Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Take Me Home, Cowboy


1) How did you come about writing a Western in the first place? What attracted you to the Decadent Publishing’s world of Freewill?

I wrote a Western because I love to read them and trust me, I’ve read a lot of them.  My favorites have been Linda Lael Miller & Diana Palmer among others and I was just comfortable with writing them.

I don’t know if it’s just me but I’ve searched the web hundreds of times looking at different publishers and I just liked the way Decadent looked.  That shirtless guy with the book tucked inside the waistband of his pants…yummm.  Then after I looked around a bit, I found the Western Escape’s Freewill line in the submission area and started asking questions.  It all exploded from there.  I didn’t even know they were having a contest until the Editor answered me back.   No way did I ever imagine I’d actually win the contest!

2) What type of research did you do for this genre?  

I did do a little bit of research.  My characters had to do some traveling close to the fiction town of Freewill so I studied the map a bit to make sure I had landmarks and such correct.  I also did some looking into the horse breeds to make sure I didn’t screw that up and made sure I knew when cattle round-up could be done. 

3)The main character Ally seems to be at odds with Matt instantly. What puts her on edge?

Oh, she definitely picked up instantly on the cockiness in his voice but then (and don’t tell her I said this but…) I think Ally is a little bit of a goody two shoes.  She portrayed herself that way because she was the boss’s daughter, anyone should just be bowing down to her but he definitely isn’t that type of guy.

4) Any background on what made her escape to New York? 

I think New York, at least as far as I hear, is a backdrop for a lot of the big time print publishers.  You know when you hear New York Times Best Seller’s List?  It just seemed to fit.  However I do know that ebook publishers are taking the market by storm all over the nation so really it could have happened anywhere.

5) Who’s the most frustrating man in your daily life, and how do you handle him?

Well I think that can be divided between 2 actually: My husband and my son. 

My husband works a lot of hours so during the week he isn’t so bad.  Most of our communication is by phone during the day as he works 9 a.m. to midnight.  Weekends are a whole other story.  I did just have the pleasure of spending 5 weeks straight with him, 24/7 after an emergency surgery so once he was on the mend there may have been a battle or two a few times a week but I shooed him out the door back to work as fast as I could lol.  I’m just the type of girl that doesn’t back down and he knows that.  I think he sometimes provokes me just to get a rise out of me.

My son happens to be a lot like his father and it’s a daily adventure with that one.  I just stick to my mommy grounds and we muddle thru!

6) How hot does your story get? Give us a little steam! 

Oh…it’s probably a 2 or 3 flames type heat and quite a scene my heroine gets herself into in the barn.  The ranch foreman will probably never look at his office desk the same way again.

7) What’s next on your agenda? What are you working on?

Well, let’s see…I’m doing a fix on a Navy novella so it can get into edits and I’m also halfway through a second novella, which takes place in a little family hide-away cabin in the mountains of Montana.  A determined search and rescue heroine and the stubborn cowboy that drives her crazy every chance he gets.  Both of those novellas are going through Still Moments Publishing.  I have many other things on the back burner as well just waiting for their turn at the keyboard.  One of which is a second story to follow up Take Me Home, Cowboy out now with Decadent Publishing.

Take Me Home, Cowboy
Krista Ames
Ally Kincaid returns to Freewill, Wyoming, to see her father after a two-year absence. Anticipating a quiet family reunion, she finds herself butting heads with her father’s foreman instead. The man’s arrogance and sexy drawl push all her buttons, making her wonder what he’s hiding beneath his cowboy swagger.
Matt Gentry walked away from the past and shies from the future. No ties means no one gets hurt…until the boss’s daughter, a hot, green-eyed blonde, tempts him to break his own rules.
When tragedy strikes, will building tension and pride destroy their growing attraction or show them the way home?
Available via Amazon, Decadent Publishing and other eRetailers.
 
Excerpt:
 “I need to buy that man an answering machine.” Furious, Ally held the receiver away from her ear, eyes closed as the phone on the other end rang continuously. “Come on, Daddy, where are you?”
She was ready to hang up in frustration when the receiver was picked up and then—by the sound of the loud clanging on the other end—dropped.
“Circle K,” said the deep male voice rather breathlessly.
“Where in the world were you?”
“Excuse me?” the husky voice asked.
Oh crap, that’s definitely not Daddy. She’d been so surprised her call had finally been answered, she hadn’t realized there was nothing familiar about the voice at the end of the line “I’m sorry….” she cracked. Wow, where did that high-pitched squeak come from? “I’m sorry, who is this?”
“This is the Circle K Ranch. Who’s this?”
The man’s question held an impressive sexy drawl. Definitely not a voice she’d ever heard in New York City, and one she’d only be lucky enough to find in her dreams.
“I’d like to speak to Jesse Kincaid, please.” She did a mental inventory of all the ranch hands but couldn’t place the voice. And he obviously didn’t recognize hers either. Must be somebody new her father had hired since the last time she’d been there.
“Sorry, ma’am, he’s not here. What can I do for ya?”
“When will he be available, please?”
“Now, ma’am, I don’t guess I’m at liberty to say until I know exactly who it is I’m speaking at.”
God, men could be so arrogant. Why did he need to know who was calling? A simple answer would suffice.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but this is Ally Kincaid. Who exactly are you?”
“Well, well, isn’t this a nice surprise? Miss Ally Kincaid. Did your father know you’d be calling?
She gritted her teeth in frustration. Who does this cocky, know-it-all cowboy think he is?

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

NOCTURNAL BITES Release and Giveaway


Please welcome Lorraine Pearl -- a sexy vampire writer who plays on the dark side. Check out her release information, and check out the giveaway at the end of the post.

I decided to make the first announcement of my upcoming release here. It is an anthology from my Nocturnal Surrender Series called, Nocturnal Bites, and it contains two novelettes, one novella, a short story, and a character interview. Oh, and did I mention the vampires?

This is an erotic paranormal romance series full of sexy vampires that actually bite. I know, just what we need, more vampire books. But I love vampires too much not to write about them. Louisa had asked the question on my blog of what type of vampire I liked, and this was my answer:

“I like my vampires to be fiercely protective of the ones they love–especially the women in their lives–but I still want them to be dangerous. Vampires are killers, even if they have to play it a little safer nowadays to remain hidden. My vampires have to bite, too. I don’t like them watered down, but I don’t want horrific monsters either. There’s nothing romantic about that.”

Now I am posing the same question to you. How do you like your vampires?

About the anthology, Nocturnal Bites:

This anthology contains the first three novelettes/novellas of the series. Each of these books focuses on vampire Bastian Evanko, starting over two hundred years ago in England with Nothing Lasts Forever and the tragic series of events that triggered his desire for retribution and earned him the punishment of two hundred years in exile.

Fast forward to present day Lansford, PA: The Sin City of the East. The remaining stories take place in and around Lansford. Nocturnal Surrender is the reunion of Bastian and his brother Donovan, as well as his meeting, and biting, stripper Darling Nikki. Tension mounts as Bastian looks to exact his revenge, but he gets a little sidetracked by the possibility of falling in love again.

Just when Bastian feels secure in his budding relationship with Nicole French, AKA Darling Nikki, she stumbles upon the secret of his vampiric identity in Midnight Confessions. To make matters worse, Donovan needs Bastian's help in the war with the vampire Hunters. Only problem is, Nicole gets dragged into the mix. Many secrets are exposed after midnight.

In the bonus short story, Auburn Lust, twin courtesan vampires Rochelle and Laureline Montague entertain two of their favorite vampire clients for the evening: Christof Rosenbaum and Donovan Evanko. Emotions and lust run wild in this erotic story.

And in another bonus, Interview with Bastian, the vampire lets it all hang out since this is the uncensored, extended version of his interview. At times he shares a little too much information, but then he does prefer to live by his own rules.

About the series:

Lansford, Pennsylvania is The Sin City of the East. No wonder it’s become a hot spot for vampires. With the sanguinarian nightclub, Nocturnal Surrender, run by one of their own, they can easily sate their hunger without divulging the secret of their existence—and without leaving a trail of dead bodies behind them.

That hasn’t stopped the Hunters from trying to find a way to eradicate these creatures. The game of cat and mouse has gone high-tech, and biochemical warfare is on the horizon. What will happen when the battle between mortals and immortals threatens to expose vampires—to all of humanity—for the murderers they truly are?

In The Nocturnal Surrender Series, not only will the vampires have to deal with the bigger problems of survival and secrecy, but they will also have to navigate the issues in their own lives. Love, hate, and retribution are part of the high stakes game they all play. Life and death situations combine with emotions and lust to fuel the series. Each couple will have their own obstacles to overcome while they are dragged into the larger, millennia-old battle between humans and vampires.

Who will live and who will die? Who will love and who will hate? And how will they put their differences aside to save themselves?

For information on the books in this series, excerpts, extras, and purchase links, please visit: http://nocturnalsurrenderseries.weebly.com/

About the author:

I write erotic paranormal romance under the name Lorraine Pearl. I am currently working on The Nocturnal Surrender Series and am developing four other series. My main interest is in writing vampire stories, but I have recently branched out into other paranormal creatures including angels and demons.

I love to read paranormal romance novels, and anything with vampires in it. Vampire movies and TV shows are also favorites of mine. I know most people are tired of vamps already, but I’ve enjoyed them since before they became this popular, and I’m sure I will continue to enjoy them for a long time to come. I only hope others feel the same since I prefer to write vampire stories.


And now for the giveaway!!!

One commenter will win an eBook copy of Nocturnal Bites. Be sure to add your email to the comment in order to win. Giveaway will run through 3/4/13 and the winner will be announced on 3/5/13.

I’d like to thank Louisa for having me here—and for having been a guest on my blog. And I’d like to remind everyone about the question I asked above: How do you like your vampires? Comment with your email for your chance to win.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Key to the Cursed with Jean Murray


Jean Murray brings a vibrant and creative energy through her writing. Thanks for joining us to tell us about your new book, and thanks for the cool giveaway of the Egyptian charm!

Where did the inspiration for your book come from?

The museum, actually. I’ve always had a fascination with the Ancient Egyptian Culture. It started with the idea of a curse and the undead.  After doing a little research and visiting the museum, I knew I had found my niche. The afterlife and Underworld gods fit perfectly.  I wanted my breakout series to be unique.  I think I’ve accomplished that in the Key to the Cursed series.  I also wanted a loyal connection between the characters in the series.  The Carrigan sisters model my relationship with my own sisters.  There is nothing stronger than family.

What is a one-line synopsis for your book?

Boy, you just had to make this hard, didn’t you? J  I’ll have to go with my tagline.  Only the strongest love and unlock the souls of the Underworld.

Is this a stand-alone or part of a series?

Each book can stand alone, but the reader will get so much more out of the books if they read the series in order.  All the books are linked by a common plot thread and build off of each other.  The characters grow and mature as the series goes along.

Soul Reborn – Soul Awakened – Soul Unbound – Soul Unleashed

Once the series is complete, I have a prequel planned that will finally tell the story of Jonathan Carrigan (the father) and the Mother Goddess—how it all began. 

Which character other than your MC is one of your favorites to write and why? 

My most recent favorite is Sin from Soul Awakened.  He is a fledgling warrior. Bakari finds himself “downgraded” so to speak. A god among warriors sent to the warrior camp to find his honor.  Sin is Bakari’s bunkmate.  He has one of those chatty personalities.  If he’s not cracking jokes, seducing women, or complaining, he’s guarding Bakari’s back.  For as much as he annoys Bakari they are brothers, each willing to die for the other.  Readers will get to see him again in later books.     

If you had to pick a color to describe your MC what would that be and why?

Kendra, my heroine, would be turquoise (greenish-blue).  It is the color Ancient Egyptians used for healing and protection from evil spirits.  Kendra is Bakari’s road to salvation.

For my hero, Bakari, I’m going to have to say a smoky black.  Not a pure black or a gray, but something in between.  Bakari hasn’t quite figured out who he is and what he will become.  He has a second chance to choose his path, that’s if he doesn’t mess it up.      

Who are your favorite authors to read?

I’m a Black Dagger Brotherhood and Midnight Breed series junkie.  Actually, I love any series that has strong loyal bonds among its members/characters. Some other authors I enjoy are Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione.  I have so many more authors on my TBR, but need to find the time to read among the chaos J   

Can you share a bit about your current project?

I’m working on the third book in the series, Soul Unbound.  This is Bomani’s story.  He ends up in a really dark place at the end of Soul Awakened and escapes to the human realm from the Underworld.  He has lost his faith in honor and more importantly, love. He needs to be redeemed and I have the perfect match, the Goddess of War.  Siya has been exiled to the human realm with a stay of execution hanging over her head.  Making up for the sins of her past, she takes in orphaned gods and trains them to fight.  She knows war is coming. The dark warrior lurking in the shadows can only spell trouble.  I’m really excited about this book because it brings back an evil antagonist from Soul Reborn.  It promises to be exciting. 

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I work full time, which takes up most of my day.  So when I get home I spend my time with my family.  I have three young boys, so it keeps me busy.

What influenced you to write in your genre? Do you write in others?

I love things beyond the normal, so naturally I gravitated to paranormal.  Dreams of having powers and immortality are just too irresistible. It fulfills my own fantasies.  Not to mention add romance on top of that, I’m in heaven. Jacquelyn Frank’s Nightwalker series was my first introduction to paranormal romance.  I’ve loved the genre ever since.

So far, I write paranormal romance and urban fantasy, but I have a space romance in the works.  In the end, it will probably have paranormal elements mixed into the story.       

What music, if any, do you like to listen to while writing?

Okay, you might find this a bit of a contradiction for a paranormal writer, but for the Key to the Cursed series I’ve been listening to Contemporary Christian rock. The series touches upon the darker sides of the soul.  I’ve found that groups like Skillet and Red have the hard edge I’m looking for, but also speak to the struggles my characters share.  I also listen to Evanescence, Breaking Benjamin, Paramore, Riot.  Right now, my all-time favorite Pandora station is Plumb (love her songs). I can write for hours with that station playing in the background.   

Do you have anything you’d like to add?

Soul Awakened was such an emotional book for me to write.  It touches upon some very dark emotions, especially for Bakari. He must find his focal point (hope) and hold onto it.  Not unlike real life. 

I want to thank Louisa for having me over today and the readers that have followed me along this journey.

Giveaway:  Egyptian charm to one lucky commenter, plus 5-Signed cover flats (U.S.).  Plus, don’t forget to join the book tour giveaway, Kindle Fire HD plus e-copies of Soul Reborn and Soul Awakened.


The Author:

Bio: In her pursuit of a nursing degree, Jean Murray aspired to see the world and joined the Navy. At the end of 2011 she said a heart-breaking goodbye to her Navy family and retired after twenty years of military service. Although her dreams of writing full time have yet to come true, she continues her writing journey and draws inspiration from her travels abroad. She enjoys spending time with her family and of course, writing about the “Carrigan sisters and their mates, Gods of the Underworld,” to bring you the next installment of the Key to the Cursed series.

Author Jean Murray brings a wonderful new spin to the paranormal world with her Egyptian Underworld gods.  She broke ground in the paranormal romance genre with Soul Reborn (ARe Best Seller/NOR Reviewer’s Top Pick) and now continues the Key to the Cursed journey with Soul Awakened (NOR Reviewer’s Top Pick).  See what readers and reviewers are saying about her new book ~ http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16484518-soul-awakened?auto_login_attempted=true

BOOK I:  Soul Reborn

THE HUMAN REALM, HIS BATTLEFIELD.
Asar, the Egyptian God of the Underworld, has been tortured and left soulless by a malevolent goddess, relegating him to consume the very thing he was commissioned to protect. Human souls. Now an empty shell of hatred, Asar vows to kill the goddess and anyone involved in her release, but fate crosses his path with a beautiful blonde huntress who has a soul too sweet to ignore.

DEADLY SECRETS BETTER LEFT UNEARTHED.
Lilly, fearless commander of the Nehebkau huntresses, is the only thing standing in the way of the goddess' undead army unleashing hell on earth.  But Lilly has a secret—one she is willing to sell her soul to keep. If the Underworld god discovers her role in the dig that released the goddess, she will lose everything, including his heart.

Amazon Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble Purchase Links:
Purchase Print&Nook:
Reviews:
Romantic Times (RT) Book Reviews (Sept2011) -  4/4.5 stars/Scorcher, http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/soul-reborn
Night Owl Reviews:  Reviewer’s Top PICK/ 5 Stars (Abigail, Feb2013)  “The first book in the “Key to the Cursed” series was absolutely phenomenal. Anything that deals with old world deities and is written well always hooks me from the get go. This was definitely an excellent book to begin a new series.”  http://paranormal.nightowlreviews.com/V5/Reviews/Angibabi4-reviews-Soul-Reborn-by-Jean-Murray

BOOK II:  Soul Awakened
Book Blurb:

LOVE FOR BLOOD OR HONOR
Kendra, an Egyptologist and demi-god in waiting, is the key to unlocking Bakari, the Egyptian God of Death, from his cursed slumber. Desperate to free him, she inadvertently binds herself to the god with a spell that only death will undo. To save Bakari from himself, she may have to sacrifice her innocence, and possibly her soul, before he becomes his family’s worst enemy.

HAUNTED BY SINS OF THE PAST
Bakari awakens to a world at war and a beautiful woman who has tethered his soul to hers. In the wake of his self-destruction Kendra is his only hope of salvation, but another has vowed to keep Bakari from the one thing he craves most-- his Parvana. His butterfly.
Purchase Links: 
    

Friday, February 22, 2013

Ménage Romance Fan’s Awards


Today, please welcome a special guest – the woman behind Mary’s Ménage Whispers. She’s a ménage author’s best friend … Mary’s here to day to talk a little bit about her love of the genre, and this year’s inaugural Ménage Romance Fan’s Awards.  Information on voting is at the end.

What is your favorite type of ménage?

Multiple men, one women. Straights or bisexuals. Brothers or not.

I like variety so all combination works for me as long as LOVE = SEX = LOVE = PLOT is respected. I like to have all of this equally mixed. When I find the four ingredients equally shared, then I am totally hooked

Why did you decide to host this contest this year?

I am not really looking at other reviewer's site, but I would be completely blind if I did not notice that they are hosting contests for erotic authors. I checked a couple and always noticed that the ménage authors had one category versus tons for the MF. Some either put one category for MM and MENAGE and BDSM, calling it "kinky." It is indeed kinky, but each are totally a distinct genre.

I wish also to explain to readers who never read an erotic ménage romance that this genre is not about orgy or gang bang. It is about love and freedom to explore a sexuality with care and respect. This is not for nothing that we associate romance with ménage. This contest will also list tons of authors in 22 different categories... 22! What a way to show that this genre is not limited!

I also have been reading in the ménage genre since 2006 exclusively. You can call me a real fan of this genre. I love to read it, but I also love to promote it. It is like sharing my best pie's recipe to someone. I cannot wait to hear that they loved it and want some more. mmm what can I say, I love to share! Lol

I also thought it was a great challenge, a great way to put some spotlights on ménage authors and just have fun.

Wow, 22 categories. That's an amazing diversity. What do you hope to achieve with the contest?

Probably to make sure that none of the ménage authors will ever stop writing ménage when they notice their fans coming out of their closet and tell them how much they love their stories?

I am a selfish woman, you know. I want to have my fill of weekly ménage romances new releases! There is nothing that pleases me more than to find a list of new ménage novels newly published.

At the end of the day, I want this genre to be known, tested and become an addiction to new readers

Make sure to vote in the 2013 Ménage Romances Fan’s Awards. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEJGS09ZYXJ2VDd5NDBVc09yOVJ5M0E6MQ Voting ends February 28, and the winners are announced March 1.

Hint. Hint: If you don’t notice … The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf: The Wolfe Pack, book 4 of my erotic paranormal series, is up for Best Vampire Ménage … and I’d love your vote!