I guest blogged at Whipped Cream, about how my insomnia got me started off as a writer and how my stories are always about what happens next.
Janice~
Monthly Archives: October 2010
Updated Website
You might have noticed I’ve changed the look of my website. It all started when I did a little research and found my cover couple, and then the photographer, Ben Heys. He’s from Australia just like the hero in my book Windswept Shores. I found more of my cover couple in various poses and bought them, Yay!
My new header is of my cover couple in a different pose.
Lux Zakari is on my hot seat
Come on in. You’re just in time. I’vjust put LUX ZAKARI onto my hot seat. Bawawawa-hahaha.
Janice: So tell us about yourself, Lux.
Lux: I write all my dirty stories in northeast PA while getting my master’s in library science. My short stories, poetry and reviews have appeared in anthologies, such as Best Women’s Erotica 2009, Racy Pages’ Surprise and Best Bondage Erotica 2011, and the websites Clean Sheets, Oysters & Chocolate, My erotic novel, Coercion, was released in August 2011 by Lyrical Press, Inc.
Janice: Very interesting. When did you start writing?
Lux: I’ve been writing since I was a kid; I’ve always found that writing was the best, most vivid, most accurate way I could express all the ideas rattling around in my head. I was writing before I could even write; I would color in notebooks and tell myself the story out loud while I drew, and I’d dictate some stories to my grandmother, and she’d write them down for me.
Janice: Sounds like your grandmother had a lot to do with your early writing. Who was the biggest influence on your writing?
Lux: Everyone I know influences me to some degree, especially those who are closest to me, but one memory that sticks out is that of my first-grade teacher. Back then, I was given a vinyl diary covered in little hearts, and it was so beautiful it made me want to write important things inside it. I wrote a few stories in it—nothing more than a few sentences—and had illustrations to go with them, and at recess one day, I asked my teacher if she wanted to hear them. She said she didn’t have time, but I sat atop a desk and just started reading them aloud anyway. That piqued the interest of some kids who’d been inside for recess, as well as my teacher, who encouraged me to keep at it and gave me a flowered planner to write more stories in. In that I wrote about two friends, Bird and Kitty, and my teacher would let me read these stories in front of the class if there was some free time, and everyone would applaud and I got such a kick out of it. I admired the chutzpah I had then!
Janice: That’s wonderful to get such encouragement at such an early age.
How do you go about your writing? Do your prefer pencils to pens or is it all straight computer work?
Lux: I mostly work on a computer; it’s easier to organize my thoughts that way and make corrections. Plus, my handwriting is an abomination. But there’s something very effective about scribbling down the basic framework for a story by hand. That’s how I write scenes I have trouble writing on the computer, which can be intimidating in suggesting that whatever’s on screen must be polished and perfect. Writing by hand just gets those words out of my system once and for all.
Janice: What influences you in your writing? Music, movies, reading, or straight research?
Lux: Anything can provide inspiration. Sometimes I’ll just be wandering along and a sentence will spring into my head. I have to bring a notebook when I hang out with my friends because they’re so quotable. The way other writers phrase certain things in their own works can be very inspiring. Mostly, I think the all-encompassing answer of “living” is the best way to gain inspiration.
Janice: So true.
When do you write morning or evening, or are you a late into the wee hours of the morning person?
Lux: A few weeks ago, I started writing a story skeleton on the back of a receipt when I was at a park, awaiting my turn to suck at tennis. That’s an example of how I sneak writing in whenever and wherever I can, but I usually have to be away from home to do it—too many distractions.
Janice: Lol, I suck at tennis too.
Who’s in charge: you or your muse?
Lux: We work together; we need each other. But my muse is awesome at making me feel guilty if I’m not writing or at least doing something creative.
Janice: What do you want your readers to take away from your writing?
Lux: That happy endings and brighter futures are possible, no matter how flawed people are.
Janice: What other books have you written?
Lux: Coercion is my first novel, but I have several projects in the works. I’ve just finished revising a new novel—a racy, unconventional love story about a self-absorbed, hedonistic ex-celebrity who, upon the death of her former lover, learns she’ s been inexplicably named the guardian of his three children. Being herded into the parental role forces the protagonist to finally face the truth about the cruel decisions of her wild past, her now uncertain future and her secret, turbulent relationship with a man who, even in death, continues to upend her world. Here’s hoping the story has a successful future!
Janice: What influenced your recent book, the one you are promoting here today?
I actually wrote a blog post called “How to Write Coercion” (http://luxzakari.com/2010/10/20/how-to-write-coercion/), which is a tongue-in-cheek look at the ideas and circumstances that went into me creating that story. But the concise answer is that Coercion is the result of just too many dirty thoughts!
Buy Link: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_12&products_id=315
Blurb:
Introverted and insecure Valerie Mercer was promised that during her senior year of college she would finally attract attention from boys…but never dreamed that would include Michael Vartanian.
Good looking, troubled and every parent’s nightmare, Michael is adamant on introducing Valerie to a world of both pleasure and, inadvertently, heartbreak. His interest in Valerie is dependent upon the mood and fidelity of his on-and-off-again girlfriend, Breeze.
Nevertheless, Valerie lets her hope and desire override common sense and soon finds she can’ t deny Michael anything…no matter what’ s at stake.
Excerpt:
Valerie refused to entertain thoughts Michael might ever be interested in her, especially since she didn’t know what she’ d do if she had him. She knew of Kim Breza—better known as Breeze—and couldn’t think of two people more different than her and the popular, talkative blonde, whose sexual appetite was no secret. She had heard Breeze broadcast her erotic escapades in the women’ s bathroom, the hallway and just about everywhere else. Thus, Valerie knew Michael and his girlfriend had done practically everything under the sun during their on-again, off-again yet somehow enduring relationship.
That knowledge both excited and terrified her. Virginity, which was something her peers had outgrown long ago, was not something she wanted to give to just anyone. Therefore, she could never keep up with Michael.
But a little part of her wanted to try. A little part of her wanted to have the courage to find out how those lips of his tasted. A little part of her wanted to slide her hands down his broad back and into the back pockets of his jeans.
A little part of her wanted to do a whole lot to Michael Vartanian.
A racier excerpt can be found at http://www.theeroticwoman.com/erotica/coercion.
For details about Lux Zakari, visit www.luxzakari.com.
I’m Possessed . . .
By a very Fickle-Muse
There are muses that inspire music and there are muses for poetry and writing.
And then there is my muse. *Sigh*
Let me tell you about my muse. She used to get me in trouble at school. “Hey Janice,” she’d whisper during 3rd grade class. “You see those sparrows over there.”
I’d look out the window at the sparrows chirping in the trees. “Yeah?”
“What do you think it would be like to played tag with them?” Suddenly, I had wings to chase the birds around.
“Janice!” the teacher yelled. “Are you daydreaming again?”
“No,” I lied, ducking my head.
I loved arts and crafts, it occupied a lot of my free time. I could easily envision how the finished project was going to look, but it surprised me when other people couldn’t do the same.
When I was asked what’s going on in the picture? I told a story. I didn’t mean to, but the story was there in the drawing. I kind of wondered why no one else saw it but me. At age twenty I dabbled a bit with writing, but soon returned to my pen and ink drawings then later woodcrafts.
It wasn’t till a little over ten years ago that I finally followed the calling of my muse and started to write seriously for publication.
My muse finally told me her name, Anna-Bella. She’s about the size of a Barbie doll and wears very feminine clothes. She first showed up when I was the age to play with Barbie, which may account for her looking the way she does.
Often she’s not there when I need her. Sometimes I’d get lucky and she’ll show up, give me part of the story as a dream or a movie like flash. Which could be a paragraph, or page, or if she’s feeling really generous a whole chapter.
Anna-Bella would say, “Okay, got it?” Then my fickle muse would disappear for a while, and I’d have to figure out what happened next—on my own.
The worst time is Christmas, she’d disappear completely. I’ll call and call, but I get nothing from her, not even a shred of an idea. Then she’ll show up drunk on eggnog. “Oh sorry.” She’d hick-up. “I was watching Christmas tree lights. They’re cool. You ought to watch them sometime.”
“Yeah, I use to think they were cool too, when I was nine. What about this story we’re working on?” I’d thump a finger on the keyboard.
“Tomorrow, I’m heading to bed.”
Disheartened, I’d sigh and shake my head.
Last Christmas I had enough. I had the second round of edits to do on Windswept Shores, which is my first book. I thought she’d be as excited, too. After all she had inspired me to write it.
But she just yawned. “Yeah-yeah, I knew we’d get one sooner or later. Edits? Not my department sweetie.” She wondered off doing God knows what. Stare at Christmas lights again, I suppose.
Then she came home drunk on eggnog, singing silly little Christmas tunes in a high squeaky voice.
“Where the hell have you been?” I snarled at her. “We have edits to do, missy.” Looking her up and down, I yelled, “Just what are you wearing? What’s with the candy stripped dress and stockings, and red shoes with the curly toes?” I narrowed my eyes. “Did you mug an elf?”
Then she pantomimed locking her lips and throwing away the key.
“Okay, that’s it.” I tossed her sorry little butt in a birdcage then hung it by my desk. “Now help me out here.”
Saying nothing, she stuck her legs through the bars to rock it like a swing, and then stuck her tongue at me.
Grrr. Those were some very hard edits to get through too.
It wasn’t until recently I finally let her out, but I made her promise not to run off again. She’s sitting on my shoulder right now, still wearing the elf costume and smelling like a stinky little bird.
For a treat we went out to the mall. We took my daughter to Hot Topic and bought her a jacket. Then my daughter remembered she needed a dress, we found the best outfit . . .
Wait a minute . . . where did you get those elbow length, lace up gloves? I know I saw some at Hot Topic. You didn’t—?
Anna-Bella murmured something.
The little muse shop? But there’s no such thing. Anna-Bella what did you do!
Anna-Bella smugly produced a frilly dress and changed right there in front of me. The material is roses with a black back ground, she also has black stocking and Mary-Jane’s to complete the outfit. She says, “I’m tired of the elf costume.” Anna-Bella kicks the old outfit off my desk.
Well, no duh. You’ve been wearing it for months. Picking it up, I throw the smelly barbie doll sized clothes into the garbage.
She made herself comfortable on my shoulder. “Tell the nice people about our book.”
What? I have to go to work—now?
She nods, and then pulls my ear.
Ouch, what did I do to deserve a muse like you?
Something warm to read, while the months grow chilly.
From Pink Petal Books: Windswept Shores by Janice Seagraves (and Anna-Bella).
Windswept Shores, now available from Pink petal books.
Windswept Shores by Janice Seagraves
Cover Contest Winner
erotic contemporary romance
novel (approx 50K)
price $4.95
Cover Art by Pink Petal Books with assistance from Winterheart Design
BLURB:
The sole survivor of a plane crash, Megan is alone on a deserted island in the Bahamas until she finds a nearly-drowned man washed up on shore. Another survivor, this time from a boat wreck. With only meager survival skills between them, will they survive and can they find love?
Excerpt: Megan’s first snorkel lesson interrupted by . . . something very large.
“Oh, good, I thought you would insist that I learn the whole thing all at once,” Megan said, relieved. Jonathan would have.
“You aren’t ready to learn it all at once,” Seth told her. “Just float on you tummy and watch the fishies.”
They floated side by side. The bright-colored tropical fish darted about, reminding her of an aquarium seen from above. Something puzzled her. What’s happened to the fish? There’s not as many as there was before.
She floated over the kelp, noting pieces of crab shells scattered about. With a start, she spotted a pair of eyes watching her. Megan grabbed Seth’s arm, pointing. Her heart hammered in her chest while her stomach clinched. What the hell is that thing? The urge to run hit her hard. Calm, calm, wait and see what Seth does.
Seth nodded and swam down.
Floating in place, only occasionally moving his hand or foot, he and the critter seemed to take each other’s measure. A long moment passed, with Megan watching, still holding her breath. He swam back up to the surface.
Seth pulled his goggles and mouth piece off, setting them on top of his head. “It’s a giant octopus, luv. It blends right into the kelp, so we didn’t notice him before.”
Megan yanked out her mouth piece and sputtered, “What do you mean, giant octopus?”
“I reckon there isn’t so much seaweed as octopus. I think it’s been feeding on the fishies and the crabs here.”
“Well, that explains what happened to the fish.”
“You want to stay, or do you want give the ocean a burl?”
“The ocean. This little lagoon doesn’t feel so safe with a hungry giant octopus hanging around, pretending to be plant life.”
“Orright, let’s go. I’ll get a spear gun and collecting bag.” He headed toward the shore.
Megan swam slowly after until she felt something brush against her, going from crotch to foot. She put more speed into her stroke and soon passed Seth, hitting the beach at a dead run. Turning, she stared back at the innocent-seeming pool. For a brief moment, the water appeared crystal clear, and she could clearly see the giant octopus as it seemed to wink at her, before pulling itself back into the kelp. The breeze picked up, obscuring the surface.
“What’s the matter, luv?” Seth asked as he took off his goggles.
“I think. No, I know that thing touched me.” She pointed at the lagoon with a shaking finger.
“A touch or a grab?” he asked, looking back at the pool.
“A touch,” she admitted.
“They’re intelligent creatures, luv. It might have had a bit of fun with you.” He grinned.
“You’re a fisherman. Go get it—kill it,” she demanded, glaring back at the water. “How do you like that, huh? Tentacles, it’s what’s for dinner!”
***
Now also available at Smashwords, Diesel, All Romance and for the kindle at Amazon.
Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XUAMBhl76k
For Halloween, a scary post from my new book
Windswept Shores by Janice Seagraves
Even though my book is a contemporary romance, there are some scary stuff that my couple goes through on their deserted island.
Janice~
Windswept Shores, now available from Pink petal books.
Windswept Shores by Janice Seagraves Cover Contest Winner
erotic contemporary romance novel (approx 50K) price $4.95
Cover Art by Pink Petal Books with assistance from Winterheart Design
BLURB: The sole survivor of a plane crash, Megan is alone on a deserted island in the Bahamas until she finds a nearly-drowned man washed up on shore. Another survivor, this time from a boat wreck. With only meager survival skills between them, will they survive and can they find love?
EXCERPT:
Hearing an odd noise, they exchanged a worried glance. It sounded again.
Megan pulled down the corners of her mouth, spitting out one word, “Pigs.”
Seth’s eyes widened. “Bill.” He thrust the eggs into her hands, heading to the ladder on the side of the boat.
“Where are you going?” Megan asked.
“They’re in Bill’s ashes. After his bones.”
“You can’t charge boars barehanded. They have long, sharp tusks.” She frowned. “The last time I ran across a wild pig, I had to climb a tree.”
He slammed his fist on the boat’s railing. “I should have taken them out last night and buried them.” Opening a chest, Seth took out a spear gun. “You know how to use one of these?”
“No, I’ve only seen them on TV.” She set the eggs on the swivel chair.
“It’s just like on the box. You point and pull the trigger.” Seth demonstrated, loading it with a long spear with a wicked looking barb.
“What are you going to do?” She took the spear-gun.
Seth pushed the sharp end away from him. “I’m gonna make a bullroarer.” He brought out some heavy duty fishing line, tying a pointed weight to the end of it. “If I get charged, shoot. But try not to hit me.”
“I’ll try,” she said softly.
“Try a little harder than that, luv.” He grinned as he climbed down the ladder.
Megan scurried over to the side and aimed the spear gun at the pigs.
Seth rounded the bow of the boat. He called out with a thick accent, “Oy, get away from there, you miserable drongo.”
The boar grunted at him, sounding like “Huh?” The sow snorted, her piglets hiding behind her.
“Well come on, take a gander at the big Aussie.” He spread his arms wide as the boar snuffled, trying to scent him. Seth unwound the cord from the weight, spinning it over his head. The weapon started to hum until it turned into a very odd loud buzzing noise.
Alarmed by the noise, the pigs snorted and squealed.
“What a gas bag you are, you and your dirty grubs.” He moved closer to the hogs.
The female and the babies acted nervous, as if they didn’t want anything to do with that odd whirling noise overhead. With a last loud squeal of dismay, they ran off.
The boar didn’t budge but pawed the ground. “Seth, the boar is going to charge,” Megan warned. She kept a bead on it with the spear-gun.
“Steady now, Megz.” He edged closer to the boar. “Oy, you great big wanker, your missus left and so should you.”
The bore squealed ferociously and charged. Megan screamed. The spear-gun went off.
***
My website: http://janiceseagraves.org/
Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XUAMBhl76k
Depute Author: Marie Beau
Hi, you’re just in time. Pull up a chair we’re just about to start. Here with me today is a new author Maire Beau.
Maire : Hi Janice, thanks for having me.
Janice: Tell us about yourself?
Maire: Well, I work full time, write part time, sing part time, write songs part time, take care of my husband and teenage daughter, and try to squeeze in time for breathing. LOL.
Janice: Lol, sounds like a lot of work.
When did you start writing?
Maire: I started writing about ten years ago. I’ve been an avid reader since I was a teenager, but the only thing I used to write was poetry. I actually had one poem published on a greeting card just after my college years.
Janice: Who was the biggest influence on your writing?
Donna: Definitely my daughter. I actually started writing because I would make up bed time stories for her. She found them more entertaining than most books I got her. So when I finally got around to writing them down, I also started writing a novel – that’s patiently waiting for a major rewrite.
Janice: Oh, that is sweet.
How do you go about your writing? Do your prefer pencils to pens or is it all straight computer work?
Maire: I can type so much faster than write (plus I can read it!), not to mention my hand cramping and ink running – it’s definitely straight to the computer for me.
Janice: Hey, me too. *Grin* What influences you in your writing?
Maire: Music, movies, reading, or straight research? You know, I honestly don’t know. I just suddenly have ideas that pop into my head so I’ll jot down a page or two (yes, this is sometimes, ugh, hand written), then type it into my idea file to be expanded on when the time is right.
Janice: You sound much more organized than I am, lol.
When do you write morning or evening, or are you a late into the wee hours of the morning person?
Donna: Since I refuse to get up any earlier than 6AM, evening is the only time I have available. So I take what I can get and squeeze in as much as I can.
Janice: I don’t blame you. Who in charge you or your muse?
Donna: Definitely my muse. For the most part, the story is as much a surprise to me as it is to any other reader. I’m just the conduit.
Janice: Use only one word to describe your writing style?
Donna: Character driven all the way. If you want a story that you can love or hate the characters, dive in. Or at least what you want your readers to take away from your writing. Just an enjoyment for the time they’ve spent with my characters.
Janice: Sounds good. I love character driven stories.
What other books have you written?
Maire: I have several others, but nothing else published as yet.
Janice: What influenced your recent book, the one you are promoting here today?
Maire: I have always loved shape shifter stories. I tend to go through certain categories of stories in large blocks. After stumbling across a really good one last year, I hunted up every shifter story I could find. And when I ran out, I wrote my own.
Blurb: Lyssa Merrick has no intention of ever being involved with a wolf, but when Wolfe Reardon seeks her wildlife services she realizes choosing a mate is not always a conscious decision.
The jingle of the bells over the door announced his arrival. Lyssa sighed and dropped the tea ball into the cup of water.
I can do this.
She stepped into the front of the store and looked toward the door. Where is he? I know it was him. She frowned, turned back toward the kitchen, and screamed when a hand landed on her shoulder.
Without thinking, she gripped the hand, stepped into his side, and flipped him. Her eyes widened when she realized what she had done. I guess it’s not all about size after all. She practically giggled until she looked down at him, lying there so still. Perhaps he got the breath knocked out of him when he landed.
She shifted from foot to foot, staring at him, waiting for him to move, to open his eyes.
“Wolfe. Wolfe, I‟m sorry. You scared me.” She ran a hand through her hair setting it all askew she was sure.
“Come on Wolfe, you didn‟t land that hard,” she whispered. She knelt down to check his pulse only to have her hand snared and drawn to his chest. His eyes popped open, a grin spreading across his face.
Lyssa jerked back, trying to get free. “Okay, joke‟s over. You can let me go now.” She struggled to straighten and pull her hand out of his grasp but instead found herself sprawled on top of him when he tugged her down.
“Easy kitty, no claws…”
I will be giving away a copy of Wolf! to the lucky commenter who leaves the most comments in my blog tour before October 9th. All of my stops have been posted on my blog. Feel free to go back and post to them.
Thanks for stopping by,
Marie
Visit me at: http://www.authormariebeau.blogspot.com/
Wolf!
New release 10/1/2010 from Whispers Publishing.
http://www.whispershome.com/book_pages/wolf.html
Janice Seagraves, Author 