SquawkRadio Comments

Wow, Toni.  Those covers really ARE revealing.

And hey, hey, HEY!  I don’t refer to myself in third person nearly as much as I use the royal “we,” Kitty.  Hmpf.

Toni, I just love the way you describe the Lacey books as “a complete erotic adventure, one that they’re probably never actually going to go on.”

Exactly!  I don’t want to climb upside down on cliffs or skydive, but I love Mission Impossible movies and every James Bond out there.

You are providing vivid, dynamic, well written fantasy!  What could be better?

You tell her, Liz!  Don’t let that mean Kitty push you around!  (I’m trying really hard to resist using the term “cat"-fight here ; ) )

And yeah, Lacey covers kind of run the gamut.  Some of them are surprisingly (and misleadingly, I fear) tame and some are pretty darn blunt about what you’ll find inside ; ) Frankly, for Lacey, I prefer the blunt covers - I like for covers to really be a reflection of the story, as much as possible anyway.

Oh, and I just got a GORGEOUS cover for my 2008 Penguin release, SEVEN NIGHTS OF SIN, but they like me to keep things under cover until closer to the time - you know?  But prepare to be dazzled - in 8 or 9 months or so ; )

And Kitty, hands off the Carter model.  It’s only fair to tie them down if they actually WANT that ; )

Aw, thank you, Gillian : ) : ) And your Mission Impossible comparison is perfect!  I think it’s safe to say that wildly kinky sex falls under the heading of things many of us might want to explore mentally but not physically ; )

Morning All

OK, I know I’m reading the interviews in the wrong order (I’ve yet to read Part I), but I love the fact Toni that you try ‘...to write stories featuring very average, normal women...’

My local library has one of your books - only one so I will need to talk to them about that and I’m really looking forward to reading it!

Oh, and I completely agree with Kitty with regard to the Carter model…

orannia

Gillian you’ve nailed the comparison perfectly!  I’m a huge fan of extreme adventures, espionage stories and so on, but man… I sure wouldn’t want to be there… that’s what I read for; I like my adventures in the mind, thank you very much!
And the corollary with the erotica is exactly what I’ve been thinking, but never put into words.. I’m such a white bread kinda gal, honestly.

And Julie is also the reason that I had listed SWEPT AWAY on my Christmas list Toni.  Books that she’s recommended have been winners, IMO.

And yep, Joe’s gonna have to be trolling the book stores again.. he’s a brave man… besides he’s always asking me to share the “steamy” parts.  LOL

But that CARTER’S CUFFS cover… :ooh: *fans self* OH MY!! My libido has just gone through the roof… talk about a lot of pleasant dreams!  Is that TMI?? 

... Oh this is funny!  My word combo is *normal53*... well, I’m not *yet* in my 50’s but the *normal* part?  LOL Well, maybe not so much.

Now that’s just a shame he’s covering up that lump of love Sorry couldn’t stop myself…

I so have to have that book and I want to see the peoples faces as I lug that beauty around on the subway...LMAO!

Nice cover on mr. cuff’s...he can so totally cuff me...lol

Okay seriously I’ll stop..now I have to go read this second half of the blog!

alright...I’m going to do it..I am going to jump on the Ellora’s Cave bandwagon...Yes I normally read erotica and I was reading it before I ever picked up a romance! (I love it when I’m at the book store looking over something extremely naughty and the geeks in the scifi are standing nearby cause that is where the erotica is...at the BACK of the store with the other geeky categories -not that I have tried a few scifi in my day)

jinns jinns////

uh..that should be hubba hubba but my fingers got a little haywire...LOL!  I seemed to be terribly distracted.

I’m going to need to print that off...and blow it up.  LOL!  No pun intended....or well....ahem.

This is not good for my TBR pile.  Or bookshelf.  Which is ready to tip.  Not good at all.  Well, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do and I do believe this girl’s gotta go shopping.

I love your description of these books and the comparison is perfect.  I really want to thank the Sqawkers for having you over here.  I’m always happy to find a new author!

LOL!  My veri-word is had52.  *sigh* I’m not even close…

Hey Orianna, thanks for stopping in to comment : ) You know, one reason I’m big on writing about “normal women” in my Lacey book is ... well, wait, I’ll give you TWO reasons.  One is - I’m a normal woman myself ; ) Two is ... I haven’t read much erotica, but my inclination from what little I’ve picked up here and there is that some of it seems to feature women who are already out there leading a wild life.  And to me, that makes them not very easy to relate to if you’re more of an average chick who’s NOT doing these things. 

Plus, I just think it’s more fun to start from zero - ya know?  I’d rather start with a girl like myself and say, hmm - what exactly COULD happen that would ever persuade someone like ME to indulge in sex act X? I just like exploring the thought process and journey of an everyday woman being swept up in some unexpected sexual adventure.  And doing it that way also provides for a natural character arc.

(Curses!  Foiled again by the word count police.  To be continued ...)

(cont. reply to Orianna)

That said, I’ve also written a few more “experienced” heroines in Lacey books - but that’s because they were books in series where I’d already introduced the character in a previous book and painted her as being a lot more sexually “out there.”

And hey, thank you in advance for telling your library they need to be ordering my books : )

Orannia - so I see I mistyped your name several times in my last two posts.  Sending sincere apologies and hanging my head in shame ...

Well, well, well, Kitty.  You scooped me again, didn’t you?  No, really, I’m so very very happy for you, darling, that you broke the news about Toni’s secret double life.  Of course, I’m shattered that you and I weren’t invited on the “Blondes Have More Fun Tour,” but I guess they were only inviting natural blondes.  Ah, well.

I have read “Swept Away.” Really dug it, cause Toni gets the sex and the emotion right, which makes for the best erotic romance.  And it so made me wish I’d dated men with tatoos before I married.  Not to imply I’ve started dating them since.  Or dating at all for that matter.

Also have read “Tempt Me Tonight,” and it’s got one of my favorite themes, about a couple in love in h.s. but not quite ready to tap the intense sensuality between them.  Then, of course, they grow up, and...well, I think you’d like the novel.

I’m looking forward to Toni’s article in next month’s Romance Writers’ Report about erotic romance.

Hi KathyK!  That Julie - she’s gonna get a HUGE thank you from me : )

And I hear ya on the white bread thing.  I’m pretty darn white bread myself - and I think most people who know me personally would not believe I’m capable of writing the Lacey books - they’re shocked ENOUGH by the Toni books.  Heck, at first, *I* was shocked I could write the Lacey books.  But then you get blessedly desensitized ... : )

Thanks for keeping that husband of yours trolling the bookstores : ) : )

Since the Carter cover is making such a big hit, let me tell a little tale about it. 

Ellora’s Cave is really wonderful about asking authors what they want on their covers.  This one is pretty much EXACTLY what I requested.  But when I first got it, the guy was ... chunky.  Not overweight - maybe “husky” would be a better word.  He was ... the kind of guy who, in real life, many of us would find perfectly fine, but in Erotica Land, not so much.  I mean, if I’m gonna have a naked man on my book, God knows I want him to be an ATTRACTIVE naked man : )

So I kindly asked the EC art department if I could get a slightly trimmer, more muscular dude, and this is what I got - to which I said, “Yeah, that’s more like it.”

Now, the only thing that surprises me about the turn this conversation has taken is - where’s Kitty?  I can’t believe she hasn’t chimed in.

And about the “lump of love” - this is kind of embarrassing, but I hadn’t even noticed his hands there.  Seriously.  As an author, so long as I get an attractive person on my Lacey covers, I guess that’s all I see ; )

Oh Toni....I ALWAYS notice these things (they are the important things in my life )...sigh...he’s a hottie that one...sigh...oh I did that already…

Hey Michelle - what a delight to see you here!  And, as always, you have my eternal thanks for sharing such lovely observations about my books!  You rock!

And I might be able to squeeze *you* in on the Blondes book tour, but, um, ix-snay on itty-Kay.  Small car, long drive - I’m sure you take my meaning ; )

And about that scoop, actually, RT scooped EVERYONE.  ‘Cuz ... you know, when they offered, I kinda had to snatch it up.  But that was only half a page, so Squawk is a much better venue for being able to share the whole darn story, lengthy two-parter that it is ... ; )

For the curious, I will be blogging with Michelle at Romance: By the Blog next month - eek, what’s the date - the 19th, I think (I’m sorta guessing, honestly, but I know that’s at least CLOSE to the right date.) So feel free to visit me there, too : )

Thanks again for chiming in with the nice compliments, Michelle : ) : )

Hey Terrio - I want to thank the Squawk ladies for having me here, too - this has been great fun so far!  And glad you’re digging my thoughts on the books : )

And Tiffina, take that EC plunge ; ) But be warned - there are now GAZILLIONS of books there to choose from ; ) Some are in print, some are not yet (about half of mine are in print there), so that may be an issue for some folks, too, when choosing books.  But there’s definitely LOTS to choose from at EC ; )

To Tiffina and all the ladies digging Carter - I will urge you to take a close look at the VOYEUR cover when you can tear your eyes away from the other one ; ) What I really like about the guy on the VOYEUR cover is that you can’t quite see him - but what you CAN see is NICE : ) He’s a little blurry, but on the real, true cover, which is larger, of course, than what’s here, he looks pretty darn dreamy.  And he’s wearing only jeans and even has bare feet, too, which somehow spells sexy to me, in this particular photo anyway : )

Oh, and FYI, one thing about the VOYEUR cover is misleading.  There is no video camera.  And she’s never wearing a dress.  (Hey, that’s 2 things, isn’t it? ; ) ) So I have to envision the cover shot happening AFTER the book ends, mayhaps.  But I still like it because it really DOES portray the tone of the book quite nicely anyway : )

Hey again Toni!

I’m really looking forward to your tour with LuAnn, especially since you are coming to our store on June 23rd. 

Then I get a signed copy of the Lacey books. And a couple of others I still need signed.  Gotta see if I can still order that Christmas one.  Of course Carter’s Cuff’s runs a good second in hunky covers.

See ya in June!

Hey Deb : ) I just replied to your post at Part 1 : )

I’m looking forward to visiting your store, too, especially after all the wonderful things authors say about your signings : )

Now, I gotta warn you, both the Santa book and CARTER’S CUFFS are both only available in e-book form - so there won’t really be anything for me to sign ; ) But plenty of the other Lacey books are in print.  (Sadly, however, I cannot say I have an EC book in print that has a really hot guy on it - sorry!  Maybe the blurry but hot VOYEUR guy can fill that need? ; ) )

Oh dear..yes voyeur’s cover is nice...but there seems to be a pair of jean’s in the way...hey a girl can hope...even if the image is a little blurry...lol!

Tiffina - I’m sure the jeans will come off soon ... in the fictional world of that picture, I mean ; )

Don’t tease like that.  It’s just not nice.

*sigh*

I seem to be doing that alot over here today...LOL!

I have to ask.  So, for the Lacey books.  How exactly do you do research for something like that.  I mean, we know it’s fantasy but does that all come out of your imagination?  Even the...well....mechanics of it?  I’m not sure if I’m making sense.

O.K. I have to say that I LOVE this web site!Everyday my list just keeps growing. 

Toni I’m sad to say I haven’t read any of your books yet but I did read some of the excerpts off your web site and have now ordered five of your books.  I’ll be waiting for the UPS man everyday now for a few days.  I can’t wait to get started! 

LeeAnn - five of my books?  You are my new best friend! : ) Wowwee - thank you so much!  I hope you like ‘em, and I so appreciate your investment : ) : )

Terri o - that’s a good question.  A shame I don’t have a good answer ; ) Really, I just pretty much make it up.  What can I say - I have a vivid imagination ; )

And though I said I hadn’t read much erotica, I should probably elaborate on that.  I haven’t read much *current* erotica or much of, like, what’s sold at EC and similar books.  But years ago, I read quite a bit of literary erotica, both modern day and the historic stuff - and I suspect maybe the roots of my Lacey books come from there.  Meaning just general ideas about the extremes sex can be taken to.  I’ve also been known to watch a Red Shoe Diaries episode or two - although those are pretty tame in Lacey world ; )

Now if you asked my *husband* this question, he’d tell you every book I write is inspired by *him* ; ) He’s amusing that way ; )

Just as a follow up to my last message - I just now saw a new review for Carter’s Cuffs.  It was a lovely and complimentary review, and it declares, “This author knows bondage.” Which amuses me.  ‘Cuz trust me, I really don’t ; ) I’m just makin’ stuff up ; )

Also, I’m afraid it’s time for this Midwestern girl to sign off for the evening - especially since my husband’s golf was cancelled and he just walked in and offered dinner!  And I LIKE dinner : )

This has been ENORMOUS fun, and I once again, can’t thank the Squawk ladies enough for having me.  Also, HUGE thanks to everyone who stopped by, and I’m SO appreciative of everybody who said such nice things about my books.  Every kind word sincerely touches my writer’s heart - it’s the kind of thing you dream about : )

I will check back in in the morning and answer any added posts, so just because I’m not here, don’t stop the party!  Talk amongst yourselves ; ) And hey, where’s Kitty - she seems like someone who could keep a party revved up!

Thank you all again - this has been truly fabu!

Thank you so much for being with us today, Toni!  It was a real treat

I can’t remember off the top of my head if I have read any Toni Blake books.

I do know that I have read some Lacey Alexander.

Just checking back in as promised this morning : ) Belated thanks to Tina for stopping in.  I hope you liked what you read of the Lacey books, and if by any chance you found those to be too “extreme” for your personal tastes ; ) a Toni Blake book might be “just right” ; )

Thanks again for the Squawk girls and everyone who stopped by yesterday.  It was truly a blast! : )

Yesterday, I read part one of Toni’s interview and went out and bought Voyeur.  I didn’t know what to expect, but I was curious.

What I discovered is a phenomenal story.  Brilliant, I loved every page.  Laura is so similar to so many women, almost anyone can relate to her.  It was great.

Thanks Toni/Lacey!

Oh, Squawkers, thanks for the introduction to Toni.  I have learned that books you guys talk about, authors you talk about are always a good read and really enjoyable few hours.  So thanks for expanding my author’s horizon and introducing me to so many new and fabulous books!

You think I’ve scooped you with this? Ha! Wait’ll you see who I’m dishing with soon...you will all be amazed!