Writer with Sizzle Interview: Rhonda Carver

Please welcome Rhonda Carver!


About Rhonda:

Rhonda is a full-time romance author and a freelance editor. She enjoys writing contemporary, paranormal, suspense, and erotica. Her specialty is bad-ass heroes (charcoal hair, copper eyes, and heart of gold) and smart and sassy heroines. And her favorite subject is…men in military uniform. They make the perfect hero.

Reading her first romance novel at age thirteen, Rhonda was hooked. Her talent of bringing interesting characters to print and shaping happy endings are not only a passion of hers, but a dream career. She thinks the love between hero and heroine should be so steamy that it melts the ink off the pages.

If she’s not at her computer crafting a story, Rhonda enjoys reading romance, hanging out with her loved ones, or watching a movie that either pushes her to tears or has her rolling with laughter…and preferably both.

She lives in Ohio where she is a mother by day and a sensual writer by night. She has too many pets to name but has a place in her heart for each of them.

She believes everyone deserves romance in their life—one page at a time.

Lia: It's great to have you here, Rhonda! Have you ever cried or laughed out loud while writing a scene?

Rhonda: Writing Second Chance Cowboy was an emotional roller coaster. Packed with tragedy, from the death of loved ones, the introduction of a villain and divorce, there was many times I found myself sniffling and wiping tears. I think one of the greatest fears a parent has is the loss of a child. Carly and Chance suffered this loss and the pain drove a wall between them. But at the hands of fate, they are given a second chance.

Second Chance Cowboy excerpt:

Carly squeezed her hands into fists. “My poor husband. How difficult it is for him to manage his inflated ego and keep his zipper closed.”

“We’re divorced, remember?” His voice reeked of sarcasm.

She groaned in irritation. Her pulse pounded in her ears like the beating of a drum. Her claws were showing.

Chance didn’t blink an eye as he gazed at her across the room. “Honey, I can keep my pants zipped just fine. Problem is, you can’t keep your fingers off my zipper.”

Carly’s palm itched to slap him. “We live in a small town, Chance. How do you think it’s possible we haven’t run into each other more than three times in the last two years?” She cocked her chin. “Let me fill you in. I’ve done everything in my power to keep from bumping into you. Do you realize how difficult it is to plan my schedule weeks in advance so I don’t have to see you? Is that a description of a woman who can’t keep her fingers off your zipper?”

“No, more like a woman who’s afraid she’ll forget what screwed up our marriage in the first place, realize she’s made a huge mistake and get her ass back home.”

“Humph, fat chance that’ll ever happen.” She fumbled with the sheet in irritation and gave her hair a toss over one shoulder.

Damn, he did have a point, although she’d never admit it to him.

“Yeah, right, Carly, because you can’t ever forgive and forget, can you? You think you’re the only one who has lost, don’t you?” His eyes became steely pools of green. His voice turned low and controlled. “I lost Devon, too. He was my son--our son. How long are you going to keep blaming me for his death?”

Carly swallowed the painful lump in her constricted throat. “I don’t blame you.”

“Could have fooled me.”

“We both know why I left.”

“We do?” His bitter laugh split the air with its razor-sharp intensity. “I know you want to hold on to the belief that I am the bad guy who drove you away, but isn’t it time you took half the responsibility for the failure of our marriage?” A trace of compassion softened his expression. He tugged on his shirt and finger-combed his hair.

“It wasn’t my fault you cheated.” Once she said it, she wanted to yank the words back. Too late, just like their relationship.

“You’re a broken record, sweetheart. It’s not worth denying the accusation any longer. Maybe eventually you’ll believe your words and feel justified in leaving. Devon died, Carly. He’s gone and we can’t change the truth. One of us needed to make the decision to let him go and I made it. I held out hope you’d eventually find a sliver of forgiveness in your cold heart. I guess I was wrong.”

The old wound broke open and her lungs emptied of oxygen. She wanted to lash out at him, tell him to go to hell, but the words didn’t come. Instead, she whispered, “I’m going to the bathroom. When I get back I want you gone.”

“Carly, you’ve become an expert at sucking all the joy out of your life and pushing away anyone who reaches out to you. You’re living in a self-made prison, founded on guilt and pain, and there is no key to unlock the cell door.”

Lia: My heart is breaking for them. I’m glad they were given a second chance at happiness. Do you have a common theme in the books you write?

Rhonda: I like bad-ass heroes. The tougher the better. My hero starts out with an icy edge but along comes the heroine who melts him like a blow torch to butter. I like creating a hero who has been emotionally and/or physically wounded and then transform him into a better man at the hands of a strong, intelligent, sassy heroine. Chance, in Second Chance Cowboy, is a perfect example of what I like about a hero. He’s as tough as nails, borderline bitter, and is a hard headed man who steam rolls his way through life. But when it comes to Carly, he’s protective, kind and gentle. These two combinations, tough and sweet, enlighten the reader’s brain taste buds. I call it my ‘sweet and sour’ hero.

Lia: I love him already. One question that I love to ask is have your characters ever been caught having sex in public? How did that go?

Rhonda: In Second Chance Cowboy Chance and Carly made love by the pond, and although at the time they didn’t realize it, but they were being watched by the villain. I don’t exactly come out an say that the villain was a ‘peeper’ but I give reference to how he would know Carly has a birthmark on a very unusual part of her body.

Lia: Thanks for being a Writer with Sizzle, Rhonda! Where can readers find your books?

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=96&products_id=370

http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4080

Other places to find Rhonda:

http://www.rhondaleecarver.com/

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000265604936

Facebook/Author Page
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000265604936#!/pages/Rhonda-Lee-Carver-Author/155568577811615

TWITTER
http://twitter.com/RLCarver

Writer with Sizzle Interview: Tricia Schneider!

Please welcome romance author Tricia Schneider! Tricia would like to give away a PDF copy of her latest paranormal romance release, Witch and the Vampire, to one lucky commenter, so be sure to leave your email address in the comments section so she can reach you.

About Tricia:

Tricia Schneider worked at a bookstore for 12 years, 6 of those years as Assistant Manager. Now she writes full-time while raising her three young children. She lives with her WWII re-enactor husband in the coal country of Pennsylvania.

Lia: Welcome, Tricia! Tell us about your latest release.

Tricia: My novella, The Witch and the Vampire, is the sequel to my 2010 debut, The Witch and the Wolf. These stories are connected but can be read out of order. Sisters, Lillian and Melora Merriweather are running from an evil uncle. The Witch and the Vampire is Melora’s story.

Here’s the blurb:

Melora Merriweather is searching for a fellow witch to protect her from a scheming uncle with plans of marriage. When her carriage overturns on her journey, she is rescued by a mysterious man whom she learns is the very person she seeks. But, he’s not the witch she thought he was…


Sebastian Collins should have left for London days ago. Now a snowstorm has trapped him with a woman who has come seeking protection, a woman who intrigues him like no other. And with each passing hour, his hunger for her grows…hunger for her kiss, her caress, and her blood.

Lia: Love the sound of this! (And gorgeous cover, by the way.) What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?

Tricia: I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing. Even when I was very young, I remember drawing pictures and creating stories about the images I drew. Being an author is just a natural step for me. Being a romance author is like adding icing to the cake. I am addicted to a happily-ever-after. I’m known among my friends and family for re-writing the sad endings to dramas and horror movies so that the main character gets a HEA. For me, leaving the story with that sense of peace and happiness, that sense of all is right in my character’s world, is a comforting experience.

Lia: I’m a sap for happy endings, as well. How would you describe the world you’ve built?

Tricia: The Merriweather Witches live in Regency England of the early 1800’s. In my world, paranormal creatures such as vampires and werewolves exist but are kept hidden from ordinary humans. Some humans are aware of the existence of these creatures and become vampire-hunters, witch-hunters, etc. The witches in my world have special magical powers that are passed down by their family members. The creatures that inhabit my world are on the darker side of romance. I’m in the process of writing more stories for this series and I’m exploring the possibility of many more paranormal creatures I can introduce to the Merriweather family.

Lia: As a writer of the paranormal, what makes you want to write about things that go bump in the night?

Tricia: I’ve been a fan of all things paranormal since I was a young child living in my grandmother’s haunted house. Yes, some very strange unexplainable things happened there. It fascinated me and I began reading all I could about ghosts and spirits. My mother also influenced me with her love of the 1960’s soap opera, Dark Shadows. As I became addicted to watching it with her, I became fascinated with vampires, werewolves, witches and all else paranormal. It’s fun for me to create my own world filled with vampires, werewolves and romance.

Lia: Very interesting about your grandmother’s house! I'd love to hear more about that. Do you have a favorite writer you’ve read over and over?

Tricia: I can’t pick only one! I have so many favorite authors, though there’s only a few I re-read more than once to study and analyze their writing. Lynn Kurland, Gayle Wilson, and Daphne du Maurier are three of those authors. I love their writing style, the way they create scenes and the emotion that they weave with their carefully chosen words. I still cry every time I read This Is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland, and I think I’ve read it 5 times!

Lia: Where can readers find your books?

Tricia: The Wild Rose Press
http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=666

Lia: I'm on my way to pick it up! Thanks for being a Writer with Sizzle, Tricia!

Writer with Sizzle Interview: Rachel Leigh

Please welcome romance author Rachel Leigh! Rachel would like to give away a PDF copy of her sizzling story Explicitly English, so be sure to leave your email address in the comments section so she can reach you.


About Rachel:

Rachel Leigh lives in the UK and is married to her own sexy hero. Even though this is Rachel’s first erotic romance novella, she enjoyed writing it so much, she has two more lined up and almost ready to go off to The Wild Rose Press. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, running around after her two daughters….or playing with her husband.

Lia: Great to have you here, Rachel! Tell us about your latest release.

Rachel: Explicitly English is my first erotic romance novella and published by The Wild Rose Press. I LOVED writing this story! Erotic romance has to be the ultimate escapism…

Here's the blurb:

Laura Markham needs to forget - just for awhile. Be someone else for change - live as her parents will never have the chance to. And for Laura, that means leaving the City for the English countryside and doing just what the hell she feels like…wherever she feels like doing it…

British stockbroker, Stephen Cambridge knows by going home to his country retreat two days early, he's likely to surprise his contracted interior designer. And when he finds out she's the woman who performed the solo masturbation show for him on the inward bound journey, Stephen will do anything to further convince her to miss the outward bound train and stay with him forever…


Lia: Fantastic debut and what a gorgeous cover! What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?

Rachel: The writing! When I was younger I wanted to be a writer but didn't really write in earnest until six or seven years ago. Since then I have had success both in mainstream and erotic romance and now do not see myself doing anything else in the future.

As far as the writing process goes - my favourite part is the second draft. I love having the words on the paper and then taking the time to play and polish and make the story the best it can be.

Lia: That’s my favorite part too—taking the time to make the story rich. What physical aspect does your heroine love most about your hero? Details, please!

Rachel: His eyes and his shoulders, definitely! His eyes are seduction personified…deep dark brown, almost black and when he looks at her, his gaze is filled with unashamed desire and lust. She tingles just thinking about it. And his shoulders? Wide, muscular and strong - nothing turns Laura on more than digging her nails deeper into them when they make love standing up, with his rock-hard penis thrusting… you get the picture!

Lia: Yep, and what a lovely vivid picture it is. ;-) Do you have a common theme in the books you write?

Rachel: Trust seems to be my favoured issue - I love watching a hurt heroine or hero regain that trust in human nature and love. I don't think there is anything more romantic as watching someone who has known heartbreak open themselves fully to another person, willing to risk further hurt because the prize seems so worthy.

Lia: Do you have any advice for the budding romance writer?

Rachel: Really believe in what you are writing. Put yourself in the heroine's mind when you're in her point of view and vice versa for the hero. Feel what they're feeling both emotionally and sexually. Be there with them, smell and see, touch and taste what they are.

'Show' the reader what they are feeling, don't 'tell' them!

Lia: Excellent advice! Where can readers find your books?

Rachel: Explicitly English Buy Link:

http://thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=790

Lia: Thanks for being a Writer with Sizzle, Rachel! Readers, remember to leave your email address if you’d like a chance to win Explicitly English.

Writer with Sizzle Interview: Jennifer Jakes

Please welcome romance author Jennifer Jakes! Jennifer would like to give away a PDF copy of her sizzling story Rafe's Redemption, so be sure to leave your email address in the comments section so she can reach you.


About Jennifer:

After trying several careers—everything from a beautician to a dump truck driver—Jennifer finally returned to her first love, writing. Maybe it was all those Clint Eastwood movies she watched growing up, but in her opinion there is no better read than a steamy western historical.

Married to her very own hero, she lives on fifteen acres along with two beautiful daughters, two elderly horses, two spoiled cats and two hyper dogs.


During the summer she does Civil War re-enacting and has found it a great research tool, not to mention she has continued appreciation for her microwave and hot water heater.

Visit Jennifer Jakes at http://www.jenniferjakes.com/

Lia: Great to have you here, Jennifer! Tell us about your latest release.

Jennifer: Rafe’s Redemption takes place in Colorado, 1866. Rafe is a former Civil War captain trying to stay one step ahead of his vengeful stepbrother.

Maggie is an artist, traveling to San Francisco. But when her devious, gambling cousin loses all their valuables in a poker game, Maggie is sold to pay off the debt.

The blurb describes it much better than I can.

He rode into town to buy supplies, not a woman.

For hunted recluse Rafe McBride, the raven-haired beauty on the auction block is exactly what he doesn't need. A dependent woman will be another clue his vengeful stepbrother can use to find and kill him. But Rafe's conscience won't let him leave another innocent's virginity to the riff-raff bidding. He buys her, promising to return her to St. Louis untouched. He only prays the impending blizzard holds off before her sultry beauty breaks his willpower.

She wanted freedom, not a lover.

Whisked to the auction block by her devious, gambling cousin, and then sold into the arms of a gorgeous stranger, outspoken artist Maggie Monroe isn't about to go meekly. Especially when the rugged mountain man looks like sin and danger rolled into one. But a blizzard and temptation thrust them together, and Maggie yearns to explore her smoldering passion for Rafe.

But when the snow clears, will the danger and secrets that surround Rafe and Maggie tear them apart?

Lia: Ooh, I’m cheering for their happy ending already. Have you ever cried or laughed out loud while writing a scene?

Jennifer: Yes, when I wrote the end scene where Rafe tries to reconcile his past. I cried.

Lia: Do you have a common theme in the books you write?

Jennifer: They all take place in 1850-1899. I’m not sure my stories are what you’d call traditional western – there are no gunfights in the middle of a dusty Texas street – but they are still classified as western historical. Plus I like to have some suspense thrown in there.

And my stories all have at least one really bad guy. Someone the reader can hate.

Lia: Which scene in your book do you think will leave the reading squirming in their seat?

Jennifer: I think it would be the bath tub sex scene;)

Lia: I’m intrigued! Where is the wildest place your characters have had sex?

Jennifer: Outside. Rafe has Maggie face a tree (they were having a picnic) and…….;)

Lia: Sounds like a sizzling scene. I can’t wait to read it! Where can we find Rafe’s Redemption?

Jennifer: At the Wild Rose Press – Wilder Roses - http://tinyurl.com/4oh5387

Lia: I’m on way to buy it. Thanks for being a Writer with Sizzle, Jennifer! Readers, remember to leave your email address in the comments section for a chance to win Rafe's Redemption. Or leave a question for Jennifer to answer.

Writer with Sizzle Interview: Emma Lai

Please welcome author Emma Lai! Emma would like to give away an e-book copy of Twice is Not Enough to one lucky reader. Please leave your email in the comments section so she can get a hold of you. Thanks!

About Emma Lai:

Emma likes nothing more than a challenge. First,she tackled the male-dominated field of engineering. Next, she expanded her understanding of the world by studying international relations. Finally, her husband dared her to use her experience and knowledge and devote herself to writing. She accepted his challenge and has been writing ever since.

Writing keeps Emma sane. Her characters demand their stories be told and nag her incessantly until she complies. The characters are very insistent about her remaining faithful to their individual adventures. As a result, Emma writes a range of genres and levels of heat. She never knows what the next set of characters will demand!

Lia: It's great to have you here, Emma. Tell us about Twice is Not Enough?

 

Emma: After several disastrous engagements, Lady Minerva Peters is an expert at suppressing her own needs. Only in the darkness of night does she give in to her wanton desires with a fantasy lover. 

In the middle of a crowded ballroom, she learns her father is not yet ready to let her fade into spinsterhood. Humiliated, she ducks into a dark alcove only to find out she's not alone. Her hiding spot is occupied by a captivating stranger. Before she can escape, the two become voyeurs to another couple’s sexual rendezvous. The atmosphere heats up and so does her body, especially with the tempting offers whispered in her ear. 

Will Minerva deny her needs once again or will she embrace the anonymity of their seclusion and finally explore her basic impulses and the startling attraction to the compelling mystery man?

Lia: What a scintillating premise! What physical aspect does your heroine love most about your hero? Details, please!

Emma: Lady Minerva Peters is no stranger to pleasure. A natural curiosity coupled with her strong personality encourages her to explore her own sensuality. However, being the well-behaved Regency lady she is, she has to rely solely on her imagination. She conjures up a fantasy lover, who is, of course, tall, dark and handsome with thick, wavy hair the color of chocolate, and a tanned, toned muscular body from a love of the outdoors.

Imagine Minerva’s surprise when she sees a man resembling her lover speaking with her father in a crowded ballroom. When she finally gets up close and personal with the man, she finds out his eyes are icy blue instead the warm, rich chocolate of her lover’s. She also discovers his lips aren’t full and sensuous like her lover’s, but William quickly convinces her full lips aren’t a prerequisite for pleasure.

So, I’d have to say she loves his lips.

Lia: He sounds delicious. Which scene in your book do you think will leave the reading squirming in their seat?

Emma: Definitely the library scene.

While Minerva’s no stranger to pleasure, aside from farm animals, she’s never seen the dirty deed done, especially at such a close proximity. Imagine all the squirmy feelings a woman who knows about pleasure, has experienced it alone, would experience when confronted with the sights and sounds of a couple in the throes of passion.

It’s a good thing William’s around to help her deal with the sensations overwhelming Minerva’s senses. Then after the spied on couple leave...Well, you have to read the story to find out what happens.

Lia: Love it! How would you describe your heroine?

Emma: Minerva could be a modern woman. She doesn’t really fit any one stereotype. She has a strength of character, but not one that demands she be the center of attention. In fact, she often puts the needs of those she loves above her own, which has led to her current predicament of being single with the reputation of a jilt.

Imagine how flattered I was when a reviewer reinforced my own idea of Minerva. Vicky from Sizzling Hot Book Reviews started the review with “Minerva is strong enough that I wouldn’t be surprised to meet her one day.” She goes on to say “Minerva doesn’t fit any of the usual molds. She is not the chunky, chubby smart one, not is she the beautiful spitfire, nor is she any of the other typical models used when writing. She is just a normal person caught in everyday life.”

You can read the full review here.

Lia: She sounds like someone I’d love to meet. What’s your secret to writing a steamy scene?

Emma: Hold on to your seat. First, I light some scented candles...nothing too overwhelming though. Then, I dim the lights and put on some music. Next, a nice glass of an Australian shiraz and a piece of lavender-infused dark chocolate. Then I slip on a pair of pearl g-string, black lace panties...

Seriously though, I do need music, which depends on the type of love scene—hard rock for a quickie or something hard and fast, love songs for a slow, thorough love-making.

Lia: LOL! You had me going for a second. Where can readers find your books?

Emma: My stories are available at The Wild Rose Press using the following links...

His Ship, Her Fantasy and His Hope, Her Salvation are available at The Wild Rose Press.

Twice is Not Enough is available at The Wild Rose Press and at Amazon.com.

Slave to Innocence from Sybarite Press is available in Kindle format at Amazon.com

Lia: Thanks for being a Writer with Sizzle, Emma! Readers, remember to comment and leave your email address for a chance to win Emma's Twice is Not Enough.