Of Ink and Quille

Imogene Nix - Australian Author of A Bar in Paris   Beachwalk Press goes down under! Join fellow Australian authors Imogene Nix, Jess Buffett, Larisa Anderson, Hazel Gower, and Susan Child as they celebrate Australian Day. From January 24 th -26 th , their books will be on sale at the Beachwalk Press website for 99 cents! http://beachwalkpress.com/shop/category/all-romance-novels/ On Sunday, January 26 th , they’ll be chatting in the Beachwalk Press Readers Group on Facebook. Be sure to stop by and get to know the ladies down under a little better. Link to the Facebook Readers Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/157739944430432/

    I can imagine writing a hot story about a Thai chef who seasons his dishes with lots of spice. Curries, Thai peppers, lemongrass, garlic. All those good things. The pans would literally sizzle in the kitchen. Yeah, I can see that. But what about their breath? I mean, do you want a kiss so hot your lips burn and make you reach for a glass of milk to cool it off? Probably not! With pastry, though, you don’t have that problem. Light fluffy pastry dough. Sensuous whipped cream filling. Sweet raspberry sauce drizzled over the top. Mmmm. I’ll admit there are dangers to pastry though. Frosting can get everywhere… like all over your sexy black dress – the one you wore to seduce the chef in. Syrupy sauces can also present problems. What if your lips get stuck together? Or other parts? Good grief. The only way to save the day might be to lick your way out! You can’t do that with hot peppers. Just ain’t gonna happen. No sir. I mean you can try it… but I’m just go...

As an author, especially in todays industry, you do have to have some ideas for marketing yourself, your books, your very brand. Something I hear all the time is to have a backlist of books, and I do. Currently I  have thirteen books out under my name and another seven under my pen name. Some of these books are doing well, others seem to have fallen off the reader's radar. In the hope that I can generate new interest, and thus improve my connection to my readers I'm going to try something different. Too often we forget what has come before, I can tell you what titles I have, what genres, even a bit about each of my books...but if a reader doesn't know about them what good will that do? I write for the love of it. Its part of me. But, I also have to be honest when I say the royalties are also a big reason why I continue to do this. So, each week I'm going to feature my backlist - tidbits, trivia, and more to refresh these stories in my fans' minds. This week we...

Do you read Menage stories? Do you write them? This is a genre many are just getting into (I started my very first one yesterday) and its a great one. One of the biggest way sto say thank you to our readers is to give them the chance to voice their opinions. On January 5th, the first annual  Reader's Fan's Choice Menage awards will be taking place. There are a ton of categories, so stop by and nominate your favorite menage romance, book cover, and review. http://marywhispers.blog.com/  is hosting them with a whole list of sponsors. Stop by and share the love with your favorite author, publisher, cover artist!

No longer content in the shadows of his older brothers and on a quest to find his destiny, Bryce Fraser's chosen path is fraught with danger, passion, and decisions. Can his unspoken love for spirited, beguiling Fallon be triumphant in a time of war and uncertainty, or will they both fall prey to the devious plans of a traitorous laird from a rival clan?   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EXCERPT : Loch Ryan Scotland, 1307 “ Wa . . . water,” Bryce mumbled, but there was no one there to listen.   His throat was parched and he ran his tongue over dry, cracked lips, but his action offered no relief. An entire loch lay only a few feet away, but he couldn’t muster the strength to drag himself to the bank and quench his thirst. “ Cold . . . so cold.” Despite the sun beating down on him, he’d swear he was encased in ice. His life’s blood seeped from his wounds, soaking the ground beneath him. He tried to raise his head, but the excruciating pain radiating across his che...

Hometown Miracles   Leanne Wilson glanced behind her at the sleeping urchin wrapped around a teddy bear, her pale hair sticking up every which way. She wiped at a tear trailing down her face and returned her attention to the road. Passing the road sign, Leanne breathed a sigh of relief. Only twenty miles until she was home. Trembling fingers twisted the dial of the radio up a notch, the sound of a cheery Christmas tune filling the car. “ Just what I don’t want.” Leanne shook her head. Any hint of holiday cheer had faded the moment she’d gotten the call. Her heart stuttered with the stirring of a memory she’d tried desperately to push to the back of her mind. “ Hello, Leanne. This is Jeanette from Doctor Heklen’s office.” Her heart in her throat, Leanne pulled out a chair from the table and sank into it. “Hi, Jeanette. Did you get the results?” The acrid taste of fear in her mouth soured the coffee she’d taken a sip of. As she said a silent prayer, the ...

Please welcome Miss Elise Whyles to Of Ink and Quille. Today she's celebrating the first book in a trilogy entitled Five Alarm Lust. Welcome Elise, pleased you could stop by. To celebrate you're having a bit of a contest, aren't you? Thank you for having me. I'm having a blast being here. Yes, I am. I'm super excited to be able to share Jack and Gillian's stories. They deserve to be happy and I'm offering a free copy of Five Alarm Lust to one lucky commenter. Wait? Who? Jack and Gillian - There's a play on their names that is very ironic...I'll give you a hint - it comes from a nursery rhyme. Survivor Gillian Hilliard is finally healing from the nightmares of her past Fearing no man will ever find her attractive; she has hidden behind a disguise of simple attire and large glasses. When Gillian meets firefighter Jack Payle, she is instantly attracted, and in the face of that attraction enjoys a wild night of sex with him. In the cold light...

Inspiration Comes in Strange Places… Where did the idea for Make Me Stay Come from? One night back in January, I couldn't get the Katy Perry song The One That Got Away out of my head. I was humming it in the shower and bam, the idea for my newest novella hit me. I hopped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around myself and logged onto my computer as fast as I could. It was one of those moments where I had to get the scene down. It didn't even matter that I was wet and shivering. It was the first time in my writing journey where I started at the end of the book. The chapter kept playing out in my head, and I knew no matter what happened from the beginning of the story on, I had to end up with what I had just written. Now, don't ask me what that song has to do with a BDSM romance, I'm still not sure. But, for whatever reason those lyrics triggered something in my subconscious. The inspiration was so strong that I managed to write Make Me Stay i...

Starting Sunday May 6th, Beachwalk Press' amazing authors are hosting free reads on their blogs. Each week a new story will be posted by each author. All with the theme of At The Beach, these steamy, sexy shorts will tantilize you and have you wishing you were at the beach! http://tamariasoana.blogspot.com/  Sand, Sun, and Sex by Tamaria Soana Sunday May 6th http://elisewhyles.blogspot.ca/ Mr. Right Now - a sexy paranormal by Elise Whyles Monday May 7th http://tstillwagon.wordpress.com/  by Theresa Stillwagon Monday May 7th

Available now from Beachwalk Press Forsaken Heart is now available from Beachwalk Press. To read an excerpt click here Want a chance to win a copy of it? Everyone who signs up for the Forsaken Newsletter between May 1 and May 15th will be entered to win a signed print copy. Where is the signup you ask just head on over to our website and sign up and you'll be entered to win as well as you'll get the insider's view of what's up and coming within the Forsaken Realms. Forsaken Series website

Moonlight streaked across the rolling waves. Warm water lapped at her ankles as she stared out over the water. Hot, sultry, the winds tangled in her hair, kissing her neck. Kneeling, she dropped the single red rose in the surf, the flower blurred by the tears in her eyes. A hand pressed against her abdomen, the band of gold cool against her flesh. Beneath her touch, her baby kicked. Laughing through her tears, she turned to stroll back along the wet sand to the lawn chair open beneath the palm trees. “Tears? Are you sad, this night my love?” She smiled at the warmth and devotion in the rich baritone. Lifting her hand she clasped his hand, pulling him closer. “How can I be sad this night, my darling? We’re together and we will always be now. Nothing can separate us.” “To eternity then,” he handed her a frosty glass and tapped its rim with his own. “To eternity, love, and our son.” “To love and our son.” She sipped at the spicy fruit drink, her eyes on the waves. Yes, ...

To celebrate the season authors Patricia Bates and Ciara Lake are running a contest to give a away two free ebooks. This is how it works -- If you have purchased one of our titles on Amazon other than the books we are giving away (see below)-- we will put you in a contest to win a free ebook from us. Yes this means you could win two books. You have until December 24, 2011 to review one of our books on Amazon. You'll be entered into a draw to win a copy of Firecracker by Patricia Bates and/or The Ketchikan Man by Ciara Lake in Kindle or PDF. There will be two winners, one for whichever book (author) you reviewed. You could win twice if you are in both pots of contestants. You'll need to email Ciaralakeromanceauthor@gmail.com or patriciambates@gmail.com to let us know you have reviewed one of our books and you will be added to the pot of contestants. If you have any questions feel free to contact us to!The winners will receive a book by January 1, 2012. Come out a...

PROM NIGHT SUMMER ANTHOLOGY Secrets in the Fog: Danny's First Love by Ellen Spain Danny Fennchar is a short and somewhat pudgy teen prodigy wearing broken glasses who looks forward to attending his high school Prom in a few weeks, and to attending college. There is a problem, at least to Danny. He is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and thinks his future plans are totally messed up. He doesn't have a date and in fact, being home schooled most of his life, never had a date except for his mother.. Danny is a shy and insecure 12th grader, until he meets Christine Dillon from his senior class, who is quite mature for her young age. Their romance blossoms.

Thanks so much for coming by Lorelie, glad to have you. LC: Thanks for having me.  Prepared to go through the wringer lol... LC Sure fire way. PB: Why did you pick or rather why did the genre pick you that you write in?   LC: I write romantic suspense and that’s what I enjoy reading most of the time, but also enjoy authors such as Harlan Coban and Andrew Gross. 2. How long does it usually take you to write your books?   LC: About 6-8 months roughly, with lots of time for research, revisions, edits and plotting. PB: Where do you get your inspiration?  LC: A lot of times from day dreaming. PB: Name at least two things about writing that you love/hate (can be one of each)  LC: I love getting edits back from the publisher. It’s another ‘take’ on my story. And I hate when my characters take over and keep changing the plot. PB:  You're faced with someone whose looking to break into the industry - what would you tell them?  Be...

Please welcome our guests today for our coffee and biscuit chat. Allow me to introduce everyone, first we have Lillian Grant - Siren Author. Welcome SPEAK TO ME OF ABDUCTION   LILLIAN GRANT He maintained eye contact as she dragged the shirt over her head, but when she pulled her face free, she caught him admiring what had been hidden underneath. Jacob’s focus traveled up to her face. Her cheeks flushed as his face lit up with a slow, sensual smile that started with his mouth and ended with his eyes. He ran his tongue slowly over his lips, his gaze roaming her exposed body, and Charlene shivered. The look of desire in Jacob’s face as he stepped towards her made her pulse race with anticipation. Would he pull her into his arms and kiss her? Would she get to press her naked breasts against his chest? Her stomach lurched with disappointment when he broke eye contact and wrapped the towel around her shoulders. Once she had covered up, he looked back into her eyes and chewe...

If you could be any character, who would you be and why? HH-A A: Well, for the sake of argument, we’re going to make it a character from the Alvarez Family Murder Mystery Series. In that case, I would say Lee Alvarez. I knew I wanted to write a mystery series with a human and likable protagonist, who had a few things going for her. Not perfect, but striving. I didn't want yet another protagonist who learned nothing, who was ostracized from those she loved, who owned one crummy black skirt and life was one, long penance. Lee Alvarez loves life. She’s funny and though she makes mistakes, she learns from them. Like most of us, she grows as she goes along. After all, life is what happens while you’re making other plans. Lee’s lucky to have strong familial support to see her through it all, even though they are often a pain in her jazzercised derriere. If you mean any character from any book, that’s a lot tougher. Maybe Mame in Auntie Mame , by Patrick Dennis. She was...

Pull up a chair, grab that cup of jo and have some of these wondeful cookies. Today we're talking to Cindy Cromer, our guest for the round table. Welcome Cindy, glad you could stop by. So, what motivated you to write in the genre you write in? CC: Ever since I was little I have loved to read.  In elementary school, I'd rather read Nancy Drew mysteries than play in the playground.  Nerd right?  In eighth grade for an assignment I wrote a descriptive essay and was placed in the honors Literature and English classes in High School. At that time I had visions of becoming a best selling author but my favorite subjects were science and math.  Nerd again!  I majored in Chemistry and Biology in college, went on to become the president of a laboratory network, and wrote numerous research and technical documents, but in all of my spare time continued to read any mystery/suspense novel I could.  I always jokingly said one day I would write a book.  My fami...