Happy Holidays! I’m Dana Lorraine, writer of sexy words and irresistible men.  If you’ve stopped by today then you already know Kacey Hammell is AWESOME! I don’t think I could have made it through a debut book release without her.

So who here hates to make decisions? Raise your hand. Me—I’ve got both hands up (figuratively speaking of course or I wouldn’t be able to continue typing up this blog post). That’s why when I started to develop my erotic paranormal story, Dying to Love Her, I had to make it a ménage. Trying to pick only one hunky skyscraper of vampire flesh to write about was impossible so I caved in and gave my curvy heroine two.

Really—she should send me a thank you note. Read the blurb and you’ll see why.

Blurb:
When Melanie Woodson joins Empriva Fitness she expects to lose weight, not gain two sexy vampire personal trainers. With an exercise regimen that includes horizontal workouts, fat-burning orgasmic bites and lusty words of encouragement, she’s in serious danger of forgetting their relationship is based on a business agreement and not mutual attraction.

Alec Kosta and Rook Abernathy, best friends and owners of Empriva, have waited over a century for the right lifemate to come along. Now that they’ve found Melanie with her endless curves and quick wit, they’re ready to give up countless lifetimes to spend just one with her.

But time isn’t on their side—they’ve tasted her blood and now mere days is all they have to convince her their love is real or risk losing her forever.

 ****

Seriously, don’t you wish you could lose weight that way? LOL! Me too.

It’s funny how an idea first takes shape and then becomes something else at the end. Originally, I envisioned my heroine going to a fitness center and getting caught up in a Biggest Loser competition between some kind of paranormal trainers. I let the idea sit for about a year but always came back to it…bouncing it off of friends and my critique partner, developing it more and more.

Then I found out Ellora’s Cave was looking for stories with curvy heroines. I knew I had an idea ready to go but only two months to get it done before the deadline. So I wrote and I wrote getting it in just in time. The great thing about a publisher actively looking for certain storylines is they get read before the slush pile so you don’t go months waiting for an answer.

Six weeks after submitting I got a very thoughtful rejection.

Didn’t think that’s where I was going…right?

I had really thought I had a good shot and was disappointed so much so I have to admit a few tears (okay bucketfuls) were shed. After taking a few deep breaths and reading the email at least a dozen times I realized the editor had way more positive things to say about the book than negative. That gave me the confidence to ask in my “thank you for taking the time to reject me” email (LOL!) if she would consider rereading it if I made the changes.

She responded with a resounding yes and even offered more advice. I gave myself about a month, any longer and I was afraid she’d forget about me, and then resubmitted. Suffice it to say this part of the process was even bumpier. The editor resigned before she could give me an answer, the manuscript bounced around for almost two months before someone else had the opportunity to look at it but the wait was worth it because I finally got that wonderful first yes.

So if you’re a writer striving to be published—don’t give up. Don’t be afraid to ask for a second chance. The worst thing they will say is no thanks again and sometimes a no is just what you need to hear to make your story better.

Thanks for sticking around until the end of my post. If you like heat, heart and happily-ever-afters, check out Dying to Love Her. An excerpt is available on the Ellora’s Cave website. Also in celebration I’m running a Rafflecopter contest so be sure to enter that too. My website, www.danalorraine.com has links to all the blogs I will be on for the next two months and there will be more chances for prizes. Connect with me on Facebook or Twitter…I love to chat!

Happy Reading!

 

About the Author:
Dana Lorraine never dreamed she’d grow up to be a writer. A voracious reader of romance, one day she decided to write one of her own. And now she never wants to stop. Paranormal, sci-fi or contemporary, ménage or one-on-one, don’t ask her to limit herself to just one type because she loves them all.

She makes killer meatballs, loves to reread her favorite romances and likes any drink served with an umbrella. A bookseller by day and mother of two wonderful daughters all the time, you’ll find Dana sweet-talking her husband into doing laundry and bringing home take-out so she has more time to write.

 

Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Love-Her-Dana-Lorraine-ebook/dp/B00GMKKJ3A/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dying-to-love-her-dana-lorraine/1117433006?ean=9781419948497

Ellora’s Cave:  http://www.ellorascave.com/dying-to-love-her.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dana.lorraine.14

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_DanaLorraine

Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/Y2VlM2JkMDkxZmFjMWZkY2U0N2Y5NTFhYmY3YzUzOjI=/