Welcome Lisa Lipkind Leibow!

Today we have the amazing Lisa Lipkind Leibow with us. Make sure you stick around because at the end she's going to be offering a contest.

1: Lisa thank you for being here. First thing we’d all like to know is when you first began writing?

I’ve been writing fiction during every possible moment for about six years, and dabbling in it for as long as I can remember before that.

2: You have a law degree and worked for several years in a successful law firm. What inspired you to leave law and write?

There wasn’t just ONE event that prompted me to change my life, but an accumulation of many strong messages. After being stuck at my office on 9/11, a month-long siege on metro Washington, DC by a sniper, and discovering that the other parents at my twins' preschool thought my au pair was my sons' mom, I could hear these words echoing in my ears. "If I knew this was what it was going to be like to have it all, I would have settled for less." (Lily Tomlin: The Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe).
When it came down to it, I didn't really settle for less. I settled for different, and traded the billable hour lifestyle for fiction writing. Making up stories is much more fun than negotiating contracts, attending hearings, and deciphering statutes and regulations for clients.


3: Are you currently working on anything?

I have several projects at various phases of development: a second novel in search of a publishing home, a middle grade high-fantasy novel being reviewed by my critique partners (I wrote this for pure fun when I needed a break from the more serious subject matter I usually deal with), a new literary novel I’m in the midst of a first draft, and yet another novel in research phase. Part of my creative process requires letting a manuscript rest to give some distance before revising. I use the time while I’m resting from one project to work on another.

4: What do you for fun and relaxation when you are not writing?

My life is filled with the happy chaos of my husband, children, and a menagerie of pets. They amuse me to no end. But when I have some “me” time, I try to stay active by biking, jogging, and doing yoga. I really need to counteract all of the sitting that crafting good fiction requires.


5: Which authors do you enjoy most reading?

I have diverse taste in reading. I enjoy reading fiction with a strong voice and unique perspective. I love quality women’s fiction, mainstream fiction, historical, and literary fiction. I read and love so many authors, it’s difficult to narrow it down. However, here are some of those I consider the masters. I’m in awe of Alice Munro’s ability to sum up an entire lifetime in a sentence. I love the quirky characters of John Irving, the vivid, detailed descriptions of Ayn Rand, and the strong, pithy dialogue of Ernest Hemingway. I admire the character driven fiction of Julia Glass and the expertly plotted tales of Steven King. I admire the boldness of Barbara Kingsolver to tackle multiple, first-person points-of-view in one novel, and Amy Tan’s ability to carry me to a time and place I’ve never been and make it seem real to me.

6: Are you currently reading anything?

I’m in the middle of reading Roots by Alex Haley. I’m also reading a nonfiction book called The Omnivore’s Dilemma. My book club chooses a nonfiction every once in a while.

7: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

Focus on learning the craft, first. If you’re writing fiction, have a completed manuscript, before you even think about approaching an agent or publisher. You have to write because you love to write. Very few ever can quit their day job for this.
I would also advise you to write some short stories, too. Not only will it help to have a smaller palette to work on and a chance to complete something on a smaller scale. It will also allow you to hone your craft. It’s a great lesson to learn that every word must count. Every detail focused on in the plot should serve a purpose. Learn to read like a writer.
If a writer starts to lose momentum on her marathon of novel writing, take a workshop, read a book about writing style, plotting, and character development – anything to get creative juices flowing again.

I advise any aspiring novelist to take the time to analyze the novels you love. Deconstruct them to learn what makes them work.

Join a critique group. Not only will you benefit from gaining feedback on your writing and learning from other writer’s challenges as they tackle their own plots, but it will enforce a regular deadline to have another chapter or excerpt completed. It will help you to keep up the momentum. AFTER you have a completed manuscript or story, then and only then test the waters in the publishing world. You can’t market a novel manuscript you haven’t yet written.

8: Your debut novel with Red Rose, Double Out And Back is currently available. Can you tell us a little bit about what it’s about?

Sure! It takes the reader on the roller coaster ride of treatments for infertility through the eyes of three women.
Not every woman who rides the fertility treatment roller coaster winds up like Octomom!
Who will find friends, family, and fertility?
Three women-s lives are intricately intertwined, as Amelia Schwartz and Summer Curtis struggle with the complex dynamics of intrafamily embryo adoption, and Chandy Markum strives to make her patients- dreams a reality.

After more than a decade, of mourning her parents- deaths, anal-retentive Amelia Schwartz decides to take control of her life, pursuing single motherhood via embryo adoption. While her fertility doctor, Chandy, is preoccupied with the destruction of the cosmopolitan Cape Town of her youth and her first love in apartheid-torn South Africa, believing all is lost, her niece, a young, married, overachieving attorney Summer Curtis, juggles zealous career ambitions, demanding bosses, and friction with her husband over family and fertility issues. They must confront the painful reality that, no matter what technology humans devise to manipulate reproduction, prolong life, and construct family units, they have not yet mastered control over their beginnings and endings.
Thrown all into this is one story that can make or break. Are you up to it?

9: What inspired you to write Double Out And Back?

I’m fascinated by the way construction of family-units is changing through technical advances in reproductive medicine and through evolving societal norms. When I was putting the finishing touches on this book and preparing to shop it around, Liza Mundy’s non-fiction work, Everything Conceivable came out. I was excited, because Double Out and Back explores from a literary perspective many of the same issues she examined as a journalist. Apparently, my publisher, too, was intrigued by these issues. I hope readers will enjoy the read.

Double Out and Back Excerpt

"I'm ready!" Summer sprinted from the bathroom, where she had just rinsed her mouth with her favorite cinnamon-flavored mouthwash and inserted her diaphragm. It was probably overkill, since she also wore a birth control patch, but she refused to take any chances.
Summer sped through the condo, running through rooms all lined up in a row, from the tiny antiquated bathroom through the eat-in kitchen with her grandmother's old Formica table and vinyl chairs, then past Jeremy's hideous bachelor sofa that dominated the living room. Some people called the condo a railroad flat while others called it shotgun-style. She liked the former description better; it sounded less violent. Although, she supposed, she would have a greater chance of dodging a bullet racing through her home than she would of escaping a train barreling through it.
Summer dashed past the entrance of the small study alcove off the living room and into the bedroom where Jeremy waited. She pounced on the finest mattress and linens - her and Jeremy's sole splurge.
Eagerly, she wrapped her arms and legs around Jeremy. She expected him to return her playfulness, but tonight he pulled away from their tight embrace and held her at arm's length, his hands on her shoulders. His hair, so black it looked blue, always captivated Summer. His eyes, equally alluring in their darkness, were solemn.
"We have to talk," he said.
### End of Excerpt###I hope you enjoyed the excerpt from Double Out and Back a novel by Lisa Lipkind Leibow. If you want to learn more about her and her writing, visit her website at http://www.llleibow.com/.

It's giveaway time. Lisa Lipkind Leibow is offering to one lucky person two prizes. A free download copy of Double Out And Back and a free special edition e-cookbook, Kissin' Don't Last, Cookin' Does. All you have to do is leave a comment here on her interview and Lisa will choose a random winner tomorrow. Good Luck!

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is going to be a really fun day. My friend and fellow RRP author Lisa Lipkind Leibow is going to be here. She's a wonderful lady and you are not going to want to miss it. So make sure you stop by and say hello. We're going to have a blast!

First Time In Two Months!

For the the first time since I broke my finger two months ago I've written. I started my new WIP and I am so thrilled. I only wrote 452 words to start with but that will improve as my finger loosens. Still, I have missed writing so much and it was an absolute joy to do it again. I love writing and I didn't like having to take such a long break from it. But, I'm back and I intend to really buckle in and write now that I can. Woohoo!

Please Welcome The Amazing N.J. Walters!

This is the day I have been looking forward to for weeks. The wonderful and talented N.J. Walters is here. This lady is my writing hero and has become a great friend. I am so thrilled to have her here. She's the one who encouraged me to try submitting my own writing and it paid off because I'm about to be published. I love this lady. So here she is, N.J. Walters!



1: First off thank you so much for doing this. You are my writing idol. When did you first begin writing?

Thank you so much for inviting me, Kat. And thank you for the huge compliment. I truly appreciate it.

I wrote poetry when I was a teenager and some short stories in my twenties, but it wasn’t until I was in my early thirties that I tried my hand at a book. I wrote two and then stopped for about five years before I started again. I haven’t stopped writing since.


2: What inspired you to write?

I found myself living in a strange town while hubby was going to school. I’d always been an avid reader, but had never thought to write a book. I suddenly had the time so, with my husband’s full support and encouragement, I decided to give it a try. That book was Discovering Dani (a much rawer version than was finally published by Samhain Publishing).


3: Are you currently working on anything?

I’m currently working on the next book in the Legacy werewolf series. This is Isaiah’s book. I don’t have a title yet so that’s how I’m referring to it. *g*

There are so many characters in the first book, Alexandra’s Legacy, that I want to write books for. LOL I’m hoping to get at least two of them done this year.

4: Is there anything you do to get yourself in the mood to write?

Not really. The act of sitting at my desk to write is usually enough. My computer is not connected to the Internet. I use hubby’s desk top computer for that. That means there is nothing to distract me when I sit down to write.

I’m also a very focused person and, once I start writing, I don’t stop for anything until I finally run out of steam. That’s why I write in the morning before I get too distracted by other things.

I’ll sometimes use music to help me get in the mood when I’m plotting ideas, but I need quiet to write.


5: Who are some of your favorite authors to read?

That’s a tough question. That list could be a mile long. LOL Jayne Ann Krentz is one of my favorites. It was her books that led me to reading romance in the first place. Also, Linda Howard, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Julie Garwood, Stephanie Laurens, J.R. Ward, Janet Evanovich, Lauren Dane, Charlene Teglia, Christine Feehan…and on and on. See, I told you the list was endless.


6: Of all your wonderful stories your Tapestry series is my absolute favorite. What was the inspiration for them?

Than you so much. I’m so glad you enjoyed the Tapestries series. This one is a reader favorite, for which I am very grateful. FYI, there will be a new Tapestries book out sometime this year—Embroidered Fantasies.

Christina’s Tapestry was the first book in the series. The inspiration was the result of several different things coming together at once. I’d had the character of Christina in mind for a while and I knew who she was. I also knew I wanted to try my hand at writing a ménage a trois.

One day, I happened across a book of Medieval tapestries and my mind began working. I started asking the “what if” questions. What if the tapestry was magic? What if it took Christina, not to Medieval Europe, but an alternative world? What if there was a shortage of women in that world and brothers had to share?

Everything else flowed from there. I’d planned on it being a stand-alone book but, by the time I was finished writing it, I knew I had to write the story of the Bakra brothers. Embroidered Fantasies is book five and I still have at least one more I want to write.

7: You have a book that will be released later this year that’s part of a multi-author series. Can you tell us a little bit about Seeking Charlotte?

I’m thrilled to be part of the Hearts of Fire series with the very talented Ciana Stone, T.J. Michaels and Nicole Austin.

Memory’s Eye, book 1 by Ciana Stone and Shards of Ecstasy by T.J. Michaels are already available. Seeking Charlotte is book three and Kenna’s Cowboy by Nicole Austin is book four. We’re currently working on the final book together.

The first four books are stand-alone with a start and a finish, but they’re built around a larger storyline which we complete in the final book.

Four girls meet in an orphanage and become sisters, not by blood, but by choice. They’re all special and each have a piece of a crystal, the Heart of Fire. There are pieces out there, held by four men. But there is also a demon, Asmodeus, who will stop at nothing to claim all the pieces of the crystal, which will enable him to dominate the world. Their destinies will collide and each woman must embrace her gifts and find a way to defeat the demon. The final confrontation, in book five, brings all the couples and the crystals together for one big battle.

Seeking Charlotte is the story of Charlotte Jones and bounty hunter, Creed Lawson.

Blurb:

Creed Lawson knows Charlotte Jones is trouble from the moment she presses her lithe body to his and kisses him. But that doesn’t stop him from taking what she’s offering—a night of hot, uninhibited sex. But Creed hasn’t bargained for the feelings she stirs in him, nor the talk of crystals, demons and destiny.

Charlotte is an empath. The ability to feel peoples’ emotions has made it difficult for her to lead a normal life. At eighteen, she received one of the eight pieces of the Heart of Fire, a crystal that contains untold power. She was told there was a male who held the other half of her stone as well as a demon that coveted all the pieces of the crystal.

The demon has finally found her. But she’s knows that Creed is the special man she’s been waiting for. Charlotte is facing the fight of her life. Will Creed fight beside her or walk away?


8: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I’d love to go to New England in the fall. There are a lot of places there I’d love to visit, plus I could skip over to upstate New York and visit Sleepy Hollow as well.

9: What’s the one thing you’d most like people to know about you?

I’d like people to know how grateful I am for their encouragement and to thank everyone who has read my books. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to make a living doing what I love. I’m very thankful for that fact every single day.

10: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Keep writing and write what you love. Don’t try to follow trends. They come and go. If you don’t believe in what you’re writing, no one else will.


EXCERPT:

Since we were talking about Christina’s Tapestry, I thought I’d share an excerpt with you. Enjoy.:-)

Christina’s Tapestry
© 2005 by N.J. Walters
All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.
http://www.jasminejade.com/m-172-nj-walters.aspx


Christina opened one eye and frowned slightly when the only thing she could see was a large pair of leather boots in front of her face. It was then she became aware that her mattress was rather lumpy and that her pillow smelled suspiciously like fresh grass. She closed her eye tight, took a deep breath and then opened them both. But the picture remained the same no matter how many times she blinked.

“I must be dreaming again,” she mumbled to herself.

“And here I thought I must be the one who was dreaming.” The voice was deep, masculine and amused.

Tilting her head back, she followed the boots up over an incredibly long pair of muscular legs encased in a tight pair of leather pants. An open vest emphasized his lean waist, a six-pack of abs and an impossibly wide chest. Her eyes kept traveling upwards, all the way to a face that took her breath away.

The man was gorgeous. His straight black hair disappeared behind his shoulders, but a thin braid came down each side of his temple falling all the way to his waist. The braids framed a rough-hewn face with a prominent nose, thin lips and a high forehead. His eyes, a golden-brown, blazed with desire as his gaze ran over her scantily clad form.

She sat up quickly and scuttled backwards away from the giant in front of her. Her fingers dug into the moist ground beneath her. Twisting her head from side-to-side, she tried to get her bearings. Her bed was gone, her room was gone, and she certainly wasn’t in her apartment.

Instead, she was sitting on the ground in the middle of a grassy field with a tall, thick forest surrounding her. Somewhere in the distance, a bird was twittering and a butterfly fluttered past her nose, coming to rest on a small patch of purple flowers on her right.

“Are you alone?” The giant frowned down at her and she swallowed back a scream, shaking her head. There was no way in hell she was telling this man that she was alone.

He took a step towards her and she scrambled to her feet, thrusting her hands out in front of her to ward him off. Her heart was pounding in her chest now and her entire body trembled with fear. True, he was the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid her eyes on, but he was also a total stranger.

However, the longer she stared at him the more familiar he seemed.

He stopped immediately and his gaze softened. “There’s no need to fear.” He held one hand out to her and his voice became calm and almost hypnotic. “You cannot be out alone without protection. Come to me.”

She almost took a step towards him. Almost.

Standing her ground, she glanced about for something she could use as a weapon. Anything. “Who are you?” If she could keep him talking, it might give her time to figure out what in the heck she should do. “Where am I?”

“I am Jarek of the House of Garen.” He paused. “And you, little one, are on my land.”

“Well, I don’t know how I got here, Jarek of the House of whatever, but I’d sure as heck rather be home in bed.” She remembered what she’d first thought when she opened her eyes and suddenly everything began to make sense. “I’m dreaming, again.”

His outfit looked familiar and it finally came to her why she felt she recognized him. Sizing up the man in front of her one more time, she suddenly decided that it wasn’t such a bad dream to be having.

The look of hot lust in his eyes was not the kind she was used to being directed her way. Under his gaze her nipples pebbled into tight buds that pushed against the silk of her nightgown. Her body certainly remembered the pleasure he’d given her in her dream last night.

She licked her dry lips and stood a little taller, thrusting her breasts out slightly. If possible the heat in Jarek’s eyes grew more fiery. As she watched him, a very large bulge grew in the front of his breeches. A shiver of desire shot down her spine.

It was nice to have a name to put with one of the warriors from the tapestry. Jarek. She liked the sound of it, strong and solid and noble. “You’re one of the warriors from the tapestry.” She knew he had to be, but for some reason she wanted him to confirm that.


The lust in his eyes disappeared in a blink and a cold, hard gleam appeared there instead. “Tapestry?”

Christina swallowed back her fear. After all, this was just a dream. “The one with the castle and the woods and the two warriors standing in front of it.” She motioned with her hands to show him the approximate size. “I bought it from a strange little shop a couple days ago.”

“The prophecy has begun.” His voice was low, his tone almost reverent as he bowed his head for a moment. When he raised his head again, his face was set in determined lines. “You are alone and must come to the castle for protection.”

Christina didn’t like his imperious tone and she liked his command even less. “I think I’ll stay here until I wake up if it’s all the same to you.”

The dumbfounded look on his face told her that no one said no to this man very often. He cocked his head to one side as he stared at her as if trying to figure out whether she was being difficult or if she was just plain crazy. At the moment, she’d opt for the second one. This whole dream was nuts.

Part of her wanted to go with him. If she were lucky, maybe this would turn into another long, erotic dream. A woman didn’t get a chance to have sex with a guy this hot very often, even if it was just a fantasy. But in the harsh light of day, he looked too big, too powerful and just too intimidating as he took another step towards her.

Panicking, she once again threw up her hands in front of her to stop him. “If you’re the warrior from the tapestry, where’s the other one?”

Strong arms enveloped her from behind and a pair of tan muscled forearms clamped around her stomach. She was pulled back against a rock-hard chest as a soft voice whispered in her right ear. “I’m right here.”

Again, thank you so much for being here. This is the best day ever for me. You are my writing idol!



If you want to know more about N.J. Walters and her many books, just click on the link I have up for her website or click here to go to her blog. Thank you N.J. for taking the time and visiting with me today. Have a great weekend everyone.

Announcing A Contest!

March 18th marks the release of my debut novel from Red Rose Publishing, Voice In The Night. To celebrate I am running a contest on my website. Just go here and click on the contests page for details on how to enter. The prize for one lucky person will be a free download copy of Voice In The Night.

Also, I am very excited about this Thursday the 18th. N.J. Walters will be here talking about her work. This is a huge thrill for me because N.J. is my writing hero. She's the amazing lady who encouraged me to try getting published in the first place. I owe this all to her and I dedicated Voice In The Night to her. So please stop by on Thursday and say hi. She's a wonderful person and I can hardly wait to have her here.:-)

Welcome Angel Martinez!

Today I have a good friend of mine visiting us for Valentine's Day. Angel Martinez is here and at the end she's going to be giving away a special prize. Thank you so much for dropping by Angel.

1: Angel you have been a busy bee and have two titles coming out two months apart. When did you first begin writing?

I’m often asked that question, and I think what people really mean by it is ‘when did you first begin to write with publication in mind’. I’ve written stories since I could write, but I began to write with a purpose in the last part of the ‘90’s when I wrote a story purely for my son’s entertainment (chapters read aloud at bedtime) and soon I realized I had written…a novel. (gasp)

That novel will most likely never be published but once you have that itch, once you’ve crossed that hurdle, you find you have to do it again. And again.

2: What or who inspired you to write?

Misery. No, not the Stephen King novel, (though I enjoyed that one) but a stint at a high-paying, soul-crushing job. Writing soothed me, cleared my head, and I realized I’d been suppressing the need.

I will say, though, that there are a lot of writers I admire, from Oscar Wilde to Ursula LeGuin. I admire writers who do things their own way, in their own time. I’m also inspired by myth and folktales, legends and fairytales which I’ve had a fondness for since, oh, birth.

3: Are you currently working on anything?

I’ve just finished the sequel to Finn, under the working title Diego, in which we get to see more of the fae and how they fit into the world. With that complete, I’ve just begun the next Finn novel after that, in which a certain handsome Marine we meet in Diego will feature prominently.

My other persona, Sandra Stixrude, who writes the non-erotic, suitable for the family SF, is working on editing the first book in the Anchorage series, releasing from Red Rose March 4th.

4: What do you for fun and relaxation when not writing?

Seriously? People have time for fun? Oh, all right, I do take some time out once in a while. I love to travel (our last trip was to China – that was exciting and surprising!) I love movies, an enormous variety of them. I’m one of those strange people who like to haunt art museums, and, of course, I read.

5: Do you have any authors that you like to read most?

I tend to go on author binges, where I’ll devour large numbers of one author’s books. Just finished a small Tanya Huff binge, and have recently been on an L.E. Bryce binge. But most of the time I love variety, from mainstream SF and Fantasy to erotic romance, the classics to pure junk food. (And, yes, though the males in my life wrinkle their noses, I do like to curl up with Jane Austen now and then.)

6: Are you currently reading anything?

I’m about to start on the next (for me) Naomi Novik book, Empire of Ivory. I’m a couple books behind on that series. Really exciting stuff – I highly recommend it (And Captain Will Laurence is to die for.)

7: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

Yes. Lots. Buts let’s concentrate on this one, because it’s important: don’t just practice writing, practice revision. Too many young writers believe that once it’s down on paper, barring a few corrections here and there, it’s done. You must be able to handle criticism (so practice with critique partners) and you must be able to do rewrites in a professional, timely way both for submission and publication. Put the ego away, take a step back, and pull it apart relentlessly. Be kind to your fellow authors, be hard on yourself.

8: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you most like to visit?

Yes! I want to go everywhere! If money and time were no object, I would love to see New Zealand and the Amazon. Oh, and Norway. Fjords, you know.

9: Can you tell us a bit about Aftermath that was released from Red Rose Publishing on January 7th?

Aftermath is a Contemporary M/M Romance, a change of pace for my readers from the urban fantasy I’ve been writing lately. Victor and Cody are very much in love, living the American Dream, but violence, in the form of rape, threatens to rip them apart. This is a story that stirs strong emotions and one I felt was important to tell.

10: And what about Lioness on the Knife releasing March 11th from Red Rose?

Lioness on the Knife is a collection of eight erotic short stories centered around the unifying theme of women on top (yes, there’s a pun there for Oscar Wilde fans.) The collection has a little of everything, some humor, some paranormal, some fantasy, and, yes, a bit of gender-bending along the way, because you know I can’t resist.

Excerpt for Aftermath:

Victor dropped his briefcase on the floor, fingers numb from exhaustion and misery. He winced at the echo. He and Cody had loved the house when they bought it, with the two story entrance and the twelve foot high ceilings, but all alone the house was too damn big.
He shuffled around the corner to the kitchen to make himself a long, tall rum and coke, and jerked to a stop. Cody hung in the doorway, his wrists fastened over his head in handcuffs, the connecting chain attached far above his head to a hook screwed into the high doorframe. His auburn head lolled forward and he was completely naked.
"Cody! Oh my God!" Victor rushed to him and threw an arm around his waist to take his weight. "Sweetheart, dammit, you all right?"
Cody lifted his head to rest it on Victor's shoulder. "Hi, sugar daddy. You're finally home. I'm okay, I guess. Must've fallen asleep."
"Who did this to you?" Victor's dark brows drew together, and his anger trembled under the surface of his muscles.
A bitter laugh bubbled up from Cody. "I did this to me. I wanted to surprise you. Easy to set it up but once these cuffs lock, well, guess I put 'em on too tight. Couldn’t wriggle back out. Couldn't unhook the chain. Couldn't reach the key. " He pointed with his chin to the kitchen counter where the key was in plain sight.
He looked up at Victor with the grin that always melted his heart, half-angel, half-rogue. "Just had to stand here listening to your 'you better be home when I get there, Cody' messages. I'm here, I kept thinking. Not going anywhere."
"You idiot," Victor fumed as he retrieved the key. "What if I'd decided to go out first? What if I hadn't come home until midnight? You could have seriously hurt yourself like this, you damned fool."
Cody groaned when his arms were lowered and sat down hard on the floor. "I'll try to keep that in mind, oh lord of the manor," he muttered, rubbing his wrists and staring at the floor. "There's a pizza in the oven, just gotta heat it up."
"You ordered pizza?" Victor knew he should be trying to be a little sympathetic but he couldn't get past being angry and worried all at once. "That's your idea of cooking dinner?"
"I made the pizza, dammit, Vic. Crust and all." Cody's voice shook, a bad sign. "I'm not the one stumbling in three fucking hours late."
Victor moved calmly into the kitchen and turned on the oven and the light to see inside. Sure enough, there was a beautiful pizza in there—olives, onions, peppers, broccoli the works—with a handmade crust. A little bumpy in places, not the too-smooth perfection of commercial pizzas. Cody had obviously gone to some effort to set up this evening. But some things Victor couldn’t let slide.
"Are you cussing at me, little man," he asked in a smooth, too-calm voice. "Even after our last talk?"
Cody's head shot up. "No, Vic. I mean, yeah, but I'm sorry. I just...it wasn't real fun stuck like that so long."
"Well, whose fault is that? If you're gonna do dumb-ass things…" Victor came back to him and yanked him up by his wrists. "I should just leave you to them." Though Cody screamed in protest and tried to squirm out of his grip, Victor put him back where he'd found him, hands cuffed high over his head.
"I'm sorry, please." Cody was dangerously close to whining, or even sobbing. "Lemme down. Come on. My arms hurt so bad..."
Victor planted a soft kiss on his lips. "You'll stay there till I say you come down. For being stupid and for cussing at me."
"I just wanted to surprise you," Cody whispered.
"And no tears. You know I hate that."
Biting his lip hard and holding his breath, Cody kept it to a single teardrop trickling down his perfect, smooth cheek. He'd even shaved before getting himself into his predicament. This wasn't lost on Victor. He smacked Cody on the butt, just once and not too hard. The view was quite nice, he had to admit—Cody's lean muscles all stretched out, the dimples in his glutes standing out. Victor wandered upstairs to the bedroom to change.
He yanked off his tie and kicked his shoes across the room while he fumbled with his pants, wanting to get back to Cody as soon as possible. Then he smiled and slowed down. Let him wait and think. That was the whole problem. Cody didn't stop to think. Granted, this impetuous, mad-for-life part of him drove Cody's art and had drawn Victor so helplessly to him. But it also got him in trouble, again and again.

Blurb for Lioness on the Knife:

Eight stories, eight strong-willed heroines and the men who love them and learn to deal with them, willing or not.
- Meara, a young farm girl, discovers her mischievous night visitor is a handsome pooka.
- Aphrodite decides her affair with the self-centered Ares is a mistake. When she fights to save her marriage, she finds there's more to her reclusive husband, Hephaestus, than she thought.
- Vitez serves the mysterious Itsuka, guarding her back in her fight against demons and satisfying her appetites.
- Zilar, fostered by Amazons, is given in marriage to General Azeria. Intimidated by her and drawn to her, Zilar must learn to please her without angering her other spouses.
- Poor Lucifer, his mom's moved in and life in Hell will never be the same.
- Selena has a degenerative blood disorder the doctors can't diagnose. Alex has some tough decisions to make when he realizes the true nature of her condition.
- Naïve, sweet Cedric's determined to rescue the princess anyway. Too bad she has other ideas.
- Sylvia's world came apart when her husband died. When she goes to a brothel staffed by men, the one she selects turns out to be more than she bargained for.

Giveaway time. Angel will giving away a free copy of her book Finn's Christmas to one lucky person. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog post. Angel will choose a winner tomorrow, Monday the 15th in the evening. It's that easy.

Love's Chance Is Number 1!

My dear friend Angela Kay Austin, who was the debut author interview here on my blog on January 1st, is number one! Her debut novel, Love's Chance was released from Red Rose this Thursday the 11th of Febuary and it's currently the top seller! Congrats Angela I am so happy for you. Angela didn't have her cover yet when she blogged here so I am posting it now. Isn't it beautiful? Way to go Angela on both your debut release and topping the charts! Love's Chance is now available at Red Rose Publishing.

Also, don't forget, tomorrow Angel Martinez will be here and she's giving away a neat prize so make sure you drop in and visit her. Also, I'll be guest blogging on Ginger Simpson's blog and would love to hear from you guys. Until tomorrow everyone!

Pain Pain Pain

Believe it or not, I actually WANT to go to the dentist. I have a cavity and it hurts like you know what. But, they're booked solid and the soonest I can get in is the 23rd of Feb. Twelve whole days from now! I can get in to see my family doctor in less time. Heck, I can get in to see a specialist in less time. Sigh. All I can say is after making me wait so long they had better fix this when I go in. No setting up an appointment to do the actual work later. No Way!

Sorry!

I'm so sorry. I know I haven't blogged since the 1st and in fact I have been online even less. I have been really sick and am only now feeling human again. Let me tell you, Cipro is nasty stuff. Especially if you are allergic to it and I found out I was the hard way.

The snow here is once again falling and visibility is almost zero. We still haven't dug out from the blizzard we got this weekend and we are getting another one. Sigh. Thank heavens I live in an apartment complex and they do all the shovel and plow work themselves. Saves me a ton of work.

Valentine's day is this Sunday and I have several things going on. The amazing Angel Martinez is going to be here on my blog talking about her books. Angel's a doll. In fact, on March 7th she and I will both be interviewed together on Blog Talk Radio and I'm looking forward to that. But back to Valentine's day. Angel will be here and you won't want to miss it. Also, I will be dropping by Ginger Simpson's blog and will be talking about romance so make sure you visit me as well.:-) See you guys Sunday and stay warm.

Welcome Kaye Manro!

Today we have a good friend of mine stopping by. I am so excited to be kicking off the month of Feb. with my fellow RRP author, the lovely Kaye Manro. This lady helped to inspire the next book I'll be working on.

Congratulations on your upcoming release from Red Rose.

Thanks Kat! And thanks for having me visit your blog today. Red Rose Publishing will release my sci-fi romance, Forbidden Love on May 20th. I’m so excited!

1: When did you first begin writing?

You know, I’ve always loved writing. My father wrote for the news, so it was fitting that his daughter would follow suit. I became a journalist because of him. As for writing romance fiction, I’ve been doing that about three years now.

2: What inspired you to write?

So many things inspired me. When I first started writing romance, it evolved from another passion I have – contemporary ballet. Of course being such an incurable romantic helped a lot too. And I read romance books all the time. It’s no wonder the first novel I wrote has a ballet dancer as a heroine!

3: Are you currently working on anything?

I’m in the process of writing the second book in the Forbidden saga, Forbidden Destiny, my science fiction romance series. I’m also editing and rewriting what I fondly call my ‘Knight’ stories. It’s a series of three time travel books set in medieval 12th century.

4: What do you do for fun and relaxation when not writing?

Fun? What’s that? Okay, I like to a go to a favorite club and listen to live Jazz or Celtic music sometimes. And I love to dance for fun and exercise too.

5: Do you have any authors that you like to read most?

There are so many, it’s hard to choose. I love finding new author’s stories to read like yours, Kat.

Aww thanks Kaye.:-)

6: Are you currently reading anything?

I sometimes read for research purposes as well as pleasure. Since I’m working on my Knights, right now I’m rereading A Knight’s Captive by Lindsay Townsend.

7: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

As a romance author, I feel I’m still aspiring myself! I usually talk about different aspects of writing on my blog. And I suppose the first thing I’d tell someone who is trying for a publishing contract is we have to write then polish our stories before we try for publication. Second, study the markets to find out where you want to submit your work.

8: I understand from your bio that you are a dancer. How did you get involved in dance?

I came from a creative family. So I was in ballet class at such a young age I barely knew what was happening. As it turned out, I loved it and went on to dance with several contemporary dance companies. I’m not dancing professionally now, but I do a bit of choreography from time to time.

9: Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming release Forbidden Love?

Forbidden Love is a futuristic sci-fi erotic romance. Yes, there is space travel at FTL (faster than light). But there is also lots of sexy sensual exploring between the hero T’Kon and the heroine Maya, who hail from different galaxies and evolutionary paths. Rules on T’Kon’s planet forbid interspecies mating. But when he crashes his spacecraft on Maya’s world close to her desert home, what else is he to do but let this lovely alien tend his, umm, injuries?

10: What was your inspiration for writing Forbidden Love?

This is where my love of science fiction comes on strong. I’m such a fan. I have to say my fascination with advanced alien cultures having the ability to travel through space, combined with my passion for romance inspired Forbidden Love. And the books that will follow in this series as well.

Here’s a blurb for Forbidden Love and following that is an excerpt. I hope you enjoy it!

Galaxies apart so different yet so much alike…

When T’Kon of Asconage crashes his spacecraft on a distant alien planet, he meets a female called Maya. Soon a sweltering lust grows between them, a sultry illicit passion so hot neither can resist.

Yet he must repair his damaged craft and leave her world. Can Maya convince T’Kon to take her with him, or will he set forth without her and forsake their Forbidden Love?
Excerpt:

...She was upon him so near he could feel her breath, sense her warmth. She reached out and ran a hand through the air, searching the length of him.

“Maya,” he blew her name on a sigh.

“Take me with you," she implored, as water filled her astounding tawny eyes. "I want to be with you, T'Kon.” She melded her body against his invisible one.

“You know nothing of me or my world.”

“Teach me, show me everything.”

He felt her heat burning inside him, yet the absurdity of her request burned brighter. “What you ask is not possible.”

“Will you please become visible so I can look at you?” She asked. “We need to talk about this before you go flying off into the universe.”

He unshielded his body so she could see him. “I cannot take you.”

“Why not? You can’t say it was coincidence that you happened to crash land in my back yard.”

No, an unfortunate accident. The truthful certainty traced across his mind. Yet his arms enclosed her and he lifted her up. Her legs straddled his waist, and he held her close against his body. A fit so right he could not deny it.

“I wish it were not so, but it is,” he whispered, breathing in her pungent scent. “You would not survive on my world.” He dropped his head to taste her lips before she had a chance to counter his words. “Just one last kiss.” Her mouth opened to allow his tongue entry and he explored the soft moistness, losing himself in her tang.

The stars help him. He did not want to leave her.

Without warning, a sudden and dangerous noise yanked T’Kon from his sexual stupor. He sensed peril approaching. In a rapid-fire move, he raised his palm. A copper arch flashed and shimmered before them revealing the entryway to his concealed spacecraft. He dragged her inside. Tapping a pad the opening closed leaving them hidden behind an undetectable shield...

~~~~~~

Check out Kaye’s blog and website:

http://kayemanro.blogspot.com/
http://www.kayemanro.com/

Look for Forbidden Love when it debuts at Red Rose Publishing on May 20, 2010!