Please Welcome Deanna Wadsworth

1. Tell us your latest news.

Well, my first book, Red Riding Hood, was released August 1, 2010 by Decadent Publishing. And just the other day I saw that it was available on Amazon for the Kindle….OMFG! Seeing it there was more surreal than when I got my contract back from Decadent! It was so awesome, you know, like the reality that I am a published author really sunk in!

2. What initially inspired you to become an author?

I would have to attribute my love of reading and writing to my grandparents. When I visited them during the summer, they would be like, “No more TV, read a book.” And we would spend all night reading. Back then I loved my grandpa’s Louis L’Amour books, Passin’ Through is still a fav. I had to be about twelve or thirteen when my grandma gave me a journal and told me to write a story. I guess I have been doing it ever since. I wrote all through my teen years but got distracted with life, career and marriage. Reading and writing fell by the wayside. When we moved into our second house my brother-in-law tried to pick up a box. It was so heavy that he and my husband opened it. It was full of books and my husband looked at me like a cow looking at a new gate and said, “You don’t read books, why do you have these?” That shocked me because it had become true. To prove the worth of keeping all those Anne McCaffery books and Dean Koonz I started rereading them. And I remembered my first love: the written word. I found all my old manuscripts (such bratty little heroines, what does that say of me at 16?) and I said, “I’m gonna write a book.” But it wasn’t until I learned about a local RWA chapter in my area that I realized my lifelong dream could be a reality….and now? Well, it is really happening!

3. What is your favorite book? And Why?

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, hands down. Every time I read the scene when Jane reappears at the Ferndean manor-house to surprise her ‘beloved master’ Mr. Rochester my heart skips and I can’t turn the pages fast enough. For my fifteenth wedding anniversary this year I ordered new wedding bands to inscribe the two phrases, ‘Her I love best’ for my ring and ‘Her who loves you best’ for my husband’s.
The story is about real love against all odds. While Jane is poor, plain and obscure and Mr. Rochester a crabby, less than attractive man, they find a connection they never had with anyone. Nothing, not even a fiend in the tower who burns people in their bed, blindness, age, handicaps, and poverty will keep them apart.

4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.

Morning. I get out of bed, pass the computer on my way to letting my three little dogs outside (two cocks and a weenie) make coffee, fill the dog bowl, let the dogs back in, grab my coffee then plop my big booty in my giant comfy chair and my computer is ready to write! I don’t work on Monday of Tuesday and I have been known to write for ten or twelve hours non-stop.

5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?

Too many ideas! Too many people living in my head that want their entire story told yesterday! I have WADD…Writers Attention Deficient Syndrome. My biggest issue is starting new stories all the time. As a plotter, I usually write a ten twenty page synopsis out for the entire book. Then I’m so jazzed I do the 30k lightning fast (like a week) but by that time I either got a request for a partial and I have to do some edits, or I’m going to a conference and I have to prepare a mss for pitching or some loud mouthed character starts yammering in my head for their turn. I tell the character and myself, “Well your story should only take a half a day to jot down.” But the characters are sneaky little bastards sometimes and they have no plans to let me finish their story so quickly. Two months later I’m still writing their story and the old story is in the ever growing to-do pile.
But I have a friend now that keeps me in line…though secretly I am working on a story she doesn’t know about. I know! I’m so bad, right? I feel so guilty. Like I’m having an affair or something! LOL Hopefully she doesn’t read this!

6. Do you have a favorite author?

That’s a tuffy. . . . . like picking just one candy out of the box of chocolates. Anne McCaffery, Sherilyon Kenyon, CS Lewis, Lewis Carrol, Diana Gabaldon, Kevin Anderson, Jane Austin . . . . I could go on but I won’t!

7. Tell us about your first published work.

It is an erotic fairy tale told in an old fashioned voice complete with the ‘Once upon a time’ intro and everything.
Red Riding Hood is on a journey to find the one man who can take her to heights she’s only sampled. She just doesn’t know it’s going to come in the shape of a powerful master in wolf’s clothing. I think it’s pretty darn funny for an erotica, too, if I do say so myself. Is that conceited? Sorry!
The inspiration for the story came when a friend told me I should write a dirty Red Riding Hood story because at the time all my other books were in various states of edit and she wanted to read something I wrote. Well, when I presented the story she went, “Holy crap, I didn’t meant that!” Guess she meant romance novel not a BDSM erotica. She forgot I am a writer and I take the word ‘dirty’ literally.

8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?

I tend to love all of my characters, because if they are just a passing idea I ignore their stories and move on to another book. See question #5. I am writing m/m right now and the two sexy men in my latest unfinished mss are my favorite. But I honestly love them all. To me my characters are real and I see their lives long after I type ‘the end.’ I guess that’s why I like the idea of writing series.

9. Where can our readers find you on the web?

I am still working on a website but you can find my blog “Midnight Ramblings” at deannawadsworth@blogspot.com

10. Where can they buy your books?

Decadentpublishing.com or Amazon.com under Kindle books

11. Anything you would like to add?

Just thanks, Kate! This was fun and I hope everyone checks out Red Riding Hood and keeps their eye open for my next erotic fairy tale…The Frog Prince!

Please Welcome Raven Carluk

1. Tell us your latest news.

My latest book, stories with bite o,.,o, is now available on Amazon on the Kindle. Working through the last steps for the print book. It’s a collection of my short stories, and is very much worth checking out. I’m also working on making book trailers for both stories with bite o,.,o and All Hallows Blood. In October, I’ll be giving a little lecture at the Muse Online Conference about how to embrace your inner Mary Sue.

2. What initially inspired you to become an author?

I’m a natural born storyteller. Since I was young, I’ve been coming up with tales. It was inevitable that I start marketing my work, and putting it out there for people to read.

3. What is your favorite book? And Why?

Green Eggs and Ham. It’s the first book I remember reading. I still see myself sitting at the kitchen table, reading it to my mom while she made dinner. It’s stuck with me, because it has a great message; be willing to try something new. I think that’s an important statement, and more people should embrace it.

4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.

I mostly write at work, which is through the afternoon and early evening. I’ve got my trusty notebook with my Orlando Bloom pictures in it, and I just write as much as I can. I work in a call center, so there’s downtime during calls and between them where I can pour out my creations. Some days it’s harder than others, but I get to write pretty consistently. If I don’t, I start to slowly go mad.

5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?

The writing and editing parts are all pretty easy for me. I sometimes forget to include descriptions and details while I’m writing, but my beta reader pokes at me to get me on track. The hardest part about being an author has been the promoting part. I’ve never been much of a networker, or even someone who makes small talk well, so I sometimes feel I’m in over my head. It takes away my creative time, and balancing promotions with writing is pretty difficult.

6. Do you have a favorite author?

A couple. Michael Moorcock, because I love Elric so much. Carrie Vaughn has a fantastic world built in her Kitty series. And George RR Martin, who impresses me with his ability to keep such a huge world going.

7. Tell us about your first published work.

My first work is All Hallows Blood. My publication is a bit Cinderella, because I went from original idea to released to the public in just under two and a half years. I tried to write a unique book, and the fact that it was so quickly accepted proves that to me.

All Hallows Blood is a vampire romance. Keila O’Broin is a psionist from a long line of psychic warriors. At the beginning of the book, she’s been going through some hard times; both parents are dead, and she’s drinking herself into a stupor. Some dead teens ask her to avenge them, and she can’t tell them no.

Keila finds and fights the killer, only to find out he’s a vampire. Since she’s from this long line of psychics, she already knows vampires exist, and doesn’t think too much of it. Before she really has time to think, Varick, master vampire of Portland, pressgangs her into helping him.

So now my depressed and borderline alcoholic heroine is doing battle to protect the city, and slowly falling for the white-haired vampire Varick. There’s sex, and blood, and fighting, and sadness, and emotional growth. It moves pretty fast, and reaches a satisfying end. All which leave you ready for the sequel, which I’m still developing.

8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?

Other than All Hallows Blood, one of my favorites is The Opening. It’s the second story in stories with bite o,.,o, and it’s about this shy young woman at the opening of an art gallery. I don’t want to spoil the ending (it’s a pretty short tale), but it always just gives me a touch of hope. A “I am not alone” type moment.

9. Where can our readers find you on the web?

Raven.YouAreAnnoying.Us is my home page. I update that fairly regularly, and keep a bunch of short stories there. All my art is also on display there.

RavenCorinnCarluk.Blogspot.Com is my blog, and I post once or twice a week. More if anything cool happens.

Facebook, and Twitter.

I really look forward to hearing from everybody.

10. Where can they buy your books?
Amazon has the purchase links to both my books.

11. Anything you would like to add?

I like meeting new people, and talking about vampires, or fantasy, or dragons, or just about anything else. Reach out to me, even if not to talk about my books.

Please Welcome Author Margie Church

Romance with SASS: Suspense, Angst, Seductive Sizzle
1. Tell us your latest news.
Thanks for having me, Val and Kate. I feel like we are old friends. I think you two ladies were some of my first pals online and it's my pleasure to be with you today!
My latest news: I touched up my roots and got kicked out of a seven-step program. Kidding.
My erotic novella, Wet, was released August 16 by Noble Romance. When Noah comes home on leave and Reagan has a change of heart, this a divorced couple explores a different relationship one rainy night. If you enjoy hot M/F romance, then let's get Wet.
Noble has contracted Dangerous Love, which is the sequel to my erotic paranormal, Love Bites. These are vampire thrillers that dare to be different. In the Love Bites series, my vampires exist among humans without being detected. The hero is a vampire named Wade Kairos. When he meets the talented and feisty Jui Fabrice, he intends to enjoy her but that's all. Of course nothing can be that simple. In Love Bites, Wade and Jui meet, battle, and fall for each other but it isn't easy or safe for them to come together. Dangerous Love is their continuing story about the dark forces of the afterlife that are working really hard to rip these two apart. Keeping Jui from being turned into a vampire or some other creature is Wade's role and the core drama. I've blogged quite a bit about these characters and I welcome readers to visit my blog to learn about them and get to know the seriously evil vampire, Ladislav Husek.
2. What initially inspired you to become an author?
I'm more a person who was inspired to write at a young age. I've spent my entire life writing – from grade school to now, it's all I've done. All my professional work has been in writing/advertising/PR etc., and I also journal and freelance magazine features. If I'm not writing, I'm usually thinking about it. I guess I live in my head a lot!
I can't believe three years have passed since I got laid off and lost my biggest freelance client within two weeks of each other. Those events were the impetus to try my hand at fiction. I started with a few pages and a couple of fan fiction ideas. The results were dreadful when I look at them now but hey, I had to start someplace and I had no mentor. Luckily, Class Act Books thought I was a pretty good storyteller and signed my debut novel at the end of 2008.
3. What is your favorite book? And Why?
Shanna, by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Just the thought of Rourke makes me sigh. I can still picture him. Shanna was my first exposure to a really romantic story and I read everything Kathleen wrote. Kathleen didn't live far from me and I didn't know that until she died and my husband appraised her house for the family. I wish I could have met her.
4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.
I'm writing pretty much from 6:15 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with very few breaks in between. I've carved out the evening hours and weekends for novel writing/editing and really push myself during those times.
I've started using my drive times to talk through my plots. I recall what I just wrote and ask myself – out loud – what did the reader learn? Where is this going? It's important that whatever I write moves the plot along. From there, I try to outline the next scenes. I get to hear myself troubleshoot the chapters/scenes and "hear" whether the plot is believable. I'm sure the people driving by me must think I'm nuts when they see me kind of talking and animated behind the wheel but oh well! When I get home, it's easier to dive in.
5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Research. My books are complex and maybe I should start writing them more simply! But where they take place, the rich subplots, and complex characters – all of it takes me awhile to figure out.
6. Do you have a favorite author?
John Sanford. I love police drama.
7. Tell us about your first published work.
I was in the sixth grade! McCall's Magazine published one of my haikus.
8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?
No, not really. I love each of my books for various reasons. Awakening Allaire has a special place in my heart because it's so romantic and it was my first novel. But I'm loving Dangerous Love – my WIP. It's dark, delicious, tricky, and quite different from many of the vampire books you may have read.
9. Where can our readers find you on the web?
Website: www.romancewithsass.com
Blog: http://blog.romancewithsass.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MargaretRChurch

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MargieChurch
I'm always looking for more friends and readers – so please follow/friend/subscribe and all that jazz! Thanks!
10. Where can they buy your books?
Noble Romance Publishing (www.nobleromance.com)
1RomanceEbooks: www.1RomanceEbooks.com
Amazon.com
AllRomanceEbooks.com
I also have a nursery rhyme scheduled for an early winter release with Guardian Angels Publishing. It's entitled First Spring!

11. Anything you would like to add? Visit my website and tell me something you liked or didn't like and whether you'd like a copy of my erotic novella, Wet, or my exciting vampire thriller, Love Bites. I'll be giving away a copy of each one! (Adults only, please!)

Thanks so much, Margie. Our readers will enjoy learning some things about you, I know I did! You and I have talked about Kathleen Woodiwiss before. The first romance I ever read was The Wolf and the Dove.... I wish you'd met her too, she must have been wonderful!

Please say hello to Lila Munro

Lila Munro is a writer of contemporary romance currently residing on the coast of North Carolina. She is currently under contract for two novels with Wild Horse Press, and a third with Whiskey Creek Press. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. She loves to hear from her readers.

Tell us your latest news.

There are so many exciting things going on right now. First off, my debut novel, The Executive Officer’s Wife released August 10. In October, my second novel will come out through Whiskey Creek Press. It’s called Bound by Trust, and, although it is still rotates around a military hero, the heroine has a much bigger problem than Libby Calhoun did. I have tons of stuff simmering away on my literary stove top. My main focus right now is a series called The Sergeants of Lima Co. It’s about three marines who each find who they believe to be the girl to fulfill all their fantasies before they deploy again. The problem is these women not only come with more baggage than Coach, they worm their way into these boys’ hearts. I believe these books will live up to the standards and expectations my reader’s have, spicy, monogamous relationships with plenty of conflict and happily ever afters.

What initially inspired you to become an author?

I have been writing since I remember being able to spell. I was forever making up stories as a child, in fact one Christmas I asked for a typewriter and Santa delivered. He brought a mini-child-size typewriter and I wore it out pecking away. During my sixth grade year, I had a wonderful creative writing teacher that really encouraged me and was the first to tell me I had a knack for carrying a story line. I think that’s where the seed was initially planted. From there I wrote sporadically, though it wasn’t until a little over a year ago I decided to do something about it. I’m a military wife, and after moving to a new duty station was unable to find a job. I decided staying at home wasn’t all that bad, and, after reading several romance novels that left me wanting at the end, I decided to resurrect the writer in me and give it a shot. A few months later I received my first contract and things have been full ahead ever since.

What is your favorite book and why?

You know, my tastes vary so much it’s really hard to pinpoint any one single book that I would label my all time favorite. I read everything and anything under the sun from romance, to mainstream, to classics, to philosophy…you name it, I’m game to read it. I would have to say my favorites have evolved over the years as I’ve grown. As a child I was enamored of Laura Ingalls and Nancy Drew, then later in the teen years I was swept away by Stephen King, later still, Anne Rice. Yes, I went through a paranormal fascination of vamps, but todays vamps just don’t do it for me—I need mine to be the dominant blood letting type, where the euphoria of the relationships comes from the sharing of souls rather than a sexual release. During college I was heavily into the classics, Hemingway, Bronte, and Dickenson. Now, I just read what ever mood strikes. I will say as far as romance goes, Allison Kent is up high on the list because she was one of the pioneering erotic romance authors. I also like Vicki Lewis Thompson for her ability to weave humor in her stories and when it comes to getting my highlander fix I like Monica McCarty.

Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.

I wish I had a schedule of sorts, and I would love to say I am in charge of such things, but I must be honest with you, my muse does the work schedule around here. Sometimes I spend a few minutes a day writing whether it be new material or revisions, and other times I write for hours at a time, frappe and Oreos nearby. My muse is infamous for waking me up in the middle of the night. She either has some new material planned for us, or she is telling me the solution to something that wasn’t going quite right the day before. Organized melee—that about sums up my writing schedule.

What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?

Edits and revisions. I am my own worst enemy when it comes to fixing things. And since the release of The Executive Officer’s Wife and pending release of Bound By Trust, I’ve become far harder on myself. I feel like a bar has been set and I must keep raising the bar and making it over. I’ve taken the things I’ve learned through reviews and professional editors and applied them to all my WIP’s and anything else I have pending. I have a very low tolerance when it comes to mistakes from me, in particular those that are easy fixes and I somehow miss them the first go around.

Do you have a favorite author?

Again, as with the favorite book, my tastes vary so much that I would have a difficult time pinpointing just one. I love to read as much as I love to write and do so at a voracious speed. And now that I have a Kindle, my husband can forget conversation on road trips. They are much easier to carry than a bag of books and I can download on the road and save stops at book stores.

Tell us about your first published work.

The Executive Officer’s Wife is set in Jacksonville, NC and rotates around the military community based there. The heroine, Libby Calhoun, is the daughter of a USMC sniper being held captive. Chase Wayland, the hero, is a former marine turned bodyguard who has been charged with her safety. The road to happily ever after is a bumpy one for them and is filled with twists, turns, and plenty of surprises. There’s also a host of colorful supporting characters that help them find their way. So far, it’s received good reviews both professionally as well as from my normal reading audience.
Do you have a favorite of your own work?

My books are sort of like children to me. It takes a few months for them to grow inside me and come to fruition, then they are born on paper and begin to grow into mature works. I would no more choose a favorite child than a favorite work. They are all unique and have their own personalities and shortcomings. I love them all in a special way, but not one more than the others. I truly loved writing my first novel and it does hold a special place in my heart, but it’s not my favorite.

Where can our readers find you on the web?

I have my own personal website filled with useful goodies: my blog, excerpts, video trailers, and links to other great sites. I can be reached there at www.lilamunro.weebly.com . In addition to that, I also participate in a joint effort website with three other great gals. We call ourselves the wicked muses and everyone can check that out at www.wickedmuses.webs.com . I highly encourage everyone to become a member at Wicked Muses as we have some fabulous events and give aways planned for this fall and winter.

Where can they buy your books?

At present The Executive Officer’s Wife is available in e-book format through www.amazon.com , www.allromanceebooks.com , www.1romanceebooks.com , and www.omnilit.com . This fall it should come available in paperback. Bound By Trust, due out in October, will be available at all the same outlets and will also be available at www.whiskeycreekpress.com .

Anything else you would like to add?

I’d just like to say thanks for having me here today, it’s been fun chatting it up, and if it’s alright, I’d like to share an excerpt from The Executive Officer’s Wife.

“What’s her story anyway?” He motioned with his glass.
“You mean Libby?” Green exclaimed. “Don’t get any ideas about her. Playing with that’s like dabbling with hell’s fire. Her father eats men that think about being with her for breakfast and washes them down with dragon’s piss.”
“She looks all grown up to me. Who’s her father anyway?”
The men around the table looked at him mouths gaping.
“You mean you don’t know?”
Chase shook his head, confused. “Should I?”
Green smirked. “Wayland, some things are just better learned on your own. Maybe you should ask her.”
The conversation quickly returned to war stories.
* * * * *
Murray slipped behind the bar, stood behind Libby, put his hands on her shoulders, and squeezed. “How you holding up, sweetheart?”
“Pretty good, Uncle Murray.” She shrugged her shoulders, shut her eyes as he hit a sore spot, and inhaled sharply. Looking back up, she discovered the handsome stranger was back at her station and her heart fluttered.
“Hey, cowboy.” With a smile as fresh at midnight as it had been at eight, she quickly fixed a Jack straight up on the rocks and set in before him. “I believe that’s right.”
“Yes, you remembered,” Chase spoke over the crowd and jukebox. “Are you allowed to take a break? Or will you get off soon?”
“Uncle Murray.” She shot the older man a grin. “Do you think you can spare me a while?” What was she doing?
Murray’s eyes darted from her, to Chase, and back again. He feigned a scowl and acted irritated. “Just as soon as that tip jar is full.”
“Well, cowboy, there you go. Fill my jar and I’m free for the rest of the evening.” How he would accomplish it was beyond her.
“Lady, you got yourself a deal.”
Confidently he strode to the karaoke stage, his ostrich skin cowboy boots clicking a cadence. He picked up the microphone and flipped it on. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I realize I’m a newbie here, but it seems the lovely Miss Libby has thrown down the javelin and issued a challenge.” He held his glass toward her, smiled a wicked grin, winked one of his enrapturing eyes, and continued in his honeyed accent. “I was just wondering if I could get you all to help me fill her tip jar so Uncle Murray will let her dance with me.”
Barks of approval raised the roof as marine after marine lined up at the bar and dropped bills in her jar until it could hold no more. The last person in line was Chase, and he topped it off with another twenty.
“Okay, lady, how about that dance?”

Please Welcome Clarissa Yip

1. Tell us your latest news.

Well, Love By Auction was released Monday, August 30th by Decadent Publishing. I’m really excited. The cover is awesome, the company is great. I think I got really lucky to be part of their family. I also have another release coming from Decadent, called Unforeseen Reunion. It’s about a woman who’s been scared from the popular kid from high school and she’s back for revenge, but then fate throws her a twist. And I have another book coming from Lyrical Press next April, Bachelor’s Return, about a woman who’s been in love with her best friend’s brother all her life and decides to make things happen. Can you tell I’m a sucker for reunion stories?

2. What initially inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always been an avid reader and writer since I was a little kid. I love the worlds built, the different characters and relationships and the idea of being someone else for a while. And reading was always an escape. When some of my favorite authors didn’t write fast enough, I’d dabble in my own writing and steal away. I used to love carrying a journal with me to school and write when my teachers weren’t looking in class or I’d hide in my room and make up stories just to get away from my parents. Writing makes me happy.

3. What is your favorite book? And Why?

If I had to pick just one book, I’m going to have to say JR Ward’s Lover Awakened. Love Zsadist, the tormented Alpha. The emotions, conflicts, and love always hooks me in no matter how many times I read that book.

4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.

My writing process? LOL. I’m pretty spontaneous. Depends on when my muse wants to return from vacation and play. She’s always running off to the beach and ditching me lately, but I write best when it’s late at night, when everyone is asleep. No distractions.

5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?

The writing is the easy part. It’s the finding the time to write that gets me and also the editing. It’s so hard to spot your own mistakes until you’ve detached yourself from your story for awhile. I have a wonderful group of critique partners and friends at Passionate Critters that helps me a lot. Don’t know what I’d do without them.

6. Do you have a favorite author?

There’s too many. My all time favorites are still Julie Garwood and Judith McNaught, but their older historical releases. I’m not much of a historical reader, but I use to steal them from my sister when I was younger and I never got sick of reading their books over and over. The plots are still kind of classic, but it’s the emotions and the twists that always seem new to me no matter how many times I read them. And I’m a big fan of JR Ward, Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. Can never get enough of them. Love her voice.

7. Tell us about your first published work.

Love By Auction is actually my debut book. If you love reunion/second chances at love, then it’s a great book for you. It’s about my darling socialite, Rebecca Hathaway, who enters a scandalous dare only to end up in the arms of her ex-boyfriend, billionaire tycoon, Mark Passmore, except he doesn’t know it’s her. Very fun read.

8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?

That’s a toughy question. How do you not fall in love with all of your characters when you spend so much time with them? But I suppose, my favorite would be one that is still in progress. It’s called Tycoon’s Pawn Wife. About a loving and forgiving woman that innocently enters a scheme of revenge and she doesn’t know it, until it’s too late. I hope to see it on shelves soon.

9. Where can our readers find you on the web?

I’m usually everywhere, but my current website is http://clarissayip.com. You can find me on twitter @clarissayip and also, Facebook. Drop me a note. I love hearing from everyone!

10. Where can they buy your books?

Currently, Love By Auction is available at www.decadentpublishing.com

11. Anything you would like to add?

Thanks so much for having me. Truly loved being here.