Darren Michaels Interview - Part 2

Hello All,  
Darren Michaels is in the Backseat!

I would like to welcome an unusual occurance to the Backseat. A BOY! Well I am not lucky enough to get too many of them. Mr Darren Michaels welcome and please share with us about your fascinatingly reversable book Flipside Erotica.

TERRY KATE: Was the flipable book your idea?
 
DARREN MICHAELS: Yes, well I can't take all the credit, I have a muse or 2 that help me out with ideas and I run my stories by them, but the flipable book was my idea. I wanted the name and the book to be interactive and unique. Hence the name, "Flipside Erotica" because you flip the book from one side to another to read, and you can read either side of the story.

TK: So how have the ladies been treating you?

DM: Haha. How did I know that question was coming? I do okay. I do pretty well, I dont look like Igor that tends to help, and I recently learned to manscape; is that the right word?

TK: It is a well... ocean of estrogen in this field.

flipside.erotica: LOL Very VERY true. That's one of the reason I wanted to write this book.  I wanted to show what guys think, and what guys think WOMEN think. I have a blog about that, the misconceptions between what we think and what we actually think from both sexes. It's AMAZING!
TK: So you are not claiming to know what women think?

DM: HA NO!

TK: We just get to read what you think women think?

DM: If anything this process has taught me how little I know about how women think. You get to read what I have LEARNED women think. I am very fortunate to have some great female friends who are very honest with me and they read what I write and are some of the best critique partners anyone could have. So when and if I go off the rails they give me a swift kick.

TK: I hope the kick is well aimed

DM: I don't claim to know what women think any more than any female writers claim to know what men think.

TK: So what got you the swiftest kick in the rear? What did the ladies think was your biggest mistake?

DM: Hmmm. Great question. The most memorable kick was on the second volume of the book which I'm working on now. I was having difficulty with a scene, and a great friend told me that something Men think is important women couldn't care less about.

TK: Yes...

DM: She said, "You men think that's all that counts, when really, it's nothing compared to everything else, thats why we have to train each and everyone of you. We have to re-train you every time. The first time we're with you is really just a tutorial." My mouth about hit the floor. Here she was telling me that everything Men think about sex is really just wrong and that Women "tutor" us. And have to re-train us to their satisfaction. After awhile I understood where she was coming from and the story she helped with was one of the best in the book in my opinion.

Stay Tuned for Part 3 - This Guy is Kinda Fascinating - of My Interview with Erotic Author Darren Michaels this Wednesday

Find out more about Darren at his site - http://www.flipside-erotica.com/

Darren Micheals Interview - Part 3

Part three with Sexy Author Darren Micheals...


TERRY KATE: What makes your books Erotica and not Erotic Romance?
 
  DARREN MICHAELS: Mainly the fact that they are one encounter stories. There's not a build up of the relationship in the beginning or a continuation of the relationship.

TK: What do you feel the difference is?

DM: I think that is the difference, Erotica is about the act, where as erotic romance is about the relationship and the act and what the act means in the relationship, there is a build up to it and a continuation after it.

TK: Why not Romance? What attracts you to the moment - the encounter, why not go further?

DM: Why don't I write romance?

TK: Yes why?

DM: I am in the process of trying to write an erotic romance but when I have tried in the past, the result has not been as intended. I really wanted to write a book like this of just encounters from both perspectives. I'm working on a series of stories with the same theme from both perspectives that are longer than these stories but still erotic romance and not just romance. I like the edge that erotic romance brings to the story.

TK: So stories without the naughty parts... not really working for you?

DM: LOL, I like stories without the naughty parts, I just think that if you leave out the sex, you're leaving out an integral part of any relationship. I like writing the naughty parts, it's fun.

TK: So what is the feed back been like?

DM: Amazing! Many women are buying the book to read with their partners. Reading it together or reading it apart and then talking about it. I was told that it was a great Valentines day or anniversary gift. It is something both partners can share.

TK: Have you done any signings?

DM: I have done one, but I have a very conservative day job right now, so its a little difficult to do an erotica signing on the weekend and then go back to work Monday morning at my very conservative company. And people can always get in contact with me and send me the books to sign and send back to them.

TK: So what is this conservative job?

 DM: Ha ha, I'm going to chose not to answer that, sorry. Have to keep the job that pays the bills until I hit that NYTimes Bestseller list.

TK: Hmmm... now what could it be... I guess we will just have to sit and wonder. Any deep dark secrets you got that you are willing to confess to? Stuffed bunny colection? Watch Glee on Wednesday nights?

DM: hmmmm... Actually yes to the later. GREAT show! Can't wait to see what happens with the rest of the season, and Community is hilarious as well.
And I do not have a stuffed bunny collection. Thank you. Now that I've confessed to watching Glee I think I feel a little lighter inside.

TK: Well I'm glad I could help.
DM: LOL I think I have just had a breakthrough.

TK: Well I do my best. Thank you so much for the ride in the Backseat. Maybe some day I can interview you on video. You can wear a mask. Everyone loves a secret super hero!

DM: LOL Thank you for having me I certainly hope I get to do this interview in the backseat one day and for you, I'll take off the mask.
Thank you again

Reviewer Phoebe Jordan Tells All

Terry Kate: I would like to welcome the fabulous reviewer Ms. Phoebe Jordan to the Backseat.  Phoebe tell us a little about your blog?
 
Phoebe: LOL, thanks Terry for having me on your blog. Talk About My Favorite Authors is my review blog that I started about a year ago when I first started getting into blogging. It started out as a group blog with several ladies I met on a romance author forum. That kind of failed big time since I was the only one who was posting reviews and these reviews were for books that I've read for pleasure. I review various genres of romance novels, erotic romance, m/m erotic romance, mystery/thriller, sci-fi/fantasy and young adult novels. I also interview authors and have authors guest blog as well on my review blog to spice things up.
 
TK: So you enjoy some of the hot stuff, what is the appeal?
 
Phoebe: Yes, I enjoy some of the hot stuff. I've only recently gotten into reading erotic romance and m/m erotic romance when I was asked to review Keta Diablo's Land of Falling Stars. Keta introduced me into the genre and has really broadened me to more erotic romance authors who I've come to really enjoy. The appeal for some of the hot stuff is that they are just like the romance novels we love to read, but it takes it up a notch on the hot steamy scenes between the hero and heroines that makes you want more. Also erotic romance and m/m erotic romance novels are just as fun to read the other romance genres though a lot of people think it's more smut than anything else which is funny because romance novels were thought of as smut books as well a long time ago before it sort of became main stream.
 
TK: Too true. What kind of feedback have you gotten from blog readers? Do they seem to like the new and spicy books you are reading?
 
Phoebe: I don't get that many comments on my blog but the ones that I have gotten have been pretty good since they say things like the books sound interesting, or I will have to check it out some time. So I'm thinking that my readers must be liking them a bit if they leave comments like that.
 
TK: One last question before you run off and be a busy reviewer. What is your favorite part of the process?
 
Phoebe: Well my favorite part of the process is reading the fabulous novels that I've had the pleasure of receiving to review. I love that I've been introduced to so many new different romance authors who have been in touch with me about reviewing their books. I also like the part where when I give a fabulous review for an authors book they send their thanks, but I always thank them back for writing such a wonderful novel.
It was wonderful chatting with you Terry!
 
TK: Phoebe - as always a pleasure. Make sure you visit Phoebe's blog - Talk About My Favorite Authors

Enter to win a BOOK A MONTH FOR 2010!!!

Enter to win a BOOK A MONTH FOR 2010!!!


This is your LAST Chance - from the authors of The Cupcake Giveaway.
Buy one of their books and get 10 extra entries!

Authors to Visit:

Lissa Matthews


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Sabrina Darby

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Rachel E. Moniz


Kim Knox

Eliza Gayle	Morgan Q O'Reilly

Sela Carsen

Anny Cook

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Kim Knox

Penny Watson

Ciana Stone

Adele Dubois

Ann Rought

Emily Ryan Davis

Darren Micheals

Shelli Stevens

Annie Marshall

The Real Pink Buttercream Frosting by Lissa Matthews

Now, let me just say…buttercream frosting is NOT supposed to be fat free or reduced calorie or contain any ingredient that would be considered a ‘diet’ food. Why not? Because frosting is decadent, rich, fluffy, delicious, and yes, even at times very wicked.

My recipe is a version of the recipe I was given when I took cake decorating classes, though I don’t follow either as closely as I follow the taste and consistency I am looking for. I have been making this for so many years now that I know by sight and taste if it’s right.

To get the pink color: there are a couple of different ways to do this. One is to add a drop at a time of red food coloring until you get the color you’re looking for. Red coloring doesn’t generally make the frosting red, just deeper and deeper shades of pink. There are also jars of gel colorings that you can purchase at craft stores like Michael’s, A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby, etc… Wilton has a whole line of supplies and colors. The lightest pink you can find is the one you want. And just like with the red food coloring, a little dab will do. The colorings, whether food coloring or gel colorings, will not change the flavor of the frosting.

You will notice also, before adding the coloring, that the frosting isn’t pure white. It’s because you’ve added butter and vanilla. There is clear vanilla flavoring that can be used, however, I simply prefer the taste of pure vanilla extract. To get a pure white frosting, you would omit the butter and use 1 cup of solid vegetable shortening and a butter flavoring. Again, my personal preference is the real butter. The clear vanilla flavoring and the butter flavoring can be purchased at craft stores though.

So, let’s get started…

Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted butter brought to room temperature (unsalted, because this way you can control the amount of salt in your recipes)

½ Cup of solid vegetable shortening (regular Crisco or store brand or Wesson solid vegetable shortening, not Lard and not butter flavor Crisco)

1-2 T water

1 T meringue powder/dry egg whites (this can be found down the baking aisle in most stores. It is not necessary to the recipe, but it does whip up smoother and fluffier with it)

3-4 C sifted powdered sugar (4X or 10X, I have found that it does not matter)

¼ Cup milk or half and half (you can use water here as well, but the milk/half and half make it creamier)

1 t vanilla extract (add a little more if it’s not enough of a vanilla flavor for you)

Pinch of salt (start with just a small pinch, this will be to taste, to cut the sweetness of the frosting, not to add a salty flavor)

Coloring

Directions:

With an electric hand mixer or electric stand mixer, cream butter and shortening until well blended, adding 1T water. Sift powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add to the butter and shortening, little by little (I use a large serving spoon, one spoonful at a time until it’s all incorporated). You’ll notice that the frosting will get thick and hard to mix so add 1 tablespoon of milk until it becomes the consistency you want, which is spreadable. Add your vanilla, mix well, then add a dash of salt.

The last step is to add your coloring. A drop at a time, mix well. If you are adding icing color from the jar, take a toothpick, dip it in the color, then swirl it through the frosting. Mix completely with the mixer. The color we’re looking for is pale pink, just a shade or two darker than white but enough to know that it’s pink.

I usually whip the frosting at medium speed for about 2-5 minutes until it’s nice and fluffy. If you do not plan to use the frosting immediately, cover it and put it in the refrigerator. It has butter and milk, enough said. When you are ready to use it, take it out and let it soften, then re-whip it to get the fluffiness back.

Homemade frosting tastes nothing like the icing in the can at the store, so if you taste it and think ‘This isn’t right. The jar frosting tastes different’ it’s okay. It’s not supposed to taste the same.

This is a vanilla buttercream that can be used on any flavor cake.

Feel free to email me at lissa@lissamatthews.com if you have any questions.

Lissa Matthews Guest Blogs

Tagline: Desire: Blend sinful with sweet. Whip to perfection. Don't forget to lick the spoon...

I am excited about my new Samhain Publishing release Pink Buttercream Frosting. Sounds very decadent, doesn't it? It's a little naughty, too. But then, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?

Inspired by it's namesake, pink buttercream frosting and the most delicious scented lotion by the very same name, this book brings together the world of BDSM and the warm fragrance of vanilla and cream, sure to heat you up in one way or the other.

Here's the blurb:


Aidn Greer is a much-sought-after Dominant in the BDSM lifestyle with an unusual problem. He hasn’t owned a submissive in more years than he cares to think about. He’s bored with unchallenging women, yet mentoring other Doms and training subs has left him cold as well. He’s craving something other than plain old vanilla—a taste of something sinfully sweet that, for once, he can really sink his teeth into.
Professional cake baker Bailey Harris wasted ten years bored to tears with her marriage, enduring a job she hated, and harboring a secret desire for something passionate, fulfilling and dark. Then she found it…in the world of BDSM. Exploring on her own brought the kind of mind-opening experiences that led her to declare her independence—and exposed a yearning to find the one Dom for whom she’s willing to kneel. Permanently.
When Aidn and Bailey meet, it’s fire and ice. Sugar and spice. And an experience that satisfies every detail of both their fantasies. Almost. While the big, beautiful sub is everything Aidn wanted, her fierce independent streak could be more of a challenge than he bargained for…
Warning: This book brings together scorching-hot counter sex, decadent pink frosting, and no-holds-barred BDSM play for a spanking good time. Be sure to bring an ice-cold drink along…
I hope you'll take a peek, read the excerpt on the website and give it a try!

Lissa

--
Lissa Matthews
Erotic Romance Author
www.lissamatthews.com
The Demon is an Angel, Ellora's Cave, Available Now!
Pink Buttercream Frosting, Samhain Publishing, October 20, 2009
Sugar Rush, Loose Id, January 2010