Monday, November 21, 2011
Tim Smith's Tiki Hut Winner
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit with Tim last week as he talked about his new release MEMORIES DIE LAST and congrats to Mary S - your name was drawn as our winner! Be on the lookout for an email from Tim with your prize!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
This Week At The Tiki Hut - Tim Smith
This week on our Tiki Hut Blog, we welcome author Tim Smith as he celebrates the release of MEMORIES DIE LAST, his first Nick Seven Story published with eXtasy Books.
Tim Smith is an award-winning author of numerous books, ranging from thrillers to contemporary erotic romance. He is also a freelance photographer and when he isn’t pursuing these two passions, he works in the human services field as a case manager for adults with disabilities.
WEBSITE
Memories Die Last is actually a re-boot of my first published novel that came out nine years ago in print, but with numerous changes. All I saved was the title, the characters and the basic plot. Everything else was rewritten to build up the romance between the lead characters. I’m pleased to be able to offer it in e-book format for the first time.
I enjoyed the challenge of rewriting and updating this story for the romance market. It isn’t often you get the chance to do a makeover and it was fun. I especially enjoyed developing the relationship between the two lead characters. In the first version there were sparks and sex, but this time I got to do it right and fully develop the attraction between Nick and Felicia. I was also able to fine tune the intrigue and thriller aspects, as well as updating the story to reflect current themes.
The opportunity came about as a result of the stars being correctly aligned. This book and my second one were both up for contract renewal with my former publisher, but I wasn’t keen on the idea of re-signing. By this time I had developed a niche with Extasy Books in the contemporary romance genre, and my e-books were outselling my print books. I made an inquiry with my Editor in Chief, and she was eager to have this series in their catalog.
As they say, it’s all about being in the right place at the right time.
***
MEMORIES DIE LAST by Tim Smith
A former CIA spook, the woman he always wanted but couldn’t have, and a nemesis from their past all come together in an explosive mix of intrigue and espionage.
What happens when your life is turned inside out by something from your past that won’t leave you alone? Former CIA operative Nick Seven finds out when his peaceful life in The Florida Keys is disrupted by the appearance of an old nemesis he thought was buried alongside the painful memory of a personal tragedy.
Nick reluctantly gets back into the spy game to settle an old score and is pleasantly surprised to find himself paired with beautiful Felicia Hagens, a former co-worker from Barbados. Together they uncover a complex maze of intrigue, espionage and high-level government corruption. The assignment gets more complicated when they realize they have unrequited feelings for each other.
Can Nick finally hit the elusive target and reclaim his personal corner of paradise? Will Felicia return to Barbados or stay with the rugged former spy she’s always had a secret thing for?
BUY THE eBOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT
WIN - Leave Tim a question this week at the Tiki Hut and your name goes in the hat for a ebook copy of his erotic romance, MISTLETOE AND PALM TREES. Please leave your email address so we can contact you if you are today's winner - Good Luck!
Tim Smith is an award-winning author of numerous books, ranging from thrillers to contemporary erotic romance. He is also a freelance photographer and when he isn’t pursuing these two passions, he works in the human services field as a case manager for adults with disabilities.
WEBSITE
Memories Die Last is actually a re-boot of my first published novel that came out nine years ago in print, but with numerous changes. All I saved was the title, the characters and the basic plot. Everything else was rewritten to build up the romance between the lead characters. I’m pleased to be able to offer it in e-book format for the first time.
I enjoyed the challenge of rewriting and updating this story for the romance market. It isn’t often you get the chance to do a makeover and it was fun. I especially enjoyed developing the relationship between the two lead characters. In the first version there were sparks and sex, but this time I got to do it right and fully develop the attraction between Nick and Felicia. I was also able to fine tune the intrigue and thriller aspects, as well as updating the story to reflect current themes.
The opportunity came about as a result of the stars being correctly aligned. This book and my second one were both up for contract renewal with my former publisher, but I wasn’t keen on the idea of re-signing. By this time I had developed a niche with Extasy Books in the contemporary romance genre, and my e-books were outselling my print books. I made an inquiry with my Editor in Chief, and she was eager to have this series in their catalog.
As they say, it’s all about being in the right place at the right time.
***
MEMORIES DIE LAST by Tim Smith
A Nick Seven Book
A former CIA spook, the woman he always wanted but couldn’t have, and a nemesis from their past all come together in an explosive mix of intrigue and espionage. What happens when your life is turned inside out by something from your past that won’t leave you alone? Former CIA operative Nick Seven finds out when his peaceful life in The Florida Keys is disrupted by the appearance of an old nemesis he thought was buried alongside the painful memory of a personal tragedy.
Nick reluctantly gets back into the spy game to settle an old score and is pleasantly surprised to find himself paired with beautiful Felicia Hagens, a former co-worker from Barbados. Together they uncover a complex maze of intrigue, espionage and high-level government corruption. The assignment gets more complicated when they realize they have unrequited feelings for each other.
Can Nick finally hit the elusive target and reclaim his personal corner of paradise? Will Felicia return to Barbados or stay with the rugged former spy she’s always had a secret thing for?
BUY THE eBOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT
WIN - Leave Tim a question this week at the Tiki Hut and your name goes in the hat for a ebook copy of his erotic romance, MISTLETOE AND PALM TREES. Please leave your email address so we can contact you if you are today's winner - Good Luck!
Monday, November 7, 2011
This Week's Special Guest Marie Treanor
This week at the AuthorIsland Tiki Hut, Marie Treanor's is stopping by to talk about her release BLOOD ETERNAL, book three in her Awakened By Blood Series and how hard it was to end her trilogy.
Marie was born and bred in Scotland, but for some years moved around the UK working and studying. Now she's back home and happily married with three young children. Having grown bored with city life, her family lives in a picturesque village by the sea where, instead of working for a living, Marie is lucky enough to be able to enjoy herself writing stories of romance and fantasy.
She draws the inspiration for her books mainly from the people around her and from Scotland's rich history and culture - with, of course, large helpings of fun and imagination!
WEBSITE *** MYSPACE *** NEWSLETTER *** FACEBOOK *** BLOG
Awakened by Blood… How can it end?
By Marie Treanor
For some time now, I’ve found these words echoing around in my head. More recently, as the release date of Blood Eternal has come and gone, it’s been in the sense of, “How can I bear to leave this world and these people?” Because obviously, after two years and three novels, the main characters of the Awakened by Blood trilogy are almost like family to me!
But the question was bothering me long before that. Obviously, I want readers to be intrigued enough to wonder how it will all end. However, as I began to think out the details of the final book, I found myself scratching my head and thinking, “How can it end?” As in how can I make the ending work? How can I resolve all these impossible situations? Because I already knew the ending I’d originally planned just wasn’t going to happen. Elizabeth and Saloman wouldn’t allow it.
In case you’ve no idea what I’m rambling about – and who could blame you? – I’d better begin at the beginning, and explain that Awakened by Blood is a trilogy of vampire romances/urban fantasy novels featuring a powerful, sexy, enigmatic hero - the vampire Saloman - and his strange love affair with Elizabeth Silk, the young academic who accidentally awakens him from a death-like sleep that’s held him captive for three hundred years.
Marie was born and bred in Scotland, but for some years moved around the UK working and studying. Now she's back home and happily married with three young children. Having grown bored with city life, her family lives in a picturesque village by the sea where, instead of working for a living, Marie is lucky enough to be able to enjoy herself writing stories of romance and fantasy.
She draws the inspiration for her books mainly from the people around her and from Scotland's rich history and culture - with, of course, large helpings of fun and imagination!
WEBSITE *** MYSPACE *** NEWSLETTER *** FACEBOOK *** BLOG
Awakened by Blood… How can it end?
By Marie Treanor
For some time now, I’ve found these words echoing around in my head. More recently, as the release date of Blood Eternal has come and gone, it’s been in the sense of, “How can I bear to leave this world and these people?” Because obviously, after two years and three novels, the main characters of the Awakened by Blood trilogy are almost like family to me!
But the question was bothering me long before that. Obviously, I want readers to be intrigued enough to wonder how it will all end. However, as I began to think out the details of the final book, I found myself scratching my head and thinking, “How can it end?” As in how can I make the ending work? How can I resolve all these impossible situations? Because I already knew the ending I’d originally planned just wasn’t going to happen. Elizabeth and Saloman wouldn’t allow it.
In case you’ve no idea what I’m rambling about – and who could blame you? – I’d better begin at the beginning, and explain that Awakened by Blood is a trilogy of vampire romances/urban fantasy novels featuring a powerful, sexy, enigmatic hero - the vampire Saloman - and his strange love affair with Elizabeth Silk, the young academic who accidentally awakens him from a death-like sleep that’s held him captive for three hundred years. Blood on Silk opened the trilogy last September, followed by Blood Sin in April this year; and the finale of the series, Blood Eternal, released on 4th October.
As enemies, allies and lovers, Elizabeth and Saloman have fought their way across Eastern Europe, Scotland, New York, and other exotic locations, trying to resolve their turbulent passions while facing down the threats to the world of both vampires and rogue humans. And now, just as the secret of their relationship is out, the secret of vampire existence is also erupting, and Saloman has to confront his painful past in order to save Elizabeth and ensure his future.
However, I deliberately set Saloman and Elizabeth up to oppose each other. Saloman needs to kill Elizabeth in order to gain the mystical strength of his Awakener, which will help him take his revenge on his betrayers and rule the world. Elizabeth needs to kill Saloman to stop him from ruling the world, and from doing all the dreadful things vampires do in the process.
Elizabeth is a little shy, a little introverted and naive, when she first encounters Saloman, but she has to grow very fast into her role as unofficial hunter, just to stay alive when all the vampires in the world want to kill her. Plus, she has to deal with the mind-boggling notion that Saloman, who makes no secret of his attraction to her, sees nothing wrong in making love to her one night and killing her in the morning. In fact, he believes that in giving her a little happiness first, he’s being kind. Saloman just isn’t human.
In addition, Elizabeth’s a good person, and recognizes her duty. So even when she falls in love with Saloman – after all he is fascinating and incredibly sexy - she still knows she has to kill him. Only, of course, she can’t. And as it turns out Saloman’s obsession with her sees him finding ways around his need for her death.
By the beginning of Blood Eternal, this unlikely couple is in a recognized relationship, however troubled, and things are spiraling out of control. Saloman’s rule is having unforeseen effects on both vampires and humans. The vampire hunters who’d become Elizabeth’s closest friends no longer trust her, now that she’s sleeping with the enemy. And of course, Elizabeth and Saloman haven’t really resolved their differences. Saloman is still hell-bent on ruling the world, although he may have adjusted his tactics, and Elizabeth is equally determined not to let him.
Elizabeth has always known she’d never accept immortality, even from Saloman. But now, troubled by prophecy, destiny, mysterious illness and acute temptation, Elizabeth re-examines her options, with and without Saloman. Events force both of them to choose sides and make difficult decisions.
And yet I couldn’t let either of them just give in! It isn’t in Elizabeth’s nature to roll over and follow Saloman blindly, just because she loves him. And would the mighty Saloman really give up his dream of world domination just to please a human woman?
I discovered I’d written myself into a bit of a corner with these characters. Because no matter how strong their feelings for each other, if one of them doesn’t give way, where the hell is the “happy ever after”? In parting and new loves? In “true death” for both of them? As the forces stack up against them, this becomes a genuine possibility.
So how did I fight my way through this morass of tragic impossibilities and find the ending to Blood Eternal?
I didn’t. Elizabeth and Saloman did it for me J. I let them fight it out on paper, with themselves and each other and their friends and enemies, and Blood Eternal is how it ends. For the time being, at least J
But I would love to know your opinion. Can you understand a strong hero or heroine who “gives in” for the sake of love? (I mean, of course, on more important issues than whose turn it is to wash the dishes!). Is it justified, or would it annoy you? Let me know!
***
WIN - Tell Marie your opinion on her topic this week and your name goes in the hat for an autographed copy of one of the books in her Awakened by Blood Trilogy. Please leave your email address so we can contact you if you are this week's winner - Good Luck!
As enemies, allies and lovers, Elizabeth and Saloman have fought their way across Eastern Europe, Scotland, New York, and other exotic locations, trying to resolve their turbulent passions while facing down the threats to the world of both vampires and rogue humans. And now, just as the secret of their relationship is out, the secret of vampire existence is also erupting, and Saloman has to confront his painful past in order to save Elizabeth and ensure his future.
However, I deliberately set Saloman and Elizabeth up to oppose each other. Saloman needs to kill Elizabeth in order to gain the mystical strength of his Awakener, which will help him take his revenge on his betrayers and rule the world. Elizabeth needs to kill Saloman to stop him from ruling the world, and from doing all the dreadful things vampires do in the process.
Elizabeth is a little shy, a little introverted and naive, when she first encounters Saloman, but she has to grow very fast into her role as unofficial hunter, just to stay alive when all the vampires in the world want to kill her. Plus, she has to deal with the mind-boggling notion that Saloman, who makes no secret of his attraction to her, sees nothing wrong in making love to her one night and killing her in the morning. In fact, he believes that in giving her a little happiness first, he’s being kind. Saloman just isn’t human.
In addition, Elizabeth’s a good person, and recognizes her duty. So even when she falls in love with Saloman – after all he is fascinating and incredibly sexy - she still knows she has to kill him. Only, of course, she can’t. And as it turns out Saloman’s obsession with her sees him finding ways around his need for her death.
By the beginning of Blood Eternal, this unlikely couple is in a recognized relationship, however troubled, and things are spiraling out of control. Saloman’s rule is having unforeseen effects on both vampires and humans. The vampire hunters who’d become Elizabeth’s closest friends no longer trust her, now that she’s sleeping with the enemy. And of course, Elizabeth and Saloman haven’t really resolved their differences. Saloman is still hell-bent on ruling the world, although he may have adjusted his tactics, and Elizabeth is equally determined not to let him. Elizabeth has always known she’d never accept immortality, even from Saloman. But now, troubled by prophecy, destiny, mysterious illness and acute temptation, Elizabeth re-examines her options, with and without Saloman. Events force both of them to choose sides and make difficult decisions.
And yet I couldn’t let either of them just give in! It isn’t in Elizabeth’s nature to roll over and follow Saloman blindly, just because she loves him. And would the mighty Saloman really give up his dream of world domination just to please a human woman?
I discovered I’d written myself into a bit of a corner with these characters. Because no matter how strong their feelings for each other, if one of them doesn’t give way, where the hell is the “happy ever after”? In parting and new loves? In “true death” for both of them? As the forces stack up against them, this becomes a genuine possibility.
So how did I fight my way through this morass of tragic impossibilities and find the ending to Blood Eternal?
I didn’t. Elizabeth and Saloman did it for me J. I let them fight it out on paper, with themselves and each other and their friends and enemies, and Blood Eternal is how it ends. For the time being, at least J
But I would love to know your opinion. Can you understand a strong hero or heroine who “gives in” for the sake of love? (I mean, of course, on more important issues than whose turn it is to wash the dishes!). Is it justified, or would it annoy you? Let me know!
***
WIN - Tell Marie your opinion on her topic this week and your name goes in the hat for an autographed copy of one of the books in her Awakened by Blood Trilogy. Please leave your email address so we can contact you if you are this week's winner - Good Luck!
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