Author: Author Missy Jane

The voices in my head make me write their stories.

New Release! Too Much to Lose

Available from Ellora’s Cave on May 15th! The final book in the Love Beyond Barriers series by Missy Jane, Too Much to Lose.


Blurb:

Shayla loves her life in New York. She loves her job, her freedom and her friends. What she doesn’t love is going home to an empty bed every night. There’s definitely a solution for that in Texas…Ben. The only problem is she’s not certain she’s ready for another serious relationship.

Ben fell head over heels for Shayla almost from the moment they met and it was obvious the attraction was mutual. However, great sex is all she’s willing to give. She tests his patience at every turn and his endurance whenever they’re alone together. He doesn’t know what more to offer.
It might take a force of nature and the emotional past coming back to haunt her before Shayla realizes what they have is definitely Too Much to Lose.
A Romantica® erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
Buy it here: http://www.ellorascave.com/too-much-to-lose.html

Getting Lost in the Shuffle

When I first started writing to get published there was still a stigma against self-publishing. Any “vanity press” caused warning signs to flash in my head. Skip ahead just a few short years and now publishing your own work is the new black. I have absolutely nothing against it and know many authors who have been very successful at it. However, I’ve decided it’s not for me at this time. 

So, what does that mean for me as a small press author? I’m not published through the big six but I do have contracts with three different publishers. All three are well known in the Romance industry and have NY Times Best Selling author’s in their lists. I’m very happy being a part of all three but what does that mean for me? Not much lately it seems. Even though I’ve been more successful on having new releases this year than any previous year, my sales are down. Is it because of my writing? I’ve no idea.

To be honest I feel I’m getting lost in the shuffle. There are so many authors and books to choose from. I know I’m just one of millions. I don’t get many reviews so don’t know if my writing just sucks. The few reviews I’ve had and some reader feedback leads me to believe it doesn’t. What I do feel is there is such a push to support “Indie” authors, and so many readers stuck on buying paperbacks from the big six that authors like me are falling through the cracks. The biggest problem is I don’t know how to fix this.

Like most authors I do a lot of online promotion for my books. I’ve got a site and blog (duh) and I’m on Facebook nearly all day every day. I know I’m often preaching to the choir though, as a lot of my interaction is with other authors. I don’t really mind. Authors are readers too, right? I know I am. But there comes a point where I have to draw the line on self-promotion. I have to spend time writing too, plus I don’t want to spam anyone. So, I’m just going to keep doing my thing and hope my writing speaks for itself.

New Release! Body Butter by Renee Luke

If the above book cover doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will! How about the blurb?

Because of non-refundable tickets and a loser, would-be groom caught with his pants around his ankles just before the wedding, Jade Palmer finds herself all alone on an exotic island, in a resort world renowned for its specialty creams. After a year of depriving herself to fit into the designer gown, she plans on flaunting her new slim body in a bikini on the beach, indulging in some of the resorts special creams, and taking care of her needs for a change. Her main need, a man to live out the sexual fantasy this trip was meant to be.
This resort gig was his mother’s thing, so how Ty Zamir got suckered into caretaking her business for the summer is beyond him. Worse yet, because of a scheduling mix-up, he’s left delivering breakfast to their newest guest.  She’s naked when he arrives–and dreaming–mumbling about fantasies and creams. Ty’s supposed to leave the tray of breakfast creams, and quietly leave her room, but he pauses and she awakes before he can.  She tells him he’s why she came–what she needs–and offers herself in exchange for being shown how to use all of the island’s exotic, edible creams.



Wow! Very hot. How about a little more with the blurb from book 1?

To prepare him for an upcoming feature role, chef and TV show hostess, Ellie Brown, is charged with teaching special guest, soap star, Derek Allen, how to create incredible desserts. Her Friday nights heat up during the live segment on summer desserts, where together they’re supposed to make scrumptious treats from scratch. The problem is, Derek doesn’t know a Dutch oven from a French kiss, and the only recipe Ellie can think of involves a certain hunk covered in sweet creams, who tastes as good as he looks. Not that she’s been licking…the spatula.

With her career and reputation on the line, she attempts to focus on her task, getting Derek familiar with cakes, whipped cream, and frostings. Enough so that he can fool the camera.  But Derek isn’t making it easy for her, not when his real talents seem to be charm and passion, and his prowess has her thinking of some off-camera action where the all those desserts can be taken to a whole new level. Determined to get him proficient in the kitchen so he can land his role, she spends extra time practicing creating each dessert with him, only to come to the conclusion, nothing’s better than mixing desserts and hunks– If only she didn’t spend so much time thinking about how to keep one off her thighs, the other between.

Want more? Check out Renee Luke online:

Her books: on Amazon

Her Twitter: @reneelukenovels

New Release! Impulse by Raven McAllen (Contest)

Isola Dei Sogni, where fantasies and dreams come true. Mia only went as a favor for her sister. Her fantasy was a good book and a bottle of wine. Until she met Dylan. Then her sense disappeared and fantasy took over. Was it all worth it?


Blurb:
Dylan has arrived at Isola Dei Sogni to help out—with reluctance and just as a favor. Then he meets Mia. If she’s the person he’s supposed to assist, then maybe the visit won’t be the waste of time he thought after all. His attitude has changed, and when he hears Mia wants to give him his fantasy? Dylan is never one to disappoint a lady…he hopes.
However, fantasies and dreams are all well and good, but even here, reality creeps in. Can Mia and Dylan overcome that to reach their happily ever after?

Excerpt:


“Inside.” His voice was hoarse. “Touch inside. In the way you’d like me to touch you. Show me, Mia. Show me.”

Her body was on fire as she moved her hand. She’d show him, and rejoiced that she’d found a person who desired her so much.

“Like this?” 
With an insouciance she wouldn’t have believed she had, Mia wet her fingers in her mouth and moved them to her pussy. Slowly, she pushed inside herself. 

The look on his face gave her courage to move them further inside. As she scraped the walls of her channel, her clit tingled and sharp arrows of pleasure honed in on her nipples. 
Her juices coated her fingers, and without conscious thought, she moved her hand to coat her nipples with her essence. She trembled as she returned it to her heated sheath. Her head fell back and she gave herself to the sensations that bombarded her.

“My turn.” Dylan stood up and pushed his chair back. 
It fell over and hit the floor with a bang. Mia jumped at the unexpected noise and her hand moved out of her channel and dropped onto her lap. He lifted it to his lips.

“Ah, so good, it tastes of you.” Goose bumps covered her skin as he put her fingers into his mouth and licked them one by one. “Now I can’t wait, my lovely Mia. Are you ready?”




Raven lives in Scotland, along with her husband and their two cats—their children having flown the nest—surrounded by beautiful scenery, which inspires a lot of the settings in her books.

She is used to sharing her life with the occasional deer, red squirrel, and lost tourist, to say nothing of the scourge of Scotland—the midge.

A lover of reading, she appreciates the history inside a book, and the chance to peek into the lives of those from years ago. Raven admits that she enjoys the research for her books almost as much as the writing; so much so, that sometimes she realizes she’s strayed way past the information she needs to know, and not a paragraph has been added to her WIP.

Her lovely long-suffering husband is learning to love the dust bunnies, work the Aga, and be on stand-by with a glass of wine.
You can find out more about Raven at the following links:
Website| Blog | Facebook Fanpage | Facebook Profile | Twitter

Be sure to comment below for your chance to win a FREE copy of Impulse! Two winners will be chosen. Also head over to the Just Ink Press blog and leave a comment there with links to any shares you might have to be entered into their Grand Prize drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card!

At the end of the tour, the Grand Prize winner will be announced on the Just Ink Press blog. How does the Grand Prize contest work? 
Comment = 1 entry (multiple entries possible; one per blog and one on the Just Ink Press blog)

Shares: Twitter = 2 entries (multiple entries possible, but must show links)

Facebook = 3 entries (multiple entries possible, but must show links – if on profile, it must be public)

Winners will be chosen using Random.org.

Do You Know Raven McAllan?

One of my marvelous friends has a publishing company by the name of Just Ink Press, and they have a new release tomorrow from multi-published author Raven McAllen. So, today I thought I’d treat my readers with an intro to Raven and her work.

Welcome to my blog! Can you please tell the readers a little something about you, such as what genre you write and how many books you have published at this time?


Hi Missy, thanks for inviting me here. I’ve brought gluten free cup cakes to go with the coffee. Well, I live in Scotland, land of lochs, glens, kilts, and midges. The first three I love, the last is the scourge of Scotland. A nasty wee nigh on invisible insect with a horrible bite. My DH and I live on the edge of a forest, and rattle around in a too big house now our kids have left home. I refuse to grow old gracefully, and go by the adage you’re only as old as you feel, (and my DH is younger than me!)
I write romance. I’ve totted up and Impulse is my 35th adult book. Goodness! They vary in length from short stories in anthologies to 55+k. Some are hot, some not, and they encompass menage, m/m, m/f, and f/f. They vary from Regency through WW2 to contemporary, and can be paranormal, mystery, or straightforward romance, if there is such a thing as a straightforward romance. The one thing they all have in common is love. 

What is your favorite genre to read, and who is your favorite author? Has this author inspired your writing?


You know this is a question I can’t really answer. I just love to read and the eReader now means I have space in my suitcase for clothes instead of the book a day I used to take on holiday with me. A few years ago I was lucky enough to meet Robyn Donald, a Harlequin writer, at her home in New Zealand, and she encouraged me to write. But I don’t really have a favorite author or genre. It really depends on my mood, where I am, and how much time I have to immerse myself in the story.

Your writing is erotic. Do you have any difficulty writing the sexy scenes or are they just words to you? 

Well, when I first started I swear I typed some words with my eyes averted… lol. I never used to think so graphically. 
The scenes aren’t just words because they are part of the story in my mind, the story I’m telling to my readers. Words make sentences, sentences paragraphs and paragraphs books. I think long and hard once I’ve sorted out what goes where and how, if you get my meaning. I’m conveying emotions and actions and sometimes you need to be graphic in a non basic biological way. Let’s say the only difficulty is making sure its feasible, and having a glass of cold water to hand.

What do you do for fun/relaxation when not writing?


I walk most days with a friend. Read, go on holiday with DH, drink wine, and eat chocolate. Preferably together. And *wink* get inspiration.

What/who inspired you to write your first book? 


My Crit group UCW. We met online, taking part in a competition, and set up a group to help each other. Then we wrote a series of short stories together. Funnily enough, Impulse came from mine. But my first book, Wallflowers Don’t Wilt, came about because we were all talking about what we should write and I said “oh, I think I’ll write a Regency menage.” They nagged and pushed me until I did, checked my m/s, and then decided where I should send it. In fact, Doris O’Connor and I still check each other’s stuff before we send it off. We call it ‘rediting’ short for red-penning. 

In your new release, who is your favorite character? Why? 


It has to be Mia. She is so out of her depth, doesn’t want to be there and then thinks, “oh well, what the heck.” But she’s feisty, funny, and questions everything. I think we both were amazed at how her life changed.


Sounds very interesting. I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for stopping by my blog.


Happy Reading,
Love R x


Readers, you can find out more about Raven at the links below. Check the blog tomorrow for an excerpt from her new release, Impulse!


Website: http://www.ravenmcallan.com/
Blog: http://www.ravenmcallan.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ravenmcallan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RavenMcAllan
Sensuous stories to seduce your soul…

Missing: Ali Lowitzer

Three years ago today a mother’s worst nightmare occurred right in my neighborhood. A beautiful 16 year old girl got off the school bus, called her mom to say she was walking down the street to pick up her paycheck, and disappeared without a trace. Alexandria Lowitzer had a lot going for her. She had no reason to run away and many reasons to stick around. But now she’s gone and no one knows to where or why.


Unfortunately children going missing has become an epidemic in America, and many other countries. Some are run-aways, many are not. The Missing posters are everywhere and it’s a frightening prospect to realize just how common they are. A quilt has been made from some and it is passed on from parent to parent of the missing children. 


In order to remind the community of today’s tragic anniversary, many of my neighbors gathered to release butterflies in Ali’s honor. It was meant to be a symbol of hope and a reminder that we will not give up. We are still praying and hoping she will be back in her mother’s arms one day.



For me it was a reminder to hug my daughters tighter, kiss them and tell them how much I love them more often. And to never take them for granted. We must be vigilant in the safety of all of our children.

Writer vs Author

Whenever I mention to someone that I’m an author I don’t always call myself that. Sometimes I say writer instead without really thinking about it. The two words are pretty interchangeable in my mind. However, I’ve noticed quite a difference in the reactions of those I tell based on which term I choose.

When I say I’m a writer or that I write it’s usually met with a smile and nod of understanding, but no real interest. The listener usually moves on to the next topic of discussion without really acknowledging what I’ve just said. That’s okay by me. To be honest, when I’m meeting or talking to someone as myself (Melissa rather than Missy) I’m perfectly okay with not discussing my writing. I don’t push it on other people or even say much about it unless they show a genuine interest. I realize not many people are willing to admit they read the genres I write, so I give them an out by not making it a big part of our conversation.

On the flip side, when I say I’m an author the reaction is vastly different. Many times the person shows surprise and they ask about my books. How many have I written? What genre are they? Are they self-published? I answer the questions honestly and as succinctly as possible. What can I say, I’m not the best at self-promotion. I do offer a bookmark with my info if they seem to be genuinely interested rather than just being polite. 

I’m not bothered by either reaction. I just find it interesting that the two words, which mean essentially the same thing, garner such different reactions from people. I rarely say I’m a published author, and almost never that I’m multi-published, even though both are true. There’s really no reason. Again, I’m not so great at self-promotion. 

Do the two terms have different meanings for you? If so, why and how?

Around My Town: Japanese Festival 2013

I live just north of the fourth largest city in the nation. What that means to me is plenty of opportunities to do a lot of cool stuff. Take last weekend for example. The 20th Japanese Festival occurred downtown in Hermann Park. This is a festival my family has attended nearly every year for about six or seven years. We absolutely love it! The best part? Entry is free. For a family of six, that’s just what we need.

I don’t remember how I first learned of the Japanese Festival. It’s put on every year by The Japan-American Society of Houston. This organization is dedicated to ” encourage mutual knowledge and understanding of Japan by Americans and of America by Japanese, and to encourage communication between the two countries.” (from their website) 

Every year they do a fantastic job of bringing together food, dance, martial arts, art, crafts, and various entertainment from Japan. We stuff ourselves full and buy things that don’t last the year. But that’s okay because we know we’ll just go back next year to buy more. One of my favorite aspects of the festival is the costumes worn by the attendees. If you like cosplay, anime, or anything to do with Japanese fashion (real or in the movies) then you would get an eye-full at the festival.

I was told this bookmark says “Missy”.
I would have had a better picture of my food if I had remembered to take one before chowing down. Sorry. The pork and curry over rice was just too yummy to resist.

One of the most popular items (aka longest lines) at the festival are these drinks with tapioca. Umm, not for me but the teens love them.

This year my girls surprised me by trying something new. A bun filled with sweet bean paste. I wasn’t adventurous enough to give it a taste. 




Fun for the whole family includes two long tents filled with children’s games. This is one the youngest plays every year. Especially since I wouldn’t let her try to win a goldfish again.



I take this photo every year and it never gets old. Hopefully she’ll still let me when she’s in her teens.




This year paper swans were added to the pond. I never got close enough for a better picture, but you get the idea.

Fourteen Thousand?!!

When I started this blog a few years ago it was because all authors have blogs, right? I knew keeping in touch with my readers was a good thing but website are meant to be somewhat static. I wanted to keep it flowing with updates and my rambling thoughts so my readers could get to know me. Now Facebook is much more prevalent in my life and where I do most of my “reaching out”. However, I still try to keep my blog updated at least every couple of weeks.
So, when I logged in today and took a peek at my stats, what did I see? 14,004 all time page views!! Oh my god! You guys rock. I can’t believe we’ve made it this far together but I’m absolutely thrilled. THANK YOU for hanging in there with me through the unlimited self promotion and goofy paragraph-only posts. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey and plan to stick around for another thousand views or so. 😉

Just Because…

I’m sitting in my office and staring out the window as I wait for the rain all the forecasters have promised. As I looked over my blog, site and other online shenanigans I realized I’ve done nothing but promo on my blog for a while now. I know that’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, I started this blog to “talk” to people. I’m not going to lie, I want to talk about my books so you’ll know what and where they are. But I also want to just talk about whatever happens to be on my mind at any given time.

In the past I tried doing specific themed posts at least a couple of times a week. Those were great but I ran out of subject matter on each one fairly quickly. Maybe I’ll get back to those. I’m really hoping to do the Model Monday or Shutterbug Sunday posts again because some great eye-candy was to be had there. We’ll see. For now I just wanted to say hello again without any attachments or expectations. This isn’t a “buy my book!” post. Just a little hello from me to you.

So, how have you been?