Author Spotlight + Giveaway--Dorothy Kane Liddle

Welcome to Author Spotlights on Mondays! Dorothy Kane Liddle is visiting this week and giving away a copy of Ice Cream Castles in the Air to one lucky commenter! Be sure to check out her super hot excerpt and interview!

Blurb:
When middle-aged Kate Hoffman meets a much younger Mark Robinette in the Europe of the sexually-liberating 1970s, she learns that present can become past again. Given a second chance to savor the boundless passion of youth, Kate learns fairytales are not just for boyish kings, but for all who remain free to dream.

Adult Excerpt:
“I want you, Kate,” Mark said, and let his hands slide back from under her skirt and then lifted her black sweater blouse over her head. Kate had thought ahead and not worn a bra. Her breath caught in her throat as Mark’s mouth completely enveloped one of her breasts and he began sucking hard.

“Oh, Mark, that feels so good.”

And she reveled when he released that breast and repeated the move on the other one. Kate looked over his head and saw the bed. It was neatly made, but was just a mattress on the floor. When Mark looked up at her face again, Kate said, “Now it’s my turn to suck a little.”

Kate slid slowly down Mark’s torso, peeling away his jeans as she did so. She had only performed this act once in her marriage, and she did not like it. She was surprised at how much she was looking forward to it now.

As she began to kiss his hardness still hidden behind his jockey shorts, she heard Mark say, “Take your time, Kate. I think I can hold on longer this time.”

“Good,” she said, looking up at him and winking. “I thought that might be the case.”

She could feel her eyes widen as she peeled his shorts down over his knees and saw his most virile cock standing at full attention and directly in front of her face. Whatever she had found distasteful about the act before was not part of her thinking now. She kissed the side of his cock all the way down to the root and back up the other side. She planted light kisses on the head. Then she looked up at him, smiled lovingly, and then took him completely down to his scrotum, sucking him hard and deep.

Mark moaned, and she felt him pull the back of her head deeper into him. She knew she was about to gag, but just at the last moment, Mark released his hold on her head and she could pull back.

“I want you now, Kate.”

Mark lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her to the bed and laid her as carefully as he could onto the mattress. He placed her legs over his shoulders.

“I want to get you ready,” he said and then buried his face deep into her pussy. She screamed aloud at the pleasure he had released, and when he found the hard nub of her pleasure spot, she screamed again, louder this time. The room had suddenly gone completely dark for her.

She grabbed the back of his head, pushing Mark deeper inside her, until she could feel the rumble of the volcano building at the core of her existence.

“I’m ready,” she said, gasping and gulping for air. “I’m ready, my darling.”

Buy Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/ice-cream-castles-in-the-air

Interview:
Me: What inspired you to write your first book?
Dorothy: I have always been fascinated by the younger man-older woman relationship –or the May-December idea. In spite of the age difference, I believe there is a potential for balance there that benefits both equally, though differently.

Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Dorothy: I’ve been writing for 30 years, and it remains the only work I’ve ever looked forward to getting up in the morning to do.

Me: Give us some insight into your main character. What makes him/her special?
Dorothy: Kate is a very ordinary woman on the threshold of experiencing some of the extraordinary possibilities that life offers us all.

Me: Is there a message in your novel you hope to convey to your readers?
Dorothy: The act of physical love is the best consciousness-expanding drug we have.

Me: How did you come up with the title?
Dorothy: A lyric from Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” a popular song of the era when the book is set.

Me: I usually get plot ideas in the shower and while driving. When/where does inspiration strike you?
Dorothy: From the act of writing itself. I prefer to have little more than a vague clue as to what I’ll be writing about when I sit down at the keyboard. My experience has been most of the pre-conceived ideas I’ve tried to bring to the writing session fall apart as either wooden or contrived – sort of like that dream you think is brilliant and hilarious, until you wake up and realize it makes no sense.

Me: What new stories are you working on?
Dorothy: Currently have two novellas in contract/submission. One deals with quite literally a four hour foreplay, and is under contract with Extasy Books. The other is about a 62-year old divorcee who re-unites with her ex-husband. The latter is an attempt to move the needle from “mommyporn” to what I’m calling “menoporn,” if that’s not too denigrating. Which I don’t mean it to be at all.
WIP’s include a full-length novel based mainly in Paris, another novella set in a fictional private golf club and another May-(late) December novella.

Bio:
Dorothy Kane Liddle began writing when it became clear that there was no day job that could provide the satisfaction that writing did. Liddle has been at it for more than thirty years, publishing primarily as a newspaper and magazine writer and humorist. Raised in New Orleans, Liddle now lives in the Seattle, WA area. This is her first novel. The author would like to offer a special thanks to her elementary school nuns for teaching the fundamentals of sentence structure, good grammar, vocabulary and punctuation, though Liddle acknowledges the irony of applying skills taught by a Catholic religious order to the erotic romance genre.

Social Media Links:
Facebook: Author Dorothy Kane Liddle
Twitter: @DorothyKLiddle

Thanks for stopping by, readers! Remember to comment by midnight EDT on Wednesday, October 1, for a chance to win a copy of Ice Cream Castles in the Air!

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!

Writing Tip Wednesday--Formatting for Print Part 1

Welcome to Writing Tip Wednesday! Self-publishing offers writers another choice on the road to publication, whether they’re already traditionally published and/or e-press published, or unpublished. Although the author maintains control of the process, she also has a lot of hard work ahead of her. Education about self-publishing and the publishing industry is vital to a good product and creating a professional image.

The content is ready! The book is written, the polished manuscript has been to an editor, critique partners, and beta-readers, the tagline and blurbs are written, a contract for cover art has been signed, ISBNs are purchased, and front and back matter are complete. The e-book files are ready to upload.

Formatting for Print differs from e-book formatting in several ways.

E-book files are converted to the retailer’s proper e-format upon upload, whether the file is .doc, epub, or mobi. E-readers and e-book apps may allow the reader to change how the content is viewed—font, size. The print book file must be print-ready, meaning the content of the document should appear exactly as it will on the printed page.

E-book files have no headers or footers, while print documents usually contain a header with the title, author’s name, and page numbers. Page numbers may be placed in footer, if preferred.

E-books usually contain hyperlinks to the author’s website, social media, and other books. Print does not.

E-books are set up as a single-page view. Print books have a two-page view, with side-by-side even on the left and odd on the right pages, requiring the addition of gutter allowances. Each gutter must be on the correct side of the page for proper printing. The pages will be reversed when formatting in word—page 1 will be on the left, page 2 on the right—so gutters will appear on the outside edges rather than inside. This will be corrected automatically when the document is completed and saved as a .pdf.

In e-books, page and section breaks requirements vary from one retail platform to another. For proper formatting of print books, section breaks must be used throughout the document.

Ready to get started? These instructions are for Word for Mac 2011, but other Mac and PC versions are similar. The process can be tedious, so take a break after each step, if necessary, to avoid making simple errors.

Step 1: Open a clean copy of the document. No track changes, no editing marks, no bookmarks, no hyperlinks.

Step 2: Using the Word toolbar header, use the View drop-down menu to choose Print Layout. Adjust the display magnification and size of the window to allow the two-page view.

Step 3: Set margins and page setup: Format->Document. In the pop-up window, set the margins to Top 1”, Bottom .8”, Inside .5”, Outside .5”, Gutter 1”, Header .5”, Footer .5”, Apply to “This section”, check the “Mirror Margins” box. Go to Page Setup and set to “untitled 6.13”x9.25”. Go to Layout: Section start-New Page, Headers and Footers-check the “Different Odd and Even” and “Different First Page” boxes, Apply to-This Section. The formatting will look wrong in the document because the odd pages will be on the left instead of the right, reversed from how they go in a book. The gutter (the wider margin) should be on the outer edges of the side-by-side pages for this part of formatting. Use Save As BookTitlePrint (or something similar to designate that this copy is for the print version of the book) rather than Save to retain a clean copy of the document.

Step 4: Title page: 24- to 36-point size (depending on title length), centered text for title, text at the 2- to 2 1/2-inch mark, italics may be used; 24-point, centered text for author name; text at the 3 1/4- to 3 1/2-inch mark. Save.

Step 5: Copyright page: Use left justification, 11-point size, single (1) or 1.15 spaced. Be sure to include the ISBN. Save.

Step 6: Dedication page: “Dedication” 14-point size, centered text; remaining text 11-point size, left justification, single (1) or 1.15 spaced. Use a Page Break after the text. Save.

Step 7: Preface page: optional; use the same formatting as the Dedication page. Save.

Step 8: Table of Contents: optional; use the same formatting as the Dedication page. Save.

Step 9: Blank page: Use a Section Break (Next Page). Save.

Step 10: Chapters: Chapter title at 1 1/4-inch mark, 14-point size; double-space; text of chapter 11-point size, full-page justification, single (1) or 1.15 spaced, indent .2 or .3. Use a Section Break (Odd Page or Even Page). Choose Odd Page if the next page is odd and Even Page is the next page is even. Save after each chapter is formatted. Use a Section Break (Odd Page or Even Page) at the end of the last chapter. Save.

Step 11: Acknowledgements page: Use the same formatting as the Dedication page. Save.

Step 12: Other Books by Author page: Use the same formatting as the Dedication page. Save.

Step 13: About the Author page: Use the same formatting as the Dedication page. Save.

Step 14: If the last page with text is an odd page, be sure to add a blank even page to end the book to face the inside of the back cover. Save.

Step 15: SAVE. Consider also choosing Save As and adding 1 to the end of the file name to have a backup copy at this point.

Sorry, but #7 isn’t finished yet. Title/Author headers come next, so hoard a bunch of patience! Those odd/even pages can be frustrating.

The To-Do List
1) Finish the book. 
2) Polish and edit the book. 
3) Write taglines and blurbs. 
4) Create or purchase cover art. 
5) Purchase ISBNs, if using a single ISBN for all retailers using the same book format (print or e-book). 
6) Create front and back matter. 
7) Format for e-book and/or print.
8) Update website, blog, and social media.
9) Create metadata list.
10) Plan a marketing and promotion strategy.
11) Publish the book.
12) File copyright paperwork, if registering.
13) Add buy links to websites, blogs, and social media.
14) Implement marketing and promotion strategies.
15) Write the next book!

Be sure to check out the writing craft series, Writing Tip Wednesday: The Writing Craft Handbook, in e-book at Amazon and B&N and in print at Amazon and CreateSpace, and the writing career series, Writing Tip Wednesday: The Writing Career Handbook, in e-book at Amazon and B&N and in print at Amazon and CreateSpace.

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!

Author Spotlight + Giveaway--Tia Catalina

Welcome to Author Spotlights on Mondays! Tia Catalina, another great friend and brand new author from my local RWA chapter, is my guest this week. She's sharing a peek at her romantic suspense novel, Blue Falcon, and a bit of insight into her writing process. Be sure to comment for a chance to win a copy!

Take it away, Tia!

Blurb:
Devastated by her combat experiences, former Marine Grace Garcia is unable to adjust to civilian life until a wayward postcard sends her on a mission that places her in the path of Jared Cooper, the new Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix ATF.
With a new job and a new daughter, Jared has no interest in a new relationship, but when seemingly unrelated events result in a dangerous threat to their lives, he offers Grace refuge.
When witnesses and suspects die before they can talk, Jared becomes convinced the threats are originating close to home, but the perpetrator is always one step ahead as he searches for answers.
As the stakes get higher, can Grace once again embrace her warrior past?
Caught in a nest of deception, can Jared unravel the lies to find the truth before another life slips away?
The truth lies in uncovering the elusive Blue Falcon.

Excerpt:
The ER doc released me, but nobody was waiting to take me home. When I tried to check on Rafael, the Phoenix PD blocked my path, but they didn’t attempt to arrest me. By the time the taxi let me out at Jared’s house, I felt the same way I did when I returned from my last tour.

It wasn’t home anymore.

Joy met me at the door. Her eyes were red and her voice cracked. “I’m so sorry. Jared won’t allow you to stay in the house. He wants you to get your stuff and move into the workshop until you find another place to live. I don’t want to make things worse. He’s so upset. I’ve never seen him like this.”

I acknowledged her request with a nod.

I’m the enemy now.

I took her hand. “I understand.”

Her resolved cracked and the tears began anew. I let go of her hand. As I turned to go pack my things, I said, “I promise I’ll find her and bring her back to you. Even if it’s the last thing I ever do.”

I tripped over one of Hope’s dolls—a reminder she was just here, but now she’s gone. Her absence left footprints on my battle-weary soul. I threw together the basics: my packed duffel, Jared’s .44 Mag, and a sack full of snack foods. The pantry and fridge provided me with a few more staples, but I left the healthier homemade food and concentrated on the cheap junk food. Despair is better when paired with fat and sprinkled with sugar.

Con padded along behind me as I walked to the workshop. “Stay.” Pity parties have room for only one. He insisted on joining me. I changed into something more suitable for my festivities and sat down on the cot. Con nudged my elbow until I allowed him to rest his head in my lap. His physical presence provided some level of comfort.

Banishment to the confines of the workshop proved too much for my overwhelming guilt. The isolation fed my profound grief. I embraced the darkness. Potato chips consoled me as I dug my way to the bottom of the bag. When I completed my excavation, I exchanged them for a bag of miniature chocolate bars. Not satisfied, I contemplated my other delicacies. The decision stymied me. Life is full of tough choices. Cookies or cupcakes? Save Rafael from bleeding out, or go after Hope?

Buy Links:
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4958355
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Falcon-Tia-Catalina-ebook/dp/B00MS8QVWS/ref=la_B00MSYZQIM_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410007765&sr=1-1
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blue-falcon-tia-catalina/1120160990?ean=2940150734579
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/467249
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bluefalcon-1597771-171.html

Interview:
Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Tia: I do see writing as a career. It isn’t something you just sit down and do. I spent a considerable amount of time taking online classes, attending seminars and workshops. Writing is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I would not have been able to accomplish a complete manuscript without the help of numerous people within the writing community. It really does take a village.

Me: Give us some insight into your main character. What makes him/her special?
Tia: Grace is fighter and her Macgyver abilities enable her to adapt to her surroundings. She can make a weapon out of trash and old tools and get grass to grow using instant tea. She thinks she has given up on life, but she has an enduring spirit that won’t allow her to quit.

Me: How did you come up with the title?
Blue Falcon is military lingo. It means something specific and it is a theme throughout the book. If I revealed what it meant it would be a huge spoiler, but feel free to look it up.

Me: What’s your favorite sub-genre (contemporary, sci-fi, etc.) to write? To read?
To read and to write would be mysteries and thrillers. I am also a fan of horror. There is nothing like curling up with a Dean Koontz or Stephen King novel and reading until you feel the urge to check all of the locks on the windows and doors.

Me: I usually get plot ideas in the shower and while driving. When/where does inspiration strike you?
Tia: I usually have an epiphany while I’m on the treadmill or walking my dog. I put recipe cards and pens in my purse, in the drink holders of the treadmill, and in the car. I keep a notebook handy while I’m watching TV.

Me: What new stories are you working on?
Tia: While I don’t write series, I do write strong, independent women who know how to take care of themselves. My current work in progress is Sweet & Savage. Annie Sweet grew up in foster care and has no known relatives, but someone from her past wants her dead. Luke Savage is a local firefighter who fights to protect her from a serial arsonist who is determined to torch her happiness.

Author Bio:
Having been self-employed for most of her adult life, Tia decided several years ago to make a change. She joined the Indiana chapter of the Romance Writers of America and the national Sisters in Crime.
She lives in central Indiana with her husband and a spoiled pooch named Brandolina Jolie, or something not fit for print when the dog is chewing on the downspouts and digging up the landscaping.

Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tiacatalina
Facebook: http://facebook.com/tia.catalina.77
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tia-Catalina-Author-Page/536835156433709
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tiacatalina (@CatalinaWinter6)
Email: mailto:tiacatalina@live.com
Website: http://www.tiacatalina.com

Thanks for visiting today, Tia, and thanks to those of you who stopped by for look! Remember to comment by midnight EDT on Wednesday, September 24, for a chance to win a copy of Blue Falcon!

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!

Writing Tip Wednesday--Formatting for E-books Part 2

Welcome to Writing Tip Wednesday! Self-publishing offers writers another choice on the road to publication, whether they’re already traditionally published and/or e-press published, or unpublished. Although the author maintains control of the process, she also has a lot of hard work ahead of her. Education about self-publishing and the publishing industry is vital to a good product and creating a professional image.

The content is ready! The book is written, the polished manuscript has been to an editor, critique partners, and beta-readers, the tagline and blurbs are written, a contract for cover art has been signed, ISBNs are purchased, and front and back matter are complete.

Because not all writer brains work alike, Formatting for E-books Part 2 will cover a different approach to preparing the document for upload at retail platforms. Each section of the book has some unique formatting, so this approach lists the elements separately by section. Remember that font, typeface size, indent sizes, and line spacing can be adjusted to the author’s preference. Always preview the final product before clicking Publish.

Title Page:
-1-inch margins
-Begin text approximately 2 inches from the top
-Centered text
-Bold
-Times New Roman or other legible font
-16-point typeface (can be larger or smaller, depending on appearance on the page)
-Double-space or more for aesthetic spacing
-First line: title
-Second, third, fourth, etc. lines: title continued, subtitle, “By,” or author’s name

Copyright Page:
-1-inch margins
-Begin text at the top of the page
-Left-margin justification
-Regular text
-Times New Roman or other easy-to-read font
-12-point typeface
-Single or 1.15 spacing

Dedication Page:
-1-inch margins
-Begin text at the top of the page
-Center “Dedication” heading
-Left-margin justification for body of text
-Regular text
-Times New Roman or other easy-to-read font
-12-point typeface
-Single or 1.15 spacing

Preface page:
-1-inch margins
-Begin text at the top of the page
-Center “Preface” heading
-Left-margin justification for body of text
-Regular text
-Times New Roman or other easy-to-read font
-12-point typeface
-Single or 1.15 spacing

Table of Contents:
-1-inch margins
-Begin text at the top of the page
-Center “Table of Contents” heading
-Left-margin justification for listing of chapter titles/numbers
-Regular text
-Times New Roman or other easy-to-read font
-12-point typeface
-Single or 1.15 spacing

Chapter/Part/Section Pages for Nonfiction:
-1-inch margins
-Begin chapter/part/section title/name 2-3 inches from the top of the page
-Center chapter/part/section title/name
-Regular or italics text
-Times New Roman or other easy-to-read font
-14-point typeface
-Double-spaced

Chapter Text for Nonfiction:
-1-inch margins
-Begin text at the top of the page
-Left-margin justification
-Regular text
-Times New Roman or other easy-to-read font
-12-point typeface
-Single or 1.15 spacing

Chapters for Fiction:
-1-inch margins
-Begin text at the top of the page
-Chapter title/number centered or left-margin justification
-14-point typeface for chapter title/number
-Double-space between chapter title/number and beginning of chapter text
-Left-margin justification for body of text
-Regular text
-Times New Roman or other easy-to-read font
-12-point typeface for chapter text
-Single or 1.15 spacing

Chapter Breaks and Page Breaks:
-Check the retail platforms current guidelines
-KDP currently requires page breaks
-Nook Press, Kobo, etc. require section breaks

Acknowledgements Page:
-1-inch margins
-Begin text at the top of the page
-Center “Acknowledgements” heading
-14-point typeface for heading
-Left-margin justification for body of text
-Regular text
-Times New Roman or other easy-to-read font
-12-point typeface for text
-Single or 1.15 spacing

About the Author Page:
-1-inch margins
-Begin text at the top of the page
-Center “About the Author” heading
-14-point typeface for heading
-Left-margin justification for body of text
-Regular text
-Times New Roman or other easy-to-read font
-12-point typeface for text
-Single or 1.15 spacing

Other Books by the Author Page:
-1-inch margins
-Begin text at the top of the page
-Center “Other Books by the Author” heading
-14-point typeface for heading
-Left-margin justification for listing of books
-Separate series listings
-Regular text for heading
-Italics for book titles
-Times New Roman or other easy-to-read font
-12-point typeface for text
-Single or 1.15 spacing

Create, name, and save a separate file for each retail platform for easy updates. Be sure the hyperlinks for Other Books by the Author match the retail site where the file will be uploaded.

Formatting for print is next, so don’t check off #7 yet!

The To-Do List
1) Finish the book. 
2) Polish and edit the book. 
3) Write taglines and blurbs. 
4) Create or purchase cover art. 
5) Purchase ISBNs, if using a single ISBN for all retailers using the same book format (print or e-book). 
6) Create front and back matter. 
7) Format for e-book and/or print.
8) Update website, blog, and social media.
9) Create metadata list.
10) Plan a marketing and promotion strategy.
11) Publish the book.
12) File copyright paperwork, if registering.
13) Add buy links to websites, blogs, and social media.
14) Implement marketing and promotion strategies.
15) Write the next book!

Be sure to check out the writing craft series, Writing Tip Wednesday: The Writing Craft Handbook, in e-book at Amazon and B&N and in print at Amazon and CreateSpace, and the writing career series, Writing Tip Wednesday: The Writing Career Handbook, in e-book at Amazon and B&N and in print at Amazon and CreateSpace.

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!

Author Spotlight + Giveaway--Mya Larose

Welcome to Author Spotlights on Mondays! Mya Larose is visiting this week all the way from Ireland! She's sharing a super hot peek at her latest book, Yasemin's First Chance, from the One More Time series and giving away a necklace and earrings set to one new follower on her blog! Be sure to read the complete instructions at the end of the post to enter!

Blurb:
Yasemin Miller was sexy, stylish and sophisticated. Gerald Thompson was tall, dark and handsome. They have been skirting their attraction for nearly three years until Yasemin received an unexpected phone call that changed the course of her life and would take them to Turkey.
Upon their arrival in Istanbul, Turkey, they met with the incredibly sexy Seth Barnes. Immediately Yasemin and Gerald wanted him and it was long before Seth seduced the couple into a red-hot ménage that pushed their boundaries.
But Seth had a secret admirer that threatened his relationship with Yasemin and Gerald. Could he realize it if he opened his heart and soul to his lovers or would he lose them both, forever?

Adult Excerpt:
He loved her so much. Her eyes shone like diamonds, and angels would fall from heaven for her smile. Her hair flowed down her back like glittering black silk, accenting her already breathtaking figure. Grabbing his big cock, he gave it a hard squeeze as discreetly as possible. He’d lost count of how many wet dreams he had. Every night, he would dream. It always started with a low moan that would escape from her lips as she sucked on his tongue, sliding up and down as if she was sucking his cock. His lips would soon find the soft slope of her neck where he licked and sucked gently as she wrapped her arms around his back and caressed his ear with her soft, urgent moans.

Her chest would heave, her skin hot and flushed. Slowly, he would ease her body onto his bed, stroking her cheek and whispering sweet words. He would run his hand down over her smooth stomach and rest it just above her sweet pussy. With two fingers, he gently traced the outline of her pussy lips, starting from the crack of her hot little ass to the point where her clit swelled up. Her moans were like a sweet symphony to his ears.

With both his hands, he would part her swollen pussy lips and exposed her pink clit. He brought his mouth over her pussy and blew hot air over her swollen clit, causing her entire body to squirm with anticipation. He wanted to torment her and drive her to the edge of passion. He would run his fingernails gently up the side of her fleshy thighs while he drew her swollen pussy lips into his mouth, sucking on them and lapping the wetness off of them. God! In his dreams she tasted like the most expensive liquor he’d ever drunk.

He would declare his undying love to her, and gently his hard cock would slide easily in and out of her magnificent cunt. She would feel so good, so snug and warm. A perfect velvet glove for his hard cock.

Every morning, he would wake up in his own bed, feeling exhausted. “No…” He would groan, squeezing his eyes shut. How could a dream encounter with that sexy thing leave him feeling so drained?

The day he had learned from his friend Peter that Yasemin planned to travel to turkey all by herself was when he put his foot down. No way in hell would he let her slip through his fingers for this length of time. Therefore, he had insisted on travelling with her. Well, it was more like begging. His woman wasn’t going to wander around Istanbul and with God only knew who. She was his, dammit!

All through the flight, he had behaved like a big bother would, with friendly banter and jokes. But deep down, he wondered who she was about to meet, what this man looked like, and why she would stay with a complete stranger and not in a hotel.

Shock was an understatement. He couldn’t describe with words what he felt when he first laid eyes on Seth. He took a really good look at him. He was a very good-looking guy over six feet tall with shaggy blond hair. He knew his feelings were mutual.

There and then, he had wanted to drop on his knees and suck on his cock. Seth would explode inside his mouth, he would feel the first wave of cum hit the back of his throat, and it would be so hot. He would keep pumping more cum in his mouth. Just the thought of it made him literally drool. He had to wipe his mouth with the back of his hand.

In his dream, Gerald would feel his growing cock on the crack of his ass, and he would rub it all over his ass cheeks. He would feel Seth’s cock at the entrance of his ass. He would start fucking him nice and slow, and feel every inch of his cock inside of him as he pulled out and pushed it back in.

An intense feeling shot through his body. Hmm! He was such a man whore! With a grunt, he grabbed his cock harder. He was beyond hard. Between dreaming of Yasemin and Seth, he could break brick with his cock. It went to the borderline of painful.

Buy Links:
Google play: http://goo.gl/vp9xki (13% OFF)
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/yasemin-s-first-chance (10% OFF)
BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/mya-larose
Amazon uk: http://goo.gl/5iFWrf
Amazon.com: http://goo.gl/x9CMGT (18% OFF)

Author Bio:
Mya Larose was born in Turkey in the eighties, educated in France, studied in Cambridge University. She is a thirty-three year old youngish woman living in Northern Ireland, now, with her wonderful Northern Irish husband as well as her children and a wee granddaughter.
Mya was attracted to books since she could remember. As she grew “older” her love for books followed. She always wanted to write but had this fear of refusal. Putting her phobia aside, she pulled her big girls knickers on and started to write six months ago.
It wasn’t long before she decided to try her hand at getting it published. She couldn’t describe what she felt when she learned that her first book was going to be published. Since then, she’s been working on more manuscripts.

Social Media Links:
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/myalaroseauthor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh1mrhwHhnx7K22vdQw52nA/featured
Siren-BookStrand (Author Page): http://www.bookstrand.com/mya-larose
Tumblr: http://myalaroseauthor.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/24718416-mya-larose
E-mail: myalarose@outlook.com
Blog: http://milegul.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/myalaroseauthor
Twitter: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Myalarose
Google+ (Author Page): https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/105079650122514578292/+MilegulBlogspotCoUkauthormyalarose/posts
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LEY1L18

Visit Mya's blog and become a member for a chance to win this set of faux pearl necklace and earrings from Simon Nicholas. Closing date/time is September 22 at UK time, 23:59.

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!

Writing Tip Wednesday--Formatting for E-books Part 1

Welcome to Writing Tip Wednesday! Self-publishing offers writers another choice on the road to publication, whether they’re already traditionally published and/or e-press published, or unpublished. Although the author maintains control of the process, she also has a lot of hard work ahead of her. Education about self-publishing and the publishing industry is vital to a good product and creating a professional image.

The content is ready! The book is written, the polished manuscript has been to an editor, critique partners, and beta-readers, the tagline and blurbs are written, a contract for cover art has been signed, ISBNs are purchased, and front and back matter are complete.

Formatting for E-Books is next. Before beginning, be sure to check the current formatting guidelines for each retail platform, as they can change. Requirements vary, and knowing the correct format will save a lot of time and frustration.

Step 1: Save the completed manuscript. Back up the document in multiple locations—desktop, external hard drive, jump drive, cloud services, email attachments. Correcting a simple error during the formatting process may be more difficult than starting over from scratch. Always have a copy of the original document handy for this potential situation. Be sure the backup copies are “clean” and don’t include track changes comments and corrections from critique partners, beta-readers, and/or editors.

Step 2: Remove header/footer content and page numbers. Because e-reader devices and apps may allow the reader to change font and size, e-book documents should be formatted without headers, footers and page numbers. Save the document.

Step 3: Insert front matter and back matter text with hyperlinks. Save the document.

Step 4: Use Page Breaks for KDP formatting and use Section Breaks for all other e-book retail platforms for the Title page, Copyright page, Dedication page, Preface page, Table of Contents, each chapter, Acknowledgements page, About the Author page, and Other Books by the Author page. Each “part” of the book must be separated for proper page formatting when the file is converted by the retailer. As mentioned above, check the most current guidelines to prevent issues with conversion and platform approval! Save the document.

Step 5: Margins should be one inch on all sides for e-books. Save the document.

Step 6: Choose a font. Times New Roman is the most commonly used font. Some e-reader devices allow the reader to choose a display font, so readability is most important. Save the document.

Step 7: Adjust line spacing for front and back matter. The Copyright, Dedication, Preface, Table of Contents, Acknowledgements, About the Author, and Other Books by the Author pages are typically set at 1.0 or 1.15 for line spacing. This is personal preference and can be decided based on the way the text looks on the page. A preview will be available at the retailers’ sites once the document is uploaded. Save the document.

Step 8: Adjust line spacing for chapters. The text of the story is the most important element of the book’s interior. It has to be comfortable to read. Double-spacing often leaves too much space between lines, making the e-book seem less aesthetically pleasing than one-and-a-half line spacing. Slightly tighter spacing also creates a more professional look. Remember that e-book length is calculated by file size, not page numbers, so spacing has no effect on the “thickness” of the digital version of the story. Save the document.

Step 9: Choose typeface size. Headings, like “Dedication,” “Table of Contents,” and chapter titles/numbers, stand out better with a larger size than the body of text. Using size 14 for headings and size 12 for text makes those distinctions clear. The title page text should have a font size that fits well on the page, usually size 16 or larger, depending on the length of the title and author’s name. Save the document.

Step 10: Choose the proper placement for text on the page. The title and author’s name should be centered on the Title page about two inches from the top of the page. All other content begins on the first line of each page. The text on the Copyright page is usually aligned to the left side with left-only justification. The headings for the Dedication, Preface, Table of Contents, Acknowledgements, About the Author, and Other Books by the Author pages are typically centered, while the text is aligned to the left with left-only justification. Chapter numbers/titles may be centered or aligned left with left-only justification, and the chapter content is aligned left with left-only justification. Be sure to use the Format menu rather than Word’s toolbars to set the placement positions for better conversion success. Save the document.

Step 11: Choose paragraph indentation size for the story text. Half-inch or .3-inch indentations work well with one-and-a-half line spacing. Be sure to use the Format-->Paragraph control to set the indentation rather than the tab button. Tabs may not covert properly on the retail sites. Save the document.

Step 12: SAVE THE DOCUMENT! Be sure to back up the document in multiple locations.

Don’t check off #7 yet! Next week’s post will include more information on formatting e-books. Formatting for print will follow!

The To-Do List
1) Finish the book. 
2) Polish and edit the book. 
3) Write taglines and blurbs. 
4) Create or purchase cover art. 
5) Purchase ISBNs, if using a single ISBN for all retailers using the same book format (print or e-book). 
6) Create front and back matter. 
7) Format for e-book and/or print.
8) Update website, blog, and social media.
9) Create metadata list.
10) Plan a marketing and promotion strategy.
11) Publish the book.
12) File copyright paperwork, if registering.
13) Add buy links to websites, blogs, and social media.
14) Implement marketing and promotion strategies.
15) Write the next book!

Be sure to check out the writing craft series, Writing Tip Wednesday: The Writing Craft Handbook, in e-book at Amazon and B&N and in print at Amazon and CreateSpace, and the writing career series, Writing Tip Wednesday: The Writing Career Handbook, in e-book at Amazon and B&N and in print at Amazon and CreateSpace.

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!

Author Spotlight + Giveaway--Amber Page

Welcome to Author Spotlights on Mondays! Brand new author Amber Page is visiting this week and sharing a peek at All's Fair in Lust and War. Be sure to check out my interview with her and comment for a chance to win your choice of an e-book or a signed print copy! Sorry, US only for print because of shipping costs!

Blurb:
What happens in Vegas…is even hotter in New York!
After a fling in Vegas that was so wild even she can't believe it happened, copywriter Becky has finally gotten her mojo back. Time to get back to New York and win that promotion!
But things veer catastrophically off course when her new coworker Mark saunters in…and he's much too familiar. Even worse, Mark and Becky will be competing for the promotion—and he's just as good in the boardroom as he was in bed! So what's a girl to do when Mr. One Night becomes Mr. One-Desk-Away? Stand her ground, of course—if there's going to be a war, she's going to make sure she enjoys it!



Excerpt:
“Let’s get one thing clear,” she said. “What happened was supposed to stay in Vegas. It will never happen again.”

“Never, huh? That’s a long time.”

“I’m serious. I’ve worked too hard to get where I am to let some man screw up my life.”

He pulled her into his arms and tilted her face up to his. “I think you know I’m not just ‘some man,’” he said as he brushed his lips across hers. “I’m magic.” With that, he deepened the kiss. Their tongues darted and danced, and he pulled her closer, wanting more.

He was reaching for the buttons on her blouse when the sharp whistle that signaled the arrival of a text message on his phone blared.

Becky jumped back, staring at him with undisguised horror. “I’m not sure if you’re magic,” she whispered. “But I am beginning to think you might be the devil.”

“I’ve been called worse by my competition,” he said. “But usually not until after I beat them.”

Buy Links:
Harlequin: http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=53672
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alls-Fair-Lust-Amber-Page-ebook/dp/B00JTPU4DU
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alls-fair-in-lust-war-amber-page/1119289881?ean=9781460339657
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/all-s-fair-in-lust-war
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Amber_Page_All_s_Fair_in_Lust_War?id=fVt0AwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/alls-fair-in-lust-war/id880014000?mt=11

Interview:
Me: What inspired you to write your first book?
Amber: All’s Fair in Lust & War is actually my first book—not just to get published, but ever.
I’ve been wanting to write it (or something like it) for years. I’ve been a copywriter for longer than I care to admit, and I’ve always thought that an ad agency would make the perfect setting for a romance novel. Ad folk are every bit as dramatic as romance novel characters (but not quite as good looking). You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve seen over the years…

Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Amber: This is probably going to sound pretentious, but to me, writing is more than a career. It’s what I am. A state of being. In my mind, I’ve been a writer since I wrote my first story in the third grade. And I’m sure I’ll continue writing for as long as my mind and hands are able.

Me: Give us some insight into your main character. What makes him/her special?
Amber: Becky is an amazing human being. She’s seen way more than her fair share of bad times and been betrayed in the worst possible way, but she hasn’t let it stop her. She’s made her mark in what is an extraordinarily tough business, but she hasn’t let it change her. In my mind, she’s the consummate career woman—but unlike a lot of ambitious types, she hasn’t lost her ability to relate and to care for the people around her. She’s definitely a woman who deserves a happy ending!

Me: I love a good conflict. What draws your main characters to each other and keeps them apart?
Amber: The book starts on the morning after their one night stand in Vegas. It was supposed to be a fling—they felt safe in giving in to the chemistry between them because they knew they’d never see each other again.
But then Mark shows up in Becky’s office, and her boss informs her that she’ll be competing against him for the promotion she’d already been promised. That sets the stage for an enormous amount of acrimony…but they can’t deny the sparks between them. The sexual tension is delicious!

Me: How did you come up with the title?
Amber: I didn’t. I sent in the final revisions to my editor under the title Winner Takes All. When the AAs came back, the new title was in place. It’s definitely a lot sexier!

Me: What new stories are you working on?
Amber: I just finished up the first round of revisions for the follow-up to All’s Fair. This time, the heroine is Jessie, Becky’s best friend. The blurb I wrote to sell it to my editor goes a little something like this:
Jessie built Roar, her digital advertising agency, from the ground up. Now that she’s gotten her big break, New York’s biggest agency, helmed by the ad world’s handsomest executive, wants to take it back. Can she keep her company—and her heart—safe from his advances?
When Nick finds out that Jessie’s upstart agency has stolen his company’s biggest client, he knows what he has to do—buy her out and bring her under his control. But when she refuses to bend, he finds his business mettle—and his heart’s defenses—tested like never before.
Can he get the deal done without losing his heart in the process? There’s only one way to find out.

Author Bio:

Amber Page has been writing stories since she could write, and still counts the pinning of her "Bubble People" tale to the classroom bulletin board in the third grade as one of her happiest childhood memories. She's also an avid reader, and has been addicted to romances since she first discovered them in the dusty shelves of her favorite library as a young teen. When not penning Happily Ever Afters, Amber works as an advertising writer in the heart of Indiana, where she lives with the love of her life, their daughter, and a menagerie of furry animals. She also blogs, gardens, and sometimes even manages to sneak in a few hours of sleep.

Social Media Links:
Website: http://amberpagebooks.com
Blog: amberpagebooks.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amberpagebooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amberpagewrites
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/3/b/105722906908355690956
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/amberpage

Thanks for stopping by, readers! Be sure to comment by midnight EDT on Wednesday, September 10, for a chance to win your choice of an e-book or signed print copy of All's Fair in Lust and War, and congratulations on the start of your publishing career, Amber!

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!

Writing Tip Wednesday--Preparing the Finished Book Part 5

Welcome to Writing Tip Wednesday! Self-publishing offers writers another choice on the road to publication, whether they’re already traditionally published and/or e-press published, or unpublished. Although the author maintains control of the process, she also has a lot of hard work ahead of her. Education about self-publishing and the publishing industry is vital to a good product and creating a professional image.

No matter which publishing path an author chooses, Preparing the Finished Book for publication is the first step. It’s a big one too. Write the book, send the polished manuscript to an editor, critique partners, and beta-readers, write the tagline and blurbs, sign a contract for cover art, and purchase ISBNs. Front and Back Matter come next.

What is front and back matter?

Front and back matter are the pages before and after body of the book (the actual content or story).

Back Matter consists of an About the Author page, an acknowledgements page, a list of other books by the author, and the opening or excerpt from the next book. As with front matter, not all items are required. Use personal preference to decide which elements to include.

About the Author is a short biography and a list of social media links. Here’s an example from an e-book:
About the Author

When her fingers aren't attached to her keyboard, Mellanie Szereto enjoys hiking, Pilates, cooking, gardening, and researching for her stories. Many times, the research partners with her other hobbies, taking her from the Hocking Hills region in Ohio to the Colorado Rockies or the Adirondacks of New York. Sometimes, the trip is no farther than her garden for ingredients and her kitchen to test recipes for her latest steamy tale. She is multi-published with Siren-Bookstrand and has a new self-published foodie contemporary series, Love on the Menu, in addition to her nonfiction books, Writing Tip Wednesday: The Writing Craft Handbook and Writing Tip Wednesday: The Writing Career Handbook, based on her informational blog series. Mellanie makes her home in rural Indiana with her husband of twenty-eight years, their son, and two cats. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Indiana Romance Writers of America, Hearts Through History Romance Writers, and PASIC.

Visit her website: http://www.mellanieszereto.com
Read her blog: http://www.mellanieszereto.blogspot.com
Like her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormellanieszereto
Follow her on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mellanieszereto
Find her on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/mellanie_szereto

If you enjoyed this book, please consider rating or leaving a review on the retailer’s website and/or Goodreads. Thanks!

*Note that the social media links are live in e-book format. One click on the hyperlink, and the reader is taken directly to the author’s website, blog, etc.

The print book version is the same except that the links are plain text. Whether digital or print, the bio gives the reader a personal look at the author, potentially generating more interest.

An Acknowledgements page offers the author a special place to thank those who helped with research or other important aspects in the writing and production of the book. This differs from the Dedication, in that dedications thank general supporters and recognize those who inspired the story.

Having a list of Other Books by the Author means readers have an immediate way to purchase more books. It’s a very easy marketing and promotional tool. Hyperlinks should be added to e-book format for a one-click path to the retail platform. For the KDP version of the book, use Amazon links to other books by the author. For Nook Press, use the B&N links, and so on. This page can and should be updated as the author publishes more books. Keep a list of buy links handy for a quick copy and paste when creating hyperlinks.

Some authors choose to include the opening or an excerpt from the next or another book in the back matter. Be sure to format that section the same as the content of the story. Formatting for e-books is on the agenda for next week!

How about a quick review of hyperlinking to create those clickable links?

To create a hyperlink to a website, highlight the source (author website address on the bio page). Use the Insert command to choose Hyperlink. Choose Webpage. The text in the Display box should match the highlighted text in the document. Add the web address in the Link To box and click OK. Repeat for each social media and buy link. These instructions are for Word for Mac 2011 and may differ slightly in other versions.

Be sure to Save after each addition and test the links! Links can be removed by highlighting the existing hyperlink source and selecting Insert->Hyperlink. Click the Remove Hyperlink button.

Check off item #6 on the to-do list! Front and Back Matter are completed!

The To-Do List
1) Finish the book. 
2) Polish and edit the book. 
3) Write taglines and blurbs. 
4) Create or purchase cover art. 
5) Purchase ISBNs, if using a single ISBN for all retailers using the same book format (print or e-book). 
6) Create front and back matter. 
7) Format for e-book and/or print.
8) Update website, blog, and social media.
9) Create metadata list.
10) Plan a marketing and promotion strategy.
11) Publish the book.
12) File copyright paperwork, if registering.
13) Add buy links to websites, blogs, and social media.
14) Implement marketing and promotion strategies.
15) Write the next book!

Be sure to check out the writing craft series, Writing Tip Wednesday: The Writing Craft Handbook, in e-book at Amazon and B&N and in print at Amazon and CreateSpace, and the writing career series, Writing Tip Wednesday: The Writing Career Handbook, in e-book at Amazon and B&N and in print at Amazon and CreateSpace.

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!

Author Spotlight + Giveaway--Kelsie Belle

Welcome to Author Spotlights on Mondays! Kelsie Belle is visiting this week with her latest release, Raven, book 1 in her new series, The White Witch's Legacy. Check out my interview with her and be sure to comment for a chance to win a copy!

Blurb:

When Xander Kane meets a delectable exotic dancer in a bar, he is instantly drawn to her striking beauty. He knows he has to have her, but when he finally convinces her to let him take her home, she disappears without a trace after they share an electrifying night together. He never thought he would see her again, but when fate takes her right back to his doorstep he is intent on making her pay for running out on him like she did. But Raven is not what she seems, and the secrets she hides, coupled with his own dark skeletons, threatens to destroy any hope that Xander harbored for them.
Raven embarks on a perilous journey to protect her mother’s legacy and finds herself fighting for her life at every turn. When she meets Xander Kane, he is everything she wants in a man and everything she cannot afford to let herself have right now. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles that confront them at every turn and find their way to love?

Excerpt:
“Myra, hurry up, girl. I need you up here before the nightfall,” she said, and Myra sighed again. It was already getting dark outside so, with slumped shoulders, she made her way up the flight of rickety stairs, fully expecting a dinner of liver and onions with boiled potatoes to be waiting on her upstairs along with a game of cards.

The scene that met her as she pushed the door open and entered the apartment, however, made her freeze in the doorway, her jaw hitting the wooden floor in shock. Hazel had pushed away all the furniture to leave a wide space in the center or the living area. She had used chalk to draw an enormous star in the middle of the floor, on each point of which there was a lit candle, the flame flickering in the slight breeze that entered through the half-opened window. There were bottles of oils and essence placed on the ground beside the peculiar drawing on the floor, and a black book lay inside it. The salt-and-pepper-haired woman was busy walking around the shape and sprinkling some sort of liquid methodically onto the floor. When she noticed Myra standing dumbfounded in the doorway, she quickly put down the container she was holding and beckoned for the girl to join her where she stood. “Come girl, we don’t have time to waste! The time has come for you to meet your destiny.”

“Aunt Hazel, what is all this?” Myra asked when her wits returned to her. She took several tentative steps forward, wondering if the old woman had finally lost it after all. “I thought we were going to watch The Sound of Music again and then play cards.”

“It is your time, dear girl. Today is the day. This is what I have been preparing you for, for all these years. Come! Take your place now, it will soon begin.”

“Take my place? Where exactly is my place, aunt?” she queried cautiously, her feet still firmly rooted to the spot where she had stopped.

“You are the eldest, Myra, the first. It is you who must bear the Mark first. It will begin with you.”

As much as Hazel’s words confused the heck out of her, Myra didn’t bother to question her any further. She knew her aunt would only keep speaking in riddles so the sooner she did as she was told, the better it would be for her. Hesitantly, she walked over to where the old woman stood, and upon her instructions, she stepped over the outline of the star and went to stand in its center. Immediately, there was a whiplash of lightning, followed by a horrific roar of thunder, causing Myra to jump in fright. Where the hell had that come from? It had been a bright, clear day, no sign of rainclouds anywhere. Suddenly, all coherent thought fled her mind as a searing pain gripped the back of her neck. It felt as if someone was carving her skin with an extremely sharp object, or branding her with a hot pole. A tortured cry tore from her lips and she fell to her knees, her arms flying to the point of the pain as if she could make it stop by wiping it away.

“Yes, it has begun,” Hazel’s voice noted solemnly. She hobbled closer to where Myra knelt, clutching the back of her neck. “Let go, Myra. Accept your mark. Accept your true powers.”

Then the wind began howling outside, rushing in through the open window with the strength of a mid-summer Castallantran hurricane, so powerful that it whipped Myra’s hair about her face and roared loudly in her ears. In the midst of all this, the candles didn’t only remain lit, but they seemed to be burning even brighter still. Staring at them in shock, Myra suddenly noticed that inside each flame, there was the face of a different woman staring back at her. She gasped and made to jump to her feet, but Hazel’s hand on her shoulder restrained her.

“Do not fear, my child, no harm will come to you,” the woman reassured her, and reluctantly Myra remained kneeling as the faces in the candles’ flames began to chant together. The words were in a language Myra had never heard before. There was no way for her to understand what they meant, but somehow, she could tell exactly what they were saying.

One of three, witches that be, we grant you this day, the power to see. Strength, wisdom, and courage be yours, to find the spell caster and the other that cures.

Then, just as suddenly as it started, the howling wind stopped. The pain at the base of Myra’s neck subsided just as the flames from the candles went out simultaneously, bringing an end to the mysterious chanting, and the apartment was once again as quiet as it always was. Myra jumped to her feet, head reeling with consternation as she turned to face Hazel. The old woman just smiled and nodded before bending to retrieve the black book from the floor. When she straightened again, she handed it to Myra and then pulled her in for a tight hug. “Welcome to the sisterhood, Myra,” she whispered affectionately. “I know this is overwhelming, but I tried to prepare you the best way I could.”

Myra pulled away to look suspiciously at her eccentric aunt, her eyes darting down to the book in her hand, then back to Hazel’s face. “Aunt Hazel,” she began, her voice quivering slightly. “What just happened?”

“You finally joined the family, my dear,” her aunt replied, smiling gleefully. “You now possess one third of the powers of the Great White Witch of Castallantra.”

Myra promptly fainted.

Buy Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-white-witchs-legacy-1-raven

Interview:
Me: What inspired you to write your first book?
Kelsie: I am an avid reader and I’ve enjoyed books so much throughout my life that the plots just kept coming to me. So I decided to try my hand at writing my own story. A friend of mine encouraged me to get it published because she really enjoyed reading it and the rest is history as they say.

Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Kelsie: Oh yes, I ultimately would like to quit my day job and write full time.

Me: This book is the first in a series. Do you prefer to write single title or series? Why?
Kelsie: I prefer stand alones, they don’t require as much concentration and memorization of details. I like to follow series though because they help you to see more of the characters even after their stories have ended.

Me: Give us some insight into your main character. What makes him/her special?
Kelsie: Raven is very young and innocent at the beginning of the story but she had to grow up really quickly when her life took a very sudden change in direction. She’s special because she’d very determined and strong-willed and when she discovers that she has all these really cool magical powers it fascinates her just as it would a child. Xander is a very commanding man, he struggles with who he is but doesn’t let that determine how he operates in life. He’s the take charge kind of man that a woman can’t help but submitting to, even if it is just mentally. He has a dangerous edge but ultimately he makes a woman feel safe.

Me: I love a good conflict. What draws your main characters to each other and keeps them apart?
Kelsie: Mutual attraction brought them together at first but then Raven bruised his ego and pissed him off. So he wants revenge, bad enough to stoop to blackmail. That’s how they ended up together.

Me: What’s your favorite sub-genre (contemporary, sci-fi, etc.) to write? To read?
Kelsie: Contemporary MF books are definitely my favorite followed by paranormal or sci-fi stories.

Me: I usually get plot ideas in the shower and while driving. When/where does inspiration strike you?
Kelsie: I suffer from severe insomnia most nights and instead of taking sleeping pills to knock me out, I prefer to lie in bed and imagine story plots. That’s when most of my plotting and even writing takes place.

Me: What new stories are you working on?
Kelsie: I’m finishing up book 3 in this series but I’m also working on two contemporary stories right now, Ember’s Secret Sin and Lover Undercover. I also have a Futuristic paranormal novel, A Dangerous Antidote, lined up as well. Hope to be done with them all by the end of the year.

Bio:
Kelsie Belle wears many hats – wife, mother and teacher are just a few but the erotic romance writer hat is by far her favorite. Kelsie is wildly gregarious by nature. She considers herself ‘forever 21’ and enjoys reading contemporary romance, Science fiction and fantasy, listening to music and dancing like there’s no tomorrow. A caffeine addict that lives life from one coffee mug to the next, she’s always on the go, ready and waiting for the next adventure.
She has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember, her characters live inside her overactive mind and a thousand stories come to life in her head every day. This novel is the first in her three book paranormal series The White Witch’s Legacy. It promises to be an exciting trip into her wild imagination and she hopes her readers will enjoy the experience of taking a ride outside the ordinary with her.

Social Media Links:
Website: www.kelsiebelle.wordpress.com
Blog: Ms. Belle’s Blushing Books
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kelsiebelleplaying
Twitter: @mskelsiebelle
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kelsie-Belle/e/B00JTLUEAW/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1409005664&sr=1-2-ent

Remember to comment by midnight EDT on Wednesday, September 3, for a chance to win a copy of Raven!

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!