Guest Blogger – Paige Tyler

I’d like to welcome my friend, author Paige Tyler to the purple velvet couch. Did you bring hubby today?

You know it!

[Hi, Monette ]

Anyone visiting your web site will see you write a lot of books in a variety of romance subgenres.  What is your favorite subgenre and why?

That’s a tough question because I love the freedom to work in any genre that calls out to me. If I start thinking about a cowboy, my next story will be a western.  If the idea for a new romance pops into my head while I’m watching Dr. Who, then the story is very likely to end up as a sci-fi. Knowing I can let my mind go anywhere it wants helps me be more creative. But if I had to pick just one subgenre, I’d have to say paranormal. In general, the paranormal genre is just so much broader in terms of where you can go with it and what you’re allowed to do. Not only do I get to work with sexy shifters, vampires and a variety of other creatures (even zombies!), but more importantly, it gives me plenty of freedom to use these characters in a lot of different ways. That’s why you can read twenty vampire books and every one of them will be different and interesting. That’s harder to do in a western or a contemporary romance.

Of course, the best part of writing is breaking the rules—writing in mishmash of genres that don’t seem to go together. Steampunk, anyone?  I’m outlining a western paranormal right now with just that thought in mind. I’m breaking the rules and having fun while I’m doing it!

Your books feature “romantic spanking.”  Define “romantic spanking” as opposed to just spanking. 

As with a lot of things in the world, it’s all a matter of intent and degrees. In this case, it’s a question of why the spanking is occurring and how it’s being administered. Is it happening because the person on top wants to “punish” the bottom, without any regard to how that person feels about the spanking? If so, then that’s not my kind of thing, and is definitely not a romantic spanking. A romantic spanking involves a man (usually) warming a woman’s bottom in such a way that it brings pleasure to both of them. That doesn’t mean it can’t teach the woman a lesson at the same time— there just has to be a certain “bad girl” element in there for the spanking to work). While the guy might be holding the girl down during the spanking, there has to be a sense that she can stop it anytime things go beyond what she can handle. Some people call this topping from the bottom, which means the person getting spanked is really the one in charge. That element is critical for me and for the concept of romantic spankings.

What inspired you to write books with spanking in them?

I credit my fascination with spanking to all those Johanna Lindsey books I read when I was a teenager. All it took was one sexy spanking scene and I was hooked!

The funny thing is that I didn’t start writing stories with spanking in them right away. I played around with fantasy romance some, then contemporary, then another fantasy-style story. They worked out very well, and I was generating a look of interest in the places I sent them. Then, out of the blue, I found a website looking for spanking stories for publication. I thought about the books Johanna Lindsey had written, and said to myself, I can do that!  So, I grabbed the secondary characters out of another contemporary story I’d been writing for a while (it was going nowhere anyway), and put them in a story where the hero (a cop) spanked the heroine (a reporter) for sticking her nose in his investigation. The words literally flew off the page!

 How many books do you write in a year? What are you working on now?

I know this isn’t really an answer, but it varies a lot.  If I’m working on full-length books (80 – 100k), I probably write three books a year. If I’m writing shorter stories (20 – 60k), I can usually write five to eight books in a year. In reality, it’s usually about two full length stories, with maybe two to four shorter ones mixed in between. As far as what I’m working on right now, when you read below—about how my writing partner (also known as my hubby!) and I work—it will make more sense.

I hear your hubby helps with your writing process.  Can you tell us how that works? Do you work on one project at a time or multiples?

The answer to this question will make my really vague answer to the previous question more understandable. I write with—[my attractive, charming, patient…]—give me the computer back, dear! As I was saying before my laptop got hijacked, I write with my hubby.

Here’s how it works. We go to PF Changs [have to shout-out to our favorite restaurant!] and brainstorm an idea for a new story. We bat ideas and plotlines back and forth until hubby gets a good idea where I want to go with the story. Then he takes what we talked about and starts outlining the story on his laptop. I read it each night before we go to bed, making sure he stays on track. Even after twenty years of marriage, he’s still a little vague about this “romance” thing. He insists zombies and guns belong in every scene! Which is why I have creative control. So, he gives me a very rough draft of the story with the basic plot, the action stuff, and the mechanical aspects of the sex (insert Tab A into Slot B, etc., etc.) all pretty well-arranged.

While he’s outlining a future story, I’m free to add details to, and polish, the current project. By that I mean, writing dialogue, romance, emotion, character depth (essentially all the stuff that most guys are bad at). Then, we read it together, critiquing and editing the book.

This method allows us to work on at least two books at a time. And since I’m in charge, I also reserve the right to yank hubby off any draft he’s on and get him working on another (more urgent) story. It’s a crazy way to write, but it works for us.

As for what we’re working on now, hubby is re-outlining a sci-fi that we’ve had on the shelf for a bit and will be re-releasing, while I’m working on the second next book for Sourcebooks (you’ll find out more about that in the next question!). In between these main projects, we’re working on a few other smaller stories for indie publication and one of my ebook publishers.

I see that you recently signed with an agent and obtained a print book contract with Sourcebooks for your Special Ops series.  Was this an overnight sensation type of deal or many years in the making?

I’d love to say it was an overnight sensation kind of deal, but it wasn’t. It was more like a marathon that took many years—not to mention many books—in the making. I became very close friends with perseverance and determination, and hubby can tell you that there were a lot of times when I was ready to quit. But every time I wanted to, the thought of giving up my dream of being NY published became an almost physical pain. That sounds crazy, I know, especially since I’d already achieved what I like to think of as a lot of success in the small press and indie worlds.

I hate to admit it, but I was this close to giving up on the idea of my military/paranormal shifter series ever finding its way to NY, either. I’d subbed to every romance agent looking for paranormal romance listed on Query Tracker [over a hundred and fifty], and while I had some agents say they loved it, they didn’t want to commit to it because they didn’t know where to sell it since it wasn’t the usual paranormal romance. I thought that’d be a good thing, but they didn’t seem to think so. That whole I’m-looking-for-something-different-but-not-too-different thing can be really frustrating.

When I told my hubby what they said, he suggested I try agents looking for action/suspense/thrillers. I was skeptical, but figured what the heck? It was either that or give up on the idea completely. And I really didn’t want to do that.

Turned out, he was right (He loves reminding me of it, too)! I hit with agent number one-hundred-and-thirty-nine that I submitted to and he led me to a Sourcebooks deal within months. It was a painful time for me, but ultimately worth it.

Can you pass some tips along for the aspiring authors in the audience on how you went about getting an agent?

I know it sounds cliché, but don’t give up. Accept that you’ll probably have to hear a lot of “no’s” before you hear that first “yes.” Cast a wide net, and be willing to sub to agents outside the traditional romance genre if that works for your style of book. This is about perseverance and belief in yourself. Also try to learn from every interaction with possible agents. Get a feel for what they’re looking for, how they want to see it, and how you need to approach them.

Do you have any tips for new writers?

Be willing to spend some time finding your voice. It’s fantastic if your first book is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but if you’re like me, you might have to spend your first several (okay, more than that for me) books honing your craft, learning how to write better and most importantly, learning what kind of style is uniquely suited to you. That’s a writer’s voice, and it may take some time to get your voice just right.

And above all, write because you love it. That’s the one thing you can always control, and no one can ever take it away from you.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate! Although I think that big Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate should really be a single-serving size. But since it isn’t, I have to be content to eat a tiny square. *sigh* They cry out to me from the pantry even now. Come back, come back, don’t leave us!

Oh, and my other guilty pleasure is also my newest obsession—Monster High Dolls!  Books, movies, YouTube videos—if it’s Monster High, I’m there!

And since we’re talking guilty pleasures, it wouldn’t be right to leave out Sam and Dean Winchester from the television series Supernatural. I have a serious thing for those guys. And yes, hubby knows it.

Who is your favorite author?

I have so many, but right now, I’m all about Suzanne Brockmann and her Troubleshooters Series. Which you’ll see if you pick up my military/paranormal shifter series from Sourcebooks, tentatively titled SPECIAL OPS.

What are you reading now?

Right now I’m reading Officer Breaks the Rules by Jeanette Murray (a shout out to a fellow Romance Diva and one of my favorite authors!) on my Kindle and Tall, Dark and Dangerous by Suzanne Brockmann (one of my other favorite authors!) in paperback.

BTW, hubby is reading Blood Rights, by Kristen Painter (shout out to another Romance Diva) and is eagerly awaiting the next Harry Dresden book. [Get to work, Jim Butcher!]

 Some Quick Questions:

 Sex or Chocolate?

Why pick when you can use chocolate body paint in the bedroom? Or anywhere else!

 Alpha-males or beta-males?

Don’t even have to think about this one. Definitely alpha males! I like a guy who looks like he knows how to spank a girl. That said, though, he has to have a sensitive side to go with all that testosterone!

 Shifters or vampires?

Another easy one! Shifters!  I love the beach, so no beach, no love. What good is a hunky guy if he just bursts into flames when you’re relaxing on the sand?

PJs, nightgowns, or skin?

Skin! *wink* Well, we like to sleep naked, but our fur baby wears pink and blue argyle PJs to bed!  (Some part of that might be TMI, but I’m not sure which part.)

Action flicks or Chick Flicks?

 That’s a toughie. I really don’t like what I think of traditional chick flicks, though I like fun, romantic comedies. So, between the two, I’d pick an action movie, preferably one with a story and some romance. My favorite movies, outside of Lord of the Rings and Avatar, are animated movies, especially Disney movies!

Rock or Easy Listening?

 Between the two, rock for sure. I have really eclectic taste when it comes to music. I’m just as likely to have Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake on my iPod as I am Billy Idol and AC/DC! If you can dance to it I probably like it.

 Where can your readers reach you?

  All over the internet!

         

          Website: http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com

          Blog: http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com

          Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paige.tyler.9

          Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/paige.tyler.9#!/PaigeTylerAuthor

          Twitter: http://twitter.com/PaigeTyler

          Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/paigetylerauth/

          PushPage: http://www.pushpage.me/PaigeTylerAuthor

Tell us a little about the book you’re sharing with us today?

I’d love to! It’s called KARLEIGH’S COWBOYS and it’s a hot cowboy menage with some sexy BDSM thrown in. You know me and my fascination with spanking. There’s even some bondage!

It’s available on KINDLE (where it’s been a Top Ten Bestseller!), and NOOK, as well as at iTunes and ARe.

 Blurb:

 Two ranch hands are better than one!

Karleigh Blake hasn’t take a vacation in years, so when her friend talks her into coming out to her Colorado ranch for some fun and relaxation, she jumps at the chance. Once there, she meets up with two hot and hunky ranch hands named Holden Donnelly and Mav Ryan who definitely know how to show a girl a good time.

It starts as two separate rolls in the hay, and she’s concerned she isn’t going to be able to hide that she’s sleeping with both of them. She’s surprised when the two cowboys compare notes and decide they don’t mind sharing her – as long as they can do it at the same time!

Excerpt:

Beauty must have sensed Karleigh the moment she walked into the barn because the mare whinnied in greeting at her. Lips curving into a smile, Karleigh took a sugar cube from the basket and held it out to the horse. The mare gently took the treat from Karleigh’s outstretched palm, then nuzzled her hand affectionately. Karleigh ran her hand over the mare’s silky chestnut coat with sigh. On the other side of the barn, Loverboy and Highwayman stuck their heads out of their stalls to look longingly at the female horse. Compared to Beauty’s love life, hers didn’t seem nearly as complicated, Karleigh thought. If she was careful and did some strategic planning, she could keep seeing both Holden and Mav without either of them finding out. How hard could it be?

The sound of the door opening interrupted her before she could answer that question. Startled, she turned to see Holden and Mav walking into the barn. Her stomach did a crazy little backflip at the sight of them. It should be illegal to be in a room with two guys this gorgeous.

Mav gave her a grin. “Where were you hiding all day?”

Had it been that obvious? Karleigh ran her hands down the front of her short, silk robe. She wished she’d worn something a little less revealing, but she hadn’t expected anyone to be on the ranch. Not that it would have mattered. Both men were undressing her with their eyes anyway. Heat pooled between her thighs, and she stifled a moan.

“I went shopping with Heather in Colorado Springs,” she said.

Holden hooked his thumbs in his belt, his fingers resting lightly on the big buckle. Karleigh heard somewhere that when a man did that, it meant he was thinking about sex.

“Mav said you two went for a ride and a picnic yesterday.”

Oh crap. She reached up to nervously tuck her long, blonde hair behind her ear. “Um, yeah.”

“You know,” Holden continued. “You should have told me you liked anal sex. We could have tried it out the other night.”

Double crap.

Karleigh stared at Mav in shock, unable to believe he’d told Holden they’d slept together. But why wouldn’t he? Mav had no idea she’d wanted to keep it a secret.

She tensed, bracing herself for the anger she was sure was headed her way, but to her surprise—and relief—neither man looked angry. In fact, they were grinning.

She looked from one to the other. “You’re not mad?

“Why would we be mad?” Holden asked.

She thought it would have been obvious. “Because I slept with both of you.”

“Oh. That.” Mav chuckled. “You’re a whole lot of filly. We don’t mind sharing you.”

She blinked. “You don’t?”

His dark eyes took on that smolder she was coming to recognize. “As long as we do it at the same time. Or more precisely, do you at the same time.” He slanted Holden a glance. “Isn’t that right?”

Holden’s grin broadened. “That’s right.”

Her eyes went wide. “You mean, like a threesome?”

Mav nodded. “Unless you’re not comfortable with that.

Karleigh chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. She’d never had a threesome, but the chance to have sex with two incredibly hot guys was too good to pass up.

She looked at them from beneath lowered lashes, her heart beating a little faster. “I didn’t say that.”

“So, what are you saying?” Holden asked.

“Just that I’ve never actually had sex with two men before,” she said.

“But I’m all about trying new things. Especially when they sound like they’re going to be so much fun.”

Mav’s dark eyes flared. “Is that a yes?”

She gave them a sultry smile. “It’s most definitely a yes.”

He grinned. “We were hoping you’d say that.”

Karleigh wasn’t sure what the rules were when it came to having a threesome—or even if there were any. Fortunately, Holden and Mav seemed to know exactly what to do because they immediately walked over to her. She waited expectantly to see which of them would take the lead when Holden pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She looped her arms around his neck, her lips parting as his tongue took possession of hers. His erection bulged in his jeans and rubbed against her tummy, telling her how turned on he already was.

His hands went to the belt on her robe, giving it a tug. As it fell open, Mav stepped up behind her, slipping off the garment and leaving her naked. Being sandwiched between two rock-hard male bodies made her pussy purr, and she moaned against Holden’s mouth. He slid his hands in her hair, gently tilting her head back while Mav pressed his mouth to the curve of her neck. Two sets of hands roamed over her body, caressing her everywhere. She tried to focus on who was touching where, but she lost track. After a while, it felt like she had a dozen hands touching her body, not just four. And it felt damn good.

When hands finally buried themselves in her hair again, she decided that must be Holden. Which meant Mav was cupping her breasts. As he rolled her hard nipples between his fingers, his cock pressed against her ass, straining at the material of his jeans. The reminder of how delicious he’d felt inside her asshole made her moan, and she rotated her hips in invitation, silently letting him know she wouldn’t mind him doing it again.

Holden made enough room so Mav could slide his hand down her stomach to find her clit in the downy curls between her thighs. While he began making circles around the sensitive nub, Holden took over massaging her breasts. He rubbed the pad of his thumb over her nipples before giving each of them a firm squeeze. Being touched in both places at once made the sensations that much more intense, and she let out an audible sigh as Holden pulled his mouth away to trail kisses down her neck.

Behind her, Mav brushed her ear with his lips. “Does this feel good?”

His breath was warm and moist against her skin, and she shivered

“Mm-hmm.”

“Would you like us to make you come like this?” Holden asked.

The way they were touching her was making it difficult to think, much less speak. “Us?”

Taking one hand from her breast, he slowly glided it down her stomach to join Mav’s between her legs. Ah, so that was what he’d meant.

*****

You can get your copy here!

All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-karleigh039scowboys-576205-144.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Karleighs-Cowboys-ebook/dp/B005CWFKKQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339180019&sr=1-2

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/karleighs-cowboys-paige-tyler/1104289606?ean=2940012765321

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/karleighs-cowboys/id588723439?mt=11

And you can check out the sequel AND THE RANCH HAND MAKES THREE here!

http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com/BooksAndTheRanchHandMakesThree.html

Happy Reading!

*hugs*

Paige