Guest Post and Spotlight on Author Adriana Kraft

Today, I'm excited to welcome fellow eXtasy Books author Adriana Kraft.

I asked Adriana to stop by and tell us more about Aria Returns which releases today

 from eXtasy Books!

The blog is all yours, Adriana! Welcome!

~~~~~

Aria Returns

Have you ever written a character who seeps into your soul and just won’t let you go? That’s what happened with Aria, the love goddess my husband and I created (or discovered, perhaps) nearly a decade ago. She’s so real to us we keep expecting her to pop in the door, or materialize from the northern lights, the way she did in her first book.

What’s an author to do? We did the only thing we could think of – we let her tell us her next adventure, we put it on the page, and it’s coming to you this Wednesday, May 1, from Extasy Books. We think you’ll like it.

Aria’s original adventure, Colors of the Night, was the first erotic romance my husband and I wrote together, when we were just starting our fiction career.

A love triangle with a dazzling immortal goddess – will it ignite or extinguish the dying embers of a contemporary couple’s love?

It was released to rave reviews in 2006 – and promptly went off the market when that e-pub tanked. We were thrilled to have Extasy re-release it in 2009 when our rights were returned to us. But Aria wasn’t finished with us – she’s persistent that way, apparently. This time, instead of rekindling fires between partners in an existing relationship, she’s called on for some very tender healing:

Can the immortal love goddess Aria heal not one but two traumatized hearts—and if she succeeds, will those hearts open to each other?

BLURB

Traumatized by the boyfriend from hell, Amber Heath makes a desperate plea for help—and is shocked when the immortal love goddess Aria materializes and whisks her away to a nineteenth century Carnivale.

Jeff Conway is still reeling from his fiancé’s betrayal and not about to risk his heart. But he’s more than willing to play with the spunky sprite Aria brings to meet him at Carnivale.

Sometimes watching, sometimes joining in, and always coaching, Aria launches Amber and Jeff on an erotic journey back to health and playfulness. But even the love goddess can’t force them to love each other.

EXCERPT:

"You've seen me play softball?” Amber asked.

Aria laughed. "Of course. I pride myself on doing my homework before taking on a situation."

"A situation. I'm not sure I like being a situation."

Aria shrugged. "Maybe we can come up with a better word. I sometimes do struggle with your language and concepts. But you called specifically for my help. Usually, I have to surprise people. I've selected them before they know it. Because of your aunt, you selected me before I knew you."

"But you could've rejected me—my situation."

"I could've," Aria acknowledged, "but I didn't."

"Why?"

"Because you believed and you cried. Tears tell me a lot. You were crying not only for yourself—for your past—but most importantly for your future. I can help you prepare for your future—if you trust me enough."

Amber frowned. "You don't know the future?"

Aria shook her head.

Sighing, Amber said, "No guarantees."

"No guarantees." Aria folded her hands in her lap. "I can help you make some discoveries about yourself, about life, but I cannot make you change, or make you love, or make anyone else love you."

"Then why should I trust you?"

Aria shrugged. "You've been battered, worse than you even know. You have a vague awareness of that, but you haven't accepted it, not really. I believe for you to understand yourself, you must flee this place and your boyfriend."

"You want me to go away with you, like Jamie and Ryan did."

"I'm offering you that opportunity. I believe a change of environment and time may prove very healthy for you, but only you can choose."

"What about Frank?"

"For now, he won't even know you're gone. Let me explain, little one. If you agree to travel with me to another time and reality, there is no comparable time lapse in this time." She arched an eyebrow. "Besides, I thought your boyfriend wasn't coming back tonight. He's saving you for breakfast."

"Fat chance of that happening." Amber fought the bile rising in her throat at the thought of where Frank might be at the moment. She sat up straighter. "How long do I have to decide?"

Aria shrugged a shoulder. "Until your boyfriend gets back, I suppose."

"You don't call him by name."

"He doesn't deserve to be called by name."

Amber winced.

"All the decisions are yours, Amber. But if you ask me a question, I will not lie to you." Aria squeezed her knee. "And if you're wondering if I'm here to help you and your boyfriend like I did with your aunt and uncle, let me be very clear. I am not. I only help people who want to change, or at least have some hope of changing. Your current boyfriend is beyond hope. If you want me to help you fix things up with him, I will leave right now. I'd never consider letting vermin like that touch me."

"I see." Dejected, Amber studied her toes. "But is that the same as making a decision for me—rejecting Frank?"

Aria shook her head. "If you decide you want to travel with me for awhile to experience new possibilities, and when we're finished you still want to come back to this man, then that is your choice. I won't and can't stop that from happening."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Our tag line is Erotic Romance for Two, Three, or More. Readers may not know there are two of us writing together under the pen name “Adriana Kraft” —my husband and myself. Each of us has always wanted to be a writer. Our careers took other turns first, and we met (well, and fell in love and married) in academia, where we’ve both done lots of writing, together and separately. But fiction is lots more fun, and we love living out our life-long dream, now our full-time pursuit.

Aria Returns is our twenty-first erotic romance book published at Extasy Books. Our pairings include straight m/f, lesbian, bisexual, ménage and polyamory, with both contemporary and paranormal settings. We hope you'll stop by our Website, browse our Blog, and sample a taste of our world, “filled with warmth, blazing hot sex, well-developed characters…not for the faint of heart” (Romance Junkies Reviews).



New and Backlist Titles Available Now from eXtasy Books

Monday Promo: New and Backlist titles from eXtasy Books


New From eXtasy Books

    The wild side is an interesting stretch of territory where only the courageous survive.




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 Captivity temporarily restrains, but love forever binds.




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The Trilogy of a Wolf's Endowment is coming soon to your favorite third party retail sites.

COMING to eXtasy Books in December!



Coming to Devine Destinies in December!




Backlist titles you don't want to miss!

 Sometimes a man is forced to exercise self control. When all other options fail, he finds a woman who is ready to ride.

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  He wanted to brand her for a lifetime and proudly gave her his name, but his name was tainted with her family's blood.

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    Sometimes secrets surface and when they do, they bring out all sort of ugly characters.




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    He wanted to love her, but instead he let her go. She wanted to honor him, but instead she made it nearly impossible for him to find his way home.




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Holiday Erotic FMMMMM!




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They were hired to save her. They decided to love her.




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My Guest Author Today is Jolene Beauchamp!

I'm thrilled to welcome fellow eXtasy Books author Jolene Beauchamp to my virtual home today! Jolene has a new book out today and I know you'll be as thrilled as I am to learn more about A FARMER'S TREAT. Before I turn my blog over to Jolene, I want to invite each of you to visit Jolene's book page at eXtasy Books: http://www.extasybooks.com/a-farmers-treat. Welcome, Jolene!

Halloween is Not Just for Kids

     Thanks for hosting me on your blog today, Destiny! Great to be here to chat about Halloween and my new release, A FARMER’S TREAT.

     Are you the scary movie type? Do you revel in the frights that abound this time of year? Lucky you! I’m the type of person who watches an entire horror movie with my hands over my face while I ask over and over, “What’s happening? What’s happening?”

     Obviously, I’m not a fan of horror. Yet, when October comes around, I’m like a kid again. So I thought it would be fun to list the ten reasons Halloween is fun for adults:

1. Spider webs are considered decorations, not a sign of bad housekeeping!
2. Chocolate!!!!!
3. Costumes and make up! Thick eyeliner and short skirts are actually encouraged.
4. Being called a witch is not an insult, it’s proof you’ve got the Halloween spirit.
5. You can roast salted pumpkin seeds after carving a scary or fun pumpkin.
6. Pet costumes are really cool.
7. Sitting in a chair on your front porch and pretending to be a dummy is considered fun, not creepy.
8. Skeletons are in fashion, but only as decorations. Eat chocolate!
9. Songs like “Purple People Eater” and “The Monster Mash” play on the radio.
10. Haunted Halloween Trails. What better way to cuddle up to someone you love? Just be careful…don’t let the monsters get you!

And while we’re on the subject of Haunted Halloween trails, my Halloween story, A FARMER’S TREAT released today. Lots of sensual thrills on a Halloween haunted farm trail. Please enjoy this excerpt:

   She panted for breath. They hadn't run far, but the sudden storm had surprised her. She shivered.

   “Heck of a storm,” James said. “Probably be over in a few minutes. We'll be dry in here.”

   Water splattered on her head and Mandy giggled.

   “What's so funny?”

   “Leaky roof,” she said. No sense complaining. Not like there was anywhere else to go, anyway. There was exactly enough space for two people, with no room to maneuver.

   “Here, move in front of me,” James said, guiding her in front of him.

   “No, you'll get squashed against that tractor,” she said. She swallowed the rest of her objection because with her back pressed to his front, her bones melted and her breath caught in her throat.

   Rain? Who cared about rain? This hot body pressed against hers was the only thing she could think about right now.

   She moaned and then she lifted her fist to her mouth to stifle it. Had he heard?

   His erection pressed against her and she swallowed hard. Yep, he'd heard her. And reacted.

   Trapped in a shed with a storm raging around them. Part of her wanted to open the doors and run out in the rain. The other part wanted to wiggle her ass against his arousal.

Find Jolene:

Blog: http://jolenebeauchampauthor.blogspot.com/?zx=65dbc7ce1888bdbb

Twitter: @jolenebeauchamp

Jolene’s books are available at:

eXtasyBooks http://www.extasybooks.com/index.php?route=product%2Fsearch&keyword=jolene+beauchamp

 

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jolene+beauchamp

 

Barnes and Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/jolene-beauchamp?keyword=jolene+beauchamp&store=allproducts

Author Lynn Crain Interview

Today, author Lynn Crain sat down with me for an interview. Welcome, Lynn. It’s so great to have you here.

I’ll kick off the interview with a question I hear a lot. How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I was twelve and first read Gone With The Wind. I knew at that very moment I’d found my calling. It was permanently cemented in my mind when shortly thereafter, I sold a religious poem. I’ve never turned back.

Tell us about your road to publishing.

It’s the pretty standard one. My parents thought someone with an English degree could never make it because it wasn’t a real job. They sent me to nursing school, which I basically never left as I went on to get a geology degree as well. I worked in jobs that involved computers and even on the Nevada Test Site. I owned a printing business that went belly up because of 9/11 and had the usual life bumps. About eight, nine years ago, a publisher friend online convinced me that I needed to send her my book and eventually she wore me down. It was accepted in less than 24 hours and I’ve never looked back.

You have a forthcoming novel. We'd love to know more. Is there a story behind the book?

Yes, my newest release is called The Harvester. The idea struck in a critique group and we decided to go see an all male revue. Since then most of that group have went their separate ways but I still had my story as did the few of us who were left. I decided to self-publish the story and told the others I’d help them. Still, my story is a little different than the others because my heroine is from space. Yeah, I can’t keep anything normal. LOL!

That’s a good thing. ;) Tell us about your characters. Which character are you most like and why?

I would honestly have to say that there is a little of me in all my heroines. I’ve mellowed over the years but it used to be I’d speak before I thought and I would always give my honest opinion regardless of the consequences. I’ve toned that down quite a bit over the years. A lot of the head-strong nature of my heroines come from me and my experiences, or rather mishaps, with a snarky nature.

What are your writing goals for the future?

I plan to keep writing and publishing. There will be books to traditional epublishers and maybe a NYC, it all depends. I will also be doing a lot of self-publishing and the reason isn’t that I don’t like my epubs, I do, but when I’m writing at capacity that’s 5K a day. Meaning I can have a short book done in a week. Or a long book done in twenty days. It’s hard to keep up the intensity if you have a dozen publishers because you write so much. My intention is to write as much as I can for my epubs and have the overflow go to my self-publishing venture.

Sounds like a great plan. Tell us about your writing day now. Are you a full-time writer? If not, how do you find time to write? If so, how often do you write? Do you stick to a schedule?

I am a full time writer. I was lucky enough to have a husband who has a great job. When he offered me the chance five years ago to stay home and write full time, I jumped on it. I just wrote a guest blog on putting together ‘To Do’ lists. I have a daily list that I try to adhere to every day. It has on it things like editing, writing, blogging and more. Once those items are done, they get checked off and I move on. At the end of the day, I look at what I haven’t finished then make a new list for the next day. I have a life ‘To Do’ list as well as a general writing ‘To Do’ list to keep me on track.

As productive as you are, your ‘to do’ list obviously works! Lynn, what is your idea of a perfect hero?

Perfection is a myth. I’m looking for the hero that has real life flaws. He has to be nice looking, not necessarily drop-dead gorgeous but that does help. He needs to be hard working, have a great sense of humor and not mind the heroines flaws at all. He has to be willing to help her overcome her problems as well as accept her help on his. Does this come easy for him? Absolutely not because he’s the ultimate Alpha male who is complete control...only...he realizes just how much he isn’t in control the moment he meets the heroine.

What makes a heroine most appealing to readers?

Again, it would have to be her flaws. The reason readers like characters is because they can identify with them. I need to make sure that the heroines I write are ones readers can connect with and when they can, they will feel their story even more.

Who are some of your favorite old-school authors? Take us back to the early days. Any inspirations there?

Margaret Mitchell, Edna Ferber, Janet Dailey and even Barbara Cartland on occasion as I devoured books. I read so many Harlequins that I can’t remember most of the authors names.

Where are you published? Leave us all the links where we can find you and your books.

I’m published at eXtasy Books, Devine Destines, Loose Id and Shooting Star Books. Here’s where you can find out more about me and my writing!

Lynn Crain Website

The Harvester

Word Count: approximately 42,000 words

Logline: Sky Nerezsh, a Harvester of men, leaves home avoiding a tragic path when a rival comes to claim Earth and the two Scottish lifemates she’s just discovered.

Blurb: Princess Sky Xera Nerezsh came to earth to avoid the normal succession path to the throne. Being the oldest daughter, she will be required to murder her mother in order to secure her path to power. Sky loves her mother and refuses this path, choosing instead to disappear in the vast reaches of space. When her past collides with her present, she has to think quick on her feet, claim two men and a whole planet just to avoid the inevitable: a meeting with her mother. Along the way, she discovers true love and a burning need to be there for them always. Now if the other Harvesters can just keep to themselves, they’ll have no problems. But who said true love was ever easy.

Book Excerpt:

Suddenly one dark haired man was on the table in front of her, gyrating his sexy hips in her face, his package mere inches from her mouth. In another life, she would have leaned forward and planted her lips on his crotch, willing his body to perform. She really should have been paying more attention to the situation around her instead of wondering about where Angela had gotten herself.

Leaning down, his breath reminded her of the sweetgrass that grew on her home planet of Tyrsati, heightening her senses even more. “Sweetheart, I see how you want me...it’s written all over your face.” His voice purred in her ear.

Sky gasped and pulled back to get a better look at the man in front of her. He reminded her of the gods of Vada. He was tall, well-muscled, dark hair brushing the top of his shoulders and had the most incredible violet eyes she had ever seen. Guess the optics weren’t wrong. He would fetch an exquisite price on Texra and her mother would be extremely proud for her acquisition. She shook her head to clear the cobwebs.

“Nice eyes, sweetie – hang around after the show – I’ll make it worth your while.” His voice hit a resonance with her and her whole body flushed. It had been years since she had reacted to any man. Now her emotions and body betrayed her for an insignificant being on an outer planet. She shook her head. This planet was no more insignificant than any other, including her own but she knew if she didn’t get herself under control, the Harvester in her would take over. Old habits die hard.

“Don’t let his demeanor fool you, luvey. He just wants to get into your pants.” Another deep voice reverberated close to her ear.

She glanced over her shoulder and again her breath was nearly taken away as she looked into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen in the galaxy bar none. The sky of Octa couldn’t hold a candle to the color that swirled in their depths.

“Ooo, Jaxon is right about the eyes. Very cool green.”

“Contacts,” Sky managed to get out for the second time this evening, her voice low.

“And a sexy voice to boot. Very nice.” He twirled away to join his companion on stage. He was just as nice looking as the first guy but just a little shorter. His shiny hair swung around his jaw line as he moved and her hands ached to run her fingers through it and over his body.

She sat there stunned as the people at her table laughed and clapped her on the back as if she’d done some sort of fantastic feat. While her time on this planet had been very thrilling, in her old life working for her mother, their performances had to be impeccable or their fate might be worse than death. She vaguely wondered just how she’d rate them.

Sky did her best to smile and act as if what happened was one of the most exciting things in her life when in reality it brought back some memories she’d rather forget. Folding her hands in front of her, she closed her eyes and steadied her breathing. She opened her eyes slow and caught a glimpse of a targeting laser. The light was in a part of the spectrum that no one of this planet could even see but her optics caught it.

Scanning the crowd, she allowed her eyes to whirl, not caring who saw. There were not supposed to be any Harvesters on this world as it had been declared too primitive to even be included in the Alliance of Planets. She came here because she knew this was the one place her mother wouldn’t think to look. Now, she knew another Tyrsatian walked the same world as she did, occupying the very same room.

Maybe it was time to see just what type of trouble Angela got herself into. Leaning across the table, she quickly gave Jayne her phone number and said her goodbyes to all the others present. Rising slowly, she didn’t want to alert the other Harvester but she was just far enough away and at a weird angle to not see who it might be. Moving quickly to the back wall, she moved to where she stood way behind the woman but close enough to see who it was.

Jesata Ardik. Of all the Harvesters to show up on her new home planet, one of the most relentless in the business had to land on her new home. This wasn’t going to be easy. She had to delay her from marking them because once they were marked, it didn’t matter wherever in the universe they were, they would be considered fugitives until captured and sold to the highest bidder. Meaning, she wouldn’t be able to get them off world without the help of her mother.


Buy Links:
Smashwords

Amazon

ARe

Barnes & Noble


BIO:
Lynn Crain has penned over 25 novels in romance in the genres of science fiction, fantasy and contemporary romance, erotic to tame in nature. She always knew that writing was her calling even if it took years at other professions to prove it. She has belonged to EPIC and RWA for more years that she cares to think about. Currently, she lives in Europe while her husband of nearly 30 years pursues his dream of working internationally. Her state-side home is in Nevada where family and friends wait patiently for their return. You can find her hanging out at A Writer In Vienna Blog and various other places on the net www.theloglineblog.blogspot.com; www.twitter.com/oddlynn3 ; www.lynncrain.blogspot.com ; www.facebook.com/oddlynn3 ) as well as her website. Still, the thing she loves most of all is hearing from her readers at lynncrain@cox.net.

NOTE: This is an erotic menagé novel with EXPLICIT language and adult situations.

Review Links:

http://marywhispers.blog.com/?p=1024

More Lynn Crain Links

www.myspace.com/lynncrain

lynncrain.blogspot.com

awriterinvienna.blogspot.com

www.theloglineblog.blogspot.com

http://lynncrain.livejournal.com/

Imperfect, Not-So-Skinny Heroines in the Bedroom by Jolene Beauchamp

I'm thrilled to introduce my next guest. Jolene Beauchamp, a fellow eXtasy Books author, stopped by to talk about imperfect heroines in the bedroom. After you read her article, take a look at the excerpt she shared with us. She'll hook you at hello and never let you go! Welcome, Jolene!

Imperfect, Not-So-Skinny Heroines in the Bedroom

Perfection is boring. Besides, nobody’s perfect, right? Yet ads that feature stick-thin models aim to make us think being slim and trim, having the perfect body, is something to strive for.

Really? Look around. When you go to the mall, is that what you see? Women come in all shapes and sizes. Short and tall, thin and not-so-thin, blonde and brunette… You get the picture. The trick is to feel good about yourself—to forget what society/advertising firms are trying to tell say you should look like. Curves are sexy. If you have them, flaunt them.

How does body image factor into the bedroom? If you feel good about yourself, you’re more likely to relax and enjoy what your partner is offering. So what makes you feel sexy? A barely-there nightgown? Then go ahead, splurge on that lingerie. And then wear it knowing you are sexy and desirable. If you feel confident about your body, your partner will pick up on that. Focus on your best attributes, and forget about the rest.

In my latest release, BIRTHDAY THREESOME, the heroine, Tracy, worries that her boyfriend, who is used to dealing with beautiful women, will find her body lacking because she is a size fourteen. Size fourteen! That’s a great size, isn’t it? So are sizes sixteen…and eighteen…

I loved writing about a person who thinks she is less than perfect. It’s okay to be humble. Tracy doesn’t think she’s perfect by the end of the story, but she does come to understand and embrace that fact that her curves and personality are what makes her who she is.

Here’s hoping that you will love yourself for who you are and what you look like. You are sexy, you are beautiful. I’d love to hear any tips you have for feeling good about yourself!

Birthday Threesome, Excerpt

Eric grinned and Tracy cupped his face in both of her palms. “You’re gonna have a good time, baby.” She kissed him and turned to peek out the peep hole. A cute blonde stood outside. “Damn, she’s hot.”

Bumping Eric to the side with her hip before he could peek, she turned the knob and opened the door.

Her heart slammed hard. Could she do this? Barbie, if that was her real name, stood a little over five feet tall, about Tracy’s height, and her wavy blonde hair hung past her shoulders. Tracy smiled when she glanced lower. Barbie wore the same denim skirt Tracy wore. Ha, like they were twins. Tracy’s hips and boobs measured a few inches bigger than Barbie’s. Guess we won’t be trading clothes anytime soon.

Eric’s hot breath—or maybe panting—hit Tracy’s neck. Shit. The poor woman had to feel like a piece of meat. They both stared at the other woman. “Uh, sorry, come on in.” Tracy glanced up and down the hotel corridor, glad to find it empty.

“Thanks,” Barbie said, smiling and brushing past them into the room.
Tracy caught a whiff of peach, before shutting the door and leaning on it for support. The heated area between her legs begged for more attention, and her brain overrode the physical need in favor of checking out this girl. Eric and Tracy stood side by side, staring at Barbie and probably looked like obvious newbies to her.

Tracy didn’t know what she’d expected exactly, but whatever it was, Barbie wasn’t it. She wore very little makeup, maybe just a touch of mascara, and low-heeled sandals with a flowing pastel blouse. The denim skirt showed off her tanned, smooth legs. She could have been a tourist, or any other hotel guest, and wouldn’t have stood out in a crowd.

Find Jolene:

Jolene's Blog

Twitter: @jolenebeauchamp

Available now: TRIPLE HEAT, BIRTHDAY THREESOME

Coming fall 2012: A Halloween ménage and a Christmas ménage

Purchase Links for Jolene's Books:

eXtasy Books

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Kobo Books

Jolene Beauchamp is a best-selling author of erotic romance and erotica. When she’s not writing or reading, she can often be found hiking with her husband, mountain climbing, and generally spending time outdoors in the sunshine. She hopes her stories take readers on a heartfelt journey to a fantasy land where sexy, strong men and resilient, empowered women experience desire, excitement, and pleasure.