West Midlands Attending Author: Sophie Valentine

January 19, 2017January 18, 2017 gibbsdreamLeave a comment

Can we start with your name and where you’re from?
S. Valentine, and I’m originally from England, but living in Spain.
Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?
Yes, I absolutely love reading, and always have. My inspirations are so many different authors.
What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?
I write romance, erotica, suspense, a bit of horror, and hoping to write some YA in the future.
If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?
Carrie Bradshaw from SATC. I know the book was more letters / a column that a fictional story book, but it was a story on the show, and I loved that character. Also the Gossip Girl characters, in particular Serena Van Der Woodsen, which were based on books.
When did you first start writing?
I started writing from a very young age. I wrote full MC’s at 18, but focused on another career until most recently.
Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?
Depends. Sometimes I plan out, and other times I let the story lead me.
Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)
Ooh tough one! I quite like exclusive club owner Darion Milano. He’s hot, kinky, and adventurous. Not to mention extremely good looking. He can be found in The Black Door trilogy series. I also quite like Mia McKenna too in my upcoming romance standalone. She’s sassy and cool.
Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?
I think a lot of books there can be scenes where it’s close to home to an author. My upcoming contemporary romance is a book ALL women will be able to relate to. It’s an emotional, feel-good read.
Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?
Yes. I’ve just finished a duology. Again, this is another book most girls will be able to relate to. A life a lot of us want and dream of.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?
Keep going. Finish that manuscript. Promote, interact online, get your work critiqued, get it as best as it can possibly be.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m a movie and series freak. I could literally do that, or read all day. Other stuff includes shopping, sightseeing, and seeing my friends. Oh and sunbathing.
What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?
The worst part in editing is having to cut out large chunks. Fortunately I haven’t had to do that yet. Marketing is tough overall, as it’s a never ending process. The whole writing part is seeing that blank page, and having to churn out 80-90,000 words again. But, it all has its good parts too!
We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?
I think it’s annoying when people see writing as a hobby. Like, why would we want to torture ourselves by churning out 80-90,000 words over and over again, sleepless nights, an overactive imagination that never stops, and spend hours constantly promoting it? It’s tough at times, but again, it’s worth it.
What is your idea of happiness?
To be content within yourself. To be where you want to be in life, and have those you love and those that love you surrounding you. Family and friends matter most.
For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.
The wind gently played with her curls, the salt in the air filling her nostrils, the sound of the waves lapping the shore meeting her ears. The rays of the sun warmed her face. Removing her hat, she sat up on the lounger and scanned the white sand, and cerulean sea before her. She had the perfect view from her garden and it was peaceful and relaxing. She was spoilt with whether to swim in the refreshing pool, or run and dive in the sea. Before she could decide a handsome butler approached carrying a tray of snacks…. Haha! Perfect!
What makes you laugh/cry?
Comedy movies make me laugh, and sad movies / shows make me cry. Also when people let me down, or show their true colours, but that’s life.
You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature.
Okay, other than my family and friends, who of course I’d take, but Mark Wahlberg because he’s hot and funny. Eminem because he’s hot and could rap and entertain me. And Blake Lively because she seems sweet and funny, and we all need a good friend ☺
What is your most annoying habit?
I bite my nails sometimes.
Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)
His Confession, Her Confession and Their Confession is an erotic romance trilogy. It’s about a man who owns an exclusive membership club, and a ‘vanilla’ woman seeing if she can come to terms with it because she loves him, or getting him to tone down his kinky, taboo, experimental ways. It tests their relationship. And in each book, someone has a confession.
I have written short stories for anthologies too. My upcoming short story for Fourteen Shades Of F*cked Up is about a handsome, charming man who despises the opposite sex for anything other than pleasure, and has a secret.
Lightning round
Tea or Coffee? Coffee.
Cash or credit? Cash.
Cats or Dogs? Both.
Beach or Mountain? Beach!
Summer or Winter? Summer.
Sweet or Savoury? Sweet. I love cakes!
Early riser or late riser? Late.
Morning or Night? Night-owl.
Christmas Tree – real or fake? Fake. It’s cruel to kill that many trees just for one day, especially when fake ones look just as good.
Sex – Lights on or off? Depends on my mood.

You can find me on:

www.facebook.com/SophiaValentineAuthor

www.twitter.com/SophiaVAuthor

www.instagram.com/sophiavalentineauthor

www.pinterest.com/SophiaVWrites

www.s-valentine.wix.com/books

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

A Lifetime or a Season- Teaser

January 18, 2017January 18, 2017 gibbsdreamLeave a comment

My Mother had bee one of those alluring women, a flaming redhead, who had men baying at her feet like enslaved dogs. Not for her the indifference of men, she had played the game to the hilt and every man that walked out of her life was a man she had send packing.

Find out more about Athena’s journey to self-discovery as she throws aside the shackles that bind her in.

Novelette pricing:

Kindle 0.99

Paperback: £3.50/ $5.00

Amazon Link: http://mybook.to/ALifetime

For more information and reviews: https://gibbsdream.wordpress.com/my-published-stories-a-lifetime-or-a-season/

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

West Midlands Attending Author: Zak Jane Keir

January 18, 2017January 16, 2017 gibbsdreamLeave a comment

1. Can we start with your name and where you’re from?

My name is Zak Jane Keir, though I also write under Sallyanne Rogers. I’m from south London.

2. Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?

Yes, I am a total bookworm and always have been. I think the first writers who made me want to write were Ed McBain and Paul Breeze, though I also love Stephen King, Marion Zimmer Bradley and Jilly Cooper.

3. What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?

In terms of published work, it’s nearly all erotica and erotic romance. I do dabble in horror and crime fiction occasionally, but I never seem to get those stories finished.

4. If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?

Ooh, that’s a tricky one. I mostly like (and almost believe in) other people’s characters the way they have been written. I suppose I’m not the only person who might have liked to make Anastasia Steele less of a vacant, soppy dipshit.

5. When did you first start writing?

When I was a kid. I was about 7 or 8 and I sat down one day and wrote a ‘book’ about murdered ballerinas who came back as ghosts. I was always thrilled when homework involved writing a story, as well.

6. Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?

A bit of a mixture. Some books have started with a synopsis (usually when I planned from the start to submit them to a publisher whose policy was to request a chapter and synopsis), some others with a concept. Usually it’s an idea of who the main two or three characters are, and why they want to have sex with each other, and the reasons why they might have difficulty getting there.

7. Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)

I like Rosa in Black Heart: there’s a lot of me in her. Only she’s tougher and cooler than I am, and makes a better impression on people.

8. Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?

Quite a few, really. Lots of the BDSM stuff I write is based on things I have either done myself or watched other people do. Though the biggest one was a dream I had; an incredibly vivid dream about a woman being tied to a post and whipped, then fucked up the bum, and it also featured a dream version of a friend of mine. That turned into The Switch, which was my first published novel, in 1997. I won’t link to it as it’s out of print and also has not aged very well. The friend who featured in the dream got written into the book as a fairly thinly disguised version of himself, and he absolutely loved it. He told me once that it had helped him, er, win the affections of a woman he was chatting up when he explained that he had been featured in an erotic novel…

9. Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?

Yes. I have a few short stories planned out, at least approximately, and a novel I am working on intermittently but hope to finish later this year. Here’s a short extract, hopefully without any typos. I keep telling people it’s ‘the one about rope bondage and Brexit’ though that doesn’t quite sum it up.

Tanis, under the shower, water beating down on her face, her shoulders and her breasts, turned her thoughts determinedly back towards Hush. His profile identified him as male, but his avatar was as unrevealing as hers: he’d gone for a photograph of bundled ropes. It wasn’t just rope they discussed when they messaged each other privately, but rope was very frequently the topic of conversation. Tanis thought about rope and her hands made shapes in the air, under the streams of water. She traced lines around each wrist with the fingertips of the opposite hand. A double column tie on your wrists, and you’d have to follow me wherever I led you… She turned the shower off, stepped out, grabbed a towel from the hook and flung it round herself, picked up the another and gave her hair a quick, vigorous rubbing. Glancing in the mirror as she combed her damp hair into shape, she noticed that her nipples had hardened. The flat wasn’t cold – Tanis had, over the past week or so, been allowing herself to put the heating on in the evenings as winter approached. She’d been accustomed to pay-as-you-go meters in previous flat shares and was still inclined to be cautious about how much energy she used, even though Shaz and Michael contributed to the electricity bill because of the amount they not only used to run some of the machinery but which they could also claim back as a business expense. Tonight, though, with a damp, chilly mist in the air and plummeting November temperatures, she’d given the radiators a good half hour session, so it was comfortably warm; warm enough to sleep naked, but her nipples were definitely erect. She finished drying herself and ran her palms over the taut, tingling buds. She felt a similar tingle from her clit, and grinned to herself. Maybe it was time to do something about that.

She took the time to clean her teeth and dab a bit of moisturizer onto her cheeks and forehead, quite enjoying this bout of procrastination. She thought of rope again; the way it could bite in or slide over the skin like a caress. She thought of Hush and the phrase he sometimes used: ‘the infliction of pleasure.’ It was definitely time for bed.

10. What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?

Read a lot, write a lot. Most of your first efforts will be crap, and that’s OK, because most of everyone’s first efforts are crap. Keep going. If you want to self-publish, pay for an edit if you can possibly afford it.

11. What do you do when you’re not writing?

Outside of paid work and family/household stuff, I am a Morris dancer, I like going to fetish clubs and rope groups, and I also run a book stall at events like Brighton Twisted Market.

12. What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?

Probably the marketing. I am fairly clueless and terrified of pissing everyone off by spamming them to death. Though the thing that drives me the most insane is trying to get Amazon reviews. People who ask for ARCs and then don’t bother to read them or write reviews, grrr!

13. We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?

The people who think authors are all loaded – and the ones who think that women who write erotica are nice cosy housewives who ‘just have a vivid imagination’. Yes, some of them are, but there’s a whole range of attitudes and experiences.

14. What is your idea of happiness?

Financial security ie not worrying about the bills, everyone I care about being healthy and content, and new experiences to look forward to.

15. For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.

I’d like to have a corner table, near the open fire, in a proper country pub with a lovely view out of the window – either a light sprinkling of snow on the fields, or blue skies and blossoming trees. Except I’d probably end up getting distracted by the beer, and the other customers, and not get much done. Where I actually write is in the room I call my office at home, which is a complete tip full of cold cups of tea and discarded newspapers.

16. What makes you laugh/cry?

I have a vulgar and childish sense of humour, so I generally laugh at fart jokes and bad language. Things that make me cry tend to be loss eg bereavement, worry and frustration.

17. You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature.

I wouldn’t care as long as one of them had a top-of-the-range mobile phone which still worked and could summon rescue.

18. What is your most annoying habit?

Probably my keyboard-warrior tendencies. I love a good ruck on the Internet, even if it’s about relatively unimportant things.

19. Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)

I have one novel out, Black Heart, which is a femdom pansexual romance. Otherwise I mostly have short stories included in anthologies: there are probably too many to list but here are a few of them.

Who Thrilled Cock Robin? – erotica inspired by folk songs

Inked – sex and tattoos

Silver Desire – women over 50 having sexy adventures

Goodbye Moderation: Lust – a brilliantly dark and twisted collection, but not for those who prefer erotic romance with happy endings

Sticky Fingers and Warm Leatherette – an anthology that is all my own work; mainly BDSM-themed.

Lightning round
Tea or Coffee? – Tea, with no milk.
Cash or credit? – With my awful credit rating, it has to be cash
Cats or Dogs? – Neither, thanks. I’m allergic to both.
Beach or Mountain? – I like both equally
Summer or Winter – Either, as long as the weather is seasonally appropriate.
Sweet or Savoury – Savoury
Early riser or late riser? I prefer to get up late but have to get up early for the school run.
Morning or Night? – I’m a night person.
Christmas Tree – real or fake? – Fake. Needles are a pain in the arse.
Sex – Lights on or off? – On, but not too brightly. I want to see what – and who – I’m doing.

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.

Facebook: Zak Jane Keir (or Sallyanne Rogers)

Twitter @decadentmadamez or @dswsallyanne

Website: www.dirtysexywords.com

Amazon author page https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zak-Jane-Keir/e/B00J8YMLKG/

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

West Midlands Attending Author: Pavan Kaur

January 17, 2017January 15, 2017 gibbsdreamLeave a comment

Can we start with your name and where you’re from?
Hello everyone, my name is Pavan Kaur and I’m from Birmingham UK
Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?
I love reading so much. I always read before I go to bed. You always need some time away from writing. My inspiration, God there are so many amazing authors out there that I love to read, I follow on Facebook and Twitter.
What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?
Romance is my main focus in writing. I’m writing my first BDSM stand alone at the moments, which I’m very excited about.
If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?
Colton from the Driven Series fell in love with him.
When did you first start writing?
Six years ago, Moving On kept playing in my head, so I finally started writing it, then my family really liked it and told me to publish it, and here I am.
Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?
I let the words flow, I have so many notebooks around my house, and in my bag so when something comes to me, I can write it down.
Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)
Rhett Johnson, for a big guys he is super sweet.
Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?
N/A
Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?
Mr Dark my BDSM standalone book, and book 3 in my series.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?
Keeping writing, and enjoy what you are doing if you don’t enjoy it then there is no point.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
Read or bake with my two boys. I like to spend a lot of time with my boys so baking, board games anything to see you smile.
What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?
Marketing, I find hard. Never know if I am doing it right or not, but I’m enjoying the learning everyday.
We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?
I have only told my mum, dad, brother, sister and husband no other family no about my writing and the reason is because I don’t want to listen to the making sweeping statements at me, because then it will take the fun out of writing for me. I will double think everything, I love write and I don’t want them to ruin it for me.
What is your idea of happiness?
Family. As long as I have my family around me I’m always happy.
For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.
What makes you laugh/cry?
You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature.
Jennifer Aniston, because I just love her
David Beckham because I need something sexy to look at
The impractical Jokers because we all need to laugh
What is your most annoying habit?
Im OCD, which can get annoying sometimes lol
Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)

Moving On –

Everyone has a past. For most people their past is their worst nightmare, haunting them day by day. Such a person with a past is Kim Turner. But everything changes when Nicolas Webb comes into her life.

Nick on the other hand, is your typical hot shot. With money comes powers and with powers come happiness, or so he thought until he met Kim.

Haunted by her past and stalked in his present, are they destined to be together? Will Kim be able to let go of her past and trust Nick or will Nick just cause another heartbreak?

Moving Forward –

“I knew then, that I will never be safe!”

Moving on, Kim Turner finally let go of her past. She trusts Nicolas Webb with more than her life. Just when she thought she could move on from her haunted past, James Foster comes back into her life; together with the painful memories and disturbing nightmares. But this time, it’s all real.

The untold story of Kim and Nick continues as more secrets and lies begin to unravel. Following as the sequel to “Moving On” with James Foster out of Prison, will Kim and Nick be able to move forward? Or will this time be the last time they fight for each other?

Moving Together –

The Final instalment of the Moving Series

James’ persistence is taking its toll on Kim. With what he’s done goes above and beyond trying to get her back; it’s hurting her in the worst way imaginable. Using her love for Nick against her has Kim deciding if she can continue to fight James, or give in.

One thing’s for sure… She won’t go back to the hell he made for her.

COURAGE TO TRUST –

I knew I should have stayed away from Rhett Johnson. Captivating, beautiful, talented not to mention a UFC prize fighter, and a man who knows what he wants and he wants ME.

Who am I? Scarlett Parker. A maid in a luxury Vegas hotel. I’m damaged, broken and running away from the darkness around me. I don’t believe in happily ever after.

The attraction between us is like a drug, one we both dangerously need. Wounds break open as my past returns. Is this my happily ever after or is this a disaster waiting to happen?

COURAGE TO FIGHT

He told me that I could trust him.

He told me he loved me.

I put myself in a place where I thought I would be safe again. Never did I think I would hurt more than I did before. But I do.

I let the wall fall around my heart, only for it to get burned.

I cried, but now I’m back and I won’t let the demons get me again.

I won’t make the same mistake twice…

But there he stands in front of me.

The man who hurt me.

Rhett Johnson

Lightning round
Tea or Coffee? Teas
Cash or credit? Cash
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Beach or Mountain? Beach
Summer or Winter? Summer
Sweet or Savoury? B
Early riser or late riser? Early riser
Morning or Night? Night
Christmas Tree – real or fake? Real
Sex – Lights on or off? On

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

West Midlands Attending Author: Nikki Ashton

January 16, 2017January 15, 2017 gibbsdreamLeave a comment

1. Can we start with your name and where you’re from?

My name is Nikki Ashton and I’m from Cheshire – Crewe to be exact, it’s not pretty but it’s home.

2. Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?

I love reading and probably read three or four books a week. Everything I read is inspiration – I don’t mean I copy the storylines, but the different styles of writing. Writing in the first person wasn’t something I ever considered until I read other authors books. Now I love it as you can get so much more across to the reader. My biggest inspiration to start writing though was Marian Keyes. I love how she can make you laugh out loud and then cry with the next sentence.

3. What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?

I have always written romantic comedy but recently have crossed over into contemporary romance, and absolutely loved the change.

4. If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?

Ooh that’s hard. I suppose it’d have to be Christian Grey, purely and simply because the books became such a phenomena. They gave EL James a tremendous amount of success and to reach that level with something that I’d actually written would be amazing.

5. When did you first start writing?

I’ve always written stories from the age of 7 and then wrote my first full length book about 15 years ago. I shelved it though until 4 years ago with the rise of self-publishing.

6. Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?

I do a rough plot line, write the first and last chapter and then just see where the words take me.

7. Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)

As I write a character they become my favourite, so at the moment it’s Jesse Connor, the rancher in my book that’s coming out in the summer. Although Roman Hepburn from my February release, Roman’s Having Sex Again, is a very close second. Both are pretty Alpha Male but have a romantic side too. As for female characters it has to be Summer from Roman’s Having Sex Again – she sarcastic and strong and has a fine collection of amazing shoes!!

8. Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?

The whole of my teenage and early twenties pretty much inspired my first book, Guess Who I Pulled Last Night? Some scenes were a little exaggerated, but generally the three heroines are me and my friends.

9. Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?

I’ve just finished a joint venture with Victoria Johns, so we’re currently doing edits for that. Other than that I’m doing the follow up to my rancher story. It’s about Jesse’s brother, Garratt and it’s going to be emotional.

10. What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?

Just do it, what do you have to lose? Oh and make sure you get a good team behind you in the form of an editor and proof reader. There’s a lot of competition out there and lots of discerning readers.

11. What do you do when you’re not writing?

Read and people watch for inspiration.

12. What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?

The marketing side of things for definite. I love interacting with my readers but I never know how much it too much marketing, plus I’m not particularly organised.

13. We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?

The fact that people don’t take you seriously because you self-publish and don’t see it as a job. I have a part-time job and people always say ‘yeah but you get two days off every week’ – actually I don’t because I’m doing my other job then. I might have more flexibility but if I don’t write in the day I’ll probably be up until the early hours writing.

14. What is your idea of happiness?

My family. Spending time with my husband, or spoiling my nephews and nieces is when I’m most happy.

15. For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.

Music plays quietly in the background, as the glow from the desk lamp shines onto the computer screen. The aroma of fresh, steaming, black coffee fills the air and there is a constant tap, tap, tap of the keyboard as the words flow easily. A voice from the sofa breaks into my thoughts as a bare chested, Micah Truitt says, ‘Okay stop writing now love, it’s sexy time.’

16. What makes you laugh/cry?

Observational humour makes me laugh, so I adore Peter Kay and Victoria Wood. I always laugh out loud at Helena Hunting books – she just has my sense of humour; coarse and smutty. I am quite an emotional person so lots of things make me cry, both happy and sad.

17. You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature.

Apart from my husband being an obvious choice, family members would be difficult as I love them all dearly. So, looking at this purely from a ‘whoa, check you out’, point of view it would be; Micah Truitt, Pep Guardiola and Jamie Dornan. Without books or TV, I’m sure I’d find something to do!

18. What is your most annoying habit?

Self-doubt and being over sensitive

19. Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)

Guess Who I Pulled Last Night? This a story of three friends in their early 30’s and the ups and downs they go through for love. There are parts to the story that we can all relate to at some point in our lives.

No Bra Required, is a humorous, romantic love story about Lucy and Ed. After spending weeks in bed wearing a bobble hat, due to being unceremoniously dumped by her cheating husband, Lucy decides to make a fresh start living with her dad for a while. That’s when she meets Ed. But, in true romance tradition, things don’t run smoothly when his bitchy ex-wife, and mother of his son, suddenly appears.

Get Your Kit Off is the story of Molly Pearson, who doesn’t have children, but as the Player Liaison Manager for a premiership football club, does have twenty-two professional footballers and one jealous fiancé to take care of. With having to deal with problems from players buying zoo animals as pets, to losing their false teeth and a whole lot more, Molly can’t wait for the season to end. But, her life becomes even more complicated, when the man who broke her heart six years earlier, comes back into her life. Hail the returning hero, Joe Bennett, now one of the best footballers in the world and the club’s most expensive signing. Every woman wants him, every man wants to be him, and he’s returned for one reason only – he wants Molly back.

Rock Stars Don’t Like Big Knickers follows Luke and Martha. Luke ‘Luciano’ Mahoney is the arrogant and sexy lead singer of the mega rock band, Dirty Riches, and he finds it highly amusing that his flirting embarrasses Martha, his new housekeeper/cook. Despite a shaky start involving a naked Luke and a mortified Martha, they start to grow closer and their friendship starts to develop into something more, but will he ever manage to prove to Martha that he’s the right man for her.

Rock Stars Don’t Like Ugly Bras, is the second in the Dirty Riches series and is all about their Lead Guitarist, Jake Hughes and the band’s PA, Amber Mahoney, who also happens to be Luke’s cousin. Jake irritates Amber more than anyone she’s ever met before. Jake, however, thinks that Amber is sexy but scary. Now they’ve got to share a house for six weeks – what could possibly go wrong?

Cheese Tarts and Fluffy Socks: Complex, Enthralling Romance Novel Proves Sex & Work is a Cocktail Best Left Unshaken. The story zeroes in on a steamy one-night stand that, unknown to either party, is about to kick-off a working relationship that is far more than awkward. A hotel badly in need of investment, a young entrepreneur has been sent in to decide if it’s a good investment, but the daughter of the owner is…well…you get the picture.

Rock Stars Do Like Christmas Stockings, is the final book in the Dirty Riches series, and is all about Tom Davies, final member of the band to settle down, or so everyone thinks. What they don’t know is that Tom has been having a relationship with Jake’s sister, Abbie, for the past year. With one secret affair, one unwelcome Santa suit, five excitable children, four foul-mouthed band members and two days to organise a party for hundreds of people, Christmas is certainly going to be interesting for the Dirty Riches boys and their families this year!

20. Lightning Round:

Tea or Coffee? Tea

Cash or credit? Cash
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Beach or Mountain? Beach
Summer or Winter Summer
Sweet or Savoury Savoury
Early riser or late riser? Late Riser
Morning or Night? Night
Christmas Tree – real or fake? Fake
Sex – Lights on or off? On (unless we’re in the car of course ☺ )

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NikkiAshtonBooks/?fref=ts

Twitter – https://twitter.com/NikkerAsh

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/nikkiashtonauthor/

Amazon.co.uk page – http://viewauthor.at/NAPage

Amazon.com page – http://viewauthor.at/AmazonCom

Books · Life · Uncategorized

West Midlands Attending Author: Holly J. Gill

January 15, 2017January 14, 2017 gibbsdream1 Comment

1.Can we start with your name and where you’re from?

My name is Holly, I’m from Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire

2. Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?

Yes, I love reading. I have always read since being a child, paperbacks and now my Kindle is full and the paperbacks I have now, are signed and stay grease free.

I never had any particular authors who inspired me as they all did. I read so many genres, including the gippy ones the teachers use to pull out.

3. What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?

I guess I should say, it depends what genre my mind is working on. At The moment all my current published works are erotica, as that is where I initially started. However, my mind started wondering and has taken me to genre’s I never expected I would write, romance, supernatural, action thriller, ghost…if my mind is thinking it, it will write it.

4. If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?

Gosh I truly have no idea. I have read so many amazing books, it’s too hard to choose.

5. When did you first start writing?

I started writing when I was about 7 or 8 years old. The only time the teacher got my attention was when she said essay. I loved my imagination taking over. I recalled in my English class when I was 13 or so, the teacher (who was a cowbag) told me off for handing in an essay of 30 pages, she said ‘next time only give me 5.’ I hated her, I thought teachers were meant to encourage students. I guess not. Anyway after that, I handed in 5 pages and once marked went home to finish it.

My first ever novel was written, handwritten might I add called ‘Full of Surprises’ a cute sweet romance, back when I was 16 and I still have it to hand now.

6. Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?

I allow the words to flow. I have an idea where the book is going, but nine times out of ten it will turn. Wowzers! I never saw that coming. I just allow the characters to tell me where and what they won’t me to write.

7. Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)

Hmm, I am not sure I can answer this question. It’s a cruel question as I love all my character even the badass. If I was really to say…gosh…Holly in All That We Are, why, because she in some respects is telling a story of me. Her character lacks confidence. She hides behind her laptop, keeps herself at a distance of anyone and hates any form of confrontations. And there is also a scene of bullying in there which is true, to each and every word. I had a little cry after I wrote it, no one should ever go through such acts, ever.

8. Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?

For me I guess all my novels are my autobiography, there is something in them all that has stolen a little snippet of my life. The worst one for me is in All That We Are regarding the bullying and how that affected my adulthood. For me when writing the scene through the tears, brought it all back, some would say why write it, because to me it was like a sense of relief, sharing a part of me and possibly getting the message across that bullying isn’t acceptable, do something about it, don’t dwell as it will only hurt more.

9. Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?

I’m currently working on four books, one I’m writing an action erotica thriller which appears to be my favorite genre at the moment.

I have one book I had to take down from publication is with an editor called Innocence BK 1. This book is a romance, and a little taster, Two pasts, one direction. When pain hits full force. Emotions run high. Guilt and protection. Can two hearts hold it together?

Book 2 is awaiting an editor, booked for March called Destiny BK 1. Sexy Erotic Billionaire Romance. Taster, Destiny is a girl who wants for nothing! Compromise Mr. Wright, compromise.

Book 3 is awaiting the editor, booked for June called Target, Scar Lover series BK 1. Action Erotic Thriller. Taster, He was sent to kill her, only instead unearthed more problems.

10. What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?

Write to enjoy it. Write for it to be a hobby. Write what you want to write. Never give up, keep writing. Don’t allow anyone to spoil your illusions. Write the first manuscript in draft, then leave and go back and polish, re-write, make it better, stronger and fuller. Stalk authors, get yourself on social media, talk to authors, that is what I did, and even today I reach out for a little help. We are a great community, yes we can get some nastiness, but generally we are all there doing the same thing, getting our work promoted.

11. What do you do when you’re not writing?

I have a part-time job as a care assistant in a residential and nursing home so that takes care of two days working 12 hour shifts. I am a nana to twins a girl and boy who I see as regular as possible. I enjoy reading, spending time with family, going camping in the summer months and visiting places in the UK.

12. What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?

Editing, I loathe it especially as I cannot see the errors. I intend to sink back into the characters and pulling myself out can be tricky. Authors told me to step away. Leave the book for a year or so…doesn’t work I still end up back in their minds and bodies. This is why I hire editors as trust me I need it.

Marketing is a nightmare. It rather daunting at times, you write the book, find a good editor, get it proofread and then start arranging the formatting, and boom hit the big button…and you start hitting social media, crying out to all those bloggers. It’s hard work, and even more so to get it out there.

Will I ever give up…no. I love allowing my imagination to do its stuff, giving up isn’t an option.

13. We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?

I’m lucky, I think a majority of my fans I work with they are just brilliant, all so supportive and buy my books. At my last place of work, one woman did suggest telling me her life story and wanted me to write about it…I don’t think so. I think because people think your write stories that you would like to write theirs…nope I have enough people screaming in my head without your story, which isn’t all that exciting.

My family and friends are very supportive, well my hubby has to be he, he’s my assistant for the book signings, at least my muscle man.

14. What is your idea of happiness?

To always be a naughty woman, who is well known for making rude gestures from nothing. Live life to the full and be who you want to be. I don’t worry about much, as life is too short.

15. For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.

Large room, sofa bed, desk with draws, book shelves, chair, notice board, images of characters staring at me, a wall decorated in my published works and another wall with my family, walls can be white and wooden flooring with a rug under my feet.

In a corner would be a desk with draws underneath, in oak. The desk will sit my laptop in the center. My glasses, notepad and dictionary will be to my right and my kindle, headphones, phone on silent with fruit and bottles of juice to my left. To the right a large window with blinds to block out the dazzling sunlight in white and white curtains. And between the window and wall to my right fixed book shelves where I can easily reach for research.

In front of me above my laptop will be a notice board in shabby chic, with pins with ideas and inspiration and other possible ideas that spring to my mind.

I will also have at the far side more book shelves with swag, signed books and a list of names and contacts when looking for promotional ideas, which will also contain all the links to where my books are published.

The far wall would have pictures of my family, grandbabies and below a sofa bed where I can go and relax and read my kindle or sneak a snooze.

One the left wall will be my book covers in all their glory.

The lighting will be variable, depending on what I am doing, reading my kindle would be a small lamp in the corner and when writing a bright light so I’m not squinting. I will also have a Bluetooth speaker if needed to help with inspiration when ideas might run dry.

16. What makes you laugh/cry?

For me, bullying, child cruelty and hearing a baby has died, it breaks my heart.

17. You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature.

This is going to sound drab but my hubby, Nigel. He is amazing at knowing what to do when stranded, he would know what to do in every department, how to build things, go hunting and how to please me. He is always watching programs where people are dumped and left to survive. For entertainment my hubby as he knows me, he knows what I like and would protect me from anything, well sort of unless he gets hungry and decided to eat me lol.

18. What is your most annoying habit?

I’ll ask my hubby…he said, ‘I cannot cook.” I hate cooking lol!

19. Please tell me about your books?

Desires the series, there are 5 books up to date. This series is about a sex club, an exclusive club where you can go and enjoy your erotic side without being judged. The series tells us the story of a couple, Stacie and Dan. Stacie is the guest who is seeking confidence sexually after being in a bad relationship. Dan the sex worker a serious hot toy boy is her tutor, and well he teaches all she needs to now and more. Heck, he blew me away, the cutie. The series also brings in a scorned woman, jealous of the couple and spends most of her miserable time trying to spilt Stacie and Dan up.

All That We Are, this book is about a promoter called Holly who starts talking on social media to Ashton Noir, who is a bestselling author. They start talking, building up a friendship and helping in areas where they both lack confidence. This is an internet love story which in the author world I bet has happened.

Lightning round
Tea or Coffee? Tea
Cash or credit? Credit
Cats or Dogs? Neither
Beach or Mountain? Beach
Summer or Winter? Summer
Sweet or Savoury? Sweet
Early riser or late riser? Early
Morning or Night? Morning
Christmas Tree – real or fake? Fake
Sex – Lights on or off? On.

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.

Desires Series: Erotica, BDSM, kinky romance.

Bk 1 Desires

Bk 2 Touching Angel’s Desires

Bk 3 Desires’ Secrets

BK 4 Embracing Desires

Bk 5 Dan’s Desires

Trust series

All That We Are

Buy Links

Amazon UK :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-That-Are-Trust-Book-ebook/dp/B01GIPN1AG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1464979067&sr=8-2&keywords=holly+j+gill

Amazon US :

https://www.amazon.com/All-That-Are-Trust-Book-ebook/dp/B01GIPN1AG?ie=UTF8&keywords=holly%20j%20gill&qid=1464979009&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2

Amazon CA :

https://www.amazon.ca/All-That-Are-Trust-Book-ebook/dp/B01GIPN1AG

Kobo:

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/search?query=Holly%20J.%20Gill&fcsearchfield=Author

Barnes and Noble :

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Holly%20J.%20Gill%22;jsessionid=02F398A2A308A2B98E5E56076EEE04A5.prodny_store01-atgap06?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Itunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/holly-j.-gill/id656813976?mt=11

Links to me

E-mail mailto:holly_gill@btinternet.com

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/hollyjgillauthor?ref=hl

Erotic Holly BLOG :http://hollyjgill.blogspot.co.uk/?zx=b9ccabad8f15e367

Romance BLOG Holly : http://hollyjodygill.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/HollyJGill

Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/107879443337932231480/posts

Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860426.Holly_J_Gill

Pinterest : http://uk.pinterest.com/gill0839/

Wixhttp://hollygill.wixsite.com/hollyjgill

Books · Uncategorized

#Booksarenotfree

January 14, 2017 gibbsdream2 Comments

Earlier in the week I blogged about the expectations of today’s society with regards to getting free books which was inspired by a Facebook post by Rose Montague. See below:

“I’m thinking about doing an event called OUR BOOKS ARE NOT FREE.

No giveaways, no prizes, no incentives other than meeting authors and readers, learning about their books, and supporting authors that want to sell their books. I wonder if anyone would like to participate and I wonder if people would actually attend the event?

If you are interested, please comment below. If I get enough authors/readers I will host the event……”

From there I felt so inspired and fired up that I wrote my thoughts down and added a hashtag which I want to see trending. #Booksarenotfree

Rose’s post inspired so many people that a five day event has been organised with half hourly author slots which are now full. Come and join this event, meet the authors pick up a book or two if your budget can stretch to it. Guaranteed no freebies but you will find more genres under one roof than you will anywhere else (aside from bookshops or online markets such as Amazon)

Event details:
Over 100 authors
Not a single book will be given away
Not a single prize will be awarded
Just some fantastic authors
With great books
At reasonable prices

screenshot-2017-01-14-15-42-44

Sat 11 Feb
2PM Rose Montague (Intro & Pep talk)
2:30 PM Monica Mertz
3:00 PM Veronica Del Rosa
3:30 PM Jen Winters
4:00 PM Theresa Jacobs
4:30 PM Sonnet O’Dell
5:00 PM S H Pratt
5:30 PM Clair de Lune
6:00 PM Aoife Marie Sheridan
6:30 PM Angel M Vosvick-Waggoner
7:00 PM John Hancock
7:30 PM Bailey Ziehmer
8:00 PM Barbara Winkes
8:30 PM M.L. Spencer
9:00 PM AJ Kohler
9:30 PM Claudette Nicole Melanson
10:00 PM Jesse Frankel
10:30 PM Elizabeth Ann Davis
11:00 PM Ani Manjikan
11:30 PM (daily wrap up)

Sun 12 Feb
6:00 AM (Daily Intro-Host)
6:30 AM Gillian Joy
7:00 AM Grace Rose Thomas
7:30 AM Maria Gibbs
8:00 AM Fiona Skye
8:30 AM Stuart Murray
9:00 AM Laurie Vincent
9:30 AM Melissa McArthur Gilbert
10:00 AM Cindy J Smith
10:30 AM Iyana Jenna
11:00 AM Krista Pakseresht
11:30 AM Karen Mossman
Noon Karina Kantas
12:30 PM Audrina Lane
1:00 PM Regina Partap
1:30 PM Cris Pasqueralle
2:00 PM Miranda Brock
2:30 PM Mistral Dawn
3:00 PM JF Holland
3:30 PM Gemma Roman
4:00 PM Flora McGregor
4:30 PM Erika Szabo
5:00 PM Joe Bonadonna
5:30 PM Michael Dellert
6:00 PM Heather Blomquist
6:30 PM Nancy Rollins
7:00 PM Courtney Shockey
7:30 PM Tima Maria Lacoba
8:00 PM Char Webster
8:30 PM Marsha Moore
9:00 PM Kurt Springs
9:30 PM Nicole Davis
10:00 PM Joe Compton
10:30 PM Deidre Mapstone
11:00 PM Carol Kauffman
11:30 PM (daily wrap up)

Mon 13 Feb
6:00 AM (Daily Intro-Host)
6:30 AM JoAnne Van Leedham
7:00 AM Alex James
7:30 AM Brianna West
8:00 AM Bri Amari
8:30 AM Susan Gibbons
9:00 AM Jennifer Thompson
9:30 AM Heather Ann Osborne
10:00 AM Michela Homer
10:30 AM Devorah Fox
11:00 AM Beverly Lee
11:30 AM Jennifer A Thomas
Noon H.C. Bentley
12:30 PM Tom Tinney
1:00 PM Peter Churchill
1:30 PM Dawn Chapman
2:00 PM Cindy Schneider
2:30 PM Lynn Lamb
3:00 PM Monte Dutton
3:30 PM Gary Morgenstern
4:00 PM Lu Whitley
4:30 PM Karen McFarland
5:00 PM Shakyra Dunn
5:30 PM Stephanie Ayers
6:00 PM Trey McIntosh
6:30 PM Sandie Will
7:00 PM Maggie Anderson
7:30 PM Juli D. Revezzo
8:00 PM Kade Cook
8:30 PM Emmy Gatrell
9:00 PM Colen Evans
9:30 PM Sarah Buhrman
10:00 PM Barbara Chioffi
10:30 PM Sarina Langer
11:00 PM Jeanette O’Hagan
11:30 PM (daily wrap up)

Tues 14 Feb
6:00 AM (Daily Intro-Host)
6:30 AM Dianna Wyles
7:00 AM Jennifer Malone Wright
7:30 AM Georgia Mathers
8:00 AM Cori Nicole Smith
8:30 AM Joe Sledge
9:00 AM Joe Ganzer
9:30 AM Maretha Menichini
10:00 AM Dianne Astle
10:30 AM Jane Anthony
11:00 AM C.S. Wooley
11:30 AM Suzi Albracht
Noon Alexis Danielle Allinson
12:30 PM Isadora Montrose
1:00 PM Amy Richie
1:30 PM Pletcha PJ Webb
2:00 PM Kasper Beaumont
2:30 PM Kelly Erickson
3:00 PM Stephen Hunt
3:30 PM Julie Stanley
4:00 PM Tom Fallwell
4:30 PM Cree Storm
5:00 PM Tiger Herbert
5:30 PM JJ King
6:00 PM Jessica Gomez
6:30 PM A M Rycroft
7:00 PM Ashley Uzzell
7:30 PM Marie Krepps
8:00 PM D.j. Ruggiero
8:30 PM Heather Ellen Yamauchi
9:00 PM Beth Honeycutt
9:30 PM Shelli Humphrey
10:00 PM Christopher Paniccia
10:30 PM Debbie Manber Kupfer
11:00 PM Jessica Fisette
11:30 PM (daily wrap up)

Wed 15 Feb
6:00 AM (Daily Intro-Host)
6:30 AM Sarina Langer
7:00 AM Sarah J Hilder
7:30 AM Miriam Averna
8:00 AM Jane Ederlyn
8:30 AM Owen Mullen
9:00 AM Annie Buff
9:30 AM Claire Marta
10:00 AM Lucinda Clarke
10:30 AM Lindsay Johnston
11:00 AM Devon West
11:30 AM Zorha Edwards
Noon Romarin Demetri
12:30 PM Jennifer Brown
1:00 PM Jason Crawford
1:30 PM Candace Osmond
2:00 PM Lily Amis
2:30 PM Jeanne Felfe
3:00 PM XXXXXXXXXXX
3:30 PM S A Gibson
4:00 PM Eva Gordon
4:30 PM Parker Sinclair
5:00 PM Kristy Nicole
5:30 PM Scott Carruba
6:00 PM Mirren Hogan
6:30 PM R.L, Weeks
7:00 PM CJ Rutherford
7:30 PM A.T. Brennan
8:00 PM Debbie Dickerson
8:30 PM Niki Livingston Walker
9:00 PM Dawn Ibanez
9:30 PM Barbara Custer
10:00 PM Tia Siren/Amy Brent
10:30 PM Markie Jordan-Madden
11:00 PM (Event wrap up)

Look out for this event because it should be phenomenal. Let’s claim back a fair price for a job well done.

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

West Midlands Attending Author: Maddie Wade

January 14, 2017January 13, 2017 gibbsdreamLeave a comment

1. Can we start with your name and where you’re from?

Maddie Wade and I am from Hereford

2.Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?

I love reading and always have I`m never without a book. My inspirations are people like Marie Force and Melody Anne. They have both been trailblazers for indie authors, proving that you can start from scratch and make it.

3.What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?

I write Romantic Suspense with a paranormal twist.

4. If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?

Oh wow that’s a tough one. It would have to be Sherlock Holmes. He is so deliciously complex.

5. When did you first start writing?

Not that long go really. I started writing in 2015.

6. Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?

I plan the basic plot and story arc and then an idea of where I need to go. Then I just write and see how it pans out. Quite often things change and surprise me which I love.

7. Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)

I would have to say Lucy. I`m writing her book now and she had a beautiful mix of kick ass and take names mixed in with a sweetness and vulnerability that you wouldn’t expect from a woman who works for an all male badass security firm.

8. Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?

Not really it was more that the idea wouldn’t shut up or go away and kept growing so I decided to let it out and see where it went. Best thing I ever did.

9. Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?

As I said I`m working on Lucy and Jaces book Love Divided, which is book three in this series. It`s really surprising me and has already made me cry. Let`s just say it`s going to be emotional and yet you still get the pace and action. Obviously the rest of the team make appearances too.

10. What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?

Don’t procrastinate, just do it and see what happens.

11. What do you do when you’re not writing?

Reading or spending time with my family. I also like watching T.V series like the Blacklist and Blindspot.

12. What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?

Marketing and promotion because you never know if you’re getting it right and I find it hard to blow my own trumpet.

13. We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?

Oh you mean “My little hobby?” I guess that people think if you self publish that you are not a Real author. Drives me crazy.

14. What is your idea of happiness?

Easy my kids happy and safe.

15. For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.

Oh love this okay. The sun is hanging low in the sky, the orange and red embers just touch the top of the sea. My feet are bare and buried in the warm sand under my desk. Warmth from the fading sun kisses my face, and caresses my shoulders. The gentle breeze is bringing with it the smell of the sea and the sound of a child`s laugh. Laptop open, curser idling waiting for the next adventure to begin. I take a sip from the cold mojito by my side and let the words flow.

16. What makes you laugh/cry?

The big Bang Theory makes me laugh. Videos of soldiers returning home and surprising their families makes me bawl like a baby.

17. You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature.

Okay from a mum’s point of view I would have to pick my kids. From a woman`s point I would have to say Chris Hemsworth (I`m totally obsessed with him), Jason Momoa and Henry Cavil. Please don’t tell my hubby (sniggers)

18. What is your most annoying habit?

Not putting the washing away.

19. Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)

Healing Danger is my Debut Novel and the First in the Fortis Security series. It follows Dane and Lauren as they try to find her best friends killer and stop Lauren from being the next victim of the Divine Watchers. The Divine Watchers are a sick cult out to use people with special abilities like Lauren`s to start Armageddon.

Stolen Dreams is book two and follows Nate and Skye as they try to get Skye`s very sick son back. He has been kidnapped for his ability and the race is on to get to him before it is too late.

Each book has its own story but the series as a whole has an overreaching arc. Each character in the Fortis team will get a book.

Lightning round
Tea or Coffee? Tea
Cash or credit? Cash
Cats or Dogs? Dog
Beach or Mountain? Beach
Summer or Winter? Summer
Sweet or Savoury? Sweet
Early riser or late riser? Late
Morning or Night? Morning
Christmas Tree – real or fake? Fake
Sex – Lights on or off? Don’t care

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.

Website is www.maddiewadeauthor.co.uk

Email:maddie@maddiewadeauthor.co.uk

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maddieuk/?fref=ts

Twitter @mwadeauthor

Instagram @mwadeauthor

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

West Midlands Attending Author: Nicola C. Priest

January 11, 2017January 10, 2017 gibbsdreamLeave a comment

Can we start with your name and where you’re from?
I write under my given name, Nicola C. Priest, but people tend to call me Nicky. Midlands girl, born & bred.
Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?
Completely true. When I was younger, I used to love reading Stephen King and James Patterson, mainly because my mom loved to read those authors so I picked up her books, but now I’m predominantly a romance girl and love to read Nicole Edwards and Kristy Bromberg
What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?
Most of my books are contemporary romance, but one of my in progress books, Perception, leans towards the Crime genre, with a touch of romance thrown in.
If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?
Just one character? Don’t think I could do that, but Id happily take all seven of the Walker Brothers from Nicole Edwards’ Alluring Indulgence series. Seven hot, sexy cowboys; what’s not to love there?
When did you first start writing?
I’ve loved writing since I was in school. Our creative writing classes were always my favourite. I started writing fanfiction based on various TV shows but it wasn’t until a certain trilogy came out that I decided to have a go at writing something original. I figured if she could do it, then so could I.
Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?
I do plan to some degree, but I tend to just write and go where the characters take me. I never know how a story is going to end until I get there. Two of the books I’ve released ended in completely different ways to what I originally envisioned.
Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)
Tough one, but I’d have to say Jackson MacKenzie out of Somewhere Love Remains. I won’t go into details, but there are parts of that book that mean a lot to me and I’ll leave it there.
Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?
Somewhere Love Remains. I had an armed forces penpal back when I was a teenager.
Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?
Yes. I’m working on the sequel to Heart & Soul, called Mind & Soul which has a couple of twists people won’t see coming. The second I’m working on is Perception, which is a little different to what I usually write.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?
Just write. I’m a firm believer that everyone has at least one book inside them, but you won’t get anywhere unless you write. All the editing and formatting comes after, just get the words on the paper and the rest will follow.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I work full time as a financial services contractor so that takes up most of my day. When I’m not working or writing, I go to the gym and catch up on my reading list.
What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?
Definitely the marketing. Getting a new book out there is hard and I hate pestering people or posting repeatedly on pages/groups. I know how it makes me feel seeing the same post over and over, but then I remember that this person is trying to do the same things as me, they’re just being a bit more forward lol
We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?
I hate it when people assume that just because I have a book on Amazon, I must be raking in the cash. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve heard “You’re an author? You must be loaded” or words to that effect. I wish I was loaded, but as most of us indie authors can attest, that’s just not the case
What is your idea of happiness?
Being able to give up my full-time job so that I can write for a living instead. I’d love to be able to earn my living as an author.
For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.
For me it would have to be a log cabin in the middle of nowhere, with an open log fire and huge armchair. I’d have a glass of my favourite wine next to me with the fire roaring, warming the room and casting a soft glow over the furnishings. I’d have my Macbook on my lap and just let the words flow.
What makes you laugh/cry?
I’m a big softie. Anything that my nieces and nephews achieve always has me in tears, and they’re not even m kids! My niece recently took park in the Children in Need choir which was televised and when I caught a glimpse of her on the TV I teared up. I’m a sucker for sappy movies too.
You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature. Hmmmmm. I think I’d take the inspirations behind my leading men. Henry Cavill inspired Alistair Lockwood; there’s just something about him and I could look at him all day. That man can wear a suit like no other. Canadian actor Yannick Bisson inspired Jason Harper, again, very easy on the eyes, but also a fantastic cook so he’d be able to keep all of out energies up. The last one, and I’m not giving a name here as it’s personal, is the inspiration for Jackson MacKenzie. He’s a good friend of mine and has helped me through some tough time. I wouldn’t be without him in my life.
What is your most annoying habit?
I’m the queen of the saying “I’ll do it in a minute.” It drives my husband mad as whatever it is never gets done and he ends up doing it himself. My memory is terrible so unless I do something there and then, I completely forget about it.
Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)
I have three books out at the moment: Heart & Soul is part one in the Heartland series. You have Alistair Lockwood, Hollywood moviestar and heartthrob, you meets clerical assistant Samantha Westfield during a meeting. There’s an instant attraction, but both have dark secrets that they want to keep hidden.

Somewhere Love Remains tells the tale of Olivia and Jackson, two people who connect when Olivia places an advert for an armed forces penpal. Throughout the years Olivia falls for Jackson, but he falls for someone else and they lose touch. Jump to 14 years later and a chance encounter has them reconnecting, but they’re both different to what the other remembers.

Chase the Knight is a novella you can read in 45 minutes. Abigail’s life is threatened by her dad’s shady work dealings so he hires Alexander Chase, and undercover cop, to protect her. Can’t really say much more without giving it away.

Mind and Soul & Perception are currently in progress. Mind & Soul carries on six weeks after Heart & Soul ended with Alistair and Samantna trying to move on with their lives. Perception is a little different to the other books in that it is a crime book where several girls have gone missing, with two turning up later, apparently murdered.

Lightning round
Tea or Coffee? Tea
Cash or credit? Cash
Cats or Dogs? Cats
Beach or Mountain? Beach
Summer or Winter? Summer
Sweet or Savoury? Savoury
Early riser or late riser? Late Riser
Morning or Night? Night
Christmas Tree – real or fake? Real
Sex – Lights on or off? Both

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nicola-C.-Priest/e/B00GW2VPUE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1484058652&sr=1-1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolacpriest

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NicolaCPAuthor

Website: https://www.nicolacpriest.co.uk

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

West Midlands Attending Author: Laura Morgan

January 10, 2017January 9, 2017 gibbsdreamLeave a comment

1.Can we start with your name and where you’re from?

I’m Laura Morgan, originally from Essex but I now live in the West Midlands.

2. Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?

Oh absolutely. I love reading anything dark and powerful. I found there was a real gap in that market a few years ago and that was what inspired me to write my first dark novel. They say if you can’t read the book you’re trying to find, then you have to write it, and that’s exactly what I did!

I do have a few big influences though. JR Ward is one of my all time favourites, as is Pepper Winters and Colleen Hoover.

3. What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?

I’m one who crosses over. I have a dark paranormal series, a contemporary romance duology and a crime novel coming out soon. I also write dystopian science fiction under another pen name too. I just write what comes to me, regardless of genre.

4. If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?

I’d have to say Rhage from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I’ve always had a thing for the bad guy with a heart and he was the one character who stayed with me long after reading about him. I’d love to take him and make him my own. To pop him in my worlds and see what happens!

5. When did you first start writing?

I’ve always made up stories since being a child, but I only started properly writing them down around four years ago. I hadn’t even realised that coming up with stories in my head wasn’t what everyone did. I figured it was the norm to conjure up characters and storylines, but got the shock of my life when I realised that wasn’t quite the case. That realisation gave the push I needed to finally put pen to paper.

6. Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?

Both really. I plan some, usually at night while I tell myself a story to fall asleep. Then the next day, I type up what I came up with and then some more.

7. Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)

My favourite character has to be Cate, the Dark Queen in my Black Rose series. She’s dealt some pretty bad cards in the first book and is pushed in directions she doesn’t want to be, but then she finds her strength and turns it all around. She becomes a force to be reckoned with and I absolutely love her for every moment of it.

8. Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?

Not really. There are a few real moments I have added along the way. Secret scenes only those who know me really well will spot, but most of all I will see a real-life scenario and ask ‘what if?’ That’s what makes it into the story rather than a real event as such.

9. Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?

I’m about to release a new story called Rough Love. This one is a modern day tale of both the good and bad in our world. A world where love can conquer all, but at the same time the monsters can also win a few of the battles along the way. It’s a contemporary crime with elements of romance, but fundamentally it’s a mystery and a dark one at that!

10. What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?

Don’t get too swallowed up in sweating the small stuff. Just sit down and write. Blurt out an initial draft and don’t give up. It’s better to have a rough draft you can work on a million times than nothing at all.

11.What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love to sing and am part of the Military Wives Choir, through which I’ve had some great opportunities to sing with famous artists and even go on the radio with the amazing Chris Evans. I’ve written poems and songs for them as well and hope to have even more input as time goes on. It’s something I hadn’t thought I’d love so much when I started out doing but now couldn’t live without!

12. What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?

The marketing. I’m too nice and don’t like to bombard people or shove my cards under anyone’s nose I find. I’m awkward like that, but I guess it comes with the territory or being a loner who sits in front of a computer for hours on end talking to imaginary people lol!

13. We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?

Because I write romance, the amount of people who tell me random stories about their lovelife is unreal! But then they almost always follow up their story with a, ‘but don’t put that in your book!’ Really?! I think you fail to comprehend the complexity of the writers’ imagination if you think I’m going to put you in my next book 😉

14. What is your idea of happiness?

Being able to write and do what I love for the foreseeable future. I truly love what I do and would adore being able to write full time. My family are incredibly supportive and it’d also be amazing not to have to sacrifice my family time so much.

15. For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.

I love to sit down in my nice and warm writing cave with my coffee brewed to perfection and perhaps a biscuit or two for dunking. Next, it’s on with the writing playlist and I choose whichever one ties in with my current piece of writing. With (ideally) no distractions, I then close my eyes, focus on the story, and begin to type. The words are then not simply black and white symbols on a page, but the narration of the movie playing out in my head. They flow perfectly and only stop when I say so…

16. What makes you laugh/cry?

I’m a sucker for love. I cry at the sweetest of stories and the heart-warming ones. Laughing wise, I’m like a twelve year old. A good fart joke or someone falling over will get me giggling every single time!

17. You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature.

I’ve got a serious fan-girl situation going on with a singer/writer called Corey Taylor so he’d be first on my list for shooting the breeze, singing together and having some fun (he also comes across as a hilarious guy.) After that, I’d have to go with some eye candy—the one and only Tom Hardy. He’s a great actor and has been the inspiration behind many of my leading men so he’d have to come along to keep on inspiring me 😉 Then, I’m thinking some more eye candy and my other inspiration, Henry Cavill. He seems so nice and gentlemanly, but also like he’d fun and perhaps let me ogle him while he’s swimming and hunting 😉

18. What is your most annoying habit?

I don’t think I have one really? My hubby might tell you differently though, but I do know I can be quite annoying with grinding my teeth at night. I sometimes wake myself up with the noise it’s that bad, oops!

19. Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)

I have quite an extensive collection now! The Black Rose series is my dark paranormal collection. They have angels and demons galore, and of course all the dark deeds you might expect given the setting. I cover controversial and taboo subjects, as well as the age-old concept of balance between the worlds of light and dark. I drag the reader kicking and screaming through both the good and bad in this and other worlds.

My contemporary romances Forever Lost and Forever Loved are set in the real world, but one just as dark in its own way. You have hookers and gangsters, but also the story of a young woman who’s overcoming her own history via their world. Plus, you have a hot alpha lead you cannot help but fall in love with haha!

With my science fiction, I wrote from another perspective. One of a futuristic society where the human race is no longer in charge of the earth. Following an alien invasion, the series begins with the story of a young woman who has been brought up under their reign, but she has a bright future ahead of her, if only she can overcome the obstacles in her path first.

Lightning round
Tea or Coffee? Both! Earl grey tea for me though, if you please
Cash or credit? Cash
Cats or Dogs? Dogs – I have a furry friend who sits by my feet as I type
Beach or Mountain? Beach, but always in the shade otherwise I melt haha
Summer or Winter? Winter
Sweet or Savoury? Savoury – I’m a crisp monster
Early riser or late riser? Late riser for sure!
Morning or Night? Night
Christmas Tree – real or fake? Fake
Sex – Lights on or off? On!

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.