QUICK and QUIRKY #MFRWauthor INTERVIEW @BarbBradley

A Quick & Quirky Interview with MFRW Author Barbara Donlon Bradley.
Barbara Donlon Bradley’s writing started innocently enough, she kept diaries, journals, and wrote an occasional letter but her vivid imagination had her writing scenes and short stories, adding characters to her favorite shows and comic books. As time went on the passion for writing became too strong to ignore. Humor dominates her life. Write something deep and dark, will never happen. That humor bleeds into her writing. Since she can’t beat it she’s learned to use it to her advantage. Now she lives in Tidewater Virginia with two cats, one mother in law – whose 87 now, her husband and son.

What song would best describe your life? 
Don’t worry be happy

Picture yourself as a store. What type of products would be sold there?
It would be totally eclectic. I’d have books, crystals, dragon and mythical figurines, teas, unique t-shirts...I’m not sure what else.

Can you describe the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
Holy cow, I’m so goofy I have to pick one? I went to an event with my sister and on our way back to the car I didn’t want to walk in the rock road because I knew I’d find that rock or hole and fall in so I walked on the grass. My sister said she kept an eye on me and I was there one minute and gone the next. I found this giant hoel and fell in to my knee – I looked like Dorfman.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Oh boy – I once walked into the men’s room in a bar by accident – no one was in there thank goodness but how goofy could I be?

City life or country life? 
I like the city life. Everything is convenient

Ebook or paperback?
Gosh, both

Zebras or elephants?
Elephants – they never forget.

How can readers connect with you?
Website: http://www.barbaradonlonbradley.com/
Publisher: http://www.phaze.com/author.php?author=21
Blog: http://barbaradonlonbradley.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbara-Donlon-Bradley/118673448173249
Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbbradley
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/barbaradbradley/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7773192-barbara-bradley
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0072OTZJE
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Barbara-donlon-bradley
ARe:http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Barbara+Donlon+Bradley
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/Search?Query=Barbara%20Donlon%20Bradley
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/search/books?Keywords=barbara%20donlon%20bradley

Barbara released Stolen Desire, Book 7 of the Vespian Way, an Erotic SF/Futuristic Romance, with Phaze Books.
When Heather is confronted with her time traveling self she fears the worst. The woman came to warn them of a terrible accident but something isn't right. The visitors her future self says are there to help only wants to kidnap her and kill her mate.

Using her mind she tries to protect her friends and family. Yet she wakes up as a prisoner after seeing the ship Storm is in blow up. She is now alone, and trapped.

Somehow she has to figure out a way home and hopefully reverse all the horrible things that have taken her family from her.

BUY LINK

EXCERPT

Heather sighed as she opened her eyes and stretched. Before she could move she felt a warm hand on her breast.
“I see you’re awake.” Storm’s breath brushed against her cheek.
She looked up at her mate, who had a knowing smile on his face. “And I see you are awake too.” She was referring to the erection pressed against her hip.
“True, but I can’t help it when I have such a wonderful partner lying beside me.” Storm nibbled against her throat. “We still have time before we need to be anywhere.”
“Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” She smiled as he settled himself between her thighs. “You could have had all the time you want if you had.”
“Because the twins aren’t allowing you to get enough sleep yet. I don’t mind watching you sleep when I know you need it. It gives me time to appreciate having you in my life.” He dipped his head to her mark. “And waking you up this way is an anticipation I look forward to. I don’t mind stretching that out a little.”
“Because you know what will happen when I wake.”
“That is the best part.”
She felt him smile against her neck as he pulled the soft tissue of her mark into his mouth before he worked his way down her body.
“You are incorrigible.”
“And that is why I’m your heart.” His tongue lathed her nipple before drawing the tip into his mouth. She arched up against him and he slipped his hands under her.
A growl escaped him when they were interrupted by the computer system. “Heather, you have a communiqué from Admiral Barrister.”
She sighed again. This time in frustration. What did he want now?
“The last time he contacted us you ended up being whipped.” Storm blew against the tip before he climbed back up her body. “I’m inclined to not let you answer him.”
“Storm, I’m still part of Earth’s security.” She looked up at him, his face only inches above hers. “I can’t ignore him.”
“Fine, but you’re not getting out of this bed until I say so.” He rolled off her and helped her sit up and settle herself against him. “Put him on, Cim.”
“Sir.” She adjusted the cover to make sure she didn’t expose herself.
“Commander, sorry if I interrupted something, but we need to talk, in person.”
“Sir?” What was so important that he wanted them to make a trip to Earth. “You know it’s not that easy for me to step away from my duties here.”
“I know, but I have something to show you that you need to see.” Bear pressed a key and changed the image they were looking at. The new picture was a holding cell. Inside was a woman who looked a whole lot like Heather. “Before you ask I ran DNA tests against the data you gave me. She is you.”
“That isn’t possible.” She suddenly felt cold.
“Tell that to her.” Bear switched the image back to him. “Needless to say this was something I didn’t want Earth security to investigate too deeply so I pretended she was you. I’m on my way to Vespia and will need clearance in about fifteen minutes.”
“We’ll meet you at the landing port.” Storm closed the communiqué and was the first one up. “I don’t like this at all.”

Quick and Quirky Questions with #MFRWauthor @Marcia_James

MFRW Author Marcia James writes hot, humorous romances and finaled in eleven Romance Writers of America contests before selling her first comic romantic suspense, At Her Command.  Her latest releases are Sex & the Single Therapist (a comic romantic mystery) and Love Unleashed (a sexy novella). In her eclectic career, she has shot submarine training videos, organized celebrity-filled nonprofit events and had her wedding covered by People Magazine. After years of dealing with such sexy topics as how to safely install traffic lights, she is enjoying “researching” and plotting her novels' steamy love scenes with her husband and hero of many years.

Today, Marcia visits with MRFW to answer a few quick & quirky questions.

1. If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
Las Vegas, with the option to fly anywhere I want to go on a moment's notice.

2. Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?
Everything humorous -- from whoopee cushions to velvet paintings of dogs playing poker.  :-)

3. What is your secret guilty pleasure?
Video poker! I love playing it, whether it's with a handheld video game or the video poker machines at the Bellagio in Vegas.

4 If you were stranded on a tropical island, who would it be with?
I'd pick my husband and best friend, Jim, of course! Hopefully one of us would remember to pack SPS 100 sunscreen and snacks!

5. What’s your most embarrassing moment?
I entered a celebrity downhill ski event, and it turned out I was the worst skier there.  :-(  My team captain asked me to snowplow all the way to the bottom of the run to make sure I wouldn't miss any of the gates. I was embarrassed, but I completed the race. And looking back, I'm glad I stepped outside my comfort zone and supported the charity involved.

6. Ebook or paperback?
Ebook, because... 1. I love being able to change the font of the book to 14 point. 2. It's very convenient having lots of books loaded on my ereader for vacations. 3. Holding the ereader and turning pages is easier with an ereader than a paperback.

7. We noticed you have dogs (and some cats) in all of your books. Can you tell us why?
I love talking about how much fictional pets contribute to a plot and ""humanize"" the grouchiest of characters. And I especially enjoy pairing a tiny Chinese crested hairless dog with a big, Alpha-male romance hero.  :-) Also I support local and national pro-animal organizations, such as pet rescue groups.

8. How can readers find out more about you?
Website: www.MarciaJames.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarciaJamesAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Marcia_James
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/marciajames/

9. Tell us about your newest book.
At Her Command, a Mainstream Contemporary Romantic Mystery, was released in September 2014.
DEA agent Domino Petracelli is chasing a career-making promotion and nothing will keep her from getting her man. She’d rather infiltrate a Columbian drug cartel than go undercover as a dominatrix at D.C.’s Xecutive Branch sex club. But she’s no quitter. As Mistress Bella, Domino investigates the club while juggling a roster of kinky submissives—and resisting one sexy client who’s not what he seems.

Detective Dalton Cutter is determined to avenge his partner, who was murdered investigating the club. Retracing his partner’s steps, he goes undercover as a club client. Dalton’s handled killers, junkies and pimps, but can the Alpha-male cop act submissive long enough to fool Mistress Bella? And will their sexual chemistry derail Dalton’s investigation?

This R-rated romantic suspense pokes fun at the alphabet soup of Washington, D.C. law enforcement agencies. Imagine if several agencies unknowingly put operatives undercover at the same location. Let the sparks fly!

Amazon Buy Link

“Ms. James has written a great book full of action, suspense and really erotic love scenes.”
-- Rating: 4 ½ Hearts – Maura Frankman, The Romance Studio

“This book starts off with a sex club and drugs, with murder and mistaken identities thrown in…a fun book.”
-- Rating: 4 Cups – Lainey, Coffee Time Romance"

If... Then... #MFRWorg Gets Down and Dirty with Author @Emerald_theGLD

Emerald is the pen name of Emily McCay, an erotic fiction author whose work has been featured in anthologies published by Cleis Press, Mischief, and Logical-Lust. She is an advocate for sexual freedom, reproductive rights, and the rights of sex workers, and she serves as a Facebook group moderator and assistant newsletter editor for Marketing for Romance Writers (MFRW). Her first single-author collection, If…Then: a collection of erotic romance stories, is out now from 1001 Nights Press. Find her online at http://www.TheGreenLightDistrict.org.

With no time to waste, MFRW gets down and dirty with Emerald...

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book? 
Good question! Thus far, I have only worked in short form fiction, so my books are collections of short stories. If I ever complete a novel, it seems I’ll be better equipped to answer this! But the amount of time I take to complete a short story seems to vary greatly. In some cases, I’ve written a complete first draft in a few hours and then spent only a few days editing. In other cases, I’ve had a story in the works for years that just hasn’t seemed to draw to a close yet.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow? 
Ideally, I would like to have a schedule, but historically, I seem to write when the urge strikes. I will say that, schedule or not, I have tended to write much more prolifically and effectively when I give myself permission to focus on <i>only</i> writing and not constantly feel as though I “should” be doing something else. The internal patterns of my psyche have historically seemed pretty distracting that way.

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres?
While I’ve had about 30 short stories published in various multi-author anthologies, I am immensely thrilled that my first solo book, If… Then: a collection of erotic romance stories, was released in mid-September. It contains ten stories (eight previously published and two new) and would most fittingly be called contemporary erotic romance. A few stories contain LGBT and BDSM elements.

How do you come up with story ideas? 
That seems such a common and understandable question, yet I have yet to figure out a simple answer for it. Things just come to me, it seems. Sexuality is a subject of fascination to me, so I’ve been known to see it in a lot of situations. When that’s happened, I’ve not infrequently made a story out of it!

What does your husband/wife think of your writing? 
I have found my partner invariably supportive of my writing endeavors. I haven’t asked him to read all of it (generally, I’m loathe to ask people to read my work, especially when it’s unpolished, and I only tend to do so if I feel particularly stuck around something or in need of specific advice/feedback), but he has read some of it, and some of it he’s heard when he’s accompanied me to the various readings I’ve done. :)

Do you ever ask him/her for advice? 
Yes. Especially when I’m writing from a male point of view. While I don’t at all buy into the idea that men and women have fundamentally different viewpoints from each other or that each respective group (male and female) is monolithic regarding perspective, I do like to check in with him to make sure the mechanics, if you will, all make sense!

Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing? 
I have no doubt many people I don’t even realize have influenced my writing have done so. Probably, on some level, everyone with whom I’ve ever come in contact has influenced it. As far as those of whom I’m aware, the authors (of any genre) whose books, especially fiction books, have left me in awe have influenced me by inspiring me in an intangible and profound way to express as beautifully as I feel they have. That list would include, among numerous others, Victor Hugo (Les Miserables), Edith Wharton (The Age of Innocence), and Donna George Storey (Amorous Woman). I also feel that any author or book (in this case I refer more to nonfiction) that results in increased self-awareness and expanded consciousness in me allows me to write more effectively, as such things allow me (or anyone) to do virtually anything more effectively.

What can we expect from you in the future? 
My second single-author collection, Safe: a collection of erotic stories, is due out in a matter of days. (!) I actually submitted Safe and what became If… Then as a single manuscript. My publisher recommend we split it into two volumes, an idea I initially resisted but have come to see was an excellent idea. If… Then is an erotic romance collection, while Safe is erotica. Erotica is my usual genre, though I’ve been known to write erotic romance as well. I’ll have a new short story included in the Best Erotic Romance 2015 anthology forthcoming from Cleis Press, and I recently finished a baseball-themed erotic novella for inclusion in a forthcoming Sweetmeats Press anthology on sex and sports.

How do we find out about you and your books? 
I welcome anyone reading this to visit my website, The Green Light District, at http://TheGreenLightDistrict.org. There’s a section devoted to my publications that includes not only information about If… Then and Safe but also the various anthologies edited by others in which I have had stories published.

How can readers/fans contact you? 
The upper-right corner of my BLOG (just under the header) shows a plethora of icons representing ways to do just that! :) Readers are welcome to email me at the address linked to there, and I am on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, and Goodreads and may be reached via my profile on any of them.

Favorite book? 
My favorite novel ever falls into the “classic” category: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. It feels difficult to me to articulate how I have felt affected by the reading of that book. The words “yearning,” “breathtaking,” “poignancy,” “gratitude,” and “inspiring” would likely all be jumbled in there were I to try.

MFRW Author Emerald recently released If... Then: a collection of erotic romance stories with 1001 Nights Press.

In these tales of sizzling erotic romance, deep affection and the warmth of familiarity underlie the erotic connection between longtime lovers. “The Plant on the Mantel” explores the unexpected implications of a generations-past affair on a young married couple. “Honey Changes Everything” finds Kim wondering how to lead her husband out of his state of despair upon losing his job; inspiration comes when breakfast in bed serves up more than just pancakes. And “If…” and “…Then” examine what happens when Valerie finds herself intensely attracted to someone other than her boyfriend—and what he does when he finds out.

With original stories (“Soft and Gray” and “Shattered Angels”) joining the eight previously published tales in this collection, If… Then is a testament to the scorching eroticism that can so seamlessly subsist with long-term romance. " In these ten tales of sizzling erotic romance, deep affection and the warmth of familiarity underlie the erotic connection between longtime lovers. If… Then is a testament to the scorching eroticism that can so seamlessly subsist with long-term romance.

Amazon BUY LINK  |  Barnes & Noble BUY LINK  | Smashwords BUY LINK

#MFRWorg Gets DOWN and DIRTY with @AylaRuse over her Fever Hitch

MFRW Author Ayla Ruse gets DOWN and DIRTY while sharing her newest book, Fever Hitch (Earth Con).

Ayla bakes away in the sunny south but dreams of warm fires in a cabin anywhere it might be snowy. Then she could let her muse loose on a writing rampage that would probably result in the loss of limb function! Instead, she sits in front of noisy fans and types in waves while fielding the needs of her family. She loves to hear from readers and you can find her almost anywhere on the web.

Connect with Ayla here: website  |  blog  |  facebook

Generally, how long does it take to complete a book?
If the story idea has been stewing in my head for a bit, I can knock out a rough draft of a 30K story in about a week. Then comes the edits and revisions which can take another couple of weeks. All in all, about one month.

Do you have a schedule you work by? 
I should have a schedule, but nothing's set in stone with me. It drives my family nuts. Typically (as I am NOT a morning person), I write when everyone's gone to bed. When deadline time approaches, I squeeze in writing time in every free moment I have. And, if I'm on a good roll, everything else in my life falls to the wayside while I type.

How do you come up with story ideas?
Everywhere and everything. I get a lot of ideas from songs. A song is basically a very short version of a longer story. Sometimes the refrain or idea of a song will spark something in me and I'll develop a whole tale around the words. Other times it can be something put out there, like a submission call. A publisher may say, ""we want stories that explore this idea."" I'll sleep on it, as the saying goes, and something good will spark and off I'll write.

What are your thoughts on love scenes?
Unless the romance novel is geared toward young adults, I think love scenes are very important to romance stories. I'm not one who is picky over before-marriage/after-marriage; I'm more interested in the developing relationship, period. I've read stories I've enjoyed where the love scenes were behind closed doors. The stories themselves were good, but I always felt it lacked something vital. It's not because I'm a voyeur, but because I believe strongly that intimacy can and does reveal a great deal about the characters and how the love story progresses. There is a vulnerability and openness to trust and deeper emotions during lovemaking. I want to see that part of the relationship. I want to read about how moved the heroine was that she cried and how the hero reacted to this emotion. I want to read about how the heroes dominance carries over in the intimate relationship. Is his heavy-handedness valid and can it make me believe how the heroine can fall so deeply in love with him? These kinds of things, IMO, can only be revealed through lovemaking.

What does your husband think about your writing? 
I smile as I write this because it's mixed. Secretly, he's proud of me, but it's not something that he'll ever share. Most of the family in general has no idea what I write--or that I'm published--and he'd rather keep it that way. I mean, it's enough I write romance, but that I write erotic romance? Very few people I know would react kindly to this knowledge.  

Do you ever ask him for advice? 
Believe it or not, I do. Well, not advice per se, but I will talk about my stories with him as I'm developing them. He'll help me brainstorm and even give ideas if I'm feeling stuck. The other night, in fact, he helped me work through a wall I'd had in a new story I'm writing. He may not ever read my stories, but he knows enough about them to understand when I say, ""the alien one,"" or ""the pirate one.""

Tell us about your latest book
FEVER HITCH (EARTH CON) was created from my publisher's series idea. At it's basic form, we (the interested authors) had to create stories set in a comic book convention with aliens. This discussion started my mind to spinning and my result is FEVER HITCH. As far as genre, it's classified as sci-fi/paranormal romance at Changeling Press.

Felicia Walker loves her job as an illustrator at Fever Hitch Comics. During this year’s annual Earth Con, she will not only draw caricatures, but she’ll also be decked out in body paint to represent the F’ldae -- an alien species from the comics. As she starts off a night exploring the off-limits, alien side of the convention, Felicia is unprepared for the spiraling events that will make her behave like a true F’ldae… in full mating heat.

Agent Slate Reese, along with his best friend Agent Ryker Seals, are Metons who want to settle down, but they’re having a difficult time finding the female to complete their mating trio. With the vast assortment of alien species converging on this area, surely there’s one female who wouldn’t mind spending a night with both of them.

Changeling Press  |  Amazon

Share what reviewers are saying about Fever Hitch.
5 stars from Alberta (Manic Readers): ""I loved the characters, the premise, the word pictures, the sex and the excitement of the Con, just everything.""

4 Taps from Daria (We Love Kink): ""it was entertaining bit of sci-fi mixed with erotica. The characters as well as the story was fun.""

Enjoy an EXCERPT!

Ryker lifted the drink to his lips and took a long swig. “Ah, Tazar beer. Nothing else like it in the universe.”
“You aren’t shittin’ me,” Slate mumbled, sipping modestly of his drink. “Stuff tastes like crap. I don’t see how you stomach it.”
“Acquired taste, my man.”
Slate grunted and set his forearms on the table.
“Do you think we’ll get any hits?” he asked Ry.
Ry shrugged and watched various species interact on the dance floor. “It’s a big convention. We made our rounds, dropped our hints, left our contacts. Now we sit and wait.”
Slate rubbed his huge hands together. “Something feels off.”
“You ever been to a con before?”
Slate shook his head no.
“They always feel off, like the universe is tilted or something. I think it’s because of the huge intermix of species coupled with the fact that we’re in an alternate plane here. Remember, the humans have not accepted other species as a general rule, so our presence is still relatively unknown to the humans next door.”
Slate chuckled. “You’ve always been the analyzer.”
“It’s why you keep me as your partner.”
The men shared a brief chuckle, then Slate spoke up again.
“Remember that walkway over on the human side? It was near the booth for that comic book place.”
“You mean Fever Hitch -- they’re the ones sponsoring this whole thing. But yeah, I remember. Why?”
“Did you see the F’ldae onstage?”
“No. Really? They don’t go out much. That species is frightened of their own skin.”
“Exactly. So why am I seeing the same F’ldae on the dance floor?”
Ry whipped his head around to where Slate was boring a hole through a female. Yes, it was a F’ldae, and Ry couldn’t believe his eyes. The little female was snuggled up next to a Bulzant, and that overgrown plastic looking thing looked to almost swallow the female. She turned bright eyes up to it and said something that made the Bulzant quiver.
“Damn, I never knew that species could move like that,” Ry said, amazed.
“What? The F’ldae?”
“No, the Bulzant.”
“Does it look like she’s okay to you?”
“Who? The F’ldae? Yes. She’s jamming right along --“ Ry cut his words off as his eyes zeroed in on her.
“What?” Slate wanted to know.
Ry chuckled. “Looks like your timid little creature is in heat.”
“What do you mean?”
“Wait until she turns -- there. See the orange markings along her ribcage? When a F’ldae goes into heat, those markings show up.”
Ry shifted back to his drink and noticed Slate hadn’t taken his eyes off the female. Hmm…
On the human side, he’d noticed Slate staring at the walkway but hadn’t thought too much about it. It seemed that F’ldae had caught his eye. And seeing her move on the dance floor just a little bit ago had caught Ry’s eye.
A F’ldae. In heat.
They didn’t have to ask her to be their third in a permanent relationship, but maybe he could sweet talk her into being their third for the night.

The Write And Long Of It with #MFRWauthor Kathryn Blake @KRBwrites

Kathryn R. Blake gives us the Write and Long Of It in today's interview.
We Asked. She Answered.

How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?
I've been writing stories since elementary school, but I started out wanted to be an actress and was a Drama major in College.

How many books have you written, how many have been published?
I'd say I've written about fifteen books and six have currently been published.  A few may never see the light of day again, since I keep writing new books instead of going back to ones I've put aside for various reasons.

A Simple Misunderstanding is Kathryn R. Blake's fourth novel with Blushing Books, and third spanking romance where Domestic Discipline is primary to the plot.  Although Kathryn is new to the spanking romance market, she is not new to stories where the hero spanks the heroine.  In fact, most of her novels have some sort of spanking in them.  However, even in Kathryn's novels where the hero firmly believes in using spanking as a deterrent, he has no desire to cause the heroine injury and takes no delight in hurting the woman of his heart. 

After you've written your book, and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?
I always purchase my own books, especially from my publisher, so I have a copy in every format they offer.  I own a Kindle, so I also go to Amazon and download the book on my device; however, I rarely read it again.  I've read each of my books at least twenty times before it is published, so I don't really need to read it again afterward.

List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.
Only two?  I have some that are automatic buys for me.  It's so hard to limit myself, since there are so many other authors I enjoy, but I'll list Cara Bristol and Maren Smith.

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?
I'd like to think I improve with each additional book I write, so I'd say start with my last book, A Simple Misunderstanding.  It has a powerful theme of a woman caught in an abusive relationship in a community known for its tolerance with spanking relationships.  It's the 7th in the Corbin's Bend series, but if definitely stands alone.

Kathryn released A Simple Misunderstanding, an Erotica Novel with Blushing Books/Lazy Day Publishing. 
Spousal spankings in Corbin's Bend... She thought her husband was the man of her dreams, until he became the man of her nightmares. Elly Benson struggled to be the properly submissive wife her husband desired.  She tried to do everything he asked of her, until he convinced her she could never be the perfect woman he expected and demanded by nearly killing her. As a vet, Jerry Douglas recognized signs of abuse when he saw them.  Elly Benson, however, was a married and consenting adult who insisted all her bruises and welts were nothing more than a simple misunderstanding between her and her husband, until the day Arthur Benson took his authority and discipline one-step too far.

AMAZON US  |  AMAZON UK

Which comes first, the story, the characters, or the setting?
That's hard, but I'd say the idea for the story comes first, then the characters that best fit the story I want to tell, and finally their setting.  However, they are almost simultaneous since the story requires certain characters and a setting.  Without them, I wouldn't have a story.

What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?
Dialogue is the easiest.  The characters talk in my head, so their dialogue flows onto the page.  Narrative is more difficult since the picture is in my head like a movie, but I sometimes have difficulty putting what I'm seeing into words.

Are you in control of your characters, or do they control you?
I'm ultimately in control of them, but they are in control of their own lives.  In Arrested by Love, I had two secondary characters that started to take over the novel.  I couldn't allow that, so I cut them out and gave them their own book, which became A Dom's Dilemma.

What is the single most important part of writing for you?
Being able to tell the story that's taking place in my head.  As I kid I wrote scripts and had my friends act them out with me, so I've always been telling stories.  That's the fun part.  The creative part for me.  Editing is the professional part, and probably the most work I do on a manuscript.

How can readers connect with you?
Website: http://www.kathrynrblake.com
Blog: http://krbnaughtythoughts.blogspot.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/KRBlake.page
Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/KRBlake.profile
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/krblakepin/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-R.-Blake/e/B003G5G15Y
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4058144.Kathryn_R_Blake
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KRBwrites

#MFRWorg gets DOWN AND DIRTY with @AuthorLyndaB #MFRWauthor

Welcome MFRW author Lynda Bailey. Tell us about yourself.
I’ve always loved stories, especially romances. For me the only thing better than reading a romance is writing one. That and drinking red wine while eating dark chocolate.

My romances are full of passion, with heat levels that range from hot to sizzling! I'm proud to have been a 2010 finalist in the prestigious Golden Heart®. Please join me for laughter and love, and where the good guys always win in the end.

I live in Reno with my husband of thirty+ years and our two pampered pooches.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
That depends on the book's length. For a novella, it usually takes me a couple of months from start to finish once I start writing. Longer fiction obviously takes, well, longer... ;)

Do you have a schedule for writing?
Once I'm into a story, I write first thing in the morning, when all is quiet. I then try to get as many words on the page as possible during the day before my DH comes home at 5pm.

How did you come up with the story idea?
I was inspired years ago by Liliana Lovell (the original owner of the Coyote Ugly saloons) to write a cougar story based on a female bar owner and a younger bartender, but the story never really solidified in my head. Once I added the BDSM aspects, it took off... ;)

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels?
For me, not have love scenes in a romance book is kinda like having cake without any icing. It's still good, but not as good as it could be... ;)

What does your husband think of your writing?
My honey is my biggest fan! I couldn't do any of this without his rock-solid support.

How can readers/fan contact you?
I love to hear from readers! They can drop me an email at Lynda@lyndabailey.net

Tell us about your latest book...
Shattered Trust is a contemporary BDSM erotic romance.

Kate Landry trusted the wrong man and paid dearly for her mistake. But she survived and raised her daughter alone. At forty-two, Kate has a good living as the owner of the Bluebird Saloon. But she’s forgotten how to live. That is until he comes into her bar…

Liam St. James loved a girl once. And only once. After an accident paralyzed her, she didn’t trust he’d continue to love her. Liam left and discovered a world where women did trust him—to be their Dominant. He’s a master – literally, but the request from the stoic bar owner will pose his greatest challenge yet…

Kate and Liam embark on a journey to uncover repressed urges and to discover new desires. They also fall in love. But when you’ve been shattered as badly as they have, loving is easy. Trusting is harder, especially when the heart is involved…

Learning to love is the easy part...

Amazon BUY LINK

Excerpt

“You will pay me with your submission.” Liam tucked his index finger under Kate’s chin and lifted her gaze to his. “Whenever, wherever and however it pleases me.”
She closed her eyes and two twin teardrops leaked out. Her jaw trembled so hard, her teeth clicked. His Dom fairly danced with glee as blood swelled in his cock.
She licked her lips, leaving a shiny path he longed to follow. “What if I can’t…submit?”
He dropped his hand and took a big step back. “Then nothing. We go back to the way things were.”
She huddled tight to the wall, her body shaking and her breathing ragged. He worried she might hyperventilate again.
After a slow, silent count to twenty, and she still hadn’t moved, Liam hoisted the empty keg and turned to leave.
“I don’t want to feel this way anymore.”
Her hushed words stumbled his feet to a halt. Fuck.
“Can you fix me?”
He slammed his eyes shut. Goddamn it! He didn’t want to look at her. He wanted to just keep walking, out of the room and out of the Bluebird. Permanently. But that wasn’t going to happen. He glanced over his shoulder.
She still hugged the wall with her arms wound so tightly around her middle it was a wonder she could draw a breath. Her wide-eyed gaze snared him. Kept him rooted to the spot. She looked helpless, so fucking helpless, yet determination etched her mouth. She might be scared, terrified even, but she had grit. By God, she was beautiful.
He fortified his resolve. He wouldn’t allow himself to be wooed by her enticing vulnerability or her quiet courage. This dangerous plan needed to die—for both their sakes. He graced her with his wickedest grin. “When I’m done with you, you’ll be either fixed or broken completely.”

Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush with #MFRWauthor @VictoriaPinder

MFRW Victoria Pinder has a great book... and is here today to talk to us about it!
Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.

The Zoastra Affair, Chaperoning Paris, Borrowing the Doctor, and Electing Love, Mything the Throne and Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush will be published in 2014.

Now she is represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Also she’s the Vice President for the Florida Romance Writers. Her website is www.victoriapinder.com.

Author Interview
Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
Before engagement, it took two months to draft a book. Wedding brain took over, but I'm learning a new way now. Ask again later when I'm settled now that the wedding is over.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
I believe in writing daily to keep forging ahead.

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres?
I started my first novel in contemporary romance, not that anyone read it. But it was my stepping stone. I went into sci fi/fantasy romance because I wanted to write those books, but contemporary romance held me together with hope. (Not that I ever expected a billionaire to be my best friend who falls in love with me.)

If so, what are they? How do you come up with story ideas?
Just imagine the world, and let the imagination soar. Ideas are like pennies. They are everywhere and everyone has at least one. Now the stick to your guns to write the novel is different question entirely. Most people are too busy.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels?
I don't write erotic, but I've read it. I don't write inspirational, but I've read it. The books I liked tended to have sex scenes, and honestly sex is a natural expression of love. And romance novels are love novels.

What does your husband/wife think of your writing?
Part of what made my now husband probably remember me is how I corrected his courting in a funny way. I said things like this... 'You guys' he said. My immediate answer on our first date,  ""I'm not a guy in case you haven't noticed.' I'm comfortable in my skin now and so is he. It made dating and even the wedding fun. Writing romance empowers me to be a better wife, so it's all good.

Do you ever ask him/her for advice?
Funny enough I wish I knew him when I wrote the Zoastra Affair. Science is what he does for a living and it would have been nice. If I ever get to his specialities, I'll ask him.

Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
Leigh Michaels book on Creating Romantic Characters. I read this book before I admitted to myself I wanted to write romance. (One would think buying and taking the yellow highlighter to the book would have given it away to me...

What can we expect from you in the future?
More contemporary romance novels and talking about my silly life on social media.

How do we find out about you and your books?
Website: http://www.victoriapinder.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriapinder1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/victoriapinder
Blog: http://victoriapinder.com/?cat=6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8120316.Victoria_Pinder

How can readers/fans contact you?
I received my first hug from a cancer survivor yesterday on my book Chaperoning Paris. So if we meet in person now, I do like hugs.

Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush

Erotic Contemporary Romance
Jupiter Gardens Press

Penny moves back to Miami to start her a job with a list of things to accomplish.

1. Find a place to live.
2. Avoid her gold-digging mother.
3. Reconnect with old high school friends: her best friend Sandra, the dramatic Eva, the dark Michael, her half-brother Wyatt, and her former crush Jay.

Jay may have kept her firmly in the “friend zone”, but that didn’t stop her from wanting more. Her five friends have stood by her through some difficult times and she’ll need their help now to accomplish her first two goals.

As soon as Jay sees Penny, he puts his plan into motion. His investors need to see him with a stable woman, one who isn’t all flash and no brains; Penny fits the bill perfectly. There’s just one hitch—he wants more.

Their pretend date sets off a whirlwind of plots. From mothers who want to control their children’s lives to the loss of her exciting new job, Penny’s world turns upside down. She knows she can overcome all obstacles except one—she’s falling for Jay all over again."

AMAZON Buy Link

EXCERPT
“Home, sweet, err...coffee.”
Getting out of her car, Penelope brushed her worn jeans to get out a small wrinkle. Not that it mattered. She smelled the coffee drawing her to the door. The delicious aroma of freshly brewed java that could wake her up waited inside. Gainesville had coffee shops, but nothing that held her heart like this place. In high school, this place was her Mecca. Her stomach grumbled for the familiar drink.
The coffee shop looked almost the same as it had years ago, except for the aluminum tables and wooden chairs with red cushions. She remembered the plaid chairs and brown tables, but the place still calmed her, like she was coming home.
She stepped up to the counter. “I’ll have a cinnamon dulce non-fat latte, please.”
Leaving Gainesville after college had always been the plan. Just never back to Miami, but she’d changed. She could live here now.
She checked her lip gloss while she waited for the latte at the counter.
When she accepted the promotion from part-time to full-time position, she knew she would have to face her mother and the catch of the month, Lars, her mother’s plastic surgeon. What that woman would do for a free tummy tuck.
The job she’d accepted had offered to triple her salary provided she moved to the Coral Gables office. Somehow, she’d avoid her mother until necessary. What was the man’s name with money this week? Penny ignored that last call, knowing the man with the largest wallet always took precedence over whatever Penelope needed. Getting the non-fat milk, she watched the barista finish her latte. She’d succeed here, now. She had to.
She’d call Sandra, Eva, John, and Michael later. Wyatt, her half-brother, was stationed overseas, so she’d wait for his weekly call. These people were her real family.
The man handed her the latte. The first sip gave her the strength to do this. The tightness of the ride dissipated while she tasted her liquid savior. Sighing, she tasted heaven, the wake-up to her day.
“Penelope.”
Though the unmistakable voice was deeper, she knew who it was without even turning. Her high school crush, who never noticed her beyond her brain, with a deeper tone. Pulling at her pink tank top, she wished she wore better clothes. “John Jay.”
His steely blue eyes and sandy blond hair were the same color, but his build had grown more muscular. The leanness of his youth gave way to broad shoulders and hard, muscular arms. He had a straight, faded scar on his left cheek that was new--probably a bar fight. Rich boy wore his fancy perfectly fitted polo and jeans, and was definitely hotter with age. His million-dollar smile and devastating dimples sparked a warm flush that sped through her all the way to the tips of her toes.
“I’m going by Jay these days. It’s less formal.” He winked at her, turning off his tablet, pointing her to his table.
“It’s a good name, but I still prefer Dimples,” she teased. “It’s what I called you on online whenever I needed you.”
His rich, deep laugh sent that familiar spark through her.

#MFRWauthor @MardiMaxwellRom is QUICK and QUIRKY! Read This Author Interview!

Some QUICK and QUIRKY answers from MFRW Author Mardi Maxwell.

Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Utah but I’ve traveled throughout America and lived in sunny California, west Texas and the mountains of Colorado. I wrote my first erotic romance in the summer of 2013. It was accepted and published that same year. Since then I’ve written three more books in the Doms of Club Mystique series. At this time I’m busy writing the fifth and final book in the series.
Other than writing, I love to read, travel, garden, swim and hike with my family, as well as go to the local drive-in movie with a carload of friends and a huge container of home-made cheese popcorn.

If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
Actually I’d like to travel all over the world and live in one location in each country for 3-4 months before moving on.

If you were a tool, what would people use you to do? 
I’d be a multi-tool because they’re so handy. You can screw with them, cut, clamp, you name it.

What song would best describe your life? 
Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles.

Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there? 
An old west dry goods store full of a little bit of everything from food to tools to household goods.

What is your secret guilty pleasure?
Cheese popcorn. I love it and can’t get enough of it.

If you were stranded on a tropical island, who would it be with?
Wolf Meyer from Siren in Bloom by Sophie Oak. He’s sexy and a protector.

Tell us about the scariest thing that ever happened to you.
When I was pregnant with my son I had a nightmare about a child calling my name and I went into the room we’d planned as the nursery except the walls were red instead of the soft green we’d painted them. There was a toddler bed with a little boy on it and he was sitting up crying so I walked toward him and as I did a man moved out of the shadows and began stabbing me. I woke up screaming and hysterical. Needless to say I won’t have a room in my house with red walls.

If you were on a reality show, what one would it be? 
Naked and Afraid, except I’d hate to be sent to the jungle. Bugs!

City life or country life? 
City with lots of things to do. Preferably in a high-rise apartment with a great balcony and a view.

Ebook or paperback? 
Mostly ebooks these days.

Mardi recently released Zane's Choice (The Doms of Club Mystique, book 4), an Erotic Romance with Siren Publishing.

Beautiful, curvy, Ravyn Templeton saw Zane Ramsey in a BDSM club in Houston three years ago. He’s haunted her dreams ever since. 
Zane is an Assistant District Attorney and co-owner of Club Mystique, the BDSM club he and his brothers built on their Texas ranch. When Ravyn’s ex-husband is arrested for trying to have her killed the case is assigned to Zane. 
The moment Zane meets Ravyn he wants her and even though he knows having an affair with her will jeopardize his career he can’t resist her. When Ravyn’s ex-husband accuses her of laundering money for a drug cartel, and she refuses to answer Zane’s questions he leaves her. 
Fate steps in and brings them together again. Zane has the power to save Ravyn but only if he loves her enough to fight for her.

BUY LINK

EXCERPT
Zane cursed, then stalked toward her. He clenched his fist in the hair at her nape then curved her into him until their noses were almost touching.
Ravyn looked into his angry eyes and shivered. “Let go, Zane.”
“You need to leave, Ravyn. Now.”
“No. I’m hiding from the press and everyone else who wants to put me behind bars—people like you.”
“Dammit, Ravyn. I told you I would protect you.”
“No you didn’t. You said you would get me the best deal you could if I would turn state’s evidence.” She tried to move away from him and he tightened his hand and pulled her head farther back while curving her pelvis against his. His erection pressed into her belly and she breathed a swift sigh of relief at the proof that he still wanted her.
“I told you from the beginning if you were guilty I wouldn’t lie for you,” Zane said, the words gritted out between clenched teeth.
“Then you shouldn’t have fucked me.” Ravyn reached up and tried to pry his fingers from her hair. “Let go, Zane.”
“This time you’ve gone too far. Be still or I’ll beat your ass.”
“You can’t. You’re the one who set the limits of our relationship.” She gave up trying to pry his hand loose. “You said fucking only. Nothing else.”
“Tell me the truth then—tell me what you know.”
“Nothing. I don’t know anything.”
“You lie to me and then you question why I won’t—” He pulled her head back until the tendons in her neck stood out. “Just don’t lie to me again. It really pisses me off.”
Ravyn used her peripheral vision to look to her right. Everyone’s attention was focused on them. “Zane, let go. Everyone’s watching.”
“Don’t mind us,” Cade said. “You’d be surprised how often something like this happens around here lately.”
Zane shot a dirty look toward the room’s occupants then focused on her again. “Everyone out.”
A moment later Cade picked Addison up then settled in the chair behind his desk and smiled.

How can readers connect with you?
www.mardimaxwell.com
www.facebook.com/MardiMaxwellRomance
www.twitter.com/MardiMaxwellRom
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7790271.Mardi_Maxwell
www.bookstrand.com/mardi-maxwell
http://www.amazon.com/Mardi-Maxwell/e/B00HUWU9FM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Cooking Up A Storm with #MFRWauthor @AshleyLadd

MFRW Author Ashley Ladd released Cooking Up A Storm, an Erotic GLBT Contemporary Romance with Totally Bound in July 2014.

Brooks and Rique desperately want to win the head chef’s position offered by an eccentric millionaire Jonah Verleun on his beautiful, private but peculiar island that includes a zoo full of exotic animals, an amusement park and a monster shark tank beneath Jonah’s bedroom floor. While Brooks wants the job to escape his heartache and the lover who thwarted him, Rique is hiding from the mob, hoping to live long enough to pay them off with the prize winnings. Fierce competitors, they cook up a storm in a series of cooking challenges while trying to turn down the heat on their intense attraction. When a hurricane strikes the island, the storm Rique has been cooking up explodes, and no heart—or body—is safe. Brooks and Rique desperately want to win a coveted chef’s job offered by an eccentric millionaire in paradise. Even more, Rique desperately wants to stay alive.

BUY LINK

EXCERPT

They ran, hunched over, zigging and zagging as bullets flew around them. Rique damned himself for putting Brooks in this mess. He wondered if the mob held the others prisoner and that’s why they didn’t answer the door.
He turned the first corner they came upon and then the next. He stopped dead and the air left his lungs. A moment later Brooks ran into his back almost knocking him over. He swayed dangerously but managed to stay upright and spread his arms wide to keep Brooks from stumbling forward.
He couldn’t believe his eyes. One of Jonah’s tigers lay in their path crouching low, baring his teeth, and eying them as if they were dinner.
He tried to quell the jitters attacking his stomach so the animal wouldn’t smell his fear then whispered to Brooks through clenched teeth, “What do we do now? Freeze or run?”
“Run. But where?” Brooks whispered back, a frown trembling on his lips.
“To the closest protection.” He prayed their hunters had lost them, that they wouldn’t run back into a barrage of bullets. As Rique bunched his muscles to run, already feeling the animal’s fangs ripping into him, he noted how the tiger’s thick muscles corded in his shoulders, and how saliva ran down his snarling lips.
“Dear God, we’re going to die.” Panic laced Brooks’ voice. “If we get out of here alive, let’s both turn down the job and move in together.”
Swallowing hard, Rique couldn’t reply so he nodded. Besides, as much as he wanted to live with Brooks, he couldn’t do it as long as he was indebted to the mob. However, the point was moot. He couldn’t see a scenario in which one of them didn’t die in the next five minutes.
Feeling responsible, Rique couldn’t let anything happen to Brooks as long as he was alive. He would take on the tiger giving Brooks time to reach safety. “On the count of three, run!”
As Rique whispered, “One,” hisses, then a blood-curdling growl wrenched the air. It was a different sound than the tiger was making. Then a crocodile bellowed and jumped out of the bushes and snatched the tiger by its belly. As it dragged the struggling creature back to the bushes, the tiger howled in surprise and pain. It clawed the air in vain as the reptile’s powerful jaws clamped tighter biting through flesh and bone.

ABOUT Ashley Ladd
Ashley lives in South Florida with her husband, five children, and beloved pets. She loves the water, animals (especially cats), and playing on the computer. She's been told she has a wicked sense of humor and often incorporates humor and adventure into her books. She also adores very spicy romance, which she weaves into her stories.

AMAZON  |  BLOG  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  GOODREADS

AUTHOR INTERVIEW
If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
Cincinnati, Ohio. I miss my hometown. It’s the most beautiful place on earth and I’m homesick. I made a wish when I was sixteen that I wanted to live in sunny Florida—and guess what? I’ve been living in my dream land for the past twenty-five years. Be careful for what you wish. Now I’m ready to go home.

If you were a tool, what would people use you to do?
A jigsaw. So they could build beautiful furniture.

What song would best describe your life?
This is a toughie. “Fuckin’ Perfect” by Pink

Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?
Cat and kittens and products to make them happy and healthy. I’m the original cat lady. 

What is your secret guilty pleasure?
Milk duds when I’m at the movie theater.

If you were stranded on a tropical island, who would it be with? You can choose any living, deceased or mythical figure.
Indiana Jones

Can you describe the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
I was one of our newscasters in high school, and I had to read a newscast to the entire school off a roll of toilet paper while sitting on a toilet. My cousin, who is also one of my classmates, will never let me forget it.

Tell us about the scariest thing that ever happened to you.
When I was six, I was learning how to ride my bicycle in my front yard with my parents and several of my friends watching. I was doing quite well until the phone rang and both my parents ran inside to answer it. Then I made a wrong turn and went down the steep hill on the side of our house—straight into our woods. I couldn’t stop. I rode straight into a three-pronged tree, broke my nose, and knocked loose a lot of teeth.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Besides sitting on a toilet reading a newscast off a roll of toilet paper in front of the entire school? I think that was also my most embarrassing moment. Nothing else comes to mind.

If you were on a reality show, what one would it be?
What Not To Wear (at least that’s the one my daughter wants to send me to)

City life or country life?
I used to think I’d love to live in the country, but I’m too spoiled by city living now so I’ll have to say city. I love the conveniences too much.

Ebook or paperback?
Ebook! I love e-readers. They feel so Star Trek and I’m such a Trekkie. Plus I’m far-sighted and even with glasses it helps that I can adjust the font large with ebook readers.

Zebras or elephants?
Zebras—because I love horses and they’re similar to horses.

#MFRWorg gets DOWN AND DIRTY with #MFRWauthor Savannah Morgan @AuthorSavvyM

An Interview with Savannah Morgan.
Savannah lives in the Deep South with her husband and two dogs. She loves animals, travel, and reading. She has traveled and lived throughout the US and Europe during her 25 year marriage and has looked at every move as a new adventure. She enjoys meeting new people, seeing new things, and any type of adventure. She has often thought she would have been an anthropologist if she hadn't started writing first.

How long does it take you to write a book? Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
It takes me about three to four months to write a complete manuscript, if I can get the time to actually write. Because of hectic schedules, life interruptions and all the rest, I don't have a writing schedule and usually just go with the flow, writing when I get the chance. I do take a notebook with me everywhere I go so I can jot down ideas, sketch out new characters, and add to existing characters, etc..., otherwise, I would lose a lot of my ideas.

How do you come up with story ideas?
I don't really have a process where I sit down and brain storm for ideas. My story ideas come to me from any and all sources and then while I sleep I dream of the characters, what they are going through, what of their story is important and needs to be told. Once I wake up I usually have a pretty good idea of who, what, when, where and why.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels?
Well, of course I'm all for them. I think they are needed and I personally love to read a smokin' hot love scene between the hero and heroine.

What does your spouse think of your writing?
Well he calls my erotica, my smut novels all the while he is snorting trying not to laugh. He is a great fan of my Suspense/Thriller Romances and my fantasy book, neither of those genres have been published at this time, but just wait they will be soon.

Do you ever ask him/her for advice?
Yes, he helps me crawl into the mind of a man. He has saved me numerous times by telling me the male perspective on any given situation. He’s very honest and has no problem telling me, 'A man wouldn't do that, say that, act that way'.

Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
Mostly other authors, Sherrilyn Kenyon was giving a workshop and I had the chance to chat with her. She gave me encouragement and talked to me about my concerns of how dark some of my writing is. She told me sometimes we just have to write dark to get it out of our system. I think that is where the character of Allen McKinnon came from, that dark place, deep inside of me, that just had to come out. At times, while writing him, he frightened even me. A lot of Allen ended up in the chopped file, but I have to say he is the most terrifying villain I've ever written. Honestly though, I've drawn either some sort of inspiration or encouragement from nearly every author I've read.

What can we expect from you in the future?
As I mentioned previously, I have several things in the works. The second and third books of Sapphire Springs will hopefully be out next year. I have a new contemporary suspense/thriller series about seven female cousins who band together to form their own private security team. Each of the seven women have their own specialties, martial arts, weapons, explosives, technology. Along with their fighting and expertise in weaponry they are each professionals, one is a biochemist, another a trauma surgeon, and another is an expert at international law and holds a law degree. The others have just as exciting careers, but each has faced something in their career or personal life that has driven them to ban together to form this group. The first book in that series will hopefully be out sometime this coming winter. I'm also working on a fantasy story set in another realm with magick, dragons, and curses.

How do we find out about you and your books? How can readers/fans contact you?

http://www.author-savannahmorgan.com/home.html
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Savannah-Morgan/227175397443904
https://plus.google.com/u/0/112593002112213180392
http://www.pinterest.com/smorganauthor/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21774574-dreams?from_search=true

Do you fans’ comments and letters influence you in any way?
I'm a new author; therefore, my fan base is rather small at present. I do answer every email and private message I get personally. I’m a firm believer that if someone takes the time to write me, whether it is to tell me how much they enjoyed the book or to give me constructive criticism, I should take the time to thank them and respond to their correspondence. Will I always be able to answer them as quickly as I am doing now? I don’t know, but I can promise I will try.

Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?
One of my readers wrote a very nice review. She said I wrote evil very well. Another review congratulated me and said I had found my calling. Both of those reviews made me feel as if I was doing what should be. They made me feel great.

Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book? Favorite series?
I have so many favorite authors it would take another post to list them all, but to name a few, Sherrilyn Kenyon, her Dark Hunter and League series is a favorite; Christine Feehan, her Dark, Drake and Sisters of the Heart series are some more favorites, Kallypso Masters’ Rescue Me series has me completely hooked and dying to know what comes next. Recently I’ve read Danielle James’ Forbidden Love series and I really liked, enough that I have every book she’s written. Like I said, I have a lot of favorite authors and series and this isn’t even the tip of the list."


Tell us about your latest book, including genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so what are they?
Dreams: A Sapphire Springs Novel is my first book released. It is designated Adult Contemporary/

Erotica, but I think it is also a Romantic Suspense...just with language and hot sex.

Dreams is the story of Devin Blackthorn and Kylie James. Devin is a lot older than Kylie and Kylie had at one time been in a relationship with Devin's half-brother, Allen McKinnon. Devin had been attracted to Kylie from the start, but knew she was too young for him. He also wasn’t going to go after a girl that was with his brother. Through the years Devin developed strong feelings for Kylie, emotional and sexual, but felt he didn't have the right to make anything happen between them because of all the issues separating them. When Devin finally has enough of being tortured by erotic dreams of Kylie, he decides to claim her for his own, his brother and anyone else who wants to object be damned. But when Devin and Kylie finally get together, Allen returns and Devin learns some truths about Kylie, Allen and their real relationship. From that point on everything goes sideways and Devin has no choice but to protect Kylie and Jamie from his own brother. The action and sex in Dreams is both exciting and explosive, but I do warn my readers there is a part in the book that could be a trigger for rape survivors. You can read the entire interview where I talk about writing Dreams on my website www.AuthorSavannahMorgan.com.

AMAZON Buy Link

Book BLuRB
Devin’s taken care of Kylie and her son, Jamie, ever since his brother, Allen, abandoned them eleven years ago. Never allowing his feelings for Kylie to show or asking for anything in return, Devin’s tortured nightly by erotic dreams of Kylie. At his limit, Devin is now ready to admit he wants Kylie for himself.

Kylie has made mistakes in her life, but her son is not one of them. For eleven years she has kept the secret of Allen’s betrayal and remained quiet of his crimes. But when Allen returns, Kylie is afraid he is coming after her once again. To stop Allen from destroying her son, Kylie must confront her past and reveal the painful secrets she’s kept.

When Devin learns Allen has targeted Kylie and Jamie, once again he must put all his resources into protecting them, even if it means destroying his brother to do it.

5 out of 5 stars... This is the first in a series......Savannah has written an excellent book. The characters are very well developed and the story of Kylie and Devin is awesome. Didn't think they'd ever get together and I HATE Allen Savannah can write evil really well) Ready for next one!!!!!!! It is an easy read and once you get started, you will not put it down!!!!!!!... August 2, 2014, Wendy Higgs, Kindle Edition

A Short And Sweet #MFRWauthor INTERVIEW @Sherry_Ewing

Welcome MFRW Author Sherry Ewing.

Sherry Ewing is a self-published author who writes historical and paranormal romance novels to awaken the soul one heart at a time. Her debut historical romance, If My Heart Could See You, hit Amazon’s top ten bestseller list only two days after the paperback release. Always wanting to write a novel but busy raising her children, she finally took the plunge in 2008 and wrote her first Regency. She is a national and local member of Romance Writers of America since 2012 and is currently editing her second novel, For All of Ever, to be released soon.

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Why did you decide to write romance novels?
My first experience reading a historical romance was as a teenager. Once I read The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, I was hooked. It was only natural that I would attempt to follow in her footsteps and write one myself someday.

What genre is it? 
If My Heart Could See You is an historical romance set in twelfth century England.

Tell us about your latest book.
If My Heart Could See You, takes place at the border between Scotland and England. Berwyck castle has been taken over by the English and a conquering knight, Dristan, the Devil’s Dragon of Blackmore. The heroine, Amiria, is one of the last remaining descendants of clan MacLaren and would rather be in boots, hose, and tunic than stuck in a solar with needle and thread.

Where did the idea come from?
I was actually working on my Regency, One Moment in Time, when the idea came to me and I couldn't wait to get started. I had no idea If My Heart Could See You would inspire me to write the next four books including a work in progress all with secondary characters from this novel!

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first manuscript?
I always wanted to write but raising my children was my main priority. It wasn't until 2008 when I was talking with a friend during a rough period in my life that I mentioned I should write that novel that’s been waiting for me to tell its story for years. He asked, “What’s stopping you?” A light bulb went off inside my head and I've been writing ever since.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I really have no routine. I write by the seat of my pants but also chapter by chapter. I can’t move forward with the story until I’m satisfied with what I've already written. I get my idea’s at all hours of the day, so when I have them, I have to stop what I’m doing and write it down even if it’s in the middle of the night.

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing – or are there constant interruptions?
I do my best writing sitting at my mother’s house on NASCAR Sunday’s listening in the background to the roar of the engines. My oldest daughter has all but given up trying to have conversations with me in the evening if I’m writing but she understands. She’s a writer too.

Sherry released If My Heart Could See You, a Mainstream Historical Romance, with Kingsburg Press.

BLURB
When you're enemies, does love have a fighting chance?
For Amiria of Berwyck, defeat does not come easily as she watches her home and clan being ripped asunder. When the very enemy who has laid siege to her home demands her fealty, she will do whatever it takes to protect her people including a hastily concocted ruse that quickly begins to unravel. All too soon, she starts to question whether she can forgive herself for betraying those she has sworn to protect.

Dristan of Blackmore, champion knight of King Henry II, has a reputation to uphold as the Devil’s Dragon. After his invading army conquers Berwyck castle, he sets out to manage the newly claimed estate by training its knights in the art of proper defense. At first, everything appears as it should be, or is it? Betrayed by those he believed he could trust, he must first set aside his anger before he can make room in his heart for love.

Together they are tied by an unspoken bond. As they begin to rebuild the land and unite their people, forces beyond their control attempt to tear apart their fragile truce and only time will tell if love will forever bring them together.

AMAZON buy link

WHAT REVIEWERS SAY ABOUT THE BOOK
"Heart Pounding Action! ""This is an outstanding first novel by this promising new author. It was very hard to put down and I spent many nights staying up until the wee hours of the morning! What sets this book apart from other historical romance books that I've read is the character development. I felt that I really understood each of the characters, and not just the main ones. I cared what happened to them and found my heart pounding out of fear when something was about to go wrong. I'd love to see another book in which we get to see the two main characters again. This is an author to watch...I truly believe we will see more five star books!""

A Great Read!!! ""I love this read. This is the kind of medieval conquest romance I love. It was filled with adventure, intrigue and hot romance. The h/h were very likeable because the hero was stern, yet very humane, and the heroine was a warrior type woman, but also very feminine and did not over do herself in terms of wanting to behave like a man. She was tough, but practical. I just could not put this book down. I would recommend this book to whomever loves a great medieval conquest romance where not only does the the hero conquers the heart of the heroine, but of the reader's as well.""

EXCERPT

Young knight MacLaren stood with steady feet upon the narrow parapet and looked down into the inner bailey, surveying the destruction and devastation below. Ian, the guardsman ever by the youth’s side, had the same grim expression as his charge.
The constant thunder of a battering ram slamming upon the solid oak door echoed harshly throughout the keep. Afore long, the wooden portal would give way, and with its demolition, all hope would surely depart from the occupants who had fled inside to find safe haven. Too soon, the enemy would be within, causing more lives to be lost in the castle’s defense. The siege had been bloody, lasting more than two fortnights, and, in truth, ’twas surprising the battle endured as long as it had, given the small number of knights available to defend the castle walls.
For nigh unto sixty years, Berwyck Castle had known peace over its land while governed by the last remaining descendants of the Scottish clan MacLaren. The castle and its people, however, had grown accustomed to constant upheaval, being between two kings struggling for power and control over the region. Situated on a cliff high above the raging sea, the castle towered over a prime port for transporting goods into the interior of the country, both north and south. Its location, bordering Scotland and England, had been the cause of many a battle over the centuries, and the fortress had changed liege lords more often than most could remember. With the arrival of the enemy, and the breaching of the curtain wall, ’twas but a matter of time afore England would once again call this castle its own in the name of their king.
Although young in years and slight of frame, the fledgling knight had fought valiantly and bravely, never giving quarter, even whilst the enemy relentlessly pressed forward in determination to win the day. Only at the command of the castle’s laird and chieftain of the clan did the knight order the garrison to fall back into the keep to protect the family within. Moments earlier, all had watched in horror as a sword laid low their liege and his eldest son, though they continued to pray that perchance the leaders had been spared and yet lived.
Blood, of those whom the young MacLaren’s loyal garrison had slain, covered their armor, and the stench assaulted their senses. The cries of the wounded and dying were but a soft whisper on the wind and had all but quieted. MacLaren knew all of Berwyck’s inhabitants were now focused on the newest threat to come, as the castle’s last defense was about to fall. The distinct sound of splintering wood rang out into the chilled air. The warriors atop the battlement grimaced at the forecast of what their future held.
“Ach, ’twill not last much longer now,” Ian predicted.
“Aye Ian, our fate it seems has been sealed,” the young knight said, retrieving the sword that had been carefully laid up against the stone wall. “We shall soon be held accountable for those lives we have taken this day.”
“I do not relish swearing fealty to some English pig,” Ian cursed loudly, “especially as our laird and the dead of our fellow clansmen lay scattered on these cold grounds, awaiting a decent burial.”
The young knight flinched at the mention of their lord.
Ian mumbled his apologies for his loose tongue.
“My sire and brother died in battle . . . in truth they would have had it no other way,” was all young MacLaren said.

Getting DOWN and DIRTY with #MFRWauthor Nicole Hurley-Moore @nhurleymoore

We're interviewing Nicole Hurley-Moore, MFRW Author.
Nicole has always been a lover of fairy tales, history and romance. She grew up in Melbourne and has traveled extensively, whilst living her life through the romance of books.

Her first passion in life has always been her family, but after studying and achieving her BA Honours in Medieval Literature, she devoted her time to writing historic romance.

She is a full time writer who lives in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia with her family, where they live in the peaceful surrounds of a semi-rural town.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW
1. How long does it take you to write a book?
It usually takes me somewhere between 1-4 months to write a book.

2. How often do you write?
I try and write every day – hopefully the muse and the flow are with me.

3. Where do your ideas come from?
Ideas seem to spark for anything and everything.

4. How does your husband feel about your writing?
My husband has always supported my writing. He’s my beta reader and biggest fan.

5. Do you ask his advice?
Yes, I ask his advice... and sometimes I even listen ;)

6. What are you working on now?
At the moment I’m finishing off an Australian rural romance. It’s a contemporary romance, which I generally don’t write but it’s been a lot of fun. I live in the middle of gold and sheep country, so I thought why not use it for inspiration.

7. How can readers contact you?
You can find out more about me and my books on my website, and also these sites: blog, facebook, twitter, and goodreads.

8. Tell us about your latest book.
Seizing Heaven is a historical romance which is the follow up to my medieval tale Capturing Bliss. It concentrates on the same family, estate and betrothal ring but is set a century after the first story. 

Nicole released Seizing Heaven, a Mainstream Historical Romance, with Jupiter Gardens Press.

Can the Reynard family betrothal ring really choose his true bride? Lord Savaric Reynard is about to

find out.

Lord Savaric Reynard is intent on marrying the widow of Blackstone Manor, that is, until fate and the Reynard betrothal ring get in the way. On his way to meet the widow, Savaric is waylaid by Rosamund, a travelling artist.

He doesn’t believe in magic or the old family legend that the Reynard betrothal ring has the power to choose the right and true bride. Savaric soon discovers he can try and run from Fate, but one way or another it just might catch up with him.

The Reynard legend says that the betrothal ring will choose the true bride... always.

BUY LINKS
Amazon - http://goo.gl/brQEB6
Barnes & Noble Nook - http://goo.gl/L0giHC
All Romance - http://goo.gl/OiMb8a
Smashwords - http://goo.gl/IaGHkO
Coffee Time Romance & More - http://goo.gl/6UjvOl

EXCERPT

The girl straightened and her eyes narrowed when she addressed him. “Sir, I do not want your coin.”
“Then what do you want? Come, you came to Foxwoods with a purpose.”
“I want nothing from you, Lord Reynard. I was honour bound to return the ring and I need no money for that.” Her voice was even but he saw a spark of indignation spark in her eyes.
“And what do you know of honour?” The words slipped out of Savaric’s mouth before he could stop them.
“Savaric!” Aunt Amice gasped.
“More than you, I wager,” Rosamund said as her hands fisted by her sides. “I have returned your possession and yet you choose to insult me. You may be a fine lord, but I have found better manners and more kindness from the woodcutter I passed on the road.”
She stepped away from the hearth and dropped into curtsy before Amice. “May God grant you blessings, Lady. I thank you for your sweet words but I should leave. ‘Tis better that way.”
“Nay, I will not have it. I will not allow you to go back into the tempest. I insist that you accept our hospitality. You will have dry clothes, a warm bed and food. We are in your debt, child and once Savaric recovers his manners he will be in agreement.” Aunt Amice stood up and took the girl’s hand. “Now, I shall not hear another word about it.”
Savaric saw the hurt in Rosamund’s eyes and another wisp of guilt fanned over him. She made him react and it confused him beyond reason.
 “Forgive my words. My Aunt is correct, Rosamund. You are welcome and safe at Foxwoods,” he said before he turned on his heels and strode to the door. He would avoid the girl as best he could. In the morning she would leave and everything would fall back into place.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Slow Satisfaction with #MFRWauthor @CeciliaTan

Cecilia Tan is "simply one of the most important writers, editors, and innovators in contemporary American erotic literature," according to Susie Bright. Her BDSM romance novel Slow Surrender (Hachette/Forever, 2013) won the RT Reviewers Choice Award in Erotic Romance. In a career that spans 23 years, Tan is the author of over a dozen novels including The Hot Streak, The Prince's Boy, and Daron's Guitar Chronicles, as well as the founder of Circlet Press. Her short stories have appeared in Ms. Magazine, Nerve, Best American Erotica, Asimov's Science Fiction, and tons of other places.

TODAY, Cecilia answers some questions for MFRW. Let's start by asking just how much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing? 

A: Oh, a ton. Especially since what I'm writing a lot of now are BDSM romances, and I've been able to draw on more than 20 years of ""hands on"" (and other parts, ahem!) experience with bondage and kink.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first manuscript?

A; I was calling myself a writer from when I was four years old and instead of drawing on manila paper like the other kids I would fold mine over into a book and write ""Th End"" on the back. I couldn't spell yet. I wrote for years, took creative writing classes in high school and college, but it wasn't until after college graduation I wrote a story called ""Telepaths Don't Need Safewords"" and felt like I was really on to something. It felt like a full and complete story somehow, when everything else had felt unfinished. It was erotic BDSM science fiction and I could NOT submit it anywhere because it was prohibited by the writers guidelines of literally every publication in the USA. The BDSM publishers and erotica publishers would not accept science fiction, and the science fiction publishers would not accept anything with sex. So I self-published it. That was in 1992.

Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story? 

A: Well, we've come a long way from 1992! Publishers are finally catching up to me. Now all of a sudden they WANT all the BDSM that for the past 20 years they would not touch. So my latest book finishes off a BDSM trilogy for a big New York publisher, the Struck by Lightning series. Slow Surrender, the first book in the trilogy, was motivated by me reading 50 Shades of Grey and thinking, dang, I could write a much better book than that.

Where did the idea come from?

A: The genre demanded a mysterious billionaire, of course. I decided if I was going to give him a secret past or a secret identity it wasn't going to be like anything I'd seen before. Making James secretly famous, a rock star, let me play with two of my favorite things in one, BDSM *and* rock stars!

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?

A: Absolutely. I especially wanted my heroine, Karina, to have a sense of humor. She needed to be both smart and likable, and to be the type who isn't passive, instead she pushes back. Part of how she charms James is through her sense of humor and she never loses that throughout the book. Even as she's falling under his ""dom aura"" (as she calls it), she finds she can't take a lot of the play-acting common in BDSM seriously. She wants the real thing, real passion, not playing dress-up.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?

A: Start? You make it sound like I get to start and finish a book and then rest before starting the next book. I'm always writing a book, sometimes two or three simultaneously. My ""routine"" is I write in every spare minute I can scrounge out of every day, every plane flight, every train ride, every hour at the coffee shop before an appointment. I run a small publishing company and I am also the editor of two academic journals about baseball, I teach martial arts part time, and I'm a massage therapist. Yeah, my ""routine"" is just write whenever I can. I sometimes host ""Ass In Chair Day"" at my house on a weekend afternoon. It's like a knitting circle except everyone brings their laptops over and we all write like fiends. It's great.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

A: Hahaha! Relaxing and recharging isn't something I get to do often. When I do, it usually involves either travel or gourmet food, or both. Last year we took a trip to Spain and ate our way across Barcelona and Catalonia. We're hoping to do a cruise next year and maybe a trip to Japan after that. It's great to unplug during those trips: almost no email or Internet, and no writing. But you never stop being a writer. Every trip I take ends up providing a setting for a scene or a future book!"


MFRW Author Cecilia Tan released Slow Satisfaction (Struck by Lightning Series, Book 3), an Erotic Contemporary BDSM Romance, with Hachette/Forever in August 2014.

James has finally pushed Karina beyond her limit--not her limit for kinky sex play, but for his extreme secrecy. She has had enough and breaks things off. But James won't give up on Karina and will do whatever it takes to get her back. He's ready to share his deepest, darkest secrets, but is Karina ready to hear them? 

James offers Karina not only the truth but a place at his side... onstage. He wants Karina to star in his final musical production and enter his life and his world fully and completely. As the two work together, they rekindle the trust and love they'd lost. But James's world is full of deceit. When he is blackmailed by an unscrupulous music industry executive, James must give in to unreasonable demands or risk exposure of his and Karina's secret sex life. 

Will Karina and James's love be strong enough to withstand the many obstacles being thrown their way?

BUY LINKS
Barnes & Noble  |  iTunes  |  Amazon

EXCERPT

James's eyes were serious, even as his face and body were relaxed and languid post-orgasm. “Did I convince you to give me another chance?”
I considered. “You at least earned the chance to tell me what I don’t know.”
He took my hand in his, like he had so many times before. This time he kissed my fingertips, his eyes closing as he did. “I have a lot to tell you. More than any single interrogation might reveal.”
I squeezed his hand. “I shouldn’t have to interrogate you for the answers.”
He sucked in a breath. “No. Of course you shouldn’t. There’s so much I need to tell you if you’re really going to get to know me.” He reached up and traced the curve of my cheek with his fingertip. “Yet I feel like you know me better than anyone.”
“I do know you,” I said. “I just don’t know the facts about you.”
His gaze shied away from mine. “Many of the facts are sordid.”
“Says the man who put a six-inch dildo into me and walked me around the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”
“I mean much more sordid than that.” Now his face had completely clouded over.
“I want to know, James. I need to know. I have a right to, if we’re going to be together.”
He nodded, though his eyes were closed. “I know. I agree. That still doesn’t make it easy for me to open up.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Except during sex.”
“As you well know. Were you serious about what you said before? I would sincerely give you a piece of my past for every time you give me…” He kissed my fingertips again. “Anything. Sex. Your body. Your submission.”
Even though we’d just had sex, I felt a thrill go through my loins. “I wasn’t suggesting it lightly.”
“I want to be sure. Sometimes we say things in the heat of passion that seem less than wise afterward.”
“But sometimes we get inspired.” This could be the perfect solution, I realized. “I know the time you’re the most open is when we have sex. That’s the time your answers will be the best. Of course, if we do this, I could still revoke my forgiveness at any time.”
“Of course. Just as you can revoke your consent at any time. I understand, Karina. It’s the Thousand and One Nights, only this time I’m Scheherazade, telling the stories.”
I touched his face with my fingers, feeling like a weight was slowly lifting from my back. Maybe we were going to make this work after all. The fact that he was willing to try so hard made a huge difference in how I felt. And I wanted him.