Blog Tours

Many of our authors will be off on blog tours the next couple of months. Be sure to check here for the latest tour schedules and giveaways! :)

Philip Kramer Interview

1. What inspired you to begin writing?



Do you know, I wrote about a hundred pages of a book in my mid-teens. I typed it. On a typewriter. It was entirely inspired by "A Fairytale of New York" by JP Donleavy, a great writer and a great stylist. Unfortunately for me what I wrote was all style and no substance. It was about a fellow (his name was Walter Corner) who, by simple dint of chutzpah, panache and associated good fortune was going to make it 'to the top'. Thing was, I wasn't altogether sure to the top of what. Or which way was up, for that matter. Basically, no structure, no substance, no story. What it did do, though, was set the precedent. I could churn out the words - they just needed some direction. Oh, I lost the manuscript somewhere along the way so I doubt that Walter will ever see the light of day. Poor chap.


To be honest, I was a poseur in those days. Fashion, style, scene. I should have took out an ad. "Substance Wanted!"


Then I turned into a working musician and composer. That certainly instils structure, and a three minute single absolutely demands point and clarity.


So, fast forward a couple of decades. I had a new partner with whom I was, still am, powerfully in love. But we were often apart. So, to be blunt, I think the sublimation of sheer sexual longing inspired me to begin writing erotic essays. At first, they were imagined, designed, written and crafted with the single purpose of turning her on! But after a while a silhouette of a character began to emerge; a talented, clever, powerful and deeply sexual woman who, by increments, developed into my uber heroine, the Princess, a.k.a. The Cum Queen.


2. What was the inspiration behind the characters in your most recent release?

Actually I've only written two books! The first is called The Cum Queen and  the second, the follow up, is called The Second Cumming. As I've illustrated, both feature this marvelous woman who is mostly referred to as "the Princess". She does have a name of course, a rather long and grand one, but you'll have to get the book to find out what it is!


There's a hint of me in one of the male supporting characters, called Tarquin. I'm from a city called Birmingham in the English "Midlands". It's a fairly industrial city and when I was younger I was kind of the posh kid. So I got nicknamed Tarquin - which, it's probably safe to say, is a name mostly confined to the upper classes! Anyway it stuck, not least because two of my best friends who date from that era persist in calling me that to this day. So in creating Tarquin I exaggerated some of my more, how shall I put it, "rarified" characteristics and there he was.


As for Dim Sun - my chief baddie, so far - well, I just wanted to create someone unremittingly vile and evil for whom no one (except possibly Hannibal Lecter) could have any sympathy. That way I was able to leverage a huge sense of redemption in what is a pretty dark ending.


3. Which character did you have the most fun writing in these stories?

I adore the Princess. I loved working through the psychology of a powerful, talented, brave and clever woman who is driven by her curiosity about people and an insatiable desire. I enjoyed considering how, as a strong and dominant ruler, she could balance her constitutional and personal drive for control with her compassion, wisdom and femininity. On the back of that, figuring out how she can seduce and enjoy people in innovative, erotic and sometimes, frankly, outrageous circumstances - while examining her thoughts and responses in doing so - was a joy in itself. 


For what it's worth, writing about Dim Sun was also a pleasure. It was like, how bad can I make him?


4. What would you say the difference is between Erotica and Pornography?

Well, see above. The Princess gets involved in some extraordinarily erotic situations, but you know what's going on behind her eyes, between her ears. Compare that with bucket-shop porn. Look at those glazed eyes. Like dead fish. All you know is what's going on between their legs.


5. What is your biggest inspiration as a writer?

Right now? Still the study of human sexuality. I think it's one of the maddest things on earth. If you can imagine it - actually even if you can't - someone's done it. Bar nothing. Capturing some of that, the right bits, and making it... delicious, seems like a good thing to me.


Apart from that, George Smiley, John le Carre's cold war hero and a fictional British spy. Mild mannered, shy, fiendishly intelligent and utterly ruthless. Why? Because he gives good plot.

6. What literary projects can we expect from you in the future?

Aha. Well the Princess has had two outings, and it's pretty hard to resist a third and make it a trilogy. So I'm not going to. Resist I mean. So I've just started the third book. It'll be great. This time the Princess is in love - truly, madly, deeply - only, being the Princess, it's not quite boy meets girl. Well, not just boy meets girl. To keep it simple let's just say she and her lover have, er... eclectic tastes.
There're also not one but two real hardcore baddies. You won't like them. At all. But that's mostly their point.
All of them, along with a strong supporting cast of well articulated characters old and new, join together in an exciting adventure (faintly reminiscent of Indiana Jones, but with lots of extraordinarily inventive, amazingly erotic and astonishingly descriptive sex!) in which they struggle to gain control over "The Vortex", a strange and mythical force of great power.



7. What advice can you give to new writers trying to get published for the first time?


Hey, I'm pretty wet behind the ears! And at this point I have to offer thanks and pay due respect to Solstice Publishing and their great Erotica division Solstice At Night. After all they first published me. But as to the question, this is what I reckon. Structure, tension, plot. Great characters that just boogie up out of the page. And when that lot's stacked up, yes, some good words, some lyrical flair.


Oh yeah, then stick it out. It rarely comes easy.

Melissa Foster's Random Question Interview

Questions

1. Where can we find you?

My Website: http://www.melissafoster.com

Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterBooks

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-Fosters-Books/212842902076685

The Women’s Nest: http://www.thewomensnest.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/melissa_foster

http://thewomensnest.com/content/coming_soon_womens_literary_cafe

2. What is the link for the best review you have had?

CHASING AMANDA:

Take your pick from these: http://melissafoster.com/content/2011-blog-tour-reviews-chasing-amanda

MEGAN’S WAY:

Take your pick from these:

http://melissafoster.com/content/2011-blog-tour-reviews-megans-way

3 Why did you choose Solstice?

Melissa believed in my work from the moment she read it. She is easy to deal with and has a close relationship with her authors.

4. What’s your favorite cover you have seen recently? (feel free to add a picture but please try to keep it pg 13 lol!)

The cover of Memoirs of An Ex Nun, by Patricia Gibson

5. What catches your attention with other books?

I’m a cover girl. The photo sets the hook, but the summary has to reel me in.

6. Do you treat a book as a book, for the story inside, or do you judge a book by the author and or the way it’s published?

I never pay attention to who the author is until the book has been read, and I couldn’t care less about how someone publishes their work. Writing a book is an enormous accomplishment. For some, giving up the control to a large publisher is simply too much to ask. For others, waiting a year for publication suits them well. I care about the writing, not who made the writing available.

7. Ebooks VS Books (Feel free to explain)

I love the look, feel, weight, and even the smell of a paper book. Ebooks have their place. They’re far more economically viable, they offer larger print and a lighter book for some of the heftier books, like Stephen King’s typical books. I prefer to read paper books, but I’m thankful for Ebooks as well.

8. If you can have anyone read your book and give you feedback who would it be and why?

I’d be crazy not to say Oprah, for the sheer marketing value of her review, but on a personal note, I’d love for Maria Shriver or Virginia Madsen to read Megan’s Way. It’s an important story that can offer hope to many.

9. What is it that addicted you to your genre?

I write in several genres, although they call can be under the Women’s Fiction umbrella. I write about worst fears and real life situations. Life can be seen from so many different angles, and a single situation can be interpreted in many different ways. That is why I’m addicted to writing about real life.

10 Your favorite author.

AA Milne.

11. Favorite color.

Easy, lavender.

12. Something your bio’s won’t tell us.

I am addicted to brownies with mint chocolate chip ice cream, whipped cream from a can, and chocolate jimmies. No nuts, no cherry.

13. Advice to others?

Read often, edit more than you think you have to, and never give up.

14. If you have a day job how do you balance everything.

My day job is writing. I also founded and run The Women’s Nest and I’m soon going to be launching the Women’s Literary Café, a venue to bridge the gap between authors, readers, reviewers, bloggers, and editors. We’ll be offering free promotions to all the writing related services.

15. What does your writing schedule look like.

It looks beautiful! I write from 9am until 2pm Monday through Friday, from September through June.

16. Do you find that writing keep you sane?

Writing keeps me sane, happy, and allows me to be a much better mom to my children.

17. If you could bring one of your characters to life, would you, and why?

That’s a really difficult question. I would probably bring Amanda to life. I don’t want to supply any spoilers, but you’ll understand why after reading CHASING AMANDA.

18. If you had a magical power what would if be?

Definitely the power to heal.

19. Do you believe in magic?

Absolutely.

20. If we were to play rock paper scissors what would your first choice be?

Scissors.

21. If you could control one of the elements what would it be?

Fire. I’d make the forest fires stop.

22. What annoys you in books?

Unrealistic characters.

23. Have you ever came across a book you don’t know why a publisher published?

Absolutely, but that’s just my opinion.

23. Are you a grammar nazi, or do you find yourself more intertwined with the story to deal with the editing part.

I adore my editor. I’m not a grammar Nazi and I find most people who say they are, are lacking in that area. I also wish the term “Nazi” would be replaced with something else.

24. Do you believe in self publishing?

Absolutely.  I think we’ll see many more authors self-publishing as the world of publishing changes and ebooks take the number one sales spot.

25. Make up a question and have at it J

If you could have anything in life that relates to your books, what would it be?

I would have better access to readers and bookstores.

26. Tell us a joke.

I only know dirty ones.

27. What is the weirdest thing you have come across in your writing career?

People who are nasty for the sake of being nasty.

28. Randomly tell us what you thought as you were reading these questions.

I wish my kids would stop joking around and laughing in the background so I could concentrate.

29. Are you a believer in Karma.

It’s my middle name.

30. Give a shout out to another writer, you can include their links work ect.

If you haven’t read MJ Rose, she’s a tremendous author and an amazing and gracious woman. http://www.mjrose.com

Blogs to read follow and Share!

Be sure you are following this blog, then venture your way down the list and read and follow along :)
Melissa Foster http://melissafoster.com/b​logs/melissa and http://thewomensnest.com/b​logs/thinkhappy
Jeanne Bannon http://beyondwordsblog.blo​gspot.com/
Andrea Buginsky http://andisrealm.webs.com​/apps/blog/
Dianne Hartsock http://diannehartsock.word​press.com/
Felicia Rogers www.feliciarogersauthor.we​bs.com/apps/blog
Danielle Smith www.theangelsgate.blogspot​.com
Denyse Bridger http://fantasy-pages.blogs​pot.com/
Mysty Rayburn http://www.the-top-shelf.c​om/
T. S. Welti http://tswelti.com/wp
Courtney Conant http://courtneyconantreading.blogspot.com/
XchylerConn http://www.mysticthoughts-xc.blogspot.com
Newly added!
Doreen McNicol http://www.rachelwicks.com/-my-blog---seriously-why.html

Commonly Misused Words

1. Allusion, Illusion:

An Allusion is an indirect reference. An illusion is a misconception or false impression. Did you catch my allusion to Shakespeare? Mirrors give the room an illusion of depth.

2. Climactic, Climatic:

Climactic is derived from climax, the point of greatest intensity in a series or progression of events. Climatic is derived from climate; it refers to meteorological conditions. The climactic period in the dinosaurs' reign was reached just before severe climatic conditions brought on the ice age.

3. Than, Then:

Than is a conjunction used in comparisons; then is an adverb denoting time. That pizza is more than I can eat. Tom laughed, and then we recognized him.

Hints:

Than is used to compare; both words have the letter a in them.

Then tells when; both are spelled the same, except for the first letter.

4. There, Their, They're:

There is an adverb specifying place; it is also an expletive. Adverb: Sylvia is lying there unconscious. Expletive: There are two plums left. Their is a possessive pronoun. They're is a contraction of they are. Fred and Jane finally washed their car. They're later than usual today.

Hints:

If you are using there to tell the reader where, both words have h-e-r-e. Here is also a place.

If you are using their as a possessive pronoun, you are telling the reader what
"they own. Their has h-e-i-r, which also means heir, as in someone who inherits something. Both words have to do with ownership.

They're is a contraction of they are. Sound out they are in the sentence and see if it works. If it does not, it must be one of the previous versions.

5. Lie, Lay:

Lie is an intransitive verb meaning to recline or rest on a surface. Its principal parts are lie, lay, lain. Lay is a transitive verb meaning to put or place. Its principal parts are lay, laid.

Hint: Chickens lay eggs. I lie down when I am tired.

Did you know?

1. A rat can last longer without water than a camel.

 

2. The dot over the letter "i" is called a tittle.

3. A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and
down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.

4. A 2 X 4 is really 1-1/2" by 3-1/2".

5. Sherlock Holmes NEVER said, "Elementary, my dear Watson."

6. There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with orange,
purple and silver.

7. The Guinness Book of Records holds the record for being the book
most often stolen from public libraries.

8.The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

9. Men can read smaller print then women can; women can hear better.

10. 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

Random Question Interview with Brigit

Questions

1. Where can we find you? http://www.brigitsworld.com http://www.facebook.com/brigitaine http://brigitsjournals.blogspot.com http://www.twitter.com/brigitsworld

3 Why did you choose Solstice? Solstice sort of chose me.  A friend sent my manuscript in to them when I mentioned needing a new publisher and they liked it… so here I am.  I am very glad for it,

5. What catches your attention with other books? All sorts of things.  Author names, blurb on the back, cover picture, recommendations from other people

6. Do you treat a book as a book, for the story inside, or do you judge a book by the author and or the way it’s published? Sometimes by the author if I have read 4 or 5 books and none of them grabbed at me, but usually I treat a book like a book.

7. Ebooks VS Books (Feel free to explain) – I love both and will often buy a book twice.  I love to take my iPad and go and be able to read and read and get more books and not have them get heavy on my arm. However I love a bookstore and to feel paper in my hands.  To curl up in the tub or on the couch with a blanket and lose myself in a book.

9. What is it that addicted you to your genre? OH…. The magic of being something other…something beyond the normal.  I love paranormal and I love love… so the two together make me shiver.

10 Your favorite author. Couldn’t choose just one.  Honestly.  I read all the time a ton of people. 

11. Favorite color. Mint Green…soothing and cool.

12. Something your bio’s won’t tell us. My belly button is pierced.

13. Advice to others? Keep writing, keep trying.  Be sure you send your story to at least two people to read and critique before you submit… trust me… it helps.

14. If you have a day job how do you balance everything. Balance?  There is supposed to be balance?  It is tough.  I find that my writing is what most often has to give in order to work and spend time with my family.  I wish I was one of those people who didn’t need sleep.  But I do.  I write on weekends, and during holidays and breaks.  If I get a free evening I will write then as well.

16. Do you find that writing keep you sane? Sane?  Ummm… well… I suppose if sane is the right word.  I don’t know if I’m ever sane.  I do find that the voices in my head are less when I am putting them down on paper.

19. Do you believe in magic? I do believe in magic.  I think that there is magic waiting to be tapped to in everyone and everything we do.

20. If we were to play rock paper scissors what would your first choice be? Scissors, I love to cut things up.

21. If you could control one of the elements what would it be? Only one?  Geez… that isn’t fair at all.  Nope.

23. Have you ever came across a book you don’t know why a publisher published?

23. Are you a grammar nazi, or do you find yourself more intertwined with the story to deal with the editing part. I get totally entwined when I am writing a story… and when I am reading I love the stories, but if there are glaring grammar errors it will catch my attention.  I do try to ignore them though.

29. Are you a believer in Karma. Oh I am a huge believer in Karma… it is by far the thing I believe in the most.  What you put out there you get back threefold.

30. Give a shout out to another writer, you can include their links work ect. Denyse Bridger… she is the best of the best… http://www.denysebridger.com

Danger At Baird's Den

Kate Baird planned to have a quiet, boring summer in her small town in the mountains of North Carolina, cleaning bathrooms in her family’s bed and breakfast, Baird’s Den. Her mother was laid up with a broken leg and Kate would have to help her out all summer. Her world is turned upside down when she finds out her cousin, who she doesn’t exactly get along with, is coming for the entire summer to help them out.



Just when things can’t get any worse, Kate finds out that there is a huge secret in her small town. Some of the residents aren’t who they say they are. What are they hiding? Kate, her friend Jeremy, and her cousin Taylor set out to solve this mystery, but at what cost? Can they escape the danger they have gotten themselves in? Will they be able to survive?


Get Yours today!!! Your kids are going to love this book. To be honest. You are going to love it too!!!!




http://www.solsticepublishing.com/products/Danger-at-Baird%27s-Den-%252d%252d%252d-PDF-EBOOK.html

Random Question Interview with Danielle Smith

Questions

1. Where can we find you?

Everywhere! J

My Official Website: www.danielledsmith.com

Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Author-Danielle-D-Smith/156986440989397

Twitter: @DaniDSmith

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4110512.Danielle_D_Smith

Goodreads Fan Club: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/41923.The_Angel_s_Gate_Fans_of_Author_Danielle_D_Smith

2. What is the link for the best review you have had?

That would have to be the TwoLips Reviews 5 KISSES review for Black Dog and Rebel Rose. That review also won the story the review group’s top two awards: The TwoLips Recommended Read, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award. Here’s the link: http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6262&Itemid=36

3 Why did you choose Solstice?

I received a recommendation from a fellow author on the Amazon.com forums back in summer of 2010 to check them out. I had just completed my second book, BLACK DOG AND REBEL ROSE, which had been rejected by my other publisher, Liquid Silver Books, based on the fact that it was “too gory and horrific” for their audience. They had offered me an opportunity to rewrite the story with gore and horror elements withdrawn, something I was not willing to do. So I was quite open to submitting the book elsewhere. Going by this recommendation, Solstice sounded like a reputable company, so I went for it. Within a month, they had contracted me for BD&RR, and the rest, as they say, is history!

3. What’s your favorite cover you have seen recently? (feel free to add a picture but please try to keep it pg 13 lol!)

Hard for me to not be biased, since I design my own covers and am Solstice’s senior freelance cover artist. I still must say that I am hugely proud of the cover I just did for my next book, Coyote Night, which just went in to my editor this week. Close runners up at Solstice would be The Choosing, Blood Spiral, Alex, and The Gifted. I feel like I hit the nail on the head with a lot of those covers, especially since the authors were so happy with how they came out. At other pubs, a cover that really stood out to me recently is “Undead” by Isabella Kruger, mostly because of the beautiful painting used on the front.

4. What catches your attention with other books?

I have to admit—the cover matters to me! Probably only because I’m such a visual person. Other than that, the blurb has to really catch my attention, pull me in. If that works, I might read the first page. That’s the final test and can make or break a book for me. I guess I’m kind of like a publisher/editor in that way. J

5. Do you treat a book as a book, for the story inside, or do you judge a book by the author and or the way it’s published?

When I purchase a book, I look at several factors: is the cover and design evocative and beautifully done, like someone cared? Did the author’s blurb catch my attention as a well-written, engaging chunk of mini-literature? So often a blurb is poorly written, especially in the self-publishing and small pub world. If an author can't use proper grammar or sentence structure in their blurb, what does that say about their ability to tell a story? I don’t look so much at who published it or what the author’s name is—the beauty of a book and how well the blurb and first few pages catch my attention is #1 for me as a reader. I have passed up plenty of Stephen King books that looked less than stellar, and I won’t touch Stephenie Meyer’s YA trainwreck with a 10 foot pole. I love discovering new unknowns who often rock my reading world more than any big time author could. Many of my favorite authors are cult and foreign writers, for good reason.

6. Ebooks VS Books (Feel free to explain):

Depends. Ebooks are the wave of the future, green, and cheaper for the reader to buy and the publisher to offer. But there is something so lovely about holding a book in your hand…smelling the ink and paper, feeling the weight in one’s hand. Illustrations look better in print. So I will always be a print book slut…but I appreciate the ebook and all it offers to readers, publishers, and especially WRITERS!

8. If you can have anyone read your book and give you feedback who would it be and why?

Two authors: China Mieville and John Ajvide Lindqvist. China is a British cult author of “weird” fantasy fiction and one of my biggest influences. I would love to hear what he thinks of my grittier, darker work. John is a Swedish author best known for his edgy horror/dark fantasy book “Let The Right One In”, which became one of the top foreign language films of the past decade. He basically wrote the only vampire story I could stand to read recently (anyone who knows me will tell you that I am flat out sick of the vampire and werewolf trend in paranormal fiction), and I would love to engage him in a discussion of the dark symbolism used in his books and in my own; the nature of good and evil, the anti-hero, that sort of thing.

9. What is it that addicted you to your genre?

I’m a sick little meat puppet. LOL! I have always loved dark, gory, and often sexy stories—some of my favorite world mythologies (German, Scandinavian, Celtic, Japanese, Native American) are darker than the scariest modern horror tales. Hallowe’en is my favorite holiday and is more exciting for me than my birthday (my family is giving me a Hallowe’en themed baby shower in October, if that tells you anything). Paranormal fiction allows me to touch on my adoration of these edgier, darker themes, and erotica allows me to create a sensual and daring world where the reader can escape and live out some of their wildest fantasies with a beautiful, gritty cast of characters.

10 Your favorite author.

I’ll give you the short, short list: China Mieville, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Bear, Will Christopher Baer.

11. Favorite color.

Lime green! Crazy happy color that cheers me up on a depressing day.

12. Something your bio’s won’t tell us.

Hmmm…I love veggies way more than fruit. No joke. Gimme a wedge of broccoli over a sweet strawberry any day.

13. Advice to others?

Authors: Believe in yourself and polish, polish, polish. Show publishers that your work is really worth it by presenting it in a professional package that shows that you really care.

14. If you have a day job how do you balance everything?

Thankfully, the plan involves the dayjob going bye-bye in about 6 months and it’ll be writing and art full time. I am pregnant with my first child and want to stay home with her as my mother did with me, so leaving the grind and dedicating myself full time to her and my artistic business is paramount. In the interim, I do much of my creative work wherever I can squeeze in a minute: on lunch, on breaks, and from when I get off work to the butt crack of dawn. It’s like working two jobs right now…but worth every second of it. I DO sleep, believe it or not! My daughter, Iona, who still uses me as a house, demands this. J

15. What does your writing schedule look like.

I write when I can. Weekends are filled with writing, as are evenings going late, late, late. I carry a notebook with me so I can jot down ideas while I’m on the go.

16. Do you find that writing keeps you sane?

Hells to the YES! It’s wonderful to be able to escape into my own world and enjoy a bit of the exotic and fanciful. It’s very freeing, and frequently healing to the spirit.

17. If you could bring one of your characters to life, would you, and why?

Oh, that’d have to be Skriker, my most popular character, if only to converse with him!  It’d be like chatting with myself in a lot of ways…er, or chatting with the “dirty little man who lives inside me”. He’s this tattooed half-demon bad boy who just levels the ladies with his charm, but he’s no meathead. He’s got quite a brain under that spiky blond mane, and would be a great guy to have a beer and a friendly engaging chat with. He has a great easygoing sense of humor.

18. If you had a magical power what would it be?

To heal the sick, like a mythological peller in the old days. I would love to be able to heal children dying of mortal diseases and from terrible traumas—it would be a great gift that I could share with others to give them a chance at life.

19. Do you believe in magic?

Yep. I see it all around us, even in subtle ways. The Universe is a very magical place; science only proves it more and more, in my eyes. I recently watched the documentary “Inside The Womb”, and seeing a baby go from tiny zygote to full blown infant is proof that magic exists. J

20. If we were to play rock paper scissors what would your first choice be?

Scissors! Pointy sharp jab-jab…heeeeeee! So fun.

21. If you could control one of the elements, what would it be?

Fire, because it scares the sh** out of me. I had a traumatic experience at the age of five when my entire neighborhood almost burned down. It was on a canyon and some idiot didn’t know how to use an ashtray, and a ton of folks lost their homes. My mom and I had to flee the flames—it was a pure miracle that our house didn’t burn down. So I am terrified of fire; to be able to control it might make me feel a little less phobic.

22. What annoys you in books?

Characters with no flaws or struggles. I get sick of main characters who are so perfect/powerful/gorgeous/flawless/skilled/badass that there seems to be nothing to make them interesting (happens a LOT in romance and erotica). One trend in a lot of books lately has been the “badass heroine” who in reality is always getting rescued by the hero. LAME. Badass heroines have to actually be badass…if she has to be rescued, there better be a damned good reason! Oh, another thing I find annoying? THE SAME OLD TIRED VAMPIRE AND ALPHA WEREWOLF PLOT BUNNIES. I don’t get how so many people can load a bazillion of these were and vamp books into their libraries and remain entertained—it’s like reading the same storyline over and over again... kind of like listening to The Ramones’ Greatest Hits without the rock n’ roll guitars to keep you awake. SNORE.

23. Have you ever come across a book you don’t know why a publisher published?

Oh, Lord, yes. All the time. I won’t mention names or titles since I want to keep my head secured to my shoulders in the literary world, but let’s just say that there are more than a few authors out there who have written whole series whose editors and publishing CEOs should be given a middle school swirly for contracting their first pitch.

23. Are you a grammar Nazi, or do you find yourself more intertwined with the story to deal with the editing part?

Admittedly, I’m a bit of a grammar Nazi. I read my own books and wince when I run into something that my very excellent editor and I missed. It does happen, but c’mon, kids…this is the publishing industry. Not saying that I can’t overlook a few little boo-boos as a reader, but I have seen self-pubbed and small-pubbed books where a middle school kid would have done better with the grammar. If you are an author, you should know how to use proper grammar. Part of our job is to understand language and how it works. And because I said that, SOMEWHERE in this interview there will be a misspelled word in one of my answers, proving that I’m a big bitch.

24. Do you believe in self-publishing?

Depends. I think in general it’s not something I would choose to do, at least not until I became really well known as a traditionally published author. Self-publishing has a very understandable stigma attached to it because the quality is so incredibly low much of the time. With CreateSpace, Lulu, Publish America, and the like, anyone and their mom can plop down a few hundred bucks and call him/herself an “author”, but if a publisher accepts your work, that means that it is high quality enough that someone else was willing to put their dime on it and take a financial risk, and that usually means they will demand that the product be properly edited and have good design and packaging to boot. I think that says a lot right there. If I ever were to “self-publish”, I would start my own micro-press first and possibly contract a few other author’s stories on top of it. Who knows? I might do it someday. Never say never!

25. Make up a question and have at it J

What is next for you in publishing?

I’m working on my first BDSM erotica book, DEMON’S SLAVE. Very exciting and a little nerve-wracking. Can’t wait to unleash it on the masses!

26. Tell us a joke.

An old maid wanted to travel by bus to the pet cemetery with the remains of her cat. As she boarded the bus, she whispered to the driver, “I have a dead pussy.”

The driver pointed to the woman in the seat behind him and said, "Sit with my wife. You two have a lot in common.”

27. What is the weirdest thing you have come across in your writing career?

A children’s picture book called “Go the F**k To Sleep”. I laughed until I almost peed myself.

28. Randomly tell us what you thought as you were reading these questions.

YAY! Another interview! I’m an interview/promo whore, so I really enjoyed this.

29. Are you a believer in Karma?

Yep. I had $7,500 worth of paintings stolen from a gallery in December of 2009, and I have absolute faith that those mother you-know-whats will get their just desserts whenever it’s time for the Universe to dole it out. Even nasty millionaires with everything handed to them get theirs…eventually.

30. Give a shout out to another writer (you can include their links work etc.):

Gotta give the shout out to fellow Solstice author, Philip Kramer! His edgy and often bizarre fantasy tale “The Cum Queen” is the bees’ knees. Check him out here: http://www.solsticeatnight.com/products/The-Cum-Queen.html

Random Question Interview with Feicia Rogers

Questions

1. Where can we find you?

http://www.feliciarogersauthor.webs.com/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Felicia-Rogers/115490501841225

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4412925.Felicia_Rogers

2. What is the link for the best review you have had?

http://www.bittenbooks.com/2011/04/review-key-by-felicia-rogers.html

3. What catches your attention with other books? 

I notice coverart now more than ever.  If the cover can catch my eye and my interest I feel more compelled to read the novel.

4. Do you treat a book as a book, for the story inside, or do you judge a book by the author and or the way it’s published? 

I enjoy a book based on the story written upon the pages.  If the story is good it can overcome Cover art, bad editing, and all other issues that might arise.

5. Ebooks VS Books (Feel free to explain)

I love the idea of ebooks-- Simple, quick, and less expense.  But I still love the feel of a paperback within my fingers.  The smell of new paper, the sound the pages make as you flip through them.  I also like the idea that a physical book can be ‘signed’ by an author.

6. What is it that addicted you to your genre?

I love a good romance.  A story about a man and a woman falling in love topped with suspense, there is nothing better.

7. Favorite color.

                Purple!

8. What does your writing schedule look like?

My writing routine varies.  Sometimes I carry a pad of paper in my hand and write with a pen.  Sometimes I’m in the mood to sit down at the keyboard and just type.  But always once the story is in the computer it has to be printed on paper so I can read it over.  I like the ability of flipping back and forth between pages to check for consistency.

9. Have you ever came across a book and you don’t know why a publisher published it?

                I plead the Fifth.  J