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 ...
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
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
Saturday, August 10, 2013
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 23rd 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.
Linky Tools subscription expired. List not available.
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.
Linky Tools subscription expired. List not available.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
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.
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.
Monday, August 5, 2013
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.
Friday, August 2, 2013
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.
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.
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