Jen: This week we welcome J. Hali Steele to Book Talk. J. Hali, will you please share a short bio with us?
J. Hali: First I’d like to say thanks for having me over, Jen. Currently, I live in Pennsylvania but I’m trying to talk my baby sister into moving to California. *grins* I spend as much time as possible with my heroines – my sisters. I have 4 adorable cats who are spoiled as heck. And I love romance novels with happy endings. Oh, I drink too much flavored coffee.

Jen: Tell us about A Panther’s Flight and where it's available.
J. Hali: A Panther’s Flight is available now at www.eirelanderpublishing.com. It’s about the Kind species of vampyre cats. In particular, the Sovereign Kind who are the warriors of the species. They’re ‘big’ cats – lions, tigers, leopards – infected thousands of years ago with vampyre blood. There are two factions: those who’ve accepted their curse and enjoy living as vampyres and those who stay hidden on compounds because they are afraid to embrace the bloodcurdling abilities of their undead cousins. Fane, the hero of this story, is a panther who battles his desire for blood and for the heroine, who is about to go through her first change to panther. (BOOK TRAILER AT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux9jEeNlgIY or you can watch it after you read the excerpt post here at Book Talk.)

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
J. Hali: My mom was an avid reader and shared her books with me. I read John Steinbeck and Taylor Caldwell when I was barely a teen. The worlds they created and drew me into were fascinating. I tried to write like them and made her read everything. Considering I knew nothing about life or writing…she never laughed, she told me to keep trying. Many years later, this year in fact, I became published. My first story, With Extra Cream, was published by Changeling Press. It’s an erotic novella about the other side of the Kind – those who like blood. CP also published a follow-up to that story, Hot Tin Roof, which came out in August.

Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
J. Hali: Once an idea pops into my head, I prepare an outline that usually becomes the synopsis. Once I start the story, the characters take over the wheel, and sometimes they let me have it back. lol

Jen: What kind of research did you do for this book?
J. Hali: I did research on the internet about prehistoric cats and where they lived. It was interesting to find that one of the largest lions was located in America. Panthera leo atrox was a cave lion associated with North America in the Pleistocene era. They dwelled in caves and weighed about 840 lbs. I wanted my cats to be really big so I modeled the Kind after them.

Jen: How do you pick the character’s names?
J. Hali: I wanted the elders and those who embraced the vamp world to have European names from the Balkan area where the curse started – names like Patrik and Nikolaus. The younger American cats are the ones I had fun with. For instance Fane came about because I wanted something with ‘bite’ but didn’t want to use the common Fang. I couldn’t see any of the cats being called John or Bill. *laughing*

Jen: Do you become attached to your characters and have a hard time letting them go, or are you happy that their story is told and you can move on?
J. Hali: I’m not sure I’ve let any of them go because I do bring characters back in other stories. Though they’re not series, and each book stands alone, they do tie together by location and what’s happening in their lives and where it’s happening.

Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write? Is there a genre you’ll probably stay away from and why?
J. Hali: I’d done a contemporary free read for Changeling and wanted to try my hand at something longer in that genre. I wrote an erotic contemporary novella and subbed it to Ellora’s Cave. They liked it and Rhythm of Love will be coming out in February 2010 as part of their Dance of Desire theme. I prefer erotic paranormal and will always do that. I don’t see myself ever doing anything in the BDSM arena. Maybe a light, light bondage, but for me sex and love don’t ever equal pain.

Jen: What five authors or people, from the past or present, have been important to you as an author? What question or comment have you always wanted to say to them?
J. Hali:

• Nina Simone: who were you thinking of when you sang Take Care of Business? This song always makes me think of Yael from Hope in Love, the first in my Angels in Love series at EC.
• Ayn Rand: Can we talk about your John Galt? I love her strong heroes.
• David Bowie: Major Tom, China Girl, Dancing in the Streets (with Mick) – tell me everything. LOL His music is…well…inspirational to me.
• Billy Idol: One day to follow him around because, damn, he’s hot! I have a few blond heroes.
• Anne Rice: What happened? Her vamps were the best; she lost me with the witches.

Jen: What did you do to celebrate your first book?
J. Hali: I called my sisters and thought we’d go out, but they all came to my house and made me cook! We did drink some champagne. LOL.

Jen: What do you do in your free time?
J. Hali: *Laughing* What’s free time? No, really, my sisters make me leave the house occasionally and I go out with girlfriends. I like watching a good action movie and I do still find time to read.

Jen: What's next for you? J. Hali: I’m working on a series, Angels in Love, for Ellora’s Cave. It’s turning out to be one of my favorites. The characters are sexy, bad boys (and a girl or two) from the heavenly realm who have to live among men. They have quite a few spicy adventures while finding their happily ever after. And there will be more Kind cats. I’m also working on a series inspired by Poker After Dark.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web? J. Hali: I have a website: www.jhalisteele.com; I blog every Friday at www.paranormalromantics.blogspot.com and the 6th of every month at www.trampyvamps.com. I also have my own blog which I need to take better care of www.sovereignkind.blogspot.com and I’m on Facebook at www.facebook.com/purpleprose. I also have an age restricted Yahoo Group I’m trying to develop as a posting spot for authors of erotic romance: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jhalisteele/, so anyone looking for a spot to post excerpts, free reads and just about anything at all – come on over and join me.

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
J. Hali: I’m a big fan of Happily Ever After and don’t like Happy For Now books that go on and on and on. What do you prefer – HEA or HFN? And Jen, I’d like to thank you for having me at Book Talk with J & J and letting me share some of my story with readers.

Jen: Readers, we have two prize packages up for grabs. J. Hali is giving away a promotional package including a "Are You Kind" t-shirt (they're all XL-so most can fit, as seen in the picture), a key chain and some book cover excerpts. She sent me one of these packages, so I'll give mine away too. To enter, leave a comment or question for J. Hali and leave your email address in your comment. If you don't want to leave your email at the blog, then after your comment, send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com. The winner will be chosen on Sunday, November 1.

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When Darren Michaels approached me about reviewing Flipside Erotica, I was intrigued with the concept. In his book he takes various erotic encounters and tells then from both sides of the story.

I decided to read the "male" point of view stories first. All the tales feature Darren as the "hero". I found these rather interesting since there aren't many erotica books out there told from a man's view and written by a man. The stories seemed to flow and drew me in.

Then I moved on the the "woman's" point of view. Each story featured a different woman and her liaison with Darren. This was when the book started to let me down. We had all the same scenarios, but they didn't have the same appeal. Much of the thoughts running through the ladies' heads seemed awkward and forced. It also may be just been my .pdf copy of the book, but the editing on this half of the book seemed sub-par.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. The scenarios were interesting (however, mentioning of safe sex practices might have been a smart idea as I don't remember one condom being mentioned in the whole book) and the sex scenes were quite hot. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for insight into the male's mind when it comes to sex. And also suggest keeping a fan, cup of ice water or an adult toy nearby if your partner isn't available.

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Jen: Please help me welcome Susan St. Thomas to Book Talk. Susan, will you please share a short bio with us?
Susan: Primarily I’ve been a Scientist. I’ve had positions as a cancer research assistant specializing in second-hand smoke studies, industrial chemistry assistant, genetic technician, and most recently as a bio-analytical pharmaceutical chemist. Growing up, I wasn’t much of a reader. I preferred outdoor activities or watching television. As a stressed out mother of two small children with a full time career as a scientist, I read my first romance novel to fall asleep. I lost more sleep, but it was worth it. Shortly thereafter, I began to write for pleasure, and set a goal to be published one day. For a couple of years I was an online reviewer for aromancereview.com, and had the pleasure of interviewing my idol, Susan Elizabeth Philips. As a Scientist, turned Science teacher, I spend my days teaching the laws of nature to middle schoolers and evening penning sensual romances that will satisfy your romantic sweet tooth. I live in Central New York with family and friends. Readers are invited to visit Susan’s website at http://www.susanstthomas.com and blog at http://susanstthomas.blogspot.com/

Quirky fact: Susan worked as a cast member for the Disney Store and had to memorize over 300 trivia facts. How fast can you name the seven drawves?? (Hint: there are 2- S’s, 2- D’s and three emotions.)

Jen: Tell us about Meltdown and where it's available.
Susan: Meltdown was released Feb ’09 by The Wild Rose Press in ebook and print. It can be found at Amazon and B&N, etc.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Susan: I wrote my first play in the fifth grade. The class made a comedy out of my drama and I never wrote again unless it was an assignment.

Call story- Ya never know who you’re gonna meet and where, especially at Nationals. Originally I’d conversed with someone who I thought was just another RWA member. She turned out to be an editor for another line of TWRP and set up the introduction with the Romantic Suspense editor.

I pitched Meltdown, outside the hotel, at the Dallas conference, in 90 degree heat. She requested the full and I got the call a few weeks later.

Jen: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
Susan: I’ve encouraged my son to write since middle school. Now a college grad with a day job, he still writes amazing fantasies, but nothing he’s ready to submit.

Jen: How does your family feel about your career?
Susan: They are enjoying it to varying degrees. My sister loves telling everyone she knows. My son was a bit of a celebrity in the college dorm cuz him mom writes ‘hot stuff,’ while his younger sister didn’t breath a word.

Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Susan: Speeds, Global, Warming ;)

Jen: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?
Susan: Most challenging- having an interesting internal conflict, not an ordinary one. I don’t like the peanut butter jelly ones, like, ‘her husband was killed by a drunk driver so she won’t date a guy who has one drink.’ I keep asking, what really is bothering him/her. I keep asking, why? Why? And eventually, my characters surprise me.

Easiest? For me, the easiest would have to be choosing the hero and heroine. They always pop into my head. It’s love at first sight.

Jen: What’s the most rewarding aspect?
Susan: Before I became published I’d say, finishing the book. Now, to be honest, I love when people come up to me and chat about scenes in my book. It’s a rush. I’m not the only one who loves my characters and my world, and I especially love when readers want more.

Jen: How do you pick the character’s names?
Susan: Depends on the story. Sometimes they come easy. Sometimes I use colors until the right name comes to me. Sometimes I have to do a word search for a symbolic name. But they all are important and I do think it through.

Jen: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?
Susan: Yes, they do seem to live with you, but by choice, not like I’m some crazy Sybil-16-personality-psycho. Interestingly, the time my characters are 100% on my mind is when I’m driving. That’s when I do my best plotting, when my hands are on the steering wheel. There’s magic in the air in one 48 mile-stretch of the NYS Thruway between Utica and Syracuse. I know that’s why Evan is a NYS Trooper. I’ve passed so many while driving that I just had to write about one.

One of my favorite authors, Karen Marie Moning, has the knack of going to sleep and dreaming about her scenes. I sleep like the dead, and rarely remember any dreams except the falling from an airplane ones. I wish my characters would haunt my dreams- the sexy ones, not the creepy, stalky ones.

Jen: What five authors or people, from the past or present, have been important to you as an author? What question or comment have you always wanted to say to them?
Susan: Johanna Lindsey, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Judith McNaught, Jayne Anne Krentz,
Heather Graham

I’ve met three out of five. When I began to read romance, their books moved me the most. The three I’ve seen I said the cliché- “I love your books.” But I think it would be really neat to sit and chat one-on-one over a decadent chocolate dessert.

Jen: What has been your highlight of your career to this point?
Susan: My book signing. I’d heard stories of one or two people showing up. Of course, the night before I had nightmares that: a.) I missed the event, b.) no one came. Instead, I had friends drive to B&N from hours away. My hand shook as I tried to be cool and sign autographs. You could have knocked me over with a biscotti.

Jen: Most people only dream of becoming a published writer. Now that you’ve accomplished that goal, is there anything else you dream of doing?
Susan: Yes- publishing lots more books. And seeing one made into a ‘made for Television movie.’

Jen: What's next for you?
Susan: The sequel to Meltdown is another romantic suspense, Love Like You’re Dying. I’m also working on a romantic comedy.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Susan: http://www.susanstthomas.com/
http://www.susanstthomas.com/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=640219262&ref=mf

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Susan: What occupation is your dream hero?

Jen: Susan is giving away am ebook copy of Meltdown and a $10.00 B&N gift card. To spread the wealth around, we'll pick two winner. To enter the drawing for the ebook, you need to first leave a comment for Susan. For the $10.00 B&N gift certificate, let Susan know what actors you picture as Cassie and Evan. For both contests you must either leave your email address in your comment or send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com. Only those who give us a way to contact them will be entered in the drawing. The winner will be chosen on Friday, October 23.

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Jen: This week we have erotica author Belinda McBride as our guest. Belinda, will you please share a short bio with us? Belinda: I write erotic romance in pretty much any genre you find under the umbrella of speculative fiction. I live in northern California with my family and a pack of Siberian Huskies. By training, I’m a historian and cultural anthropologist, but spent most of my adult career working in Public Health as a paraprofessional. I now take care of my disabled niece and aging mother full time, which gives me nearly unlimited freedom to write. I’m presently published with Loose Id, Changeling Press and New Concepts Publishing.

Jen: Tell us about Toxic, and where it's available. Belinda: Toxic is my contribution to a multi-author series at Changeling Press called Sex and Chocolate. Rather than doing the normal, seductive sort of chocolate themed story, I pulled from my background with animals and imagined what would happen if a werewolf indulged just a little too much, and came down with a case of chocolate toxicosis. In Toxic, the heroine is a veterinarian named Briony Theale. Bree believes that if she loses a bit of weight, she might have a better chance at winning the heart of Rico, a local wildlife specialist. She throws her stash of chocolate in a dumpster, not realizing that Rico will find it while he’s in wolf form and make himself ill.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story. Belinda: I grew up visually impaired, but I could see well enough to read print, so I started reading very early. I remember at some point my grandpa saying that since I loved books so much that I should be a writer, so in a sense, I always though of myself that way. While I attended college, I commuted 150 miles a day and entertained myself by listening to music and making up stories to the songs. A few years ago, I spent a weekend with a poet and his wife, and after two days of immersion in poetry and literature, a fire was lit and I started putting it down on paper rather than letting the stories languish in my brain. My first published story is a novella called Imperative: Missing You which is an erotic fantasy ménage.
Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Belinda: Emotional, action, fringe.

Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow? Belinda: I generally start the first chapter to get the feel of the work, then sit down and outline my characters very thoroughly. After that, I create a rough beginning, middle and end to the story, then I let it run as it will. For me, the most vital part of writing is knowing my characters intimately. If I know them, then they will drive the story along appropriately.
Jen: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?
Belinda: The easiest aspect of writing is simply channeling ideas. Those never seem to stop. The hardest part is organizing my work. I tend to work on too much at one time and I burn out.
Jen: What’s the most rewarding aspect?
Belinda: Having a reader tell me they laughed and cried and were afraid. That’s what I strive for, to create an emotional experience for the reader.
Jen: Do you become attached to your characters and have a hard time letting them go, or are you happy that their story is told and you can move on?
Belinda: Some I’m happy to let go, but others tend to move into my brain and poke at me now and then. That’s why I tend to write in series.
Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write? Is there a genre you’ll probably stay away from and why?
Belinda: I tend to go all over the world and back as far as genre. If it intrigues me, I try it out. If it frightens me, I’ll push myself to go there. I don’t think that contemporary and chick lit suit me well, and I doubt that I’d set out to write a comedy, though I do include comic elements in my writing.
Jen: If you could travel back in time for one year, what time and place would you choose? And if you could only take 3 things with you, what would they be?
Belinda: My major in college was history, so that’s like setting me before the world’s largest buffet and telling me to pick one dish! LOL! I’d definitely want to visit Classic Greece and Rome at its height. If I could take only three things, it would be Pepto Bismal, a digital camera, and something to take notes on.
Jen: What has been your highlight of your career to this point?
Belinda: Getting my first royalty check. LOL! But seriously, getting Belle Starr published at Loose Id. That story was a labor of love and LI was the house that I really wanted it to go to. To top it off, Belle was released on May 12, my oldest daughter’s birthday. So it was a really happy day!
Jen: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Belinda: Someone said something to the effect that my talent was like a fountain that they’d like to bathe in often. I was very flattered.
Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Belinda: What free time? LOL! Actually, I show my Siberian Huskies and that’s always a nice retreat. I like to go to San Francisco for window shopping and people watching. I’m an avid traveler, and try to go someplace really special every couple of years. Last year I visited my daughter in the US Virgin Islands, and fulfilled a long-time dream of swimming in the waters of St. John.

Jen: What's next for you? Belinda: In December I’ve got a short coming out at Changeling Press called Mad at the Moon. Also in December Leather will release at New Concepts Publishing. That’s an unusual love story about a porn star who wants to retire, and the fans who won’t let him go. I’ve also got a short in Rising From the Ashes, a Changeling Anthology for charity. The story is called Draggin’ in Phoenix, and is about a pair of cross dressers who fall in love. My two current projects are “The Nameless,” which is the sequel to Belle Starr, and Bad Angels 3, which is the final story of that trilogy.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web? Belinda: My website is http://www.belindamcbride.com and from there, you can locate all of my social networking sites as well as my blog.

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers? Belinda: Have you read one of my books? If so, drop me an email and let me know what you think!

Jen: Readers, Belinda is giving away a .pdf copy of any book from her backlist to a random commenter. To enter the drawing, you need to first either leave a comment for Belinda or ask her a question. Then you must either leave your email address in your comment or send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com. The winner will be chosen on Sunday, October 19.

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Jen: This weekend we welcome Dee Carney to the blog. Dee, will you please share a short bio with us?
Dee: Best selling and award winning author Dee Carney writes erotic romances in the paranormal, urban fantasy and contemporary interracial genres. If you’re looking for something a little spicier, don’t forget Morgan Sierra, Dee’s alter ego. Both sides of Dee’s personality were raised in the South, where she still lives with her husband, two dogs and a cat. When not writing, Dee is curled up with a great book!

Jen: Tell us about Illicit Hunger and where it's available.
Dee: Illicit Hunger is available from Liquid Silver Books. It is the first book in a series of stand-alone novellas about a world where vampires rule and werewolves are vilified. I’m working on the second book in this world right now. As for Illicit Hunger, for the first time ever, a lowly werewolf and a member of the ruling class of vampires dare to defy tradition for love. Here’s the official blurb:

Up until now, almost every part of her life has been dictated to her. When Lia Hampton, vampire prima lux, goes clubbing with her best friend, it's the last bit of rebellion against her arranged marriage she can muster. An attempt on her life was not part of that plan.

Jericho Taylor is placed in the enviable role of protecting the vampire community’s first daughter. In a world where the werewolf is considered tainted, interaction with them almost forbidden, Lia must do the unthinkable—feed from Jericho—to save her own life.

What happens when she bites him sparks a whirlwind of events which threaten to rip their lives, community, and a growing love, apart.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Dee: I started officially writing about two years ago. I challenged myself to write a 25K word novella in preparation for that year’s NaNoWriMo (where you strive to write a 50K word novel in a month). I wish I had nobler aspirations, but boredom drove me to NaNo. lol

When I was done with the novella, on a whim, I sent it to an epublisher. Imagine my surprise when a month later they offered a contract. I was working a shift as a nurse on Christmas Day when I opened my email to pass the time. I think I forwarded that email to just about everyone I knew!

Soldier released from Cobblestone Press in April of 2008. I’ve been writing and learning and growing since then.

Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Dee: Good gravy, this one’s hard! Heh. There are three words right there… Anyway: Hot. Evocative. Catchy. (Those words courtesy of my reviews.)

Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
Dee: It really depends. If it’s a short story, I’ll just plow right through it with barely a plan in place. Longer stories I try to plot out in advance and most times manage to stick to it.

Jen: What kind of research did you do for this book?
Dee: Long walks with my two dogs, daydreaming while laying in bed on a Saturday morning, long commutes to work. That sort of thing. The reason I love urban fantasy the best is that you create a world with your imagination and let whatever you want to happen, happen!

Jen: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?
Dee: The challenging part is being disciplined enough to sit your butt in the chair and do it despite the many distractions of the real world. Believe me, when my nose is running, I’m wearing sweats, socks and ratty slippers, have a banana clip holding my uncombed hair in place and the cat is yarfing on the carpet next to me, the last thing in the world I want to do is write about sex.

I don’t think there’s an easy part to writing. (See above. Lol)

Jen: What’s the most rewarding aspect?
Dee: The absolute most rewarding aspect that I *live* for is hearing from readers. Receiving a bad review is tough on the ego, but at the end of the day, I don’t mind them because I didn’t write any book with a potential review in mind. I wrote it because people tell me they like my stories. That they love a particular hero. Hate a particular heroine. Whatever. I crave that feedback, like most authors, I think.

Jen: How do you pick the character’s names?
Dee: babynames.com. I’m a very instinctual person, so I’ll think about my character’s personality and pick a letter of the alphabet that feels right for him/her. Then I go to that web site and cruise through that letter until a name speaks to me. Pretty simple.

Jen: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?
Dee: There’s a joke that says something about writing being socially acceptable schizophrenia. Yeah. My characters will give me great one-liners if my mind is too zen for a minute. I won’t say that they haunt my dreams, but certainly make me take notice by mentioning a great plot device or pointing out a dreaded plot hole during quiet moments.

Jen: If Illicit Hunger was made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the hero and heroine?
Dee: Oh! What a fabulous question!! Because I already adore her in the vampire role, I’ll go with Kate Beckinsale for Lia and hmmm….Dominic Purcell would make a very, very sexy werewolf. Oh yeah. (Don’t mind my drool. It’ll dry.)

Jen: Most people only dream of becoming a published writer. Now that you’ve accomplished that goal, is there anything else you dream of doing?
Dee: I’m not much of a dreamer, truth be told. If I want something, I just *do* it. I’ve got a great family, great day job, great everything! I really can’t think of anything else that I’d want that I don’t already have. If anything, I just want to get better at the things I am doing.

Jen: What's next for you?
Dee: I’m slowly but surely working my way up to writing novel-length stories. I’m about 2/3 of the way there. Once I do that, just maybe I might start looking toward publishing with New York, but I’m in no rush whatsoever. There’s also one particular epublisher I want to get in with before I’ll consider myself accomplished. After that, the sky’s the limit…

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Dee: From mid-Friday through Sunday night, I’m on instant messenger with the best group of romance authors out there. I hang with L. Shannon, Moira Reid, Eliza Gayle, Lex Valentine and Kris Eton for word wars where we write together. The rest of the time, I’m a twitter addict. Readers can always read what I’m tweeting about or working on by finding me at my web site, http://www.deecarney.com

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Dee: Uh yeah…would you mind sending me a recipe for the world’s best chocolate chip cookies? I’m a self-proclaimed cookie monster and after more than twenty years of researching, the perfect recipe still eludes me. I’m close, but not quite there yet.

Jen: Thank you Dee for stopping by the blog this weekend. Readers, Dee is giving a winner an ecopy of Illicit Hunger or any single title from my bookshelf if they have that one already. The winner must be over the age of 18 due to content of Dee's books. To enter the contest, leave a comment or question (or cookie recipe) for Dee. And to finish off your entry, leave your email address in the post or send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com with Dee Carney in the subject. The winner will be chosen on Friday, October 16.

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Jen: Readers, help me welcome Cate Masters to Book Talk this weekend. Cate, will you please share a short bio with us?
Cate: Cate Masters’ novels, novellas, short stories and flash fiction appear at epublishers The Wild Rose Press, Eternal Press, Wild Child Publishing/ Freya’s Bower and Shadowfire Press. Her flash and short stories appear at such web zines as Cezanne’s Carrot, The Battered Suitcase, A Long Story Short, Dark Sky Magazine, and The Harrow. The proud mom of three adult children, she currently lives in central Pennsylvania with her husband, Benji the dog and their dictator-like cat, Chairman Maiow.

Jen: Tell us about Wilderness Girl and where it's available.
Cate: As my first erotic romance, Wilderness Girl’s my “walk on the wild side.” I describe it as an erotic romance because the relationship’s actually very sweet, and very much the center of the story. Freya’s Bower released it last month: http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=220

Here’s a blurb:

When Dana’s boyfriend drags her to Wilderness Outfitters on a Friday night, she wonders why so many people find The Great Outdoors so great. Until she meets Hank— six feet of tanned muscle, wrapped in a faded black T-shirt and jean shorts loose on his hips. Eyes like wildfire burning in a sun-kissed face. Grinning like a fox.

After her boyfriend dumps her in the parking lot, humiliation becomes gratitude when Hank invites her to his favorite camping spot, and she seizes on the impulse to change her boring life.

A web programmer, Dana’s outdoor experience had consisted of walks to and from her car. Alone on a mountaintop, as she struggles to set up camp, a five-foot snake doesn’t seem a welcome sight: until Hank comes to her rescue.

He initiates her to the pleasures of hiking, campfires, and Harley rides down winding roads. Making love beneath a starry sky, Hank awakens a primal Wilderness Girl in Dana she never knew existed.

Their weekend feels like a fantasy, which proves all too true on their return to civilization. As the daily grind eats into their time together, their romance begins to come untethered.

Will her high-tech lifestyle clash with his low-tech one? Can she manage to recapture the passion of the wilderness in their city existence?

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Cate: It’s been a long road! I’d written all my life for myself, then after I’d written a few mainstream novels, finally began to submit to agents and NY publishers. I had some interest, but no one would commit. A few of my short stories found homes with lit zines and web zines. Then epresses launched in a big way, and I did a submission blitz. That’s why I had eleven stories, from shorts to novellas to novels, accepted with five epublishers this (very busy) year. It’s been great, and I hope to continue, though not at such a manic pace!

Jen: How does your family feel about your career?
Cate: My husband is my greatest cheerleader. He keeps telling me to quit my day job to write full time. My two daughters didn’t seem to believe I’d been published until I received the print versions of two of my releases, One Soul For Sale and Picture This. Then they became excited and asked for copies!

Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Cate: I’ll use descriptions from reviews of three of my stories: compelling, well-written, awe-inspiring.

Jen: Do you have a writing routine?
Cate: I treat writing as a job. My primary job, actually, although I do work a day job—my heart’s always with my writing! As soon as I come home, I’m on the computer until late at night either writing, promoting, doing edits or revisions. Weekends, I spend as much time as possible on writing or writing-related activities. My domestic duties have taken a nosedive, to say the least! Thank goodness my family’s understanding.

Jen: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?
Cate: Time management’s a huge challenge. Marketing takes a great deal of organization and I’m always looking for ways to streamline so it doesn’t take too much time away from writing.

The easiest is coming up with ideas – I have a backlog, which I’m thankful for!

Jen: What’s the most rewarding aspect?
Cate: I can think of two, actually – when I’m so immersed in writing a story, I’m “in the flow” and typing as fast as I can to keep up with the stream. Equally rewarding is when I hear from readers or reviewers that my stories have touched them emotionally and made them want to read more.

Jen: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?
Cate: Not my dreams, but I have extremely vivid daydreams! The scenes play like videos in my head. For the historical novel Angels, Sinners and Madmen, the story actually flashed through my brain while we were in Key West, Florida, at a maritime museum. I spent the next two days in the library copying old letters and documents, and visiting other historical sites. I came home with five books about the area and the wreckers, which completely fascinated me.

Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write?
Cate: I’ve experimented quite a bit this year, and expanded to contemporary, fantasy/dark fantasy, historical and erotic romance. I’d love to try an urban fantasy, and scifi.

Jen: If Wilderness Girl was made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the hero and heroine?
Cate: Brad Pitt (from his Legends of the Fall days, with slightly shorter hair) starred in the movie version in my head, with a young Holly Hunter playing the heroine.

Jen: Do you do anything special to celebrate a sale, new contract, or release?
Cate: My husband kept promising to bring me out to celebrate my releases this year, but life kept throwing up roadblocks, as it will sometimes. So when I read in our local paper that the Pretenders would play a concert nearby, I bought tickets. They put on a fantastic show! Well worth the wait.

Jen: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Cate: As I’m for the most part a pantser, I was pleasantly surprised when reviewers said: “Cate Masters does an exceptional job working out her plot.” And another said: “Cate Masters took this plot and worked it into a great work.” I put together an outline as I go, so I’m not totally wandering through the story, but for the most part, the characters lead me in the direction they want to go!

Jen: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Cate: Of the national bestsellers, I love TC Boyle, Neil Gaiman, Tom Robbins, Richard Russo, Margaret Atwood, Michael Chabon, Emma Bull, Carrie Vaughn… so many others. Lately I’ve been trying to catch up with fellow Wild Rose Press, Eternal Press, and Wild Child/Freya’s authors, though time’s always a challenge! As time permits, I’m reading Emma Lai’s His Ship, Her Fantasy, Kiss Carson’s Illusions of Destiny, Susan Macatee’s Erin’s Rebel, Beth Trissel’s Through the Fire, and T.M. Crone’s The Yellow Stone.

Jen: What's next for you?
Cate: Shadowfire Press just released my Halloween-themed short dark (but fun) fantasy, Reflections. Freya’s Bower will release my historical novel Angels, Sinners and Madmen, set in 1850s Key West, Florida. The Wild Rose Press should release Design for Life in early 2010.

I also have two mainstream novels circulating with publishers, a contemporary novel in final critique, am revising a historical novella, and have about ten other stories in various stages.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Cate: I’m online at www.catemasters.com, www.catemasters.blogspot.com or people can follow me on Facebook or on Twitter. I also blog with a group of central PA authors at thesusquehannawriters.blogspot.com and once a month at the site Popculturedivas - chock full of amazing women! Check us out!

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Cate: What draws you to a story – a good review? The cover? Word of mouth? The blurb? The trailer? Something else?

Thanks again for having me here today! I’d love to give away a PDF copy of Wilderness Girl to a commenter – I’ll select a winner at random on Monday, Oct. 5 and announce it here. Be sure to include your email address in your comment. Thanks!

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Jen: Readers, help me welcome Rachel Kenley to Book Talk this week. Rachel, will you please share a short bio with us?
Rachel: Absolutely, Jen, and thanks for this great opportunity. I’m just your average wife, mother and erotic romance writer. I grew up in New Jersey and now live in Massachusetts with my husband and sons. I’ve loved the romance genre since I was fourteen and my mom gave me a copy of The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiweiss. I found a lot of hope and comfort in these books as I went through my own romantic trials and I try to give that back to other women.

Jen: Tell us about The Glass Stiletto and where it's available.
Rachel: As you might guess from the title, The Glass Stiletto is a retelling of the Cinderella story. We go quickly though the balls with Mariella, my heroine, and Teodor, her prince, but most of the story takes place after she leaves her family’s home and heads to his castle. She’s not about to serve anyone again or be under their control, so when he proposes – she says no. And then the fun begins. You can download the e-book at www.ravenousromance.com or buy a print version on amazon.com. My next release for Ravenous will be another re-imagined fairy tale – THE FAIREST SEDUCTION. I’m taking on Snow White.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Rachel: I can’t remember when I didn’t write, but I was first published in August 2007. I submitted a query and a partial of the novel in Dec 2006. It was the first I’d ever completed and polished until it was truly ready for submission. Before then, I’d started a lot and finished almost nothing. Six weeks later, the editor asked for the complete manuscript and about seven weeks after that I got “The Email” telling me they wanted to buy it. I screamed.

Jen: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
Rachel: Yes. My mother is published in both fiction and nonfiction. In fact, she wrote short stories for the two anthologies I edited for Ravenous – SPELLBOUND and FANTASTICA. She writes as Holly East. My husband is working on a non-fiction book and my sons write picture books based on their favorite characters.

Jen: Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
Rachel: Coffee. Chocolate within reach. Music without words – usually movie soundtracks, Midori, Tim Janis, folks like that. I can’t write with other people’s words around me. And as Virginia Woolf said, a room of my own. I have my Muse Salon (our garage, converted) where I can go and be with my computer, books and files. It’s my favorite space in the house.

Jen: Do you have a writing routine?
Rachel: I’m a morning writer and an evening editor. I love doing Morning Pages as suggested by Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way to wake up my muse and quiet my inner critic. I focus on writing 500-1000 words every day and try to leave off almost mid scene so I can pick up the next day more easily.

Jen: How do you pick the character’s names?
Rachel: That’s a great question. Sometime the character comes with a name and I know it right away. Other times I look online or in baby books to see if there’s one that clicks for me. Or, finally, I translate an English word into another language and modify it. For example, in THE FAIREST SEDUCTION, since I’m working with the Snow White characters, I found the Portuguese word for snow is “neve” so my heroine is now Aneva.

Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write? Is there a genre you’ll probably stay away from and why?
Rachel: I love the romance genre, always have, and really enjoy spicing it up. I also have notes and pages on some women’s fiction novels as well as an urban fantasy series I’d like to do. I love that so many authors do more than one genre. I tend not to read dark fiction/horror, so I’m not likely to write it.

Jen: If The Glass Stiletto was made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the hero and heroine?
Rachel: When I wrote the book I pictured a dark haired Rachel McAdams as Mariella and Hugh Jackman for Teodor. I admit… I picture him a lot.

Jen: What did you do to celebrate your first book?
Rachel: There was lots of screaming and breathless phone calls when I got the email. On the books release date, my mom surprised me by coming up from New Jersey and we had a big feast and champagne. It was wonderful.

Jen: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Rachel: I had a reviewer who had the same name as my heroine in Destiny's Jewel and she loved feeling like the story was about her. Holly Black, author of The Spiderwick Chronicles, told me she thought it was wonderful that I’d given Cinderella an improved happily ever after and made her a strong character.

Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Rachel: After managing the responsibilities of motherhood (my sons are 10 and 7) I love to read, play computer games and watch someone else’s drama on television.

Jen: What's next for you?
Rachel: THE FAIREST SEDUCTION is on the top of my to-write list along with an older woman/younger man story called PEAK EXPERIENCE. I hope to write more in my PASSIONATE series, but that will depend on reader response to the first book, an erotic romantic suspense called Passionate Heat, also available at Ravenous and Amazon.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Rachel: www.rachelkenley.com and on Facebook as well. I admit – I adore FB, I’m a bit of an addict.

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Rachel: What do you love in a hero… and what makes a heroine memorable to you?

Jen: Thank you Rachel for being our guest this week. Readers, we have 2 prizes up for grabs this week: a CD audio version of SPELLBOUND and an ecopy of JUST DESSERTS which is from the Ambrosia anthology. To enter the drawing, you first must leave a comment for Rachel. Then you need answer one (or both, use 2 messages) of the following questions (the answers can be found on her website):

For the CD - What was the first romance novel Rachel read and how old was she?

For the short story - What is the title of the story I contributed to the "Sex and Taxes Anthology"?

Send your answers to contests.bookblog@gmail.com and use the prize name as the subject line. The contest will end on Sunday, October 4.

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When Keta Diablo contacted me about a promo on the blog she also asked about getting a review of one of her books. After reading descriptions, I picked Decadent Deceptions as the one I wanted to read. And I am glad I did.

I found Decadent Deceptions to be quite riveting and found that I couldn't put it down until I was done. Here's the book description from Amazon:
Daring and desperate to win Morgan’s love, Olivia Breedlove embarks on a reckless folly. But everything backfires when Morgan remains one step ahead of her and the game ventures down a path of duplicity and murder.

A decade ago, Morgan was a heartbeat away from taking Olivia’s virginity. Her father, Thaddeus, intervened and threatened to meet him over pistols if he so much as looked at his daughter again. But now, Thaddeus is dead and Morgan has no intention of ignoring the ravenous hunger he’s harbored for the blasted woman for ten years.

One way or the other, he will quench this burning desire and make her his forever.

The concept of Decadent Deceptions is quite interesting. I did question some of the accuracy of the historical detail (such as some of the spoken phrases), but it didn't distract from the book. The love scenes were red-hot and explicit, but fit well into the story. I suppose the only thing that really bothered me was that when the book was over I felt kind of short-changed when it came to the actual romance between Morgan and Olivia. More often than not, the love just wasn't believable and it just seemed like their relationship was based on lust.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. And if you're looking for a hot read, a historical erotica, Decadent Deceptions is a great option.

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Here's the blurb from Amazon.com:

Sexual healing...there's nothing like it. And Ecstasy Island is where it happens. Meet two heroes who know exactly how to vanquish a woman's every fear and teach her to love - and fully live - again. But this erotic escape is by invitation only...Chris Cavanaugh considers it his calling to breathe new life into women with troubled pasts. From the moment he brings Claire Vaughn to the beautiful but isolated outpost of Ecstasy Island, he's surprised by her strength and spirit - and held captive by her sensual imagination and skill, night after night after night...Treah Baldwin believes in greeting each one of the women sent to him to be healed with a literal sexual awakening. His hands-on technique does wonders for body and soul. Dana Lancer has never experienced anything like it. Finding scorchingly hot erotic bliss in his muscular arms becomes a reality straight out of her wildest dreams...

Escape to Ecstasy is a two story anthology revolving around healers at an exclusive island resort. The concept is intriguing. The characters are a little on the unbelievable side, but likable. The best part of the book is the hot sex scenes. In fact, the whole plot revolves around those hot scenes. Take out the lust and sex and the book is pretty thin on plot.

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Here's the blurb from the back of the book:

Miranda Johanson has had a very bad day. The straight-laced uber-conservative stock-market analyst has lost eight million dollars of her clients' money. If that weren't enough, she also just had wild, no-holds-barred sex with a complete stranger on her coffee break ... And that complete stranger turned out to be her new boss.

Hot sex, interesting characters, unique plot. I found it to be a pretty quick read and engaging enough for me to not want to put it down until I was done. My only issue with the book is that it's marketed as an erotic romance. It's definitely erotic, but I felt the romance part was a little lacking. Miranda and her stranger, Max, meet in the first chapter and by the end of the 250 pages they're in love. They have obstacles aplenty to overcome as they get to that point... but I never really felt that "ah-ha, we're in love" moment in the story, which is what really makes or breaks a book for me. But if you look past the romance aspect, Jamaica Layne as a pretty solid story in Market for Love.

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Jen: This week we’re happy to have Tigra-Luna LeMar with us. Tigra-Luna, please share a short bio with us.
Tigra-Luna: Short bio? Well, I am a university student from Canada. I was born in Jamaica. I love the arts – anything artsy movies, theatre, music, culture. They just seem to make life so much richer…And my writing of course. I love a good book (though with school it often time seek I don’t have time to breathe, much less read and write. lol)

Jen: Tell us about your recent and upcoming releases and where they are available.
Tigra-Luna: Well, I have a novel out called Too Bootilicious (ebook and paperback) and a short titled Itashi’s Pride. Both are available at www.lulu.com. But I have a Christmas story titled Santa’s Undercover Sex Kitty and a second story titled Karma Feeding Kane. Both are coming soon to Amira Press. I am proud to say that Karma Feeding Kane is a short Paranormal about a sexual vampire *wiggles brows suggestively* And coming in February there’s a story that I wrote with a friend D.M Dulton titled Jennifer’s Wager it’s coming to Whiskey Creek Press Torrid.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Tigra-Luna: Wow, I was a little girl and reading everything I could get my hands on. But in high school I figured if I read so much I should probably write something. But I am the biggest procrastinator you could ever find. But then I got this idea about this really sexy cowboy who lost an eye in a war – him hiding from the world etc. I wrote it, all the way to 30K and lost it on a computer when it crashed. I was crushed, didn’t write anything until college again. A friend of mine heard I love writing and dared me to start again. My first story that was published with my friend D.M Dulton titled Eros’ Lessons with Ocean’s Mist Press but we all know how that story ended.

Jen: Use three words to describe your writing.
Tigra-Luna: Just three? Me, Soft, Sizzle

Jen: Do you have a writing routine?
Tigra-Luna: Not really. If I’m not motivated I can’t write. Some people put time away each day to write I can’t do that because if I do all that will come out is jibberish. I have to write when the need hits me.

Jen: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?
Tigra-Luna: The most challenging I would have to say is getting my characters to shut up! Lol. I tell my friends to write until their characters stop speaking. That’s what I do but sometimes, there is so many ideas just flowing I can’t get them down fast enough. The easiest part, thinking of what to name your characters. I love giving my characters really strange names, or as strange as I can muster.

Jen: What’s the most rewarding aspect?
Tigra-Luna: Going to my website and seeing someone leave a comment saying how much they enjoyed my writing. It’s a wonderful feeling to know someone read my stuff and liked it so much that they had to tell me about it.

Jen: Do you do anything special to celebrate a sale, new contract, or release?
Tigra-Luna:I live close to one of the best wineries in North America. So I go on a short road trip to it, buy a nice bottle of Ice Wine and just go home, take a shower then chill out, wrapped in a towel and have a glass.

Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write?
Tigra-Luna: Wow, I’d like to dip my hand in every genre…But lately I’m trying more and more paranormal. Only one story has panned out so far. But the one that I would absolutely LOVE to write would be Sci-fi erotica. I’ve always loved aliens, and star bases and galaxies far far away. I know, I sound like a nerd but who wouldn’t want to believe that there are sexy stud muffins somewhere else in this galaxy right?

Jen: Where do you draw your inspiration?
Tigra-Luna: Er…that is a loaded question lol. Well, it depends. I take a lot of the feelings from my real life and what I am feeling at the time I’m writing. If I feel angry, it goes into the story. Sad, same deal. When I want to write my sex scenes I listened to really sexy love songs…you know the kinds, old skool slow jams! *grins*

Jen: Do you have a favorite character or one that you identify most with?
Tigra-Luna: Let me think. Lisa Townsend from Too Bootilicious. She embodies my personality a lot. I actually cried when I wrote certain parts of that story. It was heart wrenching.

Jen: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Tigra-Luna: Right now, I just (right before doing this interview) finished reading Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. For any fans of Jane Eyre, this story is supposed to be the prologue for Bertha, Rochester’s crazy wife lol. As well this morning, I finished reading Winter Fire by Elizabeth Lowell. I’m telling you it was WORTH it!

Jen: What's next for you?
Tigra-Luna: Well, right now I am working on an African American Wolverine shifter story. I am hoping it comes out as well as it sounds inside my head lol. As well I’m looking to write another IR erotica with a Japanese male.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Tigra-Luna: I am all over the place, facebook, myspace (http://www.myspace.com/tigraluna) and my website at http://www.freewebs.com/tigraluna

Jen: Do you have anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Tigra-Luna: Oh yeah! What would you like to see me do next?

Jen: Thanks so much for being with us this week. Readers, leave a comment, ask a question or answer Tigra-Luna's question and you'll be entered in a drawing for an e-copy of Itashi's Pride. I'll pick winner on Thursday, November 13 sometime in the evening of the west coast. And if you're not going to subscribe to the comments or check back on Friday to see if you're a winner, please leave contact information in your post.

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Jen: This week we welcome Cat Grant to Book Talk. Cat, please share a short bio with us.
Cat: Let's see… I'm blonde, blue-eyed, rather pear-shaped. ;) I live in Monterey, CA with husband and cat. As far as writing goes, I've been doing it on and off since grammar school. Storytelling's always been a passion of mine.

Jen: Tell us about your recent releases and where they are available.
Cat: I have two books out, both published by Lyrical Press. The Arrangement, which was published last May, is my first published novel. It's an erotic romance about a m/m/f ménage a trois. It follows the relationship between Eric Courtland, a high-powered CEO turned US Senator, his wife Allison, an on-air correspondent for CNN, and their lover Nick Thompson, a New York City newspaper reporter, over the course of two years.
My second book, Strictly Business, just came out last month. It's a m/m novella, with erotic and BDSM elements. It's a prequel to The Arrangement, and takes place nine years earlier. It's about the early years of Eric's and Nick's love affair.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Cat: Well, I'm e-published, so I didn't get "the call," I got "the email." I spent several months collecting rejection slips on my novel, The Arrangement, when I decided to submit it to Lyrical Press last March. At that point, Lyrical hadn't even opened for business yet. I sent the manuscript off in the morning, then went off to do grocery shopping and a few other errands, and by the time I returned home that afternoon, Lyrical's editor in chief had already emailed me back a contract. I shrieked so loud, my poor husband thought I was being murdered!

Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Cat: Angsty. Witty. Hot!

Jen: Do you have a writing routine?
Cat: It takes awhile for a story idea to jell for me. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool pantser, so outlines don't really work for me. It has to gestate in the back of my mind for a long time until it's ready for me to apply butt to chair and fingers to keyboard. But when the idea's ripe, I can bang out a first draft fairly quickly. I usually work eight to ten hours a day during the actual writing process.

Jen: What is it about the romance or erotica genre that appeals to you?
Cat: I enjoy writing about adult relationships, and it's impossible to do that without exploring the characters' sex lives. I like exploring intimacy issues. Characters reveal so much about themselves when they're in a vulnerable state, and sex is a great way to show them at their most vulnerable.

Jen: Do you do anything special to celebrate a new sale, contract, or release?
Cat: For my first book, my husband and I went out to dinner. For my second book… well, we'll see. ;)

Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write?
Cat: I've been kicking around an idea for a m/m urban fantasy about a demon hunter and a witch, but that's still in the research phase.

Jen: Do you have a favorite character or one that you identify most with?
Cat: I have a soft spot in my heart for Eric Courtland, one of the protagonists in both The Arrangement and Strictly Business--although nobody else seems to! Poor Eric just doesn't get much love from my readers. I think it's because he's a Type A personality--ambitious, driven, results-oriented. He has a tendency to take the people in his life for granted, but once he realizes what he's done, his loving, generous nature comes to the fore. I suppose I do identify with Eric, because where my writing's concerned, I am very much a Type A. When I'm working on a book, I do not want to be bothered by anyone or anything. It's made for some interesting discussions between me and my husband!

Jen: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Cat: I just finished Sherrilyn Kenyon's Acheron, and a lovely historical by Kalen Hughes called Lord Sin (Book One: Rakes of London. I'd love to write an historical someday, but the research would be a killer!

Jen: What's next for you?
Cat: I've got ideas for two more novellas and a full-length novel set in the same universe as The Arrangement and Strictly Business. I want to write the story of how Eric and Nick met in college and fell in love, and then one about how Eric and Ally got married. Those would both be prequels. Then I want to jump ahead ten years from events in The Arrangement, and have Eric, Nick and Ally move back to the US so Eric can resume his political career--and eventually become the first openly-bisexual president. And one of these days I hope to write that m/m urban fantasy as well.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Cat: My website is at: http://www.catgrant.com. And I also have a Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/inbox/#/profile.php?id=1400447380.

Jen: Is there anything you would like to ask our readers?
Cat: Not a question, but a big "thanks!" to everyone for their support. Because of all the great readers out there, The Arrangement hit the All Romance e-books best seller list. Talk about a thrill!

Jen: Thank you for joining us and we wish you well with your new releases and future projects. Readers, Cat is graciously offering up a .pdf of Strictly Business to a random commenter this week. So, ask Cat a question or leave a comment (preferably something more that "please enter me in the contest) and you'll be entered. The winner will be chosen on Friday, October 31 around noon PDT.

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Jen is in the process of packing up all her books as she prepares to move to her new apartment. As she was clearing off her shelves, she discovered that somewhere down the line she acquired two hardback copies of Wicked Ties by Shayla Black. And she's decided to give a copy to a random reader.

So, to win this book, let Jen know if you've read any of Shayla's books before. If you haven't, tell her why you want this book. A word of warning, it is erotica with bondage / domination themes.

I'll run this contest until next Sunday, October 12. So, comment for your chance to win. The contest is open to everyone, including authors. The only exception is if you've won a book on this blog in the last 2 months (August or September).

And if you're interested in another contest, take a look at this post.

***I'm extending the contest until Wed. October 15 because I'm in the middle of the move... and at this point we only have 2 people entered in the contest.***

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Nicky Malloy is on the run and Tyler Calhoun is the bounty hunter hired to bring her to justice. Nicky's managed to evade the law for 3 years, but with Tyler on her trail she knows her time is limited. And as they travel to Wyoming and his reward, sparks fly and both Nicky and Tyler begin to believe that a happily ever after might be within their reach.

I picked up the ebook version of this book a while ago after seeing Beth Williamson promo this erotica western series. I'd been looking for more historical erotica and thought it sounded good. Besides, it's the first book in a series and we all know by now how much I love reading series. At any rate, this book sat on my ebook shelf for months and months. But then, recently I saw it waiting for me and decided to start reading. And I am glad I did.

I liked the characters of Nicky and Tyler. Nicky is haunted by the events that led her to go on the run and Tyler is jaded from his childhood and career path. But both were able to get past the obstacles and embrace life. I enjoyed the plot. I haven't run across many women fugitive stories and this one was well done. And now I'm anxious to pick up the next book in the series (which follows Nicky's rather large family), The Prize (Malloy Family, Book 2). I highly recommend if you like some spice in your historical western romance reading. And the whole series is available in ebook and print.

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Jen: This week we’re pleased to welcome Donna Grant to Book Talk with J & J. Donna, will you please share a short bio with us?
Donna: Donna Grant is the award winning author of more than twenty novels spanning multiple genres of romance – Scottish Medieval, historical, dark fantasy, time travel, paranormal and erotic.

Donna was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as Jamaica and Mexico. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.

Her childhood dream was to become a professional ballet dancer and study under the amazing Mikhail Baryshnikov. Though she never got to meet Baryshnikov, she did make it to New York City and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Later, Donna’s love of the romance genre and the constant stories running through her head prompted her to sit down and write her first book. Once that book was complete, there was no turning back.

Donna sold her first book in November 2005 while displaced from Hurricane Rita, a storm that destroyed portions of the Texas Gulf Coast. Since then, Donna has sold novels and novellas to both electronic and print publishers. Her books include several complete series such as The Druid’s Glen, The Shields and The Royal Chronicles.

Despite the deadlines and her voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two young children, three cats and one long-haired Chihuahua. She’s blessed with a proud, supportive husband who’s learned to cook far more than frozen chicken nuggets.

Jen: Tell us about The Pleasure of His Bed and where it's available.
Donna: The Pleasure of His Bed is a historical erotic anthology featuring heroines as sex slaves. My novellas, Ties That Bind, is about a lustful, dominating queen who has the tables turned on her when she’s sold as a sex slave to the very man she was supposed to marry.

I had a lot of fun writing this novella and making up a fantasy world with powerful women and commanding men.

The book is available in all bookstores and online.

Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Donna: Dark. Sexy. Sensual.

Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
Donna: I get an idea, but before I start writing, I get an overall idea of the story and where my characters will end up. I never “see” the beginning of the book. My ideas usually start in the middle somewhere, and I get an idea of the ending. Then, when I sit down to write, I go with the flow.

Jen: What is it about the romance genre that appeals to you?
Donna: The Happily Ever After ending. Life is full of disappointments, which is why I love reading romance. You always know its going to end happily, regardless of the horrors the hero/heroine might go through.

Then there’s the love and family and relationships that romance talks about. It reinforces to need for all three in people’s lives.

Jen: Describe a typical writing day.
Donna: It begins at about 6 am when we get the kids up and get them ready for school. Once they’re dressed and fed, hubby takes them to school while I work out. After the workout, which is about 7:45-8:00 am, I sit down at my desk.

While I’m eating breakfast, I check emails, play on MySpace and Facebook for a bit. This is usually when the all-day emails with three of my writing buds begins. By 9 am I have the book opened and am writing in between emails to buds.

I’ll write 10 pages before lunch. After lunch I get in 10 more pages before I pick kids up from school. Once kids are home, its homework, their activities and dinner time.

Jen: Do you do anything special to celebrate a sale, new contract or release?
Donna: Oh, yes! For each sale, my husband buys me flowers, and for each New York sale, hubby brings home a bottle of champagne.

Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write?
Donna: I’m very happy writing in the historical/dark fantasy genre. Though I prefer to write historical (Medieval, Scottish, historical/paranormal and historical/dark fantasy), I recently branched out and wrote a couple of contemporary/paranormal books. One will be published as a Halloween book with Total-E-Bound and it’s titled Primal Heat.

Jen: Who has inspired you as an author?
Donna: So many authors have inspired me. Some by their books, some because I’ve come to know them personally, and some by seeing what they’ve gone through in their careers.

Jen: Do you have a favorite character or one that you identify most with? If so, how?
Donna: Usually, my favorite characters are the ones I’m writing at the moment, but all of them hold a special place in my heart. They are a part of me, just as I’m a part of them.

Jen: What has been your highlight of your career to this point?
Donna: In publishing, because there are so many lows (bad reviews, rejections) you celebrate all the highs. Each time I finish a book, I celebrate. Each time I get a contract, I celebrate. Each time I get a reader email, I celebrate.

My biggest highlight to date is selling to Kensington.

Jen: What's next for you?
Donna: I’ve got a lot that’s coming next. Right on the heels of The Pleasure of His Bed is my first release with Cobblestone Press, a historical paranormal, SHADOW MAGIC. It’s the first in a trilogy, and I’m so thrilled to see this book about to be released. The cover is to die for as well.

After that, in October, I’ll have my Halloween novella, PRIMAL HEAT out.

Then, at the in of November and March 2009, the sequels to my novella in The Pleasure of His Bed, TEMPTED and BOUND will release respectively in my fantasy series.

May 2009 will see my second Kensington Aphrodisia release, MUTUAL DESIRE, which features three novellas, one of which is my conclusion to my fantasy series. The collection also has a novella set in Scotland and one in the Amazon.
To see all my coming soon books, visit: www.donnagrant.com/coming_soon

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Donna: Lots of places.
Website – http://www.donnagrant.com/
Blog – www.donnagrant.com/blog
Myspace – www.myspace.com/donnagrant
Facebook (personal) - http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1372746155
Facebook (fan page) - http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Donna-Grant/27841130699
Aphrodisia Authors – http://www.aphrodisiaauthors.com/

Jen: Is there anything you would like to ask our readers?
Donna: Yes! Who’s your favorite author(s)?

Jen: Thank you Donna for joining us and providing our readers with a look into your writing. Donna will be stopping by to chat with y'all. So, answer her question or ask a question and you'll be entered in the drawing for an autographed copy of The Pleasure of His Bed and some goodies!

The contest will run through Friday, September 5 at 5:00 pm PDT. If you are not going to subscribe to get follow-up comments sent to your e-mail or will not stop back to see if you're a winner, please provide an e-mail address so we can contact you.

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The full moon peeked up over the horizon already lighting the yard as if it were daytime.

Her shoe bumped something and it fell with a clatter. Shit! She looked down to see what she’d stumbled over. Blessed God. It was a shotgun! She hadn’t fired one in years, not since she and her brothers had made soda cans quake in fear on the back fence. But with a shotgun, she wouldn’t need perfect aim. Heck, when they saw she had a gun, maybe they wouldn’t mess with her. Okay, so she was fooling herself. But she couldn’t help a quick
rush of joy when she picked up the gun and saw that it was loaded.

Surprisingly, no one had come running at the sound of the clatter. Serena didn’t pause to wonder why. It only took her a few more strides to reach the front of the house and peer around the corner.

What she saw nearly made her drop the gun. Ben and the man were bent over. Had they poisoned themselves? Then, icicles of fear rushed through her veins. What was happening?
Ben’s form was suddenly covered in silver grey hair that almost sparkled in the moonlight. His ears had elongated and his face! She shuddered and stepped back, resisting the urge to run.
The whole frontal section of Ben’s face elongated into a muzzle. Then, with shock, she realized the wolf’s savage gaze was locked on her. She stifled a scream as the thing’s mouth split
open in a wolfish grin. Serena stepped back and pulled the gun up.

The wolves crept closer. Didn’t they see she had a gun? Perhaps they didn’t think she would use it. Well, they were wrong, she would.

As she ran forward, she could hear their growls. This had better work or she was dead—or worse than dead. Pulling the trigger, there was a pause when time stood still. The blast nearly
deafened her. The wolves scattered.

One disappeared. She’d have to watch her back. One dashed off around the house, possibly to leap on her from behind or cut off her retreat. The other had been hit fully in the face and was
now pawing at his muzzle and whining.

She ran toward the car, expecting a heavy body to leap on her at any moment. It wasn’t until she was sitting in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition that she stopped to take a
breath. A roar at the window made her jump. The third wolf, which was the largest, was launching himself against the window. Again and again, it leapt at the door, its claws
screeching as they scratched against the glass.

She started the car and gunned the engine. The animal didn’t even flinch. Fingering the can of mace in her pocket to make sure it was still there, she backed out. The wolves followed her, stalking the car.

The little Beetle couldn’t do more than twenty-five miles per hour on the washboard road. Any faster and she’d knock the whole bottom out of the car and then where would she be?

In eerie silence, the wolves ran alongside the car. Then, they began howling. Ice cold panic filled her veins. Suddenly, another figure came dashing along the car, snapping and barking at the wolves. It was Tucker. The wolves turned their attention away from the car and toward the
Labrador. Serena felt a surge of pity. The poor old dog would be torn to shreds. She had to do something.

Rolling down her window an inch or two, she pulled the can of mace out of her pocket. “Here doggie, doggie,” she called. The wolves turned as one toward her. Faster than she’d
expected, they were almost through the window. Startled, she pushed the button on the mace. It didn’t fire. Oh, my god. She leaned back as snapping muzzles filled the opening and she
could feel their spittle sprinkling her face, neck, and arms. Then, there was a loud hiss and the wolves were gone. They rolled in the dirt, pawing at their muzzles while Tucker pranced around
them barking. She called to him, but although he came over to the car, he refused to enter.

“Oh, well, buddy. Don’t say I didn’t try,” she told him then rolled up the window and drove away. Tucker’s fierce barking faded into the distance.

It was a momentary victory, but she pumped her fist in the air anyway.

Now, to get into town and find Jackson. Something bad had happened to him. But he was still alive. Ben and Doc Brown had talked about sending someone back to the jail to question him.
The town was silent. There were no lights on in any of the houses, no sounds of televisions playing behind closed curtains, nothing but the roar of her car’s engine. Something really bad
was happening and she knew she couldn’t stop it.

And above all, she had to find Mike. Please, God, don’t let him be dead. But he couldn’t be dead. Jackson had gone through all the trouble of calling her out to this god-forsaken place to help find him. No, she had to believe that Mike was still alive. And Jackson was the key. He knew what happened to her brother. He was the one who’d arranged the helicopter and set up the fake hospital story. Damn it, she’d make him tell her where Mike was. She grabbed the shotgun and left the car unlocked and running, just in case.

Pushing open the station door at a run, Serena started yelling his name. “Jackson, hey, Jackson.” Waiting a heartbeat in between her calls, she listened for a reply, for any noise. She pounded on the counter and rang the bell. Still nothing. Damn it. He had to be here or at home. She started to turn around when she spotted a door marked Staff Only. She ran around the counter, slipping a little on the linoleum in her haste. Grabbing the knob, she twisted, half expecting it to be locked. It opened easily in her hand and she felt along the wall inside for the light switch. She didn’t want to be surprised by any wolves in the dark.

The overhead lights flickered on and she stared. It was an old-fashioned jail, just like in the movies, complete with three cells. The first two were empty, their doors standing wide open.
The third one had an occupant.

“Jackson?” she called, walking quickly forward. “You gotta tell me where Mike is. Where are the keys? I’ll let…you…” The words caught in her throat and she could only stare. It was a
wolf, large and black, with amber eyes. There were clothes scattered on the floor of the cell, the same clothes Jackson had been wearing the night before. So, either the wolf had eaten
Jackson and not left any blood or…

“Jackson?” Serena approached the cell.

Hackles rose on the wolf’s back and the creature growled. Saliva dripped from his fangs and it snapped at her, pacing back and forth from one end of the cell to the other. Serena felt her eyes go wide and she backed up. “Alrighty then.” Maybe there were notes or something in the files out front to tell her where Mike was.

Damn it. Howling. Right outside. They had found her already. Gripping the shotgun in her hand, she took another look at the wolf. She’d never make it to her car now. And if the wolves came pouring in, she’d be trapped. She looked around. Trapped and safe.

She stepped into the cell next to the black wolf and pulled the door closed behind her. It locked with a click and she had the unnerving feeling that it was the sound of her fate sealing. Serena cowered against the back wall. If the wolves could open the door to the cell, she was a dead woman.

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