Sunday, December 19, 2010

Coming Soon~~Menage Unchained~~

I'm currently working on edits for this story that should be released some time this month from Beautiful Trouble Publishing.  I'm excited about this because it's my first menage.  ; ) My heroine, Siobhan is a spicy hot, independent woman who has paved a way for herself as a business owner.  Below is a short blurb.  Cover art was created by Les Byerly! As soon as I can I'll post an excerpt! Hope you'll enjoy!

* * *
Blurb:

Friends Steve Guidotti and Jerry Frigaard know that anything worth having is worth fighting for. In an effort to win back their old flame, Siobhan they use the skills that made them the successful businessmen they were and concocted a plan.  While they both enjoy Siobhan’s spice, one man is madly in love with her.   Of course, he won’t admit it.
Siobhan Anderson knows what she wants in life, in business…and in bed.  In life she wants happiness.  In business, she wants to be the boss.  In bed, she wants it all.  Having not one, but two alpha males sharing her bed, Siobhan had more than she needed but she had fun…and she had the love marks to prove it. 


Or she had…until she’d kicked both men out of her bed.  Though it’d been the right thing to do, she reluctantly admitted (to herself) that she missed Jerry and Steve.  No one had ever rocked her body like those two.  Accepting their apologies and them back in her life, she soon discovers that not only are they rocking her world,  one of them has obtained a little piece of her heart as well.   

Can Siobhan continue to withhold her true feelings or will she accept them, and choose the man who holds the key to her heart?

Saturday, December 18, 2010

New Release~Alone~

I'm so excited to announce that Alone is available from Silver Publishing's 25 Days of Christmas! Wahooo! It's also available on All Romance Ebooks. They don't play around, do they?? I hope you enjoy!
Blurb:
After experiencing a traumatic childhood, Darcelle Campbell carries scars that never healed into her adult life. Her guardian angel is placed on earth to prevent her from suffering a tragic event on Christmas Eve.

However, Jack can only do so much. It is Darcelle who must change for the better to ensure the dark event never occurs. In addition to this, she must open her heart to Harley, or lose everything.

Will she tear down the walls she's worked so hard to construct over the years, and allow herself to experience love from a man who strives to stay by her side no matter what, or will she forfeit it all, and succumb to the tragic event foretold by Jack?
* * *
Excerpt:
Darcelle Campbell slipped out of Harley's grasp as she struggled to free herself from the impeding emotions bombarding her. Once again, he'd gotten too close for comfort. Their on again, off again relationship was based strictly upon her terms, ever since she was nineteen years old. Now, in their thirties, she knew he sought more from her, possibly even marriage.


Sighing, she sat up in bed, clutching the comforter close to her naked body. Darcelle observed the sleeping blond man. They'd known one another since she was fourteen. Back then, he'd just moved to Maryland from West Virginia, looking for construction work. Her stepfather, Jackson Wagner had taken the young man under his wing, teaching him all there was to know about the construction business.

Sunlight slipped through the Venetian blinds and kissed the curly golden mass framing his strong masculine features. He was so handsome. All a woman could ever want in a man. Other admirable qualities included; his kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and consideration. Why couldn't she be the same?

Darcelle tweaked her black razor cut shoulder length hair and turned to look in the mirror on the door of her closet, beside the bed. She frowned as she studied her reflection. To him, she was a goddess, but in her own eyes she was plain at best. She knew he adored her flawless mocha skin, chocolate brown eyes, and other exotic features. Her oval shaped face and high cheek bones were a gift from her great-grandmother, who was half Black Foot Indian and African American. She continued staring at her reflection while tracing the outline of her full pouty lips, as Harley usually did when he gazed lovingly into her eyes.

He stirred. His green eyes fluttered open, and a smile formed on his face.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said softly, reaching up to caress her chin with a strong hand. "What a beautiful sight to wake up to." He propped himself up with an elbow. "Wish this could happen every day."

"Good morning, Harley," she said with a smile. Already, she knew where this conversation was going. She bent down, allowing her lips to brush his, almost giving into the strong pull of love, and basking in the fluttering of her heart. Instantly, she pulled back. This was a mistake, and an emotion she couldn't allow. She tried to leave the bed, but he yanked her back quickly, forcing her to gaze into liquid green eyes.

"Don't do this to me again, woman." Harley breathed, as he cupped her face between work roughened hands. His eyes pleaded with her. "I don't want to be away from you, Darcelle." His thumb stroked her bottom lip, leaving her breathless. "Christmas will be here soon, let's go shopping, or something. I thought since we both have the day off, we couldó"

She interrupted. "Harley, it's time to get up, and there's so much I have to do."

He frowned, forcing the vein between his eyebrows to dance. "Umó I thought we would share this day, remember? Don't do this to meó to us." He released her from his grasp, exhaling as he ran a hand through his hair and looked at the clock on the nightstand. "You know, it's only eight o clock."

She bit her lip, trying to think of an excuse as he stroked her smooth mocha colored skin. "Well, I've got some paperwork I need to take care of andó"

He pulled her against his hard body and kissed her cheek. "Don't make me leave." His hand brushed against her nipple, forcing a whimper from her. "You know, it would be nice if you'd let me in here," he gently tapped on her forehead, "and let me know why you resist us so much. I'm tired of you shutting me out, Darcelle."

"You know how difficult it is for me to share my thoughts, and feelings," she murmured with regret. "Ió"

"My God, woman! We're both in our thirties, and have been dating on and off for years," he exclaimed, swiping his hair from his face. "I don't get you sometimes. Whenever we get close, something clicks in your head, and you back off." He shrugged his shoulders, and shook his head in frustration. "Do you even love me?" Jaw set tight, he searched her eyes for an answer.

"I care for you, you know that." That was the most she could give him. He'd have to take it or leave it. The hurt look on his face confirmed the fact that his patience was wearing thin. She couldn't blame him.

"You care for me? Sorry, I'm not buying it." He reached for her, but she pushed his hand away.

"Look, I think you should leave, okay?" she said as she left the bed and grabbed her robe from the floor. Quickly, she slipped it on.

"Please, just talk to me. Let me in. What goes on in that head of yours?" She looked away from his mesmerizing gaze.

"I'm just so busy with my business, and Ió"

In a fit of anger, Harley jumped out of bed and began dressing. "Fine, you can have your business, you can spend the dayóalone," he said, slipping his boxers on, and then his jeans. "I'm getting sick of this shit." He paused before slipping his black sweater over his head. "When you're ready for a relationship, you know where to find me!" There was silence as he sat on the edge of the bed to slip his socks and boots on. He stood and stared at her for a few moments, as though waiting for an answer that would never come. "I'll talk to you soon, I guess," he snapped before snatching his keys from the black lacquer nightstand.

"Go after him," a tiny voice in the back of her mind commanded. She continued staring at the spot where he stood, and listened as he stormed down the stairs, and out the door. She jumped when he slammed it, and she continued to stare off into space. Tears welled in her eyes when she heard the diesel engine of his truck start.

"You're going to lose him," the voice came again. This time, she looked around. Was she going crazy, or was it her imagination? Shrugging it off, she sighed and sat down on the bed. She'd lied. There was no paperwork. She'd concocted the lie to get him to leave her alone. Truth of the matter was, Christmas was coming, and this was the most painful time of the year for her.




 

Thursday, December 9, 2010

DO THE HOP ~ Author Blog Hop

Hey folks, I couldn't help but participate in Sassy Brit's second "Meet and Greet" Author Blog Hop! Readers, this is a fun way of discovering new authors. Fellow authors, what an awesome opportunity to learn more about one another, plus add a few more books to the old TBR pile from hell! Ha Ha!!


So--What are you waiting for? DO THE HOP! C'mon and join us!!




http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com/2010/12/do-hop-author-blog-hop-come-and-join-us.html

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Sequel to The Beast Within ~ Coming Soon

For those of you who enjoyed The Beast Within, I must tell you, the sequel has been submitted to Sugar and Spice Press this past weekend! It's titled Dark Hearts of Charm City. For those of you who don't know, Charm City is Baltimore. Home of The Ravens, and Edgar Allen Poe! 
The Beast Within

As you know, this is a three part series, and I think you will enjoy this. The first installment was a little light with lots of erotic details.   ; ) The second installment is somewhat dark, and laced with some humor. There's a new character in town, and his name is Michael Vitello! I would tell you a little more about this vampire elder, but I fear I'll give away the plot of the original story. 

This title will be released somewhere around mid January! I can't wait!! Gee, I wonder what the book cover will look like? Of course, the same faces you see above will grace the cover, and maybe the background setting in Fells Point or the Inner Harbor. What do you think?


Monday, December 6, 2010

Guest Blogger Christopher Craven

Hi Everyone! Please welcome my guest blogger, Christopher Craven. Christopher is a m/m romantic suspense writer I've just recently met. In another week or so, I plan to invite him back for an author interview. For now, please take this opportunity to get to know him. 


* * * *
Christopher Craven grew up the scrawny middle child in a semi-liberal family residing in Phoenix, Arizona. From the time he was able to write his own name, Chris knew that he was destined to write for the world. Thanking his mother, who handed him his first adult novel in junior high, Chris strives to become a prolific name in the literary world. Preferring to write erotic romance that explores the love between kindred spirits and Romantic Suspense, Chris also enjoys barefoot strolls along the beach but can most often be found roaming the Eastern Colorado plateaus when he isn't writing.   Chris can be reached on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authorchriscraven and found online at  http://cravenheat.blogspot.com/ or emailed at  authorcraven@gmail.com
As my bio says above, I’m Chris Craven. I got into romance writing with the encouragement from other writing friends. Then I read one for myself, a TA Chase as a matter of fact. Once I saw the growing audience, I figured I’d give it a shot. Well, here I am today with a hot m/m romantic suspense series releasing throughout 2011 and a fiery short story that has been a hit ARe entitled “The Bystander” that released in November. The first in my series, “October Sun,” releases on January 11th through Rebel Ink Press. Here’s a bit about OS:

Love is the strongest force in the universe…
Defense attorney Miles Turner seems to have it all.  At the height of his game professionally, he’s just been hired to defend a famous L.A. party boy’s less than stellar reputation, a case that stands to earn Miles a small fortune.  And to top it off, his love life isn’t bad either.  Even the headache he can’t seem to shake isn’t strong enough to overpower the tenderness he has for his partner.  Miles Turner is finally happy.
Landon Black is living a life beyond his dreams.  Finishing his degree towards a career he’s always wanted, Landon might spend his days studying, but his nights are filled with the one thing he can’t live without--love.  Even the thought of spending a weekend at the upcoming Black family reunion with his less than tolerant father isn't enough to extinguish the excitement Landon feels at the reality of a getaway trip with his lover.
But it can be taken away in an instant…
As members of the “Black Pack” come together in the snow capped mountains of Colorado at Lake Alexander, no-one can see what’s looming ahead-- an event with consequences so severe it stands to alter all of their lives forever.
Prepared with nothing but his integrity and a heart full of hope, Miles is praying for a miracle while Landon, forced to play a high stakes game of life-or-death, is asking himself if the love he has is enough to offer.

Here’s a tiny teaser from “October Sun”: 
Rush hour traffic in California left more to be desired though Miles Turner was used to an hour commute. The fact of the matter was it allowed him some solitude and he enjoyed tuning into his satellite radio while making the drive. 
And thank God Miles had air conditioning in his Mercedes. Although it was late September, the temperatures in L.A. still hadn't cooled that much and while he didn't want to be a mess when he got home, the image Miles' had of a glistening Landon Black waiting to get rowdy with him certainly worked.
Since Landon would be a couple hours later than usual, Miles felt that ordering take-out would be a nice change of pace given the choice of leftovers from three nights ago. 
Arriving home, Miles turned the key in the front door before almost tripping on the UPS package sitting smack dab in the middle of the porch. Miles gathered the box and reached for the regular mail. Shuffling envelopes, the package and grasping hold of his briefcase with one arm, he pushed open the front door while juggling the paper sack of Chinese food in the other.
As Miles reached the kitchen, he offloaded the items on the end of a counter before turning on the Bose sound system that hung beneath a cupboard. When he felt the vibration inside his sport coat, Miles' mind immediately jumped to filthy thoughts.
Just got out of class. On my way home now. I’m famished. What’s for dinner? Oh, umm… never mind.  Okay, leaving now! Well, unless you wanted to…   xoxo- Landon
Miles' husband, Landon, was always teasing. It was perhaps the most endearing quality that attracted Miles to the man in the first place. He remember seeing Landon that first time, watching as the young man with gorgeous eyes watched him, hiding behind stacks of poetry books in a bookstore on Wilshire Boulevard. To this day both men loved to read.
Feeling mildly romantic, Miles lit pillar candles and dimmed the lights in the dining room. Setting the table with their formal china, Miles put out a silver pail of fresh ice and nestled the bottle of Cristal into the glacial basin to chill.
Miles changed the music on the sound system to a station that played soft, classical standards, which were Landon's favorite.
While he was at it, Miles figured he’d please Landon further by changing out of his work attire, deciding on a pair of silk boxers instead. Miles generously wrapped a long silk tie around his slender neck.
The moment he realized Landon was home, Miles hurried down the stairs as quickly as he could and rested on the bottom step.
Posed with his right leg extended and his left leg bent beside, Miles faced Landon as the young man entered the entry way and motioned him closer.
Surges of intensity fragmented throughout Miles’s spine. Seeing Landon react to him spread between the metallic banisters, Miles thought about what he'd done to deserve such a fantastic partner. Miles watched as Landon smiled. It was the tie. That was what really did it for Landon and Miles knew it. Seeing that tie dangle freely from Miles bronzed chest always sent the Landon into overdrive.
“I’ve been expecting you,” Miles announced, running his right hand through his sable brown hair.
“I’ve missed you, too,” Landon bit back, shuffling a quick path to his lover.
Landon reached out, grabbing Miles’ tie, gently tugging his mate to his feet. Landon pulled Miles closer, groping at his lovers plump ass, retracted his head slightly and rested his forehead on Miles’ forehead.
“What’s for dinner, love?” Landon questioned.
“Take off your shirt and I’ll show you.”
Flinging off his shoes, Landon followed his eager partner into the dining room while sliding his t-shirt the length of his taut chest. Hearing the mellow tune of Moonlight Sonata put Landon at ease as he forgot about his day and focused on his lover.
* * * *
On January 11, 2011—you can read “October Sun” in its entirety from www.allromanceebooks.com , your Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook and more.  
Thank you, Charisma for having me. It’s been a pleasure being here today!
* * * *
You're welcome Christopher, it was nice getting to know you. I'll be speaking with you very soon!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Spotlight on Author Tracy Ames

CK:  Hello folks! Happy Friday to ya! Today, welcome erotic author Tracy Ames!


TA: Thanks for the invite, Charisma. It’s a pleasure. I’m a fan of your work.

CK:  Aww, that's sweet, thank you. I'm a huge fan of your work!  How many years have you been writing?

TA: I’ve been writing professionally, in one fashion or another, for nearly fifteen years, however, I’ve been fulltime for the last seven.

 CK:  I love your stories Tracy, and admire how you are such a “Master of Words.” I’ll admit, my imagination has allowed me to tell some good stories, but I am by far no master of words. My jaw drops when I read your work. How do you do it?

TA: Thank you so much. I’m often criticized for making readers break out their dictionaries or fire up Google. It’s not my fault, really. My vocabulary is a byproduct of transatlantic living and a mother who approached the use of proper English with Hitler-like efficiency. I use imagery to convey what words can’t easily translate. For example, the physical act of kissing, putting your tongue in someone’s mouth and wiggling it about isn’t even theoretically hot...ever. Even still, it’s difficult to describe however the emotion one feels when being kissed isn’t. It’s universal; everyone has experienced the warm gooiness of a kiss.

Remember:
Stimulus: Reaction- Perception- Emotion- Response
Description: Sight- Sound- Scents- Taste- Texture
(There’s a cheat sheet on my site)


CK:  Wow, that's kick-ass. Well mamma didn't go wrong there, now did she? We all thank her because it is a fine attribute to your stories. Now, where did you submit your first story?

TA: I submitted my first story to a now defunct European newsletter. I wrote for them for five years which was my springboard to other ventures with Hustler and Scarlet Magazine. 

 CK:  Now see, I'm impressed! Hustler?? You go girl!! Please, tell us, what are the pros and cons of being a published author?

TA: The biggest pro is being able to do what you love. The biggest con is doing what you love and being judged accordingly. If you come into this industry with thin skin you’re going to bleed to death. Sadly, most artists are by nature thin skinned. Self-reflection and self-awareness is a must. The solidarity amongst artists is an enormous pro. I’ve met extraordinarily talented individuals from all genres and levels of profession, and it’s their camaraderie and willingness to share that I find most appealing.

 CK:  Would you do us the honor of providing a sneak peek of your most recent project, if possible?

TA: I’d love to give you a snippet of my upcoming release Beg Me but my copy editor would hang me. It’s still in brown paper status. My most recent novel Make Her Want It, the sequel of Seduce Me, went to Amazon’s bestseller list before its release thanks to presales. It has also been nominated for several awards—we’ll see how things pans out, lol. The first chapter as well as an additional excerpt can be found on my site.

The Kink and interracial elements of Make Her Want It turned it into a risky endeavor but it was well worth it. Edward and Sonya’s, my hero and heroine, characters were independently strong so bringing them into a non-vanilla tale didn’t subjugate either of them. Indeed, it gave the readers greater insight into their personalities. Edward is an unapologetic alpha male, and Sonya is his mirror image and submissive. When the sparks start flying, its best everyone run for cover, lol.

 CK:  Please share one of your earlier novels with us. 

TA: My first full length novel was Seduce Me which was the story of Nick and Ali, two characters from my early literary days. An excerpt can be found on my site. It’s rather long, I’m afraid.
Seduce Me

CK:  He He, no worries. I'm sure readers will venture over once the interview is complete. What are your future goals?

TA: My future goal is to expand my media company, Blue Art Media, to incorporate a resource and networking center where new and aspirating artists can connect with seasoned pros and benefit from their wisdom. People are always willing to reach back and offer assistance…the resource center will provide them a forum to do so.     

CK:  Awesome, I wish you luck Ms. Lady! Sounds nice! If your books were turned into a movie, but producers wanted the heroine to be white and the hero black, would you allow that?

TA: Ha! Good question and one I’ve struggled with recently. Someone described my characters as A-racial, meaning their race is forgotten after the initial intro and only referenced in fleeting context. Even still I wouldn’t care to have my characters changed. No, I don’t follow stereotypes and none of my characters fit comfortably in any mold. However, changing their race wouldn’t sit well with me.

CK:  Yes, I feel the same, thank you for that answer. Do you foresee interracial romance (not erotic because of children) books in stores such as Walmart, Target, and CVS in the near future? Any ideas on how we in this genre can make it happen?

TA: Actually Walmart and Target sale the Harlequin’s Blaze Series which has a few interracial offerings. Yes, they’re bloody rubbish but it’s the first step towards crossover acceptance. A few years ago Walmart was questioned about their willingness to stock the Blaze Series (which employs racy language) and their reason for opting out of carrying other publishers. As you can imagine the matter was swept under the rug.

Crossing over to the ‘supermarket’ aisle is a blessing and a curse and we, as artists, should weigh the pros and cons as carefully as our publishers. Pros: more exposure, potentially higher volume of sells, bragging rights aka “Hey, look mom! Here’s my book!”….Cons: demands for a cheaper product will send the artists profit per unit through the floors, loss of artistic control, censorship that’ll make Mao look like a bleeding heart liberal.

CK: Wow, now I never thought of that. Okay, hmmm, let's keep things the same then. LOL If you were to spring into another genre, becoming even more successful than you are, would you deny you once wrote erotica?

TA: Erotica, Refugio de Amor! To deny my erotic past equates to spitting in the faces of everyone who has aided me not to mention those of my loyal fans. If I ever become that arrogant, I give you permission to kick my teeth in.  

CK: Ha Ha! What other genres are you interested in writing in?  YA, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Scifi, or would you combine all these, with the exception of YA into your erotica/erotic romance stories?

TA: I’m in the process of moving into lit fiction and historical. I have two manuscripts in the works; one is based in 18th century France, the other is set on the border of England and Scotland. Both will be interracially based. I’m really excited about these projects. Being able to combine my two passions, history and erotica, is mint!

CK:  Okay, you got me! I'll be on the lookout for these. Can't wait!! What are your hobbies?

TA: I’ve been painting and studying photography since I was very young. And for the past six years, I’ve been involved in competitive ballroom and salsa dancing. I’ve studied American Smooth under Christian Lange and Latin/Rhythm under Paul Scicchitano; both of whom have current standings. Love them!

CK:  Sweet! How do you unwind?

TA: I lock myself in our bedroom and watch documentaries— I completely veg out on useless knowledge. And thanks to a soundproof bedroom, I go undisturbed.

 CK:  Do you mold your characters strictly from imagination or from those you cross paths with in everyday life?

TA: Most of my characters are composites of the people around me however I also draw from strangers. My favorite coffee guy, Lee, at Dean and Deluca was my muse for “Lee” in my short story “Beg Me”. My muses love seeing themselves in print. 


CK:  Do you allow your muse to take total control, or do you create an outline before writing?

TA: After one too many rewrites, I now create outlines before embarking on any project. Once I have the outline sorted out, then my muse is free to run wild…and run wild they do! 

 CK:  What methods of research do you utilize? I know, I know! The internet is available, but do you scour the library as well? LOL

TA: I’m a research hound! I’ll research the topic to the ends of the earth. The internet is extremely useful however there’s still much to be said for print literature especially when you’re researching unfamiliar countries, cities, and cultural.

Here’s a tip: Picking up guide books is head and shoulders above Googling. Why? Because they offer detailed descriptions about the locations (food, streets, lodging, local culture and so on) which the internet can’t provide or the information is sparse and scattered. Lonely Planet guides are the best on the market however they cost almost triple that of other guides. I make a habit of picking up travel books from second-hand shops, AAA, and library sales. Also, check local book swaps or simply ask a follow writer.

 CK:  Please tell us where can you be found on the internet?

My official site is: InterracialErotica.net

 CK: Okay, cool. I'll have to friend you on Myspace. Also, please be advised, your pictures will take readers to your Facebook page! What advice would you like to pass on to aspiring authors? You’ve been wonderful in sharing what you’ve learned in the industry, and for that we all thank you. Folks, jot this down, because what she's about to say is excellent advice. 

TA: The best pieces of advice I can give are to keep on going and read your contracts very carefully. Publishers who push are slow to pay. If you don’t understand any element of your contract, don’t sign—if you question your art direction, put the breaks on. No matter what they say, they can’t go further without your consent. And please, for the love of peach cobbler, familiarize yourself with the new copyright laws—there is a link on my site. Remember, your name is going on the cover, not theirs. Most important, stay true to yourself and surround yourself with people who’ll sit you down and say, “Dearest, that last page was rubbish.”

CK:  Thanks once again for being so kind and easy to approach. The information you’ve shared is most valuable, and we appreciate it!   

TA: Thanks for having me. I look forward to reading more of your work. 


CK:  Aww, stop it! You're making me blush! But I thank you! * giggling * Coming from you that's quite a compliment! And I, look forward to reading more of yours too, lady!!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

I was Interviewed Today

I was interviewed today by Rose of Romance at Heart. I've known about this site for quite some time, but just never seized the opportunity to contact her for an author interview. There are so many sites out there offering interviews, so readers, here's an opportunity to learn a little more about me, and discover new authors!

http://romanceatheart.com/interview/charismaknight.html

Monday, November 29, 2010

Amira Press Bad Boys Inc Available in Print

Bad Boys Incorporated anthology now in print! What awesome stories! So glad I was invited to participate in this! 

J.A. Saare, Candace Donovan, Dahlia Rose, E. Jamie, Charisma Knight, Tressie Lockwood


Available at Amazon

Friday, November 26, 2010

Blind Passion, Part Three

Well, another awesome Thanksgiving has passed. It was wonderful being with friends and family, but just went too fast!

Anyway, I hope you will enjoy part 3 of Blind Passion over at Tracy Ames' site. Love this site to death! I just need to be more active on it! Anyway, if you haven't checked it out yet, you really should!

http://www.interracialerotica.net/erotica/articles/279/1/Blind-Passion-Part-Three/Page1.html


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

~*Author Spotlight on Raquel Mulgrew*~

CK:  Hello folks! Today, welcome
Raquel Mulgrew! I’m curious to know, where did you submit your first story?

RM:  My first erotic story was published at the publishing company, Wicked Women of Color. Oddly enough, I didn’t approach them with my story, they approached me. I had been posting work for free online and the owner of the publishing company contacted me. She was a fan of my work and she asked if I would be interested in writing for her. I accepted and the rest, as they say, is history. Unfortunately, WWC is no longer around, but it will always hold a special place in my heart.

CK:  It’s such a wonderful feeling when a publishing company approaches the author! Please, tell us, what are the pros and cons of being a published author?

RM:  In my opinion, one of the major pros of being a published author is the feedback from my readers. I love getting reader emails and interacting with people from all over the world. I had a great dialog going with a man from Australia. There are very many deep and interesting people in the world, and I have to say if not for my writing, I would know even fewer of them. Cons: writing is work. It’s emotionally expensive and mentally exhausting work. I know so many people who think writing is easy. I’m not really sure why, but I would venture to guess that it’s because they’ve never actually done it. At least not with any real enthusiasm, anyway.


CK:  Would you do us the honor of providing a sneak peek of your most recent project, if possible?

RM:  But of course! My latest piece is called, “A Summer Rain”. It’s a short story about love and loss and love again. I liken it to a Romeo and Juliette-ESQUE style romance where the “Montague” family is less than tolerant of the young miss “Capulet” and makes arrangements to ensure that our Romeo stays far, far away from his true love.

Blurb:

Shana Sanders was moving on with her life after the only
man she ever loved walked away from her with no explanation. One rainy
Chicago afternoon, she's stunned to find him standing at her doorstep begging for forgiveness.


Robert wants her back in his life as he tries to convince her
that his departure had nothing to do with his feelings for her but
everything to do with his bigoted father and brother.

Can Shana forgive him and recapture the love they shared, or will hatred and ignorance keep them apart forever?


Excerpt:
“Why are you standing out there, silly?” Shana asked, holding the door open for Robert in the entryway. “Come on in. I made your favorite, chicken Marsala and mashed potatoes.”
He smiled.
“I can’t stay,” Robert said in an almost inaudible tone. “I just—I wanted to see you.”
“You just got here. Where do you have to go?”
“Shana, I… I can’t really talk about it.”
Shana eyed him curiously. It was obvious there was something amiss.
“What’s wrong, Robert?”
“Nothing. Just trust me, okay? I’ll be back soon.”
“Robert…”
“Shana!” Robert exclaimed with mild impatience. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. Shana noticed the bruised knuckles on his right hand. She thought to inquire about their origin, but pushed the thought from her mind.
“Trust me. I need you to do that for me. Can you?”
Shana backed up and viewed the figure in front of her with confusion. What was he doing?
“Yes?” Robert asked.
“Yes,” Shana said shyly. “But what…?”
Robert cut off her inquiry with a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed her tight, lingering there as if it would be their last. He rested his forehead on hers and kissed her nose. He finally broke their embrace and turned to leave.
“I love you,” Shana said with an abruptness that made Robert freeze in his tracks.
It was the first time either of them had uttered the words to each other. They spilled forth from Shana and hung in the air like a billowy cloud. She held her breath and waited for his response. After seconds of nothing but silence, the three words that had patiently hung above them seemed to evaporate into a distant memory.
Shana felt chilled at Robert’s lack of response. How could he not say anything? She stood there, vulnerable, wishing he would reciprocate her words. But silence was her answer. She’d wanted to tell him this so many times in the past, but never had the courage. They’d been together for over six months, and tonight, she had decided she was going to say what she had wanted to for so long. But even if he didn’t feel the same, she still deserved a response.
From behind, Shana watched his shoulders hunch. He still hadn’t turned around to face her. The fact that he couldn’t return her glance spoke volumes.
“Robert? You have nothing you want to say?” Her lips trembled at the words. “At all?”
Robert turned and stole a quick glimpse toward her, then looked down to the ground. He was quiet—too quiet. Shana knew he always got that way when he was thinking.
He walked back up to her, as if he had finally figured out what he wanted to say. His eyes widened, and his face looked sad. He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.
“I have to go. I’m sorry.”
Shana’s eyes welled with tears as she stood aghast at the man in front of her. She wanted to yell and scream, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. No words could convey the anger and hurt welling inside her, so she stood in the doorway, dazed. Soon, all she heard was the thunderous beating of her heart. It was rapid and out of rhythm. Her vision dimmed in slow increments, and soon, everything had gone dark. It wasn’t until his voice broke the silence that she realized her eyes were closed and she felt the sting of hot tears stream down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry,” he said again. She opened her eyes only to see him standing in the doorway looking lost and confused. “I’ll be back, I promise.” He gave her a pained smile and turned out the door.


CK:  Please share one of your earlier novels with us. 

Just Beneath the SurfaceRM:  My last book is entitled, Just Beneath the Surface. It’s available for purchase at my publisher, Amira Press or at Amazon.com.

Blurb:
Grace Williams, a forty-three year old black college swimming coach reluctantly falls in love with her twenty-two year old, white swim student, Eric Bailey. Grace not only has to reconcile the age and race difference between them, but also the ethics of dating a student. To complicate things even further, she has to choose between Eric and her current lover, Edward, who’s not so willing to let her go.

Eric has his own issues to deal with concerning his sister’s death, his alcoholic mother, and his adulterous father.

Can the two of them find happiness in each others’ fractured lives?
  

CK:  What are your future goals?

RM:  My professional goal is to be able to write for a living. Although, I love the work that I do (I’m a computer tech) I do find creating stories very fulfilling and it leaves me free to pursue my personal goal of living abroad. I want to spend my life traveling and living in different countries immersing myself in the various cultures of the world. To me, the world is meant to be explored and I would be remiss if I just stayed in one little corner of it pretending the rest was irrelevant. Being a writer would allow me to work from anywhere in the world, and BONUS: the more exotic the travels, the more exotic the stories!

CK:  If your books were turned into a movie, but producers wanted the heroine to be white and the hero black, would you allow that? I ask this question only because over a year or so ago, another interracial author took a poll on this. From what I remember, her story would have been turned into a movie, under the condition that her black heroine and white hero would be swapped; to a white heroine black hero. “The Powers That Be” insisted a ww/bm couple would sell better and was more prevalent in society.

Since then I’ve checked her website, and I’m unable to find any further information on this, so I cannot mention the author’s name. Perhaps, if she allows me to interview, then everyone will know.

RM:  For me, the ethnicity of the characters is not as important as the message I’m trying to convey. If I feel that the ethnicity of the characters is critical to the message, then, “no”. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with the change. But in a lot of my stories, the ethnicities of the main characters aren’t as important as the evolving the characters do as a result of their interaction. That, to me, transcends race and if it stays true to the essence of the story – and the lesson is still learned, I don’t see how their skin color would matter.

CK:  Also, I see many varieties of books in Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, and Rite-Aid, with the exception of interracial. How does that make you feel?  Do you foresee interracial romance (not erotic because of children) books in these stores in the near future? Any ideas on how we in this genre can make it happen?

RM:  Well, first of all, I think Walmart is the wrong place to expect to see this change if and when it ever occurs. Stores of this ilk (i.e. Target, Walmart, etc…) do not cater to the average bookworm. I read extensively and I have never gone to any of these stores in search of a book. Their target market is not us regular readers. Stores such as these cater to the popular demand of the masses. You will frequently see the Stephen Kings, Dan Pattersons, John Grishams and the like on the shelves there. In other words, “the best sellers”. Not that there’s anything wrong with this, if I were in the kind of business that these stores are, I would probably do the same. But until the IR genre has its “A –list” author, you probably won’t find us covering the bookshelves of your local Walmart.

But this doesn’t mean that the genre isn’t popular! There are many online communities catering to IR romance lovers. This rise in popularity, for me, was abrupt and surprising and the community is growing larger every day. We IR romance authors are here and in full force, and as long as we have a large and devoted audience, we’ll keep writing the stories you love and the publishing world will take notice, trust me. It’s all about the bottom line and if it sells, you better believe publishers will be interested.

CK:  Do you see yourself writing in other genres in the future, and leaving erotica/erotic romance behind? If you were to spring into another genre, becoming even more successful than you are, would you deny you once wrote erotica?

RM:  I currently write in a few different genres, but as it stands right now I don’t see myself completely abandoning erotic romance. I have some devoted fans who let me know regularly that they enjoy my writing. So, if for no other reason, I’ll keep doing it for them.

Would I deny I wrote erotica? Ha! My first instinct is to say, “no”. But the more I think about it, the more the question gives me pause. The unfortunate part about this genre is that it’s not only not “mainstream” but, in some circles it’s looked down upon. I’ve always had a really big problem with people comparing erotic romance to porn. They are not the same thing. Wait. Did I say that loud enough? :: getting out bullhorn :: THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
There.
So, sometimes when I mention what I write to people, they get this look of shock about them. It’s amusing, but troubling at the same time. And I know that it only stems from their misunderstanding of what erotic romance is. Erotic romance is plot, it’s character development, it’s ROMANCE, it’s all the things you would find in a regular romance novel except the bedroom door stays open. Yes, erotic romance tends to be a lot more sexually explicit than other romantic genres, but that’s okay. In my opinion, if your sex life isn’t messy and “curl the toes, scream your head off” good, you’re doing something wrong, anyway! J


CK: What other genres are you interested in writing in?  YA, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Scifi, or would you combine all these, with the exception of YA into your erotica/erotic romance stories?

RM:  I currently write mystery, horror (a la Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe), suspense, psychological / intellectual thriller… Hmm, did I mention I have a bit of a dark side? The fact that Poe and King are two of my favorite authors should give you a little insight into my psyche. Something else I’ve noticed just recently? All of my romance novels have someone dying in them. Not particularly “romantic” but I guess it says a lot about what kind of writer I am. J 

I’m also a screenwriter and I’ve had one of my fantasy / comedy scripts looked at by a couple of movie producers, but neither of them picked it up. There is one that I’m particularly fond of and I would love to see it find a home one day. It’s not even about the money. I just want to see this dang movie!


CK:  Well, my fingers and toes are crossed for you! Believe me when I say, congratulations, because you are inspiring everyone who reads this interview, as well as myself. ; )  What are your hobbies?

RM:  I’m a HUGE movie fan. I’ve literally hundreds of DVDs in my collection. I like action, suspense, drama and sci-fi. Oddly enough, I’m not a big romance / chick flick woman. :: shrugs :: Go figure.
My new favorite movie to date? Inception. That. Movie. Was. AWESOME! I saw it three times at the theater and I can’t wait for the DVD. (December 7th for anyone wondering.) I highly recommend.
I love to read, but that should go without saying. I host a monthly book club in my city which ensures that I read at least one book every thirty days or so. Generally, I finish 2 – 3 a month, but some months I’m lazy. L
I love to travel, too. Every year I try to visit at least one place I’ve never been before. I also play the violin. Unfortunately, I don’t practice as much as I would like, but I try to make time for it. Learning is another hobby for me. No, I’ll be honest, it’s more of an addiction. Taking classes at my local college is incredibly exciting to me. This semester I’m finishing up the first of four novel writing classes, and next semester I do believe I’m going to complete my second semester of Spanish. Then on to French…


CK:  How do you unwind?

RM:  Can you say, “Dave & Buster’s”? I thought you could…

CK:  Ah yes, good ole Dave & Buster’s! Do you mold your characters strictly from imagination or from those you cross paths with in everyday life?

RM:  I think it’s more of a mixture of the two. I have an incredibly vibrant and, dare I say, sometimes “out of control” imagination. But I also like observing people and I tend to incorporate a lot of that human interaction into my characters. I want them to come off as real as possible to my readers and so I do my best to make them as authentic as I can.

CK:  Do you allow your muse to take total control, or do you create an outline before writing? 

RM:  It depends. This one is more dependent on the length of the story I’m writing. Shorter stories, say 15,000 words or less, I don’t outline. The plot and characterization comes easily enough that I don’t feel an outline is necessarily critical to mastering the story. Conversely, for longer works, I would be lost without an outline. More detailed and intricate plots require the extra time and effort to map them out, to thoroughly analyze each character, interview them in turn (yes, I interview my characters. I let them tell me who they are instead of vice versa) and make sure I stay as true as possible to the unique and diverse personalities of each character.

CK:  What methods of research do you utilize? I know, I know! The internet is available, but do you scour the library as well? LOL

RM:  Life! Yes, life is a great resource for information. Believe it or not, not all of us writers sit in a little cave day in and day out and only see the light of day when it is forced upon us. (NO! The light…it BUUUURNS…) I’m very active socially. I go to college, I have lots of diverse and interesting friends, I travel a lot – the world has a plethora of resources available to anyone willing to get out and find them. Yes, the Internet is a great tool, but I believe it should only serve as a starting point. I think the best way to make your characters’ personalities as rich and authentic as possible is to have a rich and authentic personality yourself. Someone who enjoys exploring and learning will find that there is a nearly endless sea of information available to them. You just need to jump in with both feet and find it!


CK:  Where can you be found on the internet?
You can visit my website at http://www.raquelmulgrew.com and friend me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Raquel-Mulgrew/1028198993
You can also visit my blog at: http://raquelmulgrew.blogspot.com/
Feel free to message me anytime! I love hearing from my readers.

CK: What advice would you like to pass on to aspiring authors?

RM:  I’ll try to stay away from the clichéd advice you’ve all heard before.
The best advice no one ever gave me as a writer (I had to learn it on my own) was to READ. Yes, read. Read, read, read. And not just in the genre you write in. Covet a multitude of genres. You will learn much more than you ever thought you would. Read all you can. Read non-fiction, pick up a classic or two and find out why they’re called “Classics”. One of my favorite authors (who, unfortunately was not recognized for his genius during his lifetime) is George Orwell. His book, 1984 was one of the most incredibly well written and life changing novels I’ve ever read. Pick up a book or two by Kurt Vonnegut and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is phenomenal. Check out Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, Mark Twain, Ray Bradbury, Alice Walker, Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Immerse yourself in the great writings of history and learn from them. Reading great works will improve your writing by leaps and bounds. Bonus: You get an awesome story to boot which could also inspire your next novel. It’s win-win, baby! (And yes, don’t forget to WRITE!)

CK:  I totally agree, and Ohh, I love To Kill a Mockingbird. Raquel Mulgrew, thank you so much for sharing.

RM:  It was my pleasure! Keep up the good work!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Alone ~ 25 Days of Christmas at Silver Publishing









Hello folks, "Alone" is part of Silver Publishing's 25 Days of Christmas Anthology, to be released December 17th! As a matter of fact, I Hope you enjoy!
Blurb:
After experiencing a traumatic childhood, Darcelle Campbell carries scars that never healed into her adult life. Her guardian angel is placed on earth to prevent her from suffering a tragic event on Christmas Eve.
However, Jack can only do so much. It is Darcelle who must change for the better to ensure the dark event never occurs. In addition to this, she must open her heart to Harley, or lose everything. 

Will she tear down the walls she's worked so hard to construct over the years, and allow herself to experience love from a man who strives to stay by her side no matter what, or will she forfeit it all, and succumb to the tragic event foretold by Jack?

Chapter One
Darcelle Campbell slipped out of Harley’s grasp as she struggled to free herself from the impeding emotions bombarding her. Once again, he was getting too close for comfort. Their on again, off again relationship was based strictly upon her terms, since she was nineteen years old. Now, in their thirties, she knew he sought more from her, possibly even marriage.
Sighing, she sat up in bed, clutching the comforter close to her naked body, and observed the blond man sleeping. They’d known one another since she was fourteen. Back then, he’d just moved to Maryland from West Virginia, looking for construction work. Her stepfather, Jackson Wagner had taken the young man under his wing, teaching him all there was to know about the construction business.
Sunlight slipped through the Venetian blinds and kissed the curly golden mass framing his strong masculine features. He was so handsome, and all a woman could ever want in a man. Other qualities included his kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and consideration. Why couldn’t she be the same?
Darcelle tweaked her black razor cut shoulder length hair and turned to look in the mirror on the door of her closet, beside the bed. She frowned as she studied her reflection. To him, she was a goddess, but in her own eyes, she was plain, at best. She knew he adored her flawless mocha skin and chocolate brown eyes, and other exotic features. Her oval shaped face and high cheek bones were a gift from her great-grandmother, who was half Blackfoot Indian and African American. She continued staring at her reflection while tracing the outline of her full pouty lips, as Harley usually did when he gazed lovingly in her chocolate depths.

He stirred, and soon, green eyes fluttered open, and a smile formed on his face.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said softly, reaching up to caress her chin with a strong hand. “What a beautiful sight to wake up to,” he murmured as he propped himself up with an elbow. “Wish this could happen every day.”

“Good morning Harley,” she said with a smile. Already, she knew where this conversation was going. She bent down, allowing her lips to brush his, almost giving into the strong pull of love, and basking in the fluttering of her heart. Instantly, she pulled back. This was a mistake, and an emotion she couldn’t allow. She tried leaving the bed, but he yanked her back quickly, forcing her to gaze into liquid green eyes.

“Don’t do this to me again, woman.” Harley breathed, as he cupped her face between work roughened hands. His eyes pleaded with her. “I don’t want to be away from you, Darcelle.” His thumb stroked her bottom lip, leaving her breathless. “Christmas will be here soon, let’s go shopping, or something. I thought since we both have the day off, we could—“

She interrupted. “Harley, it’s time to get up, and there’s so much I have to do.”
He frowned, forcing the vein between his eyebrows to dance. “Um—I thought we would share this day, remember? Don’t do this to me--to us.” He released her from his grasp, exhaling as he ran a hand through his hair and looked at the clock on the nightstand. “You know, it’s only eight o clock.”   She bit her lip, trying to think of an excuse as he stroked her smooth mocha colored skin. “Well, I’ve got some paperwork I need to take care of and—“

He pulled her against his hard body and kissed her cheek. “Don’t make me leave.” His hand brushed against her nipple, forcing a whimper from her. “You know, it would be nice if you’d let me in here.” He gently tapped on her forehead. “I’m tired of you shutting me out Darcelle.”

“You’re taking things way too fast. I’m not ready to move in with you. I’m still just really enjoying being in my own place, you know?”

“My God, woman! We’re both in our thirties, and have been dating on and off for years,” he exclaimed, swiping his hair from his face. “I don’t get you sometimes. Whenever we get close, something clicks in your head, and you back off.” He shrugged his shoulders, and shook his head in frustration. “Do you even love me?” Jaw set tight, he searched her eyes for an answer.

“I care for you, you know that.”  That was the most she could give him. He’d have to take it or leave it. The hurt look on his face confirmed the fact that his patience was wearing thin. She couldn’t blame him.

“You care for me? Sorry, I’m not buying it.” He reached for her, but she pushed his hand away.

“Look, I think you should leave, okay,” she said as she left the bed and grabbed her robe from the floor. Quickly, she slipped it on.

“Please, just talk to me. Let me in. What goes on in that head of yours?” She looked away from his mesmerizing gaze.  

“I’m just so busy with my business, and I—“

In a fit of anger, Harley jumped out of bed and began dressing. “Fine, you can have your business, you can spend the day--alone,” he said, slipping his boxers on, then his jeans. “I’m getting sick of this shit.” He paused before slipping his black sweater over his head. “When you’re ready for a relationship, you know where to find me!” There was silence as he sat on the edge of the bed to slip his socks and boots on. He stood and stared at her for a few moments, as though waiting for an answer that would never come. “I’ll talk to you soon, I guess,” he snapped before snatching his keys from the black lacquer nightstand.

“Go after him,” a tiny voice in the back of her mind commanded. She continued staring at the spot where he stood, and listened as he stormed down the stairs, and out the door. She jumped when he slammed it, and she continued to stare off into space. Tears welled in her eyes when she heard the diesel engine of his truck start.

“You’re going to lose him,” the voice came again. This time, she looked around. Was she going crazy, or was it her imagination? Shrugging it off, she sighed and sat down on the bed. She’d lied. There was no paperwork. She’d concocted the lie to get him to leave her alone. Truth of the matter was, Christmas was coming, and this was the most painful time of the year for her.


 
Coming to Silver Publishing, December 17th, 2010