Today, we welcome not one, but SEVEN authors to Seraphim Question Time for our Indulgence Anthology Special. Jamie Salisbury, Cynthia Sax, J.M Witt, Deanndra Hall, Laura Harner, Cat Mason & Liz Crowe.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Jamie - Determined, supportive and passionate.
Laura - Curious, tenacious, romantic.
Cynthia - hard-working, quirky, loving.
J.M - witty, sarcastic, laid-back.
Cat - funny, real, loyal.
Deanndra - Driven, funny, caring.
If you could have written any book which book would it be and why?
Jamie - Interview With The Vampire. Brilliantly written book, and look what's transpired from it!
Laura - I'm enthralled with the George R. R. Martin epic fantasy series A Song of fire and Ice. I love complex world building. I know there are others, but at the moment, that's the current standout.
Cynthia - I write like me. I have a unique style. So even if I DID write a book by a fave writer, the book wouldn't be the same. Some books that I love are Loretta Chase's Lord Of Scoundrels, Christine d'Abo's 30 Days, and Laurann Dohner's Fury.
Liz - I really wished I could have written The Stand by Stephen King. I adore sweeping epics, multiple storylines with lots of interesting characters and of all those I've read, his is the absolute best.
J.M - Oh geez. One of the classics by Jane Austen. Just love the banter, humor, love, the feels, all of it.
Cat - Seductions and Snacks by Tara Sivec because it is the closest thing to my sense of humor and sarcasm as I've ever read. It's by far my favorite series of all time.
Deanndra - I'm happy with the ones I've written and the ones I'll be writing. I've never been a person to wish I were someone else or wish I had done what they've done.
Who is your favourite of your own characters (either already written or still in your head) and why?
Jamie - That's a tough one. It's a toss up between three. Amadeus Tudor because he's not afraid to let his woman be in control and he's human; Apolo Choice because he may be filthy rich, in the end he's human and puts his family above all else. And Daniel Kennedy...sigh...what else is there to say? I'm working on a new book, and the male lead may top all three of these so we'll see.
Laura - Absolute favorite would be Elena McFarland from my Highland Destiny Series. She is the one who whispered into my head and forced me to write my very first book—about her of course.
Cynthia - I love Rage, the tortured (literally AND figuratively) cyborg in Releasing Rage. He's unafraid to show his anger, his frustration, yet he loves deeply. He'll do anything for his team (Crash and Gap) and for his human female, Joan.
Liz - "I love every one of my characters for different reasons. Right now I'm digging on a couple of them. Declan MacGuire, the new player on the fictional Black Jack Gentlemen is a sexy, red-headed Scottish forward who has a nasty temper he's gotten under control but when he bumps up against a graspy groupie with her own agenda it brings on a side of him he doesn't like but can't really control.
I also love one of the women characters I'm crafting. Angelique Love, the one sister in the passel of brothers in my best selling Love Brothers series gets her own book this fall and she is pretty awesome!
J.M - Wow. Ummm I love Lucy's banter (Blind Vows Vol 1). Julia (Convicted Heart) is close to my heart as she has most of my traits and several of her experiences are based off of things that happened to me or those close to me.
Cat - Hunter Chesterfield is possibly my favorite from Shaft on Tour. He is the one character that has me laughing at the things I write over and over because he literally screams things in my head at times. He has his moments where he is a complete tool, but he has layers and they are very redeeming. You can't help love him. Though I have several coming and out as well that give him a run for his money.
Deanndra - Hmmmm ... I guess it's Nikki from Laying a Foundation. I'd had her in my head for over 12 years when I finally wrote that book. There's a lot of me in her, and a lot of her in me. We're soul sisters, Nikki and I.
Best book you have read so far this year, and your Favourite book of all time?
Jamie - That's a tough one - I can't choose!
Laura - I think I'll have to go with the Song of Fire and Ice series for this question, too. I've not had very much time to sit and read this year, but I took two long road trips, and I was listening to this book on audio. The miles seemed to fly by.
Cynthia - In SciFi erotic romance, I enjoyed J.J. Lore's Bondmate and Monette Michaels' Prime Claiming to name two of many thus far this year.
Liz - "A book of short stories that has won a bunch of awards, Redeployment by Phil Klay. Absolutely amazing words.
J.M - I'm so behind on reading. For shame! I was so excited to finally have Crazy Baby in my hands by AD Justice.
Cat - Best book this year is Without Me by Chelle Bliss. I loved it beyond words!
Favorite of all time is Seductions and Snacks by Tara Sivec.
Deanndra - I read all of Liz Crowe's Love Brothers series since the first of the year and enjoyed them immensely. I guess my favorite book of all time is The Poisonwood Bible.
Are there any other authors who inspire you?
Jamie - Isabel Allende is one at the top of my list. Phillippa Gregory is another. Marie Force.
Cynthia - There are so many writers whom I love - Opal Carew, J.K. Coi, N.J. Walters, Amy Ruttan, Shelly Bell, Christine d'Abo, Wylie Snow.
Liz - Not directly I don't think other than those who keep on plugging and manage to make a living doing what they love.
J.M - They all inspire. We're following our dreams, all with our own set of challenges.
Cat - So many but I see so many in my newsfeed that hit lists and all that and that's great, it's what we all would love to do... But those who post about being in love with what they do and their characters. I am inspired by those who write because they love it. Not the ones who jump on whatever bandwagon popular thing is going on. When I read something I want to be inspired I want to feel every page. Those authors whether they sell one copy or one million copies are who inspire me.
Deanndra - I'm constantly inspired by my author friends. We all work so hard, and sometimes it seems like we're trying to climb Everest. But I will say I've been inspired by my friend D. Kelly. She's had some medical issues but she just kept going. Good going, girlfriend!
Favourite thing that's been said about one of your books?
Jamie - From a review of Encore!..."It Will Tug At Your Heartstrings" - to me means I accomplished what I set out to do when I wrote it.
Laura - I love when a reader tells me I kept them up all night—or that they have a book hangover from something I wrote. It's both humbling and inspiring.
Cynthia - I LOVE hearing that readers reread my stories. I put quite a bit of depth into them so they can be reread multiple times.
Liz - That I bring the "real" every time and it works, every time. That my characters are 100% unforgettable and that they feel like "friends" to my readers.
J.M - That I made someone a believer in serials!
Cat - That they've laughed until they cried and had people staring at them like they were insane. People message me constantly about bacon stuff because my frontman in the Shaft on Tour series is obsessed with it. I love it!
Deanndra - I wished a Facebook friend a happy 38th anniversary. She said the last year's been one of their happiest because of my books. She said she saw how relationships could really be, and she's read passages to her husband and it's really helped their marriage. I cried for two days!
What does the next twelve months look like in your book world?
Jamie - A new book - probably a stand alone, perhaps a third book to follow Archangel, or a fourth in the Tudor Dynasty series, a travel series of novellas A historical I've been working on for three years. That's all I can say right now.
Laura - Next up is a spin-off from the Willow Springs Ranch Series. The new series is called Broken SEAL, and follows some of the men introduced in Cliff’s Edge. Book 1 will be out this summer, book 2 will be out in late fall.
I'm still working on the Pulp Friction 2015 collection with Havan Fellows, Lee Brazil, and Parker Williams—it's four authors, four series, 21 books—so I still have 3 to write for that.
I have two full-length menage books in the works, plus a new serial fiction.
Oh, and two Christmas stories this year. Sheesh—I better get busy!
Cynthia - My publishing schedule is publish a contemporary erotic romance, publish a SciFi erotic romance, take a break. So every 3 months, SciFi readers will have a new story (there will be at least 5 cyborg stories) and every 3 months, contemporary readers will have a new story (more delicious billionaires).
My upcoming releases for 2015 are
July - One Night With My Billionaire Master - Contemporary
Aug - Releasing Rage - SciFi
Oct - The Good Assistant - Contemporary
Nov - Breathing Vapor - SciFi.
Liz - Pretty crazy! I have the Indulgence anthology release at the end of June (my book Man On is a m/m novel about two soccer players on the Black Jacks team I mentioned earlier). Then HAT TRICK (see "Declan MacGuire" above) releases July 7. FAMILY LOVE which is Angelique's story intertwined with the "original Love story" that of Lindsay and Anton, the parents of all these wild and crazy kids releases Sept. 2 and it's a long novel. Finally I hope to either get an agent to pick up my thriller novel PRECIOUS VESSEL I've been working on for the past two years OR I gain enough momentum with my other books to release it myself.
J.M - Insanity!!! Too many WIPs and not enough time!!
Cat - Releases like crazy. Writing like mad and about four or five signings that I am very excited about.
Deanndra - I put out a book every two months, and we're not talking about a novella - most of them are full-length in excess of 60,000 words. So I stay busy. We'll see Incredible Us, the last of the Me, You, and Us series; the second and third books in the Citadel series, One Poor Choice and One Wrong Glance; a couple more Harper's Cove series books; an independent novella called Atonement about a personal struggle in the life of Vic Walters, the main character in the second Love Under Construction book, Tearing Down Walls; and the beginning of my new sci-fi romance series. Whew! I'm busy!
Who is your current book boyfriend and who is your all time, old faithful, go to book boyfriend?
Jamie - I fall in love with all my leading men and don't have time for others!
Cynthia - I'm always head over heels in love with the hero of the story I'm currently writing. In this case, it's Vapor, the hunky cyborg in Breathing Vapor. Some classic SciFi erotic romance book boyfriends are Laurann Dohner's Ral (in Ral's Woman) and Eve Langlais' Joe (in C791).
Liz - Rhett Butler ... and Rhett Butler.
J.M - Current would be my own that I'm writing...mainly the Kerrigan Brothers.
Darcy is my old faithful.
Cat - Currently, it's Mitchell Taylor from my Artistic Pricks Ink series since I'm working on his book at the moment and not reading.
My all time fave is Knight Sebring from Knight by Kristen Ashley. He's so dirty and protective... and hot oh is he hot!
Deanndra - Right now, I'm totally in love with Jaz from My Last Dom, my brand new book that's part of Indulgence: A Million Words of Romance anthology. But for me, I guess it'll always and forever be Tony Walters from Laying a Foundation, the first book in the Love Under Construction series.
If you were stuck on an island with just one paperback book, which book would it be?
Jamie - War and Peace...for obvious reasons. You're on a deserted island! Think about what you might need all those pages for!
Laura - A blank journal with plenty of pages and an unending supply of ink.
Cynthia - If I was stuck on an island with one SciFi erotic romance, I'd likely cheat and bring one of the delicious SciFi boxed sets available. (grins) Yeah, I don't play fair.
Liz - Gone With The Wind.
J.M - Pride and Prejudice.
Cat - Chocolate Lovers Series by Tara Sivec! It's a giant brick of epicness!
Deanndra - Adventurous Me, the first book in the Me, You, and Us series. I just love Trish and Clint. Sometimes I go back and read it and think, "How on earth did I come up with THAT?" It always makes me laugh.
Favorite line from a book.
Jamie - Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. Gone With The Wind - it's simple and says it all.
Cynthia - LOL I can't remember lines from my own books! My memory is terrible. I forgot my birthday one year.
Liz - Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.
J.M - To be or not to be.
Cat - You get in my bed, I'll straighten you out." Knight Sebring.
Deanndra - I think it was when Vivian came dragging in after a particularly amorous night with Doug. Nikki laughed and said, "Well, look what the cat dragged in and the dog humped!" That's just Nikki ...
What's your go to karaoke song?
Jamie - Cher - the Shoop Shoop song from Mermaids.
Laura - You're No Good, by Linda Ronstadt, lol.
Cynthia - I love Travis Tritt's 'It's A Great Day To Be Alive' and often wake up, singing it!
Liz - Love Shack by the B-52's.
J.M - Bitch by Meredith Brooks.
Cat - I don't do karaoke but I'd rock the hell out of The Thong Song HA HA HA.
Deanndra - I love, love, love Jason Aldean's version of Amarillo Sky.
You've opened up your wardrobe and your clothes aren't there, instead it's your dream world! You walk through, what's the first thing you see?
Jamie - A stunning Stella McCartney original - gown.
Laura - Mr Rourke, from fantasy Island. That way each time I step through, I can have a different fantasy, lol. What? Is that cheating?
Cynthia - Hunky barbarian aliens! Yum!
Liz - A gigantic sign in Times Square that says "Welcome superstar, international best selling author and screen writer, Liz Crowe to Good Morning America!
J.M - Highlands and castles and men in kilts!
Cat - My writing cave with no kiddos in it so I can focus. ha ha ha ha.
Deanndra - CHOCOLATE!
Is there a particular genre, maybe outside your comfort zone that you would like to write?
Jamie - Historical fiction - the Tudor period in particular.
Laura - I really don't like getting stuck in one genre, either as a reader or a writer—I want to get lost in rich characters who make me cry when they cry, laugh when they laugh, and dream of happily ever after.
Cynthia - Historical - I can't write it (I don't have the voice for it) so reading historical romances (preferably erotic) is a complete brain vacation for me.
Liz - I don't ever get genre stuck. I read more outside romance than I do in and am very picky about the ones I do read. I hate formulas, scripts and the same-old-same-old so I read a little from almost every genre, including mainstream fiction.
J.M - Love historical and paranormal romance!
Cat - BDSM and Dark Erotica.
Deanndra - I'm really taking a leap of faith with the sci-fi romance thing. I've never done it before. I'm not doing it because I want to write in that genre; I'm doing it because I have the story and it happens to be in that genre. But, honestly, I'm scared to death.
What's the best and worst advice you've ever received?
Jamie - Keep writing - you're too damn good at it. You will succeed!
Worst? I really have never been given any bad advice.
Laura - Write what you know' is the worst advice to give any writer of fiction. Stories are supposed to be make-believe. Write what you feel might be a better way to phrase the advice. If you've felt first love scared, disappointment, murderous rage, suicidal, smarter than those around you, dumber than a box of rocks...bring those feelings with you to the page. Put your characters into situations where you can draw on your past emotions--either felt or observed. Everything else is research.
The best advice is still ""Finish the damn book,"" aka ""Writers write."" Whether today is easy or hard, you have a 10k writing day or barely hit 200—the story won't get told—or finished—if you don't sit down and put words on paper. Even crappy words. You can edit later."
Cynthia - Best Advice - Love what you do. Worst Advice - Anything that starts with "You HAVE to...". There are no have-to's in writing. Every rule has been broken.
Liz - "Best: Keep writing and don't give up. Don't air your dirty laundry online. Worst: You must join and participate in a critique group.
J.M - If you want it done right, do it yourself...for both!
Cat - Best advice is to write as if dying. Cut yourself open and bleed onto every page. Worst was to quit thinking that a career in writing was anything attainable and to focus on being a wife and mother.
Deanndra - The best: Treat my writing as a business and have a one-year, five-year, and ten-year plan. And I do. The worst: Not to worry about setting a deadline because I'm a indie. As indies, we not only have to set publishing dates, but we've also got to stick to them.
What words do you love to use, and see in books, and what words do you hate to use / see?
Jamie - I love new words - ones that aren't used a lot. Words I hate - easy: Yummy - I hate that! Delish is another.
Cynthia - If a word works with a character or a situation, I'll never hate it.
Words that grab my attention with SciFi erotic romances? Cyborg, warrior, alien, protect.
Liz - As long as the words aren't repeated over and over (and over) again and are strung together in well-structured and professionally edited paragraphs, I don't care. I think any word will work if it's used properly (see: "well structured" and "professionally edited")
J.M - I'm a sucker for the more real legit words: cock, dick, pussy, etc. Not a fan of channel, manhood, etc. They just make me roll my eyes and giggle!
Cat - I use f*ck and cock a lot... I hate the words moist, folds, dripping, soaking... it makes me think of a flappy geyser between her legs.
Deanndra - I love ALL words. There aren't any that I hate to see or use. But I think two of my favorites are "willowy" (describing a woman) and "precious." And I love the word "pithy" too - I'm not sure why.
If you had one superpower, what would it be?
Jamie - The ability to always crank out phenomenal best selling books! Maybe not a superpower, but....
Laura - Telekinesis-I'd love to manipulate things in my environment just by thinking about it. Wouldn’t that be awesome? Imagine turning away a speeding bullet, snagging the last Oreo…
Cynthia - To make people happy OR have an unlimited supply of Nutella (which is basically the same thing)
Liz - To eat and lose weight at the same time!
J.M - Flying
Cat - Mind Control
Deanndra - Teleportation! ! I hate traveling; well, I hate the going and coming. I love the being there. If I could go from one place to another instantly, I would LOVE traveling.
Most underrated author / book you've read?
Jamie - I'd have to say (besides myself of course) that it would be Liz Crowe. The woman writes some powerful, real life stuff!
Cynthia - I love Aubrey Ross' and Kele Moon's SciFi Erotic romances. More readers should pick up their books.
Liz - I really can't think of one to be honest. I read (and listen to audio versions of) so many books to me, if I love it, it's not underrated.
J.M - So many of my close friends have an amazing gift and don't get the recognition. I refuse to name ONE! So I'll name many. Skye Turner, TH Snyder, AD Justice, AM Madden, Ren Alexander, Tricia Daniels, LL Collins, Kathy Coopmans, Hadley Quinn.
Cat - Sinner by Katheryn Kiden. It's so dark and twisted! Totally amazing!
Deanndra - Redeye by Clyde Edgerton. I'm a huge Edgerton fan, and I thought the book was hysterical. It didn't get very good reviews, but I still loved it.
Who is your absolute favourite man candy?
Jamie - David Gandy - need I say more.
Cynthia - For SciFi inspiration, definitely Vin Diesel's Riddick
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2007/11/21/riddick_big.jpg
Liz - At the moment, it's Channing Tatum. But I'm also a pretty huge fan of Daniel Craig and Chris Pratt.
J.M - Lord...Darren Birks since he's my photog and model for 2 of the 5 Kerrigan Brothers!
Cat - Right now it's a tie between Alfie Gordillo and Derrick Meacham.
(Without going straight to Charlie Hunnam of course.)
Deanndra - Ohhhhh, um, Joe Manganiello. Definitely. And Alessandro Etrusco and Joe A'noai aka Roman Reigns. And Alex Skarsgard. I should stop now.
If you didn't write books, what would you be doing?
Cat - Going insane with all the voices and stories in my head wanting to get out. Although, I am a mom of three great kids.
Deanndra - I'd be dead. Because that's when I plan to quit! But seriously, I've done a lot of things, but I realize now that this was my vocation all along
There is a massive awards ceremony for authors, both trad published and indie. It's a big shindig and everyone is there. In a room full of these incredible people, who is the author that makes you mush and you totally fangirl over them?
Cat - Tara Sivec without a doubt!
Deanndra - I'm not a person who fangirls. Ever. I wouldn't care about an autograph from the president - he puts on his pants one leg at a time just like me. I'll gladly tell someone that I like something they did, or that they did a good job, but no fangirling. But I would like to meet some of the actors, models, and others who were inspirations for some of my characters, just to tell them about the characters and to thank them.
What is your #BookZero? That one book you've read again and again, and you know you will re read it again?
Cat - Knight by Kristen Ashley. I reread every time I finish writing a book... well I skim the best parts at least...
Deanndra - Laying a Foundation and My Last Dom. Both of them. I can't chose.
Anything you would like to say?
Jamie - I'm really honored and excited to be part of this anthology. If people want to
learn more about my books, the can go to my website at www.jamiesalisbury.com
Laura - Connect with me: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lauraharner Facebook: http://facebook.com/lauraharner Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LauraHarner Wattpad: @LauraHarner For my blog, book news, and to read free excerpts visit: http://lauraharner.com
Cynthia - Don't miss my new release newsletter. I feature an absolutely filthy dirty joke in every installment. You can sign up at http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/ You can also find me at Website: CynthiaSax.com Facebook: facebook.com/cynthia.sax Twitter: @CynthiaSax Blog: TasteOfCyn.com
Liz - Oh I'm all over the nets and am pretty awesome there, I'm told. I keep it fun, funny and free of non-stop self promotion.
Facebook: Liz Crowe Author
Twitter: @beerwencha2
Once a month newsletter with exclusive content: http://eepurl.com/JRue5
Blog: www.brewingpassion.com
Thanks for having me!
Cat - You ladies rock my socks, kick hard core ass... all day everyday. Thanks for having me and feel free to stalk me, hump my leg if you see me at signings, you know whatever mood strikes you! HA HA HA www.facebook.com/catmasonauthor
@cat_mason_2014 is my twitter.
Deanndra - Come find me on Facebook, both my regular page and my author page. I'm on twitter, tsu, Goodreads, and Amazon, I have a website and blog (http://www.deanndrahall.com) where you can sign up for my newsletter. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Just search for my name! I'm always looking for new street team members, and I'm usually giving something away somewhere or doing one of my rocking takeovers. And thanks to Seraphim Book Reviews for having me here - you're the best!
Thanks to all these fantastic Authors, for taking the time to come and do our Author Q&A in
time for Indulgence Anthology.
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