Guest Blogger R.G. Alexander - Friends Are Benefits!

I love the Nine Naughty blog and I’m so glad I got a chance to come and chat with them today. My group blog, The Smutketeers, had so much fun with them at the last RT convention, and I know we’re going to have an even better time in 2012. Did I mention I loved the blog swapping too? *g* I am, by nature, a communal creature. As an isolated workaholic writer, I know the importance of friendship for balance as well as enjoyment’s sake.

For those who read my stories, you know I have a tendency to write series. This stems-I suppose-from my love of large casts of characters. Honest friends, overprotective family members and snarky, sassy sidekicks who are there to say what you most need to hear, when you least want to hear it.

Characters, just like people, are shaped by their experiences, yes. But also by the company they keep. I can tell a lot about my heroes and heroines by who stands by them in their darkest hour, and who puts up with them when no one else will.

I think my Bone Daddy series—Possess Me and Tempt Me (my book that just released last week)—is the perfect example of what I’m talking about. Several families, the Toussaints, Rousseaus and Adairs, are all tangled up in each other’s lives. Brought together by their family histories, their gifts, and one sexy and mischievous voodoo spirit named Bone Daddy.

In Tempt Me, those connections and friendships made and reaffirmed in Possess Me are even more important. Gabriel, our hero and Michelle Toussaint’s twin brother, is about as low as a man can be in the beginning. He’s been lied to by those he trusted, and in his mind he’s betrayed all the people who truly cared about him. He is lost in the darkness. But he is not as alone as he imagines.

Angelique, on the other hand, has always been loved and protected. Overprotected, if you ask her, by her mother and older brother Celestin Rousseau because of their father’s mistakes. She also has two friends who would do anything for her (two friends inspired by a few Smutkedettes the Naughty Nine know well-Kelly and Ive). All that love has given her a confidence that Gabriel has never known. Has put a light inside her that could, just maybe, be a counterbalance to his darkness.

Why am I talking about the importance of friendships in erotic romance? I suppose I write romance because I love love. In all its forms and guises, with all its blessings and dysfunctions. (Yes, I’m corny. It comes with the territory)

In real life, I fell in love with my best friend. And without the support of him, my reality checking and unconditionally loyal sister and my Smutketeers Eden Bradley, Crystal Jordan and Karen Erickson-as well as a handful of other amazing people that make up the large cast of my life—I would not be the person I am. I would not be a writer…and poor Gabriel would never have been given a second chance to be a hero.

Thank you 9N for letting me visit with you today. It is good to have friends.

Bio:
R.G. Alexander (aka Rachel Grace) is a bestselling author who has written over 20 books in the erotic paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi/fantasy and steampunk genres for Samhain, Ellora's Cave and Berkley Heat. She is happily married to a talented chef who is her best friend, her research assistant, and the love of her life.

If you want to find out more, go to: Website: www.rgalexander.com
Group Blog: www.smutketeers.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RachelGrace.RGAlexander
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RG_Alexander
Link to Tempt Me http://www.amazon.com/Tempt-Me-R-G-Alexander/dp/0425243338/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1320699151&sr=8-14
Link to Possess Me http://www.amazon.com/Possess-Me-R-G-Alexander/dp/B005FOFUL0/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

KINSEY'S FAVORITE RESEARCH LINKS

Some people seemed to like my last post about research, and since I just got home from a trip out of town with the Diva and I'm way too tired to think of something interesting to write about, I thought I'd just share some of my favorite research links. Some of these links will be of most interest to writers, others are useful to everyone. If this post proves popular, I'll do another one down the road.


FOR EVERYONE

Computer-related

Look, for most people -- including writers -- Google is the most comprehensive and easiest to use search engine. There's really no reason to go looking for any others. But if you're interested in search engines in general, if you want to know how search engines target consumers or attract advertisers or manipulate results, or you want to know how to drive more search engine traffic to your blog or business site, Search Engine Watch is where you need to go. There's fun stuff there, too, like Google Easter Eggs. (An explanation of online Easter eggs can be found here.

On the other hand, if you're interested in the un-Googled, un-indexed parts of the web - the so-called "hidden web" or "deep web," this site - WHICH, PLEASE NOTE, IS NO LONGER UPDATED - is very helpful.

How many times have you been unable to access a certain website and asked yourself, "I wonder if this site's really unavailable or if it's just my computer?" Next time, go to Down For Everyone Or Just Me?

How many times have you been sitting in a theater with your bladder near to bursting but you didn't want to get up and go to the bathroom because you might miss something important? Prepare yourself with RunPee. ("Because movie theaters don't have pause buttons.")

Ever wish you could browse the web without Google and everybody else knowing your IP address, where you shop, what you read, where you're going for dinner that night? Well, that's why they made Anonymizer.

If you're in a strange city, or even a different part of town, and need to know where you can find WiFo, go to the WiFi HotSpot. If you're in NY, just go to New York CyberCafes.

Okay, so how about non-computer specific reference? These are just a handful of links I pulled out of my huge (like, unwieldy-ly huge) bookmark list of "reference tools you don't know you need until you need them":

A database of world embassies and consulates.

Fact Check - a nonpartisan (truly!) site that checks the veracity of politicians' statements, statistics, boasts, accusations, bullshit and hogwash.

From the US Postal Service, a zipcode database. You can find all cities in a given zip code, or all zip codes in a given city.

To search for cities in a county, counties in a city, all cities in a state or counties by zip code, go to the National Association of Counties' city search page.

To convert anything to anything else, go to http://www.onlineconversion.com/.

An annotated bibliography of resources dealing with identity theft.

A one-stop spot for information on obtaining vital records.


Okay, now for the writers.

For one thing, start reading Lynn Viehl's site. She is an endless font of imformation for cool toys and reference resources for writers.

Want to name a character, a town, a pub, a ship, an as-yet-uninvented weapon? Go to The Seventh Sanctum.

Need to just make up a name for something? Go here.

Stuff and Nonsense has a Regency name generator.

Need a synonym for licked or stroked or throbbed or moaned? The Erotic Thesaurus.


Writing a fantasy and need to do a fight scene? Go here.

How is the US Army organized? See here.

The best urban legends reference pages is Snopes.



Ok, that's all I have for now - I'm very sleepy. I'll do more links in a future post soon.

What, more about shoes??

Several people have asked about the shoes I was wearing at ECWC that attracted so much attention. I honestly don't know why they were so interesting, they're just shoes, but it was so hilarious! After PG and Erin decided to turn it into a drinking game, er, contest, every time someone noticed them we all just cracked up. So here are the shoes I was wearing:

Damn I'm not a good photographer. Oh well. These pink shoes above have a story. They are my "Michael Jackson" shoes. I know, they don't look like something he would have worn. The story is, we went to California the day after Michael Jackson died and we thought while we were in Los Angeles we should go to Hollywood Boulevard and see all the commotion. Just to see it. So we did. It was crazy, people lined up to see his star, crying, leaving a mountain of stuffed bears, security and television cameras everywhere. Well, I turned around and THERE WAS A SHOE STORE! Right there by MJ's star!(DSW) I went in and saw these pink shoes and had to have them. So every time I wear them I think of Michael Jackson.


These black ones are my newest and I know they're ridiculously high but I love them. I was threatened twice with bodily harm by ladies who wanted them.

And last, my boots. The TSA guy who made me take them off in the airport was quite interested in them.

So there y'all go, those are the shoes!

Thursday Thirteen - Thirteen Favorite Things About ECWC

I was lucky enough to spend the weekend at Emerald City Writer's Conference with some of the other Naughty Nine, and had a fabulous time. Today, I thought I'd share thirteen of my favorite things about it!

1. Erin, Kelly, PG. It was fantastic getting the chance to hang out with them. Even if I'd never attended a single session, the conference would have been worth it for that fact alone. (Note to the IRS: I did attend a couple sessions. And for the record, we were "networking".)

2. The pitches! I registered so late, I didn't think there would be any spaces left. But I had the chance to chat with some great publishing professionals, and consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity.

3. The food. Mmmmmm.

4. Dinner with Daisy! She joined us for Italian on Saturday night, and we had a great time (sorry to the rest of the restaurant patrons - hope we didn't laugh TOO much).

5. Angela James' author branding workshop. This alone would have been worth the conference fee.

6. Shoes. Wearing them, admiring them, adding another book to giveaway whenever someone complimented them.

7. Feral camels and hot tubs. Yes, this will make sense someday.

8. Smart bitches appletini. Yum.

9. Getting to see old friends and make new ones.

10. Giggling with the girls at lunch. PG, Erin, and Kelly are BAAAAD influences. Also? We did not have nearly traumatic enough childhoods.

11. Being the first to hear the whole outline for parody #3!!! Cannot wait to get started on it!

12. Books, books, books!

13. Being rested, rejuvenated, and ready to hit the manuscripts again.

Yours in Good Grammar and Bad

As a writer, I admit this little cartoon hits home. Improper use of the possessive makes me cringe. So do misspelled words, iffy grammatical constructions, and the word “drug” in place of “dragged.”

But here’s the thing: I’m married to a man who gets the word “drug” wrong all the time. He also says “good” when he should say “well.” (“It’s going good.” “Grrrr.”) He says “acrost,” no matter how many times I point out that it isn’t a word. He’s very smart, very articulate, a fascinating story-teller -- but the written word is just not his thing. As a dyslexic, he reads very slowly and thoroughly. In the time he reads one page, I can finish an entire chapter. It takes him a week to write someone a letter (which he actually still does) while I can write hundreds of emails in that same amount of time.

How can a writer so passionate about the written word be with someone who has a fifty-fifty chance of choosing the proper use of “You’re”? 

Before I met my husband, I always went for guys who were equally verbally oriented. But maybe opposites really do attract. After all, when he tries to explain any aspect of building, fixing cars, or even a scientific principle, my eyes glaze over. I’ll do nonsensical things like start a fire in the woodstove when a cardboard box is sitting on it. If he can tolerate my head-in-the-clouds moments, why should I complain about sketchy grammar?

Besides, we’ve learned to live with each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I book all our plane tickets because it would take him hours on the computer. He knows my carpentry help won’t extend much beyond holding boards in place. He indulges me with games of Bananagrams knowing he has no chance of winning. I bite my tongue when he adds that extra “t” to “across”. We don’t judge each other or make fun of each other’s quirks. Well, not too much. And we never forget each of us has knowledge and skills the other can’t even approach. 

So how about you? Do you think opposites attract? Is there an area in which you and your partner are completely different --- but you make it work somehow? 

WINNERS-- Kelly Jamieson Shoe Extravaganza

This past weekend we ran a little contest where we agreed to give a book away every time someone at the Emerald City Writer's Conference commented on Kelly Jamieson's shoes!! :)

Well, altogether we ended up with 20 shoe compliments!

So, if you commented here (we had 15 comments) then you get a... book!! You can pick from any book in the backlist of PG Forte, Erin Nicholas, Kelly Jamieson or Kate Davies!
Just contact the author of the book you want directly... you can find us by clicking on our pictures along the right hand side of the blog!

Thanks for playing!!

Erin, PG, Kelly and Kate

Guest Blogger Kate St. James - Oh Those Hot Canucks!

You know what I love about writing for digital publishers and small press? The ability to not only write what I love but to truly “write what I know” in regards to setting. For years the common advice bandied about Romance Writers of America was to set our books in the United States. That readers did not want to read about Canadian or Australian characters or any non-American characters unless you were writing, say, an England-set historical. I was never very good at taking this advice. I’m Canadian, so I feel more comfortable writing Canadian characters. I especially like to set my books and stories in British Columbia, because that I really know. I don’t have to worry that an American might say “soda” instead of “pop” or “sneakers” instead of “runners.” I try to remain true to my Canadian characters without sacrificing meaning or causing my largely American readership to scratch their heads. This does not mean that I never write about Americans, because I do. Usually from Washington or California, because that’s the closest to what I know. However, I decide on setting based on the needs of the story (characters’ occupations, etc.), not on whether Canadian settings sell.

I know, I’m bad.

Once I was reminded of just how bad I am. I pitched a single title to an agent at an RWA conference. As soon as I said the book was set in Vancouver, the agent told me I would have to change the setting. “Can’t you just move it south a little?” Well, no. If I start with Canadian characters, I keep Canadian characters. Because, well, they’re Canadian! They like to say “eh?” and sprinkle white vinegar on their French fries and indulge in poutines (Google it. Yum.)

Despite what this agent said, I’ve never received a rejection letter from an editor saying my settings worked against me. So I continued to write Canadian characters with the odd American sprinkled in, and I’m glad I did. I’ve now sold five erotic novels, novellas or short stories, and only one is set in the United States (Kiss Me at Midnight in Secrets 28: SENSUAL CRAVINGS). The characters, co-hosts for an ailing late-night talk show, and the TV setting, demanded it.

Both of my 2011 releases take place in Vancouver, British Columbia. And these Canucks are hot, hot, hot! Tea for Three, my first erotica short as well as being my first ménage, came out October 14th from Ellora’s Cave Exotika Quickies. My heroine, Layla Aziz, is an Egyptian-Canadian tea shop owner. Her two guys, Gil and Hunter, were both born and raised in British Columbia.

Here’s a blurb:

Uninhibited tea shop manager Layla Aziz struggles with her relationship with blond and buff construction worker, Gil Cuthbert. After years of sleeping with any dude who tickles her libido, can she remain faithful to one guy?

Then Gil surprises Layla by arranging a ménage with his best friend, dark and serious Hunter Cole. Gil, it seems, will do anything to keep Layla satisfied. That includes sharing her with ultra-sexy Hunter again and again. Not just for one orgasm-filled night, but for many more to come—as long as Gil’s in charge of her erotic needs.

Sign her up!

My first single title erotic romance coming from Samhain Publishing November 8th, A Little Wild, just happens to be the book I pitched to the agent who suggested I switch the setting. Like Red Sage Secrets and Ellora’s Cave with my previous releases, Samhain didn’t have an issue with the setting. At all. In fact, my editor is Australian. Digital publishing has expanded publishing into the international arena, for which I’m thrilled. My hero and heroine in A Little Wild, Zach Halliday and Tess Sheridan, are intrinsically Canadian to me. They grew up with parents versed in miles and feet and Fahrenheit while they deal largely in Celsius, litres (the Canadian spelling, which, admittedly, I changed to liters for Samhain), and kilometres (there, I did it again). (Bad, bad, bad). Tess is a lawyer who is never called an attorney (I’ve only ever heard that word on American television) and Zach is the son of Vancouver’s wealthiest entrepreneur (which is to say he’s not as rich as if he were the son of New York’s wealthiest entrepreneur, but he’s still pretty damn rich.)

About their story:

She wants a piece of his rock. He needs her, rock steady, in his heart.

Tess Sheridan won’t let anything stop her from making partner at a prestigious law firm, especially her notoriously soft heart. The result? She’s a handful of clients away from getting her name on that brass plate. And she hasn’t had sex in over a year.

When her best friend dares her to test-drive her erotic fantasies with a gorgeous stranger, she figures, why not? Loosening the reins will give her inner nympho some well-deserved pampering without jeopardizing her career goals.

Zach Halliday has enjoyed his bad-boy reputation to the fullest, but now it’s time to leave the relative safety of the family corporation and prove he can stand on his own in the business world. That doesn’t mean he’ll pass up an opportunity for some incredible phone sex with the beautiful strawberry blonde he met in a bar.

When business overlaps with the bedroom, Zach sees something special in Tess and is determined to convince her he’s the man she needs, anytime, anyplace. She can backpedal, but come hell or high-climbing-wall, he wants the fascinating, complicated sex bomb in his bed. Over and over again…

How do you feel about Canadian characters and Canadian settings? As a reader, do you like expanding your reading beyond American settings? Or do you prefer your romance a little closer to home? Does it just not matter anymore?

Bio:

Kate St. James lives in Canada with her adoring family. She keeps trying to kick them out, but they're sticking like glue...for reasons she can't figure. It's not like she's a model wife and mother. Or is she? Therein lies one of the great mysteries of Kate's generation.

An avid reader since childhood, Kate loves spending her days writing about the hot men and adventurous women populating her head. When she's not engrossed in her fictional worlds, you can find her chasing her hound in the hills above an azure lake, ignoring the smoke alarms blaring from the kitchen, or endlessly renovating her house.

Kate’s Website: http://www.katestjames.com

Kate’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com.katestjamesbooks

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/katestjames

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