Happy Anniversary and Thank You All!

Buy The Gift HERE

I’d like used today’s blog to thank everyone for making The Gift the success it is.

HUGE THANK YOU TO:

My readers. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. In honor of The Gift’s one year anniversary on May 18, I’d like to thank you with a $30 gift card from Amazon. Please stop by http://www.vsmorgan.com/blog.html on Saturday and comment to be eligible.

My teachers. To Lori Wilde, who taught me the structure of writing romances and provided a candid viewpoint of the typical author experience in the traditional publishing world. This insight convinced me to begin my career with an ePublishing house. To Louisa Bacio, who is a fabulous teacher and truly wonderful person to have in your corner. Such a delightful lady!

My publisher. I cannot say enough about the wonderful, professional people at Decadent Publishing. Many of you wear multiple hats, and you do it well. Special shout outs to Heather Bennett, Valerie Mann, and my editor, Kate Richards. Thank you for your partnership and being everything I’d hoped to find from an ePub house.  Thank you for the amazing surprise of connecting DP authors via Yahoo groups. What an awesome group of men and women who are so willing to share their experiences, promote for each other, and lend an ear or shoulder. When you join Decadent Publishing, you truly join a family.  

My cover artist. Thank you Decadent Publishing for partnering with Tibbs Designs. Valerie took the stock photos I liked and created a MARVELOUS and distinctive cover. Thank you, Valerie!

My fellow authors. I have received very generous support from other authors, which really helped me establish myself in my debut year. To everyone who has promoted for me or encouraged me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

So what’s next? I’m currently working on a foodie romance.  Imagine a sassy chef, a hunky yet brainy cowboy, bratty younger brothers, a matchmaking Dom, amazing Argentine cuisine, and a Quinceañera set in Montana.  Rubs hands together, oh yes.

The Power of Music

By V.S. Morgan

I LOVE music.  I listen to all types of music, although Rock, pop, and Latin music tends to be what I turn to most often. About four years ago, I saw authors posting playlists of songs that had inspired them as they wrote their books.  As a reader, I thought this was the coolest thing ever. I often found new-to-me music. Some of my favorite bands today came from exploring these lists. While I don’t listen to music while reading, I found myself thinking of the story long after I’ve finished it because I’d associated it with a song or songs I was listening to.

When I embraced my writing dream, it was very natural to integrate music into the process. I listen to music to inspire, to visualize (like a movie soundtrack), and to focus on specific feelings such as anger, loneliness, and love.

When I wrote fanfiction, I posted playlists.  It was great to see readers respond with positive comments about their own music experiences based on my posts. 

Today I’d like to share what inspired me as I wrote The Gift.  Four songs were on repeat the majority of the time.  “Far Away” by Nickelback was a great song to concentrate on the feelings of loneliness and longing after a separation and hope – important in my reunion story.

“For Your Entertainment” by Adam Lambert reminded me to add some playfulness to the BDSM play in the story.  Rafael is a true Dom, but he’s not afraid to add some lightness to his scenes.

To embrace the sensual nature of the work, I listened to “Undisclosed Desires” by Muse and “In the Darkness” by Dead by Sunrise (side band of Chester Bennington, one of the lead singers of Linkin Park). 

I chose a romantic piece with Spanish guitars fitting Rafael’s background for my book video.  However, if copyright wasn’t an issue, I would have used Adam Lambert’s new song “Chokehold.”

So do you like to associate music with stories, either as a reader or a writer? What are some of your favorite songs to do so?

Please comment with your email address in the body of the comment field to be eligible for a signed postcard and magnet swag pack!

Bilingually Kinky

By V.S. Morgan

The Gift features Rafael Inez, a smoking hot Dom with a Latin accent capable of making a big cowboy quiver with need. How’s that for yummy? To keep that delicious accent in mind, I included phrases of Spanish.

So what’s my experience with the language? It started in the standard way – a two year language requirement in high school. I both loved and dreaded class. I was pretty shy and reading out loud to the class and doing little skits was nerve racking. I used to dream I’d have to read aloud crazy words like “wsxzytyvzyqxylxyxwqwxzqwzvzl” and have no idea how to pronounce them.

My Spanish teacher was awesome. He knew everyone would screw up from time to time, and he made the classroom a safe place to practice by firmly quieting any giggles or comments. I still remember one of the whoppers I made.

I enthusiastically exclaimed “me gustamantar los caballos.”  (I like to ride horses).  My proclamation was met with stunned silence and looks of surprise. Then my brain caught up with my mouth, and I realized I had actually gleefully announced, “me gustamantarlos caballeros!” which means “I like to ride gentlemen!”…well, a girl’s gotta have some standards, right?

I continued beyond the required two years and was nominated for the Costa Rican exchange program along with nineteen other teens from around the state. I went through all the hoops and tests and then Iwas off to Costa Rica for three months.

It was an intense and wonderful experience living in another country with strangers, experiencing a different culture, and speaking Spanish 24/7. I even dreamed in Spanish.  I learned so much during my time there – keeping up with the mile a minute speech and thick accents was crazy sometimes. Fortunately everyone was very patient and laid back about repeating if I asked.

One time I needed a screwdriver and damned if it wasn’t in my Spanish/English dictionary. I tried pantomiming but was about as successful as Buffy the Vampire Slayer pantomiming Mr. Pointy in “The Hush.” I tried drawing one but it ending up looking alarming phallic, which reminds me of our visit to the Costa Rican National Museum. We were viewing ancient fertility statues created by the indigenous peoples. My host mom pointed and said loudly, “esunpene.”  Because yes, you really need to be told what an eight foot tall stone penis is.

Over the years, I’ve kept up with my Spanish by speaking with friends and sometimes through my day job.  So, how about you? Do you have a second language or cultural story to share? Leave a comment with your email address to be eligible to for a free copy of The Gift.

Excerpt:

Rafael righted his pants and grabbed a few items off the table. He laid a towel on the floor at the cowboy’s feet before crouching down to shackle heavy steel cuffs around his ankles. Peering up, he met a bright, unwavering gaze. He rose with a pair of silver studded leather cuffs and waved them in front of Wyatt.

“You’re lucky Castillo Resorts has an excellent shipping service. I’d be a very grumpy Dom if I had to endure an airport security strip search.”

Wyatt’s eyes widened, but he remained silent as he’d been trained. Rafael placed his hands in the prayer position against his chest and linked the cuffs around his wrists. He stepped back to observe the man towering before him.

“What a strong, sexy sub I have in my control. A cowboy, no less.Un vaquero,” he crooned, deliberately thickening his accent. Wyatt’s body jerked in response.

He hid his smile, reaching for the flogger then straightened, running his fingers through the butter soft leather tresses. “And every cowboy needs his leather.”

He trailed the strands down Wyatt’s arms, his abs, and swished them over his cock and balls. Wyatt sucked in a breath, pre-cum dripping from his erection.

Rafael gave him a hard look. “You will not come until I tell you. Comprendes?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Where to findV.S.:

Website and Blog: http://www.vsmorgan.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5886181.V_S_Morgan

Facebook: V.S. Morgan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/vsmorgan1