{"id":3740,"date":"2023-01-11T04:27:03","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T12:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/?p=3740"},"modified":"2023-01-11T04:27:03","modified_gmt":"2023-01-11T12:27:03","slug":"the-masters-mark-new-from-lisabet-sarai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/11\/the-masters-mark-new-from-lisabet-sarai\/","title":{"rendered":"At last! The Master&#8217;s Mark&#8211;new from Lisabet Sarai"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" data-attachment-id=\"3743\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/11\/the-masters-mark-new-from-lisabet-sarai\/mastersmarkcover_400\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkCover_400.jpg?fit=400%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"400,600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"MastersMarkCover_400\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkCover_400.jpg?fit=400%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkCover_400.jpg?resize=400%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3743\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkCover_400.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkCover_400.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 85vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Book 3 in The Toymakers Guild. Available for pre-order <strong>now<\/strong>. Launch date January 13, 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you train a steampunk sexbot?<br><br>Gillian Smith\u2019s promotion to journeyman proves she\u2019s ready to lead the Toymakers in producing astonishing new erotic artifacts. Creative, brilliant, and debauched, she\u2019ll stretch her capabilities to the limit as she juggles a talent shortage and a pair of jealous rivals. Then there\u2019s the challenge of their latest commission\u2014a life-sized programmable sex doll intended to replace a client\u2019s deceased paramour.<br><br>Normally she would consult the enigmatic Master Toymaker, but he seems preoccupied with his own concerns. Though her lusty crew of sexual renegades can offer technical and carnal assistance, Gillian is ultimately responsible for delivering the promised, near-impossible technology. <br><br>It\u2019s fortunate she\u2019s not one to give up\u2014not even when events threaten the Guild\u2019s very survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Buy Links<\/strong><br>\n\n\n\nAmazon&nbsp; US \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BRHGN35L\">https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BRHGN35L<\/a><br>\n\n\n\nAmazon UK \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/dp\/B0BRHGN35L\">https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/dp\/B0BRHGN35L<\/a><br>\n\n\n\nSmashwords \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smashwords.com\/books\/view\/1306694\">https:\/\/www.smashwords.com\/books\/view\/1306694<\/a><br>\n\n\n\nBarnes and Noble \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/s\/2940165993299\">https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/s\/2940165993299<\/a><br>\n\n\n\nKobo \u2013&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/the-master-s-mark-the-toymaker-s-guild-book-3\">https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/the-master-s-mark-the-toymaker-s-guild-book-3<\/a><br>\n\n\n\nApple Books \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/x\/id6445290161\">https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/x\/id6445290161<\/a><br>\n\n\n\nAdd on Goodreads \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/75611538-the-master-s-mark\">https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/75611538-the-master-s-mark<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"375\" data-attachment-id=\"3745\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/11\/the-masters-mark-new-from-lisabet-sarai\/mastersmarkbanner\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkBanner.jpg?fit=1200%2C536&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,536\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"MastersMarkBanner\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkBanner.jpg?fit=840%2C375&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkBanner.jpg?resize=840%2C375&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkBanner.jpg?resize=1024%2C457&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkBanner.jpg?resize=300%2C134&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkBanner.jpg?resize=768%2C343&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMarkBanner.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><strong>Contest!<br \/><\/strong>Lisabet Sarai is running a contest to celebrate the release of<em> The Master\u2019s Mark<\/em>. The prize is a <strong>$10 book store gift certificate, plus an ebook copy of the new novel in your choice of formats<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>To enter, do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Send an email at contest [at] lisabetsarai [dot] com <\/li><li>In the body of the email, list the names of two characters in The Master\u2019s Mark. (You can discover this from various blog posts and excerpts.)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>One entry per person, please. On the first of February, Lisabet will randomly draw a winner from among all the entries. Be sure to send your entry to the &#8220;contest&#8221; email address above.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"840\" data-attachment-id=\"3748\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/11\/the-masters-mark-new-from-lisabet-sarai\/mastersmark_ig\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_IG.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1080,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"MastersMark_IG\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_IG.jpg?fit=840%2C840&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_IG.jpg?resize=840%2C840&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_IG.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_IG.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_IG.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_IG.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_IG.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PG Excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAha! I knew you were no schoolteacher, Miss!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The familiar voice jerked her back to the present. She looked up, startled, and her eyes connected with those of Jeremiah Manley. Without thinking, she covered the drawings with her arm in an attempt to hide them from his curious gaze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEngineer Manley! How lovely to see you again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRight you are, Miss \u2013 Gillian, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She nodded and flashed him a smile, flattered that he\u2019d recalled her name. He looked every bit as attractive as he had upon their first meeting, taut and lean, brimming with life, seemingly ready to tumble into laughter at the slightest provocation. \u201cMy close friends call me Jill,\u201d she volunteered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWell then, Jill!\u201d He reached out to lay a dark hand upon her sleeve, pushing gently to expose the hidden designs. \u201cAnd what have you here? Not some girl\u2019s spelling homework, I\u2019ll warrant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Warmth flowed from his palm, heating her own skin through the fabric of her dress. \u201cThat\u2019s none of your affair, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSir \u2013 that hardly sounds like the response of a close friend! Come now, let me see. I already caught a glimpse. I know they\u2019re blueprints, or something similar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a private commission,\u201d she replied, gathering the papers and slipping them into her satchel. \u201cWe\u2019ve promised the client complete confidentiality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAh!&nbsp; So who is \u2018we\u2019, Jill-who-is-not-a-schoolteacher? Indeed, who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not at liberty to disclose that,\u201d she replied primly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cReally? Perhaps I can persuade you, Jill.\u201d He swung himself into the chair close beside her, earning scandalised stares from the other inhabitants of the Ladies\u2019 Lounge. She suddenly noticed that he was not wearing his uniform, though his grey tweed trousers and coat fit him equally well. Under the jacket he sported a blindingly white linen shirt without a cravat. The open neck exposed an enticing near-black triangle of bare skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat happened to your uniform, Jeremiah? Are you not on duty?\u201d He wasn\u2019t touching her any more, but she still felt the heat, radiating from his all-too-close form. Her nipples beaded under her bodice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI resigned.\u201d His normal smile fled. The scowl that replaced it made him look unexpectedly dangerous. \u201cCouldn\u2019t endure that jackass Thomas any longer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She nodded. \u201cI\u2019d hate to work under such a boor, I agree. But to throw away such a solid position \u2013 second engineer on a fine vessel like the Invicta \u2013 are you certain that was wise?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He shrugged. \u201cI\u2019m more clever and nimble than wise. Otherwise I wouldn\u2019t have survived this long.\u201d His clouded expression broke once more into a sunny grin and he settled a hand on hers. He leaned closer, so close that she caught a hint of his spicy scent, and spoke more softly. \u201cSo, Jill-who-is-not-a-schoolteacher \u2013 would you like a tour of the engine room?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her heart did a somersault in her chest. \u201cOh, yes! Please!\u201d She couldn\u2019t have said whether the offer or Jeremiah\u2019s proximity had more to do with her breathless excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He chuckled at her enthusiasm. \u201cWait just a few minutes, till we\u2019re tied up at the dock. Then I\u2019ll take you below. This is Invicta\u2019s last crossing for the day. The crew\u2019ll be busy filling her coal holds, so we won\u2019t be disturbed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut \u2013 I thought you were no longer employed\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He held up a key. \u201cYou can never tell when you\u2019ll need to check the engine.\u201d His voice dropped to a near-whisper as he dropped it back into his coat pocket. \u201cI had thoughts of doing some damage, actually. Thomas would be responsible and it would serve him right. But I decided a clean break would be best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat <em>was<\/em> wise,\u201d said Gillian with relief. He squeezed her hand, setting her pulse racing once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The boatswain\u2019s shrill whistle announced their arrival at the dock. The lady passengers were already filing out of the lounge, casting disapproving glances in their direction. Jeremiah bounced to his feet and pulled her up after him. \u201cWe\u2019d better get out of sight,\u201d he urged. \u201cThe first mate does a sweep for stray passengers after every trip. Never know when you\u2019ll find some gentleman who took excess advantage of the SS Invicta\u2019s fine whisky.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He stepped behind the bar into the small galley that served the lounge, then prised open a door on the left. \u201cIn here,\u201d he murmured, pushing her in front of him into a dark, narrow space lined with shelves. When he pulled the closet shut, crowding against her, the blackness was nearly absolute. The storage area must have been located against an outside wall. She could hear footfalls upon the metal deck as the disembarking passengers headed for the gangway at the stern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The space was redolent of tea, ginger marmalade and Jeremiah\u2019s personal, peppery scent. They were crammed together, face to face, though he was a good deal taller. He rested a hand on her hip to stabilise her. She felt his breath stirring her hair and his heat penetrating her clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her own lungs seemed to have stopped working. She scarcely dared to move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His hold on her was loose, their bodies still separated by a fraction of an inch. She imagined his chest pressed against her, mashing her breasts against his muscled torso. Her nipples ached for that missing stimulation. It was all too easy to conjure the sensation of his swollen prick prodding her belly, his pelvis grinding against her, his fingers tracing the line of her spine then cupping her buttocks to pull her closer&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A smooth palm caressed her cheek. Bold fingers tilted her chin up toward his unseen visage. \u201cJill&#8230;\u201d he whispered, barely audible, before he pressed his lips to hers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She melted into the kiss, flowing into his arms. The reality of his hard body was even better than her fantasies. A lush cloudburst of sensation drenched her as she opened to his brazen tongue and let him plunder her mouth. Tangy spice tickled her nostrils and a second heart beat between her thighs. She floated on the surface for a while, then sank gratefully into the passion of the moment, letting herself drown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"513\" data-attachment-id=\"3749\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/11\/the-masters-mark-new-from-lisabet-sarai\/mastersmark_twitter\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_Twitter.jpg?fit=1600%2C976&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,976\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"MastersMark_Twitter\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_Twitter.jpg?fit=840%2C513&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_Twitter.jpg?resize=840%2C513&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_Twitter.jpg?resize=1024%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_Twitter.jpg?resize=300%2C183&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_Twitter.jpg?resize=768%2C468&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_Twitter.jpg?resize=1536%2C937&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_Twitter.jpg?resize=1200%2C732&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MastersMark_Twitter.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Introductory Essay:<\/strong><br>Gillian Smith, the heroine of my Toymakers Guild series, is a scientific genius and a sexual adventurer. She\u2019s only nineteen when she shows up at the door of Randerley Hall, successfully figures out the access code and demonstrates sufficient talent in both the technical and carnal realms to win a place for herself among the secretive and selective band of erotic artificers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the series continues, she becomes more mature, taming some of her impulsiveness and learning to understand the nuances of desire. She assumes increasing responsibility for the work of the Guild, providing design guidance and supervising the other engineers. Meanwhile, she remains open to the varied opportunities for sensual pleasure offered by Guild membership. She understands that lust is the lubricant for the Guild\u2019s creativity and that despite the outrageous ways that it is sometimes expressed, the bonds among the Toymakers go far beyond the physical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Authors often \u2013 perhaps even always \u2013 use aspects of themselves when creating their characters. Nevertheless, Gillian is not me. When I was nineteen, I was a dreamy bookworm, not an engineer. While she is bold and self-confident, I was painfully shy. Her appearance \u2013 tall, slender, with curly reddish hair \u2013 has little in common with my short, curvy build and mousy brown locks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, at her age I was as fascinated by sex as she is, if nowhere near as active. As I grew older, that fascination deepened. I began to explore my kinks and cravings and live out my fantasies in a manner that she\u2019d understand. I\u2019ve had sexual adventures she\u2019d find quite familiar. In the meantime, my view of sexuality ended up having quite a lot in common with hers \u2013 that even what seems like casual lust has emotional and spiritual dimensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I also must admit to basing some of Gillian\u2019s emotions and behavior as a technical project leader on my own experience. I did end up as an engineer of sorts: a software engineer. Most of the technology in the Toymakers Guild series comes straight out of my imagination. I couldn\u2019t wire a motor or machine a set of gears to save my life. But I do know what it\u2019s like trying to deal with bugs in your programs when you\u2019re facing a critical deadline. I understand the heavy burden of responsibility that comes with commitments that seem impossible to fulfill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, yes, Jill and I do share some traits and beliefs, though there\u2019s more than a century between our worlds and half a century between our ages.\u00a0 To me, though, she\u2019s an independent individual \u2013 and after three novels, remarkably real. As an author, I\u2019m amazed by the way characters develop over the course of writing a book. They begin as a sketch, perhaps borrowing from people we know (including ourselves), but before long they have lives of their own. Having followed her for more than three years and two hundred fifty thousand words, I know who Gillian Smith is. Honestly, though, I don\u2019t know where she came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"840\" data-attachment-id=\"3751\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/11\/the-masters-mark-new-from-lisabet-sarai\/tgseriesbanner\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/TGSeriesBanner.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1080,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"TGSeriesBanner\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/TGSeriesBanner.jpg?fit=840%2C840&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/TGSeriesBanner.jpg?resize=840%2C840&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/TGSeriesBanner.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/TGSeriesBanner.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/TGSeriesBanner.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/TGSeriesBanner.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/TGSeriesBanner.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Praise for The Toymakers Guild:<\/strong><br><strong><em>The Pornographer\u2019s Apprentice,<\/em>The Toymakers Guild Book 1<\/strong><br>There are many more plot points, but I don&#8217;t want to spoil your enjoyment of this book. It has varied and steamy sex scenes that will take your breath away, a plucky heroine who doesn&#8217;t always come out on top (ahem), but who always prevails in her quest to be accepted as a Toymaker.\u00a0 <em>~ Fiona McGier, Goodreads<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With thoughtfully written characters, hot sex scenes, and a well-paced and interesting plot, the Toymaker&#8217;s Apprentice leaves you asking only one question&#8230;.when is the next book in the series coming out? <em>~ The Phantom Tollbooth, Amazon<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[A] fast paced, hilarious, and thoroughly entertaining story as Gillian gets intimate with the staff and technology, only to find that there is a plot against the Guild that she takes on to save the day. I can\u2019t wait to read what happens in the next book! ~ <em>Arthur Royo, Amazon<\/em><strong><em><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>The Journeyman\u2019s Trial, <\/em>The Toymakers Guild Book 2<\/strong><br>Lisabet Sarai has taken on the challenge of following up The Pornographer&#8217;s Apprentice. I&#8217;m happy to say she&#8217;s exceeded her own lofty standards of writing. The dialogue in the story is unique, accurate to the era, and oftentimes features beautiful lines. You can look forward to a shocking mass of creativity from the ingenious mind of Miss Sarai. The erotic scenes are written beautifully and explosively. I found the pleasure of the characters hit me just as hard as it hit them. I&#8217;m looking forward to more from this world and the characters!<em> ~ Amazon Customer, Verified Purchaser<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About Lisabet<\/strong><br>You\u2019ll find information and excerpts from all Lisabet\u2019s books on her website (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.lisabetsarai.com\/books.html\">http:\/\/www.lisabetsarai.com\/books.html<\/a>), along with more than fifty free stories and lots more. At her blog Beyond Romance (<a href=\"http:\/\/lisabetsarai.blogspot.com\/\">http:\/\/lisabetsarai.blogspot.com<\/a>), she shares her philosophy and her news and hosts lots of other great authors. She\u2019s also on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/author\/show\/83387.Lisabet_Sarai\">Goodreads<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookbub.com\/authors\/lisabet-sarai\">BookBub<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/lisabetsarai\">Twitter<\/a>. Join her VIP email list here: <a href=\"https:\/\/btn.ymlp.com\/xgjjhmhugmgh\">https:\/\/btn.ymlp.com\/xgjjhmhugmgh<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Book 3 in The Toymakers Guild. Available for pre-order now. Launch date January 13, 2023. How do you train a steampunk sexbot? Gillian Smith\u2019s promotion to journeyman proves she\u2019s ready to lead the Toymakers in producing astonishing new erotic artifacts. Creative, brilliant, and debauched, she\u2019ll stretch her capabilities to the limit as she juggles a &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/11\/the-masters-mark-new-from-lisabet-sarai\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;At last! The Master&#8217;s Mark&#8211;new from Lisabet Sarai&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1377,1376,1933,1932,1],"tags":[2043,889,878,994,882,2044,1867,2041,1926,892,14,1971,1945,2037,1922,1228],"class_list":["post-3740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-new","category-pre-order","category-series","category-steamy","category-uncategorized","tag-althistory","tag-bisexual","tag-bondage","tag-femdom","tag-lesbian","tag-orgy","tag-steampunk","tag-tattoos","tag-homoerotic","tag-lisabet-sarai","tag-menage","tag-revenge","tag-sextoys","tag-the-masters-mark","tag-toymakers-guild","tag-victorian"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9wA33-Yk","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3740"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3740\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3755,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3740\/revisions\/3755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3740"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3740"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}