Please Welcome Mahalia Levey

Tell us your latest news.
I just finished an IR short for Beautiful Trouble Publishing. The story is titled Flaws and All, and I had a hard time keeping it short. I’m excited that Inscribed Love will be out in September from XOXO publishing. It’s included in the Volume one Tattoo Anthology.

What initially inspired you to become an author?
A friend challenged me to try writing for publication, after she’d read some stories I’d posted on line on a writing group.
What is your favorite book? And Why?
Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Man oh Man. I waited for that book forever it seemed. I sat up and read it for ten hours, took a nap got up and finished it. I love the entire series but everyone…loves Ash.

Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.
What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?

I wake up and check the sites, facebook, myspace, twitter, a few loops while coffee is brewing, and then I start up my play list to really wake up. Somewhere around 8 am, I begin to write and or clean up something recently written. Dialogue to me is hard. I don’t stumble so much around it now but now and then I get tongue tied. 
Do you have a favorite author?
I adore Sherrilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan. I’m a lover of books though so I basically love everyone I read.
Tell us about your first published work.
Embrace The Moment was my very first release. It came out in May of this year at Phaze.com. What’s exciting is that it sprung up from the love of a song called Seize The Day by Avenged Sevenfold, and became the first of six novellas about a United States Coast Guard rescue swim team.
Do you have a favorite of your own works?
They’re all my babies but, Demonic Persuasion holds my heart the most. Fatal the heroine has so many pieces of me that I can’t wait to finish the series and her story to share with others.

Where can our readers find you on the web?
I can be found at www.mahalialevey.com  On the front page of my website are buttons to lead viewers to my facebook,myspace,twitter, yahoo group accounts.
www.hales3000.multiply.com Has my playlist on it live. I blog news and under links are every site I’ve interviewed at all in one place.
Where can they buy your books?
www.phaze.com
www.eirelander-publishing.com
www.extasybooks.com
www.xoxopublishing.com
www.beautifultroublepublishing.com
Soon:
www.liquidsilverbooks.com
I’m at most third party sites as well.
Anything you would like to add?
I’d like to thank readers for purchasing my work and you for interviewing me.

Bio: Being smart and sassy with a great sense of humor comes easily for Mahalia Levey. An avid reader of books, she found herself enchanted with disappearing completely into the worlds authors created. One day she vowed to herself she'd be one of them. Then family life came, and college right after. Swayed from her childhood course of action, it took many years for her to get back to that place she held dear as a child. Now she is running full steam ahead to keep up with the many ideas flowing freely. She plans on taking her work to higher levels and expanding her genres. Her main focus is giving her readers variety. Her works in progress include paranormal, fantasy and mainstream romance. Taking characters and watching them grow past what she’s imagined is her true passion.

Inscribed Love Blurb
Jaida Winter's strived to be the epitome of a perfect daughter, following every rigid rule without question. Wondering what she missed out on in her strict life, she's ready for a little independence, and decides it's time to throw caution to the wind. A tattoo is the first step to a new attitude.
Incubus Torquatus Darkblood remains locked within a talisman for the crimes of seducing a witch's daughter. His release lies within the ink of a tattoo drawn on a young woman's skin. When Jaida's pain calls to him, Torq finds he doesn't just want sinful pleasure of the flesh, he wants the woman whose soul cries freedom.

Excerpt

Jaida stared at the computer screen attempting to ignore the burning in her lower back. She thought about calling the parlor, but didn’t want to appear like a wimp. Not only that, she wasn’t sure she was ready to talk to Joe again. She wasn’t stuck up by any means. The way the tattoos on his skin told a story, she’d sit for hours to find out the history of each one. Attraction like that could land her in hot water, with her immovable, impossible to please, overbearing parents.
Break the mold.
To top it off, the statistics on the new penile dysfunction drugs didn’t add up. Jaida slipped her reading glasses back onto her face and stared at the data. Next to her eight books filled with graphs, correspondence from team meetings, clinical trials, documents and all pertinent data confirmed what she’d suspected all along. Not every male member for the second trial reported back to the clinicians to fill out the survey. A groan left her mouth. She couldn’t have concrete reports without the surveys. She officially hated her job as head statician for Nelson and Myrtaz Pharmaceuticals. Privately, she could think of at least a few lovers who could use some Zephal. She reached for her ruler and dug down her back in an attempt to stop the irritation.
“Jaida?” An intern popped her head in.
“Yes?” Jaida knew she was caught red-handed, but man it itched so damn bad. She slipped the ruler back on her desk and gave the intern her full attention.
“I have the list of contacts you requested this morning. Do you um need help with something?”
“Excellent, if you could contact them all for email conformation, I’d appreciate it. I’d like their surveys in my inbox by the end of the week. Make sure to advise them no more Zephal if they can’t follow through on their obligations, as well as no financial reimbursement for their time.” She wiggled in her chair trying to scratch her itch.
“Jaida,” Thomas barged in without proper protocol. What’s wrong with you?” He approached her desk.
“Nothing but a little itch,” Jaida half growled. “Can’t you people knock and wait for an answer?”
Thomas looked at her back. “Is that blood?”
“Where?”
“On your back.”
“Miriam. Could you please go do what I asked? Thomas can you go back from where you came and give me some peace please?” She finished in exasperation.
“Yes, boss.” Miriam ducked out of the room.
“Thomas…you’re still here.” Jaida fumed.
Thomas clamped his arm on Jaida’s and hauled her out of her chair. With his free hand, he yanked up the back of her dress shirt. “You got a tattoo?”
“Jaida slapped his hands away. “Just because we happened to have dated in high school and your parents happen to be friends with my parents, doesn’t give you permission to pry into my life, or manhandle me!” She shot him an icy glare and then smoothed her shirt down.
“What’s gotten into you lately? Behavior like that is going to bring down your mother’s wrath.”
So he appeared to be worried. She couldn’t dislike him for that. “One tattoo isn’t the end of the world.” She sighed.
“People like us don’t get tattoos.” He frowned at her.
“I’m a person, not a people and I wanted a tattoo.” Here was the side of Thomas she disliked, the pompous holier than thou type.
“You should go see a doctor about your back. I doubt you’re supposed to bleed and please tell me you went to a clean shop.”
“If we weren’t working I’d tell you what I think about you. Of course the place was clean, hell it’s cleaner than that hovel you call an office. Get out. I have work to do.”
“Excuse me Miss, is everything alright?”
Jaida turned to the liquid sex voice that penetrated through her fog of anger. What she saw stole the rest of her tirade. Eyes the color of midnight stared at her, etched in worry. She held her breath and gazed from top to bottom, strong jaw with slight stubble, bulging muscles, tattoos galore, downward her gaze went, landing smack dab on his crotch. Oh mamma. She looked up.
“Oh mamma wasn’t what I expected,” The stranger replied.
“Look Mr. Tee shirt and tight jeans. The clinical study for Zepal is down the hall in Suite B.” Thomas interjected and pointed toward the door.
“Zepal? Clinical trial?”
“It’s the penile dysfunction study,” Jaida squeaked.
“I can assure you there is nothing dysfunctional about my penis.” He quirked a brow. “Miss, are you okay?”

Please Welcome Sandy Sullivan

1. Tell us your latest news - I'm working on a story I'm going to pitch to Harlequin/Silhouette at the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Conference on 10/1-10/2. By December of this year, I will have had a release every month since December of 2009.
2. What initially inspired you to become an author? I've always loved reading romance novels and always wanted to write one. I wrote one a couple of years ago and a couple of people told me it should be published so out it went.
3. What is your favorite book? And Why? I have way too many that I love to ever pick just one.
4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process. I try to write in the early morning because I seem to be more productive during the early hours. I get more brain fogged as the day goes on.
5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing? Not starting new projects! I seem to get new ideas and then don't finish the one I'm working on.
6. Do you have a favorite author? Mmm…not really. I read anything that catches my fancy, but I do like Lily Grayson, Tonya Ramagos, Jude Deveraux, Susan Wiggs and so many others.
7. Tell us about your first published work. My first published piece by a regular publisher is Cowboy Love. It's about a young woman who is a registered nurse and she's been in a rough relationship with a bull-rider who tends to be heavy handed. She breaks it off with him and her friend convinces her to go out to Brenham Texas for a long weekend to visit the friend's parents on their ranch. The heroine also rides rodeo and grew up on a farm. She meets her friend's neighbor the next morning when she hears him cussing and raising hell while he's trying to break a mare. The heroine has also been taught by her father to tame horses with little more than a gentle hand and kind words. When the two of them meet again in the bar that night, sparks fly, but she has to go home in a few days.
8. Do you have a favorite of your own works? To me, my favorite is always the one I'm working on at the time. The hero and heroine are so real to me, it's like living their lives through the words on the paper.
9. Where can our readers find you on the web? www.romancestorytime.com, www.sandysullivanauthor.blogspot.com, http://twitter.com/sandys37 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandy-Sullivan/120827420748?ref=nf
10. Where can they buy your books? www.bookstrand.com/sandy-sullivan
11. Anything you would like to add? I love to hear from my readers so visit my website and email me if you'd like. I'm also going to be at the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Conference on 10/1-10/2. Come on by and see me.
Blurb:
Melissa Gordon, CEO. Her dream job. No man can compete. Until one hunky construction worker shows her what a real man can do, with a voice that can melt butter and hands that drive her crazy. When he opens her eyes to the world of BDSM and takes control, she can’t help but want to see what else he knows how to do.
Andrew Novak’s on a mission. Help his sister at any cost, even his heart. Someone else is controlling his movements. He doesn’t want to use the beautiful woman and head of Marshall Enterprises, but he doesn’t have a choice. She stands in his way.
Lissa. Just her name drives him to distraction and past reason. One night in her arms isn’t enough—will never be enough—but when she finds out what he’s done, she’ll never forgive him.

Please Welcome Seleste DeLaney

1. Tell us your latest news.
My short story, "Of Course I Try", was just released by Decadent Publishing (www.decadentpublishing.com). I'm really excited by this venture since Decadent is a new publisher. From the sounds of things, the launch has gone swimmingly.

2. What initially inspired you to become an author?
There's the stand-by answer that I've wanted to be an author since I was little and don't remember what precisely inspired that, but the real push came later. After becoming a mom, I found myself lost after my son started becoming more self-sufficient. I'd always loved writing, but I'd never put myself out there. So, when my little boy would play or nap, I'd write. It gave me an outlet for my creative energies and a chance to escape to a world that didn't involve diapers and playdates LOL. (This is not to say that I don't love being a mom. It's the best job in the world, but I knew there were other things I was meant to do too.)

3. What is your favorite book? And Why?
My favorite book (which I need to read again) is Phantom by Susan Kay. It's this fabulous re-telling of Phantom of the Opera that examines the personal history of the Phantom. It is rich and textured and heart-breaking. I need to hunt around for a new copy because mine is falling apart I've read it so much.

4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.
I will write any time, but I'm usually most productive late at night when the house is dark and everyone else is asleep. It makes for some late nights and really tired mornings, but the solitude makes it easier for me to picture the worlds and characters in my imagination. There isn't anyplace special I prefer to do my writing. Sometimes I'm on the couch, sometimes at my desk; I've even been known to take the laptop to bed with me.

5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
For me the hardest part has always been the questions. Does it suck? Is this part actually funny? Is the sex sexy enough? Is the manuscript any good??? Prior to someone offering a contract, the best a writer has to go on is the opinions of friends, family, and crit partners. It's hard to tell if those people are just being supportive or if your work is as good as they say. The worst part is even now with a couple of contracts in hand, I still have all those questions with everything I write.

6. Do you have a favorite author?
Kelley Armstrong, hands down. I gobble up her books like they're chocolate. Or ice cream. Or ice cream with chocolate. Anyway, I love her work. To make things even better, she's a fabulous person, always there for her fans. In fact, I'm a member of the online writing group on her website. The feedback and support I've received from my group members, and from Kelley herself, has been amazing.

7. Tell us about your first published work.
My very first published work was a poem called "I Remember" included in the Nothing But Red anthology (a venture to raise money for Equality Now and raise awareness of violence against women -- available at www.lulu.com).

"Of Course I Try" is my first paid publication. It started as a very short story (under 1500 words) written for a writing challenge. When I submitted it initially, I'd edited it and increased the word count to just over 2000 words. The website hadn't listed a minimum, but I got an email back from the editor saying they liked it but they wanted it longer. I spent the weekend adding to it and ended up with a piece I liked so much better than the original version. Decadent signed the new version right away, and here we are.

8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?
Wow, that's like asking if I have a favorite child LOL. I also write young adult urban fantasy that is as of yet unpublished, so I have a lot of stories that readers may never see. As for my romances, I love them all, but my first, Avalon's Return, holds a special place in my heart even though it wasn't as good as the stuff I'm writing now. I'm planning to pull it out this fall and re-write it to see if I can make it publishable.

9. Where can our readers find you on the web?
I love having visitors to my website and blog, so I hope some of them stop by and say hello. They can visit me at either www.SelestedeLaney.com or www.SelestedeLaney.com/wordpress

10. Where can they buy your books?
"Of Course I Try" is available at www.decadentpublishing.com

11. Anything you would like to add?
I feel a little like Charlie Bucket right now. I'm just happy to be here ;-) So thank you very much for having me. I hope to have a lot more stories available to readers soon, so I hope they'll keep an eye out!

Please Welcome Grace Meadows

1. Tell us your latest news.
I say with a large grin, "On August 1st, my erotic novella Untouched Places was published by Decadent Publishing. www.decadentpublishing.com ."
2. What initially inspired you to become an author?
Love of story -- I would go anywhere, do anything to hear one. When I realized I could create my own I was in heaven.
3. What is your favorite book? And Why?
I have so many, too many, my house is full of them. One of the first books I fell head over heels in love with was The Scarlet Pimpernel.
4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.
My muse visits whenever she wants. I'm her slave and so when she calls I answer.
I do try to impose structure on her visits -- sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't.
5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Marketing.
6. Do you have a favorite author?
Much like a favourite book I have too many. Let's see I like Stephen King, Tom Robbins, Jane Urquhart, Margaret Sweatman, Mary Lawson, Brian Francis, Marina Endicott, Charlotte Bronte, John Grisham, Christine Sparks, Susan Kay, and many more.
7. Tell us about your first published work.
I write mainstream under my name Leanne Dyck and erotica under Grace Meadows.
My first published work as Leanne Dyck was a self-published cozy mystery set on my home island -- Maynely A Mystery.
My first erotic novella was Untouched Places. The narrator of Untouched Places is Ruth Arnison. Despite being spurned by love too many times, Ruth still believes in romance. Due to circumstances beyond her control, she is forced to become a storyteller. She spins a paranormal erotic story that throbs with greed and passion.
8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?
Like a proud parent, I try not.to have favourites.
9. Where can our readers find you on the web?
Erotic blog: www.authorgracemeadows.wordpress.com
Mainstream web site: www.oknitting.com
My web site has a listed of my mainstream blogs and my other homes on the web.
10. Where can they buy your books?
Untouched Places is available from Decadent Publishing (www.decadentpublishing.com)
Anything you would like to add?
Look for All My Sisters -- an paranormal erotic short story that will soon be published by Decadent Publishing.
Readers of mainstream thrillers, please watch for The Sweater Curse. It will also be published by Decadent Publishing.