Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Interview with Author Anya Richards


I'd like to welcome a fellow author in the Ellora's Cave PRICKED line, the lovely and talented Anya Richards. She was gracious enough to answer a few uncommon interview questions and give a peek inside her mind. 



Do you have any rituals when you write? A certain pen to chew on, a particular drink, or something like that?
  • Tea! Gallons of it. Black, two sugars (I keep trying to cut back, without success) and nothing fancy. My favorite brand is Red Rose.

How do you edit a manuscript? On your computer, by making notes on an e-reader, or do you print out a copy and attack it with a good ‘ole fashioned red pen?
  • I edit—obsessively—as I write, so definitely on my computer.

If you could send a message back in time to yourself as you’re writing your first book, what would you tell yourself?
  • Good question! Either, “Cut back on the word count. No one is going to buy a 160K book from a newbie,” or, “Enjoy the freedom of writing whatever comes into your head. It doesn’t last!”

Do you have a significant other, and if so, do they read your books? What do they think of them?
  • My husband is my greatest fan and has read almost everything I’ve written. He lets me know if they’re hot enough, but I don’t press him for comments on things like continuity or flow LOL!

Who is your favorite character in the book you’re currently promoting? Why?
  • Hard question…you’re diabolical! I love my hero Jakuta, who’s strong and temperamental yet sweet and all-round yummy, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. There’s a reoccurring character in my Unveiled Seductions series, Ula, and although she’s so far only played a small part in the stories, she’s such fun, she’s my favorite! My critique partners tell me she needs her own story, but when you meet her you’ll understand why that would be a monumental task. Ula will need a lover of amazing character and talent to pin her down!


Where can we find you online?


Fleeing Fate
Anya Richards

Jakuta Dagbo knows bad weather’s approaching, even though the sky above the faie world is clear. And when Gràinne Bairdie walks into The Midnight Café wanting an arcane tattoo, he realizes the tempest raging into his life has nothing to do with wind and rain. Just one look at her brings his storm god libido, and the protective instincts he no longer trusts, to thundering life.

Gràinne’s a banshee on the run, desperate to claim the emotions she’s sure are rightfully hers and with no time to explore the sparks of need flying between herself and Jakuta. What she’s trying to do will bring the wrath of the Banshee Council down on her head, and she knows they’ll do anything to stop her.

Yet, as Gràinne and Jakuta peel back the layers of their lives, searching for the answers she needs, they can’t ignore the lightning-hot passion searing their blood. And when emotion reaches its apex, demanding complete surrender to the cyclone of desire, neither can resist. Even if it means Gràinne’s banshee wail of release will be her last.

Fleeting Fate is available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon and other e-book retailers July 4, 2012. And look for Book Two in the Unveiled Seductions series, Stone-Hard Passion, on July 27, 2012, but available now for pre-order!


Monday, July 16, 2012

Author Interview: The Fabulous Mina Carter


Today we have the fabulous Mina Carter, fellow Ellora's Cave  author, answering a few writerly questions and giving some info about her newest release. 

Interview: Mina Carter, Author

Do you have any rituals when you write? A certain pen to chew on, a particular drink, or something like that?
  • I have a rough group of rituals depending on the situation. I cannot do anything without coffee and my preference is for Nescafe expresso, in a mug. So kind of a huge caffeine hit there! I don’t like filter coffee, has to be instant (yeah, I’m a heathen ;) ). I always do a brainstorm for a scene before I write, jotting down what I ‘see’ in the location, the sounds and smells and then a basic outline of the action in the scene and any dialogue. Then I write. If I’m pushed or struggling with a scene, then all my rings have to go on (heavy silver ones) and I have a particular album (Robert Johnston’s Tombstone by Thunder) which goes on loop. It’s like white noise I’ve listened to it that often.

How do you edit a manuscript? On your computer, by making notes on an e-reader, or do you print out a copy and attack it with a good ‘ole fashioned red pen?
  • I always edit on the computer, using track changes. Any paper in our house is a candidate for my daughter to draw on. Including my scene notes. Most have butterflies and hearts on them. I use shorthand for the more risqué words as she can read now.

If you could send a message back in time to yourself as you’re writing your first book, what would you tell yourself?
  • Less is more, go for conflict and torture the characters. When I started writing I shied away from really getting in there and hammering the characters. Now all bets are off.

Do you have a significant other, and if so, do they read your books? What do they think of them?
  • I do, I’ve been married for fourteen years this year but my husband is dyslexic so he doesn’t read my books. He’s listened to bits I’ve read out (particularly my latest story as it’s about Rugby and my husband used to play). Generally he’s pleased as punch and tells everyone what I do and write.

Who is your favorite character in the book you’re currently promoting? Why?
  • Currently it’s Johnny from Aries Revealed. He’s a cyborg pretending to be a human stripper pretending to be a cyborg. He’s a loveable rogue, until the woman he loves is threatened, then…let’s just say you don’t want to get in his way. He really believes in an eye for an eye, and loses one during the course of the story to save his woman.

Where can we find you online? Website, blog, social media links.


Aries Revealed (Aries)

Sometimes the best place to hide, is in plain sight...
Johnny makes a living on the strip circuits. His most popular routine is as the Aries 7000. Bronzed and oiled up, he pretends to be the scourge of the universe, one of the deadly and outlawed zodiac cyborgs. But Johnny isn’t a stripper playing a cyborg. He’s a cyborg playing a stripper.
Milly, freighter captain, has had a thing for the sexy stripper for months. But when Johnny, the subject of many of her hottest fantasies, asks her out to dinner, she runs. All is not lost, a chance encounter yields an Aries 7000 sex-bot, hers for a weekend of pleasure.
It seems too good to be true. Sex with the man of her dreams, without risking her heart. Only her bot has some secrets, secrets that could save her life when the past returns to haunt her.
 Available NOW from Ellora's Cave

Friday, July 13, 2012

GIVEAWAY -- Sinful Southern Ink

BlackRaven's Erotic Cafe is featuring Sinful Southern Ink on their site today. And, get this, THEY are donating a copy of the book to give away. How awesome is that?! If you're feeling...naughty, click the link to enter the contest.

*This site is NSFW...unless you work at a strip club or brothel.*

Blackraven's Erotic Cafe

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Steampunk Fashion Finds

Today, I want to share some of my favorite Steampunk Fashion Finds of the week. Someday, I will fill my closet with these items. For now, I use my browsing indulgence as research and incorporate some of what I find into the books I write. 


Il Tempo Vola V8... original mixed media handmade winged Venetian clockwork mask

Steampunk Mod Laptop



Gold & Brown Leather Mask
Leather Bag Leg Holster Belt
Steampunk Retro Functional iPhone Dock
Steampunk Analog Camera
Steampunk Mod xBox Controller

Lucille Brown Leather Underbust Harness Belt Steampunk Victorian Inspired Corset Belt Thin Shoulder Strap









Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Queen of the Night Reviews: Guest Post - S.J. Drum and Sinful Southern Ink

Queen of the Night Reviews: Guest Post - S.J. Drum and Sinful Southern Ink: SINFUL SOUTHERN INK  by S.J. Drum  In celebration of the launch of Ellora’s Cave’s new PRICKED line, I’d like to share a bit about what...

Friday, July 6, 2012

RELEASE DAY: SINFUL SOUTHERN INK


YAY! Today, the first-in-series of my new Sinful South series, SINFUL SOUTHERN INK, releases!



SINFUL SOUTHERN INK is part of the new 'Pricked' line at Ellora's Cave. Small town, tattooed, bad-ass country characters. Love, heartache, danger, and HOT sex. What more could you ask for? Go pick up your copy now! Available on Nook and Kindle and any other e-reader you might have.

  • I'm guest blogging on Sidney Bristol's Blog about my personal tattoos and what they mean to me as an author. 
  • I'm also guest blogging on Anya Richards' site and giving away a very yummy Cajun Potato Salad recipe I learned from a native while living in Louisiana. Hit the link! 


Check out the amazing trailer for all of the July releases in Ellora's Cave's 'Pricked' line.




Monday, July 2, 2012

Fifty Shades of Grey



I'm going to be honest and admit I started this book as a hate-read. I assumed, because of the hype, the book probably wasn't very good... or at least not as good as everyone was saying. But, because I write in the romance genre, I felt I should at least read the book given its effect on readership.

Color me surprised. The only thing I found I didn't like about Fifty Shades was the present tense. I dislike reading anything written in present tense, but that's just style preference on my side.

The author did a wonderful job of making me both hate and love the characters. I wanted to punch Christian in the face, then turn around and hug him. I wanted to scream at the heroine, "Your thoughts and actions are the foundation for every Lifetime Movie ever made! RUN!"

I wanted to warn Ana away from Christian. I wanted her to help him. I wanted him to get his head fucking straight.

I thought Christian was the most fucked-up, mean character in the world.
I thought Christian was the sweetest, most loving character in the world.

Ana, in turn, was weak and strong.

What can I say? I wanted to hate this book, but I ended up liking it enough to utilize my insomnia to finish reading it in one day. Fifty Shades of Grey, you're Fifty Shades of Awesome.