One side-effect of staying home for so long has been my increased appreciation for romance. My latest novel, Oak Island Vector, has just been released and I'm feeling all the romance along with it. If you Like mysteries and solving age-old conspiracies, Oak Island Vector is a really entertaining read with a strong dash of heat. I think this is a hard time to feel like there's a lot of romance around us. We are all in this together, home constantly and stressed. But, there are ways to shake up our daily lives and let in a bit of that intoxicating sense of spring romance. Ways to add romance into your everyday, at home routine:Set aside evening time for you take a moment for your own mental space. Put on a nightgown that makes you feel romantic. Spend an extra minute layering smooth lotion on your skin. You need to romance your own spirit as much as you need it from anyone else. If you're apart from your partner you can get silly and sexy with your video calls. I have spent so much time on video chats with all my friends and family to stay connected. But technology can also be a really nice way to re-frame romance in these unusual times. Put a cartoon on the TV for the kids and let yourselves have grownup time for some 5 minutes of peace. I don't mean that in a necessarily erotic way. Adult time can be having a great cookie while you talk with each other. Romance isn't just sexual. You have to focus on your emotional connections as a couple during this strange time of lockdown.
How are you staying connected to your inner romantic right now? You can order your copy of my sci-fi reverse harem right HERE. Come along for a wild ride in The Celeste Saga's universe and let me know which character you feel is most like you.
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Bring that hand up if you love sci-fi because I have been a fan of the genre since that hunky captain hopped on board the Enterprise. I had a total blast writing this book, it's steamy, full of plot and will make you wonder just who can hear you scream for pleasure in space. "On board a station deep in space a newly assigned engineer discovers the pleasure of an 80% male population. Durn has just stepped on board The Celeste and has already found 3 of the hottest, biggest men she's ever seen. In this far reach of space she's their wildest dream come true and all 3 are willing to show her why The Celeste is the steamiest posting anywhere in the Federation. Captain Frain has infamous alien blood coursing through his body and Durn can't wait to find out just how enthralling his vibrating nature is. Burt may be arrogant and pushy but his way with women only seems to accelerate around the curvy new crew member. Kyodai hides a secret that Clara Durn is only too happy to unwrap as she plays a game only deep space offers: how many screams does it take before they can hear you in space." A sexy, funny and magical page-turner... A steamy story for readers who love fun paranormal adventure and happy ever afters. What is a coven of witches to do when a demon-cat starts to hunt them down? Between solving the mystery of a very evil pussy cat and discovering a witch’s true soulmate, who even has time to notice time traveling magic has escaped from the pits of hell. Red it NOW You'll never forget this steamy, sweet workout Harriet is finally figuring things out as a single mom with a blossoming action star career when her new, sweet and sexy, trainer Colton makes Harriet realize how much better life is with love. Getting fit for a new movie role becomes a wild opportunity for Harriet to change her life, discover love and dive into happiness, all thanks to a new trainer and the heat of his love. As the hard working personal trainer loses his heart to the talented and caring actress he will have to work hard at convincing her he's the one. Can Harriet decide to trust him and open up her life for love and romance? After all a few years age difference doesn’t dampen their lustful attraction.
Who is an excited monkey? Me, that's who! Mylatest romance book has just been published and I'm so excited to share a few of my tips for getting a little romance in your life- even if it's just in the form of a good book.
A question I'm often asked is where do I get the ideas for my stories? The simple sounding but super complex answer is that they pop into my noggin and I try to remember to write them down. Isn't it funny how both writing and romance share the beauty of inspiration? Sometimes all you can do is put in the work to be ready for when the light bulb goes off. Do you know what I've learned from writing and dating as a single mom? You have to go for it. There is no perfect time or place to start doing what you love. If you want to have romance in your life or finish writing your novel you just have to do it. Terrifying, right? I'm right there with you. Every time I start a new book or agree to meet for coffee I think I must be a little mad.
Another question I often receive is how I balance working, motherhood and writing. Toss in trying to find a great soul to travel through life with and man it is hard to fit everything in. If I'm being super honest I can't do everything all at once. If I want to write I have to put some work on the backburner. If I want to try and date I have to set aside time to put into that.
It is never easy to find the space in our lives to do the things we want to do but aren't wholly obligatory. I have found releasing some mommy guilt over taking time away from my son is okay so I can get writing done. I set him up with a game or an iPad cartoon and we cuddle while I write. Romance is much the same, I have to give myself, as we all have to give ourselves, permission to take time to do something I need. Even if that means our children aren't getting 100% of our attention 24/7, just 95% 22/7. You can find copies of my latest novella on Amazon and all the great spots where books are sold.
As November gets colder and we're stuck inside on early evenings I'm more interested in reading a good story. One of my favorite jobs as a self-employed blogger and vlogger is writing romance books. Why do I write romance, even though I often work in more self-hep and breastfeeding advocacy fields?
Because I love making women happy and one of the big things I've discovered that makes a busy mom happy is having a moment to themselves to read a little steamy fun. At family gatherings this holiday I know, as I've gotten it before, I'll be asked in shocked tones how do I write romance. It is always a little silly how people, who often read the genre, are shocked to meet romance writer. It's a fun job filled with long hours of editing and writing while my toddler climbs all over me.
Those Last 10 pounds was my first romance book to come out as a thank you for reading this blog I wanted to share an awesome 25% off code for smashwords only. If you head over to smashwords and order my book use coupon code SP77W at check out for your icitizen discount!
I love reading romance books but a lot of the time the stories in them are either too wholesome and without any real heat or about aggressive men who do nothing for me. The amount of 18 year olds with a thing for more experienced lovers leaves me feeling cold. So I wrote the first book in my series for real moms- it's sexy, very hot and still sweet enough so you feel good reading it and even better thinking about them after the book's done.
Those Last 10 Pounds is filled with Lust, love and a little Fun Fitness.
Moms need to be more than mothers, we need to be women and to entertain that part of ourselves. I love reading erotic romance novels whenever I have an extra 15 minutes.
Books I love are: Meeting strangers on a train: "Ted meets Audrey on a train from Amsterdam to Paris. Her slender, tall blonde looks have Ted hooked, the only problem is she's working as an attendant and Ted would hate to make Audrey break any rules. Filled with hot, erotic scenes and a little spanking for naughty train attendants. A quick moving story Brett Roman's short story will pull you in and keep you going." Dark Skye (Immortals After Dark): "Kresley Cole spins a sultry tale of a mighty warrior scarred inside and out and the beguiling sorceress with the power to heal him—or vanquish him forever." Lick this pussy!!: I love the humor of this one, really it will make you laugh out loud. We don't get to talk enough about how entertaining erotic material can be for women. We're complex and can be many things to lots of people. So this Holiday season embrace your desires and get reading. It is amazing how much reading can open up your mind and free you to be comfortable with your erotic self. Matthew McFarlandWe continue I Citizen's interview series with an Indie Writer. As it becomes easier and faster to just put books up and out there it is still pretty hard to get any press for indie books without budgets for big PR. I Citizen likes to shine a little on the writers and their stories that might otherwise not get noticed quite as much. What is your favorite genre to read? I don't pick books by genre. What I look for in a book is more than just an exciting plot. I need a book to say something interesting, to make me think. I find all too often that books which fall into a specific genre are written to that genre's expectations, and as such can be quite formulaic. That's not to say, however, that I don't enjoy the odd thriller. Did you write as a child? Not really, but I did read voraciously, much to the detriment of my social skills!
What do you feel are your earliest influences on your writing? Growing up I remember reading a lot of fantasy-type books, like the Redwall series by Brian Jaques. Also Arthur Ransome, Enid Blyton, Hardy Boys. I once faked a week off school sick to read the Hobbit, but got bored when I started into the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. In my early teens I started reading a lot of Jack Higgins thrillers, then Alastair Maclean, Frederick Forsyth, Dick Francis, Tom Clancy. I made my way through most of my parents library, which was quite varied, but which had a lot of thrillers. Another book I loved was the Commitments by Roddy Doyle, and a book called Divorcing Jack by a fellow Northern Irishman, Colin Bateman. I suppose before all that, it was bedtime stories and frequent trips to the library with my mum which instilled in me a great love of books. There used to be a bookshop in Belfast, run by a wonderful old lady named Mrs Crane, which was my favorite place for many years. What do you think are your most recent influences on your writing? In the last year I've been reading a lot of Hemingway, as well as some fantastic books by Jeffrey Eugenides. I've also been reading books by John Green, Jonathan Saffran-Foer, David Mitchell, Hunter S. Thompson. At the minute I'm reading Telegraph Avenue, by Michael Chabon, who is another author I'm a big fan of. I think that I've been influenced a lot by the 'classics' and 'modern classics' which I read at university and at school, writers like George Elliott, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Evelyn Waugh, Albert Camus, Sartre, Muriel Spark, Ginsberg, Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, Joseph Conrad, Ken Kesey. Tell me about your recent writing? Do you prefer short stories, novels, novellas? I'm a great lover of short stories. I like the process of grabbing hold of an idea, then working it into something which is succinct, but which, if done well, can tell a story and say something deeper too. I'm always writing short stories, so expect another collection soon, but I'm also working on a novella, and (slowly) researching a novel. Do you find the writing community online to be helpful? I've found some great writer's groups on Goodreads, and I browse some of the writing and publishing threads on Reddit. I find myself reading blogs and posts, often to do with marketing, and then suddenly realizing that I would be better off just writing! I think you have to take everything you read with a pinch of salt - I've been given what appears to be great advice by very helpful and well-meaning people online, but when you read their work you realize that sometimes it is better to go with your own instincts. What would you most like to do, which you haven't already, that would help with your writing? Take a year off work, create a dedicated workspace and just go for it! At the minute my writing has to fit around work and family, so I don't write as much as I would like, but family comes first, which is how it should be! Any great lines you would love to have written? "The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry." Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms. Do you have any blogs or websites that you think are great and want to share? I blog on my goodreads page sometimes, but generally if I have the time to blog I feel I'm better off doing some 'proper' writing. I like using goodreads to discuss books I've read, however, and reading in general. Readers can also find out about me on my amazon author page. Matthew W. McFarland at amazon.com Matthew W. McFarland at goodreads.com my twitter is @mcfarlandwriter
Q&A with author Daniel M. Fife
What is your favorite genre to read? My favorite genre to read has always and perhaps always will be fantasy. I began reading fantasy novels in elementary school, and I found that the power of one's imagination combined with a well written fantasy novel has the ability to take one anywhere. There is just something about the ability to forget oneself for a short period of time and become immersed in a world where anything is possible. That is why I enjoy fantasy so much. Did you write as a child? I began writing short stories in grade school. Spurred on by the fantasy novels I enjoyed to read so much, I found myself writing stories that I could share with my friends, who also enjoyed the genre of fantasy. As I grew older, I soon began writing longer and more elaborate stories featuring my friends. What do you feel are your earliest influences on your writing? I would have to say that the earliest influences I found responsible for my delving into writing was my friends. As I said, I began writing at an early age and I got the bug to entertain. My friends enjoyed reading what I wrote and that seemed to drive me to write more as I practiced and improved. What do you think are your most recent influences on your writing? My most recent influence toward my writing has been the film industries tendency to fish through the infinitely wonderful pool of young adult literature. Reading as well as watching this genre brought me back to the fantasy daydreams of childhood. Through my writing, I have been motivated to do the same to my reading audience. Tell me about your recent writing? Do you prefer short stories, novels, novellas? I have always and perhaps always will be pulled toward writing full length novels that proceed into a sequence of books to produce a series. My first and only published book, Light & Dark: The Awakening of the Mageknight, is the first in the Light & Dark Series, hopefully to be soon followed up with the second in the series, Light & Dark: The Black Bonded.
What would you most like to do, which you haven't already, that would help with your writing?
I think I would like to start a youtube channel. However, I am not the most open when it comes to being filmed, so that could be an issue. Do you have any blogs or websites that you think are great and want to share? Of course, anyone can find me fairly easily on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads where I am known to rant a blog every once in a while. |
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