Tamsin writes erotic fiction as well as other genres. Today, she’s going to share more about her alter ego and her erotic writing. Welcome, Tamsin, and thanks for treading the boards with us today!

Thank you for having me.

1.      Are you inspired most by places, people or experiences and how do these work their way into your writing?  Experiences probably- especially if you include other books and authors. That inspires me the most.

2.      How did you come up with the idea of Eternal Hearts?

A publisher put out a submission call for Vampire stories, 15-20K words. I had never written a ménage before but had read some great ones. So thought, I may just have a go at this. I start writing and let the characters take me where ever they like.

3.      How do you come up with your characters’ names?

Hmmm, I change them often half way through. I have to like them and they have to suit the period in time. So I just pick a couple, try them out, then change them if they need to be changed.

4.      Do you read reviews of your books? What do you do when you read a not-so-nice one? Yes and ahhh, pout and complain to other writers. What else can you do? Can’t please everyone, but I don’t take it well.

5.      How many times were you turned down before you finally got published?

I’m still getting turned down! Got another rejection two weeks ago. Though, If you are talking about my first contract, three times.

6.      Who is your literary hero?

Diana Gabaldon- she’s brilliant.

7.      What do you need to set the mood for you to write?

Ah, a computer and a place to sit.

8.      If there is one genre that you have not written in yet, but would love to try writing a book in that specific genre, what would it be?

I’ve written a lot of genres- I haven’t tried F/F yet, and I may… soon.

9.      How many blurbs did you have to write before the final one?

Eeek, I hate blurbs. I write them quickly and send them off.

10.  What are you working on now?

The sequel to my first ménage shifter erotic romance. Knowing Destiny.

11.  Would you like to share an excerpt from your writing or a photo or music link that inspires you?

I would love to. Remember that Eternal Hearts is a historical- Regency period (1811), ménage- MMF (which means the men love each other and the woman) and vampire. So I will find you a gentle excerpt, but the story is pretty fast and hot.

Margaret forced her mind to work and answer the question posed to her.

“Lady Margaret Tonnington.”

The men shared another glance, and she clenched her teeth. Margaret hated when people shared secrets or spoke through looks. She wouldn’t have it.

“Would you two stop doing that? At least have the decency to think aloud rather than sharing those strange looks.”

The two men stared at her for a moment. Then the blond one grinned, his beauty devastating her anger.

“I do apologise, my lady. Are you still married?”

The darker one clenched his fists in his lap, and Margaret had the strange vision of him pounding her dead husband in the face. It was a rather satisfying vision.

“I am a widow.”

Both men visibly relaxed, and she giggled. The noise was obscene and inappropriate, but Margaret couldn’t help it. Why would they be so happy to learn she was a widow?

Again the men smiled, looking pleased by her behaviour. The smile died on Margaret’s face as the implications of their behaviour occurred to her.

“What is wrong with you both?”

They laughed aloud this time, the dark haired one reaching out for her.

“You are so much more beautiful than I thought you would be.”

His fingers brushed her cheek, and she gasped, blushing crimson as she slid further away.

“Do not touch me.”

The dark haired one, Nathaniel, turned to Michael, the blond one.

“What should we do? Explain everything first?”

Michael shook his head avidly.

“No. We turn her now and explain later. We have eternity to make it up to her.”

The blond one moved to sit beside her, holding her neck at a strange angle, his teeth looking sharp and white in the dark.

Fear crept up her spine. Her connection, whatever it was, demanded she reach out for them, but her logical brain demanded she realize how much danger she was in.

“Please don’t hurt me.” She whispered, leaning into his caress despite her fear.

“Michael, do not do this now. If she is who we know her to be, we cannot force her.”

Michael groaned and bent forward, pressing his lips against her cheek. Heat spread along her face and jaw. Margaret’s eyes slid shut in pleasure.

“Nathaniel, she smells almost better than you do to me. You know she is the one. Why should we wait?”

Margaret shivered in fear and arousal. What were they talking about?

“Michael. Stop!”

She was released, and Margaret wrapped her arms around her body, suddenly cold. She didn’t know what these men wanted, and her reaction to them was disturbing her.

“You scared her.”

Nathaniel frowned and reached out his hand, rubbing her hand once before sliding back into his chair again. His hand left just as much heat as Michael’s touch had. How was that possible?

“We apologize.”

Margaret nodded and placed her hands in her lap again. Her fear had abated, and now she was just confused.

“What do you want from me?”

She knew that if they wanted to hurt her, rape her, she could do little to stop them. But they had no wish to harm her. She could feel it. True, she could also feel the violence roiling through them, especially the blonde one, but it wasn’t directed at her.

She felt wanted, revered in a strange way.

“We just wished to meet you, Lady Tonnington.” Nathaniel spoke again, his tone soothing and his face calm and pleasant.

She smiled reluctantly as an unknown force pushed her to share more with them. “Margaret.”

They exchanged another look, and she groaned. How many times did she have to say it?

“You’re doing it again!”

They turned back to her, looking contrite, and again Nathaniel spoke.

“We are pleased you shared your name. It suits you.”

She blushed, his compliment obvious.

The carriage slowed as it made its way up her driveway. Margaret couldn’t believe the regret that filtered through her. Should she invite them inside? Was she insane?

“We will leave you. But we will be back.”

Michael made a pained noise in his throat, but Nathaniel put a hand on his leg, stilling his movements.

“Are you all right, Michael?” she couldn’t help asking.

Michael looked away from her without smiling. Shocked and hurt by his rejection, she looked back at Nathaniel.

He smiled, though it looked forced. His brown eyes were not smiling with his mouth.

“Please forgive us. Michael does not wish to leave you, but we must. May we visit again tomorrow?”

She laughed aloud at that one. What a strange combination of polite passion they both were.

“Visit? This isn’t precisely a proper house call, gentlemen.”

They both visibly shivered at her words, and identical smiles spread across their faces.

“Tomorrow night?”

Pleasure spread through Margaret at the mention of seeing them again. She nodded before she could even think about her answer.

“Would you come for dinner?”

Michael groaned and slid forward on his chair, baring his rather pointed teeth. Nathaniel’s arm came up and pushed Michael back.

What was Nathaniel? Michael’s older, over-protective brother?

Nathaniel nodded his head at her.

“I apologize again. He is hungry now. We must go and will see you after dinner tomorrow night. Nine o’clock?”

She nodded, but she didn’t understand. Why was he looking at her as though she was food? Michael’s body shook with the restraint it took not to do what he wanted. And what was it that he desired?

 

Bio:

Tamsin Baker is an Aussie girl who only found erotic romance about ten months ago. Before that she read sexy romance, skipping the plot looking for the ‘good bits.’ Since then she have written and obtained 14 contracts of varying lengths with erotic romance and erotica. She absolutely LOVES reading and writing it! She have two other jobs, kids and a hubby too, but writing is a passion that she has to indulge, for fear of insanity.

M/M is a passion of hers so even in her menage stories, there is always M/M. Female domme is a fun one to write too, but she is open to all genres. One step at a time she is learning to read more and write more. Soon she’ll have stories published in every sub genre of erotic romance – or that is her aim anyway.

 

Welcome and thanks for treading the boards with us today!

My pleasure Susanne - it’s good to be the right side of the proscenium arch again!

1.      Are you inspired most by places, people or experiences and how do these work their way into your writing?

People inspire me if I respect them for what they are attempting, achieving, encouraging.  That’s the way I like my heroines and heroes to be: aspiring for something. Places definitely inspire me. As an actor, I worked in many of the old British theatres and believe me - the presence of others’ before me was there. I had ghostly experiences both on-stage and off-stage in the dressing rooms and corridors.  You can’t ignore that presence. (It’s a bit like walking into a church where you feel the reverence and awe from the thousands of people who have been there before you for christenings, wedding and funerals.)

2.      How did you come up with the idea of The House on Burra Burra Lane?

The story was one of my first attempts at writing (three years ago) and I seem to remember sitting down and typing with no idea where it would go. I left it for over a year, half written and wrote another six stories. I don’t even remember why I decided to take this story off my beginners shelf, re-write it, give it a bit of spit and polish - but I’m so glad I did. I’m a great believer in pushing fate along so perhaps Burra Burra chose me.

3.      How do you come up with your characters’ names?

They appear - although occasionally I will do a search for baby names etc. or names within history.  As I was a family historian (a subject I love), if necessary for the time/place/story relevance, I look into the history of a first name or a surname, to ensure I’ve got it right for the character and any backstory.  Other than that, I choose something that has a ‘ring’ to it.

4.      Do you read reviews of your books? What do you do when you read a not-so-nice one?

I’ve only had five reviews so far - and I’ve read them all! (New author syndrome). I believe we write for certain readers, not all readers so I’ll be looking to see what notes I can pick up from further reviews with regard to my style, my voice and storylines. Then  I’ll decide what I want to take on board, and what I recognise as not really my style because we can’t please everyone and neither should we attempt to.

5.      How many times were you turned down before you finally got published?

            Three (plus six who never answered!). Harlequin Escape Publishing accepted in February          this year. After which I was in the unexpected and delirious state of having to kindly      refuse two more offers from ePublishers.

6.      What reason(s) did the publishers give for their rejection of your manuscript?

            Not relevant to their current imprints. No agent currently accepting this style.  And six …nothing’s.

7.      Who is your literary hero?

I have answered this question once before, for a workshop I was doing and my answer here has to be the same. I think I’m truly in love with this fictional character.

            Jean-Benoit (Ben) Savard, from Sarah Donati’s Queen of Swords.

            He’s a sometime solitary, intelligent, capable warrior. Family orientated when he’s         needed. Feels no need to control heroine Hannah Bonner (a very capable, independent     woman). He allows her to be who she is, and somehow manages to guide her by not      demanding; letting her find her own way to him. Doesn’t hold back his love for her, but             doesn’t push for her love. Cares for her in times of trouble, saves her, repays horrendous           callousness and brutality shown to her with his own stealthy and deadly methods. Feels deeply. Loves   deeply, and isn’t afraid of anything, including emotion, although he rarely      feels a need to show that. In order to help her, he almost gives his life. In the end, he         gives up  his passions, his family and lifestyle and takes on hers. With enigmatic,             unperturbed confidence.

And now I’m going to have to look this one up!

8.      What is your favourite book of all time that you can reread a hundred times, and it still feels like the first time?

I don’t have ‘one’ but I can re-read many of Nora Roberts’ work. Especially the brother sagas like The MacKade Brothers and Chesapeake Bay Saga (the Quinn brothers).

9.      What do you need to set the mood for you to write?

            A clear mind - not one that has gathered a day-load of information regarding household / chores / lists / school stuff / day job requirements or What’s for dinner? responses.

So I write best in the mornings but have been known to burn midnight oil when attempting to stick to deadlines.

10.  If there is one genre that you have not written in yet, but would love to try writing a book in that specific genre, what would it be?

            I have a story I’ve written that I want to work on one day. It might be called light paranormal but to me, it’s a modern-day tale of a woman who inherited psychic awareness from her 14th great grandmother. She meets a man from a faraway European place and he takes her to the land and castle where her 14th great grandmother lost her life. My heroine has to bring her grandmother and her grandmother’s lover together so they can rest in peace - oh, and she has to care for the hero’s orphaned niece, and of course, fall in love with the hero!

 

This intrigues me. I love dual time settings with a twist. Hope you do finish it!

11.  How many blurbs did you have to write before the final one?

How long is a piece of string?  As long as Jennie’s file entitled: Blurbs - a Baker’s Dozen plus a hundred more.

12.  What are you working on now?

Book 2 in the Swallow’s Fall series, Trouble on Main Street. I’m thoroughly enjoying my new characters and their interaction with the established ones from The House on Burra Burra Lane. They’re all getting up to some mischief. ☺

13.  Would you like to share an excerpt from your writing or a photo or music link that inspires you?

I’d like to share the blurb for Trouble on Main Street please:

Charlotte Simmons believes the only way she can be free of childhood demons is to search for the truth behind her mother’s death.

She buys a Bed & Breakfast establishment in Swallow’s Fall as a ploy to get close to the man who might have the answers. She plans on staying two months - maximum. Then she’ll be gone from this quaint but gossipmonger town.

Jazzing up the old B&B for a speedy re-sale, she’s faced with opposition by dogmatic and slightly eccentric members of the town council.

And the hotshot owner of Kookaburra’s Bar & Grill and his two-hundred-squats-a-day physique is simply poking his handsome nose into none of his business when he offers to act as mediator between Charlotte and the townspeople.

Easygoing Daniel Bradford knows a fast pace won’t cut it in Swallow’s Fall. He’s about to put his plans into place to upgrade the hotel, and Charlotte is putting a spanner in the works by dredging up resistance to change.

When he notices her interest in his best friend, he thinks the seemingly prim and proper redhead is out to ruin a marriage.

Charlotte’s arrival uncovers more than one secret in Swallow’s Fall. And Dan’s offer of mediation turns into a bigger babysitting deal than he’d anticipated.

 

14.  Please share your favourite cocktail recipe or celebration photo.

I’m not a cocktail person but I’ll let Daniel (my hero in Trouble on Main Street) share a cocktail recipe for a Rosy Highball. Daniel now runs Kookaburra’s Bar & Grill and he reckons he knows what my heroine, newcomer Charlotte, would ask for (they’re not getting along very well at this point).

 

He wasn’t interested in her love life but he had her penned for her preference on drinks. He’d set a chilled tumbler with a sugar frosted rim on the bar. He’d pour equal parts of vodka and pomegranate juice and throw in a twist of lemon. It was the pomegranate in the Martini that gave it the aphrodisiac kick but Miss Simmons didn’t inspire improper thoughts. Too much tart in the mix for his liking.

 

What a great excerpt, Jennie! Love it. and best wishes on its release!

 

Escape Publishing for all where to buy links:

http://www.escapepublishing.com.au/product/9780857990532

Jennie Jones Romance webpage:

http://www.jenniejonesromance.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennie-Jones-Romance-Author/290261037740578?ref=hl

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7067159.Jennie_Jones

 

Twitter: @JJRomance

 

Welcome and thanks for treading the boards with us today!

1.      Are you inspired most by places, people or experiences and how do these work their way into your writing?

I'm inspired by all three. With people, I don't directly use them in my writing. I tend to create new characters who blend lots of different people's traits. Places and experiences I directly transfer to my writing.

 

The Virginity Mission is an invented story but uses a place I've been to (Daintree rainforest and river) and a scientific expedition that I went on. The same number of people are in the story that were in my real life experience but none of the character traits are real - I invented the characters to make the story more interesting. Although, there are bits of all sorts of people, including myself, in the characters.

2.      Please share one of your favourite moments of inspiration with us.

Inspiration comes in all forms and times but the most consistent moment is when I'm asleep or almost asleep. I have a notepad and pen by my bed and I've learned to capture these flashes because if I don't, they're gone. And yes, I can write with my eyes closed and it's decipherable (after years of practice!).

3.      How did you come up with the idea of The Virginity Mission?

When I was young I went on a scientific expedition to the Daintree (in North Queensland). It was one of the most amazing experiences in my life - tough, fun, challenging - and I thought it was perfect for a story. Enough time has gone by that I was able to fictionalise fact. Sometimes if there's not enough distance from the experience then I struggle getting away from the facts - and often facts don’t make a great story!

4.      How do you come up with your characters’ names?

Mostly they pop into my head as I'm writing or thinking about them. Sometimes I go searching the Internet for a name. I always check newspapers for fun names and try to remember any that might work.



5.      What is your favourite holiday?

Lord Howe Island is my favourite holiday destination. I love quiet spots, beaches, snorkelling and diving. Currently I'm writing a fun erotic story set there. It's the most magical destination.

6.      Do you read reviews of your books? What do you do when you read a not-so-nice one?

I’ve had two short stories published. One was in an anthology with 68 other stories. I read reviews, desperately wanting someone to say my story was the best - no one did, because it's not. But I learned from that. I can waste a LOT of time wishing for the impossible, or I can write and keep improving. So I don't look for reviews, I don't really want to read them (because I feel sick worrying) and I'm not tough enough to read the bad stuff. 

7      How many times were you turned down before you finally got published?

The Virginity Mission was rejected 6 times before being accepted by Escape Publishing. I've submitted a few other stories over time mostly with rejections...but a few "wins" along the way kept me going (contest judges giving great marks or feedback, a contest final, a short story acceptance).

8.  What reason(s) did the publishers give for their rejection of your manuscript?

I've not been given a reason for any of my rejections. Some have been form letters, others have been that long long silence until the time limit expires (or there's still silence years later!).

9.  Who do you most admire and why? OR  If you could meet anyone and spend an hour with them alive or dead who and why?

10.  What is your favourite book of all time that you can reread a hundred times, and it still feels like the first time?

It's rare that I re-read a book, although I keep my favourites because I think one day I will have time to re-read!

11.  What do you need to set the mood for you to write?

A bit of time - seconds will do!

12.  If there is one genre that you have not written in yet, but would love to try writing a book in that specific genre, what would it be?

I'll try anything! I have tried a few genres and mixed genres. I'm not good at world building, so fantasy would be difficult for me, although I enjoy reading it and am jealous of people who can build magical worlds.

13.  How many blurbs did you have to write before the final one?

Ha ha! I am useless at blurbs. I wrote gazillions and they were terrible - even I knew that! I got help from a friend, which included a very long phone call, but in the end Escape wrote my blurb! Thank goodness because it sells my story. Mine only told my story. Subtle difference but important.

14.  What are you working on now?

I have four stories written that need editing and rewriting. Two are erotic romances (one novella, one novel) and two are women's fiction. I also have a whole slew of ideas screaming to be written.

15.  Would you like to share an excerpt from your writing or a photo or music link that inspires you?

I thought you might like to meet Mac, the heroine of The Virginity Mission. This excerpt is when she’s introducing herself to the group she’s allocated.

“I’m Mac. Willow MacIntosh really but no one calls me anything but Mac. I hope you will too.” I hate my name. It sounds prissy and girly. Plus when you’re tall, curve-free and bony, Willow is a dumb name. I can’t believe my parents landed me with such a weird moniker. I’ve been known to completely ignore anyone who calls me anything but Mac. From the nods I receive from the group, I guess everyone will call me that.



 

Welcome Annie, and thanks for treading the boards with us today!

1.      What prompted you to write a series and how does Italian Affair fit into the body of your other work?

Holiday Affair, the first book in the Affair series, started its life as a standalone book. My lifelong dream of writing a contemporary romance came to fruition with this book, and I hadn’t really given any thought to the other characters.

I am a panster through and through (although my editor is slowly beating that out of me!) so my characters lead me along.

Tom, the middle brother in Holiday Affair needed to find his happy ever after and I mulled over his problem and what sort of woman he would need to fall in love with, to complete his happiness.

Now, for those of you who have read Holiday Affair, you will remember Tom as a bit of stuffy, stitched-up, list-making man, as one reviewer of Italian Affair described him! (actually it was you, Ms Bellamy, from memory!) Tom needed someone who was free-spirited, who could tease him, but who would also fall in love with the wonderful man he is.

Inspiration came to me through a very dear friend and I have dedicated Italian Affair to this friend, Melissa Lulham who  told me how she had discovered her birth grandfather on Lipari Island. Brianna Ballantine was born in that moment. Free spirited and with an urgent need to find a husband in four days, she meets Tom on the plane on the way to Italy. And that is where their story begins.

I can’t give away much information for Outback Affair as it will be a spoiler for Italian Affair but needless to say, there was someone else there who needed a happy ever after as well. You will need to read Italian Affair to figure that one out!

2.      How long did this book take to write?

Italian Affair took me a few months to write as it my editor had to agree with how I had developed Tom’s character. You know how contemporary romance loves to present the alpha male? Well, my editor wanted him to be a little bit more alpha. I will always remember my editor’s comment when I added the scene when Tom was checking out Brianna’s butt at the airport. She loved it! I had to tweak him a little bit to make him less stuffy and more fun. As I did that, I fell in love with him myself!

3.      What do you like about writing a series?

As a romance reader for many years, I loved revisiting characters in connected novels. Essie Summers was particularly delightful to read as she slipped in characters from her earlier books,and you could see the satisfying lives the characters lived after the final kiss in their story. Contemporary romances are so short, writing a series allows you to develop layered stories and deeper characterization.

4.      What do you consider are the biggest challenges in writing a series?

I don’t work with visuals at all. I have no Pinterest (which I know you love, Susanne!) and no time lines or plot lines on my desk. Everything is in my head. So I have to be extremely careful to get names, relationships and dates right and ensure the continuity is there.

5.      What is the nicest comment you have had on your writing?

Recently I have been overwhelmed by the lovely comments, and five star reviews of Italian Affair which has made me very happy. I am delighted to see that readers are loving the story and the characters as much as I do. If I had to choose... it would be...

‘Annie Seaton’s writing is lyrical and emotive and her characters real and warm. I’m loving this series. I just wish her writing could keep up with my reading!’

6.      What are you working on now?

I have completed three books since Italian Affair. Outback Affair, Worth the Wait and Dangerous Desire  are all in various stages of edits and cover design, and will be released later this year. At the moment I am writing a paranormal contemporary called Hot Rock which is taking me way out of my comfort zone. It is much raunchier than my earlier books but the characters are leading me places I have never been before in my writing. It will be published in the Covet imprint of Entangled Publishing in February 2014.

7.      Would you like to share an excerpt from your writing or a photo or music link that inspires you?

Hot Rock is a time slip novel  about seventies music and music festivals.

The Frampton Comes Alive album was the single inspiration for the story. I listen to the CD over and over again as I am driving and scenes and dialogue come to me. (Very hard to write them down when holding a steering wheel!)

These lines from the song Lines on my Face gave me the concept for the whole story:

Ice in her eyes, frozen tears could never be a surprise
You can't erase a dream you can only wake me up
My mind is turning slower, never to accept defeat
It don't matter where I stay I still got a house to heat
I saw where you came from
I called out your name but there's no answer

The buy links for Italian Affair - are on Annie's Books Page
or on Amazon here.