***Book Blitz*** Murder on the Lake of Fire By Mikel J. Wilson (Mourning Dove Mysteries, #1)

Murder on the Lake of Fire
Mikel J. Wilson
(Mourning Dove Mysteries, #1)
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: December 1st 2017
Genres: LGBTQ+, Mystery, Romance

At twenty-three and with a notorious case under his belt, Emory Rome has already garnered fame as a talented special agent for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. His career is leapfrogging over his colleagues, but the jumping stops when he’s assigned a case he fought to avoid – to investigate an eerie murder in the Smoky Mountain hometown he had abandoned. This mysterious case of a dead teen ice-skater once destined for the pros is just the beginning. In a small town bursting with envious friends and foes, Rome’s own secrets lie just below the surface. The rush to find the murderer before he strikes again pits Rome against artful private investigator, Jeff Woodard. The PI is handsome and smart, seducing Rome and forcing him to confront childhood demons, but Woodard has secrets of his own. He might just be the killer Rome is seeking.

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EXCERPT:

Britt hadn’t been able to even look at her skates since the embarrassment of her last competition, and now as they dangled from her shoulders, she faced the frozen lake like it was a pervy ass-pincher about to get slapped. Knowing someone had drugged her didn’t soothe the humiliation of that night and didn’t make returning to the ice any easier.
“I can do this,” she chanted while her shins cut through the crouching morning fog and her boots crunched a path onto the snow. As she unburdened her shoulder at the lake’s bank, the blades clinked against each other like engaged sabers, shocking the silence to attention. She changed her footwear and stepped onto the frozen water, prepared for battle.
Britt plowed through the thin layer of snow atop the ice and warmed up with minor moves of little friction that evolved into grander displays of gifted athleticism. From a Y-spiral she leapt into a butterfly jump and followed it with a double Axel. When she landed, she spotted something protruding from the ice in her path. Branch! She shuffled her feet and averted a tumble, but the back of her blades scraped each other, which caused a slight spark.
Composure regained, Britt twisted into a purposeful spin. As she drew in her arms to increase her speed, her visible breath encircled her head like the arms of the Milky Way. She couldn’t focus on the white and grey world that whirled around her, but she noticed that the sun had risen and was now warming her face.
The sun, however, was still in its place, hiding behind the snow-covered pines.
Fire surrounded her petite frame and spread across the lake. Britt tried to scream, but the smoke she gasped in gagged her throat.
She continued spinning, unable to stop, as the blaze engulfed her body. In a fiery vortex, Britt plunged through the melting ice.

Author Bio:
Mystery and science fiction author Mikel J. Wilson received widespread critical praise for his debut novel, Sedona: The Lost Vortex, a science fiction book based on the Northern Arizona town’s legends of energy vortexes and dimensional travel. Wilson now draws on his Southern roots for the Mourning Dove Mysteries, a series of novels featuring bizarre murders in the Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee.
Murder on the Lake of Fire, the first novel in the Mourning Dove Mysteries series, will be available December 1, 2017.

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***Book Blitz*** The Cutting Room Floor By Dawn Klehr

The Cutting Room Floor
Dawn Klehr
Publication date: October 13th 2017
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult

Behind-the-scenes secrets could turn deadly for Desmond and Riley
Life in the Heights has never been easy for seventeen-year-old Riley Frost, but when she’s publicly dumped and outed at the same time, she becomes an immediate social outcast at her high school. So Riley swears off romance and throws herself into solving the shocking murder of her favorite teacher, Ms. Dunn.
Riley turns to her best friend, budding filmmaker Desmond Brandt, for help. What she doesn’t know is that Dez has been secretly directing her life, blackmailing her friends, and hoping his manipulations will make her love him. When his schemes go too far, Dez’s web of lies threatens to destroy both of their lives.

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Author Bio:
Dawn Klehr is the author of the young adult thrillers: The Cutting Room Floor and If You Wrong Us.
She began her career in TV news and though she’s been on both sides of the camera, she prefers to lurk behind the lens. Mostly, she loves to get lost in stories –in film, the theater, or on the page – and is a sucker for both the sinister and the sappy. She’s currently channeling her dark side as she works on her next book.
Dawn lives in the Twin Cities with her funny husband, adorable son, and naughty dog.

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***Blog Tour Stop*** FEEL AGAIN (Fate Series, #1) by Faith Andrews

Title: Feel Again (Fate Series, #1)

Author: Faith Andrews

Release Date: January 12, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

Blurb:

A dare. A dying wish. Fate... After years of loneliness, widowed Gabriella is ready to fill the void—as long as she doesn't have to give her heart to another man. Caleb's screwed himself right into a dead-end existence. Faced with an ultimatum, he's hell-bound on changing his reckless ways. A chance meeting has these two instantly attracted to one another, but when their paths cross again—this time as professor and student—the roles reverse on Professor Edwards as Caleb teaches her how to feel again.  

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Excerpt:

©Faith Andrews

As I stretch my vision past Aubrey, to another group of barely-dressed girls, I notice her. Long, coffee-brown hair falling down her back and almost touching her perfectly rounded ass. The ass that’s encased in a skin-tight black number and silky legs accentuated by heels that look dangerous. It’s a sin that someone who looks like her should have her eyes focused on the ground. Focus them on me, I will her. A package as beautifully put together as she is deserves attention—my attention. If only she knew she blows every woman in this room away. And not just because of how striking she is. There’s something about her, something different. This woman is a rare find in a room full of cookie-cutter imitations. Her shiny waves cascade over her shoulders, bouncing as she walks in my direction. The deep chocolate hue compliments her radiant olive skin tone and her glistening green eyes. This woman is fucking gorgeous. Not the kind you take home to screw, the kind you take home to Mom . . . or, er, Grandma. “Caleb. I was talking to you.” I snap back to find Aubrey’s hands around my waist. “Conversation’s over. There’s someone I need to talk to.” I walk away, not even glancing back at Aubrey. I need to know who this woman is. I’m not a spiritual man, but she just might be sent from heaven. She’s the type of woman who could change the whole game. At least that’s the vibe I’m getting. As I escape Aubrey, it’s as if I’m being magnetically pulled toward the woman now sitting at the bar. I watch her from afar at first, gauging her body language. Her fingers tap on the marble bar top as she waits for the bartender’s attention. She’s new to this. No regular waits for her order to be taken when she looks the way she does. Dude, I want to scream at the bartender, how can you not see her? She’s . . . God, not only is she gorgeous but there’s something about the way she’s fidgeting that tells me she’s completely out of her element. How could this sophisticated beauty be out of her element in a club full of women who wish they had half her class? And why is she here alone? If she were my girl, everyone would know it. My arms would be wrapped around her, my fingers settling on the small of her back, claiming her as mine. I watch this classy creature as she plays with the curled edges of her hair, twisting the strands around her index finger. I play with my hair when I’m nervous. Is she nervous or just timid? Either way, I want to know. I want to know everything about this damn woman, starting with her name. When she orders herself a Ketel and Seven I decide to be brave. “Make that two,” I add, getting comfortable in my stool. At first she eyes me like I’m some creep, but then . . . shit! When our eyes meet it’s as if the universe has made up for every shitty thing that ever came my way.  

Coming May 5, 2015

First Came You (Fate series #0.5)

 

  First comes a nickel, Then comes a shove, Then comes loss only conquered by his love.  This is the story of my first true love. The story of how the boy next door protected me, became my best friend, stole my heart, and rescued me from my darkest despair.  

About the Author

  

  Faith Andrews lives in New York where she is happily married to her high school sweetheart. They have two beautiful daughters and a furry Yorkie son, Rocco. If she isn't listening to Mumford & Sons or busy being a Dance Mom, her nose is in a book or her laptop. She's a sucker for a happily ever after and believes her characters are out there living one somewhere . . .  

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***Blog Tour Stop*** Always You By Stephanie Rose

Title: Always You

Author: Stephanie Rose

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 26, 2015

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Synopsis:

To Samantha Christensen, Lucas Hunter was always the guy—the sexy, smart and unattainable man she pined for throughout college. To Lucas, she was a treasured friend, a younger sister he felt the need to protect. She had a choice—to wait and hope, or to settle. When they meet again years later, Lucas looks at Samantha and sees a woman he wants—even though she’s not free to take. As they renew their friendship he finds he’s falling hard, and can’t accept any less than all of her. Samantha realizes there’s hope with Lucas. Will she finally have a chance to be happy with the man she’s always loved, or will obligations and insecurities stand in their way? Can Samantha and Lucas convince each other that they belong together? That it was Always You?

Buy The Book:

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Excerpt:

“Shit, Sam! Baby Girl, are you okay?”

God, please no. Calling me Baby Girl now was like sticking a knife directly into my already broken heart. Lucas lifted me off the ground to help me stand. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. I always loved when he did that, but now it hurt like hell. It was torturous, but I let myself feel him one last time. I wanted to remember the way he smelled, how his arms felt like home—but he wasn’t my home anymore, and it killed me to know that. I pushed out of his hold and looked at his face. His beautiful face. His blue eyes were still glassy, but they were red now. I didn’t want to believe what I saw. I wanted to look at the unshed tears growing in Lucas’s eyes and think it meant he really loved me, and he would never ever hurt me. I saw an empty cab coming up the block and raised my arm to hail it. I must’ve fallen hard as blood trickled down my wrist when I held my hand up. The cab slowed to a stop and I headed to the curb where it waited. I willed myself to stop crying at least until I got inside. Lucas grabbed my arm again, shaking his head. “You can’t leave like this.” His voice was cracking. “I need you, I love you. You know me, Sam.” I shook my head sadly. “No. No, I don’t.”

About The Author:

Stephanie lives in the Bronx, New York with her superhero-obsessed husband and son. Her day job is marketing, but she always has a story in her head. This lifelong New Yorker lives for Starbucks, book boyfriends, and 80s rock After spending most of her youth watching soaps, Stephanie has an obsession with angsty drama and hot romance. She's excited to finally bring the characters she's been dreaming about to life!

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***Blog Tour Stop*** HARD by Cheryl McIntyre

RELEASE DAY BLITZ  & BLOG TOUR

Title: HARD

Author: Cheryl McIntyre

Release Date: March 20, 2015

HARD Synopsis:

I have been staring at her for three months. Watching her. Memorizing her.

For ninety-two days, I’ve looked into those lifeless green eyes.

And for ninety-two days she has inspired me in ways I never knew possible. A muse, unbeknownst to her. Motivating me. Encouraging my darkest desires.

I’m a man who knows what he wants. And what I want is the beautiful and broken Holland Howard.

My name is Jensen Payne—photographer, autocrat, lecher, Scopophiliac. I am who I am and I will not—cannot—change.

*This is an Erotic Romance. Recommended for readers 18+ ONLY.

WARNING: This book contains possible emotional triggers.

HARD is a full-length stand-alone erotic romance novel (approximately 50,000 words).  

GOODREADS LINK:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25056405- hard

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AUTHOR BIO:  

Cheryl McIntyre is the author of the bestselling Sometimes Never series, as well as the Dirty series, Infinitely, and Dark Calling.  

She calls Ohio home, though she secretly dreams of living somewhere much warmer--preferably near a beach.  She is a mother, author, and insomniac, as well as a reader, self- proclaimed movie critic, and incredibly bad singer. Her life revolves around four things: family, music, books, and really bad scary movies.

You can follow her author page on Facebook where she lives part time. On Goodreads—which is like crack for avid readers. On Twitter, though she has still not yet mastered the art of tweeting. On tsū.  Or on her website.

AUTHOR LINKS:  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CherylMcIntyreauthor 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/CherylHMcIntyre

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6431156.Cheryl_McIntyre& nbsp;

Tsū:  https://www.tsu.co/CherylMcIntyreAuthor 

Amazon Author Page:  http://amzn.to/1CjEeLT 

Website:  http://cherylmcintyrebooks.com/ 

Stay up to date on all of Cheryl's new releases by joining her newsletter here:  http://bit.ly/1C2azm3

HARD by Cheryl McIntyre Excerpts:

I have been watching her for three months. 

For ninety-two days, I’ve looked into those lifeless green eyes. Let my gaze slide over her flawless, pale skin. Fantasized about her luscious lips.

For ninety-two days she has inspired me in ways I never knew possible. A muse, unbeknownst to her. Motivating me. Encouraging my darkest desires to life through my work. Just when I was so close to giving up, surrendering to my unchangeable fate, I spotted her, and haven’t been able to look away since.

I don’t think she has a clue that my eyes find her the moment I step into this establishment. She’s oblivious to the way I always sit at the same table—the one with the best view of the bar. Of her. Unaware I spend my evenings watching her.

Memorizing her. Inch by exquisite inch.

Her soft beauty and innocent naivety keeps me coming back. Over and over, since the day she first served me. My cock grows hard beneath the shelter of the table as she strides toward me, her breasts bouncing lightly with each step. My arousal has nothing to do with sexual gratification. Though she has a beautiful body, curvy in all the places a man’s hands like to grip, and hold, and conquer, I’m turned on by the way she makes me feel inside. By the strength and craving and ambition she has unknowingly restored in me.

A man’s wet fantasy. A woman’s aspiration. My divine intervention.

“Take off your clothes.” My voice is gravelly and I hardly recognize it. I’ve imagined how she looks naked a million different times. Dreamt of this moment more than I can count. My hands circle around the device clutched in my grip, squeezing firmly.

One auburn brow arches as if in challenge, a silent remark to my lack of polite request. I mimic her, cocking my own brow, but give her nothing else. Manners don’t belong in the bedroom. This is who I am and I do not apologize for it.

I ask once—and only once. I offer a choice and they make their decision. After that, it’s my way. Anybody who doesn’t agree is free to leave. I don’t want her to go—I’ve waited far too long for this—but I am who I am and I will not—cannot—change.

She threw me off with the striptease and the drink. And that kiss. That hot as hell, fucking kiss. But I’ve had enough questions and more than enough storytelling for one night. Talking like this, sharing my personal shit—I don’t do it. I bind. I photograph. And I fuck. There’s no point in anything else.

***Blog Tour Stop*** The Gilded Cuff By Lauren Smith

Title: The Gilded Cuff

Author: Lauren Smith

Series: Surrender Series Book 1

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Every passion has its price . . .

Journalist Sophie Ryder has been following Emery Lockwood’s story since she was a little girl. There has always been something in his haunted eyes that she couldn’t resist and now, when she’s certain he holds the key to solving a string of kidnappings, she’ll do anything to speak to him. Even if it means venturing deep into the seductive world of the Gilded Cuff, a luxurious BDSM club on Long Island’s Gold Coast and Emery’s personal playground.

From the moment Sophie enters his shadowy, sensual domain, Emery Lockwood knows this tantalizing new little sub was meant to belong to him. However, Sophie wants more from Emery than just pleasure . . . she wants his past. And that is something he isn’t willing to give—no matter who is asking. But every moment he spends with Sophie, Emery feels his control slipping and he knows it’s only a matter of time before he surrenders to her heart, body, and soul.

    

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Excerpt:

“What’s your name, little sub?”   “Sophie Ryder.” When his brows lowered she hastily added, “Sir.”   Emery patted his thigh with one palm. “Let us begin the contest. You will come and sit on my lap and I will command you.”   Sophie’s stomach pitched so deep it felt like it hit her toes. Emery leaned back, his arms rested on the back of the couch. He looked every bit a prince, a leader of a pride of lions, merely waiting for his conquest, his prey. His relaxed position only made her feel more helpless. She knew he could move fast, catch her in his arms and have her bent for punishment again in seconds if she dared to resist him. Her nipples pearled beneath the unforgiving leather of the corset, rubbing until they ached. She clenched her hands to stop them from shaking.   Here we go, you can do this. Sophie approached him and sat across his lap. She wriggled, trying to find a comfortable position, unable to ignore the feel of his muscular thighs beneath her.   He cocked one eyebrow imperiously, as though her restlessness had somehow offended him.   “Do not squirm.” He issued his first command.   She stilled instantly. Her only movement was her breasts rising and falling with her breaths.   “Look at my eyes, only my eyes.” His tone softened, but the rough edge still scraped over her, making her hungry for the promise she found in his gaze. The voices around them faded and she slipped deeper and deeper into his dark spell.   He would be a rough lover; carnal, quiet. He wouldn’t whisper sweet words, wouldn’t utter harsh arousing statements. He’d simply take her, take her again and again, the grinding, the pounding. The soft silence punctuated by uneven breaths, the stroke of rough hands over her sensitive skin. Everything a sensible, modern woman shouldn’t want from a man in bed. He’d be all animal in all the right ways.   She’d never been with someone like him before, might never be again, and the thought was an intoxicating one. To be at the mercy of such power, such electrifying sexual control and surrender it all to him… Her mouth was suddenly dry, her pulse tapping Morse code for help as she tried to maintain a semblance of calm. Would she be able to give in to him? To let him guide her through the dark lust that so often took hold of her when she had no way of releasing it? Yes… She could let go with him, and the uncertainty of what would happen when she did was half of the excitement that lit a fire in her veins.   His hands settled on her hips, fingers slowly stroking back and forth, teasing her skin beneath the leather mini-skirt. What would it be like to have his hands on her bare flesh? Fingers exploring between her legs.   “Tell me what you’d like, Sophie.” Emery leaned his head down, his brow touching hers, eyes still locked on her face.   She gulped, her mouth dryer than the Gobi Desert.   “What would it take to make you lose control? Do you want a hard fuck? A desperate pounding? Or would you like to have your hands bound, lying face down on a large bed, softness against your belly and my hardness above you, in you?” His erotic whispers were so soft, so low that no one nearby could hear what he was saying to her. The images he painted were wild, vivid, yet blurry—like a strange combination between Van Gogh and Monet. Sweet and sensual, then dark, exotic and barely comprehendible. Emery was an artist in his own way, an erotic painter of words and pictures.   “I’d take you slow, so slow you’d lose all sense of time. You’d focus only on me, on my cock gliding between your thighs, possessing you.” His words were slow and deliberate, as though he’d given them years of thought, but the slight breathless quality to the whisper made her realize she was not the only one affected.   The first quiver between her thighs was inevitable. She shifted, restless on his legs, despite his command not to move.   His breath fanned her lips. “Oh, god,” she murmured.   He smiled, unblinking, and licked his lips. She wanted that tongue in her mouth, tangling with her own. She craved his hands on her bare flesh.   “Please…” she moaned. He moved his hands down from her hips, to her outer thighs, barely exerting any real pressure. That made it worse. The hint of his touch, the promise of the pressure she craved. Sophie wanted him digging his fingers into her skin, holding her legs apart as he slammed deep into her.   “Take a deep breath,” he issued another command.   She obeyed. Her heartbeat seemed to expand outward from her chest until the pulse pounded through her entire body so hard she swore he could feel it beat through her skin wherever he touched her. The throb between her thighs nearly stung now—her need so great, his effect so potent.   “When I take you, no matter the position, you will like it. I’ll bend you over a couch.” He stroked one finger on her outer thigh, made circular patterns. “I’ll push you up against a wall.”   With little panting breaths she wriggled, trying to rock her hips against his lap, but he held her still. She nearly screamed in frustration at being denied what her body frantically needed.   The finger moved higher, past her hip, up to her ribcage. “Spread and bound open on my bed.” His fingertip quested up past the laces of her corset. “You’ll twist and writhe, unable to get free. At my mercy, Sophie, my mercy. You will beg and when I’m ready, I will grant your every desire, just as I take mine.”   She couldn’t breathe. The orgasm was so close. She could feel it, like a shadow inside her body, breathing, panting, waiting to be set free. She was ready; she wanted to climax in his arms, wanted to forge that connection which would tie her to him. Terrifying, shocking, intimate, but damn if she didn’t want it more than anything in the world at that moment. Wanted it more than her story, more than the interview, more than easing her pain from the past. She needed pleasure. His pleasure.   The feathering touch of his fingers, Emery’s erotic murmurs now incoherent with breathless anticipation against her neck as they both strained toward the great cliff, eagerly craving the fall back to earth. Why wouldn’t he touch her where she needed it? The slightest pressure on her inner thighs, the rhythmic stroke of his hand against her clit, anything would do it if he could only…   “Time!” Royce’s triumphant call shattered the glass bubble that had cocooned them for the last two minutes. Murmurs of shock from the surrounding crowd broke through.   “Damn.” Emery’s eyes darkened. Anger, but not at her, flared at the lines of his mouth. He bent to press his lips against her ear. “You were close, weren’t you, darling? So close I almost had you.” His body was trembling beneath hers, the little movements wracking his arms and chest. The press of his arousal beneath her bottom far too evident. He’d been there, right alongside her, dying to come. Together. And it hadn’t happened for either of them; two minutes hadn’t been enough time.   Sophie’s legs shook as cold reality slashed through her. The climax her body had been prepared to give Emery faded away. In its wake little tremors reverberated along her limbs, made worse by the tension in her entire body that hadn’t found release. She tried to breathe, to let her shoulders drop and her muscles relax. It was going to take a while to come down from this.   Almost had her? No. He definitely had her, practically wrapped up with a bow on top, totally and completely his. No question.     

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - QUESTIONS



1. In 5 words, please describe your ‘Romance Writing Style'

a. Sensual, edgy, passionate, emotional, lyrical



2. Do your leading men come from any place in particular? Dreams? Movie stars? Your partner? Past partners?

a. Dreams, definitely dreams and the occasional movie star. I always seem to start off a new book from a dream I've had, usually of a very powerful scene.



3. What do you do in your down time?

a. I love to watch movies, eat out with friends, take my dog on a walk.



4. When you walk into a book store, where do you head first?

a. Bargain books, then the romance section, then the science section, then the fiction section.



5. Why did you decide to write romance novels?

a. I had never read a real romance novel before 2009 and yet when I was writing my "epic sci-fi/fantasy" stories in college, they always had strong love stories as part of the tales. When I went to law school I met a few other writers and they immediately told me I should be writing official romance, so I read some books realized I LOVED romance novels and the rest is history!



6. Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

a. Several key authors: Christina Dodd, Johann Lindsey, Lisa Kleypas, Kate Morton, Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart.



7. What research did you have to perform to back up your story? Any research which really opened your eyes or gave you new respect for a topic or profession?

a. When writing The Gilded Cuff and the rest of the Surrender series I delved into the history of Long Island's Gold Coast and the beautiful Great Gatsby era mansions that have for the most part been destroyed since the 1920s. There are so many stories and wild tales and beauty connected to these homes, even the ones still standing. I particularly researched the Old Westbury Gardens as the setting for my hero Emery Lockwood's home. Much of the architecture and interior of the house has inspirational pulls from the Old Westbury. I wanted to capture that Gatsby roaring 20s opulence and extravagance in a modern day setting for my group of bad boy heroes in the series.



8. What is your method for writing a book? A certain amount of hours every day? A certain routine? Are you character/story builder or an outliner or some other method?

a. I try to write at least an hour a day, or edit 2-3 hours a day on a book. I am usually writing one book and editing another. Since I work full time as an attorney, I don't have much of a routine, except to somehow make it happen, usually between 5-10pm each night I try to get 3 hours of productive writing work done. I'm very much a character/story builder with usually only a vague outline in my head. The characters often don't have that much trouble convincing me where the story is going to go. 



9. How do you get past writers block or distractions like Facebook?

a. Usually when I'm writing, I'm not near a computer. I write everything by long hand in a five subject Five start notebook. I like the feel of the crisp pages and the special brand of Caliber pens I use. It's easy to write when not around my computer. Writer's block usually only comes when I've been writing on a story for a long period of time and my mind wants to jump on something new. I usually go questing for new mood music that will inspire great scenes to get me to finish the book.



10. Favorite book from childhood.

a. Redwall by Brian Jacques



11. What's on your desk? Can you see your desk? Describe what you see when you look around.

a. I'll describe my desk at home (my work desk is currently covered in legal files and therefore not that interesting). My writing desk at home is covered with research materials on: London's Underworld, Guides to Paleontology and Archeology, Edwardian England, a fossilized dinosaur claw, an Egyptian replica dagger, and a tiny miniature portrait brooch hand-painted in Russia of a woman with a gossamer thin veil around her head.



12. What's the weirdest thing you've Googled?

a. The effects of gunshot wounds. Purely for research I swear! 



13. What is your favorite line from any of your books?

a. "A love like that…A love like ours cannot die." From my modern gothic paranormal romance called The Shadows of Stormclyffe Hall.



14. Do you believe in love at first sight?

a. Yes.



15. What do you do when you are not writing?

a. I love to watch movies, and catch up on tv shows. I love storylines in tv shows. I also love taking my super energetic black schnauzer Fritz for walks or runs when the weather is nice.



16. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

a. The toughest criticism is that for the first full length book I've ever published I was told my more than one New York editor that it wasn't original. Readers happily have disagreed and the series has taken off! The best compliment I've received is that people have dreamed about the heroes of my books, particularly Godric from my book Wicked Designs. I've had at least 10 complete strangers email me and tell me they dreamed about him at night while reading my book.



17. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

a. I was a lucky kid in that I grew up in the middle of the Harry Potter craze. I was just one year ahead of Potter as he aged and books came out. Therefore I was spellbound by J.K. Rowlings ability to weave stories and characters on a massive scale. I read and re-read these books over and over because I feel there's a timeless perfection to them and I hope someday to capture a bit of magic like that myself for readers.



18. Is there a certain type of scene that's harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy?

a. Hurting my characters. I love writing when they are happy, but you have to torture them at some point, break their hearts, crush their dreams before they can reach their happy endings and that's always tough because each character has a part of my soul in them and it's hard to do something to them because they feel real to me.



19. How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning?

a. Names are important, but I often skim books or name lists to see what I like the sound of. I try to avoid names that are too common, I want names that aren't bizarre, but still are unique enough to last in a reader's mind.



20. What was the hardest part of writing your book?

a. The hardest part of writing The Gilded Cuff was the scene where the heroine almost dies. She has a near death experience and she sees a childhood friend she lost when she was 7 years old. I had a childhood friend who was tragically murdered when we were both just out of college and I had known her since I was very young. I wanted to try to capture that emotion, that sense of deep loss for past innocence as a tribute to my friend. I dedicated The Gilded Cuff to her in honor of her life.



21. What did you want to be when you grow up?

a. Either an archeologist or a paleontologist. But then I was told I'd be poor and that didn't sound so good, so I chose to be a lawyer instead, which has been fun because my father and great-grandfather were also lawyers.



22. Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

a. I learned how hard it is to write contemporaries sometimes. I started out writing historical and the voice for those books are naturally much stronger for me, and transitioning to contemporary is tricky.



23. What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

a. Boredom and the need to be productive. I'm a natural story-teller and have a type A personality. I really enjoy writing, so I thought, why not sit down and make myself truly useful and write a book!



24. Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?

a. The hero Emery Lockwood would be played by Stephen Amell, he currently stars as Oliver Queen on CW's "The Arrow" tv show.



25. Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

a. I like to see where the plot takes me, but I usually know how a book will end and some major events or scenes in the middle.



26. For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

a. I have a kindle which I love, and paperbacks too, but since I spend a lot of time traveling for work, I actually prefer audiobooks!



27. What book/s are you reading at present?

a. The Pirate Bride by Sandra Hill. It's very fun.



28. If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?

a. Harry Potter. Because that is one heck of a literary legacy to leave behind as an author. 



29. What advice would you give to your younger self?

a. Even if you think something will be a mistake later on, go for it anyways. Much of my success in life can be attributed to decisions I made thinking they weren't the best.



30.  How do you think you've evolved creatively?

a. I've really gotten much more comfortable with the romance genre in the last few years and can approach writing almost scientifically when trying to write the best books I can.

About the Author:

  Amazon best-selling author Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets—a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She's won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

Connect with Lauren:

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