Six Sentence Sunday and a photo borrowed from Lola Gets Life on Tumblr. The SSS is from my WIP called The Vampire Lust Club.


Twelve stories above Massachusetts Ave, Casey squatted on the rooftop of the Securities and Exchange Commission, her fingertips clinging to the gutter as she calculated the distance to Pepperdine’s apartment building.

Slowly, she rose to her feet. Knees wobbly, she took three steps back.

If there were any other way to break into a human only building at four o’clock in the morning, she'd be all about it.

Then her legs moved fast, arms swinging, as she jumped, soaring between the buildings until she smacked down onto the tarmac on Pepperdine's roof.

"Damn, ain't doing that again anytime soon."

Six Sentence Sunday & Denny's Eye Candy - Week 26

Blair Underwood, still fabulous


Six Sentence Sunday is back. This is from a story I haven’t worked on in a while. It’s about a time traveller who is looking to save his father’s sanity. In this scene, John, the protagonist, is at his younger sister's house for breakfast.


Mary wiped the tears from her cheeks and then sat on the stool next to him clutching her coffee cup with both hands. Only twenty-six, she looked like she could be his mother. Thick around the middle, drab eyes and choppily cut brown hair pulled into a unfalteringly thin ponytail, she was the sister who wasn’t going to get a handle on her life anytime soon. 

John didn't like what that implied, ‘get a handle’. Was she supposed to hold back her anger until it broke her in half? Or was there some other purpose to reducing her pain to a cliché?

Don't forget to visit the other authors who hang out at Six Sentence Sunday. 

Francis Ray - New York Times Bestselling Author - (A Repeat Appearance)

Last Friday, I interviewed Francis Ray - yep, I sure did:)! She joined me over at the Waterworld Mermaids:)...blog. So today, I've decided to repost in case you missed it.


I will be giving away a copy of her book to those who comment today - so comment and Francis may well stop by to answer your questions.


Q.  What's your full author name, website, your latest new release, the WIP that is keeping you up at night, your publisher, editor, agent, how long have you been writing…your successes? Yes, I want the mini bio right here, right now!

Francis said: I am a native Texan and live in Dallas. A graduate of Texas Woman's University, I was nominated for Texas Woman's University Distinguished Alumni Award. I also gave the winter commencement address in Winter 2010.  I am extremely pleased that my titles consistently make bestseller's lists such as Blackboard and Essence Magazine. INCOGNITO, my sixth title was the first made-for-TV movie for BET (Black Entertainment Television). I have written forty-five titles to date, and my awards include Romantic Times Career Achievement, EMMA, The Golden Pen, The Atlantic Choice, Borders 2008 Romance Award for Bestselling Multicultural Romance and Written Magazine 2010 Book of the Year. 

My latest release is A SEDUCTIVE KISS with a January 31, 2012 release date!! I'm currently working on AFTER THE DAWN, the third book in a new mainstream series. My publisher is St. Martin's Press, and my editor is Monique Patterson, Senior Editor. Since March 2010 my agent has been Holly Root with the Waxman Literary Agency. I've been writing since the early 90's.

THE TURNING POINT, my first mainstream, was a finalist for the prestigious HOLT Medallion Award. At the release event for THE TURNING POINT in May 2001, I established The Turning Point Legal Fund to assist women of domestic violence to help restructure their lives.

Three 'KISS" books will continue the Grayson Friends series - A SEDUCTIVE KISS - January 31st, WITH JUST A KISS - February 28th, and A DANGEROUS KISS - June 26, 2012. WHEN TOMORROW COMES, a mainstream title, will be in stores June 5, followed by another mainstream as yet untitled in January 2013.


Q.  What's the best kept secret about your writing process?


Francis said: I don't have a secret.  Wish I did.  It might make this process easier.


Q.  What character have you written or are writing that keeps you up at night - just one, please:)?

Francis said: Lilly Crawford in TROUBLE DON'T LAST ALWAYS was probably one of the most difficult characters to write because of her transformation from being a victim of domestic abuse to a strong survivor.


Q.  What real person, television or fictional character has had the greatest influence on your writing style and why?


Francis said: Dwight Swain's Techniques of the Selling Writer probably influenced me the most in my writing because the book and meeting Mr. Swain gave me a greater understanding of characterization.  Characters, to me, are the backbone of a good book.


Q.  What book title is the current "hot read" on your bookshelf?


Francis said: I'm waiting for Bette Ford's CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU due out late January.


Q.  What's your favorite drink on a cool Sunday afternoon in February - and who (fictional or not, friend or family, celebrity or historic figure) would be sitting at your side enjoying that drink with you?


Francis said: Favorite drink is Pepsi. My daughter would probably be with me.


Q.  What has been the biggest change in contemporary African American romance/multicultural romance in the last five years, last decade?


Francis said:  Borders was really African-American author friendly. Each year at RWA they gave an award for the best selling Multicultural Romance of that year.  No other retail outlet did this.  Borders also sent out coupons that made it worth readers while to shop there for their books. Unfortunately, I'm not sure other chain bookstores know our products as well or will have frequent discounts. Many of my readers tell me they're buying less books because of Borders closing. Yes, many have ereaders, but many of us still prefer books.


Q.  What would you write, or are planning to write, other than contemporary romance or erotic romance (which you've also written:)?


Francis said: If I had the time I'd write another historical, and have a Christian fiction series.


Q.  As a highly successful romance author who has published more than 45 titles, what advice would you give writers breaking into today's publishing industry?


Francis said: Learn the genre, read widely, don't compare yourself to anyone, and join a writing organization.


Q.  How can readers contact you?

Francis said: Readers can visit my web site at www.francisray.com or email me: francisray@aol.com.


Comment below to be a part of the drawing for a copy of Francis' new release, A SEDUCTIVE KISS!

Six Sentence Sunday and Denny's Eye Candy: Week 26

Photo of Aldis Hodge (Hardison on Leverage) snagged from the Internet. I just like him!

Six Sentence Sunday is back (so fast!), and I went into the story archives and pulled out six sentences from my WIP called The Fixer about the CEO taking his technology company public and a Securities lawyer. It started out as a series romance, but by the time I'm done, pretty sure it will be romantic suspense....here's a mini introduction to the hero...

Jake Jacobi slept with Keisha regularly, not exclusively, but at least twice a month for the past six months, which was regular enough for him. She fit well into his lifestyle. Required little effort outside of sex and he never felt guilt about meeting her at a hotel for a late night supper just to slip out of her bed at dawn.

She never asked when they'd get together again or pressured him about feelings. She was the perfect part-time girlfriend, and the perfect fuck.

Then how come as he lay in bed next to her was he thinking about Shayna Marigold, the beautiful crazy woman he'd met three hours ago who announced to a room full of people (including his mother) that she intended to make him her perfect husband?

Thanks for dropping by, and go read more six sentences - Six Sentence Sunday!