Thursday Thoughts: Cris Anson Talks About Her New Release Aaron's Jewel, Love and Sex after 50 and Chocolate

Warning: Mature sexual themes.

Today we welcome Cris Anson to the Grove. Cris' newest novel, Aaron's Jewel releases September 26. 

Synopsis for Aaron's Jewel

Finding a position as corporate legal counsel in one’s middle-50s after being downsized sucks, so Aaron haunts his local dungeon to soothe his frustration. Feeling squeezed by work and family obligations, ghost writer Julia turns up at the same dungeon to do “research” for her current assignment.

The moment they meet, the dominant in Aaron recognizes the submissive in Julia.

He peels away the layers of her shyness along with her clothes. He gets her—his Jewel—naked and writhing against the cross and over the spanking bench. And she revels in his dominance and tutelage, discovering her wanton self whether tied to a bed in private or blindfolded and the target of many hands in public.

But real life isn’t all adult fun and games. Not when grown children, parents, careers and aging bodies conspire to challenge their burgeoning relationship.

Storyteller's Grove:  So Cris, tell us about yourself and what brought you to writing?

Cris Anson: Many years ago, after my first husband died, I poured all my grief and fears and rage into a journal. After a year or so, I took some of those emotions and began to twist them into scenes with a semblance of a happy ending, even if it was only on paper, to help me cope. Eventually the writing bug really did bite me and I set out to learn my craft. My second husband encouraged my writing efforts, and was thrilled to see several of my books published in his lifetime. Now that he’s also gone, I make sure that parts of him — his honor, courage, optimism, tenacity, and lust for life — live on in all my heroes. 

I also firmly believe that life doesn’t stop at the bedroom door, so when I discovered Ellora’s Cave, I happily jumped into erotic romance and never looked back. In fact, I’ve been delving into BDSM and my more recent stories reflect my in-depth, hands-on research in the “Scene”.

SG: Share with our readers a little about your book.

CA: When Ellora’s Cave put out a call for their “VaVa Boomers” series, I was intrigued. They wanted sexy seniors—mature heroines (not cougars) and heroes who have the benefit of experience and well-developed skills, “because love, like women and fine wine, gets better with age.”

And so my novella, AARON’S JEWEL, was born. Both Aaron and Julia have real-life problems to deal with, but their connection is immediate and there’s plenty of red-hot sex—when they manage to find time together. As a mature woman myself, I’m here to tell you that you’re never too old to want to love and be loved (and to have red-hot sex!).

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SG: What do you love about writing? Hate?

CA: I hate when I get writers’ block, which I do on a regular basis. I’m not one of those folks who has zillions of plots in their head, so I have to really dig deep when I’m starting out. And backtracking when I get stumped as to what’s next.

On the other hand, I love it when, about halfway through the book, the characters start talking back to me, start doing things I hadn’t anticipated. That’s when I know I’m on the right track.

SG: What do you love to eat while writing?

CA: Dove Dark Chocolates. I have to ration them or else I’d eat the entire bag. I’ll take a few upstairs with me and leave the rest in the fridge so I won’t be tempted.

SG: What do you love to drink while you pour steam on the page?

CA: Ice water with a slice of lemon. I can’t have tea or coffee because of the caffeine, I don’t like the fizz of sodas, and one glass of wine makes me sleepy. Yes, I’m a cheap date!

SG: Do you consider yourself more of a hunter or a gatherer?

CA: Not merely a gatherer, I’m a nester, almost a hoarder. I hate to throw things away because I know I’ll need it a week after I toss it. I surround myself with things I love or need, and my desk has mounds of papers. But I know what’s where! (Mostly.) Even outdoors, I tend a compost pile of all the weeds and grass clippings and corn husks and stuff.

SG: If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why?

CA: Rice Krispies, because I like to snap, crackle and pop.

SG: If you could throw a parade, what kind would it be?

CA: Raucus, rainbow, pandemonium. Seventy-six trombones meets New Orleans jazz band meets Scottish bagpipers complete with kilts, and a grand piano on a float with my brother playing Rhapsody in Blue full-bore. And everyone watching would respectfully salute the flag as the Color Guard marches by.

“Passion Without Boundaries” is the tagline on my website www.crisanson.com  because I firmly believe that life doesn't stop at the bedroom door. I had a deeply romantic relationship with my husband of 22 years, and I want to celebrate his memory in my writing. After he died, it took me a long time to come out of my grief, but parts of him -- his honor, courage, optimism, tenacity, and lust for life -- live on in all my heroes. They’re all alpha men, as well.

My first book, DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS, was published in 2005 and is still in print. AARON’S JEWEL is my 15^th title with Ellora’s Cave. In the past few years I’ve become interested in the BDSM sub-culture and my most recent books reflect my hands-on research. I also blog about my BDSM experiences at Cris Anson’s Passions. http://crisansonspassions.blogspot.com/

Want to read more? Get to know Cris better? Follow the links below----you know you to!

BUY LINKS:

Ellora’s Cave  http://www.ellorascave.com/aaron-s-jewel.html

Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Aarons-Jewel-Cris-Anson-ebook/dp/B00MUYMKOI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411525388&sr=1-1&keywords=aaron%27s+jewel

Barnes & Noble   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aarons-jewel-cris-anson/1120390072?ean=9781419992957

SOCIAL LINKS:

Website:  www.crisanson.com

Blog:  http://crisansonspassions.blogspot.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/cris.anson

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/crisanson/

Tuesday Teaser: Release -1, an Excerpt from Awakening by Scott Wieczorek

Tomorrow Scott Wiecerzoerk's novel, Awakening will release in

eBook form. This post will be updated with links for purchase after the official release.

Last week, Scott visited the Grove to share about about himself and his writing process.

Today, we want to give you a taste of what you can expect and invite you to the online Facebook Release Party. There will be guest authors, trivia games and GIVEAWAYS.

In the meantime, here is a taste of Awakening, a world in which Angels are real and they are fighting for control over the human race.

Elena's face felt cold as the blood drained from it. She had not seen the woman's mouth move while she spoke. She sobered almost instantly, the hackles on her neck rising as she stared at the woman's cold smile. She recognized the voice in a moment of lucidity as the one she had heard at the airport, their tail, their stalker—one of the Opposition.

My mistress was right, the woman's voice continued. She told me it would be a matter of time before one of you two slipped up. The amazing thing is you both slipped up at the same time. The woman turned to Elena.

The woman stood nearly a whole foot shorter than Elena and appeared much more fragile. Elena tried to gauge whether or not she would be able to handle this woman on her own. She knew from experience Daimon men were quite powerful, but never expected such strength from females.

Let me clue you in on some secrets. First, Daimon men cannot handle their liquor. In fact, all Daimones are very quickly undone by alcohol. The woman eyed Elena up and down before saying, Second, you could never take me on. To illustrate her point, the small woman gripped the countertop and crushed a small section of it into powder.

"What do you want from me?" Elena asked.

The choice is simple, the woman replied mentally. Either come with me to see my mistress. Or...

"Or?" Elena asked, realizing she would regret this decision.

Or you and your companion die, the woman replied. A placid and sickly happy smile spread across her face as she said it.

The woman's evident pleasure at making such a dire threat sent a chill down Elena's spine. She conjured up the most severe feeling of pain she could imagine and directed it right at the Daimon woman as she had done to the other Daimon in Canada. However, instead of the anticipated effect of crippling pain she had seen in the Daimon man, the woman's eyes flashed, and then she laughed.

Silly girl, the woman said to her mentally. I am no mere weakling. Your foolish mind games have no effect on me.

Alec...I need your help! Elena cried out, hoping beyond hope he would hear and come to her aid.

The woman started laughing even louder. A terrifying grin crossed her face. He can't hear you. Alcohol impairs Daimon abilities. And Alec has had a few too many. I guess I shouldn't have bought him so many rounds!

Elena didn't wait for the woman to move. Filled with blind rage over being trapped by this woman, she pressed her attack. If her death was on the menu, then she would take this woman with her as dessert.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

See you at the Awakening Release Party on Facebook TOMORROW at 9:00PM ET (GMT-5)

Interview with Scott Wieczorek Author of Awakening. Half-caf, Bigfoot and Angels

Today we welcome Scott Wieczorek to the Grove. Scott's third novel,Awakening will release next week in eBook form. We asked Scott to sit down with us and tell us something about his book and himself. We'll be back next week with an excerpt and links so you can have your own copy.

Storyteller’s Grove: Tell us about yourself and what brought you to writing?

Scott Wieczorek: I wanted to write since a young age. In truth, I had two passions—no three. I wanted to either be an archaeologist, a mercenary (as any '80s kid did when confronted with the "Red Threat"), or a

writer. Well I managed to complete two of those goals: I work as a professional archaeologist, and though I write plenty for my job, it's not what I really want to be writing, so I write fiction.

I guess I first got pulled into writing due to my passion for reading. When I was about seven years old, I read a book called Sphinx by Robin Cook, it was a thriller about Egyptology and a archaeologist/treasure hunter. It had everything, action, adventure, and secret societies. Since then my imagination has been alive with stories and tales, and I have been itching to put them to paper.

SG: Share with our readers a little about your book, Awakening.

Scott: Awakening is my third novel and the first in a new series. It has everything—romance, action, adventure, secret societies, and a fast pace. Elena Michaels is a college student whose life turns upside down. After meeting a mysterious stranger on campus, she is pulled into a world of myth, fantasy, and science where she becomes the target of an ancient race of Angels who are hell-bent on world domination. On the run, she needs to reach the only one who can help her survive and save mankind.

SG: What made you choose to publish through a smaller independent press?

Scott: I self-published my first two novels, Byron: A Zombie Tale, and Witness Through Time, after having a tremendous amount of trouble finding a publisher to take them. I had even approached a few agents and met constant rejection. So I decided to just put them out there and see what happened. Basically, they gave me the confidence to keep writing and to finally land a publisher. My third novel, Awakening is being released through Lycaon Press on September 10th. I am so excited!

Witness Through Time will be re-release through Three Worlds Press later this year.

SG: What do you love about writing? Hate?

Scott: What I love about writing is being able to express my creativity in a form I love. From the age of about six or so, I have been writing all sorts of stories. My preference has always been for horror. In essence, I get to do what I love.

What do I hate about it? Nothing, really. My frustrations are more with the how hard it is to get a publisher to look at you. But that all comes with time.

SG:What do you love to eat while writing?

Scott: I generally don't eat while writing. I can sit in front of the computers for hours on end at times and just forget about anything and everything. It's weird—I get in the zone and nothing else exists. Of course, that's when I have time to write.

SG: What do you love to drink while writing?

Scott: Usually while writing, I'll be drinking a cup of coffee—either half-caf or decaf. Don't need the top of my head popping off from high-blood pressure *laughs*.

SG: If you could be a character in a book or movie, who and why?

Scott: Harry Keogh from Brian Lumley's Necroscope Series. Harry was a levelheaded man who could do amazing things with his mind. He could speak with the teeming dead, learn their secrets, and in the end even call them back from the grave. He could see people's destinies through holes in time/space, and even cheated death. It would be fascinating to have his abilities and see the things he has seen.

SG:  Do you believe in Bigfoot?

Scott: I think a more important question is: Does Bigfoot believe in me? I mean, there has been a lot of documentation for cryptozoological species that defy logic and reason. There are bound to be species we have not identified—independent evolution has spun off such amazing creatures. It's definitely plausible enough to see something like it could exist. Perhaps a genetic variation on Neanderthal previously undiscovered. What makes it more plausible is there being independent legends on multiple continents of a similar creature (Yeti and Bigfoot). And if I had his support and backing for my book—wow! What a sponsorship, huh? Stamping the cover with "Bigfoot Approved!"

SG: If you were on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would you bring?

Scott:I am guessing this would be a deserted island. The three things I would bring are:

1) A picture of my family—I couldn't see myself living without them.

2) A good knife—it's probably one of the most versatile implements to have in any situation.

3) A satellite phone with built-in GPS—I'm not stupid, I'd want to get rescued. Of course with my luck, the battery would be dead and I would be SOL!