CHRISTMAS IN FLIP FLOPS by A.J. Llewellyn

Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Date published: December 2011
ISBN: 978-1-61124-228-7
ASIN: B006NFD62U
Gay, Contemporary
E-book
Reviewed by Helen
Obtained via publisher


Devon desperately needs a job and is on his way to an interview when his cell phone is stolen. After dramatic attempts to reclaim it, he ends up with a scratched face that is not the image he wanted to present.The good news is he gets the job. The complication is that it’s in Hawaii and his lover, Manco, has invited the entire extended family to share Christmas with them in California. Now Devon won’t be there.

It’s not surprising that Devon’s fiery Latin lover doesn’t take the news well. Not to mention that Steve, who’s been chasing Manco, tries to damage Devon’s relationship, and get closer to Manco.

This is an engaging story with lots of things happening all at once. A huge cast of characters is introduced, and all are drawn with clear personalities, even the most minor players. Hawaii is clearly described, showing thorough research and giving plenty of local color, so the reader feels as though they are present, watching Devon get lost, and seeing the sights with him.

So the plot, characters and background are all very well presented indeed. A.J. Llewellyn’s writing is as enjoyable as ever.

What prevented this book from being a keeper for me was a series of niggling minor glitches that could have been fixed in editing.

First, there was no scene at all in Manco’s POV. The entire book is told in Devon’s POV. It would have been much better to see inside the second hero’s head. The reader needs to bond with him too. Even worse, there were three occasions when, mid-paragraph, the story slid into Manco’s point of view before returning to Devon’s.
The other problems were some annoying repetition, a few typos, missed grammatical errors, a dangling modifier, and an error that contradicted earlier statements. Just enough to take the sparkly shine off the book for me.

A well-written, interesting story, with fascinating characters, but not a keeper.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

ONLY YOU by AJ Llewellyn

eXtasy Books
Published date: 2011
ISBN# not online
ASIN: B004VS71CC
MM Contemporary
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


Going to work one morning, Ky Maxwell, a PR guy for a production company in Hollywood, thinks its just his normal weekly meeting with the bosses…until they tell him “Nope no meeting, you’re fired.” Needless to say being blindsided by this news sends him into a tailspin. Desperate to find some type of work, he sends out feelers to friends in the business. He gets a lucky break and is sent for a job interview with a major motion picture company. What he thinks is a normal job interview turns into having his astrological chart being done, and then being told he doesn’t get the job because the stars are not aligned or some such thing. Needless to say, Ky is anxious to find work…any work. But when the predictions of meeting the man of his dreams starts coming true, can Ky figure out which one of the two he met is really “the One” before it’s too late?

I love AJ Llewellyn’s stories. They are rich in captivating characters and deliver a fast paced storyline to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. ONLY YOU is a tale of an out of work PR guy, who finds that the reading he got at a potential job interview becomes frighteningly accurate when he meets two men who shake his world up. Determining who the one he is forecasted to fall for has him tied up in knots though. This is an author who knows his characters very well and lets them go crazy in the story. The writing was tight, the storyline moved quickly and though it had a few sizzling sex scenes, it didn’t detract from the story at all.

I love KY…he was funny, nice and very sweet. I really enjoyed how much of a dog person the characters were. You could feel the love emanate from the book as you saw them interact with their pets. The secondary characters were just as well rounded and so enjoyable. A few even had me giggling at times.

ONLY YOU is a perfect pick me up after a hard day at work. It made the night so much better plus I am really eager to see if Mr. Llewellyn will come back to these wonderful characters in the future. I sure would love to see Ky and all his friends again. Mr. Llewellyn is a talented writer who knows how to draw his readers in and captivate them from the very first page. If you are looking for a perfect autumn read, then grab ONLY YOU and settle in for a fun filled reading adventure.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

THE LOVE GOD OF INDIAN FRYBREAD by A. J. Llewellyn

Publisher: Amber Allure/Amber Quill Press
Date published: May 17th, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-61124-959-0
M/M Contemporary/Paranormal
Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Gift


Ever Beleno is a collector of old Hollywood items from those glamour days gone by and mummies. When he gets the chance to go to the exhibit-even if it was with cute but obnoxious Chris Coelho-he is thrilled. Well until, while at the exhibit, he keeps feeling someone touching him and Ever is confused about if it is Chris or not. Ever has no idea what to make of Chris who can be annoying one minute and so sweet the next. If he didn’t know better, he could have sworn Chris is possessed but that doesn’t happen in today’s world…right? Disappearing mummies, wacky family, weird moments with Chris…Ever is about to find out that Chris is the perfect man for him even if he claims to be THE LOVE GOD OF INDIAN FRYBREAD.

I love AJ Llewellyn’s work and his latest book, THE LOVE GOD OF INDIAN FRYBREAD, is just as wonderful as the rest of this author’s backlist. You have humor, sexy scenes, mystery and romance all wrapped up in a pretty bow. The writing is tight, story flowed at a nice even pace and the sex scenes run the gauntlet of hot and steamy to sweet and romantic. AJ Llewellyn is a talented writer who makes every story come alive with a lush setting like the glamour of Hollywood in this latest book and add in some of the wildest cast of characters, even I was charmed by it all.

Meet Ever Beleno. He loves mummies and collecting Hollywood Memorabilia with his friend Johnny. He is content with his life even as he tries to pick up the pieces after the bad break up between him and his ex a few years before. His life is safe if a bit dark and gloomy. Agreeing to go to the hottest exhibit in town, Mummies of the World, with Chris, Ever finds life is about to get a bit more interesting and decidedly weird…well weird for Hollywood anyways. I have got to admit, Ever grew on me after the first chapter. I fell for this wonderful man who was actually very nice…maybe too nice sometimes. He was a well rounded character who I could relate to and enjoy reading about. With a cast of characters that were eclectic and enjoyable, Mr. Llewellyn delivers a book so unique and enjoyable I had a hard time putting it down.

THE LOVE GOD OF INDIAN FRYBREAD is one story that stays with you long after the book ends. It is a story that had me smiling throughout and at times, laughing hysterically from the way the characters reacted to something. I absolutely could picture all this happening in real life somewhere. Mr. Llewellyn is fast becoming one of my favorite authors to read and if you are looking for a fun and highly addictive author to enjoy, I highly recommend this author’s entire backlist. I know I am going to be checking out more books by him to enjoy this summer. THE LOVE GOD OF INDIAN FRYBREAD is a quick summer treat to enjoy on a warm afternoon & one I plan to read again soon.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Xu by A. J. Llewellyn

Publisher: Amber Quill Press/Amber Allure
Date Published: October 19th, 2010
ISBN 978-1-61124-002-3
Paranormal GBLT/Psychic Phenomena/Sports
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE! From the hard streets of Mexico to the lights of a championship fight, Lindo has always been dedicated to his career and determined to make it. For fighter Lindo Santiago, his life was all about boxing and now after a fight that left him in a coma for months, he has to find a way to happiness...without boxing. Forced to retire from boxing, Lindo takes his very first vacation on the Hawaiian Islands and finds much more than even he anticipates. For Lindo has a major secret…one that he will have to admit to when he falls for Turner.

I have to admit, this was one of the first books by author AJ Llewellyn I have read and because of it, and I am off to read his back listed titles as soon as I can. Xu is a beautifully told story of second chances and a spirit named Xu, who helps Lindo in his healing. The writing was tight, the action fast paced and the vivid descriptions of Oahu had me salivating to go visit the islands. This is a lush story to while the afternoon with, one that left me wondering if this was going to be part of a series. I would love to see Lindo, Turner and the islands again in the future.

XU introduces the reader to fighter Lindo Santiago. A man who’d dedicated his life to boxing and worked his way to the championships. But life has a way of throwing curves and Lindo finds out the hard way, when a punch leaves him in a coma for months. Lindo called to me as a reader and stole my heart. He was a humble, sweet man who turned heads where ever he went. I wanted to be his friend after meeting him in XU. Secrets, mysteries and finding a new happiness is all within the pages of XU and one I was loath to put down. There were some wonderful secondary characters that had me smiling at times, some sexy scenes that left me shifting in my seat and a storyline that wove a spell of the islands around me. Just make sure your not drinking anything when you read the ending. It will surely stun you speechless.

XU is a wonderful well told story, that will leave you longing for the carefree islands and the mysteries they have within them. Mr. Llewellyn is a talented author who delivers timeless passion amid stories that leave you gasping for more. I am now a huge fan of this authors work and am looking forward to more great stories in the future from him. If you are looking for a beautiful story to enjoy, then grab XU then settle in for one wild, sensual ride.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of the book.

Welcome to A.J. Llewellyn's guest blog

Kiana: What Prince, Romance?
By A.J. Llewellyn

It’s happened to most of us who love books. At some point or another, we lose a cherished book. For me, it was a copy of Pearl S. Buck’s Dragon Seed, confiscated by my Science teacher when she discovered me reading it, hidden inside the pages of a text book. I was sixteen. It took years for me to find another copy and I did finish the book, but it got me thinking these last couple of days since I took on a job evaluating the worth of my friend’s grandma’s library.
She has some beautiful books, to be sure. I know she prizes them but needs to sell due to the economic downturn. I began the process by removing the books that have no value. Some we can’t even donate to the local library, for example Mary Higgins Clark books, Dan Brown and anything by Danielle Steel. These might be popular authors, but their books wind up on the free carts in libraries. There are just so many of them.
I’ve also have already removed the Readers’ Digest books since they are worthless (due to being abridged and again, copious in volume). Libraries can’t sell them at their book sales.
I was astonished that high on some old shelves were some genuine gems. Whilst comparing prices online, I realized some of my client’s books are worth a fortune. One book, The Rain Girl: The Tragic Story of Jeanne Eagels, a biography of an actress from the 1920s, stumped me. I was surprised to learn she died of a heroin overdose at the age of 39 in the midst of a controversial acting career.
I’d never heard of her and I love old movies and movie stars. I was further surprised to learn that Jeanne Eagels was the first actress to be nominated posthumously for an Academy Award (The Letter). The book is almost impossible to find and written by Edward Doherty in a racy, journalistic style (The book is a First Edition from 1930) I sensed that it was worth something and I was right.
It most recently sold for $400 at an auction site.
Then my hand fell on a real find.
I was pleased to see it was Kiana: A Tradition of Hawaii, the first-ever romance novel to come out of Hawaii. Written by James Jackson Jarves in 1857, I swooned when I saw this copy in person. It’s impossible to find and I knew, this first edition would be extremely expensive.
Though some libraries have a copy available for view in their buildings, there are recent reprints available of it, none of them cheap.
The original and rare book starts at $650.
Considered culturally vital, I was stoked that Kiana, a book labeled romance is so highly prized.
In this age when authors’ works are treated with such disdain that people upload them for free, “file-sharing” with millions of people, that a romance novel is still so valuable tickles me.
James Jackson Jarves was a scholar and artist who spent some years in Hawaii. He edited the first Hawaiian newspaper, The Polynesian from 1940 to 1948. His books, particularly Kiana, were and still are considered culturally and historically essential reading. They contain scenes of Hawaiian life of which, little else exists today.
I found myself during my lunch break, turning the delicate pages of this book gently with my white cotton gloves. I tried so hard to read as much as I could. I was back again, in Mrs. Elwing’s science class, sneaking my literary thrills where I could, stalling with each bite of my salad before having to return it to the shelves.
I loved that Mr. Jarves dedicated his book to the Hawaiian King at the time, Liholiho (which itself means rare and precious), King Kamehameha IV. Like me, Jarves’s love affair is with the islands…and this has perhaps lent such a mystique and allure to the story of Kiana.
The language is sheer poetry yet easy to read. It’s the voyage of a young man in love with life…and a certain island girl.
I wonder if Jarves had any idea how important his story would become? I wondered how many young men read this book, unable to forget it?
As I put Kiana on the sell shelf with the index card tucked in its front pages, I couldn’t resist holding it one last time, taking another look at the engraving on the inside page with the slip of fine rice paper protecting it. The dedication to King Liholiho touched me: To His Majesty Alexander, Liholiho who now worthily fills the throne of the Hawaiian Islands as Kamehameha IV, this tradition of his Kingdom is respectfully inscribed.
It’s especially tragic, considering the fall of the Monarchy a few short years later and the almost-complete disappearance of this sacred work.
I still don’t know what to say about what happened next. I think I am in shock. My friend’s grandma gave me the book. She insisted I should have it. I cried on the spot. Am I gay, or what?
But Kiana has found a home, with a man who loves her and will look after her. And I will never, ever hide her in a textbook. She has become the standard for which all other romances must aspire.
What about you? Is there a romance novel that affects you like this? Leave me a comment and the most original gets a free ebook from me.
Aloha oe,
A.J.
www.ajllewellyn.com
www.twitter.com/ajllewellyn
www.myspace.com/ajllewellyn
www.facebook.com/aj.llewellyn

Welcome to AJ Llewellyn's guest blog

My Favorite Husband
By A.J. Llewellyn

The wonderful and gorgeous Danny Firedragon asked me to blog for Love, Romances and More today and of course, I said yes. Apart from the fact Danny sends me chocolate, I adore her…how could I say no?

I’m going to talk about men and cars…frankly, many men I know love their cars. I’m not one of them. If it starts, stops, the radio and windows work I am a happy man.

The love stops there.

But there are guys I know who give their cars names. They talk to them the way I talk to my dog. It’s spooky really but about 13 years ago, my then-roommate Nej bought a ’76 Lincoln Continental from British actor Ralph Brown who also had a thing for this rust bucket…er…piece of…er…well, this damned stupid-assed big car.
Anyone who reads my Waikiki Vampire books may be able to guess this is the vehicle Jimmy Thunder drives in the series. Well, 12 years ago, Nej was forced to return to the UK and left the car in my garage. It wasn’t a problem at first, more of a royal pain in the patootie. He’d call and ask after the car. He’d ask me if I was starting it every day for him.

What? Was he kidding me?

A year passed, the phone calls dwindled. Another year passed and he came out from England, stayed about a week and naturally, wanted his car. Well, so much time had passed it needed a ton of work, not to mention he needed to register it etc. It would have been cheaper to rent a new car. But oh no, the object of his affection had to get new white walls, a battery, a hose…you name it, Nej got it.
I asked him what he was going to do with it. I no longer wanted responsibility for it. “I’ll be back in six months,” he said, which was his standard lie.
Two more years passed and he came back, pissed that the car wouldn’t start. I told him he needed to get rid of it. I’d bought a new car and was forced to park on the street thanks to his huge boat. My car would not fit in my own parking space!
I used to hear noises coming from the engine and investigated. I found a family of possums nesting in it. They’d chewed right through the new hose…well, I assumed it was. I found the possums a new home, then some rats took up residence!
Well…this went on until 18 months ago, after 12 years of this nonsense, I told him it was time to deal with the car or I would sell it. “Yeah, yeah,” he said. “I’ll be back there in six months.”

I waited a year and listed that thing in the spring – after numerous calls and emails were ignored – on Pennysaver. I sold it within hours. I didn’t get much - $500 - but the old man who bought it, cried. He had owned a similar vehicle until he got car jacked. He gave the car a name, wept over her, repaired her original leather seats and to this day, I see him driving around in that damned thing!
A couple of months ago, Nej showed up and was shocked and furious that I sold his car…until he too, saw the old man. I think he realized it was the sort of car that needed to be driven and she has a new owner who cherishes her.
“I still feel like I’m seeing my wife walking down the street with another man,” he moaned, rubbing his eyes.
“Are you crying?” I asked.
“No. It’s the wind.”

And that is how I got the inspiration for My Favorite Husband. I hope you’ll check out the book – Number Five in the Waikiki Vampire series.

#Here is the purchase link:

In the meantime, tell me the craziest thing you ever did for the love of a car and I will pick a winner to receive a free download of any eXtasy Books title…my gift…in honor of a car I got stuck with…and now sorta miss. Sad, crazy, but totally true.
Aloha oe,
A.J.

A Vampire Christmas: Book Two of the Waikki Vampire series by AJ Llewellyn

Publisher Extasy Books
Date published December 2008
ISBN 978-1-55487-203-9
M/M paranormal romance / Vampire
E-book
Reviewed by Danny


CLICK TO PURCHASE! On Christmas, shortly before the family comes to visit. Div and Tem’s cat Moonlight brings a small and unexpected gift with it, a baby. But not an usual baby, far from it, because the baby is a demon baby. Tem with his soft heart immediately falls in love with the boy. Div can never say no to Tem and so they keep the little one, although they learn that he is cursed and they don’t know how to explain the kid to Tem’s human family. Will they find a way to keep Beelzebub safe and undo the curse? What will the future bring for them?

A VAMPIRE CHRISTMAS continues Div and Tem’s story which started with A Vampire in Waikiki, so everyone who hasn’t read this story should hurry and read it before reading A VAMPIRE CHRISTMAS. It’s not only a great story but you will enjoy this one more when you know the beginnings of their wonderful and unusual love story.
Mr. Llewellyn has a gift to enchant his readers and completely draws them into his stories. No matter if you take his wonderful and unique set of characters with whom you easily fall in love with or his fascinating way of describing the setting. The reader has always the feeling she is part of the story while reading it.
If you want to read one of the best gay romance authors that I have ever read you really should pick up one of Mr. Llewellyn’s books. Each one is a keeper and you can’t do anything wrong, so hurry and get a copy of the book.

ISLAND BOIS: Phantom Lover 10 by A.J. Llewellyn

Publisher Extasy
Date published January 2009
ISBN 978-1-55487-224-4
M/M paranormal romance
E-book
Reviewed by Danny




CLICK TO PURCHASE! Lovemore is on the way to Hawaii to meet his online love Makaio. On the plane he meets Byron, who is one hell of a hunk. Too bad that they both have partners. After his arrival Lovemore waits for Makaio for hours, but he never comes. Lovemore begins to wonder if he has invested more feelings into this relationship than Makaio. After a phone call with his tarot card reading sister he decides to stay and enjoy the pleasure of the wonderful Hawaiian island. By chance he meets Byron again, is this meeting a sign from fate that they there might be a chance for a future together?

Mr. Llewllyn gifts his readers with another wonderful Hawaiian story. With each book set on the Hawaiian islands, the reader can see Mr. Llewellyn’s love for the islands. His detail-rich description give the reader the feeling that they are really there. It’s like you become a part of the story and the infamous Wilder clan.
ISLAND BOIS is part of Mr. Llewellyn’s famous and fantastic Phantom Lover series, you can read it as a stand-alone. Although I can highly recommend the other books of the series, because I can tell you that you will fall in love with Kimo Wilder and his clan. Mr. Llewellyn’s books are highly addictive and you won’t get enough of them.
If you love m/m romances, ISLAND BOIS is definitely a book that you don’t want to miss. I can highly recommend this book because it’s a real keeper.

Welcome to the Wicked Writers guest blog

Welcome Wicked Writers to Love Romances and More, thank you for joining us. Please introduce yourselves.

My name is Marc Jarrod.

Hi, my name is AJ Llewellyn and I write gay erotic romance novels for eXtasy Books!

Welcome to Stephani Hecht!

Welcome to Regan Taylor!

Hi! My name is C.R. Moss. I have stories published through eXtasy Books and am contracted for more at Devine Destinies.

Welcome to Tianna Xander!

Bonnie: I’m Bonnie Rose Leigh and I’m currently published in Erotic Romance at eXtasy Books and Cobblestone Press. To find out more about me, please visit my website, which is updated regularly or my Yahoo Group.


Did you always want to become a writer?

Marc: Not until the last 4 years. I never really thought about it.

AJ: Yes. I wrote my first book when I was nine. I was a rather gruesome boy. I was obsessed with horses and death – the latter, probably because of the death of my mother when I was six. So I wrote a horse book. Everyone died at the end, including the horses!

Stephani: I have always loved a good story. When I was young, my father would read to me every night and I dreamed of someday writing the same tales.

Regan: Actually no! I’ve always been a reader. A dedicated Reader and hated writing in school. All that “stuff” they make you do and ask you questions about. My first published book was a non-fiction for people with disabilities, as was the second. Writing non-fiction is way different from fiction. I much prefer fiction, which I started writing as an escape from my day job.

CR: Yes. I’ve always had an overactive imagination and had been creating stories since I started to read but I truly knew I wanted and was going to be a writer when I received an A in English in grade school.

Tianna: Actually, I never liked writing when I was younger but I loved telling stories. I started writing about fifteen years ago. It was mostly to get the ideas out of my head. I first started writing for publication about seven years ago.

Bonnie: Not really. I’d enjoyed writing in high school and college but reading was my true passion. It was my DH who encouraged me to give writing a try. I’ve not looked back since.

What is the most, and the least interesting fact about writing?

Marc: The most interesting fact for me, is when I start writing, it takes awhile to get going. That is when I get writer’s block, and as a result, I am not sure where to take the story. Once I get over it, though, and I finally drum up a plot, characters etc. Then my fingers fly over the keyboard.
The least interesting fact, writing is tedious to say the least because you are constantly going over your story to see if it sounds right.

AJ: I love all of it...least interesting? The reams and reams of papers I have accumulated with notes, edits, rewrites. I was taught old-school style and have convinced myself I need all those early drafts.

Stephani: The least interesting thing by far would have to be all the edits. People don’t realize how much hard work goes into making a book shine. I can’t tell you how many cups of coffee I’ve gone through or how many sleepless nights I’ve spent tweaking my latest creation.

I think the most interesting part is being able to make your characters and ideas come to life. The characters are so real in my mind and I love being able to share them with the readers.

Regan: I love the research. I could spend days doing some of the research and never want to stop. Least? Writing a synopsis. Yuck Tooey!

CR: For me the most interesting fact about writing is the research and learning new things. I love to learn. The least interesting facets of writing for me are deadlines and galleys.

Tianna: Probably the edits because you have to reread and correct a manuscript that you’ve already read fifty times.

Bonnie: Creating the characters and their worlds, watching a series or book take shape before my eyes. Least interesting: has to be the editing. I find editing very boring. LOL

How did you celebrate your first release? What was it like to see your book in a bookstore? Do you have a special ritual for celebrating a book release?

Marc: Don’t have a book in a book store—yet. LOL
I do have a book in print from the Sanguinary Seduction anthology series in which I was a contributing author. I was very proud to see my words in a hard copy.

AJ: I celebrated my first release by kissing the cat and the dog. Nobody else was home. I saw my book Phantom Lover go onto the shelves and on display and IN THE WINDOW at A Different Light and I cried like a baby. On the display I was next to Stephen King and in the window my book was next to a bio on John Lennon.
A special ritual on release day? Yeah Danny, I turn into a promo homo posting endless excerpts all over Yahoo!

Stephani: For my first release, I went out to eat at Red Robin. I know, sooooo glamorous. I don’t have any special rituals for release days. Unless you count doing the happy dance because it is such a high to see my cover up.

Regan: Hmmm, first release….I went to dinner with a friend. The first one I actually saw in a bookstore was Her Eyes (written with Jennifer Cloud and out with Amira Press). I work(ed) for my local Walden’s and they gave me front cap placement. I looked at it and thought it look really familiar but it took me a second to realize it was my book!

No ritual – I’m always into the next book so I just go to dinner with a friend.

CR: I planned a spa day with a friend. My books are only available on line at www.extasybooks.com and amazon.com so far. I haven’t started a special ritual yet for releases. I’m normally already working on another project so my mind isn’t on the release except for promotion purposes.

Tianna: We went out to dinner. It was amazing to see my book in a bookstore. So far I’ve only seen my book in one small independent bookstore because my books are mainly POD.

Bonnie: The night Taliff’s Cure came out, I celebrated by reading. LOL I took the night off from writing but did send out a bunch of promo. After every book I finish, I try to take a day or two to unwind. I’ve not seen my book in a bookstore yet, that will happen January 6th when I have my first book signing.

How did your family react to fact that you also write romance novels? Have your family read your books?

Marc: My wife has read the anthology story but not any of my other books. She is very happy for me.

AJ: My family does not read my books although my brother came to my big book signing at A Different Light. My father read “Phantom Lover” and called me and said, “Why did you send me this book? It’s disgusting.”
I said, “Dad, you read the whole thing?”
He said, “Yes, I did.”
I said, “But dad, the first sex scene is on page 8, didn’t you see where this was going?”
He said, “But there’s a good story in there. I had to see how it ends!”
I still laugh about that conversation but I have never given him another book to read. My brother calls me his porn star brother. LOL.

Stephani: My mother and sister read every word I write. I’ll admit, there are some of my family members who have issues with the dark paranormal side of my books. I think they are all proud to have a published author in the family though.

Regan: My parents are both dead and my sister is….well never mind. My aunt read Spell Across Time and she’s a former nun who got married twice after that (yeah, they can leave and do that) and she wrote me and said “you have sex in your book.” She hasn’t read any others.

My cousin (who’s in his mid-50’s and works for Barnes & Noble) read Miranda’s Heart –what is now majorly re-written with about 10,000 more words and re-released as Jason’s Accord with eXtasy and he started falling in love with Miranda. He told me so!

CR: They like the fact I’m writing romance more than when I was writing horror. Yep, my family has read my stories and so far they like them. After reading Dirty Little Secret hubby mentioned he wonders what goes through my head sometimes.

Tianna: My sisters have but my mother and I both agree that it’s probably best if she doesn’t read them. LOL

Bonnie: My family are very supportive. My DH hasn’t read anything I’ve written and though I make sure my mom has a copy of everything, she’s never said whether she read them or not. But they tell me how proud they are all the time. That’s more than I could have hoped for when I started this career.

Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites? Have any influenced your writing?

Marc: I used to read a lot of books from James Patterson and Lisa Jackson among others. I cant say they influenced me because I don’t write their type of genre.

AJ: I read non stop. I love Rick R. Reed, I think he is a genius. I love the Neil Plakcy “Mahu” series. Victor J. Banis and William Maltese are true heroes and I love Stephani Hecht’s Archangel series and what else? Oh, I love non-sexy authors like Sue Townsend and Mia King. I love many Hawaiian authors such as Armine von Tempski and John Papa I’i.

Stephani: I read three to four books a week, so it would be impossible to name my favorites since there are so many. I like erotica, romance, and crime books. My husband faints when he sees the book bill every month.

Regan: OMG, I’m a total reader! I usually read 3-4 books a week (but don’t tell my publishers that!) Alexander Dumas is my all time, forever favourite. I think his greatest influence is bringing about justice to those who deserved it in very devious ways.

CR: Yes I’m an avid reader. My favorite author is Anne Rice. I’m currently reading the Dune series by Frank Herbert. And I’d say along with Rice another influence of mine would be Stephen King.

Tianna: Oh, yes. I love Christine Feehan, Lynsay Sands, Katie McAllister and more. I only buy authors who are on my auto buy list at this point but it still gives me lost of books to choose from.

Bonnie: Oh yeah. Even during my busiest writing times, I read at least 10 books a week. I read a lot of authors who write paranormal romance, Christine Feehan, Sherryilyn Kenyon, Lara Adrian, Lauren Dane... I have a list of some of my favourite authors on the links page on my website.

Your characters come to life in your books. Do you feel each of your characters live with you as you write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life? Can you name an example? Do you have living role models for your characters?

Marc: I don’t feel their lives take over my life. However I do feel their pain and conflict they go through.

AJ: Kimo and Lopaka are very real to me – my guys from the “Phantom Lover” series. They are always in my head. My boyfriend just told me this morning that I sounded like Kimo when we were discussing going out to dinner to celebrate my news today that I am a finalist for the EPPIE Awards in the GLBT division for my book “Beyond the Reef.”
I guess there’s a little of me in all my characters but I only wish I could be as hot as Kimo! I suggested to my boyfriend we could celebrate in bed. He wants to go to a fine restaurant. He said, “God you sound like Kimo.” So we’ll go to a restaurant and then I better get what I want after that!!

Stephani: When I’m deep into writing one of my novels it does feel like the characters have moved in. They drink all the pop and never pay rent either. LOL Sometimes I get so caught up in their stories that I can’t pull myself away from the keyboard and my house get dirty, the kids are running around like street urchins, and I’m existing on nothing but coffee and Cheetos.

Regan: You mean there are authors who don’t? They eat, drive to work and sleep….well the hot guys don’t exactly SLEEP with me. They are busy doing other delicious things…to me of course.

Honestly, yes, they become a part of the fabric of my life. They do take over. For Nano this year I did the sequel for Jason’s Accord, Amazonia which is Michael LaRosa’s story. I hadn’t thought of Michael as that hot until my editor, Bea, got me thinking about him over the summer. I knew that was the book I was going to do for Nano because I’d been dreaming about it and knew it would flow. Once I got started it flew. What I found though is that Stavin (think Alex O’Laughlin), a secondary character who you actually meet in America’s Hero (Champagne books March 2009) (don’t ask, there is a connection) caught my attention and he quickly started taking over the story. Stavin will have his own story in due time…although the dark haired guy who just wants a woman of his own haunts my dreams on a regular basis. I finished the first draft of Amazonia a week ago, coming in at 73,000 words and put it down to let it simmer and let it unfold a bit more in my mind before starting edits. In the past week I did an edit on His Eyes (Mike Malone’s story from Her Eyes) and a re-write on The Photograph where I’m making some big changes. For the first day it was just fine…then all of a sudden Michael was showing up in my mind almost constantly. Usually they mellow out when they “get the girl” but he’s not relaxing very much.

As to role models – generally my villains have characteristics of people who messed with my life. I use the mean, nasty, vicious things they did to me or people I know for things to happen to my characters. The difference is the characters have happy endings.

CR: My characters tend to stick around with me as I write and sometimes they’ll chatter in my ear as I fall asleep.

Tianna: Most of my heroes are based, in part, on my husband. Gabriel, from Alicia: The Awakening is most like him in personality where Merrick, from Return to Paradise is most like him in physical appearance.

Bonnie: Most definitely. When I’m working on a story, I’m totally involved in their lives, learning about them, their dreams, their worries, the challenges they face. Each book, each character is unique in their own way—at least that’s my hope. I don’t particularly pattern my characters after anyone I know. Like I said, they’re each uniquely their own person with their own lives. I’m just lucky enough to get to write about them.

Where do you get the inspirations for your books?I

Marc: I get inspiration, sometimes from dreams, other books, sometimes even TV shows.

AJ: Oh man...everywhere. I hear conversations and I just go. I was at a brunch one day – I rarely go to these things because I think how much time I am taking away from work – but I went and one of my dearest friends was talking about her love for her girlfriend and how she had no idea why God allowed her to be the one to beguile her lover but she was grateful for it each and every day. I asked her for permission to steal the line and I used it and the word in my Kimo and Lopaka book “Beguiled.”

Stephani: Usually I have a character pop into my head and they won’t leave until I tell their story. I use music to inspire me the most.

Regan: I’ve dreamt most of my books. I find for the most part I wake up each morning and another scene is playing out in my mind. I just need to get up early enough to write for an hour before dealing with the day.

CR: The Si’Ludo world started with a dream I had one night. Other stories have been inspired from songs, television and other people.

Tianna: Inspiration can come from anywhere. The idea for Narian Summer came from a stack of large coolers where I work. I stared at them for a long time during a lull while at work. Suddenly, they were no longer coolers but stasis pods.

Bonnie: Like Regan, I’ve dreamt most of my books or at least major turning points or the characters themselves. Music as well really inspires me as well. I found that for the Serenity series, Lacuna Coil and Without Temptation really helped me reach my characters and submerse myself in their stories.

Do you find it difficult at times to write love scenes?

Marc: Yes manly because I am a male author and it is hard to write from a female perspective on what she is feeling while being made love to.

AJ: I’m sorry I am a horny guy I guess. I don’t. My only concern is I never want to reproduce a scene. I also use the bedroom as a last resort.

Stephani: I did at first, but it’s getting easier for me. The only time I have trouble is when I’m writing out in public. I always worry about someone reading over my shoulder.

Regan: Sometimes. I’d ahhhh, errr, would rather do them than write them.

CR: Sometimes

Tianna: Sometimes. It just depends on how long it’s been since I wrote a love scene and whether I’m distracted or need a bit of ‘research’. LOL

Bonnie: Oh yes, love scenes are the most labor intensive for me to write. Like in real life, I want the reader to feel the emotion as well as the heat.

What is your favorite book from the books that you have written so far? Who are your favorite hero and heroine, and why?

Marc: I would say, One Dangerous Woman. Charlotte Jackson, the heroine is a kick-ass political assassin, but shows her vulnerability in a botched hit.

AJ: Beyond the Reef. It’s quite autobiographical. I love them all...they are all little pieces of me.

Stephani: Since Cam and Amadeaha are my favorite hero and heroine, I would have to pick their book, Angel’s Blood. I have loved Cam since the beginning of the series and I love the way Amadeaha takes care of him. After everything he’s been through he deserves that.

Regan: Oh gosh….America’s Hero these days (but don’t tell Michael or Stavin). Austin Quinn is a Hollywood hottie who plays American Heroes in the movies – so he can be every hero in each of my other books. I love the tag line – He plays America’s Hero, She IS America’s Hero.

CR: My favorite story so far is my work in progress Postponing Eternity, due out in the summer of 2009, which has my favorite hero (JT) and heroine (Calissa). JT and Calissa overcome a lot to be together and were the people in the dream I had which sparked off the whole series.

Tianna: Mia’s Discovery.

Bonnie: The book I’m currently working on is my favourite book. Just like when I work on Two for Twila that will be my favourite book. I can’t choose between them. It’s like choosing between your children. You love them each differently but no less or more than any other.

Which book was the hardest to write and which the easiest?

Marc: The hardest book was on that was accepted by an e-pub but then the e-pub went out of business. It was a time travel book where the main character, Ethan Sanders, is transposed to 1865, right at the tail end of the Civil War. I had to do a lot of research to make sure I had my facts right about the war itself.

AJ: The hardest was “My Hawaiian Song of Love” because I wrote it from a woman’s POV. It did very well but I worked very hard at that one.
The easiest was “Shipwreck Bay” which I wrote in a day. I had a lover who cheated on me and it just poured out of me.

Stephani: Captive Angels was really hard to write because that is the one where Cam is taken to Hell and tortured. It was difficult to write those scenes because I could see his suffering and it broke my heart.

The easiest book to write was Angelic Redemption, which is going to be released soon to eXtasy Books. It is the second book with Cam and Amadeaha as the hero and heroine. Their story just flowed for me.

Regan: Right now it’s the Gilded Cage because it’s very dark but it is a story that needs to be told. Easiest would be a tie between America’s Hero and Amazonia.

CR: My favorite story so far is my work in progress Postponing Eternity, due out in the summer of 2009, which has my favorite hero (JT) and heroine (Calissa). JT and Calissa overcome a lot to be together and were the people in the dream I had which sparked off the whole series.

Tianna: Thor’s Hammer was the hardest to write. I think because I was giving a human mate to a god who was already supposed to be mated. The easiest was a toss up between Virgin’s Blood and Alicia: The Awakening because they just seemed to flow out of me. I wrote both full length novels in less than six months.

Bonnie: Right now, the easiest book to write so far has been Taliff’s Cure. I didn’t have a fan base then. I didn’t worry that my loyal fans would be disappointed in my effort. Now, that’s my worry with every new book I write, which makes a book I’m working on the hardest to write every time. I only breathe with relief once the reviews start coming in.

If you could change places with one character from your books, who would it be and why?

Marc: Ethan Sanders because I would love to be able to travel through time.

AJ: I would be Lopaka, married to Kimo. Because they have the kind of love and life I would want to have.

Stephani: I would love to be Rachael. Not only is she a kick-ass archangel, but she can control the weather. It would be cool to have that power.

Regan: Definitely Cass Winter – I’ve always wanted to go up in the space shuttle and the one time I got to fly the F/A-18 simulator was one of the most outstanding events in my life.

CR: The hardest story to write was Holiday Spirits. The easiest stories to write were Dirty Little Secret and Dirty Little Lie (TBR 02.01.2009)

Tianna: Oh, I don’t know. I like Tasha’s strength and Alicia’s determination. I’m not going to say any of the women from one of my ménages. I’m not opening that particular can of worms. LOL

Bonnie: Abby from Sheltering Abby or Eve from Taliff’s Cure. I want to be the kickass woman they ended up being. LOL

If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why?

Marc: If you are talking of going to the future, I would love to go at least 200 years forward just to see how far we have advanced in technology. Presently, we are reaching the Jetsons age minus the space ship. Would we at least have flying cars to travel with one hundred years from now?
If it is the past, for some reason, being it Thanksgiving, I would love to travel to the time when the Pilgrims reached Plymouth Rock.

AJ: I would go to 1893 and convince Queen Lili’uokalani not to abdicate her throne and the Kingdom of Hawaii to the US.

Stephani: I think it would be interesting to go back to the early 1940’s so I could see my grandfather in his Navy uniform. He was aboard the USS Princeton when it sank and his stories about how they survived are just fascinating.

Regan: Ah! Read America’s Hero! It’s all in there!

CR: I’d travel to the time period when the pyramids were built to learn the truth of their construction.

Tianna: I’ve always had an interest in the mid nineteenth century.

Bonnie: I’d travel into the future instead of the past. I want to know how we end up as a people, what our culture will be like 100, 500, 1000 years from now. Will humans have learned that violence and aggression aren’t the answer for everything and is there life out there in the universe besides us? There are so many things I’d like to know... LOL

Do you listen to music while you are writing and if so what music is it?

Marc: Sometimes I do and it is classical because it is so soothing.

AJ: Yes, all Hawaiian mostly. Keali’i Reichel, Uluwehi Guerrero and Keola Beamer. My vampire books I write usually to Taj Mahal!! LOL.

Stephani: I have to be listening to music as I write. Not only does it make the time go by smoother, but it helps inspire me. I like Coldplay, One Republic, Rob Zombie, Saving Abel, Buckcherry, to name just a few.

Regan: Sometimes. For Travelling Bride (the first draft which is Rick Hansen’s story from the Bride Series) I was obsessive about listening to all of my Melissa Etheridge CDs. For Mistaken Bride (Kendrick’s story) it was Hero by Enrique Igelses. There is one scene at the end where Mandy realizes why he did what he did and at that moment she falls in love with him. That song was the epitome of that scene.

Otherwise I’m in my own little world.

CR: Most times I do. I have satellite television so depending upon my mood and what I’m writing determines the channel I turn on, either the Spa channel (music that you’d hear in a massage therapy session) or Octane (plays a lot of Alternative). Though, if I’m having trouble with a piece, I’ll work in silence until I get through the rough patch.

Tianna: Sometimes. It varies between classical, romantic, new age and rock and roll.

Bonnie: Definitely. I listen to a lot of alternative or new age or rock when I’m writing. During my downtime it’s country music all the way.

If you could choose of your books for a movie, which one would it be and who would you as the cast?

Marc: Time Eternal, my time travel book. It could be done, because Ethan Sanders shows the folks in 1865, the technology and knowledge he has from 2008.
I would like Owen Wilson and Vince Vaugn from the Wedding Crashers or Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church from the movie Sideways.

AJ: Phantom Lover. Oh...Francesco D’Macho as Kimo and Damien Crosse as Lopaka.

Stephani: I would start at the beginning of the series with Angel Warriors. I think Cam Gigandet would make a great Cam and not just because they share the same name. LOL That actor reminds me a lot of Cam they are both so hot.

Regan: I think America’s Hero and I’d cast Brad Pitt as Austin Quinn and me as Cass Winter! Seriously I’d want Nicole Kidman as Cass.

My friends all think The Spell should be a movie and if that were the case I’d go with Matthew McConaughey as Ryan Matthews, Alex O’Laughlin as Adrian James and Sandra Bullock as Kelly McKenna.

CR: The Mystics right now would be the book of choice and the cast would be as follows: James Scott as Cor ~ (he’s EJ on Days of Our Lives) He’s a handsome dark haired Scot. Daniel Goddard as Gaven ~ (he’s Cane Ashby on The Young and the Restless) Lighten and lengthen his hair a bit and he’d be a nice fit for the character. For Rhys and Rand another author once said he could see Hugh Jackman playing their parts. And my critique partner mentioned Alyssa Milano (Charmed) for the women in the trilogy with wigs to change up the hair colors. And Maggie Gyllenhaal as Avalena in The Redeemer since I liked her work in the movies Secretary and Stranger Than Fiction.

Tianna: I think the Chosen series would make a good movie or movies. Would I be a hussy if I said it would starring me and Gerard Butler? LOL Seriously though, I don’t know who would be a good choice for actors.

Bonnie: The Protector’s Destiny. I think it and the series it’s a part of has the most potential so far for that type of thing. I have no idea who I’d cast though. LOL

Are you working on anything right now, and can you tell us a teaser about these projects?

Marc: I have a book to be released December 15th. It is titled, Fever Black’s Christmas Wish. It is a vampire story and the tag line reads, His greatest Christmas wish was to be normal...Her greatest wish was to join him in immortality.

AJ: I am working on many books – in the Phantom Lover series I am finishing up “The Cannibal King’s Husband.” That is a title I adore. Let’s hope the book lives up to it!

Thanks for the questions, Danny!!

Stepani: After Cam’s books are done, Michael will finally have his story told. I can’t wait for his heroine to bring him to his knees. I also think Michael is long overdo for his HEA. He’s devoted his entire immortal life to leading the angel warriors and he’s never taken anything for himself.

Regan: Always!

For Nano I did Amazonia which is Michael LaRosas’s story – he thought he was in love with Miranda from Jason’s Accord and when Miranda married Jason Michael had a hard time with it and went off in his space shuttle – it takes place 500 years in the future. He crash lands on Amazonia, a planet inhabited by Amazons from Old Earth – the ones who left at the time of Atlantis so they missed the debacle at Troy. I’m about to start my first round of edits on it to get it ready for submission.

The Photograph is a time travel that takes place in nearby Napa, California. When one of Carrie Taylor’s romance heroes shows up in her bed she begins to live her own true life love story. It’s off to a beta reader and I hope to submit it by the end of December

And His Eyes I just finished a serious edit and am looking for a BETA reader to really critique it up and down before I submit it. I hope to also have that one ready to submit by the end of December.

Mistaken Bride and The Spell are both out in submission now so I’m hoping to hear something soon.

Thank you Danny!

CR: I’m currently working on Postponing Eternity the first book in the Si’Ludo Prophesy series due out through Devine Destinies next year and a story for extasy’s tarot series called The Decision based on the Wheel of Fortune tarot card. Information about these stories and others can be found on my website

Tianna: Yes. I’m always working on something. I’m getting ready to release my Christmas story, Return to Paradise, December 1st. I have another more mainstream story, The Prophecy, due to release at Devine Destinies in February. Bonnie and I are working on a new Narian Rebirth story. I’ll soon be starting the fourth Chosen series book and Trouble in Paradise will release sometime next year.

The blurbs are already up for most of them but the new Narian story is about a woman investigator who witnesses a vampire making a kill. The vampire gives chase and she runs to hide in a small town—the very town where a large group of Narians are searching for stasis pods. The question is, will her mates or the vampire find her first?

Bonnie: Of course! I’m working on several things right now. I’m finishing up Serving Sera, my 4th book in the Serenity series which releases in just over a week. I’m also working on a story with Gabriella Bradley due to come out January 15th, Seducing Serena and a story with Tianna Xander, First Caress, the first book in the Kinross Triad series which is scheduled for a February 1st release. Not to mention I’m also editing The Protector’s Jewel the second book in The Protector’s Series scheduled for a January 1st release. As you can see, it’s going to be a very busy next few months.


Thank you for interviewing me and the rest of the Seven Wicked Writers Danny!