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Guest Post: Author Steve McHugh

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:04:00 +0000

I'd like to introduce my friend, Steve McHugh...a fellow writer who I've come to know through my writing group, the OWG (Rebels Rule! Woo!)

Steve has a new book out called Crimes Against Magic and he's here today to talk a little bit about writing those dreaded sex scenes. Enjoy :-)

Although a massive generalisation, it’s very quickly become apparent to me that women write better sex scenes then men. I can think of, at a push, three male writers who write excellent sex scenes in their books. I can think of at least a dozen women, right off the top of my head who do the same.

Now, of course there are women who can’t write sex scenes either, but even so, the odds are firmly in the female court.

So, it was with a little trepidation that it became apparent that my first book, Crimes Against Magic, was going to have sex in it. This was a problem for one reason. My sex scenes were dreadful. They read a little bit like an educational sex talk given by a teacher for whom the word ‘sex’ should never leave their mouth. They were dry, dull and quite frankly about as sexy as wet cardboard.

So, I tried spicing them up a bit and found a new problem. They now sounded like a porn film. All I needed to do was add a handlebar moustache and have the main character come to check on the woman’s boiler, fridge, cooker, pluming and I’d have had a career in writing truly terrible sex scenes. It’s something to think about if this whole ‘published author’ thing doesn’t work out.

So I needed to re-work it again. And this time I found some good advice. Apparently, I’m pretty good at writing action scenes. So, why not try writing a sex scene in the same way? Everyone writes action scenes in their own way, but I tend to map out where everyone is and what they’re doing, or going to be doing.

Applying it to a sex scene was actually straight forward. Instead of several people all in the same place I only had to deal with two (although, your mileage may vary). So, I wrote it as if it were an action scene, or a fight. Once I had the backbone for it, I found it much easier to go through it and make it ‘sexier’, but having that base was necessary for me.

Since that first time, I’ve found it much easier to switch into ‘sex scene mode’ for writing and can usually manage it without the need for the clinical part first. I’m never going to write the greatest sex scenes of all time, but I hope I’m no longer in the same bracket as some of the truly terrible ones.

Steve McHugh is the author of Crimes Against Magic. An urban fantasy set in modern day London with Historical flashbacks to early fifteenth century France.

Avaliable from :

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Blog - http://stevejmchugh.wordpress.com

Books, Books, Books!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:48:00 +0000

So, here you are, folks...this is the staircase leading up to my "writing loft" (that I never use for writing). Notice the pile of books I have there...it's dangerous going, let me tell you. I've tripped on numerous occasions...and it's nothing compared to the hundreds of books of have in the loft. My husband calls these the ugly books...you see, he collects leather bound books --la dee da (I love you, hehehe ;-) and claims that mine are not fit for public viewing. He also jokes (but not really) that the weight of all of my books in the loft will one day bring the whole house down. We live in a century home (1895ish) so this is not a joke I like...especially with all of the creaking that happens at night when the house settles. Despite the fact that he bought me an ereader last year, I still gravitate toward the "ugly" books and worse, even though I will loan them out (some but not all) I insist on getting them back. I loath giving up my books permanently. I have mentally catalogued any books that I've lost (have not been returned) and will NOT loan to those book thieves again.

I, Angela Addams, am a book hoarder. I am.

I love the smell of books...yes, I am the kind of person who cracks a book open just to inhale the book smell. I love the feel of books...I have been caught caressing my books. I love the look of them...even my husband's clunky leather bound ones that get the honoured spots on the "nice" shelves in his office. I love them. Book stores excite me, embarrassingly so.

This is not an I hate e-books rant...I'm an e-book author, for goodness sake...and I love my e-reader as well...(I can hoard loads more books on my Kobo...LOADS). But I thought, in the face of this e-book revolution, that I'd give a shout out to the lowly little paperback (hardcover, trade, whatever) and confess my undying love for all of the books I house in my attic.

My Sweetest Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:42:00 +0000

I overheard a conversation the other day that got me thinking. It was a conversation about some Oprah book...something about a Secret...something about the power of positive thinking...I'm sure many of you know what I'm talking about. I haven't read the book, but I understand enough about the principle to get by.

Now, I tend to be a glass is half empty kind of gal...some might say pessimist...realist...whatever...when I focus on myself, I usually veer toward the negative. I can be the biggest cheerleader for everyone else but deep down, for me, I'm usually expecting the worse...it's hard to be disappointed in people that way. Not great, I know.

This conversation I overheard got me thinking about my sweetest dream as writer...I desperately desire to hold my own book in my hand one day...like a paperback...(or hardcover) copy of my own written word. My journey toward this dream has been a slow one and at times (especially lately) I've gotten pretty disheartened, despite the progress I've made. I've seen so many of my writer friends get their own books in print...tucked back my jealousy at seeing their hands curled around those precious copies...all the while longing for it to happen to me.

I'm not one to buy into pseudo-psychology mumbo jumbo...I don't read self-help books or "secret" Oprah picks...but I will tell you something...that conversation reminded me that sometimes you've got to take a chance and put yourself out there...sometimes you've got to give yourself over to the positive side.

So...I've got this dream to hold a printed copy of my own book in my hand one day and from this moment on that is the only reality I am thinking of.

It. Is. Going. To. Happen.

I promise you that.

The Unlikely Romance Writer

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:02:00 +0000

It's kind of ironic that I've found such passion for writing about love and romance considering that I'm one of the least romantic people around. That's right, it's confession time --Angela Addams does not do romance in real life...all that corny, lovey-dovey, hearts and flowers crap makes me want to barf...seriously...my husband has it easy...I don't like flowers (they just die and make a mess anyway), I'm not big into remembering anniversaries and whatnot, Valentine's Day? Yeah, not really a big deal to me (other than for the kids)...I don't insist on over the top public displays of affection (I mean, I like holding hands and stuff ;-) but some couples...well, let's just say no one wants to or needs to see that kind of thing ;-P )

So why do I write in a genre that centres around such things?

I write about passion and lust and magnetism...and that I believe in. That I've felt. I write about characters who find their soul mates, their best friend, their other half...I write about the real stuff...the fights, the down and dirty, the need and want and desire. In my stories the love is there --it's obvious, it's perfect in and of itself...but I make my characters work for it. I do that because in real life love and relationships are things you have to work at -hearts and flowers are not going to fix everything all the time --Valentine's Day...it only comes once a year.

I might cringe and gag when I see or read over the top romantic nonsense but only because, to me, that isn't the real thing...that's smoke and mirrors and fantasy. When I write an erotic romance I write it with the real thing in mind --two people, drawn together, unable to stay apart who have to work to make it work. Two people who cherish each other. That's what romance is to me. That's the real thing.

Author Interview with J. Thorn

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:44:00 +0000

I'd like to introduce J. Thorn --he graciously offered his expertise a while back when I was struggling with some music industry info --straight from the source is always the best kind of research to do, in my opinion, and J stepped up with some vital tid bits. So I thought you'd all like to meet my new rock star buddy --who also happens to be a writer ;-)

1) While reading your collection of short stories, I often found myself thinking about how lyrical your words were –given your background as a musician, in what way do you think that influences your writing?

I approach storytelling and songwriting (in Threefold Law) the same way. My Twitter bio starts with “crafting stories” and those two words say it all. Some people use a canvas and others use a hunk of clay. I happen to do it with song and prose. If the work does not flow, it’s hard to connect to the reader or listener.

2) What kind of writer are you? Do you plot your stories out? Do you have a particular routine?

I am a writer that thrives on the unknown. I don’t plot my stories. In fact, I rarely know what they’re going to be about until I start writing. I am the first reader and if I’m not entertained I can’t expect anyone else to be. A good friend of mine said it’s like those “pick your own adventure” books you read as a kid and I think that sums up the excitement of channeling the story instead of forcing it into an outline. I will admit that somewhere towards the end of the first draft I’ll identify events that should propel the story to a logical end, but that’s as close to plotting as I get. I have some quirky exercises I use throughout the process of writing a novel and most of those ideas I gleaned from Stephen King’s “On Writing”. But for me, committing to 1500-2000 words a day is critical to writing a novel. Butt in chair; no excuses.

3) How long have you been writing for?

I’ve been writing all my life. I started writing fiction about three years ago. Burden of Conquest was my first novel. I was reading piles of epic fantasy at the time and I had an itch for a world that didn’t necessarily involve dragons and orcs, so I created it. The trilogy is a 175,000 word monster. I’m too stubborn to ease into anything.

4) Why did you decide to go with self-publishing?

I was spending more time querying agents than I was writing. I’m a restless soul and I don’t think I’d have the patience to see my writing move like a snail through the traditional publishing hoops. I’m always open to representation but I think I’ve blacklisted myself by self-pubbing with Amazon.

5) I found that your collection was quite an assortment of genres ranging from psychologically horrifying to mystical and introspective, where does your inspiration come from?

I wrote most of the short stories in Tales From a North Shore in a condensed time frame, a point when I wasn’t sure what my niche was going to be. I think I’ve landed in the psych horror/paranormal camp and that’s probably where my newer works will end up. I get inspired by simple ideas and situations, most of which have to do with the unexplainable. I like coming up with those explanations. (In case you missed it, I did a review of this collection a couple of weeks ago)

6) What are your goals for the future? Where do you want your writing to take you?

The French Riviera! In all seriousness, I’d like to sell enough books to make a modest living. I don’t need much from the material world to be happy. Sharing my craft with others is really important to me as well. I believe the publishing revolution ignited by Amazon provides the best chance at making all of that happen. And world domination. That’s a goal of mine as well.

Wow -- I seem to know quite a lot of people striving for world domination --good luck to you ;-)

Links:

Official page/blog - http://www.jthorn.net/
Amazon author page - http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004ZVF3MK
Twitter - @JThorn_
Threefold Law - http://www.threefoldlaw.com/

Check out The Seventh Seal --Haven't read this one yet but plan too!

The One and Only Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:18:00 +0000

Okay, so I don't normally do book reviews on my blog, but I recently read a collection of short stories by a new writer friend of mine and just had to share.

Tales From a North Shore (Volume 1) by J. Thorn is a selection of some pretty awesome stories. From the psychologically horrific, to introspective, to paranormal and downright spiritual (in a cool way), Thorn manages to dabble expertly in all. His words are lyrical...seriously...as I was reading I could hear a soundtrack for each story. In fact, Thorn has recorded a reading of one of his stories from this collection here (the background music is none other than NIN...my favourite band--click on the Hearts of Ochre vid ;-)

This is an author to keep an eye on, folks...his voice will pull you in and enthral you. I highly recommend checking him out...and checking back in here cause in a couple of weeks I'll be interviewing Thorn, an interview that will have you equally as enthralled.

A Review and a Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:55:00 +0000

This is going to be short and sweet as I am drowning in work and exhausted beyond belief. Going back to work has been a joy (yes, I'm being sarcastic...pity me)

Okay, first, I've got a great review up at Bea's Book Nook...love this one in particular because I got a fantastically emotional response out of Bea, that means my characters got to her.

And, as promised, I have drawn a winner for an e-copy of Going the Distance from last week's comments...and that lucky person is...Anne Michaud! Congratulations, Anne!

That's it for this week --I'm going to be posting every two weeks for the time being until I can get a better handle on things at the day job.

Breaking Through the Blocks

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:02:00 +0000

The other day (okay more like for days) I was having some major “issues” with my current wip. I had an idea of where I wanted to go but the plot was causing me problems. It was frustrating because unlike some writers who are blessed with the ability to just sit down and write, I need some kind of outline. It doesn’t have to be very detailed but it does have to give me a plot point breakdown so I know where I’m going. I didn’t have that for this particular wip and every time I sat down to write I’d eventually hit a roadblock. It was not good.

So in total hair-pulling frustration, while I was sitting fretting about making my word quota for the week, I suddenly had an idea. I decided to list the problems I was having with the plot. In point form, some phrases, some questions, I listed all of the “issues” that were preventing me from moving forward. It looked something like this: But if he does that, what about this…and this character doesn’t have a purpose but needs to, and why did you mention that if you’re not going to use it?

It was a start and it felt awesome to purge. Once I got the problems down I started to brainstorm using a kind of stream of consciousness approach – you know, just rambling on with whatever came to mind as I worked through the problem. Well, in a matter of minutes I had a series of plot points worked out from the roadblock all the way to the end! It was marvelous!

In the past, when I’ve had a problem with a ms, I sleep on it and let my unconscious mind work it out…this time that wasn’t happening –I think the issues were too complicated to sort through in my sleep. This technique worked really well and I’ll definitely use it again. Keep in mind, I’ve only used it once and had success, who knows what may happen next time. Either way, I got through the blockage and have been pounding out the words ever since!

I've got another e-copy of Going the Distance to give away! All you have to do is comment here (and leave a way for me to contact you) and you'll be entered to win! I'll randomly draw a winner next week.

Hunting Vampires with Puppy Power: Guest Post with Julie Campbell

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:36:00 +0000

Angie, thank you so much for having me here today.

I’ve been asked a few times, why a dog? Well, why not? Okay, they’re not quite the traditional vampire hunter but when a Border Collie stares at you with that sheep-herding eye, you know it… and I suspect a vampire would too.

Part of why I picked a dog is because of why I wrote the first Doc story. A fellow author was having a flash contest on her forum and she happens to be a huge dog fan. The prompt was involving vampires. At the time, I’d never had much luck writing flash fiction, but she encouraged me to give it a try anyway. I said I would if inspiration struck. Then one day I was out playing with my Border Collie. She stared at the ball in my hand with her ‘eye’ and, well, inspiration struck. The story was so popular (it won both that round and the grand prize round) that I decided to keep up with the series. Not to mention how much fun it is to write from a dog’s perspective – but that’s a different blog post.

If you think about it, dog’s make great vampire hunters. They don’t really stand out in a crowd, so a human trying to blend in won’t look odd walking a dog. He would look odd walking a big hunting cat, or a wolf, or something else, but not a dog. They are super loyal to their humans and super trainable. You can teach a dog to track a human in the forest, or even in urban settings, so why can’t they track something that has such an obviously different smell. Police dogs are trained to attack on command, so why not vampire-hunting dogs? Different breeds would likely have different styles of assisting their humans. Border Collies use their ‘eye,’ other breeds would likely attack, or chase – like a Grey Hound – or lick them to death, oh wait. LOL. I don’t believe all dog breeds would make good vampire hunters – but certainly breeds traditionally used to hunt or work could be trained to track and possibly even help kill vampires. Dogs also love to have a job. What better job than keeping humans safe?

It’s man’s best friend vs. his worst enemy.

I hope you get a chance to enjoy some of Doc’s stories free on my website

Or check out his new novella.

Bio:
Julie writes fantasy novels. When she’s not out riding her horse, she can usually be found sitting in front of her computer with a cat on her lap and her dog at her side. You can find out more at www.writerjacampbell.com

Links!

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon UK ebook

What a great post! Thanks Julie!

As promised, I've randomly drawn a winner for an e-copy of Going the Distance and that lucky person is...Kyla Holt! Yay! Congratulations, Kyla!

Thick Skin

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:36:00 +0000

You've heard the phrase I'm sure, "Gotta grow some thicker skin..." or something to that effect. In the writerly world, growing thicker skin is directly connected to being critiqued, whether it be by fellow writers, readers or fans. It's an easy enough phrase to spit out, "I've got to grow some thicker skin and stop being such a baby!" but it's damn hard, no, impossible, to just do on command.

In my experience, there are a few phases of "being" that a writer must go through or experience in order to work on developing that thick skin.

Phase one: I've been a part of an awesome writing group for a little over a year and a half now. Before that I'd get crits from well-meaning family members who, although they plead otherwise, really are just biased ego-strokers. Ego-strokers are good and they do serve a purpose. We need those people to point out our talent and stoke our passion for the craft. They are the teachers, the friends, the family members who may not be "experts" in the field but have the sense enough to recognize when someone "has it." The ego-strokers are a great bunch, we like them, they're safe, but if we want to grow as writers then we must leave the nest and venture out to see what the world thinks of our writing. Scary, I know, but absolutely necessary.

Phase two: Finding a CP (crit partner) and or writing group is the next, very necessary step in growing that thick skin. These people are the ledge-talkers...the ones who you trust to talk you off the ledge when you're ready to jump. We ALL want to jump/give up/burn our computers/etc at some point. These people not only offer support but they're good critiquers. They tell it like it is, don't sugar coat and offer constructive feedback that you can actually use. They are there to cheer you on not tear you down. That's not to say you won't disagree with their feedback at times but that's the great thing about putting yourself out there (in a trusted environment) you can take what you will use and toss the rest. The important thing is opening yourself up to being honest with yourself, your work, your strengths and weaknesses and ACCEPTING that one person's opinion is subjective and really, it's your story in the end.

Phase three: Finding a mentor. This is typically a person who is further along in their writing career than you are. Someone who you respect and aspire to be like with regards to writing ability, work ethic, ambition, success, whatever. What has really surprised me the most about this industry is how many mentors are out there, wonderful writers who are willing to offer their support, their time, their opinions just to help a novice writer out. I've had the very fortunate experience of being critiqued twice by an author whom I greatly respect. I've also been critiqued by writers who are further along in their careers and can offer me much needed insight and perspective on my writing. I can't begin to thank these writers for how much they've helped me grow and even if I felt the sting (and I mean STING) of their critiques, it was a necessary trial to undergo on my journey towards becoming a better writer. So if you're lucky enough to find someone who is willing to help you, just know that they wouldn't be doing it if they didn't truly want to help you succeed. Yes, there really are people like that out there.

Growing a thicker skin takes time, it takes honesty with oneself, it takes acceptance, and it usually comes with experience. It's a necessary journey that all writers must venture even if it does hurt like hell at times. Trust me when I say with time it does get easier and you do become less sensitive to the criticism.

I just want to add one thing. I am very leery of anonymous posting and critting...I feel very strongly that if you can't put your name to your opinion then you shouldn't be sharing that opinion and that goes for writing especially. There are, unfortunately, souls out there who are tremendously jealous of anyone who they perceive has more talent or is further along than you are and will use their anonymity to destroy a writer's ego (and we all know how fragile that ego can be). So if you are desperate for critique, enter the public posting forums with extreme caution, a bad experience there can very easily leave your confidence shattered beyond repair.

I've got another e-copy of Going the Distance to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment and a way to contact you and I'll draw a winner next week this time!

I'm on a roll!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:35:00 +0000

Another week has come and gone and I've randomly drawn a winner for an e-copy of Going the Distance from my guest post over at Bea's Book Nook!

And the winner is: BookAttict!

Congratulations!

I've got another interview and contest starting over at author Keri Lake's blog this week. All you have to do is a leave a comment...there or here to be entered to win an e-copy of Going the Distance! I'll randomly draw a winner next week.

And that's it, folks! Hope you all have a great weekend!

A Winner, A Guest Post and A New Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:24:00 +0000

Happy Thursday!

First things first, we have another winner of an e-copy of Going the Distance drawn from the comments left on my guest post last week at Colin F. Barnes blog...and the winner is: Fran! Congrats! Hope you enjoy!

Next, I've got a guest post up at Bea's Book Nook talking about my challenges writing a contemporary erotic romance. Hop on over there and leave a comment and you'll be entered to win an e-copy of Going the Distance! (Don't forget to leave your email address!)

And that's that...short and sweet (which is nothing like me) ;-)

It's Release Day!!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:14:00 +0000

So, today is the official release day for Going the Distance! Yay!!! I really love this story and truly hope you will too! And to make things even better Evernight is having a Boxing Week sale until Dec.30!!! 30% off all e-books!

After an exciting week of blog hopping, I've randomly drawn the first winner for an e-copy Going the Distance and the winner is: Wanda F. Congratulations!

I've got another contest happening over at my friend, Colin F. Barnes' blog...go check it out...leave a comment (and email address) and you're entered to win an e-copy of Going the Distance!

Guest Post: Author Keri Lake: My Decision to Self-Publish

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:50:00 +0000

I'd like to welcome author Keri Lake to my blog this week. I wanted to explore the topic of self-publishing and thought it would be a great idea to get the perspective of someone who has decided to take that journey. I have to say that Keri's post is a truly inspiring one and has given me a lot to think about. So without further ado:

A little over a year ago, I would have laughed at the idea of self-publishing. No way. No how. There really is a stigma associated with it: a guarantee of crappy, pointless writing that lacks everything a real book should have. I follow enough blogs to know what a good portion of the writing community thinks about it. On one side - those believing that they’ll revolutionize the publishing industry. On the other – the second half of writers hating the first for killing the quality of published books. It’s controversial and touchy and one side doesn’t seem to be capable of changing the other’s mind.

So where do I fall?

Well, I guess somewhere in the middle. You see, I didn’t get in to self-publishing to become the next Hocking. In fact, I really hadn’t planned to publish this book at all in the beginning. It started out as a story for my sister; a sort of outlet to the sadness I felt when she moved out of state for a job. But right around the same time I was writing this book, I was dealing with something else – a monster growing inside of me, getting bigger and bigger with each passing day – I was hating my job.

For those who may not have this experience, being the daughter of a business owner is absolute hell. Why? You’re never satisfied with the status quo. And I come from generations of entrepreneurs. My grandfather owned a business (was a Chemist too), and so does my brother. All three of them built their businesses from the ground up. It was amazing to watch my father go from selling products out of our garage, to owning a warehouse and showroom; to see my brother, tucked away in a corner of his 500 sq. ft. apartment with his computer, move to an entire suite in a commercial building. No bosses. No corporate BS or politics. And I wanted this too. The need coursed through my veins, wild and unruly. If they could do it, so could I.

So I decided to start my own business. I bought my LLC, DBA and domain. I researched vendors and had a couple lined up to drop-ship my products. This was it. I was going to leave the world of working drone and become my own boss. Take a risk. Leap without hesitation.

…problem was, my heart wasn’t in it.

I sat down with my brother. It was one of those long, drawn out conversations where the coffee percolates into the late hours and before you know it, the sun’s going to be coming up soon…and you’re still talking. He asked, “Why not sell your book?”

“What?! My book?? Yeah, right. Self-publishing? No thanks.” <
But somewhere between little sleep, too much coffee, my brother’s words playing over and over in my head, I woke up the next morning and decided to do it. He was right. Could I be any more passionate about something in my life? I loved writing, and I had been telling stories since I could first talk.

I finished the book, which was actually the third novel I’d ever written, and sat down with my brother again to come up with a marketing game plan. The cover had to be catchy, but I’m a simple girl. I’m easily drawn to covers with clean, uncluttered images. The website had to be an extension of me and what I love to write – very dark and a bit mysterious. For the book trailer, I wanted the same dark theme, but I wanted it to play like a movie in the viewer’s head, because that’s the way this book has played out in mine. My brother designed all of these.

Finally, I decided that I wanted the interior, the story itself, to be as good as possible. I’m not an editor and I’m a horrible grammarian. When I write, the words simply tumble from my head to paper without much thought. I don’t outline or do anything truly organized. I sit and write – that’s all. It’s a stress-reliever for me. So after my own obsessive sweeps through the MS (which probably didn’t amount to much since it’s darn near impossible to find EVERY flaw in a story you’ve read over and over), I hired an editor.

The truth is, the book probably could have been better if I’d had a team of professionals who’ve been in the business for years working with me, telling me what to cut and what to keep based on innate knowledge of the market. I would probably reach more people. I’d have someone to consult and bounce ideas off of. I could proudly boast an official badge of publication.

I’m still learning, not just the business, but how to become a better writer. Perhaps this book will be the way I imagine Johnny Depp feels, watching episodes of 21 Jump Street. If so, I’m glad. It would mean my writing improved with time.

Readers will find flaws. They will have opinions about what I should have done differently in the story. Some will hate it, others may love it. But writing was only part of the reason I decided to self-publish. Someday I may submit my work to a traditional publisher. I’m certainly not against them. But for now, I can say I did something I set out to do. I built something from the ground up. And for me, that alone has been worth the risk.

You can find Keri Lake at:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Trailer

Goodreads

Amazon

A Chance to Win! Going the Distance

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0000

I've never actually participated in a blog hop before but since this one popped up on my radar and just happened to coincide with my latest release, Going the Distance, I thought there never was a better time to try it out.

In an effort to keep you lovely readers hoping along the chain I thought I'd just keep it short and sweet.

The prize up for grabs is a sexy contemporary erotic novella called Going the Distance and is the second in the Cupid's Conquests series at Evernight Publishing.

He’s been in love with her since they were teenagers, Steph Randall, the most wanted woman on the planet. Pierced by Cupid’s arrow as teens, Ronan fell hard for Steph, he had plans for them, even bought a ring, only to discover that her ambition was stronger than their love. Cupid had failed to win her heart and join the couple. Now Cupid needs to fix things, an incredible boon if he can succeed. All he has to do is show Steph what she is missing.

As an award-winning actress, Steph has a mind of her own and is blinded by her ambition. Yet, for all her money and fame, the only time she truly finds peace is when she is in Ronan’s arms. She thinks that all she needs is a friend with benefits, but with a little Cupid intervention, Ronan suddenly finds that he can’t tolerate it any longer and Steph is forced to choose. What will she risk losing for her ambition? And what is Ronan willing to give up to get his girl?

Contest: To win an e-copy of Going the Distance, all you have to do is leave a comment here with your email address! That's it! Easy peasy! I will draw a winner at the end of the hop!

So go on, leave a comment then be on your merry way to the next blog!

Guest Post by Anne Michaud: Goth at Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0000

I'd like to welcome the lovely, Anne Michaud to my blog this week. Once again, Anne and I have decided to do a little tandem posting about something we both have intimate knowledge of...being goth! You know, wearing black and being evil? Well, if you don't know, then keep reading, cause we're about to enlighten you!

Although we grew up in different provinces, Anne and I have discovered that there really was a lot of overlap in our youthful experiences of being goth and it was more than just a clothing choice. So if you're interested in learning a little bit about Anne, myself, and what it was like being a part of the goth underworld, then keep reading!

Anne: The Crow – In high school, a guy said: hey, did you know The Cure is playing a song in that movie where the dude died while shooting? Then, rumors about NIN covering a Joy Division's Deadsouls reached my little town, and before the movie was out, I knew it'd be major. And it was, enough for me to bare the insignia on my lower back, and to see it 13 times in a movie theatre, buying it when it came out, and being outraged by the sequel and TV series. I still NEED to find that cookie jar with Eric Draven sitting on a tombstone, even if my tattoo has faded with time.

Angie: The Crow - Such a tragic movie, for a number of reasons. I've watched this film a million times and always pause at the part where Eric gets shot...wondering if that really was Brandon Lee's final moments (the actor was killed on set). I love this movie and not just because NIN has a song, an amazing song, in it. I, too, was outraged at the sequel and TV series, there just couldn't be a follow up to such a great film!

Anne: Bauhaus - The first time I heard Bela Lugosi's Dead, I was in a cemetery. We had a party in a close-by house, and someone pumped the volume. The bright moon, the cold tombstones, the crunchy grass – and that scratchy guitar. And then I saw Peter Murphy in a video, falling in love not only for his sharp profile and croaky voice, but forever believing he is the Lestat Anne Rice had written about.

Angie: Bauhaus - I have to admit, not a huge fan...but I do like the song Bela Lugosi's Dead...truly the epitome of gothiness. I remember the first time I heard this song, I was at a bar downtown Toronto (underage) called The Sanctuary...there to watch some banned NIN music videos...the song is so hauntingly beautiful that I actually stopped to listen before heading into the dungeon to view my beloved Trent Reznor scream his lungs out singing Wish.

Anne: Anne Rice – I oh so wanted to be part of this dark world of debauchery, where Man hid the animal within, to be chosen by Louis, Armand – but mostly Lestat. Can I be your Tough Cookie, you fucked up vamp? A rockstar drinking blood, wearing capes and black nail polish, unforgiving and unforgotten (please bite me, dear sir). Vampire don't exist, but whenever I read Rice's prose, for a very short while, I believe they do.

Angie: Anne Rice - I love Rice's books. She made me believe in vampires (seriously, for a while as a teenager I truly wished I was being stalked by a Lestat like character who wanted to make me an immortal) I not only enjoyed reading her books, but as an aspiring writer she really helped open up new worlds of possibilities to me in my creative endeavours. I actually got a chance to speak with her at a book signing in Toronto once...she told me that she loved my hair and that I was very "decadent" looking...which to a goth is the best possible compliment you could ever get!

So there it is! Not enough? Oh well, luckily for you, Anne has a post on her blog with three more gothly things we talked about...check it out!

7 Things You Don't Know About Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

So I was nominated for another one of these sugary sweet awards…this time it’s called One Lovely Blogger Award…and as you all could probably guess, I won’t be posting the picture…this time it’s just too darn pink! So if you want to see it then you can scroll through the chain that begins for me with the folks who nominated me, Lisa and Heidi (actually I think there might have been one other person who nominated me some time ago, but I can’t find that post so if it’s you…thanks, whoever you are;-)

I’m supposed to share 7 things about myself…so here goes.

1) Partly as a big F.U. to a certain someone and partly as a classic Angie move, I wore black and orange striped tights under my wedding dress and flashed the them during the photograph and garter belt portion of the evening.

2) I could, have, and would again, eat an entire package of bacon all to myself. Disgusting, I know, but I love greasy pig ;-)

3) I stopped writing for five years after receiving a major rejection in university from the creative writing program that I so wanted to get accepted to. Turns out that it was a blessing in disguise…getting into that program would have crippled me both creatively and with regards to my future career.

4) I am very flexible…did years of gymnastics as a kid and then years of yoga pre-children. Being extremely bendable is very good.

5) I have been told that when I give my opinion I punctuate it with a silent, don’t effing argue with me tone and look. And usually people heed that warning. Well, the smart ones do anyway.

6) My husband built me this incredible writer’s loft in the attic of our house and I think I’ve only spent maybe two hours actually writing in it…I do most of my work on the couch or in my bed…shameful, I know.

7) I don’t have any brothers or sisters, but I do have a cousin who I am very close with. She and I have perfected a F.U. laugh…when someone says something stupid, unkind or ignorant we have this chuckle...to the unsuspecting person it just sounds like a normal, short, laugh, but dear couz and I both know exactly what it means when we hear it…which then makes us laugh for an entirely different reason.

So that’s it…more facts than you really need to know about me. I’m going to opt out of the tagging portion of this award…I think the chain needs to stop with me…I’ve nominated enough people for other awards in the past month or so and would probably be testing the boundaries of what is blog acceptable if I pass this one on to anyone else.

An Expert’s Take on Writer’s Block

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 +0000

A couple of months ago I had an opportunity to (once again) hear the amazingly talented, Kelley Armstrong give a reading and Q & A session at Toronto’s Word on the Street Festival.

Now, I’ve seen Kelley do readings before and I’ve been to quite a few Q & A sessions with her, but there were a couple of things she said this time around that really resonated with me. I know I’ve talked about writer’s block before and my feelings haven’t changed about it…I don’t think it exists with regards to the “muse” and all that, but I wanted to share Kelley’s opinion on battling writer’s block as I felt she really nailed the causes and solutions for it.

What Kelley said:

1) Never sit down without a plan – She told us that she never sits down to work without knowing exactly where she is going in a ms. She said that she always has a direction and if she gets stuck then she takes a break, goes and does some brainless task and lets her mind fix the problem. Like me, she said that she doesn’t do a detailed outline but definitely knows where she’d going before she actually starts writing anything.

2) Don’t let fear take control – She says that sometimes writer’s block can be caused by folks getting scared of the what if’s…like what if this sucks and what if no one likes it and what if…you get the point. Kelley said: you can’t fix a blank page. If you don’t write something you have nothing to work with…and no matter how bad you think it is, it’s probably not that bad….and if it is, well, then that’s what revising is for.

She said a lot of other things too…but these two points really stuck with me and validated what I already believed about dreaded writer’s block.

Cupid's Conquests

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Some of you may already know this, but about a month or so ago, my writer friend, the talented Seleste deLaney gave a few of us a heads up about a series she had pitched to Evernight Publishing revolving around the adventures/misadventures of Cupid. Her novella, GunShy released a few weeks ago.

So after giving it some thoughts, I wrote up a story idea that had been rolling around in my head for some time (like years actually) about a rock star and his true love...only to discover that my story's premise was almost identical to the one Seleste had written.
(Uncanny coincidence).

I really wanted to be apart of this series, however, so I quickly went back to the idea well and pulled out one that I'd just recently been mulling over. After a few weeks of writing, editing, rewriting...I present you with: Going the Distance...to be released sometime in January!!

And on top of that I just got my cover art. Check out the awesome work of Dara England.

This is Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Halloween is my favorite...FAVORITE...holiday of the year! I love everything from carving my pumpkins to dressing up to going trick-or-treating with the kids and all that is in-between.

I love this holiday so much that my house is decorated for Halloween all year...because everyday is Halloween ;-)

These two pictures are my kitchen...I'm almost certain that whoever installed these cabinets intended the top part to be used for boring plants or something...not in the Addams' house though...

This is a picture of the china cabinet in my dinning room...my prized Wicked Witch dolls along with other Halloween themed goodies.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg...I've got touches of Halloween everywhere in my house...including on my body...6 of my tattoos are connected in some way to Halloween.

So everyday truly is Halloween for me...I live it, breath it...wear it...get totally excited (beyond reason) when I see all of the fun new Halloween goodies I can buy to adorn my house.

I'll be watching The Nightmare Before Christmas (a tradition at my house) while I carve my pumpkin (hopefully with my daughter this year). I'll be roasting the seeds, baking some pumpkin shaped cookies and eating loads of candy with zero guilt.

There you have it...a tiny glimpse into the real world of Angela Addams...hope you all enjoy Halloween as much as I do!

Chatting with author Colin F. Barnes

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Today I’d like to welcome author Colin Barnes to my blog. I thought it might be interesting to get a male perspective on erotic romance, since most times it’s the women who are discussing it.

Colin surprised me by reading two of my erotic romances, Assassin and The Temptress…very different pieces for him to wade into the erotica waters with. I asked him a few questions and here’s what he had to say:

1) What preconceptions did you have about erotic romance before you’d actually read any?

I’m quite open minded, so I wouldn’t say I had a lot of concrete preconceptions. There are quite a lot of different flavors of erotic romance, and some seem to be more interesting than others. For example, the very romantic types make me think they are going to be quite stereotypical with the muscular alpha male being all-heroic, and the fluffy female protagonist being all weak and ‘swoony.’ For more erotic based stories, I thought it would mostly be explorations of female’s fantasies. I certainly didn’t have any overly negative preconceptions.

2) What (if any) new understanding(s) do you have now that you’ve popped your erotica cherry?

I have to be honest; I did once read an erotica book many years ago. It was a Black Lace book about a girl who got it on in graveyards. It was fun but poorly written. As for reading The Temptress and Assassin, both very different stories, I’d say that I appreciate that there is more than just the sexual element explored, especially in Assassin: we see a deep and potentially complicated relationship between the two lead characters. If you took the sex out of the story, it would still hold up as a concise narrative, so I suppose I understand that erotica needs story to support and enhance the sexual/romantic angle, as opposed to it just being there to give space between the sex scenes. Character is also important. I wasn’t expecting the characters to be particularly fleshed out and three dimensional, but was pleasantly surprised to find they were.

3) There is much debate about whether or not erotica is actually porn for women. Would you liken it to porn? Why? Why not?

Well, my own in-depth research has shown that most women do watch and enjoy pornographic material. Not usually to the same extent as men, but it isn’t uncommon. However, women being naturally more empathetic than the male species would probably be more attracted to erotic literature as opposed to dodgy graphic videos. I would call erotica porn for women, but that isn’t to denigrate erotica. It serves two purposes from what I can see: the first being that it supplies an engrossing story and interesting characters, and it stands up as a narrative piece, the second is that does provide the fantasy and sexual relief that porn does for men. I certainly don’t see that as a bad thing.

Where it differs is in the quality and thought behind it. Clearly, erotica is more than just the sex, whereas porn films/magazines is solely sex. So, erotica is an exalted form and has genuine artistic merits.

4) Is there something you think could be done better/more male-friendly?

I’m not so sure the genre has to cater for men specifically. That could potentially weaken the appeal to women if it was masculinized. I’m not one of these people who screams for equality in all things, and I have no problems with certain genres or certain titles aimed at particular demographics. If an author wanted to reach more male readers, then that would be a different issue, and I suppose the main thing that could be done would be a different cover style and blurb content.

Most covers of erotica are quite similar in that they feature a pair of semi-naked people, the man usually has muscles on top of muscles, and the woman in something silky/lacey. Again, nothing wrong with that, but it won’t attract that many men to it. So I think, if attracting more male readers was the aim, then a different approach to the cover art should be the main focus. I can’t comment on the story, as I’ve not read enough to say whether or not they won’t appeal to men.

5) I’ve been told that men are more visual than women. How do you think that plays out when reading erotica?

I’m not sure if that is true. I don’t think the differences are necessarily between being more or less visual, but in pacing. Men are more impatient than women and want to get to the point a little quicker. I’m sure most women have had that experience ;) In all seriousness, from my own personal point of view, I’m likely to be just as interested in story and character than I am in well-described visual scenes of sex. It’s all important, every element must be balanced and crafted to produce a high quality whole.

6) What impact does POV have on your reading experience when it comes to erotica?

A great deal. A male reader is going to find it more difficult to empathize and get engrossed in the story if it’s in the 1st person of a woman. It’s just too much of a jump to relate 100%. If it’s in a more distant narrative, then it’s not so much of an issue, but I’d suggest that for male readers, they are more likely to get engrossed in a book if it’s with a POV they can either relate to or are interested in. That could be a female protagonist who isn’t say an overly emotional internal character. If she is bombastic and has certain male traits, then it makes the relating to the character easier.

7) Often (always) in paranormal romance/erotica, the hero is given certain "attributes" that are very unlikely in real life. As well as the "enlarged" descriptions is the theme of hyper-stamina…what are you thoughts on this? Do you think it would be a deterrent for male readers to read such exaggerated proportions and expectations?

I've got mixed feelings about this. Part of me thinks it's not a good thing to have these exaggerated attributes as it gives some people false expectations and could potentially distort their view of reality. Similar to how the 'enlarged' physical attributes of porn stars and photoshopped magazines covers can effect expectations of viewers.

But, then another part of me thinks that the people reading these books are intelligent enough to realize it's fictional and fantasy, and it would be wrong for me to say that there should be some kind of dumbing down or rationalizing of the characters.

As for it being a deterrent for male readers, then I suppose it could be. Not through feelings of inadequacy, but through a sense of 'typicalness' it's unoriginal and expected, but then it has to be remembered that these stories aren't usually aimed at male readers.
I would however say that I think this applies to exaggerated female attributes too. It's a little stereotypical to read of tall, slim, big-busted blondes. I personally would like to read more realistic protagonists, but I'm not the typical audience.

8) In your opinion, why do you think erotic romance is so popular among the ladies?

What a question! I could put myself in real trouble with this one. I hate to presuppose someone’s motivations let alone an entire sex. But I’ll try. I think it’s a couple of things. The first is probably because they crave the romance/erotica as they aren’t getting it from their partners (or lack of partner) and want to delve into a world where they can fantasize. And secondly it’s a tribal thing. Women want to read other women; they want to relate, to sympathize. We know that women like to gossip (I believe that might even be a science fact) with each other, and reading romance is an abstracted version of that.

I’d just like to add that I thoroughly enjoyed reading both The Temptress and Assassin, and on the back of reading your books I’d definitely be interested in reading more erotica in various forms/subgenres.

Thank you for the opportunity to be a guest on your blog, it’s been fun ☺

Colin F. Barnes is a dark fiction writer from the UK specializing in Science Fiction, Horror and Thrillers. He likes to take the gritty edginess from his surroundings and personal experiences and translate them into his stories. He is currently working on an anthology of horror stories in his 'City of Hell Chronicles' setting after recently debuting with a crime anthology titled 'Killing my Boss' that he co-authored with best selling author Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff.

Website
City of Hell Chronicles
Killing My boss
Twitter

Guest Post: Tammy Crosby and The Art of Writing Erotica

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:31:00 +0000

I'd like to introduce you all to my good "virtual" friend, Tammy Crosby, a great pal with a wicked sense of humor.

Since Tammy is known for her amazing beta skills, I recently asked her if she wouldn't mind taking a look at a new project I've been working on. It was her first ever experience reading erotica and one that she probably won't soon forget.

I thought it might be fun to get her take on the Art of Writing Erotica and, true to form, what she came back with is not only entertaining but thought-provoking as well. So without further ado...

Hi ya! So my awesomesauce tweeper pal Ang asked if I’d like to do a guestpost on her blog. Once I figured out what that was (and realized Angie is a much faster runner than I am) I succumbed, I mean, er, agreed. The real challenge of course was what to discuss. *chuckles* Seriously, it’s me people, we know that’s never really a challenge where I’m concerned. The thing to talk about on an erotic blog is sex of course! ;)

Newbie writer that I am, I have hoards of questions. Let’s face it, erotica is a dicey genre for an author to write in. First thing that pops into my mind is: Is it just me or do you assume if you write a sex scene that EVERYone who reads it assumes that must be exactly what you do? Makes me blush writing a mere passionate embrace let alone a hardcore pelvic bumping steam scene. *shudders* I mean no matter how warped, twisted, and physically impossible it may be…I’d always feel like that’s what people really thought I did. How do you deal with this? Is it difficult? Does it sometimes get to you? How does this translate to building writing vs work vs home relationships?

If we tell someone we write young adult no one judges it, but if you say you write erotica suddenly people are looking at you strangely. What must it be like to write in a world with these sorts of precognitions? Told you I had questions.

This is one genre I know I’d never be comfortable writing in. I’ve been reading some of Angie’s work and I still can’t get my toes to stop blushing. But, since you all know I’m the queen purveyor of telling everyone to push their writing boundaries, my own blog will feature a steamy little flash piece this week. It isn’t a full out erotic piece by any means, but it’s definitely a piece that has stretched my skills as a storyteller. It pushed me to be BOLD which inspired my latest #tammyism – Bold risk brings bold confidence!

I hope all of you readers here today share your own thoughts on the topic of ‘Writing sex’. Please tell me I’m not the only one who struggles with this.

Perception of Skill and Bias

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

I’ve been thinking a lot about reputation and how it can bias us into doing or believing things about a person. I know for a fact that a person’s reputation can carry them far both positively or negatively…like someone with a good reputation might not have to jump through as many hoops in order to prove themselves whereas someone with a bad reputation many never get that chance at all.

I guess it sucks in a way, but we really are a society built on judgment and perception, whether right or wrong.

Applying this to the world of writing, I’ve been wondering whether bias really does cloud our judgment when it comes to buying books or following certain authors. I mean, how many times has a novel been hyped up only to fall short in the quality department? How many authors have you followed dogmatically, buying book after book…even if those books haven’t been all that great in years?

Personally, I believe that perception and bias does cloud our judgment. At least, it clouds mine. I might say that I’m not going to buy the next book in an author’s series because the last one was crap, but I don’t mean it…I ALWAYS buy the next book (with very few exceptions).

The only time it doesn’t seem to work on me is when a new book gets a lot of hype. I hate being told what to do. Hate it to such a degree that I usually do the opposite…juvenile I know, but that’s the way I work. My friends and family have learned to make suggestions instead of demands = they get better results that way ;-D

So what do you all think? Does bias impact your buying habits? Do you fall for the hype or revolt against it?

Paying Your Dues

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:09:00 +0000

This week I've decided to open discussion on a topic that could create a little bit of debate. I'm not trying to cause a riot or anything, but after spending considerable amount of time busting my butt to get somewhere in this crazy publishing world, I've collected a few pieces of wisdom that I feel are vitally important when it comes to retaining one's sanity.

I call it "paying your dues" because I really feel like this journey is one that requires a certain amount of "blood, sweat and tears" (pardon the cliche).

1) Dealing with rejection: It’s gonna happen, it’s part of the process, but if you cut and run after only a few, well, in my opinion, you haven’t put the necessary time in. I’m not saying you have to martyr yourself, but in my experience many writer’s feel this process is a badge of honor…I mean, it does and can get to a point of ridiculousness, but accumulating rejections, within reason, is part of the learning experience.

2) Critiquing and being critiqued: That’s right, you do actually have to let someone other than your family or friends read your stuff. It’s difficult and stressful and you probably will hear some criticism that you don’t really want to hear, but it will help you grow as a writer. (Yes, even the crappy crits can be useful…they can teach you what not to do when critting someone else) And that’s the other half, critting others helps you grow as a writer as well. Believe me, you’ll learn a lot from seeing what others do well and not so well.

3) Time and commitment: Good things come to those who wait? Well sometimes…I’ve been reminded repeatedly that in this crazy publishing world nothing happens quickly. (Well, okay, sometimes there are cases of certain author’s getting caught up in a whirlwind of excitingly fast writing=landing dream agent=mega deals, but it doesn’t happen that often. So patience is definitely key.

4) No easy paths: There really is no easy journey when it comes to writing and everyone’s route is very different. What happened in one way for one writer doesn’t mean it will happen for you the same way. Trust me, I know this intimately…things don’t always pan out the way you want or expect them to either…and although we might get vile and pukishly green with envy, it is a fact, your future success is not marred or mirrored by anyone else’s.

So those are my little gems of wisdom. Got any you'd like to add?

Talking About Love with Author Jennifer Wylie

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Addams) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Jennifer Wylie
Author of:
Short stories; Jump, The Forgotten Echo,
YA short story series: Tales of Ever Info and links here!
and novel Sweet Light
My work is available at Amazon, OmniLit, Smashwords and Barnes and Noble

Visit my website or my Blog
You can also follow me on Twitter!

“Wuv, true wuv that bwessed awangement, that dweam within a dweam.”
-Priest- The Princess Bride.
One of my most favorite movies of all time. This is one of my favorite quotes too (next to “As you wish.” of course!) Yes, I'm an uber romantic. So, lets talk about Love since that is a big part of what romance is.

Love is a funny thing. It's also such a general word. There are so many types of love, between friends, family, lovers, and so many levels of it. It can change over time. You fall in, you can also fall out. It can pull you in and spit you out.

Love is everywhere in “real life”. It's part of what makes us who we are. Everyone has a desire to love and be loved.

I think every book needs to have a little love in it somewhere. (Particularly books which take place over a period of time.) A story with NO love at all seems flat to me. It is a major part of how people interact, we love people, we search for love (and I'm not talking about this always being in a romantic way). Romance, even a little, even if it's hinted at, adds extra realism and spice to any story.

In my debut novel Sweet Light, the main character Shara finds herself falling in love when she least expects it. (Isn't that always the way it is?) She is a healer, and that David is her patient doesn't help her confusion. She struggles between following her heart and doing what is expected of her. Just when things seem to going well she must face the arrival of her old lover. Finding she still has feelings for him tears her apart. On top of this, she discovers that her best friend, and David's cousin, is in love with her. When things go horribly wrong between her and David, she has to search her heart and decide on who she truly loves and who she will choose.

Love is never perfect, or easy. It can be cruel and threaten to break you. Sometimes you have to make a choice. When those choices are hard, you can only hope you make the right one and deal with any consequences.

Though a fantasy, set in another world, Sweet Light is also full of romance. I hope readers will enjoy following the strings of love which wind around Shara and cheer for their favorite hero.

Love can be irrational. It can make you do crazy things. Trying to hold on to love, you may do things you never imagined you would.

Lust of course... is a whole 'nother story...and I'll leave that for another time. :D

What would you do for love?

Author Bio:
Jennifer Wylie was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. In a cosmic twist of fate she dislikes the snow and cold.

Before settling down to raise a family, she attained a BA from Queens University and worked in retail and sales.

Thanks to her mother she acquired a love of books at an early age and began writing in public school. She constantly has stories floating around in her head, and finds it amazing most people don’t. Jennifer writes various forms of fantasy, both novels and short stories. Sweet light is her debut novel to be published in 2011. She currently has a number of short stories published as ebooks thru Echelon Press and available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and OmniLit.

Jennifer resides in rural Ontario, Canada with her two boys, Australian shepherd a flock of birds and a disagreeable amount of wildlife.

Sweet Light Ebook Available at:
Omnilit
Smashwords
Amazon
B&N
Jennifer Wylie Website
twitter: @jen_wylie
Goodreads
Facebook fan page
My blog