An Interview with AC Katt

Today we have the wonderful A.C. Katt. Help me in welcoming her to the MFRW Authors Blog.

Where can your readers find you?

ackatt.com

ackattsjournal.blogspot.com

mlrpress.com

ackattspolitics.blogspot.com

rainbowromancewriters.com

Where’s your favorite place to hang out online?

ackattsjournal.blogspot.com

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they? A Matter of Trust is a light BDSM that is also suspenseful.

What can we expect from you in the future? A sequel to A Matter of Trust entitled Jack’s Back, a werewolf novel, I’ll Be There for You and a sequel to my first novel, The Sarran Plague entitled Living With Syn.

How do we find out about you and your books? Ackatt.com, promo

How many readers/fans contact you? mlhansel@gmail.com

Why did you decide to write romance novels? I read so many and my husband was complaining about the cost. One day I finished a novel I didn’t like and told him, “I can do better than that.” He replied, “Why don’t you, it would certainly cost us less money.”

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing? I include quite a bit of my emotions and experiences in my books and twist them to fit the plot.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms? I submitted my first manuscript because I finished the book.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book? I tend towards long and complicated plots, so it generally takes me about three months.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow? I have to go with the flow because I write when I find time.

What is your writing routine once you start a book? I write until the muse leaves.  That means I put in long hours when I’m inspired and long hours of frustration when I’m not.

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...? I write by the seat of my pants. I have an outline in my head and I follow that to its logical end.

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions? Unfortunately, my husband interrupts me constantly.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries? I take a busman’s holiday and read.

What truly motivates you in general? In your writing? Progressive politics motivates me. I believe in marriage equality, justice for the poor and paying our fair share. In my writing my character’s emotions move me and the plot.

How do you come up with ideas? That’s an interesting question. A Matter of Trust came from a phrase, a bear in a suit. In gay romance a bear is a hairy man who is usually built large and portrayed as a biker or an outdoorsman. That phrase inspired me to write A Matter of Trust.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why? In some cases, humor is very important. In A Matter of Trust,  I show Brian Murphy as clumsy. This leads to some comic scenes.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels? Do you find them difficult to write? I don’t find love scenes hard to write although they are emotionally draining. I try to make my books plot driven rather than driven by sex scenes.

What kind of research do you do? For A Matter of Trust I contacted a person I knew online who lived the life I wanted to portray. For Shattered Glass I looked at the brutal schedule that rock bands endure while touring and researched various venues. I also researched the locations.  At that time I recently moved from New Jersey to New Mexico and used these locations in my novel under the adage write what you know.

Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre? My main genre is gay romance, however, I vary the subgenre.  The Sarran Plague was science fiction. Shattered Glass was a contemporary romance and A Matter of Trust is BDSM.  I am working on a werewolf story.

What does your husband/wife think of your writing? He supports me completely.

Do you ever ask him/her for advice? Yes, I often ask him for help in research.

Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.) I am married to my husband of twenty-four years. I have four children;  my son, my husbands’ two sons and a daughter. They have given me nine grandchildren, six boys and three girls.  My oldest grandson is studying business at Penn State.

What are some of your favorite things to do? I love to read and my second love is cooking and baking. I invented a great recipe for carrot spice cake.

Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book? My favorite author is Mercedes Lackey and my favorite book is Magic’s Pawn.

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read? Laura Baumbach, Josh Layton, Robin D. Owen and Tom Clancy, a very mixed group.

Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing? A critique partner, Loukie Adlem.

Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.? I am a member of Rainbow Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America.

What do you think of critique groups in general? I prefer one on one critiques.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully, still writing.

How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer? I suffered a major illness ten years ago and that started me writing (remember the cost of books?). I wanted to write in high school but got lost somewhere along the way.

How many books have you written, how many have been published? I have had three books published, two are in re-release.

After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it? Yes, because I can’t believe I actually did it. After that I try to critique my own work to see if I could have done better.

List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing. Right now I’m reading Enchanted Again by Robin D. Owens. On my to be read list is Cherish by Shawn Bailey.

Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine? My favorite book is always the one I’m currently writing; however, my baby is Shattered Glass.

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why? I’d recommend they start with my first book, The Sarran Plague.

What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun? A Matter of Trust was the easiest to write, Shattered Glass was the hardest.

Which comes first, the story, the characters, or the setting? The characters.

What are the elements of a great romance for you? It has to make you laugh or cry.

What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you? The hardest part of writing for me is fighting writer’s block.

Are you in control of your characters or do they control you? It’s a two way street.

Have you experienced writer's block? If so, how did you work through it? God, yes, I growl in frustration until the muse returns.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer? Seeing my name in print.

What is the single most important part of writing for you? Telling a good story.

What do you enjoy most about writing? The creative surge that comes from telling a good story.

If you weren't writing, what would you be doing? Politics.

Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers? Keep writing, it gets easier.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work? An emotional connection with my characters.

 If money were not an object, where would you most like to live? Right where I am in New Mexico.

Leather or lace? lace

Black or red? red

Satin sheets or Egyptian cotton? Egyptian cotton

Ocean or mountains? Mountains

City life or country life? suburbs

Hunky heroes or average Joe? Hunky heroes

Party life or quiet dinner for two? Dinner for two

Dogs or cats? Definitely cats

I love pizza with (fill in the blank). Coke Zero

I'm always ready for (fill in the blank). A good book

When I'm alone, I (fill in the blank). Read or write

You'd never be able to tell, but (fill in the blank). I’m actually very shy.

If I could (fill in the blank) I'd (fill in the blank). If I could sing, I’d be on Broadway.

I can never (fill in the blank) because (fill in the blank). I can never play sports because I’m clumsy.

Dessert. Strawberry Cheesecake

City. New York

Season. Fall

Type of hero. Hunky but compassionate.

Type of heroine. I don’t write heroines.

A Matter of Trust

Donald K. Drummond was the Master of all he surveyed; a legend in commercial real estate in New Jersey and by night a Master Dom at the gay BDSM club, Indiscrete. What he couldn't find was a boy to call his own. That all changed when a nerd with taped glasses and worn Dockers barged into his office spilling his bottle of 1985 Bourdeau over his priceless Persian carpet. Brian Murphy came with a host of troubles, the least of which was his grasping Aunt, his invalid mother and his rather tenious position in Donald's mail room.  Can a Dom with issues of his own come to train and trust a needy boy from his own mailroom. It's all A Matter of Trust.

Excerpt – A Matter of Trust

In slow degrees, the tow-headed boy woke up on the hard floor. A faint moan, an eyelid twitch, a soft flutter of pale lashes, and then a blue eye opened face-to-antenna with a cockroach. The Sears Tough Skin jeans he’d opened as his birthday gift two days ago felt wet around the crotch and smelled of both urine and feces. His new plaid shirt with the pearl cowboy buttons was torn and bloody. He swallowed hard, past a dry lump the size of a baseball stuck in the back of his throat. He opened his left eye, the one nearest to the bug. It looked as if his bone stuck out of his shirt, a handhold under his elbow, the right arm bent at an unnatural angle just below the tear. It took a few additional seconds for the pain to hit, long enough for him to realize he did not know how he got here or why. Then it struck, shock abated.

He hurt, bad. Even so, he knew enough not to cry out. He heard Mama pounding on the door of the bathroom and Aunt Mary in the distance, along with the whine of sirens. Then the pain took him away, and he rode it back to safety.

AC Katt was born in New York City’s Greenwich Village. She remembers sitting at the fountain in the Washington Square Park listening to folk music while they passed the hat. At nine, her parents dragged her to New Jersey where she grew up, married and raised four children and became a voracious reader of romantic fiction. At one time, she owned over two thousand novels, until she and her husband took themselves and the cat to New Mexico for their health and its great beauty.

Now, most of AC’s books are electronic (although she still keeps six bookcases of hardcovers), so she never has to give away another book. AC is new to both GLBT and to writing being, as she claims, a late bloomer, however she claims to have found her niche in writing GLBT romance. Her current release is Shattered Glass from MLR Press and coming soon from MPR Press is A Matter of Trust.

A New Me

My personal image changed after several important pieces in my life were removed. In the fall of 2010, my youngest son headed off to college. At the same time, my husband and I moved from Nebraska to Southern California. My empty nest had a new home. A few weeks after we moved into our new house, my father also died. Talk about stress factors in your life, I had plenty, but I also felt as if self-image was being torn to shreds.

Who could I claim to be?

Yes. I was still a mother, but the full-time job wasn’t what it once was. Now I had nights and weekends with just my husband in a new place. No constant chatter, no kids running in and out, no hello kisses and good-bye hugs—instead silence.

My dad dying added another element. With my mother having passed away a number of years before him, I now felt like an orphan, alone and abandon by my parents. I know it sounds silly, but that’s the way I felt.

So what did I have left?

I am extremely lucky. I have a solid marriage and a wonderful husband. My career as a writer was moving along with having published a number of books. I reconnected with friends from when I lived in Southern California a few years prior.

Yes, my energy level was low, but I’ve exercised for most of my life. I knew I could lose weight and turn things around if I got moving.

But none of that helped my spirit. I needed something to feed my soul and spark a passion for life. So I did what I always do when I’m lost. I threw myself into my latest release – Birth.

The second book of the Executive Wives’ Club, Brie Sullivan’s whole life has changed too. She’s a widow, a new mother, feeling alone and afraid. I put myself into her shoes and found her a man who could love her. No, she not kick-butt strong, she’s feeling lost with no self-confidence but like me she has friends and a man who cares.

Slowly, Brie began to see herself in a new light, a person who has more to give than she thought.

Traveling on this journey with my character helped me see I have a bright future, a great life and a passion to share the heartaches of being a woman with others. We all can make it through the hard times, we just need to remember to follow our dream and let the words flow.

Excerpt from “Birth”

Pasting a smile on her face to hide the dark cloud hanging above her head, she lifted a plate in each hand and turned just as Jason strolled around the corner leading into the living room. His quick pace ate the distance between them. Dark hair, athletic build, sexy brown eyes, Jason epitomized what every woman would desire in a man, not counting that he was also caring and kind.

Why then, wasn't he married?

Unwilling to reveal the depths of her despair, she lowered her gaze as unwanted desire tingled down her spine. Not him, nor any other man in his right mind, would ever find her desirable. She drew in a breath, struggling not to torture herself by believing one ever would.

Stepping forward, she placed the plates on the counter, which separated the kitchen from the breakfast nook. “I'm sorry, but I haven't been to the grocery store since my parents left. All I have are fast easy meals for the kids.”

“No problem.” Jason paused by the bar and brushed his hand through the air, indicating the food. “You really didn't need to go to this much trouble. I could have fixed something for myself when I got home.”

Flustered by his comment when she hadn’t gone to any trouble at all, Brie shuffled to the cabinet and pulled down two glasses. “What would you like to drink?”

“Iced tea is great.”

She plopped the glasses down beside the plates, avoiding his gaze by staring at her footwear. The tiger head positioned on top of her slippers bobbed up and down as she walked across the room to the refrigerator. Opening it, she withdrew the pitcher. Her hand hovered over the condiments in the door. “Would you like some barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or something else to go with the chicken nuggets?”

“No, I like them plain.” The sound of his voice drew near. The weight of the container in her hand lightened. He brushed his free hand along her back. “I’ve got this.”

His rich scent teased her taste buds more than the flavorful aroma of the chicken and his welcoming warmth tempted her to collapse into his arms.

She wrestled with the overwhelming impulse. He didn't need her problems. Yes, he’d been there when she needed him, and he’d been a good friend. A damn good friend, but she couldn’t continue to lean on him. He deserved a woman who could love him, not one with a built-in family, or one who was still in love with her dead husband.

Tears clouded her eyes as she realized a man would never hold her again. Her heart ached and then slowly broke in two at the thought of her children never having a father. Defeated, she closed the refrigerator door.

Want to read the first chapter of “Birth”? Visit my website – http://www.tinagayle.net

Blog –           http://www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter -      https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodread -  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook -   http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle
Google + -    https://plus.google.com
Linkin -        http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759

            Tina Gayle was born in Texas, the place of her heart and where most of her family still lives. The youngest of four daughters, she grew up a dreamer.
            She worked for years in the business world doing a variety of accounting jobs. Then when her two sons were little, Tina decided to go back to school to get a degree in MIS. She only used this degree a few years before deciding to follow her passion for writing romance.
            Her first book, Pregnancy Plan was published by The Wild Rose Press in 2007. Next, she tried her hand at writing a paranormal story. Mating Rituals came next and is a farther step away from her other contemporary stories with more off-world fantasy elements. Then she wrote two more contemporary, Baby Decision and Youthful Temptations. She is currently working on a series about four executive wives. The ebooks will come out in 2012 and 2013.
            Married twenty-five years, she and her husband love to travel and can’t wait for Mike to retire so they can do it more.
            Always working on perfecting her craft, Tina is a member of RWA, attends writing conferences, and can be found in a number of writing classes. She also loves to hear from her readers. You can email her at tinagayle (at) roadrunner.com.

Kristina Knight's Debut Book

Kathleen Witte is a down-to-earth girl. She has to be, with the family ranch on the verge of success. After seven months of keeping it all together by swearing off men, however, Kathleen needs a bit of fun in the sun. Waking up with a husband she can’t remember isn’t how she planned to blow off steam.

The last thing Jackson Taylor wants in his life is a down-to-earth girl. He has four weeks of freedom in which to find his birth mother. He’s done well avoiding commitment until now, so when he wakes up on a Mexican beach with Kathleen his first reaction is curiosity. When he spies the matching wedding rings on their left hands curiosity turns to concern.

Neither Jackson nor Kathleen want to stay married, but when her family shows up, they have no choice. Once back in Texas, however, can they keep this all-business marriage from turning into an all-consuming love?

Excerpt

            The earth was moving.  And not in a good way.

            Kathleen Witte reached out, trying to grab on to something.  Anything.  But her hands met only with air.

            She shifted, and her shoulder dug into damp sand.  Where was she?  Her eyes flew open, and she winced at the bright sunlight.

            The beach?  What happened to the villa?  And her. . .Sweet Mary, Mother of God, what happened to her clothes?  Quickly, Kathleen flipped over so she was laying stomach-down on the sand.  She shivered as a splash of water reached her feet. Looking left and then right, Kathleen scanned the area.  No white dress.  No strappy sandals.  Had they been washed out with the tide?  Had she come to the beach naked?  No.  She wouldn't have.

She took a deep breath.  Her clothes had to be here somewhere.  Maybe she had decided to go skinny-dipping.  She was in Mexico, after all.  What better way to blow off a little steam than with some late night skinny-dipping?  The villa included a private beach, it wasn't as if she'd run into anyone. The old Kathleen would have balked.  Said no with a quiet smile and watched as her sisters had all the fun.  The new and improved Kathleen wasn't leaving life to her sisters, and God knew she had plenty of steam to blow off. So maybe that was all this was. Blowing off a little steam with a naked swim in the warm Pacific. Colorful lights and a heavy bass rhythm filled her heard before everything went dark. The feel of a man's hands are her waist, leading her around the dance floor echoed in her memory.

            With sudden certainty she knew she hadn't spent the night alone and that she'd not been innocently skinny dipping last night. Oh, God.

Author: Kristina Knight

Book: What a Texas Girl Wants

Release Date: June 4, 2012

Publisher: Crimson Romance

ISBN-13: 9781440544637

Amazon Buy Link

Genre: Contemporary

Heat Level: Sensual, Sex on the Page

Format: E-Book in Multiple Formats

Author Website

Author Blog(s):   http://www.kristiknight.blogspot.com

                                            http://www.wordwranglers.blogspot.com

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

IMG credit: http://www.crimsonromance.com

Author Interview: Paloma Beck

Today we have an interview with the wonderful Paloma Beck...please welcome here to MFRW Authors Blog!

Where can your readers find you?

BLOG:                                   http://RomanceBeckons.blogspot.com

TWITTER:                           https://twitter.com/PalomaBeck

FACEBOOK:                        http://www.facebook.com/PalomaBeckAuthor

FACEBOOK PAGE:            http://www.facebook.com/SevenSinSistersSeries

GOODREADS:                    http://goodreads.com/PalomaBeck

AMAZON:                             http://www.amazon.com/Paloma-Beck/e/B008XMXGGW

ROMANCE REVIEWS:     http://www.theromancereviews.com/PalomaBeck

PINTEREST:                        http://pinterest.com/PalomaBeck

Where’s your favorite place to hang out online? (From the list above.)

Facebook!

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?

Lustful Cravings is the first book in the Seven Sin Sisters, a seven-part paranormal romance series. The first book focuses on the youngest sister, Layla. She’s also the sister least likely interested in fulfilling her destiny as a woman of the Magdalena Circle. Layla’s sin is lust so she’s not experienced the sensations until the moment she locks eyes with her mate – just as the prophecy states. Mating with Madden, and her Tre Adoro, makes this book a delicious ménage read as well.

What can we expect from you in the future?

The Seven Sin Sisters will be published over the next year with the final book coming in August 2013. I also have a contemporary romance book, Coming Home, releasing in November 2012. And don’t even get me started on all my WIPs!

How do we find out about you and your books?

My blog is the perfect place to stay up-to-date.

How many readers/fans contact you?

Use any of my contact links – follow me – friend me – like me – fan me.

Why did you decide to write romance novels?
I love to read – always have – to escape from the reality of life. As an introvert, the escape is a re-charge for me so I select books that are happy (or at least have that happy ending). Most of the time, I was reading romance. It was only natural when I decided to write for publication that I chose romance.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
*cringe* This is that question my husband dreads getting from his friends. Of course, it’s usually followed up with a manly shoulder bump and a wink. So let’s put the kinky stuff aside and just say that the themes of what I write are familiar to me.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?

Every book is different and I can simultaneously be working on up to two manuscripts at a time, all in various stages. I always seem to be in a state of revision so a definitive answer is impossible. The shortest time was a single month (for a first draft) and the longest was three years.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

I write 5 days/ week. Sometimes I have to work to a deadline and that takes priority but in the best moments, I am following the character’s urgings. Whichever character is loudest in my head that day gets my attention. Fighting your personal thread of creativity is only one step short of insanity. I allow my characters to lead.

Now that I write full-time, I have to guard my time. I usually use the first hour of my day (after boys are at school and I’ve had my first cup of coffee) to check in on business. Then I write until the boys come home. Sometimes I take a lunch break but most days, I eat a kashi bar and keep going.

What is your writing routine once you start a book? Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?

After I plot my story lines, I sit down with a bottle of wine and my two beta readers. They give me their take on it and I make changes that work for me. Then I begin any research important to the themes. A lot of the time, I’m creating a photo board (Pinterest is great for this) with photos to inspire scenes and characters as well. Then I draft – without an outline – and I do not necessarily write the book in order because it’s all about letting the characters guide me. After draft one, I edit and send it off to my beta readers. When I get it back and we’ve shared another bottle of wine, I do one more sets of edits before the book is off to my editor.

How do you come up with ideas?

My story ideas come from my observations. You know that saying about being careful because you could end up in a book? Yep, that is so true. I gather ideas for stories in a little net as I wander through life. I’m always looking for an inspiring message to serve as a foundation for the book. And as crazy as this might sound coming from an erotic romance author, my strong background in religion provides me with great ideas to incorporate (like the significance of Mary Magdalene in the Seven Sin Sisters series).

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels? Do you find them difficult to write?

If it makes sense to the natural flow of the book, it shouldn’t be difficult to write. If I am ever struggling with a *sex* scene, I take a step back and question if it belongs. Sometimes, sorry to say, too much sex is not a good thing in a romance.

What kind of research do you do?
Most of my research is done on-line or using non-fiction books. I try to use themes I am already familiar with to make it easier to convey an ease with the topic. For the Seven Sin Sisters, my research was on the Italian Wars from the 1500s, Italian language and architecture. I chose Italian from my own heritage since it just made it easier and was already an interest of mine. For another WIP, I’ve friended some people on-line to answer questions for me. Personal knowledge can go a long way in creating believable characters.

How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been writing since high school and always wanted to be an author. When I went to college, I was talked into getting a degree that would get me a real job and my writing was set aside. When my parents were cleaning out their house years later, my mother sent me an old box. It contained all the writing I’d done in high school. Reading through those stories inspired me to start again. I was staying at home by then to raise my family and the boys were all now in school so it was the perfect time for me to focus on my dream.

What is the single most important part of writing for you?

Releasing everything inside of me. There’s a lot there that goes unsaid, so many characters that I develop that need a home on paper, so many thoughts an introvert like me would never say but can write.

Ocean or mountains? MOUNTAINS WITH LAKES

City life or country life? COUNTRY

Hunky heroes or average Joe? HUNKY HEROES

Party life or quiet dinner for two? DINNER FOR TWO

When I'm alone, I READ.

I'm always ready for DESSERT *wink*.

Dessert… ICE CREAM.

City... PORTLAND, ME.

Season… SUMMER.

Type of hero… ALPHA.

Type of heroine… SUBMISSIVE (and that doesn’t mean weak).

  

Series: Seven Sin Sisters Series, Book One

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Elements: Adult language/ Ménage

Author: Paloma Beck

Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-61885-352-3

Page Count: 96

BLURB

Seven sisters are entwined in a legacy bigger than anyone ever expected. One by one, they will find their mates from the immortal Valendite breeds and secure their place in history. Each sister embodies one of the seven deadly sins only to be cast aside once claimed. But claiming comes at the price of separation, causing a weakening of their combined powers, which none want to happen... until Layla, holding the sin of lust within her body, locks eyes with Madden.

Madden is one of the strongest of the Valendite Breed, a group of near-immortal men originating from the Italian Wars in the 1500s. Today, the Valendite Breed serve as the Terrorist Elimination Unit (TEU), an invisible arm of the CIA. Their only weakness is their need for a mate to carry on the Breed.  So now that Madden has found Layla, he will never let her go.

With forces mounting up against the Breed, Madden and Layla will need to rely on all of their powers combined to get them to their Pronouncement.

BUY LINK

Secret Cravings Publishing

http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=383

PG13 EXCERPT

Madden pulled away from her, just slightly, and she whimpered in protest. He chuckled and kissed her nose when he saw her wrinkle it. Struck by the flush of her cheeks, Madden noted the same flush running down her throat and to the very top of her breasts. As she took deep breaths to calm herself, he placed his forehead against hers. But Madden only paused for a moment because he had no intention of letting the emotions he was pulling from Layla subside. He would not let her gain the control she was wrestling for. A woman off-balance was what he needed her to be.

As part of the Valendite Breed, Madden had been raised to know the prophecy, to appreciate the significance of finding your mate and claiming her. He planned to worship Layla until the day they died. The sharing of blood so sacred, nothing could tear them from one another. Not only would their blood bond them together but it would also sustain Madden and prolong Layla’s life so she lived as long as he did.

Madden moved his hands to frame her face and drew her head up to meet her eyes. He brushed a soft kiss against her full lips before speaking, his voice husky with desire. “Take your tongue, Layla love, and touch it to my sharpest teeth. The blood exchange will bind us and I can take you then. Ho bisogno di te. Please don’t make me wait.”

Madden’s words were barely finished when he took her mouth again. Gently his tongue drew hers out, slowing to let her catch up to his need. When he felt the puncture wounds and tasted the first drop of her blood, he moaned low inside himself. He felt Layla tense at first and then soften her body as it settled into his own. Her moans began to mirror his. He could feel her desire as if it was his own, and it multiplied the urge to claim her and demand she submit to him as his mate.

Madden held back with every piece of control he had been trained to possess. This moment required him to remain in control, to ease her in the mating. He felt her pull away. Her body shuttered and a small whimper bubbled up from her throat. He was suddenly struck by her vulnerability.

“What’s happened, Madden? Why do I feel this way?” His Layla was frightened and he wanted nothing more than to comfort her. Her feisty golden eyes now appeared panicked. Madden couldn’t bear it.

“Layla love, we’re bonded now. You will forever feel what I feel just as I will feel the emotions inside of you. It is a powerful thing for mates. It will make the next act we perform even richer than any romance book you’ve ever read.” He rose then from the floor between her legs and pulled her to him, carrying her out of the room.

“Which way to your bedroom, Layla?”

AUTHOR BIO & LINKS

Paloma Beck is an erotic romance writer in both the Contemporary and Paranormal realms. Happily married and living a life of total contradiction, Paloma runs carpool service for her three sons, volunteers in PTA and teaches religious education.

Then in the moments when her characters talk to her, she journals their stories - and they are anything but PG. As a natural introvert, quiet time with her characters is necessary to keep sane while writing is the perfect outlet for her creativity.

Paloma believes a daily dose of coffee and a good book make any day better.

Book Spotlight ~ The Bull Rider's Brother

Shawnee, Idaho is known for two things.  Amazing salmon fishing and the first local rodeo of the summer.  For four friends, growing up in Shawnee, meant one thing, making plans to get out. Five years later, that wish has been granted for all but one.  What happens when they all get together again changes five lives.

When James Sullivan visits his hometown’s rodeo weekend and learns that his high school sweetheart had his child - six years ago - Lizzie’s world is thrown into turmoil. In THE BULL RIDER'S BROTHER, James struggles with family and Lizzie questions the risk of love.

Author:  Lynn Cahoon

Book:  THE BULL RIDER’S BROTHER

Release Date:   JUNE 4, 2012

Publisher: Crimson Romance

ISBN: B008195C2I

Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Bull-Riders-Brother-ebook/dp/B008195C2I

Genre: Contemporary

Heat Level: PG – 13 Sex Behind Closed Doors

Format: E-Book in Multiple Formats

Author Website:  http://lynncahoon.wordpress.com/

Author Blog/s:  http://lynncahoon.wordpress.com/blog/

http://www.newkidonthewritersblock.blogspot.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LynnCahoonAuthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/LynnCahoon

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5857424.Lynn_Cahoon

An Interview With Diane Burton

Today we are interviewing the wonderful Diane Burton. Please help us in welcoming her to the MFRW Author blog.

Where can your readers find you? 

blog: http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/

website: www.dianeburton.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/dmburton72

FaceBook: http://facebook.com/dianeburtonauthor

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/HGf13a

Shelfari: Diane Burton

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dmburton72/

Where’s your favorite place to hang out online?

FaceBook & my blog

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?

In Switched, Too, a former astronaut candidate gets the chance to go into space. He just has to pretend to be his twin, the captain of an alien starship. Switched, Too crosses several genres. It's a space adventure with romance, suspense and intrigue. It is the second book in the Switched series but is complete on its own.

How do we find out about you and your books?

On my website www.dianeburton.com and on my blogsite http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/ you'll find my biography plus descriptions and excerpts from each of my books. I blog every Monday on various topics—sometimes on writing, more often about things that interest me and hope they interest others.

Why did you decide to write romance novels?

I write romance novels because I truly believe in happy ever after. But, HEA does not automatically happen as soon as you find your true love. You both have to work at it. That's what I show in my novels with my characters. I met my own hero on a blind date and although we've been through some difficult times (health issues, job transfers, unemployment) we're still together after nearly forty years. The good times far outweigh the difficult ones.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

I'm at my most creative early in the morning. First, I grab a cup of coffee (love my Keurig) then open the laptop. I'll write until late morning when my dear, sweet (hint of sarcasm there) husband drags me to the fitness club. Then, it's back to writing, rereading, revising. There are days when the words just flow and flow. Then, there are the days when my muse goes gallivanting, nothing works and I'll spend way too much time on Twitter and Solitaire.

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?

The idea usually starts with the first scene, which I "see" like a movie. I start writing and the characters begin revealing themselves. Same with the "world". I have to keep track of the details as I go or I'll forget them. (Sometimes, I think my brain is a sieve.) I'll have a basic plot, which refines itself as I write. Usually around chapter 8, I need to define each main character's goal, motivation and conflict (if the characters haven't already revealed them). I do research as needed. Now, I really wish I could do active research—pilot a spacecraft, visit other planets, meet aliens (not creepy/slimy ones, of course). My alternative is to read science fiction/romance, watch sci-fi adventure movies and find interesting "space" facts on the Internet.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?

Absolutely. Life is too serious. We need something to give us a lift. Humor does that. I really enjoy Jayne Ann Krentz's (Jayne Castle, Amanda Quick) humor and the situations her heroine gets herself into. Always a good chuckle. I love Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series because they are so laugh-out-loud funny. While I can't do slapstick comedy the way she does, I try to incorporate humor in my books.

Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)

I'm married to a really great guy who has always been very supportive and encouraging—especially when I was so discouraged I wanted to quit. We have two children and two grandchildren. Because of my husband's job, we moved a lot around the Midwest. We're Michiganders so we were glad our last move brought us home. I was an elementary school teacher BK (before kids) and worked at various temp office positions after. My most fulfilling job was raising my children and now babysitting my grandchildren, which I don't get to do near enough. My last job with an oil & gas exploration company was very interesting—a whole new world. I enjoy gardening and quilting.

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?

Switched begins the adventure of twins switching places. It takes place aboard a starship, where I'd really like to be. I had so much fun writing that book. To be honest, I have fun writing all my books, but Switched was my first published book so it holds a special place in my heart.

Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Keep at it. Or to quote from the movie Galaxy Quest, "never give up, never surrender." And finish the darn book. You'll never "find" time to write—you have to make time, if that's really what you want to do.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work?

That they had a good time on a great adventure, that they laughed and sighed and even shed a tear, and at the end they smiled.

Please fill the blanks with your favorites!

Dessert: Coconut cream pie

City: Denver

Season: Fall

Type of hero: Strong, gutsy, protector with a sense of humor, courageous enough to step back from a fight

Type of heroine: Strong, gutsy, protector with a sense of humor, smart enough to know when to accept help

Blurb for Switched, Too:

Be careful what you wish for...you might get it.

Down-sized astronaut candidate Scott Cherella leaps at the chance to go into space. He just has to pretend to be the captain of an Alliance of Planets starship. His lifelong dream quickly becomes a nightmare when sabotage erupts. To save the ship and crew he has to depend on an uptight, disapproving colleague.

The only time Veronese Qilana broke the rules tragedy resulted. She vowed never again. Now, to protect the real starship captain, she'll have to deceive the crew by helping the imposter. They must work together to uncover the saboteur and get the crew safely home. In doing so, they discover opposites really do attract.

Excerpt from Switched, Too:

Scott had no choice but to use the computer now. Before tackling it for the first time, he'd hoped for the privacy of his quarters—and Veronese Qilana's help. His reluctant co-conspirator ditched him as soon as they came aboard. He mentally kicked himself for his selfishness. They were in the middle of a crisis. She had her duties. He had his.

Damn. He didn't want to tackle the computer. Suck it up, Ace. You can do this. You wanted adventure. You wanted to explore space. You got it. Now, man up.

He sat in the captain's chair. Automatically, an instrument panel on the right swung up and in front of him. A hit in the solar plexus might have been easier to take. Symbols and shapes he'd never seen before covered the segmented screen. It might as well be filled with ancient Sanskrit. Panic shot through him. He couldn't read.