Author Spotlight: E.J. Wesley

I know I did not do my X post yesterday and well I have to admit that I have a very hard time finding women whose first or surnames begin with X in Hollywood. I put it off and now it is biting me in my big rumpuss. I have to search some more. Plus, I'm still coming off of my huge high after my Bulls triple overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets. Hell to the yeah!!! Ahem... on with the show.

Today I am so very excited because I have the One and Only E.J. Wesley at the Imaginarium today. Whoo Hoo!! I love this man's writing, the way he sets scene is sublime, his characters are unique, striking and complex people who really get to you. He's also a great friend and fellow Bears fan. I'm hoping he'll spill a secret or two, purely for the sake of friendship you know. ;)

Who or what first inspired you to start writing?

I'd written a lot professionally and academically, but didn't have a lot of desire to write fiction--until the two crossed paths. I'd always been a reader--Stephen King was a favorite of mine in high school and college--but even that had fallen off some by grad school. Just too many textbooks to read and papers to write at that point to have much time for hobbies. I was working in a counseling agency, and some of the other counselors were using these books about a boy wizard to work with some of the children. The kids related to Harry's 'muggle hardships', and would really open up when we talked about the books. 

I eventually read them, too, and it was like a reawakening of that part of my life. I saw firsthand what great stories could do for people, and it sort of made me understand what those late night King reading sessions (with the lights on... always with the lights on lol) meant to me as a teenager who didn't really relate to much else. It was that moment that I decided I'd like to create stories with words, too. 

If we looked on your bookshelf or Kindle, what are some titles we would find?

Oh Lord! A little of everything... The Fire & Ice (Game of Thrones) series by G. R. R. Martin, the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, some Jim Butcher stuff, lots of Neil Gaiman, the Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan, several Orson Scott Card novels, Harry Potter books of course (in multiple formats AND multiple copies of each--my wife and I couldn't take turns reading them when they came out, so we each had to have our own copy lol), classics like Lord of the Rings and the Narnia books--just a mix of lots of things, from graphic novels/comic books on up.

If you were sitting in front of a room of aspiring writers, what advice would you share?

Okay, I'm going to try to take a stab at something different here. The standard answer--and it's always the right answer, btw--is to never give up. Because you'll want to, like 'once-a-day' want to. But let's assume they've heard that one...

Evaluate what you are willing to sacrifice to create the kinds of stories you've dreamed of creating. How much TIME are you willing to commit to studying craft, reading, and writing and failing to make the story on the page match the one in your head? How many times are you going to be able to hear 'not good enough' and not give up? (PRIDE) How often can you honestly admit that others are better than you, and try to learn from them, before you'll be crippled by feelings of inadequacy? How many total rewrites will you do for a single story in order to get it just right? How many stories are you willing to publish without seeing any real financial return? 3? 10? 15? (MONEY)

If your honest answer is, "Whatever it takes." to all of the above, you're going to not only reach your writing goals, but probably become a dang good writer along the way.

 

Man, isn't E.J. the coolest? Here are his awesome Moon Songs books...

 

Blood Fugue Blurb & Links

“Some folks treated the past like an old friend. The memories warmed them with fondness for what was, and hope for what was to come. Not me. When I thought of long ago, my insides curdled, and I was left feeling sour and wasted.”

Jenny Schmidt is a young woman with old heartaches. A small town Texas girl with big city attitude, she just doesn’t fit in. Not that she has ever tried. 

Life has pummeled her heart into one big, lonely callus. She has no siblings, both parents were dead by sixteen, and her last grandparent—and caretaker—was in the ground before she turned twenty-one. She’s the last living member of her immediate family. Or so she thinks…

“We found my ‘grandfather’ sitting at his dining room table. An entire scorched pot of coffee dangled from his shaky hand. His skin was the ashen gray shade of thunderclouds, not the rich mocha from the photo I’d seen. There were dark blue circles under each swollen red eye. A halo of white hair skirted his bald head, a crown of tangles and mats. Corpses had more life in them.”

Suddenly, instead of burying it with the dead, Jenny is forced to confront the past. Armed only with an ancient family journal, her rifle, and an Apache tomahawk, she must save her grandfather’s life and embrace her dangerous heritage. Or be devoured by it.

Blood Fugue is the first of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley. 
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Witch's Nocturne Blurb & Links

After receiving an ancient tribal journal from her grandfather, Jenny is sent on a mission of discovery in an attempt to unravel clues to her family's monster hunting past. The journey becomes more than academic when she is asked to confront a coven of dangerous witches who plan to cast an insidious spell on the plains of West Texas. 
Witch's Nocturne is the second volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley. 

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Dark Prelude Blurb & Links

Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of "monster hunter" and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. Unfortunately, a lot of on-the-job training is required to be a monster hunter, and unlike her computer repair business, this gig could literally kill her.

Dark Prelude finds the feisty protagonist, Jenny, searching for her best friend Marshal's missing father in the midst of a freak, West Texas winter storm. To survive the frigid night, she'll have to deal with a hated town rival, face a monstrous creature no Moonsong hunter has ever encountered before, and undo a mysterious curse. Can she keep everyone alive? If not, who will pay the ultimate price? 

Dark Prelude is the third volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley. 

(These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)

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About The Author

E.J. Wesley resides in South Texas. He holds degrees in psychology and counseling, but prefers to examine the heads of fictional characters over the living ones. He likes his food and his stories spicy, and tries to give a little extra 'kick' to paranormal, horror, and the other genres he writes. In true Texas fashion, he is very neighborly, and enjoys chatting about books, movies, music, and family. He is the author of the Moonsongs books, a series of speculative paranormal action novelettes, with a Texas twist. Say 'howdy' at:  Blog | Twitter | Facebook |Goodreads

Author Spotlight: Cat Connor

It's Happy Hump Day, Imaginarians and have I got a treat for you. The awesomely brilliant and engaging mystery writer, Cat Connor is here with us today. She hails from New Zealand and is the author of four Byte novels. I recently interviewed her about her career and her new release, Flashbyte. Enjoy...

1. Tell us a little about your latest, Flashbyte. It sounds very intriguing, a story I probably won't be able to put down.

Flashbyte is the fourth byte novel, and it goes a little something like this:

Woken by the news that she’d been strangled in a parking lot, SSA Conway knew it was going to be an interesting day.

The incident escalated into a week from hell with bank robberies, snipers, truly bizarre packages, and more reports of her death. What Ellie did not expect was old friends (good and bad) reappearing, see-sawing with more than the usual amount of kickass energy. Just so Delta A didn’t get bored, the universe tossed in an extraordinary rendition, lost memory, and a visit to the past that anchored the present.

2. Who or what inspired you to write? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

If you talked to my friends (those who knew me when I was a teenager) they’d tell you they always knew I’d be writer because I was always writing. It’s funny because I don’t remember writing that much. Or I don’t think I do… which might be different. I have fond memories of writing with my best friend and of getting some pretty awesome feedback from various creative works I churned out in high school but I didn’t think I would be a writer.

What inspired me to write, well, I had nothing decent to read. It really was that simple. Most of the women depicted in fiction were pathetic, screaming, cannon fodder. I took offense. I’m a woman and I am quite capable of taking care of myself and others, so why weren’t real women starring in fiction? I don’t mean it in a feminist way either. I’m all in favor of people holding doors etc. That’s a common courtesy not an inference of weakness.

Moving on, I wanted to read a story with a real rounded female character and one who was likable. It seemed fictional women were either pathetic or evil bitches as I was growing up. Neither sat well with me. Neither echoed the women in my life. So when I started writing (to amuse myself) I wanted a strong main character. And that is what inspired me to write.

Of course now, we have quite a few to choose from and that’s awesome!

3. Do you have a particular routine when you write? How do you keep your creative juices flowing?

Routine? Yes, let’s call it a haphazard routine. I start work before the kids get up in the morning, accompanied by Classic Hits - so I don’t forget the time. Generally, early mornings are relegated to email, social network, and if I have time reading work from the day before. Once the kids are at school and Romeo is walked, I settle down to write or do interviews - whatever is the most pressing. I move from the radio to my music.

Music helps me focus. Certain songs will instantly transport me to Ellie’s world. Depending what I’m writing, as in which type of scene, my music choice varies (but not much, work music is work music!) it tends to be Bon Jovi, Lorenza Ponce, Kevin Costner and Modern West. Sometimes Ellie demands something else, and then I have to go searching through CD’s or iTunes!

How I keep my creative juices flowing is mostly with music but sometimes other things work better. I find that if I’m just not getting a scene then watching an episode of Human Target or NCIS helps. Sometimes there is nothing else for it but to walk away and wash dishes. (Or something else that required zero thought.) If it’s really hard for me to sit down and write because I’m just not in the right headspace - then I’ll take Romeo for a long walk, clean the house, bake, and play ‘Bounce’ really loud and maybe hang out on twitter until I feel like doing some work.

4. What was the best piece of writing advice you have ever received? What would you say to a group of aspiring writers about your experiences in the publishing world?

I’m about to start a writing group at our city library. Which I am super excited about. I get to host the group. (How cool is that?) I’m going to get to answer these in person, so this is kinda like a rehearsal for me.

The best piece of advice was “write another book” and that came from Jeffrey Deaver. We were talking about a situation that we had both experienced and that was his advice. He was right. Everything worked out and by the time I got my rights back for my first novel, I had another book ready to go.

To aspiring writers I would say - Be very sure of what you want. It’s going to get hard. It’s going to rip your heart out. It’s going to be the most demoralizing experience possible. You will want to quit. You will feel like crap.

But, when it works, its one helluva buzz.

5. What is next for you?

I’ve been asked to write a short story for a really fun anthology - which I have started and I am enjoying.

The 5th byte novel - Soundbyte - was submitted to my publisher a few weeks ago. Playing the waiting game at the moment. (Nerves? Oh hell yes.) I’m also working on a new byte novel, which has no name. I’m hoping it will find a name and won’t be unnamedbyte forever. It’s fun and there is a new character.

And, I spent some time tweaking a New Zealand mystery novel, which needs more work so I’ll get to that at some stage. My enthusiasm comes and goes for that book, I’ll get there.

From Flashbyte: Chapter 4, Return to Sender:

There were two holes in the front windshield. Cracks radiated outward, causing the windshield to resemble crazy paving. I shrank down in the seat and released my Glock from its holster. Peering between the front seats, I saw remnants of the back windshield hanging in the frame. I grabbed the radio and opened a channel.

“Break-Break. This is SSA Conway. Shots fired. Officer needs backup. 7-Eleven 9511 Blake Lane. Over.”

“Go for Conway. This is Officer Konstram, I’m two minutes away. Over.”

As I depressed the button to reply, another shot rang out. The passenger side-window blew all over the car interior.

I dropped the radio and opened my door. Josh Konstram’s voice followed me as I slipped out the car, 


“Agent under fire. All cars. Agent under fire.”

I could hear the radio going nuts. I wasn’t going back in to answer it. I was much safer outside using the car body as a shield. I yelled into the store. “Get down, there’s a gunman!” People who had been standing there, bewildered, dove for cover.

My phone rang. I scanned for the shooter. Another car near me was hit with several rounds. A bullet lodged in the front of the building; moments later one of the plate- glass windows shattered and fell inward. I had no target and it was frustrating not being able to shoot back.

My phone was still ringing.

I saw police lights.


It seemed that my phone wasn’t going to stop. I ducked lower, crouching as close to the ground as I could, by the hood of my car and hit the speaker button.

“Conway?” Kurt said.

“Doc, where are you?”

“Coming around the back of the building by the dumpster.”

“I think the shooter is in the parking lot across the road, maybe in a car.” I said and disconnected.

Sirens screamed, bouncing off the building and deafening me. Lights flashed, police cars converged on the area. I wanted to move. I heard a whistle from behind me. When I glanced back I saw Doc peering around the corner of the building.

Another shower of glass rained down upon me.


Bio:
New Zealander Cat Connor is the author of The_byte series of FBI thrillers published by Rebel ePublishers. So far the series contains Killerbyte, Terrorbyte, Exacerbyte, and Flashbyte - her latest thriller about the life of SSA Ellie Conway. Her first novel, Killerbyte, was a finalist in the 2010 EPIC awards.

Cat spends her days writing with her rescue greyhound - Romeo, keeping her company.

Links:

Cat's Website 

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Buy Flashbyte

Amazon

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Author M Pax Is Taking Over

Thank you to Melissa for letting me borrow her Imaginarium today. I was thinking about doing a post on great science fiction love stories, but couldn't think of one besides Han and Leia. Wow, that needs fixing, huh? Anyway, while researching on the webs, I stumbled across this scientific romance thing and found it interesting enough to share.

Science fiction as a term for the genre of scientifically-oriented fantastic fiction, was made popular in 1929 by Hugo Gernsback publisher of the first science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories. The Hugo awards are named for Hugo Gernsback, by the way.

Before the genre was called what it is, the genre was called scientific romance. H.G. Wells claimed this is what he wrote. Popular in the mid 1800’s, Wells and Verne are the most well-known examples. The Enlightenment Era of scientific discovery led to the creation of adventurous tales in fantastic settings using scientific devices and discoveries.

Many of these stories also fall into the “imperialist adventures” category. Some of my favorites are Journey to the Center of the Earth [Verne], Erewhon by Samuel Butler, The Time Machine by HG Wells, and She by Henry Haggard. Edgar Rice Burroughs and Sir Arthur Doyle were also prominent writers in this genre.

What changed for the genre was the end of Imperialism. Then came film. The scientific romances were popular at the movies for awhile, Tarzan and The Lost World being the genre’s swan songs. Then debuted Metropolis in 1927, dubbed the first “true” science fiction film, introducing the public to futurism and the dystopian tale. The term scientific romance hasn’t been used since.

Do you have a favorite scientific romance? Did you know about how the Hugo got named? Did you learn something new? I did. Thanks for making me do some research on the webs, Melissa. :)

 

M. Pax blogs at Wistful Nebulae and at MPax-TheWebsite. She spends her summers as a star guide at Pine Mountain Observatory and has a slight obsession with Jane Austen. Author of Semper Audacia and the free reads Plantgirl, Translations and Small Graces. Coming in 2012: The Backworlds, Stopover at theBackworlds' Edge, The Tumbas and The Augmentation of Hetty Locklear.

Thank you, M! This was an absolutely fascinating post. I had no idea there was such a term as scientific romance. I love Wells and Verne. M, you rock as a teacher so feel free to take the reins here any time you want.

Author Spotlight...Kelley Smith

I am very excited, Imaginarians. You know how I love discovering new to me authors. Today, I am shining a huge spotlight on Kelley Smith, author of the terrific YA tale Glittering Ashes. I'll have a post about her fantastic debut novel in the very near future, but right now, let's get to know Kelley. She's a terrific author with whom I connected a short time ago and I am just blown away by her.

Kelley holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in English literature. Having been a word smuggler from way too far back to remember, she has always been obsessed with language, stories, and throwing these two together to make sense of the world she knows and the worlds that she doesn't. She is currently working on other novels, from the young adult genre and beyond. Glittering Ashes is her first novel.

What was the inspiration behind your debt novel Glittering Ashes? Tell us a little about your main character, Roe Daniels. She seems like quite an intriguing person.

Glittering Ashes started out as one of those stories that brews in your head for a long time. I first imagined all of the things that happen after the first book, but then I realized that there needed to be this as a beginning to have the rest of the series make sense. Roe Daniels was/is fun to write. She's adventurous to a point, but remains cautious. I liked writing her next to Jordyn, a more wild and crazy character.

World building can be so enjoyable for some writers and quite challenging for others, what side of the line do you fall on?

I think coming up with worlds can be really enjoyable, and I think a lot of worlds that people build start off from whimsy, from a person being imaginative enough to want to make a place totally different, but actually executing that world after finding a passion for it can be difficult. I'd say I'd definitely fall on the "it's enjoyable" side though.

This is a YA novel. How do you feel about exploring issues like sex, domestic violence, drug abuse and suicide in teen stories? Do you think there needs to be open dialogue with YA authors and their readers?

I've talked about this before on people's blogs when they've asked, and what I said then is similar to what I'd say now, it has to be integral and authentic to the story. If it makes sense for those types of things to occur without being gratuitous for the sake of being gratuitous, then I think there's a place for conversation and dialogue about just about anything within the YA genre.

What made you decide to embark on the writer’s journey? Who are some of your writing influences? Is there one author or title that had the biggest influence?

I've always wanted to write in some capacity. I was the girl with the notebook who scribbled story ideas and beginnings that never went anywhere but entertained me. I couldn't wait to have a laptop or access to a computer whenever I wanted to write everything down. I remember being saddened when I finally got to type up THE STORY I had been working on and it only amounted to a few angsty pages typed. lol.

My writing influences are really varied. I love to read. A lot. YA, romance, chick flick books, New Adult, Non-fiction, thrillers, horrors, magazines, blogs, how-to's. If it's interesting enough for me to pause and think about, I'll read something about it. I think anything can be inspiring, so I always like to be looking at any and everything to see what sparks something in me.

I wouldn't necessarily peg a specific author who made me want to write, but there were authors who made me want to read, and reading is definitely what made me get into writing. Robert Cormier was mind-blowing to me as a young teen, but, like I said, I look for inspiration everywhere.

What has surprised you the most about the business side of writing? Is there any part of publishing that you find especially challenging?

I was surprised about how much you have to work to get your book out there. Sure, I knew you had to direct people to it, but your book is one of so many books out there, and it is really important to steer people to your book, rather than just let them find it. At least in the very, very beginning.

I think choosing to self-publish with Glittering Ashes was challenging in that there are a lot of steps that could snare someone who doesn't research how to self-publish well and correctly (formatting wise and distribution wise), but if you want to learn, the information is all out there so it does become easier.

Do you write every day or only when inspiration strikes? How do you keep the creative juices flowing?

I don't write every day. I think every day. I stew on things almost every hour of every day (yes, I dream about WIPs sometimes), but I haven't yet decided how beneficial it is to force myself to write when I'm not feeling inclined. Goals are important, though. That I completely agree with.

I think reading is the best thing to keep the creative juices flowing. If I read something really awesome, it makes me more excited to write, to get my turn to try to be awesome. If I read something really bad, I want to write better and that gets me writing. Reading always helps.

Aside from writing, what are some of you favorite pastimes and pursuits?

Well, I've mentioned this on my blog before, but I am knitting a quilt that never ends. I knit many squares (SO many) that are roughly 5x5 inches. I have them piled in a bin in my closet. It's my dream to someday connect them all and have this crazy quilt of many colors. I also have been googling hand embroidery lately, so I'm interested in starting that. I really like looking at artsy things and trying to be creative. I love looking at and designing crazy tshirts too.

Do you have any favorite indulgences that might surprise your readers?

Hmm, I like looking at literary tattoos and looking at different ways to write text. I'm really into typography. Is that surprising? lol

What’s next for you? Is there a genre that you have not tried before, but would like to attempt?

I have a numbered list of book ideas written down. I think I have 33 on the list, last time I checked. Some are series ideas. Some short story collections. Some romance, some New Adult, some horror/thriller or script ideas. I would never rule a genre out. I'd like to take a try at everything. I'm really looking forward to doing something like a flash fiction collection or small book of poetry some time. I'll keep you posted :)

If you could pass along one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?

Write everything. Give everything, every idea that seems worth it, a shot. You never know what could stick and what you could amaze yourself by writing.

You can find out more about Kelley at these cool links

Her Blog: Writtled
Her Author Page: Amazon
Follow her on Twitter

You can purchase Glittering Ashes here or at additional retailers here.

Destiny Blaine and her Cowboys for Christmas

For more on Cowboys for Christmas click here

Imaginarians, today we have author Destiny Blaine in the house. Whoo Hoo!! She is one of the hottest erotica writers out there and I am so happy she has included a stop here on her whirlwind blog tour. Take it away, Destiny...


Hi Melissa,


Thank you for hosting a blog stop on Destiny Blaine’s 12 Days of Christmas Blog Tour. Today, our Twelve Days of Christmas Blog Tour comes to an end. After twelve days of blogging, we’ll have some winners to announce. To enter to win the grand prize, bloggers need to leave a comment at some or all of the blogs hosting the tour. They can enter up to three comments per blog spot. Late tonight, I’ll stop back by and award one lucky winner with a very special prize package valued at over $200. The package will be delivered to the winner’s home and contains various items—many of my favorite things. More details will follow later tonight. Contest ends at 11:01 PM EST so enter to win right here and at the other participating blogs.

In the meantime, I thought I’d end the blog tour with a final day of promoting Cowboys for Christmas. If you purchase Cowboys for Christmas and send your receipt to me before 11:01 PM EST tonight, I’ll have a special e-surprise for you. Send your receipt to destinyblaine@yahoo.com with BOUGHT ONE—GIVE ME THREE FREE in the subject line.

Some of you have read the short essay below, but for those of you who haven’t, I brought along a taste of why I’m often inspired to write about cowboys.

I grew up on a cattle ranch in East Tennessee. My father was considered a cattle trader rather than a farmer. The biggest difference in our working farm was that the animals there only wandered the fields for a very short time. They were simply passing through without the luxury of an extended visit. The cowboys who stopped by our farm, typically never stayed around very long either which is why I was never permitted to “date” a cowboy.

By the time I was a teenager, one such cowboy caught my attention and he held it longer than a country minute. He used to visit our place once a month, twice if I was lucky. After drooling from a distance—and daydreaming about this ‘nice’ young man for more days than I recall, I finally realized that I was in ‘love’ with a cowboy. I made a vow to myself--eventually, I’d make a play for him and with any luck, he’d notice me.

The day I gained his undivided attention just so happened to be a hot summer afternoon when boredom consumed me. I was bound and determined to ride a horse that had stubbornly refused all riders for a good number of months. My father was the only one who ever stayed on her back but I decided I was going to ride the unruly beast too.

This particular June day, I felt confident I’d go unnoticed because the farm was buzzing with activity. After my father returned to the barn and began sorting cattle, I decided it was time to make a lasting impression on the mare no one in their right mind wanted to ride.

I took Misty into a large open field and with the help of a dilapidated fence; I stepped into the stirrup, threw a leg over her croup and planted my then-tiny backside into the saddle. I was, in fact, barely there when Misty decided to bolt through the pastures… and she headed straight for the river-bottoms.

The route Misty chose placed me at a great disadvantage. We didn’t go unnoticed as we galloped by the first barn and that’s when I saw—him. The cowboy of my dreams was just stepping out of his truck when we raced right by him. Since I was more than a little occupied, I don’t think I waved hello but through the cloud of dust we managed to stir, the amusement danced across his face. There was no doubt about it. He thought the ridiculous show was all for him and I was in for quite an embarrassing ride.

If you’ve ever been a passenger on a runaway train, then you can probably relate to my predicament. My arms flapped out to the side and I lost my balance almost immediately but I still managed to hang on for dear life.

After riding for what seemed like forever, Misty reached an abrupt decision and without a moment to spare, she halted right before she reached a slight embankment. Since I didn’t have the reins of control I desperately wanted to have, I landed at the edge of Holston River. While Misty didn’t want to splash mud on her pretty dapple-grey legs, she didn’t hold the same consideration for her rider.

By the time the ‘search party’ arrived to retrieve me, there were only two men I didn’t want to see and they were there to fetch me. After my dad threw a slight fit for show (he was more bark than bite), he rode the horse back to the barn. I was swiftly helped into the front seat of an old truck and to my dismay, the one behind the wheel was one handsome cowboy.

While it’s been a long time ago, I still remember his polite mannerism. He seemed to ignore the fact that I was covered in mud. However, after a few minutes of small talk, he decided to put to rest any notions of something so ridiculous in the future.

His parting words stayed with me for several years. He said, “If you’re going to get a man’s attention, choose a horse you can ride and sweetheart, if you want a cowboy who will teach you all about it—let me know when you turn eighteen.” I later discovered he was twenty and after I made the mistake of telling my brother of the experience, he never came back to our farm again.

After writing about enough cowboys in romance, today I understand why the young man never returned. I also realize why so many women love to open up a spicy western when these sexy denim-clad men occupy the pages inside. Cowboys are the ultra-bad Alpha male and most I've met are sweet-talking gentlemen.

Cowboys say the right thing even when it’s the inappropriate one. They look at their women in a most suggestive way and they typically fill out a pair of Levis better than any man alive. With a devilish smile and a lingering gaze that tells a woman everything she needs to know, it’s no wonder so many authors find their inspiration in the spiciest of men.

I later ran into the hell-hot cowboy when I was seventeen. I was at a horse sale with some of my friends. When I spotted the handsome rogue with a body truly meant for sinning, his lips curled up with an instant smile. After he looked around the crowd, he must’ve decided it was safe to approach. Once he did, he asked the question that inevitably would either seal (or kill) any kind of future deal.

“Are you eighteen yet?” His raspy voice was laced with thick implications.

“No. Four more months.” I proudly announced.

His eyes drifted over me long enough to assure that the man in front of me was more cowboy than I could handle. “Have you learned how to ride a horse yet?”

“I always knew how to ride a horse, just not one with behavioral problems.”

“How do you feel about cowboys with the same issues?” He asked with a cocksure smile.

I swallowed hard a few times and realized I’d met my match. A player of players was staring back at me waiting for the most inviting of replies and…I didn’t have one.

With an easy grin and an unforgettable wink, he leaned over and whispered. “All right then. Look me up when you turn twenty-one.”

~~~

As an erotic romance author today, I think about that handsome rogue every now and then. He’s a voice inside my head when I’m looking for just the right lines and he’s also a gentle reminder of why so many women love a cowboy.

Most of the young men I met as a girl were exactly like the one I’ve just described. They were perfect gentlemen in public but when provoked, they knew how to quickly remind a woman interested in them that they knew all the right moves to keep her coming back for more. I hope my cowboys do the same for you. Introducing my latest Aspen Mountain Press title--Cowboys for Christmas:

Synopsis:

Julie Kensworth opens her door to more than a blizzard and greets two wayward cowboys. She realizes right away she’s headed straight for the eye of the storm.
Brandon Blake and Quinn Stewart are a long way from home. They’re looking for a warm place to hang their hats while they try to wait out the snow and ice, which continues to gain momentum.

Julie is an author and she’s not just the average writer, she’s one of the most notorious writers in the world. When Quinn and Blake figure out Julie is an erotic romance author, well, needless to say, their minds churn with all sorts of ideas, most of them geared toward how they can heat up the cold winter nights ahead.



Excerpt:





“I don’t know why you’re pouting,” Brandon spat a few minutes later, noticing Quinn’s frown. “She didn’t tell us to hit the road. She just told us to wait out here until she dressed.”

“I guess I was hoping for an explicit expression of gratitude.”

Brandon pointed toward the mantle. “Don’t forget. She probably has a boyfriend.”

“The boyfriend isn’t what I’ve been thinking about. What I’m wondering is why she has so many of those Carla Carrington books.”

Julie strolled into the kitchen like a breath of fresh air. She lit up the place with an easy smile and a refreshing stroke of confidence. “Carla Carrington is my pseudonym.”

“Do huh?” Brandon asked, chin dropping.

“Your pseudonym?” Quinn asked for clarification.

“Yeah,” Julie said. “I’m a writer.”

Brandon felt like something was stuck in his chest. She wasn’t just a writer. She was the best selling, award-winning author of scorching hot books often made into explicit after-dark television movies. He’d never admit the truth, but he’d watched a few of those movies. Carla Carrington’s name had been on the lips of quite a few talk show hosts who openly criticized the demise of morals in today’s world. Carla wrote the kind of books that Brandon wouldn’t have let his daughter read—assuming he had a daughter, which he didn’t. On the other hand, if he had a wife, Carla’s books would’ve been mandatory reading.

“You said you’re a writer.” Brandon cleared his throat. “But Carla Carrington is—”

“I’m Carla,” she interrupted. “I write under a couple of pseudonyms.”

Quinn looked around the small cottage. He was probably thinking the same thing Brandon was. Why did she live in such a small house? Wouldn’t Carla Carrington reside in an oceanfront mansion with a full crew doting on her, bringing her chocolate-covered mints and arranging social events?

The woman behind the world’s most scandalous writing should not have been dressed in hide-tight blue jeans with a low-cut fitted sweater and her hair tossed up in a clumsy ponytail. A woman writing explicit scenes like the one Brandon had read earlier should not have looked like an adorable barely legal girl!

Brandon shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-six, why?”

“Just curious. That’s all.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Quinn blurted out.

Way to fucking go! Brandon set his jaw. As he watched the color drain from Julie’s cheeks, he shot Quinn a cold stare. “You can quit foaming at the mouth any time now.”

Quinn didn’t say anything. Brandon braced for fighting words, maybe even a good swift kick in the ass.

What the hell! Quinn started this. “Do you have a boyfriend?” Brandon would die right there if she said she had a husband.

“No, I do not.” She marched across the kitchen, opened the pantry and retrieved two jars of her homemade soup, setting the large containers on the small island in the kitchen’s center. “Anyone hungry?”

Brandon grinned, staring at her ass. “Honey, I’m practically starving.”


Thanks again, Melissa! I enjoy visiting your blog!

Destiny Blaine

I'm At Romance Junkies Today

Happy Friday!!! I'm really excited because I am guest blogging over at Romance Junkies today. Come on over and find out some details you may or may not have known about me. I'm also sharing an excerpt from Maxie Briscoe: Werewolf. Here's the link

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

Looking forward to seeing you there.