Sassy Vixen Publishing – Page 3 – Behind Closed Doors

#NextBigThing: Showcasing Vampire Inspired Poetry

I’ve done this hop once not too long ago on my sister blog Not Enough Time in the Day. This time I was tagged twice by my alter ego Lia Michaels and by fellow Seduced Muse Nicole Morgan. I’d like to thank both of them for the tag. To learn more about them, just click on their names and you will be directed to their blogs/websites.

What is a blog hop? Basically, it’s a way for readers to discover authors new to them. I hope you’ll find new-to-you authors whose works you enjoy. On this stop on the blog hop, you’ll find a bit of information on me and one of my books. Normally, I would list five more authors for you to visit next week in order to continue the hop. Unfortunately, just about everyone I know has been tagged at least once for this hop and just don’t have more to share. In lieu of that, I hope you will check out some of the guest authors who have visited this and any of my blogs.

In this blog hop, my fellow authors and I, in our respective blogs, have answered ten questions about our current book or work-in-progress (giving you a sneak peek). We’ve also included some behind-the-scenes information about how and why we write what we write–the characters, inspirations, plotting and other choices we make. I hope you enjoy it!

Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions. Here is my Next Big Thing!

1: What is the working title of your book?

The Courtship of the Vampyre: Poetry Inspired by the Guardians of the Night

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?
Well, another fellow Seduced Muse, Maya DeLeina suggested I give writing vampire inspired poetry after I published my first book of poetry. She writes vampire erotic romance and loves anything and everything to do with the creatures of the night. I had already starting plotting out a vampire series called The Kayne Legacy, and the poetry seemed like a great companion to help me continue to plot out those books. Much like how the first book of poems were a companion to my Now and Forever series, this collection would do the same.

3: What genre does your book come under?
I think I will call it paranormal fantasy poetry. LOL!

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I haven’t thought about that yet. Since this is a companion book to The Kayne Legacy, I’ll have to think about those character descriptions when I’m ready to see them fully in my mind. I’m thinking I need a rugged redheaded man to play Cain/Adam Kayne. The legends and lore about the Biblical Cain usually say he was a ginger!

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Poetry inspired by those that rule the night…both good and bad!

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
I’ll be putting this one out myself through Sassy Vixen Publishing.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
It’s ongoing. I think I have the collection I want now, but I have to give it a few days to be sure. Right now it’s 13 poems strong and some of them are long ones. This way I can offer a small ebook for a very low price!

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I’m sure there are some out there, but I haven’t read any yet. Usually vampires are portrayed as just the blood-thirsty demons, or those sexy lovers who roam the nights. I wanted this one to touch on the tales of both the good and the “evil” vamps and how both lines of immortals came to be.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Well, Maya DeLeina was a big inspiration as was Robin Badillo. Another author who has helped me with different takes on the fanged ones is Tara S.Wood. All three of them have created worlds where the vampires don’t follow the old “rules” we’ve all come to know through the movies or whatever. And although I enjoyed the Twilight series of books and the movies, they didn’t inspire this book or The Kayne Legacy at all.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I’ve incorporated a bit of my own beliefs in this collection/The Kayne Legacy. As a Wiccan, I’ve come to challenge many of the common Christian beliefs and I feel it’s time to take them back. LOL! Seriously, so many of our faiths are intertwined and have similar beliefs. The study of religions and the paranormal fascinate me. That’s why I wanted to tell this tale. What really happened between Cain and Abel and what was the real reason that Cain was marked to protect him from being killed on sight? What happened to the first woman created…Lilith? Where do the paranormal realms come into play in all of this? The stories are there. I just have to write them all down!

So there you have it! My contribution to the Next Big Thing Blog Hop…again! LOL Stay tuned for future guests on Behind Closed Doors, Sassy Vixen Publishing, Not Enough Time in the Day, and Four Seduced Muses to find new fabulous authors and their books. The links are at the tabs at the top of the page.

Have fun and happy reading!

~Tammy

Dealing With A Bit of Writer’s Block…or am I?

I’ve been having a bit of a time getting back to work on the Now and Forever series. At first look it would seem that I have writer’s block, but that’s not entirely true. I think what’s happening is that I have so many different stories flying around in my brain and so many different characters demanding to be heard, that I’m on sensory overload.

How do other authors do it? How do they handle all of their real life responsibilities and still manage to crank out a book every few months or less? I don’t want to go a year between books, but at this rate, that’s what’s going to happen. Now magnify it all by three and you have my world. Why? I have three pen names now and multiple works in progress (WIPs) with each one of them. There isn’t enough time in the day for me to get all of that done and work on myself.

I’ve let my health slide in the middle of all of this and it’s set me so far behind on things, some of which I’m extremely embarrassed about. I still have to send out all of the prize packages to the winners of the various blog hops and contests I did over December and there is one winner who won during last year’s Easter Hop who still hasn’t received her handcrafted rabbits. I’ve had to make those bunnies four times now and so far I’ve kept the last group hidden from the prying eyes of little nieces who I can never say no to.

To make it up to this wonderfully patient winner (Jean P. this is about you!), I’ve made a few extra goodies to go along with her prize package as well has the paperback versions of all of my books. Just the ones so far? Yep and all the ones in this series as well as the poetry. She deserves it. Not only has she been so patient while I’ve muddled through all of my personal issues, she continues to join in on all of the hops and post. This is the only way I know how to thank her.

I’m thinking that I just have to schedule specific time for my writing and stick to that schedule even if it means getting up before dawn. Many of you know I am not a morning person and would prefer to sleep in and stay up until the wee hours of the morning. Unfortunately, that is getting me nowhere fast. I have to make changes in order for this all to work AND for me to realize my dream of running my own publishing house…Sassy Vixen Publishing.

Well, I had better be off and get some sleep. Tomorrow starts the new schedule. It’s more than a bit scary, but exciting too. My dream of being a successful writer depends on me finding a way to make it all work.

Thank you all for coming along with me on this journey!

~Tammy

Update on Courtship of the Vampyre release date

Coming Soon January 2013 — Coming Soon February 2013

I had originally thought I would have my second book of poetry up and ready for publication by the end of this month but as with many things, life got in the way! LOL

My writing and blogging has had to take a backseat for a bit due to some unforeseen circumstances with my health and that of my husband. Even though the flu is sweeping our neck of the woods, so far we haven’t had to deal with that, but killer colds on top of other things. My husband still has a battery of tests coming up and we are awaiting the results of biopsies done last week. We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers you’ve sent our way during this time. It meant a lot to both of us. Thank you!

My projected release date will be February 14th. If all goes well and all the proofs are approved, I hope to have both the ebook and paperback versions released on the same day. I’ll keep you posted on any further updates. Thank you all for your patience and continued support of me and my writing.

New Cover for My Second Book of Poetry

I’m so excited! I’ve been working on the vampire inspired poetry off and on for a while now and it looks like I should be finished with the rough draft this week. Hopefully the edits will go smooth enough so I can release it on January 1st…just like the first book of poetry. Whoohoo!

I was going back and forth with the title as I wanted this book to be a companion to The Kayne Legacy series much like Follow Me: Poetry from the Heart and Soul is for my Now and Forever series. So after battling with myself for a few hours once again last night, I decided on using the title of one of the poems in the collection. In fact, it was the very first one I wrote for this book. Courtship of the Vampyre: Poetry Inspired by the Guardians of the Night is the full title. Here is the cover I designed for it. Let me know what you all think!

Naughty After Dark Blog Hop (Day Four)…The Vixen is headed to Vegas!

Hello everyone and welcome to Behind Closed Doors and the fourth day of the Naughty After Dark Blog Hop. I’m one of over 100 authors participating in this eight day tour through “naughty land.” At each stop along the way, you have chances to get entries in the individual giveaways. For mine, all you have to do is leave a comment, even if it’s just “hello” on each day and you will have 8 entries. The prize? I’m giving away a signed print copy of my erotic contemporary romance For the Love of Quinn (Now and Forever 1)and a basket of goodies that I pick up during my stay in the fabulously naughty Las Vegas! In other places of this blog you can find excerpts from this book and some of the works in progress in this series. Please feel free to let me know what you think. I love hearing from those who take the time to drop in. Once you leave here, all you have to do is click on the hop graphic and you will be directed to the entire group of Naughty After Dark authors. Have fun!

Well, today is the day I will be spending traveling to Las Vegas to attend the Western Veterinary Conference. I go every year and have a wonderful time learning the latest and greatest in my field and as an added bonus, my Mother flies out from Michigan to spend the time with me. Double bonus this year though. My muse will be joining us toward the end of the week. This will be our first weekend trip as a couple and the first time he gets to meet a member of my family. Funny thing, I’m not nervous about that at all. I know my Mom will adore him as much as I do.

For today’s post I wanted to share my new logo designed for me by my friend and fellow author Bonnie Lea Elliott. She designed something that I think captures exactly what I had in my head. It’s a bit of a throw back to the classically sexy Vixen with the silky clothes, enticing you with the sparkle and mischief in her eyes and that dazzling smile. This is the logo I’m going to use for my self published work and all of my correspondence. I’m so happy to share it with you all today…

So there you have it, my alter ego The Vixen encouraging you all to be a little naughty today. I’ll update more tomorrow and hopefully I will have the first items for the Vegas Bling basket!