I cannot agree more with Yolanda Sfetsos....

...when she says the waiting when you're a writer is the worst thing! Because sometimes it feel as though we do more of that than we do write, LOL! Welcome, Yolanda (even if I did post your interview a day late, SO SORRY!!)

1) Did you set any goals for 2010?

Yes, I did. I always set a bunch of writing goals that I’d like to achieve during the year, and then break them up into smaller monthly goals.

This year I’ve been doing a lot of revision. I’ve got a bunch of first drafts that need my attention—two of those are already contracted—so I’d like to clear those before throwing myself into any new stories.

That doesn’t mean that I haven’t got several other ideas that I’d like to either plan or write. Oh, and I intend to take part in NaNoWriMo, which is something I’ve been doing for the last four years.

2) What is the best part of the writing process for you?

I have to admit that I love every step of the writing process. Each step has its own special qualities that make it great, but I do love that pre-writing stage when the story is slowly taking shape, the characters keep beating inside your head, and you spend hours researching. It’s filled with wonder, daydreaming, and the possibilities of another writing adventure.

3) The worst part?

That would probably be the waiting. There’s waiting at every step of the way, isn’t there? And I’m not just talking about when you’ve got things out in Submission Land. I’m also talking about the time between drafts, or the time you need to give the story to percolate, or finding and slotting the right time to tell your story because there are so many things to do in one day…

4) What is the book you wish you’d written?

You know, I think that’s the book I haven’t written yet. ;)

5) Favourite author/s & book/s?

There are a lot of urban fantasy authors that I absolutely love—Rachel Caine, Charlaine Harris, Carrie Vaughn, Kelley Armstrong, and Jeanne C. Stein to name a few— but if I have to narrow it down, my fave authors are the two who’ve influenced me the most during my life. And that would be Clive Barker and Stephen King.

Reading Clive Barker’s CABAL when I was a teenager changed my writing path.

6) Tell us about your upcoming release?

I’ve got a novel coming soon from Eternal Press. It’s called SHADE OF GREY and is a contemporary romantic Sci-Fi story about a woman who finds herself caught up in the middle of conspiracy theories, UFOs, abductions, and Men in Black.

I don’t have a release date yet, but I can’t wait for it to get out there. This is the first book in a trilogy I have planned, and it’s my tribute to The X-Files with a little romance and heat on the side.

7) Tease us with a blurb/short except

I don’t have anything official yet, but here’s a short, unedited blurb:

The night two intruders dressed in black break into Gypsy’s store, a mysterious sexy man comes to her rescue. Calvin has one objective—to keep both a secret organization and an alien clan from finding and taking Gypsy. But after they meet, his duty is overridden by his desire.

Together, Gypsy and Calvin travel halfway across the country, trying to stay one step ahead of their pursuers and dodging danger at every step.

8) What is your favourite attribute of the hero and heroine?

I love stories where the heroine is an everyday-kinda girl who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a huge mess she had no idea she was a part of. This is what happens to Gypsy. She's happy with her boring life but feels like she's lacking something, and this adventure helps her find it. And Calvin's a nice guy, but one with a dark past that keeps haunting him. He's got plenty of secrets he's keeping from Gyspsy, and they might just be enough to tear them apart before they get started.

So, my favourite attributes about both of them is their ability to keep moving forward no matter what obstacle they face, because they do that a lot in this book. :)

9) What’s next?

Well, I’ve always got something new in the works. I’ve got a bunch of projects that I’d like to revise and submit before the end of the year. Actually, one of the books I want to finish up is the next book in the Omega Trilogy, which starts with SHADE OF GREY. *grin*

I’ve got a few novellas due out later this year from Damnation Books, and the first book in an urban fantasy series I’ve contracted with ImaJinn Books.

10) Tell me where you write?

I mainly write in the living room, on my laptop. I don’t have a desk, so I wander around the house. But that suits me just fine, because I love sitting on the couch in front of the sliding door. I get to look outside every now and then. It’s very inspirational.

11) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

Oh gosh, this is a really cool and hard question to answer. I know where I’d love to be, but will I get there? I’m not sure, but I’m determined to work as hard as I can to find an agent and get some of my other ideas out there.

Regardless, I’d still love to be writing. Telling stories is what I love to do the most. Also, ePublishing has been a great experience, so I’d still like to be doing that too.

12) Where can we find you?

You can visit my website at http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/

I’ve also got a blog: http://ysfetsos.blogspot.com/ and I’m on Twitter: http://twitter.com/yolandasfetsos

Thanks so much for having me here today!

---

Yolanda Sfetsos
http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/

Yolanda Sfetsos lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband, daughter, and cat. She loves to spend most of her days writing stories. Her muse doesn't like genre restrictions, and loves to toe the dark, otherworldly edge of storytelling.

When she’s not writing she spends as much time as possible with her small family. She also enjoys watching movies, TV shows and reading.

Fabulous interview, Yolanda - please leave your comments, folks!!

Welcome Jannine Cortis-Peska, who is talking promotion, promotion, promotion....

Huge welcome to my blog site, Jannine - your topic is one so close to my heart, it makes me cry just thinking about it....PROMOTION!!!! AARRGHH!! I'm all ears...

First of all, thank you Rachel for having me as your guest today. ;-)

To Promote or Not to Promote.....the small press author's constant dilemma.

When I first started out in e-publishing, I was naive. In 2001 I had a book out in both POD and e-book, the latter fairly new to publishing. In fact, I had no clue what it really was. Needless to say, I didn't know how to get the most out of my promotion of my e-book. I didn't know how to promote period.

Fast forward to 2006 and my journey into e-publishing truly begins. Although in the last three years I've had a short story and three full-length novels e-published (as well as being offered in print, except for the short story), I've only recently--the last year or so--really understood the significance of promoting online. And the rewards of selling e-books as opposed to print; the royalties are higher!

When I have a book released, I set up about 4 blogs and interviews a month, and participate when my publishers have a guest day on various loops. Do my sales soar? In a word, NO. I put a lot of thought into what I blog about and spend a lot of time sending covers, blurbs, excerpts and other information to the loops. It takes away from my writing time, yet I feel it's one of the few ways I can successfully promote. The problem is, there is virtually no feedback from readers. I'll get a few responses from the other authors who are also promoting. But where are the readers? One loop I recently participated on has over 2700 members. I got two responses from my fellow authors? I've gave up on doing chats for the same reason. Only a fellow author or two came by. So why do I continue wasting my time?

For lack of a more efficient way of promoting, it's free and does get out to a large number of readers worldwide. Many other authors feel that even though readers don't join in, they're reading our excerpts and adding our books to their to-be-read list. But how many of those readers actually order our books? Obviously not enough.

One book I had published last year could have had a wide range of readers. It was set in medieval Italy. I did all my promoting as mentioned previously. I also paid for an ad in an Italian American magazine, and had a great review of my book in a national magazine dedicated to the Medieval/Renaissance period. My sales were nowhere near the 100 mark.

I also have bookmarks and other promo items made and send these to writing conferences all over the U.S., Canada and Australia for their goody bags. Still, it's had little effect on my sales. So once again I'm asking myself if all this promo is worth it. I certainly don't make enough money to pay for the promoting I do. And believe me, I can use the money. So why do I trudge along the promo trail with no real gain?

I get to hold my book in my hand, gaze at the cover, flip the pages and see my words on them...... It's self-gratifying. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. Now, if only I can write an erotic romance..... Now there is where the money is.

What about you? Reader or writer, how do you perceive promoting by way of blogs, interviews and all the rest?


I'd like to talk about my medieval psychic-sisters trilogy of which books one and two are presently available. The Sisters of Destiny trilogy started with an idea for a line Kensington had developed called Ballad. I had sent in a proposal to my editor there (who bought my only NY pubbed book). She liked my ideas; unfortunately Ballad was over-inventoried. Then the line folded. This seems to be a pattern with me, but that's another story, lol.

Book one, Carina and the Nobleman, takes place in Northern Italy. Carina is one of three sisters separated at birth, each brought to a different country to be raised. (You'll learn the reason at the end of book three.) She is clairvoyant. Book two, Charlotte and the Gypsy, takes place in a Gypsy camp in Andalusia. Char is clairaudient. I am presently researching book three, Callie and the Knight, which is set in England. Callie is clairsentient.

So far, book two has provided me with the most challenge. Researching Gypsies was actually fun, but their lives were so different from Italians, which I am used to writing about. Thankfully, a friend who is of Gypsy heritage gave me so much inside information, which paid off. I've been told how accurate my characters and the lifestyle was portrayed.

Below are the covers and blurbs for Carina and the Nobleman and Charlotte and the Gypsy. You can read the first chapters on my website: www.jcortipetska.com.




Forced to the streets after her mother dies, Carina Gallo is desperate to survive and find her long lost sisters.
Consumed with locating his missing brother, Count Luciano Ruggero has forsaken his needs.
When Luciano catches beautiful and vulnerable Carina stealing from him, he takes pity and cares for her until she's strong enough to work off her crime. Carina is forever grateful to Luciano, yet fears he will learn of her wicked secret and condemn her to burn.
Will Luciano and Carina find a way to feed the mutual passions they share, or will heresy and obsession with lost family destroy them both?

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rERylu_39XA
Available at www.eternalpress.ca



Charlotte Nikolos keenly feels the difference between the dark coloring of the Gypsies who raised her and her own pale hair and skin. When she learns she has two sisters somewhere who share her looks and psychic powers, she's determined to search for her lost family and find answers about her past. But how?
For three years, Rafael Cazares has been away from the Gypsy camp and the woman who makes his blood boil. He's determined to win back Char's trust and recapture her heart. He insists on helping her to find her true family, but someone or something is determined to keep them apart. When a deep dark secret is revealed, Rafael would do everything in his power to keep the only women he has ever loved out of harm’s way. Even if he must die.

Trailer: Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5dd2kNYLyM

Available at www.moongypsypress.com

Jannine Corti Petska
Assapora la passione (Feel the Passion)
www.jcortipetska.com

Great post, Jannine - certainly got me thinking about promotion...and Italy!! Feel free to leave your comments, folks!!

Welcome to my blog site, Rebecca! Really great having you here.

In the Zone


Recently I had the wonderful opportunity to hear three bestselling mystery writers on a panel discussing their work and why they still enjoy the task of writing. The three writers, Robert Crais, Stephen Cannell and Michael Connolly are certainly prolific and I was eager to see if I couldn’t pick up at least one nugget of wisdom to help me in my own endeavors. I wasn’t disappointed. To listen to them speak, you can understand why they have become so successful.

Cannell told us that he writes everyday. EVERY SINGLE DAY. He started his career in television and since he was expected to put out a script every single week, he said it became such a habit that he has trouble if he can’t produce some sort of work constantly. Now this is a very busy man. He was just starting out on a tour for his latest book and he admitted to us he would be hard pressed to keep up writing every day, but he’d find some way to do it. His writing comes first and he told us he gets to it first thing every morning. He gets something down on paper to start his day before he moves on to anything else. Crais told us that he gets so involved with his characters that he often hates leaving his work and sometimes resents when he has to go on to other duties—like having to break away to come speak to us! Connolly is the same. He is a former newspaper reporter so to him that writing habit has been with him all his life.

What if you don’t feel like writing? What if the scene is getting away from you? While these writers all had their different ways of getting through trouble spots, at other conferences, I’ve heard Nora Roberts say over and over that writing is a job. If you’re serious about your work, you’re going to make time to do it. Even if you’re producing something you don’t entirely like, you can always go back and edit. I’ve always discovered that even though I think the work I’m turning out is terrible, if I get myself going, later I’ll go back and look it over and realize, gee, that actually works. As Nora says, you can’t edit a blank page!

Going back to that panel discussion, I got another nugget of wisdom about working with characters. I’ve often felt like I build my characters as though I’m constructing a friend, someone I want to spend time with and get to know. Crais described to us what he calls as getting “in the zone.” It revolves around becoming so deeply involved in the story you’re telling that you feel like you could be part. You’re more than just an observer sitting in the corner watching the events play out—you’re along for the ride, sitting as the invisible partner along with your characters. That’s why he hates to leave his writing, because he hates to leave that world and his characters.

What a great idea, and yet the more I thought about it, I realized that’s one of the great things I enjoy about being a writer. It allows me to visit a completely different world where I can live with my characters and get involved in things I might not ordinarily get to do. This is the fun part of writing, taking off to that imaginary place in our brain as we construct a fictional world where we can then take the reader to visit.

I guess that’s what we all try to do with our writing, taking the reader to a far away place, whether it be right downtown in the mean streets of the city or the dark underworld of vampires and werewolves. We can only take others along if we first go there ourselves, visit and see what it’s like and really get a feel for it. That’s getting into the zone—building that world in our head with our favorite characters and going on an adventure with them in that world we created.

All three writers also gave a hint of how they work to create those other worlds and I was pleased to hear they do what I often do. Robert Crais put it the most simply, “We steal.” They take conversations, events, ideas and parts of people all around them, just snippets of things that they place into their books. But it goes beyond just stealing ideas or parts of a person’s personality. It takes that writers’ imagination to pick up on something that can be everything from the mundane into the fantastic and whip it into a story.

It takes getting into that zone of imagination, and I have a feeling it’s why those writers are so successful. Each one of them admitted they could hardly wait to return to the worlds they share with their characters, and that shows in their work. Right now I’m working on a mystery set in New Mexico, and now that I’ve really gotten to know my characters, I can hardly wait to get back to it and see what’s going to happen next.

Becky Martinez is an award winning former broadcast journalist who writes novels and short stories in the romantic suspense and mystery genres under the name Rebecca Grace. Her latest romantic suspense novel, Deadly Messages, was published in February 2010. Her first romance novel, Love on Deck, was an Aspen Gold finalist. She also contributed a short story to The Trouble with Romance, a 2007 New Mexico Book Award anthology finalist.

She is co-author of the writing book, Ten Steps to Creating Memorable Characters and teaches workshops on writing and marketing. She currently lives in Littleton, Co. Her website is www.rebeccagrace.com

Loved this, Rebecca! How great an opportunity, to be able to listen to three of the best thriller writers in the world! I must say, I am exactly the same, I need to write every day or I either feel incredibly guilty...or incredibly tetchy, LOL! Leave a comment on your feelings about finding 'the zone', Rebecca and I would love to hear from you...

Interview with fellow Wild Rose Press author - Silver James, welcome!!

It's great to have you here, Silver. I know both myself and my readers love learning more and more about all the authors that have found a happy home with The Wild Rose Press. Let's push on with the questions!

1) Did you set any goals for 2010?

I did! My goal is to finish rewriting an older project in time to pitch it at my RWA chapter mini-conference in June and at Nationals in July. The first “new” rough draft is done and now I'm adding in layers, another murder (or two), and polishing it bright and shiny. I also plan on finishing the third book in what I call my FAERE Tales and submitting it to my editor at Wild Rose Press.

2) What is the best part of the writing process for you?

The dreaming. I love the whole process of “What if?” Every one of my books has started with that question. I often have one or more projects swirling around in the back of my imagination while I work on the current WIP. When I finish a project, I always have a new story to dive into.

3) The worst part?

Fixing POV in the second draft. I HAVE to know what every character is thinking, seeing, feeling, and doing in a scene. I can't write any other way. Unfortunately, that means I have to go back in the editing process, figure out whose POV is the most important and rewrite each scene to fit. Hate that part.

4) What is the book you wish you’d written?

The next book in my imagination. Yes, I know. Sounds like an excuse. But it is true. I have so many stories floating around in my head, each one full of characters demanding a voice. I want to tell each one of their stories. As I work at my craft and become a better writer, I want each book to be the very best I could write...but I always want the next one to be better. That said, I really wish I'd written NAKED IN DEATH by J.D. Robb. I want to be that part of Nora Roberts' empire when I grow up. Well...my OWN empire, but you know what I mean.

5) Favourite author/s & book/s?

See above. I love J.D. Robb, which is interesting because I'm not that big a fan of Nora Robert's work. She truly writes with completely different styles. I discovered the IN DEATH books at a dark period in my life and glommed onto them. To say I devoured each and every book is not an exaggeration. When the library couldn't get them for me in order, due to the demand, I went on-line, found her back list, ordered them and now, even the hardbacks are an automatic buy for me. I also buy them in an e-version for my reader. (So much easier to read that way!)

6) Tell us about your latest release?

FAERIE FATE has been available in print for about a month now and in ebook form since April 9th. The first in an interconnected set of books, the story is one of time travel, reincarnation, true love, and the Tuatha de Danaan (the Faerie of Irish legend).

7) Tease us with a blurb/short except:

If you could go back, do it over again, would you take a chance to find true love? What if you had no choice?

On her fiftieth birthday, the faerie catapult Rebecca Miller a thousand years into the past to find her happily ever after with Ciaran MacDermot, Chief of Clann MacDermot, the last Fenian warrior in his line. In the twenty-first century, Becca is old enough to be Ciaran’s mother. In the tenth, she’s young enough to be his bride.

The fae forgot to mention one slight stipulation. The lovers must be bound before the Festival of Light, or Becca will forever disappear into Tir Nan Óg, the faerie Land of the Ever Young. Will they discover the binding words before time runs out and they’re torn apart forever? Or will their eternal love defeat their Faerie Fate?

Without the words, history is doomed to repeat itself.

8) What is your favourite attribute of the hero and heroine? Ciaran, when faced with a woman many think may be crazy (including himself at times), is still willing to give Becca the benefit of the doubt. No matter how many times he walks away, he comes back. With Becca, her sheer stubbornness and strength keeps her fighting against all the odds.

9) What’s next? Next up is the second book, FAERIE FIRE, which releases “into the wild” on September 17, 2010 from The Wild Rose Press. This book centers on a Senator's daughter with The Sight, a disgraced Special Armed Services captain, and the terrorist intent on destroying them both. FIRE is more about reincarnation and the Faerie working behind the scenes, though Moira's Sight reveals the past.

10) Tell me where you write? The short answer is anywhere. My daughter was a gold level softball player in high school, which meant lots of travel for tournaments. I wrote between games, in the hotel at night, and if my husband could make the trip, while riding in the car. Currently, since I'm retired from the real world, my “cave” is a odd room off the kitchen. Once a covered and enclosed patio, the former owners tossed up a wall of windows and called it a Florida room. It's hot in the summer, cold in the winter, but I've logged many hours at the computer desk. We're in the process of doing some renovations and when done, I'll have a new space with floor-to-ceiling bookcases, new desk, printer stand, and dedicated bookcase for my research files. I'll be a “real writer” then!

11) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years? I'd love to be at the top of the New York Times best seller list! Who wouldn't, right? That's the ultimate goal. I want a successful series of books. But mainly, I want to still love this job I'm doing. Writing has always been a part of me, of my psyche. No matter how discouraged I became on the road to publication, I never stopped writing. I want to have that spark in my imagination so I greet each morning with a new, “What if?”

12) Where can we find you? Some days I feel like I am all over the web! I haven't quite decided if social networking is a good thing or or a bad thing. I'm always at Penumbra, my website and blog. I'm silverwriter on Twitter and I have a Live Journal account and a little used MySpace account. I could spend all day being social, but then Iffy, my Muse, would be miffed because I'm not writing. Drop by and say hi, or follow me. If you are looking for my book, here are some links to get you there faster! Available now from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com. and barnesand noble.com: FAERIE FATE by Silver James


BIO: My imagination has always run rampant. As a published author, I get to share the stories created there. Over the course of my lifetime, I’ve been a military officer’s wife, mother, state appellate court marshal, airport rescue firefighter and forensic fire photographer, crime analyst, and technical crime scene investigator. Retired from the “real world” now, I live in Oklahoma and spend my days at the computer with my two Newfoundland dogs, the “lolcat” who rules us all, and myriad characters all clamoring for attention. Eventually, I’ll tell each of their stories.

Silver would love to hear from you all!!

Hold the page!!! Book no 5 is sold!!!!!!!!

Yep, book five is sold, people! 'Getting It Right This Time' a contemporary romance set in the fictional UK town of Foxton has been contracted to a publisher I haven't worked with before. Lyrical Press are a New York based publisher that I have heard LOTS of good things about and judging by the fantastic five star reviews of their authors' work, they are astute in accepting great quality work (even if I do say myself, hee hee!).

I have already been given a tentative release date of January 2011 which is fabulous. Hold fire for the cover art in due course...although you know how I like to keep you hanging with book covers, LOL!!

The next big news? THE ARRIVAL OF LILY CURTIS, book number 4 will be released by The Wild Rose Press on July 23rd. I plan to hold a launch party so keep checking back for photos in the summer. I promise the book cover will be up next month...i want to make sure you've all bought a copy of Triangle first!

The reviews for Triangle are more than I could have hoped for, see below:

Got Romance Reviews: 5 stars
Long and Short Reviews: 5 stars
Pen & Muse: 4 stars

Well, that's a very quick update...news of book number six to follow shortly...

Today, I am interviewing fellow Wild Rose Press author, Joanna Aislin. Joanna's debut novel No Matter Why is available to buy right now and sounds a great read. I love it when a book has brewed in a writer's head for so long...you just know they are writing completely from the heart, which is just want all romance readers want from their writers...welcome, Joanna!!!

Who am I?
An avid reader who decided maybe she could do this too! Actually, my writing roots stretch back to my early teenage days, but life got in the way until ten years ago, when the story playing out in my head insisted I put it down on virtual paper. I’ve been writing and honing my craft ever since. No Matter Why (The Wild Rose Press),my debut novel, hit the virtual shelves on January 15, 2010. I’m an East Coaster who lives with her husband, two boys and three cats who lately seems to live at the laptop. This week I’m on vacation from school, and hope to write turn the tables and write more story than reports! I’m also learning all I can about promo, working on building my web presence trying to get to those pesky home projects that get swept to the wayside when the day job calls!

So you, Rachel, asked:
:
1) What is your writing routine?

Write whenenever I can, but mostly in the early morning when the rest of my family is asleep. I used to get a lot done in the evening, too, when my kids were younger and went to bed earlier. Those days are long gone.

2) Which author/s inspire you to write?

No one in particular—I like so many! Coming across a local booksigning (Leanne Pappas, Eternity’s Song) and being invited to a personal friend’s launch party (Paul Morabito, Plane Hell) convinced me writing was something within my reach. It was then I started to believe.

Now that the bug has bitten me big-time, I have no choice but to continue writing! Being in contact with so many authors, in my local organization (Liberty States Fiction Writers) and online in my loops and other groups keeps me inspired!


3) Which is your favorite romance subgenre to read? To write?

I’m a contemporary girl at heart, but I definitely enjoy reading a good historical and have recently been branching out into some paranormals. Sci-fi can be cool, too.

For now, writing contemporary romance is challenge enough. My current wip, however, promises to push my hesitant little toes into the world of suspense.

4) How do you deal with criticism/rejection?

Not as well as I’d like, and not that I mind receiving it. I do, however, often have to take a step back and really grasp what the person giving the critique is trying to convey. It’s not so much that I can’t hear what someone else has to say; I end up shifting into self-doubt at both a conscious and/or unconscious level. That can definitely mess with any ideas flowing and has led to some bouts of writer’s block.

5) What do you expect from an editor?

My wonderful Vicky Reed at The Wild Rose Press spoiled me so. We exchanged ideas in a mutually respectful way, and as our working relationship grew she listened to me more and more. She also seemed to become more open to my vision and/or thoughts on a given subject. (She probably grew weary of my lengthy explanations for every idea I wanted to keep, lol.)

So, in answer to your question, Rachel:

First and foremost, I hope to work back and forth with an editor (or agent), not just be told what to do or not to do.

Second, I like my vision considered because no one can really see the story as I do;

Third, I do love to be exposed to an editor’s ideas because I tend to see the story the (one) way I do. Someone else’s ideas help expand my vision. (Since I’m not good at coming up with an idea seed, I like having one offered. One of my strengths is being able to take it and sprout it into an idea all my own.)

6) Tell me about your latest release.

NO MATTER WHY (The Wild Rose Press) is my debut. The story played in my head for a very long time, waiting until I had confidence enough to put it down on virtual paper. It’s a sweet romance about Carrie Norwell, a young woman who needs to learn to trust that those she loves won’t be lost to her, as most of her family already has (to both natural causes and murder). Of course, she’s helped along in her journey by the love of my writer’s life, Billy Jay Eldridge, the confident-but-never-cocky all American guy who falls for her.

7) Tease us with a blurb or short excerpt.

Quick scene set up:
Carrie Norwell, who’s isolated herself for five years after the murders of her brother and her father’s natural death that same day, takes a chance and goes to a movie with Jessica. The two met on campus the day before. After the show, they head off to the diner, where they might be joined by Jessica’s brother and his girlfriend.


(Carrie’s) gaze darted around the diner as she spoke and zoned in on the entry door as it opened. She recognized Monica, from PharmSmart.
Jessica looked up, spotted Monica and waved.
Monica smiled and walked over.
“Will said you’d meet us at the movies,” Jessica said.
“Your brother forgot I work late tonight. He texted you about us meeting you here.”
Jessica searched through her bag until she found her phone. “I forgot to turn it on after the movie ended.” She made room for Monica on her side of the booth.
“As soon as I get back from the bathroom,” Monica said. She turned to Carrie first. “How’ve you been? We all wondered what happened to you.”
“I didn’t know you two knew each other,” Jessica said.
Monica provided the information. “Carrie used to work at PharmSmart.”
The waitress came with their orders. Carrie took her drink, grateful for a few moments to gather her thoughts.
“What a small world,” Jessica said. “Monica is Will’s girlfriend. Where is he, anyway?”
“Parking the car. He’ll be right in.” Monica left for the restrooms.
Carrie shifted in her seat. Maybe Monica’s appearance unsettled her because it reminded Carrie of Billy Jay. The thought of meeting Jessica’s brother unnerved her, too.
“Hey, Will,” Jessica said. “I’m glad you came.”
Carrie glanced up and froze in her seat.
Billy Jay Eldridge flashed his gorgeous grin and covered the short distance from door to booth.
Carrie started shaking. She stirred her cup too fast and sloshed her drink onto the saucer. The whole thing tipped and steaming liquid went everywhere. She scrambled up and back to evade the mess dripping off the table toward her lap, but she wasn't fast enough.
She grabbed her napkin and pressed it from knee to knee, but the hot liquid was already in contact with her skin.
Billy Jay grabbed another napkin and laid it onto the runny mess of chocolate and whipped cream still dripping off the table. His ocean blue eyes met hers. “Are you okay?”
Carrie backed further into the booth, feeling very much the cornered cat. Her face burned hot as the cocoa. She needed to escape before she embarrassed herself any further.
Billy Jay reached out to help her.
Carrie took his hand, but kept her eyes down, careful to avoid his gaze. She stepped over the wet vinyl seat and the mess puddled on the floor.
“Did you get burned?” he asked.
She withdrew her hand and scraped together a modicum of composure. “I’m fi…I’m okay. Th-thank you.” She swiped at her pants and looked at Billy Jay’s sister.
Carrie set up her exit. “Sorry, Jessica. I…I have to go home and get out of these wet jeans.”
“Sure.” Jessica alternated curious looks between Billy Jay and Carrie. “I'll go with you. We'll come back after you change.”
“No thanks.” She grabbed her jacket, careful not to look at Billy Jay. “We’ll, uh, do this another time. Okay?”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive,” Carrie said.
“At least let Will walk you to your car.”
“No.” Carrie glanced at Billy Jay. “I’m fine. Really.”
Billy Jay trailed Carrie’s every move as she ran to the door, yanked it open and disappeared.
Jess’ chin lowered nearly to her chest as she fixed him with a questioning look.
Monica returned just as a busboy finished wiping the seat. She slipped into the space Carrie vacated. “What’s going on?”
Billy Jay glanced at Jess with a silent promise to fill her in later. “Carrie spilled hot chocolate on her jeans and went home.” He fought the urge to go after her and sat next to Monica instead.
“Feel like sharing an appetizer?” Monica slid her hand into his. “I’m not very hungry.”
“Neither am I,” said Billy Jay, his gaze on the exit. He caught Jess’s look and checked his tone. “Whatever you want is fine.”


8) Who is your favorite character in the book? Why?

That’s such a tough one. I like to think there’s something special about each one. I tend to go to my heroes as my favorites. Billy Jay is my first so he’s got a place all his own, kind of like my firstborn child. His buddy Jack Donovan—who first appeared in the initial work that ended up spurring the creation of NO MATTER WHY—takes the lead in the sequel. He’s been my biggest—and happiest—surprise to date. I also happen to love Jess, Billy Jay’s sister. Her story should be after my current wip, as yet untitled, which showcases Billy Jay’s partner Trent and his wife, Rosella, who we meet in NO MATTER WHY. Anyone confused yet?

9) What is next for you? What are you working on right now?

I think I need to go the agent route and trust that someone can help take me places I can’t alone. From the creative standpoint, I’ve completed a sequel to NO MATTER WHY and am currently working on a spinoff/sequel to that. I’m also looking again at another novel sitting in the virtual drawer—it should have been the continuation of NO MATTER WHY’s sequel, but I think will wind up being revamped as a single-title stand alone.

10) Your biggest piece of advice to aspiring novelists?

Now that my hindsight is 20/20 I can pass this on:

Keep writing that breakout novel but GET YOUR PROMO STARTED now!!! If it’s a series, have at least two of your books ready to go before submitting for publication. Put together a website, get your blog off the ground. (So many programs and free downloads make it possible to do on your own—no one was greener than I when I started—I promise. I’ll be happy to help anyone who needs help, too. Just e-mail me via my website.)

Where can readers find you?
At my website, www.joannaaislinn.com and my blog, www.joannaailsinn.wordpress.com . Hopefully at public speaking engagements soon (watch the blog for those to be announced) and at other author websites—also announced regularly at my blog. A plus for those who subscribe: all posts, announcements, etc will go directly to your inbox!

Rachel, I do thank you for this wonderful opportunity! I also thank your readers—and mine, of course --for their time and support! You make us!

Carole Ann Moleti probes a little deeper into Women's Fiction....

It's Tuesday which means it's time to welcome another guest author to my blog...welcome, Carole Ann Moleti!!

Carole Ann Moleti On Feminism and Women's Fiction: Chick-Lit, Romance, and Erotica

I was hoping announce some news hot off the press regarding one of my stories, but alas, the "very interested" editor still hasn't gotten back to me. Since Rachel was kind enough to invite me as a guest blogger, I thought a chat about women's fiction in general, and chick-lit, romance and erotica in particular, would be fun.

A friend of mine once commented that since women read more than men in general, the category of women's fiction isn't necessary. I take that one step further, suggesting it might be more apropos to eliminate it and create one called men's fiction (I lovingly call it dick-lit). The real issue is the assumption that if it's written by and for women it's fluff, superfluous, unimportant, and not "literary" quality. The truth is that women read all genres, and authors, regardless of their gender, write stories that appeal to women for very specific reasons. I also submit that the popularity of M/M romance among women, speaks to the fact that women are explore and experience a variety of lifestyles and alternatives.

Chick-lit is one of the newest opportunities for women to stake their claim on the right to embrace life and all its possibilities. Rachel's recent release, The Sharp Points of a Triangle is, like most romances, an examination of the trials women face when following their dreams, seeking adventure, and acting on their desires. And the spicier versions are full of hot sex, which leaves little to the imagination, and observes few taboos. But most readers say they don't read chick-lit for fashion and relationship advice, nor romance/erotica for the sex. They read it to experience the stories, the relationships between the characters, the symbolic search and the eternal struggles.

I read everything: All fiction (though I avoid thrillers and horror since I'm squeamish), nonfiction, including the most esoteric, boring and academic types, memoir, and even YA (a la Harry Potter).

I devoured Our Bodies, Ourselves (Boston Women's Health Collective) and The Hite Report (Shere Hite) as a teenager and young adult. It was there I learned about all the alternatives and choices I had-the ones the nuns tried very hard to deny existed for the twelve years they had me in their clutches. I now adore Christianne Northrup and the advice she gives in Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom. I'm a feminist, and treasure my copies of Beyond Power and The Women's Room by radicals like Marilyn French, as well as the more mainstream but nevertheless courageous women like Nora Ephron (Heartburn), Sue Miller (The Good Mother) and the contributors to the now defunct "Hers" column in The New York Times, featured in a delightful anthology edited by Nancy R. Newhouse, Hers: Through Women's Eyes.

I've always loved romance and chick-lit but hadn't read a lot of erotic fiction until about two years ago when the editor of The Fix, Eugie Foster, passed a number of anthologies and collections my way. But in women's health, I hear many true confessions. My work with patients includes a lot of talk about sex. All kinds. Down and dirty. So it wasn't a big jump.

These days, even contemporary and genre fiction is pretty spicy. Best Fantastic Erotica, edited by Cecilia Tan, was a jaw dropper. Not because of the sex, which is graphic. But it was the variety of stories and the inclusive celebration of human fantasy and sexuality that turned my head. I'll focus on only a few, but it's an incredible anthology of erotica including M/M, F/F, ménage, BDSM, comic, high fantasy and science fiction. I didn't like it all, especially the heavy BDSM, which is a bit too close to the porn line for me, but hell, is slash and hack horror, murder and mayhem any worse than sex between consenting parties? Not to me, but that's another topic.

"Monsoon" by Arinn Dembo is one of the best stories I have read in a long time, something I could easily have seen in The New Yorker back in the day when they were accepting slipstream fiction and more female authors. Ditto for "Opening the Veins of Jade" by Reneé M. Charles and Jean Roberta's "Smoke."

Asimov's July 2006, published a stellar example of paranormal romance: Ian McDonald's 2006 Hugo Award Winner "The Djinn's Wife." How about the Hugo nominated, provocative fantasy version of chick-lit, "Pol Pot's Beautiful Daughter," by Geoff Ryman, published the same year by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction?

I recently had the pleasure of working with Andrew Richardson, another Eternal Press author, whose erotic F/F short "The Shoot" is another example of fine women's fiction-the story of one woman's struggle with her sexual identity and orientation, and a tribute to the special nature of female friendship. So debunks two other myths: men can't write romance or erotica, and men don't read it.

Which brings up two interesting questions:

Is erotica really just porn written for/by women? I don't think so. The popularity of romance and more recently erotica is, in my opinion, due to women discovering what author Anne Harris discussed at Worldcon last year: sexual agency or the ability to claim the right they have to fully embrace their fantasies and secret desires-a natural outgrowth of the feminist movement.

Can romance and erotica be feminist? You bet your sweet nothins'. Respect and admiration for the power of fertility and the incredible power and beauty of the female body has long since been missing. It's about time that the penis has fallen from glory (pun totally intended) and that sexuality in general be regarded as an essential part of every human being's life. There are lots of flavors besides chocolate and vanilla, enough that anyone can find what they like best.

Those are my opinions. I'd love to hear yours.

Head to the library for some of the books I've mentioned. And for some excellent, thought provoking short "women's" fiction check out:

Best Fantastic Erotica edited by Cecilia Tan.

My full review (for The Fix):

http://ttapress.com/fix/reviews/best-fantastic-erotica/


Read my commentary (for Tangent Online):

"The Djinn's Wife" by Ian McDonald's, Asimov's July 2006
"Pol Pot's Beautiful Daughter" by Geoff Ryman, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October/November 2006

http://www.tangentonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1111&Itemid=284

An interview:

"The Shoot" by Andrew Richardson http://eternalpress.biz

http://caroleannmoleti.blogspot.com/2009/12/ive-invited-andrew-richardson-back.html


On my current reading list are The Sharp Points of a Triangle, written by my hostess Rachel Brimble, and I Came Upstairs: A Victorian Courtesan's Memoir by MC Halliday. Both are available from Eternal Press at http://eternalpress.biz and in print and e-reader formats at Amazon and Fictionwise.

I'm writing a good bit of romance myself. This reminds me, I must check email now for word from that editor.

Keep in touch!

My blogs:
http://caroleannmoleti.blogspot.com
http://caroleannmoleti.livejournal.com
My website:
http://caroleannmoleti.com
My Twitter feed:
http://twitter.com/cmoleti

Carole Ann Moleti is a midwife and nurse practitioner in New York City. She lectures and writes on all aspects of women’s health with a focus on feminist and political issues. In addition to professional publications, her work has appeared in Oasis Journal, This Path, Noneuclidean Café, The Fix, Tangent Online Review of Short Fiction, and The Internet Review of Science Fiction.

Carole's memoir Someday I’m Going To Write a Book, chronicles her experiences as a public health nurse in the inner city. She is at work on her second memoir Karma, Kickbacks and Kids, the title of which is self-explanatory.

But her first love is writing science fiction and fantasy because walking through walls is a lot less painful than running into them.


Carole would love to hear from you - please leave your comments, thoughts and inspirations ...

Welcome Mariposa Cruz!! With all the paranormal fascination and the emerging vampire/werewolf leading men, Mariposa blogs how these latest heartthrobs are far from a new phenomenon...

Monster Leading Men
Long before Twilight’s Team Edward and Team Jacob, movie audiences were captivated by Bela Lugosi’s aristocratic portrayal of Dracula and Lon Chaney Jr.’s piercing gaze as the Wolf Man. Their performances propelled an emerging genre into an enduring fan favorite.
"Listen to them, children of the night. What music they make," Bela Lugosi as Dracula (1931)
The man, who would personify the legendary count, was born near the Western border of Transylvania in 1882. Known for his versatility, Lugosi toured with the National Theater of Budapest until political unrest forced him to flee the country in 1919. Lugosi got his big break in the 1927 Broadway production of Dracula. The Hungarian actor learned his lines phonetically. Lugosi honed his characterization during his 500 Broadway performances. He even did his own make-up for the 1931 film version. He entranced audiences with his European accent and regal presence. At one point during the mid-1930's, Lugosi received as much mail from female fans as Clark Gable. He would go on to appear in more than 100 films primarily in the roles of vampires, werewolves, ghouls and mad scientists.
"Even a man who is pure in heart
and says his prayers by night
May become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms
and the autumn moon is bright" The Wolf Man (1941)
Chaney Jr. arrived in the world in 1906 nearly stillborn after a difficult delivery. His father revived his infant son by plunging him into the icy waters of Belle Isle Lake. Chaney Jr. debuted at the age of six months as a prop in his father's stage act. As the Wolf Man, Chaney Jr.'s transformation from man to beast was an arduous four-hour process. He had to sit in a chair with his chin in a brace while gradual alterations were made in his make-up were made and filmed. The removal of the layers of make-up and yak hair took 45 painful minutes. With a career that spanned nearly four decades, Chaney Jr. was the only actor to play the Wolf Man, Dracula, Frankenstein and the Mummy.

I’ve loved monster movies since childhood and longed to tell those stories from a woman’s point of view. Here’s a blurb from Howl now available from The Wild Rose Press.

As if Kate Owens doesn't have enough problems as a struggling single mom and paralegal, a brutal animal attack outside her office plunges her into turmoil. At work, she is attracted to her rescuer, Jack Walker, an attorney wary of commitment. Every morning after the attack she awakes drenched in blood beside the body of a mangled stray. Kate's days become a battle to maintain control while her nights are a disturbing blur of dreams. Will Kate's nightly madness harm her young daughter?
Lone wolf attorney, Jack Walker understands the reason for his paralegal's exhaustion and haunted demeanor. Jack has pursued the beast since law school graduation and he knows the creature's relentless thirst for revenge. Can Jack save Kate from her attacker and her own savage nature?

Rachel thanks for inviting me to chat about some of my favorite leading men. For more information about Howl please click here: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/howl-p-3921.html

Great post, Mariposa! Looking forward to reading your comments...

Alice Audrey is Moving In!!!!

Good morning, people! Today I have an interview with Alice Audrey to share with you all. She is telling us a little about herself, her writing and most importantly, her fab new novella, Moving In....over to you Alice!!!

1) Did you set any goals for 2010?

I’m working on a follow up book. Like Moving In, which was published by Wild Rose Press a couple of months ago, it’s set in the same world as the serial I post every Friday. I’m already late getting it to my editor. I don’t know if we can get it published by the end of the year or not. It hasn’t even been accepted yet.

I also have a couple of books on the desks of New York editors I need to get moving again. Editors sure love to sit on books.

2) What is the best part of the writing process for you?

I love it when I’m in the flow. When the scenes are clear in my head and the characters seem real and the words appear like magic, there’s nothing better.

3) The worst part?

I hate those days when I plan on writing, and nothing happens. When I find myself spending more time sharpening pencils than typing on my keyboard I get completely disgusted with myself.

4) What is the book you wish you’d written?

I don’t know that I’d say there is any one book written by someone else I wish I could lay claim to. I’d love to be known for writing as well as people like J.R. Ward, or Tara Janzen, but I don’t envy much.

5) Favourite author/s & book/s?

I read all over the map. I like J.D. Robb, Terri Pratchett, Suzanne Brockmann, Linda Howard, Armistead Maupin, Jane Austin, and a ton of others.


6) Tell us about your latest release?

Moving In is about a woman who refuses to accept her own desire to be a housewife and a doctor who struggles with his lack of a support system. The two of them move into an old house that has been converted onto apartments on the same day. They get their luggage mixed together, and their lives soon follow.

7) Tease us with a blurb/short except

“Still hungry?” Trigvey asked, his eyes soft and provocative as he looked at her. His face came too close. Diane fell into the depths of his eyes until she realized everyone was looking.

“Um. No. Not really.”

“Here. You can have my last bite.” He scooped it up on his fork, then held it out to her.

“No,” She looked away, trying to ignore the heat in her face. “I couldn’t.” She didn’t dare look around the table. Chances were Miranda would be gloating, and Suzie would have that concerned expression she wore so often.

“Sure you could. It’s just a bite. It won’t do you any harm.” His expression was so soft and intimate, as if they were alone. He leaned forward with fork in hand, and she couldn’t tell if he intended to feed her or kiss her. He waggled the cake inches from her lips.

She took it like a snapping turtle, gobbling it off the fork so fast he couldn’t tease her anymore. He chuckled as he set the fork down. Quiet laughter went around the table. Diane blushed.


8) What is your favourite attribute of the hero and heroine?

I like the way Trigvey and Diane fit together, but let their insecurities slow them down. In all the ways that matter, the relationship between them is even and fair, but it can appear very one sided. Both of them are well aware of this.


9) What’s next?

The book I mentioned before, tentatively titled I Remember You, is about a woman who returns for her son after 10 years of trauma-induced amnesia and the lawyer of the woman who adopted the boy. I get to play with the way the brain works.



10) Tell me where you write?

I write at a desk shoved into the corner of a bedroom in a trailer house. Sad, I know.

11) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

I want to have a dozen books published in five years. If I can get a couple of best sellers in there, I’d be thrilled, but mostly I want to build an audience who enjoys the stories I tell.

12) Where can we find you?

The best place to find me is at http://www.AliceAudrey.com. I’m there all day most days. I’m also on Twitter as AliceAudrey1 and on Facebook, though mostly when I’m there I just play games.

Great Interview, Alice - you sound busy, busy, busy!!!

Here's the link for Alice's latest release, please leave a comment, she'd love to speak with you.

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/moving-in-p-3841.html?zenid=8add58c2ca4008b45832018afdb42d25

It's Special Operations all the way for Kaylea!!

Please welcome Kaylea Cross to my blog today, who wants to tell you all about her weakness for those boys who risk their lives for their country and their women...yum!!! Over to you, Kaylea!!

Hi Rachel, and thanks so much for having me! Today I’m talking about my latest release and my penchant for special ops heroes.
No one’s quite sure how it happened, but somewhere along the line my love of American history translated into an interest in military special operations. It’s odd, I know, but to this day, almost exclusively I read really hot romance and U.S. special ops non-fiction. Maybe it satisfies both sides of my brain? Not sure what to tell ya.
Anyway, my heroes are all special ops trained and I love to research their training and mission capabilities. For me that’s half the fun of taking on a military romantic suspense project, and I love to include little bits and pieces that hopefully teach my readers about what these incredible men do. The best part is, researching one branch of the military (i.e. SEALs, Delta, Air Force Pararescue Jumpers) invariably leads me to another hero and another story. I love it when that happens!

Cover of Darkness is the second of five romantic suspense novels from The Wild Rose Press, and features a secondary character from Out of Her League. Here’s where I get to showcase what SEALs can do, plus show off another love of mine—belly dancing. No, not my SEAL! My heroine, Bryn.


Blurb: Targeted by a terrorist cell, Bryn McAllister survives a bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut only to be left to die in a desert cellar. When she is rescued by Navy SEAL Lieutenant Declan McCabe and his team, Bryn must rely on the handsome officer to get her to safety. But just when she thinks the nightmare is over, family friend and legendary CIA operative Luke Hutchinson recruits her and McCabe to help track down the terrorist mastermind responsible for the attack.
With Bryn determined to see the terrorist brought to justice, Dec joins up to protect her, prepared to do whatever it takes to keep her safe during their dangerous mission. Battling the explosive attraction between them, Dec fights to keep his distance from her so he can do his job and keep her alive. But when plans falls apart and Bryn is captured, he must make the agonizing choice between his duty as a SEAL and the life of the woman he loves.
Excerpt:
When Dec knocked on Bryn’s door, she didn’t answer. After calling her name and waiting a few seconds, he figured she must still be in the bathroom and used her extra key. The shower was running behind the closed ensuite door. How long had she been in there now? Long enough to have a good cry by herself.
“Bryn?”
No answer.
He knocked. “Bryn, you okay in there?”
“F-fine.”
She didn’t sound fine, but he’d give her some more time. Four minutes passed, then five, and still the water ran. “Bryn, say something.”
“I’m f-fine,” she repeated.
More time passed, and with each minute, his tension levels increased until his gut was tied in knots. “All right, that’s it. I’m coming in,” he warned, and jimmied the lock free. A cloud of steam hit him, thick and humid as it wafted from behind the shower curtain. She didn’t say a word, didn’t give the slightest indication she was aware he’d intruded on her privacy. “Bryn, tell me you’re okay at least.”
“I’m ok-kay.”
The hell she was. He covered the four steps to the bathtub and gripped the edge of the plastic curtain. When she made no objection he grew really worried and pulled it aside to peek in.
She huddled in the tub, fully clothed, directly under the spray of scalding water. Her dark eyes were haunted as she gazed up at him, arms wrapped around herself, shaking, her hair plastered to her skull. “I’m fine. J-just cold.”
Something twisted in his chest, as though a giant fist had reached in and squeezed his heart. “Baby,” he whispered. Unlacing his boots, he tossed them aside and climbed in beside her, fully clothed, squeezing against the wall to pull her into his arms. She burrowed into him like a frightened child waking from a nightmare. Only she hadn’t been dreaming.
Heart aching for her, he held her tight, her shivers wracking them. The water beat down on them and he bent over her, sheltering her from the full brunt. Her fingers curled into his wet shirt. Her face pressed against the base of his throat, warm breath washing over his sensitized skin. He stroked one hand down her hair and the length of her spine, marveling at how perfectly she fit against him. She calmed, her breathing becoming slow and even, the convulsive shudders subsiding. Then she sighed and leaned her weight against him as though content to remain in his arms under the cooling flow of water. His body, however, was raging hot. If he didn’t put some distance between them soon, he wasn’t sure he could hold back.
“Better now? Want me to order us some food while you get out of these wet clothes?”
“Thanks.”
“Okay.” But she didn’t move. In fact, she didn’t seem in a hurry to go anywhere. She turned her face into his neck and nuzzled him, setting every nerve ending on fire. Her lips touched a kiss under his ear, making his growing erection jerk. Not good.
He set her away from him, surging to his feet and grabbing a towel to drape around her. “I’ll let you dry yourself off,” he blurted, snagging another towel for himself, stripping off his soaked t-shirt and tossing it in the sink on his way out. When he shut the door behind him, he leaned against it and took a deep breath, scrubbed a hand over his face. God. Another second in there with her and it would have been too late. As it was, his hand was shaking as he picked up the phone and dialed room service.
He rubbed the towel over his hair, peeled off his jeans and underwear, then wrapped the towel around his waist, flopping down on the bed while he waited to place his order. Bryn wasn’t thinking straight right now, he reminded himself. She needed soothing, to feel safe and protected, and she needed sleep. Shoving her down onto the mattress and getting inside her as deep as he could get wasn’t going to help matters.
Maybe something light to eat, fruit and cheese and bread or something, to settle her stomach and help her unwind. He’d have to check out some of the more serious cuts and scrapes she’d suffered, too. Maybe rub her neck for a while. Then he’d tuck the covers around her and stay while she slept, so she wouldn’t be alone. In case she had nightmares. He knew how much of a bitch flashbacks could be.
Still on hold, he turned his head at the sound of the bathroom door opening, and the air sucked right out of his lungs. Bryn stood, backlit in the doorway, stark naked, every gorgeous line of her body silhouetted in eye-popping relief. Her black gaze stroked over him like a caress, bold and possessive as she crossed the room toward him in a movement he could only describe as a prowl. His penis leapt to urgent attention.
A voice came on the other end of the line, but Dec didn’t hear a thing besides the roaring in his ears. He dropped the receiver into the cradle with a clack, his heart thudding against his ribs.
Oh, shit. He was so screwed.
I hope you love this story as much as I do! And I love hearing from readers, so please feel free to stop by my blog or website and drop me a line (especially if you want to talk about military stuff!).
Happy reading!
Kaylea Cross 
www.kayleacross.com www.kayleacross.blogspot.com

Phew!! LOVING the bath scene, Kaylea - how sexy/romantic/dreamy is that?? Love it! Kaylea would love to hear from anybody out there who'd like to leave a comment...