Monday, September 26, 2011

Playing Genre Roulette: Guest Author Nina Pierce

Welcome, Nina. I'm so glad to have you as a guest today. I'm a multiple genre writer, too...I've written historical, contemporary, and I'm busily tapping out a Victorian Steampunk. Glad I'm not the only one with multiple personalities :)

I’m an eclectic reader. I bounce all over the place from historical to futuristic, urban fantasies to medical thrillers. So doesn’t it follow that when I made the decision to become a writer that I wouldn’t hem myself into one time period or genre? My muse is just as happy in deep space as she is playing in a BDSM dungeon. She’s taken me from the future to present day and back again.

There are some writers/publishing houses that want an author to brand themselves so reader’s expectations are met every time they pick up a title by that author. I know some writer’s with multiple pen names (as in more than two) so they can keep their genres separated for their readers. Been there, done that, have the schizophrenia to prove it. Let’s just say for me, it didn’t work. LOL!

People who buy my books know they’re going to be sexy and hot and there will be a happy ending. But the characters could be vampires or shifters, living in space or an alternate future. Their sexual romps might be on a fantasy island in the tropics or right on their kitchen counter.

Readers know what they like. All of my books aren’t right for all of my readers. No problem. I don’t disguise my paranormal works to look like science fiction (though I have been known to mash several genres together). Each of my books is clearly described in the back cover blurb. In other words, I don’t need different pen names to differentiate my genres, I believe readers are savvy buyers.

What about you? Do you like to know what you’re picking up when you choose a book by the author or are you okay knowing he or she may take you to a new and unexpected place?

My most recent release, Deceive Her With Desire, the second book in the Tilling Passions series is a sexy contemporary romantic suspense. It involves a feisty landscaper, a DEA agent seeking redemption and a drug czar looking to kill them both.

BLURB:
A woman determined to protect her heart…

Landscaping in Delmont, Maine hasn’t been DEIRDRE TILLING’s only passion. Up until two months ago, it had included a live-in lover. Jilted for the third time in as many years, Deirdre’s decided to give up on love. With her feet firmly planted on the path of one night stands, she finds herself heating up the sheets with a dark haired stranger she met at her new employer’s party. But one night with the man who is both sexy as hell and compassionate, may not be enough.

An agent hell bent on proving himself…

DEA agent, AYDEN SCOTT, has a lot to prove after a disastrous drug bust in Miami three years earlier that left a member of his team dead. Working undercover as lead investigator, he’s determined to bring down an elusive drug cartel smuggling heroin into central Maine. He’ll use any means necessary to complete his objective, including sleeping with the suspected drug Lord’s landscaper, Deirdre. He just hadn’t expected the feisty redhead to be so much more than long legs and dangerous curves.

One night neither of them can forget…

Deirdre and Ayden both thought one sexually explosive romp in the sack would be the end of their relationship. But Deirdre’s arrest for heroin possession and her father’s near-fatal heart attack prompts Ayden to confess his true identity. When Deirdre is kidnapped by the drug cartel and used as a pawn, Ayden is forced to choose between his heart and his mission. The question is…who will survive his decision?

EXCERPT:
As fast as Jameson’s lawyer had gotten her out if the interrogation room, it had taken nearly an hour for the Cutler police to process her. She’d second-guessed her decision not to go with Jameson countless times while the wheels of justice rolled at a snail’s pace. She wasn’t naïve enough to think that Jameson hadn’t somehow managed to throw a wrench into her release.

Unwilling to wait for a ride at the police station, Deirdre had walked out the front door, called the only cab in town on her cell phone and come straight to the condo.

Now Austin stood in his kitchen, fixing her dinner and offering her help she didn’t deserve.

“Deirdre, here, drink this while I finish up the spaghetti. You’re still shaking.” Austin leaned over the bar and handed her the glass of scotch he’d just poured.

She attempted to smile, but her mouth, like every other muscle in her body, only trembled. Deirdre sat on the stool at the bar of the kitchen, sipping the scotch, hoping the liquid warming its way to her belly would take away the cold fear and confusion. Despite the heavy wool sweater Austin had pulled over her head, Deirdre was chilled straight to her core. She knew it had nothing to do with the night air.

“What did Mark have to say when you called him?” Austin asked. He stood at the stove absently sipping his drink and occasionally stirring the two pots.

“He thought it could’ve been one of the kids as well. It’s the only thing that makes any sense in this whole mess. I dump the refuse from my jobs at the school, and they use it as mulch on their farm project. Most of the time I leave the one-ton right there on school grounds.”

Deirdre shrugged before continuing. “They could’ve planned to pick up the drugs tonight while the truck was parked. Everyone knows I don’t bother to lock the equipment. There’s never been a reason.” She sipped absently at the scotch.

“With all the places that truck’s been and the number of people having access to it, it was no wonder Jameson’s lawyer kept them from arresting you. Anyone could get you off with the holes in that evidence. So what, the drugs were in your truck. There’s no way to prove they were yours.” Austin shrugged.

“At the moment my guilt or innocence doesn’t matter. Mark’s pulled the kids from the job. They won’t be going back to the Jameson estate. He’s figuring, with the arrest, we’ll likely lose the job anyway. I hadn’t thought that far ahead, but he’s probably right.” Deirdre thought about all the things she’d intended to do with the extra money. She knew better than to make plans. It only caused heartache.

Deirdre looked at Austin. “It’ll be for the best,” she said. “But it makes me feel like shit. I suppose I should call Shawn before I go traipsing up there tomorrow.” Tipping her head back, Deirdre downed the scotch. She knew it wasn’t the answer, but the numbing wash of alcohol would be a welcome relief from the overwhelming sense of doom beginning to envelope her.

“And to top it off, I’m bringing all this here to you.” Heat crawled up her cheeks. “After the way I treated you Saturday, I’m surprised you didn’t slam the door in my face.”

He turned to look at her, leaning against the counter. “Not in my nature to turn away a woman in need.”

“Even after she treats you like crap?”

“I’m a grown man, Deirdre. I knew the score that night when I brought you here.”

“But leaving the way I did was cowardly.” She toyed with the glass. “Would you believe me if I told you if I could do it all over again I’d do things differently?”

BUY Link for KINDLE Lovers: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057XV0F4
BUY Link for NOOK Lovers: http://tinyurl.com/6a8fqvy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Award-winning erotic romance author, Nina Pierce, grew up in a house full of readers. So becoming enamored with books was only natural. She discovered romance stories in her early teens, falling hopelessly in love with knights in shining armor and the damsels who saved them.
Eventually, reading about alpha males and the journey to find their happy-ever-after endings wasn’t enough. She needed to pen her own stories of fated loves and soul mates. Nina’s discovered the passionate side of romance with her sexy stories. For her, it’s all about the sweet scent of seduction mixed with the heartwarming aroma of romance.
Nina resides in the northeast with her high school sweetheart and soul mate of twenty-seven years, their three grown children and several very spoiled cats who consider her “staff”.
You can keep up with her releases at her website (http://www.NinaPierce.com) or follow her on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/NinaPierce) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/author.nina.pierce)

"Claimed by the Spymaster" Winner...

Drumroll please...the winner of "Claimed by the Spymaster" is Maria. Please contact me with your email so you may receive your copy. You can email me at tarakingstonromance@gmail.com .

Winner of Kelly Jamieson's Giveaway!

And the winner is...drumroll please...Kim B.  Congratulations!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Guest Author Kelly Jamieson

I'm pleased to welcome author Kelly Jamieson today. Her newest release, Faceoff, is part of the Oh, Canada! series. Please tell us a little about your story.

Here’s the blurb for Faceoff, which is my latest release from Ellora’s Cave. It was written for their Oh, Canada! theme series, so it’s set in my home city (in Canada!) and features a hot hockey player hero (because what’s more Canadian than hockey, right?)

Kyla has tried so hard to be one of the boys. She was always like a little sister to Tag. One summer, things changed from sibling teasing to blazing sexual tension. When they're reunited for a two-family reunion, the desire and lust are still there, simmering below the surface.

Tag is a pro hockey player who is cynical about women. He knows they're only interested in him because of who he is. Kyla is an attorney who's still trying to be “one of the boys” at her law firm. They're both adults and neither of them is looking for a relationship. A hot summer week at the lake. Need. Attraction. There's no reason they shouldn't explore each other.

Tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?
I am *that* close to finishing an 80,000 word manuscript. This is an Important Accomplishment because I went through a rough time earlier this year where I was really blocked in my writing. I’m usually pretty prolific, but this is the first manuscript I’ve finished since the end of March. For me that’s pretty sad, LOL!  I’m so happy the words are flowing again. It’s an erotic romance, a M/M/F ménage story. Whether it’s any good I have no idea, but I’m just relieved that I’ve written it! I have two more erotic romances coming out in October and February, also M/M/F ménage stories, and a contemporary romance coming out in the spring.

What makes a book a keeper?
Well, this is just my opinion, but what makes a book a keeper for me is a really satisfying ending. We writers get all focused on the opening of a book, the “hook” that will interest readers (which means agents/editors, even before anyone else actually gets to read it). I myself have rewritten opening lines, opening paragraphs and first chapters countless times to get it just right. And sure, that’s important. If a reader isn’t interested enough to keep reading, they’ll never get to the ending. But when I finish reading a book, it isn’t the opening I remember—it’s the ending.

Now that’s not as simple as it sounds. Because the ending ties everything in the book together. A lot of it is about character—the character arc, how the characters grow and change. It’s about plot, and turning points and epiphanies. It has to make sense. In a romance, we all know the hero and heroine are going to end up together, but the obstacles they overcome during the story have to be real and substantial, and the struggle has to be hard, and the happily ever after (or “hopefully ever after”, as some of my books have!) has to feel well-earned and...satisfying.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?
Suntanning. I know it’s so bad for your skin, but it feels so good! I love the warmth seeping into my body, relaxing me. I love the smell of the sun. I look so much better with a little colour in my skin (I’m a fair-skinned, somewhat freckled redhead but I actually tan a little). I tell myself it helps your body produce Vitamin D. Summer is so short here, we need to enjoy it! Also when I’m lying in the sun I’m usually doing one of my other favourite things which is reading a book. Sometimes drinking wine. But it’s just the sun worship I feel guilty about.

Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you.
Well I always wonder what readers think of erotic romance authors. I’m so ordinary—I have a responsible day job with staff who report to me, a husband, two kids, a dog, a house that is often messy and a car that’s often low on gas. I never set out to write the kind of things I do now, but find I’m actually pretty good at it— although sometimes I make myself blush, LOL. That might surprise readers.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would love to live in Santa Barbara, California. I’ve spent a lot of time there, my husband went to school there and we love to go back and visit. I love the physical beauty of it, the way it sits right between mountains and ocean, the palm trees and flowers, the Spanish design of all the architecture that makes it seem so Mediterranean. It’s a big enough city that there’s shopping and restaurants (I am a city girl, LOL) but small enough to easily get around. I love the nearby wineries and ranches, the beaches, and most of all the sunshine. It’s also a very expensive place to live which is why it’s only just a dream.  To compensate for that, I set a lot of my books in California. 

Where you can find Kelly:
Nine Naughty Novelists
 
Leave a comment for a chance to win a download of Faceoff. One lucky commenter will be chosen at random to win. Check back on Monday for the winner.

Thanks so much for being my guest today, Kelly. Can't wait to get my hands on your book  :)







Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Guest Author J.S. Nichols...and a Great Give-away!

I'm so pleased to welcome J.S. Nichols today. She's here to tell us about her new release, Come Back to Me. She's also offering a free pdf of the story and romance trading cards to one lucky commenter. Be sure to check back after Friday for the winner.

Please tell us a little about your story

Come Back To Me is a romantic suspense about a security specialist who boards a ship and discovers a singles cruise is the hunting ground for a human trafficker.
Sailing around the Caribbean to the picturesque island of Ballena Azul sounded like the perfect vacation to Erin Brady.  Until her ex showed up.
Ryan McKinnon boarded the cruise with one thought in mind, win back his former fiancée. Then news of a missing woman lands them in the middle of a mystery of disappearances.
Can they overcome their past mistakes and work together to unmask the kidnapper? Or will Erin be the next victim of a human trafficker?

Tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?
My latest work in progress is a lighter story with a little less suspense and little more humor.
A reluctant psychic is haunted by a ghost with ties to a cop on the trail of jewelry thieves.
Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you.
My pen name is J.S. Nichols but my legal name is Mary Behre (pronounced Merry Berry). J

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Given my choice, I’d live in the Tidewater (Virginia Beach) area.  It’s why all of my stories are either set in Tidewater or have characters from there.
 
When you’re not writing, which authors are on your “go to” list?
My favorites authors have excellent character development and compelling stories. So here they are in no particular order, Beverly Barton, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Suzanne Brockmann, Lynsay Sands and Lora Leigh. 

Where can readers find you on the web?
Readers can find me at http://jsnichols.net or at my new website (currently under construction) http://maryabehre.com

I love hearing from readers, so please stop by and chat with me often! J