Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Virgin Kiss: or how I ruined Chekhov to save the day



Virgin Kiss from Jina Bacarr on Vimeo.

Virgin Kiss, a very short story, is a pet project of mine. It's based on a true story and I've been playing around with it, trying to decide if it would make a good YA novel.

So I wrote it as a short story first...here's the basic plot:

Riley Murphy is a kissing virgin, waiting for the right guy to come along. Until she joins the Drama Club at Holywell High and has to kiss the class dweeb on stage in front of the whole school on Valentine’s Day. 

Riley is a fun character, embarrassed by her lack of kissing experience. Especially when there's a sexy hottie she's just dying to practice on.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm finishing up a novella at the moment, but then I thought I'd dive into Virgin Kiss and see what happens. For the moment, it's $.99 over at Amazon. It's a really fast read...if you want to relieve the pain of that first kiss, give it a try. Let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Jina

Virgin Kiss is available as a short story at Amazon Kindle

Photos: www.Dreamstime.com
Music: Sweeter Vermouth Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)

Friday, March 21, 2014

Have You Pre-Ordered the DANGEROUS DOZEN Boxed Set Yet?!

Dangerous Missions. Dangerous Heroes. Dangerous Dozen!

I'm so excited to be part of this romantic suspense boxed set!  It officially releases Apr 6, but you can pre-order your copy now!



***Twelve fabulous romantic suspense books on sale for only 99 cents*** 

The Dangerous Dozen--heroes who make danger sexy... These alpha male heroes know how to protect their women--and how to love them. This romantic suspense boxed set stars TWELVE smoking hot heroes in TWELVE full-length novels by TWELVE bestselling authors.

To Catch Her Man by Charity PineiroNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. Investigative reporter Sylvia Amenabar must decide between friendship, love and discovering the truth behind a cop's murder... Undercover detective Carlos Ramirez nearly lost his life protecting Sylvia, but knows it'll be a fight to reach her heart. . . Can they learn to trust one another and find out the truth about a failed assignment that nearly killed Carlos? Or will the secrets of the past cost them the things they hold most dear.

I'll Be Watching You by Tina Wainscott, New York Times Bestselling Author. Kim left her Everglades town under a cloud of scandal. Her grandmother's murder brings her back to reclaim her home and unearth the truth...while a killer watches her every move.

Bedeviled by Maureen Child, USA Today Bestselling Author. A *faerie* funny paranormal.

Protective Custody by Paige Tyler, USA Today Bestselling Author. Someone is stalking reporter Paisley McCoy, and police detective Gray Beckham is the only man who can protect her. While the chemistry between them is undeniable, there's no way he's going near the captain's daughter, and she had a hard and fast rule that says she doesn't date cops. Can they both survive the stalker who's coming after them long enough to realize how good they are together?

There's a New Witch in Town by Tawny WeberNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. Her magic, his town, their love... is it enough? Or will a witch just regaining her powers have to choose between saving a cursed town, or giving up everything she's come to care about?

In His Control by Nina BruhnsNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. A rogue detective will do anything to catch the sexy international thief he's fixated upon. When their titillating game of cat and mouse grows shockingly intimate, he must make the impossible choice between honor and duty...and the notorious woman he has unwittingly come to love.

Chosen by Sin by Virna DePaul, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. A wounded alpha werebeast bent on revenge... A female vampire trying to save her adoptive dragon-shifter family... Can they stop a group of rebel shape-shifters from unleashing every demon in hell? Only if they relinquish their secrets, face their fears, and open themselves to love.

Imposter: The Protectors Series -- Book One by Karen Fenech, International Bestselling author. Chemist Dr. Eve Collins, wrongly accused by the CIA of developing a chemical weapon, learns someone has set her up as a scapegoat. That "someone" wants her dead. To save her life, she must join forces with CIA Operative John Burke--the man who doesn't believe her claim of innocence and the man she's falling in love with.

Dark Tide Rising by Kristin Miller, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. Police Sergeant Mark Thurgood is all work and no play, but he's harboring secrets that tie him to the vengeful sea. Free-spirited Emily McAllister is haunted by premonitions, and the latest shows her death in a dark coastal cave. Can they put their desires aside to focus on the task at hand and find the killer before he finds her?

Big Bad Wolf by Gennita Low. On the run from shadowy enemies, a secret agent finds sunlight and love while working undercover for a female roofer.

Found Wanting by Joyce Lamb. She's been on the run for 14 years. He's been sent to bring her home, dead or alive. A boy's life depends on what happens next. Can they overcome betrayal, lies and violence to find what they've always wanted?

High Tide by Maureen A. Miller. A couple locked in a struggle to protect the coast...and their lives.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The TALL, DARK AND ALPHA Blog Tour - What is an Alpha!

Tall, Dark & Alpha: An Alpha is Passionate



Thank you for hosting us today. We’re excited to talk about the alpha trait passion and our stories for the boxed set Tall, Dark & Alpha as we try to figure out: what IS alpha?

An Alpha is Passionate

The alpha man does everything with passion and zest for life. From the sexy way he smells to the way he bites into a juicy steak and dances his woman into the bedroom, he does it with passion!

The alpha hero in Chase and Seduction: Hot Country Series, Book 1 by Randi Alexander, a contemporary romance, is a musician. Chase Tanner knows Reno Linden thinks he’s just a woman-chasing, hell-raising country singer, but after spending months filming Reno’s movie, Chase realizes he’s fallen for her, heart and soul. (Come backstage and get your hands on country superstar Chase Tanner!)

In Tall, Dark & Apocalyptic by Sam Cheever, a paranormal romance, the alpha hero is a bounty hunter. In a larger than life world like the one in TD&A, passion is something that is both hard to come by and hard to avoid. Everything in a post-apocalyptic world is larger, harder, more frightening. Life is difficult at best and heart-rending at worst. Despite it all, Audie holds onto his passion with both hands, wielding it fearlessly. (A grand passion in an apocalyptic world. A love beyond reason and without boundaries.)

The alpha hero in Rock My Boat by Afton Locke, a paranormal romance, is a shape shifter. It doesn’t take Simon long to pin Rhonda against the wall and own her body with masterful hands during a private safety briefing. And his kisses aren’t just kisses. They’re conquests. He even sings with passion.
story snippet:
When the lyrics began, Simon’s rich baritone wrapped itself around her—bathing her ears and resonating against the bones in her chest. With his arm tight around her waist, his hips swayed with the rhythm of the lyrics, pulling her along for the ride.
(Once addicted to the sea, you can’t escape its pleasures.)

Silver Tongued Devils by Dawn Montgomery, a sci-fi romance, has two alpha heroes. Na’varr and Brom are blood oath brothers. They share their lives with a zest beyond that of most men. Women are supposed to be cherished, by one or both, as often as possible. It’s rare to find a woman who matches their needs, even rarer to find one who enjoys their mercenary life style. Raesa’s arrival, however, shows them there is such a woman. (She was always one step from hell until she found redemption in their arms.)

In Fight for Love by Delaney Diamond, a contemporary romance, the alpha hero is a former professional wrestler. When Rafael kisses, touches, or makes love to Rebekah, his passionate nature comes out. He doesn’t make any effort to hide the “evidence” of his desire for her. (A former pro wrestler fights to hold onto the woman he lost, but still loves, and the son he never knew existed.)

The alpha hero in Crazy by Eve Langlais, a paranormal romance, is a vampire. Being a gentleman, Zane doesn’t talk about what happens in his bedroom, but I will say it’s hot, explicit and not for the faint of heart. (Ella hears voices and they don’t like anyone.)

In Sex With an Ex by Eve Vaughn, a contemporary romance, the alpha hero is a lawyer. Ethan Boudreaux loves hard and makes love even harder. He doesn’t stop until his lover is completely satisfied. (When two divorcees reunite in the bedroom, the sex is hotter than ever, but can their hearts survive the second time around?)

The alpha hero for In Her Wildest Dreams by Farrah Rochon is a CEO chocolatier. Melted chocolate, sweet dark cherries, and a wicked tongue. That’s just a glimpse of what you’ll get when Gavin is feeling especially passionate. (When the woman of his dreams asks him to create a Valentine’s Day fantasy, Gavin plans to show her just how sweet their reality could be.)

In Two Cops, a Girl and a Pair of Handcuffs by Paige Tyler, a contemporary romance, the heroes, Reed and Hayes, are both cops. They’re passionate in the bedroom, something they demonstrate to the heroine, Cilla, more than once in the book. (Working the late shift just got a whole lot more fun!)

Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set

Facebook:                          https://www.facebook.com/TallDarkandAlpha
Blurbs/Memes:              http://www.aftonlocke.com/TDA.html
Excerpts:                           http://www.aftonlocke.com/TDAExcerpts.html
Goodreads:                      https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20482968-tall-dark-alpha
Twitter:                              #TallDarkandAlpha

*Available Now from Amazon and other online retailers.*

Blurb
He makes your heart pound and melts your resistance away. He promises you a world of passion and you find it impossible to resist his dark charm. When he catches your eye across the room, you know he means business. He could be an executive, cop, shape shifter, or a bad boy looking for a little fun. Once he has you in his sights, you can't get away—and after one sizzling night in his arms, you won't want to. He’s Tall, Dark & Alpha. The alpha male is the ultimate indulgence…the richest dark chocolate…and we’re offering him to you in abundance.

Delve into the sensual worlds of award-winning authors: Randi Alexander, Koko Brown, Sam Cheever, Delaney Diamond, Eve Langlais, Afton Locke, Dawn Montgomery, Farrah Rochon, Paige Tyler, and Eve Vaughn. Immerse yourself in the alpha male experience.

Featured Story - Chase and Seduction: Hot Country Series, Book 1 by Randi Alexander

Blurb
Country music superstar/actor Chase Tanner has yet to be denied anything–and he’s never wanted anything or anyone more than gorgeous screenplay writer Reno Linden. So when the film they are working on is finally finished, Chase decides to turn up the volume on seducing Reno.

Reno Linden lived a quiet, rural life until she was thrust into the Hollywood scene when her book was adapted to film. Chase Tanner is larger than life, sinfully sexy and hell-bent on getting her into bed. Skittish after a failed wedding engagement, Reno risks the plunge into Chase’s arms, and is surprised that her good girl self can keep up with bad boy Chase.

Though Chase returns to his cowboy roots often, and Reno cherishes the time spent with him on his ranch, the two find their careers pulling them in different directions. Will their attraction survive the glitz and stress of fame?

Excerpt (explicit)
Reno looked at Chase for a minute, losing herself in the dark passion in his eyes. Fisting her hand in his silky hair, she pulled him down to her and kissed him. Her tongue plunged in, twisting with his.

He took over, his lips slanting on hers, his breath hot and sweet as he explored every crevice of her mouth, teasing and caressing. His arms wrapped tightly, and he spread his feet apart so his hips could grind back and forth across her mound.

Her mind numbed to everything but the throbbing of her slit, the trickle of cream dripping from her opening onto her swollen lips, wetting her panties. She pulled his head back, still gripping his hair, and took huge breaths. “I’m drowning, Chase. Don’t let me go.”

“Reno.” His voice caught. “Never.” He walked her backward three steps and flattened her against the hard wall. His eyes bore into hers, his pupils dilated, making them look black, sensual, intense. He ran a hand up under her shirt, up to her breast. Her nipple grew rock hard as he teased it with his thumb, circling then squeezing it.

The pleasure ached, shivered down her belly, down low between her legs, making her cry out with the urgency of her need. He had to take her. Now. She couldn’t wait.

Chase tugged up her bra and fit her breast into his hand. “Oh baby, this is so fucking much better than I imagined.”

She stared at him, his face so close it seemed like a dream. Her voice seemed to come from far away. “Did you, Chase? Did you think about this? About making love to me?” She wanted to cry, for some insane reason—cry and hold on to him forever.

He gyrated his hips against her, hitting her clit through her clothes. “Yeah, I thought about this. Every time we talked, every time I saw you across a room.” He took her nipple between his finger and thumb again and caressed it. “And a hundred times a day when I could only see you in my mind.”

The ecstasy streaking from her breast to her pussy was outrageous. Sweet, heavenly contractions began, and she tipped up her hips to better feel his cock against her clit. The increased pressure flooded her pussy with heat as her climax neared.

“Reno.” He captured her mouth with his, demanding and driving, his need becoming frantic. He moved his hand from her breast to the waistband of her shorts and slid his fingers in, catching her lacy underwear with it.

Wanting to prolong her ecstasy, she pulled away from his kiss and caught her breath while she unbuttoned his shirt and yanked it open. Seeing his muscular pecs and abs, she lost all control and ran her hands over his hot, satiny skin, making circles with her fingers in the auburn hair lightly covering his chest. She leaned forward and bit him on the collarbone.

He cried out. “Oh yeah, baby, I like a little pain.”

She kissed the spot she’d just bitten. “And a little pleasure?” She’d never been so bold with a man. All her inhibitions had packed up and left.

He yanked her shorts and underwear down to the floor then stood and cupped her pussy with his big hand. “A lot of pleasure.”

Randi Alexander Links:

Web site:                             http://randialexander.com/
Facebook profile page:   https://www.facebook.com/RandiAlexanderAuthor
Facebook author page:   https://www.facebook.com/RandiAlexanderBooks
Twitter:                                                https://twitter.com/Randi_Alexander
Goodreads:                         http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4885056.Randi_Alexander
Pinterest:                            http://www.pinterest.com/randialexander1/
YouTube:                             http://www.youtube.com/user/randialexanderauthor
Authorgraph:                     http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/Randi_Alexander

Contest

This post is part of the What IS Alpha? Blog Tour.



The grand prize for the tour is a $25 Amazon gift card.
To be eligible, leave a COMMENT on this post. It MUST relate to the alpha trait discussed in the post.

The winner will be announced at http://www.aftonlocke.com/tdatour.html on March 20th.


Get your copy of the TALL, DARK AND ALPHA Boxd Set at the Retailers Below for Just 99 Cents!



Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Spring Doldrums?

There is a LOT happening in my life right now. Just 10 days to go before we close on the house we've had for the last 14 years and the one we hope to have for the next couple decades. There have been lots of ups and downs, paperwork foul-ups, inspection issues, water damage in our storage unit and all the rest. It's exciting. It's nerve-wracking. Kind of like writing.

It's been a weird cycle for me with writing. I want to write, but can't seem to get more than a chapter or two into any story before I lose interest. This is not how I work. When I started this gig 8 years ago, I couldn't stop writing. I'd always have multiple projects going, and they'd have to drag my laptop out of my hands at the end of the night. Now? Meh. I have two 3-book proposals out with editors, so I need to get my butt in gear, even if just one of them sells!

This isn't writers' block. This is self-doubt at its finest. I'll admit I'm not as far along as I'd hoped to be by this point in my career, and I'm angry at myself. I've also lost most of my confidence. I've gotten to the point that it really hurts to congratulate other authors when they get good news--even if I like them and know they genuinely deserve it.

When the career slump and the house nerves slammed into each other, it made for a very stressed out Cindy. But it might have also just given me the kick in the pants I needed. So with the help of a fair bit of chocolate and several gallons of Diet Coke, here's a few things I've come up with.

1. I don't NEED to be an NYT bestseller with six-figure advances. Sure, it would be nice, but I was happier when I was writing steadily and selling fewer copies of more books. So I need to quit putting pressure on myself to advance. If my current niche is as far as I get, then that's still not a bad place to be. I get to speak at Cons and do the occasional signing. I get a nice fan letter now and then. It's all good.

2. I need to stop fighting with myself about genres. Should I write YA? Would I sell better in SF? Is paranormal over? Bugger that. After my current contract is fullfilled, I'm gonna write what I feel like writing. And if nobody's buying that, maybe I will self-publish. Maybe I won't. But it's going to be story first, marketing later.

3. Writing is my job. Sitting at my desk playing computer games isn't. I'm going to cut myself a little slack between now and the move, but even for the next ten days, the rule is, I have to write at least ONE PAGE on my contracted project.

4. March 28 is not only moving day, but also my birthday. I don't do New Year's resolutions, but this year, I'm determined to make a new start on MY new year. I want to love writing again. And I'm going to do whatever it takes to get there.

Erm--encouragement or well-deserved butt kicking is always appreciated. Thank you!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

St. Patrick's Day video: The Princess and the Magic Shamrock

Looking for a job?

Imagine if you’re a Princess and you’re out of work. What do you do? Pawn your tiara? Sell your glass slipper on eBay?

What if a fairy tells you a magic shamrock can give you the courage you need to find a job? Find out what happens in “The Princess and the Magic Shamrock.”



The Princess and the Magic Shamrock from Jina Bacarr on Vimeo.

Happy Patrick's Day!!

Best,
Jina


Photos: Dreamstime.comMusic: Skye Cuillin Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Blog tours to pimp new releases. Do they work?

Do blog tours work?
I guess it depends on how you look at them. For me, if 1 or 2  people comment, it was a lot of extra writing for nuthin'. Boo Hiss. I could have spent that time writing my next book.
But here's the thing. You might get 20 comments. Five from people who have never heard of you and are suddenly interested in what you write. You never know. It's like word-of-mouth advertising, which is the best by far.

Well, here's how I chose to solve the problem, and it was all inspired by a sprained thumb. I came back from my January vacation with a couple of annoying, but not life threatening injuries. I told my publicist it would be a pain (literally) to type all those blogs for the usual release tour she was scheduling for March.  I proposed an excerpt tour.

She agreed to try it and went in search of bloggers who wouldn't mind allowing this new concept. The result is my abbreviated March blog tour. Only 6 stops, but each one posts a scene from my new book in chronological order! Followers get to read the first two chapters--free!

Not only that, but we sweetened the pot prize-wise too. Instead of 1 book, we're giving away all 3 books in the Flirting with Fangs series, including the brand new one. Just comment to put your name into the drawing. I'll offer the same prize here today, even though this is my own blog home and not part of the excerpt tour.

I think the idea is already showing signs of success. So far, there have been 20+ comments at the first two stops. So...without further ado, here's the deets:


Intro: When her workplace burned down, Claudia should have taken it as a sign to move on—and not just professionally. She’s been secretly in love with her mysterious boss, Anthony, for years. There’s no way she should help him rebuild his business if she wants to keep her heart intact.

The flames that destroyed Anthony’s beloved bar are nothing compared to the heat he feels every time he lays eyes on Claudia. But he can’t have her. It’s against paranormal law for a vampire to date a human.  Besides, he has some powerful enemies and it would be too easy to use Claudia as a pawn.

Scene 1 is posted on Amazon in full, so I started the tour with scene 2 and put scene 1 on my website for those who don't use Amazon. Also, for those people, there are 5 Buy Links are on my website www.ashlynchase.com, and my news blog has the whole schedule.

Here's what you've missed so far:

6-Mar
Under the Covers Book Blog
http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/

      
7-Mar
Casablanca Authors
http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/

Next week, we'll pick up with the 4th scene and continue the tour:
11-Mar
Debs Book Bag
http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/ 


12-Mar
Star-Crossed Romance
http://star-crossedromance.blogspot.com/ 


18-Mar
The Reading Cafe
http://www.thereadingcafe.com/The Reading Cafe


20-Mar
Fresh Fiction
http://freshfiction.com/pages.php?id=blog

Anyone who comments on each stop is eligible for yet another prize! A $10.00 B&N gift card to buy my next book!

So...what do you all think of my wildly innovative new concept?

 

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

NAC Guest Interview: Tina Donahue



Today I’m interviewing the fabulous author Tina Donahue! I hope everyone can take a minute to give a warm welcome from Naughty Author Chicks!

CSP: Tina, Welcome to NAC! Tell us a little about your writing. What type of stories do you like to write? Any favorite character types? Any themes you find especially inspiring?

TD: I like writing about characters with depth. The closer they are to real people the more I enjoy delving into their stories. For example, in Sensual Stranger, Toni’s flat broke and seemingly out of luck. Zach lost his wife in a terrible accident. They’re two lonely people who find a home when they find each other. In His Arms is a dark tale of sexual slavery, a woman at risk, and a man’s redemption. Even though I’ve read the end hundreds of times, I still cry.

For me, even erotic romance has to be more than simply about sex. The stories have to go beneath the lust to the characters’ core, what makes them tick, why they behave as they do. Often, they’re broken souls who’ve finally found another chance at love.

CSP: Amen to that! What is your favorite part of the writing process? What are your most dreaded tasks? Anything special you do to get through the tough parts?

TD: I like second drafts. Far easier than the first. The dreaded parts are plotting. Trying to get everything to jibe. Novels are a million details, and sometimes the details seem like they will kill you.
 
For the tough parts, I just keep rewriting until the story sounds right. It always does, eventually. It’s just murder getting there at times.

CSP: What’s a typical day look like for you? What’s your writing schedule? When you’re not writing what are you doing?

TD: I get up at 2 am to write before my EDJ (Evil Day Job). Then after I’m through with my job for the day, I go back to writing. I write every day except for Christmas. Last Christmas was an exception to that. I had edits to get out, so I worked that day too.

When I’m not writing, I’m tooling around in my car (love to drive), visiting the mall (love to shop), and watching suspense movies.

CSP: You’re a dedicated woman! What author is your work most like? What author would you like to be more like?

TD: Wow. I can’t really say. I’d like to think I’m unique. J I admire so many authors, but I guess the ones that have really impressed me are Lawrence Sanders, Margaret Atwood, Hilma Woltizer, the Brontes, and on and on.
 
CSP: Nice list! Now for the fun stuff. If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be?

TD: Hmmm. Maybe a witch. Would love to cast spells and have all the money I needed.

CSP: What’s your favorite comfort food?

TD: Chocolate.

 CSP: (grin) Me too. What do you do to relax?

TD: Read. Watch films. Drive.

CSP: What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

TD: Believe it or not, I love reading the comments on controversial news reports. The way people go at each other simply stuns me.

CSP: Now tell us about your current projects and where we can purchase it. Where can we find you on the web?

TD: Seven Sensuous Days, book four in my Appointment with Pleasure series, releases March 5. You can find me just about everywhere on the web, but my home base is: http://www.tinadonahue.com/

Here’s the blurb for Seven Sensuous Days.

At an erotic auction, she’s his to bid on…to take…to command.

The night’s sultry, filled with carnal promise as Tessa participates in an agency event to raise money for charity. She’s chained and bared—as women were once displayed for a sultan’s harem—her sweet looks and full figure offered to the wealthy and powerful men.

Among them is Logan. To him, Tessa is so different from his late wife, the seemingly perfect female who cruelly stole his hope and future. Wanting only to forget and have a good time, he wins Tessa, demanding she be his in every way possible, engaging in all wanton acts, though not only for an evening…for seven sensuous days at his secluded Virginia estate.

A provocative proposal with such a dangerously virile man.

A week that changes everything, with Tessa’s exquisite vulnerability and Logan’s suddenly unquenchable desire more than either bargained for.

CSP: Tina, sounds like another incredibly hot, emotional read! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for stopping by at NAC!