Welcome Rose Anderson

I'm pleased to have Rose Anderson with us this week, a truly interesting and talented woman who I'm really glad to meet. Welcome Rose!

1.  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?

Before I begin Jude, I’d like to thank you for hosting this interview today. I very much appreciate your time and I’ve enjoyed your interesting and fun Q&A. 

Something unglamorous eh? Just this morning, my husband asked me what my readers would think about me lounging around all day in baggy old clothes. LOL I hardly “lounge around all day” but I do dress in comfortable clothing when I write. Why wouldn’t I? I think my readers would see the sense in it. 

I’m a natural redhead with gray eyes. With this genetic distinction comes fair skin that sunburns easily. Growing up in the days before sunscreen, as a little girl I’d get burn upon burn just playing outside. Add to that a rather stupid attempt to gain the highly touted Coppertone tan in my teens, and it’s a recipe for skin damage. Several days ago I went to the dermatologist because I found several suspicious spots over the summer. Sure enough, these pre-cancerous monsters had to be frozen with cryotherapy. I’m glad I went because this stuff can turn deadly. Unfortunately the timing is terrible. I have two social functions this weekend and I look like I’ve been brawling. Yes, it’s been a very unglamorous few days. 

2. Plotter or pantzer?

I definitely write by the seat of my comfortable baggy pants. <grin> Even when I try to plot the story, it takes on a life of its own and I resume pantzing! An interesting idea will pop into my head and before I know it I have a character or two and they’ll start talking to themselves and each other. When they walk forward in their world, for one reason or another conflict comes in from the sides and they must react to it. The strange thing here is, I really don’t know how the story will end until they end it. They take over my brain until they’re done with me. I’ve heard other authors refer to this state of mind as a form of possession. 

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

Oh this is a tricky one. As I’m terribly shy, I’d rather have a dinner party, then I can pop in and out of the conversation but not have it depend upon me to keep it going.  At the table I’d sit Thomas Jefferson, Leonardo Da Vinci, Lao Tzu, King Solomon, Jane Austen, Astronaut Jim Lovell, Oprah Winfrey, René Descartes, Thoth, John and Abigail Adams, and President and Mrs. Barack Obama. Can you imagine how fabulous that conversation would be? I think I’d have a Mongolian Hot Pot -- hot stock and small bits of food to cook in it -- or perhaps a fondue. Slow meals are great for keeping a dinner conversation going.  

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

I’d like more than anything to become successful enough to buy a nice piece of land for my husband to retire on. That’s been my goal from the start. Second to that, I’d like to set up a foundation that gives grant monies to people and organizations that do good things for the environment, animals, and mankind. Think of it like picking up Ben and Jerry’s torch and running with it.

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

Yes I am. I’ve loved this man since I was nineteen years old. My soul mate and I have been together nearly 35 years and he’s my best friend too. You can’t get better than that.

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

I’d say they need to keep in mind that not all of their books will be a good fit with every reader out there and not to take it too hard when the inevitable poor or snarky review pops up. Books are no less works of art than masterpieces in oil or stone. And beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When I began this amazing journey back in March of this year, I learned I had a narrow window of opportunity to find reviews for my book. I did a little digging around the internet to learn all I could about reviews. I read a few dozen and found many thought-filled assessments by obvious booklovers. Some lower-rated reviews offered constructive criticism and I realized they’d be useful to the author, if the authors took them to heart. They were things like: The story dragged in chapter two, or The point of view shifts were confusing at times.

Then to my dismay I read some very nasty reviews. The one that stood out went something like this: This author should have their fingers broken so they can’t write another piece of sh*t.  All I could say was really? Was it that bad to say that terrible thing? Especially in the Romance Genre! How could another person’s work of art evoke that kind of emotional response? It’s not like seeing something that turns your stomach with its shock value. It’s not like watching a tank ready to crush a student in Tiananmen Square, witnessing that hapless truck driver in Los Angeles getting his head koshed in with a brick, or viewing a monk setting himself on fire in protest. It’s a romance novel that on some level just didn’t do it for the reader. That’s all. And really, even doing it for the reader is a personal thing. One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor.

So new writers, please remember that reviews are simply opinions. How many people do you know with opinions different than your own? Revel in the good ones. They feel great! Consider the bad ones. If you’re lucky, they’ll come with constructive criticism and that’s not a bad thing because sometimes authors are just too close to the story to see gaffs and gaps. Once they’re out in the open and you know what they look like, these glitches can be avoided. And above all, ignore the nasty reviews. If they have nothing of value to impart and are simply mean-spirited, consider them to be the power plays they are, and then move on. 

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

If I had one wish, I wouldn’t take it for myself. As a helpless bystander, I watched two beloved sisters die to catastrophic diseases. I would use my one wish to remove suffering in all its forms from all of earth’s creatures – hunger, abuse, disease, etc… etc …etc.  Of course the planet would spring back to life. In lieu of that, I’d wish for a genie in a lamp that gave me unlimited wishes and fix things that way.  :) 

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

I love making things but after 38 years of rheumatoid arthritis, my hands don’t always cooperate with my creative spark.  I really enjoy making things with my computer. I’d go into graphics. 

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

I have several books simmering away right now – a five-book non-erotic romance series I’ve been working on for four full years now, a magical story set in the Isle of Skye, and I’m getting ready to submit one to my publisher that tracks an urban legend in my area. There’ll be two books to that story. I’m half way through book two now. I’ve been busy!

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

My husband and I go to flea markets on most Sundays. He’s searching for old correspondence. I collect little trinkets like Cracker Jack toys, political buttons, and pickle pins. Sometimes we get lucky. I like to sew and recently discovered repurposing. In other words, I’d buy a vintage table cloth or wool sweater and use them as fabric to make napkins or mittens etc. Were I to be summed up, I guess you’d call me a dabbler. I have many interests and am just as happy doing one as another.

On to a short teaser from Rose's book, Dreamscape!

 

Dreamscape

by Rose Anderson

publisher: Siren Publishing

ISBN: 978-1619260221

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

To buy: http://www.bookstrand.com/rose-anderson

Blurb:
Unable to deny his own translucence, Dr. Jason Bowen determines his lack of physical substance could only mean one thing -- he's a ghost. Murdered more than a century before, Jason haunts his house and ponders the treachery that took his life. When Lanie O'Keefe arrives with plans to renovate her newly purchased Victorian mansion, Jason discovers, ghost or not, he's still very much a man.

Despite its derelict condition and haunted reputation, Lanie couldn't be happier with her new home, but then she has no idea a spirit follows her every move throughout the day and shares her captivating warmth at night. Jason soon discovers he can travel through Lanie's dreams and finds himself reliving the days before his murder with Lanie by his side. It took one hundred and twenty years for love to find them, but there's that insurmountable little matter of Jason being dead.

Excerpt:

Seeing the ghost of Jason Bowen for the first time, Lanie falls to the floor in a faint. Coming to, she doesn't believe what she's seen and writes it off as simply a fearful reaction to a severe thunderstorm. Laughing away her overactive imagination, Lanie playfully calls the ghost to her bath. She never expected a ghost to come to this innocent invitation.
 

Summer birds were now singing their twilight song, and Lanie woke with no clear notion on how she came to be on the floor. The last thing she remembered was the deafening roar of the hail on the cupola’s copper roof. No, the last thing she remembered was coming face to face with a ghost. So Jason Bowen really did haunt this house. Catching glimpses of some movement out of the corner of her eye all these weeks wasn’t a figment of her imagination.

She’d heard the stories as a girl, those playground conversations of how the ghost of Jason Bowen killed kids whenever he appeared. Early on she’d wondered how crazy stories like that ever got started and had decided it most likely came from parents wanting their children to stay away from abandoned houses where they could get hurt. The recently identified Jason Bowen was the man in her dreams, the same man she’d had a crush on since her late teens. Lanie sighed wistfully. There was no future in loving a ghost, none at all. 

Deciding a long, soaking bath was the perfect solution for the helplessly lovelorn, she opened the windows to the storm-clean air and headed downstairs to do just that. The instant Lanie turned on the bathroom light the bulb blew with a pop, the surprise of it eliciting her squeak. After turning the water full-blast to hot, she went rummaging through the built-in bureau drawer for matches with which to light the scented candle on her nightstand. Setting it on the top of the toilet tank, she undressed then turned to the mirror to pin up her hair. 

The upper portion of a man projected upon the steam as if it were a movie screen. Her mirrored reflection clearly showed him standing just behind her, his form outlined in blue light. She whirled around but found herself alone. She eyed the mirror again. There really had been a man’s face visible for an instant before it evaporated. And although the image was brief, it looked like Jason Bowen.

Lanie shook her head. Now that she knew exactly what Jason Bowen looked like from his portrait and photograph, was she going to believe she was seeing him around every corner? “Yeah, wishful thinking.” She had to admit Dr. Jason Bowen had a presence, at least to her sleeping mind he did. If her imagination was a fraction of what he was truly like when he lived, then Mmm mmm mmm. Steeped in her flight of fancy, she spoke as if the figment of her imagination stood there in the flesh. “I was hoping you’d keep me company while I took a bath…” Taking a fanciful stab she added, “Jason.”

Standing nearby, Jason blinked in disbelief. He focused his mind and appeared an instant later in the kitchen. No, this wasn’t his time, the modern appliances proved that. He appeared a split second later back in the doorway to her bath and found her in the tub with her eyes closed. Deliberating if he should speak or not, he reasoned she wouldn’t have used his name if she didn’t know he was there—an invitation to her bath no less. The male part of him replied, “Yes, I’m here, Lanie.” 

Seeing the instant change in her expression, Jason’s logical mind half expected her to shriek and run bare-assed out of the house.

“Oh, my god.” She said the words under her breath and sunk deeper into the water.

He sat on the commode, not quite knowing what the hell had just happened. In fact, he found her reaction to him perplexing. For all appearances she acted like she knew he was there. She called him by name yet went rigid when he replied. Fear perhaps? He hoped not. “You were jesting?” 

“Where are you?”

Jason materialized sitting on the closed toilet seat. The stunned expression on Lanie’s face making him feel apprehensive, he begged her silently, Please don’t run away.

To buy: http://www.bookstrand.com/rose-anderson

Want to know a bit more about Rose? Me too!

A classic Wordie, Rose Anderson writes across genres -- children’s early readers and youth literature, romance and erotic romance, paranormal, metaphysical, historical, and mystery. She also freelances for magazines. Painfully shy, Rose is always on the lookout for ways to challenge herself because she loves to learn. Aside from collecting just about everything under the sun, she has an impressive word library consisting of dictionaries and encyclopedias of all sorts (ask her anything, she loves research) Rose has a husband, two grown kids, two dogs (one empty nest child and one granddog), three cockatiels, and a thirty-year-old Angolan monitor lizard. Nearly all of them share her small home in the middle of nowhere in the wilds of northern Illinois. 

Her most recent novel is Dreamscape published through Siren-BookStrand Publishing. Written in homage to Agatha Christie, Dreamscape is a reader's Easter egg hunt in the truest sense. Peppered throughout, are clues suggesting a story behind the scenes. 




Last, but not least, here are a few places you'll be able to find Rose online:

Blog ~ CalliopesWritingTablet | Buy Rose's Books

 Book Trailers ~ MusesWritingTablet

Follow Rose on Twitter | Join Rose's Google+ Circles of Friends

Welcome Tex

I've got a very special guest this week and I'm sure all you authorly types will be as excited about this as I am. One of the editor for both eXtasy and Devine Destiny, the fellow goes by the name Tex. Please give the man a warm welcome and feel free to ask him whatever questions you'd like.

1. What got you started as an editor?

I love helping writers polish their work. I checked several epubs to see if they needed an editor and Jay Austin, EIC of eXtasy and Devine Destinies, accepted me as one of her editors.

2. Besides reading, what are your favorite hobbies?

Well if you call watching professional sports a hobby then I love watching baseball, football and hockey. I am also a trivia buff and go to local trivia contests. I also enjoy going for walks.

3. What is your favorite genre to read? Your least favorite?

Thrillers, courtroom dramas and, mob and gangster stories. I hate reading Sci Fi, but love watching it in the movies, ex: Star Wars, Star Trek etc.

4. As an editor, do you get to choose the books you edit?

Yes, Jay knows editors prefer certain genres and so tries to match authors and editors in certain categories.

5. Have you ever met any of the authors you’ve edited for? If yes, could you tell us about it?

I haven’t officially met her but I have spoken over the phone to Annie Alvarez, one of my favorite authors to edit for. She has come a long way since I did her first book and I am very proud of her. I have also received Thank You’s via slo-mail from other authors.

6. What clothing makes you feel sexy?

I hate wearing suits and thankfully, my job doesn’t require it. I just love wearing casual clothes. A loose t-shirt and jeans. Not sure if it makes me sexy but I feel comfortable wearing them.

7. From an editor’s point of view, do you have any advice for authors?

Before submitting to an epub or traditional publisher, read and reread your story. eXtasy and DD have standards in the submission policies page and asks authors to make sure their stories are as clean as possible. Unfortunately, I have found more than one author who doesn’t comply with this. Editors are not book doctors. We do not and will not write or rewrite your book. All we do, is polish your book, by telling the author about passive voices, POV shifts, head hopping and/or catching minor grammar or punctuation faux pas, etc. We make suggestions to the author. If I have authors who have a lot of issues, more than once I have sent the book back to them to have them fix the rest of the problems themselves. I do it because it is the only way they will learn.

8. If you could invite a famous person to dinner, who would it be and what would you serve them?

My favorite author is James Patterson. I would love to pick his brain while serving him lasagna.  (This from Jude: Um, can I come? I LOOOOVE lasagna!)

9. What’s your favorite comfort food?

Orange sherbet ice cream.

10. Did you receive any special training to edit?

The only training I’ve had is through Jay Austin, whose advice has been invaluable.

11. Are you a dreamer? Why yes or no?

I have a Walter Mitty mind. In case someone doesn’t know Walter Mitty is a character from a James Thurber novel. A movie was made about him starring Danny Kaye. He went through life imagining himself as a hero or famous person. I always dream or dreamt that I kicked the winning field goal in the Super Bowl, being a famous movie star, getting on the NYTimes best seller list.

12. Is there one book you remember and would read again in a heartbeat?

Yes, The Godfather. In fact I have read it several times and will read it again if I come across it.

13. Winter or Summer?

Both actually. I love looking out the window during winter and watching the snow falling down. It is so relaxing. I also love summer, though not the heat wave we had here in the Midwest, but I love the rain, especially hearing it at night while lying in bed.

Welcome Caitlin West

This week, I've got the great joy to bring you an article created by Caitlin West. An article, I'm sure you'll find both entertaining, and informative.

Modernism & Distraction

© Caitlin West

The modern world has really altered entertainment as a whole. You can see it in a movie like ‘The Departed’ where people are texting with their phones with all the alacrity of a Japanese Schoolgirl and in brand new television shows like ‘Strike Back’ where a character comments about their Facebook page. These provide an excellent means to set a story in the ‘now’ but potentially date the work.

 I had avoided using many modernisms until recently when I started writing my Avalon Nights series. Each chapter has a Twitter post by the main character with personal information. I use it to provide background on her, snippets of her personality and anecdotes about her past that wouldn’t really fit into the story itself.

Gratuitous use of these things can obviously cause distraction. When the reader starts to think more about the technology the character is using than what the character is doing, the author should probably reign in the geeking out. Much in the same way that hard sci-fi can become distracting with massive word count dedicated to the workings of a strange device or a costume romance goes into the stitch work for a ball gown, moderation should be exercised.

I remember some Asimov books breaking out the slide rulers and talking about how women were little more than secretaries and gossips. Even with his far reaching science fiction, he implemented a piece of modern technology that reminds the reader now that the piece was written decades ago. I would argue that in some ways, this robs the magic of the piece. Distracting the reader from the ‘what if’ of the tale and making them think ‘wow, this really is old’.

Ultimately, I’m talking about distraction. Modern readers and storytellers are much more interested in what the characters are going through, how they are overcoming their obstacles and what sort of conclusion they’ve built for themselves. The little details, whether they are modern uses of Google or old stories talking about the abacus, these should be props and tools for story progression.

There are a number of niche genres that happily embrace embellishment. One publisher has a requirement that if you’re submitting a fantasy story, the magic system must be well thought out and detailed, explainable to the reader and sound in theory. Their science fiction must have tech that has been defined and based upon real research and plausible description.

Look on the bookshelves at your local shop and you’ll notice that the number of books as I just described are dwindling. Even the sequel books to Dune are far less technical than Frank Herbert wrote. One of the authors is a physicist and he still manages to focus more on the emotional side to what’s going on. I think that’s what people are most interested in since that’s what we, as readers, can associate with.

Do I need to know how the ship goes into hyperspace to appreciate that the pilot is on a quest to find his lost daughter amidst a crew of smuggling space monkeys? Does it matter what ethereal realm a wizard draws his power from or would I prefer that word count spent on him roasting some goblins before they destroy an unsuspecting town?

I caution other writers in the use of modernisms and over embellishment but at the same time, I don’t think people should shy away. Even though I said earlier that some of the magic is taken away by a realization of how dated something is, there’s a chance that a reader might experience some nostalgia too. It may seem like I’m suggesting right and wrong ways to do thing and that’s not my intention. I’m more interested in drawing ambiguous attention to something that I thought about before writing Avalon Nights.

My father read the first Avalon Nights before I submitted it and he LOVED the Twitter thing. He thought it was super fun and it was really his first real explanation as to what Twitter even is. He also commented that he appreciated that it only happened at the beginnings of the chapters. I could’ve probably overdone it but as a background device, it worked splendidly.

The last thing I wanted to talk about is texting in stories. It’s amazing trying to format a chat conversation or a text conversation into a narrative. The closest thing I can equate it to is a telepathic conversation I read out of the Amber series by Roger Zelazny. I used that as my inspiration when I started text conversations in a book. I suppose in that regard, it’s not so new as a new way to convey a previously ‘fantasy-centric’ means of communication.

I suspect that this trend will become more and more popular as modern authors fully embrace these various technologies. So many people read blogs, use Twitter or Facebook, google things and text each other that the audience will roll with whatever we can toss at them. We’re all jacked in, informed and well versed in the Web. We might as well use these tools to their fullest and throw them into the spotlight of exposition.

So long as we don’t let them become a distraction, they’ll only legitimize our own growth as artists.

And now, for a teaser from her newest book at eXtasy Books:

I wrote a two part series called ‘Creative Spark’. Part 1 came out in August and Part 2 was released at the beginning of September. The books are available through eXtasy Books and the entire first chapter is available to read on my web site: www.caitlinwest.com. The back cover blurb is below.

Part 1 ‘Time to Wake’

Part 2 ‘Unveiling the Serpent’

Publisher" Devine Destinies

ISBN: 978-1-55487-939-7 

Series: Creative Sparks Book#1
BUY HERE

Blurb:

Karen Bowers has always dreamed of dead people. They begged for her help and at the tender age of twelve, her parents had her institutionalized. Now, a semi-successful artist, she has embraced what doctors could not stamp out, quietly helping spirits move on to the afterlife.

But even accepting her fate has not made her immune to the twisted designs of the universe. A spirit two hundred years in her grave shows up asking for help, centuries beyond anything she’s ever dealt with. Her clues involve a tragedy in 1805, a doomed love affair and a dangerous ambition that could unravel the very fabric of reality.

Can she unlock the mystery before it’s all too late? Will the help of an eccentric book store owner turn the tide? What will happen to the life she’s managed to build around her odd condition? The answer lies in a spark.)

BUY HERE 

Welcome Karenna Colcroft

I'm extremely please to have the lovely and talented Karenna Colcroft with me here today.

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 wrote my first story when I was five, and I’d been making up stories for a year or two before that. I’ve always had a big imagination, and since my real life wasn’t always great, stories were both an escape and a way of keeping my imagination from driving me insane.

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 wanted to be published since I was very young, but didn’t have the confidence to submit things, or the self-discipline to revise things enough to submit them. I did submit a couple of things over the years, which were rejected and on which I subsequently gave up. My first publication, which wasn’t romance at all and is under my real name so I’d prefer not to talk much about it, was accepted in 2000, when I was 30. My first published erotic romance, Ask and You Shall Receive, came out in 2009. (It’s currently unavailable as rights have reverted to me.)

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?

Glamorous? I wish! There isn’t much glamorous about sitting in a small room staring at a small screen for hours on end while children argue in the other room or repeat, “Mom!” half a dozen times, and/or while listening to my hubby playing online role-playing games behind me. Some people in my real life know that I’m an author (mostly they know about my young adult books, not about the Karenna Colcroft stuff), but few of them read anything I’ve written. I think the most unglamorous thing I’ve done this week is cleaning out our cats’ litter box.

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

I usually have two or three projects going at the same time, so if I’m blocked on one I switch over to a different one.

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

Take your time, learn your craft. Don’t be in a rush to get published. Polish your manuscript to the absolute best you can make it, and then find a beta reader or critique partner or group to help you improve it even more. When you are ready to submit, do your homework when choosing a publisher. There are plenty of reputable companies out there, but there are also a lot of scam artists and companies with good intentions who just don’t know what they’re doing.

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

There have been a lot of great moments, but I would say the best was when I received my first private fan email, about my novel Salad on the Side.

7. If you could change one thing that you have written, what would it be?

The first two erotic romances that I wrote, because at that time I didn’t know as much about writing as I do now, and there are a lot of details that were left out, and some not-so-great description. Fortunately, I have rights back on both of them, so now I’ll have the chance to change them.

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

Right now I’m working on a shifter romance novel titled Beta Test, about a werewolf pack beta who discovers that his mate is human. Although this one is a heterosexual romance, it’s set in the same universe as my M/M romance Salad on the Side. (I have the publisher’s permission.)

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

Completely and totally. I met my husband in an online dating chat room in May 2008; ten days later, we met face-to-face at a party and the connection was instant. We’ve literally been together since that night. We moved in together in June 2009 and were married in April 2010. He’s my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, and a partner in everything. He’s also incredible with my two kids from my first marriage.

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

As far as writing goes, I hope to earn enough money to really help with household expenses and buy a car. When I have the new car, I’ll have been a success in that. As for the rest of my life, I hope to be the best mother and wife I can be, and the measure of success for that will be my children as they grow into adulthood, and how much longer my husband tolerates me. LOL

Want to find out a little more about Karenna and where you can find her? Read on!

Bio
Karenna Colcroft is the alter ego of a normally sedate wife and mother. She began writing when she was five years old, and started writing erotic romance in 2006 on a challenge from a friend. Since 2009, Karenna has had numerous titles published by publishers including Pink Petal Books, Ellora’s Cave, MLR Press, and Passion in Print Press. Karenna lives in the northeastern US with her two children, her real-life romance hero husband, and two cats. 

You can find out more about Karenna 
on her website, http://www.karennacolcroft.com, 
friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/karenna.colcroft,
or follow her on Twitter @KarennaColcroft.

And now for the good stuff. An exciting tease from her latest book!

Karenna’s latest release is the contemporary novella Help Around the House, released September 1 from Pink Petal Books http://pinkpetalbooks.com. 

Two years after the death of her husband, Jodie thinks it’s time to move on. And who better to move on with than Todd, the next-door neighbor who has stood by her and helped her with everything from snow removal to her two children? 

But Jodie isn’t completely sure she’s ready to become involved with Todd. Todd, who has been divorced for several years, barely remembers how to be in a relationship. If the two of them want everything to work out, they must agree on what they want and work through their pasts to build a future together.

Excerpt:

Without waiting for his response, she took off the cami and set it aside, then touched the front clasp of her bra. She hadn’t undressed in front of a man other than Royce in so long that she’d forgotten the awkwardness of the first time undressing in front of a new partner. Now she remembered. Todd had called her beautiful, but he hadn’t seen all of her yet, and she wasn’t sure she wanted him to. She wasn’t fashion model material by any means, and since she’d lost Royce she hadn’t been as attentive as she could have been to staying in shape and eating well.

“Keep going,” Todd urged. “I want to see all of you.”

“Then it would only be fair to let me see you,” Jodie pointed out. She might not feel as awkward about her own body if Todd was nude as well.

“Good point.” Todd sat up and stripped off his T-shirt. His chest had sparse hair a slightly darker red than what he had on his head, and the muscles were more obvious with no clothing covering them. His belly was also a little more prominent, which made Jodie feel better. Neither of them had perfect bodies. That shouldn’t matter.

“Your turn,” Todd said, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

“I didn’t know we were playing a game.” Quickly, before she started doubting herself again, Jodie unclasped her bra and let the straps fall from her shoulders. She stifled her urge to cover her breasts and instead leaned back on her hands, giving Todd the full view. “Am I winning?”

“No, I think I am.” Todd stared at her appreciatively and reached toward her, though he stopped before he touched her. “Yeah, as long as I get to look at you like this, I’m definitely winning.”

The idea of making a game out of undressing struck Jodie as a little immature. She wanted to take their lovemaking seriously. On the other hand, that wouldn’t have been very Todd-like, and the play took her mind off how weird she felt about taking her clothes off in front of him.

Playing with Todd this way turned her on more than she would have expected.

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

URL:  www.total-e-bound.com

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. 

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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:

Website: http://www.nikki-mccoy.com/index.htm 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Nikki-McCoy/574409083 

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