The Pressure of the Holiday

Next week is Valentine’s Day. A holiday that’s vitally important to all romance authors, whether they write fantasy, paranormal or contemporary. It’s a day that’s supposed to be about love, but often Valentine’s Day is filled with pressure. Pressure to show someone that you love them, pressure to show them just how much you feel for them, or to have someone at all. Even the saying Valentine’s Day conjures images of men running around the malls, scrambling to find chocolates, flowers and diamonds. And yes it’s always men, because women don’t run around malls. We take our time.

As a single person I’m not embarrassed to say that Valentine’s day pressure falls on me too. I pride myself on being independent, and taking care of myself. I like not having to worry about what someone else has to say about the color I picked to paint the living room. I like having control of the remote all the time. I can watch Grey’s Anatomy and any other girly sappy show I want without a single complaint. But even fiercely independent single loving me feels the pressure each valentine’s day, to have someone, to show how much I love those in my life (my two furry babies always get a nice dinner on valentine’s day, and usually a new toy, though they don’t reciprocate very well).

That pressure was the inspiration for my newest release, Heart’s Ultimatum. Though my characters are in a relationship, they both feel the pressure of the holiday. For Krista it’s the pressure to have more, to have commitment in their relationship. James feels pressure as well, to show Krista how much she means to him on this important day.

But what neither of them ever asks is why there has to be some much pressure on this one day of the year? Why do we choose to focus all our energy on this one day, instead of just showing the ones we love that we care for them all year long. That’s one of the best parts about being a romance author. For us Valentine’s Day doesn’t come just once a year. It’s anytime we want it. Any time we pick up a pen and scribble down a first kiss, the pain of a break up or the joy of a reunion.

Thankfully neither of my characters asks either of those questions. If they had, I wouldn’t have much of a story to tell. But you’ll have to read the book to find out how the story unfolds.

And this year I won’t be feeling the same pressure, since I won’t be celebrating Valentine’s Day alone. This year I get to celebrate with a new release with Siren Publishing, pre-order available now at http://www.bookstrand.com/hearts-ultimatum.

Blurb

Krista Matthews has been in love with James for two years, but he's never mentioned commitment. After she plans him the ultimate naughty Valentine’s Day surprise, and he doesn't say those three magical words, she know it’s time to move on. She may be plushy and curvy, but she still deserves someone who loves her for all she is.

Wounded by the past, James Peterson became principal at a new school to escape his mistakes. What he never anticipated was meeting someone as amazing as Krista. She fits him in every way—except her need for a ring. When she dishes out a Valentine's Day ultimatum, give her more or end their relationship, all those old fears come racing back. Does James have the courage to face his past for the woman he loves? Or will he lose her on principal?

Story Excerpt

Krista felt sexy, gorgeous, powerful as he stared at her up from his desk chair. His whole body was tight and tense, as if he’d never seen a woman before, too overcome by her existence to breathe in her presence. When he looked at her like that, she didn’t worry or care about the fact that she weighed an extra twenty pounds, mostly on her ass and thighs. All she cared about was him.

“What are you doing, Miss Matthews?”

The leather creaked beneath his grip, her pussy clenching at the noise. His eyes looked fierce and stern as he stared back at her, almost as if he wished he had a whip to punish her for her misdeed. Krista quivered at the idea. Maybe next time. If there was a next time. She couldn’t tell if he was playing along with her game or was truly angry, but in the end, it didn’t matter. Either way, his gaze set her heart thumping and her stomach twisting.

Krista didn’t answer. Instead she donned a wicked smile and stepped closer to him. The tingle between her legs increased with each stride. The sensation of her thighs brushing against each other, her slick pussy lips slipping together as she paced toward him, skyrocketed her need.

She leaned toward him, breathing in the deep masculine scent. James always smelled amazing. Like rich black coffee, leather-bound books and power. Over the two years they’d been together, the aroma had become one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs in her life. One whiff and she was wet and tingly. He tasted even better. His crisp, clean, sinful flavor still danced on her tongue from his passionate kisses. Pure heaven.

“Miss Matthews, you should be more careful with men you don’t know. You have no idea what I’m capable of when provoked.”

Krista’s lips were so close to his they almost touched. Only the space of a flower petal separated their mouths. She emitted a small purring hum from the back of her throat, partially closing her eyes as she whimpered. The sound was soft, but she knew it would drive him wild. Beneath the curtain of her heavily mascara-coated eyelashes, she watched his jaw clench. His chest puffed up with his deep breaths.

Krista smoothed her hands up his torso. Her body leaned into his. Her breasts cushioned against the hard wall of his muscular chest. She watched the Adam’s apple bob in his throat as James swallowed deeply. His muscles turned rigid beneath her touch.

The light glinted off his plain wire rim glasses, dangling a little too low on his nose. His curly hair hung over his forehead in boyish disarray, ready for Krista’s finger to smooth away or twirl her fingers through.

“Show me, principal,” Krista challenged, watching his eyes darken with the sensual dare.

Contemporaries Aren’t As Easy As You Think

This month, in celebration of my new release, I’m going to do something a little different. Instead of an interview of one of my favorite authors, I’m going to talk to you all about a something that’s been bothering me for a little while.

A few weeks ago, a friend who writes time travel romances, was discussing how difficult it is to write a believable way for one character to travel into another’s time. While I believe that probably does take an extra bit of finesse, the next words she said made me grit my teeth. It would be so much easier if I wrote contemporaries.

All I could think was, how are contemporaries easy?

Over the last several years the paranormal genre has exploded, taking over more and more of the market. Alongside it, newer genres have been created and expanded due to its success. Several years ago no one even knew what urban fantasy or steampunk was. While I love these genres, and have read some amazing stories in each sector, it appear the rise in paranormal fiction may have caused a few people to forget just how much work a contemporary novel is. So I thought I’d take this moment to articulate all the difficulties of contemporaries that seem to have been ignored during this new supernatural boom.

--Everything’s been done before. Since the contemporary genre has been around for so long, and many of the stories have already been told and retold, it’s much harder to come out with something unique in the contemporary genre. Not impossible, but it takes a lot more thought and research to get there. Certain storylines, such as the secret baby or forced into marriage, have been told so many times, most of the ground has been covered. To find some new land, to find a spot to plant your flag in those classic storylines, is very difficult. While I can quickly think of several ways a paranormal troupe has been reenvisioned to positive results (who knew vampire’s could sparkle), and new ground discovered.

--Takes more work to have out of the box thinking. While paranormal authors can change a few ingredients and you’ve got a whole new subgenre (think of all the different types of shifters out there, bear shifters, snakes shifters, wolf shifters, puma shifters, bird shifters, I even know of one book that was written about someone shifting into a Yorkshire terrier). Contemporary is not that easy to think outside the box. The basic principles need to stay the same, so there’s not as much room to play. There are some amazing authors, which even against all these challenges come up with some very original work, but it takes a lot of hard work to accomplish that feat.

--Not as much suspended disbelief. To some degree every novel takes a little bit suspended disbelief. If the situation in the novel weren’t a little out there, it wouldn’t be interesting enough to tell. But I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that contemporary readers felt that the characters feel in love too quickly, or they have trouble believing the heroine could win the lottery twice in one story. I don’t hear that very often around paranormal stories. Since there’s already such a need for suspended disbelief to accept the paranormal aspects of the story, rarely are authors questioned about how quickly their characters fall in love. After all, it’s natural to fall in love with your comrade when you’re chasing down evil zombies together. Contemporary authors have to be very careful about how far they push that disbelief and carefully construct their characters and interactions to make every aspect of their relationships as truthful as possible. While many paranormal authors do that as well, to great effects, making their created worlds all the more real to the reader, it appears that the contemporary author has to work harder at to keep the reader and story going against the weight of doubt.

--You have to work within a defined world. Unlike my paranormal sisters, I don’t get make the world up as I go. While that often makes my thought process and research minimal (I know the rules of the contemporary world very well, because I live in it) it can lead for many difficulties to get a new and complex story across. Take my most recent release, Midnight Mirage, which is my second novel in the Naughty Holiday List story. To create a way for two men and one woman to happily have a relationship in the modern world was difficult to comprehend and to justify to the readers. After all, how many times have you seen a happy ménage relationship in the real world. Maybe I’m sheltered, but I’ve never seen one myself. However in a paranormal setting such an unorthodox religion can be easily explained or justified by changing you’re world building. Anya Bast has made a career in this fashion, devising religions, biological or mystical reason for these connections. However it wasn’t anywhere near as easy for me. (Shameless plug—to see how I do create a loving ménage relationship, head over to http://www.bookstrand.com/midnight-mirage and buy Midnight Mirage, today is the last day of the preorder sale, discounting the value by 10%).

To be fair, I do realize there are many things that are more difficult about paranormals than contemporary. The world building is intense, the possibilities endless and the need to maintain some semblance of credibility and truth can be difficult. But each genre has its own difficulties and advantages, and I’m sick of my contemporaries being thrown under the bus as easy. No genre is easy. Writing is hard work.

I hope you all enjoyed my little knock at my paranormal rivals. This was all written in good fun. The truth is I have tremendous respect for anyone who writes a novel. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, nonfiction or science fiction, it takes extreme dedication, perseverance and drive to complete something as difficult as a novel (and that’s before we even get into submissions or rejections).

Furthermore I want to say, I love all the ladies on this site and they’re work. We have some amazing talent here. While we may write different genres we’re still fighting the same fights, battling the same demons and yet have found a way to foster and support each other. Thanks guys, for all your help and support, and encouraging me to be the best writer I can be.

Now here’s the blurb and a small snippet from my new release, Midnight Mirage, book two in the Naughty Holiday List series, available now for preorder and officially released tomorrow.

BLURB

Lincoln and Gabe, best friends and the hottest new alt-rock duo Mirage, only want one thing. Mallory. They’ve been waiting a year for Mallory to open her heart to both of them and accept the alternative relationship they wish for.

Mallory’s flattered by their attentions but can’t believe they’re any more than sweet words. They’re rock stars, surrounded by beautiful woman. They can’t possibly want a plain-Jane reporter like her.

When a crazed fan forces their hand, their protective instincts take over. Gabe and Lincoln aren’t willing to wait for their woman any longer. They initiate her with intense pleasure, ringing in the New Year in the naughtiest way possible. But when they whisper words of love and forever in her ear, she runs away.

Will Mallory be able to open her heart and return their affection, or will insecurity keep her from the men who love her?

Buy Link: http://bookstrand.com/midnight-mirage

EXCERPT

“Is tonight the night?”

His best friend’s voice invaded his thoughts, distracting Lincoln from the round hips and long black hair of the woman bouncing in front of them. Her body swayed as she made her way through the crowd toward the backstage area where they stood.

“I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on, mate,” Gabe continued, unbidden, as always. “My bollocks are turning blue waiting for you.”

Lincoln cast his eyes to the side, catching a glimpse of his best friend in the semidarkness. From Gabe’s firm stance, his focused eyes, and the bulge in his pants, he was just as interested and desperate as Lincoln was.

Lincoln turned away from his friend, staring back to where the woman bounced to the music. It would be much better if she were dancing to their music, instead of the Mötley Crüe wannabes onstage, but her passion and interest were intoxicating regardless of the drivel ringing through the air.

“God, she’s gorgeous,” Gabe smirked as his eyes scanned her temptress form. “How can you stand waiting?”

Gorgeous didn’t even start to describe her. She was beautiful, sexy, vulnerable. She wore tight dark jeans that molded to her ass, a golden corset spread across her chest, pressing her breasts high, ready to greet him like the New Year. In the past year they’d known Mallory, they’d learned a lot about her. They both knew her looks were only the beginning of her beauty.

And Lincoln wasn’t doing any better at waiting than his friend was. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from telling her exactly what he wanted to do to her. And he’d gotten in the habit of fisting his hands at his sides any time Mallory was near, just to stop himself from reaching for her, or accidentally touching her, which he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop once he started.

Birthday Wishes!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Willa! Thought this sexy guy might brighten your day. Hope you have a great one!

Tabby

12 Days of Romance Novels

As an ode to my release, out today as part of Cobblestone Press's 12 Days of Christmas, I've decided to put out my own Twelve Days of Christmas. Here's the Twelve Days of Christmas, Romance Writers Edition.

On the twelfth day of Christmas a romance novelist brought to me...

Twelve Pirates Conquering

Eleven Ladies Defying

Ten Millionaires Grumbling

Nine Cowboys Riding

Eight Rakes Conspiring

Seven Lovers Reuniting

Six Bosoms Heaving

Five Secret Babies

Four Disapproving Fathers

Three Hidden Pasts

Two Secluded Governesses

And a Princess in a Castle Tower

Don't forget to check out my first every release, Naughty List, out today!!!

Eric has been in love with Callie since the day they met, one month after someone else put a ring on her finger. Since her engagement ended Eric has been biding his time, waiting for her to be ready. Until he finds a naughty list of Christmas wishes hidden between her couch cushions with his name on the top.

He’s willing to do anything to make Callie happy, including take on the role of dominant Santa Claus and spank her to a blow-your-stockings-off orgasm. But is she ready for everything he wants? Does she want his love?

http://cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/naughtylist.htm

Author Interview - Willa Edwards

Hi everyone. My name's Willa Edwards and I'm one of the new contributors here at Nocturnal Nights. I'm going to be doing author interviews. I have some great interviews coming up, including some of the Nocturnal Nights authors. But I thought the best way to introduce myself would be to do my own interview. Here's a little taste of my writing, my life and who I am.

Tell us a little about your writing. What type of stories do you like to write? Any characters you like to write about? Any themes you find especially inspiring?

I like to write smaller stories, focused on the hero and heroine. Not a lot of extra characters, not a lot of locations or sub plots. Just them. I'm not fixed on any genre. My future release, Naughty List, is contemporary but I've written historical before, and I have a few paranormal and fantasy stories rumbling around in my head, waiting for the right time to peak out.

I love to write character's with passion, outside of their love lives. In Naughty List my hero is a social worker, which is a calling to him and not a job. My heroine is an elementary gym teacher that feels similarly about her profession.

I've written poets, musicians, actors, activists, lawyers and business women. For every one of these professions they need to have drive, determination and passion. I'm not interested in writing about billionaries, princes, navy seals or special agents. I like to write about everyday people, like myself, like the people I work with or went to school with, like the people that read my books.

The most common theme in my work is following your heart and being honest with yourself. Whether it means overcoming what others think, powering through your own fears, or embracing their pasts. My characters always follow their hearts and find their greatest love and passion on the other end.

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?

My favorite part of the writing process is those lightbulb moments. The moment you realize why your heroine loves the hero, when you discover what keeps them apart. Or even when you find just the right wording or the exact analogy that describes how your character feels. That's what I sit down at the computer for.

My least favorite part is the first revision. There are always down parts in the writing process, times when you're stuck and you can't figure your way out of it, but that doesn't compare to the first revision for me. All the other read throughs aren't anywhere near as bad, but that first one for me is like pulling teeth. Luckily the more I write the better I do with the first draft, and as a result the revisions are getting easier too.

I've never found any magical way to get through the painful parts besides just gritting my teeth and pushing through it. And after a good day rewarding myself with some chocolate.

What's a typical day look like for you? What's your writing schedule? When your not writing what are you doing?

Unfortunately, I still have a day job that requires me to be in the office too early, so I don't get any writing done in the morning. I'd love too, but I know it will never happen. I'm a night owl anyway. I get up around six, feed my two furry princesses, Immy and Cordelia, and head out to work. I try to fit in some time for writing, or revising, during my lunch break, but the majority of my writing is done at home after work. I usually come home, feed the babies again, play with them a bit and then just sit down at the computer and type away until bedtime.

I set a goal for myself every day and try to hit that. I prefer something tangible, like word count or pages, to focus on over time in front of the screen. I can waste time. I think a goal is a great way to keep moving forward.

What author is your work most like? What author would you like to be more like?

I think I write like Joey W. Hill, and yet I also wish I could be more like her. She writes smaller stories as well, with few extra characters, few scene changes. She writes much hotter than me, but I'm working my way up there. But I'm amazed by her ability to be red hot and very emotional at the same time. That is something I'd definitely like to emulate more.

I'd love to write more like Christina Dodd. Her ability to move through different genres, her volume, and I wouldn't mind her sales either.

What's your favorite gulity pleasure?

Rereading. I love rereading the great love scenes of books I've already read. All the emotion, passion and excitement without having to put in the time to read all the build up. It's not as satisfying as reading a book for the first time, but its close. Especially when I'm stressed and don't have the time to start from the beginning with a couple, I can pull one out I already know and still enjoy myself.

What book are you reading now?

Right now I'm reading Tina Donahue's "In His Arms" but give me a week and it will be something different.

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

My first release, Naughty List, is going to be avaliable from Cobblestone Press in December. You'll be able to pick it up at http://www.cobblestone-press.com/. Or you can go to my website, http://www.willaedwards.com/, to get more up to date information on this release. I'm also on facebook.

Here's a little taste to get you in the mood (Warning: Some Adult Language and Themes)

Blurb

Eric has been in love with Callie since the day they met, one month after someone else put a ring on her finger. Since her engagement ended Eric has been biding his time, waiting for her to be ready. Until he finds a naughty list of Christmas wishes hidden between her couch cushions with his name on the top.

He's willing to do anything to make Callie happy, including take on the role of dominate Santa Claus and spank her to blow-your-stockings-off orgasm. But is she ready for everything he wants? Does she want his love?

Excerpt

Eric had been in love with Callie since the day he'd met her, which happened to be one month after Josh slipped a three-carat diamond ring on her finger. He could still remember the bite of that hard rock into his palm as he shook her hand, thanking her for volunteering at the special needs event for thirty kids with physical handicaps, several his cases, that her fiance's team was hosting. The small pinch reminded him their meeting was not a dream. This funny, interesting, beautiful woman was real.

He may have denied his feelings at first, but he'd long since accepted he'd never have her, and forced himself to become just her friend. In all that time he'd never imagined she could return his affection.

He wasn't her type. Callie went for athletic pretty guys. Hell, Josh had been a professional baseball player. How was a social worker supposed to compete with a guy like that? Awkward, gawky, and broke to boot--what a catch Eric was. She deserved better.

His stare remained glued to her naughty Christmas list. His gaze drifted to the top of the page where she'd written his name. He reread each increasingly kinky line. How long had she been thinking about him like this? Since she'd broken off her engagement? Before? If he'd only known, he would have already fulfilled all these wishes and then some.

A wicked smile curled his lips. His body burned stronger than the fire in the chimney Kris Kringle would soon be coming down. His cock pressed against his jeans, hard, hot, wanting. The confinement was a sweet pain he'd become used to after years of being so close to the woman of his dreams but unable to touch her.

There was no time like the present.

If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be?

I've always wanted to be a witch. I love the idea of being able to wave my hand, or add some eye of newt and have something happen. The first spell I'd perfect would be the ability to manipulate time. Speed it up at work, slow it down at home when I'm writing or revising. Or maybe a spell to remove the fat and carbs from cheese fries without effecting the taste. It's a toss up.

Thank you all for taking the time to get to know me more. I look forward to seeing you all again.