Blood Smoke and Mirrors by Robyn Bachar-Now in Print from Samhain

I want to thank Robyn for coming to visit-we will all be looking for the release of her next book. The winner of my contest is Annalisa, who was commenter #12 as chosen by RANDOM.ORG. Congratulations to her, and come by for the next visit, for more fun and prizes.

Today I want to welcome Robyn Bachar,author of Blood Smoke and Mirrors, soon to release in print from Samhain. Robyn will be giving away a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter on her tour for this book.


Please give us a brief bio, your website, my space page and blog links.

RB) I’m a fantasy and paranormal romance writer from Chicago, and in my writing I enjoy saving the world, one bad witch at a time. My website is http://robynbachar.com/, which has links to my blog and Facebook pages, but I’m most active on Twitter, and can be found at http://twitter.com/#!/RobynBachar.

The Writer

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

RB) The best thing is reader feedback. I love hearing from people who read and enjoyed the book. It always makes me smile, and I feel blessed to have had such a great response to Blood, Smoke and Mirrors. The worst are bad reviews. One person said she would have thrown my book against the wall if it hadn’t been on her Kindle. Ouch. Fortunately the good reviews have far outnumbered the bad, and I’m very grateful for that.

2) Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

RB) According to my mother, I wrote my first book when I was four years old. (Yes, she still has it.) Creative writing was always my favorite subject in school, and I started writing my first novel in 8th grade. It was pretty terrible, but I was hooked.

3) If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

RB) My inner editor could pick at a book forever. There’s always something I would tweak if given the chance, but in general I’m happy with Blood, Smoke and Mirrors.

4) Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or Still do?

RB) I do not write full time, and I have a full time day job. I love to write, but I also love to eat and have a roof over my head. Currently I work in the basement of a library with a fabulous, slightly wacky group of people who I love dearly. Before this, I worked as a college-level textbook editor, a bake shop clerk, a gift shop cashier for the Brookfield Zoo, and I spent several happy months selling the most delicious Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago. To name a few jobs.

5) What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

RB) I used to get an idea and run with it, but without fail I’d hit a wall of writer’s block about a third of the way through the story. Now I outline, and it’s been a wonderful tool to help me with tough scenes. When I get stuck, I move on to the next chapter.

6) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

RB) Most of the minor characters develop as I go along, but I usually have a good feel for my heroine, hero and villain before I start writing. I use WriteWay Professional Edition to create my outlines and character profiles, and it’s extremely helpful for keeping track of details.

7) This is the print release of your book from Samhain, Blood, Smoke and Mirrors. Is it more exciting being able to see your book on shelves in stores this time around?

RB) This entire experience has been great, from the day I signed the contract to seeing it in print. I love being able to pick up my copy whenever I need to check something for my work in progress. My husband teased that I should sleep with it under my pillow, and it’s very tempting.

8) Can you tell us a bit about what book(s) you have coming out next and what you’re working on now?

RB) I’m continuing to work on more books in the series. In May my novella The Importance of Being Emily will be released from Samhain. It’s a prequel of sorts to Blood, Smoke and Mirrors, featuring three characters that appear in the novel. It’s a quick, fun read, and I loved writing it.

I want to give you a chance to talk about Blood Smoke and Mirrors. Would you like to tell us a bit about the book? How did it come about?

RB) Blood, Smoke and Mirrors began as my first attempt at National Novel Writing Month. (There’s more about that story on their site here.) It’s set in Chicago, in and around my hometown, and it has a little bit of everything. Witches, vampires, faeries, dragons, pancakes, epic fight scenes, romance. There’s a lot of humor and action, and general magical shenanigans.

The Person

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

RB) I love romance in all of its forms. I read everything from contemporary to historical, suspense to paranormal. I’m addicted to Nora Roberts, she’s my absolute favorite author. I also read fantasy, urban fantasy, and the occasional space opera. The last book I read was The Zero Dog War by Keith Melton, and if you love urban fantasy, I highly recommend it.

2) What bores you as a reader?

RB) Hmm, that’s a tough question. Charles Dickens. I hate Charles Dickens. With a passion. As an English major, I had to read a lot of literature that was historically significant and eye scaldingly boring. Dickens will always be my most hated author.

3) What is your favorite food and what is your guilty pleasure food?

RB) Cheese fries. Though that probably leaves me without a guilty pleasure food, but honestly I don’t count calories. I should, but I don’t.

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

RB) I’m married, and for me romance is having my husband call me his sweetie, and tell me that I’m beautiful, even though my love of cheese fries has ensured that I’m not as skinny as I was when we first met years ago. I love romance novels, because no matter how tough things get during the course of the story, the hero and the heroine make it through. Love’s a powerful thing, and it deserves to be celebrated.

5) Do you have an interesting quirk?


RB) No, but I have a love of the game Rock Band, and some powerful lungs. I’m actually not that bad at singing, but I’m terrible at drums and mediocre at guitar and bass.

6) Movies. Favorites? Vintage or current? Favorite new movie of the last year? Favorite movie of all time?

RB) My all time favorite movie is “The Philadelphia Story,” with Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart. We try to watch it every New Year’s Eve while enjoying a few bottles of champagne. I do have a love of old movies, especially Cary Grant movies, but I have a wide variety of favorites. I’ve watched “The Hunt for Red October” more than any other movie, though I really can’t explain that obsession. It just is.

7) What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to figure out a book?

RB) If it’s a book I’ve written, then that’d probably be a Tarot card reading. I’m not an expert, but I break my cards out on occasion and see if they have an opinion.

Random Questions

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

RB) In reality, my husband, my best friend Diana, and our friends Karrin, Steve, and Ben. In my wildest dreams, I’d invite Craig Ferguson, Kristen Bell, Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, and Wil Wheaton.

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


RB) Miranda.

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

RB) Dot Warner, from the Animaniacs. She’s tough but wacky, and always cute.

4) If you were in a rock band what would the name of your band be? What would your rocker name be?

RB) As I mentioned earlier, I’m addicted to the game Rock Band. On Rock Band, our band is named I AM A VAMPIRE AND, which is a reference to Strong Bad email. I play Abby Sciuto, who is a character on NCIS, which is one of my favorite TV shows.

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

RB) My current work in progress is in rough draft mode at the moment, but I can share a bit from my May release, The Importance of Being Emily. It is a historical paranormal novella set in Victorian England. It features Emily and Michael, who appear as vampires in Blood, Smoke and Mirrors, and tells the tale of how they fell in love as mortal magicians. This is a short excerpt from a scene where they escape to the garden for a quiet moment, taking a break from the murder mystery drama going on around them. Of course being alone together sparks a different kind of drama…

“There is nothing to discuss. In a few months you will be a chronicler, and I will still be a matchmaker. Our paths are star-crossed.” This time I held tight to my control, afraid of falling apart again, and I turned to walk back to the manor. He caught my hand and pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me. I gasped and shook my head.

“Please, don’t do this,” I whispered.

His lips hovered above mine. “Don’t you want to know?”

Yes. Every fiber of my seer’s body wanted to know more. Why were we meant for each other? How could we possibly make this work? What would it be like to share his life? To finally know the happiness that I found so often for others? “But you are spoken for,” I blurted.

He frowned. “By whom?”

“The Order.”

Michael laughed. “The Order is not a jealous wife. There are no rules prohibiting relationships, or even marriage.”

“No? What sort of marriage could we have? Should I offer you a vein instead of bringing you tea, until I fade away while you remain unaging? Immortal?”

“But we would be together.”

I sighed, thinking of my family’s definition of togetherness—in general it involved them poring over an old, moldering text while I looked on in irritation. It was not what I wanted in a marriage, though I supposed at my age I could not afford to be particular. In December I would be twenty-seven years old, an age my sister Sarah assured me was positively ancient. “But I am spoken for.”

Mr. Black frowned. “You’ve accepted Farrell’s proposal?”

“No. Not yet, but I should.” Shaking my head once more, I began to pull away, but he stopped me with a kiss. At first it was little more than a stalling tactic, a light brush of the lips meant to distract me from escaping, but then he drew me tight against him. Michael’s hand slid up my back and cradled my head, his thumb caressing the line of my jaw. He kissed me again, and my hands clutched the lapels of his coat for balance.

I must confess, I had been kissed before, though that was many years ago. Most of the appeal of that kiss had been in sneaking away from the Yule celebration and doing something forbidden, but this…was amazing. Everything that I expected a kiss should be—warm, soft and completely intoxicating. Closing my eyes, I abandoned myself to the experience, and he seemed happy to lead as I slid my arms around his neck. In the back of my thoughts a voice of reason lectured the need for caution. Being close to him had already triggered a flurry of visions, and I should be wary of more of them. A strong vision could incapacitate me for hours, possibly even days if it was very traumatic.

Like a fool, I ignored it, even when I began hearing his thoughts. My senses brushed against his as easily as our lips did. I caught a flash of a memory of the two of us sharing a quiet moment together at a previous gathering, and the impression of how much he enjoyed speaking with me. Mr. Black thought I was beautiful, and he had wanted to kiss me for a very long time.

Now for a look at the blurb for Blood Smoke and Mirrors, and an excerpt to gain your interest. I know I'm getting this one.

Even a bad witch deserves a second chance.


Wrongly accused of using her magic to harm, the closest Catherine Baker comes to helping others is serving their coffee. Life as an outcast is nothing new, thanks to her father’s reputation, but the injustice stings. Especially since the man she loved turned her in.

Now the man has the gall to show up and suggest she become the next Titania? She’d rather wipe that charming grin off his face with a pot of hot java to the groin.

Alexander Duquesne has never faltered in his duties as a guardian—until now. The lingering guilt over Cat’s exile and the recent death of his best friend have shaken his dedication. With the murder of the old Titania, the faerie realm teeters on the brink of chaos. His new orders: keep Cat alive at all costs.

Hunted by a powerful stranger intent on drawing her into an evil web, Cat reluctantly accepts Lex’s protection and the resurrected desire that comes along with it. Lex faces the fight of his life to keep her safe…and win her back. If they both survive.

Warning: This book contains one tough and snarky witch, one gorgeous guardian, explicit blood drinking, magician sex, gratuitous violence against vampires and troublemaking Shakespearean faeries.

Excerpt:

For the entertainment portion of our evening Lex bravely—or perhaps foolishly—decided to teach the faeries how to play Texas hold ’em poker. The only cards I own are Tarot cards, but he’d brought a deck of playing cards with him in his gym bag, and we used pretzels and chocolates as poker chips. The man displayed the patience of a saint as he tutored my cousins in the basics of the game—I’d learned it when we’d dated, though we’d bet clothing instead of snacks.


Tybalt was enthralled, but Portia was slow to warm to the idea until she figured out how to cheat by magically marking the cards. Poker ended soon after that, and we turned to the Game Show Network for entertainment. Few things are quite as entertaining as watching millennia-old frost faeries shout “No deal, Howie!” at your television screen.

It was a welcome break, and I could almost imagine this was a normal night of fun with my cousins. The addition of Lex didn’t hurt, but it added to the strangeness. He was acting like the Lex I remembered—funny, caring, charming. I wanted to stay angry with him, but having him stand steadfast by my side today made that difficult. He was there when I needed him, which felt weird after what had occurred between us in the past.

A little after midnight I kicked the faeries out and sent them home so Lex and I could get a good night’s sleep before our big day tomorrow. Not that I predicted being able to sleep with the cold dread that’d settled into my stomach, but I was willing to give it a try. I gathered up the empty drinking glasses and the bag of chips we’d devoured, and brought them into the kitchen. When I returned to the living room for the second round of mess, I found the lights had been switched off. Barely visible, Lex stood at the window, staring into the night as he held the curtains aside.

“You need to see this.”

“What is it?”

“Might want to put your shields up in case they try to take a shot at you,” he advised as I crossed the room. With a deep breath I put my shields in place, feeling the energy snap around me and then continue its new odd habit of stretching to include Lex.

“How are you doing that?” I looked up at him, confused.

“Doin’ what?”

“You keep getting through my shields.”

“Huh. Probably ’cause your subconscious knows I’m not going to harm you, so there’s no need to keep me out. Those vamps outside, on the other hand, they’re probably not here to play cards.” Lex pointed into the darkness, and I looked out the window.

“I don’t see anything.” Squinting, I pushed my glasses up on my nose and strained to see what he indicated. My eyes slowly adjusted to the rainy night. The streetlights had been doused, and this time it wasn’t my fault.

“There.” Stepping close to me, he gestured again. “Two in gangways across the street, one behind that oak tree.” Following Lex’s lead, I managed to spot three figures hiding in the shadows, and they were definitely not my neighbors.

“What are they doing?” I asked, my voice dropping to a tense whisper.

“Waitin’. They can’t get in, so they’re waitin’ for us to come out. Sooner or later they’ll get impatient and figure out a way to force their way in. In fact, I’m surprised they haven’t tried to set your building on fire and smoke us out.”

“They can’t, I have a ward against that too. Fire here can’t grow any bigger than a stove burner.”

“Damn, you are good. Still, with those vultures outside it’s not safe here anymore, Cat. You’ll have to stay somewhere else from now on.” With his point made, he let the curtains fall back into place, plunging the room into darkness, with only the light from the kitchen to see by.

“You’re right,” I reluctantly agreed.

“You could come stay with me.”

“With you?” Surprised by the suggestion, I turned to look up at him. We were standing so close I could feel the heat of his body and the light brush of his breath against my face. Nervous, I took a deep breath and unintentionally inhaled the familiar, unique scent of him. My heartbeat drowned out the steady patter of rain against the windows. With an amazing display of willpower I resisted the urge to bolt, knowing I’d only trip over something (like the cats that were still standing guard over Lex) and break my neck. Instead I took a slow step backward. “Why, you think it’d be easier to babysit me on your own turf?”

“I’m not babysitting you. Really, I’m protecting them from you,” he teased. Grinning, he reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair that’d escaped from my braid back into place behind my ear.

“Thanks, that makes me feel so much better,” I joked, a blush heating my face.

“I try. But seriously, Cat, I’ll be here as long as you need me.” Lex looked down at me, seeming sincere, and I shook my head at him.

“Don’t, Lex. You’re only here on orders. You’ll be gone and on to the next as soon as this assignment is over.”

“What if I don’t want that?”

“What if I do? I’m all for the life-saving thing, but I don’t want you in my life again.”

“Are you sure of that?”

Scowling, I took a steadying breath and prepared to launch into an explanation of the myriad reasons why I wasn’t about to go through another round of heartbreak with him, but before I could speak he leaned down and brushed a kiss across my lips.

A warm tingling suffused my body as soon as our lips met, the sort of electric reaction I usually associate with casting magic, but much, much better. He was hesitant at first, probably afraid I’d slap him or zot him with a spell, but when I didn’t object he slowly began to deepen the kiss. My knees went weak as my good sense vanished, and I slipped my arms around him to steady myself. Lex held me close as he continued to kiss me, and I leaned into him. I’d forgotten how well we fit together. He sighed, as though my lips were delicious and he savored them.

“This is a bad idea,” I murmured.

“No, this is a good idea.” Lex nudged me back toward the couch, and I sat down in a less-than-graceful flop. Next he joined me and drew me into his arms.

“Oh yeah? How?” My hormones were obviously happy to see him, but I still had a little bit of brainpower left, enough to be skeptical of the situation.

“Because letting you go was a bad idea. I don’t want to make that mistake again.” His voice was low and strained, and I wished it wasn’t so dark so I could see his expression. I sighed, a mix of old pain and new uncertainty, but he kissed me again and I stopped arguing.

I relaxed into the embrace, returning the kiss passionately. I felt better instantly—safe, warm, desired. Lex stroked my braided hair and let his hand rest at the small of my back. I ran my own hands up and down his back, debating whether or not it would be a good idea to tug his shirt off, but then I felt him unhooking my bra. My pulse jumped, and my magic decided to take that opportunity to wreak havoc on a pair of unsuspecting table lamps. With an electric sizzle followed by two sharp pops the light bulbs flashed and exploded. Startled, we jumped apart, the mood broken. We stared at each other, and I felt a guilty blush heat my face.

“Cat—” he started, and I held a hand up to stop him before he could say anything further.

“I don’t want to hear it. I’m going to get some new bulbs, and we’re going to pretend that never happened.”



Thank you once again for coming by, Robyn. To my readers, be sure to leave your email address with your comment, so I know how to contact you about the prize I am awarding to one commenter here. Not sure if it will be a gift certificate, a hand beaded book thong, or other fun surprise. As always, winner will be chosen using RANDOM.ORG

Wild Web Adventure for a Kindle from Moira Rogers

I love the talent of Moira Rogers. That this huge talent resides in just two awesome women boggles my mind. They have a way with words that keeps me on the edge of my seat, whether reading about shifters, vampires or "bloodhounds". I have managed to follow their work, and belive I'm just short of being a full fledged stalker.

Now, they have decided y'all need a chance to win a Kindle. What must you do, you may ask? What elaborate hoops must you jump through for this delightful prize? Just comment on this post, and you're chance is in. For more chances, head to the main contest page and visit the other blogs participating as well.

Why are they doing this, you ask. Good question. Today is the release of Wilder's Mate, Moira Rogers' first foray into the Steampunk genre. Having had the good fortune to have won an ARC of this some months back, I can say it is, as usual, fantastic. Hot and sexy hero, sassy and courageous heroine and lots of danger and adventure, with some sizzling action in the bedroom and beyond. And that cover-to die for.

Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America’s frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.

Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication–keeping his hands off the man’s pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along.

At odds with polite society, Satira’s only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn’t going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel’s life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn’t worth saving. Besides, if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that brains are more important than brawn.

As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they’re fighting to save.

Warning: This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

Want to win a brand new Wi-Fi Kindle 3? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and you can have your chance! For more chances to win, visit the main contest page. Every participating blog you visit gives you another chance to win!

This post is part of Moira Rogers’ Wild Web Adventure Promo. For full rules and disclaimers, or to hold your own kindle contest, visit the contest post. Winners will be chosen during the first week of April.http://www.moirarogers.com/blog/archives/3473

VBT for Robyn Bachar's Blood Smoke and Mirrors

Robyn Bachar is touring the blogs for the print release of her Samhain book, Blood Smoke and Mirrors, and will be here on March 11, 2011 for a brief visit. She is offering one commenter on the tour a $20 Amazon GC, and I will be offering an as yet to be decided prize to one lucky cpmmenter to my stop. If you want to follow her tour for more chances at the GC, I am posting her itinerary below.

3/1/2011 RELEASE PARTY at Goddess Fish Party Pavilion


3/2/2011 Book of Secrets

3/3/2011 Cali Cheer Mom

3/4/2011 Sexy Adventures, Passionate Tales


3/7/2011 Book Lover's Hideaway

3/8/2011 Rabid Reads

3/9/2011 Urban Fantasy Investigations

3/10/2011 Kat's Blog

3/11/2011 My Odd Little World

3/14/2011 My Bookish Ways

3/15/2011 Caridad Pineiro - For Those Who Live to Love on the Edge

Careless Whisper-no, not George Michael-Wendi Zwaduck!

As promised, the winner of the gift card of your choice (Amazon, B & N, ARe) has been chosen using RANDOM.ORG. The winner was commenter #8-Harlie Reader (Marika Weber) Congrats, Marika! I hope you will come back for our next author event on March 11, but for now, Congrats again to Harlie Reader!!!!

First, I want to Welcome Wendi Zwaduk to My Odd Little World. Thank you for sharing some time here with us. Could you tell us a bit about yourself, please, before you jump into my questions?

Thanks Nancy for letting me stop by. I’m having a blast. But you asked for a little bit about me...I’m little. Hee hee. No really, I’m short. I look people in the throat and chest. Sometimes that’s good (if he’s a hunk and built it’s really good). Sometimes, well, I wish I was taller. I talk too much and have been known to shout things out that are completely true, just not the right thing to say at the time. I love to read and have my ereader packed. I’ve got a wall of books that’s only half the collection. I can’t turn down animals and the menagerie seems to grow by the year. I have a youngling and a DH. I love them both and am grateful they both back my writing now (for a while it was touchy). DH is the best research partner and he’s given himself over to exploration more than once for the sake of art. Hee hee. My mom knows what I write and yes, it makes her blush. But then again, if it doesn’t make you blush, then what’s the use?

The Writer

1) What is the best thing about being a writer? The worst?
WZ) The best thing about being a writer is getting the thoughts in my head, the chattering of the characters down on paper and having others enjoy what’s there. Fan mail is awesome because I know I’ve touched someone with the work.

The worst? There’s lots of not fun things. Rejection letters and negative reviews. I totally realize that what one person thinks about a work can be the complete opposite of what someone else thinks is fantastic—and actually, that’s great. If we all loved the same things, life would be boring. But it smarts a little when someone doesn’t like what I’ve written. It gets my brain going to figure out what went wrong and fix it in the next story which is a good incentive to write more.

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

WZ) Dh would say it’s personal research with him. That does work, but not all the time. Sometimes I read in the genre I’m stuck in. I feel immersed in what I want to write and it can kick-start the characters to talking—like, hey, why are you reading that when I want to tell you this? That works well for me. I’ll listen to music, whatever sparked the story in the first place and lots of times I’ll watch a movie. The Goodbye Girl is a favorite because there’s lots of snarky comments, fantastic characters, and a HEA.

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

WZ) My heroines tend to have similar personalities to mine. They’re strong but sometimes timid, they want the hero but don’t always feel like they deserve him, and they are usually not real tall or skinny. My life experiences absolutely come into the story. DH is a pilot, so I know my way around a plane. I love racing, so all the dirt racing stories and moments are things I’ve done. I’ve waitressed at a Mexican restaurant, so I know my way around a restaurant and I’ve got a BA in art ed, so I know what I’m talking about when it comes to art. I won’t say I know everything—I don’t—and I’m not at all fast on my feet when it comes to comebacks, but hey, we can’t all be perfect. J

4) What fuels you as an author to continue to write?

WZ) I write for the same reason I create art—I just have to. It’s deeply engrained in me to create. I started writing because I read a HQN NASCAR book. I thought, gee, I’ve got stories like that in my head, too. So I started writing. It’s funny. There are moments when I think, gee, I’m just done. This usually comes after a tough review or rough set of edits. And then the characters start talking to me again and I have to tell the story. I have a great example. I love that Brad Paisley song, “And We Danced”. I’ve had it in my head for a week or so but I wasn’t sure what to do with it. The characters let me know. I’ve got a scene for them and personalities, but I have no idea what the full story will be. So, I can’t not write it. And I’m sure when I get that one done, that’s about the time another character will tell me what they want written.

5) Can you tell us a bit about what book(s) you have coming out next and what you’re working on now?

WZ) At this exact moment, I am working on a contemporary called “Please Remember Me”. It’s a follow up to Right Where I Need to Be and gives one of the antagonists from Right a chance to redeem herself. This book actually came out of a real situation. I had a dear friend who had a cat. Now, she talked about her cat like he was her kid. It was sweet to listen to her talk about him. Unfortunately, she passed away. Her cat had nowhere to go. I couldn’t take him in because I already had two cats who weren’t real thrilled to have another cat show up. Yes, they are brats. Anyway, her brother ended up taking him, but it got me thinking, what does happen to the pets of older people when the owner passes? The heroine was thinking the same thing, so I let her run with it. I love the story because Jade gets to redeem herself and because there’s a basset hound in the story.


Another story I’ve got on the docket right now is a high school reunion story called “What Might Have Been”. Macy came back to Mason high school to show them she wasn’t a wallflower any longer. Tanner’s back to show Macy he’s never forgotten her. This one contains some healthy domination, a little toy play, and lots of steamy sex.


I tell you, my characters are all hornballs.

The Person

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

WZ) I’m in a MM kick right now. I love the works of KA Mitchell. She just seems to write characters that wrap around my heart and don’t let go. Another of my favorites is J. Hali Steele. Her shepherd shifters are so hot. Makes me want to get a German Shepherd. Kresley Cole, Lora Leigh, and Anne Rainey are autobuys for me.

7) What bores you as a reader?

WZ) Head hopping and misspelled words. I can be plugging along just fine, but if the book has a lot of goofed up words and head hopping, then I quit. Sad but true.

8) What is your favorite feature on a person? Man?

WZ) Arms. I love strong arms on a guy. Female? Um...we’d better laugh. I love to laugh and have a good time.

9) Do you have a secret talent?

WZ) I can play the clarinet. In high school, I used to play in the marching band and the joke was I could project the sound into the stands. Maybe that’s not something to be proud of, but hey, I could do a great Benny Goodman imitation back in the day.

10) What is your favorite time of day?

WZ)Night. I’m the only night owl in my household and it works just fine for me. I can write and jam to my itunes playlist while working and not bother anyone. Oh, yeah, I use my earbuds otherwise the house would be bopping to whatever’s playing.


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

WZ) This will sound so silly, but it’s very romantic to me. A ceiling full of Christmas lights, a blanket on the floor and a bucket of KFC. Oh, and add a bottle of sparkling something—grape juice, wine, doesn’t matter.


What Romance means to me....it’s something from the heart. It’s that moment you finally surrender and succumb to the feeling that you care about someone. It’s those little things DH does just because he wants to, not because I ask him to. Romance is those little touches that come because he’s walking past and just can’t help but run his fingers through my hair or a hug for no reason.

12) What type of music gets you dancing?

WZ) Gary Allan gets me dancing. He’s the favorite of my muse. Another one that makes me dance would be anything heavier...metal, rock...dunno. It depends on my mood and the mood of my muses.

Random Thoughts

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

WZ) We have cats. They rule the world, so don’t bother trying to take it over. We have chocolate and will kill to keep it safe. And if you think you’re going to probe...well...not around here you won’t.

14) If you could create your own drink what would go in it and what would you call it?

WZ) You know, I don’t drink very often—like less than once every 6 months—so I have no idea. I’m more of a crushed ice and soda kinda girl. (And yes, I call that fizzy stuff made by Pepsi and Coca Cola soda not pop.)

If I had to come up with a mixed drink, it would be Mt. Dew, vodka, and OJ and I’d call it the Big ZwaDick. Why? Cuz it sounds funny.

15) You have been locked in a mall and told you can get anything you want and when they open in the morning you won’t have to pay a single cent. What stores would you hit? Better question how would you haul away all your loot?

WZ) I’ve never been a mall girl (and I’m part of the mall rat generation) but I’d totally hit the bookstore and the shoe store. I’m a sucker for a fabulous pair of knee high leather boots. So I’d nab all the size seven boots that struck my fancy and then head to the bookstore. I’m a picky book buyer. Ebooks, I’ll just grab and go. Print, I’m a little more conservative, but I am a cover snob. If it’s a new to me author, I’m more likely to look at the cover. If it grabs me, I’ll read the blurb. If the combo of blurb and cover catch me, then I’ll consider. I’d probably goof around too long and get caught in the morning. If I didn’t, I’d have my trust dusty canvas bags to haul out my booty...I mean loot. :P

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

WZ)This is actually a two fold tip. One, read. Why? Because you won’t know anything about your genre and what’s out there if you don’t read. Two, don’t rely just on spell check. There are a lot of words out there that are spelled right, but used wrong. There’s nothing an editor will hate more than a great story with all these spelled right but misused words. It makes the author look bad and can really stunt your growth as an author.

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

WZ)I’d love to write a historical, set in ancient Greece. I took a course in college that revolved around Greek art and I loved it. I loved the idea of all the gods and goddesses. But, for all the research I’ve done, I just can’t make the leap to actually finishing the story. There’s lots of little things I know I’ve forgotten or done wrong and I’m stuck. Sad but true.


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

WZ) Seems like, when I’m trying to update pages, I’m everywhere. J


You can find out more about me on my website:

http://www.wendizwaduk.com/

http://www.blogger.com/goog_1474567036

I’ve got an author page on both Manic Readers and Goodreads, as well as a Forum on Coffee Time Romance. You can find me on twitter and facebook.

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

Sure! Here’s a glimpse into the NASCAR novella I’ve been working on.

Megan nodded and bit down hard on the inside of her cheek to suppress a smile. “Stop back when the race concludes. It should be worth your while.”

“I’ll be here with bells on.” His lips parted and his eyes widened. “I want to tell you, I—I wish I could take back what happened.” He toyed with the knobs on the radio. “I made mistakes, lots of them, but losing you is right at the top.”

He regretted his actions? A shred of the anger she’d held for the past ten years dissipated. “We all have things we’re not proud of.”

“I want to start over and show you I can love you the way you deserve.”

The earnestness in his voice chipped away at the fortifications around her heart. “You love racing and race cars, not women.”

“There’s one woman in particular who is very near and dear to my heart. Tell me what you want me to do to make things up to you,” he murmured. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Megan glanced over Tucker’s shoulder. Her assistant Janine remained a few feet away but crooked her brow and crossed her arms. Thank God for friends with attitudes. Another moment and she’d cave to Tucker’s sweet apologies. “How about you just show up?”

“You got it.” Tucker tipped his hat and jaunted off.

Drawing a long breath and letting it out, Megan leaned against the hauler wall. She couldn’t take back the invitation. She followed the slight sway of his ass as he blurred into the crowd. Why did the cute ones have to leave the deepest emotional wounds?

“At least he’s got a nice butt.” Janine dug her elbow into Megan’s side. “Just right for whacking with a paddle until it’s pretty and pink.”

Megan buried her face in both hands to cover her gawking and her embarrassment at Janine’s frank language. Hell, part of her wanted to stick around and rekindle the lost romance with Tucker. The rest of her wanted to paddle him and push him far, far away. Nah, the only paddling involved meant him in control and her squealing on his lap.

Janine’s voice broke through Megan’s thoughts. “What exactly are you going to do? He’s the man who broke your heart.”

“Good question.” Megan dropped her hands and sighed. “Mathew needs a mentor and Tucker needs payment. In some ways, I’m in a bind. In others, I’m not.”

“You’re devious when you’ve been hurt. Something’s percolating. What are you thinking?”

Megan turned away from the track and toyed with the ring on her right hand. “We do need the help.” She nodded as the plan formed in her mind. A little harmless fun never hurt anyone as long as she kept her heart safe behind the concrete walls. “He had cheap and easy and I’m not free.”

Thank you for visiting, Wendi, and here’s to much success with your new book.



He’s her kinkiest desire, if she’s willing to open her heart and believe in him.


The dead don’t always rest in peace. Some stick around to make the lives of the living hell on Earth. Ryan Black knows the frustration of dealing with the dead. He’s a Ghost Explorer. He’s conquered houses filled with apparitions, abandoned school buildings that house angry vermin, and managed to woo the female population of Snake Falls, Ohio. But he’s about to face his toughest challenge, convincing sceptical Samara Jacobs she not only shares his gift, but holds his heart.

Women fall at Ryan Black’s feet and Samara’s determined not to be one of the many—that is until she’s forced to work with him. He’s certain ghosts exist and willing to prove it. The more she gets to know the man behind the television persona, she decides the handsome klutz who chases things that go bump in the night isn’t so silly after all. But is he worthy of her love?

This book contains anal sex and a little harmless domination.

Available February 21, 2011 FROM TOTAL-E-BOUND!

Remember to leave a comment, with your email address so I can contact my winner. Winner will be chosen using RANDOM.ORG.

Dark Passages-Revisiting the Vampire Myth with Sara Reinke

Congratulations to my site winner, chosen using RANDOM.ORG. Mary Jo has won a gift certificate of her choice-Amazon, B & N, whatever strikes her fancy. But don't dispair, We have another visitor on Thursday-Wendi Zwaduk, and another chance at goodies.

Today I want to welcome Sara Reinke to My World. Sara's new release is Dark Passages, a story of the Brethren. I asked Sara a few questions and her answers are below.

1) The purpose and importance of research in paranormal romance:

You’d think it would be easy to write in the paranormal genre. By definition alone, the term encompasses whatever you can imagine. But personally speaking, I have a hard time presenting something as a writer if I first can’t buy into it as a reader. For me, this means having a strong back story in place before I even begin to type out a word. And that requires research. History is full of rich and diverse mythology and legends, and I find myself drawing frequently from these as I develop ideas for vampires, werewolves, demons and other paranormal beings.

2) What six things are most important for a writer to be successful and why.

Have faith in yourself and your abilities as a writer. This is a challenging industry, and it can definitely take its toll on your ego in any number of ways. As long as you truly believe in what you’re doing and work hard to continuously improve your craft so you’re presenting your best stories to the world, you can steer yourself in the right direction, success-wise, despite rejection letters, contest near-misses, stinging reviews, etc.

Surround yourself with positive influences. Friends, family and fellow writers who are supportive of your efforts and empathetic to your struggles are worth their weight in gold.

Write as much as you can whenever you can. I don’t advocate for having a set time and place where you must make yourself write a set number of words each and every day—primarily because I’ve never had time for such a stringent schedule, and don’t know many people who do. But if you’re serious about writing, then you need to make time whenever you can reasonably do so to do it. Sometimes this means even when you don’t feel like it, or when you’d rather be doing something else. It’s only as much a priority as you make it, and I personally strive to keep it a high one in my life, despite my other responsibilities and distractions.

Throw away your rejection letters. If you can take some constructive criticism or suggestions away from them, great. If not, toss them. Who needs that kind of negativity, not to mention clutter?

Contact your favorite authors and pick their brains for career advice. You might be surprised by their responses. I have been, pleasantly so, more often than not.

If you want to be a writer, you have to know how to write. This means knowing basic rules of English grammar, which should be a big DUH. You’d be surprised how many aspiring writers don’t have a basic grasp of spelling or grammar, however, and will tell you that’s what an editor is for. Uh, no. That’s your job as the writer. Learn how to do it correctly.

3) World building

Have I mentioned I really like world building? Researching the back story and setting for my work is a blast for me, the chance to really let my imagination run wild, and to learn something while I’m at it. As I mentioned before, I love basing a lot of my world building on real or historical events, including mythology. The internet is a terrific place to begin your research and world building, but you can take it even further at your local library, or by talking to experts in different fields such as anthropology, forensic science, etc.

4) POV

I’m not one much for head-hopping. I try to keep my readers oriented in my stories by keeping to as few viewpoints as possible, and when using multiple points-of-view, keeping each one separated by individual scene breaks or chapters. Personally, I have always liked writing primarily from the male perspective, probably because as a woman, I don’t feel like it takes as much imagination to get into a heroine’s headspace as a hero’s.

Tristan Morin is a vampire on a mission: to not fall in love with Karen Pierce. To do so would prove that humans and Brethren were meant to be physically and emotionally bound to each other -- something he, as a full-blooded Brethren, refuses to believe. It would be so much easier if Karen wasn't beautiful. And if there wasn't something about her that draws him like a moth to a flame, damn near impossible to resist.

Karen has always felt an inexplicable attraction to Tristan. More than just the fact he's strikingly handsome, it's as if being with him is something natural, comfortable and right. But soon a brash choice on his part leaves her heartbroken and confused, and a sadistic new enemy will put their tentative love -- and their lives -- to the ultimate test

Excerpt from Dark Passages
 
From the darkness, a muffled digital ring drew Tristan from the depths of sleep.

My phone, he thought dimly, as his mind made the groggy, reluctant transition from unconsciousness to alert. I had it in my pocket, he remembered, stumbling out of bed and limping around blindly until he found his pants in a rumpled heap halfway across the room.

“Shit,” he said, because it occurred to him that they’d forgotten completely about Mason’s promise to join them once he’d finished talking to Michel on the phone. He glanced over his shoulder at the bedside clock and winced. It was well after midnight; more than three hours had passed since they’d parted company at the restaurant. And we’ve been sleeping this whole time. He’s probably been and left, beating on the door, wondering where the hell we are.

“Shit,” he said again, thumbing the keypad to answer the call. Raking his fingers through his hair to push it out of his eyes, he tried his best to sound dutifully repentant. “I’m really sorry, Mason,” he began.

“I’m sorry, poppet,” a voice purred in his ear—a voice he recognized from earlier that night. “Mason’s a bit…tied up at the moment.”

Tristan’s brows furrowed, his free hand closing into a sudden, strained fist. All of the muscles bridging his shoulders and neck drew instantly taut. “Davenant,” he seethed. “Where is he? What have you done with my uncle?”

Jean Luc Davenant chuckled gently into the phone. “I haven’t done anything with him,” he said, with feigned insult in his voice. “It’s what I’ve done to him that should worry you.”

I want to thank Sara Reinke for stopping by, and I want to remind my readers that one commenter will win an as yet to be decided goodie just for commenting. Please be sure to leave your email address, so I know how to get in touch when you win. As always, winner will be chosen using RANDOM.ORG. Good luck to you all.



Blood, Smoke and Mirrors--Coming In Print from Samhain

Robyn Bachar is celebrating the print release of her Samhain book, Blood, Smoke and Mirrors with a blog tour, and I am pleased to announce that she will make a stop here on Friday March 11. As with all my guests, she will be answering some of my burning questions, and everyone who visits and comments is entered for a chance at prizes. Come on over and make her welcome. Robyn's prize for one lucky commenter is a $20 Amazon GC.



February Double Header-Two New Blog Tours

This month I have two authors stopping by to visit. On February 21, Sara Reinke will pop in with a blog post and a bit about her newest book, Dark Passage. Below is a list of the stops on the tour, if you want to follow for more chances to win.

February 14: Launch Party at Goddess Fish Party Pavilion


February 15: D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters

February 16: Realmantic Moments

February 17: Black Velvet Seductions

February 18: Intense Whisper

February 21: My Odd Little World

February 22: Paranormal Romantic Suspense Reviews

February 23: Books of Secrets

February 24: Just Views

February 25: Erotica for All

February 28: Romance to Make Your Heart Race

Then, on February 24, I will have my interview with Wendi Zwaduk, and hear about her latest release, Careless Whisper. If you'd like to follow her tour, the links are below. The more you enter, the better your chances are for winning.

February 14: My Foolish Wisdom


February 15:Getting Naughty Between the Stacks

February 16: Fantasy Pages

February 17: JoJo's Book Corner

February 18: Book of Secrets

February 21: Sue Perkins

February 22: Beyond Romance

February 23: Realmantic Moments

February 24: My Odd Little World
 
February 25: Sexy Adventures, Passionate Tales
 
And because I have a birthday this month, on February 25th, I will be handing out a present to one commenter on each tour. Not sure if it will be hand crafted book thongs, gift cards, or a surprise gift or two. To be eligible to win, you must comment on the post, and leave your email address so I can contact you when you win. Winners, as usual, will be chosen using Random.org.