Romance Author Hotspot

It’s Blog Wednesday here at Romance Author Hotspot. Meet Seleste deLaney, and let’s talk romance!

Seleste:

I’ve been told in the past that I don’t write romance. The funny thing in this to me wasn’t that the comment came because not all of my stories have a happily ever after, it came because the romance angle wasn’t the central part of my stories. For a while I wasted time debating the point, because when I write what I classify as a romance, that part of the storyline is integral to the whole, if I remove it, the entire thing falls apart.

As an example, let’s take JR Ward’s Dark Lover. Most definitely a romance, but I would argue that the main story is the Lessers going after Wrath, Darius’s death, and Billy Riddle’s attempted rape of Beth. The romance between Beth and Wrath is woven into that, and without it, the rest of the story wouldn’t hold up. Wrath would never have protected Beth as fiercely as he did, but the bigger plot was external to their romance.

That’s the kind of story I write, not because it’s easier or more fun, but to me it’s more real, especially when all sorts of bad things are happening externally. I’ve read romance novels where people are hunting the main characters and they spend more time thinking about their relationship than they do how to survive. I get that romance is meant to be an escape, but I don’t buy that. Life doesn’t work that way.

I’m not saying every nuance should be real. I want to have the characters and their love be larger than life, but when it becomes larger than everything else, I struggle with believability. So, for me, especially when the rest of the story falls outside the ordinary, the romance needs to blend in, it needs to be part, but not primary.

The Blood Kissed series is like that for me. The love and romance is there and plays an integral part in the story that arches over the series, but in each individual story, it isn’t the focus, and it shouldn’t be. There’s death, torture, kitties to save! Oh, and vampires are trying to take over the world.

Sure, there’s room and reason for a love story in there (and I hope it’s a hot one), but if my focus is the romance, what the heck do I do with all the other stuff? To me, in order to be true to the story, I need to put the romance where it belongs—sometimes in the forefront and sometimes behind the big strapping guy protecting the heroine from the dragon.

I’m giving away a digital copy of either Of Course I Try or The Ghost of Vampire Present (winner’s preference) to one commenter who answers the following question: I’ve told you how I like my romances, now it’s your turn, how do you like yours?

Blurb:

Love is a wonderful thing. Unless you don’t get a choice in the matters of your own heart.

Jocelyn has loved Max since the day she met him. Even when he scares her enough to leave, she can’t resist going back. No matter how many times she tries to break free from him, she ends up in his arms and bed again. Not this time. Jocelyn needs to be free and Max isn’t going to stop her from walking away — no matter how hard he tries.

Blurb:

Jocelyn has finally found her knight in shining armor in Chad, and ghosts are the last thing on her mind. Even when one shows up in her bedroom on Christmas Eve, Jocelyn’s a bit more concerned about the other guests on the agenda. She’d prefer to never see another vampire, and the ghost tells her to expect not one, but three.

When the one from her past shows up even though he’s supposed to be dead, she decides she’s dreaming and suffers through the night. By the time dawn breaks, she’s not so sure anymore.

But if it’s not a dream, that means her nightmare is far from over.

Blurb:

Tis Christmas and everyone is stirring…

From the keeper of Santa’s naughty list, delightful little Elves eager to please, and the sensual love of a toy soldier—the holidays are filled with orgasmic cheer. Where wishes come true, Frosty is itching for a melt-down, fairies and angels are randy to grant your every wish, and ‘tis the season to be oh, so jolly-filled.

Unwrap your darkest desires…for this is Christmas, and it will never be the same.

Today, our guest of honor is Berengaria Brown. It’s so nice to have you here, and I’m sure you’re ready for a good time! Let the party begin!

First Questions:

Wine or beer? (If you want a club soda, I’ll have to send you to the corner.)

Champagne?

Fancy! Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

Chocolate – I’m a chocoholic.

Love Chocolate! Are you old enough to drink? LOL.

Absolutely.

I guess I’ll take your word for it. You can come in, but of course, you need to show the goods.

Blurb:

Dwyer is a two-hundred-year-old werewolf currently working as a limo driver. He’s enticed by the scent of a man he has to take into the city. The man’s smell overwhelms him and calls to him “mate”. Yet he thought only a male and a female could mate and he is gay.

Nelson is equally attracted to Dwyer and the two spend a very hot night together.

However their second date is on Halloween and Dwyer is really struggling to keep his wolf under control. Nelson’s scent is giving him a permanent hard-on and his wolf is demanding to be let free, to bite and mate with Nelson.

Their new  relationship is derailed by a group of wanna-be vampires robbing an elderly couple and the elderly couple strongly believe Dwyer is their pet dog come back to life, because it is Samhain.

How is Dwyer going to get himself out of this mess? And what will Nelson’s reaction be? Can they possibly have a future together now?

Sounds like a great cast of characters! And what makes your character and story so special?

Dwyer lives in the city with a regular day job. He does not live in a werewolf community where there is a lot of land to run in and hunt over, nor does he have other werewolves to interact with. Finding Nelson is a very special moment for him.

Nice! I love paranormal stories with a twist! Now off to the roast….

So, what do you write? And why?

I am a multi-published author of erotic romance: contemporary, paranormal (ghosts, vampires and werewolves) and Regency-set historical. I love to read all different kinds of romance so that is what I write: one man/one woman; two women; two men; two men/one woman; three men…. Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily-ever-after, I makes sure they get it.

What do you think makes a good story?

The characters have to engage my attention. I have to care about them and want them to find their happy ever after. I can forgive a few typos, and even a plot hole or inconsistency, as long as I care about the characters.

Tell us about one of your favorite character from your books.

Dwyer, the werewolf in “Dogged Pursuit” is my first werewolf. I was thinking about a Halloween story and he just popped into my head and demanded his story be told. And not only is he a werewolf, but he is a gay werewolf. I wasn’t at all sure how that would work, but then Nelson arrived and the book was written.

How much do you write in a day? Day or Night? Everyday?

Like so many authors I have a day job, so writing has to fit around that. First thing in the morning I check emails and may have time to drop in on a chat loop or blog. Then in the evenings I check my emails again and have time to visit the loops and catch up on the news, and then write. Of course, during the day, I am never far from my laptop, so the files my boss thinks I am working on may not actually be the ones I am doing *cough*.

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers?

I credit my success for being published so quickly, to being because I read the submissions instructions and formatting instruction very, very carefully, and did my best to follow them. And I only submitted my books to publishing houses that contracted books similar to mine. I had been a reader for a very long time, and I still am a reader, so I treated getting published seriously, as if it were a job in itself. I also submitted different manuscripts to different houses, so I had several books accepted in quick succession. That meant I had quite a few books out comparatively quickly.

What else are you working on right now?

I have a vampire story coming out for Christmas, called “Eternity”, and a contemporary lesbian story, “Paige’s Passion”, releasing in the new year.

Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

I update my blog several times a week. All my news is posted there. http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for coming! Now, we’ll just crack open some bottles of bubbly and party! Please come hang out! Check out Berengaria’s new release, Dogged Pursuit!

Our guest today is Kim Adams from SOS Aloha here to talk about the importance of giving back to our military troops and their families. Join the fun!

Operation:  SOS Aloha

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii plus special detours to international sites as deemed necessary.

Mission: Support Our Soldiers (SOS) America, Inc.  Is a military charity sponsored by Kathryn Falk, Lady of Barrow and CEO of Romantic Times.

Objective: SOS Aloha is the blog site for SOS America – promoting romance books to military families and military issues to romance readers.   Add Hawaiian culture for good measure.   Win/win for all.

Targets:

- Author interviews, including Romance  Author Hotspot on December 9.

- Book giveaways, including Black Friday Paranormal Giveaway on November 26.

- Military tributes, including Pearl Harbor Day on December 7.

Allied Support:   SOS Aloha invites authors, publishers, and even readers to be guest bloggers!   Like the military, we work as a team to learn from each other.

Command Center: To learn more about SOS Aloha, log onto www.sosaloha.blogspot.com.

If you’re a reader, writer, or even a publisher, join the party! Get to know your supporters! Comment and email Kim your mailing address to receive an awesome Hawaiian key ring! Available to anyone ready to join the fun and hang out!

Email Kim at sos.america@yahoo.com for your keychain!

Today, our guest of honor is E.D. Walker. It’s so nice to have you here, and I’m sure you’re ready for a good time! So glad to have you back! Let the party begin!

First Questions:

Wine or beer? (If you want a club soda, I’ll have to send you to the corner.) Actually I only drink really fruity mix-drinks. Do you have vodka and cranberry by any chance?

That’s weak! You need a real drink! Alright, we’ve had worse requests, guess you can have one. Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person? Cake! Cake! Definitely sugar! And chocolate, always chocolate.

Yay! Now we’re talking! Are you old enough to drink? LOL. Yeah, for a couple years now. ;P

LOL. Just a couple? You know you still have to be carded if you’re under 40, right? But maybe I’ll let you pass if you show me what you brought…

Blurb:

Lady Kathryn’s father has sent her to court to find a husband, but being penniless and disinterested doesn’t bode well for her success. Bored by the petty intrigues of court, she finds her loneliness is eased when the king charges her with the care of his newest acquisition: an uncanny black wolf. What the king doesn’t realize is his remarkable pet was once Gabriel, his favorite knight, cursed into wolf form by an unfaithful wife.

The beast’s too-knowing eyes and the way he seems to understand her every utterance convinces Kathryn the wolf is more than what he seems. Resolving to restore him, she doesn’t count on the greatest obstacle being Gabriel himself. The longer he stays in wolf form as a captive of the court, the harder it becomes for him to remember his humanity. And to fight his wolfish urges to maim and kill.

Only Kathryn’s affection and determination stand between Gabriel the wolf and Gabriel the man. But when the one who betrayed Gabriel returns to court, will Kathryn’s love be enough to keep Gabriel from exacting a brutish revenge that will condemn the wolf to death?

Why should I let you in? I mean…What makes your character and story so special?

I think my story’s biggest selling point can be summed up in two words: werewolf knight.

LOL, in all seriousness, though, if you like sweet romances with a feisty heroine and a troubled hero, wrapped up with werewolves and magic and court intrigue– Oh my!–then you should give The Beauty’s Beast a try. (Hey, that rhymed!)

Sounds awesome! Alright, let’s go get you one of those fruit thingys and talk!

What do you like doing besides writing and reading? Is it dangerous? I’m taking a swing dancing class right now at my university and it is VERY fun. It’s not too dangerous unless you get an inexperienced partner and he steps on your toes or heaven forbid, tries to do an aerial (which are the lifts and jumps that make swing dancing so fun to watch). Luckily I’ve avoided crushed toes and no one’s dropped me on my head during a lift…yet.

Hey! I’ve done swing dancing before! (Except I got stuck in a room with old guys…lots of old guys. LOL.) But it is fun! What is the hardest part of writing your books? Editing! It’s one of those things where you want to make sure the book is as polished and smooth as you can make it, but at some point you have to step back and just let the book be finished. It’s very hard for me to let go, though. I can always find something else to nitpick about.

I so agree. Once you write ‘the end’, that is just the beginning. Who is your favorite author and why? Do you write what you read? I am an avid reader so I have several favorite authors, but if I have to pick just one I’d say Lois McMaster Bujold. Her books have the most beautiful blend of humor, danger, romance…She’s just a fantastic writer who can create incredible flesh and blood characters and fully-developed worlds. I have a bit more romance in my books than she usually does, but I would say some of my books are in the same vein of her fantasy works. Another author I love is Holly Black, and it was actually her Modern Faerie Tale trilogy that inspired me to try my hand at writing a YA fantasy romance.

Definitely need to check those out. So, tell us about one of your favorite characters from your books. In The Beauty’s Beast the king’s advisor Llewellyn definitely became a bit of a scene stealer. He’s this skinny scarecrow of a wizard always standing on the fringes and making wry observations. He actually has one of my favorite bits from the book:

“Llewellyn only shrugged. Who was he to meddle in the affairs of kings? Well, the king’s advisor, yes . . . . But really, that was definitely beside the point.”

Do you like more Alpha or Beta heroes? I am awfully fond of a good Alpha, but there is definitely a fine line between being an Alpha and being a total jerk which authors must be very careful not to cross. One of my very favorite, totally unrepentant Alphas, is Hardy Cates from Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas. That man is DE-licious!

That said, I can totally go for a good Beta too. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer is one of my favorite books and the hero in that, Freddy, is a totally shallow, effeminate fop. And he’s adorable. Or, as me and my sister say a-dork-able.

Interesting. Is there anything you’d want your readers and friends to know about you? Well, excuse my plug, but my YA fantasy-romance Heir to the Underworld is coming out soon from Sapphire Blue Publishing. It’s set in Southern California (where I was born and raised). The heroine, Frederica, always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even a bit boring. Then a hottie, dressed as a reject from Gladiator, almost runs her down on the sidewalk. With his horse. The weird keeps coming from there: zombie dogs running around the suburbs, insane crows stalking her, and said hottie asking her on a date. But the cute stranger has secrets he isn’t sharing and trouble follows him like his own shadow. The closer they grow, the weirder life gets, until Freddy discovers something about her own past which changes everything she ever thought she knew about herself. And her world.

Sounds great! What else are you working on right now? I am putting the final touches on a fun and fast-paced romantic fantasy novella about heroic trolls, supernatural mobsters and an unlikely true love, called “The Minion and the Mistress.” It’s a bit spicier than my two novels to date, and I hope romance readers will like it.

Cool! Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

I really love to hear from readers so you can find me…

At my website:

http://heirtotheunderworld.com/

Or on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/E-D-Walker/128616687160916?ref=ts

And you can visit my publishers to learn about my books and other great romance offerings from Noble Romance and Sapphire Blue:

https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=173

http://www.sapphirebluepublishing.com/catalog/

Thank you so much for coming! Hang out, grab one of those fruit things! Alright, everyone grab one from the bar! Stick around and one lucky winner will receive a fabulous copy of The Beauty’s Beast!

Today, our guest of honor is Emily Cale. It’s so nice to have you here, and I’m sure you’re ready for a good time! Let the party begin!

First Questions:

Wine or beer? (If you want a club soda, I’ll have to send you to the corner.)

White wine, please.

I knew I liked you for a reason. LOL. Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

If the cake is chocolate, then I’ll have that. Otherwise I’ll go for the chips.

Love chocolate cake! Guess we do have a lot in common, but are you old enough to drink? LOL.

Yes, but I always have to show ID.

Pfft. And you’re complaining? So, what did you bring me?

Blurb:

Tired of bringing home unsatisfying, nameless men, Delia Hawthorne needs a change of pace. When her Aunt invites her to spend some time at their family’s Wyoming ranch, it takes little prodding for her to agree. Time away from work, bars, and men is exactly the break she’s been looking for.

When Delia arrives, she finds what she has come to avoid: take-charge ranch hand, Lucas Dane. Despite her Aunt’s warning of Lucas’ womanizing reputation, she decides he may be worth the risk. What starts out as just sex quickly turns into more, forcing Delia to choose between the guy she is falling in love with and her responsibilities back home. What’s a city girl to do?

Ooooooo, very nice!

All right, I guess you can come in. Now off to the roast….

So, what do you write? And why?

I write mostly contemporary erotic romance, but I’ve also dabbled in paranormal. I find world building to be tedious and I spend more time trying to figure out the details than I spend actually writing the book. Romance to me represents the happy ending that we are all looking for. At the end of the story, my characters get exactly what they wanted (or needed), which is exactly how life should be.

Very true. I love romance. Thrown in a cowboy or a vampire and I’m caught. Where do you dream of traveling to and why?

Right now, I’m collecting continents. I’m only missing South America and Antarctica, so I would really like to visit one of them next. I’m also dreaming of Hawaiian beaches since I will be there with my family in a couple weeks!

Nice! I’m so jealous! I lived there once…What was your first sale as an author? Anything special about it?

Tamed was my first real sale. I had a short story in an anthology before, but I didn’t feel like it really counted. I was actually in India for work when I got the email. It was actually a little sad because there was no one around to tell or hug. I did manage to get my husband on the phone though, even though it was 2AM for him.

Awww, but I’m sure it’s still exciting. And what makes your character and story so special?

Tamed is special to me because it takes place near where I was born and raised (Yes, I really am from Wyoming). I got to rediscover all the beauty of the area through the eyes of Delia

I’ll have to add Wyoming to my list. How much do you write in a day? Day or Night? Everyday?

I typically aim for a thousand words a day, but I often don’t make that. I have a lot of other things that have to take priority, so some days I don’t write at all. I’m always working on it in my head though, so that when I have time to sit down again I can get a lot done. On weekends, I typically get a lot done and can catch up on what I didn’t get done during the week.

Are you a pantser or plotter?

I’m a pantser who has been converted to a plotter. I used to be strictly a pantser, but it made editing a complete nightmare. Now I at least outline the book before I start writing. I make a lot of changes to the outline as I go, but at least I now know where I am going, even if I wind up taking some back roads to get there.

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers?

Try to suppress your inner editor and just get the story written. Once you have it one paper, you can edit and get all the details straight. Editing is tedious, but you can’t get something that isn’t written published. Oh, and read. A lot.

Very good advice! Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

You can find me on my blog (http://www.emilycale.blogspot.com/) or on twitter (http://twitter.com/EmilyCale). Tamed will be out Friday at Breathless Press (http://www.breathlesspress.com/erotic/branded/tamed.html).

Thanks so much for coming! Hangout, grab a glass of white wine and enjoy the party!

It’s Friday New Releases! Check it out! We have Breathless Press author, S.E. Holden with his debut release! Grab drinks, grab books, and join the party!

Blurb:

Not one for public limelight, Sheila, the new VP of Operations must face her greatest fear: the presentation to her future. Overridden with anxiety and nerves, she could only turn to one person for help—Matt, her husband of eleven years. But his innovative ways pose possible threats to her job. Can she risk endangering her career for the sake of fulfilling her forbidden fantasies?

Excerpt:

I don’t see any movement. Are they still breathing? I know this stuff is dry, but come on…something!

A little, neon-green Christmas tree blinked at her from the last row. After the third blink, the words “Merry Xmas” turned red. Oh my God, he came. Her breath caught and she stammered.

She paused to regroup, hiding her distraction behind a pull from her water bottle. The tie was a gag gift she gave Matt last Christmas, but he hadn’t worn it yet. Until now. Seeing him brought the night before in the tub into sharp focus. “Just remember this feeling,” he had said as she squirmed in the water under his torturous, yet wonderful ministrations.

She shook her head to clear the images. Once under control again, she continued, “We’ve been watching our corporate expenses very carefully over this time.”

Sheila flushed, unable to ignore the blinking lights off the tie, but it wasn’t embarrassment that tinged her cheeks and prickled her skin. This heat emanated from deep inside—from somewhere only he could reach.

Intrigued? Let’s talk!

It’s blog Wednesday and we have Keena Kincaid hanging out at this party! Come on in and join the fun! We’re talking heroes and inspiration!

I love larger-than-life heroes, which is why I typically write historical paranormals. Watching a hero struggle with the dark side of whatever extra “gift” he possesses excites and challenges me. But one of his “must have” qualities is the hero’s gift must also be his curse. It should make him capable of great deeds and saving the world, but also isolate or weaken him in some way.

How he handles the struggle is as important to me as how he resolves it.

But I never sit down and decide what to write. The stories come to me. So imagine my surprise when an average hero—a contemporary hero, no less— started talking to me.

I’ve learned to trust my muse, so I went with it and wrote a short story centered on two people starting over in their 40s.

Nick McPherson and Nora Emerson come into the relationship with all the wisdom and baggage of an accumulated lifetime. Midway through the story, I found myself excited and challenged by Nick’s very normalness. He has to solve problems, heal hearts and find love without any extra abilities. He must still be capable of great deeds even if he doesn’t save the world.

So when it comes to heroes, what are the “must have” qualities that you require?

Blurb:

If she could, Nora Emerson would demand a “do over” of the last twenty-five years. An emotionally abusive marriage, failed fertility treatments and a nasty, public divorce have left her bruised, skittish and determined to remain independent at all costs.

With an all-consuming business and a furious teenage sister on his hands, Nora is a complication Nick McPherson doesn’t need. It’s one he wants. Her vulnerability and kick-ass competency intrigue him, and the sexual sparks between them could set Summerville on fire.

The more she insists the sex is just for fun, the more determined he becomes to turn their fling into something more.

Excerpt:

Anxiety slithered over skin. She couldn’t do this. Hadn’t done this since her divorce—actually for years before that. She was going to embarrass herself if she kept going.

“Nick—”

He tilted her chin upward with one finger, shifted the angle of his body until the solid heat of his erection burned through her jeans. Bones melted. Doubts faded. His lips worked over hers in a heady blend of skill and desire.

The hand beneath her sweater slid upward, over the bumps of her ribs until his fingertips traced the lace of her thin bra, catching her nipple between finger and thumb. His tongue tangled with hers. He took his time, drinking her like fine Scotch and running his hands over her body with exquisite slowness. Her head spun from a primitive demand for sexual satisfaction. She’d forgotten what it was like, this incandescent, all-consuming need for another person. She pressed her palm against his chest, felt the heat of his skin, curled her fingers against hard muscle. His heart thumped hard and fast against her hand. He broke the kiss and leaned against her, his face against her hair. He smelled spicier than before, warmer, too.

“Are you certain?”

Pulling back, she studied him, trying to decipher the flicker of doubt on his face. “Who would’ve thought the wild boy of Summerville High would grow up to be so staid?”

So tell us what are the must have qualities to your hero and win a chance for a copy of Something More!

Today, our guest of honor is Jessica Lee. It’s so nice to have you here, and I’m sure you’re ready for a good time! Let the party begin!

First Questions:

Wine or beer? (If you want a club soda, I’ll have to send you to the corner.)

Neither. Bring on the Margaritas.

Margaritas are good. Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

Can’t I have both? Please…    If I had to chose, though, it would probably be cake.

Hmm…I’ll have to think about that one. I know how dangerous you are with sugar.  Are you old enough to drink? LOL.

Uh… Oh yes. I’m afraid so. LOL

I guess you’ll have to show us the goodies before I let you in…

Blurb:

Evin KinKaid, the only son of the KinKaid pack’s alpha, has a secret. One that will tear his family apart. In two years, Evin is to succeed his father as alpha leader and continue the dominate bloodline of his family. There’s only one problem: Evin is gay. When Evin is pushed into the bed of his intended female mate, he’s forced to reveal the truth. And for an alpha male wolf shifter promised to a female whose goal is to one day be queen…coming out has never been more explosive.

Mason Thorne II, heir to Thorn Global Inc., life is a lie. To sustain his father’s love, Mason has agreed to stay in the family business and to one day assume his place as CEO. Instead of reaching for his heart’s desire, he’s settled for a life that’s not his own. But an unexpected auto accident will send both Evin and Mason into each others’ arms and down a path toward a destiny neither man can escape: an eternity sealed in blood.

What makes your character and story so special?

Bloodlines introduces you the gay son of an alpha wolf pack who finds himself having to come out to his family in the worse situations he could have imagined.

You also meet Mason, son of an overbearing billionaire who controls every aspect of Mason’s life.

When these two men stumble into each other’s path, sparks fly, and two hearts find the passion and acceptance they’ve hungered for. If only Evin’s destiny allowed forever to be theirs to have.

*sigh* I love Evin and Mason. Oh, wait. Oops. I’m not giving away anything, I swear. I guess I’ll have to let you come in so everyone can check it out themselves.

Let’s party!

So, what do you write? And why?

I love to read and write paranormal romance. It such a wonderful escape from my everyday world. The heroes are so yummy and fantastic.

I totally agree! What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Wow, the hardest part of writing for me is the discipline involved.  It’s so easy to allow the day to suck away your time, leaving nothing left for writing.

It is tough and discipline is hard to find at times with so many distractions. How would you describe your writing style?

I’m a part pantser part plotter. I can usually see the beginning, middle, and end of a story, which I put down in my Supernotecard program, along with the GMC of my characters. Then I’ll normally plot the first three chapters. I find it hard to just start writing without knowing where I’m going first.

Do you like more Alpha or Beta heroes?

Oh, I’m definitely an Alpha lover, and that’s what I write. I enjoy the take charge kind of man that knows who he is, what he loves, and would die to defend it.

I love Alpha heroes. What else are you working on right now?

I’m working on the third installment of my Enclave series: Eve of Desire, which I hope to have ready for Loose Id before the end of the year.

Yay! I can’t wait! Now, where can our partygoers find you and your work?

www.jessicaleenovels.com

Thank you so much for coming!

Everyone grab a drink! One lucky commenter will win a $10 Breathless Press Gift Card!

It’s News time and we have a new release by Rachel Brimble! Gear up for the party!

Blurb:

In a desperate bid to escape the bitter reality of her children accepting her ex-husband’s new – and younger – fiancée, Lisa Cavendish travels from the UK to accompany her friend to a high school reunion.  Forced to dress as Madonna in her hey day, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with the school’s coach, who seems to hold as much regard for his child as her ex did when he walked out…

Aaron Taylor can’t believe his eyes or ears when he is introduced to Lisa – sexy and funny, she has no idea how her accent enhances the heartbreaking wait he endures waiting for his daughter to call him back to the UK.  But after spending just three short weeks with Lisa, he sees the answer to his pain in the eyes of the most phenomenal British lady he has ever met…

Excerpt:

The sharp shrill blow of a whistle made Lisa jump to attention. She snatched her chin up from her palm and stared wide-eyed at the beauty of male perfection who emerged from within the circle of boys on the field. He’d been there all along. Had he seen her?

Worry dissolved as Lisa took in the pure, delicious sight of him while her nipples promptly leaped to high alert. “Oh, good lord. That is so not fair.”

Dressed in a pair of black shorts and a crisp white T-shirt, Aaron’s body would do a man of thirty-two proud, let alone forty-two. The muscular curve of his biceps and the bulge of his thighs were clearly visible despite the meters of distance between the bleachers and the soccer field. Lisa’s mouth drained of saliva. She was in serious trouble if the strange and alien pulsing between her legs was anything to go by.

And in that moment, sexy Coach Taylor turned as if he felt her lecherous gaze on his butt. He raised his hand to his forehead, shielding his eyes from the sun as he looked at her. The chatter and whooping of the boys faded into silence when Lisa stopped breathing. The silent moment stretched until his face erupted into the most welcoming and heart-turning smile. He lifted a hand, she waved back. He broke eye contact and said something to the group of boys that sent them all scattering toward a white-washed building Lisa presumed was the communal showers.

And then he came toward her.

Check out the new release! Special contest! Rachel is giving away a free pdf of Transatlantic Loving to a random commenter on her blog this weekend who mentions Romance Author Hotspot at: www.rachelbrimble.com. Get moving!

It’s Blog Wednesday and we have lovely paranormal/contemporary romance author, Ambrielle Kirk, in the house! Pull up chairs, grab a drink and start naming that character! Just joking. Let the woman speak first, then you all can party!

Do Character Names Matter?

Naming characters is very much a part of my novel plotting process. I give as much thought into character names as I do titles, concepts, or anything else when starting a work in process (WIP). What’s in name? Does it really matter what you name your character? If you ask me, my answer is yes.

There are two main reasons why I spend an adequate amount of time on selecting character names: to distinguish and prevent confusion and to compliment that character’s personality.

Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any benefits to having two characters (major or minor) in a novel with similar names. If the heroine’s name is Maria, calling her best friend Mary might not be a good idea. It confuses readers and just might confuse you. As cute as it may sound, coupling Maria with a hero named Martin may be too difficult for a reader to keep track of, especially if your book has many major and minor characters.

Another naming technique to avoid are names that are difficult to pronounce. Lets take Nimmaeschenbach, for example. Majority of readers don’t like to spend the length of any book trying to figure out the many different ways to pronounce Nimmaeschenbach. Names should not distract readers from your plot.

Choosing the right name for the personality is an important one for me. An old technique that I use are baby name resources, like babynamer.com. An age appropriate name is also a good idea. If the main character is a fourteen year old living in twenty-first century Los Angelos, California, I definitely would not name her Ernestine, but that’s just me. Likewise, if that same character had the leading role in a 1920s-1930s historical novel set in Scotland, her name would not be Bonquisha. Those types of names did not exist in those places while in that era.

Another idea is to choose a name with a meaning that closely matches your character’s personality, where the meaning of the name may have some important bearing in the story.

However you prefer to choose names, I hope you have as much fun with it as you do with plotting.

Ambrielle Kirk is an author of erotic and paranormal romance. You can find her most recent releases at Breathless Press and on her website: www.ambriellekirk.com. Feel free to drop her an email at ambrielle(dot)kirk(at)yahoo(dot)com.