Hello everyone – excellent treat
for you this week – I have the good fortune of featuring two very good friends
and Muse It Up Publishing sisters – L.J. & Kat Holmes (mother and
daughter). They’ve got two books out right now, Her Last Day (which I’ve written
a review below) and One Night Stud (love the title *smile*).
Both ladies have offered some
gracious and informative responses of their process together and of their
amazing novels and story-stars. Thanks so much L.J. & Kat for being here
this week :) Before we get started, L.J., would you please give us a little
intro…
Kat and me, L.J. Holmes live
together, write together and know how to inspire together. Mother and daughter,
we never set out to co-author stories, but found we have a quirky way of
jointly presenting our characters with journeys neither of us might consider alone,
and luckily we like each other enough not to rip each other’s heads off when the
going gets a bit treacherous.
Please
tell us how the idea came to you for HER
LAST DAY and ONE
NIGHT STUD. Please include all the fun details.
L.J.: Titles and names just
come to us. With HER LAST DAY we
knew we wanted to tell about the emotions Daria experiences as this fateful day
progresses. Pretty much the same is true with ONE
NIGHT STUD.
Kat: So far we’ve written
and released two books together writing as Kat and L.J. Holmes.
L.J.: Our first book is HER
LAST DAY and our second is
ONE
NIGHT STUD and they are nothing alike.
But,
both are sexy, right ;)
What
drives, motivates, and/or inspires Sam?
Kat: In HER
LAST DAY we learn about
the hero from the heroine’s point of view, so I’m not really sure how to answer
that question for this book…but I can do so for book two.
L.J.: ONE NIGHT STUD…Sam is a shape shifting
centaur…and he has one night to find his idea human mate and be the stud he s
meant to be or suffer a fate worst than death.
What
are Daria and Colleen’s job? What does Acteon and Sam do for a living?
Kat: Daria from HER
LAST DAY is the wife of a
successful shoe merchant in Pompeii on the day Mt. Vesuvius erupts. Acteon is
the slave her husband gave her as a wedding gift.
L.J.: Sam from ONE NIGHT STUD owns an impressive and
well-concealed ranch in the middle of the city.
Kat: Colleen designs and
sells sportswear.
Give
us some insight into Daria and Colleen. What’s a bit of their back stories?
L.J.: Daria is the daughter
of a wealthy Roman Merchant who is sold into marriage by her father.
Kat: Colleen is out to
celebrate her divorce earlier today from the leech who married her for her
money, then expected to steal it from her in their divorce so he and his
mistress can continue to live in the style he never worked for.
Tell
us what Acreon and Sam first means to Daria and Colleen?
Kat: Acteon is Daria’s
port in the storm of Roman hierarchy as long as she can pretend to him being
nothing more than a slave.
LJ.: Colleen, the moment
she walks into the bar, is Sam’s salvation…now all he has to do is convince
her.
Who
is Daria and Colleen to Acteon and Sam? Can you give us a bit about the first
time they meet each other?
L.J.: Daria is Acteon’s…owner…Lady…mistress,
in its most formal definition. They first meet when her husband brings her to
his home after marrying her in Rome. He gives Acteon to her as a body-guard,
etc…that she feels more for him is against the Roman law and will cost him his
life…if she lets on.
Kat: Colleen sees Sam when
she and her friends first enter The Stallion’s Stall and finds him hunkering
against the bar looking far too drool-worthy.
Can
you tell us about the abilities of Sam? How do they help OR hinder?
Kat: In ONE NIGHT STUD…Sam is a shape shifting
centaur, and if he doesn’t prove himself worthy of his perfect mate before
sunrise, he will suffer a fate worst than death.
Why
this location? Anything in particular in real-life that made you select it?
Kat: HER LAST DAY takes place in
Pompeii on the day Mt. Vesuvius erupts. History chose the time and place for
Daria and Acteon’s story.
L.J.: ONE NIGHT STUD a special bar and the
hidden ranch just seemed right for the events to unfold for Sam and Colleen.
Is
HER LAST DAY
and ONE NIGHT STUD included in a series? If so,
what series and can you give us titles and a tagline for other books in this
series?
L.J.: I don’t write series’
often. Kat on the other hand writes series that make me weep and wish I could
be as inventive as she is. If you haven’t checked out her ARTICA LIGHTS SERIES and her HEKATE’S
WEB SERIES, boy are you in for
some good reading.
She’s also the author of an award winning mystery, THE
LIGHTHOUSE ;) I am head over heels for the ARTICA LIGHTS and HEKATE’S WEB series…She has another series I like many
of the books in, especially the more recent ones. It’s her GODS AT WORK SERIES,
and my favorites are CRIMSON WATERS, DANCES AT DAWN and her
most recently released UNDER THE HUNTRESS MOON.
Neither HER LAST DAY
or ONE
NIGHT STUD are parts of a series, although there are those who are
urging us to do so.
Kat: At this moment we
have no plans to do so.
Can
you share anything about the /magic/paranormal /fantasy beings in either story?
What’s unique about them?
L.J.: There really isn’t a
lot we can share about the centaurs without giving everything away. Both of
these books are short stories.
Kat: Centaurs in their
human form, walk, trot, gallop, sort of, among us. But just as humans have
their crossover into adulthood, centaurs have them too…and this is Sam’s night
of most important nights. Failure to successfully make the transition means
he’ll live out eternity in a form no centaur wants to contemplate.
Tell
us about Sam’s name world? Does he live by a hierarchy or some other code/laws
of their kind? If so, can you give us a few of their rules?
L.J.: Centaurs live by their biological and natural
instinctive needs. They spend most of their life having casual and multiple
bouts of fun…until the night of their progression to the next level. There’s no
way around them…they can’t buy their way around them, nor can they hire another
to fill their shoes.
Which
scene was your favorite to write? Can you share a little of it?
Kat: HER LAST
DAY was entirely a labor
of love. Mom and I worked really hard to get this story released and we both
love it.
Kay Dee: I loved it, tooJ
L.J.: Both HER
LAST DAY and ONE NIGHT STUD are really short stories.
It would really give too much away to give any kind of excerpts.
Please
share anything else about this story you’d like ~ maybe a difficult scene or
character ~ someone or something not cooperating…
Kat: It was difficult for us to write HER
LAST DAY because Mom and I
both knew how it had to end. We love Daria and wanted to pull a rabbit out of
our magician’s hat.
What
are you working on now?
L.J.: We’re working on our
third collaboration tentatively called A FOOTPRINT IN TIME. It’s about as
diverse as night and day from either of these two.
Kat: It’s true. Brother one
is getting married and his bride-to-be wants the “perfect” wedding. That means
dancing, something brother two, possessor of two left feet can’t do. Brother
one coerces brother two into taking two weeks of costly…no refunds
allowed…dance lessons. All hell breaks lose the minute the music begins to
play.
Where
can we find you? List all of your links. Everyone ~ Please show L.J. and Kat
some love and take a moment to follow their links;)
Kat’s Web: http://www.authorkatholmes.webs.com
Kat’s Blog: http://katluvr130.blogspot.com
Kat’s e-mail: Mykitty130@yahoo.com
Kat’s Muse It Up Author’s Page:
http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php
Kat’s Amazon Author’s Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kat-Holmes/e/B009B2NZXW/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1359134703&sr=1-2-ent
Kat and L.J. Holmes’ JOINT blog:
http://holmesauthors.blogspot.com
Kat and L.J. Holmes’ Muse It UP
Author’s Page: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php
L.J.’s Blog: http://linsownblog.blogspot.com
L.J.’s e-mail: Spatzdkat1212@yahoo.com
L.J.’s Muse It Up Author’s
Page: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php
L.J.’s Amazon.com Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/L.J.-Holmes/e/B004U347U2/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1359134768&sr=1-2-ent
Quickie Quiz - Getting to know
Kat Holmes & L.J. Holmes
2
Things you do to relax:
L.J.: Kat and I both read
and play with our kitties.
Kat: You forgot to tell
them I also love video games, and you enjoy knitting hats and scarves to donate
to children on the Reservations. You also didn’t tell anyone you do quirky book
reviews on one of your many blogs.
L.J.: I think you just did!
Kat: Yeah but you haven’t given
them the url for your reviews. Mom likes to keep all she does for others under
her shyness stone.
L.J.: I think you just blew
that out of the water.
Kat: Somebody’s got to toot
your horn for you :>)
L.J.: Let’s move on.
Kat: Not till I give them the
URL for your review site…It’s called Ladybug Lin’s Golden Reviews: http://ladybug-lins-reviews.blogspot.com
Favorite
sport to watch:
L.J. Figure Skating
Kat: And gymnastics.
Cat
or Dog:
L.J.: I grew up with dogs…I
had a German shepherd that was my best friend throughout my teens and on into
my twenties.
Kat: But we live in an
apartment now, so have our two kitties, Mama Bear and Spatz to keep us from
getting too full of ourselves.
Favorite
places to write:
L.J.: I’m still a pen and
paper person so I curl up in bed and let the pen fly.
Kat: Not me. I type
directly into my computer…it’s easier to correct mistakes that way.
Place
you’ve always wanted to go, but haven’t:
L.J.: I can answer this for
both of us…Scotland…Castle ghosts and kilts…what more can you ask for.
Breakfast
drink:
Kat: Mom and I never
acquired the taste for coffee, so we drink Diet Pepsi to get our caffeine.
Favorite
season ~ why:
L.J.: I can answer this one
again…WINTER…you can add clothes to get warm but even if you went stark naked
in summer, you can’t get cool enough.
Kat: Plus bugs hibernate in
winter. I am so NOT into sharing my living space with creepy crawlies.
What
are your hobbies /past times (besides writing):
L.J.: I think we already
mentioned them…reading and playing with the kitties. I’d sing but Kat threatens
me with dire fates every time I let the first note warble out of my mouth.
;>)
Kat: Of course I do…every
dog within the ten nearest galaxies begins howling when you start singing. The
quakes you set off throughout the universe leave the known worlds running for
industrial earplugs…deadly.
Kay Dee: Too
funny, ladiesJ I’m so glad you could come and spend some time at my place…I
love when L.J. and Kat visit and to have them together is a true joyJ
GIVEAWAY!! Here's what we're giving away...per set. (2 sets) First
two make one set and second two make the other – drawing for these will be held
on Friday Feb. 1st – must leave a comment or a question for L.J. and/or
Kat Holmes and a way to contact you in case you win.
1. HER LAST DAY
2. ONE NIGHT STUD
3. DANGEROUS VOICE
4. SHE'S GONE
Her Last Day by L.J. Holmes and Kat Holmes
The date was August 24th 79 A.D. and it started like every
other day in Pompeii. But the clock is ticking and disaster is about to strike.
Daria, the wife of a selfish businessman, is about to find out that there are
worse things than a loveless marriage. But through it all, is there any cause
for hope?
Book
Review – Her Last Day by Kat Holmes & L.J. Holmes
Genre:
Historical romance with a touch of paranormal
First
Line: Daria woke.
Book
Review:
Daria, a natural beauty and humble woman from a family of
means, gets bartered off as a wife to the highest bidder.
Titus, a business man, philanderer, and control freak, lives
every minute with high expectations and a low tolerance for humanity in
general.
Together they act as abuser and the abused. It’s August 24th
79 A.D. in Pompeii, is there any chance in hell for Daria to find a few hours
of happiness before her world turns to ash?
To be honest, the title told me the heroine dies and why
would I want to read a story with a sad ending – I don’t do sad. I came very
close to passing over it for another of L.J.’s stories, but I’m so glad I
reconsidered.
Kat and L.J. Holmes created a historical romance,
introducing an impacting depth to the story through its characters and passion.
They summed it up with a satisfying ending that this happily-ever-after-freak
found amazing.
There’s a paranormal twist that isn’t really mentioned in
the tags or description of the books. These two authors pulled a rabbit out of
the hat and you’ll see why when you read it ;)
No spoiling it…the resonating depth of this love story kept
me thinking about its story-stars long after I’d finished reading their story.
I hope these two authors continue writing more stories together – and I
definitely recommend this story as an excellent historical paranormal romance.
Kay Dee
Click Cover for Buy Link
One Night Stud by
L.J. Holmes and Kat Holmes
A centaur has only one night to
convince the woman of his dreams to fall in love with him. If he fails, he’ll
be put out to pasture alone for the rest of his very long life. Tomorrow
morning is rapidly approaching. Will he succeed?
Dangerous Voice by Kat Holmes
Forty-seven year old Phaia
Mykos is a meek and mild librarian by day, but to put her daughter through
college she turns into the sexy and alluring Sasha by night. Using her voice,
she teases and titillates men on the phone.
But when women in her line of work suddenly find themselves
under attack, it’s only a matter of time until the madman turns his eye on the
one called Sasha.
To trap the stalker, the police send hunky and much younger
detective Derek Hoffman to her door. Long has she desired the man and
circumstances provide her the perfect opportunity to get what she wants,
hopefully before her obsessed fan silences her for good.
She’s Gone by L.J. Holmes
She’s gone!
The silence reaches out and
rebounds inside his body. Where is she, was she kidnapped? What kidnapper takes
her toothbrush, her clothes, and her cat, but leaves his half of the closet
full? What does the puddle of melted ice mean, and the lone glass? All the
other dishes from their shared breakfast are in the dishwasher; what does this
lone glass mean? They had not fought, if anything they’d made passionate love
before both needed to head off to their jobs that morning.
She’s gone!
14 comments:
Good morning Kat and L.J. I brought Pepsi for a morning beverage:) I'm so excited about the two of you camping out at my place...in your RV and everything:)
So, what's up for this week to do with writing...what are both currently working on - together or separate?
Hi Kay Dee it's great to be here.:-)
As for working on, I just finished book 2 in my hekate's Web series. Mom & I are working on our third collaboration and in a few days I'll start book 5 in my Gods At Work series. I'm not sure what Mom is working on as her own individual work right now.
Hi Kay Dee,
As usual it is a joy visiting with you. Kat is right...she just finished SEEKER book two in her Hekate's Web Series...WOW! I get to read everything she writes, and vice versa. This book is INCREDIBLE.
I'm still suffering from my spine deciding I needed to be reminded its in control of whether I walk stading up, or crawl so close to the floor I can see every tuft of fur our cat's leave in their wake.
I haven't been doing much in the way of writing. But I am in the middle of a sci-fi I guess called BULLY ON THE BRAIN: Their truly are ALIENS walking among us.
I'm hoping my spine improves so I can sit here on the floor, where our computers are currently consigned to and finish BULLY ON THE BRAIN and Kat"s and my third collaboration.
Great interview. Congrats on your new book!
Hey y'all! I've read Her Last Day though I haven't read One Night Stud yet. But I already know it's a delightful blend of funny, saucy and sexy because I know L. J. and Kat Holmes!
Kat, I need to check out your hekate's series. Also want to get One Night Stud...definitely sounds like my kind of read *giggles*
Bully on the Brain...hmmm, now I'm curious...aliens, yeah, I'm definitely captivated;)
Hi N.J., thanks so much for stopping in - I'm wondering about lighting up a campfire for some story-telling;) Besides camping out in the RV...well, it feel like there should be a campfire going on.
Gail - I'm on my way to your place...I saw you had a guest today. Thanks so much for stopping in to see these saucy, sassy, sweet ladies:) Ya just want to hug them like crazy, right?
Lin - I hope it's a matter of your back popping into sync and the pain is gone - poof! I hate when my friends are in pain. Hugs.
Fun pic and interview.
Kay Dee, where's your pic in the RV? :)
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi Ladies,
Great interview! It must be quite a whirling dervish of activity around your place with 2 such creative minds! I love the motor home with the pics, very clever. Oh and I've read Her Last Day and it was very well done (also have a review up for it), also She's Gone, come to think of it. Don't ever stop encouraging each other Lin and Kat, that is a rare gift in life that you two have!
Cheers, Sara
Hi bn100:) Yeah...I'm the one taking the shot - you know, on the other side of the camera *grins* Thanks so much for stopping by;)
Sara...hugs, woman! Yes, it's been such fun with these two women! I'm feeling gracious and humbled by their caring souls...BUT, they have a devilish funny side...the both of them do - and I love when that comes out to play;)
So, I know I asked you about what your hobbies are, Lin & Kat, but I'm wondering if the two of you have actually gone camping or RV'ing in the past...and do you have any stories to share about it. There's always something comedic going on between you two...what's happened that you can tell us to make me and everyone laugh out loud:)
You ladies sound so fun! I haven't heard of these books before, but I am definitely adding One Night Stud! ;)
ja huss (at) i am just junco dot com
Yeah years ago when I was a teen. got eaten alive by mosquitos.:-0
JA, thanks for stopping in - I see you've got a GoodReads event going on - have fun!! Always nice to virtually see you:)
Kat - yes, mosquitoes...those needle-nosed little varments - vampires of the insect world - can take the fun out of anything in a short amount of time. Citrinella (spelling) plants and candles really do wonders to keep them away.
My family camped a lot until we got caught in a rainy week and it rained daddy-long-legs like raindrops - my husband packed us up and we've never used a tent again. LOL BUT, we do still manage to go stay in cabins and RV's. I love the outdoors and so does he...well, except for the spiders.
What's your favorite genre to read? Does it depend on your mood, or you have a favorite you can read anytime:) Lin? Kat? Anyone?
Hi everyone - thanks so much for stopping in and visiting with Kat and L.J. Holmes;)
With a toss of the dice, we've got a couple of winners tonight.
First one is S. Durham
Second one is Gail Roughton
Congratulations ladies:)
You'll be hearing from Kat or L.J. in the next couple of days with your prizes.
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