http://savvyauthors.com/blog/index.php/writing-love-scenes-by-dyanne-davis

Happy Monday,

Starting Oct. 20th I will be teaching an on line workshop on writing love scenes. Always before a class start the workshops are promoted by blogs. Do you know that for me at least, writing a blog is much harder than writing a book, or teaching the workshop.  But, I did it.  YEAH!!!!!

And I'm working on a new blog if you can believe it.  I'm trying to use mostly pictures to tell the story, but that's even harder than using words. LOL.

Check out the blog if you get a chance. BTW, my son recently returned from a vacation to Boston. This is one of the pictures he took.

http://savvyauthors.com/blog/index.php/writing-love-scenes-by-dyanne-davis

Here's a good contest to enter.

http://www.windycityrwa.org/contest/

Happy Labor Day, Happy Sunday and Happy Belated Birthday to me.

Yes, my birthday was September 1st.  I've always loved the day I was born.  Come to think of it who wouldn't love the day that they first became acquainted with the world. Whether it's your first time visiting planet earth or your hundredth,  It has to be a kick.

Anyway, I was lying in bed this morning thinking about a bunch of things, one of them being a time I confronted one of my fears.  I hesitate to say conquer because I didn't. 

The fear.  Heights, drowning, jumping from a diving board.  First of all it's funny even to me it's strange that I'm super afraid of heights but will ride a plane.  I pray the entire time of the flight. But back to my facing my fear.

Many years ago after Bill had been trying to teach me to swim, float and at least be able to dog paddle and do the drown proofing thing, I decided to take a swim class through our local park district. The class was listed as for adults.  Can anyone tell me when 12 years of age became an adult?

Anyway, I arrived at the first class and there were about a dozen little boys, What the heck? I stayed because I was determined to learn to swim.  How well I did I don't remember, but there came the time in the class when everyone had to jump off of the diving board.  My first thought: No way in....am I doing that. But when you have a dozen little kids and every single lifeguard in the place making a circle in the water I decided to to it.  I wish Bill had been there to see me and to film it even. But of course, Bill was always saying I could swim anyway. I swear the man doesn't believe that there is anything I can't do.  I have to love him for his faith in me.

Back to the dive. It's been years, so I totally don't remember a thing about it, except that I did it.  I think I popped back up, but so many pairs of hands were grabbing me that who knows. I do know no one pushed me off the board.  And I know that everyone clapped and cheered for the coward who at least faced her fears with a pool filled with hands ready to save her.

After that I did swim, float and dog paddle at the local pool in mo more than 5 ft of water. LOL.  I wanted to be able to stand. Where did this irrational fear of drowning come from you might ask. Try when I was a kid and my cousin took me out into what was the middle of the lake and dropped me into the water when he saw his daughter floating in the water. Of course as a mother I don't blame him for saving his child, but it seriously freaked me out and left me afraid of the water. I can't even tell you who came out in the water to get me, just that since I'm here writing this, someone had to have saved me.

One last thing: In 1989 Bill, Billy and I went to Disney and then on a cruise. On Coco Beach, I almost drowned and Bill had to rescue me after I screamed, begged and turned to those on the shore to help me. Bill thought I was playing around, and those on the shore thought I was nuts.

What had happened was without warning a wave had come while I was in the water and washed all the sand away beneath me. I couldn't touch bottom. And remember I didn't get in water that I couldn't walk out of.  So I attempted to swim. Heck I could see the shoreline, but I couldn't reach it.  I kept repeating to myself, BILL SAID YOU CAN SWIM. BILL SAID YOU CAN SWIM.  So I kept trying between screaming for Bill to come and help me. Finally he told Billy, "Let me go and see what your mother wants.  They were a ways in front of me in much deeper water.

So Bill began walking toward me, not even rushing, no swimming involved.  And I'm drowning. By that point, it was forget Bill and forget to people on the shore who won't help me.  It was PLEASE GOD HELP ME!!!!

Bill hits a pocket of no sand then says oh oh, I'd better hurry, Dyanne is in deep trouble. So at last he began to stroke toward me in order to save me from a watery grave. Once again the things Bill had said to me over and over about if you're in trouble and someone is attempting to save them from drowning, you remain calm, don't clutch the rescuer or you could drown them too.  I did everything he'd told me and I'm alive and well today because he saved my life.

After  lessons with a dozen little boys, almost drowning on vacation, I was determined that I would not give into the fear of water and that very day got in the pool so I wouldn't let my fear incapacitate me.  I still go swimming.  But thank God, Our town pool is only 5 ft deep.  Bill hates that, but for me it's perfect.

What secret fear have you faced?

http://www.amazon.com/Frog-Prince-Dyanne-Davis-ebook/dp/B00LBAN4LU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403959550&sr=8-2&keywords=dyanne+davis

I think I'll give you the information that you're looking for right up front.  On June 14th I will pick a winner for a $15.00 gift card from the commentors.  You have to comment to win. Okay.

A little about Marille Brothers.  She has a very humorous blog right on blogspot, called bookblatherblog.  Check it out. and if you hurry and check it out today, yours truly is on there with a guest blog.  Go see what the heck I'm blathering about now. And make sure to check out Marilee's books and watch out for her new ones.  Enjoy the blog. I know that I did.

Now here's Marilee.

 

Baby Gone Bye Post

I spent five years of my writing life inside the head of Allie Emerson, the teenage girl featured in the Unbidden Magic series. It was surprisingly easy for me to channel Allie, even though it’s been—well—let’s just say I haven’t been a teenager for a good long time. Apparently teenage angst lives on forever. After I finished Midnight Moon, the last book in the series, I decided to write a YA book with a male protagonist. Enter Gabriel Delgado, hunky eighteen-year-old senior at Maple Grove high school.

The creative part of my brain got a major wake-up call. I was no longer a seventeen-year-old girl. I had to begin channeling a teenage boy. OMG, guess what boys think about? You know the answer, of course. Sex. One statistic says every fifteen seconds. Another says, they never stop thinking about it. From its title, Baby Gone Bye, you can probably figure out that Gabe acted on his thoughts. Therefore, he should not have been surprised when the doorbell rings and he finds a little “surprise” waiting for him on the front porch. So, what’s a household comprised of four males supposed to do with a little baby girl? Guess you’ll have to read the book to find out.

Excerpt from Chapter One - it’s Friday night and Gabe has a date. He believes, incorrectly, that his evening will go on as planned. At this point, the family thinks the child is a boy.

The hall clock bonged seven times. Startled, Gabe leaped from the couch and placed the kid in his car seat. “Man, is it seven already? I’ve got a date. Can we put this on hold until tomorrow?” Without waiting for an answer, Gabe headed for the stairs.

“Gabriel.” The steel in Papi’s voice stopped Gabe in his track. “Look at me.”

Slowly, Gabe turned to face his father. He heard Simon whisper, “Dumb shit.” Henry giggled nervously.

“Gabriel,” Papi repeated. “Do you remember when Rosie was a puppy?”

Gabe shifted his weight from one foot to the other, wondering if he was about to step into something stinky. “Yeah,” he said carefully.

Papi’s dark eyes snapped with intensity. “And how did you take care of her?”

Gabe rolled his eyes heavenward, trying to remember Papi’s three cardinal rules for puppy care. “After she eats, put her outside to poop. Play with her. Put her back in her crate.”

Papi clapped. “Excellent.”

Gabe grinned. This was going well. He’d soon be on his way.

“Now, Gabriel, tell me this, how do you take care of a baby?”

Uh, oh. Gabe felt beads of perspiration pop out on his forehead. “Well, um, I guess you’re saying it’s the same concept. Right?”

Papi strolled up nice and close and gave Gabe his shark’s grin. “So, after you feed him, you will take him outside to poop, play with him, and then put him back in his car seat?”

Right then, Gabe knew he was screwed. He glanced at his brothers. No help there. He’d already stepped in it. Might as well go all the way. He looked his father square in the eyes. “Naturally, I won’t take him outside to poop, but I’ll feed him and play with him.”

“And you will start this … when?”

“First thing tomorrow morning.”

Papi said, “And tonight?”

Gabe squirmed. “Remember what you said earlier? We’re Delgados. We stick together when there’s a problem.”

“Ah, now I understand.” Papi stroked his chin. “You assumed one of your brothers or your father would take care of your child while you went on a date. Is that correct?”

Gabe flushed. “I would appreciate it.”

“Gabriel,” Papi said again. He pointed at the baby. “That is not a puppy. It is a tiny human being who needs round the clock care. Care that will be given to him by you, his father. Do you understand?”

Before Gabe could formulate an answer, he heard the amazingly loud rumble of baby flatulence. All eyes turned to the child, whose face was bright red as he clenched his fists and strained.

Simon snickered. Looks like you forgot to take him outside to poop.”

Papi handed Gabe a container of baby wipes and a diaper. “Better get used to it. He’ll be doing that a lot.”

That’s when the Delgado family found out he was a she.

www.marileebrothers.com

http://bookblatherblog.blogspot.com

MOONSTONE - 2008 - BELL BRIDGE BOOKS
MOON RISE - 2009 -BELL BRIDGE BOOKS
MOON SPUN - JULY, 2010 - BELL BRIDGE BOOKS

SHADOW MOON - NOVEMBER, 2011 - BELL BRIDGE BOOKS

MIDNIGHT MOON - DECEMBER, 2012 - BELL BRIDGE BOOKS
THE ROCK AND ROLL QUEEN OF BEDLAM - 1st Place - Booksellers Best Contest, 2010
CASTLE LADYSLIPPER - AUGUST, 2010 - AWE-STRUCK PRESS

BABY GONE BYE - NOVEMBER, 2013 - BELL BRIDGE BOOKS

http://amwells.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-monster.html

http://amwells.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-monster.html

A huge hug and many thanks to Dyanne Davis, a wonderful and generous soul! Check out her books at http://www.dyannedavis.com.

My personal favorite is The Color of Trouble.

Waves madly at Sonali Dev! Dyanne is right about A Bollywood Affair! The cover is stunning and the story is sweet and fun!

On to the questions.

What am I working on?

My story, The Last Case, won first place in the Washington Romance Writers DC Marlene contest.

Police Lieutenant AJ Lawsen reaches out to women caught in prostitution. After being shot in an ambush, AJ suffers a concussion and memory loss. This causes problems for her from a decorated police captain, hunky ER doctor, and a drug kingpin. AJ has to drag through the blurred lines and remember who to trust with her life and heart.

I also have a YA romantic suspense and a trilogy about three sisters finding love in the big city.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I try to the find the humor in all situations. I feel the basis of a good relationship is the ability to laugh. A sense of humor is essential to sustain the long term.

All Hours Trading centers on an established couple, a centuries old vampire madly in love with a voluptuous woman. She has been his financial adviser and lover for years. A vampire has to consider his portfolio along with his next meal. Living paycheck to paycheck for all eternity isn’t what the undead planned on. Mutual funds, stock options, and burial plot decisions are not for the faint of heart, especially if it stops beating.

Mother Nature’s Man deals with Siobhan Bolyn, aka Mother Nature, who is busy dealing with climate fluctuations and the bureaucratic melee of water, wind, fire, and earth management. A baby is in her future, it’s the guy who’s the question. A dilemma faced by every other woman ever.

Why do I write what I do?

I attended the Spring Fling writers’ conference in April and heard Mary Balogh http://www.marybalogh.com speak about her process. She lets the characters set the tone. “Once upon a time” and she lets her imagination soar. I’m no Mary Balogh, but I could relate to her idea. My hero and heroine appear first. They interact on the page and allow me to build a story around them. All Hours Trading began as a contemporary romance. It grew into a paranormal romance because of my heroine’s age. No man would take financial advice from a woman under the age of thirty, unless he was ancient. My hero morphed into a vampire. In his experience, time is irrelevant and wisdom defies age. I write what pops into my head and the possibilities are limitless. I stop, listen, and hope someone has something to say.

How does your writing process work?

I’d love to say flawlessly, but I tinker. I have a few stories going at the same time. When I screech to a halt with one, I close it down and go on to another. I keep notebooks around my house and  in my car. A line of dialogue will surface and I need to write it down. I have learned ideas do not come back for a second look.

Thanks for your time and happy reading!

I have published two books, All Hours Trading and Mother Nature’s Man, both with The Wild Rose Press.

 All Hours Trading blurb

In life, one thing is certain:  taxes. Death has many layers and all of them interest the IRS. I’m Ann Milton, a financial planner for the undead and supernaturally challenged. The love of my life is the vampire, Lance Cheron. I think he sat at the Round Table with King Arthur and they didn’t play bridge.  He’s shy with details, but not with his passion. Our lives are complicated.  First, by his age old enemy: a dried up hag after his money.  If she’s Guinevere, I’ll croak.  Second, by the activities of my roommate:  she’s a hybrid predator and great cook.  Underneath the hair, razor teeth, and talons, Colette is a real sweetie. Last, the roller coaster stock market:  how to make money last until the next fiscal year and eternity. These challenges are nothing compared to my dream:  a baby.  Undead procreation is impossible. Or is it? Paging Dr. Merlin?

Mother Nature’s Man blurb

I, Siobhan Bolyn, Goddess of the Flame and Keeper of the Land and Water, must give birth to the next goddess before my three hundredth birthday. My mate must be the preordained champion, so not just any man will do. But where to find a champion in this modern world?

When Niall Calhoun walks into my life, he’s everything I’ve hoped for. Tall, dark, sweet, and gorgeous: the true four food groups. A mere touch of his hand and my libido roars to life. But is he champion material?

Meanwhile, dark forces are plotting against me and calling my abilities into question. I’ve got to battle forest fires, soothe the oceans, appease my mother, turn Niall into Mr. Exactly Right, and have a baby in the next year. Can a goddess and her champion handle all that and still find time to fall in love?

Mary Jo Burke writes paranormal, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She lives with her family in the Midwest. For more information on Mary Jo books, please visit her website http://www.maryjoburke.com.  She’s on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MaryJoBurke and Twitter at http://twitter.com/MaryJoBurke.

Hello everyone,

To all the mothers who may be reading this, I hope you had a terrific Mother's Day. I can imagine the surprise on your faces that not only am I blogging, but I'm actually participating in a blog hop. LOL.

 If you know anything about me at all, you'll know I've had trepidation about this from the moment after I agreed to do it. There has to be a name for it, you know the I'm going to go…I'm going to do and then the moment arise and it's why did I agree. J And then of course I  wondered what the heck I was going to talk about. Then of course I wouldn't be me if I didn't wait until almost the last second to write this. Seriously, don't you think it's a bit ironic that a writer has such fears about writing just a couple of paragraphs? Okay, that was a blatant lie. With me, it's never going to be just a couple of paragraph. First off, I ramble on about things, then I get into it and want to share a bit more with you. So, actually it's not so much the writing as it is the thing in me that doesn't like to bother people with what will be some kind of pitch.  That's right, you knew it was coming. At some point in this blog, I'll tell you about my new book, how wonderful it is (it really is)and then I'll shamelessly tell you where you can buy it and plead with you to do so.  For now you're safe. I have a lot more rambling before I ever get to that point.

To start thing off the right way I'd like to thank my friend and fellow author Elizabeth Rose for getting me out of my comfort zone and forcing me to stretch a bit. Elizabeth writes, Paranormal, contemporary and medieval. Check her out.  http://elizabethrosenovels.com/author/lizrosek

Considering that I prattle and get off topic because, believe it or not, I picture faces as I write, as though I'm actually talking to you. So it's a good thing that all of the authors participating in the blog tour have to answer the same four questions.  Mind you, I'll more than likely still stray, but basically the questions will get answered.  Just so you know what I'm going for, these are the question:

1)     What am I working on?

2)     How does my work differ from others of its genre?

3)     Why do I write what I do?

4)     How does your writing process work?

At the moment I'm working on Frog Prince, a humorous, contemporary, interracial love story.  

 

  

More recently, I finally put up the third book in my Undying Love trilogy. Full Circle.

 

Hopefully, my work differs from other authors writing about the same topic, because it contains some element of what's important to me. It took a long time for me to accept that my work has an underlying message, some moral lesson. Once I accepted this I didn't' wonder about it but I didn't think it was noticed by anyone else until I decided to branch out and write about vampires.  My editor, Sidney Rickman who edited 15 of my books, first with Genesis Press, then Parker Publishing asked me if I giving up trying to teach tolerance through my writing.  Considering that I believe she's the most brilliant editor around, I have no idea why I thought she'd not noticed what I was doing. But the answer to her question was no, wanting to teach tolerance is embedded in my DNA, even my vampire has a strong moral fiber. It doesn't mean he's a pussycat, he isn't. But he accepts responsibility (most times) for the things he does.

Hmm so did I actually answer that question? To put it a bit more clearly. God, is mentioned in everything I write. No, I don't write Christian fiction, but God is still there. That may be the way that my fiction differ from other writers who write romance, complete with love scenes.   It's not one or the other for me. It's both.

Why do I write what I write? Now that question is a bit more difficult to answer. Generally my stories contain at least a grain of truth. It can be something I hear on the news, or a conversation with a friend or relative. If there is something going on that involves an injustice (at least to me) then somehow my muse brings me the story.

I'm going to digress here a bit.  Probably about fifteen years ago my muse brought me a story idea about a married woman having an affair.  For whatever reason I wrote the story in first person which turned out to be emotionally draining and sad. If not for one of my critique partners in particular, Wendy Byrne,  www.wendybyrne.net  I would have scraped the book.  Anyway, because the book was making me cry as I wrote it, I decided I needed to add a character who would lighten things up for me and the reader. That book became The Gift and is  about a psychic and a psychic war. The third main character from the first book, The Affair, needed an ending his story. That's the book that just went on sale little more than a week ago, Full Circle.

I hope you're still with me and that you noticed I said these books were written fifteen years ago. Aren't you curious as to why it took so long to bring them out? Here's the answer: The Affair is women's fiction and like I said written in first person, something that agents, mine included were having a hard time selling. Although later Parker Publishing did buy the book and it was edited By Sidney.(the entire story is too long and best saved for another time)The Gift is paranormal and Full Circle is a spiritual journey. It's still hard to sell to a traditional publisher a trilogy where each book is a different genre. That's different, even for me. While waiting for the right time to bring the books out, my agent sold a dozen books to two publishers. I also began Indie publishing and put out several novellas and full length novel. Finally the time came where I thought it was time to bring the books out. They'd waited long enough.

 I've never wanted to write the typical story. I want to do the unexpected. As Elizabeth Rose mentioned to me, probably more than fifteen years ago, I like to push the envelope. Here's the place where I'm going to tell you a bit more about the first book, titled, The Affair. I didn't want the husband to be a bad guy. He was totally in love with his wife, and had done nothing wrong that he was aware of.  I just like writing about people who do the wrong thing for the wrong reason.

I suppose I should tell you that the idea of hero and heroines just plain irk me. I like characters who screw up, who make mistakes, dumb mistakes. I like them totally flawed, and there is not always a happy ending. I'm also aware that I'm going against the grain as far as romance writing is considered. There is always a happy ending in romance, that's the point. And there is a hero and heroine, or at least their actions are as such.

Remember I said I write to impart some moral value, to teach a lesson that's buried deeply within my story.  Well, I know lots of people who are flawed, myself included, and I write about them. I've had readers become angry and say at least one of my characters behaved like a "B" when on the first page I had her say she was a B.(That was in Many Shades of Gray)Romance readers do not want their heroine to behave like a B.  Most romance writers know this and acquiesce. I am not most romance writers. There's good and bad in my not following protocol.  Another story for another day.

Now where was I?

I do believe this is the last question, how my process work. I am what's called a pantser, meaning I write without an outline. An idea comes to me, and I sit down and begin to write.  I have no idea how the story will progress or end. By the time I'm done with the first draft I will go, WOW, I didn't know that. Then I put the finished first draft away and work on something else for about a month or so.   

When I come back to the manuscript I have fresh eyes and can find the holes in my plots. From working on so many books with Sidney I will admit and will not be afraid to say this: I've become very good at finding and filling holes. As an editor Sidney has been a great confidence booster for me. She thinks I'm a great storyteller and she also said I've become a good editor. The latter isn't exactly true because a writer always see the things she/he put on paper in their mind. Everything is the way it should be. There are no mistakes, no misspelled words, no misplaces commas. That's because it's done correctly in our minds, and when we read our own work we see the comma that's not there. So the last stage in my process is to have another author read it for clarity and mistakes. Lisa G Riley is excellent at being able to do this. She wants answers for everything, and since the answer should be in the story, but I could have missed it by seeing it with my mind, I'm extremely grateful that she catches those things.https://www.facebook.com/lisa.g.riley

Okay, it's Monday morning and Bill is waiting for me to make coffee, and I want some myself. So I'm basically letting you off the hook with the expected sale's pitch.  I am not however letting you off the hook with telling you to continue following the blog. Next Monday two of my friends and fellow authors will be blogging. Mary Jo Burke, writes contemporary paranormal. She has a wicked sense of humor and you're going to love reading her books.  https://www.facebook.com/MaryJoBurke?fref=grp_mmbr_list

Sonali Dev will have her first Bollywood romance, titled, A BOLLYWOOOD AFFAIR, coming out in October. I happen to be a bit psychic, and I can tell you now, this is one author you want to get to know. She's going as they say in our business, blowup. No doubt.http://www.SonaliDev.com 

Facebook/Sonalidevfanpage 

Also, stop by the website of Elysa Hendricks who writes contemporary and has a vivid imagination with her paranormal/fantasy books as well. Or stop by her facebook page.
Thank once again, to Elizabeth Rose, and do check out her Tarnished Saints Series! – Elizabeth Rose

Alright, alright, it would be really stupid for me to post this and not at least give you my own info. I hope you're aware that means I have to go to the sites and look up the info and come back here and post it.  LOL. Did I just go off on a rant? LOL.  I should be doing better, I stopped to make coffee and have a few sips in me. Oh well. Take care. Oh, and by the way, if you're interested my books are available at all of the on-line bookstores. The older ones are still available in the brick and mortar bookstores.

Dyanne

http://www.dyannedavis.com

http://adamomega.com 

https://www.facebook.com/DyanneDavisFdDavisAuthor 

Interviewing award winning author, A.C. Arthur

Happy New Year.  It may be a bit late in coming but if I said it on the first you wouldn't think I actually wrote it. LOL.

Our first interview of 2014 is with none other than A.C. Arthur, a multi-published, multi award winner, A. C Author.  Congratulations are again in order. A.C. is a finalist with two books in several different categories of this year, Emma Award from Romance Slam Jam.  Her book, Pleasured by A Donovan is up for Best Sequel. Passions Prey is up for, steamy romance and heroine of the year. Passions Prey is also up for book of the year. LOL.  Wait, one more. A.C. is a finalist for author of the year.  Congratulations A.C. I know you're going to bring home more trophies.

      

Dyanne,   A.C.  It's time for us to catch up it's been about three years since I interviewed you for the Romance Slam Jam blog.  I'd like to catch your readers up with what you've been up to.

A.C.: It seems like all I’ve been doing since we last had a chance to chat is writing and promoting, LOL.

Dyanne: I heard about your readers event and thought maybe first, I'd like for you to tell your readers about your event, how it got started, where it's held, and how they can attend.

A.C: I’ve attended quite a few literary functions, some small and some too large for me to have even been considered a guest. LOL.  There was a definite vibe from readers that they wanted more one-on-one time with authors, a more intimate setting. And they wanted to talk about specific books and the characters that they’d come to love. Being on a panel or presenting a workshop did not always allow us to have that type of conversation. I decided that I wanted to do something that would focus on what readers enjoyed, the books.

The first event was in 2012 and I was so afraid that nobody would show up. I only had a small space so I couldn’t have too many guests—thinking back on it now I probably did that on purpose so I wouldn't feel so bad if nobody showed. LOL But in the end, there were readers that I had to turn away because I’d run out of space.  We had a great time talking about my books and sitting down sharing a meal. That’s all we did and it was fabulous. I knew I wanted to try having another event and to take it a step further.

       In 2013, the original plan was to have a weekend event to give the readers more time to talk about the books, (my Donovan series) and I knew that would take awhile. The family reunion idea was a culmination of my father wanting to get up and talk to the readers about me and Priscilla Johnson (my Street Team Manager) believing he should have that opportunity. We planned the reunion and wedding celebration as I wrote the book, Heart of a Donovan, and since we were focusing on family, I decided to invite other authors with family series. We had almost 80 guests in attendance and it was a marvelous time. All weekend I had readers come up to me saying they couldn’t wait for 2014’s event and I was amazed—we immediately starting planning for the next year.

       So here we are now, just opening registration for this year’s Season of Shifters event. I love the idea of giving each event a theme that centers around books that they’ve read. As with last year, the featured authors that will attend the event write stories that match the theme of shifting the scene of romance.  While last year we celebrated love in contemporary romance, this year we’re shifting to paranormal and erotic romance. I’m very excited about our venue—Walt Disney World—and the program we’re planning for our guests. So if you’re a lover of romance, you are welcome to join us! We’re going to have a fabulous time!

        

Dyanne- A.C. congratulations. I love how your father was involved. And as for Priscilla, she's a dynamo and I can just imagine what a great street team manager she is. Now how about telling us what you've been doing for the last three years.

A.C.:  I’ve been continuing my Donovan series, even though it is no longer published through Kimani Romance. That decision was made because I wanted more creative freedom to carry the series in the direction I really wanted it to go.

       In 2010, my first young adult paranormal book was released from Kimani TRU under my full name, Artist Arthur. The Mystyx series was a great opportunity to write a story about young people dealing with more than just everyday issues. I loved the experience.

In 2012, I began a new series, The Shadow Shifters, with St. Martin’s Press. It was thought that this was my first foray into paranormal romance but it wasn’t actually. Heart of the Phoenix was published in 2007 by Genesis Press and under the pseudonym Sapphire Blue I wrote 7 paranormal erotic romances.

      

Last year also marked the start of my small town contemporary series that I write under the pseudonym Lacey Baker. www.laceybooks.com  It is a heartwarming series about a grandmother who passes away and leaves her six Labrador puppies to the grandchildren that she helped raised and wants to return to the small town where they were born to run her B&B.

       Coming this spring my first New Adult romances will be published by St. Martin’s Press as a prequel to the Shadow Shifter series.

       I guess you could say I’m just writing what I want to write at this time. What books are not contracted by a publisher, I release through my own publishing company, Artistry Publishing.

Dyanne:  This is why I love interviewing authors. Every time you think you know about them, you learn something new.  I didn't know about your Lacey Baker pseudonym. I love your books, so now I have a new name to look out for, Lacey.  And another congrats for starting your own company. You've proven a woman can have it all. It's a great idea to have traditional publishing, while giving Indie publishing a try at the same time.

I'd like to remind readers of some of your precious works. Can you tell us how you got your start?

 A.C: I’d written two manuscripts when I resigned from my position as a legal secretary to take care of my daughter. Through Internet research I came across Genesis Press and I submitted the first manuscript. It was a hot mess, but they loved it, and after much editing Object of His Desire was published in 2003. Now, I was not one of the lucky ones that submitted once and received a contract. I’d been submitting to agents for about two years before I found Genesis online and was elated when they said I could submit without an agent. I went on to publish several books with Genesis Press, before signing with Harlequin.

Dyanne: You made me laugh talking about your book being a hot mess.  I remember the feeling well and it was also with Genesis Press. I am thankful that they were around to give so many writers a start. Are there any conferences you will be attending this year where readers can meet you?

 A.C.: In April, I will be speaking at the Texas Library Association Conference – Black Caucus Round Table Discussion in San Antonio. I will be at Romance Slam Jam in NOLA and also at Romantic Times Conference in NOLA, both in May. After that I’ll be sticking closer to home, attending the Frederick Book Festival in June and then The Season of Shifters even in August.

Dyanne: What are your future plans?

A.C.: To keep writing. As long as the stories flow, I’m willing to put them on paper. For me, my career begins and ends with writing good stories.

On the other hand, I would love for the reader events to grow and become inclusive of all types of readers and authors, but we’ll see how that works out.

Dyanne: Where can readers find you?

A.C.: I feel like I’m everywhere but at least once a week I get an email saying “I just found your book. I’d never heard of you before.” LOL So I guess I’m not everywhere.

Facebook -- @AC Arthur’s Book Lounge & @yabyartist & @Lacey Baker

Twitter -- @AcArthur & @yabyartist & @laceybooks

Google+ -- @ACArthur

Linked In (although I’m rarely there) 

Human desire. Animal attraction.

The Shadow Shifters

Shifter's Claim - August 2014

Introducing The Shadow Shifters: Damaged Hearts

A New Adult Trilogy - April, May & June 2014

The Donovans - Dark. Dangerous. Desirable.

ebook--Heart of a Donovan - Now Available!

print--The Donovans Volume I - Now Available!

LIKE AC Arthur's Book Lounge on Facebook

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Award Winning Author, A.C. Arthur www.acarthur.net

 Here's a picture of A.C. and guests at last year's event.

Dyanne: A.C. it's been great catching up. Thank you so much for the interview.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and the Emma award.