Reviewing staff

Michele:

I live in a place where I allow my imagination to rule me. I have lived most all of my life wondering ‘What If?’ Things just sort of go from there. I have more fun sitting in front of my computer getting lost in my “characters’ lives” than riding a roller coaster. Then again I love playing the Sims too…something in common there?

It’s funny but when a writer says they get their ideas from everywhere, they are telling you the truth. I can sit in a restaurant, a bar, or the airport and out of nowhere an idea hits me, just by watching the people. I can sit there and come up with a story about his/her life right there. I can imagine what he or she is doing there at that moment and the next second I’m jotting down the plot and ignoring (not on purpose) the people I’m with. Used to be when I took the pad of paper out with a pen they kept talking and asking me questions, now they know that I’m lost in my own world, at least until I look up at them with a grin.

Inspiration is defined as Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity. And let me tell you, that my mind is always in overdrive. I love to create a story and get lost in its hold, in my characters lives. I get going on it and let me tell you, I get so caught up in it that it’s what I’m thinking of when I go to bed and it’s what I’m thinking of when I open my eyes. Honestly, someone needs to invent a way for me to write while in the shower. I don’t know how to not think about the story I’m working with for just a day. I can’t just take a day off, because really it feels as if I’ll just explode if I can’t get it out. Basically once I’m working with an idea, I stay lost until that idea is down and in the form of a manuscript, and ready to be read. I am so blessed to have been given a Muse; she keeps me going even when I don’t think I can go anymore.

Most of the time you can catch me sitting at my computer with my Zune going, and believe it or not, nine times out of ten I can’t tell you what’s playing. If someone puts the TV on and I can see it, I’m a lost cause. However, there is a bright side to that; I bet I will come up with another idea for another story.

As you’ve probably guessed, my passion is writing. I love to dream of make-believe places and people and make them come to reality so that I can share them. So, if anything that I write touches you in any way, and it leaves you thinking, then I can say I’ve done my job. And if you’d like, you’re welcome to send me an email, I’d love to hear from you. I guess I should add that I am also an avid reader and have been since I can remember. Being able to share my views on the wonderful worlds the authors create is just an added bonus for me.

Ken Harrison:

I’m the publisher and editor for Seventh Window Publications. I also maintain a Tumblr blog about publishing and any geekiness that encompasses publishing, including smartphones, called The Publishing Geek.  CSS, web design and eBook standards are my main interests.

Lydia:

I have been living in a rural area of the Mid-West for the last several years. Having lived in Las Vegas at one time it took a little getting use to. I am an avid reader, which both my mother and I find funny since in the ninth grade I was placed in a remedial reading class and I never really picked up a book until I was in the tenth grade. I started reading M/M stories about three years ago and I haven’t walked away since. I have several authors who I automatically buy, so its a good thing I read ebooks or I would have run out of storage space a long time ago. I also have a passion for history, especially World War Two. I am always on the look out for a new book to add to my collection, and I have to admit these I only read in hardback.

When I am not reading, our small farm keeps me busy. There always seems to be something to do, but I love it.

Reggie:

Reggie On-Top

My name comes from a bigger name and is a translation from the spanish. Yeap, a latina girl in the house. I live where the sun is hotter than hell and the snow is just a beautiful dream that someday I want to reach… but I love it. I wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s my land, it’s my place.
When I was 5 I got lost in a library, or better said, my family got lost, I knew where I was… between the books and colorful images. Since then I’ve lived surrounded by books and stories. All my life in Spanish and since a few years in English. And with it this wonderful, hypnotic, sensual, magical universe of Male/Male books has been open for me.
Amazing stories, awesome authors… it’s a pleasure to be part of this world of romance.
I’m a mom of 8 cats now, a daughter of a loving father, sister of a three special siblings, auntie of several nieces and nephews and teacher and guide of numerous kids and teenagers. I’m my mother’s image and I would like to think she would be proud of me if she could see who I am.

Vonda:

When I was 8 years old I received the Laura Ingles Wilder series for Christmas. That was it. I was hooked for life. Books would be the one thing that would take me all over the world. I can now enter the mind of a criminal or play out the latest love scene in my own imagination: Courtesy of the newest paperback or eBook.I enjoy paranormal books and read them exclusively until I found m/m romance. I have been enthralled with them ever since. My husband still doesn’t understand why I read this genre but the attraction between two men is so sensual.Here is a little bit about myself. I am 46 and I work full time as a benefits operation manager. I am married and have 2 children ages 20 and 14. I am fortunate to have a very close knit family and we enjoy camping together on the weekends. Since we live in Florida we are able to do this year round since we have great winter weather. Cooking and reading are my favorite pastimes.

Justin James, CEO/Designer/Publisher of Dare Empire.:

From reading Manuscripts to mainstream published works of both my own authors and those of other mainstream publishing houses, I love to be lost in the authors mind. The beauty of the written word is to not only entertain, but provide the reader with a fantasy world to be enveloped in, that is what I look for in both a personal read, and a manuscript.

Although most people will know me from my numerous Covers adorning the books of so many talented authors, I have also reviewed and interviewed some of the best authors in many genres including; Michelle L Montgomery, Geoffrey Knight, and G. B Hobson. I have also been lucky enough to have reviewed and interviewed some very well known mainstream international bestselling authors such as; Jodi Picoult, Traci Harding, and Jennifer Fallon.
I look forward to your masterpiece finding it’s way to my desk.

Justin James
CEO
Dare Empire eMedia Productions
www.darempiremedia.com
www.empirebookstore.com

Gabbi:

Hi, I’m Gabbi and one of my first memories as a child is my Grandmother reading a book to me. I’ve always loved reading and I’m never without a book or my e-reader with me almost at all times. I started reading historical and contemporary romances when I was around fifteen. Twenty one years later, I read my first homoerotic romance, and ever since I’ve been hooked on them. I love to meet other readers who love the M/M romance genre and discuss the books we love. When I’m not reading and doing some writing on my own, I can be found hanging out with my husband and our three loveable dogs.

Nadja:

“Nadja, also known as N.L., a native of Germany and nomad by choice, once again calls the beautiful and hopelessly gridlocked island of O’ahu home. She loves the beach, which is good, because she’s allergic to grass. After a number of years in self-inflicted writing exile, Nadja is once again working on a novel – unless she’s reading. In the grips of a good book, she’s been known to burn water or wash the same load of laundry twice.”

Tracey:

I am known by a few names. At any one time I am known as Mom, Mommy or Mama, depending on which of my three children are wanting me. My husband of 19 years has his own names for me. But the name on my driver’s license says Tracey. I work as a cost accountant at a local manufacturing plant.

I’ve been having a love affair with books since I was a teenager. I love to read. Romance novels are my favorite. I read traditional and non-traditional.

About 12 years ago, my husband introduced me to NHRA drag racing and I loved it. We try to go as often as possible. Mmmm…the smell of Nitro.

I love to bake when I have time.

I always thought that I would like to write a book some day. I don’t know how many times I’ve started what I thought would be a fantastic story only to have the story go completely out of my head or just get stuck on how to get from one point to another. This summer a friend of mine posted on Facebook that she was looking for writers to take part in an anthology. I figured I might as well give it a try. The worst that could happen was she would kindly reject it and that would be that. What happened instead was that she liked it. She offered a couple suggestions for changes that would make it better and I was in. Holy Shit! I was in! This brought new motivation and interest in writing. I did it once, I could do it again, right?

Jennifer:

My name is Jennifer Merino, i;’m Hispanic American and I’m from Brooklyn New York. I started reading during Intermediate school and haven’t stopped reading books since. Before that time i hated reading any types of books and one of my friends from intermediate school made me read a manga, and there it was when i started to read. During the years i have broaden my love for different types of genres. I love reading romance, sometimes suspense, adventure, fantasy, paranormal, and much more. Now recently a friend of mine introduced me to MM books and i loved them .