Thursday, June 4, 2015

Interview with Romance Author Sara Daniel


I’m pleased to have a special guest today. She’s a fellow author of 1 Night Stand stories and Beyond Fairytales from Decadent Publishing. Thank you, Sara Daniel for joining us today. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the chocolates next to you.  

You are a prolific writer with several books available. You are one busy gal! Now, tell us about your latest book. What was the inspiration?
I currently have 11 books out with one more coming next month and then three re-releases over the summer. My latest book is One Night with her Husband. The heroine is a continuing character from earlier books in the One Night with the Bridal Party series. I’ve written a few stories about high school lovers, but I’d never written a book about college lovers before, and since my husband and I fell in love and married in college (and will be celebrating our 20th anniversary this year) I really wanted to explore that story.

20 years!  Congrats. I bet he helps with research. (Wink, wink) How naughty do you get with your writing?  Are we talking just suggestion or downright bondage?
Well, I suppose that depends on your definition of naughty. ;) I write explicit love scenes. Trust, control and vulnerability are all such big issues for many characters, and those figure prominently in the love scenes as part of their story. I don’t write BDSM, so no bondage. Most of my books fit into the erotic romance category.

Give us a favorite line from one of your books.
“We’re not discussing sex lives.” Marcia stabbed at the lettuce on her plate.
“Good, because I have nothing to share and don’t want to hear about yours.”
“Good, because my vibrator collection is none of your business.”
--Marcia and Adrian from One Night With her Husband

WOW! I love it!!! Serious but funny.
If you could have any movie star take on a role as one of your heroes, who would it be?
I think Henry Cavill would make a great Adrian. They’re both ripped and have worked hard for their physique. They both have a buttoned-up business side. And if you ask Marcia, Adrian becomes Superman in the bedroom. ;)

Damn… he’s a total hottie. What is the strangest thing you’ve Googgled while working on a story?
For about a month, all my sidebar ads were for cowboy hats because I was searching for just the right cowboy hat for my heroine to wear in One Night with his Wife

I’ve written a couple children’s books about squirrels under my alter-ego Sara Shafer, and I Googled “how many toes do squirrels have?” (18 – 4 toes on the front paws and 5 toes on each back paw in case you’re wondering!)

Oh, I heard you had an issue with a couple of squirrels who took up residence with you. We’ll have to swap squirrel stories. LOL. Back to work stuff…Do you have any rituals or “must-haves” while writing?
I have to type when I write. I can’t keep up by writing long-hand. When things aren’t going well, I pace and get up for snacks. My only real “must-have” is a window or someplace where I can see outside. Sitting outside is even better. Nature inspires my muse.

Me too!!! I live in the woods and my muse enjoys all the nature…sometimes too much.  LOL Time to give us some trivial tid-bits…
Favorite drink: coffee in the morning, red wine in the evening
Favorite candy: really good dark chocolate or Fannie May Trinidads
Favorite food: my mother’s homemade lasagna
Favorite article of clothing or jewelry: jeans for clothes, my simple wristwatch for jewelry
Favorite place to read: Somewhere where no one will interrupt me
Place you want to visit some day: Italy, Europe, Hawaii, Alaska

Thank for joining us today.  Give us a teaser then let’s go get some more yummy dark chocolate. It’s really good with red wine!
Thanks so much for hosting me, Mary!



For better or worse, he would not live the rest of his life in a suspended, married-but-not-married state.

“I’m sorry I shocked you with my presence.” He wasn’t sorry for surprising her, but he regretted how unwelcome his surprise had been.

She swiped at her eyes and began rummaging in the glove compartment. “You have my phone number. You could have warned me you were coming.”

His chest tightened. “Those stiff, formal calls don’t change anything, except suck away my soul. I needed to shake things up.”

“So you decided to burst in during the biggest business crisis I’ve ever faced?” She extracted a pack of tissues from the compartment and mopped her beautiful face. “I hope you have a better strategy to save my company, or we’re doomed.”

With the pressure to convince her to believe in him more intense than during his meeting with Mr. Gladstone, he crouched next to her seat. “While we work together to fix Sunburst’s crisis, we have a chance to bridge the distance between us, too.”

Mouth gaping, she met his gaze again. “Your idea of bridging the distance is to ambush me in my own conference room and then introduce yourself like we’re freaking strangers?”

Failure tasted metallic and bitter in his mouth. In his plans, he’d skipped straight to wowing her with his marketing prowess. He hadn’t considered he’d upset her so much she wouldn’t stick around to listen to his spiel. “No, I played my ace card. You put your trust in Gladstone PR. I made myself the face of Gladstone so we’d have enough common business interests that you wouldn’t immediately kick me out of your personal life.”

Marcia squeezed the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. “I don’t have time to think about anything personal right now, and I certainly can’t let my employees see me as an emotional wreck. They’re counting on me to lead them with a solid plan.”

Business and her career didn’t just come first in her heart. They owned her whole heart. Adrian had been a fool to lose sight of that. Burying his own hurt and frustration, he said, “I have a beautiful plan for the company. We’ll put it in action together.” Afterward, he’d have to decide if he could handle coming in a distant second place with her for the rest of his life. “Trust me.”

She stared at the steering wheel for a long time before turning to him. “I have to. You’re my only hope.”
********************


Sara Daniel writes what she loves to read—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. She battles a serious NASCAR addiction, was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels, and loses her car keys several times a day. One Night with her Husband is the latest book in her One Night with the Bridal Party series. Subscribe to Sara’s newsletter: http://eepurl.com/rx_AL Visit her website: http://www.SaraDaniel.com




She walked away from her marriage seven years ago...
Marcia Johnson always assumed her husband would follow her eventually. She’d achieve success while she waited and prove her decision the right one. But when he finally turns up, she’s not ready. Her career hangs in the balance, and her weight has skyrocketed. How can she face the man she loves and show him she made the right choice? Especially when he’s matured from a decent-looking college student into the sexiest man she’s ever seen.

He’s waited seven years for his wife to finally need him…
If Adrian Torres can save her business, maybe he’ll have a shot at saving their marriage. But the woman he finds is too competent and independent to ask him for help. She even shrugs off his touch instead of reacting with the desire he hoped to ignite. Have the embers of their marriage finally died? Is it time to end their relationship and move forward?

He wants a divorce…
Her world ripped apart, Marcia turns to 1Night Stand to give her one more night before she lets Adrian go. She dares not hope for more. Even Madame Eve couldn’t have the magic to save their neglected disaster of a relationship…could she?


Sara is currently doing a Rafflecopter giveaway
for a $20 Amazon gift card through the end of June.
ENTER NOW


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Shifters Gone Alpha: Shapeshifter Romance Boxed Set

I loved shifters long before I began writing about them. 
Naturally sensual with a drive for adventure, shifters' emotions run deep and true.
This boxed set is a must have!  



When it comes to love, it doesn't take long for shifters to go alpha. This boxed set of NEW stories from bestselling authors shows how there's nothing a shifter won't do for their mate's pleasure. 

Her Alpha Mate by Michele Bardsley 
As the Fire Pack alpha’s wife Alice Mason will do anything ensure the future of her wolf pack and the ancient bloodline of her husband. Even if it means she must sacrifice her own life… 

The Bear Witch Project by Renee George 
Bears and witches are natural enemies, so when bear shifter Ty Wasape meets curvy witch Solange Tremaine at an Osage casino, he is naturally torn between killing her or making her his mate. 

Her Destiny by Brandy Walker 
Selena has a new job, new home, and new friends; to include a cat she calls Felix. When her life is threatened Felix, aka Malcolm, comes to the rescue bringing her into a world she never knew existed. 

KnightForce 1 by Sydney Addae 
La Patron’s rebel problem needs correcting before the cops get involved. Asia, Angus and Tyrese, arrive in the Rocky Mountains to prevent more deaths and keep humans unaware Shifters live next door. 

Darkness Rising by Lisa Carlisle 
Antoine Chevalier is a gargoyle shifter living in Paris. When he's attacked by rogue vampires, he's forced to abandon his identity and must recreate himself in a world now filled with darkness.

Her Dragon’s Soul by Julia Mills 
Find mate…check. Bond with mate…check. Exorcise demon taking take over mate hence saving dragon kin and the world…oh crap, not again. Can't a dragon catch a break? 

The Gathering: Homecoming by Ellis Leigh 
Join the trio from The Gathering as they navigate their new life. Blasius and Dante must make their mate Moira feel welcome, but their mountain girl has trouble finding her footing on marble floors. 

Wolves at the Door by Skye Jones 
Brooke is studying the wildlife of a remote Scottish area. What she finds shocks her. Sexy alpha, Drew, seduces Brooke. They spend the night together, but Drew wants more. He wants Brooke as his mate. 

Domlen’s Way by Solease M Barner 
Domlen's handsome, sexy, smart and a Dominate. He will ensure you are satiated, satisfied, sore and pleased. You will only have to submit to Domlen's Way to get the attention of this dragon-shifter. 

Rescued? By the Wolf by Cristina Rayne 
When Rogue lion shifter, Tori, jumps into the truck of an annoyingly hot wolf shifter she mistakes for human, lifelong hostilities and self-restraint are tested as they flee from the lions in pursuit. 

Spring Mates by Lynn Tyler 
Mating season. The time when a young man’s heart turns to creating a permanent bond with the one he loves. At least, in theory. 

Breaking the Storm by Sedona Venez 
One curvy fae witch. One smoking hot ‘Rock Star’ wolf shifter--and a curse that threatens their burning love. 

B&N 
Kobo 

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Tuesday Teaser from Scary, Sexy Romance Author Megan Morgan

Wecome to this stop on the City Nights: One Night in Chicago BLOG TOUR
At the end of this tempting post is a chance to enter a GIVEAWAY.
Make sure to follow the whole tour—
the more posts you visit throughout, the more chances you’ll get to enter the giveaway. 
CLICK HERE for tour dates
Urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and erotica…scary, sexy!
That’s what describes what comes from the fantastic mind of author Megan Morgan. If you like passion, sex, and chills down your spine, she’s the gal to write it for you.

Welcome Megan! With me in Michigan and you in Ohio, we are like neighbors! Thanks for joining us today. Is this your first book?
- No, I have a paranormal erotic romance novella published, and I also have an urban fantasy series with Kensington Books. The first book, The Wicked City, was released on March 3rd of this year. The second will be released on November 10th. I also have several stories in various House of Erotica anthologies.

I spent some time in Chicago and fell in love with the Windy City and made some great memories! I read the blurb of One Night in Chicago and I was hooked. What inspired you to write your latest book?
- I love Chicago and I love to write about it! Many of the spots my couple visit in the story are places I’ve been to. The events and people are entirely made up, but the places they visit (apart from a fictional bar I created) are very real.

 The cover is very hot! How did you come up with the title?
- The City Nights series all start with ‘One Night in…’ So I didn’t have to think too hard!

You are such a tease; we’ll look forward to more ‘One Night in…’ stories.  Malcolm sounds like such a hottie. How do you come up with your characters’ names?
- Malcolm Darling is a name from another unpublished work I scrapped a while ago, but I love the name so I had to use it. Taylor Middleton sounds like a singer/songwriter to me, I was kind of thinking of Taylor Swift when I named her—although her stage name in the story is Gracie. Sometimes names are very hard to come up with, but thankfully these characters were easy.

If you could have any movie star take on a role as one of your heroes, who would it be?
- I definitely picture Malcolm looking like Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Mmm!

 Ohhhh… those shoulders… those arms… that chest!  Yeah, baby!!! I bet he could hold both of us at the same time. LOL How naughty do you get with your writing?
- I write a lot of erotica, though I’ve never written bondage. My sex scenes are pretty steamy and descriptive, though! I like to write about sex. It’s fun.

That’s what I always say! Sex is fun! Oh, wait… we’re talking about writing aren’t we. What were the hardest scenes to write for you?
- Ironically, the sex scenes. I have to ease into sex scenes, I can’t just write them cold or stand-alone—I suppose you have to be in a certain mood to write about sex. I do, at least.

I agree. What is the strangest thing you’ve Goggled while working the story? Some writers will go for a walk or do sit ups before sitting down. Others will have a glass of wine & chocolate handy. I know one writer who has a silly stuffed animal on her desk and can’t write without it.
- I don’t remember Googling anything odd for this story, but I’ve definitely done some Google searches for my writing that should have gotten some anxious government people knocking on my door. I hope they have a list of us so when something questionable comes up on a search engine they just say ‘oh, she’s a writer!’

Trust me, I know a few writers who have had a knock on their door. A couple of them are on first name basis with “their” agents. LOL Do you have any rituals or “must-haves” while writing?
I don’t have any particular writing rituals, but I do like to have a mug of coffee and I seem to do my best writing early in the morning. Oftentimes, my cat tries to ‘help,’ mostly by lying on my laptop.

I think every writer needs an animal “helper”.  Say, this has been fun! Do you have anything you would like to say to your readers?
- Don’t hesitate to comment, tweet me, email me, or get in touch with me in any way. I love talking to readers!

Megan was a good sport and left us with some Fun stuff:
Favorite drink: Coffee!
Favorite candy: Chocolate
Favorite food: Pasta. I love carbs, even though they’re bad for me.
Favorite article of clothing or jewelry: My pajamas—nothing beats sitting around lazy and comfy!
Favorite place to read: In bed.
Place you want to visit some day: Egypt

It wouldn’t be Tuesday without a TEASER!
Enjoy Megan Morgan’s latest book.
One Night in Chicago.


Blurb:
Breaking up is hard to do, especially after four years together.

Taylor Middleton, a singer striving for her big break, and her boyfriend Malcolm Darling, a mover and shaker in the music business, have decided to call it quits. Taylor wants to take her onstage persona—Gracie M—to LA, where she hopes bright lights and big dreams await.

But before they break up, the two decide to spend one last night in Chicago, the city where they once shared a passionate, romantic weekend, in hopes of preserving some good memories. In Chicago, Taylor realizes she’s not so sure about taking her talents elsewhere, as Malcolm reminds her why she fell in love—and lust—with him. Taylor may soon discover the right man, like music, can set her free and make all her dreams come true.

Excerpt:
She bought a shot glass, some postcards, a pen, and a keychain with her name on one side and the Chicago skyline, lit with little lights, on the other.

She dangled the keychain in front of Malcolm's face. "Come on, this is a work of art. Look at the lights."

"They'll burn out in two days." He batted it. "You're the worst impulse shopper I've ever met."

"Some of us like to have fun." She strolled to the windows. "Just because you're a boring old man doesn't mean we all have to be."

"I'm far from boring. I would think after four years you wouldn't use that word to describe me."

"You can be overbearing, sometimes." She pulled her phone out of her purse. "A wet blanket."

"I'm reasonable. You can be a bit of a child, if we're gonna go there. Sometimes you don't think about the consequences before you act. You just jump in."

"Don't worry, after tomorrow I won't be your problem to babysit."

He sighed. "I don't think of it as babysitting. I just thought…maybe after four years we learned something from each other. You know, you help me loosen up, I keep you grounded."

She took a picture out the window with her phone. "I guess not."

"You don't think we've rubbed off on each other at all?"

She turned and snapped a picture from a different angle. "It doesn't seem like it, does it? I mean, here we are, still arguing about the same crap."

"Surely we're taking something good from this." Malcolm followed her as she moved along the railing. "It wasn't all bad, was it?"

She turned to him. "No. But when it was bad, it was really bad. That's why this is happening."

"You're supposed to say I made you a better person." Forced humor tinged his voice. "That you'll always be grateful for the things you learned from me."

She dropped her phone back in her purse. "Is that all you're concerned about, that I 'learned' something from you?"

"No. But I was hoping we changed each other for the better."

"Are you changed for the better?"

"I am, actually."

She gazed out the windows, across the vast expanse of water.

"I feel like I'm not the uptight jerk I once was. Like you taught me how to have a little fun."

"Yet, you're still a workaholic."

"It's my job! Tay, it's okay to have fun, but you gotta put in some hard work to have good things. You know that better than anyone. You're gonna have to work hard in California. Your dream will still take time."

Anger tightened her chest. "I know that."

"But it's okay to dream. It's okay to look forward to the day when everything you want comes to you."

"If it does, right?" She snorted. "This could all be a losing game. Why, I might be back in New York and in your arms again before the end of the year."

He turned toward the window, placing his hands on the railing. "I want you to have your dreams. I wouldn't mind if you were still in my arms."

Purchase at:


Author Bio:
Megan Morgan is an urban fantasy, romance, and erotica author from Cleveland, Ohio. Bartender by day and purveyor of things that go bump in the night, she’s trying to turn writing into her day job so she can be on the other side of the bar for a change. She’s a member of the RWA and author of the Siren Song urban fantasy series from Kensington Books, as well as numerous other shorter, sexy, smutty works.

*****
GIVEAWAY!
Make sure to follow the whole tour—the more posts you visit throughout, the more chances you’ll get to enter the giveaway. The tour dates are HERE
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Sunday Surfing for a Good Book - RAIN by Taryn Kincaid

If you are like me, you are spending a lazy Sunday afternoon surfing for some good books to order or download. Let me recomend one that is top of my list.


Decadent Publishing offers a variety of twisted romance stories based on Grimm’s Fairytales. Beyond Fairytales are like none you’ve ever known.  Trust me… these tales aren’t the ones from your childhood, these are adult only reads with sexy heroes.

Taryn Kincaid has her own version of Sleeping Beauty coming June 2.


Blurb:
            Sleeping Beauty in a post-apocalyptic land…

            In a world gone mad, where little remains but a vast wasteland of sand, the leader of a troop of roving warriors welcomes a brave young woman into his midst.
            Much as he burns for her, Major Clay Worthington swears to keep his distance from the mysterious woman, so sensitive even the stinging rain can wound her.
Rosina Brierly is besotted with the formidable soldier and will gladly trade her life for one torrid night of blissful passion in his arms.

       But when sleep overcomes them, will true love prevail?

Pre-Order Now!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

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.


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