Quick Six Interview with R. ANN SIRACUSA

1. Hi Ann! Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

RAS: I write in several different genres, but currently I’ve been writing a humorous romantic suspense series featuring a tour guide and a Europol spy. I’m particularly comfortable in this first person voice.

My books tend to be long (90,000 words +), and since world travel is one of my passions, I set most of my novels in the exotic foreign lands that I’ve visited. The plots are complex and filled with action and adventure, culture and setting, and, of course, romance.

2. What are you reading right now?

RAS: I try to read books in the genre I’m writing at the moment. Right now, I’m reading Dick Francis’ “Even Money” and Katie MacAilaster’s “Corset Diaries.” If I could emulate any authors, dead or alive, I’d like to be a combination of Dick Francis and Katie MacAilaster, with a little Janet Evanovich thrown in (and maybe C.J.Cherryh…and, well, there’s lots of others). The highlight (so far) of my short career was when a reviewer compared my tour guide character (Harriet Ruby) to MacAlister’s Aisling Grey.

3. I hear music in the background…what’s playing?

RAS: I’m very eclectic when it comes to music. I like everything. You might be hearing The Brothers Four, Andrea Bocelli, opera, Red Peters, Neil Diamond, Kids Bop, Linkin Park, or Cold Play. What I listen to depends on the time, place, and mood. It also relates to what I’m writing, which grandchildren are in the house, or if my Italian husband is watching Italian TV.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

RAS: Favourite? Not really. In speech, I use most of them regularly, even when I shouldn’t (a bad habit I’ve acquired since I retired). In my writing, it depends on the character and the type of book.

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

RAS: I’ve never really thought about it. I’m sure there are words and phrases I dislike when I read/hear them, and those I avoid when writing. Others I know I overuse to death. I don’t like the word “visitation” for some reason, and I’m not entralled with euphemisms like “his manhood.” A writer doesn’t have to be crude or offensive to use “real” words, but sometimes those get changed in the editing.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

RAS: Gulp! Sputter! Unfortunately, everything that’s bad for me. Ice Cream is my favourite comfort food, and my downfall. My husband does all the cooking and shopping (bless his soul) so I munch on what he chooses to buy. (I have to bribe him into buying the ice cream.)

7. Anything to Promo?

RAS: Woot! Woot! Happy Dance! Sapphire Blue Publishing is releasing the second book of my tour guide/spy series in a few weeks, entitled “ALL FOR A FIST FULL OF ASHES.”

My first e-Book published by Sapphire Blue Publishing, “ALL FOR A DEAD MAN’S LEG,” came out March, 2009, and is the first of a four-book humorous romantic suspense series featuring a tour director, Harriet Ruby, and a Europol spy, Will Talbot. They meet while she is conducting her first solo tour in Spain and Morocco, and together they pursue great sex, a dead man’s secret, and international smugglers.

The second e-Book, entitled “ALL FOR A FIST FULL OF ASHES,” is being released at the end of October. Harriet and Will have been dating for a year, and come together in Italy where she is conducting a private tour for fourteen members of an Italian-American family. Will has one of the family members under surveillance as a suspect in an assassination conspiracy. Travel with them on their fast-paced romantic romp through Italy in pursuit of a lost grave, an assassin, and a healing and once-in-a-lifetime love.

Find out about me and my work at my website: http://www.rannsiracusa.com
You can also Google me (R. Ann Siracusa, R.A.Siracusa, Rose Ann Siracusa) or find me on Myspace, Facebook, FiledBy, LinkedIn, EPAN, Writers/Readers of Distinctive Fiction (but mostly as a “lurker” on all of them).

Thanks. It’s been fun meeting you.
Ann

Hahaha...Italian TV. I regularly fall asleep on the couch and wake up listening to the Italian news. Not that I mind. I usually get the gist of it, especially with the captions on. It helps me polish my long-forgotten skills from the single Italian course I took in University. ("Skills"? Wrong word. I was never that skillful a speaker of the language. I'm good with French and English. That's about it.)

“ALL FOR A FIST FULL OF ASHES” and “ALL FOR A DEAD MAN’S LEG” sound great! Thanks for telling us a bit about them. And thank you so much for the interview!

Cheers,
Giselle Renarde

Why my Girlfriend Won’t Wear an Apron

Why my Girlfriend Won’t Wear an Apron

or
Am I a Female Chauvinist Pig?

My Sweet and I are recovering from another little spat. I’m doing a bit of warehouse contract work at the moment, and yesterday a young woman there asked my age. She followed up my response with, “Oh my god, you are so old! Are you married?” Umm…no. “Oh my god, you’re not married? Oh my god, but you’re so old!”

Nice.

The young woman walked away, and another woman I work with turned to me and said, “What a rude girl! To ask your age, and if you’re married. Very rude.” Of course, I came home and mentioned all this to Sweet, assuming she’d agree with me.

She didn’t.

“I don’t understand you,” she said. “You claim to be a feminist, but here you’re holding on to outdated, chauvinistic beliefs that it’s rude to ask a woman’s age. She wasn’t being rude. She was asking straightforward questions. What’s wrong with that? You’re being juvenile and anti-feminist.”

Juvenile and Anti-Feminist? Them’s fighting words! And Sweet knows very well the reaction they provoke. She knows, if there’s one way to get my dander up, it’s to question my commitment to feminism. I was pissed. Not because Sweet disagreed with me, but because...well, okay, maybe a little bit because she disagreed with me.

I don't just call myself a radical feminist, I live that way. I’m a vocal proponent of equal rights for all. I’m rude, my mother says. She means outspoken. I don’t let things sit. When I see injustice or hear people say things that denigrate women or any other marginalized group, I say something about it.

That’s why it was such a kick in the gut for Sweet to call me anti-feminist. How dare she? But then I started thinking about one of the few fantasies I have involving Sweet that she won’t go along with: I would love to watch her cook me a steak dressed in the full June Cleaver get-up—pearls and heels and vintage housedress.

So, the question remains. Am I a Female Chauvinist Pig? I mean, I can see why Sweet might find that demeaning, but that’s not even the reason she won’t do it. For her, as a trans woman, it would feel too much like Fetish Dressing. Psychologically, she has a very strong need to separate herself from the mentality and culture of cross-dressing. She wants to be seen as a woman like any other. So, “dressing up” to satisfy any fantasy of mine—particularly in the sexual realm—is completely out of the question. And that’s fine. I understand. No June Cleaver for Giselle. I’ll live.

But my primary concern still remains. What the hell is with this retro housewife fantasy? I know I’m a feminist. And I won’t say that women or lesbians can’t be chauvinist pigs, because we certainly can—and many do—belittle other women. But I know I don’t degrade my partner. She’s awesome. Sure she whines every time she breaks a nail, but that doesn’t mean she backs away from the power tools. She can cook and do electrical work. I love that.

I think we all want to come home to a partner who understands the aggravations of the workday, who realizes our feet are aching from standing for eight hours straight, and, more than anything else, understands that we need to fell heard. I don’t need Sweet to fix me a martini and rub my feet—though, honestly, I wouldn’t say no to either—but I do have a need to hear those two magic words, “I understand.” It bothered me that she couldn’t just give me a big hug and say, “I can see that all those questions irritated you. I’m sorry you had a rough day.” Really, that sentiment is far more valuable than pearls and apron strings.

Quick Six Interview with Scott M. Baker

Quick Six Interview with Scott M. Baker

1. Hi Scott! What type of stories you write?

SMB: Horror/urban fantasy, with an emphasis on vampires and zombies.

2. What are you reading right now?

SMB: Dead Worlds: Volume 3

3. I hear music in the background…what' s playing?

SMB: Country/Western

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

SMB: Fuck, yeah.

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

SMB: When management says "Consider this an opportunity to grow."

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

SMB: M&Ms

hahaha...yeah, "opportunities to grow" suck ass!
Thanks for the interview,
gigi

Lesbian Vampire Knife Play, Anyone?

Hi Kittens!

Oysters & Chocolate recently held a contest called "Vampire Lust." Guess what? My F/F story "Blood Lust" received an Honorable Mention! Pretty good, considering I'd never written anything vampire-related before. In fact, I wasn't even thinking of entering the contest until...

Okay, so you know that conversation you inevitably have with your partner where you ask, "Is there anything you would NEVER do in bed?" I asked my girlfriend one day. You know what she said? "I would never let you cut me."

I kind of did a double-take...like...cut you?

"With a knife," she clarified. "Or anything else."

I just laughed, because I would never in a million years have conceived of cutting her. It's funny how someone can introduce you to an idea that's totally outside your sexual schema and make it appealing in NOT wanting to do it. Hey, we all want what we can't have. Am I right, people?

Of course, once the idea was planted in my mind...well...wicked seeds soon burst into wicked blossoms. Luckily for my Sweet, my blossoms tend to grow in story form. Thus, "Blood Lust" came into existence.

Ah, sacred pen. Isn't it nice to have an outlet for all the ridiculous things our sweethearts won't let us try?

By the way, you can read my lesbian vampire cutting story absolutely free at Oysters and Chocolate .

Hugs,
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

Quick Six Interview with Nancy J. Parra

Quick Six Interview with Nancy J. Parra

1. Hi Nancy! Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

NJP: I write western historical romances and more recently romantic suspense.

2. What are you reading right now?

NJP: According to Jane by Marilyn Brant (her debut novel)

3. I hear music in the background…what' s playing?

NJP: Rob Thomas's Cradle Song

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

NJP: oh, boy my heros are the naughty word guys- I stick to "fudge."

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

NJP: yikes, lol- romance cliches like: "her womb quivered with delight."

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

NJP: dry roasted peanuts mixed with chocolate chips...

Nancy J. Parra
Visit me at www.nancyjparra.com
Read my latest book, MR. CHARMING, available now from The Wild Rose Press
Reviews available on my website.

I guess I haven't read enough romance, because I've never heard of anybody's womb quivering with delight. With labour pains, maybe... Womb. That's hilarious.

I love your cover for "Mr. Charming"--reminds me of an old Cary Grant movie poster. Now he was charming! To quote Pepe Le Pew (another charmer), "Le sigh!"

Thanks for the interview, Nancy!
Bright Blessings,
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

Third Rail: Authentic Transgender Erotica at Last!

It is with great pleasure that I announce a new entity in the world of erotica.

TransFixation (TransFix for short) is a new line of erotic fiction from lyd Alterotica featuring authentic portrayals of transgender characters. And the first story available in the TransFix line?

Why, that would be my bisexual transgender bdsm tale THIRD RAIL.

THIRD RAIL has always held a special place in my heart for its sheer authenticity, so when I was discussion the topic of realistic portrayals of the bdsm world with loveyoudivine's editor in chief, it suddenly occurred to us both: lyd Alterotica needed a line devoted to authentic portrayals of trans characters.

You've heard this complaint from me many times in the past. All the trans folks I talk to (my girlfriend included) tell me they can't stand all the shemale/t-girl/ladyboy erotica on the market. It doesn't speak to them. Erotica depicting transgender characters doesn't represent them, their feelings, or their sexual behaviours accurately.

It takes a trans man or trans woman (or a sensitive ally-advocate partner/erotic fiction writer...) to step up and write what this potentially beautiful and incredibly hot kind of eroticism really looks. This isn't laa-dee-daa fantasy time. It's hot. It's emotional. It's gritty. It's real.

THIRD RAIL
by Giselle Renarde

"When did I become my own rival for your affections?"

Perhaps it is a touch unusual to have a girlfriend and boyfriend both living in the same body, but Kokoro doesn’t classify her relationship with Fiona and Martin as strange. Kokoro rides the third rail, a dutifully subservient lover to both aspects of her transgendered partner’s psyche. She goes home with Fiona at night, a transformation takes place, and she leaves the house with Martin the next morning. In between, Kokoro discovers that the dynamics of domination and submission aren’t necessarily rooted in black leather. The emotional interplay, “this game of wills,” as Fiona calls it, is a greater aphrodisiac than toy-shop trappings. Fiona is a willful Domme, even in her flowing white skirt and plain cotton panties.

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-60054-403-3

lyd Category: TransFix

Length: 62 pdf Pages /6843 words

Rating: Super Nova

Formats Available: pdf, prc, lit, zipped html, lrf, epub

Cover Price: $2.00

_____________________________

Excerpt:

“Come on, let’s say goodnight to Fiona,” Fiona said, shifting Kokoro from her lap and heading for the stairs. She extended her hand, but still Kokoro stayed planted in the kitchen. “Why aren’t you coming? You really think I’m going to let you sleep on the floor?”

“No, it’s not that,” Kokoro replied, cuddling into the chair abandoned by her beautiful Domme.
“What then?”
“I just hate saying goodbye.”

With a tender smile, Fiona ambled across the kitchen. Kokoro observed their blue-tinged reflections in the glass door as her sensitive lover kissed her hair and consoled, “I hate saying goodbye to Fiona, too, but I can’t very well wear the wig to bed, now can I? And, anyway, even after Fiona’s gone, you’ve still got Martin to play with.”
“Yeah…” Kokoro smirked, scrunching her nose in a deliberate effort to appear snide. “Not really the same, is it?”
Fiona shook her head, slipping the gold bracelet from her wrist. “When did I become my own rival for your affections?”

“It’s all your fault. You’re the one who introduced yourselves to me.”

The bedroom had been tidied to a certain degree, though clothing still hung from the hooks behind the door. The jewellery strewn across her dressing table elicited visions of Ali Baba’s cave: gold and gold, and then some more gold on top of that when Fiona removed her earrings.

“I’ve never once seen your boy clothes when I’ve been here,” Kokoro realized.
Fiona shrugged, tilting her head. “I don’t like to look at them unless I have to.”
“Like you’ll have to tomorrow morning when you get ready for work?”
Shuddering, Fiona moaned, “Don’t remind me.” A winged insect of some sort abducted her gaze, and she focused on it for a long while.

Kokoro let her bra and panties fall to the floor, slipping into the silk chemise she’d brought along, all while Fiona watched the flying creature buzz desperately along the line where the bedroom wall met the ceiling. The night air was chilly. Kokoro slipped into Nuala’s side of the bed.

“I could close my eyes, if you’d prefer,” Kokoro offered, breaking Fiona’s concentration.
“What do you mean?”
“While you change. I don’t have to watch if you don’t want me to.”
“If I didn’t want you to see, you wouldn’t be here.”
Kokoro sighed. “You make everything so difficult.”

With a shrug, Fiona giggled, “That’s my prerogative. Every good girlfriend knows how to make things difficult for her partner. Now, then, are we ready for the wig to come off?”

Absorbing the image of beautiful Fiona, the preferred aspect of this duo, Kokoro nodded, and the wig returned to its home in the closet. Martin tussled his tawny hair, but it still stuck straight up. He unbuttoned the white shirt and squirmed out of his long skirt, hanging both on the back of the bedroom door. The bra was white. The panties were, too. A vicious Domme in basic white undies? But for Fiona, somehow it worked.

Kokoro didn’t need to follow her into the bathroom; she could see Fiona’s reflection in the mirror on the dressing table. It was Martin who rubbed out Fiona with makeup pads, Martin who removed the shimmer from her lips and around her eyes, Martin who scrubbed away her existence with apricot exfoliant. And yet, how can I resent Martin when, truly, he and Fiona were one and the same? Without Martin, there would be no Fiona. Without Fiona, there would be no Martin. It worked both ways.

“Feel how warm these get,” Martin glowed, handing her two heavy-duty water balloons that, seconds ago, had been breasts.

“Oh yeah…” Kokoro replied, watching Martin slip off one then another pair of big white underpants.
“Do you really have to wear granny panties? They are so unattractive. Would it kill you to buy a little lace, a few thongs?”

Naked before her, Martin raised an eyebrow. “Takes a lot more than a thong to keep this thing in check,” he replied. “Besides, who wants something crammed up her backside all day?”

Now it was Kokoro’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “I’m guessing we’re still talking about thongs?”
“Yes, Koko,” Martin scolded as he fished through his drawer of silky nighties, settling on the pink one. “Why? What would you prefer to have crammed up your backside?”

“I don’t know,” Kokoro gurgled. “Weren’t you just saying you needed some place to conceal your cock?”
Martin growled deep in his throat as he turned off the light. Crawling on top of the covers in the pitch-blackness, he was on top of her in no time. He found her intuitively, found her mouth with his as she ran her hands across his silk-lined back, sighing at the luxury.

The boy was back in town.

Sure, he was wearing a nightie, but the pure passion of the masculine aspect was back in full force. His hands caressed her cheeks, ran madly through her hair, and his lust ignited that which had ebbed in her. Kokoro moaned at the kisses of his mouth, glad for the darkness. Fiona was so much prettier, but she’d been put in the cupboard.

“Do you know how hot you get me, Koko?” he whispered, his breath sizzling in her ear.
Martin’s voice was not Fiona’s. There was an overlap, but it was not the same. This voice had depth and a resonance that brewed lust in her core.

“So hot, Koko. You get me so hot.”

And he wasn’t lying. His cock was hard as he rubbed it against her mound. Even with two layers of silk, a sheet and a coverlet between them, he knew precisely where to stroke.

You know you want it...
Third Rail by Giselle Renarde is Now Available from lyd Alterotica
(Note: scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Enter")

Bright Blessings,
gigi

Blog Action Day 2009: Penguins in a Dangerous Time

Hello Planet-Lovers!

For the second year running, I’m taking part in Blog Action Day. The topic for 2009 is climate change. As an environmentalist, how could I say no? Instead of getting all preachy (which I’ve been known to do at times, I know) I’ve decided to share a sweet story of romance…between penguins. Remember, though: these penguins are living in a time of rising temperatures and disappearing sea ice. In other words, not every romance has a happy ending.

Penguins in a Dangerous Time

By Giselle Renarde

“Tell me,” Megan cooed, nuzzling her beak into the down of Andy’s chest. “Please?”

Running his beak along the side of hers, he teased, “What, you can’t wait until tomorrow?”

“No,” she pouted. Megan cuddled her head against his neck. She really knew how to work the male of the species. “What did you get me?” she pleaded. “Come on, cutie. Give it to me now.”

He cocked his head. “Give it to you now?” he asked in his most seductive tone. Running the tip of his beak up the side of her head, he paused before tracing the line separating black from white. She was without a doubt the prettiest penguin he’d ever seen. “You want me to give it to you, huh?”

As Megan gazed into his eyes, she felt giddy. She was half tempted to let him stand on her back then and there. He was definitely cuter than any of the other penguins around. Still, she giggled at his cheap come-on. “Yeah,” she replied. Andy thought he was such a Lothario. “I want it real bad…”

“You want what real bad?” he asked, snuggling in close.

“You want to know what I want?” she flirted, pressing her front against his. With a quick love bite to his shoulder, she squealed, “I want my surprise!”

Andy stepped back. He couldn’t say no to her. Even so, he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for the special day?”

A though suddenly sparked in her mind. “Oh, I know what it is,” she cried. “You’re taking me across the ridge, aren’t you?”

When Andy’s expression fell, she knew she was on to something. “I’m right!” She shrieked, flapping her fins. She’d dreamed of this day from the time she was just a chick. “You’re taking me across the ridge!”

“It was supposed to be a surprise,” he said, somewhat disappointed she’d guessed it so quickly.

“Let’s go now,” she urged, pushing him north.

The idea hadn’t occurred to him. His mind was set on leaving tomorrow. “You mean we should and not tell anyone?”

“They won’t miss us for one night,” she replied, pressing on. “And we’ll meet up with all the other couples tomorrow. No biggie. This way, we’ll have the place all to ourselves.”

His mouth just about fell open at the prospect. How could he possibly resist the temptation of a night alone? How could he refuse Megan when her eyes sparkled in the sunlight? “Well?” he teased. “What are you waiting for? Let’s blow this icicle stand.”

They sighed with their shared secret. When he was younger, Andy would never have imagined himself heading across the ridge before the big day. A lot of penguins looked down on that sort of thing. But Megan was worth it. He would give her anything. He was just about to tell her so when the ice shook so badly they fell on top of each other. They were too scared to laugh.

Megan looked up at Andy, her eyes wide with alarm. “What was that?”

“I don’t know,” he said. He had a suspicion, but didn’t want to frighten her before he knew for sure. “You stay here. I’ll check it…”

Just as he rose upright, the ice shook again. Andy fell back down on Megan. Still, they couldn’t find any amusement in their close contact. Maybe, in their hearts, they both knew what was really happening.

The ice continued to rumble so badly they couldn’t get up. They shouted questions at each other, clinging together, but the thunderous roar was too loud to overcome. All they could do was wait it out.

When the rumbling stopped, they both stood to look around. One every side they saw ice, ice, more ice, and then ocean. Neither wanted to acknowledge what was happening, but now they were both sure of it. They were floating. As they stood there, turning in circles in hopes of finding some spot where the ice was attached to ice and not ocean, faith dwindled to nothing.

“I guess we won’t be getting to the ridge now,” Megan said, trying to make light of it all. Right away, she hated herself for making the joke. The situation was dire. They were trapped on an ice float.

“Maybe if we waddle really fast,” Andy suggested. “Maybe if we try, we can make it.”

They waddled, but it was no use. It took forever to get to the outer edge of the ice. When they arrived, they looked out at how far they’d floated. “I can’t swim back from here,” Megan cried.

“You think I can?” Andy snapped. When her eyes filled with dismay, he let out a big sigh. He wanted to save her. He would do anything for her. But what could he do now? They were trapped. “I’m sorry,” he said. His shoulders fell along with his hopes. “I wanted today to be perfect, and look what I’ve done. We’re going to die out here. We’ll never see the others again. It’s over.”

As much as Megan wanted to stay optimistic, she’d heard the stories too. The ice was melting too early, before couples could across the ridge. There was no telling where it would happen, or when. Trapped on the ice float, they couldn’t feed or fish. There were no krill where they were headed. They’d starve to death. They both knew it.

“It’s not your fault,” she said, cuddling close. She pressed her front against his. “Let’s just be happy we’re together. It’s not our fault this is happening.”

~The End~

It's not their fault.

Thanks for reading,
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

Quick Six Interview with Eve Cassidy

Quick Six

Interview with Eve Cassidy

1. Hi Eve! Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

I'm currently writing Contemporary Erotica about hot, hard military heroes. A subject near and dear to my heart.

2. What are you reading right now?

Pleasuring A Pirate by Leila Brown. I don't read much sci fi so I wanted to try something different and space pirates fit the bill perfectly.

3. I hear music in the background…what’s playing?

The Twilight soundtrack. It's my favorite to write to.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

Definitely fuck. I don't say it nearly as much as I write it but boy do I love to write it.

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

Nothing is really coming to me at the moment.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

Peanut butter cookies. They've become a recent weakness.

Promo time! Flog your wares. Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

I just had my first release, G.I. Jamie with Excessica come out on October 5th. Since i've been wanting to write about the sexy side of the military for a very long time i'm super excited about this.

Here's the blurb:

She’s hot, she’s sexy and she can kick some ass!

Jamie is in the middle of becoming a trained soldier in the Marine Corps when she literally bumps into a man that sparks her fire. With her focus lost she does what any red-blooded American woman would and takes matters into her own hand…literally.

When that’s not enough she throws caution to the wind and takes a second chance encounter with a hot, sexy stranger for all that she can.

If you'd like to see more or what's coming in the future you can visit me at my new website, which is still a work in progress, at:

http://evecassidy.wordpress.com

You would love "Jerry Springer: The Opera" if fuck is a favourite word. One of the classic lines from the show (and yes, it really is an opera) is, "What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fucking fucking fuck?"

It always amuses me, when I give these interviews, how there are salient words out there (fuck being one of them, cunt being another) that people either love or hate. Last week's Quick Six author cited fuck as the word that made her cringe, particularly when said in rapid succession.

What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fucking fucking fuck?

LOL. Now I'm just being an instigator. Thanks for the interview, Eve! We greatly appreciate it.

Giselle Renarde

Quick Six Interview with Tory Richards

Quick Six
Interview with Tory Richards

1. Hi Tory! Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

TR: Contemporary suspense romance leaning toward the erotic side. My heroes are cowboys, mercenaries, fire fighters, and in law enforcement and I've just recently included a marine in the mix.

2. What are you reading right now?

TR: The Romantic Times Magazine

3. I hear music in the background…what' s playing?

TR: LOL...the sound track to Last of the Mohicans! My all time favorite movie.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

TR: Yes, but it's a bedroom word so I can't say it here:)

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

TR: Absolutely! Anytime someone uses the N word or the F word, especially if the F word is used several times in the same sentence. I'm sorry but I just don't see the need in that.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

TR: Actually, nothing at the moment. But I am enjoying a hazelnut iced coffee from McDonalds.

Promo time! Flog your wares. Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

TR: My latest release, this year, is THE COWBOY WAY. It's offered in print and ebook form by Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. Here's a blurb: Arson and murder. An escaped convict driven by revenge complicates the lives of a sexy cowboy and the rancher's daughter he's sworn to protect.

I have two other torrid romances with WCP, IT'S ALL IN THE JEANS and WICKED DESIRE.

Readers can find out more about me and my books at:

Tory Richards website or Romance with an Attitude Blog

Thanks Tory! Sure you can say bedroom words here. My office is in my bedroom (in more ways than one) and I only blush when people tell me I'm a nice person.

I love the kissing image on your website. Of course, I prefer girls so I'll just close my eyes and pretend I'm the cowboy. Cowboys, cowboys, everywhere! The only cowboy story I've written is about a transsexual lesbian rodeo star.

I'm also interested in becoming trailer trash, after visiting your blog. LOL

Thanks so much for the interview!
Giselle Renarde

Giving Made Easy

By now, I'm sure everyone knows that between September 15th and December 15th 2009, all profits from the sale of Giselle Renarde Erotica through the eXcessica.com website will be donated to LGBT YOUTHLINE.

What you might not know is that it's now easier than ever to give. Whether you have $2, $1, or even just 50 cents, you can make a contribution to a worthy causing using the Paypal button below. Give what you can, whatever that means to you.

This August, Bill Clinton came to Toronto to give a speech "nobody" attended. Well, since I was one of the "nobodies" who went to hear him speak, I can tell you what he had to say. We all know the economy sucks right now, and we all know how it impacts us personally. Strangely, even with all the advocacy and volunteer work I do, I hadn't considered exactly how economic troubles are affective not-for-profit organizations.

I also didn't know that Clinton heads up a global humanitarian foundation, which helps third world countries with infrastructure, HIV/AIDS, etc. He told the crowd the major impact the economic downturn has had on his foundation (in terms of fundraising) is that most of the money coming in was from large donors--large donors who have since lost money big time.

So where does the money come from when the big boys take financially ill? From US. From you and me. From the people who have $1 to spare. And I don't say one dollar metaphorically. I mean $1.

That's the approach I'm taking this year in raising funds for LGBT YOUTHLINE. The heavy hitters are out of the picture. It's falling to us now to step up and support organizations that take care of our young people.

Please give what you can. You'll have not only the appreciation of LGBT youth to warm your heart, but you'll have my personal appreciation as well.

Bright Blessings,
Thank You All,
Giselle Renarde