Reviews by Rach: On the Fly by Katie Kenyhercz

Hi folks, we have a special Review & Interview this week with my friend, Katie Kenyhercz, author of On the Fly. And isn't it just such a beautiful cover?  

Welcome, Katie.

First, can you tell us all a bit about yourself?

Sure! I’ve loved writing since I was twelve and knew I wanted to do something with it but wasn’t sure what, so I became a professional student. From BA to MA and now MFA. When I tell my family, “This is it! I’ll be done with school in June,” they smile and say, “Sure, okay.” I’m not locking the door on Ph.D, but I’m putting it in the attic for now. I’m happy writing hockey romance and will continue, but I also want to teach creative writing at the college level. That’s up next!

And your recent release?

On the Fly has been a labor of love. I started writing scenes for it ten years ago, but I couldn’t get the plot where I wanted it for a full-length novel. It took my MFA program to get me on track and make everything gel. Jacey inherits her father’s NHL team unexpectedly. She’s well versed in business but not so much in hockey and stumbles a bit as she figures it out. To complicate things, she falls for the team captain, Carter Phlynn. As things heat up off-ice, the press latches on. Jacey has to choose between being with the man she loves and saving the team her father loved and trusted her with.

So… I know this is a very personal question… but are you a plotter or a pantser (for those of you readers out there who aren’t sure what this means, it’s a question about her writing style – does she plot out each detail of a book before she sits down to write it, or does she just write it by the seat of her pants)

It’s funny you ask, because I’ve recently had a revelation about this. I always thought I was a plotter. I totally believe in the logic behind it. How can you write a story if you don’t know where it’s going? At the same time, I knew plotting was the one element of fiction that gave me trouble. Just in the past few months, I’ve discovered I’m a weird hybrid. I know how I want my book to end, and I know how it starts. It’s the in between stuff that gets messy, so I’ll plot a few middle chapters at a time. Nothing involved, just scene ideas. That way, when I sit down to write them, there’s still an element of pantsing, letting the scenes unfold as they will, just knowing each one has a specific purpose. I guess the short answer is: I’m a pantser who desperately wants to plot and try to as much as I can.

What do you love most about Carter Phlynn, the hero of On the Fly?

A recent reviewer best summed up how I feel about Carter: “Carter is a breath of fresh air in the hero department. He doesn’t brood. He doesn’t have scars beyond the physical ones he’s earned on-ice. He’s not afraid of his emotions. He’s just a guy lambasted by a connection to this girl.”

I love a wounded puppy hero as much as the next girl, but I wanted Carter to be different. It’s pretty common for a guy to be the uncertain one, the hesitant one in a relationship. I wanted to turn that around. Serious relationships are new territory for Carter, but once he admits to himself how he feels about Jacey, it doesn’t scare him. He knows what he wants and goes for it.

What do you love most about Jacey Vaughn, your heroine?

Similarly, Jacey is a fun contradiction. She’s smart, strong, and dedicated, but when it comes to love, she’s gun shy. Her feelings scare her because being vulnerable means giving up control. She’s logical to a fault and makes the tough decisions even when it hurts. Carter opens her up and shows her that trust is what takes true strength, and if she takes a leap of faith, he’ll be there to catch her. For the first time in her life, she’s not the caregiver, and that’s scary but thrilling.

What are you working on now?

I’m writing the next Las Vegas Sinners novel, Full Strength. This is the goalie’s book. Shane Reese is injured near the end of a less-than-stellar season and taken out of play. He’s never been seriously injured before, and he doesn’t handle it well. He’s especially frustrated because he knows his play wasn’t up to snuff before the high ankle sprain, and there are rumors he might be traded in the off season. Enter Alexandra (Allie) Kallen, the new team sports psychologist. She’s out to prove her ability as a therapist after returning her last client to play too early, leading to his re-injury. A former soccer goalie, Allie understands Reese in a way not many can. An injury ended her playing days, so she gets his frustration and fears. They fall for each other, but as long as he’s her patient, a relationship is off limits.

Where can readers find you? (Facebook, twitter, website, blog, etc.)

https://www.facebook.com/katiekenyherczauthor

http://lovemewrite.blogspot.com/

http://katiekenyhercz.com

https://twitter.com/KatieKenyhercz

And where can they find your books?

http://www.amazon.com/On-Fly-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00BFCUSZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364315734&sr=8-1&keywords=katie+kenyhercz

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-the-fly-katie-kenyhercz/1114782435?ean=9781440565526

https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/katie-kenyhercz/on-the-fly/_/R-400000000000000967979

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/on-the-fly/id603259671?mt=11

Pretty much any e-book retailer!

Thanks so much for coming by, Katie. It was a blast. 

Thank you for having me!

Do you have a giveaway or any other information to share with our readers today? 

I'm picking five lucky readers to win a pair of Sinners glow horns like those mentioned in On the Fly. To score a pair of these babies...

Drop me an email at ken9002@setonhill.edu with your favorite scene from the book by April 8th. I'll get in touch with the winners by the next day. Good luck, and thanks for reading!

And now for the review: 

First let me say that I was lucky enough to see On the Fly  in its draft stages while Katie and I were in the MFA program together, and it's been wonderful to see how it's changed. I was very happy to revisit Carter and Jacey. 

Jacey Vaughn has a newly minted MBA when her father dies unexpectedly and leaves her his NHL team. Well-versed in business but not so much in hockey, Jacey navigates this new world with a few stumbles. She definitely doesn’t plan on falling for the team captain. At the first hint of scandal, a local Las Vegas reporter latches on, and Jacey finds herself in the newspaper with headlines that hurt instead of help. Jacey’s determined to keep her father’s legacy alive and make the team successful, but while she has no problem denying her feelings to the media, she can’t lie to herself.

Carter Phlynn has known nothing but hockey his entire life. Drafted into the NHL at age eighteen, winning the Stanley Cup is all he’s ever wanted. Nothing has ever disrupted his focus. Not until he meets his new boss. Jacey gets under his skin like no one else, and while dating the team owner would be a disaster for his career and reputation, he can’t get her out of his head. Carter has never had a relationship last more than a month, but the more he’s around Jacey, the more he can’t picture his future without her.

Five out of Five Divas! 

What can I say about this book that would be good enough? On the Fly was a sweet, sexy, funny romance. The humor comes through in almost all of the scenes. There are smart, witty allusions, unexpected turns of phrases, and a love of hockey that shines through the page. There were actually parts in the book where I thought I was REALLY at a hockey game. Carter and Jacey are adorable and made for each other. She's convinced she can't have it all - the team, the Stanley Cup, and the Captain. But Carter is determined to throw caution to the wind and sweep her off her feet, teaching her how to trust, how to love, and how to fight for it all. 

Breathless Press Blog Hop

Hey all, 

Hold on to your hats, because we have a special treat for you today! We're hosting a stop on the Breathless Press Blog Hop, put on by Goddess Fish Promotions. 

Here's a little bit about Breathless Press 

Breathless Press is an e-book publisher specializing in Romance and Erotic(a) stories.

Our mission statement is simple: To provide the opportunity for readers to connect with romance authors through the purchasing of quality e-books at a low price.

Starting in the summer of 2009, Breathless Press came into existence. Since then, we have been producing top end romance and erotic stories for valued readers to enjoy.

Our Goal?

Breathless Press is an electronic publisher of paranormal, erotic, and mainstream romance, releasing one to three e-books a week in a variety of downloadable formats. It is Breathless Press' mission to provide readers with quality romance books in electronic formats and to raise the standard in e-publishing.

For more information about Breathless Press, visit their website here: http://www.breathlesspress.com/ 

And now, for the really good stuff... 

First up is: The Hero Sandwich by Karyn Gerrard and Gayl Taylor

http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=15&products_id=362

Blurb:

Can three lonely people keep pain, bitterness, and grief at bay or will emotional fireworks tear down the walls surrounding their hearts?

A wild night of meaningless sex is all best friends Connie Hollingsway and Nicci Sullivan have in mind when they approach a beyond handsome, younger man in the Cougar Cave bar. They soon realize they have taken on more than they bargained for.

Barrett Michaels just found out he was cut from the Double A baseball team he played for. To drown his sorrows and ease his pain, he goes to the Cougar Cave looking for a one-night stand with an experienced, older woman. Imagine his surprise when not one, but two women suggest a night of mind-blowing sensual pleasure with no strings attached.

Can three lonely people keep pain, bitterness, and grief at bay or will emotional fireworks tear down the walls surrounding their hearts?

Excerpt:

As far as Connie Hollingsway was concerned, she'd just found the meat filling for her hero sandwich. She cast a quick glance to her best friend, Nicole Sullivan, and amended her statement to our hero sandwich.

Bass from inane techno music reverberated off the wood-paneled walls of the club called the Cougar Cave that she and Nicci were at tonight. Connie's gaze slid back to the man sitting alone in a booth directly across from them and further down the wall. The man, in a word, was perfect. Ascertaining his age was difficult under the flashing strobe lights, plus he sat directly underneath a neon sign for Budweiser, which cast a reddish glow over a stunningly rugged, handsome face. The layered and tousled hair looked as if he had just rolled out of bed. Milk chocolate would be the way she'd describe the color. Like all young guys, he had a scruff of facial hair, but Connie's keen eye could make out the sexy cleft in his perfectly shaped chin. There were six empty beer bottles in front of him, and he'd just waved his arm to the waiter for more. A sly smile curved about Connie's mouth. If man-meat was drunk enough, he may be open and willing to consider her suggestion.

Leaning toward Nicci to talk about her idea, the words died in her throat when man-meat stood, shook off his leather jacket, and hung it on the coat rack attached to the back of the bench seat. He was taller than she first imagined, a few inches over six feet to be sure. A skin tight black T-shirt hugged every valley and plane of his powerful physique. Man-meat was cut, chiseled, honed, and sharpened into hardened precision, enough to rival those marble statues of Greek gods. The T-shirt, tucked into a pair of incredibly tight blue jeans, showed his torso to sculpted perfection. Fabric strained across rock hard thighs, a muscular ass and—Connie's held breath whooshed out in a moan—showed off his impressive package to perfection.

She had to get a closer look.

While his build and his aura evoked a certain maturity, there were no telltale lines fanning out from the eyes to show he may be in his thirties, nor were there heavily cut lines around his mouth. Damn, how young was he? Who cared? He was getting drunk at the Cougar Cave so naturally the man would be interested in an older woman.

Wonder how he would feel about two women?

 Woohoo! That sounds mighty hot. :-)

Next we have: To Catch a Fox: Wilder Wood, Book 1 by Raven McAllan

http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=13&products_id=354

Blurb:

Eleanor may be a lady, but even she knows that there's more than one way to catch a fox…

When Eleanor was told the foxes had returned to Wilderwood, she wondered and hoped it wasn’t just any old foxes. She’d spoken to no one of her week of passion with Alexander and Stanford Foxxe. The Foxxe brothers had warned her about their other lives, but Eleanor had been skeptical until that magical night where they had showed her their true selves. They shifted from human to animal; howled at the moon, and mated with her. Now six years later, the foxes were back. Had they come for her? If they had, would her changed circumstances alter all their plans? How would they cope with what she had become?

Excerpt:

Eleanor closed her eyes, rubbed them, blinked, and took a cautious look. If she wasn't peeking at an illusion and that was her erstwhile lovers in front of her, how were they giving an answer to all her thoughts? What was worse, what were they doing, fucking without her?

"Not everything," she said. Perhaps if it is just in my mind, then I can answer myself in an honest fashion. "You seem to have started without me."

She glanced with pointed deliberation at each cock in turn.

"'Tis easy remedied."

The illusion on her left—she knew it to be Alexander—moved toward her. His prick was released from its caress to stand proud and hard, and begged for attention. Its head was engorged and shiny. The length demanded to be touched. Eleanor licked her lips and moved towards it, before she was pushed with gentle determination backwards until she once again was stretched out on the bed. Her chemise was ripped from hem to neck in one sharp movement, the sides drawn apart to reveal her perspiration-covered body. "Our hands are for you alone; our cocks and mouths also," he continued. "Your pleasure is of the foremost concern, ours but to follow once you are sated."

His words soothed her like a warm embrace. Her essence coated her curls afresh, although the phrase 'first concern', gave her pause to smile and raise one eyebrow.

Her heart thumped. She fancied it echoed the noise of the timepiece on the mantle. She gasped as he spread her legs wide. His calloused hands were gentle on her soft skin.

"Later you may touch, now 'tis our turn to do the work. Take hold of the rail."

Ooh, and that sounds nice and spicy, too!

Next up, we have: The Fifth Story by Ivy Bateman

http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=13&products_id=340

Blurb:

When led into the world of her stories, Bryn finds her secret desires hidden in the darkness and behind every door.

Every day we encounter doors. Some of these doors are open to us and some of them are closed, but when we pass through any door, a different truth or mystery lies beyond the threshold.

The night Bryn is pulled into a world of her own stories by a shadowy being, her reality is changed forever. Souls and danger, hauntingly beautiful witches, sexy and dangerous vampires, a soldier with a dying wish; she knows that each door leads to a story and to outcomes she can't control, but in order to return home, Bryn must complete a set of tasks for the enigmatic and strangely sensual Darkness.

With four stories to enter, four items to retrieve, Bryn takes part in plot points so out of character that she almost loses herself in the tales she's written. More than once she questions her sanity and curses herself for creating such perilous realities, but she always remains focused on her goal; the creation of the fifth story.

Excerpt:

She walked quickly around the counter and headed to where the sign indicated where the washrooms were, but she couldn't find the women's room. Then she almost slapped herself with ridiculousness. Who cared if she went into the men's room? She marched over the door and pushed on it. Immediately she fell back. The door was stuck. She pushed on it harder, but could only open it about a foot. Something, or someone, was lying in front of the door. Bryn squeezed her head through the narrow space and looked down at the floor. Coran was lying passed out on the cold tile.

Bryn thought maybe something strange had happened in her story, and Coran was already dead. How lucky would that be? However, she realized that the story hadn't changed that drastically when Coran groaned, revealing that he was very much alive. He rolled over, away from the door.

With his weight suddenly off the door, and Bryn's weight still being pushed against it, the door went flying open. Bryn stumbled and fell into the washroom. None too gracefully, she hit the floor with a satisfying smack, and knocked her head against the tile floor with a hard clunk.

"Ow," she said, as she rolled on her back and pressed her hands against a rapidly rising goose egg on the right side of her head. "Ah" she yelped as the door closed on her foot.

"Are you okay?" asked a voice with a gentle Scottish brogue.

Bryn turned her head and opened her eyes. Coran, who looked like he'd been through a rough time, was leaning over her. His blond hair was a mess and it fell into his gray eyes. He had soot on his face and he smelled, not unpleasantly, of smoke. He gave her a little smile. "My dear, are you all right?" he asked her again.

She smiled in return. She was touched by his concern. The ash on his face and the apparent absence of anyone else in the castle told her she had come into the story not long after the first time she'd entered with Darkness. Coran had every right to ignore her and he really had no time to get involved with a stranger and yet, he didn't seem to be in any rush at all. Instead, he helped Bryn sit up.

As soon as his hands touched her skin, Bryn gasped and felt her heart beat quicken. Coran looked embarrassed and quickly, on unsteady legs, he stood up and got a paper towel. He wet it with warm water and kneeled down a couple feet away from Bryn. He handed her the paper towel. "Your face, it's quite dirty." 

"Oh, thanks." Bryn said, trying to avoid looking at him too much. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Why had she written Coran to have this effect on women? "It looks like I'm not the only one that's recently been in a bit of a scrap," he said with a chuckle. Bryn couldn't help beaming at him with amazement. He was just as kind as she'd written him to be. However, if she was correct, this man should be putting all chivalry aside and be searching the castle for Melusine. He should be calling upon the ancient gods to help him in battle with the sea witch, but instead, here he was, watching Bryn wash her face and being concerned about her well-being.

"Is your head very sore? Can you stand?" he asked as he gently touched the bump on her head, but quickly pulled hand back when Bryn sucked in her breath at the feel of his hand on her hair.

"Yes, I mean—no, it's fine, and yes, I can stand," she stammered as she pushed herself off the floor. She again tried to avoid eye contact with him, but it wasn't helping. Coran was having a profound effect on her senses—something which she should have remembered could happen, but had completely forgotten about. In her story, Coran had a powerful effect on women and it was something he could do nothing about. Whether it was his aura or his pheromones, no one could tell, but women, upon meeting Coran, not only couldn't control themselves around him but didn't want to. Their thoughts would travel immediately down a sexual path as soon as they stood close to him and they would offer themselves to his every whim. Even the most reserved women would find their bodies pulsing immediately with desire for the tall blond stranger. Only those who knew how to, could control their passions for Coran. Katie, his assistant, was usually one of them, but sometimes, her guard would slip and she would be overcome with sexual longing for her handsome boss.

Bryn was finding her own guard was slipping rapidly and started thinking about very naughty things and wishing that she had time to explore her hidden bad girl side. Was this happening because she'd written him this way or was it because he looked so much like Tyler?

I absolutely LOVE this concept. Sounds awesome 

And last but certainly not least: Freaky Flashes – Anthology by Lee Brazil, Hank Edwards, Havan Fellows, Raven McAllan, Dianne Hartsock, Doris O’Connor, S.J. Thomas, Jamieson Wolf

http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=18&products_id=359

Death Day Anniversary by Lee Brazil: A newcomer to town follows urban legend to the cemetery- is he a willing sacrifice, or an unfortunate dupe?

The Sum of His Parts by Hank Edwards: Scott Tallow awakens in a hospital, stitches holding him together. As a handsome doctor helps him heal, Scott comes to realize he’s not quite himself.

 

Writing is a Socially Acceptable Form of Schizophrenia by Havan Fellows: Almost everyone has an interesting story to tell. I've got numerous—and they've declared war against me.

That Special Feeling by Raven McAllan: Can you carve your future happiness in a pumpkin?

Andrew Calls the Dead by Dianne Hartsock: Love is powerful, but is it strong enough to raise the dead?

Make me a Sandwich by Lee Brazil: When his roommate is away, distraction is just a horror movie away for Gregory…until the things that go bump in the night take over.

Destiny by Doris O'Connor: Can Arabella reach sanctuary, or will her dreams become reality?

Spin the Bottle by Raven McAllan: Aeons ago, Attric had been banished in disgrace. Halloween gave him the chance to redeem himself. Would he? Or was he doomed to live in a bottle forever?

The Birthday by Dianne Hartsock: Every birthday Cyrus visits the dance clubs with a surprise for the young men. This year, the tables are turned.

Strength's Curse by S.J. Thomas: Hunted through the night by a terrifying creature a young girl refuses to give up, but her strength will be her curse.

Reaping Darkness by Jamieson Wolf: As a new Reaper of Souls, Kale knows who Death is. He just isn’t used to Death showing up in his dreams. When he does, Kale learns that attraction, even in dreams, can be very real indeed…

The Fog by Lee Brazil: Starting afresh in a new home in the valley should have helped Jeff leave memories of his lost love behind. Instead his dreams are filled with a passion that is terrifying in the light of day.

In the Shadows by Dianne Hartsock: He waits in the shadows; silent, hungry. Careful! He might be watching you.

WOW - what an interesting and PACKED anthology that looks like. 

:-) 

Well folks, that's it for today. I think I know what my favorite in the batch is... how about yours? 

All commenters here and on the rest of this blog tour will be entered to win a $20 Breathless Press gift certificate. Here's a list of the other blog stops. And thanks for being a part of this tour. 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/11/virtual-blurb-blitz-e2-breathless-press.html 

Six Sentence Sunday with Rach

Welcome back to Six Sentence Sunday!!!!!!!

I was going to post something from my WIP, but decided to give you all another little taste of An Affair Across Times Square this week. So here it is...

          “What do you want me to do?” Her words shook as she spoke. She surfed so close to the edge. So close to coming apart that just a few strokes of a hand would send her spiraling out of control. God, how she wanted to be out of control.

          “Slip your panties off.”

Well, there it is. Your little tease of spice to heat up your Sunday morning. I hope you enjoyed it and that we'll see you back here real soon. 

~ Rach

'Tis (almost) the Season!

I'm very happy to announce that my next book will be out in just a couple months from Loose Id! It is a holiday book, which was so much fun to write. 

I just came up with the title a few days back and I wanted to share it all with you. 

Spicy with a Side of Cranberry Sauce. I'm very excited about this book and can't wait to share it in all its glory with you. Here's the premise...

When Mason goes home to his mother's for Thanksgiving, he's determined to make sure to help her through the first post-divorce holiday without much heartache. Ever since she split from his jerk of a father last year, she's been walking around like the shell of the vibrant woman he once knew. So when she calls him in a panic with a list of things she's forgotten at the store, he braves the only nearby store still open the day before Thanksgiving. He sees the last can of cranberry sauce and is on his way to get it when a beautiful blonde in black biker boots slams into his cart. Boy, did he not see that one coming. 

Amy's a bundle of nerves this holiday season. It's the first time her father's been willing to celebrate since losing his wife over a decade ago. She's thrilled that Dad's finally ready to rejoin the land of the living, but she's terrified that one little misstep and he'll never celebrate anything again. She's praying it wasn't a mistake talking him in to accepting an old flame's invitation for Thanksgiving, and dreading what could go wrong. So when the sexy man she bowled into at the supermarket turns out to be Martha's son, she has no idea how to focus on holiday cheer and keep her desires in check. 

I hope that sounds as exciting to you as it does to me. The book was a lot of fun to write and now I can't wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Guess I'll have to get through Halloween and book edits before then. 

So, what do you think of the title, everyone? Has it intrigued you?? I hope so. Let me know your thoughts. 

Check back soon for updates on the book and don't forget to check out my first erotic romance, An Affair Across Times Square featuring two lawyers on opposite sides of Times Square and a murder trial. 

Talk to you soon, 

~Rach 

Why Times Square? A Q&A with Rach

So someone asked me this weekend why Times Square? She was really curious as to why I set An Affair Across Times Square in NYC, specifically in Times Square. I didn't have to think much about that, since I really had a great concept of where the whole idea for the book came from. 

I was at a conference in NY and staying at a hotel in Times Square and I came back to the room one afternoon to change between sessions and I looked across the street and could see into the office building there! And an idea was born. In the opening scene of the book, Layla Morgan goes back to her hotel room, gets partially undressed and... let's of some steam, shall we say? In full view of the building across the square.  Then she does it again... while he watches! It's a hot opening scene and it was the germ for the whole rest of the book. 

It couldn't have been set anywhere else in the world. I wish I had a shot from inside the room into the building across the street for your viewing pleasure, but I do not. Instead, here's a shot of Times Square that I took about five years back during a trip to NYC. I've always loved Times Square and all the craziness that ensues there. So it was a blast to set a book eighteen stories above the craziness... separate from it, but also so much a part of it. 

I used this photo as part of the promo video for An Affair Across Times Square. Check that out below: 

An Affair Across Times Square is available on Loose Id, Amazon, Barnes & Noble. 

Thanks for stopping by. And don't forget to enter our Three-Way Giveaway Contest - follow us, be entered to win three free books! 

~Rach

Six Sentence Sunday with Rach

Quick note before we get to the goods: Don't forget to tell your friends about our HOT Three-Way Giveaway. Follow our blog, be entered to win a free copy of An Affair Across Times Square by me, Uncollared by Nona Raines, and Bombshell by Danica St. Como.

***

And now for Six Sentence Sunday! Here's an excerpt from a hot little scene from An Affair Across Times Square... 

She felt the heat of his body through her thin dress, the cool air slipping between her bare thighs, chilling her slick folds. On the right of her body, she felt Tyler’s hand slide under the hem of the dress. She forced herself not to react, not to let everyone in the small space know how close she was to coming. His fingers stilled a moment, and she heard a soft groan behind her as he caressed her bare hip.

That’s right, baby. No panties. 

You can buy the book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Loose Id. 

Release Day!!!

Good Morning! 

It's release day!!!!!! My book An Affair Across Times Square is on sale today here: 
http://www.loose-id.com/newest/current-week/an-affair-across-time-square.html

The book is 7.99 and is available in all kinds of formats for any ereader you've got. 

To celebrate the release, I will be in two places at once! Because I'm awesome like that :-) 

I'm guest blogging today at The Long and Short Review blog. They get a great amount of blog traffic and they have a fantastic giveaway going on right now. All comments will be entered to win prizes for the next five days! So stop on by and comment away.   http://wcguest.blogspot.com/2012/08/guest-blog-rachell-nichole.html

I will also be interviewed today at Rachel Leigh's blog. She asked me some great insightful questions and it was a great interview. It also has a great excerpt from chapter one in it. Come on by and show us some love. 
http://rachelleighromance.blogspot.com/2012/08/welcome-loose-id-author-rachell-nichole.html

Thanks! 

~Rach

Fifty Shades: A New Perspective

Hi everyone, 

I know that the Fifty Shades trilogy by E.L. James has been talked about ad nauseum, but I wanted to offer up something new that I don't think has been discussed before. 

I don't want to talk today about the specifics of the books, or whether they were "good" or "bad" or "well written" or how much money James is making, or the characters in the books or even the plot lines. I want to discuss something I've noticed about the industry since these books have hit the shelves in the states. I had never heard of these books until a few weeks after coming back to the US in May of this year and suddenly, it was all anyone was talking about. The books were in K-Mart and Walmart as well as all major booksellers, nation-wide. 

And here's what I've noticed in the past two months. The ramifications for the industry of erotic romance (my industry) is changing before my eyes. No longer is erotic romance shelved off on its own in the book stores. It's not hidden behind other books, it's not secluded in one corner, it doesn't make up the "naughty" section of an otherwise "upstanding" and "respectable" book store. 

In Barnes & Noble, there are three front-facing racks of "New Romance" one full rack is the standard paperback size ranging from Historicals to Paranormals and everything in between. The second rack is Harlequin and all of this month's titles. Again, ranging from Paranormals, Erotic Romances, and Suspense. Between these two racks is a third I haven't really seen before. The top row of this rack is new romances in hard cover. There are only 7 of these. Below that are trade-paperback sized books. If you've seen a copy of any of the Fifty Shades books, this is the size that they were published in. Of these 24 covers, eight are erotic romance. Many of these books are also modeled after the cover of the Fifty Shades Books - dark covers with the pop of one element to attract the reader's attention. 

This means that out of 24 new romances on this set of shelves, 1/3 are erotic romance. This is unprecedented. I don't think I've ever seen it before. 

Is EL James the best writer since Jane Austen? Probably not. But that's okay. I've seen a lot of negativity surrounding this book the past few months, and people will always criticize, that's normal. But for those of you readers and writers in the industry of erom, or romance in general, I just wanted to share what I have seen that I think is a direct result of the Fifty Shades trilogy. So for that, I thank EL James and her publisher for helping to make this genre more widely-read and for helping to bring erotic romance to the forefront of the industry. 

Romance According to Rachell: Guest Blog with Mary DeSantis

Hello everyone! I’m so happy to announce that we have a special guest here with us today. A good friend and fellow SHUer, Mary DeSantis is a fantasy writer who is here today to talk about writing romance when you’re not a romance writer. You can find Mary on the web at www.outofthelockbox.blogspot.com. And now I’ll let her take it away…

I’m a fantasy writer—urban, young adult, epic—you name it. However, I also grew up watching Disney movies. If there’s one thing that’s unavoidable in most of those movies, it’s the romance. Prince+Princess=happily ever after. Needless to say, that influenced me quite a bit.

Despite all that, though, I don’t write romance. I’m actually terrible at straight-up romance. I have a fundamental problem bringing two characters together as a main storyline in a believable way. This doesn’t change the influence of the Disney romance, though.

One thing I did notice in all of the Disney Princess movies was the magical intervention. As I got older, I wondered if I could keep the romance true but still incorporate the magic. Then, I got older, started reading real fantasy books, and answered my question—yes, people do it all the time. And, I fell in love with “romance-on-the-side.” Think of it as the other woman/genre…never mind.

So, when I’m writing something where there is a hero and heroine whom I want to end up together, they do. It’s not that simple, though. It’s never the main plotline, and, more importantly, there’s always a long and sometimes bloody battle before they get there. Eye on the prize, I tell myself because there are those times where I find myself wanting to stay in those romantic moments and expand on them until they’re my story. All those years of Disney movies, I guess.

I keep on task, though. I’ve worked out three steps to take to make sure I don’t turn my fantasy novel into a romance one—mainly because I have very little confidence in my ability to write romance novels. So, before I list my three steps, I want to tip my hat to all romance writers. There’s a stigma that romance is “so easy—anyone can write that.” No, no, no—I’ve tried. I fail. It’s not easy, and anyone who agrees with the stigma has obviously never tried.

But, back on that track I was so proud of not straying from. Three ways to write romance into fantasy but keep the book fantasy.

-Interrupt the romance

When I find myself pulled into one of those moments, I ruin the moment. (I know. I’m sorry, characters.) They’re about to kiss or spill their hearts and they are attacked. Or, someone screams. Heck—or the heroin’s ancient ability that she can’t control yet turns her into a chimera. That puts a damper on the romance. It also creates a beautiful segue into an epic battle or adventure scene.

-Make the romance contingent on the fantastic elements

Maybe that heroin with the chimera problem is forced into an alliance with the handsome hero. And, maybe he thinks she’s a freak because she turns into a giant, three-headed monster. And, maybe she wants to bite his head off while she’s a giant, three-headed monster. And then—there’s the battle or the adventure. I know it’s been done and done again, but the following is true. Having characters save/protect one another brings them together. The epic journey and battles breech the gap. But, she still turns into a giant three-headed monster. Romance could be a problem. So, the clearly fantasy-genre problem needs to be fixed before the romance can happen.

-Spread out the romance

Fantasy novels, particularly epic fantasy novels, tend to run longer than romance, mystery, young adult, or most other genres. So, that leaves a lot more time for the hero and heroine to get to know one another. They may start out hating each other, or they might start out as friends who grow together. Or, they might start out in love, break apart, and the heroin might fall for a chimera (unlikely, unless she turns into a chimera, but hey). The key thing here is time. Spread out the romantic moments. Put the battles, the adventures, the serious conversations about the deteriorated state of the world between them. Make it so that, with everything else going on, there isn’t a lot of time for romance. I even sometimes make it so that the romantic moments are—literally—on the fly. Example: a kiss for luck. Small but can be built on later between the army of dragons and the bottomless pit.

There it is. At least, that’s how I do it. It works for me, but, as I say whenever I prescribe a method for anything, it’s not universal. If it works for you, great. If not, pass it along, it may help someone else.

Thank you, Rachell, for letting me guest post. It’s been a pleasure, and I had a lot of fun writing this.