Monday, May 5, 2014

Book Blitz and Giveaway: Rocked by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott



The Driving Force

So, people are always asking us—how do you write so many books, so fast? Okay, so they ask Cari Quinn a little more than they ask me. LOL But this summer it will be a fitting question for both of us.
Part of it is being current. As Indie authors, we have the capability to jump in, work hard, and get our product out when we want. We aren’t at the mercy of a schedule from a publishing house. This works especially well when writing a series like, Lost in Oblivion. When people are invested in a series they truly hate to wait. We can ramp up our release schedule to suit that. Does that mean we lose quality in our product? Nope. Not with Cari in my corner anyway. She keeps me honest. I get too excited and want to share everything. She drags me back into reality and makes sure whatever we put out is the very best we can be at that time.
Because another part of our driving force is learning from our mistakes. When something doesn’t work, we have the capability of adjusting and correcting, and yet we don’t HAVE to follow the whims of an editor. We are the editor. Even when we use professional editors to clean up our manuscripts we have the final say in what does or doesn’t go in the book. In the end, it’s all up to us whether a story works or not. That’s a heady feeling—terrifying as well, but definitely more on the exciting end. Most of the time. LOL
And as unromantic as it is, the last reason we keep moving so fast in an ever-changing market? Making a living. Cari Quinn is a full time author, and I strive to be one by next year. Being an Indie author actually allows that to happen. At least for us. There’s a helluva lot more pressure, but we both tend to work a little better with that little push. Because at the core of us, we’re also readers and enjoy various forms of entertainment. So when the work gets hard sometimes we just want to go hide with a book and shut out the world. When said world reminds us we have to pay the electric bill, it makes us get back to work.
Thanks so much for having us. We have so many plans for the next few months. Please make sure to check our websites and sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop about the rest of the men and women of Oblivion, as well as our spin off series that’s developing thanks to such interesting supporting characters.

My question to you…do you like books to link outside the original series? Or do you prefer a finite end and get a fresh roster of characters to love?

Our Process

How the heck do you co-write? Oh, this question makes me squirm. I’m sure some authors have a better answer—at least a more cohesive one. Because Cari and I hash out an idea over the phone usually. For HOURS. We totally get lost in an idea. Then, because we’re both of the seat-of-our-pants mentality, we take off and running inside the story and sometimes…okay, most of the time…we go off plot.
But that works for us! We’re best friends in and out of the realm of writing. We trust each other to be able to adjust and rework an idea to suit. Does Cari want to use a sledgehammer to my skull sometimes? Suuuure. But the joy of being writers that aren’t a slave to the original plot is that we sometimes find something even more exciting on a re-visit to the storyline.
We also check in with each other all the time. And more trust comes into play because when we have those a-ha moments, the other half gets even more excited about a project. Sometimes after a beating must occur. I kid…sort of. ;)
All in all, Cari Quinn and I just love to jump in the sandbox that is our series of characters and play with them. All sorts of hilarious things happen. Especially to Simon Kagan from Oblivion. His story is going to be a hoot to write!
So, to end this…our process is simply to trust in the story and my partner. I know Cari won’t steer me wrong and vice versa.
If you’d like to hear more about the guys from our Lost in Oblivion series, or learn about the spin off series for supporting characters coming this summer…heh. Then visit our websites and sign up for our newsletter. All sorts of fun happens in the newsletter.

Also, the WORD WENCHES on Facebook is a blast. It’s a reader group that Cari and I have cultivated. Actually more like the Wenches took on a life of their own. And man do we have fun in there.
Thanks so much for having us and giving the Big Guy—aka Deacon McCoy—a chance. ROCKED was a labor of love and I think it comes through in our very first road trip with the boys of Oblivion.

My question to leave you…do you like spin-off stories? Or better yet, do you like series at all?

Music

Music. Such a big word encompassed in so few letters. It covers a multitude of genres, just like novels do. It’s also the cornerstone of my writing. One of the first things Cari and I discovered about each other was our deep and abiding love for music. Some authors write to silence, some write to the sounds of nature, some can write with a toddler playing beside them on a playmat. For us? It’s a soundtrack.
The story builds out of the playlist we create for each storyline. Sometimes not every song stays on the playlist. It’s as fluid as our plotlines sometimes. LOL

My playlist for Rocked on Spotify:
<iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:tarynelliott:playlist:3LBNNe6Q8Rq6ev8w3aRqhn" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>

But one thing remains true. It becomes a character in our story. The sounds, he tone, the lyrics, and the emotional punch all drive scenes. Sometimes we have to listen to the same damn song 762 times and then can’t listen to it again, or in the case of Rocked…I’ve listened to the same soundtrack for 8mos and got a little tired of it. But I couldn’t not listen to it when I was writing the draft.
Even the edits needed it as my backdrop.
However, I’m not entirely sure I can listen to Radioactive from Imagine Dragons anytime soon. That one was on rotation…a lot!!
But then there was Keith Urban’s, Cop Car. That will always have a special place in my heart and be forever immortalized in a scene in the Texas chapters of Rocked.

Thanks so much for having me on the blog.
How do you feel about music? Is there a song that makes you smile and crank it? Or snap off the radio so fast you get a wrist sprain? Let me know in he comments!


How Characters Are Born

Which of your characters are you most like? This question was posed on our writer group board. It seemed like the perfect topic for a blog post. YAY Wenches. That’s what we call ourselves. If you want to join a ridiculously fun group of women you should definitely check out the Word Wenches on Facebook. Oh the conversations that go on in there.
Cari and I formed it as a reader group and it totally evolved from there. We talk about all sorts of topics. But I warn you, it’s no for the faint of heart. LOL Things get racy in there!

Anyway, I digress. Characters…now this is my own vision of characters. Cari has a whole different way of doing things. For me? There’s always a little bit of me in there. Whether it’s the person I want to be, what I wished to be, or hope to become…all of it bleeds into the characters I create.
Especially the bad traits. All those little things you know you shouldn’t do make for perfect bits of conflict. In the Oblivion series the characters I created there’s a host of crazy that came along with it.
Deacon McCoy—gets to be the protector. I’m a big sister, so I tapped into the protective side of me. As well as the stubborn parts of me. And the judgmental part of me.
Simon Kagan—the flirty side of me that wishes I could act on my baser instincts. I let that side out of me…big time. Whoosh, that boy is a little bit of a playboy. Actually, no doubt about it. LOL But he’s also genuinely sweet and has a severe soft side for animals. He’s also far more sensitive than he lets on to the outside world.
Harper Pruitt—she’s the independent spirit I strive to be. She’s the proud and brave woman that is out there on her own and making it work. She’s also the one that trips and falls on her face when love steps in and changes her plans. And makes her change her focus for the better. That to be successful, she doesn’t have to be alone.
But those are just the ones in ROCKED. You’ll meet more of my crazy creations as the series goes on. As well as the plans we have for a spin off series. Oh the books we have in mind! It’s good to be an Indie author. I get to try out so many different things!
Thanks so much for having me on the blog. We hope to see you on the road.


I’ll leave you with a question for the comments. Do you need to identify with a character to enjoy a book? Or are you okay with just enjoying the ride?








 Thanks so much for inviting Taryn & I to visit to talk about Rocked! We’d love to share a bit about our boys – and girl – from Oblivion. We kicked off the Lost in Oblivion series last summer with the full-length intro, SEDUCED, and Deacon’s book, ROCKED, released in April! In honor of the festivities, lead guitarist Nick decided to interview Deacon, bassist, peacemaker and all-around good guy with a streak of dirty. ;) Hope you enjoy!

1) Nick: So tell the loyal readers of this blog something, Deak - how the fuck did you get so BIG? Is it all the protein shakes, the obsessive working out or just genes that made you look like you gnaw on your bass for a bedtime snack?

Deacon: It takes double reps to deal with you idiots on the bus. Oh, and that's daily. So...you do the math, genius. *Deacon tosses medicine ball at Nick*

*Nick catches the 20lb exercise ball in the gut with a grunt* Okay, fine, this is about music, so we'll keep it about music. *winces slightly and tosses back* How'd you get so damn lucky to end up with such fine musicians, boy?

D: Is that what this is? luck? Well, I guess if I didn't have shit luck, I wouldn't have any at all. *smirks at Nick's raised brow* No, seriously. We were in the same neighborhood and I caught you and Simon on the pier playing for cigarette money. How many people our age know Bad Company and Sweet Child O' Mine? It was fate.

2) Nick: The bass is pretty cool and all but guitar players do it faster, you know. Did you ever want to swap out instruments and come at it from a different direction? (huh, that sounded dirty...something I'm always *up* for)

D: Perv. You're hanging with Simon too much.

Nick: He doesn't shut the hell up. Yaps all damn night through the bunk on the damn bus.

D: 3 words. Noise cancelling earbuds. *smothers a laugh* You're learning that withering glare thing from Jazz. Impressive. *Sits back on couch and stretches out legs* I'm good with the guitar, and I can play the piano, but the bass feels right. And when it comes to music it's all about what feels right.
3) Nick: My first concert experience was Pearl Jam back when I thought wearing flannel made me look deep. What was yours? If you tell me something with Bret Michaels, I'll fear for your mortal soul, just FYI.

D: First show I paid for my own ticket? or first show I snuck into?
Nick: Both.

D: I had a growth spurt at 12.

Nick: Color me shocked.

D: Hey, being six feet tall gets you into gigs. And drinks.

Nick: And girls.

D: Maybe. But the first show was The White Stripes. First paid one was at sixteen. That one I drank way too much trying to impress a girl.
Nick: How'd that work out?

D: Puke and Black Eyed Peas. What do you think?

Nick: Your puke?

D: The girl.

* Nick claps loudly as he laughs*

4) Nick: Why the hell do you care so much about keeping the peace? Don't you ever want to let loose with me and Pretty Boy when we whale on each other? *looks off-camera* Okay, fine, this is supposed to be a semi-serious interview so I'll change that question to: What kind of satisfaction do you find from melding the tempestuous personalities of the great musical geniuses you have in your midst? *smirks*

D: If I don't keep the peace then the chaos takes over. I'm not letting this band fall into chaos. Period. It means too much. Besides, if I let loose you'd need more than a Band-Aid like when you fight with Pretty Boy. 

5) Nick: So how do you feel about groupies? Also - what's your preferred way to FEEL UP groupies? I mean, now that we actually have some. You aren't really looking to get settled down right when we've finally hit the jack-off jackpot, are you? (I heard a rumor. No, of course I don't pay attention to gossip mags. Unless they have dirt on Simon - then it's ALL true.)

D: Settled down isn't a bad thing. A new woman in my bed or my bunk...or if you're Simon, whatever closet is available...isn't my bag. I like knowing just where to touch my girl and learning all the things that make her tick or make her sigh. I like seeing that same smile spread just for me. The same woman isn't a bad thing, bro. Not at all. The groupie deal is way overrated.

…See what I mean? Deacon’s a good guy who isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to win over the heart of his woman. Which brings me to my question for the readers of this blog: do you like bad boys or good guys? Tell us why! All commenters who leave their email address will be entered to win a signed copy of SEDUCED plus some fun swag. So comment away! And happy one year anniversary to Tempting Reads—hope you all have a great ROCKTOBER! J
Want to keep up with the band? Visit www.lostinoblivion.com
Visit Cari Quinn at www.cariquinn.com and Taryn Elliott at www.tarynelliott.com

EXC1

The air was heavy with the scent of lemongrass and magnolia blossoms. There was a stillness to the moment. Deacon closed his eyes and let it all in. He blocked out the conversations and the sheer size of the venue. Instead he focused on their music resonating through the amphitheater and Simon’s powerhouse vocals shredding the air.
He opened his eyes just in time to see Simon jump into the pit and past the startled security. He ran up the aisle with a whoop of delight. The gasp of surprise from the crowd turned to a murmur of response that spread through the pavilion. People on the lawn stood to see what the commotion was about.
“You like cover songs?” Simon shouted. “Okay, so you may not know our stuff, but everyone knows David Coverdale. At least you should know Whitesnake. And if you don’t? Shame on you.” Deacon shadowed his eyes against the spotlights. Christ, was all the way at the back of the house? He squinted—yep, he was climbing the railing. Son of a bitch. ”Guys…how about a little Tawny Kitaen anthem?”
“Oh, shit.” Jazz hopped off her drum riser and zipped over to the keyboard. “Here I Go Again” was their cover song for the night, but it was later in the set. The drawn out keyboard solo filled the bowl of the venue. The soundboard tech scrambled to catch up, punched the keyboard’s sound up and equalized Simon’s microphone to match it.
Nick and Gray flanked the stage, and the spot in the center where Simon belonged felt too empty. Deacon moved forward and did backup vocals like they’d rehearsed.
The guitars showcased the strengths of Gray’s classical abilities and Nick’s raw edge. Not to mention the song had a built-in guitar duel thanks to David Coverdale’s penchant for two guitarists with egos the size of their hair.
Deacon watched the people warm to Simon. Evidently the jump-in-the-crowd deal worked in the large venues just as thoroughly as Frenzy a few months ago. By the end of the song, there was an uptick in people who were standing and singing along. When the band moved into their current single, the crowd showed a little more interest.
Thank you, radio hit.
Simon crawled onto the stage and owned the next three songs. By the time their thirty minutes were up, they got the all good signal to play the full forty. With “The Becoming”, they held the crowd by the balls.
As his bass resonated through the end of the song, Deacon looked out into the crowd. People were on their feet. They were actually cheering, for fuck’s sake. He felt a small hand grip his and couldn’t stop a smile when Jazz dragged him out to the front of the stage to make their bows.
Himself, Jazz, Simon, Nick and Gray. This was what they’d gone through hell to find. His heart tried to beat its way out of his chest as he sucked in a breath. Exhaustion and adrenaline battled it out through his bloodstream.
They bowed as a unit, waved, and ran to the side stage. Deacon looked over his shoulder one last time at the crowd still cheering for them and laughed.

EXC2

She pulled her all-access pass out of her shirt and slipped past the barricades. More people blocked her way. Fans with VIP access, concert promoters with clipboards, roadies pulling down one stage set up for another, bands of every fandom, all of them held her back.
Then she saw him. Head and shoulders over most people, he was easy to pluck from the crowd. A circle of reporters tightened around them with Simon and Jazz holding court. She bypassed all of them to get to the back of the pack. All the while, Deacon’s shoulders were in her sights.
She snaked through security until finally, his warm skin was under her hands. He didn’t immediately recognize her touch. How could he? Constantly pawed at by fans and security pushing him from section to section back stage, he had to be immune to skin on skin contact.
But then he stilled, and his wide palm covered hers. He laced his fingers through hers to hold her hand against his lower belly. She pressed her nose into his back and drew in the healthy scent of him. Warm, clean sweat and the ocean. God, she’d missed being near him.
He lifted his arm to pull her forward, but she tugged him backwards until every firm line of him was pressed up against her.
She slid their linked fingers along the loose waistband of his jeans. His groan of understanding was exactly what she was hoping for. She rose on her toes and got as close to his ear as possible. “Come with me.”
He looked around. She could taste the indecision on him. Responsibilities were such a large part of Deacon. Just as she was going to tell him no, not to leave his band right now, he hooked his arm around her waist and turned her into the backstage area.
Years of touring had netted her a few tips when it came to the inner workings of a festival. Wordlessly they circumvented the small backstage to the rockface that butted up to the back of the amphitheater.
She dragged him around the still sunbaked, nature-made wall until the sounds of people faded. He crowded into her back, his hand above her head on the rocks. His chin brushed along her neck. “I’ve missed you.”
Harper closed her eyes as his lips coasted up her neck, groaning when he nipped her earlobe before brushing his nose around the shell of her ear.
“I can’t wait, Deacon.”
He stilled behind her. “Here?”
She nodded. His music inside her and now his skin behind her. She didn’t want to think, didn’t want to pick apart the why they should, why they shouldn’t. She just wanted him to fill the ache. She rubbed her ass along the front of his jeans and stepped into one of the crevices in the boulder in front of her. She gained a few precious inches in height.
Cripes, she probably looked like a groupie in heat, but right now she didn’t care. She was a groupie in heat. She was his groupie. And she wanted him to use her, plunge inside her with all that raging energy from the stage.


EXC3

The sweet tones of a band in perfect harmony filled the bowl and flowed out into the crowd. The murmurs softened, and Simon’s smoky voice gripped everyone by the throat. They’d slowed down their newest single until it was a whisper of sex over silk.
But Simon wasn’t the one that held her captive. He was a force and had the innate ability to hold the crowd, and still her eyes were drawn to Deacon. She knew just how soft those jeans were. She’d slid her palms over the stress lines at his pockets, along the zipper, she’d even pulled those jeans over his spectacular ass.
His wide shoulders were angled low as he curved around his black acoustic lovingly. Not a bass. She’d only ever seen him playing the bass, with a slap of fingers and almost spidery grace as he climbed his fret board. But this was different.
No pick. Just the tiny callouses at the ends of his fingers that she knew so well. He plucked out a layer of harmony to compliment Gray and Nick’s lead guitar. And then there was the voice. Husky and rough where Simon soared.
It was a short set, just a handful of songs, but the crowd paid attention. And as the sun blazed into the mountains, they played a cover song to show their love of music that had come before. “Simple Man” was so Deacon, it sliced into her like a scalpel. Before she realized it, she was bleeding out.


ECX4

Deacon rolled closer to Harper, curling his arm around her waist. She nuzzled into his neck. In sleep, his girl was very cuddly. They moved together in the narrow bunk like they’d been doing it for years.
Harper’s phone chirped. The familiar soaring seagull cries and crash of ocean was their morning wake up call. She turned into him, brushing her cheek against his chest with a moan.
“It can’t be time.”
“You can always go on my morning run with me.”
She snorted. “I’d rather clean pots after Mitchell’s chili.”
“Wow.”
Hooking a thigh over his hips, she maneuvered him over until she was splayed across him. Damn, she had strong thighs. He slid his hand up the smooth, tanned skin, feeling the flex of muscle.
He could wake to that every damn morning of his life.
She leaned over him, her sunny blonde hair curtaining around them as she brushed her lips over his jaw, nipping his chin then swiping over his lower lip with the tip of her tongue.
He could feel the smile before he lost himself inside of it. The kiss was light and sweet and filled with an easiness he’d never thought he would find. Not here, not now when things were still so uncertain with his future.
He knew what he wanted. Knew that this woman was everything he’d ever needed. He banded his arms around her back, drawing her into a deeper kiss. Instead, she pulled away with a teasing flick of tongue and nip of teeth.
She waggled her eyebrows and nuzzled his neck, moving down to his collar bone. Her silky hair slid down his skin in her wake. She shimmied down his chest to his abs and he couldn’t stop the groan.
“Lawless,” he hissed.
She tugged at his boxers, freeing his morning hard on with an exaggerated purr. He laughed until she hummed around the tip of his cock and took as much of him as she could.




Rocked by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott
(Lost in Oblivion #1)
Publication date: April 9th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:
Book 1 in the NA rock star series, Lost in Oblivion
Love definitely wasn’t on the setlist.
Opening for their idols on their first tour, Oblivion is living the dream. Mostly. Frustrated at being shoved out of his mediator role by their new manager, Deacon McCoy loses himself in brutal workouts. He only comes up for air long enough to refuel—and to tease the deliciously cute chef who makes him crave a lot more than what she’s offering on her serving plate.
As the child of roadie parents, Harper Pruitt has heard every pickup line twice. To her, musicians are one step above the scraps on her cutting board. All she wants is to get enough experience to run her own catering company, but Deacon and his bottomless stomach are too tempting to resist. He’s far from the typical rock star and before long, she finds herself experimenting with him, inside and out of the kitchen.
Apron – and panties – optional.
When Harper sees that Deacon’s dream band with his best friends may be turning into a nightmare, she can’t walk away. Deacon’s so much more than just a peacemaker and the man behind the bass. But she has her own dreams to chase…even if she’s starting to think what she’s building with him might be the biggest one of all.
You met Deacon McCoy in SEDUCED, now you can watch just how far a big man can fall.


AUTHOR BIOS

TARYN ELLIOTT comes from the great state of New York—upstate, thank you very much. She’s usually busy making up stories with her best friend until the wee hours of the morning, or fangirling over her favorite TV show. She falls in love with each and every one of her leading men as she writes their book, and there’s always a soundtrack to match.

She loves talking to readers, so if you’d like to reach her, please visit her website: tarynelliott.com and sign up for her newsletter, or drop her a line at: taryn@tarynelliott.com.



USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR CARI QUINN saves the world one Photoshop file at a time in her job as a graphic designer. At night, she writes sexy romance, drinks a lot of coffee and plays her music way too loud. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she’s watching men’s college basketball, reading excellent books and causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.

Visit Cari at www.cariquinn.com to sign up for her brand new newsletter, or drop her a line at:cariquinnauthor@gmail.com.

If you enjoy a little colorful fun please join our Facebook reader group, The Word Wenches.








Blitz-wide giveaway
Prize (US only): A signed copy of Seduced by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott , a $10 iTunes gift card, plus swag

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