Thursday, June 30, 2011

When It Rains, It Pours!

Currently Reading: Overlord's Chosen by Bronwyn Green. It's been three or four years since I read this, and am enjoying it again:) I wanted to refresh my memory before diving into Asher's story, which I should get to next week. Also reading Temptation by Jude Deveraux


What a week this has been! Last Thursday I was flying high because I'd received contracts for both Love On The Rocks and Love Finds A Way. Tuesday, I happened to glance at the 'coming soon' page and discovered Kenzie's Appetite For Desire was listed as arriving July 6th. Yesterday morning, received word that yes, I should be receiving edits soon.

So, imagine my surprise when I logged into my email before going to bed last night. No, not edits for AFD; edits for Teacher's Pet! And boy, is it ever full of 'red ink'. Apparently, my new 'favorite' word is 'as'. So it looks as if I'm going to have to completely rewrite the prologue, or at least page one. Too many 'as' and too much 'telling' vs 'showing'.

My self-edits on Balancing Act are coming along quite nicely. I'm up to page 77 and Gretchen is beginning to find her backbone again. Heading into the fun part of the book now:)

In other family news, my daughter turns 17 this weekend. Saturday we're lunching with the grandparents, and on Sunday, she wants a Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake and a huge cookie from the store. Plus brats and hamburgers on the grill. We might even set off a few early firecrackers.

Don't know if I'll post a July 1971 'memory' or not tomorrow; depends on how much time I have tonight or tomorrow. It's 'payday' for us, and we may get an early start on grocery shopping. Plus, I hope to take the 'grandkids' to the carnival in the evening.

So have a safe holiday weekend!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Terrific Tuesday with Fran Shaff:)

First of all, I want to send out a Happy Birthday to my dad and two special friends of mine! Hope all three of you have an extra-special day:)


Welcome! Please introduce yourself and tell us about your latest release.

Hi, Everyone. It’s a pleasure to be here with you. I’m Fran Shaff, author of classic romance and young people’s novels.

My latest release, “Male Fraud” is classic romantic comedy. In it, a woman pretends to be a man in order to get a job as a trainer with a pro football team. She ends up falling for the coach. Things get quite hilarious as she tries to live a dual life.

Read excerpts, watch a video and learn more about “Male Fraud” at: http://sites.google.com/site/malefraudbook

Have you ever had an idea for a story which scared you after you began writing it?

I’ve never had a story I’m working on scare me. I hope I never do.

Have you incorporated actual events from your own life into your books?

My life isn’t exciting enough to make a good storyline. That’s probably a good thing, don’t you think?

How much research do you do? Do you research first and then write, or do you write first, then research as needed?

Research has been of key importance to the success of many of my novels. Readers often comment on the real worlds created in my historical novels. That realism comes from research (and imagination). Recently, a university historian who is also a state museum curator told me after reading my Heart Junction Series set in early 20th Century South Dakota that she found the books very authentic. Naturally, I was pleased to hear her positive feedback.

Is there any message you want readers to take from reading your work?

I want readers to be entertained by my books. If they notice the theme of my stories whether it’s forgiveness, perseverance, courage, reconciliation, etc. then I feel they were more than entertained, and that is a good thing, isn’t it?

Are you a plotter or a pantser? And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?

I don’t believe a person can construct a house without making plans and building a framework. Neither can an author build a story without making plans and constructing a framework for her book. However, there are many ways a writer can build a framework, and each writer must choose his own method of construction. I flesh out characters and the plot line before I begin to write my stories.

How long did it take for you to be published?

Surprisingly, Avalon Books of New York published my first novel “Montana Match” just a couple of years after I began my serious attempt at writing fiction.

If you could go back and tell yourself anything when you first began your writing career, what would you say?

Never give up.

Laptop or pen and ink? What are your ‘must-haves’ when writing?

Even though I had a computer when I first committed myself to becoming a published writer, I was most comfortable writing in longhand. After a couple of years, however, I began using the computer exclusively, and I’ve never gone back to pen and paper.

Who are your favorite authors? Who would you say influenced you the most?

John Steinbeck, the Bronte sisters, Margaret Mitchell are some of my favorites. I don’t have specific favorites among contemporary writers. I love to read a good cross section of books written by authors who are new to me. I really enjoy discovering fresh voices. As far as someone influencing me in my writing--no one has influenced me in one way or another. I think an author needs to find her own voice, motivation and reason for writing and then go with it.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Hmm…Probably lots of things. One I will share. When I was a kid, reading was seen pretty much as an unproductive waste of time in my household. It’s probably a bit unusual for someone growing up influenced by that kind of attitude to go on to become an award-winning author who LOVES to read, but then stranger things have happened, haven’t they?

For Fun:

Favorite Fourth of July tradition?

Cliché I know, but I love watching fireworks.

Mountains or Beach?

If we’re talking the Fourth of July, I’d choose mountains because they would be cooler and less crowded in July than beaches would be.

Favorite amusement park ride?

I haven’t ridden anything since I was a kid. (Told you my life wasn’t particularly interesting.) Back then I used to enjoy the tilt-a-whirl and the scrambler.

Any Summer Festivals you like to attend?

Anything with music and crafts, I guess, if the weather isn’t too hot…

If you’re writing a Christmas-themed story, how do you get ‘in the mood’?

Christmas is a time of great love…it doesn’t take much to get in the mood to be immersed in love.

Thank you for being here today! Please tell us where we can find your books.

Amazon has my hardcover, paperback and e-books available. Many of my e-books are also available at Barnes and Noble, I-Books for I-Pad and I-Phone, Sony Books, Kobo Books and more. My historical book set in 1850s Nebraska “Change of Heart” is free to download at many places on the Internet.

Please visit my website at: http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff

My blog is at: http://cavewriter.blogspot.com

I’m on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/franshaff

I’m on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/franshaff

I’m also at Goodreads, FiledBy, Wattpad, ManicReaders, LibraryThing and other places on the Internet.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Catching up #2: Interview and New Release Schedule

I know, I know....I've been a lousy blogger this summer. So I'm thankful when friends step in to help me out:) Friend and fellow author Linda Kage interviewed me on her blog today; why don't you stop in and say hi?

New Release Schedule:
Sept: Kenzie's Appetite For Desire
Oct: Book #1 of Arbor University, Love On The Rocks
Dec: Book #2, Love Finds A Way
Jan 2012: Book #3, Forbidden Love:)

Keep checking back for new covers of books #1 and 2:)

Currently Reading: Finished Phantoms and Photographs by Cindy Spencer Pape last night. Awesome, but I felt the ending was slightly rushed (word count restriction, maybe?). Otherwise, definite Recommended Read! Now I'm re-reading Bronwyn Green's Overlord's Chosen, formally known as Overlord's Vessel. Had to force myself to put it down around 1am!

Last week was a blur. Monday, the spouse went north for an echo cardiogram of his heart (everything looks good!) and picked up MDQ and ME's clothes and a few items, such as MDQ's teddy bear and ME's PSP. Kids and I fixed potato stroganoff, since we didn't know when he'd be home. And both kids were thrilled to have more clothing choices!

Side rant: When my kids were this age, and first got their PSP's or even the Nintendo system, they played video games nonstop for two or three days, then resumed normal activity. So, I let ME play his PSP....and he still carries it everywhere. Starting this week, he's getting limited to an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. I will admit, at least he knows how to entertain himself. His sister, one year older at 9.75 (she'll be ten in roughly five weeks), seems 'appalled' when we have nothing planned for the day. Doesn't want to read, unless I read with her; TV is restricted so that's not an option; her first question is always 'what are we going to DO today?' After Reading Time, I let them have 'recess' if we have no errands to run. When I was her age, I hated being dragged around town on errands in the summer time, and preferred to stay home, to play with my friends, ride my bike, play with my dolls, or read! Is 'play' not in her vocabulary, unless she has someone to 'play with' all the time?

Okay, rant over. As I was saying....Tuesday, my spouse and youngling took off for Cub Scout Day Camp. MDQ, ME, and I went to the pool, getting rained on in the process. I also had put together a lasagna, so I popped it into the oven and went to my writer's meeting, popping into Anny's chat for an hour. Came home to chaos, and was not able to return to chat, which turned out okay, since Anny's internet shut down and she had to cut it short anyway.

Wednesday, another day of Cub Scout Camp. Took MDQ to dentist; picked up Adoptee B and went to Japanese program at the library. Afterward, MDQ and AB made kites. Pics are up on Kenzie's Place. Fixed pork chops for dinner.

Thursday, we relaxed from the hectic day before and made homemade chicken tetrazzini. I also received contracts for Love On The Rocks and Love Finds A Way:)

Friday was low-key; the boys returned from Cub Scout Camp with awesome stories and souveniers of the BB Gun shooting range and the bow and arrow targets! I've forgotten what I fixed for dinner, but MDQ and I made a Caesar Pasta Salad to go with it....

Saturday, fixed White Bean Chili with Chicken and a Tomato Parmesan Pasta Salad. Also had corn muffins. YUM! Storms hit, knocking out the power for several hours, and causing flash floods around town. K got caught in it, returning home from a party. Fortunately, a friend who works for one of the towing companies recognized his truck and only charged him $50 for the tow (he stood up to his boss over who would tow it). Otherwise, it would have been closer to $200.

And yesterday, fixed my last rack of ribs. Kids were thrilled:)

Looking ahead....SU was supposed to go north again on Wednesday for another dr's appointment, but it's been rescheduled for July 27th. ME and youngling will have another tutoring session on Thursday, and our library books are due back on Wednesday. Looks like another low-key week. I'm also going to try to fill out the cover art requests on all three AU books. Wish me luck!


Friday, June 24, 2011

Flashback Friday: Planning Cafe Eminence

June 2001:
I'd managed to run the concession stand; spend equal amounts of time at both K and S's ball games (K's were on the weekends while S's were during the week); and help plan the annual Fish Fry for the fire department (I worked either behind the food line or in the Bingo Hall).

During the month of June, we attended many ball games at various ball league fields. Hamburgers were beginning to be offered at Belleville, and I wondered if we could add these to our menu. I consulted with managers of other stands, plus talked it over with a few of my friends whose kids were also on our teams and who worked many shifts in the stand. We knew the All Star Tournament was coming up after the 4th of July weekend, and then the 14 and older Girl's Softball tournament the following weekend. One of our local grocery store chains was going out of business and slashing prices, so I quietly made trips every week to different locations and bought all their bottled water, plus two huge 100-qt coolers that were on sale, to ice down drinks. The Pepsi cooler hadn't been very productive the year before, and keeping cold drinks in demand had been rough.

We also decided to have a 'drink tent' located between two of our three ball diamonds, and offer kids the chance to sell them in the stands, so parents wouldn't have to leave. The last two weeks of June, I was on the phone constantly, lining up workers for the tournaments and seeing if anyone had a grill we could use, for the hamburgers, plus a 'grillmaster', someone willing to cook hamburgers in the heat. And then someone suggested corn on the cob. I spoke to a local farmer who said he would gladly sell us ten dozen ears for the price of only nine. All I had to do was pick them up the day before; he'd go pick them fresh that day.

And then my car blew up again.

The spouse was working nights during this time, and trying to keep four kids quiet during the day so he could sleep was a hassle. I'd begun taking them with me every day, and one particular day the car overheated. D wasn't answering the phone (which was good; meant he was sleeping soundly), so I called a neighbor, who came and picked us up. I took all the perishables out of the trunk and we went home.

Fortunately, the spouse didn't have to be at work until 10pm, so after the neighborhood kids had been picked up and after dinner, we piled into the husband's truck and went to get the car. It started right up, so we decided to take the back roads so we could drive slowly and make frequent stops if it threatened to overheat again.

Halfway between tiny communities, it began to overheat, and I pulled over. S was riding with me, and we smelled smoke. I popped the hood....yup, the engine had caught fire. I called 911, forgetting my cell phone was an Indianapolis number. They transferred me to the local fire station, and I walked to the nearest street sign to tell them where we were exactly.

In the meantime, we start taking things out of the car and putting them in the truck. The fire truck arrived; hooked up the hose and....the spray suddenly turned into a trickle. Truck was out of water.

Meanwhile, the fire reaches the front seat of the car. The firemen called for another truck.

The absurdity of the situation hit me, and I called a friend of mine whose husband was on our local fire department, wondering if he and the crew could get here any faster. But while we were commiserating over the phone, the other truck arrived and put out the fire. By the time it was out, everything was burnt except the contents of the trunk.

As it turned out, my mother had at last decided to part with her 1989 Lincoln Town Car, a car I really didn't want because the thing was HUGE. But the day we got the title, we clipped a deer with the hood ornament. Okay...now we have to keep the damn thing! No damage; just a little ding in the hood.

I promptly christened the trunk 'The Warehouse'. It held EVERYTHING.

Next month: Opening Cafe Eminence!



Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Terrific Tuesday with Tricia Schneider:)


Welcome! Please introduce yourself and tell us about your latest release.

Hello! Thanks for having me! I’m a bookseller turned paranormal romance author and the mother of 3. My newest release is the sequel to my debut novella and is called The Witch and the Vampire.

Have you ever had an idea for a story which scared you after you began writing it?

Yes, actually. I wrote a novel that won 3rd place in the Gothic Romance Writer’s Haunted Hearts contest. It’s a gothic ghost romance, and there are parts that gave me chills while I wrote it.

Have you incorporated actual events from your own life into your books?

Again, yes. I hadn’t noticed it until my husband pointed out that in all my stories, the heroine has lost her mother. My own mother passed away when I was 11, an event that seriously impacted my life. I didn’t realize until much later that I used writing as a therapeutic way of dealing with her death.

How much research do you do? Do you research first and then write, or do you write first, then research as needed?

It depends on the story. I’ve done both. I’ve done research and then been inspired to write a story. I do a lot of research during my writing, as well. Since I write historical pieces, I sometimes come across an item or event that I need to know if my character has used or been to. Then, I’ll do the research needed for that particular subject. I do my best to be as historically accurate as possible.

Is there any message you want readers to take from reading your work?

Happily Ever After has always been my favorite message.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?

A little of both. When I get an idea for a story, I write a short synopsis. I’ll use this as a sort of outline for when I’m writing. And, if I’m lucky enough to get into my ‘writing zone’ my fingers start flying on the keyboard as if they’re possessed. It feels like I’m not telling the story, something in control of my frantically typing fingers is telling the story. It’s a very satisfying sensation.

How long did it take for you to be published?

I’ve been writing all my life, but I really became interested in publication when I was about 18. Then I studied it mostly, attended conferences, met other authors, practiced writing and I did send a few submissions out. When I gave birth to my son in 2006, I decided to step down from my Assistant Manager position at the bookstore where I worked. Having my son, really gave me the motivation I needed to seriously pursue my passion for storytelling and becoming published. On the day of his third birthday party, I received my first contract.

If you could go back and tell yourself anything when you first began your writing career, what would you say?

I think I might slap myself across the head (gently, so as not to mess up my hair), and say “Stop doubting yourself, and have confidence, you fool!! And, stop trying to be perfect and just write the sucker!” Seriously, there were a few years when I stopped sending submissions and decided to just write for fun. For a while, I didn’t think my writing was ever going to get published!

Laptop or pen and ink? What are your ‘must-haves’ when writing?

A keyboard, lol. I started with a pen, then used my mom’s typewriter, then my father’s computer, and now I have a laptop. My mind moves fast and I never learned short-hand so the pen moves rather slowly in my hand. But, I learned typing at a young age and my fingers can fly across the keys. Oh, and I need mood music. Usually, I listen to Type O’Negative while I’m writing. I need music to block out distracting noises.

Who are your favorite authors? Who would you say influenced you the most?

I have numerous favorite authors. In the beginning, Claire Delacroix, Deborah Simmons, Gayle Wilson, and Elizabeth Thornton were the reason I loved historical romance. I started writing romance after reading these authors. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier greatly influenced my interest in gothic romance. Lynn Kurland, Kelley Armstrong and Kim Harrison are others I feel have influenced my writing as well.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Not many people know I make dream-catchers and Native American styled jewelry. So does my SIL! How cool:)

For Fun:

Mountains or Beach?

I’ve always lived in the beautiful mountains of Eastern Pennsylvania, so I’d have to say beach. I visited the gulf coast of Florida a number of years ago and fell in love with the ocean sunsets, sand squishing between my toes and the hypnotic ocean breezes.

Favorite amusement park ride?

The train rides! Hehe! I’m such a spoil sport at amusement parks. I usually suffer over-exposure from the sun and I get terrible headaches. To my husband’s dismay, I go to amusement parks for the cotton candy, funnel cake and soft-serve ice cream cones with sprinkles and not the roller-coasters that he loves. Oh, actually, I do enjoy the water rides! Yes, those are my favorites. Anything to cool down! Yay! Another non-roller coaster fan! I do water rides, but not the log flume-ones: Can't handle that drop!

Father’s Day ritual?

I supply my kids with art materials to design their own hand-made Father’s Day cards. Before my boys knew how to write, they’d trace their hands for their signatures. Then in the morning before my husband wakes, we drive to Dunkin Donuts and bring home a large coffee and donuts for Daddy’s breakfast. My husband is addicted to DD’s coffee, so having the kid’s wake him up in the morning with his favorite coffee is a special treat.

How do you balance kids being at home 24/7 and writing time?

I have 3 kids between the ages of 5 years and 9 months. During the day, I can hop on the computer at short intervals to do promoting or networking. Then, if I’m lucky and I manage to get at least 2 to take a nap, I can get a bit of writing done in the afternoon. The majority of my writing has always been done at night, even before I had children. The only trouble with that is when I get into my ‘writing zone’ I don’t want to stop writing to go to sleep. I’ve already stayed up until 3am writing, which was fine before I had kids. Now, my oldest is my early bird and he’ll wake me up between 6 and 7am. The next day I’m more like zombie mom!

Thank you for being here today! Please tell us where we can find your books.

Thank you again for having me! This was fun! You can visit my website http://www.triciaschneider.com or blog http://www.shadowsofromance.blogspot.com for more information about my books, or find me at

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/authortriciaschneider

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/triciaschneider

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/triciaschneider

Blurb:

Melora Merriweather is searching for a fellow witch to protect her from a scheming uncle with plans of marriage. When her carriage overturns on her journey, she is rescued by a mysterious man whom she learns is the very person she seeks. But, he’s not the witch she thought he was…

Sebastian Collins should have left for London days ago. Now a snowstorm has trapped him with a woman who has come seeking protection, a woman who intrigues him like no other. And with each passing hour, his hunger for her grows…hunger for her kiss, her caress, and her blood.

Excerpt:

“You are Sebastian Collins? Of Caldwell House?” she asked. Had she made some horrible mistake? Who knew how old this letter might be? There had been no date written on any of them. Could this have come from a previous owner of the single address she had managed to discover leading her here? But, no, it could not be possible. Her dreams never misled her.

“Indeed, I am,” he answered, relieving her fears. He paused briefly, and then continued, “But there is no Mrs. Collins.”

Comprehension dawned. The blush of embarrassment and dread crept up her neck. To her surprise, Mr. Collins stiffened in agitation.

“I-I am truly sorry,” she stated, suddenly understanding his reaction. At least, now it made sense why Mrs. Collins never entered her dreams. “I had not realized she had passed. I apologize for the grief I have surely inflicted on you.”

“No, no,” he said, with a shake of his head. He appeared to have difficulty speaking for a moment until at last, with a deep breath, he reclaimed his composure. Still, he kept his eyes cast down, toward the fire. “You fail to understand. I have never married.”

Melora stared at him. Confused, she looked again at the letter in her hand. “But the letters…?”

This time, his head snapped up, and he looked in her direction. She inhaled sharply at the sight of his light blue eyes staring at her. Into her. Through her. Sharp. Piercing. As if he searched her soul for the answers to his questions.

To buy: The Wild Rose Press

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=177_136&products_id=4422

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day!

Read my tribute to fathers over at RBRU. Enjoy!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Moderate Activity

To recap: D and I married on May 3 after dating for nearly six months. I was two months pregnant with K, who tried to arrive a little too early! I was told to stay off my feet, and only do 'moderate activity'.

June 1991:
I was allowed to keep my weekend job, with the 10-pound restriction. I loved working at the country club, with the golfers on Friday night, and the Sunday Buffet. When my favorite customers found out I'd married, I made more in tips that night than I'd made the previous months. The busboys babied me, and wouldn't let me carry anything expect two plates. Doctor told us to refrain from intimacy until the bleeding had stopped for three days.

On one of these third days, I planned our 'honeymoon dinner'. I'd fixed something special and eagerly anticipated my new husband's return from work.

And then I decided to visit the pool.

I was floating on my back after swimming a lap, and decided to close my eyes, take a breath, and tip my head back, going into a gentle backward somersault. I surfaced, wiped my eyes, and swam to the shallow end to climb out and dry off. A quick check of my watch confirmed I'd been there for two hours, and D would be arriving home soon.

I went home and discovered blood in my swimsuit. I dried off, dressed, and put my feet up. D would have to finish dinner again, and there would be no intimacy that night.

Two weeks later, the doctor and I had a chat about what constituted 'moderate' activity, and why everything I did seemed to cause bleeding! Turns out what I was calling 'moderate', he called 'excessive'. In short, I was allowed to walk; dip myself in the pool and maybe go under, but NO acrobatics, no matter how gentle; no being on my feet for more than twenty minutes (the busboys kept track of my 'walking' time at work, lol!); and to enjoy my leisure time, because in another year I'd be wanting it again! I meekly hung my head and agreed.

I soon knew the entire daily line up of the CBS shows, and the Fox shows after the news at 10!

Today:
Taking the kids on 'field trip' and editing Ch 6 of Balancing Act. Yes, I goofed off yesterday....this entire week has flown!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Playing Catch Up

I've overslept the past couple of days, and feel incredibly lazy. My hubby had a tooth pulled on Tuesday, and since he felt a little woozy, he requested I not go to my writer's meeting. I fixed sloppy joes for dinner and we had a pleasant evening.

But yesterday fell apart. The Greece activity was scheduled for 10:30am, and I told the kids I would wake them up early. Guess who woke up at 9:45? Yup....so I only checked my email and facebook before throwing on my clothes and herding everyone to the car. Hubby's mouth was still bleeding, so he opted not to go. Then a friend asked if I'd watch her little boy for an hour. I said sure, and waited five more minutes.

Ended up with four kids all trying Greek food for the first time. B turned up his nose and only put raisins on his plate. Youngling and ME tried some of everything. MDQ was a little more picky, but still tried a dolmade after she saw me eating one. Afterward, we headed over to the playground, but since it had rained, the activity had been moved to the gym. All three boys immediately jumped on the scooters (when I was a kid, they were called 'dollies') and propelled themselves across the floor. MDQ announced she didn't want to participate; I said fine.

About fifteen minutes later, she spotted the streamers, so she and I went over and I showed her how to twirl them, flutter them, and make pretty patterns. The boys joined us briefly, but soon lost interest. After the Head Start kids went to lunch, we played with the parachute; held a few scooter races; and did a Frisbee toss. Came home and had lunch.

I finally got in the shower, then loaded up my four younglings, plus two neighborhood kids, and went to the library. I got online while they scattered around the Youth Center. ME was upset because I wouldn't log him onto the computer (five out of six were already occupied, and I wanted to avoid having the four boys clamoring for their turn!), but he calmed down and picked out two books. When all the kids had chosen their books, I shoved my laptop back in the case and we came home again.

Fixed and ate dinner; watched a little TV; read two books to the kids; fell into bed.

I didn't pop into any chats
I didn't blog
I still haven't printed out my new contract or mailed it
I did no editing.
And I'd only had one cup of coffee.

And even this morning, I should have stayed up when I put the dog out at 6:30. Told myself I'd 'only sleep one more hour'....woke up at 8:30 instead, and MDQ was eating breakfast already.

And I've also discovered if I don't give ME a time limit, he'll stay on the computer all day long. So today, I'll give each kid a half hour on the Tumble Book site, and no Disney games or Star Wars games until after they've played outside for two hours.

Don't know when I'll get Kenzie's weekly post up; maybe I'll do it the afternoon. Plus, I'll pop over the Novel Sisterhood and spend two hours promoting Wild At Heart, and trying to chat. The XOXO authors were at CTR chat room, and I barely got a word in here and there. I prefer the loops to the live chats; they are at a slower pace.

Still On Title Search
And today I also hope to finish editing Ch 6 of the tentatively titled 'Balancing Act'. I may subtitle it 'When Love Hurts'. What do you think? What word would fit with emotional pain? Maybe 'Hiding the Pain'? No; that brings me back to 'balance'.

'Emotional Roller Coaster'?
'Emotional Rescue'?
'Love In Turmoil'?
'Unbalanced Love'? (ugh...sounds like a psycho-thriller...)
'Finding Her Courage'?

Maybe while I'm editing, Gretchen will speak up.

I'll be back tomorrow with a memory from June 1991:)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Terrific Tuesday with Laura Tolomei:)

­­­Welcome! Please introduce yourself and tell us about your latest release.

Hi Molly, I’m delighted to be here and share a bit of my life and work with your readers. In case you don’t know me, I’m the Italian globetrotter author published by eXtasy Books, Whiskey Creek Press Torrid and Romance Divine on the genres of M/M, M/M/F, paranormal, horror, historical and a touch of the contemporary. For those who do know me, I’m the author of Visionquest, my newest release and a dark, bloody, shape-shifting one, in the best of my horror tradition. Or maybe you know me as the author of the new fantasy saga that’s raging on Internet, the Virtus Saga. Already 3 chapters have been released—The Sex Book 1, The Game Book 2 & The Festival Book 3—with many more to come. But I also signed more contemporary works like To Seduce A Soul Mate, more horrors like Bloody Passion and Sacrificial Sex, or paranormal fantasies such as Spying the Alcove & historical Roman Seduction and Divinitas. As a special mention, and you’ve probably already heard of it, is my contemporary novel Tasting Leon’s Mark, the reason being that it’s the sequel of my next release, Re-Scue, out by July 2010, publisher Romance Divine. Hot borderline story, it centers on two souls reincarnating through several lifetimes to fulfill their lust for blood and sex, pain and pleasure tied together in an intriguing game of erotic enslavement through knife cutting that shapes the character’s repeated lives. Only one rule: never fall in love. Sex and blood are the only fair game in a tantalizing chase through time and space to deal with an attraction not even death can stop. But are they ready to take the next step?

Have you ever had an idea for a story which scared you after you began writing it?

Well, when I first started writing horror, I really got scared. I couldn’t believe I was actually plotting human sacrifices like in Visionquest and Sacrificial Sex, knife carvings like in the Virtus Saga and in Re-Scue, and blood spattering like in Bloody Passion, For the life of me, it was totally out of any context. Never, no, never even READ that stuff, much less watched it on TV or in movies ‘cause I’ve always been afraid of it. The rare occasions I happened to glance at something vaguely in that genre, I lived it like I was the victim, like my skin was being slashed to bits not an actor’s, and of course, it terrified me. But then, this “sensitivity” of mine proved effective in writing somehow. Conjuring up the most horrifying scenes didn’t scare me as much as reading or watching one, quite the opposite in fact. To my surprise, I turned them into erotica, still dark and bloody, yet seductive, too, too, like a perversion or a fantasy the characters actually enjoy to the point I built entire stories on it. Just to mention a few, my upcoming Re-Scue and the Virtus Saga, where things get pretty rough between Christopher Templeton and Ylianor Meyer as their bond grows, thanks to a knife carving game he likes to play on her skin.

Have you incorporated actual events from your own life into your books?

I don’t like writing about myself, so generally avoid my direct experiences or even me as a character. However, in one case I did use some of my experiences, if not myself, as the character in one of my books, Tasting Leon’s Mark. Those who know the book, also know there’s a female character, Janet, who is crucial in resolving Leon and Sean’s issues, the same ones started in Re-Scue and never completely solved with the close of the first book. Well, Janet is loosely based on me. She has my tastes and shares experiences, particularly her very important love story with a woman named Laurie. Yes, it happened to me when I was as young as Janet, a great love I can never forget no matter how many years have passed. And like Janet, I was too young to understand fully, and our ages were too far apart to presume there could be a future to our relationship. Still, it was a key part of my life, and I’m glad it found its way into Janet’s experiences.

How much research do you do? Do you research first and then write, or do you write first, then research as needed?

I do a lot of research depending on the genre. As you know, I have a vast range—from contemporary to fantasy, horror, historical, and paranormal—but not all of them require research. The contemporary, fantasy and paranormal rely solely on my imagination and knowledge, whereas in historical contexts, I use Internet to fill in the gaps of what I don’t already know from my extensive studies and readings. To me, history is a fascinating subject and my good memory has stored a lot of information that have come useful in my books, although sometimes it’s not enough. My novel Divinitas, for instance, would have never seen the light without a solid research behind it because it’s set in and portrays ancient myths and legends of the past, spanning from Ancient Egypt, to the Persian Empire and to Celtic Britain. So I needed to understand thoroughly both the times and the myths before I changed them to fit my own imaginative story line. Research also had a fundamental part in Roman Seduction and Spying the Alcove since I wanted to get the customs of 1st century AD as exact as possible.

This form of research, like I said, is mostly based on books and Internet, but there is another, very pleasurable type of research that has to do with travel. And since I’ve done a lot of it in my times, I’ve also used it extensively in my books to describe settings, culture differences, moods, nuances. For example, my stay in India, however brief, found its way into several books, from Trespassing All Hallows Ever, to Divinitas, to Re-Scue and Tasting Leon’s Mark. Or my month long vacation in Sicily returns in Spying the Alcove, while my trip to Jordan became the setting for my Virtus Saga.

Is there any message you want readers to take from reading your work?

My books are full of messages, all of which I hope readers take with them because my stories go beyond a purely erotica genre. I use sex to make readers think. Where else would you find religious themes mixed with hot sex if not in Divinitas? Or Plato’s theories on soul mates described in To Seduce A Soul Mate? I give my novels contexts, plots, even philosophy to bring my readers to question values, beliefs and prejudices they take for granted, and realize they can make alternative choices. It’s also the reason I prefer writing the M/M genre, controversial by nature, which I use to show there is no black and white in this world, rather there are infinite shades of gray, all equally right for a person if such becomes their choice in life. So I blend it all in with the sex and it makes my stories more powerful while equally enjoyable as any other erotic tale.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?

I’m more of a pantser, usually acting on my first instinct no matter how rash it can turn out to be. My personality’s fault, no doubt, since I’m too straightforward to go through much plotting or sneaking around, especially since things in my life happened without much planning, rather when I was ready for them.

So no long thought-out plot will do for me, rather a story that starts without any clear direction, then suddenly develops into the Virtus Saga, a ten books affair. Yes, this definitely took a life of its own, the characters playing inside my head for quite some time before I set them down on paper. Mostly, I kept seeing this handsome dark prince with long hair flying wild as he rode on his black horse, utterly lost in a land he should’ve known but oddly didn’t—a storm about to hit him just to make the situation more tragic—until he sees candlelight shimmering in a window. When he gets to it, he realizes he’s not lost at all, in fact he’s very close to home, but with the storm’s fast approach, he decides to stop there for the night if they’ll offer him hospitality. But the woman standing on the thresholds feels awfully familiar, though he hasn’t the slightest idea who she is or why she should feel like someone he’s intimate with. Thus begins Virtus and from there on, readers will get more surprises than they’ve bargained for LOL

How long did it take for you to be published?

Long enough to know an upstart author should never lose faith in herself and in the value of her work. This is what I learned from my complicated publishing history. Virtus was the first book to be contracted back in 2007, but saw the light of day only starting in 2010…just to make a long story short. Instead, the first book I published was Trespassing All Hallows Eve, back in 2008, which it was the answer to my publisher’s holiday season submission call. Now that went smoothly, but only because the editor already knew me and I didn’t have to go through the long process of submitting, then waiting for an answer, usually negative, then submitting again, another no thank you answer, and so on. Patience…yeah, it’s what I learned during my long wait, but eventually Virtus, submitted to about a dozen publishers in the course of about two years, finally found a home!

If you could go back and tell yourself anything when you first began your writing career, what would you say?

To have more sex in order to write hotter stories LOL ROFLAMAO! That's a good one!

Laptop or pen and ink? What are your ‘must-haves’ when writing?

Definitely PC, no strange keyboarded laptops with separate mouse, with tiny screens impossible to read and…well, I think you get it. As for pen and ink, I long abandoned both, too much work to type everything into a DOC file afterward. If I work at home, I write in what I consider the computer room. It’s the smallest room of the house, a cluttered space, full of CDs, comic books (about 3.000 of them), some books, a TV, a computer on a cluttered desk, a leather office chair with wheels, a low table, a portable computer, a large closet with mirror doors and a couch. When I write, my mate usually sits on the couch, working or playing on the portable. I always have music playing, anything from jazz to country, pop, rock, Brazilian, Italian, revival, disco—not house my mate hates house music—and it’s a blissful time of writing, hearing music, commenting emails, sharing bits and pieces of my story, asking advice and anything else to feel creative yet close together.

Who are your favorite authors? Who would you say influenced you the most?

Too many to count, but I’ll try listing them anyway, even if it’s far from comprehensive: Philip K. Dick, JRR Tolkien, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Joyce Carol Oates, Margaret Mitchell, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Jane Austin, Robert J. Sawyer, John Grisham, Michael Crichton, Lindsey Davis, Ellis Peters, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Evelyn Waugh, Somerset Maugham, Ellery Queen, Katherine Kerr, Emilio Salgari, Umberto Eco, Elsa Morante, Alexandre Dumas, Fiedor Dostoievski, Lev Tolstoy, Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens, Thomas Mann, Eric Maria Remarque, PD James, Marguerite Yourcenair, Simone De Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Miguel De Unamuno, Albert Camus, and many more. As you probably noticed, they include a vast variety of genres and believe it or not, they’ve all influenced me and my writing—either in the way they told the story or drew their characters—and I feel rich inside for having read them all. Oh, and they all influenced me in one way or another, both as ideas and writing style.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

That I’m really a woman however manly I write my M/M erotic scenes LOL

For Fun:

Mountains or Beach?

Beach, beach, beach and more beach. I just love laying under a hot sun, cocktail in hand, the sound of the sea lulling my imagination into conjuring a story. Yes, definitely the beach.


Favorite amusement park ride?

Anything dangerous ! I'm beginning to think I'm in the minority with my 'no roller coaster' attitude!


Father’s Day ritual?

Mmmm…never had one.

How do you balance kids being at home 24/7 and writing time?

Great…have no kids to worry about. Can I trade places with you for about a month, lol? I might actually finish my current project!

Thank you for being here today! Please tell us where we can find your books.

My Web

Website www.lallagatta.com

My Web Feature Pages

Amazon Author Page

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002DBFPDQ

Authors Island

http://www.authorisland.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=874&category_id=27&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44

Coffee Time Romance feature page

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/OurAuthors/LauraTolomei.html

Goodreads Author Page http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2903352.Laura_Tolomei

My Network

MySpace

http://www.myspace.com/152533159

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1464230924#!/profile.php?id=1554716201&ref=nf

Twitter http://twitter.com/LallaGatta

Goodreads Friendship requests

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1025370-laura-tolomei

Linkedin

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?id=45342878&trk=hb_tab_pro_top

Coffee Time Group

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=1465

Gay Starta http://www.bebo.com/c/home/index.html

The Blood Bank (Bitten by Books)

http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/profile/LauraTolomei

Erotic Romance Writers & Readers

http://eroticromance.ning.com/profile/LauraTolomei




M/M/M/M/M Scene from Visionquest

As if they were waiting just for those words, the three grabbed me and brought me to my knees. Since there were three of them, I couldn’t dedicate too much time to anyone in particular. Opening wide, I swallowed the first one and since it slid straight to my throat, I wrapped my tongue around the bulging head to stop its devious move as I was learning to do with my master who had an insatiable appetite for my warm mouth. At the same time, I jerked off the other two hard cocks pushing on my cheeks, trying to keep them satisfied by sliding the skin up and down. Hardly pleased, Kristioff grabbed my head and shifted it to his convenience, shoving his erection deep until he almost gagged me since he was blocking me to hinder any escape while he banged as fast as he liked, with the predictable result I choked every time he came crashing in, pulling out the second before I threw up. Luckily, Threstian felt his turn had come, so he stole me from his friend, sticking another thick piece of flesh into my bruised mouth, even if I had to admit he had much gentler manners. To thank him, I sucked hard, running my tongue up and down his long length, trying to enfold his balls, too, before Kadrisky claimed his turn again.

They passed me around, never letting me linger on any single equipment, almost fighting among them to have my mouth’s complete attention. I sucked, licked, lapped, teased, brushed, stroked, wrapped, held, clasped, gripped, jerked, slid, swallowed, gagged, choked along their every whim until my jaw, not to mention everything else, was sore from their harsh treatment, although my cock didn’t seem to mind. To set the record straight, it strained painfully in the open air, standing high in its proud splendor to show the world how much I was enjoying it.

After having followed my head bobs, Kristioff licked his lips as he raised his gaze to the Seigneuros. “Mmmm, he looks delicious.”

“You can’t tell until you’ve tried his other hole,” the master instructed thickly.

“We can?”

“You must,” Lord Brahany ordered curtly, “because the puppy has to learn what it means to receive.” And you’re going to receive more than your fair share.

I couldn’t even argue my point. A pair of strong hands had grabbed my ass to spread the buttocks wide apart. “I’ll be the first.” I heard Kristioff’s voice tell the others before addressing whoever was holding my butt. “And you, keep it wide open.”

“Sure, Kristioff.” It was Threstian talking. “And maybe you even want me to stick it in for you.”

“Why not?” Kristioff replied hotly, obviously excited at the prospect. “Come on, Threstian, shove it into his sweet tight ass.”

I braced myself, feeling the bulging head stroking the narrow entrance from the outside, probably Threstian’s way to be delicate, then the brutal thrust cut off my breath. With a single push, Kristioff was inside all the way to the balls, which couldn’t fit despite his earnest attempts to get them inside, too. Instead, they tickled the sensitive spot between my ass and my balls, slamming against it every time he swung forward, his drive steady and with a precise rhythm.

When Kadrisky shoved his cock in my mouth, ramming it at the same tempo Kristioff was keeping in my ass, my hand wrapped around my rigid shaft to pamper it while the rest of me was busy sucking bulges front and rear.

“Stop him immediately, Threstian!”



Monday, June 13, 2011

Back Into The Writing Cave...

I'm pulling double duty this week. I'm up to Ch 4 on Gretchen's story, and could use some input. Here's the blurb:
Gretchen McLaren has her life mapped out. Peace Corps, then settling down as a social worker, working with the elderly. But her boyfriend Joe Walker doesn’t agree with her plans. Find out what happens when love and ambition collide, and what happens when true love has been under your nose the entire time.

I initially titled it Love The Second Time Around, but have since changed my mind. A brainstorming with my crit group two years ago produced 'Age of Circumstance', but that seems more suited to a Regency.

Other titles up for consideration:
Open Your Eyes
Love In The Balance
Balancing Act

Don't like any of those? I'm taking suggestions.

Week #1 of Aunt Molly's Summer Reading Program went well:) Now I hope to continue. Kids do a worksheet or two; they do reading games on the computer (Tumble Books), and they each read to me individually. They enjoyed meeting the sled dog last week, and the librarian promised to email the pictures she took, since I stupidly left my camera at home.

This Wednesday, we're going to hear a presentation on Greece, and get to sample some food. Then, providing it's not too hot, we're off to the playground for an Olympic Obstacle Course.

I've been getting up early in order to check my email, chat loops, and work on LTSTA. Later in the afternoon, I hop on again....and after dinner/before bed. So far, this routine seems to be working.

Tomorrow, Laura Tolomei will be here, so give her a warm welcome:)

Friday, June 10, 2011

Band Camp and Canoes

June 1981:
Story thus far: Back in September, I'd managed to snag to attention of a senior boy, causing jealousy from a few other girls in my youth group at church. A good friendship followed, with him giving me hugs, encouragement, and taking me on my first group dates. A tiny detail I'd left out: Our youth leader decided to tackle the topic of sex and dating, and D was on the peer panel. I happened to be sitting next to one of the people asking the questions, and when it was his turn for the final question, L turned to me and showed her remaining list.

"Which one should I ask?"

I pointed.

"Does age matter to you if you like someone?"

D smiled at me and replied, "I don't think age matters so much. It's the maturity level."

And afterward, came up to me and asked if I was going to DQ with the gang:)

Okay; back to the topic at hand. I'd 'graduated' from Junior High (this was before the Middle School concept; yeah, I'm that old, lol!) and was on my way to Band Camp. We took the bus to Camp Limberlost, somewhere in northern Indiana, and spent a week learning how to march; flag moves; and meeting new people. As one of the 'new kids', I palled around with a couple I'd become friendly with during tryouts, but never really felt 'part of the gang'. On the last day, I met a girl while brushing my teeth, and we talked for maybe fifteen minutes. Didn't get her name that night, but four months later, she would become one of my best friends. I also developed a small crush on a guy who I thought was one of the camp staff. I was thrilled when I got off the bus at school and discovered him unloading equipment!

After band camp, our annual Youth Group Canoe Trip was scheduled. I hoped and prayed D would attend; surely he'd continue to come to events, even though he'd graduated? I was thrilled when he showed up at the church, hugged me, then invited me to 'stay close'.

I ended up sharing a canoe with not him, but my friend C. The guy she liked was also part of D's crowd, so our canoe followed theirs. We splashed each other; joked back and forth; had races; and even instigated a massive canoe tip 'party'.

After lunch, we decided to tether our five canoes together and just drift downstream, joking we'd see the rendezvous covered bridge 'around the next bend!' Nobody was looking at the time, until we discovered we hadn't seen anyone else from our large group, or even the chaperones. Time to untether the canoes and start paddling again.

C gave me a nudge. "I'm getting in M's canoe; go ahead; climb in D's!"

So I climbed into D and S's canoe and we talked all the way back to the meeting point, where all of us were yelled at by our youth leader for being an hour later than everyone else! But it was worth it, because that would be the last time I would see D for the next two months. And as the first time we met, we were in nothing but swimming suits. Ever feel as if you're the Queen of the Nile as you recline in the center while two strong men paddle their hearts out downriver? That's how I felt on that warm June day.

Currently Reading: Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes. I enjoyed The Other Queen, but the constant 'I'm free....No I'm not....' got old after a while. I'd love to eavesdrop on Elizabeth I's court to see if the Queen was that paranoid about her cousin!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Search Is Over....

Arbor University finally has a publisher!!!

Received this last night:

"Your manuscript does need work, but I see the potential in the story. I'm
attaching a contract and cover questionnaire to this email. Your estimated
release will be October 2011. We'll go with version #3 since it fits better into
the next one."

They also wanted to see the first two books, so I sent them off, and should hear back by next week. I'm really excited, because Caitlyn (book #5) has been bugging me to read and fix her story (I actually reread it a week or so ago), and now I think I know how to 'speed' hers up; to insert some of her details into book #4. So now I'll have to reread and fix Gretchen's story (book #4) before sending it.

Here's the blurb to Keri's story in Forbidden Love:

Meet Keri Patterson, a sophomore at Arbor University, pursuing an Auto Technology career in the middle 1980s. The college is located in the fictional town of Arbordale, Indiana, and Keri’s dream is to one day be a part of an Indy car racing team. Along the way, she meets and falls for an older man, Kyle Sampson, who happens to be going through a divorce. With the innocence of her first love, Keri tries to balance her ambition to be the first female member of a racing pit crew and her awakening femininity. Will Keri and Kyle’s romance survive the hairpin twists and turns, or is disaster looming?

Kyle is not without problems of his own. He wasn’t expecting to meet the girl of his dreams so quickly, before the ink is even dry on the divorce petition. Trying to keep the two facets of his life separate, he discovers there is a fine line between love and hate, as well as deception and protection. But life doesn’t always get wrapped up in neat packages. Sometimes it blows up in your face.


I also had a reader contact me the other day for Love Is Sober. I have one print copy left, and since the used book sale will be happening at the Farmer's Market this Saturday, I'm setting up my booth. I'll also premier the G version of Kenzie's Appetite For Desire, arriving in September, and a good friend will be joining me to promote HIS first fantasy book. It won the Writer's Digest Short Story award last year, and has been uploaded to Kindle.

I'll be back tomorrow with the Friday Flashback, and just to let you know, the 'Aunt Molly's Summer School Reading Program' has been going well this week. I hope it continues!



Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Terrific Tuesday with Barbara Bradley:)

Welcome! Please introduce yourself and tell us about your latest release.

I’m Barbara Donlon Bradley an author of very spicy and humorous SF. I have found there is too much goofiness in my life and it shows in my writing. I’m proud to say my next release is due out in May of this year and is called Honorbound. It is the third in my S/F/Futuristic stories released through Phaze

Have you ever had an idea for a story which scared you after you began writing it?

Not really. I don’t write deep, dark stories what would make me scared but I have been so driven by a story it took me by surprise.

Have you incorporated actual events from your own life into your books?

Yes. I keep joking my friends and family that all the crazy things we do will end up in a book one day and I have used some of those goofy moments in a manuscript or two. LOL! I wrote in a prank that one of my friends pulled, and when I showed it to her, she couldn't believe I'd written it in!

How much research do you do? Do you research first and then write, or do you write first, then research as needed?

You know, each story is so different. It really depends on the story. I normally write and then research as needed.

Is there any message you want readers to take from reading your work?

If you want some sort of deep message from my work you probably won’t find it. I write to escape and I hope readers read my work for the same reason. To escape for a little while and have fun doing it.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?

I am a pantser – always have been. I love the way the story unfolds for me as I write – most of my stories take on a life of their own but my latest series has pushed me so hard I can’t stop writing. I wrote the rough draft of the first book in three weeks. In six months I have finished book one and two and am working on the rough draft of book three. I’m excited to say I have sold the first book of the series to Phaze and am waiting to hear on book two…keep your fingers crossed

How long did it take for you to be published?

Depends on how you look at it. From the point where I realized I actually had a talent for this? About five years. But I had been writing scenes with characters created with a friend long before that.

If you could go back and tell yourself anything when you first began your writing career, what would you say?

You have a knack for this and a way that works for you. Don’t let anyone sway you to change your style to suit them.

Laptop or pen and ink? What are your ‘must-haves’ when writing?

Laptop is a must for me – wouldn’t know what to do with a pen and paper – cant read my own handwriting at times – it’s not pretty and a chair – got to be comfy and I’m partial to recliners – got to have power too – that laptop battery only lasts for so long

Who are your favorite authors? Who would you say influenced you the most?

Kathleen Woodiwiss and Joanna Lindsey in romance, I also love Steven King and several SF authors. They all had an influence on me.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Wow that is a tough one – let me think – how about that I’m a third degree black belt in Taekwondo.

For Fun:

Mountains or Beach?

Beach definitely – my family and I try to go to the beach every summer

Favorite amusement park ride?

I do love the roller coaster rides – but I can only ride them once a visit after that my weird fear of falling gets in the way

Father’s Day ritual?

LOL – every day is father’s day we need a writer’s day

How do you balance kids being at home 24/7 and writing time?

I’m lucky enough to have a very supportive family and my son is now 16 so not as demanding although can be annoying

Thank you for being here today! Please tell us where we can find your books.

Thanks for having me! I’m with three publishers, www.phaze.com, www.melange-books.com, www.hardshell.com each has a little something different – Hardshell Word factory has my earliest works, Melange has my humorous short stories, and Phaze is where my hotter SF stories are.

Blurb:

Nutoru has inadvertently gotten her into this mess. Now he has to get her out. He has done dozens of these rescues, normally in and out quickly, but not this time. Kese sees the stranger who came to save her and knows this is an opportunity to get all her friends rescued. They deserved their freedom too. Traveling with all of them gives him a chance to get to know Kese intimately and she’s supposed to marry when he gets her home. How was he going to bring her back home and walk away if he can’t keep his distance from her?

Excerpt:

He heard weeping as he reached the door. Not another crier. He didn’t want to put up with another woman weeping all the way back to Varash. He took a deep breath, opened the door, and found himself surrounded by thirty women. He looked around in surprise.
Most of the women cowered behind one who didn’t seem to be afraid of anything. She glared at him—her chin held high. “Have we not been beaten enough today?”
“I’m not here to beat anyone.” He closed the door quietly. “I’m here for Sashi.”
“We don’t know who you are talking about.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “But you’ll get one of us to entertain you soon enough. Coming in here and trying to find out who will be yours for the night will do you no good. If you don’t leave now I will tell Erroc you were here.”
“You don’t understand.” He stepped into the room a little further.
“What?” She seemed quite cross with him.
“I was sent by Tunari. I’m here to rescue Sashi.”
She looked at the other women. “Does that name mean anything to anyone?” When no one answered, she turned back to look at him. “Sorry.”
“Our intelligence says Sashi is here and it’s extremely accurate. Are there any other places where she might be kept in this keep?”
“No.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You must have the wrong keep.”
“Has anyone died?” Was he too late?
As much as he grumbled about the women he had rescued so far, he felt responsible for each one he had put in this type of jeopardy. Nutoru was bound and determined to get each of them out. Sashi was no exception.
“Not recently.” She tilted her head at him, probably trying to figure out if he was for real or not. “We’ve all been here three years or more. Erroc picked each of us so he could find the perfect wife. He just been a little slow at choosing which one of us he wants.”
Nutoru ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. She had to be here.
“Look, if you’re really here to rescue one person you might as well leave.” Her words hinted he hadn’t made a mistake after all. “Erroc has threatened to kill everyone if any of us disappear. So you either take everyone or walk away empty-handed. No one is dying because of one woman.”
“All of you?” He had feared as much when Sashi hadn’t stepped forward right away. She was here, but afraid of the consequences if she were to leave with him alone. If he got them all out, perhaps she would reveal herself. His job just got very complicated. But how was he going to get them all out without being detected?
“I’ll–”
The door creaked as it opened. “Erroc demands that you eat now.”
The moment the door moved, Nutoru jumped behind it. He was close enough to the wall to use the door to block his presence from the guard. As long as the guard didn’t step into the room any further so he could see what was behind the door. He also hoped none of the women would look at him, drawing attention to his hiding place.
Would someone give him away?