Happy Monday Everyone! 

Today, I’m featuring the wonderful Vanessa Riley on the blog! Vanessa’s latest release, The Bittersweet Bride, a Regency historical with a WoC heroine drops TODAY.  I AM SO PROUD OF HER! In case you needed a not so gentle nudge to spend your coins BUY THIS BOOK, NOW! I’m thrilled for Vanessa, and I wish her much success with this series. The preliminary buzz has been great, and I cannot wait to dive in. 

 Without further ado, take it away Vanessa! 

I always find author interviews kind of boring. We only get to see one side of an author, the polite side. If you had an evil doppelganger, what detail would they enjoy revealing about you to the public that people would find surprising and possibly questionable?

This is a very hard question. I think I’m rather boring and wholesome. I think that would be my accidental shoplifting heist. When I was kid, I thought the booklets on the counter at some store were free, and I scooped up a few and tried to put them in my mother’s purse. Let’s just say, they weren’t free, nor was my behind whooped-free, or the many times I paid having to hear the talk about how to act when in a store.

What inspired you to write the Advertisements for Love series?

I’m compelled to write romances because I truly believe all love stories need to be told. If you look at this advertisement, you can see how all the women were made fun of, but one woman, the Blackamoor was drawn to be grotesque. It didn’t sit well with me, and I decided to give the women the power and this series showcases three heiresses and hopefully they will find there happy ever after in this series.

Say you’re starring in a rom-com, who would you want cast as your love interest?

Always Pierce Brosnan. The answer is always the Best Bond, the Remington Steele.

What’s one rule you’ve set for yourself?

It’s okay to fail. If I tried and gave it my all, then it’s not really a failure.

What made you happiest in 2017?  

Other than my hubby and kiddo, it was working with my editor, Erin at Entangled. She gets me, and she knows how to make me better.

What’s your favorite board game? 

Monopoly. I’m the ironing board.

Finish this sentence: The quality of your life is the quality of ________.

Your memories. You have to live and love. You have to do things that bring you joy. Those memories should be spectacular.

Describe your most romantic date.  

Girl, I’ve been married for over twenty years, so you’re asking me to think. From what I remember, it would’ve been our first: a sweet dinner over a fire pit and then walking around downtown looking at the new Christmas season lights being put up.

If money wasn’t an issue, what would you spend your time doing? 

It would be writing full time. I love these worlds I create.

Take your time and think about your answer deeply before responding. People are reading with bated breath…

Best breakfast main course: Pancakes, waffles, or French toast? THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE! 

That would have to be pecan pancakes with hot bourbon maple syrup. Of course, this breakfast would have to be made by my husband, and he’s volunteering to do all the clean-up. Paradise.

**Bonus Question**

Ever tried BDSM? If not, would you?

Never tried. Not really into giving up that much control, and only my mama has ever spanked me. I’d like to keep it that way.

Bio:

Vanessa Riley here. I write Delightfully Different historical romances set in 1800s England, giving voice to voiceless 10,000 peoples of color who loved, laughed, and lived full lives, even as the sands of time buried their stories. I write of the 10,000-person Blackamoor and mulattoes population living in London during the time of Jane Austen. This population was free and as some gained wealth, some intermarried but all mingled in society.

Social Media:

Website 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Pinterest

Instagram

Buy Links:

Get your one-click finger ready to rock and purchase your copy of The Bittersweet Bride from any of the following e-Book retailers:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Entangled Publishing

*waves* Heeey, it’s Harper chiming in for a sec. Thank you for reading this Release Day Author Spotlight! If you’ve read The Bittersweet Bride, please leave a review on any of the websites above or Goodreads. Release Day reviews mean the world to an author. If you recall, the first cover for The Bittersweet Bride was not an accurate representation of the heroine, Theodosia. Because the book world spoke up, Vanessa was granted a new cover. It’s important that her publisher (and other publishers) see readers supporting stories such as these. Buy, read, review, and spread the word. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed. 

Heeeeeey! Happy Monday, Peeps! 

Can you believe January is almost over? Holy crap. Some days it feels like this month is flying by, other days it feels like this month is SUPER LONG. LOL, I can’t win. I wish time would slow down a little considering I have a deadline I need to meet in February. Eek! 

But enough about me, let’s focus on the fab lady I’m spotlighting today. Tere Michaels is amazing. I first met Tere at the Liberty States Fiction Writers conference in 2016. The things that came out of the woman’s mouth during a game of Dirty Mad Libs would make you blush… and keel over with laughter. Her sense of humor is one of the reasons I ❤️️ her something fierce. 

Get to know a little about this massively cool lady. 

I always find author interviews kind of boring. We only get to see one side of an author, the polite side. If you had an evil doppelganger, what detail would they enjoy revealing about you to the public that people would find surprising and possibly questionable?

I am impatient. Like, so so impatient. Heavy sighing levels of impatient. I am not here for your indecision, meandering, or line-holding-up. Lines! Oh my Lord, lines! Does no one remember kindergarten?! Why are lines so difficult for adults?!

My evil doppelganger would tell you exactly what is going through my head when I’m waiting behind someone on line…and it’s really not pretty.  I should never be mic’d when I’m driving. It would just be an endless stream of bleeps.

Do you sing in the shower? If so, what’s your go-to song?

I do not. I don’t think I ever have! I do sing in the car but it’s usually just whatever earworm pop song that’s been created in a lab to become popular.

Aside from being an author, you’re also the Programming Coordinator for the RT Booklovers Convention. How on earth do you manage it all? Planning for RT is a year-round thing, what’s your schedule like?

My schedule is basically a rollercoaster of deadlines and more deadlines and shifting deadlines and also deadlines. This is my third RT as staff and while I’ve gotten a lot of things into a reasonable groove, it’s still impossible to map out a schedule. Some weeks are insane, some are quieter. The lack of rhythm sometimes works against me!

Basically, I’m in the city two days a week, work from home the rest, write when I can!

What’s the last thing you read, saw, or listened to that you wanted to tell someone about?

I am reading an arc of “Jane on the Brain: Exploring the Science of Social Intelligence with Jane Austen” by Wendy Jones. It’s a mix of brain science, Jane Austen, sociology, and psychology – like someone said, “What sort of book would Tere flip out over? Let’s make THAT.”

It was released last month. Everyone should read it!

Favorite childhood Halloween costume?

When I was super small, maybe three, Mom took a suede jacket and sewed leaves on it. I was FALL. I mean, how cute is that?! I wanted to wear it like that beyond Halloween because it was so cool.

Other than an HEA or HFN, what else should a romance contain?

An emotional connection. Lust is great, meet cutes are lovely, external plot devices can be swell but if you don’t have an emotional connection between the characters (and I daresay, a positive emotional connection!), then you don’t have a romance IMHO. I want to internally melt and sizzle and writhe around on the floor over a GLANCE or a gentle touch because I understand the power of it, because of the emotional connection. It can make or break a romance novel for me.

Are you team waffles or team pancakes? I think I may make this a required question from now on. I need to know where allegiances lie and who I can truly trust.

Team pancakes! (Although, maybe my evil twin will insert themselves here and confess I don’t really care for maple syrup…)

What’s your bucket list must visit destination?

I want to go to Italy, Sicily to be exact, because that’s where my grandmother is from.

What’s the last five-star romance you read?

Lickety Split by Damon Suede!

In three words, sum up your thoughts on the report released last year by Leah and Bea, owners of the Ripped Bodice, on diversity in publishing. 

DO BETTER PEOPLE. (And about a thousand exclamation points.)

**Bonus Question**

Ever tried BDSM? If not, would you?

No I haven’t. Would I? I’m not sure. I’m fascinated by it; I’ve read it, I’ve even written it (at least the mental aspects of it, in my poly m/m/f romance, “Three to Get Ready”) but as far as participating, I’d probably say no. Without judgment, just knowing myself. There’s an allure, an aspect of it—letting go, giving up control—that appeals while at the same time my inner voice just starts laughing loudly.

Bio:

Tere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith, Love & Devotion series and the superhero saga, The Vigilante.

She is a member of RWA and Liberty States Fiction Writers.

Social Media:

Website

Twitter

Books:

Get your one-click on! Purchase Tere’s latest release, The Heir Apparent at the following retailers:

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Google Play

Kobo

Happy MLK Day! 

I couldn’t think of a lovelier person to spotlight today. Kimberly aka Kimmers is a fantastic lady who has been extremely supportive of my career. She’s one of the first bloggers to embrace me writing M/M romance. Many authors who write in different subgenres can sometimes find it difficult to tap into a new audience when branching out. I’m proud to say Kimmers signed up for my Complexity blog tour without any hesitation, and she’s continued to support my writing endeavors since the tour. You should totally get to know this awesometastic lady who is all about spreading joy and equality in Romancelandia. We could certainly use more of it!

Take it away Kimmers… 

Everyone is asked this question. Librarians, bloggers, authors, no one is immune! We only get to see one side of an author, the polite side. I’m sure the same can be said for bloggers. If you had an evil doppelganger, what detail would they enjoy revealing about you to the public that people would find surprising and possibly questionable?

Nothing. I’m not really a very private person – to know me is to know everything, good and bad. Over sharer here! *waves hands in air*

What would you give up, if you could?

OMG, I really had to laugh at this one. I looked at the hubs and said, “Do I have any vices?” His response was, “None you don’t like.” *snort* So, I guess I’m going with my love of carbs. Good Lord, now that I’m perimenopausal they’re killing me!

What was the best book you read in 2017?

Funny, but my best book of 2017 came right on the heels of the year and absolutely blindsided me. Because it’s marketed as a holiday story I was expecting, well, I don’t know what I was expecting - but I got soooo much more! Sean Kerr’s Santa’s Sack is the most thought provoking narrative I have read in some time. I was literally sobbing reading segments out loud to my husband. Who had glistening eyes himself. What makes this book so powerful is that you can tell Sean put so much of himself into it. His passions and feelings, and that type of raw exposure always captivates me. The “holiday” part of it is so minuscule compared to the overall theme and message of this tale. Average every day men, real, relatable, with a love that is undeniable. The emotion just bleeds off the page. It’s a story of love, loss, grief, hope, and belief in something more! It’s definitely a story that will stay with me forever, making my list of top reads – and one I will highly recommend for the foreseeable future. You can read Kimmers’ Goodreads review here. 

Since the world is a crazy place these days and you can’t turn on the news without encountering something awful, how are you dealing with the madness? What’s your #1 form of self-care?

Honestly, family and reading. My husband and my girls are my lifeline while my book characters give me an escape. Also, I don’t watch TV (I’ve only watched about 20 hours in 2017) and in recent months I’ve had to pull back on social media as it was all just draining my spirit.

You’ve done one of the sweetest things I think I have ever seen a reader/blogger do for an author they adore, you carved out space in your home to showcase an individual author’s work. It’s clear a lot of love and care went into creating the space. Can you tell us a bit about what inspired your gesture of appreciation?  

Wow, I’m glad you like it Harper. Actually I’m a very sentimental person at heart and when something, or someone, touches me in a profound way I must express that. Reading Joseph Lance Tonlet’s work, especially Grif’s Toy, opened my eyes in more ways than one and changed my life, I believe for the better. I couldn’t think of a more fitting way to express that than a permanent display I can sit and look at from my desk each day that reminds me of the power of the written word. And Grif holds a place of honor as he was the catalyst to my creating KEBB.

You might not know but I also have a tattoo which shows my appreciation of 2 authors’ works.  

If you were one of Snow White’s seven dwarfs, which dwarf would you be and why?

I’m gonna be honest here, I had to look these up. The only ones I could remember were Grumpy, Doc and Dopey and those are definitely not me. At least I hope not. Although I wouldn’t mind having Doctor credentials. *winks* Since I only average about 4-5 hours a sleep a day it’s gotta be Sleepy.

What inspired you to create your blog? 

I kinda already hinted at it but reading Grif’s Toy by Joseph Lance Tonlet created a spark in me. I never in a million years thought I would talk to an author, let alone the author. After getting to know Joseph a bit, and dabbling into the taboo genre (which by the way I adore), I discovered that getting the word out there about that niche is very difficult. With his, and Louis Stevens’, encouragement of my work I decided I wanted to create a space where those types of books could be highlighted and reach readers. I had no idea how that one little step would snowball into something so much bigger than I could ever imagine. I am very proud of what KEBB has become and I’m honored to have a fabulous team of individuals who walk the journey with me every day.

What’s the sexiest quote you’ve ever read in a romance novel?

“The real beauty behind submission is defined by how a man submits with no chains present, no physical restraint, just a pure will to allow someone else to control the moment, here and on full and stunning display.” From Jack L. Pyke’s Breakdown

What are some trends you’d like to see happen in the romance genre within the next five years?

My answer is going to be in relation to LGBTQ romance as that is where my passion lies and the community I am more intimate with as far as the genre goes.

I’d like to see authors tackle relationships after the “happily ever after” or the “happy for now.” We get so much of how a relationship began and what got them there but very rarely do we get the “what now.” Whenever I have young friends ask how my husband and I make it work I tell them, “Marriage is hard work and you are never the same person twice. You have to learn to change with each other.” I’d like to see our protagonists tackling real world issues. Give me guts, get down and dirty. Maybe one has lost their job devastating them financially…show me how they overcome this together? Does one find themselves with a wandering eye now that the original hot lust is gone, overtaken by menial everyday tasks…how are they getting their spark back? Do they find their political views warring…take me on their journey to find common ground? To me these types of stories show our younger generation that relationships are not all rainbows and unicorns and it instills in them that lasting partnerships are worth fighting for.  

Two part question: If you had the power to have any romance novel turned into a Passionflix movie, what book would you choose and why? Who would you cast as the lead characters?

Oh, oh, oh…no question, Jack L. Pyke’s Don’t… series. OMG, that would make the most amazing collection of movies. Complex characters, psychological drama and suspense with dark twists that make your heart race and your gut clench. Plus the beautiful dynamic between the 3 men – what’s not to like? Obviously you meant dark romance, right? LOL! As for who I would cast as the characters I’m never good at this because when I read I simply see them as who they are in my mind’s eye, their stature, physique, voices – everything. It’s like comparing my children to someone, they are absolutely unique. The one I can see though is Jack. I can totally see Ryan Reynolds playing him. I think he could get Jack’s smart-ass charm and tumultuous emotions down pat!

**Bonus Question**

Ever tried BDSM? If not, would you?

Oh yes! Let’s just say my husband enjoys the perks of my reading. We’re kinda new at it, and some might call our baby steps a little unconventional, but the way we approach it works for us…and that’s what matters. Right!? *grins*

About:

Our mission at Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter blog is simple: We want to bring authors and readers together…through mutual respect! We do this by offering our fair and honest opinion on a variety of LGBTQ reads, including Contemporary Romance, Erotic(a) Romance, Ménage, Paranormal, Dark, BDSM, Taboo, and more. As well as participating in book tours, blasts, cover reveals, exclusives, and numerous other promos. We are very passionate about using our platform to educate. We want to guide you how to use eBook retailers beyond Amazon, instruct you how to download non-purchased Amazon eBooks to your Kindle as well as teach you what goes into an author creating a “read ready” book. In addition we feel very strongly about supporting the taboo book community and authors. Some of the ways we accomplish this are through our Taboo Tuesday feature, as well as through our reviews of taboo reads.

Social Media:

Blog

Facebook

Goodreads 

Amazon

Google+ 

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For anyone familiar with KEBB we are aware you hlave been experiencing some slowness with our site. Believe me we are experiencing the same frustration andp we apologize! We have tried to work with WIX extensively to no avail.

GOOD NEWS…we are set to partner with a friend in the industry who will be designing an entirely NEW blog sight for us the first of the year. With that comes some exciting changes. First, as of January 1 we will solely be an LGBTQ inclusive blog highlighting reads in all relative genres. Second we hope to provide some exclusive content with authors in our monthly newsletter. And for those who enjoy their social media, with this new platform we intend to get more-savvy as we venture to create a Twitter and Pinterest page.

So…be on the lookout! And with that said, I want to thank each of you for all of your support of the Banter, we wouldn’t be here without you.