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...

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!

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 14^th July) 

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

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

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

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?

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.