Welcome Author Cindy Jacks

ABOUT

CINDY JACKS

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cindy.jacks@hotmail.com 

Prior to becoming a writer of romantic and erotic fiction, Cindy went to college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and graduated with a BFA in Art. After a brief attempt at an art career, she decided the ‘starving artist’ life wasn’t for her. She worked for ten years in the corporate arena, but now spends her days as a full time author.

Her first published work--The Point of Distraction Series--was inspired by a collection of short stories she wrote to entertain her best friend. Since then she's explored her inner bad girl, producing books full of humor and packed with real emotion.

When not chained to her laptop, she enjoys belly dancing, international cooking, and making jewelry. She and her family make their home in the Washington, DC area.

A Writer Looks at Forty

First let me wish Gabrielle a very happy birthday and thank her for including me in the celebration. All this talk of birthdays has me thinking about my own coming up this summer. The big four-oh.

One of my guilty pleasures is Jimmy Buffett’s “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” but it seems I have the opposite problem from the protagonist in Mr. Buffett’s song― instead of finding myself with no outlet for my chosen occupation I find myself with too much. It’s an exciting time to be a writer with self-publishing, Indie presses and all sorts of venues to see my words in print. It does however mean there’s more competition than ever and at times I feel adrift on a sea of voices. How to make mine heard? I’m not sure I’ve figured that out yet, but what I do know is that I’m grateful to be part of the dialogue. Tenacity is most of the battle in any chosen career. This much I’ve learned in the past thirty-nine and three quarter years.

With age comes wisdom. I never quite knew what that meant when I was younger. I mean, I felt pretty enlightened back then. I wasn’t. I was just too stupid to know that there was lots I didn’t know *grin* Well, there has to be an upside to this aging thing. It’s certainly not the effect time and gravity has had on my boobs nor is it those aches and pains slowly creeping in on me and my newfound need for reading glasses. Those things I could do without. But the wisdom and experience to navigate life with fewer mistakes and more self-assurance. That is indeed worth the wait.

Here are a few of life’s lessons I’ve taken to heart:

At times life gives me more than I think I can handle, but that I can handle a lot more than I think I can.

That which does not kill us does not only make us stronger, but also stranger and that’s a good thing. Who wants to be normal?

I love to laugh, but sometimes it’s important to break down and cry.

Stop telling myself what I think I should be feeling and just feel.

Nothing is ever as bad or as good as you think it will be…except in the case of ice cream. It’s always pretty damn good and it fixes most of what ails ya.

I like being comfortable in my own skin. I know what I like and what I don’t like, but I also realize it’s important to try something new once in a while…even if I think I’ll hate it.

It’s okay to slow down, just don’t stop all together.

All the blessings and opportunities to grow in the past thirty-nine and three quarter years have made me who I am. I wouldn’t change a thing. Not even the painful parts. I can’t wait for the next forty and a chance to learn even more about life, love and the pursuit of happiness. When asked if I would want to be in my 20s again, I answer with a resounding, “Hell no!” though I wouldn’t pass up the chance to have my twenty-something boobs back. Maybe when I hit the bestseller list ;)

And in support of my bosom restoration effort, please check out my latest release―Sailor’s Knot.

SAILOR'S KNOT [PIRATES AT HEART, BOOK THREE]

BUY

The year is 2037 and the next generation of Logan family pirates have taken over the helm of The Yellow Rose. Running bootleg booze and smuggling runners from the Reformed States of America into the Republic of Texas, business couldn’t be better…that is, if brothers Marcus and Nathaniel don’t kill each other in the process.

Captain Marcus Logan is serious, brooding and haunted, carrying a torch for his first mate, Amelie. Nathaniel—the resident party boy—is none of those things, but somehow they’d made their differences work for them until recently. When tall, leggy blonde Captain Ruby Delaney is a guest aboard The Rose, she turns Nathaniel’s head and stirs up all sorts of trouble, not the least of which is winding up in Marcus’ bed one drunken night. This ill-advised one-night stand ignites a love quadrangle so intertwined that the phrase “it’s complicated” doesn’t begin to define this sailor’s knot.

EXCERPT

Humiliation and admiration flooded Marcus with equal measure. Ruby was far craftier than he’d given her credit for. His earlier words to Nate echoed in his mind. He’d accused his brother of ineptitude when Marcus himself couldn’t tie a restraint that could hold her.

Shaking his head, he passed her the bottle. “Glad I could entertain you.”

“Aw, don’t be like that. I’m still trapped here.” She ran a hand over his sheets, leaning forward and spreading her legs a bit. “In your cabin.”

Bad girl. He arched an eyebrow. Usually he’d be immune to such an obvious overture, but in his current state, she was hard to ignore.

His cock stirred at the thought of her in his bed. Maybe it was the whiskey or maybe it was the fact that he hadn’t had a woman in… How long had it been? Several months at least. A smile crossed his lips. That barmaid in Belize. He usually steered clear of one-night stands, but she’d been so insistent, hadn’t she?

And his last relationship before that, over a year prior. It had lasted a couple of weeks at best. Sticking around wasn’t his forte. Not since— No, he wouldn’t think about Amelie anymore. Not with a beautiful blonde next to him. For once, couldn’t he do what any man would do in this situation? For once, couldn’t he give in to his base desires instead of suppressing them, struggling to keep them under control?

“You’re gorgeous when you smile.” Ruby intruded on his thoughts.

Marcus stared at her, weighing his options. Her full breasts rose and fell with every breath, her voluptuous thighs grazing past his leg as she shifted to make herself more comfortable. She smelled like his soap but there was an undercurrent of her own scent. Rich and sweet. He wanted to taste her.

“Are you flirting with me?” he asked, leaning closer.

“Obviously.” She licked her lips, meeting his hungry stare.

Scooting closer, she pressed her breasts to his arm. He dipped his head a little to the right. Her quick exhalations skimmed his cheek. She wouldn’t run away, disappear at the crucial moment. Quite the opposite. With one finger trailing beneath his chin, she drew him nearer, daring him to kiss her.

She was offering herself up to be had, for him to take her. And why not? There was no one waiting at home for him. He was a free man with a cock so hard it hurt. And this woman—a dangerous and wild woman—wanted him. At least for the night. And he wanted her. Hell, who wouldn’t?

He cradled the back of her neck, kissing her hard. “If you steal from me again, I’ll kill you.”

“I wouldn’t cross you again. I know when I’m licked.”

Pushing her back onto the mattress, he nipped at her ear. “I haven’t even started licking you yet.”

She laughed, wrapping a leg around him.

SAILOR’S KNOT

Haven't read books one and two? Find LANDLOCKED and SMUGGLER'S BLUES,  as well as other books by Cindy Jacks, at ELLORA’S CAVE.