Monday, February 27, 2012

GUEST POST: Kallypso Masters


Thanks so much, Guilty Indulgence Book Club members, for having me as your featured author this week! What an honor! Let the book talk begin!


I was asked to introduce myself and my RESCUE ME series in this first posting, so here we go! I write erotic romances and my friends and readers call me Kally. I quit my day job last April and a couple of weeks later I decided to write full-time. Told my husband I was going to take a year to see if I could make a go of it. As our retirement savings started being steadily depleted, I wrote like crazy. Because I needed to succeed financially in a short time, I chose to self-publish. But I hired a professional editor and enlisted the help of countless volunteer beta readers and line editors to make sure my books were as good as they could be when I published them. Then I keep revising them if I find a typo, so newer versions were just uploaded to my sales locations earlier this month. I'm a perfectionist! My husband asked if I read my own sex scenes to get "in the mood," and I told him, "No—I'd just start editing them."

I've always loved to read and write about military heroes. I had written Nobody's Angel in May 2009 and Marc D'Alessio was a Navy veteran who had served with Marines on the ground in Iraq. But I didn't really know who else would be in the series at the point that first draft of Angel was done. So, I decided I needed to write some prequels. (I don't plot or plan—just put one or more characters on the computer screen and turn them loose. Makes for some interesting twists and turns—as my readers know.)

So, Masters at Arms was started in May and the first draft was finished in three weeks. I quickly fell in love with Adam, Karla, Damián, and Savannah as their stories came to life. The Doms literally consumed my every thought, as my pre-fans on Facebook can attest to (because they often made appearances in my status updates there last summer). These three men were so honorable, strong, and brave, but had been through hell, as had Savannah. I looked forward to bringing them to their happy endings in the next three books in the series. Those who have read any of the books know that I write about characters who have dealt with horrific things, but who fight back and overcome their pasts. Redemption, rescue, and healing will be common and recurrent themes throughout the series.

In Nobody's Angel, Marc rescues Angelina from an abusive Dom, then finds himself attracted to the woman in a way he's never felt before. But he's always treated women as if they're treats on his personal smorgasbord, as one reviewer said. He knows she deserves someone stable who can commit to her fully, so he tries to convince his friend and search-and-rescue partner Luke to pursue her. Also in that book, Luke needs to come to terms with what he wants and whether he's ready to move on after the death of his wife seven years earlier. And Adam and Karla, who were featured prominently in two sections of Masters at Arms, continue their push-pull until a dramatic accident changes everything.


In Nobody's Hero, which picks up in the same scene where Angel left off, Karla begins to make her move, knowing she'll die a lonely old woman if she waits for Adam to see her as a woman. But the man has buried a secret for thirty-four years that even he hasn't remembered. He has a lot to come to terms with—and he will not go gently. (But he does like it rough, doesn't he? <grin>)

The next book to come out in the series will be Nobody's Perfect, which will bring Damian and Savi (Savannah) together again to work on their issues. I'm working on that now and it's due out in May.

What I love about the way the series is unfolding is that the stories bring the couples to their happy endings, sometimes even happily ever after, but they aren't finished. Anyone in a long-term relationship knows that a marriage (which is happily ever after to me) is just the beginning. They take hard work, nurturing, and maintenance. My characters don't start out perfect in the beginning of their books, and they're far from perfect in the end. They'll continue to evolve and grow throughout the series. Adam's still going to need to work on improving his communication skills (Lord, that man can't communicate!) and to deal with his abandonment issues in Nobody's Home (book 6—due out in November). Marc and Angelina have to continue to work on their trust issues that are left far from resolved in their romance, so they'll be back in Nobody's Perfect confronting those and working through them before they can make a lifelong commitment to one another. (And Melissa will return to try and cause more trouble for Marc.)

As I and many reviewers have pointed out repeatedly, the books really need to be read in order, because they aren't written in a way that they can stand alone. I love cliff hangers. I love recurring characters—and not just showing up in a cameo appearance in a later book. I want them to have a serious subplot and to work on issues and problems in their relationships. Luckily, I write to write LONG novels (Angel was 115,000 words and Hero 137,000), so I make sure there's plenty of room for serious subplots. Some readers might find this a distraction, so if you're into quick reads with one couple, this series might not be for you. But separating these three men from one another's lives would be impossible for me. Adam has worked hard to bring together a family to replace the one he lost, and he continues to bring new people in. "Baby Dom" Luke Denton is becoming a fixture at the Masters at Arms Club and his skills with rope and whips are progressing quite well. His romance will be told in Nobody's Dream (due out in August).

Speaking of the Club, many readers of BDSM genre romances come to expect a fair amount of time to be spent in the clubs. My first three books have had a few club scenes during operating hours for the club. (It's in Adam's house, so he and Karla get to play quite a bit during off-hours.) But I decided last summer that my niche in the genre would be to shed light on an area of the BDSM community that doesn't really get shown in the fantasy BDSM novels. Countless people living in the lifestyle complain that romance novels portray them in a way that is unrealistic. To have a Dom tell me that he identifies with Adam is gratifying, because I know that I've at least portrayed him like one real Dom. (No, he's not based on that person, so please don't ask for his contact info! LOL)

My characters have jobs, kids, parents, and go about their lives quite normally. They aren't millionaires (okay, one comes from a wealthy family). Some barely are making a living. They also just happen to like to get kinky in the bedroom, the playroom, or the club. Most of the drama that takes place in my stories is related to the characters' relationships, not just their BDSM or sexual lives, but theor emotional, psychological, and romantic ones.

That may change in Nobody's Perfect, because my sado-masochistic couple (Damian and Savi) probably is going to bring readers into the club when things are hopping. I think you'll even get to see the dungeon downstairs. I hope to portray their story of dealing with PTSD from the horrors of war and incest/torture and show how SM provides them each with a means of regaining some of the control they lost in those situations. I also want to portray their romance and SM activities in a realistic, loving way. I am currently writing this story (am only about a fourth of the way finished) and my characters have a way of surprising me somewhere in the writing, so, that's just my best guess as to what might happen!

I love to talk about these characters and books with those who have completed the series and am told that spoilers are permitted here. So if you have questions, please ask. Who do you love best and why? Who would you like to see a story for in a future book? I have eight books planned at this time, through 2013, books 5-8 being with Luke, Mistress Grant, Patrick Gallagher, and Adam's great-great-grandparents (in a historical Western).

For anyone who hasn't started the series yet, please use coupon code FV98F at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/80282 for a FREE copy of Masters at Arms (available in a number of formats).


CONTEST ALERT!!
And a lucky commenter on this blog post will be selected randomly to win a copy of a book in the RESCUE ME series (current or future book—winner's choice). Another winner will be selected in my excerpt blog post later this week. I'll have to find a special excerpt for you all. Do you want it to be a steamy one?



Kallypso Masters can be reached at her Ahh Kallypso…the stories you tell blog (kallypsomasters.blogspot.com) and is a regular fixture on Facebook, where she has a friends page—yes, you can be her friend, too! (https://www.facebook.com/kallypsomasters) and an author page (https://www.facebook.com/KallypsoMastersAuthorPage). She also is on Twitter and Goodreads, but less active there. For a list of her books with buy links to available sales vendors, go to http://kallypsomasters.blogspot.com/p/books-by-kallypso-masters.html.

24 comments:

  1. I'm almost finished with Adams book and I'm looking forward to Damian's book. It's quite an accomplishment when a straight romance turns on a gay man. Just sayin!!

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    1. Sidders, thanks so much! High praise indeed! :) Glad you're enjoying the series so much!

      Kally

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  2. I have Master at Arms and Nobody's Angel...would REALLY like to get my hands on Nobody's Hero too ;) Lovin' this series! Thx for the giveaway op!

    barbbattaglia @ yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Barbara! Good luck in the drawing! Glad you're enjoying the series!

      Kally

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  3. I read Master at Arms, I have the other 2 in my TBR, love ths series

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    1. Thanks, Tamara! I know all about those TBR piles. Hope you enjoy the first two romances, too!

      Kally

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  4. I've really been fighting myself to start reading these, but this blog has convinced me it's time- when you mentioned that there are subplots & activity outside of the club you sold me. I've read a couple other authors & wanted more of a story, not just a series of sex scenes (mind you I'm not saying none by any means LOL!)!

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    1. LOL--fear not! You'll have VERY hot scenes with these guys. Just be sure to read them in order, or the story might get a little confusing. To fully get the layers in the stories (and all the intertwined connections), they need to be read in order. Thanks also for reading through the blog. (You can see that I write long naturally!)

      Kally

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  5. I'm grabbing my copy..thanks for the smashwords coupon. Love how your characters are "real". They struggle and are working at their relationships. That's a gem of a series you have there.

    Sharonda

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    1. I agree. Last summer as the series was developing, I heard lots of "pre-fans" say that they never could find the Doms in their books at their local club scene. And I thought--well, um, they're fantasy Doms! My guys will frustrate the "one twue way" BDSM fans. They aren't perfect. They break the rules/protocols at times, usually in attempts to protect the heroine from them most often (but it always backfires). A reader the other day asked if Adam was based on a real person I know. Others say they feel like they're part of the "Masters at Arms" family and that they feel they could run into these guys on the street somewhere. That makes me feel as if I'm succeeding at making them "real."

      Kally

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  6. I've read the first three books and am in love with Master Adam and his rope talents. ;) I'd love to have Master Damian's upcoming book. Also, will look forward to Mistress Grant's story.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Barbara J
    bimmergrlmd at gmail dot com

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    1. Oh, I love that you're looking forward to Mistress Grant's story. *I* know readers are going to love her--and Liam is a kick-ass Alpha man who will be her match in every way. But I know having a femdom is out of the comfort zone for a lot of readers in the genre. The major subplot in that book will involve Adam and Karla, too. They're closely linked with the Grant and Liam story.

      I had some very good expert advice from a rope master for that awesome Shibari scene in Nobody's Hero, as mentioned in the acknowledgements for the book. His additions to the scene (including touching her with the ropes BEFORE the binding began) just made the scene so much more sensual. *fans self* I love that man and his ropes, too!

      My "baby Dom" Master Luke has been training with ropes, too. He may not use Japanese techniques--but that Texan knows his way around ropes, for sure. He's also learning to deliver butterfly kisses with a bullwhip. :) By the time Nobody's Dream comes out (late August, I hope), he will be a baby Dom no more!

      Kally

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  7. Finished Adam and Karla's story just recently and loved it.

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    1. Thanks, Lynn! (Shhhh. Don't tell the other Doms, but it was my favorite, too! I love older Doms.)

      Oddly enough, Master Damian comes across as a very mature Dom (and old soul), even though he's the youngest of my Doms. I'm loving his character--and try as I might, can't even figure out how he's going to screw up with Savi. He's also in pursuit, whereas Adam and Marc both were in retreat. So, it'll be a bit different from the other stories, too. Not to mention the whole SM thing. Whoa! Talk about push-the-envelope scenes!

      Kally

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  8. Have read all three books. Looking forward to Damian's and Savi's story. You have really settle bar and have a lot to uphold. Lol. Have confidence you will live up to it. Thanks for the writing

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    1. You can't imagine the pressure, Lauralee! The first book was so easy to put out there, but I sweat bullets of Nobody's Angel, and then again Nobody's Hero. I hope I can continue to meet or exceed expectations with Damian and Savi's story next!

      Kally

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  9. finished Master at Arms, need to get to Nobody's Angel on my TBR pile. DON'T STOP writing!!!

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    1. No worries! I have eight books in mid for the series (so far), then four books with the Giardano brothers in a spin-off series. That will get me through 2015. I'll keep writing if you all keep reading!

      Kally

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  10. I love your books..and am now watching NCIS on "dom moment" alert! lol
    Hugs xx

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    1. You should see my Facebook page when NCIS is on (and it's ALWAYS on somewhere, right)? My readers and I love to post Domisms Gibbs utters (or Dom behavior he exhibits.) When "Master Gibbs" said, "Somebody needed a safeword," I squealed. Can't tell me that man isn't a Dom. I just wish the writers would give us a scene with him in the bedroom or club with a woman in restraints. *fans self*

      Kally

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  11. Kally- you know I love your books! It's because you have a rare talent for bringing your characters alive and showing the unique affection they have for one another. You bring them to "life" with agonizing experiences that shape them into mature men and women we love more each book! Hurry up and write Master Damian and his lady, it feels like I have been waiting forever! Beth

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    1. Thanks for your kind words, Beth! These characters came to life for me, too. I hate that some of them are still hurting and am writing as fast as I can to get them all to their happy endings. But, Gawd, Savi's killing me! She's my biggest challenge yet, so it's slow going. But I'll never have a character go through the hell she did without retribution, healing, and romance (with a happy ending)! Hang in there! I'll get their story to you as soon as it's ready!

      Kally

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