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Guest Authors Blogging on Manic Readers!
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Hey Alex! I really appreciate your joining us what with the time difference & all that’s going on with you at this time.
Hi Ivy,
I am playing the role of Mary Poppins at the moment. It is not the first time I have done this. I think I have the most accident prone family in the whole world, but at least it gives me time to see my nephew and nieces.
First things first, you’re from Southern England . I’ve been told by a couple English fellas I know that the stereotype for that area is Nigel Havers and Hugh Grant, true?
You could be onto something with this. It depends what part of the country you are from. I have never actually met anyone as well spoken as Hugh Grant! That has to be a fake accent. My family is from Liverpool (Just think of the Beatles) originally so I have a mixture of both accents.
Are there any other writers in your family, which I understand is on the large side? Do tell, sure you’ve got some good stories O’ favorite Uncle. *G*
I think my dad use to write and my aunty is working on a novel. I would tell you what it is about, but getting your hands on that information is like getting blood from a stone. I do have a very large family. Most of them do various forms of self-expression from dance, to music, to gymnastics, to artwork and a few martial artists. I take credit for that last one. I think I am the first person in the family that has ever truly wanted to become a writer.
When did you know you wanted to write?
I first knew I wanted to write when I was… (Counting back the years! Still counting back… and now feeling old. I will stop counting now) I had to be about seven or eight. One of our projects in class was to make our own paperback books. A4 paper folded over with a stapler through the middle to hold it all in place. I think the other kids took two minutes to write their stories. I took about an hour. I create this really strange super hero and then explained his back story, why he did what he did, how his powers work and what his dream was. I really enjoyed creating a whole new world and telling exciting stories. It was the first time in school I had ever gotten praise for work (I was a big time slacker even back then!) and then when ever it came to English papers through secondary school, my teens and such I just kept coming up with bigger and better stories. I wrote my first novel at the age of seventeen, which didn’t do tell well, but still ranks as my all time favourite novel because I liked to write from strange perspective like a street lamp flickering out of existence and trying to discover the meaning of life in its last few moments. Or a plant in a plant plot that witnesses a key part in the story or tell the life story of a bullet shot from a gun in a major shoot out. The whole story is told like this… hence, it made no sense! But from there I just kept writing and writing and attempted to find more realistic characters in weird and wonderful worlds.
Is there anything you need (ie. chocolate, quiet, wine, caffeine, music) when you feel the creative urge?
I have a very set method when it comes to writing. Sometimes a book plan can take longer to do than the actual book. I need everything to be one hundred percent perfect and in place so I can just tell my story. So when it comes to planning I need music. It adds for a good distraction so I don’t over think things too much. When I write and re-write my books I need quiet. And then when it comes to the dreaded synopsis and reading the book to make sure I am happy with it I need wine… lots and lots of wine. That way I don’t have the brains or will power to start adding bits or re-writing parts, which I was terrible for.
Why erotic romance? To my knowledge there aren’t many men who write erotic romance.
There were several factors that sort of guided me to this. I use to write books on philosophy and techniques pertaining to my martial art style I use to teach. I self-published these over many years because there really is no market for them, but I wanted to be a serious writer so moved into fiction. My earlier attempts were deemed a bit weird and fancy. The world, the story and the writing was good, but my characters were flawed. So over the next few years I decided to write character driven stories, but it is hard to tell a realistic free flowing story when I constantly have to keep putting on the brakes. The most human thing that all my stories lacked were love or if they did it was the cliché, happy ending, wouldn’t really happen in the real world type of love story. It was then that I saw that erotic romance novels were really popular. I decided to try my hand at a romance story and the first one was fairly rubbish! I pretty much kept holding myself back when it came to betrayal, love, lust, sex, feelings, emotions and such. I think they are all intertwined and it is hard to write about one whilst ignoring the other. So I created a story called lady and the lake and decided I will tell a real story about a real character, I will write first person and have no limitations or no go areas. I never meant for the book to be so erotic! But it was picked up straight away from my publisher and since then I have never really looked back. I think with no limitations I can tell very realistic stories set in the real world, which is believable, but also capable of stealing the reader away from the daily routine of life. I just believe sex, love and romance are so important when two characters are truely getting to know each other because like in real life you are taking down your guards and allowing another person to know all there is to know about you in mind, body and soul.
I’ve noticed that you’ve written on several “hot topics” or whatever you wanna call them…You’ve covered the Holy Man, your best friends Mom and the familial affair thing…anything else you’re configilating about?
The story the lady and the lake is based around an affair. I plan to write several stories with lady and the lake from various characters perspectives. So I wanted to try something new and a bit different for my next book. The friend’s mom is from a novella of mine call the man with two hearts. That was a tricky story to write and its about a guy basically having two affairs with women that he loved in the past and let go. It tries to answer the question “what could of happened if I stayed with this person?” but on one hand he is having an affair with his sister in law, so I wanted to try something different, but believable hence the friends mom. The Holy Man was an experiment, which kind of worked…! It was a novella to see if a character for a novel I was planning would work. The novel plan was then completely re-written! I am currently working on three stories right now, two novels and a novella. One novel is almost complete and is a gothic erotic horror with a complicated love triangle. The other two are in the final planning stages, but both around “hot topics”. The novel I cannot really say too much about now because I would need ten pages to explain it! The novella is actually a really sweet sexy story, but the subject matter is kind of sad and upsetting. It is to do with this man getting over the death of his wife by seeking the support of her sister. It is a complicated story. I like to ask question in my stories. Lady and the lake (how far would you go for love?) the man with two hearts (what could have happened if I stayed with this person?) Before the Dawn (Self-discovery) and this new one (What counts as betrayal?)
How does your family feel about your choice of genre?
My family don’t know I write erotic romance. Not too sure what they would say. They do know I write because I write all the time, but always been funny about letting people read my work. I have overcome that fear now. And I am really comfortable with the stories that I write. And the subject matter I think allows me to write about certain aspects of life that truly allow me understands human nature.
Did it take you long to be “discovered”?
Yes. My martial art books that I self-published went in their thousands, but I gave most away for free because I just liked helping people learn martial arts. My fiction books were a nightmare. From the age of twenty-one to twenty-three I had twelve contract offers from various publishers, but each and every single contract was cancelled before I had the chance to sign. It was sort of like someone really loved my weird way of writing and then someone else higher up said “that’s too weird!” and I nearly gave up at that point. I didn’t write for a few years and then moved into erotic romance and got picked up within a month. I am only twenty-five and there are loads of writers that are older than me that have not signed. But from the sheer volume of books I have written it feels like it has taken a lifetime. I think it was merely the case of finding the genre that best allowed me to tell my stories and I have found that now.
Are your books going to be available on this side of the pond? Ebook or print? When, please?
Lady and the Lake will be available on e-book in June. You will be able to find that at Midnight Showcase, which is on your side of the pond. I think I am the only one stuck over here. I might have to build a boat.
Alex, thanks so much fella for being with us. I’ve had a large time chatting with you and hope you’ll keep us up to date on what’s going on with you!
It has been a pleasure. Thank you for taking the time out to talk to me.
Shiloh, thanks so much for taking the time to be with us today.
Your name is unusual, is it a family name passed down?
LOL… well, I can actually take full credit for this name… it’s a pen name. I just kinda plucked it out of thin air. ;o) And yes, it was mine well before Brad and Angelina had their little girl.
Please tell us a bit about BROKEN, the follow up to FRAGILE….
Well, Broken is kind of a story that almost wasn’t. I didn’t really plan on writing Quinn a book. At least not when I was writing Fragile. Originally, when I was in the ‘planning’ stages of Fragile, Quinn was the bad guy. This is one of the reasons I don’t like to plot. A) I’m not an organized thinker and plotting goes against my nature. B) When I try? Things go wrong. Quinn was supposed to be the bad guy, but he wouldn’t cooperate and Luke didn’t like that idea, either. The more I wrote of Fragile, the more I got to see that Quinn wasn’t bad guy material-a little screwed-up, yeah, but not bad guy. Still, I didn’t plan on giving him a book. The first person to read it after I’d finished it was Lora Leigh and the first thing she asked me was… “Where’s Quinn’s book?” I told her I wasn’t writing one for him. She just laughed and said, “You better. Trust me. People are going to ask when his book is coming out.” And she was right. Plus, the more I got to thinking about, the more ideas got to brewing…
Quinn’s story starts up about a year after the events in Fragile. He’s mostly settled in St. Louis, working as a bounty hunter, something he settled into by chance, more than anything else. He’s getting by day to day and doing fine, right up until he meets a new neighbor-she’s beautiful, and she’s trouble. Quinn doesn’t even realize how much trouble, though, until it’s a little too late. But if you want to know more than that…you’ll need to read the book. ;o)
Do you find yourself “not fit for public consumption” if you don’t write everyday or do you need to get away from it?
Um….I’m very often not fit for public consumption whether I write or not. ;o) I’m constantly reminding myself to behave. But I can’t write every day. That’s the way to burn out for me. I need a break, besides…I’ve got a family and I need to spend time with them. Writing is my job and I enjoy it, but it can’t and won’t come before my family.
Do your characters come to you and dictate the story or are they shaped by the story you want to tell?
Sometimes both. More often than not, it’s like I see it in a movie, playing out in my head and I’m just putting it out in story form.
Is there anything you need to be creative? (chocolate, music, quiet etc..)
Quiet. No kids. I do prefer music, but it’s not a need.
Do you have favorite authors on an “auto buy” list as soon as they have a new release? Willing to share who they are?
Anything and everything by Lynn Viehl and JD Robb. Most stuff by Nora Roberts, and Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Rob Thurman, Jeaniene Frost, Kresley Cole’s Immortal series, Lora Leigh’s Breeds, Nalini Singh are also pretty high on that list.
Having the dual perspective of being an author and a reader, do you think ebooks should cost the same as print books?
No, I don’t think they should cost the same, but there’s a tricky road between making them a value for readers while still making them profitable for the pubs. There’s more to earning a profit than just lining the pockets-profits are what allow publishers to invest in ‘unproven’ or ‘new’ voices, riskier genres, etc. If that profit margin shrinks, we may not see some of those unproven or newer voices, which cuts down on the choices, the reading selections for readers. Plus, the format of the book, print or ebook, is actually not the biggest cost-there’s a lot more that goes into the cost of the book and it’s all pre-production, has nothimgto do with storage, shipping, etc. It’s acquisitions, editing, final line editing, marketing, etc. Those are HUGE costs and they are unchanged regardless of format-readers aren’t always aware of those costs, but they do exist.
Right now, with the changes in the industry and the economy in general, things are in chaos, but I’m hoping as things settle down, the market will adjust and adapt and hopefully publishers will find a workable pricing solution-one that will benefit readers and still allow them to earn the profits they need. I know the talk of profits might sound greedy, but it’s not, not really. It’s realistic. Publishers are businesses and businesses can’t stay in business without earning a profit.
One thing I can say, no ebook, IMO, should ever cost more than the print equivalent.
What are your top 3 pet peeves?
Only three? Eek. People who try to drive while talking on the cell phone, smoking and putting on their make-up…all at the same time. Piracy. Spambots.
Do you have a favorite music genre or is it dependent on your mood
Eclectic. Very, very eclectic. I’ve got music on my iPod ranging from Kenny Rogers to Aerosmith to Elvis. Listen to country, Christian rock, the big hair bands of the eighties and classical music. Just depends on my mood.
Thanks so much for being with us today. I’ve enjoyed learning more about how you create great books for us to enjoy.
Thanks for having me!
It doesn’t have to be strenuous to be good. It doesn’t have to be hard to be good. In fact if it’s easy, then it’s even better! I’m taking about working out – in the bedroom. Great sex shouldn’t break the bank or the back. I just read a great article in the January 18th issue of Maclean’s Magazine that supports my theory based on good research. The article discusses the research of a professor at the University of Waterloo (Canada) named Stuart McHill. He studies spine biomechanics and says that exercises and activities, such as sit-ups or golf, are horrible for the back because they flex the spine which will damage it sooner. I suspect that some of the historical and exotic Kama Sutra sex positions would also fall under that category though I don’t think he’s included those in his research. Engaging in fantastical sex positions can not only make you feel inadequate or inept, but research supports that it can be harmful to your spine! If you are already a yoga master and can twist and bend with great delight, then by all means, go for it. For the rest of us however, it makes good sense to keep the sex positions simple. So how do we keep them sexy and fun?
In my book, Great Sex for Hard Times, there is an entire chapter devoted to sex positions. Now these aren’t just any positions, of course. They are fun, simple and offer you many ways to add spice back into the bedroom. They’re all ‘coded’ with letters so you know which ones will be best for you and your situation. For example, you may be with a man who is very well endowed. If so, you’ll likely want to try the Huddled Rear Entry, the Shower Steam or the Backstroke position. If he has a little less than usual go for the positions that allow deeper penetration such as Modified Missionary, Furniture Lover or Lovers wrap. Perhaps you want an angle that promises extra intimacy so you can look into each others’ eyes. Spooning, Mutual Masturbation or the Split are perfect for this. The wonderful thing about these positions, and in fact for everything in the entire book, is that they are easy to do. A few of them may be a bit more challenging for your partner, but I promise they are well worth it for him, if only to see the ecstasy on your face as you ride the waves of, um, pleasure. I even offer grades for the fun factor (from fun to super-fantastic).
Plus there are seven bonus positions for aiming directly at the ever-so-popular G-Spot in the G-Spot chapter. If you’ve been watching the news lately you may have heard of the controversial new study by British scientists claiming the G-Spot does not exist. I challenge you to try a few of the positions and let me know if they don’t do something new and astonishing for you!
So easy does it in the bedroom. Take care of your body and it will reward you with many, many years of exquisite pleasure. Let the sweating you do during lovemaking (which will clean out your pores and leave your skin glowing!) be from heavy breathing, multiple orgasms, and an elevated inner core temperature due to lustful feelings and not exertion from awkward sex positions. Enjoy Great Sex for Hard Times and engage in simple, sexy and sassy sex positions and not only will your back thank you, your partner will too!
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Find out more about Kim’s latest book at www.greatsexforhardtimes.com
 Find out more about how Kim can help you have the sex life you’ve always wanted at www.kimswitnicki.com
Because I Said So…
That’s why. Nope, I’m not replying to one of my children who wants to try bungee jumping off the Golden Gate bridge. I’m talking to my anti-muse, the one who thinks werewolves wearing kilts is too out there. It’s that same doubt voice that wants to know how I managed to appropriate the Picts history and make it into shapechangers blending in to the clans around them to save their lives.
This anti-muse drives me nuttier than a two-year-old on lollipop overdose. I’m the writer. I can make any world I want as long as I can get my readers to believe in it along with me. Why doesn’t she understand that? Maybe because she’s that part of myself that wonders if I’ve got what it takes to create the world I envision in such startling, clear and colorful detail in my head.
I remember reading an interview of Nora Roberts once where she said that the book never turned out as good on paper as it looked in her head. I imagine there are millions of readers who would disagree with her, but I think as writers, many of us share that same certainty. That golden story in our head could always be tweaked on paper.
But if we kept tweaking, readers would never get new books…so at some point, we have to let it go and hope for the best.
It’s an interesting process I think psychologist would get a field day with, but I don’t mind. Because in the end, there’s a book and after the book, there are reader letters letting me know that on some level I managed to connect with somebody’s heart. And that’s why I write in the first place, so it’s all good. Annoying anti-muse, or not.
Moon Craving
Feb 2010 -- Berkley Sensation
ISBN-13: 978-0425233047
Children of the Moon Book 2
If it were up to him, Talorc—laird of the Sinclair clan and leader of his werewolf pack— would never marry. But when the king orders that Talorc wed an Englishwoman, the lone wolf is shocked to find his mate in the strong-willed Abigail. And after an intensely climactic wedding night, the two fiercely independent souls sense an unbreakable bond…
Deaf since childhood, Abigail hopes to keep her affliction from Talorc as long as possible. And for his part, he has no intention of telling her about being a werewolf. But when Abigail learns that the husband she’s begun to love has deceived her, it will take all of his warrior’s strength—and his wolf’s cunning—to win his wife back. And Talorc will have to face his biggest challenge yet: the vulnerability of a man in love…
Watch the Book Trailer
As a special thank you to readers, Lucy is giving away a prize pack of pamper yourself products and paranormal romance. All you have to do to enter is send an email with Moon Craving Contest in the subject line to moon_craving at yahoo dot com before February 28th, 2010. The drawing will be held March 1st and the winner will be announced on her blog at http://www.lucymonroeblog.blogspot.com.
Isn’t it Romantic?
February is the month of hearts and flowers. The month where Valentine’s Day falls and the month when I got married, February 13 to be exact but that’s another story.
So chocolate, flowers, wine and roses are all part of the romance picture but what really is romance? Hallmark I’m sure would insist it’s the cards on that special day. I’m not sure if it’s either the cards or the day. Not that I don’t love to be remembered on Valentine’s Day but to me it’s not the most romantic day of the year. I couldn’t tell you what day that is for every year it changes.
And while I ponder what romantic really means, here’s what I know for sure. The definition of romantic according to Merriam-Webster is having an emotional or imaginary appeal.
So as a romantic I’m going with the emotional appeal. And it’s not the flowers and chocolate that get me – at least not every time. I must admit the flowers get me when they are unexpected. Maybe that’s the secret, gestures that are just because and not because you asked. I know that’s the key for me – romance is when you least expect it or in a way you never, to quote Merriam-Webster, imagined.
That unexpected supper out just because you’ve had a bad week. Your favorite author’s latest tucked under your pillow. I don’t know about you but those are the things that are truly romantic to me.
On the book front all things are romantic and, of course, imaginative! My new book was just released in November. Ring of Desire is a paranormal romance set in medieval England.
Whispers of an ancient magic
drew them together …
In the medieval land of Hafne, a curse has swept through the land leaving it barren and without hope. As one of the chosen, Vala watches for signs of the prophecy and with it, the owner of a ring who is destined to fight by her side and drive away the darkness. The newly arrived Norman enemy is an unnecessary complication in Hafne—and in beautiful Vala’s heart.
… An unspeakable evil fights
to keep them apart.
Giles arrives with his Norman men in time to rescue a mysterious woman from a watery death. Holding Vala in his arms, the stirrings of destiny and desire begin, binding him to a prophecy of which he surely wants no part—binding him to a search for his true origins and a fight to save his soul and hers.
And to spice up the romance in everyone’s life I’m running a contest through February 14, 2010 which includes among other things, the chance to win a copy of the movie “Gone with the Wind” and a couple of books I consider keepers. Check it out at my website: www.ryshiakennie.com
What makes you sigh, “Isn’t it romantic?”
Ryshia
www.ryshiakennie.com
Passport to Romance (ryshia.blogspot.com)
Ring of Desire, 2009
From the Dust, 2007
Please join us in welcoming Angie Fox to Manic Readers. Angie is the New York Times bestselling author who writes about biker witches, demon slayers and things that go bump in the night.
How did you get started writing paranormal romances?
I’ve always loved a good fairy tale and, really, that’s what paranormal are - grown up fairy tales. Today’s paranormal romances take all of the adventure and otherworldliness of books like Harry Potter and add the clashing, dynamic excitement of an emerging romance. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a good love story?
As far as how the Accidental Demon Slayer series began, I started with a kernel of an idea that amused me. What if a straight laced preschool teacher suddenly learns she’s a demon slayer? And what if she has to learn about her powers while on the run from a fifth level demon? And wouldn’t it be interesting if she’s running with her long-lost Grandma’s gang of geriatric biker witches?
I started writing and let the story evolve based on the characters and that central issue of what happens when a reluctant heroine is thrust into a series of extraordinary situations. And I knew the story was working when I couldn’t wait to get back to the keyboard every day.
Where do you get your ideas for your books?
I don’t have a formal process. Rather, I figure that if it amuses me, my readers will probably be amused too. A lot of what I write evolves on the page. Like when I sat down to write The Accidental Demon Slayer, I had no notes about a sidekick for my heroine. But in the second chapter, when Lizzie learns she’s a demon slayer and there are some very scary, very angry creatures on her tail, she takes comfort in her dog. As I was writing, I thought, ‘This is a sweet moment. Now how do I throw her off?’
I made the dog say something to her. Nothing big. After all, he’s only after the fettuccine from last week. And he knows exactly where Lizzie can find it (back of the fridge, to the left of the lettuce crisper, behind the mustard). It tickled me, so I did it. Thanks to her unholy powers, Lizzie can now understand her smart-mouthed Jack Russell Terrier. I ended up having a ball with it. Pirate can say and do things that my heroine can’t. He’s such a kick to write.
Word has it you learned to ride a Harley for research. Tell us about your experience.
I’ve had a ball with research for my Accidental Demon Slayer books. The biker witches ride Harleys, and I’d never been on a motorcycle before. Plus, I had to figure out how to get Pirate the dog onto a bike.
I went online and learned about the Biker Dogs Motorcycle Club, made up exclusively of Harley riders and their dogs. I ended up meeting some of them, along with a few other bikers along the way. These bikers were so great to me. They hoisted me onto the back of their Harleys (with dogs in tow). They took me to biker rallies (note to self: don’t wear pink). And they laughed at me when I tried to put my helmet on backwards (I still say I was distracted by the Pomeranian wearing a tiny pair of motorcycle glasses).
After a few outings with my new biker friends, I was able to make my geriatric biker witch characters a lot more realistic. And I took home some great pictures, too.
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In A Tale Of Two Demon Slayers someone makes a clone of the main character in the book, a bad version of her, how did this come about?
Well, little did Lizzie know that the magic that her sexy griffin boyfriend used to find her in the first book has left her vulnerable. Sure it all worked out in The Accidental Demon Slayer, but while she was off fighting she-demons in The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers, the bad guys were stealing that precious bit of her magic.
It’s tough being a demon slayer, right? So in this third book, Lizzie has to find and eliminate her evil twin – before it kills her.
Oh and I know I’m making it sound like all the books are connected – and they are. But as a reader, I always like a complete story, so I write my books in a way that they can each stand on their own. You can pick up any one of them and know what is going on and have a complete story.
The beauty of the series, though, is that I can keep adding onto the world. And when you have a world populated by biker witches, demon slayers and a talking Jack Russell Terrier – there are a lot of places to go.
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4. What has been the most exciting moment in your writing career?
That’s a tough one. The first thing that comes to mind is when my agent called to tell me The Accidental Demon Slayer had made the New York Times bestseller list. The phone rang on a Friday afternoon, as I was writing the climax of The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers. I almost didn’t answer. After all, who would call in smack dab in the middle of a demon invasion?
Luckily, I picked up because Jessica had such great news – that my first book would be on the New York Times list the next day. I didn’t know what to think. Heck, I’d just wanted to sell enough books so that I could keep writing about biker witches, demon slayers and talking terriers. I had to ask my agent to please email me too, just to make sure I wasn’t phone-hallucinating.
You have two books coming out in January. A Tale Of Two Demon Slayers and a story in the anthology My Zombie Valentine. What made you want to do a zombie romance?
First of all, the title cracked me up. When my editor called and said they wanted me for My Zombie Valentine, I just had to laugh. And then I thought about it – don’t zombies deserve love too?
Let me tell you right off the bat that my zombie is hot. It’s more of a time travel story. This is a hero who died in the late 1800’s and has been haunting the cemetery, waiting for true love to call him back to life. Now my heroine is a lonely New Orleans voodoo mamba. She lives in the modern city and is tired of party boys and guys who can’t commit. She needs a gentleman in her life. So she weaves a spell to call the “perfect man for her.” But she forgot to be specific and mention that her man needed to be alive.
Her love calls this 1800’s era bad boy back and he emerges from St. Louis Cemetery Number One, very sexy (if slightly dirty). When her hot zombie shows up at her door, our voodoo mamba is determined to put him back into the ground. He’s determined to make her fall for him. It’s really very sweet - in a zombie sort of way.
Walk us through your typical writing day.
You mean after I get my massage and ogle a few pool boys? Actually, if that’s what my life was like, I doubt I’d get any writing done. As it stands, my writing days are brief, but productive. As soon as my two small kids go down for their afternoon naps, I whip out the laptop. I write in the same place – this green couch in our living room and I always have a Diet Coke on hand.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
Well I have a fun contest going on right now at www.angiefox.com. Take the highly-scientific What Supernatural Pet is Right for You? quiz and enter to win naming rights to a character in my next book!
What supernatural pet is right for you? Take the quiz and find out!
http://quiz.angiefox.com/supernatural-pet/
The Birth of Ideas
Where do you get your ideas? may be one of the questions most asked authors. I’ve certainly read books and wondered “How did the author ever think of that?” The birth of ideas is one of the magical things about writing.
I get ideas from a lot of places — from articles I read in the paper, conversations I overhear at restaurants, even dreams. And sometimes something in real life sparks an idea
The idea for my January Superromance, The Father For Her Son was triggered by a real-life event. A new guy hired on at the company where my husband was working a few years back. He and my dh really hit it off. They liked the same books, they had the same sense of humor. Turns out this guy — I’ll call him Joe — had just gotten out of prison. He was newly married and had a son and was determined to do right by his wife and son. He was clearly a devoted family man and I was struck by how different he was from what I would have assumed a guy who’d done some serious jail time would be like.
That started my imagination whirring and the result was the story of man who’d done wrong, done his time in prison, and come home to make things right for the woman he loved and their son. It’s a story about the true transformative power of love.
The real-life story has a happy ending, too. Joe and his wife are still together. He has a better job with more responsibility and better pay, a new home and a second child. Don’t you just love a happy, romantic ending? Do you know of any similar real life stories of transformation?
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THE FATHER FOR HER SON
Harlequin Superromance
January 2010
Life hasn’t been easy for single mom Marlee Britton, but she’s proud of her ability to look after herself and her son. Then old flame Troy Denton shows up after seven years, wanting to be a father to his son. and to rekindle his relationship with Marlee. While Troy struggles to prove himself trustworthy, Marlee wonders how she can ever give her heart to the man who broke it so long ago.
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MELTING POINT” in BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
with Jennifer Greene and Merline Lovelace
Harlequin Anthology
January 2010
Kristjan Gunnarson is Iceland’s first ever Olympic medalist. Coloradoan Stacy Bristol thinks he’ll be the perfect model for her new advertising campaign, but she isn’t prepared for the impact handsome Kristjan has on her. As she supervises filming around Iceland, Stacy fights her attraction to Kristjan. Can a down-to-business American and a footloose Icelander find love in the land of ice and fire?
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Bio:
Cindi Myers became one of the most popular people in eighth grade when she and her best friend wrote and illustrated their own historical romance novel. The manuscript was eventually confiscated by her English teacher, who told her she should spend her time learning to properly conjugate a sentence. Since then, Cindi has gone on to write more than three dozen novels, both historical and contemporary. She also teaches writing and is a popular speaker and workshop presenter. She produces a weekly market newsletter at http://www.cindimyersmarketnews.wordpress..com Visit her website at http://www.CindiMyers.com
Lacey honey, Thanks so much for taking time out of your hectic schedule to visit with us today. We’re so glad you could make it.
Thanks for inviting me!
You travel a lot. I was wondering if you had a favorite place you’ve visited? Maybe one stateside and one overseas?
Overseas, definitely Italy – although I’ve only been abroad a couple of times. Stateside, I’m waffling between Hawaii and the Canadian Rockies – two vastly different places, and they appeal to me in different ways.
Is there anywhere you’d like to go but haven’t made it to yet?
Yes – England. And with any luck, I’ll get to mark that off my list this year.
As far as writing, do you have a routine or ritual or do you just go flat out when inspiration hits? Anything you need to get those creative juices flowing?
Writing is my job, so I write pretty much every weekday, all day. Fortunately, inspiration hits me faster than I can write, and I usually have it in abundance – I just need a few more hours each day, or maybe an extra month or two each year, to get it all onto the computer as quickly as I’d like to.
Do your characters ever just pop into your head asking or demanding you tell their story? If so have you ever gotten annoyed with one? Do you have a favorite or is that like asking someone who their favorite child is?
You know, I hear a lot of authors talking about their characters this way, but I have to admit that as much as I love mine, I see them as beings who I completely control. I get to know them, yes, and I find out more about them through spending time with them in my head, but they never do anything I don’t want them to do. ; ) As for a favorite – gosh, that IS hard. And maybe it IS like asking someone to pick among their children – that’s a good analogy.
Do you or have you ever blushed while writing one of your incredibly hot love/sex scenes?
Oh yes! In real life, I’m a pretty mild-mannered chick – pretty much the last person who you would expect to write erotica. But I have a rule when I’m writing as Lacey – I never censor myself. If something pops into my head, I MAKE myself write it – I never back away from it. So that creates plenty to blush over.
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In WHAT SHE NEEDS you went beyond what I’ve seen from you previously. Was this preplanned or did the characters dictate that?
Thanks for noticing this, and yes, actually, it WAS kind of preplanned. At the time I was writing the book, I was privately waffling over whether to continue my career as Lacey – due strictly to time constraints. As both my writing careers grow, I find it increasingly challenging to juggle it all. So when I wrote this book, I knew it was possible it might be the last one, and I figured I wanted to go out with a bang – no pun intended. ; ) It turns out that I’m NOT giving up the Lacey side of my career, but with my next book, I’ll be taking the work in a slightly different direction, so I’m still glad this book is a little more “out there” – it feels like a good bridge between my work up to now and the work to come.
Do you ever find it difficult to shift between Toni Blake and Lacey Alexander?
Actually, I really enjoy the shift, and that’s one reason I’m continuing to maintain both careers. Bouncing back and forth between the two types of books keeps the work fresh for me, and keeps me challenged and fully engaged in what I’m working on at any given moment.
What and who do you enjoy reading? Do you stay away from romances and erotica?
I read mostly romance – fluctuating between contemporary and historical. And I occasionally read erotica, but will admit I enjoy writing it more than reading it. I also read a little non-fiction, and a little historical fiction, and the occasional biography. As for who, I read widely across the board with few particular favorites – so many books, so little time. One of my goals for 2010 is to MAKE more time for reading.
What new goodies can we look forward to from Lacey and Toni?
My next Toni Blake book, SUGAR CREEK, Book 2 in the Destiny series, comes out in June, and I’m very excited about it. Writing a closely connected series like this is a fairly new challenge for me, but one which I’m fully embracing. SUGAR CREEK is the story of gruff cop Mike Romo and city-girl-returned-home Rachel Farris. Their two families have been feuding for decades, but that’s only the start of their problems. And like ONE RECKLESS SUMMER, the first book in the series, SUGAR CREEK is a quaint, charming small town story yet at the same time, it’s also super sexy, with ample sexual encounters between Mike and Rachel.
As for Lacey, I had five releases in 2009: THE BIKINI DIARIES, WHAT SHE NEEDS, a novella in RED HOT HOLIDAYS, and the last two books in the City Heat series, ADRIANNA’S UNDIES and SCOTT’S SATIN SHEETS, were both released in e-book. Next up, my novella, MARDI GRAS is being re-released as a stand-alone e-book later this month (it was previously sold only as part of an anthology) and I am about to start writing the first book is a new series for Penguin. Like all Lacey books, it will be super erotic, and also a little bit dark in terms of the psychology involved with the characters. I can’t say much more about it yet – but think “hot cops.” I’m excited about writing it.
Thanks again for being here today Lacey. I’ve really had fun chatting with you honey.
Thanks again for having me! And let me wish a happy New Year to you and all your readers!
You too honey, health, love and success in all your endeavors.
Y’all feel free to visit Lacey anytime at her website…http://laceyalexander.net/
Dianne, thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for us.
Hot and Bothered
 .
Hot and Irresistible
Do tell Dianne about Hot and Irresistible, the 2nd in your Savannah Sizzles Series.
In a nutshell is:
Four Southern gals
Four hot guys
One lost jewel
A splash of ghosts
A mix of voodoo
And a big dose of mystery
that brings them all together
I wrote this series because I love writing about best friends. Nothing is more special than sharing secrets with you bff. And I love a bit a mystery. Sexy alpha heroes are so much fun and Donovan McCabe is certainly one of those even if he is a Yank!
Why the South & Savannah in particular?
I love Savannah and all things Southern…the history, the food, the talk, the long hot nights made for falling in love. To write a book set in Savannah you have to go there and not just once. You need to experience the city in tourist season and when the locals get to reclaim it for their own. Those who live in Savannah love it. They fought long and hard to keep the big mansions, twenty-three squares and unique little shops from the wrecking ball and big box stores. It is the South. It is unique.
I have a bit of voodoo in my books and that too is a special aspect of Savannah. It’s not simply a tourist enticement but a part of the culture, not that all want to admit it but it’s a fact. Savannah is a character in Hot and Irresistible. It couldn’t be set in NY or LA.
Is there anything you need to get the creative juices flowing? Music or coffee, M&M’s maybe?
I always write in my office which I just redid. There’s room for my two cats to sleep next to the computer…just like they are now… and three windows for great light and nice views of the garden. I run a fan, the noise helps me concentrate. It gets me in the zone and I’m not really in Cincinnati any more but in Savannah or Texas on a ranch or where ever the book is set. The juices get flowing with fear that if I don’t get the book done on time the editor will have a cow. Fear is a great motivator. J
Do you have any rituals? Actors & musicians have them, some call them quirks. Like playing a certain song before going on stage…something like that?
I don’t have the luxury of rituals. I just get the job done and hope I tell a really good story for my readers. I want them to think the money they paid for my book is truly worth it. The publishing market is tight right now and I’m thrill to have books coming out.
Do your characters pop into your head full grown, so to speak, or do they develop over time?
They develop as I go along but if they aren’t talking even at the beginning I know it’s the wrong character or the wrong story. The characters have to fit the story and the story the characters. It is a marriage of ideas and when they all start to work together I know it’s right.
Do they ever annoy you?
It’s fun when the characters annoy me because then I know they’re up to no good and things are going to get interesting.
I don’t like stupid characters especially heroines. Only strong heroines, please! But that can get them into all kinds of trouble and it’s a blast!
Are you currently reading anything?
I’m reading the October releases for Silhouette Special Edition. Love the family tones and small towns. Always a good read.
And I’m catching up on Brothers and Sisters, my fav TV show along with Mad Men. Great writing in both. Terrific characters. I love these shows.
Thanks so much for coming Dianne, I’ve had a large time talking with you.
Thanks for having me, Ivy. It’s been great chatting with you.
I’d like to know if there are any Southern belles out there? Even though I live in Cincy I swear I was born on the wrong side of the Ohio River. I love Southern cooking. Paula Deen is my hero. I love sundresses and the big old Southern homes and the slow way of talking. I love sweet tea, gentlemen and I even know how to twirl a baton. Seriously!
So, are there any Southern belles out there? I’ll give away two signed copies of Hot and Bothered (the first book in the Savannah Sizzles series) from the answers.
Thanks, Ivy.
Hugs, Dianne Castell
www.DianneCastell.com
DianneCastell@hotmail.com
Lori hon, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us.
Do tell, please, about DOUBLE THE HEAT and BACK IN BLACK.
 
[Lori said:] Thanks so much Ivy!
“Double The Heat” is an anthology with a Winston novella from me. The hero is a twin (cousin to the other Winstons from pervious stories of mine) and his twin’s story was out December 08 in “Double the Pleasure.” Joe Winston, one of my most popular heroes ever, makes an appearance in each story to visit his cousins and lend his expertise in certain situations. It was so much fun visiting the Winstons again!
“Back in Black” is the (as of right now) the last of my SBC series. This single title features Drew Black, president of the SBC organization. He’s a real character, a mega Alpha, uber sexy, and he was loads of fun to write. Characters from the previous SBC books do have cameos, but I also introduces a new character who has a secondary romance in the story. I hope readers enjoy the story! The cover is fantastic, if I do say so myself.
Is there anything you need to coax and/or pacify your muse?
[Lori said:] Not really, but I do have certain things I like to do when I’m in writing mode. I have a playlist that I crank up and go through scented candles like crazy. My playlist has a lot of Kid Rock, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Uncle Kracker, Macy Gray, Aerosmith and Tom Petty. Those are some of my favorites. My candles are usually cinnamon, cherry, hyacinth or lavender. (With the holidays, I love cinnamon scents!)
How do you juggle family and writing? Do they help when inspiration strikes or a deadline looms or are you still looking for that elusive bathroom/kitchen fairy like me?
[Lori said:] Hubby is retired now and he goes above and beyond to simplify my life so that I can write without a lot of other concerns. He makes all the phone calls (medical, insurance, banking, etc…) and he does almost all the grocery shopping – and usually the cooking too!
Family always comes first for me, so when my sons (all grown) or my grandson (4 years old) come to visit or it’s a holiday, or there’s another good reason to spend time with them, I do – without guilt. Sunday is always family day and the kids come to visit, or we all go to the movies or dinner together. When I’m behind on a deadline and really have to buckle down, they’re all very understanding. Even when the boys were still at home, they were terrific about respecting my writing time.
I love the fact that a lot of your heroines are older than 20 some odd. Is that one of the reasons you started writing or have you always done so?
[Lori said:] I mix it up. Sometimes the heroines are younger, sometimes older. Sometimes they’re gorgeous and sometimes not. Some have issues with physical traits that they consider flaws, and some have external issues (threats) and the same can be said for the heroes. I like to write a variety of character types. One thing I won’t write is a stupid or dependent character. And they have to love animals! LOL
You give so much to others and I think that’s absolutely wonderful. Is there a certain criteria you use to decide who you give to or is it just charities near & dear?
[Lori said:] I like to stick with local charities. The more nationally known charities get help from everywhere – including from me. But when I run a fundraising project, I try to help my neighborhood. We have a wonderful animal shelter near us, and then there’s the county’s battered women shelter, and the One Way Farm for abused and abandoned children, the food bank, the Conductive Learning Center for kids with cerebral palsy and spina bifida… there are more than enough wonderful, worthy local charities that can use a little help.
I’ve noticed there are a lot of authors in Ohio, must be something in the water! Do y’all know each other, maybe have an Ohio writer’s group or some such?
[Lori said:] There are several Ohio writers groups, including Ohio Valley Romance Writers of America (OVRWA) and Central Ohio Fiction Writers (COFW). I’m good friends with many of the ladies – published and pre published – from both groups.
That’s why my good friend Dianne Castell and I do the annual “Readers and Writers Get Together” every June. In 2010 we’ll have our 6th annual event. Information is on my website at www.lorifoster.com then go to community and then “Get Together.”
The event is in West Chester, Ohio each year. (Because that’s convenient for Dianne and me. J )
For only $50 we have a whole weekend of fun including a Friday night pizza party, and Saturday continental breakfast, buffet lunch and buffet dinner. We have a gigantic book fair/signing, a used book trade, agent and editor appointments, lots of lots of opportunity for chatting and taking photos, a raffle that earns us some great donations to local charities (see question #5!) and all kinds of fun.
Last year we had around 100 authors, with 300 attendees total. Registration opens in January on my site, and at that time you’ll be able to see the terrific line-up of agents, editors, and industry professionals that we have attending so far.
Any particular reason you “crossed to the dark side”?
[Lori said:] Because I LOVE it. My favorite form of entertainment has always been scarier movies or action plots. I love romance too, so I had to combine them, and so far so good! I’ve had a wonderful time with my L.L. Foster books and look forward to writing many more. BUT… I’m going to take a brief break in publishing the L.L. books because I recently switched publishers, and my new publisher wants to do 3 contemporary romances back to back in 2011 – which means I really need to do a lot of writing to get all 3 done in advance. Busy busy!
Who do you enjoy reading?
[Lori said:] Right now my absolute favorite is Kresley Cole. She’s amazing! She’s hilariously funny, the heroes are uber Alpha and oh-so-sexy, and the pacing is always fast. Her Immortal series is just outstanding. I’ve never read anything like it.
I also adore Linda Howard, Jayne Ann Krentz, Johanna Lindsey and a few others – actually too many to name them all!
Thanks so much Lori for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us today. I’ve really enjoyed it!
[Lori said:] Thank YOU for inviting me to chat. I appreciate it.
Happy reading to everyone!
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