Official Upcoming Release Schedule!

Due to changes in how my publisher assigns dates, I won't have release dates until I finish the book. I'm currently working on:

Taking the Realm which is book 3 of Sha and Connor's trilogy (previously titled Shaking the Balance)

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Interview with Bill Sewell!!

Hello lovelies, please join me for another thrilling author interview!!! Let's welcome Bill Sewell to The Lindsay Show!! Before we get started, make sure you've got your yummy coffee or tea ready. I'm in Portland and still getting used to the time change so I'm definitely in need of my caffeine ;)


Thank you so much for joining me, Bill! When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Interestingly, when I was in school I knew I did NOT want to be a writer. I hated writing. But what I couldn’t get away from was the fact that I was pretty good at it. I wrote my first technical piece when I was 26 years old. I sold it to Radio-Electronics Magazine for $400 and thought I was rich (obviously a few years ago). That’s when the light came on.


Yay! Someone else who hated writing in school, lol! What has been the most difficult part about being a writer?

I think the most difficult thing is time discipline. Like most writers, I have a day job and I have to squeeze writing between working and family. That can be hard, especially when deadlines loom. So, if you get an email from me at 3am, don’t be surprised.


Time management is definitely a major issue for me as well. Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with your pen name?

I don’t use a pen name. I’ve been Bill all my life and when I first put the book together several people, including a publisher, said I should use William. But’s as far as I went.


Who are your favorite authors?

Right now I’m reading my first book by CJ Lyons and really enjoying it. I met her at ThrillerFest a couple of years ago and she is so nice in person but there is some creepy stuff going on in her author mind. I really like Lee Child, Joe Finder, Robert Ludlum, Jeff Deaver, Lisa Gardner, all thriller authors. I also enjoy historical fiction like Sharon Kay Penman.


LOL I love how you described CJ Lyons :) What authors inspire you?

I read all of Tom Clancy’s early stuff and all of Vince Flynn. As I have a background in Intelligence and National Security, I thought perhaps I could write this kind of story and make it interesting as well. Now I read all of the authors I mentioned earlier and take a little of the best from each.


Those are fantastic authors. What type of books do you like to read?

I read thrillers, crime thrillers, spy thrillers, historical thrillers. Did I mention thrillers? :) 


Hmm, I think you left out a genre. Do you like thrillers? What do you like to do in your free time?

Free time…I’ve heard of that. What is it again? :) Much of my free time late at night I read or play video games, not the first person shooter kind but the ones where you role play and solve crimes or puzzles: Skyrim, Assassin’ Creed. I like thriller, spy, intrigue kinds of games.


I adore those video games! Where is your favorite place to vacation?

I’ve traveled all over the world for work and pleasure so that’s a tough one. If had to pick one place, it might be Amsterdam or Copenhagen. I’ll just have to say Europe. I love the rich historic connection I feel almost anywhere there.


I've always wanted to visit those places. I've only ever been to Spain and Italy in Europe. If you were stuck on a desert island and could have only three things, what would they be?

A loaded e-reader, a bottomless box of ginger snaps, and a nuclear powered laptop. I mean what else do you need? A fridge full of Diet Coke?


Congratulations Bill, I do believe you're the first person to ever say you wanted a nuclear powered laptop, lmao. Are you a plotter or a pantser with your writing?

I started as a pantser because I thought, “I know the story so I’ll just tell it.” (loud buzzer goes off and I’m covered with a big red “X”) It didn’t work at all. On the other hand I’m not organized enough to be a detailed plotter. Lisa Gardner once told me she writes every scene and sub-scene on index cards and covers her kitchen floor with them so she can meticulously organize the plot. Apparently, it works really well for her. I strike a balance with a skeleton plot that I can follow so I don’t forget anything or repeat myself. But I can still drape the story on the framework as I see the movie play in my head.


Holy crap, I don't think I could ever do what Lisa does. Wow. Good for her though if it works for her! Why did you choose to write a thriller?

I’ve always liked thriller stories and have lived a few in my time. I think a lot of the attraction for me is an intense dislike of bullies and a strong desire to see the karmic energy in the universe balanced. That sounds a bit new age and I’m not that type of person but as one who has been bullied and then gotten even, it was a very gratifying experience. I can relive that in books that I read and write.


I think that's an amazing reason for writing a thriller :) What has been the most fun about working on your books?

For me, the most fun is finally getting it right. Like most authors, I write and tweak and re-write. Michael Creighton said, “Books aren’t written, they are rewritten.” When I can put it aside, come back and the passage speaks to me, it’s a great feeling. I also have the “goose-bump test” which is often fun. I give the particularly creepy passages to my wife. When she reads them, then shivers, then throws the pages at me, I know they’re ready for the book.


Hahaha, that's the best test ever. What has been the hardest scene for you to write?

The hardest scenes are the ones where the macho main character gets all mushy with the beautiful heroine and they talk about feelings and emotions and the like. I’m an engineer by training and disposition. I’m actually and extroverted engineer which is why I’m looking at your shoes instead of mine as we talk. Anyway, engineers are more into facts than feelings. So I have a writing partner who helps with the “girlie” stuff while I concentrate on shooting, mayhem and blowing stuff up.


Hey, I'm a girl and love shooting, mayhem and blowing stuff up :) How did you come up with the premise for your book?

I spent many years in US Intelligence and more as a security expert helping governments and businesses. My wife, also in Intelligence told me one day that I should write down some of my experiences. Well, most of them are still classified so I decided to come up with a fictional character who, if I were careful, could have some of the same adventures. So Peyton Stone was born.

Now I needed a story. One day I was in Abu Dhabi working on security concepts for a new Guggenheim Museum and while I was going through threat scenarios I realized that I was at the site of an iconic Jewish-American institution forty miles from the Iranian coast. There was nothing between me and Iran but water. What an opportunity for some crazy terrorist. After two solid days of “what if?” the story for Nonofficial Asset gelled.


I think that's so awesome that you worked in Intelligence. I take it you based a lot of events in your book around your experiences?

Most of the adventures are based on my own experiences and places I’ve been. Most of the characters are based on real people. But, of course, it’s a work of fiction. We have had many years of strained relations with Iran and I thought, “What if we put that behind us and signed a treaty? And what if not everyone was behind the treaty? And what if these people somehow got their hands on a nuclear weapon (or two)? And finally, what if they had the means and motivation to use them?” What would we do in a case like that? Well, read the book and find out.


I can't wait to read this. It sounds fantastic! Tell us more about your main characters please.

Peyton Stone grew up in the South, Georgia to be exact. He has a talent that was nurtured by his father, a Federal Probation Officer. He is arguably one of the best rifle shots in the world. That helps him in some of his adventures. He has built a career and a company as a security expert and has advised governments and businesses, even the Super Bowl on matters of security. As a Nonofficial Asset his private life as a security expert is his cover story. It’s how he gets close to foreign leaders.

A couple of years ago he made some enemies in the Middle East and they tried to kill him with a car bomb but got his wife instead. He went through a dark time but is dealing with it now. He can sometimes get reckless because he cares a lot less about his own life than he once did but he’s dealing with that as well. All of this together makes him tough, fearless and able to take on challenges that others would balk at. He hates bullies and will go out of his way to balance the scales of justice.


Well, now I'm even more excited!! Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your book?

I just had such a great time writing it and hope that everyone has an even better time reading it and getting to know Peyton Stone and his friends.


Tell me, is this part of a series? If so, what can we expect with the other books?

It is a series and the next book is due out this year. Its working title is Critical Asset and in it a laid off and now very angry former NASA scientist comes up with a way to control almost anything digital. Working with hackers from overseas, he begins to exercise his control over the power grid, financial systems and even the life and death of individual people. It will be the biggest challenge yet for Peyton Stone and his team. Two early scenes have already passed the “goose bump test” and I’m working to the end of the first draft and will then start the rewrites.


Yay, love finding new series to read!! What's next for you?

I just sent a copy to a screen agent so I’m working on the movie deal. But as everyone knows, that’s always a very long shot. I’m signing books here and there, the LA Times Festival at USC, the BEA Convention in New York in May and I’m waiting for the results of a couple of award nominations.


Oh wow, that's so exciting! Good luck with that! Anything else you want your readers to know?

This has been a real blast and I truly appreciate your having me on The Lindsay Show. Thank you!!


Thank you so much for joining me, Bill! It has been a thrill ;) Lovelies don't miss the book that's Goodreads Listopia #1 Best Spy Novel!!


Nonofficial Asset...Buy it Now!

Peyton Stone never quit his day job. But it's his other profession that might just get him killed.

Islamabad. Baghdad. Shanghai. Kazakhstan, Kabul. Langley. For Peyton Stone, that's a work commute. But his is no normal job. On the surface he's a world-renowned security expert. But his real occupation is serving as a "nonofficial asset," a contractor working for the CIA when the government needs complete deniability. While advancing American interests globally, Stone discovers that those interests can exact a steep personal price. And when his business partner is murdered in a Shanghai hotel, ominous ghosts from his past return and he's drawn deeper into the covert maze, on the hunt for a stolen nuclear weapon and the rogue Iranian admiral hell-bent on using it. In Nonofficial Asset his skills, training, tactics, mettle, and allegiance to family and country are all pushed to the limit as he races to prevent nuclear catastrophe.

A captivating international espionage cliffhanger, William Sewell's new spy thriller is not some fake fantasy conjured by an uninformed novice writer working from his safe, local Starbucks. This is an adroitly told tale of very real and likely scenarios by someone who has been in some, if not most, of these dark bunkers--and lived to tell about it. A 30-year veteran of the clandestine services, William Sewell is a communications security expert by day. But like Peyton Stone, he has another profession. Exploiting his behind-enemy-lines intelligence experience, Sewell infuses Nonofficial Asset with an authenticity that can only be gained from real-world experience in the trenches.

Buy it Now:




Meet Bill!

If William “Bill” Sewell believes in a guiding principle, it comes from world champion racecar driver Mario Andretti, who said, “If things seem really under control, you’re not going fast enough.” Sewell spends his life pushing to find that razor's edge between velocity and control.

Rasied in Dublin, Georgia, Sewell began his clandestine adventuring as a boy, with rifle in hand, hunting imaginary Nazis, the Japanese army, and even Yankees in the Peachtree state’s backwoods. A Vietnam and U.S. Air Force veteran, Sewell left military service to become a contractor for the U.S. government. In addition to working with the Departments of State and Defense, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration, Sewell also consulted on security matters with the governments of Kuwait, Australia, India, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, China, Canada, and even with the European Council of Mayors. But Sewell also pursued an alternative profession—with the U.S. intelligence community.

“There’s a thrill to participating in covert enterprises. And of course there’s the patriotic aspect of doing some good for your country. Unfortunately, I’m not yet at liberty to talk about much of what we did. But we had a lot of fun. . . .”

Though his speech is carefully measured, it’s clear that Sewell experienced a lot during his tenure. For example, while a contractor with the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Branch, Sewell witnessed tectonic political shifts that had real consequences in the field. “The end of the Cold War was a strange time because the rules were changing in the Soviet bloc at different rates in different places. For us, the challenge was that some of the good guys became bad guys and some bad guys became good guys. It was a very fluid and uncertain situation. So to be safe, we pretty much trusted no one.”

Sewell also experienced the direct effects of what can be a very dangerous business. “At the end of the first Gulf War I went over to Kuwait, working with their interior ministry. Aside from the terrible cost in lives, the war had turned Kuwait into a pile of rubble. The old bustling Suk (marketplace) ceased to exist. Our huge hotel? There were only six functional rooms left, because Iraqi soldiers tossed a grenade in each room as they walked out. The Iraqi army blew up or stole everything of value; they even pinched an entire roller coaster from an amusement park! But the Kuwaitis were determined to rebuild, and they did a spectacular job. I was very proud to work with them in the years after the war.”

In addition to his work abroad, Sewell has provided security expertise for numerous domestic events and venues—including the Super Bowl, NFL and MLB stadiums, airports, infrastructure, and many corporate headquarters and locations.

Putting his remarkable experience to good use, Sewell has now penned Nonofficial Asset, a clandestine thriller featuring his doppelganger, Peyton Stone. It is the first installment in the Asset series.

William Sewell lives with his wife in Southern California.
Connect with Bill:


Monday, April 29, 2013

Happy Release Day to the amazing Caroline Levy!!!

Hello lovelies! Today is the release day of one of my very amazing friends, but it's a bit more special than most release days. Today is Caroline Levy's FIRST release, ever!!! Everyone take a minute to SQUEEEEEEE!! Ok, did you squee? You better have! :)

Read on to find out more about her debut paranormal romance, Welcome to the Family! Then be sure you go buy it!!!




Welcome to the tour for Welcome To The Family! A debut vampire novel by Caroline F Levy, it’s out now at Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, and Moon Rose Publishing. Why not check out a little more about the book below?



Blurb

“Do you believe in things that go bump in the night?”

At only a few hours old, Angela is left on the steps of St Paul’s church. Alone in the world, the only link she has to her past is a pink blanket bearing an emblem with two crossed swords and a snake.

A troubled childhood spent in orphanages leads to Angela attempting to rebuild her shattered life as an adult. Meeting the priest who found her eighteen years previously, she gets a job and a boyfriend, and settles into her new life.

Until she meets Jack.

Drawn to her new boss, she throws herself into work, feeling an unusual bond with people she hasn’t known very long.

Angela becomes embroiled in this new life, feeling a change within herself. A change which isn’t altogether human. Within this change she finds a terrifying secret…a secret which involves her past, her present, and definitely her future…

Trailer




Author Bio



I was born in Chatham, Kent in 1970. I now live in Yorkshire with my daughter and our five mad cats.

My first memories of any book would have been my mother reading The Enormous Turnip. It must have driven her mad, as it was always our first choice when asked what we should read tonight.

I grew up with the classics; Little Women, The Railway Children, but it would have been The House That Died and Bluebeard that I remember wanting to read.

I can remember writing a verse for the school song, and being chosen as a winner for what was then 3rd year juniors. I stopped reading so much in my late teens to my mid twenties. Life seemed to always be too busy for that pile of books I so wanted to read. It was when I went into hospital to have my daughter, that I had time to read again--and thankfully I haven’t stopped since.

However, it wasn’t until my late twenties that I realised I wanted to write. I have spent a few years trying to complete an online creative writer’s course; without much success, but it led me to what I am writing now. So never give up if you really want to write!

I am very influenced by Fantasy fiction / Horror, most of the books I read are in this genre. I have many Authors I like to follow; Anne Rice was very influential in the beginning. I also discovered Laurel K Hamilton and many, many more. I could go on about different Authors I like to read. However, I will say that this year I have also discovered there are literally, well, probably thousands of very talented Indie Authors out there. And a very welcoming and friendly bunch they are too, but I digress--yes, I get very excited about the subject of books!

I have finished my first novel called Welcome To The Family, which will be published April 29th 2013. I also have other novels in the pipeline, Nikki’s Revenge and Protecting The Family, due out later in the year.

Author Links


Book Links



Friday, April 26, 2013

Cover Reveal for Warrior Unleashed!!




Welcome to the official cover reveal of Warrior Unleashed, book 1.5 in the Mythrian Realm series! When Breaking the Nexus released on 12/12/12, readers fell in love with the Mythrian Realm and clamored for more. Since the follow up, Waking the Phoenix won’t be ready until sometime this summer, I knew I had to give readers a taste of Mythria.

Warrior Unleashed, a novella featuring Sha’s half brother, will be released on May 7! This novella is set entirely in the Mythrian Realm and while the hero and heroine are not Sha and Connor, I think you’ll all fall in love with this couple. Find out what happens when the sexy panther Chimerae, Achaius Rilke, must team up with feisty Gaelen Sorceri Saia Makan in this action packed novella!

Without further ado, I present the gorgeous cover designed by Blue Harvest Creative!



Blurb:

Nothing is more dangerous than a warrior unleashed. 

When Sentinels begin dying under mysterious circumstances, the deaths are believed to be unrelated. Only one man sees the truth: an unknown enemy is targeting the elite group of warriors and no one is safe. As a panther Chimerae, Achaius Rilke recognizes the signs of an unpredictable predator. The only person he can trust is Saia Makan, the tempestuous Sorceri who has driven him crazy for years. But when the killer has set his sights on Saia, Achaius faces the hunt of his life.

Don’t miss the first book, Breaking the Nexus, available now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and in paperback!


A warrior trying to save humans. A detective searching for a killer. And a powerful romance neither expected. 
Throughout history, myths and legends of extraordinary creatures have been told and retold. Fantastic tales of demons and banshees, gryphons and dragons, and of course, magic. Stories that every child grows to learn are nothing more than fantasy…or are they?

Beyond the world you see lies a hidden realm, the Mythrian Realm, inhabited by all of the creatures you’ve been told are mere fiction. Only one thing lies between humans and the truth: the Nexus. A magical barrier erected millennia ago to separate the two realms, it has stood the test of time. Until now.

For Mythrian Sha Phoenix, magic is nothing new. But when she stumbles upon a portal on the verge of collapse, her fate will forever change. Pulled through the portal into the Human Realm, she lands in the middle of Detective Connor Flynn’s brutal murder scene. Soon it is obvious someone is using blood magic to try to bring down the Nexus. Together, Connor and Sha must work to unravel the secrets before the barrier falls and the realms collide.

The Nexus is breaking and all hell is about to unleash…literally. 
Buy it now:

Meet Lindsay Avalon!

I am a wife, a programmer, and now an author. I have an adorable mini Schnauzer and more books than I have room for. I love reading romance because no matter what may be happening in my life, I can always count on my books to end happily ever after. The day I met my husband was the day I truly began believing in happily ever after. After hearing me complain a few too many times that I had “nothing” to read despite the hundreds of paperbacks scattered around the house, my husband began suggesting I write my own stories. When I finally took his advice I discovered that although I enjoy my day job as a software engineer, my true calling is to be an author.

My sister drilled into me an appreciation for fantasy and mythology, something I try to bring to my books. My debut novel, Breaking the Nexus started as a book written for NaNoWriMo and has grown to so much more. It was the conduit that introduced me to a fantastic group of independent authors who have changed my life in unimaginable ways.

When I’m not writing, I’ve found a passion for blogging and interviewing fellow authors. I also love reading, baking, crochet, sewing sock monkeys, playing video games, and all sorts of random crafts. I have an incurable love of rubber duckies and stuffed animals, and I believe nobody should have to grow up if they don’t want.


Connect with me:

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Interview and review with I.J. Miller + GIVEAWAY!!!!

Hello my lovelies!! Today is going to be extra steamy as I welcome erotica author I.J. Miller to The Lindsay Show!! Best of all, I'm reviewing her scorching retelling of a classic tale, Wuthering Nights. But wait, there's more! Five lucky commenters will get their very own PAPERBACK copy of this fantastic book!!

Please note, winners must be in the U.S. to win and must have an actual address, not a P.O. Box. Thank you lovelies! 

Winners must be 18+ years. By entering the contest, you are stating that you are over 18,

To enter to win, leave a comment telling me what story (classic or otherwise) you'd like to see retold as an erotic romance. Be sure to leave your email address so you can be contacted!

Now then, shall we get to our author interview? Have your coffee or tea ready? Good!




Thank you so much for stopping by, I.J.! Let's dive right in :) When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

During 11th grade in high school I took a creative writing class and that started me "thinking" writing. I watched people more closely to use their dialogue and characteristics for stories and started formulating distinct life observations so I would have something to say. I never thought I could be a writer until I sold my first article, just out of college, to a tennis magazine.


I love that! And belated congrats on selling your article to that magazine! That must've been so exciting :) What has been the most difficult part about being a writer?

It is mostly pure joy. However, it is difficult to make a living, even if you are selling books. The selling part is taxing as well: finding an agent or publisher, waiting months for a response, getting a generic rejection letter or email.


I have to admit I think you're very brave to go through the process of finding a publisher. I'm too chicken to get that rejection letter so it's part of why I jumped on going the self-published route lol. Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with your pen name?

I first started out publishing under my real name, but later became a university tennis coach. With the explosion of the internet, and times becoming more conservative, it became too easy to search my name and books, so I went with a pseudonym to separate "university employee" from "erotic writer." My writing name now uses my actual initials.


Yeah, I could see how that could get a little bit awkward lol. Who are your favorite authors?

Philip Roth. Junot Diaz. Bernard Malamud. Alice Walker. Toni Morrison.


Hmm, some of those I've never heard of. Now I'll have to look them up :) What authors inspire you?

Malamud and Roth inspire me to be the best storyteller I can be. Roth in particular inspires me because he has produced quality work from a young age to his later years.


Wow, that longevity is amazing. All too often I see the quality start to taper off in authors who have written for a long time. What type of books do you like to read?

Fiction. A good story about real people.


Love it! What do you like to do in your free time?

I play a lot of tennis, work out, read, cook.


I've played tennis a bit in the past. Wonderful way to unwind in my opinion, though I don't get to play very much now. Where is your favorite place to vacation?

I love being near the beach or in a beautiful rustic setting. I like to be active. Just returned from a vacation in Key Largo, FL and it involved snorkeling a coral reef, canoeing through a Mangrove forest, visiting with some alligators, and taking a speedboat ride through the everglades.


Wow, that sounds like an amazing vacation! If you were stuck on a desert island and could have only three things, what would they be?

Pen, paper, food.


All the essentials :D Are you a plotter or a pantser with your writing?

Well, in my early years I managed to live cheaply off summer earnings and write full time. Then I would come up with a character, an idea, a point I wanted to make and let the writing process do the rest. Once I started working full time as a tennis coach, I had less time to write, so I spent some time just planning, so when I finally did have writing time I could produce a more well-developed first draft. Also, I got my Masters at the American Film Institute in screenwriting, which teaches you to plan your stories as well as you can from beginning to end, because the limited space and limited writing process doesn't allow for the full exploration a novel affords. This pre-planning also carried over into my fiction.


Oh awesome, I can definitely see how that would help. And on a random note, that's so cool you have a Masters in screenwriting :) Why did you choose to write an erotic romance?

I've fought for years being labeled an "erotic writer." My material could be sexually graphic but not always in the HEA, sex positive way. I've always used sex to reveal character and plot and sometimes that means a dysfunctional experience. My main purpose was simply to tell a good story. But in today's climate everyone is very genre oriented and from a "selling books" point of view it helps to fit in somewhere, so erotic writer I am, one usually classified in the sub-genre of "literary erotica." Also, there is no escaping that WUTHERING NIGHTS is an erotic romance.


I have to say that you certainly have a knack for it :) What has been the most fun about working on your books?

When you are going good and the story and characters just take over and the fingers fly on the keyboard and you work all day without even noticing the sun has gone down.


I couldn't agree more. That is one of the best feelings EVER. What has been the hardest scene for you to write?

In my earlier books, I mostly lay out the psychology of the character and put him or her in a well described scene and let the reader attach most of the emotions. For writing an erotic romance like WUTHERING NIGHTS my editor really wanted me to flesh out all of the emotions. It was a challenge not just to tell the reader what everyone was feeling, but make it organic, subtle, creative, while still revealing the full depth that exists.


Well I would just like to say that you ended up doing a fantastic job. Do you have any favorite characters from your books? If so, why?

I've grown attached to Heathcliff in WUTHERING NIGHTS. I'm even on Twitter as him. I like him because he seemed to have been written before the classic boundaries of literature were established. He is a very flawed hero, as brutal as he is passionate, which makes him just completely him, not a prototype protagonist who is interchangeable with any story.

Heathcliff


Heathcliff was definitely one of the most compelling characters I've ever read. How did you come up with the premise for Wuthering Nights?

The premise, the characters, the themes, the language are all Emily Bronte. But I deliberately did not want to write an erotic mashup that just had verbatim text and some sex thrown in. I worked very hard to stay true to the original, but added a number of new plot twists that helped make the eroticism more a part of the story and thus helped intensify the romance and peel back new layers to the story and characters.


I must admit to having never actually read the original Bronte book, so I can't speak to how true to the original it is, but I adored it. Tell us about the setting of Wuthering Nights. How did you come up with it and is any of it based on personal experiences?

The original has one of the famous settings in literature: the blustery moors of Northern England, which adds to both the darkness and passion of the book. I did however add a new setting to help create a focal point and connect the story from the beginning to end in a more dramatic way: Black Rock Cragge. It is halfway between Wuthering Heights and the rival estate Thrushcross Grange. It has the height of a rocky precipice above the depths of a black pool. It is where everything meets and where everything comes to a full head. It connects the two estates, the two families, and has both an aura of heaven above and hell below. It was just something I thought the book needed to connect the first half focused on Heathcliff and Catherine and the second half of the book focused on their offspring.


I absolutely loved the setting. Your descriptions of it really drew me into it beautifully. Tell us more about your main characters please.

Heathcliff starts out as a pure, passionate innocent, in love and grateful to be rescued from an orphan life. But his adult rejection because of class status and gross mistreatment change him into a vengeful brute...all while never letting go of the pristine deep love and passion he feels for his beloved, Catherine.

How cool is that?



Definitely cool :) Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your book?

Expect the language, themes, and characters of the original, with a more "naked" approach. Appreciate I made the choice not to soft-soap them for the modern audience, but presented them with all of the original good and bad. Look for an interesting present day prologue and epilogue that casts you not just as an observer of the story, but as a participant...


I thought that prologue and epilogue were really clever and helped pull me in from the start. Wonderful idea to use it! Is this part of a series? If so, what can we expect with the other books?

Not a series, but I do have an outline and sample chapters prepared for an erotic mashup of a Dickens novel. Which one? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. Hint: It's not Oliver Twisted.


Ooo, I can't wait! What's next for you?

I’m working on a New Adult erotic romance for the 18-25 crowd called CELINE’S SOLUTION, about a college girl who gets her final, senior year education from her young English professor who is both a master of passion and a troubled secretive soul. Before she can know for sure whether she has found true love or needs to move on, she needs to unravel all of his mysteries.


I will definitely be on the lookout for that! We are unfortunately out of time and I am dying to get to my review. Is there anything else you want your readers to know?

That I am very appreciative of fellow writers like you who take the time to help other authors promote their work. It is a wonderful kindness.



Thank you so much, I love helping my fellow writers in any way that I can. Alright lovelies, are you ready for my review of Wuthering Nights?



About the book:
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: April 23, 2013
My source for the book: Provided by author in exchange for an honest review
Genre: Erotic Romance
Length: 368 pages
Description:

Romantics everywhere have been enthralled by Emily Bronte's classic novel of the tragic love between beautiful, spirited Catherine Earnshaw and dark, brooding Heathcliff. The restrained desire between these two star-crossed lovers has always smoldered on the page. And now it ignites into an uncontrollable blaze. In WUTHERING NIGHTS, writer I.J. Miller reimagines this timeless story to reveal the passion between Catherine and Heathcliff--in all its forbidden glory.

Set against the stark, raw beauty of the English moors, Heathcliff, an abandoned orphan, recognizes his soulmate in wild, impulsive Catherine, the only woman who can tame his self-destructive nature. And Catherine cannot deny the all-consuming desire she feels for him, despite his low birth. Together they engage in a fiery affair--one that will possess them, enslave them, and change their destinies forever...

Buy it Now:

WHAT I LIKED:

Before I begin, I must admit to having never read the original Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. To be perfectly honest, I had a hard time reading any of the classics. They generally bored me, much as it shames me to admit that. If only they'd been written like this one...

I jumped on the chance to review this solely because it was a new author and I was curious to read an erotic historical romance. I'm a bit dense in that it didn't really occur to me that it would be a retelling of the classic novel. Once I realized what it was, I was a bit apprehensive thanks to my dubious track record with classical novels. Man was I wrong.

I can't speak to how closely this follows the original Bronte book. I do know the general plot and it hit the major points as best as I can tell. The style was certainly very similar to the time period with the exception of the prologue and epilogue. These are written in a modern voice and designed to draw you into the story, achieving it with admirable success.

Despite having issues in the past with staying interested in classical books, I expected this to be written in that style since it was not a modern retelling. I was quite impressed with the author's ability to mimic the style without making it dull. As for the content? Holy hell is it scorching, explicit, and at times, a bit depraved. All I can say is that if more of the classics had been written like this, I sure as hell would have been more excited to read them lol.

The sex in this book is graphic and frequent, but it enhances the story. The author doesn't just drop sex scenes into Bronte's novel to make it an erotic book. I.J. uses the sex scenes to show the descent of Heathcliff into increasingly erratic behavior. To show his proclivities and need to dominate as well as to illustrate the tumultuous relationship with Catherine. All in all, I really felt the scenes added to the tale in a way that can be hard to achieve with some erotic books.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

There really isn't anything.


OVERALL VERDICT: 5/5 Blue Duckies!!



If you're like me and weren't necessarily a fan of the classics back in school, you must give this a try. It's truly unlike anything I've ever read. This book is not for the faint of heart, but damn was it engrossing. Be warned, this is one of the most graphic erotic romances I've read in a while and includes group masturbation, some BDSM, domination, and plenty of scorching sex. I highly recommend this book and author.


Meet I.J.!

I.J. Miller is the author of five, distinct, literary, erotic works of fiction: SEESAW was translated into two languages, with over 130,000 copies in print; WHIPPED appeared in both English and German; SEX AND LOVE, a collection of short stories, made its debut in the summer of 2011; CLIMBING THE STAIRS, a novella, was released just a year later. His latest novel, WUTHERING NIGHTS, is an erotic retelling of Emily Bronte’s classic, Wuthering Heights, and is published by the Grand Central Publishing imprint of Hatchette Books. It is available now as an e-book and will be in bookstores as a trade paperback and audio book on April 23. Miller has a Master of Fine Arts from the American Film Institute and has taught creative writing and screenwriting at the university level.
Connect with I.J.:

Please note, winners must be in the U.S. to win and must have an actual address, not a P.O. Box. Thank you lovelies! 

Winners must be 18+ years. By entering the contest, you are stating that you are over 18,

To enter to win, leave a comment telling me what story (classic or otherwise) you'd like to see retold as an erotic romance. Be sure to leave your email address so you can be contacted!



Monday, April 22, 2013

Review of If He's Tempted!

Ok this is way more delayed than I wanted it to be, but I'm finally getting to my If He's Tempted review!



About the book:
Publisher: Kensington Books
Expected Publication Date: April 2, 2013
My source for the book: NetGalley.com
Genre: Historical Romance
Description:

New York Times bestselling author Hannah Howell returns to her beloved Wherlocke family and the story of a love destined to heal old wounds…

Lady Olympia Wherlocke has the gift of foresight. When Lady Agatha Mallam asks Olympia to locate her brother so he can rescue her from an arranged marriage, she knows exactly where to find Lord Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate. What happens next is something she never envisioned…

Since his betrothed died, Lord Brant Mallam has drowned his sorrow with wine and women. His dissolute ways have only emboldened his calculating mother. But with the help of the enchanting Olympia, he concocts a daring plan to end his mother’s devious designs for his sister. While each step in their bold scheme works to perfection, the sins of the past could unravel a growing desire that neither Olympia or Brant can control…

 WHAT I LIKED:

Let me start by saying that I adore Hannah Howell's Highlander novels. They were some of the first historical romances I ever read and I fell in love with her writing style. I knew she'd branched out into other sub genres of historical romance, but had never given them a try. Then this book popped up in NetGalley and I knew I had to check it out.

This is the latest in the Wherlocke-Vaughn series, I believe book five. The book started off surprising me with the supernatural angle. It's subtle but I loved it. The interactions between Olympia and Brant were so much fun and the style was what I had come to expect from Hannah's other books. All too often authors start to feel too formulaic once they've put out a significant number of novels, but I can count on Hannah Howell to keep me entertained.

I spent a good deal of the book wanting to throttle Brant's mother and thumb Brant himself for letting things get so bad. That being said, it was a fun ride and when I'd finished this book I immediately bought all four of the previous Wherlocke-Vaughn novels to read.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

I knew going into this book that it wasn't the first, but my rule of thumb is if I'm able to understand 80% of the plot when diving into a mid-series book, the author has done their job. This sort of fit into that category. It's my fault for not starting with the earlier books so I was fully caught up on the characters. I was a bit confused at times but overall still enjoyed the books thoroughly.

My only other complaint was to my wallet. Once I'd finished this book, I HAD to buy the others :D


OVERALL VERDICT: 5/5 Blue Duckies!


Hannah Howell is one of my go-to authors for a fantastic historical romance. I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this series before reading this book, however. If you're looking for well written historical romance with wonderful characters and a bit of a paranormal twist, don't miss out on these books!