Character Interview: When the World Was Flat (and we were in love)

WHEN THE WORLD WAS FLAT (and we were in love)
by Ingrid Jonach
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
First Publication: September 3, 2013

Looking back, I wonder if I had an inkling that my life was about to go from ordinary to extraordinary.

When sixteen-year-old Lillie Hart meets the gorgeous and mysterious Tom Windsor-Smith for the first time, it’s like fireworks — for her, anyway. Tom looks as if he would be more interested in watching paint dry; as if he is bored by her and by her small Nebraskan town in general.

But as Lillie begins to break down the walls of his seemingly impenetrable exterior, she starts to suspect that he holds the answers to her reoccurring nightmares and to the impossible memories which keep bubbling to the surface of her mind — memories of the two of them, together and in love.

When she at last learns the truth about their connection, Lillie discovers that Tom has been hiding an earth-shattering secret; a secret that is bigger — and much more terrifying and beautiful — than the both of them. She also discovers that once you finally understand that the world is round, there is no way to make it flat again.

An epic and deeply original sci-fi romance, taking inspiration from Albert Einstein’s theories and the world-bending wonder of true love itself.

Two Fantasy Floozies is happy to welcome Ingrid Jonach, author of When the World Was Flat (and we were in love). She's here today as part of her blog tour, with a guest post, in which she interviews one of the characters from her book, Deb Hart. Deb is the mother of the main character, Lillie. Ingrid imagines Deb to be like Sissy Spacek.


Now I'm going to turn the floor over to Ingrid. At the bottom of the post, you can enter her giveaway for one of two prize packages, which each include a signed copy of her book, a pair of earrings, and a bookmark. Enjoy!

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: DEB HART

Thanks for joining us today Ms Hart.

Please, call me Deb. And thanks so much for having me. I have only been interviewed once before, but that was about my past lives.

I have heard a lot about your daughter Lillie. How would you describe your relationship?

We used to be like sisters or maybe more like best friends, because the great goddess knows I never liked my own sister. [Laughs] Lillie even came to the Rainbow Retreat with me one year with her bestfriend Jo. I remember them bathing in the river during the cleansing ritual, covered in mud from head to toe.

But it is like we are worlds apart now. [Sighs] Maybe it is because she is a teenager, but I am starting to wondering whether it is more than hormones. She told me she is having nightmares about dying, which is supposed to mean a new beginning, but... I think it may be a bad omen. I just feel it in my bones.

You seem very different to each other. Do you think Lillie has inherited anything from you?

My eyes. [Smiles] If I was chalk, my daughter would be cheese. She is very practical, whereas I... well, I live for the moment. For example, Lillie often fills in for me at Tree of Life when I want to go fire dancing. Although, last week she told me she was going to call the fire department and warn them I was going to end up burning down the State Forest.

Who of her friends is your favourite?

Jo. [Grimaces] Sorry Sylv. I love you too, but Jo is like another daughter. I think she spent most of her childhood here after her poor mother... you know. But Lillie and Jo seem to be fighting at the moment. Maybe they need to go back to the Rainbow Retreat.

How long have you lived in Green Grove? Do you like it?

I was born here – my mother actually had me in the living room! – and I have lived here my entire life, although I did think of moving before I had Lillie. I had been… [Sighs] I guess you would say I had been unlucky in love and this town is too small for a broken heart. There is no privacy for a start and there are reminders on every corner. But then I started filling my house with friends and I have never been lonely again.

What do you think of Tom?

I would rather not talk about Tom.

Can I ask why not?

[Hesitates] Because I think my daughter is headed for a broken heart too.

Let's move on to a safer topic then. What music do you like?

I like relaxation music, because I meditate three times a day. I like tracks with a melody and I am actually learning the pan pipe at the moment. Did you know it is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world? Listening to it is like listening to stories from the past thousand years.

And what about books. Do you read many books?

I mainly read non-fiction books. I guess you would call them spiritual books, about dreamology and alternative medicines. I would like to write my own book one day. Maybe on fire dancing. I could illustrate it as well.

Or you could have Lillie take photographs.

[Hesitates] Maybe. I just... I know it sounds stupid, but it was a photographer who broke my heart. It brings back bad memories when I see Lillie walking around clutching a camera all the time. I know it makes her sad that I am not more supportive, but I am a woman as well as a mother.

Going back to the fire dancing.... You do seem to have a lot of hobbies. Which is your favorite?

I love them all, but there are not enough hours in the day to do them all unfortunately. I really like wood carving. I carved a duck out of cottonwood bark once. Lillie said it looked more like a dog. [Laughs] It is still on her shelf though. I used to like basket weaving, but I could never get the hang of triple twists. I paint as well. Mainly abstracts. And I am learning Reiki at the moment. I told you there were not enough hours in the day!

Well, thanks sharing some of your time with us today Deb.

Thanks again. Lillie asked me not to do the interview, because I think she was worried I would embarrass her like last time. I am glad I did though, because it was very therapeutic.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Enter below for your chance to win one of two awesome prize packages as part of the Around the World in 80 Days Blog Tour for When the World Was Flat (and we were in love), by Ingrid Jonach.

There will be two winners worldwide. Each prize package includes:
· a signed copy of When the World Was Flat (and we were in love)
· a pair of silver plated key-shaped earrings in a When the World Was Flat (and we were in love) gift box
· a When the World Was Flat (and we were in love) bookmark.

The giveaway runs until October 21, 2013, and the winners will be announced on www.ingridjonach.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ingrid Jonach writes books for children and young adults, including the chapter books The Frank Frankie and Frankie goes to France published by Pan Macmillan, and When the World was Flat (and we were in love) published by Strange Chemistry.

Since graduating from university with a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing (Hons) in 2005, Ingrid has worked as a journalist and in public relations, as well as for the Australian Government.

Ingrid loves to promote reading and writing, and has been a guest speaker at a number of schools and literary festivals across Australia, where she lives with her husband Craig and their pug dog Mooshi.

Despite her best efforts, neither Craig nor Mooshi read fiction.

Blog Tour: Guest Post from Kriston Johnson + Giveaway

Author Kriston Johnson is here today with a guest post, as part of the tour for her young adult fantasy novel Awakened. Since I'm a big YA reader, I asked her to choose and discuss five YA and other books that inspired her. Her guest post is below, and check the bottom for a giveaway!

AWAKENED
by Kriston Johnson
Series: The Legends Of Elyndia #1
Publication date: April 25th 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy

Can fighting for the right side be the wrong thing to do?

Draven, the tyrant ruler of Elyndia for the last one thousand years, searches for the one who can fulfill his prophecy.

The Paladins, an elite band of warriors sworn to protect their way of life at all cost, search for the one with the ability to bring their world crumbling down.

An innocent girl, tormented by demons only she can see, lives on the brink of insanity and longs for a life of peace.

When seventeen-year-old Jade Rosenberg reads from an antique book, she has no idea she just read an incantation awaking her inherited power. But when opposing—and equally terrifying—groups invade her home, she learns she is descended from an enchanted realm and a member of a powerful race thought to have been hunted to extinction.

Ripped from her world, Jade is forced to seek refuge from those who want her dead. She is given one of two options and the time has come for her to make a choice: assassinate their sworn enemy…

Or sacrifice her soul.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

GUEST POST
Hello ladies, I want to start with saying thank you for having me on your blog and chatting with me about Awakened.

Writers are often asked where they get their inspiration. The truth is, inspiration comes from a little of everywhere. I’ve had ideas come to me from real life people, movies, certain objects, and a lot of the time other books. Here are some examples of works that have inspired me during my journey as a writer.

I’m just going to get this one out of the way…*covers mouth and mumbles* Smimight. What did she say? Twilight…I said Twilight, okay! *insert collective moan* I know, I know, how many times have we heard new YA authors say they started writing after they read Twilight? But it really was one of the first steps in my journey to writing Awakened. I had been writing before I read Twilight, but that is the book that introduced me to YA. You can say Twilight was my gateway book.

The Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. I read this story years ago and it is one of my favorite reads. I would have to say the main character, Yelena, in a way helped me to find my own leading lady, Jade. Not so much in personality, but in both stories the protagonists are despised by a society they are forced to live in and death is a constant threat.

The Hunger Games. I love the writing style and the fast paced plot brought to us by the talented, Suzanne Collins. When writing we need to make sure everything we write is for a reason, and Collins does an excellent job foreshadowing future events. For instance, ****spoiler alert****when Katniss sees that Peta has picked nightlock berries, she gets upset and stops him from eating them. Then in the next scene she finds the berries have poisoned Foxface. That was a complete scene and we could have lived without hearing about the berries ever again. But no, they come into play at the very end and literally saves their lives. ***end of spoiler*** So how did this affect Awakened? Well I planted several easter eggs that may have little affect on the progress of the story, but gives us little clues to future events. I can’t really point out to many examples without spoiling things, but I can share one. There is a scene where Jade notices a painting with a beautiful angel and little blonde girl. Well, that angel and little girl are the protagonists in a future book.

Story Engineering, by Larry Brooks. This one is for the writers. If you are a newbie writer in need of direction, this may be the best thing you could read. This is the closest thing you will ever get to a step-by-step on how to craft a novel. It doesn’t tell you how to write, but what it does do is explain the components of a story and where to place certain types of scenes to keep a steady pace. It explains themes, concepts, how to craft the perfect three-act structure, and how to keep conflict going without losing the plot.

Last but not least, I have to give a mention to…every single fantasy story I have ever read. It’s books like The Hobbit, Harry Potter, The Wizard of Oz, and everything in between. I think back to when I was a kid and imagined myself playing with Christopher Robin in the Hundred Acre Wood, to now, listening to Puck and Ash bantering back and forth over a girl. Though these stories are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum, the one thing they have in common, is that they transport the reader to a make believe world. A world far from ordinary and far from our own mundane lives. These are the stories I dream of, escape to, and wish I could live in. These stories may only exist on the page, but they come to life in our minds. If it had not been for these tales, and the magic it taught me, Awakened probably would not exist.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kriston Johnson lives in Southwest Washington with her husband, teenage son, and miniature Australian Shepherd. Her home rests at the fringe of an old growth forest that she insists is the home of Jason Voorhees. Her husband thinks that’s a ridiculous assumption, because everyone knows it’s really Bigfoot. Every summer Kriston participates in the annual pilgrimage to Faerieworlds, a real life faerie realm here on Earth, and has an unhealthy obsession with Star Wars, The Vampire Diaries, and Iron Man. Awakened is her first novel.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


GIVEAWAY
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Guest Post: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Fate War Alliance

BOOK BLURB:
Prince Cole meets Samantha when she walks down the aisle. Though she seems like the polished women he is familiar with, there is something different. She is complicated and full of mystery. Her dowry comes with a promise of air ships and mech capable of defense against their common enemy and for his country to survive, he must unravel her secrets. It is only when each accepts their destinies can they save their people from the plans of the Fate Sovereign.

If you’re looking for a steamy romance, a strong, smart heroine and interesting gadgets, this is the book for you! Fate War is a swords and guns, love and war, Steampunk inspired story that is sure to get your pistons pumping.



Guest Post: Five Things You Didn't Know About Fate War: Alliance

1. I’ve recently been learning about foraging and herbology so I gave that characteristic to Cole. He’s much better at it than I am.

2. Samantha’s appearance is based on a girl I performed with in my high school show choir. Just get GLEE out of your head right now…not even close. I thought she was the most beautiful person, inside and out, but I don’t think she saw herself that way. It was a perfect match for Sam

3. When I started writing Fate War: Alliance, it was supposed to be a standalone book. However, several characters began to whisper about their true origins and actions and the story kept building itself until I couldn’t complete it in one volume.  

This book gives Sam’s rise to greatness, the next book…well, Let’s just say it’s time for Cole to man up and several more characters will come out of the shadows.

4. Speaking of Cole and sequels, I chose the name “Cole” because it fit my Steampunk world. Get it? Cole...coal. Anyway, I wasn’t thinking about continuing the story.  

About halfway through, I realized IF I continued the stories, Cole would eventually become…you got it…King Cole. I debated changing his name, but he had already become such a real person to me, it was impossible. Go ahead, have your laugh.


5. Queen Adella, Samantha’s mother, is in NO way based on my own mother. My mother is the most kind, generous, excellent mother a soul could have.  She gave me a wonderfully perfect childhood and is the inspiration to all that I achieve.  Did I say that right, Mom? The cue card was a little smudged.

Finish the Line: Second Rate Chances Blog Tour

I was lucky enough to jump on the Second Rate Chances blog tour. This guest post is different than our usual ones. Today, the book's hero will finish the lines to several ones I post. 

Have fun with it, but first check out this awesome novel that's making several bestseller lists!

Book Summary: Sam wakes up in the hospital expecting to find his girlfriend by his bedside. Instead, he finds a bleached-blond diva, claiming to be his fiancée, hovering over him. When he learns that he's just woken up from a coma and has lost the last three years of his life, any semblance of stability he thought he had falls down around him. All he wants – all he needs – is Lil.

After countless visits with her shrink and too many sleepless nights waiting for the one man she loves to walk back through the door, Lil wants nothing more than to separate herself from the life she used to have. But the moment Sam smiles at her, Lil knows it's going to take more than self-restraint to stay away.

Second-Rate Chances is about a young man fighting to regain his memory, and the one thing in his life that felt real. A modern-day Samson and Delilah, it's a look at what it means to love and be loved, and to fight though it seems hopeless.





Finish the line... with the novel's hero, Sam!

1- At night I love to. . .
curl around Lil. Sometimes I put my feet on her. She hates it.


2- When I'm enraged, the only thing that will calm me down is. . .
either seeing Lil’s face or playing video games.

3- The scent of lavender reminds me of. . . 
my grandma. She always had lavender in bowls, like potpoori, in her house.

4- I believe love is. . .
something that you you hold on to. Once you’ve got it, you try like
hell to keep it.

5- If I was a superhero my power would be. . .
reading minds. Because let’s face it. While Lil and I have strengthened our communication, women are still a strange
species. So sometimes I’d like to see how the inner workings of her mind works.

6- Love can. . .
enlighten life, but it can also make me stronger. I’m strong because of Lil and her love for me.

7- My dreams are. . .
filled with the days ahead as Lil and I prepare to say I do. And of our children because I know we are going to fill this house full of them.

8- My favorite fantasy novel is. . .
Oh wow. Fantasy right? 
Then I’d be a masked man saving the world from harm. But in my quests I’d find this woman and I’d make her mine. 
And I’d have her night after night. While keeping the mask on.

Author Website        Twitter

People have often told me that I live in a fantasy world. Little did they know, I was building an empire of stories in my head to one day share.

I'm a mother first, a wife second, and a writer third. I'm so thankful to have been given this chance to get my stories out of my head and onto paper.

When I'm not writing, I sell plumbing (no I'm not kidding) and read romances that leave my heart a flutter. I know a ridiculous amount of pop culture information and can quote certain movies word for word. Music drives me to write and to also sing off key.

Guest Post: How I Write an Interracial Romance, by Ambrielle Kirk

I've written more than a few interracial romances to date. 

My first piece of published work revolved around an interracial couple. However, I don't classify myself as an interracial author for many reasons. I appreciate that books are categorized that way so that readers who do have a preference can easily find books and make their choices. 

Here are some points that I keep in mind when writing an interracial romance:



The story that I am writing is a romance, first and foremost. 

Skin color to me is only incidental to the story. People are attracted to each other for many reasons, and yes, sometimes skin color is one of them. But people don't fall in love with each other because of skin color. 

They fall in love with something unique to that person whether it's personality or just pure love at first sight. 

So it is very unlikely you'll find me writing chapters and chapters of the characters thinking about how Black she is or how White he is. They are thinking more along the lines of how good they feel in each other's arms or reminiscing about what they want to do with each other when they're apart. 

The romance should shine through, not the ethnicity.



The story that I am writing must feature "true to life" characters. 

They will never be perfect. They will have flaws, insecurities. They will make decisions that are stupid, and they will make decisions that turn out to be smart ones. This process is all part of life. 

There is a certain amount research that is done on each character. Depending on the personality, I may think about a time when I met a person like the one in my story. I may pay attention to people more as I go about my day shopping. 

The one thing I detest when reading a small percentage of interracial romances is the stereotype. Not all African-American characters are going to sound ghetto. And just because there is a Caucasian man attracted to an African-American woman doesn't mean he's going to flip the script and act ghetto. No. 

When writing an interracial romance, it's important to base the style of dress, manner, and lingo on that character's personality or lifestyle, not on stereotypes running rampant for their ethnicity.


When marketing something that is clearly an interracial romance, I seek to market my stories to romance readers because my stories are romance, first and foremost. 

The conflicts and triumphs are very much the same one's that we may have all encountered in life, will encounter, or may never want to encounter. These conflicts can be applied to any story whether it's interracial, multicultural, etc.

Not all these points will apply to everyone as each of us have our own goals in our writing, but those are just a few points that I keep in mind when I write any story.

Ambrielle Kirk

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Best & Worst Places to Write a Sex Scene

Don't forget, there is a great Giveaway below for the book Queen of Hearts!

 BOOK SUMMARY: 

Maya Cobb is a classic Gemini. She’s adaptable, affectionate, versatile, cunning, and she holds a deep-seated fear of commitment. Which means she’s the perfect match for Aquarius Erica.

Erica Jones, also true to her astrological sign, is friendly, honest, loyal, fiercely independent,  and detached. She hasn’t found a satisfying relationship in ages, and is ready to give up on love, even though she runs a dating service.

After a one night stand, fate keeps throwing them together in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. Maya offers to help Erica plan the Queen of Hearts Matchmaking event, though she doesn’t know much about dating women. 

Erica quickly realizes that while Maya bolted after their first night, she might be the only hope Erica has to save her business.

Astrology says they’re compatible, but neither woman can be sure. 

Hi there Fantasy Floosies and hello to your loyal readers!

I’m back again to talk about one of my favorite subjects… SEX. J

Let’s talk today about the best and worst places to write a sex scene. Let’s go with the best first and then the worst.

Three favorite places to write a sex scene.

On a train! 

    Writing sex in a public place like a train really works well for me. It helps me focus on the writing and block out the rest of the world. I put on my music, and let it roll. The opening scene of my first erotic romance, An Affair Across Times Square was written while I was travelling around the south/center of France. J It was great.

   At Barnes & Noble!  

     Okay, so it’s a total writer cliché to be sipping a drink at a coffee shop/bookstore and typing genius on your laptop. But it works for me as well. The bulk of my third book, Queen of Hearts was written in the coffee shop of my local B&N, as was Spicy with a Side of Cranberry Sauce.

    I like to spend all day there writing. So it’s not always sex scenes, but a lot of the time it is. I usually only write the really naughty ones with my back to the wall so I know that no one is looking over my shoulder and reading it! Drafts are not meant to be read in public after all.

   In my basement office – late at night!

    There’s nothing like writing the sex scene in the middle of the night, with the electric fireplace roaring, and low light, while the stars twinkle outside. It’s romantic and sexy. 

    Sometimes, if I’m stuck on a scene or whatever or need inspiration, I’ll do some research at this hour of the night as well. ;-p Research usually consists of me googling “best places to have sex” or a certain position. Sometimes it includes texting friends in the middle of the night to ask their faves.

And now for the worst places to write a sex scene:

While in a room with your family members. Nothing is less sexy than trying to write a sex scene while your parents, grandparents, siblings, children, or other relatives are in the room. I mean, ew, right? So if I’m editing a book, I can do it while watching some TV with them or in the same room as family members. Other than that? No way! Just can’t do it.

    During nap time. 

     The kids’ nap time, not mine. I don’t get naps. L I work with kids, and we get 2.5 hours of nap time every day. A lot of days I’ll use this time to work on guest blogs like this one, but when I’m on a deadline, like I was for Queen of Hearts, I’ll work on it during nap. 

    But writing a sex scene here is complicated! I have to worry about constant coitus interruptus! A kid wakes up, or another staff member needs something… or any other number of things. It doesn’t bode well for a cohesive scene. That’s why I’ll start a scene and there’s no condom and then by the end, Amy and Mason are rolling it off and throwing it out. No good.

    While on a bus at night. 

    The brightness of the screen makes it too easy for nosy little old ladies to read the book from over my shoulder.

So there it is folks – the best and worst places to be while writing a sex scene. Care to share your thoughts? Perhaps you could give me your list of best and worst places to HAVE sex instead of write it? C’mon, your top three best and worst.

I’ll give away a free copy of my latest release, Queen of Hearts to one lucky commenter who leaves their email address along with their comment.

Queen of Hearts is on sale now wherever ebooks are sold.

Rachell Nichole

GOODREADS

I am a Contemporary Erotic Romance author, currently publishing with Loose Id. I love words. I love reading and writing and languages.

I'm also an avid traveler. I've been writing for more than a dozen years and I've written everything from haiku to novels. I live with my black cat, Godiva, AKA little evil.

Writing Characters of the Opposite Sex by Terrance King

WRITING CHARACTERS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX

by Terrance King

This has to be one of the most exhilarating parts of writing: creating fresh characters of the opposite sex that may be inspired by those around us. 

In instances of profound inspiration, these new personas may seep out of our right brains without an echo of any known human being, and in powerful, believable ways. An original character is a wonderful discovery for me as a reader, but when a writer creates endearing (and enduring) characters that resonate, I'm in awe of their accomplishment.

I aspired to do this with The Silent Partner. 

On Amazon

It's up to the readers to judge whether or not I accomplished the task of creating a great original character embodied as a portly black female (I'm a white male).

She is brilliant, sassy, and distrusting of God, and a character that originally started as a white male when I originated the character back in 1999. When this screenplay became a fleshed-out novel five and a half years ago, Homer became female . . . because I thought she was more interesting. She had additional layers. 

As a black character, there were then new dynamics to explore that enriched the story. No, I'm not saying white males are boring, or males aren't wonderful characters. I've been entertained by their prominence in favorite books and movies since I knew how to read, change the channel, and sneak to the TV to see Star Wars again in the middle of the night on my parents' VHS machine. (Princess Leia wasn't my favorite character).

To me, the greatest thing that makes people interesting is their perspective. 

In our diverse world, it's most fun to add flavor to a recipe. A character's background--when well-executed--can add more dimensions to a story. As long as it's not contrived, this background can also make themes more powerful and universal. 

Women realistically have intuition, and readers will buy that. Male characters can carry interesting emotions, too, but there are some things that women think about that men just don't. I've learned this from the many women in my life, including my girlfriend, four sisters, and three nieces (Yes, my life is that crazy. No boys. All girls). 

My novel has other strong male characters, sure, but The Silent Partner is Homer's story, and the novel is better for that. After all, The Outsiders has already been written.

Check out the Silent Partner trailer, produced in San Diego by local talents.

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Author Bio: Terrence King has written, produced, directed, and acted in a number of independent films. He co-produced and acted in the short film GRIP, which won two awards at the New York Film and Video Festival, and contributed to the media textbook Managing Electronic Media. He lives in San Diego, and The Silent Partner is his first novel.

Guest Post: Classy Sex Scenes for YA & New Adult Books, by D.T. Dyllin

Check out this Guest Post by Hot New Adult author D.T. Dyllin, but first get a quick look at her book that's just been released this week!!

**D.T.'s Kindle Fire and eBook giveaway is still open!**

Hidden Gates
by D.T. Dyllin

For P.J. Stone, being a “Seer” who has never seen anything is less than fun. And P.J. isn’t known for her patience.

To make matters worse, she must choose a suitable mate to continue the Seer bloodline. Duty always comes before her heart…at least that’s what her parents taught her. When she finds herself wanting someone who is considered off-limits, P.J. is forced to question everything she believes.

As if navigating her love life isn’t complicated enough, P.J. finally receives a vision—of a threat to her world that only she can perceive. But no one will believe a fledgling Seer’s warnings. With nowhere else to turn, she may decide to trust a stranger with her life, her world, and maybe even her heart.

D.T. Dyllin

What’s up you sex crazed lovelies?!

Don’t try to deny it.

If you’re wondering how exactly to go about writing a ‘classy’ sex scene for a YA or New Adult novel, but can’t quite figure it out…then yep…your mind has been living in the gutter.

But no worries, you’re not alone. My mind lives there 99% of the time, and that’s why I also write adult books. It’s kind of nice to not have to censor myself.

Alright, so I’m going to jump right into this now…here are some tips on how to do the New Adult or YA sex scene with a touch of class… aka …  How not to incur the wrath of publishers and angry tween moms.

1)     Even if you’re not a mom, pretend that you are. We all know teenagers know about sex. But what would you be comfortable letting your own child read? If you wouldn’t let your own kid read the scene you wrote, then it’s time to edit it. ‘Nuff said.

2)     Don’t be overly descriptive of the physical parts. Yes, you need to describe things a tad, clearly, but describe the emotional part more. Plus we all know that can be hotter sometimes anyways.

3)     Watch your word choice. Don’t use words like c**, d***, c***, etc. in YA, or most New Adult for that matter. Here’s an example from Hidden Gates:

“A new type of warmth I’d never experienced before bloomed in my center. Soon it grew into a fire of need, spreading through my system, pushing outward into spasms of ecstasy.”

It’s pretty clear what’s happening in the latter scene, and I didn’t even use the word cum once. I know…craaaazy.

4)     Make it more about the connection, the love, and the romance than just the sex. Make the sex an extension of the characters feelings for each other and even if you slip up a bit and go more “adult” you still won’t go wrong.

5)     Last but not least. Try to teach responsible birth control usage and protection against STDs. I know, I know…it kind of sucks. But you have to think that we as adults realize that pregnancy and STDs are a very real risk, and some of the books we read are purely fantasy.

There are tons of things that I think are super hot in books that I’d never do in real life. For instance… just meeting a man and hooking up with him and not using protection. In real life I’d be like… "You better be wrapping that up, buddy boy.”

But sometimes teens and tweens still take cues from fictional characters if they seem cool. In Hidden Gates, I threw in a line about birth control between Bryn and P.J. I really didn’t want to, I won’t lie, but again, it’s our responsibility as writers to consider these things.

Alright, those are my hopefully helpful tips on how to write a ‘classy’ sex scene in YA or New Adult novels. Thanks to Two Fantasy Floozies for the invite to guest post! It was fun! Later all you sex crazed lovelies! J

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Guest Post: Top Five Innovative Vampire Books, by Ashley Madau

It's no secret that I love VAMPIRES! So when new author Ashely Madau wanted to post about her top five innovative vampire books, I said, "Bring it, baby!!"

So let's check her list out. And feel free to tell me your top five innovative vampire books. But first, check out her new vampire book, called Morningside.

It’s easy to get caught up with bad-ass vampires, a killer love triangle, broken engagements, assumed clones, and enough sexual tension to drive anyone crazy.

Does society really know what it means to be a vampire? What it feels like? Tastes like? The struggles of going through life in a state of unacceptance, and using every fiber of your being to change?

MORNINGSIDE shows vampires in a new light. Humanity believes them to be one thing, without any deviation-- the perfection of a human hunter. One woman is able to prove them wrong. Trapped between both the mortal and immortal realms, she becomes the line between humans and vampires, and both the differences and similarities they share. When her life is put at stake, the worlds begin to collide.

MY TOP FIVE INNOVATIVE VAMPIRE BOOKS

#1 Dracula, Bram Stoker

'Cmon, this was a given. Since, as far as we know, vampires don't exist, and their mythology is present in many different cultures, the top innovator for pulling it all together was the one and only Bram Stoker. And what an innovator he was. There were no published vampire stories before him, so essentially he had to come up with it all (pulling, of course, from the ancient stories passed down), but still! Look at what vampires have become, and how none of it would have been if it weren't for Mr. Stoker himself. A true visionary, a true talent, and perhaps a true vampire...?

#2. You Suck, by Christopher Moore

As I thought this through, I knew I would be completely biased in putting You Suck at the very time of this list, after all, it is my favorite book of all time. Though you see that didn't stop me in the least. You Suck deserves to be here. As far as vampire novels go, many adopt a very somber tone, many times as lifeless as the vampires themselves, but You Suck brings new life into the creatures of night. It's likely the most humorous vampire novel I've read, which makes it an innovator among the adventure/terror/horror vampires of popular literature.

#3. Queen of the Damned, by Anne Rice

This was a no brainer; Ann Rice has been writing innovative vampire tales for longer than many of us have been alive. Queen of the Damned was no different. Sure, I saw the movie (Stewart Townsend as the vampire Lestat was downright delicious) before picking up the book, but there's no doubt the book is leagues above the movie. The way Anne Rice went back into the history of vampires and how it all began is innovation enough, let alone intertwining it with complex characters and stories.

#4. The Twilight Saga, by Stephanie Meyer

You have to give credit where credit is due. As far as a vampire story and characteristics go, Stephanie Meyer has a very unique representation, and added a new level of humanization to the idea of vampires. From complex relationships with their would-be meals, to the Volturi coven in Italy, it's a great adventure through a new concept of vampires.

#5. The Undead Series, MaryJanice Davidson

Another in the vampire humor genre, MaryJanice Davidson has created a hilarious vampire character, a ton of sex, and a new view on how a recently turned to vampire individual copes, and tries to maintain some of their humanity (it's hard and hilarious, as you'll hear protagonist Betsy narrate).

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Ashley Madau was born in automotive Michigan in 1990, and up until recently had lived there her whole life. She now resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a creative advertising professional, with her new husband, dog named Furler, and cat named Dexter (who’s a girl). Of a strong Romanian heritage, Ashley has always been fascinated with Vlad Tepes, and more specifically, vampires. Morningside is her debut novel.

Guest Post: Vampire Hunter's Toolkit! by Stefanie J. Pristavu

Hello, Fantasy Floozies! Today we have two characters from the novel HUNTERS, giving us some very helpful advice on how to be prepared to kill vampires! Check it out!!


HUNTERS

by Stefanie J. Pristavu

Rachel and Daniel broke every rule in the Hunter book.

Don’t turn humans into Hunters. Daniel did that when he saved Rachel from becoming a vampire bride.

Don’t travel beyond your assigned area. Assigned area? They’ve traveled half-way around the world in search for Vlad, the vampire boss.

Report all hunting activity to the Hunters’ High Council. There’s a Hunters’ High Council?

Don’t tell humans about the existence of paranormal beings. Ooopsy, they kinda let that one slip.

Don’t resist arrest and escape from your death sentence. Well, about that… If they’re to go down, they’re taking Vlad with them, especially since he screwed up both their lives.

The Council has a valid reason to want their heads, but Rachel and Daniel have more pressing matters to worry about. Like the screechy voices inside Rachel’s head which sing of death and destruction and the creepy Banshee who predicts the coming of a Hunter – vampire war. A war which Daniel and Rachel must trigger to save their race from extinction.

And Rachel seriously doubts that a head-on battle between the vampires and the Hunters will be their ticket out of the death sentence.

The Vampire Hunter's Survival Kit

Rachel: I can’t do this. Look at all those people. *steps back*

Daniel: Don’t be silly, Rach. They’re humans and they need the knowledge.

Rachel: Why don’t you do the presentation then?

Daniel: I can start. *clears throat* Hello, everyone. I’m Daniel Paxton, and this here lovely, shy lady is my partner in crime, Rachel Giuliani. She’ll be telling you the basics about killing vampires.

Rachel *rolls eyes*: Gee, thanks, that helped a lot. Okay, I can do this. Let’s see. Daniel and I are Hunters. We’re half-human, half-vampires. Don’t look so scared, we only need blood once a month, and none of us do right now, so you’re all safe. Being half-vampire, we have some superpowers, like super human strength, speed and heightened senses. We can also hear each other’s thoughts.

But even with all that, killing vampires is not easy because, well, they pretty much have the same superpowers. So, every Hunter needs a toolkit. *pulls out a broad leather belt, full of slots*

This is the first, basic thing you need – a place to stock all your equipment. We have these awesome slotted belts. Not only does it look cool, but it has a holster attached and places to put knifes and other weapons. It’s easy to strap on, sturdy so you don’t lose your supplies, but it unfortunately isn’t indestructible. I’ve had it hacked off by vampire claws and it wasn’t pretty. Right, moving on. *pulls stakes from slots*

Daniel: Rach, what are you doing? You need to bring a vampire down before you start staking him. *takes stakes and puts them back* Number two on the list are weapons. *starts pulling weapons out of his own belt: a gun, a small, trigger-actioned crossbow, small arrows, and a knife* And we usually have some big, sturdy crossbows to shoot proper arrows, but those are a bit harder to carry around without getting strange looks.

Vampires are hard to hurt. Normal weapons have little effect on them. You could stab a vampire with a normal blade or shoot him in the head, but the chances are he will heal immediately and kill you. That’s why all our weapons have a silver element to them. Silver bullets, silver-tipped arrows, silver knives. Don’t be fooled. Silver doesn’t kill vampires on its own. It’s just the metal that breaks easiest through their skin and deals some lasting damage. And in order to kill a vampire, you have to damage him first – enough that he doesn’t squirm and run out of the fire.

Rachel: Which brings us back to item number three. *pulls stakes out again* After hurting the vampire enough to hold him down, we stake him. As in insert as many stakes into him to make sure he doesn’t get away. Notice that the stakes are silver-tipped so that they can penetrate vampire skin, but are made out of wood. Someone asked us why. Well, because wood is lighter than silver, duh. *giggles* Right, so it’s imperative that you carry stakes with you. If you’re lucky and get his heart, one stake can be enough, depending on the vampire’s age. We don’t take chances. I personally like to get as many in there as possible. Of course they’re the down side that they burn in the fire. Which leads me to imperative supply number four. *pulls out a huge lighter*

After you have your vampire pinned down, the only way to kill him is to burn him. In case you’re wondering, cutting his head off won’t work. It won’t grow back, but he does continue attacking, like a zombie. And humans shouldn’t see headless people running around.

We carry these big lighters because it’s the easiest way to solve the burning problem. There’s a lot of gas in them. We pour it out through this here gauge over the vampire and the use the lighter to set him on fire. Easier than tugging a tank of gas around. And, no, vampires aren’t inflammable. They don’t catch fire instantly, so we need the gas.

If not pinned well enough, they could run out of the fire and put themselves out, so be sure your vampire is immobilized and also stick around until you’re sure he’s dead. For us Hunters it’s easy to tell. We sense vampires and also sense when they die. If you’re doing it right, the flames should be gray with a greenish tinge.

Daniel: And now for surprise item number five. This wasn’t around until recently and it makes everything much easier. *takes out the cartridge of his gun and pulls out a small dart filled with reddish liquid* This is a tranquilizer dart. It works well on both Hunters and vampires – it puts them to sleep instantly. Ironically enough, these were designed by the Vlad, the Vampire Lord and sold to the Hunters’ High Council. They were stupidly used by Hunters against Hunters until Rachel and I decided to do something about it.

Now, all Hunters have these guns and use them against vampires. If you manage to shoot a vampire with one of these, all you need is a few stakes and the lighter and you’re set. But these things don’t work the same on all vampires, unfortunately. The stronger the vampire/Hunter is, the less he stays under. Rach here stays under for an hour. It takes me twenty minutes to shake them off. The older we’ll get, the less effect it will have. That’s why you should still carry all the kit just in case you meet a really old, really powerful vampire.

Rachel: And that’s kinda it – the five things you need to carry around. Each and every one of these items saved my life at some point, so it could do the same for you. And this concludes are presentation.

Daniel: That’s boring, Rach. We should go out on a bombshell, like… *rubs chin* Now that you know there are vampires out there, I hope you can still sleep at night. And no, you don’t need to invite them in – they bust through doors and walls.

Rachel *slaps his arm*: Good job at freaking people out.




Stefanie J. Pristavu
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