Searching for Inspiration in Crazy Times

by Regina Carlysle 

It doesn’t matter what kind of artistic, ‘creative-type’ you might be. Painter. Writer. Sculptor. Actor. Musician. We all need inspiration to make what we do not only  cohesive but beautiful. We are people who make things happen creatively and without inspiration, even our best efforts can fall flat. Finding something that moves us is the key to unlocking the dreams and imaginings we want to share with the world…or maybe even just a small part of it. These days you’d think that would be an easy feat but it’s not as simple as you might think. Let’s face it, we’re busy people living in a world that races rather than walks from one thing to the next.

Maybe the most important key to discovering what moves you is to simply observe. Listen to the radio when you drive. Pay attention when walking through a mall or hanging out in a park. Watch the world around you and find those things that make you say…ahhhh. Those things are the makings of the next major piece of art, a beautiful song or a book that makes a reader sigh.

I’m beginning to think finding inspiration is just a matter of slowing down, taking stock and dragging a few deep breaths into my lungs. Finding a center, a peaceful place deep inside is key to my becoming inspired. Lately, I sit on the back porch in my search for motivation. This is where I get my best ideas, where plots evolve and plans for a book are born. Recently, I’ve relocated from my beloved Texas to sunny Florida and the view from my back patio is spectacular. Orange trees, red birds, lizards and yes, the occasional snake colors my world and in watching them, I gain peace and feel a renewed creativity that I’d believed had gotten lost somewhere along the way. I’ve learned lately that I am motivated by ‘visual’ things. Note the picture of the rugged cowboy and the isolation of his stance. The other day I saw the photo somewhere and knew I ‘had to have him’. Thank God for copy and save because now I know that I can re-visit this guy on my computer and find impetus  for another story of those rough, rugged men of the west. He might be a rancher, a hired hand or even a ‘cowboy shifter’. Who knows where this bit of inspiration might take my next book?

 I’m dying to find out.

Please stop by my website to learn more about me and my books

http://www.reginacarlysle.com

Red Hot Reads from Fast Friends

by Regina Carlysle 

Well, not quite sure that we are all that “fast” (as in loose and easy) but we are definitely friends who write smokin’ hot books J. We are fast friends to the extent that despite age differences and varied backgrounds, we are just THERE for each other. Yes, we pretty much share everything, good things and bad stuff. After all, that’s what best friends do. I can‘t imagine that ever changing.

 The Sassy Seven (Desiree Holt, Nicole Austin, Cerise Deland, Brenna Zinn, Samantha Cayto, Allie Standifer and myself…Regina Carlysle) started our journey a short year ago when we all met at Camp Holt out in the Texas Hill Country. Over bottles of chocolate wine, some terrific food, and as the deer roamed under a Texas sky, we hatched our plans to write together. We have never looked back. What fun!

I can’t tell you how thrilled we are to help Decadent Publishing launch their new line The Edge with our hot little Valentine’s Day stories (Valentino’s Delights). As of today, every single Sassy Seven title is available for purchase. What a great way to herald a month of love. Right? So get out your favorite yummy chocolates, pour yourself a nice chilled glass of choco wine and enjoy!

Loving Bliss

Blurb:

Even a rough, tough, badass former Marine knows that Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for a little seduction. So after a stop at Valentino’s Wine and Gourmet Food Shoppe and armed with a decadent bottle of chocolate wine, Noble Loving tracks down Bliss Harper, the star of his most wicked fantasies. His sexy business partner should be firmly off limits but he’s sick of playing by the rules. Time for some new ones. It’ll take a slow hand and some hot loving to convince the lady she belongs to him but this Marine is up for the challenge. 

Excerpt: 

Instant warmth from the cozy fireplace curled over his chilled limbs. Noble set the bag that bore the logo of Valentino’s Wine and Gourmet Food Shoppe on a handy dandy entry table and shrugged out of his coat. It was Valentine’s Day in the hub of American Democracy and tonight he had plans. Big Plans.Enticing Bliss into making things about more than ‘business’ between them was his top priority. At the moment she sat curled up on the couch, the laptop screen throwing light over her pale blonde hair and delicate face. He’d never been a big fan of short hair on a woman but the pixie cut she sported framed her beguiling features to perfection. Tinkerbell turned seductress. Intelligent, hazel eyes, partially obscured by the lenses of her glasses, were narrowed in concentration but then she looked up. An adorable one-sided smile tilted her lips as her eyes swept him slowly.  “Well, now. Don’t you look like a man who needs some warmin’ up.”

Noble flat out forgot to breathe.

She was a true Georgia peach with a voice like melted honey and he’d give his last nickel betting those southern men were all crying in their beer over losing her to chilly Washington DC. And, hopefully, to him. Bliss was a fine specimen of a woman, hotter than a July afternoon and sweet enough to make him want to check her blood sugar levels. And her intellect? Well that was pretty damn spectacular, too. He’d always been a sucker for smarts and she had plenty of them. Bliss uncurled her long legs from the sofa to peer at him over the tops of the dark frames of her glasses. Her smile widened. She removed the eyewear sending them sliding across the surface of the coffee table then stood to give him an utterly wicked look.  “Why don’t you come over here by the fire and we’ll get you warmed up.”

Noble’s cock twitched. The hot-buttered-sex quality of the invitation had him yearning to slip her pencil thin black skirt over her hips and down those ultra long legs. He reached into the temporarily abandoned sack and pulled out a wrapped bundle of bright red gerbera daisies, a single crystal flute and a chilled bottle.

Bliss’s pretty eyes widened.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart.”