Monday, December 31, 2012

Krystal Shannan Interviews - Lila Munro - Assumed Calling


Please welcome Lila Munro to the blog today!

Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose to write romance?

I can remember wanting to write since I was old enough to know what words were. Funny little story, when I was growing up I wanted to be John Boy Walton. That must have been my first tendencies that people were people not to be separated by sex, color, sexuality…I didn’t want to be a boy, I just wanted to be a writer and he was so he was my role model. It wasn’t long after that declaration, Santa left a toy typewriter under the Christmas tree for me. Why romance? Honestly, I just sort of fell into it…it found me, if you will. My husband is a Marine and after yet one more move, I found myself unemployed and not looking to be employed again for who knew when because the economy was in the tank. I took to being a full-time stay home wife and liked it. My husband agreed it suited me and a few months into this new role, I resurrected the writer who’d been hiding in me for a very long time having been back-burnered my entire adult life. It just happened the first thing my muse dictated was a contemporary romance, The Executive Officer’s Wife. It stuck.

What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?

What’s not to like? I get to do what I love all day. I create worlds where anything is possible, love overcomes all, and everyone does what I say without argument. And people pay me to do it! 

Tell us a little about your book. What inspired you to write it?

Assumed Calling is actually the fifth and final installment of the Identity series. If I may be so bold, the inspiration part actually comes in where I decided it was the last book. I’ve watched a few of my favorite series go the way of the Tidy Bowl man as of late and I knew I wanted my series to end on a positive note and go out with a bang. I think I managed that and so much more as a new spin-off series will emerge next year as a result.

BLURB:

Like the beat of a primal drum whispering the rhythm of an ancient dance, the lifestyle calls…

At the seasoned age of fifty-six, Allen Bourke has resigned himself to the fact he’ll probably never find someone to top he can also love. While he’s had wives and lovers, none of them endured and he’s come to the conclusion the clock’s ticking and age is working against him. Then a very intriguing Nicki Cartwright pings on his radar at what Allen determines will be his last house party. He can’t help but notice while he and his friends are getting older, the players emerging on the scene are forever getting younger. Nicki's no exception. Determined to resist the vibes humming between them, he only agrees to service her after his old friend, Kyle Montgomery, convinces him it's entirely feasible. Then it’s brought to Allen’s attention who Nicki really is. Knowing their pasts are forever intertwined, as hard as he tries to ignore his heart, he finds himself yielding to the tides of fate.

Born to senatorial royalty, Nicki Cartwright has spent her entire life trying to shield her mother from her father’s wrath while drifting further and further into a world where panic is normal and anxiety is always on the edge of her reality. Tired of burning the candle at both ends and forever trying to live up to the picture of All-American perfection her father James Cartwright touts as his ace in the hole during election cycles, Nicki finds herself on the path of self-discovery in search of relief from the stressors continually swamping her mind. What she doesn’t expect is to find who she thought she was is truly just a shadow of the person she really is. And what scares her most is the fact Allen, the only person she thought she could trust, has been holding a secret since before she was born which could destroy her entire family. 


Excerpt:

“Mom’s not with James in Vermont,” Nicki blurted as if she’d been holding the information for so long it was about to eat her alive. “In fact, she’s been out of the public eye for a while now. So far my father’s handlers have been able to convince the press she’s been away visiting family or busy writing her memoirs in private while they’re on vacation. The truth is, only one of those numbers is my therapist. The rest are her doctors. At Cedar Ridge…” She trailed off, a tear rolling down her cheek to meet Allen’s right thumb as he stroked along the corner of her mouth. “She’s an inpatient. He finally ran her crazy and she’s being treated for a psychosis and chemical dependency on prescription meds and alcohol.”

“Can I have something a little stronger? Than water?”

Nicki’s seemingly innocuous question came back to mock Allen. Although there were no signs she was hooked on anything in her apartment, not all addicts failed to hide the evidence. Some were closeted so carefully nothing short of a complete breakdown outed them.

“And you? Do you share your mother’s problems?” he asked.

“I’m not a drunk and I don’t pop pills,” she snapped, anger overtaking her features and overshadowing her fear.

“I wasn’t trying to offend you, Nicki. But I need to know these things. I like you, but we can’t play if I don’t have all the cards face up and I’m too old to allow some things into my life no matter how much I like someone. So if there’s anything I need to know, now would be a good time to spill it. And. I. Mean. Everything.”


Do you plot and outline or do you just write?  Plotter or Pantser?

I always laugh a bit when asked that question. It is my personal opinion that writers sort of grow into what they are. At first, many moons ago, I was a die-hard plotter. A book didn’t get started with a flow chart, a graph, an outline, a pie-chart. You name it, it had to be done scientifically and to a T before the first word was uttered. Then I had a dry spell about a year ago. I struggled and gnashed teeth, but then one day on a whim, my muse started talking and I let her have free reign, not one note was taken, not one graph drawn. The result of that was Three for Keeps. And while it’s been one of my best-selling titles to date, there are things I know I could have done better had I been in more control than the muse. Since then, I’ve come to a happy middle ground. I have dubbed myself the world’s first Planster. I start off with outlines, loose outlines. And character sketches and a few facts, then I see what happens. If a character says, hey try this, I listen. But I have an initial plan. 

Can you tell us about the process of getting your first book published?

Gosh, I’ve not talked about that in a long time and it seems so long ago, even though it wasn’t. Of course my first title was The Executive Officer’s Wife and what I didn’t know I didn’t know. I got a yes right out of the gate from a small press and was scared to death. It was the only press I sent it to. I figured either I was that good or that bad. As it turned out I was somewhere in the middle and not satisfied at all with the results. After a year, I pulled the title and it’s now re-edited and in its second edition. It did much better the second go around and has become one of my readers’ favorites. 

What advice would you give new authors?  What have you learned about the business?

Hone your craft, buy a dictionary and don’t rely on spell check, listen to your editors and your readers, and find your niche and focus on it. As far as what I’ve learned. This business is brutal and social media is the devil. Use it properly or avoid it altogether or it will be your demise as a writer.

Do you have another book in the works?

I have several lined up. I just sent A Slower Lower Leap off to my editor, book three in the Slower Lower series. I almost have Private Impropriety complete and ready for edits. It’s the second in the Private Collection. And of course I have the Steele Image series coming next year.

What do you like to do in your free time, besides read and write of course?

I embroidery. I know, a dying art. But I really enjoy it and it helps me wind down after the day is done. I also garden, take care of a couple of four-legged kids, walk, spend time at the beach, and pine away for my husband as he’s away so often.

Boxers or Briefs? Boxer briefs

Cookies or cake? Neither, I’m on a sugar-free diet. 

Good for you! I do not have that kind of self-control.

Pizza or hamburger? Hamburger 

Beer, Wine, or mixed drink? Mixed drink, Royal Flush to be exact.

(Hero/Heroine Character Questions)
What were your first impressions of each other?
Allen: When I first laid eyes on Nicki something primal snapped inside me and I knew I had to avoid her at all cost. You see, I’m thirty years her senior and I didn’t want to pursue her and ruin her life. Obviously my first impression won out and we’re now married.
Nicki: Allen scared the shit out of me, honestly. I was looking for exactly what he had to offer and when he happened along I did a sanity check. And the more I fought my feelings the deeper they ran.
What are your plans for the near future?  
Nicki: Give Allen lots of children.  And somehow work that around my career as a concert pianist and music teacher. 
Allen: Keep Nicki happy. I’ll also be helping my long-time friend Kyle Montgomery with a couple of his upcoming missions in the Steele Image series.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lila Munro currently resides on the coast of North Carolina with her husband and their two four-legged kids. She’s a military wife with an empty nest and takes much of her inspiration for her heroes from the marines she’s lived around for the past fifteen years. Coining the term realmantica, she strives to produce quality romance in a realistic setting. Her genre of choice is contemporary romance that spans everything from the sensual to BDSM and ménage. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. Her works include The Executive Officer’s Wife, Bound By Trust, Destiny’s Fire, Salvation, Three for Keeps, the Force Recon series, the Slower Lower series, and the Identity series. She’s a member in good standing of RWA and Passionate Ink. Currently she’s working on sequels to several series to be released throughout 2012-2013 and has a brand new line scheduled for winter 2012-13. 

Ms. Munro loves to hear from her readers and can be found at:


Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LilaMunroAuthor#!/ 



You can also contact her via email at lilasromance@gmail.com ,

Buy Links






Lila is giving away a Godiva Chocolate Gift basket to a lucky commenter at the end of her tour! Be sure to say hi and leave your email! Who wouldn't want a box of chocolate truffles? 


US ONLY  no email = no entry

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Krystal Shannan - WIP - Pride Rules #35 #SixSunday

Welcome back for a little more of Darren and Eshe!
Check out www.sixsunday.com for more great author snippits!

Muscles in her sex contracted and released, over and over. Minutes seemed to pass before she was able to take a deep breath. She finally released her death-grip on her comforter and opened her eyes.
His was crouched over her. A huge grin on his face, eyes completely gold and catlike now. “Yep, every inch is bananas and cream.”

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Krystal Shannan Features - Weathering Rock by Mae Clair


Drawn together across centuries, will their love be strong enough to defeat an ancient curse?

Colonel Caleb DeCardian was fighting America’s Civil War on the side of the Union when a freak shower of ball lightning transported him to the present, along with rival and former friend, Seth Reilly. Adapting to the 21st century is hard enough for the colonel, but he also has to find Seth, who cursed him to life as a werewolf. The last thing on Caleb’s mind is romance. Then fetching Arianna Hart nearly runs him down with her car. He can’t deny his attraction to the outspoken schoolteacher, but knows he should forget her. 

Arianna finds Caleb bewildering, yet intriguing: courtly manners, smoldering sensuality and eyes that glow silver at night? When she sees Civil War photographs featuring a Union officer who looks exactly like Caleb, she begins to understand the man she is falling in love with harbors multiple secrets--some of which threaten the possibility of their happiness.
 

Finding a decent guy who'll commit is hard enough. How can she expect Caleb to forsake his own century to be with her?
 

“Stop it!” Arianna shook off Wyn’s grip, pivoting to face him. “Are you crazy?”

Before he could answer, something slammed against the door. Caleb screamed. The sound knifed through her like the violent jolt of an electrical wire.
 

“Caleb!” She launched herself at the door, panicked and terrified by the thought of the man she loved in horrific pain.
 

“Don’t!” Wyn stiff-armed her aside and grabbed the knob, forcibly holding it in place. “Get a chair. Something, anything! We’ve got to keep him locked inside.”
 

“What are you talking about?”
 

“Arianna, get a fricking chair. Now!”
 

There was another crash, and then a bang as something heaved against the door, making it shudder from top to bottom. Arianna heard a snarl that turned her blood to ice. The door rattled in its frame, weakening as something battered against it. Something inhuman locked in the room with Caleb.
 

A cold fist clamped over her stomach.
 

“Wyn, what’s going on?”
 

“Chair!” he spat. “Get me a damn chair.”
 

The raw urgency of his voice plowed through her confusion. She darted into the dining room, snagged a chair, and dragged it into the hallway. The thing in the parlor was still hammering away, heaving itself against the door in an attempt to burst through. Wyn’s face was white with strain as he struggled to hold the door shut with both hands. He rammed the top of the chair beneath the knob, wedging it securely into place. A blood-thirsty howl exploded from the other side, kicking Arianna’s heartbeat into overdrive.
 

“My God, Wyn, what’s going on?” She lurched for the door.
 

“Don’t. You don’t know what you’re doing.” Wyn caught her around the waist and swung her up against the wall.
 

She tried to squirm free. “I know Caleb’s trapped in there. We have to help him! There’s something in the room. Can’t you hear it?”
 

He held her wrists, pinning her arms to the wall. “Listen to me!” His eyes were wild, his face inches from hers. With a single frenetic skip of her heart, she realized he was as terrified as she was.
 

“There’s nothing in the room. Only Caleb. Do you hear me, Arianna? It’s Caleb.”
 

“No!” She shook her head, unwilling to believe what he told her, but another ear-splitting snarl fanned her fear higher. Nothing made sense. Not the stark fear in Wyn’s eyes, the sweat-slickened grip of his palms crushing her wrists or the chillingly inhuman sounds coming from the parlor. The man she loved could never sound so guttural or barbarous.
 

“I don’t care!” She ripped free of his hold. “I don’t care if he’s by himself or in there with something else. You have to help him!”
 

She lunged for the door, but Wyn grappled her around the waist, holding fast. They were still struggling when the sound of shattering glass rang through the narrow center hall of Weathering Rock.
 

Buy Links:

Author Bio:

Mae Clair knew from the time she entered grade school that she wanted to be a writer. She credits her parents with instilling in her an insatiable love of reading through weekly trips to the library when she was a child. Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create characters and make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.
 

Inspired by folktales, legends and things-that-go-bump-in-the-night, she loves to blend the fantastical with the ordinary. Her heroes are known to be flawed and complex, her heroines capable, independent and sexy.
 

Throughout the years she has been actively involved in various writing and critique groups and is a past President of the Central Pennsylvania Writers’ Organization. She lives in Pennsylvania and is married to her high school sweetheart (a.k.a. the Love of Her Life). In her downtime she enjoys reading, digital scrapbooking and unwinding with her husband by the pool when the fickle PA weather permits. A self-admitted idealist, Mae is passionate about writing, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.
Author Links:
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Book Trailer



Check out her other stops HERE

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Krystal Shannan Features - Master Class by Cassandra Carr


Master Class
Cassandra Carr

Ryan Tomasi feels like a failure. His marriage is officially over; the ink dried on the divorce decree. His friend Jack introduces him to BDSM and he agrees to attend a Halloween party at a club. A submissive approaches him, offering herself, and how can he refuse the kneeling beauty? They do a whirlwind scene and Ryan is addicted—both to dominance and to her.
Lisette Rinaldo is returning to the BDSM club for the first time since ending a bad relationship with her former master.
She spots Ryan and is taken by the combination of self-assurance and nervousness the man displays as he takes in his surroundings. And after he gives her an incredible re-introduction to the lifestyle, she knows she needs to see the man again.
Ryan and Lisette explore each other and the lifestyle, but what started out as playtime quickly evolves into something more. The problem? Ryan isn’t ready to get serious again and Lisette doesn’t want to fall in love with a guy who can’t give all of himself to her. Both of them are going to have to break out of the bonds holding them back from happiness.

Book Information:
Publisher: Loose Id
ePublish date: 12/11/2012
Word count: 47,250
Genre: BDSM Contemporary

Excerpt:
Lisette squirmed under his scrutiny. For a self-confessed novice Dom, he had the look down, that was for damn sure. “Can I say one thing not related to our current discussion, sir?”
Both eyebrows rose. “Of course.”
“You’re really good at that whole ‘staring a sub down’ thing.”
Ryan threw back his head and laughed. “I’m a professor. That’s the same look I use with wayward students.”
“A professor, huh?”
“Yes.”
He grinned, and Lisette was sure she was going to leave a wet spot on her harem pants if he kept that up. Woo boy.
What would it be like to be bent over his knee right in his classroom as he applied his large hand or a ruler to her bared ass? Would he do it in front of the rest of the students? Would he make her stand in the corner with her spanked ass on display afterward? Her pussy flooded, and she shifted.
“Lisette.”
His tone snapped her back to reality. “I apologize, sir.”
“We might have to work on that tendency to let your attention wander.”
“Yes, sir.” She nodded quickly.
“I asked you what you needed from tonight. I don’t like repeating myself.”
“I like to be spanked, sir. I haven’t been in a while, and I need one.”
“And how hard do you like to be spanked? I’m sorry if I’m asking a lot of questions, but as I said, I’m new to this, and I don’t want to hurt you.”
Risking censure, she reached up to touch his arm before pulling away. “It’s fine. I’d rather you asked the questions than muddled along, feeling uncomfortable. As far as how hard?” She shrugged. “You can spank me to tears. Like I said, I do like some pain.” She chewed the inside of her cheek, trying to decide if she wanted to admit what she was thinking. Deciding it was better to be honest with Ryan, she asked, “Would you like me to tell you what I was thinking about a little while ago when my attention wandered, sir?”
He reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “Sure.”
The words came out in a rush. “I was imagining being in your class, and you calling me out of my chair. You make me come to the front of the class and get over your knee. You bare my ass, even though there are other students there, and then pick up a ruler and start to spank me.”
Ryan grinned. “Lucky for you, I have a ruler paddle. Bought it on kind of a lark because it looked cool.”
Taking it out of his toy bag, he showed it to her. It was long and narrow like a ruler, but with rounded edges and a handle. The wood was a dark red, just as she’d imagine a sub’s ass might be after a good dose of the wicked implement, and highly polished. She’d never been spanked with one before and couldn’t wait to see how it felt on her ass if he decided to use it tonight. The narrowness would concentrate the pain, but the length would ensure her entire bottom felt every stroke.
He indicated the public play area. “And my friend is finishing up with the spanking bench. All set?”
“Yes, sir.”
If she’d thought he did Dom well before, she was sure of it now. His entire body straightened as he rose and glared down at her. “Did you forget to bring in your completed paper again, young lady?”
“Yes, sir,” she answered, trying not to smile. She’d done some role-play in the past, but for some reason, the idea of it with Ryan fascinated her, probably because he actually was a professor. In a lot of ways, it wasn’t even role-playing for him, but if he was willing to indulge her, she could probably come up with dozens of naughty-student scenarios.
“Mind wandering again too, I see. You’ll need to be punished severely. I can’t have you disrupting class. Get up and go over to the bench.”
With a nod, she rose and walked over to where his friend and his now well-spanked and fucked submissive stood. The sub leaned heavily on her Dom, who turned to Ryan.
“You all set?”
“Yeah, we’re just going to do a simple scene.”
“I’ll be right on that same couch if you need me.” Slapping Ryan on the back, he continued. “Have fun.”
Ryan turned back to her, and she could swear he’d grown several inches since she’d first stood next to him. He pointed to the spanking bench.
“Clean it off, and then bend over the desk here. It’s about time you paid for your insolence. It’s either this or a failing grade.”
“I can’t fail, sir. I’ll take whatever punishment you feel is necessary,” Lisette said as she did his bidding and wiped down the equipment.
“Yes, you will.”
After she settled herself over the spanking bench, he buckled her in until she could only move a slight bit in each direction. Her entire soul reached out to this man, instinctively knowing, no matter how new he was, that he could give her what she needed. It had been months since she’d had a good spanking, and she’d come here tonight, hoping and praying she’d find someone compatible.
It had been a year since she’d broken things off with her last Dom. Only in the past few weeks had she felt the urge to submit to a man. Master Taz had made her so gun-shy, she hadn’t even considered coming here for months. But vanilla dating just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
She noticed he tested the cuffs on her wrists for fit. When he reached her ankles, the last of the various buckles to attend to, he asked, “Which ankle did you sprain?”
“My left, sir.”
“Do you want me to leave it uncuffed?”
“No, sir, I want to be completely immobilized.”
“As you wish.”


Sunday, December 23, 2012

Krystal Shannan - WIP - Pride Rules #34 #SixSunday

Welcome back for a little more of Darren and Eshe's steamy scene!
Check out www.sixsunday.com for more great snippets. 

He twisted a nipple harder and then laved it with his tongue to soothe the sting.  His cooling breath trailed down her stomach as he moved to settle himself lower on the bed.
            Darren slid his arms beneath her hips, pulling her closer to his mouth. The air from his breath caressed her burning skin. Eshe whimpered. When he sucked her engorged clit into his mouth she imploded. 

Friday, December 21, 2012

Krystal Shannan Features - Winter's Magic by Cynthia Gail



Winter’s Magic
By Cynthia Gail

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Beth Sergeant and Nick Chester come from opposite ends of the social food chain. While he sees a rare beautiful woman without an agenda, she sees a wealthy playboy. Can he convince her to let go of her insecurities and take a chance on love, when challenges from his past force her to reveal her most guarded secret?

Owner of La Bella Vita, a five-star day spa nestled in the affluent suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee, Beth Sergeant knows her elite clientele first hand. She attended their private schools. She was even engaged, although briefly, to one of their most recognized bachelors. But she never fit in to their social-elite world.

After losing his parents to a car accident at a young age, Nick Chester was raised by his grandfather, the wealthiest man in Nashville. When he chooses to socialize, he has a never-ending list of exclusive events and beautiful women vying for his attention. Yet he never lets himself forget that everyone has an agenda.

Beth can’t resist Nick’s charm and accepts an invitation to dinner, despite her deep-seated insecurities. She proves she’s nothing like other women Nick's dated and learns to trust him in return. But just as the last of their resistance crumbles and true love is within reach, challenges from Nick's past threaten to destroy everything and force Beth to reveal her most guarded secret.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

“Can I see you Wednesday night?”

“Assuming you get out in the morning?” Beth tried to feign indifference as the grin on her face reached new heights. He wanted to see her again. That fact, and being with him tonight, was nothing short of an early Christmas present. Score one for Jenny’s advice. Sometimes you do have to let down your guard and enjoy life as it comes.

“True. I’m not worried, though. Surely they’ll have this cleaned up overnight.”

“When do you get home?”

“I think I land around six.”

“Give me a call when you get in and we’ll figure out where to meet.”

Beth closed her eyes for a moment to absorb the exquisite sensation of being cocooned in his arms as he held her so gently. She could feel the power in his broad shoulders and the hardness of his chest as he drew her against him a little closer than before, bringing every nerve ending in her body to attention.

When she opened her eyes, Nick was staring at her with an intensity that caused a shudder to run through her. And as the music faded, he led her through one last turn and bent down to kiss her. Short, but heavenly sweet. Then he nodded toward the windows.

“We probably need to head home.”

“I don’t think the snow’s going to let up anytime soon.” Her voice sounding steadier than she felt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cynthia will be awarding the following prizes to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour either one $10 Starbucks GC, one $10 Amazon GC, or one $10 Soul Mate Publishing GC.



AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Home is where you hang your hat. A native Missourian, my family relocated twice during my teenage years, taking me from a high school freshman class of over 1,200 students to living in a small town in Kentucky with a total population of less than 1,000.

Home is where your heart is. Despite the culture shock and challenges of those shy, teenage years, I met my true love in that tiny town and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to experience a community where everyone waves, calls you by name, and treats you like family.

My husband and I live in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with our eighteen-year-old son and three dogs. When I’m not working or writing, I can be found with family and friends. I love to bake in the winter, grill in the summer, and on occasion, I sneak away from everyone and curl up with a good book.

I hope you enjoy my stories. Each one touches on modern day issues, fears, and challenges that women face every day. And each one illustrates that love is within reach if you let down those walls and allow your heart to open. Our lives and experiences are so much more meaningful when we have someone to share them with.

LINKS


Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/RnxlBC

Soul Mate Publishing  http://bit.ly/VwT9ZI




Thursday, December 20, 2012

Krystal Shannan Features - Lindsay Avalon

Please help me welcome the fabulous Lindsay Avalon 
to the blog today!

Tell us a little about yourself. 

I am a wife, a programmer, and now an author. I have an adorable mini Schnauzer and more books than I have room for. I love reading romance because no matter what may be happening in my life, I can always count on my books to end happily ever after. The day I met my husband was the day I truly began believing in happily ever after. After hearing me complain a few too many times that I had “nothing” to read despite the hundreds of paperbacks scattered around the house, my husband began suggesting I write my own stories. When I finally took his advice I discovered that although I enjoy my day job as a software engineer, my true calling is to be an author. 
My sister drilled into me an appreciation for fantasy and mythology, something I try to bring to my books. My debut novel, Breaking the Nexus started as a book written for NaNoWriMo and has grown to so much more. It was the conduit that introduced me to a fantastic group of independent authors who have changed my life in unimaginable ways. 
When I’m not writing, I’ve found a passion for blogging and interviewing fellow authors. I also love reading (of course!), baking, crochet, sewing sock monkeys, playing video games, and all sorts of random crafts. I have an incurable love of rubber duckies and stuffed animals, and I believe nobody should have to grow up if they don’t want.

Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose to write romance?

I actually never knew I wanted to be an author growing up. I hated writing assignments for class and didn't think I had the patience to write a novel until I agreed to do NaNoWriMo with my sister. As for romance, I love most kinds of romance books and especially romantic suspense and paranormal romance. After my initial attempt at writing a book was an abysmal failure (it was supposed to be an epic fantasy), my husband suggested I write what I know. Breaking the Nexus was born from his advice :)

What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?

The ability to finally put on paper the daydreams I've always had and share them with the world. I also love the freedom of writing what I want and the rush of having someone tell me they love my book. As corny as it sounds, before I started writing it felt like something was missing from my life. Now I feel complete in a way I never knew was possible.

Tell us a little about your book. What inspired you to write it?

I've always had daydreams and loved myths, legends, and fairy tales. The underlying story behind Breaking the Nexus just sort of came to me. I sat down and all of these ideas started floating around in my brain and I knew I had to write them down.

Throughout history, myths and legends of extraordinary creatures have been told and retold. Fantastic tales of demons and banshees, gryphons and dragons, and of course, magic. Stories that every child grows to learn are nothing more than fantasy…or are they?

Beyond the world you see lies a hidden realm, the Mythrian Realm, inhabited by all of the creatures you’ve been told are mere fiction. Only one thing lies between humans and the truth: the Nexus. A magical barrier erected millennia ago to separate the two realms, it has stood the test of time. Until now.

For Mythrian Sha Phoenix, magic is nothing new. But when she stumbles upon a portal on the verge of collapse, her fate will forever change. Pulled through the portal into the Human Realm, she lands in the middle of Detective Connor Flynn’s brutal murder scene. Soon it is obvious someone is using blood magic to try to bring down the Nexus. Together, Connor and Sha must work to unravel the secrets before the barrier falls and the realms collide. 

The Nexus is breaking and all hell is about to unleash…literally.


Do you plot and outline or do you just write?  Plotter or Pantser?

Without a doubt, I'm a pantser. I have tried to plot things out before and I never stick to the outline. When I sit down at the computer, the words magically flow from my fingers and appear on the screen in a relatively coherent structure :) Sometimes I'll have a vague idea of where I want a scene or the overall story to go, but mostly I just let it flow.

Can you tell us about the process of getting your first book published?

It has been so much more complicated than I ever thought and I love it. I never thought I'd love promoting myself and networking as much as I do. I also love the control that comes with self-publishing my book. I've had complete freedom over who designs my cover, what it looks like, who edits my book, how my book is promoted, and even the fact that I decided to write a trilogy a month before my intended release date. Trying to mainstream publish scares me a little, but I hope to try that soon.

What advice would you give new authors?  What have you learned about the business?

Never give up. This is not a way to get rich quick; it takes work, blood, sweat, and tears. Ok, hopefully not literally blood, but you get my point. You'll have your work scrutinized and criticized, you'll have to work your ass off to spread the word, and you'll have to deal with the disappointment when it doesn't magically become an overnight best-seller. Ask people for advice and listen to their advice. Above all else, remember to write because you love to write and have a story to tell, not because you want to make loads of money doing it.

Do you have another book in the works?

I do! The next book in the trilogy, Waking the Phoenix will hopefully be out this spring :) It picks up directly after the end of Breaking the Nexus.

What do you like to do in your free time, besides read and write of course?

I love spending time with my husband and mini schnauzer, Simi, baking, crocheting, making sock monkeys, playing video games, and doing whatever craft has currently captured my interest.

Where do you dream of going on vacation?

It's now a tie between Ireland and Disney World. Ireland is winning out in terms of a dream vacation, but that's only because I already know I'm going to Disney World again next year :) If I could somehow transport Disney to Ireland I'd be in heaven.

Boxers or Briefs? Boxers
Cookies or cake? Cake
Pizza or hamburger? Pizza
Beer, Wine, or mixed drink? Mixed drink

(Hero/Heroine Character Questions)
What were your first impressions of each other?
Connor: I thought she was beautiful, intriguing, and a smart ass.

Sha: You forgot the part where you thought I was a murderer or at the very least high on drugs. I'll forgive you though. I thought he was sexy, handsome, and intelligent. Did I mention sexy?

What’s your favorite characteristic of each other?
Sha: I love how he knows when to temper his protective streak toward me. I may be tiny, but I can annihilate a banshee better than anyone I know. I'm the first to admit I'm impulsive and don't always think before I dive into a situation, so it's not easy for him. But he tries and that's what matters.

Connor: I think my favorite characteristic would be how levelheaded she is in a crisis and how even in the midst of a battle, she can make me want to laugh and kiss her. She's also showing me not everything can be logical or easily explained.

What are your plans for the near future?  
Sha: Oh, you know, saving the world from destruction. The usual :)

The blog tour runs from Dec 1-31 and there are over 40 blogs participating! Join us on each stop as she shares exclusive snippets from the book, answers interview questions, or guest posts, and leave a comment to enter for your chance to win prizes!  Don’t forget to enter the rafflecopter grand prize giveaway while you’re at it! Prizes include Breaking the Nexus swag, ebooks, custom jewelry, and more!


For a complete list of blogs participating, dates of special giveaways, the grand prize rafflecopter, and a list of the amazing authors generously donating books and swag, check out the special page on Lindsay Avalon’s blog: http://lindsayavalon.blogspot.com/p/breaking-nexus-blog-tour.html




Where to find you @
Websites, Blogs, Twitter, FaceBook, etc.

Twitter: @LindsayAvalon

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Krystal Shannan Features - The Christmas Dare by Joan Chandler



The Christmas Dare
by Joan Chandler

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Self-professed Christmas addict Gia Dixon, and by-the-book Ethan Castle have been best friends all their lives. When tragedy strikes Ethan’s family, Gia’s the rock he depends on to pull him through the darkest days. Then, a shared, long-forgotten memory leads to an unexpected yet tender kiss.  Can a simple Christmas dare help them find true love?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Funny how times had changed, Gia thought to herself. How was it possible to have gone all these years and not have thought of him romantically? Yet now all she wanted to do was steal a minute alone to kiss him again. Or more.

She saw headlights coming down the road and opened the door, preparing to walk out to meet him.

“No, ma’am,” she heard Ethan call out. He was already getting out of his Jeep and motioned for her to turn around and go back inside.

She was unsure what to make of it, but did as he asked. Then she heard the doorbell ring.  Slowly she opened the door, and saw his smiling face. She backed up a step to allow him to walk inside.

“We may be taking things slow, but I’m still going to do it the right way. When I ask you out on a date, I’ll park and come to your door. If this were seven years ago and you were living at home, your dad would have kicked my ass if he ever caught me letting you just walk out to the curb to get in my car.”

Gia could easily recall the many times her father had complained about that when other boys had done it to her.

“How right you are. My mistake.” She laughed. “From now on I’ll expect to be courted properly according to the Henry Dixon Dating Manual.”

“Besides, stealing a quick moment alone behind closed doors gives me the opportunity to do this.” He pulled her into his embrace to softly kiss her.

When their lips parted, she commented, “I don’t think Daddy had that in mind when he made up that particular rule. But you score extra points for showing initiative.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joan will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card, winner's choice, to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $10 gift card to Bath & Body Works to a randomly drawn host.

Follow her other stops HERE

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Joan Chandler is a Florida native who has lived in the Deep South all of her life. She is married with two children who are her pride and joy. She lives a double life of sorts, holding down a nine-to-five job during the day, and writing steamy romance at night—often with her black cat curled up in her arms as she types.

When she’s not spending her spare time working on her next novel, she loves to go camping, sharing girls’ night out with her friends, walking her two dogs, and watching football.


Twitter account:   @joanchandler1

Find me on facebook:  Joan Chandler

Previously published works are Perfectly Imperfect, and No Regrets.  
Both are available at: