Translate

Monday, April 15, 2013

A Completely Dorky Diversion for you Tax Day Blog Hoppers...

Well, HELLO to everyone who's stopping by my wicked corner of the world, whether it's your first time or perhaps swinging back in to see what naughtiness I'm getting into today.

Okay, let's face it. It's April 15th, Tax Day--so we all have MORE than a little reason for wanting to be naughty! After the bad news I got at my tax appointment this year, I'm ready to blow off a little steam with some mindless entertainment. How about you??

I thought I'd be silly today, yet perhaps a bit useful to some readers. From time to time, I get messages from people who are wondering not about the main characters in my stories, but the minor ones, as well. They want to know if certain faces or celebrities were running through my head when I created them. I'll be honest, the answer is usually: YES! I write from a very visual place...scenes unfold in my head with the room (or the dungeon!) fully furnished and populated with the characters--and it's been so fun for me to know that people are curious about what I saw when I created certain people in the books.

With no further ado, and in no particular order, I hereby present Angel's Honor Roll of "Supporting Actors and Actresses!" 



From "Three-Part Harmony":
The characters I always get asked about from this book are that oh-so-hot threesome, Mary, Raife and Phillip. I also get asked if I'm planning on a book about them any time in the future. The answer is...yes. As a matter of fact, there's some interesting back story between Phillip and Josh Pennington (David's brother). Hmmmm!

MARY was always envisioned as a little pixie, kind of a kinkyTinkerbell.LOL! I found a perfect physical inspiration for her in Hayden Panettiere, whom everyone now knows from the hit "Nashville." At the time I was writing the book, she was just finishing up with "Heroes." I've always loved her talent. 


For RAIFE, I thought the stunning Greg Vaughn was perfect. I think he's way too neat and pretty when he's on his soap opera, but man, when you bust him off that set and roughen him up a little...wow!





PHILLIP was originally going to be a younger David Beckham, but then I was dinkin' around on line one day, and happened across this GOD of a man on a modeling agency site. He's identified only as "Steven L." Sweet goodness, have I had fun trying to figure out what the "L" stands for. How about LORD have mercy, you are one beautiful man!












From "Permanent Marker":

I've been floored by the reception everyone has given my gorgeous golden god of a Dom,Mark Moore, in this book. But I'll let you in on a little secret: the man's security team lead, Brandt Howell, quickly ran away with my heart, too. All those rippling muscles. All that cowboy charm. Both those yummy dimples. GAH! I found a perfect representation of Brandt in the gorgeous and talented Chace Crawford. Ohhhh yessss.....



From "Star of Wonder:
Sometimes, all you need is a cameo. I guess that really held true in the case of Celina's boss at the Chicago JAG office, Commander George Threshan. Or, as Cel and her friends affectionately call him, PFG (for "Prince Fucking Gorgeous"). When I found the jaw-droppingly FINE Cameron Mathison to be his physical inspiration, I seriously regretted not writing a bigger part for him.




From "Saved By His Submissive":
I was fascinated when people started messaging me about the book's BAD guy, King. First, despite his back story, the guy goes only by one name during the chronological course of the book. But what fascinated me the most is exactly how divergent different people's mental images were of him! One reader begged me for a an actual picture of him because she kept envisioning Ken Jeong, "Mr. Chow" from the Hangover movies, and she couldn't stop giggling. Someone else told me he scared the crap out of her, and she pictured someone like a young but evil Bruce Lee. The actual actor who won my mental casting call for King is the very talented Chin Han, who's been in about a thousand great movies, and is considered one of Asia's finest actors. 



So...share thoughts! Would love to know if your mental images matched mine. Or...if you've ever read a book, then seen it cast for a movie, and had the Director's choice match yours, or not? It's such an interesting thing to me, what kinds of pictures words paint in all our heads. It's one of the most exciting things about being a writer AND a reader, don't you think?

**HEY...IT'S TAX DAY BLOG HOP MADNESS! CHECK OUT EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S PARTICIPATING IN THE HOP...AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, REGISTER TO GET YOURSELF A REGISTRATION FOR ROM CON 2013 AT 50% OFF!   




Tuesday, April 9, 2013

OPEN YOUR WINGS FOR...BIANCA SOMMERLAND!

I am thrilled to invite the beautiful Bianca Sommerland today! She's here to answer some of my wackiest questions, and to talk about her new novel in her exciting Dartmouth Cobras series...




Hi Angel <g> Thank you for having me on your awesome blog so I can talk about my latest Cobra book, Offside.  Zach, Becky and Scott's story was healing on so many levels for so many characters and I couldn't wait to share their story. 

Thanks to you too, Bianca. So first...some fun Q and A some everyone learns a few things about you that they might not have known already...

 --Name everything on your nightstand.  
Well...let me think...a lamp, my alarm clock, nail file.  You said on it, not in it right?

--What's the first thing you think about when you wake up? 
My girls. They are my life, my heart. 
--Do you believe in karma? 
Ugh, bad time to ask me that! lol! I do, but I think the bitch is wearing beer goggles! ;)


--What's the last lie you told? BE HONEST. That I'm going to a party with someone I know well! lol! Online friends kinda count, right?

--If you could time travel to any point in history, what would it be?
When Cleopatra was alive. I'm fascinated by her!

--Who's your biggest celebrity crush?
Jonathan Brandis when I was twelve. I cried when he died :(

--If we were to open your junk closet right now, what would we find?
Twenty years worth of writing on paper! lol! And toys with dead batteries. My toys! ;)


--Favorite music? 
I love all kinds of music. It helps me envision where the characters want to take their story, so I kick back and go along for the ride. It can evoke many emotions with their heavy beats and heartfelt lyrics.   
--Aliens or zombies?  Zombies!  
I love the Walking Dead <g> Thanks to one of my beta's/friend, she introduced me and I have been hooked ever since

--Broccoli or cauliflower?
Hmm. I like both, but probably cauliflower because I have broccoli all the time!
--Cake or pie?
Pie. Pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream! Please!

--Missionary or doggie style?
Doggy style. Unless you're cute or have a nice big strap on! ;P

Goodness!! On that note, how about a little bio before we get to your very yummy book excerpt?

Tell you about me? Hmm, well there's not much to say. I love hockey and cars and my kids…not in that order of course! Lol! When I'm not writing—which isn't often—I'm usually watching a game or a car show while working on promo. Going out with my kids is my only down time. I get to clear my head and forget everything.

As for when and why I first started writing, I guess I thought I'd get extra cookies if I was quiet for awhile—that's how young I was. I used to bring my grandmother barely legible pages filled with tales of evil unicorns. She told me then that I would be a famous author.

I hope one day to prove her right.



And now for an excerpt from you brand-new release, OFFSIDE!


"When it came time for presents, he took Becky aside, speaking quietly as he pulled an envelope out of the back pocket of his jeans. "I meant to ask you earlier—I figured I should before I give it to her. With how passionate she is about hockey, I thought she might like to join a minor novice team. I got a gift certificate to cover the equipment and paid the registration . . . it can all be refunded if you don’t like the idea, though, so don’t worry about—" 

"Oh, Zach, it’s too much!" Becky took a deep breath, staring at the envelope as though he’d just signed over a million dollar check. She covered her mouth with a hand. "I know how expensive it is—I looked into it last year when she asked to join."

In other words, you shouldn’t have. Seriously. Idiot. He kept his smile in place. 

"I can get her something—"

"I could strangle you and Scott. No, you don’t have to get her something else." Becky folded her arms over her breasts, giving him a stern look. "Yes, my pride is grumbling because I couldn’t afford to do this for her, but I won’t let it deny her the opportunity."

"All right." Zach frowned at the envelope. Would a six-year-old really understand a gift like this? Maybe he should have gotten some equipment to go along with the papers, but he’d thought she’d want to pick it out with her mother. He handed the envelope to Becky. "This doesn’t fit with everything else she’s gotten, so—"

"Oh yes, it does." Becky snickered as Casey unwrapped an Under Armour shirt and leggings. The little girl looked confused for a bit, but when Chicklet explained what it was for, she got excited and decided she needed to try it on right away. Becky stopped her daughter from stripping right there. "Poupée, not here. Unwrap the rest of your gifts, and then I’ll help you try them on upstairs."

"Sorry, Maman." Casey giggled, then tore into her next gift. Hockey books from Carter and Ramos. She gave Ramos pretty eyes, scooting up next to him on the sofa as she asked him to read Z is for Zamboni to her. At Becky’s shrug, Ramos cleared his throat, and the other children all sat on the floor around him.
with Silver tucked to his side, then exchanged a look with Becky as Richter shook his head and loosened his tie as though it was suddenly strangling him. The way Jami was staring at Ramos—Zach glanced over to where Richter stepped in with Silver tucked to his side, then exchanged a look with Becky as Richter shook his head and loosened his tie as though it was suddenly strangling him.

Scott sidled up to Zach’s other side, nudging him with an elbow. "I think boss man’s going to be a grandpa soon."

"I think you’re right," Becky said, jutting her chin toward Carter, who was standing at the other side of the room, cooing to Amia who he’d temporarily gotten Landon to hand over. "One way or another."

"You’re going to be the next Karen Koch. Yes, you are. You are." Carter didn’t seem to notice there was anyone else in the room. And only Vanek seemed likely to tease him about the baby talk.

Vanek’s lips barely parted when Chicklet leaned close to him, a smile on her lips, but her eyes hard enough to crack cement. A few quiet words from her and it didn’t look like Vanek would open his mouth again during the party.
When Ramos finished reading, Casey grabbed her next gift. New skates from Landon and Richter. Becky moved forward to stop her from stuffing her feet in them. Had her open the next few gifts, leaving Zach’s and the largest one for last.

"This is from Scott," Becky said as Casey knelt in front of the huge present.
Casey swallowed, opening the gift slowly, peeling off each piece of tape as though to prolong the reveal. The chatter around the room quieted as Casey let out a loud gasp. Her eyes were bright as she ran her hand over the wood. Stared at the unicorns on the top. Opened it and peered inside.

"Oh, Mr. Demyan! All my babies have a home now!" She jumped up and launched herself at Scott. "You are the bestest!"

Surprisingly, Scott didn’t look uncomfortable with Casey hugging him. He crouched down, hugged her back, and flicked one of her ribbon-tied pigtails. 
"I’m glad you like it, pipsqueak. But it’s either Scott or just Demyan if you want to call me what all the other guys do."

"Demyan, then," Casey said after careful consideration. "That’s what I yell when you miss an easy shot."

The men and Chicklet burst out laughing. Becky let out a surprised "Casey!" in her mom voice. Scott snorted, then picked Casey up to sit on his shoulders. He grinned up at her. "I’ll keep that in mind next time I’m on the ice. I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed in me."

"Besides Uncle Landon, you’re the best player in the league." Casey giggled at the chorus of "Hey!" from the other men. "You’re all a close third."

"All right, last present. This is from Zach." Becky handed the envelope up to Casey. "Then we’ll have some party games."

Casey clutched the envelope, then glanced over at the small pile of equipment by the sofa. Her lips parted, but she quickly pressed them shut and went to work on opening the envelope. She blinked at the papers after pulling them out, sounding out the words slowly since she often had trouble reading out loud. "Minor no . . . vice. Hockey . . . hockey team?" She seemed confused at first. Then her mouth formed a wide O. "Really? Really, truly I can, Mommy?"
"Yes, Casey," Becky said, beaming up at Zach in a way that made him feel like the king of the freakin’ world. Like he’d just offered her daughter the moon and the stars. His chest swelled, and he laughed as Casey shook her head like she still couldn’t believe it.

"Arrête ton char, maman! Vraiment?"

Landon choked back a laugh from across the room. "Casey, that’s rude. Your mother wouldn’t bluff about something like this."

Wiggling until Scott put her down, Casey came over to Zach. She was much more hesitant with him than she’d been with Scott, but something about her tone squeezed his heart. "Thank you, Zach. I love all my presents, but . . . this is something I’ve wanted for so long."

"You’re very welcome, sweetie." Zach bent down as she held her arms open, biting his bottom lip as she looped her arms around his neck and gave him butterfly kisses.



YES!! THERE'S A CONTEST!! Bianca is giving away a new Kindle...click here to enter
 



Buy the book HERE 

To contact Bianca:
 

To find out more about me, swing by my website: www.Im-No-Angel.com

Twitter: BSommerland