Guest Author Day with LK Below/Excerpt

To get us started can you tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?

Today is the release day for Stone Cold Kiss. Here’s the blurb:

One Kiss…
Dangling over the parapet of a castle, Kelsey Donovan doubts her decisions as she battles with her fear of heights. How will kissing the Blarney Stone change her life? But as the arms of a sexy Irishman close around her, she begins to change her mind.
Can it lead to a lifetime?
When Seamus McKinley rescues a tourist gripping the Blarney Castle for dear life, he never expected her to grab hold of his heart just as tightly. But can he convince her to meet him halfway?

What makes a book great in your eyes?

As an author, I’m constantly nitpicking as I read, thinking about sentences that should have been phrased differently, etc. I do this even with my favorite bestselling authors, who I love. A truly great book will sweep me away in the story and make me forget that I’m an author.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Um, not really. Every now and again, I’ll lose myself in a great book and spend the day reading instead of writing. I often feel guilty for doing that.

And buying books is unfortunately a(n expensive) habit. Especially old books. The older the better. I have over 2,000 books in my library and most of them were printed before 1940.

How much of the book is realistic?

I try to make my books as authentic as possible. In Stone Cold Kiss I researched the Blarney Stone, Irish slang, and spoke with a friend who is originally from Ireland. Adding bits of realism like that, even if it might not make any difference to a reader, makes the book come alive for me. Not to mention it means that I get to research, which I love to do!

What is the hardest scene you have had to write (published or not)? Why?

I’m not so sure any one scene has been more difficult than any other. Usually if I can’t get a scene out, that’s a sign that it shouldn’t be in the book and I should take it in another direction.

If you had a reporter follow you around for the day, what would the readers get to see in your daily schedule?

Ha! I’m sure they’d fall asleep! I try to keep daytime hours for writing, like a regular job. I write between 8-6, but the inspiration doesn’t always flow when I want it to. I’m just as likely to spend the day setting up appearances on blogs, etc. and writing blog posts as I am to park myself at the computer and bang out a story. Then, of course, there are times when my inspiration overflows my allotted time and I end up writing long into the evening or on Sundays when I’m supposed to be relaxing.

When you begin your stories, do you go with the flow, or go with an outline?

I always go with the flow. Writing to me is the same as reading a good book. I don’t quite know what will happen until the end, but I’m sure glad to go along for the ride. :)

Is it hard coming up with titles or characters names?

For many of my works, the characters come with names of their own and the story takes on a definite flavor when it comes to the title. If I can start out with names and titles, the story flies past in a breeze. If I write it using place holders for names or no title, I’m in agony trying to find something that will fit. Around that time, I usually bounce ideas off my friends and family, trying to find something that fits.

What does your workstation look like?

A mess. Let’s leave it at that LOL. I’m always digging up past notes and adding them to the pile, then never putting them away in case I need them again soon.

Are you the type of individual who gets weepy at the end of a good movie, or a sad movie, or do you just stay neutral through it all?

I definitely get weepy at the end of a sad movie -- and yes, I’ve cried to some of the endings of my own books, too.

Are there any books coming that you are itching to read (either electronic or print) from your favorite authors?

I’m always salivating for the next installment in the Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands. I also can’t wait for Julia Quinn’s next book or for Sally Mackenzie’s. And Gina Gordon has the second installment in her Bare Naked Designs series coming out in April.

If you were to replenish your cabinets with one junk food, what would it be?

Salt and vinegar Miss Vickie’s chips. They’re my favorite (and sadly, very hard to find up where I live).

EXCERPT FROM Stone Cold Kiss:

Rolling her eyes, she swung forward and pressed her lips to the stone. Finally. Oddly enough, she didn’t feel any different. Maybe the stone’s powers were only superstition after all. She tried not to think of what that would mean for her promotion pitch in two days.

“I’m done,” she said, once she had dangled in the air long enough to know her face must be a gruesome shade of purple.

“I know,” he said simply.

“Pull me up!”

“I haven’t decided whether or not to leave ye here. Seems to me I’d best be far away afore ye think to use your blarney tongue.”

At his words, alarm ripped through her. He would leave her hanging there. Without thinking, she released the cold iron bars to grip his arms instead. “Don’t you dare leave me!”

“Och, lass, I was just teasing.”

“It’s not funny!” she screeched. “I’m--”

He lifted her to safety and she saw his face for the first time. Brown hair framed his superbly chiseled face and lips. Light stubble coated his cheeks, just enough to make her shiver in delight at the thought of feeling it between her thighs. He wore only a t-shirt and a pair of low-slung jeans, showcasing his long, muscled legs and a flash of his flat stomach. Here she lay, next to an Irish sex god, and by golly did she ever wish they were doing something a little less innocent. If she kissed him now, would he take her here on the castle parapet? His body hovered just out of reach, his heat blanketing her. She began to throb between her legs. Her fingers curled into her palm as she contemplated grabbing hold of his thick hair and bringing him closer.

Wait, what was she thinking? Jerking away, she stood. She hadn’t come here to be seduced by him--or, given her thoughts, to seduce him. Her main reason for flying to Ireland had been to kiss the Blarney Stone, and now she’d done that. Tomorrow, she would leave, just like she’d planned, and she would never see this sexy stranger again.

Why did that thought bring an ache to her chest?

Learn more or buy the book here.

L. K. Below writes romance and speculative fiction. Under her full name, Lindsay Below, she pens young adult novels. Visit her online at www.lbelow.net or on her blog at http://lbelow.blogspot.com.

Author Day with Sherry Gloag

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

Multi-published author Sherry Gloag is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England.  She considers the surrounding countryside as extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs "thinking time" and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel.  While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as there are no other walkers close by.

Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully adnits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office.  She also finds crystal craft work theraputic.

Were you an avid reader as a child? What type of books did you enjoy reading?

One after the other I picked up every childhood illness going, so yes I had plenty of time to read.  I read David Attenborough, Gerald Durrell, Georgette Heyer, Doreen Tovey, and when I discovered them, as many romance novels I could lay my hands on.

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

Duty Calls is about consequences arising from past actions.  The hero, Rafe Hawk, has built up a successful career and is happy with his independence and financial status.  But the past has a way of catching up with you at the most unexpected times.

A stormy night, an escape from a potential killer, and help from ‘the enemy within’ come back to haunt Rafe over a decade later.

For the heroine, Trudi Delaney, the consequences of her own past actions has her fleeing, with the perceived enemy, when an unexpected opportunity presents itself one stormy night.  Against the odds she survived that night and has a living memory to remind her every minute of the day.

When Duty Calls, both have to balance duty with family loyalty.

Did your book require a lot of research? How long does it take to write a book for you?

No, I deliberately chose a theme, plot, conflict and goals that could work without doing too much research.  If I remember correctly the first four chapters ‘arrived’ quickly, then the book stalled, so I went off and did other things.  After a few months everything came together again and it took another month to complete the first draft.  The rest took several weeks over an extended period to complete.

If you could have any vice without repercussions, what would it be?

This is difficult :-) Every cause has an effect. LOL  But I think travelling the world would be my choice here.

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

Jane Austen.  I love her writing and she travelled quite extensively for a woman of her times.

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

With the sales of e-books increasing at 80% the future of publishing is in a major ‘flux’.  The major houses no longer control the market in the same way they used to.  And authors are no longer prepared to tie themselves to a publishing format that too long held on to their old ways.

The combination of the internet, entrepreneurs willing to start up their own e-publishing business, and extremely talented authors previously unable to crack into the publishing market the world of publishing and e-books can only flourish.

Yes many of the new e-publishers collapse without trace fairly quickly, but there are plenty of strong vibrant companies out their with a large portfolio of authors who are creating or have brought substantial reader following to ensure a steady future for both author and publisher.

In a market moving, changing, reshaping itself as fast as the current publishing and e-book market is now, those who fail to keep up will fall by the wayside.

Will paper books disappear?  I don’t think that’s possible for a long time yet.  To do that every reader in the world will have to have access to a computer, and that’s not likely right now.

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

I love Trudy Delaney, from Duty Calls, because against the odds, she looks life in the eye and defies it to defeat her.

I pity Bella in Duty Calls because she faces the inevitable with dignity and serenity and yet can do nothing to change her destiny.

There is a character in Duty Calls that some characters fear but I’m not saying more about them here.

There is not character in Duty Calls that I hate.

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

There are times when there is major fallings out with my muse.  No we don’t go at it ‘hammer-and-tongs’ because she just ups and ‘hoofs-it’.  That is so frustrating!

When she goes awol, I play around with short, short stories, until she gets over her snit.

Do you have another book in the works? Would you like to tell readers about your current or future projects?

I have two more wip’s, one is a Regency that I began during NaNo 2009, and the other is another ‘Hawk’ story.

Have you ever experience weird cravings while you write? If so, what kind?

Not so much ‘weird’ as unfortunate.  When I get stuck with a project – whatever it is – I tend to hit the biscuit (cookie) box.

Which do you prefer:

Denim or Leather on a man/woman/significant other?
Denim.

Irish or Italian accent in a man?
Irish  - I have to say that I had two Irish ‘In-Laws’

Dark eyes or Light eyes?
Dark – or green of any shade.

Sleeping bag or Bed?
A bed, every time :-)

Dinner or Movie for a first date?
Dinner, I’m not a movie fan.

Coffee or Tea?
Tea.

If you got three wishes from a genie, what would they be? (They can be silly, serious or in between).
The ability to learn easily.
The ability to dance.
The ability to eat whatever I want, without the inevitable consequences :-) LOL

Sneak peek into DUTY CALLS

Available at Black Opal Bookstores

Blurb:

She’d saved his life…

Rafe Hawk refuses to accept the inheritance, of a large English estate, and the title that goes with it, after his birth father’s death because the man chose duty over the woman he loved and their son.

So when he finds himself temporarily living at Kinsale Hall, he’s not prepared to trust anyone associated with the place, including Trudi Delaney and her daughter.

So why, when he looks into their eyes, does he suddenly remember a woman who vanished without a trace after saving his life one stormy night ten years earlier?

Now he could destroy hers…

Instinct warns Trudi Delaney the arrival of the contemptuous American architect at Kinsale Hall will change her life forever. Especially when she discovers he spends so much of his time in areas of Kinsale Hall off-limits to visitors.

Eleven years after escaping from her psychotic husband with a stranger, she’s still plagued by nightmares of events she can’t remember. Events such as, who fathered her beautiful daughter?

Now, more than a decade later, she is confronted by another stranger. Will this one destroy everything she holds dear?

~ ~ ~ ~

Excerpt:

“Only Daniel Kinsale and his solicitors knew I’d arranged to meet him. No one knew I changed my schedule and arrived in England a week earlier than expected, and yet Denny Cadmore somehow discovered both my plans and identity.”

Rafe glared at his parent. “Given those facts, tell me why I should stake a claim on a god-forsaken English estate, when everything and everyone who means anything to me is here in Boston?”

The drone of the old-fashioned overhead fan broke the ensuing silence. The oppressive heat stalked through the room sapping the energy from anyone or anything in its path.

“Rafe you’re making me dizzy, sit down and stop prowling round the room.” His mother patted the cushions beside her. “How many times do I have to tell you, you were born from love, not lust? Whether you like it or not, you are the legitimate heir to your father’s estates.”

A shaft of sunlight caught a few silvery streaks in her blonde hair.

“But born out of wedlock,” Rafe snapped, before realising the words queued up for release.

“Yes, out of wedlock,” she sighed. “I’ve never denied it, nor have I stolen your entitlement to your birth name. Your birth father…” she paused for a few seconds, “…Daniel, loved me.”

She continued on a wistful note, “…I’ve explained why he felt duty bound to uphold his family’s expectations. Nor that you were unintended. Having you gave me reason to survive without Daniel. You are from the man of my heart.”

Rafe’s free hand crashed down on the table sending the letter floating to the floor. “If he loved you so much, how come another of his bastards crawled out of the woodwork? One whose birth certificate proves he’s ten days younger than me? How come that same bastard damn near sent me to my grave?

Explain that if you can!”

* * * *

You can buy Duty Calls: http://www.blackopalbooks.com/bookstore/

Publisher: http://blackopalbooks.com/wordpress/?page_id=222

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NBZL10 in e-book and kindle.

* * * *

Also Available:- The Wrong Target, a short Valentine story that is both stand alone and part of the Cupid Gone Wild Anthology, is available at eTreasures Publishing http://tinyurl.com/6dyen5a in e-book and kindle

* * * *

My Debut novel, The Brat, is available at The Wild Rose press http://tinyurl.com/6g8pomj in print and e-book as well as Amazon.com And in kindle at Amazon.co.uk

 Sherry’s website: www.sherrygloag.com

Sherry’s Blog: http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/

Talking with Debut Author AJ Best

I am chatting with a soon to be author named AJ Best. AJas a bit nervous to sit down with me (I have no idea why???) and chat about how the publishing business is to a new author and more. So without further adieu, welcome soon to be published, AJ Best.

1)     1) Tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve been told it’s rude to talk about yourself; but I’ve never seen it. So, let’s talk about me. I’m really a transplanted southerner living in the frigid arctic North Country of upstate NY. I never saw myself coming up here and living a life of down coats, mittens, hats and scarves. But it’s amazing what a bald man will make you do. I have two wonderful biological children who I am very proud of, though I do wish they would stop growing up. I have 3 near stepchildren that will be mine someday, just haven’t nailed down the date. And in the may lay I have 4 cats, 2 dogs, 20 fish, 1 bird and a fiancé.

2) What got you interested in writing?

Wow, I’ve been writing since my teachers forced me to in elementary school. I wasn’t very good at it, but I kept on trying. Schools seem to force the 3 Rs on us:

                   Reading

                   wRiting

                   aRithmatic

I mean seriously what kind of illiterate monkey came up with that? But then again, I am not one to judge, much. Now that I am an author, because I write, I make up my own words.

But I digress. I didn’t start writing anything with meaning until I was in 7^th or 8^th grade. My mother decided to get me a typewriter. And for you young folks, this was a manual typewriter where you put the corrective paper into the spot and had to line everything up JUST SO. Never mind….another generation spoiled. 

It was then that I wrote my first poem; I have it memorized if you care to hear it. Oh of course you care to hear it. **clears throat**

Lazily we walk along the beach

You and I hand in hand

Nature has its things to teach

We listen and learn

But never turn

To see what we left behind.

**takes a bow** Thank you very much – please throw dollar bills instead of coins, they hurt less.

Again, I digress. I turned into a budding writer a little later in life. Twelfth grade brought on another writing challenge. I still remember the first line of that as well; though I can’t remember my children’s names sometimes.

December spreads its snow-filled wings and covers our world in cold despair.

Ingenious right? Wrong. I got a B on the final paper and never wrote again until I was 29. I started a story, which is still not finished, and everyone loved it. I was told to keep trying and finish. But when my husband died, I lost all desire to write. I didn’t pick up a ‘pen’ again until 2008.

And now, in early 2011 I have a story sitting in the stacks at Ravenous Romance awaiting a final yea or neigh. **still biting fingernails**

3) As a first time author, do you find the publishing process a little daunting?

Daunting? It’s scary as heck? I am an impatient little twit, and I want everything done right now. I’ve unfortunately realized that I can’t have it that way. Impatient twits don’t get writing contracts. They get thrown in file 13 and then they cry themselves to sleep. I just want things to make sense, and the time frames don’t yet. I guess I will have to patiently learn how to be patient, and how to deal with the publishing process.

4) Do you have a crit group or a select group of friends you bounce ideas off of or read over your manuscripts?

I have two friends who read things for me, and I read the manuscripts out loud to my loving fiancé. He’s great and gives me the male point of view and makes my writing a whole lot more realistic. I’d like to thank Kissa Starling (www.kissastarling.com) for helping me read over things and not being too Simon Cowell on me.

5) What do you like to read? Any authors you love to enjoy?

I’m an avid reader. I read about 600 words per minute and manage to read about 3 books a week. I love ALL things vampire, so I read the Vampire Academy series, Mortal Instrument series, and House of Night series to only mention a few. I also adore Nora Roberts, and Piers Anthony. I own about ½ of the books that he has written. I’m working on getting all of them, but he keeps writing.

6) What is your favorite genre to read/write?

My favorite genre to read is paranormal. I have a dream to write paranormal right now, but I keep getting all these sweet romance and women’s romance and erotica in my brain. So I will have to get them out so I can work on some paranormal. I actually am fleshing out a vamp book right now. I had a great dream several nights in a row and finally got up and typed some things on my iPhone and went back to sleep.

7) What feature do you start with when writing a description of your hero/ine? Eyes, age, hair color, personality, name, etc?

I have to work on my hero and heroine’s personality first. If I can’t see who they are, then their appearance doesn’t mean a thing to me. I don’t care what their hair is like. If my hero is a bad ass guy who cares about nothing, then I will probably have him have dark messy hair, maybe greasy or something. I would make him someone I wouldn’t want in my life.

8)Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?

If I were a store, I would have candles, incense, books, and things that sparkle. I would make bookmarks, necklaces, and all kinds of bobbles. I would have all kinds of comfy clothing that would enable me to just kick back and write. I would make sure that I sell Mac laptop computers. Finally I would make sure that there were all kinds of baked goods around so no one goes hungry.

9) If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

DON’T PISS ME OFF, I HOLD A GRUDGE. WANT A BROWNIE?

10) What do you enjoy doing for fun and relaxation?

Fun and relaxation? Hmm, I love to paint, crochet, knit, watch TV, and READ, READ, READ.

11) February...the month of love and romance. What was the worst/best/funniest valentine gift you ever got from a significant other?

Don’t tell my fiancé this, but last year he got me a stuffed anatomically correct heart that beats (once I learned the meaning – him giving me his heart I liked it), bacon lip balm, and an I LOVE MY GEEK t-shirt.

12) Where can we find you on the web?

I would love for you to come by and pick on me any time at www.ajbestwrites.com or email me at ajbestwrites@gmail.com . Thanks for having me Dawn.

Guest Author Day with Dee Brice

To get us started can you tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?

First, thanks for inviting me to do this interview.

A lot is going on right now. Three recent releases from eXtasy Boos: Great Dane on January 1; Chosen on January 15; and Their Consummate Courtesan on February 1, 2011. Still to come are His Virtual Bride, Model Misbehavior, and Her Virtual Consort--all before June of 2011.

Do you have any guilty pleasures? I wouldn't call them guilty pleasures, but I love to read and usually have more than one book on my table at a time. I also love to write. My characters get a little testy if I'm working on some other characters' stories or am reading too much.

What is the hardest scene you have had to write (published or not)? Why? I find all love scenes challenging--which is strange because I write erotic romance. The challenges lie in keeping the scenes fresh, different and HOT.

If you had a reporter follow you around for the day, what would the readers get to see in your daily schedule? My days are pretty boring. I check emails first thing, then write until--oh! soaps are another guilty pleasure--my favorite soaps come on. Then I check emails again and write some more until dinner time. Watch TV or read until bedtime.

When you begin your stories, do you go with the flow, or go with an outline? I'm definitely a go with the flow (aka pantser) writer. My stories usually begin with two characters arguing at the top of their lungs. Many first drafts begin with dialogue I've "heard" in the middle of the night. Which is great for storytelling, but not so much for a good night's sleep.

Is it hard coming up with titles or characters names? Titles not so much. I've heard publishers usually change titles anyway, so I don't sweat over mine. So far, I've only had one title changed to better appeal to readers. I DO spend a lot of time in my character naming reference books. Names--and their meanings--influence how a character behaves. And some names I choose just for fun. In "Passion's Four Towers" three of my male characters have names that, in various languages, mean "spear." I thought that appropriate for the story even if my readers don't recognize what I did.

What does your workstation look like? A mess. I can find things in chaos, but never if/when the area is pristine.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do to just kick back and have fun? Back to guilty pleasures? I read. I cook. I read. I dream of gorging on chocolate while reading.

 

Do you ever experience writer's block? If you do, how do you cope with it? I don't think I've ever had writers' block per se. If I'm having difficulty with a scene--because my characters have led me down a path that goes nowhere, for example--I get even by working on a different story. I usually have the opposite problem. Too many stories I want to write that distract me from the one I'm writing.

Were you an avid reader as a child? What type of books did you enjoy reading? Very avid. My mother said if I was reading the house could burn down and I'd never notice. I don't remember what I read when I was very young, although I still have all my AA Milne Christopher Robin/Winnie-the-Pooh books. Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames as I got older. Then I graduated to Frank Yerby and Kyle Onstott. And I still love Daphne du Maurier.

Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story. Chosen took me by surprise. With the popularity of vampires and shape shifters, I never thought I could write that genre--at least not as well as the really good authors do. But then the "what ifs" took over. What if…because of Domenic's longevity, humans assume he's a vampire? What if he needs something other than blood to survive?

Is there any books coming that you are itching to read (either electronic or print) from your favorite authors? I love anything by Nora Roberts, especially her JD Robb "Death" series. I also enjoy Stephen R. Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series, even though I have to keep a dictionary nearby. Janet Evanovich and just about anything by Jennifer Cruise and Stephanie Bond. I've recently discovered Shannon Abe's drakon series and love them. She writes such beautiful narrative and strong characters.

If you were to replenish your cabinets with one junk food, what would it be? Chocolate. Although I really don't consider it junk food. Neither does my heroine in Her Virtual Consort.

What is one thing scientists should invent? Hmmm. Diet food that tastes really yummy, but lacks all the bad stuff that makes food taste so good. Does that make sense?

Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning, definitely.

Where can readers find you on the ‘Net? deebrice.com. My website is being updated, but the new version should be up soon. Email me at deebrice@sbcglobal.net/

Sneak Peek into CHOSEN

Paranormal/Vampires

eXtasy Books

Available HERE

Soulless. Irredeemable.  Blood-drinker. Vampire.


Many people have called Domenic Nadal many names in the course of his nine-hundred-year life. None has come close to what he really is. He has also been called a recluse; a name he accepts because it is true.

Mortal fundraiser Ariadne Fortesque has no idea her boss is using her to wage a five-hundred-year old vendetta on the handsome, ageless vampire. Neither is she prepared to deal with her attraction to a man who could destroy her will with a single glance from his silver eyes or drain her life blood.
He will live forever. How much time can they have together?

Excerpt:

Prologue

Domenic

1 January 2675

There is something innately beautiful about a new journal. A book with blank pages, I mean, not those tiny data collectors doctors implant in newborns’ brains to track their lives from birth to death. But a real book, in which I can write my deepest desires with no one the wiser.

Nowadays, one has to search long and hard to find a journal. One has to pay dearly for the privilege of owning such a volume—even one made from recycled napkins or newspapers. I am forever grateful that the reuse craze did not extend to toilet paper.

I am blessed with foresight and purchased many journals in those halcyon days when journals—or diaries as some called them—were kept on a daily basis. A lovely record that allows one to look back at one’s family history. Or, in my case, one’s life.

The aroma of velum fills my nostrils. I caress the paper with my fingertips, as I shall touch the woman who will soon come to me. Soon, for me a month or year or century, is relative only to my growing impatience to meet her. I will breathe her scents as I now inhale those of parchment and India ink—another remnant of my past.

After years of trying to tempt me with imitations of herself, Erma is sending a woman more to my tastes. How do I know? Franken wants me to fund her latest research—an exploration of why vampires drink blood—beyond the obvious need to survive. So I know the woman she sends this time is a woman I shall want.

I also know Franken wants more than money. I know she wants my blood.

Ari

My employer, Dr. Erma Franken is sending me to solicit funding from the oldest vampire in the country. Maybe the oldest vamp in the entire galaxy. She says he won’t bite me or do anything I don’t want him to do, but I’m still scared.

Domenic Nadal is a recluse. He’s also tall, dark and dangerous looking. I’ve seen pictures of him—pictures taken in the twenty-fifth century. But people who’ve seen him since say he hasn’t changed at all.

Which only adds to my apprehension. Dark eyes have always fascinated me. Not that I expect Mr. Nadal—Domenic, I imagine him whispering in my ear—to fall hopelessly in love with me. I’m hardly the svelte or dainty type he escorted in his past. Before he became a recluse. I’m the problem.

I could fall under the spell of his eyes. I could beg him to drink my blood.

Guest Author Day with Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz

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

I am a wife, a mother, and a grandmother.  My husband and I live in rural Oregon and have two small dogs and three cats.  I enjoy gardening, crocheting, reading, and, of course, writing. I am a retired office manager and legal secretary to our county district attorney.  All my life, I have worked “day jobs,” which utilized my English and writing skills.  However, after work is when I would escape into my fiction stories.  I was fortunate to retire in 2008, and now I am able to devote more of my time to my writing.

I write for both adults and children, fiction and non-fiction.  The genres I prefer to write is fantasy, soft science fiction, and paranormal.  This is the type of fiction I read for entertainment, myself.  It seems a natural progression that I would want to write what I read. Sometimes, I will write a little romance, and most of my stories do have some sort of a relationship happening between the characters.

Were you an avid reader as a child? What type of books did you enjoy reading?

I was definitely an avid reader as a child.  I read everything from classics to series books, like The Bobbsey Twins.  A couple of my favorites were Black Beauty, Lassie, and Heidi.  In high school, I found The Catcher in the Rye and everything I wrote sounded like Salinger.

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

My latest release is A Past and A Future.  This is actually a collection of sixteen short stories. Eight of these are fantasy and eight are soft science fiction…all explore relationships between people.  I wrote these over a period of years.  Some were previously published in small press magazines; some have never before been published.  Each one came about in a different way.  Many are the results of reading a magazine or newspaper article and saying “what if.”  I’ve had a number of people suggest I put these together into a collection.  I approached my publisher and a contract was negotiated.

Did your book require a lot of research? How long does it take to write a book for you?

This book didn’t require any research.  Since it’s a collection of short stories written over a period of time, it’s hard to say how long it took.  Other books I’ve written which are single stories, usually take six months to a year, depending upon time available and what else is happening.

If you could have any vice without repercussions, what would it be?

Interesting question…I guess it would be fun to eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, without worrying about gaining those unwanted pounds.

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

I don’t think I’d make a very good servant.  I don’t do well when I’m not the one in charge. I’d much rather be the boss.  That said, however, I would have to say working for Anne McCaffrey would be my top choice.  It would have been great to watch her work and learn how she created her worlds and characters.

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

I believe eBooks are definitely in our future.  I love holding a book, but the costs are being prohibitive and publishers are leery of accepting new authors.  EBooks, however, open up a whole new world for both publishers and authors.  Recently, my husband and I purchased Kindles. I wasn’t sure I would like reading from an electronic device, but I was surprised at how quickly I adjusted.

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

In this collection, I believe I love Ashley of Ashland, the best. He’s so sweet, although he does make mistakes.   I don’t think I hate any, but I don’t particularly like Temur in Blurred Vengeance, he’s arrogant as well as foolish. I believe I fear the Judge in Screen Saver.  He’s quite bloodthirsty.  Pity definitely goes to John in Clockworks.  He is totally lost when he tries to trace his roots and quickly slips into madness.

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

I would say we have a good relationship.  I don’t pressure her and she doesn’t pressure me.  Besides being a writer, I am also an editor at two small publishing houses.  This doesn’t leave me as much time as I’d like for my own writing.  Fortunately, my muse seems to know this.  When I do have time to write, we have fun together.  When I don’t, she just hovers in the background, cleaning out old, dusty files in the recesses of my mind.

Do you have another book in the works? Would you like to tell readers about your current or future projects?

I actually have several projects under contract now through 2015.

Love Delivery is a contemporary romance, coming August, 2011.

Lady in Waiting is an historical romance, coming November, 2011.

Both of these are under contract with MuseItUp Publishing, an eBook publisher, and run approximately 10,000 words each.

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2

Funny Dog is a concept toddler/pre-school picture book, coming May, 2012.

Ghost for Lunch is a middle-grade paranormal, mystery, coming September, 2013. This is the sequel to my previously published middle-grade novel, Ghost for Rent (available on Amazon and Fiction-wise and published by Hard Shell Word Factory).

Many Colored Coats is a pre-school picture book focused on diversity, coming October, 2014.

Boo's Bad Day is a pre-school picture book, coming June, 2015.

All of the above books are under contract with 4RV Publishing, a small print publisher.

http://4RVpublishingllc.com/Childrens_Books.html

Have you ever experience weird cravings while you write? If so, what kind?

No.  I usually don’t eat when I’m working.  If I take a break, it’s to get a cup of tea and maybe some fruit or crackers and cheese.

For Fun, pick three to five questions to answer:

Which do you prefer:

Denim or Leather on a man/woman/significant other?

I actually like both, but prefer denim.  I’m an old hippie after all…

Irish or Italian accent in a man?

Front seat or Back seat to make out in?

Dark eyes or Light eyes?

Eyes as blue as the ocean.

Sleeping bag or Bed?

I definitely prefer a bed.

Dinner or Movie for a first date?

Dinner is better because you get to spend some time talking and getting to know each other.

Coffee or Tea?

I prefer coffee first thing in the morning, then herbal or green tea the rest of the day.

If you got three wishes from a genie, what would they be? (They can be silly, serious or in between).

I would like good healthy, happiness, and long life for my husband and myself.

I would ask for my children to remain healthy, happy, prosperous, and live long lives.

I would ask for my grandchildren to be healthy, happy, prosperous, and live long lives.

If you could spend a day with one actor/actress, who would it be and what would you do together?

I would most likely choose Johnny Depp.  I’d love to get to know him as a person.  I’m curious if he’s as much fun and as complicated as the characters he plays.

What is on your bucket list to do before you pass from this earthly plain?

I want to travel more.  There are so many places I haven’t seen that I would like to see.

Stories included in A Past and A Future are:

1. Flight of the Roc 
   What would you do if your master told you to collect a roc's egg?  What would happen if the egg you collected hatched?

2. Blurred Vengeance 
  Temur's father is murdered.  Will his journey to avenge his father's death bring him what he wants, or will it destroy him?

3. Who Will Heal the Healer
Marzan teaches Niane to control the winds, but what about the winds of fate?  Will Niane be able to save her mentor when the underworld claims him?
 
4. Ashley of Ashland
  Ashley, a young magician covets his brother's fiance, but what are her feelings?  Can Ashley's magic be enough to save him and his true love?

5. The Watcher 
  Zerelda is a watcher in a world of women.  When a prince comes to impregnate her ruler, will they find a forbidden love instead?

6. Enchantress
 Merlin knows his fate, but he struggles to stand against it.  Will his powers be stronger than his apprentice’s, or will he find himself a victim of love?

7.Drakoni 
  She is from this world.  He is from another.  A dragon draws them together.  Will she look beyond his pointed ears and see the man of her dreams? 

8. Heshe
  Lyda runs, hiding her identity from her abusive stepfather.  Her rescuer has a secret of his own.  Will they both find happiness or will their pursuers stop them before they find their paradise?

9. The Baby Makers
  How far would you go to have a baby if you can't conceive on your own?  Would you accept a clone?  Would you fight for that's child's rights in a world unprepared for it?

10. 3-D Pictures
 Avery's boss thought he was crazy, but was he?  When he stared into the 3-D picture, he saw a land others couldn't.  Will he enter the picture, or accept the doctor's diagnosis?

11. Screen Saver
 Clancy is used to strange people.  His boss represents them.  But when the bullets start flying, will the screen saver save him?

12. Isolation
 The world has died, except for small pockets of isolated communities.   But what if you are tired of the isolation?  What if you wanted to find somewhere to be free?  Would you take the chance?

13. Love in a Different Hue
 Chiri's father is a scientist who invents artificial life.   What should she do when the robot her father created looks better to her than her husband?

14. Down So Low The Ground Looks Like Up
 Sylvan is sensitive to others feelings.  It drives her crazy, so she drinks to dull the pain.  Will Dev, the police officer who finds her, rescue her from her demons?

15. Rebels With a Cause
 Shahleena is bored with her existence.  Will volunteering to help juvenile offenders help her or help them?

16. Clockworks
 John lives in Structured.  His ancestors came from Upheaval.  On a whim, he decides to visit.  What will happen to him when he cannot leave fast enough?

A Past and A Future -- http://www.genremall.com/anthologiesr.htm#pastfuture

Guest Author Day with Taige Crenshaw

To get us started can you tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?

Power of Attraction, book 1 in my Blackstone Haven series releases today.

Indigo Rain, book 1 in my Phoenix Intelligence Agency will be released on March 14, 2011.

I just submitted a few days ago Power of Instinct book 2 in the Blackstone Haven series. Started working on 3rd book in the Blackstone Haven series. And 2^nd book in the Phoenix Intelligence Agency.  I’m working on some joint projects.  There are a few surprises I have in store for the series. I’m also self editing some books in my series that I have at various publishers. It is going to be a sizzling and busy year. LOL.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Yes I am an avid movie fan. Love all types of movies and make plans to go see them when they are coming out. 

What is the hardest scene you have had to write (published or not)? Why?

Wow that is hard. Hmm… well when I have to write a scene that makes people cry. I love to bring out all the emotions but I find myself crying as I write it and I have to stop before I can continue.

If you had a reporter follow you around for the day, what would the readers get to see in your daily schedule?

If I’m writing then they would see me growling when the phone rings then taking it off hook to not be disturbed. My family running knowing not to come near me when I am writing. And random moments of me dancing when I get a scene how I want it. LOL.

When you begin your stories, do you go with the flow, or go with an outline?

Flow all the way. I tried outlines and the stories don’t ever go like how I outline. So I’ve given up on outlines.

Is it hard coming up with titles or characters names?

No. I have a file with titles and characters name. I collect them. 

What does your workstation look like?

Notes on the world I’m working in and characters sketches. Research books that I need. And music and the TV playing in background for noise. 

When you're not writing, what do you like to do to just kick back and have fun?

I love to draw. I’m an avid seamstress. I can whip up an outfit quick if I have to go someplace special and have nothing to wear. I love to cook. I’m a voracious reader. My library in my house and on my computer is massive. That’s one of the first things you notice when you come to my house.  

Do you ever experience writer's block? If you do, how do you cope with it?

No. Thankfully. My mind is always racing with ideas.

Were you an avid reader as a child? What type of books did you enjoy reading?

Oh yes. I loved reading. And used to make up my own stories and perform them in front of my family.

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

Peyton and Wesley are two complex characters who have so much to face.

Peyton Blackstone is a natural born witch who has to face her family legacy, destiny, and a prophecy that could mean her end. When she meets this man she is taken with him but he has some hidden shadows. He has some things he must face. When they find out what it complicates an already tenuous situation.

Wesley McCarty is a man on edge. He thinks he is losing his mind. With unexplained blackouts and mysterious absences he doesn’t know what is going on. Meeting Peyton he thinks she is an illusion but when he realizes she is very much real he won’t let anything stand in his way to make her his. No matter what he must face he will. But what happens when his own problems come front and center. He is shaken. His beliefs shattered. Can he look past all he learns before it is too late.

There is so much riding on the outcome of what they do.

I wrote the book because I love building worlds and Blackstone Haven came to me as I was working on another world and it was so fully formed I put aside what I was doing and went with it. 

Is there any books coming that you are itching to read (either electronic or print) from your favorite authors?

There are too much to list. I read a lot.

If you were to replenish your cabinets with one junk food, what would it be?

Marshmallow. I love them.

What is one thing scientists should invent?

A way that when I think of a story it writes as I think it. LOL. I could get so much done. 

Are you a morning person or a night person?

An all day person. I’ve been know to get up early to write then sit all day and write through the night to next morning. LOL. 

Where can readers find you on the ‘Net?

My Website: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/

My Blog - http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog

Chat Group ~ Crenshaw Café - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crenshawcafe

To sign up for my Newsletter ~  http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/newsletterandgroups.shtml

To email me: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/contact.shtml

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Taige-Crenshaw/717505841

Satin Notes (Free Reads): http://www.satinnotes.com

Sneak Peek into Power of Attraction

Available at Total E-Bound Publishing

Book one in the Blackstone Haven Series

A man will come to you in the darkest moon. The trees will shade and protect your union of the soul. Before the final step to merge your body is taken, a choice must be made.

Peyton Blackstone, a natural born witch, knew from the prophecy that accompanied her birth that a man would come to her. Yet, when the man who is set to be her’s arrives, Peyton isn’t ready for him or the ramifications his coming will cause. This man who deals with reality has a few secrets of his own - secrets that could very well destroy them both.

Wesley McCarty believes the woman he meets under the moonlight is not real. Suffering from unexplained blackouts, he believes he is losing his mind. When he sees her again, he realises not only is his fantasy woman real, but she is within his reach. He must have her, no matter the cost. Nothing will stop him. Not his blackouts, or any legacies or prophecies. He will have this woman who sets his blood on fire and completes his soul.

Legacies, destiny, and prophecy can not withstand this power of attraction.

Reader Advisory: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series

Excerpt:

Wesley was amused by the look of fury mixed with distress on Ian’s normally affable face. He turned, interested in seeing the person who caused such a reaction. Shocked emerald green eyes stared at him. His heart skipped a beat.

Wesley hungrily took in the woman from the forest. She was real. He wasn’t losing his mind. Unconsciously, he took a step towards her. She backed up a step.

Fury filled him. She had run from him once, and she wasn’t doing it again. With a determined stride, he closed the space between them and grabbed her arm. She tried to shrug him off. He changed his grip and yanked her against his body. A shudder racked him as their bodies touched. The scent of cinnamon and vanilla he had thought he imagined cloyed around them. He felt her shiver in reaction. Her eyes heated then went cool.

A click sounded behind him. Absently, he looked away from her compelling gaze. He stilled at the sight of the gun trained on him. The wrath in the other woman’s amber gaze let him know she was waiting for an excuse to blow him away. Her features, so much like those of the woman he held, told him they were somehow related.

The woman in his arms moved against him. The feel of her soft breasts against his chest drove all sane thought from his mind. He turned and jerked her up into his arms.

“Wrap your legs around me,” Wesley growled.

The woman’s eyes narrowed, but she clamped her legs around his waist.

“Don’t order me around.” Her husky voice stroked along his senses.

He put his face close to hers. “Don’t give me reason to.”

She jerked back. He clamped his hands on her ass to hold her against him. She stilled. Wesley gritted his teeth at the feel of her jean-clad mound against him. His mind flashed to the forest and their kiss. He saw the answering flare in her green gaze.

Copyright © Taige Crenshaw, 2011.
All Rights Reserved, Total E Bound.