Here’s my day-late Monday with Madison.

You’ve gotta check out these pics: http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/permalink/hot_library_smut/

MC: Hi Gracie. Welcome! Make yourself comfortable and tell us about you.

GM: It’s wonderful to be here, Madison and thanks for having me!

Well, tell you something about me…Let’s see, I’m a cross-genre erotic romance author who loves exploring the possibility of psi abilities in humans and the limits of the human heart. I’m an avid reader who writes what I love to read and vice versa. I’ve been writing since I was a kid and dream of being able to give up my day job to write full time.

MC: Who are some of your favorite authors? Books that have inspired you?

GM: Some of my favorite authors in no particular order: Tina Wainscott, Octavia E. Butler, Nancy Kress, Dennis Danvers, Poppy Z. Brite, Sherilynn Kenyon. Lori Foster, Shannon McKenna, Joey W. Hill. Tina Wainscott’s On The Way To Heaven was very inspirational, and directly resulted in my writing my first paranormal romance, New Life Incognita. All of Octavia E. Butler’s books inspire me with their multi-layered characterizations and gripping plots. The innovative premise of Nancy Kress’s Beggars in Spain knocked my socks off, ditto for Dennis Danvers’s Circuit of Heaven. Shannon McKenna writes some of the hottest and most sensitive alpha heroes I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading and some really vicious villains in her romance suspense novels and is an auto-buy for me.

MC: Tell us about your books. You have an incredible list of accomplishments and awards, not to mention a large backlist. How many have you published so far?

GM: So far, Madison, I have ten books published with various publishers.

MC: Is there one particular moment or event that stands out in your career so far?

GM: That would have to be the call I received from the editor of Street News saying that he wanted to publish my novel excerpt in his paper—one of my first paying gigs . That was about a decade ago.

MC: Who are you published with?

GM: My most recent five books are with Siren Publishing, Inc., and the others are with Awe-Struck E-Books and Fictionwise. With Siren (www.sirenpub.com) I have two series—The Matchmaker which includes Siren Top Sellers BENEATH THE SURFACE, TERMS OF SURRENDER and the upcoming MANIFEST DESTINY, and Sisters of Emsharra which includes GUARDIAN SEDUCTRESS, PREDATOR’S SALVATION and upcoming in Siren’s Rapture collection, SENTINEL’S HUNGER. Single titles with Siren include: Siren Top Seller SPELLS CAST IN SHADOWS, and upcoming IN PLAIN SIGHT, BETWEEN DARKNESS AND DAYLIGHT, and ETERNAL DESIGNS. DANCING IN THE DARK, FLAMES PAST and MILES TO GO are all available at Awe-Struck E-Books (www.awe-struck.net) and DESERT DREAMS and NEW LIFE INCOGNITA are available from Fictionwise (www.fictionwise.com)

MC: Any upcoming contests you want readers to know about?

GM: I’m running a contest in my newsletter that any subscriber can enter. Readers can subscribe to my newsletter, The G-Spot, by visiting here: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewNewsletter.asp?authorID=623 The next issue of The G-Spot goes out 11/20/06 and the contest runs from 11/20/06 to 12/20/06.

Also, my publisher Siren is hosting a chat at Siren Books http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SirenBooks this Saturday 11/11/06 and will be giving away Siren titles free all day (31 Drawings total!) Readers can come out to meet their favorite Siren authors and win free books.

MC: What advice do you have for new authors & writers?

GM: Network as much as possible, don’t be afraid to ask questions (remember there are no stupid questions), be open to constructive criticism and don’t give up.

MC: If you were to compare your work to other authors, who would you say that your work most resembles in plot, tone, or voice?

GM: Aside from believing that my tone and voice are unique to me…? Wow, I can’t really think of anyone off-hand to compare myself to.

MC: What’s something readers may not know about you?

GM: I have four tattoos and I’m really kind of shy despite the subject matter of most of my writing .

MC: How about some fun questions? Do you have a motto?

GM: Love conquers all .

MC: How about a favorite phrase?

GM: Can I repeat my motto? No? Okay, let’s see… If He sees you to it, He’ll see you through it.

MC: Give us five words that describe you.

GM: Clumsy, quiet, shy, reliable, and nice.

MC: Is the glass half full or half empty?

GM: Half-empty.

MC: What are your hobbies?

GM: I love watching movies, especially action and vampire/shapshifter, sci-fi and fantasy. I love watching tennis on TV, playing handball, swimming and reading.

MC: Favorite food?

GM: Okay, here goes and in no particular order: fried chicken, chocolate, flan, cheesecake (any kind), watermelon, pasta, cheese (any kind)…this list could go on forever if I let it.

MC: Favorite beverage?

GM: Water…yes, seriously, water.

MC: Worst fear?

GM: That I don’t have another novel (or novella, or short story or poem) in me.

MC: Favorite movies?

GM: The Matrix Trilogy (and anything with Keanu Reeves in it), The LOTR Trilogy, Titanic, As Good As It Gets, Blade Trilogy, Interview with the Vampire, Meet Joe Black, Troy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (anything with Brad Pitt and/or Angelina Jolie), Independence Day, Hitch, I, Robot (or anything with Will Smith) Crash, Underworld, Underworld: Evolution, Phone Booth (anything with Colin Ferrill)…here’s another list that could go on forever.

MC: Favorite TV shows?

GM: Nip/Tuck, Dexter, Desperate Housewives, Lost, ER, Heroes, 4400, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars…

MC: If you could travel to any time and place, when, where and why?

GM: I’d love to travel back to my formative years to meet myself and give myself a piece of my mind about some very important issues (especially the importance of flossing).

MC: Do you have a favorite sport?

GM: Handball, to play. Tennis to watch.

MC: How can readers get in touch with you?

GM: Readers can contact me at: gwiz10@optonline.net or visit my websites to learn more about me at: http://www.graciecmckeever.com or http://www.myspace.com/graciecmkceever (don’t forget to add me as a friend !)

Thanks again for having me, Madison, and conducting such a great interview. I enjoyed my time answering your questions!

We missed it! National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day was yesterday, Nov. 7th. Had I known… I would have celebrated with a large almond filled chocolate bar……. but probably not bittersweet.

Other interesting upcoming days:

Nov. 13th – National Young Readers Day

Also on Nov. 13th – World Kindness Day

Nov. 14th – Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day

Nov. 15th – I Love to Write Day (no, I did NOT make that up!)

Nov. 16th – Ebook Readers Appreciation Day

I did make that last one up. Come celebrate with me and a few dozen other authors. LOTS of prizes will be showered upon you. I promise.

Sign up here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Story_Board_/

I love wandering around the web and finding links to myself… i know… isn’t that terrible of me? But it makes me feel just a little like Sally Fields…. “they like me, they really like me.” So I was checking out technorati and look what I found: http://www.crocodesigns.com/?p=34 A blurb about my book, complete with cover on the book cover designers site. How neat is that?

I also got an email from joyfully reviewed about my book being spotlighted on their review archive loop. Not sure if it’s still up there, but here’s a link anyway: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/joyfullyreviewedarchives/

Well, I’m off to the voting booth.  So after battling the crowds it’s back to work finishing up the Eread.   Dylan and Nat are chomping at the bit… you know how characters are.

Who’s voting today?

http://www.heartstringsreviews.com/new.htm I’ve never visited this site before, but thought it was cool that cobblestone is in the spotlight on their publisher page. Check it out. Cute site. Love the pink!