The Steam Room

Ménage à Do or Don’t?

Why do you think people are so fascinated by the idea of a ménage relationship?

Ménage à trois!  The very word can cause any number of reactions.  Giggling, blushing, raised brows, arousal, outrage.  So, why do so many people fantasize such a controversial subject?

Do you dream about four hands caressing your body?  If you close your eyes can you imagine two mouths, two tongues worshiping you?

Ménage à trois literally means “household of three.”  I wanted to find out why this phrase drew so many readers to buy books so I questioned one hundred readers through Survey Monkey.  The results were pretty conclusive.  67% said they were fascinated by the “forbidden” aspect of a ménage relationship. 

*****

Personally, it is the idea of having more hands on me to heighten the senses. More attention. Being in a relationship where I am the one who has to be in charge most of the time, I would so love to just be able to lay back and have someone else worry about me and what I get from the experience, and not have to worry about being unfulfilled at the end.

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Because it's something they want to participate in, but it's unheard of or can't find them. I'd love to go to some of the towns that I read about and find 2 people to love that would love and treat me like they do in the book. Loved and secured.

*****

Because it is considered 'forbidden' in today's society. It is also, I believe, the ultimate in sexual fulfillment for women as we are so often disappointed...if you know what I mean! We have more than one erogenous zone and more hands, mouths, tongues and cocks means more than one area is receiving pleasure at the same time.

*****

I’m guilty of the same fantasies.  When I started writing “Table for Three” I rolled every fantasy I ever had into the story.  I was an older woman who’d survived an abusive first marriage who dreamed of starting over and finding young love again.  From this, I developed “Cass Abernathy.”

Table for Three         Buy and/or Read an Excerpt

Cass Abernathy is forty-three and she's getting a second chance at life, and maybe even love. She's finally divorced, after years of abuse, when she learns an unknown uncle in Oregon has left her his estate, and more importantly, his house. Filled with hope for her future and excited to have a place of her own, Cass heads west not knowing what she'll find.

What she finds are hot and sexy twin brothers intent on making her a part of their lives. It's too bad they're so much younger because they bring out feelings she's never had before.

Meanwhile, there's someone else interested in Cass' inheritance, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure he wins.

Will Cass overcome her fears and open her heart to the two men who love her, and will she discover the truth about her inheritance before it's too late?

I’m happy to say I’ve lived a lot of my fantasies now, even though it was late in life.  I will say I never experienced twin brothers, but I am happily living with my husband who is a decade younger than me.  Even that little bit of departure from normal can get some people in a snit.  Why are some people so threatened by alternative lifestyle relationships?  What is it they fear?

I have a friend who openly lives in a ménage F/M/F relationship.  She’s not bisexual; she merely “shares” her husband with another woman.  They live in the same house, sleep in the same bed, and raise their children side-by-side.  I asked her once why she would share the love of her life.  Since she’s not involved in a romantic relationship with the other woman, what would the advantages be?  She said, “Our house is always full of love.  Even if two of us are having problems, our children always have a parent they can turn to for love and guidance.  I never worry if anything should happen to me because I know my girls will always have a mother.”

I, for one, can’t imagine a life with that much inner peace.  I asked her if jealousy had ever been a problem.  She said, “In the beginning, we’d get our panties in a wad if one of us got a better birthday or Christmas gift. <she laughed>  Then, David wised up and started getting us similar, if not identical things for special occasions.  <she shrugged, and then sighed>  I really don’t think it’d be a problem now.  Everybody feels how much we love each other so nobody would ever get their feelings hurt.”  When I asked her what she could possibly find to fantasize about since she was living so many other people’s idea of a perfect life.  She grinned and said, “Having a house with four bathrooms!”

My friend is living in a relationship with one man and another woman.  The other side of the coin gives us relationships with two men and one woman.  In the survey I did, people seemed to think this type of relationship was more scandalous, and yet 68% of the hundred readers said this was the type of ménage they most liked to read.

My fantasies always ran to having two men making love to me.  The thought of all those hands and lips made me crazy.  Then, I read my first M/M romance and suddenly began to fantasize about two men making love to me, and to each other at the same time.  In all the books I’d read up to this point, the men never touched, they concentrated all their energies on the woman.  And believe me, when you have three people in a bed, making love, it’s not easy to keep the men from touching!

I bought my first M/M/F ménage about six months before I wrote the sequel to “Table for Three.”  I decided I wanted to try my hand at writing a ménage story that didn’t have any restrictions about the love scenes.  “Catch Her When She Falls” was born.

Catch Her When She Falls           Buy and/or Read an Excerpt

Serena Dammler is recovering from a savage beating and needs protection. Cowboys and lovers Marc Weller and Tony Estabon are taking jobs as bounty-hunters, and their newest assignment is to capture her attacker and return him to Texas. They take one look at Serena’s fragile beauty and decide she’d be the perfect third to their family.

Serena’s always dreamed of catching herself a rich man, and she’d do just about anything to make that dream come true. She’s not going to allow herself to fall in love with her two cowboy protectors, no matter how sexy they are.

Marc and Tony want Serena as their third, but they want her love to be real and not based on their bank accounts. So what will it hurt if they take her to a little cabin on their ranch and pretend to be simple cowboys?

I was a little nervous writing my first M/M scenes, and quite frankly, had no idea what I was doing.  I did a lot of reading, and even consulted a writer I consider to be one of the tops in M/M writing.  Stormy Glenn read my passages and gave me some invaluable advice in making my love scenes more realistic.

“Catch Her When She Falls” turned out to be my best seller as of this date.  Yet, when I surveyed the hundred readers, 100% of them stated they’d prefer reading M/F/M ménages over M/M/F!  What does that tell you?  It tells me that some people will never be comfortable admitting what type of romance novel turns them on.

Do I yearn for a ménage lifestyle?  No, I’m happy with my young husband.  I don’t think society is ready for people living in open ménage relationships, yet.  I do think the day will come when you’ll be able to find the perfect Hallmark Card for congratulating the union of a ménage couple.

Check out Missy's Website at  www.missymartine.com

Hello!  My name is Josie Dennis and I’m a new Erotic Romance author.  My characters find love in the most amazing places and the Happily Ever After is a guarantee. I believe that readers who like their romances hot, and their heroes and heroines open to ideas they’ve only explored in their fantasies, will find my stories very satisfying. I’ve recently launched my Classics Rekindled series, M/F/M ménage a trois stories inspired by the classics.

Blurb for Wild Heights:

Cathy Earling has loved Edward Linden and Henry Heath forever. When they are away, it is as if two pieces of her heart are missing, beating again only when they return. Edward and his late father’s ward Henry have shared women before, but now they want to make Cathy theirs. After a wild, storm-drenched afternoon on the moors, the three begin a liaison, bringing them more pleasure than any had ever imagined.

Together, Edward and Henry take Cathy to unexpected heights of passion, each encounter making them more certain that she is the only woman for them. As for Cathy, each time they are together she falls more in love with both of them. When gossip of their affair threatens to ruin her, Edward and Henry must convince her mind of what her body already knows: the three of them are destined to be together forever.

Blurb for Emmy’s Lesson:

Emmeline Woodson is an independent, strong-willed, and opinionated young lady. Gabriel Kingley, Emmy’s staid and stoic brother-in-law, is forever scolding her, even though he has secretly wanted her for years. When Stephen Churchill, Gabriel’s longtime friend and Emmy’s childhood chum, returns to town, he declares that he wants her as well.

Stephen proposes that he and Gabriel share her, and when they begin to teach her about desire and discipline, Emmy takes to their passionate lessons eagerly. Every skill she masters is rewarded, and every lapse is tantalizingly punished, until she craves the pleasure only they can give her.

But when Emmy learns that Stephen is engaged, she fears they will each find proper women to marry, and she will end up with neither, which will break her heart.

Gabriel and Stephen are determined they must teach Emmy to believe they love and want only her, but will this be her most difficult lesson yet?

Buy Links: http://www.bookstrand.com/josie-dennis                Wild Heights for your Kindle

Website Link: www.josiedennis.com

Excerpt from Emmy’s Lesson

“Bring the honey,” Stephen called as he led Emmy to Gabriel’s bedchamber.

Gabrielc omplied, his body thrumming with anticipation. With a tight rein on his own compulsions he would employ some of the leather items he’d had fashioned for their Emmy today, and given the manner in which she had taken to their lessons the other night he suspected she would be most receptive.

By the time he joined them Stephen had divested Emmy of her dress, stays, and stockings. Her thin linen drawers were visibly damp, no doubt due to Stephen’s play on her gorgeous breasts. Emmy reclined on Gabriel’s bed, moaning and purring as Stephen drew hard on one of her rosy nipples.

“Ah, Emmy,” Stephen growled, his mouth full of her flesh. A look of bliss crossed his face as he gave her breast a slow lick. “Honey, Switch.” He laughed softly. “Not that she needs sweetening.”

Gabriel stepped close to the bed and tipped the honey pot slightly, letting a thin lineof the sticky stuff drizzle down over her breasts. She gasped then gazed up at him. “Kiss me, Gabriel.”

He placed a drop of honey on her lips and then did so, letting his tongue stroke hers. He straightened and tore at his clothes, shedding his jacket and waistcoat, boots and shirt. He kept his breeches on for the time being, his cock straining at the fabric. It was the only thing keeping him from rutting on her like a beast. He wouldn’t do that today. No, Stephen would fuck her today.

Stephen sat back on his heels and took the pot from him. “Gabriel gets to taste you tonight, Emmy.”

Her eyes nearly crossed as she flushed in anticipation. “Yes, Gabriel,” she sighed, her eyes gazing dreamily up into his. “Do.”

Stephen placed a dollop of honey on her belly, bending his head to lick her there. Gabriel watched his tongue dip into her navel and noted the tell tale twitching of her legs. She was nearly there already, their Emmy. On the very edge of pleasure. He was nearly there himself. Joining them on the bed, he settled himself between her legs.

He’d thought to take his time, to bring her to pleasure slowly, excruciatingly, but he found he couldn’t wait. Stephen had talked of nothing but the sweetness of Emmy’s pussy, and Gabriel couldn’t wait to taste her himself. He tore her drawers from her, earning another delighted gasp from Emmy and a chuckle from Stephen. He grasped her slender thighs and spread her wide open, eyeing her beautiful pussy. The blond curls were dark and wet, the lips swollen. Her clit peeped out at him, and he took in a deep breath. He could smell her, sharp and sweet and Emmy.

“Honey,” he rasped.

“Yes, sweetheart?” Stephen teased.

Gabriel shot him a look of irritation, at which Stephen laughed. “All right, Switch.”

Another dip of the honey pot and a drop of golden honey fell on her flesh. She shivered in response and it was more than Gabriel could take.

Like a starving man, he fell on her. Driving his tongue deep inside of her he began a rhythm that soon had her bucking beneath him. “Gabriel!” she cried, grasping at his hair as she twisted and writhed.

“Bind her hands, Stephen,” he managed to say between licks. “Be gentle.”

Soft restraint tonight, just a taste of how giving up control can heighten her pleasure. He gazed at her, her hands bound with one of their cravats, her arms held over her head by Stephen and her legs held tightly in his own grasp. Heighten her pleasure? And theirs, most assuredly.

He lowered his mouth to her again. He faintly registered her sounds of passion, and Stephen’s of encouragement, as he sucked and licked and ate her like a madman. His cock throbbed as he thrust against the linens and he knew he’d disgrace himself if he didn’t cease. When she came in the next moment, a sharp keening sound coming from her as she climaxed, he drank every drop of her juices. Mingling with the honey, it was like nectar of the gods.

Lifting his head from her, he let out a shout. “My God, you’re incredible.”

Emmy murmured something in response, obviously still lost in the aftermath. Stephen met his gaze, waiting for his signal. Gabriel gave a nod and stood, adjusting his straining cock as he strode to the hidden cupboard in his dressing room.

He could hear Emmy and Stephen kissing, could picture every movement of the two of them, and his balls ached. He set aside a few waistcoats and opened the cupboard behind them, the scent of fresh leather hitting him. Running his handsover the various items within, he chose the short riding crop. It was tipped with a soft popper, slightly wider than one would employ when riding. The leather was supple, the handle well-wrapped and thick. He’d designed the handle as well, schooling his expression when the leathersmith indicated that it was decidedly phallic in shape. The seams were smooth, the leather warming beneath his touch. He flicked the crop against his palm, feeling a sting but raising no flesh. Excellent.

A smile teasing his lips, he returned to the bedchamber.

TSR: Tell us about Classics Rekindled.

Josie: The stories in this series are all inspired by the classics most of us read growing up. Wild Heights was inspired by Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, and Emmy’s Lesson by Jane Austen’s Emma.  Tessa’s Redemption and Madison Park, to be published in November 2011, were inspired by Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Austen’s Mansfield Park respectively.  For me, the classics open an unending world of inspiration!

TSR: What kinds of liberties do you take with the characters or the story?

Josie: I have great respect for these books.  I try to expand on what I feel is evident in the heroine’s or hero’s character.  For example, in Wild Heights I’ve kept the wildness of Heathcliff (my Henry) but none of the tragedy.  As for Emma, who doesn’t want to spank the self-centered clueless heroine?  In Emmy’s Lesson , my Emmy learns more than she bargained for, and gains the greatest loves she could ever imagine. And the stern Mr. Knightley?  With my Mr. Kingley, we learn that he knows a thing or two about bondage and discipline to go along with those disapproving looks!

TSR: What draws you to these classic stories?

Josie: In so many of the classics there is a love triangle.  For me this is steamy conflict baked right in!  I love taking the characters I’ve grown to care about and make them dance to my tune, LOL.  Seriously, all great stories tend to stick with us.  How I love to rewrite the fateso f characters I’ve come to love (or hate) in literature! Turning a villain into a hero is particularly gratifying. Take the heroes (I use the term very loosely, LOL) from Tess of the d’Urbervilles. In my book Tessa’s Redemption, both men love my Tessa and hate each other. They have to learn to set their animosity aside if their threesome is going to last forever.

TSR: What is the most romantic thing that’s ever happened to you?

Josie: I can think of no grand gestures over my long relationship with my husband, just the caring little things and a constant connection.  I’m happy to say that my heart still jumps when I hear his voice.

TSR: What are the top 5 things on your bucket list?

Josie: Travel to Italy and see where my family originated, spend a year living in London, cruise to Alaska, live so close to the beach I can dip my toes in the surf every morning, and spend one entire day eating only chocolate.

TSR: Share one strange thing that happened to you or an odd quirk you have.

Josie: I have an incredible memory for things of little consequence.  I’m the person people call with trivia questions regarding TV and movies.  My friends have told me there is 2% of my brain dedicated to storing this information!  I love old movies (film noir and smart comedies are my favorites) and I grew up with TV as background music in the house.

TSR: If you cook , do crafty stuff, or have a hobby, please share the details with readers.

Josie: I do love to cook, mostly Italian food.  I enjoy taking a recipe and making it my own.  I’m always experimenting in the kitchen. 

TSR: What’s next for you?

Josie: My series seems to taking off, I’m happy to say!  I have stories planned using many more of the classics as my inspiration, and I’m toying with the idea of a paranormal ménage series based on a magical race I “created.”  I’m thrilled to start this new journey and invite any interested readers to email me at josie@josiedennis.com Thanks so much for having me here in The Steam Room!

The Steam Room welcomes best-selling author Eve Adams. Read an excerpt from her new release, Temptation, and stay tuned for a revealing interview where she discusses her writing, her art, the inspiration inherent in Montana, and her active role in Search and Rescue. And her Food Network Obsession.  I love her just for that!

A ménage ranch… Four sexy brothers… One unforgettable weekend. Visit the Gideon's Ranch & Lodge, where guests always leave with a smile.

Blurb for Temptation [Book 2 in the series]:

Wyatt Gideon is through chasing after Trish Armstrong. She may have had him wrapped around her sexy finger years ago, but Wyatt is no longer the naïve teen who'd do anything for her smile. He's grown into a dominant, self-assured man who knows what he wants--and he wants Trish, but on his terms this time.

Trish returns home to care for her ailing grandfather. There she finds herself obsessing over the two men she can't forget--Wyatt Gideon and Mitch Brown. Loving the both of them scared her and she ran. Now that she's back and discovers what goes on at the GR&L, the TEMPTATION is too great and she offers the men a weekend to last a lifetime.

Tragedy strikes and Trish blames Wyatt and Mitch. Can she see past her own grief and give in to the happiness they are offering? Or will she run again?

Buy Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/temptation

Website Link: http://www.alliekadams.com/EVE.html

Excerpt:

            Wyatt attempted to stand, and she sprayed him. “What the hell?”

            “Stay down,” she ordered and turned the hose on Mitch. He didn’t move. “Both of you, just stay where you are and hear me out.”

            No doubt fearing another dousing from the hose, Mitch froze and waited. He glanced over at Wyatt, who hadn’t moved again.

            She sprayed them again for good measure.

            Wyatt and Mitch exchanged glances, and she knew she was in trouble. At once they both jumped to their feet and charged her, Wyatt holding her while Mitch took the hose from her. She struggled to break free, but with Wyatt being wet and the ground now a muddy mess, her attempts were futile.

            “Do you know what happens to subs who challenge their Dom?” Wyatt’s voice throbbed with command and a need almost desperate in its tone.

            She shook her head, suddenly at a loss for words. Wyatt gave her a safe word, but for the life of her, she couldn't remember it, nor did she want to.

            Mitch’s eyes flared with the hunger of a man on the verge of an attack. His need grew in his dark gaze, and the heat from that need shuddered through her. He tossed the hose aside and chopped up the distance between them with his muscly legs.

            Taking her from Wyatt, he cupped her face and plunged his tongue into her mouth, commanding a kiss of such intensity it threatened to explode through her. The shadows of their fight faded, replaced with a trembling of need that had started to consume her.

            Wyatt pulled her wet dress up and over her head, breaking the kiss between her and Mitch. Dazed from the power of their contact, she stood there and watched as both Wyatt and Mitch undressed.

            “Right here?” She couldn’t help but pant as she took a step back away from them.

            “Right now,” Wyatt ordered back, and it wasn’t up for discussion.

            His tone, a strangled groan as his desperation for her sounded in his voice, ignited a flame inside her. It twisted and burned, melting her from the inside out.

            When Mitch approached her, a smile curled the corners of his sultry lips into the sexiest damn grin she’d ever seen on him. Dear God. When did he get such a dominant look about him? His dark eyes smoldered as his gaze touched her, caressed her, and connected them in a way she’d never felt before.

            “It’s my turn in that sweet ass, baby.” His grin widened.

            She parted her lips at the declaration, and he moved in, capturing her mouth with his. Her lips parted further, granting him access to stroke his tongue against hers. He kissed like a man on a mission, and she loved it.

            Wyatt moved behind her, running his hands along her wet, slippery back and whispering broken phrases of things to come tonight.

            She could hardly wait.

            “I love the feel of your skin,” Wyatt whispered and ran his tongue across her shoulder. “You’re silk, Trish. You are absolutely the most perfect thing there is.”

            She trembled against him—against both of them. Earlier behind the house was one thing, but this was another. This, right here, gave new meaning to their relationship. She couldn’t explain the reasons behind her epiphany, only that Mitch possessed her with his kiss and Wyatt let him, and it pulled them closer than ever.

            Gone was any uncertainty. Something snapped inside her, and she decided then and there that she no longer wanted to be the pretty girl who never had to say a thing to get what she wanted. She knew what she wanted, and they stood there surrounding her with their heat, and she wanted to give them everything.

            Pulling her lips from Mitch’s, she stepped back and studied her men. Her men. She liked the sound of that—loved it, actually. Taking the first step toward this new woman she wanted to be, she reached up and cupped her breasts, gauging their reaction as she pinched her nipples.

            “Ah, hell.” Mitch licked his lips. His hand went to his cock, and he slowly started to stroke.

            Wyatt remained silent and simply stared, his erection almost purple as it bobbed in front of him.

            “More,” Wyatt commanded. “What else are you willing to do for us?”

            “Whatever you want done,” she breathed. “But I want something in return.”

            Mitch’s hand stopped. “And that is?”

            “Say you love me. You don’t have to mean it, but I really just want to hear the words.” She hated how pathetic she sounded but couldn’t help it. Gramps didn’t say the L word. In all honesty, she hadn’t heard the L word from anyone other than her mother and grandmother, now dead over twenty years.

            Wyatt’s eyes clouded over as he took a step toward her, his heated gaze never leaving hers. He ran his fingers through her hair, gently scraping his nails against her scalp and sending a rush of violent chills prickling her skin. Still, his gaze never left hers.

            “Trish,” he whispered. “I’ve loved you since the day you purposely ran your bike into mine because I made the jump and you didn’t.”

            Oh, God. She remembered that. Partially laughing, partially crying, Trish smiled up at him. He meant it. She saw it in his eyes.

            “And I’ve been in love with you ever since you skinned your knee trying to make that same jump. You got right back up and refused to shed a tear.” Mitch moved up next to her and wiped a tear away with the pad of his hand. “Don’t cry, baby. No more competition. No more wondering who’s better.”

            “It’s the three of us,” Wyatt went on. “It’s always been the three of us. We love you.”

            “And I love you,” she whispered. “Both of you. Thank you. Thank you so much for giving me everything I’ve ever wanted.”

            “Oh, wait.” Mitch grinned. “There’s so much more.”

            And there was, so much more than she could have ever imagined.

This is the second book in a four book series--each brother getting to tell his own story. The first is Trio. The books are in order from oldest to youngest. Barrett (Trio), Wyatt (Temptation), Matt (Heat), and Michael (Persuasion).

Checkout Trio for Kindle or at BookStrand.

TSR: Tell us about your Gideon’s Ring series.

Eve: The Gideon's Ring series originally started as a cursed ring with a man who ticked off a witch being trapped in this ring for all eternity. He'd be called out of the ring when a woman slipped on the ring and read the inscription (kind of like rubbing the lamp).

But my publisher told me ghost-like romances don't sell so I went back to what I know--hot cowboys that make Montana even hotter. I had an idea of a guest ranch run by four sexy brothers, each with their own story to tell. I added in a bit of a twist--couples come to the Gideon Ranch & Lodge on retreat, pin a third, and have a no strings attached ménage for the weekend. Add it a bit of BDSM and you really have a wild weekend! The Gideon brothers are the instructors and boy do they know their stuff!

TSR: How do you develop your characters?

Eve: I live in Montana so I have a lot of, shall we say, inspiration all around me. I like to hang a picture of what I envision the character to look like and then I start asking it questions. What's your story? What makes you tick? Why are you scared of the dark? Why do you prefer redheads over blondes? Why are you accident prone? I make the character "real" by layering in human traits. My characters are flawed, but then again aren't we all? That's how we can relate to what we read. Who wants to read about a perfect person who never makes any mistakes?

TSR: What draws you to writing romantic/erotic suspense?

Eve: I like to be entertained and feel good, and romance does that. I have an element of suspense in all of my books, which keeps the readers on the edge of the seat and those pages turning. There are very few books I like that don't have romance involved. I have to have my happily ever after or reading the book is a waste of my time.

That's how I got my start--by reading a book that I felt was a complete waste of my time. The couple didn't end up together. What kind of ending is that? So I rewrote the ending the way I wanted it and had so much fun at it that I decided to write my own book. The rest, as they say, is history - or herstory.

TSR: You create your own cover art.  How did you get into art?  What’s it like to have that much creative control over the covers to your books?

Eve: I created my first cover for Under the Covers, (checkout on BookStrand or Kindle) my first ménage romantic suspense because I wasn't happy with the cover art being produced. I had a very specific idea in mind and knew what I needed to do to achieve it. Instead of spending countless hours back and forth with a cover artist, I gave it a shot myself. I had a blast doing it and now create almost all my covers.

It's wonderful to be able to have full control on the image of my covers. I know the story. I know the characters. It makes sense for me to create the cover. I'm not professional and there are better covers out there, but these are mine, you know? They are mine.

TSR: If you could bring any of your heroes out of your books and take him home, who would it be?

Eve: I've been in love with Spencer Allen from Rescue Me (writing as Allie K. Adams; check out on Kindle)since first creating him. He's a Search And Rescue detective and there's something about a man in uniform. He's been in love with Kat forever but can't make that final leap, fearing that, as a cop's wife, she'll get that knock on the door at three o'clock in the morning. He's tortured (aren't they all?) and I want to be the one who heals him. Oh, and there is a scene in the book involving a striptease and a couch where they, ahem… It's a great scene and I've never wanted to be a character in my book more than in that scene.

TSR: What’s something you want your readers to know about you?

Eve: I've been active in the Search and Rescue (SAR) for close to fifteen years and used to volunteer as a reserve police officer. My husband is a captain with the fire department. We are a family of emergency responders! Because we are both avid ATV'ers, we get called out to search for missing hikers, hunters, etc. We know the hills behind the house (thousands and thousands of acres of Montana wilderness) and can cover more ground on the ATVs.

My softer side (yes, I do have one!) - I'm obsessed with the Food Network. Bobby Flay is my hero and I will meet him one day. I tell everyone he secretly wants me, but then again so does Tim McGraw and Josh Duhamel. I'm sure I can compete against the likes of Faith Hill and Fergie. What?!? A gal can dream, can't she?

TSR: Do you write in any other genres? If you write them under different pen names, why?

Eve: I write MF romantic suspense as Allie K. Adams. I write MFM erotic suspense as Eve Adams (exclusive to Siren Publishing). I also write YA under a different pen name.

I decided to write my MF and MFM stories under different pen names but make it clear that I am the same person. I want a reader to know without any doubt that when she picks up an Allie book, she holds a hot MF book in her hands. When she picks up an Eve book, she knows it is MFM and the heat level is blistering hot. I don't want anyone to pick up an Allie book and get shocked into therapy.

As for the YA, I'm sure everyone understands why those are under a different pen name. There's no way I could possibly get my Eve/Allie books mixed up with my YA books. Talk about shocking a reader into therapy!

TSR: What’s next for you?

Eve: I have my next book in the Brides of Bachelor Bay series (written with Sofia Hunt and Bella Grace) coming out before the end of the year, tentatively titled The Banished Bride. For those who are following this series, my book will be Amelia Prescott's story. [Check out the entire series at Amazon.]

I'll be finishing up the Gideon's Ring series as well. Temptation will be out September 9th (WOOT!) and I hope to have Heat out around the first of the year. Persuasion will finish up the series and should be out in the May/June time frame.

I have a new series, Songs Remember When, and the first book, Suspicious Minds (Check out on BookStrand or Kindle), came out in July. This is a historical MFM series based on the title of a famous song. Songs invoke feelings with their messages. These books do the same. The next in the series, When a Man Loves a Woman, will be out next year.

And we can't forget my Riding series. Readers have been asking for another short (these are around 25,000 words) so I'm working on Riding Bareback.

Lastly, I've had several readers beg me to write James's story from Under the Covers. Because of the number of requests, I'm working on Without the Covers. This will be the third and final book in the Covert Lovers series.

As you can see, I love series books. I love giving characters life and then having them visit in the other books in the series so the readers get the chance to get caught up with them. In my books, you never have to say goodbye to your favorite characters--you simply pick up the next book in the series.

Thank you so much for this opportunity to be with you today. I really appreciate it!

TSR Welcomes Back Best-Selling Author Missy Martine!

Anna Doubles Down was a lot of fun to write and the most work of any of my books so far. Because it’s set in the 1871 old west, I wanted it to be authentic with language, clothing, food, and ambience.  Even taking a bath was an adventure back then. Now, I’m not a young woman by any means, but I’m not that old so it took a fair amount of research.

The fun came in researching the town itself.  The book is set in Hamilton, Nevada which just so happens to be a real place.  Back in 1871 it was a thriving little mining town adjacent to the Belmont Mill and the Silver Bell and Seligman silver mines. My hubby and I took a vacation and visited the old ghost town, taking hundreds of picture of what’s left of the town and the mill.  When you read the descriptions in the story, they’re as close to the real thing as I could get from hands-on experience.

I walked the deserted paths and easily imagined an earlier time when horses and wagons made their way back and forth between the town and the mill.  We stood in the oldcemetery and read the stones, feeling the devastation that families must have felt losing their children so young.

We followed the cables in the sky as high as we could, following the path the silver-filled buckets used to take from the mine to the mill.  Standing outside the old mill I focused my camera high on the upper floor windows and shivers would roll over me as I imagined the ghosts of the miners still laying claim to the old, rotting buildings.  The silence in the woods around the place was chilling, the breeze almost negligible, like a silent tribute to times gone by.

When you read this book, try to imagine yourself living back in 1871.  Could you have survived under the conditions I describe in this book?

TSR: The last time you were here, you mentioned that the Wolfen Heritage Trilogy was growing?  Tell us about your baby’s growth.

Missy: I always wanted the Wolfen Heritage stories to continue, but it took some time to figure out where I wanted the story to go.  I decided to pick up their lives years later.

In book 3 of the trilogy, Changing Their Wolfen Heritage, we saw several of the mated pairs having children.  The new series will focus on those offspring.

The new series is called A Wolfen Heritage – The Next Gen – 25 Years Later.  It picks up with the same threat still affecting the Wind River Pack’s next generation.  Right now, the new series has 6 books planned, with the first two already outlined. Book 1 is titled Blind Acceptance and book 2 is An Officer and Two Gentlemen.” I’m not prepared to give blurbs at this point, but I can tell you that the threat that Remus and his family faced in the original books is not dead. The good guys were not the only ones who had children.

TSR: What has been your biggest challenge in the past year?

Missy: Hmm, well, if you’re talking about writing, then doing the research and field work for Anna Doubles Down was right up there with the top three.  Researching, including visiting the town myself, was something I’d not had much experience with, so it was quite the adventure.  It’s not easy to reach Hamilton, Nevada, even with a Jeep. We cut across the back roads of Nevada to reach the area, twice having to backtrack when the road became impassible. We even had the Park Ranger keeping tabs on us, hunting us down when we didn’t emerge from the forests where he thought we would.  Truthfully, we’d taken a side trail just to see where it would go.  We went as far as we could and then chickened out of crossing a small running creek. We couldn’t tell how deep it was.  Had to back out quite a ways before we found an area wide enough to turn around.  In our Jeep, we are fearless.

Another challenge, for me, was attending the Lori Foster Reader Writer Get Together in Ohio. I hadn’t traveled in years due to illness, and being on oxygen.  I lost over 150 pounds last year and got really healthy, no longer needing my oxygen. That trip was like a turning point for me, my first time in public since the weight loss, and the first time I had traveled without my trusty bottles of oxygen in my backpack.  I’m basically avery shy person and parading myself in front of all those people in Ohio was a major challenge.

On a personal note, my greatest challenge this year has been to bicycle with my husband.  He rides a bike daily, back and forth to work instead of using a car.  He gets in 26 miles a day so he’s in pretty good shape.  His brilliant idea was that bicycling together would give us something that would bring us closer.   Sometimes his ideas are not all that great.   He bought a tandem and we started taking short trips.  I hadn’t been on a bike in over 40 years!  I can’t ride alone because I have balance issues left over from strokes I had back in 2002.  So, I’ve been building up my stamina so we can take “touring” rides next summer. His goal is to be able to ride from San Jose to Santa Cruz by early next summer.  Right now, 15 miles leaves my butt begging to be released from its agony.  I’m not sure I’m ever going to up for this challenge.

TSR: What is the most romantic thing that’s ever happened to you?

Missy: I would have to say meeting the man I’m married to now.  I spent 20 years in an abusive relationship. It took me that long to convince myself that I’d be okay alone, that I didn’t need a man in my life.  In1996 I finally got brave enough to walk out the door and not go back.  I was calm, convinced that I’d be alone the rest of my life and I was okay with that. Being alone does not necessarily mean you have to be lonely.

My best friend lived in Nashville, with me in Chattanooga.  Back then, it was long distance for us to talk on the phone so she talked me into getting a computer and internet so we could chat for free. My first time ever in a chat room I met my Nigel.  At that time I didn’t know that he was 10 years younger, and I had no idea what I was doing could be dangerous.  He wooed me big time.  We’d chat daily, exchange emails and he sent me virtual flowers, pizzas, e-cards and literally swept me off my feet.  After a couple of months we exchanged phone numbers and talked for hours.  My phone bills were running over $400 a month and his as well.  After several more months we agreed to drive and meet face to face.  The drive was to W. Memphis, Arkansas which was half-way between our two homes.  He was living in Oklahoma at the time.  Again, I was too naïve to know that I could have been meeting a serial killer.  We met, and it was love at first sight.  Three months later, after driving to different cities every other weekend to meet, I moved to Oklahoma to be with him.  A year after that we were married.  Meeting Nigel, and his courtship, was the most romantic thing that ever happened to me.

TSR: You write in a variety of genres.  Tell us about some of the other pieces you’re working on.

Missy: Technically, I’ve really on written in two genres.  I like writing and reading ménage stories, and three of my seven published stories are contemporary ménages.  Paranormal shape-shifter is my other favorite genre to write in. There’s just something about stories of ferocious wolves that turn into sexy, alpha males.  Of course, I combined my two loves in book 3 of my trilogy, Changing Their Wolfen Heritage, and gave the readers a wolfie ménage.

I delved a little out of character for me with TheMagic in Her Gift.” It’s considered paranormal, since it delves a little into magic, but basically it’s a contemporary M/F love story.  It was pretty much an experiment, and one that I’m not likely to repeat.  I didn’t even enjoy writing it as much as I have my other books.

As for what I’m working on now, I have 2 series underway.  The first is titled Galactic Nuptials.” It’s set in the future, with Galactic Nuptials being an agency that supplies brides/mates for planets that have shortages of women and are in danger of dying out.  There are 6 stories planned right now, but there’s definitely room for more if it goes over well.  Each story will be stand-alone, but tied together with the staff of Galactic Nuptials. Many of the stories will be shape-shifter, and they are all ménage.  Some are M/F/M, M/M/F, M/F/M/M and M/M/M.  The first three books are titled:  Space Bride, My Chameleon Loves, and  Meredith’s Pride.  I’m getting ready to send the first book of this series to Siren within the next week.

The second series I’ve begun is A Wolfen Heritage –The Next Gen – 25 Years Later.  It also has 6 books planned, with the first being titled Blind Acceptance.  This series will pick up with the children born to the original pack members, and how they carry on fighting the family’s foe that turns out not to be dead.

There’s also a sequel to Catch Her When She Falls coming early next year, as well as a sequel to Anna Doubles Down.

TSR:How do your readers/fans play into your writing?

Missy: I read every letter my fans write, and try to take into consideration when they make requests.  Truthfully, there wouldn’t be a book titled Catch Her When She Falls if the fans hadn’t demanded to know what happened with Serena’s phone call.  And surprisingly, it has been my best seller so far.  At the moment, they’re pushing me to write Kaylee’s story from Catch Her When She Falls.  I have to admit, I’d already planned on her having a story, but it was good to know they agreed with me.

TSR: If you cook or do crafty stuff, please share a favorite recipe or project with the readers.

Missy: I have to admit I’m not much of a standard cook.  In other words, no meat &potatoes for me.  I’ve spent a great deal of time in the orient with my husband, so I’ve learned to do quite a few Chinese dishes, true Chinese dishes and not the American-Chinese stuff you see in restaurants here.  I’ll share a couple of those for any of you that might like a “taste of China.”

Do you like those little ribs on the Chinese buffets here?  Try these:

Marinade

2cloves garlic crushed

3tablespoons soy sauce

2tablespoons sherry or red wine

1teaspoon freshly grated or powder ginger

1tablespoon brown sugar

1tablespoon sesame oil

1/2teaspoon five-spice powder (can be purchased)

1tablespoon hoisin sauce

1teaspoon Tabasco Sauce

1tablespoon catsup

2lb side of pork spareribs cut into 2 or 3 pieces

Mix the marinade and pour over the ribs.  Coat them by rubbing in the sauce and letsit, turning occasionally, for 3 hours, unrefridgerated

Bake on a preheated roasting pan at 400 degrees for35-40 minutes - serve hot or at room temperature

If you want a bit more "crunch" on the ribsbroil them a bit after baking - broil them just until they are nicely brown

These Deep Fried Pork Balls are Delicious

1lb lean pork - finely ground

1green onion finely chopped

1teaspoon pwd ginger

1teaspoon soy sauce

1 tablespoonred wine

1egg beaten

1/4teaspoon salt

2tablespoon cornstarch

1teaspoon sesame oil

1/4teaspoon ground white pepper

6cups peanut oil for frying

mix all ingredients together and stir, using your hand,until the mixture is smooth and holds together

moisten your hands with a bit of water and form themeat into balls aboust the size of large walnuts

Fry 1/2 of the meatballs in the oil at 360 degrees untilthey float

Remove and fry the other half.

Allow the oil to return to temperature and fry thewhole batch a secon dtime, just until they are nicely browned and crispy, about 5 more minutes

Drain and set aside

These can be served just as they are, or with szechwan pepper and salt dip - you can also chow dthem with a bit of gralic and red chili paste along with some chicken broth

Hint - they are also good to drop in your hot and sour soup

Finally, Hot & Sour Soup – My Style

6cups chicken broth

2tablespoons soy sauce

1lb lean ground pork cut into thin strips

1pkg cut up mushrooms

1teaspoon ground white pepper

1/4cup white vinegar

5 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 5 tablespoons water

1/2cup bamboo shoots cut thin julienne

1cake firm tofu cut into 1/4 inch squares

1pkg grated carrots

1/4cup or more of red garlic chili paste

4eggs beaten

Garnish with choppedgreen onions

Bring chicken broth to a simmer and add garlic chilipaste, soy, pork and mushrooms - simer for 10 minutes then add pepper andvinegar

thicken with cornstarch mixed with water

Add the bamboo shoots, carrots and tofu

Bring to a simmer again and pour in the eggs in a verythin stream over the surface of the soup. Count to ten and stir a few times very slowly.  Egg threads will have formed.  Add the garnish to pot and serve.

Depending on how much chili paste you used - can bereally hot or mild

You want a Dessert with this meal?

Authentic Chinese Sesame Cookies

3/4cup brown sugar

11/2 cups granulated sugar

11/2 teaspoon pwd milk

1tablespoon ice water

1lb lard

2eggs

3 teaspoon baking soda

5 teaspoons cream of tartar

51/2 cups plain flour

2 cups raw white sesame seeds

In electric mixer mix all but the flour and sesame together

Then add the flour and do not overmix.  MIx just until it holds together.

Roll dough into walnut-sized balls and then roll in the sesame seeds

Place on a cookie sheet aboust 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees

for15 minutes until cookies have irregular cracks on the surface

TSR: What’s next for you?

Missy: I just want to relax, enjoy my newfound good health, and live life to the fullest that I can.  I’m discovering new things as I grow in the relationship with my young husband.  We just celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary, and I’m hoping we have many, many more.

Professionally, I want to just keep writing my eBooks with the hope that someone, somewhere will get as much enjoyment reading them as I’ve had writing them.

Thanks so much for letting me come back, it’s been a great pleasure sharing a little about myself with you.  I hope some of your readers will visit my website at www.missymartine.com and maybe sign up for my newsletter. It’s the fastest way for you to know what’s happening next with my books.

Important Links:

Missy’s Amazon Page(Kindle/Paperbacks/Backlist)

Buy Link:  http://www.bookstrand.com/anna-doubles-down

My Website:  www.missymartine.com

My Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000107833768

My Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/Missy_Martine

 CONTEST:

I’d like to give away a book today to one of the readers here today.  Leave me a comment, any comment, and your name will go in the hat for a pdf copy of any book on my site at www.missymartine.com  You have to leave an email address with your comment or I can’t get in touch with you. The winner’s name will be drawn on August 1st!

TSR: Tell us about your Bliss Series.

Sophie: Nights in Bliss is a series about a very quirky Colorado town and its unusual citizens. Bliss is a town where anything goes. It was founded by hippies in the sixties and now is home to artists, nudists and the occasional conspiracy theorist. Of course, it also has super hot, willing-to-share cowboys. The first cycle of the series involves four friends who grew up together in Bliss. Three to Ride is about the cowboy twins, Max and Rye Harper. Two to Love is about Callie Sheppard and her men. The final book in this part of the series is One to Keep about Stefan Talbot and Jennifer Waters. It’s much more BDSM oriented than the other two. Hopefully it will be out sometime this spring.

TSR:  All of your works include aspects of light BDSM.  What draws you to the lifestyle/topic?

Sophie: I love the power exchange. I think there’ssomething intensely romantic about BDSM. It’s all about communication. It’s all about being honest about what we want and need from the people we love. What could be sexier than that? Besides, I’m a girl who appreciates a good spanking.

TSR: You became a Siren star relatively quickly. How does it affect the kinds of writing you plan to do?

Sophie: It means I’m really committed to my series. I have four books in my BDSM-themed Texas Sirens series and I haven’t put a limit on Bliss. It will be a while before I take a break and write something new. Siren has really turned out to be a great place to be. I wouldn’t be anywhere else. The fans are so loyal. They’ve been lovely.

TSR: I noticed you’re a fan of Glee.  What do you like about the show?  Any other favorites?

Sophie: I love that it makes me feel. Even when it’s corny, I’m willing to go with it because I want to be there emotionally. I think it’s a neat trick. It’s a musical, but it relies on music we already know, so there’s a very individual component to each episode because we all have different reactions to the songs they use. It’s why Moulin Rouge worked so brilliantly.  As for TV, actually most of what I love is SciFi. I know it sounds weird, but I’m a geek girl at heart. I love Doctor Who, The Walking Dead, Fringe and oldies like Buffy and Farscape.

TSR: In Away From Me, you touch on a serious issue, breast cancer, that hits close to home for a lot of people.  What inspired you to use breast cancer as a plot device?

 Sophie: A friend of mine had a scare with breast cancer and I kind of went from there. I liked the idea of a physically imperfect heroine. She’s torn up on the outside while my hero has been shredded on the inside. Neither wants to show the other their scars. It takes love and trust to get them to open up. And I hope it didn’t come across as a simple plot device. Gaby is a survivor. She’s a woman who takes what life has given her and tries to make the best of it. I think everyone who has dealt with cancer finds that it changes their lives.  My family has a long history of cancer, so I know I could very well deal with it one day soon. I guess I hope I’m as brave as Gaby. She’s what I would aspire to be.

TSR: What are the pros and cons of series writing?

Sophie: Now there’s a question to ponder while I switch from one series to the other. The pros are many. As a writer you get to world build over a series of books. You get to really know these characters you’re writing about. On the con side – you have to know what you’re doing down the line because once that first book is published there’s no going back. The series starts to build its own history and you have to be aware of that. The book I’m writing right now is about a 32-year-old artist and a 23-year-old waitress. If I had really thought about it when I wrote Three to Ride, I would have made her older. Now that I’m writing Stef and Jen’s book, her age is a big factor. So you need be mindful when you start a series that you don’t write yourself into a corner.

TSR: What’s next for you?

Sophie: I have a novella coming out in January called Playing the Field. It’s a complete left turn from what I normally write. It’s a fun sex romp. Then in February the third Texas Sirens book Siren Enslaved comes out. Then I go back to Bliss with One to Keep.

Important Links:

Buy Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/two-to-love

Website Link: www.sophieoak.com

The Contest: You can win an electronic copy of anything from Sophie's backlist, including Three to Ride, or you can win a signed copy of Small Town Siren.  Comment by 8 pm EST Wednesday 1-12-2011for your chance to win.

TSR Welcomes Erin M. Leaf

TSR:Tell us about The First Time is the Sweetest.

Erin: The First Time is the Sweetest is the first novel I've ever written and it went through three major rewrites until it got to the point where I was happy sending it anywhere. In a way, it was my test novel. I'd been wanting to write a book for years and years and I had at least a half dozen started and languishing on my computer, but none interested me enough to bother sticking with them. This novel was fun and not too serious. I wanted to write a love story and I wanted to write something I thought other people would enjoy. Of course, nothing ever goes as planned. I knew nothing about dialogue tags. I didn't know how to make the characters act out their emotions and littered the manuscript with far too many descriptors.

When I submitted it to a few publishers they rejected it because it was written in first person point of view. Happily, Siren-BookStrand accepted it but with the caveat that I rewrite it in third person. That was the hardest writing I've ever done since I worked as a technical writer and had to document an esoteric database. However, I learned a valuable lesson: most romances are written in third person because that's what sells.

Since then I've written two more novels and I'm hard at work on my fourth and I'm pretty comfortable with how to put a book together. My second ménage romance was just accepted for publication and I'm really excited about it.

TSR:How do you develop your characters?

Erin: I've been making up stories in my head forever, so I don't even consciously develop my characters so much as daydream about scenarios that I think would be interesting, fun, dangerous, or all three. I toss some characters into my idea and imagine how they might react. I love juicy plots and lots of unresolved sexual tension. I adore suspense. The characters' personalities develop out of this initial daydream. Then I add a basic plot and see what happens. It's just a ridiculous amount of fun to play pretend in my head all day.

TSR:Why a virgin heroine?

Erin: The virgin heroine idea grew out of my love of romance novels. When I began reading them back in the 1980s, virgins were all the rage and my favorites involved a strong hero initiating a blushing virgin into the joys of sensuality. Even now it's a trope that is scattered across the romance genre. It adds tension and a delicious sense of adventure to the plot and I really wanted to take it to the extreme. The first time can go either terribly wrong or deliciously well. I wanted to focus on that and see what my characters did with it. I think it worked out pretty nicely.

TSR:Tell us about your poetry.

Erin: Poetry is my first love. Long before I ever thought about writing a novel, I wrote poetry. I have been widely published in literary journals, have two poetry chapbooks, won a very prestigious prize, and have been on the final or semi-final list for a slew of book awards for several of my poetry manuscripts(under my real name). Poetry is an art form that is so different from prose that when I sat down to write a novel I had to unlearn many of the techniques that I often used in my poems. And I can honestly say that it's taken me over twenty-years to get to the point where I feel what I do with my poetry is art,where I'm pushing the boundaries of what language can do in a way that is completely original. I've worked with forms as well as free-verse and it still surprises and moves me every single time I write a poem that is both beautiful and heart-rending and perfect.

TSR:How did you get into writing erotica?

Erin: Erotica is the opposite of poetry. No, really, that's precisely why I started with erotica. I love so many other genres: sci-fi, fantasy, chick-lit, non-fiction, but erotica is naughty. It aroused a sense of rebelliousness in me that was completely at odds with the very conservative (literature-ally speaking) world of poetry. There are some gorgeous erotic poems, but tell any poet that you read or write erotica and you can watch their lips curl ever-so-slightly in disgust. This drove me crazy because I have loved romance and erotica from the moment I got my hands on an old copy of Fanny Hill. I discovered Anais Nin, then moved on to Emma Holly: I was hooked. Erotica is delicious. It's arousing. It's fun to read and writing it felt like I was eating chocolate after chocolate. The decadence is just so damn appealing I couldn't help myself.

TSR:What is the recipe for a great story?

Erin: Suspense! I don't mean every story has to have a murder or some kind of mystery, but it does have to contain a sense of conflict or yearning in the characters or situation that grows until it reaches a climax.  I love unresolved sexual tension. I love the way people fall in love, the nervousness, the passion that can't be denied. I love writing about characters who can't help themselves. They walk around thinking about their lover, wondering what he or she tastes like, wishing for forever.  Add another layer of suspense and conflict outside of the love relationship and voila!  You've got a great recipe for a novel that no one will want to put down.

TSR:What’s next for you?

Erin: My next erotic menage will be available in April 2011 and I can't wait! It'scalled Appassionato, and it's about a rock star, his best friend, and a small-town high school librarian who wake up one day in a world where people have begun bonding to each other. And yes, it's got telepathy! And other fun powers, but I don't want to give too much away. I had a great time writing this book. Famous rock star? Check. Hot best friend? Check. Ordinary girl? Check. Throw in some paparazzi and superpowers?  Awesome.

Right now I'm in the middle of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) where you have to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. The book I'm working on is science fiction, my second in that genre. Hopefully I'll find a home for it when it's finished.  After that I plan to write another novel in the bonding universe of Appassionato. I have so many ideas! I'm seriously thinking about shape-shifters. Big cats are so slinky and sexy, don't you think?

TSR: Haven't had enough of Erin?  Check out these links:

Buy Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-first-time-is-the-sweetest

The First Time is the Sweetest is also available at Amazon in Kindle format, Barnes & Noble online in Nook ebook format, and will be available in print in a few weeks. I also have a couple erotic stories at my website that you can read for free: Constellation (m/f) and The Mechanic (m/f). Just go to www.erinmleaf.com and click on Free Reads.

WebsiteLink: http://www.erinmleaf.com/

The Steam Room Welcomes Siren Author Julia Rachel Barrett!

TSR: One Four All has been very successful so far. What do you think appeals to so many about this story?   

Julia: Aside from the obvious, the fun fantasy aspect of the story appeals to readers.  Don’t we all want three intelligent, strong, competent, protective men to rescue us from out kidnappers and save us from becoming pawns in an evil political game? My answer is, absolutely.  The book is a sexy romp between the sheets, in the bathtub, on the beach…

TSR: Whatare the challenges involved in developing a whole new world? 

Julia:( Thechallenges aren’t as great as you might think. The trick is to tweak reality just enough so that the world you create is possible and makes sense – In this case, I created a not-too-distant future readers can still relate to, and above all, I kept the focus on the relationship, or in this case, relationships.

TSR: Let’s channel the movie Weird Science.  You can only choose one of your heroes to make real. Which one and why? 

Julia: Wow,I haven’t watched the movie Weird Science in years.  All I remember is the female robot.  I think I’d rather channel the movie Super Bad and make McLovin’ real!

TSR: What three things symbolize you? 

Julia: Three things…a snake – the ancient symbol of eternity – check out the tattoo on my character Lira’s right wrist – She got that tattoo from me!  A hawk – I’ve always said in my next life,I’d like to be a hawk –another of my characters, Grace Adams, in myromance/suspense, My Everything, has a tattoo of a hawk in flight on her lower back.  Third?  A horse, I guess.  I’m a total horse lover.  As you can see, I have a thing for animals.

TSR: Howdid you get into writing erotica? 

Julia: Ack!  I got into writing erotic romance by accident.  I love a good, solid, romantic story with smokin’ hot sex scenes between people who either care for each other or come to care for each other deeply. Simply put, I love love.  I read a few amazing romance novels and I realized that I too had stories to tell and Iknew how to write them.  

TSR: Whenyou’re not writing, what’s your favorite thing to do? 

Julia: Hike,cook, read, travel.  Honestly, my favorite activities involve the outdoors, usually with my dog and/or my hubby and/or my kids.  My favorite activity is riding a horse in the mountains in Montana.

TSR: What’s next for you? 

Julia: Right now I’m working on a contemporary romantic comedy – m/f – based upon my recent canoe trip from hell, and as soon as I finish that, I’ll be returning to a post-apocalyptic WIP – the contemporary side-tracked me.

Important Links:

Buy Link:  http://www.bookstrand.com/one-four-all

Website Link: http://juliarachelbarrett.net

TSR: Thanks for hanging out with us, Julia!

The Steam Room welcomes acclaimed author Tonya Ramagos!

TSR: Tellus about Forty-Eight Hour Burn.

Tonya: Forty-Eight Hour Burn is a mix of my favorites. Two alpha sexy cowboy firefighters and a strong woman to claim their hearts. It's the first book in the new mini-series titled The Service Club. It's the first book I've writing that earned the Sextreme rating at Siren, so be prepared forsome serious heat! <G>

TSR: Youhave 32 published novels.  How has your writing evolved?

Tonya: The first answer to come to mind is majorly. I began my writing career with young adult romances. I dabbled in cozy mysteries for awhile and then ventured into sweet adult romances. Today, all I write is erotica. Hmm, that's quite a change over the years!  What can I say? I got more adventurous! LOL

TSR: What are some traits that your hero/heroine must have?

Tonya: I'm not sure there are any "must have" traits. I say that because just as every person is different, so is every character I create. If they all had the same traits then they wouldn't be unique and neither would the story they had to tell.

TSR: Ifyou could have any one of your heroes for a night, which one would it be andwhy?

Tonya: One? Really? You want me to choose? I love all my heroes! I'll take them all and we can have one big orgy? LOL

Okay, if I have to pick one (you're being so mean here) I would have to say DEA Agent Michael Cosmos from The Heroes of Silver Springs series. I just completed his book and he hasn't yet let go of my heart…or my imagination. <G> He took hold of me because he's strong, dedicated, sensitive to a point, and oh so sexy. I put him through hell for three books before I finally gave him some relief in his own story, Taken By Surprise.

TSR: How did you get into writing erotica?

Tonya: I'm not really sure. It just sort of happened. Oneday I found myself blushing over a sweet love scene in a traditional romance and the next I threw open the doors and got down and dirty. LOL Seriously, it seems that way. I don't remember it being a conscious decision to make the switch. I do remember writing my first erotica, Voices and Lies, and getting to the bedroom with hero Derek and heroine Alicia. Derek shot me this sexy look over his shoulder that dared me to close the door. LOL It stayed open and the details started sizzling.

TSR: Whatis your dream vacation?

Tonya: Hmm, allow me to be the total sappy romance writer here. My dream vacation is anywhere that I could spend sensual, passionate time with a tall, tanned, handsome guy…or two. <G> Days lounging around talking and sipping exotic drinks and nights filled with dinners, dancing, wine and… Hey! You said my "dream" vacation. LOL

TSR: I think we're all dreaming with you...

TSR: What’s next for you?

Tonya: The Heroes of Silver Springs 7: Taken By Surprise was accepted last week for publication at Siren Publishing. Tentative publication date is February, 2011. Here's the official blurb:

Rhonda Ramsey's plans for her future didn't include a man. Then she met temptation in a set of exotic eyes and a six foot package of pure sex appeal. Unable to resist, she lets him into her life only to watch him walk away months later. She's furious with herself for allowing her desires to control her head. But when a drug lord takes her hostage,depending on the man who tempts her soul might be her only chance to survive.

DEA Agent Michael Cosmos has done a lot of tough things in his career. Walking away from Rhonda topped the list. He did it to keep her safe. He failed. Now she's at the mercy of a drug lord out for revenge. Michael will put his career and his life on the line to get her backin his arms. But will it be enough to hold on forever?

TSR: That sounds positively spine-tingling!  Congratulations on your new contract, and thanks for visiting TSR!

Sofia Hunt's third Siren release, The Cowboys Ride Again, is a Top 10 bestseller.  Join her as she talks about writing realistic menages and what it takes to make a good character.

TSR: You’ve written a few ménages. How has your style developed over time?

Sofia: Truthfully, I’m still developing it. At first it was a struggle for me to visualize alpha male characters willing to share a woman. It just didn’t fit with my view of the world. I’ve toyed with different scenarios as to why two men would choose a ménage over a m/f romance. I’m slowly developing plausible scenarios to use in my next books.

While my last two books have been short, I’m going back to a longer book for the rodeo ménage so I have more time to explore the characters, and how they struggle to deal with sharing. This is a facet I didn’t touch on in the shorter books.

TSR: How do you develop your characters?

Sofia: I find pictures of them. In the case of my current WIP, I looked at the bios of all the rodeo cowboys on the PRCA site and picked two who looked like the heroes I had in mind. I did the same thing with the heroine. Then I start a character file with the pictures, a bio, physical characteristics, and backstory, including their goals and motivations. Often, I’ll write a chapter or two before I actually do the character file.

TSR: What are some traits that your hero/heroine must have?

Sofia: They have to be smart. The hero has to be strong, loyal, honest, gorgeous (of course). He also has to have a flaw or vulnerability which makes him human. The heroine needs to be strong, too, I her own way. I hate weak heroines. She might start out flaky or superficial but underneath there should be some substance.

TSR: How did you get involved with writing for Tasty Treats?

Sofia: Actually, I was invited. I’m good friends with the author who came up with the idea, and she asked me to write a novella for it. I thought it sounded like fun. Actually Back in the Saddle was originally a ménage, but when the other two authors decided to write m/f and m/m, I changed it to a m/f.

TSR: How is writing a shorter work different from writing a longer work?

Sofia: I’ve always been one who writes long works. The m/f books I write under a different name are at least 95,000 words. I think that’s what I write best, which is why my next ménage is going to be a longer, more involved novel. I usually have great secondary characters in longer books. The shorter books don’t allow for that, which I miss.

TSR: When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite thing to do?

Sofia: To be honest, while I love a good shopping trip, I’d just as soon sit on my porch, enjoy the birds, and the breeze through the trees, and just chill. Even better, invite some friends over for a BBQ and a glass of wine. I also love to read, and I’m a voracious reader. Travelling is another of my favorite things to do. I’m very social, so I gravitate toward places where other people tend to be. I’m one of those writers who is actually an extrovert. I’m also a cat lover. I have a demanding tabby cat who believes I exist to serve him.

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This has been great fun to be here today, Michele. Thanks again for letting me a gab a little about my writing.

Important Links:

To purchase The Cowboys Ride Again, click HERE

To visit Sofia Hunt's website, click  HERE

To read an excerpt, click HERE