Monday, February 14, 2011

Author Interview - Elizabeth Kolodziej - Paranormal Romance Author




Happy Valentine's Day romance lovers!

Thank you for joining us in my cozy studio where I do my interviews. Today we have paranormal romance author, Elizabeth Kolodziej who is promoting her first novel while also working on her next. Join me in welcoming her on such a special day! Please grab your coffee or favorite drink and get comfy here by the fire with us and be sure to think of some good questions for her.

Tonya:  Elizabeth, thank you so much for taking time to be here all week! Our readers, I'm sure, will have several questions for you. I'll start us off with a few questions and the viewers can take over when we're through here. Are you a daytime writer, night time writer, and do you have to be alone to write?

Elizabeth:  Tonya, thanks so much. I feel honored to have this whole week, being Valentine's Day to top it off! You know I am funny, that for me changes week to week. I have had some days where I’ll bust out 3,000 words before lunch and other where I am up til 1AM, but on the norm I have to be alone. 

Tonya:  Some of us have things we do to get into the writing frame of mind like music, or drinks. Do you have anything special you do to get into the writing mood?

Elizabeth:  What puts me in the mood for writing is a glass of wine. For some reason that just really opens my mind up. Yeah, ‘for some reason’… let’s go with that.

Tonya:  Tell us about a day in your life as a writer.

Elizabeth:  Depends on the day! Sometimes it’s: office manager, promoting, marketing, writing, reading, walk dog, roller derby, shower, sleep. But on rare, like unicorn rare, days for me it goes like this: write. Those days are my favorites.  

Tonya:  Did you bring one of your characters with you today?

Elizabeth:  My characters tend to come with me everywhere I go. Today I am feeling a little bit of Zou Tai over my shoulder. I think because he wants me to finish my sequel so bad. Right now I have him in one tight situation.  

Tonya:  Do you have a card file where you keep story ideas? Where do they come from?

Elizabeth:  Nope, no card files. I like to make bubble graphs. I color coordinate them too. I am a big organizational freak like that. What I am hoping to start using is this new writing program called Scrivener; a friend of mine turned me on to it. When it comes to my ideas and where those come from, they seriously just pop into my head. Sometimes at very inopportune times, which can get a little crazy. Or they do it when I am working on a current story and I’m just like: ‘BLAH! No go away until I’m done with this one!’

Tonya:  Do you intentionally give your characters flaws so the reader might relate to them better?

Elizabeth:  Not in the least. I write my characters by what they tell me about themselves. If they are a little stubborn then I must tell people that *ahem...cough*... have Faith *cough*. 

Tonya:  Your book includes witches and spells, vampires and werewolves. Have you researched a lot on these topics.

Elizabeth:  I have done a lot of research because I have a deep interest in those topics and wanted to include them in the stories I write.  

Tonya:  Where can our readers find you and your books?

Elizabeth: You can come and find everything you need at www.vampyrekisses.com   It has the links on where to buy my book and so much more fun stuff! To read a blurb of the book, click HERE

Tonya:  As I clicked through your site, I was quite impressed and then I found the book trailer for Vampyre Kisses!

Elizabeth:  Thank you so much! Viewers can find the book trailer and an excerpt by clicking HERE. They also find many more links and information!

Tonya:  Is there anything else you want to tell our readers?

Elizabeth:  I am currently working on the sequel to Vampyre Kisses. Just one chapter shy. After the editing is done, I am hoping to have it out there for everyone to pick up, too! 

I almost forgot about my CONTEST - Hop over to my site, scroll to the bottom and fill out the entry form. It ends on Feb 16th so hurry over!

Tonya:  Again, thank you so much for being here all week, Elizabeth. Good luck with the sequel. Readers, here's your chance to ask your questions. Please leave them as a comment below and Elizabeth with get back to you...and thank YOU so much for reading our interview and your interest in the books!


Monday, February 7, 2011

Author Interview - Miranda Baker - Erotic Romance Author


 The Winner is: Susan!!

Pls Contact Miranda for your ebook!

Today’s guest author will make you laugh as well as make you curious to read one of her books but I’m sure you’ll end up reading them all. Miranda Baker is wife, mother, writer, friend.....and fantasy creater! I like that! That’s why we write, to create those fantasies we all want to happen! Grab your favorite drink and let’s get on with the chatter...

Tonya: Miranda, thank you so much for being here this week. I’m sure you’ll get lots of readers stopping by. Some of us have things we do to get into the writing frame of mind like music, or drinks. Do you have anything special you do to get into the writing mood?


Miranda: Tonya, I’m looking forward to talking with our visitors this week. A cup of coffee helps get the ideas jumping. Each story has a soundtrack too, so I’ll listen to music until I get into the right headspace. Then I turn it off...too distracting.

Tonya: Do you like pushing the envelope to the brink when writing?


Miranda: My stories are character-driven so I don’t push – they do. And shove. Sometimes they poke, kick and tickle too. Destiny and Johnny definitely pushed each other in Bottoms Up. It’s a BDSM love story and they are both sexual Dominants – somebody had to give!

Tonya: Great characters are so fun to work with...did you bring one of your characters with you today?

Miranda: No, thank God. I just turned in edits on SoloPlay, Book Two in the Come Again series and I can’t start revising Book Three until I finish a few other projects. Oh, hell, I guess that’s not true. Crystal is always in the back of my mind these days. She’s next. She’s a professional psychic who works at a sex shop – imagine what that could do to your head!

Tonya: It sounds like you have some fresh ideas! Do you have a card file where you keep story ideas? Where do they come from?

Miranda: I have computer files with characters’ names on them. When I get ideas, I open the file and start typing. That way, when it’s time to write the story I don’t have to start with a blank page! If a good character walks into my head, they usually get their own book sooner or later. For example, Matt is the third in the ménage in Bottoms Up, and I can’t wait to write his book. He’s a wild card.

Tonya: Tell us about a day in your life as a writer because it certainly doesn’t sound boring.

Miranda: During the week I have to get all the kids to school before I can work for two hours. My husband is a prince so I can work as much as I want when he’s home. On weekends, he makes me coffee and brings my meals to the computer, but I try not to work all the time. My kids are little and I don’t want to miss out on the family fun.

Tonya: I’m sure many would like to steal a man who brings his wife meals at the computer! Are you a daytime writer, night time writer, and do you have to be alone to write?

Miranda: Now that I have all these stories in the head, I’m very self-motivated. And, um, a little obsessive. Just give me a keyboard and my iPod and I’m all set.

Tonya: Do you intentionally give your characters flaws so the reader might relate to them better?

Miranda: Well, we’ve all got issues! Do you mean physical flaws? I’d have to say no to that – because I write erotic romance I want each character to be incredibly physically attractive. In another kind of story, I would consider giving my hero/ine a charming defect but only because I like to keep it real. I’m certainly not perfect, and I think it’s our quirks that make us interesting.

Tonya: Do you write about things that may teach your reader new ‘ideas’ they might use at home?

Miranda: *snortle* I began writing erotic romance to give my own sex life a little goose so I certainly hope my readers are similarly inspired. However, Bottoms Up explores a few deviant sexual practices. Now you’ve got me worried! I’m counting on my readers to know where to draw the line between fantasy and reality…

Tonya: Where can our readers find you and your books?

Miranda: Bottoms Up is available from Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Books on Board. SoloPlay is the second story in the Come Again series, and it will be released in April! Yay! Alisa Mane is a frustrated librarian who pushes every envelope she can find – a girl, a boy and a whole lot of toys. Count on an emotional and sexual journey with her in SoloPlay.

Tonya: We'd love an excerpt if you have one!

Miranda:  I would love for everyone to read it, thank you:

Excerpt from Bottoms Up:

      “Do you want to play with me? Because I think you do.'
      His arrogance should have been irritating, but she couldn’t take offense at the truth. She did want him—just not the way he thought.
       Maybe.
      Thinking about that, Destiny knocked back the shot and licked her lips. “I don’t know anything about you.”
      “Don’t let that stop you.” He set the glass and the towel on the bar and faced her squarely. “You didn’t answer my question. Do you like to be watched?”
      Curiosity overtook caution and she found herself answering him. “Yes, I’m an exhibitionist. But I’ve never bottomed, and I don’t think I’d want an audience the first time.”
      “Agreed. Hard limits?” He moved swiftly to negotiation. Her limits, his desires, their needs—a verbal contract between two interested parties that would bind their play in the rules of the BDSM world.
      Destiny sipped the beer chaser Johnny provided. He didn’t rush her, which was good, because frankly, she’d never seriously considered putting herself on the other side of the power dynamic. Bottoms held the power, truly, but it wasn’t supposed to feel like it. Part of the play was feeling powerless, and her Dominant nature utterly rejected that concept. She wasn’t sure how much submission she could handle. Where should she draw the lines? What boundaries would permit her to let him take control?
      She watched him run the bar towel over each glass as he waited for her to answer. The thought of putting herself under those rough hands made her tingle. Her nipples peaked. Sexual energy thrilled through her tight muscles. For one night, she could handle just about anything, she decided.
      Destiny looked up from his strong hands to see that he was watching her, not the glass, as he worked.
      “No blood,” she finally answered. “No blindfolds. Always wear a condom. No other women. And not tonight.”
      “That’s it?”
      Destiny nodded.
      “Do you have any questions for me? Anything you need?”
      She nodded again swiftly. There was one thing she wanted to know, but it didn’t have anything to do with her needs. She watched him closely. “Why do you like to Dominate?”
      Johnny frowned. He dropped the towel again and placed his hands flat on the bar. His shoulders formed a tight bridge as he loomed over her. “You’ll agree to submit to me with ridiculously few limitations so long as I tell you why I’m going to enjoy the experience?” His voice was incredulous.
      Uncertainty crept up on her. It wouldn’t be the first time her impulsiveness had gotten her into trouble. Johnny was a big man in more ways than height and breadth, she was sure. She thought of those hands, blunt-fingered and ringed, positioning her, his tattooed arms encircling her body as he pushed into her from behind. Blood rushed south, north, engorging her vulva and breasts, sending a flush up her chest. She ignored her arousal and focused on him. “I’m not afraid of you. Do you want me to be?”
      “A very proper question from my new submissive.”
      Destiny rolled her eyes, making Johnny grin. Humor flashed merrily in his dark gaze. She hoped he wasn’t the kind of Dom who wanted her to look down all the time. She enjoyed seeing his eyes glow like that.
      His smile faded. “As for an answer, no, I’m not into fear. Pain, yes; fear, no. I won’t expect you to cringe, but you will show me respect.” His voice was quiet, calm and diamond-hard.
      “Earn it.” Destiny clenched every muscle she could control to keep her shiver from showing.
      “Ah, Destiny, there is absolutely no doubt of that.”
      He reached across the bar to stroke his index finger over her lower lip. His touch made her breath stop in her throat. Her mouth fell open and her tongue darted to taste the pad of his finger. Lime from the gin and tonic he had just mixed made her mouth water. The urge to lower herself was shocking.
      “Good girl. Good, good girl,” he whispered. “You are going to please me very much.”
      Sweet Jesus, she wanted to. Fear spiked in her center.
      Where was the woman who loved power, the leader, the one creating the scene? Panic made her pull her head back from him and close her lips, but he caught her by the jaw, fingers gently clamped around her chin, his little finger feathering the pulse in her throat. “Uh-uh, no way, little lamb. There is no strength in denial. Choose this. Don’t let your brain talk you out of what you need.”
      Her thoughts pinwheeled. She cleared her throat and swallowed, a difficult feat with his hand on her throat. “Not lamb—ram. The symbol for Aries is the ram.”
      “Since you asked so nicely, I’d be happy to.” His slight, mocking smile returned and his hand dropped away from her face, chilling her.
      Destiny was torn. Half of her still wanted to flip this situation, make him bow and scrape, put him on his knees in any way she could. The other half, the rising half, actually wanted what he could give her—a strong hand, a will to match her own. She sure as hell hadn’t come across another man who brought out a submissive side of her.
      Again, the wicked gleam. “Choose it. It’s only fun if you want to. Mostly.”
      “Fun? You do this for fun?”
      “Absolutely. Does that answer your question?”
      She nodded slowly and Johnny’s shoulders relaxed. He took her hand. “Isn’t that why you do it too?” he asked.
      She had to think about that. Her eyes rested on the blond boy in the corner. He was waiting for her. She knew he was waiting for her. So like Damian, her first love and the man who had introduced her to the BDSM lifestyle, with his long, blond curls and sweet disposition. Also like him in his need to serve. She shook her head. “No, that’s not why I do it.”
      “Then welcome to my world, Destiny. Good times, guaranteed. Give me a night, one night, to show you how much pure pleasure can be found in submission.”


Tonya: Wow!!  Yep, that ones on my TBL so I can get that puppy read! Whew! Is there anything else you want to tell our readers?

Miranda: Let's give away a copy of Bottoms Up! I will choose one commenter on Friday to be the winner. Now here's your question - no, let's make it two questions - What color are your favorite take-on-the-world panties?? What is your favorite drink...in honor of our sexy bartender this week? Feel free to leave other comments and questions but we want to know the pantie COLOR and your favorite drink...ready, set, go! 
      If you’d like to chat about romance or writing feel free to visit my website, blog, FB fan page or Twitter nest. I’d love to hear from you! Tonya, thank you so much for having me on your blog today. I had a lot of fun during our chat! 

Here are all my links, if you want them!


      Thank you ALL for visiting. We've had a wonderful time and Miranda will be around all week so let's leave some great questions and comments for her!