Cheyenne’s Illustrated Writing FAQs 2

Cheyenne’s Writing FAQs 2

Cheyenne Sept. 2015 at resort for BMG blog heist day

Cheyenne’s early early writing career in 2002

Q: How long have you been writing? 

A: Since January 2000. Good grief. I was 35 when I started. That sure went by fast!

We didn’t have a digital camera in our house until 2002. Here I am  (In the striped shirt) working away at one of my early books.

I’m probably writing a young adult novel–before I went to the Dark Side to write erotic romance. They had cookies.

As KING OF HEARTS, it was the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award for best erotic romance of the year!

Q: Speaking of erotic romance… Who’s this Jaymie Holland author?  She writes a lot of smut, doesn’t she?

Jaimie Holland decked out in latex and a whip. Really.

A: Yes. Lots and lots of smut. All of the smut you want to read to your heart’s content.

Jaymie Holland is the ultra-erotic alter-ego that I established in 2011 because my Cheyenne stuff has grown a tad tamer. My work is still very hot, but I leave all of the BDSM, ménage, and other particularly naughty stuff  to Jaymie. (Don’t let my mom or sons know about her!)

Q: How often does Jaymie have a book come out?

A: A couple of times a year. This year OWNED, A BDSM Ménage erotic romance (triple whammy!) will be out in December.

Q: So why not more?

A: They ran out of cookies on the dark side. I drew the short straw so I have to buy more vanilla wafers for the host of demons waiting to come up to play… Just holding out for my next royalty statement to show up.

Yes, demons love vanilla wafters. Especially banana pudding made with ’em. Bananas, wafers, and pudding. Who’d have thought?

Q: When did you get your first agent and sell your first book? 

A: 2001 was when I got my first agent and 2002 was when we sold L.O.S.T. (Live Oak Springs Township) to Llewellyn. It’s a young YA I co-authored with Susan Vaught. The orangey cover on the right was the original cover and names we wrote it under. The cover on the left (which I LOVE) we used different names. I have plans for R.S. Collins, my third pen name!

2004: Cheyenne’s first print book signing

Around the same time Susan and I sold the L.O.S.T. series, I also sold an erotic romance titled Seraphine Chronicles: FORBIDDEN to Ellora’s Cave.

This picture is from my second book signing with my first book in print in 2004. 

My first book signing was the most special, and I wish I had a picture. It was one of the most memorable of my life. A young woman came up to me and presented me with a red rose. Another woman was with her and asked if she could have the young woman’s picture taken with me. The young woman was too shy to speak or ask herself. That is a precious memory.

Seraphine Chronicles: Forbidden, originally with Ellora’s Cave

In the photo from the book signing was the original cover for Seraphine Chronicles: FORBIDDEN. Here’s the new cover on the left, which I adore. 

Forbidden from the “Magic” series with St. Martin’s Press

I signed my first four-book contract with St. Martin’s Press in 2004. The first book in the “Magic” series was FORBIDDEN MAGIC. I think there was a “Forbidden” theme of some sort. 🙂 Over a seven-year period, I wrote fourteen novels for St. Martin’s Press. FORBIDDEN MAGIC was the first book I wrote that made the USA Today.

Q: Are you going to write more “Magic” books?

A: Even better: A new series with angels and shifters, set in San Francisco–and guess who’s back, badder than ever….

Darkwolf.

Yes, Darkwolf.

Q: Why would you bring him back from exile?

A: Because I can. And I rather like that he’s evil personified… Seclusion only made him eviler.

BWHAHAHAHA!

“Night Tracker” series, with St. Martin’s Press

I had the covers framed for the“Night Tracker” series and the “Magic” series.

“Magic” series published with St. Martin’s Press

Both series were published with St. Martin’s Press. Love the covers! 

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Q: Why were the “Wild” and “Wonderland” series published under new series names and titles with new character names and covers?

A: St. Martin’s purchased the print rights from Ellora’s Cave, to the 4-book “Wonderland” series, which they renamed Taken by Passion; and the 4-book “Wild” series, which they renamed “Armed and Dangerous” (and had me change all character names. They also purchased the print rights to the 3-novella “Erotic” collection, and renamed “Total Surrender.” They published all of those books in trade paperback under St. Martin’s Griffin.

The following are the new 2015 covers for the “Wonderland” series.

“Wonderland” series. Originally published with Ellora’s Cave in eBook and in trade paperback with St. Martin’s Griffin.

The “Wonderland”series is now published as Cheyenne McCray writing as Jaymie Holland, with both titles, hoping to avoid confusion again. I expanded each Wonderland book considerably in early 2015.

Q. When will Mikaela get her own story?

The Kings’ sister’s story… Coming…. One of these days!

A. That is a very good question…

I do have the cover to OWNED BY FIRE! I don’t have the story written yet. Here’s the great cover. It’s a start. 🙂

The following are the new 2015 covers for the “Armed and Dangerous” series:

“Armed and Dangerous” series originally published as the “Wild” series in eBook with Ellora’s Cave and as the A & D series in trade paperback with St. Martin’s Griffin.

The Armed and Dangerous series had been expanded quite a bit when it was published in print by St. Martin’s. They have recently been republished under these awesome covers.

ZACK was picked by Cosmopolitan magazine and adapted in their November 2008 issue. In 2015, ZACK was selected by Apple’s iBooks as an up-and-coming book, and then selected for their “Find Your Book Boyfriend” promotion. It was also chosen for a BookBub promotion.

Seraphine Chronicles: FORBIDDEN was my first erotic romance novel written, and WILDFIRE, aka ZACK was my first cowboy romance. But neither were the first romances I’d written.

Cheyenne’s 1st love 🙂

My first romance was WILD BORDERS, aka KADE. This book is special to me for a lot of reasons, including Kelsey having a little bit of me in her. It was a book of my heart. I would love to find a Kade of my own!

Yes, I have a heart despite loving to blow stuff  up and maiming bad guys. 😉

Cheyenne making everyone teary when she cried accepting RT Award

Q: What was your first award for a novel?

A: “The Romantic Times Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Erotic Romance of 2003” for Wonderland: King of Hearts (Ellora’s Cave), also known as Taken by Passion (St. Martin’s Griffin). The Romantic Times is now known as RT Book Reviews Magazine. This is a picture of me accepting the award at the Romantic Times Book Lover’s convention in New York City in 2004. I cried and made the audience cry. Fun times. 😉

Cheyenne incredibly honored to receive the 2014 Desert Rose Award

Q: What is your favorite award?

A: The 2014 Desert Rose Award that my RWA chapter presented to me

I’m having fun writing these illustrated FAQs! If you have any questions, just jump in and ask in the comments section and I’ll include them!

~Cheyenne

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