Guest: Doris O'Connor,

Writing by the seat of your pants

When I first started writing with a view to publication I had no idea what being a panster meant. I plotted and researched and plotted some more. Then got myself all in a tizzy when the finished chapter didn't look anything like I envisaged. With the tizzy came writer's block and I felt like a complete failure because I just couldn’t get those words on paper.

I heard of other writers mapping out story boards and plot lines and my head swam. Every time I tried that, I hit a proverbial brick wall. Then came my first attempt at NaNoWriMo. For those of you not familiar with the concept you attempt to write a 50 K novel in thirty days.

It proved a bit of an epiphany for me. There was no time to fret, and whilst others found it hard, my fingers flew across the keyboard. And every time I get myself back into the Nano spirit, my fingers fly again.

In fact Lure Of Forever was in part created during Nano 2011. I didn't complete it, because November saw the release of Lure Of The Blood and with all the excitement and edits on other books out, Nano and the story fell by the way side.

I have already shared about my niggling hero Lucas on this blog tour, so you will understand when I say he didn't take kindly to that. In fact he went into a downright sulk, when I wrote a Naughty Fairy tale instead of completing his story. He didn't grumble too much, however. I guess even ancient vampires do not want to antagonize three bear shifters…

Once that story was done and dusted and with just 20 K left to complete Lure Of Forever I re-read the manuscript and tried to get back into it. That first attempt I wrote 300 words over three hours. Grim, I tell you, truly grim!

That torturous session clearly sparked something though. I went to bed and dreamt the entire rest of the story. I do that a lot by the way—have my characters tell me their stories in dreams. Then it was just a matter of verbalizing all that input. Hah!

Lucas had a few more surprises in store for me. He absconded for a while and I was beginning to think I would never get him and Coralie to their HEA.

Don’t worry I did, and I had a little sniff at the end. Now I can't share the end with you, that would spoil the whole book, but I will leave you with a little hot excerpt:

Why was she still standing here, gawping at him as though he was the Holy Grail to womankind? He certainly didn't need the boost to his ego––that was for sure. How she'd managed to bring her knee up like that, she'd never know. Her body had simply melted against him when he caged her in against the wall, and even though she knew those blasted teeth were fake they still sent shivers down her body that settled between her thighs. It was every wicked fantasy come to life. God, she was no better than him, getting lost in the illusion. Vampires were damn hot in the fantasy realm, but that's where they belonged. She was not going to be turned into a loony who acted these fantasies out, no matter how delicious the man was.

Holding the phone to his ear, he looked like an intently listening statue. Coralie didn't know it was possible to remain that perfectly still. She couldn't even see him breathe. Then again, a man who sported fake teeth and held strange gatherings on his boat would no doubt perfect the art of pretense to such a degree, that he could pass for whatever he wanted to be. It would also explain his pale complexion and the fact that his body felt cool, too. Or maybe that was just her body temperature. She wrapped her arms around her waist in an effort to warm up. The damp clothes felt ice-cold on her skin and she couldn't stop the shivers.

The gust of air raised her sodden hair off her forehead, before a warm soft towel was draped round her shoulders.

"Forgive me. You must be frozen."

She leant back into the hard wall of muscle behind her with an involuntary sigh. His amused chuckle vibrated through her and she stiffened for an instant. What was so damn funny? And how did he get there so quickly, anyway? She was definitely coming down with something. She was seeing things. He stood a few paces away, talking on the phone only seconds ago, hadn't he?

A second warm towel draped over her head brought another sigh from her lips. However he’d done it, it felt so good. Lucas moved her until she was seated on one of the plush chairs scattered around the room. He proceeded to take each strand of her hair and pat it dry, his long fingers kneading her scalp in a sensual massage. She closed her eyes on another sigh and simply gave herself up to the feeling of being pampered. Another gust of cold air brought with it the smell of chocolate and Coralie opened her eyes to find the dratted man standing in front of her with a steaming mug of the elixir.

"Here, that should warm you up a bit."

She wrapped her frozen hands around the mug, grateful to be sitting. Now that he'd dropped the vampire act, he was even more gorgeous. That smile alone ought to be patented. Had she still been standing, her knees would have wobbled. This was ridiculous. She didn't react to men like this ever. They only ever wanted you for one thing, and as much as her stomach tightened in anticipation of the feel of those full lips on her skin, she couldn't allow herself to act on her desires. It was far safer to keep men at arm's length, especially ones with a dangerously seductive voice and the ability to make chocolate concoctions to die for.

"I...I'm really..."

She had to clear her throat to stop it from sounding so breathy. Sheesh, he's gonna think you're ready to jump him. Her hands shook at the image of doing just that, and she yelped when the shaking spilled the hot brew over her fingers. Before she could react, he was there licking the chocolate off her fingers, and she stopped breathing. Time stood still as she sat watching him lick those digits, and when he cupped her chin to make her look at him, the heat in his gaze lit up every inch of her frozen skin, until she felt on fire from the inside out.

He smiled at her and his thumb swiped across her bottom lip. He raised it to his mouth and sucked the drop of chocolate off with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"Hmm. I could get addicted to hot chocolate."

Blurb:

You'd think a three thousand year old vampire would believe in forever. Not Lucas. He has an escaped demon to hunt and no time for the follies of humankind. When strip-o-gram Coralie arrives on his boat, she awakens human instincts long buried, and protecting her becomes of paramount importance.

Coralie, standing in for a friend, is mortally embarrassed at having stumbled onto the wrong boat. The vampire wannabe she encounters makes her body sing in ways she never thought possible. Finding out that he is indeed the real thing throws everything she ever believed in into doubt.

With the demon closing in and the future of humanity in peril will they manage to find their forever?

Where to find Lure Of Forever:
Amazon
Amazon UK
Evernight Publishing

About the author:
Glutton for punishment would be a good description for Doris... at least that's what she hears on an almost daily basis when people find out that she has a brood of nine children, ranging from adult to baby and lives happily in a far too small house, cluttered with children, pets, dust bunnies and one very understanding and supportive husband. Domestic goddess she is not.

There is always something better to do after all, like working on the latest manuscript and trying not to scare the locals even more than usual by talking out loud to the voices in her head. Her sexy Alpha heroes and sassy heroines tend to be pretty insistent to get their stories told, and you will find Doris burning the midnight oil on a regular basis. Only time to get any peace and quiet and besides, sleep is for wimps. She writes contemporary, erotic and paranormal romance.

German born, Doris now resides in the middle of a busy town in Bedfordshire/England and dreams of a nice big house by the sea, with plenty of space to run kids and dogs and let her imagination soar.

Find Doris on the web here:
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook

Contest:

If you'd like to be in with a chance to win a copy of Lure Of Forever, just leave a comment. I will be picking three winners at the end of my blog tour. Every time you comment on one of my stops, you will get another entry into the draw

Details of the tour stops.

Monday Musings and new directions

I've recently thought about where I want my writing career to be. I have several (FOUR) stories that have yet to find a publisher. Apparently it's not the writing or even the concept, but the marketing aspect I guess traditional publishers don't understand that as an e-pubbed author I've been doing my own marketing for years already!

To that end, I've decided to dig those stories out, polish them off, polish them edit-wise, and see what's what. I may go the self-publish route, I may trash the stories, not entirely certain--it depends on how they read.

But all in all, I think it's time to re-think Isabel and where I want to be.

Liia Ann White's new release: Hot Aussie Weekend

Blurb

Newlyweds Jaycee and Campbell are stressed. Constantly working,

trying to set up a secure future for themselves, they rarely spend time alone, enjoying each other’s company.

So, to celebrate their first anniversary, Campbell whisks away his wife on a romantic getaway where he plans to pamper her and lure her into the ultimate relaxed state. But what is his ulterior motive? What secret has he been keeping from his new wife?

Whatever it is, it’s guaranteed to be a weekend full of eroticism, love, romance and some surprises on a Hot Aussie Weekend.

Buy Links

All Romance eBooks

Amazon

Amazon UK 

Excerpt

PG Rated

Jaycee let out a long sigh as the bath bomb fizzled out beneath her legs. Lying completely immersed in the hot scented water was just what she needed. She hadn’t realised she was stressed until she was on the car ride down here. The tension always knotted her neck and shoulders, which ached.

The fact that Campbell had even thought of giving her a weekend away where he could pamper her was enough. The fact that he was actually doing it? Oh yeah, he got extra brownie points for that. She could have jumped him the second she stepped through that door, but now she was so relaxed, all she wanted to do was curl up next to him and snuggle.

As the bath water cooled, Jaycee pulled herself out and dried herself. Assessing herself in the mirror, she noted her pink cheeks and the way loose strands of hair had curled around her face and neck. Knowing Campbell loved that look, she left her hair up in the messy bun she had and left the bathroom.

Wrapping the towel tightly around her, Jaycee wandered to the bedroom area, sighing when the cool air hit her skin. She’d sat in the bath for too long and overheated herself a bit – she did that every time.

The second she set eyes on Campbell, her temperature rose again. Topless and wearing only a pair of cotton pants, he was mouth-wateringly sexy. Her eyebrows rose and she smiled as she took in the sight of him standing at the edge of the bed.

“You look…” she paused, trying to think of an appropriate word, but nothing described how attractive he was. With a light moan, she stepped up to him and ran her hand down his bare abdomen, smiling when the muscles contracted underneath her fingertips.

Guest JoAnne Kenrick

Sweet Irish Kiss is apart of Decadent Publishing's 1 Night Stand multi-author series.

1 Night Stand Blog | Decadent Publishing

The series is based around Madame Evangeline's match-making skills. A woman to be reckoned with, and owner of a highly successful matchmaking service; put the right two people together for just one night and anything is possible. Especially when the dates take place at the fabulous Castillo Hotels and Resorts in some of the most exotic places in the world. For more on Madame Evangeline.

Rachel Taylor has issues. Her father broke her mother's heart with his cheating and Rachel swore never to let that happen to her, but one ruined relationship after another and she's realized she's got to get over being closed off to men. Perhaps a one-night stand is just the baby step she needs to begin to build trust again.

BLURB

Shaun Bell, a divorced workaholic, spends all his time tending bar in his Irish Pub. He's ready to love again, but the women who visit his bar are only after his infamous Irish cocktails. At the advice of his darts team, over a tanker or two of Beamish, he applies to 1Night Stand to get back into the swing of things and enjoy the company of a woman specially selected for him by Madame Evangeline.

A match seemingly made in heaven...until morning rolls around and Shaun can't bring himself to say good-bye. Can he win her over with his secret weapon, a Sweet Irish Kiss, or is Rachel still too scared to love?

"

Your Panties will be bunching and you will be sitting on the edge of your chair to wait and see what goodies Shaun has packed in his overnight bag ** grins **"-- Kat, Pageflipperz

99c 77p normally 2.99

GRAB YOUR COPY FOR FREE TODAY! LIMITED TIME OFFER TO CELEBRATE ST PATRICK'S DAY! AVAILABLE IN MOST EBOOK STORES...

Book Trailer Full Screen| Book Trailer Playlist

"Ms. Kenrick's writing style flows nicely throughout the story. Her attention stays more on the characters rather than the setting which is fitting for the genre of the novella. I like her ability to dig deep within the characters feelings allowing them to step up and tell their story. It is as if the author really took the back seat on this one. Very well written indeed! JoAnne Kenrick knows how to write unique, if not quirky, characters that stay with me long after I've finished reading their stories." -- Talina, Night Owl Reviews

This Sweet Irish Kiss excerpt has been edited to make it a PG-13. Please keep in mind that

the full story has a 4 flame rating and is therefore NOT suitable for minors.

I can’t believe I did that. What a great first impression. Not! And only I could top it off by going all defensive on his ass. Poor guy looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights. At least he was a gentleman about it, though. Had any of my exes seen me go down like a ton of bricks, all Nia Vilvados style, they’d have pissed themselves laughing and grabbed their cameras. I’m the character who gets caught up in headphone wire when she sees a hot guy in that movie...Fat Greek Wedding, Big Fat Greek...whatever. I know what I mean.

Rachel shuddered. She’d fallen flat on her face because the hunkiness of her one-night stand had taken her by surprise. She hadn’t expected it. Not in the least. Average, that’s what his profile had said. It’s why she picked him. She figured he wouldn’t be up himself. Most attractive men who know they’re hot behave like monkeys in heat because of it. She wanted a man who would be thanking his lucky stars to have her in his arms, and one who would be romantic and polite. And when he rushed to help her, he‘d surprised her again.

Drop dead gorgeous and caring? This could be dangerous.

“Ya feeling better now?” Thick Irish accent, smooth like Baileys, coated each word her one-night stand spoke.

“Uh-huh.” She glanced up at his welcoming expression and caught her stare in his. “So, you’re Irish?” You’re Irish?

He quirked his mouth into a grin as if she amused him. She reminded herself that she wanted this and backed up. She sat on the nearest thing to her, a dining chair from the breakfast for two set, and chewed at her freshly manicured nails. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this nervous. Her stomach flip- flopped around the butterflies dancing in her gut.

“Ya, that a problem?” God I love his Irish brogue.

“Listen, Shaun, I’m sorry about the way I came down on you. I mean, not came down on you. Hell, I...I’m sorry for losing it.” He raised an eyebrow. “For biting your head off when you tried to help.”

“Hey, I get it. I’m not what ya expected.” Shaun, hands firmly rooted in his pockets, shrugged his shoulders. “Ya definitely not what I expected, either, but here we are. We can call it a day if you prefer or we can enjoy the rest of the evening. What do ya say? I can leave if ya like. The hotel room’s been paid for, so ya can spend the night and make the most of it. I’ll leave ya be, so I will. But I’d rather stay here...with ya.”

Her stare locked on Shaun, and she watched him grab his bag from the foot of the bed and stride toward the exit. His muscular frame, dark features, and great sense of style had her knees knocking together. She couldn’t remember the last time she actually wanted a man. But it wasn’t like she’d chase after him. The day she did that would be the day she forgave her daddy, or rolled over dead. The latter was more likely to happen first.

The following excerpt has been edited to make it a PG-13 excerpt. Please keep in mind that the book does contain adult themes and language, and is not suitable for minors.

Pretentious, that’s how Rachel described the infamous Knightsbridge store where she worked. She loved her job, though. It meant she could let loose, make crazy-ass window displays, and stretch her imagination beyond the high street fashion trends. Usually.

“Effing yuppie fashion.” She stood, pin cushion in hand, staring out the huge plate glass window. The rain drizzled over passing shoppers who huddled and shared umbrellas with loved ones. She wished she could have someone she could trust to protect her when life pissed all over her, but she didn’t have anyone like that. The big brick wall she’d built had seen to it.

A flashback of running through a downpour with her father hit her hard. He’d thrown his coat over her, sheltering her and leaving himself open to the elements. They giggled all the way home, running late for a Mother’s Day dinner.

She closed her eyes to try and block out the past, but the darkness acted as a blank canvas for her memory to play out the scene until a rumble of thunder in the distance brought her back to the present.

She sniffled back her feelings and grasped a plastic body to steady herself. A teardrop trickled down her face, and she smeared it away. Time to buckle up and get over it. Once a fond memory, it now served as a bitter pill. He’d tricked her, tricked everyone with his gallant gestures. He could never again be the genuine, kind man she remembered from her childhood. At least not to her, anyway.

“Effing life.” She threw a knit over a male model’s shoulders and fluffed to give it a casual yet purposeful style. “What are they thinking, asking me to decorate the mannequins with this jumped up crap? Men don’t dress like Prince William. No man I know anyway.”

Her pocket buzzed. Rachel flipped her phone open. “Hello?” Nothing. “Hell-o?”

Still nothing. She pulled it from her ear and glanced at the digital display.

“Email, not a call. I’m never going to get used to this stupid, high tech phone.” She pressed a few buttons. Some wrong. Some right. Eventually, she managed to open up the message.

A last minute check, to make sure your 1NightStand goes as you desire. May I suggest you wear a corset, my dear, to flatter your curves. He’ll be there before you, and I picked a room especially with a double door entrance so you can have a Scarlet O’Hara moment. Please don’t wear green. He hates the color. A bottle of Jameson would make a wonderful gift, should you wish to bring something along to break the ice. And best of all, Rachel, remember why you wanted this and enjoy the experience. Good luck, dear, I hope he’s all you need.

Bien a toi, Evangeline

— Is he ALL she needs? There is only one way to find out…READ THE BOOK FOR FREE! St Patrick's Day Promotion, free offer for a limited time only.

This excerpt has been edited to make it suitable for a general, mature audience. Sweet Irish Kiss is not suitable for minors.

“Put this blindfold on,” he ordered, “if ya want a surprise.” He wanted to put it on her himself. But knowing she had trust issues, it didn’t feel right to do so. Instead, he went to the bathroom to clean the toys with warm, soapy water as the packet had said for him to do. He hoped she would be sightless and under his demand when he got back.

He wasn’t disappointed. Still on all fours, she had done as requested. He smeared lube over the beads and eased them into her. As an anal newbie, he had no idea how much it would turn him on and drive him insane. He wanted to rip them out and shove his cock inside her tight little hole instead. His hard on throbbed with need already, and it had only been minutes since he’d come. Sure he would be able to perform again, and probably too soon if he didn’t grab hold of himself, he grinned.

When the fifth and biggest bead was inside her, he whipped on a condom, slipped inside her bleep entrance from behind, and plunged all the way into her slick warmth . The bumpity-bump of the latex numbs rubbing against him through her thick layer massaged his length as he moved, and he couldn’t contain the growl that emerged from deep in his gut.

JoAnne Kenrick

JoAnne Kenrick, an ex-Ghost Tour Guide turned Romance Author, is a Welsh lass who has lived in various countries around the world. She now calls North Carolina her home, where she lives with her husband, two children and a lazy cat. When they aren't demanding her attention, she can most likely be found watching a vampire movie, reading or baking up a British favorite in her N.C. kitchen. That is, when she isn't writing or chatting up a storm on social networking sites.

Kindlegraphs available.

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Friday Guest: Symphony

Please welcome Symphony to today's Friday's Guests!


1. What would a reporter see if they followed you around for a week?

I love the questions. If a reporter walked around following me for a week, on the surface they would see a hard working author developing my writing skills and. At night you would see me as / music producer hard at work in the studio. But stick around little longer, they would begin to see my BUSY life as a single bachelor in Atlanta. Daily I try to find the balance, between my career and personal life.

2. If you had your choice of meeting your all-time favorite actor/actress what would you say to them?

Assuming I had an opportunity to meet my all-time favorite actor, which would have to be Will Ferrell. I would try make him laugh, by singing his hit song from my favorite movie Semi Pro “Love me sexy”.

3.Your book is in the running to be a commerical. What would you do to win the spot and the targeted readership?

What would I do to have Office Fantasies featured into a commercial? I would script my commercial based one of the most heated office fantasies on film to date “Basic Instinct”. I would appeal to my target readers, placing them into an office fantasy frame of mind. I would introduce my characters Sydney and Marcus as having an explosive sexual relationship similar to the one that occurred between Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas.

Office Fantasies, a hot and steamy collection of erotic stories between two attractive coworkers, Marcus & Sydney. Marcus “the cute new guy” whom recently moved to Miami seems to be the shy, quiet, mystery guy. Little does Sydney know, she has an insatiable, passionate, sexual terrorist in her presence.

In the first episode of Office Fantasies "Cover Blown", the obvious attraction between Marcus and Sydney has become the talk of the office. Every day the two of them flirt and tease each other, until the sexual tension finally explodes into the Perfect Chemistry. Parking decks, office bathrooms and building elevators. This fantasy turned reality contains all the elements that make for a once in a lifetime sexual adventure for two.

Sydney & Marcus’s encounters will leave you breathless, wanting to know increasingly juicy details of their explosive sexual relationship in and outside of the office. Are you sleeping with your office fantasy?



Excerpt:
Doing it

Just as a tease

She stops

Feeling the lack

Of privacy

I tell Sydney

“We are getting a room”

Put on your shoes

And let’s go!!!!

Enough is enough

Gentleman out

The door

Lucky for us

The Marriott

Is one minute

Up the road

Speeding out of

The neighborhood

With nothing

On my mind

But how I am

Going to sex Sydney

We speed into

The Marriot

Parking lot

Where we

Jump out

Of the car

Speed walking

Towards the

Lobby door

Anxiously waiting

To get the

Room key

I whisper to Sydney

“I’m going to”

Tear that ass up”

She smiles replying

"Boy stop"

Buy Links:

http://www.myofficefantasies.com/


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