Showing posts with label TEB author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TEB author. Show all posts

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, October 12, 2011

Welcome Amy Valenti

This week, I have the pleasure to bring you, the lovely, sexy, talented, Amy Valenti. I'm sure you'll love finding out what makes this woman tick.

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 started writing Muppet Babies fan fiction in about 1988 (I was four!). Seriously… I was a big fan of Miss Piggy – not so much now I’m older, but back then she was my idol!

More on-topic, I started on erotica in about 1999, when I was fifteen. That was fan fiction, too, actually… Buffy and Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, followed by a Buffy/Willow/Faith lesbian threesome! Back then I had no idea what sex was like, so it was terrible, of course, but here we are in 2011, and I’m published, so stuff must have happened in the meantime...

2. What influenced you to get published? How long did it take? Can you tell us the name of your first published work?
I’ve started so many writing projects over the years, and the only ones I seem to be able to finish are the erotica ones! I have no idea why that is. But a couple of years after finishing my first erotica fiction over the usual minimum word count of 10K, I thought, “I could be waiting forever to finish a project I can tell my parents about. I’ll send out a few erotica stories in the meantime and see if I get any acceptances.”

I nearly died when I found out I got one, about three months later! The story in question isn’t in print any more – it was a paranormal, loosely vampire-based short named Shocked, and I have a revised, rewritten version coming out in December.

3. What genre would you like to try that you haven’t yet?
Well, so far I’ve written contemporary vanilla, contemporary kink, kinky crime, paranormal erotica, and I’ve also dabbled in some dystopian erotica, though that’s going to take a while to finish.

For some reason, recently I’ve wanted to write about dragons. A female dragon trainer and a male knight, to be specific… I’ve never really been that into swords and sorcery, so I’m a little surprised, but I plan to give it a go!

4. Plotter or pantzer?
I’m getting a little bit better at plotting, but so much of my stuff has just been me sitting down and letting the characters worry about themselves, and just going scene by scene with a very vague plot in mind. It seems to work for me, though my longer works tend to be the more plotted ones.

5. What do you do when you’re suffering writers block?
As bad as it sounds, I go and walk around my local bookshop. It’s not what it seems like, though – I don’t go and read through other authors’ work to steal their ideas. Just being around a lot of books makes me inspired – in a kind of ‘one day, this could be you’ way. And there’s a lot of pretty cover art around, these days!

6. What would you like to share with new writers? Any suggestions or advice?
If you’re having trouble getting your ideas onto the page, there’s a tool online named Write or Die – it gives you noise prompts whenever you stop writing, and it times you, so you don’t have the time to spare deliberating over whether something sounds good or not. I’d suggest getting your first draft down using Write or Die, and then going back and editing/restructuring later, once you’ve finished. You might surprise yourself with what you’ve written!

7. Looking over the past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?
Finding out that Dominance and Deception was going to be given a print release. I might have actually jumped up and down on the spot. ;D On a more practical level, my editor at Total-E-Bound has been a joy to work with, and I’ve now begun to call her my ‘Freditor’, because she’s a friend as well as an editor. That’s probably the best behind-the-scenes thing to come out of 2011. :)

8. What do you enjoy doing with your spare time, your non-writing time? 
Sleeping, definitely! And playing videogames. I’m a proofreader and copy editor as a day job, and I enjoy it even though it’s work. I’m a big reader, too, and there are a few TV shows (most significantly, NCIS and Castle) that I wouldn’t want to miss.

9. If you could change one thing that you have written, what would it be?
I wrote a silly little short for some friends, which parodied the were-shifter genre. It’s named Cursed and Compelled, and it’s one of the free reads on my website. Everywhere I looked, I seemed to see stories about new were-creatures – were-leopards, were-lions, were-panthers, were-tigers, you name it! – so I decided to pick a very silly animal for my oh-so-sexy hero to turn into.

It still makes me laugh, but I wish the ending was better. It’s not a happily-ever-after, and I think it lets the rest down a little, but at the time I wasn’t putting the greatest amount of thought into it.

10. What are you working on now? Can you tell us a little about it?
I’m very excited about my new BDSM series, which is centred around a fetish club named Club Alterna. Each novella in the series will focus on a different girl and the guy or girl who catches her eye, and so far I have the first four stories planned out.

The first is named Floored, dealing with a stubborn switch’s struggle against the urge to submit, and it’s written and contracted for release in March 2012. That’ll be M/F, followed by book two, Suspended, which is F/F and bondage-centric. Book thee, Captured, is M/F and revolves around alternative fashion and fetish photography. Book four, Swayed, is F/F, and is about the club’s vanilla DJ, and the Domme who unexpectedly falls for her.

You can find out more at my series page, here: http://amyvalenti.wordpress.com/club-alterna-series/

11. What do you hope to achieve in life and when will you know that you have been a success?
I’m thinking in baby steps right now. Step one: my first print release, which is Dominance and Deception in January. Step two: finish my first series, Club Alterna, which starts in March. Step three: get a novel published with one of the big publishing houses, so I can one day walk into my local book shop and go, ‘Hey, look! There I am!” That’ll be when I really count myself as a success, I think. 

 And now for a teaser from Amy's book:

Dominance and Deception
Author: Amy Valenti
Genre: Crime/Thriller, BDSM

Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing



Blurb:

Submission is a dangerous game…


Faye Tate is a police forensic scientist, a switch, and secretly in love with a police detective. Detective Zach Pierce has made many enemies, but his attraction to Faye is too strong to be denied.


Can Pierce protect his submissive from those who seek to use her against him, or will her devotion to her Dom cost Faye her life?


Excerpt:

Faye looked down at the red mark rising on her flesh, then up at me. “That the best you can do, Sir?”

I raised the crop, never letting my pissed-off façade slip. “I haven’t even started—”

Faye’s phone rang, the unexpected sound disorientating us both. She groaned, scowling at the offending object as if it was sentient.

“Damn it! Not now!” She tugged expectantly at her handcuffs. “Okay, let me out of these.”

I stood there, impassive, and she rolled her eyes.

“Zach, seriously. Someone’s probably dead and we’ll have to go to work.”

I knew she was right, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. Dropping the crop and stepping over the tangle of our clothing, I crossed to the dresser and checked the caller ID. Sure enough, it was Santoro. For a brief moment, I entertained the irrational thought of firing him, but it passed.

Without releasing Faye from her bonds, I hit the speakerphone button to answer the call.

Taking a deep breath to steady her breathing, she spoke. “Santoro, this better be good. I’m a little tied up right now.”

As I stifled a chuckle, Santoro replied, “I know, it’s really late and I’m sorry. But we have a problem. There’s been a triple homicide, and Pierce isn’t answering his cell. His home phone’s off the hook.”

I didn’t remember taking my home phone off the hook, but I’d left my cell phone switched off in the car, which was parked outside Faye’s place.

“He probably let the battery run down again,” she told Santoro. “I’ll stop by his place on the way into work, okay?”

“Are you sure? It’s not out of your way?”

“I’m sure. You get going, and I will handle Pierce.” She winked at me.

“You’re risking an awful lot, here,” I murmured, quietly enough that the cell phone wouldn’t pick it up.

“Relax,” she mouthed back.

“That’d really help,” Santoro said wearily. “Thanks.”

“So what do I tell Pierce when I see him?” Faye asked.

Silently, I sat on the edge of the bed. Faye’s eyes widened, and she shook her head at me, though I could tell her heart wasn’t really in the denial.

As Santoro began to outline the case, his tinny voice just barely audible in the quiet of Faye’s bedroom, I trailed light kisses over her breasts and stomach. When I glanced up, I could see she wasn’t taking in anything Santoro was saying. Her eyes were closed, and a tiny smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

“…Faye?” Santoro’s voice brought us both down to earth.

“Hmmm?” she replied languorously, before shaking herself out of it. “Sorry, what?”

Santoro laughed. “Oh, Jeez… When you say you’re tied up, you really mean that literally, don’t you?”

Faye and I stared at one another for an instant before she cracked up. “I knew there was a reason you’re Pierce’s right-hand man, Santoro. Nothin’ gets past you.”


And now, for a little more info about Amy!
Bio: Amy Valenti is a tarnished tease, and her mind has lived in the gutter since the day she realised what sex was. She hails from England, which she doesn’t find quite as exotic and sexy as the average US citizen seems to, but if people want to compliment her on her accent, that’s all fine with her! Her muses are many, fickle and very demanding.

She has a degree in creative writing and currently works as a proofreader/copy editor. In her free time, she reads, writes and plays videogames. On the rare occasions she doesn’t have a laptop on her knee, she loves to curl up with friends and pets – and chocolate – for TV show and movie marathons.

Contact links

 

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Welcome Nikki McCoy


This week, I've got the good fortune to welcome the gorgeous and talented Nikki McCoy. I hope you'll all be as pleased to find out more about this crazy woman and find out what makes her tick.


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 have been writing nonstop since November of 2010. My inspiration for this was actually born of two different factors, the first being that I have never been able to shut my mind off. It tends to work on a schedule all its own and demands a constant stream of stimulation that will keep me awake for nights on end. If left to its own devices, it will mull over every aspect, problem, and potential disaster in my life until my thoughts are quickly spinning out of control. And, as you can imagine, there’s nothing worse than filling your nights of insomnia stressing over the things you can’t do anything about.

My addiction to World of Warcraft could only keep me busy for so long, so I turned to creating stories in my mind. Putting myself in the shoes of some of the characters in my favorite books. Imagining what I would do if my life were as hot and exciting as theirs. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about, hehe. We’ve all done it. I just took the next step and started writing about it before my mind and imagination drove me insane with my secret obsessions.

My second inspiration came from the fact that the authors I loved couldn’t produce as fast as I was reading. How dare they not pump out a novel every week to keep me satisfied?! LoL. That and I just couldn’t afford to keep buying nearly a book a day. So I sucked up my confidence, put on my shiny little girl bells, and began to appease my voracious appetite by giving life to my own stories.

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?
I wake up in the morning curled next to my loving husband and do naughty things to him until he’s forced to punish me in ways that leave me breathless and begging for more. After breakfast, I sit out on the veranda and soak up the brilliant rays of the sun in peace while I let my mind run wild with whatever story I’m working on. Sometime in the evening, my husband will remind me that I’m still here on earth and take me out to the latest restaurant that’s opened in our area and spend the rest of the night making me forget the rest of the world exists.

Then I wake up to reality…

 Kids whose entire existence will come crashing to a halt if I don’t give them my immediate attention. A mountain of chores and obligations from which there is no escape. Oh, and did I mention bills? The madness never ends! There is some glamour to be found, though. During those few hours a day when I sacrifice sleep to write… oh yea. That’s my nirvana right there.

Something unglamorous in the last week. Hmm… such a long list to choose from. Well, I’d have to say it was when my fourteen year old asked why my husband and I dropped him and his brothers off at the park every weekend while we went back home for an hour or two. The hubby, sophisticated as he is, came right out and said, “You were the one that complained you could hear us through the vents. Would you rather know what we’re doing and be at home to hear us or know what we’re doing and be at the park where you can’t hear us?”

My fourteen year old never complained about going to the park again.

3. Looking over the past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?
Of all the great moments, I think the day my husband started reading my first book was the best. The genre I chose was essentially the farthest one from the type of books he willingly reads, but he liked it so much that he didn’t want to put it down. I actually managed to make a fan out of him, and now he does everything he can to give me time to write so that he can keep reading. Personally, I think it proves my theory that he’s a romantic at heart, though I’m sure he’d rather suffer untold torture than admit it.

4.  What do you enjoy doing with your spare time, your non-writing time? 
Unfortunately, my spare time is in such short supply that I don’t get to do about 90% of what I really want to, but there are a few things I absolutely can’t live without. World of Warcraft, of course. Because few things in life can compare to the thrill of killing a huge dragon bent on ripping our guts out and eating them for breakfast.

Another would be listening to my kids trying to catch up to my husband’s sarcastic, twisted sense of humor. They have a love/hate relationship with their dad. They love to hate him, and he hates to love them. Apparently their battle of one-upmanship on the insults works for them because I couldn’t tear them apart if I tried. Being the only female in a house with five males, though, I’ve long since given up on trying.

My favorite thing of all, however, is still simply spending time with my husband. It can get kinda soppy and downright, disgustingly mushy at times, but it works!

5.  If you could invite any famous person, dead or alive, for dinner, who would it be and what would you eat?
Cary Grant, no contest. Yea, I know. My age is showing with that choice, but the man’s a god in his own right! If I could have bottled his essence to pour into my writing now, I’d be a millionaire. Funny, sophisticated, and so handsome that his looks were what launched his acting career, he’s definitely a ten in my eyes.

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

Once upon a time, I got an infection in my cornea and couldn’t game for three weeks due to the pain of trying to keep my eye open. It wasn’t pretty. At that time, gaming was my everything, but looking back now, it never held even a quarter of the passion I have for writing. I imagine I would probably go insane, much like Marquis de Sade, only with an ever so slightly less demented obsession with getting my thoughts out, LoL.

If I couldn’t write, I suppose I would probably go back to reading as much as my budget would allow. The stories of others’ lives - be they fictional characters or real life people I meet - fascinate me. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m severely antisocial and try to escape casual conversation every chance I get. But when people get down to the nitty gritty of the true joys and pains of their pasts, it’s like they’re sharing a whole new world with me and offering perspectives I never would have imagined.  

7.  What are you working on now? Can you tell us a little about it?
Right now I’m working on two books with plans for the third in my series thrown in there somewhere. One I can’t say too much about as I’m working on my mind’s schedule and my mind has yet to choose a definite plot for it. The other revolves around two men on opposite sides of the law forced together in order to bring down a major crime lord.

I don’t have a blurb written for it yet, but the storyline roughly entails the following:

Scott Lanham is an FBI agent with a singular focus in life. To take down as many major drug lords as he can. After watching his mother struggle for years with her addiction only to wither away and die from the drugs she couldn’t overcome, Scott will stop at nothing to avenge her death the only way he can. His efforts led him to Julian Manos but before he has a chance to launch his bust, the drug lord is murdered by the leader of a major crime syndicate. His only lead is a prostitute named Trick.

With the help of his uncle, Trick escaped a life that would only put him into an early grave. His new life on the streets is far from glamorous, but it’s one he can control. When Scott hires his services indefinitely, he’s wary at first but soon finds himself falling hard for the handsome, older man. Scott is everything he’d ever dreamt of finding in a partner. But betrayal threatens to take away his dream when he finds out that he was only being used as a means for Scott to gain information on his father, leader of the crime syndicate that murdered Julian Manos. The instinct to run as far and as fast as he can from the ruthless clutches of his father wars with his newfound feelings for the FBI agent that has captured his heart.

It is up to Scott to convince Trick that his declaration of love had not been a lie while keeping the younger man safe from the dangers of a life Scott had recklessly thrown him back into.

8.  Are you in love? Have you ever been?
I am absolutely in love! But not for the first time. The first was…well, a story that should never be retold, as I’m sure we all have, even if they don’t involve our hearts. This time, however, I’ve found someone that has chained my heart and soul to him and I never want to escape.

At our two year mark, we hit a slump, as most married couples do. The books I was reading inspired me to suggest a change that was the best thing that could have happened to us. I realized that I desired a firm hand and loving control, and he was more than willing to become what I needed – again - hehe. We’re still working out the kinks, but surprisingly, we were able to skip the rough parts and go straight to smoothing out the edges.

This was surprisingly possible due to the fact that he read all of my books. He claimed he could see me in my characters and was able to gain a better understanding of what I wanted and needed. And I have to admit, it seems like he’s definitely on the right track :)

9. What kind of comfort food do you like best?
Any and all! LoL. Food, to me, is like a long soak in a hot tub underneath a cloudless sky while tiny snowflakes drift down to melt on my tongue with my husband on one side of me and a chilled glass of red wine on the other.

Okay, so maybe all foods aren’t as tantalizing, hehe. I tried tofu once and can honestly say my stomach thanks me for the one-time torture. And monkey brains. Haven’t tried them but watching a video where they were featured as a delicatessen was enough to make my taste buds leave on hiatus for about a week. If given only one choice, I have to choose a big, fat, rare, juicy stake (as long as someone else cooked it).

10.  What do you hope to achieve in life and when will you know that you have been a success?
I think the only thing I haven’t achieved yet is my PH. D. in psychology. Other than that, I only really had three main goals that I’ve already reached. My kids are happy. I have a great husband, and finally, FINALLY, I have found something that I personally love and am good at. My writing.

In my experience, everyone wants to be great at something. It doesn’t matter if that one thing is as important to the rest of the world as it is to the person doing it. All that matters is that each person finds their personal niche and happiness within it. All too often, we compare ourselves to others and therein find faults that only exist in our eyes. It took me years to discover this, and realize that the only one holding me back from accomplishing my goals was me.

We all have our insecurities and imperfections, and they will always be there at the end of the day. But if you find your true, personal pleasure, grab onto it by the balls – or shiny little girl bells, whichever the case may be – and let it take you on the ride of your life! No regrets. No hesitation. After all, everyone deserves a little bit of happy in the chaos of life 

And here's a sexy bit from one of Nikki's  scrumptious books:


Son of Death
ISBN:  978-0-85715-550-4
Genre:  Gay MM/Fantasy/BDSM/Gods and Goddesses
Publisher:  Total-E-Bound
Erotic Rating:  Total-e-Melting
Book Length:  Super Novel

Book one in the Keepers of the Gods Series

When Seth, a Keeper of the Gods, finds the two men he is destined to live eternity with, he must defy the very Gods themselves to save his mates and preserve the existence of man and love.
 
Discovering love with the one person who is fated to compliment everything that you are is blessing enough, but what do you do when another knight in shining armor sweeps you off your feet?
 
Jamie found a second chance at life when Loland rescued him from the ignorance and abuse of those who should have protected him. For years they struggled together to cope with Jamie's powers of precognition and his ability to absorb energy from living things.
 
After centuries of waiting for his other half, Seth finally met Loland, a man that embodied all he'd ever dreamt of in a mate. Meeting Loland's lover, Jamie, and finding that they are both his mates only made the pot sweeter. But while exploring the love they find as mates and the D/s relationships they crave, all three must challenge the will of the Gods and the twisted plans of Jamie's mysterious family.

Ultimately, Seth knows there is nothing he wouldn't do to save the lives and love of his mates.

Excerpt:

As soon as Jamie heard the spray of water hitting tiles in the bathroom next to their room, he sprang into action. It was a short trip to the kitchen where he filled and started the coffee machine, then prepared two mugs with just the right amount of sugar and cream.
Theirs was a small house, but shabby by no means. The kitchen was almost as large as the living room, and while that wasn’t saying much, they managed to keep them both free of clutter. This gave their home a cosy atmosphere instead of inducing the claustrophobia one would expect to feel in such small spaces.
There were two bedrooms—one they shared, and one which had been deemed Jamie’s office, although that was more of a title than a fact. A jumbled collection of decorations and household items that Loland had accumulated over his years as an interior decorator reigned supreme.
Every week, Jamie was forced to clear a path to his work station, consisting of a worn pine desk, chair, computer and fax machine, but he didn’t mind. He loved to imagine the kinds of homes that would eventually house each piece as he was working.
Jamie returned to their bedroom and began to rifle through the clothes inhabiting Loland’s side of the closet. Most of them had either designer tags or were close knock-offs. The significance of the names on the material went right over his head but he knew it was important to his partner.
He’d also been keeping tabs on the outfits Loland wore on his dates with his boyfriend. He knew exactly which shirt to match with which pants to give Loland a fresh look every time he went out.
It had been odd at first, helping his lover prepare to meet another man. No other Dom Loland had met had ever had him this flustered. For that matter, no other man had piqued Loland’s interest enough for him to want to engage in more than just casual scenes at the club. Jamie knew this one was special. The energy Loland gave off following each date was sizzling with love and lust, and somehow it only enhanced their own relationship.
Loland had informed him that this was another actual date, not a club rendezvous, so Jamie decided on a pair of dark grey slacks and a long-sleeved, white button-up shirt that shimmered even in dull light. After laying the clothes neatly on the bed so as not to wrinkle them, he went in search of Loland’s watch, cell phone, and wallet, lying in various places throughout the room, and lined them all up on the dresser. 


I'm sure, like me, you'll want to know more about this fantastic author, so here's her bio:


A little about me…hmm. I’m afraid to say I’m not all that interesting. A hermit at heart, nothing would please me more than being locked away with a few hundred shelves of good books, a laptop to write my stories on, and an endless supply of food I don’t have to cook! With a little time with my husband for good behaviour!

Ahh…the sweet life.

Can’t really complain, however. My four boys provide more entertainment than Jeff Dunham and Ron White combined (well, most of the time) and my husband keeps me on my toes with each new level of nerddom he surprises me with. Apparently it knows no bounds.

We’re all planning a move to Colorado soon, a state made wonderful by presence of my Mom. Gotta love a woman who agreed to get her first tattoo a few years ago simply to please her daughter. It only took me two decades to talk her into it but hey, it worked!

Overall, there are some days that I still see the grass as greener on the other side of the fence, but most times, I’m happy right here in my own backyard of dysfunctional daisies and exasperating roots.

 Where you can find Nikki: