author spotlight

Triple Play Q&A with Marlee Wray

/ Jaye Elise / 3 Comments

Calling the PlaysToday’s Triple Play Q&A starts off with a nice little story about our kick-ass community of kinktastic authors! And if you’re reading this, chances are you’re part of it! Many of us strive to cultivate and contribute to our community each and every day, investing in the successes of our fellow authors. For my part (and it’s an extremely small one, to be sure!), it’s an honor to play a role in that effort and provide authors—both new and veteran—with a network of support.

About five months ago, Marlee Wray reached out to me (by filling out the contact form on this site, no less!) as she was preparing her first book for publication with Stormy Night Publications. Over the following months, we shared stories, suggestions, and as much advice as a relative novice like myself could. A lovely friendship blossomed and I am so proud and excited to see how her writing career is beginning to take off!

So, please help me welcome my guest, Marlee Wray, whose SECOND book is set to be released today!

8 Taking Her in Hand.001Hi everyone!

I’m Marlee, and I’m really happy to be on Jaye’s wonderful blog today. I’m a voracious reader and discovering erotic romances with spanking scenes was really exciting. I think I’d been waiting years for someone to publish them; I recall reading a historical romance novel years back where the heroine was spanked and afterward the hero apologized and promised to never do it again. My first thought was, don’t apologize! Maybe she liked that. I know I did!

After reading some “spanking romances,” I started incorporating domestic discipline and elements of BDSM into my own stories. I was part of a local writer’s group, but I was hesitant to share my explicit scenes. The problem was that that’s where a lot of my story ideas took me, so I ended up writing them in secret.

I became busy with life and put my writing aside for a time. Then this year, some supporting characters from a story I’d written three years ago kept popping into my head. I wrote their (Rory & Kate’s) story, and it led to another story and another and another. Finally someone close to me said, “You really have to try to publish them.”

So I submitted a small one, Taking Her in Hand, which is set in a private community of dominants and their submissives. The story was expanded based on some really good recommendations from my editor, and it came out in late September. My second spanking romance, Calling the Plays, is out this weekend! It’s about a female professor who gets involved with the college’s celebrated football coach. So excited to see what readers think of Dean & Meghan!

The surprising thing for me has been what a variety of ideas I’ve had. Some are more hardcore BDSM, like the ones set in a sex club. Others feature women who are beginning to be disciplined by a partner, without any expectation that the kink will go farther than their own bedroom. There are also a couple of erotic fantasies set in worlds different than our own. The freedom of writing in this genre has been amazing. I can’t wait to see how readers will feel about the different stories and whether they will connect with the characters the way I have.

Fantastic intro, Marlee—thanks! And now it’s time for your Triple Play Q&A!

Taking Her in HandWhat drew you to become a writer?

I wouldn’t say I was drawn to it so much as dragged by a muse with a vise grip. 😉 Since childhood, I’ve always had a big imagination and would dream up elaborate scenes and then longer stories. Eventually, I couldn’t help but write them down so that I could read and re-read them.

Could you name a fictional character or two from books, films, cartoons, etc. that you wish you could be more like? Which aspects of theirs would you like to emulate?

Right now, I’m listening to the latest book from J.D. Robb’s In Death series, so I’m going to go with Eve Dallas for the following reasons…

I’d like to be kickass and unapologetically unconcerned about what other people think. She has a tough past that I wouldn’t want, but I think that makes her appreciate her life with her gorgeous Irish billionaire husband more, so a silver lining. I love that beneath her tough exterior, she’s empathetic and loyal. I also admire her complete commitment to her work. It’s important to make the world a more just place and to feel a sense of purpose.

Now if only she’d let Roarke spank her ass, she’d be perfect… LOL Just kidding!

If you had three wishes, what would they be? And no, you can’t wish for more wishes! 🙂

  1. World Peace
  2. Membership in an exclusive sex club that’s like the one I dreamed up for an upcoming book series. (It’s called the Marquis Club, and it’s a fantasyland for kinksters.)
  3. Financial freedom so that I could read, write, entertain, and travel to my heart’s content. The pot of gold that constitutes financial freedom would have to be big enough for me to be able to afford a beautiful lake house with a dozen guest rooms, so sometimes friends and family could stay, and other times, fellow writers could come for a retreat. If it ever happens, I promise there will be great coffee every morning and a walk along the water with a glass of wine at night. (A person can dream. Especially if that person is a writer!)

2 Calling the Plays.001Be careful what you wish for, Marlee! You may just end up with yours truly showing up at the door to your lake house, begging for a cup of coffee! 😉 A truly harrowing situation that would be, I can assure you! 

Thank you so much for joining me today, Marlee, and congratulations yet again on your release day! I’m sure Calling the Plays is going to be a big hit…and I’ll be one-clicking it later today! If you’d like to find out even more about Marlee, or would be interested in picking up some of her fantastic books, please click around the links below and go to town!

Triple Play Q&A with Via Mari

/ Jaye Elise / Leave a comment

Via Mari - 2It’s the last weekend in October and Halloween is just around the corner…which means it’s the perfect time to curl up with a warm drink, a decadent treat, and one of your favorite authors—Via Mari! A (currently) Midwestern gal with globe-trotting sensibilities, Via is a relatively new author to the erotic romance scene, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t already making a splash!

But how about I not spoil things for her and let her tell you herself?? 😉 Welcome to the Triple Play Q&A, Via Mari!

 

My name is Via Mari and I live in the Midwestern part of the United States but grew up in both America and the United Kingdom. I greatly appreciate the opportunity the talented Jaye Elise has provided in allowing me to share a little bit about myself and work.

I can remember reading and writing from the time I was very little. My parents would buy me the spiral-bound notebooks and I would fill them up over and over. I think my mom still has them in a hope chest somewhere!

Networking with a group of like-minded individuals online and at conferences inspired me to finally publish my work. A few of those relationships have turned into deep friendships and we continue to encourage and challenge each other professionally.

Via Mari - 1I enjoy writing romance with suspense and hot steamy sex scenes that push the boundaries of both the characters and readers. My work currently includes: Degrees of Innocence, Degrees of Acceptance, Degrees of Control, and Degrees of Power. I have to admit wondering what my mom would think about my work, but to my delight she has been a beta reader and is my biggest fan. Who would have thought?

When not curled up in my chair writing, you can usually find me out for a long walk, caring for my garden, cooking, or out supporting a community festival of some sort.

And now’s the time you’ve all been waiting for…Via Mari’s Triple Play!

Via Mari - 3As an author, what is your proudest moment and why?

While I am a relatively new author I have had many proud moments. The successful publishing of all four books of my first series was certainly special. A recently received Gold Pen Award at the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Conference this year was another big moment and took me completely by surprise. What really makes me teary-eyed and emotionally proud is when a reader writes a review or sends me a message letting me know how much they loved the story, or that they couldn’t put it down. I absolutely love those moments. That’s what writing is all about for me.

If you were a character in a book or series of books, who would you be and why?

It would definitely be Katarina Meilers from my Prestian book series. The love Chase has for her is deep, powerful, and primal. He takes her on a journey of sexual exploration that can only be described as erotically romantic.

Which famous person do you most often get compared to? (This could be based on looks, talent, or any other aspect!) How do you feel about the comparison?

In reviews my work has been referenced a few times as having a slightly Fifty Shades feel—maybe because Chase Prestian owns a fleet of jets and helicopters—with a Maya Banks sort of style, and most recently, a reader sent me a message asking me if I had ever read the Button series and told me that my work was in that league. All of which have thrilled me for a variety of reasons, but I am truly honored that my readers would liken me to authors who have millions of avid fans.

Via Mari - 5Thank you once again, Via, for joining me on this week’s installment of the Triple Play Q&A author spotlight! And, given your already stellar track record, I can’t what to see what your future projects will be! If you’d like to find out even more about Via, or would be interested in picking up some of her fantastic books, please click around the links below and go to town!

Triple Play Q&A with Piper Stone

/ Jaye Elise / Leave a comment

Animal lover. Baker. Prolific author of erotica, romance, DD, and D/s fiction. Today’s Triple Play Q&A guest—Piper Stone—is all of these and more! I’m doubly excited to feature Piper this week since she has a new novel coming out on November 3rd, Three Rivers Run Deep, the first in her new Fire Devil series with Blushing Books!

Welcome to my blog, Piper! Please introduce yourself, if you’d be so kind. 😉

Piper Stone - 3Hi, I’m Piper Stone. I write exclusively for Blushing Books in various genres including romantic suspense, thriller, domestic discipline and of course – spanking! I love strong male characters who are not your typical leads. I’ve been writing since I was the ripe old age of 4, having completed 16 novels by the time I was 16. I write very quickly and also am fortunate enough to write stories for Bethany’s Woodshed, a serial style website for books that is a part of Blushing. I also tend to highlight animals in my books, especially dogs, since I’m the proud owner of two Golden Retrievers, Indiana Jones and MacGyver, who rock my world and rule the roost.

When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with an over achieving husband and searching for the perfect bottle of red wine to go with a grilled or sous vide dinner. I’m allergic to chocolate, but I absolutely adore baking, especially truffles of all kinds.

A little known fact, I once attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, studying Avionics. I know, go figure, right?

Piper Stone - 2Thanks for the great intro, Piper! And, just for the record, your pooches are too cute for words! But I digress… It’s time for your Triple Play Q&A!

Could you name an author or two who’ve inspired you? What speaks to you about their work?

I’ve always read thrillers or horror books so I adore Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Getting into the mind of a serial killer is so darn juicy. Don’t you think?

What do you listen to/have on in the background when you’re writing?

I absolutely love metal music, especially Disturbed, Halestorm and Avenged Sevenfold. They inspire my writing every day.

It’s 7:35am. Work starts at 8am. You need a shower and coffee…but only have time for one or the other. Panic sets in. Which do you choose??? (And why?)

Oh, a shower hands down – along with the perfect dress, make up and hair done. Yep, I’m a girl. I don’t feel like I’m ready for the work until I shower and dress.

Piper Stone - 1Well, there you have it, folks! Ms. Stone managed to cover heavy metal, serial killers, and her morning routine all within the confines of a few sentences! Impressive, huh? 😉 Thanks again for joining me for the Triple Play feature, Piper! If you’d like to find out even more about Piper, or would be interested in picking up some of her fantastic books, please click around the links below and go to town!

Triple Play Q&A with Mark S. R. Sterling

/ Jaye Elise / 5 Comments

Mark S.R. Sterling - 2Hello all! Welcome back for this week’s installment of the Triple Play Q&A! You know, I think I very well may be spoiling you all because, yet again, I’ve got another first for you with this week’s featured author. Wait for it…wait for it… We’ve got our very first stock market day trader!!! Woohoo!

Also, he’s a guy. 😉

You may remember some mentions of this particular author from my Triple Play feature with Sahalie Blue, so it’s a true pleasure to have him join me today! Please allow me to introduce the witty, multi-faceted Mark Sterling!

Mark S.R. Sterling - 4

Hi, I am Mark Sterling. Thank you, Jaye, for inviting me into your cyber-home.

I originated in the Rocky Mountain West, but moved to Texas half way through high school. I was a nerd in high school and college, studying science and engineering, and I spent a few decades working for the government on secret stuff. One day, I got mad and quit. In the years betwixt, I had two daughters. We’ll not discuss exactly how that happened.

I began a second career as a recluse stock market day trader. This wasn’t much fun, so I added erotic writer to my resume.

When I began writing erotica, I wanted a pen name that didn’t reflect any real person {there are several Mark Sterlings around}, so I inserted an extra middle name initial and became Mark S. R. Sterling. Later, I created Sterling Scott as a pen name exclusive to Blushing Books Publications.

The most common theme of my writings is romantic spanking. However, I have a love for history, mystery, and science fiction. Thus, I create combinations of these themes in my books.

I became interested in spanking when my mother sent me to Catholic School. It has been on my mind, so to speak, ever since I encountered the strict nuns. I wrote my first book before I learned to write cursive, certainly before I learned to spell. When my grandfather died, I inherited his old Underwood and began typing my manuscripts. All my early works were science fiction. It wasn’t until I switched to erotica that I got published.

Mark S.R. Sterling - 3Thanks for the glimpse into your background and inspirations, Mark! And away we go with your Triple Play Q&A!

What are you currently working on?

I’m addicted to writing, so I attempt to do it all the time. However, life intercedes. Most of my effort, these days, is with family. I have a one-year-old granddaughter that I babysit one or two days a week, and my youngest daughter has just graduated from law school. I’ve been helping her relocate to Washington DC. These two daughters live 850 miles apart, thus I am burning rubber on I-95.

However, I still find time to write. I always have several projects in the mill. Mostly, I am co-authoring a Western with Sahalie Blue (I believe you know her). Our story is about a humble Nebraska cowgirl who, with the help of her Dom cowboy-lover, overcomes the odds to become a Wild West show trick rider and champion rodeo star. Sahalie and I live on opposite sides of the country, and our general routine is to email chapters back and forth. To keep things moving, we each take one pass at a chapter, and then she adds it to the collated work. Once the entire book is finished, we will take turns editing it.

Additionally, I am also two-thirds of the way through the fifth book in my Lady Detective series — tentatively titled: “Arsenic and the Socialite”. This is a Victorian murder mystery. As with the other books in the series, I’ve taken a real life case and spiced it up with erotic spanking and such.

Mark S.R. Sterling - 5

Do you follow a specific routine when it comes to your writing, or would you consider yourself more haphazard in your approach?

I wish I was more structured. Basically, I’m a morning man. I’m usually up at 5 a.m. and I do my best work between the first cup of coffee and lunch. If my muse is really cooking, then I can work into the afternoon.

I recently purchased a treadmill and it is situated adjacent to my writing station. Thus, I can take 20 minute breaks for some exercise while my muse works out some plot detail.

After lunch, I usually get distracted by Turner Classic Movies, or Netflix, or the barmaid in the tavern down the street…

If you were a superhero, which superhero would you be and why?

Well, I most certainly would not be The Flash. I mean, what erotic writer wants to be known as the “fastest man to the finish”? {{wink}}

I want to be Mr. Fantastic. Most of my career has been with science and engineering, and Mr. Fantastic is the master of these talents. Additionally, having the ability to stretch and mold my body into any shape I desire would come in hand with those rarely attempted Kama Sutra positions. I could flatten my hand out into a paddle and give a combo hand-paddle spanking. Or, maybe a long thin cane or whip… Ropes, I could stretch my fingers into ropes whenever such restraints were needed. Yeah, I am the new Mr. Fantastic!

Well, well, well…it seems that a new Mr. Fantastic is born! 😉 Thank you so much for joining me on the Triple Play today, Mark! And I’m sure I’m not the only one looking forward to reading more about those spankings you mentioned… If you’d like to find out even more about Mark, or would be interested in picking up some of his fantastic books, please click around the links below and go to town!

Mark S.R. Sterling - 1

 

Triple Play Q&A with Isabella Laase

/ Jaye Elise / Leave a comment

Hello all!

This week’s Triple Play Q&A featured author is a multi-faceted force of nature! Teacher, stalker, philosopher, and of course, über talented writer! (By the way, I should totally get some extra credit for nailing that umlaut on “über”!) But I digress… Please allow me to introduce Isabella Laase! 

Welcome, Isabella!

Isabella Laase - 1

Introducing myself is a tough thing. I’ve been an erotica reader for years but in the summer of 2015, I decided to make the plunge and become a writer and on that day, Isabella Laase was born.

A lot of people have debated pen names in this genre, but for me, my public sector job, my large my conservative family, and even my age has kept my two worlds separate.

I love being Isabella. Having the freedom to discuss socially forbidden topics with like-minded people has been amazing. My first novel was Training Tia but it took two years to publish it. I was lost for weeks in a fantasy world of sex and submission.

Creating Tamed by the Virginian moved much faster and it combined my history loving side with dominant males and sassy females just trying to survive. By this point, I was hooked.

I moved onto the Cloudcroft series with the idea of introducing the world of kinky sex to mainstream America and it has been a mind opening, research based joy along with some of my favorite characters to date.

Isabella Laase - 2

Introducing yourself may be tough, but you did an outstanding job, Isabella! And now it’s time for your Triple Play Q&A!

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Social justice advocate…educating America’s future…reading smutty novels….and not necessarily in that order. I have a wonderful family and my hubby is my best friend of over thirty years. We travel a great deal and I’ve been very, very lucky in this life.

Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what are they? If not, is there something you wish you could do?

I am a hell of a stalker. After years of doing historical and genealogical research, I could probably track down just about anybody on the Internet. I’ve used this … uh…perfectly legal talent to find distant cousins who have shared new and exciting history with me. I also love to write non-fiction articles on real people and have a little notoriety under a different name.

I wish…though that I could write a professional webpage on my own. I also wish I did better with Twitter.

Isabella Laase - 3

What are a few simple things that give you the most pleasure in life?

I love being alone. I know it doesn’t fit with what I’ve said above about the family and all, but I really…really like to sit in an empty house and just listen to the nothing. I love to think, and dream and get lost in my imagination. I love to go the grocery store or the mall and wander around without looking to buy anything in particular. I love to pick junk food places to eat my lunch while playing canasta on my cell phone. I love to watch television without having to justify my choices…of Disney cartoons or vampire movies or comic book heroes. I totally could be a hermit in my next life….but I still get a little shudder of excitement when hubby comes home at the end of the day.

Thank you, Isabella, for joining me on today’s Triple Play Q&A! It’s been a pleasure learning more about you and your approach to writing. And, if any of you need some stalking done, it sounds like Ms. Laase may be willing exchange some of her know-how for some Twitter tips! 😉 

If you’d like to find out even more about Isabella, or would be interested in picking up some of her fantastic books, please click around the links below and go to town!

Triple Play Q&A with Eliza David

/ Jaye Elise / Leave a comment

Eliza David - 1Hello all!

For today’s Triple Play Q&A, I’ve got with me the witty, sassy, sharp, and sexy Eliza David! Ms. David writes pure, smart hotness and her tagline—Naughty Mind. Big Mouth. Strong Liver.—tells you everything you need to know about this dynamo! She also happens to be the first (and only, to date) Triple Play guest to provide a head shot—even though I didn’t have the cojones to include mine when she featured me on her blog! *grins sheepishly*

Although she may not realize it, Eliza was one of the reasons I decided to create the Triple Play Q&A in the first place. When I saw how she utilized her platform to support and feature other romance and erotica authors, I felt inspired to do the same. Thanks for always paying it forward!

And welcome to the Triple Play, Eliza!Eliza David - 5

Hi all! I’m Eliza David. I write hot fiction for cool women. My type of reader typically has dry wit, thick thighs, and thin patience. They like their reads hot, full of passion, and rife with drama. When I’m not writing the naughty words, I’m working full time, raising two of the loudest children in the world with my husband, and bingeing on Will and Grace reruns. I’ve penned nine books (first one’s FREE on Amazon!) and my latest was dropped in July 2017. It’s called The Follow – a tale of a famous R&B star struggling with a sex addiction while falling in love.

Great intro – thanks! And away we go with your Triple Play Q&A!

Of all the works/series that you’ve published so far, which has been the most rewarding and why?

I’d have to say the Cougarette Series. CeeCee Banks was my first character and owns a considerable part of my soul. I feel like every woman I’ve crafted has a piece of CeeCee inside of them. I love her and I thank her for unlocking my creativity.

Eliza David - 2

What motivates you to write?

There’s a drive for diversity in romance/erotica writer circles – and for good reason. My urge to tell the stories of black women in love motivates me to move the pen. The day I see one of my tales onscreen (and I will!) is the dangling carrot for me. Diverse voices in love stories are needed and I’m just blessed to be one of them!

List three of your guilty pleasures and tell us a little bit about why they appeal to you.

  • Jackie Collins’ novels. The late author is one of my literary inspirations. Her Santangelo Series is one of my faves – I own every one of the novels in hardcover!
  • Sex and the City. The show, the movies (well…the second movie, not so much 🙂 ), the clothes, the fashion, and – of course – the Blueprint: Samantha Jones.
  • Cheese Fries. The cheesier, the better!

Eliza David - 4Thank you so much for joining me, Eliza! Sweet mercy, woman…you had me a cheese fries. 😉 I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about this wonderful, prolific, BUSY author! If you’d like to find out even more about Eliza, or would be interested in picking up some of her fantastic books, please click around the links below and go to town!

 

 

Triple Play Q&A with Allysa Hart

/ Jaye Elise / 3 Comments

If you’re into novels with naughty girls, plenty of spankings, and daddies who’ll make everything all better (after dishing out the aforementioned spankings!), then you’ve probably heard of this week’s Triple Play Q&A guest, Allysa Hart! Allysa’s books are full of plenty of sexy scenes and ouchy bottoms, so her readers know exactly what they’re getting when they dive into one of her wonderful novels. But what you may not realize is that Ms. Hart is also a graphic artist and an invaluable resource to other authors, creating e-covers, teasers, book wraps, and more!

Welcome to the Triple Play, Allysa! Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Allysa Hart - 4

I am a full-time mom to a sassy, strong-willed, loveable little girl. Okay, so she is all me. I am on the wrong side of 30, and I have been married to my best friend for over eight years. Like most couples, we have our ups and downs, but I could not imagine doing life with anyone else by my side. We are Southern California transplants, currently residing in a very rural part of the east coast. I have two crazy dogs that I adore, even though they drive me out of my ever-loving mind, most days.

Allysa Hart - 2I have recently rediscovered my love of words and decided to become a writer. My first story is my heart and soul, and it reaches into the depths of all that is me. I also create covers, promos, and logos for authors. I have met some amazing friends on this journey that I now happily call family. Without my family members, whether biological or chosen, I would not be half the person I am today. Their constant love and support keep me afloat.

 

Thanks for sharing, Allysa! And away we go with your Triple Play Q&A!

What drove you to become an author?

I have always loved writing. I used to pen stories in elementary school, but I was hopeless at illustrations so I stopped. After college I rediscovered my love for reading and started devouring romance books like crazy. The stories started coming to me and I just followed suit and began writing. Best decision I have ever made.

Which cartoon character do you most identify with and why?

I would have to say I am most like Princess Poppy from Trolls. She has a very positive view of the world even though she knows there is bad. She focuses on the good in people no matter how many times she gets burned. Poppy is brave. She faces obstacles head on even though she is obviously scared to death. She also puts her relationships with her friends and family in the forefront. She will do anything for those she loves, even risk her own life. She can also be a stubborn, sassy brat. *grin*

Allysa Hart - 3If you could only choose one food to eat for the rest of your life, which would you pick and why?

That’s a really hard one. I like food! Lotsa food! *sigh* If you mean like any dish, it would have to be my family’s home made spaghetti and meat sauce. The recipe has been in my family for generations and I have never tasted a sauce that even comes close to it.

 

Allysa Hart - 1Well, you heard it here first, folks! Whenever we kick off our Annual Authors of Erotica Potluck Dinner, Allysa’s bringing the spaghetti and meat sauce! 🙂 I hope you enjoyed spending some time with this week’s featured author, Allysa Hart. If you’d like to find out even more about Allysa, or would be interested in picking up some of her fantastic books or graphic designs, please click around the links below and go to town!

Triple Play Q&A with Felicity Brandon

/ Jaye Elise / 1 Comment

This week’s Triple Play Q&A author is a household name…that is, in households that pride themselves on leaning toward the naughtier side of the spectrum! The fantabulous Felicity Brandon is joining us this week, folks! And not only does she have some fun responses to her Triple Play questions, but she’s also got a brand (spanking!) new book out! Keep an eye out for some hot links to Felicity’s books, both old and new, and hold on for a bumpy, sassy ride!

Welcome, Felicity!

Felicity Brandon - 1

Felicity Brandon - 2Thank you so much for having me here. I am Felicity Brandon, award winning, Amazon international bestselling writer of sizzling alpha males, BDSM, and spanking romance. I like my fictional males to be dominant and powerful, and my female characters to be wanton, and wilful!

My last release, The Viking’s Conquest, was voted Favourite Historical Fiction, 2016, and was also named runner-up at the 2017 Spanking Romance Reviews awards.

My new release, Taming Lady Lydia, is a hot spanking Regency romance, and is the most sensual and potent tale I have ever penned. It just hit e-readers on 8th September, 2017.

Felicity Brandon - 3

And now it’s time for Felicity’s Triple Play Q&A! Here we go!

Do you have any rituals or traditions reserved for when you finish writing one of your novels? (i.e. smoke a cigarette, go out for a night on the town, go streaking, etc.)

Great question! Sadly, I do not have any interesting traditions, although now that you mention it, maybe I should devise a few! I have so many works in progress, that I tend to just carry straight on with my next book, but I do love the satisfaction of completing a novel.

Felicity Brandon - 5

What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone in the process of writing their first erotica novel?

Keep on writing! No, seriously – that is the best advice! There are plenty of times when you may want to give up, but don’t. Persevere, and get the story finished. Once you have the first draft, you have something you can craft.

What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream? 🙂

Ooh, mint choc chip for me please! Although I do also love rum and raisin…

Felicity Brandon - 4Thank you, Felicity, for taking the time to share your tips, secrets, and successes! And congratulations on your newest release! If you’d like to find out even more about Felicity Brandon, or would be interested in picking up some of her fantastic books – including Taming Lady Lydia – please click around the links below and go to town!

 

Triple Play Q&A with Gracie Malling

/ Jaye Elise / 1 Comment

You know, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve found myself wide awake in the middle of the night, conducting an internal debate about the greatest and most celebrated Welsh stars of all time. Is it Catherine Zeta-Jones? Anthony Hopkins? Roald Dahl? Tom Jones? Shirley Bassey? Richard Burton? Corgis?? The list is interminable and, as I’m sure you now realize, the task is daunting!

But inevitably, like a stiff breeze off the Bristol Channel, her name comes to mind, the brightest star of them all…and this week’s Triple Play Q&A guest, Gracie Malling!!! So, let’s have a nice sit and find out all about this Welsh Tigress!

Welcome, Gracie!

Gracie Malling - 1Thanks for inviting me onto your blog, Jaye! Hi, Everyone. 🙂 My name’s Gracie Malling, I’ve just turned 32 and I’m a Welsh girl living in England. I’ve been writing BDSM erotica on-and-off since I was 21 (which was when I met my first ever Dom… who is now my husband… yeah, he’s awesome!) but I only got into writing spanking romances in my late twenties. You see, I didn’t even know ‘proper’ spanking novels existed until I was given a Kindle for my 28th birthday (Best. Present. Ever).

Work commitments, forays into vanilla writing and my own professional-level procrastination skills have meant that I have only written three spanking novels so far. However, I am so close to finishing a fourth (I can almost taste the finish line) and I’ve made a promise to myself to give writing more of my time and focus from now on. So fingers crossed there are loads more books on the horizon!

When I’m not writing or working at my day job, I enjoy spending time with the people I love most (including my husband and our girlfriend, who, if you follow me on any of my social media accounts, you will know as Mr M and Darling Girl), reading anything that will stay still for long enough, being a mediocre Dog Mommy to our magnificent Pointer / Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, pursuing increasingly ridiculous hobbies (including Scottish Country Dancing and pirate re-enactment), going to stand-up comedy shows, and obsessing over Game of Thrones theories (like, seriously, don’t even get me started).

Aaaaand…it’s time for the Triple Play Q&A!!!

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If you could sit down and have a drink and a chat with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Definitely Jane Austen. I am such a fan girl, and she is so fantastically (but subtly) sarcastic in her writing style that I bet she would be a total blast to chat to. I mean, I could totally pretend to be from that era (‘Upon my word! I can’t tell you how delighted I am to make your acquaintance, Miss Austen!”), I brew a mighty fine cup of tea (even if I do say so myself) and I even have a Regency dress that I could wear for the occasion (*ahem*… from my spanking roleplay days…). Most of all though, it would just be so awesome to talk to the person who created my favourite ever fictional character: Elizabeth Bennet.

If you could escape to any place and period in time, which would you escape to and why?

Ooh, interesting question… At the risk of sounding really shallow, I’d possibly go with the late 1940s / early 1950s as my time period, as I love the clothes people wore then and I’d want to still be in a time when things like antibiotics existed (sorry – I’m really not entering into the spirit of this question, am I?!). The place I’d escape to would definitely be the Highlands of Scotland, preferably a remote area of the West coast within sight of the beautiful Western Isles. I love love love the brutal beauty of the landscape there, the sheer scale of the lochs and mountains, and that dizzying sense of being almost completely cut off from the rest of civilization. Oh, I’ve just realized that this means I basically want to be Claire at the beginning of Outlander. Oops…!

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What was the first concert you ever attended?

Destiny’s Child! I was 15 and they were playing at a stadium in the Midlands. This was at the time when their song ‘Independent Women’ had just come out and I remember being completely blown away by how powerful all their voices were (especially Beyoncé’s). It was a pretty long drive over from Wales (in my friend’s Dad’s car) but totally worth it. 🙂

Thank you, Gracie, for joining me on the Triple Play Q&A today! It’s been wonderful getting to know you better…and finding out that you’ve got more spanking novels in the works for us! Woohoo! If you’d like to find out even more about Gracie Malling, are interested in exchanging Game of Thrones theories, or would be interested in picking up some of her fantastic books, please click around the links below and go to town!

Triple Play Q&A with Kelly Dawson

/ Jaye Elise / 3 Comments

With me today for the next installment of the Triple Play Q&A is the sweet and sensational Kelly Dawson! Kelly has officially earned the title of “Triple Play Q&A Participant Living Farthest Away from Jaye Elise.” (That’s got a nice ring to it, huh?) She’s a proud New Zealander who lets us peek into her beautiful world through her books, and has a nice way of making us blush in the process!

It is my most sincere pleasure to introduce Kelly Dawson!

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Hi! I’m thrilled to be here with you on your blog today, Jaye!

I’m a 30-something mum of 4, living in an awesome little town right at the bottom of the world – the very South of the South Island of New Zealand! 🙂

I love horses, cowboys, rodeos and spanking, although not necessarily in that order, and I’ve been writing forever. Spanking stories, mostly, which I wrote on whatever scraps of paper I could find in the house. My poor mother is still mortified, but she’s happy that my early-discovered talents have been put to good use. 🙂 And yes, she knows my pen name! She even has paperback copies of my books, but I think she’s too scared to read them.

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I have Tourette’s Syndrome, which I’ve included in two of my books, and which has, to a large extent, shaped my life. I’m also a klutz. And right now, I’m trying to get used to brand new glasses, which has turned me into even more of a klutz. I used to trip over cracks in the concrete. Now I trip over absolutely nothing! I’ve turned tripping into an art form and have probably broken a world record while doing it. Hopefully, my eyes adjust soon, before I break anything! I’m also learning how to strain the veggies for dinner when the steam fogs up my glasses, and am debating whether or not being able to see properly is worth all the minor injuries I’m doing to myself. Right now, as I nurse a burned finger and bruised ankle, and can see all my grey hair and wrinkles with perfect clarity in the mirror, I’m going with “no”. Being half-blind definitely has its advantages! Although, as my kids tell me, “you look like a real author now, Mum!” So maybe I’ll keep the glasses. 🙂

If you haven’t read my books yet, please check me out! I’ve got 8 books out now – everything from Kiwi rural contemporary romance and age play to sci-fi and westerns!

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Time to get our Triple Play Q&A kicked off!

Name a couple of your “desert island” books and why you’d choose them?

Oooh, that’s hard! Do you know how many books I’ve read repeatedly, and how many favourite authors I have? I don’t have enough fingers to name them all!

But I think it would have to be Loki Renard’s Military Discipline series with Captain Savage and Zora Matthews. I’ve read these 3 books over and over again and I’m still not sick of them. I fell in love with Captain Savage the first time I ‘met’ him on “Bethany’s Woodshed” many years ago. He’s huge, sexy, totally alpha male. He wears a military uniform, he’s strict but compassionate underneath it all, and he spanks! What’s not to like? Then throw in Zora – an incorrigible alcoholic accountant genius who seems completely and utterly unable to obey orders – and sparks fly! It’s a great, entertaining read, and Loki’s wit comes through in her writing. I’m a big fan!

And mainstream…it would have to be anything by Australian rural romance writer Therese Creed. She wrangles farming, writing, and raising 5 kids! What an inspirational woman! And she writes the most amazing heroes and strong, capable heroines. I can read her work over and over.

What are you currently working on?

Kelly Dawson - 5Yay, an easy question! My WIP is a follow-on from Daddies Take Control, which was the stand-alone sequel to Daddy Takes the Reins. So you could say it’s the 3rd book in the series. Except that when I first wrote Daddy Takes the Reins, I didn’t have a series in mind and I still don’t, really, but the characters just won’t leave me alone. I put so much of me into Bianca – one of my two heroines who have Tourette’s Syndrome – and fell so much in love with both the characters and the story, that I can’t say goodbye to them.

This new WIP doesn’t have a title yet, not even a tentative one, but it’s set in rural New Zealand, on a farm this time instead of a racing stable, very close to where I live. The sexy cowboy Daddy Dom in this book is a bull rider. He’s strong, tough, ruggedly handsome, totally dominant, but oh-so-sweet and gentle at the same time. If you loved the first two books, you’re going to love this one! I even dream about this guy, he’s THAT HOT!!

What’s your adult beverage of choice?

Coffee! That, and L&P*.

I very rarely drink, but when I do, I enjoy a chilled glass of sparkling feijoa wine, or Midori and lemonade. Just one glass, though. Because I hardly ever drink, me and alcohol are not good friends. On one of our early dates, my man took me to this nice restaurant and I had two Midoris. Double shots, mind you, but still… Anyway, after the meal we went outside and I promptly fell over in the garden. But he still married me! We’ve been married 15 years now and he still occasionally laughs at me for not being able to drink.

I’ve never been drunk. Ever. In my WIP there’s a drinking scene, and I’m having to “research” – a.k.a. annoying all my friends with inane questions about how it feels to be drunk. I think they’re going to disown me.

*Jaye’s Notes: I’d never heard of L&P before, so for those of you who were wondering what it was, I just looked it up and it sounds delicious! It’s a lemon flavored soft drink whose tagline is “World Famous in New Zealand” – gotta love the tongue-in-cheekiness of it! 🙂

Kelly Dawson - 6Thanks, Kelly, for taking a moment out of your busy day to share a little more about yourself! It’s been a pleasure having you here…and can’t wait to meet your new hunky Daddy Dom! If you’d like to find out even more about Kelly Dawson, or would be interested in picking up some of her fantastic books, please click around the links below and go to town!