Suzy Ayers
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#AuthorSpotlight Cara Bristol @CaraBristol

3/1/2014

6 Comments

 
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I met Cara, like most authors, on Twitter. It seems to be the place we hang out and share our books. We can chat about our projects and progress.

Last fall she invited me to a closed Facebook group for authors who write spanking fiction and it has been a great resource for me. I felt honored to be invited and since then I’ve jumped into SatSpanks. This is The Saturday Spanking Blog blog hop that we are both in, as well as many other fantastic authors.

I read her book Rod and Cane Society book Body Politics. To see my review on that one CLICK HERE! I really enjoyed that book as well. ;) Her latest book Breeder seems to be hitting all the marks with readers. I’ve read some snippets and scenes through the blog hop, which is what I love and hate about it. Such a tease! Check out the cool cover and excerpt below. She’s working on book two and it should be out soon.

Suzy Ayers: What is something people aren’t likely to know about you?

Cara Bristol: That I like baked sweet potato fries with ketchup? J I’m a nester and a homebody who married a wanderer. Together we have traveled quite few places: Turkey, Greece, France, Italy, Croatia, Thailand, China, Estonia, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, England, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Germany, Monaco, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Canada, many places in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. I’ve visited three-quarters of the states of the U.S.

I am jealous I've always wanted to go to Sweden!


Suzy Ayers: A milestone or goal you hope to accomplish this year.

Cara Bristol:  My goal is publish four books this year: Breeder 2: Terran, Breeder 3: Warrior, Long Shot (part of the Corbin’s Bend domestic discipline series), and the fifth book in the Rod and Cane Society domestic discipline series. I’m also focusing on the timing of releases—to publish them at regular intervals, rather than having six months between releases or having three come out in the same month.

Wow, that's a lot of full length books!
 

Suzy Ayers: Who is a mentor or someone that you look up to/inspires you?


Cara Bristol: I would hesitate to name a particular person. Rather, I admire many people for different reasons: some are extremely prolific and can write way faster than I can, some are absolutely fabulous writers, some are masters at social media, and others, frankly, are earning boatloads of money.


Suzy Ayers: What is the biggest piece of advice you find that you give most often to aspiring writers?

Cara Bristol: It’s the same advice I give to authors in general: if you do nothing else, eliminate “was” and “were” from your manuscript. This alone will force you to use active voice and more descriptive verbs, which will enliven your writing. Use the “find” or “search” command for “was” and “were.”  Then rewrite those sentences. As a rule of thumb, limit yourself to an average of three wases per page.

  This is a good one and a new one for me.
 

Suzy Ayers: Tell us the book you’re excited to share with us:


Cara Bristol: I’m excited about Breeder, a sci-fi romance about a humanoid alien world where the men rule, and women are breeding slaves. Dak, one of five Alpha Commanders, purchases Omra intending to impregnate her and then hand her over to his male beta partner. But he falls in love with her instead. Here’s the scene where Dak brings her home (thinking his beta will be pleased):


They had halted under a portico, its roof supported by two massive stone pillars. Builders had constructed the lower portion of the main structure from gray Parseon marble, the top half from an opaque reflective material. In keeping with Parseon culture, which valued function over beauty, the edifice formed a square, its corners and walls plumb, with not a single stone misaligned nor a single adornment to soften the starkness except for veins meandering through the marble in an unruly way.

“My domicile,” Alpha announced.

A massive wooden door opened, and a tall man emerged.

Corren, she presumed, and studied him from beneath her lashes.

If not for his insignia and his brown uniform, he could have been mistaken for an alpha. Corded muscles bulged in his arms and rippled across his chest. His hair was of some medium shade, cropped short like an Alpha rather than chin length like a typical beta. He spared her not a glance but focused on the Commander.

Alpha alighted from the conveyance, and the two men embraced in a Bridge of Amity, a sign denoting friendship or a truce, depending on the situation. The Commander clasped Corren’s bare right shoulder, and the beta touched Alpha’s left uniform-covered one, their arms forming a link between them. She studied the two men and redacted her impression of Corren as alpha-like. Next to the Commander, he dwindled in stature and comportment. He stood almost a head shorter, his shoulders were narrower, his musculature puny, his bearing common. But who could compare to Alpha?

“Kianiko?” Alpha asked, in the Parseon greeting used with familiars.

“I am well,” the beta responded. “Kianiko?”

“Excellent. The ride offered a pleasant diversion.”

They broke apart, and Corren retreated. He continued to ignore Omra but eyed the beasts and the sheen of sweat glistening on their coats. “I do not understand why you travel this way. But as you will. I shall have the stable keeper unbridle the animals and tend to their needs.” He paused. “Tell me about the female.”

“She is unbred.”

Corren arched his eyebrows.

Dak yanked up her shift, nudged her legs apart, and flicked at the ring between her legs. The sun felt hot against her exposed sex, the finger that brushed against her warmer still.

Alpha was focused on her, his head bent, so he did not catch the animosity that flashed in Corren’s gaze, but Omra did. She swallowed.

“A fortuitous find for you,” Corren said. Equanimity filled his eyes now.

The Commander let her smock fall. “And for you. She will serve your physical needs when you require release.”

“Thank you.” Corren nodded, but he did not sound at all grateful or appreciative, not to Omra’s ears anyway. “Now I understand why a courier delivered female uniforms this morning. I almost sent them back to the vendor, thinking it an error, but decided to check with you.”

“The articles came? Good. That was fast.”

“You are Alpha,” Corren commented drily. The familiarity Alpha allowed his beta heightened Omra’s respect for the Commander. Secure in his status, he did not dominate for the show of it.

“Indeed.” Alpha’s mouth twitched as he exchanged a glance with his beta. He beckoned to her. “Come.”

Omra scooted to the edge of the seat and jumped to the ground. She stumbled and would have fallen on the stone entry walk except that Alpha caught her elbow and steadied her. “This is my beta, Corren,” he informed her. “You remember what we talked about.”

Obey. She nodded in comprehension.

To Corren he said, “Her name is Omra.”

The beta tightened his lips.

Alpha arched an eyebrow. “You find her lacking?”

“May I speak freely?”

The Commander nodded. “Your opinion is worthy.”

“She appears scrawny and weak bodied, and I predict she will be unable to bear the rigors of domestic labors, let alone produce your progeny.” He sniffed.

Dak blinked. “You sound almost jealous.”
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Suzy Ayers: Where are you going next? What is your next project/book?

Cara Bristol: My next project is to write Breeder 3: Warrior, and begin editing Breeder 2: Terran with my publisher.

Thank you, Suzy, for having me today.


You are so welcome and thanks for coming to chat with me. ;)

Author Links
Author blog/website
| Twitter | Facebook

BUY LINKS FOR BREEDER

  Amazon | Amazon UK

Breeder on ARe (all ebook formats)


6 Comments

Stephanie Haefner

6/1/2013

2 Comments

 
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I met Stephanie through Facebook, and I mean my real live person Facebook. I was just beginning to think about publishing my writing and probably asked all sorts of newbie annoying questions. I didn’t even know what Indie meant. Stephanie is a traditionally published writer and is represented by Brittany Booker of The Booker Albert Agency.

I posted on a mom board, seeking advice (indie or traditionally published and many other questions), and low and behold she was the cousin of someone I knew. She contacted me and responded kindly. She befriended me and shortly after offered to actually read a part of one of my stories (which has yet to be out). It was an eye opener and honestly just what I needed. I learned so much from that critique and I told her that. I was able to apply that to my work and in future critiquing of others. It has helped me to become a better writer—she has helped me to become a better writer. As a small token of a thank you, one my character’s in Turbulent Heart is actually reading one of Stephanie Haefner’s novels in the book. And because of her being willing to be the first person to take the time to talk to me, I'm incredibly grateful to have her be on my blog. If you want to try out a steamy little summer read I gave her Paradise Cove 5 stars friends.

GIVEAWAY!!

I have a blog event giveaway thing going on right now and goes until June 15th. I'd love it if you check it out. Here is the direct link to the post: http://thewriterscocoon.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-big-fabulous-summer-giveaway.html

Suzy Ayers: What is something people aren’t likely to know about you?

Stephanie Haefner: I dance! I took lessons as a kid but eventually stopped. I started again when I was 22 and I’m still doing it! This is my 14th year! I dance in an adult jazz class with other moms. We even do recital.

Suzy Ayers: Who is a mentor or someone that you look up to/inspires you?

Stephanie Haefner: Many people. I admire anyone who dreams and goes out and makes them happen. Anyone who doesn’t give up. People like that inspire me to keep working hard. Only quitters never succeed. I will succeed someday and seeing others succeed gives me hope that it can and will happen for me too. I hope I can inspire others as well.

Suzy Ayers: What is the biggest piece of advice you find that you give most often to aspiring writers?

Stephanie Haefner: Just keep writing. Write that first book, get it out of you, and then start a new one. If you query that first one and it goes nowhere, write a new one. Keep working, keep improving.

Suzy Ayers: Tell us the book you’re excited to share with us...excerpt/cover/link

My Karma books- A Bitch Named Karma and Karma Kameleon. These hold a special place in my heart. The first was the second book I ever wrote and I loved the characters so much! That book was shelved a couple times and it’s been rewritten many times. Finally it found a home and readers loved Lexi and her story! It was my first full length publication!

Links are listed here: http://lyricalpress.com/a-bitch-named-karma/
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EXCERPT FROM A BITCH NAMED KARMA:
I stomped down the hall, ready to raise some hell. A hand-written sign had been plastered to the door: Sheila Brown— Editor. The scent of a black Sharpie wafted into my nostrils as I pounded on the door. I heard a screechy “Come in” and found a middle-aged woman sitting behind the desk.

 She flipped through a manuscript and didn’t look up when I strode through the door. “I’ve read all your books, Ms. Marshall, including the latest.”

“Oh, I see.”

 She was well prepared for only being on the job one day.

“Marisol Takes Manhattan, your newest and first in a series.” She paused to push her glasses up on her nose, and I awaited her praise. “It absolutely sucks.”

 Feeling like a vacuum had sucked all the air out of my lungs, I struggled for oxygen. Everything around me went gray and the words “absolutely sucks” echoed in my brain over and over. I’d slaved over this book for the better part of six months, making every sentence perfect.

 A shrill laugh blared into my ears. It sounded familiar. I couldn’t place it, but knew it didn’t come from Sheila. She sat emotionless.

 “What do you mean? Are you sure you read the whole thing?”

 “Yes, every boring, plotless, cliché-filled word.”

 The room started to spin and a tingle radiated throughout my legs. Fearful that I might black out, I moved a box of office supplies from a chair and sat down. I breathed slowly and deeply, staring at her, wondering if I’d heard her right. How could she possibly say that? I was Lexi Marshall—a multi-published author. Women adored my books. They devoured them. This malicious statement insulted every fiber of my being.

 My temperature began to rise as bewilderment changed to anger. Ms. Editor handed me my disc, then ripped some sheets from a legal pad and shoved those at me, too. They were filled top to bottom with chicken scratch.

 “I made notes for you. Revise and have it back to me in two weeks.”

 Finally finding the confidence and attitude I’d possessed before entering her office, I asked, “And what if I refuse?”

 “Then you can try and sell your garbage to another publisher.”

 * * * *
I left the office, stomping down the street with my jaw clenched tight like a pit bull’s. I expected the pressure to crumble my teeth, but instead it gave me a massive atom-bomb-like headache.

 How could this happen? Women everywhere loved my books. This Sheila had no friggin’ clue. Who the hell was she to tell me how to write my novel? An archaic, styleless shrew couldn’t possibly know what today’s fashion forward woman wanted to read.

 I seethed and walked on, remembering my massage appointment. The thought of hot rocks being rubbed on my skin sounded excruciatingly painful. I just wanted to go home and drown myself in a bottle of my favorite cabernet. The fact that it was only ten o’clock in the morning meant zero to me.

 I keyed into my apartment and Cha Cha ran up to me, jumping around, her tiny painted nails scratching at my leg. A hyper dog was the last thing I needed to deal with. Pushing her away, I grabbed the wine from the kitchen and walked toward the bedroom. My body yearned for the high-powered jets of the whirlpool tub.

 As I approached the door, high and low pitched moans sounded from behind it like a porno flick on full volume. Were Betty and Floyd screwing again? My eighty-year-old neighbor’s bedroom butted up against mine. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d heard them getting it on mid-day, but they’d never been this loud before. I walked into my bedroom and found two naked bodies on top of my velvet duvet, the woman wearing my black hooker boots. Zak’s hairless, perfectly tanned ass pumped up and down and neither of them even noticed me there. I threw the bottle of wine on the floor, shattering it on the hardwood.

 “Oh my God!” the woman exclaimed, pulling a purple beaded bolster pillow in front of her. My boyfriend lay naked between her thighs and her first thought was to cover her flabby boobs?

 Zak jumped off the bed. “It’s not what it looks like.”

 “Oh, so you weren’t screwing this slut just now? I didn’t hear her screaming your name?”

 He stood there, a bright pink condom still standing erect. He looked to the floor and I took this simple action as an admission of guilt.

 “How could you?” I managed to ask, looking from Zak to the woman. “And in my boots!”

 I turned and ran from the apartment, flew down three flights of stairs to the street and kept on running. I didn’t know where to go, but I had to get away.

 As my feet pounded on the pavement, I heard the laughing again, this time even louder. Could everyone on the street hear it, or just me?

 Surely I looked like a crazy woman as I ran down the sidewalk dodging in and around pedestrians, nearly taking a header into a produce stand. I slowed down after that—last thing I needed was a concussion. Couples walked past, holding hands, cuddling. Yeah, they looked all mushy and lovey-dovey on the outside but I bet those women didn’t know. The guys were probably getting some on the side, too. I scowled at a passing male and when I wasn’t paying attention, the heel of my favorite pair of Manolos caught in a sidewalk vent and snapped off.

 “Can this day get any worse?” I asked the gods, an invitation for more disaster. As the words came out of my mouth the sky darkened and a feeling of doom enveloped me. A truck zoomed by, splashing my cream cashmere coat with the dirtiest, grime-filled muck water imaginable.

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Suzy Ayers: Where are you going next? What is your next project/book?

Stephanie Haefner: My agent currently has two manuscripts she’s trying to sell and I’ve started two new manuscripts!

Well we cant wait! So glad to have you on my page. And glad to show people that Indie or Trad pubbed we can all support each other. We all have the same love of writing, books, and the want to give our readers the best product.

If you want to Find Stephanie or her books look no further:


Twitter | Facebook | Blog/website


Goodreads  Pinterest
2 Comments

    Suzy Ayers

    I have been called the Madam of marvelous tweets and now I have found a new way to promo my friends.

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