Bound in Paradise – Behind Closed Doors

You Were Warned But Read It Anyway. Why? #MyWANA #amwriting

When you see the notice about explicit content, do you gravitate toward it, run screaming from the room, or scroll on by when surfing the web? As an author of explicit books written for adult eyes only, I’m required to warn readers about the content of my blogs and my books. This gives them the choice to stick around or bolt for the hills if they don’t wish to be offended by something they may see in my posts or books. Even with the warning, there are still people out there who will click through and then complain about the content. I don’t get it. They have made the conscious decision to enter after the warning, proceed full speed ahead and then cry foul when they read something that offends them.

The same can be said for television and movies but I want to focus on books. I’m an author who writes under five pen names and I run my own publishing house…okay, it’s a small cottage but one day we will be larger! Back to the reason for today’s post…

I’m curious. Why would a reader pick an erotica or erotic romance book to read if they already know it’s not their cup of tea? I understand the curiosity of some, and the desire to try something new for others. Those are not the readers I’m referring to here. Why choose to read a book in a genre you don’t like, detest, or find gross when you know it will offend you?

Far too often I see reviews posted for erotica and erotic romances with “No Way” as the review and a one star. Some complain the book is all sex and no plot. Others are repulsed by the explicit language. Hell, even my mother asked me why I had to describe every little detail in the love scenes. Explaining to her that’s what is EXPECTED in erotica and erotic romance was easier than explaining it to some readers who have been reading books labeled as erotic and explicit when they’re not. Yes they’re steamy, but the play by play details are not there. When the genres are misrepresented to readers by authors and publishers, it makes it very difficult for those of us who do write explicit scenes and don’t use purple prose to showcase our work.

The complaints stating the stories are unrealistic or too over the top to be believable are also an enigma for me. These tales are SUPPOSED TO BE over the top. They’re FANTASIES. Whether they’re of the sweet variety or the melt your thong, down and dirty “fuckfests”, each and every one of them are fictionalized fantasies from the mind of the author. Just because you’ve never experienced any of it yourself doesn’t mean it could never possibly happen.

For the Love of Quinn — In Print and Ebook Formats

Before you think something is too over the top to believe, turn on the television and watch the news or scroll through the feeds on social media where over the top is the norm. In my first novel, For the Love of Quinn (Now and Forever 1) I introduced a group of characters who are all close to each other and are there through all the good and bad times. For a few readers, this was over the top and would never happen in real life. She felt there was no way so many people would be involved in the the lives of a couple or work together to bring a couple together.

Released November 2012 in print and ebook

Hate to break it to that reviewer and anyone else with similar questions but Quinn’s story is my story. I lived most of what was portrayed in those pages. Yes, some of it was dramatized and names were most definitely changed to protect everyone’s privacy. Some characters were combinations of real people…they know who they are and got a kick out of the book. Jacob Hartley is a combination of three men and Steve Eischer is one of those with a name change. While the real “Steve” didn’t own all of Vegas or have more money than God, he was (and still is) very well off and enjoys giving his friends a chance to fulfill all their wildest dreams.

The villains in the story were based on two real life people as well. Iris and Jackson of course aren’t their real names but they are based on real people and their actions I witnessed first hand. I gave Jackson and his family many of the same habits and mannerisms of my ex and his family. To me, that’s what made those characters believable. I guess in this case, being true to life is too over the top for some readers. I get that. Really I do. I mean, who would want to think this sort of crazy mixed up group of people could actually be real?

Released December 29, 2013 print and ebook

I got the same sort of flack about Julia. One of my editors wanted her to be redeemed earlier on in the story. That doesn’t happen in real life, but in the world of romance you want the story to move along so redemption should take place earlier in order to get readers to root for the heroine. Obviously I didn’t agree. I wanted the readers to see Julia in all her nastiness and then see why she was the way she portrayed herself to those in her life. How many times do you see the bitch turn around and earn a happily ever after right off the bat? Usually those witches continue to get what they want no matter who they hurt in the process. In Julia’s story, she came face to face with the consequences of her actions and had to fight to find her way to her HEA. It wasn’t in the first third of her story, but over twenty years later. She is the woman we all love to hate—until she bares her shattered heart and soul.

200 by 300 Bound in Paradise — Available now in ebook on all retailers

Are my stories over the top? Damn straight. Are they too over the top to be believable? I don’t think so. If I was still stuck in an emotionally abusive and loveless marriage I might have a different outlook. I lived through all the badness and made it through to my happily ever after. I want my characters to be able to do the same.

What’s so over the top or unbelievable about that?

Go on. Read my books and decide for yourself. Let me know what you think. I’d love to hear from you!

~Tammy

#ScintillatingSunday is #BoundinParadise with @dochappycamper

Here we are once again Behind Closed Doors for another Scintillating Sunday Showcase. For those of you who haven’t heard of this hop yet, let me set the stage. The Mile High Muses hosts this weekly party. Participants agree to post eight words, lines, sentences or paragraphs of one of their published works or a current work in progress. No other muss or fuss required. We post “our eight” we feel are a small scintillating representation of our stories.

At the bottom of today’s post, you’ll find a link to click on to take you to the list of my fellow participants. Some of the other blogs you will notice that the list is in their posts. With this format of WordPress, we can’t use java script so I’m stuck with providing a hyperlink for you to click on to take you to the list.

No worries! It’s just one extra click you have to do for the hop. You can do it! You’ll find different heat levels with all the participants and more than a few new books to add to your wish lists. So without further ado…

Excerpt from Bound in Paradise (Now and Forever 3.5)

Jarrod clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “It’s settled then. We’ll hash out the details and then get with you about potential dates that fit both of our schedules.

Rita slipped her arm through his and leaned in conspiratorially. “I’d like to hire you to create something just for us…for our private collection.”

He patted her hand. “Excellent proposition, pet. What do you say, Julia?”

“I think it’s a fabulous idea. To get the most accurate scene, I’ll want to use the two of you as models.” She lifted her eyebrows and waited to see how they would react to her declaration.

“You mean in full on play mode?” Rita’s eyes widened and a soft blush tainted her cheeks.

She nodded. “If you want the same realism portrayed in these pieces, you’ll have to agree to be the subjects.”

“Sounds exciting. We’re in.” Jarrod’s smile lit up his face again.

Rita bounced on the balls of her feet and appeared to be trying to keep from jumping up and down like a schoolgirl. “Our schedules are wide open for the next few months. You pick the day and time and we’ll be there—props, crops, and all!”

Make sure you check out the other Scintillating Sunday posts by jumping on over to the full list.

Click here to continue on your hopping journey…

~Tammy

#BoundinParadise Is Now Available on All Romance #LesbianErotica

Welcome to Behind Closed Doors! I’m excited to announce Sassy Vixen Publishing LLC has released Bound in Paradise as a stand alone companion to my Now and Forever series. Actually, it can be considered a prequel for The Surrender of Julia (Now and Forever 3). As you all know, the main heroine of these two books is still my favorite character I’ve written to date. She started out as one hell of a bitch and then she told me her story. I went from wanting to choke the life out of her to cheering her on through her trial by fire and ultimate redemption. She found her happily ever after with the woman of her dreams. My publisher and I thought it was a great time to release Bound now in light of the US Supreme Court decision in favor of marriage equality. I wrote about it for Julia and now thousands of couples can experience the joy she did.

If you compare the covers of the books concerning Julia, you’ll notice a little tie in. That was deliberate. I wanted to include the handcuff concept, but give it my own twist. I hope you like it and the story.

Right now you can get your copy from All Romance in any electronic format you need for your ebook readers. If you wish to have it in print, it is available in the print version of Season of Sun and Sin. I haven’t decided whether or not Bound will be in print yet. We’ll have to wait and see!

BLURB

Up and coming L.A. artist Julia Santos had searched for a Domme strong enough and confident enough in their relationship to allow her to be wild and free while trusting her to give over complete control to them in private. Unfortunately very few meet up with her expectations.

Except one.

Carmen Hall had longed for a partner who would be more than her pet, one who would challenge her skills as Mistress and yet offer themselves to her—heart and soul. She’d all but given up until she laid eyes on the fiery Julia.

Join Julia as she remembers her early days with Carmen and a love that spanned over two decades and would know no bounds.

EXCERPT

Surrounded by adoring men and a few women, Julia did her best to listen to and answer the questions posed to her. Unfortunately, every single one of them bored her—until her eyes found the blonde bombshell admiring the submissive painting on display on the other side of the room.

Would she be the one to see my plea in the piece? Her heart beat faster and her cheeks warmed. The painting had been her way of advertising she needed a dominant who had the ability to bring her full submission out on display. The calm serenity the model had nearly brought Julia to her knees during their first photo session. The scene had been her deepest desire and so far no lover or Master had been able to bring this out of her.

“Jules? Can I get you something from the bar?”

She snapped her head and eyes toward the voice that had addressed her. God, I hate to be called Jules. This man has now moved from interesting to `not in your lifetime, bucko’ category. She waited a beat and raised her scotch on the rocks. “No, thank you. I’m still working on this one.”

“We were discussing hard limits a moment ago. Do you have any or is there anything you have a difficult time performing?” He licked his lips and continued to undress her with his eyes.

She smiled. She knew exactly what he wanted to know. She’d heard the stories of his self-proclaimed monster sized cock and how much he demanded his subs suck him off—without reciprocation. Rita had warned her to keep her guard up around the man known as Viktor. No last name. Apparently he fancied himself famous enough to be known only by his first name. “Honestly, I don’t enjoy blow jobs. It’s not my thing.”

The hairy beast of a man shrugged. “Too bad. With lips and a tongue like yours, I’m sure you would bring me to my knees in a heartbeat.”

You have no idea, Big Boy.

In a flash, the man before her turned into her mother, encouraging her as she sucked her stepfather’s limp dick. “Swirl your tongue around the tip before you take the whole thing in, Jules. Tease him so he gets hard. Men want a woman who can bring them to their knees with their mouth and tongue. Now keep going like I told you…”

Julia blinked several times to clear her mother’s image from her mind. “So I’ve been told. It’s as you say, a hard limit for me. I won’t do them anymore. Ever.”

He tilted his head to the side and appeared to want to ask her more about it, but changed his mind. “A pity. I think you and I could’ve had an amazing experience together tonight. Blow jobs are a big part of my sessions. I desire a slave who’ll go at a cock as if her life depended on it.”

She tugged the end of the necklace from between her breasts and twisted it between her thumb and forefinger. At one time mine did, asshole. That’s why I don’t do them now. She swallowed the retort and smiled again. “I’m sure there are a few of those here tonight—“

“None with your exotic looks and fire. If you ever change your mind…”

“Excuse me, gentlemen. I’d like to steal Julia away for a bit. There’s someone here I promised to introduce her to as soon as they arrived.” Jarrod waited for the others to scatter and then sat down next to her. His companion sat directly opposite from them. Jarrod took her hand, brought it to his lips, and then smiled.

She squeezed his fingers in return and nearly burst into tears. His timing couldn’t have been any better even if she whistled for him to come running. “Thank you for rescuing me. Things had crossed from pleasant to intense.”

Jarrod explained their sudden appearance, but Julia didn’t hear anything he said except the name of his friend. She immediately picked up on their chemistry. They were a couple once—but could Jarrod have actually been Carmen’s sub? I haven’t run into anyone who is more comfortable in his role as Dom than he is. I wonder how he was as a sub?

Carmen moved to sit next to her.

She held her breath and turned her body so they could once again be face to face. The blonde woman’s beauty captivated her. The wild mass of curly hair framed her face perfectly. Her natural womanly curves enticed Julia to the point of complete distraction. Her mind continued to conjure up images of Carmen naked and posing for a painting. The light touch of her skin against her knee sent a jolt of electricity through Julia’s body and brought her out of her fantasy.

She noticed the subtle hitch in Carmen’s breathing and the dilation of her ice blue eyes. She feels it, too!

Julia licked her lips and leaned as far forward as she dared without actually kissing Carmen outright. “I hope you don’t think me too brass, but I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you since you entered the room. I kept sneaking glances while you stood in front of the painting. I’d hoped you would like the piece enough to want to talk to me about it. Now here you are and I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“I think you know exactly what you’re doing and I like it—a lot. Your painting is exquisite. I lost myself in it. It takes great talent to be able to pull that off. Tell me, have you experienced that kind of submission you brought to life in your art?”

She loves my work! Now to find out if she’s interested in taking me on as I am and not expect a meek wallflower. “Yes and no. I’ve come close, but have never quite achieved the bliss. I’ve seen it in others and that’s probably why I’m able to translate that into the artwork, but imagine how much more I could bring to the canvas if I actually experienced it firsthand.”

Carmen sat back and appeared to mull over Julia’s not so veiled invitation. “You’ve not been able to let go and completely trust your dominant before?”

Here’s my chance. Best to be honest, but I don’t want to throw myself at her feet either. She shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong. I never felt as if I wasn’t safe in their hands, but so far I haven’t found that deeper connection, you know?”

Carmen smiled and nodded.

She relaxed. She no longer had the urge to continue to try to impress Carmen. Instead, the desire to get to know her on a more personal level rivaled her obvious sexual attraction. This was exactly what she’s been looking for—not only kindred spirit but someone who could bring out the best in her. Not to say having Carmen as her Mistress wouldn’t make her happy too, but Julia needed more. “Do you prefer men or women as your pets?”

“I adore both. I don’t choose them based on their sexual orientation. If I feel a connection to them, I act on it and see where it goes.”

She smiled and brushed a stray curl from her cheek. “What about now? Do you feel something between us that you can work with?”

“Yes. I’d like it if we spent some time together away from the playrooms and toys to see if there’s more than the obvious sexual attraction between us. So far I’m very intrigued by you.”

“I’d like that. You fascinate me as well.”

Julia shut out everyone and everything around her except for Carmen. Their conversation came easily between them as if they’d known each other for years. She found great comfort simply being in her presence. She’d felt a similar connection with the Mitchells, but the pull between her and Carmen continued to grow as they talked.

Jarrod returned with the champagne and popped the cork with a flourish. He filled their glasses and managed to not spill a drop. He laughed at their surprised expressions. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself. By the looks of things, the two of you have hit it off as I predicted. Time to celebrate and toast to those new beginnings.”

She reached for the glass Carmen handed to her. Their fingertips briefly touched and her thighs clenched. She’s the one. She’s accepted the challenge. Let the games begin!

Well, there you have it! If you read this and have some time, please leave a review on your favorite retail site. The other vendors should be live within the next few days. I’ll add the links here as soon as I have them. Thank you all for coming along on this journey with me!

~Tammy

UPDATE

I now have additional links for the book. I’ll keep adding them as they go live. Unfortunately, Oyster has decided not to stock it because it’s erotica. That’s not a problem at all but if they’d check their records, they would see they are stocking Season of Sun and Sin which contains this story. LOL! No worries!

Here are the links for Bound in Paradise

All Romance/Omnilit

Kobo

Page Foundary/Inktera

Two Weeks Left in Kindle Select for this #Erotic Collection #LGBT #menage

Welcome back to Behind Closed Doors. The countdown to releasing Season of Sun and Sin with all other retail outlets has begun! I can’t tell you how long these last three months have been. I wanted to see what it would be like to have a book enrolled in Kindle Select—be exclusive to Amazon for a short period of time. I mean, others swear by it so I thought why not give it a go.

Biggest. Mistake. I’ve. Ever. Made.

Okay, that’s being a little over dramatic, but it was one of the top errors I’ve made during this journey of mine through the publishing world. Never, ever will I put everything into one retail outlet. I had essentially cut off a large chunk of my fan base with this experiment with the devil…errr…Amazon. That’s all about to change next month. This collection will go live on iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, ARe and Smashwords.

For those of you who enjoy the Kindle Select program and are able to get the most out of borrowing an unlimited number of books for $10/month, more power to you. Enjoy it and read everything you can get your hands on that’s enrolled in the program. Unfortunately, many of your favorites probably aren’t there, or won’t be there for long. The cost is too great for us to be exclusive to Amazon.

There are so many other services out there to get ebooks and I’d like to be able to offer my stories to as many of them as I can. Many prefer iTunes and Nook over Kindles. I can’t cut them out any more than I can take all of my books down from Amazon. Readers are everywhere and I’m trying to be there with them.

For now, you can still get Season of Sun and Sin through the Kindle Unlimited and Prime programs for free. The regular price is $2.99—a fabulous deal for three tales that will knock your socks off. Here are the blurbs.

Tammy Dennings Maggy’s Bound in Paradise

Except one.

Join Julia as she remembers her early days with Carmen and a love that spanned over two decades and would know no bounds.

Lia Michaels’s Sweet Surrender

Candice Monroe’s life couldn’t be happier—or chaotic. Not only is her bistro the place to be in the Detroit area, she’s fallen in love with not one, but three men. Their fantasy filled ménage a quatre and promises to spend their lives together have taken a backseat to round-the-clock construction, menu changes and plans for their grand opening of their pub Kisses After Dark.

Will Candice and her partners be able to handle the stress of running two successful businesses and still be able to surrender to the fire that burns between them? Or will some unexpected news threaten to tear them apart forever?

Tammy Dennings Maggy’s Curse of the First Born Cain

In the first book of the Kayne Legacy series, we meet reporter Abigail Matthews after she is awarded the interview of a lifetime. She’d been granted no holds barred access to everyone associated with one of the most powerful foundations in the world, including the current CEO Michael Kayne. Sparks fly between them the moment they meet but nothing compared to the jolt she receives when she comes face to face with Michael’s grandfather—the biblical legend Cain.

In hopes she’d accept her destiny as his grandson’s chosen mate, Cain opens up and shares his heartbreaking tale— everything from the tragic fight with his brother Abel to his journey to find Lilith and make her his wife. Together they were to create a family of immortals sworn to protect the Essence of the Tree of Life from the one hell bent on destroying it.

Thank you all for supporting me through this leg of my journey. I couldn’t do it without you!

@dochappycamper Rings in the New Year with a New Release! #bisexual #EroticRomance #vampires

Happy New Year! It’s already a great one as 2015 has started off with a bang. SEASON OF SUN AND SIN has finally been released! After all the delays it’s finally out on Amazon. For a limited time, it will be exclusively with them. If you’re a member of Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited borrowing program or Kindle Prime, you’ll be able to read this collection for free. For the rest of us it’s still a steal at $2.99. For less than the price of a Starbuck’s cup of coffee you’ll enjoy two erotic tales from me and one form my alter ego Lia Michaels.

Here are the blurbs for my two novellas:

Bound in Paradise

Except one.

Join Julia as she remembers her early days with Carmen and a love that spanned over two decades and would know no bounds.

Curse of the First Born Cain

Both of these stories are close to my heart. Bound in Paradise is the answer to all the questions about how Julia and Carmen from The Surrender of Julia (Now and Forever 3) first met. While it’s not an official part of the series, the companion novella fills in some of the blanks in their love story that I thought were important to tell. Julia is such a colorful, heart-wrenching character and many have felt a kinship with her. She fought her way through hell and back again to be with Carmen. This novella gives you another glimpse of her past and what she did to overcome it.

Curse of the First Born Cain is the beginning of my new Kayne Legacy series. Two years ago I started writing this for NaNoWriMo and it took a life all on it’s own. Cain spoke to my soul and I had to tell his story. First I outlined it through poetry in The Courtship of the Vampyre. Through the poetry I became totally immersed in Cain’s world from the loss of all he’d ever known to his life with Lilith. Here is a man who only wanted his father’s love and acceptance. He’d been denied it at every turn. Come to find out, he was the Chosen One to carry out the mission his parents lost. Through him, man’s greatest gift would be protected. When his story came to me, I had to tell it. My editor remarked a few times that she could tell Cain’s story is close to me. It is. I hope as a reader you will see it too.

Until next time,

~Tammy

OhMy! Monday: @dochappycamper Shares and Excerpt from Her #LGBT #BDSM WIP Bound in Paradise

Welcome to Behind Closed Doors! Today I’d like to share an excerpt from my current WIP, “Bound in Paradise.” This is actually a prequel to The Surrender of Julia (Now and Forever 3). I’ve had several people ask about how Julia and Carmen met and about their time in Hawaii. When we decided to put a summer anthology together, I thought this novella would be a good fit along with one by Lia Michaels and Bonnie Bliss. Season of Sun and Sin is turning out to be one of my favorite compilations to work on because of the stories that will be included. If all goes according to schedule, we hope to have advanced print copies to take with us to RomCon in June. Denver here we come!

Let me first say the following is an UNEDITED excerpt. My editor will have her hands on the completed piece within the next few days and will help me tweak things throughout. In other words, please don’t jump all over me if you find grammatical errors. This is still a WIP and things could change, including this scene. So with that said, here’s a scene from Carmen’s POV. She’s helping her sub Julia get ready for their first scene in front of their BDSM play group.

ADULT EXCERPT

Julia sat before her with her eyes closed. Carmen expertly French braided her lover’s hair with dark red ribbons, and then secured the end so the resulting tail hung half way down her back. She gazed at Julia’s reflection in the mirror in front of them. Her body flushed from her cheek bones to the valley between her full breasts on display in the red leather corset. “Open your eyes.”

Julia gasped. “How did you do that so fast? I thought you had trouble with hair.”

“Only with my own. I have a lot of fun playing with the hair of others, especially my pets. No one has hair like yours. It’s perfect.” Carmen wrapped the braid around her hand and smiled.

“Now I understand why you wanted to braid my hair.”

Carmen tugged the braid so Julia’s head tilted back. “As much as I love your hair all wild and free, it’s best to keep it bound like this so everyone can see your beautiful face as it flushes deep crimson with exertion. You will have to work hard to maintain control until I give you permission to let go.”

Julia’s steel gray eyes appeared to sparkle with excitement. “I’ve been looking forward to this night ever since you invited me to come here with you. You could have had any of the others as your sub and you picked me. Why?”

“I saw a fire in you I wanted to harness but not extinguish. Many would try to break you, but I wanted the chance to bring out your true self. I know you have a lot of walls built up around your heart. I want you to trust me enough to keep you safe so you can bust down those barriers. You ooze sensuality and raw sex with every movement of your body. Do you realize that every time you enter a room, all eyes are drawn to you? Some want to possess you. Others desire to be possessed by you.”

“And you?” Julia swallowed hard and held Carmen’s gaze.

“I’ve been searching for a sub who can not only take whatever instruction I dish out, but can challenge me to be a better Mistress. I want a partner in every sense of the word. I have no power unless you give it to me. Your complete submission and trust in me is the best aphrodisiac.” She released the braid and reached for a few the diamond crusted combs on the dressing table. She slid each into the weave of the braid securing the last of the stray tendrils from Julia’s face.

Julia smiled and slipped her silk stockinged feet into the thigh high patent leather boots.

Carmen knelt and adjusted the laces of each boot so the material fit Julia’s body like a second skin. “Walk a few steps for me and let me know if they’re tight enough. I don’t want you to lose your balance because the boots aren’t giving you enough support.”

Julia took a few tentative steps and then lengthened her stride into a full on strut across the room. The five inch high heel of the boots changed her posture so she had to stick out her already rounded ass and arch her back to keep her balance. She turned and made her way back toward Carmen with a smile that lit up her face. “It’s a little scary at first to be this high up from the ground, but I don’t feel like I’m going to fall over. I think you have the laces just right.”

Carmen patted the cushion in front of her. “Good. Sit down. I have one more adornment for you.”

Julia sat down as directed. Her eyes fell to the box Carmen now held in her hands. “What’s in there?”

Carmen pushed a button and the lid popped open to reveal several clamps with bells attached. She picked up one and shook it in front of Julia’s eyes. “Spread your legs, kitten”

For those of you who haven’t read The Surrender of Julia yet, you’re in luck! Sassy Vixen Publishing has agreed to lower the price for a limited time only to 99¢. That’s right! You get two bucks off the list price if you act now. Look for the sale on ALL ROMANCE and AMAZON.

Until next time, my friends

~Tammy

REBLOG: Are You a “Real” Writer? #amwriting #MyWANA

Another of my author friends shared a post from another blog today about what it means to be called a real writer. If you’re like me, you’ve had this conversation with your fair share of people when you tell them what genre(s) you write. People feel romance authors…specifically erotic romance authors aren’t real writers. If they haven’t seen us on Oprah’s book of the month club or on the NY Times best sellers list we aren’t real writers. If they have never heard of us before, we aren’t real writers. See where I’m doing with this?

There are no fast and hard rules about what is a real writer. If you write, you are one. Period. People confuse being a writer with being famous. Fame has nothing to do with it although it would be nice! LOL! We write because we have to do it. It’s in our blood. We hope others enjoy our stories, but even if they don’t, we still continue to write. So the next time someone tells you they’re a writer, ask them about their latest works and their writing process. Get to know the person before you turn your nose up at them because they don’t write the kind of stories you would be interested in.

Christine Ashworth posted a wonderful blog about “real” writers. You have to read it. She put into words what many of us try to explain to others every single day. Click HERE to find the article. Leave a comment on her blog to let her know what you think of it.

I’ve been busy working on the prequel to The Surrender of Julia (Now and Forever 3). It’s a short novella called “Bound in Paradise” and will be one of the three pieces in Sassy Vixen Publishing’s Season of Sun and Sin anthology. While working on that, it dawned on me that I have nine books out now between all of my pen names. The anthology will be the tenth and will include TWO of my stories. My 11th and 12th books will be out this summer too. I’m not yet up there on the charts like some people are, but I do have my fan base and it’s growing. These folks make me want to keep putting stories out there, but honestly even if they weren’t there, I’d still be writing. I may not put them out for others to read, but I’d write the stories just the same. My characters don’t ever keep quiet. LOL!

To celebrate and to thank those who have supported me on this journey, Sassy Vixen Publishing has agreed to offer The Surrender of Julia for only 99 cents for a very limited time on All Romance ebooks and Amazon. If you haven’t picked up you copy yet, please do so. If you have time, I’d love to hear what you think about the book. Reviews on Amazon and Goodreads help me continue to improve as a writer and storyteller.