Looking back and looking forward

As the end of 2011 fast approaches, and having received some good writing related news today, I find myself in a Baileys fuelled, contemplative mood. *hic* Well, it would have been rude to leave that last little bit in the bottle now...

So, indulge me in a little trip down memory lane, because this year has been one huge roller coaster, professionally and personally speaking.

This time last year saw us coming out of a bout of ill health, that seemed to have plagued the family for months. Our eldest son had an operation on a mass in his jaw and tentative first findings were hopeful that it was a benign mass. With that worry lifted and the kids finally over their never ending tummy bugs it occurred to yours truly here that really my tummy bug had been going on far too long. Nothing fit, yet I hadn't gained any weight, and I know I was busy, but really why was I so tired?

Well, I found out in the wee hours of Boxing day that a certain little Budda was on the way. This is him, playing at being Santa's little helper one year on.

We were delighted of course - slightly sheepish at not having noticed earlier- but delighted. We had decided in August of 2010 that we would have one last baby, but being that I was fast approaching 43 I didn't really think it was going to happen, and certainly not that fast. We worked out that I must have conceived sometime in November. Not having a clue about dates was 'fun', I tell you.

So 2011 dawned all shiny and new and I made a New Year Resolution. I was going to try darn hard to be published this year. I'm not very good at sticking to New Year Resolutions, but I did manage this one! I shan't bore you with the details, you've all heard them, lol, far too many times already ;-)

I would be lying if I said it has been an easy journey, far from it. I'm sure I cried more this year than I ever have in one year. I've swung from elation to despair and right back again in never ending circles, but the one thing that had kept me going is my writing. I wrote through all the uncertainty concerning our eldest son, hubby's concerns about finding a testicular lump, the emotional and physical ups and downs of my pregnancy, family upsets and fall outs, teenage problems and tween traumas and a few marriage ups and downs too. I'm not the easiest person to be around when I'm pregnant, let's just say that...

Those of you, who've been reading this blog for a while, will know my ranty posts, which, funnily enough, are still the ones with the most hits. The following are the top three.

Breastfeeding older children

Large Families and other people

Happy Father's Day

Nothing at all to do with writing you will note, just me letting off steam. Guess it resonated with people.

The middle of the year, everything changed. Both hubby and son got the all clear, it wasn't cancer after all - phew.  I got my first two publishing contracts - YEY- and of course little budda arrived. Actually, he wasn't little. He weighed in at 10lbs 13.5 oz and I can honestly say that it was the most gruelling labour and delivery I ever had. One could say my body was making sure that this baby was indeed my last. He is of course absolutely delightful and one of the easiest, most chilled babies ever. I wouldn't manage to get half the writing done that I do, if he wasn't so easy. As long as he can see me and can disappear under my jumper at regular intervals, all's well in his world.

You have got to love the simplicity of having an exclusively breastfed baby. 'If in doubt get the boob out' has long since been one of my personal mottos and it certainly works for him. As long as I'm close by, he's a happy little chappy. In fact my nine year old pronounced him to be not a normal baby. "Babies are supposed to cry, Mummy. He doesn't cry enough!"

Hmm, I think there is a compliment in there somewhere! Personally I firmly believe that babies aren't meant to cry. I know my personal stress levels go sky high when he does cry, and you can forget about getting any writing done. Though he is my little muse I am quite sure.

My writing became more and more erotic the further my pregnancy advanced. In fact the night before I went into labour the idea for a new story hit me. Hubby and I plotted it out whilst I was in early labour the next day. Crazy, I know, but it kept my mind of the huffing and puffing. The naughty boys were born, my first proper attempt at a BDSM type story.

And if you had told me a year ago, that I would not only be an Erotic writer, but venture into BDSM, I would have called you crazy!

Just goes to show you never can predict where this writing journey will take you. I also added paranormal writer to my dossier with my Debut Novel Lure Of The Blood which released in November. That was another surprise story I didn't see coming.  The more I opened myself up to being completely character driven, the more the words flowed, and the more I constantly surprised myself.

So, here I am. A year on, with three published stories, one novel due to be published in January, and contracts for three more.  Who'd have thunk it.

I am incredibly grateful to my publishers Noble Romance, Breathless Press, Evernight Publishing, my readers and of course my family and friends, who are my biggest cheerleaders. I couldn't do it without you and I love you all. Ok I promise that is the only soppy bit, but it had to be said!

So, 2012 looms large and I can't wait to see what it brings. One thing is certain - it will not bring any more babies. Hubby has his vasectomy booked in January, so the only babies will be literary babies. Hopefully there will be lots of them.

I have today signed a contract for that story I first thought about when I was in labour. It is now called Miss Frigid Knickers and will be part of Evernight's upcoming Virgin Anthology.

Never gets old I tell you.

I have lots of things planned for 2012. There is Lucas' story from Lure of the Blood, book two and three of my sexy Giovanni Cousins, another naughty fairytale that came to me as I was brushing Barbie Rapunzel's hair for my seven year old on Christmas day - don't ask, my mind works in mysterious ways - another BDSM shortie and who knows what else...

The joy of being a panster is in the winging it. It seems to work for me. Ideas are not the problem, finding the time to execute them may get trickier as budda gets older, but we'll see.

For now, just let me wish you all a happy and prosperous 2012.

May all you dreams come true :-)

Merry Christmas

I have been a bit missing in action this week, with the kids and hubby off for the Christmas holidays and me knee deep in edits for my next release Too Hot To Handle.

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed editing, in no small part due to the fact that I upped the heat quite a bit, and writing those scenes is always fun!

Too Hot To Handle is scheduled for release in January and being that it's Christmas and I've just picked the official excerpt for this, I thought I would share it with you all.

Kitty’s heart beat a strange staccato against her breastbone. What had possessed her to slip back into her school girl outfit, she would never know. Yet here she was, dressed like some third-rate hooker, about to embark on a one night stand. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she knocked on the door of Alex’s hotel room. All was quiet on the other side, and she was just about to turn round when the door opened; and Kitty’s greeting stuck in her throat.

Dressed in nothing but low riding jeans, Alex smiled at her, and she hastily wrenched her eyes upwards from the incredible abs on display. Covered with a light dusting of chest hair that trailed down to his jeans, they would give any model a run for his money, and Kitty swallowed. Dressed he was bad enough, but like this he was breathtaking, and judging by that lazy smile he knew it, too.

“Room service around here just keeps on getting better.” Alex’s husky voice raised goose bumps on her exposed skin. “Coming in?”

He hooked one finger under her chin and tugged the end of her shirt tails with the other hand, forcing her to take a step toward him.

“I-I shouldn’t be here, really. I’m not sure why I’m even here.” Kitty mumbled the words, and heat spread into her cheeks.

Alex merely smiled and pulled her closer still. “Liar, we both know why you’re here. Question is, my naughty little girl, will you step through the door and expand your curriculum?” Alex’s heated whispers against her ear sent her heart into overdrive, and she leant into his warmth.  His clean, male scent wrapped itself round her senses, and her stomach flip-flopped in delicious anticipation. It had been so long since any man had held her. That had to be the reason for her immediate reaction to this man.

“Well, Sir, that all depends what you have in mind, because I have been very naughty.”

Alex went very still at her breathy statement, and Kitty bit her lip. Has she read this wrong? Was he not up for a little role-play? She hesitantly raised her eyes to his face to read his expression, and the heat in his gaze scorched her skin.

“So, I’ve heard. Come here, and take your punishment.” His deep voice had dropped several octaves, and he grabbed her by the wrist and spun her into the room. The door clicked shut, the sound loud in the quiet room, and before she could even blink, he had her pinned against the wall. One jeans clad thigh spread her legs wide, and he raised her hands high above her head, whilst his other hand blazed a trail of heat along her exposed tummy. His mouth claimed hers in a bruising kiss, and she opened to his quiet demand automatically. His tongue found hers in an erotic dance that left her jelly-legged, breathless, and grateful for his big body holding her up against the wall.

He groaned his approval when she kissed him back, and he deepened the kiss, his fingers slowly slipping south, until they dipped under the elastic of her thong.

“My, you are a naughty girl. What have we here?”

He chuckled into her neck, and Kitty gasped when he thrust one finger into her wet core.

“So wet already, and we’ve only just started.” He flicked her clitoris once, and the slight pain caused a renewed burst of moisture to coat his fingers as he inserted another finger into her and found her g-spot. Kitty moaned into his shoulder as sensations built deep inside her core, and he licked himself down the column of her throat towards her breast. She screamed when he bit one nipple through the shirt and bra and thrust her hips at him, desperate to reach the release his talented fingers were driving her toward.

“Not so fast. You’re being punished, remember.”

Alex smiled and withdrew his fingers.  He licked each digit in turn, murmuring his approval and then stepped back, his heated gaze roaming over her body. Kitty clenched her thighs together in a vain effort to relieve the hot ache in her pussy.

“Spread your legs, naughty girl.” Alex growled the demand, and Kitty’s eyes widened at the steely determination she saw in his face. “You will not come until I give you permission. Do you hear me?”

“Yes.”  Good God, does that porn star voice really belong to me?

Alex’s eyes narrowed, and Kitty automatically dropped her gaze. She licked her lips, seeing the huge erection straining the flies of his jeans. Oh my. He was clearly as turned on as she by their little game. But how far would he take this? And did she trust him enough to find out?

“Yes, what?” His deep voice held an edge of steel, and she bit back her moan. That voice alone would send her over the edge. Who’d have thought a little role-play could be so erotic?

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl. Now strip – slowly.”

Alex’s voice brooked no argument, and Kitty hastened to comply. She fumbled with the tails of her blouse until Alex stepped forward and ripped the thing clean off her.

“Not that slowly.”

His eyes wicked, he unhooked her bra and sent that, too, flying. He whistled his approval as her breasts fell free. He cupped each mound in turn, and spun her around and toward the double bed, which took up one side of the hotel room. The slap on her ass took her by surprise, and she yelped. He soothed the sting with his large hand massaging her ass cheeks, and he chuckled into her neck.

His fingers once again dipped into her wet folds, and she froze when he inserted one digit, slick with her juices, into her anus.  Heaven help her, that felt way too good. Heat spread across her skin, and Alex bit into her earlobe, as his fingers continued their erotic dance in and out of her forbidden passage, and her body betrayed her arousal by a renewed gush of moisture between her legs.

“That’s my naughty girl.” Alex’s erratic breathing into her neck pitched her own arousal sky high, and she put up no resistance when he urged her onto the bed, his naked, warm, torso heating her back.

“Get on all fours for me.”

COPYRIGHT Doris O'Connor 2011

Now that I've got you all hot and bothered...

Have a lovely Christmas and festive season and I'll see you all in the New Year. I will spend the time with my family, catching up on my huge TBR pile and resisting the urge to start anything new. I have projects to finish and more editing to do, so shall try my very best to ignore the niggle in my head. Apparently there is a Naughty Fairy Tale waiting to be told. Hmmm, we all know what happened last time that percolated in my brain. Goldie and her bears is coming to Breathless Press soon!

So, I shall try to resist and count myself lucky my hubby is used to me going vacant and saying,"I've had this idea...."

Don't forget there is still time to enter in the Nuthouse Scribbler's Christmas Giveaway. Just click on the picture on the side to take you through.

Thank you all for reading. I appreciate you all. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Blog Hop Winners

Firstly a big Thank You! to all of you who visited and commented over the Blog Hop weekend. I appreciate you all stopping by :-)

A HUGE hello to my new followers too. Lovely to have you here :-D

So without further ado, here is the list of winners

Stuff Your Stockings Blog Hop

Bookwyrm369

kooks

Megs

Congratulations, you each win a copy of your choice. I'll be in touch to find out which one you'd like.

Winner of all three E-Books

Brupe

Georgia Fox interview winner

Raven

The Book Bordello Winner

Xandra James

Again, huge congrats to everyone who won and thank you for sharing my release weekend with me.

Commiserations to those of you that didn't win. If you're wondering whether the books are worth your hard earned cash, then check out these professional reviews for Lure of the Blood and Scandinavian Scandal.

Lure of the Blood received four stars by JERR and you can read the review here

Scandinavian Scandal received five stars by JERR and their  Gold Star Award for an exceptional story. To say I'm happy would be the understatement of the year!

*big grin*

Just Erotic Romance Reviews

AWESOME! Scandinavian Scandal blew me away from the first meeting between Sven and Sylvia...

click here for the full review

Release day and Stuff Your Stockings Blog Hop

Yours truly is bouncing around in excitement today. Quite fitting really, because I want you lot to bounce around like Tigger too.

Click on the picture to take you through to the list of authors participating in this Blog Hop. 195 Authors are participating and prices galore are up for grabs.

$400 + in Gift cards from Amazon, B&N, ARe and other publishers

150+ of Ebooks in all heat levels

Jewellery, Gift Baskets, Christmas Ornaments, and all kind of other goodies...

The more blogs you visit, the more chances of winning you have, easy peasy, so bounce away my Tiggers, bounce away.

Three lucky people on my blog will get an e-book of their choice of my current releases.

Click here to see what they are.

And because I'm feeling generous and today is release day (Squee!) for Awakening ...

Blurb: For straight-laced school teacher, Astrid, sex was a subject outside her curriculum. So she is not impressed with her birthday present - a trip to a tropical island of sexual abandonment.

That is until she wakes up in her very own Arabian Fantasy.

 Ordered to pleasure Prince Rashid, her dream lover awakens needs she never knew she had. Will her submission hold the key to her heart? And can reality ever live up to fantasy?

Available from Breathless Press 


...  one winner will get all three!

That's Awakening, Lure of the Blood, and Scandinavian Scandal. Guaranteed to keep you warm over Christmas :)

Just comment to win! I will announce winners on this blog on Monday!

There is also a chance to win a copy here. The hugely talented Georgia Fox is interviewing me today. And am also at the Book Bordello answering fun questions and yip it's another giveaway. Well, It's Christmas!

Good luck everyone and keep on bouncing!!!

Birthday Bash Blog Hop

It's birthday bash week! In honour of Kathleen Grieve's birthday she is giving away lots of goodies! You don't want to miss out.

Prices up for grabs are


Free e-books by your favorite authors!
               $50 Amazon Gift Card
               Five $5.00 Evernight Gift Certificates
              Grand Prize: Kindle



TO BE ENTERED IN THE GRAND PRIZE DRAWS, YOU WILL NEED TO FOLLOW AND COMMENT ON THIS POST.
ON THE KEEPING A PULSE ON LIFE & ROMANCE BLOG AT WWW.KATHLEENGRIEVE.BLOGSPOT.COM. THERE IS A LIST OF PARTICIPATING AUTHORS.  EACH IS LINKED TO HER INDIVIDUAL AUTHOR BLOG THAT IS PARTICIPATING. BE SURE TO HIT AS MANY BLOGS AS YOU CAN AND COMMENT ON EACH TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING!!!

Participating blogs below


Drea Beacraft

Lee Ann Sontheimermurphy

Lorraine Nelson

Kathleen Grieve

Kerrianne Coombs

CR Moss

Sandra Sookoo

Stacey Espino

Jean Joachim

Jennifer Labelle




Kathleen will visit each blog on Saturday 17th and draw random winners from each blog and post a  list of winners on her blog.

As easy as that, just comment and follow for a chance to win.

So, what are you waiting for. Hop away, folks, like demented little rabbits and win yourselves some goodies!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kathleen :-)

Have a slice of cake on me xx

Weekend Dirty Dozen

This week's twelve are from my upcoming release Awakening.

Blurb: For straight-laced school teacher, Astrid, sex was a subject outside her curriculum. So she is not impressed with her birthday present - a trip to a tropical island of sexual abandonment.

That is until she wakes up in her very own Arabian Fantasy.

 Ordered to pleasure Prince Rashid, her dream lover awakens needs she never knew she had. Will her submission hold the key to her heart? And can reality ever live up to fantasy?




Available from Breathless Press December 16th


Warning: Hot excerpt

“You don’t want me to stop.” The growl in her ear, combined with another sharp pinch to her other nipple sent her breathing into erratic overdrive as one large hand cupped her wet sex. Heaven help her, a stab of pure lust had her knees trembling, his low chuckle the sexiest sound she had ever heard, his stubble grazing her neck, hot lips suckling and nipping.

He took her moan into his mouth, his tongue twirling with hers, before his teeth nipped at her bottom lip hard enough for her to taste her own blood. Startled, she tried to pull away from him, but his iron grip wouldn’t let her, his predatory smile holding her captive. “I can smell your pussy, and I’m going to taste you until you scream for my cock to fill you, deep and hard, right here.”

Astrid gasped at the sudden rip of her dress, cool air on her naked flesh, as he thrust one finger into her juices before inserting that digit right into her anus, pulling her closer still. The shock of the unexpected invasion made her sink her teeth into her lips to stop herself from moaning. “No, please, Rashid.”

Another finger thrust deep, lifted her up on her tiptoes, her hands grabbing his shoulders for support. “That’s no, my lord.”

 At the shake of her head, a third finger stretched her further and she couldn’t help the startled sob he caught in his mouth in a bruising kiss.

“Yield to me, my bad, bad girl or your punishment will be worse.”

Whoops, that seems to be a baker's dozen, forgive me.

You can find other participating Authors here, so do go and check out their twelve and like the Facebook page, if you're on there. 

As ever, have a fabulous weekend, folks! x

Inspiration

Inspiration is one of those hard things to quantify. As a writer one of the things I am always asked is where my inspiration comes from. I find this very difficult to answer, because my answer is usually from anything. The second question, usually delivered with a wink, is oh yeah, research must be nice.

I hate to disabuse you folks of your x-rated notions but research invariably involves just little old me and my netbook, much to hubby's disappointment!

One thing that does seem to get my muse going is visual inspiration. Words flow very easily when I have a picture in my mind, be that the inside of a Bedouin tent for Awakening, a barge for Scandinavian Scandal and pictures of wolves for Lure of the Blood.


Then there is the spark of an idea, and then visualising your characters. It swings in roundabouts, this one. Sometimes I have the idea first, sometimes I can see my Hero or Heroine, sometime both come to me at the same time.

I woke up this morning with a certain trio of alpha bear shifters growling at me. I thought they were happy, after I all I have told their story, it's submitted and I am waiting to hear, but oh no, apparently not so. They want me to share how they took over my brain, so here goes...

It all started a few weeks back, when one of my publishers mentioned their new line Naughty Nursery Rhymes. Neat idea I thought, something to ponder in the future. During a brain storming session with my Crit group, we jokingly pondered, which rhyme/fairytale we would use. Goldilocks and the three bears popped into my head immediately in a hah hah wouldn't that be funny kind of way. But at the time I was more concerned with trying to remember the name of a fairytale I loved as a child back in Germany and I was knee deep in Nano, so I ruthlessly squashed that idea.

Recovered from a heavy cold and with my brain firing on all murky cylinders once again, we had another brainstorming session about fairytales. Several of us had ideas and again Goldilocks popped in my head.

Knock, knock, knock knock.

Clearly the bears had to be shifters, and clearly Goldilocks had to be very naughty. So naturally I thought to myself, hmmm, put a human girl into a BDSM club with triplet bear shifters - what fun! Originally the bears were all male. Then one of my partners in crime said, no, surely, one of them needs to be female. Oooooh, yet more fun to be had with that.

I recall saying, "I may have to write that story..."

A few days passed. I was busy in real life and those bears kept knocking, scenes unfolded in my head and my fingers itched to type. But I couldn't quite picture the bears. Then one of my Crit partners was in procrastination mode, asking for something to do, so I set her to task to find me some pictures for my bears.

All I had in my head was, tall, muscles, dark bear like - yeah I know great description for a writer - lol! But, she came up trumps, as I knew she would.

The  minute I saw him

I knew I had found my heroes. Meet Jason and Jacob Stanhope. I now needed a female bear...

Meet Catalina

That just left Goldilocks....

sweet, isn't she....

The bears certainly think so *cough*

And with that the story exploded. I started writing Friday afternoon when Hubby got home. He did the school run, we had takeaway, I kept writing...

I wrote just over 3K that first day, a personal best. I carried on writing the next day and after a long soak in the bath, during which I plotted the entire story to the end, I wrote some more. I was a woman possessed. I could not stop writing. I forgot to eat I was so absorbed in the story. Thankfully hubby just laughed and kept the kids entertained.
I broke a personal taboo up till then. I wrote sex scenes with the baby not only awake, but nursing, and me typing with one hand. I'm still amazed at that....

The early hours of Monday morning saw the first draft finished at 13,487K.

I knew I wasn't quite done. It not only needed polishing, it needed fleshing out. I skimmed over a couple of important scenes. Our resident whip cracker did not let me off with that. Talking to her on Skype I got, "DORIS! You're rushing this, write it! I want DETAIL!"

I grumbled, I sulked, I went, "But, but. but, really, surely there is enough sex already... but"

It was useless, she wasn't letting me off and deep down I'd known the minute I just alluded to those scenes in the last chapter, that I needed to write them, for the story to make sense. In fact there were two sentences that Catalina threw at me...

The slightest hint of vulnerability showed on her face and Goldie smiled at the other woman. Cat wasn’t quite the hard nut she showed the world, as Goldie knew only too well, after their night together.


I had to explain that really and the story is much better for that scene as well as the other one, even if I am pushing my personal writing boundaries to the extreme. Those darn bears didn't let me rest, until it was done and dusted and yesterday saw me hitting that dreaded send button. I shall now wait very patiently - whoops my nose just hit that screen - to see what will come of Goldie and her bears.


For now I leave you with a bit of that other scene I didn't want to write.


Be warned, it is hot, even by my usual standards....

The men had to go out, leaving Cat to look after Goldie. Her protests that she didn’t need looking after fell on deaf ears—actually, annoyed ears.  Jacob rolled his eyes at her and even Cat made herself scarce when Jason raised his eyebrows and went all Dom on her.

“I decide whether you need to be looked after, sub.”

He dragged her back to his room and the flogging delivered on the St. Andrews Cross left her ass on fire and in need of tending. It also gave her the biggest sexual high yet and she was grateful they were in the middle of nowhere and the club was not yet open, so only Jacob and Cat heard her screams of surrender. 

When she finally came back down to earth, Jason’s husky chuckle in her ear, as he inserted the bullet deep into her vagina and flicked the remote, had her body climbing again.

“Please, no more.” Goldie sobbed the words, desperately trying to hold off the orgasm; Jason’s toy sent her spiraling toward.

“Will you listen, next time, sub?” His warm, naked body molded itself to her back, pinning her to the cross even more and she yanked at her restraints. He rubbed his beard into her neck, whilst delivering small bites along her skin that traveled through her, pitching her arousal higher still and she moaned her acquiescence.

 “I can’t hear you.” He growled the words into her shoulder blades, whilst kissing himself along her skin, left far too sensitive by the flogger, and Goldie tensed when he spread the cheeks of her ass and she felt the invasion of two lubed fingers. He pushed in deep and the toy kicked up another notch.

Goldie thrashed against the restraints. “No… I mean… god…no…Jas…Sir...please…” She didn’t even know what she was begging for anymore, too caught up in the myriad of sensations assaulting her body, waiting for the magic words only Jason could say.

“You’re so hot and wet, Goldie, your beautiful skin red by my hands. Who owns you, sub?” He bit her hard and Goldie groaned in pain or pleasure, she couldn’t distinguish anymore. “Who, Goldilocks? Tell me, or I’ll leave you hanging.” He rubbed his cock along her slit repeatedly his deep voice sinking into her soul and the word poured out of her. “Yours, Sir.”

She sighed in relief, when he withdrew his fingers, his voice husky with approval.

“Good girl, come for me.” 

Well, you get the idea....


So, that is the story behind the story of the fastest writing I have ever done. I'm relieved to have my head space back. 

Guest interview with new Author Xandra James

I am delighted to have brand new author Xandra James with me today. Her debut Novel  Reluctant Revenge released last week J

Nash was bound to Sienna completely – by a blood connection and a deep desire. An Enforcer for the Supranormal community, he was obligated to protect his sexy assignment, despite her family devastating his world.

After being betrayed, Sienna falls into the arms of her surly protector; a demon with a secret of his own. But can she face her destiny knowing she's more dangerous than those Nash was protecting her from? 

Buy link from Pink Petal Books - www.pinkpetalbooks.com/Xandra-James/ 

I’m lucky to call Xandra a friend and she is a member of our wonderful critique group UCW.

So, Xandra, have you come off the ceiling yet?

Thanks for having me over, Doris. Congratulations on your own releases. And to answer your question…Nope! I fully intend to stay here until at least Christmas. It's pretty fun living on cloud nine, lol.

Don’t blame you one little bit! Enjoy it!

Q. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm a 33 years old, married and live in the UK. I seem to have always been a bit obsessive with romance books  -  I have boxes AND boxes of them – so it was kind of a natural progression to actually put pen to paper (okay, finger to keyboard) and write. If you're into astrology, I'm a crabby Cancer girl… which should tell you a WHOLE lot about me as a person since I could be a poster-girl for it!

Hmm, one of my ex- boyfriends (sshh don’t tell hubby) was a Cancer, lol.

Q. What made you write ‘this’ story?

Reluctant Revenge actually started off back in 2010 as a first chapter for the Mills & Boon, New Voices contest. Way back then, it wasn't anything like what it is today. So, after I failed to place, I picked myself out of the mountain of tissues and stopped feeling sorry for myself, and re-wrote it.  After months  of looking for the real story, I stopped obsessing and left it. I came back to it months later and re-wrote the 25k in about 10 days and… ta-da! Reluctant Revenge was born J

I love how we all have our own New Voices story to tell J

Q. Describe a typical day’s writing for us

I would LOVE to have a typical writing day. I'm just so un-organised and such a procrastinator that it never quite works to plan and each day is a new adventure!  

Okay, so what usually happens is I open the laptop, check email and everything else and vow to start writing after a cup of coffee. After my second cup of coffee of the day, I think I should probably go and actually open a Word document. After my third, I'm thinking I have chores and other work to do, so I go do that first. Finally I open Word, stare at it for a bit, then think whether I should make another coffee. I dither around until I should be starting to think about dinner, knowing hubby will be home soon and I realize the day's passed in a flash, and that's when I usually type like a demon to make word-count. My Muse likes imminent deadlines it seems. If it isn't urgent, she doesn't want to know, lol.

Seems we share the same muse! lol

Q. What inspires you?

Everything. My family, my animals, books I've read, films, cover art, nature, thinking of new book titles…being in love (okay, I know, soppy right?!).  

Yeah, soppy, but hey we write romance, we’re allowed to be soppy!

Q. If you weren’t a writer what would you be?

I've always wanted to be a writer (apart from that short time when I was a kid that I wanted to be an archaeologist or a lawyer), so I'd probably want to be involved in the writing industry still. One of my dreams – shh! Don't tell anyone – is to open a small publishing house one day, so maybe that's exactly what I'd want to do.

If you do, sign me up!

Q. Do your characters ever surprise you?

Nash did, definitely (Reluctant Revenge). I thought I had him down but when I finally started listening to the real story he was trying to tell me, all these fantastic bits poured out, completely surprising me. It'll teach me to listen to the characters a little more!

Lol, that does tend to help.

Q. What could not do without when you’re writing?

My notebook – even if I'm not using it – and coffee. And it probably wouldn't feel the same without cats fighting or climbing all over me either.

*nods re cats and coffee and adds kids*

Q. What words of wisdom do you have for the aspiring authors out there?

Know that your first draft will be fantastically bad (even when you think it's the best thing since sliced bread), finish what you start, write everyday if you can and always be open to learning.

Wise words!

Q. Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

I'd love to be a bestselling author by then. I think that's the ultimate dream. But, if I'm being honest, I'd be happy to still be writing and making a living from it.

Q. Do you have a favourite quote?

"She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain" I believe by Louisa May Alcott. That pretty much sums me up in a nutshell, lol.

That’s a great quote!

Q. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

I usually stop writing when the characters are going in the wrong direction and I've hit a brick wall. Once I work out the issue, get my head around remedying that problem, that's when I get back to writing again.

Q. What other books can your readers look forward to?

Thanks for asking! Well, I have Shadow Justice coming out in January with Siren Publishing. That's book 1 of the Moon Magic series and I adore it as it's pretty fast paced and full of action. Set in England, as is Reluctant Revenge,  it's a 30k novella.

They sound brill!

Q. And finally can you share an excerpt with us?

Can I leave you with a 'not suitable for underage readers' excerpt?

Oh yes, in fact I insist on one!

"This is a bad idea." Nash's mouth found her own, taking her tongue immediately and forcefully, forging a blazing path across her lips. "A very bad idea."

Sienna couldn't disagree more as she opened her mouth and mind to him, to take as he pleased. He lowered her to the floor then as he pushed her dress off of her shoulders, tugging the material down exposing her strapless basque. She watched as his eyes devoured her curves, and she squirmed. The dress dropped to the floor as the steam started to fill the room.

"Holy shit – If I didn't have a thing about red underwear, I do now." Nash ran his hand gently down the outline of her breast and Sienna arched toward him, a come-hither smile playing across her mouth. She wanted him. Badly. Right now. Her hands reached out to him and made short work of pulling off his t-shirt and un-buttoning his jeans.

"How do I get into this thing? I don't want to ruin it." She took his roughened hands in hers and felt like a sexy siren as she put them in between her breasts and showed him the hidden hook and eyes, watching him as he delicately carried on trailing down her stomach, slowly exposing her breasts.

He carefully draped the underwear on top of the sink before pushing her knickers down her legs, his eyes devouring the exposed contours of her lower body. She was naked in front of him and she was more turned on than she could ever imagine.

Nash took his fill of her without touching, trailing his eyes over her breasts and down. Then his boots were being kicked off and he was pulling down his jeans and boxers to expose a large penis. Sienna grinned as her eyes devoured Nash in all his glory, her tongue darting out to moisten her now dry lips.  He bent and pulled out a packet of condoms from his discarded jeans and took one out in anticipation of what was to come, leaving it on the sink.

He took her hand and stepped into the shower with her. Water rained over them both as they allowed their hands to move across each other's bodies as their mouths devoured one another.

Sienna's nipples peaked as he took one in his mouth. Water cascaded down his face and over her skin and she pushed her hands through his hair, moaning her pleasure.

Stepping away from her breasts, Nash soaped up his hands as he began to wash her hair and body. Rinsing her gently and methodically until Sienna thought she was going to burst. She did the same to him, before kneeling onto the floor of the shower and soaping his dick and rinsing it carefully. She couldn't help it; it looked so appetizing that she took it into her mouth. Nash's moan floated down to her, over the water.

In and out, she took it deep into her throat until she thought she would explode from the sensation herself. Nash's hands were on her shoulders and she was dragged up with a growl and a curse.

"You can fuck me with that mouth of yours another time, sweetheart." Nash reached out of the shower and grabbed the condom, making quick work of sheathing himself. His hands were back on her in moments and this time, he knew exactly what he wanted. "Right now, I want to be inside you."

Thanks so much for stopping Xandra! J

 To find Xandra on the web, see the links below

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Romance Blog

Goodreads

Weekend Dirty Dozen

It's back :-)

Todays twelve come from my Erotic Romance Scandinavian Scandal

Blurb:
Sven Larsson, international movie star, is out to repair his scandalous reputation. The last thing he needs is for an enticing bundle of curves to fall into his arms. However, the instant sexual chemistry he has with Sylvia is hard to ignore...

Sylvia, young widowed mum of three, knows Sven is everything she doesn't need in a man. Can she risk giving into temptation?

With the Paparazzi breathing down their necks and both of them scarred emotionally by their past demons, will they manage to heal each other...


Available from Noble Romance


My twelve:

This was Sven, for pity's sake; she knew she could trust him. He had only suggested handcuffs, not a goddamned threesome. People did this all the time. But the other frightened stiff part of her could only remember another man demanding she give up all control, and she couldn't help the shudder going down her spine.

Get a grip girl, and just breathe, he is not Richard.

Forcing her breathing to slow down, she turned to find him leaning against the closed door watching her, the heat in his steady gaze ensuring low burning arousal won over the fear churning her stomach.

"Did I spook you that much?"

"No . . . I . . . I . . . of course not."

"Liar."

With the prowl of a predator with his prey in sight he pushed himself away from the door, covering the distance between them with two long strides. Framing her head in his hands, his breath fanning across her cheeks, his mouth touched hers, his tongue trailing along the contours of her bottom lip.

"Öppna för mig vackra."

You can find other participating Authors here, so do go and check out their twelve and like the Facebook page, if you're on there. 

Have a fabulous weekend folks xx

Guest Interview with Debut Author Candice Butler

I am thrilled to have Candice Butler on my blog today...

HI Candice :-)

Hello, my name is Candice Butler and my debut novel to be released by Noble Romance on 12/19 is Serving Serena.  I really am excited to be given the opportunity to talk about writing, although  I really hate talking about me.  

Q. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Sure, I’m married and a year younger than my heroine.  I absolutely love to write and have been doing it for more than 30 years although the only things I’ve gotten paid for are the reports I write for my employer.  I love romance.  It does make the world go round, mine at least. 

Nod, where would we be without some romance.

Q. What made you write ‘this’ story?

I read my first romance in junior high, around age 13 and I never stopped reading them. However, as I got older the heroines never got much older than somewhere in their forties.  Great stories, but after 50 you ponder different things, decision-making is different, even the decisions on who to love and make love to.  I wanted to read about heroines who had more perspective, so I wrote about them.

Great stuff, we def need more older heroines.

Q. Describe a typical day’s writing for us

Frankly, I have no typical days with a 40 hour a week job and a business to run.  I will say this; I start a new story when it comes to me.  And I can never start unless the heroine and hero have told me their names and how their story ends.  The rest is discovery.  

Q. What inspires you?

I’m inspired by great writing, whether it’s in books, magazines, newspapers or on the screen.  I love a well put together story.  It doesn’t have to be deep or profound just beautifully written.  I’m also inspired by acts of courage and acts of kindness, big or small; always wish I had more of those in me.   

Q. If you weren’t a writer what would you be?

I’m a lot of things, a government investigator, a business owner, belly dancer.  I’d be these things even if I wasn’t constantly waking up in the middle of the night to jot down a new plot twist. 

Q. Do your characters ever surprise you?

Always, if they don’t the story doesn’t get finished.  I love it when they take that turn down the unexpected path to give the story more texture.   When they come alive and make me go a ha, that’s how it works.

*nods enthusiastically* Me too!

Q. What could not do without when you’re writing?

My computer.  I used to write by hand, you know longhand on yellow tablets.  Now I just think too fast for 

that to be effective. 

Am with you there, I couldn't do without my trusty netbook.

Q. What words of wisdom do you have for the aspiring authors out there?

Write.  It is as simple as that.  You get better, you like it more, you settle in to you.  Most important submit and don’t be afraid of criticism.  I think I would have gotten here much faster if I had followed that piece of advice. 

Q. Where do you see yourself in ten year’s time?

Ten years older, retired and still writing and hopefully still having a great time living. 

Q. Do you have a favourite quote?

Yes, here goes. 

Tell me what it is that you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?  A ship is safe in port, but that is not what ships are for.  Mary Oliver

Q. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Yes, but thankfully it is always short lived.  I usually get rid of it by starting something new.  That’s why I have so many unfinished stories. 

Q. What other books can your readers look forward to?

Well one story kind of led to the next and suddenly I was on a roll of women who are lucky enough to meet the perfect man, who happens to be a god.  So in this series there is

Him – A retired airplane designer, finds out her next door neighbor is the Egyptian God of Fertility and he has one thing on his mind; her.

The Kitchen God’s Girlfriend – The kitchen gets really hot when a disillusioned chef meets up with the hunky Kitchen God .

Frenemies  - What happens when the Mother Goddess, in disguise meets and falls for her ancient enemy, a Warlock in disguise.

Sniff – It’s been said that our noses are a direct portal to our minds and emotions.  A professional nose aka perfumer finds out it can also be direct portal to our past lives when an old lover hires her to concoct the perfect scent. 

Excellent I love a good series!

Q. And finally can you share an excerpt with us?

I love this scene in Serving Serena.  Are we supposed to love our own stuff?  Who knows? I think we better love it a lot, because we’ve given it precious hours of our lives.  

Of course you have to love your own stuff! 

A twinge tightened my neck as I straightened up to grab a new pencil.

“Ouch!”

 In an instant, Teros moved to my side, his strong fingers massaging the knotted muscles of my neck.

“You need a break,” he said. Gently, he pried the pencil from my fingers, which had also begun to cramp. How long had we been at this?  The clock showed a quarter past midnight—over five hours.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you this long.” 

“Don’t worry. I enjoyed watching you work. Now sit.” Teros led me to the chair he’d been draped over a moment before. I settled into the cushions, still warm from his body. 

“How about some chamomile tea with your sandwich?  It will help you sleep.”  He moved over by the refrigerator, dropping down on one knee, searching through a cabinet until he came up with an electric kettle and a canister. He still hadn’t slipped on his robe. For this, I thanked the gods.

Grace and power manifested themselves in his every movement. He walked to the bathroom to fill the kettle, then returned, and plugged it in. He retrieved cups from the cabinet and food from the refrigerator. I watched as he poured steaming hot water into the mugs. I was surprised when he unwrapped two sandwiches. He’d planned on working late.

“Here, drink this.” Teros handed me a warm mug, watching me until I’d lifted it to my lips to sip.

My neck twinged again. Teros set his mug down on the table. Moving behind me, he slid his hand inside my shirt and gently gripped my knotted shoulders. His glorious, naked body hovered over me while his hands soothed away the stiffness. Setting down my own mug, I gave myself up to his incredible ministrations and my fantasy of what it would be like if this were only the prelude to a whole night of hot sex.

Suddenly, he stopped, his fingers resting lightly on my clavicles. Electricity coursed through me, along with overpowering desire. This situation could get out of hand fast.  

“Don’t tighten up on me Serena,” he said near my ear.

A moan slipped out before I could stop it. “Teros, I need to be honest with you. I’m thinking and feeling things about you that are totally inappropriate not only because you’re a monk. But I’m also old enough to be your mother and definitely should know better. I’m sorry. ” 

He kept massaging but said nothing.

Talk about your awkward silences. The pressure of his fingers against my skin had me practically coming.

Nervous laughter. Mine. “I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you. Maybe we should call it a night.” 

His breath tickled my ear. Then I felt his lips press against that sensitive spot just above my shoulder blade. A shudder went through me. I must be dreaming.  Either that or I’d just jumped onto the devil’s expressway to hell.

He chuckled.

His hot breath against my skin made me wetter, and my clit throbbed. I squeezed my legs tight.

This is freaking impossible!

He leaned over my shoulder, the heat from his chest penetrating the thin material of my top. I breathed in his scent and felt my pussy clinch reflexively.

His strong fingers slid under my chin and turned my face until only a few molecules of air separated our lips.

“Serena,” he whispered. “I’m not a monk.”  

What!? Yes! No! Oh, god help me!

Unable to stop, I closed that space, putting my lips against his perfect mouth. He responded, burying his fingers in my hair and pulling me closer. After a brief chaste moment, his tongue slid into my mouth, and my body suddenly exploded into life.

 Great Excerpt Candice! Wishing you many sales!

I hope you’ll give this one a try.  It is a labor of love … and lust.  Also check out my website for contests, info and the blog ramblings of a woman a of a certain age atwww.candicebutler.com   Serving Serena releases on December 19th atwww.nobleromance.com    I'm hoping to live up to the moniker Hot New Talent. 

I would love to hear from anyone. 

Thanks again for stopping by Candice. It was lovely to get to know you a bit better :-)