Valjeanne Jeffers stops by to chat

What is your main characters name?

My name is Priscilla Abigail Changeling

Does she have a nicknames/pet names?

My close friends call me “Butterfly”

What was your life like growing up?

I don’t remember much from my childhood since I’m not from this world. Many of my memories were washed away and remain very foggy. I did spend some years in an orphanage before I was later adopted by a maiden aunt, Gertrude Evening. When I was 18 while I was being educated governess, she disappeared into and another magical being took her place. . . watching over me from the shadows.

Before your story began, what were your hopes for the future?

I just wanted to be normal—I wanted to be able to get angry or cry without strange things sprouting from my back! I wanted to work as a governess for family without being harassed by my male employers. After all, I can’t help the way I look, now can I?

What changed that?

The day Mrs. Flanagan fired me a new world was revealed to me. . . a world of erotic delights and freedom. On that day the other Tishri came to me and showed me the path so that I could be reunited with those of my kind, those lost to me when I was a child.

How would you describe your personality?

I am an even tempered young woman, rather prim and prudish. . . except when I am aroused. Then I become a wild thing! Once I am unbound I can’t control myself and I don’t want to.

How would you describe your looks?

My long face is a comely shade of sepia and I have large hazel eyes. My beasts are full, my is waist small and my hips rounded. I try to disguise my womanly figure with loose clothing (because of my jealous female employers) but it never helps.

What’s your greatest talents?

I speak four languages, French, Italian, Swahili, and German. I’ve been educated in Astrology, Classical Literature and Geometry. But my greatest talent is my love of life and willingness to learn and accept new things. I am strong too—much stronger than I look.

Who are your closest friends?

The other, Tishri, and my lover, Luis. Both helped me remember who I truly am

Who do you love?

Luis, a man unlike any I have ever known. He found me in our dreams. . . and the author of my story, Valjeanne Jeffers.

Who do you hate, and why?

’

What do you think is going to happen next?

I will live with beings like me and visit Earth from time to time; whenever I chose to.

What do you think of your author?

I believe Valjeanne knows just what men and women desire most of all: freedom. . . and to love and be loved.

Did she get your story right?

She certainly did!

Do you want another story to show what happened next?

Hmmm, what an intriguing idea! Perhaps, so that human folks could know more about us— but not too much. I would also like to see more of writings about me and my lover, Luis’s erotic adventures. We might even decide to live as humans for awhile . . .

But that is another story.

Blurb:

Priscilla has reached a crossroads. Her spells are becoming more frequent. She can't continue to pass for human—not without making a decision that would turn her into a zombie. Does she embrace her unearthly power or turn her back on it forever? If she refuses her birthright, she'll be ordinary, human. It would also mean bidding farewell to the gorgeous denizen who visits her each night, taking her to otherworldly heights of pleasure.

Excerpt:

Priscilla, a sepia-skinned young woman with large hazel eyes, leaned against

the servants' entrance of the brick house, trying not to cry again. Her bosom heaved

with conflicting emotions...outrage, anger and fear.

I did everything I could to stay out of his way! The man's been chasing me around the

house since I got here!

The young woman remembered the harsh words, from just minutes ago,

between her and her former employer, Mrs. Emily Flanagan. Their argument had

ended in Priscilla's tears and dismissal.

Priscilla felt her cheeks flame. An instant later, there was the familiar warming

sensation between her shoulder blades that always accompanied strong emotion. Her

shoulders bunched and seemed to grow in size, pushing against her corset. Priscilla bit

her lip hard and took deep breaths, trying to steady her nerves.

Mrs. Flanagan had found her husband, the honorable Judge Herbert Flanagan,

pinning Priscilla against the wall, trying to grope her. It wasn't the first time Judge

Flanagan had done this. But it was the first time Mrs. Flanagan had caught him.

Buy link: http://mochamemoirspress.com/mocha-faeryland-31-days-of-steamy-mocha/

Author's Bio

Valjeanne is the author of Immortal, Immortal II: The Time of Legend, Immortal III: Stealer of Souls, The Switch II: Clockwork (includes books I and II), Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds and several short works of fiction.

Her writing has appeared in numerous anthologies including: Steamfunk!, Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology, PurpleMag, Genesis Science Fiction Magazine, Pembroke Magazine, Possibilities, 31 Days of Steamy Mocha, Griots II: Sisters of the Spear (in press), Drumvoices Revue, Say It Loud: Poems About James Brown, The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South and Liberated Muse: How I Freed My Soul Volume I (also under Valijeanne Jeffers and Valjeanne Jeffers-Thompson).

Valjeanne Jeffers is a graduate of Spelman College, a member of the Carolina African American Writers' Collective and The Traveling Round Table of Fantasy Bloggers. She works as an editor for Mocha Memoirs Press and is also co-owner of Q and V Affordable editing. Preview or purchase her novels at: http://www.vjeffersandqveal.com

Why I love Steampunk

Valjeanne Jeffers is an editor and author. Below she discusses the definition of steampunk and why you should be reading it. If you want to try a steampunk title, Mocha Memoirs Press recommends, MOSES: THE CHRONICLES OF HARRIET TUBMAN by Balogun.
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(reblogged from The State of Black Science Fiction 2012)
I love fantasy. I know fantasy/SF is pretty popular these days, but I fell in love long before the genre became the “flyest kid at the school.” There’s just something wonderful about escaping into a world (whether through reading or writing) that’s so different from everyday mundane reality― a reality of responsibilities and bills― into a dimension where you still have the same crap to deal with. . . but now you can became a creature with preternatural strength. How cool is that? It gives you a decided edge over everyday reality, or at the very least makes it more interesting.

I wrote my first novel, Immortal, with these thoughts in mind. The beginning of Immortal was the story of a young woman, Karla, living on the planet Tundra. Karla has ordinary, everyday struggles. But she has a little―no a big―edge. Immortal weaves a tale of portals. Time travel. Werewolves. Daemons. By the time Immortal III is thrown into the mix, vampires have joined the plot. Tell me, what’s not to love? Fantasy also lends itself incredibly well to “what if?” scenarios. As in: what if there was no racism? What if there was no poverty? What if folks came together and decided to change the world. . .?

For those of you who haven’t guessed it yet, I also like to mix genres. In fact, that’s the other thing I love so much about fantasy; it blends so easily with other genres, like horror and science fiction. But if fantasy is my first love, I’d have to say steampunk is my second.

From the outrageous clothing. . . bustles, corsets and knickers, to the outrageous machinery. . . airships, steam-trains, muskets. This is a genre I just can’t stay away from. Steampunk is a glorious mixture of other fantasy/SF genres. And the settings and plots reflect this― plots set in the post-civil war. Victorian England. Post-Apocalyptic America. Or a futuristic world, as in my steampunk story: The Switch. Steampunk, like any other fantasy subgenre is also anybody’s game when it comes to “what if?” plots, settings and costumes. Which of course is why I’m so head over heels in love with it.

31 Days of Steamy Mocha: Valjeanne Jeffer's Mocha Faeryland

Week Two of our month long celebration of our anniversary continues. Our 31 Days of Steamy Mocha adds our own level of heat to the sweltering July weather. These steamy and erotic romance stories contain elements of either mocha, memories, or both.

Multi-genre author, Valjeanne Jeffers, brings a touch of urban fantasy to our collection in MOCHA FAERYLAND.

Blurb: Priscilla has reached a crossroads. Her spells are becoming more frequent. She can't continue to pass for human—not without making a decision that would turn her into a zombie. Does she embrace her unearthly power or turn her back on it forever?

If she refuses her birthright, she'll be ordinary, human. It would also mean bidding farewell to the gorgeous denizen who visits her each night, taking her to otherworldly heights of pleasure.




Genre: Urban fantasty, interracial erotic romance
Price: $1.00
Purchase link: http://1placeforromance.com/romantic-fiction/mocha-faeryland/prod_8178.html



*Note, 1PlaceforRomance hosts our shopping cart. It's easy to purchase, just create an account and download from there.

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 YOU CAN WIN TOO WITH OUR EVERY DAY GIVE AWAY!

Each day we'll give away a gift/prize. All you have to do is give a comment on our blog for today's $1.00 Steamy Mocha shot. We'll put your name in a drawing and pull out the winner. We'll announce the winner on tomorrow's blog. So, start posting and grab your copy of Mocha Faeryland  today.

7/7/12 Winner is Nikki Younger. We had Nikki Tigger win the previous day and Nikki Younger today. Congratulations to both women.

July is about to get HOTTER. MMP Celebration!

Readers!
Next month is Mocha Memoirs Press’s anniversary. To celebrate, we’re going to GIVE away prizes instead of getting gifts. We invite you to join us in the festivities. See below for details.

31 Days of Give Aways
Each day Mocha Memoirs Press will select a member from our Mocha Memoirs Press Cafe Yahoo Group. You must be able to answer some trivia question (psst totally easy too) about MMP. Daily Winner gets a prize. All 31 winners’ names are put into a raffle and one grand prize winner will receive a gift card to Amazon worth $25.00.

To join the MMP Cafe, go here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mochamemoirspresscafe/join

31 Days of Steamy Mocha $1.00 shots
For the month of July 2012 only, we’re offering our steamy mocha shots for $1.00. These erotic or steamy romances are powerful packs of deliciousness. Stories from bestselling authors, Tysche Dwai, Billy London, RaeLynn Blue, and Nikki Winter just to name a few will be available.

After 7/31/12, the promotional price will end and these succulent stories will go back to their original prices. All of the stories are brand new. You can’t get these steamy shots before 7/1/12. Our blog will post what sweet sinfulness is available each Friday and Saturday in July. Available at http://mochamemoirspress.com.

31 Days of Mocha Spotlights
You’ll want to visit this blog to see what’s new. Every single day in July will have a new blog by guests authors, editors and the owner of MMP. You’ll learn about intimacy, how to be a better writer, what drives character development, and more. Some of our authors have penned short stories just for the blog and our anniversary. You’ll want to subscribe to our blog to stay up to date. Also, this is where we’ll post new $1.00 Mocha shots and winners of our 31 One a Day Giveaway

Of course, there’s so much more. Chats, yahoo groups takeovers and more. Join us in the festivities.
Get started here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mochamemoirspresscafe/join