Thursday, May 22, 2014

7 facts about twins I bet you didn’t know - Daniel de Lorne, Guest Blogger


My book, Beckoning Blood, is about twin (vampire) brothers, Olivier and Thierry. They share a psychic link that one twin loves but the other doesnt. In fact, Thierry would rather not be a twin at all. And considering how possessive and brutish Olivier is, there’s a lot of conflict between the two of them. Especially when all of Thierry’s love is directed towards Etienne. Then all hell breaks loose.


Im not sure about you but theres something about twins, particularly identical twins, that I find fascinating. Maybe its the similarity in appearance, or the connection the twins share, but my ears prick up whenever anyone says theyre a twin.

And so, today, in honour of twins and the release this month of Beckoning Blood, I thought Id share seven facts about twins I bet you didnt know.

1. Twins occur in 1 in 80 to 1 in 140 births, depending on country (and in the US in 2009 it was 1 in 30). This includes identical and fraternal twins. That’s a lot more common that I would have thought, though one reason offered is that maternal age is going up and the older a woman is when she falls pregnant, the greater the chance of having twins.

2. Twins often share phobias and respond similarly.

3. About 40 percent of twins invent their own languages. Thierry and Olivier share a very deep bond that doesnt really need a spoken language. Much to Thierrys annoyance.

4. Due to the influences of environmental factors, identical twins grow dissimilar over time. The older the twins, the less like each other they are. Even in looks. Thierry and Olivier kind of get stopped in time in their 20s so physically theyre locked in, but mentally? Well, youll have to read to find out.

5. Did you know that there are mirror-image twins? While they might look the same, certain features are flipped, such as opposite dominant hands or even mirror-image fingerprints.

6. One in four twins are left-handed, as opposed to one in twelve in the general population. Just for the record, Olivier and Thierry are right-handed.

7. If youre a twin, science wants to get its hands on you. While researching, I found a number of twin registries in different countries. The main reason for this is to study the importance of genetic and environmental conditions of a range of common conditions/diseases.

So what do you think about twins? Are you a twin or a parent of twins? What blows your mind about them?



ABOUT THE BOOK: Beckoning Blood 
release date 
May 1, 2014

A gripping, blooddrenched saga about twin brothers, the men they love, and the enduring truth that true love never dies no matter how many times you kill it.

Thierry dArjou has but one escape from the daily misery of his work at a medieval abattoir Etienne de Balthas. But keeping their love a secret triggers a bloody chain of events that condemns Thierry to a monstrous immortality. Thierry quickly learns that to survive his timeless exile, he must hide his sensitive heart from the man who both eases and ensures his loneliness...his twin brother.

Shaped by the fists of a brutal father, Olivier dArjou cares for only two things: his own pleasure and his twin. But their sadistic path through centuries is littered with old rivals and new foes, and Olivier must fight for what is rightfully his Thierry, made immortal just for him.

BUY LINKS

    EscapePublishing
    Kindle 
    iBooks 
    Kobo
    Nook

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Daniel de Lorne

Daniel de Lorne writes mostly about the loves and trials of hot and sexy paranormal men and creatures. He grew up in Perth, Western Australia, and developed a fascination for the mythical and magical early on. Daniel wrote stories from a young age but it was high school biology class he remembers fondly as providing an excellent cover for writing stories that were filled with teen angst and fantastical creatures. He now lives in Canada with his partner. It was while in this great northern frontier that Escape Publishing accepted his first book, Beckoning Blood, for publication.

For a free read, introducing you to the heroes of Daniels book, head to his website at www.danieldelorne.com/the-boys


RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, May 19, 2014

Writing Process Tag Tour!

Firstly I have to extend a huge thank you to the wonderful Yelle Hughes for tagging me in the tour. Be sure to stop in at her site and say hello! http://yellehughes.com/  I'm tagging several fantastic authors, Stacey Trombley , Stacey Nash, and Amy Cavenaugh. You'll find information about them at the bottom of the post, check out their fantastic work and websites.

So, on with the fun!

What am I working on? 

I have several irons in the fire at the moment. Mending the Shroud releases July 1, so I'm gearing up for a blog tour kick off. These are amazing opportunities, a ton of fun, but a bit of work. In my writing, I've just completed the draft of Shrouded, the last book in the Shroud Trilogy. I'm now going over it for a first edit. I enjoy the editing process immensely but it's a different mindset than writing for me. I'm finding myself loving the story for different reasons and from a different perspective. 

Many of my story ideas happen in the wee hours of the morning and right now I have two novels trying to claw their way out of my head. I may have to start writing them soon or just give up on sleep altogether. The first is a spinoff from the Shroud Trilogy featuring Mr Brown. I can't say much about it because it will spoil the big reveal in Mending the Shroud, but trust me...oooo it's a fun one! The second has time travel, the 1930's, motorcycling adventure, secret groups, mystical books and multimillionaires. It's clamoring so loudly I may have to start it first.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I write New Adult Romantic Fantasy, a genre populated primarily by female authors. Because of this my perspective as a guy sets up a difference from the outset. Beyond that, stories about parallel worlds are as old as man, and number in the thousands so I've tried to approach that idea, what the barrier means to each world, and how the people in those worlds affect, it in a fresh way. Fortunately readers agree, and it was me just being delusional.

Also, contrary to some trends in New Adult, I write sweet romance with no semi-abusive bad boys or damaged girls. Vincent isn't an alpha, doesn't see himself as anything special, and is a nice guy...facing decisions that he shouldn't have to...in order to protect the people around him.

Why do I write what I do?

I've stared at the screen for some time now, trying to find an expansive or elaborate way to say it but...well... I write, what I like to read. I'm an avid fantasy reader, love a bit of horror and gore, enjoy action and a good fight scene, prefer underdogs, and am hopelessly romantic. Put that together and out comes my novels.

How does my writing process work?

Everything begins with a 'what if' for me. Once I have an idea, I let it rattle around, sometimes for a half year or more, before writing anything. Ok, I do jot the basic idea down, but nothing more. If, after that time, it's still waking me up at night, I dig in. That's where the rattle around time comes in handy. While it's doing so, it's gathering other snippets of possibility, building momentum and forcing its way into the world. All of which makes getting words on the page easier for me. 

As I mentioned ideas come along at 3am, so I have a pad on my nightstand. Admittedly sometimes its like deciphering hieroglyphics when I wake up. Depending on how long the draft takes I may or may not start on a first pass edit right away but I always do one before anyone sees the work. Beta readers and critique partners read and chime in and I edit the whole novel several more times before sending it to my publisher (Escape Publishing) When the project green lights with them, more edits happen before we finally call it finished.
I hope you enjoyed stopping by and finding a little about how I operate. I've had the great fortune to not only Tag the following folks, but been honored to read their diverse and enjoyable work. Jump over to the talented authors below and see what else is cooking!

Cheers,
JM



Stacey Nash writes adventure filled stories for Young Adults in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. She calls the state of New South Wales in Australia home. An area nestled between mountains and vineyards, it is full of history and culture that all comes together to create an abundance of writing inspiration. Her debut novel, Forget Me Not re-releases in spring 2014 (Australian) from HarperCollins Impulse, and its sequel Remember Me will release soon after.






Stacey Trombley lives in Ohio with her husband and the sweetest Rottweiler you’ll ever meet. She went to her first third world country at age twelve and is still dying to go back. In fact, her “places to travel” list is almost as long as her “books to read” list.
Her debut novel NAKED will be released from Entangled Teen in 2015.

Find her online at www.StaceyTrombley.com and on twitter @trombolii





Amy Cavenaugh has been writing since the age of 13. Her first work was fan fiction with characters based on her favorite music group (then & now) New Kids on the Block. Today, she's still inspired by those five guys from Boston and still writing. She hopes to publish her first novel, a thriller called A SCARRED MIND within the next few years. She lives in North Carolina, is the mom of three kids and a cat named Guster.

You'll find Amy online at http://amycavenaugh.wordpress.com/ and on Twitter.


Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Interview with Alexa Bravo -- Author of In Bed with the Boss

The wonderfully talented Alexa Bravo agreed to stop by for a visit to fill us in on her writing process and share her steamy new release In Bed with the Boss. Let's dive right in!

Your currently released Novel is In Bed With The Boss. What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on a stand-alone follow up story to In Bed With The Boss based on a secondary character.  I was working to a very tight deadline with the first book and felt as if there was more to say.

My ultimate aim is to have a historical romance under my belt and I have now nailed down the idea to the point where I can’t wait to get it down on paper, however I’m figuring out that I work best on single projects so that will have to wait.

When you wrote In Bed With The Boss, did anything happen in the story that you didn’t expect?

Actually most of it was unexpected!  The characters started leading the way after about the fourth chapter and it felt almost like taking dictation!  It certainly made for easy writing however I can’t see that method working for more complex plots and storylines.  I look forward to challenging myself and my writing style with future projects.

Are you a quick writer? About how many words a day?

Once I have found my rhythm with a story and the characters are talking to me (and if I’m listening!) I can write extremely fast.  I have managed 25k words in a day at my writing peak.  Everyone knows to leave me alone during these times and not disturb the muse!  Eating and sleeping, of course, are optional when I’m inspired – I will sometimes emerge from a writing frenzy to wonder what time it is and how many meals I’ve missed!

Okay...let me just speak for a ton of writers, HOLY FLYING FINGERS BATGIRL! 25K in a day? My arms would fall off, head would explode...or something. Whew! So then, where is your ideal writing place?

Sitting cross-legged on the end of my bed with my laptop in front of me.  I close the door to my room and everyone knows not to disturb, though my girls insist on dropping in unannounced every so often just to give me a hug – who can argue with that?  Hugs trump muse every time!

Cats or Dogs?

Dogs, definitely!  I love how they love you unconditionally and welcome you home no matter how late you are or how long you’ve made them wait to be fed – they are the most loyal friend you can have.

Have you ever written something that shocked you when you read back over it? If so, what?

When In Bed With The Boss was released for pre-orders a friend pointed out that there was quite a large excerpt available to view on one website and when I visited and started reading I was sure that someone had hijacked my work and used the same character names!  I was already planning how to address the issue even as I continued reading the page but as I got into the story I decided that whoever it was had actually improved the original work by adding quite a racy tone… and whoa, that love scene…maybe I should take some notes on how they did that before I complain…hold on, is that…?  Did I write that?  What the…?  When I finally recognized that it was my own work I was shocked and a little bit awed at the steamy scene – how did I find the guts to put that down on paper and then submit it to a publisher?  I am still a bit awed by the whole process.
  
Have you used a personal tragedy or difficulty as basis for a scene?

Trish Carter’s meteoric rise in the corporate world is in part based on my own experiences, including her run-in with her arch-nemesis Liz Hart.  I was in a very similar situation years ago when I was promoted suddenly into a management role that nobody wanted and that everyone thought would fail.  I had my own nemesis, and had to deal with targeted persecution, though the fall-out for Trish is much nastier than it ever was for me – after all, unlike Trish I was not having an affair with my boss at the time!

Are any of your characters based on people you know?  If so, do they know it?

Trish’s nemesis Liz Hart is based on my own long-ago manager, who had to deal with my promotion to her level weeks after I was hired to report to her.  It was a very difficult situation for both of us and looking back I can understand what drove her to behavior that, as a manager myself, I can recognize as extremely flawed but human.  No, she has no idea that my character is based on her but then it’s not as if we keep in touch!

Give us an item on your bucket list.

Well at the moment (and for the last year) I have been trying to convince my family that it’s perfectly reasonable for me to want to parachute out of a plane!  It’s something I’ve wanted to do forever but those closest to me abhor the perceived risk involved – the negotiations are a work in progress.  I managed to speed race around a real race track in my younger days so I got that one out of my system already! JM I envy your current racing hobby!

If you get to Southern California, let me know and we'll take a spin in my race car...perhaps literally. Have you ever written vicariously? 

The scene in the elevator where Trish allows herself the freedom to just go with the moment, after months of planning and controlling everything relating to her job and promotion, is a scene I lived with her vicariously.  The scene is about forgetting responsibilities and consequences for one mad moment in time – and then of course, paying the price for the indulgence.

What is your favorite attribute in a person?

Mmmm, so many, I genuinely like people and I like learning about what makes them tick, what drives them, what motivates them.  I’d say genuineness is an attribute I value more now that I am older – I find that I am now more conscious of my limited time on this earth and I feel driven to spend that time with people who have the courage to be themselves, warts and all.

And your least favorite attribute in a person?

Going with the above theme I’d have to say that fakeness is my least favourite attribute.  There are people I have cut from my life over the years because who they appeared to be was not who they actually were, and life is too short to try and figure out whether or not what they say or do is actually what they mean to say or do – life has enough complications without adding unnecessary ones!

Did you include either of those in your current novel?

In the corporate world fakeness is as common as profit and loss statements!  People usually present the face that they think will get them what they want – their next promotion, their name on an important project, their expenses claim paid.  Trish’s boss, Rowena is a prime example of that – she is loud in extolling Trish’s triumph as if it were her own, but only around the people that count.  She doesn’t pull Trish aside, for example, and congratulate her personally – that’s a wasted time investment for an ambitious career woman like her.  Conversely, Brendan, Keith’s best friend and co-owner of the business, is a really genuine guy, worried about the staff, wanting to make things easier for his friend, wanting him to be honest with Trish and honest with himself about his feelings for her.  My current project is based on Brendan’s story and getting him his HEA – he’s definitely a worthy recipient!

Your personal or favorite motto.

“To live in fear is to live half a life” – I read that years ago and it has always stuck with me.  I use it as a personal mantra to challenge myself, to aspire to be more than I am and to not allow the fear of failure to hold me back.  It’s even more relevant now that I’m a published author – a writer’s ego is such a fragile thing, unbeatable one moment and shattered into a million pieces the next.  Bring on the next review!


Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Escape Publishing (Harlequin AU) http://www.escapepublishing.com.au

A high-flying corporate romance that’s sure to add ‘elevator’ to your list of erotic destinations!

Trish Carter is chasing the career opportunity of a lifetime, and nothing is going to stand in her way.  After a failed marriage and years of self-doubt, she needs her business proposal to succeed, and there’s only one hurdle left: presenting to the Board of Directors and charismatic CEO, Keith Donnelli.  So it can only be the stress and extreme tension that leads her to jump the hot stranger in the elevator.
But the unexpectedly explosive encounter puts all her plans in jeopardy, when the stranger isn’t a stranger at all.  Now, her whole future rides on how well she can resist the temptation of sleeping with her boss.   Will Trish finally have the chance to make her secret dreams come true or will following her heart destroy her chance at a future?
  
Alexa Bravo “self-published” her first manuscript at age 12, when she typed a one-page romance story in the seventh grade and gave it to the girl sitting next to her in class to read.  Before she knew it the story had been passed along from classmate to classmate and Alexa was getting requests for more stories and taking reservations for those already in circulation.  Alexa has always been passionate about reading as well as writing and despite her “real job” managing a business, she enjoys as many romance novels as she can fit into her e-reader and also works on her own romantic stories.  Alexa is currently completing Brendan’s story based on a secondary character from In Bed With The Boss, and she also has several works in progress covering other genres, including historical romance.  Alexa lives in Sydney, Australia with her three beautiful girls and her very indulgent husband.


Buy Links:
Amazon -- iBooks -- Barnes & Noble -- Kobo 

Connect with Alexa at these places:
Twitter: @alexabravo11 -- Email -- Website -- Facebook 

Saturday, May 10, 2014

ASHER (Inked Brotherhood, #1) COVER REVEAL

Asher_banner_Cover_release
 

ASHER (Inked Brotherhood, #1) COVER REVEAL

New Adult contemporary (erotic) romance
by Jo Raven

RELEASE DATE: May 16, 2014

Cover artist: Clarissa Wild
   
Young sports guy

  SYNOPSIS: Now eighteen, Audrey returns to her hometown for the first time after the accident ñ the car crash that took her dad and scarred her for life. Sheís here to start again. Go to college and have fun. Make new friends. Get over the past. But the past wonít let go. Asher is here ñ her first kiss, her first heartbreak. More handsome and distant than ever, heís still the boy who used to be her best friend. That was before he changed into someone she hardly knows anymore ñ the boy who started getting into fights and gave her the cold shoulder for years. Asher isnít what she needs. In fact, she hates him and should try her best to keep away from him. Yet her body doesnít seem to care about how she feels, and maybe, just maybe this time her body got it right. Not that she has much of a choice. Asher draws her like a bright flame, and if she isnít careful, sheíll burn. And that may not be such a bad thing after all...   *Warning: this book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. Mature readers only. Not intended for young adult readers.*   The expected publication date is May 16th, 2014, on all of your favorite e-book websites.


ADD THIS BOOK ON GOODREADS

 



AUTHOR BIO: Jo Raven writes New Adult erotic contemporary romance. She loves sexy bad boys and strong-willed heroines, and divides her time between writing and reading. When not cooking up plots, she putters in her cluttered kitchen and dreams of traveling to India and Japan.

STALK THIS AUTHOR! Facebook Twitter Goodreads Blog  

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

One Lucky Night

Happy book birthday to One Lucky Night!



One night can change everything…

The crew at Boston’s Brazen Head Pub hasn’t been very lucky in love. Can a mysterious visitor inspire them to look past old hurts and misconceptions and give romance a chance? One Lucky Night is a collection of five sexy interwoven novelettes by Aria Kane, Grace Teague, Ana Blaze, Constance Phillips, and Melinda Dozier.

Lucky Break by Aria Kane
Four years ago, chef Derek Chase walked out of Andrea Rivera’s life after a tragedy neither of them were prepared to deal with. When she’s called to the Brazen Head to repair a dishwasher, old sparks ignite buried feelings.

Lucky Star by Grace Teague
When her life is threatened by a mugger, Charlotte Price realizes she's in love with her best friend, Tommy Leung. The Brazen Head seems like the perfect neutral place to confess her feelings, but nothing goes according to plan.

A New Tune by Ana Blaze
When it comes to dating, Holly Hall has one unbreakable rule: no musicians. Not even gorgeous ones. Especially not gorgeous ones. Dating them only leads to heartbreak. So why did she let singer-songwriter Cian O’Neill kiss her? And why is she thinking about doing it again?

Lexi’s Chance by Constance Phillips
As a bartender, Sean Whelan meets all kinds of women every night, but none turn his head the way that Lexi has. She’s been playing cat and mouse with him for weeks. Tonight, Sean’s determined to get Lexi to quit teasing and take a real chance on him.

Drink or Dare by Melinda Dozier
A bachelorette party Drink or Dare game pairs paramedic students, Rachel Robertson and Killian Whelan, in a flirting match. Soon, the dares threaten to turn their academic rivalry into something much more.




Check out the book trailer!





About the Authors

Aria Kane is a recovering mechanical engineer and romance writer. As a military brat, she grew up all over the country, but now lives in sunny Florida with a 60 lb mutt who thinks he's a chihuahua.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads





Grace Teague lives in Pittsburgh with her spouse, children and a cat named Mr. Sushi.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads





Ana Blaze lives near Washington DC with her charming husband and three cats who firmly believe they are royalty. Ana is a member of Romance Writers of America.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Tumblr








Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, two ready-to-leave-the-nest children, and four canine kids. Her perfect fantasy vacation would involve hunting Dracula across Europe with her daughter, who also digs that kind of stuff.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Tumblr





Melinda Dozier teaches English to middle schoolers by day and writes at night. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her college sweetheart and three sons.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads






Giveaway

The authors are giving away two Amazon Giftcards!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

https://www.facebook.com/events/721691527881860/