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Ginger Ring

~ Small town romance, big time love.

Ginger Ring

Monthly Archives: May 2013

Welcome Anna Kristell

16 Thursday May 2013

Posted by Ginger Ring in Guests

≈ 2 Comments

I am happy to welcome Anna Kristell back to my blog. I had a few questions for Anna and she also gave me a great excerpt from her newest book titled The Road to His Soul

So Anna, how do you come up with character names?

I sometimes use the names of people I know (they love it) but sometimes I spell them a little differently. Other times, I just use names I’ve heard on a tv show or a name I’ve heard and liked.

Are the characters based on a real person or persons?

No, although my first book, Crossroad to Love, the first in my series, is about a group of lifelong friends and that part of the story was based on my own group of lifelong friends. The characters themselves were not based on my friends, however.

Does your family know about the subject matter of your books and do they like it or hate it?

LOL, yes, they do and some of them read my books. So far no one has said they hated any of them. I tend to worry about some of the steamier parts but they’ve all told me that wasn’t an issue for them.

Do you have to be in a certain zone to write? Music playing… a cup of joe.. a certain room???

I love country love songs…so many of them could fit my characters or some of my storylines. In fact, in the book coming the 22nd, I’ve used the name of a friend of mine who is a country singer and I’ve used one of his songs as the theme song for the couple. With his permission, of course. I love my coffee, with flavored creamer when I write, and I have to have chocolate on the weekends, when I’ve been known to hibernate in my writing cave for hours. I have a room in my house that is basically an office and that’s where I write.

Chocolate is one of my daily food requirements. lol How do you come up with the ideas for your stories?

Plotter or pantser? An idea comes to me and I plot…write out an outline, adding things here and there along the way.

When you write is there a little bit of your real life in your stories?

A little but I’ll never tell you what…

What is the best thing and the worst thing about writing?

The best thing is being able to express all the ideas that have been running rampant in my mind for years. The worst is not having the time I’d like to have to devote to it. I work a full-time day job, so my writing time is limited. I’d love to spend my days writing.

Do you still have the same pick for cougar worthy man? My favorite Ryan, Mr. O’leary?

Oh, yes, Ryan’s still the one…LOL You know, we tease him so much about our cougar field trip to Canada, the poor guy. My nickname for him is Cougar Bait and even my daughter knows who I’m talking about when I say something about Cougar Bait. My hubby does too, but he’s been very quiet about it, just rolling his eyes. And when I was reading one of Ryan’s books one night, he actually knew who Ryan was. I’m going to be interviewing him on my blog June 17! That’s going to be fun! Whew! I’m also going to be interviewing another “cougar bait” on June 3rd, Jess Hunter. So many hot young guys on my blog…don’t know if I can stand it!

I can’t wait for those interviews and I am looking forward to welcoming Mr. Hunter on my blog next month also. Please tell us about your newest book.

My newest release will be May 22, Book #3 in my Fab Five series from LazyDay Publishing, The Road To His Soul.

Blurb:

Another ‘Fab Five’ drama and Lizzie’s family isn’t out of the woods yet. This time her son is causing the problems.

Colt Hart and Kendyl Durant have been dancing around a relationship for years. When Colt decides he is ready to give up his days as a player for a serious girlfriend, he finally makes his move, knowing that once he begins a relationship with his sister’s gorgeous blonde friend, there will be no turning back. Also deciding it’s time to think about his future career plans, he leaves his carefree job to accept his dad’s offer to join the family’s advertising agency.

But the night before his first date with Kendyl he arrives at Rex’s office to tell him of his career decision, only to find his dad being put into the back of an ambulance after suffering what appears to be a heart attack.

Blaming himself because his dad has been burning the candle at both ends, Colt believes that if he had accepted his dad’s offer sooner, the heart attack might not have happened. He asks Kendyl to be patient with him. He wants her, but the business has to come first right now. He has to make it up to his family and keep the business going while his dad recuperates. But how long will Kendyl wait?

When they finally get together, the two lovers immediately enter into a sensual relationship. But Colt is called to Texas on business time and time again, and temptations await him there. Kendyl begins to doubt that he will ever be able to commit to her completely, heart and soul. When she decides to give him a wake up call by calling it quits, she hopes to turn things around.

Will it backfire on her and end things for good, as Colt is pursued by other women? Or will he stop dragging his feet and put the ring on Kendyl’s finger?

sexy couple

Excerpt:

Colt took the stairs rather than the elevator, hoping to blow off some steam before he faced Kendyl. Finding a chair near the door, he watched for her as he thought about everything that had taken place that evening. He had been so happy as he drove to his dad’s office earlier. He had anticipated the joy on his parents’ faces when he told them his news. He had also looked forward to the romantic evening he had planned for Kendyl. Believing she might be the girl for him, Colt had carefully seen to each detail. Now he had to tell her the plans had changed, drastically, and he had no idea when he would be able to reschedule their date.

He looked up in time to see Kendyl rushing in the front door of the building. Rising from his chair, he went to greet her. On impulse, Colt pulled her into his arms hugging her tightly. She responded, speaking gently to him. “I’m so sorry, Colt. I’m here, for you and your family, whatever you need.”

“You’re so good in a crisis, baby. I remember how you took charge in the kitchen the day Caleb was killed. Thank you so much for being here for us.”

“I’d do anything for your family, you know that.” Looking up at him, she smiled. “I’d do anything for you.”

Colt smiled down at her gratefully, gazing into her deep blue eyes.

“Colt, I’ll understand if you want to postpone our date tomorrow night. You all have a lot to deal with right now.”

Looking at her pretty, angelic face, he replied, “I think that’s what we’re going to have to do. I’ll take a rain check, though. Problem is, I just don’t know how soon. I’m going to have my hands full, taking a crash course in advertising for the next few months.”

Kendyl laughed and when she did, her blue eyes sparkled. “I’ve waited for you to ask me out for a long time, Colt Hart. I think I can wait a little longer.”

“Let’s go outside.” He took her hand and led her to a secluded corner outside the building. Leaning down, he kissed her gently. As his hazel eyes met her shining blue ones, he saw something he had never noticed before. He kissed her again, more deeply.

The beautiful blonde girl in his arms responded, melting against him. When he released her, she looked up at him, unable to speak. Kendyl had longed for Colt’s kiss for a very long time. But the feelings it awakened in her were like nothing she could ever have imagined. Finally, she found her voice and shakily said, “We’d better get upstairs.”

“Yes, you’re right.” He took her hand. Together they walked silently to the elevator. When they stepped out and walked to the surgery waiting area, the doctor was speaking to Lizzie. Cara and Nick listened intently.

“You’ll be able to see Rex in about thirty minutes or so. I’ll want to keep him overnight, but barring any complications, you can take him home tomorrow. We’ll discuss restrictions in the morning when I see him.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Lizzie said, as Nick stood up and shook the doctor’s hand.

“He’s going to be okay then?” Colt asked.

“As I was telling the others, he’ll need to rest for a few weeks. He also needs to change his diet and lifestyle a bit, but he’ll be all right as long as he follows my orders.”

Colt breathed a sigh of relief, extending his right hand to the man. “Thank you, Doctor.”

“You’re quite welcome, son. If no one has any more questions, I’ll leave you now.”

“We’ll see you in the morning,” Lizzie said, reassured by his kind words.

Colt hugged Kendyl before turning to his mother and his sister. “Thank God, he’s okay.”

Kendyl sat next to Cara and said, “I’m so glad Rex is going to be okay. He’s like a second dad to me.”

“I know he is. Thank you for being here with us.” Cara reached over and took her friend’s hand.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else, especially now.” Kendyl’s gaze rested on Colt.

Colt glanced at Kendyl with a tender look that brought a smile to his twin sister’s face.

They were allowed to see Rex shortly after that. Reassured he was on the road to recovery, they told him goodnight as the young people prepared to go home for the evening. Lizzie insisted on staying with him, though.

Cara offered to go to the house and pack a small bag for her mother. “We’ll bring back some things for you if you insist on staying here all night.”

“Yes, it’s no problem.” Nick agreed with his wife.

“We’ll be back in the morning, Mom.” Colt gave his mother a peck on the cheek and touched his dad’s hand.

“Goodnight sweetheart,” Lizzie replied. To Kendyl, she added, “Thank you for stopping by.”

“I’ll walk you to your car,” Colt said, taking Kendyl’s hand once more.

When they reached her blue Camry, he opened the door for her. “Thanks for understanding about tomorrow. I just have so much to deal with.”

“I know. We’ll talk soon.”

Colt leaned down and kissed her again, before making sure she was safely in her car. He closed the door, waving as she drove away. His relationship with Kendyl was going to have to be put on hold. It was the price he had to pay for being so selfish, but it wasn’t fair for her to pay the price as well. As he got into his car and drove to his apartment, Colt resigned himself to the fact that the few kisses he’d shared with Kendyl that night might very well be the last kisses they would share for some time to come.

The Road To His Soul will be available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance.com

Thanks for stopping in Anna and I am looking forward to reading your book!!

Welcome Stephanie Draven

10 Friday May 2013

Posted by Ginger Ring in Guests

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Adult Entertainment in the Roaring Twenties

by

Stephanie Draven

It Stings So Sweet is a novel in three parts–a literary threesome, if you will. And, no question about it, much like the middle part of a threesome, it was the story in the middle that had the most fun. Or, at the very least, it was the most fun to write.

Inspired by legendary silent screen star Clara Bow, I wanted to write a sassy, brassy heroine with a secret her lover could exploit.

Where to turn, but to Hollywood? The Roaring Twenties kicked off the Golden Age of movies. It was a time before television and millions of people went to the movies every week five times or more. There were neighborhood Nickelodeons where couples necked in the back aisles, and luxurious Movie Palaces where the ritzy folks went to rub elbows in style.

This much I knew. What I didn’t know was just how naughty those films could be.

They said, in the twenties, “Anything Goes.” And there were no movie ratings or restrictions on filmmakers at the time. So just how randy did these films get?

Well, if you were ever under the impression that pornography was a Boogie Nights invention of the 1970s allow me to shatter your illusions as mine were shattered when my research led me to a vintage stag film called Nudist Bar.

I admit to staring agog at one of the few surviving films to have been digitized from that glitzy era.

What I learned–after I recovered from the shock–was that stag films from the Jazz Age were not only explicit, but experimental. Every coupling you can imagine was caught on film, and sometimes it was more than just couples. Threesomes, foursomes, and moresomes, too!

But in spite of the graphic nature of the films there was a sort of charming tenderness to such films utterly lacking in the modern adult entertainment industry. The cheeky winks at the camera, the hand-holding, the courtly behavior of a vintage porn star towards his leading ladies is arrestingly different than what we have come to expect–and somehow seemed far less exploitive than its modern equivalent.

It was, for me, a real eye-opener about the evolution of sexuality in the 19th Century. And it also helped inspire my heroine’s secret. You see, in It Stings So Sweet, glamorous Clara Cartwright starred in just such a film before becoming a Hollywood legend…and is now being blackmailed by the mysterious WWI Flying Ace who gets his hands on the reel.

When she decides to meet the war hero for a private screening, to make sure he isn’t bluffing, the sparks fly! And I think you’ll fall in love with her blackmailer just as hard as she does.

Stephanie-Draven-Bio

Bio

STEPHANIE DRAVEN is a bestselling, award-winning and RITA-nominated author of historical, paranormal, and contemporary romance. Her newest project, IT STINGS SO SWEET is a collection of 1920s historical erotic romances that celebrate sex, women, and the Jazz Age. Her most recent novel with Entangled Publishing, IN BED WITH THE OPPOSITION, is a mix of humor and sex-appeal set against the backdrop of a zany political campaign inspired by the career of Baltimore legend William Donald Schaefer. Both novels are fun departures from her more serious Greek mythology-inspired series for Harlequin’s Nocturne line, the debut novel of which was nominated by Romantic Times for Best First Series. The series has earned critical praise for its originality and awareness of social issues and garnered the 2012 SWIRL award for excellence in multi-cultural romance literature as well as the CataRomance’s Reviewers Choice Award. Writing historical fiction about Cleopatra’s daughter as Stephanie Dray, she won the Golden Leaf Award for SONG OF THE NILE. Stephanie is currently a denizen of Baltimore, that city of ravens and purple night skies. She lives there with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books. StephanieDraven.com

Blurb

They vibrated with incendiary Jazz. They teemed with sexual abandon. The Twenties were roaring and the women–young, open, rebellious, and willing–set the pace and pushed the limits with every man they met…

In the aftermath of a wild, liquor-soaked party, three women from very different social classes are about to live out their forbidden desires.

Society girl, Nora Richardson’s passionate nature has always been a challenge to her ever-patient husband. Now he wants out of the marriage and she has just this one night to win him back. The catch? He wants to punish her for her bad behavior. Nora is offended by her husband’s increasingly depraved demands, but as the night unfolds, she discovers her own true nature and that the line between pain and pleasure is very thin indeed.

Meanwhile, Clara Cartwright, sultry siren of the silent screen, is introduced to a mysterious WWI Flying Ace. If Clara, darling of the scandal sheets, knows anything, it’s men. And she’s known plenty. But none of them push her boundaries like the aviator, who lures her into a ménage with a stranger in a darkened cinema then steals her jaded heart.

Working class girl Sophie O’Brien has more important things on her mind than pleasures of the flesh. But when her playboy boss, the wealthy heir to the Aster family fortune, confronts her with her diary of secret sex fantasies, she could die of shame. To her surprise, he doesn’t fire her; instead, he dares her to re-enact her boldest fantasies and Sophie is utterly seduced.

One party serves as a catalyst of sexual awakening. And in an age when anything goes, three women discover that anything is possible…

Purchase Info

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/It-Stings-Sweet-Stephanie-Draven/dp/0425263185/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357253672&sr=8-1&keywords=it+stings+so+sweet

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/it-stings-so-sweet-stephanie-draven/1111306113

Gangsters, Gatsby, and More: Rewriting History with a Romantic Twist Part 2

02 Thursday May 2013

Posted by Ginger Ring in My Thoughts

≈ 2 Comments

I love history. I can find something interesting and intriguing in just about any time period but one of my favorites has to be the 1920’s. It is commonly referred to as the roaring twenties but what is it about that time period that roars the loudest?

For most people it was a happy time. In the early part of the decade, men were returning from the war and new technology offered the prospect of jobs, as well as plentiful goods and services. By the end of the decade we were already an auto based society resulting in a whole new network of gas stations, motels, and restaurants to provide for the growing mobile business and recreational class.

Many people had radios, and going to movie theatres was connecting people and sharing ideas faster than ever before. The Jazz age gave young people the freedom to let loose and dance after their days in factories or steno pools. Even more freedoms were granted to women including the right to vote in 1920. Early forms of birth control were more readily available. New advances in house hold appliances such as washing machines and vacuum cleaners were also a welcome blessing.

Enough of the history lesson, why do we really like the 1920’s? I know one thing I loved was the style. One cannot help but picture fashion forward flappers (hey! say that one five times fast) sporting a bobbed haircut and beaded short dress while dancing the Charleston with a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of hooch in the other. Men also were dressed to the nines and children were dressed as mini adults.

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The 1920’s gave us some wonderful books by some of our most famous authors including Virginia Woolf and E.M. Forster. Earnest Hemingway’s first novel The Sun Also Rises was first published in 1926 and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby hit the shelves in 1925. Despite changing times D.H. Lawrence’s book Lady Chatterley’s Lover was banned.

The other interesting aspect of the twenties is that all these changes were going on while the nation was in the midst of prohibition. The Volstead act came into effect on January 17, 1920 and it didn’t take long for the formerly legitimate business of manufacturing and distributing alcohol to become a very profitable venture for those on the wrong side of the law.

My work in progress takes place during the prohibition age and it was been great fun doing the research for this favorite era. I never knew that Mr. Volstead, the man that introduced the Volstead Act, was actually from nearby Minnesota. I knew that many gangsters had traveled through my native state of Wisconsin, I just didn’t realize how really embedded they were in the lives of local lore. Our state is filled with places that were slept in, robbed, shot at, and/or visited by such legendary characters as Big Al, Baby Face, or Mr. Dillinger.

In my next blog I will tell some of the interesting facts and stories I have found out about these colorful figures but in the mean time I am giving you a sneak peak at what I am working on now. It’s unedited and doesn’t have a title but despite the gloomy preview it is a romance and there is a happy ending.

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Grace Bennett was a fair haired beauty with the highest cheekbones in the county but no amount of rouge or powder could hide the bruises that now shadowed her young face. She traced a slender finger along her swollen jaw and took a deep breath. The blue eyes staring back from the beveled hallway mirror belonged to someone much older than herself.

Unable to look anymore she rested a bony shoulder against the wall. How long had she been asleep and why did she have to wake up to such a terrible nightmare? If only she had had the courage to end it all. No, she took the coward’s way out and because of her two men were dead.

Grace studied her hands as if expecting the blood of her victim to suddenly appear. They were clean except for a little dirt under one nail from picking flowers in the garden. Flowers to adorn the headstone of the one she loved with all her heart. Her chest ached and breathing took all the energy she could muster. It seemed a lifetime ago. A nervous sigh escaped her lips. She had to come to terms with what she had done. His killer had deserved to die but could she live with the crime that had been committed?

Grace slid from the wall and smoothed her blonde hair back with a shaky hand. The heels of her silk and leather shoes clicked on the tile floor as she walked to the kitchen. The colorful green and white décor had always raised her spirits but not today. Her eyes searched for the body of the man that had killed the love of her life. The floor lay empty and clean. Empty? He was gone? Her hand covering the gasp before it could exit her mouth.

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