Introducing Kerri Williams

An interview with Aussie author, Kerri Williams for Writers Gone Wild.

                                    Q. What do you love the most about writing?

A. Holy cow woman, slog me with a big one right up front why don’t ya.

Well firstly I think my writing actually stems from a love of reading. I read a lot!

I love it that much that I wanted to be able to write something that others may enjoy. It’s awesome to let your imagination take over your fingers as they tap-dance across the keyboard and before you know it you have a story of your very own.

Q Where do you set most of your stories?

A. In Australia. It’s a harder to market but I love my country and hope to travel more of it one day. My first book TAKING BACK HIS WIDOW was based in a small coastal town I lived in. It held so much character I couldn’t help but use it and the townsfolk who shared it with me and my family.

My second novel NUDGING CUPID is based on the Mid North Coast of NSW where I currently live. It has such diverse atmosphere with its pristine beaches and rich country side all surrounded by lively state forests and national parks. It makes it easy to write when you are blessed by their beauty every day.

Q. What genre do you write?

A. I write romance of course but have branched out a little with my WIP, it’s a suspense with romantic elements. I can’t NOT write or read anything without a splash of love within its pages.

Q. Describe your hero's? What makes them special to you?

A. Ooh, is this a PG interview? LOL. Let’s just say they have to meet certain requirements. They also have to be human/realistic. There’s nothing worse than a hero who isn’t realistic.

I love using characteristics of my husband, even when he’s an ass. I love you honey! But how can you have a hero that at some point you don’t want to slap in the back of the head. I like them tough but marshmallow on the inside.

Sure they are hot and caring and protective and understanding… I could go on, but I like them with balance.

Q. What is the one thing your heroines must have?

A. I like them to independent and with a little sass but deep inside they are vulnerable and need their hero. I’m a sucker for a damsel in distress disguised by her tough as nails persona.

Q. What book are you reading now?

A. I’m feeling a tad antsy at the moment and need a good read but I have been too busy with edits and such I haven’t started anything new yet. But saying this I do have Girl With A Dragon Tattoo ready to read when I have a moment. I heard it’s awesome.

Q. What are your current projects?

A. Other then painting my front fence. LOL. I’m editing my WIP that I’m targeting at a mainstream publisher so I can see it on the shelf at work in Target and the like. 

Q What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

A. Ooh, I liked my first chapter because my characters have attitude and resentment toward each other and don’t mind showing it. It’s all the set up and excitement of what’s to come. I always like my first chapters.

Kerri's book is available at the Eternal Press website. Thanks for dropping by Kerri.

Thanks so much for having me Karly, It’s always a pleasure to come play at your place.

Kez

Kerri Williams

BPW: Spotlight on Louisa Bacio

Louisa Bacio enjoys soaking up the sun in Southern California, and spending time with her family. In addition to writing and editing, Bacio teaches college courses in English, journalism, film studies and popular culture.

http://www.louisabacio.com

http://louisabacio.blogspot.com

~*~

The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf: A New Orleans Threesome

Haunted by paranormal abilities that she can’t control, and plagued by nightmares about a demon that seeks her soul, Lily Anima travels to New Orleans in search of salvation.

In the French Quarter, Lily dives into the paranormal world and enlists the help of an unlikely couple: a vampire, Lawrence Justice, and a werewolf, Trevor Pack.

As the trio encounters ghosts, voodoo and unspeakable evil, will Trevor and Lawrence be able to help Lily turn her powers into a gift rather than a curse? And when Lily discovers that she needs to lose her virginity in order to embrace her powers and get the demon off her back, will the twosome be able to survive as a threesome?

~*~

Sex University: Physical Education

Tired of sexual norms and wanting to expand her pleasure, AMANDA “MANDI” WILKINSON, 24, enrolls in summer school at San Francisco Sex University, an exclusive sex school located in the heart of San Francisco. What MANDI doesn’t realize is that not all the mysterious drop-outs are simply flunking sex-ed.

REED MCALLISTER came to Sex U. for reasons all his own. Undercover, he’s searching for a woman, the right woman, and so far he doesn’t have any leads. REED never saw himself working at a place such as SFSU, let alone instructing, but he had to admit it – the job did come with its perks. When MANDI turns up on the missing list, will REED be able to save her and give her the lessons she so desires?

~*~

Sex University 2: All-Girls Academy

Raised by an over-controlling and manipulative father, Savannah “Van” Morgan flees the East Coast for the West, seeking sanctuary with her Aunt Lucy, headmistress of San Francisco Sex University. Rather than staying at the main campus, Van enrolls in SFSU’s more nurturing “sister” school, the All-Girls Academy.

After visiting the main campus of SFSU, Margaret “Maggie” O’Neil hangs up her police badge in search of new experiences and hoping to awaken her own dormant sexuality.

With subject matters such as an “Art Sex-education” class with an Italian visiting professor who’s more than happy to schedule private tutoring after-hours, the All-Girls Academy invites all sorts of sexual exploration. In the end, Van and Maggie will either fall victim to the pressures of society, or come together to save each other.

Coming Soon: www.RavenousRomance.com

~*~

“Two’s Company” in I Kissed a Girl: A Virgin Lesbian Anthology

You’ve heard Katy Perry’s hit song. Now read 13 hot, enticing stories of women's first same-sex encounters. Women, ever ingenious and imaginative, find multiple solutions to enliven college life, survive the workday, rescue a tedious vacation, mend lonely hearts, or spice up a relationship.

~*~

“The Wait” in Rekindled Fire: An Anthology of Reunited Lovers

Rekindled Fire traces the stories of ten couples who lose each other, only to find their way back together once again. The love stories here contain two unifying elements: profound love and erotic, passionate heat. Whether the

story is contemporary or features magic, vampires or shape shifting; whether it involves spanking, bondage, or simply pure, unadulterated sex; or whether the couples have been torn apart for several months or one hundred years; one question remains the same: Will these former lovers be able to rekindle the flame of love?

Wild Trivia:

Favorite movie: Grease

Guilty collection: Littlest Petshop – buy them for my daughters, but I really like them

What I wanted to do as a child: Be a model

Favorite Disneyland ride: Soaring Over California at California Adventure (I do live in SoCal!)

First job: At a Philadelphia Cheesesteak Restaurant, again in SoCal!

***If you would like to be featured on Blatant Promo Weekend Please contact Jenn

jlhart79at (@)gmail dot (.) com

The Ultimate Romance Author

The Ultimate Romance Author By Maree Anderson (for Writers Gone Wild)

Hi y'all,

Got to thinking about that roll your eyes article I mentioned in a post a few weeks back. It was the Blue Rinse Bodice Rippers one about about romance authors. (Here's the link to my post if you feel like being insulted all over again.) Specifically, I was recalling the cartoon that went with the article. It portrayed us all as er, older ladies, sporting tightly permed hair, heavy-handed eye makeup and badly drawn eyebrows, sipping cocktails while we envision steamy scene to write about.

I found it rather amusing that although the article's title alluded to the "blue rinse" brigade, the cartoon lady had pink hair. OMG, epic fail. LOL. Besides, if she was to have pink hair, it'd be more likely to look something like this:



Anyway, I'm not gonna head into a rant about the article again. I'm only bringing this up because I've been thinking that perhaps the writer of that article missed the perfect opportunity chance to really nail that caricature-style picture, and portray the Ultimate Romance Author in all her glory.

For example, most romance writers I know tend to eschew lacy robes and flowing dresses and control-top pantyhose for the comfort of yoga pants and sweatshirts. Or even, pjs and a dressing gown. And let's not forget the novelty slippers:



I tried to find a pic of bunny-slippers with fangs but alas....

Oh, and they totally missed the glasses. As any romance author who's spent years staring at the computer screen is aware, squinting is not attractive. Glasses are the must-have fashion accessory for any romance author who wants to be taken seriously... not to mention, actually see what she's writing. So I'm disappointed they didn't have their pink-haired, cocktail-swilling cartoon lady wearing a stylie pair of pointy framed ones with fake diamonds, kinda like these:



Shhh. Don't tell anyone, but I quite like these ones ;-) Not that I wear glasses but.... Way kewl!

The other thing they forgot to portray was the stash of chocolate we authors would have on our desks. Yanno, to put a lining on our stomachs so we don't get indigestion from the buckets of tea and coffee we drink before that magical cocktail hour strikes. Of course, the chocolate is also for when we're short on inspiration. Or want to celebrate a milestone in our writing careers, like achieving our daily word-count goal. Or to console ourselves when we haven't achieved our daily word-count goal. Or just for the hell of it because we feel like eating chocolate. Nom nom nom.



And they totally missed the loads of photos of half-naked guy-candy that would be dotted around the author's work space -- again, purely for inspirational purposes. *fans herself wildly and tries not to hyperventilate*



Also, did you notice that they had some fluffy little doglet in that cartoon? Huh. What a stereotype that was. I know a couple romance authors who have pet snakes as their faithful companions.



So that's my take on the Ultimate Romance Author. I can see her now: hooking that annoying strand of pink hair behind her ear and nibbling on the end of her designer framed glasses as she searches for a synonym for that overused word. Dressed in her yoga pants and baggy sweatshirt, fanged bunny slippers tapping in time to whatever's playing on the iPod. Reaching for the chocolate and realizing that, dammit! the whole bar has gone and she didn't even remember eating it. Stroking that snake draped around her neck -- it's a really good neck-warmer, yanno? -- as she shuffles downstairs to get another coffee, images of Sam Bond's manly chest warring with Mr. July from the New Zealand Firefighters calendar.

So, please enlighten me, oh super-clever and witty and inspirational Wild Readers. What's your take on the Ultimate Romance Author?

:-)

Maree
(Who, BTW does not wear glasses for reading but thinks she might have to sometime soon, is owned by a cat not a snake, and would loooove to own a pair of bunny slippers with fangs *g*)

RWA Nationals: I Haz A Sad

All of you know by now that I'm terrified to fly, so it probably comes as no surprise that I won't be attending RWA Nationals in New York City next week. Only this year I should have gone.

This is so ironic, but I actually have two books up for major awards at the conference, and I won't be there! Cover of Darkness was nominated as a finalist in the RWA Kiss of Death chapter's Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and No Turning Back was nominated for best romantic suspense single title in the National Readers' Choice Awards. While this thrills me, I'm kind of bummed. To think I could have sat at the same table with incredible authors such as Roxanne St. Claire and Brenda Novak, and hear my name listed amongst the finalists!

Shoot. I hear the KOD even hosts a Death By Chocolate party, too. That is what I call a good time. Ah, well, hindsight is twenty twenty, right?

I know several of my fellow Wild Writers will be at the conference this year, so I have a request. Go have a great time, but please report back to me if you hear/see my name mentioned anywhere, okay? I'll have to live vicariously through the rest of you for this.

User Friendly

Jennifer L Hart for Writers Gone Wild.

User friendly. In today's modern world those two little words are like magic. Technology is everywhere and what has the power to make or break a new product / service is how well the average consumer will adapt to it.

Kindle? Bam! the most user friendly device I've ever owned. You'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

My new Droid 2 Smartphone? Damn thing is smarter than I am. It does have a few quirks that I'm adjusting to, but having everything right there in my purse is brilliant.

iPod and iTunes? I'll admit, it took a little while for me to get used to this one. The device itself was straight forward but the iTunes store was a challenge. I make the audiophile husband navigate that one for me.

Photoshop? Kill me now. I look at that the same way my grandmother looked at the VCR. "Nan, put it on channel three. Pop in the tape and push play. When it's done hit eject. " No dice. My mantra never made it past her wariness.

All this talk of user friendly made me think about books. Specifically science fiction romance books. I've set up a hell of a challenge for myself when creating No Limits. I've taken two niche markets, science fiction romance and erotic romance and blended them together. SFR on it's own is kind of a tough sell. It takes a unique individual to appreciate the oddness this subgenre has to offer. Aliens, sex, adventure, space ships, the great unknown in space and the depths of the human, or extra terrestrial heart. Science fiction readers are loyal; once they find an author they love they usually see the series through to the end, no matter what course it takes. Romance readers tend to be veracious, gobbling up books at a rate that puts all the other genres of fiction to shame. You'd think with a baseline foundation like this that SFR would be an easy sell.

But as any diehard SFR fan will tell you, this is simply not the case. There is a very small overlap between the two and within that overlap, personal preferences abound. Heat level, ranging from the chaste kiss to five alarm somebody get the hose (That last one is mine ;-). Futuristic Earth, other planets, space opera, military, alien life forms, telepathy, telekinesis, sex slaves, empaths, shifters, lions and tigers and bears, Oh My!

So when thinking about how I'm going to promote No Limits I started mulling over what I loved about each genre. My tastes are eclectic and finicky. I'm not someone who will watch any old sci-fi movie or read every erotic romance. I prefer character-driven stories with an interesting plot rather than plot driven stories with interesting characters. I want to feel a connection to the hero and the heroine, the stronger the better. And I want to be wowed with a twist, to laugh and to cry to smile at a happily ever after.

That's a pretty tall order. And then throw in things that will turn me off to a particular book.

Too much back story, also known as the info dump. When I see pages and pages of technical detail I start skimming. Skimming means I, as a reader am not engaged with the story. I haven't given up yet, but I could easily put it down and find something else to do.

Characters who change for no good reason. This is a deal breaker. I will put down a book mid story and never pick it up again. Why? because the author set up expectations for the reader passed on the protagonist's or even the antagonist's traits. Change in motivation with no back up tells me the author is stretching word count to extend the story, something I can easily live without.

Ah ha magical solutions. I like to call this one the wet sparkler. Here you have all this time invested and then the author pulls a miraculous solution out of his/her hat. Oh the disappointment.You big tease.

Crappy Writing. Let's be honest. It happens to the best of us. Off days, rushed to deadlines, struggles with a particular scene. Lots of leaning on telling not showing, tons of was/were statements, repetitive words and phrases. But that struggle should NEVER show up in the final product. If it does, the author and the production team aren't doing their jobs.

Okay, now I want your opinion. What would make science fiction romance user friendly for you? Or if you just want to bitch about technology and how it frustrates you, please, be my guest.

MORE AUTHORS BEHAVING BADLY

We all know this is a tough time to be a writer. Authors, even those published by major houses, are expected to do more and more of their own promotion. The economy is still soft, while more and more small presses and self-published authors are putting more and more books on the market. It’s hard to stand out.

You’d think the best way to stand out would be to offer the consumer a superior product. To write a great book, and if self-publishing, to get professional quality editing, e-book formatting and cover art. And many authors are doing exactly that.

But in the last month, I’ve noticed a number of glaring examples of authors trying to stand out by engaging in social media behavior that crosses the line from aggressive to sleazy, tacky, and/or downright rude.

Case 1, a complaint raised on Facebook: “I hate to act like a b word, but I'm gonna. I don't care who you are, if you ‘join’ me to a group without asking first, I'm going to unjoin and put in my status WHY I unjoined. Really, folks, it's just plain rude.”

Case 2, from the blogosphere: A well known advocate of self-publishing posted a creative idea for marketing e-books. Four days later, an indie author posted the same suggestion – with the same opening scenario describing how the consumer might experience the idea, and with a link to the same potential third party vendor, but without attribution. While the second author didn’t actually say the idea was her own, it was implied.

Case 3, reported on Twitter: “Holy crap! This author (self pubbed I might add) has added her name and tagged most of my books. I'm very annoyed,” and, “Does anyone know how to remove tags from Amazon? I hate it when authors tag themselves on my books.”

Case 4, also from Twitter: “Can I just say that it is really tacky when authors use a different pen name to review their own books.”

I have to shake my head and wonder what authors who do these things really expect to accomplish. Don’t they realize they’re making a name for themselves, and that name is… um… jerk? Come on, people. Use a little common sense. The reputation you save may be your own.

Whimper-free promotion ahoy!

Just in case you missed it the first time round, or are wondering what the deal is with our Blatant Promo Weekends slots, here's the deets:

***Permission to forward granted***

Hi author-friends,

~Does the thought of writing one more blog post make you want to dive under the duvet and whimper?

~Are you finding you spend more time promoting your books and yourself than writing?

~Are you exhausted from coming up with ways to blatantly promote your new releases and/or your backlist, without ‘seeming’ to blatantly promote them?

~Is your brain aching from coming up with brilliantly entertaining posts about the fascinating craft aspects of writing, when all you’d honestly like to do is cut straight to the important stuff? You know, a blurb, a cover, a buy link — or five — and big bold capitals saying: PLEASE JUST BUY MY FABULOUS BOOK ALREADY!

~Does the thought of writing one more blog post make you want to dive under the duvet and whimper? (Oh wait, I’ve already used that one. Sorry. Hmmm. Maybe it’s just me? Yikes. Well, anyway….)

If you can answer “Yes!” (or in my case, “A thousand times, Yes!”) to even one of the above questions, then Writers Gone Wild has the perfect solution for you.

Introducing BLATANT PROMO WEEKENDS!

Interested? Here’s what we need for BPW:

1. Any covers and blurbs you want to promote. Limit five. Plus buy links.

2. A few Wild Trivia facts. Five should do it (there’s that magic number again *g*). Fave books/ music/ movies/ quotes. Tidbits to give readers a sense of your author flavor.

3. Quick bio (paragraph) and website/ blog link.

4. An author picture(optional).

Please send everything to my fellow Wild Woman Jennifer at:

jlhart79 // AT // gmail // DOT // com
No slashes or spaces, obviously *g*)

Feel free to check out any of our Blatant Promo Weekend posts to see just how little effort is required. And don't forget to thank the goddesses at Writers Gone Wild for making your promotion whimper-free and easy ;-)

BPW: Spotlight on Julia Barrett

Bio: Julia Barrett attended the University of Iowa, majoring in Creative Writing and Ethnic Literature. After graduation, she couldn't find a job as a writer, so she returned to school to become a registered nurse. She and her husband live on the West Coast. They have three children, a dog, two cats and two birds.

Website/blog: http://juliarachelbarrett.net


Captured

Mari never expects to find herself in a cage in a cargo hold on a spaceship. She quickly learns from her captors she's headed to the meat market. When they try to return her to hypersleep, she resists. After allowing her to stay awake, Mari realizes her survival depends on connecting with the male in charge, Ekkatt. She must make him see her as a sentient being or she will end up as dinner.

Ekkatt has never spoken to any human. They are valued for one thing, the money they bring at auction. The Attun race is vegetarian, but other species prize human flesh and bring in good money. Then the female with red hair speaks to him and forces him to admit she has a name. Mari throws Ekkatt's entire life into question, the biggest question...can he watch her sold to the highest bidder?

Amazon Buy link: http://amzn.to/htzG6t

Daughters of Persephone, Exile, Return, Reborn and The Red Demon

Blurbs:

Book One: Exile

Aja Bokinan, of noble blood, is the Thousand Year Empress who has grown to adulthood in exile. Throughout the Empire, women are banned from public life, have no legal rights, and they have become little better than property.

In an attempt to kill off the royal line and end all resistance, Aja is kidnapped by a General who intends to inject her with a lethal virus, hoping she will infect her family and Women of the Blood everywhere.

Kyr Aram, is a smuggler and secret Resistance fighter. He must find a way to protect Aja from both the General and a traitor on his own ship who wishes to see her dead. With the Thousand Year Empress, he gets more than he bargained for.

Book Two: Return

The Lady Ennat, has been sent by her mother to Resistance Commander, Karna Aram. She is a Blood decoy, her role is to protect her sister Aja, the Thousand Year Empress, and draw the bulk of the Coalition forces away from the Resistance fighters. Knowing she may not live to see tomorrow, she gives into her growing feelings for Commander Aram.

Karna Aram wanted the woman from the moment she set foot on his supply depot, but nobody touches a Princess of the Blood. He resists his bone deep desire until Ennat challenges him to pick up a sword and spar with her. All bets are off. Karna has a different kind of sword play in mind.

When the Ennat and her sister, Aja, are reunited, they know the Coalition is coming after them. They must risk all to save their followers, and the men they love.

Amazon Buy Links: http://amzn.to/gTImU8

The Daughters of Persephone saga continues...

Book Three: Reborn

A thousand years have passed since the Empress Aja Bokinan and her consort Kyr Aram settled on Calen. As the legend foretold, a great evil has arisen. Black Frocks scour the planets, searching out women, children and even men with a trace of the Royal Blood, sacrificing them to their dark god.

When they see her mahogany hair and gray eyes, Issa Bokinan’s family flees the village for the safety of the mountains, but even that is not far enough. It is up to The Red Demon, Tem, to hide the young Empress away in the past, teaching her to use her powers, grooming her for the day when she will face the Black Frocks and her own death.

But the Red Demon has a plan within a plan. She’s meddled in the gene pool, producing a man with powers Women of the Blood only dream of. She wants Kane Tirol for her own, but Kane, a Calen man, wants nothing to do with the Red Demon. He is bonded to Issa Bokinan, and not even time will keep them apart.

Book Four: Red Demon

There is a reason Tem is called the Red Demon. She does what she wants when she wants. No one controls her. Time and space do not hinder her. Worshipped on ancient Earth as a goddess among many people in many different lands, nobody opposes her, except her creations, Issa Bokinan and Kane Tirol.

Having left her own daughters behind on Earth as seed stock for future generations, Tem had hoped to make a life with Kane. That is not to be. Rejected, alone and broken, she seeks comfort in the past from the Empress Ya, on Persephone, promising to behave and keep her identity a secret. Tem is hard pressed to control her worst impulses when she’s caught riding the Empress’ prize stallion.

Horse Master, Aytan Kirrae, cannot believe his eyes. A small Red Woman has just ridden off on the stallion named for him, a horse bred for the Empress Ya. He waits for her return, flipping her over his knee, meting out what he thinks will be a kinder punishment than she would receive from the Magistrate. He has no idea the small Red Woman can kill him with a single drop of her blood.

Pulled along to the future against his will, Aytan thinks he’s dreaming, until he must share the Blood Bond with Tem to save her life. Once he does, his own life will never be the same.

Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.to/jEhjDv

Wild Trivia!

Every year I reread the following books - Dune, Shogun, Jane Eyre and Little Women.

My very favorite movie of all time is McCabe and Mrs. Miller, starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie.

I've rafted down the Salmon River in Idaho, hiked down the Grand Canyon and along the Appalachian Trail, hitchhiked through Israel and the Sinai, herded cattle through the Crazy Mountains in Montana and surfed in Malibu.

I'm a registered nurse, but I've also worked as a pastry chef, a caterer and a private chef. I love to cook!

If I had a favorite saying, which I don't, it would be - no good deed goes unpunished!

I just got the final for the cover art of my next release, and I love it! Cover art is the first thing that a reader sees when they are considering which book to buy. I’ve seen all sorts of debates over whether or not the cover is important in generating sales. The cover is a very important marketing tool and yet the author rarely every has any control over it.

Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever bought a book just because I liked the cover, but a good cover will convince me to pick up the book and read the back cover blurb and THAT’S what I base my decision on. So, uninteresting cover equals me not reading the blurb and therefore not buying the book.

I do a lot of writing for Changeling Press and they do allow the authors quite a bit of input into what the cover will look like. They have a lovely form called a Cover Art Request that the author fills out for every book, but I have to be honest. – I have absolutely no artistic ability. I couldn’t come up with a dazzling cover idea if my life depended on it.(Luckily it doesn’t!) I have to rely on the staff artists to bring my story to life and lucky for me, they are an amazing bunch of highly talented people.

My latest cover is the creation of Renee George, one of Changeling’s staff artists. She is just amazing, and I’m so happy with the results. She took my rather sketchy cover art request and came up with a lovely, sexy, eye-catching cover that I am sure will help to sell lots of books for me. So, I’d just like to say a big thank you to all of the wonderful, talented artists who create the beautiful covers for us artistically challenged authors!

(PS - Isn't that cover gorgeous?!)

More Like My Mother's Erotica-Everything old is new again

When I was a kid (let’s say early 90’s), my mother had a steamer trunk full of romance novels, and since it was too big to fit in her room she stored it in mine. We all know what happened next: I clandestinely read them all in one summer. There were a few Harlequins, but those were short and watered down. My favorites were from Zebra and Avon. The thing was, the newest of the batch were from the late 80’s, and not because my mom was cheap and bought used.

Nope, she said to me in a recent conversation about romance novel trends and the erotica movement, it was rather novels published in the 90’s sucked.

I had to agree. I’m all for strong female heroines not doing stupid crap while the Beta Hero stands back and tries to solve problems with his brain instead of his brawn. But somewhere, somehow, the plots were overshadowed by these characterizations, to the point where the whole novel suffered and an author would inevitably have the hero or heroine do something completely out of character just to make the book move forward.

She also wants me to remind you that the sex scenes were pretty disappointing, too.

A neat conversation to have with one’s mother, right?

It started with my reading of a recent Harlequin Historical anthology. (Of course I still read paperbacks! Just because I sleep with my Kindle does not mean I have to give up the new-book-smell—YUM.) All of them were very well written, I am very happy to report, but they were also very, very, red-hot in the sex area, so much so, that it seemed more like erotica than romance. My definition of Erotica is steamy, well written sex scenes make up much of the work, emotional connection not necessary, and the plot aims to throw the main characters into circumstances in which the outcome is sexual in design (whether it be tension, experience, etc.). This well done anthology, Delectably Undone, definitely fits into that category. Sure, all of them have a happily ever after with a few lines tossed in about how the main characters have found the one in each other, but most of the anthology is filled with delicious, wonderful, wiggle-in-your-chair-‘cause-it-feels-good sex scenes.

Harlequin? The same publisher that old ladies had a monthly standing order for at the bookstore I worked in? That Harlequin?

Why yes, that one. And it seems, another trend that is reemerging is a lot of other authors are getting back into the retro-writing of Alpha heroes who sometimes don’t do the heroic thing. Christina Dodd, a favorite author of mine, has a recent novel where the hero’s halo is not only tarnished, but pretty much ripped from his head and thrown into the trash because of his treatment of the heroine: I’m talking rape, here. (Taken By The Prince, in case you were wondering). This was common in a lot of books from the 80’s (Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon are two that I can think of right off the top of my head. Yes, Outlander was published in ’91, but most of it was written in the 80’s, so it counts). When I think about it, I’m appalled. But when I read it, I like it. The authors did a great job examining the heroine mindsets and having the hero deal with consequences. I love all of the books I just mentioned, and I would not hesitate to recommend them.

So, what do you think of the more recent romances? Do you find them too explicit to be dubbed a romance? Do you find the lines between erotica and romance are once more being blurred, as they were in the 80’s? What about these bad boy Alpha heroes?

Myself, I’m all for the recent trends. I like writing emotionally wrought romances with a lot of spice almost as much as I like reading them, and the blurred lines between erotica and romance suite me just fine as both a reader and author. I'm all for introducing the taboo in my romance. However, all this everything old is new again talk has given me the urge reread Stormfire by Christine Monson. So, please excuse me while I go dig around in my steamer trunk…

Introducing Suzanne Brandyn

 Karly Lane for Writers Gone Wild.

Following on from my take on writing groups, I thought i'd introduce you to a few authors from down under who you may have not heard of before.

Please make welcome Suzanne Brandyn.

K. What do you love the most about writing?

S. To invent characters, to experience their journey with them by overcoming obstacles, and then watch them unravel, twist and turn to get out of the mess I put them in. lol...Also knowing that I’ve taken a reader out of their normal daily routine and given them escapism, a break from life. J

K. Where do you set most of your stories?

S. My first novel was set on the Great Barrier Reef, the next one on the edge of the Outback. I am currently writing a manuscript set from Sydney to the outback. So anywhere in Australia is possible. My manuscripts are just as diverse as the places I’ve lived in Australia.

K. What genre do you write?

S. I write contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Currently my writing style is leaning towards suspense/romantic thrillers.

K. Describe your hero's? What makes them special to you?

S. I believe that a hero should possess the manly quality of strength, that is, in not only muscle, but also have the strength of personality to be a real man, to reach out and get what he wants, and what he desires.

K. What is the one thing your heroines must have?

S. My heroine’s definitely have to be feisty, strong, and yet have a soft inner core. I love heroine’s that fight back, that give a man a run for his money, lol...

K. What book are you reading now?

S. I have just finished reading Beyond Fear, by Jaye Ford. It was superb. It took me on a journey, and when I came to the end, I wanted more. I absolutely loved her style of writing, the quick pace, and delivering that ultimate climax of a great ending.

K. What are your current projects?

S. Currently I am working on a suspense/thriller with attraction/love. It’s set in Sydney then stretches as far as an abandoned property in the country.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

My favourite chapter is the opening scene. The heroine is woken by a noise, and disturbs an intruder as her two- year-old daughter is sleeping close by. She fights for not only her life, but also the life of her daughter.  The heroine has to face tough times, as she is forced to overcome trauma, and many obstacles.  (I don’t want to give away too much) lol Why? I guess as I said I love heroines who have the guts to fight back, to overcome diversities and eventually get what they want.

My current release is ‘Heat in the Outback’ by Eternal Press, which has been one of the top best sellers for six months.

'Heat In The Outback' 

Contemporary Romance 

Usually what you're searching for is right before your eyes.

Blurb

The soaring temperature in the Outback is not the only heat Sarah Munro is facing when she returns home for her father's funeral. She wants to settle his affairs, sell the family's homestead, Munro Cattle Station and return to Sydney and to her fiancé as quickly as possible. Sarah doesn't want anyone to find out what she'd done in her past. She wants to close this chapter of her life for good, then there will never be a reason to return to the dusty one horse town. She is wrong!

Ethan Wade, her first love is at the homestead. Ethan claims he owns half of Munro Station. Sarah wants him out! As they try to settle their differences, a raging attraction ignites.  

Will Sarah and Ethan find each other again as their past explodes before them?

Excerpt:

He’d thought about this day for ten long years and could scarcely believe the

confrontation was going to take place. Then he heard her sniffle and blow her nose.

Taking a cautious step forward toward the lounge-room door, he turned in her

direction.

His heart belted much harder against his chest, his muscles locked, and blood

pounded through his veins. How in the hell was he going to handle this? He wanted to ask her so many questions. Hell, he’d found out she was fifteen, not seventeen, when they’d first met. She was under the legal age of sexual consent.

She was wiping under her eyes with a tissue. Her grief called to his heart and it

rolled over with one giant purr. He wanted to hold her, comfort her, and wipe away her tears. He found himself wishing she’d never left. But he knew too much had happened during the last ten years and he couldn’t change the past even if he wanted to.

The moment Sarah was aware he was in the room, she sprang upright and let out a startled scream. Her sapphire gaze connected with his steely green eyes. For long silent moments, the reality of shock mingled with painful memories. Finally he’d come face to face with his past.

More information can be found at www.suzannebrandyn.com

Thank you for having me Karly. It’s been wonderful. J

The Scandalous Hero

When I was in college I took a minor course in The Romance Novel. Not a writing course – a literary theory, deconstruction of the romance novel (don’t you just love Liberal Arts?). This was before there were so many variations of romance novels – paranormal, contemporary, erotic, etc. There was just The Romance Novel. And it always went something like this: Strong, irresistible, bad-boy hero saves heroine from her fate and she becomes so enraptured with desire he has his way with her.

I used to think this dynamic was just a female fantasy. But in light of the spate of political sex scandals, I can’t help but suspect that the traditional roles in romance novels are a male fantasy as well.

When I talk to my male friends about Arnold Swarzenegger and Anthony Weiner (and I hardly think their transgressions are even remotely close in terms of magnitude but I lump them together do to news cycle proximity), my friends say things about male sexuality and the male ego that are fascinating. Every one of them suggests that something is missing in their marriages that led these high-profile men to fill their needs in extreme ways. “Oh, so it’s the wife’s fault?” I said, indignant. No, they told me. It’s not the wife’s fault. It’s the alpha- male: He needs to be needed. He needs to be “adored by his wife.” He needs attention. The sex scandals are not about men feeding their libidos so much as about them feeding their egos.

This issue is obviously way too complex to tackle in a blog post. The New York Times had an interesting article yesterday called “When it Comes to Scandal, Girls Won’t Be Boys” and explores why female politicians don’t, as a rule, get caught in sex scandals. The Clinton/Spitzer/Schwarzenegger/Weiner scandals are about a certain type of male and the woman he marries. She is not the woman on the cover of 1980s bodice-rippers. But he wants to be the man on that cover.

Even thought we women have evolved in our romantic fiction, let it be known there is a market for the old-time hero who is desperately hungered for by the needy heroine. The audience just happens to be male.

BPW: Spotlight on Jane Beckenham

Bio: In books Author Jane Beckenham discovered dreams and hope, stories that inspired in her a love of romance and happy ever after. Years later, after a blind date, Jane found her own true love and married him eleven months later.

Life has been a series of ‘dreams’ for Jane. Dreaming of learning to walk again after spending years in hospital. Dreaming of raising a family and subsequently flying to Russia to bring home her two adopted daughters. And of course, dreaming of writing.

Writing has become Jane’s addiction - and it sure beats housework.

You can contact Jane via her web site www.janebeckenham.com or email her at neiljane@ihug.co.nz

Secrets and Seduction

Jane Beckenham
Samhain Publishing

He wants to hate her, but a little lust wouldn’t hurt…

The only emotion Leah Grainger can muster when thinking of her dead husband is relief. Until she learns his gambling debt threatens her beloved farm and the child she wanted to protect from the rootless existence she grew up with.

The last straw? Her husband’s brother demands a meeting. When she charges into his office to tell him she won’t let another Grainger screw up her life, the startlingly handsome, former oil rig wildcatter goes for the jugular. He’s claimed legal guardianship of her daughter, bought her mortgage…and he’s moving in.

The final email Mac received from his suicidal brother blamed Leah for everything. If it’s the last thing he does, he plans to protect his niece. Even if it means using his millions to gain the upper hand. And hardening his heart against the beautiful Leah’s protests of innocence.

Yet something seems off. Leah is nothing like the uncaring woman his brother described. She’s warm, loving…and when a new threat to her child surfaces and she reaches out to him in need, his body won’t let him say no. Even when her last secret forces him to make a decision that exposes his most closely guarded possession. His heart.

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Product Warnings

Contains tug-your-heart love, raise-the-roof lust, a marriage of convenience and hot sex that will give a whole new meaning to the word “wildcatter”.

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He's the One

Taylor Sullivan doesn’t trust Cupid
Cade Harper doesn’t do commitment, and marriage is a dirty word

Warning: Contains explicit, straight-to-the-heart sex between a hopeless romantic heroine and an abandon-all-hope hero. No need to dress up for this party – just curl up with a glass of bubbly and a box of tissues!

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Romeo for Hire

Scorching sex: definitely on the menu. Hold the love, please…
Workaholic Carly Mason is caught between a rock and a hard place. The rock: an invitation for four days of sun and sand with her friends and their men. The hard place: “Mr. Invisible”, who lusts after her with delicious abandon, doesn’t exist. But then she hires her own personal Romeo only to realize a growing connection that definitely wasn’t part of the contract…
Contains two unbelievably stubborn people undergoing serious cell phone withdrawal, and seriously scorching sex on the beach. Not responsible for reader’s failure to apply sunblock before reading.

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A Traitor's Heart

What price infamy, in a duel between treason and love?
The price of success is treason. Catriona Fraser could ill afford a liaison with Lord Nicholas Burford, her position is too precarious. Should she fail it would forfeit her brother's life. There can be only one winner, but success may prove a failure when tangled with lies and deception and the fear of loving.
Mixing the life of the slums and the world of London's rich, A Traitor's Heart is a test for two socially different worlds, and whether love can survive.

Wild Trivia:

1. I stopped breathing during surgery as a baby and the surgeon pumped me up with those old fashioned bellows to get me breathing again!

2. My daughters were born in Russia.

3. I met my hubby on a blind date and married him 11 months later – we’ve been married 28 years this year! So blind dates can work!

4. I once danced down the dining room steps of the kibbutz I lived in to the music from Grease – a la Sandy – and a broomstick for my version of John Travolta – okay yes it was a zillion years ago!

5. I am made keen on interior decorating, much to the incredible patience of my family who roll their eyes when mum says ‘how about we try…”

***If you would like to be featured on blatant promo weekend email Jenn Hart at
jlhart79 (@) gmail (.) com. ***