Shelby Morgen Welcome one and all to the Hot Spot, where you'll be snooping with Sierra, asking your favorite Changeling authors the questions you REALLY want answered! How long have they been writing? BAH! Who cares?! We want the naughty, the juicy, the REAL inside track*! Give us dirt, give us details! That's what the Hot Spot's for!

*All my interviewees have promised to be absolutely honest, but you know writers and their imaginations…

So who's in the Hot Spot this April? None other than Changeling's own founder and fabulous writer, Shelby Morgen! Yup, you heard me right -- I've got my boss on the hot seat! So hang on for one fantabulous ride!

Shelby Morgen has been called "a genius at weaving an intricate tale in a small venue." Her books, including the Dragon's Watch series and her epic Northlanders saga, have received rave reviews, including the coveted Silver Star award from Just Erotic Romance Reviews for both of her C.H.A.S.E. stories, All I Want for Christmas and Plain Brown Wrapper.

In addition to her own writing, she's the owner and general manager of Changeling Press, which has just celebrated its third birthday. (WHEE!!!) In the three years of its existence, Changeling has published over five hundred titles, many of which have won awards and, even more importantly, won a place in the hearts of readers.

Sierra Dafoe: Okay, Shelby, I gotta ask. What made you do it?

Shelby Morgen: Oh. We're gonna talk about Changeling? Then you need Margaret, not me. Shelby writes. Margaret does the Changeling thing. Hang on.

Margaret Riley: Hi, Sie. Margaret here. Changeling? Why? Simple. Adult ADD. My brain's always thinking of 50 things at once. This was one of em. So was washing the cat, plastering the ceiling, starting 10 new serials, and investment banking. (I've always liked math. I'm not terribly GOOD at it. I just like it.)

OK. OK, a semi serious answer. A blizzard. THE blizzard of Feb 2004. We were without power for 5 days. Bill and I shoveled snow, played pickup sticks, shoveled snow, played Canasta. Shoveled snow… you get the picture. No Internet. No Everquest! FIVE whole days. Eventually we settled in for nice long talks. Bill knew I'd wanted to start my own company for several years. I told him between the ADD and the Dyslexia I was sure the administrative side of the company would eat me alive. So he said he'd do that part. We thought up a name, figured out the organization, decided who we wanted to hire -- all on PAPER. When the power came back on we were ready to rock and roll. We're equal partners -- without Bill there'd be no Changeling. I'd never have had the balls to do this alone. I know my limits.

Sierra: And how does it feel to have celebrated such a milestone? Three years and five hundred books! How on earth do you manage it all?

Margaret Riley: Last month Bill said "You know it's our third birthday." I looked at him and blinked a few times. I think I said something auspicious like "Wow." Been way WAY too busy to keep track. As for managing it all -- I don't. We delegate. Bill does all the admin work -- registering contracts, assigning and later registering ISBNs, paying all the bills, issuing payroll, shipping paperbacks, as well as basically following up on almost everything I do to see if I remembered to do it. MY job is to see that all the various departments -- Production, Editorial, Art, Promotions, Marketing, and Proofing -- play nice together. I also do the final steps in production. So I get to read all the books. Muahahahahaha!!!

Sierra: As a publisher, what's the one accomplishment you've been proudest of?

Margaret Riley: Our "Smash the box" theme. Some times it's tempting to take a submission just because it's a well written story. We don't. We've held to the criteria that to be a Changeling book, it needs to both fit in one or more of our 13 Genres and be NOT something a standard Romance house would publish. We're not a standard Romance house. We're a Sci-Fi/Paranormal house with romantic themes. We're looking for the unusual, indefinable, and the just plain strange. Two guys getting it on? You can find that many places these days. Three guys -- two vamps and a human -- and an aging human female pilot getting it on in deep space while avoiding space pirates and smuggling contraband genetic materials? THAT'S Changeling. (And yes, I'm currently editing that one. You should waylay Madeline Oh for an interview.)

Sierra: And as a writer, what do you like best about writing for Changeling? (BIIIG grin!)

Shelby: OH! Me? I'm back? Cool. What were we talking about? OH! My favorite subject. ME!!! -- Ummm -- well, probably the fact that if I have an off the wall idea for Vampiric cyberneticly enhanced Were-Cat Shapeshifters in space no one's going to tell me "Sorry, we don't do that here." However I STILL have to obey my editor, who says things like "Finish THIS book first." 9

Sierra: I have to ask, do you get a kick out of seeing N.Y. finally coming around and following in the footsteps of what e-publishers like Changeling have been doing all along? (I know I do!) A wee little moment of "Told ya so!"?

Shelby: This is Margaret's territory.

Margaret Riley: Honestly, that goes two ways. I think Berkley and Kensington MIGHT get it -- Angela Knight and Kate Douglas being prime examples of E-Pub authors who have taken their Erotica to the "Major Leagues." Though both, like many other writers who got their start in E-Pub, will tell you they still come back here when they want the freedom to write short, over-the-top-hot fun reads. But every time I hear Silhouette/Harlequin & associates have come up with another "Hot" line I have to laugh. Please. Just because your writers are now allowed to use the word "Cock" in a sentence doesn't mean you publish Erotica. These are the same guys who brought us "Pulsing manroot." Just shoot me.

Sierra: The Northlanders saga was recently released in two collections, Northlanders 1: Way of the Wolf, and Northlanders 2: Song of the Bear. (I've gotta pause here real quick to give Bryan Keller kudos for the Northlanders 2 cover -- gawd, that's gorgeous!) Does this mean (sob!) the end of the series? Or have you got more stories in Tranorva's world coming up?

Shelby: Me again! Whoopee!! As for that cover -- I love it! It's exactly what I wanted -- only better! Did you see the wallpaper? (That'll go on the paperback this summer.) Err, no. It's like Star Trek. It's a world, not just a setting. I will return. Already have. Dragon's Watch is the prequel. I plan 2 more novellas (and possibly another Hot Flash) in the Dragon's Watch series, and then several more in the even earlier before time with Troll's Blog. Troll's Blog is the sort of CyberPunk/ Shadowrun near future of my world -- late this century -- Dragon's Watch is next century, and Northlanders is 2456 and up.

Sierra: You've also got Welcome to the Fetish Club coming up soon, the third book in the highly-awarded C.H.A.S.E. series. What makes this series so hot?

Shelby: Hot? That's one word for it. Politically controversial is another. You know, I tried to find a real human rights organization to donate the royalties on Book 1 to and NONE of them would even return my email or calls? So I made up my own organization -- Coalition for Humanitarian Aide to the Subjugated and Exploited I think it stands for. Close anyway. (Do you have ANY clue how hard it was to find a name not all ready in use??)

Each book of C.H.A.S.E. takes us deeper into the world of modern day slavery. Book 1 is an action adventure dealing with modern day slave trafficking from third world countries to the richest parts of the world -- prostitution rings. Book 2 introduces Femme-Domme and trafficking in male subs in elite circles. Book 3 returns us to the scenes of departure from books one and 2 with a look at the flip side of the coin, delving deeper into Femme-Domme and the BDSM community. With Richard, a kind of sub-plot villain from books 1 and 2, we explore voluntary subjugation -- a charity sub auction. Richard, AKA Ricky, is now in the hands of two merciless Dommes, who will stop at nothing to see that he learns the error of his ways. Fetish Club features a whole list of kink -- if you like men in chains, men in leather, and men in lingerie, you'll love it. "Lingerie?" you ask. Trust me, it's hot. And deep inside, no matter how he's dressed, Ricky's still a man. All those protective instincts come in pretty handy when he's forced to choose…

Sierra: Can you give us an example? C'mon, pleeeeeease? (insert steamy excerpt here!)

Shelby: I could. What's it worth to you? And don't tell me your soul. Margaret all ready owns that.

Sierra: Ummmm… Can I interest you in a trilogy about three shapeshifting best friends who form an all-girl band? : C'mon, give up the goods, woman!

Shelby:

Title: C.H.A.S.E. 3: Welcome to The Fetish Club
Author: Shelby Morgen
Release Date: April 2007

Ricky dropped on the limo's soft leather seat. Laughing, Crystal dropped next to him, spilling comfortable against him, while Ani started to slip into the seat on the far side. Instead Crystal pulled her down onto their laps, where Ani sprawled bonelessly.

They were all more than a little tipsy. Ani turned her head enough to realize where she'd landed -- had he not been carefully tucked and taped, her mouth would have been very close to his cock. She giggled. But she didn't reposition herself.

Had anyone dared to ask Richard before today what color his secretary's eyes were, he'd have been clueless. Now he knew they were a bright, shimmering blue. And her hair was a bright strawberry blonde, all the way to the roots, a fiery contrast to Crystal's golden brown. Both of them were incredibly hot -- and even hotter together. He hadn't quite figured out the dynamics between the two, but he was sure of one thing. He'd never had a better time in his life. True, La Escuelita was a gay club, but it was also home to just about anything goes. Especially on Friday nights. He didn't know if he'd have the nerve to go there alone, as Richard or as Ricky, but with Crystal and Ani… the night couldn't have been more perfect.

Except that now they were headed home. To Crystal's home. And he had a contract to fulfill. He was as new to the bondage scene as he was to the club scene. Oh, he knew the contract he'd signed specified that the auction was for the purposes of Bondage and Discipline only, no sexual intent either suggested or implied, but as a lawyer he also knew the language had been carefully worded to avoid potential charges of soliciting. As far as he knew, no one on either side of the stage had any expectations of celibacy.

The way Ani and Crystal had been touching each other -- and him -- while they danced certainly didn't lead him to believe they expected their relationship to be celibate. Hell, he couldn't ever remember being so incredibly aware of his body. He might be dressed like a woman -- and that itself was an incredible turn on -- but beneath the shimmering red satin and the push-up cincher that netted him his B-cup tits beat the heart of a man who desperately wanted to have sex with these two beautiful women.

"Just look where you landed," Crystal teased Ani. "You expect me to believe that was an accident?"

Ani turned her head again and nipped at Ricky's crotch. "Wasn't. But Ricky did too good a job. Can't find anything to play with."

"You want to play, do you?"

Ricky stifled a groan as Crystal bent down to kiss Ani's scarlet lips. His cock, already more than a little aroused, struggled to break free from his careful taping job. He wanted desperately to touch, to join in the sensual play. Throwing caution to the wind, he slid his hand down Crystal's arm, over her shoulder, and down to her lovely ass.

Crystal sat up abruptly. "What do you think you're doing, slave?"

"I -- I -- nothing, Mistress. Forgive me."

"If you weren't doing anything, what is there to forgive? I think we just added lying to your list of transgressions."

Oh, shit. "Forgive me, Mistress. I was -- I was…"

"The term you're looking for is copping a feel."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Did you ask my permission?"

"No, Mistress."

Crystal looked at Ani. "I think the slave needs to be punished."

Ani smiled wickedly. "I agree, Mistress Crystal."

Before he could voice an objection -- or even decide if he wanted to -- Crystal's hand was on his forgotten leash, yanking his head down to her lap. "On your knees, slave."

He was too off balance to even consider objecting, though slithering out from under Ani wasn't exactly easy. Or graceful. What if someone saw him like this? The limo's windows were heavily tinted, but still… Gathering the red silk up around his knees, he knelt on the floor of the limo, hands clasped behind his back, head bowed submissively, body trembling slightly, both from fear and desire.

As if he'd been nothing more than in the way, Crystal went back to kissing Ani, one hand in her hair, the other pushing her sequined gown to expose a pair of gorgeous legs and thighs. Crystal's hand blocked his view as her fingers slipped inside Ani's tiny thong, setting his poor trapped cock on fire. "You're wet," Crystal teased. "I think your pussy needs attention."

"I think you're right." Ani runched the skirt up farther and worked the thong down those beautiful curving legs. No wonder she'd hidden that body in a man-cut suit.

"Umm. Gorgeous pussy, don't you agree, Ricky?"

He was allowed to look? Ricky swallowed hard as Ani spread her legs wide, revealing a nest of strawberry blond curls just slightly darker than the hair on her head. He swallowed again, trying to find his voice. "Yes, Mistress."

"Ani's pussy needs to be serviced. If you do a very good job, I may forgive your transgression."

Serviced? There was no way he could un-tape his cock without getting undressed, first. Surely she knew -- ohhh. Understanding hit. His cock didn't have any part in Crystal's command. Now might not be the best time to admit he'd never preformed oral sex. Richard might have objected that such acts weren't proper. Ricky didn't give a damn. Couldn't see beyond the red gold curls Ani spread open with delicate fingers to reveal the swollen lips of her sex. Ricky positioned himself between Ani's knees, spreading his legs as wide as he dared, both for stability and to ease his aching cock.

"Keep your hands behind your back."

Ricky shivered, wondering what would happen if he disobeyed that command. Carefully shaking his hair back over his shoulders, he leaned in, inhaling the fresh, salty sweet smell of Ani's musk. What would a woman like? What would she want? Would her clit be as sensitive to his tongue as his cock was to a woman's touch?

Experimentally, he traced the opening to her slit, bottom to top, tasting the heady tang of her juices as he made his way to her clit. It was full and engorged, the little head jumping to meet his tongue. He circled it with the tip of his tongue, then sucked it into his mouth. It quivered and pulsed, dancing between his lips as he swirled his tongue around and around.

"Sweet Jesus!" Ani exclaimed.

Ricky wanted to laugh in pleasant surprise. Apparently he was doing this right! He'd always been careful during sex, afraid to lose control. What would it be like to make Ani lose control? He let go of her clit and licked her slit again, then the lips of her labia, nipping gently there where apparently she wasn't quite so sensitive. She jumped, but didn't pull away, only slid down in the seat a little more, spreading herself open even wider. He took that as an invitation, then thought better of it. "Mistress, please. May I fuck you with my tongue?"

"Oh, God, yes!" Ani exclaimed, forgetting the proprieties of their relationship.

Ricky put his hands on her knees, spreading them wider, and licked the length of her slit once more before slowly slipping his tongue into her hot, wet pussy.

Before he could register a protest, Crystal was off her seat, her knee in the small of his back, forcing him hard against Ani's pussy as she yanked his right arm back behind him the way he'd seen cops do in TV shows. He heard the sound of Velcro ripping apart. Ani pushed her cunt toward him, moaning in evident pleasure, as Crystal fastened a soft velvet cuff around his wrist. "What did I tell you about your hands, slave?"

He tried to apologize, but it was difficult to speak with his tongue buried in a thrusting cunt. Crystal yanked his other wrist back to strap it to the first, pushing him even deeper into Ani's pussy.

Crystal's hand fisted in his hair, yanking his head back. "Answer me."

His cock swelled impossibly harder. "I'm sorry, Mistress."

"What are you apologizing for?"

"I apologize for disobeying you and moving my hands, Mistress." Though if he'd known she had wrist cuffs about, he might have done it sooner. This was a lot more comfortable than trying to hold his hands behind his back. Now that she'd stopped torturing his shoulder, anyway.

"I don't think you're sorry at all."

OK. He'd give her that one. "I like the cuffs, Mistress. But I didn't mean to disobey you. I got caught up in the moment. For that I apologize."

With his had bent back, he could just see Ani, left to her own devices, rubbing her fingers over her clit. "Give him back," she moaned.

"Ask me nicely."

Ani's fingers stilled and her gaze focused over his should on Crystal. "I thought we were sharing him."

"We never got around to the specific terms of that agreement."

"What do you want?"

He felt Crystal's hand on his arm tighten slightly. "Everything."

Ani's lips slowly spread into a smile. "I thought you'd never ask. Mistress."

Crystal let go of his hair and pushed him gently forward toward Ani's waiting pussy. As he thrust his tongue deep into her he caught a glimpse of fingers descending to work her swollen clit. Ani's fingers, Crystal's fingers, he couldn't be sure. Crystal's body pressed against the back of his head as she leaned forward. It didn't take much imagination to picture them kissing above him. Or perhaps their mouths aimed lower… and if those were Crystal's fingers, where were Ani's?

Fighting for breath in the suddenly crowded space, tongue fucking Ani as hard and fast as he could, hearing the women's moans above him, wondered absently if it was possible for his cock to get any harder. One thing was certain. This was about as far from his orderly, perfectly boring life as he was ever going to get. Even if he never got to fuck either of them -- even if all they really wanted was to fuck one another -- he never wanted to go back. And he'd surely never look at his secretary in quite the same way.

With a moan and a cry, Ani came, hot juices washing over his face. Ricky smiled. His perfect makeup was definitely a thing of the past, but perfect just didn't seem all that important any more.

Someone's hand slipped down over his ass, stroking gently as he made a last few swipes over Ani's pussy with his tongue. "My turn," Crystal announced.

Ricky wasn't sure who was trading places with whom, but one thing he was sure of. His cock would never be the same again.

Sierra: I'm not sure I'm ever gonna be the same again! Yowza!! And now I get to ask you all my favorite questions! I love it! =) So tell me, of all the steamy sex scenes you've written so far, which one is your favorite?

Shelby: The last one. Always.

Sierra: Which one is something you'd love to try?

Shelby: Muahahahahaha! Another easy question! Shapeshifting wolf sex. Or Cat. Or…

Sierra: And while we're on the subject, what's one scene you've researched personally?

Shelby: I never kiss and tell.

Sierra: Where can avid readers find out more about you and your books on the web?

Shelby: Easy! ShelbyMorgen.com -- and to see what M's been up to as an editor, go to MargaretRiley.com.

Sierra: Now it's time for the profile part of the interview -- all those intimate details we loooove to hear!

1) General:
a) Favorite beverage? Mike's Hard Lemonade -- or Cranberry, or whatever comes out of the box next.
b) Favorite food? Bill's spaghetti. Did I mention he COOKS? He's soo good. (No, he doesn't own a French Maid's costume. If he did I'd remodel the kitchen so all the pots and pans were in bottom shelves.)
c) Favorite self-indulgence? Hot tub.
d) Favorite place for a weekend tryst? Hot tub

2) Men:
a) Blond, brunette or redhead? Silver.
b) Smooth or hairy? Smooth.
c) Muscly or lean? Yes. But not THIN. Got to have meat on em.
d) Sub or Dom? Switch.

3) Sex:
a) Lights on or off? On.
b) Rope, silk scarves, or handcuffs? Silk.
c) On you or on him? Both.
d) Quantity or quality? Both.
e) Strangest place you've ever done it: Closet in a radio station.
f) Strangest place you'd like to do it: We've done that. Did I mention we both scored below 40 on The Purity Test?

4) Writing:
a) Favorite writing apparel? Old T-shirt.
b) Favorite writing implement? Keyboard.
c) Favorite form of inspiration? Oh, geeze. I'm ADD, remember? I don't NEED more ideas. I need less distractions!
d) Favorite part of writing? Prologue.

And now, the down, the dirty, the REAL nitty-gritty:
Sex, or chocolate? BOTH. Why should I have to choose? I want it all!

Shelby -- and Margaret -- thanks so much for joining us! Everyone, be sure to check out Shelby Morgen's April release -- C.H.A.S.E, 3: Welcome to The Fetish Club!

Until next month, everyone, this is Sierra Dafoe, your Hot Spot super-snoop, asking the questions you really want to know!