Taste of Cyn

Cynthia Sax interviews John Quinlan, The Most Tattooed Male Romance Cover Model In The World

By Cynthia Sax on November 17, 2014

Today, I have the honor of interviewing John Quinlan, a former wrestler and bodybuilder. John has the distinction of being the most tattooed male romance cover model in the world. Yes, he’s hunky AND he supports romance. Woot! ( Shout out to Lori Green for fixing me up with this opportunity!)

(Note: If you’re reading this directly from my blog, click on the photos to enlarge them)

Cynthia Sax: John, tell me a little about your tattoos. How many tattoos do you have? Which tattoo means the most to you?

John Quinlan: Right now I have 27 individual tattoos. All of them have deep personal meaning and some of those meanings I keep to myself but I will tell you a few of my favorites. The oriental Kanji symbol for “family” inside my left wrist represents my 3 children as well as the 3 nautical stars I have inside both forearms. Each star is a little bigger than the next representing each child.

Cynthia Sax: That’s so wonderful. Family is incredibly important and your tattoos must serve as a great reminder of this.

How did you become a cover model?

John Quinlan: A long time ago people often told me I had the look for it and I just laughed and thought they were crazy. After quite some time I began to really consider it as the masses had to be right to some extent. I began talking with author Cassandra Carr and she was the one who really pushed me into doing it. I personally thank you Cassandra for believing in me and for all of your support. And here I am today sitting with you as the most tattooed male romance cover model in the world. I am sure another model will come along with more tattoos than me and take the title but I will always be remembered as the first guy in romance who broke the stereotype for guys with body art. I paved the way for them to be successful and be accepted.

Cynthia Sax: Yes, it is a really big something to be a trailblazer. I’m stoked for you!

You were depicted as an evil troll on your first cover. You’re a handsome man. That must have been shocking.

John Quinlan: Well thank you Cynthia for your kind words. I think you are an amazing author as well and I am truly honored to be sitting down with you today doing this interview. Yes, that was a great cover! I believe the book was titled, “The War of Trolls” (Scream Shop Series #8) by Tracey West and it was illustrated by artist Brian Dow. Brian actually recruited me out of one of the World Gym’s back in the day when he saw me and thought I had the perfect body for the ogre he needed to design this cover. I will never forget the photo shoot at the gym as his art model for this project. I had to wear a toga type outfit and pose in front of all the girls in their aerobics room because that was where the best lighting was for the camera. They were all laughing at me but it was all in good fun. One has to have a sense of humor in this business as I have done some crazy things and I don’t blame people for thinking some of the stuff is funny as I would be laughing too.

Cynthia Sax: Awww… (hugs John) You’re a sweetheart.

What has been the most interesting photo shoot you’ve ever done?

John Quinlan: The most interesting photo shoot was out in the desert in Las Vegas back in 2012. It was 105 degrees but zero humidity which was weird as I am from Boston, Massachusetts and we always have tons of humidity it seems like. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and because the temperature got so hot and there was no water out there no signs of life existed except for a few bugs on the ground. No birds, animals or anything. Just cactus and tumbleweeds but the backdrop with the mountains and scenery made for a great shoot as this was a once in a lifetime thing and I was determined to take advantage of it and looking back I am glad I did.

Cynthia Sax: That does sound like a once in a lifetime thing (but a little too extreme for this luxury loving gal – grins).

If I see you walking around a romance convention, do you want me to approach you?

John Quinlan: I always encourage my fans to approach me as I am a people person and very down to Earth. I think if you ask anybody who has met me, for example, at the 2 Romantic Times Convention’s I have attended as a cover model thy will all say similar answers. I have always said that if it wasn’t for all the great authors like you Cynthia around the globe who take the time out of their busy schedules to conduct interviews with the cover models we would never be able to showcase out talents to the world. It is a symbiotic relationship where we really help each other. I always go out of my way for the fans to show my appreciation as I am honored they care so much about John Quinlan.

Cynthia Sax: We, writers, do LOVE our cover models. You make our books look good.

Speaking of writing, is there a quote you live your life by?

John Quinlan: “Sometimes you have to go through Hell to get to Heaven.” This really describes my life. It has been a long road which included a lot of sacrifice but in the end John Quinlan will ultimately land at the top of the mountain.

Cynthia Sax: Fun question (and one I know my readers are dying to hear the answer to): Boxers Or Briefs?

John Quinlan: Great question Cynthia, ask and you shall receive. On a normal day boxer briefs are what I usually wear but there are some days when I wear briefs or nothing. Depends on my mood.

Cynthia Sax: Oh boy. (waves hand in front of my face)
How do publishers or self-published writers find images of you to use for covers?

John Quinlan: There are many ways I guess like Google image search me etc. but one of the easiest ways is to visit the John Quinlan Gallery on Flickr. Just go through the albums on there and find something you like and ask me about it. Some of the albums have 1 photo while others have as many as 40 plus.

Cynthia Sax: There is so much eye candy in those albums! Thank you, John, for hanging out with me today!

John Quinlan: It was my pleasure conducting this interview with you Cynthia. Keep up the good work and continue being one of the greatest authors in the world today.

Cynthia Sax: If you want more John (and who doesn’t?), here are some must-click links!

http://www.johnjosephquinlan.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quinlan_(wrestler)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75617256@N05/sets
https://twitter.com/JohnJQuinlan

***

Subscribe To Cynthia Sax’s Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.

Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.

When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698

Topics: Author Interviews | 5 Comments »

Sinful Rewards – Not A Friend, Not Quite A Boyfriend

By Cynthia Sax on November 14, 2014

In these scene from Sinful Rewards 4, Bee introduces Hawke to her mom.

***

Customers glance toward us, open curiosity on their faces. My mom turns and her brown eyes light up. “Honeybee.” She slides her order pad into the front pocket of her red-and-white-checkered apron and hurries toward me. “You’re early.”

“Hi, Mom.” I smile as I’m pulled into her arms, given a fierce hug. She smells of coffee and bacon. “I got a ride.” I wave my hand self-consciously at the man beside me. “Hawke, this is my mom. Mom, this is Hawke.” I don’t call him my friend or my boyfriend, not knowing what he is, what he could be.

***

Hawke isn’t a friend. They’ve been physical and Bee’s feelings for this tattooed bad boy biker are definitely more than friendly.

But he’s not a boyfriend either. They’re not in a relationship. They’re not exclusive. They’re in the early stages of seeing each other and might never progress past that point.

Hawke’s not her date because…well… this isn’t a date. Bee is returning home to help her mom in the diner.

Bee can’t even call Hawke ‘the guy I like’ because she likes Nicolas, her handsome billionaire, also. She might have a future with Nicolas. Her mom might meet him next.

Hawke is in that awkward stage between friend and boyfriend, acquaintance and lover, other and significant other. This makes introductions challenging. I’ve had many conversations with buddies about how they’ll introduce their not-quite-boyfriends. It never feels natural.

How would you have introduced Hawke?

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards – Not A Friend, Not Quite A Boyfriend

Writing Erotic Romance – Turning Off The Internal Editor

By Cynthia Sax on November 13, 2014

This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.

It’s Day 13 of NaNoWriMo insanity. If you’re on schedule, you’ve written 20,000 words. If you’re not on schedule (where I am right now) and you want to make your goal, you might wish to pick up the pace.

How do you kick it into top gear? One of the tricks of writing a fast first draft is turning off the internal editor, that highly critical part of the brain.

If the muse is a sparkly good-natured yet extremely inconstant fairy, the internal editor is a dark, bitchy scene-sucking demon that never wants to leave. The internal editor and the muse hate each other, refusing to be in the same brain. We can only pick one or the other to humor, and, for the first draft, we want a happy muse.

Why We Want To Write A Fast First Draft

Writing the first draft of a story is job #1 for writers. As an editor buddy told me, a great editor can fix even the messiest first draft (I’ve seen it done – A NYT best selling buddy of mine submitted a manuscript I thought was written in a different language. The finished product was a work of freakin’ art). Editors can’t write that first draft. Critique partners can’t write that first draft (unless you’re James Patterson). Only we can. The quicker we do that job, the better.

With a first draft written and an upcoming deadline looming, we can outsource our revisions. We can ask our grammar-loving (and clearly insane) buddy to check our punctuation. We can ask our plot guru friend to ensure we don’t have any WTF (what the fuck) moments. If we don’t have this first draft written, they can’t help us.

For pantsers (writers who have no plot before they start to write) writing on proposal (the publisher buys the story before it is written), a fast first draft is even more critical. With many pantsers, the finished story doesn’t match the proposal. I tell my editor my hero is attending a masquerade ball in chapter three, and my hero says “Fuck you, word wench. I’m going to the gun range.” I always run the first draft story by my editor. She tells me if there are any red flags, story twists she wouldn’t have approved in the proposal. THEN I start revising this steaming piece of dookie, readying it for submission.

Keep The Door Closed

Romance writers often say “Write the first draft with the door closed”. This means the first draft is for YOU and you alone. Assume no one will see it. No one will judge you on it. Be as strange and as crude as you want. This first draft is going nowhere.

The benefit of this is you’ll likely write balls to the wall (which actually refers to cannonballs but I prefer to picture another set – grins). I write some freaky-ass stuff in my first drafts. Once I had a hero fuck the heroine’s ear. I don’t think that’s possible and I doubt many readers would think it was as sexy as I did. I’ll never know because it didn’t make the submission draft. My characters are usually more extreme in the first draft. The hero might be more asshole than alpha. He says things he should only think. He certainly isn’t slick.

If you’re on a tight deadline and this first draft does go to your critique partners or to your editor, they’re professionals. They know first drafts are shit. They shouldn’t judge you on it.

Be Aggressive. Be, Be Aggressive

Speaking of deadlines… I suspect one of the reasons NaNoWriMo has the set goal of 50,000 words in 30 days is because this goal is aggressive yet doable. Upcoming deadlines scare internal editors, silencing them. We don’t have time to worry about sentence perfection. We have to get shit written.

When deadlines are really tight, buddies of mine have passed pages off to critique partners as they’re written. There is no looking back, only moving forward.

The Shit We Don’t Know

Nothing stops a story cold like something we don’t know – whether it is a setting or historical fact or the heroine’s name. I put in placeholders for the small things. If I don’t yet know the hero’s name, I’ll call him XXX. When he finally introduces himself, I’ll perform a search and replace on XXX (this is why I use a placeholder that isn’t a real word). For larger things, I’ll make assumptions and create a comment, reminding myself to research it.

Saving Fresh Words For Blank Pages

I research anything I don’t know after I’ve written my fresh words for the day, when my brain is fried, unable to hold another creative thought. I’ve found that research takes up creative brain space but fresh words don’t take up research brain space. Research always comes after the fresh words.

I don’t rewrite the scene after I’ve completed this research. I can’t. My brain is empty. I put the information in a comment at the beginning of the scene. If I’ve printed the pages, I write it in the margins. Then I write as though this change has already been incorporated in the story.

Story Changes

I use this technique for story changes also. If my character has made a wrong-for-her decision in chapter three and I’m writing chapter five, I’ll briefly note the changes and write chapter five as though she made the right-for-her decision. Running the scenes through my brain takes less time than writing them down.

Why don’t I make the changes now? Because I don’t know if they will stick. Say I’m writing a fight between the heroine and the baddie and I don’t know how many shots her glock can fire without a reload. After my fresh writing is completed, I find out this information. I rewrite the scene. Then three chapters later, I discover the scene would have more meaning if the heroine had used a different gun. Ugh. I have to rewrite the scene again. (And yes, everything, including the gun characters use, has meaning in my stories.)

How do you turn off your internal editor?

If you liked this post, you might like
Writing Erotic Romance – Balancing Sex And Plot
or
Writing Erotic Romance – Making Every Sex Scene Different
or
Writing Erotic Romance – Making Sex Sexy
or
Writing Erotic Romance – The Basics Of A Sex Scene
or
Writing Erotic Romance – Word Choice

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698

Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Writing Erotic Romance – Turning Off The Internal Editor

Sinful Rewards – Love Gifts

By Cynthia Sax on November 12, 2014

In this scene from Sinful Rewards 4, Hawke gives Bee a gift.

***

“You’re gloriously stubborn, love.” Hawke sucks air through his teeth, holds the breath for four heart-pounding moments, and exhales. “Come here.” He slides his right hand into the front pocket of his faded blue jeans.

I step closer to him, curious.

“I want you to keep these for me.” Hawke holds out his fist. A silver ball chain is wrapped around his scarred fingers.

I extend my palm. His massive hand hovers above mine.

I wait and wait and wait. Hawke doesn’t release the chain. I survey his savage countenance. His lips are flat. His jaw juts. He doesn’t want to do this.

“This isn’t necessary,” I tell him.

“It is. You need this.” He opens his fist, dropping the ball chain and two dog tags into the palm of my hand, the metal warmed by his skin. Information—a Social Security number, the words “no preference,” USMC, and other letters—is embossed on the oval forms. I don’t recognize the first or last name.

“Are these yours?” I ask. He shared that Hawke wasn’t his first name. Is Masters, the last name he gave me, not real either?

“No, they’re not mine.” Hawke rubs the barbed wire tattoo encircling his right bicep, the vigorous motion reddening his arm.

I tilt my head, studying him. Why would he give me someone else’s dog tags? Our gazes meet and lock and I inhale sharply, reading the answer in his pain-ravaged eyes. “They belonged to Rock, didn’t they?”

“Yeah.” Hawke turns his head and stares unseeingly into the distance, his fingers clenching and unclenching, as though he’s trying to contain his grief using pure force. He kept his best friend’s dog tags, carrying them with him everywhere, and now he wants me to hold them for him.

***

He has a reason for this gift (to ensure her he’ll return) and this gift has a special meaning to him (the dog tags belonged to his best friend). In Sinful Rewards 3, Hawke’s rival Nicolas gives Bee ice cream. Again, there’s a reason (to make her feel better after a certain unhappy event) and it has special meaning to them (Bee sent him an article about being a good friend which he read and committed to memory).

These gifts have more emotional meaning than financial significance. They are items that only make sense to Bee. They’re not the standard red roses or box of chocolates. These gifts require thought from the heroes, a knowledge of the recipient.

The sinful rewards Friendly gives Bee also have significance. She gazed at her beloved purse in the store window every day before going to work. She received limo chits after being late for work due to the fight on the bus. Friendly sent her designer shoes when her one good pair of heels breaks. All of these rewards communicate that her mysterious texter is paying attention.

In addition, they give us clues as to who Friendly is. (grins)

Do you like it when heroes give heroines gifts? What makes a great gift?

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards – Love Gifts

Final Excerpt For Sinful Rewards 5

By Cynthia Sax on November 11, 2014

This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.

Woot! One week until release day! Make certain you pre-order to ensure you receive a copy of Sinful Rewards 5 bright and early!

Here’s another steamy excerpt for Sinful Rewards 5 with Hawke, our bad boy biker, while you wait.

***

“You’re killing me, Belinda.” He cups my ass, lifting me off the floor, and he walks with me into my bedroom. “I have to touch all of you.”

“You forgot your T-shirt.” I wave my arm. He’s left it on the kitchen floor.

“Passion is messy, love.” Hawke kicks the door shut behind us and tosses me onto the center of the bed. I bounce. He yanks off his jeans, the buttons popping.

I gaze at him with open admiration, excitement unfurling low in my stomach. He kicks off his boots and strips naked in mere seconds, his cock fully erect, jutting from a base of neatly trimmed brown curls. He’s huge and aroused and mine, his scars attesting to his violent career, his savage nature.

The future is uncertain. We might have only tonight, this one moment. I spread my thighs in a clear invitation and he stalks toward me, his eyes darkening to a brilliant blue. The curtains are open and the storm continues to rage. All of my focus is on him, my tattooed biker, my tortured military man.

I reach out, wrap my fingers around his shaft, and he jerks. “Easy,” I coo, comforting him as I would comfort a wild beast. “Let me touch you.” I cup his balls, weighing them, rolling him in my hands. Hawke’s lips flatten and his eyelids lower as he stands straight and still beside the bed.

I pump him with one hand as I explore the cascade of defined flesh over his abdominal muscles, the indent of his hipbones, the power of his upper thighs, committing every scar, every inch of him to memory.

A dab of precum forms on his cock head. I look upward and our gazes meet. My intentions must reflect in my eyes because a strangled noise originates from deep in Hawke’s throat. I slowly extend my tongue and flick the tip over him, tasting his unique flavor. His cock bobs. His hands, held by his side, clench into massive fists.

It’s not enough. I lick my lips, savoring him, needing more. Hawke’s eyes widen, his gaze fixed on my mouth as I push my flesh over his, taking his cock head into my heat. I prod his slit, tease his rim, slap his shaft with the flat of my tongue.

“Fuck, love. You’re slaying me.” He shakes, beads of sweat pearling on his golden skin, adding sparkle and shine. Hawke doesn’t need clothing. His huge form is best displayed nude, covered only with the remnants of desire.

I suck on his cock head and then release him. “You’ll survive.” I repeat the words he often says to me and gently squeeze his balls.

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

Nicolas Rainer, Chicago’s most sought-after billionaire bachelor, has finally decided what he wants, and that’s Bee Carter in his arms, forever. He shows up unannounced on her doorstep and kisses her until her toes curl and her body burns.

Nicolas wasn’t the sexy man Bee expected to see this morning. Hawke Masters, her tattooed former marine, is riding his customized chopper toward the condo building, anticipating an equally mind-meltingly erotic encounter.

Both men want her with a thrilling intensity. Neither her billionaire nor her biker wishes to share her affections. Is today the day Bee is forced to choose?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00IMHU7FG

Avon: http://www.avonromance.com/book/cynthia-sax-sinful-rewards-5

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-5-cynthia-sax/1119919838

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_5?id=nFaYAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-5/id828414457

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Final Excerpt For Sinful Rewards 5

Sinful Rewards – The Right Hero

By Cynthia Sax on November 10, 2014

Reading buddies have expressed concern over whether or not they like the ‘right’ hero in Sinful Rewards. Yes, there’s a right hero for Bee, but both Nicolas and Hawke are hero-worthy men (Nicolas is about to bring his A-game – grins). No one will judge you harshly for liking the hero she doesn’t choose.

If the unsuccessful hero had been paired with a different heroine, he would have been chosen. They would have fit, become a solid, loving couple. He isn’t perfect, everyone has faults, but the heroine would have seen these faults in a positive light. She would have interpreted his words and actions differently.

That’s one of the many things I love about writing romance. It isn’t enough to find a great hero and a great heroine. We also have to ensure these two characters can become a great couple.

Blaine and Anna from He Watches Me work. They’re a wonderful couple. Bee and the man she chooses are a wonderful couple also. However, if Bee from Sinful Rewards had been paired with Blaine, they likely wouldn’t have made it past the first date. His lack of communication would have fed her doubt demons. Her worrying about his safety would have driven him bonkers.

Two wonderful characters don’t necessarily become a wonderful couple. As with any couple, writers (and readers) are looking for the elusive and difficult-to-explain chemistry, that spark that lights up the room whenever they’re together. Finding a couple with this chemistry is magical. Story becomes secondary. It is all about them.

Which romance couples do you believe have this chemistry?

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards – The Right Hero

Sinful Rewards And Cliffhangers

By Cynthia Sax on November 7, 2014

As I’ve mentioned in the past (http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/06/27/should-writers-end-installments-of-a-serial-in-a-cliffhanger/ ), I prefer not to end installments of a serial in a cliffhanger.

What is a cliffhanger? According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffhanger ), a “cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction.”

Simply having an unanswered question (Will Bee fall in love with Nicolas or with Hawke?) doesn’t constitute a cliffhanger. Until a story is complete, there will be unanswered questions. Heck, when stories ARE complete, there will still be unanswered questions. Not everything is wrapped up in a neat bow. That’s unrealistic and a bit cheesy. Life is messy. The characters’ lives continue after the last page.

Sinful Rewards 4, however, DOES end on a true cliffhanger. Bee is expecting one hero to show up. Another hero arrives first. This is the only installment of Sinful Rewards that has one.

Why did I allow Sinful Rewards 4 to end in a cliffhanger?

First and foremost, the characters insisted on this ending. I rewrote that last chapter a dozen times and no matter how I tweaked it, the unexpected hero showed up.

But it also serves the story. That awkward anxious feeling that you get when reading that scene is exactly how Bee feels. You’re wondering what will happen next. She’s thinking the same thing. Will she lose BOTH of her men? One of them? Will one of the men confront the other?

The good news is Sinful Rewards 5 will be releasing on November 18th!

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards And Cliffhangers

Writing Erotic Romance – Surviving Chapter Four

By Cynthia Sax on November 6, 2014

This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.

It’s day 6 of the annual writing craziness called NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). If you’re on schedule (you lucky bitch – I am NOT, having been sideswiped with bone-deep edits on my beloved Sinful Rewards), you’ve written over 8,000 shitty words (Shitty is a given. This is the first draft. The first draft is always shit).

Are You A Hobbyist Or A Professional?

The new idea rush is over and you’re crashing hard. You’re beginning to dread sitting down at your computer every day. You have Pac-Man-like nightmares about the curser gobbling up your manuscript one letter at a time. You’re eating Nutella straight out of the jar.

No. Wait. Delete that last one. Nutella is supposed to be eaten straight out of the jar.

The writing is getting damn hard (and not in a hunky hero-type of way). What you do next defines the type of writer you are. If you’re a hobbyist, you’ll stop writing. If you’re a professional, you’ll continue.

Hobbyists

There’s nothing wrong with being a hobbyist, someone who writes whenever she feels like writing. If that’s what you wish to do, embrace it. Don’t pretend to be anyone else.

If you’re a hobbyist, however, you might wish to keep your opinions about writing whenever the muse visits you to your sweet self (especially during NaNoWriMo). Because odds are the professional you’re speaking to is hyped up on black coffee, jellybeans and no sleep, trying to meet her impossible and never ending deadlines. She’s in a dark place, unable to fully appreciate your goodness and light. Trust me. You don’t want to mess with her.

Professionals

Professionals continue writing. Some writers (like Nora Roberts) consider it to be a job (“Every time I hear writers talk about ‘the muse,’ I just want to bitch-slap them. It’s a job. Do your job.” – Nora Roberts). I consider writing to be a calling. This is what we’re meant to do. We write. This is our way of changing the world and changing the world isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes it’s dark and angry and twisted.

And sometimes this is when we do our best writing. Yes, we write a lot of drivel also, scenes we’ll have to revise a dozen times before being satisfied with them. But hidden in that drivel is often slices of pure magic. We’re too frustrated to fight our characters. We allow them to lead the way. They create scenes and phrases we never knew we were capable of.

Some writers rely on drugs and alcohol to bring out their creativity. Being tired and strung out on caffeine can accomplish the same thing AND it is completely legal.

Moving Forward

How do we push past the new idea crash? When I wrote the 12 novellas for Sinful Rewards in less than 5 months (yes, I did NaNoWriMo for five months straight), I used almost every incentive in the writer’s handbook.

Success Is A Team Sport

I shared my daily word count goals with four writing buddies and they kept me honest, asking me for updates during the day, booting me off social media, cheering me on. J.K. Coi must have sent me a ‘Go! Go! Go!’ email every freaking day. Some days, I hated those emails but they worked. I didn’t want to disappoint my peeps so I wrote until my fingers were bloody stubs. Just kidding! (No, not really.)

Many writers put a call out for word sprints on Facebook or Twitter. They’ll challenge each other to write as many words as they can in a certain length of time.

There’s also Write-Or-Die (http://writeordie.com/ ), a sadistic program that forces you to write at a set speed or the curser (as in the Pac-Man nightmare) will start erasing your precious words.

Sinful Rewards

Like Bee, my heroine in Sinful Rewards, I enjoy receiving rewards. I’ll set a word count goal and, when I meet it, I reward myself. It could be a walk around the block. It could be a half hour of pleasure reading. It could be hot steamy sex with the dear wonderful hubby (he LOVES it when I have deadlines – grins). Naps are great. So is staring at the ceiling. Often I’ll bake banana chocolate chip muffins.

The best rewards are those that refill our creative wells, allowing us to return to the computer and add even more words to our hoard (or whore – however you think of your manuscript).

Just 100 More Words

When I was writing the Sinful Rewards serial, I had a Monday to Friday word count goal of 5,000 fresh words a day. There were times when I hit the wall, smacking into that baby face first. I was certain I couldn’t make my goal.

I told myself I’d only write 100 more words. When those words were written, I told myself I’d write 100 more. Logically, this shouldn’t work, just as logically receiving an email with three words (Go! Go! Go!) shouldn’t work, but this did… at least for me.

How do you ‘trick’ yourself into writing more words?

Note: Some blog readers have asked, “If writing is so tough, why do you do it?” Since many writers think of their stories as their babies, I’ll use the baby analogy.

Babies are a shitload of work (both literally and figuratively – they’re pooping machines). They cry. They wake up at all hours of the night. You worry about them constantly. They cause chaos in previously organized lives.

Some days, you might wonder if you’ve made a mistake, if you’re capable of raising your screaming red-faced bundle of joy. Then she wraps her little fingers around your thumb, looks up at you with those big trusting eyes, gives you a (gas-prompted) smile and you know all of the work, all of the heartache was worth this one moment.

THAT is writing.

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698

Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Writing Erotic Romance – Surviving Chapter Four

Third Excerpt For Sinful Rewards 5

By Cynthia Sax on November 5, 2014

This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.

Here’s a steamier excerpt for Sinful Rewards 5 with Hawke, our bad boy biker.

***

“If one lunch can destroy their relationship, Jacques doesn’t deserve her.” The echoing stops and my body hums with excitement. “Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”

My former marine would fight for the woman he loves. I hear this in his voice, know this in my soul. I open the door, tilt my head back, and gaze upward at Hawke. His chest rises and falls. His scent engulfs me. There’s a gleam of intent in his pale blue eyes.

He wants me and I want him. If I allow him inside, we’ll kiss, touch, do things we shouldn’t. Nicolas deserves my loyalty. I should tell Hawke to go away. I should—

Hawke captures my lips with his, the force of his embrace driving me backward. I reach for him, clasp his broad shoulders. He hooks his arms around me, securing me to him, as he kicks the door shut. Our tongues tangle and twist, dancing to the rhythm of our hearts, his stubble teasing my chin, leaving a sensual trail on my skin.

He tastes of black coffee and man. His body radiates heat, a thin layer of moisture covering his big form. Everything about him, even his no-name T-shirt and seen-better-days jeans, appeals to me. I cling to him, losing myself in his kiss.

Hawke ravishes my mouth with fierce, hard strokes, cupping my ass with his massive hands, lifting me off the floor, pressing me into his muscular form. My feet dangle, my lips throb, and my heart pounds, my world narrowing to the two of us. This is how it always is with us, his touch eroding my reason, my control.

I rub against the hard ridge in his jeans, tormenting us both with more sweet sensation. He feels so good, so right. My pussy moistens and my nipples tighten, my arousal spiraling upward.

Hawke groans into my throat and his grip on my ass intensifies, his reaction thrilling me, making me crazed. I tug on his T-shirt, seeking his bare skin, needing to feel, to taste, to explore all of my huge man.

“Not now, love.” Hawke lowers me, sliding my curves against him until my feet touch the hardwood floor. “You have the lunch to prepare for.” He pushes a strand of my brown hair away from my face, his fingers rough yet gentle, his eyes a brilliant blue. “I vowed not to distract you.”

“To hell with your vow.” My bottom lip curls. “You being here distracts me.”

The damn man laughs. “Show me the clothes.”

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

Both men want her with a thrilling intensity. Neither her billionaire nor her biker wishes to share her affections. Is today the day Bee is forced to choose?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00IMHU7FG

Avon: http://www.avonromance.com/book/cynthia-sax-sinful-rewards-5

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-5-cynthia-sax/1119919838

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_5?id=nFaYAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-5/id828414457

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