Wildfire would like to welcome authors Victoria Blisse and Tonya Ramagos. Two writers with different styles yet both believe strongly that reader reaction to their stories is everything.

Victoria Blisse

Julie: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

Victoria: I have always written. My mum tells me I wrote stories before I really had any grasp of an alphabet but I would scribble things down and tell her what I had written. I've dabbled with poetry and short stories since being a child and really, I've always felt happier when I've had some kind of writing project to do.

Julie: What makes your characters so vulnerable yet strong? Can you describe them to us? What do you do when characters stop talking to you when writing?

Victoria: My characters are very real people. Now, I don't necessarily mean these characters exist, but I work really hard to make them seem as if they do. So each of my characters is unique with a mix of positive and negative characteristics. They feel a range of emotions and there's always a little surprise hidden inside them just like the thin, fit sexy John in Getting Physical is a virgin who feels he is too skinny to be attractive. All my characters take some exploring and I think that is one of the highlights of my stories.

Oh, and my characters never stop talking. They are all chatterboxes and keep me writing all the time.

Julie: How do you match up your leading ladies and with their perfect mates?

Victoria: All my stories start out as a daydream. I spend a lot of time on buses and I find my mind wanders and I often use the time to think through plots for stories. So I work through these daydreams and I flesh out characters. I add in traits or take them out as I see fit and so far, so good. I love match making, it's probably why I've ended up writing romance, the erotica being thrown in to spice things up.

Julie: How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author?

Victoria: it is everything. I may love my stories and my characters but there is nothing better than hearing a reader tell you they love a story or a character and seeing your enthusiasm translated to another person. I am always happy to hear from readers and you can find a "contact me" page at victoriablisse.co.uk where people can write to me and if they leave an email, I promise to write back.

Julie: What do you hope readers get from your books?

Victoria: First and foremost I want them to be entertained, I want them to come away from reading any of my stories thinking they've read something good. I'd like them also to feel good about themselves because I try to get over that every person is beautiful, no matter how they might feel inside.

Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants, or a combination of both?

Victoria: The closest I get to an outline is jotting down a line or two about a story if I can't settle down to write it there and then. Even when I prepare to write 50 thousand words in November (Yes, I'm a mad NaNoWriMo'er) I don't write down any kind of plan. I'm definitely the kind of author who just goes with the flow.

Julie: What are you working on now?

Victoria: I have several different stories on the go right now. I'm finishing off my Meet me in Manchester story for Phaze, I'm really enjoying exploring my city and using the places I love in my book. I'm also writing something completely new to me, a vampire story which is still in its early phases. It's very difficult to write and I only seem to do a little bit at a time, but I do enjoy a challenge now and then.

Julie: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?

Victoria: I am not much of a one for setting goals but I just want to sell more stories and become a more established name in the erotic romance genre. I've just released my first print anthology, Curvaceous, and that is a definite thrill. I want to get more in print as well as to continue to develop my library of eBooks.

Julie: What do you feel is the most challenging aspect of being an author?

Victoria: I'm a natural writer but I am not naturally good with grammar. The most challenging part of the writing and publishing business for me is the editing stage and I bless any editor who works with me for their patience and guidance. I am learning, I am getting better but it is something that I have to constantly concentrate on.

Julie: If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?

I would recommend they start out with Getting Physical which is a sweet and sexy romance that is very typical of my style. The characters flirt a lot and both of them have hang ups about their bodies and there it is, all in all an entertaining read with a lot of heat and a little humor.

Backlist:
Coming Together Volume 1, Charles River Press
Proving Santa exists, Phaze
Getting Physical, Phaze
Masquerading Hearts, Phaze
Naughty Rendezvous, Phaze
Phaze in Verse, Phaze
Christmas Spice, Midnight Showcase
Coming Together: Under Fire, Phaze
39 and Holding…Him, Phaze
Phaze Fantasies V, Phaze
Curvaceous, Phaze

Coming soon:
Sweet Surrender, Phaze
Sexier Side of the Hill, Total-E-Bound
Seasons of Blisse, Phaze
Lyrical, Phaze
Meet Me in Manchester, Phaze

Links:
Website
Myspace

Tonya Ramagos

Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants, or a combination of both?

Tonya: My writing process tends to be different for each story. Sometimes I outline. sometimes I brainstorm a few pages of ideas and sort through them as I write. Other times, I pick up a pencil or sit down at the keyboard and start writing. Still, no matter what method I take to get started, I let the story take the lead thereafter. More often than not, it's the characters who tell me the story rather than the other way around. I like it best that way :)

Julie: How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author?

Tonya: Absolutely everything! Without readers, I would be out of a job. I write because it brings me joy and a sense of accomplishment but much of those feelings come from hearing a reader's reaction to my story. I write to entertain and if I can accomplish that then my job is done. If I fail to sufficiently entertain a reader, I want to know that too. Criticism has helped me grow as a writer and better my craft.

Julie: When you write, is atmosphere important? For example, do you use mood music or candles? Do you need complete quiet to concentrate?

Tonya: I write when the mood strikes and the time is available. With a husband and 2 active boys, another job, and night school, time can be a challenge in itself. Usually, I can write anywhere, under any circumstance. Except riding in the car. I get car sick, which really sucks for long trips because there's so much down time I could be using to write! A perfect day of writing is when the children are in school, hubby is at work, phone is turned off, no other interruptions manage to break through and I've set my TV to the Music Choice Soundscapes station. I manage to get a day like that about once a week.

Julie: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?

Tonya: My future hopes for my writing career are the same as they've been from the start: to entertain readers. My Heroes of Silver Springs series has launched into a fantastic on-going run in the last year and I have another series, this one paranormal, that I hope to launch by 2009. The only goal I've yet to obtain is the ability to ditch the day job and write full time. That goal will be seeing fulfillment in July. I can't wait!

Julie: Most people envision an author's life as being really glamorous. What's the most unglamorous thing that you've done in the past week?

Tonya: Hmm, I suppose that would be cleaning the toilet. I keep waiting for the toilet fairy to do it for me but, with 3 boys in the house, she never seems to show up soon enough.

Julie: There are so many publishers out there, how do you decide who to submit your work to?

Tonya: I watched my publisher, Siren Publishing, from the start. It is a fairly new company, opening its cyber doors in 2006. Though I was hesitant to sign with a new publisher, especially with so many older publishers giving up their efforts, I continued to watch Siren for several months. Owner Amanda Hilton started out slow and I liked that. She took the time to sign new authors and promote them to her fullest abilities before taking on more. When I signed on in late 2006 with Caught off Guard, book 1 of the Heroes of Silver Springs, Siren was still a small family of about 12 authors but those twelve had many bestselling numbers to their credit. Siren was competing against hugely recognized companies like Ellora's Cave and Samhain and holding its own. I decided Siren was definitely a place I would like my books to call home. Today, Siren has flourished with over 70 authors and 2 subdivisions, Bookstrand and Rapture Publishing, but the authors of Siren are still enjoying those bestselling numbers, fantastic editors and ownership, and eager promotion. It's great!

Tonya: I write everywhere! But I do have an office at home where I tend to spend most of my time. I've taken over the dining room area of my apartment. I have a huge bookshelf (it takes up one full wall), an L-shaped desk, a filing cabinet, and a treadmill. Yes, I actually walk on the treadmill when I'm editing on my Palm or reading a book for research. Gotta get in the exercise somehow.

Julie: What do you do when you aren't writing? Any hobbies or special interests that you can tell us about?

Tonya: Most days, I can be a pretty boring person. When I'm not writing, I'm reading. I've got books all over the house just so I can squeeze in that few minutes of reading time while I'm waiting on something. I also enjoy going for long walks on nature trails or through the woods, playing with my boys, and computer games. Oh, and I love heavy metal concerts. They are my stress relief, so to speak. Give me a Disturbed or Mudvayne concert and a couple of hours to let go and all is right in my little world again :)

Julie: Dealing with writing deadlines can be a challenge. What do you do to cope with the stress?

Tonya: Scream, pull out my hair, grab a bottle of wine, drive my husband and kids nuts, argue with unruly characters (yes, they really do talk back)... As you can see, I handle stress in a myriad of ways. It really all depends on how pressed I am and how difficult the story is being at the time. I've even had to stoop so low as to ask for more time recently but that was because the proposed word count ended up doubling before I was finished. My characters wouldn't shut up!

Julie: Do you remember the first romance novel that you read?

Tonya: The first adult romance novel I ever read was Having His Child by Amy J. Fetzer. I was a late bloomer when it came to adult romances, not reading my first until about four years ago. Before that it was all mysteries and horror and young adult romances.

Bestselling author Tonya Ramagos spends much of her time daydreaming about one plot or another. Give her a cup of hazelnut flavored coffee and a keyboard and she is at her happiest. When she isn't writing, thinking about writing or plotting what to write, she can be found taking on the mother role with her 2 boys and the husband too. She enjoys taking long walks on the nature trails near her home in Chattanooga, TN, playing computer games, swinging on the playground, dancing, and curling up with a good book.

Backlist:
Twin Games, Siren Publishing
All She Ever Wanted, eXtasy Books
Convince Me, Siren Publishing
Hermod's Love, eXtasy Books
Kinsey and the Exotic Dancing Princess, Siren Publishing
Under Their Power, eXtasy Books
Protect and Serve, eXtasy Books
Divine Attraction, eXtasy Books
Caught off Guard, Siren Publishing
Hard Orders, eXtasy Books
Sports Beats, eXtasy Books
Picking Art, eXtasy Books
Voices and Lies, eXtasy Books

Coming soon:
Stormy Nights (Heroes #3), Siren Publishing
All or Nothing (Heroes #4), Rapture Publishing
Hard Discoveries, eXtasy Books
Magical Riffs, eXtasy Books

Links:
Website
MySpace
Newsletter
Siren Publishing
eXtasy Books

If you would like to request an interview, please send a query to info@allromanceebooks.com

Until next time!

The Reunion by Lynn Crain
This story is rated 1 flames. Love scenes are not consummated, or if the love scenes are consummated details are not given.

Pulling down the edge of her lace dress, Deidre O'Connell twitched in her seat for the millionth time. Sighing, she twirled the finger in her glass making her finger cold as she tried hard not to show her disappointment.

"Should have known," she muttered to herself as she sipped the last of the almond liqueur in her glass.

She looked out over the cocktail party and realized that much hadn't changed in the last ten years. She sighed again deeply. That was an incorrect assessment of the situation, she knew. She had changed a lot from frumpy to svelte. Yet still, she relied on a teenage promise to propel her forward in life.

Deidre remembered it like it was yesterday. She had been walking down the hall and away from the school assembly when the heckling had begun. Her middle-class family couldn't provide her with all the best clothes or haircuts. Not that it would matter anyway. She was curvy and tall while all the boys were going for thin, cute, and tiny.

She had done her best to get out of their way but when one big, hunk of a guy mowed her down, she fell. Hard. Trying not to cry, she lifted her eyes to see a hand held out toward her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to mow you down," the deep voice said.

Shocked she looked up to see one of the school's hottest football players smiling down at her. He had the bluest eyes and the darkest hair she had ever seen on a person. He dwarfed her like she had been a china doll. She tentatively lifted her hand to his and her heart beat faster as he helped her up.

"I sometimes don't realize just how big I am. And then there are the guys…" He looked over her should to his teammates who continued walking down the hall totally ignoring her like they had always done. It was like she was a gnat which they had to swat away.

"It's okay," she had finally stammered out.

"Guys shouldn't be knocking down girls no matter what the reason. My name's Hayden Donnelly. Have we met?"

"Hayden?"

"It's a family name."

"Oh. I'm Deidre and we haven't met before."

"Don't like sports?"

She could feel the tightness low in her belly just like she was still seventeen. And again like that one time where his friends had disturbed their first encounter, she could hear them at the table next to them.

"Where's Hayden?"

"Yeah, I thought he was going to be here tonight."

"Well, when you have as much money as he does, he can do anything he wants…don't you think?"

Deidre had to smile to herself. That had been the voice of the school's most popular cheerleader, Angela Madison. She and Angela had never seen eye to eye on anything. And it didn't help when Deidre had secured the Valedictorian position from the popular girl. Still, that hadn't been their only misstep. Angela had wanted Hayden and had made her position really clear.

Sighing, she took another drink. They had spent a lot of time together after that first time. He hadn't really cared what his friends said and seemed to truly value her friendship. Again, remembering the last time they had been together. They had gone to the lake, ditching everyone else for the day. It was right before they went to college on the opposite coasts.

"I want you to make me a promise." Hayden handed her a towel and gazed down at her with a seriousness that she had never seen on his face before.

"Can't I ask what I'm going to promise first?"

Plopping down beside her, he took her hand. "I know that we've been great friends and neither one of us ever felt comfortable to take it further. At least not now."

She swallowed hard then. It wasn't for her lack of trying. If he only knew just how much she had wanted to jump him every time she saw him, she thought before she answered. "Okay. I guess I agree with that."

"Good. I want you to promise me that if we are both unmarried at our fifteenth high school reunion, we'll get together. Promise me?"

She could remember his earnest look on his face as if he stood before her. She couldn't bring herself to remember any more because if she did, she would cry. Closing her eyes, she was jolted out of her thoughts by the sound of something hitting the table. Slowly opening her eyes, she licked her lips.

In the middle of the table were a pair of jeans. Not just any jeans but the jeans she wore that last day. She remembered them well because she had put some embellishments on them which at the time were seen by a lot of people as gaudy. When she had gotten home that night her favorite pair of jeans wasn't in her bag. She had looked for them for days and finally had broken down by placing a call to Hayden. She was very disappointed to find that he had already left for college.

Looking up, she smiled. "I see you found my jeans." He was even better looking than she remembered, fit and handsome.

"I never lost them." His deep voice rumbled through her again touching her in ways that only he could.

Smiling, she closed her eyes. "That's interesting to know."

"Hayden, Hayden Donnelly? Is that you?" The shrill voice of Angela rang out loud and clear.

Damn, she had forgotten the woman was that close. Raising her eyes, she smiled at what she saw reflected in his eyes. Annoyance and definite irritation. Turning to face the woman, he didn't smile. "Can I help you, Angela?"

"Why, honey, I would have thought you would have sought me out right away. After all, we were so close in high school."

He let out a little snort. "Angela, the only person you were really close to was yourself."

She put a pout on her face and looked slightly disappointed. "That's not very nice, honey. How can you be so mean after everything we felt and did for each other?"

"I don't think so, Angela."

She edged even closer and started to reach out to him. Suddenly, between them were two massive men. Surprise flitted across her face. "What is this?" she questioned loudly.

"Sorry, Angela, my security gets a little touchy when someone tries to get near me that they don't know."

"They don't know that white trash girl, either," she practically screamed.

"That so called white trash girl has more class in her little finger than you ever had in your whole body. You would do well to follow her lead." Turning back to Deidre, he smiled. "Think you can still fit in them?"

Grabbing the jeans, she smiled and stood. "You don't have to ask me twice but there's a slight problem."

"That is?"

"I'm wearing a dress." She indicated her little black number with relish. "The one thing I really try not to do is to go topless anywhere."

"Oh…that…" he murmured and motioned to one of the big body guards who moved to place a box on the table. " I thought of that."

Opening the box, she was surprised to find a tasteful silk top inside in a color that complemented her coloring of dark red hair and green eyes. "Alright…give me a minute." She quickly ran to the restroom and changed into the outfit. She was surprised to find that the jeans clung to her frame even better than they had when she'd been in high school. She was thankful that she had worn flat shoes. It surprised her that there were still occasions where she was intimidated by her height. A quick look in the mirror and she was back out the door. Rushing in, she saw Hayden surrounded by people and slowed her entrance.

It had always been that way, he had adoring fans around her and now, she supposed it would be more of the same knowing that he was one of the premiere business men of the country. He had done really well for himself since he helped develop a web browser for the biggest software firm in the universe. It didn't take him long to go out on his own and start doing bigger and better things.

But then again, she was no slouch. She had done what she had wanted by becoming a fairly well-known caterer. It made her happy and she had started thinking along the lines of doing some books on cooking and entertaining. While she didn't want or expect to become the next Martha Stewart, she knew her business and how to make her customers happy.

At that moment, Hayden lifted his gaze and caught her staring at him. The smoldering look that passed between them could no longer be denied. Eradicating himself from the crowd, he slowly made his way toward her. "Let's get out of here." Grabbing her hand, he pulled her behind him through the crowd while his security team moved between them. Moving faster, they finally got to the limousine waiting for him.

Deidre hesitated a moment when he opened the door. "I didn't think you were coming."

He looked down into her eyes and gently cupped her cheek. "I'm sorry I was late. The meeting I was in ran overtime and I finally had to just get up and leave."

Biting her lower lip, she smiled tentatively at him. "Why did you do that?"

Running his thumb along her chin, he grinned. "See, I made a very special girl a promise the summer I went to college."

"Special?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He thought she was special.

"Actually, she was more than special and I've thought about her every day since we've been apart."

Her breathing accelerated. "Why didn't you ever contact me?"

Lifting his eyes from her face, he looked out over the small crowd being held back by his security team. "I wasn't sure if you would even like me anymore. I've changed so much and my life is so very different than I thought it would be."

She chuckled wryly. "Haven't we all?"

He returned his gaze to her. "But there is one thing that hasn't ever changed."

Her heart beat faster. "And that is?"

"How I feel about you."

She had waited fifteen years to hear those words. "How do you feel about me?"

"Deidre O'Connell I have loved you from the moment I saw you."

"Really?" Her eyes became misty with unshed tears of happiness.

"Really." His mouth came down on hers in one swift motion. A shockwave of desire ran through her whole being and she began to quiver deep inside. She knew he wouldn't stop there and she didn't want him to at all. He nipped at the edges of her mouth, coaxing her to let him inside. His hands came up and rubbed her shoulders, then worked their way slowly down to her waist briefly touching her breasts on the journey making her body burn even more with excitement. "If I don't stop, I'll take you right here."

Breathing heavily, she smiled. "As long as you promise to take me once we get in the car and away from prying eyes."

"Is that an invitation?"

"That's a promise." She looked one more time at the crowd and allowed him to push her into the car toward a future with the man she loved.

Lynn Crain realized at an early age she wanted to write. She took the long way to that goal by doing a variety of things like nursing, geologist, technical writer, and computer manager. She is currently getting her Ph.D. in natural medicine with an emphasis on historical medicine and is still utterly fascinated with all things medical. During her free time she weaves fantasy, futuristic, and paranormal tales as well as erotic stories for various publishers. She lives in the very hot southwest with her husband, son, one dog, three cats, three snakes one of which is named Psycho. She is a past board member of the Romance Writers of America, past VP of EPIC and current EPPIEs Chairman for EPIC. She loves hearing from her readers at lynncrain@cox.net.

Backlist:
Captive Illusions: Iain and Kelsey, eXtasy Books
Blue Moon Magic 4: Night Of The Blue Moon, Loose Id
Summer Solstice Scorchers, Whiskey Creek Press
Violet Visions, eXtasy Books

Santa's Elves Series:
The Thing About Elves, eXtasy Books
The View From Santa's Sleigh, eXtasy Books
An Elf's Desire, eXtasy Books

Everyday Journeys, LuLu
Shopping Spree, eXtasy Books
Fluke, eXtasy Books

Coming Soon:
Atlantis Allure, eXtasy Books

Links:
Website
 

Submissions to The Weekly Sizzle should be sent to Sizzle@allromanceebooks.com. We are looking for original short stories, 1-5 flames, 200-2000 words.

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