Today I am very happy to be hosting one of my closest friends, and a very talented author, on his first anniversary blog tour… please welcome Sage Marlowe and his Snow tiger… awesome cover Sage and a great story.

Sage Marlowe’s First Anniversary Blog Tour & Giveaway

The Story Behind Shifting Changes

Hello and welcome to the latest stop of my 1st Anniversary Blog Tour & Giveaway. One year has passed since my successful debut novel, Sub-Mission, was released on May 14, 2012, and a lot has happened during those twelve months. I’m taking the chance to look back and tell you a bit about the background of the books I’ve published, but also about things that happened in my life or that are on my mind. There’s one stop for every book, and of course, there are prizes waiting for you, because as always, good things for me mean good things for you, my dear friends and readers. Please read the “Giveaway” section below for details.

Today I’d like to tell you a bit about Shifting Changes, the book which is unique for several reasons.

Firstly, this novella was basically written upon request. Many of my friends (including the lovely lady who’s hosting me today) and readers asked me to write a story about shifters and most of them wanted me to include a female into a story too, so I thought, why not combine the two? I’d just started writing the book that was to become Shifting Changes but it wouldn’t really flow. However, when I threw a sassy young lady in the mix, the story took off. Now, don’t get me wrong, Tara, the heroine in Shifting Changes, wasn’t all that easy to write. At first she was really cute and seemed to be just what the boys needed to add some spice but I never expected her to turn around on me just before the end and take the story into a whole new direction. I have to admit, I loved where she went with it and the two of us had a pretty good time messing with Shayonn and Faolan (although some may say that she was the one having a good time messing with all three of us).

Shifting Changes is also my only self-published book. I chose that route because I’d written this story for my friends and wanted to reserve the option to give it away for a lower price or even for free as a little thank you.

And then of course, the cover. Yes, there is a serious lack of bare male skin which is unusual for an erotic romance book, but there’s a story behind that, too. You see, when I started writing the shifter story, I couldn’t really decide which kind of shifters I wanted. Wolves? Fish? Butterflies? It all sounded intriguing, but well, I couldn’t make up my mind, so late one night I bounced some ideas off Clair and she came up with snow tigers. I liked the thought and it fit the plot but I still wasn’t entirely convinced until the next morning when my daughter was looking at a picture book with my SO and the first word she said was “tiger”—that was all it took to convince me. A few days later, when I was going through about half a million stock photos to create a cover, she came into the room, glanced at the screen, squeaked “Tiger!” and pointed at one of the pics—the one which is now featured on the cover of Shifting Changes.

Shifting Changes is currently available at a special price from Amazon

Blurb

Fulfilling a duty could be so much fun…

Shayonn has been special his entire life. He is the future king of Atraya, a country filled with tiger shifters like him, but there is more to him. He is one of the few white tigers left and destined to save his rare breed from extinction. Finding the one female in a million that will allow him to fulfil his duty would be great—too bad that Shayonn prefers to share his bed with men.

Faolan is a lone wolf in many ways. Alienated from his own kind because of his low pedigree, he leads a life at the border of his species, roaming the country and taking jobs where he can get them. Working as a guard for the tiger shifter community, he knows exactly what he has to do when he meets a stray one.

Tarina has never been special. She’s just an ordinary woman, who enjoys her pleasures when she can get them. She also happens to be a shifter, but she’s just another plain brown tigress among many others—until one day, a gorgeous white male singles her out as the future mother of his babies.

When those three get together in different pairings, their mutual attraction is immense, but there is that issue of finding the right mate for every one of them.

Reader advisory: This book contains sexually explicit scenes (MF and MM, including spanking and bondage) and is only suitable for adult readers.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BCRVGDA

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BCRVGDA

Amazon Ca: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00BCRVGDA

Giveaway—Here’s what you can win:

#1 – Sage’s Goodie Package:

Contains a signed copy of Sub-Culture, a set of signed book cover photographs and some surprise goodies to spoil you

#2 – Create a character

Here’s your chance to create your very own fictional character that will be featured in one of my next books. The winner gets to pick the name and distinct features like hair / eye colour, height and a few personality quirks of a hero (male characters only, and please keep it doable…). Depending on the specification, I will either include him in a current WIP or use him as inspiration for a brand new story. The winner will also receive a free e-copy of this story once it’s published.

How to enter:

Leave a comment in the comment section asking to be entered in the giveaway. The winner will be picked at random and announced on my blog on May 20th. Multiple entries are allowed and will increase your chances to win. For additional terms and conditions, please go to http://www.sage-marlowe.com/p/contests.html

You can find the full tour schedule here: http://www.sage-marlowe.com/p/blog-tour-may-2013.html

About Sage Marlowe

Sage is a multi-published author of gay erotic romance novels and novellas and loves exploring the flavours of gay erotic fiction.

A willing slave to all the fascinating guys who keep queuing up and want their stories told, Sage can almost always be found cooking up the next hot story or daydreaming about new ways of rubbing sexy male bodies together to make the sparks fly.

Contact and buy links

Sage’s website & blog: www.sage-marlowe.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sage.marlowe0

e-mail: marlowe.sage@yahoo.co.uk

Twitter: @SageMarlowe

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/SageMarlowe

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/sagemarlowe

For all books published with Total-E-Bound, go to: http://www.total-e-bound.com/authordetail.asp?A_ID=224

For all books published with Siren-BookStrand, go to:

My guest today is a fellow Scottish author… please welcome her to Clair’s Clan. Thank you very much for answering my questions, Raven. Here she is presenting her  book “Dance ot a Different Beat.”

1          Will you tell us a little about yourself.                                                        I live in Scotland, along with my husband and our two cats—our children having flown the nest—surrounded by beautiful scenery, which inspires a lot of the settings in my books.

I’m used to sharing my life with the occasional deer, red squirrel, and lost tourist, to say nothing of the scourge of Scotland—the midge.

My very understanding, and long-suffering DH, is used to his questions unanswered, the dust bunnies greeting him as he walks through the door, and rescuing burned offerings from the Aga. (And passing me a glass of wine as I type furiously.)

Please include a picture if you wish. (see attached doc)

2.         Why did you start to write?

When I was at primary school, but at senior school ‘stories’ were frowned upon. It’s only recently I’ve revived my love of story telling.

3          Have you always longed to write a book or was there a trigger?

It’s always been there. I had a couple of truly awful M/S knocked back, and I put my ideas on hold. Then my daughter and her friends as teens pestered me for a story, and that got me thinking. I was off work sick with time on my hands, and began to write seriously.

4          What sort of books do you write?

Romance of varying heat and sub genres. From Regency to the present day. Erotic and sweet, paranormal, mystery… I love it.

5          How autobiographical are your stories? Well I think there’s a little bit of me in all of them, but they aren’t autobiographical.

6          Somewhere I’ve visited or lived

Have you a favourite setting for your stories?

6.         Which author or authors have influenced you and why?

I found this difficult to answer, because there are so many, it depends on where and what I’m writing. Paul Theroux… his descriptions in Riding The Iron Rooster are brilliant, and I knew some of the places. Doreen Tovey, funny and entertaining. Miss Read ditto. Robyn Donald, who gave me the desire to visit New Zealand due to her descriptions of the country. Colin Dexter, creator of Inspector Morse. He was my Latin teacher.

7. If you could have only one book, which one would it be and why? Um…H E Bates The Darling Buds of May. Because every time I read it I see something I’ve missed.

8.         How do you get yourself in the mood for writing?

Chocolate

9.         What is the strangest place you have written in?

On more than one hotel bathroom floor. DH snoring away in the bedroom, me wide awake and with an idea that HAS to be written immediately.

10.       Have you ever experienced ‘writer’s block’ and how did you cope with it?

Not really, I’ve always got something in my murky mind.

11.       Where do you live? Tell us what you like about your town or city? I live in the country on the edge of a forest. Close enough to walk to the village, far enough out not to be bothered with the goings on if I don’t want to.

12.       If you could live anywhere in the world where would you choose and why? Knysna South Africa or Shaldon Devon. I love to see and hear the sea.

13.       What is your pet hate? Liars and rudeness.

14.       Which fictional character do you wish you’d created? Inspector Morse

Quickies….

1. A place you have always wanted to visit. Langkawi

2. Favourite meal. Seafood

3. Best place to take a first time date. Somewhere you feel comfortable.

4. Most memorable moment in your life. Birth of my children…Oh and standing on the top of The Great Wall Of China.

5. Most embarrassing moment. Oh no, you’re not getting that out of me.

6. Favourite room in your house. My study.

7. A TV programme you never miss. There isn’t one, I’m no big TV watcher

8. A real person living or dead you wish you could meet. Golda Meir, she was some woman.

9. Superstitious? ME? crosses fingers, walks around the ladder, spits three times at the magpie and throws the salt over shoulder. Whatever gave you that idea?

10. Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?  Haha sore point, Usually, though not necessarily on Feb 14^th…

Dance to a Different Beat is my latest novella form Evernight Publishing.

Jane has a decision to make. Meet Sean and face her demons, or hide. Can she allow herself to let go enough to give this experienced Dom the submission he demands?

Jane has always made her own way in life, and the thought of giving up that control has scared her away once.

Sean is determined to show her that true submission is a joy, and not something to be feared. He is not prepared to lose her again.

As they face her fears, can they reach their full potential, or will those demons just prove too much to conquer?

Excerpt

A thong. And no curls escaping around the sides. He couldn’t stop himself sliding his finger under the lacy edge. She didn’t bat his hand away as he expected. With a sigh that made pre cum gather at the head of his cock and had him checking it wasn’t playing peek a boo over his waistband, Jane moved to rest her head on his shoulders.

“That’s no toddler step, that’s a strictly forbidden teenage one.”

“You on top?” If she thought that then there really was no hope.

“No you moron, your fingers. You’re revving me so fast I’ve missed the first two gears.” She paused and the wicked twinkle in her eyes made him itch to turn her over his lap and use his favorite paddle on her enticing ass cheeks. “And do we really want to go into reverse ‘cos we’ve missed the shift?”

Put like that, no they didn’t.

He didn’t answer but moved his questing finger further under the silk until his nail scraped the soft edge of her nether lips. “I think we can miss a few gears, you’re ready, receptive, and know damn well how to put the brakes on and stop. Do you remember your safe words, Jane? Should we start from there?”

In answer she wriggled on his finger, and her breath came in pants. Her eyes were cloudy and a soft sheen of perspiration was visible on her skin. At any other time the sight would have him stripped and ready for action in the blink of an eye.

“Just do it.”

“Safe word.” His tone was harsh, something wasn’t quite right. “Safe words or I stop, Jane. This is a two way exchange, no way is the onus all on me.”

Her eyes cleared and she stopped moving. She shuddered and lifted her arm to stroke his cheek with her fingers. “Oh shit.”

Sean dipped his head. “That’s one way of putting it. What the fuck was going on then?” He didn’t move his hand away from her pussy, and to her credit she didn’t try to make him do anything else.

“You’re a mass of bloody contradictions, Jane. I don’t know where I am with you. You want to take it slowly then you want me to take you. You’re scared but you’re telling me to ignore you. So not going to happen. So.” He pinched her clit firmly enough for her to jump and try to move away. He kept the pressure on the soft skin hard enough to stop her. “Either you tell me what’s going on in your messed up mind or that’s it. Experiment over, never to be repeated. It’s up to you. I can get someone else to sub for me when I want. Will you get a Dom you want?”

A distant clock chimed the hour, and somewhere a siren screamed. Neither impinged on his mind to any degree. He concentrated on Jane who was a stiff as a board.

“Jane, look at me.” He deliberately injected a note of command into his voice. “You have ten minutes to explain or that’s it. We both have places to go and people to see.” Would it work?

Buy links

Dance to a Different Beat…Buy links

Evernight Publishing http://www.evernightpublishing.com/dance-to-a-different-beat-by-raven-mcallan

Amazon http://authl.it/B00CNYPZWE

http://www.bookstrand.com/dance-to-a-different-beat-mf

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dancetoadifferentbeat-1190951-147.html

nosy links…

http://www.ravenmcallan.com

http:/ /www.ravenmcallan.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/rmcallan        (my page)

https://www.facebook.com/ravenmcallan            (author page)

https://twitter.com/RavenMcAllan

My guest today is a good friend from facebook. She had her first release today and it’s my pleasure to welcome her to Clair’s Clan to tell us all about it. Alanea and I have a secret?  passion… chocolate.. and we swap parcels of it from time to time ..  that peanut butter Easter egg… I can STIL taste it. I hope the Curly Wurlies get there soon to keep you happy. Many congratulations and much sucess Alanea.

1. Will you tell us a little about yourself. Please include a picture if you wish. I’m from a family of four, I have one younger brother and my parents are still married and very much still in love. It shaped my perception that true love does exist and happily ever afters happen every day.

2. Why did you start to write? Have you always longed to write a book or was there a trigger? I can’t remember making the decision to write. I have been writing since I’ve been small, its just something I’ve always done. On my website I say that I have early stories written in crayon, its true lol.

3. What sort of books do you write? Paranormal Erotic Romance. Right now I have a series dedicated to the shifter town Arkadia, the books also includes vampires and eventually fae and witches. But I have a another series in the works that will be more futuristic.

4. How autobiographical are your stories? Honestly it really depends on the characters. The characters will emulate me more than events from my life. In Fate Knows Best, I don’t think I am like Rebecca at all, but my beta reader says that when I am sleep deprived and hyped up on sugar she can totally hear Rebecca coming out of my mouth.

5. Have you a favourite setting for your stories? I love the idea of Arkadia as a shifter only town. Every time I go to write my brain has fun on how this town would be different since its all shifters. For example, the Electronics store has more business in simple repairs since shifters tend to get frustrated and throw things.

6. Which author or authors have influenced you and why? Where do I start? Lynn Hagen really sucked me into the M/M world. I would love to be half as successful with my M/M books. She also inspired me when I was at the TRC convention last year. In her keynote speech she said “Don’t give up, just do it.” Every time I got frustrated or think I couldn’t do it I would recall our conversation where she said that she didn’t think anyone would be interested in her “crazy stories”. I know that I feel the same way. Heather Rainer, Dixie Lynn Dwyer, Marla Monroe and Melody Snow Monroe, they are like my pep squad, their encouragement really keeps me going.

7. If you could have only one book, which one would it be and why? Polgara by David Eddings. It retells one of my favorite sagas from my favorite character’s point of view. It’s long enough that it would take a while to read and detailed enough that after over one hundred re-reads I pick something new out of it each time due to the way I have grown as a woman.

8. How do you get yourself in the mood for writing? I re-read what I have already written for the series to get me back into Arkadia and I look at the inspirational photos on my website.

9. What is the strangest place you have written in? I have written outside under a bradford pear in the spring. The weather was too perfect to stay inside and the falling white flowers inspired a lot of poetry that day.

10. Have you ever experienced ‘writer’s block’ and how did you cope with it? Yes! I did not cope well. I was devastated that my friends weren’t talking to me. But in the end I waited it out. It seemed like the more I tried to force it the further away from the story I became.

11.Where do you live? Tell us what you like about your town or city?
I moved to a small town in North Carolina last year. I love how spread out everything is and how quiet. At night I can look up and see all the stars there is no light pollution from the city.

12. If you could live anywhere in the world where would you choose and why
Wyoming or Montana. I want a large stretch of land and animals. I really love small town life. I spent nearly a year in Montana and fell in love.

13. What is your pet hate? If I am reading this question correctly this is like a pet peeve. It would have to be ignorant people, people who CHOOSE to stay stupid.

14. Which fictional character do you wish you’d created? Master Robinton- (Dragons of Pern) by Anne McCaffrey- I fell in love with that character.

Quickies….

1. A place you have always wanted to visit.- Scotland

2. Favourite meal.- My mom’s beef/vegetable/cabbage soup FTW

3. Best place to take a first time date.- Theme Park

4. Most memorable moment in your life.- When my first book was accepted

5. Most embarrassing moment.- Any time when my temper gets the better of me, which isn’t often, my brain to mouth filter disappears.

6. Favourite room in your house.- My den- there is a fireplace and TV and the kitchen is two steps away (munchies)

7. A TV programme you never miss.- The last series I was addicted to that I watched on TV and didn’t download, so I had to catch it weekly was probably Buffy. I don’t watch much TV now

8. A real person living or dead you wish you could meet.- Edgar Allan Poe/Walt Whitman

9. Superstitious?Depends- black cats and four leaf clovers.. No. Removing your airport tag on your suitcase…yes.

10. Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?Only if I’m with someone at the time.

Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/alanea.alder
Website- http://www.alaneaalder.com

Story Excerpt

“Aleks, hey, buddy,” Liam said lazily.

“Hey, asshole,” Aleks replied sounding distracted.

“I just wanted to call and let you know that you’ll be picking up Rebecca at my house for your date.” Liam waited. Three, two, one and… He held the phone away from his ear at the roar.

“What the hell is she doing at your house, cat!” Aleks roared. Liam smiled. He was making this too easy.

“Well at the moment her luscious little self is in my shower and wait, yes, I smell coconuts. She’s bathing.” He held the phone away from his ear again at the roar, unaware that everyone had stopped what they were doing to listen.

“If you so much as lay one finger on her, cat, I will rip you apart.” Aleks growled.

“What was that, Rebecca, you need help getting into your dress? Don’t worry, kitten, I’m coming. Sorry, Aleks, have to run. Toodles.” He stayed on the line long enough for one last roar to come through before disconnecting the line.

He turned around whistling and saw everyone staring.

“What?” he asked

“Aleks Arkadion is going to kill you,” Ashby said, white as a sheet.

“No he isn’t. If he didn’t kill me for wrecking his Charger, he won’t kill me now,” he said sitting down on the sofa. He reached over and grabbed a magazine and started to flip through the pages.

“That was you?” Rian asked, his eyes wide.

Liam just chuckled.

* * * *

“Aleks. Can’t. Breathe,” Liam said as Aleks’s hand squeezed his throat. Aleks was surprised at the lack of interference he was getting from the pride. They just shrugged their shoulders.

“Ashby told him you were going to kill him,” Rian said.

“Where is Ashby?” Aleks asked, his hand still around Liam’s throat.

“He’s upstairs finishing Rebecca’s hair. Nicholas did her makeup. She put in a lot of effort for you, bear, so you better not fuck this up,” Rian said, his arms crossed.

Aleks raised an eyebrow. The pride seemed to be more protective of Rebecca than their Alpha, whom he had pinned to the wall by the throat.

“Oh for God’s sake, Aleks, let him go! You’ll upset Rebecca and ruin your evening before it begins,” Kate said, coming down the stairs. Aleks immediately dropped Liam.

“Kate, why are you here?” he asked.

“Why would I miss the opportunity for actual girl time? We don’t have much of that at the pack,” she said, swiping a piece of chocolate.

Aleks opened his mouth to say something when the door upstairs opened and Rebecca appeared at the top of the stairs. Her scent hit his nose, and he felt his chest constrict. How could he have possibly thought he could stay away from her? She made her way down the stairs with Nicholas and Ashby following behind her. She moved gracefully, and when she got to the bottom of the stairs, he got the full effect of the dress. It had tiny spaghetti straps that seemed to accent her shoulders. The black dress only seemed to display her creamy skin to its every advantage. The lone slit up one side was nearly his undoing. He didn’t realize he was growling until Liam hit him in the ribs. Rebecca just blushed and smiled at him.

“Ready?” he asked, holding out a slightly trembling hand. She nodded and moved forward, taking his hand.

“Goodnight, everyone, thank you, for everything,” she said, smiling at the room.

“Have her back before midnight, young man,” Liam said, standing in front of the pair.

“Out of the way, cat,” Aleks muttered. Rebecca stepped forward and gave him a hug.

Aleks growled. She ignored him.

“Goodnight, Liam.” She kissed his cheek. Aleks growled again.

“I’m serious though, if you don’t want to go back to the bed-and-breakfast we made up a guest room for you. That’s where Sebastian has been hiding. I let Leona know you may be staying here,” Liam said, smiling down at her.

“Watch him for me?” she asked. Liam nodded.

“Who’s Sebastain?” Aleks asked. Rebecca waved.

“Goodnight, everyone.” She started walking toward the door.

“Who’s Sebastian?” Aleks asked again walking out the door with his arm around her waist.

There will be various questions asked at the party tonight between 8-10 pm GMT…  want to win an ebook of Jack and Jill? Come along to the party and email me the answers to the questions with “Jack and Jill competition” in  the subject line … clairdlune  45  42 @ yahoo dot co dot uk .. Good luck…. see you there!!  Bought this book already? No problem if you win you can request an alternative.. xxx Clair

Please welcome a new author. Shae’s first book is released today. We all wish her every success and look forward to the next one in the series.

1. Will you tell us a little about yourself.

Hello Clair, thanks for having me here today. My name is Shae Mathews and I have just released my first book, A Collar for Copper. I’m the average book-obsessed nerd who loves sexy men, coffee, chocolate and music and spends far too much money and time on books. I also have a little family to look after as well as a very bossy alter ego who I like to refer to as my partner.

2. Why did you start to write? Have you always longed to write a book or was there a trigger?

Well, I’ve always had the dream of being a published author. I think my mother inspired that in me because it’s been her dream as well and the phrase “one day I’ll write a book” was often heard in our house. Sadly, now that I’m published she seems to have given up on that dream although I keep telling her to give it a try. The main reason for me to write a book however was my partner. We decided that since our tastes differ, I would take over the section I prefer to write.

3. What sort of books do you write?

I write erotic ménage romance. A Collar for Copper is the first in a series with the title Tropical Doms, which, as the title suggests, comes with a sexy BDSM flavour.

4. How autobiographical are your stories?

So far there isn’t anything autobiographical in my book although that may change as I write more.

5. Have you a favourite setting for your stories?

The Tropical Doms series is set in Hawaii. I like the idea of a tropical setting, maybe because I’m in a pretty cold and boring corner of the world.

6. How do you get yourself in the mood for writing?

It doesn’t take much to get me in the mood. Just my laptop, maybe a drink and a snack and I’m good to go.

7. What is the strangest place you have written in?

I’ve been known to write sex scenes in doctors’ waiting rooms…

8. Have you ever experienced ‘writer’s block’ and how did you cope with it?

I don’t get writer’s block as such. The only things that keep me from writing are my family life or my partner’s writing schedule, because so far, that one has priority

9. If you could live anywhere in the world where would you choose and why?

I’d love to live in the US

13. What is your pet hate?

I’m not sure if it qualifies as a pet hate, but I hate it when people judge others without knowing their story, especially when they have never even bothered to actually talk to the person.

Quickies….

1. A place you have always wanted to visit.

Australia, despite the horrible wildlife

2. Favourite meal.

I don’t think I can name just one favourite. I love Italian and Greek food and I never say no to a good steak.

3. Best place to take a first time date.

A nice restaurant, but nothing too fancy. A place where we both feel at ease and the atmosphere allows for intimate conversation.

4. Most memorable moment in your life.

The arrival of my child

5. Most embarrassing moment.

It’s not a moment so much as a phase actually, but making a complete fool of myself by chasing after a guy who very clearly didn’t want me.

6. Favourite room in your house.

The bedroom

7. A TV programme you never miss.

TV? What’s that?

9. Superstitious?

Not really

A Collar for Copper

MMF erotic romance, BDSM

Recently appointed representative in Hawaii by the law firm she works for, career woman Copper Jones isn’t happy when she arrives. Everything goes wrong and even her driver, Emmett Davis, seems intend to irk the hell out of her. But annoying though he is, when he orders rather than asks her to go out for dinner with him, she’s intrigued. During the evening Emmett tells her that he’s a Dom. Sensing that she is hiding a submissive side, he suggests she go home with him and lets him teach her about the BDSM lifestyle and being a submissive.

Fascinated, Copper goes with him and meets Shawn Gerber, Emmett’s other, established sub and lover. After indulging in a sinful night together, Emmett reveals that he and Shawn consider to have a ménage relationship involving a woman, but can it really be that simple to put a collar on Copper?

Buy link: www.bookstrand.com/a-collar-for-copper

Well thank you for answering the questions Shae and welcome to the Siren family. I am sure you will do well here.