A Drop of Scarlett...

Occasionally, Sin meets new friends in his asylum.  I’m sure you’re aware of this.  He hijacks this very blog for that purpose.  Today, however, he’s allowed me to chat to someone all on my very ownsome.  Nice of him.  Well, he’s already met her anyway, it seems, in his Moth to a Flame blog post.

 

The lovely Scarlett Flame is joining me.  She’s currently riding around on a book tour to show us her collection of erotic love stories Bound for Passion.  Today’s stop is right outside my place, so I tempted her in for a look-see at her wares!

 

Here’s the lowdown on her latest novel.

 

“When Vivienne sits inconsolable in the hospital chapel, the last encounter she expects is a fervent entanglement with an otherworldly being. As passions increase she learns, for the first time in her life, the true meaning of ‘out of this world’. In the second story, Sarah meets a new lover after telling him all her intimate fantasies in an internet chat room. And the final entry concerns the journey a young woman takes as a Dominant offers to show her the ropes in exchange for her submission via BDSM.”

 

Individually these stories are hot, but together they are sizzling.

Already the book is heating up readers attention with five five star reviews so far.  Scarlett told me:

 

“The cover of the book is from a painting by an artist friend of mine that is based in Cork, Ireland. His name is Alan Hurley. I have had only fabulously positive comments about the cover and hope to use Alan again in future. The picture is also available to buy as a print from his gallery. Alan has some absolutely beautiful paintings please visit his page and choose some for yourself.

 

I have two signed prints gracing my living room walls, an original watercolour taken from my avi photograph on Twitter and this hangs in pride of place on my bedroom wall.

 

Alan also has a Blog here so please visit him here and see how his work progresses from an outline drawing to a full blown picture

 

The graphics were supplied by another good friend of mine who is also an author - Jon Fletcher who I did an interview for last year about my next book and a current WIP. Jon writes Science fiction and I believe I own ALL of his books. Check out Jon's blog and his author page to see more.

 

The debut novel is composed partially of stories that were published initially on my blog over the last six months or so, and a new story created especially for the book.

 

There is a short excerpt from The Stranger which is the first story in the book, read by myself, on audioboo.

 

In celebration and to let the public know about my new book there are a series of blogs being hosted by a number of bloggers across the world.

 

Here they are and the dates they will be hosted.  There may be some additions to the list as time goes on:

 

• Commencing on 5th of February via John Satisfy
• 6th of February via Karena Marie
• 7th February via Shaun Allan 
• 8th February via Seumas Gallacher
• 9th February via Suzy Ayers
• 10th February via Taylor Fulks
• 11th February via Casey Ryan
• 12th February via Skelat
• 13th February via Francis Potts
• and finally but not least on Valentine's Day, 14th February via AfterDark Online.

 

The Book promotion is set to run alongside offers and promotions on Goodreads and Facebook with 4 copies of the book available to win on Goodreads through their giveaway deal.

 

I also have great pleasure in having The Orchard Book Club promoting my book launch, with details to follow.

 

I will be interviewed on air by Casey Ryan of the Cutting Room Floor on the 2nd March.  Please click on the link for details.”

 

You can buy Scarlett’s new book from:

Amazon UK

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

 

The book is also available on all the Amazon sites including Canada, Australia etc..

 

Thanks for dropping by Scarlett.  It’s always a pleasure meeting one of Sin’s friends.  I hope the book is a raging success.

 

Best Served Chilled...

I do enjoy these visitors in the asylum. How they get in is beyond me. How they get out again... thats their problem. Today, i have Zoe. She's nice. Just so you know. 

What’s your name?

My full name is Zoe Victoria Adams, but I only get called that when I’m in trouble. I write under Zoe Adams.

 

Ok Zoe Victoria (you’re in the asylum – you’re in trouble now!).  Where are you from?

I’m from Cleethorpes in North East Lincolnshire. I’ve lived here all my life, but I was born on the Nunsthorpe Estate in Grimsby.

 

Oohhh, the Nunsthorpe.  I was born on the Grange.  Mortal enemies!  Do you like living there?  If not, where would your favourite place to live be?  Is yes, where would you least like to live?

I quite like Cleethorpes when it’s quiet. Everything is in reach and it’s not far to travel further afield. When it’s summer and the sun is shining, it’s a death trap for tourists because we’re a seaside town. You can’t get to where you want to be.

I’d least like to live in the big cities like London. Things are too busy and touches of claustrophobia settle in. I do like London, for its theatre shows and big shopping stores like Forbidden Planet and Tokyo Toys, but I don’t think I could live there all the time.

 

Cleethorpes is definitely like that.  A lovely place but gets rammed when there’s a hint of shame.  That’s why people who live there go to Skegness!  As for London, it’s as busy at 11pm as it is at 11am.  Too much for me.  I’d end up in a mental... oh... hold on...  If you’re a writer, is this your ‘day job’?

I can officially say now since the release on my first book on 30^th May 2013, (Best Served Chilled) that I am a professional writer. Sadly, I do not earn enough to live on and have it as a ‘day job’. I’ve just finished university, where I studied BA (Hons) Professional Writing and I also freelance for various websites.

 

Sounds great.  Well done on the BA.  I know a person who could benefit from that, but don’t tell him I said so...  Tell me about your latest project.

My latest project… Well that’s a conundrum as I have a few things I’m working on. I’m writing the second book in a series (so far titled Best Served Within) and I’m around 4,000 words in thus far.

Another project I’m working on is lead scriptwriter on an independent zombie film, with plenty of comedy, drama, guns and girls, so far titled Zombie Squad. 

 

Zombies.  Nice.  I wonder if you believe in the existence of anything supernatural like that?  How do you feel about bacon?  A crazy person once said it was the food of the gods.  OK, I admit that person was myself...

I don’t understand how people cannot like bacon! It’s delicious – especially between two pieces of thick bread and tomato sauce. Mmm…

 

Exactly my point of view.  Except you just spoiled it with the tomato sauce.  What is your favourite film?

Labyrinth (1986) starring David Bowie. I’ve been in love with this film since I was in secondary school. Bowie is a beautiful man, and the film is filled with catchy songs. It’s pure fantasy and I can relate to Sarah’s character in such a way, it scares me. The plot is fantastic! Reading Labyrinth fan fictions in my teen years really impacted what sort of fiction I like now and how I write. I own a lot of merchandise from the film, the most expensive being the paperback novelisation, which went out of print in the 80’s. It cost me over £40 and is still in the cellophane wrapping.

 

A great choice.  The only bit I didn’t like was those things where those things take their heads off and play foodtball with them.  I don’t know what went wrong with the effects there, but it seemed out of place with the rest of the film and the song was annoying.  Brilliant film otherwise.  Love the ‘Allo’ worm and Hobble and everything.  Have you always wanted to be a writer, or is it something you found yourself doing one day?

I’ve always been writing, but when I was a child I wanted to be: a fairy, a cat, a princess, a pop star, an actress and a teacher. The only fiction I would write would be fan fiction, and when I wrote it with anime characters, it caught my partner’s attention and told me to apply for a Professional Writing Course. I haven’t looked back or stopped writing since.

 

And the literary world can thank your partner.  How’s the plans on being a fairy or cat going?  Do you have so many ideas they dribble out of your nose if you don’t get them down, or do you have to hunt around the floor and the back of your sofa to find where your Muse is hiding?

The ideas don’t stop. I need a bucket to catch them all. I have multiple notepads with started ideas and notes all over my bedroom. My phone at one point was filled with drafts of started fiction. Some days, I feel as though I can’t write. That’s when my Muse is tied up and tortured until it agrees to co-operate with me.

 

Oh, you have a Muse like that too, hmmm?  Sneaky sods, ain’t they!  If you were in an asylum, what would your particular delusion or psychosis be?

An author once told me that writing is akin to mental illness, so I’d say its depression. I suffer with a lot of negative thoughts and though I surround myself with supportive and creative types, it all gets a little tough. It’s why I write. To survive.

 

Apparently, I’m a form of therapy to a similar person.  Can’t understand it myself.  What genre(s) do you write?

I primarily write paranormal and urban fantasy fiction, but have no aversions to crime, erotica, horror, romance and science fiction. I’ve found that the more I read outside the typical genres, I want to try my hand at something new.

 

You’re not limiting yourself there, then!  What genres(s) do you read?

I read anything I can my hands on. The last books I read in the genres specified were:

o        Paranormal/urban fantasy – Sword of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor.

o        Crime – The Other Half Lives by Sophie Hannah.

o        Erotica – Beauty’s Release by Anne Rice.

o        Horror – The Ghosts of Sleath by James Herbert

o        Romance – Alphabet Weekends by Elizabeth Noble

o        Science fiction – Across the Universe by Beth Revis

 

Great choices.  If these are the same, what attracts you to them? If they’re different, why do you think that is?

I’m attracted to anything with a good plot and action that keeps you going. If it’s a crime novel, I want to keep guessing and play ‘detective’. Characters who are flawed and with devilishly sexy men. I think this comes from the fan fictions I read in my teens – some more X-rated than others.

 

Bacon – just cooked or crispy?

Crispy. No other way. I love my bacon that way! At the university atrium, the staff knew that in a bacon, sausage and egg bap, my bacon would be crispy.

 

How else?  These people who don’t get that should be burned at the stake till they’re nice and crispy!  That’d show ‘em!  Now you’re in the asylum with me, how do you aim to get out?  Do you have an escape plan?

Well, that’s where being a woman comes in handy. I’d use my womanly wiles to confound the staff and persuade them to set me free. I can be a pretty good actress when the situation calls for it.

And if that doesn’t work, I suppose I could use a blade of some kind…

 

Well, your womanly wiles may get unwanted attention.  I say go with the blade, and I’m not a violent man – ignoring the deaths!

 

-

 

The following excerpt is from Chapter Five of ‘Best Served Chilled’, published by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Press.

 

Above her, the shōjō began to glow a brilliant red. His skin bubbled, as he pulled her energy into him. He drank in her nightmares, fears, hopes and dreams. Jealousies from childhood rose to the surface.

Stronger and stronger, the shōjō grew. This had to be the most satisfied he had felt in such a long time. True it was a shame her old man had to die, but at least he’d been happy for a short while.

And now to find his affections after all these years… Oh he couldn’t have wished for anything as sweet as this. Father like daughter. And the corruption was ever so easy.

These little humans were his idea of fun. They were the perfect toys; fun for hours and so easy to break. With the right beverage, he just had to seek them out. Other demons might sneer at his profession but he didn’t have a care in the world. Especially right this second.

-

 

Zoe can be found brightening the internet at the following places.  She’s also a delightful person and friend!  Not only that, Zoe is the inspiration for my Dark Places collection and I owe her my thanks. 

 

Blog:http://readerwriterzoe.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zoe-Adams-Author/238105912892455

Buy links:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoe-Adams/e/B00BT1B4AO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1370619665&sr=8-1(All books available)

http://www.amazon.com/Zoe-Adams/e/B00BT1B4AO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1370619746&sr=8-1(All

books available)

Twitter:https://twitter.com/ZeeZeeDreaming

 

 

Like a Moth to the flame...

Sin again, hijacking away!  Today, I’m chatting to a fiery red-head named Scarlett.  Scarlett is a woman of many talents and it’s a pleasure to have her with me.  I think, perhaps, she enjoys this asylum more than she possible should...

 

What’s your name?

Scarlett Flame

 

Interesting name.  It fits.  Where are you from?

Manchester, England, UK, The World lol

 

Do you like living there?  If not, where would your favourite place to live be?  Is yes, where would you least like to live?

Yeah I do love living here because my friends and family are here.  But I would love to live somewhere near to a beach (I love the sea you see!).  Not somewhere too hot though as being a redhead with freckles I would burn too easily.  I am open to suggestions though.

 

I used to live near the sea, before my current residence, of course.  You sort of get used to it and forget it’s there!  If you’re a writer/film-maker, is this your ‘day job’?

No, I wish it was but I am still a struggling writer

 

I wonder if even Stephen King and Dean Koontz see themselves, still, as ‘struggling writers’?  Not financially, I’m sure – but struggling with the ideas and wrestling the words?  So, tell me about your latest project.

I have two projects on the go at the moment (three if you include my blog!).  The first is my novel The Prophecy Unfolds (Dragon Queen).

 

The second is an Anthology of short erotic stories, I haven’t decided on a title yet!

 

They sound intriguing.  Two differing versions of ‘fantasy’!  How do you feel about bacon?  A crazy person once said it was the food of the gods.  OK, I admit that person was myself...

I love bacon.  Yum.  Crazy about the stuff - especially smoked bacon.

 

Good girl.  That’s what I like to hear.  What is your favourite film?

Hard one this.  I love Avatar (I want to be about 10ft tall and blue after watching it!).  But also love all the Lord of the Rings films too

 

Avatar is excellent, but I would have to veer towards LOTR myself.  I wanted to be Gandalf, though a younger and less ‘beardy’ version.  Have you always wanted to be a writer, or is it something you found yourself doing one day?

No, as a child I wanted to be a vet but I have always kept diaries and wrote some poetry too.  I started to write due to my love of reading really, with the thought that I too could produce a work of fiction equal to or excelling them.

 

I’m sure you can.  That’s exactly the right attitude.  Do you have so many ideas they dribble out of your nose if you don’t get them down, or do you have to hunt around the floor and the back of your sofa to find where your Muse is hiding?

Ha-ha.  Yeah I have epiphanies sometimes as I am driving or when I wake up and then I have to write down scenes I have dreamt.

 

At least it’s not waking up as you’re driving.  I hope not, anywho.  If you were in an asylum, what would your particular delusion or psychosis be?

Being watched I think.  I used to imagine pictures could watch me as a child, lol.

 

You should be glad you didn’t go to school at Hogwarts, then, with all those moving paintings!  What genre(s) do you write?

Lots.  Paranormal Romance, Erotica, Fiction, Steampunk (really a subgenre).

 

Wow!  You’re head must be swimming with ideas!  What genres(s) do you read?

Virtually everything from scifi, thrillers, erotica BDSM, paranormal romance, nonfiction, cook books, you name it.

 

Do you have time to sleep?  Oh, that’ll be where the sleeping whilst driving comes in, I suppose...  If these are the same, what attracts you to them.  If they’re different, why do you think that is?

I am better at writing in my own genre (I think), but I intend to test this by writing in some of the others too.  But I still enjoy other genres, especially thrillers and horror too.

 

Bacon – just cooked or crispy?

Crispy of course!!

 

Of course.  How else?  Now you’re in the asylum with me, how do you aim to get out?  Do you have an escape plan?

Well, in real life I am a nurse, so maybe I could pretend to be a member of staff and sneak out by pinching someone else’s uniform!

 

A woman in uniform, hmmm?  Well, good luck with that plan.  It may even work!

 

-

 

My pen name is Scarlett Flame, and as well as writing my first novel I write a Blog under my pen name (don't forget it's two t's!).  My Blog includes book reviews, band, hotel and restaurant reviews around the area of Manchester where I live. Music is a bit of a passion of mine, so I include information of venues and live music. If you follow me on twitter you will often find me playing at being a DJ.  Writing and reading are my two main passions.

 

My interests include reading, writing, especially the genres Paranormal Romance, Thrillers, Scifi and anything that involves fantastical beings. I also like going to the gym, especially weight training and Pilates!

 

Some of my favourite books are The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings Trilogy and books by authors such as Anne Rice and Dean Koontz (especially the Brother Odd Series).

 

The working title of my first book is The Prophecy Unfolds (Dragon Queen). This is the first in a series of books and is an erotic Paranormal Romance set on a Steampunk world called Syros. In my book there are werewolves, dragons, dragon riders and many other paranormal characters.

 

Website:http://missscarlettflame.blogspot.co.uk/

Blog: https://twitter.com/ScarlettFlame2

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ScarlettFlame2

Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/scarlettflame2

An excerpt from The Prophecy Unfolds (Dragon Queen) by Scarlett Flame:

 

I'd sat there enjoying my book for about ten minutes when two things happened.

 

Firstly, I became aware that a hush had suddenly descended on the forest and I could no longer hear the scampering of the squirrels or the birds singing. When I looked up I could no longer see any of them around the area they had occupied only a few minutes earlier.

 

The second thing was the sound I did hear. I can only compare that to the sound of a barrier being broken, a whoosh and a slight popping noise. Yet immediately after this, the birds and squirrels were back, chirping and moving through the grass once again.

 

I shrugged, went back to the page in my book and continued to eat. However, after a while a feeling of uneasiness descended on me. I raised my head to find myself being watched.

 

The watcher was a tall, broad-shouldered man with dirty blonde hair tied at the nape and vivid blue eyes. I estimated him to be about 25-30 years old. He was regarding me silently and with intensity. His odd clothing caught my eye. Old fashioned garments, dark trousers laced up the front, a long-sleeved suede jacket of a similar material, and leather boots.

 

I turned my head to look for any cars or vans on the car park and jumped as I spotted two more men - one to my left and one I could see in my peripheral vision to the right.

 

The man on the left was dressed similar to the first, but had sandy hair and sea green eyes. In contrast he wasn't quite as broad, although equally tall (all three were over six foot). The last had dark hair to his shoulders that hung loose, and the most amazing violet eyes.

 

The appearance of these men with no noise and staring at me in rapt fascination, not uttering a word, spooked me. My heart was beating so loud and fast I thought that I was having some kind of heart attack.

 

But the most unnerving thing of all was all three men looked familiar, a déjà vu sort of moment. I had dreamt about these three men for so long. I knew immediately these were the shady characters from my dreams. Dreams that repeatedly haunted my sleep.