Archive for the ‘guest blogger’ Category

Guest Blogger: Sue Brown

Sep 13, 2011 Filed under: guest blogger, m/m

Today I’ve got the delightful Sue Brown here with me. The coffee’s hot. Grab a cup and join us.

Tell us about your latest release, Sue.

My latest story is Racing Raindrops, in the Chasing the Dream anthology, published by Silver. It’s a short story about Tony, who takes shelter in a bar and realises that it is the last place he should be when he propositioned by the barman and his cousin. He has a choice; take the plunge and risk losing his family, or remain closeted and unhappy. Tony decides to let the raindrops choose. I’ve got the wonderful GA Hauser, Patricia Logan, Lisa Worrall and SammyJo Hunt with me as well.

What is your favorite genre to write? What other genres do you enjoy? M/M obviously. I just can’t get my head around het. Within that, I’ve tried sci-fi, paranormal, western and contemporary.

Do you have a favorite character from one of your books? Luke from Morning Report. I love his possessive, tempestuous nature and the fact if any man lays a hand on Simon he’d have his balls. I love that man. *sigh* I love Luke!

Is there a style or genre of writing that you haven’t tried yet but you’d like to explore? BDSM. I keep dipping my toes in and then running away. I’m worried about getting it wrong.

How do you make time in your life for writing? At the moment I have the university holidays. During the semesters it’s a matter of late nights and early mornings.

What do you like to read? Do you have some favorite authors? I love fantasy and crime, and within M/M I read virtually anything. Authors, hmmm… David Eddings, Patricia Cornwall, Chris Owen, JL Langley, Marion Zimmer Bradley. I could go on and on.

If you decide to take a Saturday off, what are we likely to find you doing? Heh! Domestic. Kids. Walking the dog. If I’m lucky, meeting a friend in London for lunch and a museum.

Choose six adjectives to describe yourself. Sparky, grumpy, friendly, lazy… I can’t think of anything else.

Describe the perfect meal. Roast lamb, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, lots of thick gravy, vegetables (if I must).

If you were a dessert what would you be and why? Dark chocolate Mousse. I’m soft and squidgy really with a slightly tart flavour.

Thanks for joining me, Sue! Here’s a taste of Racing Raindrops….

Racing Raindrops by Sue Brown (part of the Chasing the Dream anthology)

The sudden rain shower caught Tony by surprise. He looked for options to wait it out before continuing his journey to the grocery store, relieved to spot a bar just across the street. Making a sudden detour, Tony avoided falling over a stroller filled with a sleeping toddler. He apologized to the outraged mother and headed for the door, her angry shouts following his progress. It was dark and warm inside Mac’s Bar, a welcome relief from the heavy raindrops.

Shaking his head to clear the water from his face, Tony froze on the doorstep, nerves coiling in the pit of his stomach, as he suddenly realized what kind of bar it was. He could find another bar. This wasn’t the only establishment along the street. Or he could grow a set and take the final step, a rite of passage to acknowledge that he wasn’t as arrow straight as he told the world. If he stepped over the threshold, there would be no going back.

It was just a frigging gay bar, for fuck’s sake. The world wasn’t going to shake just because Tony DiMarco took a drink in a fag bar.

Maybe not the whole world, but his little part of Manhattan would be shaken to its very core. There was a good chance his momma and poppa would never talk to him again. Anthony DiMarco III, son of fourth generation Italian storekeepers, the first DiMarco to go to college, an internee every summer for their local senator, a rising star in local politics—there was no way they were going to accept he was a faggot.

“My boy’s gonna go all the way to the top!” his poppa boasted to anyone who’d listen. He was so proud of his oldest son.

Poppa wouldn’t be so proud of Little Tony now, would he? Old Tony hated all queers and was proud to boast that the only time some fag came onto him, the fanuk lost all his front teeth. Tony shivered. There was good reason not to tell his Poppa that Little Tony liked the boys.

Learn more about Sue and her writing at her website and her blog. Join her on Facebook here.

Guest Blogger: Monika Krasnorada

Aug 30, 2011 Filed under: guest blogger

Today I welcome Monika Krasnorada to my blog. Monika is a good friend and an awesome author so grab some coffee or tea and settle in to learn more about her. Monika, tell us about your latest story.
At this time, I am still a newbie.  I have had only one release, the novella “Fragile” that was included in Dreamspinner Press’ Daily Dose Anthology, “First Time for Everything”.  And, that was a fluke, let me tell you.  A friend suggested I send in a story I had written and it was one of those ‘holy crap’ moments.  A writer I admired thought I should ‘go for it’? What a boost to the ego that was.  So, I did and hello! They accepted it.  I’m still on cloud 9. : )

I’m currently working on two novel-length stories.  It’s slow going, but I’d rather take my time and do my very best the first time around and hopefully not have to re-do the entire thing in edits.

What is your favorite genre to write? What other genres do you enjoy?

I love m/m.  I’ve been writing in the genre since I was about 13.  I used to write fanfiction before I even knew there was such a thing. LOL  And, I always, ALWAYS put my guys with other guys. It wasn’t a conscious decision on my part and at that age, I’m not entirely sure all I knew about that kind of relationship and what it entailed, but it just seemed right to me…natural.  It just made sense to me.

I have written m/f, as well.  Actually have just submitted a 100+K m/f novel and am now anxiously waiting to hear back about it.  It’s a special story to me and I am hopeful it will be accepted even due to the fact that it doesn’t have an HEA.  But, I figure, life doesn’t always end that way and why not reflect that? (Doesn’t help the nerves, though) 😛

Do you have a  favorite character from one of your books?

Actually, I do. In the novel I am working on now, there is a character named Leo MacGregor. He’s this bigger than life guy. You know the type, drop-dead gorgeous with a Scottish burr (could you not just die?).  But, his past is a secret, and he’s been hired to provoke and root-out some very unsavory characters.  In the process, he’s met a man that he will have to betray.  It’s amazing to watch him open up and feel things that he hasn’t been allowed to feel for a long time. To watch him realize there is more to life.  He’s just a doll.

Is there a style or genre of writing that you haven’t tired yet but you’d like to explore?

Hmmm, I’m not sure.  I don’t intentionally write anything, so I guess I am at the mercy of my muse.  Whatever he decides to have me show, I’ll do it to the best of my ability.

How do you make time in your life for writing?

That was definitely a problem over the summer.  This year has been the first that I have really tried to be a ‘full-time’ writer and I didn’t realize how much I took my alone time while the kids were in school for granted.  So, I wasn’t very successful on the writing front over the summer.  Now they are back to school, and I those kid-less hours are completely devoted to writing. Well, when RL isn’t kicking my ass, that is. 😛

What do you like to read? Do you have some favorite authors?

I’ll read anything. Contemp, sci-fi, paranormal.  Just one stipulation-it has to be well-written.  I do have some favorites that are have-to-have’s no matter what: Aleksandr Voinov, Hank Edwards are my tops in the m/m genre. Of course, I am a sucker for the BlackDagger Brotherhood and love JR Ward.

If you decide to take a Saturday off, what are we likely to find you doing?

Living where I do, it’s almost a sin not to spend any ‘off time’ in the mountains.  So, that is probably where you would find me.  Pack up the kids and the hubs and wind up at Cades Cove, have a little picnic and hike or explore the cabins there.

Choose six adjectives to describe yourself.

Friendly, resolute, goofy, imaginary, fragile, silly

Describe the perfect meal.

A perfectly rare piece of prime rib with fresh horseradish, spicy Spinach Maria, a fluffy baked potato with a little butter and grilled Romaine.  Simple but the most delicious tastes. Yum. Is it dinner time yet? : )

If you were a dessert what would you be and why?

I would have to say Chocolate Lava Cake.  Not quite done on the inside. : )

Fragile by Monika Krasnorada

Blurb:

Dr. Andy Jameson considers the job of team physician for a regional college football team to be the perfect prelude to a specialized residency. But tending to injuries suffered during the brutal, full-contact sport is nothing compared to the injury he inflicts upon himself by falling in love with the ruggedly handsome head coach, Erik Sheridan. Andy’s content to love from afar until he literally sees the writing on the wall—a message hastily scrawled on the coach’s bathroom mirror—and realizes his last night on the job could be just the beginning of a life with the man he loves.

Excerpt:

“Doc, you look as tired as I feel.” His voice was deep and scratchy, as if he had been talking too much, though it was probably due more to the emotional overload. He nodded his head toward the stack of papers lying on the desk in front of Andy. “You about finished there?”

Andy’s head bobbled like one of those dolls as he continued to stare up at the man standing in front of him. He must have looked like an idiot, but he was too tired to care. These were the last few moments he’d be in the coach’s presence, and he was going make the most of them.

Andy cleared his throat when he noticed the half-smile the coach had on his face, bringing him back to reality.

“I just need you to sign off on them, here.” He began shuffling the papers nervously, searching to put the ones on top that needed the coach’s signature.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when the coach’s big hand clasped his shoulder. “Bring them inside; we’ll take care of them.”

The warmth of the Coach Sheridan’s palm remained even after he turned to head into his office, leaving Andy to snatch up the papers and follow him.

“It’s been a helluva day,” Coach Sheridan offered, closing the office door as Andy followed behind him. The coach hung his suit jacket on the back of his desk chair before collapsing into it with a heavy sigh. He shoved his fist through his salt and pepper locks, pulling on them in complete frustration. “A helluva day.” He laid his head back against the leather of his seat, his eyes closed, every line of his body echoing the tiredness that was etched onto his face. “That was a career-ending injury.” His voice was barely audible, stretched thin with pain. “Just a kid and his dream could be over.”

This was one of the aspects of the coach that made him so attractive to Andy. Beyond the rugged good looks and the swagger of a man who was keenly aware of his appeal to those around him, he had compassion. To the outside, these players were nothing more than athletes chosen to increase the odds of the team making it to a post-season bowl game, but to those who were lucky enough to see inside the locker rooms and to be present at practices, these were the coach’s kids.

In his late forties, and having never been married, he took these players under his wing. He was always there for them to lend an ear, offer support, to give advice. Those kids looked up to him, and the mutual respect they had was the reason the football team played so consistently well.

Andy didn’t know what to say… what to do. He sat down in the opposite chair, forgetting the papers for now. “Is that what they said?” he asked quietly, wishing now he had gone to the hospital too. A lot of truth was in what the doctors didn’t say.

The coach sat up with a groan, rubbing his hands roughly against his face, as if trying to fight the exhaustion he had to be feeling after such a long day. “You know how doctors are.” His smirk made Andy’s stomach flip. “Cautiously optimistic, they say. But you saw it, hell, we heard it, out there on the field. If the surgery is successful, you know how fragile that knee will be from here on out. This was his last year, this was his last game….” He left the thought hanging as he reached across the desk for the papers awaiting his signature.

“Lot of lasts happening tonight,” he offered quietly as he absently signed off on Andy’s reports without even reading over them. “ Not a great send-off, is it?” He smiled, signing the last one and putting his pen down before deftly pulling his tie from around his neck. “You are now no longer an employee of the university.”

“Well, not the Athletic Department, that’s true.” Andy offered a tired smile. “It’s been great working with… the team. And, you, of course, working with you.” He stumbled over the words, nervously working them in. He mentally shook himself, but it was hitting him—this would be the last time he’d be in the presence of Coach Sheridan.

The last time….

“Yes, great.” The coach gave up a killer smile, slapping his hands on his thighs before he stood up. “And what kind of bon voyage has this been? We need a drink.”

You can visit Monika at her website:

Guest Blogger: Cynthia Sax

Aug 23, 2011 Filed under: erotica, guest blogger, men in uniform, paranormal, shapeshifter

Cynthia Sax is my guest today and she’s got quite a suprise for us. She’s managed to snag a few minutes with three very intriguing officers of the law…..

Three very large men in uniform stride into the suddenly smaller interview room. They grab metal fold up chairs, carefully positioning themselves in front of Cynthia so they don’t touch each other. The chairs creak as they sit down.

Officer Wright: Fuck, Sarge. Give me some breathing room, will you?

Officer Sarge: Go to hell, dog lover. (shuffles his chair farther away)

Cynthia: Okie dokie then. Thank you all for coming here today. We will—

Officer Drake: Why the hell are we here? (folds his big arms in front of him) You do fuckin’ know that the bloodsuckers are draining school kids dry as we speak, don’t you? Every minute we’re here, people die.)

Cynthia: (feels guilty) Ummm…this will only take a couple of minutes.

(The officers glance at their watches)

Cynthia: You’re all part of the Protect and Serve series—

Officer Drake: Lies and bullshit. Next question.

Officer Wright: (grins) Mr. Tough Guy over there (jerks a thumb in Drake’s direction) is banging a bunny though.

Officer Drake: At least I’m not fuckin’ the dog. (mumbles) Damn appropriate expression for the incompetent asshole.

Officer Wright: Dogs are fierce, and—

Officer Drake: She’s a beagle! What’s she going to do? Lick the perps to death?

Officer Wright: (face grows soft) With that big sloppy tongue. Hmmm…

Officer Drake: (rolls eyes) If you get a hard on, asshole, I’m leaving.

(Sarge leans toward Wright.)

Officer Wright: (shoves him away) Fuck, Sarge. Give me some fuckin’ space. That blood demon’s creepy styles rubbing off on you, or something?

Officer Sarge: He isn’t rubbing me. (voice high and squeaky) I’m not gay!

(Drake and Wright stare at him)

Cynthia: About Officer Savage—

Officer Drake: He’s okay. Next question.

Officer Wright: Good cop.

Officer Sarge: Very rugged.

(Drake and Wright stare at Sarge)

Officer Sarge: Tough, I mean tough.

Officer Drake: (looks at watch) Time’s up. (stands) We’re done here. (the other officers get to their feet)

Cynthia: I have a few more questions… (watches them file out the door)

Officer Drake’s story is told in Badge Bunny. Officer Wright’s story, Legal Beagle, will be released in September. Officer Sarge’s story has not yet been written. And you all know that Officer Savage appears in Silvia’s Savage Wolf.

Thank you Silvia for hosting me here today. Does anyone have any questions for the boys in blue?

Guest Blogger: Ike Rose

Aug 18, 2011 Filed under: guest blogger

Today Ike Rose joins us to talk writing and of course, being me, I had to mention food too. So pull up a chair and join us. Ike, tell us about your latest release.

JMS Books published “My Big Brother” on July 31. It’s an erotic coming-of-age romance.
In May, 1968, high school senior Ed Green is celebrating his 18th birthday. Ed is excited and eager to experience the rites-of-passage of his working class neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY for a number of reasons. As a “legal adult”, he can now drink with his older buddies.  After he graduates, Ed will be free to move away from his divorced and widowed alcoholic father and dad’s sluttish young girlfriend, who had tried to climb into bed with the handsome young bodybuilding champ.

The main reason for Ed’s excitement is that he’ll be seeing his older step-brother, Johnny, an about to be discharged Marine hero from Vietnam who he hadn’t seen since puberty hit the young former nerd. Ed had been a shy, short kid with thick glasses when they last saw each other, when Johnny‘s mom took Ed’s personal hero and protector to California. Ed plans to surprise his beloved “big brother” with the massive changes to his formerly scrawny, weak body.

Only one thing has Ed worried. Though he dates girls, he’s known for a while now that he’s sexually attracted to older men. John will have to share Ed’s bed in the small house for the next few weeks, which makes Ed worry about hiding his lust for the man he’s always had a crush on.
How will the hunky Marine react when he learns that not only is his kid brother gay, but that Ed has the hots for him, too? Will sharing a bed with his macho big “brother” lead to Ed’s best birthday gift ever?

What is your favorite genre to write? What other genres do you enjoy?
I’m a dyed-in-the-wool romantic, so I love romances, erotic or not. I’m a rough-edged sort of man, and I write about the experiences I had coming out as a young gay man from a blue-collar neighborhood.
I love paranormal stories, and I’m working on two right now. I also love humor and comedy, and I’m a big reader of mysteries.

Do you have a  favorite character from one of your books?
Me. I keep re-writing my life, so most of the time my main characters are leading the life I al;ways wanted to lead, or as I wish things had turned out.

Is there a style or genre of writing that you haven’t tired yet but you’d like to explore?
Mysteries. Specifically, humorous mysteries.

How do you make time in your life for writing?
I’m retired, so I have quite a bit of time. I’m mostly limited by my medical problems.

What do you like to read? Do you have some favorite authors?
I read a lot of erotic romances , but I’m not going to offend my friends by saying who are my favorites. I read about the craft of writing.
I’ve been reading quite a bit of paranormal stuff lately, and loved my first Charlaine Harris “Sookie Stackhouse” novel, which I read recently.

If you decide to take a Saturday off, what are we likely to find you doing?
Spending the day with my lover of twenty-nine years. He still works, so we don’t get to spend enough time together.

Choose six adjectives to describe yourself.
Creative; imaginative; loving; funny; mature. And oversexed!

Describe the perfect meal.
I love tasty little dishes, like dim-sum and appetizers. Sometimes I order just from the appetizer menu.

If you were a dessert what would you be and why?
Cheesecake. Rich, dreamy and satisfying; a good basis for an infinite number of variations, from fresh fruit to chocolate. The perfect food!

Thanks for joining us Ike!

Excerpt from My Big Brother:

I went into the kitchen, returning with a six-pack of beer, beginning a night of drinking as we renewed our bond. In some ways, it was as if we had never been apart, since we had kept in touch so closely by mail, but in other ways, we were strangers. The last time we had seen each other, John shaved twice a month, while I had no hair on my body. Now, I looked bigger than him because I was more muscular. We established that after three boilermakers, when he stripped to his skivvies so we could stand in the mirror and compare.

John had a great body. There was no question about it; the Marines do know how to build men. But I’d spent the last two years working on my shoulders, legs, arms and chest, so although I was over four years his junior, my hairy chest and body compared to his almost hairless body made me look more mature and larger. We were the same height, but I massed more. We stood there looking at each other in the big mirror in the hall. I admired a small Marine tattoo on his left pec, drunk enough to run my hand over it. My hand touched his nipple, and he moaned.

It was then that I finally noticed two things. Both of my stepbrother’s nipples were erect and the size of erasers, while both of us were sporting hard-ons. Confused, I walked over to the sofa to think. It had to be a coincidence. John was a fucking Marine. A leatherneck couldn’t be queer like me?

John interrupted my bewildered thoughts, “Hey, Squirt, do you get high?” I guess I looked confused. “You know, pot?” He mimed smoking a joint.

“Yeah, sure I do. Why?”

“’Cause I got some excellent shit I smuggled back from ‘Nam upstairs in my trunk. Let’s go up to our room and get wasted, Squirt.”

“Sure, Shrimp-dick.” He stared at me, startled. “I wanted to see how you liked being called a demeaning nickname. I don’t think I qualify as Squirt anymore, do you?”

He grinned. “Hell, Squirt, you can call me anything you want. I can still kick your fucking ass after my leg heals.”

“Do you need me to carry you up the stairs, Baby-balls?” We broke into drunken laughter as he struggled up the stairs in front of me. I stared at his muscular ass moving in the thin cotton skivvies. I realized that this was not only going to be a long night; it was going to be a long visit, with a hell of a lot of cold showers. Suddenly the idea of dating and fucking girls as second best seemed almost acceptable. Maybe I’d get John some double dates so I could get to watch him fucking them. I even started to think of which girls I’d fucked who might agree to being shared, figuring that was as close as I’d ever get to having sex with my stepbrother.

We sat on the bed as we smoked the joint, and a second one. By then, I was so fucking horny that I had to tell Johnny the truth.

“Uh, John, if you’re going to be sleeping in this bed with me for about the next month there’s a tiny detail you gotta know about me.”

“What? You snore? I’ve been sleeping in a barracks with a hundred grunts, so I’m used to that. If you’re gonna tell me you jerk off, the same applies. Besides, I do, too.”

He giggled drunkenly as he gave me a punch on the arm that hurt.

“No. Now, nothing I ever wrote to you is a lie. Every one of the stories about girls is the truth. But … shit, you’re gonna beat the crap out of me, but I gotta tell you the truth. I’ve never done anything about it, but I’ve known for the last couple of years that I’m … I’m …”

“You’re what?”

I shouted, “I’m a fucking queer homo faggot!”

John sat and looked at me for a full minute. Then, his lips slowly spread in a huge grin. “So am I, little brother, so am I. And I’ve done a hell of a lot about it.”

I sat, staring at him dumbly as he grabbed my wrist to pull me towards him.

“I thought I’d dropped dead and went to queer heaven when you came down those stairs almost naked this afternoon. Fuck, you’re so damned hot, Squir … Ed. I’ve seen a lot of hot men in the last six years, but you’re the hottest I’ve ever seen. Um … you … you wouldn’t happen to be … ?”

His entire beautiful body blushed.

“Hot for you? Johnny, I’ve been fucking horny for you since … Hell, I suppose since I was six years old. For about three years I beat off sniffing a sweatshirt of yours that I stole before you moved away. When I saw you smoking that cigar on the steps this afternoon, I just about shot a load in my pants, you looked so fucking hot.” I put a hand on his cheek, relishing the feel of a man’s beard stubble for the first time. “Johnny, teach me. Show me what to do. I’m told I’m good in bed with chicks. Shouldn’t that be a good start?”

Learn more about Ike Rose at his website.

Guest Blogger: Lee Brazil

Aug 9, 2011 Filed under: book recommendation, erotica, guest blogger

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Lee Brazil to my blog. If you haven’t read his Truth or Dare series, you are really missing out! So after you read his post and and excerpt from Giving Up, Book 3 in the series, go check it out!

Coffee, Cannabis, Shakespeare, and Me

I have a few drugs of choice, and a few I could care less about.  My drugs of choice? Tequila and coffee.  I l love a glass of good wine, or a shot of whiskey, but my old standby’s are coffee and tequila.  Wakes me up, gets me moving, keeps me writing.  But coffee once was as frowned upon as cannabis is today.

“Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water.”  ~The Women’s Petition Against Coffee, 1674

Yikes.  Glad the world persevered and moved beyond that attitude.

I just read an article purporting that Shakespeare might have been a smoker.  Not a smoker of tobacco- a smoker of cannabis.  You know, a bit of pot, weed, ganja.  Good for him.  Not my cup of tea- and by that I mean coffee- but…

Why not? Characters in several of my stories are smokers – not the tobacco variety- and that’s because I believe in free choice.  In the bedroom and the smoking parlor, on the street, and in the library.  Writers, readers, sports players – lovers.

Why am I talking about Shakespeare? Because Shakespeare wrote erotica for the Elizabethan masses, didn’t you know?  In between the dark historicals, like Henry and Richard, the Tragedies- Hamlet, Caesar, MacBeth- were the comedies.  Those wonderful bawdy comedies are loved just as much today as they were by the theater goers of the sixteenth century.

Romero and Juliet, for example- is full of lines like this:

“The bawdy hand of the dial is upon the prick of noon.”  That’s self explanatory, isn’t it?

But also there is this little scene with Mercutio- (Hey, What if Mercutio and Romeo, instead of Juliet and Romeo? Just a thought… )

 

Mercutio to Romeo- re: Juliet:

Why, is not this better now than groaning for love?

now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art

thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature:

for this drivelling love is like a great natural,

that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole” .

 

Did you catch it? Yeah it’s a sexual allusion…

But the ribaldry is present in the tragedies as well.  In Hamlet, Hamlet tells Ophelia- “get thee to a nunn’ry.”  In Elizabethan times, nunnery is slang for whore house- (Can I say whore house here, Silvia? Absolutely my dear. You can say anything you’d like 🙂) Critics claim the meaning isn’t played out in the rest of the scene, but… keeping in mind this is being acted out in front of the general populace- a wordsmith like Will certainly would have realized that connection would be front and center in the viewers minds.

And that my dears, isn’t even the tip of the iceberg!  Google Bawdy Shakespeare and see what gems you can find!

So, can we call Will the Father of Erotica?  Nah- it goes back to Ancient times-  The Milesian tales are the earliest instances of erotic literature in the Western world.  But still… it makes Shakespeare fun to read-

So, what’s your drug of choice to get the creative juices flowing?  I’m betting the majority of you are going to say caffeine in one form or another.

And here’s the prerequisite plug for the result of my caffeine addiction>

 

Giving Up (Truth or Dare Book 3)

by Lee Brazil

Available now from Breathless Press

Blurb:

Can Dr. Arden Grey teach Brandon Blake that giving up control is worth while, with the right woman?

Brandon Blake has a problem.  His family is fed up with his controlling ways. They don’t need him managing their affairs any more.  Brandon doesn’t want to lose his connection with his brothers, but he doesn’t know any other way to live.   He’s been in charge for a long time. Now his brothers are leaving home and making families of their own, and Brandon’s interference has caused some serious rifts. Brandon’s stressful job as CEO of the family production studio and his concerns for his brothers have contributed to the ulcer his doctor recently diagnosed. Therapy is supposed to help Brandon learn how to let go and give up the need to control every thing.  Brandon finds the counselor he’s been sent to intriguing, if a bit intimidating, though she has absolutely nothing in common with the women he’s dated in the past.

Dr. Arden Gray knows about control.  A survivor of marriage to a dominant, abusive partner, she’s spent the last twenty years turning her life around.  She’s learned to take control and has made a career of teaching others to do the same.  Brandon Blake is a surprise.  When his doctor sends Brandon to her, Arden isn’t sure how she can help the man.  But after a few sessions, she sees something intriguing hidden inside Brandon Blake, something that tells her he just might be the man she’s been looking for.  If only she can convince him that giving up control to the right woman will solve all his problems!

 

Excerpt:

He stood automatically, reaching out to shake her hand in greeting and murmuring polite good mornings.  A slight heat rose in his cheeks and he hoped to hell the blush wasn’t visible.  And why the fuck a simple handshake for the doctor should cause him to blush he didn’t know, but something about her made him feel self-conscious and uncertain in ways he hadn’t felt since he was a wild sixteen year old serving as his beautiful mother’s escort to Hollywood’s wild parties.

He stiffened his spine and forced himself to meet those sharp blue eyes, unwittingly squeezing her hand just a little too tightly.  He watched as the blue eyes flared wide then narrowed, and Dr. Grey gently removed her hand from his.  The flush on his cheeks grew and he felt his stomach churn alarmingly.  He and Trick were about to have more in common than he’d ever thought possible if he couldn’t calm down soon.

Dr. Grey led him into her office and he took the same seat he normally did on the plush leather chair in front of the desk.  Somewhat surprised, he noticed that instead of taking the chair adjacent to him as she usually did Dr. Grey seated herself behind the neat steel and glass desk.  Crossing her hands on the desktop, she met his questioning gaze calmly, and Brandon let out the breath he hadn’t realized he held.  His roiling emotions calmed as he took in her stillness, and even his churning stomach was soothed.  This was different, but not wrong.

Or so he thought until she spoke.

“I’m afraid, Brandon, that I can’t keep you on as patient any longer.”

Panic flared.  “What? Why not?”  His stomach heaved and he forced himself to breathe deeply through his nose, swallowing rapidly to prevent the consequences of the sudden lurch.  Nothing of his feelings showed on his face.  He had twenty-three years of practice at making sure of that. He couldn’t have heard correctly.

“Because I can’t help you in a professional capacity.  I’ve given you the tools to manage your problem, you’re an intelligent man and you can resolve your issues from here on your own.”  Her voice remained the same as it always had, soothing and cool, her gaze untroubled and calm.

Damn. How had he come to depend on that calmness in such a few meetings?  How would he deal without the soothing effect her voice had on his nerves and stomach?  Quickly pulling in resources to hide the shocking sense of abandonment he suddenly felt, Brandon grasped the tiny thread of anger and blew it up.

He surged upright and waved his phone in her face.  “Fuck.  I could have been at the office heading off a dozen major crises!  See this?  It’s called a cell phone. I have it with me all the time.  Next time you need to change our plans, use it!”

Guest Blogger: Cassandra Carr

Aug 2, 2011 Filed under: guest blogger

Welcome to author Cassandra Carr! Thanks for joining us today, Cassandra. Tell us about your latest release.

Talk to Me is a fun, sexy story about a woman named Jamie. She’s a radio producer who takes a position at a sports talk radio station in New York City. There she meets the host, Drew, and hears his voice, which has this incredibly sexy, raspy vibe. As they work together and Jamie is forced to listen to him talk for hours on end five days a week, she becomes more and more attracted to him. He’s attracted to her as well, but is trying to keep his hands off because she’s a great producer and he doesn’t want to mess that up. One night, though, Drew catches Jamie in a compromising position at the radio station and all hell breaks loose in the best possible way!

What is your favorite genre to write? What other genres do you enjoy?

My favorite genre to write is contemporary erotic romance. I’m good at it and the words flow for me. I also write non-erotic contemporary romance.

For reading, I am interested in a lot of genres. About the only thing I stay away from is sci-fi romance. I’m not crazy about paranormal (sorry to all the folks who write it), but there is some that I do read.

Do you have a favorite character from one of your books?

Well, I love love love all my heroes, but my favorite character is the first hero I ever wrote – Sebastian from Should’ve Known Better. The book is still unpublished, but he’s just a doll and I adore him. Incidentally he’s one of the youngest heroes I’ve ever written, so he’s got that irresistible combination of manliness and youthful enthusiasm.

Is there a style or genre of writing that you haven’t tired yet but you’d like to explore?

There are some genres, like historical, that I’d love to try my hand at, but I figure – go with what got you where you are!

How do you make time in your life for writing?

*snort* I write when my toddler is napping or after she goes to bed. I’m also lucky that her paternal grandmother only has one grandchild and so she babysits my daughter once or sometimes twice a week. She’ll be in preschool two mornings in the fall, and I’m hoping to get her into a private day care maybe one other day.

What do you like to read? Do you have some favorite authors?

I read a wide variety of romance. I’ve read other genres – literary fiction, mystery, etc, but I love romance! Oh man, I have a lot of authors I love. In historical, Lisa Kleypas is excellent. I also love Jennifer Crusie, especially the books she co-authored with Bob Mayer. Agnes and the Hitman is a hilarious book! Deidre Martin and Rachel Gibson do a good job with hockey romance.

In erotic, where do I start? *takes deep breath* Miranda Baker, Camryn Rhys, Cat Grant, Viki Lyn, Scarlett Parrish, Natasha Moore…the list goes on. There are so many great erotic romance authors! Overall, my favorite author is Maya Banks. I met her at this year’s Romance Writers of America conference and went totally fangirl on her. I think she may have a restraining order against me now. <g>

If you decide to take a Saturday off, what are we likely to find you doing?

Usually something with my family. This upcoming Saturday is our annual summer party – we do a clambake and the church right by us kindly provides fireworks practically in our front yard (their summer festival is the same day).

Choose six adjectives to describe yourself.

Oh geez…let me think: tenacious, reliable, protective (if you’re mean to my daughter, watch out!), dry-witted (is too an adjective!), fidgety, and loyal.

Describe the perfect meal.

Sushi, steak, ice cream. BAM! Oh, you wanted details? Well, I love sushi, so starting out with a nice dry white wine and a couple of rolls, followed by a nice juicy filet mignon with a good red wine, sounds pretty perfect to me. And ice cream melts into the crevices in your tummy, so there’s always room for it!

If you were a dessert what would you be and why?

Probably an Oreo cookie: one thing on the outside, another on the inside. (Oooh, mysterious answer!)

Thanks so much for having me!

Thank you for being here!

Excerpt: Talk to Me by Cassandra Carr

By the time the show ended and Jamie thought about how long it would take her to shut everything down for the night, then hustle herself off to the subway station and take the three different trains to get to her apartment all the way out in Brooklyn, she was truly afraid she would self-combust.

Drew ran out of the place like a bomb scare had been called in, so at least she didn’t have to worry about him anymore. Nonetheless, Jamie waited a good ten minutes past when she was finished with her nightly duties, then made her way back to the small production room where she and Drew had recorded his promo earlier. She knew a copy of it would still be stored on the computer in the room, and after scooting in and shutting the door, she booted it up. She told herself she needed to check it one more time before giving it to the station manager tomorrow, but who was she kidding? She needed to hear him but in a safe environment. Where she couldn’t do anything stupid. She needed his voice to weave inside her, through her, like a drug.

The rough yet strangely melodic sounds of Drew’s voice drifted over Jamie as she leaned back in her chair. Closing her eyes, she pictured his face in her mind — his to-die-for lips traveling down the length of her body, just as her hand was doing at the moment; his navy blue eyes, focused only on her as he brought her to orgasm… She reached the button of her jeans and eased them open, propping her feet up on the desk.

She couldn’t believe she was doing this at work, but no one was around, and if she didn’t do something to assuage this ache, she was likely to jump him the next time she saw him. Bad idea. Bad, bad idea. Fantasizing about the man was one thing; straddling his powerful, muscular thighs in the studio chair and offering herself to him was another. That thought brought another rush of heat to her pussy, and she moaned. She needed serious help.

At first she just teased herself a little, rubbing outside her panties, but it soon became too much. She needed relief too badly to continue to torment herself. As Drew’s voice continued to assail her from all directions in the small, windowless room, she pushed her hand down inside the waistband of her panties and through her curls until she found the damp center of her sex. The sweet smell of her musk wafted up to tickle her nose, arousing her even more.

Twirling her fingers as much as the constricting position allowed her to, she imagined they were Drew’s tongue instead. She let out a plaintive moan as the picture caused her juices to flow even more, soaking her fingers. Plunging two of them into her pussy, she pressed her thumb on her clit, craving the direct stimulation. Jamie gasped as shock waves of pleasure shot from her pussy through her clit and up her spine, her back arching. And through it all, Drew’s voice urged her to new heights.

BIO:
Cassandra Carr lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Her debut novel, Talk to Me, was released by Loose Id on March 22, 2011. For more information about Cassandra, check out her website, “like” her Facebook fan page or follow her on Twitter.

Guest Blogger: PG Forte

Jul 26, 2011 Filed under: guest blogger

Welcome author PG Forte!

Thank you for being with us today and sharing about your writing and yourself. Tell us about your latest release.

My most recent release is Old Sins, Long Shadows, which is the second book in my Children of Night series. This book, which picks up a couple of months after the first book in the series (In the Dark) leaves off, tells part of the love-story between Conrad and Damian, two of the vampires who were introduced in In the Dark.

Conrad had already been a vampire for a few hundred years when he met Damian, who was a Royal courtier in fifteenth century Spain. Theirs is really an epic love story—lots of tears, heartbreak and heroics.

Because they’ve both lived so long, I really couldn’t do their entire story justice in just one book. I’m sure their fans will be pleased to hear that there will be more of the two of them in at least a couple of the other books in the series.

What is your favorite genre to write? What other genres do you enjoy?

Well, paranormal—in all its many variations—I guess. I also love contemporary romance, especially light romantic comedies, although comedy is very hard to write! I enjoy writing erotic romance and lately I’ve been on a M/M romance kick—both reading and writing.

Do you have a  favorite character from one of your books?

I fall in love with all my characters, so it’s really hard to choose. I guess, at the moment, I’d have to say Damian from Old Sins, Long Shadows.

Is there a style or genre of writing that you haven’t tired yet but you’d like to explore?

Oh, no, don’t ask me that! LOL! Every time I’m asked that question, I start to think, “Let’s see, what would I like to write that I haven’t yet?” Next thing you know, I’m writing one.

Not that I’m complaining, really. After all, that’s how I came to write This Winter Heart, my new steampunk story that’s being released this December by Carina Press as part of their Holiday Steampunk collection  At this point, though, I’m kind of running out of genres that I’d like to explore but haven’t yet.

I still really, really want to write cozy mysteries, but I’m about to give up on that. Each time I start one, it ends up turning into something else.

How do you make time in your life for writing?

Oh, dear…I think it’s more like the other way around, at this point. I kind of have an obsessive personality and writing is pretty addictive. Unless I’m suffering from writer’s block, I generally have to be pulled away from the computer on a regular basis, otherwise I’d never do anything else at all.

What do you like to read? Do you have some favorite authors?

Before I wrote I read all the time—and I’d read just about anything. Now, I’m much more picky. Generally I like to read the same genres I write. But most of the time I find myself reading my friends’ books. Luckily, I’m friends with some really rocking authors, so it’s not a hardship!

If you decide to take a Saturday off, what are we likely to find you doing?

Hopefully kicking back in Sonoma or Calistoga: a little wine tasting, a little restaurant hopping, soaking in the hot springs or maybe enjoying a mud bath.

Choose six adjectives to describe yourself.

Hmm, let’s see… Funny—in the amusing sense, hopefully. Eccentric. Nocturnal. Obsessed. Creative. Talkative.

Describe the perfect meal.

Okay, there’s this restaurant in Calistoga—Checkers–that does the best Butternut Squash ravioli dish with smoked chicken, candied walnuts, dried cranberries in a cream sauce. I actually gave that dish (minus the chicken, because he’s a vegetarian) to one of my characters in A Sight to Dream Of (Oberon, Book 2). So, one version of a perfect meal would include that as an entree along with a great local wine—a Cab or a Zin—along with one of the awesome salads they do there (maybe with pine nuts and goat cheese) . And then coffee, of course. I’d probably need several shots of espresso at that point. And…ooh. Maybe a slice of Meyer’s Lemon pie.  Yeah, that should do it.

If you were a dessert what would you be and why?

Wow…uh, gee, I dunno….Tiramisu?  Because you have to pour a lot of coffee into it, if you want it to work out right (and a lot of liqueur, too, come to think of it—lol). It’s vaguely Italian with more than a hint of spice. Oh, and it’s very sweet, of course. Just like me. LOL!

Thanks for joining us today, PG! To learn more about PG Forte, you can visit her website or her blog.

Excerpt from Old Sins, Long Shadows:

Dawn tinged the sky as Damian made his way home, but he paid it no mind. He wasn’t at all concerned about the lateness of the hour. At his age, he was more than strong enough to be able to function at close to normal capacity no matter what time of day it was. And given the surfeit of blood he’d consumed over the course of the night, a few extra minutes exposure to sunlight didn’t even rate a second thought.

There were, however, other circumstances that did concern him. He paused in the mansion’s entry hall to scent the air, searching for any hint of danger, any sign of impending ambush. With two Lamia Invitus in residence, only a fool would proceed without proper caution.

Satisfied that the coast was clear, he headed for his room,  his muscles protesting as he climbed the stairs. His body felt pleasantly and thoroughly used, aching in all the right places.

Once inside his room, he slipped off his shoes and let down his hair. Perhaps he wouldn’t even wash before bed. As tired as he was, he’d no doubt sleep soundly, but it was early evening that was still the most difficult part of his day. If he could wake up tonight with the scent of so many strangers lingering on his skin—how could that not help to ease the craving with which he usually awoke? The craving for that which he could no longer have.

He turned to his bureau to retrieve his hairbrush. He might be willing to put off bathing before bed, but failing to give his hair its customary one hundred strokes—that was simply too uncivilized to contemplate. As he reached for the brush, a slight motion in the mirror caught his gaze. He turned around, scarcely daring to believe his eyes. “Conrad?”

“You failed to return to the party as I’d requested,” Conrad said as he rose from the chair in which he’d been seated. “Imagine my surprise to learn you’d gone out instead.”

The husky edge to Conrad’s voice set Damian’s heart racing. His body, so recently sated, ached with need. An all-too-irrational  hope took root in his soul. “Wh-why are you here?”

“I believe my questions take precedence,” Conrad replied as he crossed the darkened room. “Where have you been? I won’t ask what you’ve been doing, since that, at least, seems obvious. You stink of blood and sex.”

Damian shrank back against the bureau as his knees went weak once more. After all this time, how was it Conrad still had the power to affect him like this? He curled his fingers around the dresser’s edge, determined to hold himself erect by whatever means necessary. “Sí. I imagine I do. It’s hardly the first time and, strangely, I don’t recall it ever bothering you before.”

If anything, the reverse had once been true. For ages it had seemed as though nothing excited Conrad more than the knowledge there had been others before him. Damian’s heart tripped and faltered, recalling the hours of furious lovemaking that had so often followed; of a passion so intense he doubted anyone human would have survived it.

“Did I say I was bothered?” Conrad replied, stopping right in front of him; just out of reach, yet still so close it was all Damian could do to keep from lunging at him. “I was merely making an observation. I’ll tell you what does bother me. That would be you telling Julie you intend to leave, agreeing to take her with you. You know that can never happen.”

Damian’s temper flared. “Why must you twist every circumstance around—and always to my disadvantage? What makes you think I said anything of the kind? If you must know, I told her you would not allow her to leave. And I never said I had any intentions to leave here either. She asked me if I ever thought about it—that was all. It seemed a simple-enough  question. Should I have lied and told her no?”

“If that’s true, then what made you go out tonight?”

The abrupt change of subject caught Damian by surprise. He shrugged. “I was hungry. Why else? On a night like tonight… Well, you know yourself there’s always plenty of food available on the street. Why should I not take advantage of such an opportunity?”

Conrad’s eyebrows rose. “You’re saying there was not enough for you to eat here? Why should that be? You run the household, do you not? Perhaps you’ve grown tired of the task? If you’d prefer for me to give the job to someone else, you need simply say so. I’m sure I can find someone willing to take it over for a while. Armand, perhaps.”

Damian stared at him in dismay. “You’d humiliate me like that?” Oh, why was he even asking? What wouldn’t Conrad do, if it suited him?

“It was not my intention to humiliate you,” Conrad growled.

“Yet you would replace me, demote me, force me to stay on in a diminished capacity?” Damian couldn’t keep the bitterness from his voice. “Was that not why I left the first time?”

Conrad’s eyes flashed. “Was it? My memory must be at fault. I thought it was for quite a different reason.”

“There were several reasons,” Damian answered stiffly. “As I recall.”

“Well, whatever your reasons are this time, you will put them from your mind,” Conrad ordered. “We had an arrangement, Damian. I will ask that you honor it. You will leave me again only if and when I decide it can be done without causing disruption. Are we in agreement?”

Damian looked away—as much to hide his relief as anything else. What would he do if Conrad insisted he leave? How could he live through that agony again? “I already told you I have no plans to leave. Why can you not take me at my word? Did I not come back to you of my own free will, and as a friend, besides? Did I not promise to assist you in any way I could? One might think that would still carry some weight with you.”

“Of course it does! When have I ever suggested otherwise? And I would gladly let you go again if things were different.” Conrad shrugged. “But, since they are not… Surely you can see how important it is that you stay? You must realize how much the twins still need you?”

Damian glared at him. “Gladly? Yes, I’m sure you would. But, do not attempt to use the children as bargaining chips, Conrad. You insult us all. You know in what regard I hold them. I would never knowingly do anything that might endanger them or cause them distress.”

“Then we need say no more on the subject,” Conrad replied, adding after a moment,  “why do you not simply put on more staff if we’re short on meals? There should be no need for you to resort to scrounging for food in the street.”

So hunting was forbidden now, too? What next? “Well, if it matters so much, why do you not simply stop inviting people to stay indefinitely? Then there’d be no need for extra meals and we all could grow fat and lazy and never get any exercise at all.”

“I assume this is in reference to Georgia’s visit? Did I not already explain why I need her here? I told you both about the danger we’re facing. Were you not listening?”

“I heard what you said. Although I doubt it’s your only reason.”

“What other reason could I have?”

Damian shrugged. “Say what you will, Conrad, but I know you. And I know you enjoy the lady’s company far more than you pretend.”

Conrad shook his head. “I never claimed I wasn’t fond of Georgia. I care very deeply for her. It is you who’s  always had a problem with her.”

“And with good reason. She’s dangerous—you’ve admitted as much yourself. Your decision to invite her here puts us all at risk. Especially the twins.”

“The twins were already at risk. Bringing them here— But, no, let us not get into that again. This is my house, Damian. And it is for me to decide how best to protect it.”

“Sí. Your house. As I recall, you already made that point tonight. Quite effectively.”

Conrad sighed. “What would you have had me do? Should I have let Georgia attack you? Would that have suited you better? Or would you have preferred me to attack her, in your defense? You must know what would be the outcome of any battle waged between us now. Only one of us could survive it. Would you ask me to kill her—or perhaps die at her hands—for no better reason than because you cannot keep a civil tongue in your head?”

“Oh, no, by all means, why not offer her a  carte blanche, instead?” Disgusted, Damian turned away, glaring at Conrad in the mirror. “Perhaps you’d like her to run your household for you? I daresay she’d quite enjoy it!” Let him go back to the bitch then. Why should I care what he does? They deserve each other. And as for what he deserved…

He faked a yawn. “I am suddenly feeling quite fatigued.” He stretched sensuously, allowing his memories of the evening that had just passed  to filter onto his face, and into his voice. All the men who’d had their hands on him tonight. All the pleasure he’d received at those hands. “These nights of debauchery do take their toll. So if there’s nothing else you wish to discuss, I will ask that you restore me my privacy, por favor, so that I might get some much-needed sleep.”

“Are you attempting to eject me from your room?” Conrad’s voice was laced with anger and disbelief and… Yes, with something else, as well. Something that sounded a lot like desire.

Damian cast a quick glance at the mirror. Heat darkened Conrad’s eyes. Bueno. Let him know what it’s like to hunger and yearn, to look but never touch. “It would hardly be my place to do so.” He dipped his head submissively. “After all, señor, this is your house.”

“Careful, my friend.” Conrad moved a half-step closer, crowding Damian up against the front of the bureau. “You try my patience with these little games you play.”

Damian’s heart pounded fiercely. So close. So close! Oh, if only he would touch me now as he used to … He banished the thought and forced himself to speak calmly. “You know, Conrad, I also recall this arrangement you spoke of earlier. Did you not promise, as part of it, that I might have my own rooms and the freedom to comport myself as I pleased within them?”

Conrad stilled. A soft snarl rose from his lips. Damian trembled at the sound. He held his breath and waited. Had he gone too far this time? Did he even care? Perhaps a quick death at Conrad’s hands would be preferable to whatever interminable fate awaited him otherwise.

Still snarling, Conrad leaned in even closer. “Don’t push me too far.” Then he was gone, leaving Damian light-headed, shaken and aching with frustrated desire.

Guest Blogger: Michael Mandrake

Jul 19, 2011 Filed under: guest blogger

Come on in and visit with author Michael Mandrake……

Interview Questions for Silvia Violet’s Blog

Hi Silvia, thanks for having me here today.

Tell us about your latest release.

MM: Actually, I have two. My Story, Binding Justice is included in the Bound for Romance anthology from Sizzler Intoxications. It’s an m/m erotica romance about an older man who wants to experience man on man and bondage once he loses his wife to cancer. However, he’s concerned about replacing her so he vows not love anyone. That is until he finds, Jarvis or as he’s known later Justice.

The other was just released Sat night. My 2nd sole author novel, A Second Chance is about two cops who look for love after they’ve lost their partners in the line of duty. Again, it’s a story if one of the men being afraid of replacing and is hesitant about starting with someone knew because of that fear and the obligation to his career.

What is your favorite genre to write? What other genres do you enjoy?

MM: Gay erotica romance is my favorite. Mostly contemporary, at times, I might do a paranormal. *grins* I’d like to try my hand at mysteries and historicals though.

Do you have a favorite character from one of your books?

MM” Well, at the moment, my favorite Michael character is Police Capt in Training Daniel DeClerc from A Second Chance. He’s so bold, brave, and he’s intense. He’s also a smart ass which appeals to my snarky side.

Is there a style or genre of writing that you haven’t tired yet but you’d like to explore?

MM: Mystery suspense. I have a WIP called Closely Guarded which will fill that need. I also haven’t attempted a western. My WIP, Taming Wild Horses is a contemporary gay erotica western romance.

How do you make time in your life for writing?

MM: I write mostly when the house is asleep. Sometimes, and I do mean only sometimes I can do it during the day but it’s not novel writing mostly blog posts.

What do you like to read? Do you have some favorite authors?

MM: At the moment, I’m reading mostly m/m erotica or gay fiction. My faves? Oh so many to mention but I love Blak Rayne, GA Hauser, Sue Brown, Lee Brazil, and Tara Lain. I also just finished reading my first het erotica romance in quite a while from Avril Ashton, called A Wicked Ride. I loved it!

If you decide to take a Saturday off, what are we likely to find you doing?

MM: Spending time with the SO and the lovely little brats!

Choose six adjectives to describe yourself.

MM: Unique, outgoing, friendly, open-minded, chatterbox, unselfish

Describe the perfect meal.

MM: Hmm, I would say mostly anything with meat, preferably steak. *laughs*

If you were a dessert what would you be and why?

MM: Wow, that’s a good question. I’d be some kind of cake. Lots of sweet stuff on top with a lot of filling.

*laughs*

Here is one of my books that was released over the past couple of weeks.

A Second Chance

Blurb: Hesitant to begin a relationship with someone new, two police officers who have lost their partners in the line of duty try to deal with their obvious attraction to one another. Will one of them accept the other’s proposition to start over or remain alone because of their places on the police force?

Excerpt

While we continued to chat, I noticed DeClerc in my peripheral. I couldn’t help but stare at him. I moistened my lips, biting the bottom as he came closer.

Damn…

“Um, hello…” I looked past the chief to take a long gander at Daniel. I stood up, extending my hand. “I’m Farris Beason.”

He accepted. “Daniel Declerc. Nice to meet you.” The handshake was firm, his hands soft like a female.

Don chuckled, “See Beason, if you would’ve been in the right frame of mind you could’ve joined Daniel today.”

While we exchanged smiles, I gawked at the pretty face in front of me. Daniel was even more gorgeous up close. The only distraction was the defect on his finger. Who was lucky enough to call him theirs? I had to find out.

“Pity,” Daniel said with a grin. “Maybe when you’ve recovered from your wild night?” He cocked an eyebrow.

I laughed, “Yeah, um…maybe…”

We’d broken our hand gestures but not our gaze. Maybe he did play for my team, but the question remained, who was he married to?

 

Visit Me at Coffee and Porn

Jul 13, 2011 Filed under: erotica, guest blogger, m/m, paranormal, shapeshifter, vampire, web event, writing

I’m over at the Coffee and Porn blog talking about Vampires and Stereotypes and how they relate to my new release Sex on the Hoof.

Guest Blogger: Barbara Elsborg

Jul 12, 2011 Filed under: guest blogger, writing

Barbara Elsborg joins us to day to share some writing secrets. So come on in and see what she has to share with us……

Five Things to Remember When Writing Romance

Only five? I better make it the five things I need to remember when writing a romance. Maybe I need to start with – what is a romance?  The story of two (or more) people (or vampires, shifters, angels, faeries, bookends etc) who meet, fall apart and then come back together for the happy ever after – or the happy for now at the very least.

1. The first meeting of the hero and heroine has to be something that resonates with the reader. It has to grip by the heart, by the lungs, by the–every bit of them you can get at. It has to make them gasp or laugh or sigh.  If they don’t see that the characters are meant to be together  from the start– even if you later drive them apart moments later– then they won’t fall in love with them and carry on reading. One of my books starts with the hero pulling a splinter out of the heroine’s backside. Another has a werewolf falling down a hole and landing on a starving vampire. One of my favorite starts is in a book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips where the bride is getting married and forgets the groom’s name.

2. Make the hero and the heroine flawed. We all love bad boys and most heroes have a dark side but I like my heroines to have faults too. I’m sorry – but I just don’t get the kickass, I’m better than you heroines who waltz through stories with their sassy attitude and perfect everything. I probably make my characters too flawed but I like my heroine to NEED the hero. Doesn’t mean she has to be subservient, just that she’s someone the reader will identify with. And the guys? They have to be larger than life, good-looking (even with that odd scar or too), strong alpha males.  The head turning sort, the ones that we all go – yum – to. I don’t mind if they’re nasty tempered, sulky, silent or sarcastic, so long as there is something about them that makes them vulnerable and capable of love with the right woman. I know a lot of writers plot out the characters carefully before starting to write. I don’t. I let the characters develop with the story. It works better for me that way  but its just personal preference.

3. Plot matters too! Since I outlined above the basics of a romance as– two meet, fall in love, fall apart and then come back together – what plot is needed other than that, you might cry. There’s not much that hasn’t been done in romance so you have to make your characters interesting enough and different enough to carry the basic plot.  Which is why having them flawed helps. Conflict comes into this. I absolutely believe you have to create a strong reason for them to be kept apart – either through their own mistakes or failings, or through the actions of others. Strong conflict keeps readers turning pages and drives the story forward.

4. Humor. I want to read it and I want to write it. I love snappy dialogue. I love men who’re funny and women who give back as good as they get. I want readers to want the hero for themselves and to see themselves as the heroine.  I hope readers laugh out loud at some parts of my books. This links to the desire to be entertaining. The whole point of reading anything fictional, let alone romance, is that it takes you away from your ordinary life. It lets you forget for a while that dishes need to be washed, ironing needs to be done, dog needs to be let out – excuse me a minute…so the stories and characters have to transport the reader to another world where everything will – see the next point…..

5. end Happy Ever After. All my stories are HEA. Not for me, the happy for now. I want my hero and heroine together and looking forward to what life is going to bring them. I want their lives to be happy because I want readers to believe that can happen for them too.  I know plenty of great love stories end with hero or heroine or both dead – not mine. Ever.

6. Yes, I know I said five but how can I miss out –SEX. The level of sex in a romance can vary from sweet to full on erotic.  I’ve noticed a tendency for ALL romances to have more detailed sex in them these days, just less than in an erotic romance and not so varied. Even thrillers and suspense novels seem to insert the obligatory scene or two.  It’s hard to please all tastes over the amount of sex in a book. Too much for some, not enough for others. But the golden rule for me is that the story must stand without the sex, that the plot is complex enough, the characters interesting enough to carry the story and make people sigh when it ends.

Learn more about Barbara at her website or her blog.