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.

Get to know Lisa Beth Darling

Can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?

It's something I've always done, ever since early on in elementary school, I showed an aptitude for writing and knew it was what I was going to do.

What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?

Conflict creates Drama, for me those two are always first.  The Romance isn't 'second', I wouldn't like to say that, but the romance doesn't bubble and come to fruition if it's never tested. It just sort of lays flat on the page.

Could you tell us a little about how you develop your characters? Who has been your favorite character to write? The most challenging?

I'm one of those lucky writers who lives here life with a Muse (day in and day out).  We have a mutually beneficial partnership.  He throws out orders, I tear them apart, we bounce ideas off each other, constantly try to one-up each other, and in the middle of all of that chaos the 'magick' happens. 

Ares is the character I have lived and worked with the longest—16 years now—so he's my favorite and the most challenging because of his nature.  I tend to be the peace lover and he's the butt-kicker.  Together we balance each other out although it's quite maddening at times.

Have you ever found that you didn’t like your Hero or your Heroine? If so, what did you do to change that?

When we first meet Ares he's a pretty unlikeable guy, he's very grumpy, he's arrogant, he's a bit spoiled.  Then again, he's a god so…what do you expect? LOL

He grows and evolves throughout the story, he learns about himself as he learns about his love-interest, Alena and realizes that being a god is awesome but it's good to have a heart too.

If you were to start again, with the knowledge you have now, what would be the first thing you do?

Again, I'm one of those lucky people, I wouldn't change a thing or do anything differently.

Can you tell me a bit about your most recent/upcoming release?

This series will continue with the second novel "Child of War" on December 31, 2011.  Ares and Alena will bring their son, Raven, into the world and he's going to upset the status quo on Olympus.

Is there a genre you haven’t done that you would like to explore in the future?

I've always wanted to write a vampire story but I think I'll stick with the Olympians for now.

If you could throw a party with any five people (living or dead) who would you pick and why?

Stephen King, John Lennon, Kevin T. Smith, Janis Joplin, and Jacqueline Susann.  I want to talk writing with Stephen and Jacqueline, philosophy with John and Janis, and Kevin…well, he gets to stay until long after the party's over. ;-)

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?

Music is a huge influence on my life, I'm always listening to my iTunes…or Pandora, I really like Pandora. I also have the strange habit of listening to my local radio station while I write.  I think the songs help on many levels, and yes, often they provide much needed inspiration.  I just chalk those times up to the Muse making his opinion known.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?

They're the best!  I often find myself chomping at the bit to get one when I know it's coming up.  Love scenes are the scenes where the Muse and I are freest to do anything and everything we want.  We often get quite lost in them.

What are some of your favorite things or hobbies to do?

I like to cook, nothing fancy, just good old American Yankee cooking.  I try to garden, I love to grow things, we have a lot of deer and other critters which makes it difficult.  I also take photographs of the sea and old abandoned buildings.

Who are some of your favorite authors, and if we were to visit your home, what books would we find on your bookshelf, end table, floor or e-reader?

I have a 5 shelf glass and wood book case that holds nothing but Stephen King, just about every single hard cover he's ever written and some rare paperbacks. A few of them are even signed.

If you could be any character of any book or movie, who would you be?

This is going to sound so horribly cliché and romantic but….'Vivian' in "Pretty Woman".

Where can readers find you on the web?

FaceBook http://facebook.com/lisabeth1
Blog: http://lbdarling.wordpress.com
Website: http://www.moonsmusings.com/lbdarling

 Sneak Peek into The Heart of War

Now available at Moonsmusings.com

Blurb: Inside the Heart of every Warrior breathes the Soul of a Hero--even within The Heart of War.

Meet Ares God of War, the greatest Warrior the world has ever known. He's moody, grumpy, dominant, ravenously sexual, and above all, built like a Greek God.

Suspected of killing his Daughter in-Law, Psyche, and long in exile from Olympus, the solitude of Ares' secluded Greek Isle is interrupted when Magdalena MacLeod a plucky little Fey washes up on his shore after believing she's been shipwrecked. It's not mere fate that has brought the unlikely couple together yet it may be what tears them apart.

Branded with a golden chastity belt bearing the mark of Cernunnos, Celtic God of the Forest and Death, Alena has been on the run from her husband the Great Horned God for 200 years.

When the Olympians discover her presence on Ares' island, they send Apollo to the island while Ares is away with orders to bring her to Olympus. With nowhere to run and strikes a bargain with the God of War--her virginity for his protection.

Ares sees a sweeter deal; her in his bed and himself back in his rightful place on Olympus among the Gods. If it means turning Alena over to Zeus afterward, well that's of no consequence to him...is it?

After Alena proves herself to the God of War in battle and in his bed, the Ares must choose between his Divinely Dysfunctional Family, his pride, and Alena.

Get lost in this sweeping dark saga of lust, rage, revenge, and redemption. Battle Ancient Gods while falling in love with Ares God of War and Alena MacLeod. They share a love that will rock the world from the heights of Olympus to the Celtic moors, but will it be enough? Will love triumph, or will revenge and rage win the battle for the Heart of War? 

EXCERPT:

Ares stood there listening and watching.  He did not believe she was telling the truth but at least in her own mind, the story she was concocting was not a lie.  She had been in Africa at a refugee camp but after that, behind those stormy eyes, her brain was scrambling to fill in the rather large and important missing piece of her life.  Why was it missing?  Who stole it?

"…people were shouting…there was a crash…then an explosion…."

"And who bound your hands?  Why?"

Maggie looked down at her bandaged wrists and then her eyes began to dart around from the ocean to Ares to the bandages and the flora and fauna around her.  She swam and it was hard with her hands bound.  So very hard.  Several times, she had gone under certain she was going to drown.  "I don't know."  She confessed in a hushed whisper.  "Please, just let me off this island."

Ares shook his dark head with a small amount of sympathy as he stared down at her.  "I can't do that, Alena.  I can't let you leave."

"Alena?"

"I don't like 'Maggie' and 'Magdalena' doesn't roll off my tongue.  Since you're going to be here for, well, the rest of your life, I think I will call you Alena."

"You must have a boat."

"No boat," Ares grinned.  "I don't require one."

"Oh, yeah, right, you think you're a God." She muttered.

Ares was not sure what it was going to take before she believed him.  "Thirsty, Alena?"  He asked snidely and held his empty hands in front of her eyes.  "Nothing up my sleeve--oh, that's right; I'm not wearing a shirt."  He said cheerily as he gazed down at his own torso.  "Ready?  Look closely now, I don't want you to miss anything."

Before her bewildered eyes, in one of his hands, from thin air, appeared a crystal goblet, sweat running down the glass indicating the coldness of the contents within.  "How did you do that?" She looked up at him with wide wonder as he held the cup out to her.

"I am Ares. This is my home. You are my guest for a long time to come."  He watched her take the cup from his hand and hold it to her lips. She drank deeply of the water inside.  "You can wander around here all you like, if I were you I'd stay away from the south end of the island.  Dangerous and wild creatures reside there.  When you're ready, you come back to my cave, when you're satisfied that this is all real, we will talk further."

Right in front of her he simply disappeared.  Maggie dropped the crystal goblet in her hand; it crashed to the rock at her feet shattering to bits and pieces of sharp glass.  "I am crazy."  She muttered and then began to cackle wildly until the sound filled her ears and her heart with dread.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH6KtA5tIw0&feature=player_embedded

Buy Links: The best deals (including signed paperbacks and hard covers) are always available through www.moonsmusings.com
Book also available on:
Amazon.com-- http://www.amazon.com/Heart-War-Lisa-Beth-Darling/dp/0615424686/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293629750&sr=1-4
Kindle--http://www.amazon.com/The-Heart-of-War-ebook/dp/B004DCB3CA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1299078563&sr=1-1
Nook--http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Heart-of-War/Lisa-Beth-Darling/e/2940011870002/?itm=4

Meet author Delaney Diamond

Can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?

Actually, no. I wrote my first romance novel at the age of fourteen (which I only shared with my friends), and I won a few short story contests throughout high school. Once I got to college, I didn’t write fiction any more. For years I never thought about fiction writing again. For some reason, a trip to Rome made me consider it, and in 2009 I decided to try. I joined the Romance Writers of America in January of 2010, and in November 2010 my debut novel, The Arrangement, was released by Amira Press.

What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?

I think there are three key elements to a great story: 1) interesting main characters, 2) a compelling plot with good, well-defined conflict that keeps you turning the pages, and 3) a knockout ending.

Can you tell me a bit about your most recent/upcoming release?

I grew up watching wrestling with my father, and when I decided I wanted to write a romance novel with an athlete as a hero, I made him a wrestler. Fight for Love is the second book in my Hot Latin Men series. It’s a story about Rafael Lopez, a former professional wrestler, and Rebekah Jamison, a conservative science teacher.

I admire the athleticism and skill of wrestlers, and even though I don’t watch it like I used to, I still get a kick out of their showmanship. More than anything, the story is about how love can survive and stand the test of time.

Rebekah and Rafael met when she was seventeen and he was twenty. Her parents didn’t approve of him, and they eloped after she graduated from high school. About a year later, a tabloid scandal caused Rebekah to end her marriage to Rafael.  When the story opens, nine years have passed, and Rafael shows up unannounced at Rebekah’s door. He finds out he has an eight-year-old son, and that’s when the fireworks begin.

Is there a genre you haven’t done that you would like to explore in the future? 

I like reading historicals, and I’ve toyed with the idea of writing in that genre. I have to admit the research necessary to ensure the historical accuracy of the clothes, culture, language, etc. is daunting. At the moment, I don’t have any specific story ideas. I have plenty to keep me busy in the contemporary arena.

Do you listen to music when writing? 

No, I don’t. It’s too distracting. I need absolute quiet when I write.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?

I don’t find them as difficult as I used to, but they are still difficult to write. There are only so many ways you can make it interesting and describe the act while making sure the scene flows smoothly and has the right amount of sexual charge you’d like your readers to feel. If it weren’t for a thesaurus, I’d really be in trouble. Love scenes are more fun to read than write!

What are some of your favorite things or hobbies to do?

I looooooooove to travel. If money were no object, that’s what I would spend most of my time doing. I like to learn about the customs and history of other cultures. I’m planning a couple of trips now. One will be a trip to Asia next year, which I’m very excited about. I haven’t decided which countries yet, but I hope to take at least three weeks off and visit three or four countries.

I also enjoy cooking and like trying new recipes. I have a radio mounted in the kitchen and listen to music while I cook. It’s very relaxing.

What do you have coming up next for you? Care to share any details with us?

Thank you for asking. Here’s what I’m working on:

1) The third free read for the Free Reads section of my website.

2) The third book in the Hot Latin Men series. The heroine is Samirah Jamison, Rebekah’s younger sister, who makes a brief appearance in Fight for Love.

3) An African-American romance tentatively titled The Temptation of a Good Man. It’s about Dr. Roarke Hawthorne, who’s shocked to see the woman he spent a passionate night with show up at his sister’s wedding on the arm of his brother.

Who are some of your favorite authors, and if we were to visit your home, what books would we find on your bookshelf, end table, floor or e-reader? 

I mostly read romance and mystery/thrillers. I have books on true crime, politics, and business, a small library of cookbooks, and books on the craft of writing.

Regarding favorite authors, how much time do you have? I’ll give you a short list of favorites: Dean Koontz, Tami Hoag, Beverly Jenkins, Maureen Smith, Rochelle Alers, Kate Walker, Trish Morey, Abby Green, Sarah Morgan, Adrienne Byrd, James Patterson, Agatha Christie, Lynne Graham, and Sandra Marton.

Where can readers find you on the web?

Website and blog: www.delaneydiamond.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DelaneyDiamond

Once per month I blog here: http://sweetnsexydivas.blogspot.com

Thank you for having me. I enjoyed it! 

 Sneak Peek into Fight for Love

Blurb:

Science teacher Rebekah Jamison lives a quiet life in the suburbs of Atlanta. Devastated by a tabloid scandal nine years ago, she ended her marriage to the man her parents never approved of.

Rafael Lopez, former professional wrestler and “Sexiest Athlete Alive,”regrets the lapse in judgment that caused him to lose his wife. He shows up unannounced one day with some startling news, but he gets a surprise of his own. He finds out he’s a father. To get to know his son, he whisks him and Rebekah off to his home in the Hollywood Hills for the summer.

Warning: Get ready for a sensual battle of wills as a conservative teacher lowers her inhibitions and is reminded of why she fell in love with a sexy bad boy wrestler in the first place. 

Excerpt:

This scene takes place after Rafael shows up at Rebekah’s house and sees Ricardo for the first time. Rebekah sends him upstairs so she and Rafael can talk.

“Are we going to have this conversation in the middle of your foyer? Is your southern hospitality only reserved for people you’re expecting?”

Without waiting for a response, he brushed past her toward the kitchen, and she caught a whiff of an unfamiliar cologne. She followed him on unsteady legs, conscious of the fact she looked as bad as he did good. While he was dressed comfortably in a fine linen shirt and crisply pressed dark slacks, she was self-conscious about her unattractive gardening attire and pink cotton headscarf. She wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup, and she was certain she must smell sweaty after working in the yard.

In the kitchen, Rafael leaned against the counter, staring at her as she leaned against the counter across the room. His arms hung loosely at his sides, but she could sense the leashed tension in him.

“Well?” she said to break the uneasy silence.

She was never good at remaining quiet, and he was the complete opposite. He was the quintessential strong, silent type.

“Is he mine?”

She hadn’t expected him to ask that question first, but it was inevitable. “Yes.”

Rafael’s hands clenched into fists, and he pushed away from the counter and took two long strides toward her. Rebekah brought her hands up in a defensive motion, drawing in a sharp breath. His steps came to an abrupt halt.

“I wasn’t going to hit you,” he rasped.

“You’re not exactly known for your long fuse.” Her rapid heartbeat began to slow down.

“I would never hit a woman, no matter how much she infuriates me.” His cold, angry eyes stared into hers. “How could you do that?” he demanded in a rough voice. “How could you keep him a secret from me?”

Now came the hard part—the inadequate explanation she couldn’t even justify to herself. “I did try to contact you, but you were always traveling. It was impossible to get in touch with you.”

 “You didn’t try hard enough.” He found her guilty and delivered a cutting indictment. His eyes were filled with accusation. He swiveled on his heel and stalked over to the door. He stared out the window at the backyard, his shoulders rigid and his neck muscles taut. “Dios, Rebekah, how could you not tell me?”

Buy lnks: Amira Press, Amazon, ARe, B&N

Getting to know Marshall Thornton

So let’s get this party started. Please tell us about yourself. What got you interested in being an author?

I was about sixteen and we’d just read The Great Gatsby in English. I was so taken with it that I decided to be a writer and started to write a novel. I showed bits of it to a student teacher and she liked it. That hooked me. In junior college I began writing plays, which were much easier to finish than a novel (these was back in the days of typewriters and whiteout. After spending about a decade working in the theatre – mostly for free. I began writing screenplays and eventually was accepted in UCLA’s prestigious screenwriting program. After completing my MFA, I began to get frustrated by the always “unfinished” aspect of film writing. It’s never done until it’s a movie, and if it’s not a movie it’s not really anything. So, I returned to fiction writing in 2008 and have been publishing regularly since.

Can you tell me a bit about your most recent/upcoming release?

My latest book is Boystown 3: Two Nick Nowak Novellas. With the publication of this book, the two previous Nick Nowak Mysteries will be released in paperback. Previously, the were ebook only.

The series is set in Chicago during the early ‘80s and follows the professional and personal adventures of private eye Nick Nowak.

For any readers who may not have read any of your books, can you just give us a little sneak peak into world (i.e. the type of genre you write, type of stories you like to write....etc)?

Most of my published work is in the mystery/suspense genre with the exception of my comedic novel The Perils of Praline, or the Amorous Adventures of a Southern Gentleman in Hollywood. I like to flip back and forth between the genres. I used to think this was kind of weird, but a writing friend of mine pointed out that comedy and suspense are usually both about some kind of obsession and I think there’s some truth to that.

How much of yourself, if any, do you put into your characters?

Writers really only write about themselves. That sounds like narcassicism, but really it’s impossible to write characters you don’t connect with. That said, I am surprsied at how different some of my characters are from me.

Is there a genre you haven’t done that you would like to explore in the future?

I’m tempted to try a comedic paranormal. I’ve been noodling around with it and may pop it out one of these days.

If you could throw a party with any five people (living or dead) who would you pick and why?

My Dad and my friend Vinc, they’re both gone and I miss them. Rock Hudson because I’d like to know if he was as sexy in person as he was on film. Dashiell Hammet since you can never get too much writing advice. And, Joe Orton because I think his plays are ridiculously funny.

What are at least five things you have on your bucket list and have you done any of them?

Gee, I tend not to think in terms those terms. If I want to do something I tend to make it happen. I’d some day like to go to England, since that’s my ethnic background. I’d like to go on a cruise – but I’m planning that for next year. I’d like to move to Palm Springs some day, but I’m no hurry. There are a couple of things on the sexual frontier I’d like to try… but, we barely know each other, so I won’t mention them here.

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)?

Just one? Eek. I don’t think I can do it. As a mystery writer, I my two biggest influences are Joseph Hansen and Sue Grafton. I’d also have to say my early reading of James Kirkwood’s work (in the early 80s) still influences me. I heartly recommend all three.

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’ve been making playlists for my projects for several years now. With the Boystown Series I put together a list of ‘80s music, particularly music I listened to at the time. Nick is also a jazz buff – which I’m not, really – so I’ve put together a little of that to listen to.

What is coming up for you in 2011?

Things are going to be quiet for a while. Boystown 3 is the fifth book I’ve put out in a year. Yikes, I’ve been busy. Mostly I’ve been doing a lot of editing. Of course, I’m currently working on Boystown 4 which is going to be the first complete novel in the series. Beyond that, I have several projects waiting but haven’t quite decided what I want to work on first.

Are any of your characters just like you or have personality quirks/traits of you or someone you know?

Well, just like Nick Nowak I have a violent streak that occasionally gets out of control. Actually, I don’t. Nick has punched many more people than I have. You know, I think all detective characters are like their writers in at least one respect. Solving a mystery is somewhat like writing a story. You figure it out one piece at a time. And, so on one level, all mysteries are about the process of storytelling.

Where can readers find you on the web?

http://marshallthornton.wordpress.com/

http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowAuthorBooks.php?list=_ABKLIST56&author=Marshall!Thornton

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=marshall+thornton&x=33&y=4

http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1307045976/ref=sr_st?page=1&rh=n%3A133140011%2Cn%3A%21133141011%2Cp_27%3AMarshall+Thornton&sort=-price

Set in Chicago during the early 1980s, the Boystown series follows private Investigator Nick Nowak as he works challenging cases and grapples with an even more challenging personal life.

In Little Boy Boom, Nick’s car explodes when a thief attempts to steal it. Realizing the bomb was meant for him, Nick sets out to discover who wants him dead only to find that the list of possible suspects is longer than he’d like. When he begins to run out of suspects he wonders if the bomb was truly meant for him.

Little Boy Tenor finds Nick investigating the murderer of a church choir’s star tenor, while at the same time his friend Ross asks him to discover the truth behind his lover, Earl Silver’s mysterious death. As he juggles the two cases, he becomes increasingly disturbed by what he learns.

Sneak Peek into Little Boy Tenor in Boystown 3
Available at Torquere Press

Everyone lies. They lie to the people they love; they lie to themselves. Once you admit it, it’s not such a hard thing to live with. What is hard to live with is how far people will go to keep their lies alive.

Reverend Edward Pepper was a fussy little man. He sat uncomfortably in the guest chair across from my desk, looking around my office as though he wanted to take a rag to it and wipe up all the dust. Of course, I wouldn’t allow that. I was fond of the dust.

He was dressed in a black shirt with a clerical collar. Over that, he wore a short woolen jacket that was now making him sweat. It was May and the weather was hot one day, cold the next. That day had begun cold and quickly heated up. I’d asked if he wanted to hang the coat on the hook behind my door but he’d declined. He was a small man, wiry and tight. He seemed on the verge of shaking. With his white blond hair and his anxious blood-shot eyes he reminded me of a rabbit. A pretty rabbit, maybe, but a rabbit all the same. Even his nose was pink. He’d been in my office for ten minutes and I hadn’t been able to find out why he was there.

“How did you find me, Reverend Pepper?” I asked.

“We have a choir. They’re good. Quite good. They perform every Sunday morning on The Towering Hour. Have you seen it?”

“The Towering Hour? No, I generally sleep in on Sunday mornings.”

“Oh. Of course,” he said. He’d already identified me as a heathen. I hoped he wouldn’t try to change that. I liked being a heathen.

He hadn’t answered my question, so I asked it in a different way. “Did someone in the choir recommend me?”

“Yes, I mean, no. I mean they called around until they found someone who could recommend some like you.”

“Someone like me?” I suspected I knew what he meant but I wanted him to say it. “Why were you looking for someone like me?”

“Gregory was shot, you see. Gregory Dane. Outside his apartment building. About a month ago.” I kept an expectant look on my face, hoping he’d give me more details. It worked. He went on, “Gregory had the most beautiful voice. When he sang it was like listening to an angel. Everyone liked him. We can’t figure out why--”

“I still don’t understand why you came to me.”

“You’re uniquely qualified to find Gregory’s killer.”

I took pity on him finally and guessed, “Gregory was gay.”

“Yes,” he said, sitting back in his chair as though relieved he wasn’t going to have to use the word himself.

“And you think something about Gregory’s being gay is what got him killed?”

“It must have.”

There was something about the good Reverend I didn’t like. It might have been his nervous little rabbit ways. Or, his unwillingness to come out and say what he meant. Or, his assumption that being gay got Gregory Dane killed, I don’t know. But I didn’t like him so I said something that was a little on the untruthful side, “I’m sure the Chicago police can handle the case.”

“I don’t think so,” the Reverend said. “They’re already making mistakes.”

“Yeah? What mistakes have they made?” I asked.

“They found a gun in a trash bin about three blocks from where Gregory lived. They say it’s the gun that killed him. The gun is registered to me.”

“Gregory was killed with a gun you own?”

“No, that’s not what I said. It’s not what I said at all.”

It certainly sounded like what he’d said.

“You see what I mean?” he went on. “The police aren’t doing a good job.”

“I’m afraid, I don’t see,” I said honestly.

“I’ve never owned a gun in my life.”

Guest Author Day with Arlene Webb

Why don't you start with telling us a little about yourself? What genre do you write in and why?

I run a flower shop and write every free second I can manage, dipping into whatever genres the characters take me. So far, urban fantasy, urban sci-fi, paranormal suspense, historical, all with layers of spicy to sweet romance.

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

Ashes came about on a hot summer day. Words popped out of nowhere concerning a man who’d been murdered. I started to wonder who was this guy, who’d miss him, and what type of idiot kills off main character in the opening paragraph?

Dead guy’s brother came along, and wow, was he pissed. Then I’d started to care about the unfortunate, who became more and more of a sweetie the further I wrote. It took 80K to make things right, and I had to dip into the paranormal to do so. But, I swear, no vamps or zombies where used in the making of Ashes.

Basically, Ashes is about the love between brothers, how far a man will go for his twin. My inspiration was based on guilt for murdering a guy before I even knew him.

Did your book require a lot of research?

Yep. I love Google. Did you know there are shrubs that contain myrrh in the desert of Nevada? That’s the reason for the setting of Las Vegas. 

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

I’d love to be able to eat, drink and be merry without any physical consequence.

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

Not sure about living in the distant past, so Bill Watterson, Christopher Moore, Lisa Gardner, Kurt Vonnegut, I’d have to flip a coin because I’d love to spend time with so many authors. But, assuming I could return to occasionally check my email, I’d debate over Leonardo De Vinci, Socrates, Gandhi.  Just fascinating people, and ones not apt to strangle me when I burn the meal. I mean, live without a microwave? Shudder.

What so you see for the future of publishing and e-books?

E-books are outselling paperback, how cool is that?  I think this is an incredible time to be an author and the future is electric!

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

I don’t hate any and I pity them all. Myles Logan comes to mind as a guy I care for, just because he’s so loveable. He’s the star of Ashes, along with his twin, Lyle. I fear Malcolm, a non-human who refuses to cooperate unless I remain true to his personality, and that calls for demise in my current work that won’t be easy for me to write.

                                           

Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her if needed?

I don’t have many ideas, and those I do have are usually stubborn and difficult to begin. I worry at it, until the scene clicks. No matter how strange, I’ve learned the best way to placate is to not let go until it flows. So, I bang my head a lot.

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

I have a series coming out this year. Book one, Splintered Energy, the end of this month. In a nutshell, I’ve brought seven, complex and flawed personalities (byproduct of a splintered particle of light) to life in adult human bodies. Trapped on Earth and wanting to go home, without memory of where that even is. Splintered Energy concerns their journey to reunite, and survive each other and mankind.

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

No, unless the desire to bash in my head or strangle someone is considered weird.

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

I did consider not reaching that HEA for a guy, but no. It seems a rule I won’t easily break.

 If you had to write yourself as a heroine/hero, what kind of heroine/hero would you be? What would you be named?

Guess I’d be an immortal that doesn’t eat brains or blood, and with wings. Be cool to fly. I’d be flawed, but capable of growth, and my name would be simple. The lower case letter, a, comes to mind. Not that I have low self esteem, but I’m lazy. How easy is it to sign a message…a.

 

If your muse were to talk behind your back, what secrets would he/she tell?

That she’d kill me if I babbled secrets without even being tortured.

 

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

Of my published works, I’d say Ashes. I consider Myles Logan to be my greatest achievement as a writer to date.

If there was a soundtrack to your latest novel, what genre/songs would be included?

The flight of the bumblebees worked great in the trailer for Ashes.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do to just kick back and have fun?

Read, movies, drive someplace fun without a zillion people or cops on the road, hang with my son/family/friends.

If we peeked at your bookcase(s)/e-reader, what kind of books/authors would we find there?

My kindle is filled with authors I know. Some reads are published and wanting reviews, others want my thoughts on works in progress.  As to print books, the classics of course. Barbara Elsborg, DJ Jackson, JK Rowling, TC Boyle, Christopher Moore, Harlan Corben, and way too many to list.

Where can we find you on the web?

http://www.arlenewebb.com/

http://www.arlenewebb.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/arleneannwebb

https://twitter.com/#!/Arlene_Webb_

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3448136.Arlene_Webb

Sneak Peek into Ashes by Arlene Webb

Paranormal Romantic Suspsense

MuseItHot

Blurb:  Ashes is a paranormal suspense novel with romance as well.

Not happening. Four hours pass while Lyle Logan holds his brother's corpse and pretends he’s the one not breathing.

Those responsible are dead. Only one reason to live now—vengeance.

Please. Lyle will do anything to alter reality. But he can’t. Instead he fills his stomach with ashes and unwittingly devours a myth.

I want to die. Guilt holds hands with grief. Lyle doesn’t care when authorities conclude that he committed the crime of Cain.

Acceptance. Lyle has no choice but to acknowledge the entity burning within.

When five stages lead to a precipice, Lyle takes the next step. So what he’ll lose his humanity and hold a miraculous creature hostage.

Resolution. Ashes to life, he will find a way to his brother.

Excerpt:

An imaginary hand stroked his head, the firm touch of male flesh soothed the tears on his cheek and his dead brother’s voice whispered in his ear, “Sorry, Lyle. Permanently separated—how weird is that? You mustn’t follow me. Move your butt. Find them instead. Avenge me.”

“Sure.” Lyle spat blood through his cracked lips. “I’ll get right on it.” Impetuous and irrational, Myles had always been the weaker. But Lyle, older by three minutes, managed to rescue his younger bro from every sociopath that befell him.

Not this time. Myles headed for a pine box.

Lyle headed toward damnation as soon as he stopped pretending he was Myles. The chain didn’t hold his leg tight, no sharp object had opened his veins, and not a bone in his body had been smashed. Lyle lay facedown in the dirt, alongside his twin, imagining over and over what it must have felt like to die like this.

How much guilt can a heart take before it goes quiet? And who dared to approach, interrupting his snuggle with the dead? A ripple of dust and a fluttering irritated Lyle. Hot air and cinnamon hit his face. He snapped open his eyes and jerked to his feet.

A dying buzzard? More like a deathly ill, midget flamingo. The creature that landed in front of Lyle appeared deader than Myles.

He lowered his hands and hunched down. Three feet tall at most, a foot of height added by its scrawny neck, the bird angled its head as if it were blind, wobbling on decrepit legs. Two feathers—faded crimson and gold—clung to its hairless, grey form. It looked like it should be hanging from the fist of a voodoo queen. The thin twig dangling from its cracked beak smelled like the crappy shrubs circling them.

“Thirsty, little guy?” Lyle snorted. “So am I. Go away.” If it dared to peck at Myles, he’d wring its neck.

The creature opened its beak and the twig tumbled down. Pencil legs cracked and it collapsed. Its head whacked into the branch, and a sharp burst of resin saturated the air.

Lyle swallowed hard. He knew what the saintly dead would do. His canteen lay beside Myles. Dumping it into Myles’ mouth had been as futile as performing CPR.

A feeble chirp from the bird suggested the thing still breathed. Lyle grabbed the canteen, shook it, and a few drops fell into his cupped hand. He held his palm out to the creature.

Buy link for Ashes: http://tiny.cc/9akrv

Trailer for Ashes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKyagcOSJw8