Thank you to Katherine Deane who hosted a fun discussion and contest last week. And Congratulations to Adaline Raine who was the winner of a $20 Blushing Books gift card. Spend it wisely, Addy!
Thank you to all of the wonderful guest hosts over the last few weeks. I've become quite spoiled, but I'm excited to lead today's discussion of The Winter Storm: An Ever Afters Chronicle by Renee Rose, Casey Mckay and Katherine Deane.
Blurb: In a world where fairy tales and real life collide, in which truth is sometimes stranger than fiction and romance and fetish are the norm, a winter storm forces a cast of characters to converge at a unique lodge, and three interwoven tales are set in motion.
Jillian and her brother narrowly escape a wolf attack, thanks to a shapeshifter, Bertram. As the owner of the lodge, Bertram opens Jillian's eyes to a whole new world filled with spanking and so much more. Will she keep fighting her submission, or allow herself the chance for true love?
Coral is a fugitive - hiding from herself, her true desires, and the sea witch to whom she owes a great debt. She fears showing real emotion and letting herself be free, but Jake Hill's dominating presence beckons her to yield to him - not just her body, but her heart, mind, and soul. When the sea witch demands retribution, though, she may lose the one man she has come to trust.
When Faye blunders while casting a spell upon her landlord, he claims her as his slave until she can undo the magic, and she finds herself subject to his firm discipline. As her attraction to him grows, Faye fears she will give in to the handsome shifter and forever lose her maidenhood, and consequently her powers and the ability to fix her mistake.
Even as all three women struggle with surrendering to the dominant men they have fallen for, each finds herself on a journey to discover her true self. Can they find a way to yield to love without losing themselves in the process?
This is an entertaining book which is very different from any other spanking romance that I've read. It is sexy, romantic and clever. Quite the winning combination. Several different times I'd find myself thinking about the book while doing other things and then a light bulb would go off and I'd realize "Ohhhh! Jake and Jillian Hill. Jack and Jill went up the hill. I get it." Maybe I'm just dense. Did everyone else see all these clever references all the way through the story or did they sort of sneak up on you later?
Here are a few discussion questions.
1. We've seen a large number of spanking story boxed sets and anthologies in the last year. This story has three authors and three distinct couples, but instead of separate stories, the three tales are woven together.
What do you think of this format? Do you prefer it to collections of stories on a similar theme? Or does each have its pros and cons?
2. As an author, I wonder if I'd be able to collaborate that much with other writers. What about you?
3. Faye tries to cast a spell on her landlord and turns his feet into flippers. How inherently sexy must a man be to still be hot with flippers for feet?
4. If you could be a fairy tale character who would you choose?
5. If you could be in a romance with a fairy tale character, who would you choose?
6. Shapeshifters----handy to have around or sort of freaky? If you could be a shapeshifter, what would you like to shift to? (I have no idea what the rules are for shapeshifters. Are there rules?)
Wondering What's Next?
Next week we'll be discussing Sue Lyndon's hot new release Commander's Slave.
May 9--- La Forge by Rollin Hand with discussion leader Ken Charles
May 16--- Playing With Fire by Ruth Staunton with discussion leader Adaline Raine
Be sure to check out the Spanking Stories Book Club FAQ tab at the top of the page.
Wondering What's Next?
Next week we'll be discussing Sue Lyndon's hot new release Commander's Slave.
May 9--- La Forge by Rollin Hand with discussion leader Ken Charles
May 16--- Playing With Fire by Ruth Staunton with discussion leader Adaline Raine
Be sure to check out the Spanking Stories Book Club FAQ tab at the top of the page.
Thanks for having us Celeste! Am I allowed to answer questions if I was one of the authors? These are good questions! Okay. I am just going to say something about collaborating.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I thought it helped me to stay on task and also helped me to be more detailed. I would write a scene and then get an email from one of the other two saying- what time of day did this happen? Or- you done with that scene yet?
Meanwhile I was playing on facebook or painting my toenails and I don't just have myself to account for, I am holding other people up!
It was a good time, but I think you already have to have a relationship with the people you are collaborating with. It helps to be friends and it helps being able to be honest with each other :)
Glad to have you all here today, Casey.
DeleteGood point about being part of a group making you work a little harder or be a bit better. When it's just for me, I tend to get to a point where I think "I don't care. I'm done" but I would hate to feel like I was letting the others down.
OK, if you're dense then I'm WAY dense! I missed the Jack/jill going up the Hill altogether until just now... I loved that though, the way these things crept up on me and I'd go 'ahhh...clever...'
ReplyDeleteThe collaboration was awesome and unique absolutely. I loved it, loved how it worked out so so well and am sure I couldn't do it with other authors! Well done ladies. I love this idea but I also love the independent stories - both are good.
The fairy tale character...my daughter and I are writing a book (she's 9) where she's the evil half sister to me - the mature, calm, wise (yes, I said wise) older sister. It's more of a dark fairly tale. I love the two leads she's got going. Who I would be from a fairly tale? I don't know. Beauty maybe as I'd love my own Beast... but seriously, that changes every day.
I love shape shifters in a spanking romance. I wouldn't want to be one, I'd just like my own. See note above about Beast... And I think if you're writing it, you get to make up the rules!
I truly enjoyed this book and hope for more to come. Thanks for hosting this Celeste!
Now I feel a bit better about missing the Jack and Jill bit. Anybody else want to 'fess up to missing that?
DeleteHow wonderful that you and your daughter are writing a book together.
Thanks, Natasha! :) Yay!
DeleteThat's awesome to hear about the fairy tale references sneaking up on you, ladies. :) I love that stuff!
Good luck with the story. I love the idea of you and your daughter collaborating with such a fun idea! What great bonding!
:)
Collaboration offers such potential for team-building and to produce a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. But there can also be conflict, when one disagrees with the direction. My question for the group is, did you ever disagree on how to write something or where to take the story?
ReplyDeleteThere is something about fairy tales that resonates with women. Even in RL, we talk about wanting that "fairy tale" wedding or romance. I can't think of a fairy tale man, though, that I would want, because the options open to women were so limited.
Good question for the authors. I think it would be tricky, especially if you are all communicating by email instead of together in the same room. (though less slapping and hair pulling, I suppose).
DeleteI couldn't think of a Fairy Tale man either, because they all seem sort of dull. At least Prince Charming does. I might actually go with the Beast from Beauty and the Beast (Disney version) since he's got a bit of growl to him. :)
Cara, it is interesting that you bring that up. :)
DeleteMost of our planning and writing was pretty easy; little things here and there that we were able to either quickly discuss and resolve, or kind of vote on.
There were little bits of give and take, just like in any partnership. And because we wanted to make it work as a whole, and not just individually, there was no resentment. (hopefully, I'm not speaking out of turn. Ladies?)
The few big things, we disagreed on ending up with Renee and I on different sides , respectfully explaining our sides, while Casey played referee. (She was the easy going one that almost always said, "It's ok with me. I can go either way."
:)
But we were always respectful of each others feelings, and made sure not to leave anything unsaid or unclosed.
Skype and google plus group conversations helped with that, so we could talk "live", and get things worked out.
:)
I'll be honest, the biggest issue we had to work around was the thought of putting the stories together. Since I couldn't see the big picture, it scared the crap out of me. It was a huge leap.
But we were able to all discuss the pros and cons and figure out the best team course of action, and it all fell into place.
It also helped that, for the most part, our personalities and emotions were very similar and well suited for working together.
Sorry, was that answer too long for this venue?
:) thanks!
We worked on virtual slapping and hair pulling, Celeste! No, just kidding. Big picture, we worked together really well, especially considering we had disagreements to iron out!!
DeleteVirtual Bitch Slap! LOL, j/k. I think it helps that we are all pretty open minded individuals. So if someone had a suggestion that maybe wasn't completely well received by the other two we could at least be open minded enough to see how it would pan out.
DeleteAnd again, I think it helped that we were friends to start with, it might be easier to tell someone you hate their idea if you didn't respect them as a person.
Thanks so much for doing our book, Celeste! I agree with Casey, on all her points. I was pretty much the same way. :) It was great!
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
I liked the way the stories were all together. The way they moved from different characters was more like watching a movie. The second question I am not qualified to answer because I am not an author and I can not write so no one would want to collaborate with me but I love reading all your stories. The flippers as feet was an adorable idea and I do not think it will matter how sexy he is because most feet are ugly. My fairy tale character is Peter Pan I never want to grow up and I would really like to fly. I guess for the fairy tale romance would have to be Prince Charming from Snow White because I played him in my last theatre play in high school. The shapeshifter I would be is a wolf that is what the facebook test told me I was and I have an obsession with the twilight series even though Carlisle was my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! I'm glad you liked the book :)
DeleteAnd yeah, most feet are ugly anyway.
I didn't get the Jack and Jill thing at all Not sure how I missed it I Totally loved the book!!! I am not a fan of short stories at all so I would rather have the writers intertwine like this one and have a full novel then have a few stories. That's just me I do not even take the free stories that are like 20 pages because to me it isn't a full story it is like reading a commercial I love reading your stories because they always have a great plot!! I have to think about your other questions can I come back later and answer them when I figure who I would want to be
ReplyDeleteYes, please come back. The discussion will last all day (and night, if necessary).
DeleteIn defense of those of us who missed the Jack and Jill Went Up the Hill..it was in the opening scene and I think that until you get into the swing of the story, the subtle parts are harder to notice.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I felt like we were trying to walk a fine line with putting in subtle fairy tale references and beating people over the head with it. I sort of like that maybe people caught on a little bit further on... or during a book club discussion. Isn't that why we have book club?
Delete1. I haven't read Winter Storm yet, but it's on my Kindle and I'm looking forward to seeing how the stories are woven together. When I buy an anthology/boxed set, I do like it if the genres are as close as possible, but the stories don't necessarily need to be related by characters or setting.
ReplyDelete3. Okay, wow, I am looking forward to this part!
6. I don't think I'd want to be a shapeshifter, but the idea of being with say, a wolf shapeshifter, is kind of hot. I mean, he'd probably growl and bite a little during sex, right? I haven't read much shifter romance so I'm not sure about the rules, or if there are any. :)
Fun questions! Okay, I'd better get to reading... :)
Could I shape shift into something that had more arms so I could type faster?
ReplyDeleteIt's this sort of high brow inquiry that makes Spanking Stories Book Club special. :)
ROFL!! I think there's some monster erotica with octopus type creatures...
DeleteI was going to say a starfish, but they just grow back appendages after they lose them. Also, no fingers for typing, that's tricky!
DeleteI'm working on a spanking story boxed set with many common elements among the 5 stories right now. I've never done that before. I'm the kind of person who is proactive, so I tend to get things done rapidly and then tinker around the edges while others are toiling. I'm sure it makes me annoying.
ReplyDeleteThe boxed sets are a great idea. Like any anthology, they introduce readers to authors they've never met before by giving them incentive to buy a long set for less money. I think every author wants to reach new readers. For someone like me, with a large backlist, the potential for attendant sales is huge. I buy boxed sets, myself, because I think there's value to be had, and I've found new authors that way. Yes, I've delved into their backlists as a result.
I've written a few published fairy tales (Goldilocks and the Three Doms, and Snowy and the Seven Wharves), and find that a fairy tale hero is pretty much the same as a regular romance hero. But if I had to pick, I'd pick The Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Tortured heroes are very appealing.
Shifters, I have no opinion on. I can't think of any that I found particularly compelling for their role as a shifter. I did read a shifter novel about dinosaur shifters once. I had to; it was too bizarre not to read. It was a meh book, after all, but how creative are dinosaurs as shifters?!
I hope this book is very successful. You all earned it with your creativity and positive attitudes.
Thanks for the well wishes! Goldilocks and the Three Doms? That sounds intriguing!
DeleteUnfortunately I have not read this story yet. I do, however, have it on my Nook just waiting patiently to be read.
ReplyDelete1) I like when authors get together and write. I think it bring a different feel to the book, because no one writes exactly the same. So I feel the characters are really very unique.
4) If I could be a fairy tale it would be Beauty & the Beast. There's nothing like feeling tiny, petite, and well taken care of. The Beast would never let any harm come to his Beauty.
6) I personally would not want to be a shapeshifter, but since I am a Beauty & the Beast fan, I wouldn't mind havin one for myself. How HOT is it that when there's a threat your man could turn into the Beast and take care of the situation.
These questions have made me want to hurry and finish the series I'm already readin and start this book. I'm looking very forward to readin this one.
GREAT questions.
HAPPY WEEKEND!!!
Okay, I think we are forgetting the best thing about Belle from Beauty and the Beast- talking furniture! How cool is that? Also, yeah, the Beast is kind of hot. And try to tell me he wasn't into kink, he locked her in a dungeon for god's sake!
DeleteThanks for stopping by! I hope you like the book.
Thank you for having us, Celeste!!
ReplyDeleteAre you implying that flippers aren't sexy?? LOL. Did I pull it off? Was Cade still sexy?
I think shifters are hot, but once I read about a were-tiger and it just seemed stupid. :)
Yes, thanks for having us! Did I say that this morning? It was pre-coffee, forgive me!
ReplyDeleteRenee, I thought Cade was totally sexy, maybe because he was a musician. Aren't musicians always sexy. A man who knows how to use his instrument is always a plus ;)