It’s Throwback Thursday and two years ago this week, I was getting ready to publish my first book of poetry…on my own without a publisher. Fear and inexperience threatened to derail my resolve. No matter how scared I was to do it, I knew I needed to get the collection out there of all to see. I wanted to share my journey to find happiness. I had gone through hell and back again and detailed it all through poetry. When I couldn’t find the words to speak, my poetry came through for me. It helped me work through some of the most painful and dark times in my life to the happiest here with my soul mate.
It took many years, a failed marriage and a shattered heart but in the end I found my happily ever after with my husband, Liam. Neither of us were looking for a long-term relationship when we met. Both of us had come through nasty breakups and I was legally separated from the first husband. It was a mess but through it all we were able to find each other and a love that wouldn’t be denied.
Back to the poetry book. Follow Me: Poetry from the Heart and Soul. The first cover was a quick photo I found in some clip art. I didn’t have the money to get a good stock photo at the time, but when I did I updated the cover to what it is now. Some people may still see that old cover out there and when I see it, I smile. Like me, it’s gone through changes to its last edition. I have that original cover framed on my wall above my writing area. When we have the new office set up in the second bedroom, I’ll move it in there and put up all the covers. As with the poems, the covers detail my journey as an author, publisher and cover artist. I’m proud of them all!
As with my covers, the video trailers I’ve made have evolved from my first one. I’ve learned a lot and had tons of fun in the process. Here’s the video for this book. It showcases one of the poems in the collection that encourages the reader to follow their hearts because in the end that’s where your true love will be found.
I’d like to share another poem from the book, one that I wrote when Liam and I were in the early stages of our relationship. He was active duty military and could get called away at any time. Both of us were dating others at the time but moving toward becoming each other’s one and only. The more I wanted to pull away from him, afraid I’d be hurt again, the more I had longed to be wrapped in his arms. Come to find out, he felt the same!
Welcome to Throwback Thursday at Behind Closed Doors. Today I’m happy to welcome to the hot seat another of my favorite characters, Steven Eischer. For those of you who read the first book in my Now and Forever series (thank you!), you will remember the Vegas tycoon who swept Quinn off her feet the moment she entered his casino. He was part of the love triangle I’ll never forget. You see, I never intended on having Quinn fall in love with two men. We’ll get back to that in just a bit.
First let me tell you a bit more about the hot, hunky man who as Quinn’s sister said “has more money than God.” He’s a self-made man, having worked his entire life for all that he has. Over the years he’s basically been married to his job and building his empire…2/3 of Las Vegas if anyone’s counting! After two failed marriages, he wasn’t looking for a relationship when Quinn walked into his club at the MGM Grand. One look into her eyes and he was done for. Not that he was complaining!
Unfortunately, Fate and her brothers had other plans for Mr. Eischer that didn’t include having Quinn as his life partner. His intuition picked up on that right off when he witnessed the reaction between Quinn and Jacob the first time they laid eyes on each other on the club dance floor. How about I let him tell the story from here. Come on out and say hello to the gang, Steve.
I love what you’ve done to the place over the last year, Tammy. Purple is our, I mean your favorite color right? Oh, hello everyone! I hope Tammy hasn’t been filling your head with all sorts of nonsense like how I wouldn’t take a backseat and just have the one night stand with Quinn.
(I shake my head. It’s going to be one of those interviews. That devilish smile of his is coming out already and don’t get me started about how his emerald green eyes twinkle when he’s about to pounce. The Devil!)
Well, it’s true! I had intended on just having Quinn and Jacob’s story take off from the moment they come face to face in your club. You were the one who couldn’t stay in the background. One look at Quinn in that little red dress and you were smitten. It didn’t take you long to show her your penthouse, did it?
(Steve’s deep chuckle rumbles in his chest and makes my stomach do a few flips. Heaven help me. This is exactly what happened when he took over the first book!)
Well, you have to admit Quinn was smokin’ hot in that dress. I would’ve been a fool to let her slip through my fingers. Truth be told, I took a gamble that night when I asked her to let me show her my Vegas. She could’ve stayed away from me too. I have to believe it was all going according to plan.
Really? Whose plan would that be?
Yours. Quinn’s the spitting image of you when we were together all those years ago. You were the one who left me all brokenhearted.
(now it’s my turn to laugh) Brokenhearted my ass! Within an hour after I left Vegas you were in the arms of not one but TWO supermodels. We had a lot of fun, I’ll give you that but brokenhearted? Seriously?
Okay, maybe not brokenhearted, but I did miss you a hell of a lot. Until Quinn and her sister strolled into my casino you were the sassiest broad I’ve ever known. No one will ever take your place, darlin’.
You’re still the sweet-talker, Mr. Eischer! Let’s get back to business shall we? Knowing what you know now, would you have done anything differently when it came to Quinn and Jacob?
Not one thing. We were there for each other when it was needed the most. I was there for her when her entire world came crashing down. I helped Jake see the only woman he would ever be truly happy with was Quinn. Both of them brought me out the cycle of living, breathing, and eating my work. Nothing else mattered to me until they walked into my life. Now I’m even richer than I ever thought possible. At the time, I would’ve given everything I had, everything I was if it meant Quinn could be happy with me. But then I had a visitor…
Did you? Whose visit could have made you go from telling Quinn she was your always and forever to chasing down Jake to make him snap out of it and claim his love of a lifetime?
The Lady herself. Fate appeared to me along with her Guardians. Together they filled me in on a few things. I was given a choice. If I chose Quinn then the paths of many others would be altered for this lifetime and the next, including the one who was to be my happily ever after.
I’m…I’m a bit shocked. Why didn’t you tell me this before? This could have made an entirely different outcome to the series—
Exactly. By not telling you about their visit, the stories of the others in our group will be told. And of course, now I get to spend a hell of a lot more time with you. You know, consulting!
(he winked at me! Goddess help me, if I wasn’t married to my own soul mate, I would indeed start up those all night “consulting” sessions!)
Damn it! You get me all unnerved when you wink at me like that. We are supposed to be talking about The Island. What role do you play in this one?
Thisone is told in flashbacks. It starts out a year after For the Love of Quinn ended. I don’t want to give away too much. I want folks to read our story and of course follow the rest of the series. The last I peeked at your notes, the series is up to nine books. When are you going to put out book three?
Gee, can’t we enjoy book two’s release first? Don’t you worry. The Surrender of Julia (Now and Forever 3) is nearly finished and books 4 and 5 are coming along as well. And yes, you’re in these too. Funny how you just weasel your way into all the books of this series. 😉
I told you before. I can’t stay away from you for very long. Even if you are married to your always and forever, there’s a part of you that you only shared with me. Admit it.
Well, you got me there. Maybe that’s why I keep telling your story. I love how you enjoy helping so many people fulfill their dreams and fantasies. Is that why you own or at least co-own most of Vegas?
Could be. It’s the one place where adults can let loose and enjoy themselves with little restrictions. Why not set up shop here? I get to meet such fascinating people. It’s where I met you. It was about twelve years ago, right?
It was and now’s the perfect time to end for today. How about you come back next week and we can pick up where we left off?
(he raises one eyebrow and flashes that damn crooked smile again.)
With the interview, Mr. Eischer. The interview.
Okay, but you know what it does to me when you say “Mr. Eischer” in that scolding school teacher voice. 😉
Do you see what I have to put up with folks? This is how it will be in every book. He is incorrigible! But I have to admit I wouldn’t want him to be any other way and neither will you when you read his story! Come back again next week for the second part of Steve’s interview.
Welcome back to Behind Closed Doors and another Throwback Thursday. This week I’d like to continue down memory lane with one of my favorite character interviews. As luck would have it, this interview was originally posted on October 20, 2012, just before the release of the second book in my Now and Forever series. Anthony Mancouso is the secondary character that just won’t stay in the background or on the sidelines. He has to be front and center and steal every scene he’s in. Because of that, I AM giving him his own book in this series. His story will be the only M/M erotic romance I write. I’ll leave the rest up to my alter ego Lia. 😉 I’ve decided to have Anthony be a permanent resident in Sassy Vixen Publishing’s Temptation Resort shared world series. More on that later. For now, let’s revisit with my favorite gay husband, Anthony.
Released November 2012
As most of you know by now,The Islandis a prequel to For the Love of Quinn. One of my favorite secondary characters in that first book has been pestering me as of late. He’s wanted to weigh in a bit on the prequel. Since it’s very difficult for me to say no to this person, I thought it would be a good idea to bring him here today. He will show up again in future books, so why not get you all prepared for the whirlwind that is Anthony Mancouso.
Whirlwind? Really? Can’t you do better than that? You are the sassiest broad I know and yet you can only come up with “whirlwind?” Honey, please.
LOL! Can you stop with the melodramatics for once, Mr. Mancouso? How would you want me to introduce you? As the biggest pain in my ass? 😉
Well, that would be a bit better than a limp ass tornado. How about Typhoon Tony?
That is a good description of you. You zip in, take over and leave a person a complete wreck after you leave. Typhoon Tony it is!
(He crosses his arms over his chest and rolls his eyes at me. He knows I hate that, especially since he constantly reminds me this is how I look when I get upset with him. Another interview is going to be hijacked by a diva!) Oh come on! I wore your favorite purple shirt today. You are an author for Goddess sake and yet you stick with something silly as Typhoon Tony? I was joking, you know.
You are such a diva, Anthony! Did Steve put you up to this? He was here the other day and absolutely tortured me. He kept bringing up our past even after he promised to not to talk about it.
Of course I’m a diva and that’s why you love me. Seriously, did you actually think Steve wouldn’t try to turn the interview into a trip down memory lane? You are the one woman who got away. And don’t you say that was Quinn. We all know her time with Steve was just to get her to the point in her life where she found Jacob again.
So you’ve been paying attention to the story lines now, huh?
I always pay close attention when it comes to Stephen and those he’s allowed in his inner circle. You know better than anyone how he used to close himself off from anything but his work. I’m still not happy you had Quinn bring him out of his workaholic ways. It should have been you.
Stop it! This is supposed to be a discussion about Quinn and Jacob. Not about what could’ve been between me and Steve. You aren’t so innocent here. Aren’t you still in love with him yourself?
Just like you, he will always have a special place in my heart but I have found my always and forever now.As a matter of fact, it was Stephen who introduced us. Imagine that. He introduced me to you too.
For that I’ll be forever grateful. I couldn’t imagine my life without you in it, Anthony. Who would plan my vow renewal with Liam?
I wouldn’t let anyone else handle that. Your Liam is such a dreamboat, especially when he’s in that dress uniform. Who would have thought you’d end up with a hunky man in the Coast Guard? I always pegged you for a Marine Corps kind of gal.
LOL! Well, I do have a weakness for all men in uniform but let’s get back on track. Tell me about the first time you saw Quinn and Jacob together. Could you tell they were soul mates or were you still upset she wasn’t with Steve?
I will admit I was a tiny bit disappointed Stephen didn’t fight for her. Once I got over that, I understood why. He saw the connection between Quinn and Jake right from the start. I had to see it for myself to believe it and boy did I ever! I could feel the electricity between them even from across the room. It’s like those stories you read about in Reader’s Digest about someone who survives a lightning strike. Those victims could feel the static electricity in the air before they were struck. My skin literally tingles whenever they are around. Being able to see them on the Island helped put it all into perspective for me. When you are given a gift from The Three, it’s probably wise to not refuse!
I’ll have to agree with you on that one. Finding out you’ve been searching for each other for multiple lifetimes only to be torn apart again and again, has to be a bitter pill to swallow. I mean, is this time going to turn out like the others or will you finally get your happily ever after as promised?
(Anthony rolls his eyes at me again.) Honey, when the Goddess Fate herself gives her word, even a Sassy Vixen like you would have to think twice about doubting your foretold destiny.
You got me there, Anthony.
Here, there, everywhere. You know I always have your back, mi amor. So when are you going to let me start planning that vow renewal of yours?
When are you going to let me write more about you and the love of your life?
Meow! You sure have the snappy comebacks tonight. I’m serious. I have a ton of ideas.
So do I. 😉
Now who’s the one going off script?
Touche!
Released September 2011
To learn more about Anthony and all his friends in the Now and Forever series, pick up your copy of For the Love of Quinn (Now and Forever) and The Island (Now and Forever 2) at all major ebook outlets including AMAZON, Barnes and Noble, iTunes and Boostrand.
Welcome to our first Throwback Thursday here at Behind Closed Doors. This week I’m sharing excerpts from my very first published novel. It’s the first one I submitted to Siren Bookstrand—any publisher for that matter. It was over 200,000 words and written in the first person point of view. Within five days I got an email from them asking me to rewrite the book from first person to third person and then resubmit. I was so excited! They didn’t turn it down outright and they seemed genuinely interested in my epic story.
That was November 2010. With working full time at the veterinary hospital and going through the break up of my first marriage, I worked on the rewrites when I had any free time. It took me six months to rewrite the book I originally wrote over a two year period. I was a woman on a mission! Finally the time came to hit the SEND button. Eleven days later For the Love of Quinn (Now and Forever)was accepted for publication.
The first round of edits were a little daunting. I opened up the file to find a HUGE explosion of colors and balloons across my computer screen. I was scared shitless but after reading through the comments and taking it one step at a time, I muddled my way through. In the end, the humongous novel of 219,000 words started my journey into the fabulous world of published authors. Now two books of poetry, two erotic romances and a third to be released within the next two weeks, a Christmas anthology and two other series in progress, I’m well on my way to living my dream.
Quinn Lee Hollis is a 43-year-old veterinary surgeon who has reached a crossroads in her life. Stuck in a loveless and emotionally abusive marriage, she decides that she has had enough and vows to cut loose and enjoy herself in Las Vegas with her sister. There she meets and falls in love with two men.
Both bring out the fire and passion in her that she has longed for her whole life. Steve Eischer is a Vegas tycoon who wants to fulfill her every fantasy, and Jake Hartley is a classic bad boy who awakens desire in her so strong that it nearly destroys her.
Both Steve and Jake have claims on her heart, but only one can share a connection so strong that nothing can keep them apart.
Story Excerpt
“Chicks love bad boys.” Jacob winked, and they both laughed. He was right. She looked too classy, even if those curves were calling out to him. Jacob only hesitated for a half a second longer and thought what the hell. Might as well give it a shot. He downed one of the whiskey shooters, and just as he was about to get up and go over to her, Steve returned and took them to a private table to store their things before heading out to the dance floor.
Oh man. She can move, too. Jacob’s heart skipped a beat or two when she caught him watching her dance. She smiled slowly, and he got lost in her eyes, blue-green like the ocean, those come-fuck-me eyes you read about in Playboy. Holy shit, Jake thought. They really did exist and they were right there, locked with his own.
Eric had stopped watching the dancers and was now staring at Jacob. “Whoa, brotha! I think you just got thunderstruck. We need to get you out of here. You don’t need another broad chasing after you now. You start your new job in Chicago at the end of next week, and you leave Vegas in two days. Don’t you dare let another one mess with your head!”
Jacob had to admit his little brother was right. He had just come out of a messy breakup and really didn’t need to hook up with anyone right now. He didn’t need the complication. But man, what he wouldn’t give to explore those curves for the next two days. Jacob groaned before he downed the last of his beer and the final whiskey chaser. He glanced at his watch and realized his brother’s shift was over and there was no other reason to stay at the club. “Let’s get out of here. I wanna stop by and see if Derek will be able to finish my tat tomorrow.”
“Sweet! Those dragons are really coming to life on your back. Derek is a fucking genius!” As they made their way through the crowd to the exit, Jacob couldn’t help himself and looked back one more time for the hot number in the barely-there red dress. He had a gut feeling that this was one broad he wasn’t going to be able to get out of his head for a hell of a long time.
****
“Quinn?” Miranda snapped her fingers in front of her face and laughed. “What the hell just happened to you?”
“I don’t know. I looked up and saw this guy watching me with the deepest blue eyes I had ever seen, moustache, goatee, shoulder- length brown hair, earrings in both ears. I couldn’t look away.”
Miranda rolled her eyes. “Stick with the plan, honey. I think Steve wants you for himself tonight. If you don’t jump on that, I just might.”
Quinn’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor. “What would your children say?”
She shrugged. “What happens in Vegas.”
Before Quinn could answer, Steve returned. He circled her waist with his hands and pulled her close to him. Miranda was dead-on. He wanted her all right. The proof was bumping Quinn’s ass at the moment. She smiled at her sister, who winked back.
“Have fun!” Miranda danced her way off the floor to finish her margarita and to chat up the bartender for his secret to making them so fucking fantastic.
Quinn settled back into Steve’s arms, letting him move her along with him for a little bit. She had to admit, she loved the attention. He nuzzled her ear before turning her to face him, pulling her arms up to circle his neck. Mmm. Dark brown, wavy hair, salt and pepper stubbly chin, earring and dark smoldering green eyes, double check!
“Where did your sister get off to?”
“Hmm? If I know her, she’s picking your bartender’s brain on how to make the perfect margarita, and then she’ll go park it in front of the roulette wheel for a few more hours. Subtle, isn’t she?”
He continued to hold Quinn tight against him, moving slow and easy even though the song was hopping. “I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but you’re drop-dead gorgeous, and I can’t keep my hands off of you.”
Got him! “I don’t recall asking you to keep your hands off of me.”
He leaned down and nibbled on her earlobe. “Stay with me tonight, Quinn. I have a suite here at the casino with a big round bed, Jacuzzi, and private pool. I want to do naughty things with you all night long.”
Quinn flashed her wedding rings at him. He just shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me in the least. If a man can let a woman like you go to Vegas without him, then he is a fool.”
“That he is. Got an extra toothbrush in that suite of yours?”
“I think I can rustle one up for you.” His lips brushed hers, and heat flashed through her. Quinn was more than ready for this. Steve led her off the floor and over to his private table to collect her things. Miranda had left a note. Have fun and see you in the morning. She was a smart-ass, but Quinn loved her!
Steve took her hand and led her over to a private elevator for VIPs. She’d never imagined she’d catch the eye of a sexy club owner on their first night in Vegas! She wondered what it was going to be like to get him alone and away from the loud music. She didn’t have very long to wonder.
Adult Excerpt
As soon as the doors closed, he pinned her in the corner. “I’ve wanted to do this from the moment I saw you step out of the elevators tonight.” His lips touched hers once again, softly at first, and then after teasing her a little with his tongue, he dove right in, picking Quinn up at the waist and lifting her up so that she was sitting on the railing. His hand trailed up her thigh and under her dress. His fingertips gently teased her clit a bit, making her gasp, breaking their deep kiss. “I knew it. Your dress fits you like a glove. No way in hell you were wearing anything under it.”
“I’m glad you approve.” Quinn wrapped her legs around his waist as he picked her up off of the railing and carried her through the doors into his suite, the penthouse suite, no less! Now their lips and tongues battled each other for control, neither one of them willing to yield just yet. Quinn could feel his cock straining to get out of his pants and into her. Her pussy throbbed and cum already started to coat her inner thighs. She forced herself to come back to earth. “We need to slow down a second.”
Steve smiled again and her mind nearly went to mush. He put her back on her feet, keeping one hand on her waist, while the other pulled a condom out of his pocket. “Like the boy scouts say, always be prepared.”
“I knew there was something I liked about you besides your killer smile.” She wrapped her arms around his neck tighter as his mouth crushed hers once again. She loved the feel of his hands on her body and the heat that zipped through her with every single touch and kiss. She wanted more, so much more.
“Quinn, I don’t know if I can wait much longer. I have to have you, baby.”
“What’s stopping you?” She bit his earlobe a little, and that was all the signal he needed. He lifted her up into his arms again and pinned her against the wall in the entryway. Quinn held on tight to his neck and shoulders while he unbuckled his pants, freeing up his huge cock. He ripped open the condom wrapper with his teeth, and before Quinn could catch her breath he nearly split her in two as he entered her. She was already hot and so wet that he slid in quickly. She was so surprised at his size that she dug her nails into his back a little too hard. Quinn didn’t think he minded one bit. He groaned as his cock filled her cunt completely, stroking every single inch of her. Her body shuddered wildly as the first orgasm hit her. She moaned as Steve broke their kiss, leaving her a bit breathless.
“Good god, your pussy is fucking fantastic. I can feel every single inch of you pulling me in.” He shifted positions so that he had her legs over his arms, and he spread her wider. He kept pounding her against the wall, thrusting deeper still. He felt so good stroking her and hitting every sensitive spot. Wave after wave of ecstasy ran through her. She came over and over again, her cum continuously squirting out of her and over Steve. “You’re so hot and wet. I can’t get enough of you.”
“Jesus Christ, your cock is so fucking big. Harder, baby, harder.” Quinn was lost in her own climax, and then Steve’s arms tightened around her as he groaned against her tits. His thrusts slowed, and he pulled back to look into her eyes. Both of them were panting trying to catch their breath. His cock was still buried deep inside of her and rock-hard. Now he kept eye contact as he moved in and out of her. He changed position again so that he had her wrapped around him and his hands on her ass, moving her up and down his shaft. Quinn straightened her legs and pointed her toes as a very powerful orgasm hit her, and she couldn’t hold back a scream. That did it for him. He came right along with her, their bodies shuddering together.
Steve leaned into her, a smile gradually forming on that gorgeous mouth of his. “Goddamn, woman. If this is any preview of what we will be doing together the rest of the night, I don’t know if I am going to be able to let you leave here in the morning.”
Quinn nibbled on his stubbly chin a bit before pulling his mouth back to hers. “How about you give me a tour of the rest of your place and we will just let things happen as they happen.”
Steve moved both of them away from the wall but still kept his hands firmly on Quinn’s ass, letting her legs slowly slide down his body until her heels hit the floor again. “You better hang on to me for a little longer. I don’t know if I can walk normally just yet.”
He moved his fingers lightly up and down her bare back, sending shivers through her once again. “I don’t think that will be a problem at all, Quinn. You’ve put some kind of spell over me, and I can’t keep my hands off of you.”
“Well, your hands feel awfully good on my body, and so do your lips, your tongue, and that welcoming committee you have stuffed in your pants!” Good lord! Quinn had never fucked anyone with a cock that big, and he sure did know how to use it. Miranda was going to faint when she heard about this!
Behind Closed Doors 
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