The Emerald Room by Scarlett Knight

Experience the passion that ignites when handsome older men connect with young beautiful women. This steamy collection of four erotic short stories includes the kind of sexy encounters that only a blending of experience and youth can bring. Read how a composed college professor gives over to his lust for one of his faithful students, witness a seasoned theatre director succumbing to the stubborn wiles of a hot young actress in his play, and more.

Available from:

Amazon UK
Amazon US
All Romance eBooks
Barnes & Noble

And all other good eBook retailers.

*****

Excerpt:

The Emerald Room bar was one of the classier joints where Nate got paid to play these days. Every Friday for the past two months, he put on a jacket and bowtie and sat at their shiny baby grand, tickling the keys for his two-hour set. It was a hell of a lot better than some of the trashy spots he was forced to waste his talent in, places whose patrons were so noisy and crude, where his music drowned beneath the sound of shrill laughter and glass breaking.

But not this place.

Aside from the nice paycheck, and aside from the sleek marble-topped bar and tall cherry wood seats, and aside from the polite, well-dressed folks who not only listened to him but tipped as well, there was the goddess.

She always showed up when he was about thirty minutes into his set, usually around the time he was playing soundtrack tunes from movies like The Godfather. In she’d stride, wearing one of her killer dresses. Sometimes it was the little black one, her hair cascading like a golden wave down her bare back. Other times she wore the sparkling red number. Tonight she donned a silver gown with a slit all the way up to the top of her right leg, the lacy band of her stocking peeking out whenever she moved just right on the barstool.

God, did Nate have a thing for stockings.

Her black stilettos only made her heavenly legs even more mouthwatering, the way they caused the calf muscles to flex just right. In between songs he took a sip of his bourbon and loosened his tie. To imagine those legs wrapped around him…it was the fuel for many a fantasy after he went home, too chicken shit to talk to her.

Today we’re thrilled to welcome as our guest Jane Wenham-Jones, with her exciting new release, Prime Time.

“Write what you know”  is my mantra and all my novels have been based loosely on experiences I’ve had myself or, in the case of Perfect Alibis, (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it) the  exploits of my friends.

My third novel, One Glass is Never Enough, for example, is about three women who own a wine bar in Broadstairs – something I did for a couple of years.

One of our regulars was Trevor McCallum, director of Red Door TV, who made a series called Just for Starters for the Good Food Channel (then UKTV Food. Trevor soon picked up on my media tart tendencies- perhaps it was the way I kept serving up my publicity shots along with his wine and shouting “Make Me A Star!”

Trevor suggested that I, along with my friend and co-owner of the bar, Jacqui and one of our staff, Will, might like to take part in one of the programmes. We had to prepare a course each and then come together at the end as it to have a dinner party.

I chose to do the main course.

This was mainly so I could demonstrate one of the few things I know I can do well, which is to make perfect mashed potato. (For the secret you will have to read  Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of?  – footnote 10)

I usually do my supermarket shopping in Waitrose (product placement, Mr John Lewis?) but on this particular occasion, for reasons I now forget, I was forced into a rival supermarket to get my ingredients.

This one did not have the helpful little signs I was used to: suitable for mashing etc so I bought “general purpose” spuds.

Which, despite being endlessly boiled, remained like bullets and responded to my enthusiastic wielding of the masher by shooting from the saucepan and hitting the cameraman.

We had to stop filming while everyone became hysterical and then  pulverise the things with a hand-held blender. The resultant mass was like over-thick wallpaper paste. Later we had to eat it.

It tasted fine. The potato was the topping to my own recipe, a Mediterranean twist to a British classic –  Spicy Turkish Goatherd’s Pie. Amusingly, the recipe is still up on the internet  – now more boringly named Turkish Shepherd’s Pie and not attributed to me. (Although I suppose the latter is fair enough since all I did was look up how Delia made the standard version and then add half my spice cupboard.) Click here if you want something to make for dinner tonight http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/512074.

And if you’d like to see how this and other on-camera moments finally inspired a fourth novel about daytime TV, Prime Time is now available in paperback and for download. Thanks for having me here today.

*****

A British romantic comedy by Jane Wenham-Jones, author of Perfect Alibis.

Laura Meredith never imagined herself appearing on TV, she’s too old, too flabby, too downright hormonal, and much too busy holding things together for her son, Stanley, after her husband left her for a younger, thinner replacement. But best friend Charlotte is a determined woman and when Laura is persuaded on to a daytime show to talk about her PMT, everything changes. Suddenly there’s a camera crew tracking her every move and Laura finds herself an unlikely star. But as things hot up between her and gorgeous TV director, Cal, they’re going downhill elsewhere. While Laura’s caught up in a heady whirlwind of beauty treatments, makeovers and glamorous film locations, Charlotte’s husband, Roger, is concealing a guilty secret, Stanley’s got problems at school, work’s piling up, and when Laura turns detective to protect Charlotte’s marriage, things go horribly wrong. The champagne’s flowing as Laura’s prime time TV debut looks set to be a hit. But in every month, there’s a “Day Ten” …

Buy links

Paperback

Amazon UK     Amazon    Barnes & Noble

eBook

 Amazon UK   Amazon   Barnes & Noble

*****

Jane is the author of four novels and two non-fiction books – Wannabe a Writer? – a humorous look at becoming a scribe  – and Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of?  a guide to the art of book and self promotion.  As a freelance journalist she has appeared in a wide range of women’s magazines and national newspapers and writes regular columns for Woman’s Weekly and Writing Magazine, where she is the agony aunt. Jane is an experienced tutor who is regularly booked by writing conferences and literary festivals to run workshops and give talks on all aspects of the writing process. She is also a member of Equity, has presented for the BBC on both TV and radio and has done her fair share of daytime TV, particularly when promoting her controversial second novel Perfect Alibis (subtitled How to have an affair and get away with it…) It was those – sometimes hair-raising – TV experiences that inspired Prime Time, her new novel. For more information see http://www.janewenham-jones.com and http://janewenhamjones.wordpress.com/.

Reluctant Romance: Guys and Girls by Various Authors

Sometimes true love is reluctant to blossom and needs a little bit of coaxing in order to come out. But a strong will and a heart filled with determination will triumph every time! The authors of the Bigger Briefs present to you these m/f tales of lovers who just need a gentle prod to push them into the relationship they’ve been yearning for.

Available from:

Amazon        Amazon UK

All Romance EBooks        1 Place for Romance

*****

Lori very carefully re-folded the twenty and put it safely in her pocket. She didn’t want to run the chance of smearing the numbers any more than they already were.

Confidence fueled her steps as she checked on the last of her customers. It wasn’t her imagination. Julian really was checking her out. But for what? He was a sophisticated looking guy, what could he possibly want with her? Probably looking for an easy lay.

Her heart sank a little at that notion. Nothing ever came easy in her life and it was no use getting her hopes set too high that Julian really liked her. All she could offer was love, and sometimes that just wasn’t enough.

* * * *
The twenty dollar bill propped up against her bedside lamp taunted her. Every time she saw it she was tempted to call, but she hadn’t. The fear of disappointment was just too high. By not calling Julian, the fantasy of the unknown wouldn’t be crushed if he did turn out to be a slimy bastard who only wanted one thing.

It had been three days since she saw Julian. He hadn’t tried to contact her and that was telling in itself . Had he truly wanted to get to know her, then he would have called the pizzeria or stopped by. But he hadn’t.

The crowd was light for a Tuesday evening. She tended to her tables in a mundane fashion. Just going through the motions until she could go back to her apartment and stare at the stupid twenty again. At a set of numbers she would never ever have the courage to call.

It was fifteen minutes to closing when the bell chimed on the front door. She didn’t have the energy to shout a greeting or tell them they’d be closing soon. One of the other waitresses could handle it.

At a light tap on her shoulder, she clasped her chest in fear as she spun around. Her mouth fell open; Julian stood in front of her, a shocked expression on his face, his hands held up in the air.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Just as her heartbeat had started to fall back to a normal rhythm, it spiked again. The object of her desire stood right in front of her, his upper lip curled into a very enticing grin.

Today we welcome Janine Ashbless, here with some highly original interview responses and a kick-ass book to tell us about. Take it away, Janine!

Why don’t you start by telling us about yourself

I’m an erotica writer from England, a bit like that “Fifty Shades of Grey” author … but without the squillions and squillions of £pounds. Mostly I write paranormal/fantasy based erotica which has been described as “hardcore and literate” (not by me, but I love that quote). Sometimes I write erotic romance instead, but I have to be in a soppy mood for that. I’ve got red hair which I dye even redder.

I live with a husband who has a proper day-job, and two rescued greyhounds. In my spare time I do Live Action Roleplaying and I’m currently obsessed with Game of Thrones. I just spent an hour beating a single stubborn game of Spider Solitaire, in order to psych myself up for this interview – that’s how totally badass I am

Tell us one thing about yourself people would be surprised to learn.

I wanted to say something really cool like “I can fell a tree using a chainsaw,” but actually that wouldn’t surprise anyone. So … I love Sesame Street!

Tell us about your writing:

Named and Shamed (out now from Sweetmeats Press) is my 9^th full-length published erotica book. I started back in 2000 with a collection of short stories called Cruel Enchantment, published by Black Lace. I’ve written for a bunch of other publishers since.

Here’s a list to search on Amazon/B&N etc:

Cruel Enchantment (fantasy and paranormal short stories, erotica, Black Lace)

Divine Torment (swords ‘n’ sandals fantasy novel, erotica, Black Lace)

Burning Bright (swords ‘n’ sandals fantasy novel, erotica, Black Lace)

Wildwood (contemporary fairy fantasy novel, erotica, Black Lace)

Dark Enchantment (fantasy and paranormal short stories, erotica, Black Lace)

The King’s Viper (fantasy novel, erotic romance, Ellora’s Cave)

Heart of Flame (Arabian Nights fantasy/romance, Samhain)

Red Grow the Roses (vampire mosaic novel, erotica, Mischief)

Named and Shamed (contemporary fairy fantasy novel, erotica, Sweetmeats)

What made you chose to write erotic literature in particular?

I started out writing ghost stories, but erotica is truly my favourite genre. How else do you get to write something that’s gripping, exciting, character-driven and that brings such extraordinary pleasure to the reader? Really good erotica engages the emotions and the intellect as well as the body. It’s full of drama and unforgettable incident. It’s just unbeatable!

How do you get ideas for your stories? What inspires you?

I get ideas everywhere. The other evening I was out walking my dogs and I passed a field of canola in full bloom. The scent was overwhelming. There were parallel tractor tracks leading off into the yellow flowers, like a secret path into the gold, and I thought: “Right – remember that. That’s going into a story one day.”

Which comes first when you’re starting to write a new story: character, setting, plot, or theme?

None of the above. A scene will come first. A dramatic moment. I think visually – just like C.S. Lewis, for example, who created The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe from his mental picture of a faun running through the snow carrying parcels. Once I’ve got a seed picture in my head, I work out the setting and theme and characters from that.

Any advice for those who want to write?

Writing takes time. If you’re really going to write, you’re going to have to give things up. Television – Web-browsing – Social time – Cooking – Housework – I can’t tell you what, but something will have to go. Know this, and be ruthless.

What’s the sexiest feature on a man to you? And on a woman?

For either gender, a fully-functioning brain. I am a slut for clever-arse people.

What’s your own sexiest feature?

I asked Mr Ashbless and he says it’s my “liberation. Your openness to things and experiences and people.” A. N. Othersource said, “Your enthusiasm.” Make of that what you will!

Who are your latest crushes (celebrity, book character, or otherwise)?

Recently? Tyrion Lannister, from Game of Thrones. Tim Minchin, the songwriter. Charlize Theron, the actress. The late Christopher Hitchens, polemicist. I have a huge list of crushes. I crush easily, and almost always on really smart, sarcastic people. Or guys with little goatee beards. Or kickass women with tattoos. Hey, I have eclectic tastes!

If you could pick anyone in the world to be the cover model(s) on your latest release, who would it be?

Ooooooh …. Gerard Butler. He might not be particularly smart or sarcastic, but he’s cover model material in my book. (“My book” … see what I did there? *sigh*)

Do you have a favorite character out of all the ones you’ve written?

One of my favourite characters is The Malia Shai from Divine Torment (she’s renamed Myrna by the time of Burning Bright, the sequel). This may not sound like romantic heroine material … but she’s the physical incarnation of the goddess of famine, plague and earthquakes – all of Bad Nature. Or at least, that’s what she’s been brought up to believe. So she doesn’t think of herself as human at all, and when passion strikes she really doesn’t know how to deal with it. She’s totally innocent and hard as nails at the same time. A really strange character and so huge fun to write.

My other favourite character is the slave Kitten from a ferocious BDSM story called “Janissaries” in my collection Dark Enchantment. I can’t tell you much about her, but she is the most frightening character I’ve ever written.

Thinking about it, I like my male characters because I fancy them, and my female characters because they are bugshit crazy.

Is there a way for fans and others to contact you?

“And others”? Now I’m scared . . .

I blog at: www.janineashbless.blogspot.com

And I’ve got a website loaded with stuff about my books at www.janineashbless.com

I’m on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Janine-Ashbless-author-page/140154696078980

My e-mail is [email protected]

Tell us about your latest release – we’d love an excerpt, too!

Named and Shamed is a BDSM fairytale with a contemporary setting. It’s not romantic, and it’s full of unapologetic kink. It’s my rudest novel to date and a real romp – and it’s illustrated with XXX interior line-drawings by John LaChatte, which means you really can’t leave this one lying around for other people to find!

Cover Blurb:

“Once upon a time . . .  a naughty girl called Tansy stole a very precious manuscript from a kindly antiquarian. But all of the world’s ancient and powerful magic, lost for centuries, has returned – and now there is much more at stake than a few sheets of parchment.

Thus begins a rude and rugged fairytale the likes of which you NEVER read when you were little! Poor Tansy is led though the most pleasurable trials and the most shameful tribulations as her quest unfolds before her. Orgasmic joy and abject humiliation are laid upon Tansy in equal measure as she straddles the two worlds of magic and man.

From debauched dryads to oversexed ogres, fantasy and BDSM slither together to make Named & Shamed the consummate adult fable – all lusciously illustrated by John LaChatte. Immerse yourself in this dark and depraved fairy tale, and may all your endings be happy ever after!”

Buy Links:

1 Erotica e-books      1 Place for Romance

These e-versions include 19 illustrations by John LaChatte, as does the paperback:

Amazon UK       Amazon US

Named and Shamed is also available on Kindle (via Amazon sites), but without interior illustrations

Excerpt:

For a moment there was no response and I held my breath. Then came the bump of a cupboard door. I had the wit not to move. I held myself almost motionless, face down and ass up, my hands holding my cheeks open, my naked pussy splayed and pulsing with heat. I assumed the house-hob could see in the dark, after all. Gently I shifted my ass back and forth, hoping to entice it. The lino was chilly under my feet.

“Are you a good girl?” said a voice, as faint and whispery as dry leaves.

“Me? Yes, I’m a good girl.” My breath was condensing on the cold tabletop. “I swept the floor and made up the fire before bed. I washed up.” 

“Are you clean? Are you careful? Not lazy, not silly, not dishonest?” 

By most standards I reckoned I counted as deeply dirty and reckless, to be honest, but that wasn’t the answer the house-hob was looking for. And at least I don’t think I could be described as workshy.

“Yes,” I lied. “I’m a good girl. A good, sweet girl. Take a look.”

With the lightest of thumps it landed on the table next to me, and I tried not to flinch. Then it hopped onto the small of my back. I thought again of spider monkeys, as long, satiny limbs wrapped around my ass. Tiny hands spread my labia. The sigh of a long exhalation of breath reached my ears. Then the tongue. Wet and slick, slipping down my asscrack from hole to hole.

One wild, winter’s night two worlds collide.

Known for his ruthless efficiency, Captain George Huntley is sent to stamp out smuggling on the south coast of England. On a night raid, the Captain captures a lanky lad, but finds his troubles are just beginning when the lad turns out to be a lass, Hope Tyler.

With Hope as bait, the Captain sets a trap to catch the rest of the gang. But in a battle of wills, with his reputation at stake, George Huntley starts to respect feisty, independent Hope. Challenged by her sea-green eyes and stubborn loyalty Huntley now faces a new threat – his growing attraction to a sworn enemy. And a love where either Hope betrays her own kind, or Captain Huntley is court-marshalled, is not an easy destiny to follow.

Available from:

Amazon      Amazon UK    Smashwords

*****

Injured on a smuggling run, Hope wakes to face the naval officer who captured her. 

Hope kept her eyes closed as she became conscious of a man’s heavy tread pacing the room. She waited until he was at the window and opened her eyelids a fraction. With the light behind him she saw an athletic man with wide shoulders, tall enough to have to stoop under the sloping eaves. Her stomach felt hollow with foreboding, for without doubt, this was the same man who’d pursued her over the dunes.

He must have sensed a change in her breathing, for suddenly he turned. He stared, with piercing blue eyes that penetrated her soul. Dressed in a naval uniform, the jacket cuffs ringed with gold braid, the man exuded authority. He continued to stare, his face unreadable; wilful, she decided, and yet uncommonly handsome. She blushed and reached for the covers, pulling them up to her chin.

“So, enough pretending. You are awake at last.” His voice, deep and melodic, brooked no argument.

“Please, sir, where am I?”

“Under house arrest.” He growled, obviously no friend. And yet, she touched her bandaged head, someone had taken care of her.

“You are in pain?” His consideration was surprising.

“Not so much now.”

The answer pleased him. “Good, then you have some explaining to do.”

“Please, sir, who are you?”

The man threw her a sideways glance and started to pace.

“Captain Huntley, RN. And you are?”

She decided against lying, her name alone couldn’t incriminate her family.

“Hope Tyler.”

“Well Miss Tyler, have you the slightest idea how much trouble you’re in?”

“Yes.”

The Captain stared at the ceiling. “A man died because of your felony. A Revenue man. He leaves a wife and three children.”

“I’m so sorry.” She whispered in distress.

“His fellow officers are baying for blood.”

Hope trembled, things were worse than she imagined.

“Someone must hang for his death.”

Her throat closed over.

“Be it you…or the man who pulled the trigger….my men don’t care.” Captain Huntley stepped closer, his presence dominating the room. She couldn’t breathe, he seemed made of granite, his eyes like flints, sparking with anger. “But I’m different.” His expression softened imperceptibly. “I like to think of myself as a fair man.”

Hope nodded, to encourage him.

“Any fool can see you are just a bit-player, a lackey. The men I want are the leaders, those who finance the contraband and organise the landings. Tell me who they are, and I shall intercede on your behalf with the authorities.”

“What if I don’t know their names?”

His wide mouth twitched downward. “Then I cannot help you.”

She would have shaken her head had it not been too painful. “The men you speak of aren’t stupid. They will know I am taken, and know if I betray them. If I do… they will come for my family.”

“Then put them behind bars.”

“It’s too risky. This way, it’s only me.”

He tried to hide it, but he looked surprised. She saw him drinking in the logic of her words and a shadow darkened his face. Clasping his hands behind his back, he turned to stare through the window.

“Tell me,” he said benignly, “what does it feel like to be abandoned? Because that’s what the smugglers did. Sailed away without a backward glance and left you to your fate.”

*****

Grace Elliot leads a double life as a veterinarian by day and an author of historical romance by night. Grace is an avid reader and believes intelligent people need to read romance – as an antidote to the modern world. She works in a companion animal practice near London and is housekeeping staff to five demanding felines.

“Hope’s Betrayal” is Grace’s third historical romance novel – to find out more please visit: https://www.amazon.com/author/graceelliot

Blog: “Fall in Love With History” http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Grace_Elliot