Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author · New Release

Interview with an Author featuring Poppy Jacobson

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Poppy Jacobson! Her latest release, Lies like Rubies, Part One: A Dark, Reverse Harem, Mafia Romance (Savage Jewels Book 2) releases on April 7th 2023.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hiiiiiiiii.  My name is Poppy Jacobson. I write dark and kinky contemporary romance where the consent is dubious, and no one ever has to choose between their love interests. My debut story, Diamond in the Dark, is a dark, why choose, mafia romance about a woman who takes her sister’s place in a Faustian bargain with three men to protect her family.

The sequel, Lies like Rubies, Part One, is another dark, why choose, mafia romance about a woman who’ll do anything to protect her daughter from her abusive ex.  Anything.

How long have you been writing?

I first put pen to paper in November 2021, for NaNoWriMo. I didn’t publish my first novel, or my second, but my third was Diamond in the Dark, which came out in August 2022 (get your copy here: https://geni.us/DiamondInTheDark).

Do you have a writing quirk or ritual?

I do my best writing first thing in the morning, before work.  I get up before dawn, log into discord to sprint with friends, and then get to writing. Aspirationally, I write a thousand new words a day, but I don’t often actually hit that number.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I like to joke that all of my books start out with a vibe and one scene idea, and then everything flows from there. It’s sort of true, though!

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

My favorite character is always the FMC I’m currently writing. Right now, that’s Morgan, an ex prom queen who’s hellbent on taking revenge on some men who wronged her. I love women who think they don’t have any power, any choices, and then slowly realize that in fact, they hold ALL of the power.

How do you deal the with emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

I am a cold-ass motherfucker. Heh. I think of my stories in terms of the emotional impact they have on the reader, but I don’t tend to get so deep into my characters’ heads that their emotions affect me.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Writing isn’t a solitary activity! I have been delighted to find an amazing community of readers and authors who’ve supported me every step of the way.

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

Hah. I haven’t written so many books yet that I even worry about keeping it fresh. Each book is new and exciting to me, and I hope it’s new and exciting to the reader too.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with me?

YES!  I’m working on two books right now and I am so so so excited about both of them.  Queen of Vengeance is about a woman returning to her hometown for her high school reunion, who takes murderous revenge on four men who wronged her on prom night.  You can preorder it here: https://geni.us/BHSQueenOfVengeance.

I’m also working with a good friend, Willow Sinclair, to cowrite a dark cowboy romance.  She writes steamy small-town romance, and I write dark and kinky (very dark, very kinky) mafia romance.  We put our heads together and asked, what if we smashed the two together?  Keep an eye out for a dark and taboo western romance coming out from the two of us in late summer.

What advice would you give to other authors?

Stop futzing around and publish. It’ll never be perfect. You’ll learn more from discovering what your readers like and by diving into the next book than endless rounds of editing to get it just a little bit better.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

I contain multitudes, and so do my books.  I write stories about women who not only discover their own power but learn to wield it.  But they’re also deliciously smutty stories about women being railed by multiple men.

If you’re interested in a free story to get a taste for my writing, you can get one here: https://BookHip.com/LWFZMTP.

Thank you Poppy Jacobson for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her newest release, Lies like Rubies today!

~Synopsis~

The dangerous mafia world is no place to raise a child. Nobody knows that better than me.

When my abusive ex returns from exile to snatch our four-year-old daughter away from me, I’m on my own against him, until three men with their own agendas show up and consume my life.

Dante, a violent and unpredictable arms trafficker, promises protection for my daughter in exchange for my body and my tears.

Lorenzo, my brother’s best friend, my father’s enforcer, and my first heartbreak, comes barreling back into my life in the name of keeping me safe.

And Nick, my daughter’s persistent and sexy pediatrician, dives back to the violent life he left behind in order to save us from the dark current pulling us under.

In a world where a woman’s value is defined by her purity, I’m damaged goods, but these men don’t care that I’m a single mom. And I’m going to use every weapon in my arsenal, including these deadly men, to keep Lizzie safe.

Will it be enough?

Lies like Rubies, Part One, is a dark, why choose romance that ends in a cliffhanger. Lies like Rubies, Part Two, concludes Sofia’s story. For a full list of content notes, please see the author’s website. The Lies like Rubies Duetand Diamond in the Dark are interconnected, but may be read separately.

Poppy Jacobson writes dark and kinky contemporary romance where the consent is dubious, and no one ever has to choose between their love interests.  When she’s not peddling smut, she lives in Virginia with her husband and children, making soup and hiking on the weekends.

Author links: https://linktr.ee/poppyjacobson

New Release · Review

Whispers In The Woods by Ariel Dawn – My Review


Title: Whispers In The Woods

Author: Ariel Dawn

Release Date: January 31st 2023

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Why Choose

The darkness called, and she followed it like a moth to a flame…

In the wake of buying Ashwood Manor, Jenna Hellsing discovers that a grumbly gargoyle and a sexy shadow are not the only monsters haunting her. The terrifying beast in the woods is calling her home, and the truth begs to be set free…

As Jenna slips into old habits and her past collides with her present, she finds herself in the middle of a deadly game, one that is all too familiar.

Flint never thought he’d have a second chance. A chance to love again, a chance to re-write the past. Though it seems not even a Hide-Behind can outrun fate, and danger follows Jenna wherever she goes…

Will Flint, Degal, and Shadow refuse to let history repeat itself… even if it means they have to face their own nightmares and ghosts?

The highly anticipated follow up to Voices in the Dark, Whispers in the Woods is dark, steamy, and will get your pulse racing!

The characters need to face their past to move forward. We also meet Flint. Ah Flint. Love him! There’s a bit of suspense and those steamy scenes….*chef’s kiss* I’m a huge fan of dark reads and Miss Dawn did not disappoint.

This was everything and more! This was an engaging guilty pleasure read. I was not disappointed! I highly recommend this and the first book. I love the author’s storytelling style and I look forward to reading more from her. I give this 5 stars.

Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author

Interview with an Author featuring M.D. Butler

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is M.D. Butler! Author of the Elemental Wolves series.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Yes.

What time of the day do you usually write?

I try to squeeze a few sentences in during the day, but I really start zooming when that supernatural moon rises!

How much ‘world building’ takes place before you start writing?

So much! I have to figure out the areas that will work with the demographics of my characters and how they all work together. When I can’t find a location that fits the story that I’m trying to write, I dig deep into my childhood imagination and create one. I think my best work is done in a world that has no limits!

Which of your books were the most enjoyable to write?

I have to say it’s the newest series, The Fire Within. I really like how I can flip between the different moods of the characters. I can start off with a deep friendship between the main characters and add in love interests along the way. The best part is the fact that it’s on Kindle Vella. The ability to release it chapter by chapter is an exciting way to gauge readers’ interest and build the book based off their responses. I’m the end, I’m able to either break hearts or bloom smiles with the finished product.

What gave you that final push to press publish on your first book?

The need to finally fulfill a goal in life. I said that I would put out a book that had everything I was craving at the time. I never put myself out their like that, afraid of people’s opinions of something that I worked so hard on. I had to do this for my own confidence  I must say, it was well worth it!

Do you hear from your readers much?

I do, and I love their praise and critiques. Even the negative ones can be a learning experience. I get the biggest smile when a reader takes the time to reach out to me. It really keeps me going.

Favorite book when you were a kid?

Has to be Where the Red Fern Grows. My school did these accelerated reader points that you earned from taking tests on the books you read. I was previously skimming through books just enough to get the gist of story. My home room teacher on 4th grade, Mrs. Sikes, started reading this book out loud to us during…homeroom, I think. For the first time, I was ENGROSSED in the story written on the pages. Now, I will never read the story again because I was traumatized by what happened. I will literally square up with a raccoon, not lying. I can, however, tell you everything about the book. Since then, I’ve been reading books left and right. My grandmother would bring boxes of discarded books for me from the nursing home she worked at. That book instilled a love for stories that has grown to the point where I want to write my own  It also steered me towards romance because I can’t handle that type of trauma without some love!

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Silly, introverted, and open-minded.

What advice would you give to other authors?

Just do it. Go for that out of this world storyline. Take a dive into that genre. If you have a desire to write it, there’s someone out there who wants to read it.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

That we’re going to keep coming at you you with the goods, just give us time to get everything together for you!

Thank you M.D. Butler for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out book one in her Elemental Wolves series today!

~Synopsis~

I am nothing and no one.

Such a Debbie Downer attitude, I know. My entire existence is one of mere survival within a pack that sees me as worthless. The alpha is ruthless, but he hasn’t killed me yet. Small mercies, right? I’ve never known kindness, so what do I do when four guys show up with smiles and soft touches? Hide… for all of five minutes.

They’re kind of insistent on getting to know me, and everything in me rebels at the thought of running from them. You see, there’s this pull. A connection that snapped into place when we made eye contact. They’re apparently my freaking mates. All four of them!

Krix, the unappointed leader.
Cashel, the jokester.
Denahi, the protector.
Mavrin, the peacemaker.

I’ve never heard of someone having four mates, but I don’t want to deny myself this one good thing when all I’ve ever had was misery. I’m a shiftless wolf, so I wasn’t supposed to have a mate at all!

My old pack isn’t having it, though. The alpha doesn’t want to release me, and the she-wolves are all in a tizzy over my sudden popularity with the male gender. Too bad because I refuse to stay when I’ve been given the answer to my prayers. The Mother of all must have finally opened her ears to me. She didn’t make it easy, though. There are a few trials and tribulations headed our way.

Oh, and there’s also this thing about a prophecy…

 

This is a full-length reverse harem novel with a cliffhanger ending. It has a male from every caliber, and a heroine that many can relate to. There are steamy scenes, and references to abuse that may not be suitable for some readers. It has been re-edited thanks to reader reviews, but feel free to comment if you notice any errors to help improve the book. This is book one in a trilogy.

M.D. Butler is a military spouse who also serves in the United States Navy Reserves. She has four wolf daughters who each have a piece of her crazy personality and attitude. Yikes! Living in a house with four little girls inspired her to write books with strong female characters who have the sass and strength of her own girls, despite whatever has happened to them in life. She writes stories that she dreams up when she can’t find a book that has the characteristics that she’s craving at that moment. Being in the military has given her a bit of a sailor’s mouth and a dry humor, so don’t pick up her books if you’re opposed to cursing and mildly offense dialogue! She’s also a realist who understands that sex and passion are normal aspects of a relationship. Might have to look out for that, too!

Author links:
Author Spotlight · Coming Soon · Interview with an Author · Pre-Order

Interview with an Author featuring S.A. Mackenzie

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is S.A. Mackenzie! Her upcoming release, Possessing Greed: A Sons of Satan Novel releases September 13th 2022.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

 I am an avid video game player and reader. I spend most of my time inside, hiding away from the world because it’s my happy place. My son is my favourite person in the world next to my husband and I would spend all of my time with them if I could. My favourite activity with friends is playing board and card games. I love to laugh, I cry way too easily, and I’m very apologetically me (it’s the Canadian in me, we apologize for everything!)

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

No, actually. I’ve always been an avid reader, but sitting down and writing out stories was never something that interested me until I had my son. After my son was born, I was desperate to find a purpose for me, especially as a stay at home mom. For almost a year, I spent so much time daydreaming while idly rocking my baby and those daydreams turned into full stories in my head. So, I just picked up my laptop and started writing one day. I’ve never looked back since then.

What time of the day do you usually write?

I fit it in when I can! As the needs of my child change, so does my writing schedule. Right now, it’s mostly the morning and early afternoon, though I do write in the evenings when I have a deadline coming up.

How much ‘world building’ takes place before you start writing?

I’m a pantser for the most part. From the time an idea sprouts, I normally do a lot of vague large world building. Once writing actually starts, I try to have a basic outline of point a to point b, but I give my characters and creativity the reigns. Sometimes we get off track, but it all comes together in the end. The journey is a lot of fun when all you have is the destination in mind. 

Which of your books were the most enjoyable to write?

Hmm, that’s a hard one. The most enjoyable was probably the one releasing mid-September, Possessing Greed. It’s a shared world so the world building was so much fun and then the main character was an absolute blast to give the reins to.

What gave you that final push to press publish on your first book?

My husband and my alpha reader team. Both my husband and those beautiful women are my rock. They’ve given me the drive, confidence, and support to publish my first and every other book since. 

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?

 I do! It’s normally around a release that I hear from them the most. It’s always the sweetest compliments and encouragement from all of them. I’m a very awkward person, but hearing from them puts a smile on my face every time. 

Favorite book when you were a kid?

A kid kid? Probably the Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen mystery books. As a teen it would have been Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Chaotic, clumsy, silly.

What advice would you give to other authors?

Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s, it will never look the same. You need to add in time for yourself and work within your limits or you’ll hit your burn out and after that it can be hard to find your love for writing again.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

Each one is a part of me, yet none of them are the same. Some are the darker parts that I mostly keep hidden, others are the sweet, surface level stuff I show the world. The dark and light, the sweet and the sad, these books tell a story of me and who I was, who I am, and who I want to be.

 

Thank you S.A. Mackenzie for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her upcoming release, Possessing Greed today!

~Synopsis~

Nothing in this world is free. The sooner you realize that, the better.

As a woman in a man’s world, I have to work twice as hard to bring home half as much as my male counterparts. Time is money, and apparently having tits makes my time worth less.

Being a woman doesn’t stop me from out performing and destroying them all as the top corporate lawyer in my city. I’ve worked my ass off to be the best, so I can afford every luxury my heart desires. Diamonds? Check. Emeralds? Check. The sweet smell of a new leather purse dripping in 24-karat gold? Drool, and double check!

That is until a gorgeous man in a stunning suit rips it all away from me with a one-way ticket to Hell. As in, actual Hell. And that one-way ticket? A knife through my heart.

This demon is going to regret making me the Queen of Greed. Possessing Greed may have been my greatest sin, but it’s also going to be my strongest asset in the sparkling, frozen tundra of Hell’s first Circle.

Possessing Greed is a novel in the multi-author shared world, Sons of Satan. Be sure to read all seven books for a hellish good time! This book is for audiences 18 and over due to mature language and content. Possessing Greed is a reverse harem romantic stand-alone with an HEA.

S.A. Mackenzie is a Canadian why choose author that writes everything from contemporary to paranormal romance. S.A. loves all things spicy, from food to books. She spends her days chasing around her child as a stay at home mom and writing. Her evenings are spent with her big, bearded husband watching movies and playing video games.

Author Links: https://linktr.ee/samackenzieauthor