Why is the 1Night Stand Series So Popular? 200+ Books Tell the Story....

Debbie: Morning all! Today we are in sunny Destin, Florida, at the Castillo-Destin Resort talking to the creators of Decedent Publishing’s 1 Night Stand series.

LJ: Oooo! I can’t wait to talk to Kate Richards and Valerie Mann! I’ve read lots of the 1NS stories…written a few, too. LOL

Debbie: Gee, Really?

LJ: Uh yeah. Where were you?

Debbie: Hmmm…Writing them with you?

LJ: Wow, nice weather we’re having today. Look…here come Kate and Val now!

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LJ: Hey! So cool you could visit with us. Oh! (takes cup from Kate) Coffee! Awesome! How ever did you know? Thank you!

DEBBIE: (takes cup from Val) Hot chocolate? That’s so thoughtful. Thanks! (elbows LJ and whispers) Now I feel bad about how we’re about to grill them.

LJ: (whispers) No you don’t.

DEBBIE: You’re right. I don’t. (turns back to guests) Okay girls, so we hear you two are celebrating this month. What exactly is the excuse, I mean reason this time?

VAL: We’ll have over 200 1Night Stand releases by the end of 2013!

LJ: Wow! Well that is something to celebrate! Two hundred…that’s a lotta stories!

DEBBIE: That’s a lotta 1 night stands!

LJ: How long have you two known one another?

KATE:  Five years I believe

VAL:  October 2008. We bonded over a Halloween promotion.

LJ: Cool! How long have we known each other, Deb?

DEBBIE: Ahhhh, hmmmm. I know it was by 2009. Coulda been 2008.

LJ: Feels like a lot longer. Like eons.

DEBBIE: That’s a compliment, right?

LJ: Sure it is! So Val, Kate, what was the first thing you noticed about each other?

KATE: Val’s brilliance and leadership

VAL: Kate’s diplomacy. It offsets my shoot-from-the-hipness. She’s quite frightening, once you get to know her. You sort of bow down in homage.

LJ: Sounds like you two complement each other.

DEBBIE: How come you never compliment me?

LJ: Uh, I just did!

DEBBIE: I’m not so sure.

LJ: How did you two come up with the 1NS series?

KATE:  The two of us and Olivia Starke developed it the summer before, wrote a story each, and submitted the trilogy to Decadent.

VAL: July 2009, we discussed writing a little series. It actually didn’t start out as 1Night Stand. More like 1NS’s big brother. Madame Eve’s boss is in that series. And that’s all we’ll say about that. But you think she has power? She’s a one-trick pony compared to her boss man. That series was put on hold, but in January 2011, we went ahead and submitted three 1NS stories. We thought that would be the end of it. Ha.

LJ: Okay, you naughty girl. Now I’m intrigued. I would love to learn more about Madame Eve’s boss.

DEBBIE: I didn’t even know she had a boss.

LJ: Pft. Me neither. Hmm…so if there’s a boss, why did you choose Madam Eve to run the show?

KATE: Oh, I don’t know that we chose her. I believe it is her show. With Madame’s talents, I have no doubt she is capable of bringing herself to our attention.

VAL: I have no idea. Honest. It’s like she just appeared and said, “Move over, I’m driving.” And she’s been watching us in the rearview mirror ever since. We wave and smile back.

LJ: Go, Madam Eve!

DEBBIE: LOL

LJ: (digs in pocket) Ooo! M&Ms. Hey, Kate, since you brought me coffee, you want some M&Ms?

DEBBIE: This series seemed to just explode. What do you think made it so popular with both the readers and authors?

VAL:  Huh…Kate has nothing to say about this?

DEBBIE: Kate’s eating chocolate with LJ. Their mouths are full. They look like little chipmunks.

LJ: (glares at Deb) Mmph-mmph.

DEBBIE: Kinda sound like chipmunks too.

VAL: Well, I’ll answer. The key to a successful series is having at least one element that shows up over and over, and pulls readers in. Series don’t have to be super-complicated.  This isn’t Lord of the Rings. What 1NS does have is a trifecta of romantic goodness: a mysterious matchmaker, a service that guarantees results (even though Eve never promises anything, we know better), and sex that isn’t meaningless.

DEBBIE: What every single person hopes for I would think, which gives readers a lot to relate to.

LJ: Wow, those M&Ms hit the spot. Now I need more coffee.

DEBBIE: I think you need Ritalin.

LJ: Coffee’s better! So, I think it’s cool how you guys managed to make it so the sex wasn’t meaningless. I like how it all ties together, how some of the characters go into it thinking it will be a random no-strings-attached night of hokey-pokey and then it turns into something so much more.

DEBBIE: In my case, it’s one of the harder things to do as an author and make it believable in such a short story that (in most cases) these two strangers meet, have sex and fall in love. But I think every story I’ve read and written for this series has been very believable.

LJ: What are you looking for in a submission that makes you say, “YES, this is perfect for 1NS”?

KATE: We like to be surprised, which happens all the time. We want a new take on the concept. Also characters who appeal to the readers on their own merit. And a great love story.

VAL:  An author who brings something new to the series. There are only so many plots, but a cool twist will get our attention. Shampoo, rinse and repeat is not going to get our attention. But, I’ll tell you what will get our attention faster (in a bad way) than anything—authors who don’t submit clean manuscripts that have been critiqued and polished to within an inch of their lives. We’ve accepted well-written manuscripts that are a little dull, knowing they can be stellar when edited. And we’ve rejected great stories that showed the author hadn’t done her homework. Submitting a manuscript that’s full of plot holes, grammar errors, POV issues and all other newbie mistakes drives us crazy. And we’re already crazy, we don’t need any more crazy. Send us awesomeness and we’ll take it!

LJ: Awesomeness! That’s my word! J

DEBBIE: Nooooo, I do believe that’s my word.

LJ: What? You’re insane. I use that word all the time!

DEBBIE: Oh, PLEASE! I’ve never heard you use that word.

LJ: Funny, I was about to say the same to you. LOL

DEBBIE: Whatever. So, ladies, I’ve heard you take all different heat levels from sweet to erotic. What is a must-have if the story is going to be a 1NS? Beyond it having to revolve around the 1NS dating service and Madame Eve?

KATE: No, we don’t take sweet. Technically, every story in the series is erotic, but we run the gamut within the definition. It must have at the very least a HFN but most of the stories are HEA

VAL: *Echo* No, we don’t take sweet. A couple of authors have argued that it’s not fair they can’t write a non-erotic 1NS. The series is called 1Night Stand. That means one-night stands occur. Which means sex. Which means hook-ups. Which means…you get the picture.

What *I* look for when I get a submission is an alpha hero and a strong heroine. Throw in a good conflict and satisfying resolution, and I’ll send a contract.

DEBBIE: I take it you’ve never watched The Bachelor or The Bachelorette? With the three over-night dates. They always pick to stay the night together and they always say they talked alllll night. See, they had sweet 1 night-stand.

LJ: Riiiiight. Sure they did.

DEBBIE: Hey, that’s what they said on TV.

LJ: So, it must be true.

DEBBIE: You know it.

LJ: Ladies, what is your favorite thing about this series?

KATE:  The way readers respond. We travel all over the country for conventions and other gatherings, and everywhere we go we meet readers who read and love the stories.

VAL:  What she said. Plus, there appears to be no end in sight. Readers love these stories, reviewers love them.

LJ: I love them!

DEBBIE: I love them more!

LJ: Do you believe in love at first sight?

DEBBIE: Yes, I do.

LJ: Not you, Deb. (sigh) That question is for Kate and Val.

KATE: Yes.

VAL: Yes, Kate and I are proof. But, we fell in love at first email J

DEBBIE: Awwwwwww.

LJ: Awwwwwww. (elbows Deb and whispers) Okay. They’re all cozy-comfy. Bring down the hatchet, woman!

DEBBIE: Describe your bedroom. No, not your fantasy bedroom, the real one you sleep in at night.

LJ: Why am I not surprised you’re asking this?

DEBBIE: Because you shouldn’t be surprised by anything I ask anymore.

LJ: This is your idea of a hatchet?

DEBBIE: No, but you are already asking those questions later.

KATE: Very large furniture that my husband designed and had made. Big dressers, super high headboard…and three dog beds. We’re so lucky it’s a reasonably big room.

LJ: Yep. Or the dogs would be on the bed, and you’d be….hmm, in the tub?

DEBBIE: Wow, cool that your husband designed the furniture.

LJ: Yes it is. What about you, Val?

VAL:  Do you mean this very second? This is embarrassing. Well, the room is rather small. There is a pile of Thanksgiving dishes in one corner that I put there when we got our kitchen cabinets refinished (last April), but don’t feel like figuring out a new home for. A ginormous armoire that my husband thinks is a landing spot for anything he doesn’t know where to put. A bookcase that holds less books than usual, but lots of other crap I don’t feel like dealing with (you see a running theme going here in the Mann house, right?).  There are guns under the four-poster bed, say what you will, but I live in a house full of guys, they like to shoot stuff. And on top of the bed (currently) is one snoring man and a cat. Both sharing the same pillow. That’s going on YouTube if I can find my phone.

LJ: HAHAHAHA Send us the link! Too bad the cat isn’t snoring, too!

DEBBIE: Oh, please send the link…please.

LJ: Yeah, no worries. We would never post it on our site.

DEBBIE: Pft. Right.

LJ: Okay, so yeah, we would.

DEBBIE: Damn straight we would.

LJ: Give your thoughts on Karma.

KATE: I absolutely believe what goes around comes around, and try very hard to make that a positive thing.

LJ: Awesome! J

DEBBIE: Me too!

VAL:  I met Kate, didn’t I? LOL Karma plays out in my life every day. Just yesterday, I saw a cosmic example of it. I won’t tell you if it was good or bad, but I’m still laughing.

LJ: Sounds like you and Debbie would get along fabulously.

DEBBIE: You can tell us, we won’t tell a soul!

LJ: Sure. Just like we wouldn’t post that YouTube link.

DEBBIE: Exactly!

LJ: Word on the street is you’re an Angry Birds fanatic, Kate. What about Candy Crush, either of you play that?

KATE: I alternate Candy Crush and Angry Birds. J

VAL:  Candy Crush. Level 107 is kicking my confectionary butt though. As Kate says when stuck on a level: I’ve got a condo there.

LJ: I’ve got a condo on Level 86. Sigh.

DEBBIE: Stuck at 165. That damn game is bad for my writing!

LJ: OMG! That’s what you’ve been doing instead of sending me chapters??

DEBBIE: Uhhhh…

LJ: I knew it!

DEBBIE: What is your worst bad habit that has to do with your writing life?

KATE: Not putting my writing first.

VAL: Ditto. If there was a place after dead last, that would be it.

DEBBIE: Ditto!

LJ: Cause you’re playing CANDY CRUSH! (smacks Deb upside the head) At least Val is editing and handling a Decadent line and a slew of other stuff.

DEBBIE: Hey! She’s playing it too! She sends me lives all the time. So, there, yeah, it’s VAL’S fault. (whew, got out of that one.)

LJ: You think? Not!

DEBBIE: Any deep, dark secrets you two want to share?

KATE: About Valerie? Wait…no, nothing.

VAL: Kate picks her nose.

LJ: OMG So does Debbie!

DEBBIE: I do not!

LJ: Wait, did I say that out loud?

DEBBIE: Ummm, yeah, ya did. Speaking of which, what’s your favorite food?

KATE: Anything chocolate.

LJ: More M&Ms?

VAL:  Squirty cheese, Triscuits, Double Stuf Oreos. A jar of Biscoff spread and a spoon.

DEBBIE: Did I tell you my hubby is the Oreo rep? You move up the release of our next 1NS and I’ll hook ya up.

LJ: Yeah, she’ll hook you up. And there’s a bag of M&Ms in it for you, Kate.

DEBBIE: Damn straight. Do you believe in the Boogieman?

KATE:  No, but I do believe in Cat Woman.

VAL:  Suh-weeeet! She just revealed her Halloween costume. It’s a secret no more.

DEBBIE: Hmmm, and what are you gonna be Laura?

LJ: A mom following three little boys around the neighborhood. Whee! How about you?

DEBBIE: A couch potato.

LJ: Favorite sexual position?

DEBBIE: I’m not sharing that with you. Don’t you think that goes a little bit beyond our relationship, I mean really, LJ, what are you thinking?

LJ: Not you, Debbie. Our guests!

DEBBIE: Oh, well, in that case, ladies?

KATE: I’ll take the 5^th

VAL:  That’s a position?

LJ: If it isn’t, it should be.

DEBBIE: I can’t picture it.

LJ: Here. (draws on a napkin)

DEBBIE: (cocks head) huh, looks painful.

LJ: Then you’re not doing it right…or wait, maybe you are. I forget.

DEBBIE: Favorite flavor of lube

KATE:  No idea

VAL:  Liar.

LJ: HAHAHAHA I bet it’s chocolate sauce!

DEBBIE: Or squirty cheese? LOL

LJ: Favorite sex toy?

KATE:  My husband

VAL:  Her husband. Wait, er….  Well, I guess I’m never getting invited back to her house.

DEBBIE: BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You move up our release and I wont tell Kate.

LJ: Wow, Val! Debbie keeps your secret AND you get Double Stuf Oreos….

DEBBIE: Now who could pass that up?

LJ: Who indeed? (nudges Deb) Looks like this interview thing is working out in our favor!

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Quickies:

Spike heels or knee boots

KATE:  Knee boots

VAL:  Spikes

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Free to roam or tied up

KATE:  Tied up

VAL:  Don’t even think about binding me.

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Beef or Broccoli

KATE: Beef, but they are so good together

VAL:  Beef. Raw. Okay, very rare.

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Football or Volleyball

KATE: Volleyball

VAL:  Football

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Night on the town or curled up on the couch

KATE:  Couch

VAL:  *Copycat* Couch

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Mountains or Ocean

KATE:  Ocean

VAL:  Mountains

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Eyes or ass

KATE: Eyes

VAL:  *bats lashes* Thank you.

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Reality TV or prime time drama

KATE:  Reality TV (Big Bang isn’t an option here! It’s always first)

VAL:  Hey. Duck Dynasty, Jack. And CSI. So, I guess both.

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Nook or Book

KATE: Kindle

VAL:  Kindle

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FINAL QUESTION:

.....You two are at a rally in Destin, Florida, protesting Senator Calvin Bishop’s bid to run in the next Presidential Election. Val, you hand a sign to Kate so the both of you can picket.

.....“Wait a minute,” Kate says. “Val, there’s a typo on this sign.”
.....Eyes wide, Val looks at her handiwork. “What?”
.....“Um, it says ‘Eat Mor Chikin’.”
.....“So? Everyone knows how that scumbag Bishop covered up the cow mutilations down in Polk County.” She sets her hands on her hips. “He’s hatin’ on the bovine population, and I won’t stand for it.”
.....Kate huffs loudly and rolls her eyes. “I hear you, sister. I love bovine as much as the next person. And California bovine are the best! But as far as this sign you made goes…where’s the exclamation point?”
.....“Well, sh—”
.....“Lucky for you, I have a marker in my purse.” Whips out a fat red marker and fixes sign. “That’s better.”
.....“Check out what I got in my purse.” Holds open bag.
.....“Wow!” Kate's eyes widen. “How many eggs are in there?”
.....Smiles proudly. “Four dozen.”
.....“That’s quite an omelet.”
.....“Hey, you gotta break some eggs to save the cows.”
.....Kate nods sagely. “Not to mention the country.” She balls her fist and raises it over her head. “Save the cow. Ditch Bishop now.”
.....“Cool.” Val grins. “But I thought we were going with bovine.”
.....“Oh, yeah. Right, um…” Frowns, purses lips then her eyes glint. “Got it.” Circles fist over her head and chants, “Bishop hates bovine. That is asinine.”
.....“Perfect!” Val points toward a hotel. “We should go up to the roof. Better trajectory. Is it me, or does that place look familiar?”
.....“It’s the Castillo Hotel and Resort-Destin.”
.....Val grabs Kate’s hand and drags her through the crowd. “We’ll check out the lobby and get room rates while we go.”
.....An hour and forty-five minutes later, you both stumble onto the hotel roof.
.....Below, Senator Calvin Bishop is already speaking. “And as your next President, I promise to lead this country to its former greatness, to lower taxes, to get rid of the deficit, to lower unemployment, and to ensure everyone in our great nation has the opportunity for a college education.”
.....Val smirks. “I notice he didn’t mention anything about saving the bovine.”
.....“Me either. Jerk.”
.....Val opens her purse, a fierce expression on her face. “Let’s do this thing.”
.....Kate grabs two handfuls of eggs. “Absolutely!”
.....They take aim at the senator below and—
.....A huge explosion erupts. The rooftop beneath them shakes and shimmies. Dust plumes into the air, and people start screaming. Kate stumbles, tips, and topples over the knee wall. Val reacts on instinct and grabs her longtime pal’s hand – the eggs smashed between their palms akin to the dream of making Bishop pay for his bovine hate crimes.
.....“I got you!” she says.
.....“Good.” Kate looks down at the crowd below where six military men rush onto the scene. “Wait, are those—”
.....“Pararescuemen,” Val finishes. “The tall one is Captain Colin ‘Ghost’ Beckett – Air Force, Special Ops. I’d recognize him anywhere.”
.....“And the one next to him is Tech Sergeant Bobby ‘Bobcat’ Martin.” She sighs. “Hey, when he gets close enough, you could just drop me. I’m positive he’d catch me.”
.....“No way. I’m never letting go. We’ve been through too much together.” Val adds her own sigh. “Besides, they’re both already taken. Madame Eve matched them to their soul mates.”
.....Kate’s fingers slip a little. The wall Val is leaning against shifts, bits of mortar falling free.
.....“Watch it!” Kate yells. “I’m dangling down here!”
.....Val glances down to gauge how long the wall will hold. A red light blinks back at her. “What the…?”
.....“What is it?” With her free hand, Kate grabs Val’s wrist.
.....“We have a problem.”
.....“Other than me falling to my death?”
.....“Yes.” Val looks down at Kate. “There’s another bomb, and it’s in this wall.”
.....Kate’s eyes widen. “The one you’re leaning over? The one I’m hanging next to?”
.....“That would be the wall,” Val confirms. “And we’ve got less than five minutes.”
.....“Well save me, then!”
.....“How? What do we have?” She glances at her purse. “I’ve got four dozen eggs up here and a pack of sugar-free peppermint gum.”
.....Kate frowns. “How was the gum meant to help derail Bishop’s campaign?”
.....“It wasn’t.” Val gives her a sheepish grin. “It was for after we have Mexican for dinner later.”
.....“Oh, right. Good thinking.” Kate releases one hand and tosses her purse up to Val. “See what else we have.”
.....She rummages through the bag. “You’ve got a red marker, a room keycard, a…what the heck are you doing with a whip in your purse?”
.....“Book research.”
.....“Oh, yeah right.” Val digs around more. “And half a pastrami on rye?”
.....“Thought we might get hungry while we protest.”
.....She nods. “Good thinking.” Val meets Kate’s concerned gaze. “No way we’re gonna let Senator Bishop continue to mutilate the bovine population willy nilly.”
.....“Not to mention the country.”
.....“Right.” Val glances at the bomb timer. “Three minutes. But don’t worry. We’re gonna get out of this.”

What do you two do?

VAL:  Oh, this is easy:
KATE: Oh, this is easy:

VAL: “That cow-hating senator is so going to regret letting us anywhere near his rally.” Valerie dug around in Kate’s purse with her free hand and pulled out a Kindle. “Hey, does this thing get Internet?” She waves it over the edge for Kate to see.

.....“Yes. I could show you how to turn that feature on. If I weren’t dangling here.” A stiff wind blew and she crossed her legs at the ankles. “Dang, I knew I shouldn’t have worn this skirt.”
.....“It’s killer, though. And who knew you’d be swinging from the top of Jackson Castillo’s hotel today?”
.....“True.”
.....Val pulled the whip out of the deep recesses of Kate’s bag. Tying the end to a nearby railing, she tossed the handle down to Kate. “Here.”
.....“What’s this for?”
.....“Something to hold onto. I need both hands free.” After letting go of her hand and ignoring the yelp from the other side of the wall, Valerie dumped the purse contents. Eyeballing the meager offerings with disgust, she leaned over the wall. Kate swayed gently in the tropical breeze, eating a pastrami sandwich.
.....“Didn’t you ever watch MacGuyver?”
.....Kate tipped her head back, chewing. “Mmmphh?”
.....“You should have. Because if you had, you’d know I can’t save us with only a Kindle and gum. There are no paperclips, not a single bobby pin, your lighter is out of fluid, and the batteries in this weird contraption are dead.” She waved it in Kate’s face. “What is this thing, anyway?”
.....Kate swayed some more and whistled innocently. “You may want to put that down.”
.....Val eyed it with more interest. “Not until you tell me what it is.”
.....“Given your highly-developed phobia of body fluids, you really should put it down.”
.....Val screeched, fumbling the contraption like a hot potato. It sailed out of her hands, shot past Kate’s head and rocketed toward the crowd below. They watched in horror as it tumbled, end over end, picking up speed, then bounced off the senator’s head.
.....“Holy crap,” they stereo-d.
.....Only the wind off the ocean and the creak of the leather whip broke the silence.
.....“He’s down,” Kate said, at last.
.....“Like, totally down,” Valerie agreed. “That’s karma.”
.....Sagely, Kate added, “Cow karma.” They laughed for a moment in shared companionship. Then Kate’s grin faded. “Hey, what’s that beeping noise?”

KATE: “No more time to hide our super powers now.” Kate gives an enormous kick against the wall and somersaults onto the roof. “Let’s get this cow ciller…err…killer.”
.....“Just a minute.” Valerie points her laser vision at the roof and with a dull pop and thin stream of smoke, the bomb is destroyed. “No sense ruining a perfectly good building.”
.....“Always practical.” Kate pauses and muses to herself, “Which is why I was so surprised at your willingness to waste so many eggs.” She slaps Valerie on the back in a friendly way with her hand.
.....“I thought the use of eggs would help prevent a greater loss.” Valerie stares off into the distance. .....“Like that time when I was thinking I would like an omelet when I was on a cruise and hey what’s that flying in over the building across the street?

LJ: AWESOME!! I say you saved the cows! Extra points for taking care of the senator, too!

DEBBIE: Yeah, but we’ll have to revive him. He still needs to be in the last two stories.

LJ: Thanks so much for dropping by, ladies! Hope you come back for another interview when you hit your 300^th book! J

DEBBIE: Or whenever you have a new release or news to share. We’d be happy to have you.

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LJ: Oh! Another M&M! (drops) Oops! (picks up and brushes off candy) Here, Deb. Don’t say I never gave you nothing.

Debbie: I think we’ve been through this before.

LJ: (bats eyelashes) What?

Debbie: Go ahead, play innocent. Anyway, while we are here, lets go find our PJ’s and see if they have any input into the next story. Hmmm, Zeke’s story is the one that Kate and Val have now. Who’s next again?

LJ: Junior Lieutenant Kyle “Raven” Alvarez. He’s the guy who eats Twinkies and razzes Bobby about his Skittle addiction. He’s the team medic and I have no clue what kind of woman it would take to tame him.

Debbie: Hmmm, bet he’s happy Twinkies are back. Have to remember to harass him about that, among other things.

LJ: Speaking of Twinkies, let’s go parasailing.

Debbie: I’d ask what the two have in common but I’m very afraid of what the answer will be, so fine, lets go.

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To Feel Again

Valerie Mann

When Leah loses her fiancé, Mark, in Afghanistan, it takes nearly a year to get to the point where she’s ready to live again. Although she doesn’t want an emotional commitment, a night of consensual sex, even with a stranger, might help bring her some closure after Mark’s death. Enlisting the services of Madame Evangeline’s high-end, online dating service, One Night Stand, promises exactly what Leah is looking for—sex with a man she doesn’t have to see again, but one who will satisfy her physical needs now that she's ready to move on with her life.

Jackson Castillo has no desire to go on a date with one of Evangeline’s clients. One Night Stand uses his hotel for its client’s rendezvous, but otherwise, he never gets involved. When Eve threatens to take her business elsewhere unless he helps her with a particular case, he’s no fool. He’ll go on the date. But he won’t sleep with the woman.

When one thing leads to another, his good intentions to stay out of the bedroom with Leah are shattered. The sex is phenomenal, but there’s more to Leah he wants to explore. After she leaves the next morning without a goodbye, he’s both disappointed and royally pissed. Will he let her go or find a way to convince her she’s ready…to feel again?

Genre: Contemporary romance, erotic romance, interracial
Heat level: 4
Cover art by Dara England

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The Virgin and the Playboy

Kate Richards

Julie, accidental virgin, has waited longer than she ever planned to lose her virginity and join everyone else she knows in dating reality. Embarrassed at her plight, she has made arrangements with 1NightStand.com to meet with a handsome stranger for one night of no commitment required sexuality, without having to admit she'd never made love before.

Mark is the one single guy left in his group of friends. As such, he is known for the bevy of lovelies he dates, and his stories of wild exploits between the sheets. His participation in 1NightStand.com is on a dare, and he has no idea that his date is...less experienced than he is used to. And so much more...

When they enter the penthouse suite in Las Vegas, they enter a chamber designed for luxury and booked for a 1NightStand.

Genre: Contemporary romance, erotic romance
Heat level: 4
Cover art by LFD Designs
BUY LINK

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Judy Dawn and her Men Of Snow

Debbie: Morning all! Today we are up at the frosty North Pole to talk with Author Judy Dawn about her latest release in her Men of Snow series, Nine Day Rush.

LJ: I’m s-s-so c-c-cold. Quit hogging the heater. (sips coffee)

Debbie: Oh, fine. I don’t want you getting hypothermia. I am NOT getting nekkid to keep you warm. Next time have the foresight to bring your own.

LJ: Next time tell me we’re coming to the North Pole, and I will!

Debbie: What part of “We are going where Santa lives” didn’t you understand?

LJ: Well, I didn’t think you were serious. Wait…isn’t that Judy Dawn now?

LJ: Welcome to Garland & Gould! Great to have you here!

JUDY: Thanks, I’m excited to be here talking about my books.

DEBBIE: Yes, welcome. Okay, I want to know right off the bat how the Men of Snow came about! I’ve read several of their stories and love them!

JUDY: I’m glad to hear you’re a fan, the encouragement fuels my creativity. Thank you.

I love the holidays. Not just the events, but the spirit that surrounds them. The spirit of giving, forgiving, celebrating, laughing and loving. Imagine what the world would be if we all practiced kindness, joy, and understanding year long. This interest brought about the Men of Snow concept. I can’t control the world or people, however, I can do my best at reminding everyone that life isn’t so bad. I took a small step. I created the perfect man and a happy ending is guaranteed in every story.

DEBBIE: I think that is a giant step! I am a firm believer that people need to get more of a positive attitude in life and everyone needs a little romance. The holidays are the perfect time to start looking at your life and figuring out what you can do to enrich it and others as well.

LJ: That concept is right down my alley! As a romance author, of course I love happy endings. Throw in the perfet man? And yeah, I’d say you have a winner! So let’s get into the story a bit. The name of the book is Nine Day Rush—very cool title I might add. And the heroine is Jackie. Tell us a little about her. Something the readers might not know.

JUDY: She’s kinda cold and everyone in the town thinks she is stand-off-ish, but she’s literally cold. She’s the daughter of Jack Frost and she doesn’t have all of her powers yet. She’s resigned to the fact that she’s too unique, her future will be a lonely tale.

DEBBIE: Awww, that’s sad.

LJ: (hands Deb a tissue) It is sad.

JUDY: That won’t happen in my book because sad endings aren’t my thing. So, look out Jackie you’re about to get Rushed.

LJ: Whew! I was worried there for a moment. What a great obstacle for her to overcome. She thinks her life is one thing and BAM, it’s gonna change completely! Awesome!

DEBBIE: Woohoo! (hands tissue back to LJ)

LJ: Seriously? You can keep it. (pushes Deb’s hand away) Don’t say I never gave you anything.

DEBBIE: Oh, gee. So generous. I’ll keep it and cherish it forever. Along with all the headaches and bald spots you’ve given me. So, Judy, does Jackie have any secrets?

JUDY:  When she’s ice sculpting, she sets out her chainsaw and chisels. The thing you may not know is she never uses them to sculpt.

LJ: Okay wait. I was surprised to hear about the ice sculpting. But the part about not using a chainsaw or chisels blew me away. How does she sculpt then, with a hair dryer and sculpting gel?

DEBBIE: Ummm, she’s Jack Frost’s daughter. Do you think she might be a tad magical?

LJ: Well, she said she didn’t have all her powers yet. She might be chipping at it like a beaver. But yeah, maybe she has a little magic in that department.

DEBBIE: Chipping at it like a beaver. Really?

LJ: Hmm…well big buckteeth weren’t mentioned, but that doesn’t mean she couldn’t have them.

DEBBIE: What planet do you live on?

LJ: I’ll take that rhetorically since we both know it’s the third planet from the sun. But just to be sure, let’s ask our guest to clarify the heroine issue. (turns to Judy) Give us three words that describe Jackie.

JUDY: Kind, lonely, and onehailofawomanthatisthefutureofwinter. (Yeah, I made up that third word, but I’m a author and that’s my super power!)

DEBBIE: LOL, I love that superpower!

LJ: I have that superpower but it’s a secret. Wait…okay, so it’s not anymore. You should let me use it more in our books, Debbie.

DEBBIE: Seriously?

LJ: (bats eyelashes) Of course.

DEBBIE: Oookay. That’s a darn scary thought. (turns to Judy) So what about Rush. What’s he like? His dreams and hopes?

JUDY: Rush has fulfilled his duty as Kringle’s Secret Service. He’s ready to settle down into this life of happiness and he’s nervous about finding his believer in time because he’ll die if he doesn’t. Rush wants a traditional 2.06 children, white picket fence, perfectly normal family. But in my books we celebrate the unique and fantastic.

LJ: There’s a lot to be said for unique and fantastic.

DEBBIE: Oh yeah, you’d know unique.

LJ: And fantastic. Why’d you leave that part out?

DEBBIE: Did I? Huh.

JUDY: It’s a testament to the power of belief and finding happiness even when it’s unexpected.

LJ: I’m liking Rush. Give us three words that describe him.

JUDY: Supportive, Determined, and Sensual.

LJ: Niiiice.

DEBBIE: Awesome words for the hero.

LJ: When did you start writing?

JUDY: I started writing when I had my kids. Painting and sculpting left a mess around the house and I needed another creative outlet. The next thing I knew, I was hooked.

LJ: I hear that! It’s addictive for sure.

DEBBIE: Let’s give a peek for the reader. What are the first seven sentences of the story? Yep, only seven! LOL

JUDY: Jackie stepped away from the view of the furious snowstorm through her mountain cabin’s second-story window. Her booted steps echoed on the hardwood floors and her determination set with each clop down the stairs. She grabbed her keys from the entry table and swung the front door open.

Crisp air shocked her nostrils. Her cheeks tingled from the icy wind while she hurried to her truck. Huge snowflakes stuck to her eyelashes and on her shoulders. Jackie yanked open the four-wheel drive’s door and climbed inside, kicking her heels on the threshold before settling behind the wheel.

DEBBIE: Brrrr. That made me chilly, lol. I love the snow, but only until January 2^nd. Then it can be 70 and sunny.

LJ: If you love warm weather so much, what are we doing at the North Pole then? We could’ve done this interview in Miami.

DEBBIE: Have you never noticed the theme to all our interviews? We go where the story or author dictates we go? Where have you been all this time?

LJ: (shivers) Feel free to break protocol whenever.

DEBBIE: And take away the fun of torturing you. Never.

LJ: I knew it!

DEBBIE: (turns to Judy) What’s your favorite genre to read?

JUDY: I enjoy them all but Romance, Fantasy, and Science Fiction are top on my list.

LJ: An author after my own heart!

DEBBIE: Sorry, still haven’t crossed that Sci-Fi line.

LJ: I’m not done with you yet. Once you cross over, you’ll never go back. It’s very liberating and fun and creative. Now, just let go of the edge of the box you’re clinging to….J

DEBBIE: I am NOT clinging to a box! Sanity maybe, but not a box!

LJ: Wait, when were you ever sane?

DEBBIE: I have my sane moments.

LJ: You keep telling yourself that. So, Judy, your bio says you write magical realism encouraging hope, love, and the pursuit of happiness. Is this something you strive for in your own life?

JUDY: Yes. I’m always on the hunt for positive things and I do my best at paying it forward, adding light to the world. I don’t understand why someone would want to constantly bombard themselves with dark emotions when the world is so bright and free.

LJ: Wow, Judy. I couldn’t agree more. Do you need a writing partner?

DEBBIE: HEY!

LJ: What?

DEBBIE: Writing partner sitting right next to you and can hear every word you say.

LJ: But she writes sci-fi!

DEBBIE: Fine, by the time we get done writing ALL the stories we have locked in the recesses of our brains, not to mention the ones we’ve already discussed, you can be her partner.

LJ: Deal! Hmm. Wait a minute….

DEBBIE: Sorry, you said deal! Moving along, Judy, what advice would you give an aspiring author?

JUDY: Never let anyone control your vision or discourage you from following your passion.

DEBBIE: I couldn’t agree more! Judy and I were in an on-line critique group together a looong time ago. It was a great group of supportive writers, but there was one that had nothing but nastiness to say about everyone’s works. Needless to say she didn’t last long.

LJ: (shakes head) I don’t get that. Waste of energy. (clutches mug) Course, you’re always hatin’ on my coffee.

DEBBIE: So coffee is your passion?

LJ: Where have you been?

DEBBIE: I thought it was just your addiction. I thought I was your passion. Well, writing with me anyway.

LJ: (Blink, blink…blink) Judy, epublishing has exploded, but getting your work out there isn’t that easy. What is the most important thing you learned about self-publishing?

JUDY: There are a lot of people who believe and support the dream.

LJ: Good to know! J

What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

Quickies: 

JUDY: how did you know my answer?...

DEBBIE: HAHAHAHAHA!

QUICKIES- (the real ones this time, lol.)

Winter or summer: HA, Winter for sure.

Hamburger or hot dog: A sloppy, grilled, quarter pounder loaded with everything.

Walk on the beach or hike through the woods: Trees, I must have trees.

4 star restaurant  or homemade dinner for two: Depends on who is cooking.

Brussel Sprouts or Lima beans: Occasionally, both.

Red or blue: Absolutely.

Shoulders or butt: A nice butt in a fitted pair of pants-ohlala!

FINAL QUESTION:

It’s late…Twelve midnight. Time to go night-night. You snuggle in beneath your sheets and comforter for a good night’s sleep. But what doesn’t seem like an hour later, you’re shivering. Half asleep, you reach for your covers but can’t find them. Maybe on the floor? You sit up, and with a yawn, open your eyes. What the—? Where is your bed, your nightstand, your down comforter? Your legs are freezing and your teeth start to chatter. You look down and discover you’re sitting on ice. Glancing around, you see a bucket turned upside down, and four walls of weathered wood with one small window. There’s a hole in the ice next to you. OMG…am I in a fishing shack?

You push to your feet and sit on the bucket. Wow, it’s cold. You wish you’d worn your flannel PJs to bed instead of your Hard Rock Café T-shirt. The water in the hole swirls and you lean over. Is something down there? Thoughts of the movie The Thing flood your mind. You bolt to your feet and try to open the door…but drat, it’s locked. You look toward the window. Nope, to small to break and climb through. You’re trapped. You stare at the water, unable to look away for fear of what might come through that hole in the ice.

A HUGE light gray head pushes up, complete with whiskers and long white tusks. Two flippers flop to the icy surface to hold the immense beast above the water. A walrus? He stares at you with beady black eyes.

“Excuse me,” says the walrus. “But do you know the way to San Jose?”

You blink several times. Those tusks look long and deadly. “Oh, my! You can talk?”

“Well, of course. All walruses can talk…if they feel the need to, or find someone interesting, or as in my case, are in need of directions. So, do you know the way to San Jose?”

“I’d like to help, but I don’t even know where I am myself.”

The walrus snorts—slimy fish snot peppers your bare legs. You jerk at the unexpected icy goo. Ick.

“Helping a walrus with directions is quite an honor. But since you are unable to help, I can’t let you run around telling the world that walruses talk. Why I would be banned from Blubber Con, excluded from my weekly fish soiree, and those nasty little penguins would laugh at me.” A horrible noise erupts from his enormous mouth. “I suppose I should have you as a treat.”

Terrified, you look around and find a bendy straw, a belt, and three frozen minnows. What do you do?

JUDY: I ask the walrus, “How old are you?”

“I’m fifteen, what does that matter?”

For clarity, I ask, “What month is this?”

“December.”

After a moment of contemplation and emotion control, my challenge is clear. Walruses are typically harmless to humans. I say, “Come here.”

The walrus snorts again. “Excuse me? Did you not hear me?”

I turn the bucket upside right, place the minnows inside, and strap it to my waist with the belt. Straw in my hand, I sit on the ice. “Right here.”

I pat the cold slab next to me. My body trembles with the chill seeping through my thin clothes and into my bones . Anxiety clouds my determination. I shake my head and slap the spot next to me again. “Come sit.”

“I’m not sure I can resist temptation.” The walrus waddled to the spot.

“I’m not sure I can survive the cold, but I believe I can and I’m sure I will because of it.” I offer a smile.

“What are you doing?” His gruff tone rakes down my spine.

I put the straw in my mouth, lie back on the ice, and wait for a moment.

The cold water starts rising from the hole. My body shivers when it pools around me. A hollow echo accompanies the water as it buries me. I fist my hands against growing anxiety while the water lifts my body from the cold slab. Floating to a large hole in the ceiling, I heavily breathe through the straw.

I wiggle my nose, close my eyes, and imagine inner heat protecting me from the cold surrounding me.

An undercurrent twists and turns, I struggle for a brief moment with numbing sensations, and then warmth eases my fears.

I open my eyes. The walrus is swimming next to me. I look in the opposite direction and another walrus approaches us. Continuing to breath through the straw, I unlatch the bucket and swirl water into the container, releasing the minnows towards the second walrus.

The new walrus, cautiously, appreciates the treats and notices my lost companion.

He makes these loud, distinguished noises that vibrate through the water while he swims in a series of flips. Bubbles swirl around him, adding to the show.

The female is impressed and the mating walruses leave together.

After a moment, something snags my clothes. I explode out of the water, through the hole in the roof, with a yanking force. When I settle on a boat, my husband hugs me tightly and says, “Where have you been? I’ve searched everywhere.”

“You’ve found me.” I cuddle closer to his strong chest. “You always find me.”

“It’s pure luck.”

I look up, studying his aged whiskey eyes and say, “It’s not luck. It’s fate. Nothing can come between us.”

“I love you,” he says.

“I love you, too.”

The boat floats towards the sunrise and he warms me from my heart to my soul.

DEBBIE: Awwww. I almost cried.

LJ: Good thing you still have that tissue. (sniff sniff) I should’ve kept it for myself. What a beautiful ending. I say you survived it!!

DEBBIE: Here, don’t say I never gave you anything (hands her the wadded up tissue)

LJ: (tucks in pocket) Hey, I have three boys. I’ve been trained for moments like this. So, Judy, it has been awesome having you here today. You are definitely welcome back anytime!

DEBBIE: Absolutely. We’d love to learn what the Men of Snow are up to next.

LJ: So, where’s our boat back to civilization? I’m freezing and almost out of coffee.

Debbie: Uh, you said you were handling the transportation back. Something about a bush pilot?

LJ: What? I didn’t know we were coming to the North Pole!

Debbie: YOU DID TOOO!

LJ: Like I said, I didn’t think you were serious. Still, that doesn’t solve how we’re going to get home. Think we can steal—um, borrow a couple of the big guy’s reindeer?

Debbie: I dunno, have you actually seen any yet? Or the fat jolly guy for that matter.

LJ: No. (grabs Deb’s arm) Uhh, Debbie…why is that mound of snow moving?

Debbie: Ummm, the snowman’s watching a porno? How the hell do I know?

Snowman porno...sorry couldn't resist.

LJ: (tilts head) Uh, no. I don’t think that’s what you think it is. But I can see how you might mistake it for— OMG! That’s a snout! That mound of snow is a polar bear!

Debbie: Sweet! Wait, polar bears have snouts? What’s a snout anyway? Why can’t people just say nose? You did mean his nose right?

LJ: (grabs Deb’s arm and starts backing away from the bear) Yes, a snout is the projecting nose and mouth on animals. Let’s not get into technicalities. Point is that bear has a lotta pointy teeth and are killers. We’re the only tasty treat on this frozen wasteland.

Debbie: And what do you expect me to do wiggle my nose and blink us back home?

(jing, jing, jing)

LJ: Wait, what’s that noise? (points to the sky) Is that what I think it is?

Debbie: Wow, I never knew Santa’s sleigh was so huge!

LJ: Judy must have told him we needed a ride home.

Debbie: And look at all those reindeer! (frowns) He seems to be coming at us pretty darn fast though.

LJ: Debbie…if I checked at Santa’s lists, would I find your name on Naughty or Nice?

Debbie: Depends on who you ask….

BLURB:

Jackie has a secret.

Magic rules her existence, but she craves a normal life.

She returns to Frost Mountain and chilling rumors separate her from the townspeople.

Then, her eccentric father confesses something that freezes her desire.

Will she accept Rush when he pledges his love to her?

BUY LINKS:

From my website www.judydawn.com

From Amazon (product page): Amazon

BIO:

Judy Dawn writes magical realism encouraging hope, love, and the pursuit of happiness. She integrates fantasy into real world environments with romantic elements.  Her contemporary Men of Snow stories have thrilled e-readers since 2010 and Amazon placed A Secret Gift on the recommended reading list in 2011.  Those who like uplifting endings will enjoy Judy Dawn’s unconventional stories about the magic of love.