Interview of Author Amber Skyze

Today I'm pleased to present an interview of romance author Amber Skyze.

Latest Book: Going for Broke
Buy Link: http://www.ellorascave.com/going-for-broke.html

BIO:
From a very young age Amber Skyze began making up stories–the only child syndrome. While telling tall tales to her friends she never dreamed of putting words on paper. In fact, if anyone told her she’d write when she grew up, she’d have laughed.

It wasn’t until raising children and reading all those romances that she decided–hey, I can write these. HA! Easier said than done.

When not crafting hot, steamy tales, this New York transplant now resides in Rhode Island with her husband, four children (who force her to work a day job), and three dogs.

She currently writes for Ellora’s Cave, Loose Id and is self-published.

Q: How did you celebrate publishing your first book?
A: My hubby took me out to dinner.

Q: Your novel is being made into a TV series/movie. Who’s in your dream cast?
A: Bradley Cooper and Kate Walsh

Q: What’s your writing schedule like? Do you strive for a certain amount of words each day?
A: I do strive for 1K a day, but I’ll take whatever I can get. I normally get up at 4am to have enough writing time before the day job.

Q: How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?
A: I only try to add a little of myself, but I fear more comes through.

Q: Of all your characters, who’s your favorite, and why?
A: I love all my characters, but I’ll always have a soft spot for Nathan Donovan in Splashing Good Time. He was a real life hero that kinda got away.

Q: If you could change something about your first book, what would it be?
A: Nothing…it’s still one of my favorites – hubby’s too.

Q: Do you eat comfort food/listen to music when writing?
A: I have my coffee – it’s early and the TV is on in the background for white noise.

Q: Covers. Ever get one you wish you could change?
A: Yes!!!! Hit Me, which is now Going for Broke. I did not like the original. It’s the only time I’ve felt that way, though. I suppose that’s a good thing.

Q: Give one advice tip to an aspiring author.
A: Never give up and hit the SEND button. You can’t get published if you never send that baby out into the world.

Q: Have you ever used an incident from your real life into one of your books?
A: In Operation: Second Honeymoon. I changed the grief from the heroine losing her father, but it was really me losing a child. The rest was kinda what happened to the hubby and I except the threesome. LOL There were some crazy times in our life the year after our son died, but we came out stronger.

Answer all these, please. Fun Stuff:
Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
A: Christmas because of the joy on the little ones faces when they see what Santa brought.

Q: What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I’ve very shy and I’m addicted to Jeopardy.

Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A Teacher.

Q: Favorite food.
A: Buffalo Chicken Wings

Q: Favorite drink.
A: Vanilla Caramel Coffee

Q: Hot summer days or chilly winter nights?
A: Oh Hot Summer Days for sure!

Q: What is the top thing on your bucket list?
A: To visit Greece or Ireland.

Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
A: To be invisible.

Tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!
http://www.amberskyze.com
http://amberskyze.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/amber.skyze
https://www.ellorascave.com/index.php/authors/index/author/slug/amber-skyze/

BLURB:
Deacon Burke has a singular goal—to win back the Las Vegas casino swindled from his father years ago.

Businesswoman Holly Perkins is equally determined to gain control of the Pleasure Palace, the decadent casino where anything goes—including exhibitionism and master/slave play. A corporate raider, she’s eager to put down roots in one location while running a business she loves.

When Deacon spots Holly in front of the casino it’s lust at first sight, and soon she’s submitting to him during a blistering-hot encounter. But how will he react when he learns of Holly’s agenda? All bets are off in their high-stakes game of carnal cravings and ultimate control.

Publisher’s Note: This title was previously released elsewhere under the title "Hit Me", and has been revised and expanded for Ellora’s Cave.
A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave.

EXCERPT:
Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking through the door.

Deacon rubbed his eyes. They burned from being sleep deprived and the bright lights didn’t help. It was nearing midnight, but who could tell in the city that never sleeps? He stopped to glance up at the majestic building. The four golden caps made it appear as if it were a true Palace. The design had been created with that in mind. Darius Burke had a dream. He’d wanted to build a casino that reminded people of royalty. He’d wanted them to feel like they were special when inside. For years he’d succeeded.

Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking through the door.

The one verse of the incessant Christmas song filled his mind as Deacon climbed the stairs to casino. Sure he changed it a bit to suit his needs, but that was his prerogative.

The flight in from Hong Kong seemed to drag on longer than it should have, but he closed the deal. They would gain a foothold in Hong Kong with their latest fragrance. The time had arrived for him to close another deal. The most important one.

Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking through the door.

Deacon adjusted the laptop bag dangling from his left shoulder. He lifted his right foot and placed it on the concrete stair. Gold speckles glittered the front staircases leading to the entranceway.

Each step he took was painful to his weary feet and heavy heart. He hadn’t stepped foot inside the casino or Vegas for that matter in nearly ten years. The day had finally arrived. He was coming home after many years away. Deacon Burke was one step away from reclaiming what rightfully belonged to his family – the Palace of Pleasure.

Though when his father owned the Palace the top floors known as the Pleasure part of the casino didn’t exist. Deacon could see his father rolling over his grave imagining the things that took place in the Pleasure area. Not that Deacon minded. Sex was an enjoyment of his. There was something about cherishing a woman’s body that brought out the animal instinct in him. He also didn’t mind doling out a spanking or two. Having a woman bent over, hands tied behind her back getting spanked, got him overheated every time.

He stifled a moan, while fighting the hard-on that grew in his black slacks.

Maybe he’d partake in a little fun before meeting with the current owner. Why not try out the merchandise? Not that it would change his mind on reclaiming the casino. It belonged to the Burke’s and Deacon would stake his claim, no matter what stupid stipulations they put on him.

Buy Link - http://www.ellorascave.com/going-for-broke.html


Anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks so much for having me!

Queen of Procrastination

I swear procrastination is my middle name. Just as my husband. LOL
I had a few ideas for this month’s blog, but I never got around to writing them. So I’ll have to give you something from about a year ago. Not sure where I posted it. Could've been here, if you've read this before I apologize.


The other day I was preparing a blog for a guest appearance spot over at Nine Naughty Novelists. I was writing about adding real life to your stories. It got me thinking of the old adage, write what you know.
I’ll admit I’ve written many stories based off of things I know.
Body Shots has a hero who is a singer. Music is my first love. Back in high school thru my early twenties I dated musicians. I know more about drums than I possibly need to. I’ve spent summer nights just attending concerts. When I was growing up in Upstate New York, every teen spent the summer at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. This was where all the good concerts took place. In 2003 when I was sowing my royal oats (I was celebrating my freedom from my ex), my best friend and I traveled all over to see concerts. In fact once at 5pm on a Saturday night we drove from Albany NY to the Comcast Center in MA (it was the Tweeter Center back then) to see Disturbed and Korn. A three hour drive one way AND we drove back home after the concert. Okay, so we were a little crazy what can I say.
Splashing Good Time the hero owns his own pool company. I’ve been in the business in the past and again in my present, someone close to me owns a few pool stores.
Gettin’ Lucky my heroine owns her own grocery store. My ex-husband and I owned a corner grocery store for almost ten years. And like Marcy, my heroine, the store was in a poor section of town.
Another story that will be published under my real name is about a woman’s journey to motherhood. She’s not taking the conventional way. After finding herself single, because her ex-fiancé doesn’t want children, Hailey decides to take out an ad for a sperm donor.
Granted I’ve never taken out an ad, but I’ve journeyed through the fertility process – more times than I’d like to admit. So I can add those little details to my story that make it that much more believable. Obviously my heroine will get a HEA, but the bottom line is I KNOW fertility.
But should we always write what we know? I say NO. Eventually you’ll come to a point where you want to diversify and move in a new direction. To do this you’ll have to learn something new and experiment. That’s what I plan to do.
I’m embarking on a new chapter or journey in my writing career. I’m taking on a subject and genre that is relatively foreign to me. But guess what? I’m excited about it. I may stumble along the way and I may suck at it, but I won’t know unless I try.
I’ll be honest – I’m scared witless. But that’s the thrill. That’s how I know it’s the right time to do it.
I’ve become too comfortable in my writing. I haven’t challenged myself in a very long time. A friend has thrown down the gauntlet and I’ve accepted the challenge!
Do you only write what you know? If not, how do you step out of your comfort zone?

Sorry for the Quickie!

What have I been up to in the last month? Well let’s see. I gave birth to our darling little daughter. Teagan arrived 4 ½ weeks early, but is thriving and growing like a weed. It was scary going into labor so early, but it all worked out.
Other than taking care of a newborn, I’ve been busy working on a deadline. I have a contract for a handyman story. It’s like one of those home improvement shows you’d see on the Home Improvement channel. I’m just about done with self-edits and hope to have it in my editors hands by Monday. They’d had originally hoped to have it to final edits by Aug 19th, but the early arrival slowed things down a bit. lol Oh well, nothing I can do.
So this post is going to be brief because I have to go back to my writer’s cave while all is quiet and finish as much as I can.
Until next month!

Escape Into A Romance

Everywhere you turn there’s depressing news. For weeks or months the nation stood riveted on the edge of their seats, eyes glued to the television waiting to see if there would be justice for little Kaylee Anthony only to be let down. Yesterday I read where an 8 yr old boy was kidnapped, cut-up and disposed. WTF is wrong with people? Then there’s the lady who decided to dismember her husband. Those old enough will remember it’s not the first time an angry wife has done this. But seriously – why? So he doesn’t have sex with someone else? Does she feel better today?
Like Cindy talked about yesterday, gas prices make it difficult to do any traveling so what do you do? For me I take my ereader and escape into a world of fantasy. I’d rather believe in a hero and heroine falling madly in love after opening a door and seeing each other for a few mere minutes than read about what’s going on in the world.
I spent two months on hiatus – well my muse did. It seemed she wanted an extended vacation and nothing I did brought her home. Something tells me the evil little muse was at the beach without me.
This week I’m back. I’m writing and editing trying to finish my current wip. In this book I’ve escaped into a home improvement store where my heroine wins a kitchen makeover. She’s going to work side by side with the hot host of the show. They’re going to experiment with some home improvement tools you never imagined bringing into the bedroom and let’s just say the hero knows his way around a tool belt. It feels good to be absorbed in someone else’s life right now.
How about you? What do you do when the real world is just too depressing?

Summer

It’s my favorite season of the year. I need warmth and sunshine to fuel my soul. I love spending time on my pool deck or floating around on a raft in the pool. It took us longer than usual to get the pool cleaned this year and while the hot and humid temperatures past to cooler, rainy days, I’m sure the warm weather will return.
June is a busy month in our house with three birthdays in the family and Father’s Day. It also brings the end of the school year, which is an added bonus for me. No more rushing to get the daughter off to school. Now I’ll have an extra hour to myself. Woo Hoo!
This summer I’m hoping to finish my wips. One is about 4-5k away from being finished. The other needs another 10k or so. No pressure this summer for me.
The DH and I are planning more day trips then long vacations this summer. After reading the blog posts over at Penelope’s Romance Reviews yesterday I have some fun ideas for trips. If you want to learn more about New England drop over and see all the great posts.
One thing we always do is take in a few Red Sox games. That will still happen. ;o)
What are your plans for the summer?
My newest release is a summer read: Chasing Forever available now from Ellora’s Cave.

Blurb:

Jordyn has longed to make her relationship with best friend Diego more than platonic. Her body drips with need to know what it would feel like to have his lips kissing every inch of her skin. Desire to wrap her legs around his waist and plunge into deep waters with him fills her every dream.

Diego is one with the ocean. His passion is surfing and chasing that ultimate wave. He doesn’t have time for a relationship. Or does he?

A storm is brewing and when a tragedy occurs, Diego and Jordyn need to decide if they’re both chasing the same dreams.

An Excerpt From: CHASING FOREVER

Copyright © AMBER SKYZE, 2011

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter One



Jordyn sat on the beach towel watching Diego riding out the waves. Her pulse raced. He knew he shouldn’t be out there. Hurricane Ivan was heading inland and the weatherman had warned of the dangerous undertow. She’d attempted to chase a few waves, but once she’d swum a few yards she knew it was a mistake. She’d quickly swum back to shore and waited while her best friend tried to prove he was smarter than the ocean.

The waters had turned mean and ugly over the last twenty minutes and the sky was an ominous gray. The hurricane was moving closer. A breeze came in off the water and a chill passed through her body. She’d unzipped her wet suit down to her waist, exposing her bikini top when she exited the water. She should cover up again in case the rains poured down.

She scanned the waters. Someone on a Jet Ski buzzed around, stopping every so often to take some pictures. She hoped he would keep away from the jagged rocks. The razor-sharp rocks were Jordyn’s bigger fear with Diego being out on the water. One wrong move and a wave could drag him under and throw him against the rocks, ending his life.

Jet skis were prohibited at any time on this part of the beach, but it didn’t stop them, especially on a day like today. They’d swarm around the surfers—in this case, just Diego—hoping to get a great shot of him nailing a thirty-foot wave.

Hopefully that’s all he catches.

She scanned the beach looking for any other fools. People with cameras hoping to click the ideal picture of the perfect storm peppered the sand.

“Dumbasses,” she muttered. What did that make her? She was on the beach too. Why had she allowed Diego to convince her this was a good idea?

“Because I’m a fool too.” She buried her foot in the sand and watched how the tiny particles glided between her toes. If she was smart she’d grab her board, jump in her Jeep and hightail it back to her place. Common sense flew out the window when it came to Diego, because she was head over heels in love with him.

Too bad he doesn’t feel the same. He loved her like a sister he’d said a few too many times, especially on drunken occasions.

If she’d had a nickel for all the times he’d said, “If you weren’t like a sister to me, I’d fuck you.”

How her pussy moistened with the thought. A few times she’d been tempted to sock him one and other times she’d wanted to tackle him and show him the woman inside waiting for him to fill that void deep within.

Instead she’d sat back and waited.

Sex Sells

When I started writing way back when…I wanted to be just like Danielle Steele. I had read something like 30 books of hers and felt I could write the story she hadn’t written yet – the story I wanted to read. Funny thing about that…I wrote the book, never did anything with it and then Danielle Steele came out with something so similar it scared me. It was like she read my mind. Now before you ask, no I don’t feel like she stole my idea. How could she? I was just some lonely housewife and mother looking for a way to express myself.
Fast forward many years later and I left Danielle behind. I began reading Chick Lit and Romantic Comedies. I found books I really loved. I decided I’d write Chick Lit. I wrote three books. They’re still sitting in a drawer. Turns out I don’t have a first person voice, even though I love writing in it.
I never dreamed of the day I’d get to write about sex. Seven or eight years ago I found a group of women who were doing reviews for eBooks. Most of them were erotic. I joined the group and a new love blossomed. Suddenly I needed to write these types of books. So I penned my first one. Mistletoe Studs. The book stayed in the drawer for almost two years, until I joined my local writers group. They gave me the one thing I lacked – courage to submit a story. I received a contract a few days after subbing it and it saw publication within weeks. I still hold that book dear after all these years.
I’ve been writing sex ever since and while I’m trying to write a straight contemporary I’m finding it harder to do now. I have to retrain my brain to write less sex. For me I know as long as a market exists I’ll always write sex. Not only is it fun – sex sells!
To celebrate my journey I’m giving away a copy of Sex on the Beach to one lucky commenter. I’ll announce the winner on Monday over on my blog: http://amberskyze.blogspot.com

Happy May!










Sex on the Beach


Blurb:
Allie only wanted two weeks of peace and quiet at her friend’s beach house to get her life in perspective. She wasn’t looking for sex, drugs and a kidnapping. But that’s what she gets when she encounters not one but two tasty men.

Tony, her gorgeous next-door neighbor, has a body any woman would want to explore, and Allie crave him licking, teasing and ravishing her body with those strong hands and kissable lips. Little does she know Tony’s on the trail of a drug dealer.

Then there’s Paul, who also wants a piece of Allie…if he can possibly tear her away from Tony.

An Excerpt From: SEX ON THE BEACH

Copyright © AMBER SKYZE, 2011

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter One



The wind blew wisps of Allie’s long blonde hair back toward the road she’d just traveled. She sped along the California coastline in her yellow convertible Spyder, enjoying the sunrise in the distance. The sun sparkled across the ocean, glimmering orange as it rose. The rays would threaten to scorch her skin later in the day. The weatherman had said the temperatures would reach well into the nineties again.

She pressed her flip-flopped foot harder on the gas pedal. Allie allowed the car to accelerate because she knew no one in their right mind would be on the road at this ungodly hour. Not everyone woke before the crack of dawn. While most were still sleeping soundly in their beds, the air conditioner cooling their skin, Allie was up grocery shopping.

It wasn’t unusual for her to be up and going at four in the morning. She loved those first few hours of the day when life was quiet. She could sip her coffee leisurely. The hustle and bustle came later when she left the house to fight the highway traffic on her way to her job as a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company.

At least that was her life before she’d lost her job. She punched the steering wheel.

“Fuck,” she cursed to the open wind. While she missed the craziness of her old life she had to admit the last six months were the most stress-free she’d felt in years, right up until she returned to work.

The long hours and stress related to her job contributed in the onslaught of health issues she hadn’t known existed. After three consecutive months with a bout of what she thought was the flu Allie finally sought the advice of her doctor. He put her through numerous rounds of testing and came to the conclusion she suffered from acid reflux and Crohns disease. Both were brought on by stress, food choices and not taking care of her body.

Allie spent five agonizing days in the hospital while her doctor tried to get her disease under control. It was the worst experience in her life. There were times when she thought she’d die and sometimes she silently prayed she would. It was devastating and debilitating, but she swore she wouldn’t let it control her again.

Once Dr. Robinson managed to get the disease under control she looked pointedly at Allie.

“Look, your job is slowly killing you. Your body can’t handle the stress or long hours you’re demanding of it. You need to make some lifestyle changes or I’m just going to see you back here in a few months,” she’d said.

The reality of the doctor’s words was like a knife being twisted in her chest. She didn’t know how to not be on the go 24/7. That was the way she’d lived her life since turning sixteen.

Allie pressed even harder on the gas pedal.

She couldn’t get to the beach house fast enough. The idea of spending two weeks of quiet, soaking up the sun and sand appealed to her on so many levels. When her friend Pam told her she could use her beach house, Allie had immediately jumped on the offer.

The next few weeks would give her time to readjust to being unemployed and hopefully clear her mind. Eventually she’d have to decide what direction she wanted to take with her life. She had enough money saved to get her through six months of unemployment, but Allie didn’t want to totally deplete her savings. It was there as a safety net, nothing more.

Quitting had never been a word Allie thought she’d use, but her boss left her no other choice. She’d had a career as a marketing executive for almost five years before she’d up and resigned.

“Asshole!” She gripped the steering wheel, fighting back the tears stinging her eyes. She refused to cry. She wouldn’t give that shithead the satisfaction of beating her down. She wiped away the drop with the back of her hand.

“Screw you, Marty.”

Write What You Know? Nah!

The other day I was preparing a blog for a guest appearance spot over at Nine Naughty Novelists. I was writing about adding real life to your stories. It got me thinking of the old adage, write what you know.
I’ll admit I’ve written many stories based off of things I know.
Body Shots has a hero who is a singer. Music is my first love. Back in high school thru my early twenties I dated musicians. I know more about drums than I possibly need to. I’ve spent summer nights just attending concerts. When I was growing up in Upstate New York, every teen spent the summer at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. This was where all the good concerts took place. In 2003 when I was sowing my royal oats (I was celebrating my freedom from my ex), my best friend and I traveled all over to see concerts. In fact once at 5pm on a Saturday night we drove from Albany NY to the Comcast Center in MA (it was the Tweeter Center back then) to see Disturbed and Korn. A three hour drive one way AND we drove back home after the concert. Okay, so we were a little crazy what can I say.
Splashing Good Time the hero owns his own pool company. I’ve been in the business in the past and again in my present, someone close to me owns a few pool stores.
Gettin’ Lucky my heroine owns her own grocery store. My ex-husband and I owned a corner grocery store for almost ten years. And like Marcy, my heroine, the store was in a poor section of town.
Another story that will be published under my real name is about a woman’s journey to motherhood. She’s not taking the conventional way. After finding herself single, because her ex-fiancé doesn’t want children, Hailey decides to take out an ad for a sperm donor.
Granted I’ve never taken out an ad, but I’ve journeyed through the fertility process – more times than I’d like to admit. So I can add those little details to my story that make it that much more believable. Obviously my heroine will get a HEA, but the bottom line is I KNOW fertility.
But should we always write what we know? I say NO. Eventually you’ll come to a point where you want to diversify and move in a new direction. To do this you’ll have to learn something new and experiment. That’s what I plan to do.
I’m embarking on a new chapter or journey in my writing career. I’m taking on a subject and genre that is relatively foreign to me. But guess what? I’m excited about it. I may stumble along the way and I may suck at it, but I won’t know unless I try.
I’ll be honest – I’m scared witless. But that’s the thrill. That’s how I know it’s the right time to do it.
I’ve become too comfortable in my writing. I haven’t challenged myself in a very long time. A friend has thrown down the gauntlet and I’ve accepted the challenge!
Do you only write what you know? If not, how do you step out of your comfort zone?

Plotter or Pantser?

This post originally appeared on my blog in June 2009. I've been sick with a stomach bug and couldn't find the time to write a blog post for today. Hope you enjoy...

I had a totally different post written for today, but something happened that made me want to write about it. On one of the loops I’m on a discussion turned to plotting and flying by the seat of your pants – aka pantser. One person really irked me. She gave great detail why she’s a plotter (all valid I must say), but then she closed with. “I’ve come to realize that plotters are professionals and pantser's are only writing for hobby.”
Hold on. Hit the rewind button on that. Hobby? I don’t park my butt down every day (before going to my full time job) to pump out 1k words for a HOBBY! I took offense to that. I’m a pantser by every sense of the word. I get an idea from a line in a song, a character on television, or someone I see out on the street, and then I run with it.
Take my book Research Required for instance. The heroine is waiting for a pizza to be delivered when someone knocks at her door. She’s expecting the delivery boy, not some gorgeous guy. The hero has gone to the wrong apartment. That’s all I had to start with. Nothing special.
As I sat and wrote the story I couldn’t believe the twist and turns that have sprung to life. This story turned out to be a romantic suspense. Oh, BTW, it started out as a straight contemporary romance. So, you see for me flying by the seat of my pants works.
Here’s another point. Recently I had to write a synopsis for a short story. I didn’t want to write the full story if the editor didn’t feel it would fit her current anthology. She loved the idea and asked me to write it. I knew the beginning, middle and end. Great, right?
Wrong!
I struggled with getting the words down on paper. In fact, I secretly thought the story sucked big time. I’ll know better when I go back to edit. The point is I plotted this one. Maybe it’s in my head, maybe not. All I know is for right now pantsing seems to work for me. When I try to deviate from this I get stuck. Maybe some time in the future that will change and I’ll become a plotter, but for now I’m sticking with what works.
What’s your thought being a plotter or pantser?

Happy Valentine's Day

This year Hallmark had a new slogan – Valentine’s Day is a day to say I love us.
I really liked this slogan. I could relate to it. I think that’s why it stuck in my mind. I’d rather celebrate us than just him. Without a spouse or significant other there is no US.
If you don’t have that someone special to spend it, then celebrate with a friend or family.

Every year I try to do something unique for him. Last year I tied little sayings to Lindt chocolates, so that every time he ate a piece he had a little reminder of me. :o) Goofy? Maybe, but I know it melted his heart.
Yesterday I ran out and bought him a heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie from the bakery. He loves the cookie pies. I bought a funny and a sentimental card, along with a few gift cards. I wish I could tell you I did something unique, but life has been hectic and Valentine’s Day was here before I had a chance to think about it.
How about you? Do you say I Love You in little ways?
Happy Valentine’s Day!

New Year

Well I totally forgot today was my day to blog. Sorry about that. I’ve had a lot of things going on in my life. Some I can talk about, others I can’t.
I’m working on two different stories both with tight deadlines – 2/1. I don’t have any new releases coming anytime in the near future, but if you’re in still in the Christmas mood I do have a book that came out on December 6th over at Aspen Mountain Press, called Naughty St. Nick
Here’s a little taste!

Excerpt:
Emily pattered over to the front door. She peered through the peephole and opened
the door against the bitter cold of the winter storm brewing outside. Shivering, she bent
over the threshold and glanced in both directions. Her skin pebbled from the
snowflakes landing on her bare arms.
“Strange, I know I heard the doorbell ring.” She was about to close the door when
she noticed a small brown box sitting off to the right.
Intrigued, she placed a sock-covered foot into the icy snow and retrieved the box.
She slammed the door and hurried back to her blanket on the couch. She nestled under
the red fuzzy blanket. Turning the box in her hands she looked for an addressee.
“Nothing.” She couldn’t help but wonder if it was meant for her or if someone left it
on her doorstep mistakenly. She shook the box. Something bounced around inside.
Unable to fight her curiosity, she tore open the package. Inside was a mistletoecolored
finger butt plug with little white snowmen on it. Tingling sensations warmed
her body straight down to her core. Heat charged through her body, as thoughts of
teasing the rim of her ass filled her mind.
Wouldn’t it be nice if I had someone doing it for me?
Digging deeper into the box, she searched for a card. She found a tiny note card that
read:
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave me to, one butt plug a hummin’.
Emily thought she’d orgasm right then and there. Who wanted to charge her ass to
life? Tremors radiated her muscles, curling her toes. Someone wanted to do naughty
things to her. Filled with an arousal that ran deep, Emily knew she had to pleasure
herself.
Heat from the flames crackling in the fireplace warmed her chilled body, smoothing
her skin. The television blared in the background, but Emily tuned out the noise. She’d
been watching a movie about a money heist on a train or something crazy, that hadn’t
held her attention. As she turned the plug over in her hands, her attention was totally
focused. She couldn’t imagine who would send her something so erotic.
Settling into the pillow, she closed her eyes and pictured the guy from Six A as the
bearer of her gift. His wavy blond hair and piercing green eyes charged her body. She’d
fantasized about him a few times.
Oh, who am I kidding?
She'd masturbated to the image of his shit-eating grin too many times to count.

Until next month!

Patience

When my children were little I tried to instill patience in them, especially around Christmas time. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked to open “just one present” before Christmas day. I understand how exciting this time of the year is for them. So it’s hard to get upset about being badgered. :o)
I wish I could exercise some of my own teachings. Not in the holiday sense. You could put twenty gifts under the tree with my name on it and I won’t have the urge to open them until Christmas morning. No, my lack of patience is in my writing life.
You’d think by now I’d understand the waiting the game. Well, I do understand it. I just don’t like it. Recently, I subbed to one of the larger publishing houses. Their guidelines were specific, along with their response time. So why is it I find myself checking my email throughout the day hoping for an email from them? It’s only been 10 days. They said it could take up to four months to hear back from them.
FOUR MONTHS? Am I crazy? The wait time to hear from any of my current editors isn’t a fraction of the time.
As I bite my nails and check my email a zillion times waiting for some type of response, I hope you’re enjoying your holiday season!
This is Amber Skyze wishing you and your loved ones a Wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year!

New Release - Gettin' Lucky

It's that time again. Time for me to post. I wish I had something wonderful to blog about like most of you do every month, but I'm currently working on a contracted book and trying to finish it by my deadline. I do have a new release out Wednesday, November 17th with Ellora's Cave. It's part of the Cougar Challenge series. If you haven't read any of these books you're missing out. They're H-O-T!

Here's a bit of information on my book.

A story in the Cougar Challenge series.

Marcy Brown can’t get enough of Lucky, her massage therapist. Lucky’s fingers always linger dangerously close to…sensitive areas, and ignite a fire she can’t ignore. Marcy isn’t looking for a relationship, but a friend with benefits would be right up her alley. The women of her fave blog, Tempt the Cougar, swear by younger men, but Marcy doesn’t want to train someone. She wants a man who can give her orgasm after orgasm.

Lucky offers to be her secret lover and help her realize all her fantasies. With Lucky, Marcy discovers the thrill of sexual positions and taboos she’s been missing out on—up to and including sex with two gorgeous men at once.

All bets are off when this Cougar is challenged to get her growl on.

Excerpt:

An Excerpt From: GETTIN’ LUCKY
Copyright © AMBER SKYZE, 2010
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter One

“Isn’t he hot, sweetie?”
“Mom!” Marcy groaned.
“What? Is there something wrong with me thinking the young doctor is sexy?”
“Mother, please.” Not that there was anything wrong with her admiring the younger doctor. Shit Marcy fantasized about younger men, but she kept it under wraps. She didn’t speak the words out loud.
Marcy wished she could crawl under a rock and die. They were in the recovery room. Her mother had just undergone surgery for her broken wrist. It wasn’t like they were alone. The room was full of other people who had come from surgery too, along with their family members. Marcy looked around to see if anyone else was listening to her mother’s tirade. She couldn’t believe her mother was talking about how hot the doctor was in front of all these people. Christ, he was young enough to be her son, possibly grandson.
“Thank you,” the doctor said. “Now I want you to rest for the next few days. No using those fingers, either. You need to give your body time to recuperate.”
“Anything you say, Doctor.”
Marcy watched as her mother made googly eyes at the doctor.
“Do you make house calls?” she asked, reaching out with her good hand to touch him.
He chuckled.
“They don’t allow us to go to patients’ homes, but I’ll see you in a few days at my office. All right?”
“If you insist.”
“I’ll see you soon.” He patted her mother’s leg before rushing off to his next patient.
Marcy looked down at her mother.
“I can’t believe you just said those things to the doctor, Mother,” she whispered.
“It’s all right, Ms. Brown,” the nurse said. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Lots of women enjoy the company of younger men.”
Not my mother and certainly not me. Though she couldn’t deny the growing attraction she’d been feeling for Lucky. Lately every time he massaged her he came dangerously close to her pussy, stirring up tingling sensations she hadn’t felt in a very long time. Thankfully her vibrator gave her the relief she craved after leaving her weekly massages, because she couldn’t risk losing Lucky. Entering into anything sexual with him would cross too many boundaries for her. She might have to change massage therapists and that would be a pity.
“I appreciate your understanding, but that doctor could be her grandson.” She knew she was exaggerating, but seriously. Her mother was too old to be drooling over the doctor.
The nurse laughed.
Marcy didn’t find anything funny about her mother fawning over the young stud. Yes, he was cute, not her type, but nice-looking.
“Stop being so uptight, Marcy. Just because Dan wasn’t smart enough to stick around doesn’t mean you’re a dead fish. You can have a little fun if you know what I mean.” Her mother winked.
Marcy wanted to flee the recovery room.
“It’s the anesthesia.” The nurse patted her hand.
“Thanks.” Marcy looked at her name tag. “Elizabeth.”
“No problem. I have a few things to check on, but I’ll be back shortly. Don’t worry about your mother. Once the anesthesia wears off she’ll probably forget the things she said.”
God she prayed the nurse was right. She couldn’t have her mother talking like this.
“I appreciate your understanding.”
The nurse nodded before heading off. She returned an hour later.
“Here are your discharge papers,” Elizabeth said. “And here’s something just in case your mom is serious.”
Marcy took the business card.
“Tempt the Cougar? What’s this?”
In a hushed tone, Elizabeth explained. “It’s a blog where women who want to experience the thrill of younger men gather.”
“Oh no. My mother definitely doesn’t need this.” Marcy attempted to hand the card back to her.
“Take it. You never know.”
“I’m sorry, but I do know. This is not something my mother would be interested in.”
Elizabeth shrugged.
“Then keep it for yourself. You never know, you might find it interesting.” She rushed off before Marcy could object.

The Road to RomantiCon

Prepping for the conference was intense and started about six months ago. I made lots of goodie bags and I’m happy to say that most of them were gone by the time I left on Sunday.
RomantiCon 2010 is over, but far from forgotten. The partying went on for four days straight and let me tell you I enjoyed every last moment. I got to spend some time with Cindy Spencer Pape and Anny Cook. These two women are incredible. I had so much fun getting to know them better. They made this shy author feel right at home.
All the women of the Cougar Challenge series did the same. Hugs were plentiful over the weekend. I also had a chance to meet a new author – Shoshanna Evers. I sat down next to her in a workshop and introduced myself. She immediately said, “Oh I’ve read your work.”
I blushed, surprised that someone read my stuff. I know there are people out there buying my books, but I’ve never had someone sit next to me and tell me.
Then there was this reader, Cindy, who came up to me at the booksigning who had a star next to my name. She just had to meet me. It was so exciting to think someone wanted to seek me out. :o)
While I was a newbie when it came to conferences, the fellow readers and authors made everyone feel right at home.
Then there were the Cavemen. Oh they are hot and so very friendly. They didn’t have that I’m too sexy for you complex. They were down to earth and ready to show everyone a good time. Angelo, who is on the cover of my Dante’s Desire book, was kind enough to autograph a cover flat for me. Speaking of when he walked in to the meet and greet the DH said, “I know him. He’s all over our house!”
He is…I just love my cover.
Overall it was an amazing time and I’m really looking forward to next year.
In other news – Book Three in the Freedom Fantasies series PLAY WITH ME comes out tomorrow. :o)

Adrift and Spend The Night With Me

Today is release day for me. My first book with Loose Id. I'm very excited about this book and enjoyed writing about a heroine who wasn't Barbie sized. This is also my first M/M/F Check out Adrift available now.

Also below is my second release Spend The Night With Me available from Ellora's Cave tomorrow Sept 15th.

Here's a little taste:

“I expect everyone to be there.” Mr. Carlton stood up and continued talking to the small group in the conference room. “My wife looks forward to this every year, so I don’t want to disappoint her. There will be boats at the dock to take people back and forth to Carlton Island.”
Kari cringed just thinking about getting into a boat and being escorted over to her boss’s island. The last thing she wanted to do over her weekend was spend it with him and fellow coworkers. Kari enjoyed the peace and serenity of her apartment. She didn’t have to make small talk except with Pepper, her cat.
Last year she’d been able to get out of the company picnic, but something told her this time she wouldn’t be so lucky.
“This is bullshit.”
Kari swiveled her chair to see who else felt like she did, but was brave enough to voice his opinion. She was met with the most amazing blue eyes.
Ben.
Her heart caught in her throat. Was he speaking to me?
Ben Eckhart hadn’t uttered a word to her in the three years he’d worked at Carlton Technologies. Kari had admired him from afar, knowing he’d never be interested in someone like her. She wasn’t a size 2 pinup model like Ben probably dated.
“Does he think we don’t have a life outside of work?”
He was talking to her.
Hanging out on her deck with a book wasn’t in the cards for her this weekend.
“Have you ever been?” he asked.
“Once. I’ve managed to escape all the other yearly get-togethers, but I don’t see that happening this weekend.”
“I heard people have gotten let go for not attending.”
She’d heard that too, but thankfully it hadn’t happened to her. With the economy in dire straits, she wasn’t risking it this year. “That’s what they say. I can’t afford to take any chances. I’ll be going.”
“Me too, I guess.”
Kari groaned inwardly. She didn’t want to spend the weekend lusting over Ben. At work she could cover up her scars, but on Carlton Island she’d be expected to dress more casually.
Maybe she could think of a way out of this.
“Spouses and significant others are more than welcome too,” Mr. Carlton continued.
Kari turned her attention back to her boss. Right about now, she wished she had someone in her life she could bring along to ease the pain of watching Ben. Fortunately he wasn’t aware of her feelings for him.
He leaned closer to her chair and whispered in her ear. “You bringing someone?” Heat from his breath trickled down her neck, straight to her core. Images of Ben wearing only swim trunks filled her mind. She pictured a hard, smooth chest and abs of steel she could run her fingers along.
“No,” she snapped.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
She swiveled her chair slightly and glanced over her shoulder. His lips were close. Close enough that if she leaned just a little bit, she could graze them with her own. “I didn’t mean to snap. I’m just really frustrated about having to go this weekend. I’m going alone.”
“Hmmm. I guess I’ll see you there.”
“Guess so.”
Mr. Carlton ended the meeting. Kari gathered her notebook, pen, and coffee mug before heading back to her office. She wondered if Ben would be coming alone or if he would be bringing some lucky lady.
She prayed he came alone. He’d broken the ice by talking to her in the meeting. Maybe they could get to know each other better over the weekend.
As she sat in her chair, she realized she was fooling herself. Ben would never be interested in a size 12 disfigured woman. Even if he did show an interest, Kari couldn’t take her clothes off for him. Her scars were a reminder that she’d never have a love life again. It was bad enough that the memories of that horrible night still haunted her; visible scars stared back from the mirror. They screamed at her, taunting that she’d be lonely the rest of her life.

Excerpt:

It’s time to put these away. I need to move on. It’s time for closure.
Brooke stared at the pictures scattered all over the floor. They’d haunted her for over eighteen months. Memories of what she had lost. Memories of what she should’ve had. The one and only love of her life. Carl.
He’d been gone for a long time. She would never forget that dreadful day when her future mother-in-law had called with the news. Carl had been killed by a suicide bomber. He was only days away from coming home. Instead he’d returned in a body bag.
It was time for her to get back to the living. She needed companionship. She wanted to feel a man’s strong arms around her again. The need to feel safe and secure grew with each passing day. And if she was honest with herself, she needed sex. Down-and-dirty sex.
She’d been lonely for so long. She wanted to remember how it felt to have a man ravish her body.
Kim, one of her best friends, had been offering to set her up in a room over at Freedom Fantasies forever. Freedom Fantasies wasn’t just any old place. It was a Manor where women went to live out their fantasies.
Paige, her other best friend, had recently rekindled her marriage there. Maybe it was time she had some fun—even if for only one night.
Looking around the apartment she’d once shared with Carl, she realized how much of him was still there. Pictures were everywhere. On the entertainment center, the end tables, even in the kitchen. There were constant reminders of their life together. It wasn’t healthy for her to continue to obsess over him. He was gone and he was never coming back. It was time she realized the truth.
Quickly, she got off the floor and started collecting all the photos. She placed them in a big pile on her bed. From the closet in the spare room she retrieved an old empty box she’d kept for future storage. This was the perfect time to pack away Carl’s photos. It was time to let go.
She stacked the photos one by one neatly into the box. Once they were all safe, she tucked the box away in the closet. She didn’t want to forget Carl, she just wanted to move on.
His closet had been emptied because his family wanted some of his belongings. She’d kept a few shirts, which she occasionally wore around the house. She liked having his scent lingering. His dog tags hung around her neck as a constant reminder of what they could have had—what was taken away by a suicide bomber.
She removed the tags and brought them to the closet where she packed them away with all his pictures.
As she passed the mirror, she stopped. When had she started to look so old? At thirty she wasn’t old. She looked tired and worn-out. She examined her reflection more closely. Her blue eyes were cold and empty. Her blonde hair appeared lifeless. Had she really been presenting herself to the world looking like this?
She rushed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. After giving her hair a thorough shampooing and conditioning she blew it dry. Using her large round brush, she added volume. She added makeup to her drab complexion.
Upon inspection she liked what she saw. She looked more her age again. She didn’t look old and beaten. It was time to put on some sexy clothes and hop over to the Manor. While she wasn’t going to have Kim set her up, she was going to mingle in the bar area. Maybe she’d find someone who intrigued her all by herself. There was nothing Brooke despised more than being hooked up.
While she was there she’d pop in on her friend and see how she was doing.

Coming Tuesday

I love this cover! I love this story. LOL

One day I was listening to a song and these lyrics caught my attention: "I get off on you getting off on me." Addison and Dante instantly appeared in my mind. I knew I had to write their story.

Here is a taste of this story available Tuesday August 17 from Ellora's Cave

Blurb:

Masturbating can be so much fun—especially when you have a one-man audience. Addison loves sex. More importantly, she loves her body and isn’t afraid to make it sing. Add a little voyeurism and it’s totally erotic.

Dante’s muse has stalled—until his sexy neighbor starts seducing him. Through her bedroom window, he watches as her hands caress her tantalizing skin. It’s like something out of a strip club, with his very own personal view. Thanks to this beauty, he’s drawing like wildfire. To thank Addison, Dante sends her an invitation for a single night together. That night may encourages them to draw a new future…together.

Excerpt:

By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.
An Excerpt From: DANTE’S DESIRE
Copyright © AMBER SKYZE, 2010
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Chapter One

Addison removed the clip from her dark mane and tossed it on the dresser. Her unruly hair tumbled around her shoulders. Fingertips massaged her scalp, releasing the day’s tension. Her feet screamed to be set free from the six-inch heels, but she couldn’t—not just yet. She needed to keep them on for a little while longer. For him.
In three long strides she stood in front of the window of her bedroom. A small light was on in his apartment. The moon, a sliver shy of full, illuminated the sky. Another day or two and it would be complete.
Pulling the tails of her crisp white blouse out of her skirt she unbuttoned the sleeves. Her hands moved to the top button and removed it from its hole. Slowly she continued down the shirt until her pink lace bra was fully exposed.
With ease she removed the shirt and threw it on the chair. She tapped her polished fingernail against her lip. What would she do tonight? She smiled a wicked grin. She was feeling bold.
She pictured him sitting there, his fingers wrapped around his hard cock—watching. She imagined his hand moving up and down the length of his shaft. With each article of clothing she removed she imagined him sucking in a deep breath and groaning in sexual frustration. He’d masturbate until she was finished and they’d both be satisfied.
There was no doubt he was watching. She felt his eyes on her body, begging to touch it. Most women would close the curtains and be freaked out by the idea of a man watching them every time they undressed, but not Addison. She loved the idea of being watched. She enjoyed the freedom to put on a show for him. He could look, but he couldn’t touch. That alone made the whole fantasy fun.
Addison unhooked the front clasp of her bra and flung it with the shirt. Her hands cupped her large breasts. An early bloomer, she was teased endlessly in high school. She’d hated her huge boobs as a teenager, but now she was happy with her bust.
The palms of her hands ran over her nipples, stirring them to life. She took them between her fingers and tugged until they were fully aroused. Pinching the hardened nubs she bit her lower lip from the sensations racing to the core of her pussy.
She needed an orgasm.
Soon.
Releasing her nipples, her hands floated down her stomach and around to the back of her black skirt. Unzipping the tight fabric she eased it over her hips and let it fall to the floor, where it pooled at her feet. Stepping away from the skirt she made sure she was still visible to her admirer.
She turned around, hooked her thong panties around her fingers and bent over. She dragged the panties down her legs, giving him a view of her puckered ass. Holding on to her ankles, she rotated her hips ever so slowly. She loved putting on a performance like a stripper, only hers was a one-man show.
What was he thinking? Was he wondering what it would be like to drive his stiff cock into her waiting ass? Or did he want to fill her hole with a butt plug so he could ram into her wet pussy?
She reached up to her pussy to find she was soaked. She slipped her finger inside. Pulling out she dragged her juices out coating her lips.
Ready.
Time to rock his world.

Coming Soon - Submit With Me

I have a quickie coming on July 21st - Submit With Me
Here's a little taste. :0)

Blurb:
Rena is on a quest to get laid and she’s willing to go to any length to fulfill her need.Marc has a thirst for a submissive. He longs to find someone he can bring to the edge of ecstasy and rein back in before an orgasm. He wants to tie, tease and torture his submissive, pushing the limits of sexual awareness.When he offers Rena five hundred dollars to be his sub for the night, he gets more than he bargained for. This spitfire is about to show him a thing or two about submitting.

Excerpt:

By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.
An Excerpt From: SUBMIT WITH ME
Copyright © AMBER SKYZE, 2010
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Chapter One

Rena had one goal in mind—to get laid. Taking a long drag off the straw nestled in her fruity drink, she scanned the smoke-filled bar for a potential mark. Tonight she didn’t care about getting to know someone. No, tonight she only cared about filling the void in her aching pussy.
“Damn,” she cursed under her breath. Tables were full with happy couples, either enjoying drinks or dinner. Soft jazz played in the background. Normally, Rena enjoyed the lazy tempo, but not tonight. She was too busy looking for someone to fill her need. Her desire. Rena’s pussy ached to be fucked. Glancing around the haze she shook her head. Not one guy in the place looked eligible. She considered going to another bar, but decided against it. Not many bars offered rooms above them for the clients to rent by the hour. No, this was the place where she intended to find the man to make her pussy sing. Besides, the patrons were upper class and the bar had a reputation for only allowing in respectable people. Safe. That was the reason she was here and wouldn’t go any place else.
Staring into the mirror behind the bar she gave the room another scan. Still nothing. She couldn’t believe there wasn’t one man desirable enough to give her the relief she craved.
She emptied the contents of her drink. Maybe it was best if she called it a night. Obviously she wasn’t getting laid tonight.
As she stepped off the barstool Rena’s face came into contact with one broad chest. She glanced up to stare into the most exquisite blue eyes she’d ever seen.
“Leaving so soon?” his husky voice asked.
“Just going to powder my nose,” she lied.
“I didn’t think women did that any longer.”
“I’m not just any woman.” Rena winked. “I’m every man’s wish come true.” Leaving him standing there, mouth agape, she headed towards the bathroom.
He ordered her a new drink when she shimmied onto the stool.
“Thanks for the drink.” She didn’t bother to look at him, but she caught him watching her in the mirror.
“My pleasure.”
Rena couldn’t help herself, she smiled.
He was gorgeous, dressed in tight fitting denims and a painted-on black tee , muscles bulging from under the short sleeves.
“Come here often?” Lame. She hated pick-up lines, so why was she using one on him?
He laughed a hearty laugh.
“Actually the first time.”
Hmm. A first timer.
“So what brings you here tonight?”
“I’m looking for a little action.”
“What kind of action?” Maybe the same kind she was looking for? A “wham bam thank you ma’am” kinda night?
“Nothing you’d be interested in, I’m sure.”
“And what makes you so sure I’m not interested in your kind of action?” Insult dripped from her voice.
“Just a gut feeling.”
“Are you saying I’m too prim and proper for you?”
He shrugged indifferently.
“Try me, I’ll bet I surprise you.”
He shook his head no.
Are you fucking serious? He was turning her down? No fucking way. This was not the way she had planned this night. She was determined to get laid and Mister Muscles fit the bill.
“Let me guess, you’re looking to get laid—no strings attached?”
He didn’t flinch when she blurted out the statement.
Instead he stood, reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash.
“You think you can handle my action?”
He slapped a hundred dollar bill on the bar.
“I’m offering you one hundred dollars to be my slut for the night.”
She almost choked on her drink.
“See I knew you wouldn’t be able to handle it.” He sat back down.
She laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“That you think one hundred dollars is enough. Make it five and I’ll be Mary Fucking Poppins if you want.”

Music and Writing

This originally appeared on Raine Delights blog on June 6th.


Since a child I’ve connected to music on many different levels. I love all different types, but lean more towards Rock/Heavy Metal. I listen to music more than I watch television. My CD collection is large. :o)


Music plays a huge part in my writing too. I hear a song and picture a story. Not the full story, but a general theme. Sometimes it’s only the title that strikes an idea for a story, but normally it’s the lyrics.


Take for instance Dante’s Desire, coming from Ellora’s Cave on August 17th. I wrote this story after hearing the song I Get Off, by Halestorm. It’s about someone getting off watching another get off. I knew I had to write Dante’s Desire. The book starts with Addison, the heroine, performing sexual acts in her window for her sexy neighbor across the street.


Another book – Spend The Night With Me, coming from EC, release date TBD, is loosely attached to a song. The song Need You Now, by Lady Antebellum starts off talking about scattered pictures. The image struck a chord with me (no pun intended). This book starts with my heroine Brooke looking at pictures of her now deceased fiancé. After hearing this song, I changed part of the scene to her sitting on the floor with pictures scattered around her. She’s packing them away to move forward with her life.


Sometimes my heroes are musicians like Reed Walker in Body Shots. He’s a singer and guitar player. His band plays at the heroines bar. Reed signs a song he’d written for the heroine many years prior, weakening her defenses. (Available now)

Those are just a few examples of how I weave my love for music into my writing life. Is there anything that plays a big role in your life?





Here's a little taste of Body Shots:

Blurb:

Got Tequila?
Sierra does and Reed isn’t afraid to use it. He’s determined to do shots on every inch of her skin, but Sierra has insecurities preventing him from exploring intimate areas. Her insecurities won't stop her from lavishing his body with the heady liquor.
Ten years ago an accident tore Sierra Allen and Reed Walker apart. Now a chance encounter has them burning for each other. A bottle of liquor and a pool table has this duo ready to quench their thirsts with one night of Body Shots.
Will one night be enough to fan the flames of desire?


Excerpt:
Reed Walker leaned his massive frame against the wall. His leg bent, his boot-clad foot tapped against the wall to the rhythm of the bass drum. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, as his eyes gazed upon the singer crooning the soft rock ballad. She was gorgeous by every standard of the word. Long flowing black hair, dark mysterious eyes, her arms sleeved in tattoos. Dressed only in black leather pants and a matching leather bra, her rock-hard stomach revealed she worshiped the gym but Reed wasn’t here for the singer. She wasn’t his type any longer. Another time, another place maybe. Not tonight. Tonight, he was here for the owner of the bar.
Looking to make some extra cash doing something they loved, Reed and his fellow band mates decided to reunite after a ten year hiatus. Reed having always been the businessman of the group took on the task of going around to different bars and clubs to see if they were interested in adding his band Foul Play to the line up.
When he walked into Crimson Nights he thought he was walking into a dream. Never in his wildest imagination had he thought he’d come face to face with the only true love of his life—Sierra Allen.
The look on her face when he walked up to the bar and asked to speak to the owner was one of shock. Like seeing a ghost. And that’s how he felt. Oh, she’d cut off most of her long red hair but she couldn’t deny the scar on her right cheek. It had faded some over the years and she tried covering it with her hand most of the time they spoke but he knew it was her. She told him her name was Laura but Reed knew better. Those haunting green eyes couldn’t be mistaken.
He went along with her charade, though it killed him deep inside. She had run away from him after the car accident without so much as an explanation. The weeks he spent by her side, holding her while she cried over what she felt was a deformed face. The painful recovery from the shards of glass that cut her, when the windshield shattered. He stood by her side, loving her, wishing he could take away her pain. Wishing it was him who suffered instead of her, only to have her up and vanish when she was released from the hospital.
Now she was pretending she didn’t know him. It didn’t make sense. He’d let her go a long time ago but this time he wasn’t going to leave without finding out why. It was the least she could do. She owed him an explanation.
She shocked him when she agreed to let his band play. He fully expected a flat-out “no”. Why would she want his band playing there if she was hiding her identity? Was it a ploy to make him believe she was this Laura she pretended to be? Or was she feeling the connection too? If it was to prove her charade, she was sadly mistaken. Reed wasn’t stupid enough to be fooled by a haircut or name change.
Reed would wait until the night was done and the bar empty before he confronted her but he would and when he did, Sierra had some explaining to do.

The Glam Life? HA!

A few authors touched on the subject of writing as a career lately. Most importantly, is it worth it? I have to admit I ask myself this question monthly when the royalty checks come rolling in. Some aren’t bad, but I certainly can’t quit my day job. My husband and children would starve.
Anny Cook stated she made somewhere in the ball park of 6k last year, writing FULL-TIME! Yikes. This woman is talented. Her stories are phenomenal. If this was part-time I’d say not too bad. Me, with eight books out by December 2009 I made around $1,100. Here’s the catch - $400 of that was for 2 Chicken Soup for the Soul stories. So really I only made $700.
I can tell you one thing. I get Google alerts on Release Day. Those alerts? Pirate sites requesting my book. The next day – YUP you guessed it. My book was uploaded and stolen many times over. I have no doubt Anny is feeling the pain of piracy too.
Most readers think of authors of living the glam life. I’m here to tell you that’s not so for most of us.
My glam life? Working 50hrs a week at the very stressful day job to feed my three children and keep a roof over our heads. Health issues that can be frightening at times. I won’t even get into losing my son at six days old. Well, wait there’s the stress of wanting a baby and not being able to carry another one to term. Can’t afford surrogacy or adoption. Every day my heart breaks for my husband who wants a child of his own.
I write to escape this glam life I’m living. I’m not looking for sympathy. I’m thick-skinned and will survive. Otherwise I wouldn’t be in this business. I’m just trying to show people that US authors are REAL people with REAL issues. So next time you want to steal a book from us, realize this is what you’re taking away from us by not paying for the book.

Amber Skyze - Pretend With Me

I'm Amber Skyze and I'll be posting on the 14th of every month. I have a new release coming on the 23rd and I'm going to share a blurb and excerpt with you today.

Pretend With Me is Book 1 of 3 in my Freedom Fantasies series. So sit back and enjoy!

Blurb:

Make all your wildest dreams come true at Freedom Fantasies.
After threatening divorce Paige gives up her fantasy of hot sex with two men, especially when Tommy, the other man she wants to have sex with, is the reason for her divorce threats. When Paige confesses she’s considering leaving Jed to her best friend and owner of Freedom Fantasies, life takes an unexpected turn. Paige finds herself pretending she’s having a hot sordid affair.

Paige is appreciating all the pleasures she’s unable to find at home. Being spanked in the corner, tied to the bed or getting it on in the shower, Paige is experiencing more orgasms than she thought possible. To heighten the excitement her pretend lover brings in a friend.

Can pretending save Paige’s marriage?

Excerpt:

An Excerpt From: PRETEND WITH ME
Copyright © AMBER SKYZE, 2010
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Chapter One

“I want a divorce,” Paige declared. She slid her hoop earrings on for another day at the office.
“What?” She could see Jed’s look of shock from the mirror, but she didn’t care. She was tired of their non-sexual marriage.
“You heard me. I want a divorce.”
“I don’t understand.” He stopped adjusting his tie and walked over to her.
She turned and looked at him pointedly. “I’m tired of being second best in my own house. I’m tired of not having my husband!” As her voice grew louder Jed tried to hush her.
“Paige, he’ll hear you. Can’t you please keep it down?”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass who hears me! I’m tired of playing second fiddle to him. So I hope he hears me. I want a divorce because of him.”
“He’s had a hard time and you know it. Can’t you cut him some slack?”
“Slack? How about cutting me some slack. The two of you are inseparable. I’m always left in the lurch. When’s the last time we had sex, huh? Bet you can’t remember, because it’s been that long.”
“Is this what this is all about? Sex?” The disdain in his voice didn’t go undetected. This only fueled her anger.
“You bet your sweet ass it’s about sex. I’m a woman with needs and if you can’t fulfill them then I don’t need you. I have vibrators who spend more time with me than you.”
She knew her words were like a smack across the face, but it didn’t matter. Since his best friend Tommy moved in, over three months, ago their sex live went sailing out the window. Everything to do with their life went out the window and she was tired of it. She longed for her husband back. She wanted to go for long walks along the beach. She wanted the romantic dinners they used to share or a night out at the movies. Recently, her vibrator became her husband. Whenever she felt depressed she turned to her trusty pink friend. She’d used her vibrator more in the last few months than she had previously in their whole marriage. It was unacceptable as far as she was concerned.
“You’ve been pleasing yourself with your vibrators?” he whispered.
“Of course. Did you think I’d go months without sex?”
“I just thought…yes. I told you the reasons we aren’t having sex. I’d feel bad if Tommy heard us having fun when he’s so depressed.”
“Oh well. Too late, I don’t hide the pleasure I get from the vibrators.” She knew her words were bold and packed a punch. Maybe, just maybe he’d finally realize she was serious. She wasn’t waiting around for him to give her sex. And if he didn’t start acting like a husband she wasn’t sticking around for him.
Hurt covered his face. His brown eyes lost the sparkle they’d always had. She couldn’t stand the idea of hurting him this way, but she couldn’t continue to hide her pain and frustrations either. Something had to be done even if it meant a divorce. Jed had to make a choice—Tommy or her.
“I’m late for work.” She grabbed her briefcase off the bed and promptly walked out, leaving Jed with his mouth hanging on the floor.
He chased her out of the bedroom and down the stairs out the front door.
“We need to talk about this, Paige.”
“We’ll talk when you get your friend out of our house.” She threw her briefcase onto the passenger seat as she climbed into her car.
“I can’t do that.”
“Then I can’t talk about saving our marriage.”
She left him standing with his mouth hung open for the second time in a matter of minutes.

“I don’t know what to do, Kim.” She'd been pushing a tomato in her untouched salad around for the last half hour.
“You need to fix this, Paige. You can’t just let your marriage end because of a roommate.”
“Yeah, Kim’s right. Kick him out if you have to. Your marriage is way too important.”
Paige looked from one best friend to the other. She’d known Brooke and Kim since grade school when she moved to Melville. They were as tight as any two best friends could be, but they made room for her. Poor little shy Paige. The new kid on the block. Paige had come a long way from that shy girl. She’d grown into a confident woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to ask for it.
“I don’t know. Jed isn’t going to throw Tommy out and truthfully I do feel sorry for him, but seriously using my vibrator is getting old.”
“I could hook you up with something fun at the Manor,” Kim offered. Kim was the proud co-owner of a club on the outskirts of town called Freedom Fantasies. She’d opened it as a place for women to live out their deepest darkest fantasies. Paige knew Kim’s biggest reason for starting Freedom Fantasies was to live out her own fantasies with David McKnight, her business partner. She figured if they spent enough time together they’d eventually fall into each other’s bed. So far her plan wasn’t working. David constantly talked about how happy he was to have a co-owner who he’d never slept with. David didn’t believe in mixing business with pleasure. His beliefs didn’t worry Kim. She wasn’t afraid to wait. She knew in due time David would be hers. Paige on the other hand always believed she was setting herself up for failure. She hoped she was wrong in this case, but so far it didn’t appear to be that way.
A room at the Manor was by appointment only and Kim had to approve all guests before they were allowed into her place. She didn’t want any crazies. She ran a well respected place and wanted to keep it that way.
During renovations, Paige had thought about how she’d live out her fantasies with Jed when Kim finally opened for business. She wanted to be first in line. Her fantasy was to be with two men. Two men who would cherish her body all night long. For the longest time Paige thought about how she’d broach the subject with Jed. She didn’t see him as the sharing type. She also didn’t know how to tell him she fantasized about being with him and his best friend. That was until he came to live with them. After a week of Tommy being in their guest bedroom all her thoughts of living out her fantasies went flying out the window.
“You mean like have an affair?” Paige bulked at the idea.
“You’re talking about leaving your husband and this comes as a shock to you?”
Paige studied Kim’s face. She looked dead serious.
“Maybe sex with a stranger is exactly what you need to recharge your failing marriage,” Brooke interjected.
Brooke was single too. The only difference with Brooke was she didn’t have any prospective partners. Brooke was still mourning the death of her fiancé Carl, who’d died in the war almost two years ago. She still wore his dog tags hidden under her clothes. Carl had died days before he was due to come home. A suicide bomber ended his life. For all intents and purposes, Brooke looked like a happy-go-lucky woman on the outside, but Paige and Kim knew she was still hurting on the inside.
“I’d have to give that some serious consideration. I’ve never thought about having sex with anyone except Jed. I don’t consider a vibrator cheating, though if you seen the look on his face when I told him how much I’ve been using it. You’d think I had cheated on him.”