Terrific Tuesday with Patricia Pellicane:)

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

Hi Molly, thanks for having me.

Heat Lightning

By

Patricia Pellicane

Release date, November 9, 2010

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

I once wrote a thriller/romance. The villain was a spree killer, a total nut job. I creeped myself out, while writing him. First I thought this is fun. I can kill anyone I want. Then when I started describing his dreams, delving some into his psyche, I thought, am I writing this crazy sh*%#? Where did that come from? That was a little scary. I didn’t know I had it in me.

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

Sure. For instance, when I was just married, my husband had this awful habit of looking out the front door, because we had no windows, on that wall of the apartment. Not a problem you say? It is when you’re naked.

Granted, no one could see anything except his head, especially since it was dark outside, but it drove me crazy.

One day I snuck up behind him and pulled the door open and shoved him outside. Slammed the door and locked it.

Very gently as to bring no notice to himself, he knocked, called me a maniac and asked to be let back in. I thought it was hysterical. He didn’t think it was all that funny. No sense of humor, I say. LOL By the way he never did it again.

I did the same to one of my heroes in my early pieces.

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

I research for time and place. If it’s a historical piece I research daily living during that time period. This is basic. Later I might research again if needed. Of course it’s happened that I found a mistake too late, but usually if you research an era, that doesn’t happen too often.

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

No. My books are pure escapism. They’re meant to take your mind off your worries and enjoy the fantasy.

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

Most of my books take on a life if their own. That’s why I hate to do a tight synopsis. Sometimes I it’s hard to stick with it. And if you gave it to an editor, you have to stick with it.

Mostly I have a general idea of what I’m writing about. Most of the time, the ending hasn’t come to me, yet. So I’d have to say I’m not much of a plotter.

How long did it take for you to be published?

Five years.

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

Keep writing. Send out what you’ve done, but don’t wait for an answer. Keep writing.

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

I write at my computer. At first I thought I’d never be able to do it, because I have notes everywhere, but it works out.

Most often I have a cup of tea or a diet soda at my desk, no other must haves.

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

I have many favorites. James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, among others, but the one who influenced me most was Kathleen Woodiwiss.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Sorry, I’ve no secrets. Everything that sounds juicy and delicious is in my head. Mostly I’m boring.

For Fun:

Favorite Thanksgiving memory?

I never have less than 20 members of the family for dinner. Every Thanksgiving is loud, confusing, full of teasing and laughter and exhausting. Everyone is my favorite.

Any special Thanksgiving traditions?

Nothing I can think of. So many people we can’t fit on two tables set for ten each. The kids always eat first. Maybe that’s a tradition, or will become one.

Pumpkin Pie or cake?

Oh please, if only it was that simple. After a massive feast, that would make Henry the 8^th jealous, we have at least five different deserts including pies, cakes, puddings, ice cream, brownies, with loads of whipped cream and more.

Thank you for being here today!

Thank you for having me.

Please tell us where we can find your books.

My old printed books are at Amazon. If you find one and like it, don’t tell me, tell the editor.

My ebooks are at

Resplendence Publishing and Total-e-bound Publishing.

Find me at Facebook and my website www.PatriciaPellicane.com/

HEAT LIGHTNING

By

Patricia Pellicane

Historical Erotic Romance

Published by Resplendence Publishing

Released Date, November 9, 2010

EXCERPT:

Two nights later Abby sat at her mother’s kitchen table and behind her spectacles blinked her pretty, dark blue eyes. “Who won?”

“I did, sweetie,” her mother said as she gathered both the cards and the money at the center of her table toward her.

“I thought the sayin’ goes, something like, unlucky at cards, lucky at love?”

Lilly flashed Jeb a smile. “Seems I’m lucky at both.”

“Are we finished?” Abby asked.

“Not unless you want to stop,” Jeb returned.

“Oh no. I think this is great fun.”

“I’m afraid I have to get up early so this will probably be my last hand,” Mr. Blake said.

“Oh please, Mr. Blake. Don’t go yet. I’m having such a good time.”

The cards were gathered together, shuffled and handed to Abby. “Oh, I think I’d better not deal. I’m not sure I could. Would you deal for me?” she asked Linc.

“Sure.”

The cards were dealt, bets laid and each party asked for two or three until it was Abby’s turn. She simply asked, “I’m sorry to be such a pain, but I keep forgetting. If I have a king, queen, jack, ten and a nine. Is that any good?”

All around the table muttered groans of one sort or another as they threw their cards into the center and to Abby’s delight, she was told she won.

They played a few more hands. Abby won three in a row. It was the last hand when she asked, “Is it a good thing if all the cards have that same little diamond shape at the edge? Is that called a full house?” Everyone, again with groans of despair, threw their cards into the center of the table.

Abby grinned and took the money. But before her cards were slipped back into the deck Linc took them and frowned. “You could get shot for cheating at cards, you know.”

“Me?” she blinked and asked in all innocence. “When did I cheat?” she asked as she took the cards and suddenly with nimble fingers was able to shuffle them better than any dealer he’d ever seen, before laying them out in a smooth perfect semi-circle near the center of the table.

Linc’s dark gaze narrowed threateningly. “You said you had a flush.”

Abby shook her head and grinned as she counted her winnings and in exaggerated innocence returned, “If I remember correctly, what I said was, ‘if all the cards have that little diamond thing, is that called a full house’?”

Jeb was laughing so hard he had to wipe his eyes with the back of his hands, while Lilly grinned. “I knew I didn’t make a mistake sending you off to school.”

Linc gaze narrowed threateningly. “I owe you for that.”

“Yeah?” she turned to sneer in his direction. “Why don’t you try and collect it, mister.”

* * * *

His mouth pulled sharply away from hers. Cheek to cheek, they gasped for their every breath, when she groaned, “You’re ruining everything.”

“Am I?” He smiled as he pulled back a bit and ran his thumb over her lips. “What did I ruin?

She shook her head. “I’m engaged.”

“Are you?” He looked at her eyes. “And you love him?”

“Would I marry him if I didn’t?”

Linc grinned, took her hand and said, “Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“The barn.”

Abby made a low protesting sound deep in her throat, even as she allowed him to take her hand and lead her from the porch. “I don’t think…”

“Sometimes you’re better off if you don’t.” At the barn he turned to face her with a grin. “If you loved him, you would have said you do.” He moved her so he could press her up against the inside wall. “So why are you marrying him?”

“How is anything I do your business?”

“I want you.”

“I hate you.”

“Jesus,” he shook his head. “I don’t care,” he said as his mouth lowered again to hers.

* * * *

Abby arched her neck, her back, and finally her hips, the movement bringing them closer together. He was gasping for his every breath. “Don’t move,” he warned. “I need to wait.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re new at this and it won’t be good for you if I don’t wait.”

“It feels pretty good so far.”
“That felt better than pretty good and don’t be a brat.”

Abby laughed, and the laughter caused her muscles to squeeze tighter around his cock. He trembled in mind-shattering pleasure. “Jesus.”

“Are you sure you want to wait?”

“Oh my God, are you trying to tease me into making love to you?”

“Me? I wouldn’t think of it, I’m sure.”

“When you stretch like that, I’m damn near…Jesus, I’m crazy about you.”

“You’re crazy period.”

Gently slowly he began to move into her and out and then deep into her once more. “Kiss me again.”

She groaned at the sensations he was causing her. “I don’t kiss strange men.”

Linc laughed.

“And you are the strangest man I’ve met to date.”

“Kiss me anyway.”

“I suppose I could spare a kiss,” she shrugged, then gasped as the sensations began again, the tightening across her stomach, the heavy ache for more of this magic. “But only one, mind you.”

“I only want one,” he said as he pushed harder, deeper into her. “Make it a good one, it’ll have to last me some.”

“Will it? I wonder why?” she asked as her mouth teased his. She rubbed her lips back and forth, soft, softer, tempting his to part and when he did, she sucked the taste of him into her, devouring him with teeth and tongue, she sought out every hot, delicious, mysterious crevice

And then she forgot their teasing words. Forgot to think, forgot everything, but the need for more of this delicious man. Her thoughts and vision, her entire world narrowed into one desperate tormented purpose. She had to have more. He had to give her more.

And he did. He gave and he gave until she thought she couldn’t bear the pleasure another second and keep a thread of her mind.

Her body grew tight, tighter, hard and harder. “More,” she grunted above the sounds of their desperate breaths. “You have to give me more.”

“Yes,” he managed. “I can hardly hear above the pounding of blood in my head, my ears. I think you’re killing me and Jesus, I have to.”

Breathe....

Where did last week go?

I'm having editing issues. I was fine until chapter five...and then I discovered I've forgotten the rule about capitalization and dialogue. Specifically, when to capitalize after removing the dialogue tag. Do I use a comma? If I've used a question mark? What about the word 'smiled'?

Here are some examples, and please tell me if I've got the correct punctuation and capitals.

“How’s business at the store?” she slid into the opposite chair.

“I can’t sell you anything.” The girl sounded irritated.

“Something to drink?” she moved around the kitchen.

“Careful there, hon,” he held up his hands.

“Why don’t you believe me?” He scooted closer to her and reached for her hand.

Okay. Which ones are correct and which ones need changed? Email me off-loop if you'd rather at storimom2@aol.com.

On a good note, I finished reading a couple of YA novels at the store: Charmed, One Tree Hill (The Beginning), and Nancy Drew and the Double Jinx Mystery. I worked mainly the evenings, and daughter wouldn't let me take her laptop.

My interview on Tuesday went well, I think. No word yet. I DID have lunch with a friend, and spent about a half hour wandering through Borders.

This coming week is also going to be a busy one. More edits, and if I finish my edit goals for the day, then I get to work on my NaNo project, sadly neglected since the 1st.

Patricia Pellicane and Scott Baker will be here to entertain you on Tuesday and Thursday, and the next chapter of my teenage romance will continue on Friday, while I'm off to a conference. I won't be back in town to make it to the Vendor Blender, so I'm hoping for a good turnout on Saturday.

On the homefront, my daughter has her 1st official boyfriend. The SU is having a hard time adjusting to the new man in his baby girl's life.

Any advice from others with dating teenagers?

Songs from Nov 1970

Which ones can you instantly recall the chorus, melody, etc?

1) I'll Be There-Jackson 5 *
2) We've Only Just Begun- Carpenters *
3) I Think I Love You- Partridge Family *
4) Fire and Rain- James Taylor *
5) Indiana Wants Me- R. Dean Taylor**
6) Tears of a Clown- Smokey Robinson *
7) Green-Eyed Lady- Sugarloaf *
8) Gypsy Woman- Brian Hyland
9) Montego Bay- Bobby Bloom
10) Somebody's Been Sleeping- 100 Proof Aged in Soul
11) It Doesn't Matter to Me- Bread
12) Cry Me a River- Joe Cocker
13) All Right Now- Free *
14) Cracklin' Rosie- Neil Diamond *
15) Super Bad (Parts 1 &2)-James Brown
16) Heaven Help Us All- Stevie Wonder
17) Candida- Tony Orlando and Dawn *
18) Lola- Kinks *
19) Engine No. 9-Wilson Pickett
20) You Don't Have to Say You Love Me/Patch it Up- Elvis Presley *

*means I can recall
**means I can recall only due to recently hearing it:)

Not bad; I got 12/20:)

Have a good weekend:)

Terrific Thursday with Berengaria Brown:)

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

Hi

My name is Berengaria Brown and I’m a multipublished author of erotic romance: contemporary, paranormal (ghosts, vampires and werewolves) and Regency-set historical. I love to read all different kinds of romance so that is what I write: one man/one woman; two women; two men; two men/one woman; three men…. Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily-ever-after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.

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

Not scared me, no, but several times the characters have derailed my plans and insisted on sending the story in the direction they wanted it to go.

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

No, but I have used facets of personalities or situations from people I know. I have a family member who is a chronic asthmatic, and that gave me the idea for the heroine, Tia, of “Complexity”. I thought, why shouldn’t an asthmatic have her own happy ever after.

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

The characters just arrive in my head and start talking. When they have decided their identities, then I begin to do the actual writing and that usually moves fairly quickly. All my sex scenes are role played to make sure the arms and legs and other parts work the way I have written them. And I do all the same research as writers of suspense or crime, making sure geography, history, and facts are correct.

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

No matter what their flaws, no matter how ordinary a person may be, everyone is entitled to a happy every after.

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

A mixture of both. I have an outline in my head, but things may change along the way. With “Intensity” I thought I was writing Keziah’s story. But John Smith’s ghost just appeared out of nowhere and took over. So I was not at all surprised when I started to write “Complexity”, which is set in the same world as “Intensity”, and another ghost appeared. What can a writer do? Some days I think I just take dictation. LOL:) Some days, that's how I feel also!

How long did it take for you to be published?

About a year from the time I decided to try seriously to get a book published. But because I had submitted several different books to different publishers, I had several books release quite quickly.

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

I took writing very seriously, researched publishers and the types of books they accepted, so I think that helped me be successful.

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

Laptop. I never go anywhere without it. And sometimes when the boss thinks I am working on company projects, it’s just possible, that maybe, I’m writing.

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

Georgette Heyer influenced me to try writing Regency-set historicals. Jaid Black introduced me to erotic romance.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I am addicted to chocolate and vacations. Or vacations with chocolate.

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

Thank you for inviting me here to play.

Berengaria

“Complexity” Blurb:

An asthmatic unwilling to relax enough to enjoy life, two men hell-bent on putting their stamp on her, an embezzler who wants to keep what he has stolen, and the ghost of a murdered girl. Will an endless night of passion with Finn and Simeon be pure pleasure, or only make Tia’s life more complex and messy than it already is?

Tia agrees to a night of unbelievably hot sex with Finn and Simeon, and is beginning to think she may have a future with them. Especially when the ghost makes her realize that her asthma is not nearly as bad as it used to be.

But the two men are so protective they don’t want her to help the ghost. And Tia never breaks her promises. Will frequent acrobatic sex be a solution or just add to the complexity?

“Complexity” Excerpt PG

“How do you reckon Tia has done her hair today? Up on her head in a twist? All plaited up into a French braid? I like it best when she has it loose, hanging all the way down her back, almost to that delicious ass of hers.”

“So we’re going from our apartment on the seventeenth floor to our office on the twelfth floor via the concourse again today, are we?” Phineas Templeton III grinned at his partner, Simeon.

Simeon wasn’t the only one who wanted to see more of Tia, the totally delicious concourse receptionist. They had enticed her into their bed three times in the past two months, and that was not nearly enough for either of them. Convincing her to get hot and naked with them more often was proving difficult, though. The lady had a mind of her own, and she was astoundingly difficult to pin down considering she was seated on the concourse, at the reception desk, in the same building they lived and worked in, for eight hours every day.

“We haven’t asked her out yet this week. Let’s try our luck,” urged Simeon.

“Okay. How about suggesting the rooftop restaurant here, then, so we can take her there straight after work for an early meal?”

“I like the way you’re thinking. Main course in the restaurant and Tia for dessert in our apartment. You don’t think she’ll feel that’s not really going out to dinner? Like we’re just using her or something?”

“Hell! I hadn’t thought of that. But we’ve wined her and dined her and danced her feet off, and she still slips out of our hands. Getting her into our arms is harder than herding cats!”

“Cats. Pussy. Tia. Now I’ve got the hard-on from hell. I’m betting her hair is in a plait or braid.”

“Nah. I reckon it’ll be up in a twist thing on her head.”

The elevator door pinged, and the men stepped off on the concourse level of the building. Tia was talking on the phone, and Garry, the senior day security guard, was chatting to a group of office workers standing near the fountain in the center of the concourse.

Finn and Simeon nodded at him before walking across toward Tia’s desk. Tia looked up at them and smiled, her whole face lighting up in pleasure when she saw them approaching.

“Shit, she’s hot. My cock’s going to burst,” whispered Simeon.

“Get your mind out of your pants. We need to woo her, not scare her away. And we’re both wrong. Her hair’s in a ponytail.”

“Hey, Tia. Happy Wednesday,” said Simeon resting his arms on the top of the reception counter to get as close as possible to Tia, and also to hide his erection, which was making his suit pants way too tight. “I like that blue outfit on you. It really brings out the color of your eyes.”

“Hi, Simeon. Hi, Finn. What can I help you with this morning?” Tia’s reply was not cold but not nearly as welcoming as her smile had been.

Shit, we’ve blown it already. She must’ve seen my erection.

“We were hoping you would be free after work this evening. We’d like to take you up to the restaurant for an early dinner.” Phineas stepped smoothly into the gap when Simeon didn’t speak.

Tia stood up and crossed her arms over her chest.

Ah shit! Bad body language. Rejection alert.

“And?”

“And only what you want. You can call the tune. But please, at least spend some time with us over a meal.” Shit! Shit! Shit! Now I sound desperate, but we both want her so much. She’s everything we could imagine and hope for in a playmate and more. So much more.

“Okay. I’ll come to dinner with you. But no candles, no scent, and no grilling food at the table.”

“Yes!” Simeon pumped his fist in the air.

Complexity is set in the same world as “Intensity” but is a standalone story.

Complexity buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/complexity

Complexity book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhFsACEwFyQ

http://berengariabrownscomplexity.blogspot.com/

Berengaria Brown

http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/

Website: http://berengariabrown.webs.com/

Friend me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter

Introducing Laina Turner-Molaski

Laina Turner-Molaski

Laina Turner-Molaski is a business woman, mom, author, Professor, and a major supporter of shopping. She has an undying love for shoes and coffee, which is why she created her main character and alter-ego Presley Thurman.

With a lot of letters after her name and a ton of student loan debt, she is always working to pay the bills. While she enjoys her day job, her passion is writing, and she uses a lot of company time writing her fiction or working on her social website for women, Chiczofrenic.com. She is hoping to sell her book before she gets fired from her day job for goofing off.

Laina is currently living in Indiana, with her family, and is always writing something, whether it’s blogs, articles, business journals and books or ideas for her next novel. She is continuously doing what she loves which is writing or drinking coffee.

You can check out her ramblings at www.lainaturner.com.

Chiczofrenic is the term for the woman who is purposeful and intentional in how crazy their life may be. The goal with this book is to recognize many women drive themselves crazy, intentionally, by trying to be all they can. I firmly believe we can have it all. A great relationship, be a great mom, keep a good house (if that’s important to you), be a career woman, follow our dreams, work out, eat right, and many more. Women seem to have the knack of how to manage it all and not go crazy. Women seem to always take on more and more…and are successful at it.

Women have tried forever to pretend they fit in the norm even when the norm wasn’t what they wanted. I want women to embrace that more - without caring what anyone thinks. Learn to laugh at your own craziness and be cool at the same time. Be the strong individual you want to be while looking like a million bucks.

Being a woman is difficult and is a constant journey and evolution of self discovery. It’s not always an easy journey and through the process you realize everyone has her own issues. Her own brand of crazy which is my own kind of normal. Crazy but embracing it.

AVAILABLE at www.lainaturner.com/store and get a FREE copy of Stilettos & Scoundrels with purchase through November 15^th, 2010

CHAPTER 1 – opening stuff

Shhhh…mommy’s crazy but don’t tell.

“Each of us is something of a schizophrenic personality, tragically divided against ourselves.”

Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love

My daughter started saying that phrase when she was about three. Now to be fair, she used it interchangeably with her father and me, so it’s not as if she singled me out to be the crazy one. She would go to her dad and whisper in his ear “Shhhh…mommy’s crazy but don’t tell,” and then giggle. She would say the same to me “Shhhh…daddy’s crazy but don’t tell,” but would then tell him she only said he was handsome (yes, she was manipulative even at three) and giggle in her adorable way making it very difficult to stay mad at her. She never tried to fool me…hmmm? Out of the mouth of babes they say.

The textbook definition of crazy can be insane, fantastic, strange, ridiculous, extremely fond of, or very good or excellent. I think most of us can be any one or more of those things at any given time. When someone calls you crazy it may mean they think you’re a bit off balance. I say embrace it. If someone calls you crazy say ‘thank you’. It takes a lot of skill and talent to be crazy. Crazy is an art form and we all have an artist within us wanting to get out, if it’s not already.

I used to have a rainbows and marshmallow life. Well, I thought I did. I think now, looking back, that I just wanted it to be that way, and I was in denial of reality because life is never rainbows and marshmallows. I had high expectations of what I felt my life should be and didn’t allow any thoughts that didn’t coincide with those expectations to surface, thinking I could control all outcomes. Now that worked pretty well for thirty-six years and then my perfect world started to crumble. I realized I couldn’t control everything. How could that be? Silly as it seems, I was somewhat shocked at my fallibility. I hadn’t ever really experienced something beyond my control.

My life didn’t start to change in one huge Hiroshima type bang, which would’ve probably been easier, but rather it was like termites working on eating away the wood structures at your house. Where you know there’s damage and there’s going to be ruin at some point but because it’s gradual, you’re able to keep yourself positive on the outcome (denial) until one day your house falls over. And you’re like “Oh, Shit! Now what do I do?” Regardless of the cheesy analogy, the point I’m trying to make is that the realization that your life is a fucking mess and you have no idea how to fix it doesn’t happen overnight. Most of us have been there at one time or another.

I’ve been asked by friends if writing this book was therapy for me and I guess it probably has been in a way. But, when I started writing, that wasn’t my intent. I was thinking more along the lines of being able to share my story, my version of crazy, with people who might be encouraged by knowing that they aren’t the only ones going through this. I know for a long time I thought I was the only one who was losing it and didn’t know where to turn. I’ve learned everyone has baggage, and issues, and their own brand of crazy. No one is perfect, even if they appear to be. I think life is about identifying your brand of crazy and embracing who you are, knowing none of us have it all together all the time. Which when you think about it isn’t all that unusual. Life is ever-changing and you must roll with it.

Contest Prize – weekly drawing on Monday for the previous Monday-Friday - all 3 places

a. 1^st place – The books Chiczofrenia – crazy is an art form, Stilettos & Scoundrels, and But It’s my Business – FREE (choice of e-book or paperback)…PLUS a $20 Visa giftcard

b. 2nd place – The books Chiczofrenia – crazy is an art form, Stilettos & Scoundrels, and But It’s my Business – FREE (choice of e-book or paperback)

c. 3rd place – The book Chiczofrenia – crazy is an art form FREE (choice of e-book or paperback)

10. Contest Rules – each activity below will gain you one contest entry. The person with the highest number of entries will win each week and in the event of a tie, a winner will be randomly drawn.

a. Become a fan on facebook

i. L. Turner the author

ii. Chiczofrenic

b. Follow me on twitter

i. @lturnermolaski

ii. @chiczofrenic

c. Follow me on networked blogs

d. Become a member of Chiczofrenic (worth 3 entries)

e. Subscribe to my feed (worth 5 entries)

f. Post a comment to any blog post

And a HAPPY RELEASE DAY to Linda Kage, whose latest book, Hot Commodity, is out today! Click here for details!

Terrific Tuesday with Jasmine Black:)

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

Hello and thanks for having me here today. I’m Jasmine Black. I write romance, erotic romance, and erotica in both m/f and m/m.

My latest release is a m/m erotic romance called Say it Again out with Silver Publishing. It’s my first and only m/m romance, however, I hope to write more.

Blurb:

One month before the annual fireman’s charity auction, fireman, Wade Hartman announces he’s gay. This year when he strolls down the catwalk, he wants to leave with a man. When the only bid he receives is a pity bid, Wade’s crushed, but he lets his friend take him to dinner anyway.

Real estate conglomerate, Jared Kessler’s loved Wade for years. So when he reads the article about the fireman’s charity event, he knows he has to be the winning bidder. Mistaken as an unwanted bidder, Jared refuses to give up. He wants Wade, if only for one night.

One innocent dinner turns into fiery passion. But one night isn’t enough for Wade. He wants Jared for real. The more Wade pushes, the closer he comes to discovering the deep, dark secrets of Jared’s past. Can love conquer Jared’s fears or are his wounds too deep for even love?

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

Yes, I would say I have. However, they are usually just little snippets not the whole story. Like I know of this guy who to his family he was going to the store to get a pack of cigarettes. He left and never came back. Never called, nothing. So that tiny line made it into a story as an explanation on how one of my heroine’s ex-boyfriends left her. It wasn’t a huge deal in the story, just a line. I tend to use things like that. Or like I have a future release in March 2011 that is a golf story. I don’t golf and I have no desire to golf, but my husband loves it, so I wrote it and picked his brain for research.

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 and how close it is to my heart. Some stories I have done no research and some I have done a lot. If you write what you know, the less research you have. But if you write something you have no clue about, it will take more research. I have written a historical and that one took me a lot more research to get the details right. Sometimes I just pop on the web and scour sites and other times I go to the library. I might even interview an expert. Or if I feel like there is too much research to do, I might scrap the real thing (like places) and create a fictitious place that is completely in my head. No matter how much research I do, I always try to give correct information.

Small details I will skip in the manuscript and keep writing if the juices are flowing. If I’m stuck, I might do the research and plug it back in the story so I am at least doing something to move the story forward. But the big stuff you have to do up front or stop when you get to that point in the story. Otherwise you may find yourself rewriting the entire story if you get major facts wrong.

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

No, I never intend to put an underlying message in my stories except the theme, like honesty is the best policy; nothing deep or heavy, but a story needs that to hold it together. I write because I enjoy it. I hope my readers enjoy it too. My writing is not meant to be profound, just mere entertainment. I do tend to have an emotional though behind my stories. For example, Say it Again is meant to be a sad story. You should feel sad after reading it. 0 to 69 in 5 Minutes is meant to be funny. You can’t take it too serious or you’ll get angry at the main characters, it’s just meant to be a light hearted and funny romantic comedy.

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

I think I am a pantser. My characters always do what they want to. They never listen to me. And if I try to make them do it my way, they stop talking to me until I do it their way.

How long did it take for you to be published?

From the time I really started to get serious about writing, it took me two years to publish in ebook. It was a long hard two years of work though.

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

Toughen up. I shed a lot of tears to get to the place I am today. When I first started and got those critiques full of blue marks, I would cry and want to give up. But without them, I won’t be where I am today. When you have polished that first manuscript and polished it and polished it some more and then you get a rejection, don’t worry. It’s only one person’s opinion. You’ll never know why they didn’t like your story, so move on and keep submitting it. It’ll fit somewhere.

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

I like to write on a desk top computer. I will pen and ink if I’m not at my computer and a scene comes to me. But never hardly ever laptop as none of my have word on them.

I must have quiet and be left alone. Music helps a lot, but I don’t have to have it.

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

I don’t have a lot, but I do like Dorothy Garlock. While her books and writing are completely different from mine, she never fails to suck me in and keep me turning pages. I also have to say that I like my critiques partners’ writing. They have influenced me the most, Piper Denna, Maya Blake, Sutton Fox, Autumn Piper and Nyla Rose. Also a couple of great gals who are not published yet, Felicity Kates and Mary Murphy.

For Fun:

Any special Thanksgiving traditions?

When my kids were smaller we built a thanksgiving tree every year. We would get a pot and put a branch or two in it and secure them with dirt. Then I’d cut out leaves from colored paper. Everyone in the family would write what they were thankful for on the front, name and year on the back and then we’d place them on the “tree.” I kept the leaves. Every year the new leaves would go on the tree and the past years would be taped to our sliding glass doors.

Pumpkin Pie or cake?

Neither

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

You can find my books at the ebooks stores of Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Smashwords and others.

You can also find me with eXcesica and Silver Publishing. Or my charity books with Coming Together. And coming soon through Lyrical Press and XOXO Publishing.

Say it Again Excerpt:

The evening approached at rapid speed. Too fast for Wade. He took a deep breath and straightened his tie, trying to gain the confidence to walk out on that stage. It was the annual fireman’s charity auction. No big deal. He’d participated for the last five years. Some woman would bid, they’d go to dinner, and maybe she’d want sex and maybe she wouldn’t. But all of that was before he’d come out of the closet a month ago. This year he feared no one would bid. Or even worse, people would boo or throw things at him. How could he be gay? After all, he was a big, beefy fireman and everyone knew gay men were fashion designers or hairdressers, right? Well, at least that’s what everyone in town had asked him over the last few weeks. His last girlfriend called him up crying, wanting to know if she had turned him on to men. Why didn’t people understand he was just attracted to the same sex? Always had been, but never acted on it.

“Wade, you’re up,” the chief’s wife, Maggie, called to him. Maggie organized the event every year to raise money for the department and plenty of women showed up, cash money in hand. “You’ll do fine. And if no one bids, I will.”

He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Maggie, but I’m not sure Chief would be happy about that.”

“Oh, poo. Mrs. Harold’s already put the word out that she’s bidding on Eddie. If he can go out to dinner with another lady for charity, I can spend the evening over lobster with you.” Wade laughed but fidgeted with his tie again. “Stop fussing. You look great.”

The auctioneer looked down at his program. “Next up, we have Wade Hartman.” Wade walked up the stairs and stepped into the lights. The crowd grew quiet and all eyes bore into him. Taking another breath, he walked to the center like every other year, took off his jacket, and tossed it over his shoulder. “Standing at six-foot-two-inches with black hair and green eyes, Fireman Hartman benches two-fifty and runs the mile in five minutes flat.” The auctioneer looked up from his note cards and cleared his throat. “Let’s start the bidding at one hundred. Do I have one hundred?” Wade forced a smile to charm the crowd, but inside his nerves screamed to run that mile now, out the door, down the street, and never come back. Last year they’d started the bid at two hundred and he went for six hundred. No one spoke up. He looked over at Maggie who gave him a reassuring thumbs up. Turning back to the crowd, he walked down the catwalk and modeled for all it was worth, smiling and winking at the women. “How about seventy-five? Can I get seventy-five?” Anger began to boil in his veins. For Christ’s sake it was for charity, after all. The men needed new equipment for their safety. And he did risk his life for these people every day. The auctioneer cleared his throat again and frowned. “Fifty? Come on, people.”

Maggie appeared at the side of the stage, mouth open, about to speak when a voice boomed from the crowd. “One thousand!”

The crowd oohed, and he scanned to see who had bid. “Could you say that again?” The auctioneer strained to find the bidder. A man, decked out in an Armani suit, light brown hair, tall, with broad shoulders, stepped forward and lifted his number. “One thousand dollars.”

New, News, and More News...

First the good news:

My good friend BC Brown has had her first review for her paranormal mystery, A Touch of Darkness:) Toni V. Sweeney gave her 5 stars!

"WOW! That’s all I’ve got to say. (Not really.) Followed by tense, gripping, emotion-wrenching, gritty, eerie, sexy, and any other powerful adjective you want to add. Abbey’s angst over her “gift”, her pain over choosing to use it in the face of her grief, and the horror she faces in her decision to continue after the killer—though he may be the man she loves—comes through with heart-breaking clarity." To read the rest, click here:)







Secondly, Kenzie has received her edits for Wild At Heart and will be buried the rest of this week. Her release date is still set for Nov 23rd.





As Molly, I'll be busy revamping Love Is Sober into Love On The Rocks. Watch for updates probably at the end of each week. Anyone else doing NaNo this year?

And finally, keep your fingers crossed. I have a job interview on Tuesday; a dr's appointment on Wednesday, and we meet with the lawyer on Thursday, to file the SU's disability appeal. I've preposted this week's blog entries, so if there are any format errors, please be patient with me. It's going to be one of those weeks in which I wish I could clone myself.