Book Review & Author Interview: The Good Fight by Andrew Grey

Book Blurb
Jerry Lincoln has a problem: his Sioux Falls IT consulting business has more work than one man can handle. Luckily, that means he can hire some help.

Jerry just hopes his new employee, John Black Raven, ends up being more helpful than distracting—but John’s deep eyes and long hair are very distracting. John came to town for an education and a chance at a life he couldn’t have on the reservation, but what’s important to him now is getting a job and keeping it. Six months ago, his sister died, and now her children are in foster care. Despite having the law on his side, John can’t get custody—can’t even see his niece and nephew.

As Jerry and John grow closer, John discovers he doesn’t have to struggle alone. Jerry helps him win visitation rights and provides much-needed support. Yet their victories aren’t without setbacks. Child Services is tangled up with money, politics, and red tape, and Native American children are their bread and butter. But John and Jerry are determined to fight the good fight and to win—in more ways than one.

Book Review
If you enjoy m/m romance stories, I highly recommend this book. It is very realistic, and not a romance where both characters are living in the clouds. There is love, suspense, and a great end to this story.

Jerry Lincoln, who lived most of his life in San Francisco, moves to Sioux Falls when his grandfather falls ill. After his grandfather passes away, he stays in Sioux Falls and starts an IT consulting business. Jerry’s business is so successful that he needs to hire more employees to be able to finish all the work.

A friend gives Jerry resumes of possible candidates and he interviews all of them. However, his interview with John Black Raven has a lasting effect on him. Jerry cannot get John out of his mind.

Jerry hires two people to work for him, one of them being John. At first, Jerry thinks that it will be hard to concentrate working with a guy that he finds attractive and so intriguing. Jerry keeps stealing glances at John, and a few times catches John looking at him as well.

One day Jerry decides to put himself out there and try to get to know John a little better. John is a Native American that moved from the local reservation to go to college and get a job since there was limited opportunities for him there.

However after the typical get-to-know-you-questions, Jerry finds John a bit distracted. Jerry learns that John is fighting to get custody of his sisters children who were taken by social services when she died. John is now out of college, has a job, and a place to live… but they still won’t grant him custody of his niece and nephew. This is because their Native American children and are worth more in the foster care system.

Jerry offers to help John get custody of his niece and nephew anyway that he can. They are in for a long battle, but grow closer because of it.

You’ll have to read the story to see what happens with the children, and also just how close Jerry and John become ; )

At the Authors After Dark Convention in August 2012, I had the great pleasure of meeting Andrew. He is such an awesome guy and the biggest sweetheart. Andrew was so kind and extremely down to Earth. Andrew allowed me to ask him questions regarding his latest story, The Good Fight.Learn more about Andrew Grey here: - Andrew Grey’s Website - Andrew Grey’s Blog: Making the World Sexier One Reader at a Time - Andrew Grey’s Facebook Page - Follow Andrew Grey on Twitter Enjoy this interview with Andrew! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Obscured Vixen: Being in the IT field, did you draw on your background when writing about Jerry? Andrew Grey: Actually I drew on a lot on the people I work with rather than myself. I’m a project manager rather than a developer, so I drew on a number of the developers I work with and sort of melded them together in developing Jerry. TOV: Did you do a lot of research on Native American culture when writing about John and his tribe? AG: Yes I did. I also have a friend who is Native American so he and his wife were both immensely helpful in providing background information. It also helped that when I was younger I visited one of these reservations while on a family vacation so I was able to develop a feel for the reservation. TOV: What made you want to start writing erotica? AG: I really don’t consider what I write to be erotica. Yes there is sex in my stories but I only include it as a representation of the advancement of the relationship between my characters. And I never really set out to write what I do, it sort of happened organically. That being said I have to tell you this story. A number of years ago, I hosted a birthday party for my father and everyone kept telling me how much I looked like him. That was the inspiration to join a gym and lose weight and I quickly realized I needed something to help pass the time while I was on a treadmill. And nothing works better to make a half hour go faster that reading about sex. I discovered gay romance and then decided to try writing one. The rest is history. TOV: Have you ever written a scene based on personal experience? Or is it all fantasy? AG: I have written scenes based on personal experience. When I started out, Dominic and I tried all my scenes together. Oh the joys of research. As time passed, the need for that kind of research passed, but we still do it anyway. TOV: Have you ever read something you wrote and thought, “Wow! That was awesome!” AG: Yes. There have been times when during the editing process I get lost in what I’ve written. That happened with The Good Fight as well as unconditional Love. Recently I was editing a novella Shared Revelations and I actually had to remind myself that I’d written it because I got lost in my own story. TOV: Which of your works are you most proud of? AG: Love Means… No Boundaries, Artistic Appeal, Love Comes Silently, and The Good Fight. And each for a different reason. In Love Means… No Boundaries, Robbie is blind and half the book is told from his perspective. It really made me feel the world from a different perspective. In Artistic Appeal, Nicolai is deaf and in Love Comes Silently Patrick is mute. Each of these stories helped me grow as a writer because it removed some of the tools we use and I had to develop new ones. In The Good Fight, I think it’s the first time I really purposely wrote the book with a cause in mind. Other times its just worked its way in, but with this story, it was there from day one.

Other Author Interviews

• The Deadly Series, by Cynthia Eden
• Seduced by Crimson, by Jade Lee
• Author Spotlight: Emma Lai
• Bloodstorm, by Amber Kailyn
• Inhale, by Kendall Grey

Book Review, Author Interview & Giveaway: The Deadly Series by Cynthia Eden

Deadly Fear, Deadly Heat, Deadly Lies Deadly Fear blurb: FBI Special Agent Monica Davenport has made a career out of profiling serial killers. But getting inside the twisted minds of the cruel and the sadistic has taken its toll: She’s walled herself off from the world. Yet Monica can’t ignore fellow agent Luke Dante, the only man who ever broke through her defenses. Luke has the unique ability to put victims at ease…professionally, he and Monica made a perfect team. Now they’re reunited to catch a murderer who uses his victims’ deepest, darkest fears for sport – but their investigative skills aren’t enough. Luke and Monica will have to face the secrets from their past, the ones that terrify them the most, if they are to have a future together. Deadly Heat blurb: She wants revenge… Six months after her lover died in an arsonist’s blaze, firefighter Lora Spade calls in the FBI’s elite Serial Services Division to track the elusive killer. When Special Agent Kenton Lake is lured into a violent inferno, Lora pulls him to safety and is stunned – not by the fire, but by her own searing attraction to Kent. For the first time in months, she longs for something other than vengeance. He wants her… Kenton’s interest in Lora should be purely professional. But one fleeting kiss and he can’t get her out of his mind. Her combination of strength and vulnerability makes him want to protect her, and that means solving this case – and fast. For even the passion igniting between them can’t hide a terrifying truth: Lora is the next target in a murderer’s sadistic, fiery game. Deadly Lies blurb: She wants to hide the past… FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is haunted by memories of the serial killer who abducted her. To keep the darkness at bay, she pretends to be a different, more confident woman. This Samantha doesn’t fear every unknown face. So she throws caution to the wind and shares a night of unbridled passion with a handsome stranger. He needs to uncover the truth… One night isn’t enough for successful entrepreneur Max Ridgeway. He wants more of the sexy, smart, mysterious woman who slipped away before dawn. When they meet again, their attraction is undeniable-until his stepbrother goes missing, and Max realizes that Samantha isn’t who she seems. But they must trust each other to trap a ring of bloodthirsty kidnappers before the nightmares that terrorize Sam become irrevocably real. Deadly Series Review I couldn’t get enough of this series! I flew through these books and was left wanting more. Each book had a compelling story, and each was unique. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and every book definitely had a point of no return. Once you get to that crazy twist in the story, you can’t do anything until you finish the book and find out what happens. I love when authors write stories like this! It’s also great to see characters appear in more than just their book. The couple from the first book shows up in the next two, and the heroine in the third story gets set up throughout the series. Cynthia Eden does a great job of intertwining the characters within each of the stories tying them together. I absolutely fell in love with Monica and Luke from Deadly Fear. They are both strong characters, and it was so easy to fall in love with them. You are rooting for them through the entire book. Monica is a very complex character, which always makes stories more interesting. We slowly learn more and more about her past as the story unfolds, which makes for a fabulous ending. Deadly Heat is perfectly titled… this book is seriously hot! Lora and Kenton have a seriously hot connection, and Cynthia Eden does have her way with great sex scenes (which I just happen to be partial to : ). I loved Lora’s sense of sarcastic humor, and how she teases Kenton. It’s so great when characters make you laugh out loud. I loved watching Samantha overcome her fears in Deadly Lies. Samantha is abducted in an earlier book, and has to struggle to over come this traumatic experience. Max helps Samantha through her nightmares, and move on with her life. The dynamic between these two really tugs on your heart strings. I absolutely love the relationship between Max and Samantha, and couldn’t get enough. I would definitely recommend reading this series. And a helpful word of advice? Have the next book handy because you’re going to want to dive right in!

My favorite part of being a blogger is that I get to meet and talk to awesome people. The fabulous Cynthia Eden has been awesome enough to agree to do this interview to go along with this blog post, AND offer to giveaway a copy of Angel Betrayed, Cynthia’s July release. Get it before it hits the shelves!Enjoy the interview : ) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Obscured Vixen: Your Deadly series includes heroines with very different personalities – Monica, Lora and Samantha. Which do you find yourself most like and why? Cynthia Eden: Actually, I wish I could say that I was like all of those ladies! But they are much braver than I could ever be. ; ) I tend to be a fairly quiet girl, so I’m like Samantha in that respect. Isn’t the saying that still waters run deep? It’s the quiet girls that you should watch out for—they often have deep secrets! OV: I love the mystery to all of these stories. Is it fun writing twists into your story to purposely mislead the reader? CE: Is it wrong to say that, yes, it is? I can’t help it—I love twists. When I’m watching movies or TV shows, I’m constantly thinking of ways to add in twists, ways that I would have written the scenes in order to throw off viewers. After all, what is life without some fun twists? OV: At the end of Deadly Lies, you have an epilogue that hints at another books in this series. Will there be? CE: At this time, I haven’t written any additional Deadly books, but I not going to close the door and say that there won’t ever be more of them. I had a great time writing those tales, and, one day in the future, I may revisit them. I can say this much… I have lots of romantic suspense stories in the works. I will be releasing 4 stories with Harlequin Intrigue next year, and I will also be releasing single titles, as well. We’re actually still doing contract negotiations on the single titles, but I can say that the books will be very dark and sexy, similar in tone to my Deadly books. OV: I can’t wait! How long have you been writing? CE: For as long as I can remember. Seriously. I always wanted to be a writer, but life distracted me for a time. After college, I started teaching, I got married, I had a son, and, then one day I realized… I’d lost my dream. I decided that it was time for me to grab that dream and hold onto it as tightly as I could. So I started writing. My first book didn’t sell (actually, I don’t think my first four sold), but I kept writing anyway. And, now, I’m lucky enough to say that I’ve been writing full-time for five years. Did I mention how incredibly lucky I feel? OV: Have you ever wrote something, reread it and thought, “Wow! That was awesome!” CE: I wish! I think that I may be my own worst critic. When I write a story, I often think… is this good enough? Are the characters strong enough? What am I doing?! For a while, I thought I was the only writer who had these doubts, then I talked to others and realized… yes, we’re all a little (or lot!) neurotic this way. So I’m doubting *while* I write a story, but when I am actually done with the story and reading over the final version, I can sometimes think… hey, that’s not half bad! OV: Which of your works are you most proud of and why? CE: That is a very tough question. I’m proud of all my stories—I really loved the characters I create—but I think I have to say that the Deadly books challenged me the most. Those books pushed me to explore deeper and darker aspects of my characters. The Deadly stories required some intensive research, and they took me out of my paranormal comfort zone. Those books showed me that I could love another sub-genre, and they taught me the value of following my instincts. So… the Deadly books (Deadly Fear, Deadly Heat, and Deadly Lies). Those books are the ones that come to mind first for me. OV: I am so excited that you are a featured author at Author After Dark (AAD) this year, and cannot wait for the ‘I Scream Party!’ Any details you can share with us about that? CE: Yay!! I am so glad that you’re excited about the party! I will be hosting the I Scream Party with Katie Reus, Manda Collins, and Virna DePaul. We’ll have tasty ice cream treats (you can add your fave toppings) and a ton of giveaways (each person who comes to the party will get a bag of goodies). We’ll have some special villain fun waiting for the attendees. Games, bad guys, and ice cream. What more do we need in order to have a good time? OV: Games, bad guys, and ice cream… what more could a girl want?! What are you most looking forward to as an Authors After Dark featured author? CE: I’m looking forward to meeting the readers! I am so excited about having a chance to talk with people who love romance books just as much as I do. Readers, bloggers, other writers—the place will be filled with some very fun folks, and I can’t wait to chat with them all!

Giveaway Details Cynthia has been extremely generous and is offering to giveaway her upcoming story ANGEL BETRAYED which is not being released until July. This is definitely a giveaway that you will want to enter! Sammael – call him Sam – was an angel once. An angel of death. But the dispassionate, watch-from-above thing just wasn’t working for him when it meant watching evil torture innocent souls day in and day out. It might have cost him his wings, but these days, he gets to apply the direct method on the bad guys. Problem is, what’s making his life difficult is a bad girl… Seline O’Shaw needs protection, and with the hounds of hell on her tail, she’s not going to quibble too hard about where she gets it. Sam’s virtue is questionable, but he’s smoking hot, massively powerful, and owes her a favor. So what if she’s getting a little case of angel lust? There are some damn deadly sins after her hide… This giveaway will end June 14, 2012 at midnight EST United States entries only Click here for full giveaway terms and conditions This giveaway has ended.

Other AAD Author Interviews:

• Interview with Jade Lee for Seduced by Crimson
• Interview with Kristen Painter for Blood Rights
• Interview with Lia Habel for Dearly, Departed

Author Spotlight: Emma Lai

I can sum up Emma Lai’s stories in two words: Smoking. Hot. Here are blurbs from two of Emma Lai’s steamy works: Blurb for Riding Rodeo: The last person Amanda Goodson expected to walk into her bakery was Sean Cassidy, the bareback bronc rider who rode her hard one night and left without a good-bye the next day. Since then, she’d sworn off one-night stands and cowboys, but one look at the man she called Rodeo leaves her hankering for another ride. A nasty injury ended Sean’s career and left him with nothing but time to contemplate past sins, especially the most damning one…walking out on Amanda, the one woman he couldn’t forget. Eager to right the biggest mistake of his life, he finds Amanda–and learns he has competition. Never one to back down from a challenge, he offers to fulfill her darkest fantasy–taking two cowboys for a ride. Blurb for Tempting Terms: Sabrina MacKenzie needs someone ruthless to help her maintain control of her father’s company. Who better for the job than self-made millionaire William Fitzpatrick. Too bad she left him without a word five years ago. But to gain William’s assistance, Sabrina is willing to do anything–even if it means playing the submissive. Will William be tempted by her terms? Emma Lai’s stories are not only sexy, but fun and witty. Her characters are real and truly heartfelt. Even in her short stories, Emma Lai creates in depth characters like I’ve never read before. Usually in short stories an author doesn’t have enough time to truly develop a character. Emma Lai not only develops them, she creates worlds around them. When the stories end, you’re left begging for more. The sex scenes are hot and wicked… and gloriously descriptive ; ) If you’re a fan of erotica, you must read stories by Emma Lai. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ One of my favorite parts about being a blogger is being able to meet amazing people. Emma Lai is one of the sweetest, funniest people I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. Emma was kind enough to do an interview for my blog. So read on and enjoy!

Emma Lai on Facebook Twitter: @EmmaLaiWrites Emma Lai’s Blog Obscured Vixen: How long have you been writing? Emma Lai: I’ve been writing romance since the summer of 2008, so going on four years. But, I’ve been writing something, either school papers or business documents, and enjoying it, all my life. OV: What made you want to start writing erotica? EL: I’m an avid reader of spicy and erotic romance. After selling a sweet, I moved to spicy and then erotic. Gotta keep challenging myself and writing erotica really teaches an author the importance of sensory details. OB: Have you written any scenes based on personal experiences? Or is it all fantasies? EL: I’ve written quite a few scenes based on personal experiences. I’ll leave it up to readers’ imaginations on whether those scenes involved s-e-x or not. OV: Have you ever wrote a scene, reread it, and thought, “Wow. That was great.” EL: Yes, especially in later pieces I’ve written. Many times I’ll open a w.i.p. and be like, “Did I write that?” and be intimidated. Pretty funny stuff. OV: Have you ever had issues with publishers trying to edit your work? EL: Yep. I’ve definitely made a few concessions to get my work published. However, the scenes that have been cut are just waiting for their moment. They will be published. OV: What work are you most proud of? EL: I am, of course, proud of all my work. I’m pretty proud of the sequel to Twice is Not Enough. It’s in edits with The Wild Rose Press and I can’t wait for release day, as yet to be determined. I’m also working on a full-length multi-racial that I’m pretty proud of. OV: What genres do you enjoy reading? EL: I pretty much read anything with an enjoyable plot and characters. Generally, the genre I read depends on my mood. I mostly enjoy stories that cross genres for that very reason.

Other Author Interviews & Book Reviews:

• Blood Rights, by Kristen Painter
• Seduced by Crimson, by Jade Lee
• Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
• Inhale, by Kendall Grey
• Author Spotlight: Cameron Dane

Book Review and Author Interview: Bloodstorm, by Amber Kallyn

Book Review, Author Interview, Giveaway: Bloodstorm, by Amber Kallyn

A vampire must choose between love… or her revenge. When duty forces a shaman to stop a vampire from her revenge, love doesn’t just burn… it bites. For two hundred years, Niki DeVeraux has been tracking the monster who murdered her family and made her a vampire. She finally catches up to him only to face more than she bargained for in a too-sexy sheriff who makes her remember she’s still a woman. With duties as Keeper of the peace and Sheriff, Shane Spencer must protect humanity and stop the friction between the local Arcaine races before it turns into an all out blood war. When wolves start turning up dead, the tension between the races grows and suspicion falls on Niki. Shane knows she’s not to blame, and it has nothing to do with the primal urges she stirs within him. Working together, they must stop the hostilities from going over the edge. Trouble is, the desires raging between them might prove more dangerous than the surrounding threats. This book was awesome! The story was fast paced and action packed, just how I like it. It also had characters that were realistic; characters that felt like real people you would want to hang out with. Niki DeVeraux shows up in town and immediately knows she isn’t wanted: the humans don’t want her around because she’s a vampire, and the vampires don’t want her around because she’s not part of their clan. So when dead bodies start turning up, all eyes turn towards the newest person in town: Niki. The local sheriff, Shane Spencer, investigates these murders and runs into Niki. He has this compulsion to be near and protect her that he’s never felt before. Unsure what to do, he ignores it for the time being. Besides being the sheriff in town, Shane is also a Keeper for the Magic Council. He must keep the local werewolves and vampires in check. Being a Keeper, Shane has supernatural abilities and pulls energy from nature. When Shane meets Niki and gets this intense feeling for her, he eventually realizes that she is his soul mate. Between trying to catch rogue killers in his town and trying to keep tabs on Niki who keeps getting into trouble, Shane has his hands full. Niki feels drawn towards Shane, but convinces herself that she can’t fall for him because he’s human. Niki has to focus on her main agenda for coming to this town: revenge on the vampire that killed her family. You’ll have to read the book for all the awesome twists and turns along the way (don’t want to give any spoilers!), and find out how things turn out for both Niki and Shane. I would definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a great suspense paranormal romance with some steamy sex on the side ; ) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Amber Kallyn was awesome enough to do an interview for my blog to go along with this book review. Hope you enjoy it!

Interview with Amber Kallyn Buy Bloodstorm on Amazom: http://amzn.to/I6WM7B Visit Amber at www.AmberKallyn.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/AmberKallyn Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmberKallyn Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/amberkallyn Bloodstorm on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13578425-bloodstorm Sign up for my newsletter for fun & freebies: http://bit.ly/H04jPF One of those rare breeds, Amber Kallyn is an Arizona native who can trace her family’s history through six generations in the state. She lives with her sexy husband, and their four very active children. Included in the menagerie are two cats (though there’s always room for more) and two dogs. We won’t count all the fish. Amber loves the paranormal, from dragons to werewolves to vampires. She’s currently at work on her next book, probably running around the house acting out a fight scene with her collection of swords and daggers. Or maybe, wishing she had claws to practice the other fight scenes. A voracious lover of the written word, Amber found at an early age that she could read fast. Really fast. She devours novels by the day, novellas by the hour, and is always looking to get her hands on more. Obscured Vixen: How long have you been writing? Amber Kallyn: I’m the cliché writer in that I’ve been doing it since I was little, LOL. But I didn’t become ‘serious’ about it and think, hey, maybe I could get published, until about 5 years ago. I’m so glad I had that thought : ) OV: I loved the idea of Shane Spencer being a Keeper of the peace for the Magic Council. Where did that idea come from? AK: It’s my own take on the worldbuilding of books and movies I love. With any major world-wide magical community, there has to be a ruling body. That’s where the council comes in : ) Gotta keep all the creatures in line. OV: Bloodstorm is the first book in the Heart of a Vampire series. When will the next book be released? AK: Hungerstorm, book 2, will be released this summer. OV: Can you give us a sneak peek of what will happen in the next book? AK: Sure. Book 2 is Jordan’s book. As King of the local vampire clan, he doesn’t have time to deal with fate or love, especially not with a woman who might be a traitor. OV: Can’t wait! Which of your works are you most proud of? AK: All of them : ) But really, I love all my books. I enjoyed writing them, slogged through editing them, and love rereading them. I think that’s probably a good thing. OV: Have you ever wrote something, reread it and thought, “Wow! That was awesome!” AK: I never get to the wow part until after a ton of edits. But my favorite parts are those that make me feel, whether I cry with my characters or laugh with them. Thanks for the awesome interview, Amber!

Other Author Interviews & Book Reviews:

• Blood Rights, by Kristen Painter
• Seduced by Crimson, by Jade Lee
• Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
• Tantalize: Kieren’s Story, by Cynthia Leitich Smith
• Author Spotlight: Cameron Dane

Author Interview and Review: Inhale, by Kendall Grey

Strangers in reality, inseparable in dreams…

After years of suffocating under her boss’s scrutiny, whale biologist Zoe Morgan finally lands a job as director of a tagging project in Hervey Bay, Australia. Success Down Under all but guarantees her the promotion of a lifetime, and Zoe won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in her way. Not the whale voices she suddenly hears in her head, not the ex who won’t take no for an answer, and especially not the gorgeous figment of her imagination who keeps saving her from the fiery hell of her dreams.

Gavin Cassidy hasn’t been called to help a human Wyldling in over a year, which is fine by him. Still blaming himself for the death of his partner, he keeps the guilt at bay by indulging in every excess his rock star persona affords. That is, until he’s summoned to protect Zoe from hungry Fyre Elementals and learns his new charge is the key to restoring order in the dying Dreaming. He never expects to fall for the feisty Dr. Morgan…nor does he realize he may have to sacrifice the woman he loves to save an entire country.

This is a book you can totally judge by it’s cover. The cover is absolutely stunning, and the story inside is just as phenomenal.

Inhale has characters that you completely identify with, and root for all the way through the story. There are characters you love to hate, and mysterious characters you can’t wait to learn more about.

The entire dynamic of this book was unlike anything I’ve ever read. There are two different worlds: the real world (as we know it today), and the Dreaming (where humans go while they’re sleeping). The Dreaming is an actual place. So when humans get hurt, they wake up feeling pain. If they die in their dream within the Dreaming, they die in their beds in the real world.

When Gavin Cassidy isn’t being a badass rock star, he’s a Sentinel: a protector of humans in the Dreaming. This is how he meets Zoe Morgan while she’s dreaming about drowning while trying to save a whale. It was love at first sight for Gavin (since he knew Zoe was a real person), while Zoe just thought she conjured up a hot guy to dream about.

They began meeting in the Dreaming every night and eventually Fyres determine that Gavin is spending a little too much time with this particular human. Gavin’s ex, Scarlet, gets jealous and is determined to take her down.

Scarlet, however, is not the only one that is going after Gavin. Gavin’s mentor, Yileen, has recently stepped down as leader and Gavin is next in line. Once word spreads, all of the Fyres plan to take Gavin down.

Turns out Gavin isn’t the only one in trouble. By day, Zoe is a whale biologist on a research venture in Australia. A local whaler, Catherine Marchand, always seems to know exactly where Zoe’s boat is. Catherine even goes so far as to close enough to have their boats crash. Catherine admits that someone paid her to keep Zoe down, but won’t admit who her backer is.

One of the coolest things about this book that I can’t remember ever reading before, was that the main characters don’t actually meet until the last three pages of the book. Gavin and Zoe spend all of their time in the Dreaming together. Zoe didn’t even know that Gavin was a ‘real’ person until about three-quarters of the way through the book.

When they finally see each other in real life, their entire world’s stop. Gavin is performing on stage with his band and Zoe just happens to be at the bar at the same time. Zoe feels her entire being shift on it’s axis, and Gavin stops playing just to stare at her. It gives you chills!

When I finished this book, I wanted to throw across the room (in a good way!) because it ended too soon. I wanted more!

I definitely recommend this book, and cannot wait for Exhale to come out later this year.

One of my favorite aspects of blogging is the ability to meet awesome people that do amazing things. Kendell Grey is totally one of those people. All proceeds from the Just Breathe series are going to whale education programs. And, I mean c’mon, how can you not love a chick who ends her ‘Acknowledgements’ section with: Last but not least… To everyone who said no, this middle finger is for you. :- ) Kendall Grey is an amazing woman, and was kind enough to do an interview to go along with this blog post. Enjoy! Blog: http://www.kendallgrey.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KendallGreyAuthor Despicable Tweets: http://www.twitter.com/kendallgrey1 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5108885.Kendall_Grey Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmcmg Obscured Vixen: I think it’s wonderful that all proceeds from the Just Breathe trilogy will be going to whale education programs. What made you decide to do this? Kendall Grey: I’m a former teacher, so education is really important to me. Whales are my passion, and they need the money much more than I do. Donating to programs that teach people about the challenges whales face is a great way for me to get my education and whale fixes in one fell swoop. ;- ) OV: That’s so awesome : ) Did you do a lot of research on whales for this book? Or have you always loved whales? KG:I haven’t always loved whales. I got hooked during an education course I took a few years ago. We went out on a whale watch boat every day and taught passengers all about the whales we saw. It was truly a life-changing experience for me. When I got home, I gobbled up everything I could about whales and basically taught myself about them. Now I go into schools and share information about whales with kids. It’s SO much fun! I also go around the world to do whale watching, and I learn and see something new on every trip. I’m truly addicted! OV: What made you decide to have your main character, Gavin Cassidy, be a famous rock star? KG: Rock stars are just plain hot, in my opinion. I’ve always been a big music fanatic – the louder and more obnoxious the band, the better. Hahaha! I pictured my dream character (no pun intended), the perfect combination of a badass hottie mixed with some swoon- worthy vulnerability, and voila! Gavin Cassidy was born. :- ) OV: I like it! When I finished this book, I was so frustrated because I wanted more! When will the next book in the series be released? KG: Ha! Sorry to frustrate you. You won’t have to wait too long, I hope. I originally planned to put out book 2, EXHALE, on June 5, but it’s starting to look like I’ll have to push that date back a bit. I hope to have the book ready in early July, if not sooner. OV: Will we see more of Catherine Marchand, and find out who is after Zoe? KG: Catherine will make some brief appearances in the following books, and yes, you will definitely find out who’s behind the “plot” to get Zoe. OV: Will we also find out why Sinnder is different from all other Fyres? KG: Ah, Sinnder. I love that Fyre Elemental! Yes, yes, and yes, you will find out much more about Sinnder. He is very different from other Fyres, and there’s a BIG reason why. You’ll see at the end of the the last book, JUST BREATHE. I’m planning to write his full story in a follow-up to the JUST BREATHE trilogy. :- ) OV: Can’t wait! How long have you been writing? KG: I started writing the first draft of INHALE in August, 2008, so almost four years. I’ve spent all of this time on the JUST BREATHE trilogy. In between writing novels, I found time to write two short stories. One’s a horror short entitled “London Calling” in the CITY OF HELL CHRONICLES, VOLUME 1. It’s nothing like my urban fantasy stuff–not at all for the faint of heart. HA! The other is a short called “Lá Breithe” in END: AN APOCALYPTIC ANTHOLOGY. All profits from that book go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Fans of JUST BREATHE might enjoy “Lá Breithe.” It’s about a Fyre Elemental. And it’s important to my trilogy. That’s all I can say. :- ) OV: Have you ever wrote something, reread it and thought, “Wow! That was awesome!” KG: Ha! I wish it happened more often than it actually does, but yes, I sometimes read a line or paragraph and wonder who the hell snuck onto my computer and wrote it while I wasn’t looking. ;- ) But it’s usually only after several revisions. Very rarely does something awesome pop out and not need editing. Layering and revision are very long, difficult processes. OV: Which of your works are you most proud of and why? KG: Wow, that’s a tough one. I really love EXHALE because of the conflict. The end of that book makes me cry every time I read it. It pulls hard at my heart. But just because I love it doesn’t mean everyone else will. If it makes readers cry too, then I’ll know I did a good job. :- ) To answer your question though, I think I’d have to say I’m most proud of INHALE, simply because it was such a long, involved struggle to get it to see the light of day. Four years is a very long time to spend on one piece, but it was worth all the blood, sweat, and tears.

Other Author Interviews & Book Reviews:

• Blood Rights, by Kristen Painter
• Seduced by Crimson, by Jade Lee
• Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
• Tantalize: Kieren’s Story, by Cynthia Leitich Smith
• Author Spotlight: Cameron Dane

Author Interview & Book Review: Xavier’s Loving Arms, by KT Grant

Xavier Marks has the looks, great job, and more than enough money to throw around. The only thing missing is a woman by his side. He hasn’t had much luck in love since he caught his fiancée cheating on him, and isn’t too happy about his current bachelor status. But that may all change when a cute barista from a coffee shop catches his eye. Perhaps she can help him lick his wounds? Life hasn’t always been too kind to Rebecca Price. With a grandmother suffering from dementia, and the threat of foreclosure on her childhood home, she may have no choice but to turn to a possessive ex-boyfriend who won’t settle for anything less than marriage. She hides a shameful secret that still threatens to destroy her. She’s ready to give up all hope when a suave, yet seemingly kind-hearted man enters her life and comes to her rescue. Rebecca is wary of placing her trust in Xavier, who wants to be more than a shoulder for her to lean on. But as the two grow close, Rebecca’s guilt over her past discretions continue to haunt her. Xavier wants to show Rebecca that the one place she can feel whole and at peace is in his loving arms. This book was a refreshing love story. I usually do not read romance novels because I do not like when a female swoons over a guy that she feels she can’t have (which happens to be most of the romance novels I read). KT Grant’s characters are real, and act the way I would imagine people would. Before work every day, Xavier visits the coffee shop across the street from where he works to see the cute woman that works there, Rebecca. For the longest time he just talks to her and never lets her know about his true feelings. One day Xavier can see that Rebecca is having a bad day and stops to talk to her to try and make her feel better. Rebecca thanks him for his kindness, and Xavier says he can repay him later. Although Rebecca is attracted to Xavier, she has no place in her life for a boyfriend. She works two jobs to pay the bills so the bank will not foreclose on her house and so she can pay the medical bills for her grandmothers dementia care. Not to mention Rebecca’s possessive ex-boyfriend, Devdan, that will not leave her alone. While they were dating, he continued to made comments about her weight. Rebecca became extremely self conscious and developed an eating disorder. It became so severe that she was hospitalized. It is something that she still struggles with. Devdan wants to help Rebecca and pay off all her debts, but she has to marry him first. He wants total control over Rebecca, but she’s not willing to give up her independence or go back to him. However, she can’t seem to stay away him from. One Friday after work, Xavier and the rest of his department decide to go to a bar and watch a local band play. While there, he notices Rebecca sitting at a table with some friends. Xavier goes over to say hello, and Devdan stands up to introduce himself and Rebecca. Xavier gets the ‘back-off-my-property’ vibe from Devdan, and goes back to his own table. Rebecca has enough of Devdan and his antics and needs some fresh air. She sits outside on a bench to take a moment to herself. Shortly after, Xavier notices that Rebecca is missing and goes to find her. They begin to talk and really hit it off. Xavier asks if Rebecca wants to go across the street for some ice cream. At first she doesn’t want to because of her eating disorder, but she really wants to spend time with Xavier. They are at the ice cream shop longer than expected, and Devdan comes in to find where Rebecca disappeared to. Devdan immediately makes Rebecca leave with him, but not before Xavier slips Rebecca his business card. After a rough day, Rebecca isn’t sure who to turns to. After a long debate she calls Xavier. They go on wonderful dates, spend lots of time together, and really begin to fall for each other. Xavier decides to take the next step and invite Rebecca to his house to meet his family. Rebecca is extremely nervous, but Xavier’s family accepts her with open arms. She couldn’t feel more welcome… until Devdan finds out where she is and decides to crash the party. Devdan makes a scene and fights with Xavier. Rebecca is so embarrassed that she runs out of the house and takes off. Xavier tries calling Rebecca, but she ignores his calls. She knew that she was right and should not have a boyfriend at this time in her life, and has come to accept that. She swears off all men, and focuses on her grandmother and trying to save her house. While visiting her grandmother at the hospital, Devdan shows up. He apologizes for his actions, but Rebecca doesn’t know whether to believe him or not. She’s heard him apologize so many times that she’s stopped believing him. This time he genuinely seems sincere, and admits that he has moved on. Rebecca is truly happy for him, and hope that Devdan has in fact turned over a new leaf. When Rebecca needs to get away, she walks around her neighborhood… and this day runs into Xavier. He was waiting for her to take a walk and couldn’t stand her ignoring him any longer. She can’t deny it either, and jumps into his arms. What makes a good book for me are strong characters that are relateable. KT Grant does a fantastic job of developing Rebecca and Xavier: solid back stories, admirable qualities, and loving people. You’re rooting for them to get together the entire time, but understand that there are outside circumstances that prevent this at first. Rebecca and Xavier prove they can overcome these obstacles and live happily ever after. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ KT Grant is an amazing woman, and was kind enough to do an interview to go along with this blog post.  Enjoy!

KT Grant is a self-proclaimed eccentric redhead who not only loves to read a wide variety of romances, but also loves writing it. Under her alter-ego, she is a well- known book reviewer and blogger who doesn’t shy away from voicing her opinion. A proud native of New Jersey, KT is multi-published and known for writing “out of the box” romances. KT has been mentioned in the Guardian.UK, Publisher’s Weekly’s Beyond the Book and at Bookseller.com. KT is a top ten best-selling author at Amazon, as well as being a multiple All Romance Ebooks best seller and a Night Owl Reviews Top Author Pick. Check out KT Grant here: > website: ktgrant.com > blog: http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/ > Twitter: https://twitter.com/katiebabs > Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kate.garrabrant Obscured Vixen: How long have you been writing? KT Grant: I’ve been writing since I was a teenager where I started by writing poems and short stories. Eventually I would write longer stories but never thought I would publish any. Then around 2009 I decided to write a full length book, a Lesbian Contemporary Romance titled Lovestruck. A year later Lovestruck was published in June 2010 with Noble Romance ( https://www.nobleromance.com/Books/134/Lovestruck ) and since then I’ve published eleven more books and short stories. OV: In Xavier’s Loving Arms, Rebecca suffers from an eating disorder. As someone who has struggled with an eating disorder yourself, was this story difficult for you to write? KTG: Writing Xavier’s Loving Arms was very emotional for me because Rebecca’s issues with food and her weight, and how she deals with her disease is something I’ve gone through for most of my life and still deal with everyday. I hoped to show how a disease like anorexia or bulimia can nearly destroy a person not just physically, but also emotionally and damage their self esteem. But I also wanted to show that there’s hope and a way to overcome this struggle. Xavier Marks is Rebecca’s hope. One of the hardest scenes for me to write was the one where Rebecca is in the bathroom, hanging her head over a toilet, deciding if she should stick her finger down her throat. She just had a horrible confrontation with her ex-boyfriend and the only way she knows how to find calm down and find a balance is to make herself vomit. I had to decide whether to have her induce vomiting or to stop herself and have her take a moment to think about her actions that could cause a major setback for her. Writing a character like Rebecca was a therapeutic experience for me. OV: This story is the third in the ‘Sweet & Sinful’ series. Do you have any characters that have been your favorite? KTG: Xavier is my favorite. Conner from For the Love of Mollie holds a special place in my heart because he’s based on my big actor crush- Ryan Reynolds. I also adore Suzie from The Claiming of Suzie because Suzy is everything I would like to be. She’s one awesome chick. OV: Have you ever written something, reread it and thought, “Wow! That was great!” KTG: When I’m writing a first draft I always think it’s horrible and hate it. But then I end up surprising myself when I will start editing and revising and think what I’ve written isn’t as bad as I first thought. Usually this happens when I re-read my love scenes. I love writing hot sex scenes. OV: And I love your hot sex scenes! Which of your works are you most proud of? KTG: Xavier’s Loving Arms is the one I’m most proud of. I’m also very proud of The Prince’s Groom, a historical M/M romance I have with Ravenous Romance ( http://www.ravenousromance.com/m/m/the-prince-s-groom.php ). I was thrilled I could write a middle-aged bald pirate who finds love with a younger, somewhat shy gentleman. OV: You write a steamy scene with popsicles and mint chocolate chip ice cream. Are these scenes from personal experience? If so, details please! : ) KTG: I have experience eating popsicles and ice cream! I love coffee ice cream, but not a big fan of mint chocolate chip. As for eating ice cream in bed and with a hot man like Xavier, well that’s where my imagination is used ; ) OV: Rebecca’s ‘safe place’ seems to be her bright blue Snuggie. Do you own one? I have a leopard print one! KTG: I had a baby blue snuggie and love it. I was given one as a gift a few years ago. I wear it more like a robe though. I bet there are many people out there who have their own Snuggie.

Other Author Interviews & Book Reviews:

• Blood Rights, by Kristen Painter
• Seduced by Crimson, by Jade Lee
• Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
• Tantalize: Kieren’s Story, by Cynthia Leitich Smith
• Author Spotlight: Cameron Dane

Book Review & Author Interview: Seduced by Crimson, by Jade Lee

Long ago Los Angeles became Crimson City, a glittering metropolis and sometime-battleground-onetime-home for humans, werewolves, and vampires. Before that, demons ruled. And with the Crimson Veil now torn asunder, those demons are on their way back. There exist those who oppose the Dark Ones: mystics attuned to the earth, the druids. From San Bernardino they come, sending one of their mightiest–their Draig-Uisge. He can shape energy, twist it to harm or heal. But he must have something to bend, and the power can be summoned by one method alone… and from one source: the beauty Xiao Fei, the Phoenix Tear. Her blood is the key, along with her ecstasy; her union with Patrick means salvation. Yet in a world of vampires, werewolves and evil untamed, even a kiss can be deadly. Opposition lurks in every shadow, peril in every caress… and both redemption and oblivion lie in one woman being SEDUCED BY CRIMSON. This book has everything: passion, action, engaging characters, a loveable story. Xaio Fei is the last female Phoenix Tear with special elements to her blood. There is a demon gate that has been opened in Crimson City and her blood is the key for the ritual to close it. Patrick, the druid Draig-Uisge, has been tasked with closing the demon gate before more evil can cross through. He must find Xaio Fei to complete the ritual… but isn’t sure he is able to go through with it. For closing the gate means Xaio Fei may not survive from loss of blood. Patrick and Xaio Fei end up falling for each other on this crazy journey, complicating the ritual even more. But I didn’t mind that part since there were some hot and heavy sex scenes! The pent up energy that Jade Lee causes between these two is electric and jumps off the page. My kind of story ; ) Along the way, Patrick runs into complications with the other druids that question his ability as the Draig-Uisge. He must go against his own kind to do what is right to close the demon gate and follow his love for Xaio Fei. If you enjoy paranormal books, I definitely recommend this story! Jade Lee’s constant action without too much detail is definitely worth the read (love authors who write like that!). The story kept going and I could barely put it down. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ I reached out to Jade Lee and she was an absolute sweetheart! She was nice enough to do an interview to go along with this post about Seduced by Crimson. Being able to interview authors is a definite highlight of my blogging career. Especially authors that I will be meeting at AAD NOLA! Jade Lee has also been kind enough to include a link to a FREE download of her novella Engaged in Wickedness. Hope you enjoy this interview with Jade Lee!

Obscured Vixen: How long have you been writing? Jade Lee: I started out thinking I would be a great screenwriter. Got an MPW (Master of Professional Writing) at USC (Univ. of Southern California) specializing in screenwriting. That was in 1988. Let’s just say Hollywood wasn’t very receptive to me at the time! So I switched into my first love—romance novels—originally to make myself feel better about all the rejections I was getting on my screenplays. And frankly, that’s when I really learned how to write. So, there you go. I’ve been seriously writing since the mid eighties when I had big plans. Delusional plans, but they were big! OV: In Seduced by Crimson, a Draige-Uisge and a Phoenix Tear are trying to seal a demon gate. Where did you get this idea from? JL: The demon gate concept was Liz Maverick’s idea. She is the one who conceived of Crimson City, the Series. And it was a great idea! I was fortunate enough to be brought into the multi-author series and was told I had to write the invasion from the demon world into Earth. At the end, I had to seal the gate—almost—because her follow up book Crimson Rogue had to deal with the last 1% of the gate that was open. As for the druid concepts and the Phoenix Tear, um… well, who knows where my brain goes. I had a tight deadline on this book and I just went into a frenzy of GET AN IDEA! Eventually I landed on those, and I think it worked out pretty well! I love Seduced by Crimson and think it’s one of my best! OV: I definitely think so! Xiao Fei is Cambodian, and a lot of her actions revolve around this. Are you Cambodian? Did you write this from life experience? JL: I am not Cambodian, but I had just taken a wonderful trip with my Chinese mother through the South China sea. We spent a fabulous time in Cambodia at Angkor Wat. It’s a temple that used to be Hindu, but now houses Buddhist monks. I was fascinated. I started researching the legends portrayed on the walls and eventually that led to the pieces you see in Seduced by Crimson. I have to tell you that originally (in my mythology) the Khmer Rouge was led by a demon, but my editor was very nervous about putting something like that in print even though this was a fictional book. So, we ended up taking out that aspect of the mythology. OV: You also write as Kathy Lyons and Katherine Greyle. JL: Katherine Greyle was my first penname, and the name I thought I was going to write under forever. (My real name is VERY unromantic sounding). But Kathy Greyle wrote traditional, sweet regencies. Can you say, behind the curve? Yeah, turns out that sex sells. Who knew? And even more surprising, I have a talent for writing very sexy, sensual stories. [OV: that she does, folks!] So when I tried out my hand at writing sexy, my editor loved it. He bought Devil’s Bargain immediately (still one of my bestselling books), and then told me to take a new name. Anyone who loved Kathy Greyle would be shocked by Jade Lee. So, I became Jade Lee (I was preparing to write the tigress series, set in Shanghai, China, so he encouraged me to take an Asian name. I didn’t that Jade Lee is also the name of the lead Asian porn star. Oops). Anyway, Jade Lee was born and Kathy Greyle faded away. Eventually I started writing for Harlequin, but my editor there suggested that for my non-Asian Blaze books, I should take a non-Asian name. So Kathy Lyons was born and she writes Harlequin Blaze books—sexy, contemporary FUN! OV: Have you ever written anything, then reread it and thought, “Wow! That was great!” JL: Sometimes. I have to get some real distance from the book. Like years. Then I’ll pick up the story for some reason or another and surprise myself. “Oh look at that!” I’ll say. “I was clever here!” But it’s rare. Usually—especially during the galley stage—I read the manuscript and think, OMG, this book is going to tank my career. It’s awful! OV: Which of your works are you most proud of and why? JL: That’s a hard question to answer. I love and hate each book in different ways. My newest Bridal Favors series is so much fun because I’m finally bringing my sense of humor into the regency period. The first book is Wedded in Scandal and if you want to see a funny excerpt, check it out on my website – http://jadeleeauthor.com/books/bridal-favors-series/wedded-in-scandal . It was a real joy going back to my regency roots and mixing that Kathy Greyle humor with the Jade Lee sensuality. The sequel book Wedded in Sin is a favorite because of the hero. I wanted to write Sherlock Holmes being flattened by love. So I created Samuel who lives completely in his very brilliant mind. And then he starts falling in love and hasn’t a clue what to do. The challenge with this book is that I suck at mysteries. Seriously, I’m terrible at them. Mostly because I don’t care about the mystery. I wanted to see Sherlock fall in love. So I kept pulling out the mystery elements because I was terrible at writing them. It ended up being very simple, and I had to swear to my best friend Elizabeth Hoyt that I would never write a mystery again! So don’t look to me if you want a mystery! But if you want to see Sherlock Holmes, flattened by love, then Wedded in Sin is your book! And as an extra enticement, your readers can pick up the prequel novella Engaged in Wickedness for FREE! Yes, FREE! Just click on this link, read and follow the directions (they’re pretty simple), and bam, you’ll get the novella! http://jadeleeauthor.com/engaged-in-wickedness-free . OV: Thanks so much for that! As an Author After Dark featured author, what are you most looking to? JL: Fun! I’ve never been to AAD, and I hear it’s a hoot! So come find me! I’ll have special giveaways for anyone who wants one. And frankly, I just want to hang out, gab, and have a ton of fun! Seriously, come find me! Tell me you read this interview and see if I can’t find something special just for you!

Other Author Interviews & Book Reviews:

• Blood Rights, by Kristen Painter (AAD NOLA Author)
• Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel (AAD NOLA Author)
• Tantalize: Kieren’s Story, by Cynthia Leitich Smith
• Author Spotlight: Cameron Dane
• City of the Falling Sky, by Joseph Evans

Author Spotlight: Cameron Dane

2008, 2010 & 2011 CAPA nominee for Favorite Erotic Author

Anyone who has ventured into the world of erotica gets sucked in and never turns back. My favorite erotica story of all time is Fallen by Cameron Dane. Here’s a blurb: Cain Hawkins is a master at suppressing his desires. After all, he’s been doing it for over one hundred years. Cain is a Naverto demon, and to desire another man is more than forbidden, it is an act that will bring about his execution. Luke Forrester dreams of a place where he can work with the horses that he loves so much. The fact that he’s had a crush on Cain Hawkins for more than two years threatens everything. But Luke’s determined not to screw things up. He will do the work and prove to Cain that it wasn’t a mistake to hire him, and he won’t allow the fact that he desires something more with Cain to interfere with his work one bit. But working and living in such close proximity can test the best of intentions, and when one kiss leads to something much, much more, Cain must open himself in a way that he never has before. Dane is by far one of my favorite erotica authors. I’ve spent many nights staying up much later than I should with Dane’s amazing books. Her erotic romances stand out above others because of the amazing character stories. You immediately feel for and fall in love with Dane’s characters, and can’t help put become addicted to these books. Dane’s Hawkins Ranch/Quinten, Montana series is my favorite. The Hawkins brothers are Naverto demons and start a ranch in Quinten, Montana to try and live a normal life. Each book in the series is about a different Hawkins brother or a member of their ranch and their quest for romance. The characters are complex and amazing, and the sex scenes are off the charts! If you enjoy erotica, I highly recommend this series. Dane’s m/m stories are my favorites. M/M stories are my guilty pleasure, and I just can’t get enough! I’ve read dozens of m/m stories by different authors, and none compare to hers. The relationships are realistic and not forced, like most m/m stories I’ve read. They’re genuine, pull you in, and you can’t help but devour these books. For any erotica junkie out there, check out Cameron Dane’s books at www.camerondane.com. Click here to check me out in my Hawkins Ranch tshirt! I’m Monica from New York : ) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Cameron Dane was nice enough to do an interview to go along with this post. Being able to interview one of my favorite authors was a definite highlight in my blogging career! Dane is so sweet, and an all around awesome person. Any reader that loves erotica or authors that writes erotica, you need to read this interview! Hope you enjoy this interview with Cameron Dane!

Obscured Vixen: How long have you been writing? Cameron Dane: Oh, for a lot of years. I always loved writing assignments when I was a kid. Yep, that geek in the corner of the classroom was me. I’ve been dabbling with writing romance novels for probably close to twenty years. Back then I wasn’t writing every day, though; I would just tackle a story when it felt like inspiration hit me. I got serious about writing about eight or nine years ago. Then about five years ago I buckled down and went full throttle, balls to the wall (so to speak) and set myself a one year goal to have a contract to show for all of the hard work I’d been putting into this thing I loved so much. I met that goal with a month to spare when Loose Id offered me a contract for Falling. OV: What made you want to start writing erotic romance? CD: I’ve adored romance novels my whole life. It’s the broad genre I’ve always read, even when I was a young girl. The first romance novels I wrote (never published) were actually geared to be mainstream contemporary romance novels. But as I looked back through the books I’d written I realized I spent pages and pages on one sex scene, and that they were more explicit than most mainstream romance novel sex scenes were at the time. I also found myself interested in writing male/male love stories, and there really wasn’t a place in traditional romance publishing for me to submit a love story between two men. At that point I reevaluated where I was trying to get my foot in the door and started looking at e-book publishers. Once I started looking through the titles available at publishers like Loose Id I felt in my gut that I’d found a world where I could write the stories that lived inside my head. From that point on I didn’t try to censor what I wrote in any way — particularly the sex scenes. OV: Your stories are a mixture of paranormal and non-paranormal stories. Which do you prefer to write? CD: This will sound like a cop out of an answer, but I love writing both. Although I tend to think of my paranormal books more along the lines of having what I call ‘paranormal elements’ rather than a full out paranormal world where I set my characters to fall in love. Anything otherworldly in my paranormal books takes a supporting role to the romance. OV: You write all types of erotic stories: M/F; M/M; menage. Which is the most fun to write? CD: I like mixing it up, and I love them all, but I admit that I am a sucker for two men falling love. But while I adore the m/m genre, I can’t imagine never writing a m/f story again. I had a blast with Lucien and Sophie in A Perfect Storm Rising, and I’m very much looking forward to eventually writing Maddie and Wyn’s story from the Seeking Redemption series. And while ménages are a challenge, because I’m always trying to stay mindful of making each person in the trio feel loved, needed, and important to the group, I’m always extremely satisfied when I tackle one and feel like I successfully put into words what I saw in my head. Each one gets me excited in its own way, and I’m thankful that so far I’ve had publishers who are open to all of them. OV: Have you ever written a scene, reread it, and thought, “Wow. That was perfect.” Something that was an unexpected surprise? CD: Hmmm… There are scenes in every book that make me happy when I go back to read them, but I’m anal and so I guess there are always a few small things I’d like to tweak if given another shot at it, even if it is only rearranging a few words here and there so that a sentence feels like it reads more smoothly. But even though technical things I might want to tweak irk me a bit, I always feel good about my characters in the end. I never wish I’d gone back in and made them behave differently or do something different or just be different in some way other than which I wrote them. They speak to me pretty loudly, and I feel like I have a clear sense of who each person is, and so I never second guess or wish I could have a second shot at showing who a character is. And that feels good. Scenes that stick out for me in each book and make me happy when I go back and read them… In Falling when Cain tells Luke he loves him always gets to me when I reread it; When Connor tells Cassie how deeply he loves her in Demon Moon feels good when I read it; in ReneCade, I like the first time Cade and Ren kiss on the side of the road, and I like how Cade is with his puppy Crash; I pretty much love everything Mack says in Quick to the Hunt (and although it wasn’t meant to be, I would have adored if Mack could have met Hunter and they could have talked); in Ride I like how hard Duke fights his feelings for this younger woman, and how he succumbs to her the first time they kiss; I also loved the scenes I got to write in Risa’s POV when she’s riding a bull; there is a moment in A Fostered Love, where Jonah is vulnerable and standing by the front door, and Christian can see it and runs straight into his arms — I like that bit quite a lot; for some reason it hits me in the gut when I read it; in Becoming Three I love the first time Jace and Sarah have sex, and then I love the moment where Sarah presses Jasper and he admits to admiring and having feelings for Jace, as well as once feeling an attraction to Caleb; and finally I like when Jace and Jasper are still working out their feelings for each other and Sarah, and because of that the two men each try to stake claims on this woman they both want and have a heated discussion about it one morning; I really love the kitchen scene at the end of Grey’s Awakening; in The Sweetest Tattoo I like how gentle John is when he takes care of Kelsie’s sunburn; when Adam comforts Rhone through his bedroom door in Finding Home makes me smile, and then in Saying I Do right at the start when Adam asks Rhone to marry him makes me happy; I get misty over the emails Marek sends to Colin in Dreaming in Color; in A Perfect Storm Rising I like when Lucien thinks he’s revealed too much, and he’s vulnerable, and to hide it he has Sophie do something sexually aggressive to him; In Aidan & Ethan I like the first flashback to when they officially meet as teenage boys, when Ethan sees Aidan in a tough situation and not only come to his aid but offers him a chance at friendship; for Devlin & Garrick I get hot flashes the final time the two men have sex in the flashback scenes in the motel room, before Devlin has to leave San Francisco; I still get tingles the first time Jake takes Caleb, exposing such raw vulnerability in each of them, in Knowing Caleb; I love the absolute openness of Nate in Breaking Logan’s Laws when he starts to crack and show Logan how much he cares by giving Logan the therapy pillow he’d purchased for Logan so long ago; I still smile when Kasey gets Canin over the hood of a car and pleasures him in a sex club parking lot in The Ultimate Kink; in Something New I really like the moment where Rodrigo cracks a bit and opens up to this new father he’s only recently learned existed, and I like when Abby is able to confront the murderer of her parents, and I love the two scenes that show how much Braden still loves and values his previous boyfriend Ben even though their relationship didn’t work out. Actually, what Something New became was the biggest unexpected surprise of any story for me. When I first introduced Abby and Rodrigo in A Fostered Love I thought they’d be a duo. But then Braden showed up, and he looked at them both with such heat I immediately realized they were supposed to be a threesome. Then, up to the point of writing the first words of Something New, I thought there would be a completely different plot. I’d written down some notes about what I’d thought was Abby’s history, and I thought I had a pretty good idea of how her story would unfold. Then, literally with the first words of the prologue I typed, I saw an entirely different childhood for Abby and a completely new story started coming out with each word I typed. That was surreal, but I just went with it, and by the end I had the story that became Something New.Which of your stories are you most proud of? That’s a tough one too. I’m proud of all of them in different ways. I’ll always have a soft spot for Falling and Cain and Luke because I got my first contract offer for that book, even though Demon Moon is the first in the series. I had to wait a long time for Caleb to open up and tell me his story, so when he finally did it was extremely rewarding to write. Dreaming in Color was the first (and only) book I ever wrote where I had a contract without a word of the book being written; that was terrifying and exhilarating. I lived with Marek and Colin on that little island in Fiji nonstop while telling their story. I wrote that book with a deadline in record time. I’d never tackled a ménage or such a complex plot for a book before writing Becoming Three, so I think back on Jace, Sarah, and Jasper with lots of fondness. But I think if I had to choose one book that still gets me in the gut, even when I just think about it, it would be Quick to the Hunt. The subject matter was dark and intense and stayed with me for a very long time after finishing the book. I still think about Alex and Hunter, but most particularly Hunter. I could so feel Hunter’s pain and struggle in my head and heart, and I didn’t want to minimize it or make it feel trivial. I still think about and wonder if I successfully conveyed everything he lived through fighting in two wars, as well as the emotional and psychological toll it took on him in the aftermath as he tried to assimilate back into a normal life. I hope I did, but I don’t know for sure. OV: Have you written any stories or scenes based on personal experiences, or things you would like to experience? CD: Afraid not. At least not in a literal sense I can pinpoint. I think things I love are often used in stories, such as cabins tucked away in mountains or sprawling ranch properties with cowboys with the land etched into their souls. I like mysteries so I create one every so often when it feels like it makes sense for the story. The house Christian and Jonah are renovating in A Fostered Love is based on my late grandmother’s house; she had a Cuban heritage and an accent I can remember to this day, and so the foster mother Mari is very loosely based on my memories of my own abuela. I’ve never been in the military but my father served for a quarter century, and so I guess I can relate more to Sarah’s position as a sister to Hunter than to Hunter himself; her pride in how he served with honor is familiar to me. I think maybe something of Abby’s view/evolution regarding her feelings/thoughts about religion are similar to mine, but not exact — and I definitely didn’t have the childhood relationship with God/church that she did. Then I’ll throw small little nuggets in, such as a baseball cap for a sports team I might like, or an animal that has a connection to one I once had, or maybe a food I like…stuff like that. But always in connection to a character where it would make sense in his/her life. OV: Have you had any issues with publishes or editors trying to censor your work? CD: I’ve been very blessed in that I haven’t had to deal with anything like that. And I had a few moments in a number of books where I was worried I might. There is an extended violent scene of torture in Falling. With it being my first book I was terrified that as part of the contract I might be asked to dial it back. I had settled in my head and heart beforehand that I’d have to refuse the contract if I was asked to do such a thing, because I saw the scene as incredibly important to the story, but thank God Loose Id never even commented on it, let along suggested I tweak it. I had the same worry with ReneCade and the infidelity in the story. That is pretty darn taboo in romance novels, and I was worried it would not be okay. I again knew I couldn’t take it out, and I sat chewing down my fingernails while waiting to hear about a contract, but as before Loose Id was awesome and never mentioned it. Then just recently I was concerned about the detailed violence in Quick to the Hunt, and that it might be too much and too explicit. But I should know better by now, and Loose Id was fine with it. I guess I’m a worrier by nature, or I like to look ahead and plan for the ‘what if’s’ but so far I haven’t had to choose. I’ve always been able to keep the darker and more violent parts that exist in some of my books. OV: What genres do you enjoy reading? CD: I admit that more than twenty years later I’m still a sucker for a romance novel the same way I was when I was a kid. I still like a mix of mainstream romance (I lean toward the Regency set historical genre in the traditional print world) and erotic romance in all genres, but I lean toward the cowboy stories or the historical or the opposites attract or the friends to lovers type tale the most. I like Linda Howard, JL Langley, Lisa Kleypas, KA Mitchell, Lorraine Heath, Lynn Lorenz, Anne Stuart, Qwillia Rain, Kate Douglas, Ava March, Gaelen Foley, TA Chase, Julia Quinn, Hank Edwards, Sabrina Jeffries, Evangeline Anderson, Suzanne Enoch, Laura Baumbach, Karen Hawkins, Tere Michaels, Julie Garwood, and Emma Holly to name a few. There are many more, but I always draw a blank on some and then kick myself for not remembering afterward.

Other Author Interviews & Book Reviews:

• Blood Rights, by Kristen Painter
• Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
• Tantalize: Kieren’s Story, by Cynthia Leitich Smith
• City of the Falling Sky, by Joseph Evans

Book Review, Author Interview + Giveaway: The Golden Sky, by EC Stilson

The Golden Sky, by EC Stilson
5 stars

Book Blurb

The “death home” gave my son a really nice funeral, the kind I’d never wished to attend. When they tried closing his casket, I nearly fell on my face, not wanting them to shut the lid on my baby.

We lost it after that, totally cemented in our grief. Cade got into drugs, joined a rock and roll band, and even grew out his damn hair. At the time, I was sick of “the oatmeal option” (the only food we had), so I kicked Cade out of the house, and started modeling and working as a diesel mechanic. That was how I met Earl, an old man and unlikely best friend; the “big sag,” a middle aged woman who still flashed folks; my neighbor, the stripper next door, and “The Cowboy,” a man who fell in love with me.

It was slow at first, but Cade reverted back to the man I’d busked with years before. It wasn’t until I killed a rogue skunk, and my daughter nearly choked on a fry, that I gave my husband another chance. But could our marriage recover from the death of our son?

Book Review

Any book that starts with a note to readers like this you know is going to be good: “Before taking this journey, know that you hold my journal in your hands. It’s raw and real. Every word is precious, written through the honest eyes of youth. At the age of nineteen I turned to pen and paper, my only confidants. I then reread my journal and perfected it, by making minor revisions, when I was twenty-six. Yes, I was young. Yes, it was hard, but still, I was about to begin the journey of a lifetime, and see that after every storm, there is a golden sky.”

It’s hard for me to say that this book was ‘good,’ because it was a total tear jerker and I felt terrible for the characters, but I couldn’t put it down!  This is the only memoir I’ve read that I’ve enjoyed. I quickly fell in love with this book.

EC Stilson shares her journal with the world during the toughest part of her life. The Golden Sky is written in the style of a journal and flowed very smoothly.  I’ve read other books where authors have tried to accomplish this, and EC Stilson accomplishes this beautifully.

While pregnant, Elisa finds out that her son will possibly be born with a birth defect.  The further along she gets in her pregnancy, it is confirmed that her son will be born with complications. Elisa’s son, Zeke, is born with major organ problems and has extensive surgery to try and correct this.  After a short time, Zeke’s poor little body shuts down.  After the death of her son, the stress on her family is launched to extremes and Elisa’s life literally hits rock bottom. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, they do. Elisa is taking care of her daughter with extremely little money, working two jobs, and ends up separating from her husband.

To read Elisa’s brutally honest account of this time in her life was extremely refreshing.  And knowing that this was actually a true story caused me to feel for all of the ‘characters’ that much more.

I can honestly say that Elisa is one of the strongest people that I’ve ever spoken with. I am proud to say that I was able to work with her, and read her amazing story.  Elisa kept her focus on the positive things in life, rather than crashing and burning like most people might.  Being through a rough situation myself, I know how hard it is to carry on when your life is thrown in a completely different direction.  I look up to Elisa, and respect her more than I could ever say. Reading her book and the thoughts that were going through her head made me feel better about my situation.  I highly recommend this book to anyone that has been through a hard time in their life.  And I’m not talking about a ‘rough patch,’ but literally having your life stop at a stand still.

One of the main thoughts Elisa has throughout this book is that no one understands her situation, because no one knows exactly what she is going through.  I felt the same exact way for so long. It was therapeutic to know that my thoughts were not selfish, and that another person was having the exact thoughts I did.

I cannot write enough praising this book telling you how good this story is.  It is touching, extremely well written, and definitely relate-able.   Thank you, Elisa, for writing this beautiful piece of work!

Author Interview

The Obscured Vixen:  Thank you so much for doing this interview! Was it hard writing all of this personal information down on paper?
EC Stilson:  Writing everything helped. I still remember when Zeke was going through a surgery which would save his life. I felt like I was losing my mind, but just writing things down as I waited really made things better. My journal helped me cope with everything. I love how I write “journal” even though many of the entries were on napkins, paper place mats, or other things I found at the hospital. It was such a frantic time of my life, I’d just write on whatever I could find.
What was hard, was reading back through my own writing and making revisions for editors. I’ve read it twelve times now and the last time I didn’t even cry. Maybe that shows I’ve healed or I’m so used to reading the details of what happened, they don’t make me as sad now. It’s interesting though, what the process has been of reading this over and over–maybe it has been good for me.

TOV:  What made you want to share your story with the world?
ECS:  When my son died, I searched for reading material, but everything I found was written by doctors and therapists. Six years after my loss, I read my own journal. I’d forgotten most of what happened–pushing it as far away as I could. But through reading my own experiences, I felt like I could forgive myself, remember that it was okay, and move on. I hoped it might be the same for others.
I sent it to a few doctors and organizations, and they agreed it could help many people. One doctor (who endorsed it) even said it was fascinating to read the exact details of what a patient might go through. She felt more empathy for people she helped! That’s when I decided I would share my story.

TOV:  How did your family and friends mentioned in the book feel about your story being published?
ECS:  Many of them were very supportive. My husband has been the biggest support, which is amazing since in the book he doesn’t always shine in the brightest light. He said that although he wishes he could change things, that’s what happened, and it shows how grief affects people differently.
We had friends who got divorced because of a similar situation. My husband said if the woman had read my book she may have realized her husband was grieving and needed her love and support more than ever.
I had to contact everyone written about in the journal. Only two people requested to have their names changed. After that, I ended up changing almost everyone’s names just to protect their identities.
On a side note, a few family members (who aren’t even in the journal) have opposed this from the beginning. They said I’m sharing far too much of myself with the world. I obviously disagree though. If this story can help just one person, it needs to be shared.

TOV:  Has your family read the book? If so, what are their thoughts?
ECS:  My husband, brother, sister-in-law, aunt and mother have read the book. They all said they had a hard time reading it because it brought back such strong memories. But on the other hand, they said it was good knowing what I went through personally. We’ve had many late night conversations about it. I’m just so glad I wrote everything down because I never would have remembered all of these details later.
My mom said she had no idea all we had to eat was oatmeal.
Cade said he didn’t realize how much I still loved him.
My aunt said she didn’t realize what a hoot I am.
It’s hilarious the feedback I’ve gotten.
Other members of my family refuse to read it because they said it’s just too painful to remember everything. I don’t blame them. The first time I reread my journal, it was really hard.

TOV:  Now that Ruby is older, does she still remember Zeke? And what does she think about the book?
ECS:  Ruby is almost ten now. She remembers Zeke’s funeral, but not much other than that. I think her other memories are mostly from what we’ve told her.
When Zeke died, a wonderful organization took his main blanket and made it into a teddy bear. Ruby keeps that on her bed along with my book as a tribute to her brother.

TOV:  Did everything in the book actually happen? And were they real entries in an actual journal of yours?
ECS:  Everything in the book happened.
One thing that was interesting is that after Zeke died, I took all of the memories from his life and shoved them into a box. When I had healed enough to reread everything six years later, Cade (my husband) had to help me put the papers/napkins/place mats (I’d written on) and journal into chronological order. That was hard because there were a lot of entries I’d written on random things. But after MANY days we were able to get the entries where they needed to be.
I had to edit everything though, because I’d used the word “really” way too much. I also used to write “would of” instead of “would have.” But other than small revisions, that’s how it happened and was written.
There were other entries that I took out because they didn’t progress the story or were even more personal than things I left for the reader.
In addition to this, the box held many pictures from times written about in this book. I’ve decided to release those pictures for people to see on my website. I’m also going to include a link where people can donate to Angel Watch (the great organization that helped me after Zeke died).

TOV:  At the end, you include a snippet of what seems to be another book. Will you be publishing another book?
ECS:  I have two more books lined up for publication. The first one is a YA fantasy called “The Sword of Senack.” That book will come out on February 2nd, 2012. It’s the bedtime story I told Ruby after Zeke died. Although she didn’t remember everything about him, even years later she had a hard time with the concept of death. For a kid it’s hard realizing we will all die someday–it’s still a hard realization for most adults. So, I told her that story to help her understand why Zeke had to leave. In “The Sword of Senack” I call him Jack and he goes away, far into the ocean for his one true love.
The other book I’ve written is called “Bible Girl.” It’s the story of why I ran away at the age of seventeen. That book will be released on April 21st, 2012. I’ve already received wonderful endorsements for that book and I’m actually quite excited to have a prequel to “The Golden Sky.”

For more information on EC Stilson and her work, follow her here:

• Goodreads:
  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12962555-the-golden-sky
  
• Website: www.ecwrites.com [follow this! her blog is awesome.]
• Facebook:
  http://www.facebook.com/ecwrites
  
• Twitter: 
  http://twitter.com/#!/ECwrites
  

Giveaway Details

This giveaway has ended. Thank you to all who entered!

EC Stilson has been generous enough to offer a copy of ‘The Golden Sky.’