Guest Author Day with Drea Beecraft

Can you tell me a bit about your most recent release?

The Thrice Princess is a paranormal romance about vampires, gods, fairies, demons, and just about every other paranormal being you can think of.  Its a story of love and the beginning of a new life and new series.

For any readers who may not have read any of your books, can you just give us a little sneak peak into world?

I write mostly a paranormal/contemporary.  I tend to like the modern technology to much to venture any further then that ;0).

How much of yourself, if any, do you put into your characters?

It just depends in all they have a bit of my characteristics but some have more then others.

How do you keep sex scenes fresh and exciting so they don't become stale or repetitive?

I haven't had that many books come out that this is an issue yet but I think its just imagination and fantasy mixed in.

If you could throw a party with any five people (living or dead) who would you pick and why?

Wow this one is a hard one. My choice is everyone on my yahoo loops in one room that would be a blast lol.  (Since I can't pick five cause yeah that is just to much.)

What are at least five things you have on your bucket list and have you done any of them?

1. Meet Someone Famous

2. Travel to Scotland and Ireland

3. Make a difference in someones life

4. Dance in the rain

5. Show love and be loved in return

Now if you account for all the authors I have met (which I do) I have most definitely meet tons of famous people. Travel is just not in my cards at the moment but once my kids get older we will never know. As for making a diffrence in someones life I think I am but I am not to entirely sure. I have played in the rain but never danced and as romatic as it sounds I really want to try it out.  I show love every day to my children and family and I believe they love me in return.

Is there one series/author you feel is a must read for readers to explore (can be e book authors or print NY house authors)?

Oh my that is hard to pick just one. I am going to have to go towards The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward it was my first ever series and I love them.

Do you listen to music when writing? Do you feel like some stories write themselves a soundtrack with specific music? If so, what book and what kind of music influenced it?

Sometimes I do but most of the time it is totally quiet except for the kids screaming and yelling lol.

What is coming up for you in 2011?

Hopefully more books if I get to writing.  Oh and I have my eye on a few confrences, what can I say I am a social creature.

Are any of your characters just like you or have personality quirks/traits of you or someone you know?

Some are like that yes they have my funny sense of humor or my no filter of a mouth tendency lol.

Where can readers find you on the web?

My Website: www.dreabecraft.webs.com

My Blog: www.dreabecraft.wordpress.com

My Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/andreabecraft

Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Drea-Becraft/103481939716429

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dreabecraft

Publisher’s site: www.secretcravingspublishing.com/DreaBecraft.html

The Thrice Princess

Available at Secret Cravings

Buy HERE

While her fate was set during the previous great wars of immortals, Anastasia Gruff is nothing but mortal until the night she stumbles upon a scene that turns her world upside down. Now, she struggles to adjust to a world where nothing is what it seems, and feels more at home than ever before.

Devlin Miconis, heir to the vampire throne, is facing certain death. When a mortal woman saves his life, and gives him back his soul, he must figure out how to repay her. Now that she has given him something to live for, can he protect her from those who mean her harm?  

Adult Excerpt:

Stasia woke up with her muscles sore and her head pounding. Slowly taking stock one muscle at a time, starting at her toes and working up to her neck, she rotated and squirmed until most of the kinks were out. After each body part was stretched to satisfaction she turned onto her side to take in the room.

Staring aimlessly around the room Stasia arched her back and met a hard body behind her. Warm and hard, it took only seconds for fright to make her limbs contract and ready to blot from the bed. As if sensing her distress, strong arms banded around her waist.

“It’s all right, it’s just me, you are safe. I would never harm you, my Bandia.” The deep timbre of his voice comforted her.

The memories from the night before slowly leaked into her mind. One by one, the dots began to connect, remembering being carried to Devlin’s bedroom, being stripped down and him lying beside her, skin-to-skin helping to alleviate the pain of her turning.

Loosening her muscles, she slowly turned in his arms to look at his face. Handsome wasn’t enough to describe him.

Slowly lifting her hand to trace his nose, Stasia watched him with weary eyes, as she continued to his lips and down his strong jaw to the side of his neck.

“I can see the gears working.” Devlin spoke while rubbing his face onto her hand. “What’s going on in that beautiful brain of yours?”

Before she lost the nerve, Stasia ran her hands down his chest next stroking her way to his nipple.

Removing his hand from her hip, he caressed her lips gently with his index finger following each touch with a kiss. Making his way slowly down her neck, he nipped and licked while cupping one of her breast in his hand, making her nipple stiffen in response.

Fireworks shot through her body, and every nerve ending felt like pure lightning shot through. Feeling most of the heat concentrated on her now wet pussy, Stasia rubbed into his touch, grinding her hips against his long hard body.

Releasing a strangled moan, he looked into her eyes. The ice blue of his irises seemed to darken into a more aqua blue. The most astonishing part of them were his corneas, they now glowed bright red.

The sight should have scared her, but only added more arousal to her already drenched panties. Grabbing his hand from her breast and pulling it to her mouth. Kissing each digit then took the index finger into the recesses of her mouth. Swirling her tongue around the end and popping it back out just as fast.

When did she become so wanton? It must be the man that did it to her., either that or the power running rapid through her veins; Stasia secretly hoped it was the latter. With a groan, she began to rain peck like kisses down his arm, until she reached his mating mark.

 Beginning to trace the tribal design with her tongue, showing each line very detailed attention and earning a very male groan for her efforts.

Leaning over she felt the warm air as he spoke softly into her ear. “Woman you must stop. I can’t contain myself if you continue to do that.”

Looking up into his irresistible eyes, she gave him the sexiest smile she could muster. “Who says I want you to contain yourself?”

Getting to Know Jinger Jackson

Why don't you start with telling us a little about yourself? What genre do you write in and why? My name’s Jinger Jackson and I write erotic paranormal and erotic horror novels for Resplendence Publishing. I love anything paranormal and the challenge of writing erotic horror is just such a HUGE kick!

What comes first for you when you sit down to write a book? Plot or Characters? Characters. I’m what most people call a pantster. I sit down and write the story that unfolds in my mind. It’s awesome to do it this way as even I’m surprised at the direction the book ends up in!

Do you "cast" your characters using pictures or actors to help inspire you when you're writing? Most of the time. I know what they look like but using photos does help me firm up details.

How long does it take you to finish a book from start to finish? Hmmm. Are you referring to the first draft or from inception to publication? First draft has been done in as little as 25 days. It just depends on the story. But if you mean from the minute I have the idea until it releases to the public…that can take much longer. I’ve had one that has been over a year in the making!

Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story. That would be Demon’s Fall (coming October 2010). I’ve got a thing for Angels and Demons. Not the religious aspect of them but the whole good versus evil thing. Then I was listening to a song—Angels by the group Within Temptation and I visualized the story. The rest, as they say, is history!

How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author? Do you read your own reviews? I LOVE reader reactions. It means the WORLD to me to hear from readers. I want to hear how much they enjoyed my book. And even if it is hard to take, I also like to hear when they DON’T like me. As to my reviews, I read each and every one of them!

What are you working on now? Anything you want to tell us about? My latest project is a book titled Morgan Creek. It was inspired by some strange experiments I heard about while watching a History Channel documentary on Josef Stalin. Yes it is another horror novel…

What books are currently on your nightstand/bedside? Anything coming you are dying to read? Currently I am reading a new erotic series by Rebecca Goings. The series is called Desert Princes of Jikkar and I’m engrossed with book one The Viper Prince. Becka is FABU and these books are AWESOME!

If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why? Beyond Death. It’s my favorite book! I love Vlad Dracula and there are some interesting, historically accurate things in this book.

If you could have been the servant to any famous person in history, who would that be and why? Hmmm…good question! I don’t know…I can’t see myself as a servant (LOL)…My initial reaction to the question was Vlad Dracula…because I’m insane…LOL but I don’t know. It’s sort of a tossup. I’d have liked to be around with one of the pharaohs, George Washington, This one is going to require more thought.   

What do you see for the future of publishing and e-books?  I see more and more people moving to eBooks—which is VERY cool! But honestly, I am afraid that we’re going to lose the brick and mortar book stores which would be a REAL crime! While ebooks are the WAVE of the Future…while they’re convient, green, and all the other positive notes we all agree on, there is something magical about print books. There is something almost intoxicating about walking into a bookstore. I LOVE the local Barnes and Noble. I can walk in and lose about 4 hours of my life wandering the aisles and browsing the books. I LOVE IT!

Which of your characters do you love/hate/fear/pity the most and why?  Love? That would be Andras—the hero of my upcoming release Demon’s Fall. The one I HATE the most is Secson—villian of Demon’s Fall. The one I pity the most has GOT to be Vlad from my book Beyond Death.

Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her/it/him when she/he/it refuses to inspire you? For the most part I’d say he and I get along. Of course there are times when he’s so damn stubborn that I just want to scream…LOL

If there was a soundtrack to your latest novel, what genre/songs would be included? Demon’s Fall would have a soundtrack made up of songs by Within Temptation. This is an alternative rock band. They fall under the symphonic metal class. But this Dutch band has the definite feel for my book!


Which of your characters would you most likely fall for if they were real? I’m a married woman…HEHEHE but I could easily fall for Andras. He’s so…I mean there is just something about a reformed demon…LOL


Besides the bedroom, what's the sexiest part of your home in your opinion and why? The kitchen. It’s warm, it’s homey, *shrugs* it’s just the heart of the home, you know?

Where can readers find you on the 'net for more information on you, your books and other fun stuff? I have a blog http://jingerjackson.blogspot.com I twitter: http://twitter.com/JingerJackson I send out a monthly newsletter and I post them to a newsletter website: http://www.freewebs.com/jingersnews I LOVE hearing from readers. They can email me at jingerjackson@gmail.com

Thanks for having me today Dawn! I LOVE dropping by your place and hanging out. Have a great week and we’ll talk again soon!
Hugz
JJ

Sneak Peek into  Demon's Fall-Coming to Resplendence Publishing in October 2010.

BLURB:

What happens when a demon falls for an angel?

Tangela Teshua just recently buried her parents and has given up her city apartment to moved back to the country house they left her. However their deaths and her move are not the biggest changes coming to Tange’s life. Tange learns she is a guardian angel—or at least she will be when she over comes the challenges Satan will put in front of her.

Andras Belial’s father assigned him the task of destroying the newest being on the lighted path. But another battle looms on the horizon for Andras. His inner demon struggles against the strange formation of feelings, of a conscious growing to life. He falters even more when he meets Tange.

Lucifer, infuriated that not only has Andras turned his back on his heritage but he has joined forces with an angel, sends an assassin demon after both Andras and Tange. Can they keep the demons at bay long enough to find happiness?

Excerpt:

A charge flashed through the air. The angel! He shoved the corpse away and followed the almost imperceptible light that shined like a beacon and led straight to the disgusting being’s hiding place.

He shimmered invisibly through the walls of the house and froze.

The angel stood only a few feet from him. He inhaled the rich scent of her and was once more shocked. She smelled like the floral odor that filled his temporary home—and he wasn’t disgusted by it.

Cooper streaks laced through the auburn hair that framed her lightly freckled heart shaped face. Her peaches and cream complexion was the perfect background for dusky pink bow shaped lips.

He moved closer, reached out and gently stroked her cheek. The skin was satiny warmth beneath his caress.

Her pale, green eyes widened in shock and fear. She backed away and fell against the wall, her head connecting with a sickening thud.

He could taste her fear, her pain. Something inside began to gnaw at him. Suddenly like a bolt of light cutting through the darkness, he realized he didn’t want to hurt her or cause her any fear. 

Dammit! Andras hurried through the walls and shimmered back to his home.

The sound of Chainsaw Autopsy, the latest death metal group, pounded through the crumbling walls. Andras threw his out his hands and the front doors flew wide open.

The noise grew louder. “I stalk the night, searching for my prey, the smell of you guides my way. Your fear I feel, your pain I sense, I'll have you yet. You’re running now, I laugh to see, but you'll never get away from me. I'm the Omega baby, come to take you down.” The noise could mean only one thing. His brother Secson. Shit.

Andras’s already frayed nerves unraveled.

“Enough,” Andras screamed in rage. The music immediately disappeared and the house was once more silent.

“You know how to ruin a good time, Andras.”

He turned to face his brother. Secson hadn’t changed and Andras’ shriveled heart sure hadn’t grown fonder out of the absence. “What do you want?”

“Have you found it yet?”

The angel. “Yes.”

“I want to watch you work.”

“Absolutely not. I work alone. Seduction is a one on one experience.”

“Not always.” Secson flashed a nasty smile.

“In my case it is.”

Secson shrugged. “Whatever. I’m still waiting for my first assignment. I can’t stand it.”

That was something Andras could relate to. “There’s nothing like your first conversion. Of course there’s nothing like your first real kill.”

Secson sniffed in derision. “I’ve killed before.”

“Maybe, but nothing compares to your first angel kill.” 

Getting to know author J. L. Oiler

 Can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?

I have always had a great love for reading and it was a natural thing to write.  I can remember creating these elaborate tales in my head to share with family and friends. When I was about 12 I began putting them down on paper. 

Who or what has been your biggest influence as a writer?

My biggest influence as a writer has been life itself, there isn’t any part of my life past or present that has not managed to worm its way into my writing.  I guess I have a very inspirational muse.

Your work is very popular with readers and reviewers; how does it feel to have such positive recognition for your work? 

It all still feels surreal.  When I received the first proof copy of Blood Dance I must have ran my hands over the pages and smelled the print a hundred times.  I feel really blessed for my current and future success. 

What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?

I think a great story has to be able to pull the reader into the story.  I want to feel my pulse increase when the tension builds.  It should paint a vivid picture of who the characters are and the events that are occurring. 

Could you tell us a little about how you develop your characters? Who has been your favorite character to write? The most challenging? 

I can plan out all the physical aspects but in the end the characters tell me who they are and what they would do in a given situation.  My favorite character to write has been Ares (Blood Dance: Seeds of Oden Book 1) I love her fiery personality and attitude.  The most challenging character has to be Shala, from Eclipse of the Twin Moons.  It was difficult writing about and for a character who cannot speak. 

Please tell us about the projects you are currently working on; what can readers expect to see in the coming months?

I just finished a Christmas Anthology with Authors Ashlynn Monroe, BethAnn Buehler, Lila Munro, and Jessica Coulter Smith.  It is titled; All I Want for Christmas is Redemption. I also just finished the third book in the Seeds of Oden Series: Blood Denial.

My current WIP includes a story about a demon that comes to the human realm searching for a mate, and another about a researcher who finds out her boyfriend is something far from a normal human male.   

Where can readers find out what's new and how can they contact you?

Readers can find information at either of two sites; www.joiler.weebly.com which is my personal author site, or www.wickedmuses.webs.com which is the group site for Ashlynn, BethAnn, Lila, and myself.  If readers would like to send me an e-mail they can send it to: jloiler@live.com .  

 Do you feel your writing is character driven or plot driven? How do you balance these two elements?

I believe they are character driven and the main character shows me the direction of the plot, and sometimes the plot of any follow-up stories. 

 What is your favorite movie of all time? The one where you can watch it and still get affected at the same spots each and every time?

The Fifth Element with Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich. 

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 5 things would you have with you? 

My family, a box of romance books, a lighter, a fishing pole, and a knife

What is your favorite way to relax after a hard day working and writing?

A long hot bubble bath…auhhhh

What is the one era you would love to go visit and why?

1700’s  I would love to be able to take a look at our world before progress changed it so drastically. 

What is one historical figure you would love to chat with and why?

William Shakespeare,  I would love to know what he was thinking with some of his plays and what was the inspiration. 

Out of all your books, do you have a favorite one? If not, then which one is closest to your heart?

I don’t have a favorite, but All I Want for Christmas is Redemption is closest to my heart.  It was such a unique and bonding experience for all involved.  It was such a journey to make each story blend completely with the others that I believe it allowed each of us to grow as writers.  It also allowed me to find some amazing friends.

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

Bram Stoker.  I would love to see all the mayhem that went on behind scenes when he wrote Dracula. 

What so you see for the future of publishing and ebooks?

There has been such an influx of e-publishers coming out that I think we will probably see a flood of new authors and stories. Unfortunately that also means there will be quite a few that don’t survive. 

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

Sol (Blood Dawn: Seeds of Oden Book 2) she is strong, self assured and not afraid to kick some ass to protect what’s right.

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

I love my muse though she has been known to jump ship and go out partying with her muse friends.  If I need her inspiration I like to sit out on the front porch and stare up into the night, it’s even better if it is raining.

What is the most ridiculous thing that you have thought about doing to any of your characters but never did?

I considered giving one pink hair and some rather questionable piercings. I just did not know what to write about the sensations she would have with them.

If you were a world ruler and you were given a choice of 3 laws to enact, what would they be?

Love, Read, and Respect

 Sneak peek into Blood Dance:

Leaning down she reached for the small shot glass her hand trembling slightly. Just as her fingers gazed the smooth lip he pulled it away and motioned for her to come down to him.

“Come down from there and it is yours,” he called loudly over the pounding music.

She stood slowly eyeing him with a glower of distrust.

“No,” she shouted as she jumped down to the floor on the opposite side of her silvery cage and stared at him through the strong metal bars that separated them.

“You are not hungry little one?” he asked leaning on the rails and holding the glass toward her.

“And what is it you want in return?” she questioned as she watched the liquid splash in the

small container, hunger obvious in her eyes. Kaden smiled and ran his tongue along his thin pale lips longing to taste and touch her supple body. “I thought so,” Ares said before he could compose a clever response.

“It seems a fair trade. You get what you need and I, I get what I need.” He began to move around the raised cage toward her, each motion slow and steady. “You know you need to feed. Make this easy for both of us,” Kaden continued as she watched him move toward her, his golden eyes raking over her with every step.

Reaching out, he ran a lock of her hair through his callused fingers, marveling in its softness. “You are so very beautiful, so incredibly sexy.” Leaning forward he brushed his lips against hers in a feathery kiss. She stepped away, the battle raging in her head and heart playing across her face. Turning fast, she left him standing there on the dance floor as she retreated toward the rear office. “There is no sense running away. You will come to me Ares. We both know this,” he called after her as he downed the shot of strong liquor.

Buy link: http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/blood-dance/6331227

Talking with Scarlett Parrish

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

I write erotic romance. Within that genre, I dabble in contemporary, M/M and urban fantasy. I want to try a little bit of everything, as long as it’s spicy, too!

I’ve always written. Always. But I never felt I’d really hit my stride until November 2008, when I complained to my ‘partner in grime’ Lori (who writes as Lauren Gallagher and L.A. Witt) that I had no ideas left in the tank. Being a no-nonsense type she said, “Ah, just make up some characters, get them drunk and have them fuck a lot.”

I took her advice and the result was Long Time Coming, which is why that book is dedicated to her.

I have never had so much fun since I started writing erotic romance. Finding my genre was like coming home.

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

Character is plot. If my characters are three-dimensional, they determine their own course of action much of the time. Even with the projects I outline, my characters have a tendency to turn around and say “Nope, not doing that. This is a better way to make the story develop.” It’s fun when that happens; it shows they’re becoming real people...if only in my own head.

It’s really helpful for me to ask all my main characters three things: What do you want? How far are you prepared to go to get it? What will happen if you don’t?

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

Sometimes. But as with the original spark of an idea, by the time the book’s finished, the characters and situations bear no resemblance to whatever (or whoever) inspired them.

It’s fairly accurate to say I use templates on occasion, but the characters soon become wholly themselves rather than offshoots of so-and-so.

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

From opening up MS Word and typing ‘chapter one’ to finishing the first draft? It averages out at around three months. I know I can write faster than that; I’m not as self-disciplined as I ought to be so that’s my number one thing to work on regarding my writing. Lori is a great motivator for working harder and faster – she’s a robot ninja from the future with pens for fingers. She can write an entire novel in the time it takes my laptop to boot up.

I’ve been advised by well-meaning folk, “Don’t push yourself,” but that’s a mindset I’ll never subscribe to. I’m in this game specifically for that reason. I want each book to be better than the last and I always want to be pushing myself.

But no matter how long the first draft takes to write, I never need more than two weeks to edit it to submission standard. It must work because my editor told me I gave her one of the cleanest manuscripts she’d ever seen in all her years in the job. (Strange, as it’s a ‘dirty’ book)!

The thought of taking a year to write one book fills me with horror. Anything longer than three months feels like an eternity. I’d like to get it down to two for a novel, one for a novella. There are too many books to be written to spend longer than that on one.

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

My only published book thus far is Long Time Coming, which I mentioned earlier. It was written less because of inspiration, more because of a dare. I wrote it blind, with no outline, no plan, nothing. It ended up being the story of a woman who’s a bit of a player, and the man who finally tames her. I wanted to see if I could write a sexy book and ended up falling in love with the hero, Leo, myself!

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

I’m not gregarious by any stretch of the imagination, so I like to spend time alone or in very, very small groups – no more than say, four or five people. Ideally one-on-one. Truthfully, I’m an introvert, which doesn’t mean psychotically anti-social; whereas an extrovert would be energised in company, I feel like that about solitude. Company drains me. I like to go to the cinema alone or stay home and read. To be honest, writing’s the most fun I can have on my own (snerk) and that’s why I do so much of it. I’ve found what I most love to do, and I get paid for it. No hobby or pastime comes close to giving me that much pleasure.

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

I don’t. I say it doesn’t exist.

People who claim to have it are putting the responsibility for their work outside of themselves. Blaming time, family, work, illness, whatever. Yet there are others in exactly the same situation who get on and do it. There are twenty-four hours in everyone’s day.

Ideas are all around us. There’s always something to write. We never hear of hairdresser’s block or dentist’s block or shop assistant’s block. We don’t always feel like bouncing out of bed and getting on with the day at hand and that’s tough but if you want to pay the bills, you do your job.

You know the best cure for ‘writer’s block’? A mortgage.

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

Definitely yes and I have no idea where it came from; no-one else in my family was a reader.

The first book I read that made me realise what words can do was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The Twits by Roald Dahl was another childhood favourite. I read Dracula at the age of seven and that sparked a lifelong love of all things undead. I binged on Danielle Steel novels in my teens. I still read children’s and YA books in my thirties. There’s no rhyme or reason to my reading tastes over the years. I was a voracious reader throughout my youth and still am today, though the vast majority of books I read now are in the genre I write – erotic romance. I carry my e-reader everywhere. I also like historical biographies and historical fiction set during the Wars of the Roses or the Tudor period.

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

I lean towards Anne Boleyn. She was innocent of the charges against her in my opinion. I would have liked to have known the real Anne, rather than the historical figure. But as the saying goes, “History is written by the victors.”

Or Leonardo da Vinci. Can you imagine picking that genius’s brains?

What do you see for the future of publishing and ebooks?

There are a lot of doom-merchants when it comes to publishing. I don’t believe a word of it. As Adam Ant once sang, “There is always room at the top/ Don’t let them tell you that there is not.” Storytelling’s been with us since the dawn of mankind. It’s not going away any time soon.

As for ebooks? They’ll grow in popularity, like any new technology. A couple of decades ago mobile phones were expensive and as big as housebricks. Now everyone’s got one. The same will be true of e-readers.

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

Love? Daniel Cross from The Devil You Know, which will be on submission by the time this interview’s published. He’s a shameless flirt who’d nail anything that moves, male or female. His flirting is of the sort that makes the object of his attention feel like the only man or woman in the world. So by his own admission he’s a slut, but he’s charismatic and fun with it.

Hate? None of them. Cian Ambrose from A Little Death (a novella which will be on sub soon after this interview goes public) is a psychopathic killer, but hey, we’ve all got faults. And he’s just a little angry at the whole ‘undead and condemned to a life of bloodsucking and no-one truly understanding or loving him’ thing.

Fear – see above. Cian again!

Pity? I treat all my characters badly; it’s a wonder they don’t hate me, but everyone gets what they deserve in the end. I do feel sorry when I have to hurt one of the good guys, though.

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

Just like I don’t believe in writer’s block, I wouldn’t say the muse is a real person either. However, just as there are things which make writing more challenging but not impossible, there are other things which make writing easier.

Having a good night’s sleep (rare). Having nothing to do for the rest of the day, which frees me up to think of whatever book I’m working on at the time. Music. I don’t listen while I work, but if I’m doing chores for example, I’ll listen to a favourite album or two which I nominate as soundtrack for my work-in-progress. It’s a way of almost hypnotising myself into the writing mindset. And caffeine. Caffeine is always good. Twining’s Assam tea is nectar.

Plus, when my partner in grime, Lori, is online, I find it much easier to get work done. I have no idea why this is the case, but it works, so I’ll take it. She’s the only person I can talk to on MSN without getting distracted. I’m miles more productive when she’s around.

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

I’ve always got one book on the go. Just like Lori, I only draft one book at a time, but I may also be working on galleys, edits or revisions for another and synopses and queries for still more.

At the moment I’m drafting a novel with the working title Family Jewels, set in – yes, a jewellery store. The owner’s daughter and the acting manager take a shine to each other, and you can imagine the rest...

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

Um...I write erotica. Cravings? You do the math. ;)

I think I’ll leave it at that.

What is the strangest source of writing inspiration you’ve ever had?

A conversation with a complete stranger in a library about the works of Anais Nin and the Marquis de Sade.

You come back from the dead as a spirit, what message are you trying to get across?

That 30 Seconds to Mars, Linkin Park and Goo Goo Dolls are the three greatest bands in the universe, if every good-looking man had at least three tattoos the world would be a better place, and whatever the question, chocolate is the answer.

If you were a world ruler and you were given a choice of 3 laws to enact, what would they be?

1 – The ‘If your surname is Leto, shirts are illegal and tattoos are compulsory’ Law.

2 – The ‘If your neighbours make too much noise, homicide is the only option’ Law.

3 – Jude Law.

Where can we find you on the web?

I don’t have a website – yet! – but I have a blog at http://scarlettparrish.blogspot.com/ and both fan mail and hate mail are welcome at scarlettparrish@gmail.com

Book Review: Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur

Moon Sowrn

A Riley Jenson Novel, Guardian book 9

Keri Arthur

Release date-May 25th, 2010

Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Obtained by self-purchase

Reviewed for Love Romances & More Blog

Buy at Amazon HERE

There comes a time when a series ends and the final book can either make or break it. In the Riley Jenson Series, we have seen Riley grow up, mature and find her place in a world where vampires, werewolves and other paranormal creatures reside. In the eight books before this one, she has wrestled with her desire for the whole white picket fence and kids dream with the fact she works for the Directorate & has to kill. With her twin by her side along with her vampire soul mate, this half vampire/werewolf is about to find her life to get a tad bit messy especially as a past foe comes back to finish what he started years before. Can Riley find the path meant for her or will she find herself dead?

I love Ms. Arthur's books and I am hoping in the future she comes back to Riley and her friends. I would love to know how her life has been and where it lead to. Ms. Arthur is a talented author who delivers a story that hits many emotions-be it laughter, sadness, joy and despair. Each time you pick up a Riley Jenson book, you are blown away by the force of it all. If you haven't picked up this wonderful series,then grab it and all the rest. I do recommend reading the books in order as each book capitalizes on the past one and alludes to past events in them.

Want to read my official review? Then click HERE and check it out at Love Romances & More

Talking with Author Annie Nicholas

Ever have a high school crush, which you obsessed over but never did anything about? If yes, then you have something in common with my hero, Eric.

BLURB:

Someone is about to get some Spice in his life.

Spice has nothing but the clothes on her back when she returns to Chicago. She's looking for a better life, and that means reuniting with her estranged twin sister, Sugar. She isn't thrilled to find out Sugar's boyfriend is a vampire. But then she meets Eric, once the bottle-cap-glasses wearing nerd next door - now grown into the kind of man she'd love to snuggle with on this cold winter night...and he’s offered her his room in Sugar’s house.

Eric can’t believe Spice has returned. He’d given up hope of ever seeing her again, let alone having her stare at him as if he’s sex on a stick. But now that all of his fantasies for them are coming true, reality rears her ugly head and Eric must tell Spice his intimate secret; he’s actually an Alpha werewolf looking for his mate and he thinks he’s found her.

Link:  www.lyricalpress.com/the_alpha

Excerpt:

Excerpt :
Warm yellow light streamed from behind her. “Forget your keys, Sugar?” a male voice asked from the doorway.

She stopped and glanced over her shoulder but saw only his silhouette.

“Oh my God, you cut your hair. Daedalus is going to freak.” The laughter in his comforting voice disappeared and he moved closer. “Don’t cry.” He wiped a tear from her face. “It looks great.” With a grin, he ruffled her short blond curls.

She couldn’t help but smile back.

He thought she was Sugar, her twin sister. Something in his voice sounded familiar. The face didn’t ring a bell though, but shaggy brown hair fell around most of it. He had a nice, easy-going smile. It would be wonderful to come home to a smile like that every night, but it belonged to her sister.

Her grin faded.

He wrapped his strong, thick arm around her shoulders and pulled her inside. Laughter drifted from the living room where three men and an oriental woman were setting up a board game.

One of the men, who had short cropped red hair, looked up. “Where’s the food? You were supposed to grab some grub on the way home from work.”
“We’ll order pizza.” The guy next to her squeezed one more time before walking into the next room, a huge kitchen.

“You cut your hair.” The woman spoke with a thick accent and sprung across the room to run her fingers through her hair.

Spice retreated and bumped against the entrance wall. This game of pretending to be Sugar used to be fun as kids but not anymore. With her hands raised, she kept the strangers at bay as they surrounded her like a pack of wolves. None of them looked dangerous, but what were they doing in her sister’s house while she was at work?

The way they grinned at her and each other, she concluded they were all good friends.
Sugar had everything she wanted; a loving man, friends, and a home.

“Daedalus let you cut your hair?” A short man built like a bodybuilder approached her.
The awe in his voice snapped Spice out of her self-pity and the protector inside reared its head. This was the second reference to someone allowing her little sister to do something. “What do you mean ‘let me’?”

What kind of relationship did Sugar have? She needed permission to cut her hair? Maybe destiny brought her back to Chicago to save her little sister from some monster. Again. All those bad things happening to drive her here couldn’t be coincidental.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Where is my sister, and what are you doing in her house?”
They glanced at each other, confusion apparent on their faces. “What?”

The man in the kitchen stuck his head out of the door, chocolate brown eyes wide as he stared at her. “Spice?” The smile he’d given to her when he thought she was Sugar returned but wider.

Her heart skipped a beat. In the light his face seemed familiar as well. “I know you.”

“You should, we were only neighbors forever as kids.”

“Eric!” He had grown. Stupid, of course he’s changed. But she never expected that the skinny, lanky bottle-cap-glasses-wearing nerd would develop into a charming, handsome I-wanna-snuggle-you-on-a-cold-night kind of man. “Hi.” The jobs as a hostess, a bartender, and the most recent, a stripper taught her how to talk to men the way they liked. But with him grinning at her like a happy puppy, her mind went blank.

He swept her into his arms in a bone-cracking hug.

“Wow, I’d forgotten Sugar had a twin.” The redhead scratched his chin. “You look exactly alike, except your hair is short.”

Eric set her back on her feet. “Let me take your coat.” He tugged on the belt and untied it. To her surprise, the small action sparked warmth between her thighs. Not like he took off her clothes but she began to wonder what it would feel like if he did.

Their eyes met. His pupils dilated, the chocolate brown faded to amber, and something feral peeked at her.

She gasped and stepped back.

The pretty oriental girl took her arm and dragged her into the living room. She chattered about making tea, but Spice’s attention riveted on Eric as he stood with the men surrounding him.

What the heck? She’d seen need in men’s eyes before but this was darker, deeper, and so much more alluring.

Book Trailer Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u7ZlO9f24I

Thanks for letting me share my new release with you! It’s available June 21 and I’ll be giving away a copy of my book at my blog www.paranormalromantics.blogspot.com that day so come enter.

Annie Nicholas  www.annienicholas.com