Review of Location, Location, Location by Emma Hillman

Reviewed by Kiki Howell

So, what girl doesn’t have a secret fantasy, all worked out in her head because she has gone through it working it out numerous times in her mind, about accidentally running into insert name of famous hunk here and having him be angry and suddenly taking you and…?   Well, you get the point, but if you don’t then this story just is not for you! *LAUGHING* Seriously though, this story is a lively and provocative fantasy romance where a woman, Mia Adams, literally does just that—she crashes her car into the man she has always dreamed of, former pro football player, Kevin McIntyre.

Emma’s use of language sets the tone of the story masterfully from the first page and begins building substantial characters you can’t help but love with Mia’s witty, devil-may-care attitude and when it comes to having sex with Kevin, whether fantasy or real; and Kevin’s angry, alpha ways of dealing with her.   The hints at seduction soon turn into steamy unrestrained acts of passion which fit the characters well, while it is the locations of these romps which keep you turning the pages to get to the next fated meeting of the two and possibly taking notes.  I think it is the impetuousness of both characters at times that leave you constantly wondering what will happen next.

When Kevin’s voice and demeanor subtlety change by inviting Mia to his house is when Emma Hillman really amps up her writing talents and has you gobbling up the remainder of the story.   Want to put a smile on your face and add to the repertoire of your fantasies, then read Location, Location, Location and if you would like to catch up with Mia and Kevin a few years down the road then be on the lookout for Yes, No, Maybe releasing October 12 also with eXcessica.  

ROUNDTABLE CHAT WITH HORROR AUTHORS CYNTHIA VESPIA, MELISSA GILSAN, AND BARBARA CUSTER

Cynthia Vespia (www.CynthiaVespia.com); Barbara Custer (www.bloodredshadows.com); Melissa Glisan (www.melissagilsan.com); Horror authors, one and all, taking a break out of torturing and maiming to bring you insight on their latest projects. Just in time for Halloween these stories will tingle your spines, curdle your blood, and simultaneously blow your minds! We join this chat already in progess:

Welcome to The Realms of Love Chat Castle

CynLV7: Shall we shamelessly plug our work? What do you have coming out Mel?
barbaracuster_2009: Let's heear it, Mel
Melissa_G: its a horror story titled Song of the Nighthawk
barbaracuster_2009: Do tel!
CynLV7: I like the title
CynLV7: Those are always the hardest to come up with
Melissa_G: thanks 
Melissa_G: I can't write without a title, I'm weird that way
barbaracuster_2009: It is a great tite
Melissa_G: it's about a young woman named Anita who has these horrible headaches from working all day in her family's news vendor booth hawking papers...
Melissa_G: at night she dreams of being a beautiful deaf peasant girl with no troubles
CynLV7: thats different, dreaming of being deaf
Melissa_G: until that world starts bleeding over in her reality - she starts becoming the deaf girl
barbaracuster_2009: Okay, so her hearing was okay, and she became deaf?  Was she happy?
Melissa_G: In her dreams she was very happy... much happier than she was in modern times
barbaracuster_2009: Where I live, she would be hassled.
CynLV7: whats the genre?
Melissa_G: horror
barbaracuster_2009: Pure horror?
CynLV7: Ah, so this is a horror chat 
Melissa_G: oh, yeah
barbaracuster_2009: There's plenty of horror in my book, but we're calling it dark thriller
Melissa_G: this story is pretty much just horror
CynLV7: ive taken to calling mine supernatural thriller on account of the vampires, werewolves, and demons
Melissa_G: especially what Anita ends up going through in order to return to reality
barbaracuster_2009: Since we have aliens and undergrund cities, there's lots of SF in mine, but the cannibalism - skeletons - torture - that spells horror.
CynLV7: so shes caught in a dreamscape?
barbaracuster_2009: Does she survive?
Melissa_G: she's caught in the body of the girl in the past, she has to free the song that she as a hearing person can hear, at the right time and place, in order to free her ancestor and free her family, its kind of twisted
Melissa_G: every other woman in her family died trying...
CynLV7: this is your first book?
Melissa_G: nope
barbaracuster_2009: What else have you written?
Melissa_G: it was my first horror story, pure horror that is, so I was pretty excited when AMP accepted it
barbaracuster_2009: I know the feeling.  Are you doing a sequel?
Melissa_G: not sure how well that would work, given the content
barbaracuster_2009: Sequels are challenging
barbaracuster_2009: Mine sure is.
CynLV7: anyone ever request a sequel for a book from you that just cant be done
CynLV7: i mean im sure there are ways but sometimes certain books/movie just cant have a sequel
barbaracuster_2009: Not from me. I did short story sequels on request and I believe this one can be done too.
barbaracuster_2009: Mine lends itself to sequel because a group of the good Kryszka escape, and this is part of 2nd novel.
CynLV7: I keep getting requests for sequels for my medieval fantasy The Crescent...its not that it isnt possible it just wouldnt work as well
Melissa_G: but I'd love to do a sequel to my "duet" in Frights & Delights - the one witht he zombies
CynLV7: So im making it a movie instead!
barbaracuster_2009: Are you doing a movie?
Melissa_G: a movie, wow!
CynLV7: Ooh, zombies. My sequel to Demon Hunter has zombies..in fact I just finished that chapter
barbaracuster_2009: I love zombies - I've got some of those in my sequel.
CynLV7: Yup, getting everything in place to do movie version of The Crescent. Just looking for capital to fund it
Melissa_G: Rave On was a lot of fun to write - lesbian zombies.... loved it
barbaracuster_2009: Where can you get the book?
CynLV7: Who's book?
Melissa_G: let me get the link
CynLV7: I love your titles Mel
barbaracuster_2009: Rave on.  I never heard of lesbian zombies. Curious.
barbaracuster_2009: Titles came pretty easy for me for the most part. I think if I can't title a book, there's a problem.
CynLV7: I dunno, I tend to change mine several times until it speaks to me
CynLV7: Same with character names
Melissa_G: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/paranormal/horror/frights-and-delights/prod_186.html
barbaracuster_2009: I change my character names a lot also.
Melissa_G: its a duet - two stories in one
barbaracuster_2009: Melissa, thanks.
Melissa_G: thank you for asking
barbaracuster_2009: I didn't make it easy for any of my characters. I treated them exactly the way I wouldn't want to be treated.
barbaracuster_2009: My title - Dark Side of the Moon
CynLV7: Thats what I like to say...situations you could find yourself in but hope to God you never do
CynLV7: My release was moved to September 25th for Demon Hunter...its bigger, badder, and bloodier. I'm loving my cover art too!
Melissa_G: AMP has awesome cover art
barbaracuster_2009: Cool.  Is it on the website?
CynLV7: Yeah, under Coming Soon
barbaracuster_2009: I'll check  it out.
barbaracuster_2009: My sequel will be badder and bloodier than the first.
CynLV7: There you go luv: http://aspenmountainpress.com/coming-soon/coming-soon/demon-hunter/prod_264.html
barbaracuster_2009: Thanks.
barbaracuster_2009: Mine is listed in the horror section.
CynLV7: Do you guys have personal websites?
Melissa_G: yes www.melissaglisan.com
barbaracuster_2009: Yes. Mine is www.bloodredshadows.com
CynLV7: Ok, and mine is www.CynthiaVespia.com
barbaracuster_2009: I've also got my NTD books/ magazine
Melissa_G: and my blog is http://dogwild.blogspot.com
barbaracuster_2009: I do interviews on my blog www.barbaracuster.wordpress.com.  Also wrote a few pieces on my book and life.
barbaracuster_2009: I found Wordpress more user-friendly than blogspot.
Melissa_G: really? I was all thumbs at wordpress
barbaracuster_2009: Blogspot was okay, but I kept having password problems.
CynLV7: My blog can be found via my website: http://cynthiavespia.com/News/news.html
barbaracuster_2009: They wouldn't give me a new on, so I gave up the ghost on that one.
barbaracuster_2009: What do y'all write about on your blogs?
CynLV7: whatever the voices tell me to
Melissa_G: contests, new releases
Melissa_G: on live journal I talk about life but that's locked
barbaracuster_2009: I stick to doing author interviews, but the voice gets in there and I write special pieces.
CynLV7: J/K...sort of. I've been using it to promote my interviews, been doing mad PR for Demon Hunter
barbaracuster_2009: I had a blog on Myspace still do but I was told it's not the best way to promote.  I have facebook.
CynLV7: I still maintain both of those as well but i toned down the personal side to it
barbaracuster_2009: I'm promoting in a round about way - by endearing folks to me who read the interviews.
Melissa_G: facebook seems to be just a bunch of weird polls and hard to follow stuff
CynLV7: I also have a myspace page for my character Costa in Demon Hunter: myspace.com/demonhunternovel....that was fun to create
barbaracuster_2009: Facebook I write my humor stuff.
Melissa_G: and my space is so flooded...
Melissa_G: www.myspace.com/melissaglisan
barbaracuster_2009: I started doing a myspace on harry, but things came up.  I'm going to finish it up when I'm on vacation next week.
Melissa_G: www.facebook.com/dogwild
barbaracuster_2009: I do have a following for my humor on facebook.
CynLV7: Ladies its about that time for me...its been alot of fun though
barbaracuster_2009: Me too.  I really enjoyed this.  
Melissa_G: same here,
CynLV7: We'll have to do it again sometime
barbaracuster_2009: We will. 
CynLV7: Right now I get to go take out my frustrations on someone in the weight room...lol, personal trainer by day...writer always!
Melissa_G: yes, we will 
CynLV7: Have a nice night ladies
barbaracuster_2009: You too.
Melissa_G: good night
barbaracuster_2009: Good night.

Be on the lookout for the latest releases: Demon Hunter, Song of the Nighthawk, and Dark Side of the Moon

Authors Promoting Authors 

will be hosting 

a Book Blitz for 

Tuatha and the Seven Sisters Moon 

by D.VonThaer  

September 25th 

Book Description:

Julius Caesar wrote of the Celts: "The Celts were fearless warriors because they wish to inculcate this as one of their leading tenets, that souls do not become extinct, but pass after death from one body to another..."

    Seven Sisters. The infamous collection of stars align with the full moon on Hallo’een, alighting the sky for a destiny that’s waited centuries. Dru, a gifted, but tormented witch living alone on the coast of Ireland wakes to find Ty, her long-time love, mysteriously disappeared. In Paris, Katerina, an oppressed but talented dancer bravely takes the stage in one final performance before escaping a life of tyranny, looking for a freedom she’d only known in dreams. Aodh, The Dagda, a man made of ancient legends, has slumbered for two millennia. Tonight, when the moon is full and the stars are aligned, he rises from his temporary grave to find the world is not as he remembers. His people, his family, his tribe have vanquished, along with the majority of his considerable power.

    Chance takes him to Dru, and together they set out to find the key to reopening his world, whilst forming a bond of friendship neither has ever previously known. During their search, Dru learns Ty was no mortal man, but a god with a prophecy to fulfill. Ty died before fulfilling that prophecy, setting off a chain of events that would forever alter the future. Devastated, Dru abandons Aodh and the life that should have already been hers, and finds herself in the company of the worst sort. She begins a sordid affair with Kas, a daemon whose insatiable lust for power is only outdone by his lust for Dru.

    Separated from the only friend he knows, Aodh is left to search the world alone for answers. He meets the young and beautiful dancer, Katerina, and is instantly smitten with her grace and purity. He stays near her, pretending to be mortal, gaining her friendship. But on Katerina’s birthday, just as Aodh is ready to concede to a life of mortality, Katerina is ripped from him by Kas. Aodh’s ideas on remaining mortal are no more; he has to unlock the secrets to his world that will open a trove of unimaginable power to save the two women he loves, before time is no longer in his favour, and he loses everything.

Purchase Tuatha and the Seven Sisters Moon on September 25th 2009 and receive a free bookmark that matches the beautiful limited edition cover.

Author website & where to purchase the book: www.dvonthaer.com/

Awake by Varian Krylov in the Four Seasons:Fall 2009 anthology, ed. Selena Kitt
Click Here to Buy Now at eXcessica!


Review by Willsin Rowe



With a style that ricochets effortlessly between clipped chunks of prose and fluid imagery, Ms Krylov has created a tightly-crafted work of dark erotica which, admittedly, won’t appeal to all readers. If you’re a fan of romance, even erotic romance, you may need to skim whole sections, perhaps the entire piece. On the other hand, if you’re a fan of writing that’s tight and hot, that gives its characters scope to be what they are, whatever they are, then you’ll enjoy it.  
The story opens with our heroine in a state of confusion, yet secure in her sense of her own power. Very quickly the situation cascades, alternating sharply between her terse introspection and the sensual delight she unwillingly creates in the shadowy male. This man’s physical presence is only ever sketched by the narrator’s intensely limited view, her focus continually shifting as she becomes more aware of her situation. 
His physicality and the danger it represents is implied beautifully, and his attitude is at times almost parental. He wields such unquestionable power within the confines of the situation, yet he speaks to our heroine lovingly and reasonably, as if he’s lightly scolding a naughty child. 
The final section, taken on its own, is a slick revelation of character. When filtered through all the preceding events, however, it grows in strength and could make the reader pause in thought. 
Just what tales do we all tell ourselves so that we can live with our actions?


Willsin Rowe
www.myspace.com/willsinrowe

http://www.facebook.com/people/Log-Dawkins/585588888 

Varian Krylov

variansfiction.blogspot.com/

The week continues with the eXcessica authors sharing their thoughts on the stories in the Four Seasons: Autumn 2009 anthology, editor Selena Kitt.

BLURB:

The autumn weather might be cooling things off, but you won’t need that sweater – we promise our erotica will warm you up! This time of year involves metamorphosis, from the changing of the fall colors to the places between, where the world wears thin and the strange and unusual happens. Join your favorite eXcessica authors in this sexy, sometimes spooky, seasonal anthology, bringing you the best of all things autumn! (Includes stories by Marshall Ian Key, Vivian Vincent, J.M. Snyder, Amicus, Varian Krylov, Giselle Renarde, Kenn Dahll, Sandra Fowke, Molly Wens, and Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine.)

Click Here To Buy From eXcessica!

Samhain by Kenn Dahll

Reviewer Kiki Howell

It was easy to get sucked into the story Samhain with the dark dominant voice of the narrator, his descriptions of the way his costume fit, of the costumes of the others, and of the satanic artwork which we are led to believe always adorns the home.   Of course, this being an erotic paranormal tale, clever details were added about the part of the narrator’s anatomy being titillated by the movement of his costume and the compromising positions of the others in costume as well.   Never a dull moment, that is for sure!

But, as I continued to read, the tale got increasingly darker, which being a big fan of Halloween, I found myself slinking down in my chair much like I do when the scary music from a horror film comes on.   This was not so much because I felt it was going to be scary, but as the tone deepened and the images became more demonic, I was bracing for what was to come which was heightened by his constant entwining of the paranormal and the erotic elements.

I can of course say no more without giving something away, but I will warn you this… be prepared to be kept on the edge of your seat, always questioning what is happening and never quite prepared for what comes next – this includes the sex scenes!

Kenn Dahll

http://kdahll69.blogspot.com

Kiki Howell

http://www.kikihowell.com

Continuing my week of hosting eXcessica authors, today I have Kenn Dahll sharing his thoughts on J.M. Snyder's story in the Four Seasons: Autumn 2009 anthology, editor Selena Kitt.

BLURB:

The autumn weather might be cooling things off, but you won’t need that sweater – we promise our erotica will warm you up! This time of year involves metamorphosis, from the changing of the fall colors to the places between, where the world wears thin and the strange and unusual happens. Join your favorite eXcessica authors in this sexy, sometimes spooky, seasonal anthology, bringing you the best of all things autumn! (Includes stories by Marshall Ian Key, Vivian Vincent, J.M. Snyder, Amicus, Varian Krylov, Giselle Renarde, Kenn Dahll, Sandra Fowke, Molly Wens, and Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine.)

Click Here To Purchase From eXcessica!

Love in the Library by J.M. Snyder
Reviewer:  Kenn Dahll


Let me start with a disclaimer:  I write hardcore gay male erotica and was informed by the author in advance that this was a romantic, non-erotic story.  The author lied – there may be no explicit sex but the story is still hot! 


I anticipated a contrived effort to create a short story about gay sex without the sex.  What I found was a charming, well written story that teased and titillated even though both characters kept their clothing on.


Johnny, the narrator, describes himself as a bottle-bottom-thick glasses wearing, book-reading, tow-headed loner.  Between the lines you get the feeling that removing the glasses you’ll find a cute kid.  His struggles with the library cart and elevator are realistically portrayed, making his initial encounter with Adam, the tall, dark and handsome protagonist in the story who rescues our hero from the hostile elevator doors, credible.  For me, painting a word picture of the situation and the principles as economically as possible, while maintaining a sense of possibility, is important.


While I’d like to know more about Adam – is he an undergraduate or graduate student? what’s his major? not the contents of his well-packed jeans – the dialogue between the duo is witty and advances the story.  The snappy double entendres are part of the tease, along with the titillating thigh rubs and butt grabs.  The minor conflict in the story, an issue of Johnny’s schedule changing, is creatively resolved and provides the setting for the romantic, yet sexy ending.


While I don’t think the style could carry though many more pages, it’s an enjoyable read.  I suspect it will serve well as a respite from the steamy action in the rest of the Autumn Anthology.

J.M. Snyder

http://jmsnyder.net/

Kenn Dahll

http://kdahll69.blogspot.com

All week long, I will be hosting eXcessica authors. They will be sharing their thoughts on the stories in the Four Seasons: Autumn 2009 anthology, editor Selena Kitt.

BLURB:

The autumn weather might be cooling things off, but you won’t need that sweater – we promise our erotica will warm you up! This time of year involves metamorphosis, from the changing of the fall colors to the places between, where the world wears thin and the strange and unusual happens. Join your favorite eXcessica authors in this sexy, sometimes spooky, seasonal anthology, bringing you the best of all things autumn! (Includes stories by Marshall Ian Key, Vivian Vincent, J.M. Snyder, Amicus, Varian Krylov, Giselle Renarde, Kenn Dahll, Sandra Fowke, Molly Wens, and Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine.)

Click Here To Purchase From eXcessica!

TODAYS REVIEW...

Red Velvet Suite by Molly Wens 

Reviewed by Jenna Alexander

I sat down to read Molly Wen’s contribution to the Autumn 2009 eXcessica anthology right before bed. My plan was to read about half the story and finish it up the next day. Problem was I couldn’t stop reading.

The Red Velvet Suite is a creepy yet sexy story about a group of people off to do a little weekend ghost hunting. The parapsychology department of a local university is on a quest to find out what really happened at the Lovejoy Mansion.

This is a great story with an interesting and unique storyline. I found it to be a wonderful mixture of mystery, humor and sex.

Wens does a fantastic job of bringing the reader into the story by adding substance to key areas. The first of which is setting. I was right there with Ted and Allinson as they travelled through the wooded estate on their way to the front door. The description of the mansion was perfectly spooky. I felt as if I were wandering the halls with the group and wanted to brush the cobwebs off my shoulder while reading.

The second and most outstanding bit of substance Molly gave The Red Velvet Suite was the depth of character she brought to Ted and Allinson. Even though Allinson’s love interest is Bruce, Ted is a hysterical and wonderful addition to this story.

As a new author myself I am trying to learn the ins and outs of bringing my characters to life. They need to be fun, interesting and broadcast these traits to the reader. Molly Wens is very skilled in this area. I couldn’t wait to read what Ted would say or do next. Allinson’s reaction to him was so natural and believable. I plan to reread this story and take notes on how Wens accomplished this.

Of course there is also sex in this story. Hot, steamy, great sex. Bruce and Allinson deserve a sequel and I hope Wens considers writing one.

If you are looking for a spooky story paired with laugh out loud moments I recommend you buy the Autumn 2009 eXcessica anthology and flip to The Red Velvet Suite. You’ll be happy you did.

Jenna Alexander

http://www.jenna-alexander.blogspot.com/

Molly Wens

http://www.mollywens.com/

Authors Cynthia Vespia and Jess C Scott

Authors Cynthia Vespia and Jess C Scott have come together for a joining of the minds. Cynthia writes thrillers and fantasy fiction, while Jess writes contemporary romance and digital fiction.

Here they discuss writing, inspiration, and everything in between!

----------

Jess C Scott speaks with Cynthia Vespia (www.CynthiaVespia.com):


"Demon Hunter" -- Cynthia's latest project

1) What's your favorite genre of literature (both in terms of reading, and writing)?

It's somewhat like my taste in music as in it varies but I mostly stick to contemporary thrillers and sometimes dabble into the realm of fantasy. That goes for both reading choices and what I like to write about. I think the fantasy element comes from my belief that I was born in the wrong century, I should've been a bard back in the day of swords and sorcery...lol!

2) What is the most important aspect of a story, to you?

I believe it all starts with the characters. If you don't have strong characters in place the whole story will fall apart regardless of how great of a plot or structure. The key is that they have to be real to the point where you can almost reach out and touch them and that's a tough thing to do. I tend to spend most of my pre-writing on flushing characters out to the last detail. You want the reader to feel like it's someone they know personally.

3) When did you first write your first story/poem? What was the inspiration for writing it?

I was around 8 years old. My sister had an electronic typewriter, which back in the day before the home computer was a big deal! I used to punch away on it as often as I could writing short little stories that made no sense at all. The writing bug was instilled in me early!

4) I notice on your bio page that you enjoy martial arts and being an active fitness competitor. Whoa! How have these interests/disciplines had a positive effect on you, as a writer?

As you go through competitive sports you learn alot about yourself whether you win or lose. Those changes refresh your outlook on many levels. Naturally it unfolds within the confines of whatever story I'm working on at the time. For instance in my new release Demon Hunter there are many elements drawn from my fitness background, whether its Costa's training, the interaction between he and his mentor, or his overall growth as a person...all of that was taken direct from my reality, little bits and pieces pulled together and inserted to a workable end.

5) Elaborate on your favorite brand of chocolate.

Ah, my Achilles heel! There is a lovely little chain of candy shops called SEES. They have the most divine chocolates known to man! My favorite has always been the bordeaux, it is a nouget like center but very fluffy and soft that is drizzled with chocolate and topped with chocolate sprinkles...excuse me while I go get a piece!!!

6) Please share some juicy details on the latest/current project you are working on.

My latest release is called DEMON HUNTER (AspenMountainPress.com). It is the story of a nobody who becomes a somebody in the bloodiest of ways. Costa Calabrese has just uncovered the truth about his past. Some truths should never be revealed. When you learn you’re the son of the worlds foremost and feared hunter of demons, life’s rules inevitably change. Now Costa has been chosen to walk in his famed father's footsteps and take up the role his bloodline demands of him...whether he wants to or not. He is a killer of killers, laying waste to the scourge of evil that threatens the existence of mankind. He is the chosen one. He is the Demon Hunter.

It's been a labor of love for quite awhile now and it will continue in a saga of 3 parts. Currently I'm wrapping up part two and having a fun time revisiting the characters and their world. This is one of the darker story arcs I've written but it also lends itself to what I had mentioned before about growing and changing...the light and dark side of human emotion. Because tell me: what would you do if faced with a task that you really did not want to partake in but knew you had to? We've all been in those situations before, Costa's is just a little more extreme ;)

Demon Hunter will be released in ebook format by AspenMountainPress.com. Another first for me. I think e-books are a sign of the times as technology rapidly changes it was only a matter of time before the book world caught up.

Cynthia turns the tables on Jess (http://jesscscott.com):


"EyeLeash: A Blog Novel" & "4:Play" -- Jess's latest projects

1. WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS?

Oh, from everywhere. Real people, real events, imagined people, imagined events, music, product labels (reading labels is a favorite pastime of mine), games (crosswords, anagrams, random poetry scribbles)...inspiration comes in from many sources. Sometimes from multiple locations at once.

2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING AND WHAT INFLUENCED YOU?

I've been writing before I turned 5. Got doubtful of my abilities during high school (too much of the focus was on grades, and hardly any emphasis was on creative aptitude). At age 16 I found an Edgar Allan Poe anthology, and fell in love with the written word all over again! 'Twas a life-changing moment.

3. WHAT CURRENT BOOK/BOOKS ARE YOU PROMOTING?

I'm promoting my first two books. The first is a coming-of-age blog/IM novel; the second is a contemporary cocktail of erotic short stories. The blog/IM novel is exactly what/how I wanted my debut novel to be like (something fresh, unique, original)...the second was unintentionally completed a couple of years early. Both reflect my interest(s) in exploring life and sexuality.

4. WHAT PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE COMING UP IN THE FUTURE?

I'd like to try and complete my third book by early-mid 2010 -- it's the first book in a young adult series, that's less radical than my first two books. The plot is still requiring a lot of effort on my part though. Non-writing projects include fixing up my new bamboo tablet, which has been sitting around forever -- I like to draw when I'm not writing. Drawing rewires my brain to a more sane level after too much focus on textual elements.

5. WHAT AUTHORS INFLUENCED YOU TO START WRITING?

(In no particular order): Edgar Allan Poe, Oscar Wilde, Roald Dahl, Anais Nin, Jane Yolen, Vivian Vande Velde, Michael Morpurgo, Bret Easton Ellis, the King Arthur and Robin Hood legends (various authors/illustrators), and a whole lot more.........

6. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES OTHER THAN WRITING?

Indulging in good food...good books...I like to move also. All that sitting down at the computer screen isn't healthy for one's physical body/state. I like yoga, walking, and swimming the most. Art and music replenish the soul too.

----------

Thanks for joining us today!

~ Cynthia Vespia & Jess C Scott

Hi Everyone!

I was just over at

Turn the Page,

One writer's journey into the unknown - a blog by author Jenna Alexander.

This week she is posting one fun question each day, so stop by http://www.jenna-alexander.blogspot.com/ and join in the fun!