Worldbuilding from Childhood Memories

By Sara Daniel

My grandparents spent their entire lives on a farm in Iowa that had been in our family for over a century. Every Christmas and summer, I would stay there for a few days or weeks, raking in idyllic childhood memories from the simple, old-fashioned, hardworking farm life.

My book centers on a dairy farm. My grandparents were never dairy farmers. However, the farmer who lived across the gravel road was. I remember walking into his barn and watching him hook up the milking machines as each cow took a turn, the contrast between the modern equipment and the old rundown barn striking even through my eleven-year-old eyes. I remember my grandparents talking about how tied to the operation a dairy farmer was with the constant twice a day, 365 days a year milking the cows required. I never considered using any of this in a story, but years later the details I needed were there in my memories, perfect for setting the scene and creating character motivations.

One Night with the Best Man is set on an Iowa farm the hero grew up on and can’t wait to leave in the dust. He must confront his memories of the farm, both the good and the bad. And then he must do something else—see the farm, not just for the memories of what it was but what it has become through the heroine’s vision for its future.

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Excerpt:

Susie clasped his palm. “Nice job on conquering your demons. Even better, we have time for a tour of the barn before you have to report to the tent for the rehearsal.”

“I already told you I’m not stepping foot in there. If we have time to kill, this bed is now conveniently bare and available.”

She didn’t take the bait. “You can stand in the barn doorway if you’re too chickenshit to go inside.”

Alex tugged her hand, pulling her flush with his chest. He could seriously get into her body rubbing against his. “You don’t call a Marine chickenshit.”

She smirked. “Prove it, and I’ll take it back.”

Hell if he didn’t swallow her bait whole. “You play dirty. I like that in a woman.”

“I’ve seen the kind of women you like. If you’re attracted to me, I won’t take it as a compliment.”

Alex laughed. If she wasn’t tied to the one piece of property he refused to have anything to do with, she would be damn near perfect. In addition to being witty and intelligent, she had a compassionate side that threatened to drown him in sweetness. Maybe if he concentrated on the sweetness of her ass again, he’d forget about their destination as she dragged him across the back lot.

The sexy professor had turned everything he’d thought he’d known about farm work on its head. What other surprises would she reveal if he took the time to uncover them?

Author Bio: Sara Daniel writes what she loves to read—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. She battles a serious NASCAR addiction, was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels, and loses her car keys several times a day. One Night with the Best Man is the latest book in her One Night with the Bridal Party series. 

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Revenge

Oh, sweet revenge.

Who can resist a good comeuppance story? Even better, who can resist the story of a woman who uses betrayal to propel herself toward bigger and better things? When I wrote Seoul Spankings, I asked readers to tell me their favorite revenge stories.

“What would you do if your partner cheated on you and dumped you?” I asked. The answers came thick and fast.

“That happened to me! I kicked him out and filed for divorce.”

“I cried, sucked it up, and found someone a hundred times better.”

“Became happy. It was the best way to move on.”

Then came the colorful descriptions of how people fantasized about getting even. From severing body parts to dumping disgusting items where the ex would find them, the creativity was astounding.

What is it about sexual fidelity that strikes our most central nerve? And (no matter how much we try to evolve as a civilized, polite society), what is it about revenge that satisfies us in a way no civilized, polite response can match?

While the trappings of Seoul Spankings may seem exotic—faraway country, unfamiliar food, new language, and intercultural experience—at heart it tells the story of a girl who triumphs when she least expects it. Stabbed in the back by a friend-slash-enemy who sleeps with her boyfriend, Indigo Adams is doubly betrayed when her boyfriend kicks her out in favor of the new girlfriend. To add insult to injury, Indi paid the bills.

Instead of licking her wounds, Indi receives a gift of a one-night stand and one-way plane ticket to Seoul, South Korea. She meets Hyunkyung Han, a drop-dead gorgeous CEO who whisks Indi into a glamorous new world.

It sounds too good to be true, but it doesn’t solve Indi’s problem. How does she deal with her cheating boyfriend?

If you’ve ever fantasized about getting even, Seoul Spankings will satisfy your craving for love, loyalty, and happily ever after.

  

Broken-hearted when her live-in boyfriend impregnates her best frenemy, Indigo Adams accepts a one-way ticket to Seoul, South Korea, and a challenge from her Great-Aunt Matilda: Forget that boy. Go and make something of yourself.

Bruised from an international public relations nightmare as the new heir to the multi-billion-dollar Han Incorporated, Hyunkyung Han seeks positive publicity in the form of a wedding. She consults with Madame Eve to find a nice, well-behaved Korean American with bilingual and bicultural skills.

Instead, Madame Eve sends Indi, a naïve philosophy major graduate working for minimum wage at the local pub. Enraged to find Indi can’t speak one word of Korean, Hyunkyung orders her sent home on the next plane to Spillville, Iowa.

Then Hyunkyung shakes Indi’s hand, and the sparks fly. With all of her professional responsibilities, how can Hyunkyung allow herself to fall for the wrong woman? How can Indi feel attraction for a woman who despises her?

Seoul Spankings offers a light-hearted romp through the perils and joys of navigating an intercultural romance. Certain to delight all fans of a happily ever after with a kinky twist

Excerpt

“Say my name,” she demanded, startling me with her fierceness. Korean For Foreigners had told me saying someone’s name was rude.

“Hee-yon,” I stammered, unable to form the alien syllables. “Huh—huh-yawn.”

She pursed her lips, circling my chair.  “Indi Go,” she enunciated, in the odd, separated manner seeming to order me from her presence.  “Here I am not Ee Sajahng. I am Hyunkyung Han, and you will call me by name.”

“Ee,” I faltered. Some of her employees had said something familiar. “Ee?”  I grasped onto the only sound I could replicate.

“Ee Sajahng,” she repeated. “Founder. Investor. A title, not a name. Call me Hyunkyung.” This time as she walked around me, her knee brushed against mine.  A tiny gymnast vaulted somewhere underneath my ribs, and I spoke without thinking.

“Can’t I say HK?” After all, her staff called me Miss Go. Why insult her by butchering the sounds I couldn’t form?

She paused behind me, delaying long enough to highlight the ludicrous nature of my request. Yo, Barack ol’ buddy. I can call you BO, right?

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

“Americans are so familiar,” she said, in an undertone.

“Koreans are so formal!” I protested.

“Yes,” she answered, tapping one manicured finger against another.  “Let’s show you how formal.”

Buy links:

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Author bio: 

Cookie queen, wooden spoon lady, and champion of carbs, Anastasia Vitsky specializes in F/F fiction. She hates shoes and is allergic to leather. When not writing about women who live spankily ever after, she coordinates reader and author events such as Spank or Treat, Love Spanks, and Sci Spanks. Her favorite event is Ana’s Advent Calendar, a month-long celebration of books, community, and making a difference.

She is too afraid to watch Doctor Who, but she adores The Good Wife and anything with Audrey Hepburn. In her next life, she will learn how to make the perfect pie crust. She can be found at governingana.wordpress.com and on twitter @anastasiavitsky. 

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The Perks of Having a Fictional Little Sister

by Tara Quan

I probably should start by admitting I’m an only child. And yes, it shows. I’m as spoiled as they come, though age has tempered my brat tendencies somewhat. I’ve always wanted a sibling, but since I was a super-late surprise baby, Santa never dropped off a playmate during his various trips from the North Pole.  

   So I had a lot of motivation growing up to give my characters little sisters (sorry, gentlemen—back in the day, all boys were enemies). When it came to writing A Witch’s Night Out, creating a smartass sibling for my heroine in Flirting with Fire served several purposes. Though perpetually short on funds, Dulcina “Sweets” Gato nonetheless paid for Catalina’s 1Night Stand, which kicked off my series. She also injected some much-needed humor, and served as a pivotal side-character in the series’ second book, Frosty Relations.

   As maybe the case for many baby sisters, Sweets soon demanded her fair share of the spotlight. And thus the third installment of my paranormal romantic comedy line was born. In Fireworks at Midnight, this destitute college graduate experiences the highs and lows of financial independence, kicks some serious ass, and spends much of the book avoiding her best friend’s big brother, a warlock cop named Mikal Knight.

   With the aid of supernatural mayhem and our mysterious matchmaking service, this meddlesome witch gets a storm-filled 1Night Stand of her own. You can find out all about it in Fireworks at Midnight, now available at all major eBook retailers.

To help kick off the new year, I’m giving away a $15 gift card. To enter, leave a comment here and drop your details in the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post (or at my website: TaraQuan.com/FireworksAtMidnight)

Fireworks at Midnight 

A Witch’s Night Out book 3

Recent college graduate and part-time cat familiar Dulcina “Sweets” Gato is having the worst New Year’s Eve in living memory. End of year expenses trigger serious cash flow problems, and her microwave just went up in smoke. To make matters worse, her best friend’s overprotective big brother is back in town, and his return threatens to put a huge crimper on her nocturnal activities. The only thing she can look forward to is Madame Eve’s 1-Night Stand service. After all, she’s sick and tired of being a 21-year-old virgin.

   Enforcement Agent Mikal Knight is a warlock on a mission. Having finally scored a transfer to Washington, D.C., he’s now at liberty to pursue the object of his desires—his baby sister’s best friend. But first, he has a vigilante to track down and a mysterious matchmaking service to investigate. Sent on an undercover operation, he resigns himself to a pointless 1-Night Stand on New Year’s Eve. As luck would have it, his mystery date’s identity might let him kill several birds with one stone.  

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy, Interracial/Multicultural

Buy Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | ARe | B&N | Decadent | Kobo | GoodReads

About Tara Quan

Globetrotter, lover of languages, and romance author, Tara Quan has an addiction for crafting tales with a pinch of spice and a smidgen of kink. Inspired by her travels, Tara enjoys tossing her kick-ass heroines and alpha males into exotic contemporary locales, paranormal worlds, and post-apocalyptic futures. Her characters, armed with magical powers or conventional weapons, are guaranteed a suspenseful and sensual ride, as well as their own happily ever after. Learn more at:
 www.taraquan.com

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Excerpt

   “Need a boost, Dulcina?”

His continued use of that god-awful name baffled her. Even her parents and sister had switched to calling her Sweets, but this guy couldn’t seem to wrap his mind around the preference. Of course, the three syllables somehow gained a hint of sexiness when he said it in that Southern drawl. The word rolled off his tongue with a lilting musicality that appealed to some traitorous part of her psyche, the unwelcome effect getting on her nerves in a big way.

   On top of that, the weird physical reaction she had to his mere presence irritated her. Ever since she’d hit puberty, being within five feet of the boy she’d known all her life—one who’d since grown into a gorgeous twenty-five-year-old man—did weird shit to random body parts. Her cheeks burned, her breath quickened, her palms got sweaty, and her heart rate turned erratic. The smug grin he wore, along with the patronizing tone he’d used, earned her best friend’s half sibling a temporary place on Sweets’ list of least-favorite uninvited guests. 
   “You’re blocking my view.”

   He offered his hand. “Of what?”

   “Water damage.” Before she could accept his assistance, the empty space between them distorted. Transparent, flickering waves created a blur, as if two realities had shifted out of sync. Frozen in place by the premonition’s onslaught, she watched a version of herself meet his palm with her own. Their fingers twined, and he hoisted her up too fast. When she crashed into his chest, his arms lowered to circle her waist.

   He drew her closer. She tilted her head back and parted her lips. A storm brewed in the depths of his almost-black eyes, coloring them with swirls of white and gray. A light furrow formed between his brows, certainty and possession lending his face a dangerous edge.

   Alarm bells ringing in her ears, she blinked away the vision and clenched her hands into fists. Keeping them at her sides, she did a full sit-up. Talk about a close call. “Thanks for taking care of the smoke. It even smells nice in here now.”

   Lines bracketed the sides of his mouth. He scrutinized her through narrowed eyes, as if he somehow suspected she’d altered their course. “No problem.” 

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My Dream Career

Interesting fact about Chelsea's Somebody; I am a huge Reba McIntire fan. Don't tell anyone, but when I was twelve I wanted to be the first black female country music singer. Shhh...

I love Reba's show and her music. I sat down one day, watching her videos online, and when I saw the video for "Somebody's Chelsea," it made me think of soul mates and romance. With her being a country music singer, I thought about building a small town outside of Austin with a sexy cowboy whose always been in love with a woman since they were younger, as well as a woman in love with him...both secretly. Since I like to think of all cowboys as being hot and irresistible, tossing in a second one for a ménage just seemed like an erotic/spicy thing to do.

It was a fun story to write.

I wonder what songs readers would turn into a romance story? Leave a comment with your answer and a name will be drawn for a free copy of Chelsea's Somebody by Yvette Hines.

Blurb:

Chelsea McDaniel’s somebody was Rick Forrester. One of Lucky Valley’s sexy ranchers; if not the sexiest man that walked down main street. Ever since she realized the difference between boys and girls she wanted Rick. However, word around town was that Rick had desires that were just as dark as they were passionate. But that didn’t scare Chelsea and she was back in town and ready for him to see her as more than just the little girl he used to swim with in the lake after school. Well, times have changed.
   After her best friend aids her in connecting with the 1Night Stand service, the wheels are set in motion for Chelsea to have her man. Even if she had to saddle up with two of them. Everything rides on her belief that if she can get Rick between the sheets for just one night, he’d see her for the woman she has become: somebody that’s his. However, when she finds herself caught up in her own masquerade, she may lose him for good.

Excerpt:

“An invitation of sorts.” Rick allowed his gaze to scan over the thick vanilla parchment paper with raised gold script—fancy.

“For what?” Stem folded his thick arms over his barrel chest.

They were both tall, but Stem was wide as a bear which served his friend well on his bull ranch.

“A one night stand at The Castillo Hotel in Austin.”

Stem let out a high pitch whistle. “That’s over an hour and a half drive east into the city. Someone wants you pretty bad and wants to keep it a secret from the good people of Lucky Valley, it seems.”

Rick had been standing there thinking the same thing. It wasn’t hidden knowledge where his ranch was located in Lucky Valley County. He’d taken over the ranch from his dad when his parents retired and moved closer into town. If someone wanted him, they could have easily come to him. However, there was only one person in town he could see going through such an expensive endeavor. Someone from Lucky Valley, just not quite of Lucky Valley.

“I have a pretty good idea about who it’s from.”

Stem frowned.

Rick read, “Someone you know desires a 1 Night Stand with you at the luxurious The Castillo Hotel in Austin. This is one night the individual, who prefers to remain anonymous, has ordered everything set-up to your taste.” Pausing he stared at his friend.

“What in the hell? Who do you think it is?”

“Chelsea.”

“Chelsea McDaniels Chelsea? The vet’s girl?”

Laughing, at his friends stunned look, Rick said, “The one and only.”