Saturday, September 25, 2010

Author Interview - Brendy Woody & Steve Tindle


And the winner is:
Robbie from Finland
Congratulations!!

I must warn you – This interview is a bit different from my norm, just so you know. My guests today are erotic authors, Brenda Woody and Steve Tindle!!

Our virtual location today is IN THE HOT TUB! Yes, we have lots of room so everyone can relax and enjoy...but I'll be a party pooper - bathing suits must remain on for my PG site! LOL! I’ll not be held responsible for anything that happens, and I don’t want to KNOW everything that might happen!  LOL  We also have a wonderful roaming bartender so we don’t have to get out and trickle water everywhere! Sooo, that said, grab your first drink, slip into the tub and let your troubles drift away because today we have two wonderful authors with us, Brenda and Steve, who write as a team. I’ve read some of their work and….whew, it’s already steamy out here! Their first book was released in June and they are hard at work on future releases.

When we’re finished with their interview, please comment at the end with any questions you might have, or comments, and they are going to pull a winner from the comments to win a signed copy of BEST LOVER IN TOWN! Let’s get in and get relaxed!


Deanna: I see you both have your White Russians in hand. I have mine and it’s so smooth, yummy! Tell us a bit about yourselves that our readers might not know.

Steve:  Thank you for having us here today and for having such a great bartender. Tub side service – kind of nice! Brenda and I went to the same high school in Hinesville, Georgia. In 2008, our 30th reunion was coming up and we both started looking online to find old friends. Brenda found me on MySpace; we started writing each other about the reunion and what we were doing. Emails went to chatting, and we finally exchanged cell numbers. We learned we had much in common; we had lived close to each other various times over the years but never knew it. We had both written poems and started writing rhymes to each other.

Brenda: Steve swore he found me on MySpace first until we looked back at the messages. LOL We had classes together and had mutual friends in high school but we never hung out. Although I remember a day after class he was standing in the hall leaning against the wall. I stopped to talk to him and I remember thinking “he has the nicest eyes”. I thought he was shy and didn’t flirt with him; little did I know.
     Together we have seven grown children and four grandchildren.

Deanna: How interesting that after all these years, you’re together again. I love it! What happened that made you want to become writers?

Steve:  Brenda had begun a novel years before she contacted me. She mentioned she had always wanted to be published (a dream I had given up on during college) but she never got the support she needed from anyone. I had her send me her work to review. I made some changes, which she liked, and we fed off each other to complete “Best Lover in Town”. Writing together brought us closer because we had to communicate our past experiences, fantasies, dreams, and desires. We did most of the work on “Best Lover in Town” while Brenda was in Beaverton, Oregon and I was in Plano, Texas. Connecting the computers together via the internet, we edited the work at the same time. By the time Brenda moved to Plano to finish the manuscript, we knew each other better than we did 30 years ago.

Brenda: We both have poetry posted on Helium.com and I have poetry on Originalpoetry.com. The rhymes Steve mentions above; I still have all those emails saved. Maybe one day we will publish a book of poems.

Deanna: Being able to write and edit together is wonderful. Do you write under a pen name?

Steve:  No, we use our real names; although some of our family members would have preferred us to use a pen name. Our publisher wanted me to use my given name of Steven or Stephen to be more sophisticated but we decided our friends might not know who I was.

Deanna: Is there a certain type of character that is easier to write than another?

Steve:  Our characters are all different but easy to write about. Brenda and I discuss how each will react to various situations. Writing as a team we give special insights from both the male and female perspective.

Deanna: That has to be a great help to have a partner you can get instant feedback from. Do you read in the same genre that you write in?

Steve:  I rarely read at all, when I do it’s for information not pleasure.

Brenda: Yes. I am an avid reader. My first hot sizzling romantic novel was “Shanna” by Katherine Woodiwiss. My mom let me read this book at sixteen. I was hooked on romance for many years. As an older adult I started reading mysteries.

Deanna: Woodiwiss is one of my all-time favorites as is her novel ‘Shanna’! What are your future works about?

Steve:  Our publisher wanted to publish a collection of short stories by various authors and asked us to submit one for “Temptation Triggers”. We stopped working on our second novel to focus on the short story. A few months after we submitted, they informed us they liked the story and decided to dedicate the whole anthology to our short stories. We decided to write eleven stories because it is due out in the summer of 2011. We are currently working on number 6. We have notes on nine more novels in various stages.

Deanna:  Wow! I find that so exciting that you two write together. I know of another husband/wife team who write for Blaze. They’re great too! How did you come up with the title of “Best Lover in Town”?

Steve:  We knew the BLT was going to be Janet’s favorite sandwich because its Brenda’s favorite. While my teenage children and I were out eating one evening, we played around with different words to represent B-L-T. We finally came up with “Best Lover in Town” after several iterations.

Brenda: We also joked about my initials becoming B-L-T if Steve & I ever get married. 

Deanna: You two do have a lot of symbolisms together! Where do you get your inspiration?

Steve:  Inspiration comes from many sources. One friend wants us to write about a cowboy; Brenda’s mom wants us to write a mystery. We always keep a note pad handy or a computer with us to write down ideas. Ideas might come from a single line off the TV or a phone conversation with family and friends. Be careful what you say, it might end up in our books. 

Brenda: My mom had always hoped I would write children books. If we do, we will definitely have to use a pseudonym.

Deanna: That might be a good idea, Brenda! LOL How do you determine the character’s names?

Steve:  Nathan in “Best Lover in Town” took some time to decide on. We needed a name that started and ended with the same letter. That’s a special hint for all your readers.
     Patty Melt in “Temptation Triggers” was named for the sandwich I bought Brenda on Valentine’s Day 2010. Not all of our works are based on food names, although Brenda does love BLTs and Patty Melts.
     Some names are based on their profession or on a time period. Buffy couldn’t be used for our 1910 short story.
     We try not to use names of family or friends, but when we do it’s never a reflection of them personally.

Brenda: I think the character names come fairly easy for us. Once we start thinking of a story to write, we are already writing down a name for each character. Their name reflects the person they are.

Deanna: Is everyone having a good time? I’m glad all the tubs are so close. Everyone can hear that way. Steve and Brenda, are there any hidden gems readers should be looking for in your works?

Steve:  We like to add common items in our work so when the reader sees an item we used it will make them think of “Best Lover in Town”. We have been told by readers they will never look at a BLT sandwich the same way. We hope the same holds true for Patty Melt. Maybe we will use Rueben in an upcoming story.

Brenda: Steve likes to use symbolism in our writing. He was surprised when he found out his birthday is 3-5 and mine is 5-3. When reading “Best Lover in Town”, you definitely need to look for symbolisms. 

Deanna: Who are your favorite authors or books to read?

Brenda: My favorite authors are Nora Roberts, Patricia Cornwall, and a new author P. Q. Glisson. My favorite reads are erotic short stories and mysteries (who done it?). I stopped reading romance books along time ago until I bought P. Q. Glisson’s book. However, her book has a twist I hear.

Deanna: What websites do you promote “Best Lover in Town and your future books on?

Brenda:          

Deanna: Another round of drinks? This is very nice not having to get out for them, thank you! Do you two have any advice for aspiring authors?

Steve: Write about what you know. If you want to write about something you don’t know, be aware it will take three times the effort to complete. We are currently writing a short story based in 1910. Research for the time period is taking longer than the actual writing of the story. We have to be accurate and true to the time with hair styles, clothing, and what was available to the time, etc.

Brenda: If you have always wanted to write a novel; just do it. Write something everyday. Always take a notepad and pen with you; you never know when an idea will hit you. When you submit your manuscript to publishers, be sure to follow their submission guidelines to the T.

Deanna: Can we post an excerpt for the readers? I have to keep this PG but I think this one will pass.

Steve: Please share the excerpt with everyone, I think they’ll enjoy it and want their own copy so they can finish reading Janet and Nathan’s story.

Best Lover in Town: Excerpt:

     It is turning out to be a beautiful summer day in Peoria, Illinois, as Janet arrives early for work. She loves her new job and co-workers at the Archer Marketing Company. Archer Marketing is a large advertising agency with several offices across the country including New York City and Seattle. Her team is small enough to know each other personally. Janet, her boss Nathan Lovett, who is the top advertising agent, and a few other team members have an afternoon teleconference with the New York office. She wants to be totally prepared to impress her peers.
     Arriving at her desk, she notices she is the first one to show up. She sets up her laptop, reflecting on the past three months at her new position before she gets busy. The office environment is laid back. There is a lot of friendly flirting between the team and Nathan is the most handsome boss she has ever had. She looks out her seventh floor window at the magnificent sun rise. Her view is a mural of the surrounding city. All glass exterior walls allowing the sunlight to fill her office.
     Janet gets busy reviewing the ad campaign. As the rest of the team start to arrive for the busy day ahead, the normal greetings and simple chats resound in the office area. Everyone is having a great morning. Fridays are casual days so the employees are allowed to wear jeans. The entire group is excited as it is a payday weekend; informing the other teammates of their plans. Madison, Janet’s new friend, is especially excited about a party she is planning to attend. She attends many parties, boasting about them to anyone who will listen.
     Nathan arrives a few minutes late and everybody greets him. He had stopped by the bakery to pick up donuts. The team gathers around him. He looks at Janet as she takes a donut from the box. Their eyes meet as they have done so many times before, causing Janet’s heart to melt. This isn’t the first time he has made her knees weak nor would it be the last. She remembers the times they crossed paths in the hallways. Sometimes she would move closer to him so they would touch each other in passing. It was just casual flirting. Nonetheless, he seemed to like it.
     “Are you ready for the big meeting this afternoon?” Nathan  asks, breaking the silence between them.
     “Yes, I was just reviewing the ad this morning,” Janet says cheerfully.
     “Good. I'm sure we will do fine. You've done a great jobpreparing the ad. I know they will love it as much as I do.”
     The office personnel work like a well-oiled machine so the morning passes quickly. Team members come and go as they give Janet new information for the meeting. All of a sudden there is a huge bang in the building. Everyone quits what they are doing, curious to determine the source of the noise. All is quiet for several minutes as they listen. Nathan makes some phone calls. He discovers the problem and explains to the team.
     “Maintenance says one of the building’s air conditioners has failed. They should have it fixed soon. I will keep you posted so let’s get back to work,” Nathan informs them before returning to his office.
     The temperature in the building starts to rise as the sun shines through the windows in addition to no cool air. Team members become uncomfortable as sweat trickles down their bodies. Shirts and blouses become partially unbuttoned to stay cooler.
     Because of the building’s policies, no electric fans are allowed. The normal flirting gets hotter as the temperature goes up. The agitated staff uses flirting as a release from the tension caused by the heat. An hour later, Nathan gives the team an update.
     “I just got an email from maintenance. They said it might take several hours to get the parts for the air conditioner. It might not be fixed until tomorrow. If you aren't attending the afternoon meeting with New York, you are free to work remotely from home for the rest of the day. The rest of us will be leaving after the meeting. See all of you back here on Monday. Have a great weekend.”
     Madison is the first to pack up her laptop. On her way out she stops by Janet’s desk.
     “I will call you sometime on Sunday to tell you about the party. I know you will be working as you always do,” she says.
     “Okay. You have a great time,” Janet says smiling as Madison leaves.
     As excused workers head out the door, the remaining staff adjourns to the conference room. It is hot, causing several shirts to be soaked with sweat. Janet can see Nathan’s chest hair through his shirt which affects her concentration on the conference call. She is hoping he doesn’t notice her staring at him.
     New York generally likes the ad campaign however wants a few changes. With every modification Janet squirms. She feels she has let the team down. Nathan glances at Janet,
noticing her unbuttoned blouse, exposing the top of her bra. He is hoping to see more as she fidgets in her chair. The conference is over in under an hour, though it felt much longer.
     “That went well,” Nathan says as he shuts down his laptop.
     “What do you mean? All the work we put in, now all these changes.” Janet argues.
     “Let me tell you a secret. The first ad campaign I submitted to New York, they tore it apart. I felt like they ripped me a new one. These were minor changes compared to what I had to fix. They like your concept. Moreover, they like you. You have a great future here. I’m glad I hired you; so is my team. Go home, relax; we can pick it up on Monday.”
Janet gathers her things to leave.
 
* * *

     Arriving at her house, she can’t get the meeting out of her mind. She works for a few hours updating the campaign per the New York request. She stops working to fix herself a BLT. As she turns on the television the phone rings. It is Nathan. He has a brainstorm and wants to come over to finalize the ad for the next meeting with New York. Janet tells him that would be fine, and then reprimands herself for giving in so easily while hanging up the phone. She wishes she had said no to his request this time too. Nathan had asked her out twice; either for dinner or a late night coffee. She had not taken him seriously, thus she declined both times. Janet is not intimated by high powered men; however, the thought of Nathan is overpowering. She doesn’t understand why. Even though she has fantasized about him in bed, she never dreamed he would ask to come to her house. She looked forward to a relaxing evening. “Why do I have to have the best looking boss in town?” she wonders.
     “Well, my supper and the boob tube will have to wait,” she mutters as she puts her BLT in the refrigerator. She remembers what her mother had always said: "Don’t fish off the company's dock.” “Well, going over work won't hurt Momma,” she thinks, waiting in anticipation for his knock at the door.
     Janet hears a car stop in the driveway. She takes one last look in the mirror hanging in the hall. “No makeup, yet my face glows.” She nervously opens the front door. Nathan’s hand is in mid air to knock. His breath is taken away when Janet opens the door. “My god,” he thinks. “She is beautiful.” He knows it is going to be hard to keep his mind on business.
     He was glad to have won her over from his competing company after hearing how good she was at her past job. Since hiring her, he felt she must have been ready for a change. So far she hadn't openly expressed why she was eager to leave her other job. Nathan has a suspicion that Janet’s ex-boss was very controlling and verbally abusive.      “I’m delighted she accepted the position because now I have the best advertising assistant in town,” he thinks.
     Janet invites Nathan in. While giving him a tour of her house, his first thought is “organization” just like her desk at work. The earthy decor suits her.
     "Well, let’s get started," Nathan says, clearing his throat to cover his nervousness.
     “Why am I feeling like a kid in high school?” he thinks.
     Janet cleans off the dining room table so they can lay out the ad. They stand a few inches apart viewing the large prints, aware of the nearness of each others body. Nathan again clears his throat. Janet leans over the table. Nathan has a nice view of her backside. “Nice long legs.”
     She is conscious of his eyes moving over her body. This makes her nervous as a little grin forms on her lips. "This one," she decides as she picks up the print to hand it to him.
     Their fingers briefly touch. The touch is like fire searing up each of their arms. Janet is the first to avert her eyes while clearing her throat. Nathan raises an eyebrow. “She is just as nervous as I am.”
     “Would you like something to drink?”
     "Just a beer if it’s not too inconvenient." Nathan watches Janet walk away into the kitchen. He considers what it would be like to run his hands down her body while kissing her. “Okay, keep your mind on work.”
     Janet returns with two bottles of beer.
     “Ah, someone knows their beer.” He takes the chilled dark brew from her hand. Again their fingers touch, this time they linger a few extra seconds.
     "I think what our client is looking for is a worldly attitude," Janet says to break the silence.
     She turns toward the table in thought. Nathan can see her long neck as her head is arched back. He imagines the roundness of her breasts underneath her t-shirt. Nathan steps closer not realizing that if Janet turns around she would be against his chest. Janet can feel his breath on her hair.
     "Janet, I want you to know, I…" He stops.
     "Yes?"
     Nathan cannot help himself any longer.
     He whispers in her hair. "I want you."
     Janet is surprised to hear these words from Nathan. Her mind starts playing games with her. “He’s my boss. He’s 10 years younger than me. Why does he want me when he could have anyone he chooses? But oh man, he would feel so good right now!” She could feel her own wetness building up inside. Her body is ready yet her mind won’t yield to her desire for pleasure.
     All Janet’s life she has wanted to find the perfect mate to explore the magic of sex. She is well read. However, she has never acted on her desires thinking there is not a man willing to teach her. Does Nathan possess the passion she is craving? Will a younger man have the knowledge she needs to drain? Will Nathan be willing to act out all Janet’s fantasies? Janet’s mind is finally getting in sync with her body as her sweet wetness is now moistening her jeans.
     As Janet regains her thoughts, she deliberately leans her body into Nathan’s. She wants him to hold her close as he kisses her hair. The thought of Nathan touching her excites her. She wonders how he will react to her being so bold. Her pulse is racing. She feels his breath on her hair. She has already passed the stopping point whole heartedly giving into her body’s desires.

Deanna: Whew….um, ok…..I know all of you want your own copy now so you can finish that scene and many more. Be sure to visit their websites above and get your copy. Brenda, Steve, I’ve had way too much fun today and hate it to end. You’ll stick around for questions and comments, I hope. The bartender will be with us until we are finished here.

Brenda: We’ll be here to answer their questions and continue to party with them. Thank you so much for having us today. *waving her empty glass at the bartender*

Steve: Deanna, we’ve enjoyed meeting your readers too! I can’t wait to chat with them! Don't forget, we're giving away a signed copy of BLT to one commenter Sunday night!


118 comments:

  1. I think it's great that Steve and Brenda were able to connect 30 years after high school then write books together. Very romantic and appropriate for the genre they write.

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  2. Thanks Jessica for being the first to comment. Being seperated for 30 years gives us more stories to write about. As we talk about our lives apart we find interesting tibits that can be added to our story lines.

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  3. Good morning Jessica, yes very romantic. We have had a lot of people say we should write a story about it. Thank you for for commenting so early in the morning!

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  4. Fed the fish this morning Deanna.

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  5. Great interview Brenda and Steve, and the excerpt definitely makes me want to read more!

    Steve: Is symbolism something you look for in everyday life?
    Brenda: What made you both decide to write in the first person?

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  6. Hello Anonymous, Thank you for commenting. We are writing a short story in first person. However, first person didn't seem to work for BLT. We are writing 11 short stories for an anthology "Temptation Triggers" due to be released summer 2011. Good luck on our contest.

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  7. *grabbing a white russian from the bartender and slipping into the hot tub*

    Hi guys! Sorry I'm late! Had to set up our day-job biz booth at the fair this morning! Market Market Market, no?

    Hi to everyone else here, so glad you've all stopped by. Please enjoy all the links and archives we have on the sites.

    Brenda and Steve, your interview is getting lots of hits! Great job! So glad to have you join us today, thanks for being here. I know how busy the two of you are!

    Viewers, please come in and join the chat!

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  8. Hi Deanna, good to see you. We have been busy reminding eveyone about the interview. The hot tub is just the right temperature. Thank you!

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  9. Hello Anonymous,
    Yes, I find symbolism in most of life so I add it to our writings.
    As for 1st person, one short story
    in Temptation Triggers is going to be written as a diary. We are exploring different writing styles and topics in 11 short stories. Hope you will like Temptation Triggers as well.
    Hey bartender! Get me another drink.

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  10. Hey Deanna,
    Glad you finally made it. We are several drinks ahead of you. Drink up and enjoy the party. You know you can ask us other questions if you have them.

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  11. Hi Steve & Brenda, loved the excerpt. Very Steamy. I also think you should write about your reconnecting. It would make interesting reading.

    Rose (Deanna's friend)

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  12. Hi Rose, there is more of the excerpt here click the link on the left. http://www.charlesriverpress.com/best_lover_in_town.html
    Thank you for stopping by. Do you have a drink? Bartender!

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  13. Hi Rose, Thanks for stopping by.
    We have talked about writing how we got together after 30 years, but we might need to wait until we are better known. We have several books in the works to let that happen. If enough people request that topic, we might have to move it up in the order of writing.

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  14. Thanks for letting me stop by for a drink and lavish the greatness of a hot tub. Excellent interview, Steve and Brenda. The excerpt definitely got my imagination to work. The visualization of the Characters came to life, and I could almost feel the heat in the conference room, and taste the cold beer at Janet's.
    To be honest guys, I closest I came to reading a romance/erotic novel was Sidney Sheldons novels. If you think there were any romance in those. You can bet I will be picking me up a copy of BLT to read, got to find out more into the fatting plot.

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  15. It is good that two people who havent seen eachother in 30 yrs. It is good that you Steve and Brenda have many other request, But what do you prefer to write about? Do you think that after 30 yrs you could right one book or would it be continued in a couple of books?

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  16. So how long have you 2 been together? Where are ya'll living? Do your kids ever tell you"HOW" you should have written something or 'it would have been better if you had done...'?

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  17. Hi David, buddy from high school. I have read a
    few of Sidney Sheldon's books - no romance, just
    pure lust and sex LOL Thank you for your review of
    the excerpt. I will copy and paste it to add to
    our myspace blog where other fans/readers have posted.
    Enjoy your drink. Good luck on the contest.

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  18. Hey David, loved your review. Hope you get enjoyment from the rest of the book as you did from the excerpt. Come back and have another drink with us. Remember BLT is in print and ebook.

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  19. Donna,
    Brenda moved in with me in April of 2009, after talking online and by phone since 2008. We started talking about going to our 30th high school reunion which we both missed. We live near Dallas, Texas in Plano.

    We have a hard time getting the kids to read the novel; they call it our parent's "dirty little book". However, we have a lot of support from our family.

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  20. Hi Tammy, good to have you join us in the hot tub. We do have a novel in the works which will have a few series to follow. We are very excited about our character. She is building quite nicely with each note we jot down. We love to write in the erotic genre. We have lots of fun researching! LOL

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  21. This is so cool. I knew Steve from college. I find it exciting that Steve and Brenda found each other after all these years. They work magic together when they write.

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  22. Aww Thank you MDP We really enjoy being a team in everything we do!

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  23. Yes, college was a great learning tool for me. lol You are correct that it's magic when Brenda and I write together. The hot tub is our muse and it heats up when we get in to talk about our next manuscript.

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  24. I wish we had known ya'll were in the Texas area...we passed through Dallas in Aug. My sister lives there, we could maybe have met up and visited and caught up!!! Do ya'll write full time or do ya'll have full time joibs as well. What do your co-workers think?
    I think this is great! I hope you 2 have continued success in your books and each other!!!
    Donna Cain

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  25. Q: Are you guys planning to do anything along the lines of a trilogy? Some kind of series?

    Congrats on your success and getting to share it together, Steve and Brenda!
    Same thing happened with my step-mother and father and my aunt and uncle. I'm a sucker for a good love story :oP xo

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  26. Hey Donna! Another high school classmate everyone. Donna we both have jobs so we write in the evenings and on the weekends. We always carry a notebook and pen everywhere we go to jot down ideas. LOL tell our co-workers! Only a few trusted ones. We write erotic - can't talk about that at work! I am actually looking for work I can do from home. Maybe my last day I'll broadcast!! LOL
    Next time you 2 are in the area let us know. BTW I got let go from a temp job for giving out our business card - Another drink please!

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  27. Hey Donna, It would have been great to see you and Roy when you passed through our neck of the woods.
    Most of the co-workers think it is great that Brenda and I write erotic books. Many of my co-workers have bought “Best Lover in Town” which we have already signed for them. We even talked to our cell phone company and sold three books there.

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  28. Theresa, we have one character we are developing into a semi-series. We will introduce her in Temptation Triggers, and then see how the readers react to her. If the book has high demands we will continue her escapades.

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  29. Hey Theresa, hubby watching the baby so you could join us? My mom and stepdad met online playing spades on a gaming website. They have been married for 10 years now! If you read up top a few commenters posted about us finding each other. Be it a new person or a long lost friend, it can work out a lot of times. We will be writing a series - her name is Marci - she is a bad ass in the law system. This is all I am going to give away. LOL

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  30. I was wondering with both of you giving input to a piece of writing did you find it hard or easy to compromise on things that were to be added to set the moods on the pages?

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  31. Hi Mickey, very good question. We found it very easy since we both are open minded on the steamy scenes. Sometimes either one of us had a better idea, but the writing seems to flow for us as a team. Thank you for joining us. Did you get a drink? Good luck on the contest!

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  32. Brenda i love the steamy scenes. The hot tub put the mood in the right spot for the steamy scense you talked about . I hope i am the one who get to be one of the lucky ones to receive the free copy.. Do you ever have a disagreement on a part of the book?

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  33. Mickey,
    It’s nice to see you in the hot tub. Great looking suit. There are times either I or Brenda will get stuck on a scene. It’s great to have someone next to you for input. For me working with Brenda, I get the female point of view and she gets the male perspective.
    This works out in our writing erotic stories.
    Grab a drink and stay awhile.

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  34. Tammy, no we have never disagreed. We will write a scene together or separately. Then we go back over and critique it. I always read the scenes out loud. Good way to catch mistakes - like leaving out a word.
    You can also have Word or Adobe Reader read the story to you. Great way to see if the story flows.

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  35. Hey Tammy, Welcome back.
    We respect each others input and haven’t had a real disagreement on content. We seem to compliment each other. As I told Mickey, the male and female perspective helps us write, not hinder us.

    BTW: Writing together also helps our relationship grow. Having to open up to each other about thoughts, dreams, and desires makes us better writers and partners.

    Good luck in the drawing.

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  36. Wow a lot of Commenters so far! Good luck everyone on the contest. We will be randomly drawing late Sunday night. Deanna will gather the winner's info so we can mail the signed copy. Be sure to check back often for your comments to be answered and read what other people are posting.

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  37. Thanks, I'll have a cherry vodka and cranberry. The book came out great it shows how well the two of you can express your inner thoughts together and share them well with others. You can crawl in and visualise your self in the scences and that makes great story tellers.

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  38. Hello to everyone!! I am sooo embarrassed. I stayed up to post a comment and 'screwed' it up by posting on another Author's page! She'll get a kick out of that!
    What I had said was, I can't go grocery shopping in the produce section anymore like a normal person without getting looks. REASON? Well..... after reading the book (and you have to read it to know exactly WHY), whenever I see a cucumber or a pineapple, I either have this HUGE grin on my face, or I laugh out loud! I laugh loudest whenever its a Huge Cucumber (I think I even turn RED, and that's quite an accomplishment for me if you knew me----HAHAHAHA)!!! Read the book, and you will never look at veggies the same! Boy do I love Cucumber salad!! Hey, I was born in Hawaii, and I've ALWAYS loved PINEAPPLE rings!!!

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  39. Oh Lisa you are way too funny! Thank you for making BLT much more enticing for commenters to want to get their hands on the book now. LOL One of our friends said she doesn't look at a BLT sandwich in the same way. Its fun to write with Steve. And he can still make me blush after a year and half! Thanks for stopping by.

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  40. Here’s your drink Mickey,
    We hope many readers can crawl into “Best Lover in Town” with their significant other and visualize the scenes together. We wrote the story with couples in mind.

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  41. Great job Lisa,

    I like using everyday objects to remind people who have read “Best Lover in Town” about the book. There are many things in the book that does this. i.e. Pineapples and cucumbers are just two of many. This theme is continued in Temptation Triggers. Just the way we write. Not just with food, but you will have to read it to know more.

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  42. Hey Momma and Steve just stopping to say hi and we love the book so far and the only question we have hows the water? Oh and how about a drink for us? We are very proud of you two and cant wait to finish the book.

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  43. Hey Austin and Trina! Everyone my second son and his wife. Glad you finally decided to read it. I know this is Trina's genre! Drinks? Just hollar for the bartender, and "the water is fine - come on in."
    LOL I used to say that when you kids were little.

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  44. Hello again! I thought about another question that I was not sure about. Did you come up with the name for the main character's toy, or was it already an acronym that is used? I thought it was clever! (B.O.B.)! Like I said, your book opened my eyes up to a lot of things I had never heard about or even thought about! LOL!

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  45. We must say that we blush at times reading this book because Janet is so well experienced in the arts of the bedroom or anywhere else she may get the notion! But we are intrigued at the same time and read on.

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  46. Brenda-Yes, daddy was snoozing with the lil man so I was able to take a break. Sadly, I ended up taking a longer break than anticipated and ended up ordering take-out for dinner lol.

    I met my husband on the net 11 years ago in Richmond, VA. We have not been apart since. Two months after we met, Jeff joined the Navy. One year and one month after we met, we were married in Richmond, VA at a beautiful bed and breakfast.

    I look forward to reading ALL of your books!

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  47. kool.hello how are you both..enjoying what i am reading here..like the book so far cant wait to find it and finish

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  48. I JUST LOVE THESE KINDS OF BOOKS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH FANTASY RATHER THAN REALITY. SOMETIMES THEY JUST CAN'T HELP IT. THERE ARE ALOT WHO HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH FANTASY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THE REAL THING. ME, I LIVE THROUGH FANTASY. FANTASY IS SOMETIMES BETTER THEN REALITY ANYWAY. I WOULD LOVE TO READ THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT'S INTRIGUED ME TO NO END. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUT BOOKS ANYMORE. I AM A GRANDPARENT RAISING MY 4 YEAR OLD GRANDSON. HE COMES FIRST. SO IF I CAN'T READ THE BOOK, I CAN IMAGINE HOW IT WOULD END. ANYWAY, AFTER READING YOPUR EXCERPT, I WOULD LOVE TO READ THE WHOLE BOOK. NOT JUST ONCE, BUT A FEW TIMES AT LEAST. GREAT WORK FOR BOTH OF YOU AND KICK BUTT WITH ALL YOUR BOOKS. I KNOW YOU'LL BE SPECIAL WRITERS AND TOGETHER YOU CAN MAKE IT BIG, FAST.

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  49. Lisa, No BOB is well known acronym for a woman's other friend.

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  50. Hello Austin,
    The water is perfect and the hot tub can hold a lot more people. So invite your friends to come on over and join us. Grab a drink and sit right down. Better yet, grab the book and read it out loud to us. lol

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  51. Thanks Brenda! See! I learn something new every day!

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  52. Lisa,
    Brenda is correct, it’s old. I would have used “Boy, Oh Boy” lol

    Have to read the book to know what we are talking about. Have to keep it clean here or Deanna will spank me and not allow us to promote Temptation Triggers here. lol

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  53. I forgot to post my name with the thanks! I am Anonymous.

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  54. Hey Viola!!! Our pal we met on my yearbook and then had the pleasure of meeting in person in Washington!So glad you stopped by. You were with us from almost the beginning of writing BLT. You can find the book on Amazon. However, now that you have posted a comment you are entered in the drawing for a signed copy. Good luck We love you girl!
    Remember to click on either of our names in here to go to our author page.

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  55. Hello Trish, glad you could join us. Good luck in the contest. We are excited everyone is enjoying themselves in the hot tub. Hats off to you Lady for raising that grandbaby. Its starting all over again. And at our age it could be more tiring to keep up with a youngin.

    For anyone interested we have an excerpt from chapter 2 and 5 on our BLT Myspace Blog (you have to be a member to read the blog) and on Barnes and Noble, B&N.com, a lot more of chapter one. The links are on our author page at Charles River Press http://www.charlesriverpress.com/best_lover_in_town.html

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  56. Theresa,
    Internet relationships do work as you can attest. Brenda and I knew each other in high school years before we reunited online. Our separation of 30 years only brought us closer together. Our past seemed to be like two ships crossing in the dark. We both have been to many of the same towns at different times. The internet got us to the same place at the same time.

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  57. Greeting Viola,
    We are getting pruney in this hot tub, but we love commenting to all our fans. Glad you like the excerpt. Google “Tindle Woody” and you will find us everywhere in eBook and paperback.

    Love meeting you in Washington last year. Wish we could meet all our fans.

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  58. Trish,
    Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. Brenda and I will do our best to bring fantasy into your reality through our writings. I really enjoyed chatting with you on FaceBook. Thanks for being a fan.

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  59. *grabbing another white russian then sitting on the edge of the hot tub and dangling my legs in the water*

    I can't believe the tub is so full of visitors! Thank you all for showing up! This has to be one of the best interview parties we've had here. How will my other parties live up to this one?

    Steve, Brenda, you have out done yourselves and we have tomorrow to go yet! Cheers to both of you and all your fans who you brought to the party!

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  60. I just want to say that ya'll inspire me and also, when I read your work I miss that guy I was dating....

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  61. Hey Deanna, thank you again for hosting this party. It has been so much fun and we look forward to chatting with our fans/new friends again all day tomorrow. Cheers to you . LOL I have one for real just made Steve and I small ones for a night cap to celebrate!

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  62. Hey Dianna,
    I have an answer for you about “how will my other parties live up to this one”. Like my favorite movie The Big Chill says: “We aren’t leaving . . . EVER”. lol Now that our fans have found your site, they will be back to review all your parties, and drink your alcohol. Have plenty on hand.

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  63. LOL Colonialdame... this comment sounds famiiar! Like I saw it on Facebook im. Glad to be an inspiration. We hope to be an inspiration to all new authors. Plus, we are hoping to be editing as an extra job and well we are already editing for one author friend. Come back and visit again. Good luck on the contest.

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  64. My dearest Colonialdame,
    I hope the reading of Best Lover in Town will help you find your BLT. Send your ex a copy and let him know what he is missing in you. Let him know you have already read the book and want to re-enact the scenes with him.

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  65. I would love to have your fans revisit my blog parties. There is always a bartender on duty somewhere here! The drinks are always great!

    I'd like to thank all your fans and visitors and hope they know they are more than welcome to come back anytime! I love hosting authors so that my fans can meet them too!

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  66. Good morning, the hot tub is ready and the bartender is here with your drink.

    There were over 6000 hits to our blog yesterday yet only 14 commenters. Please leave a comment to let us know you were here and to enter the contest. We will be monitoring the site until 11pm tonight.

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  67. Hi Brenda and Steve! Beau and myself just wanted to say CONGRATS on the book!! We can't wait to read it (possibly together..lol). How long did the entire process of having the book completed take, from the first inspiration to actually being "on the shelves"?

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  68. Hey Crystal & Beau, glad to see you on here! I had started this book back in 2004. However, I stopped after 2 pages, thinking I was not good enough to be published. When I found Steve again online, we chatted about what was on our bucket list. The movie was very popular at the time. I mentioned I wanted to be a published author. Of course Steve asked if I written anything and well here we are now! We started writing together on BLT in August of 2008. We submitted BLT in June of 2009 where Charles River Press accepted our manuscript. Since we worked remotely from our computers the process was longer than we would have liked. We were trying to get BLT released for the 2009 holidays. Not understanding the publishing world at the time (boy we understand it now!), BLT was released June 1, 2010. Since I moved here with Steve, we pitch the writing out faster.

    We are currently working on 11 short stories and have 9 other books in the works.
    We are also featured on Goodreads.com – a website for authors and readers. Join if you are an author and want to promote your work. Join if you are a reader and want to explore authors, books and book clubs locally or virtual. Tons of information on this site and good people  http://www.goodreads.com/brendaandsteve

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  69. Crystal & Beau,
    As Brenda stated we worked on BLT from August 2008 until June 2010. What really surprised us was how quickly we were picked up by Charles River Press. We submitted to several publishers and did the “happy dance” when we received the contract from Jonathan after only one month. We had been told to expect years of rejection letters before getting published. It just goes to show: Don’t let others steal your dreams.

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  70. Hi Bren and Steve. Are you guys drunk yet? And Steve, please stay in the in the tub...LOL

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  71. The hot water you put me in allows me to leave the tub. Next time I will grab the towel first, just for you. I can't help it if see more than you want to.

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  72. I wasn't sure how the book would be when I started it but after I read the first pages I couldn't put it down. Steve and Brenda create such realistic people in the story (I think I have met most of the characters...or at least somebody just like them!!!) and I have to admit I didn't see the gay cop coming! I went to high school with both of them and never thought that one day they would be writing something like this! Keep up the great work and I look forward to reading the next one...

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  73. Good morning, all! I have an Irish Coffee this morning! Gotta open my eyes and wake up before I switch back to the White Russians! LOL

    For the hits on this interview with you two, you've done fantastic. The interview started Saturday morning, early, at about 5,886 hits and its now over 6052 hits- 166 hits just for the interview and that's a record on my blog even though you have both posted many times. Congratulate yourselves on good marketing to get readers here!

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  74. Hey Robbie, thank you for stopping by. What a great review. I am going to copy and paste it on our blog on myspace and on goodreads for other fans to see. Knowing us in high school - yea who would have thunk huh LOL. We don't go into great detail on the description of our characters because we want the readers to create their own image of what they might look like. We have found our niche in life - writing and each other.

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  75. Good morning Deanna, yum baileys sounds wonderful, didn't think of that. I will get our bottle out for my next cup. We are steadly at it again today. Market Market. and networking. Still looking for Patricia Cornwell to show up!! This has been so much fun.

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  76. Robbie,
    Thanks for the great review. I immensely enjoy chatting with my far away friend. You never thought we would write like this, yet most people who knew me and Brenda in high school never saw us ever becoming a couple either. lol

    WOW how things change.

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  77. I do love Baileys for sure, makes for a smooth cup of java!

    You're getting great reviews on the book. I'm so happy to see success when an author has participation with the readers and you have that this weekend.

    I wish you all the best with your next book. This is a good lead in and when you return for the interview on that one, our readers will be back!

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  78. Welcome back to the party Deanna. I like marketing almost as much as I like writing. I guess it’s due to the instant feedback of our readers. When writing, it could be a year before our fans can comment on the topic at hand. Although when we chat with fans we sometimes mention the plot or title of the project we are currently working on to see their reaction. This gives us a guide standard to ensure we are on the right track with our readers. So fans, give us your insights. You might see your ideas in our up coming books.

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  79. Deanna,
    Temptation Triggers blog should be even bigger than this one. Eleven stories to talk about. WOW Plus we will have more fans by then from Best Lover in Town. It will be very exiting to be on your again next year to promote the second book. Just keep the alcohol flowing.
    Hey Bartender, get Dianna another drink.

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  80. Hey Steve and Brenda, WOW the excerpt was really great and I will definately be buying the book to finish. It is fantastic to see you two together and doing great things.

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  81. Hey Theresa,
    Glad you liked the excerpt. We will be in Hinesville over the Christmas holiday to sign your copy of Best Lover in Town. Let us know if you will be there. It's great talking to high school friends after 30 years.

    As for me and Brenda being together, I think it is fantastic too.

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  82. Hey Theresa, great to know the excerpt is good enough to lure new readers/fans. Steve and I have so much fun writing as a team. We think a lot alike. Steve mentioned above in another post that we compliment each other. He is my best friend. When I found him again online, I already knew I liked him!! Although I thought he was shy in HS LOL

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  83. Your book sounds wonderful. I think that is great you found each other after so many years.

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  84. Katsrus,
    Glad you like Best Lover in Town. Good luck in the drawing for a free signed copy.

    Yes, it's great Brenda and I found each other. We are happy to be together and it shows in our writings.

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  85. Thanks for joining us katsrus. We certainly enjoyed writing BLT together and we look forward to many more years together.
    Stay awhile and enjoy the hot tub. Good luck on the contest!

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  86. Hey gang! Sorry I haven't been noisy here but have so many things going on this weekend! You know I hate missing parties, too.

    Bartender, the next round of drinks are on me!

    hey guys, I could have sworn I saw two of your characters outside...would they come in and join us?? Readers, who kewl would that be? Brenda, see if one of the would stop in to talk with us1

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  87. Maybe I need to have some water or something! I think I should have said the round of drinks IS on me and also see if one of THEM would stop in! OMG! Too funny, see what you two are doing to me?

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  88. Interesting take to get inside the heads of both Nathan and Janet.

    Peoria, Illinois, hunh? I live about 20 miles from there!

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  89. Good grief Deanna,
    I guess it is okay this time. Brenda has commented to me that I have misspelled your name in replies several times already. You and I can blame it on the virtual drinks we have been downing since Saturday morning. lol

    I kind of like having the drinks on you.

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  90. Hi Bryan, thank you for stopping by. Yes its great developing our characters together. Ever read a book and thought as a male - I would have handled or said that differently? Best Lover in Town is an Erotic Romance but not mushy - straight to the point about how two people feel when there is chemistry.
    Neither one of us have been to Peoria. I wanted the story to take place in an everyday city.

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  91. I am a friend of Steve's and Brenda. this is a great book, good page turner, once you start you can't put it down!
    Love you both, Maryann Paxson

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  92. Bryan, Great to see you here. It’s been a long time.

    Yes, being a male/female team we can show the true feelings of Janet and Nathan; not a guy guessing what a woman thinks or feels. This means we write with the understanding of what both parties are experiencing. This insight gives the reader the full picture and makes for a more interesting story.

    Peoria was actually already in Brenda’s rough draft from 2004. If you run into Janet and Nathan tell them hi for me.

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  93. Deanna, there you are! And well LOL Bartender make some coffee please strong and black. Geez Steve started calling you Dianna a while back LOL Its almost over and the the Winner will be picked. Good luck to everyone. You are right Deanna, a few of the characters were hanging out in the yard. I got their attention and asked them to join us. It's Madison and Alan. If you visited our myspace blog you would have met Alan there.

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  94. Maryann, Great to see you again. Glad you made time between turning the pages of Best Lover in Town to give us an update. When you finish reading drop us a note. Let us know what you think. We love talking to fans.

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  95. Maryanne, good to see you again. Wow we were very surprised and pleased by your comment. I am so glad we have got to know each other. Look forward to your feedback on the book. See you on FB.

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  96. My lady is friends with the authors and wanted the two of us to read BLT together, and we really enjoy it! thanks Steve and Brenda.

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  97. Hi Dean, YES a couple reading the book! That is way cool. Don't get the book wet in the hot tub, we will sign it if and when we see you two in person. You are very welcome ;)

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  98. Great job Dean,
    Best Lover in Town was written with couples in mind. Some of our scenes will open communication between partners when it comes to bedroom activities.

    Have fun and enjoy the ride.

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  99. hhhmmmm....enjoy the ride? I'm going to assume it's the ride of reading a great novel!

    Coffee?? Muah? OK, maybe it is a good idea! *w* and a few less calories than the white russians! Then again, I take a little coffee with my cream!

    I like the idea of having two writer view points in the book so that what the characters think is coming from both of you to make sure the thoughts and actions are right in line. Nice take on that one!

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  100. Great interview! So happy for the both of you! Ca.t wait until I win the book so I can finish it! LOL Good luck with your future books!

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  101. Deanna,
    The ride is figuring out the compromise between partners. As communication begins there will be some discussions of “I want to try this, and I will never do that”.

    See, I was keeping it clean. Where was your mind? You still love me?

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  102. My mind is.....not always where it should be! Which is why I write romance novels! Is that bad?? LOL

    Love you both! Thanks so much for being here. You've certainly made the last 48 hours fun and the readers have enjoyed it, too. Only a few more hours left for readers to comment and be in the drawing. I'm going to step out in the yard and round up a few more who may not have gotten in the contest yet! BRB!

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  103. Hey Brenda, long time since high school. Glad you made it with time to spare. Grab a virtual drink and enjoy the party.

    Good luck in the drawing. When you do get a copy of Best Lover in Town, we would love your thoughts about BLT. Getting feedback from our fans helps us critique our future manuscripts.

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  104. Hi Brenda, love your first name LOL Glad you enjoyed the interview. Good luck in the drawing. Say hi to Clay for me. It's great Bradwellers took the time to stop by.

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  105. Hi Brenda, love your first name LOL Glad you enjoyed the interview. Good luck in the drawing. Say hi to Clay for me. Its great Bradwellers took the time to stop by.

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  106. Congratulations you two.. I think your both amazing people. Very Talented. Brenda you already know I think your awesome..

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  107. Ahhhhh.....just came for a quick soak in the hot tub. Thanks for the invite Steve and Brenda!

    Please do not enter me in the contest though...I'm just supporting some new friends. *waving from within the steam*

    Isn't Deanna wonderful? She is a great blog host! *waving to Deanna*

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  108. Hi Renee!!! You are too kind! It's never too late to stop in! So glad you made it! *waving thru the steam*

    I'll sit on the edge and dangle my legs in, I'm already a bit too pruny from being here for 48 hours! LOL So are Brenda and Steve I'm sure!

    So glad you stopped by!

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  109. Hi Diana, so glad you found your way! LOL Thanks for stopping by. GL on the contest. You are awesome too even when you are mad at the contractors LOL

    Diana is a co-worker a trusted one LOL

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  110. Thanks for coming to the party Diana,
    I hope you enjoy reading Best Lover in Town. Yes, I agree with you. Brenda is awesome.
    Good luck in the drawing.

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  111. Renee, our new friend,
    Thanks for dropping by. Your friendship is greatly appreciated. We are looking forward to being on your blog soon. [January 17th 2011]. I’m sure our fans will want to join us there too for another chance to win a signed copy of Best Lover in Town.

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  112. Hi Renee, bet the warm water feels good after the horseback ride. Glad you joined us. Thank you for the support. Deanna is amazing. This event has more hits than we ever could have imagined.

    Thank you Deanna for all your hard work.
    Thank you Steve for marketing, networking all weekend, and for being mine.

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  113. i have heard the true story of hard work on this book with my own ears from the author. at the same time, i can fell from her stories that they have had so much fun writing it. And of course, the sweet story of bumping into a whirlwind romance after 30 years never fails to make me giggle a little bit. i am very happy to brag to people to have known the author. and i agree with other people's comment, i myself, cannot look at BLT the same way again. -gm

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  114. Glazy Donut you are too sweet.
    You have put up with a lot of stories from us over the passed few months. I’m glad we have been able to put a smile on your face. Come on over to the hot tub and bring your BLT with you.

    Good luck in the drawing.

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  115. The contest is over but feel free to leave additional comments. Brenda and I will continue to review this site over the next few days. I already know there were some who were busy this weekend and be here soon. If you prefer, send us an email bestloverintown@gmail.com

    Thanks to all who visited this page and a special thank you to those who left a message. We will post the winner soon. We broke records of both number of hits and comments. We met new and old fans.

    Brenda and I hope our fans enjoyed the site. Remember Deanna will feature other authors you can chat with so bookmark http://deannajewel.blogspot.com/ and check back often.

    To our host Deanna: We couldn’t have had done it without you. What a wonderful weekend in the hot tub with virtual drinks. Brenda and I look forward to partying with you again soon.

    Brenda and I really enjoy talking to fans. Be looking for future blogs for another chance to win a free signed copy of Best Lover in Town.

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  116. *picking up a few stray towels and glasses* I would like to thank Brenda and Steve for being such great hosts for their hot tub party! You have both been busy marketing, for sure, and yes, you broke site counter records on MY site for sure!

    Readers, we thank each of you who visited. I know not all left a comment but we know you were here to read the interview and find out more about these two wonderful authors. We're glad so many had fun at the party! Thank you all again! I wish Brenda and Steve ever increasing sales on their books!

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  117. Wow! I not only enjoyed the site and post, but also all the comments !!!

    Awesome blogging ...

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