Welcome Amira Press author, Tina Gayle!!

Hi Tina, it's great to have you visited my blog today! Looking forward to hearing about your latest release. Enjoy your time here!

The floor is yours...

Skills that Can Transcend One Obstacle Can Also Help With Others

As a writer I use a number of techniques to help me stay focus and to motivate myself to keep working at the daunting task of finishing a book.

One of the first things writers learn is that their characters need goal, motivation, and conflict to make a good story, but don’t we all have the same challenges.

Goal – to finish the book

Motivation – to prove to myself I can do it.

Conflict – finding time to write.

What I find interesting is this can apply to other things too – say to lose weight or achieve a difficult task.

Goal – to lose weight

Motivation – to look and feel better

Conflict – finding time to exercise, eating the right things

If we can apply the skill we learn in writing a good book to our everyday life, then like finishing the book, we can achieve anything.

Am I as good as others at these skills--probably not, but it drives home the point I have more to learn. Not only about writing, but at positive self-talk, visualization of the dreams I want to achieve and letting go of bad.

Here’s to you achieving your dream and having a happy-ending.

Youthful Temptations

Blurb

A widow with two grown children, Linda Clayton is ready to let loose and have some fun. Jilted at a party, she met a younger man, Vaughn Reagan. He has an active imagination and allures her into his life by tempting her with seductive games.

Vaughn is thrilled to find a woman who doesn’t want children. He offers Linda a job so he can spend his days with her. Now, if he could only convince her to forget their age difference and enjoy the nights in his arms.

Excerpt

"Damn it, why can’t he ever be home when I need him?" She turned and glared at Vaughn. "Who are you, and what do you want? I’m telling you, I’m not in the mood to put up with anything at the moment."

The light streaming through the patio doors showed the angry set of her mouth and the heated look in her eyes. The red flush of her face displayed her irritation. He wondered if it’d deepen to the same crimson shade when she was excited. A faint light flashed. She snapped her cell phone shut indicating she’d been trying to call someone.

Not surprised by her reaction to him interrupting her, Vaughn raised his hands to show her he meant no harm. "Can’t say I blame you with the way Philip treated you. He can be a real prick at times, especially if you’re balking at his current pet project."

"And exactly why does he hanker for a wife and a child?" She pointed her cell phone at Vaughn’s chest. "Because I’ll tell you, marrying a woman just to produce kids is a really bad idea."

"I couldn’t agree with you more." Vaughn stepped forward and held out his hand. He craved her touch and the sensation of the fast beat of her pulse against his fingers. "By the way, I’m Vaughn Reagan. Philip introduced us at the start of the evening."

Her forehead wrinkled, and she tilted her head slightly to the right.

Vaughn added Philip’s earlier description. "I’m the computer nerd who works at home and never gets out."

"Oh, yeah, shows you what a total idiot he is." She shifted her phone to her other hand.

She closed her cold fingers around his, and their palms touched briefly. The image of her hand stroking other parts of his body teased his mind with erotic possibilities. He released his grip and reminded himself to take it slow. Six months marked a long enough dry spell to suffer without a date.

"My son is working on his degree in computer science," she added and slipped her hand from his. "And even though he doesn’t travel much, he’s brilliant. He surfs the Net and learns all sorts of useful facts. Knows more about the world than anyone I’ve ever met."

"Yes, well, the Web can be a lonely place. Chat rooms and cybersex don’t provide much of a physical connection." His words registered. At the same time, she jerked back with a shocked look on her face. "I mean . . ."

She shook her head, her full lips quirking into a grin. "I know what you mean." Her gaze shifted to the people still inside the house. "But sometimes I think companionship is overrated."

"No, there are jerks everywhere." He crowded closer and pointed to her phone. "But I can’t blame you for wanting to leave. Bill and Karen are nice neighbors, but some of their friends are less than polite."

"So you live around here, too?"

"Next door." He pointed over her right shoulder. She turned, and her arm brushed his shirt.

A sweet fragrance tickled his senses, almost the same scent as fresh-baked cookies. He drew in a deeper breath and identified the alluring scent.

Vanilla. His mouth watered for a taste.

She glanced back over her shoulder. The sexy pose plunged his heart into overdrive. "That really is close."

"Yes, and it provides an easy way to escape the boring company of fools." He forced himself to step around her and held out his hand. "Why don’t you run away with me?"

Her hair caught by the wind blew across her face and blocked his ability to read her expression.

She shoved the silky auburn strands out of her eyes and frowned. "That’s not a very good idea. I don’t even know you."

"Yes, but are you sure you’d like to return to the party?" He read the answer on her face. The light from the sliding glass door lit the frown forming on her lips and the subtle narrowing of her eyes.

The notion of her going home with him caused excitement to race through him, and he tried to remember if the place appeared presentable.

"No, but if forced to choose between the devil I know and the devil I don’t . . ." She strolled forward and laid her hands in his. "I guess you win."

"Good, you won’t regret it."

Tina Gayle

www.tinagayle.net

www.tinagayle.blogspot.com

Great excerpt! I understand Amira Press are a new publisher. Would you mind sharing a bit about your experience with them?

Comments??

Welcome Silver Publishing author, Rebecca Rose!!

I am thrilled to be hosting Rebecca here as part of her "Love Beyond Time" blog tour. Rebecca is offering a $50 Amazon gift certificate as a grand prize so please follow her along the tour. The more you comment, the more chance you have of winning this fabulous prize!

Here are the details of where and when you can find her:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/08/virtual-book-tour-love-beyond-time-by.html

Okay, let's start the interview...

1) What is your writing routine?

I get up in the morning and I get the kids ready for whatever they’re doing that day. After they’re settled, dropped off, or entertained I sit down to write. Basically, I write every day in every moment I can.

2) Which author/s inspire you to write?

When I read Nalini Singh or Stephanie Tyler I want to be a better writer.

3) Which is your favorite romance subgenre to read? To write?

My favorite romance genre to write is always Paranormal but I vary what I read. I always prefer Paranormal but a great Historical or Contemporary Suspense makes me happy too.

4) How do you deal with criticism/rejection?

I hope that I am developing a thick skin. If a reader doesn’t like the book or a reviewer writes a thoughtful review disliking a book, I can respect that. Not every one is going to like all the same things.

As for rejection, it still burns. I think it always will. But its part of the process and I accept that.

5) What do you expect from an editor?

I’d like a teamwork experience. I like when they care about the story and want to work with me to make it better.

6) Tell me about your latest release

Love Beyond Time is the first book in my series The Outsiders. A prophecy foresees eighteen children being born within hours of one another. They will be the only ones who are capable of destroying the greatest evil ever born on earth. But when things go horribly wrong, the eighteen are separated from one another, left to live in the human world with little to no knowledge of who or what they are not. But finding their soul mates will bring the fight to them whether they want to be involved or not.

7) Tease us with a blurb or short excerpt

Born one half of a perfect pair, Kal has spent his life believing his other half is gone. But when fate thrusts Isabelle into his arms, he will have no choice but to become the man he was destined to be. That is, if he can battle his own demons first.



Not willing to accept her heritage as an Outsider, Isabelle tries to hide from the truth. But when Kal’s life is on the line, she will have to step forward and embrace her powers or watch everything she has come to love disappear.

Excerpt:

Abraxas Moore stared one more time at the unforgiving clouds forming above him. The weather would soon become perilous, and he knew he had very little time until they caught him. Even the Green Hills, the place that had sheltered him and his kind for centuries--their home--was no longer safe.

The rain that he was sure would start at any moment would not be life renewing. It was not a sign of rebirth, and he knew with a near perfect certainty it was not even natural in its origins. Rather, it had been conjured by those who sought to kill him as a means to draw him out into the open. They hoped he would make a mistake and fail at his task. Then they would be able to trap and kill him.

Most disturbing, however, was he knew they would succeed in their task.

His role as leader of his people, not one he ever truly sought, weighed heavily on him that night, and he knew not even the love of his wife, Niki, would sustain him through what was to come. The prophecy was no longer something that would eventually happen, but was actually occurring in front of his eyes.

Time had finally caught up with them.

8) Which is your favorite character in the book? Why?

Kal is a fabulous character to write. He’s been through a lot but he still wants to do the right thing and protect the people around him. I really fell in love with Kal when I was writing him.

9) What are you working on right now?

I’m writing the fourth book in this series and I’m so excited with how its turning out.

10) Your biggest piece of advice to aspiring novelists?

Keep writing. Write all the time. The more you do it, the better it will get.

Excerpt 2

Isabelle Listora stood in front of the creepiest cabin she had ever seen. It didn't look deserted, not really, but it didn't look lived in either. It hadn't been occupied for at least several days, she was sure about that. The door hung open and it looked like the local wildlife had taken what was left of the food from the cupboards. At the very least, Isabelle was relatively sure that she wasn't going to be finding any neglected children occupying the cabin today. If they were there—and her instincts told her they were not—then they were well hidden and not likely to come out just because she asked.

Everything about what had happened since she had woken up this morning had seemed so bizarre to her. Why was she being sent out into the woods to investigate child abuse? Where was the local agency and why were they not looking into what was happening? She had, in fact, asked her boss those same questions several times before heading off into the middle of nowhere, driving four hours from home to an unknown destination where she would have no police help or known local resources to call upon in case of an emergency. Once again, inwardly, she groaned at the absurdity of the whole thing.

11) Where can readers find you?

http://www.rebeccaroyce.com/

http://rebeccaroyce.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebecca-Royce/172551376131638?sk=wall

http://twitter.com/#!/rebeccaroyce

https://plus.google.com/108786974175570506922/posts

rebecca@rebeccaroyce.com

Author Bio:

As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.

Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.

She's in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the pararnormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She's been told she's a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.

In Rebecca Royce's world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

Book Video Embed code:

Great interview, great excerpts, great trailer - I wish you lots of sales and a huge following on your tour! Enjoy!

Comments?

Welcome fellow WIld Rose Press author, Livia Ellis!

Hi Livia,

Welcome to my site, I have been looking forward to this interview because I don't think we've 'met' before, have we? I love meeting new authors from a reader's point of view as well as a fellow writer. Can't wait to learn more about you!

1) When and why did you decide you wanted to be a published author?

I've always written. I wrote my first story when I was about eight. Coming around to the idea that I could make a living as a writer took a lot longer than I imagine it takes most writers. The moment when I realized this was a possibility was during an on-line creative writing course. The feedback I received from my submissions from the other participants and the instructor was so positive and encouraging, I realized that maybe I might have the chops to make it.

2) What is the best and worse thing you have learned from an editor/agent?

I have learned so many things both bad and good during my experience with editors and agents it's hard to single out just one example of each. I could probably write a book on what I've learned the hard way in my quest to become published. If I had to offer up a nugget or two of wisdom based on my experience in dealing with editors/agents, I would have to say the following: Buyer beware. Do not hitch your wagon to a person or organization that you wouldn't want to go on vacation with. There's a symbiotic relationship between the writer and the editor.

When I first made contact with my wonderful editor Lori LeBonde at The Wild Rose Press I knew I wanted to work with her. My upcoming first release Bare in Bermuda was initially sent back from her with a rejection letter attached to it. But... that rejection letter contained about five pages of suggestions on how I could make the story better and annotations on the manuscript where improvements could be make. I couldn't believe that someone who had rejected my manuscript felt it had so much potential to succeed that she'd make that much effort to help me improve it. I took her suggestions to heart, rewrote, fiddled and fussed then finally resubmitted. When it was accepted for publication, I knew I'd finally found the person I'd been looking for.

3) Favourite author/s?

At the top of the list I have to put two novels. Anna Karenina and Gone With the Wind are my all time favorites. There are a few authors I keep going back to, I've just discovered Gaelen Foley. I love her Knight Miscellany series. Devil Takes a Bride is tremendous fun. Jo Goodman is another favorite. Jude Deveraux of course is my goddess. She inspired me to write romance when I was a teenage girl learning about love.

4) What is your typical day?

I'm a bit of an early bird so I'm usually up at 6:00am. I'm addicted to my iPhone, so I always check my mail and Facebook before I'm out of bed. After I'm up, showered and have my coffee in my hand I get to work. Because I'm in Europe, I try to respond to emails as quickly as possible so I can catch my respondents before they go to bed. From about 7:00am to eleven I write and edit. Depending on what I have to do and what needs to be accomplished, I either take a short break or I'm done for the day. I try not to write in the evening. I like to keep my evenings free for reading, knitting and socializing.

5) Share your blurb or short excerpt from your latest release with us

Here's a small excerpt. This is the moment my two main characters meet for the first time:

As she looked up into the tall man's dark brown eyes she gave him a sassy look of naughtiness. It wasn't her normal practice to pick up men in airport bars, or bars period, but Henna couldn't help herself. “So,” she said. “Have you ever fantasized about picking up a total stranger in an airport and having your way with them?” Henna wasn't sure how far she was willing to go at that moment, but there was no harm in flirting with a stranger she'd never see again.

“What makes you think I haven't?” The look in his eyes and the tilt of his mouth told her what she needed to know. The who of her fantasy had been sorted out. The how and the where could be problematic, but nothing was impossible when one had credit cards and determination. If nothing else, the encounter would make for a funny tale to tell Simon when she returned home.

“Have you?” She returned his look.

“No,” he said. “But there is a first for everything. You are very beautiful and my flight is delayed.” His knuckles reached up and ran a line down her jaw. “Perhaps we can have a drink or two and discuss the nature of this fantasy of yours.”

“Eduardo!” An older man with graying black hair and the smell of money about him inserted himself into the cocoon Henna was starting to build. “Commo estas?” As she spoke about three words of Spanish, Henna rolled her eyes and turned away from the man and back to her drink. The older man that had interrupted her plans walked off leaving them alone.

Henna turned to her fantasy man. “Friend of yours?”

“Yes,” Eduardo nodded. “You'll have to excuse me. I am afraid I will be disappointing you. Perhaps destiny will bring us together again.” He then did the impossible and lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles. “You are very beautiful and it is not with a little bit of regret that I am going to say goodbye. I have not seen my very old friend in many years and will perhaps not see him again in many more.” He put a large bill on the bar then gathered his things. With a smile and a nod he was gone.

6) Who would you cast to play your hero & heroine in a movie?

Benjamin Bratt, without a doubt, is Eduardo incarnate. He has that sexy Latin man thing going on to his bones. Rachel Weisz has that combination of beauty and intelligence that is core to who Henna is. She also has the look of a woman that could be both passionate and cool.

7) Did you plan this book? Or write it as it came?

For me, a story idea is generally fleshed out in my head before I sit down and start to type. Bare in Bermuda was no different. I wrote through the first draft start to finish. Then I let it sit for a month, did a rewrite and sent it off as a submission.

8) What surprised you the most when you became a published?

That I'd finally done it, and that it had taken so long!

9) Do you have a dedicated writing space? What does it look like?

I don't. I like to float around depending on my mood. Silence when I write drives me up the wall. I need some noise. Either the radio or the TV.

What’s next for you?

I'm working on Passion in Portugal which is a follow up to Bare in Bermuda. I'm also working on my first m/m which is about a foxy Swill mountaineer and a gorgeous yet nerdy hot mess that find love in Tibet. Per normal for me, I always have more than one iron in the writing fire. I don't know how other writers work, but I always like to have more than one manuscript to go to depending on my mood.

I'm on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Livia-Ellis/100001776117067.

We seem to be very similar people, Livia! From Gone With The Wind being one of your favourite books, to living in Europe (i'm in the UK), to Facebook before you get out of bed, to not writing but reading, knitting or socialising in the evening. Amazing!

Great interview - comments??

Blog or Not to Blog - That is the question!!

As I have a missing a guest, I thought I would fill in the space temporarily until Livia arrives...

Today, I want your views and comments on guest blogging - does it work in bumping up those sales? Increasing name recognition? How much and how often should we be blogging as writers? How often do you 'check in' on your favourite writers OR google them to find out what they are up to?

I love guest blogging, especially interviews that kick-start my brain and get me thinking. I like sharing my personal side my readers and not just talk about my writing. As a reader, I like to know about the person behind the pen or keyboard. How did they come to write? What sort of person are they? Do they have a family?

Let's talk subjects! What are your favourite subjects for erotic romance writers to blog about? Do you prefer blogs or interviews?

Over to you, guys!!

And the winner is......

Okay, today is the day of the contest and I wanted to thank you all so much for your wonderful comments over the last couple of days. All of the responses were so similiar (which gave me a clear idea of what my readers want from their erotic romance, by the way!), I wrote your names down and asked my daughter to pick one.

So...the winner is **drum rol**

NANCY G!!!!

YAY!! Congrats, Nancy, I will be emailing shortly for your choice of Explicitly English or Coming Back. Enjoy!

Love

Rachel x

Help me out and WIN, WIN, WIN!!!

As a new erotic romance writer I still feel as though I am learning all the time about what readers want, what I love to write, the themes people like to see, the characters, the SEX...

The things is - am I getting it right? How can I make the novella I am working on right now the one that scorches the hearts and panties off my readers? ;)

And then it occurred to me this morning, ask them! So instead of my usual poll, I want my lovely visitors to answer some questions...the ones that amuse or strike a chord with me the most will have the choice of a free download of either Explicitly English or Coming Back.

Here's the questions!

1) Favorite type of erotic romance?

Western

Historical (which era?)

Contemporary

2) Preferred first sexual contact?

Page 1

Chapter 1

Within the first quarter of the story

3) Preferred situation?

Male/female

Same sex

Menage

This is blatant market research, but I think writers need to ask these questions in order to know their readers - help me out and win a book, easy!

I'll announce the winner and why on Tuesday - good luck!

Love

Rachel x

Welcome author Lisa Hannah Wells, talking about her debut release!

Hi Lisa!

It's so great to welcome a new Wild Rose Press author to my blog to talk about their very first release. The first of many, I hope! Tell us about the acceptance, I love hearing people's reaction to that long awaited email, lol!

First, let's find out a bit more about you...

1) Did you set any goals for 2011? Yes I did. My New Year’s Resolution for 2011 was to become a new author for TWRP. I worked very hard for it and made it happen. It has always been my dream to be a career author and now I believe it can happen more than ever.

2) What is the best part of the writing process for you? Listening to the characters as they tell me their stories. I’m only the director, giving them direction. The rest is all them. It’s kind of a nice retreat and makes for a rewarding day when 3,000 words are established.

3) The worst part? Revisions. I do them but I don’t like them and neither do the characters. It always feels unnatural.

4) What is the book you wish you’d written? Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

5) Favorite author/s & book/s? My two favorite authors are Christine Feehan and Sherrilynn Kenyon (I like most of both author’s series.)

6) Tell us about your latest release? While it doesn’t have a release date as of yet, “Be Still My Lover’s Heart,” will be the first traditionally published book of mine and is the first in a developing series. It is a space Opera with an entirely new race of regal beings searching for their bondmates, which is a very primitive connection and yet a very powerful one. Each subsequent book in the series will delve a little deeper into their culture, their beliefs and the powerful, yet subtle ways in which they love.

7) Tease us with a blurb/short excerpt:

This was the moment of truth and there was only one way to find out. Tempest pitched his voice to a frequency his bondmate would instinctively know. Either she would respond or she wouldn’t.

“You must be Shea,” he purred deep in his chest.

The deep voice vibrated all the way to Shea’s center, yet was strange, calming.

She looked across the table into the face of the alien male and, for the first time since her husband died, her heart responded. An air of intensity, way beyond her most wonderful fantasies, surrounded him and reached with invisible tendrils to surround her. A delicious chill ran up her spine. He was beautiful. Large black eyes fringed with dark lashes assessed her with a mix of emotions and, she suspected, a small measure of danger. A dusting of dark stubble ran along the edges of a sculpted, masculine jaw. His blue-black hair was longer than her own and looked as fine as silk, falling loosely around his shoulders, but it was his lips that drew her eye, full and dark red. Lips that made hers tingle. Shea mentally shook herself, and smiled.

“The door guard said you wanted to see me,” she said. Her voice came out more breath than vocal and her heart seemed to lose its rhythm for a moment.

8) What is your favorite attribute of the hero and heroine? With the hero, Tempest, it would be the way he wins her over, quiet, strong and yet with great passion. With Shea, it would be her resilience, her ability to think when in the middle of stressful activities, a strength she does not realize about herself til near the end of the story.

9) What’s next? “Be Still My Lover’s Heart,” is the first book in the Memory Makers Series. The second one is done, just needs the edits and acceptance.

10) Tell me where you write? There are at least three places I feel comfortable creating my stories: The loveseat in the living room, on the bed propped up with lots of pillows, and in the car on a road trip, (When we go on vacation.)

11) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years? LOL! Where I thought it would be 5 years ago. Seriously, I would love to have two adult series going and a young adult one with two of the books being made into movies; a rather lofty goal, I know. It’s something to shoot for.

12) Where can we find you? Since I’m rather new to TWRP and don’t have a webpage yet, I can be found on Facebook and the following links:

www.authorlhyoung.wordpress.com

http://Imaginings.homestead.com

www.memorymakerscreator.blogspot.com

http://www.fictionpress.com/~lisahannahwells

Great interview, Lisa - I wish you many, many sales!!

Comments?