Guest Post with Author Cora Carmack

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Virginity.
Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible– a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves her potential sexual partner alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if if that weren’t embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She’d left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

GUEST POST by Cora Carmack


Hi! Thank you so much for having me here at My Overstuffed Bookshelf! I LOVE this blog (especially the martini glass rating system). My kind of place. J
I did a lot of thinking about what I wanted this guest post to be about, and in the end I decided to talk about perfection.
I feel like I see a lot of talk about “the perfect guy,” especially with reference to some of our favorite book boyfriends. Bloggers dedicate memes and posts and even tournaments to these fictional hotties.
And none of us are complaining because, hello, we’re all in love, too!
And let me tell you, if a man like my lead male Garrick walked through my door, I would never let him out.
I could probably talk forever about my book crushes, and I do whenever I’m out with book friends. J
But today I’d like to talk about what makes the perfect couple. Sometimes those hot fictional boys we love so much steal the show, and we forget entirely about the heroine and how the two stack up as a couple.
When I was writing LOSING IT, there was a moment after I finished the first chapter, where I almost decided to do the book in a split narrative, alternating chapters from Bliss and Garrick’s point-of-view. Ultimately, I decided not to do that (though the epilogue is in Garrick’s point-of-view). Some of you are probably disappointed by this news, but Garrick was such a strong, swoon-worthy character, that I didn’t think we needed his perspective to love him. It was really important to me that Bliss be a strong, well-rounded character that didn’t get lost behind our love for a guy.
And I hope I’ve made their relationship the focus, instead of just Garrick’s hotness.
So what makes a perfect couple?
Well, I think it’s similar to what makes a good couple in real life. In a good relationship, neither person loses him or herself to the other. They don’t become less in any way to please or appease the other. In fact, I think in a strong relationship, each person becomes more, becomes stronger because the other person is a part of their life.
Bliss, for example, has a tendency to stress and become paranoid. Calmness flies out the window, and she loses her head. Garrick grounds her (well, eventually, after he’s through flustering her). By the end of the book, he’s not taken away her quirkiness or her awkwardness, but I think he’s helped stabilize her life. On the flip side, Garrick can take things too seriously. He can be too blunt, too ruled by his emotions. He likes Bliss because she’s the opposite in many ways. She balances him out, makes him take life a little less seriously.
The ”Perfect Couple” doesn’t necessarily behave perfectly, and they certainly aren’t perfect in and of themselves. The perfect couple is one where you can see each other at your worst—whether it is in a mortifying situation (CATS!) or an unattractive one (sick in bed)—and love each other more for it.
I don’t know that I’ve managed to create “the perfect couple” in LOSING IT, but I’ve tried. There are a lot of books out there that I really love, but when I finished them, I was left with kind of an icky feeling because the relationship in the book felt too one-sided. The girl gave up too much of herself to the guy or vice versa. It didn’t keep me from liking the book, but if something similar happened to me in real life, I would walk away from a relationship like that without batting an eye.
In LOSING IT, I just wanted something good. Something honest. I wanted the kind of thing we all look for in real life.
Thanks again for having me! It’s been such a pleasure!
In Awkward

Cora
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m Cora Carmack,  a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. I’ve done a multitude of things in my life– boring jobs (like working at Target), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). I enjoy placing my characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too.  My first book, LOSING IT is available as an ebook on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Guest Post with Lisa Marie Rice

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Today on My Overstuffed Bookshelf,  I have the talented author Lisa Marie Rice.  Ms. Rice is known for hot and steamy reads so of course I asked her discuss all things erotic!  Join in the discussion at the end of the post and be sure to order your copy of her new release, Heart of Danger!

WHY EROTIC ROMANCE IS NOT EROTICA
By Lisa Marie Rice

I write erotic romance. Erotic romantic suspense, actually. My latest book, Heart of Danger, Book One of the Ghost Ops trilogy, has just come out with Avon Red.

People often mistake erotic romance—which is what I write—with erotica, which I do not write. It sounds like a subtle difference but it’s not. There’s nothing wrong with erotica but it’s a completely different genre and it evoke different emotions and sensations.

Erotic romance is a description in the round—in 3D if you will – of a love affair. My heroes and heroines are healthy, relatively young people who are strongly attracted to each other, so sex is definitely part of the mix. The sexual tension is always high and the actual love scenes are very specific to each couple. The sex is not always perfect—it rarely is in real life, either. But there is no denying the strong underlying desire felt by the couple. And that desire has to be described. At least I think it has to be described in a modern novel, particularly a romance.

Think of it like this—when you watch old movies don’t you sometimes laugh at the dramatic moments that are often badly rendered? The man shot to death who lurches about in a dramatic fashion and falls down dead without a drop of blood? The action scenes where it is clear that the whole scene is shot in front of a painted backdrop? Then couple kisses and it fades to black?

Modern movies are very realistic to look at. They use CGI and visual effects but it doesn’t matter. By God you feel like you are right there, facing death, on the top of the cliff, falling in that airplane. A good modern novel is like that—it depicts the story in the most realistic fashion possible and to me, that means that there should be sex in a romance. It is an indispensible part of the process of falling in love.

I’m not wildly keen on the farther shores of sexual experimentation such as BDSM, because I wouldn’t like it in real life. Try to get near me with handcuffs and I will put a knife through your heart. Spank me and I will break your arm. That whole scene does not attract me in any way, shape or form. Pain is not pleasure, not in my world. Nor am I attracted to ménage—more than one partner at the same time. I wouldn’t want to live it, I don’t want to read about it, I don’t want to write about it.  The eroticism in my books comes straight from the intensity of the feelings the protagonists have for each other. Without that intensity, without their very special and unique chemistry, it wouldn’t be sexy at all.

However, I’ll definitely make an exception for the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, which is definitely erotic romance and not erotica.

I know it’s fashionable to criticize 50 Shades but actually I liked the trilogy. I read all three fast, straight through. It’s eminently readable, and a real love story. The bondage there was a trick—Christian isn’t by nature a sadist. Once he falls in love all that whipping nonsense stops. If you can get past The Red Room of Pain, the books are actually kind of sweet. The books have sold something like 50 million copies worldwide.
It just goes to show what a big market there is for red-blooded romances with a high intensity of emotion and a full description of the sex between the lovers.

Erotic romance rocks!

What attracts you to erotic romances, as opposed to regular romances or erotica?
ABOUT THE BOOK

Ghost Ops. A small unit of super-elite soldiers so secret only two men know of their existence. Betrayed by their commanding officer while on an antiterrorist mission, the team is massacred. Only three survive—and find themselves framed and disgraced. But en route to the court martial, they escape . . . and disappear.

Beautiful, brilliant, and determined, Dr. Catherine Young is on a mission to find a man who has vanished into thin air. Walking into a high-tech hideaway bearing an essential message to Tom “Mac” McEnroe, Team Leader of the betrayed Ghost Ops force, is the most dangerous thing she has ever done. The soldier she encounters is frightening and suspicious, but her senses reveal the man underneath: tough, honorable, and so breathtakingly masculine Catherine feels weak in his presence . . . But to surrender to Mac’s passionate desires would put her life in dire jeopardy. Catherine has a gift that enables her to see into the heart of others—and looking into Mac’s is like staring into the very heart of danger itself.

Guest Post & Contest with Carla Swafford

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A Day in the Life of a Romance Writer: Wait for it!
When I was asked to write about my day as a romance writer, I laughed. One thing I do not do well, is talk about myself. I can talk about my books and the characters living inside of them, but talk about myself . . . well, people will find out how ADHD I am. But I thought what the heck!  I was kind of curious. Sounds crazy, but think about, how often at the end of the day you think, what in the heck have I done all day. So here we go.
I wake and stare at the window and wonder why it’s so bright at five a.m. and then realize it’s six and I’ve been dreaming up scenes for an hour. So I jump out of bed. Wait! Why do people say jump? Did this start when beds were too high off the floor? They did look cool and it would be neat to need a stepstool to get in one. I write a note to have husband raise the bed. When he asks why, I’ll tell him I have a thing for trampolines. *Snort!*
After a fast shower I slap on my makeup. Wait! Why do people say slap on? It’s not painful to apply. Well, it’s better than without. *Shudder.*
After fighting traffic…Wait! Fighting? Why fighting? I’m not fighting anyone. That’s called road rage and can get you killed in Alabama. Car behind me honks. Not the place to daydream or someone will want to fight.
I soon as I arrive at work, I check the company email then sneak in a peek at my personal email accounts. Yep. Two accounts. With four names. They say authors have split personalities. So right.
After working at the day job for a few hours . . . lunchtime! Pull out my lunch bag and do one of two things. Play dominoes with co-workers in the break room or stay at my desk and work on current WIP.Deadline is looming. So of course, I play dominoes.
I return back to my desk, losing at dominoes again. .  I should’ve written on my manuscript. Nose back to the grindstone…Wait! Why nose and grindstone? Ouch! I switch over to Google to check that saying out and somehow find myself on Facebook where someone has posted a new picture of a cowboy with no shirt. I’m on horseback with gorgeous hunk of a man and we’re riding off—
Phone rings and I blink. Crap, where am I?  After I answer the customer’s questions, I check personal emails again. Boss walks by and I flip the screen to company email. *Smile innocently*
Finally, it’s the end of the day and if I’m caught up, I work on manuscript while it’s quiet. Hit the door at five . . . Wait! Why hit? If I hit the door, I could break my hand. Why not a more gentle word like lean into the door. Nah! I want out of there fast.
Now I’m in traffic and why is everyone in my way? I’ve got a great idea for a scene I mustn’t forget it. A state trooper eyes me and not in the good way. I take my heavy foot off the pedal.
When I arrive at home, I look at the treadmill and promise to get on it tomorrow. Wait! Why do people say tomorrow never comes? So I change into workout clothes and pull out e-reader for latest book in my virtual TBR pile.
I’m feeling good about myself and go to eat ice cream bar and then two no-bake cookies. Wait! Nothing. Just felt like I needed to type that, though some days I feel like it should be “Squirrel!” My little homage to the Disney/Pixar animated movie, UP. I so can relate.
While cleaning off the makeup I slapped on that morning, I check my email accounts, Facebook, Twitter and make a few comments and send out promos.
Then at 9 p.m., Crap! What was the great idea I had in the car? Oh, well, I’ll think of a new one and try to remember to find the recorder that I bought for that very reason.
Time to write. Every 30 minutes: go to the bathroom, refill drink, (vicious cycle) write until 11-12 midnight.
Now time to brush teeth and then go to bed. As I fall asleep with smile on my face, I remember that scene. Surely, I’ll remember it tomorrow. I chuckle.
Before you start commenting, I’ll answer one question that’s probably on your mind. Do I really think about my manuscript and writing all day long?  Yes. It’s an obsession. So now you have a chance to win an e-copy of Circle of Danger for being a commenter.
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ABOUT THE BOOKS


As the top assassin at The Circle, a shadowy group of mercenaries, Olivia St. Vincent can hunt down anyone. She’s been trained since she was a teenager to kill without feeling, to interact with men without love. But when she’s kidnapped by the enigmatic leader of a rival organization, she learns she’s been lied to for years. She never worked for the good guys.
Collin Ryker believes the sultry woman he’s abducted knows more than she’s telling about The Circle and its plans for complete domination. Over time, as they work together, Olivia’s tenacity and vulnerability captivate him. But if he isn’t careful, Collin will fall into the biggest trap of all: caring for a woman who can betray him to his greatest enemy.




Marie Beltane, a lowly data entry specialist for The Circle, resents being treated like a little girl and wants to help by proving she’s worthy of being a full-fledged operative. Disobeying Arthur Ryker’s orders to stay out of the way, she accepts a simple fact-finding assignment—only to have everything go horribly wrong. Now she’s been injected with the drug responsible for the deaths of four local women, a drug that puts her sex drive into overdrive.
Ryker wants nothing more than to keep Marie safe from the world. He’s already killed to protect her from one madman, and he may have to do it again. While on a search for an antidote to her mysterious drug, he falls into a trap and must fight a new evil. Now he must become the monster he’s always feared to save the woman he’s always loved.



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Carla Swafford knows her personal life isn’t as exciting as her characters. She lives in Alabama and is married to her high school sweetheart. A third generation storyteller, she enjoys all kinds of romances and loves writing about the different paths taken to that beautiful happy ending. Circle of Desire and Circle of Danger are available now.
You can find Carla Swafford at
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CONTEST
Enter for a chance to win a ebook copy of 
Circle of Danger by Carla Swafford

CONTEST CLOSED!!!!!!

Guest Post: Alice Gaines

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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AUTHOR ALICE GAINES
Assistant awakes me at 9:00.  The harsh light of day is so inelegant, but one must sacrifice for one’s art.  Bubble bath, reading reviews clipped by assistant.  Breakfast — eggs Benedict, toast with the crusts removed, mimosa.  Dress in satin and jewels.  Sit on couch with Poochie to dictate new pages to assistant.  Linger lovingly on the “hero’s purple arrow of love.”
Rewind!  Reality.
Wake at 9:00.  Curse self.  Told myself I’d get up at 6:00 or 7:00.  Bath, reading RT.  Convinced everyone else in the world is doing better than I am.  Dress in grubbies.  Feed the stray cat that lives in the backyard.  Check squashes for blossoms.  Pollinate female flower with male flower– the most excitement I’ll get all day.  Breakfast = coffee.  Make bed, exactly half of all the housework I’ll do today.
Power up computer, read e-mail.  More confirmation everyone else is doing better than I am.  Check blog schedule.  Groan.  What to talk about again?  Tweet.  Check Facebook.  Curse Pinterest because I can’t get my latest cover to upload.  Tweet some more.
Check author page on Amazon.  Add new book.  Delete book about antique spittoons by someone with a similar name.  Try to get the blog on author page to work…again.  Search among FAQs for help and find none.  Add tags for new book.  Check rankings.  Sigh.  Check new 1 star review that says “Gross.  BAD, BAD, BAD.  DON’T READ.  Should be zero star.”  Tweet about funny review.
Realize it’s after noon and I haven’t eaten.  Decide on sandwich and find no bread.  Go to grocery store.  Mumble dialogue to self in soups aisle.  Return home to find only cheese for sandwich.  Make grilled cheese.
Take all electronics..netbook, Alpha Smart, cell phone, and Nook…outside to get some writing done.  Feed cat.  Realize garbage pickup is tomorrow.  Haul garbage outside to bins and take to curb.  Return to writing.  Turn on Nook and play Angry Birds.  Check time:  2:00 pm, and I haven’t written a word.
Pound frantically on Alpha Smart.  Must do 1,666 words today.  Try not to edit as I write.  Pray I don’t include something like “hero’s purple arrow of love.”
4:00.  Still 539 words to write.  Get beer.
5:00 Finish beer and pages and go inside.  Cat won’t let me back into the house unless I feed her.  Go to computer and upload new pages.  Read e-mail.  Check rankings on new book.  Proof positive everyone else is doing better than I am.  Write plaintive e-mail to loops about “woe is me.”  Tweet.
Go to make dinner.  Discover dishes from last night.  Wash dishes…the other half of the housework I’ll do today.  Figure out what to make for dinner.  Find only pasta and canned chili.  Use chili as pasta sauce.  Find more of the cheese.  Grate same and put on top.  Open bottle of wine.
Eat dinner.  Settle in front of TV.  Watch CSI:  Miami.  Or New York, who can tell?  Or Milwaukee.  Play Angry Birds.  Give up on CSI and put Gold movie into DVD player.  Fall asleep in front of TV.
Midnight.  Get up, turn off DVD and TV.  Go to bed.
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ABOUT THE BOOK

Heat Rises
Author: Alice Gaines
Publisher: Avon Red
 (June 12, 2012)
 Snowbound in a cabin . . . able to live out all her fantasies . . . Laura Barber has dreamt of doing unspeakably delicious things with Ethan Gould for years. Now, stuck in a mountain cabin, she just might get her shot. Ethan offers her the chance to live out each and every one of those desires. They may be rivals in the business world, but in the bedroom they’re a perfect match. Knowing they have only a few days, Laura shakes off all her inhibitions. Every secret need, every lust-filled thought . . . it’s all fair game.

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Guest Post & Giveaway with Author Linda Wisdom

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Writing Resolutions. Good and Bad? 
Long ago I spent the first of every year writing out my New Year resolutions. The list was pretty much the usual along with whatever had to do with me personally, get back to my workouts on a regular basis, be nicer in the grocery store (don’t ask), polish the furniture before I can write my name in the dust, do more cooking than just throw something in the crock pot,  
Then there are the writing resolutions. Make all my deadlines, don’t play paper toss game when I should be writing (I should take the app from my Nook, but it’s so fun!), write a certain number of pages per day. 
There is an excellent reason why I don’t make resolutions. They’re too easy to break.  
What I’ve done instead is make out a wish list. I don’t do this just at the first of the year, but add to it throughout the year. There is no reason why it should just have to do with January. I have a variety of wish lists. What I’d like to do with my writing. Personal wishes and anything else that comes to mind. The fun part is crossing out something once it’s accomplished.  
How I do this is thinking what’s lurking in my imagination. What book I hope to write and finish. List the books I hope to see go to contract. Are there conferences I hope to attend.  
Putting them down in print makes it real. A promise that I need to do what I’ve said.  
Some would say it’s the same with resolutions, but calling it a wish list makes it easier for me.  
And don’t we all like to see wishes come true?  
Do you make resolutions? And if you do, how many do you find you keep or do you close your eyes and toss the list?  
How would you feel if you made a wish list? Would it be easier to keep or accomplish?  
Linda 
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Wisdom has published more than 80 novels with 13 million copies sold worldwide including traditional, paranormal, humor, action/adventure romance, and romantic suspense. Her bestselling books have been nominated for RT Book Reviews awards and the Romance Writers of America Rita Award. She lives with her husband in Murrieta, California. For more information, please visit www.LindaWisdom.com.  
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A DEMON DOES IT BETTER BY LINDA WISDOM – IN STORES JANUARY 2012 
A madhouse is not place for a curious witch…

After more than a century, Doctor Lili Carter, witch healer extraordinaire, has returned to San Francisco and taken a job at Crying Souls Hospital and Asylum, where something peculiar and wicked I shappening. Patients are disappearing, and Lili wants to know why.  

And double dangerous for a demon…

Lili finds herself undeniably attracted to perhaps the most mysterious patient of all—a demented but seriously sexy demon named Jared. 

What’s behind the gorgeous chameleon demon’s late-night escapades?  

Before long, Lili and Jared are investigating each other—and creating a whole new kind of magic.  


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Thanks to Sourcebooks, I have two copies of A Demon Does It Better by Linda Wisdom to giveaway in a contest! That means two winners!!
RULES:
–to enter, please fill out the form below.
–entrants must be 13 years of age or older.
–contest deadline is Jan. 15th , 2012.
–contest open for the USA and Canada only!
ONE ENTRY PER PERSON!
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CONTEST CLOSED!
Winners have been contacted!