In the Author Spotlight & Contest

Elaine Cantrell

CONTEST: Leave a comment for a chance to win an ecopy of Elaine's book, The Welcome Inn.  To win you must leave an email address so she can contact you.

AL: Hi Elaine! Thanks for being in the “Author Spotlight” this week.


Elaine: It’s a pleasure to be here, Ann. Thanks so much for inviting me.

AL: So, tell us what’s happening with you.

Elaine: At the moment I’m struggling with our new dog. He was a rescue dog so he’s difficult to say the least. He’s coming along, though. He hides his rawhide bones all over the house. I sat on the sofa the other day and found a bone he’d hidden under a throw pillow, and last night I found another one in a pile of sheets I was collecting for the wash. He’s learned how to dig too. He’s a white dog, but his paws are usually orange because we live in an area where the soil is red. My son said he looks like a Creamsicle. Needless to say, I spend a lot of time bathing him.

AL: Tell us what you have on the bookshelf for us to read.

Elaine: It’s called Return Engagement, and even though I wrote it, I fell in love with my own hero. This guy, Richard, is a compilation of all my heroes. He’s sexy, handsome, smart, passionate, romantic, impulsive, and just a tiny bit dangerous. My heroine gets an adrenalin rush every single time she’s around him. I liked him so much I have a sequel written and have started on a third book. May I have one minute to brag? Return Engagement is number 5 on the Whiskey Creek Press best seller list.

AL: What other works are you deep into?

Elaine: Truthfully, I’m almost out of my mind with edits. I have a book that was supposed to be out March 8, but the date was pushed back a few weeks. It’s called A New Dream and is about a pro-football player. I also have a book coming at the end of May. The title is still up in the air. Every waking minute that I’m not at work I’ve been editing these books. One is finished, but the other isn’t.

AL: Out of all your stories do you have one that is more near and dear your heart?

Elaine: Yes, Return Engagement.

AL: When you write do you do a detailed outline before you get started or do you have the idea then just 'fly by the seat of your pants'?

Elaine: I always know my starting point and where I want to end, and maybe have a general idea of how to do it, but mostly I create it as I go along.

AL: Is there an author(s) out there that you’d love to do an anthology with?

Elaine: That’s an interesting thought. I’ve never considered doing an anthology. I have a lot of favorite authors so nobody in particular comes to mind. Maybe Maggi Andersen, Kim Bowman, Stephanie Burkhart, or Ruth Hartman. They’ve all been to my blog recently, and I like their excerpts.

AL: It’s time to get personal! I love that you’re a teacher. Can you tell us one of your favorite memories over the years? It must be very rewarding to help shape a young person’s life.

Elaine: Two things that warm my heart happened recently. One of my students begged to read the sci/fi novel I was writing. I had to edit some parts, but he devoured the book and asked for more. Another one of my students asked me to help her write a story, a little summer romance thing. I did help her, and I plan to feature her story on my blog.

AL: How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? I’m a shame to my ancestors. I wear green, but I leave the drinking to others. I’m a terrible lightweight.

Elaine: You sound like me! I’m Irish too, but I usually have to work on St. Patrick’s Day, so I wear shamrock earrings and just do my regular routine.

AL: What annoys you enough to be considered a pet peeve?

Elaine: Not wiping the crumbs off the kitchen counters after the dishes are done. It totally drives me bonkers!

AL: If you were a cartoon, which character would you be?

Elaine: I’d like to be Wonder Woman, but I’m probably like Mr. Frederickson from the movie Up.

AL: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?

Elaine: I’d like to release a few more books of course, and my goal that I have yet to achieve is to be number one on my publisher’s bestseller list. Right now I’m number five.

AL: Please share a favorite quote(s) with us

Elaine: I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. Bill Cosby. Profound when you think about it.

AL: Thanks so much for sharing with us, Elaine.

Elaine: Thanks for having me, Ann. I enjoyed talking to you and your readers.

AL: If you’d like to find out more about Elaine please visit:

www.elainecantrell.com
www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/elainepcantrell

FEATURED TITLE: RETURN ENGAGEMENT

Blurb:

Elizabeth Lane is one lucky woman. She has it all-money, fame, a satisfying career and a devoted fiancé. Her humble beginnings are all but obscured, but she isn’t the kind of woman Senator Henry Lovinggood wants for his son, Richard. Senator Lovinggood plans to make Richard the President of the United States; he’ll need a woman from a wealthy, powerful family by his side. Ten years ago the senator broke Richard and Elizabeth up, but this time it won’t be so easy, for Elizabeth wants to know what might have been. This time she’ll fight back, a struggle which ultimately leads to kidnapping and attempted murder and alienates her from the man of her dreams.

Excerpt:

“Hurry up, Elizabeth. Jay’s almost finished talking, and he goes ballistic if anyone holds up the shoot.” Cathy Craig, Elizabeth Lane’s best friend and honorary sister, stood in the doorway of the trailer to wait for her.

“I’ll be right there, Cathy. Just let me adjust this belt.” She groaned as she tried to get the belt to rest in the right place. “I hate this costume. Oh, why do I have to be so curvy?”

“Who cares? It works for the public, right?”

Elizabeth giggled. “I guess so. Are there many people watching?”

“Yeah, a good many. Jay told them you were in the movie, so most of them are probably waiting to see you.”

“Oh, I don’t mind,” Elizabeth answered. “If they didn’t want to see me and get my autograph, I guess I’d have to find other work.”

The two friends laughed together and made their way to the set on the beach. “It’s Elizabeth!” a shrill female voice cried. The crowd buzzed with excited chatter as the spectators pressed forward to get a good luck at the big star. Elizabeth smiled and cheerfully waved to her fans. She knew some of them followed her life religiously. She could guess why, too. She represented the glamour and excitement they craved but lacked in their daily lives. She knew a lot about dreams, so yes, she’d gladly smile and wave to them. Pausing for one moment, she signed a couple of autographs before moving on.

A tall, blond man standing near the back of the crowd caught her eye. She faltered and stumbled, catching hold of Cathy’s arm to stay upright in the sand. No, it couldn’t be! Richard! They hadn’t seen each other in ten years, but yes, it was Richard. She’d know him anywhere. His blue eyes still mesmerized her as he watched her progress across the beach. Irrelevantly, she remembered that when he was aroused his eyes always darkened.

Her heart took off in a wild gallop. He had matured since she last saw him. His shoulders had broadened, and the well defined muscles in his chest rippled under his tee shirt. His stomach appeared flat and hard, and his legs looked shapely and well formed. The expression on his face spoke of a fiery, passionate nature. Her face flushed as it occurred to her that if she faced him across a bed today as she had done ten years ago, the outcome might be very different. He didn’t look like a man she’d want to turn down.

Uh oh. She had started to shake. Would she be able to do her scene or not? She hoped so, but seeing Richard had brought the past vividly to life.

A dull ache, long familiar, reminded her how much it hurt to break up with him. He really was too young for me, but somehow it didn’t matter at all. We were compatible in every way.

No wonder I fell head over heels in love with him.

Her lips tightened. She had never told him what happened right before their final date, but she remembered it as well as if it had happened only yesterday.

“Hello, Miss Lane. May I come in?”

“Of course, Senator Lovinggood. It’s nice to see you. Please, come in and have a seat.”

“That’s all right. I won’t be staying long. I stopped by to tell you that I don’t want you to see my son anymore.”

“Senator…”

“Please, hear me out, Miss Lane.”

“Go on.”

The senator’s cold eyes bored into hers. “Richard is only seventeen, but you are twenty-two. Presumably, you are more experienced than he is. Truthfully, I blame his infatuation for you on his inexperience.

Don’t take advantage of an impressionable boy, Miss Lane. Richard isn’t a toy to be used for your pleasure and then discarded. He’s being groomed for important work in the future, but if he keeps seeing you he has very little chance of winning any political office. If you care about him let him go.”

Even now she swallowed against the anger that still burned her. I was so angry I thought I might have a stroke, she thought. How dare he come to my home and try to intimidate me!

Her eyes took on a faraway expression. I decided on the spot I’d never agree to the senator’s demands. I thought that seeing me wouldn’t ruin Richard’s future career. The senator only wanted to frighten me away.

She and Cathy had reached the set now. Elizabeth pasted a brilliant smile on her face, but inside where it counted she was bleeding. I changed my mind when Richard and I ended up in my bedroom kissing, touching, and undressing. I knew then that Senator Lovinggood was right. If Richard and I continued our relationship, the press would crucify both of us. While it would probably help my career, it would only hurt him. Scandal titillates the public and enhances a star’s reputation, but it’s the kiss of death for a politician.

“Psst, Elizabeth! Aren’t you listening to me?” Cathy sounded cross.

“Sorry,” Elizabeth apologized. “What did you say?”

Cathy shrugged. “It wasn’t important. What were you thinking so hard about?”

I…ah…I was..thinking about someone I used to know.”

“Who?” Kathy asked.

Elizabeth sighed. “An old boyfriend if you really want to know. I let him go, but it almost killed me. I…don’t know if I…ever really got over it.”

“Oh, I guess everyone remembers the one who got away,” Cathy lightly answered. “You’ve got Alex now, and you guys are happy, right?”

“Yes, very happy.” And they were, but come hell or high water she intended to talk to Richard the minute this scene ended. She’d like to know what he’d done with his life.

Hmm. Wonder if Senator Lovinggood still tried to control him? He didn’t look like a man who’d take kindly to his father interfering in his business.

She squared her shoulders, a look of determination on her face. After ten years she deserved a sense of closure, and she intended to get it. Then maybe she could finally close the door on the past and Richard Lovinggood.

CONTEST: Leave a comment for a chance to win an ecopy of Elaine's book, The Welcome Inn. To win you must leave an email address so she can contact you.

In the Author Spotlight & Contest

KALLYSTEN

CONTEST: Kally has two contests to offer today.

FIRST CONTEST:
Prize: A paperback copy of the winner’s choice of CheckMate or the Men in Space anthology.
How to enter: Comment on this interview or ask a question (make sure you leave your e-mail or a link you can be reached through your profile in case you win).
Deadline: March 16th

SECOND CONTEST:
Prize: Winners’ choice of one of Kally's $0.99 reads – She has 20 short stories to choose from!
How to enter: Become Kally's friend on Facebook. That’s it. Here’s the fun part: there will be one winner for every 5 participants. So if 5 people become her friends, there will be one winner. If 10 do, 2 winners. 50 friends, 10 winners and so forth. If you already are her friend there, enter the contest by making a post linking to this interview.
Deadline: March 20th

AL: Hi Kallysten! Thanks for being in the “Author Spotlight” this week.
 
Kallysten: I’m excited to be here! Thank you so much for having me!

AL: So, tell us what’s happening with you.

Kallysten: My big project right now is to get ready for spring planting. We are lucky enough to have a small vegetable garden, and this year will be the second time we grow our own veggies. The hubby will prepare the soil once it unfreezes (!) but before that I’ll start all my plants from seed. Last year I started some plants too late and didn’t get to harvest some things; this year I’m trying to learn from my mistakes! On my list so far are cherry tomatoes, green beans, peas, broccoli, carrots, kale, eggplant, cauliflower… and anything else I can fit in my small square of earth!

AL: Would you like to tell us about a current or upcoming release?

Kallysten: My latest release a couple of weeks ago was Fangs and Lullabies. I’ll admit I was more nervous than usual about this story because it’s not a traditional plot as it follows a very extraordinary little boy and his two vampire fathers other the course of seventeen years. The response from readers has been overwhelmingly positive though so I’m glad I stretched my writing wings a little with this one.

AL: What other works are you deep into?

Kallysten: Do you want an alphabetical list? *GRIN* I’ve got a dozen projects in my WIP folder, most to be released by the end of the year. The story that takes most of my time right now is Living Out of the Box, a sequel to my Out of the Box series. I’m deep into edits and finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m also preparing for the release of Seventh Vision of Destiny at the end of the month; the series this belongs to is fun to write, because each installment contains an independent short story within a longer story that spans all ten books. One other thing I’m working on is a freebie I post in monthly installments on my site. The title is Losing His Wings and it mixes vampires, angels and demons.

AL: What is the strangest source of writing inspiration you’ve ever had?

Kallysten: I think it’s got to be a NASA picture of a galaxy, with beautiful colors. I use those as background on my computer and one of them just looked like magic to me. I started daydreaming about what kind of magic might make such a show, and that’s how I’ll Be Home For Christmas came to be.

AL: What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?

Kallysten: Writing ‘the end’ on the page is actually only the beginning. Then start the edits, the submissions, the promo and so forth… Being an author is about more than writing, it’s a lesson I’m still learning.

AL: Do you have a mentor or critique partner that you work with consistently?

Kallysten: I do, and I am lucky enough to have found someone who doesn’t let our friendship prevent her from being ruthless! She has no problem hitting me over the head when I need it – or murdering my darlings – and I thank her as often as I can for that.

AL: It’s time to get personal! Where would you like to travel if you had the chance?

Kallysten: I’m dreaming of a sandy beach and deep blue lagoon. Hawaii, or maybe Tahiti? Then again, I might just be tired of all the snow we had this winter!

AL: What were you like as a kid?

Kallysten: Shy, always either reading or scribbling stories… wait… that sounds like me today… I guess I am still the same!

AL: What decadent delight must you have no matter what?

Kallysten: Thick bubbles in my bath. A hubby in there is pretty nice, too.

AL: Can you share some of your plans for 2011 and beyond?

Kallysten: My plans this year involve finishing two of my series, the Visions of Destiny and the Blurred Trilogy. I also plan to add to each of my other series, The Pacts, On The Edge, Special Enforcers and The Demons Age. I also hope I can finish my monthly freebie within the year. And then there’s this YA idea that has been tickling my muse for a while already…

AL: You’re the actress in a must see blockbuster movie that everyone’s been waiting all summer for. 1 - What’s the movie about? 2 - Who’s your character? 3 - And who’s your leading man?

Kallysten: Oh it has to be some superhero flick with a romance to die for. I’m the superhero(ine) (*GRIN*) and I do have a cape (it looks pretty when I fly) but definitely no spandex costume. The leading man, for a change, is totally normal, no superpower of his own except for the ability to make me melt. And since the hubby can’t act, I’ll have to settle for Hugh Jackman or Robert Downer Jr…

AL: Please share a favorite quote(s) with us.

Kallysten: “You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will." (Stephen King)

AL: Thanks so much for sharing with us, Kallysten.

Kallysten: My pleasure! It was fun!

AL: If you’d like to find out more about Kallysten please visit:

http://original.kallysten.net
http://www.facebook.com/kallysten.author

FEATURED TITLE: FANGS AND LULLABIES

Blurb:

A child’s birth. His first teeth and first steps. School friends and bullies, recess, school plays and science projects. A girl, a crush and a broken heart. These childhood experiences are shared by countless little boys from different horizons.

And yet… Jacob is anything but average. For as long as he has been able to understand, a secret has shaped his life, kept even from his closest friends: his father, Andrew, is a vampire. And so is his other father, Nicholas.

In a strange era when demons are beginning to appear all over the world and threaten humans and vampires alike, the three of them form quite an extraordinary family. And yet, at the same time, they could hardly be more normal.

Two fathers raising a son neither of them ever thought he would have. A Sire and Childe resuming their relationship after years of estrangement. Through snapshots covering Jacob’s life from birth to adulthood, discover this unusual family, and how, in the end, all it takes is love.

Excerpt:

And there they go again.

It was all Andrew could do not to repeatedly bang his forehead against his desk. Just outside his office, Craig and Nicholas were arguing. Again. Something about crossbows, personal property, grabby hands, and oversensitive Special Enforcers. Any second now, Craig would make some threat involving stakes and ashes, and Nicholas would reply with a flippant comment that would only escalate things and Andrew was tired of Nicholas goading Craig at any occasion that presented itself and tired of Craig falling for it every time. Andrew had been hoping for the past month that they’d start acting like grown-ups, but apparently that was expecting too much.

“Nicholas!” Andrew shouted. “Get in here!”

Through the open door, Andrew could see both Nicholas and Craig become very still, both of them suddenly silent as they looked into the office. If Craig had said even a word, mocked Nicholas somehow, Andrew would have called Craig in as well, and chastised them both. But of the two of them, Craig must have had at least a little more sense, and he turned away while Nicholas came into the office.

“Close the door,” Andrew demanded, glaring.

Nicholas did so, then turned to Andrew, an eyebrow raised questioningly, as though Nicholas hadn’t known exactly why he had been called in.

Andrew waited for a few seconds before he asked, “Do we need new rules?”

“New rules?” Nicholas scoffed and pushed his hands deep inside his jean pockets. “Like what? Let the humans walk all over me? How about I give you rules for a change?”

Andrew stared, thoroughly unimpressed. “Rules for me, Childe? I think you might want to reword that.”

As much as Nicholas enjoyed teasing everyone, he did know there were things his Sire would not tolerate. The slip seemed accidental, judging by how quickly Nicholas amended his words. “Maybe not rules,” he said as he slinked into the chair on the other side of Andrew’s desk. “Just… requests.”

“Requests,” Andrew repeated, rolling the word in his mouth. “I like that much better than rules.” Leaning back in his chair, he placed his elbows on the armrests and steepled his fingers in front of him, considering Nicholas over them. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”

A look of calculation fluttered over Nicholas’ face, and after a few seconds he leaned back in his chair as well, observing Andrew very closely. “First, I need money,” Nicholas said, determination filling his words.

It wasn’t anything Andrew had expected. Swallowing a laugh, he tried to keep a straight face as he asked, “How is that a rule?”

Nicholas shrugged. “You just said they’re not rules.”

Inclining his head, Andrew granted that much, but he still wasn’t convinced. “I’m already paying for your food and lodging,” he pointed out. “Why should I give you my hard earned money on top of that?”

“I’m taking care of the baby,” Nicholas said, so quickly it sounded like he had prepared his arguments for just such an opportunity. “And helping with chores and things. That deserves a reward.”

Andrew refrained from asking what chores exactly they were talking about, because Andrew’s own workload certainly didn’t seem to have lessened since Nicholas’ arrival. Nicholas was, for the most part, cleaning up after himself, but he had yet to offer to do anything more—not that Andrew had expected anything different. Andrew didn’t point that out, however, and instead, he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips, “So what you’re saying is, you want to be treated like nothing more than a servant. Is that it?”

Nicholas’ reaction was exactly as expected. He sat up in his chair, sputtering in indignation. He had grown up in the house of wealthy merchants, as close to nobility as the American nation had known, but not as a favored heir destined to inherit riches. Instead, he had been the son of domestics, trained into service before his tenth birthday, and while he had never said as much, Andrew knew Nicholas had hated it and wanted more from his life. Maybe that was why he had asked Andrew to turn him, although Andrew liked to think it had been about more than that.

“I’m not a servant,” Nicholas protested. “I’m your Childe, and I deserve—”

Knowing full well that Nicholas could spend hours listing all the things he thought he deserved if only given the chance, Andrew waved his hand. “Fine. Money. Sure. You need new clothes anyway.”

Nicholas looked vaguely affronted. He glanced down at himself, a hand running over the skull and bones printed on his t-shirt, then frowned up at Andrew. “What’s wrong with my clothes?” Nicholas asked. “This t-shirt’s vintage!”

Vintage would have not been Andrew’s first choice to describe that particular piece of clothing, but he managed to hold back his laugh. “I’m tired of the black-on-black look. You used to dress much better than that. You’re like a caricature of a vampire.”

“Fine.” Nicholas snickered and passed a hand through his jet-black hair. “I’ll dye my hair blue. Will that be colorful enough for you?”

“Can’t wait to see that,” Andrew deadpanned. “Is money all you want?”

“I want…” Nicholas was quick to catch himself and flashed Andrew a grin. “That is, I would like you to tell Craig to stop looking at me like he’s about to stake me.”

Andrew shrugged. “He’s a Special Enforcer. It’s his job to be wary of vampires.”

“Is it?” For all that Nicholas tried to appear nonchalant, there was a glint in his eyes, a little something that spoke of suspicions and jealousy. “Then why does he look at you like you’re the second coming? If he wasn’t making eyes at Julie, I’d start thinking he wants to get in your bed.”

“Craig is making eyes at Julie?” Andrew repeated, certain he must have misunderstood.

Nicholas looked at Andrew as though he had sprouted a second head. “Of course he is,” Nicholas scoffed. “What are you, blind?”

Frowning and very aware that Julie was in the room next door, Andrew lowered his voice. “Really? And is she making eyes in return?”

Now, Nicholas snickered. “You are blind. How could you miss that? It’s happening right under your nose.”

Still a little confused, Andrew thought back about the past few months. Before making his own decision, Craig had waited for Julie to decide whether she would leave town and follow Andrew. Also, a few months earlier, Julie had been so upset when a vampire had hurt Craig that she hadn’t been able to perform magic to help heal him. It was all starting to make sense.

“Huh. Okay.”

“So you’ll tell him?” Nicholas asked. “Because if I tell him, I’m going to make my point with my fists, and I don’t think that’d convince him all that much.”

Andrew let out a deep sigh. Craig and Nicholas were just as stubborn, and just as unlikely to admit they were wrong. “I’ll tell him I trust you. Again. But I can’t force him to like you.”

Nicholas’ fingers linked behind his head, and he affected indifference, but he didn’t fool Andrew. If Craig’s attitude, just a shade shy of openly hostile, hadn’t bothered Nicholas, he wouldn’t have mentioned it in the first place.

“I don’t care if he likes me. I just don’t want to feel threatened in my own home.”

“My home. And maybe if you stopped badgering him—” Pinching the bridge of his nose, Andrew let out a deep sigh. “He wouldn’t touch you. Not unless he caught you red-fanged. Same as me. Anything else?”

Nicholas shifted slightly in his chair; at any other time, the movement might have been meaningless. With the scent that wafted from him, however, full of wariness and expectation, that same movement felt like nervous fidgeting.

Nicholas took a deep breath and said very fast, “Speaking of red fangs… I want to visit blood bars to—”

Without waiting for Nicholas to finish, Andrew shook his head. All he said was, “No,” but every ounce of authority he possessed weighted that word.

“Wait, let me explain—”

Andrew interrupted Nicholas again. The faster Nicholas understood this was not up for discussion, the better. “There’s nothing you can say that will make me change my mind.”

“But it’s legal!” Nicholas snapped. “And the humans are willing, so—”

“No,” Andrew said again, just as sternly as before. His voice was even colder when he added, “That’s where you started killing. Maybe they weren’t called blood bars at the time, but that’s what those places were, and you know it.”

A wounded expression crossed Nicholas’ face, as though he had just been slapped without warning or cause. “You think I want to kill again?”

“No,” Andrew said immediately, truthfully. “I think accidents happen. I think they happen fast. You told me the first time you killed you didn’t mean to. I don’t want you to get in a situation where it could happen again.”

I don’t want to be in a situation where I would have to kill you, was what Andrew really meant, but he couldn’t say it. He didn’t want Nicholas to ask if Andrew could really kill him. Andrew didn’t know how he would answer that.

“Besides,” Andrew added after a moment, “I told you when you first moved in you’d have to keep a low profile. Blood bars aren’t exactly discreet.”

Nicholas gave Andrew a sullen look and all but growled, “I miss biting.”

A flash of surprise left Andrew momentarily speechless. He would never have imagined that this was why Nicholas wanted to go to a blood bar, not with his history. But now that Nicholas had laid it out in words, Andrew could understand it all too well. It didn’t even occur to him to question it.

“Come here,” Andrew demanded, the gentleness in his voice softening the order. When Nicholas didn’t immediately move, Andrew held out his hand toward him, wrist up, bare, offered.

Something flashed in Nicholas’ eyes, gold like lust and need. He took slow steps around the desk to Andrew’s side, but rather than taking Andrew’s wrist, Nicholas only looked at it, and traced the visible vein with a fingertip. His expression was one of hunger, so why wasn’t he biting already?

The flicker of Nicholas’ eyes clued Andrew in. It was so quick that Andrew could have missed it, but it was also unmistakably directed at his neck. Understanding, Andrew sighed. “You’re too greedy for your own good,” he muttered, and grabbed Nicholas’ hand.

Andrew tugged until Nicholas climbed onto his lap, knees wedged against the sides of the chair on either side of him. As Andrew tilted his head to one side, Nicholas started to lean forward, a glimpse of fangs just peeking through his parted lips. Nicholas stopped before his mouth touched skin, however, and he gave Andrew a questioning look.

“Go ahead,” Andrew whispered. “Neatly now, boy. Don’t stain my shirt.”

REMEMBER: Get in on the contests mentioned above.

In the Author Spotlight & Contest

ANNA del C. DYE

CONTEST: Anna will give away The Elf and the Princess (e-book format) to on lucky commenter. To enter they would need to leave a comment on this blog. On Sunday March 13^th she will award the the first book in The Silent Warrior Trilogy. Make sure you include your contact information in case you win. Good luck!

AL: Hi Anna! Thanks for being in the “Author Spotlight” this week.

Anna: It is my pleasure to be here.

AL: So, tell us what’s happening with you.

Anna: My life has been quite busy lately. My only daughter just gave birth to a little girl and I get to take care of her while mom and dad work. My daughter tried for five years to bring this little one here and now she is finally with us.

AL: Would you like to tell us about a current or upcoming release?

Anna: After the great success of “The Silent Warrior Trilogy,” I have created four more books in the Elf series. No, they have nothing to do with the seven books in Harry Potter, just a coincidence. The first stand-alone book after the trilogy “The Curse of the Elfs,” should be released in April 2011.

AL: What other fantasy tale are you weaving for us?

Anna: At this time I am working on “The Royal Elf of Abalon” another stand-alone book that will debut April 2012.

AL: What fantasy bug bit you and got you started writing these mystical tales?

Anna: It was a great masterful bug and it bit me hard a few years ago—J. R. R. Tolkien. I love Lord of the Rings.

AL: What’s the first rule in building a fantasy world?

Anna: To stay true to the rules. If you say beings in that world don’t do something, don’t have them doing it later without explaining what changed so that now they can do what you said they couldn’t.

AL: Have you ever wanted to write your book in one direction but your characters wanted to go in another direction. What did you do in such a situation?

Anna: Your characters are the most important parts of your book. So, if they want to go left you go left, even if you wanted to go right. If you don’t, it will be quite hard to make them change and your tale will feel forced. I want my tale to go smoothly so I don’t fight the characters, they do know better than me.

AL: It’s time to get personal! If you could go anywhere in the world and in any time…where would you go? What would you do? And why that time-period?

Anna: I would go to the medieval era. Sword fights, knights in shining armor, castles and maidens is what I am all about. I wouldn’t mind some elfs sprinkled here and there.

I’m a professional seamstress so I see myself working on their clothes. Coloring the cloth, cutting, sewing, and seeing those gorgeous dresses being worn would be manna to my soul.

AL: Sometimes people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. I like to set them straight, so tell us what’s the most unglamorous thing you’ve done in the past week?

Anna: Burp a baby and change dirty diapers. I did love it though.

AL: If your muse were to talk behind your back, what secrets would he/she tell?

Anna: They would say that in my closet all my hangers hang the same direction and that I fall asleep holding hands with my hubby.

AL: What's your favorite music?

Anna: Romantic, hands down. Soft rock, a lot of oldies… The Platters, The Stylistics, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis ; more recent artists: Il Divo, Julio Iglesias, Celine Dion, etc.

AL: Can you share some of your plans for 2011 and beyond?

Anna: Well I have a Writer’s Festival in Tooele, Utah at the end of March. I will be doing five 30-minute presentations about writing, and a book signing that afternoon. The “Curse of the Elfs” launch should be the first week of April, with a book signing at the Taylorsville Curves. I will be at an all day Fools Day Faire on April 9th with a book signing. The first three weekends of May I will be at the Fantasy and Renascence Faire, at Clark-Slattersville, Utah. More of the same activities are planned after May. The biggest highlight would be the September, the yearly League of Utah Writer’s Convention where I am in charge of the Published Books Award. And the yearly book drive to benefit local Utah Elementary Schools in October.

AL: Please share a favorite quote(s) with us.

Anna: Do unto others as you will want them do unto you. I am a big believer of paying it forward.

AL: Thanks so much for sharing with us, Anna.

Anna: Thank you for inviting me to come. I had a wonderful time visiting with you.

AL: If you’d like to find out more about Anna please visit:
http://www.annadelc.com
And to read reviews of Anna’s books visit:
http://ning.it/dIqC6n
Barnes & Noble:
http://ning.it/evrfne

FEATURED TITLE: THE CURSE OF THE ELFS

Blurb:

When an Immortal race ceases to be immortal woe to the land.

Ancient legend tells of elfs crossing paths with a dying wizard named Zoltan. The Old Sorcerer’s unrepentant deeds had caused the wizarding school to chastise him severely. On his deathbed Zoltan asked the unsuspecting elfs for help. Losing patience in his delirium, he cursed them. Now, the immortal elfin race is slowly, but surely dying.

Their only hope lies in a servant of kings who must learn to love the elfs before he will attempt to save them. But no one, elf or mankind, has ever heard of this man. Can the healer be found before their race is gone forever?

Inspired by Tolkien’s masterpiece, Anna del C. has created a brilliant unique medieval tale. Curse of the Elfs is full of high adventure, romance and battles that will leave you awed from beginning to end.


Excerpt:

I am worried sick about my wife Katelynn; she is great with child, and is with me, here in Altair, where a perilous battle will erupt at any moment. My name is Lathenyl, and I was unable to make her stay safely in Rolarin, the mankind city, where we live. She was adamant about being with me when our baby was born. So, unknown to me, she followed after I left to battle our old enemies here in the south.

Not many mixed marriages like ours are blessed with descendants; in fact not many elf couples in this land are thus blessed either. The surprising prospect of a baby almost overwhelmed us with joy… but now…

“My dearest love… What have you done?” I am deeply saddened as I watch her sleep—so precious and in so much danger.

I sense that the next battle might be our last, and the mere thought of her presence here causes me to tremble.

“Elfs are meant to protect and defend their women, son,” my father’s voice came from my memory. “It is our charge to do so with our lives.”

“I know… I tried and failed...” my frustration burst out through clenched teeth. “I left her days away from this frightful place… But, now she is here in the midst of a city that holds no hope for us."

REMEMBER: Anna will give away The Elf and the Princess (e-book format) to on lucky commenter. To enter they would need to leave a comment on this blog. On Sunday March 13th she will award the the first book in The Silent Warrior Trilogy. Make sure you include your contact information in case you win. Good luck!

GIVE-AWAY EXTRAVAGANZA-
Celebrating the month of Love with Romance Authors and their Men

Please stop by! I'm giving away a free download to one lucky winner and there are several
other authors. Our signifigant others share what it's like being married to a romance novelist.


http://selenarobinsmusings.wordpress.com/

See you there!
Ann

In the Author Spotlight & Contest

STEPHANIE BECK

CONTEST: At the end of the week, Stephanie will choose a random commenter for their pick of a book from her ebook backlist. Good luck!

AL: Hi Stephanie! Thanks for being in the “Author Spotlight” this week.


Stephanie: I’m very happy to be here. Thanks for having me.

AL: So, tell us what’s happening with you.

Stephanie: Well, as of February 14th, our third child is officially due. My husband and daughters are as thrilled as I am to have a little boy coming. Between helping at church and getting piles of knitting done, the baby thing has taken up a good portion of my time.

AL: Would you like to tell us about a current or upcoming release?

Stephanie: There are so many coming now! I’m very happy to announce two new contracts from Decadent Publishing—one erotic and the other under my pen name Stephanie J Grace that is much sweeter. Also, I’m working with six other great authors on an anthology project called Seven Deadly Sins. We’re all writing erotica stories featuring one of the sins. Mine happens to be gluttony and it is so much fun.

AL: What other works are you deep into?

Stephanie: There are a few paranormal stories in the works (I like werewolves this year) and there’s a possible ménage trying to come together, but it’s taking a little work. There are always several things simmering at once in my mind and computer, it’s just a matter of finding the time and gumption to coax them to come together.

AL: What is the most difficult part of being a writer and do you write whenever the mood strikes, or do you have a specific routine?

Stephanie: The hardest part of being a writer is making the time and drive join forces to get serious work done with a limited timeframe. I try to write even when I’m not in the mood to be super creative. Even if it’s doing a critique or working on promotions, I do my best to sit my buns down every day and get something down in writing.

AL: Do you believe a person has to have a special type of personality to write erotic romance?

Stephanie: I don’t think erotica writers need any more labels. The population is so varied that I don’t think there is a core personality type that fits the bill of what a good erotic romance writer needs to be. What is needed though, is a respect and love for the genre, stories and characters. When that love is there, then any personality type can give erotic romance a shot.

AL: Is there an author(s) out there that you’d love to do an anthology with?

Stephanie: Hmm, Sherlynn Kenyon, Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, Lora Leigh and Catherine Coulter—I know it’s a mix of styles and genres, but throw Stephanie Beck in there and that’s an anthology I’d read ALL day long.

AL: It’s time to get personal! What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Stephanie: I went to an erotica lecture last spring. Not only was I a very new romance writer, I didn’t know the area very well either. So, I ended up in downtown St. Paul on a Friday night, lost and looking for a sex shop. I did find the shop and the lecture was very nice, even though I blushed through the entire thing, mainly because the lady leading the talk sat under a huge picture of a vagina. That little touch of adventure has lasted me quite a while.

AL: Valentine’s Day is here! Is there anything special you and your significant other plan for that day?

Stephanie: I’m hoping to have a baby! He is due February 14th, so ideally my honey and I will be celebrate as new parents again. Short of that, I’ll need a lot of chocolate, cheesecake and a backrub.

AL: Best movie you've seen recently?

Stephanie: Jeez, nothing lately. The last decent movie I saw was Zombieland and that’s not so new anymore.

AL: Can you share some of your plans for 2011 and beyond?

Stephanie: 2011 will be a fantastic year. I’m excited for the family and writing portions. I’m hoping to have a few more releases and I hope that the agent search finally turns up someone fantastic to help make 2012 even better.

AL: Fun question! If you had to write yourself as a villain, what kind of villain would you be? What would you be named?

Stephanie: Oh I’d be an awesome villain. I’d want one of those truly awful names like Sandy Fagina and I’d murder with stilettos and poisoned cupcakes.

AL: Please share a favorite quote(s) with us.

Stephanie: My locker in high school was full of interesting and inspiration quotes I found in books and other places. My favorite was from John Donne’s “Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions” The whole passage is wonderful, but I love this portion.

…all mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated…

AL: Thanks so much for sharing with us, Stephanie.

Stephanie: You bet! I love visiting with authors and readers. Thanks so much for having me and Happy Valentines Day!

AL: If you’d like to find out more about Stephanie please visit:

www.stephaniebeck.net
www.facebook.com/StephanieBeckAuthor

FEATURED TITLE: DAVID'S ANGEL

Blurb:

When kink and reality collide, compromise and love keep everyone satisfied.

Living a BDSM lifestyle, Polly is devastated when her husband and Dom of ten years dies.
Although she is capable of supporting her daughters and maintaining her home, she aches for the companionship of a partner and the dominance of a sexual master.

A decade has passed since David lost Polly to his best friend. For ten years she had been the one who got away and his desire to be with her never faded. With the death of Polly’s husband bringing them back together, their attraction is instantly rekindled.

Settling into the role of surrogate father and dominating partner, David knows the family needs time to heal. But will the questions people ask about their lifestyle and betrayal within their BDSM group be challenges too great to overcome?

Excerpt:

“Lie in the middle of the bed.”

Polly knew to do that. Humiliation waved over her again as she’d once again disappointed him.

The comforter was pulled away so she went straight to the bed. She lay on the white top sheet, taking David’s instructions as literally as possible. She kept her ankles slightly apart and hands at her side. It was an inviting pose, one that said she would be led. She didn’t know where he was taking her, but she was willing.

He stepped around the bed and pulled the sheet. It took only a minute before he had one side tucked around her, binding her arms to her body and her legs together. He did the same with the other side, leaving her face uncovered but turning her into a burrito. Could Mark have told him she loved the restricted pose? She felt calm seep into her, warmth and serenity infused as she had nothing to do and no demand to do more.

“You asked to come upstairs with me.” David stretched out beside her on the bed, still dressed, with his back against the headboard. “This surprised me. It makes me wonder if it’s the wine loosening you up. It also makes me wonder what the letter said for you to change so suddenly.”

“David—”

“No. I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but I’ll want answers in the morning. Is this going to be an every-night occurrence? Will you expect sex? We’ve kept the lifestyle to a minimum, but it’s time for you to think of what your demands are for our relationship and what exactly you expect us to be. Dom and Sub? Boyfriend and girlfriend? Husband and wife? I want you to think of those specifications, and we’ll discuss it tomorrow.”

“I already know—”

“No.”

“But—”

She didn’t have to wait for his verbal reprimand, because he put his hand over her mouth. It was gentle, but firm and made his message clear. Aggravation tore through her. She hated when people didn’t at least listen. She licked his hand. Something flashed in his eyes. She wasn’t sure if it was anger or lust but she did recognize the disappointment when he reached to his bedside table and pulled out a ball gag.

REMEMBER: At the end of the week, Stephanie will choose a random commenter for their pick of a book from her ebook backlist. Make sure to leave a comment! 

In the Author Spotlight & Contest

Jane Lovering

CONTEST: Since Please Don’t Stop the Music is a romantic comedy, I’d like to give away a copy to one commenter who tells me an amusing story of real-life romance. It can be their own, or a friend’s, but I’d like to hear about all those ways in which falling in love can be one big laugh!

AL: Hi Jane! Thanks for being in the “Author Spotlight” this week.

Jane: Thank you for allowing me to burst in and ruin your carpet in this fashion. It’s very understanding of you.

AL: So, tell us what’s happening with you.

Jane: Well, I work in a school, run a house, five kids, two dogs and a husband, so everything is pretty busy most of the time. When I occasionally surface, well, I’ve just taken up the horse riding that I haven’t done properly for years, and I sometimes have time to read a book or two.

But mostly it’s trying to get to the bottom of the laundry pile, cook food that doesn’t poison anyone, and remember not to leave the house in my slippers.

AL: Tell us what you have on the bookshelf for us to read.

Jane: My third novel, Please Don’t Stop the Music hits the stands on 01 February, to keep my previous books Slightly Foxed and Reversing Over Liberace company. Please Don’t Stop.. is
my first release from British indie publisher, Choc Lit, and I’m looking forward to hearing what

people have to say about it!

AL: What other works are you deep into?

Jane: I’ve got another novel due out in September called Starstruck, which is another romantic comedy set at a Sci-Fi convention in Nevada, I’m working up a vampire trilogy and I’m on the first draft of a novel about an astrophysicist who sees mysterious lights in the sky. So, you know. Quite a few irons in the fire there.

AL: Have you ever wanted to write your book in one direction but your characters wanted to go in another direction. What did you do in such a situation?

Jane: It happens all the time. Most of the books I write, I start with the characters but not much of a clue as to which way the story will go, and I let the people dictate the action. I did once try to steer things (in the vampire books, as it happens), but then it all ended up with everyone trying to turn evil and, let’s face it, a book full of baddies isn’t really much of a read, is it? So I deleted everything, waited a few weeks for everyone to come to their senses, and then went back to the beginning and let them get on with the book they way they wanted it to happen. It turned out all right, I think. But I learned not to try to force a book to go the way I think it should.

AL: Which of your hero(s)/heroine(s) is most similar to you?

Jane: They all have aspects of me, but I like my heroes and heroines to be a bit more complicated than I am. My life and character would bore any reader to tears within seconds, so I tend to invent people who have interesting personality glitches or physical flaws that make them behave in sometimes quite bizarre ways. Of course, my friends and family will tell you that’s me to a T, but I maintain that I am quite normal. For a person made of cheese.

AL: Where do you get your ideas? Do you jot them down in a notebook in case you forget?

Jane: Ideas are sleeting through my head at all times, but I usually manage to ignore them unless I need to start a new WIP, when I attempt to capture one or two and force them into submission. I sometimes write things down in a battered notebook which resides beside my bed, but I have most of my ideas in writing-unfriendly situations, such as driving the car or showering, so I rely on memory a great deal. Which is strange, because I can remember plot points and character arcs and yet forget to buy that loaf of bread that I actually went out for. Whilst still in my slippers. One of these days I’m going to leave the house completely naked because I’m trying to keep a particularly juicy storyline in my head. There’s only so many memory cells…

AL: It’s time to get personal! What type of music do you relax to?

Jane: I love Pendulum, because I’m a big fan of drum n’ bass. I like FallOut Boy (was destroyed when they disbanded), My Chemical Romance, Hadouken… loud, shouty kinds of music with a good hook. And Gregorian Plainsong chants, for some reason. Antidote, probably.

AL: If I asked your best friend what type of person you are, what would he or she tell me?

Jane: Well, you’d have to bust them out of the asylum first, of course. Then they’d probably tell you that I’m bossy, noisy, slightly bonkers and…d’you know, I really need new friends…

AL: Where would you like to travel if you had the chance?

Jane: I’d love to go back to Slovenia, where I went last summer, and found to be the most beautiful place. Africa, Japan and New Zealand also beckon, where they are probably, even now, changing the visa laws to stop me ever setting foot.

AL: Can you share some of your plans for 2011 and beyond?

Jane: I’ve got the two books coming out this year, hopefully another one or two next year… so it’s pretty much writing and marketing all the way! I’m also hoping to travel a bit; in the next two years three of the children will be off to University and the remaining one can mind the pets. I’d also like to perfect my jumping technique and make those figure-eights just a little more rounded. Oh, and eat more chocolate. Must pencil that in.

AL: Fun question! If you could meet someone famous in either history, or present day…who would you like to meet and why?

Jane: I’d love to meet Casanova, just to have the opportunity to tell him he’s not my type.

AL: Please share a favorite quote(s) with us.

Jane: “Sweet, maybe… passionate, I suppose… but don’t ever mistake that for nice.” It’s a Doctor Who quote that I’ve actually worked into Starstruck. Applies to so many people, although I exempt myself from that list, being neither sweet nor passionate. But I am a rabid Doctor Who fan.

AL: Thanks so much for sharing with us, Jane.

Jane: You’re welcome. I’ll show myself out, shall I? Oh, and thanks for not mentioning the stains…

AL: If you’d like to find out more about Jane please visit:

www.janelovering.co.uk
www.choc-lit.co.uk

FEATURED TITLE: PLEASE DON'T STOP THE MUSIC

Blurb:

How much can you hide?

Jemima Hutton is determined to build a successful new life and keep her past a dark secret. Trouble is, her jewellery business looks set to fail - until enigmatic Ben Davies offers to stock her handmade belt buckles in his guitar shop and things start looking up, on all fronts.

But Ben has secrets too. When Jemima finds out he used to be the front man of hugely successful Indie rock band Willow Down, she wants to know more. Why did he desert the band on their US tour? Why is he now a semi-recluse? And the curiosity is mutual - which means that her own secret is no longer safe ...

Excerpt:

I squeezed past Jason, who was on his way up the stairs with Harry, and opened the front door to Ben. He was carrying a bottle of wine, wearing a suit minus the jacket and with the top shirt button undone. He had his hair loose but sort of swept back. It suited him.

“Hello.” We faced each other across the crumbling front step.

“You found us all right then?” I took the bottle he held out.

“Your instructions were great. The taxi driver never knew this place existed before now, it’s a lovely village.”

“Thank you,” I replied without thinking.

“Build it yourself then, did you?”

“Ah, I see Mister Polite has released control of your body. Come in.”

Ben followed me into the living room and then we stood, side by side, silent. He was wearing the nice aftershave again. “This is fun,” he said finally.

“Yes. Not a bit awkward or anything.” I could see him eyeing up the dress, and to forestall any difficult questions I grabbed the bottle from the dining table and poured him a glass of white wine. “So. Sit down.”

“Yes! Ma’am!”

“I didn’t mean – ” I took a giant sip of my wine. “Please. Sit down. If you can bear to soil yourself with our petty furniture that is.”

“I’ll try.” Ben sat. I perched on the arm of the saggy but comfortable chair opposite and carried on drinking. “So, is it just yourself here or–?”

“Oh, no, I share the place with Rosie. She’s my friend, the one I told you about.”

“Harry’s mum?”

“Yes.”

“Right.” Ben took a sip of his wine and looked around at the walls. They were plain stone, whitewashed and hung with several of Rosie’s pictures, but even so they didn’t merit quite the scrutiny that he was giving them. The silence stretched.

“Dinner will only be a minute!” Rosie stuck her head into the room again and I seized on the distraction.

“Ben, this is Rosie. Rosie, this is, obviously, Ben.”

Ben stood up and smiled. “Hello.”

Rosie came out of the doorway towards us, grinning a grin which slowly left her face and she turned to stare at me.

“Jemima?” she asked.

“What? You told me to invite Ben, so I did. That’s still all right, isn’t it?”

Rosie looked from me to Ben and back again. “Well, yes, of course. Sorry, I’m just – distracted. Um. Nice to meet you – Ben. Jem, could you come and give me a quick hand, the chilli is playing up out here.”

“All right.” I followed her into the tiny kitchen which was full of bubbling noises and steam, which accounted for the frantic nature of her curls. She shut the door behind us.



“Jemima!”

“What?” I was genuinely puzzled by her reaction. “I know he’s a bit skinny but he’s OK, honestly. Well mostly OK. Especially when he’s not wearing Lycra.”

Rosie dropped her voice so that it was barely audible over the sound of the boiling. “Don’t you know who he is?”

“Yes, I already said. It’s Ben.”

Rosie ran her hands through her curls. She now looked as though she’d been attacked by an evil hairdresser. “Jemima,” she said very evenly. “I know I’ve never asked questions about your past or anything but just tell me this. Did you spend the last five years on the moon? That man, in there,” Rosie put both hands on my shoulders. “That man. That is Baz Davies.”

“His name’s Ben.”

“No!” Rosie shook me now. “Baz Davies! The Baz Davies. Lead singer and guitarist in the biggest band to come out of Yorkshire in the last ten years and I am including the Arctic Monkeys in that. Haven’t you ever heard of Willow Down?” She sighed. “Listen. Willow Down. Huge. Sensation. Made Coldplay look like some outfit touting round Working Men’s Clubs. Went to the States. Huge in States. Baz Davies...” she flung out an arm to indicate the living room, “... dropped out. Went to ground. Band fell apart.”

Benedict Arthur Zacchary Davies.

“Oh,” I said.

“He’s been off the radar for five years.. No-one knows what happened, they were in the middle of a tour of the States that was, apparently, phenomenal. I saw them once.” Rosie’s eyes suddenly went misty. “Fibbers, that club in York. They played Foolish Words, my favourite, I got drunk and went home with a bloke who turned out to be hung like a mule. Ah, happy days.”

I walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room. Ben was still perched on the edge of the sofa, rolling his now empty glass between his fingers.

“We subdued the chilli but I’m afraid the rice might go for your throat,” I said.

Ben looked at me. “You know.”

“What? That you used to be in a band? Yes. Rosie recognised you. Saw you play Fibbers, apparently.”

He gave a short laugh, then shook his head. “That’s gone, not me any more. This is who I am.”

I felt a little tremble down my spine. “Yes.”

“I’m not that person now.” Ben stood up.

“I understand.”

“I’d better go.” Ben handed me the glass. “I’m sorry. I thought it would be all right, but people keep – it’s like they won’t let it go.”

REMEMBER: Since Please Don’t Stop the Music is a romantic comedy, I’d like to give away a copy to one commenter who tells me an amusing story of real-life romance. It can be their own, or a friend’s, but I’d like to hear about all those ways in which falling in love can be one big laugh!

In the Author Spotlight & Contest

EVE LANGLAIS

CONTEST: Eve will give one lucky commenter a copy of Chance’s Game. She's going to make it super simple to enter. Just leave a comment with your email address. No trivia, no hoops to jump through, just a simple hello and a way to contact you if you win. Using a random number generator on the web, she’ll then draw a number to see who wins on February 6^th. Thanks in advance for participating. :-)

AL: Hi Eve! Thanks for being in the “Author Spotlight” this week.

Eve: Thanks for dragging me out of my writing cave to visit lol.

AL: So, tell us what’s happening with you.

Eve: It seems like my life is a never ending hustle and bustle. The kids are definitely keeping me hopping this winter, between school, sports and other activities, it seems like our family is always on the go. And to mix things up, each week they’re bringing home some new illness from school. Thank goodness for my hubby who helps me keep my sanity.

AL: Do you have a current, or upcoming release you’d like to tell us about?

Eve: I’d love to tell you about my fantasy romance, Chance’s Game, scheduled to release with Champagne Books on February 7th. A little different from my more erotic pieces, Chance’s Game is a sensual fairytale type story with lots of magic, some meddlesome gods and tons of adventure. Oh, and sexual tension. The heroine is determined to avoid marriage and men, but she didn’t count on a wizard making her decision hard to uphold. If you enjoy humor and lots of build up to the main event, then this full length piece will be a definite treat for romance lovers.

AL: What other spicy tales are you weaving for us?

Eve: I’m always hard at work on creating entertaining stories that veer off in new and naughty directions. Right now, I’m working on my third installment in my Princess Of Hell books. It’s a hilarious series following the life and adventures of Satan’s daughter. I’m also mentally fleshing out a new werewolf piece featuring a delicious alpha .

AL: How do you decide upon your settings? What about the names of characters? Do you ever change either mid-stream into a story?

Eve: I actually spend little time on settings, concentrating more on character interaction via dialogue and action. I tend to try and keep my settings generic so readers can picture the story happening wherever they happen to live. That is unless I’m somewhere fabulously unique like Hell. When my story demands we leave the mortal plane, I love to let my creative juices flow to create a unique world that has twisted parallels to earth.

AL: What was the defining moment when you realized you wanted to be a writer?

Eve: I always wanted to be a writer from the first time I penned a story in grade school. However, the bills had to be paid and reality pushed that dream aside for a long time. Just under two years ago after almost 20 years of writing nothing, the urge to try my hand at writing hit. Since then, I’ve been typing furiously with great result. In retrospect, I don’t consider those 20 years wasted though as I think life experiences have given me the maturity I needed to create believable characters not to mention the perseverance to write.

AL: What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?

Eve: Write. And then write some more. I see a lot of newbie authors worrying about who they’ll submit too, should they use an agent, did they use the word was or just or seems too many times. The thing they forget it seems is that the most important thing is to finish that story. Get it down in its entirety, then revise. But don’t overdo it. Send it out once it’s cleaned up so you can start on the next piece. A person could spend months or years editing and agonizing over their work, but they’ll never know if it’s any good until they send it out to some publishers and get some feedback.

AL: It’s time to get personal! When you have time just for you (if only) what do you do?

Eve: I read. LOL. I am a huge book worm and devour paranormal romance when I get the chance. I also enjoy playing video games and watching reality shows like Hoarders, Survivor, Big Brother and Property Virgins.

AL: What decadent delight must you have no matter what?

Eve: Chips, and if I can dip. My husband calls me a chip-aholic. I don’t like to share and I have been known to groan in delight when munching on them.

AL: What annoys you enough to be considered a pet peeve?

Eve: I hate being late. I would rather be stupidly early than even one second late. My husband drives me nuts because he’s the kind of guy who thinks a minute or two late is no big deal.

AL: Can you share some of your plans for 2011 and beyond?

Eve: Lots and lots of writing :-) I’ve got some series begging for sequels, a couple of awesome ideas kicking around in my head, and a hand itching to get it all typed. Writing is like an obsession and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.

AL: Fun question! You have just won five thousand dollars! But...you have to spend it all today. What will you buy?

Eve: OMG, can I be responsible and say pay off the mini van? LOL, I am debt obsessed. If I had to splurge though, I’d have to go with a hot tub. A good long soak that leaves me boneless like jelly and wrinkled like a prune would be heavenly.

AL: Please share a favorite quote(s) with us.

Eve: Here’s a giggler from Last Minion Standing:

“Cursing technology but wondering who could be calling at this hour, I let go of Bob--it’s not like I was getting anywhere--and grabbed my cell. A glance at the display showed a number I didn’t recognize. Maybe if I was lucky it would be an obscene caller who’d have suggestions on how I could get off.

I answered in my sexy voice. “Hello.”

“Are you touching yourself?”

I almost dropped the phone in shock. I hadn’t actually expected a naughty caller. Things were looking up.”

AL: Thanks so much for sharing with us, Eve.

Eve: My pleasure, Ann. I’d also like to thank anybody who took the time to pop by and read. It’s nice to meet you :-) I do hope you’ll leave a comment and enter for a chance to win an e-copy of Chance’s Game.

AL: If you’d like to find out more about Eve please visit:

http://www.EveLanglais.com

FEATURED TITLE: CHANCE'S GAME

Blurb:

The God of Chance is bored--mortals beware!

Breanna is a rare sort of shapeshifter, even for a world where magic is rampant. Rare enough that she catches the attention of the God of Chance who sends her on a quest to free magic. Simple you say? Not for this girl who has to keep avoiding the men who would claim her, while getting to know a twin she just discovered. Then to make things even more fun, Chance throws in a super sexy wizard to go on the quest with her. As you can imagine, the outcome ends up magical.

Lots of magic, danger, meddlesome gods and romance await and when the quest is done, the world as we know it, will never be the same again.

Excerpt:

“You will be mine,” said a self assured voice from behind her--a hated, nasal voice belonging to one who followed his words with a grab for her ass that she quickly dodged. She’d had enough practice in the last few years. It still pissed her off though. All men are pigs!

Breanna spun around furious. “Get your filthy hands away from me, Cedric. For the hundredth time, I will never be yours. Go bug someone with no taste.”

The young man named Cedric, narrowed his eyes and sneered at her rebuke, making his unattractive, angular face even uglier. Yuck–imagine waking up to that nasty face every morning? Not!

“Who said you had a choice in the matter, Breanna? I’ve already spoken to my father; he’s willing to give your father a sizable dowry. It won’t matter what you want. If your father accepts, you will be my wife.”

Breanna laughed, a throaty sound that sent more than one admiring male look her way. “My father has a lot more sense than you and your father combined. He won’t be bought, so you and your father should shop elsewhere for a bride. Now go away. Can’t you see I’m busy?” She shooed him away with an irritated sweep of her hands. I wonder if you can call browsing odd and ends looking for something interesting, busy? Still better than wasting breath talking to an idiot though.

“When we are married,” Cedric continued obstinately. “I will beat that sharp tongue out of you. Your father obviously did not do his duty by you and teach you the proper manners required of a woman. I’ll teach you how to act respectfully with great pleasure. It’s time you learned your place in the world--on your knees in front of me.” Cedric brayed in laughter at his own poor jest.

Breanna just gaped at him in disbelief. The Higher Powers save her from stupid men, which in the last couple of years seemed to have multiplied, judging by the obscene number of pick-up lines she’d been subjected to. Like “Hey baby, I’ve got a sausage you can chew on.” Or how about, “I'd like to wrap your legs around my head and wear you like a feed bag!” And finally the most common one, “I know you want it, so stop playing hard to get.” Eew! Seriously, do any of those actually work?

And what was with this subservient crap they all seemed to expect from her. If she ever did marry, which at this point seemed less and less likely, she’d want someone who would respect her as an equal. Just because she lacked something between the legs did not make her stupid or weak. Unfortunately, though she kept pointing out this most obvious fact, her would-be suitors seemed deaf and persisted in their belief that she would eventually swoon at their crude attempts to coerce and bully her into marriage and their beds. Not bloody likely.

“Go away, Cedric. You’re boring me. I am not going to marry you. Why don’t you crawl back to the hole you came from?” Breanna knew she shouldn’t have said it. Her father always told her that her smart mouth would get her into trouble one day. But she’d had quite enough of Cedric, actually of all men in general.

Being an idiot though, Cedric couldn’t grasp the idea that she just wasn’t interested and he latched an iron grip, stronger than she would have credited him with, around her wrist and started yanking her towards the alley between the shops.Oh come on, he can’t be that stupid. Breanna opened her mouth to give him a chance to let her go before she hurt him, when a deep voice spoke from behind her. “I believe the lady is unwilling.”

Cedric stopped pulling and sneered at her would be rescuer over her shoulder.

“Mind your business stranger. The lady will be willing enough once I get her skirts high enough. I mean to have her one way or another. Now go about your business before things go badly for you.” A knife appeared out of nowhere in Cedric’s free hand and Breanna gasped.

Now this is going too far and she opened her mouth to say so, but before she could say a word, her unseen saviour chuckled in amusement and the deep throaty sound sent a shiver through her. Mmm, does the rest of him look as hot as he sounds? Breanna almost gasped aloud at the direction of her thoughts. Since when do I care what a man looks like?

"Did your father never teach you to respect women? Or an even better, a lesson about not threatening wizards?” said her would-be hero in a sexy menacing tone and Breanna held back a giggle at the look on Cedric’s face which turned quite green when he heard the word wizard.

Breanna felt a tingle of power from behind her and the blade in Cedric’s hand turned cherry red as it heated up. Cedric dropped it with a yelp and shoved his blistered fingers into his mouth.

Nice trick, Breanna thought, but unfortunate as resorting to magic probably means my rescuer is going to be some pale, gangly youth with knobby knees. A real hero would have known how to disarm a poor excuse for a man like Cedric. Hell, another minute and I’d have had him crying for his mother.

“Bloody wizard,” Cedric said, finally letting go of Breanna and backing away. “This is not over, Breanna,” he threatened, still unbelievably stupid given the situation, then he shape-shifted into the rat that he truly was and scurried away.

She made a mental note of Cedric’s shifting animal for the next time--knowing there would a next time, his brain apparently couldn’t comprehend the word ‘No’. She looked forward to his next attempt for she knew a certain feline that would delight in pulling off his pink rat tail. Meow!

Breanna whirled to thank her hero, even though she hadn’t really needed rescuing, and her eyes went wide when she beheld him.

Wow, he most definitely does not have knobby knees.

Tongue tied, she could only gape at him, for the first time in her life stunned by the looks of a man. And what a man!

Towering over her was the epitome of masculinity. Over six feet with shoulders that must surely brush doorways, he had a lean body that tapered at the hips. Nothing weak looking here. His entire being oozed power from his snug breeches hugging his heavily muscled thighs to his square jawed, rugged face. Thick, wavy blond hair brushed his shoulders, silky looking, enough that Breanna had to fight an urge to run her fingers through to see if it the texture was as soft as it looked. He had perfectly arched brows, and even though he was light haired, he had long dark lashes to frame the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. Wow.

Breanna mentally shook herself. What the hell had come over her? Since when does the sight a man--even one this gorgeous--strike me dumb? And the tingles in my tummy.... Must be hunger, never mind the fact she’d had lunch less than an hour ago. She must be hungry again already, there could be no other explanation for the way she felt.

As those gorgeous eyes crinkled at her perusal, Breanna gathered her wits and said, “Thank you sir wizard for your timely intervention.” Although if he’d given me just another minute I would have handled the situation myself. Just like a man to assume a woman needs saving.

“’Twas my pleasure,” he drawled, the corner of his lips lifting in a half smile. “Perhaps you could thank me by joining me for lunch.”

Men, they’re all the same, thought Breanna huffily. First he saved her, now he wanted lunch. What next, a roll in the hay? Although her tummy still tingled. Maybe a small bite...

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