My Writing Process

Cross posted from my blog 

Tina Christopher asked me to be on this blog hop with her. Of course I said yes! Next week look for Serena Shay's post on her writing topic
So, my writing process. Here goes.

1) What am I working on?

Right now I'm finishing up edits for my release with HarlequinE coming this Sept or Oct. It's an erotic romance, menage. Set in a tropical climate. Not only the weather is hot, so are the guys!

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I have no idea. We are all different. But to actually say how is something I couldn't put my finger on. If anything though, my editor says "your writing is on fire" :)  meaning the sex scenes. *blushes*

3) Why do I write what I do?

It was by fluke really. My first book was No Fantasy Required. I wrote it without the intention of it being so hot. But, when it was accepted and after edits, I started my second story, Being Ariana. It was also a hot story and then it just seemed to flow organically and the rest is history. Although a story I will be working on after the edits on She Wants It won't be erotic. It will be hot though (can't seem to get away from that :) )

My January 2014 release Four For the Show. An erotic adventure where our heroine is treated to sexual delights by three men and we have some male/male action going on too.

4) How does your writing process work?

Again, it's one of those things that never seems to be the same. When I have an idea for a story, and I do have lots, I'll send myself an email with the title or scene or whatever it was the popped into my brain. Sometimes I can't let it go and have to write a few thousand words to get it out of me.

I try to write every day. Last year wasn't that great though after my mom died and my writing just didn't seem to be there. I'm getting back into the swing of things and hoping to get a lot done this year.

If I focus, I can write 1000 words on my lunch. When I get home, I like to write from 2 - 6 for another 2000 words. Then I've accomplished 3000 words a day plus word full time. If I accomplish this then I feel a little better and less guilty for doing other things in the evening.

I am a procrastinator. It's really hard to shake too. Like I'm doing this blog at 4pm on Sunday when I should have had it wrapped up days ago!

So remember to visit Serena next week when she tells you about her writing process on 17th March.

Serena Shay took to writing out her fantasies in a desperate bid to bring the voices in her head to life and as a way to indulge her paranormal desires.

You can find me at:

www.cristalryder.com

https://twitter.com/#!/CristalRyder

The Cabal of Hotness

https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor

Ellora’s Cave

All Romance ebooks

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Sybarite Seductions

 Cross posted to The Cabal of Hotness

My favorite book by @amgriffin

My Favorite Book

The title makes it sound as if I'm about to write an essay, *snort* rest assured it's nothing that formal. I'm an avid reader (well, I used to be before I started writing and my TBR list grew from 10 - 200) so I have plenty of favorite books to share.

When I first picked up a Johanna Lindsey book I couldn't put it down. Even after I finished it, I re-read it and then ran to the local book store and bought more. Even when I was in nursing school and my pennies got tight, I turned to checking her books out from the Library.

The book that started it for me was Love Only Once. I was hooked into the Malory family the first time I started reading about them. And by looking at the Amazon ranking for this book that was released in the late 1980's or early 1990's I can say that I'm not the only one that her stories have had an effect on.
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Only-Once-Johanna-Lindsey-ebook/dp/B00512LSAS/ref=wp_bs_1_B00CKD6FR2_kindle_edition

While Johanna Lindsey is my go to favorite for historical romance, Dean Koontz is my go to for paranormal. Anything Dean touches is gold. In my humble opinion, his shit don't stink.
 I'm digging his Odd Thomas series, but like I mentioned, I'll read anything he puts out. This is the book that I read, well listened on Audible, a couple of months ago:

Innocence http://www.amazon.com/Innocence-Novel-Dean-Koontz-ebook/dp/B00CQZ653S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1393804533&sr=1-1&keywords=dean+koontz

I could go on, but I'm afraid my post would span pages and pages, and considering the title is "My Favorite Book", I'm already going over my allotment. LOL.

Happy reading!
-Griffin

Cajun Taking Over

It's been like...um, a long time since I blogged. Y'all can stand in line to spank me and I promise not to enjoy it too much ;)

Life has been crazy. I mean, insane. Seriously. After October it seemed as though someone hit the warp speed button and I got caught up in living life and trying to put a new book out.

That happened by the way. Not the warp speed thing, but the book release. The first book in a multi-author series, Touched by Lightning, came out on Valentine's Day. I like to call it a cross between The Crow and X-Men. It's dark. I won't lie about that. There's a lot of tragedy in the book, but there's also humor and hopefully, readers will get where I was going with the story. That there's hope and happiness waiting for us all. We just have to work to find it.

But I'm not here to get all heavy and shit. This is the Cabal of Hotness blog, not the Danica Sometimes Feels Like A Broody Teenager blog. Heh.

So what to write about? *ponders* Oh! I know!

I've been asked by a few family members about me writing something without all that sex in it. I thought about it long and hard (pun intended) and realized I'm not sure I could write a book without sex in it. Sure, I could probably write something that isn't a romance at all and not have sex in it, but when I think of romance books, of characters falling in love, the physical side of that love is a big part of it for me. And sure, I could probably do a closed doors story, but where's the fun in that?

You're more honest when you're fucking. Can I say that here? *looks for the police* Sex is intimate, of course. It's two, or more bodies coming together in the most basic of ways. It should be about losing yourself in the moment, forgetting about what society says is right or wrong, letting the real you surface and seeing the real person in your partner(s). That's what sex should be and that's what I try to convey in a romance.

To me, the act of making love, fucking, sex, whatever you want to call it, should be the time when you're your most vulnerable and open. And not being able to see it when it happens in a book means you're missing out on something vital to the story, to the relationship between the characters. You're only getting a glimpse of what they've done together instead of each nitty, gritty detail. Does it have to be vulgar? You know, all graphic? Not really, but it sure is fun.

And that's the problem for me. I want my stories to be raw, true. Life is messy. Sex should be messy and loud. So I guess I won't be writing a closed doors story any time soon.

What do y'all think? I know most of y'all are erotic romance readers, but is it the sex, or is it the true connection between the characters as their relationship grows that draws you the most?

Also, because I have y'all undivided attention *cough* I'm going to plug my latest erotic romance, Touched by Lightning. Out now!


Book one in the Love’s Defenders series.

When empath Gyda St. Germaine is rescued from a sex-trafficking ring, she vows vengeance on her tormentors. Aided by two distinct personalities who bolster her powers, she becomes a vigilante, hungry for revenge. Her path of retribution tosses her into the arms of an Order of Themis Siphon and her world is turned upside down. Fighting her past takes a backseat to her all-consuming desire for the man whose honor and sense of justice go against everything she believes.

The moment electricity manipulator Brit Harper stumbled across a feral woman with a bloody knife, his life changed. Black and white becomes gray as the scales of justice tip. Fascinated by her strength and the darkness in her eyes, he vows to teach her the true meaning of justice, and help her explore the passion sizzling between them. But when the evil haunting Gyda’s dreams returns in the flesh, he’ll have to choose between his beliefs and the woman he loves.

A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

 

Ellora's Cave

Amazon

B&N

Re-entry

Is tough. Going away is one of my favourite things to do, but getting back into the swing of things is hard. While away I met a woman that has her masters in internet marketing. She gave some awesome tips which I hope to be able to use sometime.

Since I'm still on island time, I'll post a few pretty pictures that I hope warms up your snowy and cold days. Not only is re-entry tough, but so is this winter.

From this, ewwww.....

To this, ahhhh.....

We spent some time at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. It is a wonderful place and you can get up close and personal to all sorts of seabirds. One day when we were there they released 17 pelicans. Quite amazing. The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, Inc. is the largest wild bird hospital and bird sanctuary in the United States, based on the admission of up to 8,000 birds per year.

You can find me at:

www.cristalryder.com

https://twitter.com/#!/CristalRyder

The Cabal of Hotness

https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor

Ellora’s Cave

All Romance ebooks

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Sybarite Seductions

Interview with Chocolate Hotness a.k.a @amgriffinbooks

Hey ya'll,

A little while ago I was interviewed while on blog tour, but it didn't get to the host in time and wasn't posted. It was a good interview and worth while, so here you go.

1. Tell us 5 things that make you happy

Just 5 (LOL)? I would have to say personal peace is first. I think if one has personal peace that everything else will fall into place, including happiness. Hmm… When I originally saw this question I thought I would have a list a mile long, but in reality I’m happy with only having one answer. Anyone who has had a bout where their personal peace was ever disrupted will understand where I’m coming from. Without personal peace everything else seems to unravel. I think this is what makes some stories better than others. As readers we tend to identify with the hero/heroine and when they become unsettled (losing personal peace in some form or another) we identify with that and we long for them to find it again (happy ending).

2. What makes your perfect man, perfect? What do you look for in a hero?

I like strong, commanding men. I like for them to know what they want and go after it. They also know when to fold when needed or regroup when necessary. I like them sexy and handsome. They don’t necessarily need to be model perfect. I like a man with some flaws and maybe a scar or two. I want them to have been through some kind of struggle in their past—things didn’t come easy. Whew! In a nutshell I guess I like reading and writing about imperfect men. When you read one of the stories in the Loving Dangerously series you will get where I’m coming from. In Dangerously Mine, Taio Xochis is trying to stay out of his father’s shadow and in doing so has become rigid and stuck to his ways. Kane Epps in Dangerously Yours is hell bent on revenge that it takes him a while to recognize love staring him in the face. And Rasha from Dangerously Hers gets knocked on his butt by a feisty human.

3. What qualities make up your least favorite heroine?

I don’t like heroines that a too stupid to live. We all know the type. They always seem to be in trouble by doing, saying or going somewhere stupid. I like my heroines smart, witty and sassy. They’re one step ahead of every once else (or they think they are).

4. Do you have any quirks? When writing, or otherwise?

Quirks? Hmm… I don’t think so. I’m pretty normal and easy-peasy.

5. Do you have any hobbies that you take part in when you aren’t writing?

I love traveling! I’ve been on 5 trips this year alone and two of those were out of the country. Wait, is traveling considered a hobby? *shrugs* I don’t know, but I’m counting it as one.

6. What do you like to read?

I love science fiction, that’s why I write it. I also love paranormal. I’m sold on anything with vampires, shifters, witches or faeries. But what people are most surprised to find out about me is that I love historical romance. I can read anything about a Scottish Laird or the life of “the Ton”.  I actually read more of those than anything else. I don’t write it because I really don’t have the patience for the amount of research that would have to go into it. And also because my heroines tend to cuss too much to conform to the historical mode.

7. If you had to pick one of your characters to survive a zombie apocalypse with, who would it be and why?

All of my characters can survive a zombie apocalypse attack. They seem to really love weapons and are quite trigger happy and like to see heads roll. The men in my books are either royal guards which are highly trained warriors or they are space pirates who have lived on gut and gumption. My females have some type of martial arts or weapons training. So yeah, I’d be on their team. LOL.

8. Tell us a bit about how the idea for your book came about.

When I first sat down to write Dangerously Mine I knew my story would start at the end. The end of life on Earth as we know it. I wanted strong female characters that would face their futures head on without snivelling or cowering in a corner. I also wanted to create an event where I could have endless possibilities to follow humans as they move forward in their new lives on new worlds. I hope that one day when a new sci-fi author is asked this question he/she will be able to say that one of my books has opened their eyes to a different way of writing and scenarios

9. Which of the seven deadly sins are you most partial to? Which do you indulge in the most?

O.K. so I actually had to look this one up. I’m not partial to any of them. I really hope this means I can get into heaven.

10. Who is the person who most inspired you? Either in your life, or writing?

I would have to say my mother. She’s a writer as well. I remember her at her desk on her typewriter for hours at a time. She inspired me to get published. That’s something she never inspired to do. She was afraid of her work not being accepted or liked.

11. Do you have a favorite quote?

My late grandmother used to always say “Everybody has a little good in them. Either good for something or good for nothing.” It would crack me up when she would say it because it usually came right after someone would say something like, “I have a good man.” Needless to say she was feisty.

12. Can you tell us a little about your latest project?

I’m in edits with the fourth book in the Loving Dangerously series titled Dangerously His and I’m one week from submitting the fifth book titled Dangerously Forever. Dangerously His is about two people who want to be together but are being separated by forces they can’t control. Dangerously Forever is the story where Eva (from Dangerously Mine) and her best friend Allysan finally reunite. It’s definitely not the end of the series. There are still so many worlds and characters to explore.

13. Last but not least, if you could be anyone else in the world, who would it be, and why?

I really enjoy being me. I have a really good life. I love my family, my husband and kids. It’s by far not perfect, but that’s what I tend to like anyway.

Behind the Scenes: 11 authors, 1 project #RedHotValentine

On January 18th, 11 authors each released a short story ranging from 10 to 20,000 words. The stories all had something to do with Valentine's Day, and we named the series Red Hot Valentine. Would you believe me if I told you there were no snags? If so, allow me to show you this lovely swampland in Florida.

But seriously, considering how much there was no manage and navigate, the fact the Red Hot Valentine series went off with very few glitches is pretty remarkable. Here's how it happened:

• Randi Alexander was the brains behind the project. She contacted me, gave me the details, and I was in. A FB group for the authors was created and we began to plan. That was in December 2013.
• As a group, we talked about all the little decisions that come with a series the way we'd decided to do it. One thing that was true from the very beginning was each story would be offered for .99. 
• In the end, each individual author was responsible for their contribution, from cover to editing to uploading. This was a great choice since it didn't put the onus on one person. 
• We also decided to make a public FB page for the series so there would be one place for readers to go to find out more information about the series and the individual stories.
• We started creating our covers and writing our stories, comparing draft copies of covers and snippets from our works in progress. Randi started a document where we each signed up for a cover reveal day. The cover reveals then happened every day or two up to release day on January 18th.
• All of us uploaded our stories and waited for them to go live. A few authors had some glitches with uploading, but I think all eleven stories were up by 2-3 days after release.
• Some strange things happened, like Amazon putting an adult tag on Desiree Holt's contribution, Quarterback Sneak. If you're familiar with Amazon, you know if you get the dreaded adult tag your book stops showing up in searches and other bad things. It took Desiree a few weeks to convince Amazon her story was not, in fact, porn.
• The stories started selling, and personally, I'm really happy with my sales. This story is probably a little sweeter than some of my fans are used to, but they seem to be enjoying it.

Maybe this little behind the scenes vignette isn't that interesting, but I hope you liked hearing about the creation process for a series like Red Hot Valentine. For more information, you can check out our FB page at http://www.facebook.com/RedHotValentine.

My story is titled Turnaround. The blurb:

Becca and James don't date. Both are in their thirties and neither has found anyone they feel is potential spouse material. Becca attends a "We Hate Valentine's Day" party at a local bar where James is bartending. He knows from the first day they meet that Becca is someone special, but Becca's more cautious. James sets out to prove to Becca there really are happy-ever-afters.

Here's the blurb for the Red Hot Valentine series as a whole:

All-new sexy stories from today's hottest romance authors, including Randi Alexander, Shyla Colt, Sable Hunter, Desiree Holt, Cassandra Carr, Graylin Rane, Michel Prince, Jodi Redford, Aliyah Burke, Christin Lovell, and Ty Langston. Don't have a Valentine? You do now! Eleven, to be exact.

An excerpt from Turnaround - it's the "cute meet" scene:

James hung another bunch of black balloons where they wouldn’t be constantly in his way while he mixed drinks at The Ale House’s annual “We Hate Valentine’s Day” party. The irony of having to work this

particular gig when he actually loved this holiday made him shake his head, but work was work.

Nice to have a day where it’s actually encouraged to tell your loved ones you care. Not enough of that in today’s world.

He knew he sounded like a stodgy old codger, but simply because he was thirty-three and still single didn’t mean he thought love sucked. It was more a matter of finding the right girl. James didn’t want to marry just anybody. His parents had been a great example to him and his sister and James refused to settle, even if that meant he stayed single. Doing the whole flowers-and-chocolate thing was often derided by other men, but he loved doing all that stuff. His friends sometimes made fun of him for it but, hey, most of them were still single too, so he ignored them.

“Hey, James,” the bar manager, Mick, said. “You got a copy of the drink specials?”

James held up the black sheet of paper with the annoying white script font. His graphic designer sensibilities wanted to beg those around him to stop using that particular eye-bleeding combination, but this wasn’t his primary job, where people might care what he thought of a design, and he needed this second job–for now–so he kept his mouth shut. Why can’t everyone else see how hard it is to read? Ugh. 

“Yep. All set.” The specials, in keeping with the theme, were called things like Broken Heart and Love Hurts. Since they were expecting a crowd predominantly made up of women, most of the ingredients were geared toward them too–a lot of fruit juices and frozen drinks.

Mick called out, “Opening doors,” and immediately a stream of people burst into the cavernous space. Here in Austin, Texas, the temperature was in the 70s during the day and a little cooler at night so waiting outside wasn’t a big deal, but people sure seemed excited to get started on their own bitter version of “celebrating.”

They kept James hopping for the first half-hour or so. He was turning back toward the bar after using the blender when he spotted her. The slippery glass nearly fell from his hand and strawberry daiquiri dripped down the side and slithered over his fingers. She watched it and licked her lips.

Oh mercy.

He handed the drink, still thankfully mostly full, to the woman who’d ordered it and then grabbed a towel. Focusing his attention on the lovely vision before him, James asked, “What can I get for you?” Brilliant opening salvo, dude. Sure, it was his job, but he could’ve thought of something more witty than that if his brains hadn’t been scrambled by her sudden appearance.

She was clad all in black, so likely an enthusiastic attendee of this party, but there was something in her eyes that said maybe she wasn’t a lost cause. Bright red hair tumbled to her shoulders and was set off by her black, satiny top. Her skin was pale; her face dotted with freckles. His gut told him, despite her apparent distaste for Valentine’s Day, he needed to know this woman better.

She tilted her head at the drink specials menu on the bar in front of her. “I’m not much for these fancy drinks. How about a Stoli and cranberry?”

“A girl after my own heart.” Shit, I wonder if she won’t like me saying that? But a small smile appeared and he set about making her drink. “I’m James. You know, in case you need anything else.”

“Becca.”

“Well, Becca, I hope to see you again.”

Dropping a ten on the bar, she smiled. “When I get thirsty, I’m sure you will.” 

Copyright 2014, Cassandra Carr

For more information about me or my books, check out my website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com.

Favorite Fictional Hero?

Oh man, asking me that is difficult.

There are just so many that I can't properly choose.

I just can't do it.

Especially when you're an author. I mean, how do you also choose from the heroes you write?

As a writer you have to love each character you write about.

In my upcoming Ellora's Cave book WILD RELEASE which is coming out January 22nd I pictured a big, brute of a guy, scarred up, shaved head and totally bad as Etienne.

For my Harlequin Medical coming out February 2014, I pictured Kevin McKidd from Grey's Anatomy to play the role of Dr. Gavin Brice. Who doesn't love a good looking Ginger man? I know Dr. Gavin Brice was very capable of Melting the Ice Queen's Heart. Dr. Virginia Potter didn't stand a chance.

I find when I'm working on a book I need visuals, so I create Pinterest boards to help me. It helps me visualize my characters more and they morph well beyond the actors I've chosen to be their own persons. Still each hero I write is different and in other books I've read, there are different reasons why I like a hero or even an anti hero.

I don't like just one flavor. ;)

I like Alpha's, Betas you name it.

I like them brooding and I like them joking.

So I can't really tell you who my favorite fictional hero is.

I like them all.

If you're interested in my Pinterest Boards you can find the board for Wild Release and Melting the Ice Queen's Heart by clicking on the titles.

Joe Who? Alcide that's Who

I rarely have a movie star in mind when I create my hero's. It ruins the fantasy in my head. And why I prefer not to have a 100% visible face on my covers - so you the reader can conjure up your own fantasy hero. But, my newest release that came out just last Wednesday with Ellora's Cave Four For The Show, was a little different.

The hero name Joe popped into my head and then along came Alcide right on behind. Perfect, I say to myself. He is one smexy dude. So I lay the tracks, without actually saying Joe Manganiello or Alcide, for the reader to picture him as my hunky hero. You'll have to read the book to see how I accomplish this.

In another story I'm working on, I picture the hero after a certain actor. One that I have adored for years. Not too well known, but I love him. Michael Biehn. You know, Kyle Reese from Terminator. Yes, him. They really do need to bring him back to the franchise in my opinion...anyway...

Blurb

 Spectator Sex. Intriguing. Risqué. The idea of watching other people have sex excites Tara to distraction. She hopes Joe is as eager as she to slip into voyeur mode so they can take another step in their sexual adventures. The last thing she expects is to evolve from watching ménages to being part of the show. Or for the two hot men who join her and Joe to not be able to keep their hands off each other.

Inside Scoop: In addition to being with three men, our lucky heroine gets a little foreplay of the female variety.

An Exotika® contemporary erotica story from Ellora’s Cave

Excerpt

I chewed my lip and read the tweet. Dare I?

I widened my eyes and read it again then sucked in a deep breath as I positioned the curser over the words. Before I could change my mind, I highlighted, right-clicked, saved and pasted it into an email for Joe.

Get hot and wet @desireafterdark Friday night w/#spectatorsex #sexclub #couples #singlewomen

My heart pounded and after just a nanosecond of hesitation I hit Send then laced my fingers together, clutching tightly, and rested my chin on them. How long would it take for a reply? Sure I had work to do, but right now I was dying to know what he’d say.

We were fairly new, a fresh couple who wasn’t really a couple. We’d met a few months ago and had jumped in the sack pretty much right away. Our chemistry was almost uncontrollable and the sex was great. No it was fucking unbelievable. We’d just clicked, both in and out of bed. But we were not a forever couple and had made it clear to each other right off the top. It wasn’t as if there were anything wrong with him. Joe was incredibly hot and knew all my buttons. He’d be a perfect forever partner, but I just wasn’t ready for that yet.

One thing we’d never discussed was going to a sex club. Hadn’t even talked fantasies or desires, or secret wants. Yet. Now was the perfect time to start. Holy shit. Well, this email would certainly separate the men from the boys.

Spectator sex. Now that was intriguing. I hadn’t really given it thought before, but a little twizzle of excitement made me catch my breath. It meant we could go without any self-imposed pressure of having to join into any groups. Sit in the back. Watch. Get hot, horny and wet. And fuck.

I sat up when a new message announced its arrival into my inbox with a ping. That was quick. It hadn’t taken Joe long to reply and if that were any indication, I knew exactly what his answer would be.

Clicking the message open, I smiled. Guess who’s going out to party tonight!

* * * * *

“Parking is a bitch here,” Joe said, without a hint of frustration. One of the things I liked about him—how he just goes with the flow. He wheeled the big truck through the cramped parking lot. I glanced around and couldn’t agree more.

“I bet I can squeeze this beast into that spot there. Hop out because the door will be up against that bush.”

I grabbed my purse and after a brief contemplation of bringing in our gym bag with our swimsuits, decided to leave it behind. We could always get it later. The chill of fall was in the air and struck me after being in the warm truck cab. The gravel parking lot was hell on my stiletto heels so I put my weight onto the toes and hurried out of Joe’s way. It was frigging cold and goose bumps rippled along my flesh. I wrapped my arms around my waist, trying to keep my body heat close.

I was definitely still in summer mode. The micro-mini and slips of fabric covering my breasts could hardly be called suitable for this brisk night. But I knew the unwritten dress code here, having been once a long time ago with friends for a pole dance night. Less is more. Skimpy is in. Exposure is key. So, with my pussy and ass almost hanging out of the mini, and my boobs pushing the limits of the top, I was set to blend in with the rest of the crowd.

Joe had the truck squeezed in and prowled to my side. The intensity in his eyes, dark and sensual, was enough to fire off all my nerve endings into a surge of awareness. I needed his arms around me, for both the chill of the night but also for the heat that flared deep in my belly.

“You’re shivering,” he stated. Always the practical one.

“Suffering for the cause.”

“When the hell did you buy that getup anyway and where have you hidden it?” He squeezed me and leaned down, taking the lobe of my ear between his lips. Gawd, I loved it when he did that. Heat bloomed in my already excited libido. “You’ll be the hottest bitch in the place.”

I moaned when his lips moved down my neck. “Hardly. Wait ’til, ahh shit…um, you see how they dress in there.” My legs wobbled when his hand swept down my back and squeezed my ass in a tight grip. “Joe, stop.”

He turned me and pushed me up against the cab of the truck. I yelped when the cold metal shocked my heated flesh.

“Do you really want me to stop?”