Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Getting Vocal in the Bedroom - RIPTIDE ~ Amber Lea Easton !GIVE@WAY!


Please welcome Amber Lea Easton to the blog today! She just released her new book RIPTIDE.


Getting vocal in the bedroom
by Amber Lea Easton

As a romance novelist, random people often mistake me for a sex expert or relationship advice columnist.  It’s kind of funny because I’ve never thought of myself in that light even though I’m known to write a steamy sex scene and am a proponent of happily ever after.  The more I think about it...I guess I am those things, in a distorted more fun way.

So...putting on my sex slash relationship expert hat today I’m going to chat about spicing things up in the bedroom by getting vocal.  I figure you all can handle a good romp so let’s get busy.

Sex is a primal act, yet some people restrain themselves from letting loose because of inhibitions or false beliefs that getting vocal might mean they’re less than respectable.  But let’s think about this carefully, if you’ve gotten naked and are comfortable enough with someone to be getting intimate, then what’s the problem with voicing your desire? 

Tell your lover what feels good--feedback is better than being left clueless and gives him/her permission to do the same with you.  Wouldn’t you rather enjoy making love and know that you’re giving pleasure in return?  Say “I love it when you do___” or “it feels so good when you___”.  Everyone loves positive reinforcement! 

Still feeling shy?  Fake confidence at first---channel a character from a romance novel and go for it.  Faking confidence is better than faking...something else.  *wink*

Words not your thing when you’re caught up in passion?  Go for the moans, the mmm’s, the ahh’s.  Like I said, sex itself is a primal act.  Sound stimulates the animal instinct we all have inside of us.  Let it out.  Not only will making the most basic of sounds stimulate your lover, you’ll trick yourself into being more aroused. 

Speaking of arousal, a fun game to play while you’re in the foreplay stage and when the clothes are still on is to say things like “I bet you didn’t know I like it when ___” with you each taking turns completing the sentence.  This game takes more guts--confidence--so maybe you need to work up to it, but it’s a real turn on to talk as the clothes are coming off.  Hey, some instructions can go a long way to making the experience more enjoyable and deepening the intimacy between you. 

What about pillow talk, you ask? Here I advise you to be careful. Orgasm releases oxytocin so you may be more inclined to share your most intimate details that you may regret in the morning--or maybe not. Just know that pillow talk is NOT the same as sex talk.  But, hey, if you made it to the oxytocin stage, then good for you! Enjoy it all. 



Title: Riptide
Author: Amber Lea Easton
Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand
Length: 98,000 words
Genres: Contemporary Romantic Suspense (Adventure)
Heat Level: Steamy

AVAILABLE AT:

BLURB:
One violent night shatters Lauren Biltmore’s life. As an anchorwoman, she's accustomed to reporting the news rather than being the lead story.  She escapes the spotlight by fleeing to her brother's home in the Cayman Islands. Haunted by nightmares, all she wants is a distraction from reality.

Distraction arrives via sexy screenwriter, Noah Reynolds. His take-me-to-bed looks mask a past ripe with scandal. He knows he should stay away from Lauren, especially when the worst night of her life unlocks his writer's block and while he's dealing with a stalker of his own, but ethics are his weakness.

Attraction sizzles beneath Caribbean sunshine. As their relationship grows, Noah's stalker intensifies her torment. Lauren wonders if her paranoia is justified or a carryover from her past. What's real? What's imagined?  Tentative trust is tested as their love is swept up against a riptide of deceit, murder, and revenge. 

EXCERPT:
Surrendering, she leaned her head against his shoulder and held on as if her life depended on it. When he wrapped his arms around her, she closed her eyes. He felt like a safe haven in a storm.

“When you look at me, do you think about why I’m here or what I’ve done like Larry does? Tell me the truth,” she whispered against his neck.

“No, I don’t. That’s the truth.” Fingers on her chin, he tilted her face up to look at him. “I see a beautiful woman who’s my friend’s sister and who I’ve been having elicit fantasies about for nearly forty-eight hours even though I know it’s a bad idea.”

“It is a bad idea.” She stared into his eyes as if trying to see his soul. She needed at least one person in this world who didn’t think of her as damaged. “You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’m capable of. I saw the way you looked at me back there. You were wondering if I’d snap.”

“Because a man had been shot next to you, not because of your past. Damn it, I’m shaken up myself.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “You tried to protect me, wanted me to tamper with evidence, that’s sexy as hell.”

She grinned despite the weight that had fallen on her shoulders. “I wanted to see what was in the envelope.”

“Ahh...so you were driven by curiosity.” His thumb traced the curve of her lower lip. “You’re one helluva woman, Lauren Biltmore.”

“You don’t know me.” She looped her hands around his neck and leaned closer. Damn, the man felt like heaven. “Is someone trying to hurt you, Noah?”

In the darkness, it was hard to tell if the shadows across his face were caused by clouds over the moon or unspoken emotion.

“No one’s trying to hurt me.” His grin seemed fake. “Let’s get you back to Austin’s.”

She held him when he would have stepped back. “You’re lying.”

He pushed his hands through her hair, gaze scanning her face. “Like you said, I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. Maybe it’s best if we stop this before it goes any further. You don’t need my kind of trouble in your life right now.”

“Maybe your kind of trouble is exactly what I need.” She kissed him because the adrenaline surging through her body needed release, and he was the perfect outlet.

He matched her intensity with a fierceness that weakened her knees. She sagged against him, hands clinging to his shoulders for support. Trouble or not, the man kissed like a porn star. Damn, he melted the skin from her bones with every stroke of his tongue against hers.

Her hands roamed over his shoulders to his back. She pressed closer, craving skin on skin. One thought and one thought only penetrated her mind...sex. She wanted him inside her. Now. Fast. To hell with the consequences.

Together they fell against the sand with laughter tangled between their lips. Somewhere between fleeing a crime scene and kissing, fear had transitioned to passion. She needed his touch, his mouth, his body heavy against hers. Desire consumed every cell of her body.

“We’re the most unethical people I know,” he said against her mouth. “I shouldn’t be proud of that, but strangely I am.”

“Take me back to Austin’s. Stay with me.” She caught his lip lightly between her teeth and stared into his eyes.

His hand slid beneath her skirt and up her thigh. “I don’t know if we’re good or bad for each other. I’m not thinking clearly at all around you, making bad decisions, dragging you along with me.”

“I’m going willingly.” She nipped his neck, her hands smoothing down his back before grabbing his ass. “We have too many clothes on.”

“And we’re on a beach within view of anyone who happens to walk by and look closely enough.” He laughed against the side of her face. “Let me take you home.”

“And you’ll stay with me?” She kissed him again, unwilling to let him go. He felt too damn good pressing her into the cool sand at her back.

His kiss softened and teased as his hand caressed her naked thigh beneath the skirt, his thumb moving over her panties. She hungered for him like a woman coming off a diet craved chocolate.

“I’m such a bastard,” he whispered before rolling off of her and covering his face with his hands. “I can’t do this. It’s not right.”

The abruptness of his absence rattled her. They laid side-by-side, their breathing labored and a sea of stars above them.

“Do what? Me? Us? What can’t you do?” she asked even though she didn’t want to talk. No, talking was the furthest thing from her agenda.

“I can’t be the man you need me to be.” He sat up and looked toward the ocean. “That’s just how it is. I’m not a good guy. It’s for the best. Trust me.”

BOOK TRAILER:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published fiction and nonfiction author. For twenty years, she's worked in the fields of journalism and advertising with a brief detour into the financial industry.  Although she holds a BA in Communications & Journalism, she is a perpetual student of life who enjoys taking post-graduate courses on a wide variety of subjects when time allows.  Smart is sexy, according to Easton, which is why she writes about strong female characters who have their flaws and challenges, but who ultimately persevere.

Easton currently lives with her two teenagers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains where she gives thanks daily for the gorgeous view outside her window. She finds inspiration from traveling, the people she meets, nature and life’s twists and turns. At the end of the day, as long as she's writing, she considers herself to be simply "a lucky lady liv'n the dream."

Visit Amber at:
Twitter - @MtnMoxieGirl




Friday, September 7, 2012

Fabulous Author Friday ~ Ashlynne Laynne


Please help me welcome today, guest author Ashlynne Laynne.


Without further ado......


Ashlynne, please tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Ashlynne Laynne and I live in North Carolina with my husband and teenage son. I consider myself a gothic flower child and love a varied mix of media. I’m an avid horror movie fan and my favorite paranormal creatures are vampires and witches (anyone who knows me will laugh at this). When I’m not writing I enjoy reading, cooking and relaxing with my family. I’m a part-time writer and full time employee at a local power company.

Did you always want to be an author?
I’ve written everything from Country lyrics to poetry in my lifetime. The itch to be a novelist came after a dream about my character two years ago.

What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?
The thing I enjoy most about being an author is taking an idea and nurturing it until it’s a work capable of standing on its own.

Tell us a little about your book.
At its core, THE PROGENY is simply a story about a man and woman who fall in love, and the fact that he’s a half-blood (half-human, half vampire) and she’s a Wiccan human are secondary factors. When we meet Ascher, he’s grumpy. Frankly, who could blame him? He’s engaged to seal to Ursula—a cold and careless vampire who wants nothing more than to get her hands on a bloodstone— and he feels conflicted about his existence.

 All of that changes when he meets Shawnette McCutchin. She’s beautiful, intriguing and possesses some of the most potent blood that he’s ever smelled. A war immediately begins inside Ascher. He craves Shauna’s blood just as much as he craves her body and the closer they get, the harder it is for him to control his urges. After Ascher calls off the sealing to Ursula, the trouble begins. His family’s peaceful period ends when Ursula’s army attacks the Rousseaus.

This series is about a family of which we’ve never seen before. They share a common mortal and immortal bloodline but loyalty is the thread that holds this clan together. Once you become a part of this family, the others will risk their lives to protect you. We see examples of this throughout the journey. There is no shortage of romance, steam and surprises in The Progeny Series but these books are for adults and contain adult sensuality, language and themes.

When did you start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I started writing THE PROGENY in October of 2010 and the first edition released February of 2012.

Where do you get your inspiration?
The Progeny started as an intense dream about my character, Ascher. When I woke up, I immediately started sketching the amulet that he and his brothers wear. Most of my scenes come from very vivid dreams. It was a bit disconcerting at first because I couldn’t understand why I was having these dreams.

Do you plot and outline or do you just write?  Plotter or Pantser?
I usually start a project with an outline but it rarely holds up. Ascher and Shauna have been very uncooperative, as of yet, giving me writers block when I attempt to direct them. I now just wait for a dream to guide my writing.

Can you tell us a little about the process of getting your first book published?
I queried agents and publishers at first with no luck. In October 2011, I was contracted by a small e-pub. As luck would have it, after I signed two other publishers accepted the project and wanted to publish it.

What book have you most recently released?
I re-released THE PROGENY in May 2012 and its sequel, BLOOD BONDS, is set to release soon.

What was your favorite part of the book?
For me, going on this journey along with my characters has been amazing. My favorite scenes are those with Ascher and Shauna. They are such a sweet and naughty couple.

Rate your story in terms steaminess?
I recently made up my mind to write more erotically after a dear friend told me that she felt me holding back when I wrote the love scenes. Readers will see a marked difference in the love scenes of book one and book two. It’s a delicate balance writing steam and keeping the integrity of the emotions. I think I’ve successfully done this. The Progeny was about a three in heat level while Blood Bonds will probably be a four.

Do you have another book in the works?
I’m currently in final edits for book two of the series, Blood Bonds. I’m also writing books three and four of the series, book one of an upcoming series called The Rocker Series and an untitled novella.

What advice would you give new authors?  What have you learned about the business?
I’ll give new authors the same advice a dear friend gave me a couple of months ago. “Protect your story.” By this I mean, make sure that you are involved in all processes regarding your book and its development. Never take for granted that anything is done unless you did it yourself. You are the guardian of your brand.

Boxers or Briefs? boxer briefs
Pizza or hamburger? pizza
Beer, Wine, or mixed drink? wine

If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Would you write or read there, or do something else? 
Like Shauna, I’ve always wanted to go to Paris. Doubt I’ll be meeting a billionaire vamp to whisk me away there, so I’ll have to make that happen on my own. I’d tour the sights and eat loads of French cuisine.

(Character Questions)
What were your first impressions of each other?
Ascher: “I thought Shauna was smoking hot. She was wearing this short black skirt and wedge heels. I think I fell in love with her that first night but I was engaged to seal to another and needed to get out of that before we could have a future.
Shauna: “Ash was a real jerk who held me at arm’s length. I know why he did it but it was frustrating to me in the beginning. Of course, I thought he was gorgeous, look at him, but he was weird too. I mean...the guy hardly ate and he has those strange colored eyes.”
What’s your favorite characteristic of each other?
Ascher: “Shauna is independent, smart, loyal and has the kindest spirit of anyone I’ve ever known. I have to admit that her trinity blood and sexy body were the immediate draws for me.”
Shauna: “After he stopped being such a jerk, Ash was funny and intelligent. The thing I fell in love with was that he treated me like I was the most beautiful and precious thing in existence. I never knew men could be like that.”
What are your plans for the near future? 
Ascher: “My immediate plans are to keep Shauna from killing people with her witch rage. She has quite the temper.”
Shauna: “Ash and I are taking a year off from college to travel and enjoy one another. He’s one credit away from finishing his undergrad and I have two more years before I’m done.”

Blood Bonds Blurb (The Progeny Series #2)

“Forever. For always. For eternity.”

The ties that bind two hearts are powerful. For Ascher Rousseau and Shauna McCutchin, it’s more than just a blood bond. Their union is that of vampire legend. Their love is a predestined prophecy foretold centuries ago.

It’s a week before Ascher and Shauna's sealing and the couple is making final preparations for their eternity, but Ascher's ex has other plans. Ursula is hell-bent on revenge—revenge fueled by lover's scorn and her father's death—and she begins breeding a fresh army of newborn darklings to do her bidding.

When Ursula finds a new weapon—an ally with the capability to dismantle the Rousseau clan— Ascher and Shauna's bond is tested and they must stand together against Ursula or lose each other for eternity.

About Ashlynne:
Ashlynne Laynne has always had a soft spot in her heart for vampires but grew tired of the garlic fearing, sun-loathing creatures of old. An avid horror movie fan, she tends to enjoy media and music that is of a younger, more eclectic nature. This was the catalyst for her writing The Progeny. The vampire/witch pairing is unique and different when most books pair vampires with werewolves.

Ashlynne loves writing on the edge and teetering between the erotica and romance genres, and thinks of Ascher and Shauna as the wicked, damned version of Romeo and Juliet. She is currently working on books three and four of her Progeny Series, book one of her upcoming Rocker Series, and an untitled novella WIP. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family. She juggles the hats of wife, mother, full time employee and part-time writer, hoping to write full time one day soon.

Ashlynne lives in North Carolina with her husband and teenage son.
<<<<>>>>

Excerpt From Blood Bonds:
Shauna hesitated, because she didn’t want to see her reflection. Mirrors weren’t her favorite things in the world. The impossibly stunning woman in the mirror wasn’t an apparition or stranger—she’d opened and closed her eyes several times, certain that the image would fade away, but her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her.
The tanned skinned, bright-eyed woman wearing her engagement ring was the picture of youth and beauty, a dewy and slightly flushed complexion reflecting back from her glowing, delighted face. The breath hitched in her throat as she accepted the fact that the depiction of loveliness staring back was her mirror image. For a brief moment, she actually believed Ascher when he’d called her beautiful so many times.
Her dress was made of the softest ivory fabric, embellished with a lacey front panel and wispy sleeves. Shauna was sure she’d heard the name ‘medieval lace dress’ used to describe it more than once. It was unusual, unique and definitely not traditional—all of the things that described her relationship with Ascher. Her hair rested atop her head, secured into a tight bun, curly tendrils escaping around her face and at the back of her neck. The veil was sheer, the same color ivory as the dress while interlaced with faceted crystals and tiny lace flowers.

Fabulous! I love the imagery in the excerpt. Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Ashlynne. It was great hearing about your books and I fell in love with Ascher and Shauna!

Visitors please remember to join the blog for your chance to win an Amazon gift card every month! Who doesn't want more books?

Be sure to visit Ashlynne Laynne @


Buy Links


Thursday, September 6, 2012

What's your favorite ESP? Author Linda Andrews


Please help me welcome Linda Andrews to the blog today!

I love the paranormal genre. Anything is possible. But my favorite types of stories are those that involve ESP, or extrasensory perception. Maybe it's not as good as flying or immortality for some. For me though, this  extra sense takes an ordinary human and puts them in jeopardy. Not just from their opponent, but has the potential to make them an outcast from the human family.

Life is hard enough without wearing the freak cap at the party.

Here are the more popular kind of ESP:

Telepathy--reading someones thoughts. While this might seem like a fun superpower, society functions due to a delicate balance between truth and subterfuge. Think about it. You know the phrase little white lies is around for a reason. And for the record, not telling someone is a lie of omission. Besides, I scare enough people as it is. If they knew what I was thinking, they'd run screaming away in terror.

Precognition: seeing future events. Now this one is really cool. Anyone with this power would surely be a wall street bazzillionaire by now. But with the good comes the bad--do you really want to know when your friend is going to get sick and die and not be able to do anything about it?

Psychometry: gaining information about someone by touching them or something they've possessed. Now this one I like. Plus, you can control it by wearing gloves. Of course as this is similar to telepathy you run into the same hazards.

Clairvoyance: seeing events occurring at another location. This is my favorite kind of ESP for suspense/mystery novels, especially when it makes the heroine a target for the killer. But like the others, these insights would probably occur at very inconvenient times and cause all sorts of complications.

Sensitive/Medium/Psychic--these people can see and talk to the dead. By far my favorite paranormal novels involve dead people (I'm sure most would see that as a cry for help). I love the idea of ghosts, of life after death and sticking around to look after those we left behind.

Alas, I don't have any of these abilities. In fact I usually tell my family that if they want to get my attention while I'm writing, they might want to rent space on a billboard and get bright neon arrows to point at it. While my loving family might think me oblivious, I've had psychometry and psychic abilities through my characters.

If you had to pick one ESP, what would it be?

Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win an electronic copy of Ghost of a Chance.

Please check out Linda's new release BRIANNA!

Love, lies, and an ancient Egyptian curse. Brianna Grey holds the key to mankind's destruction and someone is willing to kill for it. Having spent most of her life dying, one man's kiss has resurrected her desire to live. For US Treasury Agent, Duncan Stuart, love means death. He works alone, lives alone and plans to die alone until he meets Brianna again. Under the harsh Egyptian sun, Duncan will break all his rules to save her but will it be enough to overcome the secrets that could get them both killed?

Excerpt:
“Brianna, can ye hear me?” Panic fed the primal rage bucking through Duncan. He bound the fury. A treasury agent had nerves of tempered steel, control of iron. A white lock rested on her pale cheek. Peppermint-scented breath slipped past pink lips. She was fine. She had fainted, nothing more. Nothing more.
Yet she had not wakened.
“I had thought she would be accustomed to violence, especially after the tales she told of Arizona.” Miss Phillips’s whine sliced through his musings.
A man had been murdered, poisoned in front of a roomful of wealthy, influential witnesses. August would have been the likely suspect—it was his valet, after all. Except, he couldn’t have known his servant would be in the room, let alone would drink from the glass. So who was the intended victim?
He laid Brianna on the plush carpet and knelt beside her. He brushed her bangs out of her eye, sweeping aside the feather headdress.
And who was the poisoner?
He might have spied something if he hadn’t dallied over his evening dress, and what had his delay accomplished? Not a bluidy thing. His hair still stuck up a little in front. As for the noose around his neck, he could feel the ends brushing his jaw.
“Damn it, Brianna, wake up!”
“Señor Stuart?” Esmé pried apart the Van Sargents. Worry pinched her features, increased the pitch of her voice. Two men in ship’s uniform squeezed through behind her, parting the assembled crowd. An elderly man in a somber suit appeared and set a black bag on the table.
Ignoring the newcomers, Duncan leaned close to Esmé’s ear. “Has Brianna eaten anything tonight?”
Shock flashed in her brown eyes. Her gaze flicked to the corpse before meeting his.
“No, señor. The dinner, it has not been served.”
He nodded. Relief flooded him.
“I believe she has fainted.”
“There are smelling salts in our room.”
“Get them.”
“Are you a doctor, sir?” Curry and garlic permeated the air as the elderly man who’d arrived with the ship’s crew creaked to a stop beside Duncan. He leaned over Brianna with his ear near her mouth. “Peppermint,” he whispered, straightened then peeled the glove off her left hand. His index finger settled comfortably against the inside of her wrist. “An admirable heartbeat.”
“I’m nae a doctor.”
“Hmm, yet your prognosis is undoubtedly correct.” The man peered at Duncan over the gold rims of his spectacles. “The ladies do like to lace tightly, don’t they?” His Adam’s apple bobbed in the wattles of his throat. “Smelling salts should set Miss to rights. You’ve sent the companion to fetch them, hmm? ”
“That won’t be necessary.” Sir Reginald stepped forward. “Mrs. Van Sargent, the salts, if you please.”
Duncan grabbed the small glass bottle—he didn’t trust the missionary any more than he did the others. Glass scraped glass as he plucked the stopper free. Ammonia invaded his nose, stripped the moisture from the back of his throat. Definitely smelling salts. He shoved them under Brianna’s nose.
She winced, turned her head and coughed. Her eyes flickered open.
“Duncan. Wh-what happened?”
“You fainted.”
“You are very much mistaken.” She shoved herself into a sitting position, tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and straightened her bodice. “A Grey does not faint.”
“It’s alright, dear.” Mrs. Van Sargent tucked the bottle back in her purse. “I daresay, if Mr. Stuart hadn’t caught you you would have crashed right into the table.”
Movement caught his eye. At the doctor’s nod, the burly crewmen lifted the body. Duncan shifted his weight to block Brianna’s view. Her lips parted; her eyes grew round. He had acted too late. She had seen the corpse.
“That man.” She pointed to the blanket-draped body with her bare hand. “He...”
“He’s dead, dear.”
“Choked to death,” Van Sargent added with relish.
“Such a terrible tragedy,” said Miss Phillips, dabbing her dry eyes.
“Sir Reginald doesn’t think it will prolong our stay aboard the <i>Osiris.”
Duncan’s skin crawled as Mrs. Van Sargent beamed down at them like a goddess spreading her benevolence.
“But he—“ Brianna’s nails dug into Duncan’s arm.
”Choked to death.” He kept his voice firm, his tone final. Brianna had been around death most of her life, was intimately acquainted with most of its faces. He wouldn’t allow her knowledge to get her killed. 

For more information about Linda's books visit her @ http://www.lindaandrews.net/

Friday, August 24, 2012

Fabulous Author Friday ~ Elysa Hendricks

Please help me welcome Elysa Hendricks to the blog today! So excited to have her back with us sharing about her new book!


Without further ado......



Tell us a little about yourself.

Well, I've been writing for over twenty years, which means I must have started when I was about five? Yep, that's about right, since once I hit thirty I started deducting a year from my age every other birthday. Then again, I'm not so good at math. Well, anyways, I've been writing for a long time and creating stories in my head for even longer.

Besides being an author I'm a wife of many, many, many years - more than the twenty I've been writing. I'm the mother of two wonderful young men. Actually, according to my math (counting on my fingers and toes) they're older than I am.

Did you always want to be an author?

I've always been a storyteller, spinning tales in my mind, but I didn't actually think about writing an actual book until the Christmas Eve my sister-in-law passed away. My husband and nine-year old son took my mother-in-law and went to Arizona for the funeral, leaving me home alone with our younger son. After putting him to bed I sat down to write what I thought would be a short contemporary romance. Strangely enough it turned out to be about a winged telepathic alien who stows away aboard a passing space craft. At that point I realized I wanted to write stories set in different worlds.

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

Being able to play God with my characters and their worlds. Unfortunately, it turns out all my characters are atheists.

Tell us a little about your book.

In THE SWORD AND THE PEN when his fictional creation, warrior woman Serilda  appears in his living room, Brandon Davis, an author of sword and sorcery novels, discovers that his characters are atheists too.

THE SWORD AND THE PEN was inspired by a combination of things - the Keenan Wynn Twilight Zone episode A World Of His Own, the TV show Xena The Warrior Princess and the movie Stranger Than Fiction. If your fantasy became reality, what would you do?

Oooooo... sounds fun!

What was your favorite part of the book?

I think the scene where poor Brandon finds himself surrounded by the things he fears most - women and small furry animals.

Rate your story in terms steaminess?

Probably comes in at about 7 out of 10 on the steaminess scale. There are several explicit love scenes. I'd rate it PG-13. 

THE SWORD AND THE PEN

Amazon Link:

If your fantasy became reality, what would you do?

It was time. After penning ten popular sword-and-sorcery novels, Brandon Alexander Davis was ready to move on. Ready to stop hiding in his fictional world. Ready to start living a real life. There was just one problem: as he plotted the noble death of Serilda D'Lar, his fictional creation, complete with mile-long sword, skimpy leather outfit and badass attitude, appeared in his study.

Was she nothing more than a crazy fan, or had Brandon finally cracked?

This warrior woman whom he knew so well, so strong yet vulnerable, was both fantasy and reality. She was an invitation to rediscover all he once knew--that life is an incredible, magical journey and, for love, any man can be a hero.


Excerpt:

"Yeeek!"

At first Brandon thought the shriek was an electronic whine that came from his computer. Panic threatened. When was the last time he'd backed up his files? It had been during that bad electrical storm three months ago when he'd almost lost everything, the same time his writing troubles began. Fortunately the freak power surge from a lightning strike only fried his monitor; his CPU hadn't been harmed. He should have learned from the experience, but writer's block had driven him past rational thought. The idea of losing what little work he'd managed to accomplish these last few weeks made him choke in fear. He scrambled to hit Save.

"Hell, no! Roark doesn't deserve a chance to defend himself. And even if he did, I'm not stupid enough to give him the opportunity to skewer me. That's something Donoval the Honorable would do."

At the sound of the familiar yet condemning voice behind him, Brandon whirled. He slipped off his chair and landed hard on his tailbone. Pain shot up his spine and blurred his vision.

"What?  How did you get in here? And who the hell are you?" He stared up at the woman and gulped. The sword in her hand pointed straight at his heart.

"You know damned well who I am."

The woman didn't sound happy-- and didn't look sane. She loomed over him. Her attire, a short, tight leather skirt, a leather bra, and knee-high boots left a lot of skin exposed to his view. The smell of leather, fresh air and warm woman teased his nostrils.

"What are you?" She poked him in the arm with the tip of her sword.

"Ow!" He scooted back, nearly under his desk.

"Warrior? Priest? Sorcerer?" She crouched down to rest on her heels, and stared at him. The position put her full breasts nearly in his face. "Definitely not a warrior." She pinched his arm. "You have muscle, but not enough to wield a sword in battle. No courage, either. Priest? Unlikely. They don't fear the sword. Only their god makes them cower.  Wizard? Perhaps, but not one of any power, or else I'd be at your feet. So…you're the wizard's assistant most likely." As if satisfied with her conclusion, she rose to her feet.

"Get up. I'll not harm you. I wish to speak to your master. He and I have business to discuss."

Brandon eyed the woman warily. Though her speech and clothing were odd, she sounded and looked extremely familiar. Why? Was she a crazy fan he'd somehow communicated with before?

To be honest, she bore a striking resemblance to Serilda, if shorter. She was five feet seven or eight inches, rather than six feet, and she was less buxom and had softer features than the character he'd ultimately developed. Actually, this woman was more like how he'd envisioned Serilda originally, when he'd introduced her in Donoval's second book: an extremely feminine woman forced to survive in a harsh world by denying her nature. Hillary had convinced him that in her own books Serilda needed to be stronger and have more sex appeal, hence the height and the bigger chest. The change hadn't sat well with him, but the public-- men and women-- loved her, and the books had hit all the bestseller lists. As a result, he had a thriving series, a pending movie deal and cash in his once empty bank account. Success was hard to argue with.

Despite the trampy clothing and hard scowl, she was attractive. Short reddish blonde curls framed an elfin face. Dark lashes fringed large, cat-like green eyes. Sun-kissed skin covered high cheekbones, and her lips, though currently set in a hard line, were full and red.

"I said get up!" She grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet.

He was surprised that, when he stood, he topped her by a good six inches and probably outweighed her by sixty pounds. That size difference gave him a bit of confidence, but the nasty-looking sword she held with such self-assurance negated it. One could never trust the actions of a crazy person.

"Who are you?" She looked him up and down then seemed to dismiss him.

He pulled himself to his full height and stared down at her. "Brandon Alexander Davis. This is my home."

Unimpressed, she laughed. "Brandon? What kind of name is that? Bran is what I eat to ease my bowels."

Heat crept up Brandon's neck. Being compared to a laxative made him angry, which helped push fear away. "Who the hell are you? And what are you doing here in that ridiculous costume?"

"Who I am and" -- she paused, and two spots of color stained her cheeks-- "what I wear is a matter I will discuss with your master. Where is he? Has he run to hide from me? It will do him no good. I'm determined to find him and solve this."

"I don't have a master. I live here alone." Damn! Why had he told her that? He eased back from the lunatic toward the phone. Could he hit speed dial for 911 before she skewered him? Then what? Even if he succeeded, it would take the police a good fifteen to twenty minutes to reach his isolated home. Could he wrest the sword away from her before then?

His size would be an advantage, but even standing at ease, the woman radiated strength and skill. The odds seemed against him. To win he'd have to hit her-- hard-- and he doubted he could bring himself to do so. The lessons of chivalry his grandmother had taught were too deeply ingrained. In that way, he and Donoval were of one mind. No matter how greatly provoked, men didn't hit women.

Although, the thought of wrestling with this woman was appealing.

"No master? Do not lie to me." The lunatic's fingers flexed around the hilt of her sword.
"Why would I lie?" he snapped. "It's obvious your beef is with someone else. If I knew who and where he was, why would I protect him?"

"Because you're a coward. A powerful sorcerer inspires fear if not loyalty in his minions. But you should fear me more than him," she warned.

"There is no him! I'm the only one here. And I'm not a coward." Being called one triggered something inside him. Having phobias about crowds, insects and small furry animals didn't make him a coward. Not really.

She gave him a thoughtful look. "Is it possible? Are you the one?"

"The one what?"

She ignored his question and studied him. Her intense perusal made him squirm.
"Why didn't I see the resemblance?" she murmured.

"What resemblance?" He didn't like the turn of this conversation. Come to think of it, he hadn't liked the original direction, either.

"To Donoval. You are him-- in form at least." A bit of fear crossed her features, though anger quickly erased it. "I'm loath to believe it, but you are the wizard. Did you construct me so you could play God in my world? Does it give you pleasure to toy with me?"

"What the hell are you talking about? Play God? I'm just a writer trying to make a living. I write stories for people to read and enjoy. It's just entertainment."



LOVE the excerpt!

When did you start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I started writing that Christmas Eve and finished the first draft of that book three months later. Of course, then I spent the next three years learning how to write. That first book now resides under my bed guarded by killer dust bunnies. During those three years I wrote two western historical romances - THIS HEART FOR HIRE and HER WILD TEXAS HEART. Both of them are now available as ebooks.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Oh, I just send my muse to go pick ideas off the idea tree in my backyard. Actually, my inspirations come from everywhere - the news, books, movies, TV, conversation overheard in the grocery store checkout lane - everything I see, hear, taste, touch and smell triggers the What If response in my imagination.

I love the idea tree!

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

I used to say I was only a Pantser, but have realized that while I might not rigidly plot or outline my stories before I start writing them, once I've started I have to sit back and figure out where things are going before I can finish. So while I start off writing into the mist at some point I have to stop and check my GPS.

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

I sold my first book, a western historical romance called RAWHIDE SURRENDER (now available as THIS HEART FOR HIRE) to one of the first ebook publishing houses Hard Shell Word Factory. The process involved submitting my manuscript via email, which back in 1998 was revolutionary. The offer came via email as well. No first call for me.

Do you have another book in the works?

Right now I'm working on a contemporary adventure romance. TANGO IN PARADISE is set during a revolution in a small South American country. The heroine is an idealistic school teacher, the hero a jaded mercenary.

I'm also working on several other projects: another sci-fi adventure romance in my Star Chronicle series and a series of romances featuring a matchmaking cat.

A friend and I have also written a humorous mainstream fiction book together. GRANNIES AND TRANNIES: VEGAS OR BUST is The Golden Girls meets The Bird Cage on a wild, wacky and heartfelt road trip to Las Vegas to rescue a friend from the Mob. We're shopping it around to agents.

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

 As far as advice - read, a lot! And write even more. Finish a book. Submit to publishers. And while you're waiting to hear write another book and another and another. The best and only way to learn the art and craft of writing is to write.

What I've learned is that I don't know what I don't know. Right now the whole of publishing is changing so fast it feels like a roller coaster ride and no one knows where it'll end up. But I think this is one of the best times to be an author.  The opportunities are there. You just have to reach out and grab them.

Boxers or Briefs?
For me or for my hero?
For me - white cotton, granny panties.
My hero - Commando. (Easier access)

ROFL!

Pizza or hamburger?
Definitely a hamburger or better yet a juicy rare steak.

Beer, Wine, or mixed drink?
Mixed drink - frozen Marguerita

If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Would you write or read there, or do something else?

On a tropical beach with cute cabana boys bringing me my frozen Margueritas and shrimp cocktails. I'd keep busy with a bit of swimming, napping, some writing and reading, as well as a whole lot of other stuff.

(Character Questions)
What were your first impressions of each other?
Brandon: She nearly scared the life out of me, but at the same time I never felt more alive.
Seri: Well, at first look I found him to be a bit of a coward, but first impressions can be deceiving. When the time came Brandon has more courage and strength than any man I've ever known.

What’s your favorite characteristic of each other?
Seri: I love his sense of humor. He makes me laugh at the most inappropriate times.
Brandon: Seri is the strongest, most courageous person I've ever met. She's taught me how to live life rather than just endure it.

What are your plans for the near future?
Seri: Learn how to be a woman in Brandon's world rather than a warrior.
Brandon: Make sure Seri never regrets she gave up her world for mine.

As a Thank You to anyone who leaves a comment I'm offering a FREE ecopy of my contemporary small town romance COUNTERFEIT LOVE. All they have to do is email me at: elysa@elysahendricks.com and I'll send them the Coupon Code for the FREE download.

Readers please be sure to visit Elysa@




Thank you so much for being my guest today! I know we all enjoyed getting to hear about your new release!

Hugs,
Krystal Shannan