Absolutely Erotic Blog Hop – Author Interview - Ana J. Phoenix

Welcome to my stop on the Absolutely Erotic Blog Hop! This summer, we showcase erotica and erotic romance authors from the Absolute Write forums. Interviews are done each day, and you can access the entire blog schedule at the very end of this post. Each stop has a prize, so be sure to hop along to maximize winnings.

Giveaway

As part of this stop, I’m offering a copy of any book from my backlist to a random commenter. When I say "erotic," what's the first word that comes to mind?

On a completely unrelated note, I’m running a Rafflecopter giveaway to promote my upcoming release, Operation Owl. There's $25 on offer–find out more here. 

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Today, I’m hosting Ana J. Phoenix, who writes m/m romance and erotica. Her debut book, Lab Rat’s Love, was released a few days ago from Loose Id. She and I actually have a ton of things in common, so we’ll be deviating from the standard questions (being all writers, I’m sure the organizers don’t mind overly much).

1. Hi Ana, and welcome to my blog. First off, congrats on your debut release. The cover is gorgeous, and we’ll get to that later. To start—how did you come about your interest in hot guy-on-guy action? (I’ve only ever written m/f romances, so I’m always curious).

Hey, Tara! Thank you for having me. Love what you’ve done with the place. Very cozy blog. My first contact with m/m action came in the form of the Japanese manga Gravitiation.  It was marketed to adults, so I had to have it. I was probably 14 at the time. There wasn’t much adult material in that manga, but it acted as a gateway drug to the world of yaoi. Japanese ‘hard-core’ gay manga.

2. On the topic of ecchi and yaoi…. Who’s your favorite Mangaka, and how have their works influenced your writing? My tastes are largely shaped by Shinohara Chie and Saito Chiho, who both draw rather sexy stuff. I blame my tendency to favor “pretty” heroes on their early influence (though I’ve veered away from this in my later works).

My favorite mangaka… my al –time favorite series is Fullmetal Alchemist, so I’m going to have to say Hiromu Arakawa. It’s not a romance series, but it focuses on the importance of friends and family and the value of human life, lightening up dark themes with a bit of comedy. Things I like to see in the works I read and write.

3.  It’d take a very quick perusal of our author bios to figure out we’re ESL writers (I grew up in Thailand). As a writer, what do you think are some advantages and disadvantages to not having been raised as a native-English speaker?

One of the disadvantages for me is the hunt for the ever elusive word. I often find myself struggling to describe certain motions or gestures, and then I put things like _insert blablabla_ into my first drafts so I don’t get stuck. And then I also get the ‘does this sound right?’ moments, like I’m suddenly not sure I’m using the language right and people actually talk like that. I usually end up rewriting those sentences.

An advantage is having actively studied English grammar, while native speakers often don’t have much of an incentive to think about the mechanics of their language. 

4. (Fun activity–ask a native English speaker: What is the first person subjunctive mood of the verb to be?) Now that the more serious stuff is done, lets talk about your gorgeous cover! As it so happens, the awesome Syneca Featherstone also designed my cover for Operation Owl. So what type of author are you when it comes to covers—picky or not picky? Did you make lots of changes or just put your baby in her hands? (I think I drove Syneca very crazy by the end of the process. She likely will never want to do one of my covers again…)

My publisher handled that, mostly. I filled in a cover art request form, describing my characters and such, and they took it from there. I was shown the cover art about a week after that, and given a chance to complain. I didn’t.

5. You didn't? Tsk, tsk... Super chill authors like you give my ilk a bad name. Let’s talk about Nex and Kane from Lab Rat’s Love. How do they meet?

They meet at Nex’s twin’s deathbed. He dies in the opening scene, leaving both Nex and Kane with problems they can only solve by working together. Nex needs financial help, and Kane needs Nex to help him in an experiment with a sex chip.  There’s some trouble with that because Kane used to sleep with Nex’s twin, though.

6. I have to say, that’s a pretty unique premise. What gave you the idea to write it? 

Hah. Definitely not based on personal experience. But I’ve always had a bit of a fascination for twins and the construction of identity. And the sex chip… well… I’m a nerd with a filthy mind.

7. I can sort of tell this from your cover, but lets make sure—How hot are Nex and Kane? What do they look like?

Pretty hot? Hah, that’s actually not something I give a lot of thought to.  I know some authors describe seeing their scenes like movies in their head, but I don’t. I hardly know what my characters look like. I know what they feel like, though, and that’s what makes a sex scene hot, anyway.

8. Good point (although I'm a much shallower author–I tend to "cast" my characters). Would you mind sharing a snippet from when they first get a little … naughty?

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They found themselves in a large bedroom. Bookshelves lined one side of it, just like the ones in the office. A desk, a wardrobe, and a king-size bed, all made out of light wood, took up most of the rest of the space. A fluffy orange carpet decorated the floor at their feet.

“This your bedroom?” Nex asked, frowning. Was that “something” Kane wanted to show him going to be his dick?

“Correct.”

Kane approached him from behind. He was so close now that if Nex had taken one step back, he would have bumped right into the arrogant bastard. It made the hairs on Nex’s neck stand up, just thinking about Kane’s hard male body. Thinking about Kane who seemed to have quite a thing for sex toys and quite a thing for Nex.

“Look around a little more; anything else you notice?”

Nex’s gaze found a hook in the wall above the bed’s headboard. He stood completely still for a moment, the implications of his discovery going through his mind.

“What do you think goes through there?” Kane asked, coming a step closer, that small step that made him press into Nex. Nex took a deep breath to help him calm down, but instead he got a lungful of Kane’s scent, leather and spice, and that didn’t help at all.

“Chains,” Nex said.

“You seem to like the idea.” Kane raised his hand, stroking through a lock of Nex’s hair, sending a shiver down Nex’s spine and into his groin area.

Was there any point in denying it? As much as Nex hated Kane’s arrogance, his dick didn’t seem to mind. “You’ll find I’m not as submissive as some like,” Nex said.

“You’ll let me find out?” Kane tugged at Nex’s hair, tilting his head back to make Nex look up at him.

9. Okay, now that you’ve got me all … bothered … Where can readers go to find out more about your book?

All the usual sites. It’s on Goodreads, for example, and of course on my publisher’s website, and Amazon. 

10. Before I let you run off—any social media haunts readers can stalk you at?

I’m on Facebook and Twitter (@anajphoenix). I refollow / refriend liberally.

Thanks again so much for stopping by! I look forward to reading your interview of the very talented Evelyn Aster tomorrow.

Lab Rat’s Love

When Nex blows all his money on drugs and gambling, Kane offers to pay off his debts. But his generosity comes at a price: Nex has to become his lab rat. Kane’s company has developed a sex chip, and Nex is the only eligible test candidate.

Nex doesn’t mind having kinky sex with a drop-dead gorgeous CEO for testing purposes. Even less so when Kane turns out to be all Nex ever wanted in a Dom and in a boyfriend. There’s only one problem. Kane used to live with Nex’s deceased twin, someone who Kane may still be hung up on, even if he denies it.

Still, Nex wants Kane, and he knows there’s only one way to get him: kick the drugs and stay clean — before his addiction ruins the experiment and their budding relationship.

LooseID | Amazon | AmazonUK | AllRomance

About Ana J. Phoenix

Ana writes m/m romance and erotica. Her interest in hot guy-on-guy action was first sparked by reading scandalous Japanese mangas. A dirty secret she couldn’t resist. In a long bout of insanity – also known as her life — she decided to learn the language and escape to the land of sushi, sumo, and yaoi.

She’s since moved back to Europe to be with the love of her life – delicious European chocolate.

Now she resides in the sunny part of Germany where she fills her days chasing her dreams and writing about men in complicated relationships. Her family believes she’s writing “erotic manga stories.” She’s pleased they got the erotic part right, at least.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Follow along on the 2014 installment of the Absolutely Erotic Blog Hop...

Week 1

June 23 - Azalea Moone interviews Anais Morgan

June 24 - Anais Morgan interviews Emily Veinglory

June 25 - Emily Veinglory interviews Scarlet Day

June 26  - Scarlet Day interviews Zoe X. Rider

June 27 - Zoe X. Rider interviews Gail Bridges

June 28 - Gail Bridges interviews Crane Hana

June 29 - Crane Hana interviews Kate Lowell 

Week 2

June 30 - Kate Lowell interviews Karenna Colcroft

July 01 - Karenna Colcroft interviews Kimber Vale

July 02 - Kimber Vale interviews Ravon Silvius

July 03 - Ravon Silvius interviews Tara Quan

July 04 - Tara Quan interviews Ana J. Phoenix (HERE)

July 05 - Ana J. Phoenix interviews Evelyn Aster

July 06 - Evelyn Aster interviews Dee Tass

July 07 - Dee Tass interviews Azalea Moone

Author Interview – Haley Whitehall (Western Edition)

Have I mentioned before how prolific Ms. Haley Whitehall is? You can check out all the other times she’s stopped by my place here . Today, she’s got another new release from Liquid Silver Books to chat up. Haley’s a historical interracial romance guru, and her recent book, Wild and Tender Care, charts the story of two outcasts finding love and acceptance in the Wild West.

Since she’s a repeat victim … I mean guest… we’ll go ahead and dig in.

1. Hi Haley, and Happy Book Birthday! As my first guest in the Western subgenre, would you mind highlighting some key characteristics of this period? As a newly minted American, my exposure is limited to watching The Quick and the Dead back in my teenage years, and I was too distracted by Leonardo Dicaprio to really pay attention.

While the period Wild West can be attributed to varying years I like to think of it as the era of the cattle drive. They only lasted about 20 years – from after the Civil War until the coming of the railroads to Texas made the long trek to northern markets unnecessary. Boom towns sprouted up to cater to the cattle drives and provide the cowboys with necessities and entertainment from restaurants to booze and women. There was very little law and order in many of these towns and men enforced their will and protected their honor with the speed of their six gun.

During this time many famous Americans made a name for themselves such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Bat Masterson, Doc Holiday, Jesse James, and Wild Bill Hickok.

2. So what about the West lends itself to romance in general, and interracial romance more specifically?

I think Americans have always had a love affair with the West. It is the romantic notion of falling in love with an honest, handsome, hardworking man who takes care of his horse and protects his family with his life if need be. Over the years this romantic notion grew with every novel, TV show and motion picture. Women (me included) fell in love with John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Robert Mitchum. I had a crush on Little Joe from Bonanza.

Many western shows have included an interracial element with a Native American. The West was their land long before Americans settled there. With few females many white men took Native American wives. And, as is the case with Wild and Tender Care, sometimes it worked the other way, too. The heart wants what the heart wants.

3.  On the topic of Native Americans, I hear your hero, William Steere, is a doctor. What else can you tell me about him? From your gorgeous cover, I’m guessing tall, dark and handsome?

Yes, William is tall, dark and handsome. He was inspired by the character Quint Asper who was the blacksmith on Gunsmoke. I love Bert Reynolds!

Okay, back to the good doctor. William Steere is a half-breed. His father was a white trapper and his mother was Creek. After he was orphaned he was raised in a mission school and adopted by a wealthy white man and raised back East. He served as a surgeon during the Civil War and is now looking for a place to settle down and start a medical practice.

4. Now that you’ve got me a bit goo-goo eyed, would you mind sharing a snippet from around the time William and Ida first meet?

Of course, here you go!

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Excerpt

Her attention returned to the stranger’s back, curiosity burning her brain. Although not richly dressed he gave an air of the city more than one of a cowboy or miner. She examined his charcoal gray frock coat taking in every inch of him. His straight black hair fell to his shoulders topped by a black derby hat.

The tall stranger added his empty plate to a stack at the end of the table and turned around. The mayor offered him a cigar and he lit it, taking a long pull. The two men talked for a few more minutes before the mayor’s uppity wife returned and called her husband away.

The stranger’s gaze scanned his surroundings and then fell on her. A lump sprouted in her throat. Had he felt her mooning at his back earlier? Heat rushed into her cheeks, but she couldn’t look away. Those dark brown eyes stopped her heart, had her mesmerized.

He stomped out the small cigar and then strode toward her, his powerful legs filling his trousers well. She had been right in her assumption he was a city man—his copper skin looked soft. She longed to run her fingers across his smooth cheek. Having been with too many dirty and gruff miners and drifters over the years, she liked a cleanly shaven man. Why was this man with a level of refinement showing interest in her?

He reached her and her pulse raced like a spooked horse.

The stranger took off his hat. “I don’t believe we’ve met, ma’am.”

Ida got to her feet, still gripping her plate. “Ah…no. Are you new to town?” She inwardly cringed. She could have thought of something more intelligent to say.

“Yes,” he said, a quirk to his sensuous lips. “I’m Dr. Steere.”

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5. Well, after that introduction, what self-respecting woman could possibly resist? Before I let you go, I have to ask—what’s your next project? I’m sure you’ve got more than a few works-in-progress up your sleeve.

Thanks for asking, Tara. I do have several works in progress. Actually I’m working on another interracial historical western. This one is set on a cattle ranch in California. I’m also working on Midnight Seduction, book 4 of my Moonlight Romance series.

Since book release day is one of the most hectic experiences in an author’s life, I’ll let Haley run off. For more about her book (including buy links, hint, hint), just scroll down. As always, comments are much appreciated.

Wild and Tender Care

Ida Page has seen the worst the west has to offer. Snubbed by the citizens of Big Rock, Colorado, ever since the town cleaned up its act and became civilized, she has tried to change with the times. No other line of work available, she became a laundress after the mayor shut down the whorehouse, but the good people will not allow her to forget her past as a shady lady. She has given up on ever being accepted, let alone falling in love, until a handsome half-breed stranger arrives in town.

After the War Between the States, William Steere has been looking for a town to build a medical practice. He answered a newspaper ad placed by the mayor of Big Rock and hopes their desperate need for a doctor will overrule their race prejudice against his half-breed status. At the Independence Day picnic, he is introduced to all the town citizens except for one woman sitting off by herself. This redhead draws him to her with merely a gaze.

Can the two outcasts find love and acceptance in each other's arms or will the town’s cruelty and a smallpox epidemic tear them apart?

Buy Links: Amazon | AllRomance | LSBooks

About Haley Whitehall

Haley Whitehall lives in Washington State where she enjoys all four seasons and the surrounding wildlife. She writes historical romance set in the 19th century U.S. When she is not researching or writing, she plays with her cats, watches the Western and History Channels, and goes antiquing. She is hoping to build a time machine so she can go in search of her prince charming. A good book, a cup of coffee, and a view of the mountains make her happy.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads | Amazon

Author Interview – T.D. Hassett

I’m delighted to welcome my Liquid Silver pub buddy T.D. Hassett over today. She’s a writer of smoking hot contemporary romances (do not let those covers fool you), and she’s got a brand new book to talk about. Her new release, Darling’s Desire, is a rocker romance and the third book in her Love and Music series.

I’ll let her tell you all about it.

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1. Hi Tiffany, and welcome to my blog. As my first guest in the rocker romance subgenre, you get to explain what ties them all together. Does music play a significant role, perhaps?

Absolutely!  The series follows the boys in the rock band Becket. Each sexy and stubborn one of them finds true love when they least expect it.  These gorgeous alphas meet their match with heroines that bring them to their knees.

Thomas’ story is the first in the series but they are standalone full-length novels; no worries about the cliffhanger endings that many readers don’t like. Each book includes a bit of mystery and steamy love scenes that contradict the sweet looking covers.

2. Although Ross is a drummer, a concert’s not how he and Darling meet. Can you tell me more about this mysterious lake house where the two meet?

Darling needs to pack up her late grandmother’s lake house and decide what to do with the property.  It has a checkered past; her mother disappeared from that house years before and recently a handyman was found dead on the property. Despite the house’s history, Darling’s best friend thinks it would make a fabulous weekend stop over for her and a couple members of the band. The weekend becomes a bit longer for troubled drummer Ross and his hesitant hostess.

3. I’m getting the reluctant lovers vibe from Ross and Darling. Do they both have reasons for not wanting to fall for each other just yet?

Now what fun would a romance novel be without some serious tension?  Ross sees Darling as too innocent for the likes of a jaded rock star such as himself. Besides, as soon as he clears up a paperwork issue he is on a jet to Europe to finish up a world tour – who has time for anything beyond a one-night stand?

Darling has been used and abused in a past relationship. She’s vowed to never read more into a man than what he says.  Ross might be hot but he’s troubled. He lost his wife less than a year before. How can she be lusting after a man still in mourning? She’s also busy dealing with local vandals trying to force her out – who has time for infatuation?

4. Despite these reservations, a birdie tells me “passions ignite.” Would you mind sharing a snippet from around the time this happens?

Excerpt:

He might have dozed for a bit but was wide-awake at the sound of a splash coming from the lake. He leaped to his feet and ran down the steps to the dock. His heart pounded in his chest. He looked out into the black water with only the gibbous moon and some twinkling lights from the house’s windows aiding his view. There, just a dozen feet away and a couple feet down in the water. He slowly started to breathe again. This was no sea monster or what he’d feared the most, a toddling William fallen into the lake. This was a sea nymph come back to haunt him again.

He waited on the dock, watching the slow strokes of her arms slice through the water until she emerged into the night air. “You gave me a scare. I didn’t know skinny-dipping was part of the party plans.” She startled at his voice and sucked in a little water. He gave her a wink and watched her try to regain her composure.

“I’m not skinny-dipping, and I thought you went to bed.” She swam closer to the dock and rested a hand on the scuffed wood.

Darling heaved herself out of the water and twisted her body to sit gracefully on the scarred deck. “Could you hand me that towel?” she asked, pointing to the neatly folded pile by his foot. Ross forced his attention away from Darling as she toweled her bathing suit-clad body dry. She wrapped it around her body sarong-style and wrung the water out of her hair.

“You often go swimming this late at night? I mean, I just want to know what time to be out here for the show.” Ross shifted his weight from one foot to the other, wondering why the hell he was torturing himself by staying out here with Darling practically naked. The moon shone down, steam rising off the lake providing a mysterious glow.

“I haven’t been here since I was nine years old, but yes, back then we used to come down for night swimming.” She shivered a bit, and he caught sight of a flush of goose bumps on her skin. Guess the night air isn’t quite so warm after a dip in the lake.

“You’re shivering. Come here.” Ross pulled her into his arms and rubbed his warm hands up and down her bare limbs to warm her. He really shouldn’t be doing this. He was playing with fire.

“I didn’t mind the chill afterward when I was a kid. Brrr.” She snuggled against him, and he knew all was lost. He moved his finger under her chin and tipped her head back, finding her parted lips with his own. She didn’t move a muscle. At first, it was like she was a statue until he gently licked her upper lip and pressed his kiss deeper into her mouth. Darling let out a soft mew and began nibbling on his mouth and sliding her tongue against his. She tasted like vanilla and salt and smelled of the fresh outdoors and something that was all her own scent. He pulled her tighter against him, teasing his erection against her soft belly and already thinking about what he would like to do next. It had been so long since he’d felt desire, at least desire that he acted upon. He was separated from her lush body by a beach towel and scraps of featherlight fabric, and the thought was driving him wild. He swept his tongue deep in between her lips, thrusting and tasting the way he wanted to plunder other parts of her. In that moment, on that dock under the moonlight, he felt passion and longing like he’d never experienced before. Damn, I’m going to need a dip in a cold lake to shake this.

“Are you the deep-water person?” A shrill voice came out of the shadows from the beach, jolting Ross and Darling apart.

She jumped to the side of him, and he instinctively shoved her behind his body. Ross whipped his head toward the stranger. “Who the hell are you?” he barked, still feeling startled.

“No, you’re not from the deep water. You’re just a stranger. I’m David. I’m David.” The figure came a bit closer to the end of the dock, and now Ross could see that the voice belonged to a teenage boy. He squinted his eyes in the dim light and made out more details about David. That boy has lost too many balls in the high weeds, poor bastard. He had dark hair and thick glasses. He wore a loose T-shirt and jean shorts with old, worn sneakers. He clasped and unclasped his hands nervously before repeating himself. “I said, I’m David. I’m David, and you’re a stranger, you’re a stranger.”

“My name is Ross, and this here is Darling. Do you live nearby, David?” Ross questioned him gently, realizing that the boy was probably autistic or intellectually disabled and not some wandering psychopath who was going to hack them both to bits with a machete. Like his mom used to say about the wildlife, this boy was probably more nervous coming across them than they’d been surprised by him. Either way, Ross kept an eye on David. The boy kicked at the sand a few times with his old sneakers and glanced behind him toward the driveway.

“Yes, I’m David. I’m David. I live next door in the cottage. My dad does outdoor work. I help. I’m David,” the boy responded in his high-pitched voice seeming more at ease now.

Great, we’ve just met Boo Radley. David stepped onto the dock and walked within ten feet of them before giving a slight wave of his hand. Darling moved from behind Ross and waved back to the boy.

“I bet you’re Mr. Whitaker’s youngest boy. I used to live here every summer as a little girl, and now I’m back to stay, so it’s nice to meet one of my neighbors.” Darling smiled warmly at David before continuing, “It’s kind of late. Does your dad know where you are?”

“I’m David. I don’t go out in the water; there’s something in there. I’m David. My dad’s asleep on the couch again. He sleeps a lot.” David shook his head a few times.

“Oh, okay. So what’s this about something in the water?” Darling asked exactly what Ross was getting curious about himself.

“There’s a monster in the water. I’m David. There’s a secret that lives under the water, and someday it’ll come out. I’m David. I don’t like the water. That’s why it’s called Secret Lake, you know.” He looked down at his sneakers as if studying them.

“I’m pretty sure there are no monsters in the water. But, if you want to come fish off the dock or something during the day that would be okay, as long as you let someone know you are here. I don’t want your dad getting scared. It’s late now so we should all probably get to bed,” she offered.

Darling started walking back toward the house before Ross could even suggest picking up where they’d left off. Her stiff stride and squared shoulders signaled she wanted to be left alone, and he knew she was right to walk away from him. What the hell had he been thinking with, ’cause it sure as shit wasn’t his brain. She was practically a kid herself, couldn’t be more than twenty-one or so years old. With a shake of his head he followed David to the top of the driveway where he made sure the kid turned down a narrow gravel road and got to the porch of a small cottage. Once the kid had opened his door, Ross made his way back to the house and tiptoed up to his own room. He wasn’t surprised to see Beauty Belle had moved her dog bed upstairs—clever girl!—and settled in. Guess you’ll be the only woman looking for more of my company tonight. I sure hope you don’t snore, dog. He stripped out of his clothes and dropped into the creaking bed.

5. Now that's a great way to warm up! Before I let you go, I have to ask—what’s your next project. Is there another Love and Music book in the works?

I can’t say there won’t be one more Love and Music books but I did want to try something new. Recently I started a novel about an incubus who falls in love with a young veterinary technician.  It will be my first paranormal and I expect it to be more of a novella.  It is already red hot, lots of explicit sex including M/M so not one of my sweeter stories. I’m excited by the challenge.

Now that sounds intriguing. Since Tiffany’s book literally came out this week, she’s got a packed schedule (very much like her rock star heroes). For more about the book and author, just scroll down. As always, comments are much appreciated.

Darling's Desire

Darling Roberts is going back to the lake house her mother disappeared from thirteen years ago. She needs to decide to stay or sell. The locals believe the place cursed but her best friend thinks it would be a blast to spend the weekend there before heading to Europe. Madison is determined to set Darling up even if that means dragging a recently widowed rock and roll drummer to the scene of a murder.

Ross Daniels has a secret.  He can’t stand the pitying looks well-wishers have given him since his wife’s accidental death. The European leg of the Becket tour can’t come soon enough.  A weekend stay at a mutual friend’s lake house seems like a decent way to kill a couple of days before hopping a plane, at least until he spends some time with temptation herself.

Will they give in to passion before events at the lake house drive them apart?

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | AllRomance | LSBooks

About T.D. Hassett

T.D. Hassett grew up reading the romance greats—Jackie Collins, Julie Garwood, and Judith McNaught. She was certain that life should be like a romance novel, with lots of passion, some incredible adventures, and a guaranteed happily ever after. She attended college in New England, earning a B.A. in History and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology before changing her mind again and studying education. Currently Ms. Hassett lives in Connecticut with her very patient husband and two young children. Her rambunctious family shares their home with three crazy cats and a darling golden retriever named Delilah. Her eccentric relatives and their quest to make her feel like the only normal nut in the family tree inspire her writing.

Visit her at http://tdhassett.wordpress.com  -- She loves to hear from readers!