Category: Book Giveaways

On Tour with Brooke Johnson & Natalya Parks and The Need To Touch (contest)

 

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 I am sitting with authors Brooke Johnson and Natalya Parks to find out more about themselves and The Need To Touch.  They’ve brought along a prize of  two signed paperback copies to give away.  To enter to win, visit this Rafflecopter link to enter and for more contest details.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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STRW:   The Need to Touch is the first book in the Stay True series.  Which came first the idea for the series or the first story?

Brooke and Natalya: The story, when we first started writing we hadn’t decided on the ending. But now that the story is finished we have an idea how the whole series will play out.

STRW:  Regional “voices” can be tricky.  Go too far and the character can fall into caricature ville. Not go far enough and the character is left without any local “flavor”.    How did you all avoid that syndrome?

Brooke and Natalya: Brooke was married to a country boy and Natalya grew up on a farm. We used this to create Ryder. Ben is a lot like Brookes friend from high school who was the original idea for the book.

STRW:    Ryder Harrison grows up on a small ranch in Montana.  Is that location and setting based on research or experience?

Brooke and Natalya:The location of Montana is from research. We chose it because it wasn’t too far from California but would still be a huge change and adjustment for Ryder. The ranch setting is from experience.

STRW:    Bentley Carter has a background of abuse.  That also is such a sensitive topic that writing that into a character needs to be handled believably.  Do you all feel that came across?

Brooke and Natalya:Yes, Brooke has an associate’s degree in adolescent psychology and is working on her bachelors. Natalya grew up in an abusive environment.

STRW:  Why write with a partner?  How did that come about?

Brooke and Natalya: We’re both gifted in different ways when it comes to writing. Where one of us is a little weaker the other one is stronger in that area. We have a lot of fun when we start brainstorming story ideas.

Brooke had a gay friend in high school who committed suicide at the age of sixteen. She wanted to write this story to inspire young adults that true love can prevail no matter how old you are. Brooke started an outline and asked Natalya for help and we went from there.

STRW: Do you find writing with a partner presents more challenges or less when trying for cohesion and fluidity in a story?

Brooke and Natalya: We actually feel in our situation it helps. Brooke writes faster which pushes Natalya to write more. Brooke tends to get attached to one character and has some difficulty brining out the other characters as much as the one she’s attached to. Natalya has an easier time seeing all the characters. Brooke is good at getting a basic story going where Natalya is good at adding details and making the story stronger. We have come to the conclusion that having two people write two different characters makes it easier to ensure the personalities of the characters are stronger and more realistic. Brooke does not enjoy editing. Natalya actually kind of enjoys it. We feel we make a very good team.

STRW:   Why go with teenagers to begin with?  Do you intend to “age” them through the series?

Brooke and Natalya:Actually they’re young adults. Ben is 20 at the beginning of the story and turns 21. Ryder is 19 and turns 20. Yes we do intend to age them throughout the series.

STRW:   Or will each story feature different characters?

Brooke and Natalya:The series will continue to be about Ben and Ryder. We will be bringing new characters into each book and characters will be leaving.

Book Name: The Need to Touch
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21455376-the-need-to-touch?ac=1
Author Name: Brooke Johnson & Natalya Parks
Authors Bio:
Brooke Johnson:

Brooke Johnson lives in Louisiana with her five girls, wonderful boyfriend, and many pets. When she is not working on finishing her current degree, she can be found fishing, coloring, or blowing bubbles with her kids. Just over a year ago, Brooke decided she wasn’t going to back down from her dreams, and started writing full time. With the encouragement of her family she is proud to be publishing her books for the world to read.

Brooke started reading later in life. Unlike many authors who have always had a special love for reading, Brooke didn’t pick up a book until she was in her late teens. She remembers wanting to find something to do with her mom, who has always been her best friend. One day her mom was talking about a romance novel that she just read. Not being interested in it all, Brooke gave in and read the book. She’s been her mom’s reading partner ever since. They can now sit and talk, laugh and even cry about all the books they have read over the years.

So, with great pride and honor, Brooke is happy to thank her mother for encouraging her to not only read, but to follow her heart, and write her own books. What started as simple poetry on scrap paper, at the age of seven, is now a dream come true. Brooke started writing but felt something was missing. When she started writing with Natalya Parks, everything seemed to fall into place, and now here they are. Launching books, and writing more. This may be the first you see of them, but Brooke is determined that this won’t be last. Brooke is excited for you to meet their characters, and fall in love with the men that they have spent many hours with over the last year, just for you!!

Natalya Parks:

Natalya parks lives is Louisiana with her beloved dog, Napoleon. Natalya enjoys spending as much time as possible with her children and grandchildren.
Natalya has had an ongoing passionate love affair with books since she was four years old. While her friends were getting in trouble for not reading she was getting in trouble for reading. She was late for dinner, forgot to do her chores, stayed up past her bedtime, forgot about homework and was late for the school bus on many occasions; because she couldn’t put the book down. Her most embarrassing moment caused by reading a book occurred when she was in seventh grade. The school bus pulled up to her stop and of course she couldn’t possibly stop reading. The story was just too good. So with her nose still in her book she slowly made her way down the aisle of the bus. She as she got to the top of the stairs she tripped over an instrument case that was jutting out just a bit into the aisle. Where she promptly fell head first down the stairs landing in a heap in the dirt, her feet resting on the bottom step. Natalya was wearing a dress that day.

She has wanted to be a writer since she was a teenager but never thought she could write anything good enough for someone else to want to read. Her dear friend Brooke convinced her otherwise and literally dragged her into the world of writing. Something she will be forever grateful. Now, not only does she get to love and enjoy works by other authors but also those that she has contributed to as well. Her mind still goes tilt, tilt when she thinks about the fact that she is a published author. Dreams really can come true.

Author Contact:
http://www.coolbeanspe.com
Amazon

Need-to-Touch-for-AmazonSMTitle:  The Need To Touch by Brooke Johnson & Natalya Parks
Publisher: Cool Beans Publishing and Editing, LLC
Cover Artist: Aj Corza

Sales Links:     Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Smashwords        All Romance (ARe)   Website

 

The Need to Touch Blurb:

You can only win someone’s heart once you’ve captured it.

Nineteen year old Ryder Harrison grew up near a small town in Montana, working on the family’s ranch and in love with his best friend, Landon Pennington. That was until his Grandfather decided he needed to go to college in California. Ryder promised his Mom before she died that he would finish his education. Staying true to his word, Ryder packs his clothes, and heads to California, confident that it would all be one big disaster. The only thing he hadn’t planned on was meeting Bentley Carter.

Twenty year old Bentley Carter has enough emotional issues to write his own ‘How to Cope’ manual. Surviving an abusive childhood, he made a personal promise to always stay true to himself, and never let emotions overrule his common sense. Content with his current life and friend with ‘benefits’, Ben is determined to not let his new roommate affect him.

Uncertain about their places in the world, and with each other, Ryder and Ben struggle to understand the person who is not what they thought they wanted, yet who they are unable to live without. Living in a sometimes cruel and unforgiving world they are determined to embrace the reality of falling in love and the challenges that follow.

The Need to Touch Excerpt:

Ben

Two days since meeting Ryder and I was considering changing majors.

It’s been thirty minutes since this lecture began, and I couldn’t remember one word the professor said. The cause of my distraction was chewing on his pen, two rows down from me. I groaned, and then tried to cover it with a cough. My face felt hot as the girl next to me glared in my direction. Why did he have to do that with his pen? It wasn’t until everyone closed their books that I realized I had stared ay Ryder through the entire lecture.

I continually found reasons to spend time with him. So I shoved my stuff in my bag and rushed out of the classroom. I was eager to run into him in the hallway, maybe then I’d get him to talk to me.

I rushed past a bundle of people gathered in the hallway. It wasn’t as though he was hard to find. Ryder was tall and solid muscle; I bet he looked even better naked. Ryder smiled as I fell into step next to him.

“So, what did you think?” I asked as we took the stairs to our dorm room.

“It was okay. I could swear someone was watching me the whole time.” Ryder said.

Tour Dates/Stops:
8/25: MM Good Book Reviews
8/26: Andrew Q. Gordon
8/27: Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings
8/28: Jade Crystal
8/29: Amanda C. Stone, EE Montgomery
9/1: Parker Williams
9/2: LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Iyana Jenna
9/3: The Hat Party
9/4: Love Bytes
9/5: Kimi-Chan
9/8: Cate Ashwood
9/9: Prism Book Alliance
9/10: Hearts on Fire
9/11: Fallen Angel Reviews
9/12: Foxylutely Book Reviews
9/15: Love of Bookends
9/16: Wake Up Your Wild Side
9/17: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
9/18: Hearts on Fire
9/19: My Fiction Nook

Rafflecopter Code:  Rafflecopter Prize: One of two signed paperbacks.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Please use the link below for the entry form and for all contest details.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get some Love & Punishment with Susan MacNicol! On Tour, Answering Questions with Love & Punishment! (contest)

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What Makes A Man?  Let’s find out.   Susan MacNicol is here today on her book tour.  She’s brought a lovely contest to enter and agreed to sit down and answer some questions!  For all the contest information, head directly to the bottom of the post for the entry link and details.  Now on with our interview…

STRW:  When you write your stories, do you find yourself tailoring them to European readers or worldwide?

Susan M: I don’t write for any particular nationality or country. I obviously write using English slang, English words, and the flavour of the country I live in. It’s honest and the most natural way for me to tell my men’s stories. I’d say 90% of my readership is in the US though, but I don’t Americanise my spelling or my colloquialisms. My American readers seem to enjoy my English turn of phrase, and the idiosyncrasies of my language and of course, of me! I do hope that my stories appeal all over the world, and that everyone gets pleasure out of them.

STRW:  Is there any difference do you think?

Susan M: I think the answer I gave above probably settles this one. No, I don’t think it makes a difference. The one thing I would say is that when I write books using a language that isn’t my own, I always get a native speaker of that language to double check and sense check my phrases. In ‘Stripped Bare’ , Matthew Langer spoke German, in ‘Love and Punishment’ Anthony speaks some Italian. I’ve had some people criticise the language use and say it was wrong, or perhaps not how ‘they’ would have said it. All I can do is take the advice I’ve been given by those native language speakers and hope it’s the best we can do.

STRW:  Love and Punishment. Which came first?  Title or story?

Susan M: Oh, definitely the story. I’ve got some fairly fixed views on certain controversial issues myself and the ability to write some of these into a story using my characters is fascinating. Then, as I wove some of the elements of those views into my story, and the characters grew and the ideas surfaced and all of a sudden I had a gripping erotic romance thriller with some sexy male heroes, the title sort of crept into the mind. Love – in whatever form and depth and Punishment -both in the legal aspect, the justice view and of course, the self recrimination and guilt. It all wound together really nicely to give birth to the title.

STRW: What sparks your creative process for each story?  A Muse?  An idea?

Susan M: An idea. I get this bee in my bonnet, decide, ‘Yep, I really fancy writing about a crazy serial killer who is being hunted by a sexy Italian detective’, and then it just develops from there. The story tends to bulk out as I write and sometimes I’ll sit there and think,’ Where the hell did that come from? I didn’t even have the vestige of that idea when I started out’. Crazy story, twisting and turning and taking me along on its magic carpet ride.

STRW: What do you find sexy in a person?

Susan M: I have fantasies just like any other red blooded woman and being able to project those into my writing and create characters that I’d love to meet, be friends with, even be in love with, (sorry oh hubby of mine, you just lost out to a fictional character) really floats my boat. I love tight butts, slim, muscled, well toned bodies (not a fan of hair or too much body builder muscle -my daughter and I argue about it all the time as she’s a fan of big men), warm eyes, great eyebrows (like Robbie Williams) and a sense of humour plus intelligence. That’s my ideal man.

STRW: Favorite character you have written and why?

Susan M: Unfair question! I plead the Fifth. It’s impossible to answer this. It’s like the decision of King Solomon as to which half of the baby to give to which mother. I mean, if you had the pick of half of a sexy bloke, which half would you pick? (I’d actually be interested in the answers and the rationale for which half anyone chooses….) I love all my characters equally. Some are tough, some are more emotional. Some are jokers, some are too serious with OCD tendencies, some are fools that rush in where angels fear to tread…they have one thing in common though. They are all beautiful men inside (and out of course) and have the ability to feel love deeply and without reservation.

 

LoveBanner300x250BlueBook Name: Love & Punishment
Author Name: Susan Mac Nicol
Author Bio:

Susan Mac Nicol was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom. At the age of eight, her family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa where she stayed for nearly thirty years before arriving back in the UK in December 2000. Currently, She lives in the rural village of Bocking, in Essex, with her family.

Sue is a PAN (Published Author’s Network) member of Romance Writers of America and a member of the Romantic Novelists Association in the UK. Also, she is a member of a rather unique writing group, called the Talliston Writer’s Circle, which in itself has a story all of its own to tell. She has written nine novels, two novellas and a screenplay since February 2012 and clearly believes in keeping herself busy. She has found herself wanting to stay in the sub-genre that is M/M Romance so more can definitely be expected.

Her plan is to keep writing as long as her muse sits upon her shoulder. Her dream is to make enough money to give up the day job and get that big old house in the English countryside overlooking a river, where she can write all day and continue to indulge her passion for telling stories.

Author Contact:

Love and Punishment2SMCover Artist: Boroughs Publishing Group
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group  
Buy Link:  Boroughs Publishing Group

Blurb:

On the search for a serial killer, Detective Anthony Parglietto and Flynn Parker learn that every man must make a choice: to kill, to live, to love.
FROM DARKNESS AND LIGHT

Someone is leaving a trail of bodies throughout London, and Detective Anthony Parglietto is determined to end the violence. Then he’ll return to the man he loves.

Tough, street-savvy, and used to dealing with lowlifes, Flynn Parker is the last person Anthony thinks he has to protect. Then the Bow-Tie Killer strikes close to home and the world turns upside down. Right is wrong, black is white, and a policeman might become a monster. But in the name of love, justice must be served. In the name of love, pain can be endured. In the name of love, a man can taste the very essence that defines him.
Video Link:   View Trailer Here

Excerpt:

Anthony walked down the hall. He reached the bedroom and gently pushed the door open. He saw Flynn framed in the light of the lamp shining from the lounge. He lay, apparently asleep, on the leather and wood divan Anthony had brought over from Italy. Its dark burgundy colour contrasted with what Flynn wore, which was nothing but a black thong lying stark against his pale skin. The divan was under the window. The bed covers were rumpled, as if Flynn had been sleeping. His robe was draped across the foot of the bed. Anthony moved towards the gleaming body of his supine lover.

Flynn’s face was turned away towards the back of the sofa. His dark hair was tousled and his arms stretched above his head to the right. He wore a blindfold. Anthony felt a stir in his groin seeing those lean, hairy legs stretched out wantonly, inviting him to run his hands up and over his groin. Even appearing asleep, Flynn had the power to excite him, to make Anthony hard and ready. He stepped towards him, watching the rise and fall of Flynn’s chest with their already hardened nubs. Anthony wanted to run his tongue over that chest, with its smattering of fine hair, to take Flynn’s nipples in his mouth and suck them until Flynn groaned in pleasure. As he got closer in the dim light he saw the hands with their bonds of silk. Green bonds lay dark against Flynn’s wrists, fastened to the wooden struts of the upright chair arm. His hands were tight fists. Anthony chuckled softly, a noise that sounded loud in the stillness of the room.

“Been waiting long?’ he whispered as he took off his jacket. ‘I tried to get home as soon as I could.”
Anthony knew the bonds would be loose so Flynn could break free if needed but he also knew he wouldn’t. It was the way the game was played.

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Tour Dates/Stops:
8/29: The Hat Party, It’s Raining Men
9/1: My Fiction Nook, Tara Lain
9/2: MM Good Book Reviews, EE Montgomery, Sarah Madison Fiction
9/3: Love Bytes, A_TiffyFit’s Reading Corner
9/4: Parker Williams, Amanda C. Stone
9/5: Full Moon Dreaming
9/8: Hearts on Fire, Rainbow Gold Reviews
9/9: Jade Crystal, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves
9/10: Prism Book Alliance, Fallen Angel Reviews
9/11: Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Book Suburbia
9/12: Havan Fellows, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings
9/15: Decadent Delights, 3 Chicks After Dark
9/16: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Because Two Men Are Better Than One
9/17: Regular Guys, Hot Romance, Joyfully Jay
9/18: Louise Lyons, Gaylist Book Reviews
9/19: Cate Ashwood, Iyana Jenna
9/22: The Novel Approach, Crystal’s Many Reviewers
9/23: Inked Rainbow Reads, Wake Up Your Wild Side
9/24: LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Emotion in Motion
9/25: The Blogger Girls, Velvet Panic

Contest: Enter to win the Rafflecopter Prize: One copy of each of Double Alchemy and Double Alchemy: Climax. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the Rafflecopter link provided below for the entry form and additional contest details.
WillPride

Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

In the STRW Spotlight: Rob Rosen’s Men of the Manor Tour (contest)

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Focusing In On:  Rob Rosen and the Men of the Manor Anthology

 

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Rob Rosen here today to talk about the Men of the Manor Anthology, and sit down for another great author interview.  Rob has brought along a great contest to enter.  

Contest: a pdf format copy of Men of the Manor. Leave a Comment below with your favorite historical era or book, make sure it has an email address where you can be reached. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Contest ends 9/21.

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Men of the Manor Anthology

Edited by Rob Rosen

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The country estate, masters and servants, mystery and intrigue,
sex and money. All go hand in hand in these turn-of-the-century
tales of what goes on behind the manor’s closed doors. Does the
master lure the butler to the phonograph room for a romp
behind the sofa, or does the stable boy have a tryst with the
footman while the lord longingly watches on? Does the aristocrat
drop his foppish manners when the butler helps him undress?
And do the classes exchange more than pleasantries when the
lamps are dimmed and the ladies retire for the evening?

Rob Rosen has gathered the hottest stories of romance and sex
between wealthy aristocrats and the hard-working estate staff,
all with a pre–World War I backdrop, including the fashion and
art and the latest inventions of the day. War is years way, the
estates are huge and sprawling, the fashionably elite have too
much time on their hands, while the toiling underclass are always
on the lookout for a means to a brighter future — no matter
whose bed they end up in. Think Downton Abbey and Upstairs,
Downstairs, but with enough sex to make the town vicar blush.

Men of the Manor: Erotic Encounters between Upstairs Lords and Downstairs Lads
by Rob Rosen

Buy Link ebooks:    All Romance eBooks  Amazon      Men of the Manor Anthology

It is also in paperback.

 My Interview with Rob Rosen on all things Men of the Manor….

STRW:  Pre WWI era, why that setting?

Rob Rosen: It was during this time that manors, and hence servants, were commonplace. After WWI, and as a result of it, this way of life quickly began to vanish. Since the collection is about masters and servants, the timeframe I picked seemed to make the most sense. Plus, it offers a glimpse into an era that’s both intriguing and so vastly out of sync with our own.

STRW:  You seem to have all the genres covered: Mystery, Romance, History…a kind of Downton Abby for Lords and Lads. I love the idea for this collection. How did that all come about?

Rob Rosen:  Well, you already hit the nail on the head. Downton Abby is still a huge hit, and so a collection like the one I’ve put together seemed ripe for the picking. Cleis Press readily agreed with me, and, voila, Men of the Manor was born. Plus, I’ve always been a fan of stories about the haves and the have-nots, and the struggle between the two classes that results.

STRW:  Historical fiction is one of the hardest genres in my opinion to write. So many things have to be accurate for the time frame, including dialog and laws. How did that play into the authors chosen to write the stories or did it?

Rob Rosen:  Those things were actually secondary in my decision process. I simply chose the best stories, the hottest ones, but the ones that were highly literary as well. Still, you’re correct; the dialog did have to ring true, as did the social mores of the time, the dress, the way a manor is run. Fortunately, the authors in this anthology are all superior writers and were all adept at keeping with the theme.

 STRW:  Saucy lads and naughty lords…just the thought makes me gleeful. Any particular Lord come to mind when this subject matter popped up? Lord Darcy? Lord Byron, for example?

Rob Rosen:  Not really, no. In fact, the lords and masters in the collection are all strikingly different from one another. Some are caring and some cruel, some seeking the sex out, some chancing upon it. Yet all are well-aware of their power over their servants, and all the servants, in turn, are aware of their places in the house, which is what makes the inevitable sex that much more illicit, steamier, sexier.

STRW:  Do you see this as a one time collection or something that could be repeated with additional authors?

Rob Rosen:  I’d love a sequel! But, hey, only time will tell. Fingers crossed that Men of the Manor will be a big enough hit to merit one.

STRW:  I think I may have asked you this before but what do you find sexy?

Rob Rosen:  Literarily speaking, I find unexpected encounters sexy, when the characters find themselves in situations they never saw coming. Men of the Manor is chock full of just such unexpected encounters, of masters of the house suddenly finding themselves, sexually speaking, with the help and vice-versa, and then having to deal with the ramifications. These kinds of scenarios make for great plot twists as well.

STRW:  If this collection runs the gamut of the social structure of the time, does it do the same fiction wise? From serious angst to lighthearted comedy?

Rob Rosen: For sure! In fact, I wouldn’t have it any other way. A well devised anthology gives the reader the full spectrum of human emotion. So while some of the stories are deep and/or brooding, several are also lighthearted, romantic, sweet. And a couple are downright whimsical in nature.

STRW:  I won’t ask favorites, that’s not fair. But do you have a favorite historical novel or movie that you love to watch over and over again?

Rob Rosen: Hands down, Tea with Mussolini. But who doesn’t love a movie starring Cher and Judi Dench? In terms of novels, I’m a huge fan of Gore Vidal. I’ve read all of his historical novels: the Narratives of Empire series. I even got to meet the man and shake his hand!

STRW:   What’s up next for Rob Rosen?

Rob Rosen: There’s, thankfully, lots coming up. My next anthology, the renowned Best Gay Erotica 2015, will be out in December, followed by Warlords and Warriors early next year. And in February, my eighth novel, Creature Comfort, will be released.

If you want to keep up with all this and much more, please visit me at www.therobrosen.com or on his Goodreads author page.

Author Bio:

Rob Rosen is the author of the critically acclaimed novels, “Sparkle: The Queerest Book You’ll Ever Love”, the Lambda Literary Award Nominated “Divas Las Vegas”, which was the winner of the 2010 TLA Gaybies for Best Gay Fiction, “Hot Lava”, “Southern Fried”, the Lambda Literary Award Nominated “Queerwolf”, “Vamp”, and “Queens of the Apocalypse”. His short stories have appeared in more than 200 anthologies. You can find 20 of them in his erotic romance anthology, “Good & Hot”. He is also the editor of “Lust in Time: Erotic Romance Through the Ages” and “Men of the Manor: Erotic Encounters between Upstairs Lords and Downstairs Lads”. Please visit him at his website.

Book Blast: On Tour with Amelia Bishop’s Water Witch (contest)

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Contest:  3 Winners chosen to receive a eBook copy of Water Witch.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Please use the Rafflecopter link provided below for the entry form and additional contest details.

Book Name: Water Witch
Author Name: Amelia Bishop
Author Bio:

I am a reader and writer of romantic erotic fiction of all varieties. Sometimes, the little stories in my head just need to be shared (and sometimes they are just for me). I enjoy red wine, black rum, shell-hunting walks along the seashore, and solo late-night drunken dance parties.

Author Contact:

possiblewwTitle: Water Witch by Amelia Bishop
Cover Artist: Cover photo by Dan Skinner
Publisher: Self-published

Buy Links:  Amazon

Blurb:

Vincenzo is a witch with a short fuse, a sexy smile, and dirty mouth.

Life demands little from Vincenzo. Treasured by his mother and grandmother, protected by his coven, and blessed with precognitive skills, he grew up happy and carefree in his snug home by the bay.

Then a sexy Fae walks into his house to steal his beloved heirlooms, and into his dreams to steal his heart. Meanwhile, haunting visions of an unknown disaster on the horizon shake his secure world and force him to take responsibility for the first time in his life.

Now he must master his witchcraft, temper his impulsiveness, and listen to his heart.

Excerpt:

“Salil?” I called again. Maybe I would kiss him? And if he let his guard down, maybe he’d tell me how to release my family’s ritual tools from the bottom of the bay.

“I can’t tell you that until it is time.”

“Shit!” I splashed around, my heart pounding, searching for him. When I located his face bobbing above the waves he was wearing a delighted grin, his fingertips brushing the water in front of him in long fluid motions, keeping him afloat. “Damn it! Do you get off on giving people heart attacks?”

“Your heart is in perfect working order, trust me.” His smile widened and a small laugh surrounded his words.

“Well, thanks for the stress test. Next time you could make a little noise or something, though.”

“I enjoy surprising you. You use such colorful language when you are startled.”

“Glad you find me entertaining.” I was suddenly too hot, my face and chest flushed. “Are you a mind reader now? Eavesdropping on my thoughts?”

“When you talk to yourself so clearly in your head, and if I am near you, I can sometimes hear.” He tilted his head to the side. “It is not the same as eavesdropping, really.”

“Yeah, it kind of is.” It was also something my grandfather could do, though he’d hidden it from everyone but the family. It was a skill most useful when kept secret. So why did Salil just tell me he had it?

He shrugged and swam closer, his eyes hot with desire.


BadgeWaterWitchTour Dates/Stops:
9/8: MM Good Book Reviews
9/9: Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves
9/10: Cate Ashwood
9/11: Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings
9/12: Love Bytes
9/15: Velvet Panic, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
9/16: EE Montgomery
9/17: Amanda C. Stone
9/18: Prism Book Alliance
9/19: The Hat Party

Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter Prize: 3 e-copies of ‘Water Witch’. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter

Feel Lucky? Check in with Moriah Gemel’s “Load the Dice” VBT (Contest)

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Moriah Gemel has stopped by on her VBT for Load the Dice.  She’s answering some questions, brought along an excerpt and even a contest to enter.

 Contest: Moriah will be awarding a free download of an Interlude Press eBook title or an author/book swag pack (US ONLY) to TEN randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour as well as a Grand Prize of a $25 B&N gift card to a randomly drawn winner. A $25 B&N gift card and print edition (to be released at conclusion of the series in January) of Load the Dice will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.  Use this Rafflecopter link to enter and for additional contest details.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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My Interview with Moriah Gemel on Writing, Favorite Books, and Inspiration

 STRW:  What was your inspiration for the story?

Moriah Gemel:  A friend and I were discussing what it would be like to meet someone through a game, to start a romance that way. I write a great deal of BDSM romance, and I thought, what better way to play a game? A BDSM scene can be much like a game—there are rules, and a set progression through agreed-upon activities, but all in the name of fun, and everybody wins–so what kind of game could two people meet through? And so Load the Dice was born.

STRW:  Do you have a muse?

Moriah Gemel:  Not that I think of as personified, no. I like to think of my inspiration as energy—some days I have plenty of it, and it just flows out through my fingers. But other days it’s stuck, and needs some jolting to get out, and that’s when I seek inspiration from other sources.

Do you work on one project at a time or many?

Moriah Gemel: I try to work on one thing at a time, but inevitably I forget that I’m supposed to be doing that and take on something else.

Hero or Antihero? Who would you chose and why?

Moriah Gemel:  I think it depends on the story. Characters are just people, and every person is different and does things their own way. And so both have their own merit depending on which character you’re throwing into which situation. For Load the Dice, I needed Eric to be a hero, of a sort—he needed to be honest and open and good, as much as he could be. Another character could easily have become an antihero though.

People say write what you know. Do you think that is right or is that even important?

Moriah Gemel:  I like to say, “Write everything.” That includes what you know, what you don’t know, what exists, what doesn’t exist. Why limit yourself when there really are no bounds?

What is the first book you read that really meant something to you?

Moriah Gemel:  When I was six years old, my grandfather handed me Watership Down by Richard Adams. And so I read it, and understood so very little. I wasn’t mature enough. But his advice was to keep reading until I got it, and so I did—I read it over and over and over, and I still read it from time to time. There’s always something new to discover.

What do you find sexy in a man?

Moriah Gemel:  I love a good pair of arms on a guy. I like them strong and thick, hard enough to hold me tight and hold me up. That and respect—nothing hotter than a guy who treats me like a person, you know?

What’s next up for you?

Moriah Gemel:  I’ve just outlined my second novel! I’m excited about it, it’s completely different and a new challenge for me.

Thank you, Moriah, for sitting in our author’s chair and giving us some insight into your books, inspiration and writing.  Now let’s take a closer look at Moriah Gemel’s book Load the Dice.

Cover_LoadTheDiceLoad the Dice (Episode One)
by Moriah Gemel
Publisher:  Interlude Press
Sales Link:  Load the Dice at Interlude Press

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Load the Dice Blurb:

Eric left the BDSM scene years ago because he couldn’t find the right partner, opting instead to meet men in quiet coffee shops and piano bars. But when his friend invites him to a posh hook-up party, he meets first time sub Jamie, who he convinces to detail his sexual fantasies during a passionate night together.

The pair soon embark on a relationship that introduces Jamie to the BDSM scene, and plays out his fantasies one by one. But as they approach the final fantasy, will Eric be able to walk away?

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Load the Dice Excerpt

He crawls onto the bed and straddles Jamie’s thighs, his clothed body barely touching Jamie’s, and Jamie whimpers. “Are you still wearing all your clothes?” he asks breathlessly, and Eric leans down and kisses the top of his spine, letting him feel the fabric of his clothes over his bare body.

“Yes, I am,” Eric says, and Jamie rocks down into the bed.

“Oh god, that’s so hot.”

Eric chuckles, and then sits back up, making sure to keep as little contact as he can.

“I want you to tell me about your fantasies,” Eric says. “For every fantasy you tell me, I will explore one part of your body with my mouth and hands. The more details you give, the more I will pay attention to the spot I’m on.” This gives Jamie just a little bit of control, and lets Eric know the kinds of touches he likes best. Jamie can decide if he wants to keep Eric somewhere or move on—it’ll keep him on his toes, and Eric has one more trick up his sleeve to ensure it.

“But if you stop talking,” he adds, “and you don’t move on to the next fantasy, or tell me more about the one you’re on, you will be punished. Is that understood?”

Jamie whimpers again, nodding.

“I need an answer, Jamie.”

“Yes, sir.”

Eric kisses the top of his spine again. “Good boy. Number the fantasies as you go. You may begin.”

 

Eric smiles. It’s a start.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:AuthorPic

Moriah Gemel has developed a dedicated following for her realistic, sexually-charged stories over twelve years in online fan communities. Passionate about a realistic depiction of BDSM, her goal is to both entertain and educate readers about the BDSM community.

Load the Dice originated as a short work of fan fiction, written in three parts. For her first work of professional fiction, she has turned it into a serialized novel in ten parts.

She is married and has a young son.

Connect with the author at:

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a Rafflecopter giveaway – see contest details and prizes listed at the beginning of this post.

On Tour with K.A. Merikan and her Guns ‘n’ Boys (contest)

Welcome, K.A. Merikan, to Scattered Thoughts And Rogue Words!  Kat Merikan is here to talk about her latest release Gun’s ‘n’ Boys, a dark novel of crime, lust, and suspense!

Contest:  K.A.Merikan is giving away an ebook copy of Guns ‘n’ Boys. To enter to win, leave a comment below along with your email address where you can be reached if chosen.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Contest runs until midnight 9/21.

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 K. A. Merikan on Guns ‘n’ Boys…

If you’ve ever dreamt about an assassin who doesn’t just do the killing behind the scenes – Domenico Acerbi is right for you.gunsnboys_book1Part1_450

If you’re tired of the brutal antagonists always turning out to be undercover investigators – Domenico Acerbi is right for you.
If you’re tired of harsh men who completely lose their cool and melt into fluffy teddy bears the moment they find The One – Domenico Acerbi is right for you 😉

Yes, I know this sound like a vintage ad. Seriously though, while in real life I stay as far away from violent or assholish people as possible, they do excite me in books and other media. Anti-heroes may be baddies, but they are not straight-up villains. Sure, they frequently engage in criminal activities, they beat people up, produce illegal drugs, even kill, but at the same time they have redeeming qualities that make us root for them. One of them is that antiheroes do things that most people secretly wished for at some point in their life, for example punching an obnoxious person, or killing a person who escapes punishment that they deserve. But every good anti hero needs to draw a line somewhere.

That’s why the main character of Dexter only kills a certain kind of people, and the viewers can’t help but cross their fingers for him. Most movie assassins declare that they won’t touch women and children, but they have no qualms about torturing an innocent man. Audiences are inclined to be forgiving of violent behavior but only if they understand the character’s motivation, and I confess I am very guilty of that 😉 After all, who doesn’t like a bad boy in their fantasies once in a while?

Order at Amazon!

 

— Love is sour like a Sicilian lemon. —

The Family is always right.
The Family doesn’t forget.
The Family pays for blood in blood.

gunsnboys_book1Part1_450Domenico Acerbi grew up in the shade of Sicilian lemon trees ready to give his life for the Family. Ready to follow orders and exceed expectations. A proud man of honor.
When Seth, the younger son of the Don is kidnapped, it’s Domenico who is sent to get him back. The man he finds though, is not the boy he knew all those years ago. Lazy, annoying, spoiled, and as hot as a Sicilian summer.

Seth Villani wants nothing to do with the mafia. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a say when the Family pulls him right back into its fold after his mother’s death. Thrown into a den of serpents otherwise known as the Villani Family, Seth has to find a way to navigate in the maze of lies. But when Domenico Acerbi, the most vicious snake of them all, sinks his fangs into Seth, the venom changes into an aphrodisiac that courses through Seth’s veins.

Domenico knows his life is about to change when he gets the order to train Seth up to the role of future Don. Seth isn’t made for it. He isn’t even made. But a man Domenico knows he would never have to fear might just be someone he’s always needed.

If Seth is doomed to follow in his father’s footsteps, he might as well enjoy himself–with the most intoxicating man he’s ever met. Maybe he can even fool himself into believing that Domenico isn’t a handsome sociopath who kills for a living.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

Themes: Enemies to lovers, mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime

Genre: Dark, twisted erotic romance / crime thriller

Erotic content: Explicit gay sex, coercion

Length: ~110,000 words

WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.
‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin.

About the author:

K.A. Merikan is a joint project of Kat and Agnes Merikan, who jokingly claim to share one mind. They finish each other’s sentences and simultaneously come up with the same ideas. Kat and Agnes enjoy writing various kinds of stories, from light-hearted romance to thrillers. They love creating characters that are not easy to classify as good or evil, and firmly believe that even some villains deserve their happy endings. It is easiest to find them in galleries, restaurants and historical sites, always with a computer or notebook, because for Kat and Agnes, every day is a writing day. Future plans include lots of travel, and a villa on the coast of Italy or a flat in Paris where they could retire after yet another crazy venture, only to write more hot homoerotic stories.

As K.A. Merikan, Kat and Agnes have published a number of books, which cross genres while always staying homoerotic.

You  can contact/follow K. A. Merikan at:

On Tour with Sue Brown and The Last Wolf (book tour and contest)

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Get a closer look at Sue Brown’s latest story and new series from Love Lane Books!   Check out that gorgeous cover, read the excerpt, and don’t forget to enter the contest at the end of the post!  Happy Reading! 

 

The Last Wolf 400x600Title – The Last Wolf (Sapphire Ranch Wolves – #1) by Sue Brown
Publisher:  Love Lane Books
Cover Artist:  Meredith Russell

Sales Link:  Love Lane Books

Blurb for The Last Wolf:

The only good predator is a dead one, as far as Joe Lowther is concerned.

That is until the day he shoots a wolf, only to watch the animal turn into a naked Callum Pope. Cal is being hunted by a group of humans who eradicate shifter packs for sport.

Joe makes a decision to help Cal and discovers a deeper connection with the young shifter. One which he’d like to explore. If they live that long.

The Last Wolf (Sapphire Ranch Wolves #1) Excerpt

Joe had seen the wolf for the first time the previous night, a fleeting glimpse of glowing eyes as it tracked a coyote across the paddocks of Sapphire Ranch. He’d been convinced his eyes were deceiving him because he knew there were no wolves in Texas.

“You sure it was a wolf? Are you sure it wasn’t a coyote? What did he look like?” Like all ranchers, his daddy hated predators, but he was peculiarly tenderhearted about wolves. Joe didn’t have the same warm fuzzy feelings. For him, the only good predator was a dead one.

“Four paws, big ears, long fangs. What do you think it looked like?” At his father’s scowl, Joe quit the snark. “I hope I’m mistaken, because if not, the next time I meet it will be at the end of my shotgun.” His father looked upset and Joe cursed himself for mentioning it. “I’ll deal with it.”

“I hope you’re wrong,” his daddy said, shifting restlessly against his pillows. He winced, the lines deepening in his face.

Author Bio:

Sue Brown is owned by her dog and two children. When she isn’t following their orders, she be found haunting coffee shops to feed her coffee addiction. She spends hours people watching instead of typing. She feeds the plot bunnies, not the word count.

Sue discovered M/M erotica at the time she woke up to find two men kissing on her favorite television series. The series was boring; the kissing was not. She may be late to the party, but she’s made up for it since, writing fan fiction until she was brave enough to venture out into the world of original fiction.

Connect with Sue

 

Competition:

The contest is for $15 ARe/Amazon gift card, plus two other prizes of a free ebook from Love Lane.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Please use the Rafflecopter link provided to enter and for additional contest details.

Book Tour & Contest: Starling by Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese

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STARLING COVER Maltese McRae

Whistle Stop Tour for Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese’s

Starling!

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Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese have stopped by to talk about Starling, their latest release from Torquere.

We’d like to do a giveaway of a free e-copy of “Lake Effect,” our short story from the wedding-themed anthology They Do, also from Torquere.  To enter to win, leave an comment with your email address included.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Contest ends 9/20.

Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese Talk About Inspiration and their latest book, Starling!

Starling was inspired by a question, and then by our own fascination with the unglamourous parts of fairytale of fame.

Racheline and I started writing together more or less by accident. We met through mutual friends and share loves of television, backstage stories, and romances that are a little dark and a little messy.

But loving backstage stories when one of you is a SAG-AFTRA actor and the other has a long history of working crew in school shows can be hard. There’s so much to fantasize about, people don’t always get the reality right.

But what if? We asked each other. What if a guy who never wanted to be famous, became famous? And then, email by email, we started telling each other a story. And once we started, we didn’t stop. A year later, we’ve sold two novels — including Starling — a short story, and a novellete, have a half-dozen projects currently in progress, and several currently out with publishers for submission.

For Starling and its sequels, we wanted to tell a story about the wonder and the terror that is fame. Starling may be a fairytale — that discovered in a diner narrative always is. But it’s not a the Disney fairytale. Rather, it’s much more Hans Christian Andersen or Brothers Grimm.

Since Starling is a contemporary romance, it’s not that there are monsters lurking under the bed, but we are huge fans of magical realism and wanted to see how we could bring those ideas to a story, both magic and real, set in Hollywood.

As Alex, our guy who becomes famous, and Paul, the guy he falls for, navigate their way to their happy ending, things are hard and occasionally dark. Because life, after all, isn’t easy, and fame and success don’t make figuring out how to get, and keep, what — and who — you want any easier.

STARLING COVER Maltese McRaeTitle:  Starling
Authors: Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese
Publisher:  Torquere Books
Cover artist:  Brandon Clay

Sales Link: Amazon

 “Starling” Blurb:

When J. Alex Cook, a production assistant on The Fourth Estate (one of network TV’s hottest shows), is accidentally catapulted to stardom, he finds himself struggling to navigate both fame and a relationship with Paul, one of Fourth’s key writers. Despite their incendiary chemistry, Alex’s inexperience and the baggage they’re both carrying quickly lead to an ugly break-up.

Reeling from their broken hearts, Alex has an affair with a polyamorous co-star and Paul has an ill-advised reunion with an old flame. Meanwhile, the meddling of their colleagues, friends — and even the paparazzi! — quickly make Alex and Paul’s real life romance troubles the soap opera of the television season.

But while the entertainment value may be high, no one knows better than Alex and Paul that there are no guarantees when it comes to love in Los Angeles.

Authors Bios:

Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese’s gay romance series Love in Los Angeles, set in the film and television industry, is published by Torquere Press. The first novel, Starling, was released September 2014; its sequel, Doves, is scheduled for January 2015. Racheline is a NYC-based performer and storyteller focused on themes of sex, gender, desire and mourning. Erin McRae is a writer and blogger based in Washington, D.C.

Contact Links: