It's so funny how the brain works.

 

The blank wall of writer's block prevented any imagination for the longest time. What usually would take 2 or 3 weeks to finish, took more than 2 years. After The Crown and the Sword was released, illness and medication took care of whatever unfenced brain cells were left and caged them in.

Now that I've physically stabilized, the fences fell, words were released and they are coming fast and furious, it's hard to catch up.

On the verge of finishing the draft for this current WIP, a weird story came to mind.

Too fast. Too much. I had to use Word Dictate to get the words out.

So expect the following on the road to submission to eXtasy Books:

1. one haunting romance (mainstream) submitted within a month's time. Working Title: Charcuterie

2. MM paranormal romance Scorched Tale. Working Title: Blood Moon Delight

3. Untitled Taboo final installment

4. side-eyeing this one untitled MM paranormal WIP with only 3k words to go

Link to C&S: https://www.extasybooks.com/The-Crown-and-the-Sword?search=the%20crown%20and%20the&category_id=0 

                                         

Book Review: The Frost Moon by Taryn Jameson

Published by: eXtasy Books
Author: Taryn Jameson

Pages:28
Word Count: 8103

Publication Date: 2022-12-02
Heat Level:  2 Flames

Category : Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance, Coming Soon, Yule    

Available Formats : The Frost Moon (prc), The Frost Moon (pdf), The Frost Moon (Mobi), The Frost Moon (ePub)

A prick of her finger on a crystal snowflake drawing blood, sets of a chain of magical events.

Freydis doesn’t believe in monsters or Fae tales, but the night of the Frost Moon brings great magic, and with it the man she hates most.

An Update

Hi peeps!

First off, I have to thank you for taking the time to read whatever I write either In this blog or in my books. I've not been healthy for the past couple of years, so my writing has been intermittent at best. I do try, but sometimes I have to slow down or suffer the consequences.

The second thing I'd like to talk about my Coming Soon book. The Crown and the Sword was submitted a while ago, but the editing is taking time mostly from my end. My laptop died because of SLD or sudden laptop death. Long story short, I was moving. I had secured my precious, but a move placed a box on top of it. Unfortunately, the box was 30x its weight. All my files were in it but I had managed to find a technician to carefully do some salvaging. The old laptop I had on hand could not handle the software as it was 5 years older than the one that died. It took a moment, but I finally got to buy a new one which I am using now. As soon as I was able to finish my side of the pre-final editing process, I sent it off to Extasy, but because of the lengthy delays, my original release dates had to be pushed further back. It's now sitting with the editor and should be picked up as soon as she is done with the two or three (maybe more) books already on her table. Once she's done with those, let's say about three rounds each, then it's my turn. As you can see, there is also no cover available yet and I have to be honest, I am a picky one so that'll take some time to finalize. The Symbiont series has this particular aesthetic that is kind of different from my regular books. Crossing my fingers on that one.

Finally, for those of you who are familiar with my work, you're in for a big surprise. The Crown and the Sword is a direct installment to Tarragon which is the fourth book to the Rise of the Symbionts series. Many said it was a Prequel to Rise of the Symbionts Vol 1, and many even categorized it as a Love Story because it dealt with a shocker ending. Well, I fought hard for that book to stay on course of the way I envisioned this series to be, but it was not to be. I had already finished the draft of The Crown and The Sword and even spoke of it in private, but technicalities won the battle. Now that The Crown and the Sword is finally getting published, you'll see why I insisted that Tarragon was not a prequel, but in fact, a stand-alone that would segue Volume I to Volume II. The Crown and the Sword is the first book of Volume II. 

 

In the silence after tragedy and chaos, a legend will be reborn.

A dangerous threat looms over Oryon. Religious fanatics called the razboi, aim to finish what the clans Caprici and Zaruthra had started over three thousand years before. Eradicate the Dacron royal line, inherent rulers of the Oryon system.

In response to a desperate call from Nigul’s last Champion, Tarragon the Great, the first of the technomage kings, is reawakened.

Cheol, formerly Lord Commander Militant of the Level 1A Royal Guards of Oryon, wakes up partnered to a unique and powerful symbiont. With his reawakening are ancient memories that threaten to consume him, pushing him to rekindle an ancient passion that refuses to die.

 

I'd have to warn you, dear readers (in the voice of Lady Whistledown), that this book is not like the others, but it is the first book of a three part series. Once the final book is released, it should all make sense.  I'll leave it at that or risk revealing too much. 

Thank you so much if you have reached this point. I'm not good at marketing or what not, but I can promise you a good read. Once again, I thank you for sticking around and being patient. There's more on my table that I have yet to touch and will try my best to finish those works in progress that I had to shelve because of health reasons. In the meanwhile, for those of you who are not familiar with the Rise of the Symbiont series, check out these titles before you pick up The Crown and the Sword. Otherwise, you'd get lost.

'Bye for now and know that I do love ya, peeps. 

CHECK THESE TITLES OUT!

 

FREE DESIGN WEBSITES for all of us to enjoy!

Hi there, peeps. Long time no see. 

Life truly does like throwing curved balls, but as usual, when one door closes, another will open. And now that all those have been dealt with, I  doing research for my current work in progress as the editing for The Crown and the Sword is being processed by the wonderful, and patient, staff of my publisher, Extasy Books.

There are many things online that makes our lives as writers, authors, or bloggers, simple and hassle free. Given, most of the tools we use involve fees, there are those which are FREE and work just as great.

The following are Free Design Websites for everyone to use and enjoy. This is a discovery I made while on Twitter and one of the accounts I follow put this up. To help spread the good news, please refer to his handle at the end of this piece.

Fontshare

Huge collection of beautiful, free-to-use fonts. You won't find a better site

Storyset Awesome free and customizable illustrations for your next UI project.

screenlane The latest mobile UI design inspiration, websites, apps, user flows

TinyWOW Free alternatives to paid tools • Edit PDFs • Remove backgrounds from images • Edit images • Convert files

Removebg Remove backgrounds 100% automatically in 5 seconds with one click. No need to use Photoshop. 6. 3dicons Beautifully crafted collection of open source 3D icons. 100% free for commercial and personal use. 

Shapefest 100,000+ transparent PNG images of beautiful 3D objects. Free to use! 8. Lookup Design. Find the best design examples. Browse through single components or entire websites.

Lawsofux A collection of best practices you should consider when building user interfaces. Design laws every designer should know.

Designjunction One-stop resource library for Designers and Creatives with a curated list of the best design resources. 

12ft Ladder Found an article that's behind a paywall? This site's got your back 👀 Read locked content for free!

microcopy Create UX-friendly copy, and don't rely on lorem ipsum when designing your website and app wireframes.

uxdatabase The largest collection of resources for learning and working with digital products. All are completely free! Which website is your favorite?

***If you enjoyed this thread: Follow @uiuxadrian

...and now self-publishing is an open option

This. After all this time, it is suddenly open to me.

Note: I did self-publication back in 2016-2017, but I could never get to my profits due to lack of services. Beginning last month, I get notified that I now have the option to withdraw whatever earnings I made all those years ago. Unfortunately, since the last time I could access the service was 2017 March, the deductions dropped my money to ten dollars. 

I don't mind (I do, but what can I do?) I was able to withdraw from what was leftover. Next I get is an email from Amazon saying that because of the new services open, I can resume business. 4 years. Took only four years.

So, stay tuned. I may just drop something there to test the waters. If it works, I will dunk a foot.

Life On Lockdown: An Update On What's Going On With This Author

Hi, peeps! It's been a while since I've posted a blog. The last time I gave an update about real life was May 15th of this year and we'd been on lockdown for about three months. Fast forward to today and a lot has changed.

First off, we're still on lockdown. There was a point when we enjoyed a momentary respite and could go around the island. That lasted a good two weeks but the numbers surged once more, much to my disgust. People acted irresponsibly and reverted to the pre-pandemic days and so, here we are. Stuck at home, fearing the what-ifs, and personally, feeling the loss of a nephew who fell victim to this dreadful disease. My street in my village is restricted from movements because a family was infected. The local government lacks the capacity to provide the proper support so have advised the asymptomatic individuals to stay at home and brave for recovery. Across the street, another family got infected simply because one member decided he was going to brave going out in public without a mask. 

I can go on and on with my rant against those who refuse to accept the new normal, but I won't. I am lagging in my social life in that I don't bother to interact except for direct family members and those of my two brothers. Even then, those encounters are so limited, many have gone to my personal FB profile to find out if I'm still alive. I found that funny as hell for no one had bothered before, so why now? I guess they missed my tongue-in-cheek attitude and sarcastic opinions of the world around me. Truth is, I closed that particular page because I cannot bear seeing the many profile updates all involving lit candles (this is a local code that someone in the family of a friend died of the virus). 

Enough of real life. Let me talk about work. 

Well, I published a book, It's Not That Complicated. This story is very different from the ones I've written before in that it involves a character who has 5 alpha reductase syndrome. Sales are okay after an initial interest that propelled it to eXtasy Books' Bestseller list. It's currently available on Amazon, so if you're interested, go check it out. Available in Kindle and Paperback formats.

Coming soon are two books. I don't have the exact publication dates, but I do know Calling Birds will be released sometime in early December. I'm not allowed to say anything about this yet so I'll have to keep mum about it. Sorry! Rules are rules.

An Auction of Roses still has to go through the editing process, but I already have the cover. I can't tell what it's about yet, but it's actually a sequel to Winter Roses, Seasons To Love Book #1.

What else? Oh, yes. I am currently working on the second installment to Heart Held Hostage (HHH). Its style is very different from what you're used to coming from me. In fact, I must admit that my current style has changed. This pandemic did something to me, brought out so many feelings and thoughts I'd never before imagined.  After HHH, I'm going to either go write the last installment of the Taboo Series or the fifth installment to the Rise of the Symbionts. 

Am I working on anything else? Well, yes, and no...I'm doing research for another story. In fact, it doesn't have a working title and it's the third installment to Seasons to Love. But my muses [👇] are naughty individuals who take up a lot of my time and imagination with their constant life updates that's sent me to heaven several times a week. I'm exhausted, but I am obsessed with them, so no worries. TThis means that it may take some time to finish that particular sotry, or I may just decide to drop whatever I am working on so I can write the story and be done with everything. I'm really not the best when it comes to decisions, especially when my characters keep talking to me. They are so noisy! At least I, as well as you, are reassured that I am not running out of stories. Also, there's the fun fact that I have an entire folder of stories I have plotted out and have yet to finish. I'm not going to run out of stories any time soon, I can promise you that.

👇

For now, I am not writing because of doctor's orders. My tendonitis is making eating impossible except using my right hand. I can't type without having to take medication for the pain. Another week or so of complete rest and I can go back full-time. 

If you've reached this point, I thank you sincerely. I love you, peeps, and I hope you have the patience to continue reading my stories.💗

Life Update

Hi, peeps.

I know, I know, it's been a while. Forgive me. Life took a turn, and it has been a troublesome time for my family. COVID19 brought in a complication that took everyone around the world by surprise and added a weight that was heavy to carry, even when we had to do it all together. Fortunately, my family is alive and healthy, safe, and out of danger. I can't talk about what happened last November, but I'm just grateful that everything panned out and we all had the chance to recover. In the end, it opened a few opportunities for my family and we're slowly adjusting to our new normal. It also revealed who our true family and friends were.

All the doors closing and all of those that opened alternative paths for us also took a toll on my creativity. Curiously, the lockdown on my island gave me the opportunity to sit, munch on food, and do nothing. The couch potato (me) binge-watched on Korean dramas over at Netflix. I particularly enjoyed Haechi, The Beauty Inside, Here To Heart, and Diary of A Night Watchman. There's another I'm currently watching, The King: Eternal Monarch. I can honestly say, I found a whole new world that allowed me to enjoy romances all over again. After all the angst in my real life, I definitely needed it.

What's my good news?

Well, the rekindled love for romance didn't get me to open books to re—it opened my mind, woke up my muse, and I got to write and finish a whole new story. It's over 70K long, and I'm still tweaking it to fill up the holes I left open in my bid to run after my sprinting muse. I got to finish it last night and had a long chat with my publisher. The only sad part is I settled on this title that may have to be scrapped because of copyright issues. To solve the issue, I will submit the original title but will add in alternate titles that will not be copyrighted. I'm not upset, I was well aware of its potential copyright issue, that's why I initiated the chat with my publisher. What the title will end up to be, I'll keep you updated.

As for future works?

I'm with eXtasy Books. They are a stellar company with a professional staff, I couldn't ask for more. To top it off, they pay on time. Will I ever self-publish again? Maybe. Maybe not. I'll update you all when the time comes.

For now? I'm hoping you're all coping in this world that's filled with uncertainty. Give yourself a break. Set limits to yourself so you don't get burned out. Relax. Take a deep breath. Take time with family and friends. Look at what you have and give thanks, don't dwell on what you don't or what others have.

Peace out and lots of love.

Jo

Stumbling On Gold: Posting On IG From My Laptop #eXbdd #tutorial #authorlife

Hi! As an author, one of the tasks I have to face is to have an online presence. This is easily done, thanks to free apps that actually work: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tumbler, just to name the more important ones. Having this internet presence can be satisfying, and a whole lot of frustrating. Especially for those, points to self, who constantly struggles juggling real life with author life, and the time-consuming duties of posting online. Which brings us to the subject at hand. Instagram. I love it, but I don't like it.

It's easy enough to take a picture using my phone or tablet and uploading these on IG. My problem comes in when I want to post my books or sale or giveaway, and I have to create or grab the graphics from my computer, upload it into my phone, and THEN! post it using my tablet or phone. Too many steps. Too much drama. So I'll just stick to posting only once in a while on my IG, or just post a nice update on my FB and hope it syncs with IG.

Imagine my delighted surprise, when I stumbled on something truly golden: the ability to post on IG from my laptop. I wanted to share this with my fellow eXtasy Books/Divine Destinies authors because I know, we all know, THE STRUGGLE IS REAL!

If you've made it this far, read on ahead.

When Will The Drama Ever Cease? Cancel Culture in the MM Writing World

Toxic. That's the word that comes to mind when I am met day after day after day with drama. It doesn't matter what kind of drama, they're all downers, but it's especially the toxic types of drama that could have been and should be avoided.

The resulting cancel culture does not detoxify, it intensifies.

Old Men In My House: A True Tale of Getting Pranked by Supernatural Beings

Growing up, I lived in a huge house. It wasn't old, but the land it stood on was known for its supernatural dwellers. My grandparents didn't believe in such things, especially my grandfather who was a well-educated man. My grandmother didn't believe in such things either. Although I wondered how she knew all the tales and never hesitated to use them as an arsenal against us naughty children. My father was different. He loved to tell tales of the supernatural, most of which were based on his own experiences. If you are familiar with my Hidden Series, those are just samples of the tales he told me as a child. And I used to love listening to him, especially in the dark of too-hot nights that made sleep elusive. So, I guess you can say that as I grew up, the supernatural was fact. And this is where my tale begins.

An Interview with Seelie Kay: Author of Cult, Part of The Feisty Lawyers Series @Interview @Excerpt

Update: The WIPs and What's Coming Next

Current WIP: Too many LOL
Let me break it down for you.

At this minute, I just closed Chapter Four of A Calling Bird, my take on the 12 Days of Christmas 2019 eXtasy Books Call For Submissions. I have three or four more to go, so hopefully, I should be done this Sunday. I put a pretty tight schedule for myself. I aim to finish at least one chapter a day. Easily done on normal days. Unfortunately, there are quite a few distractions. This is the reason why I decided to get off social media for a while until I finish it. But then I got distracted and decided to give you guys an update.

Another in the works is Tarragon Rising. This is the fourth installment to the Rise of the Symbionts Vol. I series I got going.

Third...I am not quite sure what this is exactly, but it's definitely a Hidden installment. October is coming up and I want this done and out by then.

Taboo, the fifth installment is in the works. I'm not sure when this is going to be released. I'll give another update as soon as.

Now, what's Coming Soon? Three books. All three are short paranormals, again, sorry about that. I know some of you don't really like novellas, but I love writing them. Also, when I saw the call, I knew I needed to get the stories out there.

• Staked: Unchained, with Lynn Michaels: Unchain the vampire? Let the carnage begin.
• Scorched Souls: His Gentle Incubus: A not so typical love story.
• Staked: The Knockers: Can a vampire be mastered?

What about the others? Well, they're on hold until I get through with my current ones. Until then, take advantage of the Mother's Day Savings Event. It's good until May 16th...that's only hours left! Click HERE for my back titles and enjoy great discounts.

Here's the cover for His Gentle Incubus. This is the same cover for all of the books included in the Scorched Souls books.

Link

How To Read My Stories So No One Freaks Out

I've been asked a lot about my books, especially the series ones. I have several. The common question is why I write the way I do. I find that strange. Why ask me that? I mean, it is my imagination that's working here, so there is no why, only when. When shall I finish? When will I release the next installments? Another question I will willingly answer is the how. How do I write? How do I process the stories in my head? How does one read your series?

That last question has been added because lately, I've been finding myself trying to explain a whole lot of things regarding the hows of reading my stories. So. Here's my reply to some of those readers who have reached out (most have not).

READ THE BOOK SERIES IN ORDER OF RELEASE

That's it. There's no complicated process to it. With that advise in mind, please also remember that coming in on the 3rd or 4th of the series and getting lost is to be expected. Why? Because when I write an ongoing series, it means it is an ongoing story. Meaning, other books will be released and these will continue the original or first book.

List of Ongoing Series

Rise of the Symbionts, Vol. I

(Please take note, there are other volumes to follow. I know there's Volume II)

The Adventures of Marcus Kildud

Taboo Series

Chronicles of the Serai
 CyNapse Security, Inc.
The Phantom Hunters
Boys Next Door (with Ann Mickan)

Things are somewhat different with my Hidden Series and Tales From the Archipelago. These are a collection of stories, rather than ongoing. Each story is a stand-alone. None of the men know each other, they don't even live in the same timelines or countries. Sometime I will drop another and it won't affect the reading.

I hope this clears things up a bit. Now let me go back to my long overdue update on my WIPs which are piling up as we speak.

Have fun reading my stories and if you can leave an encouraging review, please do.


P.S. My stories are romance-based. They are all HEA or HFN. All are erotic, so for those who get a little shocked, please be reminded, I write erotic gay stories. Oh! And all my men are adults and have consensual sex. Peace!

#CopyPasteCris My Take On The Latest Brouhaha of #Plagiarism In The Writing World: STOP APOLOGIZING!

Another scandal has hit the writing community. Another author (some say she doesn't deserve the title as she was caught red-handed to copy-pasting and hiring a ghostwriter) has been named and shamed: Cristiane Serruya. You can Google her name and the articles flood in: at last glance of the #CopyPasteCrisList, she had plagiarized no less than twenty-three six nine ( 23 26 29) - yes! 2369!! works including recipes ladies and gents. To make it clearer: 29 books from 26 different authors, 2 recipes, and 2 articles. (I've had to edit this part several times as the numbers kept changing on me). As the hours pass by, the list is getting longer and stranger. I mean, she plagiarized a recipe for crying out loud. To add insult to injury (I don't know who is injured so please, bear with me) SHE NEVER PAID THE GHOSTWRITERS!  Que horror!

No one can make this up! 

Of course, just like all of the (legitimate) authors out there, I am enraged but at the same time understanding of why she went this route. Enraged because she scammed everyone into getting into the coveted New York Best Seller list and made money off everyone by duping them, and she basically stole from the authors not only their words, but their thoughts and then their money. Talk about ...I won't say it! I won't!

As for understanding...well...greed peeps. Greed.

Why am I so angry about this? Well, it's because I woke up this morning and I was reading all these authors who are posting on their FB walls and blogs that they are legitimate authors who write from the heart out of their own talents. They were defending themselves! One was defending their speed in writing because they had been called out as someone who couldn't possibly write that fast. Another was saying they write too slow and should not even been considered included in the list. Whatever list that is, I don't know. Another was saying that they were or had been ghostwriters in the past or know of ghostwriters who make an honest living. 

Come on, peeps! What's with all this blaming all of a sudden? 

I agree. I know where you're all coming from. Cristiane Serruya cheated and she got caught. She did it. She is the one blaming the game on the anonymous ghostwriter she hired off Fivrr or however you spell it. She had the audacity to submit her plagiarized work to the Rita competition by Romance Writers of America, the same competition where the real author of the work Serruya plagiarized got rejected for whatever reason. Another point to consider, it was not Fivrr's fault either. What Serruya did she did out of her own volition, out of her own manipulations, and her own considerations. She, as a purported lawyer knew that once she is found out, people would call her out. So stop blaming and pointing accusatory fingers on those who are not involved in this scam. Stop apologizing for someone else's machinations. Stop pointing the fingers to yourselves.

No one should say sorry, only Serruya should say sorry. No one should apologize. Only Serruya has to apologize. So please. Stop it. Don't feel guilty if you're not involved. Don't deny something you've not even done or thought to do. What you can do is NOT to do what Serruya did. 

To think that this has topped #CockyGate boggles my mind. 

Now, what am I going to do? I'm going to wrap this post and write. That's what authors, real authors do, right?

WRITE!

Happy Thanksgiving! To the people I am thankful to #eXbdd

In the Philippines, we don't normally celebrate Thanksgiving for obvious reasons. However, the internet has changed all of that, and many of us here have (online)friends abroad who do. Filipinos love to celebrate, we even borrow holidays just for the sake of celebrating. 

Celebration for us means lots of food on the table where the family and friends gather around to share the goodies. Most times, the host of the celebration does all the cooking, but potluck is becoming a norm as well. It's great to taste the delicious specialty foods that each friend or family bring along. 

For this year, I am truly thankful for all of the opportunities and blessings that came my and my family's way. I am also grateful to my detractors, for they did distract me for a while and I allowed them to, but in the end, I persevered and am now a much stronger person than before. Also, I would like to thank my publisher, eXtasy Books. I have not been truly active this year, but I continue to enjoy their support. To my readers. Truly, you amaze me every day. You keep me up, especially when I see good (& bad) reviews. You all make me want to be a better writer so you can continue to read more stories. To my friend and co-author, Ann Mickan. Dear, you I love. I also thank you for being who you are and staying strong. To my cover artist and co-author in the eXtasy Books stable, Angela Waters a.k.a. Taryn Jameson. I thank you for your continued strength. You make me see the good in all of us. To my boss Tina Haveman. You may spank me once in a while, but you do it with love, and that I thank you for you make me continue to grow. To Laura MacNellis. Dear editor. Editor dearest :D And then there's Jay and Bri, the women who scare me the mostest and are the bestest support in eXtasy. You are superwomen! 

This year has been pretty extraordinary. I rediscovered someone who I grew up with and sat next to in school. Someone who I called my best friend way back in highschool. Isobelle Cate (Mia), reconnecting was exciting and a blessing. Love you, girl!

I can't let this thanking post go without mentioning these four wonderful and beautiful women. All online friends, but are buddies all around. Susan Mac Nicol, Alina Popescu, Bronwyn Heeley, and Lynn Michaels. Girls!!!!! You are always there. Whenever I want to disappear, you pull me out of the hole and kick my ass. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Finally, to all of my friends, here and abroad, be you here with us in the flesh or remain anonymous online, I wish you the bestest Thanksgiving this year. 

#eXbdd Seelie Kay Talks Snatching Diana #Interview #ComingSoon #Excerpt

Today, I welcome Seelie Kay, writer of intriguing stories with a legal backdrop where something kinky happens. We talk with her today about her latest release, Snatching Diana and what she says is a great read by itself.

Q. Why do you write romance?

Because I am fascinated by the games people play to find and secure a lasting relationship, which is not always love. There’s the chase, the courtship, the falling, the surrender. That’s what I try to capture in my stories.

Q. Do you prefer a certain type of romantic hero?

I adore smart, dashing gentlemen who aren’t afraid to live on the edge. They can be a bad boy, a billionaire, a prince, or a secret agent. That hint of danger just hooks me!

Q. Why did you write “Snatching Dianna?”

Actually, for two reasons. First, when writing the Kinky Briefs series, there were certain couples I fell in love with: The Sheikh and his American lawyer wife who sue terrorists on behalf of their victims, the police chief (with a preference for handcuffs) and his criminal defense attorney wife who seek to right wrongs, and the covert agent and his law professor wife, who are smart, funny, and incredibly hot! Each of these couples have wonderful relationships and incredible lives. And each and every one of them is dedicated to preserving justice. I wanted their stories to continue. So, I created the Feisty Lawyers series. Second, “Snatching Dianna” deals with a law student who is kidnapped by a slave trafficking cartel. This plot permitted me to focus not only on the continuing problem of slave trafficking, but also on the investigative issues behind finding a missing adult. In this story, there is no evidence and no witnesses. It’s takes a lot of investigative savvy to piece together seemingly unrelated clues. I love complex puzzles and this story lets me go wild!

Q. Why slave trafficking? That seems like such an uncomfortable subject.

My book ends with this statement: Experts say that more than 3,000 people around the world are sold, kidnapped, or forced into slavery each day, many of them children. Even in the United States, men, woman, and children are snatched off the streets for the purpose of human slavery. Slave traffickers do not discriminate by race, gender, religion, education, or socio-economic status. Victims of slave trafficking come from all walks of life, as do those who traffic in humans. It is a crime of international proportions and one that requires committed international cooperation.

As a lawyer and a human being, I think it is a topic worth calling attention to.

Q. This book includes three very different couples. Wasn’t it a little hard to keep track?

(laughs) At times. However, each couple is at a different stage in their lives and each took a different journey to find one another. That helps to keep them separate.

Q. Romantic suspense is a new genre for you. You’re most known for your Kinky Briefs series, which are collections of stories about lawyers in love, with a dash of kink. Why the shift from erotic romance?

I have always had a preference for mysteries and thrillers. I enjoy plots that challenge the mind. Plus, I am a big James Bond fan. My characters still enjoy erotic, loving relationships, but now the action focuses on solving a dilemma or crime. Instead of “metaphorical guns,” these characters wield real ones. (Wink!)

Q. How does your former profession as a lawyer impact your writing?

After 30 years, the law and the legal world are so firmly embedded in my brain that I can’t flush them out. That has become the lens through which I view the world and that naturally guides my characters and plots. Little peculiarities that I have witnessed in lawyers and the law always work their way into my stories.

Q. Any plans to write outside the romance genre completely?

Actually, I ghostwrite non-fiction for other professionals—doctors, lawyers, financial gurus—so I dip my toes into a lot of different genres. However, I have been itching to write a book about a relative who founded a religious cult. I researched it for years and found a lot of information that had been buried. I have a pile of paper a foot high. Someday, I need to go through it carefully and start writing. I have the interest, just not the time.

Q. The cover of the book clearly says “Snatching Dianna” is part one in the Feisty Lawyers Series. How many more books can we look forward to?

At this point, I’m not sure. In each book, I introduce new characters with compelling stories, so it is difficult to predict how and when their stories will be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. However, the second book, “Infamy,” is in the queue, and I have a good start on the third, “Cult.” There should be at least one more after that.

(Released10/19 by eXtasy Books)

Publisher: http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2263-9-snatching-diana/

Amazon: Coming soon

Barnes and Noble: Coming soon

The hours are counting down as investigators try to prove that Dianna Murphy has been snatched. Unfortunately, without witnesses and solid evidence, all the police really know is that she is missing.

When suburban Milwaukee law student Dianna Murphy fails to connect with her roommate, there is no real evidence that she has been snatched. Until Law Professor Janet MacLachlan, a former covert agent, discovers a single clue, one that points to a taking by a slave trafficking cartel. In a race against time, Janet recruits her husband, secret agent Cade Matthews, small-town Police Chief David Manders and his wife, criminal defense attorney Julianna Constant, and other

law students to uncover the truth. Can they prove she has been taken, before Dianna disappears without a trace?

Romantic Suspense (Three Flames)

Excerpt:

After what seemed like hours in the sweltering van, it lurched to a stop.

Dianna heard a man bark orders. A door to the van opened and someone pulled the rope from her feet, then removed her hood. She took a deep breath. A man grabbed her by the arm, forced to her feet, and pulled from the van. Dianna stumbled when she hit the ground. The stones were hot and her feet were covered by athletic socks, no shoes. Show no weakness.

Dianna immediately surveyed her surroundings. It was still night, but she was in a well-lit courtyard. A large stone mansion stood in front of her. She looked to her right, then her left. The courtyard was enclosed by a large stone fence, at least eight feet high. A fortress. Fortunately, Dianna was a rock-climber. She could rappel over the fence with the right equipment. All she would need was something to serve as a pick, maybe a rope. A knife, a screwdriver, even a fork. Keep your eyes and ears open. Be ready.

A large black man, dressed in a white suit and a maroon turban, walked out of the front door and down the stairs. He stopped and flashed a malevolent smile. He flung his arms wide and in a cultured baritone boomed, “Welcome to paradise, ladies. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

Some of the guards laughed.

“Crikey,” Tillie muttered. “Sounds like a blasted genie.”

Dianna glanced sideways and for the first time, got a look at her new friend. She was tall and thin, her body well defined. She looked strong and aware, almost fierce. Her eyes seemed to be studying the place, taking everything in. She showed no fear. Instead, she seemed interested. Something was off. Tillie did not act like a victim as the others did. She was not cowed. Was she a cop? Or like Dianna, someone who would not permit themselves to be broken?

There was only one thing of which Dianna was certain. She had found a friend. A useful one.

About Seelie Kay:

Seelie Kay is a nom de plume for a writer, editor, and author with more than 30 years of experience in law, journalism, marketing, and public relations. When she writes about love and lust in the legal world, something kinky is bound to happen! In possession of a wicked pen and an overly inquisitive mind, Ms. Kay is the author of multiple works of fiction, including the Kinky Briefs series, The Garage Dweller, A Touchdown to Remember, and The President’s Wife.

When not spinning her kinky tales, Ms. Kay ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. She resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she shares a home with her son and enjoys opera, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.

Ms. Kay is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!



Author links:

Blog
Twitter: @SeelieKay
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77 
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/

Prior Books:

http://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs/ http://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs-too/ http://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs-thrice/ http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1734-5-kinky-briefs-quatro/ http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2023-9-kinky-briefs-cinque/ http://www.extasybooks.com/the-garage-dweller/ http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1504-4-a-touchdown-to-remember/ http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1795-6-the-presidents-wife/

Coming Soon

Infamy (Part Two, Feisty Lawyers): TBD

Cult (Part Three, Feisty Lawyers): TBD

Chasing Hope (Divorce Divas anthology): January 2019

The President’s Daughter (Stocking Stuffer): December 2018

Update: Three Months and Three Books Coming Up

How time flies. Construction on my house did not go ahead as scheduled. The architect promised three months and done. I have the screenshots to show if anyone cares to see. I asked said architect several times through the course of the first three months that the way I saw how the work was being done, the house wouldn't get finished on schedule. Several times, said individual reiterated their assurance that the schedule was right on...well, schedule.

Fast forward to the fifth month and the architect and contractor had been fired. I kept the foreman and his men because they were just as infuriated and angry at the two. I took over everything. Like...everything.

The good news is, the men stayed on because they were finally getting paid. The construction proceeded at a faster pace and eventually, on the last day of the fifth month, 90% got done. The painter, bless him, abandoned his job. He was connected to the architect and contractor and they diverted him.

I'm not suing them, but I am actively making sure everyone in the community, meaning the city, knows what they failed to do. Word of mouth still works, even in this day and age :D 

All the time the house was getting done, I was too distracted to write. And if I so much as attempted to sit down and write, the BLOCK reared its ugly head. So I relaxed. Enjoyed the new house, etc. I relaxed.

The relaxation worked for the better. As you read from the title, I have three books coming up.

October ...sometime this month, THE HUNT will be released.

Sometime during the Christmas Holidays, HIS CHRISTMAS VALENTINE is releasing.

I don't know the exact date or month, but sometime before this year is over, DIVORCED DIVAS ANTHOLOGY: AROUND THE BLOCK will also be releasing.

Except for THE HUNT, I don't have the covers for my stories yet. I'll be posting those as soon as. 

Title: THE HUNT

Release Date: TBA

Publisher: eXtasy Books

Blurb:

When the hunter becomes the hunted, the only thing left to do is run.

Lieutenant Marcus Kildud and his men are rangers for hire. They specialize in insertion, extraction, escape, and evasion. He answers an urgent request from the Planet Terrus’ Prelate, the Lord Fulsam, whose son has disappeared and presumed dead. 

Their task is to find the ring the Prelate’s son wore. The promised compensation and bonus offered are enough to make this their team’s final mission.

What they meet in the forest is something none of them have ever encountered before. Marcus now faces the unimaginable. He realizes too late that sometimes, running away may be the only option left to stay alive.

Note: This work has been previously published but has been reworked, re-edited, and expanded.

Title: His Christmas Valentine

Release Date: TBA

Publisher: eXtasy Books

Blurb:

Can a Valentine song be the perfect Christmas gift?

It’s Christmas Eve and Vince is faced with a difficult decision. He’s wanted to marry his lover and partner, Iñaki, for the longest time and yet every time he asked, Iñaki always said no.

Can Vince set aside his personal misgivings and gift his beloved Iñaki the one thing he had been waiting to hear him play? Can playing this one song be the secret to getting his Christmas wish?

Note: This work has been previously published but has been reworked, re-edited, and expanded.

Title: Around The Block

Anthology: Divorced Divas

Release Date: TBA

Publisher: eXtasy Books

Blurb: 

Sometimes the second time around is the right time.

Kevin McCallum ran out of a verbally abusive relationship of over twenty-four years. It was bad. Without going into the gory details, he left his house and ended up in an apartment. His older brother, Jason, sends him a private message on messenger telling him that an old boyfriend of his, Matthew Logan, was saying hi.

It troubles Kevin. At the time he’d dated Matthew, he had broken off the relationship before it had gone two months. He’d realized then that he hadn't cared for him. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but it hadn’t felt right when Matthew had held him in his arms. Kevin decides what the heck. He could talk to Matthew, no biggie. It doesn’t take long. Kevin finds Matthew’s profile page and requests a friendship. An hour later, the chat box pops up and Kevin and Matthew start chatting. They chat until dawn. The next day, they chat again right after work. Before Kevin realizes it, he’s telling Matthew everything and discovers he and Matthew have a lot more in common than he realized. Matthew’s going through a bad divorce himself, and with two kids, too. That was not the end of the common things and life events they shared.

Kevin couldn’t resist saying yes to Matthew’s invitation to meet up. The friendship soon turns into a romantic bond, and both men discover that yes, it is possible to find a healthy relationship the second time around.

What Am I Working On Now?

I have several Works In Progress going on, but these days I am actively writing on several series installments. I can't talk much about them but two are of the Sci-Fi category, one (or two) are Horror, and the other two are contemporary. 

That I could finally write again is kind of freeing, so I will keep at it until my fingers drop.

Wish me luck :D