Talking with Sammy Jo Hunt & a Contest

I have the extreme pleasure of having one of my new favorite M/M authors, Sammy Jo Hunt, dropping by today at Dawn's Reading Nook. To say I am tickled pink is an understatement. *grins* Now let's get down to finding out what makes this author tick.

Special Note: Contest informaiton is at the end of the interview. 

What is a typical day like for you?  A typical day includes a bit of writing, research and homework for grad school.  Work at present is writing romance stories. I'm sort of married to my computer and live online for both school and work. Writing has become a secondary career for me for the past couple of years now while I've been in graduate school. I love it, and it’s a great creative outlet for me, an escape of sorts from school and clinical therapy and textbooks. I love that I can feel so passionate and inspired about writing hot romantic stories in addition to helping people in other ways.

How long have you been writing? And have you always wanted to be a writer?  Since I was in my teens, when I wrote my first romance novel at the age of 15.  But professionally, I’ve been writing since I began my college education back in 1997 for social work. Now, I write a lot for graduate school and most of what I write is clinical and related to therapy and counseling. Some part of me needs an occasional break from that intensity.

So, for personal enjoyment, I’ve been writing steadily for the past 2 years in the m/m romance genre, and I really love it. I didn’t start writing seriously until two years ago when I became inspired by some people I met in the gay community that made me crave writing fictional romance again. And I absolutely adore a good story with a happily-ever-after ending. It totally does my heart good to believe in love and happy endings.

Who or what influenced your writing over the years?  I grew up reading and adoring great romance authors such as Jude Deveraux, Janet Daily, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, and Sidney Sheldon. They were my favorites of the romance genre who captured my imagination and took me on romantic journeys to far-away places. I always wanted to write the way they did. They really inspired me, in style, concept, and originality.

To date, what has been the best advice or words of encouragement you've received?  They were from published author Sue Brown. She’s a wonderful close friend of mine. Sue told me almost a year ago that she knew I could do this (become published), and to not listen to the negativity that might come my way. She told me she believed in me, that my stories were good, and to go for it. She promised me she’d be right there for me, cheering me on all the way. I listened, and haven’t looked back since. And she was right. For her encouragement and belief in me, I will always be grateful. I probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her.

What are three things about you that would surprise your fans?  I’d have to say that I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and honest to a fault. Also, I’ve never been married and don’t have any kids at the age of 43. And besides that, I’d have to say that even though I’ve always loved to write, and was encouraged by professors in college to pursue writing as a career, I never once seriously thought about pursuing writing professionally until I met Sue Brown a year ago. I was writing fan fiction for fun and that’s when Sue stumbled across my stories. She started leading the brigade almost from the get-go to encourage me to pursue becoming published because she thought my writing was good enough to merit it.

What do you love and hate most about writing?  I love the free license to be creative, and to bring to life with words the visions and stories which unfold in my head. I love communicating that world to my readers, where those who read my stories can escape somewhere else for a little while.  As far as what I hate about it, I don't really hate anything about the writing process. It’s all very interesting and fascinating to me, and comes easily to me, which is a gift in itself.

Perhaps the one thing I dislike the most is an equal weight shared between those times when I get writers block and can't move forward in a story until I solve some issue or dilemma; and then too, I dislike the editing process. I don't think there's a writer alive that enjoys editing his or her work. But one learns from the editing process how to be a better, more focused and capable writer. So even with the downside of editing, there’s some definite good that comes from doing it.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?  I think developing a strong plot with great, passionate energy and chemistry that flows effortlessly between the two main characters is essential. Sometimes it’s a challenge. But when those elements come together and work right, the result is magic and it’s what I always strive to create.

What is your greatest strength as a writer?  I study human behavior and have a great deal of insight into how the human heart and mind work. That gives me the ability to develop and write great depth of character in the characters in my books. In addition, I’ve had a lifetime of experience, some of which has been emotional and hard. It’s much more difficult to write about something, a feeling, an emotion, a sensation, an event, if you’ve never been through it yourself. It makes writing more effortless when you’re telling a story about something you have strong personal feelings attached to, because you understand it. I think that makes my writing better, filled with more depth of feeling and emotion.

Tell me about your ideal man for the main character in your books.  For most of my stories, there is a common theme which tends to reoccur. My main male character is always tall, lean, beautifully sculpted in the physical sense, but not muscle-bound, and has jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes. There are several famous men in real life which I identify with, which all have those similar characteristics. 

In addition to physical looks and a strong, very dominant, alpha-male presence, my main character is always someone who has a great capacity to love his partner, is noble and honest, and at the heart, a very good man. He's someone I'd want to have in my own life personified through my stories, if I ever found the man of my dreams. He's someone that's not perfect, has a tendency to react in anger, but is willing to apologize for his mistakes.

That to me, is an ideal man:  someone who behaves realistically, and with real emotion. And of course, he's always a very passionate man, sure of himself, what he wants, and is a capable, tender, yet intense lover. I think many of us are searching for just that man or that partner in our own lives. So, until I, and all my readers find him or her, I'll write stories about someone that resembles what I believe our collective hearts are searching for.

How do you name your characters?

That’s a great question. It’s interesting too, because it involves quite the mental process to put names to my characters. Once I’ve envisioned a story line and created my plot, and my characters come to life, I look at them in my mind’s eye, see their faces, take into account what they look like, their overall dispositions, natures, and temperaments, and a name will usually come to me. It’s like the name chooses the character, if that makes any sense, based on the aforementioned components.

Sometimes I have to play with several names until the name “feels right” to me. Once I know the name matches the character in the story, it’s a done deal and he or she becomes quite real to me in my imagination. It’s how I’m able to put so much realness into the personas of each male or female character I write about, because they’re real people to me, with real feelings and needs. Their story lives … and is written and told . . . through me.

What is it about the M/M genre of romance that makes you enjoy writing it?  I love romance. At the heart of everything, I love a great romantic tale full of twists and turns that centers around two main characters who must navigate the waters of love to find their way together. Beyond that, I think beautiful gay boys are extremely hot and appealing. They’re interesting together, not the same as normal hetero couples such as we’re accustomed to reading about in romance books.  I love telling stories about them and that’s what keeps bringing me back to the genre; that, and the desire to tell engaging stories that draw the reader in and keeps them coming back for more.

Knowing my readers are satisfied and emotionally filled at the conclusion of reading something I’ve written is the main reason I write. It’s important to me that my audience comes away feeling like the world is a good place, with hope, love, warmth, and promise, and that happiness is attainable for each and every one of us.

Tell us about your current news and latest projects?  I’m celebrating my first book release for A Wicked Encounter released through Silver Publishing on April 2nd. As of June 10^th, it’s now also available in Paperback format on Silver’s website, and will eventually be found at Barnes & Noble and other booksellers and retailers. It’s an honor to have my book selected for paper print, considering it is my first published work.

A Wicked Encounter is a m/m erotic Regency-historical romance. You can find it on Silver’s website, Amazon.com, and other well-known romance eBook sites. It was released April 1^st and is doing well. I’m very pleased with the reviews thus far.

In addition to that, I’m under contract for two new books. The first is a novel with Rebel Ink Press. It’s due out on or before Sept. 1st, and is entitled Haunted by Obsession. It’s a contemporary, m/m paranormal erotic ghost story and murder mystery. I’ve always loved nostalgic old ghost stories, and just had to write one with a hot, m/m twist on it. I’ve included an excerpt from this upcoming novel a little later in the interview so you can get a taste of what’s to come.

The other project I’m really honored and excited to be working on is the anthology entitled Chasing The Dream. This will be published through my first house, Silver Publishing, and is a joint project with several other amazing writers. This book will include short stories from Sue Brown, Patricia Logan, Lisa Worrall, GA Hauser, and me. The five of us have contracted with Silver to write a m/m short story of some sort following the theme of the title. I can’t wait to see how readers like this new book.

The scheduled release date for our full length novel of compiled stories will be Sept. 17^th this fall. That book will be available in both eBook and print formats, giving me two paperback books in print. I’m so excited to be part of this project and cannot wait to hold the finished product in my hands. So, in regards to both books, as well as several other writing projects submitted for consideration which I’m waiting to hear back on, things are happening quickly. I’ll keep you updated as they progress.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?  Absolutely! Here are the blurbs from both of my books and also a short chapter excerpt from each one to give you a taste of my writing.

Official cover blurb for A Wicked Encounter:   It’s a Regency-style historical that is a m/m erotic romance and is set near Devonshire, England, in the year 1792:

Christopher Allwyne, Duke of Bellwood, stood to inherit a vast fortune. Still reeling from the loss of his parents and most recently, his Aunt Polly, the Duchess of Bellwood, the young noble found himself traveling in the dark of night to oversee Her Grace's funeral proceedings and to attend the reading of his aunt's will. Along the way, his carriage suffers a devastating accident, and a dark stranger comes to his aid and rescue. The Marquis Evan de Lombard, rich French nobleman, takes an instant interest in the handsome Christopher. Sharing a wicked encounter shortly after meeting, things look promising as love blooms between them. That is, until the Marquis reveals his true identity and purpose.

Once Christopher knows the truth, will he ever be able to forgive Evan and love him, despite the man's indiscretions? Torn apart by dishonesty, can love win out over betrayal and rise to the occasion, reuniting them for a lifetime of happiness? The cost for true love could be a price neither one is willing to pay.

Excerpt from Chapter 1 of A Wicked Encounter:

“Christopher, Your Grace? I’m pleased to make your acquaintance,” the Marquis de Lombard said with a question in his voice. “Perhaps we can talk more later, and you can tell me all about yourself then. But for now, ‘tis probably best if we find some shelter for the night. Are you from this area?” His eyes flickered over the general locale.

“My aunt’s castle is somewhere near here, but since I don’t know exactly where ‘here’ is, I’m not sure how far away we actually are,” Chris replied. It drew raised eyebrows from the other man, but the Marquis only nodded in response.

“I believe we passed a small inn several miles back. If you don’t mind, perhaps we might find lodging there, Your Grace,” de Lombard said, indicating the way they’d come. “We need to tend to that cut on your forehead. It looks deep.”

Chris nodded and began to climb down from the coach. Mid-step, a wave of dizziness afflicted him and he stumbled. His rescuer caught him by the arm to keep him from falling to the ground, his blue eyes wide with worry.

“Here, let me.” De Lombard climbed down behind Chris and supported his body’s weight securely. The man’s lean frame, pressed firmly against Chris’s backside, was warm and solid, and he smelled like leather and warm male spice. The sensation was pleasant, perhaps more than pleasant, the contact stirring unfamiliar yearnings inside Chris. Strong arms supported him as the Marquis eased them both down gently, until they stood on solid, albeit wet and muddy, ground.

“Thank you. You’re most kind,” whispered Chris, shaken from more than just his near fall. He watched as the tall man hoisted himself back up to grab his leather carryall, then gracefully land on his feet as he jumped back down beside Chris. The man took hold of his elbow and urged him toward a grand carriage that stood off to the side of the road.

A richly cloaked driver hurried to open the door for his master. Chris climbed inside. A small lantern hanging from the center of the ceiling cast a low but cheerful glow on rich velvet upholstery and heavily carved woodwork. The inside smelled just like the man himself, sweet and spicy, of fine wood and heavy, tanned leather. The scent was pungent and filled Chris’s nostrils like a drug. He sank into the soft cushioned bench and curled in on himself, closing his eyes for a moment. The Marquis joined him, after speaking quickly in French to his driver and giving explicit instructions on where he was to take them. The man nodded his compliance. “Oui, Monsieur. Absolutement,” he answered, then folded up the coach stairs and shut the door.

A moment later, the coach lurched forward, the four black stallions glistening in the steady downpour as their powerful muscles contracted and began the task of pulling the carriage back down the road the way they’d come. The nobleman focused his eyes intently on Chris, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“You should rest. Close your eyes, Christopher. We’ll be to the inn in a matter of minutes,” he said reassuringly. Chris didn’t argue. He was already too tired to complain or contradict and his head was beginning to throb horribly. He leaned back and drew his damp coat tighter about himself, closing his eyes. The sound of steady horses’ hooves lulled him swiftly away, and he slept.

* * * *

Here’s the official cover blurb for Haunted by Obsession, to be released by Rebel Ink Press on or before Sept. 1st.  This story is a contemporary, m/m paranormal erotic ghost story and murder mystery, very different from my first book:

Aaron Michaels and Kurt Freeman-Michaels are musical celebrities.  An openly gay couple living their dreams, the boys just celebrated their first year of wedded bliss.  Feeling the need to escape and spend some time alone for a change, Aaron and Kurt take an impromptu trip up the coast of California. While they're away, the pair happens upon an elegant Victorian mansion that draws them both in. After falling in love with the property, an unexpected turn of events occurs which makes it possible for the boys to buy the house.

Gordon Inn has stood magnificent beside the ocean for the past 127 years, yet the house hides a dark secret within its walls. Rumors of an illicit affair and a century-old murder color the Inn's unique and troubled past.

Aaron and Kurt quickly learn there's more to the history of Gordon Inn than meets the eye. But many questions remain. Will the couple's lives be torn apart before they find the answers they seek? Who will come to their aid when they're left alone inside the solitude of their ancient home? And, will the boys be able to solve the mystery before more lives are lost?

This is a short unedited excerpt from Chapter 2 of Haunted by Obsession, to give you a taste of what’s to come:

The end of August rolled around, and Kurt came home from tour on the twenty-third. Aaron arrived the following week, and soon Labor Day was approaching. Reunited after two months and only the occasional brief night together, they spent their Friday night before the holiday lounging in bed, working their way through a pitcher of margaritas and having animalistic sex.

Separated for too long made them both hot and horny. Unable to keep their hands off one another, Aaron had Kurt laid out on his back, ass up, legs in the air, pounding into him till he was too sore to sit down. They fucked like bunnies for the better part of the evening. Whoever said being married made sex grow boring after awhile, never met these two. They could go for hours, and still had energy for more. It only seemed to get better the more they practiced at perfecting their technique.

The next morning, their physical lusts having been satiated, they rose early with anticipation and each packed a weekend bag. They climbed into Aaron’s black convertible Mustang and hit the road, hauling ass up north to see the finished product. They were so pumped full of adrenalin, they could think of little else. They both had an intense desire to be there, to see the house and just experience the aura of what was now their own residence.

For the first time ever, they were actually going home to the very first house they’d bought together as a married couple. It was their home, and there was much to celebrate. It felt like sweet success.

* * * *

**AS A SPECIAL TREAT FOR READERS:  

Anyone who leaves a COMMENT BELOW, along with their email address, will be ENTERED into a DRAWING for a FREE, AUTOGRAPHED PAPERBACK COPY of my novel, A WICKED ENCOUNTER. The winner will be contacted via email within 48 hours following the conclusion of this interview post. Be sure to comment and Enter to Win! Good luck!!

Finally, is there a special message in your stories that you want readers to grasp?  Perhaps more than anything else, no matter who you are or what your station in life, I want people to know that true love is out there and attainable for all people. Being a hopeful romantic at heart who is still looking for her own true love, I believe that love is real, that it exists, and that it’s possible for each one of us to have the love we desire and deserve within our own lives.

This has been awesome. Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I’ve really enjoyed being here and sharing more about myself and my passion for writing with you and your readers. I hope you’ll all check out my current and future written work.

* * * *

If you’d like to purchase your own copy of A Wicked Encounter, click here:

http://silverpublishing.info/

http://www.amazon.com/A-Wicked-Encounter-ebook/dp/B004UW00UE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-awickedencounter-543149-144.html

You can find Sammy Jo Hunt at the following websites:

Personal Website and Blog address:   http://sammyjohunt.livejournal.com

Twitter:   http://twitter.com/#!/SammyJo_Hunt

Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002250721821

Email:   sammyjowrites@gmail.com

CONTEST INFORMATION:

ENTER TO WIN A PRINT COPY OF A WICKED  ENCOUNTER

For anyone who leaves a comment with their email address on Sammy's blog post today  will have their names entered into a drawing for the book, A Wicked Encounter, signed by Sammy. Contest will end Tuesday morning at 10 am est. Dawn will announce the winner noon Tuesday June 14th. Open Internationally

disclaimer: If there is no email address in with the comment, it will not be counted.

Welcome Author D. C. Juris/Excerpt

So let’s get this party started. Please tell us about yourself. What got you interested in being an author? Hi there! Thanks for having me. I was born in Florida, but moved to Upstate NY in 2001. I'm a transgender man, and I live with my husband, four small dogs, and three cats.

Can you tell me a bit about your most recent/upcoming release? I've got a 7-story anthology called "Simply Smut" due out in a few days from Breathless Press. The stories consist of 4 m/m stories, 2 transgender stories, and one female masturbation story.

For any readers who may not have read any of your books, can you just give us a little sneak peak into your world (i.e. the type of genre you write, type of stories you like to write....etc)? I write all across the spectrum in regards to pairings - I write m/f, m/m, f/f, and transgender. As far as a preference, I'm more comfortable with m/m or transgender, but I enjoy the challenge of m/f. Although my stories are anywhere from sweet (no sex) to heavy, bloody BDSM, all of my books can be categorized as romance, and they all have happy endings. As far as settings, I typically write contemporary or fantasy.

How much of yourself, if any, do you put into your characters? Some and none. I do draw on my own experiences for my transgender characters. But all of my characters have their own backgrounds and personalities. We have very little in common overall.

Is there a genre you haven’t done that you would like to explore in the future? I haven't done a historical. I'd love to, but frankly the amount of research just terrifies me.

If you could throw a party with any five people (living or dead) who would you pick and why? Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe, Gerard Butler (he has to arrive naked, just because he's so much fun to look at), Tim Curry, and Ron Jeremy. Yep. :-)

What are at least five things you have on your bucket list and have you done any of them? I don't have a bucket list. If I want to do something passionately enough, I'll make it happen.

Is there one series/author you feel is a must read for readers to explore (can be e book authors or print NY house authors)? It all depends on the genre.

Do you listen to music when writing? Do you feel like some stories write themselves a soundtrack with specific music? If so, what book and what kind of music influenced it? I don't feel like any of my stories have a soundtrack, however I do have a specific playlist that I listen to when I'm in the mood for music when I write. It's a varied list that ranges from Pearl Jam, to Nirvana, to The Black Eyed Peas, to Ludacris, to the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos.

What is coming up for you in 2011? 2011 is turning out to be a busy year for me! I've had four releases so far, and have at least three more, including another story featuring Calliph and Mateo, my werewolf/werecat pair.

Are any of your characters just like you or have personality quirks/traits of you or someone you know? My character Derek is probably the closest thing to me on paper.

Where can readers find you on the web?

www.dcjuris.com

www.facebook.com/dcjuris

www.twitter.com/dcjuris

http://dcjuris.livejournal.com

and I'm published at:

www.torquerepress.com

www.fannypress.com

www.breathlesspress.com

www.nobleromance.com

www.mlrpress.com

www.ravenousromance.com

 Sneak Peek into Simply Smut  Anthology

Available at Breathless Press

Excerpt from "Rub-a-Dub-Dub"

Amber closed her eyes and leaned back in the tub, resting her head on the curved edge. She thought back to earlier in the day, to the website of erotic stories she'd run across at work. She'd been doing a search for a favorite romance author, and had wound up finding one by the same name, with a different spelling. But the stories she discovered weren't romantic at all, but steamy, hot tales of pure, unadulterated sex. Sex for the sake of sex, and, while she had initially turned up her nose, she hadn't been able to suppress a little bit of curiosity. 

She'd gone back to the website and was soon opening tab after tab in her browser, pouring over tale after tale of all kinds of sexual acts—anal sex, oral sex, BDSM, even homosexual sex—and then there were the things she'd never even heard of. The story about cock docking had nearly done her in. Such imagery in the authors' words! She had pictured every story in her mind, and by the time the end of the day rolled around, she had worked herself into such a sexual frenzy she'd barely been able to keep her cool when she'd stepped out of her office.

She'd hurried home, fed the goldfish, grabbed up her favorite sex toys, and gone immediately for the bathroom. Now here she sat, hot water up to her shoulders, still just as turned on as she had been when she'd left work.

Excerpt from "Torn"

Torn's not like any other place you've ever been. That planet has a soul—remember that. She'll demand your respect, and you'd do best to give it.

And in true human fashion, William had dismissed the words of his superior officer. Ten years of living in the barely-describable-as-civilized wilderness of Torn without incident had only served to cement his belief—no, his conceit—that nothing could stop him. There existed nothing that William, indeed any human, couldn't conquer, couldn't bend to their will. Couldn't convert.

Except Torn. She'd proven that, at last, and taken back the land from terraforming, digging, and drilling. Torn had handed down her revenge. The storm—the natives called it The Great Anger—had come on quickly. No preceding black skies, no foretelling howling winds. No time to react. No warning. Nothing.

Crudely built, the wooden shanties they had lived in had splintered and crumbled under the powerful gusting gales. The Great Anger had ripped mighty trees from their roots as if they had not been rooted at all, careened them through the air like they'd weighed no more than twigs. They'd become weapons in Torn's plan, a way of bringing about even more damage as they were slammed through walls and rooftops. Quakes had split the roads open, torrential rains had flooded the cities. In its wake, the Great Anger had left nothing but devastation.

You Oughta Be In Pictures by Josh Lanyon

You Oughta Be In Pictures!

Like pretty much every author I know, I’m always trying to find new ways of promoting my work to potential readers. It’s tough out there these days. We’re all watching our pennies, and for most of us our disposable income is shrinking. That means less money to spend on entertainment. Meanwhile, the ranks of writers are growing steadily. Sometimes it seems like there are three writers for every reader I stumble across.

One method of promotion that I see getting a lot of press lately is the book trailer. You know: those one to three minute mini-movies that are -- counter intuitively -- supposed to help sell books. As other methods of marketing are exhausted -- or just fall flat -- I see more and more ebook authors trying the literary version of the music vid. With mixed results.

I was recently reading an article in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/fashion/11AuthorVideos.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=author%20takes%20a%20star%20turn&st=cse) about how putting together a book trailer is pretty much considered standard procedure now in mainstream publishing. Generally mainstream book trailers consist of a writer talking about writing, or reading from their latest work, but a lot of trailers are more dramatic, more theatrical. More like mini-movies.

One thing the NYT article pointed out was that it’s difficult to draw a direct correlation between book sales and book trailers, but then it’s often hard to draw a direct correlation between most promotion efforts and book sales. Besides, what works for one author and one book, may not work for another.

Still, there is a native appeal to the idea of a book trailers. We’re a visual generation. Most of us grew up with TV, movies, and way too many of us spent our formative years watching music vids and playing video games.

Plus, a lot of us dream of seeing our work on the big (or even little) screen, and for the vast majority, a book trailer is as close as we’re going to get.

Not everyone thinks book trailers are a great idea. Laura Miller of Salon.com (http://www.salon.com/books/laura_miller/2010/01/26/book_trailers)

thinks they’re pretty much a waste of time and money if only because the average book buyer is unlikely to ever see a book trailer.  (Unless they’re already checking out the book and the author, in which case…the trailer is probably moot.)

I tend to agree with Miller, both about the effectiveness of book trailers and the difficulty of getting the right people to see them. Still, they are an interesting development in book marketing, and my feeling is, since it’s all cumulative anyway, can having a book trailer possibly hurt?

Well, yes. If the trailer is really bad, it probably can hurt. An amateurish or unattractive trailer might actually be worse than no trailer at all -- this is certainly my gut feeling scrolling through the offerings at YouTube. But a good book trailer can set you back anywhere from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars, and most of us in the indie publishing sector don’t have that kind of dough to throw around on an “iffy” marketing tool.

Bringing us back to the problem of finding new ways to promote your work in an increasingly crowded market. I mean, how many banner ads can we run or excerpts post before it begins to seem like we’ve exhausted another resource? This is how I happened to be pricing book trailers one day and came across a casual reference to the fact that most of us with computers already have “movie making software.”

Say what?!

I checked my laptop, and sure enough. I’ve got something called Windows Movie Maker right there in my programs. Macs have their own movie making programs. But even if you’re computer doesn’t come with a DIY movie maker, there are all kinds of free downloadable programs on the web.

Anyway, I clicked to open WMM and -- totally intimidated by what I saw there -- immediately closed the program. But I was curious enough that I began surfing the web for articles on Do It Yourself book trailers.

There are tons and tons of articles on making your own book trailer. To be honest, I found most of them confusing. They either took too much for granted on the part of the student director or they got too technical. Let me just tell you now that you need to read a number of them and then you need to play with your movie making software. Be patient. Be prepared for a slow learning curve.

A couple of articles I found useful -- not least because of their helpful list of additional links -- were:

http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/39-FE6-BookTrailerBasics.html

http://thewriterslife.homestead.com/booktrailers.html

I won’t reinvent the wheel by writing my own article on how to make a book trailer (or at least not until I feel I’m better at it myself), but I’ll share my tips on things to remember when creating a book trailer -- as both a fan of book trailers and a novice book trailer producer.

1 - Find good music. There are plenty of royalty-free sources. If you are not using a royalty-free source, use only a snippet (the ideal book trailer length is less than two minutes long), credit the artist, and promote the buying of the song/album by posting your book trailer to YouTube where buy links will be attached automatically for copyrighted works. I don’t know that I’ve ever bought a book based on a book trailer, but I’ve definitely bought albums based on them.

2 - Go easy on the text. Rather than thinking of your book trailer as a mini-movie, I’d think of it as a music vid. Instead of offering blocks and blocks of text like a book jacket, restrain yourself to key phrases that capture mood and theme. In a book trailer, mood and theme are actually more important than plot and character.

3 - Avoid spoilers. I can’t believe how many book trailers give away key story points -- the very things writers would be shrieking at their publishers for. You’re not actually making a movie of the book, so don’t reveal the name of the killer or the climactic moment of the book. Don’t tell us how it all ends. The idea here is to get someone to buy the book.

4 - Keep it short. The basic rule of thumb is between one to three minutes, but most people seem to agree about a minute and a half is optimum for a DIY book trailer.

5 - Use large enough photos and art. Unless you’re deliberately going for a blurry effect, you want sharp, clear photographs and film clips. That means selecting images of 400x500 and up. Anything smaller is probably going to be blurry.

There are all kinds of other tips and tricks, but those are generally covered in the majority of book trailer articles.

As for my own results…I’ve had a lot of fun experimenting with book trailers. I’ve yet to sell a book based on a trailer (at least that I know of). The biggest benefit, oddly enough, is that planning out the book trailer in advance is a great way of clarifying in my own mind the tone and theme of a book I’m working on. Book trailers as a writing tool! Who knew.

Oh, and I suppose it’s only fair to share one of my own trailers. Here’s the trailer for my m/m mystery romance Fair Game, due out from Carina Press August 2^nd.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61zbV6jHiug 

Fair Game

Coming from Carina Press in August!

http://www.joshlanyon.com/

http://jgraeme2007.livejournal.com/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JoshLanyon

Getting to know author Ashlynn Monroe

Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.

My first release with Wild Horse Press is called Hidden Magic and it is the story of a woman who learns that she has a very special destiny.  This destiny was hidden from her to protect her.  I have always loved magic and my malicious magician was actually inspired by my love of street magic. 

How would you describe your creative process while writing this book? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did you first write an outline?

I am a very random kind of person!  I never use an outline except when making a book proposal for an unfinished piece.  I just let it flow.

Did your book require a lot of research?

In Chemical Lust I researched Project MKULTRA.  It was a secret CIA project that tested on humans and had some terrible consequences.  

If you could have any vice without repercussions, what would it be?

I quit smoking a long while ago, but sometimes I really miss it.  

If you could have been the servant to any famous person in history, who would that be and why?

Emily Bronte, she is my all time favorite writer.

What so you see for the future of publishing and eBooks?

I think that in another twenty years the majority of books will be sold electronically.  I am so glad to be a part of the revolution now.  I love to read eBooks because there are so many fresh ideas and voices that the traditional paper publishers would reject.

Which of your characters do you love/hate/fear/pity the most and why?

I love Jericho in Chemical Lust.  He is a super hot guy but he is able to see Leah’s inner beauty.  He reminds me of my husband.

Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her when she refuses to inspire you?

My muse has been inspiring me since I was a very little girl.  I remember telling stories with my cousins before I was even in school.  I have been writing since I was thirteen.  Imagination is the only thing that gets me through the day some days.  So far my muse has never abandoned me, yet (gulp).

Do you have another book in the works? Would you like to tell readers about your current or future projects?

I am so excited for my Templar Vampire Series that is coming out with Keith Publications this fall!  I am hoping for 10 books in all and the 1^st is called Pray for Me.  Michael is the 1^st of my tormented Templar Knights.  I use real history and legend and then I give it a special twist.  I am working on book two and three right now.

Have you ever experience weird cravings while you write? If so, what kind?

After a particularly difficult scene to write I usually want a beer ***Wink***.

What are your top 3 favorite paranormal books and movies?

My three favorite books are The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance, The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance, and Blood Dance by J. L. Oiler.  My three favorite movies are Twilight (I know I’m one of those people!) The Vampire Diaries and Fringe are my favorite television shows I don’t watch many movies.

What character (s) in any of your books is most like you?

Alexia from hidden magic is most like me.

What is the most ridiculous thing that you have thought about doing to any of your characters but never did?

One of my current WIPs is a story call Whitney in Wonderland, the other dimension that Whitney is trapped in is a void of time where pieces of all time past and present exists simultaneously.  I was going to have the hero fighting a t-rex but I just couldn’t do it!

What books are currently on your nightstand?

I am working on the Stand by Steven King again.

If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?

As Hidden Magic is the only one that is available right now…I would say that one.

Where can we find you on the web?

ashlynnmonroe.webs.com/

Hidden Magic will be available from Wild Horse Press June 8^th and Chemical lust will be available from Cobblestone Press early July.

Excerpt-Chemical Lust:

Coming to Cobblestone Press in July 2010 (www.cobblestonepress.com)

Leah tried to cover her mouth and nose, but it was too late. She was already feeling lightheaded, the first sign that the drug was taking hold of her. Jericho seemed to be fairing no better than she was, even with his makeshift mask. His pupils dilated; she assumed hers were as well. No matter what, she was still the scientist, so she began to mentally compile her data on their reaction. If they lived, she would have much to say about the effectiveness of the drug, as she was now experiencing it firsthand with her knowledge of its structure and of how the human body would metabolize it.

Jericho stumbled and dropped to the floor. His large frame made the elevator shake, but it still had not moved. Leah also lost her strength and sank down next to him. The gas was starting to dissipate, and they were still alive. For one moment of relief, she was sure that the gas was having no effect on her—and then it happened. Raging fire shot through her body, and she gasped for air. Her head fell back as her back arched. She felt as if she was on the brink of an orgasm right there, fully dressed and untouched on the elevator floor. Her keen awareness of Jericho’s eyes on her and the fact he was watching with interest, not saying or doing anything, made it all the more embarrassing and yet kind of kinky. Leah actually shook her head to try and clear that thought away. I am a scientist, and this is a perfectly uncontrollable reaction to a laboratory mishap, she reassured herself. I am in no way responsible for my actions, she thought as if pleading with her own subconscious.

Before she completely gave in to her loss of control, she managed to grab her jacket off the floor and flip it up to where the security camera was pointing directly at her. She did not want even more of an audience for her panting and writhing; it was bad enough that Jericho seemed to be completely aware of her predicament and enjoying it thoroughly. It made her hot just knowing he was the one seeing her need. She wanted him between her legs. She wanted him to fuck her right there on the elevator floor—an elevator that could start working any second, she reminded herself. Jericho’s perfect lips made her want to kiss him more than she’d thought it possible to want to kiss anyone. She was never the sexual aggressor in a relationship, but she suddenly wanted to pin him to the floor and remove his clothing until nothing but skin was rubbing together in delicious friction. 

*~*

Excerpt Hidden Magic

Coming to The Wild Horse Press June 8th, 2010

They grabbed the children and stroller and started to leave. Suddenly, the magician made himself appear in front of Alexia.  She was startled and honestly afraid for her niece and nephew’s safety.  She casually gave the performer the finger and said, “Excuse me. Your show stinks and we want to leave.  Please get out of our way!”  The word please pushed passed through her teeth with menace. 

       A strange light entered his eyes and Alexia immediately regretted letting her temper get the best of her. While she was not surprised that her temper was causing her trouble again, she regretted it anyway.  He looked down at the almost sleeping Dixie and Alexia panicked.  Gripping the child tighter, she tried to run, but the crowd had blocked her in.  Georgia and Little Tony found themselves pushed to the back of the crowd, everyone wanted to see what would happen next.  Alexia saw him feeding on her fear, enjoying it.  Reaching around them, he yanked the doll away from the girl and held it up to the crowd.  Alexia whispered, “You better not damage that or I’ll sue your ass buddy!” 

       He looked at her and this time his eyes held humor instead of anger.  He spoke to the crowd.  “I am going to make this doll live by giving it part of this child’s spirit!”  Alexia heard the collected gasp followed by the obligatory rabble. 

       “I don’t think so pal!”  She spoke with her full force of girl power while raising her knee, attempting to make contact with his groin.  Unfortunately, this magician also had fortune telling skills because he had blocked her movement and she kneed his thigh instead.  He laughed and then became scary intense.  Alexia heard his whisper in a strange lilting language she had not ever heard before. Suddenly, she felt her niece stiffen in her arms and then go limp.  Dixie’s little arms dangled as Alexia struggled with the dead weight of the child.  Alexia motioned for the bystanders to back up and give her room. Somehow, they managed to accommodate even with the crowd pressing in on them.  Alexia laid her beloved niece on the hot asphalt of the patio and felt for a pulse.  To her relief the child was alive.  Tears of fear and suffocating sorrow flowed from her eyes as she tried to revive the girl.  She began to call for help.  In the distance, she could hear Georgia screaming.  She looked up, about to plead that he stop whatever he had done. 

            Her breath caught in her throat and she could not breath as she saw the most horrific thing she could possible imagine.