Romancing the Hop - Most Romantic Moments

What is your favorite thing about Romance? Let's talk about it! Starting on Friday and ending on August 31st, over 200 Authors and Bloggers will share their favorite things about romance, reading romance, and dating.

In Deadly Obsession, the first book in my Deadly Vices series, the hero, Nic Lamoureux is a movie star pursued by a relentless stalker. About three-quarters into the story, Nic gives a series of interviews, off the page. I have the distinct pleasure today of sharing one of those interviews with you. I hope you'll find Nic as funny and romantic as I do.

Interview with Nic Lamoureux

This is Cassandra Kelley, reporter for Entertainment Buzz. I’m sitting here with Nic “The Lover” Lamoureux in an undisclosed location outside Montréal. We’ve got an exclusive interview with Nic and he’s got a real bombshell to drop. Is it about a new film? Is it about the stalker, or is it about his new girlfriend? Join us and find out!

1. CK: So after the smash success of Bad Days, what’s next on tap for Nic The Lover?

NL: After Bad Days, I wanted a change of pace, so I’ll be doing At Last, a romantic comedy, which starts filming soon. I’ll miss doing my own stunts, but I’ll certainly enjoy not having all the bruises.

2. CK: You’re known as Nic The Lover, the sexiest man in Hollywood, so At Last sounds right up your alley. Are you comfortable being a sex symbol?

NL: Nic The Lover is an image that has worked very well for me over the years. But that’s all it is. I don’t wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror and think: Wow! I’m awesome.
[He laughs.]
Seriously, it can get a little surreal sometimes. Everyone thinks they know me, but all they really know is the image. And the paparazzi are relentless. I hardly think it’s an event when I go to the restroom, yet they've followed me in there. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. There are a lot worse things to be known for. :)

3. CK: The “Luv me, Luv me” song seems to have become your unofficial theme. Has anything interesting happened to you as a result of that song?

NL: What is it with people and that song? More than once my fans have started stripping to it. I love their enthusiasm, but I’d appreciate not being treated to impromptu stripteases. There’s a time and a place for that. [He winks.]

Kristine: Readers, do you know this song? It's worth a listen :)



4. CK: You have millions of very zealous fans. One of the most infamous is NicsBitch, who appears to be stalking you. Would you care to comment about that? Is she, or he, stalking you?

NL: There have been some incidents, but it’s something I’d rather not discuss.

CK: Without giving any specifics, can you tell us how it’s made you feel to be stalked?

NL: Every aspect of my life is impacted. Nothing is private, nothing is sacred. I have to have a bodyguard twenty-four hours a day, and I hate it.

CK: Does this make you want to change the focus of your Hollywood image?

NL: I’ve been wanting to change my image for a while now, but my agent assured me it would affect my marketability. At this point, I don’t care about that anymore. I’m in a great relationship, and maybe it’s time for Nic The Lover to change his playboy ways.

5. CK: What do you think makes a woman sexy?

NL: Her humor, her confidence, and her intellect.

CK: Come on. Humor, confidence, intellect. That’s what turns Nic The Lover on? Be honest.
You’ve dated some of the hottest women in Hollywood. Those were the qualities that attracted you to them?

NL: [He flushes and looks away.] They were all attractive. But it wasn’t until I met Lauren that I learned what really matters. She’s more attractive to me than any Hollywood starlet past, present, or future.

6. CK: Tell us a little about Lauren James. Will she be the one to take Nic The Lover off Hollywood’s Most Eligible Bachelor’s list?

NL: Lauren is very special to me. I can’t imagine myself with anyone else. She’s given me back my life, my future.

CK: Do I hear wedding bells?

NL: [He grins.] Ding dong. She did say “yes.”

CK: Oh my God! You heard it here first, folks. Nic The Lover, Hollywood’s perennial playboy, is engaged!

NL: I prefer to say Nic Lamoureux is engaged, but yes. That’s the gist of it.

7. CK: So you’re going to be a stepfather. How do you feel about that?
NL: It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly. His father died in service to his country, so I have a lot to live up to.

CK: Do you think you’re prepared?
NL: Well, I’ve watched every episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, which he loves, so we do have a common point of reference. But seriously, the idea both terrifies me and excites me. Jason is a great kid and I already love him like crazy.

8. CK: Are you hoping to have children of your own?
NL: Lauren and I have talked about it a little. We both want children, but we disagree on how many. She seems to think that enough to field my own hockey team is a no-go.

9. CK: What’s been the most romantic moment in your relationship with Lauren so far?
NL: We’ve had a lot of romantic moments. A real turning point in our relationship was when I gave her a very special gift. And no, it wasn’t when I gave her the engagement ring.

CK: What was the gift? You can’t leave us hanging this way.
NL: Oh, yes I can. [He laughs.] Don’t you know the oldest secret of show biz? Always leave them wanting more!

CK: Nic The Lover, true to form.  He’s one big tease. This is Cassandra Kelley for Entertainment Buzz. Thank you for joining us.

* * *
Do you want to know what Nic’s special gift to Lauren was? Read the excerpt from Deadly Obsession below.

Excerpt from Deadly Obsession

Lauren shimmied into her new gown and stepped into the matching heels. The style of the dress demanded an up-do. She pulled a few pins from her makeup kit and twisted her hair into a loose bun, leaving a few wispy curls on either side of her face. Looking into the mirror, she sighed. The material draped her body perfectly, making her feel almost beautiful. She’d been raised middle-class and had never lacked for anything, but this outfit was a step beyond, almost magical in the way it transformed her from Miss Nobody to Miss Nic The Lover’s Date.

Her hand rose to rest on her chest. Seeing the emptiness where the dog tags had lain for the last five years left an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach. Had she done the right thing? She’d broken her vow for Nic, a man who didn’t trust her fully. And if he didn’t trust her, could she trust him?

Hearing Nic enter the room, she turned away from the mirror. The sight of him stopped her mid-step. It was incredibly bad manners to stare, but she did it anyways. The impeccably tailored black tuxedo molded his chest and broad shoulders, while the white dress shirt contrasted beautifully with his dark hair and tanned complexion. A gray silk waistcoat and matching bow tie completed the outfit, adding a fashionable twist. This was definitely not her father’s tux. Closing her eyes, she pictured herself smoothing her hands over his chest, the feel of the expensive material, the hardness of his muscles….

“Lauren.” Nic cleared his throat. “Why’d you close your eyes? Do I look that bad?”

Her eyes popped open. Was he frickin’ kidding? His lopsided smile answered her question. But then she had a question of her own. Why imagine, when Nic was standing right in front of her? With a slow sway to her hips, she approached him and let her hands run wild.

His heart pounded rapidly and his chest muscles bunched beneath her palms. Relieved, she smiled. He might be upset with her for pushing him about Rachel, but at least he wasn’t turning away from her.

He gripped her wrists. “Uh-uh-uh.” Her heart plummeted. Maybe she’d been wrong after all. But then he grinned and his eyes held a promise. “There’ll be time for that later.”

Still grinning, he tugged on her wrist and positioned himself behind her in front of the mirror. “I have something for you. Close your eyes.” His words whispered against her skin, making her shiver. She squeezed her lids tight as he draped something warm around her neck. “You can look now.”

“Oh my God,” she breathed, her hand instantly going to the necklace of pink and orange crystals. “It’s beautiful.” Having worn only stainless steel for so long, she’d forgotten what it was like to wear actual jewelry. Her cheeks flushed when she saw her reflection in the mirror. “I feel like a princess.”

“And you look like one, chérie. But something’s missing.” His hands reached up and an earring appeared at each ear. He smiled. “Do you think these will match?”

Her eyes rounded until she feared they might actually pop out of her head. Then they welled up. “They’re perfect,” she whispered past the lump in her throat. Tears spilled over onto her cheeks as she put the earrings on. Thank God she’d bought waterproof make-up.

When she was done, he turned her around and kissed away the tears, and brushed his mouth across hers. “Not nearly as perfect as you are.” Taking advantage of her parted lips, he deepened the kiss. Her heart overflowing with emotion, she leaned into him and sighed. God, how she loved this man.

Deadly Obsession (Deadly Vices, Book 1)

*** On sale for 99 cents for a limited time only. Regular price $3.99 ***

RT Book Reviews Top Pick - "Stock up on ice cubes because this is definitely one sizzling debut. Readers will be hooked from the first sentence- on the book and on Nic! As rich as a white chocolate cheesecake, Cayne's entrance into the suspense genre is invigorating, explosive and simply intoxicating."

Winner - Best Romance - 2012 eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards

Finalist - Best Romance - Kindle Book Review's Best Indie Books of 2012 (Just announced!)

Amazon ebook | Amazon print | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | All Romance eBooks | Kobo | iTunes/Apple USA | Diesel | Sony

My Personal BlogHop Giveaway

Now onto the giveaways. EACH author or blogger in the hop is doing a giveaway. Yep. If you hop to every stop, you can participate in over 100 giveaways. In keeping with the spirit of this post, I'm giving away this necklace.

It's not the Harry Winston Sunset Padparadscha and Diamond Necklace, but it is a very pretty pink beaded necklace (15" necklace featuring swirly pink glass beads, white Japanese seed beads and a lobster clasp).

To be entered to win, fill out the rafflecopter and be sure to leave a comment with your name and email address. Extra points can be earned by completing the additional rafflecopter actions.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



But that's not all....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times! Now what were those hop-wide prizes?

Grand Prize Giveaways

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack! (US-only)

Yep. ALL of that! To enter, simply make a comment on this blog with your email address. Tell us about the most romantic moment you've shared with your partner, or tell us about the most romantic moment you've ever read in a book. Only comments with an email address will be included in the drawings.

Below is the list of all participating authors and bloggers. Simply click on the hyperlinks to visit the other blogs and enter to win all their lovely prizes. Several of my favorite authors and bloggers are also participating in the hop and I'd love for you to visit them: Dana Delamar, Natalie G. Owens, Alicia & Roy Street, Diana Layne, Stacey Joy Netzel, L.C. Giroux, *lizzie starr, Christina Routon, Lily Silver, and Zee Monodee.

Thank you so much for visiting me today! Please come back throughout the blog hop and earn extra points for my giveaway by tweeting about the hop each day.

Good luck and Happy Hopping!!

~Kristine

Spotlight: Talking Dance 'n' Luv with Alicia and Roy Street

Award-winning authors Alicia and Roy Street are here today to talk about their Dance ‘n’ Luv contemporary romance series. Pull up a chair and help me welcome them!

1. Why Dance ‘n’ Luv?

Roy: For years dance had been the most important thing in Alicia’s life. But after decades of classes, rehearsals and performing, the wear and tear to her knees led to an injury forcing her to leave the profession she loved so much. Since she’d always been an avid reader she decided to try her hand at writing. We at first did a chick lit mystery series that had been traditionally published. Not surprising she next turned to the idea of a romance involving a dancer. But I’m the one who named it the Dance ‘n’ Luv series.

2. Why did you choose Long Island’s North Fork as the setting?

We wanted a location that was close to the dance capital, New York City, and yet far enough away to reflect the warmth and community of a small town environment. Long Island’s North Fork not only fits that description but it juts over a hundred miles into the Atlantic. The rural countryside combines with windswept beaches to create a rustic seaside atmosphere — perfect for romance.


3. Are all your characters dancers?

Alicia: Most are not. But all our heroines are dancers of one kind or another. Not necessarily stars, like Casey, who never got her dream of dancing with a big company, Amanda, who is divorced, disgusted and done with Broadway, Tanya, a ballroom dancer running from a truth inside her heart, and Jenna, a perfectionistic ballerina who will be featured our next book.

Roy: We also have a community of characters from a variety of backgrounds. Like a single dad who is a trucking mogul with a little boy who teaches him how to trust, a narcissistic rock star turned wine-maker, a fisherman who likes to skinny dip, a wise old war vet mechanic, a sexy down-to-earth gardener with a secret enemy, a cook who opened her own coffee shop, an eccentric curator from the maritime museum, and a philosophical astronomer with a passion for running 10K races.





4. Can I enjoy Dance ‘n’ Luv Book Two if I haven’t read Book One?

Absolutely. While certain related characters appear in various degrees in each story the books are complete in themselves and can be enjoyed individually and in any order.

5. Is writing together a challenge?

Alicia: Sometimes. But we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and allow for that. Not to mention having a built-in critique partner.

Roy: But we’ve had reviewers comment on the inability to tell the books were written by two people. And I take pride in the fact that several have said the male characters had a certain realism they don’t always find.






6. Tell Me More About This Dynamic Duo

In addition to being part of today’s Indie writers movement, Alicia and Roy are traditionally published authors and recipients of a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. They share backgrounds in the performing arts and spent many gypsy years living and working in the different neighborhoods of New York City and Philadelphia. Alicia as a dancer, choreographer and teacher; Roy in theater, visual arts and standup comedy.




7. Where Can I Find the Dance 'n' Luv Books?

Kiss Me, Dancer, Bk #1
Amazon

Touch Me and Tango, Bk #2
Amazon | Nook

Snow Dance (short story)
Amazon | Nook


8. Where Can I Find Alicia and Roy?

Website | Facebook


Readers - I've read Touch Me and Tango and loved it! What especially grabbed me, besides the amazing writing, was the way the characters' professions were weaved into their points of view. Alicia and Roy have a knack for writing characters that are truly believable. Congratulations on your amazing series!

Do you have questions for Alicia and Roy? Please post them in the comments section.

Thank you for joining us today and happy reading!
Kristine

Eight Award-Winning Books for Only Eight Dollars!

Readers! Eight award winners in the 2012 eFestival of Words "Best of the Independent eBook Awards" have grouped together to offer you an amazing opportunity. They've reduced the prices of their award-winning novels to 99 cents for August 27 and 28th!

Whether you like to read mysteries, romance, horror, young adult, women's fiction, or fantasy, this group has it. Are you a writer yourself? Do you want to learn all about digitally publishing your next masterpiece? They've got you covered there too.

Get all eight award-winning ebooks for the price of one single paperback!

Award Winners

Best Mystery/Suspense: Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice
Best Non-Fiction: DIY/Self-Help: Let's Get Digital by David Gaughran
Best Horror: 61 A.D. by David McAfee
Best Romance: Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne
Best Young Adult: The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto
Best Fantasy/Urban Fantasy and Best Novel: The Black God's War by Moses Siregar III
Best Chick Lit/Women's Lit: Carpe Bead'em by Tonya Kappes
Award for Best Twist ("I've Been Shyamalaned"): The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A.A. Logan

Here's a one-stop shopping link for your convenience: http://amzn.to/AwardWinz

Book Blurbs

Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice
Laura Carnegie gave up on the man of her dreams a long time ago. He's fashion designer Jeremy St. James, and not only is he her boss, everyone knows he's gay.

When the woman who holds the company purse strings is found dead in the office, and Jeremy's arrested for the murder, everything changes. If Laura can just solve this crime, keep the cops off her tail, break up a counterfeiting ring, and get the show on the runway by Friday, she might stop being Seventh Avenue's perpetual loser.

If you love Project Runway, or enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, try Dead Is the New Black.

Let's Get Digital by David Gaughran
This guide contains over 60,000 words of essays, articles, and how-to guides, as well as contributions from 33 bestselling indie authors including J Carson Black, Bob Mayer, Victorine Lieske, Mark Edwards, and many more.

It covers everything from how the disruptive power of the internet has changed the publishing business forever to the opportunities this has created for writers. It gives you practical advice on editing, cover design, formatting, and pricing. And it reveals marketing tips from blogging and social networking right through to competitions, discounts, reviews, and giveaways.

If you are considering self-publishing, if you need to breathe life into your flagging sales, or if you want to understand why it's a great time to be a writer, Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should will explain it all.

61 A.D. by David McAfee
61 A.D. For ten years, Taras has lived in the young city of Londinium, feeding off the city’s underbelly. But now Theron, his old enemy, has come looking for revenge, and Taras’ nights of living in relative peace are about to end.

Yet not even Theron can slip into town unnoticed, and the Council of Thirteen sends Ramah to deal with the two renegades once and for all. But unknown to the Council, a much older enemy is also in Londinium, and this time even the great Ramah might not be safe.

Set against the backdrop of the Iceni uprising in Roman-era Britannia, 61 A.D. continues the story of Taras, Theron, and Ramah, as they fight their way through history.

Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne
Nic Lamoureux's perfect movie star life is shattered by a stalker who threatens any woman close to him. When he meets photographer Lauren James, the attraction is instant--and mutual. She's exactly the sort of woman he craves, but the stalker makes deadly clear Lauren is the competition.
And the competition must be eliminated.

"Stock up on ice cubes because this is definitely one sizzling debut. Readers will be hooked from the first sentence- on the book and on Nic! As rich as a white chocolate cheesecake, Cayne's entrance into the suspense genre is invigorating, explosive and simply intoxicating." ~ RT Book Reviews Top Pick

The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto
When teen witch Ivy MacTavish changes a lizard into her date for a Halloween dance, everything turns to chaos. And when no one is powerful enough to transform him back except Ivy, it sparks the rumor: Like father, like daughter. Worse, someone has used an evil spell book to bring back two of history's most nefarious killers.

Ivy's got a simple plan to set things right: find the real dark spell caster, steal the book, and reverse the spell. No problem! But first, she’ll have to deal with something more dangerous than murderous spirits: the school’s hotter-than-brimstone demon bad boy, Nick Marcelli. Demons are about as hard to handle as black magic, and Ivy soon discovers it’s going to take more than a lot of luck and a little charm if she wants to clear her status as a dark witch, get a warm-blooded boyfriend, and have her former date back to eating meal worms before the week’s end

The Black God's War by Moses Siregar III
Against the backdrop of epic warfare and the powers of ten mysterious gods, Lucia struggles to understand The Black One.

Her father-king wants war.
Her messianic brother wants peace.
The black god wants his due.
She suffers all the consequences.

"Moses is a fine writer deserving of success, and I think that it will follow ... I really enjoyed Moses's work." - David Farland, NYT Bestselling Author of The Runelords

Carpe Bead'em by Tonya Kappes
Hallie Mediate was raised by her (slightly) crazy Great Aunt Grace on the wrong side of the tracks in Cincinnati. Hallie escapes her hometown and never looks back.

That is, until she’s transferred back to the hometown. Not wanting her past to cross paths with her future, Hallie puts her life on hold.

Aunt Grace is still up to her old tricks, but Hallie finds some sanity at a local jewelry-making class where she uncovers a hidden talent for beading.

Will she keep searching for the happiness she may already have found?

The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A.A. Logan

Thomas Ford is the only survivor of the car crash which killed his wife. He is also the only witness who would be willing to identify the young, reckless driver who caused the crash. But the driver would sooner see Thomas Ford dead than ever let that happen.








Thank you, readers, for your tremendous support. I hope you enjoy these fabulous award-winning books at the best prices around. Please help spread the word :)

Happy Reading!
Kristine

Book Tour: The Road to Hell by Christopher C. Starr

Hello readers! It's my pleasure to bring to you another author from the Making Connections Book Tours. Today, we're featuring Christopher C. Starr and his book The Road to Hell: The Book of Lucifer. Please join me in welcoming Chris to the blog!

Title: The Road to Hell: The Book of Lucifer
Author: Christopher C. Starr

Genre: Science Fiction and Fantasy

Available from: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble











Synopsis 

You already know my name and, yes, I am that Lucifer. Fall from Heaven, Garden of Eden, ruler of Hell, Satan, the Devil, the Adversary, blah blah blah. I am the one you condemned without, what do you call it? A fair trial. Forget what you think you know: I want to tell my side of the story. The Road to Hell is all about how a pathetic group of short-sighted angels kicked me out of Heaven.

Humans are naturally curious and I suspect you’re asking ‘why now?’ Well, He has a book and it’s been pretty successful, so I figured what the hell? Found a ghostwriter and gave it a go. After all, the story is fantastic! It has everything you clods of dirt crave: a love story, a little sex, intrigue. Murder. War. Lots of blood. And a cast of characters you already know and love—Michael, Gabriel, Raphael—along with a host of others. Even has a special guest appearance by the Father and that damned boy.

So, let’s get down to business or brass tacks or whatever colloquialism works for you. I have plenty to say and plenty of time: The Road to Hell is just the first in a series of novels about my experience with Him, with my brothers and sisters, with you. If you’re interested in featuring me, reach out to the pile of dust below; if not, well, I’ll see you soon.

About the Author

Christopher C. Starr is the author of The Road to Hell: The Book of Lucifer, the first novel in the Heaven Falls series. These stories examine the God’s relationship with Heaven and Earth, told through the eyes of the angels. The next book in the series, Come Hell or Highwater, is scheduled for late 2012/early 2013.

Chris makes it a point to look at the dark side of his characters, both heroes and villains, and his work explores the “grey”—that place where good and evil come together in all of us. When he’s not being chased out of churches, Chris enjoys comic books and movies, staying away from cemeteries, and poorly participating in P90X. He lives in Seattle with his wife, two kids (The Boy and the Honey Badger), and his huskies, Rocky the Wonder Dog and his colorful sidekick, Leylah Redd. You can check out his blog at christophercstarr.net.

Excerpt from The Road to Hell

Lucifer heard me: as soon as my feet touched the glass surface of his platform, he laughed aloud and doused all the light in Heaven.

“I know why you’re here, Raphael,” Lucifer said in the darkness. “You’re afraid.” '

I was afraid but I wasn't willing to admit it. Instead I said, “Why should I be afraid? The Father is with me.”

“You sure about that?” And I could see Lucifer’s teeth glinting in the light wafting from my body. He was smiling. “You think he’ll still back you up now that you’re failing him?”

His face was the color of fire, deep and red, and a haze made him seem like a mirage. Even in the darkness, in the heat of his rage, Lucifer was still beautiful. His thin face, the angular cheekbones, his wide, open eyes, his halo of shimmering hair—all presented a portrait of absolute perfection. Even in this dark hour, I envied the crude formation of my own round face, my pudgy nose, the softness of my jawline.

I tried to sound as sure of myself, as certain as he was but my voice cracked, “I’m not failing—”

He pounced on me, laid long, thin fingers on my shoulders, pushed that gleaming grin into my face. “Sure you are! Why else would you be here, Peace Keeper? Angels are dead, Raphael. It’s slipping through your fingers. Sounds like failure to me.”

“This is your doing!” I pressed him back.

“Raphael, you insult me; finger pointing seems so…beneath you. Besides, I’m bound, remember?” He fondled the chains streaming from his wrists and ankles, smiled at me again. “You chained me up so I couldn’t cause any problems for the others. Weren't those your words?”

He was right. And I hated him for it. “Yes,” was all I said.

“So you failed them or you failed him. Either way, you’re a failure, kiddo.”

“I want to talk about what we do next.”

He was walking around me now. I could hear the chains scraping the surface of the glass.

“And I want to talk about your fears,” he said and his voice sounded like velvet in my ears.

“This doesn't help us, Lucifer. It doesn’t help us end this nonsense. ”

“Maybe I don’t want to end it. Maybe this is exactly what we need.” He got louder, bolder. Closer. “Does that scare you, Raphael, that you won’t be able to keep it together? Is that why you tremble in the darkness? Because when it’s just you and the Father and all the light and noise is gone, you know you’re going to have to tell him you failed?”

He had me. I understood in that moment how Lucifer could enflame the deepest of emotions. His words touched the very root of me; spoke directly to the futility flexing in my palms. It was out of my hands—I knew that much. Lucifer knew it too. By virtue of the fact that I was there, standing before him while he taunted me, it was out of my hands.

I tried to turn it back on him, “What about your fears? What about what you’re afraid of?”

“I’m scared,” he whispered, “that the Father won’t want me back once I’m finished.” The smile was gone.

Where Can I Find this Book?

The Road to Hell is available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Where Can I Find this Author?

Blog: www.christophercstarr.net
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/christophercstarr
Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/christophercstarr
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SuperStarr73

Thank you everyone for joining us today. Do you enjoy the excerpt? Do you have a question for Chris? Leave it in the comments section and we'll get back to you.

Happy Reading!
Kristine

Deadly Obsession - Winner Best Romance!

Friends! I'm thrilled to let you all know that Deadly Obsession has won in the Best Romance category at the 2012 eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards (http://www.efestivalofwords.com/the-winners-of-the-2012-efestival-of-words-awards-t319.html)! As you can see from the list of finalists below, Deadly Obsession was in great company. Congratulations to Diana Murdock who is  a runner-up with her novel Again.


Best Romance (Finalists)
On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves (Tracey Garvis-Graves)
Firefly Run by Trish Milburn (Trish Milburn)
Again by Diana Murdock (Diana Murdock) **runner-up**
Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne (Kristine Cayne) **winner**
Not What She Seems by Victorine Lieske (Victorine Lieske)
A Kiss to Remember by Rebecca Mintos (Eternal Press)
Another Bloody Love Story by Rachel Green (Eternal Press)

How were nominees chosen?

All nominees were nominated by their peers in the industry.
Only digital works by independent authors or small press publishers were eligible for nomination.

How were the finalists chosen?

Each category was narrowed down to five to seven finalists.
Staff and volunteers involved in the eFestival of Words program narrowed down nominee lists to finalists, judging each on overall production value and presentation. They reviewed available information about the book (previews, third-party reviews, author websites, etc).

How were the winners selected?

Registered attendees of the eFestival of Words could vote for the final winners on the site. Only registered attendees could vote, and voting was limited to one vote per attendee. Voting closed on Friday, August 17th and winners were announced on August 19th.

I encourage all of you to participate in the eFestival of Words virtual book fair next year. (This year's is wrapping up today.) They had a number of excellent workshops, panels, and chats with leading authors. Best of all, it's all free!

Introducing the Winner - Deadly Obsession!

Title: Deadly Obsession
Series: Deadly Vices Book One
Author: Kristine Cayne

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Heat: HOT!
Price: Currently on sale for only $.99! (Regular price, $3.99)

Available from: Amazon ebook, Amazon print, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, All Romance eBooks, Kobo, iTunes/Apple USA, Diesel, Sony.



When an Oscar-winning movie star meets a department-store photographer…

Movie star Nic Lamoureux appears to have a playboy’s perfect life. But it’s a part he plays, an act designed to conceal a dark secret he carries on his shoulders. His empty days and nights are a meaningless blur until he meets the woman who fulfills all his dreams. She and her son are the family he’s always wanted—if she can forgive a horrible mistake from his past.

A Hollywood dream…

Lauren James, a widowed single mother, earns barely enough money to support herself and her son. When she wins a photography contest and meets Nic, the man who stars in all her fantasies, her dreams, both professional and personal, are on the verge of becoming real. The attraction between Lauren and Nic is instant—and mutual. Their chemistry burns out of control during a photo shoot that could put Lauren on the fast track to a lucrative career.

Becomes a Hollywood nightmare

But an ill-advised kiss makes front-page news, and the lurid headlines threaten everything Nic and Lauren have hoped for. Before they know what’s happening, their relationship is further rocked by an obsessed and cunning stalker who’ll stop at nothing—not even murder—to have Nic to herself. When Nic falls for Lauren, the stalker zeroes in on her as the competition.

And the competition must be eliminated.

Excerpt from Deadly Obsession

Lauren rolled her eyes. “Fine. Do it.”

Nic bent down and brushed his lips against hers. For the first few seconds, she didn’t kiss him back, but she didn’t push him away, either. Then, on a sigh, she leaned into him and her arms locked around his neck. His tongue darted out to taste her bottom lip. Mmm… cherry—his new favorite flavor. When her mouth opened, he didn’t hesitate.

He dove in. And drowned.

He’d meant this to be a quick kiss, only now he just couldn’t stop. His lips traced a path to her throat. Cupping her bottom with his hands, he lifted her up, grinding against her. She moaned. It was a beautiful sound, one he definitely wanted to hear again.

A loud noise pierced the fog of his lust. He raised his head from where he’d been nuzzling Lauren’s apple-scented neck to tell whoever it was to fuck off, but as the sexual haze cleared, he swallowed the words. The paparazzi had gathered around, applauding and calling out crude encouragements. Some snapped photos while others rolled film. Shit. He’d pay for this fuck-up and so would she.

~~~

Again, thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for Deadly Obsession. I'm dancing on air :)

~Kristine

#BeachBookBlast - Summer Book Launch Begins

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to tell you all about this fantastic event. 15 authors from the WG2E Street Team are have just launched great new books, and to celebrate we're having a Beach Book Blast!

Discover these wonderful new books at the BBB Blog, and while you're browsing, enter to win some the following incredible prizes:

GRAND PRIZE: Kindle Fire

    

 Bonus Rafflecopter Prizes:

1. Lost In Italy ebook, by Stacey Joy Netzel

2. Deadly Addiction ebook, by Kristine Cayne

3. Snow Dance ebook, by Alicia Street and Roy Street

4. $25.00 Amazon gift certificate from Lily Silver

5. Apocalypstick ebook, by Greg Carrico

6. Signed cover flat of Apocalypstick from Greg Carrico

7. $25.00 Red Lobster gift certificate from Janice Lane Palko

8. Jade O’Reilly and the Ice Queen ebook, by Tamara Ward

9. $10.00 Barnes and Noble gift card from Stacey Joy Netzel

10. ebook 3 pack by Liz Jasper: Underdead, Underdead in Denial,

     and Crimson in the Very Wrong Fairy Tale 

11. Everything to Lose ebook, by Natalie G. Owens

12. The Scent of Lies ebook (Kindle), by Debra Burroughs

13. One of the Bandit Creek series ebooks, winner’s choice,

     from Sheila Seabrook

14. Signed print copy of Playing for Keeps and a Set of Romance

     Trading Cards, by Liz Matis

15. Lovers and Other Strangers Series Boxed Set: The Boston Stories,

     by L.C. Giroux

Want a chance to win even more awesome prizes? Join us on Thursday, August 16th at 5:00 PM ET for the BBB Summer Launch Facebook Party! I'll have more details on the prizes and how the party will be run in my next post. But don't wait! Join the event now :)

I don't have a new release in this book launch, but to support my fellow authors, I've donated a e-copy of each of my books. Deadly Obsession will be given away during the Facebook party, and Deadly Addiction is part of the Bonus Rafflecopter prizes.

Deadly Obsession

Nic Lamoureux's perfect movie star life is shattered by a stalker who threatens any woman close to him. When he meets photographer Lauren James, the attraction is instant--and mutual. She's exactly the sort of woman he craves, but the stalker makes deadly clear Lauren is the competition. And the competition must be eliminated.

Amazon ebook, Amazon print, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, All Romance eBooks, Kobo, iTunes/Apple USA, Diesel, Sony.

Deadly Addiction

When Rémi Whitedeer and Alyssa Morgan uncover a drug-fueled scheme on the Blackriver
Reserve—a scheme involving a biker gang from Alyssa’s past and a militant sovereigntist group led

by Rémi’s cousin—Rémi must choose between loyalty to family and tribe or his growing love for Alyssa. Will Rémi and Alyssa have to leave everything behind—even their identities—for the chance at a future together?

Amazon ebook, Amazon print, Amazon (UK), Barnes & Noble, ARe, Kobo, Sony, Smashwords, Apple/iTunes, Diesel

Happy reading!

~Kristine

World Building with Carrie Ann Ryan, Author of Dust of My Wings

Hi friends! Yesterday we had a visit from science fiction author Jeffrey Zweig where he talked about world building in the context of other worlds. Today, we're hearing from bestselling paranormal romance author, Carrie Ann Ryan. Carrie Ann will tell us all about how she came up with the idea for the world in her new series beginning with her just released, Dust of My Wings.

Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Title: Dust of My Wings
Series: A Dante's Circle Novel

Genre: Paranormal romance, Science Fiction and Fantasy
Published: July 2012

Available from: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | ARe













Synopsis
Humans aren’t as alone as they choose to believe. Every human possesses a trait of supernatural that lays dormant within their genetic make-up. Centuries of diluting and breeding have allowed humans to think they are alone and untouched by magic. But what happens when something changes?

Neat freak lab tech, Lily Banner lives her life as any ordinary human. She’s dedicated to her work and loves to hang out with her friends at Dante’s Circle, their local bar. When she discovers a strange blue dust at work she meets a handsome stranger holding secrets – and maybe her heart. But after a close call with a thunderstorm, she may not be as ordinary as she thinks.

Shade Griffin is a warrior angel sent to Earth to protect the supernaturals’ secrets. One problem, he can’t stop leaving dust in odd places around town. Now he has to find every ounce of his dust and keep the presence of the supernatural a secret. But after a close encounter with a sexy lab tech and a lightning quick connection, his millennia old loyalties may shift and he could lose more than just his wings in the chaos.

Creating a New World by Carrie Ann Ryan

First, thank you so much for having me today. So how does the author's mind work? For me, I think of the characters in the world comes from that. Each time I created a new world, have to be consistent, but I can be as dramatic as I feel like. That's where world building comes in. Each time we create a new species have to make sure that you have their powers, characteristics, descriptions down pat. Especially when you're in a series, and a little small tidbit of knowledge that you said in chapter 2 a book 1 may actually be important in chapter 12 book 7.

In my Dante's Circle series, I have the seven book series in which I'm creating a whole new world, that is outside of my Redwood Pack world. Meaning, I had to make sure that each species and supernatural are consistent with themselves. In order to do this, I use Microsoft OneNote. Each book has a different tab and with each tab, I have serious outline character outline character descriptions and then species descriptions. And I have an overall book Bible that combines these tabs I can do a quick glance at what I need.

So unlike my Redwood Pack series in which I have demons, witches, werewolves, I have a lot more going on this time. I have angels, demons, wolf shifters, bear shifters, Fae, mermen, brownies, pixies, cats, and many, many more. And so each time I do this, I need to make sure I'm consistent with myself, and actually interesting. You don't want to have each supernatural have the same exact thing. That would get a little boring.

Now, I do use an online resource about magical beings to at least get an idea of what I wanted. But as I kept reading through the mythologies, it wasn't exactly what I wanted. So ended up taking that and evolving it into something that was my own. So yes, I do cite them, but it really wasn't my overall arc.
In my world, humans are not merely humans. They are diluted versions of supernaturals who over time forgot the meaning of magic and what goes bump in the night. But because it's still inherent in their DNA, something can make all of that change, and bring back that latent feature in and make it dominant. That's why so excited about this, because I get to go crazy and do it ever I want in my own world. As long as I'm consistent with myself. That's why I love reading fiction and paranormal books. You don't have to stick to the normal rules, but you have to stick to your own rules.

So what is it that you guys love about breaking open new worlds? What are your favorite types of supernaturals? Do you like that have the same tendencies in care services in each book by different authors? Or do you like it when an author goes off the path and makes it her own?

***Giveaway Info***
Carrie Ann is giving away a swag pack to a lucky person who comments. Be sure to leave your e-mail address to be entered.

About Carrie Ann Ryan

Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate - even if its just in her books. Happy endings are always near - even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.

Her first book, An Alpha's Path, is the first in her Redwood Pack series. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:

Website | Blog | Heartthrob Haven | Facebook Author Page | Facebook Friend | Goodreads |
Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan |

Dust of My Wings Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | ARe

Dust of My Wings Excerpt
The motorcycle vibrated beneath Shade as he pulled off the side of the road and parked. The rain pelted him, the cold seeping into his bones, but he shrugged it off. He was in northern Washington and this seemed to be the norm in terms of weather.

He lifted his leg and got off the bike, ignoring the stares of the women around him. They watched him stroll, his powerful legs leading to long strides. He’d tucked his wings into the slits into his back to hide the fact he was an angel, but he couldn’t hide his face or the fact that women seemed to fawn over it.

It had been a long time since he had a woman. Not since that were jaguar a century or two ago in a night of deep depression and loneliness for him. But the heat, claws and desperation and only served to fill a physical need that left him even lonelier than before. From then on he left his carnal needs up to his hand. Before the jaguar it had been even longer, but he didn’t want to think about her. The one he’d lost. She was long since gone.

~~~~~~~~

Kristine: Thank you so much, Carrie Ann, for being such a great guest on my blog today. I loved hearing about how you created your characters and the rules for your world, and how you kept them all organized. You are truly and amazing author and woman! Congratulations on your new release :)

Readers, remember to be eligible to win Carrie Ann's wonderful swag pack, you need to leave a comment with your email address.

Here are Carrie's questions again: So what is it that you guys love about breaking open new worlds? What are your favorite types of supernaturals? Do you like that have the same tendencies in care services in each book by different authors? Or do you like it when an author goes off the path and makes it her own?


Happy Reading!
~Kristine

World building with Jeffrey Zweig, Author of The End Begins: The Nine

Everyone, it's my great pleasure to welcome author Jeffrey Zweig to my blog today. One f myh favorite things is being able to showcase fellow authors, which is why I'm proud to be a host for Making Connections Blog Tours.

Jeffrey is on tour for his scifi book, The End Begins: The Nine, and will be talking with us about world building and how he created the wonderful world in which this story takes place.

Author: Jeffrey Zweig
Title: The End Begins: The Nine
Series: The Trinity Trilogy, Book 1
Genre: Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Alternate History

Published: September, 2011
Available from: Amazon, Smashwords, and Createspace

Synopsis:


The Nine. Once an academy for training students in the ways of wizards and alchemists, has become a facility for harvesting the powers of students for study.

Cassarah Telmar escaped the Nine, vowing to bring it down.
But is the choice to live as a slave or to die with freedom one she can make alone?

Guest Post by Jeffrey Zweig

How I came up with the world for The End Begins: The Nine

Thanks Kristine for having me on your blog today!

World building is an essential part of any novel creation. You’re creating the stage for your characters to play in. Out of that can come new ways to evolve your characters and plot in ways you could never imagine! It is your Eden, as it were. Without it, your characters float about in substance-less void.

My situation was a bit unique however. As I state in the forward to my book, The End Begins: The Nine, my story is roughly based on a previous work from my high school days created with a creative writing club. However the world the story was set in was just like I said – a void. You had “The castle” in “the field” with a town or two sprinkled between point A to B. Most of what we had was character driven back story leading up to this McGuffin mission to a castle with no established rules for the kind of characters one could have (and there was A LOT of them, from a wizard, a paladin, a rock giant, a vampire, a half angel/half demon, a jedi, and a green lantern crossed with a thundercat.)

There was no way it would’ve worked.  I can't be too harsh though, it was high school fantasies almost a decade old. So I started from scratch and build a new world while holding onto an echo of its predecessor.

•     I decided on a parallel world to ours instead of making a world from the ground up. With a base as far as government, laws of physics, etc. to work from the reader didn't have to work as hard to visualize the world and the scenario.

•    I am a fan of the Final Fantasy video games (and a. lLot of other games from that 1997 time period) so my fascination with that kind of urban fantasy setting has always intrigued me. 

•     I used the skeleton of the McGuffin chase but established the various subplots with the Nine and the Coalition to drive the book’s plot.

•     I kept to one main character with two supporting: Cass (main character), James, and Caleb. They would serve as the anchors for the different aspects of the world I would create and have to relay to the reader. Gone went the polarizing demi-gods/non-human character types because it didn’t fit. Although I have nods to the base story's original characters woven in I ended up writing almost all original characters (I got limited permission to use some of the characters from the original authors thought I still ended up writing my own material because of how the story took shape).

•     When all was said and done, it took about two years development before I had my first draft. And that was just as a novel – I won’t get into trying to make it into a movie and a TV series while in college.

I built the details of the parallel world based on ideas and research of “What ifs?”, like “What if World War II went longer because a certain battle was lost instead of won?”. Another I had was “What would the United States be like be like if independent communities sprouting up in the USA took on much larger roles countrywide?” Sure some of it is my own political/social commentary though honestly I’m not knee deep in that stuff. I observed things of interest and incorporated them into my work. A lot of ideas for expanding and enriching my characters came from this and helped raised it to that fantasy setting.

The question, Iin the end, was “was it worth pulling from decade old material to use to a new book?” Some might say it is, to not waste what was produced. Some would have scrapped it all and started fresh. What I would have to say, which was part of the weight that kept me down, was not to be too reliant on keeping to the past. In the end I had to make 95% of the world and it’s characters myself. I’ll say this much – it’s not for the faint of heart and not for everyone. 

Jeffrey Zweig II is the author of the sci/fi urban fantasy novel The End Begins: The Nine and short story anthology Project Nine: A Road of Fate now available online at many fine digital retailers. 

What follows in an excerpt from Chapter Nine of The End Begins: The Nine. Cass has already escaped the academy to a small town called Jurgin where she’s taken in as a wanderer. Not long after being given a job, however, some of the locals take the wrong kind of interest in her and her cover is blown.

Excerpt of The End Begins: The Nine

The early morning light of Cass’s fourth day in Jurgin almost blinded her. It was the second day having taken on an overnight shift and the hours were worn on her face. Children with large backpacks passed her, smiling and waving. Some of her other neighbors acknowledged her with a wave, though they seemed to still avoid her despite having blended into their population quite well. 

From the street, Cass entered a small diner, very homely and inviting even with a small layer of noticeable dust. Once inside she noticed her other co-workers sat in a booth not far from the front door. She quickly turned away and sat in her own booth. The waitress was quick to come by to take her order. The male co-workers from the other side of the room tried to grab her attention, but she paid little attention and was thankful when her food arrived. 

This diner she’d visited since coming to Jurgin specialized in hearty meals of bacon, eggs, and sausage, though she defied the usual for hash browns and eggs. The food was quick to come and she enjoyed the taste and though she only nibbled at the meat, she gorged herself on eggs, potatoes, and toast. Already the feeling crept in that she was losing herself in the local community’s filth at times. 

As she tore into a strip of bacon, her glance shifted to the floor, a discarded newspaper sat under her feet. She brought it up to the table when a long article on the side of the newspaper’s face with an image of Skylar and some other Tro-Dey’s greeting the locals of that area the picture was taken, that had a name she had a hard time saying.

Cass scanned the plain-faced type font of the article, which at first caught her off guard to how similar it was to her own. She learned it was an interview given by Skylar, their acting representative, during the Nine’s first visit to Washington. They were interested in expanding their influence to the country in light of the issues the ravaged country had. 

The young woman sank in her chair in anguish as one of her co-workers, a six-foot-something rotund man with large, black, and round glasses came and sat at her booth. She didn’t respond to his presence. 

“What you readin’?” he asked. 

“Nothing in particular,” she lied. He leaned on the table toward her. 

“Look, Jass. Let’s face it. No one around here has taken to you too well. I know you’re not from around here and so do most of us. All I’m saying is, you hang with the right people, and things will go easier for you. Just trying to make your life a little easier. I’m sure you can appreciate that, can’t you?” 

Dwelling in her personal hell, her vision locked on the paper until the fat man swiped the newspaper from her. 

“Are you listening, Jass?” he asked. 

Cass shot up from the table. “My name is Cass! C-A-double-S!” Her diamond blue eyes narrowed at him. “I’ve had enough of your insistent meddling in my affairs. I am not going to,” she searched her mind a second for the right word, “fuck? You? Okay? Get found? Lost? Go away! Leave me be,” she threw down some flamboyant currency on the table and left for the door. 

The man, with the paper in hand, stood from the booth. Before she made it to the door, two men, the fat man’s lapdogs from his booth, had the door blocked. 

“Let me pass.” 

“Jass,” the fat man gingerly called to her, “It would be in your best interests if you…”

 

The moment the fat man put a hand on her shoulder, she kicked into the side of his knee. He yelped an octave higher while his mass crashed to the ground with a loud thud. As the young alchemist’s attention returned to the two men at the door, her face connected with the fist of one of the lapdogs. Disoriented, the other shoved her into the diner’s counter. 

As they advanced on her, she groped the counter for a weapon.

Steak knife. Dirty but sharp, she thought, but the lap dog’s greedy hands pinned her against the counter with their strength. 

The fat man wobbled to his feet with a face red with anger. She felt his next course of action was going to be a violent one. 

There were no options now; she had got in over her head. 

Cass willed energy into her hands until they were a hint of red, then grabbed the closest man that held an arm and burned them. He released her, cursing while the skin on his forearm blistered instantly. 

When the other tried to restrain her, she landed a quick jab that left knuckle marks in their skin, then released the energy housed in her hand and shot a small fireball into his face. The second lackey was down for the count, their skin was red, blistered and cracked. 

But the fat man would not be detoured, and lumbered after her. She brushed her hands as they turned blue against her clothes. Energy crackled along the veins of her hands as she drew it from her torso and double-fisted him in the chest.

The sudden impact knocked the glasses off the large man’s face as he stumbled across the room and crashed into a table while he went into cardiac arrest. The other lackey, with forearms burnt, backed away. Cass stood, bleeding with her power, triumphant.

 

Then came the stares and shocked faces of the witnesses around her. 

About Jeffrey

Author Bullet Points

• Graduate of Indiana State University Yr. 2008

• Degree in Film Production, emphasis on Creative Writing.

• Interned at Escape Artists (SONY Entertainment) and other Companies

• Provided Screenwriting coverage

• He’s placed in the Semi-Finals for the 13th Annual Fade In Screenplay Competition and made Official Selection for the Cinema City Film Festival.

• Born and Raised in Gary/Merrillville, Indiana. Currently living in Indianapolis.

• Genre focus is Science Fiction/Fantasy with various subgenres.

• Author Influences: China Miéville, Robert A. Heinlein, and Mira Grant.

• A voice over volunteer for the non-profit Reading and Radio Resource.

Born and Raised in the state of Indiana, Jeffrey Zweig II is a self published author of Epic Science Fiction/Fantasy. His degree from Indiana State University, with a background in DIY film production, and internships with various production companies laid the foundation for his creative career and for living life on his terms. He resides in Indianapolis, Indiana living the dream, as they say. 

When not writing he volunteers his time remotely with the Dallas based non-profit Reading and Radio Resource, a company specializing in aiding those with disabilities to enjoy literature. 

Contact Information and Finding Jeff on the Web

 

• His Blog: Stories of the Sleepless Mind (www.storiesofthesleeplessmind.blogspot.com)

• His Wiki: Zweig Independent Publications (http://zweigpublications.wikispaces.com/)

• Twitter: http://twitter.com/jzweigii

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jzweigii

• Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jzwegii

• Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5440125.Jeff_Zweig_II

Book Links

 

The End Begins: The Nine

Book One of the Trinity Trilogy

Can be found on: 

Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005V2H1YA),

Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92522),

Createspace (https://www.createspace.com/3641897)

Kristine: Thank you, Jeffrey for being here today and sharing your wonderful story with us. I really enjoyed learning about your world-building techniques. The Trinity Trilogy sounds fascinating! Most authors, regardless of the genre they write, need to do some world building. Some do it far more successfully than others.

Readers - What book to you think has the best world building? What did you like about it the most?

Thank you everyone for visiting my blog and sharing your thoughts :)

~Kristine