Author Interview: Amylynn Bright

Here are the interview questions for Ashley Ladd’s blog:




Today my guest author is Amylynn Bright. Please welcome her and I won't mind if you deluge her with questions and comments. I don't think she'll mind, either.

Ashley: Why do you write (erotic) romance?

Amylynn: No – not erotic but I definitely enjoy a good sex scene and I think there are a few of those in my work.

Ashley: What romance subgenres do you write in? Why?

Amylynn: I really gravitate to historicals, but Out of Heaven is a contemporary/paranormal. My other novella, The Sea Rose, is a pirate story from 1700s. I think its fun to recreate a world of such romance and style.

Ashley: Are you aware of any themes that run through your stories? If so, what are they?

Amylynn: I don’t know of any themes – at least none that I’ve found. But you know how it is with your own work. You can never see the forest for the trees. I guess the only thing I can think of is romance and redemption.

Ashley: What would you like readers to take away from your stories?

Amylynn: A sense of fun. I really enjoy writing comedy and I hope that my dialogue represents that – The Sea Rose, my pirate story also out with Wicked Ink Press, more than Out of Heaven shows my comedy side.

Ashley: What inspires your stories?

Amylynn: Everything. I can make up an entire plot from a song on the radio.

Ashley: Will you be attending any book or writing conferences this year? If yes, which ones? Where and when?

Amylynn: I don’t see how my schedule will allow for any conferences this year. Disappointing, but hopefully next year my schedule will be more lax.

Ashley: Do you have any book signings or author appearances coming soon? If yes, where and when?

Amylynn: No signings yet – it’s hard to do that when you’re e-published! However, anyone that wants me to autograph their computer monitor or e-reader, let me know. I’d be happy to.

Ashley: What is your writing schedule?

Amylynn: I write best late at night. In fact, I’m answering these questions at 12:05 on a Sunday night.

Ashley: Do you have any other passions besides writing? If yes, what are they? Why?

Amylynn: I’m a marathon reader. It’s a disease. I’m never, ever without a book. God forbid I should have to wait in a line or sit through two stop lights without a book.

Ashley: What is the best memory?

Amylynn: I’m going to have to go with Disneyland. Some of my very best memories come from there. My grandmothers took me when I was 4. I took my husband-to-be there as an audition for the role of my husband (he had no idea but he passed). My kids have been there 4 times already and they are 5 & 7.

Ashley: What is your favorite comfort food?

Amylynn: Dessert! Cupcakes and cookies and oh the list is endless. Oddly I also love breakfast cereal. I ate 6 or 7 bowls of it a day both times when I was pregnant.

Ashley: What relaxes you?

Amylynn: Reading. See above.

Ashley: What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Amylynn: Reading and book shopping. I’m telling you I need a twelve step program.

Ashley: What decade has been your favorite? Why?

Amylynn: To live? I’m gonna say 2000 so far. That’s when I got married and had my kids. They all make my life crazy but I secretly love it. To write, I’d say 1810. Regency is so romantic.

Ashley: What is your favorite way to promote?

Amylynn: I’m so new to all this I don’t know. I’m just gonna roll with the punches.

Ashley: Where is your favorite place to write? Why?

Amylynn: I write at my desk with an action movie on in the back ground. My family is asleep and the dog is snoring. Ahhhhhhhh. Nice.

Ashley: What is your favorite fairy tale? Why?

Amylynn: I’ve always been partial to Sleeping Beauty. Maybe it’s because I never get enough sleep.

Ashley: What was your favorite vacation?

Amylynn:  I’ll bet you’re going to guess Disneyland aren’t you. I’m not sure though. My honeymoon in the Caribbean was gorgeous. I also took my husband to Kauai and that was magical.

Ashley: If you had another career, what was it?

Amylynn: I’m in mortgages. Its soul crushing and miserable. Writing is MUCH better.

Ashley: If you didn’t write, what would you do instead?

Amylynn: Reading. Or playing with my kids. Probably pouting.

Ashley: If you could have one wish, what would it be?

Amylynn: I really should say something like world peace, but I’m not in a pagent, so I’ll be selfish. I guess it would be Salma Hayek’s body but while still being allowed to eat all the desserts I want.

Ashley: If you could describe yourself in only one word, what would it be?

Amylynn: Silly or maybe sarcastic. Depends on my mood I guess.

Ashley: Who is your favorite American Idol contestant this year? Why? (only if you watch the show)

Amylynn: This was the first year I didn’t watch. I’m a bigger fan of Project Runway and The Amazing Race.

Ashley: Are you a cat or dog person? Do you have any pets and if so, please tell us about them.

Amylynn: I love both, but I’m probably a dog person. I’ve never been dogless in my life. We have a cat – Geddy – a giant orange tabby and a coonhound/bloodhound mix names Rosco. I’m certain he’s the stupidest dog on the planet. I write about his antics on my blog all the time.

Ashley: What is the one thing you most want to do that you haven’t yet?

Amylynn: Besides have my novel published? Go to Europe – especially Italy: Rome, Venice, Milan.

Ashley: Please tell us about your most recent release and where we can purchase it.

Amylynn: Both of my novellas, Out of Heaven and The Sea Rose are available at www.wickedinkpress.com. Hop on over and pick them up. You’ll have fun.

Ashley: Please give us your urls and your publisher’s url.

Amylynn: My blog is www.thequillsisters.com and my personal web site is www.amylynnbright.com. My publisher is www.wickedinkpress.com.

I want to thank Amylynn for being with us. Keep reading. The excerpt to her book is below.

Out of Heaven


By Amylynn Bright

Genre: Paranormal Romance

PUBLISHER: Keith Publications

ISBN: 978-1-936372-00-3

AUTHOR’S KP WEB PAGE: http://www.keithpublications.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56:amy-bright&catid=40:amy-bright&Itemid=60

BUY LINKS: http://www.wickedinkpress.com/product_info.php?products_id=30&osCsid=37bba22722f845de0018e8de0db1a3c0

http://www.dinkwell.com/product_info.php?products_id=32

BLURB: The Archangel Gabriel is going to Earth to win the woman he has loved for eons. He is confident that it won't be that difficult... but, he only has one day to meet her and make her fall in love with him. She's been hurt before and he finds that she's not exactly a pushover. And as if he needed a further challenge, there are mischievous demons trying to keep them apart.


EXCERPT: The instant he left her, a screaming infant under the bright lights in a modern hospital room, he return and demanded an interview with Michael.

"I'm going. You know the love I have with her is different. One life is all I want. I have watched her leave me and return for eons, and this time I'm going whether you approve or not."

Michael studied Gabriel. "Oh Gabriel ….Why do you want to go? Humans are only mortal. They are lesser beings than our kind."

"As you say," Gabriel nodded, "but, humans are also more than you give them credit for. Otherwise, she would not be compelled to return back there, especially not after the last horrid life. Why would a soul willfully return to pain unless the passion is more than you or I can imagine?"

Michael deliberated. Gabriel spoke with such ferocity, making it difficult not to consider his request and, being a warrior himself, Michael could appreciate his friend putting up a fight for what he wanted. Michael sat forward in his chair, steepled his fingers, and gazed at the other Archangel.

“What you ask is too dangerous, Gabriel.” Michael shook his head. “There’s no way to predict what could happen. Once they hear you’re down there . . . we couldn’t protect you.”

“I’m willing to accept the risk.”

“I’m glad to hear you are, but I’m not sure I want to accept the risks with you.”

Gabriel sighed in frustration. “Please allow me the chance. Just one life with her. I want to hold her with my arms and make love to her the way mortal men can."

After a long silence, Michael sat back in his chair, his polished armor gleaming in the ethereal light from the Astral Plane, and nodded. "One life. But, due to the risks, there will be rules and conditions."

"Anything."

"You have one earth cycle to entice the mortal woman to fall in love with you, true love. And you may not reveal your identity to her under any circumstances." Michael paused, probably for effect. He was not only the most powerful Archangel, but also the most dramatic. He stood and sheathed his massive sword. "If you fail, you will immediately return to the Akasha and there will be no other similar opportunity." His tone didn't allow for negotiation.

Only twenty-four hours. That amount of time would have to be enough time. "Thank you, Michael," he told the retreating warrior.

"God speed," Michael called over his shoulder. "And good luck."

Saturday Snippets: Favorite Intimate Moment

Today's Saturday Snippets feature our favorite intimate moments.

If you've stopped by for today's segment of the Cougar Growls Tour, please click here. If you think younger men are sexy, if you ever wished to be a cougar, check out my post "How To Be A Cougar".

Saturday Snippets:

Since I write erotic romance, all my stories have intimate moments. As my vampire romance releases this Monday, May 17th, I chose to feature an intimate scene from it.

Blurb:

Kes is obsessed with killing Nikolai – to prevent him from destroying Earth 900 years into the future.

Kes is obsessed with eliminating Nikolai before he's reborn as the evil vampire who destroys Earth and propels her family into the past.

Once she finds the Nikolai of her present is a good and kind man she's not sure she can hold the very sexy human accountable for something he hasn't yet done.





Excerpt:

Jumbled visions of Nikolai invaded her dreams, making her toss and turn, and she quickly became entangled in her sheets, feeling trapped between her duty to Earth, its inhabitants and her loyalty to her father.


She fought against them, against intangible bonds she couldn’t see but could feel with every fibre of her being. She gnawed at them with her fangs but to no avail. They tied her tighter, and she felt as if she were suffocating.

Screams ripped from her throat, and she fought her bonds.

“Shush, my love. Pray tell, don’t worry so much. Nothing is as black as it seems,” the rich masculine of her lover’s voice crooned. Strong but gentle arms crept around her from behind.

She smiled and sank into her lover’s mesmerising warmth. “Not as black? I’ve seen it with my own eyes.” Then her dream turned into the nightmare that haunted her for the millionth time as she witnessed her beloved planet exploding into a billion burning pieces, as millions of terrified voices cried for mercy. Nikolai hadn’t shown clemency to them. Why should she show it to him?

“We’re here, together, my sweet. Forget about all that. Live for today.” The last words were mumbled huskily against her ear then a moist tongue delved inside, laving it, making her quiver.

She relaxed into the embrace, yearning to do as her lover implored. She’d never truly lived, had never let go of her parents’ past. She’d never felt free to be herself, to live her own life. Surely she could shrug off if off for one more night to indulge in something for herself. But how? Her mission defined her.

“You know you want to.” The voice bewitched her, echoing her thoughts. His warm breath, his sensual lips, caressed her into a relaxed mindlessness, and she laid her head on his broad shoulder. “You deserve to.”

She nodded. Her lover had the sexiest voice she’d ever heard, and she quaked in his arms.

“We’re meant to be together, forever,” he continued, turning her around and lowering his lips to hers.

His face and form lay in the shadows, but his erection pushed unmistakably against her stomach as was the fervour of his tongue exploring her mouth.

Frissons of desire shot up her arm, through her heart and down to her pussy. When he ground his hips against hers, she fell into his rhythm, moaning. Unable to get close enough, her fingers fumbled with his laces and pushed his shirt off his shoulders. She couldn’t wait to feel his naked flesh against hers.

“You are so comely, so desirable. You’re meant to be mine,” he murmured against her lips as his calloused thumbs grazed her heated flesh.

With his help, she stepped out of her bloomers which were soaked with her moisture. Their musky scent permeated the room, intoxicating her. Consumed by a rampaging need she’d never before known, her thoughts were barely coherent. Only one remained, and she muttered it against the rapid-fire pulse in his neck, “Who are you?”

He paused and stroked her damp hair away from her cheeks. “Your soul mate.” As she opened her mouth to demand his name, he swallowed her words with a soul-deep kiss.
 
Carnal Lust will be available Monday May 17th at Total-E-Bound.
 

For more reading enjoyment, don't miss the other intimate moment excerpts today from the following fab authors.
 
Mari Carr
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
Shelley Munro
Lacey Savage
HelenKay Dimon
Eliza Gayle


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Author Interview: Elaine Hopper

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Rejection: Where Do You Go Next?

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You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Wendi Zwaduk are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Saturday Snippets: Pets

Today's Saturday Snippets theme is "pets". If you know me even a little bit, you'll know my cats and dogs are my babies. If you know me a lot, you'll know I'm a cat person from way back. Sometimes I think I'm part cat. :)

My kids swear our Husky speaks English. When he howls it does sound a lot like "Out". Maybe they're right. And my cat Bobby understands us and follows instructions as well as or better than any dog and he looks at me with such human eyes. I swear I think he understands everything we say.

In my Ellora's Cave romantica "Make-Believe Lover" the heroine Becca and her cat are sucked into another world. In the new world, Gizmo her cat, can talk. And boy does he ever talk! He won't shut up.

I love Gizmo. He tries to steal the show, but Becca and her hero Lobo put him in his place when he gets too far out of line.

Blurb:

Becca is either dreaming—or dead. She's been transported into the medieval world of her favorite adult cartoon. When her cat talks, fire-breathing dragons stalk her, and an evil king pledges his resources to see her dead, her favorite fantasy morphs into a nightmare. Worse, the hero can't wait to send her home.

Lobo is cursed. Everyone who has ever loved him has died, thus he's become a recluse. When the witch Becca and her devil cat insist on his help, he risks everything to save their separate worlds—and keep his bruised heart intact.
 
An Excerpt From: MAKE-BELIEVE LOVER

© Copyright ASHLEY LADD, 2006.
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave, Inc.

They must have trudged five miles over the arduous hills when a thunderous sound startled her. A moment later, wide-winged dragons straddled by primitive warriors roared from behind a mountain.

Her hand trembling, she pointed at the sky even as she squatted down in self-defense. “Oh my God, Giz. Do you see what I see?”

The cat gulped and he covered his eyes with his paws. “If you see big flying dinosaurs, uh huh.”

When one of the gigantic winged creatures nose-dived not far distant, Gizmo threw himself to the ground, covered his head, and hissed, “Hit the deck and don’t make a sound.”

Way ahead of him, she flung herself to the rocky terrain.

A lyrical voice announced out of nowhere, “You have walked six point two miles, seven-thousand three-hundred, twenty-one steps.”

Cripes! Her bigmouth pedometer chose this moment to go off?

Yanking the lousy thing off her elastic waistband, she dashed it to the ground. “Thanks for nothing.” The least it could do was tell her how many calories she’d burned or sing a decent song, instead of that funky aerobic workout music.

One of the flying lizards picked that instant to spin and make eye contact. Baring its filthy, razor-sharp teeth, the beast swooped down from the air, swallowed her pedometer, and then plucked her from the ground.

The no-good gadget kept chirping from inside the monster’s belly, mocking her. At least, it had gotten its just rewards, having given away her location to the fiend.

Kicking and struggling with all her might, she screamed, “Gizmo!”

She clawed at her barbaric captor’s eyes. “Put me down!”

The armor-clad creep astride the dragon guffawed and clamped meaty vice-like hands around her wrists pinning them to her side. His malevolent beady-eyed gaze bore into her. “Keep this up, wench, and I’ll drop you here—from a thousand meters. Your pretty face will get all mangled.”

The dragon turned its reptilian face to leer and dipped its right wing so that she would have tumbled off if not for the brute’s slimy hold. Then it snorted a fireball in her direction that fried the bush a mere foot to her right.

She got the message that she was their guest—or their Bar-B-Q. “What do you want with me? I have no money. This is dollar-store jewelry, but it’s all yours.”

“You will inform the King whose army you are spying for.” He fingered her tousled hair and grunted. “What kingdom has blue-haired nymphs?”

Then he tugged at her psychedelic nurse’s tunic. “And what matter of outlandish garb is this? What form of material?”

Army? Kingdom? Nymph?

She glanced down at her hot pink, cotton-blend tunic that rained cats and dogs. Should she give him her employer’s name? In the war movies the prisoners offered their name, rank, and serial number. “I’m Rebecca Weiss, I’m an office manager for a pediatric clinic, and I’m not giving you my social security number and having you steal my identity.”

“Stay cool, Becca! We’ll get out of this.” Gizmo yelled from the back of another dragon as it pulled around them.

The man’s bushy uni-brow puckered. “You speak in strange riddles. You will be truthful with King Heinrich or you will be locked in the dungeon.”

Dungeons? Dragons? King Heinrich?

Make-Believe Lover is available at Ellora's Cave.

Here are several awesome excerpts from other authors participating in today's Saturday Snippets. Please check them out and have some fun. After this brutal week we need a little diversion.

McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Ashley Ladd
Shelley Munro
Mari Carr
Jody Wallace
Shelli Stevens
Victoria Janssen
TJ Micheals

How Do You Protect Your Books?

My brain is still fried since working day and night most of December so I had to surf the web to find ideas for a blog post today. Hopefully I'll recover soon.

On Tess Hilmo's blog I read an interesting post about backing up our important documents, in particular books for us writers. She recommended an online data backup site Mozy.com.

I mozied on over (excuse the pun) to Mozy.com and nosed around. It looks to be quite helpful. And no, I'm not affiliated with the site and I'm not endorsing it as I've not used it. But perhaps I will.

If you're a writer you've probably lost at least part of a book some time during your writing career. Then we learn to back up our work. But how?

There are many ways: thumb drives, CDs, emailing books to a friend or relative, creating a Yahoo loop to save it, keeping print outs, and now Mozy.com

My recommendation? Do all or at least several of the above. No one is foolproof.

In the beginning of my career, I backed up my books to CDs and paper copies. One day the other half of my duplex went up in flames. Our side almost caught fire, too. If the fire department had been five minutes later, my computer and my backed up CDs and paper would have been gone with the wind.

After that I began emailing copies of my books to my father. I thought that was working well. Then when I visited last and looked for my books on his computer they were gone. He'd forgotten about them when he changed computers and threw out my books when he threw out his computer. Luckily I had other copies.

I bought a thumb drive after that. Guess what? It went bad. Another one dropped off my key chain.

I also created a Yahoo group so I could save my work in their files. First, you need to have a group of five. You could get around that by banding together with other authors, family and friends to keep the loop active. However, someone in the group also has to visit at least once every two months or guess what? Yahoo will delete the group and poof! Your files disappear. I forgot...

I also printed out some of my earliest books. Once I lost my computer file and had to retype the whole damn thing. Nightmare! Plus, the almost fire would have wiped that out.

If I sound pessimistic I don't mean to be. I merely mean to point out it's not safe to rely on only one form of backup. We pour our life's blood into our books so we need to safeguard them. What's a few extra minutes to make several backups in different places for books that we spent weeks, months, and maybe even years to produce? It's pretty cheap insurance.

How do you safeguard your books? Do you have another good place to back them up?

Recent posts you might like to read:

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Are You Writing Me Into Your Book?

Dont Give Up Too Early

Must Write Must Write Must Write!!!

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Snippet Saturday: Kicking Ass excerpts

TGIS!

Thank God It's Saturday. Saturday means I don't have to go to the day job, so I'm FREE! Free to work on my books. Free to have fun. Free to sleep in.

It also means it's time for Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is "Kick Ass Protagonists". Thus, here's a treat from my vampire romance "Blessed Be" published by Ellora's Cave and prequel to "Truth, Justice, & The Vampire Way".

An Excerpt From: BLESSED BE

© Copyright ASHLEY LADD, 2004.

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave, Inc.

“I see you’ve let that mangy cat inside now. I should call the Health Department. Or maybe I should just take him to animal control.” The sneer on Gerald’s lips leapt to his eyes. He snatched the cat and sprinted for the door.

The tomcat screeched and clawed frantically at Gerald’s face, drawing blood, forcing Gerald to drop him in a heap at his feet. Then it tore off across the room, its eyes glowing oddly silver in the dim light.

A look of utter amazement etched comically across the doctor’s countenance as blood clung to his fingers after he touched his torn cheek. “That does it. He’s going to the pound tonight. Or maybe I’ll just tie an anchor around his neck and sink him to the bottom of the ocean.”

“No! Don’t you dare touch my cat.” Chloe dove for the cat.

The vile Gerald scooped up the struggling, spitting creature first.

The door burst open, and the vampire from Chloe’s dream stamped inside. A legion of wicked-looking dwarfs hobbled closely behind, big ears sticking out, long hair billowing behind them. The raven-haired woman pointed a talon-like finger at Chloe and leered. “Take her back to the manor. Alive.”

Chloe gasped, her heart ready to burst from her chest and her respiration became shallow. She faced off against the trespasser, planting her feet wide apart. “You can’t be real.”

One of the hunch-backed ogres batted Chloe’s feet out from under her, so that she fell to the floor and thumped her head. Intense pain slashed through her, stealing her breath.

The cat let out a horrible screech and before her eyes, transformed into Luke, just as he always looked in her dreams.

Blinking, Chloe couldn’t believe her eyes. She had to be dreaming. Cats didn’t transform into humans. Luke was dead. The vampire was a figment of her dreams. Yet Gerald and Shawanda also stared open-mouthed at the ensemble.

“Who are you?” Chloe finally found her voice and gouged the fiend in his eyes, making him howl as he retreated.

“I know karate!” Shawanda threatened, shrieking and swinging her leg in a high kick.

The vampire merely chuckled and flew into the air, avoiding the blow easily. Hissing, her fangs burst from her gums. She punched the nurse, reeling her backward into Gerald who was cowering in the corner.

Furious, Chloe threw the phone at the cackling vampire who ducked so that the phone smashed through the window. “What do you want from us?”

“I want you to leave Lukas alone. He’ll never be mine as long as you’re alive.” The vampire swooped down on her, scooping Chloe into her strong arms.

Luke delivered a deadly chop to the attacker, making her drop Chloe. Cursing loudly, he caught Chloe just before she hit the floor. “Are you okay, darlin’?”

Confused, dazed, Chloe shook her head. “Yes. No. You were a cat…you flew in the air…”

“Shhhh. I’ll explain everything as soon as I take care of Anika. Will you be okay for a moment?”

“Long as one of those things doesn’t try to devour me.” Chloe couldn’t stop staring at Luke. He couldn’t really be here. Or maybe she was dead. If so, this obviously wasn’t heaven. And yet, what could be more heavenly than to be held in Luke’s arms one more time?

“You’ll be okay for a few moments? You’re not going to faint on me?”

She touched her fingertips to her spinning head, feeling like she was being sucked into a force five tornado. It felt heavy but she wasn’t in danger of passing out. “Yeah. I think so.”

Luke brushed a kiss across her lips shooting volts of electricity through her and laid her back gently. “I’ll return shortly.”

“Promise?” On second thought, she wasn’t at all fine. She was talking to a ghost and envisioning vampires and all manners of monsters. It was probably all a bizarre dream, but it had a very real quality to it that alarmed her.

“Promise.” His eyes glowed silver and he lifted his head and howled, an earsplitting, inhuman sound that sent chills through her.

“Damn you to hell, Anika! I will have your head for this.” The vigor in Luke’s voice made Chloe blink and shrink back from him.

Anika hovered high overhead, her eyes glittering darkly. “As you are so fond of telling me, Lukas, we’re already in hell. Your threats mean little to me.” She dissipated into mist and shimmered away.

Luke swore under his breath and turned to Gerald and Shawanda. He approached them furtively but non-threateningly. He waved a hand over their eyes, which instantly glazed over. “You need to sleep now. When you awaken, you will think this was a dream.”

Chloe absorbed his words, turning them over in her mind. Luke controlled dreams? So, maybe she hadn’t been hallucinating. Maybe all her fantasies had been real, cloaked in the auspices of dreams. Struggling to her feet gingerly, her head still reeled and her heart raced. A jumble of emotions threatened to tear her up. “You promised me an explanation. Am I dreaming? Was I dreaming all those other times? Are you real?”

Luke rejoined her, supporting her to the couch in her private office. “Let me settle those two and I’ll be right back.”

Fear that he wouldn’t return grasped her and she grabbed at his hand that felt very durable and not the least bit transient. She let her hand slip to his warm wrist and felt for a pulse. To her dismay, she didn’t detect a single beat. “Don’t leave. Explain first. I don’t understand. If you’re real, why have you pretended you were dead? Why did you leave me?”

"Blessed Be" and it's sequel "Truth, Justice & The Vampire Way" are available at Ellora's Cave.

Don't miss the rest of the kick ass excerpts by the Snippet Saturday authors.

Jody Wallace
Jaci Burton
Elisabeth Naughton
Moira Rogers 
Taige Crenshaw
Lauren Dane
Victoria Janssen
Vivian Arend
TJ Michaels
Juliana Stone
Lacey Savage
Eliza Gayle
 Sasha White
Shelli Stevens
Shelley Munro

Read last week's Saturday Snippets about World building.

Then don't miss my other post today at the RomErotica Writers blog. I'm talking about "The Power of 3 (4, and More)" when writers work together.


You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook,
Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch,
Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape
are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Saturday Snippets

I've just joined another group: Saturday Snippets. This is an amazing group of authors with awesome reads. From now on I will post a snippet (excerpt) of one of my books available for sale in that particular Saturday's theme. Then I will also post links to the other participating authors. I thought I would be able to join in today, but I don't see that my yahoo group request has been approved yet. If I see it approved before the end of the day (so I can get this week's theme and participant's list) I'll update this post. Stay tuned for next Saturday's snippets. I just visited Shelley Munro's blog and see the theme today is "scenery". Shelley sets a lot of her books in New Zealand where she lives. Likewise, since I live in Florida, I set the majority of my books in Florida. BTW, I've always been fascinated by New Zealand. I write about Florida because I know it well but also because many people consider it to be a paradise vacation spot. It's a romantic setting, especially on a moonlit beach with a sexy guy. This excerpt, however, is set in another very romantic place - the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi. I was stationed there when I served in the Air Force. I can attest this is one of the most romantic places on earth. I for one, had a lot of romantic times on that beach.

Setting Excerpt:

Civil Affairs

By Ashley Ladd

Published by Ellora’s Cave

“Later. Right now we’re going to the beach.”

Stunned, she lay still despite the turbulent emotions overpowering her. The Biloxi beaches lay two hours south by car. “Now?”

He began uncuffing her. “Now, darlin’,” he drawled seductively.

Stretching her achy muscles, she was very aware of his heated, still passionate gaze devouring her.

Mystified, she showered and dressed wondering if she had somehow disappointed him. “Why are we going to the beach?”

A secretive, seductive smile curved his cheek. “You’ll find out.”

Blanketed by the star-filled night, they rode in silence as he munched on a string of red licorice. As they approached the Gulf shore, a balmy, shrimp-scented breeze caressed her through the open windows, whipping her long hair across her face. Home sweet home. Tucking her unruly mane behind her ears, she almost purred her delight to be home. God she hadn’t realized till just this moment how homesick she’d been.

The middle of the night by now, the streets of Biloxi and Gulfport were nearly devoid of traffic. Only when Danny pulled his car onto Highway 90, the beach drive, did they run across the remnants of the coasts’ nightlife. Tall casinos cast cool shadows over them as they drove by, their late night lounges pumping out sultry New Orleans style jazz.

Danny parked near the pier where they had gone crabbing as kids and swam in the warm Gulf waters. He opened her door and offered her a helping hand from the car.

Wistfully, she eyed the murky water, breathtaking memories assailing her. “We going crabbing?” Danny bestowed on adoring smile on her that made her glow warmly inside. “Not quite.”

“Swimming?” Crabbing in knee-deep water was one thing. Swimming in the murky depths was a dangerous proposition she wasn’t about to attempt.

“Nope.” He turned and clasping both her hands, pulled her onto her beloved beach.

He wasn’t up for a stroll yet so what was he thinking? She bit her lower lip to stop from blurting out her thoughts which she knew he wouldn’t appreciate and busied herself kicking off her shoes and letting the cool sand trickle through her toes.

“Let’s sit awhile and watch the shrimp boats. I’ve really missed coming here.” Nostalgia filled his voice as he gazed lovingly out across the dark Gulf as his thumb caressed the knuckles of her hand that he held.

They sat companionably for a few silent moments, listening to the lazy lap of ocean waves wash up against the shore. Languidly, she started to build a castle and make a pile of pretty shells she found while sifting through the damp sand. “I’ve missed Biloxi, too.” What an understatement! Pangs of homesickness washed over her and she longed to stay for far longer than just a brief interlude.

Civil Affairs is available at: http://www.ellorascave.com

To read excerpts from other authors participating in Saturday Snippets follow the links below:

Shelley Munro's blog

Beth Kery

Michelle Pillow Beth Williamson Eliza Gayle McKenna Jeffries Moira Rogers Shelley Munro Taige Crenshaw Vivian Arend Lauren Dane Leah Braemel TJ Michaels Victoria Janssen Jody Wallace

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Book Cover Request Forms - Authors Really Get A Vote On Their Cover Art

Myths have circled the romance writing world since I began writing back in the Stone Age.

They include things such as authors don't get a say what their book's title is, what their cover art is, romance writers always get more sex than the average mortal...

Well, we hope the third is true for sure even if we don't like to be leered at by sleazy men.

A lot of things have changed since I first began writing. For one, epublishing arrived and even the big boys are playing now.

Two things I leaned early on: author titles usually stay with their books and authors get a say in their cover art. That is not to say ALWAYS.

When I submitted my first two or three books I

didn't think titles mattered, that no matter what I named my books, the publisher would change their names. Guess what? The publisher didn't change them even though I wish they would have. Now, I have to be more careful naming my books. :)

All of my publishers have asked my opinion regarding cover art for my books. That is not to say I always get my wish. That is either because I h

ad crappy ideas or maybe I didn't express myself well enough, or because the artist had a better idea.

I go with the flow when it comes to titles and

covers. I figure the publisher knows best and even if for some reason they don't, the publisher still owns the company, not me.

Just in case you've never seen a cover art request form and you're the curious sort, here are a list of the questions I received from one of my publishers. I don't think they'll mind if I show you as long as I removed their name. The questions a

re generic.

Ø Title of Book -

Ø Series Name (if applicable) -

Ø Author name –

Ø Genre -

Ø Time Period -

Ø Book length (word count) –

Ø Tag/hook (this is the sentence that sums up the story in one line and hooks your readers into wanting to read more) -

Ø Cover Blurb –

Ø Reader Advisory (this is the line that we

add to the bottom of the blurb if there are scenes that need more explanation than just the genre – e.g. This book contains scenes of F/F intimacy, and menage or more sex or This book is best read in sequence as part of a series) Please add any notes that you think we should be aware of

regarding specific scenes in your book so that we may make a decision as to whether any reader advisory is necessary.

Ø New book or re-release –

Ø Where the story is set –

Ø Hero Description (Whatever details will help the art department) –

Ø Heroine Description (Whatever details will help the art department) -

Ø Short Summary of Story –

Ø Is there anything you would specifically like to see on your cover or any comments -

Ø Is there anything you don’t want on the cover or any comments –

In addition to my written response, I usually include pictures of my hero and heroine to give the cover artist a better idea. Of course the artist can only use pictures that are public domain or that they have special permission to use, they hopefully will find people who look similar on my covers. Since I learned that one of my publishers usually uses stock photos, I "shop" through their other covers instead of opening my search to everybody online, so unfortunately, I don't send pics of Julia Roberts or Adam Lambert.

Below are some of the questions if you'd like to see. Since I have to fill out a cover art request form now, I'm going to skeedaddle so I can get it done.

Here's the cover to my story "Charity's Auction" that will be released in the "Caught in the Middle" anthology that will be released at Total-E-Bound Monday May 11, 2009.

I didn't get an input on the cover of Caught in the Middle. That's because it's an anthology put together by the publisher. But I'm fine with it. I love this cover! TEB has some of the prettiest book covers.

I'm happy the publisher didn't ask all six authors featured in this anthology what we'd like to see on the cover. A few years ago, a different publisher asked our anthology group what we'd like on the cover and as everybody wanted an element to represent their story, it was a mess.

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Author Websites and Blogs

How important is a website and a blog for an author? I always thought it was very important and thus I have both. For a long time now, my blog's been a lot prettier than my website. Of course, I purchased a cute design from a real designer for my blog and I tried to make my own website. Unfortunately, I'm not the artist or the computer geke in our family (yes, we have both). I finally broke down and hired the same design company to design a unique design for my blog. We've been having a devil of a time getting it to post, however. I hope it was up in time for my September 22nd release of "Heart and Soul" at TEB. I hope it's at least up by today (I'm pre-posting and pre-scheduling). Both DS#1 and my web designer have worked above and beyond the call to get my new site up. Since I'm not a computer techie or designer I don't understand why there's been a problem, just that there is one. Check out www.ashleyladd.com and let me know what you think. I love it. I wish I could do art like that. I'll have to content myself with writing. I segued. Let me return to my original premise. One friend mentioned that her publisher told her she really needed to have a MySpace page. I just read an agent's blog and he said that it would be good for authors to have these things but that it just needs to have minimal information and look professional, but not necessarily fancy. How important do you think it is for an author to have a website? A blog? A MySpace page? What do you think?