Author Erzabet Bishop Blogs About Writing

My writing process is a mix of plotter and pantser. I rely heavily on my foam core board and colourful sticky notes to get the idea framed out then a legal pad to scribble out notes. The sticky notes are a wonderful way to go because you can move them if the plot switches and you still have a structure going.

Other tools:

Pinterest: I create a board for almost every new project I start. It helps me get into the story visually. For Club Beam, it’s all about hunky Doms, sexy witches and fairy tale fetish wear are alive and well in this fun tale.

Pinterest link: https://www.pinterest.com/erzabetbishop/club-beam/

Music: Find mood music that fits your story. For this tale I listened to lots of Maroon 5, Sia, Evanescence and other moody, witchy tunes.

Chocolate: What? You’re saying it’s not a tool? (snickers) Oh yes it is.

My books:

I love to write erotic romance and you can find me all over the spectrum from a BBW sweetish retelling of Beauty and the Beast (Lucky Stars box set), dark carnival experiences (Written on Skin) to lesbian urban fantasy (Sigil Fire). I am a finalist in the Goldie Awards this year for Sigil Fire and two other anthologies and am also a finalist in the Lammy Awards for my work in Forbidden Fruit. I am currently working on some Halloween tales, a new fairy tale with dragon shifters and a psychic and an erotic romance trilogy with cowboys. Writing is an adventure and I love crafting new stories. Under my other pen name I’m delving into YA and some darker fairy tale retellings that will have readers (I hope) wanting more. Can’t keep a good fairy tale down…

You can find  the whole list of my anthology and single title works
 on my Amazon page

Writing advice:

The one thing I would tell any new writer is this. Keep writing. Don’t stop.

Consider everything in life for sources of inspiration.

 Learning to look at publishers I liked to find out what their submission calls were was a helpful thing too. In this case, I was assigned a fairy tale and had to construct a modern day romance around it. Talk about fun! I’ve already asked for a new one!

Start small. Ray Bradbury said something that has always resonated with me. If you start with a short story a week, sooner or later you won’t be terrible. It works. Trust me.

Rejection. Learn to deal with it. If you want to be a writer, it’s going to happen. What you can do is learn from every one and do better on the next trip around. Put the piece to the side and go back to it later. There will be things you’ll notice, you’ll fix them and bam. You have a story someone will love. I can’t tell you how many of my works (many under a pen name) that have gone from rejection piles to published. You grow a thicker skin, listen to helpful criticism and grow.

Fit the publisher to the work. Not everyone likes the same things. If the publisher likes romance, don’t send them a picture book. If they like horror, no fluffy bunnies-unless they have fangs.

Format the work. If the publisher has submission requirements, please read them. They are there for a reason, and no that reason is not to drive you insane. If you don’t follow them, your hard work very likely will be passed over.

Join support groups.  Writers are a breed unto themselves. RWA (Romance Writers of America) is one of the hardest working groups I have come across and they want everyone to succeed. They have local branches as well as online and are always having classes to inform their members of changes in the industry. HWA (Horror Writers Association) is also a great group if you are horror bent.

Stay tuned for Sci Spanks in June and watch for the anthology with a special exclusive story from my Shadow World featuring Gideon, Miles and Syd as she learns the art of spanking. Sign up with the Facebook group so you don’t miss a thing.

Sci Spanks Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/scispanks?fref=ts

Thanks for having me on the blog today. I wish you good reading and hope you will enjoy Club Beam.

XOXO

Erzabet Bishop

Interview with Erotic Romance Author Chloe Thurlow

Welcome to this stop on the Blog Tour for Katie In Love, 

the new release from erotic romance author Chloe Thurlow.

Chloe Thurlow is an amazing blogger with her short, dynamic and sometimes controversal essays. When she's not working on her blogs she's writing steamy erotic romance. Chloe is super busy these days with a new release and a huge blog tour. We are super lucky to have her stop by today!  

Thanks for joining us today, Chloe. This book, Katie is Love is brilliantly written. Is this your first book? How many books have you prior?

Katie in Love is my 6^th novel, but it is the first I have self-published and the first time I feel as if my blood, sweat and very soul appears pressed between the pages.

You put alot of work into the book and it shows. It's obvious you LOVE to write. How naughty do you get with your writing?  Are we talking just suggestion or downright bondage?

Erotica is a literary genre, so that blend of suggestion and the explicit should be nuanced. Sex should evolve from plot and all my books are always from the female point of view. 

Readers love to hear the story behind the story. What inspired you to write your latest book? Is anything in the book based on someone you know or events in your own life?

Mmm. I met a man. I was bored with my job. I broke my finger falling on the ice in East London.  I had been making notes and thinking about who I was, where I was going, what I wanted. I put all these thoughts into a big pot, sprinkled in some hot chilli erotica and stirred in a pinch of art, philosophy and politics to create a romance that would resonate with women and with our times.  

Hmm... sounds like a tasty dish.  How do you come up with your characters’ names? 

The name Katie for Katie in Love dropped in my head like a leaf falling from the trees – Katie sound a bit like Chloe, of course, but that's just a coincidence. Tom is based on someone I know and love. I stole his personality, kindness and intellect to create Dr Bridge.  Tom and Katie are very different: the seeds of attraction and conflict.

Those seeds of attraction & conflict make a book too good to put down. We appoligize to readers in advance if they suffer a book hangover from staying up all night reading. A good book is like a movie, except the reader sees the film in her head. If you could have any movie star take on a leading role, who would it be?

Emily Blunt would play Katie all the way to the Oscars in Katie in Love. Felicity Jones was born to play Bella in my first novel, The Secret Life of Girls.

LOVE Emily Blunt!!!  Now back to writing, you are amazing but every author travels a journey. What would you say were the hardest scenes to write for you?

My earlier novels were personal growth, coming of age stories, and linear. There is an easy A to B to C structure. Katie in Love is a romance with reflection, regret, misunderstandings and envy (Katie for Tom's ex-girlfriend, a French cellist named Marie-France). Scenes where Katie is going through changes were complex and needed to be subtle. I tried to make the reader feel for Katie and identify with the pain of change. When Katie sees Marie-France performing in concert, her feelings are so sharp I wanted to prick the readers tear ducts into for a little sob of sympathy and empathy.

I think you handled the complexity with beauty and grace. Periodically a writer has to come up for air and visit real life. What is the strangest thing you’ve experienced while working on a story?

Two strange things happened: the first, when I started writing the book, I saw a woman jump from the Albert Bridge in Chelsea. She was swept away on the strong current.  I learned later that she died and was reminded that all things are impermanent. 

OMG!!! I can see how that can make one take a moment to remember the constant flow of life.

Another time, I was drinking cava with a girlfriend named Lizzie Woodham in a bar in Wardour Street. We saw two people I am sure were strangers, a woman in a gold dress and a man with a huge moustache, first dancing and then having sex  in a dark booth in the corner of the bar. The girl reminded me of me when I was younger.

Lordy, I might have to ask you what you were like "back in the day". We could have fun swapping stories over a glass or four of vino. That will have to be saved for another day. Say, I like the simplicity of your book title. How did you come up with it?

My other books all have the word GIRL in the title. Katie in Love is a romance, and Katie is a woman, not a girl. I thought: mmm, I need the word LOVE. Now, who is the book really about? Katie. So, there it was: Katie in Love.

Readers will for sure love Katie in Love! Do you have anything you would like to say to your peeps in cyberland?

Yes, please buy my book. It changed my life and it may change yours, too

xx - Chloe

Chloe Thurlow's WEBSITE

Before you leave, folks want to know some fun stuff. 

What is your:

Favorite drink: cava, same grapes as champagne, less fizzy, smoother and less alcohol content so you can drink more.

Favorite candy: dark chocolate.

Favorite food: pizza and ice cream. One day I will write the Pizza, Ice Cream and Cava Diet.

Favorite article of clothing or jewelry: shoes, dangly earrings, skirts short enough to embarrass my Mother.

Favorite place to read: in bed.

What place would you want to visit some day: the Great Wall of China, the only man made structure (except for the US highways) that can be seen from the moon; at least that's what they say and I would like to find out for myself.

Thank you Chloe Thurlow for visiting today. 

Be sure to check out her new book, Katie in Love and enter the Rafflecopter at the end of this post. Visit the other stops on the tour for more fun.

BLURB

Katie Boyd has nothing in common with Tom Bridge, the volunteer doctor she meets at a party – except in bed she finds a passion to match her own. Tom is intense, puzzling, a man who cares about others and compels Katie to question her own life drifting through the hip clubs and London party scene.

When Tom returns to his post in a Sri Lanka orphanage, Katie isn’t sure if their passion was lit by its brevity, or if love, unexpected and not entirely wanted, has edged its way into her life. Should she go back to being who she always was? Or follow Tom into the unknown?

Katie in Love is a compelling erotic-romance that will grip readers as they follow Katie’s journey to an ending they may have expected – but not in the way they expected it.

Brilliantly written and coolly self-aware, Chloe Thurlow was described by KM Dylan on Amazon as “…the Anaïs Nin of our times.” With Katie in Love  – her sixth novel – Thurlow reveals a writer at the height of her powers.

Link for Amazon downloads - http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00S1SMMIG

Link for Amazon books -  http://bookgoodies.com/a/1503014908

GIVEAWAY!

Use the Rafflecopter to gain entries—and be sure to follow the tour. The more posts you comment on, the more entries you will get into the drawing: http://www.writermarketing.co.uk/prpromotion/blog-tours/currently-on-tour/chloe-thurlow/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8b9ec5be112/?

 CLICK HERE 

to visit other stops on this blog tour.

Friday Fun - Meet Author Kristen Strassel

How cool would it be to share the same birthday as Steven Tyler and Diana Ross? Our guest today certainly does! I think the stars were in a musical line for her when she created her rock-n-roll stories in the Night Songs Collection and the Spotlight Series. A member of my street team loves her just because they share BonJovi as their all-time favorite band.

Give a special welcome to author Kristen Strassel!

Thanks for joining us today, Kristen. Many know you write New Adult (NA), comtemporary, and paranormal stories. Love those hot vamps and shifters! So tell us a little about your work. 

How long have you been writing? 

I’ve been writing all my life. My writing partner, Julie Hutchings, and I grew up together. I won’t say that I’m old, but there was no internet.  We used to entertain ourselves by passing a notebook back and forth, each adding a couple of paragraphs to a story.  I’d tried to write the book that became Because the Night for years. I even moved to Vegas to do it! But I didn’t know how to write a book yet. I couldn’t get past the first few chapters.

 Fast forward to the summer of 2011 when Julie told me she’d been working on her first book, Running Home. We worked together, and both books are now published.

How many books have you published?

The voices in my head talk a lot. There are four and a half books available in The Night Songs Collection: Seasons in the Sun (novella), Because the Night, Night Moves, We Own the Night, and Silent Night. Secondhand Heart is the first book in my contemporary series, The Spotlight, with The Trouble with Bree (novella) and Too Many Reasons both releasing in the first two months of 2015.  I also have a couple of shifter novellas available: Lion and the Doe and Doe and the Hunter.

Gotta love those voices, they can get pretty demanding at times or throw curves at us.  Now let's get to the dirt of things. How naughty do you get with your writing?  

 Pretty naughty! I think one reviewer recently called one of my scenes “downright dirty.” I’m not sure if she meant it as a compliment, but it made me smile. Even better, the reader never “saw” what she was referring to. While some scenes, like that particular one, do fade to black, the reader does come into the bedroom with my characters. My characters explore some very light fetish type stuff, but most of it is good old fashioned sex.

It sounds like the love and romance in your stories will appeal to a wide range of readers. Tell us about something that stands out more than others. What’s the best thing you’ve ever written—the best line? 

I still enjoy “I’d just had unprotected sex with the world’s most irresponsible vampire.” But a new favorite of mine is in Too Many Reasons, wrapping up a sex scene: Like we’d entered the eye of the storm. That beautiful, peaceful place that we could lay together in the soft breeze and watch the thunder and lightning go off all around us.

Ahhh.... sorry, I was carried away for a moment. Say, if you could have any movie star take on a role as one of your heroes, who would it be? 

I actually have no opinion about this!  I’m totally oblivious when it comes to movie stars. I know, I’m weird.  Even better: I work in the film industry.

Oops, I almost feel off my chair laughing. Don't feel bad, I can never remember names of hotties and their movies. Maybe our brains just don't catalog hotness like some do. 

What are the hardest scenes to write for you?

I struggle with the beginning of every book. I don’t know my characters yet, and I find the place that I start writing isn’t always the beginning of the story.  Once I figure out what the characters are trying to say, things flow much better. If a scene is really a struggle, I consider how much value it actually adds to the story. Everything happens for a reason, right?

I'm a firm believer of that! 

Many authors do a bit of research for character building or story lines. What is the strangest thing you’ve Googled while working on a story?

I’ve googled the color that people turn when they’ve been strangled, a lot of things about witchcraft and freakshows, premature babies, what would cause a person to die from a car accident, weaponry….whoever’s been assigned to watching over my file in the CIA is definitely entertained.

Oh, I'm sure. LOL 

One of our readers just tweeted a question for you. "How close in real life have you gotten to one of your fantasies?"  

I have to plead the fifth on SOME things. LOL I’ve lived a pretty cool life so far. I do makeup for film and television. I’ve had a chance to meet some really cool people and see some really cool things. I’ve never been shy, and I’ve always been ambitious, so if I want something, I go for it.

You go girl!!!  Whoot-whoot!

And finally… anything you would like to share with us, an excerpt, a tidbit, or anything else about yourself?

Let’s see…two things I still want to learn: how to read tarot, and roller derby.

Fun stuff:

Favorite drink:  Coffee. I’m also a fan of wheat beer.

Favorite candy: dark chocolate covered cherries.

Favorite food: Lobster. But I will brake for avocado.

Favorite article of clothing or jewelry:  I love wearing boots, and I also always wear hoop earrings.

Favorite place to read: Laying in the sun. Heaven.

Place you want to visit some day: Iceland and Morocco. 

Thank you so much author Kristen Strassel for joining us today. I have a brand spanking new box of dark chocolate covered cherries here. I say let's put our booted feet up and enjoy a little decadence. 

Please visit Kristen on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

Check out her latest books for your weekend reading.

The trouble with Bree is... 

Bree Farrell is ready to turn her life around. A twenty-one-year-old mother of two, she's not sure where to start. She could use a little help, but her string of horrible ex-boyfriends keep setting her back. First step: she's swearing off men forever. Or at least until she gets back on her feet. 

Josh Maxwell got a second chance at life, and now he wants to help kids who are in the same situation he was in. His new job as the coordinator at a preschool for underprivileged kids is the perfect place to do that. 

On paper, the school policy for staff not to get involved with the families of the students makes perfect sense. But when Bree meets the new coordinator of her son's school, she and Josh learn that some rules are made to be broken, no matter what the consequences.

 BUY NOW

Abby Gauthier is close to getting everything she's worked so hard for. The band she manages, Sinister Riot, has been offered a major record contract. But it comes with a catch: the band must add Eli Jamison, winner of the talent show The Spotlight, to the lineup. 

Devon Sinclair is the singer of Sinister Riot, and he's Abby's best friend. She's in love with him, but fears she'll lose him if she makes the first move. Devon thinks adding Eli to the band is dangerous, and he's right. Eli's interested in more than just making an album. He wants to take control of the band, and he wants to get to know Abby better. A lot better. When tensions between Devon and Eli threaten to destroy Sinister Riot, Abby must act on her true feelings or lose everything she's ever wanted. 

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Erotic Author Clare Dargin Talks About Her New Book

Clare Dargin is an author of science fiction, paranormal romance, military sci-fi as well as interracial and multicultrual fiction. This amazing gal with her over active imagination has given us stories that are out of this world!

[Ménage Amour: Erotic Ménage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, HEA]

A Siren Erotic Romance

BUY NOW 

Jilly Reimers wants love but can't find it. Chris Spinell is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan who suffers from PTSD and a haunting feeling that something is missing in his life. Chris Poole is also an Afghanistan war veteran is ready to break out of his shell but is unsure how.

With Christmas just around the corner, they decide not to spend it alone. Believing The Love Play Matchmaking Service to be just what they need for a night of fun and passion, they sign up. But when the guys show up and see that they've been set up on a menage, the only one happy about it is Jilly. 

Their consultant, called an Eros, assures Jilly that the service has a perfect track record but she's certain they'll be the first ones to get their money back. Will they have a very merry Christmas? Or will the three spend yet another one alone?

Thank you Clare for joining us on this blustery winter day. I have coffee, tea and hot cocoa available. Just help yourself. 

 Now, you have some sci-fi romance stories and some military. How many books have you prior to Merry "Chris"Mas?

 Actually it's my seventh.  Yay!!! Believe me it's a triumph considering it had been a dream of mine to be published ever since I was thirteen years old.

You have a hyper imagination like me. I get ideas all the time for new stories. What inspired you to write your Merry "Chris"Mas? Is anything in the book based on someone you know or events in your own life?

LOL!  Oh boy that's a loaded question.  How do I respond?  Well, I'll answer the second question first-- I don't know them personally but the characters are inspired by real people.  I saw a meme on a social network that I'm on and I got to thinking some naughty thoughts and the story kinda told itself.

Sounds like the story was easy. Come on, fess up. What was the hardest or most challenging part to write?

Without giving anything away, it was the central conflict between the two guys because they are so likable and easy going.  I just wanted every one to get along.

Who did you picture when you created the hero?

For the two heroes a couple of well known personas- that's all I'm going to say for now.  ;)

Sorry.... I spaced out for a minute as I imagined who it might be. LOL How do you come up with your characters’ names? 

Normally, I utilize my reference list and then see if a name fits the individual character.  And sometimes there's an automatic match and then there are times when I have to resort to the internet and I hunt down the perfect name for hours!

Which character is your favorite? 

I can't choose!  I love them both!  Believe me! They are my dream guys.

I love the title, how did you come up with it?

I had a theme in mind when I thought of the series and a specific time of year in which it would be set, so it made since do a play on words.

The cover is super smexy. Who designed it.

Harris Channing at Siren Bookstrand designed it.  She did an awesome job.  I love the balance of color and the sense of a winter chill along with the seasonal theme of Christmas without it being too Christmas-y with wreaths and bulbs everywhere which may not play as well during other times of the year (it was released December 24, 2014).  I think this way it doesn't look like a Christmas book.  But looks like a book that takes place during the holiday season but could just as easily be set during a different time of year.

Fan want to know...give them a fun fact or more about the book.

Since I live in Michigan, I place a lot of fun tidbits about my home state through out.  Things I think only a native Michigander may know.  If you are Michigander especially one who lives or has lived in the Metro Detroit area, you'll point and say, I know that!  Whoa!

As a fellow Michigander, I've noticed that. *wink, wink* Love it!!! One of these days we need to zip over to the Ann Arbor area and check out the brewery owned by fellow romance author, Liz Crowe. Just don't wear any of your State gear. 

Back on subject...are you currently working on something?  

I'm always working on projects.  Currently I'm working on an shifter romance for a different publisher and I hope to have that completed very soon! 

Squeeee!!! I have a hunch I know who it's for. I can't wait!!! Before we head out to brave the Michigan weather, do you have anything you would like to say to your readers?

Yes.  Thank you so much for your patience and support.  Since I don't write full time, I have to write whenever I get a chance and it really means a lot that you've stuck by me for so long.  I promise this book and the others within the series will not let you down.  

I'm sure you won't, Clare. Thank you for visiting with us today!

Be sure to visit Clare and check out not only her latest book but all of them. Perfect reading for these cold winter nights.

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Author Interview with Brina Brady

Brina Brady is the author of the hot new book, Rent Me, available on Amazon and Smashwords. Brina's genre is M/M erotic contemporary romance and she's been busy promoting this story with a little bit of taboo and a whole lot of HOT. I managed to catch up with her for a little interview.

Let's just jump in, what’s the kinkiest, sexiest thing you’ve ever done?

My best friend and I got trapped in a boat with these two guys we picked up. We both were having sex with our male partners in the same room. The strangest thing is we bumped into each other some how. Weird. Way back when I was young and crazy.

Oh, the days of being young and crazy. Now we're older and...maybe I better not continue that thought. LOL

How naughty do you get with your writing?  Are we talking just suggestion or downright bondage?

Extremely naughty.  Bondage and explicit sexual encounters for the two males. My story was a bout a Rent Boy and he was not shy.

No, he certainly isn't shy but that's what I love about him. What’s the best thing you’ve ever written—the best line?

This is from Bend Over, my WIP from Brennen.

No one will ever know my secret unless one of them tells on me. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to hell for what I had done. Certain sins were unforgivable especially when both the Reverend and Mom warned me many times.

Sweet! Oh, you are such a tease!

If you could have any movie star take on a role as one of your heroes, who would it be?

I want the young Travis Fimmel with his long blond hair to be Shane O’Rourke in my new novel Bend Over. I would want the young Charlie to be Brennen.

I L O V E Travis Fimmel. One of my characters was based on his delicious looks. Size counts… on average how loooooonnnnnggg do you like your (um, how do we put it delicately) manuscripts to be; (in words silly, not inches) and how steamy?

I like novels to be at least 100,000 words and very steamy.

Steamy is good!  What are the hardest scenes to write for you?

I wrote a lap dance scene between two men and that was difficult.

How close in real life, have you gotten to one of your fantasies?

Not close at all since I write about two men sleeping together and I am a woman.

LOL. What bit of romantic advice would you give your readers?

Be honest and faithful.

And finally… anything you would like to share with us, an excerpt, a tidbit, or anything else about yourself?    

I am a Los Angeles retired high school teacher. I worked in the Juvenile correction facilities and loved it. Now, I write and read.

Write, read, write, read... that's a perfect life!  Thanks for joining use today, Brina!  I hope all our readers check out your new book, Rent Me.

Rent Boy Brennen wants to belong to his lover Dmitri Dubrovsky. The Russian mobster controls every inch of his life in and out of bed. Brennen works for Dmitri’s escort service. His only desire is to please his lover.

When Dmitri marries Nika, his lover moves him out of their home to an apartment in Beverly Hills and tells him nothing has changed. 

What is Brennen going to do now?