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Like lightning, only better

Two nights ago, a 3 am alarm went off in my head. I didn't set my alarm, so it was a shocker when it started screaming like a siren. I was tired and had to work in a few hours, so I wasn't too thrilled to be awake, but then one of those amazing things happened. My brain, which has been sadly dysfunctional of late, started working.

I've been struggling with this new story idea for weeks now. I've titled it, re-titled it, written chapters one, two and three, deleted chapters one, two and three, retitled the book again, rewrote the chapters and still...nothing. None of that blossoming feeling of rightness. None of that excitement to get back to it. Just an idea--a pretty good idea--and a bunch of crappy pages that don't come close to defining it.

And then, the alarm.

Suddenly this new idea just filled my head from corner to corner. (Yes, sometimes my head is very fat and very square.) And just like that, I have a living, breathing, exciting concept that is so anxious to get out it's beating against the tin pan I call a brain and demanding attention. In four days it's gone from shadows to living color to page one.

Woo hoo! I love it when that happens!

PS: Don't forget my Win 1 For the Pets contest. It only has a few more days....

Exciting week for Haunting Beauty!

I've been recieving some exiting reviews of late. Check them out:

From CK2S Kwips and Kritiques—5 out of 5—Recommended Read: “HAUNTING BEAUTY is far above your typical run-of-the mill paranormal romances. I savored every page and still wanted to reread it when I reached the end. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait for HAUNTING WARRIOR!”

From: Fresh Fiction: "Quinn has written a terrific debut novel in HAUNTING BEAUTY. It's difficult for a novel to stand out from the rest [ . . . ] but Quinn has risen to the challenge with HAUNTING BEAUTY, a story that boasts both a complex plot and a new spin on the paranormal elements. I look forward to reading the sequel HAUNTING WARRIOR as soon as possible.”

From: Good, Bad, and Unread--Grade A+: "I love it when an author gives me something so different than what I’ve ever read before, and Ms. Quinn definitely does that. This is one of the best books that I have read lately. I’m looking forward to the next book, which features Danni’s twin, and I know time is going crawl before I have it my hands."

From: R&B Reading and Blogging: 4 1/2 stars "Erin Quinn has the ability to draw her audience with her through the normal and the paranormal fluidly. Her ability to slip through time and space in her writing captured me and catapulted me into a place I’d never been. Be assured it is provocative and seductive, a very satisfying read. It also appears to be the beginning of an exciting series. I really enjoyed reading this book."

From: Romance Book Wyrm: 5 stars: "Complex and fascinating to say the least!5 stars! Loved this book!"

Wanna see more? http://www.erinquinn.info/Reviews.htm

Welcome Allyson James (aka Jennifer Ashley)

I'm excited and honored to have bestselling author Jennifer Ashley (and all her numerous personalities) to Quinn's Essentials! For those of you who don't know, Jennifer is a powerhouse writer and this month alone she has THREE, count them THREE, releases.

Erin: So Jennifer, as you know, I like to jump right into my interviews because, well, inquiring minds do want to know and with this busy month you've got ahead, we want to know NOW.

Tell, us, please: What is your guilty pleasure?

Jennifer: Sitting around watching DVDs of British mysteries (Last Detective, Cracker, Rosemary and Thyme, Lewis, Poirot, Miss Marple... ) If it's a cozy with a British accent, I'm there! I know English actors far better than I know American ones. One of the most recent shows, Wallander, with Kenneth Branaugh, was extremely well done. Want more...


Erin: I should have guessed at that one, but instead i was thinking reading, bathtub, champagne, chocolate.... oh wait, that's me. :)

Okay, another hard hitting question coming.... What is the best bumper sticker or t-shirt slogan you've ever seen?
Jennifer: Can't remember exact wording but: "A woman who wants to be equal to a man has no ambition." (hee hee hee)

Erin: *smirk* Like that one. When I asked you that question, I had a favorite of mine in mind which I was going to add as part of our witty repartee. Unfortunately, I have the short term memory of a gnat and I can't remember what the damned thing said. So I'll just quickly segue into my next question.

You have three releases in September! How do you keep all the books you write straight?

Jennifer: I don't. I figure the booksellers keep straight what's coming out when and have the books available (the awful thing is, they don't always!). I just write and turn in the manuscripts. I like each book for a different reason, and when I'm focused on a ms., none of the others exist. So I don't bother to try to keep them straight. It makes my head hurt. :-)

Erin: Well it makes my head hurt just thinking of how many words you must write a day. I've said it before but must say it again--you are amazing. I can't even IMAGINE publishing as many great books in as a short amount of time as you have.

Tell me something about each of the releases and what you loved about writing them.

Jennifer:

1. Mortal Seductions, by Allyson James (Berkley Heat): What I loved: Sexy shapeshifting guys! Demetri is a son of Apollo and a goddess, and he can become a tiger. Leon is a Cajun shapeshifter who can shift into any animal he's touched. Valerie gets to have them both (lucky lady). Valerie was a lot of fun to write; she frequently becomes her own evil twin!

2. Tales of the Shareem: Calder, by Allyson James (Ellora's Cave). What I loved: Shareem are men genetically created in a factory to be the ultimate pleasure slave. What's not to love? :-) Calder is a special guy, though. Tortured and scarred, he's sought after by women for his unique skills. Until he finds a lady who loves him for *him* of course.

3. "The Scotsman and the Vamp," by Jennifer Ashley in The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance, Vol. II. What I loved: This was a bit of fun for me--the Vamp is Claire, a female vampire who decided to run off to 1920s Hollywood rather than wait around for her "true mate." She becomes a silent film star instead! But her Scotsman, her mate, comes right after her. It's a funny story with cocktails, jazz, and HEA. Ok, you asked me to keep them straight, and now my head hurts. :-)

Erin: Holy Cow! Well they all sound wonderful to say the least. (Thinking, you've probably finished writing 2 books in the time it's taken me to put this interview on my blog).

Okay, last question: Will there be another book to follow up The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie? (You know I'm such a fan!)

Jennifer: Of course! I'm writing Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage right now, and it will be available from Berkley Sensation next summer. (The other two brothers will follow soon after that. Plus a shapeshifter series and a contemp. romance fantasy series.)

Thank you so much for stopping by, Jennifer. I know everyone is excited to read your latest and no one is complaining if you can write them fast--except my husband and kids, that is, who never see me without my nose in a book. *grin*

If you want to learn more about Jennifer Ashley/Allyson James, go to: http://jennifersromances.com/!

Jennifer is giving away a copy of Mortal Temptations (the first book in the series) and I'm giving away books and a gift card so go to: http://www.erinquinn.info/Contest.htm to enter!