Interview - Ashe Barker

I hope you'll help me welcome Ashe Barker. We've both agreed to write a book in the interconnecting series the Order of the Black Knights for Dreamspinner Press. Her book Gideon is the flagship and came out yesterday. She graciously agreed to answer my questions.

Amberly:  Hi Ashe, thank you for agreeing to this interview. The Order of the Black Knights launched yesterday, starting with your book Gideon. Can you tell me about the series and why you decided to be a part of it?

Ashe:  Hi Amberley, and thank you for inviting me over for a chat.

Gideon is something of a departure from my usual writing, but when I was asked to contribute a story I was delighted to join the series. I found the premise intriguing – hot and dominant men, the Black Knights - who have lived again and again down the ages, always unaware of their previous incarnations but doomed by an ancient curse to repeat the same mistakes with each lifetime. It was my first paranormal story but won’t be my last. 

Here’s the series blurb…
Order of the Black Knights
Every century has its knights, but they are not always seen. Some of them do what must be done – getting their hands dirty when no one else is willing. Assassins and antiheroes who work from the shadows, they are called the Black Knights. From the time of the society’s creation in the 1100s, these men are cursed to repeat their lives of bloodshed. But for each knight there is one who can bring out the man that waits inside and break the cycle. The question is whether or not the knight will kill his true love before he figures it out.

Amberly:  I haven't even started Benedict's story but am super excited to see how everyone else spins their tale. What do you think draws readers to stories of anti-heroes? And can you tell us a bit more about Gideon?

Ashe:  Well I’m dying to read Benedict, so get on and write his story FAST. I have read Thianna Durstan’s Vespar though (due out in January next year) and he is one seriously sexy dude, a real badass but with a soft(ish) centre.

Next up after Gideon is Matthias (Alexis Duran) who we get to meet in the flesh, so to speak, in November, and Evalise Archer’s Jaegar will be here in February or March next year. Some real treats in store there and I’m honoured to be in such fabulous company. This is a fantastic series.

Right, what is it about an antihero? If I could come up with a decent answer and bottle it I expect I’d be famous, but all I can really tell you is that bad lads have a uniquely wicked appeal. I grew up on stories of pirates, outlaws, tattooed bikers and they all have some mysterious magnetism that I find irresistible. Perhaps it’s the challenge they offer. Perhaps they awaken my deep-seated desire to peel away the layers to find the decent, caring man beneath, the belief that love will overcome even the hardest heart. I am an erotic romance writer, after all.

Gideon is a complex man, one of the most difficult characters I have created I think. He’s not especially likeable, certainly not at first, and that’s exactly how he wants it. But still he fascinates. He is wealthy and powerful and he uses those advantages to the full whilst he is also skilled and fiercely intelligent, the best at what he does. He’s ruthless, a quality he had hones to a sharp point, and can set his conscience aside at will. Gideon disguises his feelings, shows no emotion and certainly no remorse, though that is not to say he feels none of it. He has a tough outer shell and it will take a lot to make a dent.

Enter Michael, his nemesis. Then the sparks really fly.

Amberly:  We both have teenage daughters, mine are 13 and 15. How does your daughter feel about you being a writer? Has writing romance made it easier to talk about love and sex with her?

Ashe:  Ah, now that’s a tough one. My daughter is 18, and I’ve been writing since she was about 14 so she’s always known the sort of stuff I write, though she doesn’t tend to read it. I don’t prevent her from seeing my work, she just prefers other genres. Her friends though, now that’s a different matter. I think she’s quite proud of my success, modest though it is, and I know several of her friends have followed me on social media. In the past I used to watch out for that, my blog etc. are strictly for adults, but I’m more relaxed now.

I like to think we’ve always been able to talk about most things pretty openly. I try to be tolerant, though there are times I am quite baffled by the issues which concern her. Relationships are a minefield, though not usually because of sexuality. Peer pressure is massive to young people and seems quite relentless because of ever-present social media. I try to convince her to be kind to others, to trust herself and her judgement, and to be accountable for her mistakes. I don’t think there’s much more we can do as parents, and it is vital to lead by example.

Some years ago I was given a piece of advice that I’ve found invaluable. Try it. All you need to do is cast your mind forward to a point in the future, maybe sixty years from now. By then all of us will be long gone, and our kids will be elderly themselves. Imagine our children talking to their grandchildren about us. What will they be saying? Will they describe us as good parents, people who made time for them, who listened, who left a lasting good impression and who showed their children that they were the most precious and important people in the world? If you want those glowing obituaries then what you do here, now, today will dictate what you get then. Don’t leave it too late.

Amberly:  Sound advice indeed. Thank you so much for chatting with me! To wrap things up, tell us what you are working on now and what you have coming out next.

Ashe:  Right now I'm working in a historical set in the Scottish Highlands in the 1400s which features a blind heroine. My next book to come out will be a self-published novella. The title is Rough Diamonds and it's a sort of erotic romance mystery. Next to write? Could be another historical (Vikings - yum) or I have an idea for a sci-fi which I've been thinking about for a while now. Whatever, there's plenty more in the pipeline.

Make sure to connect with Ashe on her website, Twitter, or on Facebook. And get your own copy of Gideon here.

Sailing for Trouble - An Interview with Brenda Hammond

Recently I had the chance to interview author Brenda Hammond about her book Sailing for Trouble.

Brenda, thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. I recently read Sailing for Trouble. Alexa Lloyd has just arrived in South Africa for the first time and has plans to find her father's treasure and care for her loved ones back home in Canada. The whole book has wonderful, rich descriptions of the country and it's people. Yet the opening scene especially draws a vivid view of the docks, boats, and streets of Cape Town. Have you been? Or do you've got an affinity for google maps?

Brenda Hammond:  Hi Amberly, So happy that you asked me, and thanks for the kind words about Sailing for Trouble... and for reading the novel! Yes, I lived in Cape Town for fourteen years, and spent many Christmas holidays (summer in the Southern hemisphere!) in a cottage on Leisure Isle. So I became familiar with the lagoon, its tides and treasures. I got to visit again last February and it's still one of my favorite places. As to google maps, I have a story to tell. On our way back to Canada from the States one summer, we stopped at a small town for gas. Waiting to pay inside, we stood behind the Google guy -- his special car was parked outside -- who asked 'Can you please tell me where I am?' His cell phone battery was dead, so he had no means of knowing!!

Me: What a great story! You spotted the mythical creature, a man that will ask for directions. It sounds like you've traveled extensively and have been exposed to many different cultures and racial issues. As a firm advocate of diversity and accurately representing people in fiction, I was pleased to see your story handle these issues intelligently without getting too preachy. So, Alexa is a strong independent woman, who will chase after muggers and save herself from boating accidents. Without giving too much away, she has to be plucky to stop the 'bad guys' and help her long lost brother. What do you think makes Alexa so driven and so likable as a character?

Brenda:  I'd say it's her adventurous and indomitable spirit, but also that, underneath it all, she has a kind heart. Also, her curiosity and longing to deepen her understanding of her late dad, his roots and background, so foreign to her, is like an insatiable need. This plays into her eagerness to experience as much as she possibly can during her short time in the Cape, South Africa. Plus, of course, who wouldn't want to find a long-lost and never-met half-brother??

Me:  Yes, her love for her father drives her forward. I noticed you've written for Harlequin. What was that like? Why did you switch to Indie Publishing?

Brenda:  I enjoyed writing for Harlequin because I love writing humor... different from my South African set stories. At Your Service, Jack did well for me. A second romcom was in the works when the Temptation line ended. She's the Boss is now published under my pseudonym, Alice Bramley (amongst a couple others), which already kind of explains my decision to go indie. It was my editor at Harlequin who suggested I try a submission to the new Bombshell line, although that too was nixed fairly soon. However, this was what brought Alexa into my life! She was my Bombshell heroine and she hung around persistently until I eventually gave her my full attention.

Me:  Pesky characters, always wanting their stories told. I'm glad your blazing the Indie path. It gives us so much choice and responsibility. Which intentionally leads me to my next question. What is up with this cover? It isn't bad but I almost didn't read it because of the cover. Thank goodness I did or I would have missed a terrific story. And yes, sorry if you or your second cousin's niece made the cover, but it reminds me of teen romance novels in the early 90s. There is so much going on here than romance.

Brenda: Well, I'm chuckling here re your remarks about the cover. No need to apologize, though. One of the great benefits of being a writer is that you have to learn to take criticism. Anyhow, it was supposed to appeal to the new adult market, so in a way you're right. My budget at the time was minimal. And even now I'm struggling to find a suitable cover for my novel Cape Town, published here in Canada, but I retain rest-of-the-world rights. I hope to put it up soon as Dance to Freedom. Also, talking of covers, I have to confide that, as pretty much a feminist, I freaked when I saw mine for At Your Service, Jack. So there we have the dilemma. For me as a mid-list author, trad publishing has its advantages and disadvantages and so does Indie. Simply writing, on the other hand, brings me great pleasure and keeps me interested in people, the world, and life in general.

Me:  Yes, seeing the world through our writerly eyes...I love that thought. Now that you mention it, Sailing for Trouble would appeal to the New Adult market. Early twenty somethings on grand adventures, still figuring out a few hard truths about life. For my last question, what are you working on now? What's next book wise for you?

Brenda:  I'm actually working on two manuscripts. This week has been final revisions on a women's fiction all about what happens to three different couples when they attend a wedding in Vermont. Next week it's back to South Africa for my companion novel to Cape Town. Many readers asked for a sequel. My response? 'Sequel? There's no sequel.' But then an idea took hold (you'll know what that's all about, I'm sure) and I began to explore what was happening in the life of one of the other dance students. The first draft is about two thirds done, and I'm loving the way the story is revealing itself to me. But the process will take another few months before I reach the end and achieve a draft that's as good as I can make it.... So that's it from me. Many thanks again, Amberly, and especially for the thought-provoking questions and insightful responses.❤

Me:  It's truly been a pleasure! Thank you for answering my questions.

You can get your own copy of Sailing for Trouble here. Also, follow Brenda on Facebook or Twitter.

Changing the Future

Hi all! Welcome to Hop Against Homophobia, Bi- and Transphobia and my website. We are honoring the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (May 17th) with this blog hop and PRIZES!

What are Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia? I like Morgan Freeman's definition the best. 

Let's talk about how we can change things! My background is in communications and when asked about homophobia, I usually talk about the inter-generational transmission of beliefs and target-specific stigma change. Which is fascinating, swear but a bit dry. So here it is boiled down a bit.

I believe that, as a writer, I can make a difference by having honest portrayals of LGBTQA characters in my fiction.

Simple, right? If we create -- mysteries and sci-fi and horror and romance -- books with reaffirming and realistic people that are from all areas of the LGBT+ spectrum, people will see the truth. If we treat the subject with respect, avoiding cliches and stereotypes, we'll overshadow all the hate. It can be done. It has been done. People have already changed the world, one story at a time, to influence race, religion, gender equality. More must be done through positive representation in media.

Do you remember Queer as Folk? Will and Grace? The Color Purple? They all have influenced the public beliefs or understanding of homosexuals. What about Brokeback Mountain? Laverne Cox? Philadelphia? And Tango makes Three? They've all shaped how the next generation sees gender and sexual identity.

Recently, I was featured on the Papercuts Podcast and we talked at length about the importance of representation in YA fiction. If you can't see yourself in the characters you read, how does that impact your self worth and identity? I believe we can drastically lower the teen suicide rate and homelessness by supporting LGBT representation in our YA fiction, especially in schools and local libraries. A really good resource for these books is http://www.gayya.org/.  Listen to the complete podcast here.

Now for the goodies. I'm a huge fan of OmniLit and AllRomance, a distribution site for ebooks. They have a great selection of YA LGBT books including Sock it to Me, Santa! by Madison Parker (which I reread each Christmas) and The Soccer Field is Empty by Mark A. Roeder. Two of my favorites and books discussed during the podcast. I'm giving one winner $20.00 in Omni Bucks (the site's version of a gift certificate) and all you need to do to win is either comment on this blog post or share the post on Facebook or Twitter. Like three chances to win? Do all three. On the 25th, I'll announce a winner and email them the Omni Bucks. 

There are over 50 writers, editors, publishers, and artists who are participating in this HOP! Go check them out. http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com/

Free Dessert

I have this thing about Happy Endings. I read and write romance novels, which by definition end happily. Yet, I've got a pretty wide practical side that doesn't believe in easy love at first try. You got to work for it. Make it worth it. My quirky sense of humor like's the naughty implications of a Happy Ending. Why naughty? They happen at message parlors and cost extra. Google it.

Yesterday my department went to lunch and I saw on their seasonal menu - the single page that the table shares - a dessert called a Happy Ending. Coconut ice cream with mango sauce and snicker doodle cookies. Waitress asks, can I get anyone a dessert and I say, can I have a Happy Ending please. She says, as long as I can have one too. We laugh and she gathers plates around the table and never brings the desert. Even does the receipt and wishes us a good day.

So I ask. Turns out she thought I was teasing. Like asking the phone agent for the winning lottery numbers or world peace. Jokes around the table pop up about Happy Endings. Looking back I wonder what the waitress thought since she didn't know about the desert (first day for the new menu). If I'd been a guy asking would she have been pissed? She ended up bringing one out with lots of spoons. Free.

We get back in the office and my co worker finally realizes what Happy Endings can mean. We'll be heating the office from her blush for weeks.

Guess it's a good thing the dessert was free. Always hard to explain a Happy Ending charged to the corporate account.

Update on September Goal

I can't type the word goal without shouting it in my head in the voice of a Spanish dj following a soccer game. GGGGOOOOOAAALLL!!!!

Even though I worked over 55 hours last week, I've edited 155 pages of BNI. I need to rewrite one scene and I'm cutting about five pages. So about 1/2 way there. Thanks for all the encouragement. 

What else is going on? I took a vacation day yesterday to attend my husband's graduation. Bachelor in protecting computer info after just under four years of working hard. We're so proud of him! He's celebrating by playing his latest addiction Borderlands 2.

In the know about dog breeds

I was driving my daughter to school because she had missed the bus. She was chattering about the neighbor kids and I was vaguely listening as I obeyed all the traffic laws. *don't snicker*

“He says they are pimple dogs.”

“What?”

“Dave and me were—“

“Did you say pimple dogs?” I enunciated very carefully.

“Yeah.”

“Do you mean little fuzzy dogs that bark a lot?” My husband calls them footballs so why couldn’t my daughter call them pimples?

“No, like Superman. You know, pimple dogs.” She has this way of explaining things when she knows something I don’t know. Carefully, confident that with patience and time I'll finally catch up.

Superman is Dave’s dog, a sweet, dopey puppy the size of my car. I thought about it for a moment, looked in the review mirror in time to see her give me the raised eyebrows. “Pit bull?” I said it again, emphasizing the t and that it was two words.

“Yeah, pit bull. Superman is a pit bull.”

Yes, yes he is.

A Day for Dad

My dad is a series of sweet memories and the occasional ache of loneliness. He died when I was fifteen and throughout the years I’ve hit mile stones and wished he was there to experience it all with me. I love the way he laughed, how rowdy he was at sporting events and how fiercely he believed in working hard and treating people fairly. I think of him every time I mow the lawn, see a police officer (he served for almost twenty years) or even when I meet someone taller than me. See, since I’m not hanging with the NBA, not many people are taller than me at 5’11’ but my dad was 6’4’’ or 6’6’’. The height depends on who you ask. He taught me to drive. He taught me how to chop wood, make a fire, and walk down steep hills in the forest. He led by example and he loved my mother with a passionate giddiness that softened his strong persona. He whistled a very specific brief tune that I wish to god I’d asked what it was. No one knows but everyone can still hear it and him in their minds.

He was a marine, a cop, a dad, a brother, an uncle, a volunteer, a lover, a friend. More. He was amazing.

I’m still half stuck in the anger part of mourning for my mom. But I was never angry after dad died. He left on a Saturday and the next day I sat with my younger sister in a wooden pew and silently cried for the hour long church meeting; remembering how he sung off key but with pride. With a little coaxing, I’d talk him into sliding his wedding ring off his finger while they passed the sacrament. I’d fit his ring in turn to each of my ten fingers. Loose, even on my thumbs. My daughters get me to take off my ring, then fist their hands closed to keep the ring on their finger and hold it up to the light. The emeralds and diamonds spark light and they dream. I can see it in their eyes. And me? I ache a little, missing him.

Confident 7 year old is sure she got it right

My youngest thanked me for her pancakes which were topped with peanut butter and maple syrup. She put the peanut butter away and then said to me, “Mom, peanut butter is my fashion.”

“Your fashion?”

“Yeah my fashion.” She nods.

“Fashion is the kind of clothes you wear. You don’t wear peanut butter.”

“But fashion also means things you like, things that are great,” she says it with the same tone that I just used but with a bit more poor-misguided-fool for emphasis.

I thought about it for a moment, watched her skate across the kitchen floor in her sock feet. “Do you mean passion? Peanut butter is your passion?”

“Yeah, passion. That’s what I meant.”

She is almost nine now and still loves peanut butter. Currently best on vanilla ice cream. 

Day Job

I work for a call center that takes calls from all over the United States. And let me tell you, customers can say the oddest things.

Our headphones have special noise canceling mics so the customer won’t hear our coworkers talking to their customers, or random banter between agents. Our customers don’t have noise canceling equipment and we hear everything. Sometimes more than they want us to hear.

A surprisingly large number of American’s need 9volt batteries for their smoke alarms. A scary percentage of those don’t realize that is why the alarm is chirping at them.

Then there is the fun relay calls. A wife/husband/friend in the background is telling them what to say and the agent hears everything twice. It’s especially funny when the person on the phone changes the background person’s message to be more polite or politically correct. Background speaker, “Tell them if they don’t help us right *&)v now we will *&)^ @$^! And then they’ll be sorry.” On the phone, “If we can’t get this fixed we’ll cancel our service.”

From thundering kids, and conversations said around a mouth full of food, we get it all and are good at adapting. But please, please don’t take us into the bathroom with you. But if you do, at least wash your hands.

Please Call Again

I remember the first time I saw a Please Call Again sign in a store window. We had our own pharmacist (father was a diabetic, sister is asthmatic) who wasn't part of some chain store. They sold home made caramels at the check out counter and I'd look through their greeting cards while we waited for the prescriptions to be filled. Best caramels I've ever tasted. The sign hung on the glass door and probably said Open on the other side. I thought it was so weird that the sign didn't say Come Again and Mom had to explain that visiting used to be calling. You paid a call or went and visited way before they even had phones.

Why the trip down memory lane? I just realized that comments for this site weren't notifying me. Lovely friends and readers stopped by to say kind things, they came to call and I didn't know. So, I'm sorry I missed your call. Please Call Again!

Loooking for New Blood

Calling all fellow writers and readers. Popular Fiction Assoc. of Idaho who puts together the Mayhem in the Grove conference (formerly known as Murder in the Grove) are seeking new members to join our group. Since our conference is now open to all genre fiction, we would like to invite people from all local writing groups to join us at this informational meeting. During this meeting we hope to map out the future of the Mayhem in the Grove conference and the nonprofit organization.

We work together to bring to Idaho creative workshops, coveted agents and editors and our favorite authors.This is your chance to be a part of something incredibly fulfilling and challenging.

Over the years we have had some tremendous talent come to the Treasure Valley and we want to keep that spirit alive by bringing in new members with new and fresh ideas. Come to our meeting at Hastings located at Overland and Five Mile on Saturday August 20th, 7:00 pm. Bring your ideas and your enthusiasm and join us.

Victoria Gray

Mayhem in the Grove, member-at-large

and he says to me, "No, really."

Chris gave Rinse and Repeat 5 Stars on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/145951876. In other news my mother-in-law has skipped the love scenes but liked the ending. LOL. Since she isn't my target audience I've decided to be okay with that.

Today I am guest blogging over at CupOPorn about telling the family I write gay romance. Come for my article stay for the eyecandy. NSFW stands for Not Safe For Work, fyi.

Happy Wednesday!

Whatcha doin?

Tonight I'm at Rediscovered Bookshop with Val Roberts talking about ebooks. If you're in Boise, swing by and say hi.

Tomorrow I'm meeting with the board of Mayhem in the Grove to finalize or June 2011 conference with Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Monday (which I have off) is release day for Rinse and Repeat. Hooray!

Marie Sexton and Heidi Cullinan have started a new site called Cup O Porn. On Friday Feb. 11 they'll do a give away of my book Rinse and Repeat and I'm doing my first ever guest blog for them Wednesday Feb. 9th.

What about you? What are you doing this weekend? And, hey, if you've got any helpful tips on guest blogging I'd love to hear it.