Monday, October 29, 2012

*NOW WITH MORE AUTHOR-Y GOODNESS* It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year- Halloween!

**CONTEST CLOSED**

Not *that* time of year. It's HALLOWEEN!

I love all things spooky, scary, supernatural, and spine chilling. And the costumes! I mean, who doesn't love a good excuse to be someone else for a night? Don't even get me started on the candy, my willpower isn't strong enough to resist the temptation of all that chocolate. All these exciting elements rolled into one makes for an awesome night of celebration. Ergo, I love Halloween.


From zombies to demons, serial killers to Grim Reapers, the variety of monsters ready to pop out of the dark can really run the gamut. They terrorize us in our favorite movies, popular TV shows, and, of course, our beloved books. In celebration of those books that bring us the fun, frightening, and fantastical, I'm sharing with you some great Paranormal and Urban Fantasy books! One of them is even FREE! But one lucky winner will be receiving all FIVE books for FREE!


Leave a comment telling me YOUR favorite part of halloween (with your email or twitter handle included in the body of the comment) and ENTER TO WIN! (18+ only please)


You'll receive an ebook cope of Last Friday Night by Brien Michaels, Lost Hope by Rebecca Hart, and Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert as well as an AUTOGRAPHED print copy of The Zombie Always Knocks Twice by E. Van Lowe AND The Life and Death of Lily Drake by T. Michelle Nelson.* Read below to find out more about these great books and follow the link to download your free copy of Lost Hope by Rebecca Hart.




*Contest open October 29 through Nov11th. Winner Announced November 12th. Each author will be notified of the winner and will handle delivery of their portion of the prize package. Annabelle Blume assumes no responsibility for the delivery items offered by the afore mentioned authors.



After a lifetime of unsuccessful attempts, Hope Matthews may have finally found a way to escape her undead pirate guardian. That is, if she can make sense of the map her foster father left behind and locate the legendary amulet, Poseidon's Tear before her demonic pursuer finds her and drags her back to to his lair.

Genre: Historical Fantasy Fiction


Download your FREE COPY here 









Hollywood California, Swimming pools, movie stars… and now the risen dead

Hollywood can be a difficult place to grow up, especially if you’re Kristine Golden, a fifteen-year-old necromancer with a sworn duty to lay the risen dead back to rest and no desire to be in the movie business.


When handsome deadie Alex Romero swaggers into her life, Kris must keep her promise, despite her growing feelings for him. If that’s not enough to give a girl a headache, a murderous zombie comes knocking at Kris’ door, rocking her world and threatening her family.


Can Kris solve the mystery of the rampaging zombie before someone else winds up dead? Or will the walking dead take over Hollywood and turn it into… Hollyweird?



Genre: YA Paranormal

Find out more on Goodreads and E. Van Lowe's website




17- year- old Ana Maria Tei’s life has always been perfect: loving parents, good grades, and a future so bright it outshone the sun. But now words like “separation” and “divorce” are sending her world plummeting to hell. Determined to keep her family intact, Ana plans a family-bonding trip from Vienna to Tuscany. Except fate has other plans. Ana’s parents and siblings are killed in a car accident on their way to pick Ana up from school.

Enter Grim, aka Ernest. He promises to relinquish the four souls if Ana agrees to trade her soul for theirs and serve a lifetime as his novice. In order for Ana to graduate from her Reaper’s Novice station to a Soul Collector graduate, Grim puts her to test. To her horror, she finds out becoming a Reaper’s Novice didn’t happen by chance. It was preordained, and she is forced to make a choice: save her family’s souls or come to terms with who she really is and complete the task set for her.

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Rerelease December 5th 2012
Find out more on Goodreads and at Cecilia Robert's website.



For Lily Drake, slaying vampires is easy...Dating them is the hard part.

Lily Drake is your everyday hard-working single mom…until a gorgeous vampire shows up on her front door who she mistakenly assumes is her blind date for the evening. As one crazy scenario after another unfolds, Lily finds herself falling in love with two vampires, slaying the evil ones, and being prophesied as the savior of the entire undead race. 
Deciding between pizza and Chinese take-out will no longer be one of the hard decisions facing Lily Drake once she is emerged into vampire society. Humanity or immortality? That doesn't hold a candle against this question - which of the two handsome vampire cousins?

The Life and Death of Lily Drake is not your typical vampire love story. It’s a tale about the humorous mistakes a woman makes simply trying to survive not only life, but the dating scene. How will Lily manage working full-time, taking care of her young son and fighting the undead at every turn? Lily will have to figure it out, but who better to save the world than a mom?


Genre: Paranormal Romance

Find out more on Goodreads and T. Michelle Nelson's website




Coming out might be the only way to save the ones you love…

Jessie Nalick used to be married, until his wife left him for another man. But things are looking up–he’s moved to a new place and his new house is almost finished. But when one of the men on the construction site calls him in a panic, something deadly is unleashed.

Tyler Mack is with a different woman night after night, secretly longing for the one who will make him feel something besides soul-crushing emptiness. He’s so straight he’s nearly homophobic, until he’s forced to confront some very uneasy feelings–and other things–that grow between him Jessie as they’re kidnapped and forced to do the unthinkable.

With a kidnapper threatening the lives of their loved ones, the time for self-delusion is over. Tyler must face the one thing he’d rather die than do…but the thought of Jessie so close, so hard, makes him willing to take the chance…(


                                                       Genre: Horror Erotica

                                                       Find out more on Goodreads and Brien Michael's website



Happy Halloween and Good Luck!

Congratulations Cammie!












Thursday, September 27, 2012

What does "Self Published" mean to you?

The debate over the legitimacy of self publishing is heated and very, very long. Some people argue the mainstream publishing industry is dying and that self publishing is squeezing the Big Six out of the market. Other's balk at the thought that self publishing will ever eclipse the stronghold these publishing powerhouses have over the industry.

I've read both sides of the debate many times over. One thing is clear – it's complicated. Regardless of what I read, and what side it's supporting, I'm left with a very important question. So I will ask you, my friends, this very same question. Because maybe someone, somewhere, might give me a definitive answer.

What constitutes self publishing?



Is it only those who publishing their own work via companies such as Smashwords and the like? Is it those who form a publishing co-op, providing services such as editing and cover design for each other, and then sharing the cost of publishing? Does it include authors like myself, who have been published by a small, independent publisher?

These questions arose for me mainly because of various articles I've read on the publishing phenomenon known as Fifty Shades of Grey. I know, I've stayed away from discussing this book, for the most part, and I intend to stay away from discussing the book itself. The only part that truly intrigues me is almost every article I've read describes the initial publication of FSOG completely differently. The dominance of this book over the NYT Best seller list, the fact that it was picked up by a major publishing house, and it's origins raise many questions for authors in a variety of areas.

But mainly, I'm curious about how the rising tide of changes in the publishing industry are reflected in this phenomenon. Some articles I've read referred to Fifty Shades as self published. Others called TWCS Publishing a "vanity house". A few made reference to it coming from a small independent publisher. This got me to thinking – what does "self published" really mean?  And I still haven't found an article that provides a clear answer.

I'll tell you what I think, though. Concerns over publishing fanfiction aside, posting fanfiction online is a work of self publishing. Yet, I consider TWCS Publishing an independent publisher and not a vanity press (as authors do not pay to have their book edited, produced, or published in any way by TWCS). Therefore, Fifty Shades falls into all three categories: self published as fanfiction, indie published by TCWS, and then picked up by Random House.

Maybe I'm biased, but I believe wholeheartedly that indie publishers are carving out their own niche in the publishing industry. They're creating a space for those books that have been passed over by agents mainly because, as the gatekeepers and voluntary filters of crap-writing, they're struggling to fit reading over 100 queries a day into their schedule. Indie publishers are providing an alternative platform for amazingly talented writers to get their stories out to readers. And they're giving readers the opportunity to find authors who would have otherwise remain unheard simply because the machine of the Big Six can only produce so much. But what indie publishing is not, is "self publishing".

I think traditional publishing is fantastic, I think self publishing is a valiant labor of love, and I think independent publishers are the Steve Jobs of the publishing world. Each path is a valid path (albeit challenging in different ways) to follow and I'm very excited to see where the industry goes these next ten years.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

What Makes a Writer?

Over in Writer-ville, there's a lot of posturing and "real" writers versus "wannabees" ego trips. It makes me sad. The kind of sad that makes me bake huge chocolate cakes and eat fettuccine alfredo. So sad that hurts my heart. Not because *I* feel like I am not a real writer, but because NO ONE should feel like they're not a real writer.



Anyone who writes simply because they enjoy the process is a writer. I see the most terrible "guidelines" for what makes a "real writer" thrown about. Proclamations like, "If you you have to write every day or you'll absolutely DIE, then you're a REAL writer." Or, even better, "A REAL writer cranks out a minimum of eight meeeeeellion words a day." And my very favorite, "If you only write XYZ, then you're not a REAL writer."

I write romance. In fact, it can possibly be classified as erotic romance, depending on your definition. I also write completely non-sex related articles as a journalist (okay, sometimes they're about sex, too). I ALSO write a weekly blog about sex. Okay, we've established I write about sex quite a bit. Anyway, that's not my point. My point is, even if you only read high concept literary fiction and you think romance is utter crap, it doesn't not negate the truth: I'm a writer. If you don't believe me, then my publishing contract and various paychecks for my writing kind of solidify the fact.

I cannot write every day. Caring for my family is my first priority. When that takes up the majority of my time, writing takes a back seat. Do I miss it? Of course! Do I wish hadn't fallen asleep at 8:30 last night and instead has spend an hour writing my new book? Absolutely. Does this personal striving for balance (and sleep) mean I'm not a real writer. No Way.

So, I challenge you, my friends, to stop investing in the writer-wars (which are like the mommy-wars, but with more paper). Let's celebrate each other; our successes and our failures, the bumps in the road and the shining star moments, our struggles and our achievements, no matter how big or small. Let's be writers and leave it at that, because, honestly, being a writer is hard enough all on it's own.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Cover Reveal: Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert

Hi friends! I am so happy to share with you the gorgeous cover of Cecilia Robert's book Reaper's Novice (coming Dec 2012).


17- year- old Ana Maria Tei’s life has always been perfect: loving parents, good grades, and a

future so bright it outshone the sun. But now words like “separation” and “divorce” are sending her

world plummeting to hell. Determined to keep her family intact, Ana plans a family-bonding trip from

Vienna to Tuscany. Except fate has other plans. Ana’s parents and siblings are killed in a car accident

on their way to pick Ana up from school.

Enter Grim, aka Ernest. He promises to relinquish the four souls if Ana agrees to trade her soul

for theirs and serve a lifetime as his novice. In order for Ana to graduate from her Reaper’s Novice

station to a Soul Collector graduate, Grim puts her to test. To her horror, she finds out becoming a

Reaper’s Novice didn’t happen by chance. It was preordained, and she is forced to make a choice:

save her family’s souls or come to terms with who she really is and complete the task set for her.

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Rerelease December 5th 2012

Find out more on Goodreads and at Cecilia Robert's website.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

FROZEN HEART RELEASE DAY!

It's here! It's finally here! My debut novella Frozen Heart is available today!


You can get it on Amazon, B&N, Inkspell Publishing, All Romance Ebooks and various other online retailers.

I've been lucky enough to have an amazing publicity team in Bewitching Book Tours and have been having a blast on my blog tour. I've had the opportunity to guest post on many amazing blogs as well as be interviewed by some fantastic book bloggers. The fun isn't over! There are still more interviews, more guest blogs, more reviews, and chances to win a FREE COPY of Frozen Heart!

Don't miss the Facebook Chat with me on the Vitacost Facebook page where we'll be talking about our favorite sexy book and movie characters and giving away 2 ebooks and 1 print copy of Frozen Heart.

Thank you to everyone who has been by my side on this exciting journey. I hope that this is the beginning of an amazing new path in my life.

Love, hugs and kisses to all. I leave you with some Maroon 5 fantastic-ness in celebration.


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Opinions are like...

Well, I don't need to finish that sentence. You know where I was headed. I make this point because as the release of Frozen Heart approaches, the issue of reviews becomes...complicated. I'm not talking about the book bloggers and general reviews from strangers on Goodreads and Amazon. Some of them will like it, some of them will be unenthused, and some of them will wish they could beat me with a sock full of pennies for every single word. That's how this whole thing works and I'm totally prepared for it.


The tricky part is friends and family. All of my wonderful friends who have supported me through the ups and downs of this roller coaster want to read it. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and parents want to read it. And while I want them to read it, I don't. Because there is absolutely NO WAY they can be objective. And even if they think it's so bad that they can't help but hate it, they will be compelled to tell me they loved it. It's a terrible situation.

Then there is the very heated debate about whether or not you should "allow" your friends and family to review your books in public arenas (ie:Amazon, Goodreads, B&N.com, et al). I'm torn. On the one hand, *I* want to do nice things for my friends and *I* would want to leave a positive review for any friend of mine. Yet, this is often seen as "padding" the reviews. But what if my friend really does like my book and wants to leave a review saying as much? Do I ask her not to because in the eyes of half the literary world she's not an impartial judge and has no right to review my book? Or do I thank her and bask in the glow of her 5 star review?

It's quite the conundrum.

So, I'm taking this moment to say, officially, to all of my friends and family:

I TRUST YOUR JUDGEMENT.

There, I said it. You're all adults (well, most of you, anyway) and you can, and will, do what you feel is best. You don't need me to chase you down and tell you that a host of people who think they're better writers than everyone else and will nitpick every review under my book so please, please, pretty please don't make it obvious you're my friend if you review my book. You know what? If I didn't have any friends that wanted to review my book, there'd be a good chance I was a recluse living in my mom's basement. So, THANK YOU for reading my book at all, no matter what you decide to do in the end.

One caveat: if you hate my book, please don't give me that awkward smile and say "it was nice".  Just tell me you hated it and why so I can write something better next time. That is, unless you hate books with sex in them, then you're SOL because my books will always have sex in them *nods*.

Frozen Heart comes out exactly 3 weeks from today...

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Magic Mike Mania

One question I've been asked repeatedly is when am I going to see Magic Mike. Not if, when. I know, everyone assumes since I am heavily entrenched in the erotic romance genre that I am a friend of the mostly-naked-male. And while I do love a mostly-naked-male, I'm not a big fan of male strippers. Or female strippers, for that matter, but that's a subject for another time.



I'll allow you a few minutes to retrieve your jaw from the floor.

It's true. I don't get down with the whole "flail around like a fool with a dollar bill in my hand to get the attention of a dude gyrating in a sequined banana hammock" thing. I might, and I stress MIGHT, consider visiting a strip club with a select few of my girlfriends who I could count on to compose themselves in the same aloof manner men feign when partaking of the pay-per-booty-shake. Maybe, but not likely.

I won't bore you with my very long diatribe about gender inequalities in regards to sexual behavior, practice, and overall societal expectations. Instead, I'll sum it up like this:

It's not hard to find a man who will get naked for you...FOR FREE.

No, really. There are an ungodly amount of men who will happily show you the goods with nary a moments notice. See a half way decent looking guy at your friend's birthday party? Wonder if he's packin' heat or pinky-hung? Crook your finger at him, lead him to a quiet room and straight up ask him, "Can I see your cock-a-doodle-doo?" 2 to 1 he drops trou before you finish your sentence.

"But these guys are built and hot," you cry. Built, sure. Hot, that's debatable. Time for shocked #2: I'm not jazzed up by any of those actors. I'm not saying you shouldn't be, as we all have our own preferences, but they don't float my boat.

So, in summary, I won't be seeing Magic Mike any time soon. But, if you're looking for some hot guys and are a fan of M/M erotica, I suggest the Holsum College series by Daisy Harris. Each novella is fantastic, and in contrast to the way Magic Mike hides the main attraction of man-bits, the Holsum College guys leave nothing to the imagination.

Happy Reading!


Saturday, July 7, 2012

The Carny by Brooke Moss Release Day Celebration!

Hey friends! Things are busy as always around here, but I couldn't let this slip by without sharing it with you all.

I know you're always looking for something new, something out of the ordinary, something that will knock your socks off. I am so excited to introduce you to this awesome new book The Carny by Brooke Moss.


Two people from opposite worlds, one unforgettable kiss.
You can't judge a carny by its cover.
At a town fair on the coast of Oregon, handsome Native American carny, Vincent Youngblood, bestows an unforgettable kiss on shy, awkward teenager, Charlotte Davenport. Then disappears without another word, leaving her baffled and enamored.
                  Ten years later, Charlotte is still living in the small fishing town of Astoria, while being trained to--reluctantly--take over for her philandering hotelier father when he retires. After all, who else will do it? Her two perfect sisters are busy being married to their flawless husbands and having cookie cutter children, while Charlotte remains single, childless, and every bit as mousy as she was a decade ago.
                  As Charlotte struggles to climb out from underneath her judgmental parents thumb, the carnival rolls back into town, and Charlotte finds herself face to face with Vin again. He's back to run his father's carnival, walking away from a promising career in medicine he started in Chicago. Will her biased and judgmental family accept her relationship with a man who is not only a Native American, but works as a carny for a living? And what unsavory secrets bind the well-educated and seemingly superlative Vin to that ramshackle carnival? After all, you can’t judge a carny by its cover.

Here's the cover. Isn't it mysterious and lovely? *sigh* I've even got a special teaser quote for you! I know, how lucky are we?



"“If you think for a second that this man, this Vin—what kind of a name is that, anyway—is really in it because he loves you, you’re headed for another heartache.” She reached over and ran a hand across my bedspread. “This bed set is getting awfully worn out. We should buy a new one.” My mouth hung open. “That was the worst segue-way I’ve ever heard. You just insulted my boyfriend and suggested we redecorate my bedroom all in one sentence.”"


The reviews for The Carny have been spectacular. 



"Sweet, subtle, heart-warming romance." --USA Today Bestselling Author, Nicola Marsh
"Brooke Moss is a gifted storyteller. With a compelling plot and characters who will steal your heart, The Carny is a winner." -- Cate Lord, author of Lucky Girl.


The best part is right now, at Inkspell Publishing  you can get a special EXCLUSIVE 30% discount! (Offer valid until 14th July) 


If you want to learn even more about Charlotte, you can get the awesome short story  “Charlotte’s Wedding” for free! Only till 10th July!

If for some reason you miss the chance to get this fantastic new book at the discounted price, you can get a copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and The Book Depository .

Happy Reading! 


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

It's Getting Harder to Breathe

Hey there friends! To pull a quote from classic rock heroes Aerosmith, "I'm back in the saddle again!" I'm ramping up to help you all get up close and personal with Frozen Heart in time for it's release on August 7th. I'll be somewhat like a chicken with my head cut off, minus the bloody mess (I hope) as this locomotive gets running down the track.
Lots of fun stuff is planned in the coming months. I'll be working hard all summer on the promotional tour for Frozen Heart. Check back here for excerpts, pictures, links to interviews, and other fun stuff like give aways and in-person signing events. I'll even be posting a playlist to share with you the musical inspiration for chapters and scenes in Frozen Heart. 

Don't forget to "Like" my Facebook author page  to see the most up to date information or follow me on twitter. If you're a "pinner" you can find me on Pinterest with lots of pictures that remind me of Frozen Heart and an endless array of Adam Levine worship, as always. 

For now, I leave you with the song that inspired me to write those very first words that eventually became Frozen Heart. 

Harder to Breathe by Maroon 5


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Hello, my friends. It's been forever, I know. I'm posting a big old
THANK YOU
to everyone who came out to see me at the Thousand Oaks Library Author Fair on May 20th. As promised, I am awarding a free copy of Frozen Heart to one winner who stopped by to chat and entered to win. Using Random.org, I have selected a winner!

The list as entered:

























And the list with a winner chosen:





























Congratulations to Sandra S. ! I'll be emailing you the details.

The event itself was rather quiet but a wonderful experience overall. I met several other local authors, including Amazon Best Seller Kyle Fitzharris, and had a lovely time chatting with both long time lovers of books and unpublished authors looking to break into the publishing world. In all, I would liken this event to having a soft opening of a restaurant. Not too many people and just enough to begin to build some word of mouth.

I'll be back again soon, my friends. I miss waxing poetic about my life and my writing. In the mean time, I hope you've found some great books and talented authors with the monthly installment of Author Spotlight.

XOXO

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Who's got a cloning device?

I have been the worst of the worst, terrible, totally MIA bloggers in the history of blogging. Well, except that chick that secured "the best blog name ever" and only blogged one day in 2009, screwing the rest of us out of that awesomeness. Anyway, to my followers and my friends, I apologize. Anyone else can bite it.

As you know, I'm having a blast writing The Bombshell Mommy for Vitacost.com. If you haven't read the blog, it's fun and informative. I never dreamed I'd get the opportunity to write about an issue that is dear to my heart in a national forum. I also never imagined I'd own quite so many sex toys. It's win-win.
If you haven't "liked" the Facebook page yet, please take a moment to do so. I promise not to spam your newsfeed. We had a chat on Facebook last week and it was a great time. I hope more of you can stop by and say "Hi" next time.

Additionally, I'm still taking freelance projects. Therefore, I'm still writing for magazines and have a big, huge, daunting project that is totally kicking my ass. I will be scarce until June, at the earliest, as I wrestle this project into submission.

I'm eager to get the project finalized because, my friends, I have a new WIP planned that I know you will love. A contemporary erotic romance. I know, I know, contemp isn't my thing, but this story will not be without its dark and derelict elements, I promise. I am ridiculous excited to get this book written. So, let's all say a prayer or meditate or sacrifice a goat or whatever we need to do so that the freelance project flows smoothly and quickly.

Of course all of this comes secondary to my kids. They have to be feed and clothed and bathed and what ever else they are demanding at that moment. They're like little dictators with loose teeth.

Truth be told, my house is generally in shambles. There are constantly dirty dishes and the laundry is going to grow legs and put itself in the washing machine soon. I can't do it all, so the housekeeping is what gets left behind.

Therefore, if anyone has a cloning device, help a girl out! I could use at least one more of me, maybe two. Three would be a bit much, though, don't you agree?



Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Author Spotlight: Tiffany Reisz


Today, I have an interview with the amazing Tiffany Reizs for you. We are celebrating the digital release of her book The Siren (in paperback July 2012). Trust me, you do not want to miss this one. This is BDSM done right and done well. Besides being extremely talented, she's also really cool, so don't sleep on this one! Don't worry, I've provided links to get your dirty little self a copy of this delicious book at the end of the interview.

***************************************************************************


With a reputation almost as wild as the truth about her, Nora Sutherlin is the most infamous writer in New York.
With black hair, ice blue eyes, and a British accent, Zachary Easton is the sexiest editor in all of publishing…and the stuffiest.
And now they have to work together.
This might not be a good idea…




What was the first romance novel you read? How did that book influence your future as a writer?

I not only remember the first romance novel I ever read, I still have a copy of it. It’s THE SHIEK’S REVENGE by Emma Darcy, a Harlequin Presents. I read and re-read it. The opening scene involves the hot sheik discussing a sexy painting with the heroine. Later I would steal this idea for THE SIREN.

When or how did you decide to write erotica? Did you or do you plan to write in any another genre?

I’m not a huge fan of genre labels. They tend to fence in a writer. But there’s something about the word “erotica” that stirs the blood. It’s the most ancient genre and the most infamous. I love sex and find it fascinating so it’s only natural that’s the genre I gravitated too. I have another book in the works that would be urban fantasy but urban fantasy with my trademark goofiness and eroticism.

We all have pitfalls in our writing process. What is yours and how do you combat it or work around it?

Twitter is an addiction. I’m a social butterfly online. I love to talk and interact with all my cool online friends so it’s hard for me to tear myself away to get real writing done. But then I remember 90% of my followers are following me because of my writing. I don’t want to let them down so I get back to the typing. Sigh…

You’re known for being very open about that fact that you enjoy BDSM. I know many ER authors who shy away from being overtly sexual because they fear how they will be viewed given their profession. As a person who also lives a good portion of her sex life publicly (writing The Bombshell Mommy), I’m intrigued that you decided to cross into the territory of full disclosure. What was it that made you take the leap and “tell all”?

I don’t know where my openness came from. I’ve just never been shy about my personal life. I suppose I don’t think my personal life is interesting enough to keep a secret. To me, being into BDSM is like being gay. It’s simply me. How could I hide that? It breaks my heart that so many women writers feel like they have to hide behind pen names. We’re just perpetuating the cycle of shame and embarrassment. Liking sex should be as neutral as enjoying food. It’s natural, it’s healthy, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. There’s nothing wrong with keeping your private life private or writing under a pen name. But there is something wrong when women writers feel like they have to.

Given the success of Fifty Shades of Grey, what are your thoughts on so-called “BDSM-lite” hitting mainstream American readers?

One person’s BDSM-lite is another person’s hardcore. I’m always happy when any book gets non-readers reading and starts intelligent discourse about formerly taboo subjects. If people now feel safe to read BDSM erotica, that can only help a dirty little writer like me.


Quick Three:
Favorite book: The Keep by Jennifer Egan
Favorite drink: A spiked Shirley Temple
Favorite article of clothing: My Batman shirt as my boyfriend likes it so much. Good memories.


Tiffany Reisz lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her boyfriend (a reformed book reviewer) and two cats (one good, one evil). She graduated with a B.A. in English from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and is making both her parents and her professors proud by writing BDSM erotica under her real name. She has five piercings, one tattoo, and has been arrested twice. 

When not under arrest, Tiffany enjoys Latin Dance, Latin Men, and Latin Verbs. She dropped out of a conservative southern seminary in order to pursue her dream of becoming a smut peddler. Johnny Depp’s aunt was her fourth grade teacher. Her first full-length novel THE SIREN was inspired by a desire to tie up actor Jason Isaacs (on paper). She hopes someday life will imitate art (in bed). 
If she couldn’t write, she would die.



******************************************************************************************
A huge thank you to Tiffany Reisz for taking time to be interviewed. For more on Reisz and her books, visit her website or follow her on twitter @tiffanyreisz
Read THE SIREN May 1st on your NOOK or KINDLE.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Frozen Heart COVER REVEAL


It's TIME! I'm so very excited to present to you the cover of Frozen Heart! 




A decade surviving on her own. Three days with the enemy. Can love conquer all?
Cressenda knows how to survive. With her sled dogs as her only companions, she’s spent the past ten years hiding in the snow covered wilderness from the oppressive regime of the Affinity. When a routine trip to civilization takes a turn for the worst, Cressenda is forced to take refuge with the enemy or lose her life to the frozen countryside.
But Beckett, a Guard of the Affinity, is more than a man in uniform. His desperate need to help Cressenda escape both- the blizzard and the Affinity- makes her feelings for him all the more troubling. Will Beckett be true to his word and set Cressenda free? Will her heart let her leave after all they’ve shared?


As of today, it is also available for pre-order at Inkspell, Amazon, B&N, and AllRomance. The official release is August 7. 

Below is a list of all the bloggers who are hosting my cover reveal and helping spread the word about Frozen Heart. If you would be so kind as to drop by one or two and leave a comment, I would greatly appreciate it. 

Monday, April 9, 2012

Author Spotlight: Cyndi Tefft

I'm a blogging failure, I know. My most sincere apologies. In my defense, I'm still learning how to juggle my freelance jobs, The Bombshell Mommy, and the publishing of Frozen Heart. Not to mention trying to squeak in work on my new WIP. 


Meanwhile, I'd like to introduce you all to Cyndi Tefft, the author of Between and the newly released sequel Hell Transporter.  Her YA books come with a heavy dose of skillfully written sexual tension. They are not to be missed. Plus, a grim reaper with a Scottish accent, how can you resist? Cyndi recently took time away from working on the last installment of Aiden and Linsey's journey together to chit chat with me about her books and her writing process.  


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Between 
It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.



What inspired you to write such a unique version of a grim reaper? And how did you decide on the delicious idea to make him Scottish? 
I wanted to write a good versus evil story, but I felt angels and demons had been done pretty extensively. Having always been fascinated with near death experiences, I thought it would be fun to create a world in between earth and heaven with a guide from one to the other.
Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series made me a Scot fanatic and I had just finished her sixth book when I started writing mine. Her seventh was not yet out at that time and I was hungry for some more Scottish Highlander hunkiness, so I decided to make one of my own!
Did you plan to write a romance novel with a strong religious theme or did it develop as the story evolved? 
Because the story is set in the afterlife, I knew God and heaven would play a strong role in the book, but things definitely evolved as I wrote. I am much more of a pantser than a plotter (I just start writing and see how things develop, rather than outlining ahead of time). 
The faith themes in the book are an integral part of the story, as I would imagine that in death, most everyone would wonder how the God thing comes into play.
You write fantastic sexual tension. What advice do you have for other authors *cough*me*cough* when it comes to writing the tension that comes before the actual sex? 
Thanks! *grin* Writing love scenes is one of my favorite things to do. It’s much easier for me than writing fight scenes! Between was actually an adult book when I finished the first draft. It went through countless revisions and finally ended up a YA novel. There are three *deleted* sex scenes from the book that I’ve made available upon request to readers who want to know the characters a bit more... intimately. hehe
As for writing sexual tension, I believe the key is making the reader want it to happen as much as the main characters do. We all want to fall in love with the characters and when we do, their longings become our own, and the ultimate satisfaction of that longing is all the sweeter.
Every writer comes across pitfalls in the writing process. What is your biggest challenge and how did you learn to overcome it?
When I finished the first draft of the story, which was actually one big HUGE book that I later split into Between and Hell Transporter, I thought it was done. *shakes head* Little did I know that I would spend years revising those books and that they would bear little resemblance to the first draft once they were finished.
My biggest challenge early on was underestimating how much I still had to learn about writing. Now I know much more about the craft, but more than that, I know I still have much to learn. That knowledge, rather than being depressing and defeating my spirit, actually provides me with grace for the present and excitement for the journey ahead.
I am a better writer than I was and not as good a writer as I will be.
Quick three:
Favorite Book: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (Jamie Fraser- swoon!)
Favorite Drink: Diet Pepsi (followed closely by espresso)
Favorite Article of Clothing: My Sketchers tennies. I wear them every day!

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Thank you again to Cyndi Tefft for visiting the blog and sharing her insights. For more on Cyndi you can visit her website , her Twitter, and on Goodreads. Her books are available at her site, as well as Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords