Q & A with Tawny Taylor

Phoenician prince Talen Jacek has lived a cursed existence for over two thousand years. Suffering one violent death after another, though, is nothing compared to the emotional isolation he endures. Computer programmer Keri Maddox’s life may not be exciting, but predictability is her mantra. Then she discovers Talen in her apartment wearing only a towel-and her safe, tidy world is yanked from under her feet. An inferno of carnal need erupts between them. Yet the power of their igniting love may not be enough to save Keri from a killer who is determined to deliver the inevitable death stroke.

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Samhain Publishing (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605044474
• ISBN-13: 978-1605044477
• Available now at Amazon.com.

Hi Tawny, thank you for agreeing to an author interview today.

Hi Lillie, thank you very much for having me! Your blog is so much fun to follow.

Can you tell everyone a little bit about yourself?
There isn’t much to tell, IMO. I am the mother of five, as well as grandma to one adorable little girl. My second grandchild is expected the first week of January. My family is the center of my universe. If you asked my kids to describe me, I’m guessing they’d say I’m a little quirky, in a way that makes me a smidge odd, but not scary-strange. My husband would say I have an easy smile and tend to laugh when I don’t know what else to do, but he knows I hide my shyness under that grin. And I’ll admit I tend to find a new passion and become totally obsessed with it. (Right now, that passion is the police procedural program, Criminal Minds) All in all, I’d say I’m like a lot of other women my age…at least, I think I am…right?

How long have you been writing?
For publication, since the summer of 2001. For pleasure, since I learned to print the alphabet.

What is your writing process like?

My writing process changes with every book I write. When I was just starting out, I would draft a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline, making sure I had mapped out every major plot point. Gradually, I moved away from that process, instead writing a blurb and a short synopsis. Lately, I just jot down notes about characters and motivation then dig in and write the first three chapters. Only after I’m happy with the sample chapters do I tackle the synopsis. But like I said, that’s in general. I’ve done something a little different each time I’ve started a book.

Can you tell us about your upcoming release Prince Of Fire?
The December 1st release of Prince of Fire is actually a re-release of a book that was formerly only available in ebook formats.

I wanted to write about a hero who was emotionally cut off from everyone, every single human being, and not by choice. No friends. No lovers. No family. The only way I could see that happening was for my hero to be isolated from humanity in some way. After doing some reading and soul-searching, I decided he would be like a phoenix, living, dying and then being “reborn”, over and over. This cycle would restrict him from becoming close to anyone, and would provide such profound isolation and loneliness, I had to write the book to make sure he received the HEA deserved.

Do you have any other books releasing in the near future?
The second book in my Masters of Desire series, Decadent Master (Aphrodisia, Feb 2010), is releasing in the next few months and is already available for preorder on Amazon.

What are you currently working on?
I have a couple of books in process right now. The first is the second book in my Masters of Sin series, titled Lust’s Embrace, and the second project is the first book in a new series for Aphrodisia titled Darkest Fire.

Where do you get your ideas for your books?
People ask me this question all the time (I have a feeling all authors are asked this). I get my ideas from everything/everywhere–conversations with friends, brainstorming sessions with fellow writers, books I’ve read, movies or television programs I’ve watched, artwork, music, dreams, the list goes on. I think everyone, writers and non-writers alike, get ideas about stories, but writers are the ones who write them down.

As an author, you must be an avid reader. What books do you enjoy reading? Who are your auto-buy authors?
I do read a fair amount, and I read a wide variety of books, both fiction and non-fiction. I can’t say I’ve purchased every single book written by any one author, because I tend to be an impulse reader and buyer, but I have purchased a lot of titles by James Rollins, MaryJanice Davidson, Katie MacAlister and Gena Showalter.

What books are on your keeper shelf?
Every book I’ve purchased. *Guilty grin* I’m a book hoarder. I can’t part with even one.

What was the first romance book you read or the one book that has stood the test of time for you?
Despite my proclivity toward hoarding, I don’t have any of my old books, from back in the day–too many house moves. But I cut my teeth on 80’s Native American Indian romance novels, historicals, and time travels. Gotta say, I loved the whole concept of the time travel, specifically the kind where the heroine travels back in time and falls in love with a prince/duke/king/Scottish laird/whatever.  I’m sure this has everything to do with my obsession for historical reenactment and costuming.

If your book was made into a movie, which actors would like to see as the lead characters?
Hmmmm….have you seen the cover of this book? That’s one serious set of abs to live up to. I’m drawing a blank at the moment.

If you could switch lives with one of your characters who would it be & why?
Oh gosh, I don’t know if I’d want to switch with any of them. My life is great. I’ve loved like my characters have loved. I’ve hurt like they have too. And I’m living the HEA each of them get by The End. You see, I don’t need to switch.

When you are not writing or reading, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Sewing. I just LOVElovelove researching and constructing historical costumes. It started when I was a child–my mother had no idea what she was doing the first time she put me in period garb. It’s become an obsession. During the summer, you’ll find me (and my family) in Revolutionary War period garb, Civil War period garb, mid and late Victorian garb, and, of course, Renaissance garb.

If you could ask readers any one question, what would it be?
What story are you waiting to read? What story hasn’t been told yet, but needs to be?

Where can readers find you on the internet?
Readers can find me here and there on the internet. I’m not big on promoting myself, and I don’t hit dozens of yahoo groups, blogs and forums on a regular basis, but I have a myspace (http://www.myspace.com/fictionwithsassitude) (though I haven’t updated it in a while) and facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/tawny.taylor). And, of course, there’s my website (www.tawnytaylor.com) and blog (tawnytaylor.blogspot.com). I’m also a regular visitor of the Romance Divas forums (www.romancedivas.com).

Thank you again for having me!
Tawny

 

*** One lucky commenter will win a surprise package from Tawny Taylor!

Winner: Shelley Munro guest blog

Using List Randomizer at random.org, the winner of a download of Summer In The City Of Sails or Playing To Win is:

Maija A

Please email me at lillie_applegarth @ yahoo.com (without the spaces) with the book title and digital format you prefer and I will forward your information to Shelley. Please include “Shelley Munro book winner” in the subject line.

The winner will have three days to contact me or a new winner will be drawn.

 

There were 15 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Maija A
2. Connie T
3. Nikki H
4. Jaime
5. Susan Helene Gottfried
6. Sherry
7. Tamsyn T
8. Fedora
9. Joder
10. Bama
11. Linda Henderson
12. tennismom mary g
13. Estella
14. Maxi
15. Morning Glow

Timestamp: 2009-11-29 23:59:59 UTC

Winner: Stephanie Tyler guest blog

Using List Randomizer at random.org, the winner of an autographed copy of Hard To Hold is:

Bama

Please e-mail Greta at gw12cats03 @ charter.net (without the spaces) with your mailing address so she can forward the information to Stephanie. Please include “Stephanie Tyler Book Winner” in the subject line. The winner will have three days to contact Greta or a new winner will be drawn.

There were 32 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Bama
2. Stacy ~
3. Raonaid Luckwell
4. Jeanette Juan
5. Lisa Freeman
6. Teresa W.
7. Connie T
8. Jen E
9. Joder
10. s7anna
11. Amber E.
12. Emmanuelle
13. Jane
14. Viki
15. Sue Hussein
16. Chelsea B.
17. Brandy W
18. Kristin M
19. Linda Henderson
20. Ina
21. Maxi
22. Lori T,
23. Armenia
24. Maureen
25. SusiSunshine
26. Janet H
27. I Heart Book Gossip
28. Rachel Aukes
29. Fedora
30. tennismom mary g
31. Blanche
32. Estella

Timestamp: 2009-11-29 23:47:35 UTC

Winner: Jambrea Jo Jones guest blog

Using List Randomizer at random.org, the winner of a digital copy of Magnus is:

Connie T

Please email me at lillie_applegarth @ yahoo.com (without the spaces) with the digital format you prefer and I will forward your information to Jambrea. Please include “Jambrea Jo Jones book winner” in the subject line.

The winner will have three days to contact me or a new winner will be drawn.

There were 15 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Connie T
2. Booklover1335
3. Elyane
4. Joder
5. Sherry
6. Raonaid Luckwell
7. Natasha A.
8. Jane
9. Fedora
10. Brenda Hill
11. Sloan Parker
12. Sandie E
13. Book Junkie
14. Estella
15. Maria D.

Timestamp: 2009-11-29 23:21:49 UTC

Please welcome Shelley Munro!

Spin Off Characters

 

Thanks so much for having me to visit today. My name is Shelley Munro, and I write both contemporary and paranormal romance for Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing.

Series have become very common in the world of romance, and readers are always clamoring for the latest book. I know this because I’m one of those readers. You know—the ones who secretly implore their favorite authors to write faster. Actually sometimes it’s loud demands. Ilona Andrews, can you hear me?

I love reading series. I like returning to worlds I’ve enjoyed. I like learning the fates of interesting secondary characters. A series allows me to wallow in the world the author has created, learn more about it, and rejoice in the hero and heroine’s journey to a happy ending. With the each successive book in a series, I can do it over all again—the wallowing.

When my erotic romance Summer in the City of Sails came out, readers started contacting me almost straight away. Did I intend to write about Summer’s two brothers? Was I going to write about Nikolai’s two NZSAS (New Zealand Special Air Services) friends?

Summer in the City of Sails was one of the first books I wrote for Ellora’s Cave. I have to admit that I intended it as a one-off. Although I loved my secondary characters and could see the potential, the right story eluded me. Then, last year I watched a documentary about New Zealand soldiers who were enticed into private security work in places like Iraq. The seeds were sown for Soldier of Fortune.

Joanna “Mac” McGregor is a soldier. Her father was a soldier, so she fell into the job and found she was good at it. During her time off, she’s Joanna, the sexy siren who just wants to have fun, but when she’s at work, she’s Mac, the tough, capable soldier. When her father becomes sick, Mac doesn’t have many options. She needs money—big money—and going into private security is the only way to obtain it.

Joanna “Mac” McGregor loves her father, and she’ll do anything to keep him safe after Alzheimer’s starts to steal his mind. That takes money, and Mac uses her only skills—those of soldiering—when she takes up a security contract in Iraq. She doesn’t have time for men, her last vacation fling in Fiji relegated as one perfect moment to hold close during the grim reality of war.

Soldier Louie Lithgow is tired of fighting, the constant danger, and has decided this is his last contract. He wants to retire, sink his savings into a place on the beach, and find the sexy Joanna, his holiday lover.

Mac’s arrival in Iraq causes consternation. They’ve both been economical with the truth, but the attraction sizzling between them flares hot and bright. They embark on a clandestine affair—professional and confident during their high-danger day, passionate with the release of emotional stress during their torrid nights. One thing is clear—they have different goals and the future is both murky and dangerous. If they survive their contracts.

Buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-7810-127-soldier-of-fortune.aspx

Buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-6126-127-summer-in-the-city-of-sails.aspx

Website: http://www.shelleymunro.com
Blog: http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog

Do you enjoy series, and if so, why? Do you have any favorite series?

***Leave a comment answering Shelley’s question for a chance to win a download of her e-book Summer in the City of Sails, an erotic romance, or Playing to Win, a sensual romance. Reader’s choice!

Extremely Excited to welcome Jake from Hard to Hold by Stephanie Tyler …and Chris & Nick

JAKE, thank you for agreeing to an interview today on my blog.

Can I personally say, I am excited to finally meet you!

Jake:  It’s not the first time we’ve met…remember last year when we got together and…oh right, yeah, good to meet you, Greta. 

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself, your brothers Nick & Chris, as well as Isabelle?

Nick:  Did you see my review in RT?  They’re calling my book edgy and sexy.

Jake: My book was called brilliant in that review.  So yeah, back to me…

Chris:  The trilogy is about the three of us – Navy SEALs and brothers by adoption.

Greta: Nick, Chris nice of you to join us. You do know you were both going to get your own interviews, right?

Jake:  *muttering*  I’m so going to ruin all your interviews.

Nick:  And in Hard to Hold, Jake gets all whipped by Izzy.

Jake:  Yeah, Kaylee does a pretty good job on you, brother.

Nick:  Gotta run.

I understand that your story Hard to Hold is being released today, can you tell the readers about it?

Jake:  Well, the blurb’s pretty cool, because you know, warrior and all.  Check this out:

Maximum danger.
Maximum desire. 
And holding on for dear life…

The Special Ops hero feared nothing 
-until he met a woman too hot to hold…

Lt. Jake Hansen has survived some of the riskiest missions known to man. But now the wounded Navy SEAL faces his toughest job yet: Smuggling Dr. Isabelle Markham out of Africa without triggering an international incident. Not easy to do when the gorgeous hostage happens to be a senator’s daughter —and about as easy to resist as an oasis in the desert…

If it weren’t for Jake, Isabelle would still be halfway across the world, where rebel forces left her for dead. The Special Ops warrior may have saved her life, but she doesn’t need him to protect her now. Tell that to the ruggedly handsome hunk in full battle fatigues who’s just been assigned Isabelle’s personal bodyguard. Close quarters aside, Isabelle won’t let Jake anywhere near her heart — until danger throws them together again…and nothing in the jungles of wildest Africa could prepare them for a passion this wild. This crazy. This hot….

Jake:  So basically, I save Isabelle and…

Isabelle:  And I call you on your shit.

Chris:  Oh, she shoots, she scores!

Jake:  Greta, you said this was my interview, remember?

I understand you know Stephanie Tyler and that she actually wrote your story Hard to Hold. What was it like working with her?

Jake: She’s pretty cool.  Pain in the ass stubborn though, so I guess that’s why we get along.

Have you read Hard to Hold yet? What did you think of it?

Jake:  Well…hey, what are you doing here?

Steph: I’ve got more bookmarks for you to hand out. So, what did you think of Hard to Hold?

Jake: I think you told all my secrets.

Steph:  *shrugs*  Whatever.  I also brought you together with Isabelle, so let’s remember that when you’re hand selling your book.

Jake:  Do you see what I have to put up with?

If Hard to Hold was made into a movie, which actor do you see portraying you, Isabelle, your brothers?

Jake:  They’re making a movie of my book – did you hear that?

Nick:  She said, if, man.  If it was made into a movie…

Jake:  When it is, I’m going to make sure your part is cut.

Nick:  You’re not answering the question.

Jake:  Screw it. 

I’m sure you know that Stephanie is a member of the Writeminded Readers Yahoo Group, and you’ve already developed a huge following 🙂 How does it make you feel when you hear about readers screaming JAKE!!!!!!!!! How does Isabelle feel?

Jake:  Well, yeah, I like women screaming out my name.  *looks over shoulder for Isabelle*   Well, now I like one woman to do that, but you know…before…

Will readers see you, Isabelle or your brothers in the future?

Jake:  Nick’s got his story out January 5, 2010 – and Chris January 26, 2010 – you’ll see me and Isabelle in that one.  For Nick’s book, I was ah, busy, you know?

Chris:  I’m in all three books.  So yeah, being last does have its advantages.

Nick: Yeah, the advantage of a pink cover.

Jake:  Could the both of you get the hell out of here now?

Can you tell us something about Stephanie that readers may not know?

Jake:  I don’t think her husband knows she screams out my name.

Is there anything you would like to ask the readers?

Jake: Are you all going to keep screaming out my name?

Where can readers find information about Stephanie on the internet?

Jake:  Check out her website at www.StephanieTyler.com.  And buy my book…or I’ll hunt you down.

***Leave a comment asking Jake or Stephanie any questions about Hard To Hold and one lucky comment will win an autographed copy. Good Luck 🙂

Jambrea Jo Jones discusses Magnus!

Available now at Liquid Silver Books

Colonel Joe “Magnus” River’s sole purpose in life is to protect the United States of America. It isn’t just a job; it’s his reason for being. Magnus’ life is turned upside down when he is informed a woman will be joining his team of elite marines. She made it through boot camp, but can she make it through Magnus?

Nothing in NCIS Special Agent Emily Patterson’s career could have prepared her for Colonel Rivers. Her orders: infiltrate the Colonel’s team and find out who has been kidnapping women and children from third world countries and selling them as sex slaves. A string of unexpected events changes everything, potentially exposing Emily before she finds the guilty party. Her mission becomes more difficult as she gets to know the man behind the uniform. Magnus can’t be involved, can he?

Jambrea, thank you for agreeing to an author interview today.

Thank you for having me! I love this blog.  🙂

Can you tell everyone a little bit about yourself?

Let’s see. I’m a wife and mother. I work as an administrative assistant by day, for a steel fabrication company. Um…I was in the Air Force for two years and…my favorite flower is a daisy.  Is that what you wanted to know?  lol

How long have you been writing?

I started writing years ago. Mostly poems. I wanted to be an author, but I really didn’t know where to begin. In 2008 I got serious about writing and submitted my first story. While waiting to hear back on it, I submitted another story to a different publisher. One the same day, I received my first acceptance and my first rejection.  lol

What is your writing process like?

I hate to say it, but I really don’t have much of a process. I usually wait until my son goes to bed to start writing. And weekends are a good time for me.

Can you tell us about your newest release Magnus?

I started Magnus for a contest. Um…you might not know this about me, but I LOVE contest and a few of my stories start off with one. lol When I started, I only had to have a thousand word excerpts and if I won, I might have to have an 80k manuscript ready. Well….um…I only had 2k of the story done. lol. I had to haul ass to get the story written. As I wrote, I started to fear I wouldn’t make the 80k mark. The contest ended. I placed in the top 10, but wasn’t asked for a full. That ended up being a good thing because my story was finished at 53k. lol It is my longest to date. I finished it up and pitched it at the Lori Foster Event. They asked to see the first three chapters and the rest…is history.  🙂

Do you have any other books releasing in the near future?

My next release is in December. It’s called Unwinding Path. It is an m/m story, the sequel to Unseen Path, which is an m/f.

What are you currently working on?

Right now I’m working on Semper Fi: Ben, the second book in my Semper Fi series.

Where do you get your ideas for your books?

Ahhh…*looks around for the men with the ‘I Love Myself’ jacket* the voices…in my head? lol Ideas just come to me and I write them. Sometimes a song will trigger and idea, sometimes just seeing something. Like the other morning, I was driving my son to school and we had to drive under this bridge and I noticed a train going over it and an idea popped into my head.

As an author, you must be an avid reader. What books do you enjoy reading? Who are your auto-buy authors?

I AM an avid reader. I wasn’t always. When I was younger I HATED to read. It was so bad that when my aunt gave my sister and I a box of Harlequins, I noticed duplicates. I had my sister read them to me while I followed along. lol After the first couple I was hooked. 🙂 There was no turning back. I love reading just about any genre. Romance, suspense, military, fantasy. Auto buys…I hope I don’t forget anyone, but I know I will.  lol TA Chase. He is my all time favorite author. Carol Lynne, JD Robb, Sherrilyn Kenyon, JR Ward, Mari Carr, JL Langley, Linda Winfree, Jayne Rylon, um…the other ladies of International Heat. Jess Dee, Rhian Cahill, Lila Dubois, Lexxie Couper & Vivian Arend. I’m sure there are a few more. lol

What books are on your keeper shelf?

I don’t buy a lot of hard backs anymore. I have a couple series. JD Robb, JR Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Deborah Cooke, TA Chase, Carol Lynne, Robert Jackson and if I have an autographed copy of a book I keep it.  🙂

What was the first romance book you read or the one book that has stood the test of time for you?

The first book that really remember, my mom bought it for me on my birthday when we were on a trip to Florida. The book was Defiant Splendor by Michalann Perry. I read my first copy so many times that pages started falling out. I had to go to Abe Books to find a new copy. I’m thinking a re read might be in order.

If your book was made into a movie, which actors would like to see as the lead characters?

This is actually easy for me. lol I look at pictures to get ideas for characters. Magnus is David Boreanaz and Emily is Kate from NCIS, her real name is Sasha Alexander.

If you could switch lives with one of your characters who would it be & why?

I would totally switch with Emily. She kicks ass and gets Mag. lol

When you are not writing or reading, what do you enjoying doing in your spare time?

Um…when is that?  lol  I love to play games with my son. His new favorite is Uno. And I like to take pictures and scrap book. I’ve even tried my hand at painting, but I can only do abstracts.

If you could ask readers anyone question, what would it be?

Wow..I get to ask a question.  Hmmm….What is the first thing that draws you into a book? Cover? Blurb? Excerpts?

Where can readers find you on the internet?

I’m usually around a few yahoo groups. I’m actually a part of my own called Heat Wave. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Heat_Wave_Readers/?yguid=80421025
I have my own website www.jambrea.com

I also have a couple blogs

http://jambrea.wordpress.com/

http://internationalheat.wordpress.com/

*** Leave a comment answering Jambrea’s question for a chance to win a digital copy of Magnus!