Friday, November 21, 2014

Look who's talking now... by @MelissaSnark #99cents #eroticromance



Voice.

Every character must have one. The real test is figuring out the trick to creating a truly unique person. As an author, you want your hero to walk off the page, sweep the reader into his arms, and carry her off for the ride of her life.

The task can be easier said than done. Personally, I have tried any number of methods for fleshing out characters–from studying horoscope profiles to reading about the sixteen personality types. I've invested hours in studying the GMCs (Goal, Motivation & Conflict). In the quest to create memorable people that stand apart from the crowd, I've slapped my characters with scars, childhood traumas, and Tic Tac addictions.

Zachary Hunter, the hero of my erotic paranormal novel, The Mating Game, walked off the page Totally British. He's a mystery suspense novelist and a sexy werewolf. He also possesses a dry wit and biting sarcasm. His voice was crisp and clean, but his vernacular presented an immediate issue. I, his author, am from Northern California. My familiarity with English accents derives primarily from Monty Python and Joss Whedon characters.

California has a great deal of diversity, so Brits are sometimes spotted in the wild, lurking about pubs and book stores. My early attempts into research began with tea and scones placed under a box trap, but the English are shy, wily creatures. The snare stood empty for days.

When I switched to baiting with hard liquor, I caught a fine Scottish lad immediately. Only I coldna understand a word he said. Not fer the life o' me. Sadly, I set him free and turned to Google.

"TheBest of the British" and "A Dictionary of Slang" are the top two hits to return when searching "British Slang". Both are fun and interesting sites with a ton of useful information. I highly recommend them.  I had a blast doing the research, and it presented a real challenge to use the jargon sparingly.

Zach talking to the heroine, Theresa:


“I’ve got a deadline, love. My editor is an absolute slave driver. That’s why I’m in this state.” He indicated the odious apparel with a flourish.
She rolled her eyes. “Of course. Your editor made you run through the forest in an orange dress. Makes perfect sense. I’m sorry I asked.”
He frowned. “I was running on four legs, love, not two. You know that.”
“Of course I do, but you didn’t expect anything but a hard time—showing up here in that.” Grinning, she gave him a quick up-down.
Zach chuckled. “Not really. To make a long story short, I left my clothes in a hunter’s blind but when I returned, my clothing was gone.”
“Did someone find your clothes?” she asked with a worried frown. Such a minor thing might result in unforeseen troubles for the pack. As a rule, the local werewolves went to great lengths to conceal their presence from the human population. Normal people in the small Nevada town of Iron Stone remained blithely unaware of the wolves living amongst them.
“Not someone—something,” Zach said. “Raccoons: three of the scrotty little sods. They ripped my clothes to shreds and dredged the creek with my shoes.”
“Oh, no!” Laughter again threatened to split her sides. She pressed her hands to her ribcage and gasped for breath. “Did you eat them?”
“No.” Zach looked miserable for the admission. “It was a mum and two babes. I didn’t have the heart.”
Theresa reached out and touched his hand. “You’re a good man, Zachary Hunter.”
“Thanks, but I’d rather be a clothed man,” Zach said. “I stole this getup off a laundry line in the Widow Crawley’s yard.”
“For shame! Stealing from a little old lady.”
Zach rolled his shoulders to add emphasis to the voluminous dress. “Not so little.”

THE MATING GAME is on sale for 99 Cents for the next two weeks. 

Available at:
 
 My current giveaway...

Heated Negotiation by Layla Chase

Heated Negotiation
by Layla Chase

Eight years ago, Miranda Dexter broke her engagement to dark and sexy Ramon Constantino and headed out to conquer the world. Now, she goes by Pearl as a location scout for a small film production company, which is proving to be a lonely job. On assignment, Pearl returns to her hometown of Hawksville, Texas to negotiate permission to film on her ex-fiancé’s ranch. But she doesn’t count on the spark of attraction for her old flame.

One look at the woman who jilted him tells Ramon that Miranda—Pearl?—is still in his blood. Before he’ll sign away his permission, he demands one night of passion. His intention is to tease and tantalize Pearl with erotic sensation, yet remain aloof.  And if that doesn't work...well, he banished her from his heart once, he can do it again. But does he really want to?

Click Heated Negotiation to read an excerpt.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Bondage & Bureacracy by Rynne Raines

Bondage & Bureacracy
by Rynne Raines

After eight years married to the wrong man for all the wrong reasons, Fiona McBride is more than happy to sign on the dotted line, end the charade, and rediscover her penchant for kinky sex. She never thought the road to rediscovery would lead to her ex-husband's sexy political rival, Harrison Lancaster.

Harrison has promised his campaign manager he'll steer clear of the BDSM club until after the election, but when he runs into Fiona at a local cafe and starts fantasizing about taking the prim and proper debutante over his knee, he realizes abstinence is getting to him. Only a mad man would entertain the idea of sexually dominating his competition's vanilla ex-wife. When an old photo reveals she's not so straight-laced, he begins to wonder if it's possible to mix bondage and bureaucracy.

Click here to read an excerpt or purchase.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Rock Hard [Immortals] by LJ Vickery

Rock Hard
Immortals Book One
LJ Vickery

Marduk, Mesopotamian god of thunder, has been invisible for hundreds of years, his punishment for leaving an entire civilization to wither and die...all for the love of a woman. Now, the gods seem to be reaping a great deal of pleasure at his expense once again for it’s another little bit of a woman who has the power to make him whole. She lights his formerly passionless form on fire, but he'll have to battle more than the gods who placed him and his brothers in this purgatory to win her heart and her body. Some demons must be faced to be defeated, even if they are hers.

Tess has straightened her life out. That means no alcohol, no risk, and most of all, NO MEN! But this god-like creature she first sees naked on the beach makes her forget the horrors wrought by another and consider the passion zinging through her veins. Can she take such a risk again without sacrificing her sobriety and her life?

Click here to read an excerpt.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Bang The Drummer [Twelve Brides Of Christmas] by Desiree Holt

Bang The Drummer
Twelve Brides Of Christmas
Desiree Holt

Jill Kennedy has plans for a Christmas wedding. She's put down deposits for the flowers, photos, and venue. Now all she needs is a groom. A drummer who'll keep her life as steady as he keeps the beat to his music. With her good friend Charlie Costello as her wingman, she'll interview percussionists, one per month until she finds the right tempo. But with Christmas approaching and no groom in sight, she's starting to wonder if she'll ever bang the drummer of her dreams.

Click here to read an excerpt.