Triple the HOT for you: Three to Tango by Alexandra Christian

Congratulations to Alexandra Christian on her new release, STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: THREE TO TANGO.  This is the first in a series of stories located at a very special club--with a red door.

Blurb:"...vampires can be dangerous to your health.”

A truer statement had never been uttered, but when Cali stumbled upon The Oubliette, she began to realize the wisdom in those words. Broken-hearted and bored, Cali’s life had become a string of TV dinners and romance novels. She wondered where her life was going until she followed the mysterious stranger through the red door and entered a world that few would ever know existed. A world of vampires, werewolves and pleasure beyond imagination. Within the walls of The Oubliette, Cali will embark on a dangerous and sensual journey of discovery that will change her life forever.

Read an excerpt here.

This delicious tale is available at ARe, Amazon and BN. Don't forget to see our other erotic paranormal stories at our Mocha Memoirs Press website. 

Spill it! Wednesday Edition!

Hello good people! I know, I know, you're shocked that I was on time AGAIN. Yeah, yeah, shaddup. Okay so for those of you who are not aware, I am Nikki Winter. That's the end of my intro (grin) And I am here today to do what I normally do and bring you the anecdotes of other authors who are almost as adorable as myself. Now normally I'd crack a bunch of jokes but in reality I wrote this blogpost on Monday and scheduled it to post on Wednesday because I stayed up for 22 hours straight and people...PEOPLE...I'm beginning to hallucinate from sleep deprivation and decided to get this done before I pass out for the next few days. So! Let's get right to it! I bring to you, the talented Thomas Olbert...

1)    What made you decide to become a writer?—Question by reader Jill Bryant.

 A: Who decided?  It just came, as naturally as breathing.  Even as a kid, I wrote.

 2)    Besides being a bestselling author, what other goals/dreams do you have? Aka: what do you wanna be when you grow up?—Question by author Shirelle Higgins

 A:  That one’s not enough?  Oh, drat.  I’ve always wanted to be a writer.  Beyond that, I try to stay politically active, as a volunteer.  I’d like to use my writing to promote causes I care about.

 3)    When you write a story that does really well is there ever pressure to make the next one just as successful or do you just go with the flow and let the chips fall where they may? How do you handle the ups and downs of the business?—Question by reader A.W. Brad

A:  Since I’ve never written a story that’s done that well, I can’t answer that.  In terms of sales, it’s been pretty much down.  I’ve enjoyed working with other authors and some fine editors/publishers.   I’ll keep working on self-improvement and promotion.

4)    What’s the one story line you haven't tackled but you'd actually PAY to be able to write?—Question by author Dréa Riley

 A:  I have an idea in mind to write a spy thriller with an underlying ecological theme.  The premise is that elements of the U.S. military and intelligence services conspire to disable the fossil fuel industry and replace it with renewable energy grids in order to counteract global warming’s growing threat to national security.  Of course, that’s a huge and complicated subject, in terms of science, politics and finances.  A very daunting research project.

5)  Do you research stories? If so, what's the furthest you'd ever go to get the story?—Question by author Eden Royce

 A:  Yes, I research stories whenever necessary.  I use the Internet, of course.  Or, I might base a story premise on magazine articles.  I’ve bought educational literature to research a story.  How far would I go?  I'll devote a lot of time, but I won't go over budget.

 6)  When you write a character how much of you or people you know are that imitated in that character?—Question by reader Cherryce Williams

 A:  Occasionally, I guess more than I realize or care to admit.  (Now and again, on purpose.)  My characters are primarily defined by what happens to them (or, has happened to them) and the struggles they face.  They’re essentially functionaries, not caricatures.

 7)  What hurts worse; a bad fan review, peer review, or critic's review?—Question by reader Cece Dreams

 A:  That depends on the source of their disapproval.  If they just don’t like the subject matter, I don’t care.  To each their own.  If they say the plot is weak or the story badly written, that hurts, especially from writers I respect and admire.  I just try to use what they’ve said and learn from it.

8)  Which comes first for you; the character(s), or the story idea?—Question by author Thomas Olbert

A:  The story idea.

9)  Is your writing life imitating art or art imitating life? –Question by author Dréa Riley

 A:  Mainly, it’s either speculation on the nature or potential of life, or a primal scream against something that bugs me.

10)  What’s next for you as an author?—Question by author Nikki Winter 

A:  I’m currently working on two stories, both Sci-fi (a weird contemporary spy drama, and a futuristic space opera.)  I’ve also submitted a short horror story for the “Mocha Bites” event.

And there you have it my friends. Thomas didn't choose the write-life, the write-life chose him. Oh that was just bad. Sorry...lack of sleep makes me loopy. Now regardless of all that you can find more of Thomas here at his blog http://tomolbert.blogspot.com/ and one of his most recent works at MMP here http://mochamemoirspress.com/long-haul/. Now if you all excuse me, I'm going to grab my stuffed monkey and call it a week! Over and out. 

Spill It, Wednesday edition!

Hola! Es a mí a Nikki! Okay since that's the extent of what I remember from 11th grade Spanish, I'll not proceed to embarrass myself and attempt more (grin) Okay I've been MIA for the last two weeks and in all reality you guys should be ready to skin me alive THAT WAS NOT A SUGGESTION PUT DOWN THE KNIVES....I'm simply pointing out the fact that I bring much joy wherever I go and when that stops, people get angry. (sigh) Yes, I am indeed special. So special that I managed to wrangle another "Spill it" guest for this week's blog post. You may know her as the wonderfully talented, Sabrina Luna. We need not waste time, to the questions!

Q)     What made you decide to become a writer?—Question by reader Jill Bryant.
A)I've always enjoyed telling stories & being an author helps me share with others.  I'm very blessed to be able to create interesting stories which entertain readers.  :)

Q)   Besides being a bestselling author, what other goals/dreams do you have? Aka: what do you wanna be when you grow up?—Question by author Shirelle Higgins

A) I've had the good fortune to meet authors who are like 'rock stars' in their genres & would like to entertain readers while making it a long time career goal.  

 Q)   When you write a story that does really well is there ever pressure to make the next one just as successful or do you just go with the flow and let the chips fall where they may? How do you handle the ups and downs of the business?—Question by reader A.W. Brad

A)Even though I enjoy what I do as an author, I understand that it IS a business too.  And, like everything in life, has its ups and downs.  But, no matter what, I take it one step at a time.

 Q) What’s the one story line you haven't tackled but you'd actually PAY to be able to write?—Question by author Dréa Riley

A) Writers get paid TO write, not PAY to write.  I live by that rule, but I always try to write stories which I really enjoy & entertain me as well as my readers too.   

Q)    Do you research stories? If so, what's the furthest you'd ever go to get the story?—Question by author Eden Royce 

A)Thank goodness for Google & the internet!  I'm also very fortunate to know folks who live different lifestyles and have privately asked them questions & gotten info or advice from them.  I also have personal experience which may help in stories too, but I blend it all into my stories to keep them interesting & entertaining.

 Q)   When you write a character how much of you or people you know are that imitated in that character?—Question by reader Cherryce Williams 

A)That's like revealing my 'secret sauce' recipe --and, sorry, I'm not telling!  LOL!

 Q)    What hurts worse; a bad fan review, peer review, or critic's review?—Question by reader Cece Dreams 

A) IMHO, reviews are just someone's opinion of your stories.  I enjoy good reviews, but I also understand that everyone has different tastes & preferences.  However, I will take into consideration feedback & suggestions from my peers & mentors in the writing field.  Perhaps their insight can teach me something new or help me to make my story even better.  :) 

Q)  Which comes first for you; the character(s), or the story idea?—Question by author Thomas Olbert

A) It's a mixed bag, for me.  I usually get a story idea along with a title, then start sensing how to tell the story in my head before my fingers touch the keyboards.  A good, basic outline also helps to keep my story on track so I don't venture too far away from the overall story idea.

 Q) Is your writing life imitating art or art imitating life? –Question by author Dréa Riley 

A) I've always had a creative imagination, but I also add 'real life' elements into the stories & characters to make it all work together.  

Q) What’s next for you as an author?—Question by author Nikki Winter 

A)I currently writing a Christmas story for a publisher, then going to write on a series which I've been asked to write more of by another publisher.  So I think the rest of this year I will be happily busy writing while promoting the ebooks I already have available.

Well there you have it good people. Sabrina has undercover sources to let her in on the subjects she delves into, she has a secret sauce recipe for her characters which made me giggle because I have the mind of an adolescent boy, and she's well on her way to creating many more enjoyable tales. But at the moment you can check her out on her website and her latest addition to  MMP right here at http://www.sabrinaluna.com/index.html and http://mochamemoirspress.com/mocha-buddies-31-steamy-mocha/. That's all folks! (cues Looney Toons music)          

WTF by Janet Eckford

I pulled this one out. Don't know if it's WTF enough but it's all I got;)

WTF!?! Story

Okay, first off I have to say that WTF moments are a common occurrence in my life. I don't seek them out but they definitely seek me. When I had to pick one WTF moment it was really difficult because how does one pick a "favorite" from the gems that have been collected over time, but I'll try.

I don't think it's shocking that most of my WTF moments occur in bars. Alcohol, relaxed inhibitions and my general amusement for those that are desperately playing out the mating game is a fertile ground for ridiculousness. This particular story takes place at one of my favorite bars, a lovely whiskey bar in downtown Los Angeles. Great booze and great people watching. I was sitting at the bar with my bestie discussing the fuggery that was our day when I felt a "tap tap" on my shoulder. Figuring it was someone trying to move in and order I shifted slightly. Continuing with my conversation I feel the "tap tap" again and turn to see two fairly attractive men. One holds up his arm, flexes and waggles his eyebrows. The other guy points at his friends bicep and said, "Amazing, uh." Me and the bestie of course laugh because it was so ridiculous and return back to our drinks and our conversation. Well, not long after I feel a "tap tap" and notice that one of the fairly attractive men has walked over hands me a cocktail napkin and says to me and bestie, "Do you find my friend attractive? Check yes or no." Now what could we do but laugh. I think I should state a caveat now, I'm married and bestie is single. I'm very comfortable with being the Wing Woman. I'm actually quite good at being the Wing Woman. Hell, I LOVE being the Wing Woman because it's the best form of people watching. I can say whatever I want and not worry about repercussions. Well as the two guys sidle up next to us I sit back and get ready to watch the fur fly. Well Mr. Flexy starts his mack while his friend tries to engage me in conversation. I drop the H word (husband) so there is no confusion and proceed to watch bestie do her thing. Caveat: Bestie is not one of those thirsty females. When we go out we actually spend our time talking to each other than her trying to find a man. Therefore her tolerance for bullshit is null. Dude is working really hard and me and his boy are sitting back enjoying the show. At some point bestie asks, "So what do you do?" Well Mr. Flexy pauses and says, "I work for the city." Caveat: Bestie is a cop magnet. It's a phenomena that can't be explained but if there is a cop in the room he will find her. Therefore, "I work for the city." without any description is code for "Cop". I can't help smirking because Mr. Flexy has lost even before he's begun. Bestie looks at me and we both say simultaneously, "Cop!" and laugh hysterically. Caveat: We don't have anything against cops. Bestie's brother is a cop. What we have a problem with are the cops that are on the prowl at bars, trying to pick up women while their wife and mother of their children are at home waiting for them. The "I work for the city." dudes usually fall into that category. Mr. Flexy immediately starts backpedaling, trying desperately to regain besties attention, his Wing Man shakes his head and whispers in my ear, "Do you need me to make him disappear?" I laugh and reply, "No, this is only going to get better." Well bestie looks at me shrugs and I smile with an evil gleam in my eye. Bestie starts asking Mr. Flexy questions, lulling him into a false sense of security. Caveat: At this point he's introduced himself as George, remember that. Well I'm having a grand time watching him lie through his teeth and not even remembering half of the lies. Even his Wing Man has given up and just shakes his head and continues to hand me quarters for the jukebox. Finally, now that the web has been set, bestie says, "Okay, give me your number." pulls out her phone and says, "What's your name again?" Well Mr. Flexy says, "David." Well bestie and I start laughing because, seriously, keep the alias straight. Bestie looks at him and goes, "Didn't they teach you how to keep your undercover identities straight at the Academy" and she and I start laughing again. NOW here is the WTF moment. Dude swells up like the incredible hulk and flips out. Starts yelling about what a Bitch bestie is and what a tease and some other sexist bullshit. She takes a sip of her whiskey drink and calmly says, "Well it's a good thing you have that wife at home so you don't have to deal with Bitches like me on the regular." Well dude stands there frozen for a second and I seriously thought he was going to have a stroke. Wing Man quickly snatches him away and we shake our heads in disdain. BUT that's not all folks. Mr. Flexy makes his way back, throws a card at bestie and shouts, "You know what I am a cop, BITCH." For the sake of wrapping the story up we discovered not only was he a cop, out with his cop friends BUT it was his bachelor party/pub crawl thingy. 

Moral of the story: Don't try and best me and the bestie. 

Spill It Wednesday...ON TIME!!!!

Look at me! Making progress! I'm actually on time today and doing what needs to be done...blah...blah...blah...and all that jazz. Great huh? Okay so allow me to introduce you folks who are new, to someone who is possibly more dangerous than I and Drea combined...(brow raise) I still think TJ--The Jeanie-- was playing around with folks DNA but that's not the point. Wait was the point again? My mild case of ADHD distracted me again. Oh yeah! We were talking about someone on my list of favorites! Nevea Lane! Or as I like to call her--Techy 1.0. Let's just say chick's a bit and byte genius. I'll not say more because I do believe the whole posse is already on the FBI watch list...How about you guys just, you know, read more about her....

Q) What made you decide to become a writer?—Question by reader Jill Bryant.

A) What made me want to become a writer?  Revenge.  Seriously, a fourth grade teacher of mine was always on my case that I didn’t read enough, I didn’t study enough, I was always something ‘not enough’ in comparison to her oh so stellar daughter in the same grade.  I made a vow to beat that chick after that point in everything, including writing. Not to mention the teacher thought I was remedial. If she only knew what was going on in my life at that age…but I digress.   What started as revenge turned into a passion and once I began reading more, I found myself wanting to change what happened in the book/movie/soap opera.  So my ego decided that in order to feed my need for a good ending up to my standards (snotty isn’t she) I must write them.  But as Toni Morrison said, “I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.” It went from revenge, to passion to an addiction. (Nikki edit…I think said fourth grade teacher should be very grateful that Techy either didn’t wanna do juvenile time or she had some self restraint. IJS)

Q) Besides being a bestselling author, what other goals/dreams do you have? Aka: what do you wanna be when you grow up?—Question by author Shirelle Higgins

A) I want to be a Queen of all Trades.  I’ve said many times that I know a little bit about a lot of things.  Whether it is languages, trying to master my 4^th now, or accounting, which is where I work for money, or to become one hilarious screenwriter, I’m ever learning.  I don’t’ think I will ever grow up.  I still watch the Thundercats, I still moon over 90210, I get geeked when I hear about comic book movies… I will never grow up… lol.  (Isn’t she adorable? Like ANYONE around here has grown up…We’re a bunch of teenagers in adult bodies)

A)When you write a story that does really well is there ever pressure to make the next one just as successful or do you just go with the flow and let the chips fall where they may? How do you handle the ups and downs of the business?—Question by reader A.W. Brad

Q)Pressure? There is always pressure, and I think as authors we are our own worst enemy when it comes to pressure.  We are never satisfied with what we write, which is why most won’t revisit what they write because they will try to rewrite it.   There is always going to be that pressure, whether it is in your own head, from critics, from family, there is always going to be some form of pressure.  How you deal with the pressure is another different story.   I would like to say I let the chips fall where they may, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to hip-check (hockey term I’m Minnesotan by default) the chips and try to influence their falling in my favor.  

Q)What’s the one story line you haven't tackled but you'd actually PAY to be able to write?—Question by author Dréa Riley  

A)The one story line I haven’t tackled is the dark side of love.   I try to keep my topics light, and I try to stay on the funny side of things, but there is always a dark side somewhere… Love makes you do crazy things… I would love to freak someone out of their comfy chair but bring them back down lightly.

Q)Do you research stories? If so, what's the furthest you'd ever go to get the story?—Question by author Eden Royce  

A)Yes, even the simple things I research.  When I wrote Java Rain, I researched a lot for a short read, like where is the coffee produced in New Guinea, things like that.  What is the furthest I’ve ever gone for a story… don’t drink anything right now because you will spit it out… I was a stripper, for two days, made some money, not enough to stay but good fodder for books.  (Nikki edit…I…I…nope…no comment. Love you Techy!)

Q)When you write a character how much of you or people you know are that imitated in that character?—Question by reader Cherryce Williams  

A)There is a piece of myself in every character I write, from male to female.  I try to inject realness as much as possible even though what we do is create fantasy.  If you have that certain level of realism in every character, readers don’t feel that sense of ‘oh that will never happen.

Q)What hurts worse; a bad fan review, peer review, or critic's review?—Question by reader Cece Dreams

A)Peer reviews hurt the most because as peers, do we ever get the right to rag on someone who is just starting out?  I mean we’ve all been there, at the beginning, when we were still learning and figuring out our voice.  To have a peer totally kneecap a newbie with the crowbar is just hurtful.

Q)Which comes first for you; the character(s), or the story idea?—Question by author Thomas Olbert

A)For me, it is the character.  The character usually determines what happens in the story.

Q) Is your writing life imitating art or art imitating life? –Question by author Dréa Riley

A)It is definitely art imitating life.  Although in some cases it needs to be ‘fancied’ up to make it less surreal and more believable.

Q)What’s next for you as an author?—Question by author Nikki Winter

A) There is a series I’m desperately trying to finish and I’m working on writing action/thriller within the romance.  That is my next step to taking on the world. 

And there you have it people. The inner workings of Nevea's mind. She sounds pretty sane doesn't she? Surprised? ooooh I'm telling her you said that you thought she was crazy! Nope, don't deny it now! (grin) Now who looks crazy? (eye roll) Anyways I think you all should know one of her newest additions to MMP can be found here http://mochamemoirspress.com/beauty-the-geek-aquarian-stars/ and that you should really go and buy it...no...seriously DO IT....