Friday, February 7, 2020

Friday Author Spotlight Interview - V.J. Allison


Interview 

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?
I’d probably choose Halifax or Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. I love both spots, and although I’ve already set a book in Halifax, I would love to do one for Annapolis Royal too, it’s a historic town and so pretty!

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?
I am ultra-disorganized, and although I am quite picky about the way things are set up inside of my computer and mostly my manuscripts, chaos seems to rule my everyday life.

How do you come up with names for your characters?
It’s extremely random. Sometimes I see a name somewhere and like it enough for a character. Others, I’ve had people shout ideas at me in Facebook or other social media. In some cases, like the one I’m writing now, I’m exploiting a side character from another story, so their name is already chosen.

Give a shout-out to a fellow author.
Maggie Blackbird, JS Frankel, Denise N. Wheatley, and Curtis A Cooper.

What would the logline be for your book?
Book of my life? I’d probably pick “Cats and word processing: How VJ became a hermit”.

What is your favorite word, and why?
Synchronization. It just sounds so cool to my ears!

Describe your writing space.
It’s in the northeast corner of my kitchen, my computer and Hubby’s computer dominate the entire kitchen table. To my right is the wall with our family calendar of events, etc on it, along with two power bars filled with cords for the computers, the routers, and charging cables for my phone and our son’s tablet. My monitor sits upon my husband’s (the family) computer, while my huge desktop tower is directly in front of me. To my left is a low cupboard topped with a breadbox, my old Acer system’s tower, and my printer – covered in blankets so our cat Marnie can look out the window and watch the neighborhood.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
So far, it’s four books – technically five, but one was a rewrite, so it’s really four in total. It’s tough to pick a favorite because I love them all in their unique way, minus the one that will never see the light, or even get a rewrite, it was so bad! I love Away to Me because I could draw on my own experiences for Rikki finding out Kelsey was her biological mother. Stricken was my first novel, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Under Your Scars (coming in 2020 from eXtasy Books) wasn’t an easy one to write, but it is a great story because of that.

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book(s)?
That sometimes those tangents turn into great storylines. I also never thought a practice story would be my best one so far!

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.
Rikki Hunter Falcon, Neil and Kelsey’s daughter in Away to Me. I wrote her to be a lot like my niece Katy was at 14 years old, and because of that, she’s one of my favorite characters of all time.

Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
I don’t like to give away anything unless a book is published, or it’s on the way there. I feel like I jinx myself if I say anything.

Does one of your main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
So far, it’s Ewan Campbell from Stricken. He’s a softie, and was so understanding with the love of his life, Marti, even after she left him without any explanation. His romance with Marti was the first full length novel I finished, so he has an extra bit of space in my heart.

If one of your books was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
Stricken: I’d love to have Nathaniel Arcand play Ewan, and I’d probably have Mila Kunis as Marti.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share
with your readers about?
I’ve been editing and proofing my upcoming novel, “Under Your Scars” with eXtasy Books, and I’m currently working on trying to finish a companion story for my first novel, Stricken. As a rule, I don’t talk much about works I haven’t finished yet, I’m scared I’ll jinx myself if I do.


How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
So many! I want to get Tri-Town 3 off the ground, which I hope to be an MM erotic romance. It will be set in either the town of Mahone Bay or Lunenburg, NS. I’m not sure how it will work out yet, the ideas are still developing.

As for other ideas, I’d rather not talk about them. Again, I’m scared I’ll jinx myself.

What are you reading now?
Renewed by my dear friend Maggie Blackbird.

What famous author do you wish would be your mentor?
It’s a toss-up between Nora Roberts, Stephen King, and Margaret Atwood.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Read or spend time with my husband and son.

What is the best part of your day?
The coffee after my son goes to school.

Would you rather be in a room full of snakes or a room full of spiders?
Neither!

What is your least favorite word?
Sopping. I don’t know why, but it sounds gross to me.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Creatively? The smell of good coffee.
Spiritually? The ocean.

What turns you off?
Drama and bull shit.

What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck. I use it at least 20 times a day.

What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of my cat purring. It’s so soothing.

What sound or noise do you hate?
People humming while they’re shopping. UGH.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Psychologist or Medical Examiner.

What profession would you not like to do?
Gynecologist.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Well, Heaven just went to Hell!”
~~~

V.J. Allison was born and raised in southern Nova Scotia, Canada, and her work reflects her strong Maritime roots. She is a stay at home mother to a son on the autism spectrum, married to the love of her life, and “mama” to a rescued Maine Coon cat named Marnie.

She has been writing various stories of novel length and short stories since her school days, and sees writing as a vital component to her life.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to read romance and science fiction novels (notably Star Wars); listen to music (heavy metal, rock, alternative); watch various crime and forensic dramas; watch science fiction television shows and movies; and spend time with her large family and many friends.

This self-proclaimed geeky rocker chick is an advocate for and warrior of various chronic illnesses including Occipital Neuralgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Diabetes, Migraines, and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia. She is also an advocate for the prevention of animal cruelty and is a voice for Autism Awareness.

Links:



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Thursday, February 6, 2020

Awesome Excerpt Thursday - Project X by Cheryl Headford

Blurb
Morgan Bentley is a bastard. Matthew knows this absolutely—until he doesn’t.
Matthew and his friend Cory are thrilled to attend one of the most prestigious universities in the UK. On their pre-entry visit, they met Morgan Bentley and his stuck-up friends. Matthew takes an instant dislike to the arrogant, conceited, self-obsessed, beautiful, intelligent, and charismatic boy. Throughout the next year, Matthew harbours his dislike, never missing the opportunity to complain to his best friend, Cory, what a bastard Morgan is.

Then, an unexpected turn of events catapults Matthew, Morgan, and Cory into a nightmare, and all the things Cory had said about Matthew’s true feelings about Morgan come crashing down on his head, and he realises that what he thought was hatred and anger was, in fact, growing attraction and begrudging admiration. But when the deadly nature of the elusive Project X is revealed, it seems their budding romance is doomed before it begins, as one of them is unlikely to survive.

Excerpt
Morgan Bentley was a bastard. An utter, complete, A-one, cut-glass bastard. He was arrogant, selfish, cold, standoffish, cruel, and completely heartless. His history was peppered with broken hearts and broken people attesting to the fact. There was no doubt about it—he was a bastard.
Morgan didn’t have any friends. What he had was an entourage: people who cared less for the person he was than for the prestige his company brought. At the moment he had a girlfriend, the undoubted Alpha Female of the university, a bitch called Charlotte Lethbridge, whose father owned half of Mayfair. The relationship wouldn’t last, though. They never did. And next week it could just as easily be a boyfriend.
No one ever said no to Morgan. No one outside his circle of “friends” ever said anything at all unless he invited them to, which he rarely ever did.
Cory often said Morgan was sad—he had to be. He had to be lonely and sad because he had no real friends, no lasting relationships, no one to share with. Not like us. Sometimes I had to stop myself laughing when he said that. Morgan Bentley sad? Not bloody likely. He had everything. I mean everything.
His father was a research chemist, heading a huge multinational corporation. They manufactured drugs and engaged in research projects, sometimes for the government. I think that’s why Cory was so fascinated with Morgan. He was getting a degree in biochemistry and wanted to be a researcher himself. Cory was awesome...but he had flaws, and his fascination with Morgan was one of them. Personally, I wouldn’t care if I never saw his smug face ever again. Hell, I’d have been so much happier if I hadn’t.
 ~
For a different perspective on how Morgan felt about that initial meeting you might like to read the Prequel. This gives away spoilers if you haven’t read the book, but is a nice, currently free,  introduction to the boys and how their different perspectives work.
Project X - eXtasy Books

Author Bio - Cheryl Headford
Cheryl was born into a poor mining family in the South Wales Valleys. Until she was 16, the toilet was at the bottom of the garden and the bath hung on the wall. Her refrigerator was a stone slab in the pantry and there was a black lead fireplace in the kitchen. They look lovely in a museum but aren’t so much fun to clean.
Cheryl has always been a storyteller. As a child, she’d make up stories for her family and they’d explore the imaginary worlds she created in play.
Later in life, Cheryl became the storyteller for a re enactment group who traveled widely, giving a taste of life in the Iron Age. As well as having an opportunity to run around hitting people with a sword, she had an opportunity to tell stories of all kinds, sometimes of her own making, to all kinds of people. The criticism was sometimes harsh, especially from the children, but the reward enormous.
It was here she began to appreciate the power of stories and the primal need to hear them. In ancient times, the wandering bard was the only source of news, and the storyteller was the heart of the village, keeping the lore and the magic alive. Although much of the magic has been lost, the stories still provide a link to the part of us that still wants to believe that it’s still there, somewhere.
In present times, Cheryl lives in a terraced house in the valleys with her son, dog, bearded dragon and cats. Her daughter has deserted her for the big city, but they’re still close. She’s never been happier since she was made redundant and is able to devote herself entirely to her twin loves of writing and art, with a healthy smattering of magic and mayhem


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Monday, February 3, 2020

Extasy Books & Devine Destinies February Sale & Giveaway Tour!


* Receive 10% back in reward credits on every purchase to be used on future purchases.

* New customers get $5.00 off $20 or more purchase. Coupon added automatically to your shopping cart.
* Huge markdowns on books in the Bargain Bin! New books added monthly.
* Try a new series and save at least 50% on Bundled Books!

Inferno

by D.S. Dehel
Genre: Contemporary Dark Romance 

A musician. An angel. A hearing impaired artist.
Simple. Kinky. Complicated.


Lasciate vi stesso voi ch’entrate. “Abandon yourself, you who enter” are the words engraved on the invitation given to Rose Dantes by her fiancé, Nico. It is a chance to uncover her passions and unlock her darkest desires. It is a gift of magnificent proportions—one that will change her life irrevocably.

With the enigmatic Virgil as her guide and mentor, Rose endeavors to complete the gauntlet known as “The Nine,” a pilgrimage tailored to her fantasies. Doing so earns her nothing more than the praise and adoration of her fiancé, something she wants more than anything else. Her quest pushes her boundaries and makes her question her entire life. Yet, Rose is no shrinking violet. She has a mind of her own and an attitude to match, qualities she will need to complete her Pilgrimage. Inferno plunges her into an abyss of pleasure and personal pain, and in the end, she must face her very own Lucifer.


An eXtasy Books Editor's Choice Book

"The story is told from the perspective of Rose, the primary character, who starts out on a sexual "pilgrimage" on the urging of her fiance Nico. Along the way, Rose finds out a lot -- about herself, mostly, but also about people she thought she knew, including that she doesn't know so much about them, after all." ~ Editor

Reviews:
"I love this book! I hated for it to end..." 5 Stars - Lynn
"Such an interesting premise full of hot men, no matter what your type is." - 5 Stars – Tonya


**Only .99 cents!!**


Extrication
Veiled Eliminators #1
by Taryn Jameson and Gabriella Bradley
Genre: Scifi Romance 

Extrications are dangerous, and Two is willing to risk it all to escape the Institute.
Two is an eliminator, a trained assassin. She has one mission—enter the portal, eliminate a rogue general, then activate her microchip to wipe her memory. But she knows a secret that would rock the foundations of the Institute’s training program. Armed with only a tiny dagger, and the truth of their future, she enlists the help of her partner, Four, to escape their fate.


An Extasy Books Editors Choice Book
"A new look at a possible future with a good mix of paranormal. As the first story of a new series, the excellent world-building and unique characters set a compelling precedent that will have you wanting more." ~ Editor

Reviews:
"Extrication is a story well worth reading. I am looking forward to more stories from these two authors." - 5 Stars – Jennifer

"A complex and inventive plot that matches the book's unique world building, completely unlike any romance I've read in some time." - 5 Stars – Mickey


**Only .99 cents!!**


Blessed
The Matawapit Family Series Book 1
by Maggie Blackbird
Genre: Contemporary M/M Inspirational Romance

It’s been ten years since Emery Matawapit sinned, having succumbed to temptation for the one thing in his life that felt right, another man. In six months he’ll make a life-changing decision that will bar him from sexual relationships for the rest of his life.


Darryl Keejik has a decade-long chip on his shoulder, and he holds Emery’s father, the church deacon, responsible for what he’s suffered: the loss of his family and a chance at true love with Emery. No longer a powerless kid, Darryl has influence within the community—maybe more than the deacon. Darryl intends on using his power to destroy Deacon Matawapit and his church.

Hoping to save the church, Emery races home. But stopping Darryl is harder than expected when their sizzling chemistry threatens to consume Emery. Now he is faced with the toughest decision of his life: please his devout parents and fulfill his call to the priesthood, or remain true to his heart and marry the man created for him.

This is very erotic book about a spiritual journey.


Reviews:
"Maggie Blackbird's debut novel hits it out of the ballpark. Well written, deep in eroticism, and two flawed but easy to love main characters. Highly recommended!" - 5 Stars – Valerie


**Only .99 cents!!**


Horizontal Bunny Hop
A Fairy in the Bed Book 2
by Lark Westerly
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance 

Two flat batteries… and a fairy in her bed.
Single Mab spends her Easter birthday in the attic of a boutique hotel. Her sister’s joking gift of a Bunnyhopper sex toy provides some amusement until the batteries run out. Mab’s mad enough to make a wish. Enter Derry; a fairy with a taste for chocolate. Room Service has never been so much fun.

**Only .99 cents!!**






D.S. Dehel is a lover of photography, good food, and the Oxford comma. When she is not immersed in a book, she is mom to her kids and spoiling her rather pampered feline, Mr. Darcy. She can also be found at the gym training for her next Spartan race and generally avoiding all adult responsibility. She adores literary allusions, writing sex scenes, and British television. Her devoted husband is still convinced she writes children's books. Please don't enlighten him.








Taryn Jameson is a mother, artist, and avid reader who lives in an enchanted forest that sparks her imagination to create. Her latest outlet is the written word. She is the alter ego of cover artist Angela Waters.

She loved designing the covers for this series and thought it was a lot of fun bringing the Crimson Realm to life both with words and visually with the covers.







Gabriella Bradley lives in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, amidst rugged mountains. She more than often has a grizzly in her backyard searching for food. Other critters that visit on a regular basis are cougars, coyotes, squirrels, raccoons.

She has been a writer all of her life, though only ventured into erotic works in 2003. Her hobbies include hiking, gardening, swimming, sewing, embroidery. Favorite movies are old timers like Gone with the WindSpartacus etc. Favorite music is Abba.





An Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario, Maggie Blackbird resides in the country with her husband and their fur babies, two beautiful Alaskan Malamutes. When she’s not writing, she can be found pulling weeds in the flower beds, mowing the huge lawn, walking the Mals deep in the bush, teeing up a ball at the golf course, fishing in the boat for walleye, or sitting on the deck at her sister’s house, making more wonderful memories with the people she loves most.







Lark Westerly lives in the island state of Tasmania, a place of wind and rivers, wild places and hidden delights. She enjoys walking over the hills, gardening, collecting china dogs, listening to music and wallowing decadently in a hot bath. Lark has been married for some years, and has two grown children. She writes under a variety of names, and lives in many worlds- most of which don’t bear much resemblance to the 21st Century.









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