Dahlia DeWinters - Author

Today, we are visiting with author D. X. Luc, whose recent release is Down the Yellow Brick Road: Finding Home,  a fantasy erotic romance.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

I really enjoy the criticism. It helps me perfect my skills as a writer. As for specifics, my toughest was for my first book. I’m still new but I learned that I went too deep into background in the beginning which was boring for the reader. Luckily the rest of the book did pick up, but now I know to not try and fill all the details in the front. I try and spread it out as the characters and plot progresses. I have to say though, it did bother me a bit because I thought, “Oh no, my first review and I’ve failed!” But I realize that wasn’t the case lol.

 

What is the easiest part of writing for you?  What is the hardest part?

The easiest part for me is coming up with a story. I always have them floating around in my mind. The hardest part really is the end. I hate saying goodbye to my characters.

 

Do you have any advice to aspiring writers?

Never give up and find as many blogs and research articles to help you perfect your writing skills. Free advice is great, especially when coming from already published authors who’ve been where you are.

 

Name some of your favorite movies.

My favorites are Princess Bride, Labyrinth, Legend. I will always stop to watch them if they’re on.

 

Name some of your favorite books.

My first loves were books by Virginia Henley, then Catherine Coulter. I love Angelia Whiting and Lora Leigh. Sherrilyn Kenyon. So many to name really.

 

Do you have a writing regimen?

I try to have one. I’m a stay at home mom of three, I homeschool, and I make baby items for an online store. Finding time is often hard, but when I can get it, I do.

What are the perks of being an author?

Seeing my dreams come true. I’ve always wanted to be a “story teller” since I was a child and now I have that honor of being such.

 

You are having a dinner party.  You are able to invite one literary character, one president, one musician, one sports figure and one movie villain.

Literary Character: Santiago from Old Man and the Sea

President: Abraham Lincoln

Musician: Chris Cornell

Sports Figure: Clay Matthews (mmmm)

Movie Villain: Hannibal Lecter

Quickies:

Fuzzy socks or slippers? Fuzzy socks

What’s your favorite shape? Circle

Crayons, markers or paint? Crayons

Spanish or French? French

Word Association:

Writer: Me

Cheese: Burger

Bestseller: Rick Riordan

Supermarket: Acme

 

Now you get to ask me a question: If you had a choice, would you have a pet ball python or a pink tarantula?

I’d prefer the pink tarantula because it’s cute and pink is one of my favorite colors.  Plus, its tank wouldn’t have to be that large.

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit with us D.X.!  I wish you the most success in your future endeavors.

Connect with D.X. Luc:

Facebook

Blog

Twitter

 

Down the Yellow Brick Road – Finding Home

Blurb:

Imagine having someone so devoted to you and you don’t even know it. What if that person, that perfect one was right under your nose? What if that person was not only the hero of your heart, but a savior to many?

Dorothy Gale found herself growing older and was stuck in neutral. She wanted adventure and love. Yet her love life was non-existent, with only fantasies of hot sex and being dominated keeping her company. Lacking in human companionship, she felt blessed to have her devoted dog, Toto. He was her solace. Little did she know, her dog had a big secret and an even greater destiny.

Excerpt:

There she was, her body pale and still in the dimly lit cave. Toto had gotten back hours ago, made another fire, ate, and found himself in a conundrum. Should he shift or stay a man, was a question that plagued him. He weighed the pros and cons, but they kept evening out. He had to get air, and away from her in the vulnerable state she was in. Moving to the mouth of the cave, he saw the sun peeking below the horizon. He hadn’t stopped to rest on his way back from Nessarose and knew he couldn’t if he wanted. The sounds of beasts on the forest floor added to his list of why he needed to stay a man. He couldn’t protect her if he were a dog. She also wasn’t very good at reading maps and would probably get lost.

His final reason as to why he made his choice was that she had never actually seen him as a man. Except that one time when she saw his reflection in the window, but he had changed fast enough for her to think she was going crazy. Toto knew what he would do. With a determined stride, he made his way back to her side and glided a hand down her silky thigh. Stopping at her bare foot, he lifted it and with a deep breath, slipped the boot over the delicate arch, repeating the task on the other side. Knowing there was no turning back, he slowly zipped them up, then sat back, hoping beyond all hope they would wake her.

Toto held his breath and waited as the exotic shoes shimmered and pulsated with light that traveled up the length of Dorothy’s body. The glow became too bright for his sensitive eyes and he had to turn his head to keep from being blinded. Several minutes passed before it died down and he cautiously turned his head back. Mouth agape, he knew the woman sitting before him was Dorothy and yet, she looked like a different person. Her red hair, usually pulled into a tight bun, flowed in luscious waves that cascaded down to her breasts. Her outfit seemed to have a life of its own and he itched to pull her into his arms. He hadn’t realized he moved closer to touch her until he heard her sharp intake and saw that her vibrant green eyes were filled with both fire and fear.

“Wh-who are you? Where am I?”

 

Purchase here:

Down the Yellow Brick Road – Finding Home

I’d like to welcome Aliyah Burke to my Storytellers series! Her newest book is What the Earl Desires from Passion in Print Publishing.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

Probably to stop and never attempt to write again. We see how well that worked out for me. J

What is the easiest part of writing for you?  What is the hardest part?

The actual writing. I love it when a story is flowing and I can just sit down and knock out huge parts at a time. The days when I don’t want to stop because of how well I’m getting what the characters want portrayed. The hardest? Trying to explain it to someone in technical terms. I have people ask me about GMC (Goal, Motivation, and Conflict), my internal and external problems as well story arcs. I don’t write that way, so I struggle to explain it to them. I write the story as the characters tell me. I learn what their motivations are as we go along but I don’t hit a point and say, oh…that’s turning point two, or anything like that. So that’s what’s the hardest for me. Well, that and trying to keep up with the voices in my head. J

Do you have any advice to aspiring writers?

Don’t give up. Just because someone said they didn’t like it doesn’t mean you should quit. Develop a thick skin because this is a harsh business and you have to learn how to deal with criticism and rejection. We can’t please everyone and you’ll only be disappointed if you are expecting to. Understand that what works for someone else (their writing process) may not be how it works for you. Listen to advice but don’t think you have to do it all, find out what works for you and go with that. Don’t be discouraged just because you may not be putting out the word count a day as someone else. We all write at our own speed.

Name some of your favorite movies.

Ladyhawke

Black stallion movies

Man from Snowy River/Return to Snowy River

Lonesome Dove

Gone with the Wind

Star Wars collection

Sleeping Beauty

The Princess and the Frog

Sniper series

 

Name some of your favorite books.

Chronicles of the Cheysuli by Jennifer Roberson

Prey series by John Sanford

Shakespeare

Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey

Two Souls Indivisible by James Hirsch

Dark series by Christine Feehan

Dark Horse series by Mary Herbert

Psy/Changelings series by Nalini Singh

The Golden Thirteen by Paul Stillwell

SEALS series by H. Jay Riker

Many more but those are some.

 

Do you have a writing regimen?

Normally yes. With the holidays it’s kinda of all messed up. But my day starts about 0500, I get up and take care of the dogs then sit down to write for a few hours. Take a break, run/jog, walk the dogs, eat, clean etc, then get back to work. How much I do depends on what the schedule is like for that day. I check it first thing every morning so I have an idea of what the day will be like.

What are the perks of being an author?

Besides being able to go to work in pj’s? J I think I would have to say that inspiration is always all around us. All we have to do is take the time to look. I’m very blessed to be able to do this and thank God every day for the opportunity.

You are having a dinner party.  You are able to invite one literary character, one president, one musician, one sports figure and one movie villain. 

Oh…only one per…sigh…let me see.

Literary Character: the Time Traveller (from H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine)

President: Theodore Roosevelt

Musician: Kenny Chesney (this isn’t a fair question…there are sooo many)

Sports Figure: Valdiron de Oliveira (I love bull fighting and seriously impressed by this Brasilian)

Movie Villain: Darth Vader (need I say anymore? J)

Quickies:

Fuzzy socks or slippers? I prefer to be barefoot but fuzzy socks, w/ soled slippers by the door to slip on in case I have to run outside.

What’s your favorite shape? No clue

Crayons, markers or paint? Crayons, especially purple ones.

Spanish or French? Spanish

Word Association:

Writer: solitary

Cheese: extra sharp cheddar

Bestseller: Nora Roberts

Supermarket: Safeway

Now you get to ask me a question: 😉

Do you like dogs, and if so what’s your favourite breed?

I love dogs!  My favorite breed are usually the bigger ones, Rottweilers and Shephards, but I have a medium sized American Bulldog mix that is just too cute!

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions!

Thank you for having me here. I had a blast.

Connect with Aliyah:

Facebook

MySpace

Blog

 

Book Blurb:

From England’s cold mausoleum homes to Africa’s vastness, Colin fights for the love and respect of a warrior’s heart to keep his family together.

Preferring solitude, Colin Faulkner resides at his country estate. Yet, fate being fickle, introduces a mysterious woman into his life. Societal dictates say he has no business wanting her…he does.

Najja’s in England for one thing, however, meeting Colin changes everything. After he unexpectedly becomes Earl of Clifton, Najja withdraws. Her excuse? His title. Her vow.

Colin doesn’t care, but wanting and having Najja are two different things. For Najja can never truly be his so long as another controls her.

Obstacles are meaningless when a love that spans the continents is…

What the Earl Desires

 

Excerpt:

“This is a tooth.”

“Yes, it is.”

“What is it from?”

“A leopard.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Who gave it to you?”

“I earned it. When I was younger.”

A furrow appeared between his eyes. “What did you have to do in order to earn this?”

She touched the large canine tooth. “Survive.”

He dropped the tooth and gave her all his attention. “I do not like the sound of that.”

Unrepentant she shrugged. Her life was as it was and she offered no excuses.

“Are you telling me you fought a leopard?”

She nodded as her mind flashed back to that day. The magnificent male had breathed his last with her. Even in death the creature’s lethal beauty could be felt and demanded respect. So did the wounds the cat had inflicted upon her young body. Injures she ignored until she’d given the creature a proper burial. Taking his life had not been anything she’d wished and had made sure to ask for his forgiveness. Since that day she’d never killed another leopard. With a slight sigh she touched her side before Colin cleared his throat grabbing her attention.

“Where were you?” He didn’t speak of anything other than her trip through memories.

“Home,” she admitted.

“I thought you said your father’s camp was not home.”

“It is not. But Africa is.”

His gaze shuttered. “You will still leave Jo.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes,” she said with regret.

“What about you, Najja?”

She frowned slightly. “I do not understand. What about me?”

He positioned his back against the tree and drew her to settle between his legs. She fought the urge to totally sink against him.

“When do you get to find happiness?”

Najja blinked at the question. No one, not even Jo, had ever asked her such a thing. She could not call forth any response.

You were put here for my whims. Never forget child, you live and breathe because I deign to allow it, not because you have the right. The things you have, I gave and I can take them away. Anytime. Father’s words flared in her memory.

Colin held her tight to him. She could feel his arousal pressing along her back. Desire rocked into her with the force of a squall tossing about a tiny raft.

“I am but a slave, Mr. Faulkner,” she said climbing away from his intoxicating touch and forcing all personal feelings away.

He rose with a dangerously smooth motion and stalked her. She backed against another tree mesmerized by the raw power he exuded. Awareness erupted within her and she longed to purr and rub against him. Najja couldn’t tear her eyes from him as he approached. The wind circled around them moving his dark hair and cloak. Colin only stopped when his large, hard body pressed into her. One thick thigh wedged between her legs. His hands cupped her face and he lowered his mouth until their lips barely touched.

“You may be a woman who follows orders, Najja, but you are no slave. Not to anyone.”