Spotlight on Doris O'Connor

Happy Tuesday, everyone. Please help me welcome Doris O'Connor, writer of sensual, sassy, sexy romance. She has several books to her credit, and her latest release, Goldie and Her Bears is a naughty take on the classic fairytale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears (in honour of which I got an image of the original fairytale to compare with her sexy book cover below).

Hi, Doris and congrats on your latest release. Let's start by getting to know you. Tell us about yourself and your writing.


I'm a SAHM of nine, have been married to my gorgeous hubby for the last twenty-three years, and we live in the UK. I seem to have somehow drifted into writing Erotic romance and I'm told I do it rather well, write hot that is. Get your mind out of the gutter, folks. When I'm not writing I juggle family life and seemingly never ending mountains of laundry.


I can imagine. Nine kids! That *is* a lot of laundry! Did you always want to be a writer?

I've always spun stories in my head for as long as I can remember and I've always been a voracious reader. I'm an only child, so books were very much my friends when I was growing up. I wrote countless stories as a child, and teenager, and then as an adult life got in the way for a bit. However, in 2010 I decided to start writing again, and I haven't stopped :-)


You started writing young, so obviously you didn't started out writing erotic romance. How, pray tell, did you end up writing erotic romance?

*giggles* Well, like I said above. I kinda drifted into Erotic Romance, Erotica. It's amusing really, because I used to find writing sex scenes extremely embarrassing. But even in the first manuscript I wrote, I couldn't stop the characters from jumping each other's bones, so that should have given me a clue really.


A friend recommended some Erotic romances to me and I was hooked. Then came an anthology call and I wrote my first truly Erotic piece with my tongue firmly stuck in the side of my cheek. It was accepted and the publisher decided to publish it as a stand- alone story. That was Awakening. Guess it was my awakening too. My writing has simply continued to evolve and seems to be getting hotter all the time.

What’s the most rewarding thing about writing for you?

The simple act of creating and knowing that others enjoy my tales. If just one reader gets back to me and says they really enjoyed my book, then that is the job well done in my opinion. I love getting my characters to their happy ever afters. You will always get a HEA in my books and whilst there is a lot of sex, there is always a love story behind it.


Just the way I like it! It's time for Five Fun Facts:

• Pantser or Plotter: Panster through and through
• Sweet or sour: Sweet
• Vacation spot: Anywhere warm
• Colour: Blue
• Hobby (writing excluded): Reading

What do you do when you’re not writing? 
I'm a mum first and foremost. Our youngest is only seven months old and the rest are 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 19 and 21. And yes they're all still living at home, so we always seem to be lurching from one crisis to the next!


So writing has to fit round everything else and quite often takes place late at night when everyone is asleep. Thankfully I have a very supportive hubby and when I'm in the middle of a story he will take over and bar feeding the baby I don't have to do much else. He's a star and I couldn’t get half as much writing done, if he wasn't as supportive as he is. It helps that I'm not in the least house proud too ;-)



Why should readers buy your book?

Because I take them on a journey and they can lose themselves in my stories. If I had one recurring 'complaint' it's that a reader could not put my book down. Dinner burned, sleep was lost, hubbys were … errr… happy…

*smirks*


My writing is fast paced with lots of twists and turns, and like I said you will always get that 'aww' feeling at the end of it.



Great answer, Doris. I may just have to steal that one ;-). Any wise words for aspiring/struggling authors?

Never give up. If writing is your passion, then keep writing. Read lots in your intended genre, write and write and write some more. Find a good critique group, take any feedback and act on it and find 'your' voice, not what you think it ought to be. You may well surprise yourself with where you end up. I know I did.


Please give us a sneak peek into your latest book. 


BLURB

Take one very human girl. Add three bear shifters and one BDSM club. Shake well. What do you get? Lots of delicious fun.


When Goldie Lockwood receives an explicit note, signed by none other than the man she fell head over clit in lust with on first sight, there is only one thing she can do – obey. After all she is dying to find out what goes on behind closed doors at the exclusive BDSM club.


Having his Goldilocks pounced on by his brother and sister had not been in Jason Stanhope's plan, even if the little human's responsiveness blows the triplets away. Porridge, chairs, beds, she tries them all.


But, can she be the sweet sub they need? Or will Goldilocks live up to her name and run away screaming?

EXCERPT

Three pairs of identical, heavy-lidded, chocolate eyes settled on Goldie, and she backed away nervously until she bumped against the steel door. Its coolness served to confirm that she was indeed here and not in her cozy bed, having the most erotic CEO dream ever.

"She's not our sub, Jacob. She's mine!" Jason ground the words out through gritted teeth.

Jacob whistled under his breath, and Catalina narrowed her eyes. Jason, however, advanced toward Goldie with the lazy, long-limbed gait she'd admired in the office. Unlike at the office though, all his attention was focused on her. Goldie's body reacted with embarrassing predictability. Her nipples puckered against the thin satin of her dress, and she clamped her thighs together to stop the renewed rush of moisture from trickling down her leg. He stopped so close to her that their thighs touched. She dropped her gaze to escape the intensity of his and settled it on the intricate tattoo on his left shoulder. She hadn't gotten a close look at it in the office but now she could see it was two bears entwined. The image would have been extremely erotic had it been two humans.

Her body lit up under Jason's intense scrutiny, and when he leaned down and inhaled deeply, she closed her eyes again. For some reason, that really turned her on.

"Thank you for following my instructions so exactly. I hope you had a pleasant journey here."

His deep baritone washed over her senses, and she nodded. His smile of approval showed through the light kisses he dropped on her cheek, and she turned her head, desperate to taste his full lips. He withdrew, and she bit back her disappointed moan.

"Not so fast, Goldilocks."

"Wha—what? And that's not my name." She tried to inject some authority into her voice, she really did, but Miss Pornstar seemed to have reemerged, so she gave up and simply looked at him. The business suits he'd worn to the office ever since that first day hinted at the powerful physique underneath. Seeing him this close dressed in jeans and a black vest and those damn cowboy boots, not to mention having all his attention focused on her—well, she may just go into cardiac arrest. It was every secret fantasy she'd ever harbored times three. The man of her dreams, plus his equally wet dream-inducing brother, and their stunningly beautiful sister. Her gaze darted involuntarily to Catalina, and their eyes locked. Jacob chuckled. Jason took a step away from Goldie and looked over his shoulder with a sigh.

"Maybe our sub after all, bro." Jacob's amused drawl shook Goldie out her trance like state and heat stained her cheeks.

"I'm no one's sub." Her voice was still far too breathy, and she couldn't bring herself to look at any of them. But there, she'd said it. They would have to let her go. She knew that much at least. They couldn't keep her here against her will—they wouldn't.

The click-clack of Catalina's heels on the floor announced her stepping closer, and Goldie's nerves came back with a vengeance. She edged sideways until she bumped into Jacob. He drew her into his body with one arm, his breath hot on her neck as he whispered, "Oh yes, you are."

Catalina's whip whispered past Goldie's shoulder, and she shrieked and darted toward Jason. Jacob growled at Catalina, and Cat smiled.

"Such a lot of fuss. Well, I'll leave her to you two for now. You know where I am if you need me. And you will need me." Catalina turned to face Goldie, and she was grateful for Jason's reassuring warmth at her back and the strong arms holding her up. "I can smell you from here, little sub. When you're fed up playing with the boys, come and find me—you know you want to."

Buy links:

ARe | Breathless Press

Where can we find you online?
Website | Blog Twitter | Facebook



Thanks so much for spending time with us, Doris. Goldilocks has always been one of my fav fairytales. Interesting to see a naughty version of it - and great cover!

And for you, readers, Doris has graciously decided to give away one free copy of Goldie and Her Bears. All you have to do is leave a comment :-) for a chance to win.

(image of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Rounds(dot)com)

Guest author: Kastil Eavenshade

Hi Guys, I'd like introduce you to another wonder author, Kastil Eavenshade as she celebrates her latest book, Wolves of Argonne from Evernight Publishers.

Welcome, Kastil. Tell us about yourself and your writing.
My dad was in the Army so we moved around a lot. Thankfully, I was born just outside of Pittsburgh in the same hospital as my dad. I’m one of those girls deeply into sports. Well, Pittsburgh sports anyway. I started writing in the 7th grade. Well, I thought it was writing but looking back, it was crap but I loved to read books. It just sparked my imagination big time. I found that there wasn’t a genre I didn’t care for or limit myself to so I write under my real name and two pen names. I have so many ideas floating in my head, I don’t want to pigeonhole myself to one genre.


Wow, that must keep you busy. Since you started writing in Grade 7, I take it you always wanted to be a writer?
Honestly, I’m a bit of a dreamer and I chased butterflies more than I ever chased dreams. When I was younger, I never thought my stuff good enough. I had friends pushing me but with having no faith in myself, I never took it anywhere. In July 2010, I took a leap and started not only finishing a project but submitting it.


Great. I am yet to complete my current WIP, but I've given myself some deadlines. How did you get into erotic romance? 
I had friends who wrote it and I dabbled in the naughty on the side. I buried the red-cheek inducing stories, way too embarrassed to show anyone. Then one of my circle of female writers mentioned an anthology call by Evernight Publishing. Intrigued, I thought about it while on vacation. I had a piece originally titled Demon Kin involving a half demon/half angel named Maurizio. The story was stalled but it had elements I thought would work for the anthology. So I picked it apart and kept the main love interest for Maurizio. I submitted it and got an acceptance. My belief in myself soared so I wrote another story for the m/m anthology which also was accepted. I love writing naughty pieces where the characters grow beyond the sex and reveal love for each other. That’s important to me—showing a connection.


What’s the most rewarding thing about writing for you?
Seeing those who read it find enjoyment out of it. I mean, that’s why I’m writing—for the readers. :-)


Five Fun Facts:

• Pantser or Plotter: Hah! Pantser complete with bell bottoms. If I plan something too much, my muse has a fit!
• Sweet or sour: Sweet.
• Vacation spot: My family goes to OC, NJ every year but it’s not my choice. My favourite destination as a kid growing up was back in Pittsburgh visiting our relatives.
• Colour: Red
• Hobby (writing excluded): Art! I’ve even gotten my artwork on two book covers. One is JA Belfield’s Darkness & Light. I drew the ying yang wolves and on my book The Wolves of Argonne, The paw print tattoo is my original art as well.

I always wish I could do art. I do book covers for fun, but nothing I want to show the world - that's for sure. What do you do when you’re not writing? 
I, unfortunately, have a day job. It sucks a lot of my time and on a particularly exhausting day, my brain is too fried to write a word. In fact, with all that’s going on at work, I’m suffering through a major bout of writer’s block. My mom gave me her Netbook and I plan on using it to write at work on my break. I don’t worry about a word count because I find that’s too restrictive and if I have to adhere to a rigid schedule, I won’t write anything but stuff the delete button will take care of on the first round of edits.


Why should readers buy your book (I know, tough one, but it really does make you think. PS. ‘Because I wrote it’ doesn’t count. LOL)
Fairytales! It’s all the rage, you know. *wink, wink* If there’s one thing I’ve always been fascinated with, it’s fairytales. That I got to make a naughty twist on one is a plus plus. Actually, the fairytales I used—Red Riding Hood—I’ve used a couple of times before in stories but not all of them are of the erotic variety. I spun what I hope is a different tune on this one. Red Riding Hood still has a grandmother but the grandmother is actually her aunt. She doesn’t know that or the dark secret Nana has been hiding. As she unravels it, she also finds the men she’s destined to be with for the rest of her days. I added domination and primal instinct for fun.


Any wise words for aspiring/struggling authors? 
Don’t give up, for one. Also, learn to take criticism from not only your peers in the writing world but from reviewers when you get published. It’s going to hurt, believe me. It’s not about a word count or how many writing books you’ve read. The best thing I could have done is found a circle of friends who are writers and (this is very important) make sure they don’t get on a soapbox and praise your work. You need someone who is going to be honest about your manuscript and tell you exactly what’s wrong. Publishers aren’t going to knock you out with kid gloves, neither should your friends.


Very wise words, indeed (putting it down in my notebook) :-). Please give us a sneak peek into your latest book.

BLURB:
Rosabel lives on the edge of the Argonne Forest, a place where werewolves rule and don’t care for humans meddling in their affairs. During the harvest festival, she catches the attention of the alpha, Ulric. Beneath the mask, he makes his intent known with one hungry stare and awakens something dwelling deep within her soul.

She discovers her sexuality and submits to the whims of the virile and powerful shifter. When the arrival of another werewolf challenges Ulric for his prize, Rosabel finds herself between two wanting lovers.

Can Rosabel choose between her dominant suitors, or will the overbearing males learn to share their lady in the crimson cloak?

EXCERPT:
At the strike of the bow across the violinist’s strings, the first dance began. She laughed, joining hands with a red-masked gentleman. The palms of his hands were clammy, a nervous twitch to his lips, and he danced with the grace of a wild boar. She took off with grace and elegance, leading him around the wolf statue. Not even his awkwardness would ruin her mood for the evening. As she twirled away and reached out for his hands again, another took his place.


Rosabel almost lost her footing. There was no mistaking those hazel eyes behind the red mask. Her heart fluttered as the surge of energy spiked between them. He pulled her in close, and she caught the whiff of the pine and heather scent uniquely his.

“We meet again,” she whispered against his chest.


“Now, Rosabel,” his baritone voice filled her ears, “knowing your suitor at the festival is against the custom.”


She whorled away from him before his strength drew her near again. His lips came dangerously close and the aching need to press her mouth to his overwhelmed her. As she came within a hairsbreadth, the sudden coldness of his departure caused a whimper to form in her throat.


Just as quick, another male took her in his arms for a dance.

The heat and yearning she had with her devilish prince of the forest vanished in the arms of another man. She went through the motions but her eyes sought her mate.

Mate.


The word jarred her back to reality, and she broke from her partner. Shaking, she bolted away from the festivities into the comforts of the shadowy alley just on the edge. She cast her gaze to the moon, basking in the tranquility of its zenith. The nervousness and desire for her hazel-eyed tempter slowly cooled.

“My Rosabel.”

She stiffened at the heat of his breath on her neck only to melt as his arms wrapped around her waist. The whimper she held in slipped out when his lips caressed her nape. Heat rose in her cheeks.


From her perspective, she could see the festival. Her mind called for her to rejoin it and leave the intoxicating touch of the man. Deep inside her chest, her heart thundered for her to submit to his every whim.

“Do you feel it?” His tongue snaked along her earlobe. “We are destined to be as one.”


She had no words, the trembling of her legs voicing a thousand of them. Slowly her skirts hiked farther up her legs by his machinations. Her stomach quickened, and she reached up to run her fingers through his hair as she pressed against him. His erection dug into her back, letting his intentions be known.

So against every courting ritual she’d been told about, she opened her thighs to his probing. A small gasp escaped her lips as he found her tender spot with ease.


“Careful, my mate. You do not want to draw attention to your state.” He chuckled before suckling at her neck.


Her chest heaved. Her lip between her teeth to stave off the growing moans, she unabashedly ground her hips against his dexterous fingers. Rosabel enticed a growl from his lover’s throat as she rubbed against his hardened shaft. Pain flared in her neck as his teeth scraped along the skin.


She fisted her hand in his hair, her legs barely holding her weight. His digits became more insistent, flicking and probing her sensitive areas. The warm feel of her wetness trailed down her leg, and she nearly collapsed when his finger slid inside her core. His strong arms held her upright but she could not take the torment of his touch any longer.


“Take me. Please.” She moaned.

“No, not like this. I offer but a taste of what I intend to do to you.” He drove his finger deeper, testing her virginal passage before pulling out.


She swooned in his arms, the pleasure shaking her very soul. Her skirts hung back in place, and she swayed on her feet, her decadent lover steadying her.

“Go back to the party, my sweet.” He peeled away from her.

“But….” She turned to drag him closer, and he’d vanished.

***

BUY LINKS:

Evernight Publishing | Amazon | 1Place for Romance | Smashwords | Bookstrand | All Romance eBooks | Barnes & Noble


Oh My! What a SEXY excerpt! And so many places to get a copy. 
Where can we find you online?

I can be found here:

• Blog: http://kastil.wordpress.com/
• Twitter: @PamBitner
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KastilEavenshade

GIVEAWAY!

Kastil is giving away a copy of The Wolves of Argonne! Leave her a comment for a chance to win a copy

Thanks for being a guest on my blog, Pam/Kastil. Good luck with your current WIPs and sales.

Spotlight on Multicultural Romance Author, Empi Baryeh

Today, it is my pleasure to welcome offer my blog up to debut author, Empi Baryeh, to do as she pleases :-) That's because Empi's celebrating her upcoming release, Most Eligible Bachelor, through Evernight Publishing.

 

Over to you, Empi,

Hi Ea. Thanks for offering up your blog. I promise to be very nice :-). Hi everyone and thank you for stopping by to share in my excitement as I eagerly await the release of Most Eligible Bachelor, a contemporary romance set in Accra, Ghana.

I’m really excited about the release of this novel after getting countless rejections—called Rs in the by the literati. Most Eligible Bachelor is about a guy and a girl who meet on Valentine’s Day and fall in love. Since Valentine’s Day is all about love, it seemed like a great idea to write a story that starts on that day.

I began writing at around thirteen years of age after stumbling upon a Young Adult story her older sister had started and abandoned. The story fascinated me so much that, when I discovered it was unfinished, I knew the task of completing it rested firmly on my shoulders. Amazingly, once I decided to continue the story, the ideas and the words began to pour into her mind. I’ve been writing ever since. However, it wasn’t until another thirteen years later that the romantic in me geared me toward romance. While I also write mainstream stories, my current focus is on heart-warming romance set in Africa with African heroes and heroines. I write the kind of story I like to read – sweet and tender, but with enough passion to enthral readers who want a little sizzle with their romance. (Yes, I do have sex scenes in my stories, but I like to think they are tasteful - that means I won’t mind my fun aunt reading it. LOL). I live in Accra, Ghana, which provides the exotic setting for most of my novels.

If you hop over to my blog (http://empibaryeh.wordpress.com) on 3^rd February (my book release day), you can find out how Most Eligible Bachelor came into being, and some challenges I’ve faced trying to break into the publishing world with this story!

I’m giving away a free copy of my book to one lucky commenter on this blog post. That’s right – leave a comment or question and you could win a free copy of my book. Winners will be announced on my blog on 19^th February.

Now, without further ado, here’s a sneak peek at Most Eligible Bachelor.

  

Blurb

Magazine columnist Chantelle Sah doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day—not since her fiancé’s betrayal three years ago—and after botching her first assignment as a feature writer, she’s more than willing to put in a hard day’s work this Valentine’s Day; even if it means going on a date with gorgeous construction Tycoon, Lord McKenzie, and opening herself to an onslaught of all things love.

When Lord—his given name, not a title—sets his sights on Chantelle, it isn’t just work he has on his mind. But even he couldn’t have predicted the magnetic attraction between them when they meet, nor the evening ending with more than an interview. Now he has to convince Chantelle that their one-night stand wasn’t a mistake. Can he win her love without revealing a secret from their night of passion, which could prove fatal for both their hearts?

Excerpt – The First Kiss

He seemed amused by her lack of a response as he took her hand and led her back to the dance floor. The music had turned slow.

She hesitated. Slow music meant being in his arms, their bodies touching. She shouldn’t do this. Yet for some ridiculous reason, she wanted – needed, even – the closeness, to feel like a woman again. Just for a moment. Even if she was certifiably insane for wanting all this in the arms of Lord McKenzie.

He pulled her gently, bringing her body flush against his. A tremor rushed through her. His warm breath on her face sent tiny tingles running over her skin. Heat radiated to her from each part of his body touching hers, his powerful thighs, lean hips and firm abdomen, his hand, pressed firmly on the small of her back.

When was the last time she’d been this close to a man? Her breath quickened as raw need surged through her. Far too long. Not since Martin.

Tears stung her eyes as the familiar loneliness accompanying Valentine’s Day closed in. Old love songs always got to her. She turned away from his watchful gaze, focusing on other couples huddled close together on the dance floor. Yearning pierced her heart. She gave herself a mental shake. She couldn’t entertain such thoughts. Once she did, there would be no salvation.

As if sensing her distress, Lord pulled her closer, his hold tightening around her. Every thought flittered out of her mind as soon as their gazes locked, and she began to drown in the deep pools of his dark eyes.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Chantelle.”

Was it stupid that she liked the way her name sounded on his tongue? She opened her mouth to say something – about how Valentine’s Day had been commercialized to the point of triviality, an occasion for errant lovers to feel better about neglecting their significant others, a day to buy enough credit for another year, one day to make the unloved feel even less loved – anything to hide how hard it was to hear those words, but nothing came out.

His face hovered just inches away. Her heart stutter-stepped; her breath snagged. Without explanation, she wanted to know the taste of his lips. She wanted to erase it all from her mind, her pain, his reputation. She wanted to simply believe he really was just the most eligible bachelor in town, and he had her in his arms.

He smiled, really smiled, not the movie star grins he’d been flashing earlier. His gaze emitted pure heat wrapped around a hint of sadness. What in the world could make a man with his looks and popularity melancholic? Surely Lord McKenzie didn’t have the same kinds of problems as mere mortals.

His fingers feathered her cheek, sending another wave of tremors through her. When his hand reached her chin, he lifted her face. Her mind barely registered what was happening before the space between them vanished. His searing kiss was nothing she could have imagined. It scorched her, inside and out. A soft moan escaped her throat before she could stop it. She melted into him, curling her fingers around his nape.

When he pulled away, her breath came in fast, shallow bursts. In stunned reflex, her fingers came to her lips, which felt swollen, having not been used for this purpose in a while. Weak-kneed and aroused, she sensed she only remained standing because of his strong arms around her.

One of the couples dancing bumped into them, jerking her back to reality.

Shoot. This evening would be more difficult than she could have guessed. How was she supposed to conduct a professional interview when she’d just kissed the interviewee, and now her mind insisted on dancing around words like ravished?

***

I hope you enjoyed that excerpt and you’ve marked you calendar to get your very own copy from Friday at:

• Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/
• Amazon: http://www.amazon.com
• All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/

Where else to find me online:

My blog | My website | Facebook | Twitter: @empibaryeh

 

Thanks again for stopping by and sharing this exciting moment with me. Have a wonderful week!

Empi