Welcome Shannan Albright

I've got the lovely and very talented author, Shannan Albright, with me today. I'm sure you're going to love learning more about her. Shannon and I share a love for cheesecake, which I bet she didn't know. Read on and enjoy

1.  What influenced you to get published? How long did it take? Can you tell us the name of your first published work?

I have written on and off since 1980. Always an avid reader I read something about the RWA and one of my fave authors was a recipient of the Rita Awards. Curious I pulled up the RWA website and got hooked. Here was where I could get all the help I needed. With tons of workshops and incredible articles I really got into writing as a business. I joined in 2008, became a member of my local chapter and after several years answered a submission call. I figured what the heck do I have to lose? I’ve had enough rejections to wallpaper the world twice over so what would one more rejection cost me? Well, the didn’t reject me and I found myself in a whole new world when on December 3, 2010 my short story was published in an anthology called ‘Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas. Laura’s Wish got tons of great reviews and well, I haven’t stopped writing since.

2. What genre would you like to try that you haven’t yet?

Paranormal Historical is something I would like to try my hand in. I toyed with the idea of becoming a History teacher in college. I’m especially drawn to the English and Italian Renaissance periods. I also worked for years as an improv. actor at Renn. Fairs and theater and learned tons of useless knowledge in regards to those time periods. So I am playing with an idea for a time traveling romance historical at the moment.

3.  Most people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. What’s your take on this? Can you tell us something unglamorous you did within the last week or so?

Lol! Unglamorous IS the life of an author. By our very nature are a lot of writers are, at worse antisocial and at best shy. I prefer the company of only few friends at a time and enjoy my time alone in my cave. So you can imagine when I’m not at my other job, I’m huddled over my computer with no make-up, in sweats or my PJ’s and my hair, (which is very, very curly.) Sticking out of my head like a crazy woman. Anyone seeing me would run for the door screaming bloody murder I’m sure. Lol!

4. Plotter or pantzer?

I used to be a plotter all the way to the smallest of details. Now I’m a mixture of both. I have the basics and then go with it. I like giving my muse some control as long as it doesn’t go off on a tangent that is.

5.  What do you do when you’re suffering writers block?

I Oil paint when I get blocked or just have too many stories and voices going on in my head. I have to do something creative since it runs in my family it was a natural course of progression that I became an artist too. My becoming a writer though, that threw them since I’m the first author in my family. My claim to family fame Lol!

6.  What would you like to share with new writers? Any suggestions or advice?

Look, everyone knows that writing is a tough business to get into. If you are truly serious about it make up a 5 year business plan of where you want to be and the steps you need to take in order to get there. Don’t give up and don’t take prisoners. Keep your focus on what you want to see happen and for goodness sake take what people tell you with a grain of salt. Good and bad feedback, though can be constructive, can also hinder you. No everyone will like your style of writing and that’s fine, write for yourself, but keep in mind what is trending in the publishing world. Get with RWA or some other writing chapter, put together a critique group and never stop writing! Remember this is a solitary business. You won’t get much encouragement for a good long time so be prepared for self-doubts and frustrations. It’s alright, learn what your gut tells you is important and rely on your fellow writers as a support group. It helps since they are all in the same boat you’re in.

7. Looking over the past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?

I went to Arizona Dreamin’ last year and was blessed to meet one of my favorite authors I never dreamed I would meet. Erin Quinn who is the most gracious and talented woman I have ever met. Her road to publication wasn’t easy and when I get down I remember her and it helps me get though my demons. I’ve decided when I grow up I want to be just like her, and maybe a bit of Xena Warrior Princess thrown in too. Just love a female who can kick behind and take names. Lol!

8. If you could invite any famous person, dead or alive, for dinner, who would it be and what would you eat?

Easy, I would have Queen Elizabeth the First at my table any day. I would love to have roasted Quail and try blood pudding. Sounds gross I know but hey, never know until you try it right?

9. If you had one wish, would you give away? Why or why not and to whom would you give it?

This is going to sound corny I know, but I live in Las Vegas and it’s been hit hard with the country’s economic downturn. Construction and housing are at rock bottom and jobs are few and far between. So many of our kids that go to school have no home, no place to get a good meal or anywhere to sleep. In a lot of cases the whole family is on the streets. Not a good place to be in Vegas I assure you. My wish would be for all of these kids have a place to call home, food on the table and a chance at a good education.

10.  If you found that, for one reason or another, you couldn’t write anymore, what would you like to do instead?

I would most likely see where my painting and illustrations go. I would probably lean towards doing graphic novels and book covers.

11.  When you wake up in the morning, what celebrity do you most resemble?

Quasimoto, the hunchback of Notre Dame LOL!!!

12.  What are you working on now? Can you tell us a little about it?

I’ve just finished the second book in the Dark Breeds series and submitted it to Evernight just a few days ago. I am also working on two novellas in the Knight’s of Excalibur series for Extasy. And I am finishing up a novel to submit to a midline publishing house that goes paperback then eBook. Fingers crossed on this since it would be sweet to walk into a book store and find my book there.

13. What kind of comfort food do you like best?

Cheesecake, semi-sweet chocolate, Cheesecake and semi-sweet chocolate together and oh, did I mention Cheesecake???

The book Shannan is sharing with us sounds like a real winner. I know you're going to enjoy this:

Beloved Wizard

by Shannan Albright

Paranormal Fantasy

Beloved Wizard: Knights of Excalibur One

ISBN # : 978-1-77111-020-4

Available at:

http://www.extasybooks.com/beloved-wizard/

http://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Wizard-Knights-Excalibur-ebook/dp/B0064HD7PS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321309846&sr=1-1

Blurb:

Arthur and his Knights are back and ready to kick ass!

Merci Tramaine is not happy to be called back into service by her old boss Arthur, especially when she is charged to find her missing ex lover. Drake Monroe is Merlin reincarnated, with his powers bound by the Goddess Nimue he has become a skilled fighter, but no match for Nimue who kidnapped him determined to destroy him forever.

The bloodline of Morgan Le Fey taints Merci keeping her on the edge between light and dark, the Goddess’s wicked trap springs shut leaving both Drake and Merci racing against the clock. Passions ignite once again, but are they too late to plan a future or will they be torn from each other?

This time for eternity. 

Excerpt:

Suck it up. He dumped you, remember? Yeah, she remembered he broke it off without a backward glance. Leaving her bleeding inside, leaving a hole in her that beat a constant reminder, no matter how far she ran, how hard she tried to escape the pain. Weak, that’s what she was and she hated herself for it.

She kept him in her peripherals, quelling her relief when he rose unsteadily to his feet, not giving Nimue any warning of Drake’s unsteady progress, his closing the distance between them. If he could move, he could fight. She had to come up with something to keep Nimue distracted and she knew the best way to accomplish this would be to feed her ego.

Have to keep her talking, she chanted to herself. “Well, you see that’s the problem, Blondie. I have no wish to be the next greatest anything. I like me just the way I am. I mind my own business and no one gets into my shit. Nice, quiet and uncomplicated.”

Color rose on Nimue’s fair complexion. She’d just crossed the line, but couldn’t seem to care, even if the goddess could squash her like a bug. The only thing that mattered to her was Drake’s tall form moving ever closer toward them.

 Merci’s focus on Drake’s approach slipped to full on attentiveness for a split second. In the next,

Nimue grabbed her upper arm in a punishing grip, whirled her around to face Drake. Nimue flung her hand out and Drake flew back like a puppet on a string, crashing into the far wall of the warehouse with a sickening flesh-meet-cinderblock thud. He lay crumpled amidst the debris like a puppet with its strings cut.

Something snapped within Merci. Her blood scalded her veins. The taste of ash filled the back of her throat. Rage, cold and biting, filled her, coloring her vision in a red haze. Drawing energy from the earth, she channeled it up through her body, willing it to form. Her hands glowed, magic as hot as a stream of lava engulfed her. Her skin stung like the bite of a thousand fire ants as a small burst of electricity arched over her arms, snapping with pent up energy. The stench of ozone, hanging like a heavy cloud in the still air, filled the area. The force arched into Nimue, dropped her to the floor. Merci offered a feral smile while Nimue wreathed in pain against her magic. She bent down close enough for Nimue to hear her. “Since you don’t know me, I will explain this to you. You don’t fuck with what is mine. Drake, is mine.”

Oh my, does that sound scorching or what? Here's a little more about this amazing author: 

Bio:

Shannan Albright lives in Las Vegas, NV with her husband, two dogs and one cat. When not writing she spends her time between oil painting and reading.  She loves writing paranormal romances because of the world building and rich characters she finds.  She loves dark, edgy heroes and heroines overcoming impossible odds internal and external. I am a "hopeful" Romantic and believe healthy relationships and strong partnerships are key to a happy ever after.

Here are a few places you'll find Shannan online:

Website: www.shannanalbright.weebly.com   

Blogger:  www.shannanalbright.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Shannan-Albright/100001442663522

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4484637.Shannan_Albright/blog

Follow Shannon on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/nae0309

Welcome Tonya Kinzer

This week, I've got the luscious and sexy, Tonya Kinzer with me. Make sure you read it all here, she's got a contest for you all! Whoo hooo! Thank you, Tonya!!

1. How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

I’ve been writing for over ten years. Characters have been in my head for as long as I can remember. I started out as a huge historical romance reader and so many assumed the reader couldn’t follow more than one plot or there were holes in the plots, whatever and I thought….if this can get published, then so can I!

2.  What influenced you to get published? How long did it take? Can you tell us the name of your first published work?

I’d submitted to the big houses for probably five years under another name in another romance genre and the rejections were hard to accept but I didn’t give up. After an issue with a bad online publisher I decided then and there to self publish. I know they aren’t all bad and one day I may submit to one of them again.  So I do write under another name that I keep separate from Tonya for obvious reason…as Tonya, I have more freedom in what I can write, bondage, Dom/sub relationships, BDSM parties, and so self publish here also. I learned how to do the formatting and uploading to Smashwords and Kindle so that is getting easier. I started with a series, The Boss’s Pet, to build a reader following and that’s going well. Book four is set to be released by the end of the year so keep an eye on my website and newsletters for more info! The cover is already up on my sites…please take a peek.

4.  Most people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. What’s your take on this? Can you tell us something unglamorous you did within the last week or so?

Unglamorous?  Pulling my hair into a ponytail and writing is sweats? LOL That happens on most days! Although I do have a day job, I set my own hours since hubby and I own our own business…yes, I AM the Boss’s pet!! LOL  He would prefer I’m there more often and when I am, I have all my writing stuff on my computer there, too! So if he asks if I’m working, I can always tell him “Of course I’m working!” Then he has to come around to peek at my monitor to see exactly WHAT I’m working on! LOL But seriously, first thing is coffee, kiss the boss and head to my home office for email, FB, Twitter, website updates and hopefully some writing.

5. Plotter or pantzer?

I’m a pantzer! I don’t do outline or synopsis, which is another reason I don’t submit to publishers…the dreaded synopsis and outline. I just start writing and my characters take over pretty well. They show me movies in my head of what they want to happen and I write it out. Most times it’s that easy for me.

6.  What do you do when you’re suffering writers block?     

I love working in my yard…trimming bushes, pulling weeds, planting flowers or just going for a walk and it clears my head to allow my characters to come back through and chat with me.

7.  What would you like to share with new writers? Any suggestions or advice?

 Learn how to use Point of View. If you head hop among your characters, you will make your reader dizzy. Has that ever happened to you while you read…that you have to go back and re-read paragraphs because you lost track of who was doing what? That’s because the author didn’t stay in one character’s head. When you do, that character doesn’t see or smell what the other characters do so you can’t go there. You can only write what your character is experiencing. That’s my biggest pet peeve.

8. Looking over the past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?

September was awesome for me! I have to thank my readers here first and second, the wonderful authors who hosted me in interviews on their blogs! September hit top sales for me and I’m looking forward to more of that. My readers are who got me there and they’re looking forward to book four so I know I need to buckle down and get that done.

9. What do you enjoy doing with your spare time, your non-writing time?

 LOL I don’t have non-writing time. Very seldom do I slow down. I’m either on my laptop or at the office. Hubby is a workaholic, too, so we work well together. We do take time out for us though and will watch a few DVR’d shows like NCIS, CSI, Ghost Hunters, Paranormal Society, Dead Files, etc with a huge bowl of popcorn! LOL

10  If you could choose one vice, what would it be and why?

I do love my Jack Daniels - all THREE varieties, and Pendleton! On the rocks, thank you!

11.  When you wake up in the morning, what celebrity do you most resemble?

OMG!  LOL…..I would have to say Phyllis Diller but The Boss always disagrees….he’s smitten so he doesn’t count! LOL

12.  What are you working on now? Can you tell us a little about it?

I’m working on book four in The Boss’s Pet series. The cover is done but I do need to change the lighting on it…a tiny tweak…and the title is ‘Their Submissive Switch’. In book four, Sondra is put through a few more lessons for submissives but she is learning quickly. She pays attention and has a few plans of her own when the opportunity arrives… and it does! *wink* I can’t say more other than Sondra and Nick go back to Palm Springs! One of my favorite places, too!

13. Are you in love? Have you ever been?

Yes I am!! I’m living what feels like a fairy tale and my husband and I are extremely happy! Our employees will vouch for that….they’re always rolling their eyes at us!

14. What kind of comfort food do you like best?

Popcorn is at the top of my list and yes I use butter!  Next would have to be Sour Cabbage Patch Kids! LOL oh, I have to include my dark chocolate!!  That’s more than one food item!

15.  What do you hope to achieve in life and when will you know that you have been a success?

I will always strive to write more books but to already see them out and selling…..I consider that a success in itself. Thank you to all my readers for making that a possibility for me!! Hugs to all of you! My future readers are also included in that!  Jude, thank you so much for having me today! I look forward to chatting with your readers so leave a question or comment for me!  

~*~

Tonya has chosen to do this next bit a little differently, which is very cool with me. Instead of excerpts, she's sent me covers from several of her books. Yum.  

Check these lovely covers out!

  

 Tonya’s Bio

Tonya Kinzer is a self-published romance author whose books are quickly climbing the charts at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you’re looking for a romance with a little more spice than the average hot read, you won’t want to miss taking a look at her work. She writes erotic romance for readers who love to become a silent character within the story!

You will be pulled into scenes to partake of the activities along the lines of soft bondage and Dom/sub relationships, to feel what her characters feel and taste what they taste...strong sexual desires much like your own! Be prepared to enter a world you'll not want to leave and can't wait to get back to…worlds where new submissives and demanding Doms entice you to read more!

Her series, The Boss's Pet, will take you on a journey alongside Nick and Sondra as they venture into a lifestyle that pulls them deeper into a world of sensuality and submission. You'll not want to miss any of the books in this series so stay locked on her website to know when the next books get released.

When she isn’t writing, she’s the pet for her own Boss, where she works a few days a week. Her day job is seasonal so this allows her to write during the off season as well as design covers, websites, and promo items. She also enjoys helping other authors where she can with their editing and being a critique partner when time allows.

              

Buy Links

B & N:  http://tinyurl.com/6cgprjf

Amazon:  http://tinyurl.com/3fetwfq

All Romance & OmniLit:  http://www.omnilit.com/category237.html

SmashWords:  http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tonyakinzer

Tonya Kinzer's Site Links

Website:  http://tonyakinzer.com

Blog Site:  http://tonyakinzer.blogspot.com

FB Fan Page:  http://tinyurl.com/4sh37tk

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_163160073732655&ap=1

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/tonyakinzer

BookBuzzr:  http://www.freado.com/users/26001/tonya-kinzer

IAN:  http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/tonya-kinzer.html

Author’s Den:  http://www.authorsden.com/tonyakinzer

Manic Readers:  http://www.manicreaders.com/TonyaKinzer/

Book Trailer

YouTube:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HykMSl9FYvY

CONTEST:  

I will pick one lucky reader on SUNDAY NOV 27TH to win a $15 gift card to Amazon, B & N or All Romance ebook bucks!

Welcome Regan Taylor

The lovely and amazing Regan Taylor joins us today, and she's got a wonderful story to tell you all. Please make her feel welcome.

 

1  How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

Hmmm, about 20 years – yikes! That’s a surprise!

My first two books were non-fictions. The first was in response to my own experience with carpal tunnel and coming close to losing everything – literally everything. The second was a textbook for college students with disabilities, primarily learning disabilities and to be used in a class teaching skills to help those students make it through university. I began writing fiction in 2005 as a way of dealing with my job as a police dispatcher.

2. What genre would you like to try that you haven’t yet?

I write primarily time travel and what is so great about that, for me, is that I can “go” anywhere I want, meet anyone I want and experience anything I want through that story.  With time travels you can pretty much experience any other genre within the travel itself.

3. Most people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. What’s your take on this? Can you tell us something unglamorous you did within the last week or so?

LOL. THAT is an excellent question.  It reminds me of the early days of the movies based on Danielle Steele’s books. She would introduce the movie wearing this gorgeous gowns while sitting in an elegant room in her Pacific Heights home.

Unglamorous for me would be calling the plumber because a fixture in my bathroom was blocked up.

4. Plotter or pantzer?

Definitely a pantzer although once the story is written I do plot, usually by talking with a good friend about what I feel are bumps in the story.

5. What do you do when you’re suffering writers block?

You know, for almost a year I thought I had it because I was just so drained, so tired but I kept getting ideas. I just couldn’t get myself to sit down and write what was going through my mind. Then I realized it coincided with the tenant who moved out in mid-September moving in. She’s one of those extremely needy co-dependent type people who always has to have some sort of personal drama going on. She refused to accept any personal boundaries and was constantly trying to push past them. She’s what we call a psychic vampire. Once I realized what was going on, stories started to flow again and I got in gear. Before her I never had an issue. My solution – steer clear of drama-queen-victims!

6. If you could be a character in any of your books who would it be and why?

I ascribe to the theory that our characters are all parts of our own Id. They are factions of us and can do the things we wish we could do if we were younger, more daring, lived in a different time or place. Of all my characters Sami from Traveling Bride is the one who I would love to be. You won’t be meeting her for awhile though. The first draft of her story is done but I have some commitments before I can do her justice.

7. Looking over the past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?

The release of Mistaken Bride, book 2 of my Bride series. Kendrick, the hero, is my favorite one. There is something just so vulnerable and endearing about him. I wish he could come to life and be a part of mine. I love that story and the date of its release was one of my pinnacles.

8. What do you enjoy doing with your spare time, your non-writing time? 

I read. Anything and everything.

9. If you could invite any famous person, dead or alive, for dinner, who would it be and what would you eat?

Oh! Alexandre Dumas!  And we’d have lobster, baked potatoes, creamed spinach and baked Alaska for desert!

10.  What are you working on now? Can you tell us a little about it?

I’m currently working on a book tentatively called The World. It started from a simple discussion at work one day when one of the attorneys had a meeting with a senator about something one of the senator’s constituents didn’t like. The hero has elements of one of my close friends who happens to be a police officer.

11. Are you in love? Have you ever been?

Oh yes. Our story is, I think, a tad different. When we met we were both engaged to other people. We met at a welcome home parade I had gone to with a friend. She was busy ogling a sailor in his dress whites and I told her he may be a cutie, but there was nothing like a Marine in his dress blues. Unbeknownst to me, a Marine who happened to be in his dress blues heard me. When my friend, Kecia, nudged me I turned and looked at him and we had one of those really long moments of gazing into each other’s eyes. She finally tugged on my arm and asked me what was going on. I told her that that was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. She pointed out I was engaged. I’m still with my Marine.

Now on to the excerpt of Regan's book:

Mistaken Bride, book 2 of the Bride Series

Western Historical Romance

Awe-struck

AISN B004MDLSPW

Buy HERE

I think most authors fall in love with either their hero, heroine or both while they are writing their stories. For me, I fell in love with Kendrick in Mistaken Bride, book 2 of my Bride Series, when I wrote Brett’s story, stayed in love for his story and even months later and new heroes written, he still holds a special place in my heart.

Hastening west with the information that will clear his brother's wife of murder, the last thing Deputy U.S. Marshal Kendrick Parker expects when he arrives in St. Louis is to come face to face with the notorious Black Bette Barclay. Knowing the San Francisco Marshal's office has a warrant for her arrest, Kendrick arranges to bring the dastardly woman as far as his brother's home in Adler Creek, Wyoming where he will turn Bette over to fellow lawmen. To avoid bringing undue concern to his fellow wagon train travelers, Kendrick concocts the story that Bette is his wife, Mandy.

Journeying to St. Louis to take a position as a school teacher the last Amanda Davis expected was to be arrested for crimes she did not commit. Well almost the last thing. The absolute last thing she expected was to be loaded on to a wagon in a train heading west and told she must pose as the wife of the too good looking Marshal. Prim, proper and a tad prickly she quickly learns nothing irritates the Marshal more than using her extensive vocabulary. While her verbal jabs tend to mostly irritate Kendrick, he cannot help but notice how Amanda is with the children on the wagon train, taking time each night to give them lessons.

After nearly drowning in an icy river, Kendrick takes ill and is forced to stop at a homestead to heal. He soon realizes he has the wrong woman...or is it the right one?

 Buy at any of the following links:

http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=Awe-Struck&cart_id=16396.29761&product=Mistaken+Bride&return_page=&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact

http://www.amazon.com/Mistaken-Bride-ebook/dp/B004MDLSPW/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311213060&sr=1-3

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html

http://www.mundania.com/author.php?author=Regan+Taylor

And finally, here are a few places you'll be able to find Regan:

www.ReganTaylor.com

http://twitter.com/MsReganTaylor

https://www.facebook.com/regan.taylor2#!/regan.taylor2

http://regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com/

——

Welcome Imari Jade

Today I'm welcoming the amazing author, Imari Jade. Please make her feel welcome and say hi.

1.  How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?
I’ve been writing a little over twenty-two years. Inspiration came out of desperation. I was a single parent raising three kids and needed a part-time job to supplement my full-time job. I couldn’t drive and I didn’t have a baby-sitter so I knew I had to find something I could do that didn’t involve leaving the home. So I began writing fillers and articles for magazines. Then I advanced up to short stories and finally I took the big step and wrote a novel.

2.  What influenced you to get published? How long did it take? Can you tell us the name of your first published work?
In 2006, a new romance publisher named Stardust Press held a Christmas novel writing contest. I wrote ‘A Christmas to Remember’ in fifteen days. The prize was a publishing contract. ‘A Christmas to Remember’ was published in December 2006.

3.  What genre would you like to try that you haven’t yet?
Wow, that’s a good one since I think I’ve written books in just about every genre. But I think it would be a suspense novel.

4.  Most people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. What’s your take on this? Can you tell us something unglamorous you did within the last week or so?
Glamorous? Well in my head I think that writers like Anne Rice or J. K. Rowling might live a glamorous life, but not me. The most unglamorous thing I did within the last week was clean the mud from my tennis shoes. My house is under construction. I have to have it elevated, so the contractors have dug these big holes around the house. Well, along came Tropical Storm Lee and the dirt turned to mud and I had to trudge through it just to get up the driveway. Then I had to jump over big muddy holes.  So now I had mud all over my clothes and my tennis shoes were so gross, but I scrubbed them and then tossed them into the washing machine. After that I had to mop the house because now all of us had tracked mud inside. About a half hour after I mopped the grandchildren came by for a visit. About ten minutes after that one of my grandsons spilled cereal and milk all over my newly mopped floor. I could go on, but I think I’ve proven my point. 

5. What do you do when you’re suffering from writer’s block?
I don’t normally get writers block. I usually get characters that refuse to speak to me. I’ve written them into brick walls, I’ve created cliff-hanger that I can’t humanly get them out of and I’ve also paired them with mates so completely opposite that they can’t get into a normal healthy relationship. When this happens I usually put the manuscript aside and read a romance novel or watch a movie. I wait a couple of days and then go back and re-read what I’ve written and revisit the character workup for something I can use to get the characters to take over and continue writing the story for me. Every now and then I have to abandon a manuscript because it’s just not doing anything. I never throw it away, I just put it aside until my muse feels like being bothered with it and then I start writing on it again.

6.  Looking over the past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?
Creating the manuscript ‘In Deep Kimchi’ and receiving email from fans who just love the book. It is by far the most unorthodox novel I’ve written to date, and it’s the one nearest and dearest to my heart. It’s about a middle aged African American woman who is going through the forty year itch. Her kids are grown, her husband is dead and then she meets a 25 year old Japanese pop singer who doesn’t care about the vast age difference or what society will think of their relationship. I hadn’t planned on turning this into a series, but the fans just couldn’t get enough of it. ‘In Deep Kimchi’ was followed by ‘Saranghae (I Love You),’ and book three in the series ‘Passion Fruit.’ has just passed the final edits with the publisher. I’m working on book four as we speak.

7.  What do you enjoy doing with our spare time, your non-writing time?
Believe it or not I spend my spare time watching Japanese anime, Asian movies and dramas and reading manga. I’m hooked. I often joke about having Amazon.com on speed dial. I now have a very extensive collection of DVDs. This not only helps me relax but also helps me gain a working knowledge about this culture. 

8.  If you found, that for some reason or another, you couldn’t write anymore, what would you like to do instead?
Probably travel. My original answer was die. There’s nothing else I like better than writing, but if that happens, I would like to travel and see the world. I’ve lived in Louisiana all my life and it took a powerful hurricane to get me to leave and to discover that there is life outside the Deep South.

9.  What are you working on now? Can you tell us a little about it?
I’m working on a paranormal romance about a young woman who witnesses the murder of the mayor of her town and is put into the witness protection program because the murderer knows who she is and is trying to kill her. The FBI has assigned a bodyguard to watch over and protect her until she testifies against the man, but then she begins to notice him performing superhuman fetes and wonders if just maybe he’s not exactly who he appears to be.

10.  Are you in love? Have you ever been?
No, I’m not in love at the moment. I think I might have thought I was in love a couple of times, but as I look back now I’d probably have to answer no. I am in lust with a South Korean pop singer. Unfortunately a sea and a twenty-five year age difference separate us.

And here a little more information on the woman behind the sexy stories:

Imari Jade hails from Marrero, Louisiana, where she works as a financial analyst. She collects anime and Asian drama and considers herself a multi-genre author. She is the mother of three sons and does the bulk of her writing riding on a bus to and from work five days a week. Currently she writes for Sugar and Spice Press, Siren-Bookstrand, Melange Books, Moongypsy Press, Phaze Books, Wild Horse Press, Carnal Desire Publishing, Eternal Press and Total E-Bound. 

And now, that sexy excerpt I know you've all been waiting for:

Just Released

From

Sugar and Spice Press

http://sugarnspicepress.com/

TWISTED

 By

Imari Jade

(Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.)

Release Date:  September 3, 2011

$4.99

BUY HERE

Billionaire inventor and entrepreneur, Ballentina Ferrari accidently discovers that her live-in boyfriend, Erik Masters is cheating on her. And despite the fact that her friends have been telling her this for years, sweet and innocent Tina doesn’t believe them until she sees it with her own eyes. 

The only thing that has been keeping her sane is her weekly martial arts lessons with the quiet and reserve Kevin Chen, who has now become her business partner. Kevin likes Tina but would never think of interfering in her relationship until one day he too sees Erik cheating and right in front of Tina. Will he just stand idly by and watch the girl of his dreams suffer, or will Tina finally wise up?

Excerpt

Kevin came back in carrying a tray of oils and sat it down on the cabinet next to the table. “I’m just going to adjust the music and the lights,” he told her.

“Okay,” Tina said feeling a little self-conscious now about being nude in a small room with Kevin. The music changed to rhythm and blues and the lights dimmed.

“I think you will be more comfortable now,” he explained.

No, in fact it had the opposite effect. Tina smiled weakly, thinking now how romantic music and dimmed lighting took on a whole new meaning.

Kevin adjusted the sheet, lowering it around her shoulders and tucking it just below her shoulder-blades. She heard him move the little bottles around on the tray, and then she felt his hands on her shoulders.

“Just relax,” he told her. “Close your eyes and enjoy the music.”

Oh, that feels so good, Tina thought. Kevin had big hands and nimble fingers and after a few minutes he had her so relaxed she didn’t care about her state of nakedness beneath the sheet.

She felt a draft on her back as he adjusted the sheet again, and then his fingers moved down her back. Kevin didn’t say a word as he worked his way down her spine.

“Ooh,” Tina said as he worked her lower lumbar area and her sides. His hands went down to her hips and his fingers gripped both sides and squeezed. His fingers were dangerously close to her behind but he didn’t lift the sheet. His fingers kneaded the side of each cheek near the hip to work out the stiffness.

“Your glutes are phenomenal,” he replied.

This is so embarrassing, Tina thought as he gripped her hips again and pressed his fingers into them.

Kevin worked his way down the left leg to her feet and then continued on to her right side. Her body took on a new meaning of tense as he massaged her toes.

“You can turn over now,” Kevin said, adjusting the sheet back up to her neck.

Tina rolled over and sat up and watched Kevin as he poured her a glass of iced tea. She tucked the sheet around her breasts and held it so it wouldn’t slip. Kevin walked back over to the table and handed her the iced tea. She kept one hand on the sheet.

“I hope you like oolong.”

“Never tried it,” Tina said. She sipped the tea. “This is good.”

“And it’s good for you,” Kevin told her like a doctor. He paused. “How do you feel so far?”

“Your hands are magical,” she said looking at him. He lifted a glass of tea and saluted her.

“Thank you. I hope I’m not massaging too roughly.”

“No, you’re doing an excellent job.” She sipped the tea again, very aware that he was staring at her. “I didn’t realize I was so tense.”

“It’s from sitting all day behind a computer,” he told her. “I recommend that you get a massage at least once or twice a month.”

“Most of the massage parlors are closed by the time I get off of work,” Tina replied.

“Then I’ll do it. I can fit you in whenever you need it.”

“You know I was a little embarrassed at first to be naked under this sheet, but you’re very professional.”

Kevin put down his glass of iced tea. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You are a beautiful woman.”

Tina sipped the tea, not out of thirst but for the rush of heat in her loins.

“Why are you blushing?” Kevin asked. “I’m sure men have complimented you on your looks before.”

“Not lately,” Tina said. She took a big sip of the tea, suddenly aware that the rest of her body was responding to the conversation. She handed Kevin the glass and lay back on the table.

“May I?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Kevin adjusted the sheet to the top of her breasts, pausing slightly and then smiling.

Tina blushed, sure that he got a glimpse of her erect nipples even though the sheet covered them. “Your cologne is nice,” she told him to change the subject.

Kevin began massaging her clavicle.

“Thanks, it’s a special blend I’ve created.”

He didn’t have to brag. The man was a genius. “You should market it.”

“I’m way ahead of you,” Kevin said working down her arms. His hands dipped under the sheet rubbing her sternum. “That’s one of the reasons I’m going to San Francisco. I have a meeting with a cosmetic company.”

Tina’s nipples hardened and budded as he neared them. He brought the sheet down to her waist, exposing her breasts and working the sides of her rib cage.

“You have beautiful breasts,” he said, still massaging.

“Thank you,” Tina said, in full blush.

No more conversation. Kevin just continued down to her hips, moving the sheet up to cover her breasts and working his way down her legs. She didn’t know her knees were so sensitive. Hell, she didn’t know why her entire body felt like it was in tune with his fingers.

Kevin massaged her left leg and then moved over to the right. Finally he made it down to her feet, taking care of each little toe and stroking the soft padding beneath her feet. “You don’t have any corns or calluses,” he said.

Buy Link: http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=138&zenid=q4tjk36cbvjgdlhj50dsc7r4q4

Also available at:

Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-ebook/dp/B005LIB4WY/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1315352764&sr=8-16

Barnes and Noble.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1033318854

 Want to know where you can find Imari? Check these links out:

Website:  http://imarijade.com/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/imarijade

MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/imarijade

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/people/Imari-Jade/100000077341527