@LeighEllwood Visits the ‘Verse: Sugar Rush, #lesfic from @ellorascave

Welcome Leigh, another lovely author of F/F romance! Thanks for stopping by today to share your novella Sugar Rush!

❦

Hello, and thanks to Skylar for having me on her blog today. I am presently on the road promoting my new novella, Sugar Rush, out this month through Ellora’s Cave. Sugar Rush is part of a special line of stories called Hot Pink – sensual romances between women. As EC is known mainly for their alpha heroes, you could say this is history in the making (though EC has put out some lesbian romance in the past). I’m thrilled to be part of this line, which features many great authors.

As this is LGBT Pride Month, and Sugar Rush begins with news of a wedding, I’d like to touch on marriage equality. Personally, I support it. If two people love each other and wish to live together as spouses – man/woman, man/man, woman/woman – I say congratulations to them and may they enjoy many happy years. Of course, some people don’t believe same-sex couples should enjoy wedded bliss, and I don’t understand why one person would adamantly prevent somebody else’s happiness. “If you don’t like gay marriage, don’t get gay married,” a friend tells me.

I open Sugar Rush with two older women, finally able to legally marry in their state, coming to Neve’s bakery to order a cake. The overwhelming emotion of that first scene got to me as I wrote it, and I tried to put myself in their shoes. I can’t imagine walking into a business and having the proprietor turn me away because he/she didn’t approve of my choice of spouse. When you think about the 1967 case Loving vs. Virginia, which struck down laws that prohibited interracial marriage, acceptance of marriages considered “non-traditional” is a fairly recent happening. Heck, a 1972 sitcom called Bridget Loves Bernie was cancelled despite high ratings because people complained about seeing a Catholic girl married to a Jewish man on television! Imagine how Cam and Mitchell of Modern Family would have been received back then.

Are we there yet as far as marriage equality is concerned? I like to think we’re on our way. This month, as I see the release of my novella, I hope everybody who finds true love – regardless of race, religion, and gender – finds a happily ever after at the altar if they choose it.

Best, Leigh

~Blurb~

Baker Neve Rush is surprised to receive social media attention, both the good and bad varieties, after agreeing to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. She cares about people’s tastes in pastries, not sexual partners. The newfound fame has gained her new customers—as well as one resurfaced ex. Gianna stirs up memories Neve would rather forget, and an impromptu flirtation with a client might just do the trick.

Judy Goldsmith finds Neve’s open-mindedness refreshing and attractive, and isn’t above a little scheming to get to know her better. As Neve and Judy satisfy each other’s sweet tooth in the most pleasurable ways possible, feelings begin to blossom. But their deepening attraction may not survive a little white lie…and an even bigger, darker secret.

A Romantica® GLBT erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Buy Now! Kindle ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Ellora’s Cave

❦

I am Leigh Ellwood. I write smutty stories about people who like getting naked and having sex. Some have more sex than others, some have sex with people of the same gender, some have sex with more than one person, and still others have sex with toys and things that require the use of batteries. My stories range from a few thousand words to well past 70k. My books are available at Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, Kobo, and ARe. Really, just type my name in any bookstore site and something is bound to show up.

Please stalk me online for news about my books and crazy adventures.

http://www.leighellwood.com
http://leighwantsfood.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/LeighEllwood
http://www.facebook.com/leighellwoodauthor

 

#Writing Authentic Characters: Spying for a Cause!

~ This POST was originally published on The Decadent 1Night Stand blog ~

As an author, one of my goals is to make my characters as human as possible. That means spending a good amount of time studying how people talk and behave “in the wild”. While I do need to often turn off my Steve Irwin voice while people-watching, I try to fit in these five research activities as often as possible:

1. Watching shows like Justified and Lie to Me: The writers for Justified have an amazing ear for authentic dialogue. Watching that show is like a full hour of studying the use of timing and pauses and snappy verbal exchanges. Lie to Me is a brilliant complement, as it’s all about body language and what microexpressions and movements people make when they’re subconsciously thinking about something.
2. Observing couples at an amusement park: There’s something about long lines and crowds that bring out the best—or worst—in a couple. Watching a pair in love interact under such “strenuous” circumstances is wonderful fodder for how couples fight.
3. Studying couples on dates: One of the only reasons I enjoy going out on traditional date nights (I’d much rather spend Friday and Saturday lounging at home!) is to watch other couples in their best romantic light. Do they sit on the same side of the booth? Do they fight under the strain of having a “perfect” evening? Who orders the food? If amusement parks bring out the worst in couples, a date displays them on their best behavior.
4. Reading magazines outside my interests: Writing a young, brilliant billionaire? You know he reads Forbes. Dark, brooding hero has a fast car? Pick up Car and Driver. In 30 minutes, you can snag enough knowledge to make small character details authentic. I particularly love fawning over the expensive men’s clothing and accessories in GQ.
5. Listening to everyday conversations: If you catch me out at a coffee shop, I’m usually in the corner with my headphones on. Most of the time, I’m listening to music and writing. The rest…well, people have the illusion of privacy in coffee shops, and will talk about everyday things. This is an amazing way of listening to verbal cadences, studying when full sentences are used versus sentence fragments, and the way questions are answered in real life (i.e. not always directly).  This is also a great place to pick up casual tics, like gesturing with a coffee cup, smoothing out eyebrows, and fiddling with purse straps.

So next time you see your author sitting in the corner being antisocial, just remember—she’s not a misanthrope, she’s a spy!

Saloni Quinby Visits the ‘Verse: Fangs & Floggers

~Interview~

Skylar: Why/how did you start writing romance?

Saloni: I’ve always enjoyed stories about people sharing adventures and falling in love. Even if the romance is a secondary part of a story, I enjoy having it there.

Skylar: Who are some of your favorite romance authors?

Saloni: I have so many favorites, but the first to come to mind are Charlotte Boyett-Compo and Jack Greene.

 Skylar: What do you consider the most challenging about writing?

Saloni: For me the most challenging thing about writing is deciding what to write next. I feel like I constantly have characters in my head, battling over whose story will be next.

Skylar: Who is your favorite character from one of your stories and why?

Saloni: It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I feel closer to some characters than to others. In the Weapons of Redemption series, Tarun has a special place in my heart–probably because I’m partial to antiheroes and characters who are considered villains.

Skylar: If you get writer’s block when you’re writing, how do you get around it?

Saloni: For me the best way to get over writer’s block is to put aside the story that’s giving me trouble and write something else, even if just for fun. It gets the creative juices flowing and I can return to what I’m supposed to be working on sooner.

Skylar: How has your upbringing influenced your writing?

Saloni: I’ve always loved to write about vampires and it’s probably because my mother was a big vampire fan, so I grew up watching Christopher Lee’s Dracula movies and reading books like Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro’s Hotel Transylvania.

Skylar: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Saloni: For as long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with books and stories. I love all kinds of fiction–books, movies, just about any type of storytelling. I really wanted to tell my own stories and hopefully give other people pleasure through them since storytelling has been such an important part of my life.

 

~Blurb~

To lure his rebellious blood children back into the fold, ancient vampire Tarun abducted the hunter Adrian. He hadn’t bargained on his human prisoner being a match for him in every way–including his darkest desires.

Now Tarun is the captive and a player in Adrian’s carnal game–an orgasm for an answer. Though Tarun warns Adrian that he won’t like what he hears, the hunter is determined to uncover the secrets of the vampire’s twisted past.

Purchase from Changeling Press or All Romance eBooks

~Excerpt~

Sprawled naked on a king-size bed covered in black satin sheets, Adrian stared at his captor and lover, who stood nearby.

Tarun’s dark gaze roamed over Adrian as he unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off. Tendrils of long, dark hair tumbled over Tarun’s shoulders and down his back, a contrast to his pale skin that was marked with several old scars on his chest, shoulders and arms. Though Adrian couldn’t see his back, he knew it was crisscrossed with scars too. Tarun had seen much in his long life. He’d both caused and endured more than one man’s share of pain. Despite his twisted soul and wrongdoings, Adrian didn’t want to see him destroyed.

“Cancel this meeting tonight with your blood sons,” Adrian said.

A wry smile flickered across Tarun’s slim lips. “Impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible. Brayden and Ansley will betray you tonight. You know I’m right.”

“I know you don’t trust them and with good reason.”

“Why do you? For the past century they’ve been trying to kill you. Do you honestly believe they’ve reconciled with you? Just because they’ve been living here and working for you –”

“You said yourself you couldn’t read them completely. You don’t know if my blood sons will turn on me tonight or if they’ll finally come home.”

“This is not home to them and you know it. And you’re wrong about me not being able to read Brayden and Ansley. I know what they’re feeling and I can take a good guess about what they’re thinking. They’re torn. Part of them loves you and part of them hates you.”

Tarun sighed and sat on the edge of the bed to remove his shoes and socks.

They still had a couple of hours before the Weapons of Redemption, as Tarun’s five rebellious blood sons liked to call themselves, arrived at the mansion. This was supposed to be a reunion dinner, but Adrian knew it would end in disaster. He wanted to try convincing Tarun one last time, but he knew it wouldn’t work so he’d taken precautions to prepare for the worst. Even Tarun didn’t know about his plans.

Adrian’s brother, Shane, was supposed to be at this strange family gathering as well, in the company of Bryce, the first blood son to betray Tarun — the most dangerous and calculating of the five.

Pushing himself onto his elbow, Adrian reached out to caress Tarun’s back. The man was thin but wiry — far stronger than he looked.

“Brayden and Ansley are torn about what they’ll do tonight,” Adrian continued. “But I’ll bet on them siding with their brothers. Why don’t you just release me and cancel the meeting?”

Tarun gave a snort of wry laughter. He turned to Adrian and cupped his cheek. “Because, handsome, contrary to popular belief, this isn’t all about you.”

“I know. It’s about whatever you’ve been hiding from me since I got here and you realized I can read you but you can’t read me.”

“I don’t need psychic powers to figure you out, Adrian. Everything you feel is reflected in those sexy blue eyes of yours. You’re worried about me. I’m touched, but there’s no way in hell I’m canceling dinner with my blood sons. Not tonight.”

“What’s so special about tonight, except that it’s New Year’s Eve?”

“It’s special to me. That’s all you have to know. Now in case everything goes wrong, give me a proper sendoff.” Tarun stood and quickly removed his pants, then he rejoined Adrian in bed. He lay on top of the taller man and kissed him.

❦

The child of a painter and a psychic dreamer, Saloni Quinby feels spirituality and storytelling go hand-in-hand. She loves the scent of gardenia, the sound of wind chimes and the taste of honey. By listening to what isn’t said, she creates works based on unspoken desires. Saloni prefers blurred gender lines and many varieties of romance. In a world where passion must at times be restrained, she believes erotica is a pleasure to be shared. With her stories she would like to make her fantasies yours and hopes you enjoy the ride. She also writes under the name Kate Hill.

Find Saloni online:

website http://www.kate-hill.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kate.hill.92505

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/katehillromance

Faye Hall Visits the ‘Verse: She’s Alot Like You

~Interview~

Skylar: When and why did you begin writing?

Faye: I always loved stories as a kid and it fascinated me how they were written. I would even try to write different endings to some of my fairy tales. By the time I started high school I was writing my own original poems and short stories. Several of my poems were published in local and international journals.

Skylar: Why/how did you start writing romance?

Faye: I was about 15 or 16 when I wrote my first romance story. It was barely more than a couple of pages written in the back of one of my school books. I loved how I could write about two peoples life struggles but always give them a happy ending. I instantly thought “This is for me!”

Skylar: What inspires you?

Faye: Movies, music, other authors, etc? I find a lot of inspiration in music…all types of music too…my collection ranges from 1960’s rock to opera to more modern heavy rock. In more recent years though I have been able to find just as much inspiration from certain TV series and movies.

Skylar: What are you working on at the moment?

Faye: At the moment I’m waiting for edits for a third script titled “Mistress of Purity”. So while I wait for that I’ve started writing a new script called “Passions in the Dust”. It’s about a man who lives on a cattle station in Bowen, Queensland, Australia who buys a mail order bride from England. When she arrives though he discovers her to have been one of his mistresses back in England. There are cattle rustlers and many disasters happening on his station too. So that is managing to keep me very busy.

Skylar:Who is your favorite character from one of your stories and why? Favorite character?

Faye: Is it bad of me to say I love them all lol. But if I had to choose only one I guess it would have to be Rush Mullens, the heroine from my debut eBook ‘My Gift To You’. She’s a gutsy little thing who just doesn’t give much of a damn about the restrictions of society.

Skylar: If you get writer’s block when you’re writing, how do you get around it?

Faye: My husband is wonderful for getting me through writers block! He starts asking me about whichever story I’m working on at that particular time and asking me ‘why is this there?’ or ‘what happens next?’. He gets me talking about things until the story just starts to flow again.

Skylar: What’s your biggest writing achievement? Why?

Faye: I see all my published works as a fantastic achievement. I’ve been writing and submitting works for about 15 years now, so I know quite well how hard it is to get into the very competitive market of romance. I still literally jump for joy with every acceptance letter I get for a script.

~Blurb~

Willow Jameson knew nothing of her family’s past or their connection to the Morgan family when she first met Re Morgan.  All she seen was his ruggedly handsome appearance, his gentle words luring her into his strong embrace.  What she found was a passion beyond compare.
She couldn’t have foreseen the lies and family betrayal that would inevitably rob her of the man she loved and forever change her life.

TEN YEARS LATER
Willow returned to the town life she loved so much, no longer ignorant to those who had separated her from the man she’d loved.  She was back now to make those responsible pay for all they’d taken from her.  In her search what she found was the hardened man Re Morgan had become…
…a man whose mere glance reignited a passion she had thought long since forgotten.
Re Morgan had left a horde of jilted lovers in his trail.  When he seen Willow again across the crowded dancehall, he wanted nothing more than to add her to this list.  Re wanted little more than a short, heated affair.
What he became involved in was far more scandalous than he could have ever imagined.

Purchase She’s Alot Like You

~Excerpt~

Willow stood with her back to Re, never able to see his approach. She didn’t even see the look of horror on his face…nor did he see the gleam of tears on her cheeks. All he saw was her being held in Chris’s arms, her body only a breath away from his. It was a closeness he knew was far from accepted in polite society.

It was a closeness he shared with her…had thought to only share with her.

Looking to his friend, Re silently pleaded with him. He needed to hear him say it was all just a misunderstanding. He needed him to put at ease the quickly growing doubt in his heart.

But he didn’t hear any of this. All he saw was the obvious lust gleaming in the young man’s eyes.

Chris cocked his brow, as if it was obvious their reason for being together. When Re looked at him, begging to know the truth, Chris’s smile turned into an obvious sneer.

Slowly, he shrugged his shoulders.

“How could I refuse?” he muttered, his words almost a whisper.

Hearing this short statement through her distress, Willow knew someone had found them. Raising her tear-covered face from Chris’s shoulder she tried to free herself from his unrelenting grasp. Realising her struggles were useless, she turned in his arms to see who had approached them. Only too late did she realise just how suggestive her position would look.

Her eyes’ meeting the hurt and pain in Re’s eyes, Willow knew instantly what he was concluding of what he was seeing.

“Re,” she whispered, almost desperate.

His dark stare turned hateful.

“Damn you both to hell!” he spat at them, immediately turning back to make a quick return to the estate house.

“Re,’ she again called after him, struggling against Chris’s tight hold.

When Chris didn’t let her go despite her struggles, she turned slightly and pushed him away with all her might.

“You son of a bitch,’ she spat at him, suddenly realising this man’s intentions.

“I may be, madam,” he replied casually. “Yet even you can’t deny what you wanted when you lured me out here.”

Her dark eyes narrowed with hate.

“I hope you rot in hell, you bastard!”

Turning quickly, Willow ran after Re’s retreating figure. She knew what he must be thinking, but he had to know she played no willing part in it. He had to know the truth.

“Willow,” Chris called after her, slight anger in his tone. “Damn it, you know you want this as much as I do.”

But she never turned back to him. She only kept chasing the retreating figure of the man she loved.

❦

Faye Hall is a published author of Historical Erotic Romance novels & e-books. Though her early published works include poetry, newspaper articles, and online local events reports, her passion has always been with her romantic tales set in late 19th Century Australia. Upon being contracted with Red Sage Publishing, her dream of being a published author became a reality.

Faye finds inspiration in the world around her and bases most of her characters on people she has met in her life.

After a whirl-wind romance, Faye married her childhood sweetheart early 2013. She currently lives in Queensland, Australia with her husband and their 9 children.

You can find Faye at:

website http://www.faye-hall.com

blog http://www.faye-hall.com/?cat=16

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Faye-Hall/174774709247649

Twitter https://twitter.com/FayeHall79

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6882637.Faye_Hall

#OrangeCounty writing workshop with Michael Hauge. Register now with @occrwa!

STORY MASTERY SEMINAR

During this special, all-day seminar, Hollywood script and story consultant Michael Hauge, best-selling author of Writing Screenplays That Sell and Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read, will give you his unique approach to creating compelling screenplays and novels, and to eliciting emotion in your readers through story concept, plot structure, character development and theme. Michael will then reveal his proven method for getting the people in power to read your screenplay or manuscript.

Topics covered will include:

• The primary goal of all story
• The power of desire, need, longing and destiny
• The essential conflict all characters must face
• Turning plot structure from a complicated concept into a simple, powerful tool you can easily apply to every story
• The single key to creating character arc and theme
• Creating unique, believable and fulfilling love stories
• Adapting a novel into film
• The single biggest mistake writers make in pitching their work
• The eight steps to a powerful pitch

If you want to elevate your writing to the highest possible level, this event is a must.

For more information and to register, click here

 

Cover Reveal: @TaraLain’s Wolf in Gucci Loafers

Wolf in Gucci Loafers 

(Tales of the Harker Pack #2)

by Tara Lain

 

Blurb:

Socialite Lindsey Vanessen wants someone to love who will love him back — an impossibility for a gay, half-human, half-werewolf. Too aggressive for humans, too gay for wolves, and needing to protect the pack from human discovery, Lindsey tries to content himself with life as a successful businessman. But when someone starts kidnapping members of wealthy families, Lindsey meets tough cop Seth Zakowsy—the hunky embodiment of everything Lindsey wants but can’t have.

Seth has never been attracted to flamboyant men. What would the guys in the department think of Lindsey? But intrigue turns to lust when he discovers Lindsey’s biting, snarling passion more than matches his dominant side. It might mean a chance at love for a cop in black leather and a wolf in Gucci loafers.

Release Date:

April 16, 2014

Available for Pre-Order on 

March 17, 2014

Excerpt

 “Lindsey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, sir. I’m doing well.”

“Come talk to me.” His grandfather turned
and walked into the living room.

Did he want to talk? He’d have to be careful, but yes. Pop-Pop was a smart man. He walked down the stairs and into the large, comfortable room. His grandfather sat on a love seat at one end of the room, so he took the identical seat across from him. He leaned back and crossed his legs. Look relaxed.

Pop-Pop sat forward. “Romantic troubles?”

Wow.
The old man had a way of diving to the truth. “Not exactly.”

“I heard you had a date with the Westerberg son. Your mother’s doing, I believe.” The old man could have been talking about a date with a girl, he was so comfortable with it.

“Yes, sir.”

“Did you like him?”

“Well enough.”

“Ah, so he’s not the issue.”

Lindsey grinned. His grandfather was enjoying the guessing game.

“So if it’s not exactly romantic troubles, what exactly is it?”

“I guess you could call it unrequited romantic interest.”

He rubbed his hands together. “Now this is interesting. I’ve seen you with many men over the years since you returned from school, but none of them lasted more than a few dates, and none of them ever sparked
what I would call romantic interest. How odd that you should affix your affection on one who doesn’t care about you. Have you considered it might be a form of self-protection? Only wanting the ones you can’t have has a way of keeping you single.”

Lindsey grinned. “I guess that’s possible sometimes, but not in this case. He’s just highly inappropriate. A tough cop I met while helping Dave with the kidnapping issue. Dave asked if I would take him to the polo match to give him a chance to investigate among people we know without being too obvious. So I did it.” Lindsey shrugged.

“And got caught in your own trap.”

He smiled, but it hurt around the edges. “Yes, I guess. I found him attractive from the start but assumed he was straight, so it was just a harmless flirtation. After the match, I found out he’s gay, so that made the vast expanse between us more real.”

Pop-Pop frowned. “It’s not like you to discriminate based on class.”

“Nothing like that, sir. He’s the one discriminating, I’m sure. I’m simply not at all his type. A bit too lavender silk for his black leather, shall we say.”

His grandfather steepled his fingers and stared over them. “You’re not just one thing, Lindsey. I’ve know many men in my life and you’re one of the very best. Smart, decisive, action-oriented, kind, and basically good. Unlike your father, I might add. You need a man who sees that. But you’ve got good judgment, so if you think this cop is romance-worthy, then my bet is there’s something there worth pursuing. Ride him down, son!” He laughed that big robust sound that had comforted Lindsey since the day he was born.

About the Author

Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her best­selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soul­mate husband and her soul­mate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

You can find Tara at

               

Presented By