An Interview with Cate Masters and a Chance to Win A Book!

Alisha: Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood? Favorite memories?

Cate: My family lived in the country, out of walking distance of most neighbors. I’m the youngest of seven, so we learned to entertain ourselves. I began writing because I spent so much time alone (the others being older, they didn’t waste too much time at home!) and we lived in such a beautiful area, I tried to capture it in words. Even in grade school, my friends were all either musically inclined or we wrote poetry (actually, we wanted them to be song lyrics some day, but that never happened. Good thing, because I never learned to play any instrument very well!)

Alisha: Tell us about the hero and heroine in your latest release.

Cate: The inspiration came, of all places, from the Word of the Day. The word was duende, defined as kind of a demon muse who can sometimes drive the artist to madness. That single word brought to mind a character, who became Devon the duende. Melinda the muse is the heroine, who’s at her wit’s end trying to inspire her lazy student to write. Devon’s assigned to light a fire under them both – and he certainly does!

Alisha: If you were granted three wishes by a genie, what would they be?

Cate: That my family were all healthy, their lives fulfilled and that I could support them with my writing (I keep telling my husband someday I’ll take care of him as well as he’s taken care of me!)

Alisha:If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?

Cate: So many places! I’ve always wanted to go to Egypt, England and Ireland, and Yosemite. I’d settle for a good concert at this point. I don’t get out much.

Alisha: If you could see anyone tomorrow (dead or alive), who would it be?

Cate: I always thought I was born in the wrong century. I would have loved to have lived at the same time as Sam Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. I saw a documentary about him and fell madly in love with him because of his irreverent wit, and his complete dedication to his wife was so romantic! And I love his writing, of course.

Alisha: Sigh...yes, he was wonderful. If you could choose six people to spend one week on a desert island, who would it be and why?

Cate: I don’t know if I’d choose particular people, but the six would have to include a poet, a comedian, a musician, a philosopher, an engineer and a cook. The philosopher could keep us sane with reason while the engineer works on a plan to get us the heck out of there. Meanwhile, the poet and musician would keep us entertained, and the comedian would keep our spirits up. And the cook, well, that’s so I wouldn’t have to!

Alisha: What word or phrase tingles in all the right places for you?

Cate: I don’t have a particular favorite. Any well-constructed sentence can do it for me.

Alisha: If you had one day to spoil yourself, what would you do?

Cate: Write. Hmm, I spoil myself a lot!

Alisha: If you could change one incident in your life, what would it be and how would you change it?

Cate: I don’t believe in regrets - I believe everything that happens in life happens for a reason, whether good or bad. Everything’s a learning experience. And I don’t believe in failure, either – the only way to fail is to give up.

Alisha: What’s the sexiest thing a man has ever done for you or said to you or both?

Cate: My husband’s the sexiest guy I’ve ever known. Luckily, I get to spend every day with him! He’s wholeheartedly supported my writing, for which I’ll always love him. (But then, he knows how cranky I get when I’m not writing!)


The Duende and the Muse – Available May 6
Excerpt
Melinda is startled when she notices a dark figure leaning against a booth across the aisle. He stands out like a charcoal etching against the background of clouds—harsh outlines, jagged features. Menacing yet compelling. He smiles, and lightning flashes from his dazzling white teeth, zinging through her.
She’s never seen a muse like him, but he must be one—otherwise, he wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t be stepping toward her with the intensity of a jaguar, a laserlight in his eye, teeth bared in a hungry smile.
This guy looks like a Vanity Fair ad—layered hair mussed just so, sandals with a jacket and jeans that fit really well. She runs her hand across her belly to quell the tiny pinpricks. She’s been so busy with work lately, she hasn’t met anyone new.
“Who’s that?” Her wings can’t beat fast enough to cool the heat rising from deep inside her.
Calliope turns to Euterpe. “Oh my. How did he get in here?”
Euterpe squints in his direction, then furrows her brow. “A duende. They’ll let anyone in these days.”
That explains it. She’s heard of them—said to be a combination of charm, magic, inspiration, fire, magnetism—and demon. Muses were warned at an early age not to take up with duendes. Tales of muse-duende liaisons were fraught with disaster and downfall—for the muse. Duendes managed to carry on unscathed, though their methods of inspiration could be deadly for their students. The thought vanishes quicker than a flicker of sunlight on water as he moves toward her and says hello in a voice whose timbre resounds within her.
“Hi.” She stares, entranced by his dark beauty.
His smile envelops her. “I’m Devon.”
She extends her hand. “I’m Melinda. So nice to meet you.” Fire sparks in her fingers as he takes her hand in his, then leans to kiss it. A tingling crawls up her arms and neck and into her head, where it scrambles her thoughts. His gaze lingers on her lips, and they quiver open like a rosebud blooming in sunlight.
His voice is like a hot wind in the desert. “The pleasure’s all mine.”
Oh, she doubts it.


Here’s the trailer:


Alisha: Thanks for being my guest of honor today, Cate! Come back soon!

Cate: Thanks so much for letting me visit today, Alisha! I’m excited that The Wild Rose Press is releasing The Duende and the Muse, my Faery Rosette, on May 6. I’d like to offer an advance copy to a random commenter today who tells me whether you’re inspired by a muse or a duende (if it drives you crazy!), and a little bit about your own inspiration. And if you miss your chance today, come to my blog at http://catemasters.blogspot.com on May 6 – I’ll have another contest then!

Signs from The Man Upstairs or Maybe I'm Just Mental!

I know all my writer friends out there are going to groan when they hear this because I know better. Really I do. I always back up everything. At least I used to. Last week my computer crashed. Don't know why. I have virus protection and plenty of memory. It just decided to die. Along with it, died two manuscripts and many precious family photos. I think I can retrieve the stuff. Of course I'll have to pay out the wahzoo to do so, but some of the experts tell me that 99% of the time, they can recover lost data. Good news. Sort of. I guess.



I'm trying to make the best of it. I'm one of those fools that looks for signs. No, not freeway signs...signs from God. I'm looking for direction and generally when I ask for it, I get it. I was working on one of those manuscripts, planning to go in a whole new direction with my writing. That WIP is bye-bye. It forced me to go back to another werewolf novel I had been working on about six months ago. When I heard the market was saturated with these stories, I had put it aside.




If you read my blog often, you'll remember that I just went to a writer's conference in Dallas and heard from editors and agents that paranormal romances are still very much in demand...so....I'm back to working on this book and will charge full speed ahead.




See, I took that computer crash as a sign. For many things. Back up everything. Even if it's a page. Back up daily. It also taught me this. I better get a regular old camera. I never do anything with the digital photos. They sit on my computer. What a waste.

But most importantly, that computer crash reminded me to follow my heart. Ignore the market news. Let's hope I can remember to write from my gut, follow my passions. I adore paranormals. I was one of those kids that thought Halloween was the VERY BEST TIME OF THE YEAR...and being an October baby only confirmed it. I'm a lover of shadows, autumn winds and smoke fires. And I'm totally in love with with the hero of my latest WIP, Axl, grandson of Lord of the Wolfen. Here's what he looks like.



So speak up, friends. Do you believe in signs?

Recharging the Writer's Soul

One thing is for sure about writers. We sit on our bums all day or all night, depending on when you write. And that's just not good for the bones or the soul. We all need to recharge and I'm sure you all have your various methods. What are yours? Share yours today and I'll pick the most original and give the winner his or her choice of any of my books in virtual format.

One of my favorite ways to recharge is gardening. I did plenty of that yesterday. I love digging the earth with my giant cooking spoon. Do you think I should invest in some gardening tools? I have and they aren't as good as my spoons. I go nuts in the kitchen aisle and I'm shopping for garden stuff. My mother doesn't have a green thumb. She has a green body, a green soul, green hair. She looks like freaking Oscar the Grouch. No kidding. The woman's house is like one giant African violet. She's constantly bringing over cuttings, bulbs, baskets and flats of whatever plant is overtaking her garden. I have news for you mom...uh, it's a lost cause. And get this, I'm not kidding either. When my parents go out of town, I take care of their kitties..no problem, a couple of cans of Fancy Feast, fresh water and rubbing behind the ears. No joke here...it takes me nearly 2 freaking hours to water her stuff. Groannnnnnnnnnn....so there I am lugging a baby on my hip for two hours while I talk to the garden hose about my latest WIP. I complain a lot but really I love it. This recharges my battery as much as working in my own garden. Nothing more soothing then being outside, listening to the birds chirping, giving the earth and the flowers a nice, long drink. I once saw a psychic that told me if I'm ever stuck on a book, to run water. She said it makes everything flow. I thought she was nuts until I realized I do my best plotting in the shower. Watering plants works too. Try it.





Okay, many of my wicked blogger friends know that I adore wine, particularly red wine. Well, last year I planted a grapevine. Well, I affectionately call it my winevine. Cause that's what it is really. It's gorgeous this year. Last year it was a stick with one leaf. Check it out.


I love watching my plants start out as tiny little things in the spring and grow to full bodied beauties in the summer and this baby is just getting started. This really recharges my battery. And I love the sunshine on my skin and face. You know, sunshine is prescribed for people in dreary climates. Sunshine is rich in Vitamin D and helps with depression. I think many writers fall into depression needlessly because we are shut inside like mad scientists, working furiously on a deadline. Stop it! Go outside! Thankfully, many of us have laptops.

I love to take my kids to the park or get a glass of wine and hang out in the backyard while they play. Pack a picnic lunch and head to the ole swimming hole. We have a great creek nearby. My honey and I have had some wonderful days there too. The kids love to catch turtles, watch minnows, dig in the mud and collect rocks and shells. Take the dogs on a walk, take the kids out in the stroller or mix it up and do both! Venture outdoors and recharge that battery!







Another thing that we often do to ourselves as writers is deprive ourselves of precious sleep. This is a big fat no-no! We need our sleep! And if you're like me and you're forced to write at night because of the rugrats, then take a nap with the baby. Your body and mind will thank you for it later and your brain will be recharged, refreshed and wired, ready to go for several hours of good writing that same night. If you don't, you might end up like Tiny down below.



Okay, now my ultimate favorite way to unwind, relax and recharge is...I bet it's yours too....snicker. Hmmmm....I wonder...what could it be...that's right....some good ole fashioned kissing, face sucking, lip hugging, neck licking, you name it. I love to kiss, as most women do and many men generally like to skip this MOST important bit of foreplay. For me, it IS the foreplay and the very best way to revel in your lover's scent and special brand of love. *Sigh* Kissing is oh so intimate and seductive and then of course, it leads to the really good shit so let's all recharge our batteries with this baby. Put this at the top of your list at RECHARGE LESSON #1....WE MUST MAKE LOVE AND LOTS OF IT!!!! And hey, it's a fabulous reason to post more hot as hell eye candy pics!








Now Wicked Bloggers....UNITE, GO FORTH, RECHARGE THOSE BATTERIES!!! I double dog dare you to seduce your lover the second he or she walks through your door today. Say it was an assignment. Report back with the details. All of them. The more vivid the better. Now, DO IT! Then you can garden.

~Alisha

People Watching...Another Hobby of Mine!

Not only am I a barfly but one of my favorite hobbies is people watching. Every single person has their quirks and this is what I'm looking for, as well as listening to vocabulary, slang and interesting physical traits.

Next time you stop at Starbucks to get a cup of coffee, do what I do. Before you open your laptop and start writing like mad, sip your hot java and watch for a bit. The characters in your current WIP may change before your eyes...literally! Watch the adorable elderly couple and imagine them forty years before. Notice how he still opens the door for her and helps her to her seat. Notice how there's not a hair out of place and her red lipstick is applied with perfection. Catch a whiff of his cologne and imagine them having a picnic in their youth. It's not hard.




Watch the mom toting three kids, her hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, juggling a baby on her hip, shushing a toddler and scolding a teen insisting on buying another CD. BTW, that mom is me. Watch as her husband takes the baby for her, kisses him on the cheek and buys a chocolate milk for the four year old. Notice how he pats his wife on the behind when he thinks no one is looking. A frazzled mom turns into a sexpot kitten and you can imagine what the two of them will do when the teen heads over to a friends house tonight and they put the little ones to bed.

Watch as she kisses his scruffy cheek and tells him to wait another day before shaving. "I was hoping to get some, tonight," He half whispers as he adds a ridiculous amount of sugar to his coffee. Remember, you're still sitting there pretending to work on your masterpiece when really you're recording all kinds of cool characteristics for your current hero and heroine and all secondary characters. Pay close attention. Notice how worn his hands are and the tan lines. He's a laborer. Watch him smile and see that crooked tooth that would have any dentist charging you half a week's paycheck to fix and realize that it makes him sexier. Hear the snort at the end of her laugh and write it down. It's cute. Goofy, but cute.



Watch the woman in her forties stroll through the door in workout clothes and no make-up. Write it down. Make-up would cover up this woman's true beauty. Notice the mole on her face and her sexy laugh lines. Her skin is as pale as milk but a tanning bed would conceal her glorious complexion. Notice how she sings to herself as she chooses a bag of coffee to purchase. And write down what kind she buys. She chooses a dark roasted full bodied bean. What does this mean? Plain Jane, workout queen picked the heartiest flavor of all. The bitter stuff that makes your toes curl. There's much more to her beneath the suface. You need to scratch at it and find it. Find it all. Uncover her layers and see what lies beneath.

This is what we must do with our characters and people watching is a terrific exercise when forming our characters. Remember little quirks that made you fall in love with your own lover. Write them down. Use them. There's no better way for a writer to honor another. And on the flip side of the coin, remember all the villians you've come across in life. You better believe that I have and I use their wicked traits in my books and it's oh so lovely to kill these people off. Yes, I might be a little nuts but I haven't met a writer who isn't..just a tad.

So, here's your assignment...go forth my wicked bloggers and people watch to your heart's content! Do it at a restaurant, a coffee shop, a bar, the grocery store, the beach...ooooh, yes, the beach is a good place for my favorite hobby...especially on a warm summer day. Sometimes it's X rated.



Happy Reading, Writing and People Watching!
~Alisha

An Interview with Ashley Ludwig and the Coolest Contest Ever!

Alisha: Please welcome Ashley Ludwig to my blog today! Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood? Favorite memories?

Ashley: This is a timely one for today! My childhood has been compared by my best friends as the Brady Bunch – without the divorce! I grew up watching my parents who have always been very much in love (45 years, this year!) and every summer they took us camping. We towed our trailer all over the American west, visiting every single national park west of the Mississippi! (Timely, b/c my own family is headed on a trailer trip for the weekend! – DH, two little girls 5 & 3 ½ and the family dog! What fun!

Alisha: Wow! What a blast! You'll have to come back and tell us all about it. Tell us about the hero and heroine in your latest release.

Ashley: The story – By Another Name, published by White Rose Publishing - tells the story of Rosalee Timmons – a small town girl, tormented in high school who returns home seven years later as “Lee” - a single mom, starting a new business, and a new life.

Kade Sinclair is a hometown boy. Always one of the more popular crowd, he never thought much about timid little Rosalee – not even when he inadvertently broke her heart. When he meets Lee by accident, he has no idea who she is or why she is suddenly emblazoned on his soul. When he finds out, he knows he has a long road to gain her forgiveness. But it’s worth the travel.

Alisha: This sounds like a keeper. I love these kinds of stories! If you were granted three wishes by a genie, what would they be?

Ashley: Let’s see… I thought about fame, then I thought about fortune… but really, what really, really matters to me is my family… SO:
I’d wish for long, happy, fulfilled lives for each my daughters (is that one wish, or two?)
I’d wish for my own romance with my husband to last long into our sunset years.
I’d wish finally for us all to stay close to each other – in proximity and location!

Alisha: If you could go anywhere to tomorrow, where would you go?

Ashley: Well, we’re going to the lake in our tiny little camper – SO what I wish we could be doing? Would be going to the beach house we visited last summer on Emerald Bay, in Laguna Beach, California. Talk about a slice of heaven on earth! Crystal clear, blue pacific ocean, gently breaking surf, dolphins playing in the waves… Above, the warm summer sun, arcing through a scattered cotton sky; the beach sand so clean and silky you just want to sink your toes in and dig around… and absolutely NO ONE around for miles. PLUS, the picturesque, tri-level beach house we were blessed with staying in for a long weekend – looking like something out of a pottery barn catalog! Oh, sorry. Am I rambling?

Alisha: Sigh...sounds lovely! If you could see anyone tomorrow (dead or alive), who would it be?

Ashley: My grandma Vivian. I miss her. I think about her whenever I see a sunflower blooming.

Alisha: What a beautiful memory. If you could choose six people to spend one week on a desert island, who would it be and why?

Ashley: That’s easy! My best friend, my sister, my mom, my hubby, my dad, and the nanny who’ll be watching my KIDS! LOL.

Alisha: Oh yes! A nanny would come in handy! I can certainly relate to that. What word or phrase tingles in all the right places for you?

Ashley: It has to be the Jerry McGuire line… “You complete me.” What could be better than knowing you’re the other half of someone’s whole?

Alisha: That IS a great line. I loved it when I saw the movie. I gasped and then cried. If you had one day to spoil yourself, what would you do?

Ashley: Oooh. I had the chance to do this over Valentine’s Day! I’d spend the day at South Coast Winery – at the day spa – doing yoga, lounging and lunching by the pool, sauna and massage – maybe a full facial… followed by champagne and chocolate covered strawberries! BLISS!

Alisha: Uh...hellooooo....why did you not invite moi? Okay, I'm jealous. If you could change one incident in your life, what would it be and how would you change it?

Ashley: Wow. THIS is a good question. We are the sum total of our life’s experiences… and I’m liking where things are going. I think if I were to change ONE thing at this moment, I’d choose the moment when I first flubbed up a pitch to an agent at my first ever writing conference. I’d written a time travel, historical romance and had absolutely NO idea what I was doing and NO business pitching the thing. When asked if I would change an element of my story, I blinked. Absolutely no. That would ruin the story, I said. That was the end of that conversation. I’d go back and re-pitch, be brilliant, secure a HUGE deal with a HUGER advance. ;-)


Alisha: Don't sweat it, Ash. Those pitches are VERY HARD. I've done it four times and I still hate it. Talk about pressure! What’s the most romantic thing a man has ever done for you or said to you or both?

Ashley: I’d say, the most romantic thing a man has ever done for me… would be saying, “You sleep in. I’ll take the baby.”

That, and – of course – the Valentine’s day of pampering at South Coast Winery.

Alisha: That, my friend, is very sexy! Nothing sweeter than a man telling his beloved to sleep in while he cuddles the cutie pie. And btw, is there anything sexier than a daddy holding his baby? So adorable!


CONTEST: LEAVE A COMMENT FOR ASHLEY TODAY AND YOU'LL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING FOR THE NAMING RIGHTS FOR THE HERO AND HEROINE IN HER LATEST WIP (WORK IN PROGRESS). GOOD LUCK!

By Another Name Excerpt:
Ashley: Though I read in all areas, writing sweet romances is where my heart lies. Don't let that fool you! my characters still enjoy a certain chemistry...

"Hello?" The familiar, deep voice called out. Her stomach dropped to her knees. Kade. He was here.
The metal baking sheets clattered to her feet, a crescendo of orchestra cymbals. How did he find her? "Back here!" Lee's voice cracked.
She knelt, gathering the metal baking sheets together. Suddenly, he was helping pick up the mess. Their shoulders brushed. He was so tall. His rich auburn hair looked like he'd just rolled out of bed, his cheeks rough with at least two days of beard. Had Kade always towered over her, so? He'd certainly never looked at her this way.
His sea-foam eyes sparkled. She might as well have been a three-course meal for a starving man. He seemed to eat up the sight of her with those heavy lidded eyes, making her blush to her roots.
"Lee's Treats, huh…?" His gravely voice played a symphony on her eardrums. "Let me help you." He easily freed the trays from her shaking hands.
Lee's pulse zinged at his half-smile. Her emotions ran the gamut as she snapped, "It's okay. I've got it."
Kade stood to his full height and frowned, and then blinked through whatever clouded his expression. He merely held the heavy baking sheets as if they were pieces of paper.
One by one, she retrieved her trays, laying them on the stainless steel prep counter. "I'll take that, please," she said, the last one becoming a tug-of-war match between them. He held on to it like a shield. "Must be fate. Or a God thing. I only came by because my sister…and here you are!" "Sorry. We're closed." She yanked again. He smirked, pulling her towards him. "Have dinner with me. Tonight."
Lee closed her eyes in silent prayer. Lord, did you send him here to taunt me? "Give me the tray, Kade." She tugged.
"Or coffee, if that's easier. We can do whatever you want." He pulled.
"Just give it to me, already!" She shouted.
"Or, that…but, I didn't peg you as that kind of girl…" He laughed aloud, and she let go, scalded with the dripping innuendo.
Lord, his sideways smile is going to kill me. Dead. On the floor. Head in hands, she sighed. "The tray. Just lay it on the counter. Please."
His generous mouth twitched in amusement as he did as she asked.
"Well, thanks for dropping in. I've embarrassed myself enough for one day." Heat radiated from her cheeks to the top of her head. She must be three shades of red, by now.
"You saved me. Buying you a latte is the least I can do."
She eyed the purple bruise at his hairline, biting her lip. "I don't suppose you'll leave me alone until I say yes."
"Think you know me that well already?" His eyes were positively dancing.
Was it possible that he didn't recognize her?
*****
Ashley: Thanks for reading!

Alisha: Wonderful excerpt! Come back anytime, Ashley. Thanks for being my guest of honor today!

An Interview with C.R. Moss and A Drawing for "Concealed Affairs"!

Please welcome C.R. Moss to my blog today.

Alisha: Tell us about the hero and heroine in your latest release.

C.R.: Here is the blurb for Concealed Affairs available from www.extasybooks.com April 1, 2009 ~
Victoria Padden, ex-socialite and “retired party girl,” believes her life, her career, and comfortable all-be-it boring relationship with David Lloyd, is fine just the way it is. Landscaping business owner, Geoff McKenzie, is fascinated with Victoria but past failed relationships haunt him and make him wonder if he can find true happiness with her.
Despite their better judgments and attempt to just be friends, desire flares between them. Someone though doesn't want them to be together and threatens Victoria. Figuring the authorities won't be able to help, she keeps this information to herself and from everyone else. She realizes holding this particular secret in check is a big mistake, and by the time she decides to come clean, it may be too late.

Alisha: If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?

C.R.: On a long cruise to the Mexican Riviera

Alisha: If you could see anyone tomorrow (dead or alive), who would it be?

C.R.: I’d like to see my friends from VA because we haven’t seen each other in ages and I’d love to catch up with them.

Alisha:If you could choose six people to spend one week on a desert island, who would it be and why?

C.R.: I’d choose my husband, my sister, two friends from VA, a friend from TX and my crit partner because they’re all fun to hang out with and I know I can spend extended periods of time with them without going crazy.

Alisha: What word or phrase tingles in all the right places for you?

C.R.: Best Seller ;)

Alisha: Oooh, I have to agree with you there! If you had one day to spoil yourself, what would you do?

C.R.: I’d have a spa day ~ get a long massage, pedicure, manicure then lay out by the pool.

Alisha: If you could change one incident in your life, what would it be and how would you change it?

C.R.: A guy friend back in high school invited me to a professional hockey game. I told my boyfriend about the invitation and he took offense that I wanted to go out with a group of guys when he wasn’t included. I didn’t go to the game. Several months later my boyfriend cheated on me. To change that incident in my life, I’d go back and tell my boyfriend that I was going to the hockey game regardless of what he had to say about it and if he didn’t like it then so what. Granted, the guy friend who invited me to the game and I are now married so it all worked out in the end.

Alisha: Wow! It certainly DID work out! What’s the sexiest thing a man has ever done for you or said to you or both?

C.R.: A man I dated wrote a song about/for me.

DRAWING: Leave a comment for C.R. today and you'll be entered into a drawing for one PDF/e-book copy of her April 1st release ‘Concealed Affairs’.

Excerpt for ‘Concealed Affairs’:
She took a deep breath. His skin smelled of coconuts and sun. Not caring about the dampness of his body, she nuzzled her cheek against his soft skin, and listened to the steady beat of his heart. His sturdy, solid body tensed then relaxed beneath her face.
Too bad they couldn’t stay this way forever.
“Feeling better?”
She nodded, rubbing her cheek gently on his chest.
“Let me see.” He pulled away and looked into her eyes. “How about a smile?”
She complied. He was sweet to care in the first place.
“I don’t see why such a beautiful lady would ever have cause to cry. It’s a shame you should.”
“Why, thank you,” she said softly, shocked by the compliment.
“No need to thank me for something that’s true.”
She searched his warm, brown eyes, waiting for a punch line. None came. A shadow from some clouds drifted past the kitchen window and a sunbeam filtered through. A soft, sensuous light illuminated them. Geoff shifted. His face came within an inch from hers. She looked deeper into his beautiful eyes finding them flecked with gold and sending out a silent invitation. Slowly, seductively her gaze slid downwards and took in his full lips.
Before she could take her next breath his mouth descended on hers. A brief moment of shock stiffened her body, then, as if they had always been intimate, she let go and molded into him. His mouth sensuously moved upon hers and when it parted she followed suit.
His tongue searched her mouth. With a newfound hunger she matched his movements and ran her fingers through his soft hair reveling in its silkiness. Happiness and desire, combined with a feeling of forbidden pleasure, created a stormy sea of sensation. Her toes curled. She was lost and found in his kiss. She was safe. She was secure. And, she believed, was desired. Outside a car door slammed.
”David,” she murmured, abruptly pulling out of Geoff’s embrace and pushing him away. She glanced at the stove’s clock. It was eleven forty five. David was home from his brunch.

An Interview with Roni Adams and A Drawing for Her Book!

Alisha: I'm very pleased and excited to welcome Roni Adams to my blog today! Roni, Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood? Favorite memories?

Roni: I grew up in a medium sized city in a neighborhood that you could say was a throwback to easier times. People sat on front porches and the kids rode their bikes around and weren’t afraid to play outside. I am one of only two girls in my family but three houses up lived a family with three kids – two girls and a boy and so for all intents and purposes there were five kids all the time. Our two families did everything together and us kids were in and out of each other’s houses constantly. I had a 1970’s easy going memorable childhood complete with the purple bike and banana seat and watching I Dream of Jeannie and Afterschool Specials on our three TV channels.

Alisha: Sigh...I loved the 70s. I had a banana seat bike too. And I loved watching I Dream of Jeannie. Tell us about the hero and heroine in your latest release.

Roni: In Trouble in Texas (which is slated to come out in July), my heroine is Charli Boyd. She is a wild redheaded Texan. Charli, nicknamed “Good time Charli” believes that life is worth living and she lives it hard and fast. Dr. Grant Clark, is the local vet and he’s not at all interested in what she’s offering. In fact, he’s been thinking lately of settling down with a nice normal girl who will be calm and steady in his sometimes very pressured life. Unfortunately for Grant, Charli sets her sights on him and convinces him to take a walk on the wild side. But its Charli who gets taken for a ride when she loses her heart to the small town vet.

Alisha: What a great title. This book sounds too good to pass up. The wild girl falling in love with the brainy vet. I can't wait to get my hands on it. If you were granted three wishes by a genie, what would they be?

Roni: Obviously the usual stuff like good health and wealth for my family and friends, but if we’re talking frivolous wishes then I think I’d go for something fun like to own my own ranch where I could ride whenever I wanted to.

Alisha: That would be wonderful! If you could go anywhere to tomorrow, where would you go?

Roni: My first thought is Texas, but my second thought is maybe back in time. How cool would it be to go back and relive some times in your life? For instance with kids almost grown, I’d love to go back and have a day again when they were little. I’d definitely appreciate it all the more.

Alisha: I love living in Texas. Come visit anytime, Roni! Sniff...sniff...you're making me cry. Don't our babies grow up way too fast? If you could see anyone tomorrow (dead or alive), who would it be?

Roni: Alive would be my son the Marine who just left for his first deployment in Iraq. Dead would be my grandmother who’s been gone for over 20 years but I still miss her.

Alisha: If you could choose six people to spend one week on a desert island, who would it be and why?

Roni: My husband Scott because he can fix and build anything and I need someone to cuddle with at night to keep me warm.
Our sons of course because I would lose my mind wondering how they were if I wasn’t there.
A fellow romance writer. I would need to be able to brainstorm with someone who understood writing. The hours fly by when you can talk writing with someone who gets it.
Probably my cousin Dawn. She’s one of my best friends, she can cook and she’s always good for a laugh. She also handles my husband and kids with ease so she’d be a great asset for me.

Alisha: What word or phrase tingles in all the right places for you?

Roni: “I’ve never stopped loving you.”

Alisha: Wow! That's a good one! If you had one day to spoil yourself, what would you do?

Roni: “I’m going to consider that you mean alone so I’m picturing the husband and kids are gone or something for an entire day because really my ideal day is any day I get to spend with them doing what we love. But for myself, to be honest, given the day alone I would most likely write for most of it then relax by reading trashy magazines. I’m horribly addicted to the gossip magazines, they are my guilty pleasure. I also adore shopping at rummage sales or garage sales so I’d put in a few early hours doing that. I might bake a treat or two for my family’s return and my own horrible sweet tooth, and I would definitely indulge in a chick flick or two. Living in a house of men I never ever get to watch chick flicks.

Alisha: If you could change one incident in your life, what would it be and how would you change it?

Roni: There’s many. Not so many that I think they were life changing but tiny things I’ve done that looking back on you know now you could have handled it better. But the one that sticks out in my mind has to do with my career. I changed jobs in the spring of 2006 and it was a very bad move and before the end of summer I was unemployed. The kick in the butt was I had a really good job that I left and it was one of the dumbest career moves I’ve ever made.

Alisha: I did the same dang thing one time! Great jobs are hard to come by but I believe everything happens for a reason. At least that makes me feel better to say...tee hee. What’s the sexiest thing a man has ever done for you or said to you or both?

Roni: My husband is not a romantic man but every once in a while he’ll surprise me. When asked if he loves me, he’ll often say “I’m here aren’t I?” Recently our sons were bugging us about why we still have a double bed when the rest of the world has a king sized bed and my husband said “I like to have your mother close to me when we sleep.” I was a bit shocked to say the least but it did warm my heart.

Alisha: Awww, now that is very sexy and very sweet!

DRAWING: Leave a comment for Roni today and you'll be entered into a drawing for your pick of an ebook; “Beauty and the Geek”, “To Tame A Cowgirl,” or “The Cowboy Comes Home,” or if you'd like to wait for “Trouble in Texas” to release.

Roni: Thanks for having me, this was so much fun!

Alisha: Come back soon, Roni! And remember, you always have a girfriend in Texas when you visit!

Excerpt from Trouble in Texas
It was obvious that Grant thought he had the upper hand and that wouldn’t do. Casually Charli wiggled her foot higher on his leg and settled on his inner thigh. He hissed in his breath and his fingers froze on her knee. All the while the wedding guests in the audience watched not having any idea of how intimate the motions were they were witnessing.

Don’t try to one up me, Doc. She curled her toes into his muscular leg and his fingers reached the hemline of her gown.

His hand slipped out of sight of the crowd and he explored freely above her knee. The others in the room faded away, her eyes held captive by his. His large hand smoothed her inner thigh pressing her legs open and implying an intimacy that no one knew was happening in the audience.

Charli bit down hard on her bottom lip. It was suddenly getting very warm in the room. An ache began to build inside as his fingers dancing on her inner legs sent desire spiraling through her.

Her breasts tightened and her nipples peaked. He noticed and raised one eyebrow and looked into her eyes. His fingers drew tiny little circles on her inner thigh that made warmth curl in the pit of her stomach. She stifled back a groan of pleasure.

She wanted to close her eyes and experience the full sensation of his erotic massage but she couldn’t. He had long ago placed the garter on her leg and now he was simply intent on driving her crazy. The look in his eyes had changed and with a start she realized that he actually thought he’d won this battle. Silly man. Did he really think she was going to let him get to her? In public, in front of everyone?

Purposely she wet her lips with her tongue until his gaze was held captive. The crowd cheered but Charli knew they had no idea just how high his hand was. His body concealed her from view and her skirt covered his arm. His fingers continued to climb up her leg until they encountered the edge of her stockings and her own garter belt, just beyond he touched her bare skin and his nostrils flared and his eyes darkened. She could tell he was trying to picture in his mind what she looked like under the gown.

He traced a pattern along the edge of the silk stockings. When his fingers went higher, she let her breath out in a rush. He held her gaze expecting her to stop him or at least give him a signal that he was being too bold. But then he didn’t know her that well. Discreetly, she slipped down in the chair until his hand encountered a lot more than her bare thigh. His eyes popped open wide and his mouth went slack. His fingers froze.

Charli grinned and slapped her hand down on top of her dress and pretended to be outraged that he’d gone too far. She waved the finger of her other hand in his face as if chastising him. The crowd laughed and Grant’s face turned red. She lifted one eyebrow and smiled evilly at him. To the audience he looked like he was trying to take advantage of her during an innocent wedding ritual.

But rather than quickly pull his hand away, Grant spread his fingers wide and stroked her intimately. Charli gasped and jerked back. He held her firmly in place while he slowly withdrew his other hand from under her skirt.

Did he really just do what she thought he did? In front of all these people? She glanced up at him and the look in his eye told her very clearly that he had done it and he meant to do it. Her center pulsed to life wanting more than the quick brush of his fingers. She blinked trying to get her composure back while the crowd clapped and walked away. No one seemed to notice anything out of sorts. There were no whispered glances, no frowns from the elderly. To everyone else it had seemed perfectly normal. But then why would anyone suspect what had happened.

Most bridesmaids were smart enough to wear panties under gowns.

Alisha: *Popping back in for a sec* Whew!!!! I'm fanning myself. I think I need a cig..and..uh...I don't smoke. LOL! Thanks again for being my guest of honor, Roni! What a great teaser!

You can visit Roni here
Roni Adams

The Art of the Barfly

I just returned from a weekend long writer's conference in my hometown. One of the great things about conferences is that writers can network with big editors and agents and even meet their own editors face to face. You get to pick and choose which workshops you want to attend and chat it up with other authors.

Funny thing is, at events like this, I love being a barfly and listening to industry professionals gab about the latest trends, best sellers and *gasp*...pitches from starry eyed writers. Barfly is the appropriate word too, not because I'm as much a part of the scenery as the bar stools but because I become like a fly on the wall. After a long plane ride, tons of workshops and hours of pitches, editors and agents want to relax too. And what is it about this profession? Many of us enjoy a good cocktail...or two or three. This is a great time to either strike up a conversation...not a pitch....big no no...but schmoozing with some of New York's finest is a big perk at these events.

So, do I have your attention now? Do you want to know some of the trends I'm hearing right from the mouth of the holy, holy agents and editors? From the very mouths of the folks that sign us? Listen up.



Number 1, paranormal is not going anywhere. Yes, I've heard that the market is saturated too. I've heard editors and agents will puke if they have to read another tale about a shifter or a vamp or a dragon or a fairy. Wrong. Big myth. From what I heard last weekend, paranormal is strong and growing, especially in the YA market. And it's not slowing down in the adult market either. Now we have erotic vamps too. How sexy is that? We even have mermaids lusting over vikings. Not to worry...if you're a paranormal author, you're red hot right now.

Number 2, Want to know what industry professionals are hungry for right now more than ever? I did. And I don't write it either but you might. Write it down. High concept science fiction. And hold onto your seats folks....this is a genre considered dead right now by many...thought I never thought so...I know many, many readers that love it and I don't ever see it going away. Historicals. Keep writing those babies. What kind of historicals are agents and editors hungry for right now? Erotic regency. So if you're talented enough to write these..uh...I wrote one and the research nearly killed me...go for it.

Number 3, Want to know what editors and agents are sick to death of seeing land in their inbox and pitch sessions? Sexy cops. Men in uniform. The industry is truly sick of the detective, fireman, policeman that comes to the lady's rescue. It's a tired old plot. From what I hear, don't even try it.

So, to recap...Paranormal is here to stay for Adult and YA. High concept SF is gaining steam and the NY elite are slobbering for ultra sexy historicals, especially regency. And no cops, detectives or men in uniform. Boring, boring, boring.



So, you see, there are more benefits to drinking red wine. Become a barfly like me at your next writer's conference. You won't be sorry.

Nocturnally Vexed Receives 5 Lips from Two Lips Reviews!

Reviewed by Barb at Two Lips Reviews

Rating: 5 Lips!

Chastity is a reporter and has a story that will blow the lid right off the roof as well as jump start her career right into the big league. If she can live long enough for all of that to happen and meeting Vex is not going to make staying alive any easier. Jack the Ripper is back and only Vex will be able to stop him as long as Chastity doesn’t distract him too much from what he needs to do. This is not your garden-variety serial killer.

Born from a bloodsucker and a shifter raptor, Vex and his brothers have the unusual ability to sense when either is present. A handy ability when there are times you are there to kill a rogue troublemaker. What he senses about the “copy cat” Jack the Ripper is keeping him up at night. This is one of his people and only he can and must stop him before he disappears again.

It seems that Chastity Worthington is going to be the ripper’s next victim. Vex’s challenge will be to keep Chastity alive, capture Jack, and keep everything that’s going on a secret. Who is Vex keeping Chastity safe from? Himself or Jack? Right now, Vex isn’t sure which is less dangerous to her.

Alisha Paige takes the vampire and shapeshifter genres and puts a delightfully new slant on the paranormal world. It’s not easy to come up with new ways to intrigue the reader but Ms. Paige’s has done just that. Sex is a good but forbidden desire where that the reader can taste the attraction even before the final conquest! YUM!!! The static of the anticipated touch when the characters are mere inches from each other bounces off the pages right into the readers lap. The shock when that first touch happens will make you shiver. Got your attention? Good, because that along with the intriguing story is exactly what you will get when you pick up Alisha Paige’s Nocturnally Vexed.

Two Lips Reviews

Skhye's Cool Ramblings!

Good morning! I'm Skhye Moncrief.
And I'm known for rambling about reference books at Skhye's Blog. So, I thought I'd talk about my latest release with some good reference material. ;)

My shamanic shape-shifting hero has more than one chip on his shoulder. You would too if the guys you were trapped with in the Army called you Cochise, but you weren't Apache. No. Cochise (named by his peers with what he considers a name representing a phase of his life in which he made very bad choices) is Lakota. Here's my model for Cochise--Mr. Drop-Dead Gorgeous Jay Tavare...







Sorry. I, uh, forgot what I was talking about... (Stop looking at pictures, Skhye!) Oh, wait. I remember!

So, what's the difference between Apaches and the Lakota? You're thinking they both lived on the Great Plains, rode war ponies, counted coup, and looked down-right gorgeous and tough in loincloths... Okay, you haven't read Thomas E. Mails' DOG SOLDIER SOCIETIES OF THE PLAINS. If you want to get the arrows right by culture or understand a culture's rituals, get this book! Each Plains people's warrior societies are described in great detail. And if you're searching for a way to allow your female characters (captives or not) to wield weapons and participate in battle, this reference book will tell you who can get away with what. DOG SOLDIER SOCIETIES OF THE PLAINS is a college-level text. But it won't put you to sleep. Okay, maybe I should say it didn't lull me to sleep. ;) I've always been enthralled by Native Americans. And I've got over 80 hours of anthropology under my belt. So, the geek in me knows I'm an outlying exception to the rule on the vast continuum of delightful to boring.

Another wonderful resource for all those writing contemporaries with Native-American characters is Hyemeyohsts Storm's SEVEN ARROWS. The easiest way to explain this book is to compare it to a self-help version of something akin to the Bible. First of all, you get the low-down on the four directions, medicine arrows, medicine wheels, etc. Then Storm begins the journey of the self. Each aspect of his belief system is taught by a story he tells. Chapter by chapter, you experience the sharing of his knowledge. And it's quite moving. The Bible put me to sleep. ;)

Another thought-provoking read is Frederick Drimmer's CAPTURED BY INDIANS: 15 FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS, 1750-1870. I'm a big cheerleader for underdogs. I confess! This leaves me with strange interests... But CAPTURED BY INDIANS is by no means a handful of weird tales. Rather, it a collection of 15 true stories about white captives. So, you want to know what captives thought of Native Americans? Well, they often preferred living with them. ;) Curious?

Jack Weatherford's NATIVE ROOTS: HOW THE INDIANS ENRICHED AMERICA is another essential eye-opening read for those working on historicals with Native-American characters. It's amazing how much fear and hatred was recorded in history--another expression of the bias one cannot shake in recording history.

Erdoes & Ortiz's AMERICAN INDIAN MYTHS AND LEGENDS has been around for a while. But I always flip through it when wanting to round out a character with a bit of ideology. What can this book do for you? The myths and legends are broken down by culture. Yes. You just skim the table of contents and find the tales you'll need to read. Extra information about the cultures is located at the end of the book. I've used this book so many times that I recommend anyone writing a Native-American character own a copy. Ideology really rounds out a perspective.

In FORBIDDEN ETERNITY, Cochise is a modern who man raised on a reservation, exposed to many Native-American cultures, and gained an appreciation for different peoples. By the time FORBIDDEN ETERNITY takes place, he is quite worldly. But what makes him real to me are all of the myths and legends I've studied and the touching manner Storm shares his beliefs in SEVEN ARROWS. I've acquired a wealth of knowledge through the years and hope Cochise shares a bit of that information with readers. But his story is a dark paranormal...




Sometimes the forbidden proves the only cure.

In present-day Scotland, a shape-shifting shaman and a Druid embrace the forbidden to safeguard history from renegade gods bent on sabotaging history by kidnapping the Goddess of Time.

A woman Cochise despises is his only hope for a future. He has no choice except to swallow his pride and protect Druidess Mairi from a man who is blackmailing her into breaking time-travel Code by kidnapping her sister. But his presence tempts Mairi into risking her sister’s life in falling in love. A fairy hairball and a pack of Hell Hounds force the duo to hide on an astral plane where there is no resolution beyond facing their FORBIDDEN ETERNITY.

You're invited to read the 1st chapter: FORBIDDEN ETERNITY

And... Skhye's FREE READ:





When legends speak of passion, Lady Lainy chalks all up to superstition until forced to take Dragon’s Blood at her arranged marriage. Will the beast’s poison herald a life full of love, or will she find myth loaded with lies when facing her father’s VOW OF SUPERSTITION?

"Arthur is a masterpiece..." He of the Fiery Sword's King Arthur ~Diane Mason, The Romance Studio

http://www.skhyemoncrief.com
http://www.timeguardians.com

Thanks for having me over, Alisha! ~Skhye

An Interview with Vex Savaker...Oooh La La!

Hey all you Wicked Blog Hoppers! I'm working on deadline this week so I had my good friend step in for me today. See you next week! ~Alisha

My name is Sha-Sha Snow. Thanks, Alisha for giving me this opportunity to blog at Wicked Thorn and Roses today. See, I’m an avid reader too and I love to interview my favorite characters. I’m in London now, sipping latte on a sidewalk café, interviewing Special Detective for The Metropolitan Police, Vex Savaker, featured in Alisha Paige’s Nocturnally Vexed.




Sha-sha: Good morning, Mr. Savaker. You have a rather interesting ancestry.

Vex: Good morning, Sha-Sha. Call me Vex. I’m King of the Orgulocks, originating from Xurath.

Sha-Sha: Orgulocks? Xurath?

Vex: *deep chuckle* Aye. Xurath is a black planet, void of light, in another dimension. All blood suckers and shifter-rapts were created there by two lesser gods, Folog and Garmut. My clan, the Orgulocks are hybrids, half blood sucker/half shifter-rapt.

Sha-Sha: But haven’t the blood suckers and shifter-rapts been at war forever?

Vex: They have, my lady, but my father, Cole was captivated by an orphaned shifty, my mother, Zephyria. She’d been banished because of her uncommon beauty.

Sha-sha: So, the pairing resulted in the Orgulocks as we know them today?

Vex: It did indeed. My father was a very powerful blood sucker, the leader of his clan. They’re union changed everything on dark Xurath.

Sha-sha: Let me get this straight. You’re a vampire AND a shape-shifter?

Vex: Absobloodylutely! Except the correct term is blood sucker and shifter-rapt. Vamps and shapeshifters are only found in fiction.

Sha-sha: And you’re not fictional?

Vex: You’re here talking to me, aren’t you? Do I look real enough?

Sha-sha: Hmmm…can I touch?

Vex: *Laughs out loud* Go ahead.

Sha-sha: Mmm…nice biceps. You feel pretty solid to me.

Vex: *Sniffs the air* Good, you’re safe.

Sha-Sha: I beg your pardon?

Vex: From Jack.

Sha-Sha: Jack?

Vex: Aye. Jack the Ripper.

Sha-Sha: Whoa! Wait! Jack killed over 100 years ago. Are you saying he’s back?

Vex: He’s back.

Sha-Sha: You’re a man of few words, Vex. Good to know but how can you be sure I’m safe?

Vex: I sniffed ya. You’re clean…er…were clean…actually you’ve been sullied up a bit..no offense, miss, but I can tell you’ve…er….had men.

Sha-Sha: *Laughs nervously* Are you saying you can smell my virginity or lack of virgin snow, rather?

Vex: *Nods and grins* Orgulocks have ultra sensory powers. A most useful tool in dark Xurath. Here too. The law enforcement agencies love the services we offer. That’s why I’m working on the modern day Jack the Ripper case. I think he’s a shifty.

Sha-Sha: That would explain why he eluded the authorities all those years ago. Is it the same guy?

Vex: We know it’s the same guy. We have DNA evidence to prove it. He left a hair in the wax he sealed a letter to the police back in 1888 and we have DNA from his recent killings. They’re one and the bloody same.

Sha-Sha: Wow! But I still don’t understand why I’m safe.

Vex: You’re not a virgin. Jack is after virgins this go around.

Sha-Sha: Virgins? But he killed prostitutes in the 1800’s.

Vex: Aye. I believe he’s doing the exact opposite this time.

Sha-Sha: In order to fool the police?

Vex: Either that or for his sick kicks.

Sha-Sha: Just one more question before you go, Vex. And it’s an icky one.

Vex: Shoot.

Sha-sha: Do you feast on humans in order to survive?

Vex: I’m no blood sucker. I’m no shifter-rapt. I’m an Orgulock. We have evolved into greater creatures, keeping the better qualities of each species, honing our skills in order to survive and thrive, both here and on Xurath. Sometimes I do feast on female humans, though.

Sha-sha: Oh?

Vex: Only if they ask me too.

You can find out more about Vex and the Orgulocks by reading Nocturnally Vexed!


Click Here to View the Trailer for Nocturnally Vexed

Alisha Paige