The Story behind Love After War

The story behind Love After War. . . .

Most of my brilliant ideas start at a corner table in Starbucks. While sipping on a grande Italian Roast, I thought what would happen if the lights went out and I was stuck in here with the last person I wanted to see. Suppose it was an old rival from high school. Would I toss my coffee in her face? Heck no! Cheris Hodges does not waste coffee!

High school rivalries are old hat, I told myself as I took a sip. What if I was trapped in Starbucks with an ex? I took to my iPad and started sketching ideas. The first thing I thought was, let's move this story to Los Angeles. California is known for rolling brown outs and Starbucks. I had to remove myself from this story because I write romance, not revenge killing tomes.

A character from Too Hot For TV popped into my mind, Dana, Imani's photographer best friend. Fitting because one of my best friends is a photographer. And when I found out that Dana didn't have a last name -- I gave her my home girl's surname. Dana was talking to me, telling me that if I wrote about her, she'd better be kick ass and ride a motorcycle. She even has me wanting to get a Fat Bob now. My father does not approve.
The scene with Dana and her ex came together so quickly, that I couldn't wait to see how this love story would play out. I just needed to know what her man's name was.
Adrian. Adrian Bryant.

So, what's his story? Glad you asked. Adrian needed a damned good reason to let a woman like Dana go. On my third-- maybe 23rd -- refill, another idea jolted me into action.
War! War! War. Not the violent kind of war that requires an Army, but something deeper. As the auntie of three big boys, I know one thing for sure: You don't mess with Mom!

Well, somebody messed with Adrian's mom and he's out for revenge. It's war! But can Dana's love change him?

Find out on November 4th in Love After War!

If you love authors, why are you stealing from us?!

I don't mean to be the Metalica of the ebook world, but stop stealing my words! Stop stealing Beverly Jenkins's words. Just stop stealing.

You want to support your favorite author? Then avoid piracy sites. Whether your favorite author is with a major house or self published, he or she took months to write that book. Spent hundreds of dollars on covers, promotions, web sites and giveaways, then you go to a site just to get books for free?

That sucks. That's why so many of your favorite writers have to have day jobs. That shit isn't cool! Can I come to your job and get some of your things for free?

Nine times out of 10, authors do give away free books. We want you to discover our work and tell other people about it. But, authors got to eat, got to buy health insurance and pay for editors.

Oh, avid reader, you know how you feel when you pick up a book and it isn't properly edited. It makes your brain throb and it makes your toes curl for all the wrong reasons. When you visit these pirate sites to read books for free, YOU ARE THE REASON WHY WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY LEGIT EDITORS!

Beverly Jenkins said it best on Facebook:

We work too hard to be dissed this way - so for them and the people who patronize them - I curse thee. Hope they'll enjoy waking up in the morning with the head of a goat.

I'm Cheris Hodges and I approve this message! 

Connections...Are You Making Them Or Do They Pass You By?

As authors, what are we doing to reach out to new readers that may not know us from a hill of beans? Did you know that one simple post could attract many people that may become interested in your work?

Now, it's true that I'm known as the "Best Promoter Ever" but even with that, I need a little help every now and then. Sometimes, just extending your work can be enticing enough to gain a reader who will spread the word on your behalf. Even if they didn't care for it, they may know someone that does and more than that, respect is established.

Speaking of connectivity...

I have the sixth installment of my "No Other Love" series releasing on December 24, 2013 titled, "Connections" and it's going to be a doozy! If you've been following the series, you'll remember the quiet keyboard player named Wyatt, who hangs with his fraternity brothers and is a television producer during his day job. Well, he's gained a new love interest named Elissa Patton who is a straight shooter. The real question is, will Wyatt be ready to introduce her to the other woman in his life: His Mama!

There's plenty of time to catch up on the series so get started!

Back to reaching out...

Take thirty minutes out of your day and post up an offer to gift a book to a reader that has never heard of you. See what it does and if it's effective for you. In the end, you'll gain more loyal readers and grow your fan base. Give it a try with a couple of author friends and see what happens.

Until we connect again, stay crafty!

Loretta R. Walls aka Embue #nucherte

Now what?

So you all know what I've been going through these last few months. I've been writing and editing and agonizing over my upcoming contemporary interracial BDSM erotic romance novel Licorice Whips, which is due to come out in ebook and print through Phaze Books on Tuesday, November 12th. So as soon as I exhaled, I had to hold my breath again. My writing career doesn't end with one book. I need to have a whole collection. I need to keep writing.

I don't know about any other authors out there, once you're done with a book, the characters linger a little. I find myself writing my next book and catching myself almost using the other characters' names from the previous book I was working on. In my head, they're telling me to come back and play. They're not done with me. My business side says, "Stick a fork in it and move on to the next dish." But all of your books are your babies. It's not so easy to let go. You just have to.

The best advice I have given to other up-and-coming authors is to keep writing. Once you finish your very first manuscript, don't take so much time celebrating. Get back to work and keep writing. You want to build up your backlist so that when you are published, your editor or agent will ask, "What else do you have?" Not only will it make you come off as prolific, but keeping your name out there will garner you lots of readers.

So now mama has to break the ties and keep it moving. I'm working on another contemporary interracial BDSM erotic romance right now, although another story is calling for me, too. Kids. What can you do with them?

Stay sexy,

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Pop Culture Foolery: Miley Cyrus and Sex Over 40

Hey, Y'all,
You know, I try to ignore most of the foolishness that goes on with celebrities. Divorce drama, he-said, she-said, rap beefs, whatever. But this thing was just to much for me to ignore. Writers are naturally prone to observation, and I just had to say something on this matter.

Now, I held my tongue when I saw the clip of Miley Cyrus grinding on Robin Thicke, a married man twice her age. (BTW, did anybody else notice how much he looked like Beetlejuice in that suit? Geesh. Somebody let him out the house looking like that.) As two adults, I think they should take equal blame- this isn't a slut shaming post, or a post about male chauvinism. Both of them should know better.

I held my tongue again when I saw a short clip of her "Wrecking Ball" video, with her half naked straddling the titular large, round metal object. I didn't put that mess on blast on Facebook,  I only shook my head. But I did arrive at the conclusion that the child is very, very desperate for attention. Don't worry, no pics of that- I don't want to upset y'all. :)

But when I heard she was on the Today show yesterday, telling Matt Lauer that people over forty aren't sexual- that did it for me. I'm not at the age yet- but I will be in less than a decade. And even though we're all smoking hot and you probably can't tell, some of the MAMA's have already passed the age of 40. But what in the entire hell does a girl her age know about people over 40 on the whole? I mean she's so young, she really doesn't seem to know her own mind yet.

Anyway, I want to hear from you on this. What do you think? Is Miss Miley right in thinking that reaching the age of forty means a death of all things sexual? Let me know in the comment box, and I'll enter you for a chance to win my upcoming erotic holiday short, Seducing Sheri.


Until Next Time,
 Kianna

The Dirty Girl Mud Run- Say What?

So this weekend I’ll be taking part in the Dirty Girl Mud Run. Yes, yes I know I was like “What?!!!” when I heard about it. First the name caught me totally off guard, then it got me curious and then I agreed that the name was quite fitting. Anyway, this Saturday hundreds, maybe thousands of women will converge for a day of running an obstacle course that won’t test the limits of endurance so much as it will courage and determination. Basically the “Run” will actually consist of running, walking, climbing, splashing, bouncing and crawling- yes crawling. Ha! Now, of course, you may be asking what in the world am I thinking. Trust me, I've asked myself; and the girlfriends that talked me into doing this, that very question.

In the end though, the proceeds go towards supporting Breast Cancer Awareness and I am so very thrilled to be taking part in something for such a cause. Checks can always be written and will continue to be. My hope is that by putting myself through this obstacle course, the importance of the cause will be forged by a connection in my mind brought on by the exertion it will take to do more than simply write a check.

While I AM looking forward to a long shower to wash off all the grime; followed by a long soak to soothe the muscles that will soon be screaming my name, I am very much looking forward to stepping outside my comfort zone and doing something I’ve never tried.

To learn more about The Dirty Girl Mud Run and to find out when it may be coming to your area, visit the website: http://godirtygirl.com/about

Wish Me Luck!!!

Al

Life, Love, me and my Muse

Hah! My muse has a great since of humor and at the same time she can be very vindictive, stubborn and mean. On more than one occasion I've been ready to write. Computer on. Note book open on the side. Pens, chocolate, beverage. Writing music playing softly. Everything's a go. But where oh where is my muse. Is she on vacation? Or just hiding in the shadows waiting to see how I was going to respond. Other times I'm in no mood to write. I just want to curl up in the recliner with a good book and She wouldn't let me. She keeps needling me until I wrote sometime. Write! Write! Write! Geez what a nag She can be. And then there are those times when I had made it perfectly clear which direction my WIP was going to go, who was going to do what, when, why and where. However, She had different ideas. Like I said, she can be very mean when She wants to. The funny thing, though, She always gets her way and the book is better for it. So when you wonder who I'm going to kill next the answer is no one. It was my muse. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I hope you enjoy my muse's latest release. It is the sequel to Sleeping Beauty. And remember, my muse is always awake, alive and plotting Her next... Where Yesterday’s Promises Excerpt Hook glanced at the darkened sky and the trillion stars peppering it like diamonds on a black velvet blanket and then toward the woman standing on the porch, a look of confusion on her face as well. Her body silhouetted against the softness of the light only tightened his resolve more. His body tightened with just the thought of holding her. She was the only one who calmed him… his beast when his skin itched the way it did when he wanted to run, to shift and couldn't. Times like now. He never understood why or how she had such power over him. Tonight he desired… no, wanted to feel her soft skin under his hands, her mouth against his lips. Each time he saw her, was near her, the need became more volatile. He wondered if she ever knew, understood what she did to him. His skin grew taunt just thinking about it, about not having her the way he wanted. He shook his head, turned back forward and started the engine. He pulled his car from the curb in one quick burst of power when his foot pressed the gas pedal. Loose gravel spun from under the wheel. He cursed to himself when the red light caught him. Hook glanced at his wrist watch, pulled his cell phone out and dialed Father Kenny’s home number and hoped he was in. Father Kenny, the keeper of the wolf as they’d grown to call him knew their secrets, their dark places and the light. He was the one person, not Lycan they could go to in time of need. Kenny picked up on the third ring. “Kenny. Hook. Need you over at De’s.” He hung up without further explanation. Hook thrummed his fingers on the steering wheel while he waited for the light to turn green. He’d thought briefly about running it as an eerie feeling slid across his skin and prickled the hairs on his arms. He tried to shake it off as nervous energy left over from Demetrius’ call. He glanced to his right, then his left. A woman sat in the black SUV in the next lane. She stared at Hook with determination etched across her face. Most people would look away when they are caught. She didn't. She just sat there and stared. Her head slowly nodded, but Hook knew it wasn't to any music. The light turned green and she sped off. He sat there another moment wondering who she was. She looked at him as if she knew him. Did she. If so, from where? Her face was not one you would forget. Rich dark chocolate wrapped in braids with eyes that could melt the paint off of a wall were dark and mysterious. The light changed again and Hook hit the gas and slipped through just as it turned red. The anxious nervousness he’d felt moments before now knotted his gut. Something was wrong. Deathly wrong.