romance – Behind Closed Doors

#TantalizingTuesday Presents Author Ruby Fielding and Her New #shifter #paranormal

Welcome to Tantalizing Tuesday here at Behind Closed Doors. As many of you may have already discovered, the Guest Author Guidelines have been removed from the menu tabs. There’s a reason for that. I’ve decided to not advertise I will host guest authors. I’m still going to do it from time to time, just not as often as before. I’ve decided to use my blogs for promoting me and my work more. It’s all part of a new year, new me sort of thing. Since today is one of the rare occasions I’ll have a guest, I’d like to invite you to sit back and relax while author Ruby Fielding answers a few questions about her latest release. Hunted: A Shifters’ World looks to be a very steamy read…even if you’re not into shifters. Of course if you weren’t before, you just may be a convert after this one! Enjoy!~Tammy

You argue that shifters should be scary, but we’re talking shifter romance here – what is it about shapeshifters that’s sexy?

There’s a long tradition of shifters as objects of desire – all those old vampire stories are just dripping with lust: stories of possession and penetration.

Yes, shifters should be scary, but in many ways that makes them more sexy, not less. I love that extra frisson of danger and risk: if a story doesn’t have that, then it’s just a romance. This is fine – I’m a sucker for a good romance – but I want my paranormal romances to get under the skin. There should be thrills, risks: genuine tension that heightens the romance, and makes any happy ever after hard-earned.

It’s an animal thing, too. It’s about those raw, intense passions and needs. You don’t get much more alpha-male than a shifter hero, a man who can just sweep you off your feet and possess you. As a writer it lets me explore intense attraction and giving yourself up to desire. It’s fascinating, and damn me, but it’s hot.

If you had to pick a single line from Hunted to share, what would it be?

“He put a hand to her face then, his knuckles brushing along her jaw and then he buried his fingers in her hair, tipping her head back. His mouth came down on her neck: hard lips and then the wet heat of his tongue and the delicious pain of raking teeth, dragging across her skin to that point where too hard is exactly hard enough.” (Okay, I cheated: that’s two lines, but what the Hell…)

How did you end up as an author?

I’ve always written, and I think I’ve always wanted to be a writer of some kind. At school I wrote stories that featured my friends and made fun of the teachers – it was how I tried to be cool. Someone really should have told me there were easier ways to be cool.

At university I worked on my college newspaper, and I went into journalism and advertising copyrighting. I still do bits and pieces of all kinds of writing, but on my own terms: I have the luxury of variety and being able to pick and choose and somehow being able to get by.

What’s a typical writing day for Ruby Fielding? Do you have any routines or quirks that help you to work?

For many, writing is a solitary activity, but I love the buzz of everyday life around me. So wherever I happen to be living, you’re likely to find me at the nearest wifi hot spot with my laptop and a large mug of coffee. Right now, I’m living in a forest cabin in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and it really is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever stayed. I wake early, drink coffee and do my chores, then – if I’m not completely snowed in! – I follow the trail down into town and settle down at my usual table by the window in a wonderful little coffee and cake shop. I’ll write in bursts, and the rest of the time I’ll be watching the world go by, or chatting with other regulars or the lovely owners. Now who wouldn’t want an office like that?

What’s next for you? Will we see more from Shifter’s World soon?

Definitely! I’m hooked. I haven’t started it yet, as I’m focusing on another book project, among other things, but I’m hoping to get back into Shifter’s World soon. I’m torn about what to tackle next: although Hunted ends at a definite resolution, Selene’s story needs to be continued – I want to see where she goes next. Alternatively, I could pick some other characters in this setting and follow their story; I have a few ideas for that.

Definitely worth looking out for. Good luck with whatever comes next, Ruby.

Hunted: a Shifters’ World novella is available from:

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Google Play

Ruby Fielding is a British author, currently living in the heart of a New England forest. She travels widely, and has lived in England, Scotland, the US, France, India and Australia. Wherever she happens to be living, you’re likely to find her at the nearest wifi hot spot with her laptop and a large mug of coffee.

She writes mainly paranormal erotica and romance, sometimes in collaboration with her old friend Polly J Adams; their joint stories are published separately and collected together into the single volume, Seduced by Moonlight.

All the latest news on Ruby’s writing and publishing can be found on her website and on her Amazon author page; also, why not join her mailing list, or hook up with her on Facebook?

The Spotlight is on…Elodie Parkes

19785lbpi5v6m1h — photo by Danillo Rizzuti

Once again it’s time to fire up the spotlights and shine them on the couch on center stage. In just a few moments, my guest author Elodie Parkes will join us. Her newest novel was just released and she’s graciously agreed to spend a little time with us today talking about that and herself. So gather around, get comfortable and join me in welcoming Elodie to Behind Closed Doors.

Thank you for agreeing to be with us today, Elodie. How about we get started with the questions about you as a writer. What inspires you to write?

People and emotions inspires me. The complexity of life spurs me to write.

Are you a plotter or panster or a little of both?

I start to write with the ideas and characters already in my head. It generally just flows because I know the story I want to tell.

Do your stories tend to be character driven or plot driven?

Both I think, although with a greater emphasis on the characters.

Do you listen to music while writing? What kinds of music work best for you? Do different types of music help you for different types of scenes?

I listen to nothing when I am writing (laughs) even if something is on, you know TV or CD I can’t hear it. I go into my writing and that’s it, I’m completely unavailable to the world and its noise.

Tell us about the different types of characters you like to write about? Why are these types so appealing to you?

I write about composites of people I have met, seen, or noticed in real life. I think there is a lot of loneliness out there in the real world and I like to give those characters I create love, friends and for them to grow too.

What are your favorite fiction genres to read from?
Well I read heaps of books and genre hop. I have no favorite author, as I love so many author’s work. I read a whole lot of paranormal romance. I read Science Fiction, mystery, contemporary romance. I read reference books too, usually, art, art history, and some business books. I’ve read all William Gibson’s books. I’ve read hundreds of books, as it’s one of my favorite pastimes. I’m reading ‘Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter’ right now.

Who are some of your favorite authors and why do you think they appeal so much to you?
Well as I said I don’t have a real favorite author but I can say, I like Philip K Dick because his Sci-fi is so creative and intelligent, Robert Goddard because he is forever re-inventing, Sue Grafton because how do you write am alphabet of detective crime that is entertaining consistently like her ?
Christine Feehan because she just goes for it (smiles).

What kinds of stories are your comfort reads when you are sick or feeling low?
Sexy, erotic romance HEA’s

What inspires you and why? (Art, poetry, music, movie, book, etc. Please share something specific if you like.)
People inspire me, just in general life. Art is a favorite of mine but it has not so far inspired a book. I think it’s life and the way we all live. I write romance, erotic romance because I think we need more love in the world. Real love I mean, acceptance, caring and camaraderie.

Besides reading and writing, what activities do you enjoy in your leisure time?
What’s your day job? Do you like it? Why or why not? How has your job affected your personal development? How has it affected your writing life?
I run about with my dogs Celt and Chaucer. I trawl through antiques fairs and markets as I do love this.
I work in a shop, an antiques shop and I meet a huge variety of people who often give me ideas. For instance for my book ‘Millie Reinvented’ I did have inspiration from a customer. I was talking to a young woman who was in the antiques shop where I work and she was buying a little sculpture of two lovers kissing. She said she had to have it because it was so nice to look at, as her husband didn’t even kiss her anymore. I couldn’t say anything I just wrapped the item, and stored the thought until the story burst out onto my laptop.

Congratulations on your new release, The Horoscope Writer. In one or two sentences, give us the core premise of the story.

Life is stranger than you think. Everyone needs and wants real love and a lifelong love.

When and where does your book take place?
The Horoscope Writer take place in rural/urban United Kingdom in 2012.

Who is the heroine?
Cassandra Thomson

What drives her?
Her childhood experience of being a disappointment to her parents. Her artistic talent. Her need to be loved.

What draws her to the hero in this story?
She is drawn to Dominic the hero because he is unusual, creative as she is, (he’s a writer). He is unknowingly broadcasting desire for her and she needs that.

Who is the hero?
Dominic Reed

What drives him?
His loneliness, his past experience, and his strange inheritance from his great uncle.

What draws him to the heroine in this story?
Her looks initially and then her trust and love for him. (Smiles)

Rumor has it, you’re working on your next novel. What’s it called?

The Last Time

Now let’s get a look at your new release The Horoscope Writer. You are all in for a real treat. Elodie has brought an excerpt for us today as well as a short blurb.

Blurb

When Dominic Reed looks out of his study window and sees Cassie, he’s not sure what to make of her at first. That’s before he sees her lovely gray eyes and pretty skin. He’s a writer and works alone, which to his sadness has become his way of life.

When he asks Cassie to have coffee with him, it’s the start of an intoxicating romance for the both of them. If only Dominic didn’t have to hide some of his writing, if only he hadn’t inherited a strange gift from his great uncle Aubrey. Cassie ignites a passion in Dominic that he has never felt before, and he seeks for a way to bind her to him.

Cassie is an artist and when she falls in love with Dominic she paints him a picture of his wonderful back garden where they have made love, little knowing that it will have a special effect on Dominic.

Excerpt

Dominic stood back and pulled off his sweater, and then almost tore the buttons of Cassie’s shirt open to reach her breasts. He pushed her bra down to her waist exposing her breasts and cupping them in his hands. Cassie’s breath was coming in gasps as Dominic sucked on her nipples, and then turned her around to clasp her to him, and kiss down her neck from behind. With his other hand, he unzipped her jeans and slid his hand down her stomach.

Cassie was desperate to feel his fingers inside her, and she arched towards his hand, pushing her jeans down for him to reach her. Dominic moved his fingers down to reach her wet and throbbing for him.

He held her gently around her neck to reach her jaw and bring her head back to kiss her lips. With his fingers inside her, his tongue in her mouth, and his own hard desire pressing against her bottom Cassie moaned as she came. She was weak from the sensation, and Dominic was groaning low and whispering something to her. She turned her head more bringing her arms up around his head to keep his kiss on her lips.

“I need you so much”, Dominic was whispering, and he gently pressed her to bend across his kitchen table. Cassie knew what was going to happen and she craved it. Dominic pushed down his own jeans to free his erection before the hardness killed him. He was tender as he pushed into Cassie from behind, holding her around her breasts so that she was not pushed hard against the polished wood. He slid into her and thrust deep wanting her to come again as she sighed with the pleasure of his hands on her breasts, her hips, and the way he filled her.

Dominic was in love with her but she ignited a sexual need in him that drove him to thrust hard, and he let go of her breasts to bring his fingers to her bud at the same time as he thrust into her. Cassie couldn’t breathe as she came again, and gasped his name. “Dominic”.

Elodie Parkes, it’s been a pleasure having you with us today. I hope you will come back again soon when your next book is available for us to read. Until then we’ll catch up with you and your latest novel updates online.

Where to find Elodie

You can also find Elodie’s books on Amazon by clicking on the covers above and on Amazon UK here:

Millie Revisited

Two of Them

The Horoscope Writer

How to Make Your Research Fun by Guest Author Regan Taylor

Cheese Factory building — Cheese Factory

I’m one of those authors who spends a considerable amount of time researching my books before I start to write them. I spend days in the library, buy books that I think I may be referring back to as a series goes along and interview people who work in the different professions I’m writing about. I’ve rented movies such as STAGE COACH with John Wayne to get the feel and flavor of the days and hours traveling in such close quarters and then there are the field trips. Those are my all time favorites. There are times I wish those time travels I write were truly possible because then I could travel to some of those historical periods my characters live in. But till that becomes an actuality I’ve got my present day books and some of the locations they take place in.

When I was writing my current release, WITH ALL DISPATCH, Book 2 of the Treasures Antique series, I took a day to basically live the scenes Molly and Gareth did. I started out at about the same time they start off in the book and took the road from the urban portion of my city out to the rural area. Once the city limits were behind me, with an Enya CD playing it was easy to imagine the tall blond haired, blue eyed, Gareth beside me. First stop was the Cheese Factory which has been around since the late 1800’s and they still make a fabulous cheese. Breakfast was some of their cheese on homemade rosemary bread. There is a duck pond on the grounds and some of the water fowl came to share the meal.

From there I drove over the covered bridge and out to the coast. The Pacific that day was breathtaking. The ocean can be quite hypnotic and watching the deep blue-green waves travel in and out, watching the tide changes and coastal wild life go about their business paved the wave for Gareth to talk about his past life. That would be the life he led ohhh, about 1500 years ago. Of course Molly, the love of his life, doesn’t quite believe him. Surely a man who traveled from the past wouldn’t be all that interested in by the book, sees things in black and white and lives by the rules Molly. So she thinks.

Path To the Lighthouse — Path to the Lighthouse

My actual goal for the day was the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse. Lighthouses are their own special kind of magic. And the stories they could tell not only about the long ago sailors who relied on their guidance, but some of the modern day visitors. There is a certain romance to the towers. The on duty ranger provided some great input—with Gareth ever near the edge of my imagination providing ideas for just what he and Molly would be up to.

Instead of taking the “short way” home I chose to travel down Highway 1 and the coastal route. With its steep cliffs and winding roadway you get the sense of being in another time and place. As darkness and the evening fog settled over the coast I headed inland and stopped for dinner at the Pelican Inn, an authentic 16th century British Inn. I opted for the kind of meal Gareth would enjoy—Shepherd’s Pie with truffle for dessert.

Later on in the story, when Gareth and Molly have their “dark moment”, that moment when their relationship is going to make or break I spent another day driving up and down Highway 121 in Napa looking for the exact spot where their confrontation takes place. Six or seven passes the exact spot caught my attention. Walking around in the field, taking in the scents, noises and watching out for the occasional cow patty it was pretty easy to picture that earth shattering confrontation.

Let me say that Napa, where the WITH ALL DISPATCH takes place has something for everyone. From the quaint portions of down town to the wineries, to the unique shops you can spend a few days there and still not see everything. Fortunately my series is set there so I’ll be back enjoying all Napa County has to offer again and again. While the day trips for WITH ALL DISPATCH were just me, my netbook and tape recorder, having friends … help … with research is always a plus.

More recently one of my friends came along to do some of that helping with my research for Sapphire. This current work in progress takes place on a clipper ship in the mid-1800’s. When we heard that the Lady Washington, an exact replica of the original tall ship, was coming to down we headed down to Sausalito, California to spend the day on board sailing. The crew was fantastic and the steward, Cat, spent the better part of two hours answering questions, helping with plot points and describing life what they know of life on the high seas. (She’s lived on board for most of the past 3 years). While we cruised the way the Lady Washington and its traveling companion, the Hawaiian Chieftain had a mock battle complete with cannons. They say if you can sail San Francisco bay you can sail anywhere. The day of our sail was warm, sunny and crystal clear.

Sailboat on the Bay — Sailing on the Bay

Hands on research, going where my characters are going, doing what they ultimately do in the book, is probably one of the best parts of writing. Having friends who are ready to go along on those day trips makes the trip even better.

I don’t know if you’re like me and always plan to see the sites in your local area. I know when I lived in New York I always planned to visit certain places like the Statute of Liberty but never got around to it. I’ve lived in the San Francisco Bay area for years and haven’t yet made my way to Alcatraz. I’m thinking it may be time for one of my books to take place there just so I have to make the journey out to the famous island in the bay. Meanwhile, Gareth’s brother, Gehris, will be eating at Cliff house before too long and they still have pictures of the original gothic structure around. Anyone care to join Gehris and I?

WithAllDispatch-AuthorCopy — With All Dispatch

Regan’s World Blog http://regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com/

Regan’s Website http://www.regantaylor.com/index.htm

Where to find With All Dispatch: Mundania Press

Twitter

Finding photos that inspire my writing…and maybe yours!

Romantic Waterfall — One of the inspirations for book two in my Now and Forever series "My Love, My Friend"

I was working on gathering photos for my next promotional video and I came across several that just drew me right in. This photo of the couple near the waterfall immediately made me think of Sammi and Nathan. They are two lovers in my next book. For those of you who have already read, For the Love of Quinn, you will be happy to know that most of the characters make at least brief appearances in My Love, My Friend. Sammi is Quinn’s cousin and also a veterinarian. When she travels to California to visit Quinn and Sarah, she meets Nathan. Some may remember him as the hunky bodyguard/limo driver that takes care of Steve and Quinn whenever they are in California. I found this photo on FreeDigitalPhotos.net. The photographer is listed as Dynamite Imagery. The pictures posted in their gallery there are fantastic. You can use them for free as long as you give them credit, but if you wish to not give them credit, you can purchase the pictures that you need too. It’s the best of both worlds if you ask me. I have no problem giving this artists credit. They rock! If you want to see more pictures from Dynamite Imagery, click on the photo and it will take you to the page.

Speaking of writing…

I am opening up this blog and it’s sister blog over on blogspot called Not Enough Time in the Day to guests. If you are interested in posting, let me know. I would love to share my space with fellow authors. No topic is off limits! Several days in November and December are still open. If I have a big enough response, I will work on January and February schedules.

Have a Happy Samhein and I hope to hear from you all real soon!