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Ebook Tour

Author Interview & Giveaway with Minnette Meador, author of Gladiator Prince

By Barb Drozdowich

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel.

Today we are welcoming Minnette Meador to the blog to talk about her latest book, Gladiator Prince.  She has visited with us before and I’m happy that she has come back to talk about her new book.  She is touring with Goddessfish Promotions and she is giving away a $25.00 gift card from Amazon to a random commenter from the tour.  To see the rest of the tour stops, click HERE.

Gladiator Prince sounds like an outstanding book!!!  My glasses steamed up just reading the interview….it’s going on my wish list 🙂  So, without further ado, here is my discussion with Minnette:

 

Barb : Describe your new release in 20 words or less.

Minette : Man! That’s hard to do!

Thane escapes to find his children. Phaedra makes him take her with him. Love and disaster ensue. Rome burns.

Barb : Who is your favorite character in your new release? Why are they your favorite?

Minette : Thane has a definite place in my heart with the three H’s: hot, honest and honorable. However, Hasani is the ultimate bad boy; sneaky, conniving, funny, and gorgeous. As Hasani would say:

“You have proven a worthy opponent, gladiator, and presented me with a bit of a dilemma.” Hasani pursed his lips and whistled. “A veritable maelstrom of indecision”. He tilted his head to the side and smiled at Thane. “Then, to make matters decidedly problematic, I find myself somewhat… infatuated with the girl. You see my difficulty?”

Barb :  Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

Minette : Oh, there are always bits and pieces here and there. I try to stay out of the mix as much as possible; the characters are much more interesting than I am!

Barb :  What was your favorite scene? Why?

Minette : Phaedra sneaks into the ludi to watch Thane make love to a woman who has bought him for the night, so she can learn about sex. After he is finished with the woman, Phaedra slips off the roof and falls into his arms. He decides to teach her a lesson, but not the one she expects… Here’s a teaser:

He reached for his loincloth and tied it around his waist. “You were looking for instruction,” he said simply.

She gasped at him, and the red blossomed into her ears. “I…I… was not…” she sputtered then turned again to go.

“I could teach you, you know?” Thane was startled that he said it and even more when she turned around.

Her eyes darted quickly over his body, finally settling for his chin. “What?”

An irresistible thought sparked in Thane’s mind. Perhaps he could teach her something at that. He pulled the flap up between his legs, making certain to do it slowly for her benefit. Phaedra would get a lesson, all right, but not the one she came for.

“I said I could teach you.”

“What makes you think I need lessons in… in…”

“Sex?” He lifted one hand and ran it through his hair, knowing this was going to be very satisfying. “Partly because you cannot even say the word and partly because it is obvious you are still a virgin.”

Her eyes got as big as Persian tiles. “A virgin? Me? Why, I will have you know I was married to the son of a very famous Roman senator. Virgin indeed!”

Thane nodded and rubbed his hands against his thighs. If he thought he could get away with it, he would have turned her over his knee first, but this was better.

Barb :  What were the challenges in bringing this book to life?
Minette : Finding the time to write it. I wanted it to be perfect and to take my time with the historical details. There is a lot of research in this book with a new subject (gladiators) and a new place (ancient Rome). I’m very proud of how it came out. Also, this story was a lot more intimate than my other historical; they were a bit epic and sweeping where this one was really about personal relationships and insurmountable barriers.

Barb :  Did you know the title before you started writing?

Minette : I knew the title as soon as I thought about writing a new book about Thane. He is a very small character in The Edge of Honor, but I fell in love with him instantly. Since he was a Celtic Prince and a gladiator, it was a natural.

Barb : Tell me a little about yourself

Minette : Well, I live in beautiful Portland, OR with my husband and his sister, our cat Shelly (the cat formerly known as Spook), and a 22 year old miniature poodle named Pierre. As I’ve said before, Pierre pretty much runs the show, though the cat thinks she does. I am currently working for a mortgage company, write and promote full time. We travel locally a lot for book signings and I try to stay active, though my life has been pretty full as a writer. I used to teach special needs kids at my neighborhood grade school, but was laid off last year. I’m happy just to have a job right now.

Barb :  Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?

Minette : Rome… or London. Either one works for me.

Barb :  Who are your cheerleaders?

Minette : My family and especially my fans/friends. I have made some amazing friendships with the people who follow me on my blog hops, FB, Twitter, etc. They are all amazing people and I wouldn’t give that away for anything. We laugh, we cry, we stand together in our indignation and our silliness, and, above all, love to share virtual hugs and profound wisdom.

Barb :  Did you have support at the beginning and/or during your writing?

Minette : When I first started writing, I didn’t have much support; in fact, it was a very rough critique that made me stop writing 25 years ago. However, with the amazing support of my sons and my DH, I started again in 2007 and haven’t looked back. My husband is the best kind of supporting spouse; he listens intently to everything I write, gives me invaluable critiques and praises, and loves everything I do. I have him trained so well! We’ve been married 18 years and still hold hands. I’ve never been loved like this before and I have never loved like this before.

Barb :  What do you love about writing?

Minette : Plotting the book and finishing the book. The middle is kind of hard when you want to get to the end. But the addiction is lifelong, I’m afraid; as long as someone reads it, I will write it. I could do nothing else.

Barb :  What’s the hardest part of writing a book?

Minette : The interminable edits. I try to go through the book at least a dozen or more times, hand it off to a critique partner who sends me suggestions, make more edits, send it off to beta readers, do more edits, send it off to my editor who makes more edits, and then 3-5 more after that does the trick. You kind of get sick of the whole book by that point, but like it again when it comes out in published book form!

Barb :  Where can your fans find you?

Minette :Minnette’s Web Site

Contact Minnette

Amazon Author Page

Facebook
Writer’s Room FB Group – Tips, Tricks, & Traumas

Twitter

LinkedIn

Blog

Barb :  Where can readers find your books?

Minette : Here are links, but they can be found just about anywhere books are sold:

THE CENTURION SERIES:

THE GLADIATOR PRINCE
KINDLE

NOOK

THE CENTURION & THE QUEEN

THE EDGE OF HONOR

PARANORMAL ROMANTIC COMEDY:

A GHOST OF A CHANCE

EPIC FANTASY (YA APPROPRIATE):

STARSIGHT I

STARSIGHT II

URBAN FANTASY THRILLER

THE BELL STALKER – Excerpt

Barb :  What is in the works for you next?

Minette : The Bell Stalker will be hitting the stands on October 26th… here’s a peak:

 THE BELL STALKER – Excerpt
an urban fantasy thriller
by Minnette Meador
RELEASE DATE: October 26, 2011
Resplendence Publishing

For a year, Belle Stark has struggled to conquer fears plaguing her since being attacked by a maniac who continues to roam free and the murder of her father. And she nearly succeeds, until she discovers her lover’s murdered body spread over the furniture, making Belle a prime suspect. Certain her attacker is to blame, she seeks help from her ex-husband, homicide detective Mike Cranston, the one person she swore she would never let back into her life, or heart. In their hunt for answers, the two uncover more than a lunatic: a supernatural underworld hidden beneath the tall skyscrapers of the city and a secret that could kill them both. Faced with a terrible choice, Belle surrenders herself to the hands of a monster and Mike must solve an ancient mystery before it’s too late to save her—

Also, I’ll be working on new books for next year. To see a list, just visit: http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com/p/books-to-come.html

Barb :  Is there anything else you’d like to share to your followers and readers?

Minette : Just a big thanks to Sugarbeat’s  Books for all their support in giving me an amazing place to share my books and my quirky foibles. You have one of the best blogs I’ve ever seen and I really love how much you support romance and romance writers. You guys are the best! :o)

I’d like to thank Minette for dropping by for a visit – and of course, steaming up my glasses with that racy interview 🙂  Everyone needs to click on a link above and pick up a copy of one of her books – they are outstanding!  Here’s the blurb for Gladiator Prince.  Just check out that cover…..

 

Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans after the Boudicca Revolt to save his two daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver’s raid, Thane escapes, forcing the daughter of his master to take him to Rome to save his children. Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save them all? Book III of the Centurion Series.

 

 

Author bio: Somewhere between thirty and dust…red hair, blue eyes…six kids, one slightly used husband, and any number of pets from time to time… wanttabe hippy… wanttheirmoney yuppie…pro musician and actress for 20 Years… native Oregonian… lover of music, beauty, and all things green. Willing slave to the venerable muse. Minnette currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband, having replaced the children with one dog. The dog, Pierre, pretty much runs the show.

www.minnettemeador.com

http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com

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BLB Tour – Excerpt from The Devil’s Game by S.L. Pierce & Maren Kaye

By Barb Drozdowich

The Devil's Game by S.L. Pierce

The Devil's Game by S. L. PierceTHE DEVIL’S GAME

by S.L. Pierce & Maren Kaye

Published June 29th 2011 by Pierce-Kaye Books
ASIN: B0058UFEO4

Is a stranger who stalks your stalker a friend or your worst enemy?

Rachel Pendelton is determined to break from her small town past and stake out a new life for herself with a dream job in the big city. But hard work and determination are no match for whoever is working against her. When anonymous gifts show up, she’s flattered. When they appear in her locked apartment, she starts worrying. What can she do when everyone she turns to for help looks suspicious?

What she doesn’t know is that a game has begun. A game with rules as baffling as they are deadly. A game that will pit her against the criminally insane. And only one can finish alive.

Excerpt of THE DEVIL’S GAME by S.L. Pierce & Maren Kaye

CHAPTER 1

“I found another one.”

“It’s hardly a surprise that you would find something you spend your days looking for,” Dr. Gloria Pike said, setting down her pen and leaning back in her chair. They had been through this before.

“I don’t.”

“Let’s not pretend. Aren’t we past this?”

Patient X didn’t answer, and Dr. Pike knew there would be no more talking until she apologized.

“Sorry, please continue.”

“It was a man and woman. Too old to be students. Maybe training. Maybe working on a project. Anyway, it was clear she was the boss, and he was in love with her.”

“What made you think that?”

“It was so obvious. The way he kept looking at her. Hanging on every word. His eyes all over her face. Desperate and waiting for something, some sign. Even when he was laughing, moving closer, it was there. He wanted her so much.” The patient paused, staring out the window. “His eyes were blue. So blue.”

“And her? In love with him?”

“No. Definitely no. It was like a sad little dance. He would move in; she would move away. She never touched him. Even when he gave her many openings.”

“How did you feel, watching them?”

The patient paused as if the answer required thought. “Excited.”

“Why?”

“You know why.”

“Yes, I do. Do you?”

No answer.

“What did you do?” Dr. Pike asked.

“What I always do. I followed them.”

CHAPTER 2

“And the Academy Award for the best animated short film produced by a hungry grad student goes to…” Rachel could hear her heart rushing through her ears. This was it; it had to be. She was the only hungry grad student nominated this year. This was her best film. All her hard work was about to pay off in spades. But why was it taking so long to open the envelope? Wait, why is Gwyneth Paltrow making out with Billy Crystal? Open the envelope! Open the damn envelope!

The sound of Billy and Gwyneth giggling into the microphone was slowly replaced by the low hum of an alarm clock. Rachel swore several profanities as her hand slapped at the snooze button in an attempt to put an end to the irritating sound.

“Coffee,” she said out loud to her empty room. She decided to bypass her usual morning routine of fresh fruit and yoga in light of her heartbreaking loss. Especially since it was probably the only award nomination she would ever get, awake or asleep.

As she sat at her desk/art space/kitchen table savoring her heavenly cup-of-joe, her day slowly began to jell inside her brain. Today was Tuesday, which meant video production and calculus. One she loved, the other she loathed. It was heaven and hell in the span of four hours. This was her third attempt at advanced calculus, and without it, there was little hope of getting a full-time position at Mad Media Animation Studio. She was determined to get a “real job” before she turned twenty five, if for no other reason then to hold her head a little higher when her dad asked her if she needed a little extra cash, you know, to help pay for those two “artsy-type” degrees she got.

If it weren’t for Justin, there would be no hope at all. He had come to her rescue in the second week of the class, sensing her utter panic. He was incredibly gifted at translating calculus. He was also incredibly gifted at annoying her. It was so strange the way he stumbled over every word when he was talking about nothing. But open up a math book and he transformed into a loquacious chatter-box.

“Speak of the devil,” she said when she heard Sonny and Cher sing out “I got you babe” from her cell phone. Justin’s ringtone was her private joke. It referred to the movie Groundhog Day and Bill Murray’s reaction at hearing it every morning at the same time. Reluctantly, she picked up the phone and punched the little green button.

“Hey, Justin, you’re up early.” She could hear his thick nasal breathing on the other end.

“I just wanted…um.. Hi Rachel,” he said in his usual disjointed manner.

“Hi, Justin,” she said. “You wanted to ask me something?” she prompted when he didn’t respond.

“Yeah, I…how are you…I mean are you ready for the test?”

Rachel knew she was dipping her toe in dangerous waters with Justin. He was obviously not tutoring her for the fifteen dollars she made him take each time. And he wasn’t the type to come right out and ask her for a date so that she could politely refuse him and they could move past it. Oh, no. He just kept the possibility of it dangling out there like a smelly gym sock she was constantly having to politely side-step.

I’ve been completely honest! she told herself over and over. But deep down she knew it was going to end badly. It was going to end badly because as annoying as he was, he had a heart of pure gold. He loved kids and dogs. He was finishing some kind of new teaching program designed for inner-city school kids. He was funny sometimes, though not usually on purpose. And under all that God-awful geekines, he was actually kind of cute.

Don’t go there, Rachel, she told herself.

“Yep, I’m good, Justin. But thanks for calling,” she said in an I’m going to hang up now kind of way.

“Do you eat? I mean have you…or are you going to eat breakfast…do you want to meet… for coffee?” By the time he had gotten that all out, Rachel had finished her cup and was working on a second.

“Is something on your mind, Justin?” Be direct, be honest.

“Yeah… well…I mean no…not really.”

“Well, I’m glad everything’s okay. I’ve got to get going; tons stuff I’m way behind on. But I’ll see you later at class, okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” he stammered.

She ended the call not waiting for his reply. She took a deep breath as she felt the caffeine pumping through her veins, accelerating her heartbeat. She walked over to the huge living room window and looked out onto the busy metropolitan street she lived on. It was a gorgeous spring day, perfect for a jog. She knew that her calculus class always went better when she’d had a good workout before hand. It helped keep her calm and focused. Not to mention the fact that she’d wimped out on her yoga this morning. If only she could muster up some motivation. Maybe a jog to the Steam Punk Café for some iced Chai. Yes, that would do it. There had to be a reward in there somewhere or she’d never make it out the door.

“Oh crap!” she said out loud. Justin. He loved the Steam Punk. As a matter of fact, he was the one who dragged her in there for her very first cup of iced Chai.

“I don’t drink weed water,” she had politely explained under her breath as they stood in line.

“Just trust me,” he had said to her with an ear-to-ear grin. Since there wasn’t much else on the menu that was fit for human consumption, she let him order – and pay.

“Here, try this,” he said, his puppy-dog face bright with anticipation. God, he could be so annoying!

The taste was unlike anything she had experienced. The exotic spices were smooth, sweet, and spicy all at the same time. And after a four-mile jog, there was nothing more refreshing. She gave a heavy sigh as she imagined the sweet luscious taste.

“Screw Justin!” she said. “I have every right to do whatever the hell I want!” And, of course she could always pretend she was happy to see him.

She began her usual pulling of dirty clothes from the hamper in search of some decent sweat pants and matching gym socks. As she was rummaging, she noticed a pungent order coming from something in her hand. It was a pair of underwear and a bra that smelled bitter and musty, but strangely familiar. She tried to remember the last time she had been out bar hopping. It had to have been at least three weeks. Note to self, she thought, tomorrow is laundry day.

As she was closing the door on her way out, she felt hot breath on her neck right before a strong hand grabbed her shoulder.

Follow the tour for THE DEVIL’S GAME!

8/14 giveaway @ Jagged Edge Reviews

8/14 author guest post @ Deena Remiel’s Place

8/15 excerpt @ Reader Girls

8/15 excerpt @ Lisa’s World of Books

8/15 giveaway @ Deena Remiel’s Place

8/16 excerpt @ Keeping Up With The Rheinlanders

8/19 author guest post @ Reader Girls

8/17 interview @ Lisa’s World of Books

8/17 excerpt @ Books Glorious Books

8/19 giveaway @ Books Glorious Books

8/23 author guest post @ Keeping Up With The Rheinlanders

8/24 author guest post & giveaway @ Workaday Reads

8/25 author guest post @ As The Pages Turn

8/26 author guest post @ Sugarbeat’s Books

8/27 excerpt @ Sugarbeat’s Books

8/27 author guest post @ Jagged Edge Reviews

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BLB Tour Guest Post – The Devil’s Game by S.L. Pierce & Maren Kaye

By Barb Drozdowich

The Devil's Game by S.L. Pierce

The Devil's Game by S. L. PierceTHE DEVIL’S GAME

by S.L. Pierce & Maren Kaye

Published June 29th 2011 by Pierce-Kaye Books
ASIN: B0058UFEO4

Is a stranger who stalks your stalker a friend or your worst enemy?

Rachel Pendelton is determined to break from her small town past and stake out a new life for herself with a dream job in the big city. But hard work and determination are no match for whoever is working against her. When anonymous gifts show up, she’s flattered. When they appear in her locked apartment, she starts worrying. What can she do when everyone she turns to for help looks suspicious?

What she doesn’t know is that a game has begun. A game with rules as baffling as they are deadly. A game that will pit her against the criminally insane. And only one can finish alive.

Guest Post by Maren Kaye

I’m Maren Kaye, co-author with S.L Pierce of The Devil’s Game, the story of a young woman who has a deadly brush with a stalker. But there’s a twist; Is someone stalking her stalker? Does that make them her friend? Or her worst nightmare?

For me, one of the most intriguing aspects of writing The Devil’s Game was grappling with the romance between characters who may or may not have sinister intentions. There’s no question that a hint of danger can certainly heat things up, but what is it exactly that makes dangerous men attractive? And how much danger is too much?

Two of my favorite dark romantic characters are the arrogant Mr. Darcy from Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice and the intoxicating Edward Cullen from Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. On the surface, these two ‘hotties’ seem as different as alligators and unicorns.

But to me, they are very similar in the way they drew me in.

Mr. Darcy comes across as uninterested, aloof and even repulsed by our leading lady, Elizabeth Bennet. But he’s also a very powerful man, with great wealth and social prestige. For a Victorian woman, this is the equivalent of rock star status. He could crush the Bennets with a swipe of his hand. Yet Elizabeth refuses to be treated so disrespectfully without some explanation. Sound familiar?

Edward fights his primal urges to kill and in doing so, gives his leading lady the impression that he finds her distasteful and beneath him. Both characters warn their ladies of impending doom through their actions, yet it only serves to draw the women closer. It definitely had that effect on me! What were they hiding? Don’t we all want to take a walk on the wild side from time to time? Of course, I’m fairly sure I would have a nervous breakdown if I found out I was dating a vampire. Thank God we can live vicariously through books!

I’d love to hear about some of your thoughts about what makes a dangerous man more interesting or someone you want to get away from. Who are your favorite dark romantic characters?

 

Follow the tour for THE DEVIL’S GAME!

8/14 giveaway @ Jagged Edge Reviews

8/14 author guest post @ Deena Remiel’s Place

8/15 excerpt @ Reader Girls

8/15 excerpt @ Lisa’s World of Books

8/15 giveaway @ Deena Remiel’s Place

8/16 excerpt @ Keeping Up With The Rheinlanders

8/19 author guest post @ Reader Girls

8/17 interview @ Lisa’s World of Books

8/17 excerpt @ Books Glorious Books

8/19 giveaway @ Books Glorious Books

8/23 author guest post @ Keeping Up With The Rheinlanders

8/24 author guest post & giveaway @ Workaday Reads

8/25 author guest post @ As The Pages Turn

8/26 author guest post @ Sugarbeat’s Books

8/27 excerpt @ Sugarbeat’s Books

8/27 author guest post @ Jagged Edge Reviews

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