Friday, August 2, 2013

Interview with Blakely Bennett

Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
My Body-Mine was released on July 15th, the third and final novel in the My Body Trilogy. The story is the culmination of Jane’s dark journey to ultimate self-empowerment. Although the novel is still very suspenseful, Jane has come into her own and stays strong and intact as she makes her way to finding the love she has always wanted.

Are you a mom ?
I’m a wife and mother first and then an author. My greatest successes in life are my incredible relationships with my husband and daughter. I’m also lucky enough to have two grown step-daughters that I love and am super proud of. Being loved and supported makes the journey of being published so much richer.

If yes do you find it hard to juggle writing and parenting?
Our daughter is sixteen and rather self-sufficient so I wouldn’t say that it’s hard to juggle from a parenting standpoint. However, from a life standpoint, juggling social engagements, laundry, house cleaning, exercise, relaxing, etc. can interfere with the writing process when of the story is flowing like a waterfall and I have to hold it at bay until I can’t get back to the computer again. It is rather fun to have it bubbling over. J

Is there a theme or message in your work that you would like readers to connect to?
Yes.  Don’t ever give yourself away for love or change yourself to suit another.  If someone truly loves you, then they will love the real you. Also, don’t ever love someone else more than yourself as in the case of Jane, it can lead you to really bad places.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I was a cheerleader in high school and I am a nudist.

Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?
I really like Lisa Kleypas who writes historical and contemporary romance and has several great series. Lauren Dane writes great erotica romance and I especially liked the Brown Sibling series. I have not read an erotic suspense series other than my own but am open to finding them out there.

Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?
I honestly could see writing in many different genres. I do think it takes a special kind of mind to write a mystery so that genre is not at the top of my list. I imagine any book I will write in the future will have relationships as a focus and include some hot sex. ;)

If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?
If you all love the trilogy, I will write a prequel to the series about Luke and Janice.



My Body-Mine
My Body Trilogy, Book three
Blakely Bennett

Genre: Erotic Suspense

Publisher: Fanny Press
Date of Publication: July 15th

ISBN: 978-1-60381-534-5

Number of pages: 324
Word Count: 87,000

Cover Artist: Sabrina Sun

Book Description:

Jane has accepted that her relationship with her husband Luke, who drew her into the darker side of BDSM, is over. She has taken refuge at the home of Luke’s powerful friend Marcello and his submissive, Janice. With Marcello’s patience exhausted, Jane must either submit to his demands or move on from his household and his support. Ultimately, she signs a six month contract of sexual servitude but, as Marcello and Jane grow closer, Janice feels neglected and jealous, creating tension in their normally easy daily rhythm.

In an effort to help Jane, her best friend Parker introduces her to Chase, a confident and flirtatious man who lacks the arrogance of either Luke or Marcello. Jane’s rapport with Chase is lighthearted and subtle, allowing her to gain a new perspective on men. She is intensely attracted to Chase but does not feel free to consider him as more than a friend.

Once Jane gets a real picture of Marcello’s extremes, she knows what she must do. Her feelings about Luke and Marcello and her own sexuality must be resolved before she can find true love with a man who appreciates everything she has to offer. Can she possibly find the kink she has come to desire without the full-time submission?

My Body-Mine is the final book in the My Body Trilogy.



My Body-His (Marcello)
My Body Trilogy, Book 2
Blakely Bennett

Genre: Erotic Suspense

Publisher: Fanny Press

ISBN: 978-1-60381-525-3

Number of pages: 264
Word Count: 76,000

Cover Artist: Sabrina Sun

Amazon              BN

Book Description:

Jane Stiles has embarked on an intense odyssey into the world of domination and submission. She no longer recognizes herself. She has quit her job, surrendered her possessions and agreed to a wedding where she is the only one naked, all for the sake of the elusive Luke—a man so compelling, she can deny him nothing.

Now there is no going back. Her new life will revolve around Luke, his friends and clients. Hovering in the background is Luke’s best friend Marcello, whose ego is as towering as his stature. Marcello has set his sights on Jane. She is drawn to his power, his masculinity, and the challenge he represents, even though she fears and dislikes him. After Luke discovers that Jane has breached one of his many “rules,” he sends her to Marcello for punishment and lessons in Dom/sub culture. What happens there will change her forever.

Jane and Luke reconcile, and even find a rhythm that includes not only bondage and punishment but genuine love-making. Just when Jane is convinced that the happiness and devotion she has always craved is within reach, Luke pushes her beyond endurance, and she rebels in a way her harsh husband cannot forgive. From there, her life spins out of control. But Jane has a strong spirit, and she will prevail. My Body-His (Marcello) is Book 2 in the My Body Trilogy.

My Body-His
My Body Trilogy, Book 1
Blakely Bennett

Genre: Erotic Suspense

Publisher: Fanny Press

ISBN: 978-1-60381-523-9

Number of pages: 246
Word Count: 74,000

Cover Artist: Sabrina Sun

Amazon   BN

Book Description:

Jane Stiles is successful in business but bored with her socially mundane existence. One night at a party, she meets an intense and compelling stranger named Luke. This fateful encounter prompts her predictable life path to veer into uncharted territory, sweeping her along on a frightening erotic journey into the world of bondage, domination and submission.

Jane had never experienced genuine desire, and now passion consumes her life, robbing her of free will. Her new lifestyle creates an emotional chasm between her and her old friends. Will they understand why she has abandoned her high ideals and long-term plans for a traditional wedding? What society considers right or wrong no longer matters.


Prepared to surrender everything to Luke, she wonders if her everything will be enough. She now needs his discipline as much as she craves his love and approval. How far down this dark path is she willing to go? Jane’s pilgrimage into domination and discipline has created a war between her mind and her body, and her body is claiming victory.

About the Author:

Blakely Bennett grew up in Southeast Florida and has been residing in the great Northwest for over eight years. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a degree in psychology, which accounts for her particular interest in crafting the personalities, struggles, and motivations of her characters. She is an avid reader of many genres of fiction, but especially erotica and romance. Writing has always been her bliss. She is attracted to stories of self-struggle and ultimate recovery.

Blakely is married to a wonderful, loving and supportive husband, also a writer, who helps to keep her grounded. She is a mother, a communitarian, a lover of music (always on while she is writing—thank you, Pandora), and a good friend. An advocate of love and female empowerment, she is a facilitator for a women’s group. She loves to walk and hike for exercise and finds that, since moving to Seattle, WA, she is now one of those “crazy” people who walk in the rain.



Twitter @BlakelyBennett




My Blog Talk Interview

July 29 Interview and review

August 1 review
Romance Addict Book Blog – 

August 2 Interview
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom

August 5 Guest blog
Roxanne’s Realm

August 6 Spotlight
Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust

August 7 Guest blog and Review 

August 8 Guest blog
Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews

August 8 Guest blog
Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust

August 8 Spotlight and review
Faerie Tale Books

August 9 Character Interview and review
Nightstand Novels

August 9 review
Debbie The Book Vixen

August 12 Guest blog
The Official Blog of A.C. James

August 12 Spotlight and Review
My Daily Romance – 

August 12 Guest blog
Smoldering Heat 

August 12 Interview
C.W. Book Reviews 
@ The House of Malfunction

Guest blog and Giveaway with Stacia Deutsch





Thank you for having me on your blog today.  I am so excited to be here and this book is special to me because it’s my first green-focused release. LUCKY PHOO will be first and foremost, an epublication. I was an environmental studies major my first two year of college – being green is really important to me. I am thrilled at this opportunity to explore the paper-free eUniverse.

I’ve been writing for years. I’ve had about sixty books published, and been on the New York Times Best Seller list, but this is my first foray into the eWorld of novels.  When I partnered with my friend Rhody Cohon to work on LUCKY PHOO we fell in love with the story and the characters. Three girls, a magical dog, fashion, movies, and romance – what wasn’t to love?

The characters were kids we knew. The complexities of their lives felt familiar. This cute little dog comes in and seems to make everything better for a while. Who wouldn’t want a little Phoo of their own?

The question that came up, as we worked on the novel, was would 7-11 year old kids read electronically? We desperately wanted this to be an eBook, to explore the greenest publishing medium and reach kids through their iPads, Kindles, Nooks, and cell phones –my own 12 year old daughter reads on her phone constantly.

I took a Facebook poll of my friends. I asked if they knew if kids were reading electronically. I was surprised at the result. The answer was a resounding “Yes.” I had honestly thought that kids didn’t have access to eReaders and preferred print books, but it turns out that kids do read electronically.

In the teen young adult market, electronic reading is very popular.  Publisher’s Weekly reported in 2012, “Digital sales are booming for YA fiction.”  But what about the younger readers? Could we reach them with a book like LUCKY PHOO?

Reports are showing that eBook sales to tweens and younger readers are on the rise. Mediabistro.com reported in June 2013 “In Canada and the U.S., eBook sales among kids has increased 10 times since 2010.” That’s good news as we venture into this unchartered territory.

Electronic books are the wave of the future. It might be early for younger kids to embrace this technology that limits the toll on the environment, and for that reason, the book will be available also in print, but it is our hope that LUCKY PHOO will be one of many books that younger readers choose to download, read, and enjoy.

The book is on sale for 0.99 cents for the month of August. Find out more at www.staciadeutsch.com. Or www.luckypho.com. Find the book on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Phoo-ebook/dp/B00E6SOHQK


August 2 Guest blog
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom

August 5 Spotlight
Kelly P's Blog 

August 6 Guest blog
Rose & Beps Blog – 

August 7 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!  

August 8 Spotlight
Fang-tastic Books

August 9 Interview

August 12 Spotlight and review
Deb Sanders

August 13 Spotlight
Lisa’s World of Books

August 15 Spotlight and review
fundinmental   

August 19 Guest blog and review
Best Kids' Reads

August 20 Spotlight
Cover2CoverBlog

August 21 Spotlight
Traci Douglass

August 28 Guest blog
Mochas, Mysteries and More

August 30 Spotlight
Let’s Start Saving Now – 
Book Worm & More, 

September 2 Spotlight and review
Wicca Witch 4 Book Blog

http://wiccawitch4bookblog.blogspot.ca/

September 4 Guest blog
Mythical Books

September 5 Spotlight and review
Dalene’s Book Reviews

September 6 Guest blog
Reading In Twilight

Lucky Phoo
Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon

Genre: Children’s Mid Grade (ages 7-11)


Publisher: Imajin Books

Date of Publication: August 1, 2013

Number of pages: 109
Word Count: 43,000

Cover Artist: Ryan Doan

Amazon  

Book Description:

Seventh grade best friends, Caylie Jiang-Kahn, Lauren Blindell, and Sabrina Robinson have busy middle school lives.

Sabrina wants to make a movie about their friendship, but a stray dog shows up and ruins the day. In frustration, Lauren curses, “Oh Phooey.” The name sticks. The crazy mutt will forever be named Phoo.

Sabrina pieces together bits of the footage she shot. She highlights Phoo’s silly antics and puts the video up on a movie contest website.

The video goes viral and suddenly, Lauren, Caylie, and Sabrina are celebrities at school. When a volunteer at the dog shelter sees the film, she assumes the dog belongs to the girls and calls them to come collect Phoo.

The girls arrange to take turns caring for Phoo until he can be adopted.

While sharing Phoo, Caylie, Sabrina and Lauren begin to notice that if the dog is around, lucky things seem to happen. The moment he’s gone…the luck disappears.

When they all need the dog’s magic at the same time, it’s up to the girls to decide once and for all: Is Phoo truly a lucky dog?

Review blurbs for LUCKY PHOO

“With punchy dialogue and a fast moving pace, LUCKY PHOO takes readers on a wild adventure as three friends try to share fostering duties of a lovable stray dog.” —Marianne Mitchell, author of FIREBUG

“Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon are two very best friends who write books together, which is very lucky for their readers. You’ll want to share LUCKY PHOO with all your friends, too!” —Jennifer J. Stewart, author of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A THIRD WORLD KIND, Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award List; Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award List; Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award List

"LUCKY PHOO is a great story about friendship, love and responsibility--Phoo, the lucky dog who wanders into Sabrina's, Caylie's and Lauren's world is indeed  lucky--although maybe not as lucky as these girls whose life he changes." Terry Trueman, Printz Honor Author of STUCK IN NEUTRAL

"Okay, full disclosure: I LOVE good, strong, dog stories--Lucky Phoo is precisely one of those!" Terry Trueman, Printz Honor Author of STUCK IN NEUTRAL





About the New York Times Best Selling Authors:

Rhody Cohon wishes she could adopt a million pets! Until her house is big enough she'll pamper the few she has and help others find the perfect home.
Find Rhody at www.rhodycohon.com.

Stacia Deutsch sits at the keyboard crafting stories all day and then, plays with her own crazy, lucky, dog at night. She and her three kids live in Southern California. You can visit Stacia at www.staciadeutsch.com or on twitter at @staciadeutsch.



Twitter: @staciadeutsch  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/staciadeutsch  or www.facebook.com/luckyphoo to post your own pet photos and videos






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