Interview With Kayden Claremont
I sat down (virtually) with Kayden Claremont for a short interview. Kayden Claremont’s latest release is Hell’s Bounty, an Urban Paranormal Erotica.
Cynthia Sax: What is your favorite line from Hell’s Bounty?
Kayden Claremont: Marcus pointed to the file he held in his hand as he cleared his throat. “Nothing like a stiff to make Saturday night special.”
Raven watched the dark humor shining in his angelic eyes, and her clit stiffened. “That’s what I always say.”
Why do I love this so much, well it shows how playful Marcus is with his sexual innuendos. He is such a sexual being and it shows in not only his actions but in his words as well.
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Hell’s Bounty?
Kayden Claremont: This is a funny story. I was sitting in a coffee short working on a romantic suspense story when two men stat down beside me. They were talking about how their wives such the life out of them and they were trying to outdo one another so the stories became interesting. Before I know what had happened I had a scene where the character literally sucked the life out of a sleazy politician.
Years later I was in a critique meeting and we were talking about the weirdest scene we’ve ever written. I told my friend about this scene and they both said, “That’s a succubus.” I went home and looked it up and sure enough they were right. I liked the character so much I built the book around her.
Cynthia Sax: How does Hell’s Bounty start?
Kayden Claremont: Raven is a bounty hunter collecting souls for hell. She is dressed in hooker shoes, the tight dress revealing her voluptuous body, the masses of red curls, and her ruby-red lips. She’s walks into the club and sitting at the bar drinking hemlock waiting for her prey.
A giant of a man ducked as he entered the bar, paused, took off his sunglasses, tucked them into his jacket pocket, and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. He surveyed the bar, then decided his path. Keeping his head high and his eyes skimming the people, he avoided eye contact with everyone.
She watches him. An undeniable current of electricity pulsed through him. Stopping beside her, he dwarfed her slight stature with colossal height, muscular build that showed through the suit, and an air of confidence that made everyone in the bar notice him.
He says, “Waiting for someone special?”
She answers, “Everyone is special.”
I started the story here because I loved the sexual tension that snapped between them. These characters just came together with such a force, I just wrote down the words.
Cynthia Sax: Is Hell’s Bounty part of a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Kayden Claremont:
Hell’s Bounty is the first book in my Heaven and Hell series. After I discovered Raven’s character it just made sense to pair her up with a guy who is her opposite. They are in the next book in the series, Hell Hath No Fury and they are reunited again final book in the series Hell Bent in Leather.
Thank you, Kayden Claremont, for joining us today!
Kayden Claremont’s Website: http://kaydenclaremont.wordpress.com/
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Raven Hart, a succubus bounty hunter for Hell, is on a hunt. With her query in sight, she hits a brick wall, or rather the very hard chest of a giant sexy man. She might have lost the prize for now, but she’s a winner when the hottie wants to get physical. Marcus Dionysius, a Nephilim working for Heaven, has one mission—to prevent Hell’s beauty from stealing souls meant for the higher plane. But he soon realizes he’s met his sexual match. She’s naughty enough to tempt his senses, but her innocence means he can’t walk away when she needs him most. Working together to discover who is snatching souls.
Buy Now on Wild Rose: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/wildcatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=182&products_id=1013
Buy Now on Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/Hells-Bounty-Kayden-Claremont-ebook/dp/B00NBIDL86
Buy Now on Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Hells-Bounty-Kayden-Claremont-ebook/dp/B00NBIDL86
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Interview With Mara Leigh
I sat down (virtually) with Mara Leigh for a short interview. Mara Leigh’s latest release is Bedded by Strangers, a contemporary erotic.
Cynthia Sax: What excites you about Bedded by Strangers?
Mara Leigh: Everyone has sexual fantasies, even it they never expect to act them out in real life. What I love about this series, is that it allows readers to go along on the ride as my heroines play out their wildest dreams. In Bedded with Strangers, Jamie plays out the fantasy of being with more than one man—in a safe way, one that doesn’t jeopardize her marriage. It was exciting to discover, through writing, how this couple makes it work.
Cynthia Sax: What is your favorite line from Bedded by Strangers?
Mara Leigh: I’m going to cheat and include two short passages. Because that’s how I roll.
Here’s the first.
“Fantasies are one thing when they’re confined to our minds, when they’re used to turn us on when our lovers are away, or when we want to drift to somewhere different and exciting. My mind had played out variations on the same fantasy since I was a teen, but did I actually want the real thing?”
I like this passage because, in many ways, Jamie, the heroine of Bedded by Strangers, sums up the entire theme of the Fantasies Unleashed series. She states, in a nutshell, why reading (and writing) about sexual fantasies is so exciting and fun!
The second passage I’m including is:
“My knees trembled and, like an old-fashioned gentleman, he extended his arm for me to hold. The gesture set me at ease. My husband might have paid this man to have sex with me, but nothing about him or his demeanor read sleazy. And in spite of the words he’d just practically growled, I felt safe, like everything about this was at my discretion, my invitation.”
I like this quote because it shows that she’s safe. Maybe not entirely safe—she has no idea what’s about to happen—but it shows that she feels in control of the encounter. Some of the fantasies the women in my stories play out are pretty wild, and even if the “fantasy facilitators” do things that push the women to their limits and make them feel uncomfortable, the women always have the option to stop it. That was really important to me.
Cynthia Sax: Where is Bedded by Strangers set?
Mara Leigh: What do they say about what happens in Vegas? 😉 That’s one reason I chose it. And also because it’s possible that Fantasies Unleashed, the company featured in my series, might actually exist in the state of Nevada—legally. Although everything about the company is pure fantasy.
Many parts of the stories take place in luxurious penthouse suites in the fanciest hotels in Vegas, adding to the fantasy. Let’s face it, the glamourous elements of Vegas—the luxury, the decadent food and drink, the bright lights—they all ooze sex appeal.
Cynthia Sax: Does a character in Bedded by Strangers have a secret? What is it?
Mara Leigh:
Yes.
I’m not telling.
Cynthia Sax: Is Bedded by Strangers part of a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Mara Leigh:
Yes. This is actually #2 in my Fantasies Unleashed series, but the stories can be read in any order.
The titles released right now are: Dirty Business, Bedded by Strangers, and Surrender. Humbling the Boss will release on December 2, 2014 and is available for pre-order.
I hope to continue the series for as long as I can come up with fun and fresh fantasies! I’m currently planning at least six titles, and numbers 5 and 6 will be coming in early 2015.
Cynthia Sax: What one piece of advice would you give new writers?
Mara Leigh:
Learn your craft and don’t give up! That’s two pieces of advice—one about writing, and the other about publishing—but I think they’re equally important.
Even though we all have some experience in writing from when we were students, or in other jobs, writing fiction is different from other forms of writing. It takes study and practice to do it well.
When it comes to publishing, that’s when the persistence comes in. Writers, even multi-published authors, are faced with rejection all the time, whether it’s from agents, editors, reviewers or readers. Writers need to develop a way to cope with their inevitable disappointments, revel in their eventual successes, and always, always focus on why they love writing and wanted to be a published author in the first place.
Cynthia Sax: What do you love about writing in your romance sub-genre?
Mara Leigh:
I also write bestselling novels in a completely different genre, under a different name.
**Shhh… Don’t tell anyone.**
Writing these steamy contemporary stories is a refreshing change from the novels I write under my other name. For me, writing as Mara Leigh is beyond fun! It’s freeing to break the bounds of my other author persona and let my imagination run wild!
Thank you, Mara Leigh, for joining us today!
Mara Leigh’s Website: http://www.amazon.com/author/maraleigh
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When Jamie confessed to her husband that she fantasized about sex with strangers, she never imagined he’d help make her fantasy come true. While in Las Vegas, Jamie has a sexual encounter with six hot men who fulfill her wildest dreams and leave her even more deeply in love with her husband.
What’s your sexual fantasy? The men of Fantasies Unleashed are here to fulfill your wildest, kinkiest and hottest desires.
Buy Now: http://amzn.to/1E3TDgh
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Cynthia Sax interviews John Quinlan, The Most Tattooed Male Romance Cover Model In The World
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 »
Interview With Tina Donahue
I sat down (virtually) with Tina Donahue for a short interview. Tina Donahue’s latest release is Intimate Details, a hot contemporary menage.
Cynthia Sax: What excites you about Intimate Details?
Tina Donahue: Not only is Intimate Details a moving and hot romance between Shana, Mike and Cody, it delves into the power the one percent have over the rest of us. You know, outsourcing, layoffs, the financial meltdown, the recession. All of the stuff the ninety-nine percent have had to deal with while CEOs and the one percent are getting bonuses. The story explores how those in power abused it and ruined lives. The subplot about Shana’s past and what she has to hide provides the story with tension and mystery. It’s also what drives Mike and Cody to learn everything they can about her.
Cynthia Sax: What is your favorite line from Intimate Details?
Tina Donahue: My favorite line I can’t divulge – it would give too much away. My next favorite line is in chapter one when Shana shows up unexpectedly with Mike and Cody wondering what in the hell is going on. When Mike asks Shana who she is, she thinks – Time for the truth. Sort of. I love that. It speaks to the mystery of the story, what she tries to keep from them and everyone else.
Cynthia Sax: How does Intimate Details start?
Tina Donahue: Shana, a world-class computer hacker, has just arrived at Mike Russo and Cody Latham’s intelligence gathering firm, RLI. They aren’t expecting her because she hacked into their system to make her appointment. She’s one curvy lady, dressed to thrill and has them totally stumped as she waltzes into the conference room ready to take their breath away and change their lives forever. I started there because I wanted to begin the story with a bang.
Cynthia Sax: Where is Intimate Details set?
Tina Donahue: Manhattan, where the rich and powerful live and play. One of the scenes with Shana, Mike and Cody takes place in an opulent New York hotel – the penthouse to be exact. What they do in the hot tub…wow.
Thank you, Tina Donahue, for joining us today!
Tina Donahue’s Website: http://www.tinadonahue.com/
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As a computer hacker, she demands justice.
As a woman, she craves two powerful and commanding men.
Shana’s been hacking one of Manhattan’s most corrupt executives, making him pay for what he’s done to his victims. Using her skills, she convinces Mike and Cody to hire her at their intelligence-gathering firm, where intimate details help their clients.
Never has Mike met a woman as delicious as Shana. Smart as hell, curvy and assured, she’d be a delightful challenge in bed. Cody’s carnal hunger is equally intense. He and Mike want to know everything about her.
She won’t divulge the secrets of her past. All she can offer is unquenchable desire and her heart.
During weeks of shameless lust and pleasure, Mike and Cody peel away the layers of Shana’s life. The stunning truth changes everything. They’ll do all that they can to keep her safe…and in their arms.
Buy Now: http://www.bookstrand.com/intimate-details
Topics: Author Interviews | 1 Comment »
Interview With Ashley Ladd
I sat down (virtually) with Ashley Ladd for a short interview. Today is the release day for Ashley Ladd’s Spooky Sojourn, a MF Paranormal Erotic.
Cynthia Sax: How does Spooky Sojourn start?
Ashley Ladd: Deanna Thompson has just been hired to manage The Gilroy Resort and Hotel in Homestead, Florida and to rid it of the ghosts—or whoever is trying to make the hotel appear to be haunted—haunting it. So she talks to the assistant manager and other employees, then hires a paranormal investigator to help her get to the bottom of the problems. She’s taken aback when the man on the other end of the line has the sexiest, most exciting masculine voice she’s ever heard.
Cynthia Sax: Where is Spooky Sojourn set?
Ashley Ladd: In a haunted hotel south of Miami, Florida.
I think haunted hotels are especially exciting. In this case there are two purported ghosts haunting the hotel, one who likes to cook and throw knives around the kitchen and the other haunts the bowling alley and not only bowls but chases the employees around with pins. This has driven away many guests and also hotel personnel. However, when a romance writing convention stays at the hotel, they request a ghost tour, surprising Deanna.
Cynthia Sax: What makes Deanna and Harry perfect for each other?
Ashley Ladd: They appear to be opposites so this is a story of opposites attract. Deanna doesn’t believe in ghosts and the supernatural. In fact she thinks anybody who does is silly, even strange and immature. Meanwhile, Harry DeVeaux, the paranormal investigator she hires to disprove the ghost theory, whole-heartedly believes in ghosts. They often irritate each other even as sparks fly fast and furious.
When someone tries to kill Deanna, Harry’s protective instincts kick into full gear. He lost the first love of his life to foul play. He’s going to do everything in his power to keep Deanna safe and here with him.
Cynthia Sax: What do you love about writing paranormals?
Ashley Ladd: Paranormal is so much fun, especially ghosts. They get to fly, float, become invisible, jump into bodies, talk through people, and do just about anything they want.
Since this release occurs right before Halloween, it’s perfect timing. The mood is set for spookiness and all kinds of paranormal fun, even in hot muggy South Florida.
Thank you, Ashley Ladd, for joining us today!
Ashley Ladd’s Website: http://www.ashleyladd.blogspot.com
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Someone’s trying to kill Deanna, but is it the ghosts she doesn’t believe in, the rich socialite who might be a murderess, or someone else with a beef against The Gilroy Hotel and Resort that Deanna has just been hired to manage? The Gilroy’s owners want the ghosts, or whoever is causing the trouble at the hotel eliminated, and they are pressuring Deanna to do the job as quickly as possible. Harry DeVeaux, paranormal investigator comes highly recommended to do the job and against Deanna’s better judgment, she hires him.
Although Deanna thinks Harry’s crazy for believing in ghosts and Harry thinks Deanna has a closed mind to the possibilities of ghosts and they highly annoy each other, sparks fly. Deanna can’t help but fantasize about Harry and inspired by a romance convention visiting her hotel, writes her fantasies in a private blog that Harry finds, hacks, and reads. Ooh la la!
Buy Now: http://www.totallybound.com/spooky-sojourn
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Interview With Douglas Black
I sat down (virtually) with Douglas Black for a short interview. Today, we’re talking about Douglas Black’s latest release Port In A Storm, a contemporary MM erotic romance.
Cynthia Sax: What makes Jake and Alex right for each other?
Douglas Black: Jake and Alex, the main characters in Port In A Storm, at first seem an unlikely couple – at least as far as Alex’s thinking goes. Sure, they experience an overwhelming lust at first sight, but Jake is about as different a person from Alex as Alex can imagine.
Alex is a recent university graduate stuck working in a coffee shop while he works out what he wants to do with his life. Jake is older, more worldly and seems to have spent his entire adulthood travelling. But as they get to know each other – their physical attraction and emotional connection making it impossible for them to stay apart for long – Alex comes to realise what Jake has suspected from the start. That he is a lot more like Jake than he initially thought, and if he opens up and accepts Jake’s offer of help, Jake just might be able to give Alex the answers he’s been looking for.
Cynthia Sax: What creates problems between Jake and Alex?
Douglas Black: As Alex tells Jake frequently throughout the course of the novel, his life is complicated. Alex has a bad relationship with his father and stepmum and that’s preventing him taking the job in the family law firm that should by rights be his. On top of that, Alex has an “ex-boyfriend” who hasn’t quite got the memo that it’s time to move on and he has an unhelpful desire to please people, often at the expense of his own happiness.
As much as Alex wants Jake, he’s frightened of walking away from everything he knows to be with a relative stranger who doesn’t seem particularly capable of standing still for very long. Being torn between wanting to make his dad proud and wanting to be happy in himself is what fuels Alex’s indecision for much of the novel, until finally it threatens to destroy both Alex’s chance at a future relationship with his parents, and with Jake.
Cynthia Sax: Does a character in Port In A Storm have a secret?
Douglas Black: Jake has a secret. Of course, I’m not going to tell you what it is. You’ll have to read the book to find out, but what I will say is it’s a secret that explains why Jake has spent so much of his adult life travelling, never settling down, never stopping to think. Jake’s running from his past and the last thing he wants to do is talk about it, no matter how often Alex asks him to.
Cynthia Sax: Is Port In A Storm a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Douglas Black: Now, don’t tell my editor this, but I am toying with the idea of writing more about Alex and Jake. Jake is my favourite out of all the characters I’ve ever written and although he gets his happy ending in Port In A Storm – eventually! – I think there’s still life in the old dog yet. I’m certain Jake would agree with me, so we’ll just have to wait and see where this perpetual traveller takes me next!
Thank you, Douglas Black, for joining us today!
Douglas Black’s Website: http://douglasblackerotica.wordpress.com
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Alex’s world changes forever the day he meets Jake. It should be simple. Jake wants Alex. Alex wants Jake, but for Alex there’s this little thing called life that seems determined to get in the way.
Alex is stuck in a rut. He’s facing a big decision about his future, namely, what to do with it and so far he hasn’t managed to come up with an answer.
Until he meets Jake.
Jake blows through Alex’s world like a hurricane and Alex falls hard and fast for the perpetual traveller with a penchant for secrets and a perfect smile. Jake wants Alex, but life isn’t as simple as that.
Jake never settles in one place for long and already their long-distance relationship is driving a wedge between Alex and his family. With no compromises on offer, Alex’s decision about his future becomes a decision about Jake.
For Alex, the idea of losing Jake doesn’t bear thinking about, but choosing him looks like it will mean throwing away everything Alex knows, including his relationship with his parents. And so, Alex finds himself with another question to answer.
How much would you be willing to give up, to be happy?
Buy Now: http://www.loose-id.com/port-in-a-storm.html
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Interview With Whitley Gray
I sat down (virtually) with Whitley Gray for a short interview. Whitley Gray’s latest release is Crash Pad, a MM Contemporary.
Cynthia Sax: What is your favorite line from Crash Pad?
Whitley Gray: “Okay. I’m back. The boys are trying to murder each other. Superman and Batman are not friends, no matter what they tell you.”
“It’s that superpower-envy thing.” Jamie chuckled.
This is from a telephone conversation Jamie has with his sister. I like the visual of Jamie’s two nephews racing around in capes, Bat powers versus Spidey senses. No cooperation of superheroes in a household with two young boys, who compete with each other about everything.
One of the things I like the most about writing is layering in little details like this, especially things the typical reader may be able to relate to.
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Crash Pad?
Whitley Gray: I set out to create a story set in the summer. Lots of people run in the park year-round, and I wanted to add an activity more confined to nicer weather—like rollerblading. This activity also lent itself to an accidental meeting, as rollerblading isn’t easy, especially for beginners.
Remy is an Emergency Medicine doctor and has seen a lot of sports injuries due to accidents. Naturally he wants to help. Jamie is suspicious of doctors due to his background. The opposing viewpoints makes for some nice conflict.
Cynthia Sax: How does Crash Pad start?
Whitley Gray: As they say, always start in the action. Each of the guys has a backstory that contributes to the story, but initially it’s not necessary to know that history in order to understand what’s happening. I like to start with a brief orientation of location and what each character is doing, and then throw them right into the action. The story starts when Remy and Jamie “crash.”
Cynthia Sax: What one piece of advice would you give new writers?
Whitley Gray: Voracious readers make the best writers. If you don’t like to read, writing is the wrong career choice.
In the beginning, I think it’s vital to ground yourself in the fundamentals of writing. I don’t have a background in English Composition or Creative Writing—I’m a hard science person. For me, the best way to learn about writing was with a combination of online workshops and devouring a lot of books on craft. Since romance adds another complex layer to any story, it was important to move on to workshops about writing romance in particular. Finally, because I write M/M romance, I did a lot of reading in the genre itself, then workshops and books to help me get a good handle on what I wanted to do.
Thank you, Whitley Gray, for joining us today!
Whitley Gray’s Website: http://www.whitleygray.com
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Physician Remy Marshall has two loves: Emergency Medicine and running. Work doesn’t leave much time to meet guys, and most seem more interested in his bank account than him. With a week off to train for a marathon, Remy plans to make the most of his precious vacation. The last thing he needs is a distraction.
Jamie Sutton is new to the area. He hopes to make a fresh start after leaving an abusive relationship with an orthopedic surgeon. He’s got a new job as a massage therapist and wants to meet some nice guys. Against his better judgment, Jamie decides the best way to meet a cute rollerblader he’s seen in the park is on wheels.
With attention on his watch and not where he’s going, Remy crashes into Jamie and fractures the first-time rollerblader’s ankle. Jamie has no one to help him after the injury; Remy proposes Jamie stay with him. Jamie is reluctant, but it’s a better option than staying with the odd guy in the neighboring motel room. As the two get acquainted, Jamie’s past comes calling. Remy discovers the prize he really wants isn’t a medal in a marathon, but the man right in front of him.
Buy Now: http://www.loose-id.com/crash-pads.html
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Interview With Ella Sheridan
I sat down (virtually) with Ella Sheridan for a short interview. Today is the cover reveal day for Ella Sheridan’s Teach Me, a Romantic Suspense.
Cynthia Sax: What makes your heroes sexy?
Ella Sheridan: Having been involved in the martial arts for close to a decade, the sexiest thing about my heroes (for me) is that they are fighters. There’s nothing quite like a man that can fight for his woman and still know how to touch her with tenderness, love, and of course, hunger.
Cynthia Sax: What is one thing you find super exciting about Teach Me?
Ella Sheridan: Teach Me is the first full novel I wrote. Though it has gone through many incarnations since, it excites me to know I accomplished what I set out to accomplish—to make this story the best it could be.
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Teach Me?
Ella Sheridan: The hero. 🙂 Really, the story didn’t come to me; the hero did. Conlan dictated the story from day one, and I’ve never been more grateful to a character for taking over the reins!
Cynthia Sax: How does Teach Me start?
Ella Sheridan: The intersection of Conlan’s and Jess’s lives occurs in only one place: the little coffee shop around the corner from the company where Jess works. They’ve seen each other there for months, but neither has had the nerve to move beyond attraction across a crowded room to actually meeting. They needed something to help them along (so I helped 😉 ).
Cynthia Sax: What is one aspect that makes Conlan and Jess right for each other?
Ella Sheridan: In the physical realm, Conlan and Jess are opposites (and you know what they say about opposites…). Conlan is the strong one, and Jess, after what she’s been through, is less so. But in the emotional realm, it is Jess who has the courage to go after what she wants, despite the pain she’s been through. It’s Conlan who has to find the strength to follow his heart.
Cynthia Sax: Does a character in Teach Me have a secret?
Ella Sheridan: What is it? If I told you that, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore, now would it? 😉
Cynthia Sax: Is Teach Me a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Ella Sheridan: Teach Me is a series. Conlan’s best friend, Jack, meets his match in book two, Trust Me, out at the end of December. And book three will feature another soldier from Jack’s past, Gabe, and his twin brother. That book, Take Me, will be released in February of next year. To find out more about these releases (and all the other great things I’ve got going on), readers can check out my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/IJkRf .
Thank you, Ella Sheridan, for joining us today!
Ella Sheridan’s Website: http://ellasheridanauthor.com/
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A woman determined to heal…
Shy researcher Jess Kingston spent the last eight weeks recovering from her ex-boyfriend’s brutal attack. Body healed, she’s ready to put her life back together—except her ex isn’t ready to let go. She won’t cower in a corner while Brit tortures her, but she’s powerless to fight back.
A man determined to resist…
Ex-military security specialist Conlan James avoids commitment like the plague. His job, his Harley, and the occasional one-night stand are all he needs, until the day he rescues Jess from a tense situation and realizes he can’t get her off his mind. He can teach her to protect herself, but protecting his heart is another matter.
A madman determined to win…
As the deadly game of cat-and-mouse with Brit heats up, so does the hunger between Con and Jess. Safety might be found in numbers, but in bed, all bets are off—and the wrong move could lead to heartbreak. Or death.
Pre-order Now On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-Southern-Nights-Book-ebook/dp/B00NW16WTC
Pre-order Now On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-teachme-1635417-149.html
Pre-order Now On Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/teach-me-11
Topics: Author Interviews | 3 Comments »
Interview With Ashley Ladd
I sat down (virtually) with Ashley Ladd for a short interview. Today is the release day for Ashley Ladd’s Her Men, a Contemporary Erotic MFM menage.
Cynthia Sax: What makes Tim and James so sexy?
Ashley Ladd: They’re strong—physically, mentally, spiritually. Mainly, they deeply love their woman and would do anything to win her and keep her safe and happy.
Cynthia Sax: What do you find exciting about Her Men?
Ashley Ladd: In “Her Men” Julie has dreamed about and longed for Timmy and James for twenty years. She finally gets her chance to be with them not just for a one-night stand, but possibly forever.
Cynthia Sax: What is your favorite line from Her Men?
Ashley Ladd: “You too. Is that a sign?”
She couldn’t help but chuckle. Since when did Tim believe in signs? “A sign?”…
“Your nipples are puckering through your suit. I’d call that a sign.”
I think this is cute and funny in a sexy sort of way. Julie and Timmy are engaging in a bantering verbal foreplay when they first meet after twenty years of being apart. Julie has been sunbathing on the Biloxi Beach, and he finds her in her dream. She’s wet and sandy and half-dressed during their reunion and so she’s feeling very insecure, then he mentions her physical reaction to him. She wants to die inside all the while she’s (obviously) turned on.
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Her Men?
Ashley Ladd: This is the marriage of a couple ideas.
First I can never decide who I like better—Captain Jack Sparrow or Will Turner in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’—so it’d be awesome if I could have both. This is fantasy, so why not?
Secondly, there is a man I’ve never forgotten, that I dream and daydream about often. I keep wondering what if I were to meet him again. What would happen? Does he remember me? If he remembers me, does he think of me fondly? Often? Does he miss me? Does he dream about me like I dream about him? Erotically? Romantically? If we both found ourselves single at the same time, could we, would we get back together?
Thank you, Ashley Ladd, for joining us today!
Ashley Ladd’s Website: http://www.ashleyladd.blogspot.com
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Forty-four year old Julie Weston has loved Timmy and James since her college days twenty something years ago. She’s fantasized about both all these long years, never able to choose between them.
Hoping Tim and James will attend, she attends their college marching band reunion. When both men show up her dreams are answered. They’re sexier than she imagined and she hopes they won’t be disappointed by her older self.
It turns out both men came just to see her again and neither is happy about the other’s presence. They fight over her, confusing her more than ever. It takes a hot ménage…or two…for her heart to decide which one she’s in love with.
Buy Now: http://www.totallybound.com/her-men
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Interview With Suz deMello
I sat down (virtually) with Suz deMello for a short interview. Today we’ll be talking about Temptation in Tartan, a vampire erotic romance.
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Temptation in Tartan?
Suz deMello: I wrote Temptation in Tartan due to the success of a previous short story. I sold Highland Vampire to Spice Briefs, where it did well. So I wanted to capitalize on that success by writing another vampire tale set in the Scottish Highlands, but I had a problem: HV is a contemporary, and I just couldn’t see writing futuristic Scottish vampires. So I decided to write a prequel set in the 18th century.
Cynthia Sax: Where is Temptation in Tartan set?
Suz deMello: Temptation in Tartan is set in 1747 Scotland, a few years after the disastrous defeat of the Highlanders at Culloden Moor. The aftermath of that battle saw the destruction of the clan-based way of life that had prevailed in the Highlands for centuries. The wearing of tartan and ownership of weapons of war were prohibited, and punishments severe.
Further acts against Scots called “The Clearances”—which literally cleared the land of its inhabitants, their homes and flocks, often using fire as a weapon—killed many and drove still more to overseas havens, including the USA. The Highlands have never recovered their old population level or traditional way of life.
So at that time, Scotland was not merely exciting, but threatening. The story in Temptation in Tartan is based on those historical events, most especially the arranged marriage between Kieran, Laird Kilborn, and Lydia Swann Williston, who is related to Sassenach military in charge of the Highlands. Kier knows that marrying the wealthy widow will safeguard his clan as well as provide needed resources.
One of my favorite lines from the story is based on this situation, when Kieran tells Lydia, “I betrothed with ye for yer money, but after we met, I married ye for purely carnal reasons.
Cynthia Sax: Does a character in Temptation in Tartan have a secret? What is it?
Suz deMello: LOL, Kieran and the rest of Clan Kilburn have a very big secret indeed, one that they’re trying to keep from Lady Lydia. When eavesdropping, Lydia hears a snippet that describes this secret:
“But have ye told Lady Lydia? About him, about us?”
“Are ye mad?” Kier answered the castle’s steward. “She was affrighted enough on the way here.”
“Aye, I heard aboot it. Ye doonae think she’s suspicious of a man who ripped off the head of his enemy and drank his blood?”
Kieran laughed bitterly. “At least she doesnae suspect the truth. I doubt she’s ever heard the word vampire.”
Lydia strained her ears. She thought her husband said something like “vespers,” but didn’t understand what evening prayers had to do with a secret her husband was keeping from her. Was it a Gaelic word she didn’t yet understand?
Cynthia Sax: Is Temptation in Tartan a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Suz deMello: Yes, this book is part of a series dubbed “Highland Vampires.” Right now it consists of three novels and two short stories. I project another novel and another shortie before I’m done, and the series will trace the vampire clan from its advent to its end, some eight centuries.
Find the list of works in this series here:
http://www.suzdemello.com/highlandvampireseries.html
Thank you, Suz deMello, for joining us today!
Suz deMello’s Website: http://www.suzdemello.com
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She had to marry a monster…
Rumors had followed the chieftains of Clan Kilborn for centuries. Said to be descended from the Viking Berserkers, they were ferocious in battle, known for tearing off the heads of their enemies and drinking their blood.
But English noblewoman Lydia Swann Williston would marry Kieran, Laird Kilborn, to bring peace to the Kilborn lands after the horror of Culloden and the brutal pacification. A widow, she also brought needed wealth to Clan Kilborn. For her part, eighteen-year-old Lydia wanted children. With her husband killed at Culloden, she would make a new life in the Highlands.
The old chieftain of Clan Kilborn also died in battle, and she hoped that the new young Laird would lack his ancestors’ ferocity.
She was wrong.
Buy Now: http://www.ellorascave.com/temptation-in-tartan-1.html
Topics: Author Interviews | 1 Comment »
