Saturday, August 30, 2014

#SatSpanks with @RachellNichole

Welcome back to the Divas blog for this week's Saturday Spanking! 


This spanking comes again from my newest release, To Sir. Sheesh, can you tell I'm an erotic romance author? I use words like come and release any and every chance I get!!! :-p 



He rubbed his hand around and around her ass cheeks, then fingered her entrance. “Wet for me already, you little minx.” He wrapped her braid around his other hand so he could tug it whenever he wanted.
“Still, Sir. I believe I’m still wet for you, from this morning’s session.”

Smirking, he brought his hand down with a loud smack. She tensed, crying out. “That’s what you get for correcting me. The rest will be our just-because spanking.”



For more on Liz & Chase, check it out here:



When Elizabeth Clark is plagued by the idea for a kinky novel she can’t shake, she has no choice but to plunge, head-first into a genre she vowed never to pursue. But when she realizes the seductive allure of submitting her will, her interest in the BDSM lifestyle becomes less academic, and downright personal. 

Dominant and club owner, Chase Masters, has no idea what to expect when his partner books a meeting with an author doing research on the BDSM scene, but he’s blown away with the woman who walks through the door. He’s sure at first that she must be a visiting Domme, not the author. Her manner is confident, brusque, and even a bit disapproving of his lifestyle, but when he switches from his easy-going club owner mindset into his Dom voice, she instantly backs off. Perhaps she’s more submissive than she let on.


Chase and his club are in the crosshairs of a local senator and the bank, and he fears he might lose everything. So when Liz grudgingly agrees to be his, if only for a few weeks, he’s elated. But what kind of long-term relationship can a broke, out of work, homeless Dom offer to a burgeoning submissive who won't submit outside of the bedroom?


Thanks for coming *HAH - see, there I go again* Be sure to check out my fellow Spankettes! 

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See you all soon, 
~ Rach 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

I'm having a party and you're all invited!

Hey everyone!

So I'm throwing a big ol Facebook bash with never before seen scenes and insider info, polls, and more to celebrate the new release of To Sir. Please stop by and check it out. Read some stuff, respond to the lovely posts, etc. Everyone will be entered to win a basket of e-book goodies! :-)

Yahoo!!!!!!!! So come check it out! Facebook Release party: https://www.facebook.com/events/262028727339645/




When Elizabeth Clark is plagued by the idea for a kinky novel she can’t shake, she has no choice but to plunge, head-first into a genre she vowed never to pursue. But when she realizes the seductive allure of submitting her will, her interest in the BDSM lifestyle becomes less academic, and downright personal. 

Dominant and club owner, Chase Masters, has no idea what to expect when his partner books a meeting with an author doing research on the BDSM scene, but he’s blown away with the woman who walks through the door. He’s sure at first that she must be a visiting Domme, not the author. Her manner is confident, brusque, and even a bit disapproving of his lifestyle, but when he switches from his easy-going club owner mindset into his Dom voice, she instantly backs off. 



Thanks, 
Rach



Sunday, August 24, 2014

#SPeekSunday with @RachellNichole

Hello hello!

It's your resident Diva Rach here again.

I know I've been posting all kinds of tidbits from Liz & Chase's story over the past couple of weeks, but that's just because I can't wait until release day to share their amazing journey with you all! So without further ado, here's another Sneak Peek at my upcoming release, To Sir.




          He hiked up the edges of her too-long dress, along her silk stockings, until he reached the scorching flesh of her upper thighs. God, was she wearing a garter belt? He could feel the silk of the straps on the outer edges of her legs. “And you want in?” he demanded.
         “Yes,” she moaned.
         “I can’t take you in there looking like a preschool teacher. Where’s the leather-clad erotica writer I met two weeks ago?”
         “Give me five minutes,” she said, releasing her hold on his neck.
         “You have thirty seconds. I have to get back upstairs. And you’re coming with me.” He left no room for argument or discussion. The hickey didn’t matter. The logic he’d been reviewing the past twenty-four hours about why getting involved with her was such a bad idea didn’t matter. She was here, needy and insistent. And he couldn’t resist her again.

         She nodded and started to pull the dress up. He glanced around. No one was paying them any attention. When he returned his attention to Liz, he forgot to breathe. She was shaking out her hair, biting her lips, and wearing a black lace bra-and-panty set, complete with a full garter belt and sexy-as-hell stockings. Damn. She’d been hiding that body under such a sweet little dress.


Want more? I know I do! Get MORE here: https://www.books2read.com/u/mYopod 


Be sure to check out more Sneak Peeks from these other authors! 

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Thanks, 
Rach

Saturday, August 23, 2014

#MySexySaturday with @RachellNichole

Hey Y'all. Welcome back to the Divas blog. Today I'd like to share a bit more with you about Tyler Lachlan and Layla Morgan, the hero and heroine of An Affair Across Times Square. Now these two lovelies were the kickoff to my super sexy Marietta Hotels series, which will eventually have several books. Right now the books are An Affair Across Times Square, and An Engagement in Paris. Now book two centers around Mandy, Tyler's younger sister, and her French fiance, Julien.

This week's My Sexy Saturday is all about what happens to the characters after we write THE END. So here's a snippet from An Engagement in Paris about Tyler and Layla, who of course come to Paris for Mandy's wedding....



            As the boat slid sideways toward the dock, they finished their dessert and champagne. Slinging his arm around Layla’s waist, Tyler led her off the boat and toward the lines at the base of the Eiffel Tower. “No wonder Mandy loves it here so much,” he said as they waited. “I could imagine living here.”
           “But you love New York,” she said.
           “I do. And I love my job there. But there’s just something about this city that’s enthralling.”
            He swung her into his arms and spun with her. She tossed her head back and laughed, the deep, throaty sound coiling his body tight. He would never tire of making her laugh.
          “Oh, my God. Tyler! We’re engaged.”
          “Yes, Ms. Marietta, we are. I hope you won’t mind organizing another wedding?”
          “Not at all, Mr. Times Square. Not at all,” she said and kissed him.



See how Layla & Tyler started it all.... http://books2read.com/u/38rZgO 







Or read more of An Engagement in Paris here:  http://books2read.com/u/4jD2ao   







Thanks so much for stopping by! 


Be sure to check out these other sexy snippets about characters after THE END. 

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~Rach

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

#GuestBlog @DBlackErotica, author of THE BUCKET LIST

Hey there ladies and gents.

Have I got a special treat for you all today!

Please give a very warm Divas welcome to Mr. Douglas Black, a fellow Loose Id author of M/M Erotic Romance of the hottest (and most Britishy) variety!

So without further ado, I give you all Douglas...

Hello Rachell, thanks so much for letting me stop by to talk about the inspiration for my new novella, The Bucket List.

The Bucket List was released on August 5th by Loose Id Publishing. It follows Kade, a young man who has recently broken up with his long-term boyfriend, Niall. Kade is devastated that his relationship has ended – he thought he and Niall would be together forever – but when he turns to his friends for sympathy, he doesn’t find any forthcoming. Instead, his friends think the break-up is good for him. They think Niall has been verbally abusive to Kade throughout their relationship and they believe this has caused Kade to retreat into his shell. They write Kade a bucket list in a bid to force him to break out of his comfort zone and start experiencing and enjoying ‘life’ again.

You would think the main inspiration for this story would be the concept of bucket lists and you wouldn’t be wrong, but as I was writing I started to play around more and more with the idea of personal comfort zones and the importance of stepping out of them in order to keep experiencing all the exciting things life has to offer.

At the start of The Bucket List, Kade is very much stuck in his comfort zone, but he’s more than happy with that. He feels as though his life is falling apart at the seams and all he wants to do is fall back on what he knows and what makes him comfortable, namely, his routines. He doesn’t want to follow the bucket list since he doesn’t think his life needs any more upheaval, but, to keep the peace with his friends, he goes along with some of the tamer items on the list.

The list forces Kade to step out of his comfort zone, whether he wants to or not, and the first thing he ticks off the list manages to give his world another good spin on its axis when it results in Kade meeting Blake. If Kade hadn’t followed the bucket list, then his path might never have crossed with Blake’s, and then where would we be? Well, I wouldn’t be telling you all about my new novella, for a start!

As I was writing The Bucket List I kept finding myself thinking about how easy it can be, and how common it is, to see your life change before your eyes. We’ve all been there. Usually, it’s the smallest thing, the split-second decision, the chance meeting or the unexpected parting that tends to send us spinning off down a path we never expected to take. And that’s not always a bad thing. In fact, more often than not, I think it often turns out to be a good thing.

When I tell you my story concerns a main character reluctant to play ball with his bucket list (so to speak) who begins the novella very impressed with himself for going to shop in an Asian supermarket instead of his usual branch of Tesco, you might think that sounds like a very strange, very plain place to start a story. But that’s the point. It’s the little things we do, the small efforts we make when we really can’t be bothered (like the dinner party invitation we want to cancel, but don’t because we can’t think of a good enough excuse) that often lead to big changes in our lives that we would never have seen coming.

That’s the idea at the heart of The Bucket List. I suppose it can be summed up by saying, ‘you have to be in it, to win it’ and I think there’s a lot of truth in that. Life is out there and it’s happy to wait for all of us, but its certainly not going to come and find us. We have to go find it! Kade learns that in The Bucket List. If you want to find out how he does it, you can pick up your copy now!

The Bucket List was released by Loose Id Publishing in August 2014. It is available from all good ebook retailers now. Find below the blurb.

Blurb

Blake’s Australian accent and surfer-boy looks are the stuff of sexual fantasies and Kade surprises everyone – including himself – when he wastes no time making a move.

Kade goes with Blake into the Scottish highlands, but just as he is beginning to get used to life with his very own Mr. Australia, reality comes knocking. Kade’s newfound happiness falls apart when his abusive ex demands they meet. Blake senses something is wrong and he wants to help, but Kade knows he can’t confide in Blake.

After all, Kade hasn’t exactly been honest. He might feel like a different man when he’s with Blake, but Kade knows he’s still just an accountant from Glasgow with slight obsessive compulsions and a bucket list that someone else wrote. He knows Blake won’t hang around, let alone help, when he finds out the truth.

Or will he?



And now for even more goodies... Here's a snippet of The Bucket List... 


Kade assumed that, even given the circumstances, it was still acceptable to start with, “Hello.”

Blake turned his head, and Kade felt that warmth he had felt with his back to the fish tanks in the Asian supermarket. “Hi,” Blake said, his voice deep enough to carry against the music.

He turned, opening up his body and inviting Kade to step closer. Kade did. He wanted to, wanted to see if that strange connection he had felt earlier was still there between them.

“Who’s your friend?” Kade asked.

Blake just shrugged. “Don’t know. Just some kid. Art student, apparently. He was a good dancer, though.”

“Not a good kisser?”

Blake looked Kade up and down, taking his time doing so. Kade had always thought the idea that someone could undress you with their eyes was a concept fit only for the cheap romance novels his mum used to read, but he couldn’t think of a better way to describe what Blake’s eyes had just done to him. The words needed to describe how that made Kade feel wouldn’t be fit for polite company. Not that Kade was really in polite company.

“I wouldn’t know. Didn’t want to kiss him.” Blake reached out and stroked his hand down Kade’s right arm, from his shoulder to his wrist. He left it there for a few moments, holding tight, and then he pulled Kade’s wrist toward him. Kade’s hand landed on Blake’s hip, his thumb teasing Blake’s tight, strong stomach muscles. When Blake let go, Kade didn’t move his hand away.

“Why didn’t you want to?” Kade couldn’t stop staring into those bright blue eyes.

Blake shrugged and wrapped the hand that had been around Kade’s wrist around Kade’s neck. “He’s not my type. And I was hoping I would meet someone else here tonight. I thought it was a long shot, but I didn’t want to take the risk and ruin my chances.”

Despite his recent drink, Kade’s throat felt dry. He didn’t even care if that was a lie. Blake’s strong fingers rubbed Kade’s neck just below his hairline.

“Who were you hoping to meet?” Kade asked.

Blake tugged him in close so their bodies were pressing together. Kade’s hand slipped around to Blake’s back, holding on tight as Blake put his lips to the side of Kade’s neck.

“You,” Blake whispered. They were so close to the loudspeakers that the word should have been lost, but Kade heard that loaded syllable and felt it translate like heat through his body, like he had just stepped into a hot bath.

“Are you here with somebody?”

Kade shook his head. He felt Blake spread his legs. There was barely any distance left between them.

“Then would you mind if I did this?”

Kade turned his head to find Blake’s lips less than an inch away from his own. He smiled and tried for one of those winks he was so not used to giving, and then let Blake close the distance between them.


Want more? Get your copy here: 





Welcome to your fantasy.

You can find Douglas here: 
Blog: http://douglasblackerotica.wordpress.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Douglas-Black/e/B00A93HUHO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1406885803&sr=8-1

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Douglas-Black/1632968396841732?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark

Twitter: @DBlackErotica


Thanks so much for stopping today Douglas. It was great to learn more about Kade & Blake! 

~ Rach 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

#Guest Post & #Review - TAMING DARKNESS by @KatDaemon


Hey, hey, hey! Welcome back to the Divas of Desire. 

We have a GREAT special guest today, Kat Daemon, author of Taming Darkness and the upcoming Killing Darkness! Kat and I met earlier this year, via our mutual friend (and fellow Diva) Kara, and let me tell you, the three of us had a BLAST at RT 14. :-) I'm so pleased to introduce you to Kat, and her good friend, Lucifer. 

Taming Darkness
The Darkness Saga
Book 1
Kat Daemon

Cover Artist: S.P. McConnell
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication: April 16, 2014    ISBN:1497495350         ASIN: B00JRHVFOC

Number of pages: 174 pages      Word Count: 54,000


Book Description:

Since he was sentenced to earth eons ago, Lucifer has always lived by three simple rules: Humans are toys that are meant to be played with, love is a useless emotion, and the only creature worth fighting for is himself. To him, nothing matters but his own enjoyment, whether it be manipulating those around him, or indulging in the sins of the flesh with Lilith.


Then he found young, sweet, and innocent, Maria, who is everything that Lucifer detests. She has devoted her life to her one true love, God. Unable to resist a challenge, Lucifer sets his sights on tempting Maria away from his enemy. Disguising himself as Lucas Starr, he creates a world that not even Maria can resist. He never planned on having the tables turned on him.

Imagine Lucifer’s surprise when Maria brings him to his knees and shows him a glimpse of heaven once more. Blinded by his arrogance and an unlikely vision, Lucifer falls again, this time forgetting that some lines should never be crossed. When his greatest opponent, Michael, shows up, all Hell breaks loose.

Will Maria be able to accept Lucifer for who he truly is, or realize what Michael already knows: some destinies can never be changed?

                                                            

And now... the inside scoop, from Luce himself! 
The Inspiration behind Taming Darkness
By: Lucas Starr

It is my understanding that you, the reader, are curious as to how Kat Daemon came up with the idea for her novel, Taming Darkness. Isn’t that cute? You naturally accredited her with that much talent. The girl is pretty decent at being a scribe, but you must understand, that is all she is.

Here, allow me to enlighten you as to what really happened.

I found Kat last winter, all alone in her living room clad in sweats and a hoodie. It was her birthday, and she was staring at her laptop waiting for some acknowledgement of her day to appear via a digital message. Pathetic, I know, and being the generous demon that I am, I took pity on her. You see, Kat had written about me before, she’s a bit infatuated, and who can blame her? The problem with her past writings is that she always failed to make me the main attraction, and I do not like to play second fiddle to anyone. It was time to remedy this.

So, after clouding her vision with what she comically refers to as “muse dust,” I laid the contract down before her: A novel that finally tells my side of the story. Sure, you are all familiar with the tale: Revolution in Heaven, temptation in the Garden of Eden, and the creation of Hell. But, all you know is what they have poisoned your brain with. Lies, I can assure you, and nasty ones at that.  It was time to clarify what had occurred.

With the seed planted, the tale began to unfold, and I guided Kat, making sure that she got every detail just right. I even insisted that she include my naughty, serpent sidekick, Lilith, in the tale, because I have learned: When Lilith is happy, then I am happy... in more ways than one.

Our next stop was a train ride where I took her into Manhattan and showed her all the spots that she needed to write into the story. Her eyes were ablaze with excitement as she took pictures and made notes for later reference.  And yes, if you are wondering, my own home was included on the tour.  I even invited her into my bedroom, a private spot that few have seen and survived to talk about, mostly because a night with me is worth losing one’s soul over.  She was hesitant at first, but I convinced her that if she was going to write an accurate novel, thorough research was in order.

Finally, I allowed Kat to become privy to my deepest, darkest secrets and showed her what happened when I encountered the one creature that showed me a glimpse of Heaven once more. Once I knew I had obtained Kat’s sympathy, I trusted her with my tale implicitly.

True, my intentions were for my own self interest, but I think we can all agree that in the long run, it worked out for everyone. I was finally able to get my story told, Kat got her book deal, and you, dear reader, get a rare glimpse into the magnificence that is me. 

Not enough Luce for you?? Here's more. An excerpt from Taming Darkness

There are many places that I have called home over my lifetime. I have rooms in every corner of the globe. Yet, I have such a fondness for Manhattan that I made a penthouse on the Upper East Side one of my more permanent lairs. I acquired the building during the stock market crash of 1929. Amazing what people are willing to give up when they are in a state of panic. Although the entire building is mine, I prefer to spend my time at the top, watching the city, keeping a close eye on humanity.
     This particular evening, I was host to a party, an impromptu event in which many of my minions had brought with them a human counterpart to tempt and indulge. All around me, the weak were lost in laughter, swimming in the sensation of sin as they turn a blind eye on their conscience. Bodies were draped over chaise lounges with veins full of heroin, brains closed to common sense. Girls danced for men with dollars while greedy hands in the corner bet their house over a card game. In the back rooms, people fucked like dogs, cheating on their spouses, and snorting lines of cocaine off of the bodies of the camouflaged demons that would later chain them to the beds. The air was thick with smoke and fragrant with booze. It was a typical Saturday night.
     I sat cast in shadows, a king on my throne, observing the jesters that provided my entertainment. Sometimes, human behavior fascinated me. But mostly, I was watching Lilith. She was sitting on top of the bar, with no less than a dozen suitors at her feet. Leave it to Lilith to break my one guest rule. Red leather high-heeled boots ran up her legs, black hot pants revealed too much flesh, and a red halter top tied her up in one neat package. Her skin might as well have been white marble, with lips red as roses begging to be kissed. Lavish, flaming red hair spilled over her breasts, hitting her hips in thunderous waves. She was the vision of a ripe, delicious, cherry waiting to be plucked. One of my favorite features was her eyes. They were always changing color, alternating between green and yellow. What was even more fascinating was that she could spin them at will, hypnotizing any man that needed to be soothed.
     The primitive beings before her fought hard to serve, hoping for a fraction of consideration, but her eyes were on me. They always were. Hopping off of the bar, she walked toward me, her body swaying in a seductive rhythm, her hips demanding my attention. She offered me a half empty glass of bourbon, and made herself comfortable in my lap. Stretching out like a cat, she lay against my chest and raised a lazy hand beneath my chin, tracing my chiseled jaw with her finger. Had it been a normal night, I would have enjoyed her this way, but I knew it wasn’t for me. It was all part of the act for her fans, whose hungry eyes longed for her, with tongues hanging and dicks waving.
     I pulled her hair out of my face, rested it on her shoulder, and took a generous gulp of the bourbon. “Rough day at work, dear?” I asked while eyeing the strings of her shirt knotted at her neck. It didn’t seem to be tied very tight, and I was tempted to pull it apart.
     “If only it were. You know I like it rough.” She purred in my lap. “May I ask what the great Lucifer has been up to? I haven’t seen you around lately.”
     I handed her the glass and revealed my secret. “I found a new toy.”
     “Oh? I’m in need of a new toy.” She took a drink from the glass and licked her lips before laying her head against my shoulder. “I keep breaking all of mine.” She gestured toward the bar, where the men were begging for her return. Her fingers unbuttoned my two top buttons. She slipped her hand inside and ran her fingers over my pecs. She was warm, like me.
     “I’m not sharing this one,” I declared.
     “You never do,” she said, pulling her hand back a tad more defiant than I would have liked. Sitting up and slamming back the bourbon, she leaped from my lap, taking a step back toward her fans.
“Lilith...I think I might keep this one for a while. This soul may be a bit harder to acquire.”
     She turned and looked at me for a moment, contemplating my intent. “I never interfere with your work, just as long as it doesn’t interfere with me.” 
     “Go have fun. Work up an appetite, and when you get hungry, come back to me.”
     She leaned down and placed a firm hand on each armrest, looking into my eyes with her wild, animal instincts. She kissed me fiercely, and added, “I always do.” 
     “One more thing,” I said grabbing her wrist and kissing the inside of it before she fled toward her toys. “That blonde with the great hair, but bad teeth...”
     Lilith turned a lazy head and noted who I referred to. “Do you want him?” she offered.
     “I want his watch,” I said, my eyes locked on the Rolex that was in all likelihood a family heirloom.
     Lilith laughed. “Is that all?  Consider it yours.” Then she made her way back to the crowd to break a few hearts, and perhaps a few necks as well.


Rach's Review! 
4 out of 5 Divas
So this book was a treat. Luce's voice is wonderful. The way he taunts and flaunts his badness is refreshing. It's nice to see an anti-hero who knows he's a bad guy. And who'd badder than the devil himself? There's a lot to revel in with Luce and his seduction of Sister Mary. And by the end of the book, I was begging for more. I cannot wait to see where Kat takes us with the next book. 


Still want more Luce? I know I do! 
Available at   Amazon    BN    iTunes


About the Author:

Kat Daemon grew up in New York where her imagination always seemed to get the best of her. When she’s not hanging with demons, she’s usually armed with a strong cup of coffee and dreaming up her next tormented character.

You can find out more about Kat and her books at www.katdaemon.com






Tuesday, July 29, 2014

#Tuesday #Tips with @RachellNichole

Hey y'all 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Sorry I've been a bit quiet the past few weeks (AGAIN), and a big shoutout to our girl Nona who's been holding down the fort for us here in SexyTown! 

So today's tips are all about the reason I've been MIA: Moving! 

Four weeks ago, I finally moved! So the past month has been all about painting, unpacking, buying new nonsense for the new place, getting organized, putting stuff up on the walls. So now, here's 5 Tips from a recent Pro on how to move, and what to avoid! 

5. Be prepared! This was a huge step in getting ready to move. I've moved before, but nothing like this. This time, we got this stuff called mover's wrap. It was amazing! Picture green saran wrap on a wand. I wrapped tables, glass cabinets, dressers, and pretty much anything else I could think of to wrap! This stuff helped protect the furniture, was much easier than trying to tape cardboard around the glass shelves or table legs or anything like that. Plus, it was so much fun




4. Get a big truck. Now this might sound self-explanatory, but a lot of people don't get a big enough one. Remember ladies, it doesn't matter what they say, size really does matter! I got the 17-footer 'cause I got a lot of junk. We had a couch and futon and a couple beds, table and chairs, a couple end tables, a glass cabinet, and about a zillion boxes. And we packed the hell out of that big truck. It was just the right size. The junk just reached the end with an inch to spare to close the door. 

3. Have lots of (female) friends, but not too many. Again, maybe this sounds like an easy one to remember, but you have to get the number just right. Now the right number depends a lot on size. Remember number 4? Size matters! So for us, the correct number was five. The old place was relatively large, and the new place was up three mini flights of stairs. If we'd had six or seven or heavens, eight, people, we would have tripped over each other. As it was, with some good communication, we were able to work around one another and coordinate the move with very few issues. And, kick the men out. I know that may seem kind of contradictory because of all those big muscles and such, but, when it's just the ladies, there's a few extra seconds of chatting and planning, but the results are flawless. We got the truck loaded, drove to the place, and had everything off the truck, out of the cars, and up three flights of stairs in four hours. 

2. Paint FirstWhen you can, it's always better to get into the new place before all of your junk is in it to paint. Trying to paint in a sea of boxes while you're unpacking and moving furniture and all that junk is insane. Don't do it. Just, don't

And last but not least, the number 1 thing to remember when moving...

1. Don't try to get settled in a week. (Like I did). Trust me, it just aint gonna happen, folks. Even with an army of people, it will take at least a month to get everything unpacked an in its rightful place. And doing that at breakneak speed while also working a job (or three) will make you feel like ripping your hair out. Take your time. This is your new home, and I more than anyone know what kind of hell it is to feel unsettled and not know where anything is or where it goes, but forcing this process makes you long for your old place, where everything was just so, and it's not worth it to make yourself crazy trying to get settled all at once. 


So, that's it. 
It's been a month, and that's my moving wisdom to share with you all. Now that I've rushed to get settled (I know, I know, something I advise you all against) I feel wonderful! And I promise to be around the Divas watering hole much more often in the coming months than I have been recently. 

Thanks everybody, and as soon as I can get some good shots of the new place, I'll share them all with you. Wait until you see the office! It's red. :-) 


~Rach


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

#TuesdayTips with @RachellNichole

Welcome back lovelies!

It's time for another inspiring rendition of Tuesday Tips!

This week is all about plotting tips, since I will be teaching my adapted Three-Act Structure plotting method at next week's In Your Write Mind workshop.

5. Try a new method. So the first thing a writer should always tell other writers is that there are so many different methods of writing (or plotting) that you shouldn't feel married to one way of doing things. Everyone's process is different and what works for me might not always work for you. And what works for me for one book, might not work for me for the next one. Just like with kids. You have to adapt toeach book the way you do to each child. So when you're out there trying to figure
out your next book, I encourage you to check out a bunch of different plotting methods. There are a bazillion books, blogs, and workshops about plotting. Check them out, and pick one, or pick a few bits and pieces from some different methods and make your own.

4. Leave holes in your plot. I know this may sound counterproductive, but if you get so bogged down on figuring out every single detail in the plot, the minutiae pieces will prevent you from plotting the whole arc of a book in one or two sittings. A plot shouldn't take you three months to write. You want to spend the bulk of your time on the actual writing process, not on figuring out what you're going to write about. Some authors write out a very detailed, step-by-step plot, and that's not a bad thing, but most people will get so bogged down in little pieces that they can't ever reach the end of the plot. So if you aren't sure of a detail or how exactly something is going to work out, leave it blank, put a space holder in that place to know something is missing, and move on to the next piece.

3. Having a plot doesn't always mean you'll get bored with the book. I hear this a lot from pantsers (those writers who write by the seat of their pants) often say that if they know the plot, they feel like they've already told themselves the story, so why would they bother writing it? This goes along with number four - leave yourselves holes. You can't discover everything about a book just from plotting it. Sure, you know the ending, but you can learn so much more about the characters, and their story, in a novel than you can just from a plot. If knowing the ending makes you bored, write out the bulk of the plot, but leave the ending a little open. You can even try plotting out three different endings, having a note card or sticky note for each one and then when you're almost done writing the book, you can discover which ending fits best with the book.

2. Plotting a book should be fun. Now, I know there are some nay-sayers out there that will say I should take my writing, my craft seriously. It's not a hobby, it's a job. And they're right. Really, they are. But, and this is a big but - if I'm not having fun at my job, I'm not doing it anymore. Period. Or else, why keep doing it? The day I stop finding the fun and enjoying the writing process
is the day I will retire from this job. Plotting is just one stage of the writing process, and it should be fun. Maybe it's not as much fun for you as research, or revisions, or writing the book, but you should still find some enjoyment in it. Maybe it's the idea of infinite possibilities when you start plotting a new book. Maybe it's the comfort of having a direction to go in before you sit down before the blank page. Maybe it's the fact that you love figuring out where you're going and exactly how you're going to get there. Doesn't matter. Whatever it is about plotting that you like, make sure you find a way to enjoy it. Because, if you don't, why are you torturing yourself to write a book?


And the number 1 thing to remember - A plot is never set in stone.  Pantsers also say things like "I can't write out a plot, because then I have to write the book that way." But, that's just not true! A plot is like a road map. There's point A (New York City) and point B (San Francisco). When you plot out your route, you pick a direction and highlight the way and then embark on your journey. Say you were *supposed* to stop in Wisconsin for some cheese, then South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore, then Utah for some salt, then Nevada for the Las Vegas Strip and then arrive in San Francisco, on time, and exhilarated, but instead you decide you just have to detour to Wyoming and see Yellowstone, then you're really hankering for some Idaho potatoes, and then you give up slot machines for the Space Needle up in Seattle before you meander your way through Northern California's Yosemite and then Death Valley before arriving in San Francisco... well, that's mighty all right! That's why you have a road map, because when you have to veer off course, when you just have to go down the less trodden path or into the deep dark woods, you have a guide to get you back to where you wanted to go. Let's even say you got to San Francisco and decided you hated it? Well, LA is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, and though it wasn't your intended destination, you've still traveled across the country, still gone from New York to California, and you've finished the damned book! That's the most important part, right? To get from the beginning of the book, through the murky middle, and to the glorious end!

So there you are, folks. Rach's top 5 things to remember when you're plotting a book. Now go forth and plot your pants off!

If you have questions or comments about plotting, plotting methods, or plotting resources, please feel free to share in the comments section! I can't talk about this stuff enough!

~Rach

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

#RT14 - The Good, The Bad, and The WTF

Welcome back to your local Diva hangout! 

I've been pretty quiet as of late, but I have been ridiculously busy in the best possible way. 

First, it was prepping for the Romantic Times Convention (RT14) - I finished another round of revisions on my romantic suspense in preparation so that I could focus on the paranormal series I would be pitching at the Convention. And then there were the wardrobe decisions which took ages! I needed casual clothes, party clothes, costumes, business attire, and then the basics like
undergarments... just thinking back on it makes me break out in hives! It was horrifying the condition of my bedroom and closet for over a week as I went through every item of clothing I remembered I had, and some I'd completely forgotten! And then there was the horror of trying to fit all of those things into two carry-on bags... it's a damn good thing I'm a seasoned world traveler or I might have been paralyzed in the face of the amount of crap I'd spread out on my bed to pack. "Is that all going to fit in that little suitcase?" my family asked. 




Oh, how little faith they have! 

Of course it fit. With some coaxing, a few choice words, and a shove or two. 


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Now that's how you pack, ladies and gentlemen!






Then there was the preparation for the book signing! Yikes. So I was going to ship my books down, so I didn't have to check luggage, and because I have more faith in the post office than I do in the airlines not to lose my stuff. So I packed up my babies and insured them and sent them on their merry way. Now if I was the nail-biting type, I'd have no fingers left! As it is, I'm more of a bitch and pace and not sleep type... none of which was very helpful or productive as I was trying to get everything in order to leave. Or while I was, you know, working the day job. So anyways, I sent the books and I put in my little tracking number and watched my box travel from NY to New Orleans... and then NOTHING. My babies got to the city where they were supposed to be, and that's it. I couldn't get anyone to tell me if they'd arrived at the hotel for the convention, if they were sitting in the middle of a Post Office warehouse somewhere, or if they'd fallen into the gutters on Bourbon Street. For six days, I didn't know where my babies were! 

I barely kept a leash on my panic. I focused on my to-do list, on the tasks I had to accomplish. I called the post office, the hotel, the shipping department at the hotel, the coordinators for the convention. I pleaded, I demanded, I got downright pissy and hung up on several times! All to no avail. No one could confirm if my books had arrived or not. I packed my suitcase, I printed our boarding passes, and I ushered Kara through her first wonderful airport hopping experience. We arrived at the hotel, dropped our bags, and I went book hunting. 

Some of The Disenchantments! 
I got to the registration table twenty minutes after they closed. When the woman behind the table realized I was about ready to tear her face off or burst into tears, she very nicely, and with a heap of sympathy told me, "I know who we can call. Diane will know!" I prayed for a Hail Mary pass, only to be smacked in the face with a voice mail box. :-( We left a message, and Kara carted my sorry ass back to the room to get ready to go meet the Disenchantments - her wonderful group of author friends, who by the end of the week were like my family. They helped get my mind off my missing books, and we explored New Orleans for the night - Hello O'Briens and your amazing Piano Bar &amp; Hurricanes! They helped assuage my fears and tamp down my panic. 



The next morning, when there was still no call on my books, I again went on a quest. I found Diane, who checked her magical list and confirmed that yes, one box for Rachell Nichole had in fact arrived, in tact, and full of books! My God, I could have kissed her! I gave her a fabulous hug, thanked her profusely, and could finally breathe again! 

I went about my business, joining everyone in the giant ballroom for crepes and an introduction to RT, then I went to lunch with the fabulous Jessica Freely to Antoine's - an amazing, up-scale Creole French restaurant which also doubles as a museum. The meal was incredible. The staff was impeccable, the tour was glorious. If you ever find yourself in New Orleans, I could not recommend this place enough! Our waiter was a third-generation employee who at one point had eleven relatives working in the restaurant with him. The history, the atmosphere, and the story of this place can be felt the minute you leave the front dining room and head into any of the other fourteen, yes fourteen dining rooms! The Japanese Room was by far my favorite (behind the wine cellar) and they even took us out on the balcony through these huge windows that slid upward and were the size of doors. We spent a good two and a half hours here and it was wonderful. The picture on the left is the Rex Dining Room, where all the Kings of Mardi Gras eat before the parade!


After that, I went back to the hotel and found my new favorite person, Diane, to check in my lovely books and take possession of them until the book signing. She was wonderful, and I felt so indebted to her for finding my books that I stayed for a bit to help out when the line behind me grew exponentially.




Here we are dressed as SINNERS :-) 
I didn't go to as many panels as I'd originally planned on attending, but I still had an incredible time. We partied at the Pub Crawl, at the Saints &amp; Sinners party, at the Harlequin Dance Party, at the hotel bar, on Bourbon Street, and pretty much everywhere else. I met some wonderful new authors and friends. I got to see some of my wonderful Seton Hill people, and I got to meet with four agents and an editor to chat with them about my books, which was great. One of them was super excited about my paranormal series about Mayan Demigods and so now I'm working on getting them ready to send her way, which is awesome! 

I also got to meet some readers, which rocked my world. One woman, Deborah, and her good friend who's name I for some awful reason can't recall, were just the sweetest things. The three of us talked about books, and writing, and romance, and I kept running into them at the Convention, so that was really cool. I also had some people stop by my table at the book signing and ooh and ahh over my covers and say "Oh, yeah, I've read that." OH, MY GOD! That was an incredible, humbling feeling. :-) Made all the nonsense from the week totally worth it!

There were so many more little moments that were pure perfection, and others that were a complete mind fuck, but if I sat and wrote about them all, we'd be here all week. 

Overall, the convention was a success for me, but I don't know as if I'll do another one any time soon. The disorganization of many of the events and the craziness of a mismanaged convention of 2,000 people was a lot to handle, but I don't regret going in the least, if only for the amazing people I met and the great experiences I had. 

I think Kara will be sharing some of her RT Experiences with you all soon, so check back for that. 


Thanks, 
Rach