J.D. Hart as Pirate!

I’m sure all of us have heard an audio book we could hardly wait to get, only to be disappointed with the narrator. Choosing the right one is so important. Although I think I just got lucky in choosing J.D. Hart to narrate my books, I went through a learning curve. Here are some of the things I’ve learned:

1. As a reader, you know you can search Audible by narrator, right? That means, if you find a voice you love, you can go online and see all the other books he/she has narrated and listen to them as well. This is not something I knew when I first started out, nor did I know that loyal listeners would travel to one author from another when a good narrator is found.
2. As an author, chose a narrator with an already existing following of some kind. Perhaps this person is an actor with fans, or is involved in the music industry and has fans. Or chose a narrator who is willing to or knows how to promote you as the      author. Many will do this, but not all of them will. It is so helpful when your narrator can bring fans to your listening audience.
3. Make sure you take into account the number of characters, accents and special voices you will need for your books, and make sure your sample narration covers some of these. That way, you get an audition of the narrator’s true skills, not just a portion. If you are sensitive how women’s voices sound, for instance, with a male narrator, make sure they read a part where you have the H/H (two most important parts of the romance novel) speaking in dialogue. Or an action scene, or a little of both (a tip from Bella Andre). You’re going to have to get used to a stranger reading your sex scenes aloud. Get over it. You’ll pick yourself up off the floor and learn to actually like it. Honest.
4. Make sure you      allow proper time (usually 1.5 hours for every hour of narration) to properly proof, listen and assist the narrator in giving the kind of command performance you want.
5. Do you want one narrator or two? It can be difficult to edit if there are two parties, but some authors feel having two voices helps readers get a flavor of their story. In my case, I didn’t want that. I wanted the listener to fall in love with the voice I’d chosen, just as I had. I thought they’d be annoyed having to listen to anyone else’s.
6. You can ask      questions about timing and how the narrator handles edits. In this way, you will find out how easy he/she is to work with. Remember, this is an intimate partnership. If you haven’t done one before, you will be excited and nervous as heck when you hire your first and you hear your words translated into the spoken word. Almost like a first date. Your narrator will see the flaws in your story, your writing, errors in grammar and diction, as well as reveal very personal things about your story as he/she tells it—again, the narrator becomes a character in your book, and the reader/listener hears it through his/her interpretation.
7. Don’t be afraid to be frank if you don’t like some thing. Make sure you listen to chapters slowly at first to make sure you are on the same page about things. You don’t want to have to ask for several chapters of re-do. In the end, it is your story, and you are paying the bills, in most cases. You deserve to get what you want.
8. No matter how good a narrator is, some readers/listeners will not be comfortable with that voice. They may have read the character a different way. I have some people that won’t listen to an audio book because they want the experience of the character they created in their own mind.

WHAT IS AMAZING ABOUT THE AUDIO BOOK is that we aren’t duplicating the experience of reading, WE’RE ENHANCING it. It is a different art form. We’re deepening the experience for the reader/listener.

9. At Tucson Festival of Books earlier this month, I asked readers what they liked to use. Last year, people were split 50/50 over using an eReader and a paperback book. This year, I was told over and over again, “I use them all. I read on my smart phone, I read on my computer, on my tablet as well as the print book. If I like the book, I buy the print, eBook AND the Audio Book.

THIS FACT WAS HUGE FOR ME. If not than for any other reason, authors who are not doing audio books are missing the boat.

In short, I just plain lucked out. It could have been a horrible experience and I just jumped in. But I found the most kind and talented guy in the world to do my stories. I’ve learned to ask for what I need, which took some getting used to on my part. I’ve learned to trust him, to allow him to take the lead where he knows best, and to just shut up and let him work.

It has been one of the highlights of my career to get involved with the six audio books I’ve done with J.D. Hart. And the fact that they are selling well, is only testament to how good he is at what he does.

Here’s a little treat for you, a sample reading and a book trailer with his voice. Enjoy!! Leave a comment here and one lucky person will win an audio book of their choice from the six we have recorded. Tell me something you either like or don’t like about audio books, or reveal if you are an audio virgin. We’ll see if we can do something to take care of that right away.

Book Trailer, Cruisin For A SEAL.

Sample Narration, Honeymoon Bite (Marcus/Anne)

Books 1-4 of the SEAL Brotherhood are on Audible now. Books 1 & 2 of the Golden Vampires of Tuscany series also out on Audible.

Sharon Hamilton
Life is one fool thing after another.
Love is two fool things after each other.
Author Page ** Sharon’s Blog ** Sharon’s Website ** Facebook**Twitter

NYT and USA/Today and top 100 Amazon bestselling author Sharon Hamilton’s award-winning Navy SEAL Brotherhood series have been fan favorites since they were first released. They’ve earned her the coveted Amazon author ranking of #1 in Romantic Suspense, Military Romance and Contemporary Romance, as well as Gothic Romance for her Vampires of Tuscany and guardian angels. Her characters follow a sometimes rocky road to redemption through passion and true love.

Her Golden Vampires of Tuscany are not like any vamps you’ve read about before, since they don’t go to ground and can walk around in the full light of the sun.

Her Guardian Angels struggle with the human charges they are sent to save, often escaping their vanilla world of Heaven for the brief human one. You won’t find any of these beings in any Sunday school class.

Tattoos tattoos, oh how I love you!

I got new ink – WOO HOO!!!!!

Eight hours of it people. The tattoo isn’t huge but it’s REALLY detailed and it took a super long time. My artist and I stopped twice for around 10 minutes and the rest of the time he was hard at work. Wanna see it!?! Here it is!!! My online ink debut!

Isn’t it awesome?!? It’s on my lower back on the right and then the petals fall toward my right hip and up toward my left shoulder.

The butterfly is me, and the rainbow dahlia represents my first book, Together in Cyn. The other 15 petals are the books I have out or under contract. Yea for smut!! Six petals on one side and nine on the other because three is my lucky number so I wanted multiples of three. I’ll have petals added on each set of three new books I have contracted. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!!

Ink might not be for everyone but it sure is for me. I love it and it’s beautiful and special and AMAZING!

GIVEAWAY – Members Only Series E-book of your choice! Just tell me which book you’d like and I’ll email it over to you. A little bit of naughty does a girl good!!

Members Only, Book Two

Ink.

A three-lettered word that means different things to many people. Pictures and words that might stand as a reminder of love, loss, rebellion, or camaraderie. For Haleigh Grace, it meant freedom.

Walking through the doors of the tattoo parlor, Inkfluence, marked the start of taking her life back. Making it what she wanted it to be. No one was going to tell her she couldn’t. Not ever again.

Little did she know that behind those doors stood Kyle Muse. He was her best friend, who had walked away years ago without a backwards glance. The one man she fantasized would someday be her knight in shining armor. The one she saved herself for.

But, he has a knight of his own. Tall, dark, and dangerously sexy, Scott Preston. The owner of the very shop Haleigh has an appointment with at midnight.

Feelings long buried rise to the surface and the three find themselves bound by more than just ink…

A Romantica® ménage BDSM erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Buy Links:
Haleigh’s Ink Available at Amazon
Haleigh’s Ink Available at Barnes and Noble
Haleigh’s ink Available at Ellora’s Cave
Together In Cyn – Book One Members Only
A Very Menage Christmas – Book Three Members Only
Duke’s Valentine – Book 3.5 Members Only

Jennifer Kacey is a wife, mother, and business owner living with her family in Texas. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less.

Website – https://www.jenniferkacey.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.kacey.7
Twitter – https://twitter.com/JenniferKacey
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6941549.Jennifer_Kacey
Pinterest – https://pinterest.com/jenniferkacey/
Book Trailer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRWH9NaR-mY

Researching Bondage 

Some books are easy to write. The words just flow straight from my brain to my fingers and BAM! I have a story. While others are…less so. I should’ve known Sawyer would be a pain in my ass. Are things ever really that simple when a Dom is involved? And Sawyer is a rope top which made things especially tangled. (Sorry I couldn’t resist!)

Which is where research comes in. It took me a while but after a few books—both fiction and nonfiction—more videos than I want to admit, and a few lengths of my own rope, the ideas started flowing.

Here are a few nuggets of wisdom I picked up while researching bondage:

• You cannot go wrong with an Eden Bradley BDSM story, but then I’m biased since she’s my mentor 😉
• I found instructional videos easier to follow rather than nonfiction books. Some things you just gotta see to understand. I recommend Two Knotty Boys or Twisted Monk.
• Always have a pair of safety scissors on hand when playing with rope. You don’t want to bother untying knots when things start to get tingly—and not in the fun way!
• Be very careful which links you click on when hardcore BDSM videos are involved. One person’s kink is another’s squick factor.

I could keep going, but we’d be here all night! I have to be honest—research is one of my favorite parts of this job. It’s a hard life 😉

Have you ever gone outside of your comfort zone for your job? Hit me up in the comments and I’ll pick a couple of lucky winners to receive the first book in my Pleasure Code series, WICKED WEEKEND.

Book two of The Pleasure Code*

After the loss of her dom and first love two years ago, the time has come for Kyla to again allow herself the pleasure of giving up control. She isn’t looking for anything serious yet, just the comforting embrace of rope and a firm hand on her body for the night.

Rope-top Sawyer is extremely skilled and he doesn’t do relationships—but he’s fascinated by the gymnastics instructor who approaches him at a kink con. By the end of the day he’s vowed to help her feel submissive pleasure again, and to introduce her to a few doms she can choose from.

But as Sawyer breaks down Kyla’s emotional defenses, his barriers also come down. Soon he can’t imagine giving Kyla over to any other dom—and Kyla can’t imagine being with anyone else. When their feelings are put to the ultimate test, they’ll learn that while taking risks in the bedroom is easy, taking risks in love is terrifying.

*Up In Knots is part of a series but can be enjoyed all on its own 😉

Excerpt

Kyla’s heart raced at the predatory look Sawyer tossed her way. ZOMG! Had she bitten off more than she could chew here? She swallowed hard and smiled back at him.

“All right, everyone. Now if you’re a nice top, you can untie your submissive before we get to work on the next tie.” He paused as most of the couples struggled with their rope before finally untying their partners.

“But for those of you asshole rope tops who brought along extra rope, you can leave your partner’s legs tied for the next lesson. Everyone ready? Great. I’ll show ya’ll how to tie a rope shackle next.”

Kyla held her breath. She was disappointed he was going to take away the rope so soon. The abrasiveness of the rope against her bare ankles reminded her every second of its presence. That she was trapped. At his mercy.

She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to try to calm her racing heart. It didn’t work. She wanted more.

But instead of untying her legs, Sawyer reached into his bag and pulled out another length of rope. Her confusion must have broadcast over her face because instead of addressing the group, he turned toward her.

“What? You didn’t think I was a nice guy, did you?”

He barked a soft, cruel laugh. “Oh, honey. I think you might be in too deep here.”

He might as well have called her a sissy. Little did he know, she was used to proving herself. She had years of training and self-discipline under her belt. Plus the crap she went through the last two years would have crushed a lesser person. But she had nerves of steel and bigger cojones than half the men she knew. She could handle whatever Sawyer threw her way.

Sawyer stared down at her, assessing her. She knew if she didn’t say something soon, he would untie her and send her on her way. There were scads of eager, willing women to take her place. All he had to do was snap his fingers and the line would form to his left. A few titters from the group reminded her of their audience.

She could feel their stares, but it didn’t faze her. Heck, she had practically grown up in front of an audience.

This small group was nothing compared to the stress of a televised National gymnastic trial.

She could do this. To see that thrilling look in his eyes, feel his hands and his rope on her body again and what it did to her… Oh, yeah. She was beyond willing.

“Bring it.”

“Ooooh,” a few brave souls in the group chorused.

But Kyla didn’t turn in their direction. She couldn’t look away from his hypnotic stare.

“Okay. Have it your way,” he growled menacingly.

The implied threat in his voice had her sex swelling and pulsing in response. Cripes, this man was potent.

And yet her inner imp couldn’t help but mutter, “Don’t you mean your way?”

Apparently not quietly enough.

His ominous expression told her he’d heard, and she’d be paying for it later when or if they were alone.

A shiver swept her body and her nipples hardened at the promise of dark, forbidden things in his eyes. She really, really hoped they would be alone later.

“I think after the rope shackle, I’ll show you all how to tie a gag for those bratty submissives.” He sent a significant glance her way, and the group chuckled.

Available now from Carina Press and all major etailers!

Carina Press  |  Amazon  |   B&N  |   All Romance ebooks

About Gillian

Gillian Archer lives in Northern Nevada with her amazing husband and two goofy dogs. When she’s not writing (but probably should be) Gillian is usually thinking about naughty things, doing naughty things, or watching reality tv (hey, don’t judge! LOL). You can find her at her website, on Facebook or Twitter.

A TASTE ME DEADLY Interview

When we’re lucky, someone comes into our lives who holds the power to change how we view things, even ourselves. With that power comes the ability to twist us into knots of worry and frustration, and those knots can turn us into so many different directions that could lead to the greatest love.

TASTE ME DEADLY, the 5th story of the Sensory Ops series, explores that kind of relationship. Through the exploration, Liam Burgess’ biggest secrets are revealed. I thought it would be a little fun to interview Liam to see what it was like for him to meet his someone.
Let’s get started.

Nikki: Can you tell our readers today when you met Grey?
Liam: Two years ago. In Vegas.
Nikki: I already know you’re not a big talker, Liam. It’s part of what made your story so challenging. Can you try to come up with a little more, though?
Liam: Maybe.
Nikki: Okay, let’s try this question. Your friends have tried setting you up several times in the last few years, but they’ve mentioned you never gave in.
Liam: I did not.
Nikki: As if I’d give you another one word answer option. Tell us, because I’ve put the timing together, what it was about what happened in Vegas that you didn’t want to leave it in Vegas?
Liam: That’s a complicated question.
Nikki: (I greet him with a silence that would do him proud in an interrogation room.)
Liam: (He sighs heavily.) My mom always said I was a romantic at heart. There was something about Grey that called to me. When she disappeared the morning after, and I couldn’t find her, I guess I became obsessed.
Nikki: That sounds like an over simplification, Liam. Is there some secret you don’t want us to know?
Liam: You do realize I’m an FBI Agent, right? Secrets are my life.
Nikki: So that’s a yes. Can you give us a hint? Women aren’t normally the ones to do the sneaking out the next morning. And you’re a great guy. Seems to me, fear would be a great reason for a woman to leave a man she seems to like. Fear of what, though?
Liam: That’s a great question.
Nikki: Are you going to answer it?
Liam: It’s not my place.
Nikki: It’s Grey’s.

And that simply I knew I would have to wait for the answers, because Liam wasn’t going to be opening up. The good news is, the wait for answers is just about over, because TASTE ME DEADLY releases tomorrow.

Until it does, what do you think would motivate a woman to
walk out on a great guy like Liam?

Commenters will be entered into a drawing for a .pdf copy of the first two books in the Sensory Ops series – SOUNDS TO DIE BY and SCENT OF PERSUASION.

Be sure to sign up for Nikki’s newsletter and then go socialize with her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest.

UPDATE: The winner of the free download is…Mandy!

* * * * *

A couple of reminders, first.

1) Don’t forget to vote for your choice of theme for upcoming collections. I’m playing with the ideas I posted and trying to come up with proposals that will appeal as much as Cowboy Heat! All you have to do is show up and vote! Take the Poll!

2) Also, remember that I am running a contest all month on my blog. I’ll choose a commenter at random to receive an Amazon gift card, so don’t be shy about leaving little love notes for the authors you see here! 🙂

Thanks so much for everyone who supported me by buying Reined In! I love my Lone Star Lovers series! Here’s a nibble from one of those stories…

If you post a comment today, you’ll be entered to win a free copy of this story!

“Ms. Devlin’s writing is so well done that the experience was seamless. I will definitely be looking for more of Ms. Devlin’s books for my ‘keeper shelf’…  TWO WILD FOR TEACHER is highly recommended reading for a quick escape.”
5 Stars and Book of the Month, Long and Short Reviews

It’s double the trouble when two ornery cowboys come courtin’, Texas-style…

Sam Logan’s hell-raising twin sons have a bad rep in Two Mule, Texas. All of it earned. When it becomes clear those two troublemakers won’t settle down without another nudge—make that a boot to their butts—Sam reissues his challenge. Find a wife.

There’s only one woman who’s ever held Mace and Jason Logan’s attention for more than one night. Molly Pritchet, their former teacher. She’s been too worried about a pesky morals clause to let them close, but they’re older now and ready to prove to her that some rules are meant to be broken.

Molly thought her path was clear: always a teacher, never a mother or a wife. Until she finds those two Logan “boys” in her backyard, all grown up and digging around in her business. More accurately, starting her koi pond for her without asking. Well, it’s about time someone taught the Logan twins some manners.

A little mud, a lot of yearnings she thought she’d suppressed, and Molly realizes she’s the one being schooled in the art of indulging in forbidden desires.

Warnings: Two hot-as-sin twins romance their former high school teacher. Things are bound to get down and dirty quick as two bad boys tag team to sweep one curvy, sexy woman off her feet.

Molly felt more herself as she took a long, cool shower. She stood under the showerhead and let the water beat her head, long enough her toes were wrinkled and her mind was blank.

However, her traitorous body was slow to let go of the arousal both men had stoked. As she slicked rose-scented soap over her skin, she massaged her heavy breasts, pinching the tips now and then to keep them throbbing. She slid a hand between her parted legs and glided fingers between her folds, felt the ripened nub at the top and swirled around and around it until her breath caught and held.

She rubbed a moment longer, but fingers weren’t enough. Hers were too soft, too slender. She craved something substantial pushing up inside her. Damn them.

Breathing hard, she turned the tap to add a distinct chill to the water, then pressed both hands against the tiled wall. At last her heart slowed to its usual, unnoticeably steady beat. She switched off the cool water and reached for the fluffy towel hanging from a peg beside the door. She held it to her face, drying her eyes and cheeks, and inhaling the reassuring fragrance of the springlike conditioner she used in her wash.

Nothing teased her senses. Not a whiff of male cologne or musk.

Now, she was ready to start her summer. And she had plans. This year, she’d put in more flowers, maybe dig a bit in the backyard and put in the koi pond, something she’d dreamed about doing and had already begun to assemble the things she’d need to complete the project. On her salary, it was a splurge, but it wasn’t like she didn’t have the money in the bank to handle it.

Fact was, she was a frugal woman with modest needs. She didn’t spend a lot on clothes, did her own nails, and other than a trim a couple of times a year, didn’t spend it at the beauty shop. Her house was finished to her liking. However, her yard, especially the backyard, was in need of a little TLC to make it a perfect haven from the world.

She opened the towel and swung it behind her, rubbing her back and bottom then brought it forward to dry her breasts. The terrycloth abraded her nipples, just enough she was aware but not enough to excite. She’d had enough excitement for one day.

The twins had had their fun. Her mind almost got away from her when she thought about how they’d looked, standing in her bedroom doorway to peek inside.

Something no man had ever done. Not since she’d had her satellite dish and receivers installed had a man even traipsed up her stairs, and that had been shortly after she’d bought the house her second year in Two Mule. Not that she was a prude, but, at first, she’d been busy trying to be the best teacher she could, spending evenings over lesson plans, tutoring after school, lending her supervision to several school-related clubs.

When she’d finally grown comfortable in her job and her role, she’d felt awkward stepping outside it. Sure, she attended functions at church, but there again, parents sought her out to talk about their children. She’d begun to feel as though her life was predetermined, that maybe, this was all she was supposed to be. A child’s teacher. Never his or her mother. And the thought of the actual baby-making… She no longer felt comfortable in her own skin. When she looked into a mirror, she saw a pale moon of a face, a figure more suited to plain shirts and dowdy skirts than one that might entice a healthy, horny male.

The sexual side of her was dormant, unawakened, except for brief moments like today, whenever she spied the twins in town or at the diner. Always, the two of them reminded her of her first days here, about her unexpected and unwanted attraction to them both.

Molly rubbed the soft terry over her nipples again. The tips were fully engorged, so sensitive each back and forth pass shot darts of hunger straight toward her womb.

Not that she was ashamed about how easily they affected her. Intellectually, she understood her reactions were natural. They were beautiful specimens of manhood who exuded sexual confidence. Something she, as a relative novice, responded to on a very primal level…

Primal. A word she loved. One that made her think of sweaty, naked bodies. A word she could roll around her tongue…

And good Lord, she was thinking about them again! Her skin felt warmer, her breasts heavier, her nipples tingly and tight.

In the moment she stood inventorying her physical reactions, she was right back at square one—intensely aroused and overheated. Her brain short-circuiting, letting her hunger grow.

She wondered where she’d stashed the vibrator she’d bought the last time she’d visited her family in Houston. She’d been shopping with her sister Sarah who had nagged her about all the elusive details regarding her private life until she’d discovered Molly didn’t have a sex life to gossip about. Sarah had made it her mission to find her a vibrator sure to awaken her dormant hormones.

The unopened box was probably somewhere deep in her closet. Top shelf, behind her Snuggie. And if that wasn’t the definition of a spinster, she didn’t know what was. Short of the prerequisite dozen cats, she was well on her way.

She finished with the towel, hung it over the rail to dry, slipped her glasses on and reached for her robe for the walk to her bedroom, but then decided she could walk naked through her own damn house. Feeling daring, and knowing it was daylight so her silhouette passing any windows wouldn’t be seen from the road, she strode into her bedroom, picked up the stool in front of her vanity and carried it to the closet.

When she was on her tiptoes atop the cushioned seat, reaching to the farthest corner, she heard a sound coming from her backyard. A metallic chink, then a soft masculine curse.

Curious, she leaned back and tugged her lace curtains to open them just a couple inches and peered down through the branches of the mimosa tree, into her yard. The sight that greeted her caused her breath to hitch.

The twins stood in her backyard, in the center of the area she’d neatly staked and tied with twine to define the place she intended to put her koi pond. And they’d made a mess. Clumps of turf lay beside the big hole they’d dug. Water ran freely from a hose into the middle of a muddy pit. The black pool liner she’d bought and left leaning against the garage had been dragged beside the hole.

Anger flushed another kind of heat through her veins, and she climbed off the stool, hurried to the bathroom for her robe, and then she was stomping down her stairs to the sliding glass door, which she slammed open with all her righteous anger.

Two begrimed faces turned her way. Before she let herself think better of her plan, she was standing in front of them with her sheer bathrobe flapping in a breeze and staring at two broad, naked muddy chests. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she asked, trying to temper her voice, because she didn’t want neighbors hearing her screeching like a banshee.

Mace’s gaze raked over her body. “Wishin’ I had x-ray vision,” he drawled.

Molly scowled and clutched the lapels of her robe in one hand. “I’m talking about this!” she said, waving her other hand at the rapidly filling hole.

Mace shrugged. “Dirt was too hard. And since we couldn’t find a pick or a backhoe in your garage—”

“You think I’d have a backhoe?”

“Or a pick…”

“You were rummaging through my garage?” she said, her voice raising.

“It wasn’t locked.”

She rolled her eyes. “Why are you digging up my yard?”

“We saw the stakes, found the pool that fits the space you marked off…” He shrugged again, a little smile tilting up the corners of his mouth as he gave her body another sly once-over.

She hoped like hell the bright sunshine wasn’t giving him that x-ray vision. “I don’t need your help. And now I have a huge mess—”

Jason cleared his throat, pulling her attention to a sharp, crystal gaze alight with amusement. “It only looks like a mess ’cause of the mud. But actually, we have more dug here than you can see.”

Molly gaped at both men, covered in sweat and dirt, but somehow still looking more attractive than she could stand. She felt moisture pool beneath her feet and glanced down at the hose still gurgling water into the pit they’d dug. Before she could suppress the urge, she bent and picked it up, pressed her thumb over the end to increase the pressure and aimed it at Jason, spraying him with water.

His eyes closed and he stood in the stream, water running off his face to his chest and soaking his jeans.

Mace erupted in laughter, but quickly shut up the moment she turned the hose on him. When he lifted a foot to climb out of the hole, he slipped and landed on his butt in the middle of the muddy pool.

Elation filled her and she laughed, still spraying. But Jason climbed on his hands and knees, over the edge, toward her. She dropped the hose and turned to make a run for it, but he caught the hem of her bathrobe, and jerked it toward him.

Her feet slipped beneath her and she began to fall backward…into a pair of strong arms which wrapped around her and carried her down to one side of the muddy pit, to soft, gooey ground—with those same arms buffeting the fall.

When she caught her breath, she was covered head to toe by one very wet, very amused man. Mud oozed between her toes and beneath the back of her robe, and both lapels had pulled apart. Although his body shielded her from view, nothing stood between their naked chests.

Jason leaned to one side and lifted one finger.

Her eyes nearly crossed watching it descend toward her face.

He pushed up her glasses. “Seems we got ourselves a situation here,” he drawled, settling on his elbows to take a little of his weight off her.

She opened her mouth to demand he move, but then Mace sauntered into view to take up a position leaning against her back porch to watch the couple in the muddy hole. If Jason did move, both men would have an unencumbered view of her torso.

Molly became aware of every sensation: the heavy chest pressing against her stiff nipples, the jut of his jeans-enclosed sex against her mound. She swallowed hard. “Seems we do. I…apologize for acting like a crazy woman.”

Jason grunted and his chest jerked against hers. “You’re not sorry.”

Knowing she was at a distinct disadvantage, she nevertheless lifted her chin. “It’s just plain rude to disagree with me. I’m trying to handle this delicately.”

“Only handlin’ to be done will be done by me—and Mace here, if you ask real pretty.”

The Secret Life of an Author: Bunny Slippers and ReaderLove

All my life I had one dream: To be a published author.

Much like being a parent, there are so many things no one bothered to warn us about. The late nights, the bleary eyes, the temper tantrums.  Yeah, those all hold true in parenting too.

For some reason, I had this vision in my head of being an author. I would blithefully write my books, send them off to a grateful editor and receive buckets of praise and adulation for the brilliance of my work. And then, magically, I’d make a bazillion dollars and end up on some talk show with a (very handsome) host (who wanted to father my babies). There would, in all likelihood, be movie deals which would, of course, result in me winning an Oscar.

I’m nothing if not realistic.

Cut to reality.

I am happy to report that I do gleefully write my books—in bunny slippers and pajamas, most of the time. Having recently turned to writing full time I can write them even faster and don’t even have to shower if I don’t want to. I do receive buckets of praise and adulation (more, perhaps than is good for my ego), but I am only making a fraction of the bazillion dollars.

It’s the other elements of my life that surprised me. Specifically, how much time and energy promotion can take. We’re talking Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest, Goodreads and a host of other outlets. We’re talking research (not for my stories but of the IINDUSTRY), networking, blogging and more. We’re talking author loops and conferences and swag and chats and Facebook events and cover reveals and launch calendars. I could go on.

It’s all part and parcel of the job.

The fact of the matter is, author success is all about connections. Connections with readers and reviewers, authors and publishers, bloggers and service providers. To keep those connections alive, I make it a point to try and be personal. That means responding to emails myself. When I wake up, I will have 75 to 100 (or more) messages that require my attention. One of them may be a cheerful message from Goodreads that I “have 375 new messages.” While I am working my way through the list, another 25 may pop up.

Overwhelming? A little. But each and every one of these messages MATTER. Every reader matters. Every connection makes a difference.

But the personal touch does take a toll. Now, instead of putting in eight hours at the day job and coming home to write for a few (if I have the energy for it) I am putting in 12-16 hour days. Three to four on social media, and eight to ten writing and editing.

I never thought I would be working so hard.

So why do I do it?

Because I love it. Every minute. I love writing and editing, I love connecting with industry cohorts and I absolutely LOVE interacting with readers.

The best part of my job is hearing from readers, people who really love my work. THAT makes it all worthwhile.

If you have an author you love, know she is probably doing the same—if not holding down a day job as well. Authors make anywhere from pennies to a couple dollars on each sale, depending on the publisher, price and distributor cut.

What can you do to help?

A lot.

As a reader, you have more power than you may realize. Here are a few ways you can wield your muscle:

• Tell your favorite author you like her work. An email, a Facebook message, a tweet, a comment on a blog. It doesn’t matter. It will make her day.
• Buy your favorite author’s work. Don’t download it from a pirate site. Aside from the fact that some of these “freebie” sites are merely Trojan horses carrying viruses into your device, it’s just good Karma. Authors can only afford to write if they make some money at it.
• Share your faves with your friends. Industry studies show this is the #1 way readers discover new authors.
• Like their Amazon page. Believe it or not, that makes a HUGE difference in their author ranking, which in turn increases the discoverability of their books.
• Write honest reviews.
• Comment on blogs. Nothing is more depressing than working on a blog and having no one comment. In fact if you comment here, I’ll enter you in a contest to win your choice of one of my books—just as a thank you for reading this far!)
• If you really love an author, join her street team and band together with other fans to help your favorite author gain momentum. Momentum is gold in our world. It effects everything like a ripple in a pond.

So readers, take up the banner for your favorite author! Share the word. Help her achieve success as only YOU can. It is, after all, all about YOU. Without readers, we’re just talkin’ to the computer all day. Seriously. And that’s hardly any fun at all.

About Sabrina York

Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York is the award winning author of over 20 hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & sexy erotic romance to scorching BDSM. Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york, on Facebook or on Pintrest. Check out Sabrina’s books and read an excerpt on Amazon or wherever e-books are sold. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Free Teaser Book: https://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/ And don’t forget to enter to win the royal tiara!

FOLLOW SABRINA

Like my Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaYorkBooks
Follow me on Twitter @sabrina_york
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5817917.Sabrina_York
Check out my Pintrest boards: https://www.pinterest.com/sabrinayork/boards/
Like my Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrina-York/e/B00856PDEO/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1382929432&sr=8-2-ent
Check out my Barnes & Noble Author page: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/sabrina-york
Follow me on Ellora’s Cave: https://www.ellorascave.com/index.php/authors/index/author/slug/sabrina-york/

CURRENT PROMOS

Most recent release! DARK DUKE, Steamy Regency https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Duke-3-Noble-Passions-ebook/dp/B00ID8MAJU/ref=la_B00856PDEO_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394219319&sr=1-10

Free Teaser Book: https://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/

Newsletter & tiara contest: https://sabrinayork.com/sabrinas-contest-and-newsletter/

Enter to win a signed print copy of scorching Regency romance, Dark Fancy on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17409083-dark-fancy

Books by Sabrina York
Adam’s Obsession (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)
Dark Duke (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soon
Brigand (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soon Read the rest of this entry »

Haleigh’s Ink Book Trailer and GIVEAWAY

It’s almost here! Haleigh’s Ink releases on Feb. 28^th and I can’t FREAKING wait. It’s the 2^nd book in the Members Only Series and the third to release (seriously long story) and the premise behind this book is unbelievably special to me.

It’s written in honor of my best friend’s mom who lost her battle with Inflammatory Breast Cancer in 2012.

The story is personal, and sweet, and rough and real and I can’t wait to share it with the world.

In honor of it almost being out I’ve made a book trailer and it’s up on YouTube. Yea! Here’s the link…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRWH9NaR-mY

And yes I did mention a giveaway! I’m going to be giving away one shiny new e-copy of Haleigh’s Ink to a lucky poster and you have two chances to enter. All you have to do is post a comment on the video’s YouTube page to enter, and for a second entry leave a comment below and tell me what part of the video you liked the best!!

Hope you fall in love with Haleigh, Scott and Kyle and the rest of the crew at The Library. There’s a little piece of me in each of them. ***GRINS***

Members Only, Book Two

Ink.

A three-lettered word that means different things to many people. Pictures and words that might stand as a reminder of love, loss, rebellion, or camaraderie. For Haleigh Grace, it meant freedom.

Walking through the doors of the tattoo parlor, Inkfluence, marked the start of taking her life back. Making it what she wanted it to be. No one was going to tell her she couldn’t. Not ever again.

Little did she know that behind those doors stood Kyle Muse. He was her best friend, who had walked away years ago without a backwards glance. The one man she fantasized would someday be her knight in shining armor. The one she saved herself for.

But, he has a knight of his own. Tall, dark, and dangerously sexy, Scott Preston. The owner of the very shop Haleigh has an appointment with at midnight.

Feelings long buried rise to the surface and the three find themselves bound by more than just ink…

A Romantica® ménage BDSM erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Buy Links:
Ellora’s Cave – https://www.ellorascave.com/haleigh-s-ink.html
Members Only, Book One – Together in Cyn
Members Only, Book Three – A Very Ménage Christmas

Jennifer Kacey is a wife, mother, and business owner living with her family in Texas. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less.

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