MISTER APRIL: LEILAND DALE

Leiland, thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. I've been reading about you on the web, so before I get to the questions, tell me a little about yourself.

Initially, I began reading Harlequin Romance and Silhouette Desire but later transitioned to Silhouette Nocturne. But after reading the first M/M erotic romance, tons of M/M material soon followed. As an avid reader I decided one day to take a stab at writing a book. These days, when not writing something new, I can be found reading a steamy romance (shifters are a fave!), taking my pet dog for a walk or watching movies such as A Walk to Remember.

Most people who recognize your name associate it with male erotica. Why did you choose this genre?

My interest in the genre stems from a fundamental fact that I am gay. But it goes beyond this. I have found m/m fiction offers a broader spectrum than other genres. One big factor that attracts me is the storylines. My original interest began with Harlequin romances. Although I enjoyed them, I found many of the storylines predictable. I was able to guess the plot of some books simply by reading the blurb. I find m/m fiction offers greater variety and piqued my interest much more than other genres.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Well, actually I have a favorite book and a favorite series – both for the same reasons.  Wes and Toren by J.M. Colail and Andrew Grey’s Love Means series.  Like everyone else, I enjoy an occasional vacation from reality and will pick up a story that allows me to get away from everyday life.  But these two stories stand out the most for me because of their realism.  The authors have kept the books so close to reality, they read like true stories. So I am able to completely engross myself in the story and feel and see everything as if I was a part of it far more intensely than a getaway fiction.

You moved into the role of publisher a while back. Why did you want to make that leap?

Several reasons. As an author, there were several areas where I felt there could be change. Researching, I found most publishers took a larger chunk of royalties than what they should. I also found most publishers take so long to give a reply – regardless of whether they accept or decline the submission.  After reading other author’s comments about their experiences with some publishers, I realized there were few, if any, publishers out there who actually focused on the author and their needs. I wanted to change that – make a difference.

You have some very talented people working for you. How long did it take to get the right staff, or was that by trial and error?

Yes I do :)

Since opening our doors, we’ve gone through several staff changes all in an effort to make improvements where needed.  We’ve been lucky in some departments, while others have been through trial and error. We’re still making changes and are learning as we grow. We are always receptive to corrections and suggestions that improve the quality of the products and services we offer. 

Now that Silver Publishing is coming up on its first birthday, how do you feel about your progress? Have you lived up to your own expectations?

I’m proud to say we will be celebrating our first anniversary as a full service publisher on June 1, 2011 and that we have exceeded our expectations.

When you began as a publisher, did you have certain goals for five, ten or fifteen years down the road?

Our goal has always been to be recognized as the publisher for the author.  I expect us to grow over the next few years.  But ultimately, it’s not the growth that matters most to us, it’s the goal to ultimately be there for the author.

Do you envision reaching your five-year goal before/after that time, or do you feel you're on track?

Based on the current performance in such a short period of time, we’ll meet our five-year goal much quicker than we expected. Not only will we meet our goal, I’m certain we will exceed it before this time.

As a publisher, do you depend on your staff and go with their decisions, or do you have to have the final say on every book before it's published?

I have a handful of staff that I respect to make good decisions. However, there are times when I’ve overridden their decisions because I may know additional information, which may ultimately affect the expected outcome.

I noticed that one of your titles is in Spanish. Is this a trend?

Silver Publishing publishes Spanish books as well. We have a handful of translators that do the translations for us. 

Are you still writing, or does publishing limit your writing time?

I’m still writing but publishing does limit my time immensely. I’m currently working on making a few changes in staff and responsibilities to allow me to delegate some tasks to allow for more writing time.

Now, for everyone out there, when a book is submitted to Silver Publishing, do you personally read them, or do you have an acquisitions editor? And how does an author impress the acquisitions department enough to get a contract?

Submissions are currently handled by our Editor-in-Chief, and she reviews all submissions.  Honestly, an author impresses our EIC by providing a detailed synopsis, which provides a well-rounded picture of the manuscript and captures the author’s enthusiasm for the piece. If an author submits their work with only a two or three line summary, this shows a lack of interest in their submission.  And if they aren’t interested in their own story, it’s a bit difficult to inspire any sort of excitement on our part.

Are you looking for any particular genre, or manuscript length at this time? Any submission calls for 4^th of July or Halloween?

We currently have a call for submissions with a Father’s Day theme, as well as holiday submissions for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Thank you so much for joining me, Mr. Dale. Is there anything you would like to add?

Yes, since this is publishing in April, I want my birthday wish to be granted.  A large sexy man with a beautiful smile and nice a$$ who brings me sparkly gifts.

LOL Well, there you have it. Any single guys out there that meet Mr. Dale's requirements, he's looking for a very special birthday surprise! (But he is a Taurus, guys so beware!) That's hilarious. Thank you so much for being Mister April, and I hope you have a great birthday. After all, turning 21 is a big deal! LOLOLOLOL

Leiland's Links:

Author Site

Face Book

Twitter

Silver Publishing

Buy Link

Paul's D'Marco 

Matt D'Marco has happily settled in his routine for years. Now with a pending divorce, recently promoted Matt's life is about to take an entirely new direction. Matt's first case as detective turns out to be a challenge. Desperation sets in when all leads in the child serial killer case leave the police department empty handed. Paul Whittington, psychic and medium, may be the only solution in finding a break in the case.

Matt and Paul are forced to work together. But when a work relationship turns into something more, it challenges everything Matt's known about himself, his life, and desires. Then, a turn in the case could put everything at risk. In the end, can Paul win over Matt's resistance and claim him as his own?

When The Bluebird Calls 

Devon Reid, veterinarian, had a partner of 2 years, a beautiful house, and a fantastic job. Then, life as he knew it, changed.

Six months ago, he became his mother's sole caretaker when her cancer returned. With his constant absence from home, his relationship ends leaving him alone in one of the most emotionally draining points in his life. When his mother passes, he is lonely and loses his zest for life.

With his emotions and life in turmoil, Devon decides it's time to make a change. Leaving the city life behind and taking a job in a small town in Montana, was just what the doctor ordered. Then, he meets the hunky ranch foreman, Greg Elliot.

Greg has lived most of his life on a ranch. Living in a small town didn't offer many prospects for a relationship, until he meets the new veterinarian in town.

While they try to resist the obvious mutual attraction, a fateful call during the night changes it all.

What is a city boy to do when a small town cowboy ropes him in?

 Un Corazon Amante (Hart of the Mountain)

Durante siete a os, Jasper Elliot se sinti traicionado y solo, cuando su hermano se march de casa.Cuando un visitante inesperado se presenta y le descubre la verdadera razon por la que su hermano le dej, Jasper se enfrenta a una decisi n que cambiar el curso de su vida. Al llegar al Rancho Mountain Hart, no solo no van las cosas de la manera que l esperaba, sino que tambi n encuentra lo que cre a inalcanzable. 

Seth Hart ten a un secreto que le hab a dejado profundas cicatrices. Para mantener su secreto a salvo, nunca sal a con nadie y siempre aseguraba no involucrar a su coraz n. Con la llegada de Jasper, las resoluciones de Seth vuelan por la ventana. La atracci n instant nea que Seth siente por Jasper es excitante pero tambi n le da miedo. Justo cuando las cosas empiezan a ir mejor de lo que nunca pod a esperar Seth, su pasado les alcanza.

  BUY LEILAND'S BOOKS HERE

MISTER MARCH: G.R. BRETZ

Welcome to the Spotlight, Glenn. I'm thrilled you could join me today.

Hi Rie, Thanks for inviting me.

Before we get down to business here, I just want to say thank you for agreeing to this interview. I'd also like to mention that I had the real pleasure of sharing a spot in the anthology, Cocked & Fully Loaded (Noble Romance Publishing) with GR Bretz and I've been in love ever since!

Ah shucks, color me flattered.

First, tell everyone what genre you write and why you decided to be a writer.

My two novels and two short stories have all been in the erotic romance genre. I decided to write for the same reason I decided to drink and do drugs. I needed to escape from reality.

LOL I'm glad your sense of humor hasn't suffered! Do you remember the first thing you ever wrote? What was it, have you recently reread it and what do you think of it?

I definitely remember the first thing I ever wrote. It was my epic spec-fic trilogy. It spanned fourteen centuries and fifteen hundred pages, single-spaced. Of course, it was un-publishable, as most first novels are.

My first serious attempt at publishing something was Absinthe Eyes & Other Lies, which was published by Noble Romance. It’s a dark and decadent look at alcoholism and insanity; an art eats artist sort of thing.

What is a typical writing day like for you?

There is no typical writing day for me. My days are as unique as snowflakes and frequently as insubstantial.

You recently told me you've gone into another genre or area of writing, what exactly is it you're doing and why the switch?

I’ve been writing short stories for the spec-fic market. I think a writer’s best chance at success, and personal satisfaction, is to write what they most love reading. For me, that’s spec-fic and especially short stories. I enjoy the challenge of telling a complete story in five or six thousand words.

Is writing your career or do you have a wicked day job that keeps you from your muse?

Sadly, I have a wicked day job. My muse is the love of my life, but she doesn’t pay the bills. I don’t mind supporting her. Hopefully, someday she’ll do the same for me.

Writing can be a pretty cushy job and done in your pj's. How cushy is it for you?

Physically, it’s very cushy. However, much of what I write is very dark and has to do with characters dealing with their worst fears and insecurities. So, it does leave me drained on an emotional level.

If you suddenly could never write again, what would you do? Do you have a fall back job?

I suppose if I couldn’t write anymore, I’d read even more and listen to a lot of sad music.

You've written some pretty provocative pieces. What's your inspiration behind these stories?

There’s a bit of me in every male lead I write. It tends to be that part of me that I keep hidden from the world. In life, you have to filter your thoughts and words for the sake of others. Fiction gives you the freedom to be spontaneous and carefree.

My favorite style of writing is first person, present tense. I want the reader to experience the story exactly as the character does. It can be very emotionally intense.

Is there any genre that makes you uncomfortable to write?

As a rule, I don’t like writing a lot of graphic sex scenes, although some stories do require it. Ideally, I’d like to be the final judge as to how much sex is in a story and how graphically that sex is portrayed. The reality is that I frequently wind up adding more sex scenes to please the publishers.

I've heard you say (quite often) that you drink Absinthe. I never have, so would you please share with us what it is and how you drink it?

Absinthe is a very potent alcoholic drink, which can cause hallucinations. It tastes like liquid licorice and kicks like a mule. It’s very effective at releasing inhibitions and putting me in the right frame of mind for writing. Absinthe is nectar for the imaginations.

I've heard you're not supposed to let it touch your lips. What else has never touched your lips?

I’ve heard that too, but I don’t believe it. The only thing I love more than the taste of absinthe lingering on my lips is the taste of absinthe lingering on the lips of a beautiful woman.

As to the second part of the question, there are a great many things that have never touched my lips.

You told me you moved to Florida for the sun, sex, and fun? How is it?

Lately it seems like there’s too much of the first one and not nearly enough of the other two.

Now that you're Mister March, do you think you'll be doing more centerfolds?

I think I’ll pass on that.

Thank you so much for chatting with me today, Glenn, it's been a real pleasure. Is there anything else you'd like people to know?

I suppose this is the part where I should be plugging my previous books. They’re all available at Noble Romance Publishing. I particularly recommend Absinthe Eyes & Other Lies. It’s very unique and received many great reviews.

I would like to leave you with a short, beautiful poem guaranteed to touch the heart of any romance reader or writer. I wish it were mine, but it was written 750 years ago, in ancient Persia.

Quatrain

Jaleel al-Din Rumi

The tender words we said to one another

Are stored in a secret part of heaven

One day like rain they will fall and spread

And our mystery will grow green over the world.

Very sweet, Mr. March. And I have to agree with those reviews of Absinthe Eyes & Other Lies. It's a very compelling read, as is Mr. Bretz's contribution to Winter Kisses Anthology, A Schrödinger Christmas – Holly.

Absinthe Eyes

When a legend lingers for centuries there’s usually a bit of truth to it. For two hundred years people have whispered about the green fairy that lives in bottles of absinthe. Drink up. If you’re lucky you may see her. If you’re very lucky you may catch her. No one should ever be that lucky. Ask David, Vincent and Richard; three men with a few things in common. They have found inspiration. They have met the Muse. They have taken Dahlia to their hearts and to their beds. It cost them their sanity and their lives. If Stephen isn’t very careful he’s going to be number four.

Gunmetal Blue

Meet Blue—an ex-Confederate cavalry officer living off his wits and his guns in Reconstruction era Texas—and Sally—a young woman stuck in a loveless marriage to a man who only married her for her family name. When Sally's stage is attacked by robbers, Blue comes to her rescue. Together, they make their way across the Lone Star state. But when they reach a crossroads, the direction they choose will change the course of their lives forever.

Trill Song

Liwa is a young woman with a mission. She means to end the war that has drained her society of its best and brightest for centuries. When Liwa was seven, the Healer fled the village in fear of her life. She left her six year old son, Temo, in Liwa’s care.

Now Temo has come of age and Liwa is determined to keep him from being sent to war. Her efforts incur the wrath of the ruling Elders. Liwa must come to terms with her conflicted feelings for Temo, as the two of them fight their way north in search of the legendary Andrigorn valley and the one person who can help Liwa end the war: Temo’s mother.

A Schrodinger Christmas - Holly

She’s the girl who lives in his dreams, but she’s so much more than that. She’s the girl he was supposed to meet, twice. She’s the path he didn’t take, twice. That was forty years ago and you just can’t go back, except in dreams.

But it’s Christmas day. Miracles have been known to happen. Who knows? The third time just might be the charm.

BUY LINK

MISTER JANUARY: ED WILLIAMS

Rie: First off, let me say thank you, thank you, thank you for being Mister January, Ed. If anyone can pull Mister January, it's you! Ed and I are old friends but we haven't spoken much lately. As with everyone, we get busy, we have our families and lives and then the holidays showed up again…whew! Anyway, Ed, as always, is the epitome of the southern gentleman and he always makes me laugh.

Ed, I recently read that your book Sex, Dead Dogs, and Me is being revived at Champagne Books. What's that all about?

Ed: Rie, first off, thanks for havin' me, it's always fun to play online with you! Sex, Dead Dogs, and Me, it's funny. It's my very first book and was published in hardback back in 1998. First thing I've ever written in my life, and it ended up being published through a series of fluke-type events that can only be described as Forrest Gump-like. After it was published, it actually starting selling. After initially appearing in three bookstores in Macon, Georgia, it ended up being stocked nationally in the Books A Million stores and all over the southeast in the Barnes and Nobles. It literally, and literarily, got me out there, all the speaking gigs and articles and subsequent books came from it.

Fast forward to the present. SDDAM has been officially out of print for years as the small Texas publisher who initially put it out closed up shop. Even at that, copies still sell on Amazon and other outlets sometimes for fairly significant bucks. Seeing that, Ellen and I talked about potentially offering it again in the current digital formats, so that's what we've decided to do. I'm pleased to announce that Sex, Dead Dogs, and Me will be released by Champagne Books in January of 2011!

Rie: Last year you wrote a book called ChristmaSin and the reviews were varied. What do reviews mean to you?

Ed: I think they express one person's opinion about your work, and that's fine. I knew ChristmaSin' was going to be interpreted differently by the people who've read it. It's written in the first person - I'm actually narrating it as a sixteen year old boy back in my hometown of Juliette, Georgia (its one claim to fame is it's where the movie Fried Green Tomatoes was filmed). I took actual events that happened there years ago and weaved them into a pretty real rural Southern Christmas story. Since the book was written using the dialect and slang of the time and featured some adult language and events like cockfights, I knew it wasn't the typical Christmas story. As a result, I expected the reviews to be mixed and I'm glad they were, I really don't want to be everyone's cup of homogenized tea.

Rie: I read you have been the guest speaker at the Kiwanis International, Rotary International, and the American Advertising Federation. How did that come about?

Ed: After SDDAM got popular, I was asked to appear on the Georgia Public Radio program Cover to Cover. I didn't realize it at the time, but that program is really popular, has been for years. My hour long stint on it garnered lots of call-in interest, I was told afterwards we drew more callers and listeners than they'd ever enjoyed before. A few days after the program aired I got a call from the Georgia Kiwanis Organization, and they invited me to speak to a luncheon meeting they were having at their upcoming statewide conference on Jekyll Island. I agreed to do it, thinking I'd get a night or two of free lodging on Jekyll in exchange for a talk in front of maybe forty or fifty people. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I was going to be speaking to a group of almost five hundred people! I just about crapped in my pants when I learned that, but I somehow managed to survive it. After that, I began getting invites from other groups, and my speaking activities just kinda went from there.

Rie: Is public speaking difficult for you, or do you imagine everyone in their underwear and just go for it?

Ed: I always get a little nervous, but I have a bit that I do that sets the tone and is kinda in line with my wild literary persona. I always get up there and tell the audience that there's always one woman in every crowd that I wish I could do the mattress tango with, and that I'm looking at her right now! For some reason everyone laughs, and afterwards I usually get one or two questions from folks wanting to know who it is!

Rie: You've been called the "literary Hank Williams, Jr." What a compliment! How do you feel about that title?

Ed: I love it! Bocephus is an all-time favorite of mine, and to be compared in any way with him is a total honor. I could listen to him for hours, and I love how he separates his public persona from his personal life, there's an art to doing that.

Rie: You refer to yourself as a Southern Outlaw. What does this mean?

Ed: I write kinda wild material, Southern humor but humor as it actually happened. I don't clean up the language and situations much, and I'm not trying to be everyone's favorite writer. I'm one of those types who'd rather stay true to the story than bland them down for more general consumption. I guess that pretty well sums up what I mean when I call myself a Southern Outlaw writer.

Rie: You and your friends, Ray and Hugh are members of The Brotherhood. Can anyone join? Is there an application? Are there dues?

Ed: Ray Pippin and Hugh Foskey are my two best friends. Ray and I literally grew up together, Hugh we met at Georgia College and State University back in 1976. Collectively we're known as "The Brotherhood." We've had some helluva good times and some wild fun together - believe me, I haven't written about half of it yet! Since Hugh was our last member and was inducted back in 1976, I guess you could say that we have a very tight membership, we joke about being the most exclusive social organization in the world!

Rie: You are one of the biggest flirts I've ever known. How does your SO feel about that? (I personally love it!)

Ed: I love women, appreciate women, and have always been that way. I guess I've never seen what was wrong with telling a pretty lady she's a pretty lady, and no one is pointing a gun telling anyone that they have to flirt back. So darlin', I am what I am, and those close to me recognize that. They also recognize that there's a difference in my public and private personas, too.

Rie: Christmas 2010 is over (and 2011 will be here in a flash). How did your family celebrate the holidays? And what will you be doing for New Year's Eve?

Ed: Just low keying it. Ray, Hugh, and met over at the IHOP (our lake home on Lake Sinclair in Milledgeville, we're only about four miles from Flannery O'Connor's Andulusia, imagine that) for our annual Christmas celebration, and I enjoyed the usual one with my family.

New Year's Eve, I'm not sure what I'll be doing yet, but there are already a couple of wonderful possibilities! Ask me this question again in about a week!

Rie: This will post on New Year's Day, are you hung over?

Ed: Glisrae asada aeaagwrjhbkbwasd  badklajrfea.

Rie: Ha! Ha! Ed, thank you so much for being here. I look forward to interviewing you again when that new book comes out! Please, tell everyone where they can find you on the web.

Ed: Rie, you know I love ya to death, and anyone wanting to find out more about me can do so by clicking these links:

www.ed-williams.com 

www.christmasinthebook.com

www.twitter.com/ELW3 

                                                             

                       

Author Bio:
Ed was born June 19, 1956, to Ed and Barbara Williams in Forsyth, Georgia. He was raised in Juliette and is a proud product of the Monroe County public school system. He graduated from Mary Persons High School in 1974, obtained an Associate's degree from Gordon College in 1976, a BBA from Georgia College and State University in 1978, and an MBA in 1991 from the same university. Ed is married to Debbie, his wife of 29 years, and has two children, Alison (26) and Will (Ed IV - 23). He and his family currently reside in Macon, Georgia.

Cinsearae Santiago

Title: ABRAXAS: Seeing Green (Book 4 in the ABRAXAS Series)
Release Date: 2009
Author: Cinsearae Santiago
Author Website
Publisher: Lulu Press
Buy Link
Genre: Dark Paranormal, Romance, Horror
Blurb: Edward lies in a coma in the hospital, with Christine having a sneaking suspicion Ryan has something to do with Edward's current condition. Ryan continues to act strangely possessive of Christine to the point where it becomes too scary for her. Edward's spectral form constantly cries to Christine for help, leaving her with many sleepless nights... and to make matters more trying for her, Christine's best friend stops by for a visit, unknowing of her situation. (This is part 4 in the continuation of The ABRAXAS Series at http://BloodTouch.webs.com/abraxas.htm )


Welcome Cinsearae and thanks so very much for agreeing to the interview.
Thank you so much for having me here, Rie! A pleasure to join you!


Can you tell us the journey you embarked upon to your first publishing contract?   
It hasn’t been an easy one, but when you love what you do, you keep plugging away! J I’ve only been ‘out there’ for about six years or so, and I’m still learning the tricks of the trade, as they change so rapidly. My first publishing contract came with Forbidden Publications, which unfortunately folded. I had entered a couple of writing contests, which garnered two contracts from them. As of now I self-publish, which has been going well, but I still like the feel of being with a traditional publisher, so I never cease looking and hoping to land a contract again in the future. I recently had one of my short stories published in a horror comedy anthology from Damnation Books, titled “The Zombie Cookbook”, and two more short stories to appear in anthologies this year through Library of the Living Dead Press, so the opportunities are still out there! J


Which author(s) inspire you and why?
Poe has been my first and favorite author. I’ve always enjoyed his dreary, dreadful writings, and the period style of his writing. I also enjoy King’s works, as his imagination is tireless!

Do you have a favorite book that you’ve written, and if so, what is your favorite scene? 
I think it might be the very first book. In ABRAXAS:The Beginning, after Christine calms down a bit after realizing what she has become, she sets out to find her attacker. When she does, she tries breaking his neck. Not only does she twist his head to the point where it’s completely backwards--and yes, he’s still alive--she hurls him into the street, and his head gets run over by a taxicab. The cab also starts a chain accident, and Christine is in morbid shock knowing she started it!

Your favorite book by another author?
It think it would have to be Pet Sematary, by Stephen King. I read that when I was twelve, (and it was the first book of his I had ever gotten my hands on!) and boy, did my imagination fly off the handle with that book!  Since then, I was hooked. Another one of his books that’s a favorite of mine is Rose Madder. (I’m not sure if the Creepshow comic book counts, but I love that one too.) J

What book(s) are reading right now? 
Right now, I’m working on Gregory Macguire’s books (Wicked, Son of a Witch.) I’m enjoying his take on the whole Wizard of Oz story!


If you could choose one author to co-write a book with who would it be?
King definitely. (But if Poe were alive, then it would be him.) J

What type of research do you do for your novels?
I haven’t really done any research on any of my books until The Show Must Go On since that’s my first ‘period’ piece, and still a WIP, due out early this spring! Even so, I didn’t have to do much research, lol. Not a big fan of doing that! (History wasn’t my biggest subject in school, unless it was something I was personally interested in learning about--like ancient Egypt or the Elizabethan era.) J So, since I write a lot of ‘modern’ paranormal/vampire/horror stories, I fall back on all the movies, documentaries, and non-fiction books I’ve read on the subjects. Also, current events play a part in helping develop my stories.

What do you think makes a good horror story?
First, you don’t need a bunch of blood and gore. I think folks have become too desensitized to the violence, real-life or fictional, especially in gore-fest movies you see these days. Sure, it’s fun to put in, but ONLY when necessary. I prefer the tension that builds up to the climax. The subtle things that will make you look over your shoulder or makes your hair stand on end. Things that make you think twice about talking to a stranger, betraying someone’s trust, or coveting something you know isn’t yours. And most of all, what makes you terrified to walk alone in the dark.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?  
I don’t have a schedule. It would never work out well for me, lol! My writing is sporadic, so when the mood hits me to write, I write until I simply can’t anymore. On my ‘dry spells’ I’m always doing something else creative that’s not writing related, until my muse comes back for another visit. J I like writing in the very early morning, when it’s nice and quiet and the busy energies of the world are at a low. Either then, or very late at night. J

What was one of the most surprising things you learned writing your books? 
That I really do have lots of other people in my head with their own voices, stories, and plenty to say! I wonder where the heck these people came from? LOL!


How do you satisfy your muse when things get rough while writing a book?
Lots of walks in nature and cemeteries, plus taking lots of photographs in the process! This has become one of my favorite pastimes, and folks can see the fruits of my labor at my photo gallery, http://cinsearaesgalleries.webs.com as well as my official website http://bloodtouch.webs.com ! J 

How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?
I think being a lover of all things creepy, quirky, vampiric, paranormal, and Gothic is what got me started. It’s no surprise I love Halloween, and I love the old classic movies that starred Vincent Price--mostly Roger Corman’s movies based on a lot of Poe’s works. J As a child, being overly-sheltered and bored as hell with everything ‘normal’ forced me to find ways to entertain myself, so writing and reading creepy books became some of my best escapes.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I’m either jewelry crafting or tinkering around with Photoshop, creating digital art. Folks can find some of my art on my web gallery, too. J


Before we say goodbye, could you tell us about your latest release and maybe give us an excerpt?
Absolutely! ABRAXAS: Seeing Green picks up right where the last book leaves off. Christine and the Abraxas Clan have just finished dealing with a psycho woman who’s a necromancer to boot, plus happened to be a former flame of Ryan’s. She tried passing off a child (that she created through demonic means) as his son, hoping to worm her way back into his life and push Christine out of it, so the Clan squashes her crazy plans--but not before some negative, demonic energies get a hold of Ryan, and slowly start to possess him. The demon feeds off of Ryan’s weaknesses, his main one being Christine, turning Ryan’s petty jealousies into something much more dangerous…
EXCERPT:

I got to the foyer and raced up the staircase. Dumb move! I should have ran out of the mansion! I felt as stupid as those girlie victims in horror movies who always ran up instead of out whenever they were trapped in a building or house, all the while being chased by some undead, crazy, serial killer. Common sense would have told anyone to leave. I guess it has a tendency to allude you when you’re in a panic.

       From a short distance away, I heard Ryan growl again, making the hairs on my neck rise. I didn’t know what his problem was--aside from me smacking him with my energy--but I didn’t want to use my more forceful powers on him either. Who knew what would happen to him, or what affect it would have on me.

      He bounded up the stairs by twos, grabbed my ankle, and I fell on the steps with a thump. He clambered over me, and flipped me over so I would be facing him. He held my wrists down. That solid, gross, zombie-like color was gone from his eyes, but his irises remained bright green. He wore his usual suspicious look and smirked, raising an eyebrow at me, giving a slight sniff of arrogance.

      “Going somewhere…my dear?” We were nose to nose.

      “I--I--” I stammered. The hard edges of the steps were really biting hard into my back and arms.

      “Did you honestly think these little games you and Kiera were playing around the house would work? Did you really think you had me fooled?” His grin grew wider.

      How long did he know? “So…we were both trying to play each other for fools. Whoop-de-fucking-do,” I replied in a snide tone.

      “A sad and pathetic raggedy bunch of so-called vampires can’t stop me,” he hissed. “You, who’s too afraid to use the powers you’ve been given, and your ‘mate’ being just as bad, while being absolutely sick in love with you. You both couldn’t have been an easier target.”

      “Target?” I echoed. “What the hell are you talking about?”  

      Demon Ryan's eyes flickered an even brighter shade of green. Any more and they’d look neon.

      “That stupid witch had abilities I already possess. Hanging around her was starting to prove useless, until I found out she knew your mate, Ryan Price, who has powers I’ve always dreamed of possessing. The powers of Abraxas.” He took a deep breath, calming down. “Then I discovered you share the same power!” His grin widened. “One of man’s biggest sins is jealousy, and once I realized how much he covets you, it was all too easy to invade him.” He ran his cheek against mine, and I heard him inhale deeply. God, nothing could describe how badly this was freaking me the hell out. I wished I had something nearby to knock him unconscious with.

      But then he distracted himself. “I love the scent of your skin. Like cherries and blackberry wine…” He ran the tip of his tongue around the edge of my ear, making me shiver. But it wasn’t Ryan’s tongue; it was too slender, too snakelike. Good thing I couldn’t see it---I might have screamed.

      “I can see why he’s so passionate about you,” he continued, pulling back slowly. He looked into my eyes, then, very predator-like, he covered my throat with his hand. I gasped, the knot in my stomach tightening more. He tilted my head to the side slowly, exposing my neck.

      “I could kill you right now with a flick of my wrist,” he whispered. “But it would be such a waste…”

      The look on Demon Ryan’s face was very calm and almost seductive. Now holding my shoulders down, he leaned forward, licking me from the base of my ear, then down my carotid artery, and around to the hollow of my throat. My heart was beating so fast, I thought it would explode.

      Slowly, his tongue slid up the middle of neck. I grimaced. He continued going under my chin, following the curve of it, then brushed my bottom lip. I closed my eyes, too afraid to---

      Don’t look Christine, don’t look!

      Sometimes I wished I listened to my inner-self.

      It took all the strength and will I had in my bones not to shriek, as I caught a glimpse of that forked, blood-red, snakelike tongue retracting itself back into Ryan’s mouth.

      “I want to taste you, Christine,” he whispered softly, his breathing quickening, the look in his eyes deadly as he tightened the grip he had on my shoulders.

      I panicked, fearing the worst. Snakes could smell with their tongues, and I half-wondered if he was smelling my blood under the surface of my skin.

      I swallowed, then bravely gave a half-hearted laugh. “You’ve done that---quite a few times now.”

      “I want...to taste...a different essence,” he replied, and before I realized it, he flashed a pair of fangs and dove for my jugular. 

(Additional excerpts and free downloads plus free short stories from the ABRAXAS Series can be found at http://bloodtouch.webs.com/abraxas.htm or http://bloodtouch.webs.com/sneakpeeksmorereads.htm!)