Natasha Blackthorne Talks Passions & Influences…#TrustMe!

I love Social Media. So many of my incredible friends have been met through this venue…including my guest today. I discovered Natasha Blackthorne through a link shared on Twitter by one of the many fabulous people I follow. It led to a blog and a spotlight of one of Natasha’s exciting, erotic romance books, A Measured Risk (Hello, historical erotic romance–something that up until this point had not really piqued my interest). Her excerpt only whetted my appetite for more, so I got the book and began to follow her.

As often happens in the blogoverse, our paths crossed again when we found ourselves on the same Triberr tribe….and we became friendly both through Twitter and Facebook. She was as awesome one on one as her books were! Of course, when I found out she’d just released a new book, I jumped at the chance to introduce this lovely woman to you guys. So, without further ado, I give to you…. The steamy, ever-so-talented, Natasha Blackthorne!

Hello Everyone!

I am very honored to be a guest today on Kitt’s blog. She asked me to talk about my passions and how they affect my writing.

I have always been drawn to observe people and I have wondered why they do the things they do. Where did we all come from? How did we develop? These are questions that drove me at an early age to look through the books in my Dad’s bookshelves. He had so many different interests, psychology, sociology and anthropology. I really enjoy learning what makes people tick. Many times, I develop a story so that I can explore an internal conflict that a person may have and how would that influence the way they interact with life and the people they love and those they hate.

History has always been my biggest passion. I am most interested in the Early Modern era from 1300 to about 1840 AD. I love social history and studying what philosophical ideas were affecting people. I like to study how people lived on a daily basis, what thoughts drove their moment-to-moment actions. I want to understand what it was like to live in the past from the bones outward. Most interesting to me is what would it be like to be a person who had a personality or idealistic drive that put them strongly in opposition to the ideas and expectations of the time. Books on the social and psychological aspects of history provide a wonderful, and often myth busting, view into the past. They can give such a fresh and fascinating second glance at issues and fuel ideas that come at history from a new perspective. I am very grateful to the historians who write these books and they keep me in love with the past.

I have always loved to read. Historical biography fascinates me. It is one way to get under the skin of a person who lived in the past. There are so many stereotypes and misconceptions about how people were in the past. So much modern understanding about people in history comes from their entertainment literature. Such literature can give a view into how people wanted to be seen, what they aspired to be. But I always want to get a deeper view into the juxtaposition between what people wanted to be and what they really were. The best way to get this deeper, more realistic view is to read biographies, especially those that feature many quotes from original sources such as letters and diaries. I am most interested in their emotional, psychological and sexual lives. I want to gain an intimate understanding of historical people.

My Wild, Wicked and Wanton series is an example of how my writing is fueled by these interests. Beth McConnell is a young woman who wants the acceptance of her loved ones. Yet she’s also a very assertive personality and possessed of an exceptionally strong sexuality. The era in which she lives doesn’t value these traits in a woman, especially not in a respectable young woman. And Beth wants to be good. But her inner passions and desires drive her to take chances counter to that longing to be respectable. So how would she cope with this conflict? That is what propelled me to write my first erotic historical romance submission, Grey’s Lady.

 

TrustMeNblackthorneMarch142013

 

I am very excited to mention that I have a new release, Trust Me. It is book two in the Regency Risks series.

Trust Me is the sequel to A Measured Risk, Regency Risks, Book One

Erotic Romance, Regency Historical, Light BDSM, Rubenesque, Novel Length: approximately 100,000 words.

Anne and Jon’s story continues.

Is she insane?

All of Mayfair is whispering the question.

Anne Lloyd, the new Countess of Ruel, thought she’d finally begun to heal from having witnessed the terrible death of her first husband. But, from her new husband’s grandmother to his ex-mistresses, it is all that is on everyone’s lips. What scares her more than the potential social ruin is that even she isn’t sure they aren’t right.

Jonathon Lloyd, the Earl of Ruel, has commanded men on the battlefield and women in the ballrooms and bedchambers with his dominant personality. It tears him apart that he can’t command his wife’s terrors to go away. To top it off, he has to battle his grandmother for Anne’s acceptance as the new Countess. There are times when it seems that the bloody battlefields of Europe were easier to navigate than the so-called civilized graces of Society.

There are those who will stop at nothing to tear apart the fragile bond between the newlyweds. Can Lady and Lord Ruel learn to trust each enough to keep their love, and her sanity, intact?

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Thank you very much to Kitt, for inviting me here today. I enjoyed talking about how some of my passions inspire my writing. Readers who would like to contact me are invited to either friend me or subscribe to my public feed on Facebook, where I am most socially active. Or stop by and visit my blog. You’re also welcome to follow me on Twitter!

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Natasha, you’re welcome to visit any time. As for you guys….any questions for Natasha? Care to share what passions you have that fuel your writing? Can’t wait for Natasha to experience my wild and quirky group of friends!

#ThreeForAll Is On the Road while #FourOneNight Reveals Itself

So, this little Kitt’s gone Katting around, today. Okay, so the play on my name may be a smidge cheesy, but the fact that I’ve been invited to hang out over at S.J. Maylee’s place is true.

Yep, I’m over there sharing a little bit about my book, Three For All, and would really appreciate if you guys would drop by and share the love for me.

But in the meantime, I thought I’d also share a little treat with you guys as a thank you for all your loyalty and support.

My next book in the series will be launching in time for Valentine’s Day and I thought you guys might like to see the new cover. Hope ya’ll love it as much as I do! Thanks in advance to the folks who’ve approached me about either hosting a Cover Reveal or sharing the love of Three For All on their blogs! I really appreciate the support. If you’d like to help a sista’ out, please email me and I’d be thrilled to set something up with you. 🙂

Now, on to the cover…. (I’m going to leave the excerpts to the folks who’ve generously offered their services for now.)

Four One Night WEBSITE USE

Introducing S. J. Maylee and Taking Chances

Introducing S.J. Maylee

Introducing S.J. Maylee

I’d like to take a moment to introduce you all to S. J. Maylee. On joining WordPress a little over a year ago, her blog was one of the first I began to follow. Today we’re celebrating the launch of her first published work, a novella through Evernight Publishing called Taking Chances. Take it away, S. J.!

Taking Chances

Taking Chances

(The Love Projects #1)

by: S.J. Maylee

Genre: Erotic Romance with D/s

Length: Novella

Published: August 23, 2013

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

TAKING CHANCES BLURB:

Lydia’s father walked away from her when she was eight. She’s struggled to not let him affect her, but fears she wasn’t loveable enough to make him stay. Jake wants to love one woman, but after scaring the last woman he met outside of the club, he doubts he has the right. She protects her heart by sticking with her fantasies, and he lives by a set of rules that excludes women who choose a vanilla lifestyle.

The two will be kept in a conference room working together until their special project is complete. If Lydia and Jake hold tight to their bland lives, they’ll always yearn for love that is out of reach. But together they can find common ground, passion, and a reason to take chances. Once they discover the grand possibilities of the love they desire, they find themselves in the very place they tried never to be again, facing unguaranteed love.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18337826-taking-chances

TAKING CHANCES EXCERPT:

“Come on in, Lydia. I want to talk about a few things before we get started today. We need to make it quick, since we need to report to Keller at ten this morning.” When she remained in her spot he added, “Lydia, come here.”

Not wanting Gina to take anything further from her, she lifted her head and walked to Jake. She stopped at his desk, but felt instantly unworthy. Gina was more Jake’s style. She fought the need to lower her chin.

“Look at me, Lydia.”

He pushed her. “Why?” She shifted her gaze and hit him with her direct stare.

“Thank you. I needed to see your eyes.” He reached out and swiped a lock of hair from her face. He tucked the strand behind her ear, and let his finger drag down her face to her shoulder. All the while his gaze captured hers, not letting go. “How are you this morning?”

“I’m okay.”

“Okay? Hmm, maybe I should do something to improve your mood? What would you say to that?”

“Here?” she gasped and quickly turned to look out the door.

He grabbed hold of her shoulders, lifting her slightly off the floor.

“Yes, here.” He brought their bodies together, claimed her lips and swept his tongue through her mouth, awakening her sexual hunger.

She felt wanted. She felt claimed. Images from the night before swam in her mind. Silly challenges from the office mean girl were all forgotten. He set her down and nipped at her lower lip.

“We have a lot to do today. Unfortunately we cannot go any further, now.” He stepped back behind his desk as casually as if he’d just greeted the mail man.

“But you would want to?” Still looking at the papers on his desk, she didn’t think he heard her. She took a step closer. “You would repeat last night?”

Her words stopped him. His gaze searched her face. Placing his hands on the desk he leaned forward and said, “Lydia, I fully intend to further explore your body and mind. After all, there are a few places I haven’t yet completely inspected.”

Her mind ran through what he had done to her last night, and there was only one place she could think of. Warmth fluttered through her face.

“Now, that is a beautiful sight.” He returned to his papers. “I’m going to have to keep thinking of ways to shock you simply to see you blush again.” With the papers properly sorted, his attention returned to her. “Is Gina a problem?”

Gina was a lot of things, but she’d never thought of her as a problem. “I don’t think so.”

“Don’t be afraid to put her in her place. She likes that more than she lets on. She’s the type to push so she can be pushed back.”

“I hadn’t thought of her that way. Interesting.”

“Let me know if she becomes a problem.” His gaze drilled into hers, not letting her escape.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” His posture remained controlled, but the smirk couldn’t be missed.

She added her own version of the devilish grin, which ignited another blush before she even spoke. “Okay, Sir.”

“Trouble.” He stalked towards her and ruthlessly swept his hand under the hem of her skirt to press firmly along her panties. His lips pressed to her ear. “Hot and damp.”

The palm of his hand pressed on her clit, and he bent his knuckles, sending the tips of his fingers past the edge of her panties to drag along her slit.

“Be careful what you say to me, sweetheart, or you’ll shatter my control.” With one last drag of his fingers, he pulled away and walked from the room.

She turned around and watched him go. Her heart pounded. All she could do was follow him, but she couldn’t move. The exchange with Jake left her bones unsettled, and the all too familiar ache tried to set-up shop in her chest. She hadn’t expected him to crave more from her, and now she couldn’t deny he did. Was she going to deny herself the pleasure of getting to know him?

TAKING CHANCES BUY LINK: 

Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/taking-chances-by-s-j-maylee/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Chances-Love-Projects-ebook/dp/B00EPWDHP4

All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-takingchances-1269898-147.html

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate my debut, I’m hosting a giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Click the link below to participate!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

S.J. MAYLEE BIO:

S. J. Maylee fell in love with storytelling at a young age and with it came a deep-seated desire for everyone to find their happily ever after. She’s finding the happy endings for her characters one steamy story at a time.

When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her caring for her garden, laughing with her two young sons, or dancing to her husband’s music. She’s a PMP (Project Management Professional), Nia instructor, and coffee addict.

As a writer she has a tendency to break hearts, but she always glues them back together.

Blog: http://SJMaylee.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SJMaylee @SJMaylee

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Maylee/339463696094996

Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/110475431453091174566/posts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7224328.S_J_Maylee

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sjmaylee/

 

You may be wondering, S.J. your first manuscript is published, now what?

Through the last couple manuscripts I’ve seen a pattern emerge. Thank goodness, LOL. First, a scene comes to me in a flash. TAKING CHANCES started with one scene. I could see it easily. It wasn’t the opening scene though. It was the scene in the middle of the story. With the sequel to TAKING CHANCES, it was the opening scene that flashed first. It’s what happens next where you can see the pattern.

Every day, while I’m getting ready, doing the dishes …, I think about what led my characters to the one scene I have or what leads them out of it. This daily time with my characters is the perfect warm-up for when my butt gets in the seat. I encourage my muse further with plenty of coffee and good music. I’m also never far from my beat sheet. Don’t want the story wandering away from the target.

If I get stuck, I simply get up and do something else on the to-do list and think through the story. Then, settle back down with a fresh cup of coffee and a different play list and get back to work. As long as I keep coming back, the one light bulb moment will turn into a finished manuscript.

I’d love to hear from you guys. Have you found patterns in your day that work for you with your writing?

Thanks again for having me stop by! I look forward to seeing your feedback.