I am so into escapism. (Yeah, that would be one of the reasons why I am such an avid reader.) I love getting into a story and being able to escape the pressures of reality, if only for a little while.

This weekend, the big movie that opens is the Watchmen.  I think seeing it is on my agenda.  🙂

But then, next weekend, there’s another flick I really want to see:  The Last House on the Left.  Now, I know The Last House won’t be for everyone, but there is something about that movie that is sucking me in–I’ve got to see it!!!  Maybe the draw for me lies in this one great line from the trailer:  “If bad people hurt someone you love, how far would you go to hurt them back?”

I’m always curious about what people would do in different situations, and, maybe I’m wrong, but this movie seems like it will be one in which the polite veneer people wear is ripped away, and you’re left with the darkness inside. Or, um, maybe I’m just into my RS story so far right now that deep and disturbed movies really appeal to me.

What about you?  Any movie plans on your agenda?

UPDATE: Totally, unrelated to movies, but I just read on Edie’ Ramer’s blog that voting for the CHASE THE DREAM contest has started. Edie made the finals–congrats, Edie! And I wanted to be sure and put up a voting link. Good luck, Edie!

Hi, everyone! I am very happy to say that today’s visiting author is the mega-talented Beth Kery.  (Talk about sensual and emotional stories!)  And not only is Beth answering my amazingly insightful interview questions :-), but she is also giving away a free download of FLIRTING IN TRAFFIC to one commenter. (I love the name of that book–it just makes me smile.)

And hey–wanna know more about FLIRTING IN TRAFFIC?  You can read an excerpt here.

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Time for the interview!

1.    Welcome, Beth! Please tell us a bit about yourself and the genre (or genres) that you write.

Hi Cindy, thanks for having me.

I write mostly erotic romance, although I do have couple of books that are straight up contemporary romance, one of which is FLIRTING IN TRAFFIC, my upcoming release from Cerridwen Press.  I like to write in all genres, but enjoy contemporary and paranormal the most.

2.    Describe FLIRTING IN TRAFFIC  in 15 words or less.

Uptight gerontologist gets roped into a flirting in traffic dating scheme and finds true lust…and love. (Okay, I went over a word!)

3.    LOL—okay, now use as many words as you’d like to describe your story.

FLIRTING IN TRAFFIC evolved from a news headline of the same name that I saw on AOL. I read the article, and was tickled by it—a guy giving instructions on how to flirt in traffic. At that time, I spent several hours in traffic everyday. With the help of the article and a real life traffic nightmare—the complete renovation of Chicago’s Dan Ryan Expressway—I came up with a fun, sexy story about an uptight physician who gets pulled into a loony dating scheme by her sister and friend. It’s a very light-hearted romance, which was a nice change for me.

4.    Which character do you like better from FLIRTING IN TRAFFIC—the hero or the heroine?  Why?

I really like Esa, because she’s hyper-responsible, and as everyone in her life tells her, really needs to ‘loosen up.’ (She snarls like the wolfman whenever she hears this.) So of course, when she falls into lust and love, she does it harder than most, because she’s got further to fall than a more easy-going, more, er…flexible personality. She also has this wild streak in her, which comes to light when she gets behind the wheel of her sister’s fast, racy sportscar.

5.    What is the most challenging part of being a writer?

Hmmm….just four months or so ago I would have said the waiting. Seems like writers are always waiting on something or another. Right now, I’m having a bit of a writing block for a proposal I’d like to get in. It’s really the first time it’s happened to me, and I have to admit, I’m pretty damn frustrated by it. It’ll come, eventually, but dang…I’m having a hard labor with this baby.

6. In a fight, who would win…Dracula or the wolf-man?  What? This question seems odd? Please, folks are dying to know this answer.

Dracula for sure. Why? Because everyone knows Dracula rules the wolves. Besides, he’s all cool and smooth, and could outlast all of the wolfman’s snarling and teeth gnashing. I’m a firm believer that a level head always prevails.

7.    What’s your favorite scary movie?  Come on, spill.  No explanations—just name it.  Let everyone else guess why.

Angel Heart.

8.    What is your writing schedule like?

It’s pretty simple. I have to do a word count of a minimum of 1300 per day. I can go over, but I can’t go under. I keep a log of my progress.

9.    Tell me anything you’d like to tell me.  

I’ve never flirted in traffic. However, many a tawdry Beth Kery romances have been first envisioned while I sat in traffic, listening to my stereo super-loud. Hey, never let it be said I wasted time sitting in traffic.

Thanks for answering my interview questions, Beth!

Now, don’t forget, if you’d like a chance to win a free download of FLIRTING IN TRAFFIC, leave Beth a comment.

And, in case you were curious…here’s the blurb for Beth’s new book:

She went off like a red-hot firecracker on his foyer floor, then vanished.

Esa never intended to participate in her best friend’s unorthodox dating scheme – flirting with hunky construction workers in Chicago traffic. Her thoughts changed when she saw a long, lean slice of heaven strutting around the side of the highway. For him, she would be the carefree sex kitten her borrowed car with its suggestive license plates implied she was.

Though smarting from the wounds of a recent break-up, Finn can’t resist the tempting redhead driving the come-and-get-me car, flashing him contemptuous looks with those brandy-colored eyes. The lure of taming the feisty little kitten is just too great to deny.

(Quick note: Comments from MySpace will be combined with the comments from my blog and one overall winner will be selected.  Thanks!)

Have you read Larissa Ione‘s PLEAUSRE UNBOUND? (The first book in her truly amazing Demonica series?) If not, then here’s your chance. Select ebook stores are offering the book for  a buck right now. Yep, $1.  Here’s a link for Books on Board.   I think that might just be the best deal you get today.

Last night, I re-read one of my old favorites, PRINCE CHARMING by Julie Garwood. (Thank you, Jennifer!)  There are some books that always make me smile, and this is one of them. I am so addicted to Garwood’s historicals.

I haven’t been able to search and see what new books are out this week–just finished up galley proofs, yay!–so if you’ve got one to share, please do.

And thanks to everyone who has entered my contest! The response has been great! Thank you!!

Today, I am happy to have one of my fellow Brava authors, the very talented Beth Williamson, as my interview victim.  🙂  Welcome, Beth!

Beth’s newest release (and her first Brava) hit store shelves yesterday. Yep, yesterday!  You don’t get much newer than that.  THE EDUCATION OF MADELINE is a sexy western romance that I can’t wait to get in my greedy hands.

1.    Hi, Beth! Please tell us a bit about yourself and the genre (or genres) that you write.

Let’s see, I am a forty-something mother of two teenage boys, married almost 19 years. I live in North Carolina (which is a beautiful place to be) and nearly all my life I’ve been a writer. My imagination would control me and I found myself living fantasies out in my head all the time. Until I put pen to paper, my mind would wander off in a hundred different directions. LOL.

I write mostly in the western historical genre, very hot and spicy but not quite erotic. However I do write some contemporary erotica as well so there’s a bit of a dark side of my writing. 😉

2.    Describe your current release in 15 words or less.

My first Kensington Brava release, The Education of Madeline, hits stores February 24.

3.   Okay, now use as many words as you’d like to describe your story.

Madeline’s story is one that is near and dear to my heart. She’s a rich, independent woman in 1870s Colorado who constantly fights prejudice in the small town she lives in. When she decides to do something for her, namely find a man to teach her the fine art of sex, Madeline finds Teague and the course of her life changes. Teague is a bit of a tortured hero, a war veteran who has lost everything including hope. Yet somehow the two of them find together they are whole again.

4.    Which character do you like better from THE EDUCATION OF MADELINE—the hero or the heroine?  Why?

Oooh, tough question. I’d have to say it’s the heroine. Madeline is feisty, a real pisser in another author’s words, who doesn’t take shit from anyone. She’s smart, funny and outspoken. Kind of who I’d like to be.

5.    What is the most challenging part of being a writer?

Finding the time to write. LOL. I have  a full-time job and writing becomes a challenge because it’s done in the early morning, evening or weekends. When I’m on a deadline I’ll even sneak in lunch time writing breaks. It can really mess with the flow of the story because I have to stop writing.

6.    In a fight, who would win…Dracula or the wolf-man?  What? This question seems odd? Please, folks are dying to know this answer.

Hm, my first thought was Dracula because he could fly away. But the wolf-man could kick his ass six-ways to Sunday first. So I’m gonna go with wolfie. 

7.    What’s your favorite scary movie?  Come on, spill.  No explanations—just name it.  Let everyone else guess why.

The Shining.

8.    Tell me the one thing you wish you’d known about being a writer, um, before you became  a writer.

That my characters could take over my brain. Seriously. They can argue, whisper, seduce and have full-on battles in my head. They make me write their story. What can I say? I am a character ho’.

9.    What is your writing schedule like?

Um, whenever I can write. 😀 Well I even carry around an MP3 with a recording feature so I can write while I drive, or rather dictate to myself as I drive. Later on I transcribe it and it keeps the story going. One day, as if no one has heard this a million times, I want to quit my full-time job and write full-time.

10.    Tell me anything you’d like to tell me.

I grew up being painfully shy and introverted. It wasn’t until I started writing for real in my late twenties that I finally started to come out of my shell. Of course now you’d never know I am still shy deep down inside, where the little Beth still lives. She pokes her head out now and then to see what’s going on, then climbs back in.

Thanks for answering my interview questions! And congratulations on your new release!

With the release date inching closer, I’m now starting to get more reviews for IMMORTAL DANGER.

“I found this book to be excellently written and once I started reading, I couldn’t stop…This is definitely a recommended read for everyone! I enjoyed this story and know I will be on the lookout for more Cynthia Eden books!”–Kim N of Manic Readers, 4.5 Stars

“It’s hard to stand out in the vampire genre, but Eden makes the cut. Maya and Adam are great characters, and they’re terrific together. The suspense is pulse-pounding, the sex hot and Maya’s fighting tactics are wickedly clever. There’s an abundance of paranormal creatures, but each type comes with its own characteristics, the better to keep things interesting.”–Joyce Morgan, Romantic Times, 4 Stars

Thank you, Kim and Joyce!

Yesterday, I passed the 100 page mark in my WIP.  It’s a romantic suspense story, and I’m now at the “in deep” segment of the story.  Let’s see if I can do another 100 pages this week.  🙂 I’ve upped my daily writing goals. With this book, I’ve been aiming for 15 pages a day. I got a bit slowed down yesterday, though (but I did make my goal). when I stopped to lookup some firefighter jargon.  I’m all about slang and special firefighter speak.

Don’t forget–my next contest kicks off on Thursday. I’m going to update my website some today and put the finishing touches on my contest preps.  And tomorrow—I’ll have another author interview up for your viewing fun.

Have a great day!