Wednesday, December 28, 2011

A Christmas gift from TEB

Merry Christmas from Total-E-Bound!

A very Merry Christmas from all of us here at Total-E-Bound publishing!

As a gift we have taken 10% off the price of ALL our eBooks until New Year's Day!
So what are you waiting for? Go ahead, fill your stockings (and your eReader) with our fantastic selection of eBooks.
(Titles on pre-order are not part of this promotion.)

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Welcome K M Mahoney

This week, I have the pleasure of hosting the lovely K.M. Mahoney, a fellow Total E-Bound author I'm sure you'll find interesting. Please join me in welcoming K.M..


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 since, like, grade school. Even before that, I was one of those kids always playing dress up (and dragging my sister with me). I've always had characters bouncing around in my head. I had a teacher, though, who was big on creative writing. I credit her with giving me the idea of writing things down (although I'm sure I would have gotten there eventually). I actually still have some of that early stuff...somewhere...in the chaos of my house. Except for the story with talking horses. I think I burned that one in my fireplace :)

2.  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?
Oh God...glamorous? Me? Hardly. You should see the state of my office. I sit there surrounded by clutter (and usually with at least one light bulb out somewhere), buried in papers, quite often muttering to myself. I'm doing good if I remember to clean out the litter box.

3. Plotter or pantzer? 
Oh, pantzer, most definitely :). Half the time I don't even stop to figure out character names in the beginning. I  just get an idea and run with it. I might take a break a chapter or so in and do a quick outline, to get an idea of where I want the story to go, but it's generally extremely bare-bones. And most of the time, the characters disregard my input entirely and go where they want :)

4.  What do you do when you’re suffering writers block?
Usually, I force myself to push through it. I sit down and make myself write, even if the sentences don't make sense, and even if I know what's coming out is utter crap that will hopefully never see the light of day. If that doesn't work? I know it's time to switch projects until the muse decides to cooperate.

5. Looking over the past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?
Hmm...well, I'd have to say anytime I get an email from one of my editors, saying they want one of my books :) It's that first moment of validation, you know? That someone else actually likes what you've written (friends don't count, lol).

6. What do you enjoy doing with your spare time, your non-writing time? 
I read. A lot. Fiction, mostly, although lately I've been bogged down in research. I'm working on a degree in Medieval Studies, and that's taking up pretty much every non-writing second of my life right now.

7.  If you could choose one vice, what would it be and why?
Oh, I'm pure as the driven snow :) Seriously, I have a bit of a filthy mouth sometimes. I figure at least with that one, it's not causing any permanent harm, lol. That and the occasional drink...or two...and I'm covered in the vice department!

8.  What are you working on now? Can you tell us a little about it?
Currently, I'm working on a couple projects. I try to settle on one story and finish it, but that never seems to work out so well! I keep getting inspired (which, I suppose, is a good thing). At the top of my list are two: Tristan and Boys Will Be Boys. Tristan is a sequel to my novel released this summer, Lucky, a paranormal/shifter tale. For those who've read it, Tristan is the brother of Michael, one of my main characters. He's a tough guy, a private investigator. And he's about to be brought down by a bouncy werewolf :) Boys Will Be Boys is something I've been working on for quite a while, off and on. It originally started out as a heterosexual romance, until I started actually listening to the Mitch, my main character. I couldn't get the love interests to click because Mitch is, apparently, gay, and the whole girl thing really wasn't working for him. So I'm redoing it, and so far, I'm extremely pleased with how it's coming.

9. Are you in love? Have you ever been?
Um, I'd have to say no. I'm currently single; I've had a few relationships, but no one that really 'clicked', you know? Personally, I'm pretty happy on my own. I get enough romance through my characters to fill any gaps :)

10. What kind of comfort food do you like best?
Chocolate. Chocolate. Coffee. Chocolate. I won't turn down cookies, either :) If it's got cocoa or caffeine, I'm there.

And now a bit from her brand new release!
In Teddy's Arms
by K.M. Mahoney
Publisher: Total E-Bound
ISBN: 978-0-85715-840-6
Genre: Contemporary

Teddy should really know better than to agree to one of Pierce’s “great ideas,” but he’s never found it easy to say no to his best friend. Which is why he finds himself on the middle of a snow-covered road, heading into the mountains to spend the Christmas holiday in a rental cabin. And, like always, Pierce’s great plan backfires. The cabin is a dump, it’s freezing outside – and then comes the snowstorm.
Pierce isn’t sure how he’s going to handle an entire weekend trapped with Teddy. Sure, the guy is his best friend, but tell that to Pierce’s body. It’s getting harder and hard to keep his hands to himself.
Teddy doesn’t think Pierce is interested in his nerdy best friend. Pierce doesn’t think he’s good enough for Teddy. Everything Teddy has ever wanted is right in front of him, if only he can find the courage to reach out and take it.

Excerpt:
“Are you sure about this?”
“Teddy, ask me that again, and I’m going to pull this car over and toss you into a snow drift.”
Teddy sat back, crossed his arms over his chest, and huffed. “Sheesh, cranky much?”
Pierce rolled his eyes. For a second, he entertained the lovely image that the steering wheel he was gripping so tightly was, in fact, Teddy’s neck. “The first three times you asked that question, I answered. The next six times, I ignored you. You’ve now moved beyond that and are into obnoxiously irritating. Stow it.”
Silence enveloped the interior of the car for several long moments. Then Teddy mumbled, “Sorry.”
Pierce grinned. That was his Teddy. He never could stay at odds with anyone for very long.
“Turn right in one-point-two miles,” the GPS system stated in a dull, broken monotone.
“Thank God.” Pierce nearly whooped. “I think we’re getting close.” He turned where the small navigation map on his dashboard indicated. The bottom of their battered sedan scraped ominously over the snow-covered gravel.
All right, so maybe Teddy had a point. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea Pierce had ever had. But it was a little bit too late to back out now. No way in hell was Pierce driving back down this mountain in the dark.
“I don’t see anything,” Teddy said, sounding doubtful. He chewed on his fingernail, expression nervous, eyes fastened on the darkening woods surrounding the small road.
“It’s up here. Somewhere.” Damn. That hadn’t come out as reassuring as Pierce had hoped.
The GPS remained unhelpfully silent as the car bumped its way along. Twilight was quickly turning into night. The looming pines closing in on all sides didn’t help, deepening the gloom. They were truly in the middle of nowhere, no streetlights, no sidewalks, the roads rough. Hell, there wasn’t even a McDonald’s. Civilisation was most definitely far behind them.
At the moment, Pierce would have gladly traded his stupid GPS system for just one tacky strand of twinkling Christmas lights. Anything to suggest they weren’t lost in the mountains. And why the hell was it so dark out here?
The cabin practically jumped out at them. Pierce rounded a curve and slammed on the brakes. His heart thumped madly as he studied the battered porch steps, dangerously close to his front bumper. Beside him, Teddy let out a belated squeak of alarm.
“Destination in five hundred feet,” the GPS chimed.



K.M. Mahoney's Bio:

K.M. lives in the Midwest surrounded by cornfields. To compensate for the lack of scenery at home, she spends her time visiting exotic locations with gorgeous men.

All right, so the men are mostly fictional. So are the locations. Everyone needs a hobby.

In reality, K.M. lives a fairly unexciting life with her cat. She writes mainly m/m romance, usually with paranormal or fantasy elements. K.M. loves to follow her characters wherever they decide to go. She maintains that any naughty behavior is all their doing. Honest.

Contact information:
Twitter: authorkmmahoney


Thursday, December 08, 2011

Win a Kindle eReader Contest



Win a Kindle eReader!

Total-E-Bound
Yuletide Yearnings Contest




We're giving away a Kindle eReader for the release
of our new
'Yuletide Yearnings' collection.
Simply enter your name and
email address at our coompetition page and
we'll enter you into our contest to win!

GOOD LUCK!
Total-E-Bound Publishing All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Welcome Naomi Bellina

This week, I'm thrilled to have the adorable, and very sexy author, Naomi Bellina with me here on my blog. Some of her answers to my interview questions made me smile and wish I was right there with her. Please give Naomi a warm welcome!

1. What genre would you like to try that you haven’t yet?
I love to read mysteries, but the thought of writing a full-length one is daunting.  I'm afraid I would give away the ending, or leave out some vital part of the plot. Most of my stories have some sort of surprise ending, because I think life should be full of surprises, but I admire anyone who can put together an intricate mystery.

2.  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?
Oh, the life of glamour! Yes, let's see, this week I had to rearrange my schedule to let the termite inspector inside the house. When you're the half of the partnership that works from home during the day, you get to be the one who takes care of household chores and maintenance. Oh, and I cleaned up a gigantic hairball the cat yakked up, because, yes, I was the one home. Now that was a real glitzy event! Would it be considered more glamorous if I did it in a negligee wearing high heels?

3.  What do you do when you’re suffering writers block?
Start moving!  Much as I hate to do house cleaning, some of my best ideas come when my body is moving and my mind is going La-la-la, this is such a bore, where did all these dust bunnies come from, why can't he hit the toilet bowl…Eureka! There's a great idea!

4.  What would you like to share with new writers? Any suggestions or advice?
Just keep going! I sent my first erotic story to eight publishers over a course of twelve months before it found the perfect home. Don't be afraid. The worst that's going to happen is they will say no. I've received polite rejections, helpful rejections, snooty rejections, but never once has anyone come to my doorstep, slammed my manuscript at my feet and slapped me with their glove. Persevere! Also, stay organized. Have a good system so you can keep track of what you send. When it's time to send a follow-up inquiry, be ready. Digging through files and emails is a colossal waste of time.  Be patient. While you're waiting to hear from one publisher, start writing the next story, and the next. Then you won't be sitting at your computer hitting that Send/Receive button on your email over and over, waiting for good news.

5. Looking over the past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?
It's so hard to pick a best. Each one seems better than the last. Every time I get an acceptance email, I feel that little jolt of joy run through me and I do the happy dance. I try not to check my email in church for that very reason. I love the thrill of seeing my name on the Internet or in print, and I'm always delighted when I get feedback from readers.

6. What do you enjoy doing with your spare time, your non-writing time? 
Safe to say, it's not housework. Right now I’m learning to hula hoop dance, I love to drum on my hand drum, I try to get out and attend unusual events and festivals whenever possible, and my inner art child comes out to play every so often. My current project-in-waiting is to paint several electrical outlet wall plates for my office. Plain white ones are so dull.

7. If you could change one thing that you have written, what would it be?
My signature on that marriage certificate. Just kidding! Even though the marriage ended, it was a good learning experience. I learned not to do THAT again! Okay, I'm still kidding. I'm actually joyfully engaged and ready to tie the knot soon.

8.  If you found that, for one reason or another, you couldn’t write anymore, what would you like to do instead? 
 Let's also assume, just for fun, that I have a lot of money. I would open a huge animal shelter, something like Best Friends in Utah. We would work hard to put an end to animal suffering by finding ways to reduce the number of homeless animals. Then, with my hefty income, I would hire someone else to write about animals for me!

9.  When you wake up in the morning, what celebrity do you most resemble?
 Sarah Jessica Parker. Then I put my glasses on, and it's more like a cross between Scooby Doo and the Tasmanian Devil. Regardless, there's a light in my true love's eyes when he sees me emerge from the bedroom on Sunday morning, so I know I'm a hottie.

10. What kind of comfort food do you like best?
Depends on why I need to be comforted. Dove chocolate will usually do the trick, but sometimes, if the problem is especially gruesome, I need birthday cake with butter cream icing. I've been known to order one from the bakery and have them put "Happy Birthday Naomi" on it, just to make me feel special.

Thank you very much, Jude, for letting me talk to you and your readers. For those celebrating holidays this winter, I wish you peace, joy, and remember to take time for yourself with a lovely story or two from your favorite romance authors. 

Now, on to the sneak peek of Naomi's book and here there's a new adventure. Total E-Bound has given Naomi the cover suited for what they call a Lust Bite. It's a lovely cover, but it is generic:

 
When Irish Eyes Are Evil
by Naomi Bellina
ISBN:  978-0-85715-719-5
Genre: Vampire, paranormal, action/adventure
Published:  October 2011
Publisher:  Total-E-Bound
Word count:  10,576
Buy Link: 






The adventure? Well, Ms Bellina has come up with a lovely cover for the book herself. She thinks it fits, gasp! What do you think?

Blurb:

A sexy vampire with evil on his mind has Rachael playing detective to find a way to subdue him before he can destroy her. Sent to the space station in lieu of prison, Rachel longs to escape and return to Earth. An encounter with a charming bartender, Brody, makes her reconsider, until she realizes that he is not what he seems. Racing against time, Rachel must find a way to permanently eliminate Brody before she falls prey to his evil plot and is killed in the process. With the help of a sexy crew member, a friend back home and another of Brody’s victims, Rachel devises a dangerous plan to kill the fiend and save herself and other potential victims. 

Excerpt:

Shawn held very still and looked into Rachel’s eyes. She licked her lips seductively and gently bit the bottom one, a sexy technique that looked oh-so-good on the late movies—but when he suddenly pulled away, she wondered if she had gone too far. It had been a while since she’d used her feminine wiles to seduce a man and who knew what type of behavior was considered normal out here. Maybe there was some kind of unspoken protocol for these things. Hell, maybe weird golden light and strange-tasting post-coital drinks were the standard.
Shawn strode across the room and locked the door, then turned to face Rachel again. She sneaked a glance at the front of his pants and hid a triumphant smile. Her seduction technique appeared to have worked. Shawn’s cock was hard against the front of his pants and his breath was coming fast.
Well, no need to waste any more time, Rachel decided, and peeled off her shirt to reveal her firm little breasts and already hard nipples.
“Wait, let me unwrap you,” he said, his voice ragged
He slowly undid her jeans, slid the zipper down and pulled her pants to her ankles. For a moment, he rested his cheek against her stomach.
“So soft and warm,” he murmured, then gently slid the lacy panties down and buried his face between her legs.
“Your scent is driving me wild,” he groaned, and began to lick her pussy, his tongue first teasing her clit, then moving deeper. Rachel felt her legs begin to buckle and nearly fell. She hadn’t felt these sensations for far too long.
She pulled away slightly, kicked off her jeans and panties, and pulled out a nearby chair. Taking Shawn’s hand, she led him to it and he sat. She spread her legs wide and straddled him, then, looking into his dark eyes gone almost black with desire, she lowered her wet, eager pussy onto his hard cock. Ah…a perfect fit. Sitting still for a moment she caressed Shawn’s face, then ran her hands down his firm chest. He reached up to stroke her breasts, squeezing and pulling her hard nipples. His gentle yet firm touch aroused a deep passion in Rachel. She felt need and desire coming from Shawn but tenderness and warmth as well. He wanted to make love, not just engage in a quick fuck. Holding the back of the chair and standing on her toes she began to tilt her pelvis, slowly at first, enjoying the feel of his cock sliding in and out, then faster and faster until he groaned loudly with pleasure and grabbed her hips tightly, calling our her name as he shot his cum inside her. He bent to kiss her neck, nuzzling it and murmuring sweet nothings.
She lowered herself onto her the flats of her feet, leaned in to him and rubbed her clit against his mound of pubic hair, his cock still hard inside her. The feel of his coarse hair on her sensitive bud soon sent her over the edge.

BuyLink:
http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1378


And here's a little bit more about Naomi!

Naomi lives in beautiful sunny Florida with the love of her life and a magical black cat. She writes for various fiction and non-fiction markets, but finds she is drawn to erotic romance because her characters insist on canoodling, and sometimes even falling madly in love. So she lets them. Occasionally, however, they go to dark and strange places. She lets them do this also. Most of her stories will surprise readers with unexpected twists and turns, because isn't that what makes life exciting?

Her interests include dancing, hula-hooping, drumming, and creating healthy meals. She takes the opportunity to play, have fun, and indulge in the pursuit of passion whenever possible. She hopes you enjoy her stories and would love to hear from you at naomibellina(at)live(dot)com.

Her motto:  Never pass up the opportunity to have an adventure!

Visit Naomi's website at:  www.naomibellina.com
Twitter:  TheGoddessNaomi

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

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:


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:

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4484637.Shannan_Albright/blog
Follow Shannon on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/nae0309



Wednesday, November 23, 2011

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

Tonya Kinzer's Site Links
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!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

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:


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

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