Marilu Mann is the fabulous writing team of Cai Smith and Stephanie Lynch, who writes hot, steamy romances for Ellora’s Cave. Be sure to check out their fun publicity picture — because ALL romance authors wear feather boas and big hats! Please join me in giving Marilu Mann a warm welcome to the jungle!
Hello Plot Monkeys readers! I’d like to thank the Plot Monkeys for having me here – it was both an 
honor and a pleasure to meet all of these lovely ladies in person at the RWA National Conference in San Francisco this year. I write Paranormal Romantica for Ellora’s Cave and my third release comes out November 7th. Changing Hearts is the second book in my Lusting Wild Series and has some (if I do say so myself
Sit you down and we’ll talk together. Kay Fuqua is my name, but most folk, they call me Tanté Kay. Whatever you do, don’t call me Ms, y’hear? I married and buried a good man so I’m proud to be a Mrs. even if I’m a widow now. I’m a Traituesse, born and bred. What’s dat? You don’ know what I mean? Well, child, I heal folk. Not with no magic, now. Don’t go mixin’ me up with no Vodun priestess. Dey got their ways and I got mine.
I use what the good Lord gave me, what the good Lord give all his children and dis’ world. I mix me some herbs and some medicines using what I find in dis bayou. Same way my momma and my grandmomma and her momma did. Same way we done since folk first settled down out here in the bayou. Ain’t no magic here, just common sense, good strong hands, keen eyes to see what really be ailin’ folk, and a way of talkin’ and workin’ with people.
See, sometimes all it takes is just sittin’ and talking with someone who’s ailing. Sometimes all they need is a body to really listen to them, to hear about their aches and pains. Other time, they need a medical doctor, and I don’t try to keep them from going. It’s just that some folk go to the doctor when they just imagining their pains. They just need someone to care.
My favorite thing is the babies. I done went up to Baton Rouge and did me some training as a midwife. Nothing I didn’t already know, cheré, but it don’t hurt to have a piece of paper to show folks who worry. I rejoice every time I help a new soul into this world. I’m there when they leave it, too. If only Joie hadn’t run off to Atlanta, things might have turned out different, y’hear? That was some sadness there. Still I’ve seen many a soul out of this world, including my own Pierre, God rest him. We had thirty-five years together before the cancer took him. Ah me.
All my life, I been working with people out here in the bayou. They hurt themselves fishing or shrimpin’ or sometimes have bad headaches or even when they just drink too much. A Traituesse’ll be there with some ointment or a powder and some prayer to lesson their ills. And don’t you think I won’t give you a talking to if you’ve gone and done something fool-headed, now. I’ll tell it like it is—that’s for sure. Just you ask that boy, Malcolm.
Now, my godchild, Joie Sue, she does the same with animals. I’d hoped she’d follow my footsteps and do for people, but that wasn’t to be. I guess the good Lord knew what he was doin’ wid dat one, tho. If she’d been more for people than for animals, well, her and dat boy Malcolm, they probably wouldn’t have ended up together.
What’s dat? You don’ know about Joie and Malcolm? Well, child, what you waitin’ for? Get on over to dat Ellora’s Cave website and buy Marilu Mann’s story. Dat Marilu, she tell some good stories, and Changing Hearts is about my Joie and her Malcolm. Course I make an appearance. Those children needed my help, bless their hearts. They did have a time of it what with that tacky city woman showing up and causing those problems.
Oh but I do go on too much. You can read the whole t’ing what Marilu wrote. Look at that now! The sun’s almost all the way up. I’d best be getting back in the house. There’s another baby on the way so I need to get my bag ready. I’m that glad you stopped by to chat for a minute. You take care, now, and watch you’self back in that big city.
Marilu here again…I think I should mention here that to Tanté Kay, any place with more than 75 or so people is “the big city.” I hope you enjoyed this little foray into the bayou and that you’ll also revisit the bayou in my book, Changing Hearts. Here’s a blurb so you can see if it piques your interest…
Changing Hearts – It just got hotter on the bayou. When Malcom Slade, an injured Alpha running for his life, meets Cajun faith-healer, Joie Sue Landry, hearts are going to be changed. Human to his wolf, she prefers dealing with animals because they love unconditionally. Malcolm believes love is for weaklings and he can’t afford to be weak. Hunted by his own pack, he can’t afford the time to cater to a sensitive human. Still, there’s something about this female that turns him inside out. Can Joie tame this predator in bed and out?
To read an excerpt from Changing Hearts, visit my website – www.greatmta.com
Thanks again, ladies, for having me here!
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 20 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 40 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
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Welcome to the Jungle, Marilu!! I loved reading about Tante Kay. You have a great voice. I don’t know anyone like Tante Kay unfortunately. I wish I did.
Love the pictures!
How do you like writing for Ellora’s Cave?
Have a great day all,
Cher :danmonk
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Welcome Marilu! Changing Hearts sounds like a wonderful story and Tante Kay sounds like someone I would love to meet.
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Welcome, Miz Marilu, and to dem ladies standin’ dere in yer shadow. :wave:
I’ve met a few like Tante Kay in my imagination (and in two current projects). Well, at least good bayou folk, if not healers. In real life, she reminds me of Hickee Bickie, my husband’s great grandmother. She was a Muscogee (Creek) medicine woman who had more than a touch of magic and healing in her heart.
I really need to stop visiting here until my TBR pile gets to manageable levels again. *adds CHANGING HEARTS to list to buy* Congrats, ladies, on the new release!
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:wub: :wub: I love the Plot Monkeys! :wub: :wub:
Hi! I’m Stephanie Arwen Lynch and one half of Marilu Mann. It’s a delight to be here at the Plot Monkeys.
Cher, writing for EC is a great gig.
Liza, Tante Kay really wasn’t meant to be such an integral part of Joie and Malcolm’s story. She just stepped up to the mic and kept on going. She even makes an appearance in book three.
Silver, where ya at! Or, if you aren’t from the New Orleans area, how are you. :) You are blessed to have such a great character in your family’s history. :)
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Welcome to the jungle. Happy Monday, everyone!
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Hi All,
I’m the other half of Marilu Mann and we’re super excited to be here today!
Hi Cher, we LOVE our editor at EC and writing for them is fabulous!
Hi Liza, Tante Kay was a favorite with judges when we started entering Changing Hearts in various contests – she’s one of those characters who definitely take on a life of their own – whether we meant her to or not! LOL
Hi Silver, Tante Kay reminds me a lot of my own great-grandmother – an Osage/Irish woman born & raised in Oklahoma who then moved to South Louisiana when she married my great-grandfather…I still remember her standing over their wood stove cooking – they didn’t get “uptown” with a gas stove until my grandfather & his siblings built them a new house…
Hi Katie, we’re glad to be here!
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What a captivating voice you have, Marily, Stephanie, Cai, Tante Kay! That persona slipped right on me like a favorite pair of shoes…but I may be slipping them off when I tuck into your book!!
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Thanks Lucy! Nice to see another fabulous Tarot reader here as well. :)
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Thanks for the info about Ellora’s Cave. I’d heard they ask for rights to their author’s books for 77 years! So that basically you never get your rights back–at least not in this life. I’m guessing that’s not true.
Cher
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Great post for Marilu Mann. I want the red hat. :))
Destiny
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Hi Cher, that’s a clause I’ve never seen in any of our contracts, and we’ve signed four so far – we have three full-length novels and a novella with EC – Changing Times is the first of the Lusting Wild books, then Changing Hearts, which releases this Friday and then Changing Focus which we haven’t started edits on yet. Our novella is Sapphire Tease and it released in September.
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Hi Lucy, it’s nice to be here! :jumpleaf
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Hi Destiny – fancy meeting you here! The hat & boa belong to my mom, she loaned them to us for our first contract signing “party” because, as stated earlier, every romance author needs a big feathered hat and a feather boa!
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Love the feather boa! I have a hot pink one hanging in my closet. I love your character– she’s wonderful. And such an authentic voice! Great job!
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Thanks, Cai :-) If I hear that rumor anywhere else I’ll be sure and point out that it isn’t true.
Cher
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G’mornin’, ladies. It be nice sharin’ the va yay wit’ y’all. Laissez les bon temps roulez!
Cai and Stephanie, I’m Oklahoma red dirt born and raised though I’ve lived all over. I love the Delta country and Naw’lins. My niece up and married a sweet Cajun boy and now lives in Slidell. My DH is Muscogee (Creek) and I’m Chickasaw/Cherokee. (Which is all probably way more info than y’all wanted.)
Interesting info about EC. I’ve got a proposal there for critique that I’ve been waiting to hear back on for about 2 1/2 months now. My two current projects (one finished with the full ms at Silhouette for consideration, the other being written as we speak – or as soon as I stop procrastinating and get back to work
) are both set in New Orleans and deal with murder and ghosts. I’ve got the germ of an idea for a third book in what I’m now calling my “Delta Ghosts” series.
I love getting the chance to meet and interact with the guest bloggers (and the Plotmonkeys!) here. I’ve learned a lot from the advice given and have discovered WAY too many books I want to read. Okay. Break time’s over. Back to
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I love regional accents and slang. Louisiana is rich with them and you did a great job capturing the voice.
I’m proud to share the side of a mug with you! LOL
Ash
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I am a great fan of yours and Ellora’s Cave. These books are steamy hot and definately keep a girl warm on a cold winters night.
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Stephanie, I saw your tweet and thought I’d stop in and say hi. I didn’t get to meet you in San Fran so it’s nice to see the picture. Now I know what the person I’ve been Twittering with (relax folks, it’s not what it sounds like) for a couple of months looks like.
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Silver, I’ve been lurking and sometimes posting here on Plot Monkeys for a while. One of my favorite blogs!
Ash, hi honey! Can’t wait for RT!
Carol, thanks so much! Glad to help you through those long cold nights.
Bruce! Hi there. :) Fancy meeting you here. Does your wife know about us? LOLOLOL! (Joking people I’m joking! LK would beat me like a rug!)
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Hi and welcome to the jungle!! I don’t know anyone like Tanté Kay but I sure wish I did!! How much fun would that be to hang out with her for a couple of days!
Silver – how’s the Nano project coming along? I’ve gotta admit…I’m already lagging behind. But hopefully, now that I actually know what I’m writing about and have some kind of a game plan, I’ll be able to catch back up. *fingers crossed*
Have a great afternoon, everyone
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:wave: Howdy, Stephanie/TarotByArwyn.
Alannah, I’m at 4400 approximately, about 800 short of my minimum goal for today. I’ll get there, despite all the procrastination. Oh…! If you’re using the bartender and first line previously discussed? I have a title for you – “Last Call”.
Still waiting for the author search to come up so I can add you. 
I’m also searching for some Zydeco to listen to. You know. Mood-setting and all that. *sings ‘Pro-cras-ti-na-tion’ under her breath* 
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Alannah, thanks! Tante Kay was quite fun to write!
Silver, Neal McCoy is one of my favorite Zydeco/Blues musicians. Howlin’ At The Moon is great!
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Oh my, I love Tante Kay. :) She reminds me of a woman I knew as a child. Always spoke her mind.
The book sounds great!
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Hi Vicki! Tante Kay definitely is a compilation of the outspoken women Cai and I have known in our lives. I warned my family that they might recognize bits of the matriarch of our family (RIP, Grannilu) in this interview.
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Hi “Marilu Mann”, I fell in love Tante Kay. Thanks for sharing her with us. Welcome to the Jungle. I guess I need to explore Ellora’s Cave. It is always good to broaden one’s horizons!
Thanks to the Plotmonkeys I’ve added more authors to my “favorites” list! There is no one like Tante Kay in my family but I was blessed with some wonderful family on both sides.
:wave: Hi Bruce, I haven’t seen you here for awhile.
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Donna M, thank you! I do hope you expand your horizons with Changing Hearts or the first in the series Changing Times.
Cai and I love to 
although it’s definitely more fun to 
here in the jungle.
Ok, I have to cut myself off from emoticon usage now.
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Hi all,
I’m not ignoring any of you, it’s just that I’m at work now (sneaking in –
) so I won’t be able to make individual comments to everyone until I get off work.
I’m loving all the comments and the fact that everyone can identify with Tante Kay in some way – y’all are the best!!
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I would love to meet Tante Kay. Sounds like she could tell some wonderful stories!
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Estella, and then some! I think Tante Kay has many tales to tell. :)
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Woo-hooo, Silver!! Way to go!!
I like the title, thanks! It might actually work really well with the whole of the story, so I’ll definitely keep it in mind. Good luck on the 800 words!
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Alannah, I hit 5238.
Not as far along as I’d like, though I’m within my daily minimums. I did finish chapter three and got a spark of inspiration for a scene in Chapter 4 so I’m mostly happy. The NaNo site finally got the “easy word count” turned on so hopefully the author search will be back up tomorrow!
TBA, I’ll look for a Neal McCoy CD when I’m out tomorrow after voting. Thanks for the recommendation! Until then Jungle Buddies… :grouphug
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Hey ladies, so glad to have you here today! I love Tante Kay!
And Stephanie, no worries…I know Bruce has been thrilled that you’ve come to visit his blog!
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LK, you have a charming delightful husband. I have really enjoyed his blog and Twittering with him when he isn’t off running for work. I can see why you hang on to him. :)
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Fantastic blog, Stephanie!
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Hi Marilu!! This sounds so good!!! Gosh its definitely going to my wishlist!!! Its so great to meet you both!
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Rowena, thank you.
Caffey, I love your name! That’s what a friend of mine’s little brother changed her name to from Cathy. :) I hope you will let me know how you enjoy the book.