Stop by Kayelle Allen's Blog, Romance Lives Forever, and check out my interview with Dracula. This close to Halloween, I simply could not resist interviewing my favorite vampire. :)
Romance Lives Forever: Paranormal: An Interview with Dracula by @traceyhk...: Dracula In the Flesh An Interview with Dracula By Tracey H. Kitts As he walks into the room, I feel my heart flutter and my breath...
Friday, September 27, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
The internet creates lunatics
By now, most of us have encountered them. The people who believe they can say and do anything because this is the internet and you don't really know who they are. People who would never call you a piece of crap to your face suddenly have no qualms about saying that and much worse, simply because you have no way of seeking revenge. It is a viscous and frightening cycle, one that I do my very best to avoid.
Over the weekend, I read where a Facebook friend of mine has been going through quite an ordeal with online bullying. I was also re-watching season 2 of The Walking Dead this weekend. I won't give any spoilers, but I am going to use the show as a reference point.
When I saw this scene with Dale and Shane, suddenly something clicked.
Dale: This is where you belong, Shane.
Shane: How's that, Dale?
Dale: This world, what it is now, this is where you belong. And I may not have what it takes to last for long, but that's okay. 'Cause at least I can say when the world goes to shit, I didn't let it take me down with it.
Something in my brain said, "That is just like the internet!" Yes, the internet is (in a way) the zombie apocalypse. LOL Bear with me. We all sit here and veg out, staring (possibly drooling) at the screen. And we lash out at each other as if it's the end of the world and our actions no longer have consequences. "What does it matter? They don't know me?" Right? I've heard people say as much.
At one point, I was in a constant state of distress. I was upset by negative reviews or nasty letters I had received or both. I lived in fear of being judged both personally and professionally. I was turning into a Shane. I wanted to lash back at those who had hurt me.
Thankfully, I also know someone like Dale who gave me a moral slap in the face. (Not a literal one. LOL) She reminded me that that is not the kind of person I want to be. If I were to respond in kind, I would be no better, and thus their sickness spreads. (See what I did there?)
I was allowing their comments to turn me into Shane when I really wanted to be more like Daryl. Ha. Ha. Okay, enough with The Walking Dead references. My point is, if it is at all possible to avoid these types of people, then avoid them. No one needs that kind of negativity in their life.
If a particular review site causes you grief, don't go there. If you are getting threatening emails from someone, block them. The same goes for Facebook. If someone is harassing you, block and report them. I understand that there are times when things are not handled so simply. I get that. However, most of the time, the situation can be as simple as we want it to be.
The fact is that whether or not someone actually knows you is irrelevant. It should matter that WE know ourselves and we will have to live with our actions. I don't want to wake up tomorrow knowing that I hurt some person I didn't even know with my careless words.
Just because the world has gone to shit when it comes to decency, don't let it take you with it.
Over the weekend, I read where a Facebook friend of mine has been going through quite an ordeal with online bullying. I was also re-watching season 2 of The Walking Dead this weekend. I won't give any spoilers, but I am going to use the show as a reference point.
When I saw this scene with Dale and Shane, suddenly something clicked.
Dale: This is where you belong, Shane.
Shane: How's that, Dale?
Dale: This world, what it is now, this is where you belong. And I may not have what it takes to last for long, but that's okay. 'Cause at least I can say when the world goes to shit, I didn't let it take me down with it.
Something in my brain said, "That is just like the internet!" Yes, the internet is (in a way) the zombie apocalypse. LOL Bear with me. We all sit here and veg out, staring (possibly drooling) at the screen. And we lash out at each other as if it's the end of the world and our actions no longer have consequences. "What does it matter? They don't know me?" Right? I've heard people say as much.
At one point, I was in a constant state of distress. I was upset by negative reviews or nasty letters I had received or both. I lived in fear of being judged both personally and professionally. I was turning into a Shane. I wanted to lash back at those who had hurt me.
Thankfully, I also know someone like Dale who gave me a moral slap in the face. (Not a literal one. LOL) She reminded me that that is not the kind of person I want to be. If I were to respond in kind, I would be no better, and thus their sickness spreads. (See what I did there?)
I was allowing their comments to turn me into Shane when I really wanted to be more like Daryl. Ha. Ha. Okay, enough with The Walking Dead references. My point is, if it is at all possible to avoid these types of people, then avoid them. No one needs that kind of negativity in their life.
If a particular review site causes you grief, don't go there. If you are getting threatening emails from someone, block them. The same goes for Facebook. If someone is harassing you, block and report them. I understand that there are times when things are not handled so simply. I get that. However, most of the time, the situation can be as simple as we want it to be.
The fact is that whether or not someone actually knows you is irrelevant. It should matter that WE know ourselves and we will have to live with our actions. I don't want to wake up tomorrow knowing that I hurt some person I didn't even know with my careless words.
Just because the world has gone to shit when it comes to decency, don't let it take you with it.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Character interview with Kate Hill
Please welcome today's guest, Kate Hill.
Interview with Wyatt and Zoey from Combustion 1: In Heat
by Kate Hill
Here on Pixie, marriage is unconventional even between
members of our own species. To marry an alien from a planet that has no
official relations with us is unheard of. Much debate surrounds the union of
Wyatt, one of our own, and the human Zoey.
Today they have agreed to grant a brief interview with the
hope of showing that an alliance between Earth and Pixie might one day be in
the best interest of both worlds.
How did you meet exactly?
Wyatt: After my shuttle crashed on Earth, I was not only
injured, but in the throes of my monthly sexual cycle. With my meds that
control the cycle destroyed in the crash, I needed to mate or succumb to my
inner heat. To me, forced mating is not an option. Luckily Zoey was willing to
help.
Zoey: At the time I didn’t know I was saving his life. I
simply wanted him.
When did you find out that Wyatt wasn’t human?
Zoey: He told me the truth later, but I didn’t believe him.
I thought he was trying to break up with me and make a fool of me in the
process, but gut instinct told me to look deeper into the situation, so I
tested his DNA.
Wyatt, your confession could have resulted in potential
danger for both Earth and Pixie, or should I say it might endanger any Pixiens
visiting Earth. Do you feel that revealing yourself to Zoey was irresponsible
and self-centered?
Wyatt: In some ways yes, but in others no. After what she
did for me, she deserved to know the truth. Like Zoey, I depended on my
instincts and they told me to trust her.
Zoey, did you have any fears about boarding a shuttle and
flying to the home planet of an alien you’d known for only a few short months?
Zoey: Yes. I was afraid and it was definitely risky, but I
trust Wyatt. So far the Pixiens I’ve met have been good people. You’re
technologically far more advanced than we are on Earth, but in many ways you’re
like us.
What about the possibility of a Pixien-Human hybrid? Do
you believe you’ll be the first interspecies parents between our planets?
Wyatt: Possibly. We’re not sure if Pixiens and Humans can
interbreed.
Zoey: Right now we’re still getting to know each other and
it’s been a fantastic experience so far!
To find out more about Wyatt and Zoey, read Combustion 1:
In Heat, coming soon from Changeling Press.
Combustion 1: In Heat
by Kate Hill
(M/F Erotic Science Fiction Romance)
It's Wyatt's time of the month and he's scorching hot!
When Zoey temporarily moves in with her friend Justin, the
last thing she expects is to find a hunk across the hall. Wyatt is as hot as
his red hair, but to a woman whose career has always come first, she isn't sure
if she should hook up with him, no matter how badly she wants to. What Zoey
doesn't know is Wyatt is a shipwrecked alien whose monthly sexual cycle will
literally burn him alive if he doesn't mate.
Wyatt not only desires Zoey, he needs her to survive, but he
fears that the scent induced by his cycle is luring her into his arms. Though
desperate to survive, he wants a willing partner. When passion finally
overtakes them, he knows he must tell her the truth, but will she accept an
alien lover?
About Kate
Always a fan of romance and the paranormal, Kate Hill
started writing over twenty years ago for pleasure. Her first story, a short
erotic vampire tale, was accepted for publication in 1996. Since then she has
sold over one hundred short stories, novellas and novels.
When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading,
working out and spending time with her family and pets.
Kate also writes under the pen name Saloni Quinby. She
enjoys hearing from readers and she can be contacted at katehill@sprintmail.com.
Visit Kate online at http://www.kate-hill.com.
Sounds like a "hot" read. ;) Thanks again, Kate, for being my guest today.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Friday the 13th and Dracula
Friday the 13th has always been my lucky day. I think it started when I was little. I was sick of hearing people say, "Oh, I'm not going anywhere tomorrow, it's Friday the 13th," or some crap along those lines. So, I started to say, "It's my lucky day."
Having said that, I'm sure you all understand why I chose today to release my new book. Dracula: In the Flesh is more than just a new release, and not just because of sentimental reasons. This is a bit of a new venture for me. Dracula: In the Flesh is my first erotic horror novel and I have decided to release it under the name T.K. Hardin.
It's not the kind of pen name I have to keep strictly separate or that I want/need to hide. So, why a pen name at all? Because this story is different enough that I want to give some kind of signal. I do not want to offend my regular readers.
When I say there is horror, there is bloody, violent horror. Sometimes, it is mixed with eroticism, making it truly disturbing. I want people to know they are getting something different. There are elements of horror in many of my other books, but not like this.
I have put warnings in as many places as I could in regards to content. Ha. Ha. Ha. This is to avoid angry emails or reviews that say, "OMG! That was violent/scary! I didn't expect that!"
So, if you're ready for some violence, terror, and a haunting good love story, give Dracula: In the Flesh a try. Did I mention how freaking sexy Dracula is? Do I really need to?
Having said that, I'm sure you all understand why I chose today to release my new book. Dracula: In the Flesh is more than just a new release, and not just because of sentimental reasons. This is a bit of a new venture for me. Dracula: In the Flesh is my first erotic horror novel and I have decided to release it under the name T.K. Hardin.
It's not the kind of pen name I have to keep strictly separate or that I want/need to hide. So, why a pen name at all? Because this story is different enough that I want to give some kind of signal. I do not want to offend my regular readers.
When I say there is horror, there is bloody, violent horror. Sometimes, it is mixed with eroticism, making it truly disturbing. I want people to know they are getting something different. There are elements of horror in many of my other books, but not like this.
I have put warnings in as many places as I could in regards to content. Ha. Ha. Ha. This is to avoid angry emails or reviews that say, "OMG! That was violent/scary! I didn't expect that!"
So, if you're ready for some violence, terror, and a haunting good love story, give Dracula: In the Flesh a try. Did I mention how freaking sexy Dracula is? Do I really need to?
Jonathan Harker, a young English lawyer, is traveling to
Castle Dracula in order to finalize a real estate transaction. He has been
personally requested by Count Dracula. What Jonathan doesn't realize is that
Dracula’s interests do not lie with him, but with his beautiful fiancée, Mina.
As soon as he saw her face, Dracula knew the ritual was a
success. After all these long years, his love has returned to him. However,
many things (such as Van Helsing and Jonathan Harker) stand in the way of their
happiness. Sure, he could kill them all and take what he wants. However, his
greatest desire is not to possess Mina, but to love her and have her return his
love.
Therefore, Dracula’s fate and the fate of those closest to
her lie in Mina’s hands. She has dreamed of him all her life. But what will she
do when she learns her dark prince is real? What will happen when she knows
him, not as a dream, but in the flesh?
WARNING: This book contains graphic violence, and graphic
sex. This is NOT a romance novel, although there is a romance involved. This is
Erotic Horror and might offend some readers.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Guest author Lucy Felthouse and some HOT reads
Please help me welcome today's guest author, Lucy Felthouse. :)
THK: Tell me
about yourself. Anything you would like readers know about you?
LF: I’m Lucy
Felthouse, I’m 28 and from Derbyshire in the UK. I write erotica and erotic
romance and I got started back in university when someone dared me to write an
erotic story. I love writing, running my business (http://www.writermarketing.co.uk), reading, watching TV and films,
walking, spending time in the countryside with my other half and my dog,
visiting stately home and historical sites, and eating chips and
chocolate—though not at the same time.
THK: Sounds
fabulous. Tell me about your current and upcoming releases. Please include a
blurb and a link to where the book can be purchased.
LF: My latest
release is a co-author project. It’s a BDSM, erotic, sports romance! Yes, lots
going on and it’s a book I’m incredibly proud of. I co-wrote it with Lily
Harlem.
Here’s the blurb:
California had
seduced me with promises of a new life working at Los Carlos Tennis Academy.
What I didn’t expect was the dark, brooding number one seed, Travis Connolly,
resisting my help. He wasn’t interested in my psychology skills. Instead his
attention was drawn to the edgy, sharper corners of my desires, proving that
they existed, setting me challenges and driving me crazy to the point of
combustion.
I’m the best
tennis player in the world—officially—so why would I need a damn woman full of
psychobabble to get me on form? Despite my irritation, however, I can’t resist
pushing Marie Sherratt’s buttons even though doing that shows her the darkest
shades of my lust, the parts of me I buried deep. So I set her a challenge, one
she rises to, one that has me rising too, and before long my game relies on her
calling the shots, hitting the target and bending to my will. One thing was
certain, being not just master of the court, but also of Marie is seriously
good for my soul.
There’s more
info, excerpt, trailer and buy links here: http://rawtalentseries.co.uk/book-1-grand-slam/
My upcoming release, also from Ellora’s Cave, is called Mean
Girls. It’s an erotic romance novella about a BBW/Rubenesque chick. I really
enjoyed writing this novella, and hope readers will enjoy it. It’s coming out
on the 20th September.
Here’s the blurb:
Adele Blackthorne
is a big girl, a curvy chick. She knows it, and she’s been picked on all her
life because of it. But she’s gotten to the stage where she doesn’t care. She
may be Rubenesque, but she’s healthy, too. Much healthier than the mean girls
at the leisure center that point and stare and say spiteful things about her.
Adele rises above it all, and simply enjoys her secretive glances at the
center’s hunky lifeguard, Oliver.
As the bullying
of Adele becomes worse, Oliver finds it increasingly difficult not to
intervene. He doesn’t want to get into trouble with work, but equally he can’t
stand to see Adele treated in such a horrible way. Especially since he doesn’t
agree that she’s fat and unattractive. He thinks she’s a seriously sexy woman,
and would like to get to know her better. Much better.
More info,
excerpt and pre-order links here: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/mean-girls/
THK: What genre
do you write it? What drew you to write in that genre? If you mix genres talk
about that too.
LF: I write
erotica and erotic romance. I think I covered this already, oops. I started
because someone dared me to, found I quite enjoyed it, and never looked back.
I’ve built up a backlist of massively varied work from contemporary to
paranormal, different heat levels, pairings, and so on.
THK: Nothing like
a good variety, I say. How many books have you written? How many have been
published?
LF: In terms of
full-length novels, I’ve only written one so far, and that’s due to be
published later this year. In terms of short stories, I have no idea as I
haven’t counted them lately. But most of the stuff I write has found a home or
is out on submission.
THK: That’s
great. What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
LF: I don’t think
I really have one. People say my stuff can be funny, though I don’t necessarily
intend it to be. My silly sense of humor obviously just sneaks into my work.
THK: I understand
that. My sense of humor is totally warped and it find its way into my work when
I least expect it. What is the hardest part of writing?
LF: Having people
assume that you write everything from experience. Which would make me a gay
man, a lesbian, straight, a vampire, werewolf, shifter, policeman, soldier… the
list goes on!
THK: Tell me
about it! Ha. Ha. Ha. I get the most bizarre come-ons from men and the
strangest reactions from women who think when I do “research” I’m out actually
DOING all this stuff. Although it might be pretty cool to be a bi-sexual fairy
shaman/elf/werewolf/vampire/witch/wizard/incubus/whatever involved in group
sex, sadly I am none of those. What do you read for fun when you’re not
writing?
LF: All kinds of
things really. I like chick lit, erotica and erotic romance, paranormal, urban
fantasy, thrillers—there’s not much fiction that I won’t give a go.
THK: Same here. I
read a bit of everything. Any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
LF: Yes. Don’t
give up! Practice and talent will get you there, as long as you don’t give in.
THK: Now,
something just for the fun of it. Werewolves or vampires? Why?
LF: Vampires, I
think. Because they don’t turn hairy, they’re immortal, dangerous, scary and
sexy.
THK: If you could
get away with anything (criminal or just plain silly) what would you do?
LF: I don’t know,
really. I haven’t thought about it—possibly because most of the things I want
to do, I end up doing.
Maybe having wild
flings with the men on my top ten list? http://pinterest.com/cw1985/top-10-future-husbands/
Lucy, thank you
so much for being my guest today!
You can find out
more about Lucy through the following links.
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