The Mermaid Journal contest continues! Post a comment today for another chance to win! ~DD
Thanks so much for having me, Delilah!
My May release Past Midnight is the first book in my sexy new DeKnight Trilogy from Berkley Heat. It’s the emotional tale of a couple who had the perfect life until they lost their son, and their struggle to find each other again. Here’s a brief blurb.
A devastating blow rocked Erin and Dominic DeKnight’s marriage, and now only extreme sexual games can soothe their emotional pain. But their most daring erotic adventure is just ahead, and it could ultimately destroy everything they hoped to save.
When I tell people that I do research for my erotic romances, they always think I mean sex research! No! I have a very vivid imagination for that. Though I write contemporary erotic romance, my characters can’t be having sex all the time. There’s got to be a story, too! My editor loves what she calls my “business” books. I’m an accountant by training, and I spent 20 years working in Silicon Valley, so I love incorporating that business world into my stories (see, there is more than sex!). The Fortune Hunter trilogy was set in a mining equipment company. And the background for the DeKnight trilogy is a small company which manufactures ultrasonic testing gauges. You see, Erin and Dominic own this firm together. In order to give my readers a real feel, I interviewed my neighbor, Teresa. She and her husband own a company very similar to DeKnight Gauges, Inc. It’s just amazing what ideas come when you simply listen to people talk about what they do. I have to thank Teresa for giving the story direction from the business point of view, helping me add a little corporate intrigue (stolen patents). The other two books in the trilogy will center on two of their employees, one their accountant (or course), and the other a single mother reentering the work world after a divorce.
Research doesn’t stop with the business side of things. I sent Erin and Dominic on a train ride, and in order to get those details correct, I took a trip on Amtrak’s Zephyr from San Francisco to Reno. My family went with me, and we had a great time. I was able to get all the details I needed, including a tour of the sleeping car given to me by a helpful porter.
This past weekend, I went to Las Vegas, again with my family, to research a trip my lovers take in the third book of the DeKnight trilogy, Anything Goes After Hours. My mother said I made her walk 9 miles so I could take photos of the Grand Canal in the Venetian, the indoor Paris cityscape, the Bellagio’s conservatory, and much much more. She drew the line at going on the roller coaster in New York New York, though. We did see “Menopause, The Musical” at the Luxor. Mom adored it!
So just because I write erotic romance, don’t think I skimp on the research! The truth is research actually helps shape the story, taking me in directions I wouldn’t have thought of without it.
Past Midnight is available online and in local your bookstore and also in e-format, Kindle and Nook. Book 2, What Happens After Dark will be out in Nov 2011 and Book 3, Anything Goes After Hours will be coming in April 2012. Don’t miss an excerpt.
I also invite readers to visit my website, www.jasminehaynes.com, and my blog, www.jasminehaynes.blogspot.com. I’m currently doing a free read on the blog, a chapter a week of Kinky Neighbors, a naughty little foursome tale.
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Great post! Very interesting. What was your favorite comeback in the book?
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It’s great to be on the blog today, Delilah!
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Hi, Leanne. Glad you liked the post. I’m not sure what you mean by my favorite comeback, though.
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I just got my copy of Past Midnight in the mail..cannot wait to read this book…I just love series..This is my first book of yours and I can’t wait to read it and become a fan..Thank you!!!!
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I hope you enjoy the book, Leisa! I love the emotional aspect of this series, the issues my heroines have to tackle. As my editor says, the series is more than the sexual aspect. And she and I just agreed on the title for the latest DeKnight novel which I’m working on now, The Principal’s Office. Should be a lot of fun! The heroine is Rachel, whom you’ll meet in Past Midnight. And Bree, the accountant, has some very big secrets in What Happens After Dark, the second book in the series.
Oops, I’m talking too much! I’m excited because I’m on the downhill slide at page 320 on The Principal’s Office! Thanks for stopping by!
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Hi Jasmine,
What a great excerpt. the book sounds wonderful and the characters are very touching. i can’t wait to read the whole book.
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Thank you, Tammy. It was a very emotional book to write. My brother works for the CDC, and he gave me a lot of help on writing the way in which Erin and Dominic lost their son. Yes, more research there, too. I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt and it interested you in the rest of the book.
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The excerpt was great. You are an auto buy for me and I love series books!
Bridget
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This book sounds really emotional. Thank you for sharing the excerpt and blog.
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Great post! I loved the excerpt. I have added this book to my list to get.
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Oh, Bridget, thank you so much for having me on autobuy! I’m happy you liked the excerpt. I try to give readers stand-alone stories, but with the delight of knowing they can come back to read about the characters again.
Thanks, June. I’m glad you found the excerpt emotional!
Becky, thank you for adding the book to your list!
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That was a good post, insightful. Why would anyone not realize how much research go into writing?
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Thank you, Diane! Yes, often people do not realize that there is a lot of research no matter what you’re writing, be it thriller or erotic romance! LOL, today I was on the internet searching for stuff about bowling because I have a bowling scene, and my editor questioned me on something! Yes, even in an erotica! But no, sorry, they don’t have sex in the bowling alley.
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Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. And thanks for having me, Delilah!
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Hi Jasmine. Loved the except. Your book sounds wonderful.
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Thank you, Crystal! Glad you enjoyed it!
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can’t wait to read it!!
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Thanks so much, Ella! I’m glad it grabbed you! It’s a very emotional story.