Dec 24 2011

Cindy Spencer Pape

Meet Cindy Spencer Pape!

An avid reader of romance, fantasy, mystery, and even more romance, Cindy Spencer Pape firmly believes in happily-ever-after. Married for more than twenty-five years to her own, sometimes-kilted hero, she lives in southern Michigan with him and two grown sons, along with an ever-changing menagerie of pets.  Author of more than 40 books, Cindy has been, among other things, a banker, a teacher, and an elected politician, but mostly an environmental educator, though now she is lucky enough to write full-time. Her degrees in zoology and animal behavior almost help her comprehend the male humans who share her household.

First question:

Eggnog or Mimosas? Are you old enough to drink? Mimosas, please. And I think I have shoes old enough to drink.

We’re also taking pictures with Santa, did you bring a gift for him? (Maybe a new release or a pretty book cover…) I love the cover for Yuletide Enchantment. Hope he does too!

Blurb:

The company Christmas party goes awry in an erotic way when quiet accountant Shelby Carter is magically whisked into a miniature Victorian village with the boss’s gorgeous son, Noel Holiday. Noel has always honored the policy against fraternization, but when he’s trapped for several days with sweet, sexy Shelby, he decides it’s time to start breaking the rules.

While exploring the enchanted surroundings, they delve into their deepest fantasies, even acting out scenes from a collection of erotic Victorian postcards. After all, what’s Christmas without a little magic and a whole lot of sexy fun?

Though Shelby’s crazy about Noel, she’s sure he’ll forget all about her once their interlude is over. But Noel has fallen head over snow boots in love with Shelby. Now he just has to convince her that holiday wishes can come true, and his devotion will last beyond their Yuletide Enchantment.

Please enter. Drinks are served by the elves in the corner. Ooh—cute elves. Fantastic!

What’s your favorite holiday and why? Christmas, of course. I love the decorations, the songs, the presents, and the whole sense of celebration that fills the air.

Did you ask Santa for anything good? A few nice things, and a few verrrrry naughty ones. <wink>

What’s your favorite place to spend the holidays? Wherever my family is. Snow is nice too, but I’m ready for it to be gone by mid-January. Sigh. If only it really worked that way.

What is your favorite Christmas memory? Wow, that’s tough. There are a number that stand out. Probably coming home for Christmas the year my oldest son was born. We got to spend time with lots of family we hadn’t seen in forever, and the holidays are so very different with kids in the house, even tiny ones.

Do you have personal resolutions for the New Years? Anything interesting? I refuse to jinx myself with New Year’s resolutions, but I do make a point to try new things each year.

Why do you write romance? Because it makes me smile. Real life can be hard. Fiction should make you happy.

How long have you been writing for? And how would you describe your publication journey? Seriously for a dozen years or so. I’ve been published now for five. My road was a pretty typical one, I think. I wrote a book and it was pretty awful, but it proved to me that I could do it. The next three I wrote and submitted to one or two houses, collecting rejections. Finally I decided to try e-publishing and sent one to each of three different publishers. All three sold, so I went from no publishers to three in a matter of months. Even when the first of those three folded, I never looked back.

Are you a plotter or pantser? What is your routine? Some of each. I started out as a total pantser, but now that I can sell some of my work on proposal, I have to have a synopsis to turn in, so I’m learning how to plot. As to routine, there really isn’t one. Each book grows a little differently from the one before.

What characteristics do all your heroes/heroines have in all your stories? Well both are usually smart, because that’s how I like them. And a sense of humor is there, even if the character doesn’t know it at the start of the book. They don’t have to be alpha, but do have to have an inner strength and be totally devoted to their mate.

What writing resources do you abide by as a writer? A good dictionary, the internet at my fingertips, and the support of fellow authors.

What advice would you give aspiring authors? Learn what works for you. Never believe there is only one way to do anything, but do take advice on the market and your technical writing skills. (Spelling and grammar aren’t a style issue.) After that, just keep at it and don’t give up!

What are you working on right now? The next two books in my Gaslight Chronicles series at Carina Press. Kilts and Kraken will be out in June as part of Carina’s anniversary anthology and Moonlight & Mechanicals will be a full-length novel, hopefully out next fall.

What news would you like to share with your readers? Both Steam & Sorcery from Carina Press and Eagle’s Redemption from Ellora’s Cave are EPIC award finalists. In January I’ll be a panelist at ConFusion, the Detroit science fiction convention, and…

Where can readers find you?

  1. Website: http://www.cindyspencerpape.com
  2. Blog: http://cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com/
  3. Newsletter group: http://yhoo.it/ni7PHo
  4. Twitter: http://twitter.com/CindySPape
  5. Facebook: http://on.fb.me/gjbLLC

List other books you have out: Really? All 40-some? You can find the complete list on my website. J

Thank you so much for joining us at Romance Author Hotspot! Thanks for inviting me. I’d like to wish everyone a very happy holiday season and a fabulous new year!

Prize: A free download of reader’s choice.


Dec 24 2011

Stacey Kennedy

Meet Stacey Kennedy!

Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn’t plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she’s got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband.

Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.

First question:

Eggnog or Mimosas? Are you old enough to drink?

Ugh. Neither. Can I just have a beer?

We’re also taking pictures with Santa, did you bring a gift for him? (Maybe a new release or a pretty book cover…)

Blurb:

Madame Eve’s 1NightStand service has brought together Blake and Taryn on a cold Christmas Eve at the Castillo Lodge. The two will set out on an adventure of pain and pleasure surrounded by Alaskan snow-capped mountains and nestled in a warm country lodge. But as the night develops, Taryn discovers it’s not Christmas presents that will surprise her but instead the very man who mastered her through a night of intense BDSM.

Please enter. Drinks are served by the elves in the corner.

Mmm…drinks. I’m in!

What’s your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas, of course! I love it all and might just be obsessed. Yes, I’m one of *those* people who decorate their house like a crazy woman, watch endless Christmas movies, and gets really excited over Christmas.

Did you ask Santa for anything good?

A computer desk, which he brought to me earlier. Santa must love me!

What’s your favorite place to spend the holidays?

With friends and family. Doesn’t matter where the place is as long as there is a Christmas tree, I’m happy!

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

Opening Christmas presents. Can you blame me?

Do you have personal resolutions for the New Years? Anything interesting?

I never make resolutions because I learned long ago I never fulfill them. So why bother? If I want to do something I just do it. If I don’t, then I never will.

Why do you write romance?

I’m such a sucker for a good love story and romance just make me sigh! I think the question is why wouldn’t I write it?

How long have you been writing for? And how would you describe your publication journey?

I haven’t been writing for very long. My first book came out in 2010 and I only started writing six months before that. So it’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but I’ve loved every minute of it and wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Are you a plotter or pantser? What is your routine?

Panster all the way! I sometimes will have an idea of how the story goes, but usually I just write chapter by chapter and let the characters decide their path. But after I’m done I always outline the story so I can see it as a whole to make sure all the twists are where they should be and everything works.

What characteristics do all your heroes/heroines have in all your stories?

My heroes tend to be alpha men, but they will all have some other quality like be humorous or will have a sweet edge to them. My heroines are always strong, kick-ass women who take no “stuff” from anyone. Lots of fun!

What writing resources do you abide by as a writer?

Um…none. I just write and hope it comes out good!

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Write…and then keep on writing. The more you do, the better you get. And also to realize that you don’t have to be perfect. It’s okay to make mistakes and that’s why you have editors. Learn from them. Soak up their knowledge. And then write another book!

What are you working on right now?

Right now, I’m in revisions on the Magic & Mayhem series that is coming out with Entangled Publishing starting in April 2012.

I’ve also just wrapped up the next Frostbite novel that is published with Ellora’s Cave and I hope to have that off my editor soon.

Besides those, I’m working on a new urban fantasy series called Witches Brew. I hope to have the first book, The Cat’s Meow finished by the end of January and have it out in February sometime.

What news would you like to share with your readers?

Mark January 5th on your calendar, Supernaturally Kissed releases and I’m holding a cool contest over at my blog. Check it out for details – http://www.staceykennedy.com/release-of-supernaturally-kissed-win-a-kindle/

Where can readers find you?

    1. Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Stacey_Kennedy
    2. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorStaceyKennedy
    3. Website: http://www.staceykennedy.com

List other books you have out:

Oh, there are just too many to list here. The result of an overactive muse. You can check them out here – http://www.staceykennedy.com/books/

Thank you so much for joining us at Romance Author Hotspot! 

PRIZE: A copy of Supernaturally Kissed

Blurb:

Ghosts harass and annoy Tess Jennings to save their souls. Sometimes she helps them. Other times she ignores them. But one ghost will give her no choice.

Kipp McGowen, a cop with the Memphis Police Department, will stop at nothing to gain her help, including using his ghostly charms to seduce her.

Tess must help solve the five year old cold case of Hannah Reid, because solving the case will save Kipp. But a bigger problem presents itself. Tess is falling in love with a ghost. Now she must decide. Keep Kipp forever or find the killer…

 


Jul 24 2011

Cindy Spencer Pape – Get Your Happy-Ever-After Fix

Meet Cindy Spencer Pape!

Cindy Spencer Pape is an avid reader of romance, fantasy, mystery, and even more romance who firmly believes in happily-ever-after. Married for more than twenty-five years to her own, sometimes-kilted hero, she lives in southern Michigan with him and two grown sons, along with an ever-changing menagerie of pets.  Cindy has been, among other things, a banker, a teacher, and an elected politician, but mostly an environmental educator, though now she is lucky enough to write full-time. Her degrees in zoology and animal behavior almost help her comprehend the three male humans who share her household.

First questions:

Beach or camping? Beach, all the way.

Bathing suit or mountain gear? Why? Well, I probably LOOK better in mountain gear, but I love to swim, so I’m definitely happier in a swimsuit.

Margaritas or Spritzers? (If you answer club soda, we’re gonna have to talk.) Margaritas, but I can’t handle much.

 

Please enter. Cabana boys are under that umbrella. We’ll even let you pick one to hold your shade…and your pen.

Where is one place you would love to spend the Summer? Why? I’d love to see England, Scotland and Ireland. I’ve always been fascinated by the history there. Though I’m not sure I’d get any writing done there, I’m sure I’d get LOTS of inspiration!

What is your ideal writing haven? Are there men or beach bunnies involved? A little cabana by the beach. No beach bunnies, please. Men? Well, at least one, with good hands and a bottle of massage oil…

What season do you write best? And why? It varies. Season seems to affect me less than whatever other garbage is going on in my life. I love sunshine and summer, but sometimes I want to go play in it, and then I don’t get much work done. The worst is always right around Christmas.

When plotting a book, what determines your setting and characters? There are a lot of factors. I write a lot of series, so often, characters and settings are already in place from the previous book. Otherwise? I like to play with stereotypes and mess around, like putting a Chicago cop on a Texas ranch or an ancient dragon in the steam tunnels of a Michigan college.

If you’re going on vacation, what items would I find in your bag? And why? Flip flops. Unless it’s snowing, this is my choice of footwear. Basic makeup, but not a ton. Who wants to take time to bother with more than the basics? My Nook for reading and my netbook for writing and email.  A swimsuit, just in case I find a beach or pool. Jeans, t-shirts, (or sweaters if it’s colder) and one or two casual skirts. MAYBE a dress if I have a good enough reason to think I’ll need one.

What are you working on right now? Several projects. A new book in the Gaslight Chronicles, the finale of the Holiday Hearts series and another, super-secret new project.

What news would you like to share with your readers? Book 3 of my Urban Arcana series, Motor City Wolf, comes out from Carina Press on Aug. 29.

Where can readers find you?

  1. Twitter:  http://twitter.com/CindySPape
  2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cindy-Spencer-Pape-Books/102207923194253
  3. Website: http://www.cindyspencerpape.com
    1. Others: Blog: http://cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com/

Newsletter group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cspapenewsgroup/

List other books you have out:  

Available Now: 

From Carina Press:

  1. Urban Arcana #1: Motor City Fae (e-book and audio book) Carina Press
  2. Urban Arcana #2: Motor City Witch (e-book and audio book) Carina Press
  3. Gaslight Chronicles #1: Sorcery & Steam (e-book and audio book) Carina Press
  4. Photographs & Phantoms: A Gaslight Chronicles Novella (e-book, free download) April 25, 2011

From The Wild Rose Press

  1. Love at the Crazy H #1: The Cowboy’s Christmas Bride The Wild Rose Press (e-book & print)
  2. Love at the Crazy H #2: Crazy for the Cowboy  The Wild Rose Press (e-book & print)
  3. Love at the Crazy H #3: Always a Cowboy  The Wild Rose Press (e-book & print)
  4. All the Way Back, (Wayback, Texas) from The Wild Rose Press (e-book) available in print as part of the Wild Wayback Nights anthology
  5. After the Rodeo in the anthology Finding Their Way Back, (e-book and print) The Wild Rose Press.
  6. Curses The Wild Rose Press (e-book and print)
  7. Beltaine Bargain (short story) The Wild Rose Press (e-book)

From Ellora’s Cave/Cerridwen Press:

  1. Geek Love #1: Dragon in the System Cerridwen Press (e-book and print)
  2. Geek Love #2: Djinni and the Geek Ellora’s Cave (e-book and print)
  3. Geek Love #3: Teach Me (Torrid Tarot Novel) Ellora’s Cave (e-book)
  4. Between a Rock and a Hard-On (Tricks and Treats Quickie) Ellora’s Cave (e-book) available in print as part of the Tantalizing Treats anthology
  5. Heroes of Stone #1: Stone and Earth Ellora’s Cave (e-book)
  6. Heroes of Stone #2: Stone and SeaEllora’s Cave (e-book)
    1. Heroes of Stone #3: Stone and Fire, (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    2. Heroes of Stone #4: Stone and Sky (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    3. Three for All, Ellora’s Cave (e-book)
    4. 21.  One Good Man co-written with Lacey Thorn  Ellora’s Cave (e-book & print)
    5. Sorcerer’s Song, in the Ellora’s Cavemen, Jewels of the Nile, Volume 3 anthology, Ellora’s Cave (e-book and print)
    6. Trapped in the Ellora’s Cavemen: Flavors of Ecstasy, Vol. I  anthology, (e-book and print)
    7. Mistletoe Magic #3: Whispers of Magic (e-book) available in print as part of the istletoe Magic anthology) Ellora’s Cave
    8. Mistletoe Magic #4: Elven Magic with Regina Carlysle & Desiree Holt (e-book) available in print as part of the Mistletoe Magic anthology) Ellora’s Cave
    9. Immortal Cravings #1: Exploring Ari (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    10. Immortal Cravings #2: Dani’s Demons (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    11. Immortal Cravings #3: Just for Jess (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    12. Marry Me, Marietta (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    13. Holiday Hearts #1: Yuletide Enchantment: (e-book) Ellora’s Cave,
    14. Holiday Hearts #2: Like Bunnies (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    15. Holiday Hearts #3: Valentine’s Heart (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    16. Holiday Hearts #4: Midsummer Dreams (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    17. Awakening Augusta (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    18. Texas Passions #2: Eagle’s Redemption (e-book) Ellora’s Cave
    19. Sporting Wood an Ellora’s Cave Free e-book

From Resplendence Publishing:

  1. Nailed, Resplendence Publishing, (e-book and in the print anthology Carnal Reunions)

From Total-E-Bound

  1. Guardian Investigations #2: Wings of the Raven (e-book) Total-E-Bound
  2. Georgie and the Dragon also in the Brits in Time anthology (e-book and audio book), Total-E-Bound

Writing as Cian Fey for Total-E-Bound (m/m)

40. Lust in the Afternoon in the anthology Naughty Nooners, (ebook and print) Total-E-Bound.

Coming Soon:

  1. Urban Arcana #3: Motor City Werewolf (e-book) Carina Press, August 29, 2011

Wow. You’re a busy girl! Will you be willing to answer questions in regards to writing and publication today?  I’ll answer just about anything. J

 

Thank you so much for joining us at Romance Author Hotspot!

Giveaway: free download of Midsummer Dreams (erotic) OR Steam & Sorcery (steampunk, not erotic), reader’s choice.

Blurb:

Matt Warren has always been the man of Summer’s dreams. He was her childhood imaginary playmate, her teen crush, and the wildly sexy fantasy lover of her adulthood. She’s always known he wasn’t real, but after experiencing his imaginative, passionate touch, no real man has ever measured up. However, alone on a beach shortly before her birthday, Summer discovers that the Holiday family magic hasn’t left her behind. Matt is real, standing on her beach, and he’s there to make Summer his in every way possible.

Matt has always known he has a gift as a dreamwalker, and that Summer was out there and would someday be his—if he didn’t get himself killed first. Now that his career as an Air Force pilot is over, he’s moved to Charleston to find Summer and teach her that their shared erotic dreams are even better in real life, and that their love can last a lifetime.

Excerpt:  

Summer Holiday tossed and turned in the middle of a dream that had visited on and off her whole life. She knew she was dreaming, but she didn’t want it to end.

The sand was warm beneath her feet and the surf lapped softly against the shore. No one else was around, just the two of them. The handsome, golden-haired man gazed at her with his midnight-blue eyes. He reached for her and she walked into his arms. He was mostly naked, a pair of cut-off jeans his only covering. She had on a sundress, with a bikini underneath. This part of the dream was the same, had been since she could remember. As she’d gotten older though, it had grown more and more explicit. Now, sometimes the dream carried through until they’d both come, and Summer wanted that tonight. It had been a long week, and she needed some sort of release.

“Summer.” He murmured her name into her hair as he hugged her close. That had been added to the dream sometime in her teen years. They’d shared names and told each other about their lives. Her subconscious had built quite a character for her dream man. He was three years older than she, had parents who were divorced, a married sister, and since Summer’s college years, he’d been in the military. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too, Matt.” Matthew Harrison Warren, that’s what she’d named him. Major Matt Warren. Her childhood dream friend who’d grown into her adult dream lover. “It’s been a long time.”

“I was in the hospital for a while,” he told her as he kissed her earlobe, the line of her neck. “I didn’t dream while they had me pumped full of drugs.”

This was her dream, not his. Still, she wasn’t going to waste it asking questions.


Jun 23 2011

Landlocked with Cindy Jacks!

Today, our guest of honor is Cindy Jacks. 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.) LOL, club soda. Never! Unless there’s vodka and lime mixed in with it. But wine would be perfect, thank you!

Just making sure you know how to hang. Lol. Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

Definitely CAKE. I’m all about the sugar, hence my voluptuous figure!

Are you old enough to drink? LOL.

Ahem, yes. Yes, I am, but that’s all I’m saying ;)

Hmm…Fair enough. Did you bring us anything?

Blurb:

For ten years, Kathryn has struggled to survive in a war-torn region that used to be part of the United States. Her country ripped apart and her husband presumed dead, she and her son need a miracle to find safe passage to the West. She’s not expecting that miracle to come in the form of Captain Brett Logan when he stumbles, injured, onto her front porch.

A privateer for the Republic of Texas, Logan keeps one eye on the horizon and one hand on his sidearm, knowing the life of a modern-day pirate is often short. When an enemy bomb nearly ends him, Kathryn nurses him back to health. Against her better judgment, she’s drawn to the enigmatic man with his tattoos and battle scars.

Kate finds shelter in Logan’s arms—and his bed. The captain navigates her body with the same skill that he sails the seven seas. The heat of their passion gives way to deeper currents. But with danger surrounding them, they must struggle to stay together and survive.

Ohhhhhh. And what makes your character and story so special?

LANDLOCKED features Captain Brett Logan who is part pirate, part cowboy and all bad boy. My heroine, Kate, is equally strong-willed and tough. Against the backdrop of coastal town in a post-apocalyptic time, strife and danger bond them together.

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

So, what do you write? And why?

In general, I write contemporary erotic romance because I love the idea of chronicling the zeitgeist of sex and love in my era. I explore complicated relationships, the sensuality of middle aged females and pushing sexual boundaries. LANDLOCKED—as an alternate reality modern pirate tale—is a departure for me, but I think you’ll find some of the same themes. Some things are timeless, like love and sex.

What do you like doing besides writing and reading? Is it dangerous?

I have a lot of hobbies—belly dance and Latin dancing, ceramics, knitting. I’ve broken a toe dancing and gotten a wicked yarn burn from some particularly nubby wool so, yeah, I’d say I walk on the wild side, lol.

How would you describe your writing style?

For me, books unfold like a movie playing in my head which I think makes them flow along at a good clip. Over the years I’ve learned to slow down and give delicious details where delicious details are required. I’ve been told by editors and fellow authors that there’s a warmth and honesty to my writing. I couldn’t ask for better praise and it’s my fondest wish that these qualities shine through for readers.

Do you like more Alpha or Beta heroes?

As a reader, I love an Alpha hero. The strength, forcefulness and raw masculinity really gets my blood pumping. In real life, because I have a “big” personality, I pair better with a Beta male for this reason I think most of my heroes are a blend of power, masculinity and vulnerability—Alphas with a dash of tenderness at just the right moment.

What else are you working on right now?

I’ve just submitted a new work titled Phantom Touch. It’s a modern take on the Phantom of the Opera. My current work in progress is complicated tale of modern love in which a woman who’s husband left her begins a passionate affair with her neighbor. Much of the story will be told through love letters between the two.

I also write paranormal erotic romance as CJ Elliott. I recently released the third book in my Four Brothers Clan series—the series details the exploits of four wolf shifter brothers of noble blood—and I plan on completing the fourth book this summer.

Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

My website is updated regularly with my releases: http://cindyjacks.com/

I also have pages with my publishers:

Ellora’s Cave – http://www.jasminejade.com/m-683-cindy-jacks.aspx

Cobblestone Press – http://cobblestone-press.com/catalog/author/cjelliott.htm

And of course, I’m always available on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/author.cindy.jacks and Twitter – @cindyjacks.

Thank you so much for coming! One Lucky commenter will receive a free copy of LANDLOCKED!

 


Jan 2 2011

Start the New Year with Kaily Hart!

Today, our first guest of honor for 2011 is Kaily Hart. It’s so nice to have you here, and I’m sure you’re ready for a good time! Let the party begin!

It’s awesome to be here and Happy New Year!

Don’t get too excited. We got work to do before I let you loose in this joint. First Questions:

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

I’d have to go with wine! I know this is really un-Australian, but I can’t stand beer. Of course, I haven’t lived there for a long time so perhaps I get an exemption or something.

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

You know, I only ‘discovered’ chips in 2010. I mean, I’d never think to buy or open a packet for myself to eat. I don’t think it’s an actual real food LOL. I do have a sweet tooth though, but I try to keep the urge locked in an impenetrable cell with an unbreakable lock using an unsolvable code. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Dieting doesn’t sound like a New Year resolution for you, and what do you mean ‘discovered chips in 2010′? Are you old enough to drink? LOL.

I’m old enough for a lot of things *blinks slowly*.

Hmm…you’re not earning any brownie points with me, Missy. What did you bring us?

Blurb:

Neighbor. Friend. Lover.

At least that’s what Carly Wagner wanted Rio Reyes to be. She’d settled for two out of three for almost a year and it just wasn’t enough. Not anymore. When Rio proposes a bet—of the sexual variety—she knows it’s out of character and he’s not really serious, yet she can’t resist. The payoff could mean finally getting her hands on the gorgeous firefighter she’s drooled over since she moved in next door.

The timing had never seemed right for him and Carly, but that hadn’t stopped Rio from imagining wild and wicked things about her. It had been a joke—sort of—but Rio’s shocked when she takes him up on the dumbass bet. Now he’s in a world of hurt, because regardless of who wins, he might be crossing a line he never thought he would, and jeopardizing a friendship that means more to him than anything.

Well there! Rio looks hot! *fanning cheeks with hand* Tell us a little bit about your story.

PAY UP is a friends to lovers story. It’s the first one I’ve ever written and has a favorite Alpha hero type of mine—a hot firefighter. Seriously Reviewed said,

*SIGH* awesome emotion. More than once my tummy dropped and I could “feel” everything that was written on the page before me. I love it when a story is that well written that I experience what the characters do. Makes the story that much more real to me.

**SNAPS** Ms Hart, on a snap-a-licious story that just made my day and then some :)

Wow. what makes your character and story so special?

I think it’s the heat with emotion that makes my stories stand out. They’re hot yes, but it’s the developing relationship that’s at the core of what I write.

All right, I guess you can come in. I kept you out here long enough. You can have some wine, I suppose…if you bring Rios in with you. Now off to the roast….

So, what do you write? And why?

Well, I write because it would hurt my head, my heart and my soul not to. I write romance because I want to create “feel good” moments. Life is full of enough harsh reality. I believe in the power of love and good triumphing over evil and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that :) . I write hot romance because I don’t think you can do justice to a story about a relationship with the bedroom door closed. But that’s just me. It’s during these intimate moments when the “big stuff” happens; barriers are breached, trust is given, vulnerabilities are exposed, bonds are formed. It has to move the story along, but these scenes provide a great opportunity to grow and develop characters.

Why did you want to become an author?

You know, I’m not one of those authors who always knew they wanted to be a writer. Perhaps I just suppressed the urge. Now? I couldn’t imagine anything more challenging or more fulfilling and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

Where do you dream of traveling to and why?

I love to travel. I love to visit other cultures and immerse myself in the differences. Two of the most fascinating and exotic places I’ve been are India and Indonesia. I still have a lot on my wish list, of course. I’d love to see the pyramids in Egypt, go on safari in Africa, see the Galapagos Islands for real and visit the wilds of Alaska. Just to name a few. :)

India and Indonesia definitely sound fun. Do you have a favorite of your own books and why?

My favorite book is always the one I’m currently working on. As a writer, I have to totally connect to the heroine and fall completely for the hero. Otherwise, how can I expect my readers to?

Do you like more Alpha or Beta heroes?

Oh, it’s got to be Alpha! I love to write the Alpha hero and I LOVE to write in the male Point of View (POV). I really love to skirt the edge of the “redeemable a-hole”. I think with the popularity of the paranormal sub-genre, the poor Alpha male in contemporary romance began to look a little pallid in comparison. I happen to think there’s still great opportunity to create wonderfully diverse heroes (aka hot, ripped Alpha males J) and I intend to do so, one hot story at a time.

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers?

You’ll hear a lot that the most important thing for writers to do is the WRITE. I totally and completely agree with that BUT it’s important to educate yourself on the power of the Internet & social networking. You’re going to need it and it’s never too early to start. Decide on an amount of time that’s manageable. It shouldn’t interfere with your writing. It should be a complement. Discover what you like, what resonates with you, what works for YOU and how you can use it to build a network, develop a brand and market and promote your work when you do get published.

What else are you working on right now?

I’ve got several things going at once, which is pretty typical. I’m finishing off another hot & steamy contemporary and have another couple in varying stages of draft. I’ve also got some bigger length books in the works and plan to turn my attention to paranormal at some point as well. Not vampires or shifters, though. I have something a little different in mind.

Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

I’m all over and I love to hear from people!

Web – www.kailyhart.com

Blog – http://kailyhart.blogspot.com/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/kaily.hart

Twitter – http://twitter.com/kailyhart

Thank you so much for coming!

Thanks for having me. I love saying that :) . Sounds so naughty…

*chuckle* Control yourself, woman! Don’t make me take away that wine so early in the party! Comment and win a copy of PICTURE THIS or PAY UP (both ebooks)! Have fun! Drinks all around!




Dec 24 2010

10. Cindy Spencer Pape : Get Your Happy Ever After Fix!

Welcome to Holiday Bash 2010! Contestant #10:

Cindy Spencer Pape

BIO:

Cindy Spencer Pape is an avid reader of romance, fantasy, mystery, and even more romance who firmly believes in happily-ever-after. Married for more than twenty years to her own, sometimes-kilted hero, she lives in Michigan with him and two grown sons, along with an ever-changing menagerie of pets.  Cindy has been, among other things, a banker, a teacher, and an elected politician, but mostly an environmental educator, though now she is lucky enough to write full-time.

Preliminary Questions:

Eggnog or Mimosas? Are you old enough to drink?

I don’t really like either, but if I had to pick, then mimosas. Diet Coke is what I usually drink, though I’m plenty old enough. (Heck, I think I have shoes old enough.)

LOL. We’re also taking pictures with Santa, did you bring a gift for him? (Maybe a new release or a pretty book cover…)

Well, if you prefer your holiday romances on the hotter side, I do have a couple over at Ellora’s Cave you can check out. J Yuletide Enchantment is a finalist in this year’s EPIC awards for fantasy erotic romance, while The Cowboy’s Christmas Bride was a finalist in the CAPA awards for short contemporary romance in 2007.

Blurb: Running from a wedding gone wrong, Allison finds herself snowbound with a sexy rancher.  CJ has been left at the altar once, so he’s leery of getting involved with a runaway bride, while Allison is afraid to love at all.  Can the magic of the holidays, and CJ’s big crazy family, help them overcome the past, and make this the best Christmas ever?

Excerpt:

If something was genuinely wrong with the woman in his bathroom, he was the only person available to help.  Responsibility was a pain in the butt.  He tapped politely on the door.  “What’s wrong, Ms. Ken—Allison?”

There was a shuffling noise, and the door opened to reveal her standing there, still wearing her bedraggled wedding gown, though it looked somehow deflated.  Politeness required him to stifle a chuckle.  With her stringy hair and smeared mascara, she bore a striking resemblance to a young Alice Cooper in full makeup.  Figuring she wouldn’t appreciate the comparison, he kept his mouth shut.

“I c-can’t get the stupid thing undone!”  Two fat tears rolled down her cheeks, and he noticed she was shivering again.  When he raised an eyebrow, she turned to reveal a long line of tiny pearl buttons running from the gown’s high neckline to the curve of her butt.  A few buttons at the top and a couple more at her waistline were loose, but the rest remained secure.  The thing had clearly been designed for a bridegroom to take off slowly, rather than being removed by the wearer.

Gritting his teeth, CJ reached out a hand and rested it steadily on her shoulder.  Allison jumped like a skittish colt, but then quieted almost immediately.

“Thank you,” she murmured in a tiny voice as he began to unfasten the damned dinky buttons.  There had to be at least thirty of the little suckers, he griped silently, his thick callused fingers slipping off of the damp plastic pearls.  He finally got the chance to peel a woman out of her wedding gown, and not only did he not get to sleep with her, but even his hands wouldn’t cooperate.   He hoped the fates were laughing their heads off at their great cosmic joke on CJ Hall.

I’ll order you a Diet Coke if you answer these first:

You’re stuck at a ski lodge. There’s a blizzard outdoors and all your fans are hanging out in front of the fireplace. You’ve been asked to read out loud one of your books. Which one do you pick and why?

Probably The Cowboy’s Christmas Bride, as a snowstorm is the opening scene.

You’re in a Holiday writing contest. You have to plot a book in 30 minutes. You’re given a sleigh, a reindeer and a Santa hat. What do you come up with? How do you go about this?

Ooh, a shape-shifting reindeer who turns into a hunky guy wearing nothing but a Santa hat? What’s a poor little elf to do but have hot, steamy fun with him in the sleigh?  (Umm—that took about 30 seconds. Does it count?)

I think you won us over at ‘shape-shifting reindeer.’ LOL. Please enter. Drinks are served by the elves in the corner. Why thank you!

Why do you write romance?

Because I think the world needs more happy-ever-after. Even if it’s only for the time it takes to read the book!

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Don’t. Give. Up. Just don’t do it. Always shoot for that “one more try.”

What characteristics do all your heroes/heroines have in all your stories?

All my heroes and heroines have to have some kind of inner strength, an innate kindness, and usually a sense of humor, though that may have to be dragged out of them by the other. They’re usually smart and fiercely protective of the ones that they love. Other than that, I love mixing it up and pairing different kinds of personalities together.

What are you working on right now?

A valentine story for Ellora’s Cave (due, like, yesterday!)

What news would you like to share with your readers? I just contracted book 3 in my Urban Arcana series with Carina Press, Motor City Werewolf, which will be out in 2011. Coming earlier will be two steampunk/fantasy/romances, books 1 & 2 in the Gaslight Chronicles, also from Carina Press. Also hopefully, the valentine erotic story from EC, assuming I get it in ASAP.

Where can readers find you?

Website: http://www.cindyspencerpape.com

Blog: http://cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com/

Newsletter group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cspapenewsgroup/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CindySPape

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000270304390

List other books you have out:

I just contracted book #40, so it’s a pretty long list. You can find them all here. http://www.cindyspencerpape.com/booklist.html

Will you be willing to answer questions in regards to writing and publication today? sure

Thank you so much for joining us at Romance Author Hotspot!

Thanks for having me!

Author’s Holiday Gift:

A signed print copy of The Cowboy’s Christmas Bride

Remember to enter to win! Check out the other party rooms! See Holiday Prize List! Click Here.


Dec 13 2010

Meet Lily Harlem! She’ll dazzle you with her ideas!

Today, our guest of honor is Lily Harlem. 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.)

Oh, beer, a nice big cold pint sitting outside an English pub in the sunshine. Add in a packet of roast beef crisps and some good friends to natter to – life doesn’t get much better than that.

Now you’re pushing it. * wink * Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

Chips every time, the more salt and vinegar the better and if I can have them wrapped in newspaper I’m in heaven.

Interesting… Where are you from? I mean, are you old enough to drink? LOL.

Yes, thank goodness. It keeps me sane!

LOL. I’m sure it’s true for all of us here at this party! So, what did you bring us?

Blurb:

A Finnish skiing holiday is the perfect winter wonderland for Bridget to escape her ex at Christmas time – beautifully decked trees, roaring log fires and plenty of mulled wine. What she doesn’t count on, however, is a very erotic, very dirty dream on the plane from London to Levi – three perfect lovers all indulging her every whim and desire, how could she not moan and groan and beg for more?

But every dream must end, and as Bridget wakes, with toe curling embarrassment, she realises every passenger on the plane has heard her frantic orgasm…including the gorgeous Irish guy sitting to her left!

Ohh, very steamy. What makes your character and story so special?

“Candy Canes and Coal Dust” is a Christmas short story. Yay! Christmas stories are always special. No, seriously, poor old Bridget is so unlucky in love but then like a dream it all falls into place. I love it when that happens. However, some parts are so embarrassing your toes will curl and others are so extreme you’ll be panting – needless to say it’s, hot, hot, hot!

“Candy Canes and Coal Dust is a chance for readers to sample sexual escapades with multiple partners without actually having to undress. Unless of course they want to read in the nude and then I recommend a roaring log fire and some mulled wine!

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

So, what do you write? And why?

I write contemporary erotic romance, usually heterosexual although occasionally I dally in different directions. Why do I write romance? Well, I’ve always enjoyed reading about love and relationships so it was a natural progression once I started writing. But the one thing that always bothered me about reading romance is if you’ve invested in the characters – fallen for the hero and rooted for the heroine – and just as the couple are finally get it together it reads ‘he took her dainty hand in his, led her up the winding staircase and firmly shut the bedroom door behind them’, – end of chapter. No! I cry. I want to know all the details. Is he good beneath the sheets? Is he blessed with stamina and girth? And what does he do to make her squirm and squeal with pleasure. These are bits of information I require as a reader so when I write I add them in – in glorious detail.

Yup, you’re definitely a romance author. LOL. What would your characters say about you?

Mmm, they’d probably say I am too controlling! But of course I have to be with them – lol. My heroines would probably not thank me for giving them flaws, by that I mean both physical imperfections and personality traits, but that’s tough, no-one is perfect even if you are fictitious. My men, (because I do kind of think of them as all mine), would be grateful for the fact I always let them get a girl with a decent sex drive and a willingness to try new things.

Where do you dream of traveling to and why?

Italy. I’ve never been but I’d love to go and check out all those Italian Stallions! See if they really are the most romantic men in the world. I would have to put them to the test. A trip on a gondola with a beret clad hunk serenading me as we meander the Venetian canals sounds like a good start, or maybe I could wistfully flip coins into the Trevi Fountain and wait for a gorgeous stranger to sense my needs and whisks me off to a gastronomic delight and a dessert which doesn’t involve food just a healthy dose of – oh er, sorry, getting a bit carried away there! Yes, um, Italy, I would like to go to Italy.

I’d love to go to Italy too! Maybe we’ll run into each other, but I call claims on the beret clad hunk. What are you passionate about?

Making a difference. I want to be an old lady and be able to say ‘I did that’ and for it to be something totally selfless. Of course on a daily basis I try my best to always be kind and helpful to others, sometimes so much so that I run myself ragged. But last year I became involved in Alessia Brio’s project to raise money for ‘One’ which is the charity aimed at ending global poverty headed by U2’s Bono. Alessia collated an erotic anthology called ‘Coming Together – as One’. The only criteria was that all stories had to feature a ménage scene and I was thrilled when she picked mine titled ‘The Actress’ to be included. The book has been a great success and profits go to the charity. It was fun to be involved in and since my story was one of the longer ones it’s now been released as a stand alone book which is great news for sales.

Here’s the blurb:

Sapphire Makepeace has lived her red carpet life of champagne, caviar and glittering Oscars to the full. Enjoying universal success and fame, a fifty four year marriage to big screen heart throb Dean Mayer and a beautiful, fearless daughter in Leanne.

But she’s also used her celebrity to raise money for Global Poverty Charities, one of which included a daring expedition to the summit of Mount Everest in which the world feared her early demise when she became trapped by a furious storm.

But it was this storm that resulted in the queen of cinema, Hollywood’s angel, having a secret, a secret shared with only two men – Andy and Lee Driver, brothers, English, mountaineering adrenalin junkies.

Fifty four years later their names still roll around her tongue a hundred times a day, because an encounter that extreme, that intense lasts an entire lifetime.

Here’s the buy link and its only $0.69!

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theactress-437991-144.html

The Alessio Bria’s Project sounds awesome! That is such a great cause. Tell us about one of your favorite character from your books.

I have a special fondness for Ariane in ‘Shared’. She flees the Welsh Valleys in the middle of the night after exposing her corrupt boss. I liked this brave act about her from the outset as she’d exposed him to protect her colleague’s even though it left her in dire straits. She then answers an advert in the Cardiff local paper ‘Room to let – wanted girl to share’ and gets a whole lot more than she bargained for when Liam and Quinn really do mean ‘share’ in every sense of the word. Sexually inexperienced she’s taken on a rollercoaster ride of physical discovery as well as a journey of learning to love and care for two very different men. I like her ability to be soft and sweet but also firm when she needed to be. She doesn’t take any nonsense but is happy to be led through new doors by the guys she trusts. There’s a sense of karma in Ariane, she has faith that it will all work out if she puts one hundred percent effort in and always tries to do the right thing. One reviewer wrote this about her – “I wanted to help her and be her friend.”

If I had to pick a male favorite character I would be really stuck. I adore all my alpha males and if I could have one wish it would be to bring them all to life, put them in my basement and keep them just for my pleasure. Hee, hee. Why not, this is all made up after all! Mmm? Another book idea.

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers?

Here are a few rules I stick by when writing, maybe I’m a bit kooky but this is what works for me…

When writing dialogue just go for it, let it flow out of your fingers as fast as you would speak. Don’t even think about speech marks and punctuation, or if he is scratching his head and she’s licking her lips, you can add all that in afterwards – dialogue moves the story forward and if you can get it flowing naturally then you’re onto a winner.

Don’t get bogged down with adverbs, eg. he groaned ‘loudly’, she panted ‘heavily’, it’s considered much less lazy to write ‘his groans were loud in her ear’ or ‘her heavy pants filled the small space’. There’s usually a way to describe your scene better if you circle around the adverb and it will make the story meatier.

Let a story brew in your head. Have the idea, jot it down if you need to, and then sit quietly and play out the scenes like watching a film in your imagination. It will give you a clear picture of what you want to achieve in your writing and help you with the tiny details.

If the house is quiet make the most of the peace and get those words down. You can iron and dust and cook with everyone around chattering and demanding help with homework and lifts to friends and clubs. Writing, for me at least, requires silence, so silence has become a very valuable commodity in my life.

Incubate the final product. When it’s written tuck it aside for a few days, longer if you can, then go back to it. I can guarantee you’ll spot silly mistakes, inconsistencies or simply find better word choices to slot in. There’s nothing worse than sending a manuscript off and then on a re-read seeing stupid errors.

Great advice! What else are you working on right now?

I’m working on a series called ‘Hot Ice’ which is all about those bad boys of Ice Hockey – oh yum – and the girls who tame them, or as the case maybe ‘don’t’ tame them! The first book is called ‘Hired’ and is out on the 17th of December – http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8939-50-hired.aspx the second is written and the third is rattling around my head and itching to come out of my fingertips. They’re all published by Ellora’s Cave.

Here’s the blurb for Hired – it has been enormous fun to write.

One hundred grand to babysit bad boy Logan “Phoenix” Taylor on a paradise island—seriously, how bad could he be?

Frankly, it didn’t matter. Not when it would make my dreams of going to nursing school possible. I wasn’t even expected to talk to him, just hang out in a luxurious villa on a private beach and study. Simple, right?

But I hadn’t counted on Logan being so deliciously bad that he was oh, so good. And when the temperature cranked to boiling point, he knew just how to satisfy the deepest, darkest part of my soul and give my body exactly what it needed. Amongst the sand and waves, we transported each other to an exquisite world of pleasure where only we existed, only ‘we’ mattered.

But the heady mix of emotions and lust couldn’t keep things from spiraling out of control back in reality, where I had to keep the truth that I’d been hired to entertain him a secret at all costs…even if it shattered my delicate heart. Even if it cost me my destiny.

Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

www.lilyharlem.weebly.com has all the links you’ll need plus free reads, including my award winning story ‘Madam President’, there’s some yummy pictures I fall back on for inspiration when dreaming up men and a pile of other authors to check out, all of whom will capture your imagination and your heart. See you there!

Let’s get this party going! One lucky winner will win a copy of Lily Harlem’s Candy Canes and Coal Dust. Love the title!


Dec 2 2010

Trouble in the House: Jocelyn Modo

Today, our guest of honor is Jocelyn Modo. It’s so nice to have you back, 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.)

If I’m spending the night with Jose Cuervo, it’s beer and training wheels (salt and lime). Otherwise, red, red wine. Mmmm.

LOL. Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person?

I like my food the same way I like my men: sweet and salty (;

Ut oh. Definitely keeping an eye on you. Are you old enough to drink? LOL.

I’m legal for all the good stuff.

I’m scared to ask what that means. LOL. So, what did you bring us?

Blurb:

Shifter lion Kissa Alassane has finally gone into heat and she has never been consumed by such raging lust. Too bad her lioness is demanding she mate with Venor Brun, a tortured and deadly male with a dark past.

Too bad she can’t keep her hands, lips or any other part of herself off him. They must mate three times to complete their bond. Just once can’t hurt, she figures, just once to soothe her aching need and clear her head.

When once becomes twice, Kissa flees to Austin, Texas, hoping to lose Venor and others tracking her in the big city. But a pride of rogue shifters is killing and turning humans in Austin, and Kissa finds herself thrust into a full-scale battle for survival. And while Venor may be the only male who can save her, he might be the biggest threat of all…especially to her heart.

Ooooooh! Shifter lions and lionesses. Intriguing. Guess that should get you in.

Now onto the good stuff!

So, what do you write? And why? I write across genres but what I sell is paranormal romance.

I love paranormal romance. Why did you want to become an author? I never really made that decision. I’ve been writing since grade school and completed my first novel in middle school. Telling stories is just part of who I am. No matter what job I’ve had, and I’ve had a ton, I’ve always written.

What would your characters say about you? That I’m a control freak, that I should let them have their way in all things instead of attempting to guide them in the “right” direction.

LOL. I’m sure your characters love you for that. Where do you dream of traveling to and why? Other solar systems and galaxies. I’m ready for space travel to be possible. I’m ready. I’m ready.

I can almost see you on a space shift or shuttle. Almost…lol. Are you a pantser or plotter? I’m a rebel plotter. By that I mean that I plot the hell out of my books and then my characters take me way off plot once I start in. The plot makes me feels secure. I never trust my characters until I’m well into the book, but they always take over anyway.

Nice! I’ll have to remember that. Rebel plotter. What else are you working on right now? I’m in the middle of the edit for the second book in the Pride & Passion series, First Sight. And my Christmas Quickie, On Vixen, is coming out this month in time for the holidays!

Yay! Well, congrats on the new releases! Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

Ya’ll are welcome at my home page, www.jocelynmodo.com, any time. Stop on by and see what trouble I’ve gotten myself into lately.

Thank you so much for coming!

Thank you for having me! Woop! Woop!

Comment! Party with the trouble-makers…oops, I meant Jocelyn and win a copy of First Heat!


Oct 15 2010

Release Party! Have you met Rachel Leigh and Jocelyn Modo?

Come on in! Get comfy and put those party shoes on! It’s a release party!

Check out Rachel Leigh‘s Explicity English!

Blurb:

Laura Markham needs to forget – just for awhile.  Be someone else for change – live as her parents will never have the chance to.  And for Laura, that means leaving the City for the English countryside and doing just what the hell she feels like…wherever she feels like doing it…

British stockbroker, Stephen Cambridge knows by going home to his country retreat two days early, he’s likely to surprise his contracted interior designer.  And when he finds out she’s the woman who performed the solo masterbation show for him on the inward bound journey, Stephen will do anything to further convince her to miss outward bound train and stay with him forever…

Excerpt:

His gaze locked with hers for a long moment before he tipped her a wink, completely disarming her once more.  Absurdly attracted to him, Laura didn’t even feel nervous—just unbelievably turned on.  It was like she knew him, trusted him.  Attraction grew and burst into flame behind her ribcage when he levered himself up on the arms on his chair with the ease of a gymnast on the parallel bars.  Her gaze hungrily fed on the tendons and muscles of his bare forearms as they tensed.  Strong, capable, and incredibly sexy.

He took his time, looked first in front and then behind.  No hurry.  Calm personified.  Laura smiled.  You’d think this kind of thing happened to him every day.  But the telltale flash of color high on his cheeks and the way his hands tightly gripped the chair’s arms showed he was as anxious for the party to start as she was.

He eased back into his seat.  “It appears to be just you and me.”

Laura smiled.  “Great.”

Excitement pumped blood a little faster through her veins, her pussy twitched, and her nipples tightened.  Revelling in the feel of her damp panties against moist lips, Laura slid two fingers into her mouth and wet them with her tongue.  Round and round, in and out.  A faint smile played at his mouth but his eyes belied his feral interest.  They watched her with just the right amount of sexy anger.  As though he’d like to slam her up against the window and ram his rock-hard cock deep inside her.

Rachel has a special contest! She’s giving out a copy of Explicity English to one winner who can tell her what her next tentative title of her novella is! Who has the answer?


And it gets hotter!

Check out Jocelyn Modo’s First Heat!

Blurb:

Shifter lion Kissa Alassane has finally gone into heat and she has never been consumed by such raging lust. Too bad her lioness is demanding she mate with Venor Brun, a tortured and deadly male with a dark past.

Too bad she can’t keep her hands, lips or any other part of herself off him. They must mate three times to complete their bond. Just once can’t hurt, she figures, just once to soothe her aching need and clear her head.

When once becomes twice, Kissa flees to Austin, Texas, hoping to lose Venor and others tracking her in the big city. But a pride of rogue shifters is killing and turning humans in Austin, and Kissa finds herself thrust into a full-scale battle for survival. And while Venor may be the only male who can save her, he might be the biggest threat of all…especially to her heart.

Excerpt:

Kissa skinny-dipped in the large blue lily pond outside the temple, trying desperately to soothe the burning fire of her first heat. Miun, or shifter lions, loved the water, and right now appeasing her cat was her top priority. Normally her human and cat sides stayed well-balanced. All miun learned how to stabilize their dual natures by the time they hit puberty, but in times of high stress or when emotions raged too high, they had to fight to keep their cats in check. And Kissa’s heat had unstrung her emotions and tangled them into knots.

Her muscles were in knots too. She breathed deep and dove down to the bottom, letting the cool water soothe her overheated skin. Being in the water reminded her of the many days she and Venor had spent swimming in the lake a couple miles away. She squeezed her eyes shut and kicked up to the surface. The moment her thoughts veered toward Venor, her eyes filled with tears.

She didn’t know if the rumors held truth, didn’t know if Venor had been disloyal. Cheating didn’t fit what she thought she saw in him or what her heart told her, but in the last two weeks since he had supposedly left to visit his home pride in France, he had not answered one of the ten calls she’d made while cloistered in the temple. Why avoid her if he’d done nothing wrong? And why lie about where he was going?

He was not in France. Worse, she’d discovered this wasn’t the first—or even the tenth—time he’d lied about his whereabouts. If he was going to lie, avoid her phone calls, then she simply could not trust him. She’d made up her mind, closed the door on Venor.

Letting the water wash away her tears, Kissa swam to the stone lip of the pond and pushed herself up out of the water.

Thank the Goddess for Tan. A friend since childhood, Kissa trusted him with her body, if not her heart. He is a good choice in a bonded mate, she reassured herself, letting the hot August sun dry her human body even while her mie—her cat—paced restlessly inside her, yowling her impatience.

As if he sensed her readiness, her sire, Latif, approached, her list of potential bonded mates rolled into a narrow tube in his right hand.

“I’m ready,” she told him, even while shaking her head at the irony of her statement. Up until five hours ago, the last word she would have used to describe herself was ready. But that was before her first heat had wrenched her from fitful sleep. Now her mie clawed at her insides. Ready or not, she had to choose her bonded mate.

With a nod of his balding head, Latif left to usher in the group of single shifter males who waited in the nearby parking lot. Unable to sit still, she rose on trembling legs and began to pace. Head down, eyes closed, breaths short, she pressed one hand over the pit of fire that burned low in her stomach, the other hand balled into a fist at her side. Her body screamed for release. Cursing, she clenched her pelvic muscles, trying and failing to clamp down on the relentless ache. The deep moan that escaped her lips was loud enough to cover the grass-muffled footsteps of the approaching males, but she could smell the group of twenty, smell their thick, almost suffocating sexual excitement as they circled her.

One male’s scent called to her over the others, drawing her in, triggering visions of what they would be like together. Him thrusting into her as her body clamped down around him, milking him, drawing his seed into her ready womb. Feral heat spread through her already enflamed body, pulsing through her veins, contracting her muscles, taking her breath from her lungs, making her choke and gasp for air.

Venor.

What was he doing in the courtyard? His name was not on her list of potential mates. Kissa glared at her sire, though she knew he wasn’t the only manipulator of this event. Her dam, Genet, had to have helped. Together they betrayed their only child. Latif faced her with unflinching certainty in his clouded, hazel eyes, unrepentant. She hissed, feeling her parents’ manipulation stab through the walls of her heart. They didn’t believe she could make the correct choice in selecting her bonded mate and the Oakview Pride’s next mane miu, the next ruling male. Obviously, her parents had decided that they knew best.

Typical.

Refusing the tears that fought to film her eyes, Kissa searched the ring of males. They were all attractive—sleek-muscled, tanned skin, erect cocks—but none was as beautiful as Venor, who stood proudly before her, light brown hair skimming his strong shoulders, pale golden eyes stunning in their contrast to his rich coloring, a soft smile easing the hard angles of his face. Beautiful and heartbreaking.

She forced herself to look away.

Tan was notably absent. Fury built and broke past the haze of heat that clenched her muscles. Her parents had replaced Tan with Venor. She was left with the choice of nineteen males her mie would never accept or the one male she loved but no longer trusted.

Another wave of desire crashed through her. Doubling over, a yowl ripped from her throat. The harsh vocalization rang through the outer court, eliciting growls from the males as they drew closer until their body heat joined with hers to create a firestorm of lust. Oh Goddess, she wanted to drop to her hands and knees and be mounted.

The only thing she wanted more was retribution for her parents’ betrayal, and she used that desire to conquer the other. She would not be manipulated. Slamming her eyes shut, she stamped down the flames of desire, then worked to regulate her heartbeat. Minutes passed, a lifetime elapsed before she could force her eyes open and face Latif.

“You have left me no choice,” she said in a low, hate-filled voice.

Latif smiled as if confident in his control of her, certain that he had won.

Kissa raised her eyebrows and said, “I choose to let my heat pass without mating.”

His face blanked then buckled under the weight of his anger. Eyes flashing, muscles jumping, he lifted his all but bald head to the sky and roared. His voice echoed through the outer courtyard, ringing in Kissa’s ears.

She twisted her lips into a grim smile that exposed her teeth. A refusal to mate was unheard of, but she had the right. Now she needed to seclude herself in the temple for the next four to seven days so that the temptation to mate could not overwhelm her.

Please be four days. Please be four.

Lifting her chin, she turned to force her way out of the circle. One of the males ran his hand down her arm, an invitation. Her nails instinctively shifted to claws. She pivoted and ripped through his face. The male, Devon, stumbled out of the circle, clutching his torn cheek, hissing and spitting. She had a moment of regret—he was her friend—before her claws shifted back to human nails and the circle of males tightened, closing Devon out. Her sire stepped forward, one wild, bushy eyebrow lifting, a smile twisting his face. Whatever he was about to say, Kissa didn’t want to hear it. She took a step back and ran right into the wall of Venor’s immovable body.

“What is it, Kiss?” he whispered against her ear. “Are you frightened because it is your first time?”

His thick arms locked her against him as he gently cupped her breasts. Where Devon’s touch repulsed her, Venor’s felt completely natural, as if she belonged there in his arms. She gasped as memories flooded her mind and drowned her senses. Venor holding her hand on the way to a pride meeting. Venor pressing her against a broad tree trunk and feasting on her inexperienced mouth. Venor promising his life and love to her. No. Tears filled her eyes, making them burn. Her lower lip trembled and she had to bite down on it to prevent a sob from breaking free.

“Release me,” she said, trying to keep her voice firm when what she wanted to say was, Mate with me.

“Please don’t be afraid, ma chaton,” he whispered.

She used to love it when he called her “his kitten”, but he had no right to claim her. Not anymore.

“I cannot promise there will be no pain in our first joining, but I will take care to please you.”

He rubbed his body against hers, marking her with his scent, claiming her, warning all other males away. She hissed at the feel of his hard body sliding against her slick, overheated flesh. When he pinched and rolled her nipples, her resolve weakened and broke. Instinct overtook her and she pressed herself against him, undulating with need, purring at the feel of his arms around her, the dense scent of his miu—his lion.

No. Stop. Don’t do this. Don’t.

But she didn’t stop, and he hummed his satisfaction when she rolled her hips and went up on her toes so that the length of his erection filled the seam of her ass. The heat of his breath stirred her hair, sending pinpricks of pleasure over her scalp. Oh Goddess, she needed this, needed him. She’d never last four days. She couldn’t last another four minutes. And if she were honest with herself, she would admit her need for Venor did not come only from her mie, but also from her all-too-human heart. She wanted him. Loved him. Despite her decision to reject him, no other male would do. Her little rebellion—telling Latif she wished to let her cycle pass without mating—had turned into nothing more than posturing.

Venor buried his face against the side of her neck and nipped her. The sharp sting made her mewl as if she were the kitten he’d called her. He released an arrogant chuckle. Obviously, he sensed the change in her, knew what she refused to say—she accepted him. Angry at his self-assurance, angry with herself for being unable to resist him, she jerked away…and got nowhere. But if he thought she would simply roll over for him, he had another thought coming. Wrapping her hands around his wrist, she raked him with her long nails, breaking the skin. Thick and hot, his blood coated her fingers and she immediately regretted her actions. She was acting like her dam, vindictive, violent.

He didn’t flinch.

With a deep chuffing sound, he nuzzled aside her long hair, bit down at the base of her neck, then flicked his tongue over the tender skin he held firmly in his mouth. Lightning exploded behind her eyelids. Her hair stood on end as she shivered uncontrollably. Her world narrowed to Venor’s mouth, his hands kneading her flesh. She drooped in his arms, her mind folding in on itself. Desire ruled her. Nothing mattered but this. Nothing mattered but him. She couldn’t fight him and her mie at the same time. She was lost to her lust.

Enter to win a free copy of First Heat by emailing Jocelyn at jocelyn@jocelynmodo.com. She will choose a winner at random on Friday, October 22nd.

Leave a comment! Come play! Get the party going!


Oct 4 2010

Party with Cindy Spencer Pape!

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

*clears throat*

First questions:

Wine or beer? (If you want a club soda, I’ll have to send you to the corner.) Diet Coke. Sorry, I’ll go stand in the corner now.

Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person? Chips. The saltier the better.

Are you old enough to drink? (*eyeing you warily*) LOL.  My marriage is old enough to drink.

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

Let’s see what you have in your bag…

I had a new book out yesterday from Carina Press, and one today from Ellora’s Cave. Busy, busy week!

Show me something first and maybe I’ll give you more diet coke and chips…

Motor City Witch

Blurb:

She’d left magic behind.

Once upon a time, Elise Sutton had been a powerful witch and paranormal enforcer. Once she’d been madly in love with Fae lord Aidan Greene. But when Aidan had considered his duties more important than their relationship, the love affair ended badly. Shortly after, while on the hunt for a rogue demon, Elise was brutalized and almost killed. Months later she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. To protect her child—and her heart—Elise decided to live a nonmagical life.

Until she meets Aidan again, and he assumes Dina is his daughter. When Dina is kidnapped by a racial purity movement, Elise turns to Aidan for help. The icy facade she has built around herself shatters at Aidan’s touch. Together they have to hunt through the human and faery worlds to find Dina…and to discover whether or not they have any kind of chance at a happily ever after.

I can’t stop drooling over this cover!

Questions first before you tease us some more…

So, what do you write? And why? I write romance. All kinds—paranormal, erotic, contemporary, historical, you name it. Why? I’m all about the happy-ever-after, but I get bored easily, and have to mix things up now and then.

(*nodding head*) That is understandable. Why did you want to become an author? Want? Not sure that’s the right word. It’s more a feeling that you just need to do it.

Where do you dream of traveling to and why? EVERYWHERE. I’d love to see the whole world, but if I had to pick a place to start, probably the British Isles.

Oooooo, that’ sounds nice. Now, what is the hardest part of writing your books? Making sure the plot flows smoothly, and that there’s enough going on to keep the reader interested. Also making sure that all the heroines don’t talk or think like me.

(*chuckle*) How would you describe your writing style? Hot, romantic, and just a little bit funny. Because face it, life is just a little bit funny.

Very true! What do you think makes a good story? A heroine you can identify with, a hero you can fall in love with, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

*Sigh* Now, I’m dreamy-eyed. What are you passionate about? Fairness and equality.

Who is your favorite author and why? Do you write what you read? I love so many authors, from Elizabeth Peters to Elizabeth Lowell, to Lora Leigh and Stephanie Laurens. I read mostly romance, but I do also pick up some SF&F and mysteries. Generally, if I’m writing paranormal, I’ll read more romantic suspense or historical, and if I’m writing historical, I’ll devour the paranormals.

How much do you write in a day? Day or Night? Everyday? Anywhere from 1000 to 4000 words on a decent day. I write full time, so pretty much whenever I’m not doing anything else.

Wow! Impressive! Are you a pantser or plotter? Somewhere in between. I write outlines, but rarely stick to them too closely.

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? Have fun. You probably won’t get rich, so you might as well have a good time doing it. And if you like it, then keep going. Don’t give up.

LOL. Isn’t that the truth? What else are you working on right now? I’ve just finished up Steam & Sorcery, a steampunk romance for Carina Press, scheduled for March 7, 2011. I’m also getting started on the third Urban Arcana book. I’m also working on a Valentine’s story for Ellora’s Cave, and half a dozen other ideas, that may or may not work out.

Is there anything you’d want your readers and friends to know about you? I’m going to be at Romanticon in Richfield, Ohio, on Oct. 7-11. The Sunday book fair is open to the public, and I’d love to see you and say hello!


Awesome! Now show us your other goods! Cindy Spencer Pape

Ooooooooo, steamy! What’s it about?

Just for Jess

Blurb:

Vampire Jessamy Maitland is a classic workaholic, until her friends team up to buy her a weekend with the incredibly sexy vampire Dermott McMahon on his luxurious private island. Dermott is determined to get Jess to kick back and relax, so he’s enlisted the help of three lion shifter friends.

Jess finds herself faced with three days of no phone, no computer and four sexy, horny males, all determined to wait on her hand and foot and show her a scorching good time. Naked. Together. In ways she’s never imagined. With those odds, what’s a vampire to do? There’s nothing for it but take them up on their offer and discover that sometimes it’s okay to play.

Wow, that sounds like a very hot read! (*rushes off to look up the link to buy*)

(Runs back.) Sorry.

Now that we’ve picked your brain enough, tell us about your new releases. What makes your character and story so special? Huh, that’s a tough one to answer about yourself. I think it’s that I mix love, action, and humor in a way that makes you not notice when it’s slipping from one to another.

Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

I guess, I’ll stop interrogating you now. * smiles * Thank you so much for coming! Thanks for having me here—this is fun. And of course I’ll be around!

Since we’re planning on hanging around here all day, did you bring us anything else? (Whispers something…)

Hey! Cindy’s giving out a free download from her backlist! Come on, guys, get in the party! Quick! Post your comments and start cyber dancing!