My Writing Process Blog Hop

I was tagged to join the My Writing Process blog hop by Sam Cheever. Thanks for including me!

An award-winning author of 50+ books of romantic suspense and fantasy/paranormal, Sam Cheever’s books have won the Dream Realm Award for fantasy and The Swirl (interracial romance) Award; have been nominated and/or won several CAPAs; were nominated for “Best of” with LRC and The Romance Reviews; and have won eCataromance’s Reviewer’s Choice award. She’s published with Ellora’s Cave, both Romantica and Blush; Changeling Press; and Musa Publishing. Sam also publishes as Declan Sands, writing m/m fiction, and under her own imprint, Electric Prose Publications. Visit her at http://www.samcheever.com.

1) What am I working on?

I’m working on Rock My Boat, part of the Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set, which is releasing March 8. My story is a paranormal novella about a blue marlin shape shifter and takes place on a cruise. Although this is the first time I’ve written something on a deadline (not counting edits for novels I’ve written previously), it’s been a lot of fun! Writing a short piece requires more planning, but it’s also more manageable because it’s short. I also got to hire an editor. I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s been very similar to working with editors in a published house.

Tall, Dark & Alpha links
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blog tour (March 5 - 19)

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Setting is always a strong part of my stories and one of my favorite things to write. I often get inspired while traveling. As part of my polishing process, I spend time on the five senses. When I look at my old unpublished manuscripts, wondering if I can rework them, I usually decide the setting is great but I’d have to start over with everything else.

I also like to read and write paranormal stories with unique elements, which is why I chose to write about a different kind of shape shifter. Although I like to stay tuned to the market, I also hate following the herd. Why write something hundreds of authors have already done so well? It’s more fun to do something new.

3) Why do I write what I do?

I write different genres because I need the variety. When the muse tells me to follow, I know better than to argue. It’s exciting not knowing where he’ll lead me next. (Yes, my muse is a sexy he!) Anything with a good setting is fair game.

4) How does my writing process work?

The hero usually comes to me first. I write the rough draft pretty quickly and always in order. I have a day job, so I’m only able to write on days off, but I do promotion on the other days. Unless I’m attending a writer/reader conference, the only time I really take off from my writing career is when I travel. When I do sit down to write, I make myself write a whole chapter at a time. The first couple of pages take the longest. I play music a lot while I write, and sometimes I’ll play the same song over and over. When the rough draft is done, I do my polishing and layering routine, which takes longer. Starting out, I do a little pre-plotting and create a document with main plot points and scene ideas, but mostly I go by the seat of my pants.

About Afton Locke

Afton Locke is a multi-published erotic romance author who prefers romantic fantasies to everyday reality. Fantasies take her everywhere--from other worlds and races to the top of a corporate desk. She lives with her husband, dog, several unnamed dust bunnies, and a black cat that can be scary or cuddly, depending on the current book. When she’s not writing, Afton enjoys hiking, cooking, crafts, and reading. Visit her at Ellora’s Cave and http://www.aftonlocke.com.

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Desperately Seeking an Alpha

What I love best about the sexy alpha male is his take charge attitude.

explicit excerpt from Rock My Boat by Afton Locke part of the Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set


“You’re strong,” he said, “but keep your reflexes ready at all times.”

As if to prove his point, he snaked an arm around her waist and yanked her backward. The movement was so sudden, she fell against his chest.

“That was a big sea wave, Ms. Simms, and you weren’t ready.” His stern voice, laced with mocking, scraped her nipples and hardened them.

While she scrambled to get her footing, her lower back accidentally brushed against his crotch. The crisp white fabric of his trousers hid an erection as hard as a pier piling! The swollen lips of her cunt parted inside her panties. Why hadn’t she ever made the time to find the right man and go to bed with him? She must be the world’s only thirty-year-old virgin. Every ounce of her energy had gone into her career.

Her skin blazed under the waistband of her shorts. She needed to be between the hard wall and his equally hard body.

What was going on here? She might be a cruise newbie, but this couldn’t be part of the standard safety procedure. As the CEO of her own company, Simms Creative Advertising Agency, she was well versed in sexual harassment policy and knew he was acting very inappropriately. If she was lucky, he’d lose his job and be sent home before the Trident pulled out of dock.

“You’re the one,” he whispered against her neck, sending another delicious tremor through her.

He didn’t even sound professional anymore. This scene was something out of a bad porn movie. Gathering her wits despite the flood of hormones surging through her body, she launched herself out of his arms and landed against the wall. After turning around, she leaned against it for support and read his name tag.

“Your behavior is way out of line, Officer Whitney. I’m going to report you.”

“Oh, I don’t think you will.” He thrust his hands into his pockets, his dark eyes flickering with amusement. “You enjoyed it too much.”

“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.” But she didn’t have to. Glancing down, she realized her nipples spoke for her by protruding against her beige blouse. So much for dignity and her thin, useless bra. Straightening her spine, she crossed to the door. Her cunt was so wet it probably needed its own fleet of lifeboats. Before she could turn the handle, his hand closed over hers.

“You’re much too uptight, Rhonda.”

“That’s Ms. Simms to you, Officer Whitney.” She drawled his title as if to tell him how little she thought of it. “I’m warning you. Keep your distance if you don’t want to lose your job.”

“Ms. Simms, what you need is a good fucking.”



Rock My Boat by Afton Locke
part of the Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set

for blurbs of ALL the Tall, Dark & Alpha stories

Tall, Dark & Alpha Facebook page

Tall, Dark & Alpha blog tour (grand prize)

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Afton Locke
Unlock your fantasies...
www.aftonlocke.com

Rock My Boat coming soon!

Rock My Boat, my paranormal erotic romance, which is part of the Tall, Dark and Alpha boxed set, will release on March 8th.

Once addicted to the sea, you can’t escape its pleasures.





blurb
Workaholic CEO Rhonda Simms embarks on a Caribbean cruise to create an ad campaign for a big maritime freight client. She finds it impossible to concentrate, however, when Simon Mann, a blue marlin shifter, sets his sights on her. From a private, hands-on safety briefing to a wild ride in the ocean, he rocks her ordered world.

Simon drowned years ago in a shipwreck caused by Rhonda’s client, and he’ll do anything to be a normal man again. As his mate, Rhonda is the only person who can help him.

Tired of being so responsible, Rhonda is ready to let loose with a shipboard fling. Mating with Simon could cost a lot more than her virginity, however. Will she stick to her present course or will she let this sexy alpha rock her boat?

excerpt


He spun her around, locked his arms around her, and pressed her against the railing. Before she could react, his mouth closed over hers. While the railing dug into her back, the stubble on his face scraped her cheeks.

His lips were fiercer than the sea raging below them. When the ship rose over a large wave, his tongue surged in her mouth. The taste held a teasing hint of salt. She sucked on its essence as if she’d been deprived of the mineral her entire life.

She swayed and almost stumbled when he let go of her. He’d been holding her so tightly, her upper arms stung. She didn’t mind a bit. Her seasickness was all but forgotten. Instead, fantasies of being bent over one of the deck chairs while he fucked her whipped through her mind.

He must not have enjoyed the kiss because he looked even worse. Tremors wracked his body, and his face was almost as pale as the moon. After that kiss, she wanted more. The last thing she needed was to have him expire on her balcony.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked. “Do you need a doctor?”

“No. I need…water.” His voice was so hoarse, she could barely understand him.

“Hang on. I’ll pour you a glass.”

“Not to drink,” he said with a gasp. “Let’s go for a swim.”

“I’m not really a pool person.”

He shot a pointed look at the ocean. “I wasn’t talking about the pool.”

She backed away from the railing. “No way.”

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head as he shucked off his clothes. He threw them on the nearest chair until he was down to a pair of snug-fitting briefs. What was going on? One minute he looked sick and the next he was undressing? She was not in the market for a one-cruise stand, but if she was, she expected a little more foreplay.

“Your dress can stay on, but the shoes come off.” He lifted her, seating her on the railing, and pulled her shoes off.

“I’m not going down there!”

“Please, Rhonda.” He gasped, clutching the railing. “I…don’t have…time to…argue.”

Her heart thundered in her ears. “But I don’t know how to swim. Besides, if we jump off this high up, we could get hurt. And how would we get back on the… Aggghhhh!”

Don’t miss the What IS Alpha Blog Tour, March 5 - 19th.

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Afton Locke
Unlock your fantasies...
www.aftonlocke.com