nurse next door because she doesn’t deserve to be drawn into his nightmare world. No one does. All he has to offer her is pain and heartbreak. He damn near hurts himself by tripping over his own tongue when he spots her in red lace lingerie at the club. After a too brief interlude with the enchanting little slave, he comes to his senses, and alters her memory of their encounter before leaving. There’s more to Holly than he suspects. For openers, she’s immune to his mind games. He can’t erase her memories without serious damage and he can’t bear to hurt her. The more she learns about him, the greater her jeopardy. How can he keep her safe?


Evanne's Web Site
Buy Link


Excerpt:


Colin tied the ribbon Diane had given him around Holly’s slender throat. The thin line of color marked her as taken — his.He loved how her lips were wet and swollen from his kiss. He loved the way she responded to him with total, helpless, surprised, submission. He loved how her abundant curves felt against his raw needs. And he hated not being able to read her. Touching hadn’t made even a crack in her impenetrable thought shield. He also hated being wrong.


In addition to not being able to read a single idea in her beautiful head, he had new problems. Her mouth was an oasis of pleasure in his barren life. Her silken tongue carried a seductive flavor of hot cocoa with a touch of cool mint. He should never have tasted her sweetness. Now it would be twice as hard to maintain his distance. But he had to; there was too much at stake, including her life.


Absently, he stroked the soft, soft skin over her delicate collarbone just below his mark of ownership. Then he watched her pulse at the base of her throat, entranced by the way it fluttered in response to his touch. What he should do was untie the ribbon, then escort her to the holding pen until the slave auction.


Yeah, sure. Not happening. He couldn’t stop touching her. Forget about putting her on the auction block for some other Dom to claim. She was completely untrained. Someone else might be impatient, too harsh, or… Not happening, no way, no how. The whole argument was moot. For now she belonged to him, and he wasn’t strong enough to forgo this chance to play. He was keeping her for tonight.


He’d agreed to do a teaching scene before the auction. Originally, he’d intended to work with hot wax or maybe a bullwhip — always a crowd favorite. But the idea of marring Holly’s perfect skin, even temporarily, sickened him. Learning her limits and how she responded to pain was part of being her Master, but he sure as hell wasn’t tossing her into an extreme scene with no idea how she’d react.


He let his thumb drift lower, grazing the top curve of her deep cleavage. And lower still, until he skimmed the edge of the lace cups. Through the stretched lace, he watched her nipples darken and pucker even tighter. He teased her swollen tips with a brush of his thumbs, and the thin material peaked over the stiffened points. “Tell me what you want, baby.”


Her breath caught with a little hitch. “A kiss, Sir.”


Damn, she got to him. His cock lengthened and hardened further until it was a pleasurable heavy ache pinned by his slacks against his thigh. He unbuttoned his jacket and leaned closer, crowding her — letting her softness cradle his raw hunger.


“Where?” The single-word question grated out like he’d swallowed a load of gravel.


Another ragged breath bumped her lush breasts against the starched front of his dress shirt, adding fresh heat to his fever.


“Everywhere.”


Only the fact that they were in a public place, and he was fairly certain he wouldn’t stop at kissing, kept him from stripping off the bits of lace and taking her up on that offer. But he couldn’t resist probing her mind for lascivious images. There weren’t any. More accurately, there weren’t any he could access. He concentrated and tried again and came up just as empty.


Apparently, he couldn’t read her thoughts even when he was touching her. He’d been so focused on her physical responses and that tempting body he’d forgotten the disturbing absence of his usual mental connection.


A muffled thunk sounded close to his feet.


“There’s your toy bag. Added some red hemp. Showtime, Master Colin.”


“Thanks.” Colin stayed riveted on Holly.


Duec laughed. “Nice slave.”


Colin whirled, but Duec’s broad back was already halfway across the room and moving fast through the crowd. No way was he going to chase down his boss and leave Holly unprotected. Then what Duec had said sank into Colin’s head. Leave it to Duec to provide the ideal Christmas present. Red hemp — absolutely perfect.


He cupped Holly’s nape. “Come on. I’m going to put your beautiful body on display.”


A muffled squeak that might have been a protest came from her lips.


“Do we need to talk about your limits?” Colin rubbed his thumb along the side of her neck and deepened his voice with enough compulsion to ensure her compliance. “Or are you going to trust me absolutely?”

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Natalie Baum Releases "Callie Mallory, Chicago Adventure"

New York-based author Natalie Baum will release the latest installment of her "Callie Mallory" series on Monday, December 19.  The book will be available at Noble Romance under their Erotic Romance category as well as Amazon and various other digital outlets. The series focuses on TV chef Callie Mallory's erotic exploits as she travels across the country filming her cooking show.  The series combines romantic erotica with travel and cooking for a tantalizing read.

Natalie Baum is online.  Visit her website at www.nataliebaum.com. Follow @NatalieBaumSexy on Twitter and become a fan of Natalie Baum Stories on Facebook.  Read Natalie's blog http://nataliebaumsexy.blogspot.com/

Contact Natalie at nataliebaum69@gmail.com.




Callie Mallory is one saucy chef. She likes her produce the way she likes her men, fresh, fresh, fresh!

Debuting as a premier culinary TV show host certainly offers its perks in this regard. Live audience interaction gives Callie the opportunity to decide who she plans to fondle first…her tasty organic ingredients or the hungry taut men clamoring for her attention.

Traveling from city to city every week the scenery is never boring and the tantalizing company she encounters along the way makes her glad she’s a woman. Tune into “Organic Chef on the Go” and join this fearless bombshell as she embarks on culinary adventures that span the globe, arouse the senses and heighten physical pleasures.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Not Our Grandparents' Christmas

Remember when we wished the Christmas spirit would last all year long?
We should have been more specific about which part.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Masters of the Shadowlands 6: To Command and Collar - by Cherise Sinclair

Cherise's latest addition to the Shadowlands series was released yesterday. Enjoy this brief look at another great read by Cherise Sinclair.


Determined to find the human traffickers preying on Shadowlands’ submissives, Master Raoul gets himself invited to a small slave auction.


Once informed, the FBI orders him to reject the limited choices so the slavers will invite him to the big auction. To Raoul’s shock, one of the slaves is the kidnapped friend of a Shadowlands sub. She has a scarred body…and an unbroken spirit. He can’t leave her behind. Ruining the FBI’s carefully laid plans, he buys her.


Kimberly’s freedom has come at a devastating price: the other women are still slaves. An FBI raid is their only hope for rescue. Desperate to help the Feds locate the big auction, she agrees to pose as Master Raoul’s slave.


Wearing a collar again is terrifying, but under the powerful dominant’s care, Kim starts to heal and then to blossom. This is what she’s been drawn to—and fled from—her entire life.


She escaped the slavers who captured her body—can she escape the master who’s captured her heart?

Cherise's Web Site
Buy Link

Excerpt:


“And you, sir?” The Overseer turned to Master R. “I heard you enjoy dispensing a good beating.”


The hand gripping her neck flexed slightly. “I’ll use a flogger.”


Staring at the floor, Kim breathed out, trying to tell herself a flogger wasn’t as bad as other stuff. Like a whip. Or a cane. Unless he picked one of the nastier kinds. Her nerves were jumping with her need to yank away and run, but she wouldn’t even get out of the room. And then she’d pay and pay and pay. I can endure this. It’s only pain.


Somehow she could feel the buyer’s attention on her like a warm breeze. His thumb stroked the side of her neck. “Dahmer, you’ve got a pretty setup here.”


“Thank you,” the Overseer said, his voice with that slick, sharp edge to it. “Although pulling everything down and setting up in a new house becomes tedious.”


“I can imagine. How long have you been in this…line of work?”


“The Harvest Association hired me about seven years ago.” The Overseer’s laugh made Kim’s skin crawl. “The side benefits are great — like training the merchandise.”


“I daresay. Do you choose the women?”


“Our watchers select potential slaves according to what we’re looking for at the time.” The Overseer nodded to Holly. “That one was picked up for our annual ‘Blondes are more fun’ auction. In the Southeast quadrant, I select from the list and contract the appropriate people to make the pickups.”


“Quite a few layers in your group. That’s reassuring.”


Layers upon layers. Drown the bastards and let crabs eat their bodies. Kim bit her tongue until she tasted blood. Early on, the Overseer had explained how long the Association had been in business, and the impossibility of their families ever finding them. One despairing slave had tried to commit suicide that night, but the torn plastic cup couldn’t cut her skin deep enough.


“The safety and anonymity of the association and our buyers is our primary concern.” The Overseer stopped. Kim glanced up to see him gesture toward the floggers on the back wall. “I think you’ll find something there that fits your needs.”


“How much time do we have?”


“Long as you want.” The Overseer’s eyes met Kim’s. “According to her last owner, this piece of goods doesn’t break down quickly.”


Her skin went cold; her hands started to tremble. Lord Greville had never stopped until she’d broken, and then he’d…


Master R snorted and pulled her back against his body, his arm around her waist, one wide palm covering her breast. “Any ham-handed idiot can make a woman scream. I prefer to assess…responsiveness.” His powerful hand caressed her, his touch light. Not somehow repugnant, but still…touching her, as a reminder that her body was no longer her own. She tried to move, but the iron band of his arm held her easily in place.


The Overseer tipped his head. “It’s a pleasure to have an experienced dominant.”


As if he’d recognize experience if it bit him on the butt, Kim thought, but Master R was a dom. She could tell. As the Overseer left at a hail from the fat buyer, Master R turned her around. His face held no expression she could read, and a tremor ran through her. What was he planning to do?


Did she want to try to get him to buy her or not? He hadn’t been cruel — not in the way the other two buyers displayed. Her stomach sank when she saw Holly restrained on a bench, enduring the slash of the cane, whimpering with each blow.


On the St. Andrew’s cross, Linda was silent, but tears streamed down her face as the whip left red stripes on her breasts and stomach. The older woman had admitted she was a masochist — actually liked pain — but not like this. Never like this.


Kim didn’t want either of those sadists, yet this man was…observant. Too smart to get away from. She flinched as Holly’s buyer changed to a leather strap, the sound loud in the room. Should she chance the cruelty in hopes of escape? How badly would she be damaged before she could get free?


“You’re thinking too much, little slave. Keep your eyes only on me.”


Her attention jerked back to him at the soft command. His veil of remoteness had dropped away again. Folding his arms over his chest, he studied her, his dark gaze skimming over her face, her shoulders, her hands, her legs. Under the discomfort of the heavy silence, she shifted her weight as the flutters in her stomach increased. An experienced dominant. She saw the signs in his posture and in the way that sometimes she reacted to him as a dom — not a monster.


He’s a monster. Never forget that.


“What is your real name?” he asked softly.


My name. Part of me. Not answering this. His chin lifted and under his gaze, her defiance that had infuriated Lord Greville bent as inevitably as a palm tree in a tropical storm. “Kimberly. Sir.”


“Thank you.” When his face softened in approval, her muscles relaxed even though she knew — she knew — he was a slaver. And he — he wanted to use a flogger on her.


He grasped her shoulders and turned her so her back was to him. Why wasn’t he being rough with her? As he traced lines down her back, his fingers were warm, the calluses scraping lightly. “You’ve been whipped. Was it before or after your slavery?”


Her throat went tight. Slavery. Why did hearing the word send disbelief through her every time? This can’t be me. Can’t be happening. “After.” Lord Greville’s eyes, crazy mad, the pain, falling to her knees, blood everywhere.
He grunted. “Assholes.”


What? She forced herself to stillness.


“You are not going to escape this evening without some pain, chiquita.” Even as she stiffened, he pulled her back against him again, his body like a brick wall, his arm circling her waist. He fondled her breasts, his gentleness disconcerting. His breath teased the curls at her temple. “Did you enjoy being flogged before all this happened?”


That was a different life, no relation to the one now.


“Kimberly?”


She should never have told him her name — hearing it now, used in a master’s authoritative voice, shook something inside her. My name. I’m real. I’m still me, Kimberly Elizabeth Moore. She swallowed, remembered the question about BDSM clubs and play parties. Before. “I — yes.”


“Good girl.” His resonant voice relaxed her, even as she tried to keep herself defended. “And restraints? Do they bother you?”


This seemed like before somehow, the dance of negotiations, while finding a partner who liked what she did. But it isn’t, Kim. You’re a slave. A fuckhole. A slut. She stiffened.


He nipped her earlobe, making her jump and raising the oddest tingle inside her. “Stay in the present with me, Kimberly,” he said, his voice so very different than earlier. Low and rich and smooth with a hint of a Spanish accent. As unexpectedly warm as a sunny day in the spring. “Answer me now. Do restraints bother you?”


“No. Not really.” Not like enclosed spaces, hoods, cages. Her stomach turned over, and her chest constricted.


“Something bothers you. What?”


As if she’d give him a weapon to use against her. To punish her with like the Overseer had. Her mouth compressed into a thin line.


“No?” He sighed and turned her to face him. As he regarded her, he massaged her upper arms, his grip powerful, controlled…warm. “I am going to restrain you and flog you. I will use my hands on you, perhaps my mouth. I know you don’t have a choice in this” — his eyes chilled for a moment — “but you might find it easier, knowing I won’t exceed those boundaries.”


He — he was right. He planned nothing she hadn’t enjoyed at one time — nothing she hadn’t survived since. No cages. The relief blanked her mind, and a thank-you escaped before she could pull it back.


One corner of his mouth tipped up. “I like hearing gratitude.” He ran his knuckles over her left breast. As always, since soon after her capture, she felt nothing. No pain, no revulsion, just…nothing.


His eyes narrowed. He stroked over her breast again slowly, this time studying her face as he did. Without lifting his hand, he stroked upward and over her shoulder. Her neck.


The skin on his fingertips was a little rough. His palm melted the ice under her skin the way the heat from the sun would dissipate morning fog on the water.


“You will need much work, chiquita,” he murmured, “but this is not the night.”

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Sarah Ballance - Author of Familiar Light and Unforgiven

Multi-talented Sarah Ballance is with us today.
I hope you enjoy this brief look into her life and thoughts.
Be sure to click the logo to proceed to the next stop on your tour, which just happens to be Sarah Ballance's blog.
And... Sarah will be giving away a $5.00 Noble Romance gift certificate to a randomly selected commenter. So, be sure to leave a comment or three.


Thank you for stopping by, and we hope to see you again.

Thanks so much for having me here today! I'd like to let readers know they can subscribe to my blog *by email* for a chance to win a weekly giveaway of a $10 gift card to Noble Romance or a $5 gift card to Amazon (winner's choice). Sign up at http://sarahballance.wordpress.com/  - hope to see you there!

Sarah Ballance author bio: Sarah and her husband of over fourteen years live on the mid-Atlantic coast with their six young children, all of whom are perfectly adorable when they're asleep.  She often jokes that she writes to be around people who will listen to her, but her characters aren't much better than her kids.  Fortunately, her husband is quite supportive, having generously offered to help her research "the good parts."  She's never had to ask twice.



Q) What inspired you to write professionally?

A) I started with nonfiction, and that was for the money. It was something I could do from home, and the cash flow was a big help to our one income family. Then a few months into my nonfiction gig a friend told me I should write a novel. I laughed and said there was no way I could do that. That would have been the end of it, but it hit me later I'd said I couldn't do something, so I proceeded to prove myself wrong. Three years and five published titles later, I still can't believe I'm here.

Q) Writing fiction, erotic or otherwise, takes a writer out of their everyday life and comfort zone. To go there, writers usually insert themselves in one familiar place. I know one author who actually does his best writing in Starbucks. Another rented a room above a garage two blocks from her house. Where do you write?

A) I usually write in my bedroom, simply because that's the only place in the house I can hope to get away from the kids. But my absolute favorite place to write—my spot of automatic zen and wordage—is in our pickup truck. I discovered this quite by accident when I took my computer with me while two of my kids were at riding lessons. The truck is huge, it's comfortable, and it creates for me a private little world, utterly free from nagging reminders to do the dishes or fold laundry. I could sit there for hours—especially with horses grazing in pastures stretching as far as the eye can see—but I only get two hours a week, LOL. And I LOVE every minute!

Q) How do you juggle home, career, family, and writing?

A) As a homeschooling at-home mom, my home and family are fairly well muddled, LOL. Likewise, my career and writing are one and the same. I check the computer in the mornings (ensuring my blog posted correctly and such), then spend most of the day with the kids and their schoolwork. I do flybys to check email periodically and respond to reader comments, but for the most part I don't get back to the computer until late afternoon or after dinner. Then I write until midnight or so before packing it in to start all over the next day.

Q) Why did you choose to write under a pen name, and how did you decide what name to use?

A) I have national nonfiction writing credits under my "real" name, so when I made the move to fiction I did so with a pen name to keep my personalities straight. The name itself, however, is not much of a stretch. Sarah is my real first name, and Ballance is actually my husband's middle name. I couldn't bear to change my name and not keep his name, so I did both, LOL!

Q) Briefs or boxers on your men? Why?

A) I like boxers or boxer-briefs. When I think "briefs" the first thing to come to mind are the various Spongebob and Spiderman toddler prints I've washed for my boys for the last ten years. Needless to say, with such an association briefs don't strike me as romantic or sexy! :c)



FAMILIAR LIGHT BLURB:
Seven years of longing comes down to just one night.

Laney Kent returns to Barrier Shoals hoping to reunite with her first love, Bridger. She anticipates his reception might be chilly, but what she doesn't expect is to become the victim of a deadly obsession … or that this night with Bridger could be her last.

Bridger Jansen tangled a lot of sheets trying to forget about Laney, but his heart knew what the rest of him refused to admit: he could love no one else. He's determined not to forgive her for leaving him without explanation, but when he fails to protect her from a viscous attack, the person he can't forgive just might be himself.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Catherine's Toys IV - by KevaD

Catherine's Toys IV is the final installment of this horror erotic serial.
Thank you Noble Romance Publishing for believing in this odd, psychotic tale, but most of all... Thank you, the readers, for supporting this story wrapped in horror, smothered in sex, and tied up with a ribbon of humor.


Casey has no idea the hooded toy chained in a barn is his fantasy lover Larry the security guard.

When Larry takes Catherine's kink to levels of pleasure she had never imagined, the lines of who is the toy blur, and Catherine has to choose between loyalty and love.

But she better make a decision fast, before the garden shears in Casey's hand make the choice for her.


Buy Link

Her Man Flint - by Jerri Drennen

Take a step back to the days when spies were known, feared, and wore polyester. When psychedelic was a state of being.
In Her Man Flint, author Jerri Drennen reminds us how fun risking your life for God, country, and sex can be.


If James Bond and Cleopatra Jones had a daughter, Adriana Kent would kick her ass.
Everything Adriana knows about being a top-notch, undercover agent she's learned from her partner, Flint Morgan, in and out of the sheets.
 That is, until he's caught between those same bed linens with another woman. Heartbroken, Adriana refuses to forgive him. But when 'the other woman' is found dead in Flint's apartment, she steps up to prove his innocence--he might be a womanizer, but he's no killer.
As Adriana closes in on a suspect, she's kidnapped and sent overseas to a sadistic prince who collects women like priceless pieces of art.
 Now this tough as nails agent finds herself playing the helpless courtesan to a man hell-bent on breaking her spirit. Flint arrives in the nick of time, dressed as a harem girl, fighting off randy guards and surly camels to rescue Adriana so they can fly back to the states to find a way to exonerate him for murder.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Lucy Felthouse - Author of "Love Through Time"

Today, Lucy Felthouse graces my blog.
I hope you'll leave a comment or two for her, and then click the logo to take you to the next stop on your Timeless Desire tour.

Oh… and thanks for stopping by! - KevaD

Lucy is a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied Creative Writing. During her first year, she was dared to write an erotic story - so she did. It went down a storm and she's never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Noble Romance, Ravenous Romance, Summerhouse Publishing, Sweetmeats Press and Xcite Books. She is also the editor of Uniform Behaviour and Seducing the Myth. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.


Q) What inspired you to write professionally?

To start with, it was just a spur of the moment thing. I'd gotten into erotica writing as someone had dared me to do it! I then started reading Black Lace books and Scarlet Magazine (both of which are now sadly defunct). Scarlet had a section where they'd print erotic short stories. I submitted one of mine and it got published! From then on I continued to write and send off stories, with each acceptance spurring me on to do more.

Q) As a writer, what is your ultimate goal?

To write a full length novel and get it published.

Q) Briefs or boxers on your men? Why?

Boxers. I just think they're sexier. Though having said that, Jared Padalecki could turn up in my bed in any kind of underwear and I still wouldn't say no ;)

Q) What have you had to sacrifice to become a writer?

Sanity! No, seriously, I don't feel I have. Writing isn’t a chore to me, it's something I feel I *have* to do, but because I want to. I became self-employed a few months ago which means I can be a lot more flexible on how I spend my time. I'm not earning as much money as I was because I'm still building up the business, but it does give me more time to write. This is paying off, because since I've had more time, I'm getting a lot more publications out there – which hopefully will start to bring in more money. So in the long run I definitely think it's a good thing. I'm happier anyway, and as we only live once – happiness is so important.

Q) Is being a writer as satisfying as you thought it would be?

Yes, absolutely. It can be really hard work sometimes, but there are so many payoffs that it doesn't matter. I think most writers are wired a certain way that they always want to write – so like I said before, it's not a 'chore.' It may be a job, but it doesn't feel like one. And then you have the satisfaction of: finishing a piece, having a piece accepted, having a piece published, receiving reader/reviewer feedback. The positives far outweigh the negatives and even if they didn't, I'd probably still be doing it...

*****
Westbury Manor is a stately home with a fascinating past, and when book conservator Emily Stone starts uncovering it, she's startled by what she finds . . . .

Emily arrives at Westbury Manor with a job to do. She's to clean and conserve all of the books in their impressive library, preserving them for future generations. Not long into her stay at the house, she bumps into the night guard, George. She'd expected an old, balding guy with a comb over, so the hunky chap she actually meets is a very pleasant surprise. The introductions complete, George leaves Emily in peace to get on with her job. But when a falling photograph sets off a chain reaction of ghostly events, Emily and George are thrown together in order to find out who—or what—is causing them. Their investigation uncovers a tragic past, a lost love, and a stunning secret.

*****
Emily received some strange looks and frowns from the people she passed as she walked across the graveled drive toward the front entrance of Westbury Hall. She could appreciate their confusion. It was closing time for the stately home, and the last of the visitors were being politely ushered out of the building, yet she was heading inside. She'd been invited. She had a job to do.

An elderly lady stood in the porch, smiling and nodding as she held the door open for those departing the hall. Most of them seemed in no hurry to leave, stopping to make comments to the woman at the door, thanking her for a lovely visit and so on. Emily waited patiently to the side, allowing the patrons to leave before attempting to enter. When the staff member—most likely a volunteer, Emily thought—caught sight of her, she gave her a polite nod of acknowledgment.

Finally, the last of Westbury Hall's visitors moved out, leaving Emily free to enter. Climbing the single, stone step to the threshold, she took the hand already offered her.
Shaking Emily's hand with a surprising firmness, the woman said, "You must be Miss Stone." Her smart appearance and the intelligence in her eyes indicated that despite her age, she was far from past it. "I'm Mrs. Thompson, house supervisor."

"I am," Emily replied, dropping her hand back to her side, "but please, call me Emily. It's lovely to meet you. So, house supervisor? Do you live on site?"

Indicating Emily should step inside the entrance hall, Mrs. Thompson proceeded to close and lock the porch and front doors of the house, securing them in.

"I do," the older woman said, turning back to face Emily, "I have rooms in a separate building just off the back of this one. So you needn't worry about me disturbing you."

"Oh no," Emily said, worried she'd inadvertently rubbed Mrs. Thompson the wrong way. "I didn't mean that. I was just curious. You're more than welcome to see me at work, Mrs. Thompson; although, I'm afraid you won't see anything terribly exciting."

Mrs. Thompson smiled now, the warmth reaching her eyes. Emily sighed silently with relief. She'd yet to see the extent of the work she had to do, but she'd been told it was no easy task, so she could be here for some time. The last thing she needed was to upset any of the staff.

"Oh, you'd be surprised, my dear. This is a fascinating old place. Of course, all these old houses have history, but Westbury Hall's is particularly rich."

Emily smiled. The woman's enthusiasm was infectious. "Well then," she replied, "I can't wait to learn more about it. I hope you'll feed me full of historical tidbits while I'm here?"

Mrs. Thompson gave an enigmatic smile. Then, startling Emily somewhat, she turned smartly on her heel and walked deeper into the house. "Come, my dear, I won't hold you up any longer. I'll show you to the library, where you'll soon start uncovering Westbury's illustrious history for yourself."
*****


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Jess Anastasi - Author of "Savior"

I'd like to welcome Jess Anastasi, author of "Savior," part of the Noble Romance Publishing Timeless Desire Line.
Be sure to leave a comment for Jess, and then click the tour logo to go to your next stop on the tour.

And thank you for stopping by. I truly appreciate it. – KevaD


BIO
Jess Anastasi has been making up stories ever since she can remember. Though her messy handwriting made it hard for anyone else to read them, she wasn't deterred and now she gets to make up stories for a living. She loves loud music, dumb movies, and a good book on a rainy day. Jess lives in regional Victoria, Australia with her very supportive husband, two kids, one spoiled border collie, and one seriously crazy cat.

Q) What inspired you to write professionally?

A) It was a slow process for me. I'd always been one for writing random bits of stories, keeping journals and coming up with what I suppose you could call 'scenes' in my head. But it wasn't until the year after I left high school when I decided to see if I could write a full length manuscript - writing 90,000 or so words is no small thing when you've never done it before. Well, apparently that worked out so then I went and studied a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing. Over this time I was also working a day job. Its hard to explain, but seeing myself as a professional author was a slow evolution. It wasn't until I'd been writing for about 7 years and had 2 kids that I at last decided if I was ever going to get anywhere in this business, I had to get serious about it.

Q) Briefs or boxers on your men? Why?

A) Personally I'm partial to boxers, but when we're talking about my male characters, they wear what suits their personality - so it could be anything. Some have been known to go commando…


Q) When you write, are you a character in your stories, or are you on the sidelines watching the story as it unfolds?

A) This is an interesting question. Most of the time for me its like watching a movie. But often during an intensely emotional scene, I'll kind of get sucked into the character to be seeing and feeling things through them, if that makes sense. I like it when that happens because then the writing that comes out as a result tends to be more in-depth.


Q) Is being a writer as satisfying as you thought it would be?

A) Yes and no. It is satisfying to create something others get enjoyment out of. Finishing a book and then seeing that book out there in the world is about the best feeling you can imagine. Getting positive feedback from readers and reviewers is great as well. But, like with any job, there are the not-so-fun things. Like when you have to do three or four rounds of revisions before you get the book right. Or things like updating my website, which I really don't like doing. Or getting stuck on a scene or with a character that's not working and you can't figure out what to do with it. Then there's the long hours you work which you don't really get paid for. Sure, I get royalties, but unless you're JK Rowling, the amount of money you make never really covers the hours of work you've put in. No matter how glamorous it might seem to the outside world, being an author takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

Q) What's next for you? Are you considering new characters in a new setting?

A) I've got a couple of new ideas in the works. One book I'm working on is the fourth book in the Sanctuary series, titled Sinner. However, I'm also over half way through another sci-fi/alternate planet type romance and have been considering an idea I had for a straight paranormal romance. 

Q) Which do you prefer to read – e-book or hard cover?

A) Though I caved a few months back and bought an e-reader, I still prefer hard cover books. Plus, some of the authors I read, not all of their books are available in e-book format. I think I'll probably always prefer the old fashioned paper book.


BLURB:
Cadmiel, the Angel of Destiny, knows better than anyone what a bitch fate can be. Five hundred years ago, the only woman he ever loved was killed, shredding his soul and leaving a void in place of his heart. Now Archangel Michael comes to him with a shocking and forbidden proposal. He wants Cadmiel to travel back in time and save Emilyn. Though Cadmiel wishes beyond all reasoning to do as the archangel asks, messing with time goes against his own beliefs and the very foundations of angel lore. But Michael doesn't give Cadmiel a choice and thrusts him through time and space, back to 2012.
The first time Emilyn saw the gorgeous man, she was affected on a level she couldn't comprehend. Cadmiel isn't like any other guy she's ever met, and he makes her wish love at first sight were true. But there are forces at work she never dreamed real. In the space of a day, she goes from normal, every-day college student, to a pawn in an apocalyptic war between angels and demons.
Emilyn's very life is in Cadmiel's hands. Will he risk the future of the entire universe to save her, or let her die and destroy himself in the process?

websites:

My books:

At Amazon:

Excerpt link:


Thanks for letting me visit, it's been great. Everyone, don't forget to leave a comment to go in the draw to win some fab prizes!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

HC Brown - Author of "Time to Live"

I'd like to welcome HC Brown to the blog today.
If you're not familiar with her work, well... you need to be. She's good. Really good.
HC shared a few thoughts from the land down under where she lives with her family.
Please be sure to leave a comment before clicking the logo to visit the next stop on the tour.
And of course, thank you for stopping by! – KevaD


Q) There is so much that goes on behind the scenes in writing, such as rounds and rounds of editing. When you began writing professionally, what problems or bumps popped up that you never expected, and how did you adjust to them?

A) The first bump hit me like a train. I thought I could write. Well, I had the stories rolling around my head but getting them on to paper was another thing. Learning the craft of writing to the standard required by publishers today is a far cry from what I learned at university. Showing verses telling, deep POV etc required in a novel has changed dramatically over the years.
I overcame this problem with hard work, reading only new releases and finding my own 'voice'.
I am super critical of my own work. In truth, I am never satisfied. I think an honest kick you in the butt critique partner is essential. I need feedback good or bad. It is far too easy become a sloppy writer and I want every single word I write to be better than the last one. Oh I love praise, every writer bathes in praise and we all need someone to say they love our work or the time taken to craft a story would not be worth the effort.

To be honest I've never had rounds and rounds of editing and I hope I never will.


Q) Briefs or boxers on your men? Why?

A) Uh huh…  mmmm now let me see briefs, preferably black or better still leather. Why? Because, there is nothing better than seeing the outline of a fine muscular ass and a generous package.


Q) When you write, are you a character in your stories, or are you on the sidelines watching the story as it unfolds?

A) I'm in the heads of the POV, I feel what they feel, see what they see. This is the same if the character is male, female, angel or demon.
I am told I have two separate voices in  my stories, the hard nose gritty story comes though in a male voice, the fantasy romance is usually female. No I don't have a split personality in the real world. I'm pretty straight talking and all female.LOL

Q) What's next for you? Are you considering new characters in a new setting?

 A) My latest release with Noble Romance is a novella Time to Live, a M/M BDSM in the Timeless Desire Series.

 I've been dabbling in stories set in middle eighteenth century England. I love writing in that era especially gay stories. In 1760 life was very difficult for gay men. To have a relationship discovered in those days could mean a one-way trip to the gallows.
The two I have finished are A Tryst in Time and Lord and Master
I'm currently working on a fantasy romance M/F and a M/M BDSM Story Hurt Me Good.

Also as usual I'm writing a few diverse paranormal/fantasy stories. I hope to take my readers to new realms/planets/dungeons in the near future.


Q) Do you implant subplots in your stories very often – a personal dilemma the hero or heroine has to overcome as well as the primary obstacle?

 A) Oh yes. I often write a few chapters of a new story and then realize the story doesn't 'sing' for me.  IMO A subplot makes a story more interesting. I think we live our lives in subplots. Nothing is supposed to go right in life is it? Who was it that said, 'Life wasn't meant to be easy'?

Time To Live- Timeless Desire Collection

Blurb:

Seth Bannock is living a lie. Nothing in his life is working out. He likes women . . . he respects women . . . but when he tries to kiss a woman and she does that tongue thing, he wants to spew.

Confused by his body's reaction to the men at his gym, Seth seeks help from the only gay club he knows—Floggers. Is the man crazy? Seeking answers, the sweet, vanilla virgin marches into the BDSM club to speak to the owner, Rio Knight.

Realization that he has been on the wrong team all his life comes in the form of a six-foot-seven Adonis by the name of Matt Duffey. Instantly attracted to the leather-clad alpha male, Seth must leave his old life behind and embrace his newfound sexuality.

Seth thought his life had complications before he met Matt, but nothing comes close to the rollercoaster ride in the big dom's arms.




Thank you for having me. Please leave your email with your comments to go into the draw for a prize. Then click on the tour logo to go to the next blog in the tour.


Thank you for taking the time to visit, HC. I hope you come back soon.