December 12th, 2009 — Author Interviews, Erotica, J-L, Vampire
Today's intimate interview is with Rhonda Leigh Jones, the author of Maestro's Butterfly, which was reviewed the other day. I'm excited to share her with you today as we're going to be discussing audio books, epublishing, her books, writing and more!
Q: I have just finished listening to Maestro's Butterfly on audio and it was wonderful. What was your inspiration for the book?
A: First of all, thank you for listening, and for having such kind things to say. For me, characters usually come before story, and so I was aware of Claudio for some time before I began to write MB. I didn't know his name at first; I just had a face and the hint of personality. That actually came from a minor character in a movie I'd watched.
Q: Have you had the chance to hear your audio book? How did you feel hearing your writing the first time?
A: It was both thrilling and painful! Thrilling because Rebecca did such a wonderful job. I really wasn't expecting French accents and the whole nine yards, and so it was a great pleasure to hear someone "act" my story. But hearing her say some of the things I'd written made me blush terribly. I kept putting my hands over my ears and saying, "No, turn it off; turn it off!" And then, "Turn it back on!" I can't believe I write these things, lol.
Q: What do you think of your narrator and the voices? Did she give you chills? My favorite voice was that of Claudio. Shiver. Grin.
A: Yes, it's pretty amazing that, on one level, you hear this woman reading the part, and on another level, you hear his voice, at the same time. I think she did a great job with Claudio. He was so much fun to write. If I have a character that could be considered my "Lestat," meaning that I love him as much as Anne Rice
obviously loved Lestat, then that would be Claudio. He's such a beast, lol. There is an interview with him on my blog by the way, and another with Chloe.
Q: Do you think readers get more out of the audio version than they do in the print?
A: I think it depends on the reader. And I think it's hard for the writer to say, because I'm so close to the material. I personally get a lot out of the audio version because I've been looking at this book in print for years, and I'm fairly sick of seeing the words. But when it comes to me in a different format, it's like experiencing the story for the first time. For the first time, I can really step back and see - or hear, rather - what I did. I'm very glad there is an audio version because I know that there are plenty of people who would rather experience books that way. And who knows? Maybe some readers will like the story so much they have to experience it both ways.
Q: Do you prefer listening to or reading erotica?
A: I would rather read it because, honestly, I tend to skip a lot. I'm a very tough customer, and easily bored. Especially when it comes to sex, because my buttons are hard to reach. And I'm a very visual person. And if I'm terribly interested in a story, I'll devour it quickly, which you can't do with audio.
Q: Can you share a bit about Maestro's Apprentice and Maestro's Maker? What order should your books be read or does it matter?
A: Maker is the second in the series, but it's actually the prequel. It's the story of how Claudio became a vampire, and it's set at the beginning of the French Revolution. "Claudio" is actually an Italian name, so we see how he got that. If you look beyond Claudio's arrogance and his frightening qualities, you'll see that he really is a very loyal man who is very concerned with family. Maker goes into that, and also reveals some of the reasons why that is true. And there is another person in the book that Butterfly readers will know. Apprentice takes place right after Butterfly, and focuses more on Adam, although it's really more about one of the feeders. All of these books are really about how Claudio affected other people. So, though he's the series main character, the books have their own main characters-the women he has affected.
Q: Of the three works, which is your personal favorite and why?
A: Easy! Maestro's Butterfly, because it was the first. It was the work that really taught me how to write a novel. I suffered terribly while writing it because I wasn't sure at first what the story was, but Claudio's presence was so strong I couldn't stop tinkering with it. It was a very romantic time of my life. I spent many late nights working for my vampire muse. And it led to my meeting one of my best friends, who is also a writer with a sexy vampire. We would both be up working late, and so ended up emailing and supporting each other quite a lot.
Q: I sort of have this mental picture of Claudio in my head and you mentioned earlier that he was inspired by a minor character... so dish if he were played in a movie by an actor, who would it be?
A: LOL! Stephen Rea, because he looks like Rea's Santiago in Interview With the Vampire. Except that was 20 years ago, so Rea is a bit older now, so we'd have to get someone younger. But Victoire would definitely have to be played by Adrien Brody, lol.
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Ravenous Romance and epublishing. How are you finding the whole affair?
A: That would be so much easier to answer if I had something to compare it to! They've been very good about keeping in touch and troubleshooting things and listening to me. I know that friends who are published by traditional publishers have communication issues that I don't have. And if a mistake is made, it's very easy for Ravenous to fix it. They seem very enthusiastic about what they're doing. In addition, I think they're on the cutting edge, because the industry is changing, thanks to the alternatives that technology gives us and the shifting economy. I really like the idea of epublishing for various reasons. It's greener. It's convenient. You can have so many more books this way. So I've been happy with the experience. And I think the name is perfect, since my first series happens to be about vampires!
Q: What do you think makes a great [written] bedroom scene?
A: I'm glad you asked me this, because almost everybody does it wrong. A great sex scene is all about the conversation. It isn't enough to tell readers who is doing what to whom. Let's face it: Sex is basically "insert Tab A into Slot B." The rest is foreplay and there are only so many variations. Once you see where a scene is going, physically, you don't need to read the rest. However, if the scene is about how and why this or that is done, then you have a conversation. If you stress the conversation, then you have as many unique scenes as you want to write. The conversation of sex is going to be different at different times, even with the same couple. The actions should show mood, power structure, and whatever else is going on in the person's mind.
For instance, think about blow jobs and power. If the dominant male demands that his submissive female give him a blow job and she complies happily, that is one story. But what if she is angry with him? That should come out in the scene. What if it is a dominant female giving her submissive male a blow job? What if she is angry with him? See how many different scenes you have? And all with the same act. Nuance is everything.
Q: Got any pet peeves when it comes to romance or writing?
A: I hate HEAs. I do. I like a certain realism in writing and I don't want things tied up neatly at the end. It seems silly to me. So I write Happy For Nows. I like to have the suggestion of motion present, even at the very end. I prefer grit and darkness, which is why I write about things like punishment. Real corporal punishment is something you will see in every erotica story I ever write. As far as writing in general goes, I don't like it when authors get so happy about what they can do with words that they forget to tell a good story. If you must sacrifice prose or story, sacrifice prose.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
A: I can't think of anything at the moment, but something may come later.
Thanks again. 
Rj
It was a pleasure to talk with you Rhonda! Be sure to check out Rhonda's blog at http://rhondaleigherotica.blogspot.com.
You can buy the audio version of Maestro's Butterfly here.
Originally posted 2009-03-16 05:20:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 8th, 2009 — 4 Stars, ARC, Big Misunderstanding, Category, Contemporary, Cursed Lead, Entrepreneur, Executive, United States of America, V-Z
Coming on Strong in three words: kinky, flirtatious, sassy. Bonus on the cover for the sexy as sin hunk. If you're looking for a heroine who owns her sexuality and turns her hero into a pile of mush this is your novel. Weber has a way with words and is very clever. I'm positive you will devour this novel with enthusiasm and delight. I know I did.
Mitch Carter is in trouble. Somebody is sabotaging to his hotel; nothing overt, at least not yet, but he needs to find the culprit before the opening. Meanwhile, his event planner has canceled and he is in desperate need for a new one. Desperate enough in fact to hire the woman who dumped him at the altar for the job.
Belle Forsham has never forgotten Mitch and the stupid way she acted. Her only excuse is that she was young and vulnerable. When Mitch's sister played with her nerves and fears, Belle chickened out of the wedding. Now it's years later and the opportunity to be with Mitch has come again. Grabbing at this second chance, Belle plans to give it all she's got and knock Mitch right off his feet... and if by any stroke of luck she can get him to help her father so much the better.
Problems continue for Mitch after Belle's arrival. He finds himself as strongly attracted to her as he was before. Grown-up Belle packs more of a punch to his gut, tightening him knots right from the very first. Despite his attraction, Mitch is determined to keep it just business between them... and pardon the pun, but it's going to be harder than he expected.
For a Big Misunderstanding plot that is sexy and full of quirky humor pick up Coming on Strong.
Rating: 4 Stars
Originally posted 2009-03-20 05:17:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 19th, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, Book Review, Children, Gambling, Handicap, Historic America, Historical Romance, S-U, Spinster, United States of America, Virgin Heroine
One of the first romance novels that I ever read was the Gamble by LaVyrle Spencer. I snuck it out of my mother’s collection because I was curious about all the fuss. I am glad I did, because it rates as one of my dearest favorites, set during the Temperance movement.
Scott Gandy dresses smartly, behaves politely, and smiles cheekily at Miss Agatha Downing. She can’t stand him! Scotty Gandy owns a saloon, sells alcohol, promotes gambling, and why he even hangs nude portraits over his bar! Ever proper, Agatha is a touching heroine because she is handicapped.
Made lame by an abusive alcoholic father, Agatha has come to terms with the sorry little life she leads; dinner every night at Perry’s down the street, a slowly dying millinery shop, and Miss Violet Parsons as her only friend. She isn’t expecting a man or any children in her future, but that doesn’t keep her from dreaming.
Then one day that infuriating Scott Gandy brings three saloon singers into town and nothing is dull again. Agatha is given a job that just might save her business. She is to make each of them a can-can dress. What follows is a colorful tale about friendship, love, and one woman’s fight against alcohol. Agatha is determined to see Kansas dry, save the little boy Willy Collinson from his abusive father, and to not fall in love with Scott Gandy. She will succeed at all but one of this goals.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Buy: The Gamble
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Happy Readings!
Originally posted 2008-11-20 04:38:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 8th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, Asia, Big Misunderstanding, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, D-F, Estranged, Great Britain, Journalism, Lawyer, Plump/Endowed Heroine, Travel
There was a different reader for this book. It’s something that bugs me when it comes to series and sequels. Same reader please! Tracie Bennett was okay part of the time.
Sometimes I found her Bridget’s voice too harsh. I absolutely hated the mother’s voice; she sounded like she hated her daughter every time she saw her/spoke to her with the sharp hoarse, “HEh-LLooo DAH-ling.” Darcy sounded like a nancy boy instead of a sharp sexy lawyer.
There was more cursing in this book than the first.
The book and the movie are also very different:
- Plus – storyline is better than movie. Go Helen Fielding.
- Rebecca the Jellyfish is the woman after Mark not Rebecca Gilles. The Rebecca in the book is not a lesbian and is truly after Mark. Bridget is not crazy.
- No Daniel Cleaver, which is where the movie is better than the book. Hurrah for mixed up stories and sightings versus giving the wrong slip of paper. Grant and Firth are hot and dorky when they fight.
- I wasn’t a fan of the Gary the builder/fisher sideline. Seemed more like filler.
Bridget finds out not long after she quit her job with Sit Up Britain in September, that upper management loves her. She supplied 68% of the ideas for the year she worked there, that they produced and put on the show. Talk about awesome! Go Bridget. They want to give her a raise, pay her for the months she wasn’t working for them and call it paid leave, and rehire her as a manager something or other, forget the exact title, or as a consultant. Oh and Richard was fired due to personal reasons a month after she quit. Hurrah!
Rating: 3.5 because of reader, 4 otherwise.
Buy: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (paperback)
, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (audio)
Buy on Audible.com: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
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August 13th, 2009 — A-C, About, Guest Blogger, Writing Tips
by Clare Austin, guest blogger
Hello out there is cyber world…I’m Clare. Happy to be here.
I was asked to share what I think are the indispensible points to consider when writing a story…specifically a romance.
I’ll be shooting from the hip on this one. I’ve never thought about it before. I’m sure I’ll miss some important things, but here goes.
- Think about this little fact: If your characters are interesting, engaging, tantalizing and you like hanging out with them for hours at a time, you have the biggest part of your book tackled. Your characters tell your story. Sometimes they even take you where you didn’t want to go, but if you listen to them, they rarely will lead you completely astray. Fabulous characters make your job easier and more fun. They also make your book a seller.
- Give the reader a setting that is hard to leave. I’m not a fan of “drawing room” romance, but if you make it so compelling that I have to stay in that room to find out where the old aunt has the bodies buried, you might be able to keep my attention. Whatever setting you choose, make sure you can keep your reader there because even the best and hottest hero needs a stage.
- Conflict. Ah...yes. Why conflict? Because humans like to solve problems and puzzles. We like to see others solving them too. Your conflict can’t be simply a difference of opinion and it must not be something that your characters could resolve by looking up the facts on the internet. The conflicts have to be gut level. Read up on Internal and External Conflict…it will force you to focus your characters and plot. I had a hard time with this when writing Angel’s Share. I’d not written this type of romantic suspense and I constantly had to go back to my basic conflicts and keep my characters actions consistent with those points.
- Other writers will probably disagree on this one but when I write I have to have both humor and pathos. I want comic relief in my very serious books and I need to have some heart wrenching moments in my comedies. There needs to be a balance. I sometimes categorize Butterfly
as a romantic comedy. When I wrote it I hoped I would make someone crack a smile…maybe even a belly laugh. But, a couple of the scenes made me tear up and they might have that effect on you too.
- Finish what you write and write often. Simple but oh so important. I know too many writers who have been working on the first couple of chapters of their only book for years. It has to be perfect and it’s their only story. NOT. Just write it! Get it down dirty and fix it later. If you are hopelessly stuck, write something else, switch your genre, do a short story or novella. If you are writing a Regency family saga, put it aside for a while and let your mind fly away with an alien invasion of an unknown planet full of time traveling, brain sucking, zombies. Let yourself have a success and then go back to the “troubled child.”
- When you submit to an agent/editor or enter a contest be professional. Submit only the best you can do. Punctuate and spell without an error. If you are not good at grammar, have someone else take a look at your work and fix the problems. Get yourself a copy of The Chicago Manual of Style
and use it. Always submit in a format that is easy to read… double space everything. Your editor will love you if you send her/him a clean piece of work. If they love you, they will want more.
- Finally, this may be the most important…have fun! Remember, even in the hard times, when you think you will soon have enough rejection letters to wallpaper your bathroom, when the words on your page only make sense to your three year old or the hermit crab and Windows Vista keeps asking your permission to open the next document…remember, you are doing this because you are a writer and you love it.
Thanks for hosting me on your blog today. Please go to my website www.clareaustin.com for more of my books. Butterfly is now available in trade paperback and e-book formats from www.thewildrosepress.com and other booksellers.
Buy: Butterfly
Excerpt of Butterfly:
He lost sight of the fiddler in the mobs of tourists enjoying the April sunshine.
No sooner had he decided to give up on his quest than he heard hands clapping in rhythm with the beat of the now familiar Irish drum.
Then he saw her.
She lifted her instrument and, with the surety of a bird’s wing slipping through the air, bow was laid to strings and life was breathed into melody.
He moved to the edge of the gathering where he could have an unobstructed view of the musicians. She looked up, and he thought she recognized him for an instant. Then her eyes turned and followed another. She smiled and nodded.
Cade had never thought of himself as the jealous type, but he did feel cheated out of that smile.
As soon as the last vibration of strings quieted, a man Cade recognized from O’Fallon’s came up behind the fiddler and, with disturbing familiarity, spoke in her ear. She responded with a hug and an adoring look in her eyes.
Cade had been raised to be competitive, in sports as well as in business, and the appearance of a rival on the field made him want to draw blood. He wanted the fiddler in his studio, and if she ended up in his bed, that might be as nice.
He stood and listened until the sun set and the air held a chill that thinned the throng. The musicians were packing it in.
He hadn’t realized he was staring, until she walked up to him and stood so
close he could smell the scent of her warm skin in the cool evening air. Her approach to introduction took Cade completely by surprise.
“Are you lookin’ at me or waitin’ for a bus?” she said, one hand on her hip and a sassy smile on her lips.
Buy: Butterfly
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April 27th, 2009 — 4 Stars, ARC, Artist, Comedy of Manners, Contemporary, Executive, M-O, United States of America
Anne’s found another job three thousand miles away from her current one and she couldn’t be happier. Life for her has stalled, and she’s eager for it to start again. On the day she goes into work to tell Mitch that she resigns, no quits, that he plans to fire one of his communications team members. Mitch decides to make a game of the experience and won’t tell them who he’s going to fire, instead he’ll make them work to keep their jobs. The loser voted off the island as it were could easily turn out to be the winner in this farce, because the loser will be sent home with six weeks of severance pay for every year worked. For Anne that’s two years worth of salary. Immediately her plans change, she won’t tell Mitch she’s quitting, she’ll get him to fire her!
Fire Me is the direct opposite of The Devil Wears Prada
. Instead of vying for approval from the boss that can’t be pleased, our heroine is trying to attract his attention and disapproval. The book takes place in a single day and I devoured it in the same time frame. For hijinxs and crazy shenanigans that’ll leave you chuckling to the bewilderment of those around you, I highly suggest this book.
Along her trip to the land of pink slips, Anne finally notices Ken. She struggles to keep her secret and gets both irritated at sweet Ken’s helpfulness to sooth over all her over the top schemes and falling just a little bit in love with the white knight routine. Ken is the new graphic design manager for the communications team. He’s only been working for six months and finds Mitch to be a charlatan and takes great pleasure in mentally dissecting the man. He also has a thing for Anne, whose face he’s been trying to capture in the moment right before her smile takes off and lights her up.
It’s hard to work romance into a single day but Libby manages to do it. There are stolen kisses in the elevator, a lunch date, and some lovely emotional concern for the other by both parties. Ken thinks Anne is taking the news and pressure badly, not realizing what she’s up too and Anne works to keep Ken’s name away from Mitch’s axe. While the heroine and hero are not officially together at the end of this story the possibility is there. They meet up the next morning after the ridiculous day before and the promise is wonderfully uplifting.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: Fire Me
PS - this would make a great movie!
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March 25th, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, A-C, Blind, Book Review, Category, Contemporary, Doctor, United States of America
Lion of Darkness
by Melinda Cross was the first romance novel that I read where one of the lovers was handicapped. The story is absolutely beautiful, filled with domineering masculinity and the helpless unyielding fall into love. It is far too short a tale in my opinion and could use another two hundred pages easily. Perhaps then I’ll be satisfied.
Cassandra Winters was blinded in the car accident that killed her mother. The doctors told her it was hysterical blindness and that she should receive her sight within a few days of the trauma, but it has been eighteen years and Cassie knows one thing for sure; they were wrong.
In the two weeks after her father’s death Cassie has had to face some hard truths. The first is that her wealthy lifestyle is going to change drastically. Her father had lived beyond his means and the only money left after the estate was settled was the small trust her mother set up for her. If she was going to have a future she would have to cope with being blind and learn useful skills that could win her a job, so she enrolls at Windrow, a school for the blind and the best of its kind.
Dr. Wyatt Field is a cynical, stoic man who is so reviled by his patients it’s a wonder that his success rate is so high. The moment he sees Cassie, he has her pegged as a pampered, spoiled, brat. Never mind that her looks are as pale and as beautiful as her last name implies. Never mind that when she touches him his blood pounds, his muscles tense, and that he can’t seem to tear his eyes from her. He is helpless before her and he doesn’t like it. Not one bit. But he’s determined to succeed, to help her see again. He won’t lose this case even if it means loses her love.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Happy Readings!
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Originally posted 2008-11-25 08:34:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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