Truth or Dare Tuesday with Jan Graham

Well the festive season is over and it's back to the regular everyday stuff of life. That means Truth or Dare Tuesday is back...yay. I realize for my followers in Australia It's already halfway through Tuesday but give a woman a break, it's over 40 degrees out there today. For my American friends that well on it's way to 109 degrees in Fahrenheit. Yep It's scorching.

Anyway, enough about how hot I am :)

Today we have our first dare...yay. Unfortunately it's me doing the dare so please don't be disappointed. Let me explain how this came about.

I know an extraordinary woman by the name of Shan Watts. She is not only a good friend but owner of an inspirational website - creating connections. At the end of 2012 Shan interviewed me and while discussing my blog, Truth or Dare in particular, the sneaky woman challenged me to do one of my dares. So I said sure, why not. 

You see I had a plan. My challenge was to do an impromptu pole dance in a public place and over Christmas I had a few parties to go to and decided it would be easy to pole dance in front of some kinky friends take a pic and then - fait accompli - dare completed. you know the saying abut the best laid plans, well that applied to the dare. At the party there we NO POLES I could use, not even on the porch or outdoor area. I had to go to plan B, which of course I didn't have. Luckily for all of you another opportunity arose.

My good friend, I call her S asked me to go with her and her biker hubby to the 34th Annual Bikers Christmas Toy Run. Oh yes...I did. At the largest and longest running Biker event in Newcastle, Australia, I did my pole dance. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, in fact nervous probably doesn't describe it. I had fun at the event, contemplated my options, checked out some hot looking tattoo covered leather wearing hunks and then decided it was now or never. So dressed appropriately in my Little Miss Naughty T-shirt, black skirt fishnet stocking and black boots (low heels so I didn't fall over) I found a friendly looking light post. I must say at this point, thank you to the lovely leather clad gentleman who parked his bike near a vacant pole so I could have a photographic backdrop :) 

S armed herself with the camera and I began. I can't put most of the pictures on here because they are of me laughing hysterically while trying to wrap my legs around around a rather ample post (don't be rude). I drew a small amount of attention, mostly just odd stares, a few whistles and comments I can't repeat.  There was one fellow who rod past along the path and stated in a very stern voice "that's enough of that behavior young lady."  

I was pleased he thought I was young :)

So, here it is. Proof of the first dare on Truth or Dare Tuesday, me pole dancing at the 34th Annual Bikers Toy run in Newcastle, NSW. Oh and I need to think up a really good pay back dare for my friend Shan...any suggestions?

How embarrassing...lol

Secret Cravings Second Anniversary Cruise

Wow two years and still growing. Secret Cravings Publishing (SCP) is holding their second anniversary celebrations this weekend. Thirty authors are going on a virtual cruise around the world and stating their cruise destination on each of their blogs. There are prizes galore, from not only SCP, but also each participating author. I'm giving away an ebook copy of each of my cougar novellas, yep all four to one lucky winner. Below you'll find the blurb for each of the four titles, so you know what you're in for if you win. All you need to do to go in the draw for my books is comment on this blog and if you aren't already a follower then please follow the blog. My winner will be chosen on Tuesday, January 8th and notified via email so be sure to leave a valid email address with you're comment. If your email is sent back to me as not valid a new winner will be chosen. 

To be eligible for the major prize draw with Secret Cravings you need to answer or match a minimum of 25 of the 30 authors to their chosen cruise locations. The list of participating authors can be found on the SCP blog -http://secretcravingspublishing.blogspot.com/ once you have your answers email them to the beautiful Dawne. the email address is  reviewcoordinator@secretcravingspublishing.com 

The SCP prizes are 

Grand Prize- iPad2

First place- Kindle Fire

Second Place- $50 SCP gift card

Third place- $25 SCP gift card

Well, while you read the blurbs for my four Cougar novellas I'm heading for my cruise destination... MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA.

Good Luck everyone and Happy Anniversary Secret Cravings Publishing.

The Sydney Cougar Series, available from the Hot Flash titles at SCP...buy now.

Zeke Munroe is twenty eight, owns a nightclub called Rubens and has found the woman of his dreams. She’s older, she’s sexy and she’s driving him nuts. He can’t find the right time to introduce himself and make his move, until she walks through the door of his club. 

Jasmine Page is thirty nine she’s an events organizer and Rubens is the hottest new venue in the city. When she goes to check the venue out Jasmine discovers she’s in a Cougar Club. The men are young, the women mature and the owner of Rubens is the closest thing to perfection she’s ever seen.

Zeke and Jasmine need to overcome preconceived notions, miscommunication and an eleven year age difference in order to see if sexual heat and passion can turn into a meaningful relationship.

Justin Davies is twenty-eight. He manages Rubens nightclub, affectionately referred to as The Cougar Club. His life is good, except for one thing. A sexy little cougar has dumped him and Justin wants her back. He knows she is the only woman that can make his life complete, he also believes he can do the same for her. When Justin recruits some friends to help him catch his commitment phobic cougar, the fun begins.

Katie Swayne is thirty eight, an artist who’s finally started to achieve the success she always dreamed of. She doesn’t need anything to interfere with that, especially a relationship. Katie’s rule when it comes to men is, love them and leave them, never get emotionally involved. Then she met Justin Davies. Once Katie realized she cared for Justin, she didn’t merely walk away. Katie ran, as fast as she could, determined to never look back. 

Isabelle O’Connor never considered herself the type of woman who needed a knight in shining armor to come and rescue her, until one does. Well he’s more a knight in blue jeans and white shirt. After all, it is modern times. Unfortunately, her perfect hero has a flaw... he’s a cop.  Isabelle decided years ago never to become involved with a police officer again, and she isn’t going to change her mind now.

Mark Dean loves being a cop. He also loves the hot redhead he rescued from a creep’s unwanted attention at a local nightclub. Mark knows that before he can gain Isabelle’s affection he has to convince her of something. Being a cop has nothing to do with her reluctance to date him. Isabelle’s heart never healed after the death of her husband and Mark makes it his mission to help heal this feisty Cougar’s heart.

Susan Dean didn’t have any idea that taking a job at her brother’s law firm would change her life. Then she met junior partner Blake Daniel’s. They are complete opposites. Blake is young, confident, dominant and determined to claim anything he wants in life. Not that he’d want a woman who turns into a clumsy, nervous wreck that can barely string a sentence together when he’s in the same room as her, or would he?

Blake is a patient man, and it’s a good thing he is because waiting for Susan Dean is driving him to distraction. The attraction between them is obvious. He turns her into a horny mess everytime they’re in the same room, not that Susan appears ready to admit that fact. Once Blake decides it’s time to make a move on his voluptuous co-worker, Susan will have no option but to submit to his seductive demands.

A Very Different Hot Seat with Cover Model Jason Aaron Baca

Since it's inception the Hot Seat interviews have been designed to highlight new and established authors and their works. Well as a Happy Holiday Treat for all my friends I've decided to do something special. Today we have cover model Jason Aaron Baca with us in the hot seat. I suspect that by the end of the interview some of you will feel like you're actually sitting in the hot seat, especially after seeing some of his covers and other pictures he's allowed me to include in this post. 

Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed Jason, and for offering a giveaway of a signed model card for one lucky follower that comments on this post. Before we get started with the questions here's a little bit of information about Jason for those who aren't familiar with him or his work.

Jason Aaron Baca is a Romance Novel Cover Model from Los Gatos , California USA. he was born and raised in Los Gatos, CA where he played baseball for Los Gatos High School. While playing ball at college level, Jason changed careers and began modeling after being discovered by a photographer on location for the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer. With a goal of becoming a versatile and sought after model Jason began doing fashion, glamour, fine art, and even Playgirl modeling shoots. He has also acted appearing in such movies as the Demon Within and Nash Bridges but has consistently placed his modeling career first. Today he has modeling for over 100 romance novels.

Now lets see how Jason answers our hot seat questions.

About your work:

How did you get started in your career as a Romance Novel Cover Model?

This is a question I have been asked most often I’d say.  I had been doing the mainstream

Modeling for a good 10 years. I was about to call it quits when  I walked into a bookstore to do some reading. As I walked in, something caught my attention. It was a romance novel. The guy looked my age, had my look, and was expressionless but with character to his look. I knew that from that moment on, I knew that I wanted to be a romance novel model. It was in my eye, in my heart and in my mind and it became part of my entire body. 

Why do you do what you do for work?

Because I love it. For years, I was searching for something in my life that was gratifying. I tried so many different lifestyles but none really seemed to give me that satisfaction. After seeing myself on my first romance novel it became apparent to me that this was what I was born for.

Have you ever had a day you wanted to quit and do something different?

YES of course! There are moments when things don’t go your way or you see graphic artists using other models that you feel you are better than. I have learned to relax and realize that I won’t be on EVERY cover that comes out.

Do you feel lucky to be doing what you are doing?

No actually. Luck to me is when money falls from the sky and you collect it. But I have created what I do. I don’t accept no for an answer. I go at this stuff with the attitude of “how would I approach this career if I knew I could not fail?” I feel that once I set my mind to do something and have envisioned what I’m after, I go for it. Sure there will be a lot of NO’s.. But it’s the yes’s that matter.

Tell me how you got to where you are today?

I got here from doing something every single day towards that goal. I mean everyday it could be as big as being in touch with a big publisher regarding a shoot or it could be as small as making sure I hit the gym that extra 10 minutes to bring in those muscles.

How do your family/spouses react to your work? Do they know what you do?

Not that well. In the beginning they didn't really know about what I was doing then when the book covers started coming out they got a little interested. But then after like the 5^th or 6^th cover they said, okay now that’s enough. I’d send them a book and they wouldn't bother responding. I understand though. It’s just not their thing, Its mine. And I rely on all of you for acceptance and receive it well. I’m very thankful for it.

About you:

What are you passionate about in life?

I’m very passionate about reaching this goal. I won’t share that goal with you until I have conquered it here. Once I do, I’ll be out of the business but for now, I enjoy pursuing it!

If you had to give a thank-you speech at the Oscars, who would you thank and what would you say?

I’d thank all those in this business that gave me a chance. Those that didn't get tired of me contacting them with follow up letters, etc.

What are the three most important life lessons you've learned that might make life easier for others?

#1 That if someone in the business says “No” that it doesn't mean the entire business is saying no to you. Just that one person’s opinion.

#2 – Find the guys at the top and figure out what it is they are doing. Mirror them. They will save you time.

#3 – Think Big. I've never allowed myself to think average or just settle. I want to either go 100% or not at all.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. Whom would it be and why?

I’d have to say Bob Lazar. He is the engineer that was brought in to Area 51 to try to reverse engineer that UFO. I’d LOVE to be able to know what he knew or saw with his own eyes. Only he knows the real answer.

What's the worst thing you did as a kid?

As a kid I did a lot of bad things. Probably the worst was when I was in 8^th grade and cut school at 10am with a friend. We had $8 plus some change but we ran down to the 7/11 and had someone buy us a 6 pack of Budweiser. We ran down behind the school yard and each chugged 3 in a row. We both tried to return to class but I kept burping the whole time. The rest of the students were totally distracted by me. Plus I didn't know how to act. I just remember feeling so loose and comfortable and very happy inside. Not good for a kid that age.

What do you do to have fun?

Fun to me is being in the gym, working out hard! If it’s not that, its spending time with family or traveling.

Share a funny incident in your life.

Well when I was in high school I went to a party at a friend’s house. About 50 people showed up, we were all having a great time. Well the end of the night came and everyone took off but me. They told me I could sleep on the couch. Well I didn't know it at the time but they had a big guard dog that they let in the house that didn't know me. I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night so as I was walking down the dark hallway I stopped and heard a Grrrrrrrrr… I realized it was this mean dog… SO… I walked back to the couch and just tried to fall asleep without going to the bathroom. 

Fun Stuff:

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see play the lead role as you?

I’d like to see Jason Behr play my part… We’re the same age so he could get into character no problem.

 

If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be?

I’d be an abalone! Because its rare, a delicacy and delicious!

What is your favorite color- food- song- movie?

Dark Blue, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Clash Of the Titans (the original version)

What's the funniest pick up line ever used on you or one that you've used?

I can’t remember… It’s been forever since I've used a line.

What's the one thing you can't live without?

Beverly Hills “Advanced Youth Recovery Crème”

And finally:

You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night, it's raining heavily, when suddenly you pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for a bus: 

                       -An old lady who looks as if she is about to die. 

                       -An old friend who once saved your life. 

                       -The perfect partner you have been dreaming about. 

You can only fit one person in your car, who would you choose to offer a ride to?

Okay, is this a trick question? Hmm, then here is a trick answer... I’m not going to take the old lady since she’s about to die anyways. I’d choose the old friend that once saved my life… If it wasn't for him, I’d have not been able to save anyone.

For publishers, indie authors or graphic artists interested in purchasing stock of Jason for book covers visit http://jasonaaronbaca.deviantart.com 

Rules and Instructions are in the Journal on how to purchase photos.

Thanks so much for appearing today Jason, it's been great having you here. I'm sure Jason would love to hear what you think of his work so please leave a comment along with your email address and you'll go in the draw to win a signed model card from Jason. 

  

Does Size Matter - Romance Heroines

So far in the Does Size Matter series we've looked at the size of the story, the men who appear in them and today I want to discuss the women we read about in romances. Yes, I'm an equal opportunity blog :)

Last week it became clear to me that readers definitely want men that are larger than life, the ultimate rarely attainable man, bigger and better than what we have in our own real lives. This week I'm wondering why it appears to be the opposite scenario for the women we read about. It appears to me, from talking to friends and readers that what we want from our heroines in the books we love is a bit of reality. We don't seem to want to our romance women represented the way a lot of media portrays the feminine form - stick thin insect like creatures. We want curvy, voluptuous, Rubenesque. We want real women and according to Google (yes the authority on everything...lol) the average (real) size for women in the US is a size 12-16. It's much the same here in Australia as well.

So why do we want ourselves in romance novels but not our other halves? Real life women are familiar to us, I don't have any cover model gorgeous friends, but I do have sexy, attractive friends that don't fit the image of what's portrayed in the media as such. I think part of it is being able to relate to the heroine. I know I want to read about someone who may not fit the mold of 'beautiful' but is still seen as being gorgeous in the eyes of the man who loves her. Especially if he's a hunky sex god. But I don't just want my heroine to be curvy or larger bodied, I want her realistic in more ways than that. I want sassy, a woman who can stand up for herself and isn't the typical damsel in distress that need a man to save her. I want a woman who would like a man but knows she'll be okay if she doesn't end up with Mr. Sexy by her side. 

Having said all that, as an author, I firmly believe that when it comes to our heroines size doesn't really matter. It's the attitude that counts. Yes, a lot of my heroines have been curvy and voluptuous but I've also written heroines that are thin. Realistic women is what it's about, how the character sees themselves is how I write them. In Healing a Cougar's Heart my heroine, Isabelle, was stick thin. This is how she described herself; 

She looked in the mirror. Red hair, long and a bit frizzy when it wasn't wet, framed her face. She was thin, not very buxom at all. She’d always consoled herself that no man needed more than a mouthful when it came to a woman’s breasts. Her legs were her best asset; at least they were long. Not that they went anywhere. She had narrow hips and only the slightest curve to her butt. She looked like a human greyhound, lean and sinewy, built for moving fast.  

Healing a Cougar's Heart, Jan Graham, 2012.

Having a stick thin heroine didn't hurt reviews in anyway, RT Book Reviews rated it 4 out of 5 when they reviewed it in October this year and the book sold as well as all the others in the Sydney Cougar series. Does that prove size doesn't matter when it comes to our heroines, I'm not sure. 

Most of the romances I read tend to describe the heroine in one on two categories, curvy or thin. So how curvy is too curvy? Would we accept a heroine described as obese, or fat. Instead of curves are rolls acceptable on our heroines body? I haven't written any women described in such a manner but I have read books where women have been overweight or obese. It didn't bother me, they were still great characters, well written, interesting women. And their weight certainly didn't bother the hero of the story. Real women come in all shapes and sizes, I think that's reflected well by most authors when they construct a romance. Unlike our heroes physical type, our heroines vary greatly and I think that's a good thing because women vary greatly in real life and that means your bound to find yourself reflected in a romance book somewhere.

So as readers and authors, what do you think? Does size matter when it comes to the females we read and write about? Is a real woman, attitude and personality wise, more important than how she looks or does every physical type of female need to see herself reflected in the books she reads?