Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

My guest today is Rebecca Royce. She’s been on tour with her book Love Beyond Sight, and this is her last stop. Since her hero is a wounded one, I asked her to tell us about writing a disfigured character. Comment on this post, and enter a draw to win a $50 Amazon Gift certificate. Welcome, Rebecca.

I didn’t start writing Samuel in Love Beyond Sight. I started writing him in Love Beyond Sanity, in the book that where I first introduced Eden. She needs help and a voice that she doesn’t recognize fills her mind to save her.

But as I write things as they come to me, I knew the voice was Eden’s soul mate but even I wasn’t entirely certain whom he was. So I waited until he spoke to my muse and when he came it was with so much sadness that I wanted to write his story immediately so I could give him a touch of happiness in the midst of his crazy existence.

Samuel was raised human, as all but four of the Outsiders were. His understanding of his powers came early as an Outsider ancestor who explained to him in a vision who he was and what he could do contacted him. But, for the most part, he lived a very happy, somewhat normal existence.

Until the day Sebastian caught up with him. For those of you who have perhaps not read the first three books, Sebastian is a demon whose purpose for being on Earth is to destroy the Outsiders and enslave humanity.

It turns out that Sebastian and Samuel have encountered each other before. As a teenager, before he’d come into all of his powers, Sebastian locked Samuel in a closet and set him on fire. He nearly died.

But—its not so easy to kill an Outsider and the fact that he didn’t die meant that his body tried to recover. The fire, laced with magic, made it impossible for him to entirely heal. He was left forever scarred. Even his own family couldn’t look at him without wincing. Eventually, he went out on his own.

The good news? Samuel can change his face. Its one of his powers. He can become any one he can touch. For a small amount of time. Its not a permanent fix but it allows him to get through life.

He has no intention of letting Eden ever see his real face. Ever. But that happens and its wonderful…for him. For her, however, it doesn’t work. She’s made to love Samuel…not the fake versions of him that she keeps seeing. They can be together but she can’t love him.

For me, writing Samuel was challenging because he’s strong, tough, and smart. He comes up with ideas and is pivotal in what happens with the story arc of the series. Yet…he has this weakness he cannot get past and it had to be done in such a way that the reader could feel for him without feeling pity for him. I think, ultimately, that Samuel turned out exactly as he should have. I fell in love with him when I wrote him and I hope the reader does too.

CONTEST: So let me pose you a question: Do you need your hero to be physically perfect? Is that important to you when you’re reading a story? (Everyone who answers this question will go into a draw to win $50 Amazon.com GC)

Blurb: In Love Beyond Sanity, Eden Roan awoke in a mental hospital, unsure of how she got there. Nearly discovered by a demon, she is rescued by a voice in her mind who saves her life by transforming her figure into something the demon doesn’t want to look at.  The voice tells her she is his but that they will never, ever meet.  As time progresses, Eden becomes more and more convinced that the voice is just her imagination playing tricks on her.  It can’t possibly be her destined soul mate.

Or can it?

Samuel Quinn was horribly disfigured by the demon when he was a child. He can’t stand looking at himself and does not want Eden to see him. Luckily, his powers allow him to hide himself using other people’s features as his own.  But when Eden needs him, Samuel will have to step forward to save her even if he can never let her see the real him.

Can there be love without sight? Or will the demon finally have them all just where he wants them?

AUTHOR Bio:

As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.

Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.

She’s in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She’s been told she’s a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you’ll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.

In Rebecca Royce’s world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

www.rebeccaroyce.com

Fancy Free is finally out in print at Ellora’s Cave!

Want to read a spicy romance?

A story about a woman who inherits a condom factory?

A story that’s sexy?

One that contains a little mystery?

A story that will make you laugh?

This is the story for you!

Here’s the blurb:

Warning: Condoms were tested and a few harmed during the writing of this story.

It’s not every day a girl inherits a condom company, and to say accountant Alice Beasley is astonished and out of her depth is putting it mildly. For an almost virgin, she needs a quick education in all things condom because her inheritance is in danger. Someone is intent on sabotage and playing nasty, trying to destroy her new company.

Alice is suddenly getting down and dirty with charismatic James, the factory manager, all in the name of business, testing new condom designs. The sex is hot. Mind-blowing. It’s a dark thrill and an erotic journey. Yeah, it’s a hard job, but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s gotta do.

The testing turns personal. Alice wants James. She craves his talented touch and sultry kisses, she desires passion and physical pleasure on a permanent basis but first she must convince bad-boy James to give up his fancy-free ways…

Purchase Fancy Free directly from Ellora’s Cave, from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or the Book Depository

First – an admin notice. I’m blogging at Samhain Publishing today. My subject is children and pets in romances. Do you like children and pets in your romances or do you have enough of them at home? My post goes live at 9.00am.

Now on to Reality Shows…

The chances are that most of you have watched a reality show on television. They’re popular with viewers of all ages and topics of great discussion and debate amongst fans. It’s difficult to switch on the television and not hit one of the many reality shows currently gracing our screens.

So what is a reality show? Wikipedia defines reality shows as a television show that’s unscripted, shows dramatic or humorous events and features the man on the street instead of professional actors.

I’ve always thought reality shows were a modern invention. Not so. According to my research, reality television shows have been around since the late 1940s. Shows such as Candid Camera, You Asked For It, and the Miss America Pageant were around in the late 40s and early 50s. They’re all forms of reality shows.

In the last ten years, the popularity of reality shows has exploded. Millions of us tune in to watch shows such as American Idol, Survivor, The Amazing Race, Keeping up with the Kardashians plus all their spin offs and Fear Factor. And my guilty secret and favorite – a British show called The Only Way is Essex. Train Wreck city, my friends!

Reality shows fall into several categories:

1. Documentary

These are shows such as 1900 House and Regency House. Directors plan the plots with the participants taking part in prescribed activities.

2. Elimination

The participants take part with the aim of winning a prize. One by one, the contestants are eliminated with the last person receiving a prize, often monetary in value. American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, The Biggest Loser and America’s Got Talent fall into this category.

3. Makeover

An expert or group of experts take ordinary people and “improve” or make them over. Examples are Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, Extreme Makeover, and What Not to Wear.

4. Renovation

Several shows concentrate on renovating homes and work spaces. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a show that fits into this category.

Some reality show participants have found fame after their appearances such as many of the American Idol stars, the Kardashians.

Love reality shows or hate them, the current popularity plus the relatively cheap cost of producing them means they’re here to stay. These days, directors push boundaries, making some shows contentious and controversial. Some shows are very sexual in nature. Some are uncomfortable to watch such as The Moment of Truth, where contestants are asked questions about their lives and things they have done. I just can’t watch that one because it pushes past my comfort zone.

Sometimes I wonder about the reality shows of the future. How far will we push under the guise of entertainment?

I took the concept of a reality show and, given the current direction, pictured the possibilities. My books, SEX IDOL and FALLEN IDOL, are the result. They are both futuristic stories and feature my version of what might happen with the reality shows of the future. Sex Idol features Antonio and Sasha, reunited lovers who compete for first prize in the inaugural Sex Idol contest. Fallen Idol features Bob and Rafi, old friends who compete for first prize and find love along the way.

You can read the blurbs and excerpts of both books by following the links. And slipping into real promo, both books are a steal at $1.49 each, even cheaper if you buy them from the Ellora’s Cave site.

What do you think about reality shows? Like them or hate them? Do you have any favorites?

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_television

With the current economic climate, times are tough. It’s difficult to make a dollar stretch to cover necessities, let alone having enough to spare for romance. At least that’s what the characters in my current work in progress are finding.

But lack of disposable income doesn’t mean romance needs to take a back seat. Here are some ideas to keep the romance alive. I don’t think they’ll hurt my hero and heroine’s budget too much.

1. Write a love letter. Make it as sweet or as raunchy as you like. Write it on nice paper and post it. Who doesn’t like getting real mail?

2. Make a comfort box with a special music mix of tracks on a CD or for an iPod, one you’ve made yourself. Add a scented candle, scented body lotion, maybe some bubble bath or some of your favorite tea or coffee.

3. Turn on some romantic music and grab your partner for some slow dancing.

4. Go for a walk together at the local park and feed the ducks.

5. How about a picnic in the park? Play on the swings and embrace your inner child.

6. Watch the sunrise or sunset together.

7. Swap babysitting services with a family member or friend. Make a nice dinner at home, watch a movie and make love. Christen every room in the house…if you catch my drift.

8. Read a book together—a sexy romance perhaps or maybe a chilling mystery that makes reassuring hugs necessary. Check out my book page. There’s bound to be one there to suit your needs!

9. Make a dinner at home special. Use some candles and play soft music. Add in some dancing and you’re in for a fun night.

10. Go for a walk in the countryside. Watch the sun go down or have a picnic for dinner and hold hands while you’re star gazing.

11. Surprise your partner with a lunch date during the working week. Sandwiches in the park? Or maybe a cheap and cheerful cafe?

12. Kiss before you part for the day. Make it a loving kiss that lasts for at least ten seconds. Tell your partner you love them. Make your heart beat a bit faster.

Do you have any additions to my list for a cash-strapped hero and heroine?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I’m not getting much reading done at present, but I’ve started reading When a Scot Loves a Lady by Katharine Ashe.

“If you are so bent on kissing me,” she heard herself say in a remarkably throaty voice, “you may as well do it and cease this foolishness. I am no schoolroom miss and can, I suspect, withstand the insult.”

page 73, When a Scot Loves a Lady

London gossips are asking: What use has society of an exclusive gentleman’s club if no gentlemen are ever seen to pass through its door?

After years as an agent of the secret Falcon Club, Lord Leam Blackwood knows it’s time to return home to Scotland. One temptation threatens his plans—Kitty Savege. The scandal-plagued lady warms his blood like a dram of fine whiskey. But a dangerous enemy stands in the way of desire, and to beat this foe Leam needs Kitty’s help…

Kitty never wanted to spend her holidays in a wretched country village! With snow up to the windows, escape is nowhere in sight. A roguish Scottish lord, however, is. His rough brogue sends tingles of heat from Kitty’s frigid toes to her chilled nose, but she’s confident she can withstand that. What she cannot control is the reaction of her carefully guarded heart when she discovers this beast is, in fact, no beast at all…

Purchase When a Scot Loves a Lady

What are you reading this week?

My special guest today is Annie Nicholas who is celebrating her new release Omegas in Love.

Annie says she hibernates in the rural, green mountains of Vermont, where she dreams of different worlds, heroes, and heroines. When spring arrives the stories pour from her, in hopes to share them with the masses one day.

Mother, daughter, wife are some of the hats she happily wears while trudging after her cubs through the hills and dales. The four seasons an inspiration and muse.

Welcome, Annie!

1. Give us an elevator pitch for your book, Omegas in Love.

Two geeky shifters in love, who are torn apart by an abusive alpha, and have to fight, tooth and claw, to be reunited.

2. Where did the idea for your book come from and did you originally envisage a series?

When I created the first book, The Omegas, I did envision a series. On a long drive north to my home town in Canada, I reminisced about my nerdy days in high school, and began to wonder what would it have been like to be in a shifter pack as a geek? That was how my pansies of the paranormal, my small pack of misfits became to be.

3. Describe the sights, sounds and scents we might experience if we were to visit Katrina during a normal day.

The day would start in the brownstone she shares with her pack and their mates, a total of nine people under one roof, so there is lots of noise as everyone, but their vampire companion, gets ready for their day jobs. The kitchen is crowded as lots of protein is fried and served by their alphas and the three bathrooms are filled. They’ve all given up on daily hot showers since the water heater can’t keep up with the demand. None of them would change a thing though. She shares a ride to work with her mate, Tyler, to Chicago’s Chinatown where she works as a translator. The street is filled with what most would consider exotics scents but she finds it a reminder of her first home. In the evening, she’d retire with her pack, next to her mate, and enjoy a board game or a bad movie with her pack.

4. What is your favorite method of book promotion and why? Give us your best promotion tip for new authors.

My favorite one is guest blogging at different sites across the internet, but the best tip I can give anyone is write another book and make it even better. Word of mouth is the most powerful force out there.

5. Do you have a writing routine, and do you suffer from procrastination when it comes to writing?

Writing is my second job and I treat it with as much respect as my first job as a nurse. Thankfully, so does my family. When the kids are at school and I’m not at the hospital, I write from 8am to 2:30pm then again after the kids go to bed I write some more.

6. What is your favorite part of the writing process? What is the hardest part for you?

My favorite part is when I finish the first draft of a book. It’s almost as good as sex. LOL The hardest is submitting it to publishers and waiting for a response. Waiting and waiting and waiting…

7. What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have any special hobbies or collections?

I love to garden. Recently, I’ve gone into berry cultivating and have big plans for my small yard this spring! Like most writers, I love to read as well. I don’t have much time for anything else.

8. And now, a question for you from Annie – What is your sinful bad habit?

CONTEST:  Answer Annie’s question above and go into a draw to win an autographed copy of each of the first three Vanguards books and a $10 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Annie is also giving away a copy of one of the books in her backlist to one commenter at EVERY stop. This means here!

Some things are best to forget. But what if the past won’t be forgotten?

Born in China of a pure shifter bloodline, Katrina was raised with only one purpose–to breed. Abused by her alpha, she runs away to America as soon as she can. With a new pack and her true mate, she thinks the nightmare is behind her, but when she is abducted on the streets of Chinatown, Katrina must face her past and fight for her freedom.

It took Tyler a year to earn Katrina’s love, another to build her confidence and pride, and only a moment to lose her. Broken-hearted, Tyler won’t give up his search for Katrina. But he never trained as a warrior like the other shifters. What chance does a real estate agent have in the fight for his mate?

WARNING: Explicit shifter sex, heartbroken torment, and an unstoppable shifter in love.

Purchase Omegas in Love

Find Annie on the web:

Website: www.annienicholas.com

Blog: www.annienicholas.blogspot.com

Group Blog: www.paranormalromantics.blogspot.com

Twitter: @annienicholas

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Annie-Nicholas/162716537103705

Blurb:

Some things are best to forget. But what if the past won’t be forgotten?

Born in China of a pure shifter bloodline, Katrina was raised with only one purpose–to breed. Abused by her alpha, she runs away to America as soon as she can. With a new pack and her true mate, she thinks the nightmare is behind her, but when she is abducted on the streets of Chinatown, Katrina must face her past and fight for her freedom.

It took Tyler a year to earn Katrina’s love, another to build her confidence and pride, and only a moment to lose her. Broken-hearted, Tyler won’t give up his search for Katrina.

But he never trained as a warrior like the other shifters. What chance does a real estate agent have in the fight for his mate?

WARNING: Explicit shifter sex, heartbroken torment, and an unstoppable shifter in love.

Review:

Omegas in Love is the fourth book in Annie Nicholas’ Vanguard Series. It is a 25K word erotic novella. As the title suggests, this book is a paranormal romance.

The plot is a fairly straight forward one, summarized well by the blurb above. I hadn’t read the previous books in this series and followed along well enough, but I suspect the reader would enjoy this series even more if they’d read the entire series from book one.

Katrina and Tyler are interesting characters and fairly low in the pack hierarchy—a little different from most shifter stories. Katrina has been abused in the past, but has come to trust Tyler. When they’re wrenched apart by outside forces, they find an inner strength to get past the setback. Both characters grow during the course of the story. As an aside, it’s good to have a hero with red hair for a change! Omegas in Love was a pleasant way to while away an afternoon.

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=504

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week my teaser comes from Exclusively Yours, a contemporary romance by Shannon Stacey.

“You know,” she said, still holding half her cheeseburger, “I really want to enjoy this meal more, and I can’t with this hanging over my head. What’s it going to take?”

page 29, Exclusively Yours

Blurb:

When Keri Daniels’ editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe’s never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he’s intrigued to hear Keri’s back in town—and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he’ll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan—for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she’s worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe’s sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn’t ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.

Purchase Exclusively Yours

What are you reading this week?

Today I’m visiting Romancing the Book where Eve Fawkner, my heroine from Cat Burglar in Training is running the show. There’s also a copy of Cat Burglar in Training up for grabs by one commenter. Here’s the link to Romancing the Book.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser is from Firelight , a recent release, by Kristen Callihan. I wanted to read this book from the moment I saw it mentioned on several review blogs. Firelight is a historical with both gothic and paranormal elements. I’ve just started reading, so the teaser is from the beginning of the story, and it’s a fraction longer this week.

“Lower your hood. Let me see your face.”

He should walk away. Leave her be. “No.”

Heated energy flared around her, almost palpable in the cold air. Anger made her lovely, powerful.

“I could make you.”

In the shadows, he grinned. He could not account for the utter confidence in her, yet it made him…exhilarated. “An intriguing idea. Perhaps you ought to try.”

page 9, Firelight

Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family’s fortune decimated and forced her to wed London’s most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it’s selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can’t help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn’t felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Purchase Firelight

What are you reading this week?