The Blood Between Is Out

Yesterday, The Blood Between was released through Evernight Publishing! I am thrilled with this one and I hope my readers love it as much as I did writing it.

'New to the big city, Kyle is having a hard time fitting in. He has a job, and a roof over his head, but something is missing. One night, after an experience he'd rather leave forgotten, he meets a mysterious man named Luca. Kyle doesn't know it, but they've met before. Soon after, Kyle is thrown headlong into a world of darkness, death, and a secret Luca is struggling to keep.


Will Luca reveal what draws him to Kyle, and more importantly, will Kyle believe him?'

Be Warned: m/m sex

Buy Links:

Evernight Publishing

Amazon Kindle

Bookstrand

All Romance

More on the Ms. Mays Mess

As we all know(or most of us), there has been a FB support group set up to support Ms. Mays. I'm all for that, and have in my own way supported her by buying her books.

Yesterday, it was brought to my attention that this group has now set up a online store selling items with Ms. Mays name on them which they are peddling.

They have been asked where this money is going, if a share of it is being given to Ms. Mays. Multiple times they have not addressed any of the questions asked by multiple supporters on the site. This strikes me as being very odd. I don't like the idea of someone making money from anothers distress.

What are your thoughts?

Be a teacher or be an author

I was shocked when I first read the article about a school teacher being raked over the coals for what she wrote in her off time, Link .

'A series of racy romance novels by an author named Judy Mays are a little too racy for some parents in our area, especially now that they have discovered the woman known as Judy Mays is teaching their children.'

So, apparently these parents haven't had sex. They must have suddenly had children appear out of thin air. Of course I'm being sarcastic, but really, what century are they living in, and who are they trying to fool?

This is just on reason why many of us are driven to write under pen names. It's sad that many people cannot separate the author from the work.

I wonder if the parents involved in this would feel the same if Ms. Mays wrote horror or fantasy? I think not.

I just hope that Ms. Mays gets the support she deserves. And to the parents: People who live in glass houses shouldn't cast stones. Think about that before you start judging others.

Author Interview With Carolyn Rosewood

Thanks you Carolyn for taking the time to allow me to interview you. It's much appreciated.

V- What was your journey into publication like, and where do you get your inspiration?

C- Some days I feel like I backed into publication accidentally. My paranormal novella, The Last Soul, will soon be published by Evernight Publishing. This story grew out of an informal challenge thread on Litopia.com. Emma Shortt, my editor at Evernight, is also a moderator at Litopia. We started emailing about a story I posted in her challenge thread, and The Last Soul was born. This was actually the second contract I was offered, two weeks after the one for my contemporary romance, Haunted Heart, scheduled for release July of 2011 from Etopia Press.

I’ve always wanted to write. But I didn’t get serious about it until approximately ten years ago, and I had no idea what I was doing. I wrote three novels and each one was full of newbie mistakes. My entire approach to publication was full of newbie mistakes. Two years ago, after a devastating tornado in the town where I live, something inside me snapped. Your entire life can change in a matter of seconds. I realized if I didn’t get serious about this dream of mine it would never happen. I joined Romance Writers of America and Litopia, and began to learn my craft and learn about the publishing industry. I went to the RWA National conference in Orlando, Florida – my first one – and it changed my life. It also started a fire burning that hasn’t quit since. I joined our local RWA chapter and kept writing and learning.

Haunted Heart was inspired by my love of old houses, and by the scars from high school we each carry around. The Last Soul grew out of my fascination with angels and demons. My inspiration comes from everywhere. There are so many things in our everyday lives that can provide the backdrop to a story.

V- What’s your most current release and what can we expect to see from you in the near future?

C- The Last Soul, a paranormal novella, will be released soon from Evernight. Haunted Heart, a full-length contemporary romance novel, is due in July from Etopia Press.

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In The Last Soul, Faina is one of the demons whose job is to seduce mortal males and lead them to ruin. Once they sign away their souls, their troubles disappear. Faina is tricked into leading one last soul to ruin - Jace Blackmon. If she succeeds, she’s told she will be human again. As she falls in love with Jace, she also realizes she’s being tricked by a demon who wants her for one of his own sex slaves, and has no intention of making her human again. Faina finds the piece of Jace’s past that could ruin him, but she can’t bring herself to use it. While she’s hiding from the demon pursuing her, someone leaks this info about Jace to the media, and Faina realizes she must sacrifice herself to save Jace’s soul.

In Haunted Heart, Rowena moves back home after ten years of living in Hollywood to restore the century home left to her by her beloved great-aunt. The man she hires to restore it is the same one who hurt her in high school. As Van and Rowena work through the rift that tore them apart as teens, they also contend with the paranormal investigator who is trying to make Rowena believe the house is haunted. When Van discovers one of his own crew might be involved, he also realizes Rowena is in danger.

Very soon, I hope to sell Hunted, the sequel to The Last Soul, to Evernight. I also hope to sell my full-length fantasy romance, Crossing the Dark Moon, to Evernight. After that, I plan to write more paranormal stories for Evernight. I’m drawn to these stories, and I have so much fun writing them I can’t imagine stopping right now. Lack of story ideas isn’t an issue.

V- What words of wisdom do you have for writers just starting their journey?

C- Write. Just write. Join a group that will help you reach your goals. Connect on Facebook and Twitter with other writers and industry professionals. Keep writing. Every single day. And don’t be so in love with your own words that you aren’t willing to change them in order to make your story better. It’s not about beautiful words. It’s about telling a story that keeps readers turning the page. It’s about writing characters your readers love so much they don’t want the book to end. That’s why we read fiction. To escape into another world.

Be discerning where critique groups are concerned. Find writers whose work you admire and connect with them. They are the best ones to mentor you and help you fine-tune your work. Join a professional organization like RWA. These organizations exist to promote the genre, and are an invaluable resource for connecting with other writers, agents and editors. Take online classes from writers and industry professionals. Attend conferences to meet writers and industry professionals. Yes, writing is a solitary activity, but learning your craft and learning about the industry are activities that get you away from the keyboard and in front of other writers and industry professionals. This is just as important as writing a great story.

And above all, be patient and persistent. This doesn’t happen overnight. I joke about backing into publication with two contracts in two weeks, but the reality is I went through more than a decade of self-doubt and serious soul searching to get to the point where I am now. And I’m still learning. The journey doesn’t end when you sign a contract. It only begins.

V-  Self-publishing has come up so often lately in the media both online and off, what’s your views?

C- I think we’ll see more and more of this because it’s now so easy to do. It’s wide open right now. Anything from newbie authors who haven’t had their books professionally edited and have made their own cover art, to well-known authors putting their backlist directly on Kindle.

V- I'm going to take things down a notch and ask a few less informal questions.
If I were to look at the current books you’re reading, which titles would I find?

C- Anything by Annie Solomon, Jody Wallace, Beth Pattillo, Kristan Higgans and Robin Kaye. I recently downloaded to Kindle all of O Henry’s short stories, after finding the collection in an antique store, and wishing I had the $150 to spare to buy it. Just holding those books, published nearly 100 years ago, was enough to make me cry with joy. I’m also reading Tina Fey’s book, Bossypants.

V- What’s the one thing in the world that you cannot live without?

C-  My Macbook! I carry it with me all the time.

V- If you could have one wish, what would it be and why?

C- I’d like to find that time machine I know exists and go back to right a few wrongs. Why? Because I’m riddled with guilt over them.

V- Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

C- Writing. Still writing. And selling the stories, of course.

Thank you so much for having me here today, Vivian! I hope everyone will check out The Last Soul when it’s published soon. Please visit my website, where you’ll find links to The Otherworld Diner, a great blog I contribute to, and my Facebook page. Follow me on Twitter: @carolynrosewood

V- Once again, thank you for joining us here at Write Outside The Box.

Author Interview With Stacey Espino

I'd like to welcome Stacey Espino to Write Outside The Box. And thank you, Stacey for allowing me to interview you.

V- What was you journey into publication like, and where do you get your inspiration?

S- My first published book was Fearless Desires (Immortal Love, #1). I read paranormal romance like a nut, so it seemed the best choice when I decided to write professionally. Siren-Bookstrand gave me my first contract, so I'll be forever thankful to them for that.

V- What’s your most current release and what can we expect to see from you in the near future?

S- Most current release--well I have two being released this week. Taming Jenna (Sequel to Saving Grace) will be out April 14th at Siren-Bookstrand, and Claiming Their Mate (Pack Seduction, #1) will be out on April 15th at Evernight Publishing.

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Bella's Wolves (Love Bites, #2) will be out next month at Siren-Bookstrand, followed by Cowboy Drifter (Coming Out, #2) by my penname Winona Wilder.

I have several WIPS on the go for both my publishers!

V- What words of wisdom do you have for writers just starting their journey?

S- Learn the industry. Edit your work to death. READ. Be patient! You'll wait to hear back from submissions, wait for cover art, wait for edits, wait for a release date, and most importantly--success doesn't happen over night. Keep writing and build your backlist. Never sacrifice quality.

V- Self-publishing has come up so often lately in the media both online and off, what’s your views?

S- Personally, I wouldn't self-publish. It's not true for everyone, but I feel it leaves a black mark on an author, and some publishers won't even consider working with them if they've self-published.

V- If I were to look at the current books you’re reading, which titles would I find?

S- Right now I'm reading Outlander. I have JR Ward and Kresley Cole on my nightside table, too.

V- What’s the one thing in the world that you cannot live without?
S- Hair products! I have wild, curly hair and must have my leave-in conditioner.

V- If you could have one wish, what would it be and why?

S- Hmmm. I guess I'll go with the common answer. I'd love to win the lottery. Without financial burdens, life would be so much simpler.

V- Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

S- Living on a simplistic little farm writing my next novel.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog!

V- And thank you for being here.

You can visit Stacey at her website , and check out her blog for all her latest news and updates!

Author Interview With Kelly Yeakle

First of all, I would like to take a moment to thank Kelly for joining me and allowing me to interview her.

V- What was your journey into publication like, and where do you get your inspiration?

K- My inspiration stems from all sorts of things. I can see something in nature that triggers an idea and that small little spark turns into a campfire before I know it. My kids inspire me a lot. I like to listen to them when they’re playing and they think I’m not listening. Their creativity rubs off on me. My first published novel The Legacy Keeper’s Treasure was picked up right away by Decadent Publishing, and was actually my first attempt at getting published. So my journey was fairly simple, write, submit, accepted.

Buy Link

V- What’s your most current release and what can we expect to see from you in the near future?

K- My most current release is Timeless through Evernight Publishing. I’m wrapping up a f/f romance right now that I hope will be picked up and available by the end of summer. It’s my first attempt at a non-heterosexual story, and I hope that I don’t let readers in that genre down. It has been a challenge writing it, and that makes it all the more special to me.

V- What words of wisdom do you have for writers just starting their journey?

K- Honestly, don’t sweat the small stuff. Not everyone is going to like what you write, and you may face a few rejections before you get an acceptance. Don’t give up. Keep reaching for your dreams.

V- Self-publishing has come up so often lately in the media both online and off, what’s your views?

K- I was actually approached a while back by a self-publishing company and the deal they offered was really reasonable. I was quite tempted, but I like the fit and feel of an actual publisher because you have a support system that way. Being as new to the writing world as I am, I prefer having that support versus trying to do everything on my own.

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V- And now for some less formal questions.

    

     If I were to look at the current books you’re reading, which titles would I find?

K-  Right now, The Valentine Fae by Emma Shortt is top on my reading list. Most Eligible by Lisa Marie Ordone and Share Your Soul by Rachel Carrington are also on my TBR list. I’m looking forward to the newest Nora Roberts which I believe releases this month sometime as well.

V- What’s the one thing in the world that you cannot live without?

K- I cannot survive without my cell phone. I’m a text addict from the time I get up in the morning until I lay my head down at night. I would also die *insert dramatic sigh here* without my computer!

V- If you could have one wish, what would it be and why?

K- If I could have one wish it would be that there would be a cure for cancer. I have lost people to the ugly disease and know others who have, too. It’s a life taker and I wish they could find a way to cure it.

V- Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

K- Ten years from now I hope to have many more books in circulation for my readers. I would hope that my name will be a little more well known, and that I can consider myself just a wee bit famous.

V- Once again Kelly, thanks for doing this interview. It's been a pleasure.

K- A huge thanks for letting me stop by today! I hope you’ve learned a little more about me.. Feel free to friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter (KYeakle27). You can check out my website and my blog .

You can find Timeless at Evernight Publishing and be on the look out for the print version which should be releasing by the end of April or early May.

You can find The Legacy Keeper’s Treasure at Decadent Publishing .
 

Blog Interview

Stacey Espino's blog <----Check out my interview there.

Music which inspires my current M/M wip

I can picture this playing when Mark and Alan first meet .

The WIP is set in rural England during the 1930s. It's been great to write and I am looking forward to finishing it.

Winners of M/M Giveaway(Beyond Friends)

The winners are Marguerite Butler and Anna Keraleigh. Please forward your emails to me at xondraday(at)yahoo(dot)ca along with your choice of formats which are, PDF or Kindle. In the end I decided to give away two copies.




Thanks :)

Cover Art for The Blood Between

I'm thrilled with my new cover art for The Blood Between. It's a m/m paranormal romance and one that I am quite proud of. It will release in May 2011, from Evernight Publishing .

May thanks to the artist, Jinger Heaston. She did a wonderful job, and managed to capture the dark theme.

Congrats to Adam Slade on the release of his newest, Strand. You can purchase this great action-packed read at Lyrical Press , soon to be up on all the third-party e book sites, including Amazon Kindle.