Le's Get This Wicked Party STARTED

Regina Carlysle says...

First off, let me say thanks for joining us in this wicked journey. Our blog promises to be a lot of fun and we're kicking off a week-long bash with sassy chatter and lots of prizes so come by, kick off those heels (because we KNOW you want to), grab a bottle of bubbly and we'll celebrate together!

We'd like to start out telling you about the Wicked Writers we love and why we indulge in wicked writing ourselves. As for me, I never cared too much about The Rancher's Secret Baby or The Millionaire Shiek's Bride, yada, yada, type books. My passion for romance started with The Flame and The Flower by the late, wonderful Kathleen Woodiwiss. I still have my copy of the book and though the pages are worn and yellow, I wouldn't be able to part with it. I've read it a million times. Years ago, a bookseller friend started introducing me to other authors and finally she said...hey, you like em HOT, don't you? Hell, yeah, was my response so she quickly fixed me up with the hottest work available at the time. I quickly fell in love with Susan Johnson. OMG...Hazzard Black and the subsequent stories about his kids swept me away. HOT HOT HOT. Then I moved on to her Russian princes. My love affair with her work continues to this day. The woman rocks!

Then, I truly crossed over to the DARK SIDE and began reading my all time favorite erotic romance author, Robin Shone. The Lover, Gabriel's Woman, and The Lady's Tutor held me breathless. She weaves an eroticism into her work that, in my view, is without equal. I would truly like to be her when I grow up.

As for my own writing career, I wrote HOT when it wasn't all that fashionable to do so. I was continually told to "tone it down" or...um...this is historical and the sex is rather RAW for historical work so thanks but no thanks. That was sixteen years ago and now look at ME...I'm FASHIONABLE. Who'd a thunk it!!! My erotic work is published by Ellora's Cave and no one tells me I'm not in style anymore. YAY!!!

Today, in honor of our official launch, I'm giving away a download of my newest Ellora's Cave release, Tempting Tess. Entering is simple. Leave a comment and tell us who is YOUR favorite HOT author and WHY. I'll draw names tomorrow morning and let everyone know who WON!

Anne Rainey says...

There are so many authors out there and I never know what to say when someone asks me, “Who influenced you to start writing?” This time, however, I know exactly what to say. Authors who can write a hot story and make you leap to the computer to search out their backlist. Oh, yeah, I can sink my teeth into that topic!

The first wickedly delicious stories I ever read were in the Red Sage Secrets Volumes. I happened across one at a bookstore, not sure which volume it was, nine maybe. Anyway, I picked it up and brought it home. Holy smokes! I remember looking around my shoulder as I read it to make sure no one was peeking at the words on the paper. I was afraid I’d be caught reading. LOL Of course, after I finished it, I tucked it beside my bed—where I now have a rather large stack of only the hottest, most delicious stories ever—and went to the computer to search out more Volumes. I slowly read their entire catalogue. Yes, I fully admit I’m a fan! Another author who really is in a class of her own, Jaid Black. I read One Dark Night and I think I blushed. And learned a thing or two. That was my first trip into the exciting genre of erotic romantic suspense. Why don’t more authors write that type of story? I mean, you get this intriguing plot and great sex. What more does a reader need, right? A few others that have left me breathless: Lora Leigh, Shannon McKenna, S. L. Carpenter, and now I’m adding our very own Regina Carlysle to that list. Have you read Tempting Tess? You really should. Wowzers!

How did these authors influence my own writing? Well, I wanted more and I wanted it now. So, instead of waiting around for someone else to write it for me, I decided to try to write my own hot story. There was a lot of stopping and starting at first, sometimes I’d just practice writing love scenes, other times I’d attempt to write erotic poetry to stimulate my creative muse (and no that is NOT a metaphor, lol). Those first tries will always be precious to me, even if they are total crap. I think you have to write some crap to learn to write well. Even now when I read I’m mentally taking notes on how to improve. My ultimate goal is to some day have my own erotic stories in among someone’s ‘bedside pile of spicy books’. :-)


Kelley Nyrae says...

Let me start out by saying I'm so excited about this blog! Anne, Regina and I have been anxiously awaiting today so we can get this party started! I'm so psyched to share a blog with these two ladies. They're fantastic writers and also very close friends of mine.

So, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I've loved writing since I was a child. It wasn't until about 3.5 years ago that I started reading romance and once I did I knew they are what I was meant to write. I haven't looked back since. My first book came out this past January and I already have three on the schedule to come out next year. I'm a happily married mom of two beautiful little girls, one four years old and the other six months old. I'm sure you can imagine that with two little ones I have no real writing schedule but I do try and make time to write every day. I'm published with Parker Publishing, Tease Publishing, and Red Rose Publishing. So far I only write contemporary romance but do plan to try my hand at a vampire paranormal if I can every find the time :)

Today we're talking about the WICKED writers who inspired us. I have quite a list but I'll try and narrow it down for today, LOL.

First is Lori Foster. LOVE her books. Her characters are always very family oriented which I love. Plus she can write a sexy alpha like nobody’s business. She not only inspires me as a writer but also a person. She's very active with her local animal shelter as well as her local battered women's shelter. She throws the reader author get together every year and all the proceeds are donated to a charity and the troops.

Another author who inspires me is Toni Blake. She has an amazing ability to make me connect to her characters on a deep emotional level. I always fall in love with her heroes. They’re usually tragic but so darn sexy you can't help but want them.

Last I'm going to say Erin McCarthy. The woman can make me laugh out loud like no other author I've encountered. Her wit amazes me each time I pick up one of her books.
When I describe my own writing I always say it’s sexy, heartfelt, with a little bit of laughter thrown in. I guess that's why I like these three authors so much. Each brings some of the aspects I try to add into my own writing.

That's all from me for today. I’ll be offering prizes later in the week so be sure to check back. :)
Enjoy the wickedness....