Author Raine Delight

Whoo hoo!! It's Thursday and erotica author Raine Delight, is in the house. I am already a huge fan so without further ado...

Hi there and thanks to Melissa for having me. I am Raine Delight and I currently write for Aspen Mountain Press and The Wild Horse Press. Here is my official bio:

Raine Delight is a pseudonym of a self professed book lover and after one too many TSTL characters, decided to see if she could write something a little better. Well many drafts later, Devon Falls series came to together. It was originally was to be one book but somehow ended up to 4 with a 5th and 6th one being planned for sometime in 2010. I write a paranormal contemporary series for Aspen Mountain and I am also branching out to other genres as I continue to listen to the voices in my head. Check out my book pages to see what is going on with me. My muse is a male nut who likes to leave me to go sip mai tais on the beach and leave me foundering for words; though eventually he takes pity on me and gets my words flowing and characters start settling down.

Personal notes: I live with my own boytoy and two kids. I love Johnny Depp movies and enjoy hiking, reading and watching movies with my family.
Raine’s upcoming release is the next book in her popular Devon Falls series called Moonlight & Magic. A were-tiger has to convince the one woman meant to be his to believe in love and in him. Available October 15th, 2010 at Aspen Mountain Press.

What was the inspiration behind your latest release?

Moonlight & Magic was a story that I had to tell once I met Dixie, the heroine in a past book in the Devon Falls Series. She was curvaceous, outspoken and cynical on romance. She didn’t believe in those Disney HEA’s anymore. One day I heard a song from Michael Buble called Hold On and a scene literally clicked in my head. From then on I wrote and wrote and now I just hope readers enjoy it.

When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

I am not sure…..maybe in the last few years. I always loved to read but after reading too many TSTL (too stupid to live) characters and complaining on it, a friend said I should write one of my own. Needless to say since then, I have been hearing voices in my head and writing down ideas, plots, and characters.

What do you love most about being a writer?

Creating a story. I love finding out how my characters work, live and enjoy life even as they find themselves falling for the one person they never expected.
What genre haven’t you tried, yet, that you would love to explore?
Raine says: I am currently creating a BDSM Paranormal trilogy that I am researching the world of BDSM and having a blast. Next is a short sci-fi story I am finishing as well. That had me researching Gamma Ray explosions in space.

If we looked on your bookshelf right now, what are some of the titles we would find?

Which bookcase? I have five and piles of books everywhere. *Giggles* I keep telling DH I need another bookcase since my collection is growing or a bigger house. *grins*

Some authors on my bookcases:

Yasmine Galenorn, Kelley Armstrong, JD Robb, Gail Z. Martin, Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, Tilly Greene, Cherise Sinclair, and many, many more.

Music or silence when you write?

I need music. It plays a part in my creative process and half the time what I am listening to ends up in the story for one of my characters.

If you could take one of your characters out on the town, who would it be and what would you do?

Um maybe Damien and Sim from Club Fantasy series I am creating. They are sexy, lovers and Damien is half-demon of lust. Got to love the double trouble these two would be when they go out on the town. I think we would have fun *grins wickedly*, nope not saying what but it involves silk scarves, blindfolds and whipped cream. LOL

Favorite naughty dessert and decadent drink.
Um no idea. But chocolate pudding can be very naughty. *WEG*

Moonlight and Magic is Dawn's latest (Book 5) in the magical, wonderful Devon Falls series. It will be out October 15 at Aspen Mountain and I can't wait. Here's a little taste...

Blurb:

Dixie Sinclair has watched her cousins all fall in love and now she wants the same. Dared to go to the annual Masquerade ball, Dixie finds the one thing she desires: love…one problem…can she trust that it will last after that one night?

Michael Barnes is a rare white were-tiger who was thrown out of his pride long ago for a trumped up crime, Michael roams the world searching for the one place to call home. Finding that peace in Devon Falls, he finds the one woman who stirs him like no other. Can he convince Dixie that she can trust in him forever?

Unedited Excerpt (Please forgive the mistakes):

Scene set up- Michael is walking Dixie home from the local bar and Dixie is miffed her friends sent him with her.

Once outdoors, Dixie did up her jacket and watched as the moon glowed brightly. She was annoyed at how Damien thought she needed a babysitter walking two blocks home. Men were idiots who thought women needed to be protected she thought as she enjoyed the quiet night and waited for Michael. The man who stirred her senses into over boiling. Down girl, you are not going to be jumping the man’s bones so get a grip. You have BOB at home to help with that, she thought as he finally got next to her. She couldn’t keep her eyes off of him. He was a walking, talking sex bomb and she was itching to touch every inch of him. With a shake of her head as another person came outside and the music from the jukebox wafted out, she tried to shake the sense of something changing inside her even as he finally turned towards her. The way his eyes on her had her panties damp and her blood beginning to simmer. It was like he was looking past the outer coverings into her soul or he was just stripping her naked, which wouldn’t be bad if she kept this thinking up. Smirking to herself at that thought, she started walking, trying to keep her hands inside her coat or she was going to do something very dangerous…like kiss the man to death.

“You know you don’t have to walk me home. Damien is just being overprotecting.” She said as she walked towards the sidewalk. Shrugging a little, Dixie didn’t know what to do except try to make the best of it. It was only two blocks, surely she had enough will power to last that long, she thought, as Michael walked alongside her. Yeah right……She was doomed as the scent of him, all male and spicy, teased her senses and had her swallowing hard. Oh god, I am in deep trouble she thought as they reached Main Street.

She felt rather than saw the man next to her look down upon her and grin. “Nah, it’s ok. I was going to leave soon as well because my Sadie is home alone and I don’t like leaving her long.” The deep voice said as it sent shivers down her spine. It had a slight accent that she couldn’t place and she wondered about the man next to her. Where did he come from, why was he here and what was like when the clothes came off. Well until she heard the name Sadie come out. A terrible suspicion rose in her at the thought of this hot man having a lady waiting for him.

“Sadie?”

“She’s my dog. I found her when I was in Europe tied up to a park bench with no collar and no water. It was like someone just dumped her off but instead of letting her roam free or taking her to the pound, they tied her up and left her. It was terrible and once I found her, she saved me from a solitude and loneliness that I never knew I had.”

Relief filled her up even as she tried to tell herself that she shouldn’t be jealous or anything. She hardly knew this man. “Wow that sounds like a match made in heaven then for you two. What kind is she?”

“She is a mutt-seems she is a little bit of everything or so the vet said when I got her.” Watching the way his face lit up in the moonlight had her heart turning over. The way he loved his pet called to her even as she tried to keep her distance from him. He was dangerous to her equilibrium, Dixie was certain of it. He kept her off centered and it scared the hell out of her.

As her street loomed ahead of them, she stopped at the beginning of it and stuck her hand out, “Thanks for the escort but since I am almost home and nothing jumped out in front of me, I think I can handle getting to my house, which by the way is only 2 houses in, just fine.”

“Nope, I am to escort you to the house, not the street, Dixie.” The maddening man said as he looked at her. Gritting her teeth, she tried to keep her frustration out of her face but damn it all, she was old enough to walk home. It wasn’t like there was a crime wave in Devon Falls. Far from it. Miffed, she stomped forward and tried to not hit the lug behind her. Of all the men in the world, I had to have one with a streak of chivalry in them she thought as her house finally came in view.


Raine Delight can be found on the web at the following places:
Website: http://authorrainedelight.com
Raine’s Book Nook Blog: http://Rainedelightbooknook.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Raine_Delight
Author/Reader Loop: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Author_Raine_Delight
Email me: rainedelight@yahoo.com

Where to buy my books:

Aspen Mountain Press: www.aspenmountainpress.com
Fictionwise: www.fictionwise.com
All Romance E-books (Are): www.allromanceebooks.com
1Romance E-books: www.1romance.com
Amazon Kindle: www.amazon.com

Author Clare Dargin

Hi, Hello and Happy Hump Day Imaginarians! I am completely excited because sci fi, fantasy and romance author, Clare Dargin, has dropped in to visit today. Her current release is Speculative Sky from Red Rose Publishing.

What was the inspiration behind your latest release?

Well, ever since I was a child I always wanted to be a writer. It was a dream of mine to be published and to write stories that everyone could enjoy. Speculative Sky was created because I’ve always had a fascination with stories about Extra-Terrestrial Life and S.E.T.I. and I wanted to integrate such a story with a female character as a strong and intelligent lead.

And how did you come up with the title?

To be honest I’ve always been attracted and fascinated by the abstract and the symbolic. I wanted the title to be symbolic of what April Mullen, the main character, has to deal with as an Astronomer and all that came with her assignment.

What is Speculative Sky about?

It is about a woman who takes a chance and leaves for an assignment on a science colony far away from Earth. As an astronomer it is her job to monitor the stars at night and to record her findings. Nothing more than that. But when she arrives, she notices that her new home is a bit odd, and that though there is evidence of life out there… they don’t want her to either acknowledge it or do anything about it. She of course finds this troubling.

What books have most influenced you?

To be honest, in fiction category, it would have to be the old Star Wars books that came out in the eighties after Return of the Jedi. The expanded universe books taught me more about atmospheric and expanded universe development then any book I know! I read them over and over again and learned about non-human creature development, planetary science fiction and description of space travel and not to mention how to write a cool leading man. I still read them!

If we looked on your bookshelf right now, what are some of the titles we would find?

I am almost finished with Book of the Dead with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I'll be going through their back list very soon in order to get caught up.

When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

As a child my father use to encourage it. I use to write stories for my family and give it to them and they would say “Maybe one day you could get this published!” I was like five.... and then when I was in middle school I found out that S. E. Hinton had been published at sixteen-- I became truly determined then.

What are your current projects?

Presently I am finishing up the final editing for Ice and Peace the sequel to Cold Warriors. As well as having another expanded universe book in the works. Not to mention, two futuristic romances that are completely different from my military fiction.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don't give up on being published! Try every avenue! There is away for you!

Clare's latest release Speculative Sky is available at Red Rose Publishing. Click here to purchase.

You can find out more about Clare and her writing at her website, The Haven.

What is sexy?

As a writer of erotic romance, I often wonder what people find sexy. When they hear the word, people automatically start thinking about what they find attractive about a person. I get a lot of responses for eyes, hair, ass...But these aren't the things that I'm talking about. I want to know what else, besides a partner's physical characteristics, that makes someone think sexy thoughts.

Tell me, what puts you in a seductive frame of mind? Is it a particular odor? Do you walk through a leather store just to inhale that raw scent? Does the smell of vanilla spice in the air make you feel all warm and receptive? How about touch? Are you a sensualist, reveling in the feel of certain fabrics or sensations? Do you spend a little too much time in a hot shower because the way the water runs over your skin makes you feel alive? Or maybe you love to wear silk because it glides across your body all cool and soft.

Perhaps, it's a certain taste that works on you. Does the mere hint of chocolate and whipped cream on your tongue send you into overdrive? Or maybe strawberries and champagne? Peaches and cinnamon? Or maybe you go for something a little spicier on the palate. Like a hint of cayenne pepper.

What about places? In a story, setting is very important. It sets the scene, seduces the imagination. Are there certain places that get your senses revving? A candlelit balcony in Paris, a deserted beach on Bora Bora...Even a toasty bedroom on a snowy night can be sexy. Perhaps your garden at home, all shining in the light of a full moon, turns your head to more passionate ideas.

Sound is sexy as all get out. Laughter does it for many people. The smoky sounds of a throaty laugh or a deep masculine chuckle. A good seductive drumbeat that echoes the pulse turns a lot of people on. Or the sound of rain, the rumble of thunder, a wild storm that will keep you inside with your partner for the day or night. Or perhaps a certain song? One that you remember playing in the background the first time you slow-danced or made out.

Sexy to me is the sound of rain, the scent of cinnamon, the feel of suede, the taste of warm apples and a cozy room at an out-of-the-way inn. There are many more, but I only have a certain amount of space and I want to know about you. What says sexy for you?