Your Chance to Win a Kindle Fire and Gift Cards

Here is your chance to win a Kindle Fire and gift cards to my publisher, Breathless Press, in celebration of its 4th anniversary.

Click the link below to visit the blog of author Samantha Holt who interviewed me and we delved into the background of the novel Boarding and my view on the fashion industry.

Read more at the link below and comment for your chance to win.

Samantha Holt: Breathless Press Fourth Anniversary: Interview wit...: Please welcome author DD Syms as we celebrate Breathless Press' Fourth Anniversary. Be sure to enter the rafflecopter below to be in ...

Celebrity moms appeal for limits on paparazzi and paparazzi in my novel Boarding

Boarding the novel fits in well with Jennifer Garner and Halle Berry speaking out August 2013 on behalf of an Assembly Bill to limit the reach of celebrity photographers, paparazzi. The legislation is geared toward California and my novel takes place in Manhattan.

The proposed legislation would limit photogs from snapping pics of celebrity kids. In Boarding, a renowned model's sexuality is brought into question.

I can't blame Garner and Berry for wanting more protection.

Here's a clip loaded on to YouTube and after the video clip are three excerpts from Boarding.

The paparazzi and a gossip columnist out to exploit a model's sexuality are part of the later chapters in Boarding.

EXCERPT ONE

Veve steered, slowed, and glanced to a stand-alone building mere blocks from where Jessie attended the lingerie shoot. Light shone through a tall, narrow window. At the next street, she turned her SUV right and then right again to an alley and stopped in front of a chain link fence where, at the press of a button, a gate retracted and let her maneuver to a canopy with bushy trees and shrubs on either side. Jessie couldn't help but touch the customized wood grain paneling and push against the seats that beckoned her to lie down.

"Rani, the dear, is working late." Veve, pocketed the keys, glanced in the mirror, and stepped out. Jessie and Raymond, exited and followed her lead. The gate rattled along its tracks to a close.

Veve wasted no time grabbing her purse and moving from the driver's side to the front door where she opened it quickly and stepped inside the frame.

Probably a move perfected to avoid the paparazzi.

Once inside the frame she held it for Jessie and Raymond while keeping her face angled away from the street.

EXCERPT TWO

Trudy's eyes exuded empathy. "Jessie, I don't want to put a damper on a tremendous opportunity. And Veve is such a credit to the industry."

"What are you talking about?"

"Jessie, I've heard of her admiring a young designer's work and striking up a relationship. And then I've heard about young women becoming—" Trudy paused and rubbed her hands together. Her smile was nowhere in sight. "—her toy." Trudy paused again. "And the idea of consensual didn't exist."

Jessie pursed her lips but stayed silent. She grabbed the bag of fabrics, moved a few steps past the checkout counter, and stood still. "That's not very nice."

"You're right. Rumors. Perhaps."

Although Darla made a questionable comment on Wednesday. Here was a second person in two days.

Yes, silly rumors. Veve was a favorite on daytime talk and her husband was a handsome man and she did have a studio that doubled as a BDSM escape. The doors could easily be kept locked.

"I'm not going to be alone with her." Jessie wished she could strike the defensive tone from her voice. She found Veve physically striking and the conversation at the pub was both pleasant and inspiring.

"That's good. Safety first, I always say." Trudy held her purse and took a step toward the door.

EXCERPT THREE

Veve lifted the hem of Stephanie's dress and tapped her flesh lightly with the crop, like she was savoring the moment and in absolutely no hurry.

Suddenly, a door slammed from the alcove and boomed throughout the cavernous setting.

"Hey, get out of here!" Someone shouted.

A commotion grabbed the crowd's attention and two men, one with a belly rolling over his jeans, strode forward. When they parted Trudy Wilcox stepped forward holding a notepad and pen. A third man, the one with scraggly hair who ambushed Jessie and Callan near the subway and hot dog cart, gripped a camera strapped to his shoulder and stood behind her.

"Oh, Veve, good evening. I thought I might find you here." She was the queen of the insincere greeting.

"Get out of here! This is private property," snapped Torrey.

Trudy remained calm and made her way along the edge of the crowd. "Oh, yes. I don't mean to disturb anyone. I thought perhaps Veve might be willing to give an interview and talk about her newest plans."

A few people turned away.

Veve motioned for Stephanie to stand upright and placed a hand on her shoulder and then moved between her and Trudy. "You're timing is impeccable."

Rani brought Veve's clothes to her, but Veve waved him off.

"Yes, dear. I thought being such a reputable reporter I would rather deal in facts than conjecture." Trudy glanced at the suspension bars, the wooden horse, and the ropes. Finally, she looked at Veve and raised an eyebrow. "Are you holding something related to your latest project?"

Veve smiled. The onlookers had mostly dispersed with a small group heading to the bar, keeping their backs to the goings-on.

"You'll be speaking to our attorneys," warned Torrey.

"Ah, there's Jessie," said Trudy, waving and ignoring the statement. "I saw her in the fabric store this afternoon." Her smile was ever present, as were the men accompanying her. "I'm still willing to give you a nice tip in exchange for your perspective on Veve." Raymond finally strolled in from the alcove. "Your boyfriend is going to profit handsomely."

Torrey groaned and shook his head.

Panic, anger, and a surge for revenge on Raymond gripped Jessie. She wanted to race out the door in shame and flee to where no one could find her.

Veve caressed the riding crop. "It would be best to talk to me and get the full story."

"Put this on, hon," said Rani, offering her clothes.

"It might spoil the interview," Veve replied, standing with her feet firmly planted shoulder-width and holding the riding crop waist high with both hands.

"Veve." Torrey's utterance denoted caution.

Trudy pivoted on her heels, seeming as much like she had the right to be present as anyone else. "How nice, I'm sure your fans will want to know all about these kinky exploits."

"It's of no concern to you or anyone else," Torrey exclaimed, jabbing his finger in the air as if to forcefully drive home his point. Callan clenched his fists and Rani eyed the men accompanying her, his body tense and ready to spring into action.

An air of calm and control rose from Trudy and she kept her gaze on Veve. "The public who adores you has a right to know."

"I'm telling you—" Torrey's voice rose.

Veve raised a hand and cut him off. "You're right. The public does have a right to know." She laid the riding crop on her shoulder and addressed the crowd. "Our friend here, Trudy Wilcox, a noted writer and gossip columnist who has been published in some of the best and worst outlets, believes that what we do here shouldn't be hidden behind locked doors."

Veve smiled, pivoted, and ran her fingers through Stephanie's hair.

"And I agree. Judging from the passion and self-confidence our dear Stephanie displayed

this evening we shouldn't bury the truth of who we are or what we desire."

Boarding is available for purchase from 

Amazon    Breathless Press    All Romance Ebooks    Bookstrand

Boarding the Novel: Chapter One Location in Mid-Town Manhattan near 23rd and Park Avenue

Location: mid-town Manhattan

I chose mid-town Manhattan to open the novel Boarding because of research showing the types of offices in the area. 

I figured it would be a central location to have Jessie the fashion designer meet with Torrey Johnson, a man always seeking an opportunity to push forward the careers of his model clients.

The specific area is 23^rd Street and Park Avenue.

What We Learn – Torrey decorates his office in a country theme.

This image is an apartment building shot from a real estate company.

Boarding is available from Amazon and Breathless Press the publisher.

Here is a novel excerpt from Chapter One:

After forty-five minutes in his office he had maintained a visage

that had less expression than a seasoned poker player. He

scanned her portfolio steadily, like a detective searching a crime

scene, yet there were no outward signs of concentration like a

wrinkled forehead, furrowed brow, or lips pressed tightly together.

A painting of a farmhouse surrounded by blueberry bushes

hung behind him and offered Jessie an imaginative escape while

she sat rigid like a statue. The scene, though, was now beginning

to grate on her nerves.

The entire office was decorated with props for a farmhouse

theme, including a rustic milk can off to one corner and a stepladder

that supported rows of tiny potted herbs on the rungs.

A wide-brimmed straw hat and red bandana rested on a hook

on the door. A rustic escape was created within the confines of a

Manhattan skyscraper.

Every detail in the damned office was now engrained in Jessie’s

memory bank. Crown molding ran above the bookcases, the

thirty-fourth floor windows were floor to ceiling, and the leather

sofa, which had intricate patterns, looked like it could have been

lifted from the home of a European monarch.

Few visitors ever have a chance to study the crown molding.

Jessie brushed back a curl of her red hair, wet from the rain that

soaked her after the taxi mistakenly dropped her off one block

away from Twenty-Third Street and Park Avenue. A droplet from

the tip of a curl landed on her neck and trickled down her shoulder

blade like an ant with tiny feet tickling her flesh.

She leaned back against the chair and wiggled, but the droplet

had already zigzagged to the waistband of her panties and to

the valley of her ass. Wiping it away at this point would have been

awkward and impolite, so she concentrated on him studying her

sketches, fighting to keep her eyes open and ignoring the pounding

sensation in her temples. At least he could offer her a bottle of

water. He had to water the herbs with something.

He lifted his shoulders, glanced out the window, and ran a

finger along his chin. She brightened and waited. He lowered his

head.

Good Lord, don’t tell me this is round two.

The weariness from the British Airways flight that she boarded

after her design competition in London had her tight in its grip.

The craft had dipped and rolled through a storm over the Atlantic

like a gravity-defying roller coaster at Six Flags and she had deplaned

at JFK Airport only four hours earlier with legs weak like

boiled spaghetti.

All she wanted was for him to say yes or no—to accept or

reject her fashion concepts. Jessie fantasized about gripping his

collar and running her nose against his tan face and chiseled jaw.

She would whisper how much she admired his wide shoulders

and sturdy neck and if he would say something, then he could do

anything to her he damn well pleased.

My Sexy Saturday: 7 Sentences from Boarding's early and later chapters

Each week, I participate in a blog hop called My Sexy Saturday. I post the selections on my ddsymms.wordpress.com site but I'll begin posting here as well.

Here are seven separate sentences taken from the beginning of Boarding and the later chapters:

He’d probably look so hot in an unbuttoned polo shirt, the hemline free and flowing while returning a serve.

Arms wrapped around her and a moist tongue pleasuring her neck could melt away the stress and ease her into a night of sound sleep, but none were available.

In a drawer was original lingerie she designed using a man’s white tank top, cut to expose her abs, and a silk tie with red and black stripes sewn strategically in the middle to enhance her cleavage.

A man who had dark hair with hints of gray at the temples approached her and offered his hand.

The black and white photograph showed a full-length view of Veve, her breasts naked,  skin glistening, and holding a whip in one hand.

A light-colored thong covered her sex while he was naked and every muscle in his chest, arms, and legs artistically defined.

If it had been up to her, she would have seduced Callan into undressing and ordered him to bathe her, then tying Raymond and forcing him to watch.

Boarding is available for 40% off from Breathless Press during August.
Click here to get a copy and read an excerpt.

Here is the full list of the My Sexy Saturday authors.

A Chance to Win a Kindle Fire and Chatting with DD Symms

I'm a guest today at Straight from the Library and thought you'd enjoy stopping by to say hello and join. Join in the drawing for great prizes like a Kindle Fire and gift cards from Breathless Press.

Straight from the Library: STRAIGHT CHATTING WITH THE LIBRARY: DD SYMMS: The Library is excited to be part of Breathless Press's 4th Anniversary celebration. Author DD Symms, author of the novel Boarding, is here to talk books with us.

It'd be nice to have you join.

Boarding Looks at New York City as a Fashion Hub

Boarding is a novel set in New York City featuring a fashion designer, Jessie Carter.

Why New York?

When I first created the character of Jessie Carter in my short story Layover I had her from flying from New York to her home in Los Angeles but she first had to make a stop in Chicago where she had a layover.

I envisioned her as a young fashion designer trying to make a brand name for herself and I saw New York as the place to do so.

The New York EDC says the city is "at the center of fashion" with "more headquarters of fashion designers and fashion retailers than any other city in the country."

Some of the latest figures estimate fashion trade shows bring in almost 300,000 visitors to the area.

The video I selected is of New York's midtown garment district.

In Chapter One, Jessie Carter is sitting tensely in a mid-town Manhattan office building while the manager of the model she hopes to meet is viewing her portfolio and pondering her fate. Her adventures take her to a photo studio on the west side, an Upper East Side condo, and an apartment in Brooklyn.

Boarding – the Sexy Fashion Novel is Available 40% off in August

Delve in to the fun and challenges of fashion designer Jessie Carter in the sexy fashion novel Boarding and get a 40% discount when you purchase from the publisher, Breathless Press. Click the link at the end of this post.

Visit Breathless Press.com for titles on sale

It's a birthday celebration since Breathless Press turns 4 years old.

Breathless Press is agrowing small press with talented authors and editors who pursue excellence in publishing and in the various romance and erotica genres.

Sweet reads are available, too.

There are unique titles like the selection of Naughty Nursery Rhymes and a popular anthology Serviced. 

Romance stories set in Australia and historical romances from England are included.

There are also some great bargain books on sale for $0.50.

Click here to visit Breathless Press and check out the discount titles.