Unholy Pursuits by Suzanne Rock

My first November tour will be Suzanne Rock, touring for her paranormal romance Unholy Pursuits from Ellora's Cave. The complete itinerary for the tour is below, stop at each for more chances to win Suzanne's prize: a download of any book from her backlist. As always, I will be offering a copy of Unholy Pursuits to one of the folks who leave a comment and their email address on this blog.

November 7: My Odd Little World
November 8: Reading Romances
November 9: The Forbidden Bookshelf
November 10: AsianCocoa's Secret Garden
November 11: Rachel Leigh - Erotic Romance

Studenstein: Zombies of the Future VBT for Daisy Harris

Sorry it took so long to announce the winner of the copy of Studenstein. The lucky commenter for this, chosen using RANDOM.ORG random number generator is commenter number 7-Fedora Chen! Congrats Fedora, and once again, there were folks who missed out because they did not leave their email address on their comment.

What better way to start the Halloween weekend than with a book about a new and different kind of zombie. Let's welcome Daisy Harris to My Odd Little World. Her latest release, Studenstein from Ellora's Cave, is an action packed futuristic story, filled with romance and fun. And some very intriguing zombies. But first, a bit about Daisy Harris.

Birkenstock-wearing glamour girl and mother of two by immaculate conception, Daisy Harris still isn’t sure if she writes erotica. Her paranormal romances start out innocently enough. However, her characters behave like complete sluts. Much to Miss Harris’s dismay, the sex tends to get completely out of hand.

 If you like science-y subplots, fantastical creatures, and red-hot chemistry, you’ll love Daisy Harris.

website: www.thedaisyharris.com

twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/thedaisyharris

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daisy-Harris-Erotic-Paranormal-Romance/185042351535537

What is the best thing about being a writer? The worst?


The best thing about being a writer is writing. I love the feeling of getting lost in a story, especially when I’ve imagined and mulled over a scene or scenes for a long time. It’s fabulous seeing the story come to life!
The worst part is the marketing! LOL. I hate tooting my own horn, and I really hate things like website design. I wish I could just hide in my writer’s cave and turn out stories. Of course, then no one would know about said stories and they would only be read my me. Which would sort of defeat the purpose of getting published.


What is your method of breaking through writer’s block?


I don’t really get writer’s block, per se. I tend to write in fits and spurts, but with clear goals in mind. Like, I see the finish line, then sprint as far as I can, then collapse. But I get up quick and start sprinting again. I’ve never been a slow-and-steady type.
Before I wrote fiction, I was a technical writer. So I’ve been accustomed to daily word count goals, and a project-driven mentality. If the book doesn’t get done, it doesn’t get contracted. And no one will read it. And that, I do not want.


Do you bring your own life experiences to your writing? Your own personality? If so how?


I bring both to my writing, but not how you might imagine. I love writing comedy, and I don’t think I would be able to do that very well if I hadn’t dated a lot. I love drawing on the absurd and uncomfortable ways people interact during courtship.
For example, in my short story Cupid’s Arrow the heroine receives a page-long ranty email from her ex-boyfriend than reduces her to tears. Cupid, being immortal, muses about how people before the internet would rehearse long and morose speeches or write letters. However, in the past they were smart enough to not actually send the letters.
And boy—who hasn’t received a long, ranty email like that? And even though you know the sender was foolish for sending it, you still cry your eyes out.


What fuels you as an author to continue to write?


The voices in my head are merciless! Stories write themselves in my imagination, especially once I’ve started building a world. In any universe I create, characters tend to multiply in my head like bunnies. Then I just have to write their stories.


If you could share one major writing tip, to help other writers in their quest for publication, what would it be?

The best thing I’ve ever done as a writer was to take Holly Lisle’s How To Revise Your Novel course. I’ve adapter her methods to suit my own style over time. However, I’ve pulled out those course notes for every story I’ve revised.


If you could write in any other genre what would it be, and why?


While my Love-Bots series can be considered sci-fi, it’s officially billed as paranormal. Over time, I’d be interested in writing more science fiction. Also, I enjoy writing non-fiction. Other than that, I like where I’m at!

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

My website is at www.thedaisyharris.com. I’m also on Twitter all the time. Honestly, if you really want to know what I’m up to, follow me on Twitter! My handle is @thedaisyharris.

Oh, and I also have an author page at Night Owl Reviews. (There are some free reads there too,) and an author page on Amazon.

And finally, have you got a sneak peek excerpt from your current work in progress you can share with my readers and me?

Here’s the start of the next Love-Bot novella, Built4It:

“He’s starting to look like a gorilla.” Lab assistant Ben Speiger spun his stool back and forth in the cage room of Built4 Laboratories. His fingers in their rubber gloves beat a nervous tune on the counter. “Should he be so…developed?”

The re-animated human inside the right-most cage hung from the bars on his roof. He lifted his body over and over again in a rough approximation of pull-ups. The stein, as re-animated humans were called, dropped to the floor and growled.

His muscles stood out, damp and enormous under his thin, blue hospital scrubs. It was oddly sexy. Odd because while the stein was built like a porn star, he was also undead.

  

When you get a chance to read, what books do you love to read?

Lately I’ve been on a big male-male romance kick. Normally, contemporary romance isn’t my cup of tea. But with male-male stories I enjoy a contemporary setting. Maybe because I’m not a man and I’m not gay, it feels like a fantasy world. J
I also love paranormal and science fiction erotic romance. Especially when it’s snarky! My favorite romances contain a lot of humor.


What bores you as a reader?


Hm. No genre or story bores me. But what looses me as a reader is bad grammar and style. LOL. I’m a bit of a style nazi. Sentences that end in prepositions make me insane. Ditto use of passive voice. I find it hard to read books where the writing style is flowery or complex.


What do you think is romantic? What does the word Romance mean to you?


Ooh, tough question! To me, romance is about imagination. It’s the heady cracked-out feeling you get early on in a relationship. It’s a creative well within us that we learn to tap as we get older. There’s also day-to-day romance, like a guy who takes out the garbage. I adore that tension between the practical and the fantastical. Because romance is a blend of the two.


Who would you go out on a date with if you could?


Myself! Then I could order my own dinner and not have to worry about sharing. LOL. Otherwise, I’d go with my husband.


You’re having a dinner party, what five people would you invite?


Oh lord, please don’t make me have a dinner party! I hate having people over to my house. It’s really small and I’m an oddly private person. However, I would love to have Dan Savage over. Oh, him and David Sedaris. Throw in John Stewart, Steven Colbert, and maybe Ira Black. J


Aliens have landed on the planet. What are the three things you would tell them that are great about this planet?


I’d send them over to Cherry and MLK and tell them to get some Ethiopian food. Then show them Wikipedia. Oh, and show them hot running water! Hot running water is awesome!
If you could create your own drink what would go in it and what would you call it?


It would be scotch, neat. And it would include scotch. And nothing more. J


If your life were turned into a cartoon, what cartoon character would you want playing you?


Asterix the Gaul. He’s a shrewd, cunning little warrior from a French series of graphic novels. They’ve made cartoons too, and a movie. (There’s also a Monde Asterix in Paris. He’s like the French Mickie Mouse.)


You’ve been given the honor of naming a planet, what would you name it?


Uranus? Unlandia? LOL. I have no idea!

Thanks for having me on the blog! It’s been a blast. J

Studenstein (Book two in the Love-Bots series)

A man built for sex… A woman who wants more…

Freedom fighter Shani Brown is determined to drag the ungrateful Royce back to her team in Seattle. Despite his denial of mistreatment, she wants to give him a chance at a better life. Due to her horrific past as an unlicensed love-bot, Shani never plans to have sex again. But Royce’s makers punish him remotely with crippling pain. His only escape is to orgasm. Never one to turn her back on a job, Shani soon finds herself servicing him—and soon after, caring for him.

Love-bot Royce Harden wasn’t looking to be rescued, especially not from the San Francisco BDSM club where he was having a perfectly good time. But rescued he was—by a hellcat bent on delivering him to her people. As Royce starts to trust Shani, he begins to dream of freedom. But freedom comes with a price. Royce must face his vanity, his makers, and even the loss of his sexual upgrades if he’s going to be the man Shani deserves.




And now for a quick excerpt from Studenstein

Shaniqua! You stop thinking about that boy’s butt right this second! Shani didn’t know where that voice in her head came from, since she’d never had a mother in her undead life. But yeah, that voice in her head, her “superego” Frank called it, always called her by her full name.

So as she led Royce around the outside of the building, Shani focused on the quiet ticks of birds, the rustle of leaves, anything to take her mind of those little dimples that had shown right below his hipbones, or his deep and intriguing groan. As they walked, Shani calculated their distance from the van. Q-ter’s transmitter would only block Royce’s signal within one city block. The bathrooms weren’t all that far away, but Shani wasn’t accustomed to greenery and open space. Without urban landmarks, she didn’t trust her sense of distance.

His biceps flexed under her grip—not pulling away, but maybe trying to warn her he could. Shani’d touched Royce more in the past few hours than she’d touched any man since her captivity. She wanted to think it was because the assignment demanded she lead him about—gripping his firm upper arm—in case he tried to escape, but that voice in her head knew better.

Shaniqua! Let go of the boy-toy! In the dark, his skin felt warm and hard in her hand. It was a relief when she blinked in the bright halogen lights of the ladies’ room. No matter how pretty or tempting Royce Harden might be, Shani would never be able to stomach having sex again. And almost but not doing would be worse than never having tried at all.

Thank you to Daisy Harris for stopping by, and for giving us a whole new image of zombies. Remember Ms. Harris will be giving away a $25 B & N GC to one random commenter on the tour, and I will be giving one copy of Studenstein to one commenter here on my blog. Remember to leave your name and email address, so I can contact my winner. As always, my winner will be chosen using RANDOM.ORG for fairness.

Into the Fire by Cherie Marks

Into the Fire
Cherie Marks
The Wild Rose Press


Into the fire is a delightful story of romance succeeding in spite of a rocky start.  I loved the characters, Shyann and Luke, and the situation that they find themselves in. Shyann is furious with Luke when the story begins, because until two months before, they had been involved, and Shyann caught Luke in a lie.  Now they are competing against each other on a television program to see who can come up with the best Valentine's date meal, without knowing until the last minute what 'secret' ingredient they must include. Luke makes a deal-if he wins, she will go to dinner and let him explain why he hid things from her. If she wins, he will leave her alone. But Luke doesn't intend to lose, and that is what makes this story so much fun: the lengths Luke goes to are, at times, sneaky and hilarious.


I really loved these characters. Ms. Marks did a wonderful job in making them real and human, with doubts and insecurities. Luke is a very handsome and determined suitor, and he wants to explain why he had to hide his actions from Shyann. He is not above trickery and subterfuge to get to her. Shyann thinks he was just using her before, especially since he never tried to talk to her in the two months since the big discovery. She finds out, finally, that her sister had run interference, blocking Luke's calls from her. I was delighted to watch these two trade barbs and kisses in equal numbers, and was happy to see that Luke was able to win her heart again. I also like the surprise of who actually finally spilled the beans about everything, and I hope to see more in this world from Ms. Marks-most notably Shyann's sister's story (please?)

Let's go "Into the Fire" with Cherie Marks

There were nine commenters who left their email addresses, and RANDOM.ORG chose commenter number 9 so my winner is Nay Nay (Renee).
I will be in touch shortly to ask what format you want for this. Congratulations, and let this be a lesson to everyone-leave that email addy if you want to win.




Today we are welcoming Cherie Marks to My Odd Little World. She has a new contemporary romance just released last week called Into The Fire. In honor of this release, Cherie will be giving away three prizes to randomly drawn commenters during the tour: there will be two $10 gift cards to The Wild Rose Press, and one $10 gift card to Amazon.com. And I will be buying one commenter on my blog a copy of Into the Fire for their very own. My winner will be chosen using RANDOM.ORG for fairness.


Before the Q & A, here's a brief bio of today's visiting author, Cherie Marks.

 It all started with an old fashioned typewriter.  When my family brought it home, all those stories and characters rolling around in my head could finally get out.  The press and click of the keys satisfied in their own right, but when I pulled out a finished page, I knew this was for me.  Since then, I’ve graduated to a laptop, but the stories still find a way out.

I’m a breast cancer survivor, a teacher, a wife, a mother, and from the very beginning—a storyteller.  Always a hint humorous and honest to a fault, I love to make people laugh and smile.  My goal in life is to achieve tact and stop procrastinating.  The battle wages on.   

http://www.cheriemarks.com

http://www.cheriemarks.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Cherie-Marks/112358508843288

http://twitter.com/cheriemarks

The Writer


What is the best thing about being a writer? The worst?
         
I’m discovering the best thing about being a writer is the community.  So many times when I’ve doubted myself, the writers I count as friends have been there to build me back up.  The worst is the doubt that creeps in because I over-analyze as so many writers do.


What fuels you as an author to continue to write?
         
Coffee and chocolate!  Oh, oooh!  I mean the dynamics of telling a story.  The interesting characters and their situations that unfold as the book develops keep me writing.  I’m a problem-solver, and a story is the ultimate problem to solve for me.

Was there someone instrumental in inspiring you as a writer?

          It’s probably a little corny, but I have to say my mother inspired me to write.  Although it hurt a little, she was honest with me about my lack of any singing talent, pushing me to work with my natural strengths instead. She was patient with my earliest writing attempts and encouraged me to submit my best work.  I’ll always be grateful for her for being my first editor.

Where do you research your books? What kind of research do you do?
         
I’m a true woman of the new millennium.  Most of my research is done online.  I don’t know what we did before the internet was so prevalent.  Oh, yeah, that’s right, spent all day Saturday taking notes from thick, dusty books at the local library.  Achoo!  Actually, I still like to visit the library, but it’s mostly for pleasure reading nowadays.


Plotter or Pantser? Why?
         
I’m so a plotzer. I know some of the major plot points before I put down word one because I’ve thought them all out in my head, but I don’t use physical outlines or write a synopsis beforehand or anything like that. I’ve tried, but like others have said, it takes all the wind out of my sails and destroys my creativity to plot every little move out ahead of time.


The Person


When you get a chance to read, what books do you love to read?
         
I’m a huge Kresley Cole fan currently, and I got to meet her at RWA10 in Orlando.  She was sweet, funny, and personable and gave me a little heads up about her most recent book, before it was published!  So, I’ll always read anything she puts outs. Other authors I like to read are Rachel Gibson, Michael Crichton, J. m. Madden, Lori Wilde, Carrie Ryan, Kellie Kamryn.  So many books, so little time.


What bores you as a reader?
         
Not much.  I’m a true bibliophile.  Very few books I’ve met that I didn’t enjoy something about.


Do you have a secret talent?
          
My secret talent is my grammar skills.  I’m not perfect, but grammar and spelling come easily to me.  It’s one of the reasons I went into education for the day job.


What is your favorite time of day?
         
I have an hour all to myself every weekday in the mornings, and though it flies by, it is my favorite time of day.  I use it to clear my head and think things out.  Sometimes, I even use it to write because it’s the only time of day, I’m sure to be uninterrupted.


What do you think is romantic? What does the word Romance mean to you?
          
Romantic is flowers, dates, hand-holding, and kissing—all the things we normally associate with romance, but as the early passion turns to a comfortable love, romance changes a little.  My husband of 15 years is one of the most romantic men I know.  He scrapes my windshield in the winter, he does household chores, he encourages my writing.  All of these are romantic to me.  The most romantic thing he’s ever done though was stand beside me through a recent cancer battle.  Not only did he stand beside me, but he continued to make me feel like a beautiful, viable woman, even with one breast and bald.  That time is a recent memory now, and he’s still my one, true love.  Now that is romance to me.


Random Questions:


Aliens have landed on the planet. What are the three things you would tell them that are great about this planet?
          
Chocolate, romance books, and Ryan Reynolds


You’ve been given the honor of naming a planet, what would you name it?
         
Ryan Reynolds (see previous answer)


If you were in a rock band what would the name of your band be? What would your rocker name be?
         
The RR Rockers.  Rocker name would be Missus Reynolds *sensing a theme here*


If you could write in any other genre what would it be, and why?
         
I’d love to write thrillers or mysteries.  To me they seem so effortlessly written, but having made an attempt or two, I know it takes a lot of attention to detail.  Maybe one of these days, I’ll follow in the footsteps of Janet Evanovich.

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

http://www.cheriemarks.com

http://www.cheriemarks.blogspot.com
Facebook--http://on.fb.me/qRl1lD

Twitter—http://twitter.com/cheriemarks

Book Trailer--http://youtu.be/lXrDrRC1daM
Into the Fire available at http://tinyurl.com/3mfn3zj

And finally, have you got a sneak peek excerpt from your current work in progress you can share with my readers and me?


This is the first few paragraphs of a work-in-progress titled, Who’s the Cake Boss

            “Mmmm.  So good.”  The sound of a finger popping free of two of the most delectable lips Evan Taylor had ever seen nearly buckled his knees.  The sensuous sounds Lindsey Kincaid made tightened his mid-section.  He glanced surreptitiously in her direction as she scooped another finger through a bowl of fudge icing she’d just finished mixing.  Was it just him or did she have a smirk on her face?  It was almost enough to send him packing.

            Freaked-out of his mind was not a feeling he felt—ever.  He’d parachuted out of planes, base-jumped from cliff-sides, swum with sharks in open water.  You name it, he’d done it.  But the feisty female rolling fondant and mixing all sorts of sweet concoctions at the station next to him scared him like nothing else.  She was mystery and perfection rolled into one, and though at one time she thought he could do no wrong, now nothing was further from the truth.  His one time apprentice had improved her skills over the last year, but it was obvious she’d just as soon toast his lower marshmallows than talk to him now.

            Considering they were stuck together in a traveling kitchen trailer that made the family camper look like a mansion, how they felt about each other didn’t matter though.  It was all part of the television competition Who’s The Cake Boss, and they were both vying for the $100,000 prize.  But working next to her blew his level of distraction to near-impossible heights, meaning he might as well stand back and watch while she created the winning cake.  He’d enjoy that considerably more anyway.

Months after he stole her affections—then her executive chef position—Shyann and Luke meet again under sizzling circumstances, competing head-to-head on a televised cooking show called Kitchen Twist.

Each arrives with a motive: Luke intends to win back Shyann’s heart, even as she wants closure on the not-so-tasty heartbreak he once served up.Luke knows culinary masterpieces require a delicate touch, but that knowledge is tossed out with the leftovers as he works to show Shyann he’s not such a bad guy.

Now he pushes his skills to the limit to win the competition and satisfy a bet. Can two top chefs resist each other as they move out of the pan and into the fire?

Excerpt from Into the Fire

Silence reigned for half a minute before he reached out a hand and touched hers like a breezy whisper.  Her head went a little fuzzy at the warm contact. He shouldn’t still be able to affect her so strongly.

“I regret it went down the way it did, but why did you show me the exit before giving me a chance to explain, not to mention—dress? Enlighten me, sugar cheeks?”

With a jerk, she pulled her hand free. He was really asking for it. Sugar cheeks? Seriously? Now she knew he was only messing with her. She could give as well as she got.

“Tell you what. You win tonight, and I’ll give you your chance. You lose, we go our separate ways, and you walk out all by yourself, big boy.”

A crooked grin formed on his face as he reached a hand toward her hair. He fingered an escaping curl before she pulled away, leaving his hand hanging in midair.“You can call me big boy all you want, but I’ll do you one better. How about if I win, I take you to dinner, and you let me explain the whole situation?”

She felt her eyebrow rise and knew he’d read it as interest, but she didn’t care at the moment. “I honestly don’t want to hear any explanation from you now or ever, but if I win? Which I will, of course.”

“Then I’ll leave it up to you. If you want me to walk away, I will.” He took a step closer, placed his hand on her shoulder, and leaned down, his mouth right next to her ear. “But if you want me to call you darling, sweetheart, and sugar cheeks all night long, I’ll do that too.”

Thanks to Cherie Marks for stopping by today, and I wish you much success with Into the Fire. I have my copy, and will post a review here once I have read it. Remember, I will be giving one commenter a copy as well, so be sure to leave your email address in your comment so I know where to send it. Winner will be chosen using RANDOM.Org for fairness: duplicate comments will not be considered.

A Paranormal Romance-Studenstein by Daisy Harris

I am posting the full itinerary for Daisy Harris' Virtual Book Tour for Studenstein. The more you comment, the better your chances to win. Good luck and be sure to come back here to comment on the 28th of October.

October 7: NEW RELEASE PARTY - Goddess Fish Party Pavilion
October 10: Lisa Sanchez - Romance Author
October 11: Blisse Blog
October 12: Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
October 13: Naughty in the Backseat
October 14: Riverina Romantics
October 17: Wendi Zwaduk - Romance to Make Your Heart Race
October 18: Live To Read ~Krystal
October 19: Ramblings From this Chick
October 20: Sexy Lady
October 21: Black Velvet Seductions
October 24: Wake Up Your Wild Side
October 25: Seduced By Books
October 26: Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog
October 27: Erotica For All
October 28: My Odd Little World

Go "Into The Fire" with Cherie Marks: A Virtual Book Tour

I want everyone to have as many chances as possible on the virtual book tour, so I an going to post the full itinerary for Cherie Marks here. Just click on the link to go to the other blogs-and good luck to you all.

October 3: Mark of the Stars
October 4: Romance in the Backseat
October 5: Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
October 6: Hope. Dreams. Life... Love
October 7: Sandra's Blog
October 10: MeganJohnsInvites
October 11: My Odd Little World
October 12: Black Velvet Seductions Blog
October 13: Lisa Sanchez Romance Author
October 14: Delaney Diamond