Landscaper Giselle Sheridan is too busy to take up the Cougar Challenge during planting season. But when she walks into CPA Conlan Trowbridge’s office, tax questions are forgotten and her growl comes roaring out. Oh yeah, they’re both ready for some hot and heavy sex. Her long-time foreman also has designs on her, in more ways than one. When Giselle faces some hard decisions, will she ultimately be able to keep the heat?
Excerpt from ADDING HEAT
Copyright © 2010 by Cris Anson
Could he be any more goody-goody than thinking a bicycle ride was an appropriate first date?
The dimple in his smile as he waved hello didn’t catch her interest this time. She was angry that she’d been hoodwinked. No, that wasn’t fair. It was her own fault she’d misunderstood.
But oh lord, when he walked to the back of the truck, her eyes popped at the finest, tightest, roundest ass she’d ever seen. Come to think of it, his thighs were more muscular than she’d imagined when she’d seen him in loose-fitting dress pants at the Senior Center.
And his belly. It was concave under the spandex. His clothes looked painted on, and every step showed the flex and flow of his muscles. Not an ounce of fat. Anywhere. She could just imagine the type of woman he probably dated. No way was she in anywhere near the shape of those twenty- and thirty-somethings with hard bodies and unlined skin who rode in biking marathons.
He looked like one of her employees, young and buff and…
“You might get a little warm and sweaty in those jeans,” Con said as he rolled out one of the bikes and leaned it against the porch railing. “And you might want to wear sneakers.”
Was this guy really a nerd? Or was this his way of trying to impress her?
Okay, she’d show him. Without a word Giselle marched back upstairs and a few minutes later walked back out wearing a brand-new outfit she’d bought for wintertime exercise at a health club she never got around to joining—tight, mid-thigh, spandex workout shorts and sports bra that lifted her ample breasts and maximized her cleavage. The get-up showed a fair amount of skin between garments and she was gratified that his mouth actually dropped open as he rolled the second bike to a stop.
“Is this better?” she cooed. And smiled at the instant bulge his molded shorts couldn’t hide.
Instead of turning to hide his erection, as she’d expected a goody-goody to do, his eyes shot lightning bolts and he strode purposefully toward her.
“I’ve wanted to do this since the moment I laid eyes on you,” he murmured as he cradled her head between his palms. His mouth touched hers and all hell broke loose inside her.
BIO:
Cris Anson feels you’re never too old to enjoy romance. She loves writing older woman-younger man stories. That’s why she jumped at the chance to join the Cougar Challenge authors and wrote ADDING HEAT. She has also written five erotic romance novels and several shorter works for Ellora’s Cave, as well as two romantic suspense novels for their Cerridwen Press imprint. You can find Cris at these locations:
Tempt the Cougar blog http://temptthecougar.blogspot.com/?zx=72a26a2564d8d5ad.
Website www.crisanson.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/people/Cris-Anson/1106215816?ref=search
Showing posts with label Cris Anson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cris Anson. Show all posts
Monday, November 22, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Cris Anson for ExcerpTuesday!
Today I invite a fellow Cris/Chris/Kris to my blog to share an excerpt.
Blurb for WHAT SHE NEEDS:
Debut erotic romance author Delia needs to research BDSM. A former Dom offers to teach her some basics, and she gets more than she bargained for when Kurt adds his business partner to her instruction. But an innocent misstep brings Delia’s world crashing down around her. Can she trust Kurt with her heart…and her life?
Excerpt of WHAT SHE NEEDS:
Delia turned to glare at the man who had intruded on her reunion with folks she’d only known online, but one look at him—in a dove-gray dress shirt with sleeves rolled up, no tie, and tailored black slacks— made her think, Uh-oh, I’m in trouble here.
About six feet of hunkalicious man stared at her, all thunder and storm swirling in amber eyes that all but immobilized her. His mouth was a thin line of disapproval and his black brows echoed the line and the sentiment. Even the nose, slightly askew, probably from a badly healed fracture, added to the air of danger surrounding him.
Hair as black as the devil’s heart scraped back into a short ponytail except for a wayward swath down his forehead could not soften the severity of his gaze, yet Delia felt only electricity zinging between them. It was an uncomfortable feeling, a cross between a butterfly pinned to a specimen board and a ripe peach waiting to be sucked.
Then his expression softened as his gaze took in the bright reddish-purple of her bruise. He lifted a long-fingered hand to her face but did not touch her. “A slave of your beauty and delicacy should be treated with reverence. May I show you how a true Master treats his property?”
Delia’s tongue felt glued to the roof of her mouth. This hunk was calling her a beauty? Calling her delicate? Ye gods, was he a real-life Dom? Sure, Delia had read all about D/s relationships. Heck, BDSM was an erotic romance author’s stock in trade. But actually be a slave? She was in waaaay over her head here.
The man’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know the first thing about the Master/slave bond, do you.”
It didn’t sound like a question, because Delia was sure he already knew the answer.
“You are an erotic romance…reader? Writer?”
“She’s a published author,” Judith chimed in. “Her first book just came out and you can buy it this weekend at the book fair. Her name is Delia Barnes. And you’re right, she’s unfamiliar with that lifestyle.”
If Delia had held a gun in her hands, Judith’s lifeblood would be flowing out of her belly right about now. She flashed a silent warning to her critique partner, who blithely ignored her as she smiled up at him from her five-foot-nothing height.
“And you are…?”
The man had the temerity to bow like an eighteenth century courtier. “Master Kurt, at your service.”
“Well, Master Kurt, are you staying at this hotel?” Judith’s question. Delia vowed to add poison to Judith’s next pomegranate martini.
“I am.”
“Then perhaps you’ll find a few minutes to explain some basics to Delia here.”
Master Kurt turned to Delia. “It would be my pleasure.” His gaze skittered past her and his eyes gave some kind of signal, but Delia would be damned if she’d turn around and check out what he was doing.
“Delia Barnes.” His deep voice purring her name stroked her down to her toes. She couldn’t deny that his voice, his stare, his commanding presence had already started the cream flowing between her legs. She’d need more than a snorkel, she’d need full scuba gear if he kept that up.
“Delia, I am going to give you your first lesson in being a proper slave.” Gently placing his long fingers on her shoulders, he turned her around then leaned over her shoulder to whisper into her ear.
Short bio of Cris Anson:
After the death of my husband of 22 years, it took me three years to come out of my grief and feel alive and open to new experiences. Now I consider myself a senior citizen and “cougar” —hey, one is never too old to dream about, or experience, romance.
I enjoy my garden during warm days and have just discovered Zumba for fun exercising. I’ve been writing since the ‘90s and read voraciously across all genres. I’ve published five erotic romance novels and two “Quickies” with Ellora’s Cave, plus a pair of contemporary novels featuring male twins with Cerridwen Press, their mainstream imprint. WHAT SHE NEEDS was released in July. Look for ADDING HEAT sometime this fall. Both of these are younger man-older woman novellas.
You can read excerpts of all my works at www.crisanson.com.
By the way, I’m thrilled to say that I posed for the cover of WHAT SHE NEEDS! If you want to know how it came about, go to Author Island to read my guest blog, “15 Minutes in Angelo’s Arms. http://tinyurl.com/2utkd2a
Debut erotic romance author Delia needs to research BDSM. A former Dom offers to teach her some basics, and she gets more than she bargained for when Kurt adds his business partner to her instruction. But an innocent misstep brings Delia’s world crashing down around her. Can she trust Kurt with her heart…and her life?
Excerpt of WHAT SHE NEEDS:
Delia turned to glare at the man who had intruded on her reunion with folks she’d only known online, but one look at him—in a dove-gray dress shirt with sleeves rolled up, no tie, and tailored black slacks— made her think, Uh-oh, I’m in trouble here.
About six feet of hunkalicious man stared at her, all thunder and storm swirling in amber eyes that all but immobilized her. His mouth was a thin line of disapproval and his black brows echoed the line and the sentiment. Even the nose, slightly askew, probably from a badly healed fracture, added to the air of danger surrounding him.
Hair as black as the devil’s heart scraped back into a short ponytail except for a wayward swath down his forehead could not soften the severity of his gaze, yet Delia felt only electricity zinging between them. It was an uncomfortable feeling, a cross between a butterfly pinned to a specimen board and a ripe peach waiting to be sucked.
Then his expression softened as his gaze took in the bright reddish-purple of her bruise. He lifted a long-fingered hand to her face but did not touch her. “A slave of your beauty and delicacy should be treated with reverence. May I show you how a true Master treats his property?”
Delia’s tongue felt glued to the roof of her mouth. This hunk was calling her a beauty? Calling her delicate? Ye gods, was he a real-life Dom? Sure, Delia had read all about D/s relationships. Heck, BDSM was an erotic romance author’s stock in trade. But actually be a slave? She was in waaaay over her head here.
The man’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know the first thing about the Master/slave bond, do you.”
It didn’t sound like a question, because Delia was sure he already knew the answer.
“You are an erotic romance…reader? Writer?”
“She’s a published author,” Judith chimed in. “Her first book just came out and you can buy it this weekend at the book fair. Her name is Delia Barnes. And you’re right, she’s unfamiliar with that lifestyle.”
If Delia had held a gun in her hands, Judith’s lifeblood would be flowing out of her belly right about now. She flashed a silent warning to her critique partner, who blithely ignored her as she smiled up at him from her five-foot-nothing height.
“And you are…?”
The man had the temerity to bow like an eighteenth century courtier. “Master Kurt, at your service.”
“Well, Master Kurt, are you staying at this hotel?” Judith’s question. Delia vowed to add poison to Judith’s next pomegranate martini.
“I am.”
“Then perhaps you’ll find a few minutes to explain some basics to Delia here.”
Master Kurt turned to Delia. “It would be my pleasure.” His gaze skittered past her and his eyes gave some kind of signal, but Delia would be damned if she’d turn around and check out what he was doing.
“Delia Barnes.” His deep voice purring her name stroked her down to her toes. She couldn’t deny that his voice, his stare, his commanding presence had already started the cream flowing between her legs. She’d need more than a snorkel, she’d need full scuba gear if he kept that up.
“Delia, I am going to give you your first lesson in being a proper slave.” Gently placing his long fingers on her shoulders, he turned her around then leaned over her shoulder to whisper into her ear.
Short bio of Cris Anson:
After the death of my husband of 22 years, it took me three years to come out of my grief and feel alive and open to new experiences. Now I consider myself a senior citizen and “cougar” —hey, one is never too old to dream about, or experience, romance.
I enjoy my garden during warm days and have just discovered Zumba for fun exercising. I’ve been writing since the ‘90s and read voraciously across all genres. I’ve published five erotic romance novels and two “Quickies” with Ellora’s Cave, plus a pair of contemporary novels featuring male twins with Cerridwen Press, their mainstream imprint. WHAT SHE NEEDS was released in July. Look for ADDING HEAT sometime this fall. Both of these are younger man-older woman novellas.
You can read excerpts of all my works at www.crisanson.com.
By the way, I’m thrilled to say that I posed for the cover of WHAT SHE NEEDS! If you want to know how it came about, go to Author Island to read my guest blog, “15 Minutes in Angelo’s Arms. http://tinyurl.com/2utkd2a
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Authorsday - Cris Anson
Hot Hot Hot! Is how I describe how Cris Anson writes. Hotter than even Justin Beiber.
So here she is answering some questions for me today.
1. How did you pick the genre you write in?
Back at the turn of this century, I was published under another name and my editor kept telling me to tone down my love scenes. When I first heard about Ellora’s Cave, the company which put erotic romance on the publishing map, I was thrilled to know I could write as steamy as I wanted. Now reviewers call my work “incredibly, sinfully erotic”, “scorching hot”, “explosive and passionate”, “atomic fireball hot”—well, you get the picture.
2. Do you plot or do you write by the seat of your pants?
Wish I didn’t, but it’s been seat of the pants for me. I start with two protagonists and, usually, an ending, and maybe an idea for just a scene or two. Period. That makes for lots of angst because I don’t know how to get where I’m headed, so I simply plod along until the characters come to life under my fingers. I don’t write the synopsis until I’ve written “The End” to any story. With PUNISHMENT AND MERCY, an erotic historical ménage from Ellora’s Cave released January 2010, I really struggled to come up with reasons to keep the characters apart and I kept sending chapters to my editor for comment and direction.
It wasn’t until I was invited to join the Ellora’s Cave Cougars (see Tempt the Cougar blog http://temptthecougar.blogspot.com/ ) that I had to write a synopsis for the group before actually writing the story to be sure I wasn’t duplicating anyone else’s ideas. Now, having a sketchy Trip-Tik for Giselle and Con’s story, I feel more in control of their destiny. Maybe this feeling will stay with me.
3. What do you know now that you are published that you didn’t know pre-published that you wish you knew?
How much time it takes for promo. I used to think that being published was the Holy Grail. Now there’s a whole new set of goals: getting my name known, finding and enhancing my “brand”, getting my books reviewed, doing blogs and interviews, having a website and a presence on MySpace, Facebook and other social networks, arranging book-signings, attending conferences with an eye to meeting new readers. And oh yes, actually doing the writing so that I can keep my name before the readers.
4. Why did you pick the publisher that ultimately published your book?
See #1. When I submitted my first “hot” book to Ellora’s Cave, it took nine months for them to acknowledge my submission (it got lost twice what with editorial turnover and growing pains) but I was determined to be published by the premier publisher of erotic romance. Finally, in January 2005, DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS was released and I’ve been with EC ever since. I’ve done five full-length novels and two “Quickies”, with a Cougar novella coming up plus two books (romantic suspense and contemporary romance) for their mainstream imprint, Cerridwen Press. By the way, all of these are still available in downloads, and most are in print as well.
5. Describe your book.
PUNISHMENT AND MERCY takes place in 1694 Massachusetts Bay Colony. A young widow is flogged in public for sexual congress outside matrimony, and her irate father forces her marriage to a blacksmith. But the blacksmith’s apprentice falls in love with her. What’s a woman to do when she winds up loving them both? A reviewer (4.5 hearts, Shannon, The Romance Studio) says: “I dare any reader to have a dry eye by the end of this captivating story!”
Also, I just sold an older woman/younger man story to EC, tentatively entitled WHAT SHE NEEDS. A debut erotic romance author meets a Dom who wants to teach her the finer points of D/s—for research purposes, of course. They “click”, but horrors in their respective pasts lead to a frightening incident that breaks the fragile bond of trust between them.
6. What do you consider your strengths in terms of your writing?
I like to think I’m good at dialogue, description, mood setting and emotional impact. The last draft before sending it on to my editor consists of going through the manuscript line by line, searching for weak words and substituting those with power, action and/or emotion. My problem is plot (which is why I write seat-of-the-pants style). Oh, and I’m a stickler for punctuation and spelling.
7. What’s your favorite quote?
Attributed to Shaquille O’Neal: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” In other words, Go for it. Don’t stop writing. Don’t ever give up.
8. What was your favorite scene to write?
Probably the beginning of DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS. I kept playing the music from Richard Strauss’ opera, SALOME, and envisioning the divorced, poor-self-image heroine, who was cajoled into attending an adult costume party, doing her own dance to that music with her own seven veils. This was the moment she realized she was a desirable woman and thus began her own coming-of-age story at the age of 39.
9. What was the hardest scene to write?
There’s a hospital scene in my Cerridwen book, SECOND BEST (the “bad” twin’s story, the sequel to FIRST TO DIE, with the “good” twin), where the hero is forced to make a “Sophie’s Choice” kind of decision between the two people he loves most in the world. I cried buckets while writing that. Here’s a typical reader reaction: “I sobbed watching Jack choose what was asked of him…” (5 bookmarks, Natalie S., Wild on Books)
10. Who is your greatest cheerleader?
It was, without a doubt, my late husband, Ed. As sick as he was (bedridden with emphysema for the last eight years of his life), he always had words of encouragement when I needed them, and he delighted in sharing my every triumph, whether simply finishing a chapter or first draft, or receiving a good review or that welcome royalty check. I’m grateful he was able to see my first two erotic romances published. I still miss him, but I know he’s still proud of every small or large success I achieve.
Author Bio
After the death of my husband of 22 years, it took me three years to come out of my grief and feel alive and open to new experiences. Now I consider myself a senior citizen and “cougar” —hey, one is never too old to dream about, or experience, romance. I’ve been writing since the ‘90s and read voraciously across all genres. I enjoy my garden during warm days and have just discovered Zumba for fun exercising. My wish list includes sleeping on the floor of the Grand Canyon and dancing a tango or two with Gilles Marini.
Book Blurb):
DANCE OF THE ROGUE, the final book in my DANCE series
Love-’em-and-leave-’em bad-boy Rolf has met his match, and she’s nothing like his usual dalliances. Older, plus-sized Fantine embraces her curves and her femininity. A weekend of pleasure that begins as a sizzling sexual distraction sparks a connection neither wants to relinquish. Fantine brings Rolf a link to the dark-eyed, dark-haired father he always suspected was his, not the blond-haired, blue-eyed sire of his brothers. Amid the joy of learning of his new family and a relationship of steamy sexuality and deep emotions, Rolf becomes the man he never thought he could be, and the lover of Fantine’s deepest fantasies.
1. How did you pick the genre you write in?
Back at the turn of this century, I was published under another name and my editor kept telling me to tone down my love scenes. When I first heard about Ellora’s Cave, the company which put erotic romance on the publishing map, I was thrilled to know I could write as steamy as I wanted. Now reviewers call my work “incredibly, sinfully erotic”, “scorching hot”, “explosive and passionate”, “atomic fireball hot”—well, you get the picture.
2. Do you plot or do you write by the seat of your pants?
Wish I didn’t, but it’s been seat of the pants for me. I start with two protagonists and, usually, an ending, and maybe an idea for just a scene or two. Period. That makes for lots of angst because I don’t know how to get where I’m headed, so I simply plod along until the characters come to life under my fingers. I don’t write the synopsis until I’ve written “The End” to any story. With PUNISHMENT AND MERCY, an erotic historical ménage from Ellora’s Cave released January 2010, I really struggled to come up with reasons to keep the characters apart and I kept sending chapters to my editor for comment and direction.
It wasn’t until I was invited to join the Ellora’s Cave Cougars (see Tempt the Cougar blog http://temptthecougar.blogspot.com/ ) that I had to write a synopsis for the group before actually writing the story to be sure I wasn’t duplicating anyone else’s ideas. Now, having a sketchy Trip-Tik for Giselle and Con’s story, I feel more in control of their destiny. Maybe this feeling will stay with me.
3. What do you know now that you are published that you didn’t know pre-published that you wish you knew?
How much time it takes for promo. I used to think that being published was the Holy Grail. Now there’s a whole new set of goals: getting my name known, finding and enhancing my “brand”, getting my books reviewed, doing blogs and interviews, having a website and a presence on MySpace, Facebook and other social networks, arranging book-signings, attending conferences with an eye to meeting new readers. And oh yes, actually doing the writing so that I can keep my name before the readers.
4. Why did you pick the publisher that ultimately published your book?
See #1. When I submitted my first “hot” book to Ellora’s Cave, it took nine months for them to acknowledge my submission (it got lost twice what with editorial turnover and growing pains) but I was determined to be published by the premier publisher of erotic romance. Finally, in January 2005, DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS was released and I’ve been with EC ever since. I’ve done five full-length novels and two “Quickies”, with a Cougar novella coming up plus two books (romantic suspense and contemporary romance) for their mainstream imprint, Cerridwen Press. By the way, all of these are still available in downloads, and most are in print as well.
5. Describe your book.
PUNISHMENT AND MERCY takes place in 1694 Massachusetts Bay Colony. A young widow is flogged in public for sexual congress outside matrimony, and her irate father forces her marriage to a blacksmith. But the blacksmith’s apprentice falls in love with her. What’s a woman to do when she winds up loving them both? A reviewer (4.5 hearts, Shannon, The Romance Studio) says: “I dare any reader to have a dry eye by the end of this captivating story!”
Also, I just sold an older woman/younger man story to EC, tentatively entitled WHAT SHE NEEDS. A debut erotic romance author meets a Dom who wants to teach her the finer points of D/s—for research purposes, of course. They “click”, but horrors in their respective pasts lead to a frightening incident that breaks the fragile bond of trust between them.
6. What do you consider your strengths in terms of your writing?
I like to think I’m good at dialogue, description, mood setting and emotional impact. The last draft before sending it on to my editor consists of going through the manuscript line by line, searching for weak words and substituting those with power, action and/or emotion. My problem is plot (which is why I write seat-of-the-pants style). Oh, and I’m a stickler for punctuation and spelling.
7. What’s your favorite quote?
Attributed to Shaquille O’Neal: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” In other words, Go for it. Don’t stop writing. Don’t ever give up.
8. What was your favorite scene to write?
Probably the beginning of DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS. I kept playing the music from Richard Strauss’ opera, SALOME, and envisioning the divorced, poor-self-image heroine, who was cajoled into attending an adult costume party, doing her own dance to that music with her own seven veils. This was the moment she realized she was a desirable woman and thus began her own coming-of-age story at the age of 39.
9. What was the hardest scene to write?
There’s a hospital scene in my Cerridwen book, SECOND BEST (the “bad” twin’s story, the sequel to FIRST TO DIE, with the “good” twin), where the hero is forced to make a “Sophie’s Choice” kind of decision between the two people he loves most in the world. I cried buckets while writing that. Here’s a typical reader reaction: “I sobbed watching Jack choose what was asked of him…” (5 bookmarks, Natalie S., Wild on Books)
10. Who is your greatest cheerleader?
It was, without a doubt, my late husband, Ed. As sick as he was (bedridden with emphysema for the last eight years of his life), he always had words of encouragement when I needed them, and he delighted in sharing my every triumph, whether simply finishing a chapter or first draft, or receiving a good review or that welcome royalty check. I’m grateful he was able to see my first two erotic romances published. I still miss him, but I know he’s still proud of every small or large success I achieve.
Author Bio
After the death of my husband of 22 years, it took me three years to come out of my grief and feel alive and open to new experiences. Now I consider myself a senior citizen and “cougar” —hey, one is never too old to dream about, or experience, romance. I’ve been writing since the ‘90s and read voraciously across all genres. I enjoy my garden during warm days and have just discovered Zumba for fun exercising. My wish list includes sleeping on the floor of the Grand Canyon and dancing a tango or two with Gilles Marini.
Book Blurb):
DANCE OF THE ROGUE, the final book in my DANCE series
Love-’em-and-leave-’em bad-boy Rolf has met his match, and she’s nothing like his usual dalliances. Older, plus-sized Fantine embraces her curves and her femininity. A weekend of pleasure that begins as a sizzling sexual distraction sparks a connection neither wants to relinquish. Fantine brings Rolf a link to the dark-eyed, dark-haired father he always suspected was his, not the blond-haired, blue-eyed sire of his brothers. Amid the joy of learning of his new family and a relationship of steamy sexuality and deep emotions, Rolf becomes the man he never thought he could be, and the lover of Fantine’s deepest fantasies.
http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-7517-14-dance-of-the-rogue.aspx
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