Meet Doninique Eastwick

Dinner

Hi all, today the lovely and talented, Dominique Eastwick visits with us. She is an incredible woman with killer research skills and a dedication to those she befriends. Please make her feel welcome.



Thank you, Becca, for having me here today.



I am happy to do so. To begin, why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself and your work?


Me…Well, let’s see, I am a wife and mother of two boys who make me laugh and pull out my hair in equal measure. I grew up all over the country as a Navy brat, until my father left the military briefly, and we ended up in Boston, MA. (Now you know why the Sherman books will all be placed in New England.) I was a Costume Designer/Craftswoman in theatre for over a decade, so my need to create stems from there. But after the birth of my second son, I realized I needed to make a change.

My Work…I write romance with a touch of erotica involved, but the emphasis is on the Romance. I am currently working on finishing the sequel to HUNTING JC called TONY’S HAVEN. I am also working on a Romantic Fantasy with the working title Elements of Power. It’s along the lines of Lord of the Rings.


I have read Hunting JC and I can't wait for Tony's Haven. Writing is a great example of free expression, but you are artistic in more than one way, right? You consider yourself an amateur photographer. What does that mean-portraits, nature shots, strange, artistic compilations? (Except for her cover, the photos on this post are examples of Dominique's work including the page header this week.)

The Sneeze

I am just now learning to take better portraits, but I really prefer the journalistic approach to photographing people getting them when they don’t know the camera is on them. But, I also take a lot of nature and artsy shots.

 Your work is very nice. I wish I had an eye for that kind of thing. I see you are a doula on top of all the other hats that you wear. That is fantastic. I have an aunt and a cousin who both do that as well. For those who don’t know what that is, could you explain the function of a doula?


I always tell people when they ask if a doula is a kind of Midwife that I work at the other end of the bed, Although I have delivered two babies myself, both times because baby really just shot out, I prefer to be there for the emotional and physical support of both the laboring mom and dad. That is what I am trained for. I meet with the parents two or three times before they go into labor, I come to them when they are in labor and then I stay until breastfeeding is established. I am the one constant through it all.

Note from me: As a bit more info for those of you who do not know what a great service this is, a doula serves as the spokesperson for the mother. In a world of splintered families, they step in where the mothers, grandmothers, and sisters would have in the past except they have a stronger knowledge of what childbirth entails and what to watch for as it progresses. That does not mean a doula is not beneficial to women who have support, but they are invaluable to mothers without a support system. It is a tough job but I hear the rewards are worth it. The fact that Dominique does this says a great deal about what a fantastic person she is.


Dominique also runs a site for new and unpublished authors. In fact, you and I met years ago at Aspiring Romance Writers. Would you tell the readers a bit about this site and its purpose?


ARW started as a need on my part to connect with other Aspiring Authors, I was on loops like Stephanie Laurens and Julia Quinns’ fan loops and there were always other authors out there talking about their work and begging people to read their WIP. I thought hell let’s start our own loop. So Aspiring Romance Writers Loop began. It’s a loop for other Aspiring Romance Writers to support one another. There is no bashing allowed. We lift each other up and help. It has also been a great place to share blogs and articles to help with our craft. I am pleased to say a great many authors who have been on that loop are now published.

Unfortunately it has been quiet lately. There like most loops, the advent of FaceBook changed the needs for some loops, so we have branched out to a Blog, every Wednesday a published author comes over and offers some advice to unpublished authors. I think what sets it apart is there is no promotion happening on that loop. So you go to learn not to be sold to. And although it’s for romance writers, I think any aspiring novelist would find it helpful and membership is free.

Aspiring Romance Writers yahoo Loop http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Aspiring_Romance_Writers/

Aspiring Romance Writers Website and Blog. http://aspiringromancewriters.webs.com/


How long have you been writing seriously, Dominique, and what have you learned since you started to write professionally that you could share with readers and aspiring writers?

Oh, I am a professional? Lol. I have been writing seriously for nine years. I have learned to accept that royalty checks can be very small and that you have to know about promotion. Get your brand out there as much as possible. Oh, and Google both your name and your title because I didn’t and now when you type HUNTING JC you discover that JC is a man in Georgia who loves to hunt deer. Not the same as Hunter and Jacinda’s love story. YIKES


I hear you there. I completely forgot when I titled Jingle All the Way, that the name had been used on a Christmas movie with Arnold Schwartzeneger several years before. When I type in my title Arnold pops up.

Buy It Now

I read Hunting JC in its early stages and I loved the story from day one. Now that it is polished and published, would you share your favorite excerpt?

Ah you are so sweet. I would love to share a little about it. This is my favorite scene in the book. It’s where J.C.’s brothers confront Hunter about his failing relationship with their sister. Tony, who is Hunter’s best friend, is also the hero in the next book in the series.

HUNTING JC by Dominique Eastwick

Hunter heard the commotion long before he reached his office. Having left his office twenty minutes ago empty, his curiosity had been piqued to hear raised voices coming from within. Especially, as it was half past seven in the morning.

“Let me go, you brute.” Hunter heard the familiar sound of Elaine’s voice.

About to throw open the door he paused when he heard another familiar voice.

Tony’s!

Through the door, he heard Tony saying in a very conversational tone, “You can’t go, you’ll just warn Hunter.”

“Warn me about what, Tony?” Hunter opened the door to his office. He stopped dead in his tracks to see all four Sherman brothers before him. “Well if it isn’t the Sherman Army making its invasion. Is this a reconnaissance mission or an assassination attempt?”

Spencer pushed himself off the wall he’d leaning against and put out his hand in welcome to Hunter. They weren’t playing by the book. They were supposed to come in threatening to beat the crap out of him, or perhaps actually beating the crap out of him. They were supposed to tell him what a shit he was before they denounced him as Satan and told him never to darken their door again.

They were not supposed to be friendly.

Hunter reluctantly shook Spencer’s hand and looked at Lucas and Trent who book-ended Elaine on the sofa. “Perhaps you could let her up now. Obviously, she can’t warn me now. And, Tony, get the hell out of my seat.”

Tony laughed, but made no effort to move from Hunter’s seat. Hunter walked past all four brothers, positioning himself so he could see each and every one of them. He scanned them silently, letting them know he wasn’t that keen to have them there. In actuality, he wasn’t that surprised. The only surprise was in the time it took them to confront him.

Tony now had the gall to put both feet on the deep cherry desk in front of him..

“Get your damned feet off my desk. Elaine, could you get me a coffee, as strong as you can make it please? I have a feeling I am going to need it,” Hunter said, giving her permission to leave.

“Coffee for anyone else?” Elaine asked.

“No, they can all damn well get their own.”

“Hospitality not a strong suit?” Spence asked.

“I don’t remember inviting any of you here, so no.”

Tony spun around in the chair. He let the chair stop when he could look out at the view of the city. His elbows on his knees, he turned and looked at Hunter. “Pity, I was looking forward to some coffee.”

“Would one of you bastards just get to the point?”

“No need to be testy,” Trent said.

“Right, now you’re not standing where I am. I’ve a lot of work to do. Therefore, if you’re here to beat the crap out of me, let’s take this downstairs into the alley. Cleanup will be easier that way. If you are just here to curse me out, then by all means get to it.” Hunter crossed his arms and waited.

“We aren’t here to do either?” Spencer said softly. “I won’t lie and say I’m thrilled that J.C. is hurting as badly as she is right now. Of course, she did her fair share of hurting you, too.”

“Make’s it rather difficult to pick sides,” Tony who was now tapping Hunter’s fountain pen on the table, said between taps. “Wouldn’t you say?”

Hunter grabbed the pen from Tony and threw it in a desk drawer. “I never asked you to take sides, and I don’t want you taking mine. So if that’s all, would you kindly all get out?” No one budged. Hunter gritted his teeth. “Please.”

*****

"Hunting JC is a contemporary romance filled with suspense, great sex, heartache, healing, and best of all love...The drama that unfolds will keep you reading this story until the very end." Just Erotic Romance Reviews 5 stars

"There are moments that are touching beyond belief, lines you’ll read over and over because they are that darn sweet, and humor to keep it all running until JC and Hunter finally make up their darn minds! " Got Erotic Romance Reviews 4 Diamonds

BUY IT NOW
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/contemporary/erotica/hunting-jc/prod_288.html

If you would like to know more about Dominique, you can reach her through any of these sites.

Website www.DominiqueEastwick.com

Twitter http://twitter.com/DominiEastwick

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dominique.eastwick