Smoldered coming October, 2014

I have been hiding in my cave, otherwise known as my backyard or the local coffee shop––writing book 2 of The Electric Tunnel Series. Why?

Smoldered is coming, October, 2014

Asher Peterson is a self-made man, owner of the Electric Tunnel, Sin City’s hottest adult entertainment spot. Brazen and formidable in designer T-shirts and motorcycle boots, he seems unflappable whether he’s making his rounds through the decadent decor of the Tunnel, or whipping through the desert heat on his bike. But inside he is a shattered man, desperate to understand what unconditional love from a woman feels like.

Hiding the effects of his emotionally stunted youth behind a gritty persona, and keeping his fractured soul buried deep while seeking out his baser instincts, Asher is convinced he is man enough to leave the past in the past. The only clue to his broken soul is his deep-seated need to provide safety and a good life for emotionally damaged women within the glamorous walls of his strip club.

Fooling himself that he deserves little in life, Asher keeps his big heart tightly guarded with everyone but Sienna Flower, his friend, business partner, and headliner. Until, that is, the night he runs into his childhood friend, Natalie Parker. While trolling a rival strip club, perusing their offerings for his own personal pleasure, he collides with his past. Coming face-to-face with a woman he only knew as a girl, he’s shaken when he finds the dark-haired beauty in a precarious position. Now all grown up, she’s a hardened soul who reminds him of where he came from, and stirs within him the need to protect yet another woman.

Known as Nat to most everyone, Natalie is a single mom to Quinn. But when she’s under the bright spotlights in a thong, she’s known as Natasha or Nataleigh Dallas. A girl who once had everything going for her, she’s now a jaded stripper with only room for her son in her life, and has erected impenetrable barriers around her heart. The strength of those walls is challenged the night a man she has known since childhood steamrolls his way back into her life, flashing those smoky-gray eyes that have always melted her. A man she has loved from afar since she was a young girl, one who set fire to her walls, burning deeper, setting everything ablaze––smoldering her.

Asher and Natalie, two people who are equally tormented by their own demons, set out to rescue each other as part-time lovers in a torrid, desperate workplace affair. Thinking they can remain friends while keeping their hearts at a safe distance, they find themselves at odds when their situation morphs into a messy, tangled mess.

Ripping free of each other proves impossible as they learn that the very web that connects them goes much deeper than they ever expected.

Official Cover Reveal coming on 9.9.14 (same day SOA & Charlie return to TV, gulp).

What can you do (while I go crazy)?

Add Smoldered to Goodreads

Haven't read Electrified, book one in the Electric Tunnel Series?

Grab it here:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K10F7JI

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1oBA7ne

Itunes: http://bit.ly/1nzCQ0k

RB

The 411 on me, #MyWritingProcessBlogHop

My Writing Process is an ongoing blog hop where a writer answers four [everyday] basic questions about their writing process... and then is asked to pass the baton to another author or two.  

I was passed the proverbial baton by Terri Lyndie, debut author of Wolf Eye Sly. To see what she has been up to and working on, check out her blog. I think she is hard at work writing a sequel. Hurry up!

AS FOR MOI', I will sit down with a glass of wine (it is after 5 p.m. on Sunday as I write this) and tell you a bit [and a tad more] about myself:

What Am I Working On?

Right now, I'm finishing Smoldered, the second book in The Electric Tunnel Series. The story picks up somewhere in the middle of Electrified (Sienna and Carson); it is the story of Asher and Natalie, two equally shattered, fragmented souls, both who are trying desperately not to fall in love. Mostly set in Las Vegas, where the Tunnel is located and just as full of lust-filled, sex-hazed, pheromone-dosed scenes as its predecessor. But, this time, the reader gets to know a grittier, baser side of the industry in Smoldered.

Asher’s story is not one of hearts and flowers...there is a lot of pain, suffering and angst. Even I found I had to write in chunks because I would get so gut-wrenched after a while, tears would come.

YES, I cried while writing my own book.

I thought this would be my favorite tale to tell because I love Asher so much, but like most readers, I'm slowly getting sucked into the sordid stories behind the Tunnel bouncers and ideas for their books wake me in the middle of the night.

With cameos from ex-FBI detective, Carson, and bad boy bouncer, Petey, along with a beginning look into Big Mike’s affairs of the heart, there is a lot of alpha men to choose from in Smoldered.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

With a background in human development and clinical social work, I really need to delve into the minds of my characters. There is no wham, bam, thank you mam, when it comes to my stories. I need to be able to understand their mental processes, what they are thinking, and show how they arrive at their decisions. I believe in a slow-build, even though the reader wants to shoot me at some point.

Can they just hook up already?

So, I think personally, I spend a bit more time and emphasis on character development and background. I need it to all fall in place, for it to be a neat package.

In Electrified, I used the third person to do this, but Smoldered is a first person story. It will be interesting to see how readers react to the difference. I personally, loved writing the chapters in a man's POV while I was scripting Asher.

Why do I write what I do?

I guess you could say I've been reading some form of romance since I was twelve or thirteen years old. It all started with Judy Blume and her books––I couldn’t read them fast enough. Later on in college, I fell in love with Catherine Coulter, which must be why I love a good romantic suspense and FBI man. As an adult, I had an ongoing, huge love affair with Karen Marie Moning. Her Fever series kept me up for days on end. OMG, Jericho Barrons.

Don't know him, look him up!

After reading my romance in private, I put my big-girl panties on and decided to be brave and start putting my own stories down on paper. It took me a while to eek out which one to share first. I had so many characters swimming in my head. Now, even with great reviews and constructive criticism, I’m freaking glad I did share.

***I love IT when I get a text or an email from a woman who is spending her day reading my book and she can't put it down. We all need a few hours to unwind, relax and enjoy ourselves and if you can do it with my book, well, that’s amazing!

How does my writing process work?

Typically I am on a run when an idea or character comes to me, and I often record a voice memo to myself so I don’t forget! Then, I spend some time chewing on it, drinking coffee/eating junk donuts] elaborating in my mind before I sit down at my laptop. When I finally do start typing, I write a few chapters at a time and then let them sit and marinate before going back and reviewing––and then, onward.

So, now before I get back to writing and editing Smoldered, I need to pass the baton to my girl, Christy Pastore:

Writer Christy Pastore grew up in the lakeside community of Syracuse, Indiana USA writing short stories that usually involved characters who loved to travel, had a passion for fashion and were often times swept up in boy crazy crushes.  Many of her first stores also dealt with coming of age situations with their best girlfriends.

Christy gave up reading books for several years, disillusioned with the annoying characters and predictable plot lines. Upon the recommendation of a friend, Christy picked up a much buzzed about popular romance novel which reminded her of why reading was such an enjoyable guilty pleasure.

Writing has been a constant in Christy’s life, leading her to create a popular fashion blog, Fashion Wrap Up. This endeavor allowed Christy to have the wonderful experience of working and collaborating with many talented models, designers, makeup artists and photographers in the Fashion Industry. While Pastore still writes about fashion and celebrity style in her spare time, her passion for story development, more specifically creative writing, publishing and content creation has taken her on a new journey and career path: Author.

Her debut novel, Fifteen Weekends was released in May of 2014. Her next novel, Unscripted is set to release in November 2014.

Additionally, Christy enjoys a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc, a warm cup of coffee, Gummi Bears, traveling and tweeting her thoughts on her favorite TV shows.

Christy and her husband Kevin currently reside in St. Louis, Missouri in the popular Italian Neighborhood, The Hill, with their two lovable dogs and cooler than cool cat.

AND, M.L. Ortega:

M.L. Ortega was raised in the North by Southerners and thus learned to embrace dichotomy, which shows in her writing. With humor at the wheel, dark subject matter rides 'shotgun'.

Moving frequently throughout her childhood, her family finally settled in California, where she eventually married and had four children. The children have grown and moved away, leaving her in the care of a very patient husband and two independent cats. She's just published her book, Turn Key Condition, on Amazon.

Excited to hear from Christy & M.L. next week....RB

Holla! Win FIVE debut romance ebooks this holiday weekend

 

I'm not going to lie: Being a first time, debut author is scary. Its downright, flat-out nail-biting, hide-in-your-closet or underneath a blanket frightening. As an author, you're putting your words, characters, and ideas out there for everyone and anyone to read or see, and that is intimidating enough. BUT, then there is the added fear of no one, other than your mom or sister or sister-in-law, even picking up your brand-new, shiny novel.

Which is why I have been on a mission  to check out as many debut romance authors as I can. On my adventure to read, I discovered Susan Ward, Terri Lyndie, Salem Archer, and Elle Michaels––AND their books.

Each story so distinctly different in feel and style, yet all of them compelling, I am crazy, run around naked, excited to be able to giveaway an ebook copy of each one this holiday weekend. LOOKS like one lucky winner, will have a very busy weekend of reading by the pool, lake, beach, or locked away in your bedroom.

The giveaway will run from 8 a.m. EST on 7/1/2014 through 8 a.m. EST on 7/5/2014 through rafflecopter, and then each author listed above will gift one lucky reader a kindle copy of their book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amazon makes some pretty good recommendations

 

Best way to wake up! Amazon recommendations. To read about some way more humorous recos - go here.

Oh, and come back next week for a giveaway with Electrified and four other titles! Just in time for the holiday weekend. 

OR, you can subscribe right over there to get it straight to your inbox ---->

What does your husband think?

Over the last two months, I've heard "What does your husband think?" more times than I care to count. If asked, he will tell you he is the inspiration behind all my alpha men, even the ones who dwell in my head, despite the fact that I tell him to say "Its fiction" in response.

But, it is a work of fiction. A world of make-believe that came to me a long time ago––on a trip to Las Vegas. The characters in my story are a result of my overactive imagination, a little bit of wine, and yes, my background in psychology/human development/social work. [And, maybe just maybe, my husband.]

I've spent the better part of my life studying people, so in a way––that has helped me build my characters. Each and every one is a labor of love and intensity and focus. Your reviews of them, kind words, even the not so kind words, mean the world to me because you chose to spend time with them.

My husband knows better than anyone how much time, effort, attention that building characters takes because he has heard from me, "Shhh. I'm writing right now" about as much as I have heard "What does your husband think?"

Ultimately, I think he's proud. He thinks its great.

[He thinks he's Carson.]

What's on my Kindle? #indieauthors

I admit...I'm a little behind in my reading since launching my first book, but I have been trying to catch up over the last few weeks. That and write and write, but it is my kindle that I find some escape at the end of the day. AND, I freaking love that time. Freaking.  

Another indie author friend once said to me,

"I consider myself a reader first."

I could not agree more.

It is the stories I fell in love with that made me want to add my own to the mix.

So, without further ado, this is what is loaded on my kindle right now.

Very Bad Things & Very Wicked Things  by Ilsa Madden Mills

Both with spunky, free-spirited heroines trying to break free from preconceived notions and stereotypes and steamy alpha heroes, I don't recommend picking either of these up unless you have time to read each one in its entirety because you will not be able to put them down.

*A personal thank you to Ilsa for both LEO and being so kind and helpful to me!

Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

Ugh, this book is so good. So good. The story, full of pain, loss, and love flows from one to the other and captures the reader, pulling them in deeper and deeper. And, Archer. Oh. Archer.

The Education of Sebastian and The Education of Caroline (combined series) by Jane Harvey-Berrick

One of my all-time favorite reads has a new cover and BONUS scenes (yes, I am screaming in all caps, but they are that good). A heart-stopping, gut-wrenching story of forbidden love...and, then reacquainted love, Caro and Seb are another duo hard to put down.

What Happens Tomorrow by Elle Michaels

This is next on my TBR list. Elle, a debut author like me, is already getting great reviews on her book, and I cannot wait to open it. Apparently, I should have a box of tissues on hand. Who doesn't love a good cry?

AND, of course, my book is there residing next to all these greats, and I can't stand it!

Electrified 

HAPPY, peaceful reading in bed, the bathtub, or the carpool lane.

mmmmm...Carson

  no words needed:

Between you and me...and everyone else.

Over at my other site, Back'nGrooveMom, I write pretty serious stuff.  A blog mostly centered around the crazy lives of women, moms, and wives, and how we look for balance. Typically, we are unsuccessful. Anyway, when I decided to release Electrified (The Electric Tunnel) or actually well before that, I went back and forth on using my real name or a pen name. As you can see, I went with the former over the latter.

Recently, most of the conversations I've had start and end with "Aren't you so embarrassed to release such a steamy read with your name."

The answer is short: NO.

No way, nope.

Part of my mission over at Back'nGrooveMom or anywhere else I write––Huffington Post, Modern Mom, even StartUpNation––has always been at the core of whatever role we are holding is this: We are women, and part of being a woman is doing what makes us feel good. So, if you like romance, read it. Devour it in any way you like.

The best part of releasing the book has been the PM's and texts I have received. They have made me laugh, cry, smile and feel light in a time I don't think I normally would!

Can they have sex soon?

Love it. Ur a dirty wh#@$

I'm in love with Carson.

Shhh, I'm with Carson right now.

...and the best: [My college-aged daughter] said she can totally see how you write that stuff by looking at you.

OMG. So, maybe a little embarrassed by that last one, but honestly thanks to all of you who have messaged me nice things and reviewed the book. love, R

Well, I had to get dressed today

Today I had to get dressed. Actually GET dressed for a photo shoot and upcoming print interview. Now, you may be scratching your head and asking yourself why I would perhaps not be getting dressed daily. Let me explain.  

Last week was the official release week of Electrified, and I'm not gonna lie. I spent a great majority of my time in what I consider to be one step up from jammies. In fact, a number of my well-coordinated outfits last week were in fact pajamas. Not even nice ones. No lace, frills, or ribbons. More like fleecy, bally, ugly, non-matching separates that keep me warm on a cold winter's night.

I'm also not going to lie when it comes to my lack of sleep and increased anxiety as I hit PUBLISH. Geez, waiting for the book to upload felt like forever, and then I sold 1 &1/2 copies and I swear it was if I climbed Mt. Everest, or scratch that and make it Charlie Hunnam.

There were a number of readers, friends and family that made me smile so hard during last week, and I cannot thank you enough. For the kind words, the silly PM's, the reviews on Amazon and GoodReads, and the texts. Oh, the texts kept me rolling. Luckily, no one FaceTimed because there was no way that I could show my GORGEOUS style on camera.

AND, Love N. Books. Omg, I adore those ladies. ADORE.

AND, Pam. The calm behind my force.

As I finally sit here showered and dressed, cleaned up from the days of watching the internet to see if my book was there to buy, Electrified is officially available in the Kindle Store at Amazon, Nook, and iBooks.

And an added bonus - THE Paperback is not far behind.

So, thank you. I will even FaceTime with you if you want.

Coffee Talk: Release Day

My mom: Who is this Mara on Facebook and why is she making you cry?

Me: Mom, she’s a fellow blogger, writer who read my book and she liked it so much, she read it straight through in one sitting. It was a good cry.

My Mom: Well, how did she get the book? Is it out?

Me: No, not yet. She got an advanced copy for review purposes.

My Mom: What do you mean?

Me: Well, I have these advanced review copies for bloggers, avid readers/recommenders, and such to read early, help get the ball rolling, stir the media. You know, when you think I am just f-ing around on Facebook? I’m doing a little work.

My Mom: What about family? Do I get a copy?

I think: You don’t have a kindle, nook or the like. Plus, it is a bit dirty. Okay, a lot dirty.

I say: Definitely. Of course, mom. You can proof my paperback copy.

The truth of the matter is, I’ve been dragging my feet a little in putting up my debut novel. I’m fucking petrified. Scared to death. Not about the dirty part. Everyone knows I can be a bit naughty.

I’m afraid of the whole thing. The sum of parts…is greater…

Writing a fiction novel has been a lifelong goal of mine, and now I wrote one. I don’t know if anyone will like it (especially my mom), and it is frightening.

So, the few of you who have read advanced copies and sent me kind words, I can’t thank you enough.

I have studied the calendar to find the most perfect time to slap the book up on the internetz, and there are so many awesome, well-established, better-than-me authors releasing today, tomorrow, next week, but I have to bite the bullet.

Electrified will be live sometime in the next few days (4/30/14 or 5/1/14) –– mostly determined by my upload capabilities, and let me say this: Thanks in case I forget to say it later.

Thanks for everything, nothing, whatever.

To make sure you are alerted to when the links are live, you can like here.

See you on the other side.

He's coming. Carson

It was his own damn fault he was so desperate for a female’s attention or touch. He was the one tied in knots over a stripper—a beautiful woman with supple curves, all the right moves, and bluer-than-blue eyes so deep they revealed she was actually much more than who she appeared to be onstage.

A woman who was completely inaccessible to him and untouchable to everyone. Yet he was so hung up on her, he was about to head up to his hotel room by his lonesome without any intention of trying to find another woman or even take care of himself.

Carson shook his head, annoyed at himself and confused by his current disinterest in pursuing anything female. He knew it bore some type of significance. A meaning, perhaps, that he shouldn’t ignore.

©Rachel Blaufeld, Electrified, 2014

Electrified, its cover, & my mom is blushing.

 

Well, this makes the whole, "I'm publishing a book" very real. Unbelievably freaking real.

Just a few weeks away from officially hitting publish on my first fiction novel, I'm faced with an interesting dilemma.

What? You ask.

My novel is a bit naughty. Actually, not as much as book 2 (preview included), but dirty nonetheless, and for a while, I was thinking my mom may be the only person who buys my book. Except, do I want her to read it? Yesterday, someone asked her about the book and her thoughts, and she BLUSHED.

Let's just say this...my mom is not going to need to wear rouge for a while.

In the meantime, I cannot stop loving and looking at my cover thanks to Sarah over Okay. Yeah, she's ignoring my IM's and all because she is SICK of me, but I don't care. She did a bang out job on this one, and she's stuck with me. forever.

Who wants a teaser? Hit like, comment, raise your hand. Let me know.

Let's celebrate! Electrified, Book 1 The Electric Tunnel, Teaser #2

....I've been holed up with edits, putting the finishing touches on Sienna and Carson's story, and I haven't been able to even dream about writing anything else. In celebration of my FIRST manuscript heading for FINAL edits, I wanted to share another little teaser (cover reveal and links coming soon).

Meet Sienna - "Her curves and long lashes tease and taunt from her very own billboard where the desert meets the Las Vegas Strip. She’s the hottest stripper in town, known for her sultry and indecent moves coupled with her virginal eyes." 

Down to her bra and panties, Sienna strutted to the front of the platform. She tugged her hair loose from the elastic band that held it, while bending over to shake her locks loose. When she flipped back up, hand to hip, dancing suggestively, swaying her middle while letting her hair fall down her back, she saw him.

He was staring. Not gawking or watching awkwardly, but gazing possessively at her. A mysterious warmth flooded her body, seeping out from her veins to her muscles, skin, and most private parts, making her want to touch, feel, and gaze openly.

That was all she could handle. Sienna turned and went back up the pole to finish the song, avoiding looking at the floor. She couldn’t stand another second of the heat between their gazes.

Twisting and wrapping her lean body around the pole, never breaking a seductive smile, Sienna had the crowd twisted in lust. She could feel it in the air. It was heavy; blanketing the audience in a fever. Unable to cool down, the crowd’s only choice was to take in more sensuality.

At the end of the song, Sienna didn’t wait to see if the man she’d already spent too much time thinking about left. She did a quick spin around, giving the crowd one more long look at her butt, blew kisses to her fans, and sashayed off the stage.

Electrified - Copyright © 2014 Rachel Blaufeld

Photo Credit: Ryan Connolly, tapwatr, all rights reserved.

Meet Carson - Electrified, Teaser #1, Book 1 The Electric Tunnel Series

Carson Graham shifted into fourth gear as he hightailed it away from the club toward his hotel. Why did he keep coming back to Vegas? Who the hell knows. If there was one thing he didn't have any trouble finding or getting, it was willing women.

He knew women weren't really “things.” They were interesting, often complicated creatures, and he both appreciated and respected them. He just happened to like women in his bed who came with no strings. It was the twenty-first century, after all, and there were plenty of women who liked that kind of deal.

He had never settled down, and he sure as hell wasn't about to start now. At closer to forty years old than thirty-five, he was thinking the bachelor life suited him just fine. Or maybe it was that he only deserved the single life. His particular circumstances hadn't exactly set him up for success in the relationship department.Picking up a little speed, he changed course and steered toward the mountains, needing more time to clear his head.

It would be great to be on his motorcycle right now, to be able to lean into the steep and winding curves, but it was back in his garage on the East Coast, grounded—just like his life at the moment. The sports car he'd rented would have to do.

As he shifted the engine into fifth gear the car jetted forward, allowing the tension to bleed from him with the increased RPM. He was trying to drive away from the pull as fast he could…the pull coming from an insanely gorgeous stripper he was lusting after in a big way.

There was something magnetic about her, dragging him in deeper and deeper. More than her sleek, toned body and her sensual moves when she wrapped herself around the pole, there was a draw deeper than the physical. Carson wasn't a hard-up kind of guy. He never got like this over a woman. Ever.

Electrified - ©Rachel Blaufeld, 2014 Carson Graham (The Electric Tunnel #1)