Getting to know Lee Rowan

Like a lot of writers, I go blank when faced with “Tell us a little about yourself.”  So I enlisted two of my favorite colleagues to give me the third degree—Alex Beecroft, who writes like Patrick O’Brian might have if he’d been doing gay Age of Sail novels, (Captain’s Surrender, False Colors), and Charlie Cochrane, who’s had plenty of experience questioning suspects via her handsome sleuths in her smash Cambridge Dons series that begins with Lessons in Love.

Okay, ladies, I’m in the hot seat:

ALEX:

How long have you been writing? What made you start?

I wanted to write those books based on TV shows... the original-novel sort, “pro fanfic.”  But I was only in junior high and though my queries were turned down gently... they were turned down.

What was your first book and what was it about?

It was a Man from UNCLE fanfiction, and it was about twenty pages--before I gave up because I was only around 12 or 13 and didn’t know enough about the world.  Frustrating!  My first published book was Ransom, about two young Naval officers who decide love is worth risking death for.

If you could be one of your characters, who would it be and why?

I’m not sure I would want to be one of my characters—not permanently, anyway.   Maybe Lord Robert Scoville... he’s got a lovely man to keep house for him, and he gets to travel the Victorian world in first class accommodations

What are you looking for in a hero?

A person who, when things are really bad, would put himself (or herself) between danger and the one s/he loves.  Someone who knows the easy way out, but does the right thing.  Sounds corny, but that’s what a hero is.

What are you enjoying reading at the moment?

Mysteries by Rex Stout and Georges Simenon—two masters at creating a unique and specific world—New York City for Nero Wolfe, Paris for Inspector Maigret.

What do you do when you're not writing?

Lately, haul my animals back and forth to the vet, or pour water on the garden, or engage in hand-to-hand combat with an apparently endless string of home improvement projects.

What do you like better to write - series or stand alone novels?

Series, apparently.  When I get a set of characters who really work for me, they seem to take up residence in my subconscious and keep tossing out ‘oh, and by the way, did you know what we’re doing now...?’ sort of teasers.

What automatically puts you off a book?

Graphic depictions of physical cruelty, especially to animals.  And if it’s committed by someone who’s supposed to be a ‘good guy,’ that’s it for the book.   In fact, if there is no one character I can even like, I won’t finish the book.  Twenty years ago I would have, but there are enough unpleasant people in the real world—I refuse to spend my time to fictional jerks.

Tell us about the books you have out at the moment?

Home is the Sailor – AT LAST!  The fourth novel in the Royal Navy series.  It’s interesting how the series has worked out—Ransom was mostly about Davy, Winds of Change and Eye of the Storm were more about Will, and Home brings us back to Davy and sets the course for the rest of their lives together.   There may be other books, but if the series ended here, I’d feel I brought them safe to harbor.

CHARLIE:

If you had twenty four words to describe what you write, what would you say?

Ordinary people who find themselves in situations where they also find, within themselves, the ability to ‘give and hazard all’ for the sake of love.

That’s one word over your limit, but I could hardly leave out the love!

Why do you write the genre you do, as opposed to something that people might call more mainstream?

I write the stories I want to read, and there’s not much of it in the mainstream! 

Where would you like to see m/m romance in five years time? What do you think it would take to get it there?

Right on the shelf beside other romances.  It’ll take time.  It always does.

Can you tell us one thing about yourself that would surprise your readers?

I’ve walked on fire.  And no, the next stop was not the hospital!   I was trying to get up the nerve to quit a full-time office job and go half-time to open my massage therapy practice, with the idea that, one day, I could do massage and write in my free time.   It’s very interesting:  once you have put your bare feet on red-hot coals and crossed without being burned, your mind kind of redefines the word “impossible.”

Can you tell me about one book/story that is your style to a T - the sort of 'If you like this you'll love the rest of it' story?

I think Ransom or Gentleman’s Gentleman fit that bill...  one is my writing at its most serious, the other is a little lighter. 

And…. one of these days, I’ve got a few questions of my own!

Traveling with R. Ann Siracusa & A Contest

R. ANN SIRACUSA’S TRAVELBLOG: SUZHOU, CHINA

I love to travel almost as much as I love to write, and I’ve managed to combine those two passions into writing novels which transport readers to exotic settings, immerse them in romance, intrigue and foreign cultures, and make them laugh.

Currently, I have a humorous romantic suspense series featuring a tour director and a Europol spy, with each book set in a different country where I’ve traveled. And the upcoming release is set in China. Who’d have guessed?

Some background on China through my eyes

China has always been fascinating to westerners, in part because of the vast differences in culture. While China and the United States are close to the same size in area (China = 3.705 million sq.miles; U.S. = 3.794 million sq.miles), China has as population of approximately 1.338 billion people while the U.S. population is estimated at 307 million people. Quite a difference in population density. Any city with a population under 1.5 million is considered a small city in China, or so I was told when I was there.

China has fifty-six recognized ethnic groups, the largest being Han Chinese (descendents of the Chinese Dynasties from the Beijing area), and the other 8% are in one of the other fifty-five ethnic minorities, including Mongols, Tibetans, and Koreans.

In most other countries where I’ve traveled, tour guides have to be licensed by the government, but usually they are not government employees. In China, they work for the state and use a pretty “stock” script. Many of them even told the same jokes. A few of the local guides, toward the end of the trip, loosened up and gave us some of their own thoughts, but that did not happen often.

The Chinese we met were all very friendly and seemed well disposed toward Americans. Whether they really like us or not, they do like the American dollars. Most of the younger people spoke good English, and said their teachers learned English in China, not by studying in English speaking countries.

That being said, in this blog, I want to take you to a city which I didn’t know anything about until I traveled in China:  the city of Suzhou, capital of the silk industry, located along the Grand Canal of China.

Suzhou

Suzhou (also Su-chou), a city on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River with a population of 6 million people, is located on the shores of Lake Taihu and along the Grand Canal.  Because of the canal, it is sometimes called the “Venice of the East.”   The city, which is 2,500 year old, is known for its beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and gardens.

1 – Modern Suzhou from canal      

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2 - Suzhou Street

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3 – Youycun Garden

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4 - The Honorable Administrator’s Garden    

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5 - Garden paths are made of stone mosaics

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6 - Temple of Mystery

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7 - The North Temple Pagoda

The Grand Canal

The gardens were beautiful, but I found the Grand Canal, which runs through Suzhou, to be the most fascinating feature of the city.  The canal starts in Beijing and extends southward for 1,103 miles to Hangzhou, south west of Shanghai. It is the longest canal in the world.  The Chinese are excellent engineers and they go in for huge public works, like the Great Wall and Three Gorges Dam.

During the Song Dynasty in the 10^th century, the pound lock was invented to raise ships over high elevations.  Throughout history, the canal has been admired for its size, grandeur, and innovation.

  

8, 9, 10 - Homes along the Grand Canal in Suzhou

  

          

When the canal (begun in 486 BC), was completed in 609 AD, Suzhou found itself strategically located on a major trade route and since then has been the metropolis of  industry and commerce on the south-eastern coast of China.  The silk factory here is famous, and the Suzhou Hanging Gardens are a World Heritage Site.  For me, the most interesting part was the plethora of sampans housing whole families who live their entire lives on the water.

11, 12 – Families live in Sampans on the Canal and lake

While I wanted to use this setting for an adventure for my tour director and spy, they didn’t make it to this venue.  But if you have a change to travel there, it’s worth the time. 

Where would you like to travel next?

If you like to travel to exotic lands and visit new cultures, visit my website at: http://www.rannsiracusa.com and find out about my books.  Or drop by one of my guest Travelblogs.  There are lots of places left in the world to go (and I’ve actually been to quite a few of them).  Peru and the Amazon are next.

See ‘ya.  R. Ann Siracusa

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COMING IN AUGUST

Book Three in the humorous Romantic Suspense series

 Harriet Ruby: Tour Director Extraordinaire

Sapphire Blue Publishing

DESTRUCTION OF THE GREAT WALL

(Working Title)

FUN, FAST, AND NAUGHTY

Take another fast-paced romantic romp with young tour director, Harriet Ruby, and handsome spy, Will Talbot.  Will, this time on a covert mission to recover a list of counterspies, travels with Harriet as her husband (his cover) on a tour she’s conducting in China. Things begin to go downhill when her parents turn up as members of the tour group. Then someone tries to kill her.  You’ll be surprised by what happens.

BLURB

I’m Harriet Ruby, Tour Director Extraordinaire.  At last, one of my fondest wishes has come true!  Will Talbot, my favorite Super Spy and the love of my life, wants to include me in his covert mission to recover a list of double agents for the US government.

Wow!  Usually, I want to know everything, and he can’t tell me anything.  Now, I’ll be part of the action.  I am so-o going to love this!

Not that I have a big role.  I only have to act as if we’re husband and wife when he accompanies me on my China tour.  The tour group members are strangers we’ll never see again, and we can spend three intimate weeks together.

I mean, how hard can that be? 

Surprise, surprise!  My parents show up on the tour as replacements for some cancellations.  Now, we have to pretend we’re married to protect Will’s cover.

And then, other problems erupt when someone tries to kill me and terrorists kidnap me and my mother to lure Will into a trap.  Not to mention the damage my assault rifle does to the Great Wall…

Oh, man.  It wasn’t my fault.  Really!

Book One – All For A Dead Man’s Leg

Book Two – All For A Fist Full Of Ashes

▪

Getting to know Belinda McBride

Why don't you start with telling us a little about yourself? What genre do you write in and why?

Thanks for having me today, Dawn! Well, I live in the far north part of California , very near Mt. Shasta . I live with my family and my 5 Siberian Huskies…Missy, Pai Mei, River, Poppy, Levi and Ditto the Undead Dog. Yes, I know that adds up to six, but Ditto is undead, you know.

I mostly write speculative fiction, which is pretty much anything that is based on world building. My favorite genre is sci fi/space opera. I write same sex and ménage as well as m/f romance. You can find my books at Loose Id, Changeling Press, Passion in Print, and New Concepts Publishing.

What comes first for you when you sit down to write a book? Plot or Characters?

I don’t really have a set routine for that; sometimes I start with a character that’s been pestering me. In the m/m space opera ‘An Uncommon Whore’ I began with the character Griffin Hawke. He’d been languishing in my character files for awhile. However, in ‘Blacque/Bleu’ I started with a concept: a vampire with insomnia falls in love with a big butch closeted werewolf.

Do you "cast" your characters using pictures or actors to help inspire you when you're writing?

Not very often. I’m not really hooked into TV or movies that much. Sometimes I’ll run across an image somewhere that really strikes me and I’ll save that for inspiration.

How long does it take you to finish a book from start to finish?

For a novella, I like to take a month, two or three for a novel. But this is real life and often, I’ll get a letter from an editor asking if I can move something up a few weeks. I can move very fast when necessary.

Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.

My newest release is ‘Black Planet: Little Foxes.’ Its part of the ongoing Black Planet sci fi series at Changeling Press. I wrote it because in the first BP book ‘Little Dragon’ I left a character hanging in the lurch. He wasn’t really a villain, but he wasn’t a hero either. I decided that after a couple years as a slave, it would be interesting to see how his character had evolved.

How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author? Do you read your own reviews?

Reader reaction is very important. I love it when someone picks up some obscure element in the book or sees something that I don’t see. I also love to hear that they were emotionally moved by my writing. I check my reviews, but I don’t get all tied up in them. That would push me into second guessing myself. Also, I think a lot of reviewers just try too hard and they forget that this is entertainment.

What are you working on now? Anything you want to tell us about?

Yes, I’m working on ‘Blacque/Bleu,’ a m/m paranormal for Loose Id. As I mentioned earlier, it’s about a closeted werewolf and a dying vampire. It’s a bit poignant; the two heroes get together for a weekend fling. Blacque has known all his life that he is gay but has remained celibate. Duty tears them apart and they both find themselves facing some difficult decisions. It will release in the fall for Coming Out month.

I’m also working on ‘Dos Lunas,’ a novella for an anthology called ‘Lucky in Red’ at the new MLR imprint Passion in Print. That will release in the early winter. My partners in the anthology are Lynn Lorenz and Jianne Carlo.

What books are currently on your nightstand/bedside? Anything coming you are dying to read?

I’m currently reading Gena Showalter’s “Darkest Lie.” I’m always waiting anxiously for the next Patricia Briggs or Charlaine Harris book. I’m also collecting the old Georgette Heyer Regency romances on my Nook.

If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?

Since I write in so many genres, it really depends on what a reader likes. But overall, I’d say Belle Starr is a great start. It’s probably my favorite, and has a bit of everything: Sci fi, action, hot sex and shapeshifters. There’s a disastrous ménage thrown in for good measure! LOL!

If you could have been the servant to any famous person in history, who would that be and why?

Hannibal of Carthage . He was probably the greatest military mind of all time. Hannibal came within a hair’s breadth of defeating Rome , which would have literally re-shaped history.

I’d also have had fun with the painter Raphael Sanzo; he was such a horn dog!

What so you see for the future of publishing and e-books?

Well, as we all know, the industry is in flux right now. With the availability of affordable technology to read e-books, the electronic industry is growing like wildfire, and the big guys need to sit up and pay attention. The indie e-publishers are still on the cutting edge, keeping books affordable and not only staying on top of trends, but literally setting the trends today. I think it’s going to become more competitive for authors which will be an asset for readers.

Which of your characters do you love/hate/fear/pity the most and why?

Yow…big question there. Love? Guo Lee from the Black Planet books. He’s a supporting character in the series. Guo was tricked into immortality as a young man. He’s wise, humorous and incredibly powerful. I love him because in spite of his power, he’s incredibly humble.  Hate? There’s an upcoming character in the sequel to ‘An Uncommon Whore.’ He’s one of the aliens that invaded the planet of Arash and committed atrocities. Fear? Carin Nakeshima from Black Planet: Dragon’s Blood. She’s evil wrapped in a beautiful package. Cruel, bloodthirsty and inhuman. Pity? Jase from the Imperative series. He’s such a lost soul. It was hard to write him without crying.

Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her/it/him when she/he/it refuses to inspire you?

My muse is hyperactive. She never leaves me alone. LOL! But if we’re having a slow day, I just give her the day off to play. She always comes back and starts pestering me again.

If there was a soundtrack to your latest novel, what genre/songs would be included?

For Blacque/Bleu, the song, ‘Kiss From a Rose’ by Seal keeps running through my head. For a soundtrack to that book, I’d include, “The Sky is Cryin’ by Stevie Rae Vaughn, ‘Free Bird’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd, ‘Sweet Melissa’ by the Allman Brothers, ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ as performed by Willie Nelson. Lots of bluesy, southern rock music for this book.


Which of your characters would you most likely fall for if they were real?

Who wouldn’t I fall for? LOL! I have a soft spot for the very feral Sage Connelly from the Truckee Wolves stories. (Toxic and Educating Evangeline)  I would just love to spend some time on a sofa with Armand from Belle Starr. He’s very alpha and very masculine, but also very easy-going.


Besides the bedroom, what's the sexiest part of your home in your opinion and why?

My office is currently being used to store my daughters’ overflow, but normally I think it’s very sexy. I have wonderful art that inspires me, it’s done in shades of green and grey. I burn vanilla and floral candles. My orchids are blooming right now, so I’m liking the space. J

Where can readers find you on the ‘net for more information on you, your books and other fun stuff?

My website is: http://www.belindamcbride.com

My blog is http://www.belindam.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/belinda.mcbride1?ref=profile

Email: belinda@belindamcbride.com

Black Planet II: Little Foxes

Belinda McBride

There’s no doubt in Kitsune Jung’s mind that he deserves the hellish punishment he receives at the hands of the Nephris. After betraying Rose Lee, he expects no less. He planned his own capture in a daring mission that went sadly awry. Now all he has to look forward to are long days of hard labor and the occasional appearance of Jahn, the handsome young employee of a powerful Nephris general.

Hu Fei Lee has gone undercover to rescue Kit Jung from imprisonment on the Black Planet. She knows about his past with Rose, but somehow the quiet, courageous slave just doesn’t seem to be the venal, cowardly man she expected. Succumbing to a powerful attraction, she seduces Kit, but keeps her true identity a secret.

When the truth comes out, will Kit Jung be able to forgive Hu Fei Lee? And will his own secrets destroy the fragile bond of their love?

EXCERPT:

Home. He closed his eyes against the words, and the dizziness that came with them. They’d sent someone to take him home.

“No.” His voice was so low he barely heard his own words. He cleared his throat. “I can’t go home. Not yet.”

He turned and faced Jahn… Hu Fei. His mind scrabbled, trying to make sense of the name. He grabbed onto the obvious. “Lee? You’re related to Rose Lee?” That was a stupid question. Lee was a common name among the Chinese.

“Cousins. She was raised by my parents. We grew up together.” Hu’s voice was cautious.

“At least your name isn’t Bruce.” He was surprised when the youth broke into a chuckle. It seemed to break the tension.

“Yes, Rose grew up with posters of Bruce all over her room. He’s her hero.”

Kit looked up and gazed at the impostor. He recalled the odd comments Hu Fei had made earlier, the unusual emotions he gave off. “You said maybe Rose and Arad didn’t die…”

“They didn’t. I can’t say too much… not yet. They’re on Earth, alive and well. They helped prepare me for this mission.” He saw a flicker of something… some deep emotion in Hu’s dark eyes. “They married a few months before I left.”

Kit needed to sit down before he fell to the floor. The reaction had kicked in big time. His arms and legs trembled, his heart raced. It felt like a panic attack.

“I’ve been thinking about how to get out of here. I have reason…”

“No.”

Hu looked at him in shock. “No?” Anger began to sparkle in his eyes.

“Not yet.” He rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I’ve got to help with medicine for Debh. And this plant…” He gestured to the starts of the shrub. “I really need to find out what’s up with that. Otherwise, my time here’s just been a big waste.” He sighed. “And Rachal, how can I leave her with Karesh?”

“She’ll come with us. If I can possibly include her in the plan, she’ll come too.”

Kit felt a rush of relief. “Debh?” He didn’t feel so certain about her. Besides, he wouldn’t want to be the target of General Farrar’s fury.

Hu Fei looked at him steadily. “Debh is problematic. She’d have to come to Earth with us. I’m not sure if we’d make it back before she delivered. Her health problems are also a concern. I’m not sure how… safe it would be to confide in her.” So he felt the same uncertainty about the Parsian Kit did.

Hu crossed the small space to stand in front of Kit. “I know this is a shock. I know, but we can’t waste time.” He reached out, settled a hand on Kit’s arm. He looked at that small, rough hand and then looked up into Kit’s face in front of him.

Sudden desire rushed through Kit, bringing the goose bumps up on his skin. He looked steadily into Hu’s brown gaze, and watched as awareness began to dawn in his expression. He craved -- he needed just a touch -- just an expression of gentle care. Kit’s back was braced against the table. He had nowhere to retreat. Hu Fei moved closer, and Kit’s eyes dropped shut, even as Hu’s soft lips brushed against his. He gripped the table hard, keeping his hands in place.

He didn’t want this… not with a man. Maybe once upon another life, but panic bubbled up over the desire, and he gasped. Hu Fei reached up, stroking gently down his face, gentling the fear. His hands ghosted over Kit’s bare throat and back up to his jaw. When Kit opened his mouth, only the tip of the other man’s tongue slipped into his mouth, teasing and light.

Abruptly, the kiss was broken and Kit was enfolded in an embrace. Arms that were smaller than his wrapped around his body, and muscles that were less powerful held him up. The breath that had been frozen in his lungs broke free, and he choked back a huge, dry sob. Unable to deny himself any longer, he wrapped the smaller man up in a hug and buried his face in his shoulder. He wanted to cry, but there were no tears.

“Shhh… it’s over. It’s time to go home.” Hu didn’t let him go. He held on for as long as Kit needed him.

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