Welcome special guest: author Jessica Coulter Smith ~ @kitcatjms @evernightpub #shifters

Today we have author Jessica Coulter Smith visiting.

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* I’ve had many jobs over the years, but not one of them was half as fulfilling as being a writer. Just the act of creating a story, putting the words to paper, brings me joy, but what really makes it all worthwhile is when someone else gets to read it and is allowed to escape from their lives for a short while. Knowing that I’ve made someone laugh, cry, and perhaps even sigh in pleasure, is the greatest joy of all.
* When I’m not writing, which isn’t often because quite honestly I’m obsessed, I enjoy spending time with my family and pets. There is one particular furbaby who is near and dear to me (and if you friend me on Facebook, you’re sure to catch a glimpse of him). In my downtime, I suppose I like what most people do – music, movies, books – but the books must always have a happily-ever-after. I can’t abide sad endings.

So, Jessica Coulter Smith, what/who inspired you to become a writer?
* I actually had no intention of becoming a writer, despite how much I’d loved my writing assignments in school. In 2008, I felt this driving need to put words to paper, and after a few days, I realized a story was unfolding on the pages. It took me almost three months, but when I was finished, I’d completed my first novel, the beginning of my Ashton Grove Werewolves series. Needless to say, that first story was addicting and I craved the feel of writing, needed it like a junky needs their next fix, and I’ve written nearly every day since then.

When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
* My first story, originally titled Whispering Lake (and now called Moonlight Haunting) was over 80,000 words. I submitted it to a few places and received rejection notices, until a small press that was just starting out picked it up. That didn’t end so well, and that novel has had a few homes since then. Now it’s self-published along with 9 other stories in the series (a mix of novels and novellas).

How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
* Just the one. I had already started the next story in the series when my first novel was picked up, but it would be a few months before I finished it.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
* The best writing advice I ever received was sit down and write, no matter what comes out. Even if you feel you have writer’s block, try a writing prompt, or free writing just to get you going. I don’t know that I’ve ever received bad writing advice. I’ve used all of it to some extent in one way or another.

The book you’re promoting, is it a stand-alone story or part of a series?
* Resisting the Alpha is part of a series, the 3rd in the Love Spell series. The first books are Witch Way to Love and Warlock’s Mistress.

What sparked the idea for the series?
* When I first started the series, I had planned for Witch Way to Love to be a standalone story. But I introduced characters I fell in love with and I wanted them to have a story as well. So one book has turned into three, and I’m not done yet.

*** Now for some fun info… ***
Would you/have you own(ed) a snake or some other exotic pet?
* I’ve never owned a snake and never would. I have, however, owned guinea pigs, ferrets, horses, rabbits, a bearded dragon, sugar glider, and your standard cats and dogs.

Which do you prefer: rain or sun & warm weather or cold weather?
* I like warm sunny days with a cool breeze. I don’t mind the temperature in the 70s, but once we hit 80s and higher, it’s getting a little too warm out for me.

If you could live anywhere in the universe, where would it be and why?
* Key West or Scotland. I know, huge difference. But I’ve been to the Florida Keys before and adored Key West. I didn’t want to leave. And Scotland…well, who doesn’t want to live in a place where men run around in kilts?

If you were stranded on a desert island and were only allowed to have five modern conveniences with you, what would they be?
* Kindle, laptop, cell phone, something solar powered that would charge all three, and my glasses so I could see.

*** About the book… ***

~ Blurb ~ * Bridget Donohue is beyond furious with the meddling alpha of the local wolf pack. He not only crashed her wedding, but scared the groom away. And for what? It isn’t like he’s ready to man up and claim her.
* Disgruntled by his attraction, Micah Smythe feels the pull but isn’t willing to bite. Bridget is irrational, mouthy, and temperamental. So why does his body respond every time she’s near? He’s declared her off limits, but the more time he spends with her, the harder it is to keep his hands to himself.
* Passion ignites between them, but Bridget refuses to give in to the wolf’s game of seduction. She’s determined to resist the alpha at all costs. ~ Excerpt ~ * “How could you…!” Bridget screamed into the wind as the storm raged around her, knowing damn well with his sensitive wolf hearing, she could have whispered. “You sent my fiancé running scared! We were about to say our vows, you asshole!”
* Bridget stood outside the church, her white dress feeling like it weighed fifty pounds as the rain pelted down, soaking her. A gust of wind wrenched off her veil and sent it into the nearby gutter, dirty water destroying it on contact.
* “You aren’t marrying him,” Micah said, a growl to his voice.
* “Why?” she asked, the anger draining away as her shoulders sagged. “Why would you ruin my life this way? I was happy, damn it!”
* “You don’t belong with him.”
* “I don’t belong with you,” she yelled. “Go back to your pack. You aren’t welcome in my life!”
* Bridget struck hard, making contact with his cheek. Holding her hand to her chest, she turned on her heels and stormed back into the church, the heavy doors slamming shut behind her. Five of the groomsmen formed a line, blocking Micah from following her. His hands clenched at his sides as he bared his teeth at them.
* “Move!” he demanded.
* The eldest of the groomsmen, a bear-shifter of some sort, shook his head. “You heard her. I think it’s time for you to leave.”
* Micah’s ears pricked as he listened for sounds inside the church. Over the crowd of wedding attendees, he heard Bridget crying. He hadn’t meant to upset her, but there was no way he could allow her to marry some random guy. She hadn’t even been with the loser more than a month. Who the hell married someone they’d only been dating a month? He would have stopped her sooner, but he’d only heard about the wedding that morning.
* “This isn’t over,” he told them. “You know I was right to stop the wedding. She doesn’t belong with that puny paper-pusher. She just thinks she wants a man she can control.”

***Buy***
Evernight Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

***Find Jessica Coulter Smith here***
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Thank you for joining us here today, Jessica Coulter Smith! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your work.

Sinfully Sexy Saturday w. Jessica Coulter Smith & 'Warlock’s Mistress' @kitcatjms @evernightpub #paranormal #fantasy #SSS

It's Saturday! Yay! Here's a sinfully good treat to add to a great day. Welcome, Jessica Coulter Smith!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Jessica lives in a world where warlocks, shapeshifters and fairies exist, and everyone deserves a happy ending - from tragic vampires finally finding love after centuries of being alone, to super hunky womanizing werewolves finding their destined mate – it’s all in a day’s work.
* Unable to find a werewolf of her very own, she decided to marry someone who thinks he’s one – minus howling at the full moon, fleas, and a rousing game of chase-the-mailman. Okay, so he sometimes howls at the full moon.
* When she isn't writing, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, reading (mostly romance), or going to the beach. She’s especially fond of bookstores and Starbucks!

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My paranormal, fantasy, erotic novella: Warlock’s Mistress.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Seraphine Bishop, enchanted by a sorcerer in the 1800’s, has been by Jared Blaylock’s side for over a hundred years. As his mistress. But things are changing, Jared has been pulling away, distancing himself, and Seraphine wants to know why. They’ve been together for so long, has he finally tired of her?
* Jared aches to be near Seraphine, his destined mate, but he must pull away to save her. A fairy prince has laid claim to her, wanting her for his bride. Unless Jared can find a way to change the prince’s mind, he’ll lose Seraphine forever.
Be Warned: bondage ~ Excerpt ~ * Seraphine Bishop watched with narrowed eyes as her lover pulled on his clothes. Was it her imagination or did he always seem to be in a hurry to run out the door these days? It seemed she was good enough to fuck, but not good enough to cuddle. That hadn’t always been the case. She’d been Jared Blaylock’s mistress since 1895, when he’d found her roaming the streets, half starved, without a penny to her name and without hope of surviving until tomorrow. A sorcerer had taken a shine to her and had cast a spell over her, freezing her in time and giving her the gift of eternal life, except he’d grown tired of her after a few months and had thrown her out. Jared had found her and given her a new life, except he hadn’t been Jared then. He’d changed names many times over the centuries, with very few people knowing his original name—Lord William Stratham. Her warlock was over five hundred years old, but still looked like a sexy thirty-five.
* In all these years, Jared had always been attentive, lavishing her with attention and affection, but for the past month, it had been like being with a stranger. He still came to her, spent an hour or two in her bed, then ran for the door as if hellhounds were nipping at his heels and he couldn’t wait to be rid of her. Why he hadn’t thrown her out, she didn’t understand. It was obvious he’d grown tired of her. Really, she’d expected it to happen a lot sooner. They’d been together for over a hundred years. She’d been waiting for the day he’d crossed paths with his mate and end their affair. Seraphine wondered if perhaps that’s what had happened and he just didn’t know how to tell her, or wasn’t ready to let her go just yet. The question was how much longer was she going to put up with it in silence? She’d been quiet so far, taking his rejection as best she could, but it was grating on her nerves. Things were still hot between them, there was obviously still something there, but he didn’t seem to want to acknowledge it.
* Jared paused at the bedroom door. His auburn hair fell across his forehead and into his eyes, hiding their green depths from her. She wondered if he was going to say something, tell her it was over, that he wouldn’t be back, but he turned away from her, twisted the knob, and left without a word. Her heart ached and she fought back tears at the cold dismissal. She shouldn’t have let her heart get involved in the first place. She was in his life for one purpose and one purpose only. As his mistress, she didn’t have the luxury of falling in love with him. Unfortunately, her heart had other ideas.
* Not for the first time, she wondered if she should shackle him to her bed. Of course, he could always use magick to get away—unless she used spelled cuffs. Now there was a thought. She could make a game of it, draw him into her web so to speak, then after allowing him to give her a mind-blowing orgasm or two, she could torture the information out of him. What had changed? Why was he different? What was he hiding? If he wanted to play games, she’d play, but by her own rules.

Buy Warlock’s Mistress here...
Evernight Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks

Find Jessica Coulter Smith here...
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | E-mail

Thank you for joining us here today, Jessica Coulter Smith! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story. Have a sinfully good week everyone!