Spotlight Sunday with C.R. Moss

How did you start your writing career?

I’ve been working toward a career in writing for as long as I can remember. I had been creating stories since I started to read, but the thought of writing for a living solidified when I was in middle school and received an A in English. I looked at the grade and that’s when my life was defined. I realized I could do it. From that point on, I put pen to paper to get my thoughts down and made sure to take classes appropriate to learning and honing the craft. I was on the middle school newspaper/creative writing committee, did Creative Writing and Drama in high school and participated in a couple of Fine Arts competitions for writing, then took Creative Writing in college, too. My BA from Rutgers College stems from a concentration of courses in Communications and English. I’ve even taken a couple of novel writing workshops where I was mentored one-on-one by a Kensington author. Now, there are the classes at conventions, conferences and meetings at the local RWA chapter that I attend, which helps to keep me writing. So, yeah, it’s been in my blood a long, long time.

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

I check email, do promotion stuff. I'd love to write during the day, but I get tripped up with the promotion and marketing aspect of writing and other stuff. I end up writing at night, which is all right. The house and world is quiet and that makes it great for concentration.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

My crit partners will do either depending upon what I need. I belong to a crit group of eight people, three of which are my core go-to people and one of the three is an editor which is a boon.

Does your significant other read your stuff?

He does once in a while. One time he read one of my creepy stories and said he wonders where my mind goes sometimes. But he loves me anyway.

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? If so, what are they?

For all wannabe authors—learn the craft. This means grammar, characterization, plot, etc., all the good things that go into a story. You might be able to ‘tell’ a good story, but if you can’t write it by showing what the characters are doing/feeling and making it read well, your story won’t be the best it can be. Get involved in a critique partnership/group. Learn the non-creative side of the business as well. Be prepared. 

Happy Reading!
C.R. Moss ~ www.crmoss.net
Coming Soon to Decadent Publishing ~ Sunset Desires

Cerise DeLand's Spotlight!

What is the most self-indulgent thing you've ever done?

Aside from have too much chocolate or shots of tequila (or insert fave alcohol)?

When I look back on those pleasures I've taken for myself, I have to say most of them involved shopping!

When in the corporate world, I bought loads of SHOES! Finely tailored suits. (Walking into the Board room demanded spiffy duds, didn't they?) And years later, I still have them. Most fit...although now, as a stay at home author, who needs them?

What else did I buy? One year, in cold Washington, D.C., I went to a sale at a local furrier's. I have, love, and do still wear whenever I can in south Texas, a full length white sheared beaver by Pierre Cardin. People drop in their tracks. I love the warmth!

Five years ago, I bought the ultimate yum-yum. A convertible.

Hubbie calls it my Silver Bullet. I call it Heaven. Wind in my hair, sunglasses on, I do the grocery store and the coffee shop in gleeful style. Expensive, sure.

But again for a gal who sits at home in her office and writes nearly every day of the week, this one has to have fun!

I figure since I don't spend money on those executive suits any longer, nor a lot of alcohol, nor cigarettes (though I used to and still CRAVE one now and then--yes, that is me staring at those who smoke and wanting to bum one), I can "afford" these things.

What else do I spend money on?

Great soap. Great perfume. My hair and my glasses cuz I wear them every day!

What do you indulge in?

Let's hear it!

(And come visit me at my website, www.cerisedeland.com to see how well I've spent my time each day!)

DZR Images

Welcome Don, from DZR Images!!

DP: How did you get your start as a photographer?

I started shooting and developing my shots in high school. All film. Wish we had digital back then. In fact, I moved to California thinking that I would go to Brooks Institute. As life is, things changed and I took a different direction. I went to USC film school, but upon graduation, I immediately took a job I thought I would never do – bond trading. My father was a trader in the Midwest where I grew up, and I kind of followed up in his footsteps. I started at a small regional firm here in Los Angeles and ultimately was trading for Deutsche Bank’s NASDAQ floor in downtown LA. That would close down after 9/11 and the recession to put me where I’ve been for the last 10 years. While that was going on, the digital boom came and I couldn’t resist. All that technology at little cost. I was an early adopter in 2004 and haven’t stopped.

DP: As you know, I love your work. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

I like shooting people in general. Music is my passion for a whole host of reasons. But cute chicks and babies work too. I’m not much for still life or scenic. Not because of a lack of interest, but because every attempt is usually unsatisfactory to me. HDR has changed that a bit. But people and their eyes are most intriguing to me.

DP: The pictures of your baby are so gorgeous. Great subject matter there!

You are on our website as Decadent Publishing’s House Photographer. How did that happen?

Heather [Bennett] of Decadent Publishing had seen some of my album artwork, was extraordinarily complimentary, and thought that it would add a bit of a twist to have me shoot a music themed novel. I was definitely looking to expand my horizon of subjects so I shot the cover of Joy Ride. I believe one or two of my other shots grace the covers of Decadent. I can’t wait to do the next one!

DP: Besides Desiree Holt’s Joy Ride, your work also covers Becca Dale’s Can’t Stop Me and Run Devil Run: A Paranormal Anthology. What was it like seeing your work as a book cover?

Awesome! Anytime somebody appreciates my work, I’m grateful. More important, it feeds my ego!!

DP: What images for Decadent are your favorites?

Well, the Jackie and EJ cover for sure -- and all the images that Decadent readers didn’t see from that shoot. The Run Devil Run catalog is nice, but here’s a case where cute chick trumps the musical passion; by a long shot!

DP: You have a certain ‘style’ that is becoming recognizable on the Strip. How did that evolve?

At first, trying to make horrible pictures look good. Then when the pictures got good, I liked the techniques I was applying and continued using them on most all of my images.

DP: ‘Happy Accident’, to be sure. It’s fabulous. Do you have any other creative outlets you like to explore?

Being a daddy. My daughter has actually become my number one subject of late. But I’m also going to resume my music video shooting again. There [are] samples on my site of some of my early stuff. That was all done prior to HD. But, again, the technology has evolved so fast, that I can shoot full HD for next to nothing. I wasn’t going to make the expenditure until Nikon had every feature I wanted, which looks to be coming in their latest release expected at the end of summer.

Samples of my work are at www.dzrimages.com and I can be contacted at info@dzrimages.com.

DP: Thanks, Don. I have enjoyed following your photographic journey and look forward to working with you more!

Speaking of DZR book covers, we’ll give away a copy of Can’t Stop Me and a copy of Joy Ride today! Check out DZR’s website and tell me one picture that you love, then comment here to win.

Meet Decadent Cover Artist Trisha Schmitt!

Cover by Trisha Schmitt

 How did you get your start in Graphic Design?

I have always been the creative type. I love to draw and do pastel landscapes. I am a huge reader, and one of the series I adore is Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed novels. When I joined her fan forum, I was introduced to photoshop. I was hooked!! I started to make banners and little graphics for the peeps on the board. It kind of spiraled into me teaching myself everything I could in Photoshop. From there, I went on to photo-retouching for photographers, which helped hone my skills, but was boring.. So I put my love for books and art together and started pushing to do cover work. Here I am now!

What are your favorite sorts of covers to do?

Hmmm... My favorite.. I really love anything paranormal. They have more creative freedom and are just plain fun! Nothing like a hawt vamp to make my muse sing.

You’re one of our house cover designers. Do you remember the first project you did for Decadent Publishing?

 Ha, ha, well.. Heather kinda fan/stalked me before I did any work with Decadent. (Not in a bad way! I just posted how much I loved her stuff on her FB page. LOL!--Hb)  I do a lot of character fan art for the books I love, and she found me that way. I love know she had rotating wallpapers of my art on her computer. That kind of stuff rocks my world! Then, I believe we were in some sort of chat one night, and I said to Heather, " Hey, why am I not creating covers for you?! " a few weeks later I had my first cover project Another Chance by Rebecca Royce. I love working with the team at Decadent. You all rock! Oh and FYI, Heather can booty dance like nobody's business!

What are a few of your best or favorite Decadent Publishing covers?

I really like Usher's, Inc. that was fun and my first and I think only YA cover!  Daughter of Lust was challenging and creative, too.

What other authors do you design for?

Oh, too many to list! I have done over 136 covers this year alone! I am a workaholic! When I get a project assigned, I have to get it done THEN! Which is getting harder to do. I am working with a few major NYC houses now, and they keep me pretty busy!

Do you have other creative outlets besides designing?

I love to scrapbook. Which I have not done in ages, but I love it. The design composition with scrapbooking actually is the same as cover composition. 

Thanks for having me here! I wish you all the success in the world!!

Meet Shiela Stewart and her Demons

How did you start your writing career?

I guess it all started when I was five. I loved telling stories to my friends and cousins. I would make up elaborate tales that had them mesmerized. I often turned those stories into songs and would sing them as I twirled in the cornfield. The real writing started when I was in my teens. I used it as a means to escape reality. Often the stories were brutal and dark and didn’t always have a happy ending. Aside from writing dark stories I wrote poems of love. I soon found that was the heart to my writing.

                                     Tell us about your current release.

 

Awaken the Demon is book one in the demon series and has been a passion of mine since it was first created in 2004. It’s one of those books that captures you and won’t let you go until the entire story has been told.

Draco Starr is a demon and direct descendant of Satan himself.  Sent from hell to capture souls, Draco did his masters bidding until decades later he discovers he wants something more. Finding out a female child had been born from a demon and a human, a taboo in the demon laws Draco sets out to find her. Despite not knowing her, he decides she is the only one for him.

Missy Green is on the run from an abusive fiancé. Adopted at birth by a wonderful family Missy is embarrassed to tell her family the man she loved wants her dead. So she fleas her home and finds herself on a bus headed for Erie and the home of the illustrious Draco Starr.  It seems like the perfect getaway until the truth comes out. But that’s not the worst. Discovering she is a demon is more than she can handle.

With Draco’s help she discovers being a demon isn’t so bad, until the urge to kill rears its ugly head.

Tell us about your next release.

Offer the Demon is book two in the Demon series.

Aurora Starr was born to serve Satan. A deal made between her parents and Satan writes Aurora’s future. Aurora is determined to take control of her own life. Satan has other plans.  Wanting to be somewhat human, Aurora takes a job at a local shelter. When she meets Scott Monroe, she falls head over heels in love.

Running the Monroe Shelter, Scott Monroe is the savior to those in need. Helping the addicts and the homeless is his sole purpose in life. But when the raven haired Aurora Starr enters his life, everything begins to change.

Despite the laws preventing her from mating with a human, Aurora begins seeing Scott. Until Satan finds out and gives her an ultimatum. Love of her family or the love of her man.  Having to choose pisses Aurora off and she decides its time to take control of her destiny. Even if it means losing it all.

Has someone been instrumental in inspiring you as a writer?

That would be my husband. He has been my biggest supporter and fan. He read everything I wrote and gave me tips on how to improve it. He’s always believed in me and knew I had potential despite me feeling the opposite. He was the one who got me started on the road to getting published.  If it wasn't for him and his love and support, I wouldn’t be here today telling you this story.

What was your first sale as an author?

Kidnapped. It’s a story of a rich snobby woman who is kidnapped by Bart and Betty Rubble. Despite her circumstances, Liz refuses to obey her captors.  She does everything in her power to make their lives miserable.

All Mackenzie Tyrell wants is to save his father’s farm. Even if it means kidnapping someone for the money. The last thing he expects is to capture the debutante from hell.  Liz gives him the run for his money and the last thing he needs is to fall in love with her.

It’s the last thing Liz expects until the truth of her captor comes out.

Shiela’s website: www.shielasbooks.ca

Publisher: Decadent Publishing www.decadentpublishing.com

Liia Ann White in the Spotlight!

Hi everyone! I’m Liia *waves*

I’m an Aussie, I’m fun and a little bit crazy. My first release with Decadent is One Hot Australian Night (props to Rebecca Royce for picking the title for me), a hot little story I wrote for the 1NightStand series. It’s short, sweet and, yes, Australian.

So, I’ve answered some questions below so you can get to know me a little bit better J

How did you start your writing career?

I had my first short story published when I was 15, in a book distributed throughout national high schools. It was unedited, pretty terrible and definitely a tapped fantasy story, but it gave me the drive to get published.

I didn’t write for a long time – life got in the way. Then I decided I was going to have a story finished by my birthday last year (2010). That story was Elora’s Match, which – after a big rewrite and some help from wonderful friends – was submitted and published.

And the rest, as they say, is history J

Do you believe in ghosts?
Oh yeah. I’ve always been very open to the paranormal and all things weird and wonderful. I live by the rule that ‘every myth is based on a fact’, so I never dismiss anything.

I’ve had a few strange happenings, especially at my home. One which I blogged about where I saw a figure that I still think was demonic in some way – he had black eyes!

I believe in ghosts, other plains/dimensions of existence, aliens, demons, angels, banshees, shifters and all other kinds of creatures that we think up in our minds. Whether they exist now or not, I believe they did once.

The images and stories of them have to come from somewhere right?

If you could be an animal, what would it be?

I would love to be either a Great White Shark or a Wedge-Tailed Eagle. I love the ocean and have always wanted to fly. Apart from dogs, these are my two favourite animals.

If you could spend the night anywhere, where would it be?
Somewhere haunted. I’ve always wanted to travel to one of those really haunted castles or houses you can stay overnight in, but I’m too chicken to do it alone.

Tell us about your family.

I’m single and childless, so my family is my parents, siblings and pets. I’m only 26 so that doesn’t bother me.

My Mum and Dad have been married for 35 years – they married at 17 and 18 like a couple of crazies – and raised us kids to be very grateful for everything we have. They’re successful business owners and my Dad has been a podiatrist since before I was born running several successful surgeries of his own.

I have a brother 2 years younger than me who’s currently studying podiatry to follow in Dad’s footsteps (HA) and is an aspiring body builder who spends more time at the gym than at home.

My other brother is a year younger than me and plays professional Aussie Rules football. He lives in Melbourne where his team is based and I only see him two/three times a year, which is hard, but he’s living his dream. 

I have 2 dogs, a big Chihuahua cross, who is as temperamental as me but also as loyal and a Maltese/Shi-Tzu who is a big white ball of energy.

And finally two hand-reared Weiros and 5 feisty fish.

My family rocks and I love them all to pieces.

What was the scariest moment of your life?
I’ve never liked flying, mainly take-off and landings because I know they’re the most dangerous parts.

But on a trip to New Zealand, we had to stop off in Sydney to change aeroplanes. Keep in mind I’d seen Castaway days before so I was even more terrified of flying. There was a massive thunderstorm in Sydney and, as we flew in to land, the plane nearly got struck by a huge fork of lightning. We had to divert to Canberra, wait for the storm to pass, then flew back.

I’ve never been scared for my life until that day.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be the female Steven Spielberg – still do. Film is a passion I’ve had since I was a young child. But since I don’t live in a city where there’s a big chance for filmmaking, I went for the next best thing -  writingJ

What are you passionate about these days?
Animals, animal rights and environment conservation. I’m a vegan, and while I don’t eat animal products myself, I don’t judge those who do. I do ask that people are conscious of where their product is buying from – is the animal treated humanely before death etc. and I think you should always buy locally, to keep your own economy going strong, which is especially important with today’s economy the way it is.

I’m a big dog lover, but an informed dog lover – as Cesar Millan would say. I believe no dog is born aggressive, anxious, fearful or tense, they learn those traits from humans. One day I want to run my own rehabilitation centre for dogs, specializing in aggressive cases and power breeds.

Morning Person? Or Night Person? How do you know?
I am definitely a night person. Once it hits 9pm, I’m wide awake, buzzed and ready to work. The majority of my writing is done from 10pm-2am. I’ve never been a morning person – it takes me about half an hour to wake properly and I’m so incredibly grumpy I’m amazed anyone talks to me!

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I love feedback. Good or bad, I love hearing what readers think. Knowing what readers do and don’t enjoy helps me become a better writer. 

Tell us about your current release.

One Hot Australian Night is the first book I’ve written specifically for the 1NightStand series. I’d had a story running around my mind that involved a sexy, successful and sensitive hero who happened to be a widower looking to find love again – he just didn’t know how to. When a friend suggested I write a 1NS story so I could work with Decadent (something I’d been wanting to do for a while), I knew Xavier had found his home.

It’s 9,000 words of sexy, hot, smutty goodness. I had a lot of fun writing it and have plans for all the secondary characters mentioned in it.

One may even be in the works right now *wink wink*

On a side note, it’s my Dad’s birthday today – Happy Birthday Daddy! *hugs and kisses*

Thanks for stopping by!

And don’t forget to check out the Decadent website, I guarantee you’ll spend a lot of money on the fantastic books they have. 

Spotlight on Diane Alberts!

 

Hello, I am Diane Alberts, author of two books coming out with Decadent Publishing. Reclaimed is a full length paranormal novel, and Kill Me Tomorrow is my paranormal contribution to the popular 1NS series. I’m answering ten questions today, so you get to see a little piece of what goes inside each and every book of mine: Me.

What group did you hang out with in high school?  Honestly? None. I was a bit of a loner. I wasn’t an outcast, by any means. But I didn’t strictly fit into any one group. I had friends from the popular group, some from the musical side, others from drama, and some from the nerdy side. But, I always felt alone. No best friends to hang with every day, no one to tell my deepest secrets to. Not in high school, anyway. It’s probably why I hated high school, and left it as soon as I could without looking back. High school freaking sucks. If I could choose between walking over hot coals and high school, I’d choose the former. I used to eat my lunch in the bathroom, because I hated trying to pick which table I belonged in. Yes, seriously. Thank god for all the books I snuck into school to read during my hour lunch long solitude. 

Is there a writer you idolize? If so who?  Oh, you have no idea how hard this question is. There are so many authors I idolize and adore. To pick one? Hmm. Johanna Lindsey, Jude Devereaux, Eloisa James, Christina Dodd….Okay, okay. Julia Quinn. I can’t tell you how many times I crack up laughing out loud at her wit and dry humor. I don’t often laugh hysterically at books, but every time I picture her character Sebastian falling and screaming like a girl, and then admitting to his cousin that the girl who screamed was him, in front of a full room of ladies? Priceless entertainment.  I am devouring each and every one of her books. I would love to be her when I grow up. Whenever that is.

What book are you reading now?  I just finished Julia Quinn’s Ten Things I Love About You, and have started reading Decadent Publishing’s Of Light and Darkness, by Shayne Leighton. Both are unique in their own way, and both are absolutely excellent! Next up, is Jessica E. Subject’s Celestial Seduction.  Also, as I read for pleasure, I am editing/reading through an unpolished manuscript of mine about an aspiring angel, and the man who tempts her to fall from grace. I am hoping to polish it, get it read by a beta reader, and then submit it for publication. It’s a fun story to write/read. Also, in between edits for Reclaimed, but the next round should hit my inbox any day now.

What was the scariest moment of your life?  That would probably be when my youngest daughter was born. We got home from the hospital, and her first night home, at three days of age; she spiked a fever of 102 degrees. We rushed her to the doctor, and she was admitted to the hospital for a week. They did a spinal tap (I still cringe at the thought), took blood out of her little thigh, and all sorts of horrible things. They thought she had meningitis. I’ve never been more scared of anything as I was that week.  My precious baby was so new, and yet had gone through so much. I’m glad to say she is happy and healthy now, but she gave us quite the scare. As such, she was totally coddled and snuggled as a baby, so now she is as bad as she is cute…which is saying a lot. Trust me. There is a lot of Emmy in my character in my angel manuscript, a three-year-old girl named Maggie. But Maggie isn’t nearly as mischievous.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?  The way that I get so engrossed in them, that nothing else happens in my life. All I do, besides mundane tasks, is plot, edit, plan, picture, and repeat. Whether it is in physical form, on my computer, or as I lay in bed at night, tying to sleep.  My mind will not shut off, and I literally lay awake for hours in bed, unable to turn off the hum of the characters, or the plot. I could get out of bed and write, but at 3am in the morning, all I really want to do is sleep. So, instead I lay in bed, plotting and planning—and not sleeping. Then I get up at 5:30, after maybe 2 hours of sleep, and get it all out on paper. Repeat the cycle all throughout the day as I take my kids here, or there, and repeat again at night.  It’s relentless, mind consuming, and wonderful—all in one little neat package. With a hot, half naked man on the cover, of course.

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.   Oh, wow. That’s a hard one! That’s like asking me to pick my favorite kid. What would the others think if they saw I didn’t pick them? Okay, I’m going to say Elijah, from Reclaimed. He has the tortured past, with the shady details. He has done some pretty horrible things in his life, things he must live with for an eternity, and now he once again loses the thing he wants most. But even with all that despair and longing, you see his redeeming qualities shining through on every corner. He may think himself a monster, but he loves deeply, and fully, and he knows how to sacrifice himself, and his desires, for the greater good.   And a little secret: He was originally my hero. But, Isaac fought back, and took over the book, wanting his story to be told. He won.   But Elijah will get his story told soon—and it will be explosive.

Do you believe in ghosts?  Hmm. Yes. I do. We lived in Southern Maryland, where there was a civil war prison. We went to the park at night (by day it seems perfectly safe, despite the creepy old lighthouse) called  Point Lookout State Park. It has a confederate monument on it. I have two scary stories from that park, here is one:  My husband, who is not an easily scared man by any means, went there at night with a bunch of fellow Marines. He was standing at the monument looking up at it, and heard a voice whisper “Go away”. He turned around, and looked behind him, only to see no one there. Since he is not an easily scared man, he shrugged it off. A minute later, he heard someone moving beside him, and he turned to see  no one. Then a voice shouted directly in his ear: “GET OUT!” He ran.

Where do you dream of traveling to and why?  I would love to go on a tour of the continent. Abroad, that is. I’d hit up England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and France. I am dying to see the history, as I am a sucker for history, and the old buildings. Imagine being in the Tower of London, where many a wife and enemy of King Henry VIII was cut down, and all the other noble traitors. And all the palaces, castles, rolling green hills.   Sigh. One day. One day I will go.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing your books?  That I can write! For years, I wanted to try, but I kept telling myself I couldn’t do it. But really, all it takes is a blank page and a blinking cursor, and my fingers seem to do the rest. I don’t even have a plan as to what I’m going to write about when I first start. I sit and look at the screen, and it just comes. I love seeing these characters creeping out of the corner of my mind, demanding to have their story told.  They fight over who is next, even. Right now, I have Elijah (from Reclaimed), a historical hero who lost his wife in childbirth, and a jinn—all fighting for their stories to be told. Who will win?

What do you think makes a good story?  Passion, conflict, struggle, war, sex, love, and hatred. Throw them all together, and you have one hell of a book. I try to instill at least five of these in every book, if not all. And in more than one dose.  You have to fall in love with the characters, and hate them at times, as well. That takes all of the above mentioned—and a lot more.

Getting to Know...

L.C. Dean! 

Mountain Claiming available HERE

Where do you dream of traveling to and why?

Space. I cannot picture a more amazing experience than floating through the endless expanse of the universe. How small must a person feel in comparison to the immensity of the world beyond what we know here on earth?

 

 Do you believe in ghosts?

Absolutely. Just as the unknown beyond the earth’s atmosphere intrigues me, so does that which is unseen but truly felt if one pays attention. I sincerely believe that those who love us watch over us—not of course in the sense that we are being stalked but more as a supportive and sometimes guiding presence.

What is your favorite color?

Sublime, preferably on a 1971 Hemi Cuda with a black stripe as it shines in the sun on my driveway. Okay, I don’t have one yet, and I suppose it reveals my age to yearn for one, but faith in what you desire can make great dreams come to life. Right?

If you could spend the night anywhere, where would it be?

Matthew Bomer’s bed? Shhhh. I didn’t say that. (Click HERE to drool, courtesy of blog maven)

 

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I garden. I often visited my grandparents’ farm as a child and working in the dirt brings back fond memories.

Do you play games? What kind?

My friends and I are currently addicted to Farkle and my family plays a pretty cutthroat game of Tripoly.

 

Tell us about your next release.

My first story with Decadent released July 5^th so I don’t have a next quite yet. I am beyond excited about this hot short. It is called Mountain Claiming. It is a M/M love story and part of the 1Night Stand GLBT series. MC tells the story of Jackson Castillo’s brother Jagger and the gorgeous gift Madame Eve tosses his way.