Fire Baptized

Today I want to welcome Kenya Wright, whose new Urban Fantasy, Fire Baptized was recently released. Kenya will be giving a $10 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky commenter during the tour.But first, a bit about Ms. Wright.

               Kenya Wright always knew she would be famous since the ripe old age of six when she sung the Michael Jackson thriller song in her bathroom mirror. She has tried her hand at many things from enlisting in the Navy for six years as a Persian-Farsi linguist to being a nude model at an art university.

        However, writing has been the only constant love in her life.

        Now Kenya is publishing her first book, Fire Baptized, the urban fantasy novel she always wanted to read. This novel is the first book in a series.

        Will she succeed? Of course.

        For she has been coined The Urban Fantasy Queen, the Super Iconic Writer of this Age, The Lyrical Genius of Our Generation. Granted, these are all terms coined by her, within the private walls of her bathroom as she still sings the Michael Jackson thriller song.

            Kenya Wright currently resides in Miami with her three amazing, overactive children, a supportive, gorgeous husband, and three cool black cats that refuse to stop sleeping on Kenya’s head at night.

Website:  http://www.kenyawright.com

Book Video:  http://youtu.be/a28T5HzpGJ4

Now, on to the interview and a blurb about the book.

The Writer


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


The best thing about being a writer is being able to create and virtually live other lives. I have a lot of fun exploring Fire Baptized’s world and hanging out with all my supernaturals.


The worst?


The revision process is the worst part for me. I hate having to cut things out of the book. I love my characters and world so much I feel like every little detail should be there, but that’s not true. If it doesn’t move the plot along then it really should be cut.


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


I definitely bring my own life experiences and personality into my writing. Many of the Fire Baptized characters had somewhat dysfunctional childhoods filled with drug abuse and neglect. I definitely experienced that within my child.


Plotter or Pantser? Why?


Plotter!
I find that outlining a book completely helps me stay organized. Whenever I just write without any clear outline I end up writing all over the place and losing the story’s focus.


What fuels you as an author to continue to write?


I have an addiction to writing, period. All I want to do is write. I miss meals. I lose sleep. I literally have to force myself to stop writing. If I was a millionaire I would still write books.


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


Sci-fi is a genre that I would like to tackle one day. Especially, the cyberpunk sub-genre.

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

I write a whole lot of posts on my Goodreads’s blog.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5402447.Kenya_Wright/blog

Although at times it could be irrational rants, I do write three a week. My last post discussed Dr. Drew’s disgust with the Erotic Romance book Fifty Shades of Grey.

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

I do both. I have a ten page questionnaire that I answer for all of my main characters. However, when I’m writing nothing is set in stone. Sometimes the characters reveal their unique personalities as I create a scene.

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


This month I will release Caged View, which is a short story collection of Fire Baptized’s main characters. There will be POV stories for MeShack, Zulu, and Lanore.
In May, the sequel The Burning Bush will be released.
In July, I will release Chameleon which is a YA novel set in the same caged supernatural city of Fire Baptized. However, this series will involve different characters and be less graphic.

The Person


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


Urban fantasy without a doubt! My favorite authors are Laini Taylor, Ilona Andrews, and K.A. Tucker.


What bores you as a reader?


Info Dumps! God I hate long paragraphs updating me about what happened in the earlier series or telling me about the rules of the world. Just show me all of this. I hate telling.


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


Favorite food- foie gras
Guilty Pleasure- Fried cheesecake with chocolate dipping sauce


What do you think is romantic?


Candle light, soft music, and a whispered conversation with the one I love.


What does the word Romance mean to you?


This word has so many meaning for me. As a mother of three (5yr, 4yr, and 9month old), sometimes my husband will just grab all of the kids and say, “Baby, you worked hard this week. Relax, I’m going to take all of the kids for the day.”
That just gets my heart pumping!


What type of music gets you dancing?


Holy Cow! You have no idea how difficult this question is for me. I listen to everything: salsa, alternative, hip hop, country, electronic, etc.
Anything that sounds good gets me dancing!


What do you do to unwind and relax?


Glass of Pinot Noir and a good book!


Lightning Round


Chocolate or vanilla?


Chocolate


Wine-white or red?


Red


Mountains or seashore?


Seashore
Winter or summer?


Summer


Morning or evening person?


Evening

Random Questions:


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

1-  There are some truly beautiful natural landscapes on this world.

2-  There are more people who try to do good then people who create evil.

3-   No one thing on this planet is the same. Every person you meet, every object you discover will be unique in its own way.

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


I actually created my main character Lanore’s drink. The Inferno: chocolate, coffee, jalapeño pepper juice. It’s actually yummy.


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


KENYA
(Dugggh… aren’t most writers narcissistic or is it just me?)


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


Venom!
Queen Kobra (I actually named myself that in high school when I thought I wanted to be a rapper.)


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?


I’d hit the hell out of Barnes and Noble! There would be nothing left!!! I would devour all of the baked items, take every book in the fantasy and sci-fi sections, and snatch up all of those sexy journals they always are selling.
Roooooaaaaarrrrr!
(Sorry that was Zulu…)

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 a sneak peek from Zulu’s POV short story “The Heart Ripper’s Song” which is in Caged View.

I leaned Nona’s way and asked, “You see her?”

“No, mon, but me smell her coming from over there.” Nona pointed far off to the right.

I shifted my eyes to black to get a better view and headed that way.

Where are you, Lanore?

And then I spotted her.

My heart sped up to an erratic pace. My cords vibrated on my arms. I knew that they glowed under the shirt.

It was what always happened when she was near.

Lanore swayed back and forth with the beat. A strapless plum dress wrapped around her cinnamon body. The silky material ended in the middle of her thighs but didn’t cover everything. Her waist, tiny belly button, and the top of her ample cleavage were exposed.

I licked my lips in anticipation, just happy to be near her for a few hours.

She kept Mixbreeds For Equality and myself out of the rest of her life, never letting me take her home, and didn’t stay too long at any of MFE’s social functions.

I grinned as she raised her hands and waved them around. Amethyst gems hung from her ears and dangled all the way to her shoulders. I’d slipped them in her jean satchel, without a note, one night when she wasn’t looking.

“And in this cage, behind these bars, I think of you and me,” York sung. “And how we held on.”

“We held on!”

Lanore jumped up and down, repeating the lyrics with the rest of the crowd. She’d curled those long, black dreadlocks tonight. They hung in spirals a little bit past her shoulders and bounced with her movement.

I got closer and spotted Wallace, MFE’s technical expert, jumping in front of her. He bobbed around like an idiot, getting her full attention. His bushy red hair flopped up and down as he twisted his hips. He wore a purple shirt with the fictional superhero Captain Habitat covering the front, as usual. His pale, splotchy fists pumped in the air.

She laughed, which motivated Wallace to act even crazier.

He kneeled down and started flapping his arms like he was flying.

She covered her mouth in clear amusement.

He’s always fucking making her laugh.

My hands formed into tight fists. I couldn’t do anything but stand back and bear it. She preached too much about peace. I figured ripping off Wallace’s arm might turn her off.

“Love whispers beyond the bars. It washes the pain. No more scars.”

I glided by her, rubbed my arm against hers as if there was just no space to maneuver through, and inhaled her scent of lavender mixed with sweet cream.

Our eyes met within the blinking laser lights.

Sounds interesting-I'll keep an eye out for it.

               Since the 1970’s humans have forced supernaturals to live in caged cities. Silver brands embedded in their foreheads identify them by species: a full moon for Vampires, a crescent moon for Shifters, a pair of wings for Fairies, and the list goes on, for each supernatural species has been tagged and categorized by humans.

            Lanore Vesta is marked with a silver X, the brand of Mixbreeds, second-class citizens shunned by society. She stays to herself, revealing her ability to create fire only during emergencies. All she wants to do is graduate college and stop having to steal to survive. But when she stumbles upon a murder in progress, she catches the attention of a supernatural killer. Now all she wants is to stop finding dead bodies in her apartment.

            Enlisting help from her Were-cheetah ex-boyfriend Meshach and a new mysterious friend named Zulu, she is steered through the habitat’s raunchy nightlife. But their presence sometimes proves to be more burden than help, as they fight for her attention.   

            While the corpses pile up, and the scent of blood fills the air, Lanore is left wondering: will she find the psycho or die trying?

I want to thank Kenya Wright for coming by, and remind everyone that she is giving away a $10 Amazon GC to one commenter on the tour. So make sure to leave a comment, and watch for this one-it does sound intriguing.

Blood Rite A Blurb Only Tour

Today we have a different kind of visit: no interviews, but the blurb and excerpt from Melanie Atkins' new book, Blood Rite. Melanie will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one commenter on the tour, so be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win. Now for a brief bio of Melanie, and a peek at her new release.

Melanie Atkins is a multi-published author of romantic suspense. Writing is more than an escape for her—it’s a way of life. She grew up in the Deep South listening to tall tales and penning stories about her cats. Now she writes gripping stories of love, suspense, and mystery with the help of her furry little feline muses.

She is an active member of Romance Writers of America®, the Magnolia State Romance Writers (MSRW), the Published Author Network (PAN), the Electronically Published Internet Connection (EPIC), Sisters in Crime (SinC), the Red Dog Writers, The Gulf Coast Writers Association (GCWA), Southern Writers, the Mississippi Writers Guild and the Byram Writers’ Group. She currently serves as Past President of MSRW.

Website/blog/social networking links:

Website:  http://www.melanieatkins.com
Blog:  http://melanieatkins.wordpress.com
Facebook:  http://www.face-book.com/melanie.atkins
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/melanie_atkins

Blood Rite

Melanie Atkins

Whiskey Creek Press

Women in New Orleans are dying; women New Orleans Police detective Nick Marconi has dated. To make matters worse, they have all been found with vials of his murdered sister’s blood in their throats. Nick is walking a tightrope between depression and rage. His superiors are worried about his mental health, so they send him to see psychiatrist Gracie Simmons.

Gracie is walking a tightrope of her own. She became a psychiatrist because she wants to help people, and in addition to private practice, she also treats police and parolees. The extra work gives her flashbacks about her father, however, a bad cop arrested when she was fifteen. Then a former flame harasses her, and her best friend turns up dead. Desperate for a distraction, she makes Nick her special project. Only… he doesn’t want to be saved.

Excerpts

 Excerpt 1:

The crime scene was awash in blood, its warm, coppery scent mixing with the fresh odor of rain that had fallen during the night.

New Orleans Police Department Detective Nick Marconi pulled on a pair of latex gloves and popped a square of mint gum into his mouth. Weary resignation set in as he sidestepped the overturned trash receptacle serving the far corner of the tiny park. Crime scene techs swarmed the scene, taking pictures and eyeing the rain-dimpled sand for any evidence, no matter how small, the murderer may have left behind.

Even with the icy tang of gum cleansing his palate, the stench of death made Nick’s stomach buck. He cursed himself for not getting the jar of menthol salve out of the sedan.

“Mornin’, Marconi. Got a grisly one for you.” Orleans Parish Medical Examiner, Pal Stewart, bobbed his thick gray head in greeting. “She’s cut from ear to ear and exsanguinated.”

“Well, hell. That explains all the blood.” Nick looked at Pal, who raised his eyebrows.

Then he steeled himself and looked down at the nude corpse. The woman lay on her side facing away from him, her pale hips cocked at an odd angle. Blood had crusted in her spiky blond hair, and a bright silver hoop earring stood out in stark contrast to her purplish right earlobe. The sand beneath her was stained a dull red, made pale by the rain.

“It’s a lot, but not enough.”

“What do you mean?” Nick frowned. “The ground’s saturated with it.”

Pal walked around the body. “He drained her blood here—” He turned and acknowledged a row of metal swing sets behind them. “And took it with him.”

Excerpt 2:

     Gracie Simmons stepped around her desk and rechecked her appointment book for the fifth time that day. Since lunch, she’d dealt with a woman with bi-polar disorder, an obsessive-compulsive fireman, and a shy teenager trying to find herself. Next up was a burned out cop.

     Not the best way to wind up the day. She rubbed her tense neck. Her nerves had been on edge ever since this morning, when she’d met with him. She closed her eyes and pictured her nurse’s neat handwriting on the crisp new folder. Thirty-nine year old white male. Presenting with non-specific complaints of depression and anxiety. The description didn’t even come close.

She was afraid he was deeply disturbed. His cool, calculated answers to her questions had scared the hell out of her.

     “Dr. Simmons?” Ashley, her part-time twenty-something receptionist, stuck her head in the door. Her long brown hair gleamed in the muted light. “Would you like some coffee before your four o’clock arrives?”

     “Yes, thank you.” Although it would take a hell of a lot more than a brimming mug of high-octane java to get her through her next appointment.        She never should have volunteered to handle cases for the police department while their regular psychiatrist was on military leave. Her dad had been a cop. A bad cop. And her childhood had been hell because of it. She certainly had no love for law enforcement professionals, especially those with problems on the job. If Dr. Myers wasn’t a good friend, she’d call him back and tell him she’d changed her mind.

     Her head pounded. She reached into her drawer for an oversized bottle of ibuprofen.

     Ashley came in and set a brimming cup of cream and sugar laced coffee on her desk. “Your patient’s in the waiting room.”

     “Already?” Gracie eyed the sunburst clock on the wall in surprise. She’d expected this guy to balk. “He’s ten minutes early.”

     Ashley shrugged. “At least you’ll get out of here on time today.”

     “True.”

     “Shall I send him in?”

    “Give me five minutes, okay?” Gracie picked up her coffee cup and took a small sip. “I need to do some deep breathing exercises.”

     “Sure.” Ashley smiled. “Yoga’s great when you’re feeling tense.”

     Gracie had to agree. She downed another mouthful of steaming coffee, set down her cup, and leaned back in her chair. If only she had time to get out her mat and do some simple stretches. Her body was as tight as a bow string.

She rested her hands in her lap, palms up, and closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she drew in a long breath, careful to fill her lungs and expand her ribcage. The stretch relaxed her. She held the breath for another long moment, and then slowly released a slow, steady breath.

A sense of calm enveloped her.

      She repeated the action three more times, growing more relaxed with each extended breath. Her neck grew less taut. Breath in, she told herself. Breathe out.

      Her cell phone rang. She muttered an ugly word.

      After two more rings, she yanked it from her purse and stared down at the display. Jerry Howard. The annoying guy she had dated for a while, and was now trying to blow off. There was no chemistry between them. No attachment, at least on her part. Why wouldn’t he take no for an answer?

   A brisk knock rattled the door. Gracie blinked, and struggled to orient herself.

     The knock rang out again.

    “Come in,” she said, quickly putting the phone on silent and dumping it back into her purse. She sat up straight in her chair.

     The door opened and Ashley appeared, followed by the most handsome man Gracie had ever seen. At least, he would be handsome if he got some sleep and maybe shaved once in a while. He was tall and rugged, with short jet-black hair and glacial blue eyes. Inky stubble rimmed his taut jaw. His gray suit fit him, but his coat looked like it had been worn for a week.

     “This is your four o’clock,” Ashley said, her eyes glued to the strapping man beside her despite his dishevelment. “Detective Nick Marconi.”

She stood there as if rooted to the floor.

     “Thank you, Ashley.” Gracie said, rising. Her mouth was as dry as river sand.

      Ashley didn’t move.

     Nick’s full lips curved in a weary, knowing smile that conveyed a world of information to Gracie. Namely, that he was arrogant, smug, and didn’t want to be in her office.

Thanks to Melanie Atkins for bringing this story to my attention. It sounds like a terrific and suspenseful book and I look forward to reading it. Be sure to comment for your chance at the $25 Amazon GC.

Fallenwood by Leslie Soule

Today I want to welcome Leslie Soule, here to visit and let us have a peek at her new book, Fallenwood. I noticed in the excerpt that there are dragons involved (well at least one) and everyone knows how I feel about dragons *love them*  But enough about me, on with the show...er...interview. And remember, Leslie is giving a $25 Barnes & Noble GC to one lucky commenter on the tour-it could easily be one of you!! Now, for a bit about our guest of the day, Leslie Soule.

Leslie Soule lives in Sacramento, California. Fallenwood is her first fantasy novel. She has received her B.A. in English from Sacramento State University and is currently working on her Master’s degree in English at National University.

Website: www.lesliesoule.com

price: $4.99

number of pages: 194

genre: fantasy

publisher: Decadent Publishing

release date: March 2011

buy links: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=26&products_id=226

The Writer


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


The best thing about being a writer is meeting other writers and realizing you’re not the only one with the “writer’s disease” that makes you crazy! The worst part is facing a lot of rejection and also facing negative critiques of your work.


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


The best remedy I’ve found is to sit down at a café, order something I like, and then play with the Sixth Sense cards from The Writer’s Toolbox. Basically, you choose a card and start writing about the random item on the card, then you connect it to what’s on the second, and write about that, and the same thing with the third. It seems to work wonders for clearing my writer’s blockages.


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


Well, I incorporate all the things I like, into my writing. I like martial arts, so I wrote about a character who’s a martial artist. I love cats, so I had to have one of those in there too. The list is truly endless.

What inspired you to write your current release?

Fallenwood was influenced by the intense pain I felt when my stepfather passed away. It led me to feel like Hamlet, seeing the great beauty and potential in the world, while also wondering why things happen the way they do.

What fuels you as an author to continue to write?


I feel like I’ve got this compulsion to write, and I’m sure a lot of other writers probably feel the same way. It’s like I just have to do it.


Plotter or Pantser? Why?


I love to plot. Maybe it’s from playing too many RPG games or something. I don’t know.


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


Well, at the moment, I’m writing the sequel to Fallenwood. Ash is going to go to each of the two realms in this one, and some new enemies will emerge.

The Person

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


Well, I’m still working through a big TBR stack of books from the RT convention last April. I love to read all sorts of genres, really.


What bores you as a reader?


I get bored if a book moves too slowly and doesn’t engage me – if the characters are too bland or if there aren’t any characters I like.


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


My favorite food is sushi. I LOVE sushi! As for a guilty pleasure food, anything chocolate.


If you could go anywhere on a vacation where would you go?


Hmm…I would go to Great Britain, to see the places where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis hung out, and to see the ruins of Glastonbury Tor.


Do you have a secret talent?


Yes – I have an uncanny ability to find lost things, and I’ve had this “talent” since I was very little, even finding things people don’t know they’re looking for!


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


I’m a romantic at heart, but have become cynical about love, so maybe I’m not the right person to ask. I’ll give it a shot, though. I think romance is when you make a connection with someone on more than just a physical level. I think sitting by the ocean and watching the waves is romantic, but I think anything can be romantic as long as it’s something personal. For example, if I wanted to spar with foam swords really badly and my sweetie bought us foam swords and was ready to fight, just because I wanted to do it, personally I think that would be terribly romantic. *sigh*


Random Questions:


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


We have sushi, and jazz music, and chocolate! You have come to the right place, my friends. J


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


Oooh, I like this question. Well, one day I mixed black cherry soda with Captain Morgan Tattoo, and made a drink I like to call Black Tattoo Cherry. The only thing I’d change is to add a real maraschino cherry in there. Voila! You’re welcome. J


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?


I would hire a team of scholar ninjas from the martial arts studio I go to (I know a few who would probably be up for helping me) and we would raid the book store, maybe I’d stop in to Hot Topic for the t-shirts, grab a Cinnabon for each of us, and there we go!


Lightning Round


Chocolate or vanilla?


Definitely chocolate.


Wine or beer? If wine, red or white?


I like both wine and beer. For wine, I definitely prefer reds.


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


Oh that’s awesome. I would call it Terra Illumina (the proper name of the Fallenwood realm), in honor of Fallenwood.


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


I would name my rock band after my job, I think, so it would be Mail Room Madness and I would want one of those one-name rocker names, so it would be Toner, like the kind you put in copy machines. Ha ha ha.

Does music play a role in your writing? Do you write in silence or have music on? Playlist or random?

Usually I write in silence, but lately I’ve been listening to music when I write certain scenes. I listen to random music on Slacker radio while I work.

Food! Favorites to eat in and out? Have a favorite (easy!) recipe you can share with us? Chocolate? White, milk or dark? The food you can never say no to, even when you should?

I’m not fancy when it comes to eating out – I love Taco Bell and Del Taco. Of course, I love sushi. As for an easy recipe, I’ve got a great one. You take a tub of cool whip and two containers of yogurt, whatever flavor you like, mix it all up and put it in a graham cracker crust, and then freeze it. Once it freezes, you’ve got this summer-time pie dessert thing that’s absolutely delicious!

As for chocolate, I love both milk and dark chocolate, but not so much white chocolate. The food I can never say no to is rocky road ice cream. Yum!

Television. Do you watch TV? Sitcoms, dramas, reality? A little of all three? None? Some?

I really don’t watch TV at all, but I’ve caught a few episodes of The Big Bang Theory and I love it!!!

Thanks for having me here today! If anyone would like to enter to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble, please leave a comment, along with your name and e-mail address. Best of luck!

Fallenwood

Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 23-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.

And now a very brief excerpt from Leslie's Fallenwood.

The dragon’s eyes glowed, for a flickering moment, with white light.

“Ash,” the dragon continued, “Welcome to Terra Illumina…or as it is more commonly known, Fallenwood.” Then a fierce roaring laugh erupted from the stone, as though the dragon thought the new name a joke. “A dark, difficult, dangerous path lies before you, Ash Kensington.”  

Ash’s heart grew heavy. In truth, she knew that she was destined to some terrible, dark fate. For so long, her life was filled with sadness and doubt, and one horrible thing after another. What else can I hope for?

 “But Ash, you must not lose hope. Our world needs you..."

I told you there was a dragon. 

I want to thank Leslie Soule for stopping in, and if you want to have a chance at the $25 B & N gift card, be sure to comment and leave your email address.

Congratulations are in order

Congratulations to Vivian Arend

And

Rocky Mountain Haven

Best Seller List

Couldn't happen to a nicer, more deserving person!!!

Somewhere I Belong: Wendi Says 'Warning-Hot Farm Hand Ahead!!'

I want to welcome Wendi back once again to My Odd Little World. I love when she visits, because she always has something fun to say, and she is always ready to answer any question I throw at her. Maybe next time, I'll get out the crazy questions and see what happens. This time, however, she is here to talk about something near and dear to her heart-NASCAR and how it made its way into so many of her stories. She is also bringing us a look at here new book, Somewhere I Belong, with hot farm hand included at no extra charge to us. And she is offering one commenter on the tour a $10 GC to Liquid Silver books. So let's welcome Wendi back for another visit-seems like she was just here-oh, wait, she was! For new visitors, here is a brief bio and Wendi's links.

I always dreamed of writing the stories in my head. Tall, dark, and handsome heroes are my favorites, as long as he has an independent woman keeping him in line. I tend to write books with titles taken from songs because music is one of my many muses.

I earned a BA in education at Kent State university and as well as a Masters in Education from Nova Southeastern University. I've tried my hand at teaching, waitressing, and retail sales, but writing holds my heart.

I love NASCAR, romance, books in general, Ohio farmland, dirt racing, and my menagerie of animals. I have more stories than my brain can handle percolating.  I can't wait to share them with you!

http://www.wendizwaduk.com

http://www.wendizwaduk.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/wendi.zwaduk

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

http://www.manicreaders.com/WendiZwaduk/

Now for Wendi's explanation about here NASCAR addiction, if I may call it that!

I love getting to stop by at Nancy’s blog. Why? I get to visit with close friends. It’s always a fun time. Now for my stop today, Nancy asked me a hard question. What question was that, you ask?

Racing plays a recurring role in many of your books, how did you get interested in this pastime?

Gee. Nothing tough or anything. Actually, it’s not a tough question. I do love  racing. So how did fast cars make their way into my writing?

About twelve years ago, I was asked by my husband and my brother in law to select a NASCAR driver. Yes, it was sprung on me pretty much in such a blunt manner. I more or less had no idea anything about racing other than Jeff Gordon WAS a racer and he either won the year I graduated or the next year. (Why did I know that much? It was in my high school year book.) Yeah, I knew nothing.  So they pounced and wanted to know who I wanted as my driver.

You’d think I might have done my homework. Really looked at all the drivers and thought about who I wanted to champion. You’d be wrong. I used the most unscientific, uneducated means by which to choose. BIL had a standup of Rusty Wallace in the corner of his rec room. The car was blue – my favorite color—and had a two on it. Real tough to remember, the number two. I nibbled the inside of my cheek. BIL had already taken Tony Stewart as his horse and the unspoken rule was no doubles.

I pointed to the standup and said, I’ll take him. Absolutely scientific. So the choice was made. I took some serious ribbing on it. The first race I watched in its entirety was the 2001 Daytona 500. If you’re at all familiar with NASCAR, you know why that one was so significant. In the immortal words of Mike Helton, “we lost Dale Earnhardt” that day.

Talk about an eye-opener. The ending was the stuff of legend and the legend passed right before our eyes. But, to run with the big dogs meant I had to learn a little bit more about racing than the number two is blue and Earnhardt drives the three. I read up on the sport, watched as many past races as possible and paid attention to the lingo. It’s funny. We went to Charlotte a few years back and this fellow behind us mentioned he’d been to the very first Daytona 500. He bet we didn’t know who won. BIL and DH were stupefied. I smiled and said, the gentleman who got the trophy at the end of the race wasn’t really the winner. The winner ended up being Lee Petty because he protested and asked for a photograph to show without dispute, he’d won the race. The guy grinned. “Yes, hon, you’re right.”

Did I mention DH and BIL were stupefied? They were. That’s when I realized my paying attention and hard work was worth it. I could run with the big dogs.

How did racing manage to get into my writing? Racing is one of those sports where the person is either a devout fan or could care less. For those who are devout, the sport manages to get into every aspect of their lives. For those who don’t care, it doesn’t pass on their collective radar. Being one of those folks who is devout, well, I can answer the age old question, how bad have I got it? I’ve named some of my pets NASCAR names. Kenny Wallace, Rusty Wallace, Darlington. I have it bad.

Apparently my characters do, too. Not all of them. Some of them are completely unknowing about  racing. The ones who love it, are the ones who make sure the others learn about it. For example, in Somewhere I Belong, Marley is a NASCAR fan. She never actually says who she follows, but she’s a fan. Sully doesn’t really know who races in the sport, but he knows about it. She shows him the thrill of the sport and he succumbs to it. Or is it to him? Maybe it’s both.

Yes, watching cars go around in a circle can be boring. Yes, when I’m watching NASCAR, I usually have my laptop open and am writing. But when cars start hitting the walls, start pushing and shoving for position and when drivers get so impassioned they want to beat the snot out of each other, I’m paying full attention.

I don’t know if that really answers the question, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. What are your favorite sports? Pastimes? I’d love to know about them. Do you watch NASCAR? Favorite driver? Least favorite? And because this is just opinion, your answer, no matter who it is, is valid. Come on. Let me know! Grin. I’m waiting.

Thanks Wendi, for another fun post. And I do know who the Wallace brothers are-I've met them and a couple other Missouri racing boys too, and I used to hang out at the old dirt track out in St. Charles, Missouri every weekend. That is where Ken Schrader got his start, and I saw him racing sprint cars way back when.

Now, lets take a peek at Somewhere I Belong, and meet your hot farm hand.

He never knew what he was missing until he came home to find his place to belong—with her.

Sullavan Tanner walked away from Jarvis, Ohio, afraid to give his heart to the woman he loved. He lived the rock and roll lifestyle, but never quite made it to the big time. Fifteen years later, he’s back and ready to claim what’s his—if she’ll accept his help.

Marley Lockwood’s done asking for help. The family farm is more than she can handle, but if she can survive a cancer scare, the loss of her parents, the abandonment by her first love, and a messy divorce, she can handle anything.

Until Sully shows up.

Although she’s not interested in rekindling the love affair, she’s not above accepting Sully’s hands on the farm. What’s the worst that could happen? They get the farm out of the red and into the black? That’s her plan. They actually fall in love? The past says it won’t work, so she’s not hedging her bets.

Too bad Sully’s not giving up this time.

Now for a quick excerpt-I like this one!

“Dancing isn’t my thing.” Why did Sully make her so nervous? Because Sully made her inner thighs heat and her heart thunder. Of all the men she knew, Sully remained elusive and out of reach. And yet, he’d come back when she needed him the most...like a white knight. God, she had to get the childish, fanciful thoughts from her head and regain her footing in the real world.

Sighing, he eased down next to her. “I don’t buy that for a moment, but I’m not gonna push.” He bumped her shoulder with his, sending a frisson of lust snaking through her body. “I missed our late-night conversations.” A chuckle erupted from his throat. “You know, I never found someone to understand me like you do.”

She balled her fists to keep from touching him and stared at the crisp yellow flames. Sully smelled like sin and pine. “Conversationalist is my middle name.”

Sully cupped her chin, redirecting her gaze. “And all this time I thought it was Elaine.”

Despite wanting to stay, Marley stood. “I never could fool you.”

“Dance?”

She shook her head. “I have a question.”

“Shoot.”

“You left after we had sex. Like right after. Was it that bad or was it just a notch for your belt?”

His smile faded. “Marley, that’s not fair.”

“Thanks for your answer.” She brushed imaginary debris from her lap. “You and I work together. There will be no dancing, no kissing, and no love. Got me?”

“Who said kissing?” He stood and grabbed her hand. Sully tugged her away from the fire and the rumble of conversation to the privacy of the back porch. “There’s a lot of stuff you don’t know about, and I don’t know how to tell you, but I absolutely want to kiss you."

Does she or doesn't she? This is one very good book, and I thank Wendi for coming by to visit. Don't forget to leave a comment, and if you have a question for Wendi, I promise she will come back and answer all of the questions.

Permanent-ly delighted-With Megan Slayer's Tory and River

Today is Friday the 13th, but I think it may be a lucky day. My guest today is Megan Slayer, alter ego to one of my favorite authors, and let me tell you, her books are just as hot as her 'other side'. Before we get into what made her decide to add a second name to her repertoire, let's take a quick peek at her 'bio'. And remember, Megan is offering a $10 Changeling GC to one lucky commenter on her tour. Now, let's meet Megan Slayer.

 When she's not writing the stories in her head, Megan Slayer can be found luxuriating in her hot tub with her two vampire Cabana boys, Luke and Jeremy. She has the tendency to run a tad too far with her muse, so she has to hide in the head of her alter ego, but the boys don't seem to mind.

            

When she's not obsessing over her whip collection, she can be found picking up her kidlet from school.

She enjoys writing in all genres, but writing about men in love suits her fancy best.

Currently hanging out every Wednesday and Friday at the Menagerie Authors site, hunting Hotties for the Saturday posts, and working on the next great story brewing in her head!

http://www.wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm

www.menagerieauthors.com (Megan's current site)

http://theauthormeganslayer.blogspot.com(Menagerie Blog)

http://menagerieauthors.blogspot.com/ (Megan's personal blog)

http://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer(Megan on Twitter)

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000938063999 (Megan on FB)

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Menagerie-Authors/180690948613536 (Menagerie Fan Page)

Now that we know a bit more about Megan, I want to see what she has for us today. I asked Megan and her alter ego why she felt the need to be someone else and she gave me an interesting insight into her dual identity.

You’re Not the Same!

I wanted to first and foremost thank Nancy for having me. This stop is always a favorite and I love the readers who come out to chatter with me. Nancy, you’re a peach, but you ask hard questions and come up with great topics.

So what was my topic? Why I needed to take a second name.

Once I got back up off the floor – I never thought about it being a big deal, having another name – I really thought about the topic. Why have a second name? If someone finds my Wendi work, they may or may not find my Megan work and vice-versa. Am I cutting off my nose to spite my face?

It came down ultimately to this: Mom had a fit. Really.

My mom is actually pretty cool with what I write. She keeps asking me to write something she can talk about at church, but with characters like mine, there’s no behaving. (And why would they want to?) But the moment I told her I’d had talks with a couple of my characters that were both men, she pretty much fainted dead away.  When she came to, I got “you can’t do that. Your grandparents will disown you.”

Do I think I’d be disowned? Not really. Would they be upset? Probably. I can see my biological grandmother, one of the people I responsible for my slightly off-kilter sense of humor, cackling wildly and shouting “you go girl!” Mom’s not quite so cool with it, but oh well.

But I had a discussion with a couple of other writers and I came to the conclusion that if I wanted to write a MM story, it wouldn’t be all that bad to have a separate name to write it under. There are those souls who won’t read MM. I get it and respect them for it. I don’t particularly care. There are subgenres within the romance heading that I can’t fathom or stand – but that’s another post. I didn’t want those who read the more mainstream stories to be turned off by a MM story. I also didn’t want MM readers turned off by the idea that I wrote mainstream, too.  I’m not trying to make people happy , but I realize what one likes does shape what they will read.

So why Megan Slayer? There’s a funny story behind that. Megan is my middle name, so it was rather easy to pick that. I’ve been called Meg as long as I can remember, so answering to it isn’t a hardship. But why Slayer? It’s like this: I finally got a laptop. I’d done my early writing on a PC and drove DH crazy. He broke down and gave me the green light for a laptop. It took me about six months to crash it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the only time I managed to crash it. I was teased that I managed to slay the demon computer. I don’t know if I slayed it or if I managed to destroy the thing, but the goofy name, a la Buffy the Vampire Slayer, stuck. I was asked to join the Menagerie Authors blog. Well naturally, I needed a name. Wendi Zwaduk would work, but I had my own blog.  So, after many talks with my BFF/CP, I came to the conclusion Megan Slayer was the name for my MM. It stuck and I’m glad. I just hope that now the readers will like my work and encourage me to write more.

Thoughts? Questions? Bad jokes? I know it’s not the most exciting story and reasoning, but I try. I’d love to hear what you think. Let me know!

I want to thank Megan/Wendi for this visit, and if anyone wants to ask questions, just pop on in. this could get really fun, and if you like Wendi's sense of humor, guess what? She will be back next Friday with more 'pearls of wisdom' a la Zwaduk.

Now for a peek at Permanent, Megan's M/M with two sexy and sometimes vulnerable heroes, River and Tory.

Sometimes love just ain’t enough...

 River Cortland trusted the person he loved. His faith couldn’t protect him from the bitter sting of a cold-hearted Domme. If he’s going to learn to trust again, he’s got to deal with his past.  His roommate and best friend, Tory, has seen the physical damage and hasn’t walked away. Can he deal with the emotional scars as well?

Tory McClellan wanted the carefree life...until one night with River changed everything. There’s more to the shy art teacher and Tory wants to know everything-how he tastes, the scent of his skin, the feel of his body as they make love. What terror lies behind River’s brown eyes? Better yet, how can Tory make the sadness go away and be in River’s life, permanently?

I had a tough time picking just one excerpt, but I decided on this one, for a quick trip into River and Tory's lives.

"Are you watching that? Or you just rubbin' one off?"

River opened his eyes. Trust Tory to think he'd been jacking off to a damn chick flick. Sure, the guy on screen was hot, but not approachable hot. River wanted the one man he couldn’t have. Maybe it was finally time to make his desires known.

“You could pick better scenery. He’s too hairy and walks like he’s got a stick up his ass. I’ll bet Snow doesn’t even like him.”

River blanched and rolled his eyes to cover his surprise. Duh, Tory knew River occasionally played for both teams. But he’d never told him the kind of man he considered his ‘type’. River would have to admit he wanted something other than friendship. He’d have to confess he was more than a little infatuated with Tory McClellan. Sounded good to him.

"So what's the verdict?"

Damn. What a loaded question. “No verdict to render, man. I’m here and she’s wherever she is.”

Tory plopped down next to Snowflake. “Hi little girl.” He handed River a fresh beer. "You’ve pouted for almost three months now. It’s time to move on. Plus I can hear you clack that piercing against your teeth clear in the other room.” Tory took a long pull from his bottle and tapped the amber glass against River’s bottle.  “To hell with women?”

The cat hissed and swatted at Tory.

“I meant, with the exception of you, your highness.” Tory gently scratched Snowflake behind the ears. “She wouldn’t be so grumpy if you hadn’t given her such a ridiculous name.”

“She was the prettiest snowflake in the snow drift.”

“She’s black.”

“So?”

“Fair enough.” Tory clinked his bear bottle with River’s. “You up for a piece of ass?”

Frowning, River shifted his gaze for a split second and wriggled his brows. “Are you offering?”

“If you’re in, I’m in. Women aren’t worth the hassle." He grinned and rested his hand on River’s thigh. “You seem overall happier. I like it.”

I want to say a big thanks to Megan/Wendi for once again bringing her skewed sense of humor to my place. Feel free to pop in with questions, and stop back to get the answers. Remember, there is a $10 Changeling Press GC out there waiting for someone-it could be you!! And I may throw in a surprise or two as well.

Moira Rogers Head to Head Trucker VS Outcast E-Reader contest

Why I chose to join the Outcasts!

First, my ex is a trucker, and I have no affinity for the folks who spend their time on the road. I do appreciate what they do, but please...

Next, have you read the profiles of these outcasts? They seriously kick butt, and take names later, if at all.

I have this secret passion for demons, even half bloods!

So declare yourself and join the winning team-Team Outcast!!

Zel: With a mother strong-willed enough to escape a demon’s clutches and a step-father capable enough to hold together an outcast enclave, Zel was raised to leadership. It’s too bad his demon nature is more suited to savagery than statesmanship. He’ll lead his people because it’s his duty, but he’d rather be punching someone in the face. Repeatedly.

Hailey: Hailey’s mother could summon demons. Her father was demon-spawn. She’s one of the first generation of hybrids, humans with strong demon and summoner blood mixing in their veins to create magical ability. Or, in her case, psychic ability. Hailey knows if you’ve been bad or good, and will make you regret it if you try to lie to her.

Lorenzo: Some halfblood demons are fighters. Some are lovers. Then there’s Lorenzo. Technically he’s only half-incubus, but that hasn’t stopped him from being 100% irresistible to women and men alike. He’s also the iron fist that will crush any halfblood caught using magic to cross the line between seduction and coercion.

Trip: Being mostly human doesn’t make you powerless–not when you’re a world class hacker in a network-dependent world. Whether it’s security, communication or entertainment, he’s the final word on computing in virtual reality among the outcasts. If you’re really nice to him, he might share his stash of pre-apocalypse music and movies, too.

Jai: Most halfblood outcasts were born to human women who escaped demons. Jai’s halfblood mother worshiped them as gods. There are probably more comfortable places to grow up than a demon hunting camp–Sparta and Hell being among them–but Jai has done his best to adjust to a life with human rules, even if he’s more demon than man.

This post is part of Moira Rogers’s Post-Apocalyptic Trucker vs Outcast Showdown. A comment on this post will enter you to win your choice of a NOOK Simple Touch, or a Kindle Touch or Kobo Touch with special offers. For rules, details on more ways to enter or information on how to pick your own side, visit the contest page at Moira Rogers’s website.