What is the most exciting thing, for you, about writing this genre as a couple?

Brenda: Hi Adri Ana, love your site and its comfy here! *settling on the sofa beside Steve, places her hand on his thigh* The open communication we have! We ask each other questions that other couples wouldn’t dare ask. Writing with Steve is awesome and the research is well……very good. *winks*

Steve: *placing his arm around Brenda’s neck* Communication is the key but writing with Brenda is a dream job. I’ve learned a lot from her by being able to discuss sexual things other men only wonder about. The wish-bone questions that if they ask their lovers, could take them into a new direction in the relationship.

Ana: Hi back atcha, and thanks for joining us in this four-way… *grins* conversation! Typically, romance is written by women, for women. However, about twenty percent of the readership of romance is men, and I’m guessing that percentage is higher in the more sexually explicit end of the romance spectrum. I also suspect a lot of women who read romance wish their partners could get interested in it and join them – in much the same ways many couples use explicit videos together.  Adri and I got excited about writing as a couple, for couples, offering a little something for everyone. We highly recommend that couples read our books together, and for me, that’s exciting. Well, and we love the research, too.

Adri: What will the characters demand of us next?  That’s the question that often drives the plotting, the writing, even the editing.  The excitement boils over in the process of getting stories on the page until we all – the writers and the characters – agree that we’ve got it down the best that we can.  We are often awakened in the night with a new plot twist that a heroine won’t let us ignore.  Or an imposing hero has taken umbrage with how his role is shortchanged.  The excitement is definitely in the process.  Hopefully some of that excitement seeps through the  narrative and into the dialogue and action.

How did you get started writing together? 

Steve: Brenda and I had classes together in high school. When our 30th reunion was getting close, we both were looking for old friends. Brenda found me on MySpace but I didn’t include my last name, just that I went to Bradwell. She asked me which Steve I was and I asked “How many Steves do you know?” She started naming all the Steves she knew but not me. I told her I was in the band and she knew exactly who I was. That was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. As we emailed back and forth, cell numbers were exchanged and we found ourselves talking several times a day. I asked Brenda what was on her ‘Bucket List’ because the movie was out at the time. We learned we both had written poems and wanted to be published.

Adri: We’d done a lot of writing together in over our careers, both critiquing each other’s work and co-authoring, so when we got around to writing fiction we already had a fair amount of experience with trying to put thoughts down on paper as a team.

Ana: Well, and much like Brenda and Steve, each of us had harbored dreams of writing fiction since at least our teen years.  About ten years ago we had some serious “what do we want the rest of our lives to look like” discussions and this was one dream we decided to commit to.  We started plotting and drafting our first novel (which has never been published and probably never should be), I shopped it at my first RWA meeting, we took workshops together, kept submitting and honing our skills, and finally in 2006 our first erotic romance was published.

What made you decide erotica/erotic romance was what you wanted to write? 

Brenda: I had written a story, just a few pages, back in 2004 hoping to submit to Harlequin or a romance pub house. I really didn’t think the story would be good enough to publish, so I set it aside. When Steve and I reconnected, we discussed our ‘Bucket List’. Mine was to be published. I mentioned the story, he asked me to email it to him and from there “Best Lover in Town” was born.

Steve: After I read Brenda’s story, I asked her what she thought about making it erotic. After researching to see if there was a market for erotica, she agreed. We used this opportunity to discuss all of our fantasies, likes and dislikes as we wrote “Best Lover in Town”. This allowed us to reconnect and learn about each other. We wrote BLT apart from each other by connecting our computers, Brenda was in Portland, OR and I was in Dallas, TX. The final chapter was written together on the road when I moved her to Dallas.

Adri: When agents and editors assessed some of our early non-erotic fiction manuscripts, we consistently received very positive feedback about our love scenes and our ability to write sexual tension.  Then one asked, “have you considered writing erotic romance?”  We hadn’t.  But the question spurred us on to ask, “why not?”  And so we embarked on an even more amazing writing journey.

Ana: Another clue we were on the right track was the realization, for each of us, that our erotic scenes turned us on. We always read all our scenes out loud as we progress through drafting each of our books, and if the scene doesn’t succeed, we know we have to go back to the drawing board (or, perhaps, the choreography *grins*).

What do you hope readers take away from your books?

Brenda: I hope readers will be able to share with their significant other the secret fantasies they crave to try.  Our books are very sexual and we don’t hold back on anything under the sheets, in the kitchen or in the shower!

Steve: We write as a couple with both the male and female point of view. This gives the reader a realistic insight to what is happening. Even as a writer, I’m learning how a woman thinks and what she feels. I hope the reader will learn from all the exhausting research we do.  *wink*

Adri: We hope readers – individuals, couples, and more-somes – will be affirmed and inspired, perhaps giving themselves permission to dream fantasies that they thought were verboten, or giving themselves permission to try something different, to experiment, to risk to spice up their sexual journey/s.  Our characters often do that for us.  When we assume we are writing their stories they tend to remind us sometimes rather sharply that we are but the scribes writing the stories they wish to share with us.  There have been many moments when our characters take us down paths that we remain uncertain about following.  Usually they prove to be trustworthy and true, and we benefit from their adventuresome natures.  We sincerely hope our readers also reap those benefits.

Ana: Couldn’t have said it better. Our characters have a great time and get very inventive in their sex lives – we want our readers to come along for the ride and have a good time, alone or together. Above all we hope readers are inspired to enjoy their own sexuality across their entire life span. We surely intend to!

Who do you consider your target audience to be?

Brenda: Hard question. I see more 30 yrs of age and over purchasing our books.

Steve: I thought our sells would have been more females, but the numbers have been about equal. We have sold several books to men who gave them to their girlfriends or wives.

Adri Women and men of legal age who find reading about the sexually adventurous to be entertaining.  We seldom write pure erotica, so we write for an audience that enjoys sexually explicit romance.  While our characters often have to deal with real life challenges and tragedies, we write happy endings—or at least endings suggest the characters will work out satisfying endings, whether we are watching or not.  Within this broad audience of people curious about the sexually adventurous, we do single out at times older heroes and heroines as our “boomer” characters meet the challenge of nurturing and maintaining sexual lives throughout the lifespan.  More and more, research and anecdotal evidence suggests that while sexual practices may have to adapt to the inevitable changes of aging, they do not need to be tucked away in a closet of memories, but can continue to be embraced and acted out in many rewarding and uplifting ways.  Therefore, our characters offer the hope of sexually fulfilling lives at whatever age.

Ana ‘Nuff said.

Has (or, how has) writing this genre together impacted your relationship with each other?

Brenda: Besides being able to talk about everything, we are very close. So close, we don’t like to be apart for very long. Steve’s my best friend.

Steve: That’s why we write together; eight hours away at a job is too hard for us. When we did work at separate jobs, we talked on the phone during all our breaks. We also complete each other’s thoughts in everyday conversations and when writing. Since we write erotica, we always have sexual conversations. This keeps our relationship in tune and interesting as we research all desires many couples keep secret.

Ana: We had to get comfortable with challenging each other and taking honest critique in ways most of the rest of our marriage hasn’t required. Coordinating and agreeing, not just on the syntax and writing style, but on how a scene unfolds, what a character might be experiencing, which words to best convey it to the reader – it can easily be a tussle, not for the weak at heart.  On the up side? Writing erotic romance together has directly fed our relationship, deepened our bond and spiced up our own love life. Sometimes our characters come up with things we’ve never thought of trying – never mind whether we do everything our characters do; even the fantasies are definitely worth it.

Adri:  There is little doubt that our relationship, sexual and otherwise, is more robust given that as writers we must live and breathe what we write.  That doesn’t mean we’ve tried everything our characters find themselves doing.  But at the very least it means they continue to stretch our imaginations!   We’ve had the fun and good fortune of visiting many places around the globe that spawn plots and twists and enticing characters—at least, enticing for us.  For example, we often say and almost expect Meghan from the Meghan’s Playhouse series to pop in and surprise us one of these days for a weekend romp.

What special qualities do you believe you offer readers because you are writing as a couple?

Brenda: I think our readers/fans see our happy relationship in the comments and post we do on FB and blogger. That we are real, very down to earth and caring of others and each other.

Steve: Brenda and I are each other’s biggest fan. We can discuss anything openly without fear of being put down. I hope the reader can learn from us as a team to please their significant other by seeing both points of view.

Adri: We hope we offer experiences that both halves of a couple can identify with and fantasize about.

Ana:  What he said. We hope we’re able to reach inside both genders to write realistic characters, and that we’re able to plumb the depths of real relationships.

Do you have any advice for other couples who’d like to write this genre together?

Steve: Ask questions to each other and answer honestly to get their point of view. When Brenda and I first started writing there were several times when we said, “A man/woman wouldn’t say that, or feel that way”. By talking it out thoroughly, we’ve learned more and more. Don’t be afraid of deep, open talks with each other. What you’ll learn will make you a better writer, lover, and friend.

Ana: It’s pretty crazy and fraught with danger – don’t go there unless your relationship is really solid.

Adri: I’m not sure I see it as so dangerous—but I definitely agree if your relationship isn’t solid, don’t go there.  Once you begin to seriously write erotic romance together it will never be just the two of you again.  A new heroine, a new hero won’t let you rest until you at least begin to tell their story.  They will share your lives completely.

Ana: I can’t resist adding – the extra (fictional) bedfellows sure make life interesting! To clarify, though – the danger I meant was the risk of relationship conflict that might arise from having to challenge each other’s creative products in order to make the combined product even better. What’s fascinating is how frequently it’s the characters who fuel the conflict, and who then resolve it, if we listen to them.

~~~~~

Brenda & Steve: Thanks Adri Ana for having us on your blog. It’s been very fun chatting with another couple who writes together. We’d like to let the readers know about our fifth release, Rainie’s Lake.

Blurb –

Taking a long overdue vacation, Art Instructor Dylan Bishop is eager to start his trip to the cabin in the mountains. When he saw the photo online with the rental ad, he knew this was his destination. Being drawn to the lake nestled behind the cabin with a private dock, Dylan hopes to regain his inspiration to paint.

His vacation takes an erotic turn when he meets Rainie Marks on a foggy morning by the dock. She is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. However, there is sadness and a mystery about her. Finding his inspiration, he sketches her one evening and unable to resist the passion that has sparked between them, Rainie and Dylan share a sensual night together.

When Rainie tells him the truth about her past and the lake, the mystery she hides unfolds. The key to everything is the lake. Will Dylan be able to help her put the past to rest?

Readers, you can read a free sample here – http://www.freado.com/book/11871/rainies-lake

Purchase links –

All Romance http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-rainie039slake-672449-144.html

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Rainies-Lake-ebook/dp/B006YG7KH0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327379192&sr=1-1

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/123476

Erotic Escapes Ebook http://www.eroticescapesebooks.com/catalog/Rainies_Lake.html

BRENDA AND STEVE ON THE WEB:

Blog http://brenda-steve.blogspot.com/

Web site http://brendawoodyandstevetindle.webs.com/

Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/brendaandsteve

Amazon Author page http://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Woody/e/B0058AQHHC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1324856083&sr=1-1

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/brendaandsteve

ARe Author page http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Brenda+Woody+and+Steve+Tindle

Smashwords Author page http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/brendaandsteve

~~~~~

Adri Ana Thank YOU so much for joining us for this conversation and hosting us at your blog today! We’re sure hoping for more four-ways like this one – it’s just exciting to be connecting with another couple who thinks the way we do about exploring and sharing what keeps us sexually alive through writing erotica/erotic romance!

Pushing the Limits, Book Eight in our Swinging Games series, was just released at Extasy Books and is also available at Amazon.

We started writing the series about three years ago because we were fascinated by the Swing Lifestyle and thought it would be a fun device to deliver a wide range of ménage and other hot sex scenes for our readers. We created our lead characters – a Baby Boomer couple whose kids are grown. Brett and Jen Andrews have decided to try swinging to spice up their sex life, and because Jen has newly realized she’s bisexual. Here’s the blurb for their latest adventure:

BLURB: Their new Unicorn Sarah Creston may be out of town, but that doesn’t stop Jen and Brett Andrews from burning up the wires with some scorching three-way phone sex. While they’re waiting for Sarah, Ryan eagerly pursues Brett for some hot male action, followed by a house party that challenges Jen and Brett’s stereotypes. Sarah finally arrives, exhausted and drained from weeks spent helping her aging parents. Jen and Brett provide total tender care for three days—but when Jen invites Sarah to move in for the whole summer, Brett asks himself, is there a limit?

Here’s a link to an excerpt: http://adrianakraft.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/weekend-dirty-dozen-pushing-the-limits/

Other places to find us:

FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/people/Adriana-Kraft/100001944980679

Twitter http://twitter.com/AdrianaKraft

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1578571.Adriana_Kraft

Midnight Seductions http://midnightseductionsauthors.blogspot.com/

Sapphic Planet: http://www.sapphicplanet.com

Newsletter http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adrianakraftnewsletter/

Adriana’s Author Pages at Amazon.com and All Romance Ebooks

DON’T FORGET!

Comment HERE to enter for a copy of Rainie’s Lake,

and comment at Brenda and Steve’s Blog today to enter for a copy of Pushing the Limits!

Author Elizabeth Kyne talks about trying to hit the magic zone

from where great stories flow

Have you ever had one of those moments where you get lost in your work? Where, somehow, your brain becomes detached from your body and is absorbed into whatever you’re doing. You don’t have to be a writer to experience this, you could be a painter, a model maker or even a dancer. People will often say, “I lost track of time” and that’s because they were so in tune with their task, it’s almost as if it controls them, not the other way round.

As a writer, it’s those moments I strive for. It’s like my inner self has a connection to the page without being manipulated through the filter of my conscious mind. I can tap into my emotional core and express that through my characters, whether they are experiencing love, loss, anger or joy. It’s a very freeing experience and something that – when it happens – gives me that buzz that makes me want to come back for more.

Not as if everyone agrees with me. Some theories of writing great fiction state that every single word should be sweated over; that each sentence needs to be expertly crafted before it is committed to paper. The classic Irish writer James Joyce subscribed to this theory and is said to have a told a friend he had a good day working on his novel as he had written “three sentences”. Clearly, this approach has led to some highly regarded and influential works of literature, but is not the way I want to work or the sort of book I want to read. Indeed, I tried to read James Joyce’s Ulysses once and gave up half way through.

What I want from a book is a good story, characters with real emotions and to have a bit of fun. This, I would argue, comes from tapping into the inner self and letting that creativity roam free on the page. Because, deep inside me, are memories of all the books I’ve read, all the films I’ve seen, all the things I’ve experienced and all the emotions I’ve had. Where else should fiction come from?

Tapping into that creativity, however, is not always easy. These are some of the tips I try (but don’t always succeed) in following:

• Distractions: Don’t have any. It’s obvious to say, but not always simple to implement. You can’t enter the creative zone if you’re constantly bothered by the email or the phone. This is why some writers chose to work in the dead of night. Personally, I like my sleep too much, but whatever works for you. When distractions are a serious problem, I sometimes use a program like Write or Die which fills up the whole screen and nudges you when you’ve stopped writing. Others recommend Freedom for Mac or Windows, which turns off the internet on your computer.
• Dare to be bad: Don’t fret about every single word, sentence and paragraph. Just write it. If you start worrying that you’re writing is a load of rubbish, you’ll stop writing entirely and never find that link between your creative mind and the words on the page.
• Don’t worry about it: This sort of follows on from ‘dare to be bad’, in that the most important thing is maintaining the flow, getting into ‘the zone’. So what if it’s bad? Bad can be improved, whereas nothing is still nothing at the end of the day. Also, don’t get hung up on details. For example, don’t spend half an hour trying to think up a name for your new character, just call him John or something and make a note to think of a better name later. Similarly, don’t stop to do some research. Make a note to check what Paris airport looks like or what type of gun a farmer would have in 1914 (or whatever it is) and keep writing.
• Have a plan: This is somewhat counter intuitive to the above, but for me I’ve got to know what I’m going to be writing before I start. If things are going well, my plan might simply be a sketch of the scene I’m about to write. Eg., “Fred gets involved in a pub fight and breaks his arm”. If I’m struggling a bit, I might sketch it out in more detail: “Fred goes into pub, meets old girlfriend, gets a bit amorous, her new boyfriend turns up…” etc. I can then launch into writing my planned scenes for the day without having to stop and break the creativity.

If all is well, you will slip into that magic zone where the words flow, and you may surprise yourself at what you can write.

I say it like it’s easy, which isn’t always the case. Like many things, the theory is all very well and good, it’s not so easy to put into practice. Nevertheless, it is something to strive for, and something I continue to strive for every day. Sometimes I get hung up on details I shouldn’t be worried about, sometimes I take phone calls or check my email when I shouldn’t. Other people may have different distractions (I have great admiration for people who work at home while looking after small children, for example). The knack is to put them aside for your allotted writing time (be that as short as fifteen minutes or as long as a whole morning) and try to get into the zone.

Because life in the zone is amazing and what can sometimes come out of it is better than when you’re sweating over every word. When everything comes together, it seems like the novel is writing itself and, when you step away you have something which you know has come from somewhere special inside of you. That is what your creative brain has done, it has funnelled your instinct, your experience and yourself into the words.

Like the mountain climber, I try to reach it every day, and like a human being I do not always make it to the summit. But, for the days I do, it is worth the struggle.

*****

Rachel re-invents herself when she moves back to her home town of Aylesbury; with a new job, a new house and a new haircut. But people’s eyes glaze over when she tells them about her life as a forty-something singleton who works in accounts. So why not spice things up a bit? Why not tell her new hairdresser and her new friends about her fantastic husband? Everyone wants to hear about Darren, the man who cooks her amazing meals, cleans the house and takes her to bed for orgasmic sex three times a night! What a shame he doesn’t exist…

…Until she comes home one night and finds Darren sitting in her lounge. And everything she said becomes true: from his sensuous food to his skill in bed. So real, that she believes it.

Not as if living with a perfect is man is… well, perfect…

She can’t find anything because every time she puts something down, he tidies it away. Then there’s the shock of the credit card bill from buying all that gourmet food. Not to mention the sex! Three times a night is great at first, but sometimes all she wants at the end of the day is a sandwich and some sleep.

Then Rachel decides that Darren has to go – and that’s when her troubles really begin.

Elizabeth Kyne takes the absurdities of the modern woman’s quest for love and turns them into an enjoyable romp. She finds the comic in everyday situations, from buying a dress to experimenting with hair dye at home. While, underneath, she comments on the pressure to find the perfect husband and how that quest is doomed for us all.

PAPERBACK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wishes-Were-Husbands-Elizabeth-Kyne/dp/1908340010/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319364974&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/Wishes-Were-Husbands-Elizabeth-Kyne/dp/1908340010/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1319365757&sr=1-3

EBOOK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/If-Wishes-Were-Husbands-ebook/dp/B005S66A8M/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319364974&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/If-Wishes-Were-Husbands-ebook/dp/B005S66A8M/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319365757&sr=1-3

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92446

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/if-wishes-were-husbands/id475075856?mt=11

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/if-wishes-were-husbands/id475075856?mt=11

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-wishes-were-husbands-elizabeth-kyne/1106913246

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ifwisheswerehusbands-606059-150.html

*****

Elizabeth Kyne trained to be a radio journalist and spent her early working years reading news bulletins and writing for magazines. Later, after learning the meaning of “mortgage” and “gas bill”, she decided to do the sensible thing and drop the freelance lifestyle to get a proper job. The job, however, all went horribly wrong and she returned to her first love of writing, and worked on several novels before finding success with “If Wishes Were Husbands”.

http://www.elizabethkyne.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.kyne1

 This is a short story about meeting another couple that they never actually meet. I read it in about 15 minutes. Don’t waste your money.

My husband and I write erotic romance together, mostly ménage, and mostly with heroines who are bisexual. We started writing our Swinging Games series about three years ago because we were fascinated by the Swing Lifestyle and thought it would be a fun device to deliver a wide range of ménage and other hot sex scenes for our readers. We created our lead characters – a Baby Boomer couple whose kids are grown. Brett and Jen Andrews have decided to try swinging to spice up their sex life, and because Jen has newly realized she’s bisexual.

Anticipation is a 5,000 word short story that sets the stage for the series. It drops in on our couple just before their first lifestyle encounter. We get to experience with them the delicious buildup of fantasies, expectations and sexual tension – not to mention the tantalizing impact of those fantasies when Jen and Brett make love, just the two of them.

So, if you only want to spend money on actual ménage, absolutely, don’t waste your money on this one – plunge right in anywhere in the series and taste the decadence with Jen and Brett in any number of swinging adventures. By now they’ve been active for three years, and six more books have followed Anticipation.

We’re excited to announce that Book Eight, Pushing the Limits, is scheduled for release this coming Sunday, January 15, at Extasy Books. Here’s a blurb and a link to an EXCERPT:

BLURB: Swinging Games Pushing the Limit

Their new Unicorn Sarah Creston may be out of town, but that doesn’t stop Jen and Brett Andrews from burning up the wires with some scorching three-way phone sex. While they’re waiting for Sarah, Ryan eagerly pursues Brett for some hot male action, followed by a house party that challenges Jen and Brett’s stereotypes. Sarah finally arrives, exhausted and drained from weeks spent helping her aging parents. Jen and Brett provide total tender care for three days – but when Jen invites Sarah to move in for the whole summer, Brett asks himself, what’s the limit?

Hi Adriana! Thank you for featuring us on your blog and introducing us to your followers. First we’d like to tell the readers how we began writing together and a little bit about our books. BTW, there’ll be a drawing for one lucky commenter. See details below!

Steve Tindle and Brenda Woody were high school friends in Georgia who reconnected, on a social network, after 30 years of leading separate lives. During their re-acquaintance, they found their past and interests were similar; they had written poems, songs, and both had the desire to be published. Their combined experiences and fantasies inspired their first erotic novel Best Lover in Town, published June 2010 by Charles River Press. The rights for BLT were reverted to Brenda and Steve July 2011. Best Lover in Town was re-edited and re-released with a new cover.

Janet Anderson is searching for sexual magic in the man who can match her in the bed. Janet suspects all this and more lies within her handsome boss, Nathan Lovett. During a work-related visit to Janet’s home, Nathan and Janet give in to an attraction beyond their control, and soon find themselves immersed in a pleasurable night of uninhibited sex and heated passion. To their dismay, their luscious interlude is interrupted, and Nathan must leave on a plane to a far away place; their whirlwind coupling on hold.

Three years pass, and with Nathan gone, Janet’s co-worker and best friend, Madison, urges Janet to end her mourning and explore other possibilities. Janet attends parties and events to fill the void left by Nathan, meeting four other men. Though she experiences new sexual delights and discovers more about herself; her suitors fall flat, and Janet is left longing for the touch of her Nathan. Will the best lover in town return to finish what he started?

Brenda moved to Dallas in 2009 to be closer to Steve, start a new chapter of her life and work on future books. Their second book Temptation Triggers, an anthology of seven erotic short stories, was released June 2011.

Temptation Triggers captures the wickedness of sexual fantasy, the mystery of unexplored territory and the fulfillment of open communication. Among these thought-provoking stories, two friends find themselves drawn into a dark erotic world, a woman encounters a mysterious man and a mature couple discovers hush-hush desires about each other. With different styles of writing, Temptation Triggers reveals erotica that is passionate and spellbinding.

 Their latest release Triangle of Secrets, Book One, a ménage M/M/F story, was published October 2, 2011.

Triangle of Secrets, Book One, is the story of three ordinary people trying to make their way in the corporate world and keeping their personal lives out of it. Morgan, the Vice President of a prestigious company, dates her best friend and co-worker, Derek, to hide her secret affair with Scott, the much younger mail clerk. Derek appears with Morgan socially to hide the fact he is gay. He is afraid his lifestyle will hinder promotions. Scott wants out of the mailroom and will do anything his lover asks of him. What happens when Derek and Scott meet at Morgan’s house to fulfill her wildest fantasy? Will the triangle break or will it be completed?

Black & White Affair, submitted in a holiday contest 2010 and received 3^rd place, was expanded and is available as a short read.

Works in progress include Rainie’s Lake to be released December 31 and Scarlett’s Cowboy tentatively to be released before the end of the year, but may be in January when we actually finish. Scarlett’s Cowboy, well an erotic cowboy story, was requested to be written by a close friend who loves cowboys. We want to make sure this story meets her wish! Also in 2012 there will be future installments of ménage relationships for Triangle of Secrets.

As you can see we’ve been busy since we met up again. Our stories are penned with the perspective of both male and female point of view regarding sexual desires and pleasures. We both write the POV for male and female, and have been told by readers they can’t tell who wrote what. We compliment each other is this area. This is why it’s awesome writing as a team. We’re both open-minded and not worried at all about asking each other questions. And fans have told us how we met again is the start of a romantic story and we should write a book. Who knows maybe we will. *both of us smiles*

Adriana, thank you again for allowing us to visit! Readers, there’ll be a drawing. All you have to do is leave a comment with your email address. That’s it! The lucky winner will receive a copy of Triangle of Secrets, Book 1 (ebook format their choice from Smashwords). Leave a comment by December 19, 11 PM PST. We’ll draw on December 20. Winner will be drawn through Random.org.

Our links:

Facebook Fan page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Authors-Brenda-Woody-Steve-Tindle/155085384532803

Blogger http://brenda-steve.blogspot.com/

Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/brendaandsteve

Web site http://brendawoodyandstevetindle.webs.com/

Purchase sites:

All books on Amazon http://tinyurl.com/3da3vkb

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/brendaandsteve

All Romance http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Brenda+Woody+and+Steve+Tindle

Xcite Books

http://tinyurl.com/6hxzrjg

Temptation Triggers on B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/temptation-triggers

TT on Fictionwise http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b123962/Temptation-Triggers/Steve-Tindle/?

Warm fingers curled around Jen’s and squeezed them and then her fingers were grazed by soft lips.

Jen couldn’t wait a moment longer. She opened her eyes to see Sarah beaming at her. Sarah looked fresh and eager for the day to begin—though it looked like it had already started.

Sarah lay facing Jen with her backside nestled tight against Brett, who had a leg thrown over Sarah’s lower torso and a hand cupping a breast. He blew Jen a good morning kiss.

“Hi, good morning,” Jen said softly. “Guess I’m the sleepy head. Sorry about that.”

“Nonsense.” Sarah rubbed the back of a hand across Jen’s cheek and then kissed her gently. “It was so wonderful watching you stir, becoming sort of aware of your surroundings and then awaken. I never knew a sleeping woman could be so sensual. Well, at least you are.”

Swinging Games: Pushing the Limits is Book Eight in our Swinging Games series. It’s due out next month from Extasy Books, where you can find Books One through Seven. Here’s the Blurb:

Their new Unicorn Sarah Creston may be out of town, but that doesn’t stop Jen and Brett Andrews from burning up the wires with some scorching three-way phone sex. While they’re waiting for Sarah, Ryan eagerly pursues Brett for some hot male action, followed by a house party that challenges Jen and Brett’s stereotypes. Sarah finally arrives, exhausted and drained from weeks spent helping her aging parents. Jen and Brett provide total tender care for three days – but when Jen invites Sarah to move in for the whole summer, Brett asks himself, what’s the limit?

Hi Adriana! Thank you for having me and for the chance to get to know you better. We get so busy with our lives and all that more and more we seem to miss chances to get to know the people around us so I’ve enjoyed this.

Why don’t you start by telling us about yourself (Where are you from? What do you write/do in the publishing world? What do you do when you’re not writing — your “day” job, hobbies, obsessions, etc.?) I’m originally for a small town on Long Island called Seaford. Well at least it was when I grew up there.  When Jewel Adams invited me to one of her “kick-butt writing weeks” back in 2005 I’d written two non-fiction books but aside for enjoying the research I didn’t much care for it. She opened up a whole new world for me with fiction. When I’m not writing I’m usually playing “tickle-tickle” with my kitty Missy, trying to win over my feral Bogie and assuring my white Persian kitty, Mel, he’s the handsomest boy in the world. I also read and hang out with my friends.

If you were stranded on a desert island with only five books and five CDs, what would they be? (We’ll just imagine you can play the CDs – after all, this is fiction!) Hmm, the books are easy. CD’s, well I don’t listen to much music. For books I’d bring Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers and the Man in the Iron Mask. I’d also bring Rosemary Roger’s Sweet Savage Love and Kathleen Woodiwiss’ The Wolf and the Dove. For the CD’s I’d bring Enrique Igleses Enrique – I know he’s building a reputation as a naughty boy but I do like his voice. The other four would be Melissa Etheridge – any of them would be wonderful.

Do you read primarily print books, ebooks, or both? I’m about 50/50. My commute to and from the day job is about an hour each way and as an avid reader since I could read my biggest “fear” is running out of reading material. I’ve been reading ebooks since 2001 when I got my Franklin Ebookman and now with my Kindle I never have to worry about not having reading material.  That said, sitting in bed at night I do like to hold a print book.

Do you own an ereader? Why or why not? If so, what’s on it? I’m on my third one—I stated with my Franklin Ebookman in 2001, moved to a Palm in hmmm, about 2004 and my Kindle this past year. Currently on it is Rosemary Rogers’ Bride for a Night and Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas. (Are you seeing a pattern here?)

Tell us one thing about yourself people would be surprised to learn. I’m actually very shy and introverted. It’s really a struggle for me to talk to new people.

Tell us about your writing: How long have you been writing? What genre(s) do you write in? What have you written (short stories, novels, etc.)? What works are currently for sale? Where?  I’ve been writing non-fiction since 1992 and fiction since 2005. Mostly I write time travel which by its very nature opens the door to write in any time period and any genre. My 16^th book, Her Eyes, was released two weeks ago. Devil’s Details and With All Dispatch are due out next spring. About half are novellas and the rest are full length novels.  My current back list can be found on my website at www.ReganTaylor.com and all are available at Amazon, ARE and all the regular suspects.

What made you decide to write? My non-fictions were/are text books. One of them was written specifically for a class geared toward helping people with disabilities succeed in college. The fiction came about because Jewel Adams encouraged me. Once I started I couldn’t not write.

What do you like most about writing? Least? I like researching a new book before I begin writing, the actually telling of the story in the first round, the thrill of an acceptance letter, working with a great editor (and my two are outstanding) and opening up my cover art for the first time. Again, my two cover artists are fantastic. I don’t particularly enjoy going back through a book the 4^th and 5^th time – but I have to because I’m always concerned I’m going to miss something. And promoting – it’s just hard for me because my mind is more on the next story.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Definitely a pantser once I start writing – but I plot while I’m researching.

How do you get ideas for your stories? What inspires you? Life in general. It seems (fortunately) not a day goes by that an idea for a scene or an entire book doesn’t come my way.

Any advice for those who want to write? Write. Just write. I have two friends right now who keep telling me “I want to” and “I’m thinking about it.” I keep telling them they need to do it. Just sit down and do it. Don’t worry about the grammar or continuity or punctuation or selling it – just tell the story that wants to be told. Worry about the rest when the time comes.

What’s the most useful book on writing you’ve ever read? You’re going to laugh….the California Style Manual.

Which is your most popular work in terms of sales? Critical acclaim? Which is your favorite book you’ve written and why? Most popular with readers is Indentured Bride, the first of my bride series. It’s a western and I just love this series. My favorite is book two in that series, Mistaken Bride.

What’s the sexiest feature on a man to you? Why? On a man, I would say his butt…however, the other day while waiting for the bus home I noticed this man or rather I noticed how incredibly blue his eyes were. I couldn’t help but smile because he just had the most gorgeous eyes. He came over to me and asked about the buses heading into Marin and was he in the right place for his…we ended up riding the bus together, exchanged information and I have no idea what his butt looks like but he does have the most amazing blue eyes and melting Australian accent.

What’s your own sexiest feature? Ha ha, I have no idea!

What’s your earliest childhood memory? My father telling me I had a little sister named Arlene. I asked him if we could return her because I didn’t want her.

Who are your latest crushes (celebrity, book character, or otherwise)? Do you ever keep those people in your mind when writing your own works? LOL – Brendan!  My bus riding Aussie friend! And my hero from my current WIP now has dark blond hair and blue eyes…he was originally brunette with green eyes.

If you could pick anyone in the world to be the cover model(s) on your latest release, who would it be? I’m going to start to sound obsessed here….Brendan!

Are you a book hoarder? Hoarder? Why no. With over 13,000 print books to my name and hmmm, close to 7,000 ebooks I prefer to think of myself as a bibliophile or an astute collector. Wouldn’t you agree?

Do you have a favorite character out of all the ones you’ve written? If so, who is it and why is s/he your favorite? It’s Kendrick from Mistaken Bride. Hands down, it’s him with Rick Hansen in the same series a close second. There is a vulnerability to Kendrick that makes him so appealing.

Is there a way for fans and others to contact you? (email, social networking links, etc.) Regansreads @ gmail.com is probably easiest to reach me.  Or other links on my website www.regantaylor.com. While you are there please do check out my links on transplants and organ donation.

Tell us about your latest release – we’d love an excerpt, too! My latest release is Her Eyes with Awe-struck (www.mundania.com).

BLURB

What would you do to be with the one you love? Would you be willing to die and find a way, any way possible, to be back with them?

When Frank White married Catherine he took to heart the words “for better or for worse.” With Catherine he got the worst…or did he?

After Catherine attempts to murder Frank while he sleeps, much to her surprise, Frank’s dog lashes out at her. When Catherine wakes, something very strange has happened, so strange that even Catherine has no idea what to do.

Chapter One

An ambulance roared by, its sirens blaring disturbing the quiet that otherwise surrounded the house. Without a doubt the lights were flashing and sirens blaring. The road in front of Catherine White’s house went for miles, stretching from a rural section of cattle farms inGreenburgCountyall the way to the city. The sound of the siren quickly came and went as they rushed someone to the hospital.

Catherine stood and walked to the kitchen doorway to look into the next room to see if the sound had disturbed her husband, Frank. There he sat, morosely swilling beer, trying to pretend she wasn’t home. Catherine White hadn’t spoken to her husband all day.

What was the point?

They had nothing to say to each other. She heard all marriages went through this phase, where conversation drags and the couple slowly pulls away from each other. If it were only that, she would be fine with it.

The truth of it was she had never shared Frank’s goals, dreams, or desires. He never understood that.

Frank wanted their marriage to work.

She wanted her freedom.

Well actually, to be more precise she had wanted out of this farce of a marriage prior to James, her lover of six months, dying in a plane crash. Why he had to go toSpaina week ago was beyond her.

Mourning him would take more energy than she cared to spend on just another man. The dumb ass shouldn’t have left her. In the week since he’d died her wish to have her marriage concluded rolled over and over in her mind.

Now there was nowhere for her to go, so she stayed with her husband and wished for someone else. It was her curse. She’d built a safety net in Frank but slowly, irrevocably, that net had changed to a cage.

All that really mattered was having a man. It was the only thing of importance in her life. Not just any man, though. He had to dote on her and think she was the sun and moon. Oh yeah, and he couldn’t be Frank.

Not that she expected it to take long to find a replacement lover. After all, Catherine never had to look far for male attention. Ever since that first time behind the bleachers event during a football game it had been easy to attract men who could give her the things she wanted.

So why did I go off the deep end and marry Frank?

She’d have to chalk that up to temporary insanity. Well, that and wanting to show up that unbelievably plain and utterly bland Pamela. Pammie. Ugh. How bland ole Pamela ever made the cheerleading squad was beyond Catherine. But somehow dull and boring ole Pammie made it. The bitch had gotten everything in high school: the top grades, the best scholarships, the squad. The one thing she didn’t get was Frank White.

That was the one thing Catherine got.

She smacked her gum and returned to the kitchen table, putting on the last coat of nail polish. She should’ve had them professionally done, but her last manicurist had tossed Catherine out of the shop after she had innocently flirted with the woman’s husband. Jealous, so many jealous women out there, and they made life hard for Catherine. It wasn’t fair. She couldn’t help being beautiful.

Splaying her wet red nails on the tabletop, she lightly blew on them. Her diamond rings sat in a neat little pile in front of her. Each was a gift from Frank, a trinket of his affection. Some affection. When each nail was dry enough, she added her jewelry, watching it sparkle in the overhead light.

I won?

Eight years later and all Frank spoke of was having children. That and maybe moving closer to his parents. She wanted none of it. And why should she? She was only twenty-five and certainly didn’t need the baggage of dirty diapers or crying kids. Frank was too much baggage all by himself.

If only Frank were gone…

She would have the house, the money, and no husband. She wouldn’t jump into another set of vows either. For once in her life, she would be free to do what she pleased.

If Frank were gone.

The chilling thought clung to her mind, digging in with a life of its own. She popped the gum in her mouth and thought about it. The act of murder was easy. Over the years, she had watched a dozen television shows about catching killers. There were ways to do it and not get caught. Shoot him then claiming someone had broken into their loving home wouldn’t be hard. Playing the sad and devoted widow might be nice.

Catherine felt a smile spread on her face. There would be so much attention. Men and women alike would flock to her to offer their condolences. She could have her pick of men and they could sleep next to her right there in Frank’s bed. She might even manage her men two at a time.

On a whim, Catherine went to the bedroom and pulled the forty-five from its box in the closet. Frank had bought it and had taught her to use it for those nights when work kept him late. He called it work. She knew that his evening work meant wining and dining different developers who might be interested in his services. There were occasions when supplies were shipped late or an interstate job ran at night instead of during the day. Let him stay late every day for all she cared.

His little construction company was hardly the glossy enterprise that her friends’ husbands held. She had to admit that the hard work gave him a nice body, but one she didn’t want touching hers. There wasn’t a reason why, at least none she’d ever been able to put her finger on. He was tall, broad-shouldered with thick brown hair and amazing eyes and was really quite handsome. More often than not, he turned women’s heads wherever he went.

Frank never noticed.

He just went about his business. Maybe if he would have gone after a few of those women, some spice, some challenge, would have been added to their marriage. But not good ole Frank.

Her mind returned to the task at hand. The pistol had a good grip, and she clutched it, enjoying the weight. It had a rich smell of oil and metal, something unique she never noticed in another object. The cold metal of the silver gray gun reminded her of ice. She supposed murder should be cold, emotionless.

She didn’t feel emotionless though. Holding the gun, knowing what she was about to do was euphoric.

Catherine opened the clip and checked the bullets the way Frank had shown her. The man wasn’t much good for anything, but at least he had shown her how to load and fire the gun.

There were five bullets. The thing was ready to go with a flip of the safety. She would finally get out of this marriage. How simple it would be, a pull of the trigger instead of long arguments with a lawyer presiding.

She paced to the window and peered out over the yard. Divorce could be an option, if she wanted to be poor and her infidelities brought out for all to see. Strong, silent and stoic Frank would grant her one.

He might even want out of the marriage, too, but his sense of right and wrong wouldn’t permit him to make the first move.

No, a bullet to the brain would be more merciful than a long, drawn-out divorce. It would be so easy. After he was dead she would mess up the room, make it look like someone broke in and then call 911 to report an attempted robbery. There had been enough visitors to the house that the police would find other fingerprints, and if they didn’t, well, her story would be the intruder wore a mask and gloves.

Catherine went to the hallway, trying to move silently. The door to the den, Frank’s room, was open slightly. He’d been sleeping in the den for the last five months. She suspected that he knew about her affairs. He had to. The timing of his move to the den coincided with her meeting James. She remembered the night he came home early and looked her deeply in the eyes before asking if she still loved him. She’d told him yes. She’d lied, not to be mean, but because she didn’t know what else to say.

Barely into the room, she heard him breathing low and deep, already asleep. That was life with Frank. Come home, have a beer, go to sleep.

The door swung open slowly, his damn mutt on the floor by the couch. The Shepherd looked up and bared his teeth. That dog never liked her.

I may need to take a shot at him as well.

Frank loved the stupid dog and had named him Winter, although he only called him “Win” most of the time. He’d gotten the dog five months ago, about the same time he found out about her recreational activity.

“Stupid dog,” she whispered.

Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything because the dog looked at her, watched her pull the gun up and aim it at Frank. For a minute her heart raced in her chest, excitement mixed with fear that he would wake and see her standing there. She didn’t want him to know it was her.

Her hand trembled.

She hadn’t expected that.

There was a click from the gun as she eased off the safety and started putting pressure on the trigger.

The shot would be close.

She wouldn’t miss his head. She drew in a steadying breath, but before she could exhale, Win charged snarling, growling, and pain ripped through her face.

Sweetmeats Press proudly presents FIVE titillating tales from erotica’s sultriest mistresses!

In THE CIRCUS, the line is blurred between spectator and performer in a theatre of pleasure and pain!

Then, adventurous Izzy searches two continents for her perfectly perverted Prince Charming in INSIDE LOOKING OUT.

In ALLOTTED VIEWS a nosey gardener is treated to a raunchy ritual through her bedroom window.

PAINTED PUSSYCAT sees an innocent student welcomed into the Circle of Ink where tattoos, bondage and exhibitionism are all part of her initiation.

And finally, a young policeman risks his reputation and his job for the adrenaline rush of sex alfresco in CAUGHT IN THE ACT!

It may not be polite to stare…..but it’s certainly a lot of fun. Slip inside these pages to celebrate your secret voyeur, and it will be our perverse pleasure to share our Immoral Views with you!

Edited by Kojo Black, and containing stories from Kay Jaybee, Lexie Bay, K D Grace, Rebecca Bond and Lucy Felthouse. Illustrations by Florian Meacci are only available in paperback editions, and eBook edition from Waterstone’s.

Available from:
Sweetmeats Press (print)
Amazon UK (print)
Amazon UK (Kindle)
Amazon US (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Diesel eBook Store
eBook Eros
Sony Reader Store
Kobobooks.com
Smashwords
Waterstone’s (print)
Waterstone’s
WHSmith (print)

Here’s a third installment from our upcoming Extasy release in the Swinging Games series: Pushing the Limits.

Last week we dropped in on our happy threesome just after Sarah’s arrival. Now we get to sample the morning after, just as Jen is waking up:

Lying on her back, Jen felt the warmth of morning sun rays pouring through the east window caressing her nude form before she opened her eyes. Someone had been up and opened the curtains. Her nostrils twitched at the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. That answered that question. Brett was awake.

She stretched languidly, not quite wanting to begin the day. And then she remembered. That other scent. The scent of a woman. The scent of Sarah Creston. In their bed. Lying next to her.

BLURB

Their new Unicorn Sarah Creston may be out of town, but that doesn’t stop Jen and Brett Andrews from burning up the wires with some scorching three-way phone sex. While they’re waiting for Sarah, Ryan eagerly pursues Brett for some hot male action, followed by a house party that challenges Jen and Brett’s stereotypes. Sarah finally arrives, exhausted and drained from weeks spent helping her aging parents. Jen and Brett provide total tender care for three days – but when Jen invites Sarah to move in for the whole summer, Brett asks himself, what’s the limit?

Sometimes nothing spices up a good romance like a little life threatening danger. Spy novels have long had plenty of kiss kiss to go with the bang bang. The knowledge that tomorrow could be your last makes everything taste sweeter, everything. That’s been the appeal of 007 since his creation. He was the quintessential man of action, as confident with a Walther PPK as in the bedroom. It was that mix of danger and sex appeal that I had in mind when I combined James Bond with a vampire to create Ian Redd. Ian is a tough, sophisticated and mysterious man. And that’s how our heroine first meets him. She doesn’t know anything except there are people are out to kill her and this man is the only one who will protect her.

Would you trust a tall dark stranger from out of nowhere with your life? What if he drank human blood?

Instantly he was right next to her. One hand gripped her shoulder and yanked her backward. His other hand held something that flashed brightly. There was a loud echoing sound.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Gunfire. He’s got a gun!
Larissa stumbled away from Ian. She saw the speeding auto tear down the center of the road. It swerved toward her as she ran.
There was a dark alley immediately behind her. She sprinted into it. It looked narrow. She didn’t think a car could follow. She hoped it couldn’t.
She was ten steps down the alley when she heard a huge crash behind her. She felt it too and half stumbled for a few steps. Larissa whipped her head around and saw the car with its hood crumpled around the corner of the alley. The headlights were flickering and the horn blared.
She slowed a little bit. The car horn stopped blaring. The driver’s side door opened with a crunch and a large man in a dark suit kicked his way out. He staggered into the mouth of the alley clutching his forehead. Larissa saw blood oozing from a cut on his scalp. Then she saw the gun in his other hand. The man raised it at her.
She stood frozen. Was this it? The moment her dreams had warned her about?
Pop! Pop! Pop!
It was the same sound as before. Sharp and loud like fireworks on the Fourth of July. The man hadn’t fired. He stumbled and then fell awkwardly to the ground. She’d never seen a dead body before but she knew that man was dead. He lay in such a twisted manner there could be no doubt.
A shadow approached the alley.
Larissa tore herself from the spot and ran.
She looked back once and saw a tall figure enter the alley. She was on the verge of recognizing him when she smacked into something large and heavy.
Two burly men had jumped out of the shadows and she had run right into their arms. She screamed with all her might as they lifted her off the ground. She kicked and flailed around.
“Is this her?” asked one man in a rough voice.
“Who cares. Shut her up!” came the answer.
A hand like sandpaper clamped down over her mouth and smothered her screams. She saw the black metal of a gun barrel. It hovered above her forehead. She bit down hard on the hand but it wouldn’t let go, even as her teeth tore through the skin.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw the tall figure streaking down the alley toward them. It was Ian. He was moving faster than any man she’d ever seen. It didn’t seem real. She’d been to the Central Park Zoo once. There she’d seen a snow leopard dash across its enclosure. It moved so fast and so fluid, like lightning. That was what it was like watching Ian move. There was nothing human about it.
Her attackers dropped her. She fell on her butt as Ian collided with the two of them like a train. There was a flurry of blows. One dropped to the ground. He crumpled like the man at the mouth of the alley and Larissa knew he was dead.
She backed away from the fight. Broken glass and other bits of debris scraped and cut her hands and rear end but she barely noticed. She was too busy watching the fight. What little fight there was.
Ian seized the other man. The brute was nearly twice his size but Ian held him tight and forced him to his knees. They were standing over a sodium lamp and by its pale light she saw the fangs gleaming inside Ian’s mouth.

From Russia With Blood is available at the following links:

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Sarah raised her eyelids, clearly with effort, and smiled. “How long have I been soaking? This is divine. It’s so decadent to have two naked bodies caring for my every whim. I hope you’re enjoying yourselves. I don’t think I can do much to repay you—not yet.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Brett said, running a soapy hand along the inside of Sarah’s right leg. “I can’t imagine much that would surpass this.”

Jen returned his smile, cupped a handful of soapsuds and dropped them over Sarah’s nipples that had poked through the blanket of suds. She let her fingertips trail over and around the rise of one breast and then the other.

“That’s so good,” Sarah whispered, her eyes once again shuttered. “Don’t either of you stop what you’re doing.”

BLURB

Their new Unicorn Sarah Creston may be out of town, but that doesn’t stop Jen and Brett Andrews from burning up the wires with some scorching three-way phone sex. While they’re waiting for Sarah, Ryan eagerly pursues Brett for some hot male action, followed by a house party that challenges Jen and Brett’s stereotypes. Sarah finally arrives, exhausted and drained from weeks spent helping her aging parents. Jen and Brett provide total tender care for three days – but when Jen invites Sarah to move in for the whole summer, Brett asks himself, what’s the limit?

Swinging Games: Pushing the Limits is scheduled for January, 2012 release.

You can find all Adriana’s published erotic romance at these links:

Amazon.com          All Romance Ebooks