Monday Author Interview with Paloma Beck!

Today I’d like to welcome my friend Paloma Beck to the couch. She’s here to talk about her latest book and answer our decadent questions. So let’s get on with the interview. Hi Paloma! How are you? Why don’t you describe yourself in three words.

Closeted Erotic Author. In everyday life, I am just the average mom of three boys. I drive carpool, volunteer in PTA and teach religious education. Most people wouldn’t believe it if I told them what I write. In fact, those who’ve found out –because they read the naughty things I write- were shocked at first that I even read erotic romance, forget write it!

Hee hee. It’s always fun to mix things up. We do it here all the time. Cast your book. Tell us who would play the main characters in a movie and why!

Isla Fischer would be the perfect Layla. That sweet look of innocence is perfect. Joe Manganiello could be Madden. Definitely dominant, he exudes dark and dangerous. Bradley Cooper could be Anton. Handsome but in a less hunk/ more tender way.

Oh, you’ve named two of my man weaknesses. I’m all in for that. Where do I sign? What’s your favorite love scene from a movie?

Mmm… there’s this scene when Anton is playing the piano while he and Layla are waiting for Madden to come home. I’ve included the photo that inspired the scene and how about a snippit from that scene too…

Anton’s music grew louder and louder—the gentle rhythm gone—and Madden responded in kind. His teeth brushed over her clit, before his lips closed fully and sucked it into his mouth until Layla screamed out in agonized pleasure. Her screams were eaten up by the music as her orgasm was eaten by Madden. His tongue gently licked away her orgasm and she melted, no longer able to hold herself up on her elbows she lay down on the top of Anton’s piano.

It was only a moment before she felt Madden lift her. She didn’t open her eyes, too relaxed to do more than enjoy the afterglow. Her skin was slick with sweat, sated yet still a hunger swirled inside. The memory of Anton watching her orgasm wouldn’t let her go.

Shock caused her eyes to fly open as Madden placed her on Anton’s lap, directly onto his fully erect, unclothed cock. That’s when she realized he no longer played. She sank onto him slowly as Madden continued to support her. The room was silent—the lack of sound almost eerie after the room had been filled with music.

Nicely hot! What’s your wildest fantasy?

To be Layla. I think I’m only half kidding – what woman wouldn’t want what she gets? Two incredible men available to her, committed to meeting her every need, sexy as hell, stronger than the average man with incredible stamina. Yea, sign me up for that!

Hee hee. A man with stamina... Wish they were all like that. If you were to lose one of your senses, which would you rather lose and why?

My sense of smell. I’ve heard you tend to eat less because you can’t smell it – that’s one diet plan I could stick with!

Makes sense. Grin. What is the naughtiest thing you did as a kid?

I read Judy Blume’s Forever after my dad –a Baptist Deacon/ Preacher- forbade it. And life was never the same again. No, he never did find out but my whole addiction to romance books took flight from that book.

And now for the hard questions. Yes, the ones that are fast and funny! The Quickies:
Boxers or Briefs?

Boxer briefs.

Top or Bottom?

Bottom.

Pajamas or nude?

Nude.

Hairy chests or smooth?

Hairy.

Alpha or Beta?

Alpha.

Here’s a little about the book:

Lustful Cravings Promo Sheet

Series: Seven Sin Sisters Series, Book One
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Elements: Adult language/ Ménage
Author: Paloma Beck
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-61885-352-3
Page Count: 96

Read on!

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

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

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

Where to Buy:

Secret Cravings Publishing
http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=383
All Romance
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-lustfulcravings-910661-140.html
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Lustful-Cravings-Seven-Sisters-ebook/dp/B008XB10AC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344973534&sr=8-2&keywords=lustful+cravings
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lustful-cravings-paloma-beck/1112483848?ean=2940014873369

And now a little about Paloma!

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

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

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

BLOG: http://RomanceBeckons.blogspot.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PalomaBeck
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/PalomaBeckAuthor
FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/SevenSinSistersSeries
GOODREADS: http://goodreads.com/PalomaBeck
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Paloma-Beck
ROMANCE REVIEWS: http://www.theromancereviews.com/PalomaBeck
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/PalomaBeck

Monday Author Interview with Taryn Raye

My friend and fellow author Taryn Raye is here with us today and I’m excited. She’s got some great answers and I can’t wait to share them with you all. Now, Taryn, describe yourself in three words.

Prolific, Funny, Dreamer

Good choices. How about a hard question. Cast your book. Tell us who would play the main characters in a movie and why.

I envisioned a very young Kate Beckinsale as Catherine, my innocent sweet heroine, especially how she looked in Much Ado About Nothing, but with red hair and blue eyes.

As Dawson began to take shape in my mind, he started to favor James Scott, who played EJ Dimera on Days of Our Lives. At the time I was writing Castaway Hearts, I was watching DOOL and there was a storyline where he was also playing his “grandfather” Santos Dimera in flashbacks. (That’s where the black and white photo came into play, with the mustache, and best fits what Dawson looks like to me. Of course, the other images of James Scott are simply yummy, too.)

I had also cast Orlando Bloom (ala Pirates) as Dawson’s ill-fated younger sailor brother, Nathaniel.

I haven’t seen a soap opera in so long, but those male choices are definitely hot. Good ones! Since we’re talking about hot, what’s your favorite love scene from a movie?

Wow. I guess one of my favorite love scenes would be from The Notebook. Passion that intense is usually a once in a lifetime thing, but it’s also one that runs deep and true over an entire lifetime. But then there’s also the scene from Far and Away- only a kiss or two, but when Shannon and Joseph break into that home on Christmas and she asks him to “pretend you love me.” It is one of the most sensual scenes I’ve ever seen in a movie.

Yes, it was a sensual scene. I almost forgot about it. Grin. What’s your wildest fantasy?

In all honesty? A weekend away with just my husband. No, really. If he and I could have an entire weekend, tucked away in a room with a Jacuzzi to just enjoy each other and spend time connecting on a level we don’t normally get to express with kids in the house, maybe snuggled close in front of a fireplace afterward on a snowy night…that would be absolute heaven.

Nothing wrong with wanting time with the DH. Trust me, I’d love a tryst with mine if I could get him to take the time off work. If you were to lose one of your senses, which would you rather lose and why?

If I had to give up one willingly, I guess it would be my sense of taste. I love food a little too much as it is, so I could do without the taste buds as I’d still be able to smell the food, which might make up for it and give me a false sense of “flavor” when I eat. Giving up smell would actually take away the sense of taste as well, so I wouldn’t want to lose 2-in-1. I enjoy the beauty of nature and the smiles on my loved ones faces too much to give up sight. To never hear “I love you” or my children’s laughter again wouldn’t do either and the human touch matters a great deal so you don’t burn yourself or cut yourself without realizing it until you’ve bled all over the place. Yeah, taste it would have to be.

Hmm. Never thought about the smell/taste being a 2-in-1 like you mention. Food for thought. Grin. What is the naughtiest thing you did as a kid?

I was rather bookworm-ish growing up and didn’t really get into a lot of trouble, though there was the time I accidentally slammed my little sister’s fingers in a car door, which was already locked. She had to wait until one of the grown-ups- I believe it was my oldest uncle, unlocked it before she could get her hand out. Luckily, she didn’t have any broken fingers because of it. She was more apt to be trouble though- breaking glass jugs full of water on the basement floor when she was trying to be “helpful,” cutting her hand open with one of our dad’s wood chisels, it was always something.

Goodness, sounds like she was a pill. Now me, I’m a perfect angel. Well, wait. No, I write erotic romance. Never mind. I’m wonderfully wicked. Speaking of wicked, it’s time for my favorite part of the interview... The Quickies! Fast, loose and always fun!

Boxers or Briefs?

Boxers- gives the boys a little breathing room.

Snicker! Love it. Top or Bottom?

Top. A control thing, I suppose, for that hint of Mistress hiding beneath my pristine surface.

Ahh! See! I thought I saw a whip in your back pocket! Pajamas or nude?

Nude- clothing chokes, constrains and gets in the way.

Good thing I’m not drinking anything. I’d have snorted it out my nose. Love it! Hairy chests or smooth?

Smooth, though a little hair doesn’t hurt- just not full-on Robin Williams…ugh. If I want a bear skin rug, I’ll buy one.

Yeah, the Robin Williams look does nothing for me. Alpha or Beta?

Either. I don’t mind a man who knows what he wants and makes sure I know it, too, but I also like the idea of a gentle sensitive poetic soul, as well...

Awww. Nice. Now, if you want to know more about Taryn’s book Castaway Hearts, here’s the Blurb

Twice orphaned, Catherine Barrett arrives in Virginia a stranger to her closest kin and secretly engaged to the one man her family would disapprove of- her seafaring grandfather’s apprentice. Add to her troubles, the rich and intriguing older brother of her secret betrothed, Dawson Randolph, a plantation owner who is as heartless as he is handsome. Heartbroken when her intended sets sail for his maiden voyage, Catherine finds it difficult to adjust to her new life, hoping to befriend the one man who is, undoubtedly, the match her grandparents wish for her. Dawson’s distaste for her secret engagement to his brother makes it clear he has no designs for marriage to anyone. Especially her.

Ten years since the tragic loss of his young wife and infant son, Dawson Randolph is convinced love and marriage is a fool’s game and resents being pardon to his brother’s hidden engagement. Damned by his instant attraction and his own growing desire, Dawson vows to befriend her against his better judgment. Determined to bring her happiness in a time of fear and uncertainty, Dawson puts aside his animosity to become her confidant, only to realize Catherine holds the key to his heart. When tragedy strikes at sea, Catherine’s guilt pushes Dawson to the fringes of her life as madness consumes her.

Can his love save her before she drowns in her own grief? Or is he doomed to love her from a distance, always in the shadow of her love for his dead brother?

And because you know you want more of Taryn, here are her links!

A romantic at heart, my love of storytelling began in childhood with the typical fairytales and my membership at age 10 to the Just for Girls Book Club. I grew up on classics and contemporary tales, but it wasn’t long before my tastes also matured as I ventured into my mother’s stash of Harlequins and Silhouettes, too. Born and raised in a small town in Central Kentucky, I now reside in the southern part of the state with my husband, stepson, daughter and my mischief-making cat named Miscellaneous, aka Mizzy.

Castaway Hearts is available in eBook & print from my publisher-

Turquoise Morning Press

 Also available on Amazon for- Kindle & Print as well as On Nook from B&N & In Print from B&N

 As well as various formats on Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks, OmniLit, Bookstrand

Here are just a few places you can find Taryn Raye-

Website, Blog, @ScribblingTaryn on Twitter, FB Page, Goodreads, Google +

Monday Author Interview with Changeling Press Publisher Margaret Riley

Hi Megan, Shelby Morgen here.

Welcome to Menagerie Authors, Shelby! So glad you stopped by.

Thanks for having me. This looks like fun!

It’s always fun. And yes, we’ve had our shots. Just a reminder, please don't give us one word answers -- be verbose!

OMG, you have to tell authors that? hangs head. So sad… You know me. You're more likely to have to tell me to shut up. PC, of course. “Hey, M, I had to trim this just a little (Only 90% this time) to fit the slot, hope you don't mind…” ROFL.

Nah. No worries. We like chatty Cathies here. Describe yourself in three words.

Wait. You said I had to NOT be brief. OK, fine. Gregarious. Fierce. Disorganized.

I did say to be chatty. That’s the only short answer question. Muwhaha. I’ll find more that are longer. Like...cast your book. Tell us who would play the main characters in a movie and why?

I am SOO bad at this. Well, OK. Megan Fox, not Michael J. /snicker

She’s got a great body and those eyes! What's your favorite love scene from a movie?

Antonio Banderas. Angelina Jolie. Original Sin -- the entire movie is one long love scene.

Oh, yes. Yes. I agree. Speaking of sexy...what's your wildest fantasy?

The Northlanders -- all 14 or so books - get made into a made for TV Mini series and I get to direct. Right after I spend like 2 years learning how to create DGI special effects at Full Sail University on a full ride. In my spare time I get to keep writing and publishing…

Coolio. I’d watch it. If you were to lose one of your senses, which would you rather lose and why?

Oh, man, that's hard. Authors live by our senses. I'd say hearing -- I was deaf for a couple of years as a child, so I know I could handle it. (I've still got a small hearing loss, but generally only for men -- other than my husband -- who want something…) But if my hearing got a lot worse I'd be first in line for the cochlear implant.

I’ll ask your DH and see what he says. I bet he says you play deaf really well. Mine sure does. What is the naughtiest thing you did as a kid?

Hehe. Pretended I was still deaf whenever it was convenient… and no, I don't still do that. Really. I'm sorry. What did you say?

See? I’m asking Bill. Oh well. Now the next few questions are what we at the Menagerie call the Quickies. Fast, hard, and so much fun!

Starting with...Boxers or Briefs?

Either -- I don't care which he's wearing. They all come off.

Very true. Top or Bottom?

Yes. LOL

Oh! So that answer works for that question. And yes, when I see :Sex? Yes. On the cover art request, I think of Austin Powers. Next question. Pajamas or nude?

Bare skin, please

Hairy chests or smooth?

Smooth (See, I CAN give one word answers!)

Finally, someone like me. I’m sorry. I cannot handle a guy who is a rug. Alpha or Beta? Me?

Or him? Alpha, in either case.

Hee hee. That’s funny. The one I want being alpha is Gerard Butler. He has to do a lot of talking.

Thanks Megan! This was fun

Always fun to have you here!

Shelby Morgen www.ShelbyMorgen.com aka Margaret Riley Publisher www.ChangelingPress.com www.RazorsEdgePress.com

And now a little bit about FOXY!!

Foxy: Fandango, the first book in the Multi Author series, Foxy.

Last Chance, Alaska. State Park, Wildlife preserve, small town. Population: 1479 humans. And there's the rest of us. Some of us were born here. Some came by choice. Some had nowhere left to run. Town hall, three bars, a clinic, and a rooming house. Great place to go if you're on the run. No roads in or out. Cars come in by ferry from Juneau -- two hour ride. Summer sun rules day and night. By September the sun sets at 6 pm. Three or four hours of sunlight. Maybe.

So what do you do for entertainment in a town like this? If you're Foxy, you entertain your big, beautiful bunny, Jessie. And there's nothing Jessie loves more than dancing... unless it's being chased by Foxy. And letting him catch her.

Available here!

What's New Wednesday ~ Lustful Cravings by Paloma Beck

Lustful Cravings
Series: Seven Sin Sisters Series, Book One
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Elements: Adult language/ Ménage
Author: Paloma Beck
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-61885-352-3
Page Count: 96

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

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

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

BUY LINKS
Secret Cravings Publishing
http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=383
All Romance
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-lustfulcravings-910661-140.html
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Lustful-Cravings-Seven-Sisters-ebook/dp/B008XB10AC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344973534&sr=8-2&keywords=lustful+cravings
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lustful-cravings-paloma-beck/1112483848?ean=2940014873369

AUTHOR BIO & LINKS

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

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

Paloma believes a daily dose of coffee and a good book make any day better.
BLOG: http://RomanceBeckons.blogspot.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PalomaBeck
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/PalomaBeckAuthor
FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/SevenSinSistersSeries
GOODREADS: http://goodreads.com/PalomaBeck
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Paloma-Beck
ROMANCE REVIEWS: http://www.theromancereviews.com/PalomaBeck
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/PalomaBeck

Monday Author Interview with Karen Stivali

I would like to welcome Karen Stivali to the Menagerie today. She’s a multi-talented author and I’m so glad she’s here. So let’s get on with the interview. Grin. Describe yourself in three words.

Obsessed with chocolate.

Aren’t we all? Snicker. Chocolate is the way to my heart. Cast your book. Tell us who would play the main characters in a movie

Although I’ve published several erotic romances my next two releases are actually Women’s Fiction with Strong Romantic Elements. What does that mean? They’re love stories. They’re super romantic, but not romance novels. The sex scenes are less frequent, but when they appear they’re extremely sensual. The first novel, Meant To Be, is a friends to lovers tale, but not in the traditional sense. There are multiple reasons why this couple can’t be together, so they resist. The majority of the book is like one years-long prelude to a kiss, but once that kiss happen, look out! It’s a story of love and longing. I won’t give it all away, but I’ll share the log line: Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.

As much as I love books and movies this was a really difficult question for me. I don’t base characters on people I know or on famous people. A lot of my writer friends use photos to motivate or inspire them but for me I have to see things clearly in my imagination before I write. Even if I do take a nuance of someone’s looks or personality and incorporate it into a character, that character still manages to take on a life of his/her own. I also like to leave it up to readers to decide what the character looks like to them. That’s why there’s always such huge uproar when a popular book is made into a film and the casting choices are announced---it never fits everyone’s idea of what the person should look like. I came up with the story for Meant To Be nearly a decade ago, long before I’d ever heard of either of these actors, but if I had to cast the movie, they’re who I’d choose.

For Daniel I’d choose Robert Pattinson. Not the brooding Twilight incarnation, more like the actor himself. Self-deprecating, quick witted, a mix of shy and confident, and the ability to level a room of women with a glance while not really understanding what all the fuss is about him.

For Marienne I’d cast Ginnifer Goodwin. Beautiful in her own right but always playing the insecure friend.

I can’t not base them on what the person looks like. I’m not much on their personality, but the way they look in a given show or movie. What’s your favorite love scene from a movie?

That’s a really tough choice, because I’m a total film geek. There are dozens of love scenes that I absolutely adore. The first one to pop into my head is the scene from The Notebook where they finally admit their feelings for one another and make love for the first time. I love the intensity and the fact that they longed for each other for so many years and can’t deny it another second. That’s a favorite trope for me, as can be seen in several of my books, but none more than Meant To Be.

Gotta go with what you love and what sets the muse on fire. What’s your wildest fantasy?

If you’d have asked me two years ago, or any time in my life prior to that, I’d have said that my wildest fantasy was to publish a book. Now that I’ve done that (which I still have a hard time believing most days) there’s another fantasy that’s always been a close second. Ever since I was a little girl I’ve loved books and movies. I’ve always written and I went as far as to major in film in college before pursuing a different career. The movie-related fantasy has always remained the same. I’d love to attend the Academy Awards. Not to gawk at movie stars (I’m not the star struck type) or to see who’s wearing what (I love a great dress but I couldn’t identify who designed what if my life depended on it). And not just as a fan, but as someone who worked on some aspect of one of the nominated films (screenwriter or a movie based on one of my stories being the ultimate). I’ve watched the show every year I can remember and I cry at half the acceptance speeches (because, yes, I’m that sappy). My wildest fantasy is to somehow deserve to be part of all that.

That’s very cool. Go for it! If you were to lose one of your senses, which would you rather lose and why?

I’m pretty attached to all of my senses, but if I had to lose one, I’d have to say hearing. I’m one of those people who has to be able to see what’s going on plus I write, and that would be insanely difficult without sight. Food is and always has been a huge part of my life (that’s why it somehow always works its way into my stories), and smell and taste go hand in hand, so I’d never want to lose either of those. I’m a very tactile person and I love to work with my hands, so losing my sense of touch would drive me absolutely mad. I’d very much miss hearing, but at least I’d still be able to hear things in my mind---songs, people’s voices---and of course, the constant chatter of myself and my characters.

I need my music, so I’m still not willing to part with it. I have no idea which I’d lose. I keep hearing such great reasons why each sense is important. What is the naughtiest thing you did as a kid?

I can’t give you details because my mother still doesn’t know and I don’t want to incriminate the other person, so let’s just say it involved a lot of alcohol and my very best friend, who was (and still is) a guy.

Let’s shift gears since we’re already at the part that makes some blush...the Quickies:

Boxers or Briefs?

Boxers, or better yet, boxer briefs.

Top or Bottom?

Bottom (We’re talking about muffins, right?)

Pajamas or nude?

Nude.

Hairy chests or smooth?

Hairy, but not to the point where it looks like he’s still wearing a sweater.

Alpha or Beta?

Beta. I find some Alpha males amusing but when it comes to attraction (or to characters I create) the Beta guy will always steal my heart.

For more information about my current and upcoming projects please visit my website: http://karenstivali.com

I can also be found on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenstivali
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karenstivali
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5170527.Karen_Stivali
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005KWSFGO

Want a copy of her book? Look no further! Buy Links for Meant To Be:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Meant-To-Be-ebook/dp/B0092GWS0S/ref=la_B005KWSFGO_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1346196986&sr=1-5

AllRomanceEbooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-meanttobe-923889-148.html

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/meant-to-be-karen-stivali/1112675856?ean=2940015227789

Publisher's site: Turquoise Morning Press: http://www.turquoisemorningpressbookstore.com/products/meant-to-be-by-karen-stivali

And here’s the official bio for Karen!

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details.

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012) and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s first full-length novel, Meant To Be, will be published by Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. Its sequel, Holding On, will be released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).

Monday Author Interview with VS Morgan

I’d like to welcome fellow author, VS Morgan. I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s get this interview started!! Describe yourself in three words.

Curious. Driven. Friendly.

Our kind of author! Now for something really hard. Cast your book. Tell us who would play the main characters in a movie and why.

I would cast a young Antonio Banderas as Rafael. Sexy with a hot Spanish accent. Yummy! Casting for Wyatt, a 6’ 6” Montana rancher would be harder. Eric Dane reminds me of how I visualize him in my head, although he’s about five inches shorter than Wyatt.

Le Sigh. How sexy. (Fanning self). Okay, back to the interview. What’s your favorite love scene from a movie?

To be honest, I don’t have a favorite. I enjoy reading and writing romance but watch action flicks for the most part.

We’ve got the attention spans of gnats some days, so we watch movies. Doesn’t matter what they are. But action movies can have some hot scenes. Grin. What’s your wildest fantasy?

Making love outside somewhere romantic like in the heather of Scotland or on a beach at midnight. It’d have to be isolated as I have no desire to be caught. ;)

Isn’t getting caught or potentially getting caught part of the fun? Grin. If you were to lose one of your senses, which would you rather lose and why?

Smell, only because I think I could live without it better than the other senses. Plus it’d be easier to lose a few pounds if I couldn’t smell yummy things. Sight, hearing, and touch are very important to me. Not being able to taste anything would be a real bummer.

Yeah, I’d be in so much trouble without my sense of touch and sight. I need to type! What is the naughtiest thing you did as a kid?

I was a goodie-goodie, so wasn’t much of a wild child. I did get my brother riled up so he’d get in trouble sometimes. He became my best friend as we got older but we really went at it when we were younger. I think my mom coined the terms “Don’t make me stop this car” and “Don’t make me turn this car around.”

I think *every* mother coins that term. Mine is, I will reach back there. Grin. So now it’s time for some on-the-fly questions. We call these the quickies!

Boxers or Briefs?

Boxer briefs

Top or Bottom?

Bottom

Pajamas or nude?

Nude

Hairy chests or smooth?

Both

Alpha or beta?

Alpha all the way!

Now a little bit about VS Morgan’s latest release!

The Gift by V.S. Morgan

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Length: 34 Pages

Genre(s): Contemporary Erotic Multicultural M/M Romance (Light Bondage)

Available many locations including:

Decadent Publishing

At 22, rancher Wyatt Malone sacrificed almost everything, including the Dom he served and loved, to raise his younger brothers. Now, with the ranch running well, his grown up siblings surprise him with a trip to a Caribbean paradise and a date from Madame Evangeline's 1Night Stand. Taking his courage in hand, he fills out an application that bares his soul for a single night of surrender to a nearly forgotten passion.

Rafael is a Dom without a sub. His desires exceed the available men in the dungeon he frequents and memories of rejected love keep him aloof. Can the submission of a Montana cowboy free him or will the date be nothing more than another meaningless scene?

Anything you want to know about the author, look here!

V.S. Morgan has lived all over the United States but now calls Minnesota home. She incorporates her travels and experiences into her stories whenever possible. V.S. dreamed of becoming an author from the tender age of eleven after snagging one of her mom’s Harlequins. She writes contemporary, suspense, and paranormal m/m with heart and heat. “The Gift” is her debut publication. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Rainbow Romance Writers and Kiss of Death chapters. When not writing, V.S. is playing with her dogs, practicing Kenpo Karate, and reading lots of erotic romance.

Website: http://www.vsmorgan@yahoo.com

Facebook and Goodreads: V.S. Morgan

Twitter: @vsmorgan1

Monday Author Interview with Charlene Keel

Today we have the lovely and talented Charlene Keel with us and I’m excited. Talk about a font of knowledge! She’s a riot, too. So let’s get on with this interview. Hi Charlene. Describe yourself in three words.

Loving. Fearless. Honest.

Best three things to be. So now here’s a hard question. Cast your book. Tell us who would play the main characters in a movie and why.

Hmmm. First, I have to pick one! I write all kinds of novels, although I’ve been told that my sexiest are too “literary” to qualify as erotica by today’s standards—I guess because instead of lots of four-letter words drawn from street vernacular I go for more poetic descriptions. Not that I have anything against horny-porny phrases; I just feel that with so many words to choose from, I can be more creative and still be hot.

My books include my version of erotica (FourPlay Girls, a collection of short stories first published in Playgirl), a women’s mainstream (Come Slowly, Eden) and a historical romance (The Lodestone) all available from Amazon as Kindles.

If a movie were made of my sexy historical, The Lodestone, I’d want Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) to play Cleome because she’s gorgeous, talented and has red hair; and for Drake, it would have to be Matthew MacFadyen, with whom I fell in love after seeing his smoldering portrayal of Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

Gotta love when you fall in love with the way an actor plays a characters and can translate it into your books. So much fun. What’s your favorite love scene from a movie?

Call me old fashioned but nothing can compare with the scene in Poldark, the old BBC television series, when Demelza (Angharad Rees) seduces Ross (Robin Ellis). I have all episodes on video and have watched them so many times the tape is stretching out. I was greatly saddened to learn that Ms. Rees recently passed away. With her brilliant portrayal of Demelza, she will live in our hearts forever.

Hmm. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that, so will have to check it out. I love the BBC shows. What’s your wildest fantasy?

Going to the Academy Awards to accept my Oscar for Best Screenplay based on any one of my books, with Matthew MacFadyen or John Barrowman (or both!) as my escort.

I love it! If you were to lose one of your senses, which would you rather lose and why?

Probably my hearing because I could learn to read lips (although I’d miss music terribly). Couldn’t do without my sight, though, since I’m afraid of the dark!

Interesting way to look at it. I’m not afraid of the dark, but you make a good point. What is the naughtiest thing you did as a kid?

It was probably also the best thing – I stole one of my mom’s cigarettes (she liked unfiltered Pall Malls) and went into the bathroom and tried to smoke it. It turned me three shades of green and I was sick for two days. I never tried smoking again.

That’s a good way to cure yourself of a curiosity. I can imagine. Unfiltered! Wow. Now for some fun and quick questions. We like things slow and hard, btu fast and furious is just as fun. Boxers or Briefs?

On me – boxers. On him – briefs.

Hee hee. Top or Bottom?

Before I turned 40 – Top. After 40 – Bottom (facial wrinkles and bags fall forward and you don’t want him to see that)!

ROTFL. Great way to put that. I love it. Pajamas or nude?

Him – nude. Me – very sexy nightgown.

YAY! Hairy chests or smooth?

Smoooooooth, please.

Another girl who likes ‘em smooth. TYG! Alpha or Beta?

Me – Alpha (as the matriarch of my clan). Him - Alpha Male Bad Boy!

Do you want to know more about Charlene Keel? You know you do! Here’s her vital web stats:

www.charlenekeel.com Follow her on Twitter: @CharleneKeel

Here’s the info and buy links for her books:

The Lodestone

Innocent Cleome Parker is unprepared for Drake Stoneham, an arrogant gambler who wins her grandfather’s tavern in a card game. Her mother is an invalid, and Cleome must keep a roof over her head, at any cost. As the illegitimate offspring of a madwoman, Cleome has always been an outcast but she convinces Drake to hire her as innkeeper, and drawn irresistibly to him, she fights her desire. Their daring adventures take them across 1830s England, plunge them into political intrigue in Italy, and inflame the passion between them, drawing them together again and again.

FourPlay Girls

This unique collection of four sizzling short stories first published in Playgirl Magazine will leave you breathless. Lucky Seven is an erotic mystery with one twist after another; Shooting the Works takes you inside a bordello where the hunky male staff caters to women customers; Good Help introduces you to a female business tycoon looking for a male assistant who can satisfy her every need; and Legend of the Cherry Blossom Sleeve tells a story of seduction in exotic, ancient Japan.

Come Slowly, Eden

Two southern women fight to survive in the permissive society of the 1960s. Julie, a beauty born to the best of everything, is so proper, so lovely and so hungry for love. Amanda is a tough little ecstasy machine working her way through FSU as the campus prostitute, servicing state legislators and local political leaders. First published in 1975, Come Slowly Eden was banned in Tallahassee, Florida—the author’s hometown—because it exposed such a dirty little secret. In this new and improved version, characters are more developed and the tantalizing, titillating sex scenes are greatly expanded.

And now for that all-important bio:

Teen Magazine published one of my first short stories when I was in my early twenties and I went on to write over a dozen novels and how-to books. My work in television includes episodes of Days of Our Lives and Fantasy Island. I’ve also written screenplay adaptations of novels, including Patricia Hagan’s Love and War, Rebecca Brandewyne’s The Jacaranda Tree and Peggy Webb’s Where Dolphins Go; and I produced (for Romantic Times) the first annual Mr. Romance Cover Model Pageant, which became the model for Oxygen’s Mr. Romance.

In addition, I’ve worked as editor or managing editor for various magazines including Playgirl, and I ghostwrite books and screenplays for doctors, celebrities and corporate moguls. Currently I’m co-authoring The Tracks, a new YA supernatural trilogy, with J. Gabriel Gates, for HCI Books. The first installment, Dark Territory, was released in July 2011. Ghost Crown, the second book in the series, just hit the stands and we’re hard at work on #3: Shadow Train. And we’re getting a lot of interest from producers who want to make it into a TV/web series.

Monday Author Interview with Jessica E Subject

I want to thank my friend Jessica Subject for stopping by this week for the interview. It’s always fun to have friends here and this guarantees to be a great interview. So let’s get on with it. Grin. Hi Jessica!!

Describe yourself in three words.

Oh my gosh! No, kidding. I would say busy, and morning person. I always get more done in the morning. If I work on something at night, I usually end up rewriting it.

Wow. So the opposite of me. If I get up too early , I’m cranky for the rest of the day. I tried it and it didn’t work. Cast your book. Tell us who would play the main characters in a movie and why (send pictures!).

Oscar – Jude Law
Bo – James Franco
Delayna – Kat Dennings

These actors personify the characters as I imagined while writing the story.

Love me some James Franco. Sigh. Happy Sigh. What’s your favorite love scene from a movie?

Wow, I’ve never been asked that question before. I’d have to say Neytiri and Jake in Avatar. It’s very sweet and sensual, and so romantic. >

That was a good scene. Grin. What’s your wildest fantasy?

Hehe. Um, two of my recent releases touch on it. *grins* But honestly, my husband and I have a lot of fun together. With the kids though, we fantasize about a night out by ourselves.

Yeah, that tv show where the dad shouts, this is all we have! When the child is interrupting him having a quick smooch in the bathroom...yeah, welcome to my life. If you were to lose one of your senses, which would you rather lose and why?

That’s a hard one. My immediate thought was smell, but then there would be scents like roses and chocolate chip cookies that I would never experience again. And would food taste the same if we couldn’t smell it? Still, I think in the end, I would go with my sense of smell.

Isn’t that a hard question? Stumps me, too. Grin. What is the naughtiest thing you did as a kid?

Really? My cheeks are warming just thinking about it. I hope my daughter doesn’t read this until she’s an adult. Well, I might have shown something to a neighbor boy. Got caught, and received a lecture, but didn’t get grounded.

Hey. We’ve all done those things we said, yanno, maybe that wasn’t good. Or maybe it was if you learned. Grin. Quickies, because there’s something so right in being bad!

Boxers or Briefs?

Boxer briefs

Top or Bottom?

Top

Pajamas or nude?

Depends if kids are home. LOL

Hairy chests or smooth?

Smooth

Alpha or Beta?

Alpha

Want to know more about Jessica Subject?

Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.

Website/Blog: http://jessicasubject.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jsubject

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-E-Subject-author/205759796126370

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jessicasubject

And now a little about her latest release:

Cursed to live amongst several stone gargoyle statues, Oscar watches a young couple, yearning to participate in their sexual activities. For he has been away from his own lovers for over a year, and longs to touch and be touched again.

When he tumbles off the headboard onto the couple, he is released from the statue but must find a way home. His only thought: a ménage with the man and woman who freed him. But will they try something new to grant him his return passage, or leave him wandering Earth alone?

Now available from Decadent Publishing, Amazon, All Romance Ebooks & more!

For more information and buy links, please visit: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=10029

What's New Wednesday - Blind Faith by Evelyn Jules

davidarts / 123RF Stock Photo

Faith Lawson is just your average, wholesome librarian with a dirty mind…until a chance encounter with a handsome stranger brings her fantasies to life in a frantic night of passion. But when he walks out her door, he leaves a piece of his past behind that changes everything.

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/209492
ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-blindfaith-899951-149.html
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/blind-faith
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blind-Faith-ebook/dp/B008QO3T64/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343593189&sr=8-1&keywords=evelyn+jules+blind+faith
Turquoise Morning Press: http://www.turquoisemorningpressbookstore.com/products/blind-faith-by-evelyn-jules

Hailing from the Great White North, Evelyn Jules loves curling up on the couch with a hot toddy and a steamy book. Nothing warms a girl up faster than a little hanky-panky. When she’s not reading deliciously erotic tales, she’s weaving her own in hopes of warming her readers’ hearts and other parts!

Blog: http//evelynjules.blogspot.ca
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EvelynJules
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvelynJules
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440468.Evelyn_Jules

Monday Author Interview with Nicole Morgan

I'm here, I'm here... running late... as usual. Blame it on the men, but I could sure use a drink. But I can wait until Megan introduces our guest author for today!

Today we have the fantastic Nicole Morgan on the couch with us. I'm super excited to have her here because her books are really steamy. If you ask nicely, Javier will bring you a drink Nicole. ::snaps fingers:: Javier? Yes, love. a couple of drinks, please? Thank you. Now Nicole, tell us your latest news?

I finally wrote my very first paranormal romance. If you had asked me 2 years ago if I ever thought I’d be saying that, the answer would have been a firm, NO. But, I decided to challenge myself and jump out of my comfort zone. I’ve submitted it for publication, and am eagerly awaiting news to find out if it’s as good as I think it is. I really did put a lot of time and effort into this one, researching history of long ago to make the story really flow and sound plausible. So if everyone reading this could cross their fingers and toes for me, that would be GREAT!

Comfort zones are meant to be pushed... :-D I'll cross my toes (yes, I CAN do that!)

Jumping out of the comfort zone can be worth it. Grin. I'll have the boys cross their fingers for you,. What are your current projects?

I’m currently writing the 3rd book in my Intimate Temptations Series, appropriate titled Intimate Seductions. It’s the story of Warren, a mid thirties stable manager to a ranch in Texas. The young granddaughter of his employer has grown up from pigtails to perfection before his eyes. She’s beautiful and off limits, but I think we all know what happens when one is told they can’t have something. It just makes us want it more.

Sounds yummy.. and you gotta love when the fact that the woman the hero once thought was just a little girl puts all that womanly ... not so much a girl... in his face, lol.

Wow. You are busy! The more I look at your cover art, the more I really like it. Who designed the covers?

The cover art on all of my current releases has been done by the very talented, Jinger Bruton Heaston. She has a way of taking my thoughts and ideas and making them a reality. They can all be seen on my publisher’s author page here: http://bookstrand.com/nicole-morgan

Have to say I like those covers too. She looks to be talented!

Very cool. I'm seeing lots of covers. How many books have you written? And the harder question, which is your favorite?

Geez, I thought I was being interviewed about my books. NO ONE told me there would be math involved. *sigh* Okay, give me a minute. *looks up squinting while counting on my fingers* It seems I have written a total of 12 books. Eight of them are current releases and the others will be out in the coming months. By the time this interview goes live, that count will most likely go up to thirteen! Which one is my favorite? Hmm… that’s a tough one, but I would have to say any of my Navy SEAL books from my Sweet Awakenings series. Please, please don’t make me choose. LOL. I love all of their stories so much.

Wow... twelve books. How awesome for you. Hmmm... Navy SEALS...

Did I forget to mention we will make you choose? Just kidding. We won't. Not today, anyway. Grin. What do you think makes a good story?

While I love a good erotic romance story, I am a complete sucker for stories which throw in some suspense and intrigue. Which is probably why almost all of my stories have that aspect built into them in one way or another. There’s nothing quite like a good bit of mystery to add to the heat of a relationship.

I have to say that some of my favorite romance, whether they're erotic or "straight", are the ones with a little bit of intrigue.

You can say that again. Now for some really fun questions. What is your favorite pizza?

Mmm… Spinach and mushroom hands down! For those who have never tried it, DO IT! It is so yummy for your tummy! 

Okay... no offense intended, especially when I tell my kids not to disparage other peoples' taste in food....but the mushrooms make me shudder. Just saying. I like spinach, though!

Hmm. I'm good with spinach that's not cooked. I'm not sure you've got me on this one. Are you a morning person or a night person?

I would have to say a night person. Even if it’s been a long day and I’m tired, I almost always get my second wind and can actually be very productive in the moonlit hours.

I'm such a night person... poor Megan will be fading on her side of the country and I'm raring to go, lol. Maybe because it's finally quiet in my house I can feel more productive. :::shrugs:::

I can, too. With Kealie being 4 hours time change difference from me, yeah, I've learned to work in the moonlight. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? If so, which do you prefer?

Of course I can. I would have to say I prefer Coke over Pepsi. I’m not the type of person who can point out the variances in flavors, so I can’t really tell you why. Truth be told though, if I was to have any indulgence of the soda variety, it would be Dr. Pepper. That is my favorite of the caramelized selection of soft drinks.

And here I am in the Pepsi camp, despite my mother calling me a traitor to the "real cola", lol. But that's not even the drink I drink the most either... my weakness is Mountain Dew.

When you know, you know. How many fingers am I holding up?

Pffftt… that’s easy! 12! Wait…umm…why are you looking at me like that? Hang on a second, I’ve got something in my contact.

It might be easier to just guess... between the two of us... it's probably more than you think!

snicker. We really were holding up 22 fingers. Javier helped. If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?

Without a doubt, without question and without even giving it a second thought, I wish for PEACE. There is so much war, violence and crime in the world, wouldn’t it be nice (truly) if mankind decided to live in harmony with one another, rather than at odds? And add to that – if my genie was granting me 3 wishes – no more disease or poverty. That would be my wish.

Very altruistic...I like it!

Well, those are great wishes. Here's Nicole's links:
http://www.nicolemorganauthor.blogspot.com/
http://nicolemorgan1.webs.com/
Thanks Nicole for being here. I hope you've enjoyed your time on the couch. Feel free to ask the CBs for anything. But note, they do bite.

Yes, thank you for hanging out on our couch and putting up with our Cabana Boys today... I know just how much of a hardship that can be :::wink wink:::

Any questions for Nicole? Anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

Monday Author Interview with Candace Blevins

I would like to welcome the fabulous Candace Blevins to the blog today. It would appear Kealie got lost along the way or ended up with the CBs somewhere else. All I can say is, I hope she’s having fun. Now Candace, grab a smooth drink, a hot CB to use for a lap and...

I'm here, I'm here!!! :::running through the door::: Seriously, the cranky one was grumpy and wanted to be loved on... then I had to push my hubby out of the way and feed the baby, lol. I'm so sorry I'm late! :::slipping out of heels and plopping down next to Megan::: There's my CB with a drink. Thank you so much for stopping in to hang out with us, let’s get this interview started. How much of the book is realistic?

My stories are fiction, but the BDSM scenes are realistic. I’ve been in the lifestyle a very long time, and was considered an edge player even before I met my husband a little over 15 years ago. We’ve been married 14 years, and with the trust you can build up over that period of time, I’ve a lot of experience to pull from when I construct a scene.

Hmmmm... love it! At least you have a handle on the situation, and know what you're talking about!

You have to write what you know. I’m glad you know about the lifestyle. That makes reading about the scenes more believable. When did you write your first book and how old were you?


I was around fourteen when I wrote my first book – on a Commodore 64, backed up on cassette tape. I gave it the super-imaginative title of “How to Learn to Juggle”. By the time I was fourteen I was juggling four balls, along with rings and clubs and a variety of other objects. I taught my dad to juggle, and several friends, which I assumed made me quite the expert.


I’ve never been able to juggle, so maybe you can teach me.

Sure you did! We both did... we do have children and families to run, lol.

What does your family think of your writing?

My mother thinks the words “butt” and “fart” are curse words and will stand up and leave the room if someone says either. She goes apoplectic over “ass”. She has no idea I write. My goal is to be open and non-judgmental with my own children, so they won’t need to keep important parts of their lives from me.

However, in my mom’s defense, she’s led a very sheltered life and is pretty naïve – she married my dad when they were both 18, and at 65 they are still together. I can’t imagine going my whole life and only having sex with one person. What if it was the best ever? You wouldn’t appreciate it; you’d have no way of knowing it was way better than most experience. And if it was horrible? You’d never have good sex. It seems to have worked for them, though. They began dating at fifteen, broke up for most of the summer they were sixteen, and have been together ever since.

Back to the question; my husband is very supportive. He’s not a fiction reader, if he’s reading something it’s likely to be a technical programming book. This means he doesn’t read my books, but he does ask me to either read him the scenes or email them to him (my choice). He’s also a good ear when I’m thinking through the basic storyline, so he has a good idea of the basics of each book.

It's difficult when you have to hide a fundamental part of yourself... but if anyone understands it's us here at The Menagerie! Why my DH is supportive, there are just some things he won't read... ever, lol.

The boys are very supportive of me as well. It’s nice to have that to fall back on when you need it. Even better when you don’t. The boys have read mine and I’ve emailed them to DH before. Quite an eye-opener. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I have a regular job during the day, so I write at night, once my kids are in bed. If I can start writing at 8:00, and keep at it until midnight, that’s four hours per night. I wake up at 6:30 in the morning, and six and a half hours is plenty of sleep for me these days. I also sometimes wake up early on the weekends, so I can get a few hours of writing in before the rest of the house is up. I often write in bed, with my laptop in my lap. If my husband is on his laptop, too, then the TV will be off. If he’s watching TV then I put on headphones and classical music. I can’t write to music with words, and after running various experiments, Bach seems to be my best background music.

My husband has claimed my Tuesday and Friday nights, so I’m usually otherwise occupied on those evenings. He’s pretty flexible with that, if I have something else to do on a Tuesday or Friday he’s good with switching days. It may not sound romantic to schedule playtime, but it works for us.

Must be nice. I write when I can get the time. Not often. Ask Kealie. We can’t coordinate writing time sometimes, to save our lives.

*SNORT* No kidding! It's like they KNOW when we want or need them to leave us alone, lol. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I want to show what a responsible, loving, BDSM relationship can look like. I want submissive men and women to understand they have a say – they are giving away their power, and they get to define the boundaries of what they are willing to give up. I often have reviewers comment on the negotiations in my books, and I appreciate that. Negotiations are important, especially when you’re playing at the levels my characters engage.

Safe, sane and consensual... gotta live by it or you can damage someone. I love it that you step out there like not many others do to say, "Look, it may be intense, but you need to set the rules!"

I’m glad you do. A lot of people who read BDSM don’t always know what is truly involved. I appreciate you showing what a loving relationship is. Thanks! What is your heritage?

I’m mostly Irish, with a few ancestors being from Germany. My hair is brown, but in the summer it fades to red tones instead of blond. I also have that famous Irish temper, and a love of whiskey and potatoes. Odd, isn’t it, how much our genes can affect who we are?

HA, you're in good company here! Irish-German from a large, loud, rambunctious family... My Big Fat Irish Wedding was more appropriate, lol.

I’m an Irish-German mutt. I love me some taters, but we're not much into drinking. Odd. Are you a morning person or a night person?

A night person. Before kids, I didn’t do mornings at all. I wasn’t capable of forming sentences within thirty minutes of awaking; any communication was done through grunts and glares, I’m told. My kids are morning people, so I’ve had to adapt and learn to be happy and joyful with them in the mornings. It’s a useful skill to have, but I’m still a night person at heart.

Having a BFF/writing partner who lives a three hour time change span away makes one a night person. Unfortunately, it also makes me sometimes more of a night owl than I’d like. Shrug. Gotta do what you gotta do.

Yeah, yeah... I'm not moving there! IT SNOWS THERE! Sorry, I'm still sane... :-P What were you doing at midnight last night?

Chaperoning sixty kids, fourth graders, locked into a science museum for the night. Sounds like the definition of something a masochist would enjoy, right? My husband and I both chaperoned though, and we both enjoyed it. Well, until around four this morning, when they kids were still going strong and I was fading fast.

Ummm... wow... I think you should be nominated for sainthood... or at least given an award, lol.

Wow, you have way more patience than me. I was sleeping. And good thing I was. I’d probably have hurt someone this morning. Those grunts and growls? Yeah, that was me. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

I’m a vegetarian, so my strangest sounding food isn’t all that strange. In a restaurant in China I saw bamboo pith on the menu and tried it. (My husband’s response when I first commented on it was “I didn’t know bamboo did that.”)
It wasn’t all that strange tasting, and was surprisingly good. I learned once we were home it isn’t actually the pith of the bamboo plant, but a mushroom that grows on rotting bamboo. I’ve never seen it on a menu in the U.S, or in the Asian grocery stores we like to shop.

Huh... who knew!

I’m going to echo what your DH said. I didn’t know bamboo did that either. Although, I hate to say it. That sounds gross. I like plain ole pizza mushrooms. Do you like thunderstorms?

My answer before April of last year would have been an unqualified, “I love them.” However, after having very close calls with two tornadoes since April of last year, I now have to qualify that with, “Yes, as long as there are no tornado watches or warnings.”

One of our most memorable scenes happened in a remote vacation cabin in the mountains a few hours from home. There was storm raging while he flogged me on the screened in porch. We were in the mountains, and the sounds of the thunder reverberated back and forth between them. The energy of the storm became part of the scene. The flogging portion of the storm scene in Safeword: Matte is loosely built around that experience.


Mmmmmm.... sounds incredibly intriguing and mind-blowing! And thank you for sharing that with us!

Hey, at least you had fun and made it memorable. Thanks Candace. This has been a fun interview! Now for our readers. Do you want to know more about Safeword: Matte? Here you go!
Matte, pronounced mah-tay, is the word used in some forms of martial arts to stop a fight. It’s the Japanese word for stop or wait. Sam (short for Samantha) has made a hobby out of learning the various fighting disciplines, but she also happens to be a sexual submissive. What better safeword than matte?
Sam wants to find someone to submit to who she can’t beat in a fight. She’s tried to make it work with men from the scene who know nothing about fighting, but it doesn’t feel real to her – she needs someone who can truly control her. However, after dating from the fight scene and discovering not all guys like to spank their girlfriends, she’s decided to just back away from the whole dating thing for a while… until Fate decides to step in.
Warning: This title contains graphic language, consensual BDSM, bondage, and use of toys including crops, clamps, canes, and floggers.
Available here: http://www.excessica.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=538

What is the official word on Candace Blevins? Here you go!

Candace Blevins is a southern girl who loves to travel the world. She lives with her husband of 14 years and their two daughters.

When not working or driving kids all over the place she can be found reading, writing, meditating, or swimming.

Candace writes romance books about characters who happen to have some extreme kinks. Relationships can be difficult enough without throwing power exchange into the mix, and her books show characters who care enough about each other to fight to make the relationship work.

You can visit her on the web at candaceblevins.com and kinkyeverafter.com