Great Review for See Me!

See Me is a sexy little short story that I released with Samhain last fall. I knew a story told in first person present tense wouldn't appeal to all readers, but Lydia, the heroine, took ahold of my heart and I had to let her tell her story in her own way. I love this story and so I was pleased when I was notified of this great review from Whipped Cream I'm always so thrilled when a reader "gets" it.


Through the eyes of desire…

These days, Lydia is feeling increasingly restless, and tired of being invisible. No one at work notices the nose-to-the-grindstone colleague dressed in business drab. Her neighbors don’t even know her name.

No one knows she burns off her frustration by dancing to her favorite music, alone in her apartment. No one knows her closet is a wardrobe divided: monochrome and flats by day, silk and stilettos by night. No one knows her secret ritual has slowly evolved into private stripping…then dancing naked on her tiny balcony, daring someone—anyone—to notice.

Then, at the apartment across the way, the curtains move.

Wes can’t believe what he’s been missing by working the night shift. He is drawn to the amazing woman whose every sensual move makes his body ache. And when she catches him watching, the evening explodes into an erotic fantasy. Afterward, though, she confesses she’s not all she seems. No way is this fiery siren as boring and unlovable as she claims.

And no way is he going to let her go without convincing her she is brave, beautiful…and the face he wants to see every morning.

I just want to be noticed. To be accepted for who I am and what I can do. I just want someone to...see me.

Intrigued? You should be. Those are the feelings of Lydia in Natasha Moore's book, See Me. Now, this is a short little book, but that doesn't mean its not packed with excitement--both erotic and plot excitement. Although this book is told in first person and not my favorite means of storytelling, it works for what Lydia has to say. The writing flows, like having a converation with a friend, albeit a hinky conversation.

Lydia is like any woman. She feels invisible unless she's in her zone. Who can't relate to that? We all have days where it seems like we're just moving in a little space and completely invisible to the world around us. I liked she was so realistic. Another thing I liked was the depth in her character. This wasn't a run-of-the-mill heat story. She's wanting more than a roll in the hay. She wants love and understanding. Again, who can't relate to that?

And then there's Wes...the man is sex on legs. If I were in Lydia's shoes--and yeah, she's got lots of funky shoes, so many I was jealous--I wouldn't be able to turn Wes down either. I loved the fact that they were so compatible. Sure there were moments when I wasn't sure how the story would end, but that's the fun of reading this book. Get yourself a copy. You'll see what I mean.

If you want a book with brains and heart, then you need to read See Me. I give it 4 cherries.
Reviewed by Tiger Lily - Whipped Cream Erotic Reviews

Thanks, Tiger Lily!

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Coming at you from RT 2011!

Hey there, Fierce Romancers. Well, it's here! The Romantic Times Booklovers Convention! So far, it's been a really great time. We started off Tuesday night with a side trip to The Viper Room on Sunset Strip, had a wonderful time at the Ellora's Cave Bollywood party on Wednesday night (complete with a performance by an Indian dance troop), and rounded out the trip so far with the Masquerade Faery Ball last night. In between, I've been attending some informative workshops, luncheons and just schmoozing in general. Today is going to be a busy one for me -- but I'll tell you more about that later (Oh, the suspense!). In the meantime, here's a few of the pictures I've taken so far...

At the Ellora's Cave Bollywood Party.

At last night's Masquerade Faery Ball.

Unmasked, and with the lovely Mari Freeman.

That's all from LA for now. Have a great weekend!

Guest - Cassandra Carr - Strange Things Writers Do

Writers have some awfully odd methods and rituals. Some use big white boards to plot their stories. Some put on special “writing gear” – a favorite sweatshirt, a specific pair of socks; and still others have to listen to a certain band or drink a certain beverage out of a specific mug.

Me? I have nothing like this. I’m not really the type to begin with, but at this point in my writing career, I can’t really afford to anyway. I write when I can. If I can listen to music, that’s fine. If I can’t, that’s okay too. I wear whatever I happen to have on that day, I write in whatever location I can find at the moment.

But I do know writers who absolutely cannot write without their little quirks and rituals. Hey – we’re all as different as our books, and that’s what makes the world go ‘round, so I’m all for it. If it works for you, by all means, do it!

Do you have any little things you like to do to get yourself through a day?



The elevator doors opened, and Drew hurried to unlock his apartment and punch his code into the security pad before continuing straight to his bedroom. He spun and picked Jamie up as she neared the door, and she let out a squeak of protest.

“Drew!”

“What? I’m trying to be romantic. Efficient too.” He grinned at her when she struggled to get out of his grip. The way she fought against him both amused and aroused him. “Not so fast,” he warned her. “I’m not planning to let you get away until I’m good and finished with you.”

Jamie cocked an eyebrow. “Good and finished? Be still my heart! Such dreamy talk from a man like you! I had no idea.”

Drew laughed and dropped Jamie on the king-size bed with enough force to make her bounce, then climbed on top of her. Before she could protest again, he’d taken her lips in another deep kiss. Jamie melted beneath him, snaking her hands around his neck while his found her hips, pulling her closer. “You need to get naked,” he declared, rolling off her.

“Just me? That’s hardly fair. If I’m getting naked, then this time, so are you.” Her beautiful, full lips pouted at him.

He stood up, and in seconds, his pants and boxer briefs landed in a heap on the floor. He pulled his shirt over his head and added it to the pile. “Your turn.”
Jamie rose up on her elbows and stared at him in disbelief. “How did you do that so fast? And may I add, very nice.” She smiled and waggled her eyebrows, giving him a quick once-over.

“When I want something, I don’t waste time. And I want you naked. Now.”

He reached over and started yanking her top over her head, but she batted his hands away.

“Hey -- stop that. You’re going to dislocate my shoulder with your beastlike strength.”

Drew laughed but allowed Jamie to gently pull her blouse over her head. He took it and tossed it on the chair near the window. Next she tugged her jeans off, leaving her in only her bra and panties, which Drew made short work of.

He groaned when she was fully nude. “God, you’re gorgeous, you know that? And I’m gonna put my hands everywhere on your beautiful body, so you better be ready.”

Jamie shivered, and he covered her body with his, kissing her briefly before moving down her jawline, sucking and licking. This is gonna be good.

Cassandra Carr lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Her debut novel, Talk to Me, was released by Loose Id on March 22, 2011. For more information about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com, "like" her Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr.

Flawed Characters

It’s funny. I’ve never really considered my characters flawed. Now before someone says, “Oh no, she didn’t,” let me explain.

I’ve always considered my characters just people. Imaginary, mind you, but their life didn’t start the moment I typed the first word. They’d led a full life before I began their story, maybe with happiness, maybe with heartache. Those trials and tribulations made the characters who they are, flaws and all.

But I’m not big on the word flawed. The one thing that might draw me to a character, make me sympathize with him, may be the very reason why someone else is repelled, thus repulsed, by that same character. So flawed is subjective.

So my characters aren’t flawed. They’re just well-rounded people with personalities/pasts some may jive with while others won’t.

I’ve been told my flaw is stubbornness. (I don’t agree with this, lol.) My stubbornness has gotten me where I am today, so I’ll keep it. But I can acknowledge my inability to waver can mess up other people’s plans at times. I have other flaws too. I have a drill sergeant personality. I’m blunt and much rather have a fit of anger than cry over something. But it’s who I am. My friends love me for it, though I can frustrate the hell out of them. I want my characters to have this same thing. All the good and bad combined into one person and them finding the people who accept everything about them, not just the good, fluffy stuff.

So what have people said are your flaws?
Esme

ETA---sorry for the long paragraph. I've edited it three times and it keeps coming up as one long paragraph. Not sure what is wrong.

Characters with a Past

Characters with a bumpy past or emotional baggage are more complex, interesting and realistic. Readers will pull for them more (if you also make them empathetic). Every real person has had negative things happen in their past. Readers understand and connect to this. We are a product of our past, and in some cases the past has greatly affected us and how we deal with people or situations. The past often motivates us in the present. The important events of a character’s past, the ones that shaped them most, are called backstory events. If you can give your character one or two big backstory events that are still affecting him or her today, you are one step closer to creating a complex, believable, real character.


The backstory events I’m talking about are generally bad, negative or painful things that happened to the character in the past. It could’ve happened last month, last year or when he was five. It could’ve lasted five minutes or ten years. A bad thing could be a traumatic event or something that caused them emotional pain. Someone tried to kill him. His brother was murdered. She was raped. A curse was placed on him. She was kidnapped. He was abused as a child. She was left orphaned and penniless, then raised in a string of foster homes. He was in a car accident that left him with a major injury and the person riding with him was killed. Her father gambled away the fortune. It could be almost anything that would negatively affect your character for a long time, and this event still haunts him. He is not yet healed from this life-changing event. This is his emotional baggage. This is when you bring memories and repercussions from the past event into the current story. She doesn’t trust men (or the hero) because she was raped. She wants a family more than anything because she never had one. He grew up in poverty and this is what drives him to be the wealthiest business owner in town.

The character’s GMC often comes from their past, especially their motivations. Motivation is the “why?” Why does the hero work so hard to be the best cop he can be? Because his father was killed in the line of duty fifteen years ago? Because the hero’s little sister was killed by a drug dealer ten years ago? Why does the heroine not trust men? Because she saw how her father abused and cheated on her mother? Because all the men close to her in the past treated her like dirt? These are the deep issues that trouble your characters. And the problems they have to work through usually come from seeds planted in the past.
Backstory events don’t have to be traumatic and extremely painful, especially if your book is lighter, like a comedy. Or if your story is very short. (You may not have time or space to work through traumatic events.) You could use lighter-weight backstory events. Did he quit high school and now he’s determined to be incredibly successful anyway? Did the other kids in school tease her about her braces, her excessive height, or her hair? Is he/she divorced? Were her parents extremely strict? Too lenient? The point is that any story and any character can benefit from backstory events that still affect him/ her now in some way, even in minor ways. This doesn’t mean you have to have a backstory event or that you need one, but if you do it’s a plus. And the darker and more dramatic your story, the more your characters will benefit from backstory events.

Backstory events, once revealed, will show the reader why the character believes a certain thing about others or about himself. Why he acts as he does. How he expects others to behave. Backstory events bring out a character’s personality, values, and attitudes about specific things.

In my recent release, Laird of Darkness, the hero, Duncan, has two types of negative backstory events. One is that because he is half Fae and has no magical weapon of protection, monsters or demons from Otherworld torture him physically if he goes to sleep at night. This has happened to him since he was a child, so naturally he tries to stay awake at night. Another backstory event is that his father abused him. Using his Fae powers he was able to escape most of this abuse but it was always clear his father never loved him. Another important backstory event happened when Duncan was seventeen. His father died, and Duncan became chief of his clan. Enemy clans in the area thought he would be weak because he was so young, and they invaded. With the help of his Fae powers, Duncan led his clan to victory. The violence and paranormal occurrences during this event led to Duncan’s infamous and legendary reputation as the Laird of Darkness.

This month I’m teaching my workshop, Instinctive Characterization. In it I cover backstory event and lots of other elements and methods writers can use when developing characters. You can still register if you want. Just click here to learn more.

Thanks!

Nicole

http://www.nicolenorth.com/

Nobody's Perfect

Nobody's perfect - at least, if they are our characters, they shouldn't be. Who wants to read about perfect people any way? Not me. Not only are perfect people pretty darn boring, they're also annoying. I know I don't want to be reminded that I'm not perfect. Do you?

That's why we want to read about flawed characters. People like you and me. Stubborn. Selfish. Vain. Obsessed. Ambitious. Hot-headed. I could go on and on. And what the heck, let's read about characters who are more flawed than you and me.

What kind of story would Gone With The Wind have been if spoiled Scarlett O'Hara had been a perfect young lady? How interesting would Elizabeth and Darcy have been to read about without their pride or prejudice?

And if our characters are perfect to begin with, how can they grow and change during the course of the story? How can they fall in love and earn their happily ever after, if they were perfectly happy to begin with?

Or am I wrong? Have you read a story you loved where the characters were not flawed? Who's your favorite flawed character?

I'm taking notes.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Guilty but in a Good Way

I'm usually not one who procrastinates or loses focus when I'm taking care of household tasks or at the office. The same holds true whenever I'm at the writing desk and plotting, researching or actively writing a manuscript. Notice I said "usually not...", but I'm human and prone to the caving in when tempted by certain distractions.

Tonight, the thunderstorm earlier was a major distraction but passed as quickly as it stirred.

Whenever my favorite Rock band is on television, whether in an interview, video or movie, I'll set aside whatever I'm working on to watch them with rapt attention.



The same holds true when the handsome face of the star of "24" appears on the screen. Can't wait for the movie to hit the theaters and to catch him "live" in a Broadway performance.



Cowboys and rodeo men don't need lassos to capture my attention...especially when they have moves like this rhinestone stud.



Batter up! Oh, yes, I grew up watching baseball with mom and cheering on the best birds to ever fly into any ballfield--the Baltimore Orioles. Gotta catch as many of their games as possible, whether on the radio or t.v. or, best of all, at the stadium.



One of the best things about distractions is the way they energize me and heighten my creativity. Even the most mundane task finds me returning to it with a smile on my face, a song in my heart, a spring in my step or all of the above after I satisfy the urge to succumb to those distractions.

Truth be told--all we need is love and some wonderful distractions to make our days and lives the best they can be!

Wishing you all many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED (Recommended Read) -- Ellora's Cave
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave