A Love Poem

Love

I love the way you hold me.

I love that way we tenderly kiss.

I love the way you whisper to me...all your hopes and dreams.

I love the way you make me feel inside.

I love the way you show your love.

I love the way you make me complete.

I love the way I feel so sweet.

I love the way...we'll always be.

I love you...always, always...see.

Patsy Anne

Connie Chastain Interview

1. Why do you write romance?

Basically, because I love men and I write to honor them.  They are absolutely fascinating creatures.  Women and men are similar enough to understand each other's humanity, but we have differences, too.

Here's how I conceptualize it. We've all seen the astrological symbols for male and female (male, Mars, circle and arrow; female, Venus, circle and cross).

Sometimes you see the circles linked, but I think the depictions of them overlapping, perhaps 75% of the circle, illustrate it best. The area where the circles overlap illustrates how men and women are alike (i.e., the human characteristics we share) and those parts of the circle outside the overlap are how we are different (the sex/gender characteristics we don't share).

I don't think we can even understand each other in those areas. But there's plenty enough commonality within the overlap for us to get along; and the differences, frankly, are what attract us to each other.

2. Are you aware of any themes that run through your stories? If so, what are they?

Several. I didn't consciously plan it this way, but a theme, or at least an element, that runs through my stories is the difficulty people sometimes have accepting forgiveness/redemption after they have wronged someone. This element plays a crucial role in Southern Man, which I self-published, and Storm Surge, which is currently under consideration by a small publisher in a west coast state.  It also occurs in a couple of my mainstream non-romance WIPs.

Another recurring theme or element is criticism of feminism, or at least, radical feminism and third-wave feminism.  I like voting and being paid what my work is worth, but I am irrevocably opposed to the man-hating aspects of feminism, and the more recent hook-up culture feminism that I believe is so harmful to women. (This is primarily the reason for the "controversial" and "politically incorrect" references in my author logline.)

A third recurring theme or element is the American South, its people (especially its men!), history and culture.  Although I'm a lifelong Southerner, except for a five-year sojourn in the Midwest, I'm as fascinated with my region, its beauties, mysteries and contradictions, as any outsider.

Another element is the role religion, specifically Christianity, plays in my characters' lives. I don't write Christian romances--I've read a few and found them, um, well, a bit too preachy. (I realize they may not all be like that.) Current pop culture eschews religion, sometimes ridicules it, and worst of all, frequently portrays religious people as bizarre, even monstrous. I personally don't know any religious people like that, and I frankly resent the portrayal that slanders legions of good, decent people. Regardless of the irreverence in pop culture, religion plays an important role in the lives of real people, though they may not realize it. I try to show how faith manifests in my characters' lives without in-your-face scripture-quoting and such, so my stories are written with a Christian worldview.

Finally, one of the most fascinating elements, something I love to explore, is reality versus appearance.  How a character's life/work/family may look to those outside it contrasted with how the character himself experiences it.  As an example, in Southern Man, the protagonist, Troy Stevenson, for all his sexiness and good looks, is perceived by co-workers to be a rather staid, upright religionist married to a straight-laced little Southern Baptist wife, when in fact they have an extremely powerful sexual bond, and a very satisfying, um, innovative sex life.

3. Do you have a specific writing style?

Yeah.  I tell, don't show, and I head-hop.

Just joking!

My stories are written mostly from the POV of a disembodied, impersonal narrator--but not third person omniscient.  I conceptualize the narrator as a video-camera that shows or tells, whichever does the job best. The camera  floats around and focuses on what it thinks is important for the reader to see/know.  It can zoom out to see a whole room, a whole planet, a whole universe, or zero in on the multicolored flecks in the irises of the hero's soulful eyes....

The narrator will share POV with one character per scene, but only one; that's how I avoid head-hopping.  Critiquers sometimes detect POV "slippage" between the narrator and a character, and if it's too blatant, I'll address it, but I usually let it go. (I've generally found readers to be oblivious to POV issues.)

I try to conform to the simplified writing style advocated by Rudolph Flesch in How to Write, Speak and Think More Effectively.  Short paragraphs, short, mostly simple sentences (in subject, verb, object order) varied with occasional compound and complex sentences.  There's more to it than that, and there are other schools of simplified writing, but this discipline has done more to make my writing viable than anything else I've encountered.

Flesch's book is out of print, but used copies are available, and I recommend it to any writer.  Fiction writers only need to read the first few chapters.

3.  What inspired you to write your first book?

Southern Man emerged as a prequel to Sweet, Southern Boys, a non-romance about three teenage boys in Georgia, growing up best friends, whose lives are ruined when they're accused of rape.  That book was a prequel to Little Sister, which was--oh, heck, never mind.  I started writing Little Sister first, but Southern Man was the first one finished and published, so it's really the first.

It was inspired by a comment made by Reade Seligmann, one of the Duke Lacrosse defendants.  I no longer have the quote, and can't find it online, but he said something like, when he saw pictures of himself on national TV and heard news reports about what he was accused of, "I can't tell you what that did to me inside."

I wanted to tell what it does inside to a good, decent man to be falsely accused of that type of crime.  In Southern Man, the accusation was toned down to sexual harassment because it is set in the early 1980s, when a lot of sexual harassment law and policy was being formulated in the United  States. But the story focuses on the experience of the protagonist, Troy Stevenson--what it did to him inside--and the effects it had on his family.



4.  How much of the book is realistic?

I tried to make all of it realistic; the office politics where Troy works, the viciousness of small-town gossip; the pull and tug of progressivism versus traditionalism.  People might think the adoration of Troy's wife for him is a bit unrealistic--he acknowledges that her love for him borders on idolatry--but even she has her limits, and her near worship of him does cause emotional problems for her.

The only other element I'm concerned about is the realism of the children in the story. I don't have kids. I've never been around them much, and the portrayal of Troy's kids really concerned me; but thus far, I've received absolutely no feedback that the kids aren't realistic.

As for the realism of false sexual harassment accusations, as one of my video trailers alludes to, nearly half of the sexual harrassment complaints brought before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are dismissed after investigation for "no reasonable cause found."

5. Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

No. Except for the Seligmann quote referred to, the story is based only on recent and current cultural trends in the USA.  None of my stories are based on my own experiences, except incidentally.  For example, in Storm Surge, I draw on my experience in property and casualty insurance claims and living through coastal hurricanes, but I made up the specific events of the story.

6.  What are your current projects?

I've just started a paranormal romance with the working title Wrong Turn. It's about a man who doesn't believe in crypto-primates (Bigfoot/Sasquatch) until the woman he's falling in love with is imperiled by them.

The aforementioned Sweet Southern Boys is about three-quarters complete, Little Sister is about a third complete.  The Candidate, a follow-up to Southern Man, is in the planning stages.  None of these are romances but they include romantic elements.

7.  What books have most influenced your life most?

As far as my writing life goes, the earliest books to inspire me were the Nero Wolfe mysteries by the inimitable Rex Stout.  To this day, Archie Goodwin is the only first-person narrator I can abide.  I read The Doorbell Rang when I was about thirteen and at some point after finishing several more of the series, I was thinking in narrative and dialog.

Others include Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, and the Louisiana novels of Frances Parkinson Keyes,

Robin Lee Graham's Dove. Favorite classics include Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass; Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time.

I could go on, but those are representative.

8. Please tell us about your most recent release and where we can purchase it.

Southern Man is about a devoted family man who is targeted with a false sexual harassment complaint by an amoral young woman and her uber-feminist mentor.

Here's a blurb:

=========

In 1983, in moss-hung Verona, Georgia, the tender and tenacious love between a hardworking man and his adoring wife is tested by sudden adversity.

Corporate executive Troy Stevenson must confront his nascent alcohol abuse or he risks losing the wife, daughter and son he deeply loves. When his latent destructiveness impacts his family, he moves to their weekend cottage to come to grips with his personal weaknesses.

But busybodies at his company assume he left home because his marriage is in trouble. Encouraged by the assumption, co-worker Brooke Emerson, a 1980s material girl romantically obsessed with Troy, attempts to seduce him, setting in motion a chain of events with harrowing consequences for him and his family.

=========

I created a publishing company, Brasstown Books, to bring it to print.  (I enjoyed publishing the book so much, I'd eventually like to do go into that as a sideline and publish other writers' books and stories, both in print and e-book format.)

Here are links to more information about Southern Man on my website:

Summary:

http://conniechastain.com/sm_summary.html

Excerpt:

http://conniechastain.com/sm_excerpt.html

Videos (yeah, plural; four of 'em, ha!)

http://conniechastain.com/sm_videos.html

Reviews:

http://conniechastain.com/reviews.html

Southern Man is available on Amazon.com in print and Kindle versions, and on Smashwords.

Print:

http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Man-Connie-Chastain/dp/061529801X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245882533&sr=1-1

Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Man-ebook/dp/B002Z7G1F4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1259715283&sr=1-2

Smashwords:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/13733

9. Please give us your urls and your publisher’s url.

My website:

http://conniechastain.com

My blog (not entirely devoted to writing):

http://conniechastain.blogspot.com

My publishing site:

http://brasstownbooks.com

10.  Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Yes. I learned to tell, not show, and to head-hop!  LOL!

Again, I'm kidding.

What I learned is to not let the "rules" put your creativity in a straight jacket.  There were so many false starts with Southern Man, as I sought to conform to the rules ("Open with a hook," "Get straight to the action," "No infodumps!" "Sprinkle the backstory," "Show, don't tell," "No prologues,") that I sometimes despaired of completing the book. At the very least, I feared it would rob the story of my voice, and in that case, I might as well not finish it.

I learned so much about how to craft a story, and it is valuable knowledge, but what I would share with other writers is, listen to yourself. When all is said and done, agent newsletters, editor blogs, crit groups do not write your story. You do.  And only you, so guard your voice.

It was great having you Connie on NN.

Tabitha

Sound Off...I Can't Hear You!

This is the day you get to sound off. Tell us what happened to you last week, we want the good, the bad and the ugly. Tell us what made you mad, sad, happy, we want to hear it all.  This is where we get to come together and support one another. Anything goes, let it all out.

Happy Reading and Writing.

When night falls passions blaze.

Tabitha Blake

Sound Off...I Can't Hear You!

This is the day you get to sound off. Tell us what happened to you last week, we want the good, the bad and the ugly. Tell us what made you mad, sad, happy, we want to hear it all.  This is where we get to come together and support one another. Anything goes, let it all out.

Happy Reading and Writing.

When night falls passions blaze.

Tabitha Blake

U-Tube and Romance

This week I thought I would give you all a little laugh. We get made fun of a lot as romance writers but sometimes we have to laugh right along with them. Hope you enjoy these clips from U-Tube. I know I did. They had me rolling on the floor laughing. Oh and the Bing commercial is just there because I love a sexy vamp.

Tabby

Sound Off...I Can't Hear You!

This is the day you get to sound off. Tell us what happened to you last week, we want the good, the bad and the ugly. Tell us what made you mad, sad, happy, we want to hear it all.  This is where we get to come together and support one another. Anything goes, let it all out.

Happy Reading and Writing.

When night falls passions blaze.

Tabitha Blake

Zee Monodee Interview

Please Welcome Zee Monodee To NN. It is great to have you with us today Zee.
Tabby

Hello everyone! Firstly, I’d like to say thanks to Tabitha for having me here today. I love the interviews on Nocturnal Nights and to be featured here is an honor and pleasure indeed!

Why do you write romance?
The real question to me should be, why not write romance? This is a genre with tremendous scope, as sub-genres of romance veer between different and distinct worlds, like contemporary to paranormal and everything in between and out. What’s the limit in the romance genre?
Romance has this feel-good factor – it uplifts, brings a smile to your face, contentment to your heart, hope that the world just might be a better place after all.
This is what I wanted to bring to the world – in my preferred niche of writing, namely Mauritian culture-based fiction, there was too much focus on the drabness of reality, the tedium and the misery. Very literary-type, and all I kept thinking was, life is full of hope so why doesn’t anyone pause to showcase that? Romance sounded like the perfect medium, since I wanted my stories to show what the life of a woman of such culture is like today, how she lives in a drab reality yes, but how she also wants and finds love along her journey to fulfillment.

Are you aware of any themes that run through your stories? If so, what are they?
I write with a strong focus on my heroine. My stories are as much women’s fiction as they’re romances. These women I write about are always on a fence, a wall, a ledge. One misstep and they’d fall. I enjoy writing about how my heroines find their equilibrium on this tiny space high up in the air. In a way, this theme reflects a lot of my own struggle to find my balance. I come from a traditionalist culture and religion, yet I grew up in a world where barriers that contained cultures and lifestyles were tumbling down rapidly. It wasn’t easy to find my place on my own wall, and I know countless other women out there feel the same too. Every woman, just like every heroine, has her own world and conflicts – she looks for a way to find her fulfillment.
I also write about the strong men my heroines will fall in love with. They’re strong, principled, honorable men. Sometimes they’re dangerous, sometimes they’re bad boys hiding big hearts. Yet they’re also ‘real’ men, the kind we could all meet in everyday life. I try to strike a good balance between the dreamy scopes of fiction and the anchor of reality.

What would you like readers to take away from your stories?
Hope. Contentment. A smile. A feel-good buzz and glow that takes them through their day as if on a cloud. I want to show them my world of culture and traditions, take them on a trip to my beautiful island, Mauritius, make them discover a new facet of how people live and exist out there, take them behind-the-scenes of a character’s life.
If anything else, I want them to read my stories and just have a good time in the hectic world of today.

What inspires your stories?
People. There is no better inspiration. Every person has a story to tell – it’s the writer’s job to relate that story to readers. People in culture seem even more facetted, because they are ‘different’, and conveying and explaining this difference is a very good way to find ideas for stories. You can take anyone – be it someone you know personally, someone you bump into while grocery shopping, someone who catches your eye on a crowded bus – and spin a game of ‘what if’ from a small aspect of this person. From this, other elements add to the picture like strokes of color, and with words as your brush, you paint a picture that translates as a story.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Clearly, actually. Strange as it may sound, my interest in spinning stories came when I received my first Barbie for my 8th birthday. I was like, what’s your story, Barbie? Playing with my friends back in the day, we’d have these make-believe doll parties and everyone had such conventional stories for their dolls. I kept going, no way dolls have such a boring, mundane life – for example, how did Barbie and Ken meet? An aunt brought the proposal for Barbie on behalf of Ken’s family (back then, that’s really how we thought love happened!). I was always the one going, what if the proposal came for Barbie’s sister but Ken saw Barbie and fell head over heels in love and they elope and have a secret marriage? (Very Indian Bollywood movie type, yeah. I was after all, 8!)
Then I started to watch soaps with my mother (Dynasty!) and here was this whole fictional world where Barbie and Ken could evolve.
I was actually creating fan fiction before I even knew the word, and then my dad got me a library card and I discovered Barbara Cartland. It was a revelation, as in, people actually write stories like the ones I think of. From then on, I penned story-telling essays on a weekly basis in my school assignments. The romance bug had bitten, and I’m happy to say I never found a cure for it!

What is your writing schedule?
This clearly depends on when in the year we are talking about – school days and vacation time. School runs January to October in Mauritius, with breaks in April, July and November-December. I have a 7-year-old son and an 11-year-old stepson. When they’re home, you can barely hear yourself think let alone string two words together on a WIP!
So I try to streamline my writing during school days. I will usually have 2-3 days of the week screened out for writing, when I will write between 10 am to 2 pm. I always work from an outline, so I know what my chapters are supposed to feature and when to start/stop. On a good roll, I can get a chapter down every 2 days. I try not to work in the afternoon, when the kids are home and need to have homework checked or just want to hang out, and when I usually have to cook (my worst nightmare!). The evenings I try to reserve for my husband, as we barely get to see each other during the day over the children’s antics when he gets home from work. If I’m in revision mode on a completed draft, I might clock in an hour of editing on the completed draft on some evenings. Weekends are sacred family time!
The rest of the days I dedicate to my studies (completing a BA Communications Science degree), my crit partners’ works, and my editing job. Blogging and networking I tackle every day.
Now if I’m on a deadline, I might shove some stuff aside (yes, the poor hubby too, sadly) to complete the writing. Nothing is really written in stone, as life happens. But the discipline needs to be there, otherwise there’s no way you’d get anything done even if you’re serious about your writing.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Chocolate cake. Any type, but preferably black forest cake with lots of cream! It’s my reward for a job well done, for completing a project, and it’s my booster when things seem down and drab or when the kids are intent on driving me insane.

If you didn’t write, what would you do instead?
Well, I’m pursuing a degree in communications science. My specialization in economic and management sciences basically means I’m eligible to work as a corporate communications person or in fields such as public relations and marketing. It always seemed odd to me (yeah, I know what I’m about to say!) that for someone who is pretty much shy and self-effacing among people, I chose such a people-oriented degree. Recently for one of my final study modules, I had to place myself in the shoes of a PR consultant and work with an organization to create an integrated communications & PR campaign for them from scratch. To my surprise, I loved doing it. It was as if I were a different person in those shoes, a sort of Jekyll-and-Mrs-Hyde moment!
So if I didn’t write, I guess I’d be working in PR and communications. I did do a stint in the corporate world a few years back, but the back-stabbing, biatch-ness, one-upmanship and I didn’t really agree. I’m really glad I’m getting to pursue my dream of writing.

What books have most influenced your life?
Barbara Cartland’s books and Mills and Boon romances, because through them I discovered that one could put stories of feel-good romance out there and people would enjoy them.
Danielle Steele’s and Barbara Taylor Bradford’s early women’s fictions, because romance could be so much more when it showed the journey of strong and indomitable, spirited heroines.
Jane Austen’s whole collection of works, because she showed society and life and people with all their quirks, foibles, and simple and oftentimes funny reality in such a light and unpretentious way.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, because he wrote an epic story about normal people in a time of trouble and tension, amid a plot that showcased the societal and political upheaval and turmoil of a whole nation, and for how he still, amidst all the detail, managed to create memorable characters who live with you long, long after you close the book. It was the book that opened my eyes as to how I could attempt to bring together characters, culture, and country together under the spotlight of romance.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I cannot say I really have one writer as mentor for how I write. I prefer to think storytellers have influenced and showed me the way. I say storytellers because there aren’t just novelists in there for me. A novelist, a cinematographer, a script writer – all tell the audience a story, albeit via a different medium.
Indo-Briton director Gurinder Chadha ranks high on my list of influences. This is the woman who brought culture to the broad audience with a pop culture twist and did it brilliantly through a YA story - Bend it like Beckham. Any young girl knows what Jes, the heroine, is going through. Yet Jes is Indian. Indian culture is portrayed in much of its complexity in this movie, yet it is also done in a way that a non-Indian will completely understand the premise and storyline. Another one where Ms. Chadha manages this stroke of Indian-to-mainstream flow is the movie Bride and Prejudice.
Mira Nair is another director who finds the right balance between culture and mainstream, yet still infuses Indian-ness with all its deep and churning issues in a way that any audience can pick up the story and nod in understanding. Case in point – Monsoon Wedding.
In the world of writing, I saw such strokes of culture v/s mainstream balance in works by author Shobhan Bantwal. Her stories deal with profoundly Indian issues, some very disturbing like the plight of the girl-child in India (plight that happens in other traditionalist cultures too however), in the book The Forbidden Daughter. Yet, Ms. Bantwal conveys her shocking and distressing themes in a tapestry where they are woven in with hope and human resilience.
On a lighter note, Woody Allen always makes me laugh with his light-yet-deep stories featuring a cast of unbelievable-yet-unforgettable characters.
All of these people have shown me a path that I can blaze with my writing, and I only hope I can do their message and ideology justice.

Once again, thanks bunches to Tabitha for letting me ‘talk’ with her readers today. I know, lol, it’s one sided so far but drop me a line or a comment and I will definitely engage in the discussion with you.

Zee Monodee Bio
Author of stories about love, life, relationships... in a place of culture
Zee is an author who grew up on a fence - on one side there was modernity and the global world, on the other there was culture and traditions. Putting up with the culture for half of her life, one day she decided she'd stand tall on her wall and dip toes every now and then into both sides of her non-conventional upbringing.
From this resolution spanned a world of adaptation and learning to live on said wall. The realization also came that many other young women of the world were on their own fence.
This particular position became her favorite when she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing - her heroines all sit 'on a fence', whether cultural or societal, in today's world or in times past.
Hailing from the multicultural island of Mauritius, Zee has been writing for close to a decade and has had 3 novels published so far. After a stint in the publishing industry, on the 'other side of the fence' as an editor, her goal today is to pen wholesome, fulfilling stories and help fellow authors, whether as critique partner or as freelance editor.


Find her on the web:

Blog http://zeemonodee.blogspot.com/

Email: zeemonodee@hotmail.com

Facebook & Goodreads: Zee Monodee

Follow her on Twitter @ZeeMonodee

It was great talking with you Zee. Its nice to pick another writer's brain and see how we are wired. LOL! We are all so different in our thoughts and how we write.
Tabitha Blake

Part Two Sensual or Erotic?

What is the difference you ask? Well, there is a fine line that can be drawn between the two. It’s not just about the sex and the way it is presented because both types of romances write it and write it well. The biggest difference I see is what drives the story line. Romance thrives on love and erotic romance thrives on sex. You take a romance minus love it’s no longer a romance. You take an erotic romance minus the sex it’s no longer an erotic romance. Let’s talk about what makes these two writing styles so different and the things that can cross over to make them similar.

The dictation between sensual romance and erotic romance are two very different types of words. Sensual romance in many cases uses the tame terminology romance has used since the beginning. Tame meaning euphemisms.

Euphemisms-The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive.  Here are a few examples of words used in romance to describe a sex scene. (cock, center, sheath, thrusting, pumping, bundle of nerves)

Now let’s talk about the erotic romance. Erotic romance takes the words people use today and waves them proudly for all to see. Modern/urban colloquial terms are the cornerstone of erotic romance.

Colloquial- characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal. Here are a few examples of words used in erotic romance to describe a sex scene. (Cock, dick, cunt, pussy, twat, fucking)

There is a wide range between the two. Sensual romance tries to stay on the subtle side while erotic romance tends to go full force, no holds barred. Sensual romance is the equivalent of an R rating, while erotic romance is the equivalent of an X rating.

Let’s talk about what makes a good sensual romance novel. The pieces that must be there in order for a reader to walk away saddened that they reached the end. Plot and characterization are key, in a great sensual romance. You want the reader to believe in your characters and their situations. If they don’t the whole novel is a lost cause. The reader needs to believe these people could actually fall in love. You can’t have a romance without LOVE. Love is the backbone of every good romance. Without love it’s no longer a romance. You can have a romance novel with no sex but you can’t have one with no love. In romance the relationship drives the story. It’s all about the happily ever after when writing or reading romance.

Now let’s talk about what makes a good erotic romance. Even though sex is a key factor in erotic romance and you can’t have erotic romance without it. The sex isn’t just about adding as many hot, juicy, steamy scenes as you can. You have to think about the big picture. What about the characters? Is the sex true to the characters you created? Does it make sense for them to be having sex? You can’t take the sex lightly. In an erotic novel, you have to be serious about the sex. A good erotic novel should highlight the characters sexual journey. The idea of journey assumes character growth, movement, and the progress the characters make in the story. Ideally the sex will take the reader somewhere and move things along in the story. “Why the heck are they having sex again?” That isn’t good in an erotic novel.

I think both take a lot of effort to write. They should both be treated with respect because these stories come to life in an authors mind. Writing in any form is an art. I think it all come down to your comfort level and what you are willing to accept. I love reading a wide range of genres whether they are sweet or hot and steamy. They all have a place in the publishing industry. I hope you all enjoyed my take on sensual romance versus erotic romance. You never know, if you’ve never read one, try it you might like it.

Here is an excerpt from A Vamp To Remember. Just for those that don’t know Caleb is a shifter. Hope you enjoy it.

Tabitha Blake

Caprice crossed Caleb’s office in a few quick strides, her stilettos clicking a steady rhythm on the tile floor. He held up a finger and pressed the phone tighter to his ear as the fingers of his other hand tapped the keys on his computer.

She smiled and flipped her hair over her shoulder. He wouldn’t be able to ignore her for long. Staring out the balcony doors, a cool breeze blew long strands of black hair around her face. Roses bloomed, bright reds and yellows, in the garden below. The smell of lilies was carried on the gentle wind.

Caprice turned her head in Caleb’s direction, and another smile curved her lips when she noticed  his coppery eyes undressing her. He had the most gorgeous and unique eyes, the color reminded her of a brand new penny. His gaze alone did dangerous things to her. One look and she melted. All thoughts gone but the thought of what he could do to her body. The man was beyond sinful with a physique to match. Tall and lean with sinewy muscles that carved his body, he was built like a golden god.

A seductive smile played across his lips as he hung up the phone and made his way over to her. He stood behind her. His arms snaked around her waist and pulled her back against his hard chest.

“Sorry, that was my broker,” he murmured against her neck.

A shiver danced along her spine. “I was thinking . . .”

He nuzzled her ear. “What were you thinking?”

Goose bumps broke out over her body as his breath grazed her ear. The simplest little thing and he had her all out of sorts. “I want to put a koi pond in the garden.”

He kissed the hollow of her neck, feather light brushes of his lips that heated her blood. She felt his nostrils flare as he drank in her scent. Desire scorched through her veins and coiled between her thighs as his hand smoothed up her legs.

She moaned in response. “Are you listening to me?”

“Absolutely. A koi pond…” He nipped at her neck and his words came out as a sultry growl. “That…sounds…great… but you know what I really want to do?”

“What would that be?” she said on a breathless whisper. The need to inhale his masculine scent had her gasping for the tantalizing musk and spice that lingered in the air. She loved his aroma, it was heady and sexy as hell.

“Should I tell you or would you like me to show you?”

She raised a finger to her lips and replied. “Well, let me see… show me.”

Pulling her hips back to meet his, he trailed a hand over her belly, down the front of her skirt. “I was hoping you would say that.”

Her body smoldered as liquid heat seared her to the bone. His touch was decadent and provoked feelings…no not feeling, urges. He brought out the animalistic impulses in her, and she liked it; he was the only man that made her forget to breathe. His erection pushed against her backside. Her panties dampened in anticipation. The need to touch him clawed at her every nerve.

Deep masculine laughter rumbled through him as his hand disappeared under her skirt. “I was thinking of dipping into something wet but it has nothing to do with a pond.”

His touch abraded the tender skin of her inner thigh. She leaned her head back on his shoulder and rubbed her hips against his hard groin. “Tell me more.”

“I want to peel the clothes from your body and take you right here on my desk.”

Caprice glanced back at his mahogany desk. “Bending over your desk might be nice.” She smiled, a devilish smile over her shoulder.

He spun her around and tugged her forcefully against his chest. “You do…do ya?”

He gripped her hand and placed it on his rock hard bulge. “Do you feel what you do to me?”

Her long fingers ran the length of his zipper. He bucked his hips towards her. “Mmmm…yes, I like it.” She ran her tongue over her suddenly dry lips.

His gaze followed her tongue and his eyelids grew heavy with passion. The urges tugged at her self-control. She reached for his shirt and tore it open, buttons flew, hitting the floor like little pin drops. Her nails traced his right nipple. He sucked in a deep breath.

“You tease.” He grabbed the back of her hair and jerked her into submission. Tilting her head back, he ran his tongue from her collarbone to her jaw. She hummed as heat radiated through her body.

She liked her men dominate in bed. A man that knew what he wanted and took it without

hesitation.

*/*/*

The animal inside Caleb growled in satisfaction. He turned to his desk and cleared it in one quick swipe of his hand. Folders, papers and pens flew to the floor. He smiled as the heat of his passion raged out of control. He needed her more than he needed to breathe. She brought out the cat he shared his mind, body and soul with. A snarl escaped his parted lips as he lifted Caprice onto the desktop. She writhed under his touch. She liked it a little rough and his animal purred at her response to his dominance.

She reached for his pants and freed his pulsing shaft. “Caleb I need you now. I can’t wait any longer. I am burning up.”

Her hand ran the length of his desire and his body jumped as she caressed him. He raised her skirt and tore away the small scrap of lace she called panties. Why she even wore any was beyond his comprehension. Moaning in his ear, she parted her long graceful legs for him. An invitation he welcomed. In one quick motion, he drove into her moist heat. As her wet sheath gripped him, he roared his pleasure echoing through the room. Her body contracted around his shaft, wringing another moan from them both. She clawed his back, urging him on. The need to feel her milk him to completion pulsed through his body. “So soft and wet.” He growled into her ear.

Caprice tilted her head, exposing the smooth, pale skin of her throat. A pleasurable cry tore from her as her sex grasped him in her release. She was so beautiful, eyes closed, her legs squeezing his hips as she rode wave after wave of pleasure. His body tightened with each contraction. Trusting deeper and faster until he yelled out in ecstasy. He collapsed over her, trying to catch his breath.

“About that Koi pond,” she said in a breathless whisper.

His eyes widened. “What?”

Her passion hazed eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. “I’m just kidding. That was amazing.”

He relaxed into her soft body, and his own smile stretched his lips wide. “You're going to kill me one day woman. But what a hell of a way to go.”

Make The Voices Stop

Lately I haven’t had much time to write and my characters aren’t very happy about it. I continually hear them screaming at me, that is when I can hear them over the kids. LOL! I have only written one chapter in a week’s time and it is gnawing at me. I…

(Craigen) “You need to toughen up woman and get on the ball. You think you have a tough life? Have you looked at mine lately?” He leaned in the doorway, brows raised and his arms crossed over his chest.

“Crap! Craigen, you scared me to death! What do you want? I'm trying to write a blog here.” A sigh escaped my parted lips as I leaned back in my chair.” This was all I needed, more distractions.

(Craigen) “Oh, you have time to blog but no time to write the rest of my story. There is a demon out there that needs to be dealt with. He is murdering women remember?”

“Yes I know that, I wrote the story. But right now I need to get this blog finished. So give me a break and…”

He crossed the room, snatched my laptop, then stared me down with his intense green eyes.

“Give that back.” I reached for the computer but he held it up and out of my reach. A cocky smile curved the edges of his lips.

(Craigen) “Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about that. What is wrong with your head? To write such an evil and vile being? It is rather disturbing!”

“If it wasn’t for Nyx you wouldn’t have met Lyric, and if I remember correctly, you really seem to have taken a shine to her.” I put my hand out. “Give me the damned laptop! I am too busy for this nonsense.”

He tossed the laptop on the desk and turned his back.

(Craigen) “I am merely protecting her. Nothing more. This is about you helping me kill Nyx!”

“Oh, did I hit a nerve?” A giggle sprang from my mouth.

(Craigen) “Don’t play games with me woman. Just get yourself together and write the damned story already. My hand itches to smite that vile demon.” His fist slammed into the wall.

“Hey, you need to stop acting like a spoiled child. I have enough kids in this house.” I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself.

(Nyx) “Did someone call me?”

“Oh, great!” Just what I needed Craigen and Nyx in the same room. The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife. “I don’t need your vile thoughts distracting me right now! I'm busy.”

An evil smile crossed his lips and those eyes. Damn it! Those eyes.

(Craigen) “So help me Nyx, if you so much as touch her I will kill you right here!”

(Nyx) “I was talking to Tabitha. I know my sweet, I have that affect on women. They all want me and I think you do too.” He leaned against the wall and crossed his legs at his ankles.

“I…uh…well…”

(Nyx) That’s what I thought. Say it beautiful. Mind, body and soul.”

His eyes never left mine and the urge to say it pulled at me. My body heated and I wanted to reach out and draw him close. “Mind…”

(Craigen) “Stop this now! Nyx I am so going to kill you and do it slowly. There will be no mercy, you will pay for your crimes. Tabitha snap out of it! I won’t let him have you too. Without you all hope is lost.”

I shook my head to clear the fog. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me. Thanks Craig.”

(Craigen) “I don’t remember saying you could give me a nick name. So just cut that crap out.”

“You are so touchy. Chill out.” I lowered my head into my hands as a twinge of a headache pulsed at my temples.

(Nyx) “Its okay, your time is coming beautiful.” He pointed at Craigen. “He can’t watch you all the time. I have the perfect place for you.” His palm rested on his chest. “I was thinking right over my heart.”

“You vile bastard, leave!” My anger raged out of control and I reached for the paperweight on my desk. He ducked and it crashed into the wall, shards of glass fell to the floor.

(Nyx) “For now, but I will win in the end. I always do”

“I am writing this story and you will definitely not be wining this one. I have a evil plan of my own for you.”

(Nyx) “Oh, I like a strong and confident woman. It is so much more fun breaking them.” An evil smile curved his features and his eyes turned crimson.

My breath caught in my throat. “Damn it Craigen! No throwing knifes. That flew right past my head.”

(Craigen) “Sorry, but he was getting too close. I had to do something. I don’t want to worry about you having a mental bond with him too. Anyway, I got rid of the demon scum.”

“Yeah, well thanks. Now can I get back to my blog?”

(Lyric) “Did she start writing again?”

I slumped over, crossed my arms on my desk and lowered my head. “Great.”

(Craigen) “No she is writing a blog. Whatever the hell that is. I guess it is more important than catching a killer.”

(Lyric) “There is nothing more important than catching a killer.” Her eyes bore into me. “What is wrong with you Tabitha?”

“Maybe if you guys would go away for the next twenty minutes, I could finish this and write the next chapter. But at this rate I am not going to get anything done. You know your love scene is coming up in about two more chapters.” A grin tugged at my features. I knew that would at least get rid of Craigen.

(Lyric) “Really?” Her eyes glazed over. “I…uh…”

(Craigen) “No way!”

“Why you guys are obviously falling in love?”

(Craigen) “That’s fine Tabitha. I'm out of here. You better hope he doesn’t come back because I am pissed and I may not come to you rescue!”

“I think I can handle Nyx I did create him.”

(Craigen) “That is one of the things that makes me wonder about your mental state.”

“Okay, I have had enough! Craigen I will call you when you are needed.”

(Craigen) “Women! You need to get your head straight and get this story finished before I lose my patients with you!”

“Well, at least he is gone.” Two down one to go.

(Lyric) “Do we really get a love scene?”

“Yes, hun and it is going to be amazing.”

(Lyric)” I don’t think he thinks so.”

“He will, you drive him crazy. He just refuses to see it, but I will make sure he does. You deserve a good man, and Craigen is one of the best. He will give in. I promise.”

(Lyric) I…will..uh…leave you to do that blog thingy you are doing.”

“Hey, Lyric, hun, be careful. You almost ran into the door.”

(Lyric) “Yeah, sorry.” Giggle.

“Okay where was I. Yeah, I haven’t gotten much writing done. Wait what was that noise? “Nyx, what do you want?”

(Nyx) “You.”

“Oh, really, you smell so good. Don’t look at me with those sexy blue eyes. I swear if you don’t leave I will kill you in the next chapter!”

(Nyx) “Fine. But your time is coming.”

“Okay, to hell with the blog, guess I have to go and write the next chapter before they all drive me insane. See the crap I have to deal with? I’m not even alone in my own head. Sorry about the blog guys.”

(Craigen) “See, knew we could get her back in the game. She really needs to stop slacking.”

(Lyric) “I think we need to give her break. She has been so busy lately. You want her to write the story well don’t you?”

(Nyx) “I don’t really care as long as I win in the end.”

(Craigen) “Keep dreaming, Nyx. You lost the first time we battled and it won’t be any different this time.”

(Nyx) “We’ll see.”

“I would say you guys need to learn to get along but that will never happen. So I need you to all shut up!”

(Craigen) “Fine we don’t want to drive the writer of Soul Extraction crazy. She already has a few screws loose to even invent this story. We’re out of here.”

Happy Reading and Writing,

Tabitha Blake

Pictures are left Craigen, middle Nyx and right Lyric.

A Mother's Love

I hope everyone had a great forth of July. I had an amazing weekend. All the family got together and that included my oldest son that is in the Army. I hadn’t seen him in eight months. At first we weren’t sure he would be able to come but with lost of prayers he made it from Arizona to Texas. We had two wonderful days together. I miss him so much, it is really hard to be an Army mom. I have adjusted a bit but still cry when he leaves. Letting go is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. He is almost twenty but in my eyes he is still that sweet young boy I raised. I don’t think a mother ever really gets past that. I am so proud of him! So in his honor and others that serve our country I wanted to post a short story I wrote for him right after he left for basic about a year ago. This story is very dear to my heart and I hope you enjoy it. It was my way of trying to cope with letting go. It left a gaping would after he left but he has made me so proud. I also want to thank anyone out there serving. May God keep you safe and provide for you the way you do for us everyday of your life. Without you we wouldn’t have the freedom and joys we cherish so much.

A Soldier’s Mom

Zach came running in the house slamming the door behind him. “Mom! Mom!” His eyes darted around the room in search of his mother. He was so excited he had the best news to share with her. She was going to be so proud of him.

Laura came out of the kitchen drying her hands on a dish towel. “Why are you yelling?”

“I finally figured out what I want to do,” he ran his hands threw his hair and shook his head. “I don’t know why it has taken me so long?”

Laura sighed with relief. Finally, she had tried to get him to decide on a college for a month now. He had over ten colleges that wanted him and four were full scholarships.

“So which one did you pick?” Her face lit up like a child on Christmas morning.

“I’m joining the Army.” He stood tall and proud waiting for her response.

She giggled and continued to dry her hands. “Ok, funny, you got me. What college did you pick?”

“This isn’t a joke mom, I want to be a soldier.”

“No! Absolutely not you have four full scholarships just waiting for you. Why would you even consider this? It is too dangerous and I won’t let you!”

“Mom, I really want this. I want to do something that’s important. Please try to understand. I really need your support but I will do it with or without it.” He reached out to his mom but she turned away and headed up stairs with tears in her eyes.

Zach sat on the couch and turned on the TV. He couldn’t focus, he was so confused. He had thought she would be proud of his decision, not angered by it.

Laura threw herself on her bed and sobbed. She was at odds with the situation. Zach had so much going for him. Why would he even consider a life in the military? She had always kept him safe as a child and now he wanted her to condone him putting his life in danger by choice. Her heart ached at the thought of losing him. A memory of him came crashing in on her, it was bitter sweet, one that stared out as joyous and almost ended tragically.

She ran by the bike exhausted, they had been at it all day, but he was so excited she didn’t have the heart to give up on him. Every time she’d let go he’d fallen. Laura cringed and prayed he wouldn’t get hurt.

“Mommy let go I can do it!” He looked back at her-- no fear to be found just—utter joy and confidence. She let go and watched as the bike wobbled and swayed out of control. She just knew he was going to get hurt.

“Mommy! Look, I’m doing it!” He was so proud of himself. He almost fell trying to see her reaction. She laughed at his tenacity and determination. When Zach wanted something nothing was able to stand in his way. He was the most determined child she had ever known. She watched in shock as a car came barreling down the street and hit Zach. Hysterical, she ran up to her son, he was covered in blood and wasn’t responding.

At the hospital the doctor told her he was lucky the car wasn’t going any faster. He only suffered a concussion and a few bumps and bruises. It was the worst thing she had ever had to go through.

Laura sat up on the bed and wiped her eyes. How was she ever going to be able to be ok with this? It was hard enough trying to deal with him going away to college and then he springs this on her. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. She had to talk to Zach and let him tell her his reasoning behind this crazy idea. The more she fought him on it the more adamant he would be about it. He had taught her at a young age how stubborn he could be when his mind was set on something. She went down stairs and tried to have an open mind about the whole situation.

“Zach?”

Zach came out of the living room, reached out, and hugged her. “Mom please don’t cry. I really want this and I want you to be proud of me.”

“Oh, Zach. I am always proud of you. You are the one thing in my life I did right. I have never doubted you in any way. I just worry about you.” She cupped his face in her hands. “Never doubt that I love you and will always support you in anything you do. This one may just take me a little longer to adjust to.” She smiled at him through her tears.

*        *        *

Laura was so excited Zach was coming home for Christmas. He had been away for almost four weeks now and they had been the most excruciating four weeks of her life.

Many nights she had cried herself to sleep with worry about his future. Would he live long enough to even have a future? It tormented her on a daily bases. Being a military mom was one of the hardest things she had ever had to endure. She had never been away from her son for more than a few days.

In her excitement she had decided to go all out and make it one of their best Christmases yet. She had bought a new tree and everything for a big turkey dinner. She wasn’t sure when their next Christmas together would be and was going to make the most out of their time together. As she reached into the box of Christmas decorations, she smiled as she pulled out an ornament that never ceased to tug at her heart. Baby’s first Christmas 1990 was the year etched on the bulb. She had searched forever trying to find the perfect first Christmas ornament for her brand new son. She finally decided on the one with a teddy bear in a Santa hat holding a little baby in a blue blanket. Its funny how as a mom you are so wrapped up in the little things that seem so important at the time.

Now she looked back and wished she had the little worries back.

It was hard to believe her son was nineteen and grown. In her eyes she still saw the boy, he use to be. Now she had to adjust to him being a grown man. She wiped her eyes as tears tracked down her cheeks. “Get a grip Laura. He’ll be home tomorrow.” She sighed and placed the bulb on the tree. Stepping back she hit the switch and looked at the tree as it lit up. It was perfect. There was just one thing to do, place the angel on the top.

It was always Zach job to put the angel on the tree. She debated on leaving it for Zach.

“Now you are just being silly.  He’s not a little kid anymore.”

A knock at the door roused her from her thoughts.

“Wonder who that is this late at night?”  She laid the angel on the coffee table and headed for the door.

She opened the door and stared in shock. There stood Zach with a big smile on his face. Tears flooded her eyes as she looked at him. He wasn’t the boy she remembered but a man, he looked so much like his father.

“Mom, don’t cry.” He reached out and hugged her tight.

“I thought you weren’t going to be here till tomorrow,” she said through her sobs.

“I was able to get a flight tonight and wanted to surprise you,” he smiled.

“Come in. I’m so glad your home,” she wiped her tears of joy on her sleeve.

He dropped his bags by the front door and headed into the living room.

“You haven’t put the angel up.”

“I was fixing to when you knocked, but it didn’t feel right. It’s always been your job,” she said as she handed him the angel.

Zach took the angel and placed it on the top of the tree. Laura smiled and wrapped her arm around his waist as they both looked at the tree with satisfaction. He may be grown but when he put that angel on the tree she saw the little boy in him shine through.

Having him home made Christmas seem normal, and gave her back something she would miss greatly. He maybe grown but he would always be her little boy.

I hope you enjoyed the story. As you can see I had a hard time coming to terms with him being in the military. But now he is a strong soldier and I couldn’t be prouder.

Happy Reading and Writing,

Tabitha Blake

Normal History Goes a Little Abnormal (Guest Blogger A.R. Cummings)

I love writing historical fiction. I love inventing a hunky hero and a spunky, determined heroine to match him and placing them in a story that depicts the way the past unfolded. I always know that whatever the odds, they’ll come together at the end for that satisfactory happily-ever-after.

With historical fiction a lot of research has to go into the background if you aren’t already knowledgeable in the era. I try not to play in the eras I don’t know much about but sometimes you have to cross the lines you’re unfamiliar with and go boldly where no writer has gone before.

Or in my case I went crazy and started writing a steam punk/paranormal romance set in Australia. I know next-to-nothing about steam punk and only marginally more than nothing about Australia. But I dove in anyway and came up with a novella currently in the editing stages. It was so much fun to write. Since it was steam punk and that’s largely set in Victorian England, I had a pretty good idea of what the dress code was, how people acted, and what was expected of a woman back then. My heroine didn’t want be lumped in as a model of society. She’s bold, adventurous, and best of all was brought up to believe she could do anything a man could do--including swear like a sailor. The perfect heroine to use steam punk technology. She brandishes a laser pistol at the hero, flies across the continent of Australia on an airship, floats along the Swan River in a steam-powered boat and faces down a creature of legendary proportions to help save the day. The obstacles and situations presented through this technology helped bring the hero and heroine closer together--in spite of the fact that she held a gun on the hero.

I’ve read that some editors frown on taking a perfectly good everyday object and turning it into something “new” and giving it a new name. So strive for unique items in your stories. There’s nothing wrong with adding a laser to a gun or even coming up with something far-fetched to make ordinary objects stand out. One of my favorite resources for ideas, be they a story line or a pirate ship name is Seventh Sanctum (http://www.seventhsanctum.com) a randomizer than can help cut through the writer‘s block.

Besides adding fantasy technological elements to a story, I’ve also tried adding some magic. Folklore has always interested me. Particularly with movies like Sleepy Hollow and An American Haunting. The paranormal genre is booming. I thought, why not jump on the wagon? Shoot for something a little different. Vampires and zombies might be right up your alley. They’re oldies, but goodies and everyone can offer a twist on the usual vamp story. On the other hand, I was looking for something a hair different.

I started researching American folklore and found a little known, but spooky story to form a romance out of. Every story needs a conflict, so I added demonic hags to form a love triangle. The first step might be to look at your area and the kinds of stories you grew up on. If none of those provide the inspiration you need, the web and a local library are additional resources. The best part of all is you have the creative license to bend, mold and shape folklore to meet your needs. Not only is this a great way to express your creativity, but it might also spark an interest in your readers to take a closer look at the myths and legends in their area. Stories focused around folklore provide entertainment and also help reinforce local history.

A.R. Cummings

Character Inspiration

Writing ideas come from the strangest places. I have heard writers tell me they had a dream or even a person just popped into their head out of nowhere, and they were inspired to write their story. One thing I know for certain, writers are a strange bunch. We can weave the most extravagant tales from nothing. And yes we hear voices. LOL Ok most would say that’s a mental disorder but it’s not for a writer. That’s how we get in touch with our characters and take them from an idea to the characters you know and love dearly. So let’s take a ride through the mind of a writer, Watch out this might be a little scary. HeeHee.

Let’s start with character. The characters in a book are the backbone, they are what holds the story together. Finding your characters is the first thing you must do before you start writing. Where do you find them? Characters can come from anywhere. Mine usually start in my head. I think about what I plan to write, not the whole story just a general idea. That helps me to think about my characters, what they will face and what kind of characters I need. Do they need to be strong, helpless, sweet, evil? Ok now you know the type of personality you need. Once I do this it helps me picture them in my mind. If you are writing about the girl next door, I can almost bet she won’t be a tall red head with a voluptuous figure. She will look like the average person. So for me personality plays a big part in who my characters are and what they look like.

My alpha male in A Vamp To Remember is tall, dark and handsome. Sounds typical right? Well this is where you make them just a little different. Zan is over six feet tall, has long black hair with metallic silver streaks and his eyes are dark almost black with silver encircling them. This is what I mean when I say make them just a little different. You don’t have to take drastic measures just give them something that makes them stand out in a crowd. His eyes alone would do that for me as a reader. I write paranormal and the characters in this genre can get pretty bizarre at times, so remember to give them something that connects them to the reader. They have to be believable. It can be as simple as the big bad monster that falls in love and shows a tender side to the woman that has tamed the savage beast.

Now you have a general idea. Let’s take it a little further. I like to look for pictures of my characters and hang them in front of me while I write. It really makes my characters come to life. It’s amazing you look at pictures and think nope not him. Then all of a sudden you find the one you have been looking for. That’s when you realize you knew what he looked like all along. This really helps me connect with my characters on a deeper level. I know you are thinking a picture come on, but you would be shocked how inspiring a picture can be.  I find myself staring at them and wonder what next? Sometimes they answer and sometimes they just stare back. LOL

We talked a little about their personality. Let’s talk about really getting to know your characters. How do you do that? The best place to start is a character chart. It will ask your characters questions you never thought to ask. What are their likes and dislikes? Goals and hopes? Fears? Motivation?  These are just a few, there are too many to list. I will give you a link to a good character chart at the end of the blog. You won’t need to use all the questions asked on a character chart but they are handy to have around. They are helpful when you need a personality trait or description. It’s also helpful if you are in the middle of a chapter and you forget his eye color. LOL Yes it happens to the best of us.

Most writers form a bond with their characters. I know it sounds weird but this is the case with me. I grow very close to my characters. I have had writers even tell me they felt a loss when a story came to an end. They become real in a writers mind. But I think you have to form this bond in order for the characters to come across as real to the reader. If you force characters you don’t believe in they will come across as forced. Then the story just falls flat. You need to feel the characters are close friends in order for them to intrigue the reader and tug at their emotions. If the reader loves your characters the odds are they will love the story as well.

Characters can be found everywhere. All you have to do is open your eyes and look around. They are the people you see in the grocery store, the mall, at work or passing you on the street. Inspiration comes when we open our eyes to the real world and watch others at a distance. Watch the way people act, move and talk. It really is amazing what we miss as we go about our daily lives. Open your eyes to inspiration it’s all around you.

I would love to hear where you find inspiration for your characters.

Character Chart:

www.epiguide.com/ep101/writing/charchart.html

Happy Reading and Writing

Tabitha Blake

In my head I hear voices screaming to be heard. So I write their stories. My characters speak to me and lead me through their joys and sorrows.
Tabitha Blake

The Tortured Hero (Picture is Craigen From Soul Extraction my Current WIP)

Today I thought I would talk about how I created the hero in my current wip, Soul Extraction. He is the epitome of the tortured hero. Poor guy is a mess but a very sexy mess. It takes many layers to create a true tortured hero and you have to peel the layers away as the story progresses. Opening one wound at a time and a good character will fight you all the way. If your character has a damaged past they are going to refuse to tear down walls and be open, even with the woman they believe could be the love of their life. Most tortured heroes would rather walk away with their defenses up than give in and open themselves to the possibility of getting hurt again. This is where you find the battle of wills begins. However, remember this creates tension, which is good. It can be helpful when it comes to conflict, sexual tension and internal conflict. It ratchets the story up to a new level.

What makes a good tortured hero? Well he is someone that has had a tragic past and wants to put it behind him and forget it. The problem lies in the fact that it isn’t that simple. Every time he turns around there is something that reminds him about the agony he carries with him. Most of these heroes try to shut themselves off from the outside world and live a solitary life. The problem is they still want the companionship but don’t know how to get over the emotional rollercoaster they ride everyday. That is where the heroine comes in and he is torn and usually fights the feelings the meeting opens up in him.

Craigen from Soul Extraction has many such wounds and is torn between the past and the present. A former angel that is now labeled one of the fallen. In his grief, he turned to drinking to ease his pain, which works until he is summoned by God to take down Nyx a sexual demon steeling women’s souls. Nyx is part of the reason he ended up one of the fallen. Three hundred years ago, he was sent to earth to catch Nyx. Craigen finds himself protecting a beautiful human and looses his heart to her. Following his heart he falls in love and is chased from the heavens by Michael the archangel. She becomes pregnant and dies in childbirth, leaving a gaping wound in his heart. He has lost everything, the love of his life and his angel status, a cruel reminder of his mistakes. Then he is called to take Nyx out for the second time and if he does, he will be welcomed back into heaven with open arms. But in the process, he meets Lyric the heroine and everything spins out of control again. He tries to push his feelings aside but they gnaw at him continually. When Nyx come after Lyric his protective nature takes over. He refuses to allow the past to repeat its self.

I love to write the tortured hero. All my heroes have had past that have left a deep seeded wound. In my opinion, they make the best heroes and bring tension to the story. A sexy hero that fights his feelings makes for some great sexual tension. They also demand the reader to sympathize with them, it makes them real. Flaws bring out the reality of the character. We are all flawed in one-way or another and a perfect hero is not very believable. I like my heroes to be damaged because it makes the tension high and the passions even higher when they go over the edge. They have been denying their feelings for so long that when they finally let loose watch out it is going to be intense.

To write a good tortured hero you have to have a good back-story. The thing is you also have to write it good or it is just an info dump. You have to weave it in little bits at a time and not just one big clump of info or you are going to loose your reader. In my wip S.E. the info about Craigen comes out in small bits all through the story, not in one big lump of info. This is very important. You also have to remember there has to be a reason to tell the back story, not just okay I’m going to give up the back story here just for the heck of it. In Soul Extraction Lyric tells her back story after she is attacked by Nyx and Craigen asks why she became a FBI agent. He is trying to distract her from her racing feelings. The problem is he opens up a whole other situation as he listens to her reasoning. This does not happen until chapter twelve so by this time you know Lyric and like her. This is very important, if the reader does not know the character yet then they won’t care about the back-story. There is a method to the madness of writing back-story.

When I start to write a character I look for things that will inspire me. I look to movies, music, and books. There is so much in this world to inspire you. Sometimes it may just be a walk in the park or sitting alone with your thoughts. I also love to search for pictures of my characters to look at while I write. It makes my characters come to life, for me at least. I find myself looking at them and waiting to hear them speak to me. I also do character charts for each of my characters and this breathes life into them too. It answers questions about them you never thought to ask.

Here are some links:

The song that reminds me of Craigen, poor thing. He lost the only woman he ever loved and she haunts him now. This song is perfect for the emotions he carries with him.

My Immortal/ Evanescence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5anLPw0Efmo

Character Chart, it will be the first one that comes up. It is a great tool, keeps you on track, and helps when you wonder the little things about your characters.

www.epiguide.com/ep101/writing/charchart.html

I would love to hear what you think about reading or writing the tortured hero. Do you think they bring more tension to the story? I personally want a strong alpha with a tortured past.

Till Next Time, Happy Reading and Writing,

Tabitha Blake

Why Do Women Find Vampires So Sexy?

I decided as a paranormal writer to tackle the question everyone is asking and scratching their heads about. Why are women so fascinated with vampires? Well vampires have always had a following, so it’s not a new trend. The difference is men told most vampire stories and they depicted the vampires as a blood sucking monsters. The vampire was known as evil, scary and repulsive. Then women writers decided to reinvent the vampire. They became suave, charming and the bad to the bone alpha males women are going crazy over. They are sexy, romantic, powerful and the ultimate bad boys.

Women have always been attracted to the bad boy type. What woman doesn’t like a guy in a leather jacket, tight jeans, and throw in a scar or two and you have the ultimate bad boy persona. That’s nothing new look at James Dean he was one of the first bad boys. Bad boys are the ultimate challenge, they do what they want, when they want and no one stands in their way. They are dark and mysterious, you never quite know where you stand with them. They keep it fun, exciting, and just a little bit dangerous. Women want to tame the savage beast. For any woman to bring a man like that to his knees it must be love. I have to admit I love to read about a dominant alpha male. I like them strong and demanding. I think it is an escape from the norm and is the fantasy of many women now hooked on the vampire craze.

Women love a man that demands respect and oozes confidence. Vampires are the ultimate when it comes to power. They are physically stronger, faster and are hard to kill. The only way to kill a vampire is burn them or remove their head, they can survive almost anything. Women thrive on knowing their man can protect them and these guys are like Mac trucks. Don’t ever mess with a vampire’s mate if you plan to live to see another day. A vampire will gladly give his life to keep the woman he loves out of harms way. Women love a man that would be willing to die for them, it is the ultimate sacrifice.

Vampires are hopeless romantics, they cherish their women. They know how women want to be treated, but I guess when you have lived for hundreds of years there is plenty of time to figure it out. The thing about vampires is they have only one true mate. Not to say there haven’t been a long list of women in their life, but what do you expect from a man that is hundreds of years old? They can make the direst situation romantic that is true chivalry. How can you not fall madly in love with a man that has searched for hundreds of years for you? You are the only one that he wants to spend eternity with. One of the biggest pluses is a vampire never cheat once bonded, you are the only one they will ever want. Their love is eternal and knows no bounds. Women want a prince charming and the vampire comes quite close.

So I don’t really think it is the vampire women are looking for, it is the traits of the vampire they are after. Women want to be swept off their feet. They want a whirlwind romance. They search for a man that is strong and can give them the security to know he will always keep them safe. I think taming the bad boy is a challenge and adds a little bit of danger to the mix. As a writer, my bad boy characters keep my books exciting and the heroine guessing what will happen next.

So, what is so bad about being powerful, almost immortal, always in control and incredibly desirable? Well according to many vampire lovers nothing. They are one of the most seductive creatures in paranormal romance and my personal favorite. What do you find sexy about vampires?

Happy Reading and Writing,

Tabitha Blake

The Creep Factor

It takes a little bit of a dark side to write a paranormal romance. You have to push the limits of a regular romance into the odd and unexpected. Its more than just writing a vampire or werewolf novel, readers expect to read something new and exciting. You have to weave a dark and twisted tale to keep the reader interested. Because if you don’t you fall into the category of just another vampire or werewolf tale. They want a new spin on the old traditional creatures and I don’t blame them. When I read a paranormal novel that takes the same basic creatures and turns them into something I never expected, curiosity draws me in.

Examples:

A vampire that faints at the sight of blood.

Vampires that are from Atlantis.

Vampires that drink only bagged blood.

Demons that run a demon hospital.

Vampires that can go out in the sun.

Demons that fight for good and not evil.

These are just a few that take the mundane and change it up to keep it interesting.

I am asked all the time where did you come up with that idea. The problem with answering that question is I don’t really have a good straightforward answer. Usually I just say from the dark recesses of my mind. I definitely have a dark side to my mind. I really enjoy the creep factor and that is the reason I write paranormals. I love to watch horror movies and thrive on the moments that make you jump. One of my crit partners is always telling me, “it’s a great story but really creepy.” When I hear that, I get overjoyed because I have done my job well.

One of my favorite parts of writing paranormals is the fact that there are no set rules. Your characters can be anything you want them to be. How can someone tell you your wrong when you are writing about mythic creatures? You are only limited by your imagination. The only rules you have to follow are the ones you apply to your story. You can’t tell the reader one thing and then halfway through tell them something different. Then you loose the reader but this goes for all stories. A reader wants consistency. They need balance to the story to make it believable and yes, even a paranormal needs to be believable. Your characters need to be consistent through out the story or readers start to question you as a writer.

My favorite part of writing isn’t what you would think it is. Most would say it is all about writing the dark but sexy hero or heroine. Well for me it is all about the resident evil in my books. I love to write the vile bad guy, I thrive on his dastardly deeds. I’m not sure what that says about me. HaHa! The evilness just flows from my mind to the keyboard and I tend to write the bad guy well. My bad guys are some of the vilest people that you would ever meet. They live to destroy and have no mercy for anyone. It is somewhat scary I guess I have a true dark and demented side that comes out in my work. Nevertheless, I think all authors are just a little twisted. How do you explain the stories we weave? Not everyone is capable of telling a tale like we do and some of us are just more twisted than others. I fall into the more twisted than others category. On a scale of one to ten, I would be a twelve. Of all the genres to write this is the only one I want to ever write. I feel joy when I weave a great paranormal tale. Now that we have journeyed through the dark corners of my mind and you know the creepy side of Tabitha, I hope you come back next week for more. If you dare to delve deeper into what makes me tick.

Happy Reading and Writing,

Tabitha Blake

When night falls passions blaze. Tabitha Blake

The Blog is still in the process of getting off the ground but will be up and running by Monday. I hope you will join us as we speak our minds on paranormal, contemporary and chick-lit romance. Whether you are a reader or a writer we will have some thing for everyone. Too don't for get to stop by my website for author interviews, author spotlights, paranormal poetry, creature definitions, and much more.

http://tabithablakesnocturnalnights.com