This Week's Special Guest - Erin Nicholas

Erin Nicholas has been reading romance since her mom first let her into her book cupboard when Erin was about fourteen. LaVyrle Spencer, Julie Garwood, Debbie Macomber... they took Erin's 'happily ever after' ideas from animated princesses to real people in the real world.

She's been writing romance almost as long. Many a family car trip was spent with her head bent over a spiral notebook in the back seat. She'll confess that her very first attempts at fiction were fantasy and paranormals, influenced by her father's love of the Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the original Alice in Wonderland. If Harry Potter had been around, Erin's sure he would have been on the bedtime story shelf as well.

But it wasn't long until Erin started writing about true love and that's where she's been ever since.

She's so thrilled to be able to share these stories with you and hopes that they make you smile, sigh, maybe even choke up a little. Most of all, She hopes that they help you believe in magical things like first kisses, the spark of passion, and the power of true love.

Erin loves to hear from readers! Please write her at Erin@ErinNicholas.com


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This book is extra special. Not only is the first published solo project for me, but it's about a physical therapist. I have been a physical therapist for more than twelve years. Physical therapy is more than a job, it's a part of who I am. Every day I get to help people do things that they've had to give up or avoid because of pain or weakness, because of injury or illness. Every day I get to witness the incredible ability of the body to heal and compensate as well as the ability of the human spirit to overcome. It's truly a blessing. Writing a book about a passionate, intelligent, confident physical therapist who comes into a family's life and shows them that they can be and do more than they ever imagined, was so fun and was a kind-of tribute to the profession I love and the people I share it with.

Some things you might not know about physical therapists:
Physical therapists attend 6-8 years of education after high school.
Pediatric physical therapy is one of eight recognized specialties in the profession.
Most physical therapists now graduate with a DPT or Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
There are 196 Physical Therapy programs in the U.S.
Jobs in the field of physical therapy is expected to continue to expand for the next several years!
You can find out more about physical therapists or find one near you at www.apta.org OR www.moveforwardpt.com



NO MATTER WHAT by Erin Nicholas

The Billionaire Bargains Trilogy Book One

The best doesn’t come cheap…and this time it could cost him his heart.

Handsome billionaire Adam Steele is good. Good at getting his way. If nothing else, money always works—until he realizes he can’t buy his daughter’s way out of her new wheelchair. Three private physical therapists later, he’s almost given up on Emily walking again. Then he meets Dr. Jaden Monroe. And his match.

Feisty physical therapist Jaden Monroe has never met a man quite like Adam. She’s not sure if it’s his I’m-in-charge attitude or the heat in his eyes when he looks at her, but she finds herself wanting to say yes to anything he asks. Like when he asks her to help his daughter walk again. Of course, the million dollars he offers—just enough to finish the pediatric rehab wing Jaden has been working for and dreaming of—is hard to say no to as well.

But Jaden didn’t anticipate a teen whose injuries are more than physical. Or a man so passionate and devoted—and as tenacious as she is. As she and Adam fight their attraction, the only thing harder than keeping her promise will be keeping a hold on her heart.

This book has been previously published and has been expanded from its original release.

Warning: Contains heated arguments that erupt only slightly more often than hot kissing, a new perspective on kitchen appliances, and sizzling sex occurring everywhere BUT the bedroom (though they eventually make it there).

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WIN - Leave Erin a comment this week here at the Tiki Hut and your name goes in the hat for a fun Erin Nicholas goodies package.  Please leave your email address so we can contact you if you are this week's winner!  Good Luck!

This Week's Special Guest - Tianna Xander

Tianna Xander is the author of several paranormal, time-travel and science fiction romance novels. She loves reading everything from romance novels, murder mysteries and encyclopedias, to handbooks on solar energy. Tianna is the first to admit she spends far too much time surfing the internet and chatting with her online friends and critique groups.

Having written several novels and working on at least one more at any given time -- Tianna still finds time for her family, friends and her many pets. She currently lives in Michigan with her husband, two children, three cats, two big dogs and one occasionally terrorized Netherland Dwarf bunny. Her life is anything but boring.

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In 2008, a secret faction of Paradise Montana’s paramilitary force, Tudra, took the hidden shifter town by force. The members of this previously unknown unit, prided themselves in being what the forefathers of the town had meant them to be—protectors of all.

These men, all with unquestionable honor and loyalty to the innocent people of Paradise, stamped out the corrupted council, and their force, putting the rightful alpha in charge once more.

Adam Greer, son of one of two ruling houses of Paradise, set out on a mission—to convince as many shifters as he could to return home, in an effort to restore Paradise to its former glory.

Their first mission—find TJ Michaels, bestselling suspense author and suspected grandson of the murdered Tudra commander, Theodore James Greenly. Instead of TJ, the men find his adopted daughter, Nina Bidel.

Writing as TJ since his untimely death, Nina is on the run from those who wish to silence TJ’s voice in paranormal suspense. It seems that Mr. Michaels knew too much about Tudra doctrine. The corrupt council put a hit on his life and ultimately killed him. Unfortunately for them, Nina inherited his computer and outlines and continued to write under TJ Greenly’s assumed name. The rogue Tudra, then shifted its attention to her.

Frightened and alone, Nina accompanies Adam and Nick back to their home, where they can easily protect her. This makes Nina the first stranger in Paradise in decades and is where the Paradise saga begins.

Though most of the stories of Paradise can be read as stand-alone books, to better follow the struggle of the men and the alpha’s attempt to restore the town, I’ve added the reading order below.

Reading order:

A STRANGER IN PARADISE

GATES OF PARADISE

RETURN TO PARADISE

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

ROAD TO PARADISE

ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

NAKED IN PARADISE

SEDUCTION IN PARADISE

LOOKING FOR PARADISE

HEALING IN PARADISE

MELODY IN PARADISE

A SUMMER IN PARADISE

MEMORIES OF PARADISE

HALLOWEEN IN PARADISE

LOST IN PARADISE

VISIONS OF PARADISE

A FAIRE IN PARADISE

How the series began: Given a tarot card in the tarot series, I originally wrote, A Stranger in Paradise as a stand-alone book. After all, it was a part of the tarot series. After the story released, readers from all over the world wrote and asked when I would write another Paradise story. Several months later, Gates of Paradise followed as an add-in Halloween story.

I really had no intention of taking the series to where it is at 16 books. One or two holiday stories and the original tarot story was all I had planned at that point. Then, as I plotted and wrote Return to Paradise, the Sabbat Slayer made his first appearance.

I couldn’t have a serial killer with only one or two kills. How is that a serial killer? At that point, the true Paradise series was born, much to my readers’ delight. Now, after 6 years and 16 books, the Paradise series is still going strong. Some of the books are true stand-alone books, while others bring the conclusion of the romance, while continuing a serial type story that keeps the plot of what’s going on in the town in a particular point in time moving.

The first serial within the series was the Sabbat Slayer. Now it is the three carnival women. Milla, Alexa, and Nadya will all get their stories while moving a mini serial forward within the series. I’m sure this will upset some readers who will want instant gratification on the carnival folk, but what is a series without something to connect them all together? You have a bunch of books that have similar names, with nothing to tie them together other than a name. I can’t do that. I won’t do that.

Since everything in life ties one thing to another, it only makes sense to me, to tie the lives of my characters together. I apologize if this disappoints anyone, but I feel as though it takes people to make a town and the people of Paradise have become a family to me. I cannot, in good conscience not connect them the way a real small town would connect with the people who live there.

Pick a book, read their stories and see if Paradise is the kind of town where you could see yourself living your happily ever after. The heroes and heroines in my books come in all shapes, sizes, age, color and national origin. If you’re the type of person who loves to put yourself in the hero's or heroine’s shoes. I might just have the story for you.

Happy Reading!

Tianna

VISIONS OF PARADISE by Tianna Xander

Paradise Series Book 16

Can Milla finally settle down and have a family of her own or will the carnival be her life…forever?

Milla leaves the carnival where she made her living for twenty years, with visions of finding the perfect town where she could make a new life for herself. At forty-five years old, it’s too late to hope for children, but happiness is still within her reach. However, the owner of the carnival doesn’t want to lose his best fortuneteller. When he and his carnival follow Milla to Paradise, he discovers that his people aren’t the only ones with secrets.

Being bond mates never crossed Jonas’ and Mel’s minds. Hell, they don’t even like each other and barely get along. However, when they find a woman frightened and alone, they put their differences aside to help her secure the most basic of human, or shifter, rights—the freedom to choose.

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A FAIRE IN PARADISE by Tianna Xander

Paradise Series 17

What’s going on in Paradise? Apparently, shape shifters are real and they’re attracted to middle-aged plus-sized women.

At least that’s what Alexa finds when she gets to Paradise. She doesn’t expect to find her friend Milla there, happily dating two men. It doesn’t help matters when she finds out that all of the single guys are gorgeous and the town motto is to care for and protect all women and children. In fact, the whole thing sounds too good to be true.

When the townsfolk suddenly start shifting into wild animals in front of her, Alexa is certain she’s gone mad. Is she strong enough to stay in Paradise with its strange secrets and the two hot guys she’s falling for who insist she is their mate?

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This Week's Special Guest - Zenobia Renquist

Zenobia Renquist is an Air Force brat turned Air Force wife. She and her husband are owned by two demanding cats of the long-haired persuasion. Born in Europe and currently stationed in Maryland, Zenobia has been traveling all her life. "Where are you from?" is not a question she likes to be asked but will usually answer Virginia, because it's the one place that feels like home.

Zenobia's stories range from steamy to scorching and she writes whichever genre catches her interest at the time. When not coming up with ways to torture her characters, she enjoys knitting and crochet (both regular and Tunisian) as well as reading shoujo and yaoi manga.

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Wine Service by Zenobia Renquist (Professional Courtesy 1)

In an unspecified major city, Lexie works in an unnamed five-star hotel as a housekeeper. The story starts with her being propositioned to perform a sexual act for the viewing pleasure of a VIP patron. Everything escalates from there until Lexie is doing more and more daring acts all for the pleasure they give her and the titillation of being naughty during work hours.

WINE SERVICE is the start of the Professional Courtesy series. Each title will be a stand alone though some characters will be related from book to book. For instance, Franceska (Lexie's boss) is the aunt of the hero in the next book to come.

The theme of the series is simple -- working professionals who find granting their boss or clients sexual favors is suddenly part of their job descriptions. Of course all the hanky-panky is off the books, but each character finds compelling reasons to allow the exceptions to continue. The most compelling of all being pleasure.

At this time, I have no set number of books for the series, though I have two more stories on the docket. One story involves a sleepwalker who does some very interesting things in his sleep and the assistant who helps him keep the habit under control. The other is about a personal shopper whose boss takes the "personal" part of the job description to a whole new level. Look forward to them.



WINE SERVICE by Zenobia Renquist 

Professional Courtesy Book 1

She offers satisfaction above and beyond what is requested.

Lexie's job as a housekeeper at a five-star hotel doesn't normally include the unique and risqué form of room service that important hotel guest Mr. Malena has requested, nor the generous tip he's offered. Lexie can't resist, and what should have been a one-time thing turns into an introduction into the sensual world of customer satisfaction. She finds much enjoyment in her "work," but is it worth risking her job?

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Read first chapter online

http://drb1stchp.com/2014/08/wine-service-by-zenobia-renquist/

Excerpt

“So what else is there? Sex, right?”

“If you want, but not what I had in mind right this instance.” He chuckled. “I’m not as spry as I used to be. I need a little more time to regain my stamina.”

“You look plenty spry to me.” She eyed his semi-erect dick. It hadn’t gone limp after he came. A few well-placed licks would probably have it hard again in an instant.

“Bless you, dear girl. You are good for my ego.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back. “Now then. After riding the bottle comes drinking the wine.”

“I’m on the clock.”

“Not you. Me. And a little shouldn’t hurt your performance.” He gazed into her eyes. “Unless you’re a lightweight.”

“No, but I don’t want someone to smell alcohol on my breath either.”

“True. True. But you won’t be drinking.”

“So why do you need me?”

He kissed her hand again and ran his tongue up to her wrist. “You’re my glass.”

Lexie must be getting used to him. She didn’t flinch or pull away or become indignant. She was naked, for the second time, and this was the most Mr. Malena had touched her. Though the idea of being his glass meant that would change. “How do you mean?”

“I plan to pour wine over this”—he flicked a finger from his free hand against her right nipple, grinning at her soft coo—“hard bud and then lick it up.”

Lexie swallowed and rubbed her thighs together as her clit twitched. “And again for this one.” He flicked her left nipple.

“S-Sounds fun.”

“Indeed it is. Every part of your body the wine touches, I will follow with my tongue. I plan to bathe you in it.”

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This Week's Special Guest - Kate Richards

Kate Richards is a SoCal dweller with a beach-loving family. She spends as much time as she can in the Pacific waves, but when surf’s not up she enjoys writing, reading, and growing vegetables in her garden.

Writing erotic romance is a dream come true. Kate’s first release, Finally, My Love, was a loose, very loose, adaptation of when she met her beloved husband online nine years ago. Since then she has sold several other books, but Finally will always be close to her heart.

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Can Characters be Sexy of 30? 40? 50?

When I hang out in Loony Bean Coffee, Spellbinder Books or the other small businesses in the tourist-friendly town of Bishop, California, in the Eastern Sierras, the company often includes hikers either just back from or on their way to the trails. With mountains well over the ten –thousand foot mark , one might expect the average hiker to be a teenager, but, while there are many young trekkers, there is no shortage of those over fifty. Some into their eighties. It’s probably the secret to eternal youth.

And I am a sucker for the romance of the great outdoors. To me, a sleeping bag next to the glowing coals of a banked fire, with the wind soughing through the pines and the aspens rattling, is the sexiest setting on earth. Add the black velvet of a sky sprinkled with the white fire of millions of stars…or a heavy, golden moon…and I’m putty in my partner’s hands. And don’t get me started about cuddling together in a tent while rain pelts the canvas. My heart beats faster just thinking about it!

After all…the common wisdom is its warmer in the sleeping bag without clothes, and body heat can’t be beat. Practicality and sensuality!

I’ve been a hiker and camper all my life and don’t find my interests waning as I get older. Why should it? Or why should passion? The hidden lakes of the High Sierra certainly haven’t gotten any less breathtaking and neither has my appreciation for the strong arms of my husband. Or any other part of him.

So, why wouldn’t two people in their fifties—especially when they’ve regretted what wasn’t in their teens—have an explosive passion when they find themselves alone together in the great beauty of the majestic mountains of their youth?

 

This is the background on the cover, a photograph of the area where the story takes place taken by a member of my family to whom I am very grateful.

SIERRA SEDUCTION by Kate Richards 

Successful financier and conqueror of mountains Valiant Epstein has returned to the majestic Sierra Nevada range. He has spent the past thirty-five years building his career and raising a family, but with a divorce behind him, his thoughts return to the enticing camp counselor who got away in his youthful rush toward his goals. Memories of her haunt the aspen and pine-covered slopes, leaving him fantasizing about what would have happened if he’d been her first lover instead of stupidly walking away.

Photographer of beautiful naked men, Michaela Vanz travels the high trails on a regular basis, but the mountains more and more remind her of the man to whom she’s compared all others. Valiant’s hard work building trails through the mountains also built muscle. Handsome, smart, funny and incredibly sexy…how could she ever forget him? She’d spent that summer hinting and finally begged him to make love to her but he’d rejected her and left her to make a life without him.

A lifetime later, when they meet again in the High Sierras, Val is more than ready to say yes, but will their passion last only one day and night or have they found true love in the second half of their lives?

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This Week's Special Guest - Barbara Clark

This week's special guest at the Tiki Hut is author Barbara Clark. Barbara stops by this week to talk about her paranormal romance series and to celebrate her 80th birthday with us!

"All dreams lie beyond defeat." That quote has inspired Barbara Clark to keep writing and creating new stories set in a variety of locations from California to a glittering penthouse in New York City, a working cattle rance in Arizona, the Sahara Desert, and the heat and danger of a Brazilian Rain Forest.

Writing as April Reid, her erotic romances plunge into fantasy worlds where dragons speak and magic rules. Her readers have come to expect deep emotions, simple joys, and heart-stopping peril in her award-winning books.

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DESERTS OF THE HEART By Barbara Clark

 Sons of Earth and Wind Book IV
 

Barbara calls this book her Romeo and Juliet in desert robes - with a happy ending.
 

When Prince Kadar Hamad learns the ancient sword stolen from his father's palace has been traced to a shop in Seawind, California, he goes there to reclaim it. As he questions the owner, Faith Webb, he's surprised by his attraction to this woman he thinks is dealing in stolen goods.
 

The last person Faith should allow into her orderly world is Kadar, a man who asks disturbing questions. From the moment he walks into her shop, he sets her unruly imagination dreaming, and expands her paranormal abilities.
 

Their quest for the magical sword plunges them into a world of danger and intrigue, and a trek across the burning, shifting sands of the Sahara Desert. As passion grows between these two strong-willed people, they learn that love can fill the empty deserts of their hearts.

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The idea for, Deserts of the Heart, came from several sources. One was my interest in the deserts of the world and the people who live there. Another was the character, Nicholas Kadar ben Hamad (ben means, ‘son of’), a minor character in other Sons of Earth and Wind books. Kadar, born in the ancient kingdom of Duraza in the Atlas Mountains, lived for 6 months a year with his father, the Sultan of the country, and 6 months with his American mother on his grandfather’s ranch in Montana.  

Faith Webb, like Kadar, was born in the Atlas Mountains in the ancient kingdom of Tafala, a neighbor to Duraza—two countries that had been divided by a blood feud for 150 years. When she was 3 years old, her mother, a princess of that country, left Tafala with her, and went to live in the USA. There her mother moved in with Blaine, the man Faith had thought was her father until her mother confessed the truth.  

Then Faith makes another shocking discovery. Her mother had stolen the ancient Sword of Light Kadar was trying to find. Not only that, but the tiny star birthmark in Faith’s hand means she was born, The Chosen One, with the ability to command the sword. 

I’ll let reviewers tell more: 

From Romance Reviews Today:

If you’ve never understood the appeal of being swept away by a handsome desert sheik, you’ve never come across Kadar Ben Hamad, the fascinating hero of Barbara Clark’s DESERTS OF THE HEART. While certainly tall, dark and handsome, his intelligence, self-confidence, strength of will, and  honor prove far more seductive to Faith…well, that and those mind-blowing  “what was my name again?” kisses. While both clearly feel the pull of  attraction, obstacles stand between them. Kadar’s past has made him leery of trusting all but a select few, and while instinct tells him Faith  deserves his trust, his mind fights to maintain barriers and protect his heart. Kadar’s lack of trust hurts Faith, and a lasting relationship between them seems impossible, even if she does survive her highly  dangerous self-imposed mission to repay a debt not her own by restoring the Sword of Light to its proper place. 

Adventure and intrigue abound as Kadar and Faith search for the missing sword even as they seek to evade capture, work to stop an assassination and attempt to suppress the overwhelming desire pulling them ever closer. Nicely paced, original dialogue and fresh narrative with flashes of humor balance the dynamic action-oriented scenes. 

 Leave the winter blues behind and immerse yourself in this delightfully romantic desert fantasy. 

 Sondrea Cash, Romance Reviews Today 

From Escape to Romance:

DESERTS OF THE HEART is a romantic story that takes you on a unforgettable  journey of love. The extraordinary situations set a fast pace for a plot that is powerful from the very first chapter. In this, the fourth book in the Sons Of Earth and Wind  series, Barbara Clark delivers yet another remarkable tale.

Tami Sutton, www.escapetoromance.com/reviews/clark-deserts.html

For more information, check out my website at: www.barbaraclarkbooks.com

~~~

~~~

When I sent the manuscript for Deserts of the Heart to my editor, she emailed back, “Are you going to do the brother, Jalil’s, story next?” 

I had to think about that because in the time frame, Jalil was still a student at the university and I needed him to be fully adult. I finally decided to set the story four years in the future at a time when Jalil had become the governor of Qasim, a province of Duraza. 

Rose, gifted with the paranormal abilities of psychokinesis—the ability to move things with her mind, and psychometry—the ability to learn facts about an object or its owner, has her own mysterious background.  

That’s how, Tears of the Desert Rose; Sons of Earth and Wind, Book V, was born. 

TEARS OF THE DESERT ROSE by Barbara Clark

Sons of Earth and Wind Book V 

After a four-years' absence, Prince Jalil walks back into Rose Maguire's life with an ancient scroll, containing information on the source of the legendary Tears of the Gods, said to have magical powers. Rose translates the scroll and tries to ignore her attraction to the one man who can upset her comfortable life and make her yearn for more.

Jalil's paranormal gift has shown him his country's future and his are connected to the mystical Tears. So he's sought out Rose, the one person who can translate the document—the American woman he can't forget, and should.

As they cross the burning Sahara Desert into perilous highlands and mountains, they're plunged into a world of intrigue and danger in which their courage, love, and growing paranormal gifts are tested beyond human limits.

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~~~

I’ll let the reviewers tell more about the book: 

Here’s from Romantic Times BOOKclub:

Rose Maguire knew Jalil Hamad four years ago as a horse trainer and fellow college student. His exiled uncle Prince Tarif Hamad's arrival at her workplace in America reveals that Jalil is really Prince of Duraza. Tarif asks Rose to use her psychic ability to examine an artifact.

Rose feels she must honor his request, even though the knowledge she discovers is dangerous. Then Jalil shows up at the lab. Now Jalil and Rose embark upon a quest to find the lost mine of the Tears of the Gods, with Tarif in close pursuit. 

Tears of the Desert Rose is an excellent fifth installment in Clark's Sons of Earth and Wind series. The open acceptance of the hero's and heroine's psychic powers and their use and development throughout the story create some intriguing scenes. The finale is very pleasing…

—Susan Mobley, Romantic Times BOOKclub

 

Here’s from Word on Romance:

"...The author does a wonderful job of providing vivid descriptions, three dimensional characters and an edge of your seat tale. From beginning to end, Barbara Clark captivates her readers with suspense, action and to-die-for heroes. She is a truly gifted storyteller and an absolute favorite!"—Tami Sutton, Escape to Romance

"Every one of the books in this series has won at least one prize, plus other nominations. Friends of the series may now welcome another delightful couple. The delicate, protective love that Jalil and Rose have for each other, their dedication to taking care of those depending on them, their determined facing of Fate, all give Tears Of The Desert Rose an irresistible appeal."—Joy Calderwood, Word On Romance

 

Here’s from Fallen Angel Reviews:

Rose and Jalil embark on a magical adventure to be treasured by any paranormal romance fan. Full of adventure, excitement, intrigue, magic and romance, TEARS OF THE DESERT ROSE delivers everything one could wish for. The chemistry between Jalil and Rose is addicting and will pull in the readers right from the beginning. Each time these people face a new danger, they find the greatest power is their bond of love, and through that bond, victory is guaranteed.

The additional side stories of Rose’s true heritage is a wonderful addition to this gripping story. Why did the ‘voice’ call her the ‘daughter of the desert’ when her parents were simple archaeologists? Was there some secret with held from her? Only reading this story will tell you all the twists and turns to this magical woman’s past and the hope for her future.

 

TEARS OF THE DESERT ROSE is a recommended read for any paranormal romance fan. This is a part of a series, Sons of the Earth and Wind, but can stand alone easily. This was the first book of Ms. Clark’s this reviewer had read, but it certainly won’t be the last.

http://www.angelfire.com/tx6/fallenangelreviews/miriam11.html

 

Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win the box stuffed with assorted goodies.

WIN - Leave a question or comment anytime this week to get your name in the hat for a box full of of items from assorted authors--things Barbara picked up for this purpose at the RWA National conference this summer. Each box includes a tote bag, water bottle, and books. Barbara will also include an autographed copy of one of her books!

This Week At The Tiki Hut - Ryder Islington

This week at the Tiki Hut, we welcome mystery and suspense author Ryder Islington as she pops in during her blog tour! The full list of Ryder's blog tour stops can be found at LL Publications and Ryder's Blog.

A graduate of the University of California and former officer for a large sheriff’s department, RYDER ISLINGTON is now retired and doing what she loves: reading, writing, and gardening. She lives in Louisiana with her family, including a very large English Chocolate Lab, a very small Chinese pug, and a houseful of demanding cats. She can be contacted at RyderIslington@yahoo.com or visit her blog at http://ryderislington.wordpress.com/.


Writing Mystery and Crime

Mystery and crime are not mutually exclusive, but they are very different beasts. Mystery is all about keeping the truth from the reader until the right time while giving them plenty of truth, along with a few red herrings. I love a good mystery. The best advice I ever got regarding mystery was to make the truth of the matter so plain that the reader would be saying, “Naw, it can’t be that easy.” To do that, you have to make sure there is a logical explanation for why it can’t possibly be that easy. Supplying just enough information, and creating characters the readers trust and believe in, can really divert the truth. As readers, we want the good guys to win, the bad guys to suffer, and the truth to be our own truth.

Writing crime is all about making the reader understand what really happened to the victim, and the truth behind the criminal’s motivations. First, you have to understand the nature of the crime. Kidnapping may be defined differently in one state than in another, so you have to do your homework regarding the definition and elements of the crime you’ll be writing about. If you have characters who work in law enforcement, you have to learn some of the codes they use, which again, vary from state to state.

Then there is the victim. Who is she? Why was she there? Why was she chosen? What was she thinking? What did she go through? How many times does she get close to getting away? Does she even try, or is she too afraid to move?

And finally, the criminal. Is the kidnapper the father of the victim? Or a boyfriend? Or a crazed maniac looking for fast cash? Is he big enough to overpower the victim? Or did he have to compensate with a weapon? Is he a coward at heart? Was he once a good guy that had terrible things happen, things he couldn’t cope with? Is he smart enough to plan the crime, or does he have someone else pulling his strings?

I personally like to write about the psychology of the victim and criminal. I like to get into their heads and make the reader feel some compassion for the bad guy, and some negative feelings about the victim.

And then you have to decide about the gore factor. If you’re writing a cozy, the crime is over with and the scene scrubbed. But I like the gritty stuff, so when a young boy sticks a hunting knife into the gut of a pervert, I want the reader to feel the knife going in, the blood running over his fist. And when the boy smiles and says, “Ooo, warm. Velvety,” I want the reader’s face to scrunch up as if she’d just bitten into a dill pickle.

While revising Ultimate Justice, A Trey Fontaine Mystery, I kept returning to the gory scenes, upping the ante, spilling the guts, and then going to the psychological response to the gore, trying to make it disgusting but at the same time, believable. This is the stuff of real life. This is what officers all over the country face regularly. It’s not all tickets, and hauling drunks in to sleep it off. Every day there are murders, kidnappings, rapes and other violent crimes occurring. I’m hoping that reading my book will give you a glimpse into what can shape people into psychopaths, and how ‘normal’ the bad guy can seem.

***

ULTIMATE JUSTICE by Ryder Islington

A Trey Fontaine Mystery

Special Agent Trey Fontaine has his hands full as he tries to juggle three different sets of cases in his hometown. While healing from a bullet wound, and on limited duty, he is charged with helping find out what's happening to young women who are disappearing without a trace. But that's just the beginning. Someone is beating and raping women in town, women who are related to his godfather, Detective Russell Coleman. And then the bodies of men start showing up, eviscerated. Are the crimes related? Or are has the town become a haven for all sorts of criminals?

Wile, Rocky, and Drew, three children from a violent home, take matters into their own hands and soon the small town of Raven Bayou, Louisiana is brimming with dead bodies. But the only victims are those whose background proves them to be deserving of such justice.

Can Special Agent Trey Fontaine stop the violence? Or will he only figure out the truth after someone he loves is dead?

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Ashley Blade's Tiki Hut Winner

Thanks to all those who stopped by the Tiki Hut to visit with Ashley and congrats to Stacie DM - your name was drawn as our winner!


Be looking for an email from Ashley with your free copy of ONCE BITTEN - enjoy it and be sure to let us know what you thought of it!

Cheryl Kaye Tardif's Tiki Hut Winners

Thanks to Cheryl Kaye Tardif for the fantastic post about how she came to write her romantic suspense LANCELOT'S LADY and for offering up three ebook copies of it as prizes for the week!


COngrats to Estella, CJ and Katie - Estella, thanks for leaving your email address, Cheryl will be contacting you soon with your prize.


CJ and Katie you two need to email me at AuthorIsland at yahoo dot com with your email address by the end of February to claim your prize!

This Week At The TIki Hut - Duane Simolke

This week we welcome author Duane Simolke to the Tiki Hut to talk about his science fiction novel DEGRANON: A Science Fiction Adventure.

Majoring in English, Duane Simolke received degrees from Belmont University (B.A., 1989), Hardin-Simmons University (M.A., 1991), and Texas Tech University (Ph.D., 1996). His doctoral dissertation was on Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio.

StoneWall Society gave Pride in the Arts literary awards to The Acorn Stories, Degranon, and Holding Me Together. AllBooks Reviews gave The Return of Innocence a Reviewers Choice Award.

Simolke also edited and co-wrote a fundraiser, The Acorn Gathering: Writers Uniting Against Cancer.

BLOG *** GOODREADS *** YOUTUBE

Revisiting Diversity in Science Fiction
By Duane Simolke

Now that I’ve completed a draft to the sequel of Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure, I still find myself surprised by the slow but steadily growing audience Degranon finds. It’s been almost ten years since the first edition appeared. I rewrote the book two years after its publication, following an earlier idea of making some of the major characters gay.

Those changes, and some others, made the novel even more memorable to me, and it remains my favorite out of everything I’ve written. Dealing with themes of discrimination, religious turmoil, and oppression added emotional layers, but I mostly wanted to create interesting characters and exciting scenes of adventure. That revised, second edition immediately gained attention.

In Worried, the upcoming sequel to Degranon, the characters still wrestle with some of the same problems, though they have overcome weight discrimination, censorship, and some of the other specific issues they struggled with before. However, some past failings haunt the citizens of Valchondria, the human home world. Dark secrets haunt the Valchondrians even more.

Also, the first book spanned generations on two planets. Worried takes place over five weeks. Most of the action happens on the capital city of the home world, except for a few scenes set in outer space. Still, the epic scope of the first book gave me a universe, and that entire universe still affects the characters and events of the second book. I think Degranon’s new and old readers will enjoy the journey back; I’m certainly enjoying it and look forward to the next few months of revision.

Warning, mild spoilers lurk ahead. Some hints about what to expect in Worried follow.

The wedding of two male characters from the first book.

The rumors of a dangerous alien race weren’t exaggerated.

The balance of power on Valchondria remains in question.

The effects of past addiction linger.

Enemies might need each other.


(Read reviews of Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure at Rainbow Reviews and I Must Be Dreaming.)


WIN - Leave Duane a comment or question this week, here at the Tiki Hut and your name goes in the hat for a free ebook of DEGRANON. Please leave your email address, so we can contact you if you are this week's winner - Good Luck!

This Week At The Tiki Hut - Tim Smith

This week at the AuthorIsland Tiki Hut, we welcome author Tim Smith who stops by to talk about his hot new romantic comedy just released with eXtasy Books called THE SWEET DISTRACTION.

Tim is the author of five novels, including two contemporary romantic comedies with eXtasy Books. His first three adventure novels have won critical acclaim and several awards. He is also a freelance photographer and works in Dayton, Ohio as a case manager for adults with special needs. When he isn't devoting time to writing, you can find him in The Florida Keys, doing research in between parasailing and seeking out the perfect Pina Colada.

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I’m pleased to return as this week’s guest blogger on Author Island to share my new release, “The Sweet Distraction.” Let me tell you a bit about my newest romantic comedy. The main character, George Sullivan, is a writer of thriller novels and he’s about as far down in the dumps as you can get. His last few books haven’t sold very well, he drinks and gambles too much, he’s drifting through life on auto-pilot due to a bad break-up and he’s desperate for success. His agent arranges for him to write the memoir of notorious mob boss Vito Pasquale, who is a big fan of George’s books, and George realizes this could be the big break he’s always wanted. Simple, right? Not a chance. You just know love will get in the way, in the person of the Don’s beautiful but spoiled daughter, Cookie. Cookie is accustomed to getting what she wants and pursues George, but he resists because he fears how her father might react. What happens? Read the book to find out if love triumphs or if George winds up in the middle of Lake Erie in a cement overcoat for fooling around with the Don’s daughter.

This is a very humorous, sexy romance. I had a lot of fun writing this one, and I hope you have as much fun reading it.

I’ll now take your questions.

Tim Smith

WIN- Leave Tim a comment or question here at the Tiki Hut this week and your name will go in the hat for a free download of his first romantic comedy with eXtasy books, ANYWHERE THE HEART GOES. Please leave your email address, so we can contact you if you are our winner!

This Week At The Tiki Hut - Jennifer Linforth

This week at the Tiki Hut is author Jennifer Linforth who talks about why she tackled Leroux's Phantom of the Opera in her historical series published by Highland Press.

If one is going to query a publisher, Jennifer Linforth suggests not doing so in pink ink. Her first, written when she was twelve, was nothing if not colorful. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Romance Writers of America in addition to being a writing mentor. Writing historical fiction and historical romance with unusual themes and locations, such as autism and the social mores of the mentally ill in the 19th century, she has a passion for Austrian culture and is often found searching for stories in long forgotten histories.

It was her love of research and classic literature that brought her to expanding Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera.

Writing from a tiny loft office, Jennifer admits to being country mouse with city mouse tastes and is constantly fighting to keep the little critters in line. She can't pronounce pistachio, hates lollipops with gooey centers, and dearly loves to laugh. If asked for her motto in life, she points to the following poem upon her office wall:

Come to the edge. We might fall. Come to the edge. It's too high! COME TO THE EDGE! And they came, and he pushed, and they flew. ~ Christopher Logue Croyez.

Visit Jennifer's Website *** Blog *** Myspace *** Facebook *** Twitter

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Everyone wants to undress Mr. Darcy in one way or another. Whether literally, or by expanding his story, readers yearn to dive deeper between his sheets. So why then did I choose to do so to a Phantom?

The Phantom of the Opera has one of the largest and most devoted fan followings in the world. Choosing to expand such a classic came with an impending sense of doom. Would this idea be embraced like the countless tales of Pemberly after the nuptials? Or would I be tarred and feathered…

I had to find out. The result was a three book series contracted by Highland Press Publishing, and one which has, thus far, left this author thankfully featherless.

Certain stories transcend time leaving more questions than answers. No author made me question as much as Gaston Leroux. My love for The Phantom of the Opera stemmed from a deep respect for a book that was a mystery, horror and romance rolled into one. After revisiting Leroux’s novel for the third time the questions in my head would not fade. Why—as a jurist—did he leave so many unanswered questions in such a fascinating book?

The only way to find out was to devote years of my imagination to living deep below an opera house with a corpse-like madman.

The first challenge? Breaking down the visions created by Andrew Lloyd Webber. His musical and 2004 movie starring Gerald Butler created an iconic image of The Phantom and the story as a whole. Leroux’s original is quite different from the romantic, famous love triangle of Webber’s that millions of fans saw and fell in love with. In Webber’s film and musical we see a mildly deformed man clearly oozing sex appeal who happens to have murdered out of anger. Webber stripped away the unattainable parts of Leroux’s story to leave a basic romance as the focus. In Leroux, Erik (The Phantom), was a murderously vengeful personality… a clear madman, while concurrently being a repressed and ardent gentleman. He was the central character in a Death and the Maiden tale. Hideously deformed and hiding behind a full black mask, he slept in a coffin. He had issues with maternal longings just as Christine had issues with paternal needs. Leroux penned him as a monster for a reason. I did my best to adhere to his original ideas for my series while maintaining there was indeed a man with in the madman. Naturally, certain elements were changed to suit the limits of my imagination and to reach the broader market desired by my publisher.

The second challenge? Weaving enough of Leroux’s original story into the fabric of the series so readers could enjoy it without needing to read Leroux’s book first. Book one in my series, MADRIGAL, (released October 2008) begins four years after Leroux’s original ended.

Despite all of the above, Erik was a simply seeking the most basic of human emotions--love. Yet how can one when love society sees you as nothing more than a deviant of the underground?

You fake your death and start anew…

Sharing the back cover blurb for MADRIGAL:
Years ago he faked his death and vowed the Phantom would never again haunt the Opera Garnier. But strange packages left by Anna, an unwanted Samaritan turned unlikely friend, causes Erik to desire the unattainable—love.

When Anna’s haunted past puts Christine Daaé in danger, Erik is falsely accused of the vicious crime. The Phantom is reborn as Erik, forced to the brink of insanity, revisits his passion for Christine—the woman he once swore to possess. Fighting the injustice against Erik, Anna struggles to prove his innocence. Standing in the way is her past that cannot be transcended, and years of prejudice labeling Erik more monster than man.

Battling the nobleman determined to lock him away, Erik must save Christine, control his demons, and tame a heart unexpectedly beating for two opposite women. Christine, who he longs to love, and Anna: the woman who saw beyond his bitter soul to the man beneath the mask.

In the midst of a brutal manhunt, can he be loved for himself or is he condemned to be The Phantom of the Opera?

Murderer, Maestro, Magician, Mastermind.

ABENDLIED, book two of The Madrigals releases January 2010 and continues to expose more of Erik and the manhunt to bring him to justice. ABENDLIED can be read prior to MADRIGAL even though it continues the first book. It follows all characters as they endure the manhunt and introduces an often forgotten part of Leroux’s plot:

Desiring normalcy is difficult enough with a price on his head, but when Erik is falsely accused of killing Philippe de Chagny, brother of his nemesis Raoul, he is launched toward madness.

Anna is an unlikely companion, sharing Erik's heart and the bounty on his head. As the manhunt heats, Erik's mysterious relationship with Philippe spurs the campaign against them forward, and exposes her darkest secret: defending her honor ended in murder.

Plagued by his past as The Phantom of the Opera, Erik's memories enslave his heart to Raoul’s wife Christine, whose shocking confession brings a ruthless bounty hunter into the fray and blackmail to the Chagny bloodline. Blackmail from a hunter who cares little about the Phantom or Philippe, and everything about the one he has lusted for: Anna.

With the past weeping like an open wound, can love endure or will it take memories of one unlikely man to heal them all?

Memories of Philippe Georges Marie, Comte de Chagny...

Philippe de Chagny was a vital secondary character in Leroux’s original story and my favorite of all classic literature. It was his story that sparked the creation of this series. A series I hope readers will continue to embrace long after I put down my quill. For those who are more adventurous, once I am done writing stories that expand classic literature I can loan them some feathers… I leave it to them to find the tar!

Enjoy!